Sam and Jude spilled out of the elevator into the commotion of the main entrance. It seems Ash and Pikachu had barely made it two steps in the front door before they were seemingly mauled by the onslaught of children. In the classic display of boy like wonder he had become known for, he simply grinned that same old smile as he waded through the sea of excitement.
"Ash!" Sam had nearly cleared the entire distance to him in one stride. An electrical sounding squeak could barely be heard over the din as Pikachu became the source of the younger crowd's antics. Sam and Jude were by far and away the eldest of the orphanage; in fact they were among the first to arrive nearly ten years ago. As Ash gained more prowess and renown, he had garnered a small fortune before he was even old enough to drive. At age fifteen he had started this orphanage in hopes of providing a home and hope for those who didn't. Sam had never met her parents; all she knew was her mother had given her up for adoption at birth and left the very next morning. Jude on the other hand came from a rather broken home. His mother had left his father before he could even speak. His father had done his best in the subsequent years between struggling poverty and scattered work; one day however Jude woke up and he was gone.
The three sets of eyes met and the room fell silent. No words were exchanged for what felt like ages; all eyes were fixated on the trio. From inside his jacket Ash pulled out two untarnished famously yellow and black pokeballs paired with two genuine generation 5 Oak Pokedex's. His grin grew wider as he gestured toward the two newcomers "Go ahead you two, you have both waited long enough".
Sam's eyes drifted from the gifts to Ash over and over; while Jude held back his pent up excitement in a downward stare. "Sam, it took me a long time to make up my mind on a partner for you. Now I couldn't think of a better fit" tossing the yellow and black container into the air a long and slender creature began to appear. Offering up an airy yawn Sam's new Dratini quickly nestled around her ankles. Between choked tears of thanks Sam replied in all but a whisper "Oh Ash...I...you're...thank you...so much".
"Hey Jude! Catch!" and with a quiet harmless thud the pokeball rolled off the top of the still downward staring Jude. As the creature from this marvel of technology started to appear Jude couldn't help but run through every pokemon he imagined was inside. "Charizard picked him out of the brood himself; I think you two will make quite the team," and there he was, Charmander rushed to his side without a moments hesitation uttering a reptilian croak of affirmation. It was only then Jude lifted his eyes enough for Ash to notice a solitary tear before Jude swiped it away. "Ash, I will never be able to thank you enough".
[More to come]