A/N: Would you believe the USB stick I had the entire story on...I lost .. I had to rewrite this chapter from scratch, which was hell annoying. Luckily I had read it a few days before I lost the USB, so I was able to recall pretty much all of it. But it does mean that I still need to rewrite the next chapter *le sigh!*.

Thanks for the reviews! Please continue to R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or Sailor Moon

3. I choose...you?

Usagi waved as Mrs Ketchum drove off, the back seat of her car packed full of shopping bags. Usagi felt a lot more comfortable now that she was in her 'own' clothes, dressed in jeans, a light pink t-shirt and white sneakers. Although she wanted to bound up the stairs to the lab, she took it easy due to her injuries.

The lab doors slid open, and Usagi peeked in, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Hello?" she called out cautiously, not seeing Ash.

A brown-haired boy in a green shirt popped his head out from behind a machine. "Oh hi! You must be Usagi. Ash told us you were coming. I'm Tracey," he said in a friendly voice, gesturing for her to come inside.

Usagi wandered in, eyes wide as she looked at all the computers and machinery. It didn't really look like a place Ash would really want to come to. Tracey noticed her eyeing the lab. "Ash is outside playing with his pokemon," he said with a smile. "I'll take you out there. The Professor is there as well."

Usagi followed Tracey out to a large field, where a group of pokemon were grouped in one area, and appeared to be looking at something.

Suddenly Ash burst out from the middle of the group, laughing and waving his hat. "Bet you guys can't catch me this time!" he yelled as he raced across the field, a herd of excited, happy pokemon charging after him.

An elderly man was leaning against a fence chuckling. "He certainly loves his pokemon," he said to no one in particular. He turned as he saw Usagi and Tracey heading towards him. "Ah, you must be Usagi. Ash has told us a lot about you," he said with a warm smile. "I'm Professor Oak."

Usagi smiled back at the professor. He wasn't at all what she had pictured - she had expected him to be serious and science-y, but the man in front of her seemed to be quite cheerful and friendly. "Nice to meet you, Professor," she replied before turning back to Ash's antics. "His pokemon seem to really like him," she said wistfully as she watched them all having fun.

"He's a surprisingly good trainer," Professor Oak said, also watching Ash. "Who would have thought it, the day he arrived at my lab in his pyjamas wanting his starter pokemon?" he laughed at the memory.

Ash jogged back over to them, breathless. "They're all looking great Professor! Thanks for taking such good care of them for me."

"It's no problem Ash, and they've really helped with my research. Now, you must be hungry after all that running around. I've got lunch organised up at the lab..."

"YEAH! Let's go Usagi!" Ash was already over the fence and running toward the lab before Professor Oak finished his sentence. Usagi laughed and slowly jogged after him, leaving Tracey and Professor Oak to bring up the rear. "I honestly don't know where he gets all that energy," Professor Oak muttered as he and Tracey followed the excited pair.

Lunch was an array of sandwiches and fruit, and Tracey had to cover a grin when he saw that Usagi's appetite was just as ferocious as Ash's.

"Now Usagi," Professor Oak began, once everyone had finished eating. "Ash has told me about your situation, and I'm afraid I can't help you, but I've put out the word to the other professors in different regions as well as some researchers. If anything comes up, I'll let you know straight away."

"Thank you so much Professor," Usagi said gratefully.

"Oh yes, speaking of which, I need to give you...now...where did I put the blasted thing?" Professor Oak began searching around the lab, creating more of a mess as he sifted through various piles of paper.

Tracey rolled his eyes. "If you're looking for the pokedex you pulled out for Usagi, it's over by the main computer."

"Oh yes, that's right." Professor Oak found the pokedex and brought it over. "I was looking up information about evolution stones. They're fascinating things, you know, and there are a surprising number...

"Professor! The pokedex?" Tracey interrupted him politely. Once Professor Oak started on his research, it could be hard to stop him.

"Oh, right. Of course." He turned to Usagi, presenting her with a light pink rectangle. "This is an upgraded pokedex, which includes cell phone and GPS capabilities," he told her as she took it. "I'll be able to call you on it if I find out any information. My number is already programmed in...see...here..." he pressed a few buttons to bring up the contact list.

"Now, since I assume you're going to be travelling with Ash, we'll have to set you up with a starter pokemon. Shall we?" he began moving towards another door.

Ash let out a whoop, pushing back his chair so hard it fell. "This is awesome Usagi! You get to pick your starter!"

Comprehension began to dawn on her face as she realised what was happening. "Oh my god! I GET MY OWN POKEMON!" she squealed, jumping to her feet as well, eyes sparkling in excitement. She raced through the doorway Professor Oak had gone through, Ash hot on her heels. He loved seeing people get their first pokemon, and he wanted to know which one she would bond with.

The new room was slightly smaller, with what looked like hospital monitoring equipment hooked up to computers. In the centre was a circular raised platform. Professor Oak pressed a few buttons, and three pokeballs rose out of the holes in the platform. "Here are Kanto's three starter types. Starters are always a grass, fire or water type, chosen as they are the easiest for new trainers to handle," Professor Oak explained as he picked up the three balls.

Three bursts of red light lit up the room as he pressed the button to open each of them. Usagi stared at the three pokemon sitting on the floor in front of her, staring at her. "Oh wow you are all so cute!" she gushed as she kneeled down. She reached out for a Charmander. "You are just so adorable!" she squealed, moving to hug it.

"No, wait, Usagi!"

The Charmander, looking pretty miffed, let out a burst of flame at Usagi's face, causing her to quickly drop him. She coughed, wiping ash away from her face.

"Charmander! That wasn't very nice! She was just trying to be your friend!" Ash told off the Charmander, which had now turned its back on them. Usagi smiled brightly. One rejection didn't matter. "That's okay, there are still two more of you cuties here," she said, turning to the Squirtle, which had retreated into its shell.

"Hey little guy. Don't you want to come out and say hello?" Usagi cooed comfortingly, picking up the shell. But no matter how much she tried to coax him, the Squirtle refused to come out. Sighing a little sadly after a few minutes, she put the shell down on the floor again.

She moved to the Bulbasaur, but stopped as a low growl came from its throat. "Hey, Bulbasaur, what's wrong? Usagi's really nice," Ash told the Bulbasaur as its growl deepened. Both he and Usagi missed the glance Tracey and Professor Oak gave each other.

"No...it's...it's fine," Usagi said with a shaky laugh, standing up and slowly backing away from the angry grass pokemon. "I guess they know that I'd be hopeless as a pokemon trainer and they don't want me." In her retreat, Usagi bumped into a bench behind her. A glass container holding an egg rocked sharply and began to fall.

"THE EGG!"

Professor Oak and Tracey both lurched forwards, shock written across their faces. Usagi eyes widened as she realised what she'd done, and, turning, dived for the falling container, catching it seconds before it hit the floor.

"Oh my god...I'm so sorry...it's true...I'd be an awful trainer!" Usagi burst out tearfully as the Professor carefully took the jar from her. Hooking the container up to a nearby computer, he ran a few quick tests, while Usagi waited, holding her breath and trying to stop the tears welling in her eyes from falling.

"Pika pika chupi!"

"That's right Pikachu! You would be a great trainer!" Ash curled his hand into a determined fist. "You just haven't found the right pokemon yet! Remember, I didn't start with one of the regular starters, I started with Pikachu, right buddy?"

"Pi Pikachu."

"See? You'll find the right one, I'm sure of it! Pikachu thinks so too!" Ash babbled at the stricken girl, trying to alleviate her depression.

"I guess..." Usagi mumbled woefully, eyes on the egg.

After what seemed like ages, Professor Oak turned back to them all with a smile. "It's fine, there was no damage done," he said cheerfully. Usagi let out a shaky sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry for startling you Usagi, it's just that this was a difficult egg to procure. I'm not sure I'd have another chance of getting one."

"What kind of egg is it, Professor?" Ash asked.

"Um..." Usagi tried to cut into the conversation, but Ash and Professor Oak were becoming animated.

"Oh well, my grandson Gary was in the area doing some research for me, and I asked him if it was possible for him to bring me back one of these, and luckily.."

"Guys?"

"Where did he find it? What kind of pokemon did it come from?"

"Oh well actually it's..."

"WHY IS THE EGG GLOWING?"

The pair turned in surprise as Usagi yelled out, and then glanced at the egg. It was glowing white. "Oh my! It's hatching!" Professor Oak ran over to the computer, typing furiously.

"Hatching?" Usagi repeated blankly. Anxiety began to well up again. "Oh my god. Is it coming early? Is it my fault? Will it be okay?"

"Don't worry, research has shown us that eggs rarely hatch prematurely, only when the pokemon inside deems itself ready," the Professor replied, distracted by the rapid lines of data appearing on the screen.

"This is so cool Usagi!" Ash exclaimed, excited. The glow intensified sharply, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. After a few seconds, the light vanished.

"Cleffa?"

Usagi looked down. A cute little pink and brown pokemon was trying to climb up her jeans, and was looking put out that it wasn't succeeding.

"Wow you are such a cutie pie!" Usagi squealed, picking up the Cleffa and nuzzling it. The Cleffa wriggled in Usagi's arms. "Cleff cleffa."

"A Cleffa! That's so cool Professor!" Ash whipped out his pokedex and pointed it at Usagi.

"Cleffa, the Star Shape Pokemon" an electronic voice read out. "Cleffa are said to form circles and dance as if they are flying on nights when there are many falling stars."

"Indeed. Quite hard to find," Professor Oak acknowledged. "I've been wanting to study one for some time now. Gary found the egg in Mt Moon, and sent it to me."

Usagi went to hand the Cleffa back to the Professor. "You have to go back to Professor Oak now cutie pie. He's going to take good care of you," she said, a little sad at having to give the Cleffa back.

The Cleffa started wailing loudly. Startled, Usagi, pulled it back towards her. The Cleffa stopped crying. As nothing seemed to be wrong, Usagi moved to hand it back to the Professor, but it started wailing again. Usagi pulled back again, and it stopped. Usagi looked up at the Professor, worried that she'd done something wrong in picking up the Cleffa. She found Professor Oak and Tracey raising their eyebrows at each other.

"What do you think, Tracey?"

"Yeah, I think it's a good idea Professor."

Ash glanced back and forth between the pair, his own confusion mounting. "What? What is it?"

Clearing his throat, Professor Oak turned back towards Usagi. "Well, it looks as though you found your starter pokemon young lady," he said to Usagi with a smile. It took a while for his words to sink in. "Starter...pokemon?"

"Well, it appears the Cleffa is already attached to you, and pokemon do tend to choose their trainers. Besides, I think it would be much more beneficial to my research if Cleffa goes with you – but I insist that you send back reports."

"YEAH!" Ash pumped a fist in the air, Pikachu mimicking his movement. "You got your first pokemon Usagi!"

Usagi looked down at the pokemon nestled in her arms. "You mean...I can have it?" A huge grin spread across her face. "Thank you so much Professor! I promise I'll look after it and send you reports every two weeks! I'll be a great trainer!" she gushed, arms tightening around the little pink bundle. "Cleff!" it squeaked indignantly.

"Hey look," Ash pointed. Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle had all come over, and appeared to be happy and smiling at the pair. "It looks like they're congratulating you too."

Usagi was too happy to be upset that the other three had rejected her, and let her Cleffa down to play with them, missing the look that passed between Tracey and Professor Oak.

After loading Usagi up with extra pokeballs and pokemon food and instructions on caring for a baby pokemon, Professor Oak and Tracey waved farewell as Ash and an ecstatic Usagi (with a Cleffa in her arms) made their way back down the hill to Ash's house.

As they disappeared, Tracey dropped his hand slowly, frowning. "You don't think Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur knew that egg was going to hatch today, and that the reason they were mean to Usagi was because they wanted her to bond with Cleffa, do you?" he asked the Professor quietly.

Professor Oak's eyes stayed on the empty road Ash and Usagi had taken. "Yes, as a matter of fact that's exactly what I think, Tracey." His eyebrows creased into a frown.

"But I wish I knew why."

A/N: Perhaps not the pokemon you thought Usagi was going to end up with! However I have a very good reason for giving her a Cleffa, which you will all just have to wait for ;D. If Usagi DID end up with a starter, which one do you think would have suited her of the three originals?

Please continue to R&R! Hopefully I can get the next chapter up shortly!

~Gummi