It was nearly end of the school day, as Ms. Kenny beamed over twenty happy children, crowded in front of her. Well, make that eighteen happy children. Two were less than pleased. One was the stereotypical kid-that-nobody-likes. The other was Pyro. And Pyro was pissed. Today, Ms. Kenny had promised to bring in something worthwhile. Well, all Pyro saw was a large box in her arms. It had been sitting on the main desk for most of the day.
"Okay, children!" said the teacher in her fake-peppy voice. "I've got a special surprise for you today."
With that, she carefully deposited the box on the floor, tenderly opening it to reveal two tiny baby Rattata, small enough to be held in the cupped hands of an adult. They were a soft violet color, with beady red eyes and enormous pearly front teeth. Clever little paws clutched the edge of the box as the tiny, furry rodents peeked charmingly out at the equally immature class.
"You see, class, my pet Ratta had babies. A boy and a girl. It turns out, I can't keep them all because of my apartment's Health Code, so I've brought the babies to class today. They're old enough to go to new homes, so I was wondering if some of you would talk to your parents if you want to adopt one of these little guys."
A small bespectacled kid in the front raised his hand. One of the six-year-olds.
"Yes, Kenta?"
"What's a Health Code?"
"I don't have to explain to you, dammit!" snapped Ms. Kenny suddenly. "I thought you Asian kids were supposed to be smart!"
Kenta was mortified. He stood in his spot, rooted in fear as the bright eyes of the Rattata kits looked up at him curiously.
"Hey!" came a muffled squeak from some kid in the back. "D-that's not rightchu…sensei!"
It was the kid that nobody liked. The broody four-year-old who'd painted the "dynosaw."
The brown-skinned kindergartener sported a pair of black, thick-rimmed glasses and a yellow baseball cap, complete with five-inch-long Pikachu ears. To top it off, a worn Pikachu plushie rested in her arms, she had more than once bitten kids who had tried to touch it. Probably contributing to the reason why she was not the most popular kid in class.
"Y'can't…can't make fun of people like that. You can'tchu and…cuz you're bigger'n us…an…s'not good. Pi…" came the continued mumble. It was actually sort of comical, how her voice was both a shy mumble and a shrill squeak at the same time.
"Oh, that's perfectly right!" said Ms. Kenny, leaving the children with the box while she went to retrieve some white powder from the drawer. "I'm so sorry class. No one should ever say bad things about someone else just because they are different from us."
This contradictory statement greatly confused the midget army, with the exception of Kenta, who was too scared to think. The little four-year-old blinked, then sighed, deciding once and for all that her sensei was crazy. The Pikachu plush hung limply in her arms, its bright beady eyes staring solemnly at Ms. Kenny.
"She is nuts, isn't she Pikapower." whispered the girl, gently stroking it's head.
Pyro glanced at this strange girl in her yellow overalls. She'd only paid enough attention to this one to notice that she wore the same color clothes every day. That all of her shirts seemed to have two parallel brown stripes on the back. A Pikachu-lover, all tagged down with her tatty little plaything. Yuck. Pyro's attention turned to the Rattata. Not fire Pokemon. Not interesting.
"Ratta!"
Blink.
Pyro looked down at the box, at the chittering female rat Pokemon staring at her with extreme interest. It squeaked again, reaching out a delicate little paw. For some reason, Pyro felt compelled. She touched the paw.
Mrs. Ryien did not seem amused at the prospect of a new pet. The same couldn't be said for the parent of the Pika-girl, as Pyro had mentally dubbed her. In fact she seemed very amused. The words, 'It's not a Pikachu,' punctuated by 'He.' Settled that particular conversation, and the Pika-girl left with her new pet uncomfortably perched on her hat.
"I want her." Said Pyro.
Mrs. Ryien stared at Pyro.
"Patrick, a rat? In my house? Couldn't it be something clean, like a Meowth?"
"I want her."
A piercing, determined, glare.
Mrs. Ryien pressed her lips together, the blood flushing from her cheeks.
"Fine. But…but…ohhh!" she said, painfully yanking the child along. Pyro could have cared less. She had the little one. It was hers. They had chosen one another.
---
"Hisaki. Hosaki. Enkou. Naien. Shinka. Hiya."
The Rattata showed no response.
"Do you want me to name you?"
The Rattata blinked, turning her head to the side. She was tiny, furry, and charming. Seeking warmth, she crawled into Pyro's lap, chittering softly.
"Fine. You will be Hiya."
At the back of her mind, a little tinkle sounded. A friendly swish. And faintly, ever so faintly, Pyro could have sworn she heard a sleepy; "Good enough…"
Author's Note: Well, well. If you are reading this, then you like my story well enough to hold on until chapter three. Oh, the wonder of it all. Now, I apologise for the chapters being so short. As for any questions you have, ask in the reviews, I'll answer them. Updates will be random for the most part, but the nesxt one will definitely be in the beginning or middle of August. Suggestions, flames, andconstructive criticism will be equally appreciated.