004. Charmander "The Crushed Dream of Molly Hadley"

That night all I could do was lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering what the next day would hold for me. Tomorrow was the thirteenth day of June, which would be my eleventh birthday. Right now I kept on picturing what my parents would give me, and yesterday, when they went out with some friends and left me with Jamie to babysit me, I snuck up to my parents' bedroom and found five presents hidden in their walk-in closet, all neatly wrapped with shiny pink paper and purple ribbons. I was so excited that I was almost convinced that my thoughts would burst out of my head like fireworks!

Tonight I was imagining myself opening each gift until I came to the last one that was a small, square box that contained what I had always wanted: my very first Pokemon.

A kid's very first Pokemon was something that everyone talked about in school, and if your parents promised you one in a certain time in your life, it was then that you were considered to no longer be a child anymore. When my parents sat me down on a Thursday (which was my favorite day ever, second to tomorrow, of course!) and told me that one of my gifts would a Pokemon I became one of the coolest students at school. My peers would often come up to me and ask me what Pokemon I would be getting, and I would calmly say 'A Squirtle, of course!' And that's what my first Pokemon would be, I was sure of it.

When my eyes finally shut and my mind was filled with dreams of my Squirtle and me, I woke up as soon as the sunshine peered through my curtains. For the first few hours of the day my hopes became increasingly higher, and as my best friends started to arrive I was completely convinced that I was going to receive my Squirtle and that nothing could change that.

After all of my guests had arrived to witness me receiving my first Pokemon, we all ate lunch together - my friends at one table and the adults at another - and then my mom served a cheese cake with ripe strawberries on top. When everyone was finished eating we all found spots in the living room to sit down where I could be open my gifts in front of my somewhat restless audience.

My father had gone upstairs and came back down with all of the presents that I had seen only the day before, and sat them all carefully on the coffee table in front of me as if they were precious jewels. I looked at each gift, deciding which one to pick up first, knowing immediately that I would save the small box for last.

The first one I chose was flat and rectangular, containing a red and black checkered dress with a matching black coat, which I assumed would only be allowed to be worn on certain days such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. With a satisfied smile I discarded the dress and coat and grabbed the second parcel which was a square box containing several thick books that contained my favorite fairytales. Again thanking my mom and dad, I grabbed the third gift that was a plastic, zipped bag with nail polish that would last for atleast several months. After carefully putting the bag back onto the table, I let my hand linger towards the small box, watching my eager friends' glance excitedly, but then I took the large rectangular box that had a glass doll laying on red paper. I took the doll out, fascinated by her baby blue dress with white lace, and stood her up on the coffee table, remembering that I had seen this doll in Celadon City at the shopping mall with my dad.

Now came the moment that both my friends and I have been waiting for. I was no longer was calm and collected, but now I was increasingly excited as I held the last gift in my hands. After I had taken off the purple bow and the pink paper, I stared at the white box and carefully removed the lid, uncovering a dark red sphere with green etchings that went all the way around the device.

Taking the Cherish Ball in my shaking hand, my mom urges me to release the creature within it, but I was all ready heading for the backyard that I barely even heard her. As soon as I was standing out on the lawn, and my friends had gathered on the porch, each of their faces gleaming with curiousity and jealousy. And then, I threw the device, being temporarily blinded by the sudden bright light. When the flash faded, I was overcome by shock at first and then rage started to boil up.

In front of me stood a lizard that was reared up on its hind legs, its orange scales shining in the sun, and its large blue eyes gazing at me with a questioning look. And at first it didn't register that before was a Charmander, and not the beloved Water-type that I had wanted so dearly, but when the Pokemon took a step torwards me and let out a small cry out joy I exploded into a fit of tears and rage.

I had grabbed the nearest rock and threw it at the creature, yelling as I did. I then ran back into the house, retreating into the safe sanctuary that was my room, and stayed there even when my mother stood outside the door, at first saying that I shouldn't have acted that way, then explaining how she would make it up to me.

"Molly! Snap out of it!" Ben shouted, getting slightly impatient by the sound of his tone.

I blinked looking from my Squirtle that was standing in front of me, who was waiting for my orders, and back to the Pokemon that Ben had called out.

The Charmander looked at me with a hatred that I had never encountered, and as we stared at each other I came to realize that it was the same Charmander that I was given on my birthday. I became flooded with guilt as the Fire-type bared its teeth as if telling me he had never forgiven me, and I knew that his anger was justified.

"I...I give up."

I cannot believe you people actually liked the first three one-shots I wrote! They were terrible! And I don't really like the ending to this one because I couldn't figure out what I wanted Molly to say at the end, but I just went with what you just read.

Munia, I'm not sure. It depends how far I can get with what I've all ready got, plus I haven't got to play either Black or White, but you never know!

~ Quin.

Pokemon Quiz!

Question: Name the Legendary Pokemon that have genders! (I am not including the Legendaries from Black and White)

Answer: The only Legendaries that have a gender are Latias, Latios, Heatran, and Cresselia. Yes, this includes the PMD series. Why? Because when they join your team, you can see that the Legendary Pokemon that are not listed above do not have genders. I know that in cutscenes they will refer Celebi as a 'girl' or Uxie as a 'guy,' but that still doesn't mean they have a gender. I know this is true in Explorers of Darkness, Time, and Sky, but I am not sure in Blue or Red.

New question!

What one of the earliest Pokemon games was never released outside of Japan?