Chapter 9- "Birthday Girl"

{Disclaimer; I don't own Pokémon.}

Willa faded into consciousness, stretching her limbs and yawning before opening her eyes. Her feet clanged the bed's wooden posts; she'd grown much too tall for the small bed anymore. "Gyehh… Good morning- WAIT!" The eager girl shot straight up, nearly leaping out of the bed. "I'm Ten! Look out League, here I come!" Grinning, the soon-to-be-trainer ran right out her door, and, well, right into a guardian of hers."OOF-!"

"Machamp." The Pokémon smiled, wrapping the kid in a four-arm hug. Putting two hands on her shoulders, Machamp led the girl down the hall and into the house's kitchen, where a cake was laid out. Her father beamed at his daughter, hastily making his way over to envelop her in a hug just as tight as the bulky Pokémon's.

"My little girl… Setting out on her own!" surprisingly to her, the gym leader actually looked emotional at the thought; she had just figured he'd have more time for his baby.

"Ugh, I'm not little, Dad!" It was true, Willa was a towering fiend for a ten year old. Most were almost five feet, while Willa was nearly 5'3.5". And she wasn't "little" in the maturity sense, either. Out of all the ten year olds out on their own, her time of childhood isolation made her roughly the same maturity of a 14 year old.

"You'll always be my little girl. And you'll always be your Mother's little girl as well. She'd be so proud…"

Willa looked down at the mentioning of her deceased mother. The woman's would've-been pride meant nothing to her, because, well, the ten year old saw it somewhat as a case of abandonment. Lost at sea, never to be heard of again. It broke her heart every time she thought about it, and really didn't feel like letting it ruin the best day of her life.

So she switched back to a topic that was important. "Do you have my Pokédex, dad? Potions? Money for Pokéballs…?" It really caused the hearty man to chuckle, shaking his head slightly.

"So eager to leave? Celebrate a little. Let's have some cake while you're still at home." Chuck smiled, cutting the cake and divvying out slices. "Think Goldeen will become a staple on your team, sweetie? Seaking can pack quite the punch!"

The birthday girl bit a grin off her lips, shoveling some cake into her mouth. "Hmmm… I've got a water type in mind…" With that, she glanced up at Machamp, who grinned back at her, knowing just what she'd meant.

Chuck grinned, proud of himself for catching her a friend so many years ago. "Machamp… Get the presents out of my room, will you?" The muscular Pokémon quickly did so, scurrying down the hall and back with six wrapped boxes, towering. He set them down in the living room, taking a small one and holding it out for the girl. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"This one first?" Willa smiled, carefully taking the palm-sized box in her hand and unwrapping it. What was inside caused her to squeal, as she tossed the wrapping paper and tentatively flipped open her new PokéGear, with map and radio cards already installed. "Eeek! My own PokéGear! Thank you, Daddy! Thank you!" She flung her arms around her huge father, excited for the sense of responsibility of having her own phone. Of traveling on her own. Well, actually, she had Griffin.

"I expect you to call me, Young Lady. I want a check-in once a week, preferably once every day."

"Of course, Dad! I definitely will." Willa grinned, opening a Pokédex, 6 pack of pokéballs, and a TM to get her started, all in 30 minutes flat. That meant only two presents left. What more could I need to get me started…? She thought to herself, putting the current presents in a purple tote she'd had since she was 7 specifically for her journey.

The next present was a pokéball. "Seven…?" Looking at her father, she cocked her head. "Why pack it separate…?"

Chuck smiled, closing her hand over the capsule. "This is your starter's pokéball. Goldeen. She's going to tag along on your journey."Beaming again, he kissed his daugther's forehead.

"Dad, I-" Willa stuttered, trying to find the right words to break it to him, but she never managed to finish.

"I know. She's actually all yours now. Feel like a big kid yet, dear? Here, open your last gift. This one's special."

Warily, Willa slipped away the ribbon, realizing it was a box in which the top was pulled off to open. She flicked off the cap, almost scared of what was going to be inside. But it wasn't frightening. Inside was a necklace, her name etched in gold on the front. Only Willa didn't gasp like a normal girl would. Picking it up carefully, she examined it. It was three dimensional, not a flat pendant. And apparently special. No… Please don't be… And it was. It was hollow, and popped open when she pushed her fingernail into the side. The locket swung open, showing a picture of Willa when she was 9 on one side. And on the other… Well… A picture of a woman. A young woman, shot professionally, by the beach. Willa figured Cameron took the photo. And the woman? A sandy-blonde, about 30 in the picture. Bright green eyes, a perfectly symmetrical face. A real beauty. "…Mom…" The girl quickly shut the necklace, clenching it in her hand. "Thank you, father. Now I'm going to get packed, I'll leave a little after you go to work."

The fighting Gym leader shed a few tears, hugging his daughter tightly for what seemed like hours. "I… can't believe my little girl…"

Willa smiled a little, hugging him back. "Love you, Dad. I promise to call." With that, an emotional Chuck attended to his gym duties, which left Willa staring at the door. "… Love you." She had kept strong, and didn't cry, which she was proud of herself for. But then she turned and exchanged a glance with Machamp, and lost it. The girl flung herself at him, bawling. The Pokémon had gone through so much with her; pranks, plans, being with each other every day. It made her sob loudly into the thing's chest, not ready to let go of him just yet. "Machammmpp!" She wailed, wiping her eyes and sniffling. "P-Promise me… O-One day you'll j-join my t-team…?" She looked up at the tall Pokémon, who also had a few tears streaming.

"Ma champ." And the way he'd separated it, it sounded like 'My Champ.' Willa wiped her nose, squeezing the Pokémon's torso.

"I'll miss you… So much, Machamp…" She shuddered, before continuing. "Thank you… For always being there for me…" Crying against his grey skin, memories flooded her mind. "I love you, Machamp. Thank you for everything…"

The Pokémon let go of her, motioning for her to go pack her things. Willa walked to her room and packed the things she'd need, sitting on her bed one last time and looking at both the locket and Goldeen's pokéball. "He tried to get me things to bring to remember my family… That's sweet, at least.

With one last final sweep of the room, she walked out and downstairs. Willa hugged Machamp one last time, before toeing open the door, shutting it behind her with finality.


Taking a deep breath, the new trainer set off in the hot sand, knowing exactly where her first spot would be. Cliff's Edge Cave, to catch a certain Lapras.

At home, on her dresser, lay two small things, and a fishbowl. A pokéball, a fish swimming ignorantly, and a small little necklace lying open with two pictures revealed inside.