Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon

A/N: Wow thanks for all the encouraging reviews! You've inspired me to keep writing! I like the name Evan, I'll definitely use it somewhere in the story - already got a name for Eevee, suggested to me by a friend. Thanks everyone, hope you enjoy the next installment!

Chapter Five: Testing Time

Kamari trudged home from school, thinking about the Eevee. She had saved up $65 of her own babysitting money, but that wasn't anywhere near enough to adopt him. She'd already campaigned at school for one of her classmates to adopt the Eevee, but no-one seemed interested. A couple of boys even had the nerve to say that Eevees were weak pokemon and not worth the hassle. Kamari had almost punched them, but kept her temper in check, reassuring herself that her Eevee was NOT weak.

As Kamari walked up the steps to their apartment, her mother appeared at the door, beaming. Kamari hadn't seen her mother this happy since Kamari came first in the school swimming competition last year.

Varuna's smile was infectious, and Kamari grinned back at her mum. "What's up mum? You look excited about something?"

Varuna ushered Kamari into the house and sat her down on the couch.

"Mum, what?" Kamari's curiosity at her mother's behaviour increased tenfold.

"I have a surprise for you," she said. "Consider it an early birthday present. Now, close your eyes!"

Kamari squeezed her eyes shut. What on earth was going on? Her mum never gave her an early birthday present. Last year even her second hand bike had been given to her two weeks late. Her birthday was still six weeks away. What could she have possibly bought her now, so early?

Kamari felt something placed in her lap. "Waaaaiiiiiit….." her mother teased. Kamari held her breath in suspense. The thing in her lap moved, causing Kamari to gasp. Then she heard a loud, very distinguishable "VEEE!".

"OH MY GOD!" Kamari screamed, opening her eyes and staring down at her beloved Eevee. "Mum really? You can't be serious? He's mine?" Kamari fired questions at her mother while gazing down at the bundle of excited fur wriggling in her lap.

"Really really," her mum said, almost as excited as Kamari. "Isn't he just gorgeous? What are you going to name him?"

"I don't know," Kamari confessed. "I'll think of something, don't you worry. Oh mum you're the BEST!" Kamari squealed and leaned over to give her mum a huge hug.

"But how? I thought you couldn't afford a pokemon?" Kamari said, concerned her mother had spent a lot of money to fulfil Kamari's wish. She didn't want her mum to go further into debt because of her.

Varuna grinned. "Let's just say your good luck fairy dropped him on the doorstep." She winked. "So…I guess now you can get your trainer registration. I've saved the money for you," Varuna added. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you so much when you leave with Alyssandra."

Kamari stared at her in shock. Leave? With Aly? "You mean I can go on a pokemon journey with Aly? Oh WOW, that's so unbelievable cool!" Kamari squealed again. Then just as suddenly her face dropped and she started crying.

"Oh mum I'm going to miss you too! Thank you so much for everything!"

Kamari and her mother sat there bawling and hugging each other for a short while as the Eevee looked at them curiously. "Eevee?" it finally questioned. Kamari and Varuna both let out shaky laughs as they pulled apart, wiping their eyes. "Guess he's hungry," said Kamari, patting the Eevee.

"There's pokemon food in the fridge, and after you have dinner you can brush him with your new, specially designed Eevee brush. Ta da!" and Varuna pulled the brush from under a couch cushion with a flourish. She noticed Kamari's amazed expression and laughed. "See, your mum is just full of surprises!" Varuna winked.

After dinner and a vigorous brushing by Kamari, the Eevee had curled up on the couch between Kamari and her mother. "So tomorrow to the registration centre?" Varuna asked.

Kamari grinned. "Yup. Can you come? Please?"

Varuna winked. "I think I can wrangle a day off work to see you registered. Plus we can go shopping for some of the things you'll need for your journey." Varuna's forehead creased in concentration. "Your sister's old sleeping bag is upstairs, and it's lined, so it will certainly be warm enough for winter. We'll have to get you some proper shoes….and a proper backpack. Your school one is falling apart! You've got a poncho already…..clothing you should be fine with. I'll grab a small first aid kit as well while we're out. And some long life food." Varuna played with her bottom lip with a finger.

"The pokedex you'll get at rego tomorrow, along with your pokeball belt, hat and credits….and if you need more credits, don't hesitate to call me!" Varuna shot a warning glance at Kamari while she rattled off her mental list of items.

"You'll also get a pokemon first aid kit at rego. I'll need to buy some more dried pokemon food – and don't forget to grab fruit while you're passing through forests and orchards for both you and the Eevee…" Varuna stopped when she noticed Kamari had fallen asleep on the couch, one arm wrapped protectively around the Eevee.

Varuna smiled softly before gathering up a blanket and covering the pair. She hadn't felt this happy in a long, long time.

Kamari's palms were sweating as she stood in line to take the computer test. It was a simple pokemon knowledge test that required a 70 per cent pass to qualify as a trainer, but even though Kamari knew a lot from working in the Pokemon Centre, she was still nervous. She glanced back at her mother, fervently wishing she was standing next to her. Varuna gave Kamari a thumbs up from the waiting area. She knew that Kamari would do just fine, even if Kamari was unsure of it.

A tap on Kamari's shoulder signalled her turn in one of the testing booths. She sat in front of the computer, typed in her personal details and hit enter. The screen flashed and a multiple choice test of 50 questions appeared.

"Breathe Kamari, you can do this…" She focused on the first question.

"What type of pokemon is a Marill?"

1. Fire

2. Ground

3. Ice

4. Water

Kamari grinned. This test was going to be a piece of cake.

She walked out of the booth and back to the waiting area, holding her test sheet print-out. A 92 per cent! Kamari was bursting with pride. She had only forgotten what level a Wartortle evolved into a Blastoise, and what move a Zubat learned at level 21. Her mother came over. "So?"

Kamari held up her sheet. "92!"

"Congratulations!" Varuna hugged her daughter hard. "I knew you could do it! Let's head over to the registration desk so you can get your stuff."

Kamari slung the bags of items her and her mother had bought into the boot of the small car. It was the biggest shopping spree Kamari had been on with her mother in ages. Varuna kept insisting it was okay, and telling Kamari not to worry – that's she was better off prepared for her trip, and besides, without Kamari around, the food bill would halve. Varuna even bought Kamari a book called "The evolution pokemon: Training your Eevee and its evolutions".

The best part of the day, and Kamari's most precious item, was a silver necklace with her Eevee's pokeball suspended on it – Kamari's going away present from her mother. She gripped it now as they drove home. Soon she would be a real trainer, having real adventures. She could hardly wait.

A/N: Hey all! Well I hope you enjoyed that chapter! I've already written most of chapter six. Keep those reviews coming to inspire me to keep going! Laters!