Note: Credit to LightningThePikachu for giving me the idea for this story!
Way back in the third grade, it was a special, fateful day; Machop's ninth birthday. He was celebrating in Golduck E. Cheese's with his friends. As you would expect, eight-year-old Plusle was already taking thirds from the soda machine and sipping away.
Soon, Machamp brought in a Nanab berry-flavored cake and lit the candles before everyone started singing the age-old song that we've all heard before. Machop shifted a bit, as sitting through that song can be awkward. However, he was excited to make his wish, and he blew out the candles. He blew them somewhat harder than intended, and the candles, as well as some of the frosting, came flying off and splattered in Minun's face. Everyone else laughed.
While they were playing arcade games, Magikarp whispered to Machop, "Hey, what did you wish for?"
"I can't tell you, or it won't come true," Machop answered, rolling his eyes.
"If you say so," Magikarp shrugged and continued to play his shooter game.
That night, Machop was getting ready for bed. As he settled into his covers, his mother came to see him.
"I hope you've had a good day, li'l chopper," Machamp said to her son before she kissed him goodnight.
"Well, of course," he responded.
In the middle of the night, Machop woke up and felt pain in his legs. Wincing, he tossed and turned. It kept him up for quite some time before he finally dozed off again.
By the next morning, Machop's pains were gone, but he still felt rather different. He felt considerably stronger. He sat up, only for the bed to snap under his weight.
"Dumb flimsy brand," he grumbled.
Rubbing his eyes, he walked to the bathroom. He started to brush his teeth, only to spit the toothpaste right out when he got a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His skin was bluish-gray, his teeth were sharper, he was more muscular, and he had a belt that wasn't there before. He yelped, extremely startled.
Machamp heard him and approached the bathroom door. "What's wrong, Machop? Can I come in?"
Knowing there was no way of hiding it, Machop simply uttered, "Uh-huh."
Machamp came in. When she saw her son, she emitted a small gasp.
"What? Is something wrong with me?" Machop questioned, looking worried. "I don't wanna miss PE today."
Machamp's expression softened. "That's…that's not it. I'm just surprised because, well, our species don't usually evolve this early."
Machop was intrigued. "Huh, really?"
Machamp nodded. "Y'know, we tend to become Machoke when we're much older, but being an early evolver isn't much to worry about. You really are growing up fast, Machoke."
Machoke's expression lit up. He'd surely get even better in Phys Ed class! "Cool!" he exclaimed. He went off to get ready. He couldn't wait to see what everyone at Red & Blue Elementary would think!
He entered the school building with a grin on his face. When the other students saw him, they were rather intimidated by his appearance and started to whisper among themselves. He reached his locker. He started to open it, but he accidentally ripped the door off the hinges. He scowled. Some of the students snickered, while others nervously speed-walked to their classrooms. Machoke was getting embarrassed. He was starting to worry about how his best friends would react to seeing what he looked like.
The Mon 4 entered and saw Machoke awkwardly putting the door back into place and putting some of his belongings into the locker. They were taken by surprise by how different he looked and approached him.
"Are you a new kid?" Plusle asked.
"Uh, no, it's me, Machop, except I'm Machoke now," Machoke answered.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Plusle looked flustered.
"I could kind of tell it was him because he had his usual backpack," Minun pointed out.
Magikarp had to look upwards to make eye contact with him. "I like the new look."
Machoke gave a small smile, he was a little relieved. "Heh, thanks."
When Machoke got to his seat, he made sure to be as slow and steady as possible so that he would not break the chair, and though he was successful with that, he did snap his pencil when he started to write, quite loudly, too. The sound made a few people jump, others were simply amused.
Frightened, Plusle and Minun's cousin Togedemaru ducked under his desk. "Was that thunder?!"
"What an oaf," jeered Geodude. "Did you get held back a year or something?"
Machoke huffed and turned away.
"Hey, don't be rude," scolded the teacher, Mr. Rhyperior. "He just evolved; his mother told me about it. It's beyond his control."
Geodude scoffed. "Whatever."
Magikarp didn't exactly know what to say, but he reached over and patted Machoke on the shoulder. He figured it was the least he could do, and Machoke did look like he appreciated the gesture.
Later, it was time for PE class. Machoke was brimming with excitement for it. The gym teacher, Coach Hitmonchan blew his whistle for them to start. The game of volleyball began. On the other side, Geodude served the ball. He aimed it at Minun and hit it very hard, then it knocked him down.
"Score one for us," he chuckled.
Plusle helped Minun up. "You okay?"
He nodded. "I've still got some fight left."
Machoke was not pleased about what Geodude did, so he was determined to help his team win this game. He served the ball after a few other classmates had done so, but he gave it more force than intended, and it bounced off the ceiling and landed on Lombre's arms. A loud pop was heard and Lombre screamed in pain.
Coach Hitmonchan came running. "Are you hurt?!"
Lombre instinctively started to rub his wrist, only to wince. "Oh, my wrists!"
Guilt immediately swept over Machoke. "Oh, geez, I'm sorry, man!"
Several of the students in Machoke's team backed away from him with fear in their eyes, sans the rest of the Mon 4, who just looked worried about Lombre. Machoke was ashamed.
Coach Hitmonchan looked at Lombre. "Judging by the sound it made, it might be a sprain. You'd better go to Nurse Chansey's office."
"Could I take him there?" Machoke offered.
Lombre scowled at him in great anger and disapproval, but he did not raise his voice. "No thanks, I can do this myself." He left the gym in a huff.
The students who didn't cower glared at Machoke, and he shrank into himself.
At lunchtime, everyone was eating and chatting. Machoke did not eat, his stomach was in knots from the remorse that lingered. When he saw his friends coming, he turned his head away. He couldn't bear to look at them.
"M-Machoke?" Plusle said in concern.
"Go away," he whimpered. "Please. I don't want to hurt you."
"Are you sure?" Plusle asked. "You look like you could use someone to talk to."
Machoke didn't really want to be alone. "I…I guess so."
The others sat with him.
"Oh, I wish I never made that stupid wish in the first place," Machoke lamented.
Magikarp cocked his head. "What do you mean?"
"On my birthday, I wished to be stronger, but all it's done is give me trouble," Machoke sighed. "I keep breaking things, I've hurt someone, and no one else wants to be around me." He looked very forlorn. "Are…are you scared of me now?"
"Oh, Machoke, of course not," Magikarp said. "It was an accident."
"You're not alone here," Magikarp held Machoke's hand. "When my sister Gyarados evolved, she went through the same thing."
"She did?" Machoke asked.
"Uh-huh," nodded Magikarp. "She couldn't move her tail without accidentally smacking something or someone, and she had trouble getting used to no longer having fins to hold things."
"Besides, a simple wish wouldn't cause all of this," Minun told him. "Unless, of course, Jirachi was there, but that's unlikely."
"What about Lombre?" Machoke wondered. He was still shaken by the look Lombre had given him.
"He needs some time to cool off," Plusle said. "You can also try to make it up to him somehow. I'd start with some kinda peace offering like flowers, and maybe helping him with stuff."
"I'd like to, but what if I mess things up again?" Machoke questioned worriedly.
"I'm sure you'll be able to control your strength in time," Minun told him. "It takes practice."
"It's not easy to evolve," Machoke admitted. "I feel so different."
"Well, you've changed in appearance," said Minun, "but you're still the friend we've known all this time."
Machoke was very touched. "Thanks, guys."
Just then, Geodude came over. "Hey, you!"
"What do you want?" Machoke scowled.
"Lombre's wrists are officially sprained!" Geodude chortled. "You're in trouble now."
"You know I didn't do it on purpose," Machoke glared.
"Liar," jeered Geodude. "You're a total monster! This school is no place for wild brutes like you."
Machoke plugged his ears, but Geodude wasn't about to let him off that easily.
"You're a walking disaster area," Geodude continued, "and you'll never get any better! I'm shocked that your friends are still by your side after your screw-ups! They'll leave you someday and you'll be all alone with nothing but your muscles to keep you company!"
Machoke was getting increasingly agitated. He clenched his fist and his shoulders tensed up.
Geodude took notice and smirked. "Go on then, fight me! Be a tough guy!"
That made Machoke think. He snorted and turned away. "Not a tough guy like you."
Geodude was not pleased that he wasn't getting the reaction he wanted. "Fine, whatever, be a wimp if you want!" He stormed off.
"Wow, nice self-control," mused Minun.
"Yeah, don't listen to him," Magikarp said. "He's not even worth it."
Machoke was starting to feel better already. He knew it would take a while for everybody else to get used to his new form, but he knew that he could learn to control his strength eventually, and he would be treated like how he was before.