Chapter Text
Charmander.
Bulbasaur.
Squirtle.
One of these three would be chosen to be a young trainer's ultimate partner and best friend for life. The day to choose had finally come for a young girl named Leaf. She had dreamed of this day her entire childhood, as many children did. They would all talk about which Pokémon they would choose as their starter. Most had a hard time deciding. Leaf did not.
Leaf knew from the moment she saw it, that the water type Squirtle would be her starter. She fell in love at first sight. It was strong, cute, and it was water type; Leaf's favorite type. Sure, Charmander wasn't bad. It was certainly the most popular among her peers. Bulbasaur, well, let's just say it wasn't her cup of tea. She didn't hate it or anything, it would just be her last choice.
She wasn't thinking about that now, however. As she all but skipped toward the Pokémon Lab, her mind was full of nothing but thoughts of the adventures she and her Squirtle would have in the very near future.
"Professor! I'm here," Leaf called as she swung open the front door of the lab.
"Oh, well, hello," Professor Oak answered pulling himself out of his work looking somewhat disheveled and more than a little surprised.
Leaf cheerily sauntered farther in the lab.
"Heehee," Leaf giddily laughed. "So," Leaf was wringing her hands together in anticipation, "I think it's finally time."
"Y-you seem very excited," the professor seemed uncharacteristically...nervous? He awkwardly looked around as if trying to find something.
Leaf tilted her head in confusion. "Is something the matter, Professor?"
"I'm sorry. This is terribly rude of me, but..." he squints as if bracing for something, "What was your name again?"
Leaf stares at him blankly. All her previous enthusiasm slowly deflating like a balloon.
Giving him the most deadpan expression she can muster to match her deadpan tone she says, "It's Leaf. You asked me to come here."
Oak blinks.
"To get my first Pokémon!"
Finally the cogs start turning in his head, "Oh, oh, yes, I remember now," Oak sighs running his hand through his (receding) hair. "Ah, I'm awfully sorry. It gets harder and harder to remember these sorts of things at my age, and I'm so very busy all the time..."
"Yeah, yeah..." Leaf says rolling her eyes.
"Give this old man a break will you." He says turning and walking back towards his desk where there are mountains of papers and other miscellaneous things, Leaf trailing behind.
"Ah, well, goodness, this makes things a bit awkward. Maybe I should've had the three of you pick on the same day," he says as he begins digging through the mess.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you see, just a couple of days ago my grandson and another boy in town picked their Pokémon and-aha" the professor manged to find a Pokéball that had been buried under all that.
He gently tossed the Pokéball. It burst open with a small flash of light. Leaf bent slightly with her hands on her knees waiting to see what came out.
A little blue Pokémon with a green bulb on its back yawned and stretched upon its release. It groggily looked up at Leaf with curious red eyes.
"Bulbasaur." Leaf plainly stated.
"That's right," Oak confirmed taking a seat in his desk chair. He lifted the Pokémon onto his desk and began scratching it under its chin. It happily growled at his touch. "This little one wasn't chosen the other day, and I'm afraid it's the only one left."
Oak pulled his hand away and the tiny Pokémon ran towards the other side of the desk. It looked up at Leaf with shining, expectant eyes.
Leaf was shocked. All she could do was stare at it with her mouth agape. The Bulbasaur tilted its head not understanding Leaf's reaction.
"I...but I...wanted Squirtle."
"Well we could wait until I'm sent another one, but who knows how long that would take. They're incredibly hard to find in the wild and I'm only occasionally donated an egg, usually trainers don't want to give up one that rare. It could take years."
Leaf completely withers upon hearing that. Her expression and her heart dropping. Bulbasaur flinches at the change and takes a few steps back looking almost like it feels guilty. Leaf looks at the Professor.
"It's up to you what to do, Leaf."
Leaf looks back down at the poor Pokémon and can't help it when her expression sours. She'll never forget the look it made back at her. It looked like it was about to cry. It was the saddest look a Pokémon could possibly have. It made her feel like the scummiest person alive.
She knew at that moment there was no choice. She forced as much of smile as she could muster.
"I'll take it!"