True Destiny

Life is not easy, I've learned. There are many trials that you must face. And boy, lemme tell you, I've faced just about them all.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's go back a few years. Actually, a lot of years. I was nine. One of the petty ages between childhood and teen-hood. And in the next few months, I would turn ten. And I would officially get my first Pokémon.

I know it sounds cliché. The ten-year-old kid getting their first Pokémon, and becoming the Champion, blah blah, yadda yadda... But that didn't happen to me. Not in the slightest, oh no. It was hard even getting to where I am today.

But, again, getting ahead of myself. So yeah, nine years old. I was attending primary school, like most kids, learning about Pokémon and all, all that good stuff. I wanted a Pokémon more than ever. Some days, after school, I would stay after school with my mates and spy on the passing trainers with rare Pokemon. Oh, those were the days! In our pre-adolescent days, we would see so many new Pokemon, and choose the ones I liked best.

I finally chose my six favorites: Scizor, Flareon, Luxray, Ninetales, Alakazam and Arcanine. Suffice to say, I was more drawn to Fire types than most others, but I also liked those with that thrilling sense of danger, like wild, unstable Electrics, and mind-bending Psychics.

But my parents thought otherwise. My mother thought Fire types were too dangerous, because fire was so destructive. Daddy thought Electrics could shock me. When I presented them with my little list, each Pokemon was declined. And I was furious.

And that's when I got smart. I was a strong girl, and a smart one at that. I could pull my own. My mates and I met one day and it was decided; we would raise money for our own Pokemon. And we were committed to it too.

My best gal friend Lira Maxis worked in babysitting. She had a way with children that I never could understand, and raked in a large sum of money. My best guy friend Alexei Markov worked in landscaping. He could turn a drab lawn into a jungle paradise. He also made a small fortune.

And that left me, little Destiny Jean, with everything else, all the odds and ends, the bits and bobs, and whatever Lira and Alexei didn't want. That meant cleaning houses, newspaper routes, and painting houses, along with many more demeaning things that didn't exactly pay top dollar. Oh, joy.

Luckily, we had all agreed to split the money three ways. Between my meager funds and my mates' fortunes, we soon had a little over a thousand dollars each. I assumed we had enough for one Pokemon, and a little left over for supplies. Yes, I was the nerd of the group.

We didn't live far from Jubilife City, just on the outside of it. We were on our way to becoming Pokemon Trainers. Imagine our excitement! We talked of where we'd go, what we'd do, after we left home. Oh, did I mention we were running away from home after we got out Pokemon? Yes, I mustn't forget that detail.

We were so excited as we walked into the Pokemon store, where you could buy eggs, Pokemon, Pokemon bi-products, you name it. Imagine the surprise on the saleslady's face when three little kids walked in, all carrying bulging pillow cases. Yes, we kept our money in our pillows.

"Hello," The lady said, in her sweetest voice. "Can I help you?" She was a tall lady, with very curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She seemed like such a sweet lady, and we'd have no problem getting a Pokemon.

"We want a Pokemon," the three of said in perfect unison. The lady smiled, and I saw her nametag: Nadine. Pretty name, in my opinion. "Well, we have many Pokemon here," Nadine said, gesturing to a door at the back of the store. "Come with me, children." She said, stepping from behind her counter and leading us to the door.

We eagerly crowed in front of the door as Nadine rested her hand upon it and pushed it open. We shoved each other aside to try and get into the room. I was the first one in. And I was mesmerized by the size of the room and its occupants.

There were so many Pokemon! They were all small and weak looking, un-evolved, our teacher had called them. They were all crowded into a vast room, with a chain-link gate extending a few feet in front to keep the Pokemon from getting at us. I didn't see any of the Pokemon that I had dreamed about, but I did see the Pokemon they evolved from.

An Abra sleeping in the corner, a Shinx pouncing in a small pink ball with eyes, a Growlithe pawing at a small square block, and so many more things I couldn't identify. Alexei and Lira pointed and called out some names that I didn't know, and I called out some they didn't know. It was absolute bliss.

Eventually, Nadine had to usher us out of the room. She took her place behind her counter and asked if we had any money. We held up our pillow cases. We each had one thousand fifty-two dollars and varying amounts of change.

Nadine's smile wavered for a fraction of a second. Then she said her next sentence slowly: "I'm sorry, kids. But all the Pokemon here cost one thousand five hundred dollars at the least."

Her smile dropped with ours. Our eyes found the ground. Nadine said, "If it's any consolation, we have a discount promotion coming up in a few weeks. The prices will have dropped by half. You could come in then."

We nodded and thanked Nadine for her kindness. We trudged through the crowded streets of Jubilife City, absolutely crushed. Lira was close to tears. It was getting dark so we hastened our pace to get home.

We said our goodbyes and trudged on home, our hearts and pillow cases heavy. I walked in the front door of my house, dragging my case behind me, and stumbled upstairs without a word to my parents, or dinner. And I loved dinner with a burning passion.

I slept soundlessly. I didn't even notice when my mom walked in a placed a peanut butter sandwich on my desk, where I found it the next morning. I ate it slowly, not wanting to have to go downstairs and face the world again. I literally felt as if the world was yanked from beneath me. Dramatic, yes, but that's what it felt like to me.

Breakfast wasn't fun. I didn't eat much, accounting for the fact that I had just eaten a peanut butter sandwich and that my sadness was making my appetite vanish. I wondered if Alexei and Lira felt the same way.

My parents must have noticed my spiraling depression, because they decided to hold an intervention. Oh, how I loved their interventions. Not. "Destiny, sweetie, is something wrong?" my mother asked. She was wearing a look of concern, and her kindest, most convincing smile.

"Nothing's wrong," I said into my juice. Obvious lie. My dad put down his paper and said, "Dest, I know you're upset because you can't get a Pokemon, but-"

"I'm not upset!" I blurted. "I'm perfectly fine, I don't have any problems! Just leave me alone." I know that sounded a little harsh, but I just walked straight out the front door. I didn't have any plans that day, as it was Saturday, so I decided to gather my friends and go poke around the city.

I went to Lira's house first, because she lives the closest to me. I trudged onto her front stoop and knocked three times. She opened the door. Oh, yeah, I forgot to describe her.

Lira is a short, thin girl whose parents are from what she calls the Mediterranean. She has long caramel colored hair that she styles in one long braid down her back. She has sparkling cocoa brown eyes that seem to reflect her emotions, and the funniest accent ever, but I kind of wish I had one. A different accent, not hers.

"Hello Destiny. How are you?" She asked in that sweet accented voice of hers. I couldn't help smiling.

"I'm fine," I replied. "Never been better, actually." Okay, that was a total lie, and Lira obviously knew, but she didn't say that she caught on. She just raised a brow, grabbed her bag, and followed me out the door. Together, we walked to Alexei's house.

We walked on to the edge of the town, where the largest house was. Three stories, white stone, quite wide, actually. That's Alexei's house. His parents are loaded with cash, so Alexei's pretty spoiled. But, he did work for his Pokemon money on his own, and his parents refused to get him one when he asked.

Lira pressed the button for the doorbell, and an elaborate chime rang out. Lira and I swayed to the sound, like we had many times before. There was a muffled yell and a few footsteps, and the clicking of the lock as it opened.

The door opened to reveal a small, dark haired lady. Rosie smiled and said slowly, "Good morning, girls." We replied with a chirpy "Good morning, Rosie!" She opened the door further and said, "Alexei is in the parlor. Please, come in."

We stepped inside, not at all fazed by the luxurious décor. But really, it was gorgeous inside that house. Lush furniture, hanging crystals, beautiful portraits; it was to die for. Like I said, Alexei's parents were loaded.

Lira and I skipped down a long corridor hung with elaborate tapestries, wallowing in the serenity if the home. A large door was open at the end of the corridor, light streaming out in bright, lazy rays. Lira and I peeked in, and saw a small figure crouched at the east end of the room, watching the sun rise over the land.

Lira and I easily snuck in, and came up right behind Alexei. One the silent count of three, we each placed a hand on his shoulder screaming, "WE'RE HEEEEEERE!"

Alexei leaped a foot in the air while Lira and I collapsed on the floor in raucous laughter, just positively tickled in how we scared the said-to-be terror immune Alexei. He, however, was not so amused. "That was not funny!" He shouted in his heavy accent.

Alexei is from Russia. He's kinda tall, about three inches taller than me, five taller than Lira. He has light blonde hair that he wears down to his neck, much to his father's dismay. He has very bright, clear blue eyes. Alexei seems to be wearing a permanently confident (I call it cocky) expression, and speaks with a heavy Russian accent.

He glared at us through his blue eyes for a moment before finally breaking down and laughing. We just stood there- or, in mine and Lira's case, sat-, laughing for a few minutes before Alexei exclaimed, "I have great news!"

Lira and I sat up straight and she said, "You always have good news. What is it this time?" Alexei beamed even brighter. "I am getting a Pokémon!" he yelled pompously. Rosie sighed in exasperation from the other room.

"Not until you turn ten, Alexei." She said in a scolding tone. Alexei waved her comment aside. "I turn ten in a few weeks, Rosalina!" Yes, he often refers to Rosie by her full name. She just continued dusting the china cabinet.

I couldn't help but feel a little jealous of him. O'course, I should have expected it. Alexei is a spoiled rich boy, who always gets what he wants. I'm just surprised it didn't happen sooner.

I put on a convincing fake smile and squealed along with Lira. "What is it?" I asked, mock excitement dripping from my voice, that neither of them noticed.

"Scizor!" Alexei shouted. My heart fell with a loud thump that I'm sure could be heard all across Sinnoh. Alexei was getting one of my favorite Pokémon, and rubbing it in my face. Although, Alexei being the way he is, he probably didn't see it as that.

Rosie piped up from the end of the room again. "It's a Scyther, Alexei. It evolves into Scizor." Alexei waved her comment aside yet again. "So, on my birthday, I shall head out on my very own Pokémon adventure!"

Lira smiled a real smile, and I smiled a fake one. Alexei couldn't tell the difference. He and Lira stroked up a conversation, while I just stood in the background, fiddling with the hem of my skirt. Suddenly, I felt a soft tap on my shoulder.

I turned around, and saw no one. Then, I looked down. Standing there, was a short girl, shorter that Lira, with flame-red hair, and dark red eyes. I smiled down at Fauna, Alexei's younger sister. She was quieter than her brother, and not as obnoxious. And she loved the ballet; she always ran around in a large pink tutu.

"Hello Fauna. How are you today?" I said sweetly. Fauna just smiled a small smile, and took me by the hand. She led me out of the room –which Lira and Alexei didn't notice-, and took me up a flight of stairs. We wound through the plush carpeted hallways, until she stopped in front of a large set of oak double doors.

She turned the gold handle and pulled one of the doors open, and led me through. We were in the ballroom. It was huge; it took up at least half the second floor. The far wall was nothing but clear and stained-glass windows, and the ceiling was a beautiful mural of angels flying around a large central crystal chandelier.

The whole room was bare, save for a few pieces of ballet equipment, a large stereo, and a large black piano. Fauna led me to the piano, and had me sit down. Then she went to stand in the center of the room, and stood in the teapot position; one hand on her hip, the other suspended in the air.

I knew exactly what she wanted. I placed my fingers on several keys, and began to play a soft, slow melody. Fauna moved in time and rhythm with the music, pirouetting, leaping, and sliding all across the floor.

I played on and on, watching the keys as I played; sad that I couldn't watch Fauna dance. She's such a fabulous dancer, and I love her to death for it. She's like the little sister I've never had, but always wanted. As I closed up the song, I could see Fauna leap into the air, and land on the tip of her toes, spin, and lands in a swan position on the last note.

I turned on the piano seat, and applauded her performance. Fauna beamed at me, and held out her hand. I stood up and gingerly took it, and she led me into the waltz position. As we took our place, the Blue Danube Waltz began to play.

I looked over at the piano, to see Rosie sitting there, smiling as she played. Then Fauna and I began to dance. You would think that I would be leading, because I was taller than Fauna, but no. She led me across the floor, twirling me around, and dipping me to the floor with ease. I couldn't help but giggle; this little girl, leading a girl taller than her around the ballroom in a fantastic waltz. The idea was preposterous, but incredibly fun.

As the song ended, I decided to take control. I led Fauna around, much to her surprise. I grabbed her by the waist, and lifted her into the air, spinning her around as though she were a small animal. I placed her back on the ground, twirled her, and on the last note, dipped her so low, her short hair nearly touched the ground.

Fauna looked up at me, admiration in her deep, warm eyes. "That was lovely," She said in a high, soft voice. "Thank you," I said back. I heard Rosie clapping from across the room. Her slow, respectful claps were accompanied by hurried loud claps.

I looked up and saw Lira and Alexei standing next to Rosie, clapping with large smiles on their faces. I could feel my face turning a very bright shade of red. I carefully pulled Fauna up and let go of her, and tried to control my embarrassment.

"Destiny, that was wonderful," Lira squealed. "I did not know you could dance!" Alexei jerked his thumb at her, a motion that meant "What she said." I sheepishly nodded and murmured, "I learned from Fauna. She's a lot better than me."

Rosie then intervened. "I agree Fauna is a lovely dancer." To this, Fauna curtsied. "And Destiny, you are a remarkable pianist. I should suggest you to play at the ball next weekend.

My bright red face went from red to pink to white in a matter of three-point-nine seconds. "W-wait. You-you mean, in front of people? Lots of people?" Rosie nodded.

The rest is beyond me.