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C hapter XV
"Dad says that I was born on a beautiful early spring day. When the Chansey delivered me from Mom and the doctor said that I was a girl, Dad asked Mom, 'What should we name her, darling?' Then she saw this absolutely beautiful Gardenia flower next to her bed and was so taken by it that she said, 'Gardenia.' Dad thought that was such a nice name, and so they named me Gardenia.
"One day, I was walking down the cobble path leading past our house when I spotted a Budew! It was so cute, my laurel! I carried it all the way back to my house and showed it to Dad. He said that he wasn't sure that Budew was a good starter Pokémon, but I begged him and begged him to let me keep her and he did! I was so happy that day!
"I took my sweet Budew outside, and I was playing with it when I saw this boy in a red jacket come around the corner.
"'Hi!' I said to the boy.
"'Who are you?' he answered.
"'I'm Gardenia, and this Budew is my best friend!' I said.
"'You're friends with a Grass-type Pokémon?' he said. 'Grass-types stink. Fire-types rule! My name's Terrell, and I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!'
"'I've never battled anyone before...' I replied.
"'No problem,' he said. 'I'd win anyway! Go, Growlithe!'
"'Go, Budew!' I cried.
"We sent out our Pokémon. I didn't know what would happen, but Terrell was just standing there, smiling.
"'Use your Fire Spin attack!' he said. 'We'll end this battle before it even starts!'
"'Get out of the way, sweetie!' I cried.
"Budew jumped out of the way of the pursuing flames.
"'Use your Magical Leaf attack!' I said to Budew.
"Budew used Magical Leaf, but before the attack could strike, Terrell told Growlithe to use Ember. It fainted Budew in one strike. I ran home crying.
"'Come back when you can actually fight!' Terrell yelled after me.
"When I showed Budew to Dad, he pulled me aside and said, 'You can't win every battle, sweetie. Your Budew's okay-it's just fainted. We'll have it better in no time!'
"He took Budew to be fully healed. When he brought her back, I gave him a big hug.
"'You run along and play,' he said.
"I woke up one morning and saw something green on Mom's lap.
"'What's that, Mommy?' I asked her.
"'Just something I'm working on,' she replied. 'Go on and play.'
"When I went outside, I noticed this strange tree. There was a Cherubi hanging from it. It was so precious! I couldn't help but pick it off the tree.
"'Do you think I should catch it?' I asked Budew.
"When Budew squeaked her approval, I threw a Poké Ball at the cute little thing. I was so excited to catch my second Pokémon! I didn't have much time to enjoy it, though, before Terrell showed up again.
"'Are your Pokémon ready for another pounding?' he asked.
"'I've been training hard since our last battle!' I told him. 'It won't be so easy this time!'
"'Blah, blah, blah,' he replied. 'You're still just a weak Grass-type trainer. Go, Slugma!'
"I sent out the Cherubi I just caught.
"'Use your Magical Leaf attack!' I cried out to Cherubi.
"The attack hit Slugma.
"'Use Ember on Cherubi, Slugma!' Terrell yelled.
"Slugma didn't even come close to hitting Cherubi.
"'Use Tackle and follow that up with another Ember attack!' Terrell said.
"Tackle missed, but Ember KO'd Cherubi in one hit. I told Cherubi that it would be okay and sent out Budew.
"'You're sending out that wimp again?' Terrell retorted. 'This is too easy!'
"'Use Magical Leaf!' I said to Budew.
"Budew KO'd Slugma.
"'Are you okay, Slugma?' Terrell asked Slugma. 'That's okay-I haven't even gotten warmed up yet!'
"He sent out Growlithe again.
"'Use Tackle and follow that up with Ember!' he said to Growlithe.
"'Use Grass Knot!' I called out to Budew.
"Grass Knot was successful, but Growlithe didn't even appear fazed. It started to rain.
"'Use your Weather Ball attack!' I said to Budew.
"A big ball of water appeared and struck Growlithe with full force! Growlithe fainted! It was my first victory ever, my laurel!
"'Budew can't learn Weather Ball!' Terrell protested. 'That's not fair!'
"He ran back home, and I decided to do the same. When I went in, I noticed that Mom was holding her green cloth in front of her.
"'Come here, my darling,' she said.
"When I did, she pulled the cloth over my head. I discovered that it was a cape.
"'How do I look?' I asked her, showing it off.
"'You look lovely, my precious daughter,' she said before gently sliding an orchid through my hair. 'Be proud of who you are because no one else can do it for you. Run along and play now, my darling.'
"I ran to our garden and watered the flowers before I noticed some woods.
"'I wonder what's in there,' I said to Budew.
"We went into the woods, but when I tried to go home, I couldn't! I was totally lost!"
Chapter XVI
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