Picking the Gift

As Paul was busy viewing the Pokemons' data, he didn't notice that the Pokemons already finished eating their food. His parents silently came in front and Joseph fished out three Pokeballs to his hands. He called out to remove Paul from his dazed state, "Hey bud." Joseph started. Paul, hearing his dad, changed his sight from the screens in front of him to his dad, while silently commanding for the dissolution of the screens.

"Yes dad?" Paul asked.

"Don't you want to see your present?" Joseph questioned while smiling.

"Oh yeah! I forgot about it, I got distracted watching the Pokemons eat." He reasoned out, then continued to ask. "What is it anyway?"

Joseph unraveled the fingers that were covering his palm. Three small pokeballs were revealed resting on it. "There was a new Pokemon that your mom and I got. There's three of them exactly, and I wanted all of us to have on each. I would also let you pick first, as your birthday gift. What do you think?" He stated while holding his hands towards Mary who smiled at him.

Paul was stunned and thought, 'Really? They'll give him his first Pokemon?' Realizing that they were waiting for his reply, Paul just succinctly responded. "Awesome."

Under the gaze of his son, Joseph enlarged the three pokeballs while calling out the Pokemons inside. Three white lights were released from the pokeballs and then settled on the ground.

The three Pokemon were all similar in appearance. They were a pink blob-like Pokemon with vestigial facial features. They have two small nubs on its "head", a few soft lumps at its base, and two pseudopod-like protrusions in place of arms. Their face consists of beady eyes and a simple mouth; that was pulled into a smile.

The Pokemon name that came into Paul's mind was 'Ditto'. As Paul remembered, Ditto, as of now, hasn't existed yet. They were considered as a failure experiment by the Team Rocket on their "Mew Project". Realizing where his parents are from, and where these Pokemon are from kept Paul silent.

Joseph and Mary looked at their son's frowning face. As the three Ditto came out, his happy features were suddenly turned into a thoughtful one, which then became a frown. They looked at each other and was worried that Paul didn't like a Pokemon like Ditto.

"Dear, don't you like this Pokemon? It's named Ditto. As of now, they haven't been registered in the Pokemon Alliance's Database yet. I think we're one of the few people who was able to own them first." Mary worriedly asked while sharing Ditto's current circumstances. Joseph then continued to ask at his son's silence. "Well? Any reactions? Paul?"

Finally digesting the information, he concluded and heard, Paul finally replied to his parents with a smile. "Oh, sorry. I was thinking about what type and features it should have. They look great and adorable mom!"

The couple finally sighed with relief. "Why don't you pick yours then, son?" Joseph then made a pointing gesture towards the three Pokemon.

Paul nodded while carefully looking at the three Dittos. He then scanned each one of them, from right to left.

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Name: Ditto (Light Green)

Type: Normal

Gender: Unknown

Ability: Limber

Level: Rookie

Held Item: None

Moves:

(Innate) Transform

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name: Ditto (Green)

Type: Normal

Gender: Unknown

Ability: Limber

Level: Rookie

Held Item: None

Moves:

(Innate) Transform

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name: Shiny Ditto (Light Blue)

Type: Normal

Gender: Unknown

Ability: Imposter

Level: Rookie

Held Item: None

Moves:

(Innate) Transform

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Paul double checked the Ditto on the left, as he saw that it was a Shiny Pokemon. He remembered that a Shiny Ditto was supposed to be light blue in color. As he saw that its ability was Imposter, it finally made sense as it copies the coloration of its fellow Ditto. Paul approached the Shiny Ditto carefully and watched as it tilted his head to look at him. He rubbed the Shiny Ditto's head, and felt it rub back. The Shiny Ditto was quite happy with him, though it felt weirdly squishy and cold. Overall, he was satisfied with the Shiny Ditto.

Picking it up, Paul embraced the Shiny Ditto on his chest as he looked towards his parents with a smile and said, "I choose this Ditto." His parents looked satisfied as Paul looked happy with their gift. They chose their own Ditto right after Paul picked. Joseph got the one with Light Green potential while Mary was able to get the one with Green potential.

Joseph then gave the Shiny Ditto's pokeball to Paul while reminding him. "That's an unregistered pokeball. As you are not of legal age yet to own any Pokemon, make sure to not lose the pokeball, alright?" Paul responded with a nod and a firm "Yes."

His parents, along with the help of the other pokemons cleaned up the picnic table. After it was cleared, the tablecloth was removed and was put by Gengar into the laundry room while Alakazam then teleported the picnic table into the storage room. Paul then carried his pokemon up to his bedroom, where he will initiate to talk to it. He set Ditto in his bed as he tried to use his telepathic abilities.

At first, Paul didn't know how to use his psychic force. He sat on his bed, closed his eyes, and with a little bit of time, Paul was able to feel an intangible force within his body, which he thinks is his psychic force. He tried to extend his psychic force to his pokemon to make a link, and when he felt it connected, he tried to speak in the mind link.

'Hello?' He saw Ditto looking up at him while tilting its head. 'Can you hear me?' He continued.

Ditto paused for a few seconds and cautiously nodded its head while replying. "Ditto~"

'Great, it's working.' Paul thought to himself.

'You can cancel your transformation now. No one's watching except me.' Ditto hesitantly tilted its head to the other side, as if its pondering about what Paul said.

'It's okay Ditto. I'll be your trainer from now on, and we'll be the best of friends. In order do that, we need to build trust with each other okay. Can you do what I said?' Paul gently worded to Ditto.

Finally, Ditto decided to cancel his transformation after a firm nod. A white light covered Ditto; his shape didn't change but his color shifted from pink to light blue. As its original appearance settled, it happily chanted. "Ditto~! (^◡^)"

Paul let out a brilliant smile as he looked at Ditto, his pokemon, and first out of the many others in the future.