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In the short while Jacen had been living with Mariana, he had collected many things. His trainer's younger sister had provided him with a box after seeing the unsightly mess on the floor next to his makeshift bed. "Here you go, Jacen," Mabel had said. "Somewhere to keep your babies nice and cozy at night, and to keep them safe from big stomping feet, hm?" The vanilite had thanked her by wrapping his short arms around her legs, and then proceeded to place each of his belongings in the box. He did so carefully, making sure each of them had enough room to be comfortable.

He had done this every day since; checking each doll to make sure they were comfortable in the box when he tucked them into bed. He'd even found an old towel he could put over them so they had a blanket, just like Mariana did!

On the fifth night of doing just that, however, the vanilite noticed something strange. Something was glowing! Inside the box, where his babies were! What was it? Would it hurt them? Jacen bounced over to the box in concern--and when he looked over the edge, his eyes widened. He stared. Oh, it was something shiny! Something wonderful! Had his trainer left this for him? Or was it Alistair's? If it was, surely the deino would want it back--but he wouldn't get it back! He'd left it in Jacen's box, that meant it belonged to Jacen!

And what a nice thing to belong to Jacen! The vanilite was certain his dolls were found of him. He picked up the star, meaning to cradle it like he often did with his many belongings. His last coherent thoughts were of the newest addition to his family. A shiny star baby!

Molly’s Sweet Sixteen
What happens when an unexpected addition to Molly’s birthday gives her an even more unexpected birthday gift? (This is a future-au!)

It was her birthday! Molly had turned 16 today and had convinced her dad to go on a picnic with her and Jacen. There was a warm feeling in her stomach as she thought of the Vanillite teen who had been with her for years at this point. It was hard to believe sometimes he'd started off as a little Pokemon and grown up with her!

They'd grown close....so close...with his help she'd begun to experience more of the world, but always she preferred his company to anyone else's, and while she finally had other friends...he was still her best friend. Her first friend. Her boyfriend. The word made her warm again, a low laugh causing her father to look at her oddly as they walked her hand holding Jacen's. She almost never used her cane anymore if he was around though she always had it with her.

It was amazing what having a friend had done for her. She'd started growing stronger, less sickly. She managed to gain some weight, and even began to look her proper age as she grew up. So here they were on this perfect Autumn day, she wearing just a light sweater over her shirt and some jeans waiting while her father spread out the blanket for them.

"Alright you two, I have food, and cake for after...and presents!" Molly grinned and clapped. Her father had taken to Jacen's change better than expected and allowed him to stay for his daughters benefit. He looked more human than Pokemon, so them dating while strange...was not hard to handle.

"Tell me about the trees Jacen! I can feel the wind...and hear the leaves rustling...are they changing colors like you said they do?"

"The trees are turning yellow and orange," Jacen said, smiling at his girlfriend. It was a strange thought, he supposed. Some small part of him still considered Molly his trainer; but by now he'd learned that as he was no longer a pokemon, he was free to do what he wished. And he wished to stay by Molly's side. "I wish you could see them," he said. "They're beautiful today, Molly. The sun is shining through them, and there's a light breeze. Almost like they're dancing for you." However much he wished Molly could see, it never happened. He'd hoped, that one day, he would be able to find another star that could heal her eyesight. She would be able to see the world around her--and more importantly, for Jacen, be able to see him.

He pressed a small box into her hand, and leaned forward to whisper into her ear. "Happy Birthday, Molly," he said. "It's a present. I thought maybe we could... go find you another pokemon, after our picnic. Not with that pokeball, though..." He grinned, taking a necklace out of the box. He moved behind her to put it on. "It's a pokeball, Molly. But with red gems and diamonds. I don't know what the black stone is... I love you, Molly."

"Yellow and orange...you told me yellow is a bright color...and orange is a little darker and warmer...they look like the sun feels..." she held her hand to the sunlight she could feel filtering down face tilting up at what she couldn't see a smile on her face. "I can see them Jacen.....you've described things so well for me, I can see them through your words." she'd long ago accepted she wouldn't ever see though she did wish deeply that she could see Jacen...just once.

Her fingers curled around the box feeling it under her fingers, listening to the sound it made as it opened up...the soft squeak of the tiny hinge, and once she felt him putting a necklace on her she let it clack shut, marveling at the sound. Nothing sounded quite like a necklace box...that neat clack sound it made! She looked up at him able to feel his breath on her face to know where to look, and gave him a sweet smile. "That could be fun I think." her fingers flew up to her neck and she brushed them over the necklace. "Oh Jacen...I love you too!"

His name was breathed softly, and she turned to her dad. "Papa look what Jacen gave me! Isn't it just perfect?" "It's beautiful Molly. I think the black stone is onyx Jacen." he smiled at the teen boy. "Why don't you two eat a little and have some cake, then you can go for the walk I know Molly is itching to take."

There was an unembarrassed laugh from her and she nodded and began to carefully eat the picnic lunch enjoying the peanut butter and jelly. Sure it was a "kiddy" sandwich but she absolutely loved them still and her dad knew that. It was rounded off with some fruits, a few raw veggies...and finally a slice of spice cake her favorite.

"I'll wait here and finish my cake. Enjoy the walk." "Okay dad!" Molly grinned and set her things aside after wiping her hands and mouth. Her stick was picked up and she slipped it into her jean pocket, more than glad the thing was collapsible. "Ready Jacen?"

"Onyx?" Jacen repeated, looking to Molly's father. When the vanilite boy had first changed, he had been alarmed. He had thought maybe he would throw him out--but he had hoped, oh he had hoped the man would see that he was still Molly's vanilite. He had been relieved when the man had accepted him into his family, and even more so as he grew up with Molly. He viewed the man as his father, almost, but he daren't say that aloud. It would be too embarassing. He flashed the man a bright smile. "Oh. It's onyx, Molly," he said. "It's shiny black."

He happily joined in the eating. Though he had been with Molly for several years now, the boy still remembered those long months living in the forest with very little to eat. He appreciated the little things, the things Molly's father provided him. "I'm ready," Jacen said, smiling at Molly. He took her hand, and led her into the nearby field. "Let's try to catch one," he said. "Maybe we'll find a legendary."

"Yeah onyx, not quite like the Pokemon though." Molly's dad chuckled softly at the expression on Jacen's face. He patted Jacen on the shoulder. "You take care on that walk now you hear me son?" that was a first. Referring to Jacen as son. But he'd pretty much raised him from kid to now, he felt like a son...or maybe son in law despite it not being to that point between Jacen and Molly. Still he was smiling kindly at Jacen a hand resting on his arm.

Molly took Jacen's hand and gracefully pulled herself up holding tightly to his hand. She still carried a little bag full of various things. A book, various pokeballs, poffins...so she was always prepared...and couldn't help laugh though. "A legendary? I doubt we'll be that lucky but it could be neat!"

The drying grass made a ssssshhh sound against her pants, a whispering noise though her steps managed to set a bunch of butterfree reeling into the sky. Not that she could see them, though she heard a rush of wings. "Oh...I hear something...what is it Jacen?" she knew he'd describe it to her, her face lit up with wonder as she stared off in the wrong direction.

That was a first. Being called son by Molly's father--it was...nice. He flashed the man a bright smile. It was true; the man had raised him, since he was a pokemon. He didn't think he had been very old when Molly had caught him. His obsession with poffins told him that. He had been too interested in sweets and toys to have been very old. "We will," he promised. "We'll be careful. We're just going to the field--" he pointed. "Not too far, though."

He didn't want Molly getting tired. "Yes, maybe a legendary," he said. "Like you, Molly. There's only one of you. So you're the most legendary of them all." He tapped her nose playfully. "Oh, butterfree!" he exclaimed, looking up at them. "They're beautiful, Molly." He was always in awe of how well her hearing was. She heard things he wouldn't notice without her mentioning them.

He did catch the sound of footsteps approaching, and stiffened. "Molly, take your pokeball out," he instructed. "I think there's one coming our way." He was disappointed. It was just a boy. A teenager, his age, with green curly hair. Jacen hesitated for a long moment. "Molly, it's a celebi," he said. "Throw your pokeball at him carefully. Maybe he'll grant you a wish!" And so what if he confused Jirachi with Celebi?

Colby gave Jacen a warm smile and an understanding nod at his words and cleaned up from their picnic mess a little, helping himself to a little bit more cake, there was plenty after all!

Oh how Molly blushed at his words but her eyes, they shone so brightly! There was a giggle at the nose tap though and she wiggled it at him. Of course she heard things he didn't. His eyes worked. Her ears had to compensate for what she couldn't see. Her nose did the same, as did her sense of touch. They'd grown heightened to help her.

She also felt Jacen stiffen and she wondered if there was some danger coming towards them. Her pokeball was pulled out at the ready though...until he said it was a Celebi. That changed everything! She put that one away and quickly fished out another, the master ball held in her hand tightly and she listened intently. "This way Jacen?" she was a little off...would be throwing a little too far to the left without some correction.....which once done the ball would be thrown. A Celebi!

Brenny was about to protest, about to explain that he couldn't be caught even by a masterball, when he noticed Jacen put a finger to his lips and gesture for him to play along. He hesitated for a moment longer--couldn't she see that he wasn't a celebi anymore? And that was when realization struck. This girl couldn't see. "Bibi!" he attempted to mimic the sounds he had made as a pokemon. He felt bad for decieving the girl, but it was his job, he felt, to make everyone he met happy.

"He's just to the right--yeah," Jacen guided Molly's hand carefully. "Right. There. Now try!" He beamed at her. "I'm sure he'll grant you a wish, Molly," he said encouragingly. "Do you have one in mind?"

"There's only one thing I could ever wish for Jacen...but it's the one thing I can't be given....to be able to see your face...and papa's face...at least once...I wouldn't have to see anything else in the world....just your faces...and I could happily continue being blind." well if that wasn't just the sweetest and yet saddest of things really.

The ball of course bounced harmlessly off Brenny, and did nothing. She heard it thunk...and fall and...nothing. She frowned a moment. "I guess I missed the Celebi. Oh well, I couldn't have kept it anyhow. I would have set it free again...but to say I caught a legendary..." she laughed softly and shrugged and started to walk in the direction she'd thrown the ball to retrieve it,.

She was midway between Jacen and Brenny when she tripped and fell, a startled cry coming from her as she put her hands out to catch herself as she landed. With a sigh she pushed herself up. "I'm okay Jacen!" well she was. Her hands were wiped off on her pants. "Now...where...is it..." she was feeling carefully with her foot, hoping to kick it.

"No, you caught him, Molly!" Jacen assured her picking up the masterball and handing it to her. "You caught him! Now let him out, and maybe he'll grant your wish." Oh, he hoped the celebi could. Couldn't celebis granty wishes? Or was that jirachis?

Brenny went still for a moment, and when Molly 'let him out' of the masterball, he reached over to her. He placed a hand on her forehead. "Close your eyes," he instructed. He would let her see what he was seeing. He would grant her wish--it was the least he could do. Especially if something so small--something that was clearly the most important thing to her--would make her happy. "Your wish is to see Jacen and your father?" he asked. "I can only give you sight for a short time... An hour at most. But I can try again another time, too..." He'd never had to share sight with anyone before. It would be a new experience.

"Open your eyes, Molly."

"I caught the Celebi? Really?" oh how wide her eyes went as the masterball was handed to her and she held it out. "Come out Celebi!" She was amazed she'd actually caught it!

The hand on her forehead surprised her...it wasn't a cold touch like Jacen...who was touching her?! But Jacen wasn't upset or worried so it had to be okay. "Okay....?" she closed her eyes wondering why she had to...it made no difference really.

But oh how she listened to that unfamiliar voice and nodded her head. "That's the only wish I've ever had. To see Jacen and papa...wait...you...I...?" oh how stunned she was. This was a joke...a cruel joke...it had to be!

Except when she opened her eyes...oh how her eyes winced...her hand raising to shield her eyes long lashes low, protecting her eyes as she tried to make sense of things. A few seconds later and her vision cleared and she blinked a few times.

"Oh....OH!" she felt tears welling up and it blurred her vision and she hastily scrubbed at her eyes to clear them turning suddenly. "Jacen?!" She saw him then standing there...and her eyes widened. "Oh Jacen...you're so handsome!" she was laughing, and there were tears again as she closed the short gap between them and hugged him tightly, kissing him.

Then she turned finally to find the Celebi. "Oh thank you Celebi!"

Jacen wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling at her. "Your wish came true," he said, leaning to whisper in her ear. "I knew it would, one day." He had hoped she would be able to see him. It almost brought tears to his eyes, the fact that his girlfriend was seeing him for the very first time. He returned her kiss. "I love you, Molly," he said. "Let's go show your Papa." He took her hand, and began to lead her to him. He grinned. "Let's race," he suggested. "Come on." He let her hand go. "Just follow me, if you have any trouble. But he's right there--see him? Sitting on the blanket, where we left him. I bet he's still eating cake."

"Cake?" Brenny asked, blinking.

"It's Molly's birthday," Jacen said, smiling at Brenny gratefully. "And you've made her wish come true. Molly, do you want to tell your Papa you caught a celebi, or do you want to let him go?"

"You had better faith than I did Jacen." she gave him the brightest smile, hugging him tightly, tearing up again. Oh it was amazing to see him! She nodded her head a bright grin on her face. "Racing sounds like fun!" she turned to Brenny and hugged him tightly. "You can go free Celebi...but if you want some cake, we have lots and you can come with us for a piece before you go!"

She looked to Jacen then. "It's not right to keep him. I bet someone would miss him a lot if I did and besides...he's given me sight for an hour. I can't keep him." no way! She beamed and took Jacen's hands watching her fingers mesh with his. She'd remember that forever. "Lets run!"

Molly started then giggling as she ran and could see her father sitting there. "Paaapaaa....daaaad!" "Molly slow down you're going to get hurt! Jacen!" of course he was worried watching her run like that, and in the lead! It wasn't until they reached him and she flung herself at him. "Oh papa, I can see you! It's only for an hour....but I can see!" she was laughing again and her father blinked looking to Jacen as tears filled his own eyes. "How...?"

Brenny returned the hug with a bright smile. "I do like cake," he mused aloud, before grinning. "I think I'll join you. You can tell your Papa all about catching me. He followed the two at a slower pace, not wanting to startle her father. What if her father wanted him to make it so she could see forever? He didn't know how to do that. He wasn't sure it was possible.

"I'm sure someone would," Jacen agreed with a nod. "Maybe he has his own papa waiting for him at home." He chased after Molly, beaming. This was fun! He wished this could last forever. It was unfortunate that the celebi couldn't do more. He looked to Colby. "A wish was granted," he said, glancing back towards the field. "Molly caught a celebi."

"A Celebi?" Colby looked around in surprise and saw Brenny walking towards him, a warm smile on his face as he suddenly hugged the teen. "Thank you for giving her sight for an hour...this is probably the most memorable birthday she'll ever have. Please, sit. We have plenty of stuff in our basket."

"Cake papa! He'd like some cake." "Cake it is!" he started to dig it out, then blinked a moment and pulled out his wallet and removed an old picture. It was the one and only photo of Molly and her mother, taken minutes before her mother had given into the injuries after her emergency delivery. "Ohhh...it's me and mama...you were right Jacen...she is an angel..." she looked almost exactly like Molly did, save Molly got her fathers cheekbones and a few other things. she turned to Brenny then. "Thank you for making this the best birthday ever! I'm Molly, this is Jacen and my papa.."

Brenny was puzzled at the hug, but returned it with a smile. "Oh... You're welcome," he said awkwardly. "I wish I could make it last. If anyone deserves to see the wonders of this world--it's her." He sat down on the blanket as instructed, blinking at the man's kindness. He didn't seem unhappy that Molly's sight couldn't last longer...How unexpected.

"I know Jacen," he said at last. "But I don't know if he remembers me. I was a lot smaller then," he demonstrated by holding up his hands in aproximate size of a celebi. "He was wandering the woods after his trainer abandoned him, so I helped him find some berries before everything froze over. Then I found my father, so--" he hesitated, before glancing at Jacen. "Looks like he found himself a good family, though," he said with a smile.

Colby wasn't unreasonable and knew her sight couldn't last. If she said an hour, then an hour it was. Brenny was given some cake and he settled on the blanket too as Molly settled next to Jacen leaning against him, looking around in wonder and asking some questions. But he'd taught her so much. Grass was green, the sky was blue...things like that. Her eyes though kept returning to him and her father and she even looked down at her new necklace.

"Jacen found me when I was ten...I had no friends...I was picked on for being blind. But Jacen...he was my best friend and protected me...and when I got sick...he took care of me then too...it's funny. When I woke up from being sick he'd changed and I thought I'd died..." she looked up to Jacen. "I was right though...you are an angel. My angel."

Brenny, for the most part, ate his cake in silence. He nodded to show he understood Molly's words, but he felt awkward about it. He didn't feel as if he should be sharing this special moment with them. It was their moment. It was something special for them.

"I'm not an angel," Jacen pulled away from Molly, his words coming out more harshly than he'd intended. "Molly, I'm not. I'm just--" If he was an angel, especially Molly's angel, he would have traded eyes with her in an instant. An angel could do those sorts of things... They were magical. He shook his head at her. "I protected you and took care of you... Because you were my trainer." It wasn't fair that Molly had to be blind! It wasn't! The vanilite teen took off into the field without saying another word.

Oh....oh that stung...he'd never been so harsh towards her before! ...and...was that the only reason he took care of her? Because she was his trainer? tears stung her eyes as he took off, and she gasped softly, feeling like her heart had just broken. Had...he just broken up with her? It's what it felt like.

Colby sat there looking at Molly and then looking after Jacen. "Molly stay here. I'll go get him." she couldn't answer, just nodded her head miserably. So much for it being a good birthday. She gave Brenny a sad smile. "Maybe you should take your present back..." her words a soft whisper. Seems her being able to see suddenly had caused a lot of trouble. It wasn't worth it to see. She'd seen enough...saw the harsh look to match the harsh tone on Jacen's face. It made her cry harder. She wished she'd never seen such an ugly look on his face. She'd never forget it!

Colby ran after Jacen catching up quickly what with the advantage of long legs and he came up behind the teen, and reached out grabbing at his arm. "Jacen, wait! Come back please...I know how you feel. I've felt like this from the moment she was born. Why Molly? Why not me? Why couldn't I be the one blind?"

"No," Brenny said, with a shake of his head. He looked up from his piece of cake and gave her a gentle smile. "I think he loves you so much that he doesn't want this hour to end. Sometimes when people love each other very much, they don't know what to do when the other person is hurt." He had experience with that. His one time pet, Mei, and his second pet, Eliot, had recently gotten together. They had taken turns rescuing each other, it seemed. Eliot had saved Mei from drowning, Mei had saved Eliot from going belly up in the lake. "Sometimes... Well. Sometimes it's hard. If my dad ever got hurt, I think I'd want to switch places with him. He's very special to me. I think that must be how Jacen feels now."

He took another bite of cake and fell silent.

Jacen turned and wrapped his arms around Colby, shoulders shaking. "I hate it," he muttered, words muffled by the older man's shirt. "I've always hated it. Ever since I scared those bullies away. They're the ones who deserve to be blind. She's so wonderful... And I can't do anything about it. All I did was make it worse! That wish! All it's doing is showing her, for an hour, what she can never have again!" The vanilite teen clutched at Colby's shirt tightly. He fell silent, except for the ocassional sniffle.

Molly looked up at Brenny with a soft sniffle and scrubbed at her eyes. "Y...you think thats it? That it's because he loves me he's so upset...and not because he doesn't?" well...it had felt like he'd said he only took care of her due to being his trainer... "Your right.....if papa or Jacen got hurt, I'd want to trade places with them so they were okay." she gave him a soft smile. "You're so smart."

Colby hugged Jacen tightly and let the teen cry. He understood, really he did. "Jacen...son...you've given Molly something so special...so special. All her life all she said she wanted was to see my face just once...then as she got older she said our faces. You gave her that. Even if only for an hour you gave her the only wish she's ever had and knew she could never have. She is wonderful, and so are you. I'm glad you found her all those years ago. Ever since that day when I discovered you'd changed...I've been so glad for that. You always cared about her. I knew she was in good hands with you. I'm proud to call you son. Now...lets go back...she's only got a little time left. You don't want her miss out on seeing your face with the time she has left do you?"

"...But you never said any of that," Jacen said, blinking up at Colby. He couldn't remember the man ever saying he was glad to have him around--and he certainly hadn't called him son before today. "And you...certainly didn't seem to appreciate when I changed," he said, shaking his head with a small, sad sort of smile. "I couldn't understand why you were so upset that I didn't have any clothes..." This was awkward. He couldn't remember ever talking so closely with Colby. It was kind of nice. "I want her to see so much more than our faces... Dad." He took the man's hand and went back to their blanket. He was silent for a long moment.

"I'm sorry, Molly. I didn't mean to make you upset."

"I know and I'm sorry...I forgot that you'd need to hear those things too. I wasn't a very good dad to you was I...and I was surprised to walk into her room and have your butt practically in my face." he gave a low chuckle. "I know you do Jacen...but we'll have to take what she's been given."

Molly was sitting there staring off when they came back. She could hear their footsteps of course and only turned once Colby's hand rested on her shoulder...but she was so quiet. It wasn't until Jacen spoke that she shifted...and merely hugged him tightly. "It's okay Jacen, I understand." she gave him a soft smile.

"Please don't be sad about this okay? I got what I'd wished for, for years...I got to see papa...and you. I'll never forget how the two of you look." she turned to Brenny. "Thank you...for everything." the vision...the words of wisdom....

She looked to her dad, staring hard at him, eyes studying...to remember. "I love you papa." "I love you too Molly." her time was almost up and she turned back to Jacen then, her eyes doing the same. Studying him...his face...then up to his eyes. "I love you Jacen...." she blinked and opened her eyes, it was already getting dim again...she stared at him another long moment....before another blink. It took only one more...and that was it. She couldn't see him anymore...not with her eyes. But that was okay.

It was okay, really, that Colby had never thought that he would have needed a father, too. Molly had needed him more. And his change had been a surprise. It hadn't been a wanted thing, or an expected thing, like Molly's arrival must have been. Jacen understood that. He always had. He had ocassionally been envious of the attention Molly received from her father--he'd been a child too, but one with responsibility. He was there to take care of Molly.

That was what a pokemon was supposed to do, wasn't it? Take care of their trainers?

"I can't help but be sad about it," he muttered. He'd wanted her to have more time with her sight. A chance to see everything there was to see--and more. "I love you too, Molly." So much. If only he had been a psychic type, instead of an ice type. Then...then he would've been able to help Molly all the time.

Colby....well he felt remarkably guilty...not about Molly...but Jacen. He'd seriously dropped the ball where he was concerned and hadn't treated him very well. Had treated him like a pokemon, not a child. Oh sure he'd clothed him, fed him gotten him toys and things...but there was no father-son bonding like there should have been. Colby wished he could go back in time and fix that.

Molly patted Jacen's cheek gently. "I know why you're sad...but it's okay. Really it is." she felt tired after such an emotional hour and couldn't help a soft yawn. Colby turned to Brenny. "I'm sorry about the upset here...thank you again for your gift to her." he patted the Celebi teen on the arm gently.