I remember finally getting a gameboy, and pokémon red. Goes without saying that I picked Charmander. After a couple of days and already quite some stories to tell, Charmander started evolving into Charmeleon. I stopped it from happening a couple of times but finally I realized that I had to just let go. It was something that had to happen. In his place came a stronger, faster, bigger, more skilled pokémon and I quickly realized that I had made the right decision.
More adventures quickly followed and finally Charmeleon started evolving into Charizard. This time, I didn't stop it. I was actually quite proud when it happened. The excitement I felt is something I have yet to experience again. Even finding a Blastoise in the €2.5 pokémon card deck couldn't quite match the feeling.
After finally reaching the pokémon league, I kept him behind for as long as I could. He was my strongest and most reliable pokémon and I figured that using him last would be the best way to go about it. Let other pokémons take the hit. However, I'd be lying if I told you that my strategy wasn't partially influenced by my emotional attachment. The first couple of times were very rough, but together we grew and eventually we started stomping the pokémon league. He kept growing stronger and at one point we could win the entire league all by ourselves.
When he hit level 100, our adventures started to flash before my eyes. The tournaments which we've stomped. The tournaments which we've struggled. Even the times when he scared away those naughty pokémons living in the darkness of the caves. I remembered Charmeleon. We were young and ambitious. Always ready for a fight. Then I remembered when he was Charmander. The little innocent Charmander. Struggling together against a level 2 Pidgey. The tree guy.
That's when I realized that the level 100 Charizard is, and will always be, the same pokémon as the little baby Charmander that I grew up with. Then I bought pokémon Blue. I also don't quite get why I wrote the 'babies, seniors' thing either :/