Part 1 - Reunion
A/U: Hello everyone! This is a new story I just started working on with my friend lumpy milkshake, and it's her first story on the site! As you can see, it will be posted and updated on my account, but please do give much of the credit to her as well!
Oh, and Ash is going to only appear in the first two chapters. This story is about his Pikachu and Charmander on this big adventure that only includes Pokémon, with no humans. They're only here to tell you what's happening a little bit, and why they won't be with Ash. Also, the beginning takes place in the Johto region, but we're pretending that Charmander never evolved. Most of the story will take place in continents that, to my knowledge, don't exist in the actual Pokémon world, and they're only inhabited by Pokémon. Oh, and as of yet we don't plan on any romance in this story. If we add any, we'll be sure to tell you, but until then, this'll just be friendship. Pikachu and Charmander are both guy's in this fic, and neither of us would particularly enjoy reading yaoi, let alone writing it. It's not that we have anything against homosexuality, we just don't like reading/writing about it.
Now, some of you might have read my story Chosen of the Phoenix and are eagerly waiting for the long-awaited update, but the truth is, I'm running low on inspiration for that right now. I started it with very little planning or knowledge of where it's going to go, and I currently have no inspiration to continue writing it. However, I'm not abandoning it, because it always makes me sad whenever I'm reading a perfectly good story, and suddenly I come across an author's note chapter that says they're abandoning the story completely. Thus, Chosen of the Phoenix is now on hiatus for an indefinite amount of time. But I'll try to regain some kind of inspiration for it as soon as I possibly can, but that might not be for a while with this new, much more planned-out story that I'm excited about.
Oh, but don't expect regular updates. Lumpy Milkshake and I will do our best to get them out frequently, which will be easier with summer vacation just around the corner, but we might not always be able to.
Whew, that was a long author's note for me. All that aside, I hope you enjoy the story, and please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor will I ever own, the rights to Pokémon.
-x*x-
Light streamed through the murky window, illuminating a large lump of blankets snoozing quietly on the bed. The bright rays of sunshine seeped through a gap in the covers, shining into the eyes of the inhabitants of the blanket.
Stirring in irritation, the lump rose, giving way to the figure of a person, and disturbing the sleeping yellow mouse resting on top of the blankets.
The figure scratched its tousled black hair with one hand, using the other hand to rub at one of its droopy onyx eyes as it examined its surroundings.
Yawning, the figure turned towards the small yellow mouse in tired excitement. "Hey Pikachu, are you ready for our gym battle today?" Ash Ketchum questioned the Pokémon hyperly.
The electric rodent responded with a similarly excited, "Pika!"
As he waited for his owner to prepare for the important day ahead of them, Pikachu contemplated the uneasy feeling he had about the day. He's certainly no Absol, but even normal Pokémon can tell when a bad day awaits them. He only hoped this ominous feeling wouldn't end up being fulfilled in the way of a losing gym battle. The little yellow mouse was quite loyal to his owner, and didn't enjoy seeing the disappointment etched onto Ash's face whenever he lost a battle.
Of course, being beat-up by another Pokémon wasn't a particularly pleasant experience either.
However, Pikachu was broken from his contemplation when his owner called out to him. "Come on, Pikachu, let's go get some breakfast!"
Ash took the steps two at a time in his rush towards the awaiting meal in the Pokémon Center's buffet. Upon entering, he hardly took notice of the many people crowding the cafeteria and instead focused intently on grabbing his food. As he was piling his plate with large amounts of bacon, eggs, toast and other such breakfast-time foods, he failed to notice the pitying looks pointed in his direction.
It was difficult to find a seat in the crowded cafeteria, but eventually the onyx-eyed boy found a seat and began to ravenously devour the contents of his plate like a wild Mightyena would a freshly-caught meal.
After finishing, Ash headed quickly towards the gym with a spring in his step, ready to add to his collection of badges won from gym leaders.
Upon arrival however, his expression morphed into one of disappointment and confusion when he found the gym doors locked. Noticing a sign on the door that he had ignored in his excitement, the aspiring Pokémon Master read the note.
All gyms permanently closed from this day forward. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Sincerely,
The Pokémon League
His face now held nothing but shock. The only coherent thought running through his head was, "Why would they suddenly close the gyms?"
In his attempt to find an answer to this question, Ash began sprinting down the empty street franticly, with Pikachu trailing behind him.
He kept running until he was panting exhaustedly wondering where everyone went. As he bent down to catch his breath, the tired teen spotted a lone newspaper fluttering on the street. Glancing down at it, he read the article title The Rise of Team Plasma.
Picking it up in curiosity Ash read the article, wondering who this "Team Plasma" was and why he had yet to hear about them.
The Rise of Team Plasma
Team Plasma, a group formed in the Unova region with the intention of separating people and Pokémon claiming they need to be liberated, has just invaded the Pokémon League. Their leader, Natural Harmonia Gropius, known by his followers as King N, has just defeated the Elite Four and Champion Lance with the assistance of the legendary Pokémon, Reshiram. Using his newly-acquired position as Champion, N has issued a command to all trainers to release their Pokémon. His order also commands that all Pokémon related facilities, organizations and foundations by shut down. He has already claimed the Champion position in every other region, and the same order has been proclaimed in every region. With the legendary Reshiram, one of the founders of the Unova region, at his side, there is little anyone can do to resist his order. Anyone found owning a Pokémon after midnight tonight is to be arrested and their Pokémon released.
Astonished, Ash dropped the newspaper and it fluttered innocently away in the wind.
Glancing at his paralyzed trainer with a worried expression, Pikachu knew something was terribly wrong.
Only furthering his assessment of his trainer's reaction, Ash sprinted off in the direction of the Pokémon Center.
Quickly following behind his now-hysterical master, they continued to sprint until they arrived back at the Pokémon Center.
It wasn't what either of them expected to see.
People with strange knight-like medieval outfits were harassing the many trainers in the Pokémon Center, demanding they all release their Pokémon immediately. Each one bore an emblem depicting the image of a lightning bolt-like P in the middle of what appeared to be a knight's shield.
Hearing footsteps, the knights turned towards Ash. "Hey, you too buddy! Release your Pokémon this instant!"
Looking at them in indignation, Ash questioned, "Hey, who do you think you are, demanding that I release my Pokémon like that? I didn't do anything wrong!"
With a smug look, one of the hefty men in the group replied, "We're Team Plasma! And our King N has now declared it illegal to own or use Pokémon in any way. Just having one with you is considered a crime if you fail to release it upon notification."
In anger, he protested with, "What? That's not fair! I'm not one of the trainers that treat their Pokémon badly, why should I have to release them?"
"That's our Lord's demand, and as the Champion, he has jurisdiction over all trainers now, and this is what he decided to do with that power. The only reason Milord is allowing us to own Pokémon is so that we may enforce his commands. If you fail to comply with our King's orders, then we will use force, and you will be arrested and marked as a criminal. It is within your best interest that you release all your Pokémon this instant," responded the same Plasma Knight.
"Bu-but, they're my friends! I can't just release them, that isn't right! You don't just abandon you're friends!" the boy franticly shouted.
"I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is. You're only harming your so-called 'friends' by making them fight against their will, and taking them away from their natural environment. They'll be better off if you just release them."
Ash gave Pikachu a heartbroken look. Giving him a solemn nod in response to the unspoken question, Pikachu thought, "Go ahead Ash. You can release me. I don't want you to get arrested, especially because of me."
Feeling his eyes water lightly, the saddened ex-trainer got out all of his pokéballs and began releasing the Pokémon in them one-by-one. As each one came out, they began to look more and more confused and slightly hurt at their master's actions.
Upon getting to the final pokéball, he gave it and the lightning bolt sticker on it a final look.
"I guess this is our final goodbye, isn't that right, Pikachu?" he stated softly, with his hair shadowing his eyes.
"Pika…" was the little electric mouse's saddened response.
Finally, Ash released Pikachu from his pokéball, and the small Pokémon immediately felt the break in the bond.
"Goodbye, Pikachu," the young boy said, looking more vulnerable than any of his Pokémon had ever seen him, "I'll miss you, buddy. Go ahead and live a good life with all your friends now."
As he spoke, he began shaking. "And just remember, that I'll never forget you as long as you never forget me!" With this final statement, a single sparkle could be seen dropping from one of his now-visible eyes onto Pikachu's old pokéball, leaving a drop of moisture on it.
"Have fun now, Pikachu!" he yelled, running into the Pokémon Center, trying to hide the rest of his oncoming tears.
Reaching towards him, but stopping short, Pikachu called out to him with his own final farewell instead. "Pika Pi! Pika, chu! Goodbye Ash, I'll miss you too!"
Watching his ex-trainer until he disappeared completely into the Pokémon Center, Pikachu looked towards the now-setting sun, wondering what to do next.
"I'll miss you too…"