black pikachu lived by three laws: don't be stupid, pay back all debts, and never leave enemies alive. Such were his thoughts as he crept amongst the tall grass. It was a dark night. The reassuring light of the moon was being suffocated by a wall of clouds. Yet it was not missed. He clung to the night as a worrier would his sword, and allowed his body to fade into the solitary caress of darkness. There was only silence. The forest that surround him waited on bated breath, as a hopeful mother would for the return of her lost children. Still, even the furthest Tallow could hear the obnoxious cackle of the men hiding away in a cave.

The forest cowered as the wind picked up and thunder boomed amidst the clouds. He listened. He listened to the subtle movement of any guards, and the cold clank of metal under the feet of the of Pokémon. The pikachu peeked over the grass to confirm his surroundings. One Machoke stood guard – well, stood in front of the cave drawing in the dirt. Next to him where a menagerie of Pokémon trapped in cages. A second's delay, then the pikachu made his move.

The inside of the cave was flooded with laughter, and hopeful musing about a surely successful future. One poacher talked about what he would do with his cut, only to be called an idiot. His partner would tell him the right thing to do with the money, then finish with a snarky comment about his accomplice's puke green vest. An argument would ensue, and maybe a small fight, resulting in one of them in a headlock. After, they would just laugh away and continue where they left off. Neither noticed when the Machoke disappeared. But they could not ignore the sound of the electronic cages unlocking.

Once they took a step outside, they saw the Machoke lying at their feet unconscious. Almost simultaneously, they shined their lights to the cages only to find a slew of formally locked cage doors. "What the heck Eddie, how did you let this happen?" the man yelled at his defeated partner.

"Dang it, do you know how much money they were worth?" the accomplice chimed in after a firm kick in the ribs Eddy on his back.

The pikachu had a couple options. He could take them out now, call the police, and be done with it. Or, he could battle them. He begun to leave the tall grass.

The man heard the shuffling of the grass and asked, "Hey, do you think whatever did this is still here?"

"It better be!" the accomplice said. "Hey!" The accomplice was walking around and shouting wildly as if the culprit was all around him, "I dare you to come out!"

The accomplice's challenge was met, and soon after, a wave of anger washed over him. The Pokémon in question sauntered up to the two men, revealing itself against the backlight of the cave.

They just stared at him as he stared back until finally the appalled accomplice yelled "You gotta be kidding me. This is what did it? You mean the thing did this was that little pathetic Umbreon?! I'll kill it! Where's that little crap's trainer?"

"Are you stupid?" the man said as he slapped the accomplice on the back of the head, "Look at it, it's a Pikachu."

"Are you stupid? Pikachu are yellow, that thing's black! It's an Umbreon! Besides, a Pikachu ain't been seen here in years," he argued, massaging where he was hit.

"Look at the shape stupid! Didn't you play Who's that Pokémon when you were a kid? Look at the shape. It's a black pikachu—one of those shinnies, you know. And we're not gonna kill it. That freak'll sell for double we lost."

"Wha'd about we just take its skin, he looks like he'll be a good hat," the accomplice bargained with a devilish grin.

The man scowled at his accomplice and muttered some expletives under his breath. He then reached for his belt and threw his only Poke ball. A Seviper materialized behind a flash of light. "Ay Jake, you can't kill this one, just knock em' down a notch." The Seviper looked at the pikachu and produced a smile akin to that of the gnarliest daemon. It's smile only grew as it slowly slithered up to the cave where the Black Pikachu stood.

"Jake use bite!" the man commanded.

Once Jake came within range it charged, bearing its maroon fangs at the mouse Pokémon.

The pikachu vanished. He reappeared skidding to a stop behind the confused snake.

"What?" the man cried.

"How'd he do that?" his accomplice asked.

"Whatever! Jake use bite again!"

Again the Seviper attempted to bite, but only got a mouth full of air; the Pikachu again behind.

"Oh, I get it," the man said with a smirk. "He's using quick attack to dodge. He can't do it forever so try it again!"

The Seviper, now mad at the mouse Pokémon, bared his fangs and turned as fast as he could.

The pikachu spun. His tail connected with the side of Jake's open jaw and sent it bitterly to the ground.

After Jake recovered form that embarrassing attack, he scowled at the pikachu. It was met with an unamused stare, as if the mouse Pokémon was waiting for something exciting to happen.

"Jake, use poison tail!" the accomplice called from the sidelines.

The Seviper's tail began to glow, illuminating the area in a purple radiance. Jake whipped his tail around, only to have it hit the air below the jumping Pikachu.

Jake tried to follow with another poison tail from above, but the Chu seemingly vanished again, leaving the tail to slam on the rocky ground.

The black pikachu was again in front of the cave, silhouetted (although he was already black) by the campfire. A now aggravated Jake opened its mouth once more, releasing red and orange flame. The blaze completely consumed the inside of the cave in a fireball, and once it stopped the cave charred black, and all its contents were incinerated. The camp fire was out, and the black pikachu was nowhere to be found.

"Jake did we tell your scaly butt to do flamethrower? No we didn't, but look what happened!" the accomplice screamed.

The man shined his flashlight into the wreckage, "Did we at least get the thing?" A few moments passed before the Seviper was slammed to the ground by a bolt of blue lightning connected to the blur of the pikachu. Jake now lay motionless while the pikachu stood over it. He regarded the nearly defeated snake with the same bored expression as before. The remaining blue electricity of the thunder punch still danced on his arm.

The accomplice screamed, "Jake you overpriced piece of crap, get up now!"

After a long pause, the Seviper slowly picked itself up. "Don't screw this up Jake, use-" Before the man could finish his command, Jake erupted in blue electricity which lit up the otherwise black forest in a ghostly blue spark. The imprint of the electricity clung to the poachers' visions, causing temporary blindness. Once they regained their sight, they found Jake sprawled on the floor unconscious.

The pikachu walked away, on all fours, toward the two men and looked more disappointed than bored. One of the men cussed as he pulled out his pistol. Before he pulled the trigger the pikachu dashed to the man, tackling him in the stomach. He was left gasping for air. Sooner than the accomplice could react, the pikachu electrocuted them both, which forced them to fall limply to the cold rocky dirt.

The black pikachu began to wonder if he shocked them too much; however, after seeing the rise and fall of their chest he dismissed the idea. He walked over to one of the men, took out his phone, and called the police.

Outdated translators were now common amongst communication devices, so he just gave the island name, a general location, hung up, and left for home.

"Home" was just one of the many trees hidden amongst the cluttered forest. The apple tree was good enough for now, but he knew he would have to go to the World Tree eventually. But definitely not now. Now was a time for training and thinking.

When he arrived, he jumped to a low branch, proceeded to climb to the top, and promptly slumped up against the trunk. For a while he thought about the past; thought about his mission and Cota. He thought about all the debts he had to pay, and about the time when he can finally go to sleep with a clear conscience.

It was early in the morning when the pikachu heard the rustling in the bushes – too early in the morning. It was something small by the sound of it, fumbling along the forest floor. The pikachu decided to ignore it.

It wasn't long before the noise came to the tree and stopped. The Pokémon yelled, "Hey! Mr. Pikachu, I need help!"

The black pikachu pretended to still be asleep.

"Please! I'm lost," the natu cried. The electric mouse lazily opened his eyes and accepted the fact that sooner or later he would have to hear her out. "I know you can hear me," the natu yelled. "I need your help."

After a refreshing yawn, the groggy Pikachu finally asked what the problem was from the comfort of his branch.

"Please, I don't know how to get home."

He begrudgingly jumped down from his arboreal dwelling to get a better look at the young natu. Further inspection reviled that that the natu's feather, which was supposed to be red, was purple. Otherwise, she was the standard green and red bird native to Hoenn.

"Oh yeah," he said, still rubbing his eyes. "Weren't you one of the Pokémon in the cage from yesterday? What'd you say you need again?"

"I don't know the way home. I was hoping you could show me the way." The young Pokémon said.

"What makes you think I know the way?"

She thought for a moment then said, "I live in Yggdrasil."

"The World Tree?" he asked with some degree of surprise. "You do realize that's on the other side of the island right? That's at least a three day walk, and I don't think-"

"Then you know where it is!" the Natu screamed as she jumped on him, "Please please please!"

"Look kid-"

"My name's Maya," the girl interrupted.

"First, I'm not good at remembering names-"

"But Maya is an easy name to remember."

Ignoring her comment, the pikachu pointed west and said, "Second, it's literally the giant tree over there. You can't miss it."

"But I can't see it through the all the other trees."

"Then fly over the trees."

"But natu's can't fly until we evolve."

"Then hop from tree to tree."

"But I might get struck by lightning."

"Kid, I guarantee you'll get struck by lightning if you stay with me."

There was a pause. She barely opened her beak as she spoke, "But, I'm scared to go alone."

The mouse Pokémon hesitated and, with a sigh, said, "Kid, there're really only bugs out here. As long as you stay out their way, they're not a problem. Besides, they're not strong, and you have an advantage."

The little bird let go of his torso. She looked into his eyes and said, "But I'm scared." Her teary eyes bore into those of the pikachu. "Please, I know I'm asking a lot, and I don't have any money, but can't you please?"

He looked at the young Natu, just for a moment, and proclaimed, "No." and begun to walk away.

The little girl cut the waterworks and franticly yelled, "Cato would want you to!"

He froze. "How do you know that name?"

The little girl didn't think that last question though all the way. She fumbled over her words as she spoke, "I um... Well that doesn't matter! He would want you to! Right?"

"How do you know that name?"

The little girl did not speak, and the pikachu searched her worried face for answers.

Instincts took over as he took a step. He stopped himself before he released any electricity, and he relaxed the muscles he did not realize were tense. The pikachu took a breath. He looked up, beyond the ceiling of leaves, to the cloudy skies ahead. Maybe even past those too.

He did not speak for a while and Maya was worried that she pushed him too far.

"Yes, he would," the chu finally said.

He looked at the little natu girl and thought about the mess he would have to go through to set foot near the World Tree.

"Fine," he said at last. "But at my pace."

"Thank you!" the girl said with a huge smile. She ran up to him and gave him another tight hug.

The pikachu let out a breath and slumped his shoulders. "I'm a Pikachu with a lot of static. You shouldn't touch me."

The girl quickly let go of his torso. "Thank you!"

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered as he retreated back to his tree for his knapsack.