IMPORTANT TO ANY READERS: This story may be labeled as "complete", but that is because it will be no longer updated. I have a rewrite that I am updating now, and will be finished. The reason why I quit half way is explained in 'chapter' 21. Feel free to read that if you want reasoning, or just go to my page and read the story "The Legend of Aura", which is the rewrite. If you really want to read what I have in this story, then feel free to, but it may spoil some parts in "The Legend of Aura" if you're new to the story. This story has some of my best and worst writing. Thank you and enjoy the story.

Ash and Pikachu walked along the river's edge. Pikachu didn't understand why they had gone so far from camp, or why Ash hadn't brought anything, including his other Pokemon. But Pikachu didn't care, he was with his Trainer.

"This looks like a good place to stop, don't you think so Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"Pika," Pikachu replied with a nod. It was a beautiful spot, right at the bend of the river, forming a larger body of water before it continued down the river. The flowers were in full bloom and the land seemed untouched.

Ash sat down on a large boulder, rubbing his hands together nervously. Pikachu leapt up into his lap, and Ash gave him a hug. They sat there in silence, and Ash seemed to have a nervous twitch.

"Chu?" Pikachu asked him, giving him a small concerned lick.

"Don't do that!" Ash said sharply, confusing Pikachu.

"Pikapi?"

Ash softened his tone, "Sorry buddy," Ash gave him another small hug, then stood up suddenly. Pikachu leapt from his lap to the rock. "Hey Pikachu," Ash began awkwardly, "I need to go do something real quick, will you stay here while I do it?"

"Pi-pika!" Pikachu said with a smile and a nod.

"Kay bud!" Ash rubbed him on his head, but pulled back quickly. Ash started to walk away, then glanced back at Pikachu, "Make sure you stay here, I don't want you getting hurt." Pikachu flashed him a peace sign, then Ash took off into the woods.

Pikachu sat down, watching the clouds, waiting for Ash to come back. Pikachu wondered why he couldn't just come with Ash, but he brushed off the thought. Ash always had a reason. As minutes past Pikachu began to worry, where was Ash? Maybe something had happened to him! Pikachu remembered that Ash had no Pokemon with him.

At this thought Pikachu leapt to his feet. He caught Ash's scent and ran after him. The trail lead farther than Pikachu thought, maybe Ash wasn't in trouble but just had to go farther. The scent trail lead right to camp.

Pikachu peered through the bushes and saw Ash. Ash had put out the fire and had started to pack up things. He stuffed one more thing into his bag and checked his Pokeballs. "That's everything," He muttered and stood up, sliding his backpack on. Then he started to walk away.

Pikachu frowned, Ash was walking in the opposite direction off him, wasn't Ash going to come get him? Perhaps Ash was so use to Pikachu being there that he had forgotten that he was at the river. That thought brought a smile to Pikachu's face.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu called, leaping out of the bushes and dashing towards Ash, ready to hear his laugh when he had realized that he had forgotten that he wasn't there.

Instead Ash stiffened, and turned around, surprise and frustration on his face. "Pikachu! I told you to stay at the river!"

Pikachu stopped in his tracks, he had just thought Ash was in trouble, he didn't disobey without a good reason. Then why was he leaving? Perhaps he had another thing to do?

"Pika-Pikachu?" He asked him, confused.

Ash pointed back towards the river, "Go back Pikachu," Then he started to turn back the way he was leaving.

"Pika? Pikapika!" Pikachu dashed after him.

"Pikachu, go back, now!"

"Chu-pi! Pika pika chu chu!" Pikachu wanted to know what was going on.

Ash grabbed his hat and ran his hand through his hair. "I didn't want to do this way, but you leave me no choice. Pikachu, you're staying here. Go back now."

"Pika!" Pikachu cried, confused.

"You're not coming with me anymore, you can stay here, it's a good place for you."

Pikachu crossed his arms, they've done this before. Ash had thought Pikachu would be happier being left behind living with other Pikachu. Didn't he know by now that he was only happy with him?

"Pika pika chu," Pikachu said, shaking his head. He placed his paw on his heart, "Pikachu," Then he pointed to Ash, "Pikapi." Pikachu smiled up at Ash, "Pika pika!" Pikachu held his arms out to Ash.

Hurt and guilt flashed through Ash's eyes, then they went cold and hard. "It's not like that one time, this is different." Ash thought, "I'm... I'm abandoning you Pikachu," He choked out 'abandoning', "I don't need you anymore, so... stay back!"

"Chu?" Confusion flashed through his face. "Pika pika!" He looked up at Ash, "Pikachu chu!"

"Go."

"Pikapi! Pikachu pi pi pika!" Pikachu begged, tears in his eyes, he took a step towards Ash.

"Stay back! Pikachu I said stay back! If you still think of me as your Trainer, then listen to what I say. Stay away!" Ash turned away. "Krookodile, use Stone Edge on Pikachu!' Ash threw a Pokeball.

Krookodile came out with a flash. He was confused by Ash's orders, perhaps some training. He glanced over at the tear stricken Pikachu. This definitely wasn't training, but Krookodile did as Ash said.

"Let that teach you to stay away," Ash said as he recalled Krookodile. The stones hit Pikachu, slamming him into a boulder. Ash snuck a glance at Pikachu, who was severely injured. He started to walk away.

"Pi... Ka... Chu... Pi-ka... Pi-ka..." Ash turned around, Pikachu had managed to stand up, and was taking slow, but steady steps towards Ash.

"Give it up Pikachu!" Ash grabbed another Pokeball. Fear flashed through Pikachu's eyes, was Ash going to attack him again? Why was he doing this?

Instead of sending out a Pokemon Ash just held out the ball. "Do you recognize this Pikachu?"

Pikachu looked at the Pokeball. He spotted a small sticker on it. A sticker of a lightning bolt. Pikachu's ears twitched in recognition.

"Yes, this is your Pokeball. If you won't stay here then I'll make you. Pikachu, return!" A red light flashed from the ball. Pikachu quickly dodged, running from the beam of light. Ash kept it trained on Pikachu. Pikachu was soon cornered.

"Pika pi!" Pikachu pleaded, eyes wide in fear. Ash's only response was a twitch of his finger. His eyes remained cold. "Return!"

Pikachu was too weak to dodge. He closed his eyes as the horrid red light hit him, transforming him into energy. He was pulled into the Pokeball, where he was returned to his regular form, but shrunken and trapped. He lashed out, but only managed to twitch the ball in Ash's hands.

"I'm sorry Pikachu," Ash whispered softly to the ball, but not sweetly, "You left me no choice." Pikachu felt the ball being set down on the boulder, "Maybe someone will find you and let you out, but maybe not. Goodbye bud." Pikachu could only helplessly listen to Ash's words and listened to his footsteps.

Pikachu's fear and sadness was soon replaced with anger. How could Ash do this to him? How could he leave him trapped in the thing he hated, maybe forever? How could he attack him? How could he leave him?

How could he still call him 'bud' after everything he had done?