Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pikachu
:: 2GGP ::
~Dear Diary~
Wow, I haven't written in this thing for a while! I was cleaning out my junk drawer when I found it, and what started out as a small, inquisitive "Hmm, I wonder what I wrote?" turned into two hours of page flipping fun! Mew, I never realized how shallow I used to be. Just like my sisters! 'Like!' and 'Totally!' as every other word! Yeesh. . .
Well, in all honesty, I don't have much to write. This entry was just kind of a "Hey, I remember you now! I think I'll start using this again. . ." kind of thing. So. . .yeah. Well, I'm off. Alevoi!
Love Always,
Misty
:: 2GGP ::
Um, What, Dear. . .Journal?
You know, I've never liked the idea of keeping a Journal before. But Mom, well. . .she says if she doesn't see me writing in it every night from here until the day I leave she'll retain my License for another month! Evil woman. . .
So what am I supposed to use this thing for, anyway? Mom says Dad kept one when he became a Trainer, so now she wants me to do the same. Says I should form the hobbit now or something. (Wait, isn't a hobbit one of those fat people in those wizard book things???) I dunno. I have no idea why she wants me to have anything to do with him, anyway. They've been gone for eight years, and she still acts like they'll come back. Oh, well. At least she's not depressed anymore. And I got Juniper's old room just a few months ago! Finally!
Um. . .what else? Mom says I need three paragraphs. Is two sentences a whole paragraph? Um, I think so. I say so. Bwaha. Yeah, I'm really bored. I can't wait until I leave. Pallet is so DUMB!!! Just 21 more days!
Uh, I'm Outta Things To Say. Ms. Perkes Always Said We Should Capitalize Every Word In Our Closing Statement. So I Am. Er. . .Bye. . .
-Ash Ketchum aka World's Bordest Guy!!
:: 2GGP ::
The Infamous Brock Log:
I STILL CAN'T FIND THE YARN!!!!!
-A Very Agitated Brock
:: 2GGP ::
. . .Pikachu. . .
Pika pikachu pika pika! PiKA chu! Pika pikachu pikachu. *ka. . .* Pikachu pika pika pi. . .
Pikachupika!
Pikachu
P.K.
Pika pikachu chu pi pika. PikaCHU pika pika pi!
:: 2GGP ::
:: Misty ::
Jeez, it's cold out here. . .
I rubbed my hands together for warmth, snuggling as deep as I could into the warm folds of my sleeping bag and wrapping my arms around my knees. As uncomfortable as it was, it did make me a bit warmer, and that was all that really mattered at the moment.
I should never have left. . .
Thoughts of the night before drifted slowly back into my head, despite my best efforts to shove them out again. My eyes teared up again, but this time I let them.
Their words are finally getting to me, I thought glumly. They said some pretty nasty things. . .
Once again, I found myself questioning their parental abilities. Ever since our parents died in that shipwreck they'd done nothing but care for themselves. I mean, what kind of guardian calls their little sister a name like that? I was right to run away. Anyone would have done the same thing in my situation. And last night. . .? Last night was the last straw.
The wind chose that time to pick up and I shivered. It certainly wasn't this cold when I left last night. Maybe it was the open landscape? Trees would offer a lot more protection from the wind, but a forest involved the risk of seeing bugs. . .I shuddered at the mere thought.
But what else could I do? I couldn't go back now, not after I told them that thing about being a Master. . .that would be so embarrassing. . .but what were my other options? I was probably still a good few miles away from Pewter, I could probably get there by nightfall tomorrow if I left when the sun came up—and Mew knew that wouldn't be too hard. The sooner morning came, the better. And the Pokémon Center there offered a warm bed for a night or two. . .that would be good. . .but what then? Maybe there would be someone else there that I could travel with for a while. I smiled at the thought. It would be nice to have some company. And if not, well, then, I could just keep going. There was an ocean somewhere past Viridian, maybe I could catch some more Water Pokémon.
It was settled, then. I would look for a traveling buddy, and if there were none to be found, continue on in search of a good, strong Pokémon. Perhaps a Gyardos. But that was in the future. All I had to concentrate on now was keeping warm. . .
:: 2GGP ::
::Three Weeks Later. . .
:: Ash ::
"Gengar! Use Disable, now!
"Hurry, Onix! Use Screech before it Disables anything!"
I stared in awe at the intense League Battle playing out before my eyes, minimized a great deal by the 20" TV in our living room. The Onix reared to her full height, her finned hear brushing the distant domed roof of Indigo Stadium. The camera zoomed in on her mouth as she opened it wide, preparing a Screech Attack, but a luminous, light purple cloud hit her before she could omit a sound. The cloud grew to engulf the tremendous Pokémon, clinging to her hard skin as thin, jagged bolts of purple energy streaked around her.
The Onix roared in agony as she felt the power for one of her Attacks being drained from her body. I winced, remembering how I had felt when Gary had ordered his grandfather's Drowzee to Disable me when I had a candy bar he had wanted. It had only been a few days ago, and yet I could still feel the aftereffects whenever I tried to move too fast. The damn thing had Disabled my 'ability' to move.
There was a loud, thundering boom as the Onix slumped to the ground, stunned. The camera vibrated for a few seconds as the Stadium settled once again, and when the cloud of dust cleared I could see that she had broken through both the thick layer of dirt and the wooden Stadium floor hidden beneath.
"Hypnosis," I whispered, trying to predict the outcome of the Match. I had completely forgotten the spoon of cereal on its way to my mouth until a red balloon and a tablespoon of warm milk fell on my thigh, making me jump.
"Now, Gengar! Hypnosis!"
I smiled in triumph, setting down my empty spoon and settling back onto the squashy blue couch as I watched the Onix sway drowsily back and forth, her eyes drooping heavily. "Ha!" I said aloud. "That Onix never stood a chance. Gengar's Speed made her look like she was standing still, and her Special Defense is no match for his Dream Eater."
But the Gengar never used Dream Eater. The crowd roared as the Onix collapsed, the impact of her titanic body shaking the entire Stadium yet again and leaving another gigantic hole. Everyone thought the Onix was beaten when the Gengar approached, floating eerily through the air as he grinned maniacally at his fallen opponent. His already misty outline was becoming even more unrecognizable as he slid into the purple cloud, which was still spreading rapidly throughout the Stadium.
Suddenly the crowd went silent. I frowned, looking up from my disgustingly soggy Lucky Charms to see what was going on.
The Gengar was no longer smiling. His brilliant orange eyes were squeezed shut in pain as he shuddered violently. His form was becoming solid once again, and I noticed that the cloud seemed to be sticking to him as it had the Onix.
The Gengar's Trainer was screaming at him, her aged face red with rage, but her words were drowned out by the sudden roar of the crowd. Agatha was pointing at her Gengar, then jabbing her finger towards the other side of the arena, one of the few areas left untouched by the expanding cloud. But the Gengar didn't seem to hear her. Purple bolts of light began zipping around him as they proceeded to Disable one of his own Attacks.
The lights flared; an Attack was completely drained. The Gengar stumbled backwards in the air, finally free of the Disabling Cloud. He shook his head to clear it, and a grin spread slowly across his devilish face.
Agatha sighed in relief, then ordered him to finish off the sleeping Onix with a Dream Eater. The Gengar brought his short hands up before his face as he prepared his Attack. A few seconds passed and nothing happened. He blinked. I blinked. The entire Stadium blinked. He shook his hands and tried again. Still nothing.
The crowd held its breath. I dropped my spoon in my cereal and gaped at the TV. Suddenly the announcer's voice flew out of the many loudspeakers ringing the Stadium, shattering the eerie silence.
"I don't believe it! The Gengar's astoundingly powerful Disable Attack has shut down its only means of offense! There's no way it can wear away that tough rock with a mere Lick Attack before it wakes up! Hold on tight, folks, this could turn out to be an upset!"
The crowd moaned at the helpless Gengar, clearly most people's favorite, as they watched him use his feeble Lick Attack, which didn't even budge the sleeping snake. The Gengar soared up and away angrily, glaring at his granite opponent through slitted orange eyes. He tried a Night Shade Attack, but it didn't seem to do much damage.
"Would you look at that!" the announcer yelled. "The Onix is awake! I honestly don't know who this Match is going to, folks!"
The Onix was lifting her heavy body from the floor, her large amber eyes blinking slowly at the flashing camera lights in the crowd. She jumped when she noticed the Gengar glaring at her at eye level; the effect was as if the entire arena was going through a small earthquake. She glanced back stupidly at her Trainer, who was jumping up and down wildly as he tried to make his orders heard over the roaring crowd.
Suddenly the Onix wheeled back around, grinding a ditch deep into the dirt floor, and, in a blur that greatly defied her once slow Speed, lunged at the frozen Gengar, heavy jaws open wide as she performed the powerful Crunch Attack.
The Gengar fell heavily to the floor as the stands exploded in cheers. The green flag went up and the announcer declared, in a rather excited voice, that the Onix's Trainer was the winner, and would therefore go on to face the next member of the Elite Four. Agatha stomped around her BattleBox; she hadn't lost in a while and she wasn't taking the recent one very well. I stared at the Onix with increased respect. Her Trainer was hugging her around her huge neck, his small human arms not even reaching a quarter of the way around one of the large stones.
I was numbly aware of a door opening behind me. I dragged my eyes away from the spectacular victory scene on the TV in time to see my mother disappear behind the wall dividing the living room from the kitchen.
I jumped up from my seat on the couch, nearly knocking my tray table over in my excitement. Catching it on reflex, I dashed into the kitchen, where Mom was busy putting groceries away.
"Mom, guess what?" I said excitedly.
"What, hon?" She was a bit preoccupied as she concentrated on where she should put the green bananas.
"An Onix won a Match against a Gengar!" I said quickly. "Her Trainer is going on to face the next member of the Elite Four! See, the Gengar used Disable, but then got caught in his own cloud, and it Disabled his only Special Attack, and the Onix's Defense was through the roof, and Lick is a really weak Attack so the Gengar couldn't hurt her anymore, and the Onix woke up, and—"
"Don't you have that thing with Sam today?" Mrs. Ketchum interrupted as if I hadn't been speaking. "Or is that tomorrow?"
I froze, then glanced quickly at the Meowth clock hanging on the wall above the stove. "Oh, jeez. . ."
"Um, what were you saying, dear?" Mrs. Ketchum asked as she reached up to place the butter on top of the microwave. "Something about a lick attack, or something? Did that dog next door tackle you again? Ooh, once I get my hands on that Mr. McCorbin I'll get that lab sent out of here before you can say—Ash? Ash, honey, where'd you go?"
But I had already sprinted out of the kitchen, catching myself on the counter as my socks slid on the polished wooden floor, and was busy scrambling up the stairs for my things. I dug through the mounds of clothes heaped on the floor until I found my shoes. Stumbling back down the stairs and pulling them on at the same time, I grabbed my faded League cap off the banister knob and made a mad leap for the front door. "Byebebacklatergottago!" I shouted behind me as the door slammed shut.
The air outside was warm and fresh, the sky a rich blue filled with fluffy white clouds. The sound of a lawnmower could be heard in the distance, as it so often could in the springtime, and a slight breeze ruffled the hair beneath my cap as I rushed down the walkway, leapt the low picket gate, and ran down the street in the direction of Professor Oak's lab. Old Man McCorbin was out in his bathrobes watering his petunias, and I waved him a quick good morning. He just stared in puzzlement as I bounded past his yard.
Pallet wasn't very large, and it only took a few minutes for me to reach the edge of town, where the professor's lab awaited. Already I could clearly see the enormous telescope peeking over a few trees just ahead. Soon after, I caught a glimpse of the massive domed roof just before I burst through the last of the trees and scampered across the wide lawn.
This is perfect, I thought as I forced my legs to climb the seemingly endless multitude of long stone steps. I mean, what if I'm too late for the test? And even if I do take it, all of the good Pokémon will be taken already. Perfect.
I shoved roughly through the towering double doors topping the steps and dragged my heavy feet over to the secretary's desk, trying in vain to ignore everyone staring at me. It must have been a sight, though, a sweaty teenager bursting into the lobby in a baggy black shirt, khaki cargo shorts, untied sneakers and a battered old cap. Even the Pokémon were watching me strangely.
The thin secretary lifted her bony hands from the keyboard she had been typing on to remove the thick black horn-rimmed glasses from the tip of her pointy nose. She was staring at me disapprovingly as I leaned on her desk in an attempt to catch my breath back. When I didn't say anything she asked, in a rather high-pitched and whiney voice, "Can I help you, young man?"
"Uh, yeah, Miss. . ." I glanced at her nametag, "Seaver," I panted. She must have been new, because I didn't recognize her. "I'm here to get my Pokémon Trainer's License." I blinked when a rouge bead of sweat trickled into my eye and brushed it away with the back of my hand. It was too hot for May.
"I'm sorry, sir," she said curtly, frowning at my condition. "That exam started over an hour ago. You'll have to try again another time." She didn't look sorry in the least as she shoved her glasses back up the long brim of her nose and returned to her typing. I gaped at her.
"Wait," I said breathlessly after a moment of stunned silence. Clearing my throat, I tried again. "Wait, ma'am. Please?" She stopped typing and peered over the rim of her glasses at me, obviously annoyed. I swallowed.
"Yes?"
"Can you just let me in to talk to Professor Oak? Maybe he'll let me take it anyway."
She was obviously not pleased that I had contradicted her authority, because her answer was an abrupt, "I'm sorry, young man. There's another test in a month or two. Why don't you try back then?"
"Because the next one is in four months!" I swallowed and drummed my fingers on the desktop, embarrassed for yelling. What was it with old people and being so stubborn?
I leaned over the broad desk to talk a bit more quietly, glancing longingly at the dark green elevator door just a few feet beyond the old lady. A burly security guard that I didn't recognize was standing beside it with his arms crossed, watching me suspiciously. Jeez, I'd been here just a week before and all these new people hadn't been here then. Did Professor Oak just hire? Why did he have to do it now?
"Okay," my eyes found their way back to the secretary, "look, I've been waiting for months to take this test; it's the first one this year. If I wait till September I'll be way behind everybody else, and I need all the extra time I can get before the League Tournament next June—"
She snorted and I stopped to stare at her oddly. I don't believe I'd ever witnessed an old lady snort before.
"You're trying out for the Indigo League?" she asked smugly. It almost sounded like she was sneering at me. My surprise at her un-oldlady-like gesture quickly turned to confusion as she continued. "And on your first year as a legal Trainer?" There was that snort again. No wonder she was still a miss. "Highly unlikely. The odds are ridiculously overwhelming."
Why was she telling me this? Why was everyone taking Gary's side in this? Jeez, even the elderly were against me. Perfect.
"I don't care about my odds," I hissed, losing my patience. "Look, lady, all I want is my License. If you could just buzz the professor or something—"
"I'm sorry, sir, but the new security measures don't permit me to do that," she said firmly. "Try again in September."
"But I—you—the League. . ." I trailed off under her glare. "Please?" I added hopefully. "I'm begging you, Miss. . .Beaver? Right, Seaver. . .Can you at least just buzz him and tell him Ash Ketchum's here? Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with a cherry on top and a—"
"Look, sir," she said crossly, removing her glasses to peer at me, "the professor is very busy right now and can't be bothered. Try again in Septem—" She was cut off by the high-pitched beeping of a vid-phone resting on the back of her circle-desk. "One moment, please," she said automatically, spinning around in her wheeled chair and pressing a button on the side of the monitor.
The screen fizzled weakly for a moment before the image of an old man appeared, looking rather flustered. Professor Oak forced a smile when his saw his secretary. "Good morning, Miss Weaver—"
"Seaver," she corrected.
"Eh—yes, that's right. Well anyway, I've just finished with the last of the Trainers for today—they should be heading down any minute now—and one of my best students hasn't shown up yet. I was wondering if you could—Ash? Is that you?"
I stopped waving my arms frantically above the secretary's head and sighed in relief. Finally. Miss Seaver rolled reluctantly to the side, allowing me to talk to the professor from across the desk.
"Professor, I've been trying to reach you," I said breathlessly, glancing at the stubborn secretary. "I wanted to get my License today, but I lost track of time this morning, and now this secretary won't let me through, and I really really want to get it today so I can start collecting Badges for the League, and I—what? Why are you laughing?"
To my utter confusion, the professor was chuckling uncontrollably.
"Of course, Ash," he managed to say. "I knew you'd want to take the exam today. I—" He was interrupted when a small Rattata leapt onto his lap, placing his tiny front paws on the professor's screen to sniff my image eagerly. "Get down Scabbers," he muttered, shoving the rat gently off his lap. He turned back to the screen. "Sorry about that. Actually, I was just going to ask Miss, eh. . .Sewer? to try and get a hold of you but now that you're here I suppose you can come on up and we can get started. I'll be in my office in five minutes—" Something crashed behind him and his face fell. "Make that ten. Oh, and if Ernie, the guard, gives you any trouble just tell him I gave my rainbows—"
"Rainbows?"
He sweatdropped. "Eh, yes, a new security term. Rainbows. Now, hurry up or you'll fall behind."
The screen winked and went black. I couldn't help but grin innocently at the secretary, and tipped my hat to her as I slid along the length of the desktop and stepped over to the elevator, where the burly guard stopped me.
"What're you carryin'?" he asked gruffly. I swallowed, hard. He hadn't looked nearly this big from the desk.
"Um. . .rainbows?"
Looking rather disappointed, Ernie stepped aside, allowing me to hastily enter the elevator, which was, thankfully, empty. Pressing the third floor button quickly, I sighed in relief as the doors slid shut. Finally.
It was only a moment or two before a little ding alerted me to the opening doors. I gratefully stepped away from the poorly composed elevator music and into a wide, short hallway that opened into a comfortable looking waiting room with fluffy, pale green couches lining the walls and a heavily tread beige carpet, laced with small, dirty paw prints that led away from a broken potted plant in a far corner. The vid-phone the professor had used was resting on a desk opposite the shattered fern, but Oak wasn't there. Save a young girl playing a GBA in the light of a lamp along one wall, the room was empty.
A door in the hallway, opposite the elevator and beside the bathroom, was labeled:
OAK'S OFFICE
PRIVATE PERSONNEL ONLY
It was unlocked, so, with a small smile to the quiet girl in the corner of the waiting room, I entered, shutting the door quietly behind me.
"Professor?" I called, looking around the familiar room curiously. His office was small, with only a single desk, a telephone, and a filing cabinet crammed inside. The desk was littered with stacks of papers covered in tiny paw prints. I looked down and saw them leading in from the waiting room below my feet. The walls were bare, save a single door opposite me and a few plaques proudly stating Professor Samuel Oak's many achievements and discoveries.
The professor wasn't here, either. The paw prints led to another upturned plant in a corner, then to the Storage Room's door across the room. A small sunflower lay among the upturned soil, its once bright yellow pedals already wilting form lack of nutrients.
I removed my hat to wipe my forehead and sank into the single wooden chair facing the desk. It felt good to rest after my quick trek across town. A digital clock on the wall behind the desk told me that I was now an hour and a half late. I sighed. Perfect.
A few minutes later I found myself staring at the shattered ceramic pot, wondering whether I should clean it up or not. With what? I was looking around for a brush or something when the Storage door opened and Professor Oak stepped into the room. He smiled at me and wiped his hands on his once-white lab coat. I could see that it was now covered in tiny dirt stains shaped suspiciously like paws.
"A Rattata giving you some trouble?" I asked, glancing over his soiled clothes.
"Dear me, yes," he sighed, attempting to squeeze through the tight space between the wall and his desk, and lowered himself into his leather armchair. "My great niece caught it this morning. Little vermin gnawed its way out of its cage and has teamed up with a Pikachu to wreak havoc in my poor lab." He shook his head slowly, then turned to me, a much happier expression on his face.
"So," he began, "thought you'd watch the League Finals before you took your exam, eh?"
I smiled sheepishly, embarrassed. "I meant to just watch it while I ate breakfast," I tried to explain, "but then this huge Battle between an Onix and a Gengar came on and I. . .forgot."
Oak smiled and I felt a little less nervous. "Quite understandable. I was watching the Match as the others took their exams. I hope you learned something about Battling an Onix? I understand the second Gym has one or two."
"Yeah, I know," I replied. "So. . .I can take the exam, then? You'll still let me?"
Oak smiled again. "Of course, Ash. I had to pry Gary away from the television myself. Here." He disappeared behind his desk for a moment or two. I watched his back bob up and down and marveled at how he could still move his old bones in such a way. But then he straightened and a few pops and creaks sounded. He winced, and I winced, restraining a shudder. Oi, it just sounded so nasty. . .
"Well—" He grimaced, clutching his back tightly. "I think I should get this looked at. It's been aching for days. I think something might have shifted when I was chasing those rats, though, and now it's worse than ever."
Okay, that was way too much information.
He slapped a stack of papers down on the desk and stood, still wincing. "Well, there you go, Ash. Dr. Sergin is just upstairs, you'll most likely find us in my lab when you're done. Good luck."
"You really think I'll need it?" I grinned, forcing myself not to cringe as he maneuvered back around the desk. His back seemed to be imitating Snap, Crackle and Pop. He smiled despite his musical spine.
"Probably not. The way you studied, I'd be surprised if you got anything less than a B." He left, then, shutting the door again behind him. I looked at the exam resting on his desk. It looked like a novel. Sighing, I worked my way through the thin gap between the desk and the wall and sat, grabbing a pencil from a nearby Cyndaquil receptacle. Flipping through told me it could be longer than a novel. But I guess that's what I expected. After all, a License Exam was supposed to be difficult. Not just anyone could be a Trainer nowadays.
I hoped I could be.
:: 2GGP ::
:: Brock ::
WHERE WAS IT!?
"Wock, is dis it?"
I looked down at Cindy and grinned at what she was holding. It was a ball of yarn.
"Yes, Cindy," I said gratefully, gently taking it from her. She smiled sheepishly. "And guess what everyone gets tonight, because you helped Wock out with his search?"
"Wat?"
"I said you have to guess." She stamped her foot and clutched her dolly tighter.
"Tell me, Wock!" I giggled at the adorable expression on her face.
"ICE CREAM!"
:: 2GGP ::
:: Ash ::
Close to two hours later I finally set down the pencil—which was now half of its original size, mind you—and sighed. I thought I was done. Messaging my aching hand tenderly, I reread my work, making sure that I had completed every problem. The higher percentage grade I got, the better Pokédex I would be awarded. And a Dexter P2K was worth all the effort in itself.
Smiling softly to myself, I stood, trying to clutch the paper and rub my—I really think it was bruised—hand at the same time. The professor had always said I was good at Pokémon-related things—call it a natural knack, I suppose. But that hadn't stopped me from studying day-in and day-out for weeks. . .Oi, if I see another copy of Pokémon: Understanding a Strange and Beautiful World I swear I will chuck it out the nearest window. Maybe if I hadn't hit Old Man McCorbin that one time he wouldn't be so mad at me—Nah, he's always been grumpy.
I found Oak trying to squeeze under a tiny counter in his laboratory. When he didn't seem to acknowledge my presence, I knocked curiously on the doorframe. Not a good idea. He jumped, hit his head on the countertop, cursed, and crawled slowly back out.
"Ah, Ash," he greeted, standing. We both winced when a multitude of pops issued from his back. "Eh, Dr. Sergin was detained, unfortunately, so I'll have to get it looked at later. Much later, I suppose. I managed to get the Rattata back in its cage a while ago, but that damned Pikachu. . ."
"Anything I can do to help?" I offered, rolling up my test/novel in my hands. For some reason or another, I was regretting the score I might see. There was always a chance. . .
Professor Oak seemed not to notice. "I'm afraid not," he sighed. "Well, unless you happen to have an immunity to electricity, in which I would kindly ask you to reach under that infernal counter and grab the Pikachu. Little beast was smart enough to know that I didn't keep apples in the freezer. Shocked me back into the '30's."
"Pika!"
Something small, fuzzy, and yellow suddenly shot out from under the counter, making a beeline for the door behind me. I reached down and plucked it from the floor on reflex, and was rewarded for my efforts with a nasty electric shock.
The Pikachu leaped from my stunned arms and scurried back toward the counter, but Oak got there first. Tiny paws scrabbling to catch hold on the slick linoleum, it turned before the professor's outstretched arms and scampered over to the far wall where it sat on its hind paws, breathing heavily and glaring at us.
I coughed. I swear I saw smoke come out of my mouth.
"Pokéball, go!"
I hadn't known the professor had moved. I jumped when a Pokéball went fizzing by my ear. It struck the electric mouse squarely on the head, bounced off, and went rolling across the floor, where the Pikachu aimed a powerful Thundershock. The 'ball was fried. I turned to the professor to see him sweatdrop. "Eh, maybe that wasn't such a good idea. . ." he muttered. Then he turned to me "Are you all right?"
I hadn't moved since my brief encounter with the Pokémon—I was still fixated on the feeling of my hair standing on end. I removed my cap to push it back down, and it sparked beneath my hand, making me jump. The professor laughed.
"I went through the same thing," he explained, watching the Pikachu carefully. It was pacing back and forth across the bottom of the wall, glaring at us as tiny sparks zipped across its bright yellow fur in agitation. Suddenly it passed by a wall socket and the lights dimmed. It paused at this revelation and, grinning evilly, slowly extended its flat tail toward the socket. When it was only a few centimeters away the bare light bulb over our head exploded, making us cringe in surprise. One by one the lights in the room exploded, until we were left in total darkness.
"Um, Professor?" I asked nervously. I had no idea where that mouse was.
"Just give it a minute," he said from somewhere to my left. "The emergency power should take over momentarily."
Right at that moment the room was illuminated in red light. I glanced at the wall and swallowed; no Pikachu. Where could it have—
"Piii kaaaa—"
"Get down!"
"CHUUUUU!"
I dropped just in time to avoid a thousand volts of electricity as they thundered just above my head. Jaded, I watched the yellow stream flow into a giant machine, which exploded instantly. The powerful Attack didn't last long, however, but it existed long enough for me to distinguish. But—how could a wild Pikachu know Thunderbolt already?
"Now, Pokéball, go!" the professor screamed, sending a Pokéball zipping over my head yet again. I heard it open and close, then hit the floor loudly, rolling about as the Pikachu struggled to get out. Looking back over my shoulder, I saw its outline rocking back and forth on the linoleum just behind my sneakers, the glowing crimson button clearly visible in the dim red light.
The professor and I held our breath until, at last, the Pokéball stopped moving. We each sighed in relief. Turning to him, I could see his form hunched over on the floor. I winced when he stood; the Rice Crispies characters had returned. I got to my feet, grabbing the Pokéball for him. It was warm in my hands and I was a bit startled at the realization that this was the first occupied Pokéball I had ever held before. Unlicensed people weren't allowed to handle them.
"Well," the professor sighed, clutching his lumbago. "Wasn't that an adventure. Suppose I'd better put it somewhere for safekeeping" He held out his hand for the 'ball, but I didn't move. He arched an eyebrow. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
"I dunno, I just—" For some reason I couldn't bring myself to give him the 'ball back. My mind kept running over the fact that a low-Level Pikachu had just performed an Attack it wasn't supposed to learn until Level 26. . .How? It couldn't have gotten that powerful in the wild, could it?
"Ash," Professor Oak urged, "I need the 'ball back now. Ash. . ."
"Professor—" I was hesitant. What if. . .Could I handle a Pokémon that powerful? "Professor, what are you going to do with it?"
"Well, as soon as I get out that infernal Pokémon I suppose I'll put it back in the box until I need to use it again—"
"No," I interrupted, "I mean the Pikachu."
"The Pikachu? Oh. Well, I was going to have someone drive it out to the Safari Zone and release it."
"Why so far away?"
"Well for one thing, I don't want someone bringing it back here to my lab. For another, I know it'll be safe there. Why?"
"Because. . .Professor, if you're planning to just get rid of it, would you consider giving it to me instead?"
He looked surprised at my question, and I bit my tongue nervously, rolling the Pokéball around in my hands. "But, Ash," he began, "wouldn't you rather have something a bit more. . .tame? I've still got a Charmander and a Wooper left over from this morning, not to mention a Pineco. Wouldn't you rather—"
"Please, Professor?" I pleaded, watching him carefully. "I want a challenge, you know? I don't want something that'll blow me up unexpectedly, or that I have to watch over like a little kid—I want a reliable Partner. Aren't Pikachu supposed to be faithful?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"So why can't I at least try?"
The professor looked doubtful and I felt my stomach flip over. I didn't know why I wanted this Pikachu so much—I know I was giving up what could be my only shot at a Charizard before Indigo—but I knew it was different, and I knew it was naturally strong, and, well, I just knew that I wanted it.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Professor finally relented. "Well, Ash," he sighed, "I suppose if you think you're ready, you can give it shot." I whooped for joy, and he chuckled nervously. "I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Ash."
"Ooh, I do, Professor, I really do!" I rattled, completely unaware. "Thank you so much! I just know I'll Train it up right, Professor, I really will! And we'll catch lots of other Pokémon, and earn all the Badges. . ."
Professor Oak smiled at my rambling and bent down to pick up my crinkled test from the floor. It almost fell apart in his hands. He carefully straightened it out before motioning to me that he was going to the other room to run it through the grading machine, then disappeared behind a shelf of beakers and formulas.
"All right," I whispered to myself. "My very first Pokémon. . ." I marveled at the warm metal 'ball in my hands. I was holding a living creature in my palm, and that living creature was mine now. . .
I don't know how long I stood there before I realized that, as the official Trainer of this Pokémon, I could call it out. I pressed the button happily and watched in delight as the Pikachu materialized on the floor in front of me. It closed its eyes and shuddered, its fur standing on end as it stuck out its tiny tongue and shook its head.
"Hey there, buddy," I said softly, kneeling before it. "Come here, boy, I want to—what?" Why was it glaring at me? "Did I do something wrong, boy? What did I—WAA!"
Before I knew what was happening I found myself experiencing first-hand what it felt like to be electrocuted. I collapsed, paralyzed, and watched through stunned eyes as the Pikachu glared at me, breathing hard. I heard a chuckle and managed to pull my head up far enough to see Professor Oak watching from a little ways away, his arms loaded with stuff.
"Well, Ash," he said cheerfully as he came over, "if you're going to want to Train this thing, I suppose you'd better know a few things about it."
"Like what?" I coughed, watching in amazement as some smoke wafted up before me.
"Like the fact that your 'buddy' over here is a female."
"He is—Hey!" I jumped when I felt another few bolts of electricity coursing through my body. Oak chuckled again.
"As you can see," he said calmly, "she hates other references to her gender."
"Well at least she didn't use Thunderbolt again," I muttered dryly, pulling myself to my feet. "Do you think she's getting used to me, then?"
"More likely she's just tired," the professor sighed. "In other news, I graded your test."
"Really?" I asked nervously. "How did I do?"
"Well, judging by the fact that I am currently holding some brand new PokéGear, I'd say you passed."
"I did?" I sighed, feeling the tension I didn't know I'd had slowly seep from my system. "What did I get?"
The professor shifted the 'Gear around in his arms. "Well," he began, "let's just say your score was good enough to earn you this."
My eyes widened at what he was holding. There, barely two feet in front of me, was the highly-expensive, extremely-rare, only a few-of-a-kind top-model Dexter P2K Pokédex. I was amazed. Absolutely amazed. And then I was struck by an incredible idea: it was mine.
"You mean. . ." I hardly dared to believe it. "You mean this is mine now?" The professor smiled widely.
"Congratulations." He handed it over happily and I stared at the bright yellow PM emblem on the front, at the preciseness in which the letters DP2K had been inscribed on the bottom left corner. I could barely believe it. "And here's your 'Gear," the professor announced, handing me a dark green hiking backpack. "Do you know how to use it?"
"Yeah, I. . .it's really mine?" He nodded. "Wow. . ."
"My lab's phone number is already registered in the phone, but that's all. You'll have to program the rest. Other than that, I believe you're all set to go." I looked up at him in surprise.
"You mean that's it? I'm really an official licensed Trainer now?" He nodded happily, proud for me.
"If you leave now, you might make it halfway to Viridian by nightfall," he winked. I smiled in appreciation, then turned to Pikachu, who was busy cleaning herself at my feet.
"Come on, girl. Return." I pointed the 'ball at her, but nothing happened. Frowning, I tried again. "Return." Nothing. I gently dropped it on her, aware that sometimes a Pokémon could refuse to just be zapped, but she swiped it with her tail and sent it right back at me. I turned to the professor in confusion. "What—?"
"Sometimes a Pokémon doesn't like being contained within a Pokéball," he explained, glancing down at the yellow mouse. "Apparently, this is one of them."
"I see. . .Pikachu, return—WAA! Stop shocking me!"
"Pikachu," she said innocently. "Pi pika."
I glared at her. She glared back, her tail twitching. The professor laughed. "How cute. A boy and his Pokémon. You know, I think I'll write a book. . ." Now we both turned to stare oddly at him. He laughed again. "Hey, you never know where you'll find fame. . ."
:: 2GGP ::
Everyone in the lobby cleared a path when they saw the onrushing Pikachu scurry from the elevator and out the front door. A boy with his dark black hair standing on end ran frantically out after it, yelling, "Pikachu, slow down! I promise I won't try to pick you up again! Pikachu!"
I shoved my way through the front door and stopped at the top of the stone steps, staring in surprise at my mother. She was standing a few steps below me, looking curiously down at the panting yellow mouse hiding behind her heels. She looked up when she heard me, however, and her face split into a grin.
"So how'd it go?" she asked warmly. I was too preoccupied with trying to see Pikachu to answer. I didn't want her to run away, I just got her! "Well," she said suddenly, her eyes grazing the new pack slung over one shoulder. "Isn't that nice."
"Well, if it isn't Ashy-boy himself, the new Ratman of the next century," a familiar voice sneered. I spun around and came face-to-face with Gary Oak, my arch-nemesis. Some people say you are incapable of having an arch-nemesis at the early age of fourteen, but those people have never met Gary. At least, I didn't think they did. I wasn't exactly sure, however, as they weren't—
"Well hello, Gary," said my mother brightly. "How are you this morning?" Gary smiled at her.
"Fine, thank you, Mrs. Ketchum," he said, smiling sweetly. Suddenly her eyes traveled over us and up to the doors.
"Oh, Sam!" she exclaimed. "Can I talk to you about a few things?"
I turned around to see the professor step out behind Gary. "Of course, Delia," he said. "Come, I can stand better off of these infernal stairs."
Gary and I watched the adults climb down to the bottom before he turned to me. "I saw you chasing that Pikachu through the lobby," he sneered, indicating my Pokémon with a tilt of his head. She was still sitting where my mother had been, watching her and Professor Oak talking at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm assuming it's yours?" Gary continued. "What, can't even manage to keep it in a Pokéball? How pathetic."
I glared at him, my fists clenched. I hated this, the way he made fun of me at every given opportunity. "Pikachu and I are not pathetic," I responded angrily. "I bet we're better than you and your. . .your whatever you have!"
He laughed and I felt my anger rise. "Pikachu," I demanded, "Thundershock him!" When he wasn't fried crispy before my eyes I frowned and looked down at her. She was watching me with one ear up and the other tilted sideways, and seemed to have no inclination of moving.
"Ha!" Gary laughed. "Your Pikachu won't even let you touch it, why do you think it'll let you Train it? I can see by your beautifully groomed hair that she just loves your company!"
"I will to Train her!" I retorted, smoothing down my hair. "We—"
"Oh, Ash?" My mother had paused her talk with the professor to ask me something.
"Yeah?"
"Did you pack enough clean underwear for your journey?"
I facefaulted and Gary burst into laughter. "Mom!" I hissed through gritted teeth.
"What?" she asked innocently. "Just making sure, dear. I remember the last time we went somewhere you forgot. Oh, that was a nightmare. Do you remember, honey—"
"Mom!" Cut it out!" Gary laughed harder as my blush deepened. I stormed down to Pikachu, utterly humiliated by my own mother, and grabbed her up off her step, ignoring the angry shock I received as best I could.
"So, the Ratman can't even control his own rat!" Gary bellowed when my mother turned back to Oak, tears coming to his eyes. He passed me and strode over to the road, watching expectedly as a bright red Camero came squealing around the corner, screeching to a halt right before him with one tire resting on the curb. My mouth fell open as the hood slid back, revealing four or five 16-year-old girls giggling at Gary. He chucked his 'Gear in the trunk and vaulted over the closed door, settling between a beautiful blonde and a red-head. He winked once at me and gave his grandfather the thumbs up before the car peeled down the street and out of sight. I blinked as the dust left from the screeching tires settled in their wake, one thought crossing my mind as I struggled to keep Pikachu in my arms:
I did not like Gary Oak. I did not like him at all.
:: 2GGP ::
A few hours later, after a lot of goodbyes and farewells and "Did you pack enough underwear"s, I was finally on the road, humming excitedly at the empty dirt road stretching out before me. Pallet was a tiny town, only supporting 800 people or so, and I was glad to leave it. I had spent my entire life there thus far and, well, it was quite boring. I was ready to leave, even if it meant leaving everything I had ever known behind. Which wasn't much, when you stopped to think about it, but I didn't care.
There were three ways into Pallet. Well, four if you included airplanes, but you'd have to have a parachute if you wanted to arrive like that. The ocean was close, so you could easily come by boat from another port town, but most people used the single rural two-lane highway that came in from the north. The road I was following, however, was definitely not a highway. It wasn't even really a road, actually. It was one of those things with two rock/dirt ruts in the ground where the tires went. What do you call those, anyway?
I couldn't see the mountains I knew were way out there, but just the thought of their high, towering peaks was enough to raise my spirits. Pallet and Viridian were both on the Southern Peninsula, also known as the Great Plains. Why? Because everywhere you looked, in any direction, there was nothing but meadow grass, corn fields, or bean fields. I happened to be between two bean fields right now, so I could see pretty far ahead of me. The problem was, there was nothing to see. However, the prospect of what I might see is what kept me going.
I'd seen pictures of faraway places in books, on TV, on the Internet. I know there are some crazy, beautiful places out there—I even wrote the location to some of them down in my journal. The mountains were definitely my favorite, though. I planned to spend as much time as I could up there, catching rare Pokémon and enjoying the view. It would be great. I could hike up in a day or two, spend around a week up as far as I could go, come back down to get more supplies, and hike back up again. Yes, it would be perfect. . .
I sighed. Planning my mountain trip had taken me a whopping total of about three and a half minutes. What else could I think about? I needed something to take my mind off the hot sun burning down on my back, of how my shirt was sticking to me uncomfortably beneath my 'Gear, of that annoying pebble that had been rolling around in my shoe for the last few minutes. . .
"Pikachu," I said suddenly, amused by my own voice, "are you sure you don't want to get inside you Pokéball? It'd be a lot easier." I glanced back at the yellow mouse padding along behind me.
"Chu. Pika pikachu pi."
"What?"
"Pika pikachu pi. Pi pikachu."
"I have no idea what that means."
She seemed to sigh. "Pi pika."
"Or that." I sighed again, lowering my eyes to the horizon where the seemingly endless fields of beans and meadow grasses met the sky. Which was now billowing over with dark grey clouds. "Damn it," I said aloud. "It just had to rain on my first day, didn't it?"
"Pi pikachu."
I ignored the mouse's cheerful-sounding comment and watched the extremely boring dirt/rock road thingy. There was nothing else to look at, save the line of dull yellow grass that sprang up where the bean fields ended and the meadows began. We had been walking for over an hour now, and, by the look of it, we weren't going to reach Rhapsody Falls before it rained. In fact, it was probably raining there right now. It was just after noon now and, well, I was hot, tired, and hungry.
"You wanna stop for food?" I asked my new Pokémon, eyeing the shade of a nearby tree in hope.
"Pi," the mouse sighed. "Pi pikachu, Pikapi."
"Does that mean yes?"
"Pi."
"Well I'm taking it as a yes," I muttered, veering off the. . .the. . .I still didn't know what it was called. I strode through the waist-high yellow grass until I reached the clearing surrounding the tree, then dumped my pack at the base of it. Its weight had been growing increasingly heavier as we walked and I was grateful for an excuse to get rid of it for a while.
I flopped down beside it, exhausted and overheated, and reveled at the feeling of the cool wind blowing over my sweat-soaked back. I watched as Pikachu stopped a few feet away and leaned back, resting her weight on her hind paws. She cocked an ear and twitched it, staring at me without any definite expression on her fuzzy face.
I reached into a pocket—there were more than I could count, but I had learned what they were there for a while ago—and pulled out an apple. Draping my arms over my raised knees, I rolled it about in my palm, observing it. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Pikachu observing it too. "The professor said that all Pikachu like apples," I said slowly. "Is that true?"
Pikachu eyed the apple hungrily. "Pi."
"Do you want this one?" I asked, looking up at her.
"Pi," she nodded.
"Come take it."
Pikachu glared at me, seeing right through my trick. Inwardly, I marveled at her cunning. She was smart enough to recognize when someone was trying to tame her. Outwardly, though, I held the apple not quite at arm's reach, because despite her intelligence, I was determined to tame her.
The mouse leaned cautiously forward, long, black-tipped ears laid flat as she sniffed at the bright red fruit. In one fluid movement she had dashed forward, grabbed the apple in her delicate paws, and leapt clear over me to race up the tree at my back. I looked up and smiled as she perched on a low branch to eat, a satisfied smirk on her face.
Reaching into the same pocket, I produced a sandwich for myself. "Mom packed enough sandwiches in here to last me until Pewter, at least," I observed, riffling through the pocket curiously. "And apples. But she forgot something to drink. . ." I sighed, swallowing the thick clump of bread in my mouth that seemed to grow at the realization that there was nothing to wash it down with. "Oh well."
I leaned back against the tree to eat my exceedingly dry sandwich, staring at a row of trees in the distance to our left. I knew they weren't that big, that the forest just surrounded the river and stretched a hundred feet out or so, but the comprehension that the river was almost visible brought my hopes up. Maybe we would reach it before the storm came. Then again, cool air was already blowing up from the west, cooling me down quite effectively.
I was halfway through my second sandwich and wondering if I should try and catch a few Pokémon in the trees when a twig unexpectedly snapped. I jerked my head up to see the grasses parting on the other side of the dirt/rock road thing as something passed beneath them. I grabbed my brand new Dexter P2K Pokédex and stood, wiping the crumbs off my shirt and setting the last of my lunch down on my pack. I grinned as I flipped open the Pokédex and pointed it at the grass, aware at both the fact that this was the first Pokémon I was going to actually catch and that this was the first time I would get to try out my prize.
"Pidgey," the computerized voice said, "the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Normally, wild Pidgey are capable of performing Gust, but know little else. Pidgey are generally easy to catch and Train, and are highly recommended for beginning Trainers. For more information on Attacks, press one. For more information on Training, press—"
I flipped it shut excitedly and lightly set it down beside my sandwich. "Okay, Pikachu," I said, turning my cap around and blinking in the bright sun. "Thundershock it for me."
"Chu."
"What?" I looked up at her. "Why not?"
The stubborn Pokémon didn't answer. Instead, she went back to grooming herself, the forgotten apple core resting at her feet.
"Okay, fine," I said, irritated. "I'll do it myself," Maybe if she saw that I knew what I was doing she would listen a bit more.
I tiptoed carefully to the other side of the dirt/rock road thing. The rustling stopped as I approached. I froze and locked eyes with something near the ground. I smiled sheepishly, trying to persuade it into not flying away.
"Hello. . .little friend. . ." I said quietly, leaning over a bit. The next thing I knew I was spiraling through the air, my eyes squeezed shut as sand whipped all about me. "Waa!" I yelled, slamming into the ground on my back, my eyes stinging from the dirt. I lay there for a moment, reveling at the fact that I was alive and trying desperately to feel if my spine was broken. I didn't think so.
"Sand Attack," I heard as I painfully climbed to my feet, spitting sand out of my dry mouth and attempting to rub it from my eyes. I shook my clothes, frowning at how the sand rubbed up against my skin. No matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't come loose. And I didn't even want to think about how to get it out of my pants. . .
I looked back at where the voice came from and realized that my Pokédex was still pointing at where the Pidgey had been. I didn't know that it worked when it was closed—then I realized that I was a good thirty feet away from where I had started. Pikachu was still on her perch in the tree, laughing and pointing at me like I was some kind of hilarious joke.
"That was not a Sand Attack," I growled as I made my way back through the meadow, the gritty sand rubbing irritatingly up against my skin inside my shoes. "That was Sand Attack mixed with Gust—or Whirlwind. If it threw me thirty feet it was strong enough to be Whirlwind."
Just as I reached the small clearing my pack moved. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion and it moved again. Suddenly a fuzzy purple head poked out of the food pocket, an apple in its mouth. It saw the gleaming dot on the Pokédex sitting beside it and reached out a large purple paw, dropping the apple.
"Rattata," the Pokédex said automatically. "This common Pokémon may be found almost anywhere and is most famous for stealing food from ignorant Trainers. Most wild Rattata know only the basic Attack, Tackle, and all are fairly easy to capture." The rat stared at the blinking light in awe for a few seconds, then began gnawing on the device with its long front teeth.
"Hey!" I yelled. "Hey, you little rat, get away from there!" I ran forward, trying to scare it by waving my arms above my head. The end result was that a great multitude of sand dislodged from my sleeves and landed on my face, choking me. The Rattata froze when it saw me sputtering and stomping my feet only a few feet away from it. Then it dropped the Pokédex and disappeared, scattering apples and sandwiches in its wake.
"I don't see what you're laughing at," I snarled at the snickering Pikachu as I reached the tree. I kneeled and started stuffing food back inside "These are your rations too, you know," I muttered. Grabbing the Pokédex, I groaned when I saw a few teeth marks in the plastic covering the light. Perfect. Just perfect. Glaring, I shoved that into a pocket too. My cap was continually dumping sand in my face, so that disappeared inside as well. This was not amusing.
Pikachu's laughing stopped abruptly. Frowning, I looked up to see her staring intently at the parted grass where the Pidgey had been.
"Oh, so it's you again, is it?" I muttered, scooping up a handful of dirt and rocks as I stood. I hurled them in the Pidgey's direction, but the remaining dust floated back to catch in my nose and throat, making me cough again and curse in frustration. But I knew at least one rock had hit when the Pidgey suddenly started screeching in surprise and anger, a mad flapping sound issuing from the quivering grass.
I stopped cursing as confusion slowly replaced my anger, listening to the irritated bird. It. . .well, it didn't sound like a Pidgey. Pikachu looked a bit worried. "What?" I asked her, turning around to watch her twitching ears, wondering what could possibly be agitating her so much.
"Pika pika pikachu kachu."
"What?" I asked, eyes narrowing as I tried to understand. "A. . .Spearow?"
"Pi."
Before she could say anything else the Spearow took flight, flapping its wings angrily as it struggled to get aloft. I watched, mesmerized, as it disappeared over the trees, screaming its name in rage. I swallowed in my dry throat. Spearow were notorious for their temper, but that little fit hadn't been so bad. . .
I turned back to Pikachu. "Well," I murmured, "Let's get going, I guess—"
Before I could pick up my pack the air became filled with angry Spearow cries. Spinning around, I saw an enormous flock of birds rising from the tiny forest in the distance. There were so many flying toward us I couldn't tell them from the swirling black clouds forming overhead. I swear I could feel my pupils dilate.
"Pika!"
Part 1 ~ The Journey Begins. . .
By Seabeast
WARNING: This fic is going to be extremely long, kinda like the series. If you don't like long things, I suggest you go read. . .something else. Yeah. Something else. . .Oh, read this anyway! You might enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: *sigh* Don't own 'em. Wish I did. Always will. Never will. Don't make sense. Don't care. Been on computer all day. Back hurts. Not typing in complete sentences. Don't care. Gonna go now. Bye. Wait. There's a curseword or two. Or three. I forget. Nothin' too bad. I guess. 'Kay I'm done now. Bye.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So we meet again, for the first time, for the last time. . .GREETINGS FROM PLANET ERN! ^^ Did that Disclaimer make me sound mad? Well I'm not! I'm finally done with part one of this, which I have been working on for FOREVER and a day, that's how long we'll stay, together and forever more—Don't stare at me like that! I am NOT crazy! Anywho, read and enjoy. I don't know what else to say. E-mail if you like e-mails, 'cause I like e-mails and I'll most likely reply. Oh, and I'm trying to think of a new e-mail. If you have any ideas, feel free to tell me. Until then. . .READ! Read like you've never read before! As long as you remember that socks smell funky if not washed, you will not fail! BWAHAHA!
Misty
:: 2GGP ::
-Ash Ketchum aka World's Bordest Guy!!
:: 2GGP ::
Pikachu
:: Misty ::
::Three Weeks Later. . .
:: Ash ::
PRIVATE PERSONNEL ONLY
:: Brock ::
:: Ash ::