A/N: Well, here is my attempt for NaNoWriMo, here's to hoping it goes well ^_^;;
The basis of this fic is, what would happen if the people from Pokémon didn't reset Ash's mentality and skill set at the beginning of every journey (like they've been doing for Sinnoh and Unova). This led to a brainstorming discussion with my friend that led to the below fic.
Just a little note, I've upped Ash's age, with the following timing in mind,
Kanto – 1 year
Orange Island – ½ a year
Johto – 1 year
Hoenn – 1 year
Battle Frontier – ½ a year
Sinnoh – 1 year
Unova – 1 year
So he'll be sixteen at the start of the story.
Also, this will be partially AU from Black and White, since I'm not fully updated on it and I don't know what the final lineup will be at the end of the show, so I'll make my own educated guesses.
Disclaimer: Any recognizable character in this fic does not belong to me, otherwise I'll be rich rich rich and Ash would be much smarter.
Chapter 1: An Old Friend
"Pikachu, wait up!"
"Pikachu, pikapi"
Ash Ketchum held back a laugh as he quickened his pace to a fast walk while the Pikachu racing ahead ran to a stop, turning to urge his trainer on.
Catching up to the impatient Pokèmon, Ash automatically shifted his pace as the familiar weight of his oldest companion settled on his shoulder, his steps never missing a beat as he walked the well worn path through the Viridian Forest.
"I wonder what Professor Oak wants with us."
The trainer had received a message from the famous Professor just as he had been about to board the plane at Unova airport, requesting he make his way to the lab in Pallet Town the moment his plane touched down in Kanto Region.
Despite the urgent summons and his anticipation at finally being home after a long year away, the young teen allowed himself the leisure of strolling through the forest, lost in nostalgia as familiarity guided his footsteps along the path.
"Pikachu!"
In a rare turn of events, it was Pikachu who was rushing home, eager to see the rest of his old friends after a year away from them. While the tiny mouse Pokèmon had grown close to the Unova region team, it did not change the fact he was the oldest Pokèmon of the group, in charge of taking care of the others. The electric type looked forward to shedding his role as caretaker and just being another member of the team, much to his trainer's amusement.
Ash was about to laugh and comment on his friend's eagerness and anticipation at returning home when a familiar shape caught his eye. Before he could think, he had called out to Pikachu,
"Look, a Rattata!"
"Piiii, Pika"
Catching themselves at the excitement in each others' voice, they began laughing as their thoughts finally caught up with their actions. After such a long time in the Unova region, they were getting excited over a little Rattata, one of the most common Pokémon in Kanto. They had definitely been away from home for far too long.
As the laughter tapered off to a slow stroll, their continued chuckles caused the two travelers to miss another familiar shadow that passed overhead,
"I wonder why Professor Oak wanted to see us as soon as we got back? I was hoping to detour to Pewter City and meet up with Brock first, and I was hoping to … ack!"
"Pikapi!"
Ash toppled forward as something swooped down and bowled him over, knocking the air from his lungs as the sky filled his vision, the feel of feathers giving him flashbacks of his first desperate run through this forest.
Is it a Spearow? Wait, did the Fearow return? I thought Pidgeot… Pidgeot!
Belated recognition had the trainer raising his head for a better look, to ensure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. The young teen barely had time to glimpse the bright plumage on plain browns before he had to duck a second fly over. As Pidgeot turned round for a third swoop, Ash straightened and waved, squinting against the sun as he called out,
"Pidgeot! It's me, Ash. Hey, don't you remember me?"
Grinning as Pidgeot banked from his latest swoop, Ash felt excitement well within him as he greeted one of his oldest Pokèmon friends. Approaching the diving bird type, and belatedly noticing that his talons had been carefully closed so as not to injure the trainer, Ash was about to throw his arms around Pidgeot when….
"Ouch!"
… he received a hard peck on his head, not hard enough to injure, but strong enough to cause him to over balance and land on his ass. Shocked he raised his head only to catch a giant wing to the face. Groaning he didn't bother pealing himself from the forest floor as he muttered a weak,
"I have to stop ending up in this position… Hey, Pidgeot, what gives?"
Finally sitting up, he looked at the giant bird Pokémon, only to come face – to – tail with the irritated flying types tail feathers as the other Pokémon snubbed him, much to his confusion.
Worried, Pikachu ran to the front of the obviously pouting bird and began chattering in the syllables of his name, the confused and slightly hurt tone conveying to Ash the gist of the question.
Why are you attacking Ash?
The screeching that followed nearly drowned out the syllables of Pidgeot's name as the agitated Pokémon flapped his wings in anger before settling down into a… at this, Ash rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he realized that, yes, Pidgeot was pouting.
"Hey Pikachu, what was that all about? Why is Pidgeot pou… angry?"
At the glare the bird Pokémon shot him, Ash quickly changed the word he was about to say, not wanting to another swat with from the wing or impact with the forest floor. Looking to his first Pokémon, Ash stared at the suddenly sheepish Pikachu rubbing the back of his head with a small hand.
Seeming to come to a decision, the small Pokémon ran up to the backpack his trainer had dropped and started rooting around it, the electric mouse's little legs lifted of the ground as it dug into areas of the bag that Ash had probably not touched for years.
"Hey, whatcha looking for Pikachu?"
Ignoring the curious trainer, the yellow Pokémon continued rummaging through the bag before letting out a cry of success, falling back on his feet while holding an old Pokéball between its forepaws. Grabbing the ball, Ash recognized the familiar markings on it,
"Hey, that's Pidgeot's Pokéball!"
Nodding, the yellow mouse Pokémon began chattering, alternating between pointing at the Pokéball and the giant bird Pokémon now watching the both of them like a Fearow instead of the Pidgeot he was. Frowning, Ash tried to piece together what the little mouse was trying to tell him.
"Wait, you are saying that Pidgeot is angry 'cause we never came back for him?"
"Pikapiii"
Taking the frantic nodding as an agreement, Ash turned towards one of his oldest Pokémon,
"Is this true Pidgeot? Were you angry because you thought we forgot about you?"
"Pidgeeeoooot"
Seeing the great bird nod, Ash got to his feet gingerly and wrapped his arms around the suddenly sad bird.
"Pidgeot, you know me, I'm…. I'm not good with words…. And five years didn't change much."
This got a soft, amused caw from the winged Pokémon as it turned to look at him directly in the eye. Drawing back, Ash lowered hid his discomfort with his cap, keeping his free hand on the bird type. Seeing his trainer struggle, Pikachu left the bag to hug Ash's leg in a show of support.
"Thing is… about one and a half years ago, during the Battle Frontier? When I was battling Pyramid King, Brandon, I… I lost during the first official battle. I then decided to go back to the basics, to my first team… I called Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charizard, but… Butterfree was gone…. And you were needed here…"
As he spoke, Ash wiped a tear from his eye, pulling his hat down further as he went on to explain
"That Pokéball Pikachu brought out? It's yours. I always bring it with me when I go through Viridian Forest, just in case… I know the moment you leave, that Fearow you were protecting the Pidgey's and Pidgeotto's from would return the moment you leave and… and… I knew that there was a good chance I'd never have you on my team again but… that doesn't mean I didn't miss you, old friend."
As the now uncomfortable trainer kept talking, the bird type began to relax, until, at the end, he was leaning into Ash, butting his head against the upset trainer.
"Hey! Does that mean you forgive me?"
"Pidgeoot"
"Thanks Pidgeot. I guess I could have been more active looking out for you, but I was trying to start out from scratch when I went to Hoenn and Sinnoh and Unova was supposed to be a quick stop, so I only took Pikachu… Hey!"
Laughing, the grinning teen ducked Pidgeots wing as it, gently, sailed over his head, the bird Pokémon in a better mood after proof that he had not been forgotten and abandoned by the boy he had been so loyal to as a Pidgeotto.
"Wait, where is the flock you were protecting?"
Ash looked around as he realized that the bird type was alone and there was no sign of any other Pokémon other than the now grinning Pikachu at his feet. The Rattata and Caterpie, the most common Pokémon in the Viridian Forest, having long since fled from the presence of a predator..
As he turned his attention back to the bird Pokémon, he could have sworn he saw a bird grin, before Pidgeot let out a harsh call. Right beside his ear.
The startled teen met the ground again, crying out at the pain on his rear from his unplanned landing,
"I have to find away to stop falling"
"Pikaaaa"
It is unknown if the miserable Pokèmon was agreeing with his trainer or just suffering from the loud noise so close to his aching ears, even as the noise was echoed from above, accompanied by the rustling of countless wings casting shadows on the three grounded beings.
The trainer stared from his dusty seat as the Pidgey's and Pidgeotto's that called the Viridian Forest their home began to descend onto the trees and ground. The flock Pidgeot had protected for the past five years having grown in both strength and size under his care.
"Wow, Pidgeot, they look amazing, wait, are those Pidgeots?"
Indeed, spearing the awed trainer with piercing gazes were two Pidgeots, smaller than his now grown friend, but still exuding an aura of confidence and authority. Even as Ash looked on, the Pigeot let out a harsh call, instantly silencing the chatter of the winged Pokèmon in the surrounding trees.
"Does this mean you don't have to stay and protect the flock anymore?"
"Pidgeot!"
Ash's Pidgeot called an agreement, sending a proud gaze to the two fully evolved Pokèmon that had once been under his care. The ecstatic and his equally happy Pikachu embraced the flying type as the realization that their friend had returned to them solidified in their minds,
"Pidgeot, that's great! That means we can travel together again."
Grinning, Ash picked up the Pokéball Pikachu had dropped during his earlier confession and held it out to the other Pokémon,
"What do you say Pidgeot, want to join us on our next journey?"
"Pidgeeooot"
Nodding, the bird Pokémon nudged Ash in the chest one last time before using his beak to press the button on its Pokéball and entering it for the first time in five years.
On instinct, the Pokèmon trainer fell into a familiar pose, holding out the Pokèball,
"I caught a…. wait!"
Smiling sheepishly at a scowling Pikachu that had stopped mid – jump and fallen over, Ash corrected himself,
"I got back…. Pidgeot!"
"Pikachu!"
With renewed excitement, Ash turned towards the watching Pidgey's, Pidgeotto's and two Pidgoet's and gave a half - bow from the waist, gratitude filling his voice as he thanked them,
"Thank you for letting Pidgeot return to me, I hope you all remain safe from the Fearow and Spearow's in the area."
"Pidgeot"
As one, the two Pidgeot's took wing and flew off, leading the flock until Ash and Pikachu staring after the departing bird Pokémon.
"Well Pikachu, we better head back to Pallet Town, we've got a Professor to meet, a tale to tell and an old friend to bring back."
"Pikachu"
The grin never leaving his face, Ash grabbed his fallen backpack, zipping it and shouldering it before sliding Pidgeot's Pokéball onto his belt in a familiar move.
"Come on Pikachu! Professor Oak is waiting for us, we better hurry."
Excited, Ash dashed of, as energized now as he was five years ago. Watching him go, Pikachu could only shake his head at the irony of Ash asking him to hurry up given that their positions had been reversed just a few minutes ago, before the reunion with Pidgeot (although he did appreciate that this was a more usual state of affairs than the earlier attitudes).
"Pikachu, hurry up!"
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, the electric mouse Pokémon hurried after his trainer, the both of them now racing to Pallet Town, only this time, accompanied by an old friend.