Led to This
Author's Note: This is my first fanfic so I hope there won't be flames because I would delete them if they are too insulting, if you get what I mean. OK, on with the story. And I don't care about what happened in the Japanese episodes. I don't know much so I add as much as I know in my stories. Don't flame me for that.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything here except for Stan's past, Pokémon nicknames, Tora, Siberia and Amma. The title is a part of the Pokémon theme song that was used in Season 4.
Chapter 1 – The Past
Stan's POV
3 years… I've been in the club for 3 years now… 3 whole years and no one seems to care about me. Now, I'm not craving for attention. Though the Ham-Hams think I am, all of that flirting and such was… an act. I know you don't believe me. Who would? That so-called convincing act landed me in a lot of trouble. A lot of trouble.
You see, I had to act to protect my true identity as a Pokémon Trainer. If I go and reveal to everyone that I was Stan Purity, everyone would freak out and leave me alone. If that happens, my Pokémon would not have enough hamster friends.
Ever since the Shadow Pokémon incident 10 years ago, there had been a rule that stated that all those born in the Hamster World mustn't own Pokémon or else that hamster will end up 6 feet under. If the Hams find out I'm Stan Purity and report it…
Now do you understand why I've been putting on an act? It was to let my Pokémon family sleep soundly at night, knowing that I would be OK, when I myself cannot sleep soundly due to fear of being exposed… When that happens, my guardian, Amma, would be devastated and wouldn't know how to recount to my father in the sky.
Actually, as much as I am afraid of being exposed, I left out many hints for the Ham-Hams to understand that I was Stan Purity. They know of Stan Purity being a great Trainer but, of course, they don't know about me being Stan Purity. OK, back with the hints, I left out a lot so that they'd realize that Stan Tiger and Stan Purity are one in the same but alas, not even Maxwell could figure it out. Why couldn't he just let go of that book for once and put his brain to work? Sigh… He's not bothered. No one is.
Hint no. 1, Acorn Mountain, a.k.a. Ilex Forest. Yes, Ilex Forest is a part of Johto. There are many Pokémon living there. My parents used to live there too. You know what that means? Yup, Ilex Forest was where I was born. When I 'accidentally' let slip of its whereabouts, I wanted to lead the Ham-Hams to my Pokémon, NOT let them gather acorns!!! Sigh… again.
Next, Laura's dreams. You know by now that her dreams are exactly the same as our dreams. Ever wondered why? Let's just say that no one should ever underestimate a Mew's Psychic power. … Yes, I own a Mew. Got a problem with that? No? Then let's continue. And stop staring at me with that look of disbelief.
About my flirting… Maybe I shouldn't have exaggerated it by going all crazy over the girls, even if Pashmina is pretty… Nevertheless, I learnt how to flirt from a Ditto. Now you should know why I go a little too far with the flirting sometimes…
There were times when I helped the Ham-Hams out when they were in trouble. No wonder I get so many headaches. I used too much of my telepathical power. Oh well… At least the Hams were safe when my Mew blasts those enemies away while she was invisible. And yes, legendaries do have genders. Don't ask why. I mean, how would you feel if someone says that a living being, which obviously has gender, is genderless? Get my point?
Well, that's just about it. Aren't there a lot of hints if you count the dreams and the number of times the Hams get into trouble? But let's face it, if the Hams HAD figured it out, I wouldn't be here talking to you. Or thinking to you… Yeah, thinking. This is my telepathical power, thank you very much. And before I get a whopping headache, I'd better show you my past.
The past which none of the Hams bother to know. It all happened 5 years ago, before Sandy and I were born…
5 years ago…
Normal POV
At the busy Ilex Hospital, doctors and nurses were dashing about to reach their destinations where their help was needed to save lives. In the waiting room, many hamsters were there, waiting for the doctors assigned to take care of their beloved to come out and inform them of the conditions of their beloved. Tora Tiger was no exception.
Tora was shaking like a leaf, nervous about his wife's sudden delivery of their children. His wife, Siberia, was admitted to the hospital quite some time ago and she went into the operation room immediately. Getting back to Tora, he was sweating profusely, very nervous about Siberia and their bundles of joy.
Tora had dark orange fur with black stripes and his orange tail was dipped black at the tip, his entire appearance resembling that of a real tiger's, with the exception of his normal hamster ears and paws, of course, although his whiskers were a bit longer than that of a normal hamster's…
Believe it or not, Tora had already learnt about Siberia's pregnancy 5 years before they got married. His source of information? That would be kept secret for now… At that moment, a female doctor walked towards Tora. The catch? She came out of Siberia's operation room.
"Excuse me, are you the husband of Siberia?"
"Yes, I am. Tell me… How is she?"
"She's fine, even after delivering, she's perfectly fine."
"Really? How about the children?"
"…" the doctor never replied till later. "… Mr Tiger, I… I can only say that… I'm sorry…"
"W-what?! What happened, doctor?!" Tora was panicking yet again.
"You have a son and a daughter. A pair of lovely twins. But unfortunately…" the doctor looked at the ground. Tora was shaking like a leaf again, only this time, he was shaking very violently.
'Don't let it be my son… Don't let it be my son…' Tora thought, his heart thumping wildly.
"Something happened to your…" the doctor was cut off by yelling from a nurse who was running from Siberia's operation room. "What is it?"
"Amma… Dr Amma…" the nurse panted. "We… The boy… He…"
"First, it's Dr Keecko. Second, what happened now?!"
"The boy… We got a heartbeat…from him…" Tora's eyes widened. His son actually died… but was still alive? The doctor, now known as Amma, was startled to hear that as well.
"Finally… Mr Tiger, please stay here for a while," Amma said while she, together with the nurse, ran back to the operation room. Tora stood there in shock, not moving a muscle due to the shock he had.
His son could've died…
That kind of thought plagued his mind. It was very traumatizing to him and it could've been worse if his son really died.
His only son…
His successor...
Bang! The doors of the operation room opened up, nurses pushing Siberia's bed to another ward. Behind them were two incubators, each with a separate baby hamster. The nurses took them to the babies' room and Amma came out last. Tora ran towards her.
"Well? How is it now? What happened to my son? Will he be alright? What about his heartbeat? Why did it stop? And…" Tora stopped when he realized that he was asking too many questions and kept quiet while Amma did the talking.
"Um… Following that, Siberia and your children are completely fine now. As for your son, I could've sworn his heartbeat stopped there and there… It happened when he was born. All of a sudden, we couldn't get a heartbeat from him but now we do. He should be alright now so you don't have to worry about him anymore." Tora heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing that.
"That was too close… Anyway, can I go see Siberia now?"
"I recommend that you see her tomorrow. She's very worn out now and will need some rest. Why don't you go home? You look like you need some rest too." Amma was right. Tora looked like as if he was drowning in a pool – of his own sweat.
"Oh, uh… Right. Thanks for everything, doctor!"
"No need for thanks. It's my duty," Amma replied while she walked away. Tora blinked and walked off slowly. He walked out of the hospital and back to his den. He moved the stone covering his den and went to his room.
Tora shared a room with Siberia. Their room was very spacey with a king-sized bed in the middle. Near Tora's half of the bed was a table where he kept his documents and a storage box in a drawer of the table. On the table laid an honest-to-goodness Master Ball!
Tora went over to the Master Ball and called for the Pokémon to come out. The Ball opened, revealing a levitating Pokémon whose blue eyes were staring at Tora.
(A/N: Pokémon translator on from now onwards till I say it's off in any of my stories!)
"You told me it'd be a smooth delivery and look where believing you got me to!" Tora shouted in a Pokémon language.
"What'd I do?" the Pokémon replied, confused.
"You told me it'd be a smooth delivery but my son nearly died! How would you explain that?!" Tora exclaimed furiously.
"Simple. He's still alive." Tora fell down, anime style, then got up.
"That's not funny! My son could've died and you were the one that told me that he'd definitely survive! His heartbeat stopped when he was born!"
"But he's fine, isn't he?"
"Barely alive and well."
"You know, I should've told you that it's perfectly normal for a Purifier's heartbeat to stop for a while when he/she is born."
"WHAT?!"
"It's true, Tora. Purifiers' hearts are different from normal hamsters'. They take a longer time to react and pump blood. The energy Purifiers need is far greater but their pulse rate is lower because the energy comes from their minds. Depending on how pure the minds are, the amount of energy the Purifiers gain differs. But of course they still need to breathe and such, so their hearts keep on pumping blood."
"So… it's normal?"
"Yes. But if his heartbeat is that of a normal hamster's, Tora, get ready to prepare for his funeral."
"… That makes a lot of sense, now that you tell me... But now, what must I do to keep him alive?"
"You'll need to keep an eye on him, Tora. The fate on the Pokémon World depends on him now. You know that. No matter what, he has to stay alive. Then, you could try training him to be a Purifier... just like you, Tora."
"I guess I'll wait till he's a little bit older for that to happen… Mew."