Title: Cynophobia
Author: Deja Vu
Summary:The past tries to rear its ugly head when Ash has an unfortunate encounter with a human hating Houndour.
Rating: No language, some violence.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon, but this story is mine.
Author's Note:This was inspired by Llyxius' "Respect" (a story I recommend tenfold over my story), so this has a lot of similar qualities at the beginning. I planned to make the Pokémon be a Growlithe or such to lose some of the similarities, but Growlithe look too cheerful for my plans.

Ash Ketchum woke up to the sound of Pidgey chirping cheerfully at his window. After a few seconds, he rolled over and went back to sleep.

He wasn't able to enjoy his rest for very long, however. Pikachu, sensing that his trainer was nearer to a semi-conscious state than he had been previously, chose to give Ash a shocking awakening.

His cheeks started to spark. "Pi...ka...chu!"

"Waahh!" Ash shouted as the electricity shot through his body. "I'm awake, Pikachu," the badly-charred boy managed to groan.

"Pi," the little electric mouse nodded, then he scampered off Ash's bed and headed towards the kitchen.

The smell of bacon and eggs wafting through his open bedroom door got Ash out of bed a lot quicker than Pikachu's shock alone would have done. Practically floating through the air, the dark-haired trainer made his drooling way toward the dining table, where his mother and his friends were already eating.

Pikachu, apparently assuming that Ash wouldn't be joining them, had taken Ash's chair and was promptly putting generous helpings of ketchup upon his food. "Piii," the Pokémon said, his eyes glistening as they rested upon the sweet mounds of red tomatoey goodness.

"Hey! Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed.

The yellow mouse stuck his tongue out at his trainer, then went back to gazing lovingly at his ketchup extravaganza.

"Errr," Ash growled under his breath, reluctantly sitting at another chair. "Thanks for waiting on me, guys."

"If you'd gotten to sleep as long as you wanted, I could've eaten ten meals and still have been waiting for you to get up," Misty said as she stabbed her eggs with a fork.

"Food waits for no man," Brock agreed, holding up a piece of crispy bacon. "Especially not Mrs. Ketchum's food."

Delia smiled. "Thank you, Brock."

"No problem, Mrs. Ketchum." Brock was practically beaming.

Ash turned back to his food, looking somewhat disgusted. However, the sight of the plate in front of him soon took away any sourness he was feeling, and he began to dig messily into his meal.

After the dishes were cleaned, Ash stated his plans for the day: "I'm gonna go to Professor Oak's and visit my Pokémon before we leave Pallet Town."

"I was planning to sunbathe at the beach," Misty said happily.

Brock had an idea of his own as well. "I plan to try out a new Pokéchow recipe."

Ash looked down at his little electric Pokémon, who tilted his head and thought for a moment. "Pi, pika chu-pi."

"You're going to the beach with Misty?" Ash asked, sounding a little incredulous.

Pikachu nodded. "Ka."

"All right." Ash seemed somewhat disappointed that Pikachu wanted to go with Misty instead of him. After he'd lost at the Pokémon League, didn't he deserve for his Pokémon to hang around with him and try to cheer him up? "Guess I'll see you guys later, then," Ash said, somewhat sadly.

"Bye, Ash." Brock and Misty said simultaneously.

"Bye," Ash returned. He still felt upset that no one was coming with him, but that was fine. At least his Pokémon at Professor Oak's would be happy to see him.

"Hello, Ash," Professor Oak greeted, smiling. "You're here to visit your Pokémon, I presume."

"Yeah."

"Well, be careful. I just got in a new Pokémon that was badly abused by her trainer. She's fenced in, but she does not take kindly to strangers, and if riled, she might be able to escape and attack."

"What kind of Pokémon is she?" Ash asked.

"A Houndour," the Pokémon Professor answered. "You have probably never heard of one before, for they are somewhat rare, but I still want you to keep your distance from her, Ash Ketchum. She is a very high level Fire-and Dark-Type, Ash, even though you might not think so since she never evolved." The old man's voice became stern as he saw the glint in Ash's eyes. "Do not get very close to her. Look on her from afar, if you must look at her at all."

"Yes, Professor," the young trainer reluctantly agreed.

Ash had gone first to the large body of water where the Water Pokémon resided to see his Kingler. He stayed there for quite some time. Finally, smiling, he stood up and listened to Kingler's squooshy voice tell him goodbye and good luck. "Seeya later, Kingler," Ash said. The crab waved goodbye with a big pincer.

He began walking to go look for Bulbasaur, but he suddenly paused. He could see a long, high, ominous-looking fence. "I wonder what Pokémon's in there," Ash said aloud. Then it hit him. It was probably the Houndour's cage.

He strained his eyes, but he couldn't see anything. He hesitated, then decided that it couldn't hurt to take a closer look.

But as he drew nearer and nearer, he still couldn't see anything. It must be hiding.

An uneasy feeling came across him. He'd better just leave and go find Bulbasaur.

He turned around—

And barely even knew what hit him.