The clouds roll slowly across the sky. I let out a long sigh as I sit up and look over at Pikachu. He's curled up with a smile on his little, round face, and I wonder what he could be dreaming about. The breeze drifts lazily by, and the grass brushes the red circle on his cheek. He whimpers sleepily and scratches his face as he slowly opens his eyes to look at me. I smile at my best friend, and he sits up.
"Pika" he says.
"Hey, Pikachu," I say back as he stands up and walks over to me. I hold my hand out to him, and he climbs up my arm onto my shoulder. I stand up with him, and we look out over the shrine of Shamouti Island into the sparkling blue ocean. "I love coming back here for the Legend Festival. It reminds me of Tracey and Misty and Melody. Team Rocket helped us that day."
"Pikachu," he says.
"And I'll never forget Lugia," I continue. "He taught me to believe in myself more than anyone else has."
"Pika Pika!" he says excitedly, pointing out into the ocean. A yacht is pulling out of the bay on its way to some other island in the Orange Archipelago, and Melody is waving back at me.
"Bye, Melody!" I shout, waving my arm high in the air. I can't hear her, and she probably can't hear me, but I can't resist trying to say goodbye. I only get to see her once a year. I'd probably visit more if she flirted a little less with me, but she's still a good friend.
"Let's get going, pal," I say and start waking away from the shrine down to the Pokémon Center. "Professor Oak should be picking us up soon, and I want to get something to eat before we leave."
"Chu Pika!" he says back.
We walk into the Pokémon Center amid some annoying pop song and the light chatter of a few trainers and townspeople.
"His name's Shirahama, I think," someone says as his friends listen closely. I can't help wanting to eavesdrop. "He uses fighting types, and anyways, supposedly he's done great against the first three Orange League crew members. I think Drake's gonna have his hands pretty dang full soon."
"Drake with his hands full," his friend says mockingly. "That Dragonite is nearly untouchable, and getting to it is a hell of a challenge anyways. I've see Drake beaten two- maybe three- times in my whole life, and until that kid from Pallet did it like ten years ago, I thought it was impossible."
The talk about Drake brings back too many memories for me to keep track of. All I can see is Pikachu going down, and then "Hyper Beam!"That was easily one of the scariest moments of my life. I thought it was all over, but Pikachu and I found a way to win.
"Hi Ash," Nurse Joy greets me with a warm smile on her face.
"Hi, Nurse Joy," I say as I walk up to her front desk. "Is there any chance you have a sandwich for me?"
"Pika!" my buddy shouts.
I laugh at his concern. "And my little pal wants a little grub too, if that's alright."
"No problem, Chosen One," she says with a wink, and I shake my and laugh. It's been almost ten years, and they still call me that.
She disappears behind the storage door, and I find a seat in a nearby booth. Pikachu jumps off my shoulder and sits across from me on the table. I smile at him. He scratches his ear and smiles back.
"Chansey, Chansey, Chansey," the pink mascot chants as it lays the food on our table. I dig into the steaming sandwich immediately, and Pikachu dives into the bowl of Pokémon food.
"I'm telling you, man," another guy says. "The only way to win is to take out the other side's Pokémon. If you want to do that, you need strong, fast Pokémon who can sweep the other team."
"Yeah, that's nice and all," his friend says, "but what do you do if those twigs take a hit. If you want to win consistently, you need defense and toughness. You have to be able to set up a strategy and stall until the other guy makes a mistake, then capitalize."
"Yeah, and what do you do if your wall gets broken down by a superior attacker?" the first guy says.
I shake my head and laugh quietly at the narrow-minded sides. If I've learned anything, it's that there is a counter to every strategy you pull. The only way to win consistently is to work hard with what you have, gain your Pokémons trust, and then get really lucky.
"Ash," Nurse Joy calls as I finish my lunch. I stand up, and Pikachu jumps on my shoulder. "You have a call from Pallet Town."
"Thanks, Nurse Joy," I say, walking over to the video-phone booth.
I pick up the transceiver and press Return. Professor Oaks face appears, holding the phone on the other side of the sea.
"Hi, Professor Oak," I say confused. He should be in the helicopter coming to get me. "What's going on?"
"Pika!" Pikachu shouts, and I pet him to keep him calm.
"Hi, Ash," he says. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to pick you up today. I've been so caught up with new trainers that I couldn't leave the lab."
"That's alright, Professor," I say back. I don't want him to think I'm too bummed out about it, but I do like the helicopter. "I can take the ferry."
"No, that's alright, Ash," he says. "Call Professor Ivy, and she should be able to help you. I'd send someone, but I'm just so busy."
"Okay, I'll do that!" I say upbeat. She might take me in a helicopter after all.
"Ask her to bring that Lapras she's been telling me about," he says. "I think I may be able to help it."
"Alright," I say. He probably doesn't want to tell me exactly what is going on with the Lapras or he would just say it.
"You should visit your friends more, Ash," he says. "Goodbye and safe travels."
"Bye, Professor Oak," I say as the screen goes black. I wonder what he meant by that. My friends all have their own responsibilities, and I visit them every now and then.
I dial Professor Ivy's number and wait for her to answer. Pikachu rubs his fur on my neck. I can't stop from smiling, and I pet him again.
"Hello, this is Professor Ivy," she says, appearing on the screen. "How can I be of service?"
"Hi, Professor Ivy," I say with a smile.
"Oh, hi Ash," she says. "What do you need?"
"I'm on Shamouti Island, and I was waiting for Professor Oak to pick me up, but he said he got held up," I say. "Would you please help me out?"
"Yes, I'll head over in my helicopter now," she says. "I'll be there in less than an hour."
"Thank you so much, Professor Ivy!" I say excitedly.
"Pika Pi!" my buddy says, mimicking my enthusiasm.
We each hang up, and I turn around. I bow to Nurse Joy and thank her before walking over to the know-it-alls who are still defending their invincible strategies of defense or offense.
I stand up immediately as the air starts to pulse around me. The noise quickly grows louder until Pikachu's cries are completely inaudible though he is perched on my shoulder, and covering my ears helps nothing. The grass ripples in concentric circles as the thunderous machine descends onto the field of grass behind the legendary Shrine of Shamouti.
I grab desperately for my hat but realize that I forgot it at my mom's house before I left for the Legend Festival here. I march toward the helicopter, covering Pikachu's face and mine with my jacket. Professor Ivy waves shortly at me as I climb into the seat beside her. Pikachu jumps off my shoulder and into my lap, shaking his ruffled fur until it flattens. I pick up the headphones and gratefully put them on, nullifying the chaotic noise.
"How are you Ash?" her voice says into the radio. It is the only noise I can hear now.
"I'm doing great, Professor Ivy!" I say. "It's always great to be here for the Legend Festival. Brings back so many memories."
"Yeah," she says in slow monotone. I forgot how her voice can almost depress me when I hear it in person. "I've never been one for those sorts of celebrations. Usually, I'm far too busy for that, but you caught me at a lucky time. I had just finished feeding all of the Horsea."
"Well, that is lucky, huh?" I say and force myself to laugh as she does in her weird way.
We stay silent for a while as the silence starts to lull me to sleep. The only thing keeping me awake is Pikachu's sudden movements every now and then. He keeps scratching that ear. I should get him checked for fleas as soon as I get back to Pallet.
"How are Brock and Misty?" she asks, jolting me to attention. "And Tracey."
It takes me a moment to register the meaning of the statement. "Oh, they're doing great. Tracey is as happy as he could be now that he finally got out of Professor Oak's lab and into the field on his own. He was in Snowpoint City last time he sent me an email."
"That's good news," she says.
"Misty is still at Cerulean Gym," I continue, "but I heard a rumor that she might be joining the Elite Four when Koga retires next year."
"That's exciting," she says unexcitedly.
"Yeah," I say. "We don't talk very much now. I heard from someone she got a boyfriend."
"What's Brock up to?" she asks with the slightest amount of vigor.
I was waiting for that. She does still like Brock. I stifle a smile and explain, "Well, he's a Pokémon doctor as you probably heard. He travels around Kanto and Johto mostly, but I ran into him in Sinnoh a couple months ago."
"Is he dating anyone?" she asks.
I've been dying for her to ask that. "He got engaged to Lucy from the Kanto Battle Frontier last year. The wedding is in October."
"Oh," she says. The excitement fell out of that last word like the last grain of sand in an hourglass.
She doesn't say anything for the rest of the ride to Pallet. I feel fine with that. She has helped me a lot in the past, but she hurt Brock in an awful way. I had to make Team Rocket blast off ten times before I could even get the story out of him.
Pikachu and I wave to Professor Ivy as she flies away. I put the Pokéball she gave me in my pocket. We each turn around and walk side-by-side up the hill to Professor Oak's lab. The windmill is still even though the wind is blowing.
"I wish we could go visit Mom afterwards," I say to Pikachu as he bounces up the hill. "It's too bad she's still on vacation, but I'm glad she took Mr. Mime with her this time. He'd get so lonely without her."
"Pi, Pi, Pi, Pi," my buddy says, bouncing along.
"Hi, Professor Oak!" I shout as I walk through the front door.
No one answers. I take a right and open the door to the living room.
I can't move. Professor Oak is seated on the couch, handcuffed with his mouth duct-taped.
Jesse holds a gun to his temple.
"Pikachu!" I hear my friend shout.
"Prepare for trouble, you little piece of shit," she says slowly.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
"Give us all your Pokémon on the double," James says.
I can't move. I know what he said, but I can't-
The gunshot echoes all around me. I can still hear Professor Oak mumbling his cries under the tape. She shot the wall behind him.
She whispers, "Hurry the hell up."
"Pika!" Pikachu shouts, turning to me and waving his arms. "Pika Pika Chu Pi!"
I look down at Pikachu. I close my mouth after a moment. I look back at Professor Oak. I can't tell if his eyes are pleading for me to save him or the Pokémon, but I can imagine which he'd pick even if he's too afraid to shake his head.
I try to swallow, but my throat is too dry. I know it's not what Professor Oak wants, but-
"Please, take five more minutes, you worthless twerp," James says as he pulls out a handgun and cocks it. He points it at the ground behind the couch. "Right, Bulby?"
Bulbasaur walks out from behind the couch with his head down. He's trembling as his claws dig into the carpet with each step. I look at Professor Oak as tears stream down his face. I know he'd die for the Pokémon, but neither of us could let Bulbasaur die. I don't have a choice.
"Alright," I say quietly. I clear my throat and say a little louder, "Alright. I'll do it."
"Pika! Pi! Pi! Chu!" Pikachu shouts, waving his arms. He wants to protect his friends, but there is no way. I tune him out.
I grab each Pokéball from my belt and roll them on the floor toward James. I ignore Pikachu's cries. I look away from him when I finish, glaring at James. His cocky smile burns my eyes. Jesse bursts into laughter. My fist is clenched so tightly, that my nails draw blood from my palms.
She ceases laughing. "Get the hell over here, Pikachu," she says.
I don't look at him. I can't. I keep staring at Jesse with her gun pointed at Professor Oak's temple. There's nothing I can do.
"Aren't you gonna say goodbye to your best friend, Ash?" James says. "Why don't you tell him a lie? Tell him he'll see you again. Tell him he'll be happy."
I force myself to look at Pikachu as he stands beside Jesse, looking back at me through the tears. "I'll save you, Pikachu. I'll make them pay."
"Speaking of paying," Meowth says in his infuriating voice, "it's time for you to pay for every time that we suffered because of you, twerp." He stabs Pikachu with a hypodermic needle, forcing my friend to cry out in pain for a moment before falling flat on the carpet.
I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly to control myself. I can't make a mistake now, or Team Rocket will just kill us all.
"He's ours now, twerp. He's going to pay," Meowth says as he puts my friend into a rubber sack. His smile vanishes. "But you need to pay too."
The gunshot sounds muffled this time as Professor Oak's face disappears. The red splatters on the carpet, staining James and Bulbasaur in slow motion.
I can't move. The tears run now. They killed him. They're going to kill me too.
Jesse lifts her arm slowly, aiming the gun at me.
The window crashes, shattering glass across the carpet as I close my eyes and shield my face.
"Saur!" Bulbasaur shouts.
"Shit!" Jesse screams.
Something grabs me by my jacket, tearing through my clothes and lifting me into the air as I hurtle toward the wall with it. The air turns purple for a moment as I spiral through the breaking wall with my savior. I hear another gunshot as I soar out of the lab and into the sky.
I look at the talons holding onto me and recognize them immediately. I look up at the feathers and wide wingspan supporting me. Finally, I see Pidgeot's face as he stares ahead into the clouds where we ascend. I let the tears fall down my face.
But as I look ahead at the clouds, I can only think of Pikachu and that last gunshot. Were they aiming for me? Did they kill Bulbasaur? Did they kill Pikachu?
I sit against the tree with Pidgeot perched on the grass next to me. I look into the creek ahead of me, but it isn't what I want. I wanted to see visions of Pikachu or Professor Oak or Bulbasaur or anyone. All I see is streaming water. All I feel is the lines down my cheeks from the hours of crying. Pidgeot has sat next to me the entire time, silent and still. Everything is silent. The wind won't blow. The water barely moves. All I hear is my breathing.
I stand up, unable to take the silence anymore. Pidgeot looks at me and coos with interest. "I have to do something. Pikachu is in trouble, and I know the only thing that I could do for Professor Oak is save the Pokémon."
Pidgeot nods, cooing lowly. "But what do I do? You're all I have right now, Pidgeot. We can't take out Jesse and James."
"Dgyot," he says.
"It's odd," I continue. "They've done some nasty things before. I understand that they might be desperate, but they've never killed someone before. Not like that, at least. Not the Jesse and James I've known all my life."
I start pacing in front of my friend by the water's edge. "They just shot-" I choke on the words. It's too fresh to say it. "They've never done that before. There must be something bigger going on than just their need to make some money."
Pidgeot coos again. "I can't worry too much about that yet. I need to take some action. If we can't do this on our own, then we need to go get some help."
"Pi-dgeot!" he shouts.
"Alright, then," I say. "I don't know where Brock is, but I doubt he's close. However, Misty is at Cerulean Gym, guaranteed, and I bet she'll help me."
Pidgeot bows low as I walk up to him and pet the feathers on his neck. The long, red and gold feathers trailing his back from the crown of his head are so beautiful. I've missed them and the friend that he was for me so many years ago. I pull myself up and straddle his neck as he lifts, spreading his wings.
"Cerulean City, be prepared," I say, trying to smile confidently. I can't do it though. I'm not ready for this. All I can think about is Professor Oak's death. All I can hear is Pikachu crying. All I can see is the broken windmill telling me to stay away.
My friend coos very lowly, and I can feel the vibrations of his vocal chords. I pet his feathers lightly and inhale deeply. I can't be confident right now, but I can be grateful. I've never faced anything this tough, but I'm not alone. "I'm not alone," I say.
We soar.