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Chapter 1

It was anything but an ordinary day.

Unovan citizens looked on with feeling of wonder and curiosity. Either it was because they hadn't seen Mice Pokemon before, or they were old enough to recognize who the Pikachu was. Regardless, they kept their distance. Not wanting to cause any problems.

The Pikachu wore round-ring welding goggles. It was quite unusual to see any Pokémon wearing those things. If one would get close enough, he would notice the lens refracted light. People who wore glasses would figure out that these goggles were to correct the Pikachu's eyesight, the only question was how much trouble did the Pikachu have with those things.

The Mouse Pokémon carried its pre-evolution variant on its head. It was holding on tight, its eyes drooping and its ears sagging. The Pichu was dosed off, tuning out the world around it. It was too young to understand what kind of prejudices people think. Even other Pokémon wondered where these unusual creatures came from.

If only they knew.

"We're almost there at the Pokémon Center, Volta," the Pikachu spoke in a human voice, "Just hang tight, girl."

"Okay, Tesla." Volta muttered in a soft voice.

Tesla Westinghouse, the most powerful and oldest Pikachu in the world. Medical technology from Unova's rebellious province, Faraday Island, helped extend his lifespan. People say that old age brings wisdom. That may be true, but the wisdom Tesla held would tell a different story.

When they reached the Pokémon Center, Tesla went inside and bought some food. The Nurse Joy was quite surprised that a Pikachu, let alone one that talks, had showed up at her doorstep. It was even more unusual that, instead of Pokémon food, Tesla ordered a bowl of noodles and a steamed apple. She watched as Tesla stepped outside the Pokémon Center and sat down at one of the outdoor tables, Volta leaped off his head and hopped into the chair next to him. The old Pikachu handed her the steamed apple, she attacked it with such an appetite that it made Tesla chuckle.

The Unovan people and their Pokémon looked on, one man pulled out a camera and started taking pictures while others gossip, couldn't believe that they had seen an actual Pikachu and Pichu in one spot. Tesla picked at his noodles with his chopsticks. Strangely his appetite wasn't feeling it, he used to eat till the Boufallants come home but not since the incident in Dixie. The old Pikachu sighed, his mind still going over what had happened to the Unovan-born Mice Pokémon called the Dixierats: The Pokémon he brought to the world who shared his curse. Many were emotionally scarred, while one became a hodgepodge of all three Mice Pokémon and got a case of schizophrenia. Tesla tried his best not to think of it and dug into his noodles. They were tasteless, lacking substance. The old Pikachu was sure that it tasted better for people though, since noodles were intended to be eaten by them.

Volta was done with her steamed apple before he knew it. She tapped Tesla on the shoulder and asked, "Can I have some?"

"Still hungry?" Tesla whispered.

The little Pichu nodded.

Tesla pushed the bowl of noodles towards her, "It's all yours."

Volta happily dug into the noodles like there was no tomorrow. Tesla looked up and glanced around at his surroundings. People were still staring at him, but not as much. Most had moved elsewhere, either heading for work or to go shopping. The old Pikachu hadn't gave much thought about them, he was used to the attention.

But this time he couldn't ignore them, he sensed trouble.

One young trainer walked like he was walking the red carpet. He wore a white jacket with short sleeves and a pair of gray pants. His shoes look a little worn, maybe they were a year or two old. The trainer's hat was firmly placed on his head, the bill firmly pointing forward. Tesla knew that look since the day he became a celebrity, this trainer's intending to battle.

"Volta," Tesla whispered to the Pichu in Pokémon speech, "You might wanna get back."

When he speaks Pokémon speech to Volta, that means he's deeply serious. Volta didn't need to be warned, she sensed the danger too. The Tiny Mouse Pokémon got up from the chair and gave Tesla space, the old Pikachu adjusted his eye-goggles and confront the trainer in question.

More people were watching now, their Pokémon more interested than their trainers. They knew something serious was afoot, "Someone should call Officer Jenny." a man seemingly thought aloud.

No one went off to find a videophone, calling the police wasn't necessary.

The trainer pointed a finger at him, "I wanna battle you, Tesla!"

Tesla said nothing, as he always done when being challenged. He just raised an eyebrow and stared at the trainer, as if he had learned to use Leer.

"You're just like what the history books said," said the trainer, "Quiet and assertive, I like that."

"He was talking a moment earlier." a bystander told him.

The trainer turned to him, "Had anyone spoke to him?"

"Just Nurse Joy and that Pichu, he speaks human words to them."

Volta hid behind the chair, instead of cowering in fear she looked on with curiosity. Something was about to happen, she wanted to know what.

"Well then," the trainer pulled out a Poké ball and enlarged it, "Oshawott, go!"

An Oshawott materialized before his feet, it held up its scallop, waving it around like a sword, "OshaWOTT!"

A water-type, Tesla thought in disbelief, are you kidding me!?

Since Tesla's an electric-type Pokémon, he had the advantage. But he won't need electric attacks for this, he decided to go blunt with this fellow.

The old Pikachu jumped off the chair and stepped forward, the bystanders backed away to give them space. The entire town seemed to have gone quiet.

Tesla glared at the Oshawott, using his own version of Leer. The Sea Otter Pokémon's eyes bulged out and gasped, he grabbed his chest and stepped back, trying to breathe.

"Did he just use Leer?" a bystander asked.

The trainer was unfazed, "Oshawott," he commanded, "Use Razor Shell!"

The Oshawott blinked, then nodded, "With pleasure!"

The Sea Otter pulled out its scalchop, a bright sky blue blade extend out of its side. The Oshawott wielded like a sword, then charged. Tesla held firm, his expression unchanged.

"Are you scared, Tesla!?" the trainer taunted.

Tesla said nothing, he just stood there and let Oshawott come to him.

When the Oshawott was right in arm's reach it started slashing its Razor Shell. Tesla made quick dodges, his reflexes were lightning-fast despite his age. What helps was the Sea Otter's moves were predictable, he had seen them so many times in his decades of battling that they reminded him of cookie cutters. Tesla smiled inside as he watched the Oshawott exert its energy cutting air.

"Come on, Oshawott," cried its trainer, "Get a hit on him!"

The Oshawott jumped back and tried to jam the Razor Shell into Tesla.

Predictable.

Tesla grabbed the Oshawott's wrist within a blink of an eye, stopping the tip of the Razor Shell just a centimeter from his belly. The Sea Otter Pokémon froze for a moment, then looked at Tesla, "What the-?"

The old Pikachu let out a smirk. With all his strength, Tesla twisted the Oshawott's wrist almost 360 degrees. The starter Pokémon screamed as his wrist gave out a loud painful crack, he dropped his scallop and tried to rip his arm out of Tesla's grasp. But the old Pikachu was unbearably strong.

"Let go," the Oshawott cried, "Please let go!"

Tesla released his death grip and kicked the Oshawott in the stomach, sending it stumbling backwards. The Oshawott nursed his hand. It was bent in an unnatural position, already swelling up. The trainer's jaw dropped and almost ran out to help his Oshawott, but backed off. He tried to call out another command but his voice got caught in his throat. Tesla's grin widened, this trainer was so inexperienced that he doesn't know the rules of Pokémon battling.

Like there were any rules.

The Mouse Pokémon picked up the scalchop, looked at it for a second. He turned back to the Oshawott, who was already on his knees. The Sea Otter Pokémon looked at him with tear-filled eyes, then held out his other hand.

Tesla gave him a nod, he held up the scalchop for everyone to see, then pumped it with an electric charge. The scalchop flashed purple, electricity buzzed and sparked madly off of it like a Tesla coil. Several bystanders' jaws dropped, not believing what they were seeing.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me," the trainer finally spoke.

With lightning-speed, Tesla tossed the scalchop back at Oshawott. It flashed a purple tail as it zipped through the air in half a second. The Sea Otter Pokémon couldn't dodge it in time. It struck Oshawott square in the stomach, knocking him back into his trainer's groin. Both the trainer and his Pokémon went down on their backs, their feet kicking up towards the sky. The electrically-charged scalchop flied into the air and landed just a meter near the duo, its charge ground into the earth and the purple sparks ceased.

"Was that legal?" a girl, who looked a lot like a more professional Pokémon trainer, asked.

Tesla turned towards the bystander, "Who says it has to be legal?"

Two Audinos ran out of the Pokémon Center and rushed to the duo's aid, one Audino checked to see if the trainer was alright. He stirred, and muttered, "That, hurts a lot."

The other Audino pressed its ear lobe against the Oshawott's chest, its eyes bulge out. It turned to its co-worker and cried, "We gotta get him inside. Hurry, friend!"

As the Audinos were getting out a gurney, Tesla scooped up Volta and placed him back on his head, "Let's go, Volta," he said, "I've seen enough."

Volta said nothing as she rested on Tesla's head. As Tesla walked away, he felt something in his chest, just underneath the breastbone. It was some sort of feeling, like it was heartburn or something. Tesla rubbed his chest, trying to shake off the feeling as he walked away.

. . .

"So what do you make of it, Smugleaf?" Wotter asked as he lay casually on the dumpster.

Smugleaf looked on with a smirk on her face, "This old fella's badass, he ain't taking no sh*t from anybody."

"He could be a good candidate for the PRA."

The Snivy turned to Wotter, "More like a candidate to be a leader for the PRA, I hadn't seen such lightning coming out of an electric-type before."

Smugleaf handed the binoculars back to the Dewott, "So what do you make of it, Wotter?"

The Discipline Pokémon shrugged, "That Oshawott's an idiot, I would have done the same thing to him."

"I don't think those moves are legal though," said Smugleaf, "Not that I care in all, but it may be a sign of personal grudges against the system."

Wotter shook his head, "He's simply too experienced, we'll leave it at that."

"Agreed."

The Snivy reached over her shoulder and pulled out her knife, a smooth carbon-steel machete with a wooden handle. She took the knife and jammed it underneath a trash can lid, using it as a lever she pulled the lid open and looked inside, "I wonder what kind of goodies are in here."

The Dewott just shrugged and looked on, watching the Mice Pokémon walk off, "Nobark should know of this, right away."

"We'll send it to him in the next report," said Smugleaf, "For now we tail that Pikachu and his little Pichu, I wanna see what else they both have up their sleeves."

Smugleaf closed the trash can and turned to Wotter, "I think we got a break, Wotter."

Wotter looked at her with his usual stern face, "We do, and if I were you I wouldn't get near them."

"Not yet, anyways."

"Smugleaf, I am not going to be responsible if you get electrocuted by that overpowering pissball."

Smugleaf grinned as she held up her knife, "That's not going to happen."

The Pokémon Resistance Army had been steadily growing for the past 20 years. Their philosophy was that all Pokémon were equal to that of mankind. It sounded straight forward, Pokémon from many different shapes and sizes were recruited to the Cause. Many were recruited while in human captivity, some were taken just days or weeks after leaving their trainers. A few were recruited from the wild, but only a few. Pokémon who were nurtured in human captivity were easy to handle. Well, most of the time.

Despite the philosophy of the PRA, some parts of that philosophy were smudged or blurred. For example, under the PRA: All Pokémon were equal. However, in reality not all Pokémon were really equal. Nobark favored those who were bi-pedal and quadrupeds who can walk on two-legs with no difficulty. Prejudice was sometimes rampant, and power-hungry Pokémon would sometimes try to step on those who they fell were inferior to them. Wotter was one of those Pokémon. He had tried to do the same thing to Smugleaf, trapping in a room with Razor Shell to her throat.

Smugleaf soon made it clear to Wotter that she was as equal to him, and not some Pokémon to step on when he was feeling it. The Dewott had a phobia of Epson Salt, so she took a carton of Epson Salt and poured it over his privates to break him in. Since then Wotter hadn't made any more moves on Smugleaf, not even calling her "whore" as he used to. It looked like Smugleaf's former rival had become her best-friend.

But looks can be deceiving.

Smugleaf put her knife back into her holster and said, "Let's go, Wotter, we're done here."

Wotter nodded, "As you say, Smugleaf."

TO BE CONTINUED...