A year passed, and Pikachu spent most of her time with Ash. The others went their own ways: Wartortle back to his old squad, Venusaur to the Hidden Village, and, well, Charizard didn't say where he was going. Ash worked many odd jobs: he helped the elderly with their chores, did yardwork, moved furniture, and occasionally ran errands for Professor Oak. He might not have been the sharpest Skarmory in the flock, but he was strong.
When Ash was busy, she made the hike up to Viridian Forest to train on the Metapod there using quick attacks. She didn't hurt them, but she needed a way to stay on top of her accuracy. She'd thunderbolt tree stumps, experimenting with her power levels. And, if she was absolutely sure no one was around, she'd erupt into a powerful thunder attack to remind herself that she could feel like the sky.
Today was a Viridian Forest day for Pikachu, as Ash had busied himself taking orders for his next run to the PokeMart in Viridian City. She was eating some berries when she saw a spot of blue among all the green. It was Wartortle, and he was wearing a new pair of sunglasses.
Wartortle removed the aviators before he addressed Pikachu. "Long time, no see."
"How's the squad?"
"Ah, you know. They're way ahead of me. Bunch of Blastoise." He winked. "But I'm still the leader!"
"They didn't forget you!"
"Of course not!"
"So what brings you here? Now? Shouldn't you be out there having fun?"
"You don't know?"
A rustle in the bushes. Team Rocket often trailed Pikachu on her ventures into Viridian Forest, attempting to capitalize on her freedom, but a swift iron tail sent them blasting. They still followed her, having no other pressing assignments, and they eternally hoped for an opening.
Jessie nudged Meowth in the ribs – hard. "What are they saying?"
"Shhh." Meowth squinted. "I'll tell ya in a minute. I gotta feeling dis is important to the plot."
Wartortle perched on a rock. "You don't know. You ever hear of infinity energy?"
"No? Is it like electricity?"
"Yes...and no..." Wartortle sighed.
"And there's other energy there too, like, like life energy."
"Sure." Pikachu laughed. "I guess. I mean I don't really consider myself that spiritual, if that's what you're getting at. Your friends religious?"
Wartortle pinched a spot between his eyes and lowered his head. "No, no, I mean there is actually another type of energy in Pokemon. Like, you have what makes you you, and I have what makes me me."
"A soul?"
"Yeah, kinda like that. Okay, so we all have 'souls,' and they're really powerful. And Pokemon are disappearing."
"Pokemon are always disappearing, Wartortle. Team Rocket, biker gangs, your regular forgetful trainer who leaves Pokeballs in the woods...Where are you going with this?"
"Infinity energy is Pokemon."
"And?"
"And Pokemon are being used, used like batteries."
"What? I thought infinity energy was like a soul."
"Yeah. And humans are using Pokemon souls like electricity. Actually, they're using Pokemon souls for electricity."
"Is this-is this some kind of joke, Wartortle? Are you so bored you just thought, 'Hey, I know what will pass the time! I'll prank Pikachu, and my buddies will see how cool I am!' That's so messed up. I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight, and I'm going to bug you so much about it." Her cheeks sparked in annoyance.
"Pikachu, I wouldn't joke about something like that."
"So you're into conspiracy theories then?"
"You know I'm not that type. I'm completely serious."
Pikachu studied Wartortle's face. The frown. The tired eyes. "You're serious, huh." She frowned, and her heart leapt in fear. "So what do we do now? Run? We could go to Johto, or if we're really desperate, all the way to Hoenn."
"It's happening everywhere..."
"So! So what do we do? Fight back?"
"Well, yeah. Look, I'm well connected here in Kanto, Pikachu, and a lot of us have been talking. Word's been spreading. And anybody who's heard of you, well, they're impressed. You're the real deal. And we want you to lead us."
"What!?"
"We want you to lead the fight."
"What would I do? Who would I go after? This is a lot to take in, you know. I'm not even fully evolved."
"That's your own choice, Pikachu, and everybody knows that. You're more powerful than any Raichu anyway." He stood back up. "We'll figure this out one step at a time. Right now, we have to play it by ear. But, Pikachu, you get electricity. You get it, like no one else has. But if we're talking about energy, we need you. You're an expert battler, and you understand electricity from the inside out. Who else is going to take this on?"
"There's really nobody else?"
"There's nobody but you."
"I mean, I'll help you out, but I'm not going to make any promises." Pikachu kicked herself. Why couldn't she just ignore this? Was soul-electricity even a real thing? Was she dreaming? Wartortle's whole story was so absurd, but there was something fraught in his face. "I have to go tell Ash. I mean, I can't really tell him so he understands, but I have to let him know I need to leave. Meet me here tomorrow morning."
Meowth stepped backwards, wide-eyed. "It's not true. Jessie, James, tell me dat's not what we steal for!"
James gently reminded him. "We don't know what you're talking about, Meowth."
"In case you forgot, we don't speak Pokemon." Jessie knelt forward. "What was all that about? It sounded serious."
"Right, right, I'm sorry. It's just so wrong, what dey were saying." Meowth shivered. He started relaying the concept of infinity energy to his teammates.
