After long decision, I will post this here since many of you may not read the afternotes. So here goes.
This fic has been my greatest success. I never imagined it would bring me this much attention...and I kinda like it. But the deal is that this has always been intended for a short story, not a long novel. I intend to keep it as such, considering I cannot stretch the plot longer than what I planned without losing it's luster.
But this doesn't mean I do not update any longer. Quite the opposite. As some (very few) of you know, based on my profile updates, I have a new fic that I am so excited for. It will not just be a fic, it will be a straight up story. It will be epic, heartwrenching, and everything you love about great stores and fics put together. How do I know this? My drive is such, and I wish to achieve it.
If you are one of the many people who found this fic and liked it, it is probably because you liked my style of writing, not really because you support Raimei. Although some of you, even to an extent, most of you don't really support it the way I do. SO since you like my style of writing, I'd be willing to bet you'd love my new story just as much.
It is based off the manga, so some parts may go over your heads. But I assure you, just a few wiki minutes, and you're good to go, if you even need it. The manga is the best thing ever to come to Pokemon, hands down. It's not based for kids like the anime, and it's not incredibly general like the games. It is quite literally my favorite piece of entertainment.
So if you want more of my updating, pay attention to that story. Never Say Die. Every 2 chapters of that, I give you one chapter of this. That story plans to be super long, this one is already at least halfway through.
But enough advertising. On with the show.
A ray of light beamed its way into the comfy little room. It spread its warmth like butter across the minute area it could peek through, what with the curtains and all. It shone onto the body of a beloved little mouse, causing him to stir and slowly stretch his way out of sleep. He usually woke up when Ash started stirring 'round sundawn or so.
That's his best way of describing it. Sundawn. That time a little after the gray hum of dawn where the sun is just oh-so sneaking some light into the sky. That time when you can't see the sun, but notice it leaking its precious rays into the atmosphere, ready to be absorbed and scattered into scattered visible light rays.
But today Ash didn't get up before then. He was peacefully asleep—or dead…could well have been dead. Pikachu really hoped he wasn't dead—in a very…well the best word to describe his posture was loving. It looked like he was curled up with someone, his lips ecked into a smile. It was so heartwarming. So serene.
So worrisome.
Why hasn't he woken up yet? I just don't get it.
He looked around to see if anyone else had been pushed awake by the glow of the sun.
Nope. Not one person. Everyone was soundlessly asleep.
So Pikachu thought, heck why not.
I'll go outside and check out some stuff.
Luckily for Pikachu, Ash slipped in last night so exhausted he left the patio door open. So the little mouse just hopped and skipped his way outside with the stealth of a samurai. He pounced around nearby rooftops as he scanned the great and lustrous world of Nimbasa.
It felt like a utopia. It was peaceful yet bursting with jovial happiness. There was not too much perfect that life seemed drab and monotonous, not too much urbanization that it felt gross and smoggy.
Pikachu had visited what felt like every city in the world with Ash, and this place was by and far the best.
It was early and bright and the warmth of the sun filled Pikachu's pouches with illustrious energy. He felt like he could sweep an entire gym leader if he was challenged right here and now.
Speaking of gym leader…
The electric mouse scanned around for what looked like Elesa's house. The house itself was humble enough that it could viably be blocked by the larger edifices of main-city Nimbasa. But there had to be something that made it stand out. Something that made her place unique…
…
!
That's it!
!
The clearing! Elesa's house rests in a clearing to maintain a beautiful and natural lawn!
Pikachu couldn't see anything from his vantage point, but with just a little climbing and some tail grease…
There! There it is!
There was a gap in the buildings on the horizon that looked incredibly promising. It appealed nothing but the kind of clearing that Pikachu was looking for.
Before he jolted off towards it, he took a look back at the Pokemon Center not too far behind him…
…
He thought about his situation for a moment…
…
Ash… He'll worry if I leave for too long.
So Pikachu scurried on back and sneaked back in, checking if that beam of light had woken any random people.
Thankfully, it hadn't.
Now came the task of letting Ash know he was a-okay…something that said where he was…
He sifted through a few things, brushing around a little…
Ahhh. That's it.
He scurried through Ash's jacket on the floor, trying not to rustle it too much. inside the pocket was…
Yup. Exactly where he left it.
His badge case.
He pulled out the Bolt Badge. It made a little clink when he popped it out, so he flinched, thinking it would wake someone up.
…
-Cggawwww—shphuwwwwww-
…
Well that was exceptionally throaty.
Pikachu breathed an internal sigh of relief. Just Cilan making that occasional snore he has when he's sleeping pretty intensely.
Ash's partner put the badge right where he normally sleeps at the foot of Ash's bed. Hopefully he will get the message.
He slipped out the window. After a little ways out to where he was certain no one could hear him from the Center, he set off in a dash, letting his curiosity lead him to Elesa.
By the time Pikachu reached what was obviously Elesa's house, the sun had grown to a healthy yellow glow in the sky. He was almost certain that Ash was awake by now. He hoped deeply that Ash got the message and didn't, like, kick the badge off or something.
One thing the mouse didn't want was to cause unnecessary grief to his best friend. They had been through so much together, through so many problems and threatening turmoil, that any energy wasted towards pointless and trite misunderstandings should be avoided at all costs.
That, and a search party was stressful.
Mostly the whole no-grief thing.
But also mostly the stressful.
There was a nice beautiful tree growing in the front that had a branch that slipped close and personal to a balcony. Pikachu climbed up the aromatic bark and leaped onto the balcony fence. Something told him he was trespassing, and the thought had just now occurred to him that he might ruin his master's friendship with Elesa. He didn't want any of that.
He pondered on that thought, but not for long. With absolutely no warning, he heard a sudden
-CSHSREAKCH-
shattering sound came from the room right in front of him.
Pikachu lifted a paw to step forward, maybe see what was going on. Someone may be in trouble. He might nee—
"YEAH THAT'S RIGHT! HOP OFF THIS PLANET WITH YOUR ARCEUS-FORSAKEN WRETCHED, STINKING, BLUE, ANNOYING, LOUD PIECE OF…"
You get the point.
Surely that isn't…
…
The mouse slipped forward and brushed aside the curtains a little to see what exactly was possibly going on to warrant such an…odd turn of events.
It really can't. She doesn't seem like…no she would nev-… Would she? I mean, it's not li-…
…
He got a solid look at the disheveled, messy, just-outta-bed girl who seemed so giddy over something. She was spitting at it and dancing around it and pointing and laughing at it and…wait is that a broken clock?
Pikachu did a double take to make sure.
The flash of lemon hair confirmed his hunch.
He sighed.
Yup. It is her.
After her little rant on the clock was done, the girl with lemon hair huffed, brushed herself off, and zoomed back into reality. She still held her uncontrollably contagious smile, and twirled on one foot 180 degrees. She then skipped merrily into the shadows, humming a familiar tune. This stunned Pikachu a little bit. Not the crazy, deranged mutilation of a…Ducklett?...clock, not the athletic and impressive moves she just executed, and not even the peculiarly unorthodox switch of gears to happy girl trumming along. Thing is, she seemed happy. Not fake happy, not cartoon happy.
Legitimately, and undeniably happy.
Well then, g'mornin' Elesa.
…
Sometimes I wonder how for the love of Jaboca I end up in these situations.
Well it just now occurred to Pikachu that he was 20 minutes away from Ash at a recently-friended person's house without proper warning or explanation, without a clue has to what the Klink he wants to do.
Curiosity. It'll basically bring Armageddon to the world. Or something like that.
But while I'm here, I might as well…I dunno…do…somethin'? Like what? Just waltz right up to her door?
…
A few moments later he was standing at her front door.
He was before a very familiar Zebstrika. Apparently Elesa either doesn't get visitors too often at this hour (doubtful based on the overfilled mailbox out front which was empty yester-noon…and the mailman hasn't even come by yet), or she just has her Pokemon answer the door while she gets ready for the day.
Either way, not exactly your typical doorman.
Hmm well howday!
Hehe Hi to you too.
What breengs yah by 'round dis early houra? And where's dat traina with da cap?
Honestly I don't know myself…to the hour question. As for Ash, he's still back at the Center.
Hmm, well your welcome hyere anytime!
Appreciate it, Zebstrika.
Call meh Zeb. Das what everyone 'round dese pahts does when it ain't official or nuttin'.
Okay, will do Zeb.
So Pikachu waddled by Zeb into the familiar front entrance.
…errr, do you know where Elesa is?
Ah dat purrdy gal? Mah traina? She's a-gettin' ready fo' the day. Aldough, she could just stroll into town straight outta bed and she'd still be gawked at.
Zeb led Pikachu to the slick, contemporary yet classy kitchen where, at least, some of Elesa's Pokemon were chilling and having a nice morning chat while eating breakfast. Everyone was laughing and smiling and just in an overall jovial mood.
It seemed to utopian to be real. But it was.
After not too long, they all noticed Pikachu and Zeb. They grinned and beckoned them over.
Hey so it was you at the door!
Welcome to Elesa's residence!
How are you doing?
You got any cheese?
Emolga, why would a random Pikachu have cheese?
He's not random, Joltik, he's THAT BOY'S Pikachu.
Well, I know that, I was just…whatever.
Pikachu just sweatdropped. It was clear that these Pokemon were super friendly.
Well as they say, like trainer, like Pokemon.
After Pikachu returned the greeting and confirmed, no, he did NOT have any cheese, he sat down with them all. They offered some food, but the electric mouse refused. He wasn't even invited in by the proper owner of the household, he shouldn't be any more of a nuisance than he already was.
But in the middle of all the ruckus, he couldn't help but notice a familiar but dim tune being hummed from somewhere. His ears perked and twitched, trying to locate the source, and his tail jerked a little. Tynamo seemed to notice, since he learned the hard way how alert Pikachu could be to his surroundings.
Hey Pikachu? Whacha listening for?
I dunno, I hear some sort of…tune.
After a moment for it to click, every one of Elesa's beloved laughed.
Oh yeah, forgot he doesn't exactly know Elesa's morning routine. Speaking of which she should be done shortly.
Hehe I almost forgot about it.
Pikachu was a little confused.
Wait, routine? Done shortly? Huh?
Tynamo snickered out the next explanation.
Elesa is directly through that…
…he pointed to a conspicuous but pretty closed door, leading from the kitchen area across the way…
…door right there. She's always in a happy mood, and likes to hum songs while she cleans up for the day.
Oh, thanks.
Pikachu was still a bit nervous about what would happen when Elesa saw him. He knows that she liked him, but he was sort of barging in uninvited. And heck, Pikachu probably doesn't have much more of a clue about why and how he was here than she would.
But, not enough time to ponder.
Out of the door steped (or rather, twirled) a beautiful girl named Elesa. She looked no different than the lost couple-a-three times Pikachu saw her. But not a sparkle of gorgeous has left from her.
And most certainly, not a blip of upbeat energy.
Pikachu half-cowered in fear of not wanting to be seen intruding, half-stick-his-chest-out just to get this thing over with.
He really doesn't have time for either.
As soon as the girl with lemon hair sees him, she stops her pirouette-like movement and stares at him, her smile dropping to a slightly ajar mouth. She blinks once.
Oh no…
Pikachu is sure that she will be mad.
But…
…
No.
What he captures from her face is not an aura, a look, of anger. Rather, quite the opposite. She looks…
Overjoyed. As if she couldn't be any happier than what she was before.
Elesa leaped (literally) over to the electric mouse and smothers him in a perfect Beartic hug. Not one where you get squished, not one where it feels awkwardly light. More like one you give your loved one after just arriving back from a 10-year long journey.
Pikachu was just shocked. He was sure she would be mad.
But she seemed like he just made her day. Simply by being present.
After snuggling him a little, she stood up and perched him on her shoulder. Giggling, she started stroking his chin, to which she got a peachy and content "Chaaaa."
"Oh you. Where's Ash? Ah, nevermind, that goofball probably overslept didn't he? Well, you are welcome here, anytime you want."
Elesa smiled and put him down.
"Now I have some errands to run. Care to join? I'm sure we'll find Ash somewhere in the urban jungle of Nimbasa."
Pikachu gave a vicious nod, signifying his approval. Well it looks like he gets to do something anyway.
The girl with sparkling eyes gave the Nurse Joy look to Pikachu, and then beckoned him over to the door.
With a sing-songy tone, she mused, "Then come, we have things to do."
This chapter is chock-full of puns. And is felt a bit awkward at parts for me too...sowwee.
Also, to clear up anyone's "HEY DAT WAS NOT FUNY RUDE JERK WHITE BRAT TRASH" etc., I suppose I must make something obvious here. If this was a real story of mine, I wouldn't actually explain this, since readers are supposed to be PATIENT (those come at a hard price these days). But for you all, I make one thing clear.
ZEB'S. ACCENT. IS. NOT. SUPPOSED. TO. BE. FUNNY.
It has a purpose, and you'll see why later on in the story. If you're too lazy to either read these notes or think about why I would do this, then, PLEASE, for your own sake, do not criticize it.
I await the criticisms I get from Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous, since no one seems to have the guts to criticize without a shield of obscurity these days. But regardless, everything but pointless, rude, disrespectful blabbers of peremptory and pointless jargon will not be tolerated.
...Well I suppose it will be tolerated. But only thus far. I wish to hear criticisms to improve my writing, but I still have only received but a couple well-grounded and constructive piece of advice.
Everyone, Happy Easter, even if you are not Christian like me. If you are offended by that, I apologize. Happy Random-Sunday-In-March-Which-Happens-To-Also-Coincide-With-Easter.
