When I wrote this a year ago, I originally had this as ROB. But then I read the horrible new from Pikana. I don't know anyone very well on this site, but niceness took over me, and I worked all night to change this chapter and the next. So it may seem a little rudgy, but oh well. I lead a busy life; so shoot me, haha.

So, this is for Pikana.

It was the guy in the trench coat. He's the one that killed his master.

The subway bustled with people and pokemon. People were on their way to work, yakking on their cell phones, pushing people out their way, bickering at others. The pokemon shadowed their masters, never leaving their side, tripping people by accident in their effort to keep up with them. The subway station was so crowded it was impossible to squeeze a needle in. And with the subway cars, the people quacking, and the pokemon singing their names, if a bomb had exploded in the subway, the noise would drain it out, barely making a PING*

His master carried him in his arms. Most times his master was content, baring a smile that rivaled the sun in brightness. But today, the close proximity of the people irked him. He shouted "Hey" and "Watch out" and "Stupid Clefairy", elbowing people out of the way. Though, they were so warped up in their own world that none of them seemed bothered with a few bruises to the ribs and arms.

It had been five years. Five years since his master had adopted him. They had traveled the world, meeting and befriending people and pokemon, saving towns from countless disasters, and, oh yea, embarrassing the hell out of the bad guys. Their journeys could have been best-selling books and movies – it was just too unbelievable to…well, believe.

During their travels, he developed a bond with his master. No jackhammer or sledgehammer could shatter the love for his master. Sure, most the people he and his master had mingled with were courteous, all ways thinking about others before themselves. But his master wasn't like other people. Sometimes he wondered if his master was even human.

His eyes. The twinkling in his eyes. Love, warmth, happiness; no other sets of eyes wielded power like that. Every time he gazed into his eyes, his heart would melt. All troubles, irritations, depressions; they ran away, hiding under big, fat boulders. It was like watching a television – in those eyes he saw himself, his master laughing and repeatedly throwing him in the air, then catching him. He was giggling too, and crawled up his master's arm, clasping his tiny arms onto his chest, his master engulfing him in a hug…

Yes. There was no other person in the world better. No one could possibly take his place. He was going to live with his master. Forever.

Until the man in the trench coat changed that.

It has been one whole year since they had traversed the nooks and crannies of the world. His master stopped to go to college, where he took him with. He had to say, it wasn't nearly as fun being locked in a dorm room as much as it was travelling the world, but he did not want to anger his master. Besides, his master had kind of…hrm*…broken a few rules, to sneak him onto the campus. Get the hint?

The reason they were in the subway was because today's his mother's birthday. His master thought it best to surprise his mother by stopping in for a quick visit. He just wouldn't be a son if he didn't spend time with his mother on her birthday (at least that's what his master told him).

So, they trekked through the jungles of people and pokemon, finally reaching the platform to get on and off the subway. His master cursed under his breath and whipped his head around, giving a few people and pokemon death stares.

Still cozy in his master's arm, he had trouble differentiating the many sounds and sights. Everything blurred, like a child smearing his watercolors all over the walls; none of it made sense.

But he did notice the man in the trench coat. He sidled up next to his master, hands buried deep into his pockets. A full-brimmed hat that matched his coat sealed his eyes in shadow. He shouldered next to his master, watching his shoes.

Something told him that he wasn't here just for the subway. He stuck out sorely, like a kid finding Waldo in a field crammed with Smurfs. Death seemed to perspire from his pores, leaving a scent that drenched him in uneasiness and worry. He shifted as far from the stranger as his master's arms would let him.

His master looked down at him and spoke his name, asking what was troubling him. When his master saw him look at the stranger, he too, expressed uneasiness.

The stranger continued to look at the ground, but he tilted his head closer to his master, and spoke in an icy whisper, "We haven't forgotten."

He and his master exchanged puzzled looks. But another voice, this one female, interrupted their thoughts from his master's other side.

"Don't think you could slip away that easily."

Her voice just as icy, she too, was in a matching trench coat and hat. He didn't know if his master noticed, but a few long strands of red head snaked out from under the hat. And like the man, she looked at the ground, a stench of death saturating her.

Then they sidled up next to his master, pinning him between them. His master had no room to even retaliate because of the hustle and bustle in the subway.

He watched his master express fear, something he had rarely seen his master do. His voice sounded even worse, cracking and too-squeaky.

"Hey. Who the hell do you think you are? Leave me alone!"

Of course, no one heard his cries. They might as well have been at a rock concert.

The man started to whisper as the woman sidled behind his master.

"You killed him. Our only friend. And you can join him. So, when you see him, tell him one thing."

The woman stood behind his master. She wrapped her arms around his waist, catching his master by surprise. The more his master tried to fight back, the harder she hugged him.

Then the man pulled a pistol from out his pocket and shoved it into his master's temple. His master crapped out, the fight out of him drained. He looked down at him, he in his master's arms. The twinkle was all but gone.

"Tell Meowth, Team Rocket sent you."

PLIP*

Still in his master's arms, the woman shoved them off the platform onto the subway tracks. He rolled out of his master's arms, plunking into the wall. But that didn't faze him, no. His master. He had to check his master.

He ran over to his master, lying face down on the ground, blank eyes staring into his. This time, he saw no one laughing and throwing him in the air. Nothing.

He screamed out his name (pokemon name), shoving his master to wake him up. He just had to wake up. C'mon, wake up! Please…

He screamed for his name for help, but no one could hear him. They paid no attention. And those two in the trench coats vanished. Leaving him alone, with his master, in a dark, dusty, empty world.

C'mon master, please…wake up…

*****

The tomato looks yummy.

Oh wait, it's rotten. Bleh!

Um…maybe the peanut butter?

No, that always gets stuck in the mouth.

Hm. Well….Ah-ha! There! Turkey meat! Score!

Pikachu hopped up to the bottom shelf, nipping the plastic bag. After tossing it on the ground, he shoved the refrigerator door with his head. He picked the bag up in his mouth walked on all fours to the counter. Using the barstool as a step, he hopped onto the counter and opened the bag. He sat down, legs splayed out, and placed the bag between them. Then with his stubby arms, he swiped a piece of turkey and nibbled on it.

He really shouldn't be eating, but he was starving. But then he'd ruin his appetite for the picnic. Oh goodness, so much stress for a little pokemon to handle.

He was in the personal kitchen, waiting for the time to pass until picnic time. Earlier, he heard screams from the other Smashers outside the kitchen walls. Maybe they were playing tag? But Master Hand wouldn't allow them to play indoors.

There was no time to play. He had a picnic!

While he nibbled on another piece of turkey, Pikachu's ears shot up. Voices. Coming from behind the door. Drawing closer.

"I told you I suck at making food."

"Hey, it happens. You're just not used to that kind of stuff."

"But I stabbed you in the hand while making sandwiches!"

"Wouldn't be the first time. Remember the time you came after me with that rake?"

Pikachu listened to their laughter, his butt wiggling with excitement.

Those voices. They could only be…

Pikachu clumsily jumped off the counter and scurried to the door. It barely opened halfway as Pikachu leaped into the air, sticking onto Luigi's chest. They toppled over, and Pikachu snuggled into the warmth of the plumber. Luigi, shocked at first, smiled and scratched behind Pikachu's ear.

Samus watched with arms crossed over her chest. She smirked down at them.

"A little excited, don't you think.?"

Luigi picked Pikachu up in both hands and saddled himself back on his two feet.

"Yea. And he smells like turkey." He looked at Pikachu, "You better have room for our picnic. "

He sounded stern, but those eyes continued to smile.

"Pika!"

Luigi shrugged. "Neh, good enough for me." Cradling Pikachu in one arm, he stooped down to nab up the picnic basket. "Well, it's almost three. What say we head on out?"

Luigi and Samus entered the small kitchen, heading toward the door at the other end which led to the blue skies and green grass.

Pikachu had other ideas. He squirmed out of Luigi's arm and fumbled out onto the floor. He turned around, head and forelegs lowered. His butt and tail stuck out in the air, wiggling madly.

Samus watched Luigi place the container on the counter and stoop down, like how a basketball player would position himself for defense. His eyes never left Pikachu. She couldn't tell if he was smiling or not, but he looked agitated, fidgeting on his feet. Pikachu continued to wiggle his butt.

Samus asked him, "What the hell are you two doing?"

"Oh. He wants to play a little game. You want to join?"

Samus didn't have a chance to reply, because Luigi lunged into a dive right at Pikachu. The pokemon squirreled out to the right, weaving through a barstool. Luigi tried to intercept him on the other side, but he zipped around, back the way he came.

Unfortunately, Samus blocked his escape route. She was crouched down, ready to nab him. He saw Samus reach for him, but Pikachu was quicker. He ran to the counter and she followed his move, but at the last second, he wall-jumped off the counter, right over Samus's hands. Though her training didn't leave her without quick reflexes; she tried to grab Pikachu behind her. But she shifted her weight too much and fell on her face.

Luigi was coming from the left, and Pikachu cranked to the right, scampering to the door that led to the outside.

Now, there are many doors in the Smash Mansion. And the Smashers that live here come in all sizes. But small ones, like Squirtle, Kirby, and Pikachu, can't exactly reach the doorknob as easily as the taller Smashers. To accommodate, Master Hand built holes near the bottom of the door, acting similar to a dog door. So, the smaller Smashers could then enter and leave rooms without difficulty.

Too bad Luigi and Samus forgot.

Pikachu darted out the dog door. Luigi, not paying attention to his surroundings, was flabbergasted when Pikachu went outside. Before he could even register what had happened, he smashed into the door, too dazed to move.

Samus, running right behind Luigi, also saw Pikachu dart outside. But she had enough time to try and stop herself. Unfortunately, the floor proved to be too slippery, and her momentum carried her forward. She pancaked right into Luigi, sandwiching him.

To add to the humiliation, Samus's bust had collided into the back of Luigi's head, and the force bashed his head through the door window, shattering the glass into tiny fragments.

All of this happened in two seconds.

Samus and Luigi pancaked there for a few seconds, like in Wile E. Coyote cartoon, and then slumped down to the ground.

They staggered to their feet, looking at everything but each other. Samus shyly rubbed her forearm while Luigi rubbed the back of his neck. Neither of them dared to speak. The room suddenly felt too hot, very uncomfortable.

Finally, Luigi moused out, "let's never speak of this. This never happened."

Samus matched back Luigi's voice, "Agreed."

Luigi hurried over to the picnic basket and snatched it up, not taking a moment's breath. Samus watched the ground as Luigi's feet hurried by and opened the door. She followed suit, and closed the door behind her.