Chapter 25 – Graceful discrimination
"Well this is our home."
They were standing at the front door of Serena and Clemonts home.
"You'll need to take your shoes off or mom will freak," said Clemont.
After they'd taken their shoes off, Serena unlocked the front door and led them down the main hall and into the kitchen. The house was not very big. It had a kitchen, sitting and dinning room downstairs and four bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.
"It looks like moms not home yet," said Serena. "So make yourselves at home."
Ash sat down. Pikachu climbed off his shoulder and onto the table. Serena winced upon seeing this. 'Mom's not gonna like that.' She thought, but decided not to say anything. Her and Clemont usually allowed pokemon more access to the house when their mother was out. And besides her mom wasn't here.
Cameron sat down opposite him while Lucario lent against the wall.
Zorua and Axew climed up Ash's leg and used his lap as a step to join Pikachu on the table. They were looking around uncomfortably, not liking being in the human environment.
"Are you two okay," Pikachu asked.
"Yeah," said Zorua.
"It's just," said Axew.
Pikachu understood.
"Ash he whispered. "I think you should put Zorua and Axew back in their pokeballs."
"Why Pikachu."
"They both had abusive masters," he said. "I think their very intimidated here."
"Right." He pulled the two pokeball's off his belt. "Do you to want to go back inside."
Zorua and Axew nodded, so Ash Returned them, Just as a small girl with blond hair entered the kitchen.
"Serna your back." It was Serena and Clemont's younger sister Bonnie.
"Bonnie," said Serena. "How's my little sister."
"I'm good," said Bonnie. "So where's your new Pokemon."
"In this Pokeball," Serena said showing Bonnie Fennekin's pokeball. "And these are my friends, Ash, Pikachu, Cameron and Lucario."
"Oh boy it's that Pikachu," said Bonnie running up to have a look. "May I pet him," Bonnie asked Ash.
"Sure," said Ash. "If that's alright with you Pikachu."
Pikachu nodded but almost instantly wished he hadn't. Bonnie grabbed him and pulled him into a bone crushing hug. It was increadibly uncomfortable. One arm was wrapped around his neck nearly strangling him. The other was squeezing his stomach and her hand was in his crotch.
"Piikachuuuu."
He instinctively used thunderbolt.
"ARRRRRRR," screamed Bonnie dropping Pikachu. "Why did you do that."
Pikachu quickly got up and scurried up Ash's leg and into his lap.
"Bonnie, you have to be more careful with pokemon," said Clemon sternly.
"I was only giving Pikachu a hug," she said. "I wasn't trying to hurt it."
"But think about how it felt from Pikachu's point of view."
"I'm sorry," Bonnie said. She looked ashamed of what she had done.
"Piikachu." Pikachu blushed and stuck his paw behind his head.
"Did you have to shock her," whispered Ash so only Pikachu could hear him.
"She was strangling me and she had her hand in my groin," Pikachu said. "I think if someone strangled you and touched your groin you'd try to stop them too."
"Guess your right."
"What's that pokemon," said Serena Pointing at Lucario. She did not approach Lucario as she had Pikachu.
"I'm Lucario," he Said. "Pleased to meet you. There's no need to be afraid."
"It's my buddy Lucario," said Cameron. "You can pet him if you like."
Lucario knelt down on the ground to allow Bonnie to pet him as he was taller than she was. Bonnie didn't move.
"How are you talking," she said.
"By using telepathy," Lucario said.
"You get used to it," said Cameron. "Him coming into your head all the time."
"Well something needs to fill the void," Lucario said playfully so only Cameron could hear him.
"Very funny," said Cameron. He looked at Bonnie. "There's nothing to be afraid of."
Bonnie didn't look so sure.
"Cameron, Maybe you should put me back in my pokeball. I'm scarring the little girl."
Cameron looked at Bonnie. She did look quite intimidated by the aura pokemon. "Yeah, alright," he said. He reached to his belt.
"You still have my pokeball right,"
"Of course I do. I wouldn't forget anything as important as that. Here it is." He pulled the red and white object off his belt. "Boy. Haven't used this for a while. Lucario return."
"You didn't have to do that," said Clemont. "She would have been okay."
"It's fine," said Cameron. Bonnie did look a little relieved. Pikachu was now the only pokemon in the room.
"Do you guys want something to eat," said Serena.
Ash had been about to say yes, when there was the noise of a key being placed into a lock and a door opening.
"Hello," said a voice. "I'm back. Clemont. Bonnie. Serena."
"Mom's home," said Clemont. "Hi mom."
"Mommy." Bonnie ran out into the hallway to give her mother a hug.
"Hey mom," said Serena as she entered the kitchen. Her mother was thin with brown hair and a stern looking face
"Oh Serena," she said. "Your back. You got your first pokemon who did you choose."
"Fenekin," answered Serena.
"That's a good choice," she said. "Now you can start training and.." She caught sight of Ash and Cameron. "Who are…"
"There friends of mine," said Serena. "This is Ash and this is Cameron. There trainers too. I invited them over. I hope you don't mind."
"No of course not," she said. She shook hands with Both boys. "My name's Grace. Make yourselves at hom.." she just caught sight of Pikachu on the table.
"Where did that come from," she said horrified, pointing at Pikachu.
"Pika," said Pikachu slightly offended at the way Grace was talking about him.
"This is my partner Pikachu," said Ash.
"GET IT OFF THE TABLE," Grace said angrily.
Ash picked Pikachu up.
Grace rounded on Serena. "Serena surely you told your friends that I don't allow pokemon in the house."
"Well I." Serena didn't know what to say.
Grace turned back to Ash. "Please put it back in it's pokeball."
"But Pikachu doesn't like being in his pokeball," said Ash. "And it's a he. Not an it."
"Then you can stick him in the garden," she said.
Pikachu was starting to feel upset. What did this woman have against him. "Pikachu," he said angrily.
"I can't exclude Pikachu," said Ash. "We do everything together. Besides it's raining."
"Alright. I'll make an exception because it is raining," she said. "Just don't let him on the furniture."
"Anyway." Grace smile. "Would you like to stay for dinner."
"Yeah, Thanks," said Ash.
Pikachu had crawled back onto Ash's shoulder. He was upset with the way Grace was acting. Treating him as if he was somehow lesser.
"bigot," he said but only Ash could hear him. "I'm no more dirty than you, or Serena or Cameron."
Serena could see the tenseness of the situation. "Um why don't I show you my room," she said to Ash and Cameron.
They went upstairs. Serena's bedroom was the first off the landing. It had a view over the garden.
"I'm sorry I should have told you," she said. "Mom doesn't like having pokemon in the house. She thinks there dirty."
"Pikachu's no dirtier than we are," said Ash. "Why should be excluded."
"Mom won't see it that way," said Clemont. "She thinks of pokemon more as pets."
"Pets," said Pikachu. This upset him. He had always seen himself as Ash's equal. The very fact that they were in a relationship meant as valued him as a being with intelligence and feeling equal to a human. But this woman didn't see that. All she saw when she looked at Pikachu was his muddy paws.
"Mom used to be a famous ryhorn racer in her day," said Serena. "But she stopped doing that a long time ago. She works as a staffer now for some politician. Can't remember who."
"She often has to travel," said Clemont. "So we usually get the house to ourselves."
"What about your dad," said Cameron.
"We haven't seen him in a long time," said Clemont.
"Not since we were very small," said Serena. "I don't remember him much."
They both went silent.
"So Clemont," said Ash trying to change the topic of conversation. "Are you a trainer too."
"No," Clemon replied. "I'm studying to be a pokemon doctor."
"A pokemon doctor," said Ash. "I had a friend who was doing that."
"He must be bright," said Clemont. "I can't seem to do anything right. All the pokemon I work with run away. Even your Pikachu ran away when I found him."
He looked sad. "I've thought about dropping out," he said.
"Oh Clemont," said Serena. "He's really smart he just lacks confidence."
"Clemont you shouldn't do that," said Ash. "If its your dream then you've gotta keep trying."
"But," said Clemont. "I have so much trouble with the coursework and pokemon don't seem to like me."
"Yeah," said Cameron. "You won't always succeed but you gotta keep trying. I'm training to become the worlds greatest pokemon champion with Lucario."
"Yeah," said Ash. "and I want be the worlds greatest pokemon master."
"Alright," said Clemont. "I won't give up."
'for now anyway,' he thought.
"What about Bonnie," Asked Ash. "Does she want to be a trainer."
"Yes. She goes to the trainers school in Santalune City," said Serena. "She's still too young to have her own she really really likes them."
"Yeah," said Clemont. "She wanted to help look after Pikachu."
Clemont suddenly remembered something.
"Hey Serena," he said. "When you were on the phone it sounded like someone was attacking you."
"Oh yeah," she said. "It was really scary. We were attacked in the pokemon centre in Snowbelle City by these strange people."
"They kidnapped me and Lucario," said Cameron. "They were all wearing black with some symbol on it that looked like a claw."
"Like the letter D shaped like a dragon claw," said Clemont.
"Yeah, but how do you know that."
"I've seen people dressed like that at the university. There called Team Draconian," he said.
"Team Draconian," said Ash, Serena and Cameron together.
"Yeah," said Clemont. "I think there against human's mating with pokemon. They were giving out brochures but I just throw them in the bin. But what's this about being kidnapped."
They explained to Clemont what had happened in Snowbelle City. By the end of the story his face had turned pale.
"Wow," he said. "That's terrible."
"Serena. Bonnie. Clemont." Grace was calling them from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready."
They went downstairs to the kitchen. Grace had laid the little table and put the food on it.
Ash sat down at the table with Pikachu on his shoulder. "Mmmmm, Smell's good doesn't it Pikachu."
"Oh that reminds me," said Cameron. "We need to feed our pokemon."
"Do that after dinner," said Grace. "Oh and Ash. Please keep your pokemon away from the food."
Pikachu had slid into Ash lap to share with him.
"But I always share with Pikachu," said Ash.
"This is human food," Grace said. "The pokemon can eat afterwards. In fact it should wait on the floor for you to finish eating."
Pikachu glanced up at Ash, then slid onto the floor.
"Why can't Pikachu eat at the table with us," said Ash.
Serena, Clemont and Bonnie glanced at each other uncomfortably. Was Ash really questioning the house rules.
"Because he's a pokemon," said Grace. "There animals even if their tame. They still have germs so they should eat and sleep outside."
She looked a little cross.
"Besides. If you let them eat with you, or on the furniture or sleep in bed with you, they'll think there equal to you they won't obey you and you'll never become a good trainer. You should know that."
Ash and Pikachu both looked horrified.
"That's a terrible thing to say," said Ash. "How can you treat a pokemon like that. They are equal."
"No their Pokemon," said Grace. "You don't seriously expect to become a good trainer if you allow your pokemon to be constantly sitting on your shoulder, or eating with you, it won't respect you or listen to you. It has to know whose boss and it's place."
"But that's not true," Ash said shocked by what she was saying. "You become a good trainer by forming friendship with pokemon and working together. Pikachu and I are a team. We always have been. We.."
"Ash," said Serena. "You really don't want to go there."
"Ash," said Grace. "It may like you. But it's not your friend. It's an animal and you have to treat it like one. It should eat on the floor, walk on the ground and Sleep in a cage. In fact I have some cages that would be.."
"Cages," shouted Ash. "And what's this about not a friend. Pikachu is my best friend. In fact he's more than that."
"Ash. Don't," said Serena.
"I would shut up now if I were you," said Clemont.
Bonnie and Cameron stayed silent. But Pikachu didn't. He was really upset.
"Pika Pika," said Pikachu angrily. "I am not a pet."
"Huh. Did you pokemon just growl at me," said Grace. "I don't think so."
She got up, knelt down and flicked Pikachu on the nose with finger. "No, Bad Pikachu."
"Ouch," said Pikachu. "What was that for."
"what was that for," said Ash. He was angry now.
"It growled at me," Grace replied. "It cannot be allowed to do that. They can never think they have the right to attack a human or they won't be safe. If you don't discipline your Pikachu it could hurt someone. How hard do you hit it."
"I would never hit Pikachu," said Ash.
"Kachu," said Pikachu. He sparked angrily.
"Bad Pikachu," said Grace. She grabbed a spray bottle from the workbench and sprayed it in Pikachu's face.
"Piii," Pikachu winced and rubbed his eyes with his paw.
"What did you do that for," Ash said angrily.
"It's diluted Serviper venom," said Grace. "It sings their eyes. A well proven training and discpline technique."
"That's horrible," said Ash. "C'mere buddy." He got up, picked up Pikachu, and wandered over to the sink. He turned on the tap and help Pikachu close enough so he could wash his eyes.
"What do you think your doing," said Grace. "It doesn't damage them it just makes them learn. Pikachu are dangerous Pokemon. They have high voltage. If you don't train it properly it could shock a child."
"My Pikachu is not some wild animal," shouted Ash. "I can't believe you treat pokemon like this. You must be a terrible trainer."
"I'll have you know I was a Rhyhorn racing champion," Grace said indignetly. "And I got such a good performance out of Rhyhorn because I trained him so well. My Rhyhorn was a well behaved pokemon. Not like you Pikachu."
"Pikachu is not a pet," said Ash angrily. "None of my pokemon are. Pikachu's my boyfriend. That's right I love him." He gave Pikachu a small peck on the mouth just to show Grace he was serious.
Grace looked horrified. "You mean you…"
"Yes."
"Pi ka chu"
"You can't be serious," said Grace. "That's disgusting. Just absolutely disgusting."
"No it's not." Cameron had been quite up till now but decided to come to Ash's aid. "It's not wrong to be with the one you love regardless of gender or species."
"Pokemon are as intelligent as humans. When we work together we build a better world," he said. "You can't train pokemon like your trying to. It only hurts the pokemon and means you'll never build a bond with them."
"You can't bond with pokemon," said Grace.
"Yes you can," Cameron said. "Of course you can. And for your information I love a pokemon too. My Lucario."
"Hang on," said Grace. "You're a pokephille too. You can't be serious."
"I am," said Cameron. "I'm a gay trainer in love with a lucario. And I'm proud of it. You're a bigoted.."
Grace overcome by anger raised her hand to slap Cameron across the face. But before she could do so, Lucario sensing Cameron was in danger and released himself from his pokeball. He stood protectively infront of Cameron.
"What do you think you are doing," he said. "Leave my mate alone."
Grace was so angry, without thinking she picked a frying pan and smacked lucario across the face with it, causing a small gash to appear on his muzzle.
Pikachu acted instinctively to protect him. He let off a powerful thunderbolt attack at grace. Unfortunately, Grace moved out of the way just in time. And the attack hit Bonnie.
The little girl screamed. "that really hurt."
"It's okay bonnie," said Grace running to examine her.
"I'm okay mom," she said. "Really. I think Pikachu's really cool."
"You see," Grace said angrily ignoring her daughter. "Your Pikachu could have killed my daughter. That Pokemon needs to be put down."
"If you so much as lay a finger on him," said Ash.
"Mom calm down," said Clemont.
"Mom Please don't hurt Pikachu," said Bonnie. "I'm really okay."
She looked at them angrily. "Get out of my house. NOW."
[Pokemon]
"I can't believe there are still people like her around," said Cameron. "How can she think like that. Pokemon aren't animals. There as smart as you or I."
"The fact that she did those things to Pikachu," said Ash. "I'm sorry you had to go through that buddy."
"It's not your fault Pikapi," said Pikachu. He sounded really down. Ash could tell he was really upset by what she had said. He was walking next to Ash rather than on his shoulder. Ash could see tears glistening in his eyes.
"Pikachu." He knelt down next to him and placed his hand on his back. "You know she's wrong. Don't let it get to you."
"Your right," said Pikachu. "It's just..just." He gave a large sniff. Ash gently rubbed his neck with his two fingers. Pikachu lent into it giving off a "Chhaaaa."
"So what now," said Cameron.
"I guess we take the train to Santalune City and go to the pokemon centre there," Ash replied.
"Hey Ash. Cameron."
He turned around to see Serena and Fennekin running towards him.
"Serena," he said. "What are you.."
She ran up to them panting. "I'm running away from home," she said. "The way she treats pokemon is horrible. I want to travel with you."
"Are you sure," said Ash.
"Yep," said Serena.
"Right," said Cameron. "Santalune City here we come."
