Chapter Twenty: Far Cry
Normal, little Electric type rodents do not shun food. It keeps their metabolism high, their static electricity organs healthy, their soft fur plentiful, and most of all, their stomachs full. When presented with an opportunity to nourish one or all of the above, it's usually against both primordial and tertiary instincts to ignore that opportunity. In other words, you see the food? You eat the food. Most rodents follow this simple life philosophy. It's kept their species alive and their individuals happy for generations.
One particularly special rodent decided to defy the accepted model, to become a brave renegade against natural law, and ignored the prize resting below him. Perhaps Pikachu would've been deserving of a title like 'brave renegade', if only he weren't withdrawing behind the thick foliage of Torterra's tree like a coward.
You see, nobody had seen Ash's starter Pokémon ever since the very beginning of dinner. That alone was odd. They say that Pokémon sometimes take after their trainers, but Pikachu definitely picked up his hunger habits from Ash. Everyone just expected Pikachu to scarf down his food and maybe swipe the ketchup off the table too. Ignoring the food entirely was completely unprecedented. No, right now Ash's Pikachu decided for some reason that sitting in a tree took precedence over dinner. Go figure.
[19:50P.M.] Sunyshore City (Beach), Sinnoh Region
"Pikachu, someone's gonna nab your food if you don't eat it, you know," Torterra grumbled whilst lowering to the ground, ready for a nap. It's not like he could actually see Pikachu, but he could feel some casual static shocks going around his tree branches.
"SHHH!" an exasperated voice replied from behind a collection of leaves. "I'm hiding!"
It would've been comical if someone had passed Torterra by and noticed a small patch of brown-striped-yellow-something sticking out of the leaves. To his credit though, Pikachu at least curled himself into a ball and dragged his obtrusive tail along with the rest of his body.
"Look man, just because I evolved doesn't mean you can perch in my tree! It doesn't feel right! If you were a flying mouse then it'd be cool," Torterra said. He just wanted some Z's, but those teeny shocks still jumped around where Pikachu was. "Who're you hiding from anyway? Buneary?"
"I can deal with Buneary!" Pikachu whispered, poking his head out from the branches. "I'm hiding from Glaceon!"
"Yuck, I can't stand Ice Types!" Torterra shuddered at the thought and rustled his branches. "I'd probably hide too."
"You should try sparring her… ahhh… on a regular basis," May's Venusaur yawned out. "Wake me when that Champion trainer stops talking, alright?"
"Me too," Torterra said, closing his eyes. "You got the right idea."
"Hey! Don't nap on me now!" Pikachu whispered hurriedly. "Someone's gotta warn me if Glaceon comes back! Guys!"
The only response Pikachu got was Torterra's snoring and the light rustle of his leaves that came along with it.
"Oh great…" Pikachu muttered. He tried to pass the time away by moving along the branches, but that happened to get one Water type Pokémon's attention on the ground.
"Huh?"
"Shhh!"
Buizel certainly didn't expect the tree to reply back, at least not in such a rude tone. On close inspection, he noticed something yellow and stripped moving through the leaves. That made a lot more sense than talking foliage.
"Hey Pikachu! What are you doing up in Torterra's tree?" Buizel called out, waving him down. "You know that Blaziken who just showed up? She and our Infernape are gonna have a sparring match and I'm referee! Get down here!"
"Buizel, please not so loud!" Pikachu said, covering his ears as if that would help bring Buizel's volume down. "I'm hiding from Glaceon! You'll blow my cover!"
"Oh man, that again?" Buizel asked, rolling his eyes. "Dude, can't you see she's just chilling over there all alone?"
"Are you trying to lure me away with a terrible pun?" Pikachu asked, popping his head out of the leaves.
"No man, I mean she's literally right there just napping by herself!" Buizel said as if the world was privy to the information. "She's given up looking for you after all this time!"
Pikachu couldn't tell where Glaceon was, so that suit him very well.
"You know, the number one rule of hiding is that if I can't see her, then she can't see me! Don't pull my tail!"
"Oh come off it already!" Buizel groaned, exasperated by Pikachu's hooliganisms. "Just talk to her, and settle whatever you've got going on with her! It can't be that bad."
"But what about Buneary?" Pikachu reasoned, already retreating back into the tree. "She'd flip if she found out I'm talking to someone other than her! I'll never see the light of day ever again!"
"Don't worry about it, man! I've got her distracted with the match coming up anyway."
Buizel looked around, saw nobody, and heaved a mental sigh of relief. Someone would tease him for days for looking like he was reasoning with tree bark. Buizel tried a few more cards up his floatation sack.
"Come on, where's the brave Pikachu who's helped me overcome my fear of humans and my fear of making friends?"
"…"
"Well?"
"… hiding in a tree…!"
"I didn't want to do this…" Buizel sighed, a mischievous smirk adorning his face. "But I wonder what would happen if someone were to wake poor, lonely Glaceon from her slumber?"
Pikachu's ears shot up like a rocket.
"She'll be so upset her nap got interrupted! She'll wonder where Pikachu went!" Buizel said, already turning around in the direction of Glaceon's sleeping form. "I guess that someone will have to tell her…!"
"Okay, okay fine!" Pikachu complained, already on the sand of the beach at Buizel's mock threats. "No thanks for dragging me outta there!"
"Hey man, what's a Poké Bro for, huh?" Buizel asked, lightly punching Pikachu in the shoulder. "Come on, get your game face on! This is gonna be good!"
"You, think so?" Pikachu rubbed where Buizel jabbed him lightly.
"Why else do you think she actually broke the seal on her Poké Ball?" Buizel asked, incredulously.
"What does her cheering for me have to do with anything?" Pikachu asked, completely oblivious of the implications. He's never been in a Poké Ball long enough to figure out the kinks.
"Oh boy…' Buizel sighed. "Just make sure you bring that up, okay?"
"… Alright, fine," Pikachu said, screwing up his courage. "I'm going, just watch my back for me, kay?"
"No prob!" Buizel said, already running in the direction of the new Fire and Fighting type battle. "I'm still gonna grill ya for details later. Peace!"
Pikachu dumbly watched as Buizel left him out in the open, finally vulnerable to Glaceon, away from Torterra's branches. He looked behind him and saw that sure enough, Glaceon was taking a nap far from any of the other Pokémon. Pikachu couldn't help but wonder why, so he told himself to suck it up and began walking towards the Ice type.
"Alright… here goes…" Pikachu softly whispered to himself. He finally managed to approach Glaceon, but now that he was up close, he didn't really know where to begin. A whole bunch of questions flooded his head, not to mention he was seeing one of his best friends after a long long time. She seemed to have matured: her legs were leaner than ever, her fur coat had more sheen if that were even possible, and it looked so soft…
"Uh… Glaceon?" Pikachu asked, gently putting his paw on her back.
"Mmm…" Glaceon groggily mumbled. "Who is it?"
"It's me…" the mouse replied abashedly. "Uh, Pikachu?"
"Pikachu…?" Glaceon asked, slowly getting up from her slumber.
She got on her hind legs, stretched her back, and rubbed her eyelids with the back of her dark blue paw. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw a yellow mouse with red pouches on his cheeks and an awkward smile on his face.
"Pikachu! Pikachu, I can't believe it's you!" Glaceon exclaimed. "I couldn't find you anywhere! I was looking for forever! Where were you?"
"Yeah, uh, I was hanging around in… uh… Torterra's branches…?" Pikachu sheepishly admitted.
"What were you doing up there?" Glaceon wondered. It wouldn't have been her choice to stay considering dinner was served.
"I… uh…" Pikachu didn't want to admit to that.
"Were you hiding from me?" Glaceon asked with wide eyes. Seeing Pikachu's caught expression she replied, "Why would you do that? I'm your friend you know!"
"Ehh! I was just nervous about seeing you again, you know…" Pikachu rubbed the back of his ear in embarrassment. "Since last time anyway?"
"I… I missed you so much, Pikachu!" Glaceon said with hurt in her eyes. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"
"May I sit down with you?" Pikachu asked rather formally.
"Oh come on, you!" Glaceon wouldn't have any of that, so she smirked and jumped onto Pikachu's right ear, pulling him down to the ground next to her. "I don't bite!"
Pikachu chuckled lightly and sat next to Glaceon while she rested on the ground, belly to the sand. The two of them could see the fire fight between Blaziken and Infernape, but neither of them were really very interested. A few moments marched by and Glaceon didn't know where this was going. She coughed lightly to clear the air.
"So… why did you finally come here?" Glaceon asked in a coy voice. She laid on an extra silky tone and asked, "Did ya miss me that bad? Hmm?"
"I, uh," Pikachu idly began, watching Infernape slug Blaziken to the ground with a Mach Punch. "I wanted to thank you, Glaceon."
"Huh? Thank me? For what?" Glaceon asked. Regretfully she realized that she could've layered on any tone of voice and Pikachu wouldn't have known the difference. So much for sounding cute.
"Thanks for cheering me on today," Pikachu replied, watching Blaziken get back on her feet. "I really needed that."
"No problem!" Glaceon said, her tail swinging in the air behind her. "That's what I'm here for. But anybody could've done it, really, I just wanted to make sure you knew you had someone to support you. Other than Ash, anyway."
Glaceon wished she added more things to say, like she was happy to do it, that she wanted things to be like they always were, but the opportunity slipped away. She didn't like how their conversations always happened like that.
"No that's not what I meant though, Glaceon" Pikachu said, not reading between the lines. "What I meant was… I really liked hearing your voice cheering me on. It helped me so much."
What. What?
"My… voice?" Glaceon asked. Against her will, her cheeks filled up with something very hot. She prayed Pikachu didn't notice.
"Yeah…" Pikachu said, still watching the match from afar.
"Oh I…" Glaceon tried to say something witty in response but all she could come up with was something stupidly simple. "You're welcome, Pikachu."
A dull silence fell upon the two Pokémon. Pikachu didn't mind, he was content with observing Infernape using Flamethrower and Blaziken using a Fire Punch to valiantly guard against the flames. Glaceon on the other hand was looking at the ground, wondering what to say next. She stole a look and noticed that Pikachu didn't look uncomfortable, and drew some courage from that.
"Hey Pikachu?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you come up with an answer yet?"
"An answer? For what? What do you me—oh I! Well, you know, it's, oh man…"
Glaceon looked to her left at Pikachu incredulously, and Pikachu finally stole a look on his right and saw Glaceon's upset, frustrated, and disbelieving face.
"So that's why you were hiding from me? You didn't want to tell me an answer?" Glaceon asked intensely. This was absurd.
"No!" Pikachu replied, looking at Glaceon.
She held her gaze, not believing Pikachu for a second.
"I mean yes!"
'Okay, that's just insulting' was written all over Glaceon's face.
"Hey, come on!" Pikachu said, realizing he was digging himself a bottomless hole. "Gimme a break here! It was a loaded question! How was I supposed to know what you meant?"
"Pikachu, I'm the one who needs a break!" Glaceon replied, narrowing her eyes. "What part of 'Are we friends' do you not get?"
"But Glaceon, we're best friends, I thought you knew that!" Pikachu stated, with his paws facing outward and upward, trying to explain himself. "It just sounds like a dumb question to ask if we're already friends!"
"I know…" Glaceon said, looking away from Pikachu. The words sounded weird enough in her head, but to say them out loud? "It's just, these days I guess I've been thinking a lot. I guess what I meant was, are we, you know…"
"What?" Pikachu asked, looking at Glaceon who was focused on a particularly interesting spot of sand.
"Are we more than friends…?"
Pikachu blinked once. He thought the coast was clear.
"You mean like, best best friends?"
That was definitely the wrong answer. The sound of Glaceon smacking her face with her tail could've whipped a prankster Banette into submission. Pikachu recoiled at the sound and put his paws up in surrender, hoping that Glaceon wouldn't suddenly shoot needles out of her fur or something.
"Pikachu…" Glaceon slowly spoke, her frustration dripping from each word. "I swear… you are the densest Pokémon on the planet!"
"I, I'm sorry?" Pikachu said cautiously, glad he wasn't killed on the spot. "I didn't mean to! What did I do wrong?"
"It's alright," Glaceon sighed knowing that it couldn't be helped. "You are Ash's Pokémon after all, forget it."
Pikachu didn't know what she meant by that. He relaxed his arms, knowing that he wouldn't have to defend himself from certain extermination, but he was still genuinely concerned. Obviously he'd said something that made Glaceon upset, but how could he know what it was? Glaceon slumped into the sand and resigned. She decided to count her blessings that at least Pikachu was here, but she couldn't wait for the day when Pikachu finally understood basic social skills.
"Speak of the devil," Glaceon said, noticing Ash coming to off to the side. "He's waking up from his coma right now."
Pikachu looked off into the distance and sure enough, Ash had already handed Lucario her sash back and started to stumble his way back to camp. Pikachu stood up, ready if Ash wanted to call him over.
"Since Ash is back, I guess you'll want to leave and go to him?" Glaceon asked tersely. "I won't mind."
Of course I mind, Glaceon couldn't help but thinking.
Pikachu looked to Ash, but then looked to Glaceon. Something about leaving her didn't sit well with the yellow mouse.
"Thanks, I guess, but do you mind if I just stay here? I'm not that hungry, and… it feels nice just sitting here with you."
Glaceon ears perked up, barely believing the words she heard. With an eager smile and a quick nod, Glaceon's heart fluttered as Pikachu sat down next to her again, allowing his warm body closer to hers. Glaceon took the opportunity to move closer to Pikachu. Emboldened by him not scooting away, Glaceon nuzzled her cheek into Pikachu's side. She quickly dropped back into sleep, a content smile on her face.
Pikachu couldn't help but notice the Snow Cloak Pokémon, with her cool body so close to his own—their fur mingling. Nobody had ever pressed into his side like that before, at least not outside of battle. It was weird, not a bad weird, but like a good weird. Pikachu wondered why he felt that way, whether the weird was caused by Glaceon's cool, soft fur that lightly tickled his side, or if the weird was his ears and face feeling hotter and hotter. Either way, Pikachu quickly decided that he didn't mind the new sensation. In fact, he welcomed it.
On that note he let his heart take a break from the marathon it spontaneously began and lay with Glaceon, side to side, slowly but surely drifting off to sleep just as she was.
Author's Responses to the Reviews:
Queenie13: I'm glad you're liking this roller coaster ride I've built! Ash as the reincarnation of Satoshi? That's a bold statement to make! Why would Riolu Ash be connected to him instead of real Ash? Haha I'm glad you're excited!
Skeiron: You know, I never actually thought about that! When I started writing this story, I certainly had no idea what kind of Ash I wanted to craft, but I certainly didn't want him to start out as super-mega-awesome-aura-dark-ash. That would be way too boring/cliché. I don't know what I'm gonna do with Ash's innocence. All I know is that those memories are going to haunt him. :)
Slyfox: Holy awesome batman? Nice, I gotta start using that. I'm glad you think this fan fiction is at least a little above the rank and file! I appreciate it!
HikariGaijin: As we talked, thank you once again for your slew of reviews! You are the most recent critic I've had for my story, and I definitely appreciate all of it, 110%. Once you do have everything pieced together, definitely let me know. I will no doubt explain this entire world by the very end in the Epilogue. So far I've seen two types of SonicBoom. One from Buizel, and one from Jesse's Yanmega. Yanmega has a clear air affiliated SonicBoom, but Buizel is colored blue and makes a splash during the battle with Maylene, that's why I assume the attack effects is based on Pokémon typing in the anime. I agree, the story only really starts around chapter 4/5, and that's one of my more flawed mistakes while crafting this story. I should've entered into the fray much sooner, but I've fleshed it out enough so it functions as a buildup.
RandomGuy8: AAI huh? I've never heard those words used in the same sentence to describe my work before! Sounds freaking cool! I'm glad to hear you're one of my regulars, I just hope that I will end up updating these chapters regularly, you know? So far I'm 4 for 23. Definitely get an account on ! It really helps me keep track of all the good stories out there. :P
Dear Readers,
So I realized that I like to use ellipsis, which is the … that you see from time to time. It's strange, a lot of times adults ABUSE it, thinking that it portrays a pause in their speech. I on the other hand, think it's obnoxious and instead of showing a pause, it shows uncertainty. I use it mainly to portray hesitation and fear of rejection as opposed to solely used as a time manipulation technique. I've also found that at least the way I read stuff, if I read one ellipsis in one sentence, then I automatically read commas in adjacent sentences as somehow longer than commas, perhaps ellipsis in and of themselves. Just for some reason, actually using the … over… and over… and over… gets way too melodramatic and cheesy… don't you think…?
In other news, I have begun world building my own original story, a sort of dystopian novel that is an attempt to address the very nature of humanity itself. Instead of a dystopia, the main character lives in a utopia but believes that it is flawed. I will work on that probably for the next ten years. It shall be my magnum opus. When it's done, I'll be sure to mention this fan fiction in my work as well. I have also finished the plot for that shit as well! God knows if it will ever see the light of day.
Story Notes:
N/A
Author's Notes:
Uploaded, 09/19/12
| established Pikachu romance/characterized Glaceon/lead up to next chapter |
RE: edit. 02/11/13
