Chapter 35: Pallet Party Panic...and a unwelcomed reunion
Now with the Pokémon League at the Indigo Plateau is over, Ash is back home in Pallet Town along with his friends who came along for the ride.
And there was a big celebration going on at Prof. Oak's lab.
Up on stage, Ash was standing next to his mom and Prof. Oak. "I just want to say thank you all for supporting me and even more for throwing this party." Ash said.
"We all really owe Prof. Oak a big thanks for hosting us here today by throwing one here today." His mother said kindly.
"And for our young trainer who fought his way into the Top 4 of his very first Pokémon League, we of Pallet Town award you with this." Prof. Oak hands Ash a plaque that has all of his Kanto Gym Badges framed inside of it and had writing in it.
"To ASH KETCHUM, our Valiant and Strong Champion."
Raising their glasses everyone cheers for Ash.
"And I'd also like to thank the friends who had my back through it all." Ash said looking at Misty, Tomo and Brock.
The 4 clinked their glasses with cheers and smiles. As the party started everyone was eating tasty food and enjoying themselves.
"Wow Pallet Town sure knows how to throw a party." Brock said.
"You can say that again." Tomo said with a mouthful of chicken.
"Tomo, talk or eat not both." Ash said.
"Hey." He gulped his food. "It's a party, so we should be having fun, not being nitpicky."
"Let him have this Ash. We all deserve a little fun, even our Pokemon." Misty said.
"Oh alright.." Ash muttered. "But you do make a point Misty. We couldn't have gone to the Pokémon League without them. They should habe fun too."
"You're right." Brock finished his food and gotten his 6 Pokéballs out. "Come on out and enjoy the party guys!" Steelix, Zubat, Squirtle, Vulpix, Rhyhorn and Venusaurtwo appeared next to him.
"You guys too! Time to eat!" Tomo said calling out Nidorino, Tauros, Poliwhirl, Kabuto, Scyther and Charizardtwo.
"You guys can join in too!" Misty said calling out Staryu, Goldeen, Tentacool and Psyduck.
"Time to celebrate!" Ash said calling out Small One, Ebon, Evlon, Dash, Talon and Naga. All of the Pokémon went in different groups to have some fun of their own.
"Come on Tomo, let's get some food for everyone." Ash said heading to the vendors.
"Right behind ya!" Tomo runs after him.
"Ash must be really proud of himself." Brock said watching them off.
"I bet he's more mature than he originally was back then." Misty said agreeing.
Little did they know even Mewtwo was enjoying the party.
Up on the roof, Mewtwo sat out of view and enjoyed the whole thing.
"That was quite the event." He said to himself after watching Ash's matches on the TV.
At one booth, Team Rocket was wiping up tons of food.
"This time we've cooked up the perfect plan." Jessie said.
"While they're stuffing their faces with food, will stuff our bags with plenty of their powerful Pokémon." James said.
"We finally found the recipe for successipie!" Meowth said.
"Excuse me." Ash said getting their attention.
"Yes?" They asks.
"3 large orders of everything please." Ash said.
"Right away!" They nodded and grouped up. "It's working." James said.
"Now we'll secretly stuff their food with our sizzling sauces and while their mouths are burning we'll grab every Pokemon we can." Jessie said.
"Can you please hurry with that order? We got alot of people and Pokémon to feed." Ash called out.
"Yeah and we're REALLY hungry." Tomo called out too.
"We're working as fast as we can." Jessie calls out. "Wait until you taste the Team Rocket Pepper Sauce." She whispers pouring a red sauce over her noodles.
"And wait until they taste my Molten Lava Mustard." James said dipping the Takoyaki in it.
"And your mouths will go ballistic with my Super Strength Wasabi Sauce." Meowth laughs guzzling it down on their Yakisoba.
"Here you go." Jessie said.
"Bon Appetite." James said handing him the bags.
"Thanks." Ash said taking them.
"Be sure to eat it while it's hot!" They called out.
The boys walked back to their friends. "OK guys, chow time!"
Spreading food out everyone got a little bit.
"This is gonna taste good." Tomo said as he, Brock, Poliwhirl, Talon and Squirtle ate some noodles when they suddenly they all screamed in agony.
"Squirtle! Water, Water!" Brock yells to him. Instead of Water Gun, Squirtle however blasted "Flamethrower" in his face.
"Oh jeez." Misty cringed. "Staryu use your Water Gun and cool everyone down!"
"HYA!" Staryu spun and sprayed water at the 5 as their burning mouths died down.
"That was the worst thing I've ever tasted." Tomo groans.
"They're not THAT hot are they?" Ash wondered looking at his food, feeling he should taste it or not.
While they were distracted Ebon, Small One, Nidorino and Tentacool were grabbed and pulled away.
"Look at that, a four for one sale!" Jessie said as they were hiding in the bushes.
"Pika!"
"Vue!"
"Cool!"
"Nido!" All 4 screamed out loud.
Gasping all of them saw Team Rocket race back towards their booth.
(Cue Motto)
"Team Rocket!" The four of them said as Mewtwo's eyes open widely hearing that.
"Did you enjoy my Nuclear Noodles?" Jessie asks.
"Or maybe my Molten Takoyaki Balls?" James asks.
"THAT WAS YOU?!" Brock roared throwing the tainted food at them.
"NOT COOL!" Tomo roars throwing his food.
"IT'S NOT FUNNY TO MESS WITH FOOD!" Misty roars throwing hers.
"YEAH LETS SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT!" Ash yells as all four plates smash into Team Rocket landing right in their mouths.
Making them flail and scream with their mouths on fire.
"Come on, let's get out of here and fast!" Jessie said as they hopped into their balloon.
"Power on!" With Meowth pushing a button, they started up the balloon's engines and flied upwards.
"Say so long eveyone!" Out of the baskets, compartments came Ebon, Small One, Nidorino and Tentacool all wrapped up in ropes.
"Come back here!" Ash roars.
"Esp! Espeon!" Evlon growls seeing Ebon tied up.
"Vui!" Ebon was crying out to his mommy.
"Bye-Bye!" Team Rocket calls out making their escape.
"Naga Poison Sting!" Ash said as Naga fired poison needles but they were too high up to reach.
"Now let's make sure their party's really a bomb!" James grins as they pulled bombs out of their basket and throws them down to the party.
"Bombs Away! Bombs away!"
Screaming all the Pallet citizens scramble for cover.
"This is awful!" Delia gasps.
"Disgraceful!" Prof. Oak gasps as explosions went off everywhere.
"They're not getting away, Talon! Pop that baloon!" Ash pointed. Screeching Talon takes off and flies after them. As he popped the baloon, Team Rocket went down, but suddenly they pull out a new balloon out of nowhere.
"Ha! Not gonna work this time!" Meowth mocks.
"Don't let them get away! Pop that one too!" Ash said.
"Arbok, Poison Sting!" Jessie throws her Arbok out as it fired poisonus needles out his mouth.
However just before impact something stopped the needles when they were inches from Talon.
"Huh? Why did they stop?" Meowth asks.
Ash looks around and noticed Mewtwo on the roof using Psychic.
"Mewtwo?" He whispers to himself. Seeing this was his chance Talon whacks the needles away before flying in. He cuts all 4 Pokémon down from their ropes.
"Hurry catch them!" Ash yells as Steelix caught Small One and Ebon, Charizardtwo caught Nidorino and Evlon caught Tentacool with Psychic.
"Oh thank goodness." Misty sighs holding her beauty in her arms.
"Tenta." Tentacool smiles.
Ash looks to Mewtwo and smiles before turning to Talon. "Alright Talon send these Party Crashers flying! Drill Peck!"
"FEAR!" Spinning rapdily, Talon poked another hole in Team Rocket's 2nd Balloon, making them scream and fly around circles.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" They scream out in the distance.
'Those were a lot weaker than the ones I remember.' Mewtwo thought.
At least with those freaks gone, the party could reseume?
"Great job Talon." Ash smiles as Talon flew back down.
"Fear." Talon smiles.
"That Fearow of yours is something else Ash." Brock said. "Most Fearow are dangerous to be handled by other trainers."
"Yeah well Talon isn't like most Fearow. He's a million times better." Ash smiles petting him.
And he's been so loyal to Ash throughout their entire Kanto Journey. No way Ash would replace him. He was there for Ash after the disaster with Pikachu and became one of his best if he was responsible for giving Ash those horrendous scars, Ash turned a blind eye to it and yet still loved him.
Nearby Prof. Oak and Delia were watching Ash and his Pokemon and friend smiling and laughing as they picked up all the damages.
"It's amazing how responsible and mature your son is already in a year."
"He's definitely not that little boy who was just starting off." Delia said. Delia was so proud of him, he made good friends, somehow managed to make a little brother for himself and despite his permanent injury, he's not being shallow about it.
But deep down she wished there was a way that could fix those damages.
About an hour or 2 later, the party wrapped up.
While everyone was putting things away Ash walked behind the lab.
"I didn't expect you to jump in like that." Ash said as Mewtwo floated down nearby.
"Well I wouldn't be a very good Pokemon if I let another one of yours get stolen...especially by them." Mewtwo said.
"Team Rocket, yeah a bunch of sorry clowns who are too stubborn and dumb to get rid of." Ash shakes his head.
"Glad I'm no longer tied up with them anymore." Mewtwo said.
"Yeah I'm g-wait what?" Ash asked turning to him.
"I told you my previous experience with humans didn't end well." Mewtwo said.
"You mean to tell me those horrible people that treated you like garbage was Team Rocket?!" Ash said blown away.
Mewtwo just let out the drop the biggest bomb to Ash.
"My mind...blown. Part of me wants to ask you so many questions but another part of realizes you probably don't want to answer some of them." Ash said.
"You would be correct." Mewtwo nods.
"Then..I'll just leave it at that then." Ash said.
"All you need to know Ash is that you helped stop me from becoming as bad as them and I am grateful." Mewtwo said.
That grew a smile on the boy's face. "Thank you."
Soon they were all in Prof. Oak's lab, Prof. Oak was checking Ebon and Small One.
"Well Ash you had nothing to worry about. Both your Pokémon are perfectly fine." Prof. Oak said.
"Thanks Prof." Ash said before bending down to the two. "I'm sorry I got you guys captured. I should've known Team Rocket would try a nasty trick like that."
"Pika/ Vee." Both Pokemon smile saying it was okay.
The two climbed up his shoulders and nuzzled his face on either side. "Hey cut it out you two." Ash laughs at being tickled.
"Sometimes I think he worries too much." Misty smiles.
"Well it's better than not worrying at all." Brock replies.
"Actually while I have you all here I was wondering if you would possibly do me a small favor." Prof. Oak asks.
"Sure what?" Ash asks.
"I need you to run a very important errand for me in the Orange Archipelago." Prof. Oak said.
"Orange Archipelago?" Ash asked never hearing that place before.
"Yes it's a tropical set of islands off the coast of Kanto. I need you all to go to Valenica Island." Prof. Oak said.
"Tropical Island?" Pausing Misty pictured herself tanning on the beach while Ash pictured himself surfing. Tomo saw himself climbing up a tropical tree and tasting different kinds of fruit in them.
"I'd like you got and pick up a special Pokéball from my colleague Prof. Ivy." Prof. Oak said.
"Wait, if it's a Pokeball can't she just transport it over?" Tomo asks.
"For some strange reason no. Normally I'd ask Gary to do it but he's off on his own adventure." Prof. Oak said.
"Valencia Island? Lots of girls on the beach?" Brock states daydreaming of himself around lots of girls in bikinis. "Let's go! I say we leave right away!"
"I'll go too!" Misty seconded it. "I just love the tropical resorts!" As did Togepi.
"I think we could all use a little relaxing." Ash smiles.
"I'm not staying behind, so count me in." Tomo nodded quickly.
"We just better tell mom first before we leave." Ash suggests.
"We have to tell mama about all your plans?" Tomo asks still new to having a human parent.
"Yeah, don't want her to have us keep worrying her to death do we?" Ash said.
"I guess not." Tomo said.
..
They went and tell Delia of their new plans. Although she was saddened they had to leave home so soon to go to somewhere far away, it was a job for Prof. Oak.
"You boys be sure to call me once you reach Valenica Island." Dellia said.
"We will." Ash and Tomo said.
"And Tomo don't forget to floss your teeth after every meal." Delia said causing Tomo to turn red embarrassed.
"Oh floss?" He groaned.
"Welcome to my world." Ash chuckles.
"And Ash don't forget to change your you know what every day!" Delia calls out making Ash embarrassed.
"Ugh..see what I mean.." He faltered.
"Does she do this often?" Tomo cringed.
"All the time." Ash groans.
With that done, our heroes were now walking down the trails of Route 1.
However, with each step Ash was seeing memories of his first day walking through these woods.
Eyes zoning around, he was looking for the exact moment on where it happened.
By a broken tree stump Ash stopped dead in his tracks.
'There..' The spot his "partner" left him to be mauled by Spearow, the spot where the worst day of his life ended. Ash a dark frown on his face, just thinking about it. As he tightened his fist Misty looks at him.
"Ash, maybe we should keep moving." Misty offers knowing the further away he got the better.
"Yeah.." He grunted out. Since she was around on that day, perhaps she knew what he meant.
"You know I heard this forest is filled with Pokemon." Tomo said looking around for any of them.
"Guess they're deeper in." Brock assumes.
"Just keep close and move fast." Ash said.
Ash just wanted to get out fast and move to the next town.
Walking deeper into the forest, they reached a small opening in the trees where a few fruit trees were.
Making their way through it they suddenly heard a ruffling noise.
"Shh listen." Brock stopped them. Pausing everyone listened and heard the noise getting louder.
"Whatever it is, it's getting close." Tomo said
Suddenly Ash's eyes widen as he heard the familiar cawing noise as heard 3 Spearow fly in and attack something causing an electric attack to shoot out.
"Woah what's that?!" Misty gasped.
"That looked like a Thundershock!" Brock said.
"Thundershock?" Ash pauses. "It couldn't be."
"Come on, let's check it out!" Tomo said running ahead of them while Ash stayed in place.
He had nightmares that started like this and for once in his life he was nervous to find out what Pokemon that was.
'Please do not tell me it's been staying here in the woods all this time..'
Following the sound of battle, Tomo, Misty and Brock look to see one Pokemon standing against three Spearow...a Pikachu.
Making their eyes widen in shock. The three Spearow screeched while aiming towards the mouse.
"A Pikachu?" Brock gasps.
"Oh man, better hope Ash dosen't see it." Misty feared, not wanting to see Ash show his dark side again.
"Chu!" The Pikachu said firing Thundershock zapping two of the three Spearow.
Two of the Spearow screeched in pain before crashing to the ground. Leaving the 3rd one unscathed and tackles Pikachu with a Steel Wing, grazing its cheek.
As Ash comes in from behind he freezes up seeing Pikachu and Spearow glare each other down. He felt his heart sank.
"Pikachu." The memory in Ash's mind played as that Pokemon ran away and his screams of pain and agony echoed in his head.
He was seeing red as his teeth grit up, but he tried his absolute best to calm down.
"Spear!" Spearow screeched flying in with Peck but Pikachu dashes in with Quick Attack ramming it into a tree.
And it was down. "Chu..Chu.." It pants having won the battle. The Pikachu then looks to some fruit on a stump.
"I guess the Pokemon were fighting over food." Brock said.
"And that Pikachu really wanted to eat." Tomo said
"Well still it's probably just another wild Pikachu." Misty said. "So maybe Ash won't..you know."
Turning around they saw Ash with a horrified look on his face.
"I think he does." Brock gulps.
"Ash..?" Misty tried calling his name, hoping he'd answer.
"I am... going to destroy him." Ash growls.
"A-Ash, hang on! That's probably just another wild Pikachu!" Brock tried to reason with him. "What are the chances that it's your old one?!"
"Yeah there's plenty of Pikachu out there! Remember all the ones where you saw Small One?!" Misty reminds?
"He's right bro, none of them was it." Tomo agreed with them. "So that can't be it either." He pointed.
Ash pauses thinking they might be right. There was no guarantee it was that one for sure.
As Pikachu ate one of the Spearow tried to get up but slipped causing Pikachu to laugh.
"That laugh...that stupid annoying laugh." Ash snaps.
"L-laugh? But-" Misty tried to make another excuse.
"No Misty! Don't try to cover this up! I recognize that laugh from anywhere. I can remember it. It was laughing at me, mocking me because of my inexperience back then." Ash tightened his fists.
"Bro you can't be saying what I think you're trying to say." Tomo said.
"Yes I am. That's my Pikachu." Ash growls.
Now Brock, Misty and Tomo eyes widened in absolute shock and horror...they couldn't believe it. They're finally seeing the very same Pikachu that made Ash what he was today.
"Hey you!" Ash yells getting Pikachu's attention.
"Pi?" Pikachu said turning to him.
"Remember me?" Ash glares stepping forward.
Pikachu however tilts his head in confusion, but once he saw the scars and eye he flinched, it wondered what happened to the boy.
"Oh you don't remember? Well I never forgot you." Ash said.
"Misty, Brock, he's starting to scare me." Tomo whimpers.
"You're not alone.." Misty held him close as well as Togepi.
"Just be strong and be ready in case things get ugly." Brock said as Tomo and Misty immediately hid behind him.
"Maybe I should refresh your memory in that little head of yours." Ash said still not keeping his gaze off of the mouse. "Over a year ago, weren't you were given to a young boy in his pajamas by a man in a lab coat? And once the boy hugged you, you shockedd him from head to toe because you hated him. Then you zapped everything that was around the child, the old man, even a group of townspeople." He went on. "And then this boy tried to befriend you, but you kept ignoring him, mocking him because of his low intelligence when he was just trying to catch his first Pokémon. And then he made a stupid mistake on throwing a rock at a Spearow. Which attacked the two of them, and made an entire flock appear after them,"
Hearing this, Pikachu was beginning to recall these events. He did remember being given to some stupid child a year ago who wouldn't just leave him alone, and then remembers the Spearow flock. He was beginning to wonder how this boy knew all of this. Meanwhile some of the wild Spearow he defeated nearby was listening in on this and looked like they remembered it too.
"And then a turn for the worst happened, the two ran for their lives from behind killed by the Spearow flock, while one of them gotten away, the other however wasn't so lucky and gotten almost killed by every single Spearow, because a certain Pokémon wouldn't try helping the child out.." Ash grits his teeth as his eyes were slowing glowing blue because of his emotions. "And let me ask you Pikachu..do you ever wonder what happened to that poor child?"
"Pika..." Pikachu pauses to think he never did realize what happened.
"The child almost died that day but thanks to a Spearow and a Magikarp he survived but thanks to that ultimate betrayal the child was horribly scarred from that experience and never saw out of one of his eyes again."
Hearing the story once again, Misty couldn't help but shed some tears, remembering it and seeing Ash was broken.
"But you know what hurt more than all those scars was that the Pokemon the child wanted nothing more than to be his friend abandoned him without a second thought and since that day the trainer grew stronger but always carried a hatred for the starter that left him to die."
"Pika? Pikachu." Pikachu said looking to Ash in realization.
"Oh what's wrong Pikachu? You look like you've seen a ghost." Ash grew a dark grin.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu gasps dropping the fruit in shock.
Ash figured he finally gets it. "That's right Pikachu, it's me...you're "old buddy" Ash."
"Pika Pika? Pikachu?" Pikachu said.
"I have been waiting so long to do this. Time for payback." Ash growls.
Not being able to take this any more all of Ash's friends move in.
"Ash stop! I know what you're about to do and you can't!" Misty said.
"You've come so far and you're about to throw it all away!" Brock said.
"Don't you guys understand?!" Ash turns at them with anger. "It's right there! My life changed forever because of that cowardly bastard and I want revenge on what it did!"
"If you take revenge you're no better than that Pokemon who left you to die!" Tomo points. "Don't lower yourself to its level!"
While this was happening, they didn't knew Team Rocket were in the trees after landing from their once again failure, listening to what's happening down below.
"Yikes, so it was true." Meowth gulped, remembering the story Bastet told him last year about Ash and Pikachu's past.
"I never thought I would say this but I actually feel bad for the twerp." James said.
"I always wondered why he looked like that, but now I kinda regret it.." Jessie shivers.
"Tomo I don't care that stupid little Pokemon ruined my life! I am not letting that thing walk away unpunished!" Ash said when he noticed Pikachu slowly stepping back. "Don't even think about it!" Ash points.
"Pi!" He flinched, being caught.
"Ash you have every right to be angry but we can't stand by and let you become this way." Misty said.
"Revenge isn't the way to go Ash. Please listen to us." Brock pleaded. "Be the better man."
"I can't see out of one eye. Everytime people see me they flinch. My face is a mess and it's all because of he abandoned me." Ash sniffles choking on his words. "It's his fault I'm like this."
He fell to his knees and sobbed silently.
"It's not fair... I just wanted to be a trainer and my starter wanted nothing to do with me. He abandoned me and I almost died but he walks away perfectly healthy? It's not fair!" Ash said.
He pounded his fists on the ground repeatedly and wanted to keep doing this to let his sorrows out.
Suddenly while he was sobbing, his Pokéballs rattled and opened up to reveal his Pokémon who were surrounding him.
"Fear." Talon frowns putting his wing around him while Ebon and Small One walk up and nuzzle Ash. Bastet put her head under's chin and try to console him. Naga put her tail on his shoulder. And Rune was in Ash's lap, with his head horns glwing hoping to calm Ash down with Calm Mind.
Moving in Misty, Brock and Tomo comfort Ash even Togepi gave Ash a hug.
It was then that Ash realized. From that horrible day he became surrounded by people and Pokemon who DID want to be with him.
Ash sniffs and tried to wipe away his tears. "I'm sorry..I'm sorry guys. I-I didn't mean to snap..I just couldn't hold it in anymore.."
"Ash you're not the same reckless trainer you once were you're better now and everyone around you knows that." Misty said.
"Yeah we're here for you." Tomo tells him looking up to his brother.
"But what do now? What do I do...about him?" Ash asks looking to Pikachu.
"Let Pikachu see he was the one who messed up." Brock said.
Ash turns to them and nods.
"Small One, I need your help more than ever." Ash declared.
"Pikachu." She nodded instantly.
"Pika?" Pikachu said confused as Ash and Small One faced him.
"You walked away from me because you didn't think I was good enough. Time to show you just how wrong you were." Ash said.
"He's gomna battle Pikachu?" Misty asked shocked.
"With Small One?" Tomo said equally shocked.
"It makes sense. Pikachu hurt Ash and while he won't admit it, that event scarred him worse than his actual scars. By doing this he'll become stronger and even move past this." Brock said.
Oh how they hoped.
"Pikachu." Pikachu said taking a fighting stance and sparks coming out of his cheeks.
"You won't scare me with those." Ash said.
"Pika.." Small One glared getting into a fighting stance too.
Pokémon Speak Now: Pikachu-(Zack Tyler Eisen) Small One (Tara Strong)
"Get ready. You'll pay for what you did to Ash." Small One said.
"Look I'm really sorry about that, but that dosen't mean I'm just gonna lose to a girl like you." Pikachu challenged. "Even if you are a Pikachu like me?"
"Like you?" Small One asked before giving a short laugh. "Oh please, you're nothing compared to me."
"Small One use Quick Attack!" Ash said as Small One dashes in quickly. Pikachu uses his Quick Attack to even it out, but found himself pushed away easily. Sparking up Pikachu released an Electro Ball from his tail that flew towards Small One.
"What's that?" Tomo said never seeing that attack.
"Electro Ball." Ash said remembering reading about electric type moves. He thought about letting Small One learn that, but ignored it. "Small One, take the hit!" Small One stood where she was as the yellow electric ball smashes into her, but she didn't take no damage.
"Pika." Small One growls standing strong.
"Pi?" Pikachu was surprised that she didn't get hurt.
"Electric Attacks won't do any damage against another electric Pokémon with the Lighting Rod Ability." Ash said.
"Pika!" Pikachu gasps.
"Lightning Rod Ability?" Misty wondered.
"It's a special ability that allows a Pokémon to absorb electric attacks and make them stronger." Brock said.
"PikaCHUU!" Small One roared blasting Pikachu with an even powerful electric blast.
"Chu!" Pikachu cringed feeling powerless around it.
"Now Brick Break!" Ash said as Small One leaps in with a glowing fist.
Pikachu broke out of Thunderbolt and had to fight back. He jumps wraps his tail around Small One's fist and slammed her to the ground with a Slam attack.
"Whoa, that was a good move." Tomo gasps.
"Sneaky." Brock said.
Small One cringed and opened her eyes to see Pikachu rushing at her with Quick Attack.
"Small One Double Team!" Ash said as Small One made multiple copies dodging it.
Pikachu passed through the clone one. Making him look surrouned. "Ka.." His cheeks sparked up to use Thundershock.
"Quick Attack before that Thundershock is released!" Ash said.
Dashing in quickly Small One rams into Pikachu but as some of Thundershock was released it zapped Small One paralyzing her.
"Pika.." She growled, having froze.
"Pika" Pikachu said seeing his chance before wrapping his tail around her and doing another Slam.
"There's no I'm losing here to this rodent." Ash growled. Small One gotten up at saw her similar species afar from her.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said using Quick Attack and ramming into her.
"Pikachu!" Small One cried being pushed backwards.
"Come on Small One, fight back!" Ash said. "Use Counter!"
"Pika.." Her body glowed bright orange, as Pikachu's eyes widened and the energy expanded, pushing him backwards.
"Pika!" He cried out in pain.
"Iron Tail!" Fighting through her paralysis, Small One's tail glowed white and smashes it into Pikachu's back, making him fall to the ground. Now she was getting somewhere.
"Wow I didn't knew she could do Counter." Tomo gasped amazed.
"Guess Ash has been brushing up on new moves." Misty said.
Now it was Pikachu's turn to feel pain. "Pika.."
"PikaPikapikachu." Small One mocked him saying this is just the beginning of the pain he caused Ash.
"Pikachu Pikapi." Pikachu said standing up saying it was because of his mistake he ended up like that.
"Chu?" She said, "Mistake?" Ash's other Pokémon heard this, and thought he was senile.
"Pika Pika." Pikachu said saying Ash taunted the Spearow in the first place.
Suddenly Talon roared at him. "FearowFearow!" He screeched saying that was a lie, because he was the very same Spearow from the very beginning and he remembers it all.
Sure Ash was the one who threw the rock, but it only annoyed them it wasn't until Pikachu fired a Thundershock at Ash that ended up hitting Spearow that caused all this.
"Charbok!" Naga hissed negatively at Pikachu, saying it was indeed his fault for it all.
"Pika Pikachu!" Small One points saying you caused the attack and Ash tried to save you when things went bad.
All of Ash's Pokémon were agreeing at this point, but it's like Pikachu wouldn't man up to his own faults.
"Small One use Volt Tackle! Finish him off!" Ash said.
"Pika.." Small One says, looks like she had to make him see his huge error the hard way. With electricity formed around her as she ran towards Pikachu, she was dead set on striking.
"Pika?!" Pikachu gasps seeing this amazing power and Small One smashes into him before he could even react. That sends him flying into a nearby tree. "CHA!" he cried before slumping downards and falling face first on the floor. "Pika.." Pikachu groans trying to get up but in the end couldn't.
"Ka." Small One pants, before cringing at the after effects of Volt Tackle. The battle was over.
"He won." Brock said.
"Yeah but...what's he gonna do now that he has?" Misty asks.
Ash silently walked over to his former starter. "Now do you see?"
Cringing, Pikachu looks up to the scarred child. "Now do you feel how I felt back then? Hurt inside and outside?"
"Pikachu." Pikachu winced.
"I hate you, I always hated you for what you did that day, but deep down...all I wanted was for you to give me a chance." Ash admits surprising everyone. "You ignored me, zapped me, and mocked me from the second I got you. You didn't think I was strong enough to be your trainer. Well look at me now. I'm the one standing tall and you're the one on the ground."
He looks up to see Small One had gotten onto Ash's shoulder and said something to him. "Pikapikachu."
(Translation: You give all of the Pikachu in the world a bad name.)
"Part of me wants to leave you like this. Beaten down and too hurt to move just like how you left me." Ash glares.
"Ash.." Misty was hoping he didn't go down that line once again.
Taking a deep breath Ash lets out a sigh. "But then I would be no better than you." Taking out a Super Potion Ash sprays Pikachu surprising everyone.
"P-pika..?" Pikachu said confused.
"Pikapi?" Small One turns to Ash confused on what was he doing.
"Go ahead Pikachu leave. Get out of my sight. Forget this battle ever happened and go back to living in this forest. I hope we never have to cross paths again. But I'll tell you this. You missed out. I found Pokemon, people even another Pikachu and they all wanted to be with me and we're all friends, no family. They take all my strengths and weaknesses and they love me and love them. I may not be the same person I was that you met but you stayed the same, the same mouse that I found at Prof. Oak's lab. All alone so take a good look Pikachu between you and me who's really the one who lost everything?" Ash asks.
Pikachu looked around him. The strong Pokémon behind the boy and the three humans that were accompanying him.
And Pikachu...he was all alone in the forest. So in reality, it was Pikachu. Ash had everything and he had nothing.
"You're one word Pikachu..pathetic." Was the last thing Ash said before he turned away from him and heads back to his friends.
"Pika." Pikachu frowns realizing how right he was.
As Ash and his friends walked away Pikachu pauses and pictures what might have happened if he stayed with Ash.
What if he wasn't a coward and saved Ash from those Spearow? What if he gave him a chance?
'Way to go Pikachu you were awesome!' He thought of Ash in his old look happily hugging him.
'We did it Pikachu we won!' Ash said tossing him up in the air.
'You guys were amazing.' Brock said.
'I almost thought you were gonna lose.' Misty said.
'That Pikachu of yours is so cool Ash, I wish I had one!' Tomo said.
'Yeah Pikachu and I are the best. No one can stop us. Right buddy?' Ash smiles.
'Pikachu!' The dream mouse smiled...before Pikachu dreamt out of it and sees where he was now. He had made a horrible mistake. Without noticing, a tear shed from his face. Doing the only thing he could think of Pikachu ran to catch up with them.
Back with the others...
"Ash..so how do you feel now?" Brock asked him.
"You know what Brock. I think I'm gonna be okay." Ash admits.
"You sure?" Misty asked.
"Yeah I mean I faced Pikachu and thanks to you guys I was finally able to move on with my life." Ash said.
"So does that mean no more giving other Pikachu the stink eye?" Misty asks hopefully.
"Well not unless the Pikachu is a jerk." Ash smirks.
"I'm proud of you bro, you really showed me that you're a man." Tomo said giving his hand a squeeze.
"Thanks bro." Ash smiles and then turns to Small One. "And thank you for the help too girl." He pets her chin.
"Pikachu." She smiled loving the affection.
"Now what do you say we find a way to get to Valencia Island?" Ash suggests ready to go.
"Sounds like a plan." Misty said.
"Pika!"
"What's wrong Small One?" Brock asks looking at her.
"Pikachu." Small One said shaking her head saying it wasn't her.
"Then who said..." Ash said turning to see the bane of existence running up to them. "Oh what does he want now?"
Turning around they saw Pikachu stop in front of them.
"Pikachu?" Misty said surprised to see him come back.
Small One's eyes narrowed and leaps down to face him.
(Pokémon Translator)
"What are you doing here?" She said in a bored tone.
"I came to...apologize to Ash and I want to make up for what I did." Pikachu said.
"How could you possibly make up for all this?" Small One asks. Pikachu took a deep breath and said what Small One couldn't believe he would say.
"I...I...I want to start over."
Almost immediately Small One froze in shock. "I'm sorry what?"
"I want to start over. I want..to go with him."
Shocked, Small One watched as Pikachu walked up to Ash and gestured to his Pokeball belt.
"Wait...you want to come with me? For real?" Ash asks.
"Pikachu." Pikachu nods.
"W-why? I just said I hated you and yet you wish to travel with me?" He asked again.
"Pikachu." Pikachu nods again.
"This doesn't make sense. Who goes from hating you to traveling with you?" Tomo asks.
Brock thought about it. "Maybe...Redemption?"
"Redemption?!"
"After seeing how strong Ash was and how he was able to create such an amazing life for himself Pikachu must think the best way he could ever redeem himself is to do what he was originally meant to do and that's be your Pokémon." Brock explains.
Everyone couldn't believe this, neither did Ash.
"You want to come with me...for real? No jokes this time." Ash asks as Pikachu nods. "And you're actually willing to listen to me?"
Pikachu nodded once again.
"Okay guys I might need some feedback on this one. I never pictured this situation happening in a million years." Ash said.
"I honestly don't know about this." Misty said.
"Yeah this is like a Pokemon Poacher wanting to take care of Kangaskhan after hunting them." Tomo said.
"So honestly, I think you should handle this situation Ash." Brock said.
"Hmm..Small One?" Ash asked her.
"Pika." Small One said glaring at Pikachu.
Letting out a sigh Ash bent down to look Pikachu in the eyes.
"Pikachu I have put up with a lot of crazy things since you left but if you want to come back you need to know you gotta be a team player that means doing what I say and working with my other Pokemon. No laying around doing nothing, no mocking me when I'm losing and no and I mean absolutely no zapping me. Do I make myself clear?" Ash asks.
Flinching by the demands, Pikachu finally nodded.
But Small One, added one more thing to say.
"Hold it right there." Small One said getting in between Ash and Pikachu.
"W-what?" Pikachu asked.
"I have been there for Ash for a long time. I've seen him struggle with his life because of what you did to him. So let me make this clear. You take one step out of line, one mistake, give me one reason to think you might hurt Ash again then I will take you down." Small One glares.
By the tone of her voice, she was serious. REALLY serious. The look in her eyes make it seems like she's ready to kill.
Pikachu cringed and gulped at this before turning to Ash. There was no turning back this was his only chance.
Ash then pulled out a Pokéball from his bag. Though this one had an lighting bolt sticker on the front.
"For some reason I couldn't bring myself to throw this away. Only right that I use this again." Ash said holding it up to him. "I usually give my Pokemon nicknames but I'm going to wait a little bit before I decide to give you one."
Pikachu looked to the ball and cringed, he remembers he hated Pokéballs. Slowly Pikachu reached out and pressed his tail against it and the red beam sucked him in before the ball clicked meaning he caught it before teleporting away.
"I don't believe it... I actually have my starter Pokémon back." Ash said.
"No one saw that coming ever..but..I'm curious and afraid to know what's gonna happen from here on out." Misty said.
"Me too." Tomo gulps.
"Let's just get outta this forest. Once we reach the next town we can figure out what to do next." Brock sighs.
"Y-yeah.." Ash said as he looks to Small One, he kinda figured by the look of her eyes what she said to Pikachu earlier.
After a wild party in Pallet Town and a new task given by Prof. Oak, Ash encountered what might have been his hardest challenge yet and caught the very Pokemon that ruined his life. The only question is what will happen now that Ash and Pikachu are together again?
To Be Continued...
Sorry about the wait everyone. We just wanted to take a break from the story for a couple of weeks. After writing a Pokémon League, we just get drained out every time. That's why it takes so long to update. Anyways, once again, thank you all for understanding about the loss. Except for one Mr. shinjutree. I don't care, I'll write how I'll write my stories. You won't be missed.
So how did you all liked Ash's encounter with Pikachu after so long? Let me know and tell me how you felt about it? And I'll see you all next time.