Pikachu laid at Ash's feet. He had just fallen really far, and he hadn't woken up yet. Suddenly Pikachu felt a dark presence approaching. As soon as the door was open, he sped out to stop the force before it got to Ash.
"Foolish thing! I don't want to fight you! I wanted you out here!" Darkrai said, moving towards him.
"I've taken you out twice, don't think I won't do it again!" Pikachu yelled, sparks shooting out.
"You haven't beaten me at all. Your trainer always had help, and you were always the easiest to take out." Darkrai said coldly.
"I won't let you near him! Taste Thunderbolt!" Pikachu shouted sending electricity towards Darkrai.
"Fool. I have no time to deal with you, I have preparations to work on!" Darkrai said before swatting Pikachu off into the wilds.
A few hours later
"Oww, my everything." Pikachu groaned waking up.
"Easy there. It's not every day someone crashes through my roof. Less often they come with a Z-Ring." Oranguru said pouring some Pinap Juice.
"I need to get to my trainer!" Pikachu struggled.
"Hey, calm down for a minute. You're no help to him in your condition. Now how about you tell me what's going on?" Oranguru asked.
"There's a powerful and dangerous Pokémon that's heading for my trainer. It's called Darkrai, I need to help!" Pikachu said.
"Well I'm afraid to say you won't be in much help in your condition. I have heard the name Darkrai before. Is that what sent you here?" Oranguru inquired.
"Yeah, one attack sent me flying." Pikachu said glumly.
"So what's your plan? Hope he doesn't attack you again? Sounds like you need help to fight him." Oranguru said.
"Will you help!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"When the time comes I will be there. But we alone are not enough, and you are in no condition to fight just yet, gather allies, and heal. When you're ready I will help." Oranguru said.
"Allies, where do I start? No humans will understand me." Pikachu exclaimed.
"You spent a while here on Melemele island, there must be some Pokémon that would be willing to help out." Oranguru said calmly.
"Thanks Oranguru, I'll see what I can do." Pikachu said before leaving.
Pikachu looked around, allies. Where to start? A sound caught his attention seeing some Trumbeak and Pikipeck flying overhead. Rowlet's old flock! They'd surely help. Pikachu tried his best, but eventually collapsed, having barely made it away from Oranguru's hut.
"Momma look! We have to help them!" A voice said as Pikachu faded into darkness.
Pikachu awoke in a strange cave. He saw an old enemy approaching.
"I'm warning you Mimikyu don't come any closer!" Pikachu said readying himself.
"It wouldn't even be a challenge in your condition!" Mimikyu taunted.
"Mimikyu stop it! We've been over this already." Bewear called out.
"Sorry Bewear." Mimikyu apologized.
"Sorry about that, we've been working on that ones temper. Here eat." Bewear said shoving nectar into Pikachu's mouth.
"What happened to you? I thought you were tougher than anyone?" Marenie asked.
"A bad Pokémon, called Darkrai happened. I was going to get allies to help stop him from hurting my trainer, and the next thing I knew, I was here." Pikachu explained.
"What if we helped?" Stufful asked.
"I don't know, he's really dangerous." Pikachu said.
"Then you need all the help you can get. I've gone toe to toe with you enough times, and Bewear here is stronger than all of us." Mimikyu said.
"And I've learned a couple of moves that could help stall him." Marenie said.
"Now you'll stay here with us until you're better, and until you're sure you're ready, you have a home here." Bewear said.
Two weeks had passed, and Pikachu was finally strong enough to leave the cave on his own. He still had to find Toucannon's nest.
"Just head that way, you can't miss it." Bewear said pointing in a direction.
At Toucannons nest
"I'm sorry, I cannot force my flock to participate in this battle." Toucannon stated.
"Please, we need all the help we can get, you've helped in the past." Pikachu pleaded.
"I have helped young Rowlet in the past, unless there is reason for this Darkrai to harm him, I cannot make the flock do anything. I will speak to them about it, however I make no promises." Toucannon stated.
"Thank you, I have a feeling those who agree will know when the time comes." Pikachu said, before leaving.
That had gone less than ideal, Pikachu was hoping for it to be a numbers game like with the Tauros, but that seemed unlikely now.
Pikachu had been lost in thought, and was now lost in the woods.
"Okay, which way was Bewear's den again." Pikachu asked himself looking around.
"You lost there little guy?" A voice called from above.
Pikachu looked up to see Grandpa Forest flying down.
"Grandpa Forest? What are you doing here?" Pikachu asked.
"Well most call me Drampa, but I'm here for some delicious berries." Drampa said with a smirk. "Now what are you doing out here aren't you friends with that one kid Ask?"
"His names Ash, and he's in trouble. I'm out here trying to get help, but got lost trying to get back to Bewear." Pikachu said.
"Well why didn't you say so. Bewear's den is just a short trip away. Come on." Drampa said leading the way.
"You're a strong Pokémon right?" Pikachu asked.
"That's hard to say, in comparison to a Caterpie I am strong, but in comparison to Tapu Koko I am weak." Drampa rambled. "I've never been much of a fighter, more of a protector. Now if you are asking for my help, I can offer it but make no promises on my own strength."
"It's okay if you don't want to." Pikachu said.
"As I said, I protect. I make no promise of fighting as that's not who I am." Drampa said calmly. "You are a fighter, think if you were just told one day you were going to watch over a small child and be it's protector."
"Wouldn't that mean I'd have to fight?" Pikachu asked.
"Yes at times it would, but there would also be times where the smartest thing to do is let them try for themselves." Drampa continued. "Well here we are, try to pay attention to where you're going next time."
Another week had passed, with Pikachu training with Mimikyu during the day, and checking on Ash at night. During the days he stuck mostly to the woods, but he needed to venture out to try and find someone. At the bottom of the ravine Ash had fallen in, Pikachu sent out his biggest thunderbolt yet.
"Hey, hey no need to shout." Tapu Koko said flying down. "It's you!"
"We need to talk, I fear Ash is in danger." Pikachu said.
"Don't worry, I caught him. A little late, but he's recovered." Tapu Koko said.
"No, there's a Pokémon we've run into a few times, called Darkrai. It hasn't attacked yet, but it's here on Melemele island." Pikachu stated.
"Is he a threat to the island as well?" Tapu Koko asked.
"Maybe, I don't know for sure. We've never easily beaten him before." Pikachu said.
"If you run into him, call for me just like then. I'll be there. You two are special, and so is the kid." Tapu Koko said.
"Who's the third?" Pikachu asked.
"That Z-Ring on your tail. It's mighty powerful, blessed by each of us guardians. One of a kind really." Tapu Koko boasted. "Look, I'm sorry about not being there in time, I tried to catch the kid."
"It's fine, like you said he's doing better, but he doesn't remember who he is." Pikachu said glumly.
"Which is why you are getting help. If he doesn't remember who he is, how can he protect himself against that Darkrai fellow." Tapu Koko said. "Now how about I take you back to Bewear? I understand you've been staying with her."
The day Pikachu appeared
"Pikachu this is a bad idea." Marenie said following him out of a tunnel.
"I haven't been able to get close to the house in a few days, I need to know Ash is still okay." Pikachu said.
"I'll stop you if I have to! Sludge Bomb!" Marenie shouted.
"Stop! We're on the same side!" Pikachu said leaping out of the way.
"Pin Missile!" Marenie said angrily.
"Taste my Iron Tail!" Pikachu shouted slamming into his friend.
"PIKACHU!" Lana shouted.
"Oh no." Pikachu said making a run for it.
Running through the market, Pikachu saw Ash, sort of. It smelled like Ash, but looked a little different. Pikachu quickly sped off with a quick attack to the other side of the market. Stopping briefly for a few berries to cure some light poison, Marenie was right they had learned some new moves.
"Pikachu is that you?" Lillie asked.
Without a word, Pikachu ran into the forest. He wasn't going the way of Bewear's cave. He couldn't risk it. He zoomed past Oranguru's juice bar, and eventually into the old home of Stoutland and Inciniroar when it was a Litten. Jumping up a few ledges, Pikachu disappeared out of sight. Moments later Ash and his friends appeared. Pikachu had been seen more than he wanted to.
As night fell, Pikachu left. Ash was safe but he needed to act quick. Something weird was happening, and Pikachu needed to get to Ash alone next time.
It was mid afternoon the next day as Pikachu and Bewear's den were gathering berries.
"Spearow!" "Spearow!" "Spearow!" "Spearow!" A flock of angry Spearow were heard overhead.
"Get away from me!" Ash shouted, running away.
"Bewear I need your help. I need you to throw me up there." Pikachu said pointing up the cliff.
"But your plan." Bewear said.
"My plan is no good if Ash is taken out by Sparrow. Those I can handle. Trust me." Pikachu said, prepping himself.
"Okay, I trust you." Bewear said.
"Good luck." Mimikyu interjected, just as Pikachu was thrown.