Ash Ketchum runs through the streets of Galar on a rainy night, desperately trying to catch up to an angry looking Pikachu. "Pikachu," he pants. "Please come back! I promise I can explain."

"Pikachu pika pikapi, pi pikachu pika pikachu."(Leave me alone, Ash, I done need you anymore.) the small electric mouse grumbles in reply.

"But Pikachu-"

"PIKA PIKACHU PIKA!"(I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!) Pikachu growls as he suddenly turns around and shoots a massive Thunderbolt at Ash. "PI PIKA PIKACHU PI PIKACHU!"(I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!)

"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Ash cries out in pain as he collapses to the ground, lifting his head casually as he watches Pikachu go. The young boy curls into a ball on the ground, sobbing bitterly as the rain falls softly on his face. "P...Pikachu hates me...My best buddy...Gone...Gone forever..."

"Pikapi?"

"Huh?" Ash's eyes flutter open as he suddenly hears Pikachu's voice on the wind. "Pikachu?"

"Pikapi, pi pikachu! Pi pikachu chu pika pi!"(Ash, please wake up! You're having a nightmare!)

Ash suddenly wakes up in the middle of a grassy field, with a very worried looking Pikachu gently tapping his shoulder. "P...Pikachu?" The young boy quickly gathers the small electric mouse into a gentle hug as happy tears begin streaming down his face and relief rapidly washes over him. "Oh, Pikachu, thank goodness you're still here! I had a horrible nightmare that you had gotten jealous of my Riolu and ran away; you even said you...never wanted...to see me again..."

Becoming even more concerned and sensing a deeper problem, Pikachu inquires, "Pikapi, pikachu pi pika pikachu pika pikachupi? Pika pika pikachu pi."(Ash, if I may ask, please, has something been bothering you lately? I shall be happy to help.) Upon, this, Ash gently places Pikachu on his knees and faces him. "Well, after we had visited Professor Cerise's lab the other day and his Yamper became jealous of Chloe's Pidove, I began imagining you and me in that position and worried that one day you might start to hate me and my Pokemon or decide you don't need me anymore."

Pikachu silently wondered if part of Ash's concern might have stemmed from his memory of their time with Chikorita back in Johto. Though Chikorita was not a bad or problematic Pokemon by any stretch of the imagination she had been rather possessive of Ash, never wanting to share his attention with anyone, especially Pikachu himself; Pikachu had managed to reason with her and she was now a very sensible Bayleef, but the situation had been rather difficult for everyone at the time.

"Pikapi," he replies. "Pikachu pika chupi pika pi. Pikachu pika pikachu pikachupi pika, pikachu pika pika pikachu pika chupi pika. Pika pikachupi pika pikachu, pika pika chupi."(Ash, you never need worry about such things. Ever since you and I saved each other from that flock of Spearows back in Pallet Town(1), we've always had a strong bond that nothing could ever break. You're a very precious friend to me and I care too much about you to ever hate or leave you.)

Ash blinks for a moment. "Y-you wouldn't? Even if I got a new Pokemon and started training and battling with them a lot?" He admittedly had sometimes felt a bit guilty about this, necessary though it was to make sure each Pokemon had an even chance in each battle, which may have also sparked his concern.

"Pika pi," Pikachu replies. "Pikachu pi chupi pika pikachu pika chu chu; pika pi pikachu pi pika pikachu."(Goodness no, your Pokemon are my dear friends and I would never be unwilling to share with them; their happiness and well being is what I care about most.(2))

A contented smile spreads across Ash's face as he joyfully picks Pikachu up and gathers him into a gentle hug; elated to see his trainer happy and at peace once more, the little electric mouse gently snuggles into Ash's shoulder with a cheerful smile gracing his own lips. "Oh, Pikachu, you're the best!" the young boy exclaims. "I appreciate your kindness and patience with me very much." He silently felt a tiny bit embarrassed over revealing what now felt like a very irrational fear.

"Pikachu pika chu, pikapi," Pikachu kindly replies. "Pi pikachu chu pika, pikachu chupi pi pikachu chu chupi pika chu."(You are very kind, Ash, and you never need worry, everyone has concerns at times, but our friends will always be here to help and support us." Pikachu could likewise relate as he often felt embarrassed over his fear of being inside a Pokeball, though his friends had always been supportive with him on the matter.

The young boy smiles serenely. "You're very gracious, buddy. I wish to thank you once more for your kindness and support and am certain that we'll both have nothing but sweet dreams from now on." Pikachu nods obligingly. "Pikachupi."(Indeedy.)

Slowly and gently, Ash lies back down in the soft grass as Pikachu scampers up next to him; the young boy gently hugs his dear friend close to him under one arm as both softly drift off to sleep with contented smiles on their faces.

Everything was fine now. Everything would always be fine.

THE END

Voice cast

Ash Ketchum-Veronica Taylor

Pikachu-Ikue Ootani

(1)I purposely chose to make a point of this by virtue of the fact that in the original episode, Pikachu forgot this moment, which made little sense due to it being a very important moment in his and Ash's life and overall relationship.

(2)This likewise seemed more in character for Pikachu to say as he's always been willing to put Ash's other Pokemon's happiness first; Ash likewise has paid goodly amounts of attention to many Pokemon over the years, from Pidgeotto to Charizard to Treecko to Greninja to, even more recently, Dragonite and Gengar, and Pikachu never once complained.

Editor's note: I wish to mention that I have nothing against the Pokemon Journeys TV series at all, more so as I haven't seen enough of it to judge one way or another, and likewise respect the views of both its fans and detractors. Betrayed, Bothered and Beleaguered was the only episode I knew well enough to pass judgement on and felt that it truly needed a rewrite due to how annoying and mean spirited it felt.

Pikachu had always been such a kind, loyal, and even sympathetic little guy that seeing him act selfish, stubborn and immature was very odd and out of character for him and largely seemed to be done for nothing but plot convenience; the writers of this episode, as a whole, didn't seem to know the first thing about Ash, Pikachu or their relationship.

Pikachu abandoning Ash likewise would very much be Ash's worst nightmare due to all of the love and care both have for each other, which is why it felt sensible overall for this story line to have never happened.

I hope everyone enjoys this story; I shall openly welcome reader's advice. :)