Chapter 9: Enter Pikachu

Based off of Pokemon Journeys Episode 1

(Viridian Forest, 12 Years Ago)

Deep in the forest, a group of Pokemon gathered around a Raichu couple. They had just hatched their first child, an energetic and scrappy Pichu, and everyone was clamoring to see him.

"Oh Rachel, he's so adorable!" A Ninetales told the new mother.

"Have you thought of a name?" A Pidgeot asked, tilting his head curiously at the newborn, who was sucking on an Oran Berry. The proud parents smiled.

"We're thinking of calling him Elio, like the sun."

"What an excellent name! A bright name for a bright son."

The Pichu, not quite understanding what was being said but knowing it was good, clapped his hands, making everyone smile.

Destruction. Fire. Fear That's all young Elio, now only 2, could see as his parents and him ran for their lives. A group of hoarders, feeling their herd would be easy prey, had attacked during the middle of the night, scattering them all in panic. While they had managed to take out a chunk of them, they turned out to be too numerous for them to handle, and they were forced to flee. But while he was still going strong, but his parents were beginning to feel their age.

"Scott, stop. We can't go on much further."

Elio looked up at his parents worriedly.

"Mommy? Daddy? Come on, we need to run!"

His father, knowing his mate was right, wearily shook his head.

"Elio, you run on. Your mother and I will buy you time."

"But daddy, I-"

"Please, son. We'll only slow you down."

Tears in his eyes, Elio gave them both one final hug.

"I love you."

"We love you too, son. We'll see each other again one day."

"Over here! We found three more!"

"A hatchling. That'll be easy."

Knowing his time was limited, Elio ran as fast as he could, his parents taking on the incoming threat so that he could escape. He looked back briefly, only to see the only home he had ever known destroyed.

"Mom...dad...I'll never forget you."

Tears in his eyes, the young Pichu ran until daybreak, knowing he could never return home.

For moths, young Elio traveled, staying as far away from human civilization as possible. But being no more than 3, the poor Pichu found it hard to fend for himself. Some nights he couldn't even sleep, as there was no hole or burrow unoccupied for him to take. The only food he could find was never enough to sate him, and the poor Pichu was starved and exhausted.

At last, he collapsed in a luscious green meadow. Hungry and exhausted, he closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable end when...

"Hello, what do we have here?"

Before he could open his eyes, Elio felt himself being lifted off the ground. Opening them, he found himself in the arms of a female Kangaskhan.

"Hello there, sweetie. Oh dear, you do look famished. Where are your parents? They should be taking care of you."

Elio looked down, his ears drooping in sadness.

"They...they didn't make it."

"Then...you're an orphan?"

Elio nodded sadly. The Kangaskhan smiled warmly, and placed him in her pouch right next to her joey.

"Not anymore, you're not. Welcome to the family."

Elio was so surprised he couldn't even speak. His pouch mate smiled happily, giving him a big hug.

"Yay, a new brother! What's your name?"

"E...Elio."

"Nice to meet you! My name's Sam. Don't worry, you'll like it with us! Mommy's the best, she'll take good care of you."

Sam was right. Kangaskhan raised Elio like he was her own, and for the first time in a long time he had a proper meal. Over time, Elio began to see Kangaskhan as his mother and Sam his brother, regardless of his adoption. The three of them had three good years together, their own little family.

One night, Elio and Sam were playing tag while their mother watched them with a smile on her face.

"Can't catch me, bro!"

"Oh yeah? How much you want to bet?!"

Just then, they heard an explosion not too far away. Looking in the direction, they saw a helicopter with a big red R emblazened on its side take off, dragging a net of Pokemon with it.

"Poachers! Mom, we need to move!"

Their mother nodded, quickly scooping her children up and running off. But try as she might, she couldn't run very fast with two children in her pouch, and the poachers were getting closer.

"Don't worry dears, I'll get us out ot-AAH!"

"MOM!"

In her haste, Kangaskhan hadn't noticed one of the poachers pull out a gun and shoot her, causing her to drop to the ground as they approached. Luckily, Sam and Elio jumped out just in time.

"Heh, that was easy. These brats will fetch a pretty penny on the black market."

"Especially the rodent. Pichu are rare in Kanto."

Elio growled, ran up to one of them and began shouting, but being humans all they heard was "Pichu Pi!"

"Shut up!"

The poacher grabbed him, ready to stuff him in a bag, but Elio wasn't afraid. Instead, he shocked the criminal until he fell unconscious, much to his partner's shock.

"Alright you brat, you're gonna get it!"

The remaining grunt moved to grab him, but Kangaskhan was quicker, sending him flying with a Mega Punch, after which she dropped to the ground.

"Mom!"

Their mother just smiled, and patted them on the head.

"Don't worry. It just grazed me."

Elio smiled, but on the inside he was worried. Clearly, his mother wasn't as strong as she used to be, and having two growing children in her pouch was weighing heavily on her. He knew what he had to do...

Later that night, while his mother and brother were sleeping, Elio slipped out of her pouch. Grabbing what food he could, he made his way to the edge of the clearing when...

"Elio? What're you doing?"

Looking back, he saw his mother and brother awake, looking at him confused. He sighed, he really hoped he could've avoided this.

"Mom, Sam...you guys have been the best family I could hope for, which is why I need to leave. Those poachers will be back, and I can't bear the thought of losing you guys just because I slowed you down."

His mother gently approached him, and at first he thought she was trying to stop him...

Only for her to pick him up and give him the biggest hug she had ever given him before setting him down, a sad but proud smile on her face.

"I knew this would happen eventually. I just wish it was under better circumstances..."

Sam was the next to say goodbye, and latched onto Elio tightly.

"Thanks for being a great big brother. I'm gonna miss you."

Elio returned the hug, tears in his eyes.

"Me too, little bro. I'm glad I got to know you."

Just then, Elio began to glow and grow, much to his shock. When the light died down, he was no longer a Pichu, but a strong Pikachu.

"Woah, you evolved!"

Elio smiled, pleased with his new form.

"Told you I loved you guys. I...I hope we meet again someday."

With that, Elio ran off into the distance, his family watching him leave.

"Mom...do you think he'll be okay?"

"Your brother is tough and smart, Sam. I'm sure he'll be okay."

For the next few years, Elio wandered the region, fighting day and night for his survival. Sometimes he had to wander into cities to scrounge for foods, but whenever he could he tried to avoid humans.

One day however, he was careless. Driven by his hunger, he found himself upon a backyard garden. He knew it was too risky, but his stomach won out, and he reached for a berry...

"Hey, what're you doing?"

Elio turned, just in time to see a red and white sphere launch itself at him, sucking him into it. Although he tried to escape, he was too weak from starvation, and in his capsule he remained.

Professor Oak picked up the Pokeball, shaking his head.

"Must have been too hungry to care. Ah well, let's get you something to eat."

But Elio did not like his new living arrangements one bit. Although he no longer had to worry about where his next meal would come from, he didn't feel safe around so many people. Every time a lab assistant would approach him with anything other than food, they would get a nasty shock that sent them scurrying away. Served them right, in his opinion...

Samuel Oak sighed upon observing this. This Pikachu sure was a tough nut. He got along fine with the rest of the Pokemon in the lab, but hated any human interaction. Perhaps he should think about releasing it...

Looking at the time, Oak quickly put away any thoughts of that. The new trainers would be arriving, his grandson among them. And he still hadn't found a fourth Pokemon yet. Perhaps an Eevee, or...

Glancing down at Pikachu, he thought for a minute. Only as a last resort, he promised himself. Maybe there would only be three, and the last one had decided to wait a year. He could only hope...