Chapter 6: Origin
Ash was up early the next day so he and Pikachu were out on top of the mountain,
watching the red hue of the sun turn orange then white.
"It feels so weird, Pikachu," Ash said.
"Pika-pika?" [What do you mean?]
"I mean, here we are, a million miles from home, caught up in some sort of prophecy. And
to top it all off, we have Misty who doesn't remember who she is half the time. And back in
Nerima, Akane Tendo told me that, that old woman, Cologne said we were destined for greatness.
Talk about having the world on your shoulders."
"Pika-pi, pikachu." [Ash, you're making me depressed.]
"Sorry, buddy."
"Um... excuse me." Ash and Pikachu turned to see Misty walking up the mountain. Ash
half-expected to see Togepi or at least Psyduck but Misty was without her backpack and her
pokebelt and her Togepi.
"Misty, what are you doing here?"
"Um..."
"Ash."
"Ash, I was wondering if you could help me."
"How so?"
"I'm trying to remember some of my past. Could you tell me how we met? Maybe that can
help me remember something." Ash was embarrassed but right now, he would do anything to help
Misty get her memory back. So, Ash told her.
**
Misty sat quietly by the brook, fishing. She was glad to be a long way from Cerulean
City and her vain sisters. Suddenly her pole gave a sharp tug.
"Oooh, I caught something!" She cried. "Wow, this seems like a big one!" She pulled
and pulled at her line until a huge shadow flew into the air and landed about two feet from
her.
"Aww, it's just a kid," Misty said disappointedly. Then perked up when she saw the
little yellow bundle cradled in his arms. "And a Pokemon! Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Ash replied sputtering water out of his mouth.
"I was talking to your Pikachu," Misty said ferociously. "It looks wounded. Don't you
take care of it?"
"Well, I..."
"Never mind. There's a Pokemon Medical Center a mile from here in Viridian City." Just
then, Ash saw the flock of Spearows that Pikachu zapped earlier. They were making a dive-bomb
attack toward them.
Ash ran up to the path and spotted a bike. He placed Pikachu into the basket and took
off.
"Hey," Misty called. "That's my bike!"
"I promise I'll return it someday," Ash called back. Ash peddled as fast as he could.
Suddenly it started to rain and Ash screamed when he saw that he was headding toward the edge
of the cliff. Ash and the bike flew off the cliff and landed in the muddy path.
**
"Wow," Misty said. "Was I really that obnoxious?"
"Even more so," Ash commented. Pikachu groaned. It knew what was coming up next. Ash
told it just shortly before they arrived in Pewter City.
Ash flicked the video monitor off. The start to his Pokemon Journey was a disaster. He
didn't make a good first impression on his Pikachu and angred a flock of Spearows, and when he
told Professor Oak about his situation, he just shrugged it off like it was no big deal. And
him commenting that Gary and the others were already in Vermilion City didn't help.
"There you are!" Ash turned to see the girl who pulled him and Pikachu out of the water
holding her damaged bike like she was ready to beat him with it.
"You little creep, you will pay for what you did to my bike! You and your Pikachu."
**
"Was I still mad at you when I lost my memory?"
"I'm not sure. You keep reminding me of it but I guess this really climaxed at Cerulean
City and your sister's Pokemon Center where we battled for a Cascade Badge."
**
"We shall use two Pokemon each," Misty declared. She and Ash were standing on floats on
opposite sides of the pool.
"Fine by me," Ash said with a smile at the same time thinking {This will be a piece of
cake.} "Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash started to throw Pikachu to the center of the ring but
Pikachu didn't want to do it. Ash thought it was because it hated water but then he realized
that it didn't want to battle Misty because they were friends.
Ash started with Butterfree and Misty chose Staryou. Despite Butterfree's attempt to use
stun spore against Staryou, the water Pokemon triumphed.
Ash recalled Butterfree and sent out Pidgeotto who made quick work against Starmie,
Staryou's evolved form. Just when it seemed that Pidgeotto was winning, Team Rocket
interviened.
**
Misty didn't know it, but Ash was leaving out a part. About back when Catterpie evolved
into Metapod, how she commented that she never met anyone like him. Ash was embarrassed about
mentioning that part to her, even if she did lose her memory.
"Is any of this triggering any memory flashes, Misty?" Ash asked.
"No, sorry."
"It's all right. Perhaps if you ask one of the others, they could help."
"Thanks." With a wave to Ash, she departed down the mountain.
**
"Come on, Togepi," Brock pleaded. "A bath won't kill you."
"Pri! Togepi-togepi!" [No! Mommy do it!]
"But Misty isn't here right now, Togepi."
"Togepi!" Brock sighed and went over to Misty's pokebelt. He released
Staryou and Psyduck.
"Can you two try to give Togepi a bath?"
"Hrah." [Sure.]
"Duck?" [What's a bath?]
"Yah-hrah." [Just hold it.]
"Psy." [Kay.] Psyduck went behind Togepi and placed its claws around the baby.
Staryou sprayed its water gun. But the stream was so powerful that it propelled both Psyduck
and Togepi to the other end of Goku's house.
"Yah." [Sorry.]
"Psy-yi-yi!" [I've fallen and I can't get up.] Brock sighed and returned Staryou and
Psyduck to their respective pokeballs. He then released Vulpix.
"Vulpix, I need you to watch Togepi for me. I need a break."
"Vul-vul." [No problem.]
"Thanks." Brock took a deep breath and sat down in a chair in the living room.
{This isn't working,} Brock thought. {Maybe we can at least give Togepi to Misty for a
while, just to play with it.}
"Um... excuse me." Speak of the devil. Sure enough, it was Misty. "You're Brock,
right?"
"That's right," Brock replied. "Do you remember anything?"
"No," Misty replied. "But Ash tells me that I wasn't exactly an angel."
"You got that right. Especially at the hidden village."
"The hidden village?" Brock sighed and began his story.
**
Bulbasaur was powerful, but electric Pokemon are strong against grass-type. Pikachu was
able to send an electric charge through Bulbasaur's vine whip and shock him.
Winding up like a baseball player, Ash threw his pokeball. The pokeball snagged the
Bulbasaur.
"Yes!" Ash cried. "I caught Bulbasaur."
"Bulbasaur," Melody said quietly. "I'll miss you." Brock had Butterfrees in his stomach
as he got ready to tell Melody his wish.
"Melody, I was thinking, since Bulbasaur is leaving, maybe you could let me stay on with
you." He said those last words quickly, afraid she might get mad at him like so many others
have.
But Melody only smiled and said, "oh Brock, that's so thoughtful. But I wouldn't want to
keep you from your Pokemon Journey."
"Oh yeah," Brock said embarrassed.
Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and now Bulbasaur left the village, Melody and Oddish waving
(well, Oddish moving its head side-to-side, making the grass on its head look like it was
waving) good-bye.
Brock sighed as he thought about how beautiful Melody was. It was then that Misty
intervened.
"So, what did Melody say when you told her you loved her, huh? Did she kiss you
good-bye?"
"That's enough stupid questions." Brock whacker her on top of her head which only
encouraged Misty. "So that means you do love her! OW!" Brock slammed her head with his fist
again.
"Why don't you stay out of my business. Okay so she's good looking, I admit, but that
gives you no right to pry yourself into other people's business!" Ash, Pikachu and Bulbasaur
watched the two fight.
"Did I miss something?" Ash asked his two Pokemon.
"Bulba," Bulbasaur shrugged. [Beat's me.]
**
"You know, if I remembered all of this, I might actually be embarrassed."
"Yeah, I haven't felt... Hey, I have an idea. Sabrina can help you."
"Sabrina?"
"She's a Psychic Pokemon Trainer, maybe she can use her psychic abilities to help you.
She's out in the woods training somewhere."
**
Sabrina and Kadabra stared at each other, each psychic's eyes glowing. Slowly, they both
started to lift into the air. But the strain was too much for Sabrina and they both fell to
the ground.
"Are you Sabrina?" Sabrina turned, half expected to see another super-powered being fly
down but relaxed when she found out it was only Misty.
"Yes, Misty. What is it?"
"Brock said you would be able to help me get my memory back with your psychic powers."
Sabrina smiled but it was a sad smile. "Brock was mistaken. I'm a telekinetic, not a
telepath. But perhaps I can tell you about the time you and your friends confronted me at my
Gym."
{Oh great,} Misty thought grimly. {Another story.} She was getting a little tired of
hearing about things that happened to her but doesn't remember doing. Sabrina began her story.
**
Ash, Pikachu, Haunter, and the bearded jogger who helped them throughout this whole
ordeal, cautiously entered the main arena of Sabrina's Gym. The area behind the arena was
dark. And there, sitting on Sabrina's throne, were Misty and Brock, turned into dolls.
"I'm back!" Ash declared.
"So, you have come for more humiliation," Sabrina said, scowling at the young Pokemon
Trainer.
"That's right. And I will defeat you, even if you have to turn me and all my Pokemon
into dolls!"
"Ash!" Misty and Brock called. They couldn't believe that their friend was sacrificing
himself and his Pokemon to save them.
"If I win, you have to play with me forever and ever," the doll Sabrina was holding
declared.
"That won't happen," Ash said.
"Kadabra," Sabrina called. "I choose you!"
"Kadabra," the psychic Pokemon cried as it leaped out of its pokeball.
"Haunter, I choose you!" Ash announced. But Haunter had disappeared again.
"Oh no, not again," Ash moaned. And after Haunter saved him from Team Rocket's trap, Ash
thought it would stick around, not disappear again.
Suddenly Pikachu went in front of Ash. "Pika-pika," it said. [I'll do it.]
"Pikachu, you're just going to get beaten again."
"Pikachu-pika-pi. Pika-pikachu." [Don't worry, Ash. If I go down, I go down fighting.]
"Thank you, Pikachu," Ash said with tears in his eyes. Pikachu and Kadabra went to the
center of the ring, facing off like characters from a western movie.
"Pikachu, agility!" Ash ordered, using the strategy he used to defeat Lt. Surge's
Raichu. Pikachu ran around Kadabra but Kadabra, without even hesitating, lifted Pikachu into
the air psychically and held it in place.
"Pi? Pika-pikachu!" [Huh? Hey, put me down!]
"Not even a match," Sabrina said.
"Now you'll have to play with me," Sabrina's doll declared.
But Ash wasn't determined to give up. "Pikachu, thunder bolt!" The strong bolt of
electricity penetrated Kadabra's body but didn't even phase it.
"Call Pikachu back!" The jogger yelled. But even if Ash wanted to, he couldn't. He was
frozen not from Sabrina, but from fright of what might happen to them.
Suddenly Haunter materialized next to Sabrina. It started doing cartoon routines such as
eyes bulging and tongue dropping.
"Two against One, that's not fair," Sabrina argued.
"Haunter is just playing around," the Jogger explained. "It isn't following anyone's
orders and hasn't been called in battle so its not against the rules." Haunter held up a
cartoon bomb. Ash and the jogger gasped and the bomb exploded. But they were all right, just
burned a little.
Slowly, Sabrina's mouth rotated upward.
The jogger gasped. "She smiled. This is the first time Sabrina has laughed in years."
Sure enough, Sabrina and Haunter were both laughing hysterically.
And so was Kadabra.
"What's wrong with Kadabra?" Ash asked. "It looks like it's in pain."
"Kadabra and Sabrina are linked psychically. Whatever one feels, the other feels." The
doll that Sabrina had ever since she was born, disappeared, dropping the pokeball on the
ground. Misty and Brock were returned to their normal size.
"Since Kadabra is unable to continue, I declare Pikachu the winner."
**
Misty laughed. "I admit, that was one of the more entertaining ones I've heard all day."
"I'm glad you liked it."
"Kadabra-kadabra-kadabra."
"Kadabra says its sorry too," Sabrina translated.
"Um... I'm not sure what Ash would say, but I forgive you. I think I remember an
expression: forgive and forget. I certainly have those two down packed."
"I am surprised, Misty,"Sabrina said. "You are taking this rather well."
"Thank you, Sabrina. Please excuse me."
{'Please excuse me?' Misty's memory is farther gone than I thought if she's being this
courteous.}
Ash was up early the next day so he and Pikachu were out on top of the mountain,
watching the red hue of the sun turn orange then white.
"It feels so weird, Pikachu," Ash said.
"Pika-pika?" [What do you mean?]
"I mean, here we are, a million miles from home, caught up in some sort of prophecy. And
to top it all off, we have Misty who doesn't remember who she is half the time. And back in
Nerima, Akane Tendo told me that, that old woman, Cologne said we were destined for greatness.
Talk about having the world on your shoulders."
"Pika-pi, pikachu." [Ash, you're making me depressed.]
"Sorry, buddy."
"Um... excuse me." Ash and Pikachu turned to see Misty walking up the mountain. Ash
half-expected to see Togepi or at least Psyduck but Misty was without her backpack and her
pokebelt and her Togepi.
"Misty, what are you doing here?"
"Um..."
"Ash."
"Ash, I was wondering if you could help me."
"How so?"
"I'm trying to remember some of my past. Could you tell me how we met? Maybe that can
help me remember something." Ash was embarrassed but right now, he would do anything to help
Misty get her memory back. So, Ash told her.
**
Misty sat quietly by the brook, fishing. She was glad to be a long way from Cerulean
City and her vain sisters. Suddenly her pole gave a sharp tug.
"Oooh, I caught something!" She cried. "Wow, this seems like a big one!" She pulled
and pulled at her line until a huge shadow flew into the air and landed about two feet from
her.
"Aww, it's just a kid," Misty said disappointedly. Then perked up when she saw the
little yellow bundle cradled in his arms. "And a Pokemon! Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Ash replied sputtering water out of his mouth.
"I was talking to your Pikachu," Misty said ferociously. "It looks wounded. Don't you
take care of it?"
"Well, I..."
"Never mind. There's a Pokemon Medical Center a mile from here in Viridian City." Just
then, Ash saw the flock of Spearows that Pikachu zapped earlier. They were making a dive-bomb
attack toward them.
Ash ran up to the path and spotted a bike. He placed Pikachu into the basket and took
off.
"Hey," Misty called. "That's my bike!"
"I promise I'll return it someday," Ash called back. Ash peddled as fast as he could.
Suddenly it started to rain and Ash screamed when he saw that he was headding toward the edge
of the cliff. Ash and the bike flew off the cliff and landed in the muddy path.
**
"Wow," Misty said. "Was I really that obnoxious?"
"Even more so," Ash commented. Pikachu groaned. It knew what was coming up next. Ash
told it just shortly before they arrived in Pewter City.
Ash flicked the video monitor off. The start to his Pokemon Journey was a disaster. He
didn't make a good first impression on his Pikachu and angred a flock of Spearows, and when he
told Professor Oak about his situation, he just shrugged it off like it was no big deal. And
him commenting that Gary and the others were already in Vermilion City didn't help.
"There you are!" Ash turned to see the girl who pulled him and Pikachu out of the water
holding her damaged bike like she was ready to beat him with it.
"You little creep, you will pay for what you did to my bike! You and your Pikachu."
**
"Was I still mad at you when I lost my memory?"
"I'm not sure. You keep reminding me of it but I guess this really climaxed at Cerulean
City and your sister's Pokemon Center where we battled for a Cascade Badge."
**
"We shall use two Pokemon each," Misty declared. She and Ash were standing on floats on
opposite sides of the pool.
"Fine by me," Ash said with a smile at the same time thinking {This will be a piece of
cake.} "Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash started to throw Pikachu to the center of the ring but
Pikachu didn't want to do it. Ash thought it was because it hated water but then he realized
that it didn't want to battle Misty because they were friends.
Ash started with Butterfree and Misty chose Staryou. Despite Butterfree's attempt to use
stun spore against Staryou, the water Pokemon triumphed.
Ash recalled Butterfree and sent out Pidgeotto who made quick work against Starmie,
Staryou's evolved form. Just when it seemed that Pidgeotto was winning, Team Rocket
interviened.
**
Misty didn't know it, but Ash was leaving out a part. About back when Catterpie evolved
into Metapod, how she commented that she never met anyone like him. Ash was embarrassed about
mentioning that part to her, even if she did lose her memory.
"Is any of this triggering any memory flashes, Misty?" Ash asked.
"No, sorry."
"It's all right. Perhaps if you ask one of the others, they could help."
"Thanks." With a wave to Ash, she departed down the mountain.
**
"Come on, Togepi," Brock pleaded. "A bath won't kill you."
"Pri! Togepi-togepi!" [No! Mommy do it!]
"But Misty isn't here right now, Togepi."
"Togepi!" Brock sighed and went over to Misty's pokebelt. He released
Staryou and Psyduck.
"Can you two try to give Togepi a bath?"
"Hrah." [Sure.]
"Duck?" [What's a bath?]
"Yah-hrah." [Just hold it.]
"Psy." [Kay.] Psyduck went behind Togepi and placed its claws around the baby.
Staryou sprayed its water gun. But the stream was so powerful that it propelled both Psyduck
and Togepi to the other end of Goku's house.
"Yah." [Sorry.]
"Psy-yi-yi!" [I've fallen and I can't get up.] Brock sighed and returned Staryou and
Psyduck to their respective pokeballs. He then released Vulpix.
"Vulpix, I need you to watch Togepi for me. I need a break."
"Vul-vul." [No problem.]
"Thanks." Brock took a deep breath and sat down in a chair in the living room.
{This isn't working,} Brock thought. {Maybe we can at least give Togepi to Misty for a
while, just to play with it.}
"Um... excuse me." Speak of the devil. Sure enough, it was Misty. "You're Brock,
right?"
"That's right," Brock replied. "Do you remember anything?"
"No," Misty replied. "But Ash tells me that I wasn't exactly an angel."
"You got that right. Especially at the hidden village."
"The hidden village?" Brock sighed and began his story.
**
Bulbasaur was powerful, but electric Pokemon are strong against grass-type. Pikachu was
able to send an electric charge through Bulbasaur's vine whip and shock him.
Winding up like a baseball player, Ash threw his pokeball. The pokeball snagged the
Bulbasaur.
"Yes!" Ash cried. "I caught Bulbasaur."
"Bulbasaur," Melody said quietly. "I'll miss you." Brock had Butterfrees in his stomach
as he got ready to tell Melody his wish.
"Melody, I was thinking, since Bulbasaur is leaving, maybe you could let me stay on with
you." He said those last words quickly, afraid she might get mad at him like so many others
have.
But Melody only smiled and said, "oh Brock, that's so thoughtful. But I wouldn't want to
keep you from your Pokemon Journey."
"Oh yeah," Brock said embarrassed.
Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and now Bulbasaur left the village, Melody and Oddish waving
(well, Oddish moving its head side-to-side, making the grass on its head look like it was
waving) good-bye.
Brock sighed as he thought about how beautiful Melody was. It was then that Misty
intervened.
"So, what did Melody say when you told her you loved her, huh? Did she kiss you
good-bye?"
"That's enough stupid questions." Brock whacker her on top of her head which only
encouraged Misty. "So that means you do love her! OW!" Brock slammed her head with his fist
again.
"Why don't you stay out of my business. Okay so she's good looking, I admit, but that
gives you no right to pry yourself into other people's business!" Ash, Pikachu and Bulbasaur
watched the two fight.
"Did I miss something?" Ash asked his two Pokemon.
"Bulba," Bulbasaur shrugged. [Beat's me.]
**
"You know, if I remembered all of this, I might actually be embarrassed."
"Yeah, I haven't felt... Hey, I have an idea. Sabrina can help you."
"Sabrina?"
"She's a Psychic Pokemon Trainer, maybe she can use her psychic abilities to help you.
She's out in the woods training somewhere."
**
Sabrina and Kadabra stared at each other, each psychic's eyes glowing. Slowly, they both
started to lift into the air. But the strain was too much for Sabrina and they both fell to
the ground.
"Are you Sabrina?" Sabrina turned, half expected to see another super-powered being fly
down but relaxed when she found out it was only Misty.
"Yes, Misty. What is it?"
"Brock said you would be able to help me get my memory back with your psychic powers."
Sabrina smiled but it was a sad smile. "Brock was mistaken. I'm a telekinetic, not a
telepath. But perhaps I can tell you about the time you and your friends confronted me at my
Gym."
{Oh great,} Misty thought grimly. {Another story.} She was getting a little tired of
hearing about things that happened to her but doesn't remember doing. Sabrina began her story.
**
Ash, Pikachu, Haunter, and the bearded jogger who helped them throughout this whole
ordeal, cautiously entered the main arena of Sabrina's Gym. The area behind the arena was
dark. And there, sitting on Sabrina's throne, were Misty and Brock, turned into dolls.
"I'm back!" Ash declared.
"So, you have come for more humiliation," Sabrina said, scowling at the young Pokemon
Trainer.
"That's right. And I will defeat you, even if you have to turn me and all my Pokemon
into dolls!"
"Ash!" Misty and Brock called. They couldn't believe that their friend was sacrificing
himself and his Pokemon to save them.
"If I win, you have to play with me forever and ever," the doll Sabrina was holding
declared.
"That won't happen," Ash said.
"Kadabra," Sabrina called. "I choose you!"
"Kadabra," the psychic Pokemon cried as it leaped out of its pokeball.
"Haunter, I choose you!" Ash announced. But Haunter had disappeared again.
"Oh no, not again," Ash moaned. And after Haunter saved him from Team Rocket's trap, Ash
thought it would stick around, not disappear again.
Suddenly Pikachu went in front of Ash. "Pika-pika," it said. [I'll do it.]
"Pikachu, you're just going to get beaten again."
"Pikachu-pika-pi. Pika-pikachu." [Don't worry, Ash. If I go down, I go down fighting.]
"Thank you, Pikachu," Ash said with tears in his eyes. Pikachu and Kadabra went to the
center of the ring, facing off like characters from a western movie.
"Pikachu, agility!" Ash ordered, using the strategy he used to defeat Lt. Surge's
Raichu. Pikachu ran around Kadabra but Kadabra, without even hesitating, lifted Pikachu into
the air psychically and held it in place.
"Pi? Pika-pikachu!" [Huh? Hey, put me down!]
"Not even a match," Sabrina said.
"Now you'll have to play with me," Sabrina's doll declared.
But Ash wasn't determined to give up. "Pikachu, thunder bolt!" The strong bolt of
electricity penetrated Kadabra's body but didn't even phase it.
"Call Pikachu back!" The jogger yelled. But even if Ash wanted to, he couldn't. He was
frozen not from Sabrina, but from fright of what might happen to them.
Suddenly Haunter materialized next to Sabrina. It started doing cartoon routines such as
eyes bulging and tongue dropping.
"Two against One, that's not fair," Sabrina argued.
"Haunter is just playing around," the Jogger explained. "It isn't following anyone's
orders and hasn't been called in battle so its not against the rules." Haunter held up a
cartoon bomb. Ash and the jogger gasped and the bomb exploded. But they were all right, just
burned a little.
Slowly, Sabrina's mouth rotated upward.
The jogger gasped. "She smiled. This is the first time Sabrina has laughed in years."
Sure enough, Sabrina and Haunter were both laughing hysterically.
And so was Kadabra.
"What's wrong with Kadabra?" Ash asked. "It looks like it's in pain."
"Kadabra and Sabrina are linked psychically. Whatever one feels, the other feels." The
doll that Sabrina had ever since she was born, disappeared, dropping the pokeball on the
ground. Misty and Brock were returned to their normal size.
"Since Kadabra is unable to continue, I declare Pikachu the winner."
**
Misty laughed. "I admit, that was one of the more entertaining ones I've heard all day."
"I'm glad you liked it."
"Kadabra-kadabra-kadabra."
"Kadabra says its sorry too," Sabrina translated.
"Um... I'm not sure what Ash would say, but I forgive you. I think I remember an
expression: forgive and forget. I certainly have those two down packed."
"I am surprised, Misty,"Sabrina said. "You are taking this rather well."
"Thank you, Sabrina. Please excuse me."
{'Please excuse me?' Misty's memory is farther gone than I thought if she's being this
courteous.}