Chapter 18
"Ash's Decision"
I flopped down on the bed and sighed loudly. It had been a long day, and I hadn't even met with Boss Rocket yet.
"Pikachu…"
'You look tired…'
"Yeah, no kidding."
Billie opened the door and let herself in.
"Ash, what are you doing? This is no time for a nap!"
"What's wrong with naps?" I asked absently.
"You can't have any if the boss is expecting to meet with you soon."
"That's doesn't matter…Can't I just sneak in one little nap? Pleeze?"
She sighed in exasperation.
"Don't try that little kid act on me, Ash Ketchum. It's not gonna work."
"Oh, come on…One nap won't hurt…Pwetty pweeze wid soogar on tohhp?"
"Why did I have to open my big mouth…?" she sighed, "…Fine, Ash! Go ahead! But if the boss gets on your case, it wasn't my fault."
"Tanks," I said, grinning.
"…Look, I'm gonna go walk around, okay? If you ever wake up…you'll probably be able to find me. This isn't that big of a place…"
After a wistful glance back, she left the room and closed the door behind her.
I sighed and laid my head down.
"…She's finally gone……"
"Piika?"
'Why'd you want her to leave?'
"I don't know……Everything seems…so confusing…doesn't it, Pikachu?"
"Pika?"
'It does?'
"Well…yeah. I mean…I never wanted to be in Team Rocket, but…here I am…I didn't even want to beat Richie, but…I made it past the finals…I mean…Nothing seems to be going the way I want it to."
"Piika, kachu."
'Well, you can't control everything that happens to you.'
"I know that, Pikachu……but I still wish I could."
"…Pi?"
'…What are you going to do?'
I didn't answer.
I want to just get away…I keep getting shoved around…especially by the boss…I need to quit Team Rocket…but I can't do that, because he still has the rest of my Pokémon…and Pidgeotto…
…I hope Pidgeotto is okay. He did say he would take care of it…and that he would never hurt one of his own…Mm…One of his own? What did he mean by that?
"Pikachu, pika? Kachu…"
'Are you okay, Ash? You're awfully quiet…'
Am I okay?…I'm not really sure…
"……Pika…chu?"
'……Ash?…Did you hear me?'
"…Yeah, I heard you, Pikachu…"
"Pikachu!"
'Then why didn't you answer me!?'
"……I don't know…"
"Pikachu, pika…"
'Ash, you're starting to worry me…'
"…Sorry."
…I need a way to get away from Team Rocket, but still make sure my Pokémon are okay……I can't carry all of them with me, so……
I suddenly realized what I had been doing wrong all this time…and what I thought of next scared me.
…what if I just left all of my Pokémon?
…No! Are you crazy? That's crazy!
……But is it really?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it would work…
I sat up. I took off my jacket and laid in on the bed. Then I stood up and went over to the safe that had all of my things in it. I opened it up and took out my backpack and my hat. I put my hat on the bed, but I put on my backpack.
"Pi ka chu?"
'What are you doing, Ash?'
I don't want to do this……but it's the only way…
I took out all of my Pokéballs and set them next to Pikachu.
"Pik?"
'What are you doing?'
I took a deep breath.
"…Pikachu?"
"Chu?"
'Yeah?'
"…I want you to take care of these things…while I'm gone…"
"Pika pi!!"
'What are you talking about!?'
I knelt down to look it eye-to-eye.
"…Pikachu, I'm not going to leave you forever, okay? I'll come back, I promise."
"Pika…chu?"
'Why are you leaving anyway?'
I sighed. "Because…it's the only way? I wish there was another one, but…as long as I have Pokémon with me, the boss is going to want me to be on Team Rocket…I don't want that, and I know you don't either…"
"Pika…pi?"
'So…you're leaving?'
I nodded. "Don't come after me, okay, Pikachu? And make sure no one else does either……Here…You can come with me until we're out of the headquarters…Then I want you to go to the Pokémon Center and stay with them…"
"Pika?"
'What about Billie?'
"…I'll write her a note…"
I searched through the room for a piece of paper and a pen, then wrote her a quick note.
"Billie,
Get the rest of my Pokémon from the boss, and then go to the Pokémon Center.
Ash"
"…I think that'll work."
I put it out in the open, then turned to Pikachu.
"Ready?"
"Pii…pikapi…"
'Uh…No. Hold on a second…'
Pikachu gathered up all of my Pokéballs, then jumped on the bed and tried to pick up the rest of my stuff.
"Uh…don't worry about that, Pikachu," I said.
"Pika, pikachu!"
'But we can't just leave them here!'
"Sure we can. Billie will bring them along, I'm sure."
"Chu…"
'If you say so…'
After a quick decision, Pikachu grabbed my hat and put it on. It was a little big…
I laughed. "Oh, I get it. You wanna be a trainer too, huh?" I took off my Pokébelt and tossed it to Pikachu. "Here, try this on for size."
We had to do a lot of adjusting, but we finally got my things to fit okay on Pikachu. That included my Pokéballs.
"Let's go," I said finally.
"Pikachu."
'Okay.'
We went outside. It was windy, and the sky was overcast. I looked down at Pikachu.
"…I guess…I'll see you later then…huh, buddy?"
"Piika…"
'I guess so…'
I smiled sadly. I knelt down and hugged Pikachu tightly.
"Don't worry," I said, "I'll come back. I'm not going to lose you again, Pikachu…I promise."
"Pikachu…"
'I trust you…'
"Thanks…"
I let go and stood up. This was going to be hard, but I had to do it anyway.
"…I'll miss you……Good…bye…"
"Pi………ka…"
'Bye……Ash…'
Before I had the time to change my mind, I started running. I didn't look back. I didn't pay attention to where I was going. I just ran. I had to get away from there before it was too late. I couldn't turn back.