Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, but if the owner reads this I would be more then happy to take it off his hands! C. Cowboy: howdy! Here comes the final (?) installment to my little pokemon epic. If you haven't read Time Of Destiny or T.O.D.2: Hand Of Fate, read those first! This one is going to be a little less sad, and will have a little more action in it then the last one. This prologue takes place a few years before Ash and Pikachu met. Do you remember on the first episode of Pokemon, Pikachu didn't seem to like humans too much? It might not be totally accurate to the first episode but it's as close as I could remember. It's been a while since I saw it. Anyway, I thought I would give you the levels of the key pokemon in the story, too, just for reference. They might not be this high or low in the show and game, but they are in this story. This is the levels at the end of T.O.D.2    Pikachu (before he was hurt): 56

Lugia: 230

Ho-Oh: 230 Mew: 300 Celebi: 300 Mewtwo (Original): 120 Togapi (calm): 15 Togapi (using hidden power): 200 POKEMON: TIME OF DESTINY 3: RAYS OF HOPE

Prologue

Viridian Forest, 6 years ago…

A family of Pikachu lived quietly as most wild pokemon lived. Once a Pikachu meets its mate, it will remain and raise Pichus with its mate till it's dieing day. This couple had a litter of Pichus one and a half years old. Most of the litter was calm and patient, but one Pichu, the runt of the litter, was wild, curious, and playful.

One day, the runt Pichu was out playing in the forest when he heard a loud noise and a large metal object on four wheels stormed through the forest. Pichu hide in a hollow tree stump. He stayed in the tree, frightened beyond belief. It didn't help to hear the sound of guns echo through the forest. The Pichu stayed where it was for well over an hour. It finally came out of the tree, and made its way back to its den. When he made it back, he saw a sight that would haunt him the rest of his life. His mother, father, brothers, and sisters all lay bloody and still. The Pichu walked slowly, first it nuzzled its brothers and sisters, but they never moved  "C-come on guys, w-wake… wake up!" the Pichu said in its native tongue. Then it moved on to its father, "D-Dad? D-Daddy? Get up. Please?" but his father didn't make a single move. He then looked at his mother, "Mom? Mom? Get up. I'm… I-I'm hungry. M-Mom? Please get up. Please." the Pichu then nuzzled under its mother, and slowly cried itself to sleep.

The next morning, it got up and looked around its den for any sign of what took his family from him. He saw two long tracks and began to follow them. He stopped only long enough to eat a few berries. He then found a large building and saw two young humans playing with their guns and talking about 'the group of yellow rats' they 'took care off' last night. Pichu's eyes burned with tears of hatred and sadness. "Those…those…HUMANS did that! They took away my Dad, my Mom, My brothers and sisters, and they act like it was only a game! I'll never for give humans for what they did to me!"

One Year Later…

The young Pichu had finally evolved into a Pikachu, and his hatred for humans burned even hotter. It was taking a late night stroll through the forest when he saw two young humans. They looked around sixteen years old, one was a boy and had blue hair and the other was a girl with long red hair. They were both wearing white and black uniforms with a large 'R' one their chests. "What kind of Pokemon did the boss say he wanted Jess?" the boy said scratching his forehead trying to remember his orders. "James you moron! It doesn't matter as long as it has spunk!"  Just then the Pikachu jumped at James and bit down on his arm, James screamed and began to jump around screaming, "GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!!" The girl then grabbed the Pikachu and pumped a needle full of sedative into it's back. Pikachu's vision began to blur and he slowly past out.

When the Pikachu came to, he saw an old man in a white coat and a man in his late twenties with a red and gray jacket and a red Pokemon League Ball cap. "The Mew genes seem to have gone into dormancy in this specimen, Master Ketchum." The old man said to the younger man. The younger man shook his head; "Well, just have to try the cloning process then. At least this one lived through the experiment. Have Jessie and James dispose of it where they found it. And don't call me that name. My name is Giovanni. Red Ketchum is dead." The old man nodded and then sprayed a strange gas in to Pikachu's cage and it passed out again.

When Pikachu opened his eyes he saw Jessie and James standing over him arguing over who will 'do it'. Pikachu jumped to his feet and thunder shocked the two. He looked them over and saw they were on the ground smoking. He then ran into the forest, his burning hatred for humans burning even hotter.

One and a half years later…

Pikachu had been captured by another human in a lab coat, and already didn't like being in a pokeball one bit. Then one day he was finally let out of the pokeball and saw a wide-eyed boy in pajamas staring at him. To say he was a little uncomfortable was an understatement. Then the boy put him in a bear hug. Pikachu was now angry. Pikachu let out a thundershock, but for some reason something inside him made him hold back.   

 

A few hours later, Pikachu found himself being drug by the boy who was now fully dressed in a blue and white jacket, a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and a red Pokemon League ball cap.  Then all of the sudden, the boy stopped and stared at another pokemon, a Pidgy to be exact. "Alright Pikachu! I choose you!" the boy yelled as Pikachu cocked an eyebrow at him. Pikachu then climbed up a tree and smiled at him. The boy growled and yelled at him but Pikachu just laughed at him. "Alright, I'll just catch that Pidgy myself, with out your help!" The boy then took his backpack and began to tiptoe toward the pokemon. Then the Pidgy looked up at him with a look that said, "I have never seen anyone as stupid as you." And then began to take flight." The boy then dove at it but missed and plowed the ground. Pikachu laughed till he almost fell out of the tree. Then the boy looked around and thought he saw the Pidgy, and threw a rock at it. The pokemon looked up at him with tears in its eyes. Turned out it was a spearow. The spearow then dove at Ash but missed. Then it saw Pikachu. It attacked him and knocked him out of the tree.  The boy then knocked the spearow off of Pikachu and picked up the injured pokemon. "Hang on Pikachu, I'll get you help."  The boy then started running toward the Viridian City Pokemon Center. Then he heard a sound behind him. He looked back and with his trademark yell, "WAAAA!!!!" he ran faster from the army of spearows. The boy then saw he couldn't get a way so he dived into a large river running along the road.

The next thing ether knew, they were pulled onto a large rock, and a young girl with large green-blue eyes and orangey red hair. She was wearing a yellow baby t-shirt, blue jean short-shorts with suspenders. She then proceeded to smack the boy across the face. "How could you treat your Pokemon that way?" the girl yelled while looking at the out-of-it Pikachu. "I didn't hurt it and I'm trying to get it help!" the boy then eyed her bike. He then picked up Pikachu and put him in the basket and then climbed on and started to leave on the bike, "I'm sorry, but I need to borrow this. I'll bring it back someday!" before the girl could protest he was gone. The Boy peddled as fast as he could but then he hit a rock and they both went flying. The boy tried to get up but couldn't he just lay there, and stared into Pikachu's week eyes. Pikachu couldn't figure this kid out. Every human he ever met tried to hurt him in some way, but this 'Ash' was different. He was honestly trying to help him, and all Pikachu has done to him was cause him problems. Then they both heard the spearows coming back and Ash looked up and saw them making a beeline for Pikachu. He then got to his feet and spread out his arms protecting Pikachu, "I AM ASH KETCHUM OF PALLET TOWN, AND I AM GOING TO BE THE WORLD'S GREATEST POKEMON MASTER!! THERE IS NO WAY I WILL LET YOU HURT MY PIKACHU, AND SOMEDAY I WILL CATCH YOU ALL!!" Ash yelled as he tightly closed his eyes waiting for the pain then he felt something climbing up his leg, then his back. Pikachu use the last of his strength as he jumped from Ash's shoulder and gave the spearows the most massive thundershock he could, and it was overkill. Ash and Pikachu then fell back to the ground and smiled at each other. Pikachu then decided his name for this human, 'Pikapi', which in his language ment 'brother'.

Two weeks ago…   

Pikachu proudly stood on the field in front of Ash. Lance's Dragonite had tried several physical attacks but Pikachu was way to fast for the bulky pokemon. Dragonite then began to send out thunder attacks. Pikachu smiled and thought, 'One big Ultra Shock, and Pikapi's dream will come true!" then Pikachu began to power up for one of the most powerful attacks in Pokemon history. The Dragonite foolishly tried thunder attacks, that only gave pikachu that much more power. Pikachu then absorbed the bubble then it felt like his cheeks were on fire, "ASH! SOMETHING…WRONG!!!! HELP ME!!! H-HELP ME!!!" Then an excruciating pain felled his cheeks, and it all went dark.

The next thing Pikachu knew, he was in Ash's arms. He had never felt so weak. Pikachu looked up at Ash and saw tears running down his face. Pikachu said the only thing that came to mind. "D-Did… I… g-get… 'um?" Ash smiled "Yeah, you got 'um. we won!" Pikachu started crying too, "Looks… l-l-like you… d-don't need… m-me anymore." Ash almost lost control,  "No Pikachu, I still need you! You're my best friend, my partner! You can't leave me!!"  Pikachu smiled happily, "N-Na… That's… M-M-Misty's… job now, a-and I'll never leave… y-y-you. I'll be… r-right there." Pikachu said as he nudged Ash's chest right above his heart, Leaving behind some of the blood he had been shedding on Ash's shirt. Pikachu then looked back into Ash's eyes, "Thank you. Be-before I met…y-y-you, I-I-I hated… humans… b-because t-t-they… killed my… f-f-family and t-t-they… hurt me… but then… you, M-M-Misty… Brock… Tracy… and little Togapi… you became my Family… A-A-Ash… You're not… my master… and you're not… my best friend… you're…l-like m-m-m-my… brother"

Then it went dark and Pikachu thought it was the last time.

Present Day…

 Pikachu began to stir in his little bed. His cheeks still hurt. He could feel wires attached to them, he was too weak to completely open his eyes. "PIKACHU! YOUR AWAKE!" said a familiar voice. Pikachu looked over and saw Misty setting beside his bed with a smile on her face and uncharacteristic sad looking eyes. "Cha? Pika pikapi?" {Misty? Where's Ash?} Misty was at a loss for words, "Um, he's gone to get something to eat." Pikachu smiled then noticed Misty had her hair out of the usual sideways ponytail, "Pika, pi, Pikachu Pika pi ka, pikapi pikachu…." {By the way, I see you have your hair down, Ash always liked your hair down…} Pikachu then passed back out. Misty then cried into her hands, "How can I tell Pikachu we left Ash with Team Rocket?"

TO BE CONTINUED…    

                 

C. Cowboy: All I can say is more's on the way!