"Return to Origin"
DISCLAIMER: Ok, I do not own Pokemon. It is not owned by me. I guess the charcter of Strange One is, if you wanna use him in a story go ahead, just email me telling me you did so I can read it.
This story is a sequel to `Strange One's Story,' if ya wanted to know.
Viridian Forest burst forth with the sounds of morning and life.
It was the first day of the spring!
Winter's last storm had deposited deep drifts of snow between the shelter of the tall trees, but now those same drifts were mere tiny snow piles that were threatened on all sides by the warm air, and the snowdrops that were quickly pushing their way out of the ground. Soon they would be joined by crocus, daffodil, and all other manner of wildflower. The feelings of spring seemed to cause the sap to gurgle happily within the trees, and the blood to course wildly through the veins of the creatures who lived nearby. Winter had made everybody stuffy, finally they could get out and stretch the fatigue from cold-weary limbs.
"Pikaaaachu!"
A squad of young Pikachu were causing an uproar, if one could call it that, squeaking and playfighting amongst each other. Small bundles of yellow fur, black-tipped ears, and orange cheek pouches tangled into an almost single mass. Then, as suddenly as the playfighting began, it ended, breaking up instead into a game of tag. One kit was called as `it', and the others scattered away, giggling. One, not too careful to look where he was going, tripped over the tail of a dozing young adult.
Hehehehe-oof!
With a startled squeak, the young one tumbled ears over tail, landing on his back. The young adult opened one jet-black eye. Grumbled. Sat up.
Then he smirked, gently setting the kit upright. You okay there?
The kit giggled, and ran off as if nothing had happened, not bothering to answer him face to face. I'm okay, Strange One!
Strange One was the name of the young adult, and for good reason. The Pikachu was stark blue, in contrast to the myriad of jaundiced coats that were his family. Technically, he was actually a Pikablu, combining both the Electric and Ice qualities. Leaning back against a mossy rock, Strange One reflected the past as he stared through the budding branches up at the blue sky. Blue like him.
Had it really been almost a year since he had returned to his home? Returned from his capture at a far away laboratory where he had been given the power of Ice? Had it been that long already since he had begun training that same power with the wise old Abra Jasauq? Twitching an ear, the Pikablu marveled. And wondered. His mind kept going back to that lonely island where the laboratory had stood. What if-
And then he was startled out of dreamland as a head blocked the sky.
Wake up, you sleepyhead!
With a smirk, Strange One sat up. Tall One and the foraging party had returned, laden with new spring bulbs that they had dug up. These were a welcome break from winter wheat, which was their normal staple this time of year. Tall One herself was a big competent Pikachu, thus her name. Her eyes were clear and bright, despite her older age, and her right ear, the tip missing, flicked at a jaunty angle. It was no strange fact that all the other Pikachu looked up to Tall One as their leader. Strange One had always looked up to Tall One, for she had adopted him, in a way, when he was younger, and confused.
Now that same look of parental concern that Tall One had adopted for him returned to her face. You okay there, Strange One?
The Pikablu smiled disarmingly. Never better. Why?
Tall One wasn't fooled. Years of experience and leadership had granted her the ability to read eyes and subtle body language. Her right ear drooped slightly. You're thinking about it again, aren't you?
Awkwardly, Strange One ran a paw through the bush of fur between his ears. Well...
He was interrupted as the gang of kits suddenly decided to ambush en masse. For several minutes, the clearing was a mass of chaos of playfighting Pikachu. Squeaks and hollers of excited kits rang out so loudly that a nearby flock of Pidgey were startled into flight. Strange One, panting, managed to remove himself from the major brawl.
Tall One wasn't quite so lucky. In danger of being overswamped by young ones, she managed to gasp out, Last one to dinner has cleanup duty!
There was a massive scramble, and suddenly Tall One sat alone on her rump. She blinked at Strange One. How come they never try to swamp you?
Strange One smirked, and with it came a subtle hint of his blue aura-Ice power. They don't like cold paws, see...
With a sigh, Tall One stood, brushing herself off. Well, better go eat before the kits eat it all. She turned and walked away.
Er, wait.
She paused slightly. Turned around. Mm?
The blue Pikachu blinked. About the-yeah...er...later.
Tall One noddled. We'll talk about it later. Perking an ear, she looked to her right, where two kits were still playing with piece of discarded newspaper. Hey you two, leave that litter alone. If you don't hurry up there'll be no dinner left!
With that, the rest of the Pikachu abandoned the clearing, leaving an almost lonely space. The discarded newspaper blew slightly in the wind. Since none of the Pikachu knew how to read, it would be of little interest to any of them, save the curious young one. But if the Pikachu had known how to read, the old newspaper's headline might have interested them.
"RUMORS SPREAD ABOUT ESCAPED TEST ANIMAL."
"Cinnabar Laboratory under investigation."
*****
A copy of that same newspaper lay on the dark mahoganny desk of the owner of that same lab.
His voice was soft, deep and malicious, and he sounded disappointed. At the moment, that voice was directed towards the man in the labcoat before him.
"I am displeased."
"I know, sir." The lab man murmured.
"I am very displeased." the voice continued.
The man in the labcoat swallowed hard.
"You know what happens when I am displeased, yes?"
Shuffle.
WHAM!
A fist, fingers adorned with several rings, slammed hard upon the newspaper on the desk. The labcoat man flinched, losing the name tag reading `Watson' off his coat. The small tag spun to the floor, but the man dared not retrieve it. He shuddered as the voice seemed to crescendo.
"This! This...is unacceptable. I cannot have rumors flying around about my laboratory. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir..."
WHAM!
"Good! Then you will understand this, Watson. I want it back."
"S-sir?"
"The test animal, fool! I...want...it...back. It needs to be neutralized, put down...whatever! If it remains at large, it might be discovered. And that...that would REALLY displease me. Do you understand?"
Watson shuffled slightly, his eyes nervously trailing towards the fist. His hand traveled up his coat sleeve, tracing the lines of the huge, spidery, burnlike scars that ran down his arms like a tattoo. "But sir, what about-"
WHAM!
"I would advise that you acknowlege my orders and begin carrying them out, Watson. Otherwise I might become displeased with you." The voice gained an edge that seemed to suggest sharp objects and the spilling of blood.
Watson did not need another warning. "Yes, sir!" He left quickly, trying hard to block out the bass chuckle that followed him out the door.
*****
Ah, good, my child!
The old Abra dozed with his back against his favorite tree. Though he could not physically see his pupil with his eyes closed, he could sense the waves of energy that he emitted. He `saw' it as a very distinct blue aura, much brighter and more radiant than what the normal physical eye would see. The old Abra nodded once.
Now, channel that power into your forepaws...
Strange One sat on his haunches, staring intently at his forepaws. Slowly, the blue aura that completely surrounded him melted and flowed until it congregated solely there. Flexing fingers, Strange One's eyes nearly crossed, trying to keep it all in his forepaws. They shook, unused to having so much power. Just when he thought he was going to lose control-
You may relax now, Strange One.
With a sigh of relief, Strange One slowly let the power ebb away, until the blue aura vanished completely. He sat down heavily, rubbing his temples as the now-familliar headache set in. Whew! This is hard work, Jasauq.
But you are improving, yes? A closed eye half-opened bemusedly.
Strange One blinked several times, clearing his head. Yeah...at least I can control it now...before...every time I became angry or frightened-
Yes. And now you will learn how to control it even more. I was instructed to teach you how to fully harness your powers, child.
Strange One remembered the long-ago conversation on his training. A mysterious entity known as `Mew' had come to him soon after he had regained his memory, telling him that he would learn to control his newfound ability. But even now, it was hard to look back on those times. He had been so confused and bewildered by the path his life had taken...Life in the laboratory-
"Pika." He shook his head. There it was again.
Something on your mind, child? Jasauq always asked questions like such, but even Strange One knew well that the Abra could easily read minds. It was just a front.
Strange One sighed again. I keep thinking back to the lab, you know, the place that I came from... Of course the old Abra knew. I keep wondering...just because I escaped doesn't mean that the humans there will stop all the horrible things that they were doing. I mean...what if-what if they tried it again? I mean-what they did to me...
A pause. Strange One shuddered involuntarily as the memory hit him. Flashing lights, glinting off of the hybrid thunderstone. The old Abra felt it too, and managed to quell the uneasy thought with a mental wave.
An old guilt, I see. Then the Abra's voice softened. Your home is here now, my child. Do you really feel that it is your duty to return to the place that sundered you from your own species?
Sheepishly, Strange One shuffled as he tried to think of an answer, squinting in the deepening twilight. Soon it would be dark.
Just then, a sound reached both of their ears. It was faint and high pitched, reaching a tinny crecendo.
"PPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKAAAAAAAAAAAACCCHUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!"
Strange One felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He reccognized the call, even from this far away.
It was a young Pikachu.
It was calling for help. Urgently.
Looking over at Jasauq, he gave a silent plea for permission to leave. The Abra merely nodded urgently. No need to ask, just go!
But Strange One was already too far away to hear.
*****
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