Summary—A fluff chapter. Ah, Christmastime, written around Valentines' Day. But, well, I do introduce a new special Pokémon, Trigger. And Pyro learns about the Holiday. Oh, and Misty makes a paragraph-long return.
Part 11:
Merry Christmas!
"Please, Miriam, take a picture!" Shamin snickered gleefully looking down the other end of the café. "It'll last longer, you know. And, man, you have to have a picture of that."
Miriam grinned as well, following her gaze. "I think he brought it upon himself."
"Yes!" Shamin agreed. Now she knew why Miriam said she loved her job, and why she kept telling Shamin to get a job at the mall right away—today.
"What time's yar shift start?"
"Five minutes. Man, I wish I was working here." She looked hopefully at Miriam. "Trade places?"
"I don't wrap gifts." Miriam grinned. "I take the pictures."
Shamin grinned. "Take one for me, okay? That's all I want for the Holidays."
"We'll see. Now get down there before ya're late for ya first day. That'd be a great way to start."
"It would, wouldn't it?" Shamin smiled. "By at least my 'uniform' is normal." She held up the long skirt portion of her red velvet dress. "I just hope my ears don't fall off again."
Miriam smacked her gum. "Get lost, and don't work too hard."
"Trust me, I won't. Bye!"
The older woman waved her good bye, leaning back on her chair and looking around the mall. Tacky holiday decorations hung and seemed to be directed at the 'giving' part of the Holiday. (Miriam had always preferred the 'taking' portion, herself.) She looked at her watch one last time, then started up to the main attraction of the center, straightening out her elbow long white gloves as she did so. Walking past the ridiculous plastic reindeer and up the steps, she grinned at the short green elf that was nursing a bruised knee.
"Ya do look so cute," she grinned, then blew a large bubble.
Ash glared up at her. "Oh, don't you dare start with me, Miriam."
"Start what?" she asked innocently, crossing her arms. There was the definite I-Am-Superior look in her smile and eyes.
Ash stood up, the bells on his overly large shoes jiggling annoyingly. "Just one word, and I'll start training again. Promise or no promise!" He waited for that one word. Miriam had to say it. She would if she had any mercy in her at all.
Oh God, he must be delirious.
Miriam grinned, smacking her gum even more. It annoyed the heck out of him. "I won't say anything, Little Elf."
He glared at her. "I hate you," he muttered, turning around to get back to work. Why'd he have to get transferred to this section? He liked stocking shelves. And who was the ass that even suggested him?
"Remember, Elves smile!" Miriam reminded happily, going over to the camera and relieving the previous operator. Ash sneered at her, then forced his I'm-So-Happy smile. Miriam smirked. This was too easy of a job. Point, tell them to smile, and click. Job done. Miriam smiled turning around to look at the line of kids. "And who's next to sit on Santa's lap?"
"ME!" the first kid yelped, jumping up and down. Miriam was pretty sure it was a boy in a snowsuit.
"Well, up ya go," she smiled, unlocking the gate so the suit could get over to Ash and Santa. (There was kid in this thing right?)
"Hey, kid," Ash smiled.
The snowsuit looked up. "You look like a dork."
"Don't insult Santa's hired help," he retorted with a false sweet smile. "Just hop—gently—!" Ash groaned as the snowsuit jumped energetically on Santa, who looked less-than-thrilled at the treatment. Well, at least this kid when on the lap willingly. That last girl kicked hard, and Mommy had to put on those buckle shoes.
Miriam snapped the camera, then watched as the boy spewed his twenty-page Christmas list to Santa. Ash stood tapping his foot impatiently, bell going a-jingle a-jingle-jingle, and Miriam had to grin. God, this was comedy.
She wasn't sure what completed the costume. Was it the clown-sized green bell shoes that he constantly tripped from? The mint green knee pants with the holly-print trim? The really big forest green jacket that looked like Ash was a toddler wearing his father's coat? The blue-and-yellow knit tights with matching scarf and stocking hat? Or maybe the ludicrous elf ears at stuck out a good three inches? The fact that he was so fricking short?
No, Miriam grinned, it was the expression Ash wore, the one that showed utter embarrassment. Miriam was damn glad she had gotten this job and didn't have to wear that costume. Her short sleeveless red dress with white fluff at the collar and hem, Santa hat, gloves, fishnet stockings, and knee-high high heels boots were something Miriam would have worn willingly; they showed decent taste, minus the Elf ears. Miriam would have even worn Shamin's costume, the long dark red velvet gown with loose long sleeves and matching Santa hat, but then she'd draw the line at the matching bell shoes. That was definitely pushing the point.
Miriam was glad the last Elf quit. He was a jerk and a bum. She just had to make sure she never told Ash who had suggested a new Elf with the promise of higher pay, as management needed someone who could "fit" into the getup.
When Ash looked up at, rolling his eyes in boredom, Miriam smiled and gave him a small wave. He glared at her.
She was so glad she wasn't in Wrapping. This was too much fun.
****
"My toes were starting to curl," Shamin muttered as she slipped off her shoes and pulled off the hat, forgetting about the hairpins. "Ow."
"Your toes?" Ash growled, hiding his costume in the back of the locker as Shamin went towards the changing rooms. "I had five more hours than both of you since that ass didn't show up! Third time this week that's happened to me! I could sue because of child-labor laws! But today, that costume." He shuddered.
"That was rather mean of him, wasn't it?" Miriam smiled, brushing her hair. SantaLand got out ten minutes earlier than Wrapping, so both Ash and her were changed. "But ya were such a cute Elf."
"Don't start," Ash warned, slamming the locker. "I'm never having kids. Never. I hate kids."
"Only because every fifth one kicked ya," she said lightly.
"Did you take a picture, Miriam?" Shamin asked, slipping back in, costume draped over her arm.
Ash's head snapped up from tying his shoe. "You better have not."
"I would only be doin' my if I did," she grinned, slipping her hand in her pocket. "Not my fault if the camera was bit off." With take she produced three pictures from her pocket.
"Give me them!" Ash ordered, trying to snatch them from her hand.
"The entire mall saw you—"
"And laughed at ya," Miriam added, weaving her arm around.
Shamin grinned, jumping on the bench to get the pictures from Miriam. "And yet you're upset about some pictures!" she laughed, dashing nimbly away.
"You wear that costume, then!" Ash challenged, trying to get the pictures as Shamin strategically placed a table in between them. "Give me the pictures, Shamin."
"No," she smiled sweetly, moving sideways as Ash started to come around the table.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Children," Miriam interrupted, setting her hands between the two of them. "Enough games. We got some serious shoppin' to do. Christmas is so close, ya know. Morrow night."
"If she wants any presents from me, she'll give me the pictures!" Ash snapped, climbing over the table.
"I got my present! Thank you so very much too!" Shamin laughed, crawling under the table and out the door. "Meet ya at the apartment!"
Ash glared, crossing his arms angrily. "You are getting nothing!" he hissed at Miriam.
"All I need is yar embarrassment," she grinned, poking his nose. "And I got that." She set her purse on her shoulder. "Have fun shoppin'."
"Have fun spending your first honest paycheck!" Ash snapped back at her retreating figure.
"And yars!"
Ash dug his hand in his pocket and found that it was empty. "MIRIAM!"
****
Pyro jumped off the bed and onto the other. "Give that back, Rodent!"
"Pikapi gave it to me!" Pikachu countered, diving under the bed.
"That one's mine! Miriam gave it to me!"
"Yours is in the kitchen!"
"Is not! I distinctly remembering shoving it under the pillow!" he growled, jumping right in front of her.
Pikachu held her giant candy cane—it was even bigger than her—protectively, little bolts escaping her cheeks. "Chuka moved it, dork, otherwise Chupi would have broken it when she jumped on the bed!"
Pyro glared at her, but eased back. Without another word, he leaped onto the bed and curled into a ball, growling that he had made a stupid mistake. Pikachu followed a few moments later, sitting on the pillow.
"This is my Tra—bed," Pyro growled. "Go sit on Blondie's."
"I don't want to sit on the couch," Pikachu said lightly, peeling off the wrapping to suck on the candy. "What were you gonna call Chupi?"
"Shut up, Rodent."
She grinned, knowing what he really meant to say. Sucking contently, Pikachu looked around the bedroom. Pikapi and Chuka had decided it would be cheaper to simply rent a room for a few months instead of staying in a hotel. The apartment was nice, albeit cheap. The beds were covered in their sleeping bags, and the previous owner had left the couch Pikapi was using. (No wonder, considering how lumpy and rotten the thing was.) There was no refrigerator, but they did have a small stove. Luckily none of them expected decent meals, most of the time grabbing a ration from their bags.
"Hey, Pyro, look at my tongue!" Pikachu laughed, sticking out her tongue to show that it was semi-striped.
He looked at her slightly. "Oh, wow. A dork."
She grinned and continued to suck on the candy.
"What time is it?"
"They'll be home in a few hours," Pikachu said lightly.
Pyro rolled on his side. "I don't see why I couldn't come along. Something could happen."
Pikachu shook her head sadly. For the past few weeks, Pyro had been less than thrilled at staying in the apartment. He didn't like having four walls around him. No, that wasn't quite it. He didn't like being alone. (Pikachu, in his opinion, didn't count as company.) He wanted to get out and explore the lay of the land, but that was dangerous in this city, especially around Christmas. Of course, that was his reasoning for why he should be with Miriam. It was dangerous. He just got the idea about for whom wrong. As far as Pyro was concerned, the only one who would get hurt was the other guy.
"What is going on, anyway?"
"It's Christmastime," Pikachu informed him. "Or close to Chanukah, depending on the Religion."
"Do we get to eat another bird?" Pyro had liked Thanksgiving a lot, even though it had been where they just stopped at a restaurant.
"We can, but it's not really tradition. This holiday we get presents. Well, Pikapi did last year. It's a family holiday."
Pyro looked at her dully. "So they just invent a Holiday for family?"
"Well, it's supposed to be religious, but Commercialism Has Gotten A Hold." Pikachu wasn't sure what that meant, but she had heard Pikapi's father say that once, and Pikapi had agreed, so it was probably true.
He nodded, making it seem like he understood. "So what happens?"
"You don't know?" Then she cursed her mouth. Of course he wouldn't know, being from the forest his whole life, away from Human contact. "Sorry, my mistake. At Pikapi's house, they gathered for supper and then gave out presents. And this man comes down the chimney. His name is Santa Clause."
Pyro growled at the thought of an intruder entering their place. "Doesn't Miriam work with that guy?" So he was going to try robbing a fellow worker, huh? Well, Mister Santa Claus better get ready to meet Mr. Sharp Claws, whose friends with Mr. Sharp Teeth.
Pikachu shrugged. "But you give people you care about gifts."
Pyro blinked slowly. "What do you give them?"
"Whatever you want, I guess. Maybe what they want. You don't have to give gifts, of course. This is a Holiday about love and stuff."
"And you can't wrap that up," Pyro finished sarcastically. "I better not get another coat."
"Pyro, I think you're missing the point. It's better to give than to receive."
He looked at her like she was a moron. "No it's not. I'd rather get than give. Cheaper."
Pikachu rolled her eyes. "Not literally! Morally it's better."
"You mean with Ethics and stuff?" She nodded, and Pyro grinned. "I don't got any of them."
"Bull!"
He grinned, sitting up. "Really? I'm not very nice, you know." Then, with lightening quick reflexes, he snatched her candy cane and ran. Pikachu was right on his heels.
"PYRO!"
****
"Are you almost done?" Ash whined from his bench, the few bags Miriam had bought next to him. "I'd like to get my check back."
"I told ya ya'd get it back. I just didn't say when," Miriam grinned, picking up glass ornament.
Ash looked critically at the bags and what was inside them. "Why are you buying this crap? It's not like you can travel with it."
"That's not the point. The point is I have it."
"Have you actually bought any gifts?"
"Yep. For some of the girls at work, and Shammy and the Pokémon. Can't shop for ya if ya're here, though."
"Give me my money and I'll leave," Ash smiled.
"And then I'd lose my pack mule? Think not," she grinned. "Whatcha gonna get me?"
"Nothing, remember?" he smiled.
"Ya're so cute," she kissed. "What 'bout Rodent?" Ash shrugged. "Pyro?"
"Why would I get something for him? Maybe I should just wrap up my arm," he suggested sarcastically.
"How 'bout Shamin?"
"I dunno. She said she already got her present, anyway."
"Don't ya ever take what she says seriously," Miriam advised with a smile.
"I'm not stupid."
"That's debatable. Which one?" She held up two orbs for Ash's inspection.
"They're the same," Ash said slowly.
"No. This one's purple, and this one's dark blue."
"I don't care, Miriam." He looked at her with pleading eyes. "Please, just give me my check, all right? I have shopping too."
"All guys wait for the last second."
"Only because girls make them lug their shopping bags around the five weeks beforehand."
Miriam smiled at him. "Fine. Go shopping."
Ash grinned, jumping up. "My check?"
"Ya left it in yar locker."
"What?"
She smirked at him. "Ya left it in yar locker," she repeated slowly, smiling even wider. "Idiot."
Ash stood flabbergasted. "You—ugh!" With turned smartly and stormed out of the store, Miriam's laughter in his ears.
****
Shamin carefully set down her wrapped presents under their very tiny tree (Miriam had asked what was the point in getting a big, expensive tree). "What do you think, guys?"
Pikachu sniffed her present, trying to figure out what it was. "Chu?"
"No hints!" Shamin laughed.
Pyro sat on his hunches, eyeing his present but having too much pride to inspect it like Pikachu. But he did note with satisfaction that it was bigger than hers was.
"I can't wait until tomorrow, can't you?" she chatted standing to stretch. "We're going out to restaurant, you guys too, but you got to be careful, of course."
Pikachu and Pyro nodded.
"And then we might get to open presents. Miriam says she might make us wait until Christmas Day, but that's so like her. What are you going to get her, Pyro?"
Pyro stopped pointblank. He thought Pikachu had been kidding on that.
"You should get her something. And what are you getting Shan, Pikachu?" Pikachu looked equally abashed, and Shamin looked down at them with a half smile. "Tsk, tsk. Selfish little creatures," she teased as she opened a bag to get something to eat.
Both Pikachu and Pyro looked at each other, slightly in worry.
****
Both Miriam and Shamin looked up from their board game when Ash trudged in, holding only a small package.
"What'd you do?" Shamin asked.
"Shopped."
"Did ya buy anythin', other than cards?" Miriam asked after seeing the label.
"Yes, I did. I bought my mom and dad some stuff, and I mailed it out. And I'm going to write cards to everyone else."
"Even us?" Shamin asked sweetly.
"Do you know how much postage costs?" Ash countered. "The post office must be rich from what I paid them."
"So what'd ya get yar folks?" Miriam asked curiously as Ash settled down next to them with a pen, ready to write the Merry Christmas junk that all people write in Christmas cards. His had Pokémon on them, big surprise there.
Ash shrugged, trying to write neater than normal on a card with an underwater-variety Christmas scene displayed on it. "I got my mom this small glass sculpture thingy with flowers and birds. And for Dad I got this really weird magnet thing. You can make sculptures or something, I think. Sort of a stress reliever thing. It was either that or a tie." He looked up and grinned.
"What'd ya get Rodent?"
"Nothing yet. I'm going out early tomorrow before work to finish up, and mail these things."
"Who's Misty?" Shamin asked, looking over his shoulder.
He tried to shrug neutrally. "Old friend. I still owe her a bike, I guess."
"You guess?"
"Okay, I do. Like Misty'd ever let me forget, right, Pikachu?"
Pikachu smiled, and she could see Ash was seriously struggling not to give anything away.
"Anyway, it's a long story, but we traveled together for a few years. Brock and Tracey too," Ash finished quickly, stuffing Misty's card into an envelope and sealing it. Then he went to Brock's card.
Miriam and Shamin looked at each other, then went back to their game.
****
"What are you guys doing?" Ash demanded at the Pokémon who wouldn't let him out the door. Just because it was still dark out didn't mean he wouldn't start shopping.
"Pikapi, pikachu pika chuchu," Pikachu explained while Pyro growled.
"You don't need to shop for presents," Ash sighed.
"Chu!"
He rolled his eyes, then gripped his pack. "Fine, you both can come. Just let me right a note to Miriam so she doesn't worry about Pyro." Ash glared at the fox. "And you be nice to me, for once. I'm doing you a favor."
Pyro snorted, then watched as Ash walked over to write the note. "I'm not getting in there," he said as Pikachu leaped in.
"Don't be stubborn," Pikachu scolded. "There's plenty of room."
"No."
"Well, what are you gonna do? Ride on Pikapi's shoulders like you do on Chuka?"
"I'm not getting in there."
"Pyro."
Ash walked over. "Okay, Pyro, in."
Pyro growled.
"I'm not playing, Pyro. Get in next to Pikachu," Ash ordered patiently. Pyro still glared at him. "Look, you can't just walk around. We'd get in even more trouble than normal. Now get in."
Pyro sat stubbornly.
"You're not coming along if you don't get in," Ash warned. "I tell you, you're not."
Pyro glared at him.
****
"You're fricking heavy," Ash complained under his breath, trying to hold I'm-a-really-cool-stuff-toy Pyro in his arms. Pyro glared at him for even suggesting the notion. "Stubborn Pokémon. You didn't have to bite so hard either." The fox growled, stating subtly that he could have bitten a lot harder.
They walked down the ice slick walkway, Ash occasionally glancing in the windows at possible gifts.
"So, Pyro, what do you plan to buy Miriam?" he asked conversationally, then thought about what he had just said. "How do you plan to pay for it?"
Pyro grinned up at him.
"Why do I even ask?" Ash muttered, then looked over his shoulder to try and look at Pikachu. "Is it the same for you?"
They hadn't though about that part of the problem, or at least she hadn't. "Pi," she admitted sheepishly.
Ash shook his head sadly, but there was a slight grin on his face. They just wanted to get in on the fun. "You silly Pokémon. All right, I'll chip in for your gifts. Just don't make them too expensive. And yes, that includes you, Pyro."
The fox bristled his fur. He should be able to have Blondie buy whatever he wanted the boy to buy. This was Christmas, after all. Besides, where was he going to find a cheap good gift for Miriam?
****
He felt really stupid at the cash register with his eyes closed, but Ash did it anyway so he didn't quite know what Pikachu had picked out for him. Luckily the clerk had seen a lot more weirdoes already today, and Ash was probably one of the more normal ones to close their eyes as their items were checked out. Even still, she looked at him with slight apprehension, fingering the security button.
"Okay, Pyro, have you found anything, yet?" Ash asked as he leaned against the wall outside next to an alley, looking up at the figure above them. Pyro had refused to go into such a store (both Pikachu and Ash had found it interesting on the outside) and had spent some time strolling the avenue via rooftops and ledges.
Pyro glared at him as an answer. Christmas shopping was hard work, and he didn't like it anymore. Not that he ever liked it, mind you, but now he really despised it. Christmas was sadistic.
Ash smiled. He hadn't had much more luck in finding the last two gifts either, but he knew the fox would be taking it harder. Pyro had no sense of patience, just a bit less than Ash had. "Don't worry. You still got like eight hours. And remember, it's the thought that counts."
Pyro almost spit-fired him.
****
Pyro snickered from the balcony next to Pikachu. "Why wouldn't Miriam let me see this?"
Pikachu glared at him, but she too was having difficulty keeping a straight face. "It's not funny." She was seriously trying not to laugh.
"No," Pyro agreed, then laughed aloud. "It's hilarious!"
She gave up and laughed along. "Can you believe that outfit?" she demanded, tears from her eyes and she pointed down at her Trainer.
"And that the stupid is actually wearing it!" Pyro added gleefully.
"Look at those shoes!"
"That color! The pants look like warm vomit!"
Pikachu snorted, rolling on her back.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?"
Both Pikachu and Pyro leaped up and turned to see a group of people holding nets, darts, and badges stating them as "Feral Pokémon Control".
Pyro growled. "Oh, crap."
Pikachu nodded her head, letting her electric sacs start to work.
"Let's get to work, guys."
****
Screams filled the mall, and Ash looked up from his post to see people running to all directions. "What's going on!" Suddenly he saw what, as two little figures started escaping the stairs that led upstairs. "Oh, god!"
"Wild Pokémon are in the mall!" a mother screamed, clutching her children and running off.
"But Mommy, I wanna see!"
Ash kicked off the stupid shoes, grabbed a box, and started to run down the steps just as Pikachu released a Thundershock at a section of the guards that suddenly had gotten too close. Pyro, on the other hand, managed to avoid the men by sheer agility and speed. (The fox held promise.) He leaped onto carts and up a banner to stand on the railing of the balcony.
"PIKACHU!" Pikachu spat, slipping up and over a man's shoulder, similar to what she did to Ash, and shocking him.
Ash gritted his teeth and let out a piecing whistle Miriam had taught him. The men wouldn't know where it was from, but Pyro and Pikachu could figure it out easily. Pikachu looked up from her run and saw him. Ash pointed at the box, opening it. They always were empty, and Pikachu nodded, doubling back in double-time.
He knew he had to play the part right, otherwise they'd figure it out. When Pikachu neared close enough that even the dumbest Pokémon Catcher could figure out where she was headed, he screamed, "It's going to attack me!" then dived stupidly next to the sleigh. Pikachu was soon next to him and in the box, and he slammed the lib shut and redid the bow.
The officers ran by, one stopping to check him. "You all right?"
"Where that thing go?" Ash whispered fearfully.
"Don't worry, kid. We'll get it." The man then looked around the mall. "Well, there goes my Christmas shopping," he muttered, running off.
"Where'd Pyro, Pikachu?" Ash whispered to the box.
"Chu," she responded.
Sudden a man screamed.
"Oh, I think I know," Ash smiled in a worried manner. Damn fox, get down here!
"Hey, Boss, I got one!" a voice called, and Ash looked up to see a heavily burned man clutching a kicking bag.
"Great, least we got one!"
"We put this one down! He's mean!" the wounded man ordered as the bag gave an especially mean kick.
"Pi!" the box screeched.
"Oh, crap," Ash gasped.
****
The mall was unofficially closed, and Ash was given the day off, with pay. He was going to need that pay to bail Pyro out.
"Come on, Pikachu. Who knows how much time we got?" he gasped, running down the ice-slick street with a ripped page from the telephone book as his directions. He didn't even have time to get extra Pokémon for help. He only prayer was that he wasn't too late. Poor Miriam if he was . . . poor Pyro . . .
The Pokémon Pound was near the outskirts of town with a large burning pit next to it, a small fire going still. Ash refused to think of why they'd need it as he ran through the door, looking wildly down the aisles for Pyro.
"Can I help you?" asked a gruff voice.
Ash gasped and tried to get his composure and think of an excuse. He couldn't just say he was going to bail out that wild Pokémon that terrorized the mall today. "Umm . . . could I . . . buy a Pokémon for my . . . friend?" he squeaked.
The dirty man held his cigar tightly between his teeth. "Here?"
"I heard they're cheaper?"
"Course they are. Don't have all that fancy doctoring. These are wild Pokémon. Well, they were," he grinned, indicating the empty cages with a heavily bandaged hand, something Ash was willing to bet as Pyro's work. "Now they're just dead."
Ash tried to think. "How about a newborn?" Then he tried to sneer. "I don't know why she wants one, the slimy pests." Pikachu kicked him through the pack, hard, and Ash struggled to keep any indication on his face off.
"So, getting one for your girlfriend?" the man grinned, taking away the cigar. He had a gold tooth, and the rest were yellow.
"Um . . . yeah," Ash smiled. "She's stupid for wanting one, if you ask me. Dangerous, they are. You hear about that attack at the mall today?"
The man chuckled. "Yep. Caught one."
"I heard there was like five there, and they were on a murderous rampage!"
"Yep."
"And you only caught one?" Ash had to grin at the trap he had caught the man in.
"There's devils," the man gruffed, rubbing his chin. "I think I can help you with your girlfriend trouble. We got a pup."
"Oh, thanks. About that one you caught at the mall? Did you destroy it yet? Should be destroyed as soon as possible, seeing how dangerous Pokémon are. Especially that one. They say he was the ringleader, and the rest of the gang'll come down soon." If Pyro was hearing this, Ash prayed he had a sense of Humor. Pikachu certainly didn't, kicking him through the pack at every insult to Pokémon, and she knew he was just kidding. "I just hope that Pikachu doesn't go on any attack sprees. She attacked a boy, did ya hear?"
"They attack everyone. Look, I'll show you that pup. Come with me."
"Thanks, Sir." Ash let him go through the door before he slid off his pack. "Would you stop kicking me!" he hissed.
Pikachu glared at him. "Pi chu pikachu!"
"Fine, I deserve it, all right. Just look around the rest of the place and find Pyro, all right? I'll stall this guy. Umm, make a crash if you find and free him." Then Ash turned and took off after the man.
Pikachu frowned at him, thinking he didn't have to play the part of a Pokémon hater so well. Then she sniffed the air, trying to find Pyro's scent. That was easily done. Seemed like he defiled the whole place. Typical Male.
Sniffing carefully, she started over. There was another door just behind the desk, and Pikachu jumped up to turn the knob and push it open. Ooh, yeah, he definitely came this way. "Pyro?"
"About time!" he snapped in the darkness from the opposite end of the room. "Get me out of here!"
"Let me get a light!"
"NO!" he screamed, then paused. Pikachu could hear him taking a deep breath to control himself. "Don't. Don't turn the light on, Pikachu. You don't want to see."
Pikachu sat startled. It sounded like there was a tremor of fear in his voice, in Pyro's? God, she didn't want the light on now, not if he was afraid. "All right."
Quickly she scurried over to his voice. Her fur trembled, for now that she was in the heart of the room a smell emitted from the room. She was glad Pyro hadn't let her turn on the light, and she didn't want to know what the wet stuff she avoided was, the stuff that dripped from the ceiling.
Pyro could see in the dark, at least better than she, and he knew, and Pikachu knew that. She leaped into the table, and cut her paw on a knife that was out. "Ow!" she gasped, sucking on her paw.
"Are you all right?" Pyro asked, concerned. It was so unlike him.
Tasting her blood, Pikachu nodded, walking closer to his voice. She felt the bars. "Do you need a key?"
"No. We're dumb Pokémon, remember?" he said with false lightness. "There's a lever, two really. You squeeze both of them and pull the door."
Pikachu nodded and grit her teeth, pushing the levers together. Her wounded paw complained heavily, but she continued and yanked hard on the door. Pyro bounded out the second the door was open an inch, thus causing Pikachu to loose her balance and almost fall from the table. He gripped her tail to save her.
"Thanks," she gasped.
"You too," he replied. "Let's get out of here." Pyro literally leaped down the table and out the door at top speed. Pikachu followed just as quickly, shutting the door.
"Pyro?" she asked, looking around. He was gone. "Pyro?"
His head appeared out of Ash's bag. "Can we leave now?"
Pikachu bit her lip. He was afraid.
****
"Here it is," the man gruffed, stopping at a cage. Ash bent down to examine the mass of rags.
"What?" he asked, confused.
The man looked down and rapped smartly on the bars. "Out, ya mutt."
The rags moved, and suddenly an orange face appeared. "A Growlithe," Ash muttered.
"Know your Pokémon, do you?"
"My . . . girlfriend thought they were cute," Ash said quickly, studying the pup as it looked at him with its large brown eyes hopefully. It was only a few months old, its milk teeth still in and mostly a mass of downy, stripped fur. The lines were good though. This was no street mutt Pokémon under his inspection. "Where'd ya get it?"
"He came in last week, disabled runt of the litter. Not worth a penny, owner said."
"What's wrong with it?" Ash asked. It was cute . . .
"Deaf. Won't be able to control it when it gets older, and who wants a deaf mutt?"
"What's gonna happen to it?"
"Bring-ins get a week to get bought. Captures, on the other hand, get killed same day brought in."
Ash stiffened, but locked his eyes on the pup. "Really?" If the lines were good, it was possible the pup could be trained decently, making it possible to work around the disability. Ash hadn't ever heard of someone using a deaf Pokémon in battle though, and he could understand why. A Trainer and Pokémon didn't have time to constantly make eye contact, and it'd take a seriously long time before the pup could, if at all possible, learn psychic attacks.
"The Ninetales'll be dead once Dan comes in. Gonna chop the tails first. They're worth something. Fur would too, except he's so small. Got a Ninetales farm couple miles away. Make coats from their fur."
"Hope the fire insurance is good," Ash muttered. That was disgusting, but Ash knew better than to comment. After all, hamburgers were made of Tauros. Those coats had to made of something as well. He made a point, though, to inform Miriam that some coats were made with Ninetales' fur.
"Oh, their fires been disabled. Most fire Pokémon have this thing in their mouth that ignites the gas they give off. It gets taken out."
Ash turned his head to look at the man, slightly disgusted. The fire of a fire-type Pokémon was the first method of self-defense. "This pup too?"
The man blew smoke down at the Growlithe. "Too young. Not fully developed in the mouth. See, can only make smoke." As if to illustrate his point, the man kicked the cage to startle the pup, and smoke instantly escaped, followed by a series of ear-splitting yelps. "Cute, ain't he?"
Ash took his hands away from his ears. That attack held definite promise. "Yeah." He had to take the pup. One week already passed, and the guy said they were only allowed a week here. "How much for it?"
"You want to get it?"
He nodded, shrugging nonchalantly. "I have to get her something. Better to get her a pest so she never wants one again. Besides, I know who'll be taking care of it." A very twisted version of the truth, Ash admitted to himself.
The man nodded, grabbing a key and undoing the lock. The Growlithe backed up fearfully, and yelped pitifully when the man grabbed him by the nap of the neck. "We got to fill some papers out, of course. Come with me."
Still holding the pup that way, the man left, and Ash had to bite his tongue so he didn't say anything, listening to the whimpers. The poor guy.
Just as they were walking out, a bell rang. She found him, Ash thought in a relieved tone, but when he got to the center, he saw someone else had entered. Oh, damn.
"In a sec. Sign here, kid." The man gave a paper to Ash, and Ash quickly scrawled his name. Then he cursed mentally, seeing that it was his real name. "All yours, Kid. I'll see ya in a few days to return the pup, I guess."
Ash smiled. "Probably. How much?"
"Take the mutt," he grinned, tossing the mutt over. Ash caught it, startled, then tried to clumsily reassure it.
"Thanks. Where do you get that doctoring stuff, case we do keep it."
The man grinned evilly. "About a hundred miles away. And law says they got to be fixed safe."
"I guess we will be returning it," Ash grinned. Then, carefully he turned, still clutching the shivering pup. He bumped the newcomer. "Oh, sorry, sir."
The man grunted. "No problem kid. Nice Growlithe."
Ash hadn't heard, seeing the red 'R'. Team Rocket. Shit! Ash backed up slowly towards his pack, the squirming Growlithe locked in the crook of his arm. This wasn't good. Where was Pikachu?
"I want that Ninetales caught today," the Rocket member snapped.
"What for?"
"My business," he said, slapping down a thick wad of cash.
Oh, crap! Ash tried to stay calm. Then something nudged his ankle, and he looked down to see Pikachu smiling up at him, paw wrapped in a piece of cloth. Pyro glared at him as well. Breathing a sigh of relief, Ash gripped the pack and all but ran from the building as the keeper moved towards the back room.
****
Ash walked carefully into the apartment. It was late and he hoped everyone was asleep.
"What the Hell happened to Pyro!" Miriam screamed, coming from nowhere to shake him at the collar.
"—" Ash tried to get out, but Miriam was seriously upset.
"Calm down, Miriam!" Shamin yelled.
"NINE!" Pyro agreed in an annoyed tone, sticking his head out from the still shaking pack.
"Pyro!" Miriam gasped, dropping Ash. The fox instantly leaped into her arms and started to nuzzle her. "Oh, ya're all right! I was so frickin' worried!"
"It was all over the news! Attack on the mall!" Shamin screeched. "Where were you guys?"
"We had to get Pyro out before they killed him."
Miriam stopped, frozen. "My baby was almost killed?!"
Ash backed up, seeing that dangerous light in her eyes. "Um . . . yeah."
"Ya are never to touch Pyro AGAIN!" Miriam screamed, shaking him again. This time Pikachu fell out of the bag with a flower. Pyro instantly gripped it and pawed Miriam's leg, holding it up to her. "What's this?"
"His Christmas present to you," Ash said quietly as Miriam took the rose. "He picked it out."
"Aw, my baby! Ya're so sweet!" Miriam gushed, enveloping the fox in a tight hug.
Shamin smiled at Ash. "You are so lucky, Shan. She was going to kill you."
"Yeah, I noticed." Pikachu tapped his leg and pointed at Ash's pack. "Oh, right. I got you something."
Her eyes sparkled. "Really? What?"
He took off his pack and reached inside. "I had to get it, and it's going to be really hard to work with because—"
Shamin screamed and grabbed the still sleeping pup. The Growlithe could sleep through anything after Ash gave it a few chilidogs, forget about being deaf. Even Miriam's shaking hadn't woken it up. "It's so cute! Thank you, thank you!"
"Shamin, about that pup—"
"Isn't it so cute, Miriam!" Shamin exclaimed, lifting the pup for Miriam's all-important inspection. The pup yawned and blinked blearily.
"Ohh!" Miriam gushed, petting the Pokémon. He yelped happily, pleased with the nice attention he was receiving. This was so different than that cage. Could he have some more of those meat thingies?
"About the pup—"
"Shan, this is the best gift ever!" she laughed, hugging him and giving him a peck on the cheek, only to push herself away quickly. "It's so cute!"
"The pup—" Ash started again, only to be cut off again. He rolled his eyes and gave up. She'd find out soon enough. "Merry Christmas."
Pikachu looked up accusingly. "Pikapi, chu pika!"
He grinned. "Well, I think she'll still like him."
****
Misty opened her mailbox and pulled out the envelopes. Junk, junk, bill, junk, card . . .
She smiled a bit and set the others back in the box to hold the card. It had an Onix curled around some presents and a Geodude tossing more down. Who could it be from? The handwriting certainly looked familiar. Shrugging, she broke the seal and opened the card, reading slightly interested to see whom it was from.
Brock—
"Huh?" Misty muttered, unfolding the bottom to free the signature. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when she saw the name, and she let out a deep gasp, leaning up against the wall and other mailboxes to clearly think about what she was reading.
Ash
"Oh, my god," she whispered. He was still alive? He remembered about them? Then she blinked. "'Brock'? The idiot mixed up the cards?"
Her card was later found in the possession of Professor Oak.