The doctors finally let Ash out of the hospital with great reluctance. He was still somewhat weak, and they advised him to be careful, but they couldn't keep him at the hospital forever. Especially not when he was getting rather restless. And the last thing anyone wanted was a restless Ash Ketchum on his hands.

"At last, Pikachu," Ash rejoiced to the Pokémon riding on his shoulder, "I'll get to eat something other than hospital food!"

"Pi, Pika-pi!" Pikachu said happily. He was glad his trainer was finally coming home.

Bulbasaur was now feeling rather protective of Ash, so the trainer had replaced one of the Pokémon in his party and let the Grass-Type come with him. "Bulba!" he exclaimed warningly. Don't run!

Ash had been starting to get a little too joyous and had been gaining speed. Noticing how far behind his mother, Bulbasaur, Brock, Misty, and Professor Oak (who was coming to keep an eye on him and to talk to him privately) were, he paused and looked at them sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Perhaps the idea of letting him get some fresh air wasn't the greatest one," laughed Brock.

"No kidding," Misty grinned, her eyes glinting happily.

They watched Ash as he pranced happily about, and they also watched Bulbasaur as he ran frantically about trying to stop Ash from prancing happily about.

Soon, they arrived at the Ketchum residence, and Ash burst into his house. "I'm home at last!" he shouted joyfully.

But out of the corner of his eyes, he saw something orange, black, and white, and suddenly his knees locked up and his vision went black.


"Ash? Ash?" a voice came to him distantly.

"Unh?" he managed through a dry mouth, forcing his eyes open.

Misty's face was above his as she frantically fanned him with her hand. "Are you all right?"

"What happened?" Ash asked.

His friend seemed somewhat reluctant to answer, exchanging secretive looks. "Uh, you just sort of fainted..."

"Why?"

Misty looked at Brock and Delia and Professor Oak uncomfortably.

Professor Oak finally spoke, "Do you mind if I speak privately to Ash for a few moments?"

"Go ahead, Sam," Mrs. Ketchum said, appearing to be somewhat relieved.

"Let's go up to your room to talk," Professor Oak suggested. Ash nodded and led the way, a sense of dread washing over him.

The two sat down, and Ash waited for the other to begin. He was not disappointed.

"Ash, I'm afraid you're going to have some lasting effects from the Houndour incident."

A sickly look got on Ash's face as he imagined the worst.

"Ah, I see you have misinterpreted me, many apologies," Professor Oak said quickly. "Nothing physical, mind you." Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "The problem is mental...Unless other measures are taken, I'm afraid you're going to have a rather severe phobia for the rest of your life."

Ash looked down at his hands, avoiding the Pokémon Professor's eyes.

"You were wondering why you fainted? I think we both know why...You saw a black, orange, and white object your mother had out from the corner of your eye—some candle or something—, and your instincts took over and knocked you out, so that if you had been attacked again you would not have felt the pain...I do not know if every time you see those three colors together you will have the same reaction, but this phobia of yours will be a hard one to deal with. You are a strong boy, and I am sure you can handle it, but I wanted to present you with another option...Do not reject it immediately. Think it over for a few days, then get back to me on it."

A bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, Ash whispered, "What is it?"

Professor Oak told him, and a few minutes later the pair walked out of the room.

Ash forced his feet forward, the act as hard to complete as it would have been if he had a pair of Snorlax attached to them. He couldn't believe what he had been asked to ponder. He followed Professor Oak to the living room, where the Pokémon Professor soon excused himself, leaving Ash with a rambunctious Pikachu and Bulbasaur, an ecstatic mother, and two overjoyed friends.

But Ash Ketchum just couldn't enjoy himself. He had a sick feeling in the bottom of his stomach that refused to go away. He knew that in that room there was also something else. Thoughts of the decision loomed over him, and, try as he might, he couldn't get them out of his mind. He shook his head and tried to concentrate on Bulbasaur and Pikachu's argument.


Author's Notes: First, Cynophobia is a fear of dogs.

Second, in the series, Ash probably doesn't bear any noticeable scars from his Spearow encounter, but I think that anyone in his position would have walked out of that experience with some sort of anxiety towards Spearow in the future. Also, I think that Ash will probably always harbor some sort of dislike towards Gary, simply because they are rivals.