It's Not Your Fault by WyldClaw

Plot: This is an AAML/ Pokeshipping WCverse one-shot set in Pikachu's point of view .. It is set before Cyndaquil sees Ash and Pikachu in her room in Devon's despicable plan - so beware of spoilers for that fanfic as well as Pokémon the movie 2000 II: Lawrence's Revenge . Ash and Pikachu have a little talk after Ash has a nightmare involving Devon and Giovanni. I only own Devon and the hybrid's - nothing else. I use the first way Krookodile uses Mud-Slap in the anime in this fic There is a spine tingling part i took from my Pokémon the movie 2000 II: Lawrence's Revenge fic. () Is translated Pokéspeech and italics indicating thoughts. Enjoy. please read and review. thanks

Last edited November 21, 2022

XxX

It was the middle of the night in the Mahogany Town Pokémon Center- the time when every guest there should have been asleep in his or her beds dreaming while nocturnal Pokemon like the Oddish evolutionary family, Sneasels, Venonats, Drowzees, Houndours and Hounddooms, the Zubat line and the like went about their business. However there was one guest in that Pokémon Center who was unable to sleep . A certain Electric Type Pokemon lying on a bed covers wearing a hard cast over their right forepaw and and panting after a nightmare-me.

I was on top of the bed covers of my trainer's bed in the guest room- unable to fall asleep no thanks to my injuries sustained in the brutal battle against Devon and the nightmare. I was trying to get my breath back after my horrendous vivid nightmare. I had been forced to relive my horrendous brutal battle with Devon's malicious cruel Teriados - a terrifying hybrid of Sandslash and Ariados with near transparent razor sharp wings and it nearly suffocating me if not for my best friend/trainer forfieting the match to save my life. I gulped as i touched my good front paw briefly to my throat still feeling its Sandslash claws against it and then recalling the rest of the nightmare, which stretched all the way from Ash's forfeiting to right before Devon- who turned out to be a human with Ditto DNA and blood inside his body who worked for Team Rocket poisoned Cyndaquil. but it changed from there.

~Dream begins~

Devon made the shock rings around my trainer zap him harshly as Misty and I screamed his name and then took out a tranquilizer gun and shot the two humans who tried to fight the effects with no luck. .Cyndaquill and I yelled our trainer's name as he managed to say "Sssstay strrrong you two.. Don't givvvve innn tooo himmmmm". before conking out.

Devon shot a tranquilizr dart at Cyndaquil who screamed as the dart burried itself in her skin . Within a minute she was knocked out as well. (You utter heartless beast! you already tortured, injured and poisoned her! Cyndaquil ! ) I yelled, struggled against the net I was trapped in , weak sparks spluttering out of my electrical sacks on my cheeks. ( What did you do to her? To my friends? When I .. get out of.. this net I'm... gonna shock that Ditto blood out of - ) I was cut off was the few sparks that came out stung like crazy- for one of the places Teriados' Fury Slash had purposely struck with its Fury Slash was my right electrical pouch. ( yeuuch!) I winced in pain and stopped the attack.

Devon smirked at my misfortune. "Ohh .. Is the little rat too hurt to attack?" I glowered at him. "Don't worry , the Fire type isn't dead .. yet and neither are the humans. Theres a bit of Stun Spore dust and a paralyzing drug in those tranq darts . It puts the poison in a bit of a statsis state. I'll give that runt the antidote .. eventually " The evil Ditto-human hybrid advanced on me but I was trapped. My fur bristled . "you .. are.. mine to deal with until I call .. my boss. " I shivered at the last two words.

We'd barely escaped-his power-hungry heartless boss Giovanni a few months ago though with scars that refused to heal. ."He'll be so glad to have you and the brat back in his clutches." My blood chilled as Devon looked at me greedily as he stopped and loomed over me with a cruel glint in his eyes as he put the tranquilizer gun away. "He has major plans for you. Of course you probably will still get a harsh starving session. He'll still beat the softness out of you and break you. ."

(Go. to.. hell.. will never submit to..that barbaric heartless … monstrous .. devil that is y-your boss. N-Never) I replied, holding my injured and bruised front paw against my side. I'd rather evolve and die-again that be forced to work for him. I tried to shock him but the sticky webbing seemed to absorb my energy.

Devon smiled cruelly as his eyes glowed blue and his mouth bulged out- just as it did before Devon used Toxic on Cyndaquil. I tried to back away in my prison as he opened his mouth.. But instead of thick purple goo, he fired a huge stream of brown mud at me. The second I saw it come out of Devon's mouth I shut my eyes. I felt the Mud-Slap attack hit me and fling the net a few feet away into a tree trunk. I winced as the attack ended and the net flopped onto the ground, . that's really going to hurt on top of my other injuries I thought as i opened my eyes and looked all over my body. I was covered in thick clumps of the thick , heavy Ground Type attack and couldn't really move. I spat mud out of my mouth .

Devon's eyes stopped glowing and went back to normal. "Try moving around with that. Oh wait… you can't- Ground is super effective against Electric moves and Mud Slap really weakens Electric moves. That ought kept you from attacking .. or what little you can attack - until my boss arrives. "

Underneath the heavy mud, my fur bristled. He jerked his head to the two knocked out trapped humans. " , You have no choice to obey him = if you disobey ... he get hurt. " he motioned to my trainer. " If you continue to fight or rebel against Giovanni.." his amber cold eyes gleamed over at my black haired trainer and he didn't finish the sentence.

I shuddered- I knew what Giovanni would do to him. while we were in the net Ash had told me-well Raichu-me-the crime lord was planning on using him to break my spirit since I was his Achilles' heel. More importantly, I knew what he didn't tell me- he'd murder if I continued to rebel. "The girl... however.. " His eyes gleamed. "Well.. now she won't have any choice to accept my offer since my boss will take the boy " My stomach churned .

I struggled to get out of the energy-draining sticky muddy Spider Web net I was in . I felt like i couldn't even move. (You're beyond insane . Misty won't help you with that . I'll n-never help you so just go.. to hell)

"That dead Qulava said almost the same thing ." My heart beat rapidly in my throat as the hybrid pulled a dagger speckled with dried red splotches out of a shealth with one hand. With the other hand he pulled out a large empty vial and a ziplock bag and pulled out the vial's stopper . My eyes went wide and I trembled as the hybrid knelt down before me, the blade in hand . "Besides ... you will help me. The boss will want to make you pay pronto and beat you into submission. I totally agree with him on that but.. he also needs your fur and your blood... " His eyes glowed yet again.. I didn't have time to squeak or yell as he used Glare on me. I felt my muscles freeze as I became paralyzed then a thick , ghostly Haunter hand appeared out of nowhere.

it grabbed my body tightly- and brought me to to very front of the net. I could only guess what he need my blood and fur for.. and it wasn't good.

(Won't.. l-let you that .. monster. c-clone m-me). I did my best to fight the hold despite my paralysis but

i was too weak. (Lemme .. go. I . won't help you or.. him. ) I said.

Devon raised the knife into the air . "No choice ra you're all mine and my boss'. No one can save you now…"

(No!) I said as the cold blade hit my left side.

~~~~~~~Dream Ends~~~~~~~

Something cold was hitting my side. I blinked my eyes a few time. The moonlight coming though the window shades illumuinted the room . I looked around as my heartbeat and breath slowly went back to normal- my left side had touched the could side bars of the bunk bed's ladder . thats what the cold feelimg was. I looked around the room and saw the outlines of my trainer sleeping mere feet away , Bayleef on the floor, and sleeping on the other side of the room - Ash's girlfriend Misty. All were asleep.

. I looked down at the hard cast covering my right front paw and sighed. Sleeping was really hard due the agonizing pain in my paw and the deep wounds Teriados gave me during the battle. For all the battles I'd taken part in the only one I could think of that came even close to that amount of brutality was the awful fight with Giovanni's vicious Persian.

(This sucks.) I muttered under my breath. I would never forget the anger coursing through my body when the malicious crime organization leader had looked at me hungrily – like I was an ultra-rare Legendary Pokémon. That was after he threatened Ash's life, briefly snagged me in a cage , beat me and then threatened me with starvation and whippings if i didn't co-operate with him and right before his heartless Persian had attacked. Devon gave me the same kind of greedy power hungry look when i was trapped in the Spider Web net.

I knew that it wasn't just the injury that was causing my sleeplessness though that was a part of it. I did have a peaceful rest after Chansey used Sing to make it easier for her to take care of my injuries from Teriados and Devon and my paw. However I couldn't get a decent night's sleep most night - each time i tried, I kept on having to relive either being abused/ threatened by Devon or his boss Giovanni. . I - along with my trainer and his girlfriend - had been through so much in just a few months I was surprised Ash and I weren't jumpy all the time.

Now I will have to deal with nightmares about Devon I shuddered. Evil cold-hearted villains the both of them .

I recalled the utter hatred I had for both Giovanni and Devon.t. (By the Pokegods i hate them both.) I muttered silently under my 's not enough that the memories of those events still haunt me but now I have to deal with them in my nightmares. Why can't he leave us alone? ... Oh right. Apparently I'm some super powerful Pikachu that Giovanni wants to slave for him and he wants to torture my trainer to break me. I'll never join him. Why would I do that? After the brutality his Persian showed me? I'd rather die –again- than be forced into his enslavement. I shivered again. I knew that my brief death after that incident truly wounded my trainer. sometime I'd would see him looking at me sadly at time Another reason for him and I to absolutely abhor that despicable Team Rocket leader with every muscle in our bodies. I sighed. …I just wish I knew how I came back to life. Ash won't say much about it . i dont blame him . it must bring up memories of that terrible day. -

(Huh?) I was jolted out of my thoughts as I felt my best friend/ trainer toss and turn under the soft bed cover, sweat glistening off his forehead.

He was muttering things like.. "No i wont give in." "Leave them alone" and "They're not a part of this..."

I felt sympathetic for him- whose life- like mine-had forever changed drastically a few months ago with the whole ordeal on Lawrence's airship . i can take a guess at two heartless cruel men involved in whatever bad dream he's having.

i couldn't blame the black haired human for having a bad night's sleep. He' had a tough past few days what with Jumping into the gym's ice cold pool and saving Cyndaquil, Jessie's Arbok nearly crushing his ribs and that horrendous battle with Devon. plus he'd gotten a near fatal delayed poisoning. Twisted hybrid!

Within a few minutes His trembling got worse and he started sweating really badly like he was in a humid environment instead of a pleasantly air conditioned room. I could hear his heartbeat beating fast. Poor Ash.. Whatever kind of horrid dream he's having must be an awful one.( I need to wake him up.)

I got up and inched the few feet trying to ignore the harsh pain in my right paw as I went up to his right arm and nosed it . He bolted up in the bed, breathing heavily, his dark brown eyes wide with fright.

"Pika-". He looked around and then became more relaxed as he saw me. " it wasn't real. it' wasn't real. Thank Mew it was just a dream and you're still here and okay . "

i had a bad feeling when he said that. ( I'm okay...) I glanced at the cast . ( well .. kind of okay.) I licked his arm for a few seconds until he heard his heartbeat and breathing go back to normal

He seemed to get comfort from that little gesture of kindness, "Did I wake you up buddy?"

(I couldn't sleep due to my injures and the stupid cast. And I.. had a nightmare ) I lowered my voice .

"Wh-What it about… him?" he lowered his own voice.

I shook my head. ( N-Not h-him. It was about D-D-Devon…. ) I went on and explained my nightmare in a hushed whisper.

The teenager gasped when I finished. "That monstrous psychotic sick-" he whispered a few not so kind words for Devon as he massaged my ears for a few minutes . " Thank Mew it was only a terrible nightmare and didn't really happen. Just keep telling yourself it was just a stupid awful nightmare and nothing more."

I nodded, relaxing at my trainer's touch. ( Thanks.. from the looks of it it I wasn't the only one who had a horrible dream you were tossing and turning really badly. You were also sweating really badly like you were around a Magmar or another Fire type Pokemon . Another nightmare?)

He nodded-. "Yeah. I hate having them every night. It was bad enough when it was just that.. despicable beast and Lawrence. But now... " He trailed off.

(I know what you mean. Join the club... Do... you want to tell me about it?) I saw a scared look in his eyes as he bit his lip- a nervous habit . It must have involved that malevolent soulless power hungry Team Rocket leader- no one else gets him looking this utterly scared . I licked his right hand briefly again . (Or if you just want to tell me part of it you can.)

He lowered his voice and tripped over his words. "It started off as a great dream- we were all playing and laughing." he briefly smiled. " By accident Phanpy threw me a few feet away into a big mud puddle with a light Tackle. " I smiled as well. The little Ground Type Pokemon was really strong for her size. " But then. " The smile left his face and was replaced by a frown. "This deep thick fog appeared and it- it changed n-not for the better."

Fear prickled my fur - I had a feeling what interrupted it. (H-h-him?) I sputtered.

He nodded. "We were running from some... things of Devon and a thunder j-jolt hit my legs and a tranquilizer dart struck me. Next thing I knew when I woke up I w-was tied up tightly in a chair in h-his office . H-h-he said I acted and looked extremely similar to someone he -" he gulped- "took c-care of a long t-time ago when his mother was still ruling the organization. Th-that it was like going back in time and l-looking in a mirror."

I felt my insides twist into a knot at those words. If he said Ash looked just like that person he 'took care of' then it' had to have been his dad!(You mean to say -) my voice was barely more than a dry whisper. (Giovanni took care of your dad and k-killed-) I couldn't finish my question.

My trainer's nod confirmed it. That beyond heartless vile coldhearted human! It wasn't enough for him to be threatened and nearly get killed by that power hungry villain - he's responsible for his dad's death! (I hope that didn't happen to your dad in real life.) I nosed his hand again as if to comfort him.

" thanks pall. I dunno k-know if he r-really did or if dad is still alive. Mom v-very rarely talks about him He's way beyond evil and i… wouldn't put it past him." he shuddered then continued on about the nightmare. "A-After him s-said that he brought a knife and asked me to j-join Team Rocket. I spat and his face and told him there was no way in hell I'd join. he said you weren't cooperating and w-wanted to test out a theory about our 'psychic link.'"

My fur bristled at the last two words. (What 'psychic link'? Is he truly insane? That's beyond crazy-) my electrical pouches on my cheeks started lightly sparking for a few seconds in agitation. Even that little spurt stung like mad for one of the places Teriados' Fury Slash had purposely hit - and left a scar-was my right electrical pouch. (Oww) I painfully winced and i stopped sparking. Lousy Teriados..

"Easy.. what's the matter Pikachu ?. " Ash said as he noticed my pain and my sparks sputtering to a stop.

(It's this stupid deep cut Teriados gave me on my right electric pouch. It stings like mad when I try to attack or spark up. I swear to Mew it did it intentionally.)

"oh buddy..." he looked worried.

(it's .. okay) I told him. (The Chansey told me that it .. will heal on his own. but she also put some kind of healing cream on it to speed up the process. said.. she'd give us some when we left. I just can't use any electrical attacks til it does heal .)

The human sighed with relief. "That's good to hear. at least you can still use your other attacks."

I looked down at my cast-covered paw for a heartbeat then returned his gaze. (Well at least some of them. I doubt I'd be able to mange Tackle, Double-Edge, Quick Attack or Agility with this stupid thing on .. it would look pretty lame. ) I paused for a fw minutes to get my breath . (Now…Wh-What about the rest of your n-nightmare? what happened a-after the deranged psychopath told you that? Did you tell him to go to blazes?)

"I did. I-I tried to tell him exactly what you said but Cassidy slugged me. H-he made two large video monitors appear. One showed an Injured and bound Mist and Cyndaquil looking f-fearful with D-Devon and his hybrid creations l-looming over them. Th-th other o-one.. " he stumbled over the words as if not wanting to recall the specific details.. " showed you bound to the floor with shockproof ropes and strong shockproof chains - dappled with.. red were around your paws had chains leading to a connected secure latch on the wall. That heartless Persian of h-his of his had its claws over you, ready to strike ." My fur prickled- I loathed that cat with every bone in my body. " You looked very bruised, thin, weak and there were countless injuries-some still reddened, some dried up all over your body.

He paused for a minute or tow and then continued . "G-Giovanni s-said he wanted to find out where y-your power came from and I was g-gonna help said y-you wouldn't give in to him no-matter what he did. He stated that by putting me in danger you'd finally submit to him as,,, your new master." He had a sickened look in his face as he said the last three words.

I shuddered, thinking of what had happened the first time we'd met. I shook my head. Over my dead-again body. I would never call that vicious cruel man my master or serve him.. Not after the beyond hell he put us through.

My trainer saw my body shudder and knew what i was thinking. " I agree pal . " He said softly . "H-He t-told me if that didn't work he'd ..." he left the sentence hang in mid air.

I had a feeling where the nightmare was headed. That heartless evil monster! (R-remember what y-you said he told you when Raichu-me was unconscious?) .We both shivered recalling what he'd said when we'd been trapped beneath the helicopter: "He- he said I was your Achilles' heel. He noticed you would do anything to keep me from harm. He t-told me he was going to use me to break your spirit. He- said he was going to take it out on me if-if you disobey."

Ash nodded and had a tough time getting the next sentence out- as if he didn't want to say the words out loud and saying them in the most quietest of whispers made it even deadlier . "He also th-th-threatened th-that if you continued to rebel…. he'd-he'd.. -"

(K-kill y-you.) I ended in a low whisper and he confirmed it with a nod. (I suspected as much when we were in the net beneath the helicopter after you relayed that brute's threat.) . I knew the teen had been too terrified to tell me then.

he nodded. "yeah.. sorry I didn't tell you then. We'd both been though so much and I was too concerned about what that heartless power hungry monster was planning for us. "

(You don't have to tell me the rest if you don't want to remember it.)

He exhaled with relief as he lay back on the pillow and my fur fell back to normal. "Thank Mew. I don't want to recall it. I hate seeing that savage cruel barbarian in my dreams."

(I utterly and completely despise him.) I shuddered.

"Same here. Come here buddy, I think we both need a hug." He tried to stand up against the headboard but groaned in pain. .

I looked at him worriedly. (Ash? Are you okay?)

"Yeah. It's just that stupid delayed poisoning."

I licked his right hand again to comfort him. Misty told me after he fell asleep and i woke up from my rest about his delayed poisoning and how Joy had to give him a new plain white shirt and light pants- which is what he was wearing. (Getting poisoned throws your whole system out of whack.) I stated then gulped. (Trust me from experience. Remember how fast my temperature rose after Jessie's Arbok poisoned me in Cerulean City?)

"You were a mess. Getting thrown into that locker and then wrapped in his coils probably didn't help."

I shook my head. (Not one bit.)

"I didn't know he was going to do that to you."

(This is Arbok we're talking about. He's a snake and snakes' main food sources are eggs and-) I shuddered. ( rodents like me. All those times when I could have been majorly poisoned but wasn't... my body didn't know what to do. That's why I collapsed on the gym floor, as we were about to leave to get the police.)

"Yeah. And you looked out of sorts even though I gave you the Antidote. "

I nodded, (I was still woozy when I fainted on the ground when Misty was about to clobber you.) I paused to catch my breath. (I… shouldn't have used Thunder on Jessie and James. It really hurt ). I paused to get my breath. (Didn't you say she was concerned and that's why she insisted on us staying the night?)

He nodded but I could feel his face blush. "But that rest along with the Hyper Potion and the water seemed to help you recover."

(It did.)

I changed the subject as I saw a deep dark ring indentation on his arms. (Is that where Devon's shock rings were?)

He nodded. "Yeah... demented sick hybrid." He muttered as he took in my cast and scars. I shivered again thinking of fighting Devon's Teriados and Espreon. My trainer looked down at me. "I know pal. I know."

He started to brush my fur with his left hand as he scratched under my chin with the other. His hand brushed against a deep ugly jagged scar on my side- a 'souvenir' from Teriados and I pulled away at the touch. (Oww.) I flinched in pain.

"Sorry. I didn't realize that wound was there." He said as he gazed upon the ugly scar showing partly through my fur. He turned his gaze from the scar and stared rubbing behind my ears with his left hand instead. "They weren't able to heal it?"

I shook my head. (They did their best but Chansey told me it was a pretty deep scar but it will fade away in time. She healed most of my wounds but…) I dropped my gaze to the cast. (I can't really move without my paw hurting. The cut near my electrical sack doesn't help either.)

"I shouldn't have made you battle him." he sighed and was quiet for a minute. "It was my fault that you got injured again."

(What in the world are you talking about?) I asked.

"I should've sent out Totodile, Phanpy Bayleef or Noctowl to fight instead. Then maybe..."

(Those two nefarious hybrids would have creamed them as easily as they beat Corsola and I. Don't forgets that Noctowl is a Shiny Pokemon. Devon would have snagged her without a moment's hesitation. ) I pointed out.

"That's a fair point." he sighed as he scratched behind my ears for a few minutes. "Why is it always my fault? It's almost like fate hates me."

I looked up at him. (That's just crazy talk Ash. You've just had a .. string of bad luck that's all. It's not your fault. )

"Is it just a string of bad bad luck pal? It seems like ever since

the airship fiasco we're constantly getting injured or hunted after.. or..."

(It's just bad luck nothing more than that. ) I insisted. (B-besides some good things came out of that horrible event. Like you and Misty finally getting together-) In the darkness I could feel my trainer's face go hot and red for a heartbeat. (Golduck and-and me evolv-) I stopped seeing the distant hurt look in his eyes for a few seconds.

It wasn't the mention of me evolving that made me stop speaking. I had no regrets about doing that. I knew with all my heart it had been the right thing to do- and possibly the possibly the evolutionary burst of strength had saved my life It had been strange to be in a totally different body for that short amount of time-maybe an hour or so. It wasn't the memory of Raichu-me taking the bullet meant for my trainer's heart. Again I had no qualms about what I did-my heart and mind know it had been the right thing . It was the memory- or technically my lack of memory- of what he told me what happened after he'd shown me Misty's ring. Even after all this time , it still hurt him and honestly I couldn't blame him. Although both our physical scars had heal, that enormous metal scar of my brief death and miraculous resurrection hadn't healed that fast. (Sorry I mentioned that)

He massaged behind my ears again- he'd paused for a few minutes . "It's like you just said-some good things came out of...that. You saved my life. " He lowered his voice to a near whisper. "For what it's worth, taking on that horrendous cat and … h-him by yourself and evolving without a stone was extremely incredible. And you made one awesome hell of a Raichu."

(Yeah...) I mumbled, averting my eyes from his to look down at my injured paw. . seeing me getting shot and my brief death-along with getting beaten to a bloody pulp by the Persian and nearly being suffocated by Devon's Teriados- nearly tore him apart. I could tell that those things really changed him and i felt bad for the pain he had to endure in such a short time. I shivered. Stupid evil heartless Giovanni and cruel Lawrence . It's their faults- not his we went through such a harsh hellish time.

He went from massaging my ears to stroking my fur.. "Hey, it's okay Pikachu." As if sensing what i was thinking he thankfully changed the subject. "No matter what we went through it must have been even harder on Cyndaquil."

I nodded, thinking of the beyond utter hell she'd been through in the past few days with Devon and her past . (She was truly brave facing him like that despite her injuries. I-is she going to be all right?)

A downcast expression appeared on Ash's face. "I -d dunno. Mist told me Joy said it's taking a long time to heal her injuries. I-i couldn't bear if-if she-"

(Ended up like i did a few months ago after you know whom... shot me. ) I ended in a whisper. (Well minus the evolution and getting shot parts) I finished in and he nodded. I don't blame him for being worried.

He looked so sad that I had a great idea to cheer him up. (Why don't we go check on her so your nerves are satisfied ?)

A smile appeared on his face. "Great idea pal. I'll just tell Misty where we're going so she doesn't pound me or have one of her Pokemon do its for her. Said she wasn't gonna let me out of her sight."

(Can't say I don't blame her .)

I watched him as he clumsily put on his dirt caked sneakers in the dark wincing in pain. I lit up my body a little so he could see what he was doing- which stung a bit from my injuries . it was my turn to wince. "You okay? " my trainer asked hearing my wince.

(Just my injuries from that ..)

"Brutal barely human monster?" he ended. I nodded. "Hey.. it's okay pal. I got them too. We're matching scar twins.. well not exactly matching.." I detected a bit of his old humor in his voice and briefly smilled

(Huh.. I never thought about it like that before.)

At first he put the on the wrong feet until i pointed it out and then he switched them. . He picked me up gingerly with his hands then got out of the bed, still wincing. I licked his right arm to comfort him

At the sound of his cries, Bayleef opened one eye as she raised her head and sleepily looked up from her spot next to the floor. (Hmmm. Ash, Pikachu.. Wh-what's going on?)

"Hey Bayleef. Did I wake you?"

( a little. What's going on?)

(Neither of us could sleep- w both had horrible nightmares about… ) I gulped ( th-them.. ) she nodded at my sentence- she knew whom I meant. we're gonna check on Cyndaquil to ease our ) I told her.

(Ahh. That's understandable ) She used her Vine Whip to get Noctowl's pokéball from the table and tuck it into the pants pocket of his pajamas. (Take her with you …Just in case. You should probably tell Misty what you're doing so she doesn't kill you.)

"Fair point. That's what I'm gonna tell her.."

"T- Tell me wh-what?" the female human in question yawned as she got out of her bed and walked over to us, her own nightclothes a bit sweaty.

"Ummm..." Ash gave her a brief explanation of what we were doing and why.

When he was done she kissed him on the cheek. "I don't blame you for wanting to check on her."

(That's what I told him.) I replied.

She nudged him towards the door. "Go. If anything comes up..."

(We can send Noctowl if anything goes amiss. We'll be fine- I may not be able to use my electricity much but I can still bite, yell, run and scratch-) I gazed down at my cast. (Well sort of run and scratch.)

A smile lit across her face as she walked him to the door and opened it. "I'm not worried- you two are together and you have Noctowk for back . If anything comes up send her . I love you." She gave him a quick kiss before we left the right room and the door closed.

…

Even in the darkened hallway I could feel my trainer's face go Flamethrower red and hot for a few minutes. I knew it was still new to him to be actually dating his longtime crush. She'd stuck by him through the whole airship disaster and the increased attacks. She'd been strong during the ordeal with Devon- even getting him back to reality after Devon had taunted him. (Hello? Earth to Ash) I waved my tail on front of him. (Hello? Anyone in there? Do i have to nose your arm to get back to reality?)

That got his attention His face stopped blushing and being hot. "Wh-what? Sorry pal. Just thinking about how supportive and strong Mist's been.. "

(She has. I don't think anyone else could have stood up to Devon like that. )

" You got that right. I love having a girlfriend."

(It only took you forever. Who kept on saying you should tell her your feelings?)

"Ummm, so it took me a while longer than I originally planned.. no thanks to that bumbling idiotic Rocket trio…" I rolled my eyes. "But it was really that whole horrendous fiasco w-with Lawrence a-a-and." he shivered and I knew he couldn't mention Giovanni's name or finish it without remembering his nightmare

I lowered my voice. ( the vicious crime leader who put things into perspective?) I finished and he nodded.

"Y-yeah." He changed the subject. "Which room do you think Cyndaquil's in?"

(No clue. Look! There's someone coming toward us. )

We saw a figure with a light come toward us, which turned out to be a Chansey on the night shift. She approached us, carrying a small flashlight in one hand- that was the source of the light. (Hello young man, hello dear Pikachu. ) She addressed us. ( What are you doing up at this time of night ? Can I help you with something?)

"Umm. There was an extremely injured p-poisoned Cyndaquil that came in with us . I-i couldn't sleep so I want to check on her. "

(Oh yes I know exactly whom you are talking about. You must be her trainer who got badly poisoned.) He nodded. (How are you feeling?)

"Much b-better, thank you. Do you know if she i-is going to b-be okay? She was so badly hurt.."

(I understand your concern young man. However there is no need to worry… She's going to be okay and has survived through the ordeal. .) The kindly pink Pokémon nodded and I felt his muscles relax as he let out a long sigh of relief, letting all his worries about her out . You got her here just in time. She's had quite the ordeal but she's quite the strong willed one. She's just sleeping it off. She has IVs in her and her paw seems to be broken so it's in a cast. Other than that she's fine. Would you like me to show you where she is?)

We nodded. "Y-yes please.. If that's not too much trouble." Ash told her.

We were both quiet as she led us down two hallways and a short corridor to where Cyndaquil was. We didn't know how bad her injuries were. A few minutes later she brought us to a door. (We use this room for Pokémon who need extra quiet space to recover.)

"Th-thanks."

She nodded as she quietly opened the door for us and we walked inside. The small room had a tiny bed next to a bunch of IV poles on wells on it and two chairs next to the bed on the opposite side. There was a window and a small computer monitor above the bed.

(Look.) I pointed to my sleeping friend and teammate in the bed, who smelled of medical salve. Apart from the IVs attached to her, the cast over her paw, and the few scars left on her body she looked pretty good considering what she'd been through. (She doesn't look too horrible.)

He exhaled with relief and flopped into one of the chairs. "Thank goodness." he gazed at the cast on her paw. The scars and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept. "Hey girl. I know you're asleep but I-I w-want you to know. I'm so sorry you're in this state Cyndaquil. You truly saved our lives and-and"- he tripped over his next few words. "I-I was so worried after you g-got p-poisoned Th-that I never really got to thank you. Standing up to that repulsive abomination like that after he t-tormented you took tons of courage. You might be one of the bravest Pokémon I -" he yawned. "I-I know."

(Well put.) I saw his eyes start to droop. (You look utterly exhausted . I'll keep watch until I fall asleep myself. )

"But your injuries..." He bit his lip .

(Don't hurt that much. If I had to I can still kick, scratch bite and yell. Besides...) I lowered my voice. (I don't think he will come back. That cloaked figure said it and the hybrids would take care of Devon once and for. )

He sighed. "Oh right... I forgot."

(If anything does come up I'll get Noctowl out of her Pokéball) I nuzzled his hand. (You just have to tell yourself none of this is your fault whatsoever . If you need to blame something blame that ancient Shamuti legend inscription. That's where all the trouble.)

I looked up and saw a slight smile split across his face. "Y-y-yeah... you're r-right p-pal..." he yawned. "I said it back on the Shamuti Sh-Shrine years ago and I'll s-" he yawned , "s-say it again: I wish m-my mom had named me Bob instead of A-Ash. Night buddy."

(Night.)

He closed his eyes and was asleep in a few minutes.

...

I sighed. I felt sympathetic towards the young human. It wasn't fair that poor Cyndaquil was in this condition so soon after he watched me evolve, take the bullet, briefly die then be somehow resurrected. It must have been tearing him apart inside to know that he nearly lost two Pokémon to the likes of Team Rocket. . A few months and our lives have changed so much.

I yawned starting to feel the exhaustion hit myself. Even with the snooze I took after Chansey healed me I still felt beat up. Probably due to all the deep injuries. I yawned and closed my eyes- luckily the brutal battle hadn't affected my hearing.

I also thought about the dream he described. I shuddered recalling what Giovanni told him in the dream about his dad. That's disturbing and sick. Having met the power hungry malicious Team Rocket leader and his equally evil Persian -and been beat up by both him and his loathsome cat Pokemon I wouldn't put it past the villain to do just that without batting an eye. It made my stomach curl-even more so than hearing my trainer describe my bindings. I nuzzled his hand as if to reassure him everything would turn out for the best. I could understand how much the nightmare terrified him. He'd endured so much pain in the pain in the past months. Poor Ash. He shouldn't have to endure these horrendous nightmares.

I let my mind wander away from that horrendous nightmare and onto happier times such as winning all the battles, playing with my teammates. As I was about to nod off into dream land myself my ears twitched as I heard a light voice calling Cyndaquil's name.

Huh? That's strange. I sleepily opened one eye to see the source of the voice. Instead of seeing the source of the noise I saw Cyndaquil slowly look up and smile at me . (Hi.)

(Hi) I yawned. (A-are you feeling better?)

(I think so. I'm still a bit light headed and tired. ) She nodded and I saw her gaze over at the cast over my right paw. (Was that the one Devon yanked?)

I sighed. (Yeah. Apparently it was worse than we thought. I can't battle until it heals. It hurts badly but it's better than what happened the last time...) I trailed off not wanting to finish the sentence . She knew I referred to a few months ago when everything changed.

She changed the subject. (W-what happened after I fainted?)

(The cloaked figure helped us get you here. Apparently-) I yawned again. (apparently after Ash gave you to Joy and the Chanseys were taking care of my injuries he got massively poisoned.)

(But. how?) Her eyes widened.

(Noctowl thinks it was some kind of delayed fast acting poison from Devon's Toxic/Poison Fury.) I explained

(Oh my! So it was my fault?)

I noticed her downcast expression and shook my head. (Not at all. It's Devon's fault. We're not blaming you whatsoever. ) Her expression turned to one of great relief (He's fine. That' why he smells different and has that shirt on. )

(Oh. I was w-wondering about that) she yawned as well as I struggled to keep awake. (You look wiped out from the battle with Devon. )

I smiled- still feeling the effects of the fight with Espreon and Teriados. (I am. But you look really spent after the hell you went through. You might want to get some sleep-I'm going to do the same.) I suggested before closing my eye and falling back asleep.

The end