Edited: 11/2/22

Alright 3rd update on this in a row, I'll probably shoot for something different next week just to keep some variety though.

For now, enjoy the chapter!

Ash's brand-new scheme almost immediately ran into hiccups.

The biggest one was that he was a Pokemon, and not a human.

But he had ways around that one, primarily his illusions which were good enough to fool adults apparently if his meeting with Sidney had proven anything. He had to work on his ability to speak the human language though, but once he figured that out he could pass for a regular human trainer!

There was a minor caveat that he could never let himself get hurt or hit by anything (at least not in public). He would have to either learn to be extremely careful or find a way to reinforce his illusions somehow.

Unfortunately, there was more to it than that.

With some investigating (via Pichu who was still against the whole thing but Ash thought he was starting to make headway) it turns out humans had a bunch of information that needed to be processed in order to become trainers and get their Pokedex. The electric-type Pokemon had toted this both as more proof humans were dumb and another reason not to go along with Ash's ridiculous idea.

There was a small part of Ash that agreed with him. After all, it was just some random human that had suggested the concept. Why should he listen to that idea?

Well, because it was a cool idea! Delia was a trainer too and look how great she was! Professor Oak had been at one point too!

Honestly, the only reason he shouldn't be a trainer was that he was already a Pokemon who had a trainer of his own.

This was a dumb reason not to be a trainer. Most trainers started as children or were currently children, and children had parents. And parents were basically trainers, just for humans. They had to teach their children, help them grow and become stronger, and help provide for them!

There was significantly less battling involved though but that was like, the only difference.

Of course, not being human was just the start of the troubles although it would serve to provide a barrier.

For instance, finding a way to convince Professor Oak it was a good idea despite all the challenges that may crop up. Personally, Ash thought the Pokemon professor might go along with it, either as an experiment, to sate his curiosity, or just to be nice.

Delia would likely be the harder sell so Ash was going to avoid trying to broach that topic with her for a while.

She didn't even know he'd started figuring out human language yet and saying "hey I can talk now and also want to go on a Pokemon journey" seemed like they should be two separate discussions for different days.

There were a few benefits he could already foresee in being a trainer. The biggest one was that he would be able to talk to his Pokemon. That seemed like it could only be helpful, in a variety of different ways at that.

Still, the planning phase seemed like it would take some time.

A lot of time.

He had to figure out all the little details, on his own to boot. This was on top of his already very busy schedule of spending time with Delia, at the lab, with Pichu, or some mixture of the three, it would be hard to squeeze these details in there somehow.

He was not in any rush of course and honestly maybe having some time between the initial excitement and going through with it would be good for him.

Ash was able to freely admit he was a bit too impulsive sometimes. He could think things out of course but that would mean trying to see all the angles and he only had two eyes so he wasn't sure how he was supposed to do that correctly.

For now, he was content to wait and continue the planning phase. New trainers were supposed to need starter Pokemon, for instance, trainers starting at Professor Oak's lab were normally given a choice of Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander.

The thing is, theoretically he already had a starter. One who had a few issues but was overall the best Pokemon for the job, he was strong, clever when he tried, and not to mention, Ash's friend.

Unfortunately, Pichu was still being a pain about the idea and Ash felt he needed to work on the other Pokemon some more to properly convince him.

He had been going along with Ash's scheme, for now, complaining the whole way. It seemed like he was more doing it out of reluctant acceptance than any sort of agreement or encouragement.

Pushing all these other problems and quandaries to the side for a moment, he was brought to his current focus of study.

Layed out before him was a map of the Kanto region, all the major cities and towns were marked. Next to this map was a small booklet from Professor Oak's lab that detailed where the official gyms of the region were.

He was facing the question of what route did he take. What order should he take the gym challenge in? Did it matter what order they went in?

He glowered at the map. Viridian City and Cinnabar Island both had gyms, but they were in opposite directions. But there was a lot of water in between Pallet Town and Cinnabar so it would probably be a good idea to head towards Viridian instead.

"Ash! I'm off to work if you want to come along!" Delia called from the living room. Ash perked up, yeah, it had been a while since he'd visited the restaurant, maybe he could come along. It would be nice to spend some time with Delia too. He would probably be asked to help out a little bit, mostly cleaning. But it would still be fun.

Quickly folding the map with a mix of nose and paws he scampered downstairs after his trainer.

Ash was being stupid.

No that wasn't quite right.

Ash was being stupider than usual.

Pichu paced around one of the fields near the lab, right at the tree-line. It was as close to a forest as he could get and it helped him think.

'Become a Pokemon Trainer,' he said. 'It's a good idea!' he said.

That Zorua was insane. Were all Zoruas this insane? Or just ones from Unova? Or maybe all Pokemon from Unova were insane.

Whatever the case was, Pichu had somehow been roped into helping Ash with his crazy idea of becoming a Pokemon trainer. And whatever madness that would entail.

For the moment it seemed to be limited to research, which he was silently grateful for because it meant they weren't doing anything any time soon and Ash might actually come to his senses sooner or later.

It was a dumb idea and Pichu was struggling to figure out why Ash would want to go along with it. He had warned his friend that humans were dumb over and over again. He could put up with the human illusion he had created. But this so-called 'Pokemon Journey?'

Even the name was insensitive. It was humans going on a journey, with Pokemon. It was a human journey.

Not to even get started on the whole Pokeball thing. Ash didn't seem to mind them but apart from asking Pichu what he thought of them had never really pressed him on the issue of those horrific little objects.

All cramped up in an artificial environment… he'd rather just wrap himself in blankets. He'd mentioned it once and Ash had suggested they could bring blankets with them.

Oh yeah, of course, Ash wanted him to come along as his Pokemon. This is where it got complicated because, as much as he had wanted to, he hadn't just said 'no' as he had intended to.

And he didn't know why, he definitely wasn't saying yes. So why couldn't he say no?

He was friends with Ash but had said no to him before for some of his stupider ideas, like how many of *insert food here* could one of them fit in their mouth.

Pichu had every reason to say no to this particular idea.

Was it because the prospect of going out and doing battles with a trainer who wasn't a human excited him?

That was probably it, taking away the humans, the battles were awesome. That first battle with him and Ash had been amazing. Not to mention the Zorua was able to get back up after getting shocked. That was impressive, even if it did mean he lost.

Pichu swallowed his bitterness as he remembered Delia helping the Zorua come up with ideas to win. There had been a moment at the beginning where Ash had hesitated before following the order but for the most part, he had listened to her, and it had gone in their favor.

He had a lot to be bitter towards humans about, and Ash as well and sometimes he had to stop himself from saying something he might regret. Because while he and Ash had learned to get along pretty well, there was a tiny voice in his head warning him that the other Pokemon might turn his back on him if he said the wrong thing.

It didn't stop him from wanting to at times. A snide remark that would have been a bit crueler than his usual. A hurtful comment beyond his normal banter.

Ash had seemingly gotten everything from humans that Pichu had lost and it felt like it would be all too easy to start hating his friend for it.

Sometimes he wished there was someone else he could talk to. But most of the other Pokemon around the lab barely paid him the time of day anymore, he didn't want to talk to Professor Oak or any other human about it and they wouldn't understand him anyway.

Hence he was forced to be introspective. Honestly, not that fun.

The majority of his personal issues aside, Pichu had followed up on a few of Ash's suggested investigations into humans and trainers.

Every time a new batch of trainers was heading out of Pallet, Professor Oak received some of the so-called 'starter Pokemon' from special breeders.

Apparently, the three starters were noticeably rare and had difficulty making it in the wild anymore. So of course the logical solution was to give three to a set of ten-year-olds every year or so.

Well, those three trainers would then head out, most never made it anywhere. Sometimes they would just give up on the challenge and turn to other pursuits (normally taking their Pokemon with them at least and not just abandoning them) or would finish the Gym challenge, maybe even compete in the Pokemon League, and then find other pursuits.

Pokemon Ranger had both surprised and frustrated Pichu. Humans who were dedicated to protecting Pokemon in their natural habitat? Going out of their way to keep rarer or endangered Pokemon safe from trainers and criminals alike? As good as that sounded it also proved to him personally that they were not as effective as they were made out to be.

Being unable to read much of the human language, Pichu had made do with videos and the occasional convincing of one of the other Lab Pokemon to help him.

It could be slow going at times for those reasons and others that occasionally cropped up. Such as that stupid Gary kid, who had been unable to recognize him for some reason. Humans were just dumb.

All of this 'research' just seemed to fuel Ash's obsession with becoming a trainer, which frustrated Pichu to no end. He kept hoping the other Pokemon would come to his senses about this mess.

Six months.

It had been six months since he had started his goal of becoming a trainer and he still was running into wall after wall. Literal in some cases but mostly metaphorical.

The current wall, unfortunately, was Pichu.

It hadn't started as an argument, in fact, they hadn't even been talking about the trainer issue at all. Although their topic had come about because of some of the research Ash had done.

"Type matchups just don't make any sense," Ash complained. "I mean, some of them have a logic to them like water puts out fire, fire burns grass. But then you have ghost and normal, which literally cannot hurt each other. And why is flying strong against fighting?"

"Actually I can kind of get it." Pichu disagreed. "Have you ever tried punching a bird?"

Ash stared at the other Pokemon. "Why would I ever try to punch a bird? I don't even have fists normally." He blinked, "come to think of it when have you ever punched a bird?"

"Long story." Pichu waved him off. "I should've just shocked him."

"That does seem to be your go-to strategy." The Zorua deadpanned. He sighed, "I guess we'll get plenty of chances to experiment on the road."

His friend groaned. "And here we go again! Stupid train coming through, 'choo choo!'"

Ash's eyes rolled automatically, "Oh don't start this again. We've talked about it."

Pichu stared at him, glowering in some sort of internal debate. Then something seemed to give way. "You know what? No, let's start this again. We have talked about it and this has gone on enough Ash." The electric-type claimed. "It was dumb at first and was interesting for a little while, but it's gotten old."

"Why are you doing this now!" Ash complained, "We're getting close to working out all the details! I can even make the 'P' sound now!" He made a few popping sounds with his mouth just to prove it. He was very proud of figuring that out.

"No, we're not close! You're still not a human. This is still a dumb idea. And while I know I told you this repeatedly it still hasn't gotten into your thick head. It's not going to work!" Pichu growled and tried to look intimidating. Of course, he still failed at this task.

"That's only because you don't want to try!" The dark-type bit out.

"I've been trying!" Pichu shot back. "Because you asked me to! I didn't have to help you look for details or figure out how the trainer vetting process worked!"

"I said thank you." Ash pointed out. "I know you didn't have to but I'm glad you did."

Pichu's look softened slightly. Not much, but it seemed to be a step in the right direction. It didn't last though his expression hardened again and Ash started feeling worried.

"You're only doing this because some random weirdo asked if you were planning to be one! And then you actually started trying! I thought you'd figure out how dumb it was by now but here we are!" Pichu kicked at a pile of papers on the table sending them fluttering.

"That's not the only reason." Ash defended himself. "It was the motivation though, but I thought about it!"

"For what five minutes? Let me guess the other reasons all involved that dumb trainer of yours!" Pichu mocked loudly hopping off the table and down to the floor of the lab.

His blood boiled as his own anger snapped into place. "She is not dumb!"

"And you are too! You listen to her even when you don't agree with her! I've seen you hesitate when she wants you to do something you don't want! But then you do it anyway!" The electric mouse had let loose the floodgates now.

"Shut up." Ash was legitimately angry now. Pichu had been becoming frustrating to deal with on and off for months now, but he hadn't gotten mad at him until now.

"You're just her pet. Do you think she's your mom? Well, she's not! You never even knew your mom! Maybe a human took her and that's how you got to the street!"

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" Ash barked and leaped towards Pichu, who looked momentarily surprised but reacted quickly jumping away from Ash's clumsy attack and then headbutting into his side. Ash wasn't sure if it was the actual attack or not but he felt it alright.

"MORE THAN YOU!" Pichu screeched back. Ash had been willing to let his friend vent for a bit about his frustrations. But then he started insulting his trainer? Wanted to bring his absent parents into this? If this rat wanted a fight he was going to get one.

Ash landed on his feet and turned to Scratch at Pichu causing him to skid across the floor with a wince. He stayed standing and on his feet though. The training since their first match seemed to have helped him improve, or at least find a way to better maintain his center of gravity.

Pichu's cheeks pulsed with electricity but this time Ash had a counter of his own. He hadn't mastered the move yet but he knew how it should work theoretically. He thought of his worst memories, the streets in Unova, and dug for that cold and miserable feeling, and let it fill him.

It wasn't Night Daze yet, not really. But it was a dark-type move of some sort, maybe something like Dark Pulse, perhaps a bit weaker right now but he would master it eventually.

The golden glow pulsed outward from Pichu as Ash's attack surged forward leaving him tired. For a moment the glow at the center of Pichu's attack seemed to brighten as though in direct defiance of his dark-type move. The two met and seemed to struggle against each other. Ash squinted at the pulsing strobe-like effects and then the gold overwhelmed the shadows and slammed into everything, the desk, the table.

Himself.

Pain like he couldn't remember filled him. It was way worse than the last time they had fought Pichu was stronger now apparently. Stronger than him.

That was his last thought as he blacked out.

Ash woke up and realized he was soaking wet. His whole body tingled uncomfortably. Then a stinging sensation hit him in the side making him tense.

He couldn't quite move and he immediately wished he was unconscious again. The sting stopped and that side actually started to feel a bit better but he still was stuck in the same position, he tried to force his eyes open.

It felt like lifting lead, with panic he also noticed that he couldn't turn his head. He must have been Paralyzed, he hadn't been before but it matches his current circumstances.

With sight came sound and smell. He heard water pattering around the lab and smelled the acrid scent of smoke, the desk was in his peripheral vision and seemed to be smoking. That explained a couple of things, the fire alarm must have gone off, and with it the sprinkler system.

This might also explain why he was still in the lab, everyone else had left with the alarm.

He lay there, clearly remembering the events leading up to his current circumstance when he became aware of another sound. This time a voice, that of a familiar Pokemon if he was correct, but it was a bit different now and no longer angry.

"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry." It was somewhat muffled as though muttered around something and grew louder along with a bit of scraping on the ground. He still couldn't see who it was but a stinging on his other side and then slight relief again was very welcome.

He still couldn't move for a few seconds longer, until the tingling slowly started to fade. Ash still didn't quite feel like standing up yet but he could at least sit up now. Pushing himself up he turned to look at Pichu.

Except it wasn't Pichu. At least not anymore.

Pikachu looked relieved and immediately lurched forward and did what he could approximate as a hug, although it was a fair bit awkward.

"I'm sorry it wasn't supposed to go like that we were supposed to talk but you didn't listen and then I said stuff about Delia and then I kept going and I kn-" The electric-type was rambling and also possibly sobbing.

"Ow," Ash said and Pikachu immediately pulled back with a panicked expression. Ash lay down, feeling a bit emotionally numb but certainly not angry anymore. Having his friend use the words 'I'm sorry' as a mantra and then immediately start apologizing kind of kills any kind of residual rage he might have had.

He glanced to his side and saw a small pile of potion bottles and what was probably a Paralyze Heal sitting in a pile next to him.

"That hurt way more than last time," Ash announced.

"That's all you have to say?" Pikachu seemed surprised.

"Well, what do you have to say? I'm listening." He told the other Pokemon.

"I- I didn't mean to say that she's not your real Mom." Pikachu seemed reluctant to admit that. "I just- I don't trust humans okay? You can't trust them. And you want to go out and act like they do? Maybe it will work out how it did for you but what if it doesn't? How do you know you won't take someone's parents away from them?"

"Is that why you don't like humans?" He asked. The proceeding silence was telling.

Ash winced as he stood up, he hurt all over still but nothing seemed broken at least. Maybe a bit toasted but nothing damaged as far as he could tell. He should still probably head to a Pokemon Center or have the professor take a look at him though.

"Pichu- Pikachu" He corrected himself. "I'm sorry I didn't think about how you felt about it. But I promise. I'd never take a Pokemon with me who didn't want to go. And that includes you. If you don't want to come then don't, I won't make you, or make you feel like you have to."

Pikachu blinked at him, looking more than a little relieved. "...I don't know. I'll think about it. Just, give it some time okay? Both me and yourself, please?"

Ash looked at the wrecked lab. Right now he just wanted to lie down and take a long nap. He was not planning to go anywhere for a while. "Yeah alright." He turned and got a better look at all the damage. "Do you have a plan for this? Because I don't."

Pikachu starred alongside him. "I guess it wouldn't be the first time I got in trouble for wrecking the lab…"

Delia had been more than a little concerned t find out that Ash and Pichu, or rather Pikachu now had gotten into a fight and wrecked Professor Oak's lab.

Oddly enough the two seemed to be on great terms afterward so it seemed whatever had happened had solved some sort of issue for them.

It had been a few days ago now and the two were grounded from each other for a week. Neither had protested this and seemed to realize they were getting off kind of light so they took it.

She still wasn't sure what the problem was about but she remembered what could possibly be called arguments growing in frequency for months so it must have come to a head somehow. Maybe it was who would win in a fight? Truthfully she wasn't sure what else it could be.

Whatever the case the issue seemed to be resolved on the surface at least. It was hard to know if there was still something going on there but Ash had been on his best behavior since then.

Speaking of, the Tricky Fox hopped up on the counter as she finished washing a pot in the sink.

"Finished with your chores then?" giving chores to a Pokemon, was not something she had thought would happen when she first started her journey all those years ago. But she also didn't expect to have a Pokemon who could swap between different shapes and sizes.

Besides, it kept him occupied and out of any more trouble.

"Yep." A voice that wouldn't sound out of place coming from a young boy answered her rhetorical question.

Delia froze and slowly looked at Ash who smiled sheepishly.

"Surprise?"

Well that chapter happened.

This chapter is… weirder. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about all of it but it's done now. But it certainly helped progress the plot along.

Pichu is now Pikachu! And I won't have to keep correcting myself anymore! Also we kind of have Pikachu's backstory now. There is a little bit more to it that's he not aware of himself but the basic rundown? Humans took his parents when he was a little Pichu and now he hates humans.

Simple, not so sweet, gets the point across.

Lets hit the reviews!

The Ultimate Balance Chaos: I'm glad you liked it, I made that one particularly wholesome, partially because this one has some angst mixed with the wholesome.

Jonathan-Mandrake: I am glad you couldn't find anything wrong with it! Let me know if you do though. As for the females… huh.
Well Bayleef might be happy at least.

Walpurgisnacht: I am continuing it so no worries!

Hokeyhunter21: indeed!

5543mj: You are most welcome!

Guest: God do I know that feeling! My old motto for when I started writing this? If you want it done right, write it yourself.
I'm slightly more bitter than when I started saying that but the principle stands!

Well, that's all for now. Although you may notice this is not being posted in the middle of the night and that is because I realized, maybe updating at 2 AM isn't the best time.

See you next time! Whether it's this story in its next update or next week for a different fic! Until then!

~FriTik

R&R