Chapter 164 Memories from Sadness Part 2

Ash and Pikachu are still watching the memory, and they are doing the same thing again, after school, walking into the house.

Mother: Welcome home, Sigmund. Be a dear and bring your sister her pills again, won't you?

Sigmund nods as he takes the pills on the counter and goes to his sister's room, Pichu is by his side as they are concerned for Elizabeth, who was sleeping.

Sigmund: Lizzy, mom says you have to take your medicine. (Notices Elizabeth trying to open her eyes) Lizzy?

Elizabeth: Siggy... Siggy, I don't like these...

Sigmund: I'm sorry...? The pills, you mean?

Elizabeth: I don't- I don't feel like myself, when I'm on them... And just when I start to again, it's time for the next one... Siggy- Siggy, do I have to?

Sigmund: The doctor said that this is the best way for you to get better...

Elizabeth: Just- Just leave it there. I'm tired...

Sigmund: Sure. If you need anything, just let me know.

Sigmund just looks at Elizabeth before heading back to the room, and then the next memory arrives. When he is back home, he finds a strange girl in the house.

?: Oh, excuse me. (Leaves)

Sigmund is confused, but he still walks back to the living room.

Mother: Welcome home. Your sister's had a tiring day. Would you bring her her pills again?

Sigmund nods as he takes the pills and goes towards Elizabeth's room, and this time Elizabeth is truly awake and sits on the bed.

Elizabeth: Oh, hi, Siggy... Did you see my friend? She came all the way here from my old school to visit me. Isn't that crazy? I think maybe I worried her though- I can't, really... Because I'm not like- me, you know? I don't know... Maybe I'm getting used to it? Maybe it's like this... She said it'll be okay. She said she saw a shooting star last night, and, like, wished that I would be okay. Isn't that so nice of her? But there's something I've always wondered... Do you think shooting stars are like Santa? Like can they cover the whole world in one night- If more than one person wishes on it, can it grant every wish? Or does it only get one? I've always wondered that... I hope that, if it's like a first-come, first-served- kind of thing... I wouldn't want to take someone else's wish away, you know, Siggy? I'm not worth that- I'm not- worth it...

Then she falls asleep again, and Sigmund can only put the medicine on the desk before leaving his room again. In the next memory, Sigmund walks back from school once more, and this time, he hears his father's yelling.

Father: I am TIRED of your excuses, doctor!

Sigmund: That sounded like it came from Dad's office...

Then he decides to check out what's going on, and he sees the doctor lowering his head at his father's yelling.

Father: Doctor, you were hired to make her better. She is getting worse.

Doctor: Some degree of side effects are inescapable, of course... But I assure you, we are doing and will continue to do and try everything possible for the sake of your daughter's wellbeing. However...From talking to her, I get the sense that rather than direct treatment, a more positive and healthy environment might go a long way for her...

Father: We've heard that one before. That's why we already moved all the way out here to bumfuck nowhere- Exactly where do you want us to go? Where is going to be "healthy" enough?

Doctor: N-no, sir. I'm not referring to the local climate. I mean her home environment.

Father: What are you saying, doctor? Do you mean to imply that this is somehow our fault? What lies has she been telling you?

Doctor: Without intending to place blame, sir, I am suggesting that a little more positive reinforcement and care might be necessary to improve her effect regardless of our intervention.

Father: Enough. I am not going to sit here and let you tell ME how to behave in the comfort of my own- already uprooted- home! You have been hired to fix her, doctor. Not me. If you want to retain your job, I suggest you quit making excuses and deflecting blame, and start coming up with a solution. Drugs, therapy, electroconvulsive treatment- I don't care what it is! If it will help my daughter, get it done.

Doctor: S-sir, ECT has generally been outlawed due to ethical concerns-

Father: Doctor. It doesn't escape me that someone in your position has more to gain from maintaining an ailing patient than they do from a successful cure. Could it be that you have no real desire to see Elizabeth to health?

Doctor: That's obviously not true, but I-

Father: Obviously? Is it obvious? Because I do not see that it is obvious. What I see is a lot of excuses, failures, and attempts to manipulate our family for your own profit. Get out, doctor. We will not be requiring your services anymore.

Doctor: I- Yes, sir. (Leaves)

Father: (Notices Sigmund) Sigmund.

Sigmund: S-sorry, I overheard, and just...

Father: Do you have nothing better to do than stand and gawk? We are desperately fighting to fix your sister. Pick your jaw up off the floor and find a way to make yourself useful.

Sigmund: What was the, um... electric convulsive thing you mentioned? Will it help Lizzy?

Father: How should I know? I'm a broker, not a doctor. And that good-for-nothing sham of one is too much of a coward and a cheat to try and take real steps towards Elizabeth's betterment. There is much work to catch up on. Don't you have your own studies? Get to it!

Ash and Pikachu then realize that this is the start of how Sigmund tries ETC, and then they have already gone to the next memory.

Father: I'm starting to think everyone around me just wants me to fail. Have I done something to you? Is this your way of getting me back?

Sigmund: Oh no, not again...

Sigmund decides to hide behind the wall and hears the talking from his parents.

Mother: Please, it was just an accident...

Father: If it were an accident, you should have corrected it already! How hard is it to have dinner on the table at the same time each day? I do not have the same luxuries I provide for you- to snack like a pig all day wherever it suits my fancy. I have times at which I must eat.

Mother: I know, but it just burned; I had to run out to get more-

Father: Yes, you've said that three times now. You have one job. You maintain the household. You should never have allowed yourself to be in a position where we run out of what we need. It is carelessness exemplified. How do you expect to be a role model to Elizabeth that way? How will she know how to be a good wife in the future herself? You are lucky you only have me to deal with after a mistake. If I make one slip up, I can lose a multi-thousand-dollar settlement. If you make one mistake, you know nothing will happen. I will suffer, and I will forgive you every time, because that's the kind of man I am. Still, I truly wish you would stop bringing others down just because of your negligent incompetence.

Mother: Yes, of course...

Father: You are doing your best, I should remind myself. Mistakes are to be expected, especially from you. It is okay. But go ahead and get something started already, will you? I'm famished here.

Sigmund then quickly rushes into the room and quickly sits by the desk.

Sigmund: I didn't hear anything. Everything is fine. I just need to figure out how to help Lizzy... (Takes out a book) This book I got from the library mentions electric therapy theory. Maybe I'll get started a bit and just say it's for my homework...

Another scene change and Sigmund is back from school once more.

Elizabeth: Siggy?

Sigmund: (Rush towards Elizabeth) Lizzy, you're awake.

Elizabeth: Probably... Sometimes I'm not so sure... But everything hurts-

Sigmund: I'm sorry?

Elizabeth: It just- I don't know how to explain- Since I stopped taking those pills- I can't sleep. But I don't feel awake... I want to cry but I can't- My skin feels like it's too tight... Mom's not home right now- she went out for food... Siggy- isn't there anything we can do...?

Sigmund: (Shows determination) Maybe there is... Pichu.

Sigmund sends out Pichu, and the mouse Pokemon just looks at him.

Sigmund: It's a little earlier than we expected, but let's try it now. Nice and gentle, just like we practiced.

Just then, Pichu emits small sparks on Elizabeth, and for some reason, she seems to feel good instead of pain.

Elizabeth: Oh! Oh...

Sigmund: Sorry, was that too much?

Elizabeth: ...Oh, I don't know...

Sigmund: How do you feel?

Elizabeth: Actually... maybe that's a little better.

Sigmund: (Delighted) Really?

Elizabeth: Yeah... It's- I feel like maybe I can sleep. Siggy, thank you...

Sigmund: Anything to help. Get some rest, Lizzy.

Then another scene happens, and when Sigmund is in the doorway, he hears his mother's voice.

Mother: Sigmund? Welcome home, dear.

Then Sigmund hears Elizabeth's voice as he sneaks into her room.

Sigmund: How are you holding up?

Elizabeth: Still awful- can you do it again?

Sigmund: Mom's in the other room though...

Elizabeth: That's okay, we'll just have to be quiet. But I can't keep doing this... It's been like two weeks now- I really think those pills might've done something to me permanently... You and Pichu are the only things that have been getting me through it.

Sigmund: According to my research, I think what you have is called "Withdrawal effects." Apparently, in extreme cases, it can last for up to one or two months even.

Elizabeth: Months! Oh, Siggy, just kill me now.

Sigmund: Don't joke like that!

Elizabeth: I found out that Mom has a stash of the rest of those pills hidden somewhere. I keep thinking about, what if I had just one or two more?

Sigmund: Lizzy, no. That'll only make it worse.

Elizabeth: I know, I know... Hey, just hurry up and do the thing!

Sigmund: Right. Pichu?

As Sigmund is having Pichu shock Elizabeth, they keep doing it, not noticing their mother walking into the room.

Mother: (Horror) What in the world are you two doing...?

Elizabeth: M-Mom, I can explain!

Mother: Are you attacking your sister with that Pokémon?

Sigmund: No, mother, it's-

Mother: Put that thing away right now! Now!

Sigmund can only agree as he puts Pichu back in his Poke Ball.

Elizabeth: Mom, I asked him to!

Mother: Your father will be furious- with all of us. Give that thing to me! (Takes Pichu's Poke Ball) Sigmund, to your room. Don't you dare come out no supper, either. (Rushes towards Elizabeth) And Elizabeth! How could you not say anything? How long has he been doing this to you? (Turns to Sigmund) Sigmund, go!

After that day, when Sigmund comes back home, his mother will stand at the doorway of Elizabeth's room to make sure Sigmund doesn't enter.

Mother: Welcome home. Go straight to your room today again as well. We will not be having any more incidents.

Sigmund frowns, and since that day, he isn't able to see his sister and his parents are only forcing him to study and nothing else. After a few days, Sigmund is now back in his room. He wants to see his sister again, but his parents forbid him to, and then he looks out the window and sees a Shooting Star.

Sigmund: Oh! Was that a shooting star? I wish-

Just then, the whole memory fades out, and Ash finds himself back in the New World with Pikachu on his shoulder.

Ash: So that's the whole story of Sigmund...

And much to his surprise, a Jirachi just appears in front of them, and he is glowing as it is also Anomaly. He summons Lucario, Delphox, Sylveon, Starmie, a Mega Gallade, and a Jirachi to fight him, and Ash has used his Pokemon to defeat all of them. After the glow is gone, Jiracahi flats towards Ash and signals him to capture him.

Ash's New Capture in New World: Jiracahi (Event)

Ash: So I have a Jirachi...

And for some reason, he is teleported back to Sigmund's room.

Sigmund: I wish that Lizzy would make a full recovery, and feel happy and healthy, stat! (Frowns) Are shooting stars like Santa, I wonder... Can they serve wishes to the whole world in a night, or does only one get granted? What are the odds that it would even listen to me...?

Sigmund frowns as he leaves the room.


And this is another new chapter for the story, the answer for the quest is Jirachi, but it is not done yet, there is someone I'm going to introduce in the next chapter. I hope you like this chapter.