Those who lived hiding
I'm sitting down here,
But hey you can't see me,
Kinda invisible,
You don't sense my stay.
Not really hiding, not like a shadow,
Just thought I would join you for one day.
I'm sitting down here,
But hey you can't see me,
Kinda invisible,
You don't sense my stay.
Not really hiding, not like a shadow
But sure I wanna join you one day ...
Sitting down here, Lene Marlin
Ash watched Chikorita train with Clefable. Similar in temper and both possessing a strength belied by their cute appearance, the two girls had immediately bonded, Starlight appointing herself as Chikorita's mentor. Right now, Clefable was training the Grass Starter on her Razor Leaf, deflecting every single one of the leaves all the while daring her student to hit her.
"Come on!" She said in poké-speech. "Is that all you got? You can do much better!"
"But how? I'm already doing my best!"
Starlight sighed.
"Sure. You're throwing those leaves with a lot of strength. But strength isn't everything. It's something I've noticed with you: you're focusing too much on your strength at the expense of your other abilities. Your leaves lack speed and edge, and they are too focused. Me, I'm wide. Since you obviously can't hit me on one spot, try hitting me everywhere. Spread your attack. Make the leaves faster so I can't hit all of them. Force me to move! Maybe you'll exhaust me."
Chikorita nodded, understanding what her elder meant. She started spinning her leaf faster, faster and faster until it was a blur, then released a storm of leaves on Clefable who grinned. And burned them all with Flamethrower.
"One more thing: adapt."
Chikorita snarled, much to Charizard's amusement.
"She's the one who wanted to get stronger."
A little aside, Ash was training with Heracross. Having Reversal and Counter, two moves that involved turning the opponent's attacks against him, the boy had decided to teach him tai-chi. The martial art was perfect for someone with Heracross's tendencies as it gave him some precise moves to base his attacks on. He was also learning Bide to put his huge stamina to use. A little away, Silver was watching. In the past, his Pokémon were mentors to Ash's teammates. Nowadays, his son was experienced enough to do the training himself, and it made him proud.
"He only needs me to teach him Aura. For the rest, he can do it alone. I know I'm old but seeing this doesn't help. Well, I don't care. I'm happy to see he's growing up."
Once training was over, the group took a nap under the trees. Pikachu was sleeping, snuggled against his partner's chest when his ears picked a noise. His eyes opened to two creatures. The first was a Shiny Growlithe watching from afar. The second was a green snake-like creature with a big leaf at the end of its tail. It seemed curious.
"Snivy?"
Pikachu raised a brow. Snivy?
(Auto-translator: ON)
"Who are you?"
"I'm Jade Scale. I'm a Snivy. You're a Pikachu, right?"
"Yeah. Fleeting Flash. What are you doing there?"
"Me and Charcoal were wandering a bit outside home when we saw you. Your friends look nice."
"They are. Especially Ash." The yellow mouse leaned to the grass snake. "In fact, he's the Chosen with a Golden Heart. He is one of the Champions of the Council."
Snivy and Growlithe looked at one another.
"Wake him up. Amaya will want to see him."
"Amaya?"
"You'll see."
Pikachu was curious. He nuzzled his friend and licked his cheek, causing the boy's eyes to flutter.
"What's wrong, partner?"
Pikachu jumped away behind Snivy and Growlithe. Ash was surprised when he saw the creatures but decided to follow. The small group reached a thick forest whose trees stood like pillars of wood, their leaves an emerald canopy that colored the air green and gold. The three Pokémon entered a tunnel in the roots of a gigantic tree. Ash had to kneel to follow, but the sight at the end was totally worth it. When he saw it, he froze and watched slack-jawed.
"This … Wow, I didn't know such a place existed!"
Said place was a wooden village built among the trees, within the trees, spreading from canopy to ground and filled with all kinds of Pokémon, a decent number of which were Shiny. Ash slowly rose to admire the sight and engrave it in his memory. He felt like he was in a dream. A Shiny Stantler came to him and looked at the Snivy and Growlithe.
"What is this human doing here? You know we forbid their presence in Ben'Alia."
"But he is the Champion of the Council!" Snivy retorted. "His partner said so."
Stantler turned to Pikachu.
"You have guts to pretend your Trainer was chosen by the Council. I don't care you think his heart is pure or his mind clear, humans are forbidden in our village. Those who trespass have their minds erased."
Pikachu's fur stood.
"Don't you dare! Ash is the Chosen with a Golden Heart, a Champion of the Council. And he can prove it!"
"Do it, then."
Pikachu quickly turned to Ash and explained the situation. Ash raised a brow.
"If it's just that … I wonder why you took me there, though. This place is pretty, but if you don't want me in, why did you lead me here in the first place?"
'A creature called Amaya may want to see you since you're a Chosen.'
"Oh. Okay."
The Heart Flute appeared in the boy's hand, surprising Stantler. Next, Ash started playing. The boy enjoyed playing flute, but the only one he had was magical so it limited his use by a lot. Maybe he could buy one in the next town. Inspired by the sight of the village, he played a quiet, peaceful tune. It was hovering in the air, carried by light and the breeze in the leaves. It made the listener feel at home, made him want to drop his bag, grab a drink and sit in the shadows. The Pokémon families who heard it held their children lovingly. The workers put their tools aside and caught their breath. Children laughed and cuddled against their parents. The eldest Pokémon found a place to lie and closed their eyes, happy. When Ash stopped playing, the melody still hung for a few moments. Pikachu grinned.
"Convinced, old horn?"
"Convinced indeed. Only a Chosen can wield the Heart Flute and play such a magical melody. Welcome in Ben'Alia, Champion of the Council. Our humble homes are yours."
Ash shook his head.
"I won't mind visiting, but I don't want to intrude. First, I think I have to talk to … Amaya?"
A woman appeared on the balcony of a home.
"Take your time to visit. You and I can talk once you know more about this village."
There was something off about her. Maybe the fact she was half-naked. Anyway, he followed Snivy and Growlithe through the place. Fortunately, many Pokémon being human-sized or bigger, the boy had no issues navigating the paths.
Ben'Alia, or "Safe Haven" in Ancient Language, was the size of a small human village and spotted every store and building to qualify. There was a food and tool shop, a hospital, a school and training ground, and even a city hall! The houses were built atop the trees while the shops were located at the bottom. And though planks, nails and ropes were used in building, most places were carved directly within the trees, their architecture blending in the tall wooden pillar to stunning results. In a wood-working shop, Ash saw a Scissor watching over a young Shiny Scyther as he carved a statue. In an other one, a Magby with a shrunken left arm was pyrographing ornaments on a bed. In a training ground, two Electivire were watching their son, an Elekid. The baby Pokémon focused his energy before frying the target with … Thunder!? How did a baby Pokémon learn Thunder?
"He was born with it." The parents explained. The mother grinned. "Egg move. From me, I must say. I was also born knowing Thunder."
Ash was impressed. In the hospital, a Shiny Blissey was tending to sick Pokémon, mainly babies who had the flu. In the school, because they indeed had one, a blind Xatu was teaching history.
"At the beginning, Giratina was the god of Matter, just like Dialga and Palkia were the gods of Time and Space. He was a Dragon of Grass and watched over the growth of the world. Then, Arceus the Only created Ho-Oh and Lugia, the gods of Sun and Moon. Giratina saw Lugia's gentle light and respected its kindness, for he brought respite to the world. Then he saw Ho-Oh's radiance, and this radiance consumed his heart. From this moment, Giratina desired Ho-Oh's light for himself, and so he went after the Guardian of the Sky and sealed him in a cave where he could enjoy the light. But Ho-Oh's light began to wane, as the god was sad to be kept from the sky that was his home. Lugia was horrified by Giratina's actions, but he couldn't both look for his brother and keep the world enlightened. He put the world before his brother and lit it up with his silver wings, but eventually, he grew tired. Palkia saw this and took pity on the poor Lugia. With his powers, he gathered the god's silver light and created a being with it: Cresselia the waxing moon, ruler of dreams. Arceus was glad that his eldest son was working to better the world, but only He was the Creator. Only He could create new gods without them being flawed. He imbued Cresselia with His divine essence and gave her a counterpart as Darkrai the waning moon, the lord of nightmares. For, as He explained to Palkia, everything had a counterpart. Light and dark, life and death, chaos and order … Yet He approved his son's actions, and Palkia was happy. Lugia, now relieved of the duties of enlightening the world, went to rest within the sea. As for Palkia, he was Space incarnate and used his powers to look for Ho-Oh. And he found him."
"Soon, the gods had gathered to challenge Giratina. Arceus ordered His child to release Ho-Oh, but Giratina's heart was nothing but greed. He refused and attacked his father, angering Dialga and Palkia. Darkrai, Cresselia and the weakened Lugia, as well as Rayquaza sought to help the lords of Space and Time, but Giratina was Dialga and Palkia's brother. It was they, and they alone who would go and defeat the greedy dragon. So, the three fought. Palkia and Dialga were strong and froze Giratina where he was to hammer him with their powers, but Giratina was desperate, as he didn't want to lose Ho-Oh's shining light. He knocked Dialga out, but before fainting, the lord of Time used his powers to slow his body. Palkia made use of it and tore apart Giratina so badly he couldn't regenerate, for Palkia attacked the very structure of his body. Eventually, Giratina imploded and collapsed upon himself, and his soul was sealed in a dimension Palkia created as a seal: the Reverse World. Here, Giratina became a Ghost, a shadow of what he used to be. Twisted the form of the wyrm, crowned in false gold and with his mouth shut, no more legs and his wings torn apart. Ho-Oh was recovered and shone for three days and three nights to celebrate the victory of the Dragons. But who would take the place of Giratina? From dregs of his essence, Arceus created Shaymin, the god of vegetation, and Mew, the Mother of all Pokémon."
A little Houndour raised a paw.
"What about Celebi, the Guardian of Forests?"
"Celebi was born when Dialga was wandering the world, no long after the Ancient World had merged with ours. It was Spring, radiant and full of life. One day, he saw a woman in a green dress, dancing upon a hill and singing about life. He fell for her sight and took his human form to join the dance. The woman was the Ancient Queen Dana, ruler of life. Spring saw them in heated passion, dancing and loving in whirls of petals and leaves. Summer saw Dana pregnant with the child of the god of time. In Autumn, Arceus saw their relationship and condemned it, forcing Dialga and Dana to separate. Winter saw the birth of the Guardian. No long after he was born, Dana gave her life to seal a tear in Reality. The remains of her magic led to a new Spring in which Celebi thrived and grew. From her mother, she could spread life and joy. From her father, she could manipulate time, rewinding or speeding it, or even traveling in the past and future. In memory of her mother's sacrifice, she chose to use her powers to protect the forests Dana loved so much."
Ash's heart clenched. The Pokémon of the village looked like animals, but their organization and behavior was closer to that of humans. It was impressive how they had rules, lore, hierarchy and even work and education. He then noticed that all Pokémon were either surprisingly strong, had physical or mental flaws or happened to be Shiny or had a weird physical trait. Amaya the dryad confirmed it.
"This village looks for Pokémon who have been cast out for being different. Deficiencies, wrong egg moves, physical differences … Breeding centers have many criteria they must follow. The Pokémon born outside the norm are abandoned."
"That's horrible! I can't believe people do things like that! Why don't they just give the baby Pokémon to children or even families? I know many people who would gladly adopt a Pokémon regardless of their moves or appearances."
"Because of profit, what else? We don't have money in Ben'Alia. Instead, we trade skills and products. Pokémon labs pay an average of 50 000 P for a Starter. Pokémon bred for specific traits can cost up to 500 000 P. In other words, a briefcase full of bills for a Pokémon who didn't choose to be the way he is. Especially, there are Trainers who go to professional breeding centers with some of their Pokémon in the hope that their children will have specific egg moves or physical traits such as Shininess."
Ash shivered violently at the words. All of this was making him sick. As soon as he found a phone, he'd call Professor Oak to confirm if the old man partook in the business. One thing was for sure: he would never do it. His Pokémon were his friends and did as they wanted, Clefable having fallen for Hitmontop despite their different egg group and Mightyena having chosen to remain single, but watching over any youngling in the corral. And he didn't care if his partners were different from the other Pokémon. Sky Flame was Shiny, Frozen Tide was made of crystal instead of stone, Shadow Grin had started wearing glasses and Starlight had the mentality of a Fighting Pokémon despite being a Clefable.
"But you're not like this. The Chikorita you took in, we've been watching her for a long time. We wanted to invite her in Ben'Alia but you found her first and reached out for her, and she turned to you for guidance."
"Do you know her story?"
"Yes. Chikorita was born from a Meganium and the Sceptile of a Trainer from Hoenn. When he saw she knew Leaf Blade, which she took from her father, the breeder threw her away. She learned to survive alone, having inherited not just Leaf Blade but also her fierce temper from her father. Now she's fine and even found a mentor to her size."
"Starlight … Looking at it, Chikorita and Clefable have similar backgrounds. The two were born from Hoenn Pokémon, and they took a specific move and their father's temper, which made them outcasts. No wonder Starlight can relate so much to her …"
Amaya smiled. The dryad looked like a woman, but her skin was a bit greenish and bark was covering her skin at place. Furthermore, her hairs were made of vegetation which grew in several parts of her body, mostly to cover her intimate parts. She was tall and slim and rather nice-looking.
"This is because we dryads are partially vegetal. There is no blood in my veins but sap, hence the green shade. Also, I say we but singular works just fine too. I am the last dryad in the world."
Ash's eyes widened.
"The last dryad?"
"Yes. Back in times, we and the tree-walker species were perpetually at feud. They nearly managed to wipe us out more than once, but it was the war that drove us to extinction. This village was originally ours, but we started dying of sorrow, sickness and by the hands of Pokémon and humans alike. I've inhabited these walls alone for a millennia now. Then some Pokémon found this place. I started educating them, teaching them woodwork, medicine and the likes. Now, Ben'Alia will soon celebrate its thirty years."
Ash nodded, keeping at heart what he'd learned. The Pokémon of Ben'Alia had been building a society equal to humans while remaining hidden to their sight, and he could easily guess why. If they heard about the place, humans would freak out and destroy it, capture and study the villagers for research. Because, to them, Pokémon were animals. Ben'Alia proved it wasn't true. The haven of those who lived hiding welcomed all kinds of outcasts and grew every passing year. At the edge of the village, a pair of Sandslash were sculpting a tree to make it a house, under the careful supervision of a Girafarig who was holding a plan. Yes, they had that. Apparently, it was made by an Aipom.
Something suddenly tugged in Ash's head. Focusing on it, the boy recognized Gary's psychic signature. The boy was worried and wondering where his friend had gone. Ash gave him a quick summary of the situation, to which Gary answered Silver was tracking him through Aura. An hour later, he, Gary, Misty and Brock emerged from the tunnel. The Pokémon were wary, and it was understandable. Ash stood between the two groups.
"Calm down, everyone. It's alright, they're my friends. They won't hurt you."
The Pokémon were still tense but Ash's words had weight, being a servant of the Council. They quieted down. As for the group, they raised their hands as a proof of goodwill. Amaya stepped at Ash's side.
"Silver Nor Shadow. Long has it been since you paid me a visit."
"Amaya, the Last Dryad of Eä. It's been a while! … Looking good, I see. And I'm glad you found some friends."
"The Pokémon here are more than friends. This village is theirs. And, if it weren't for Ash and I, they would've mauled you already. Humans are not welcome in Ben'Alia."
Sensing his friends' confusion, Ash quickly explained the importance of the village. Brock frowned.
"When we said we mean no harm, we really mean it. We wouldn't be Ash's friends if we mistreated our Pokémon like some Trainers do."
There was a logic here that suffered no question. The Pokémon welcomed the group in their town and showed them around. Gary and Misty were amazed while Brock was more impressed.
"Their society is exactly like that of humans! I didn't know Pokémon could reach this level of civilization. I wonder if our own teammates would be able to do the same on their own."
"The process is slow, but you're right. In at least a century, Pokémon will have reached our cultural level. They already have their own rules and lore, and the more attentive Trainers treat their Pokémon like friends and partners rather than pets."
"Good to learn."
They spent the afternoon and evening in Ben'Alia. The crew's Pokémon were pleased to discover the place, especially Clefable and Chikorita. Ledyba was also happy to meet other Pokémon. In the evening, they were taken in the city hall for dinner. The dishes were delicious, but Misty noticed they lacked meat and fish.
"We try to avoid killing Pokémon as much as possible. Yes, it's problematic for those of us who are carnivorous, like Houndoom or Feraligatr. But we manage. Sometimes, we steal snacks from human villages. It's a good alternative."
Ash suddenly turned to Brock.
"Brock, if you become a Breeder one day, promise me you'll never abandon a Pokémon because it was born the wrong way."
The taller man shook his head.
"Not an issue. I heard of this practice before but I didn't think it would be so widespread. Don't worry, Ash. No matter the cause, I will never abandon a Pokémon. At worst, I'll give it away but release is out of question, especially if it's an infant. You taught me that much."
Ash smiled, glad at those words. Chikorita was sipping a cup of sweet liquid at his side.
"Now I think of it, Chikorita, do you want to stay with them? They had a place ready for you."
Chikorita turned to him, outraged, and violently shook her head. She wanted to get stronger and she wouldn't achieve it by staying here.
"A shame, but the choice is hers to make. Since she's fine by your side, we're not going to force her."
"But, now I think of it, Chikorita was born in captivity like most of you … and bred Pokémon don't have True Names. How do you do about it? I know it's an important part of Pokémon culture."
Amaya grinned.
"I knew you'd ask. When a Pokémon becomes part of the village, we give him a True Name as part of the welcoming ceremony. We had one planned for Chikorita …"
"What is it?" Gary asked.
A dozen glares suddenly fell on him. Then the boy realized what he'd asked.
"Oops, sorry. I've completely forgotten how much you care about it …"
Chikorita looked at Amaya and muttered some words.
"Yes, it is that important. A True Name defines a Pokémon's real nature, his being. Only a Pokémon's Trainer can know and use it, and even if he knows it, anyone who isn't the Trainer is forbidden from using but one part of it."
Chikorita sighed and nodded, agreeing to receive her Name. Amaya took her in a separate room with the blind Xatu and a Slowking and returned later, smiling. Apparently, she liked her name. The group left the next morning, but not without a surprise. Before they reached the tunnel, a small Misdreavus came hovering around Gary, nuzzling him on occasion.
"She must like you!" Misty grinned.
The creature squealed when Gary caressed her and danced around his shoulders. Amaya nodded.
"This little girl was abandoned for being born with Dream Eater. She had no control over it so, every nights, she was giving the other Pokémon nightmares. She was cast out, of course, but it was her ability that allowed us to track her. We found her, took her in and taught her to control Dream Eater. Now she has no problem with it but, having been raised longer with humans, she still longs for their contact once in awhile."
Gary grinned. This would make him a new Johto teammate and he wasn't against it. Taking a Pokéball, he offered it to the girl who tapped it instantly, squealing in the process. The group then took the tunnel to continue their journey. They passed through a canyon where a woman used Donphan to harvest jewels and had troubles with a haunted forest, especially after their Hoothoot turned to have no sense of direction. Fortunately, Umbreon took care of the ghosts while Misdreavus tore through the illusions. After a long trip, they arrived in Catallia City, a town where the Officer Jennies used Spinarak instead of Growlithe. Indeed, a hundred years ago, a thief called Black Arachnid was ransacking the town with his Meowth, but was eventually stopped by an Officer Jenny and the green spider. But now, the town had a problem.
"People dressed like the Black Arachnid have showed again, stealing valuables in the city. They all use Meowth with Pay Day to distract us, and have the habit of striking everywhere at the same time. Even with our Spikarak webs, we can't seem to catch them. Especially when they burn our strings."
Silver thought a little.
"When the smoke is clouding your eyes, you douse the fire to get rid of it. You guys keep handling the Arachnid look-alikes. When one manages to escape, we'll follow him to his hideout and strike there."
It was a clever plan. At night, the Arachnid thieves struck again and, though one of them was cornered with the mayor's prized trophy, a flurry of Pay Day's golden coins followed by his Magby using Flamethrower on the strings allowed him to escape. It didn't matter. Misdreavus, invisible to all, followed him to the nearby forest. Gary and Ash just had to use their psychic and Aura powers to find her and locate the hideout. Two hours later, the entire contingent of Officer Jennies had gathered for the assault. Five against an entire army of very angry policewomen and a group of skilled Trainers, needless to say the fight was short. And Ash got a Spinarak egg, Gary deciding one Bug Pokémon was enough in his team.
"Your loss. Spinarak look cool."
"And they have a nice move set." Silver grinned. "You won't regret it."
"Besides, you and Brock are the best at handling baby Pokémon." Gary grinned. "I remember how you were with Axew after he was born. You were acting like Silver when you were a kid."
Ash chuckled. Silver's Papa Arcanine tendencies were known to even the Legendary Council. The next day, they arrived in Palm Hills, a city known for its many villas.
"I wonder if we ca meet those superstars we see on TV." Gary wondered.
"These houses sure are fancy." Misty grinned. "Those gardens are endless!"
Silver laughed.
"When I lived in Eä, my garden used to be the entire Grasslands. And talking about fancy villas, my mother had her home in the Crystal Mountains. The place was so gorgeous! I think some of it survived somewhere in this world …"
"Why do you always have the best stuff?" Ash growled. "Speaking of which, I forgot to ask you about the flute."
"Oh, right. I heard you say you'd like to play more often, but your only instrument is the Heart Flute. Kinda problematic when you want to play for fun."
"So …"
"So it's a surprise. Wait and see, Little Ashling. Wait and see."
Ash sighed and looked away. Suddenly, a wave of restless feelings hit him and made him double over.
"Ash, are you alright?"
Ash turned to Misty and winced.
"The fear … There's a scared Pokémon around here!"
The group looked at one another. For the fear to affect Ash that much, it had to be intense. Gary closed his eyes and scanned the mind of every creature around.
"It's coming toward us!"
The creature that appeared was a pink bulldog in a dress, with two red bows on its ears. The creature collided with Ash and hid in his back. Silver raised a brow.
"A Snubbull?"
The creature looked terrified. When footsteps came their way, Gary, Misty and Brock took a Pokéball. Five butlers appeared.
"Hey kids, we're looking for a Snubbull with two red bows. Have you seen it?"
The group looked at one another.
"No, we haven't."
One of the butlers soon noticed the creature, however. Ash gasped as a wave of fear submerged him.
"Help her … Please!"
Pikachu nuzzled his friend, unable to relieve his pain. Turning to the butlers, he hissed and made his cheeks spark.
"Not a chance." Brock growled. "This Snubbull is obviously terrified of you and there has to be a reason for it. If you want it, you'll have to go through us!"
Snubbull looked at him with grateful eyes. Ash sighed at the relief.
"Don't let them have her …"
The boy was powerless due to the pain, but Pikachu was powerful and his friends were just as dangerous. Silver's eyes became icy.
"I don't know what you want with that Snubbull but her fear is powerful enough to incapacitate Ash, my student. Either you leave her and us alone or we will take you down so you're no more a threat."
"This Snubbull belongs to Ms. Muchmoney. She will fire us if we don't return her. Sorry, we can't let her go. Houndoor, go!"
Three Houndoor, two Azumarill and two Tyrogue appeared. Misty's eyes narrowed.
(Play: Axel Foley Techno Remix)
"Vaporeon, Poliwag, go!"
"Ledyba, Misdreavus, let's do this!"
"Stantler, Kabutops, with me!"
Misty turned to Silver.
"Let us handle them. When we meet this Ms. Muchmoney, she's yours."
"Fair enough, but I still want Blade to fight. Here."
He threw a Pokéball Misty caught and opened. The little Oshawott appeared and swung his scalchop.
"Let's get this over with! Blade, Razor Shell!"
A Houndoor threw a cloud of ambers to the otter who cleanly cut through it and landed a head shot. Another tried Flamethrower but Poliwag sent a stream of Bubble Beam that hit all three dark hounds. While Kabutops was fighting a Tyrogue, another Tyrogue tried to run at him, only for glowing light to dance before its eyes. Gary grinned and nodded at Misdreavus.
"Nice Confuse Ray. Misty, all yours!"
The girl nodded and turned to Vaporeon.
"Confusion!"
The blissfully unaware Tyrogue was raised from the ground, turned upside down and slammed repeatedly against the surroundings until KO. An Azumarill threw a Water Pulse to Stantler who was using Stomp on a Houndour. Vaporeon saw this, caught the attack and redirected it on another Houndoor who got it in the side, fainting. Pikachu rushed at the Azumarill and rammed its chest with Volt Tackle before throwing it away with Iron Tail. Kabutops blocked a Brick Break from his opponent and finished with a violent Furry Cutter. A Houndour was readying Dark Pulse against Vaporeon. Ledyba didn't let it finish and blew the dog away with Silver Wind. Blade's Water Pulse finished the job. Finally, the last Azumarill was taken by a Double Kick from Stantler and Pikachu's Thunderbolt. The butlers gulped.
(End music)
"Tough kids! How are we gonna retrieve Madame's Snubbull now?"
"How about you just don't?"
"What is all this ruckus!?"
An elder woman in a red dress appeared before the groups, visibly displeased.
"What is the meaning of this? Why haven't you retrieved my dear Snubbull yet? And … Oh my, this young boy is in pain! It is your fault, right?"
While the butlers looked afraid, Gary, Misty, Brock and Silver looked downright bewildered. The woman came to the Trainers.
"Come to my villa. I will make sure your friend receives proper care. And … Oh, Snubby-Dear, here you are! You felt this boy was in pain so you came to his side to help him. How kind of you!"
The moment she bent to pick the creature, Ash jerked in pain. Brock watched Snubbull struggle in the woman's hands and looked at the group.
"This woman has a problem."
Gary's eyes narrowed as he scanned the minds of the woman and her Pokémon. At the same time, the butlers had picked Ash and were leading the group to a huge villa with a big garden. He waited that they were alone in the room to explain what he'd seen.
"The reason Ash is I so much pain is because he's feeling all the fear and anger of Snubbull. Somehow, Snubbull's emotions are powerful enough that Ash's empathic powers are overloaded."
"But why?" Misty asked. "If this is where Snubbull lives, she must've quite the magnificent life. I mean, this garden is huge, I've seen a room full of clothes for her and it's starting to smell really good."
"But a golden cage is still a cage." Silver muttered. "This house looks nice, but if Snubbull sees it as a prison, might as well be hell."
Brock nodded.
"You got a point. If Snubbull ran away, it's because she isn't happy with her life. Ms. Muchmoney invited us for dinner. Let's see what happens there."
Ash was panting in the bed. Misty wet a tissue and cleaned his face with it.
"Hold on. We'll rescue Snubbull as soon as we know what's going on."
The boy mustered a weak smile.
"She's suffering. You have to help."
"We will."
The group followed a butler to a huge living room. Ms. Muchmoney was here with her Snubbull. On the table were dishes more delicious than the others. Misty grinned.
"Ash loves eating as much as training. A table like this would be heaven to him."
"Then we'll save some of the food for your friend. Is he still sick?"
"Unfortunately. But don't worry, it isn't contagious. He'll recover eventually."
During dinner, Gary noticed Snubbull wasn't eating. His mind crept to the Pokémon and tingled around, trying to get her attention. He succeeded.
'Who are you?'
'The boy in a purple shirt.'
'What do you want?'
'You're not hungry?'
The good thing with mental communication was that there was no such thing as language barriers. The brain wasn't born with a definite language and instantly translated thoughts.
'I hate the food here.'
'Why? It's pretty good.'
'I eat it all the time. It's boring.' Sadness.
'Then … What would you eat?'
'Something a Pokémon eats. This is human food. This old hag treats me like her granddaughter rather than as an actual Pokémon. I'm not a human, damn it! I am a Snubbull! If at least she treated me like some of those Meowth that claw on the curtains and play ball … But no, she dresses me like a puppet, makes me eat human food, spoils me like her long lost grandchild and you know what? She even arranged a marriage for me! Yes, seriously. Fortunately, it was with another Snubbull, but then I saw him. What in the Reverse World!? That Winthrop is a man-child! I mean, he's a Snubbull, but he's at least twenty! For my kind, it's old. If at least he was a Granbull, I wouldn't mind that much, but he's still in the childhood-early teenage state when he's reaching the end of his life! No way I'm staying a Snubbull all my life. I may be three, but I want to evolve before I reach ten. I want to grow up! Well, good luck with that hag spoiling me rotten …'
Gary winced at the rant. In his head, the young Pokémon had a childish voice, which was logical if she was three. But, at least, he knew what was wrong. He mentally explained it to the group. Brock frowned.
'Good luck making Ms. Muchmoney understand that.'
'Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Still, we have to do something. But what? Smuggling? We hide Snubbull inside a bag during the night and leave incognito in the morning?'
'Then we'll have all the Officer Jennies on our ass because she'll accuse us of stealing her Snubby-Dear. Sorry, no thanks.'
A smile crept on Silver's face.
'Actually, this is a good idea. We just have to leave a message from Snubbull explaining why she left. And be far when she finds out.'
The group was reluctant to agree but it was still a good plan. Gary uttered it to Snubbull who had to hold her happiness and finally dug in her food. During the meal, Ms. Muchmoney talked about the wedding and showed them a picture of Winthrop. When they saw the slightly wrinkled Snubbull with a monocle, formal suit and top hat, the group understood. They had to take Snubbull away fast. So, while Misty was bringing food to Ash, Gary and Brock asked to play alone with Snubbull. As soon as they were alone, Gary dictated the letter to Brock as the girl mentally spelled it. Just to be sure, they also recorded her saying it. It was in poké-speech, but it would add credibility to the letter. In Ash's room, Silver and Misty smiled as they saw their friend's relieved face. Ash had managed to eat most of the food Misty offered him and looked better.
"You made it, right?"
"Yeah. Our plan is set. All we have now is to wait for next morning and we leave while everyone's asleep. You think you'll be in good enough shape?"
"Hope so. Snubbull's feeling better. It doesn't hurt as much as before. Now, all I need is rest."
"Then rest." Misty smiled. "We'll with you."
Ash smiled. He was very lucky to have them at his side. In the middle of the night, moved by an urgent feeling, he still rose from his bed and took the Heart Flute. The pain was gone, yet his powers allowed him to sense the emotions contained not just in Snubbull but in the entire house. There was sorrow, there was anger, there was despair and melancholy, sad feelings soaking the walls and ceiling, the floor, the air, saturating the atmosphere. The boy brought the flute to his lips and played.
A soft whisper crept into the villa, carried by the midnight breeze. It snuck into Snubbull's room as she dreamt upon her past life. Born in a breeding center, separated from her family, brought up as a child and not a Pokémon … Not anymore. Tomorrow, she would flee her gilded cage with the Trainers and start her journey at their side. At last, she would be herself. The creature grinned. She had no regret.
Silver dreamt upon his past life, in the magic-filled world of Eä, the Ancient World. He had his son and daughter, his wife, his friends, the games of Blacksad by those sunny afternoons and endless races across the Grasslands. Eä was gone. His home was gone. And it had been ages since he'd last seen Sowilo and Hinode. A tear rolled on his cheek.
Brock dreamed about his childhood. He saw himself playing with his father and the day he received Onix as a birthday present. He remembered playing with his siblings, then how he became their only parent when his father and mother left. In his chest, his heart became heavy as a rock. He was only fourteen. When was the last time he had acted like a child?
Misty rolled in her sleep. Her parents had left when she was young, so she barely remembered them. Instead, she'd been raised by her sisters. Well, actually, raised wasn't exactly the right term. The three girls had always been more interested in showing off in spectacles rather than actual training. But Cerulean City had a Gym, not a water theater. Misty had taken on herself at a young age to fulfill the duty her sisters had been neglecting. Yes, she was only thirteen. She'd been training with Pokémon since she was seven. The girl's eyes opened. No wonder she was so tomboyish: not only was she self-raised, she had also taught herself the hard way.
Gary's eyes opened at the music. It was sad and heartfelt. The boy took a moment to remember his childhood, how he was raised by his grandfather, how he could barely remember his parents or his sister, the way he and Ash were as children. Regret washed over him. His jealousy had led him to an extreme that had cost him his mind. But it was over. He was back, his haughty behavior was gone and Ash had forgiven him. A smile crossed his face. He was very lucky to have the Aura Guardian as a friend. Creeping out of bed, he went to Ash's room and saw him play his golden flute. It was over after a few minutes.
"Beautiful. Was it what Snubbull was feeling?"
"Not only. It was all the feelings held in this house. Snubbull has been living in a cage and we're going to free her. I'm glad."
"She's the one who should be glad."
Gary smiled. His friend had a heart of pure gold. He snuck in his back and hugged him, his head in the hollow of his neck. Ash lay in and closed his eyes. His friend's embrace was very gentle. They stayed like this, bodies separated only by their shirts and in a half-dreaming state until Misty entered and saw them.
"Err … Ahem, have you seen what position you're in?"
"What?" Gary growled. "It's just a hug."
"A hug? Like this? Looks more intimate than just a hug to me."
The two boy's eyes widened. The next second, there were ten feet away and dusting themselves.
"Ash doesn't interest me the slightest."
"Sorry, I'm not into this kind of relationship. Not yet."
Somehow, Misty didn't buy it. The two boys returned to their respective bed, not without glaring at the girl. Misty sighed. She had to admit, same-gender relationships weirded her a bit despite her open-mindedness. She had noticed how Gary was very touchy-feely around her friend. At first, she believed it was his way of showing his friendship. But some of his actions crossed the friendship line in more than one way. And she found Ash attractive. This part wasn't new, she already had noticed how gorgeous the young Chosen was during the Orange Islands journey. But Ash was more and more aware of it when people showed interest and didn't push them back with the same intensity as before. Sure, he kept saying he was still too young, but … Misty sighed again. If she didn't hold herself, her attraction might soon develop in a full-blown crush. The girl returned to bed and tried to forget the sweet vision that was her friend's finely tuned muscles.
When Ms. Muchmoney awoke the next morning, she headed to Snubbull's room … and screamed when she found it empty. Well, not exactly. A voice recorder and a letter were on the bed.
"Master, when you find this letter, I will be far from this place and hopefully well into my new life. Yes, you are my master. Not my grandmother. You aren't a Granbull and I'm not a child! Well, not exactly. Anyway, I think I owe you an explanation. Though I am grateful for how nicely you treated me, let's be honest: you were outright overbearing! You kept giving me pretty dresses when I wanted to roll in the grass, you gave me human food when poké-snacks would have been just fine, you kept me inside when all I wanted was enjoy the sun and the wind on my face, but the biggest offense was this marriage with Winthrop. What in the Reverse World has gotten into you!? Me and that old man-child? Not. A. Chance! So don't be surprised that I kept running away all the time. Now, I've got the chance to leave and I'm gonna take it. A new, real life is showing before me. Bye Master. World, here I come!"
The old woman was misty-eyed at the words.
"My baby … My little Snubby-Dear … All I wanted was to make you happy! Oh, my Snubby, I'm so sad I didn't notice earlier! Well … if this is what you wish, go for it. Good luck, Snubbull."
On the road to Violet City, the group grinned at the Snubbull walking at their side.
"So, now you're free, which one of us do you want to team up with?"
The girl looked at all four Trainers, thought a little, then shook her head and walked away. The teens looked at one another.
"Looks like she wants to be on her own."
Ash grinned.
"Like Meowth in Team Rocket. Fine by me. This is gonna be interesting."
"Oh yeah! Come on, our next stop is the Violet Gym!"
And here is the new chapter! I promised next update would be Pokémon and, as much as I wish writing more about Yu-Gi-Oh, a primise is a promise. I'm not an oathbreaker, thank you. Anyway, some clarifications (not in the order): Blacksad is a game similar to poker played by the Ancients. Silver, Adriel, Lucy and Thanata used to play all the time ... and Adriel used to cheat all the time, which would never end well for his tail. Pokémon have varying lifespans. The dog-like lines usually live around 20-25 years. Also, since évolutions represent growing stages such as childhood, tenage and adulthood, a three-year old Typhlosion is an adult with the mind of a child while a twenty-something Growlithe has the mind of an adult in the body of a kid. Those Pokémon tend to be looked down upon by their peers. Finally, Ash will urn twelve in a few days and Misty recently turned thirteen. Also, for the episode with the Bellossoms, I want to wait till Ash gets Totodile so it's funnier.
Now, the reviews ...
- Mysterious: definitely not.
- NinjaFishe: maybe because someone else will have it ... Maybe Gary, it would be interesting. Along with an Elekid ...
- knightblazer85: guess what? You guessed right. But it will come with a sad twist ...
- Nightshadegirl: great minds think alike.
- Siggimondo: No, baby Stantler won't be called Horny. And Arceus may be a jerk, but it's just that he's concerned with his creation (the Pokémon world) and can take measures that we "lowly" humans may consider extreme. And yes, Ash will somehow get the Hoenn Starters. And the Sinnoh ones. And the Unova ones. Did I forget Kalos?
- MidnightHunter563: family problems are not really the most inspirational thing for a story like this. And the Council just thought it would be nice that Ash had Chiko. As for Odin ... Well, he was on a job so he didn't really have time to say Hi. And keep in mind Arceus isn't very fond of Silver ...
- ultima-owner: Silver is a 3000 year old immortal. He does have his bouts of childishness. Especially when he awakes in what amounts to a giant Ice Aura buffet.
- zackattacks999: just wait till you see the third movie ...
- thli1693: indeed, mega-evolution here is bount to the bonds between Trainer and Pokémon only. But the bond has to be very deep, so only a handful of individuals achieve it.
- Birdy1210: Gym battles? Find out next chapter. And mega-evolution isn't excluded since Gary and Ash keep their old teammates that get progressively replaced. And Pikachu and Umbreon always remain.
Okay, looks like that's all. Next update is Yu-gi-oh. The chapter's half written. But next update to this story is Gym Battle! So stay tuned! See you!