This chapter was updated/revised on May 5, 2020.


Part 3

The journey to Azurin took years. As Pokémon, our walking strides were smaller than those of a human, and we took the long way instead of cutting through the cities in order to avoid the humans. We also got sidetracked and lost several times.

I got better at hunting and instead of losing hope that I would never reach my destination, I became even more determined.

Then one day, a day that had to be over a decade later, we finally reached my home forest.

"This is it. It took ya years, but you got here," said Rattata.

"Did your family have a special tree or a cave they like to stay in?" my Vulpix friend asked me—she had been with us for the last two years.

"Yes," I responded. "I'll show you."

I ran to the spot. Vulpix, Ratatta, Oddish, Bellsprout, Bellossom, and Caterpie (our other traveling companions) chased after me.

"It was here," I said, pointing to our old den.

I shouted my parents' names a few times, but no one responded.

"I don't smell any Meowth or Pansear scent here," said Vulpix.

"Me neither," said Rattata. "Are you sure this is it?"

"They might be out. They could be sleeping or hunting or hanging with friends," I replied. "I'll check their favorite spots."

We spent hours searching but were unsuccessful. My friends and I decided to stay in the den until they came back. Three months passed and no one new showed up.

XO

One morning we were all eating our morning meal together when my friends decided to do an intervention.

"We think you should forget about them," said Rattata.

I knew this was coming. I wasn't sure when, but I knew they were going to say something sooner or later.

"I can't. I'm not ready," I asserted.

"Maya, you are a teenage Meowth now. I am younger than you and I already have a mate and an egg," said Vulpix. "Most Pokémon our age do. I think it's time you just move on and make a new family. We will still be your friends."

"We all agree," said Oddish and Caterpie.

"You are so bright and special. Wherever your parents are, I am sure they are wishing you the best. They would be very upset if they knew you were so unhappy," said Bellsprout.

"You make a good point, but I don't know where to go," I mumbled. "I feel so lost."

"That's because you spent most of your life looking for something old instead of something new. Change isn't always bad," said Rattata. "I enjoyed spending this last decade and a half with you. Really, I'm glad I came. It was a new adventure for me, and it was fun while it lasted. But sitting here waiting, that isn't good for you—us."

"There's nothing wrong with staying here, but at least make it your own," said Vulpix.

I ruminated on their words for days.

Soon Vulpix's egg hatched and she spent all her time taking care of it of the new baby. Oddish, Bellossom, and Bellsprout moved on, and Caterpie evolved into Metapod and later Butterfree. Then he flew off to migrate. Within a matter of weeks, it was just me and Rattata.

"I'm going to Cerulean City," Ratatta announced one morning.

"Why?" I asked.

"Azurin is too small a city for me. The nearest big city is Cerulean. I need a change in atmosphere. You know I don't like the woods. Besides, Azurin has too many wild felines. Those beasts can get aggressive."

"I will go too."

"I was hoping you'd say that. You ready now?"

"Now…well, I guess I have nothing to bring with me."

All I had was my empty Pokeball, and all Ratatta had was a small collection of pebbles that he used as a weapon to fight off aggressive Pokémon. There is an unspoken rule that Pokémon didn't hunt other Pokémon, but word on the street was there were these fusion Pokémon that could not even communicate with regular Pokémon. For some reason, Rattata thought a pebble could be used as an effective defense mechanism. I was just counting on good fortune.

The trip to Cerulean City took about two months. I was annoyed because the woods weren't very big, and there were many Pokémon trainers always running around. I found it near impossible to hunt, and fishing was hard too despite the city being surrounded by lakes and rivers.

One day I gave up on breakfast and was just strolling next to Ratatta on the sidewalk.

"Hey, look there!" he exclaimed, pointing upwards.

Above us was a colorful building with the title 'Cerulean City Gym'. At this point in my life, I couldn't read, but I recognized the word 'gym', as I had seen many gyms when I was traveling with humans.

"I figured this place would have a gym," I commented. "So, what?"

"Unlike you, I can read," said Rattata. "And the newspapers are always bragging about this Gym Leader named Misty."

"Okay…"

"The press just did an article talking about how nice she is to Pokémon. Says she rehabilitates water Pokémon that get hurt in the ocean or the nearby lakes and rivers."

"Are you saying we should go to her?"

"Well, you are starving. Unlike me, you can't just eat fruit out of the garbage can. You're a feline who needs lots of protein, and you ain't gettin it here…I can see your ribcage."

He poked my ribs.

"I suppose you are right," I grumbled. "But how can I trust her?"

"Misty is supposed to be the Gym Leader," he replied. "She only trains water-types. She ain't gonna make you battle. She probably ain't even gonna try to catch ya. But she'll probably feed ya."

He did have a good point. What would a water Pokémon trainer want with a Meowth? And if she was as nice as the papers said, she'd at least feed me for a few days. Then I can gather my strength and return to the woods outside of Azurin, where there were fewer humans and hunting was a bit easier.

"I'll do it," I decided.

We returned to the gym right before sunset. As we suspected, that was when the gym was closing down. A woman who looked to be in her early thirties exited the main door and locked it.

"That's her, the redhead!" Rattata exclaimed. He took my empty Pokeball for me. "Go!"

I took his advice and trotted up to Misty. I sat in front of her car, making sure I blocked the driver seat so that she couldn't get in without dealing with me first. I meowed loudly.

"Awe, you poor thing," she sighed. "You look starved."

"I am," I said, though I didn't expect her to understand.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bag of Pokéblock.

"Eat this," she suggested. "A friend made it for me. My other Pokémon love it."

I sniffed the food. It smelled fishy, so I tried it. Thankfully it tasted fishy too, and I loved fish. I meowed a thank you.

"I don't have anything else on me or in the gym," she explained. "I keep the hearty stuff at my house."

I was disappointed. I looked over at the bush where Ratatta was hiding with my Pokeball.

"Just go!" he squeaked. "I'll meet up with ya later!"

"What are you looking at?" Misty asked.

She turned her head to follow my gaze, but by then Ratatta was gone. We stared back at one another.

"You can come home with me," said Misty. There I can give you more food and a safe place to sleep."

I meowed another thank you and jumped into her car. I sat in the passenger seat.

"I would like to know more about you, but unfortunately we can't talk," Misty said as she pulled out of the parking lot. "I do know some translators, though they won't be around for a few more weeks."

I wondered what she meant by translators, but I didn't think much of it. She chatted about her daughter and her husband. Ten minutes later we were at her home.

"So, my place is kind of small, but most of my Pokémon stay at the gym, and my daughter is still on her Pokémon journey," Misty explained as she opened the door to the apartment.

"Welcome home!" an Azumarill greeted her.

"This is my main partner. She normally comes to and from work with me but she was feeling ill so she stayed home today," Misty explained.

"Don't worry, I won't get you sick", Azumarill told me. She coughed. "I'm going back to bed—it was nice to meet you!"

"You too," I replied.

Azumarill took a bowl of food from Misty and went into one of the back rooms. Misty placed a bowl of food on a tray and put it in front of me.

"Eat up," she said.

"Almost all my Pokémon are water types," she said as I chowed down. "I also have an Umbreon and a few fire and grass-type Pokémon, but the rest of my 500 Pokémon are all water or ice types. Since Ash is a Frontier Brain, he has dozens of different types of Pokémon. This is the food he gives his psychic and normal-type partners."

I had no idea that there were different foods catered to different Pokémon types, but whatever she gave me was delicious. I purred loudly as I ate it. She refilled my bowl when I was done.

"You sure were hungry," she commented.

A few seconds after she said that I heard a car pull up in the driveway. A man with dark hair and a Pikachu entered the house. Azumarill came back out of her room to greet them. The man looked at me quizzically.

"You caught a Meowth?" he asked, laughing a little bit. "I wonder how Jessie and James are going to feel about that."

"I didn't catch her," said Misty. "She found me. She was hungry and in need of food, and I didn't have any left at the gym, so I took her here."

The man rubbed the top of my head. A wave of warmth washed over me.

"Does she talk like a human?" he asked.

'What an odd question to ask,' I thought.

"If she does then she's shy about it," Misty replied.

"My name's Ash. I'm a Pokémon trainer," he said. "And this is Pikachu, my MVP."

I didn't know yet that 'MVP' stood for 'Most Valuable Pokémon', but it was obvious that the Pikachu was special. And so was that human; he had an aura I had never sensed before. It was strong, enticing, nostalgic, comforting…the proper words to describe it are unknown to me.

But I was told long ago that Aura Guardians were mythological.

"Where are you from?" the Pikachu asked.

"It's kinda a long story," I replied. "I was born in Azurin, then I was captured, and eventually I ran away from my trainer. My trainer was mean. He forced me to battle when I didn't want to and would hurt me whenever I failed. Now I am on my own and trying to find out where I belong."

"You came to a good place. You can stay here forever if you want. I was abandoned by my trainer a long time ago. They left me at a place called the Oak Lab. I really hated humans. Then I met Ash and now I really like humans. We have been together for over twenty years."

"Wow, you are lucky…but I can't trust humans yet. I'm only here because I'm starving."

"That's okay. I am just saying that it is probably a good idea if you stay. You can be safe here."

"What do you think?" Ash asked Pikachu. "You sure are talking a lot."

"I like her! We should help her—she needs our help."

Ash turned to Misty.

"Pikachu likes her," he said. "And he says she needs help."

"He can understand you?" I gasped.

"Ash can read Pokémon very well. It is a special gift. Not all humans are like that," Pikachu explained.

"Why can he do that?"

"He's an Aura Guardian."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Do you know what that is?"

"I've been taught, but I was told they are not real."

"They're real all right. Rare, but real, and Ash is proof."

"Would you like to stay the night?" Misty asked.

"Yes," I responded.

"Great," said Ash. He rubbed his stomach. "I need food."

"Annastasia sent some avocado sushi over as a 'thank you in advance' gift," Misty replied. "I already ate, so help yourself."

"Sugoi!"

"Pika!" Pikachu cheered, his tone matching Ash's.

I observed them until late into the night.

"You spend a lot of time watching them," Pikachu remarked.

"I don't have much experience with humans that are respectful," I replied.

"They're good people. They've both helped a ton of Pokémon. Ever since Ash was a child he was helping Pokémon, never demanding anything in return."

Pikachu told me about some of the things Ash had done. It sounded far-fetched, and I didn't think most of it was actually true until years later.

Misty gave me a nice cozy place to sleep next to her Umbreon, Vaporeon, and Pikachu.

The next morning Misty took me to the Cerulean Gym.

"If you want, you can spend the days just hanging around here, and at night sleep in the gym with my other Pokémon," she said. "No one will capture you as long as you stay close."

This worked out well. For three weeks things went smoothly. I didn't stray far from the gym. Rattata spend a few hours each day with me and I made friends with Ash and Misty's Pokémon.

I avoided the trainers that came to the gym for battles as best I could, knowing that any one of them could be looking for a Meowth like me to add to their team. Then one day a peculiar group came by. It was a day I know I will never forget.

XO

I was cleaning myself near a fountain. Rattata was munching on some Pokechow that was left over from my breakfast. The city was quite peaceful until a group quite noisy kids and teenagers came marching by. As usual, my natural response was to duck behind the fountain. And as usual, I watched while Ratatta silently mocked me.

"Hey look this group is like the last few we saw. They don't keep their Pokémon in their Pokeballs", Ratatta commented.

"Look, a Ratatta!" a small girl with magenta hair commented, pointing to Rattata. "Onēsan, can he come?"

"How about you ask?" a blond teenager replied.

Much to my discontent, they all stopped in front of the fountain.

"We already have a bunch of Ratatta because you all started that fire," a redheaded girl told the rest of the group.

"Amb, you're just jealous cuz you weren't there," a boy with purple hair responded.

To my surprise, a shiny Meowth climbed onto his shoulder.

"We like Ratatta," she told the girl.

"Hey! You talk like a human!" Rattata exclaimed.

"Yeah, no shit."

"Wow, this is great. You ought to meet my friend."

"What is he saying?" the smallest member of their group asked.

Her Flaafy partner tried to explain, but they weren't getting far. The girl pouted.

"Hold on, Jocelyn, I'm getting there," said the shiny Meowth. She turned to Rattata. "If you and your friend want to come along, then let's get going. We're heading over to the Cerulean Gym later but first, we need food."

"We aren't looking for a battle," the blond teenager added.

"I can't, not now. I got…obligations," Ratatta responded. He stared at me, trying to get me to come out of hiding.

"Watcha looking at?" a shiny Purrloin asked in human language.

"You speak human too! Wow, anyone else?"

"Nope. But we'll give lessons," said the Meowth. "So, if you aren't coming, we'll see you later maybe."

The moment they were gone, I moved back to Rattata.

"Now that's a special group," he remarked.

"That must be the Meowth that Weedle told you about," I replied.

"I don't think so. He said the talking Meowth he met was a Team Rocket grunt. And male. And I would assume a bit older. And he didn't say anything about it being a shiny."

"I wonder if this means other Pokémon can learn to speak human", I wondered aloud.

"They said they'll give lessons. I'd go with the cute Purrloin if I were you. Then you'd get like a two-for-one deal."

"I don't want a mate. At least, not a male mate. No offense."

"None taken."

"But they have all those humans. And they are going to the Cerulean Gym, most likely to battle. If I become part of their group, they are going to want me to battle."

"We can spy on them, and then decide from there."

"Good idea."

XO

We spent the next few days stalking the group. It didn't take long for me to figure out that the one they called Amber was Misty's daughter, and that her traveling companions were the translators that Misty mentioned to me the first day we met. Still, I kept my distance and only came by at night for my meals.

But I knew they were probably only staying a few days or weeks at most, and so I spent a lot of time spying on them. I soon realized there was only one person I was interested in watching.

"You're startin to get weird," Rattata said one night at dinner. "You're always watching that Lily kid."

"I just admire her so much. I want to be like her," I explained.

"You should talk to her."

"I can't. I'm too…"

"You're too what?"

"I'm…afraid."

The idea of talking to someone like Lily was intimidating. I could imagine just freezing up on the spot. She was a shiny Meowth, super-confident, and capable of speaking to humans. I was nothing in comparison.

"I would just stutter and humiliate myself. She is so perfect and I am just an average boring loser Meowth," I told Rattata.

"I don't remember you being so hard on yourself," he replied.

"Well…"

"And I know you're shy around humans, but since when are you shy around Pokémon?"

"She's different…special…I don't know. If she rejects me I might just die."

"Well, Drama Queen, there's only one way to find out if Lily The Shiny Meowth will kill you: you talk to her."

"I can't!"

"It sounds to me like you are in love with her."

"I can't be though. That doesn't make any sense! You are just messing with my head."

"No, Maya. Trust me, I know what it's like to be in love. And I know you. I understand you. Think about it. Why don't you think it could be?"

"Because…" I realized I didn't have a reason. "I don't…I don't want to be even more of a freak than I already am."

"I know freaks. I met lots of freaks, and you ain't one of them. Even if you were, so what? Since when do you care what others think? You never lived like that before."

"You make a good point…"

"I know I do."

"But what do I say to her? There is absolutely no way she feels that way, and if she did, it probably wouldn't be about me. I never met a female Pokémon who didn't want a male mate, and I am just average. She is a shiny, who can talk, and she has lots of friends and family. I have nothing cool about me."

"You are the nicest Pokémon I know. Just go talk to her."

"I can't, not alone."

"Then it's a good thing you're not alone."


AN: Thanks for reading and please review if you can:)