Whoop! Another update! I really like this one, because it just symbolizes how friends really will do anything for eachother! Hope you enjoy! :D
...
Ash paced restlessly in front of the emergency care unit, his face marred with worry. Every now and then he would quickly glance up at the glowing 'in use' light above the door, impatiently staring it down for a few moments before resuming his pacing.
Misty sighed from where she and Brock sat in the waiting chairs, glancing at Ash for a moment. "You'd think he'd get dizzy from pacing back and forth for the past 2 hours."
Brock turned to face Misty briefly before looking at Ash, "I don't blame him after all. Pikachu was in pretty bad shape." he uttered, a look of worry coming across his face.
Not too long ago our group of heroes had come across a cocky trainer and his equally feisty Magmar. Ash had agreed to battle with him without hesitation, and chose to battle with Pikachu. The battle had seemed to be going well...That was, until things took a nasty turn. It seemed the other trainer had a perfect plan in mind to win. He waited until Pikachu used quick attack, and commanded his own pokemon to dodge it. While Pikachu rushed past, he told Magmar to turn and hit Pikachu in the back with Flamethrower.
And he nailed it.
Right as Pikachu was trying to slow down from his quick attack, the trainer took the opportunity to attack Pikachu right in the weak spot as he exposed it. Magmar blasted Pikachu with a nasty flamethrower attack, and as the smoke cleared, it revealed Pikachu lying on the ground gasping loudly in pain. His back was badly burned.
Ash was at his side in an instant. He looked like he had just seen a ghost as he shakily scooped up a still struggling Pikachu in his arms, careful not to touch his burn. Swallowing the rising bile in his throat he wordlessly ran down the street towards the pokemon center. The other trainer had looked shocked and mildly guilty. Misty had definitely given that boy an earful of scolding and scared him away before the remaining two ran down the street after Ash.
Misty frowned as she recalled it all, crossing her arms, "I still wasn't done with that kid." she growled.
"You probably would've tore his head off if he hadn't had run away." Brock chuckled, earning a smirk from Misty.
"Hey! That kid should've known better than to let his Magmar use full blast flamethrower like that!"
Just then, a glorious beep sounded from the doorway, the light blinking off. Ash spazzed on spot, his arms flailing for a moment before rushing right up to the doorway.
"Pikachu!" he cried expectantly as the doors slid open, running past the Nurse Joy before she could say anything she wanted too. His face lit up with joy as he spotted two Chansey's wheeling Pikachu out of the infirmary. As he rushed up to him something about his best buddy caught him off guard. No, it wasn't the thick bandages wrapped all around Pikachu's stomach and back.
It was the cone around his head.
Ash smacked a hand over his mouth, trying to muffle his bubbling giggles. It was futile however, the more he stared at the satellite dish looking plastic object around Pikachu's head, the funnier it was.
"Ash! How is Pika-" Brock cut off as him and Misty ran in after him. They froze as they spotted the yellow electric mouse, pausing for a moment before bursting into laughter at how ridiculous it looked.
"Chaaa~..." Pikachu drug out sadly, bowing his head self-consciously.
"Oh stop it." Nurse Joy chided Ash and the others, "You are making him feel bad."
Ash immediately felt bad and reached down, gently stroking Pikachu's head, "I'm sorry for laughing buddy." he apologized, a warm smile spreading on his face, "I'm so glad that you're ok!"
"Pika-pi!" Pikachu responded happily, nuzzling his trainers hand in response. Standing to his feet wobbly, Pikachu leaped up, trying to hop up on his rightful place on Ash's shoulder. His cone, however, acted as a barrier and smacked unsatisfactory against Ash's chest before bouncing Pikachu back down onto the table back first, causing the electric mouse to yelp in pain.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried in alarm, picking his best buddy up, "Are you ok?" Pikachu only let out a disheartened 'cha', his head bowing as the weight of the cone drug him down.
"Now Pikachu, you can't just go jumping around with a burned back and a cone on your head." Nurse Joy scolded the pokemon softly, "You must rest, and take it easy for a while."
"Chu." Pikachu responded shamefully.
"Nurse Joy?" Ash interrupted, "How come you put a cone on Pikachu's head?"
She smiled in return, "Pikachu has to wear that cone on his head while his back heals. It prevents him from chewing at his bandages and getting his burn infected." she replied, "Not to worry though, he will be able to take the cone off in a week."
"A week?!" Ash exclaimed, at the same time Pikachu cried, "Pika?!"
"I'm sorry, but Pikachu had a nasty burn. I wouldn't take any risks if I were you, and that includes battleing." Nurse Joy responded.
Suddenly Brock rushed up, getting on one knee and grabbing one of Nurse Joy's hands, "We wouldn't dream of it! I promise to keep a sharp eye on these two just for you my beautiful primrose!" he exclaimed, starry eyed.
Misty snatched Brock up by the ear, dragging him away, "Save it, Romeo!" she grumbled, "Come on Ash! We'd better hit the road again!"
"Right!" Ash responded, running after them with cone-headed Pikachu in his arms, "Thanks a lot Nurse Joy!" he called over his shoulder.
Nurse Joy smiled brightly, waving after them, "Goodbye!"
…
A few hours had passed, and the team had made it a good ways through the woods before stopping for a lunch break.
Ash crouched down to let Pikachu hop down from his arms, only to have Pikachu fall face first on the ground and get stuck upside down.
"Piiikkaa!~" Pikachu flailed around for a moment, before managing to tumble back over. He rolled over and over a good few feet, the cone keeping him from standing upright.
With a giggle, Ash helped Pikachu back onto his feet, "Its gonna take some getting used to, Pikachu!"
Pikachu huffed embarrassedly, turning away from his trainer to hide his red nose.
"Hey guys, lunch is ready!" Brock called from over his cooking pot, the sultry smell of his famous stew making Ash's mouth water.
Ash stood up without hesitation, reaching into his belt before tossing all of his pokeballs upwards, "Alright everyone, lunch time!" he called. Totodile, Cyndaquil, Bayleef,
Bulbasaur and Noctowl all came out in order.
"You too guys, come on out!" Misty exclaimed, throwing her own pokeballs out and releasing Goldeen, Staryu, Corsola, and Psyduck.
"Onix, Golbat, Geodude, Vulpix you too!" Brock exclaimed, releasing them.
As soon as all pokemon got their bearings, all eyes turned to Pikachu.
The entire group burst into uproars of pokemon laughter.
"TO-TO Tota totadile!~"
"Psyyyyyyyy!~"
"Cyn-Cynnnddaa! Cynda!~"
"Bay-ay-ay-ay!~"
"Gwaar-har-har-har!"
"Buulllbbaaaa! Bul-Bulbasaur!~"
All pokemon fell over each other, laughing heartily. Even Onix flopped over onto his back as he cracked up, causing the entire clearing to shake.
"Pikachu-Pika!" Pikachu snapped hotly, trying to make them stop. But this sudden movement caused him to fall over from the weight on his head, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. This only caused the laughter to grow.
"Piiiii~" Pikachu whined, ducking his head low shamefully. He felt unwanted tears pool at his little brown eyes as his friends made fun of him.
"Stop it! All of you!" Ash hollered, waving his arms around, "It's not funny!"
"Yeah! All of you should be ashamed of yourselves! Look, you're hurting Pikachu's feelings!" Misty added angrily.
The laughter died down gradually as the pokemon recovered, getting up and casually making their way to the bowls set out for them. Misty clicked her tongue disappointedly before following after them. Ash knelt down and gently help Pikachu back up, scratching the disheartened pokemon on its head, "Don't worry Pikachu, I know they didn't mean it. What do ya say we go eat, huh buddy?" he smiled.
"Chu.." Pikachu whispered, turning away from Ash and slowly making his way over to his own food bowl. Ash watched after him, concern in his eyes before turning and heading back to the table.
As the day progressed, nothing seemed to be getting better for poor Pikachu. During lunch he had leaned forward too far and face-planted right into his food bowl, earning another outburst of laughter from his pokemon friends. Totodile was making the most fun of him, hopping around on his energetic feet while mocking Pikachu. The other pokemon wouldn't let Pikachu play with them later that afternoon, bursting into fresh laughter every time he appeared before them and causing Pikachu to run away in shame, something pretty abnormal for the electric mouse. He was often seen as the brave leader of all of the groups pokemon, but this blasted cone of shame had seriously hurt his pride.
Pikachu had finally had enough around dinnertime, as he struggled to eat he could hear the snickers coming from the other pokemon. Frustrated tears prickled in the little yellow pokemon's eyes as he sprang to his feet, his round brown eyes glittering with anger and hurt.
"Pi-Pika! Chu Pi Pikachu-Pi! Pi Pi Pika Pika-CHU!" he rambled, before whipping around and sprinting off towards the woods.
Ash sprang up immediately, running in the direction of the fleeing pokemon, "Pikachu, wait!" he cried.
His efforts were futile though as Pikachu disappeared into the shrubbage of the forest. He skidded to a stop, pausing for a moment before whipping around furiously, his angry stare landing on the guilty looking pokemon.
"Well I hope you all had a good laugh, cause now look what you've done! You hurt Pikachu real bad with all your snickering! Well, now you can all have a good laugh inside your pokeballs!" he scolded fiercely, "Return!"
All his pokemon looked around guiltily, before dissapearing in a red flash back inside the outstretched pokeballs Ash held out.
Brock and Misty sat up too, wearing equally disappointed frowns as well, "Return!" they ordered. All of their pokemon shamefully returned as well, leaving the camp in silence.
Ash huffed angrily, before whipping around and marching off towards the dirt road they came from.
"Ash! Where are you going?!" Misty called, taking a couple of quick steps towards him.
Said boy paused for a moment, and Misty was shocked to see him turn around with a big smile on his face, "I'm gonna go fix this." he replied, taking off in a jog down the road, "I'll be back in a bit!"
Brock and Misty exchanged very confused looks, before heading in the opposite direction to look for Pikachu.
...
Pikachu stared miserably into his reflection, the twilight stars reflecting in the softly winding water.
He truly looked ridiculous in this cone, no doubt about it. He could've stood on top of a building and be mistaken for a satellite dish. His big brown eyes glimmered with sadness, remembering how Ash and friends laughed at him earlier, and how his pokemon friends laughed even harder. It wasn't Pikachu's fault he had this thing around his neck. Wasn't his fault he got burned and wasn't allowed to mess with his bandages.
Sighing, Pikachu slumped down next to the riverbed, his gaze still focused on his now elongated rippling reflection of himself. He couldn't even think of having to stand a week or too with this cone on. All his pokemon friends laughing, not being able to sit on Ash's shoulder how he liked, watching all his pokemon friends battling in his place while he had to sit on the sidelines...
He retreated further into his cone at that thought, much like a turtle. He couldn't stand the thought of that. Ash was sure to be disappointed in him.
This was gonna be a long few weeks...
There was a rustling in the bushes behind him, and a familiar voice rang out.
"You know I have to admit...This thing is pretty uncomfortable."
Pikachu scrambled to his paws, almost falling back over in shock as he turned to look at him.
Ash was standing there. With a cone around his neck.
"P-Pika-Pi?" Pikachu stuttered, looking at the madly grinning Ash in shock. He couldn't believe it?! Why?
Ash sat down right next to Pikachu, looking down at him, "I'm really sorry that all the other pokemon were laughing at you today, that was so uncalled for. You don't deserve that, and its not your fault...its mine. I shouldn't have put you up against that Magmar in the first place..." he looked sadly at Pikachu, eyes filled with guilt, "I'm sorry."
"Pika-Pi! Pikachu-chu!" Pikachu shook his head frantically, cone bobbling with his head.
Ash smiled warmly in return, "So I thought, why should you have to go through this alone? Were best friends right?" he chuckled, reaching down and scratching Pikachu on the head.
"Chaaa!~" Pikachu cooed, rubbing his cheek against his hand.
Ash giggled, "As long as you have to wear that cone, then I'm gonna wear one too! If we get made fun of, laughed at, or even get stuck upside down, we'll be doing it together!"
"Chuuuu!~" Pikachu squealed, hopping into Ash's lap and cuddling up with him. It was situations like these that made Pikachu ever grateful for having such a wonderful and caring best friend and trainer.
Ash chuckled, hugging Pikachu close, "You and I will get through anything, as long as we are together. We're a team, through thick and thin. Even if we have to wear matching cones!" he ended with a laugh, Pikachu joining him.
Cradling Pikachu in his arms, Ash stood up slowly, "Lets head back to Misty and Bro-WHOAA!" Ash went tumbling forward, tripping on a rock he couldn't see and landing face first in the dirt.
Pikachu tumbled out of his arms, him too becoming trapped upside down for a moment.
As soon as they got their bearings, they glanced at each other and broke into fresh peals of laughter, rolling on the ground.
"L-Let's try that again!..." Ash made out through his laughing, picking the still chuckling Pikachu up in his arms and stumbling through the woods again.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Ash and Pikachu had encountered a lot of laughs and a TON more embarrassing falls. Countless trainers turned Ash down for a battle because of how stupid they looked, and they received never ending giggles, glances, and bursts of laughter from pokemon and people alike. But neither of them cared. They held their cone-heads proud, smiling all the way as they paraded through the streets. To all others, it looked like both trainer and pokemon got in some crazy accident, but for them, it was a symbol of their bond.
So what if they looked idiotic or goofy? It didn't matter to them anyway, because none of those people could really understand. And as they walked through the towns, nobody could see the smiles they shared with each other, blocked by the plastic barriers of the cone.