*Author's note: Daisy is meant to only be about a year older than Felix and Zane. She is meant to serve as the female protagonist if Yellow version had one. Think of her as a combination of Daisy Oak and Leaf.

Chapter 4

The sun shone in through Felix's bedroom window. A Dodrio could be heard beckoning in the dawn with its loud cry.

"Felix! I'm off to work! I've got the morning breakfast shift!" his mom called up to him. He heard the door close. He looked down at the floor and saw Pikachu curled up on the rug. His room still smelled of Koffing's smog. Magnemite was nowhere to be found. It was real. Everything that had happened last night was real. Professor Oak really gave him a Pikachu. He really did beat Zane in a Pokemon battle. Team Rocket really did take Magnemite.

He suddenly realized he hadn't considered why the events of last night took place. Why had Team Rocket suddenly shown up at his door? Team Rocket was notorious for terrorizing bigger cities, like Saffron and Cerulean City. Rarely did you see organized crime activity in small Pallet Town. Besides, why hadn't Professor Oak's lab been robbed? There would have been more Pokemon and equipment to steal. Certainly there were more Magnemite…

He heard a knock at the door. His first instinct was to flinch, but after looking out the window he saw that it was Daisy. He quickly got himself dressed and descended down the stairs to open the door.

"I heard what happened last night! I came over as soon as I heard! Are you alright?" said Daisy quickly.

"I'm alright…" Felix reassured her, "I'm sorry… Magnemite was taken."

"Well, what's the plan?" asked Daisy assumingly.

"What do you mean?" said Felix, perplexed.

"How are you going to rescue it?" asked Daisy as if she were talking about getting a kite out of a tree.

"Are you serious? I don't have a plan! If I had the strength to save Magnemite, they wouldn't have been able to take Magnemite in the first place," said Felix. He was a little irritated Daisy tried to give him false hope.

"Didn't my grandpa give you a Pikachu?"

"Yeah. He's asleep upstairs," said Felix shortly.

"Well, you have a Pokemon to help you!" exclaimed Daisy. "That's a start!"

"Will you stop that?"

"Stop what?"

"Suggesting it's possible!"

"It is!"

"It's not! It's gone! Magnemite is gone! It's not coming back! And the sooner you stop suggesting it is, the sooner I can forget it!"

There was silence. Felix felt regret blow up in his bosom. Daisy looked down at her shoes.

"Daisy, look," said Felix remorsefully.

"I- I just know that you are stronger than you think," said Daisy softly.

"I'm sorry," said Felix. "That may be true, but I'm not so strong that I can take on Team Rocket."

"Did you ever believe you could beat Zane?" asked Daisy.

"There were moments, yes. But most of the time, no," said Felix.

"Well I always did. You have heart, Felix. My brother, Team Rocket, the Gym Leaders, they don't. For as long as you love your Pokemon, you can defeat anyone."

"Thank you, Daisy. You've always been a good friend."

"Well, if you aren't going to go rescue Magnemite, at least come with me to Viridian City. My grandpa has a parcel there waiting for him and he asked me to go get it. Come on! You can train Pikachu on the way!" exclaimed Daisy.

"Wow. Route 1. You know, I've never left Pallet Town before," Felix remarked. "When I chased Team Rocket out here, and your grandpa stopped me, that was the first time I had stepped foot in the tall grass."

"I'm so glad I get to be with you on this adventure you're having!" exclaimed Daisy.

"Well, technically, I'm tagging along on your journey…" Felix reminded her.

"Either way, I'm getting to witness you experience life outside of Pallet Town for the first time! It's so exciting!" said Daisy cheerily.

As they made their way through the tall grasses of Route 1, Felix and Daisy saw Pidgey fluttering around, Rattata burrowing, and the friendly faces of rural folk willing to share all sorts of advice. Noticing all of the beauty and peace that surrounds his hometown, Felix again wondered what Team Rocket was doing in Pallet Town, and why the organization broke into his house specifically.

"Don't you think it's weird Team Rocket was in Pallet Town?" Felix asked aloud at last, needing his thoughts to be heard.

"Yes. I've been thinking about that too," said Daisy. "Maybe Team Rocket is expanding its reach. Maybe they've finally gained control of Kanto and are starting to spread beyond the major cities."

"Maybe… But wouldn't they have sent a much bigger garrison? If they came all of this way, wouldn't they want to secure the city in one trip?" Felix pondered.

"Hmmm, maybe it was just a scouting mission, and the small squad they sent wanted to wreak havoc before they went back and reported it to their boss," suggested Daisy.

"That's possible," muttered Felix. It was certainly possible, but Felix wasn't entirely convinced. But since he couldn't think of a better reason, that answer would have to do.

Felix looked down at the Pikachu walking beside him. He had been so hung up on Magnemite and Team Rocket, he hadn't taken the time to appreciate the Pokemon he did have. Despite their shared victory over Zane and his new Eevee, he and Pikachu did not have much of a bond. In fact, it seemed like Pikachu resented having to follow him.

"Why do Pokemon obey our commands?" asked Felix aloud.

Daisy considered what he said, but remained silent.

"Pokemon are awfully submissive. They are so much more powerful than us. Why do they even listen to us," Felix continued, talking now just to hear himself talk. "Is it the Pokeballs? Is there something in them that rewires their brains?"

Daisy shook her head.

"Grandpa says they listen when you have gained their respect. When you defeat a Pokemon with one of your own Pokemon that you've trained and then capture it with a Pokeball, the Pokemon gains respect for you because you bested it in battle," said Daisy.

A Pidgey stood not far ahead. It turned its head and began flying upon seeing the trio approach.

"Hey Pikachu, use Thundershock on that Pidgey," said Felix idly. It sounded like more of a suggestion than a command.

Pikachu hesitated, but eventually sent an electric charge toward the Pidgey from his cheeks. The Pidgey fell to the ground unconscious. Felix looked from the Pidgey to Pikachu, impressed with what he saw. Daisy looked appalled.

"If you are trying to gain the trust of your Pikachu, I'm not sure having him blast his fellow Pokemon out of the sky is going to do it," she said.

"What's the difference between that and having him fight another person's Pokemon?" asked Felix sincerely.

"According to my grandpa's research, Pokemon enjoy battling, as long as there is purpose," said Daisy.

"Purpose?"

"Yes, for purposes such as battling for honor, glory, training, or even survival," said Daisy. "Pokemon don't enjoy hurting things for the sake of hurting things, or fighting for power or to oppress, but they do love to test their limits in honorable combat. Humans and Pokemon have a symbiotic relationship that I think Pokemon understand better than humans do. Pokemon believe humans can bring out the best in them. I wish humans believed Pokemon could bring out the best in us."

Felix looked down at the ground.

"Magnemite brought out the best in me," said Felix. "And I think Pikachu and I can also bring the best out in each other. He listens to me, but he doesn't respect me. There must be some way to earn that respect."

"He listens to you because he trusts my grandpa," said Daisy. "And because my grandpa trusts you. Otherwise, he wouldn't listen to a word you say. Pokemon are more prone to listen to trainers that have proven themselves. My grandpa is a renowned Pokemon researcher and his prestige earns him the respect of the Pokemon he's captured near instantly. Pikachu needs to see that you have something to offer him. Not to the degree of my grandfather, but he needs to see the same potential grandpa sees in you. The potential I see in you."

Felix frowned. He didn't have anything to offer Pikachu. He was weak and unliked by his peers. He couldn't help Magnemite reach its potential. He didn't understand the baseless faith Daisy had him. Professor Oak had never shown any particular interest in him either as far as he could tell. He had nothing to show for being a trainer. He did defeat Zane though.

"I'm not sure how I could ever prove myself to Pikachu," groaned Felix.

"Maybe we can have a Pokemon battle?" suggested Daisy.

"You think that'll work?" asked Felix.

"It can't hurt. Facing me in honorable combat could help you gain his respect," said Daisy.

"I faced Zane in honorable combat, but Pikachu still sticks his nose up at me," said Felix, playing devil's advocate with himself mostly. He wanted to battle. He wanted to prove himself.

"That's true, I suppose," said Daisy. "Have you tried talking with him?"

"Well, no," Felix was ashamed to admit. He mostly had just been bossing him around.

"Well, try that!" said Daisy, tilting her head and smiling.

Felix crouched down at eye level with Pikachu. Pikachu turned his back on him.

"Hey, Pikachu," said Felix quietly. He extended his hand toward Pikachu only for him to knock it away. "I'm really glad you are my Pokemon."

Pikachu stuck his nose in the air and shut his eyes.

"I trust you with my life and I vow to help you grow into the best version of yourself you can be."

Pikachu didn't move.

"Last night, a Pokemon was stolen from me by a band of robbers. It was a Magnemite. An electric Pokemon like you. I admit, it was my own weakness that allowed that to happen. I wanted it to be strong, but Magnemite did not like to fight. I respected its wishes. I loved it. It was my best friend," Felix began to cry. Emotion came over him as he remembered all the time he spent shut up in his room, reading books, playing the SNES, and laughing for hours with Magnemite.

Pikachu opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder. Compassion twinkled in his eyes.

"Pikachu, I vow to get it back. Evil men without honor are using Magnemite for nefarious purposes. I just want Magnemite to be the best version of itself it can be."

Pikachu turned completely around and put his paw on Felix's shoulder. Felix lifted his head and wiped the tears from his face. The two of them smiled at each other. They both looked up at Daisy.

"I think we're ready," said Felix. "Let's go and retrieve that parcel and return to Pallet Town. I'm telling my mom I will be a Pokemon trainer. And nothing she can say will stop me."