Just your average Pika
Chapter 12
Pokémon is copyright Nintendo and Gamefreak. I intend no copyright infringement with this work.
We're nearing the end now. Pike and Samuel are going to confront Rachel and the others. Pike knows that at this point, what he does could have significant ramifications. Will Pike, someone who was just an average person, be able to reason with Rachel before it's too late?
---
Rachel awoke to the morning sunshine streaming through the tree and into the forest. The area had a light fog and there was dew on the leaves around Cal, who was still sleeping. It was a cool morning, evidenced by Rachel's breath condensing as she exhaled.
Despite the temperature, a chill was the last thing Rachel felt. With Cal by her side in a form compatible with hers, she was warm.
Cal stirred soon after. Rachel knelt down and Cal ran his free hand down her back.
"I hope I was as good as Pike and Samuel," Cal said.
"Pike and Samuel were mere tremors. You were the big one."
Cal chuckled and hugged Rachel. "So, what happens next?" He asked.
"Now that you, Mark and I are complete, our journey can begin. The spring is a gift that we need to share with the world. Our family will become the first of many. Come, let's go home and tell the others the good news," Rachel replied.
Cal nodded. It seemed that in more then one way, it was the dawning of a new day.
---
Samuel had travelled to Pike's house early that morning with Jenny.
Pike, Amper and Samuel sat around a small table drinking green tea. Amper was reading a fictional book. She however, listened to Pike and Samuel's conversation.
Had it not been for the seriousness of the situation, Pike would have found the scene cute.
Samuel had the look of someone that hadn't of slept well. His fur was ruffled and he appeared to have difficulty staying in a single position.
"First Mark and now Cal. We need to talk sense into Rachel. Pike, I need your help. We have to put an end to this before it's too late," Samuel said.
"Can't the police do anything?" Pike asked.
Samuel shook his head. Pike drank some tea as Samuel replied.
"I don't see how. Rachel isn't violating any laws," Samuel said.
"I would think turning humans into pokémon would be illegal," Pike said.
"I doubt there are laws against doing that," Samuel said.
"There should be," Pike said.
Samuel nodded. "I agree with you. However, I don't think she coerced any of them."
Pike thought about what they could use. For a few seconds, he considered brining up Rachel convincing him to mate with her. However, he also knew that it was consensual. Both Rachel and he were vulnerable at the time. The act while not one of love, wasn't violent nor did it violate either of them. If anything, Pike had enjoyed it and it had opened the door for new avenues in Pike's relationship with Amper.
An idea struck Pike. "There are laws against harbouring a minor, even if not against their will. What about that?" Pike asked.
"That could get her into trouble. Some of the children have run away from bad situations. However, legally, it is questionable whether or not Rachel can keep them at her place," Samuel said.
"Aren't those laws for humans? I read some books about human rules. They say humans have to obey them but not us," Amper asked.
Pike sighed and shook his head. "She has a point. They'll be looking for human children, not pokémon," Pike said.
I can't believe I just said that! I've given Rachel a loophole!
"You have a point," Samuel said. He sighed and drank some of his tea before continuing. Drinking the tea was difficult for him because of his small limbs. However, Samuel seemed determined to hold onto that aspect of his humanity and managed.
"If Rachel is happy, perhaps we should leave her be. I worry more for those other kids and for Mark. He has much potential. I'd hate to see him throw it away. He thinks this is great. However, he doesn't know any better," Samuel said.
"My brother's the same way. He doesn't understand that becoming this way is a major life decision. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't enjoy his company. Hell, I certainly get along better with him now. Yet, I also know that he'd lose so much potential and experiences if he became this way," Pike said, hanging his head.
"I know Pike; believe me, I know. Yet, I can't help but respect that Rachel has improved the life of some of those kids. We have a teen confided to a wheelchair that became a Pidgeot. Now he can walk and fly. He has freedom that used to be a dream," Samuel said.
"Remarkable," Pike said.
Samuel nodded. "There's an adult who became a seel. He told me that before, he'd been old enough that he felt that he couldn't have fun in life any more. Now, he's much more care free. I couldn't bring myself to take that away from him. One part of me says that perhaps Rachel has a point. Yet, another says that what she's offering is dangerous."
Pike nodded.
"You've summed up how I feel about being this way. It's tempting to stay this way and be irresponsible. However, I have a family that needs me. If someone lacks a reason to return to humanity or to continue being human, I'm hard pressed to come up with a reason for them not to use the spring," Pike said.
"Like any power, the spring is something we must use responsibly. There is much potential for abuse," Samuel said.
"Do you think Rachel is abusing it?" Pike asked.
Samuel took a sip from his tea and shook his head.
"Not abusing it. I think she's more like a child that has discovered something powerful but doesn't understand how dangerous said thing can be when not used in moderation," Samuel said.
"Like taking kid to a candy store and saying they can eat as much as they want. Without moderation, they'll make themselves sick," Pike said.
Samuel nodded. "Well, we all have the potential to overindulge. A child may not have experienced making themselves ill so they don't know from experience how far is too far," Samuel said.
Pike knew what that meant. He recalled more then one occasion where, as a child, he'd become physically ill after indulging in too much candy. Even an adult, when he has something to drink, he had to be careful.
"Rachel doesn't know how dangerous the spring is. Unfortunately, without knowing the circumstances of abusing it, how can Rachel know where to draw the line?" Pike asked.
"Is that like a Pichu that doesn't know about saving food for when there isn't as much to find?" Amper said.
Pike and Samuel looked in Amper's direction. Her example, while perhaps simple was valid.
Samuel looked at Amper and nodded. "Yes and no. Perhaps it's more like a Pichu or Sentret that wants to play and have fun even at night. They don't realise the dangers they're exposing themselves to. Others who do, need to help them to learn of those dangers without discovering them first hand."
"Rachel could be hurting those people and she doesn't know it?" Amper said.
Samuel nodded. "This is why we need to stop her. We have to study the spring and learn how to use it without bad things happening.
In a sense, yes. Samuel then looked back in Pike's direction. "We do have something that works in our favour; Eva. Rachel may believe Eva's pikachu form liberated her. However, Eva's family no doubt thinks differently."
Pike knew what Samuel meant. Had he stayed with the colony, Mark, Tiffany and their parents would have lost Pike. He'd seen enough sorrowful reports from the families and friends of missing people to know how painful such a loss would have been.
"That's true," Pike whispered.
"Is Rachel afraid of being human?" Amper asked.
Pike looked at Amper. Despite her gaining more intelligence and knowledge, she was still innocent. Her question however, while perhaps one Pike would expect a child to ask about this situation was sound.
"What do you mean honey?" Samuel asked.
"Kevin said that the human world is scary. Does Rachel think the same way?" Amper asked.
"I think she does. There is a boy, Steve that she helped to become a Pichu. I know that to you a Pichu is what a Sentret is to Rachel and I. Steve used to be a 12-year old. In a sense, perhaps he was afraid of the process of adolescence," Samuel said.
"But he still has to go through it," Pike said.
Samuel nodded. "As a Pichu. When he does become a pikachu, what the world expects out of him will change drastically. He'll have the same desires of an adult. However, he'll have little to no responsibilities," Samuel said.
"Is he afraid of getting those responsibilities?" Amper asked.
"In a sense, yes. Perhaps Rachel is afraid of going back to a form that has expectations. While it would mean also gaining more in terms of what she can do and accomplish, she'd have to give up some of the freedom she gained as a Furret," Samuel replied.
"But, if she can do more as a human, doesn't that mean she'd have more freedom then she has now?" Amper asked.
"Yes and no. Her current freedom is in terms of sleeping and waking when she chooses as well as eating when she wants. However, most of those freedoms are due to her being in a situation that allows it. In the wild, she'd have to sleep at certain times for safety and wake at certain times in order to have the most access to food. The hard work of others that support her in her current situation has allowed her freedom that being human or pokémon would otherwise not allow," Samuel said.
Pike nodded. "It's not fair that other people need to work hard while she reaps the benefits. I feel the same way. I don't like getting to have freedom from work at the cost of my cousin Henry having to support me. Besides, I want to be able to contribute to society. I'd like to at least leave something behind after I'm gone."
"I understand that Pike. Especially, when the only alternative is going wild, something few humans who have lived in society their entire lives would be truly prepared for," Samuel said.
"Does Mark know that?" Pike asked.
"I doubt it. Which is why we need to speak with him before it's too late," Samuel said.
"Do we have the right? Even if we think Mark shouldn't go that route, he isn't our son. If Rachel is determined to raise him in this way, there may not be anything we can do about it," Pike said.
"What if she's wrong?" Amper asked.
"We're allowed to think that. But, we can't force Mark to side against his mother," Pike said.
"Even if she's insane, we'd have to prove that. Otherwise, we might have a major problem. I care for Mark and don't want to see him suffer. I'd like to think that he'll thank me when he's older, especially when he's old enough to realise that this lifestyle isn't what Rachel has made it out to be," Samuel said.
"What if Mark wants that lifestyle?" Pike asked.
"Then we might have a serious problem," Samuel replied.
---
Mark looked at his father, unsure what to think. They were standing in the backyard. Rachel stood beside Cal.
"That's really you dad?" Mark asked.
"He's one of us now," Rachel said with a smile.
She nuzzled Cal, who nodded in return and put his right arm around her. When they released the hug, Rachel continued.
"By the way Mark, have you heard anything from Samuel? I'm beginning to worry about him," Rachel asked.
"He was here yesterday but he ran off when I told him that you took dad to the spring," Mark replied.
Has he found that person? I hope he wasn't desperate enough to contact the authorities. I'm not doing anything illegal. I wish he'd let me help him.
"Have you heard anything from Pike?" Cal asked, speaking in Marowak.
"No. I want to show him my new form. It'll be cool," Mark replied.
"If Pike would accept the value of his gift, things would be different," Rachel said.
"Why doesn't Pike think being this way is cool?" Mark asked.
"Pike wants to regain his humanity. For some reason, he feels attached to it," Rachel replied.
I still don't understand why. Maybe if he let his family join him, he'd have more reasons to stay this way. I don't think he knows how to re-gain his humanity.
What Rachel didn't want Pike (or others) to know was that she'd found information on how to regain her humanity some time after becoming a Furret. The information was difficult to find and she'd used her political power to gain access to it. Such an acquisition would have taken months of waiting otherwise.
By that point, she'd come to prefer her form so much that she couldn't imagine anyone not preferring being a pokémon to a human. She'd hidden the information in her basement. However, now that Pike had expressed a desire to return to humanity, she wasn't sure what to do with that information. Something inside of her told her that withholding it was wrong. However, she was having difficulty in understanding why.
Pike needs to know that he's better off this way. In the end, he'll understand that what I did was for his own good.
"Can Pike be human again?" Mark asked.
Rachel looked at her son. She'd lied to Samuel when she told him that he could become human again in the sense that she did not intend to tell him how. Duping to Pike and Samuel was one thing; deceiving her son was another.
"I can't lie to you Mark. It is possible for Pike to return to his human form. Even his mate can become a human. If a human and a pokémon share a strong enough bond, the spring has the ability to change the pokémon into a human. I just don't understand why Pike desires it," Rachel replied.
"I will stand by whatever decision you make," Cal said.
"Maybe if Pike sees how neat it is for me now," Mark said. He gasped as though having thought up an interesting idea. "If he meets Steve, Pike might know how lucky he is. Maybe because he's a grown up, he thinks he can't have fun any more."
Rachel nodded. "Maybe Pike does need to see how cool being this way is," Rachel said, adding emphasis to the colloquial word, as she didn't often use it at this point in her life.
"You guys are grown up and want to have fun. Katrina and her meowth are fun to hang around with. We don't have to do homework or anything any more. Isn't work boring?" Mark asked.
"Pike doesn't understand how lucky he is. Perhaps you can show him," Rachel said.
I don't blame Samuel. I shouldn't have coerced him. He has every right to be angry with me. I will show him how to be human again if he is determined. I'm hoping that he's come to enjoy his new form enough that he knows he's better off this way.
"I won't let him hurt either of you is he isn't willing to understand our side of it," Cal said.
To add emphasis to his statement, Cal swung his bone around.
"Dad, don't hurt Pike! He won't hurt Mom or me! Remmie would hate me if you beat up Pike!" Mark protested.
Call nodded his head. "I am determined to protect you both. However, I will not attack Pike without provocation."
Rachel smiled, and massaged Cal's shoulders. "Now, why don't we invite Pike over? Perhaps once he sees how big the family's become, he'll begin to appreciate letting go."
---
Pike walked into the living room where Samuel and Amper were watching TV.
"You're not going to believe the call I just received," Pike said.
"Who was it?" Samuel asked.
"Rachel. She wants me … us to come over to talk. She also wants me to see Mark and the others," Pike said.
"Be careful Pike, she may be trying to trick you," Samuel said.
"Does Rachel want to hurt Pike?" Amper asked.
"No, I have to confront her. I need to make her see reason."
"Then I'm going to go with you. We need to stop this before it gets too far, assuming it isn't already too late," Samuel said.
"I want to help protect you Pike, I'm not going to leave you," Amper said.
"The questions remains of how we get there. The police were able to offer me a ride to your place Pike," Samuel said
"I don't think that's going to be a problem," Pike replied with a slight nervous tone to his voice.
-
Minutes later, the trio stood outside as Adam the Pigeot flew over Pike's backyard. He circled the yard before landing gracefully.
"As you can see, Rachel has arranged transportation for us," Pike said.
"Adam can you carry us all?" Samuel asked.
Adam nodded. "Don't worry, I can manage it."
Pike, Samuel and Amper all climbed aboard Adam and he took to the air, kicking up several leafs. Pike had never flown before, even in an aeroplane. He felt nervous in the air.
"You okay Pike?" Samuel asked.
Pike looked at the ground beneath them, seeing his house growing smaller by the second. He wasn't sure whether to be overjoyed at the magnificent view or to panic.
"Yeah … I'm fine. I've just never flown before, always been a little nervous of it," Pike said.
"Don't worry Pike, I have you. I won't let anything happen to you guys," Adam said.
"Thanks Adam. So what's flying like?" Pike asked.
"Incredible, it's unlike anything I've ever done before. It's freedom," Adam replied.
Pike peered down at his hometown, now appearing as but a small part of the world under them. It helped Pike to realise just how vast everything was. On a large scale, the world seemed to stretch endlessly. He realised that, even if he were stuck this way that he was just one person. The world would go on, humanity would continue to exist.
However, the seeming small size of everything that their altitude provided also made everything seem much more vulnerable. It would take little to cause a significant amount of damage that while not as damaging to the whole, would still affect a lot of people.
Pike knew that everyone was precarious. Despite being only one of many, he was still important. He felt an obligation to do this part to help to protect those people.
"It's all so vast yet at the same time, so small," Pike said to himself.
"What do you mean?" Samuel asked.
"Every one of those houses and buildings houses people, all of whom have their stories. From up here, it all looks so small. It's so easy for someone to become lost in all of that. It would take little to do damage that many would never recover from," Pike said.
"I know what you mean Pike," Samuel said.
Amper seemed fascinated with the view and didn't respond.
"That's why we need to be responsible Pike. We need to think beyond our lives and of all those other people and places as well," Samuel said.
Pike sighed. He felt a sudden metaphorical weight on his shoulders.
"I never asked for this. I was just an ordinary guy with a normal job. Then I discovered that magic was real. It turned my whole life upside down. Now, it feels like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. What we say and do here could effect the lives of hundreds, thousands or even more people. I'm not a hero. I don't know how to be a hero or even if we're doing the right thing," Pike said.
"No one asks to a hero Pike. I think that for most people, they just do what they think is right and hope for the best.
"What if Rachel is right?" Pike asked.
"The spring is still there. However it ended up active, I don't know. Every day in a sense, the world changes a little bit. If I have to stay a Furret, so be it. The world will continue with me this way," Samuel said.
"That's why I wanted to stay this way! The world is a much happier place for me now. Why take that away?" Adam asked.
"We can't," Samuel said.
"I'm surprised to hear you say that," Pike said.
"We can't keep the spring a secret Pike. It can help people. While it may not be the best solution for most, for some," Samuel said, petting Adam on the back of his head. "For some, it represents freedom. In this case, there are no black or white solutions. No matter what we do, we'll need to accept that neither your, Rachel's or my views are the only ones that win out."
Pike nodded. "I can only hope we're not too late."
-
Rachel was waiting with Mark at her side as Adam circled her property and landed. Pike got off first, followed by Samuel and Amper. Pike gasped when he saw a Meowth and Marowak beside Rachel. He knew who these likely were but didn't want to accept it.
"Samuel, I'm glad you've returned, I was getting worried about you," Rachel said.
"I'm worried too," Samuel said.
"You've already met Adam Pike. Why don't I show you the others?" Rachel asked.
"Hi Pike! Isn't it cool? I'm a meowth now!" Mark said.
On some levels, it's cool. However I still don't think it's the right thing for him to do. I'll let Rachel show me the others; I have to give her at least that.
"Of course, how silly of me. Pike, this is Cal," Rachel said as she pointed to the Marowak.
"I guess so Mark," Pike replied.
Pike looked Mark over. He felt awkward about the boy's lack of clothing. Pike felt nervous when looking at Cal. whether it was the type advantage or something else, Pike was uncertain.
"Samuel, let's talk. I know you don't trust me. Just give me a chance and I will make things right for us. Mark how about you take Pike and his mate for a tour. Once he sees how much we've helped everyone, he'll change his mind," Rachel said.
Samuel looked at Pike with concern in his eyes. Pike heard an annoyed grunt for Cal's direction; it caused the fur on the back of his neck to stand up on its end.
"It's okay, we'll be all right," Pike said. He knew he sounded nervous and regretted it immediately.
"Of course, you'll be all right. We're not out to get you Pike. We just want you to accept your life as it is now. Once you see that I'm not a monster out to get you, you're fears will abate," Rachel asked.
Pike nodded. "All right."
"Come on Pike! Don't worry Dad, Pike's cool, he won't hurt us," Mark said.
Cal grunted again and walked off the leaves crunching under his feet.
Pike nodded and he and Amper followed Mark as they walked further into the yard. Once Pike felt he was out of earshot of Rachel and Cal, he decided it was time to reason with Mark.
"Mark, are you okay?" Pike asked.
"Yeah, I'm great, why do you ask?" Mark replied.
"Mark, you're not human anymore. It's been hard for me. What about you?" Pike asked.
"I'm great, I can play all day and everything."
"What about school and your future?" Pike asked.
"I never liked school. Now I don't have to worry about grown up things that no one likes," Mark said.
She must have told him a real story. This is unfortunately going to be difficult.
"But what are you going to do all day?" Pike asked.
"Yeah, reading and learning are fun!" Amper said.
Mark looked at Amper and shook his head.
"We're better off this way. We'll never have to worry about human things again," Mark said.
"Other people have to get food for you now. Food costs money that they have to work for. Your mother has to pay for all of this somehow. If everyone is a pokémon, no one will be doing the human jobs and roles they need in order to pay for all of this," Pike said.
"But it's fun being this way! I can get away without wearing clothes. It's like its summer vacation all the time now! Isn't it better to have fun?" Mark asked.
Pike looked out at the yard and sighed. Indeed, Pike had difficulty resisting the urge to play in the leafs. He also knew that having fur would make the cold winter months easier to tolerate. However, Pike felt a duty to be responsible. It was the same duty adults faced around children. While it would be fun to be hyperactive and as fun loving as a kid could be, Pike knew such behaviour would set a poor example.
"I wish it were that easy Mark. A part of me wants to play and have fun as a pikachu. However, I can't expect other people to work hard to put food on my plate and to give me stuff to play with. That's not fair to them," Pike replied
"Pike told me that other people have to buy our food and work to keep our shelters," Amper said.
"Yeah but I'm too young to get a job even as a human," Mark said.
"You are now but what about in the future?" Pike asked.
Mark shrugged his shoulders. "We'll probably live in the woods soon. So, we won't have to worry about people having to do stuff so we can live here," Mark said.
As though on queue, a cold breeze blew though the yard. Pike watch the leaves dancing in the wind for several seconds before he replied.
"Mark, winter is coming. Do you know how hard it will be to survive?" Pike asked.
Pike knew that Mark likely had never considered what living off the land meant. To Mark the forest was full off food and everything he needed to survive.
"I dunno, my Mom will know what to do!"
"What about your video games or comics? Wild pokémon don't have those things," Pike said.
"I never knew about that stuff. Now that Pike has shown me them, I don't want to lose them," Amper said.
"There's no heating or air conditioning in the wild. What if you get cold?" Pike said.
"I dunno, maybe Lenny can make a fire for us," Mark said. His tone seemed to waver. Pike wondered if he was getting though.
"What if Lenny is somewhere else?" Pike asked.
"But everyone is happy this way! How could we not be happy?" Mark asked.
"Why don't we meet them and see?" Pike asked.
Mark nodded and the trio resumed walking through the leaf-covered backyard. Pike seemed to be making progress. However, he also knew that he was shattering Mark's world. So far, what Mark had was a dream. Pike feared that he was going to turn it into a nightmare.
-
Samuel and Rachel stood in the basement of Rachel's house. Samuel was speaking in English as much as he could, although some words still slipped in Furret speak.
"I was wrong to coerce you Samuel. Please, I hope you can forgive me," Rachel said.
"It's not just that. What you're doing isn't the only solution. We have to find other ways," Samuel said.
Rachel paced back and forth. When she stopped, she frowned.
"Don't you want me to help these people?"
Samuel sighed, walked over to a couch and lay down, sitting having since become all but impossible.
"I want to help them but I don't believe that becoming pokémon is right for everyone," Samuel replied.
"Dammit, I don't want to turn everyone into a pokémon! I'm not forcing this on anyone! Why can't you guys accept that?" Rachel asked.
"We can find alternate ways to help them."
Rachel walked over to another couch and hit it with her right forepaw.
"Why do you and Pike persist in the view that being human is better then being a pokémon? Do you think that humans are better somehow?" Rachel asked.
That took Samuel by surprise. He wasn't quite sure how to answer it.
"Rachel I…"
Rachel paced back and forth.
"The human world is cold. What I'm offering is freedom from that! Don't you get it Sam? You have your youth back, you don't need to work any more and you can go wherever you please. Why let your humanity shackle you?"
"What of my family?" Samuel asked.
Rachel stopped and looked right at Samuel. "We're your family!"
"I have a brother and a sister. My parents are still alive. They don't yet know that this happened to me. If I don't want to go wild, they may have to support me. Even if I chose to become a wild Furret, aside from the risks, it would pain my family if I disappeared and never came back. Should I tell them what I would be doing, they'd worry about me."
Samuel shifted on the couch and Rachel shook her head.
"Do you ever think they'd be happy for you?" Rachel asked.
Samuel sighed. Rachel had a bowl of fruit by the couch. She walked over to, picked up an apple, and managed to bring it to her mouth to take a bite.
"Either way, this effects more then me. It also limits what I can do in life. The same goes for Pike and the others," Samuel said.
"I know you're upset over my using my abilities to coerce you Sam. Perhaps if I hadn't you'd better understand that they wanted to be this way," Rachel said after swallowing the bite she was chewing on.
"What about Mark and the others? They're not old enough to understand the long term effects of this," Samuel said.
"They're young enough that they in some cases have yet to be damned by society," Rachel said.
Samuel knew that Rachel was persistent. He would have to be as persistent in order to help her see what he believed was reason.
"Think of how living in the wild would damage them. You've read stories and seen movies of people (kids and adult alike) ending up stranded away from society. It wears down on them over time. If any of us goes wild, assuming we're lucky enough to survive or not end up captured, the damage it would do to us in the long run could take years to recover from. That young woman Pike rescued will need a lot of help to re-adjust to living in society."
"Her life was better where she was. You two should have left her alone," Rachel said.
"I doubt her family would agree."
Rachel approached Samuel and ran her free paw down Samuel's side. Samuel looked into Rachel's eyes with a combination of fear and curiosity.
"What's wrong Sam?" Rachel asked.
"Look at what you're doing. Cal would kill me if he saw you," Samuel said.
Rachel stopped and nodded her head. "I just want you to be happy. I can find you a mate. There are wild members of your species. It's much easier with them. They don't worry about human inhibition. Soon, you won't have to either. I just want you to be happy."
"I know you do but there are other ways," Samuel said.
"You mentioned Eva's family," Rachel said.
"How would you feel if Mark lost himself and we never saw him again. I know it's been painful that you've been unable to be with Cal. Eva's family went through much worse then that. For those that ran away, their families must be going crazy with worry," Samuel said.
Rachel turned around. "I just wanted to help them." She started walking away. "They're better off this way. No worries, no expectations, just fun."
Samuel stood up and approached Rachel. Unfortunately, when he touched her, Rachel reacted with instinct. She swung around and struck Samuel, sending him flying back into the couch, knocking it and the table over. A lamp on it fell to the ground with a smash and the apples in the bowl rolled around the floor.
Rachel leapt over the couch and on top of Samuel.
"I just wanted to help them. They're my family now! Why can't you and Pike accept it?" Rachel asked.
Samuel, stunned, looked at Rachel, seeing a feral expression on her face. For the first time in he didn't know how long, Rachel appeared more animal them human. He feared her as much as he'd fear a wild animal.
"Rachel, stop!" Samuel yelled.
Rachel was moments away from striking Sam when she blinked her eyes and shook her head. "Sam? What am I doing?" She looked around at the damage she'd caused. "What have I done?"
Jumping off Samuel, Rachel walked into a corner of the basement and hung her head. "I'm a monster. I can't believe I did that. My instincts took control. It felt natural to act that way."
Samuel approached Rachel, this time with more caution. "Please, let me … us help you before it's too late."
Rachel looked back at Samuel; she had tears in her eyes. "You don't understand, this is my fault. I've kept something from all of you. You can become human again. I hid the information on how. I'd become so used to being this way by the time I found it that I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to use it. This was supposed to be a better way."
Samuel hugged Rachel as best as he could.
"No way is perfect. Human life isn't easy but either is life as we are now."
"But how can I have been wrong all this time? All those that I've taken in are happy this way. Mark is happy. How can I take that away from them?"
"Being human won't mean they can never be happy again. For some, this may be the best solution but that doesn't mean it's the only solution," Samuel said.
"I don't know how to be human any more! Ever since that day that wild Furret caught me, I feel like what was human inside of me was lost. I was a just female to him, not a person. It was such an easy way to think. Everything seemed equally simple after that. How can I go back to being what I was? I can never get back to that level. It would be much easier just to be this way and enjoy the simpler pleasures in life," Rachel said.
Fresh tears were forming in Rachel's eyes. Samuel hated seeing her like this. He walked closer, wiped the tears away and hugged her. "They're trying their best to help Eva. They can help you to. It's not too late. It's never too late."
"But I like being this way. I have all the responsibilities of a child yet I still have my adult intelligence, knowledge and urges," Rachel said.
"To have what we perceive as the freedom of childhood with the perspective of an adult is a dream many have. Perhaps it's best left as a dream. Maybe it's time for us to wake up before it becomes a nightmare."
Rachel nodded and hugged Samuel.
-
Pike and Amper sat under a tree with Steve. Little pieces of leaves were stewn about Pike's fur, the result of him and Amper playing with Steve and Mark.
Amper was petting Steve behind his ears while Pike contemplated their situation. Mark had taken a walk with Katrina, who was starting to take the nickname of Kat.
Pike had met Lenny; the man seemed happy as a Charmander. Pike knew the species was in some ways, a baby, just as a Pichu was. What Lenny was getting was to Pike, a second childhood. It was something few people ever had the opportunity at.
I'm getting the same thing. Life's been simpler for me. I have something to go back to though. If Lenny was homeless, I'm unsure what he'd gain by regaining his humanity. Then again, there are ways to help people besides this.
Pike felt protective toward Steve. He knew that some of it was Pikachu instinct to protect a younger member of his species. However, Steve seemed like an interesting person, only adding to Pike's desire for the boy to be human again. As a Pichu and eventually a pikachu, Steve's options for life were limited. Many of the lads interesting attributes would be of little use in his current and future forms.
"That was fun," Steve said.
"Yes, it was," Pike said. He brushed some pieces of leaves off of his fur. Now that he'd played and calmed down, he knew it was time to get serious. "So Steve, you seem like an interesting person. What sort of books do you like to read?" Pike asked.
Steve, who still struggled to speak in English, kept speaking in the language of the Pichu. While some words that had no equivalent in Pichu would come out in English, the boy defaulted to his species language most of the time.
"I dunno," Steve said his a shrug of his shoulder. "I like comic books more. So um … how can you speak? I keep trying, but it always comes out like this. Something in me is almost begging me to speak this way," Steve said.
"It's hard to explain," Pike said. He looked around the area, unsure if he should say any more. He gathered up the courage to say his next words. "When I first changed, I had that problem. I'm still having difficulty with instincts. A part of me wants to run into the woods and stay there."
"Wouldn't that be more fun? You can play all day instead of getting a job or going to school," Steve said.
Pike shook his head. "It doesn't work that way Steve. If I did that, my family would miss and worry about me. Anyway, you can't play video games or read comics in the wild."
"But, Rachel said I can do what I want!" Steve said.
"Don't you want to learn stuff any more?" Amper asked.
"I don't know. I don't like school," Steve said.
"What about your friends? Aren't there classes you liked?" Pike asked.
"I do kinda miss my friends. I did like some classes," Steve said.
"We all have to eat right?" Pike asked.
"Yeah," Steve said.
"Well, we can't stay here forever. Soon, we'll have to go into the wild. Food costs money and Rachel will run out of it eventually. The wild is scary. A predator could eat you or someone could capture you," Pike said.
Steve huddled closer to Pike. "Can't you protect me?"
Pike felt a bond with Steve and hugged him. "I don't want to live in the wild. However, I don't want you to get hurt. Being a human isn't so bad. Growing up can be scary but we all have to do it. Even pokémon have to. Once you evolve, you'll have to be on your own and might even have to protect someone."
"But when I was human, they said I was going into puberty. That was frightening. We all become gross and scary!" Steve cried.
"Do you think I'm gross and scary?" Pike asked.
"No, you're cool!" Steve said.
"Growing up is never easy for anyone Steve. I mean, it just plain sucks for most people. However, … it doesn't last forever. Even when we're adults, we can still have fun. Sure we have to do more boring adult stuff but we also get to do more fun adult stuff," Pike said.
"Pike taught me about a lot of interesting things. I'd have never known the human world was so interesting if it weren't for him," Amper said.
"But I'm scared! I ran away from home because my parents were strict and wouldn't let me do stuff. Rachel lets me do what I want when I want to," Steve said.
"We all have to have rules and sometimes need do what others want us to do, even if we don't want to," Pike said.
"You and Amper can play and have fun all day. Why listen to rules?" Steve asked.
"Without rules, we'd have chaos. We have laws, which are a form of rule. Imagine if a bully could beat you up and take things from you and there was nothing to say he couldn't," Pike said.
"That would suck!" Steve said.
"Now, imagine if in a baseball game, a player could do whatever they wanted. Someone could cheat and get away with it," Pike said.
"Then, we couldn't have games. Some of the rules suck, but I guess you kinda need them for the game to work," Steve said.
Pike hugged Steve. Already, the Pichu was almost like a younger brother for Pike. He couldn't help but wonder what Remmie would think of Steve.
"I read about human laws and rules. In the wild, it's scary. There are no laws or rules. You might be more free but I don't know if it's worth it," Amper said.
"But … can't I stay with a human?" Steve asked.
"You could and I've been tempted to stay this way. But, if I can change back, I want to. It's not fair that my friends and family have to work so I can have fun. Not everyone can become like this either. The world would fall apart and everyone would lose," Pike said.
"I will join Pike as a human if I can," Amper said.
"Maybe I've been wrong then," Steve said before hanging his head.
Pike hugged Steve. "Maybe you just needed a vacation."
Maybe we all needed a vacation. I just hope that there is a way to come home from it.
-
Cal watched Pike from a distance in disbelief. First he'd talked to Steve and now he was talking to Mark! Watching from behind a tree, Cal grunted.
Who does Pike think he is? What right does he have to take our family away?
Cal felt a desire to protect Mark unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He wasn't about to let Pike abduct Mark!
With a swing of his bone, Cal struck the ground before him. A small fissure tore the ground in a line before him, running towards an outcropping of rocks several meters in front of him. As the fissure collided with the rocks, the rocks shattered into several hundred pieces, spraying dust and debris.
Cal looked at the bone and nodded his head with approval at the power he beheld.
-
Pike was standing with Mark by a tree. He'd made much of the same arguments to Mark that he'd made to Steve. Amper was staying with Steve while Pike talked to Mark.
Thinking he'd heard something, Pike's ears perked.
"What was that?" Pike asked.
Mark looked in the direction of the sound. "I'm not sure." Shrugging his shoulders, Mark continued. "It was probably just someone playing. So, how could my Mom and Dad be wrong?" Mark asked.
"I … I don't want to say they're wrong. I just think there are other solutions to our problems," Pike said.
"Being a meowth is cool! You're neat as a pikachu, why do you want to go back to being human?" Mark asked.
"I have a life as a human. You can have a life to. Don't you have friends at school?" Pike asked.
"Well yes, but can't they become like this to?" Mark asked. He held as hands out in front of him upside down. "Mark is always telling me how great he thinks you are like this. He wants to go on adventures or even become a pikachu."
"It's tempting and I wished things were that simple. But, we can't turn everyone into a pokémon!" Pike said.
"I know but, school sucked! Why can't we just have fun? My Mom says it's okay!" Mark said.
Mark folded his arms and stared into Pike's eyes.
"We can't all always have fun Mark. Society cannot function without people running it. It's not fair if some people have to do all of the work while others do none of it."
"Yeah, I guess," Mark said.
Mark turned around and started walking away. As he was about to say something else, the ground beneath them began to shake. Pike turned to his right to see what looked like a crack in the ground streaming towards him.
What is that? Oh my God!
"Mark, run!" Pike said.
Mark did as Pike asked. Unfortunately, Pike was unable to get out of the way in before the fissure hit him. He felt a surge of pain coarse through his body as he flew into the air, turned around and landed on his stomach, sending leafs flying in every direction.
"Arg!" Pike cried out.
"How dare you try and take our son away from us?" A voice called out.
Pike turned around and stood up to see a Marowak standing before him.
"Cal what are you doing?"
"I would think it'd be obvious. Rachel finally allowed me to see the light. We're complete again. How could you even think of taking that away from us?"
Cal was speaking in English much to the surprise of Pike.
How could he learn English so fast? What did Rachel do to him?
"Cal, how could you do this? You know this isn't the right solution. It's been hard for me! I wouldn't be telling them this for no reason!" Pike protested.
"You just don't see the beauty of it. Perhaps if you had at least some imagination, you'd accept this gift and would stop fighting it!" Cal yelled.
Pike held his left arm, which still hurt from the attack. He took a few steps closer to Cal, hoping to reason with the man. "You don't have to do this Cal. Listen to what you're saying! I want to help Rachel!"
"No, you want to take my son away from me!" Cal yelled.
Before Pike could react, Cal swung his club and struck Pike on his torso, causing Pike to cry out in pain. As Pike took several steps backward, he let loose with a thundershock attack out of instinct. Cal was able to deflect it into the ground with his bone.
"Please, you know that's not going to work," Cal said.
Cal counter-attacked by throwing his bone at Pike. Pike as able to dodge it by jumping out of the way. He managed another thundershock attack, this time striking Cal as he didn't have his bone to deflect the attack. Cal grunted from the attack.
Unfortunately, Cal's bone returned, striking Pike on its way back.
Pike fell to the ground bleeding and bruised from the type mismatch attacks. He looked up at Cal, who only had a small singe on his chest. Pike's vision was getting blurry and he found himself growing dizzy.
"Is this what you want for your son?" Pike said, his voice weaker.
"I want to be with Mark and the others. I want freedom!" Cal yelled.
Pike stood up and faced his opponent. He charged at Cal with a quick attack, striking Cal several times. While Cal grunted with the attacks, Pike could tell that he was doing little damage.
Unfortunately, when Pike ran in for a fifth attack, Cal was ready. He slammed Pike onto the ground with his free hand, kicking up leafs and almost knocking Pike out.
The injuries Cal had inflicted on him left Pike's breathing laboured. Pike struggled to stay conscious. As Cal raised his bone for what Pike feared was a lethal blow; Pike heard the ruffle of leaves as someone ran towards them.
"Dad no!" Mark cried.
Cal looked at his son; "he wants to destroy us!"
Tears were forming in Mark's eyes. "He just wants to help!"
Cal looked back at Pike. "This is what being a wild animal means Cal."
Pike coughed, pain surging through his lungs with each gasp. He knew that this was it. One way or another, this insanity was going to end here and now.
"You want to show Mark that you're an animal," Pike said. He looked at Mark and then at Cal. "Then go ahead, act like one … kill me!"
Cal again raised his bone and yelled. For a terrifying second, Pike thought it was over. He was going to die and Mark and the others would be the first of many people whose lives would go this route.
"Don't do it dad … please!" Mark pleaded.
Cal yelled. Pike saw Cal look at Mark who was now on his hands and knees staring at the ground weeping.
For what felt like the first time since he'd attacked, Cal seemed to regain his sanity. He looked at the bone in his right hand, saw the blood on it … the blood of another he'd hurt.
Looking down at Pike, Cal dropped his bone and fell to his knees as he hung his head. "My God, what have I done?"
"Pike?" Mark asked.
Pike looked at Mark and nodded his head. Pike could only hope he'd done the right thing before he slipped into unconsciousness.
---
Shortly after, police cars had arrived at the Johnstone residence. Medics were loading Pike into an ambulance for treatment. Amper was going with him.
Samuel stood beside Rachel (who had a duffel bag with her) watching the scene while Cal hung his head, having since discarded his club.
"I never wanted it to be like this," Rachel said.
"It wasn't your fault," Cal said, his voice soft and defeated.
"I encouraged you to do this, I encouraged them all. If I hadn't of hidden the information on how to change back, Pike would be fine. I thought that being this way would be fun, that it would be freedom."
Tears flooding her eyes, Rachel reached into the duffel bag, pulled out a small disk and handed it to Samuel.
"This will tell you everything you need to know in order to change yourself and the others back," she said.
"What about you guys?" Samuel asked.
"I'm … going to surrender myself to the authorities," Rachel said.
"No, I was the one who harmed Pike. I should pay the price! I will stand by you," Cal protested.
Rachel nodded her head. "Samuel, take care of Mark." Looking at her house and then at the police, Rachel sighed. "It would seem that victory is yours."
With Cal beside her, Rachel walked towards the police cars. The police took both Rachel and Cal into custody. Samuel watched the ambulance take Pike away. He looked at the disk he now held.
"I hope it was worth it."
---
Writing this story has been an interesting journey. The next chapter will be the last one so stay tuned.