"Ash! You're back!" Professor Oak shouted excitedly. He handed the groceries he was carrying to Tracey, who was already overloaded. "Here. Take these upstairs."

"But...Professor! My hand are already...." Tracey sighed and hefted the bags upstairs, but not before he managed to croak a strained "Hi Ash!"

"Sure. No, no, go ahead and ignore me. I don't mind at all." Said Pikachu, grumpily.

"Oh! And how could I forget!? Good afternoon, Pikachu!"

"Pika! Y'know, I've always liked this guy."

"Hi Professor!"

"What brings you back to Pallet Town?" Oak asked. "Oh, and weren't Brock and Misty with you?"

"What?" Ash turned to find the two of them gone. "They...were with me a second ago." Suddenly, he heard a metal clang from outside and a shout of rage.

"Oh." he said, turning back. "They're outside."

"What on earth are they doing?"

"Trust me, Professor. We've learned to ignore a lot once Misty and Brock start fighting. You should probably do the same."

"Well....Alright then. There seems to be a lot of misplaced aggression between those two. Perhaps and extensive regimen of psychoanalysis would dislodge some of the deep-seated defense mechanisms. Brock is so much older than Misty. Maybe hints of an Electra complex? Beaten by her father and takes it out on the oldest male she can get her hands on? Possibly."

"Uhh...Right. Professor, there's something I have to talk to you about."

"Well of course, Ash. I'll do whatever I can."

"Before we came into Pallet, me and Pikachu ('Oh sure! Let's have you be first! You're not my friend anymore!') got into a battle with a wild Kadabra."

"My goodness! A Kadabra!? In this ecosystem!? This is astounding news!"

"Sorry to get your hopes up, Professor, but I think it was just a Kadabra released by a trainer. I don't think it could have evolved on its own."

"You think so? Oh, well. Better luck next time, I suppose."

"Yeah. That's not the real news, though."

"Oh? Do tell."

"During the battle, the Kadabra stopped fighting Pikachu and turned to me. It knocked Pikachu out of the way and used Psychic on me."

"It did what!?" Professor Oak exlaimed. "Ash, that is extremely dangerous! Using a move that powerful on a human could have easily killed you! Or even worse, could have caused incurable psychological scarring the likes of which we have never seen. He's lucky he's not catatonic by now."

"Wow, I guess I was lucky, then."

"Or you had the most awesome Pokemon to walk the face of the planet on your side. You're welcome."

"What did you do with the rogue Pokemon?" Oak asked.

"Geodude helped Pikachu to-"

"Ah, so you have a Geodude now?"

"No, Brock's Geodude."

"Oh, excuse me. Please continue."

"Anyway, Geodude helped Pikachu to weaken the Kadabra enough for Brock to catch it while I was unconscious."

"Good! Kadabras are very powerful Pokemon! If you train it right, it will serve as a powerful ally for you."

"No, Professor. You don't understand. I don't think this Pokemon is like any we've seen before. There's something wrong with it and I know for a fact that it tried to kill me."

"But didn't Charizard do that once or twice?" asked Pikachu.

"Yeah, but I think that we're getting along now. At least, we were when we left the Charicific Valley."

"I know this isn't a secret or anything, but he HATED you for the longest time. He always said stuff about how you didn't have the commitment that he needed, that you were holding him back from his true potential, all that jazz. But you're right. He did warm up to you after a while."

"I didn't know that it went so deep."

"Well maybe you should pay a little more attention to things that go on around you."

"Hey! Just who do you think was the trainer that got all you Pokemon as far as you are now!?"

"Please, half those moves were by accident and another quarter were improvised by me thank you very much."

"You little prick."

Pikachu started laughing. "You are such a hothead! I was just joking, Ash." Pikachu walked over and hugged Ash's leg. "You know we all love you so much. Awww...."

This caused Ash to start laughing, which caused Pikachu to start laughing again, which resulted in Ash laughing harder until they were almost on their knees from near-hysterical laughter. Partly from the joke, and partly as a final obstacle to overcome for understanding all the overwhelming insanity that the day had felt the need to throw on them. The overwhelming insanity that their lives had taken. They were shedding themselves of all their misplaced emotions for each other (however few there may be) and were finally reaching a new level of understanding, harmony, and brotherhood.

Ash eventually regained his composure enough to stand and wipe the tears from his eyes. He looked at Professor Oak, who was wearing a sober expression.

"Ash." he said, gently but firmly. He put his hand on Ash's left shoulder. "I'm not a professor in just Pokemon, you know. I have a PH.D in many scientific fields, including..." he hesitated, "psychology. If you need anyone to talk to, you'll always be welcome here."

"No! No, no, no! Professor, you don't understand!" Ash was trying his best to hold in another bout of hysterics while Pikachu had collapsed on the ground, laughing and holding his stomach. "I'm not crazy. That Kadabra somehow made me psychic. I can read minds now."

"You can WHAT!? Tracey ran to the upstairs balcony overlooking the lab floor. "You're joking!"

"No! It's true! I can hear thoughts. Of people and Pokemon."

Tracey immediately raced down the stairs so fast he slipped on the last step and tumbled into the wall. He got up and ran to the back door that led to the Pokemon Ranch in the back.

"Slyther!" He shouted! "Slyther! Come in here!"

Tracey's Slyther slowly plodded in the door with a confused, but mostly exasperated look on his face.

"What is it now...These two always need me when I'm in the middle of something." He glanced up. "Oh. Ash and Pikachu are here. They're always a good visit."

"Slyther! Think of something! Anything!" Tracey said, excitedly. Slyther's brow furrowed and he stared confusedly at Tracey.

"Slyther?" He said as he looked at Ash, silently begging for comprehension.

"Just do it! Watch this!" Tracey turned to Ash. "Of course...If you're okay with this."

"Sure. I'll give it a shot."

Slyther sighed and thought to himself, "Some of the Taurus got into the vegetable garden and I need to go and clean it up before I can check the east side of the ranch."

"You said that some of the Taurus got into the vegetables and you can't go check up on the east side of the ranch until you clean it up."

Slyther's expression quickly changed from one of exhausted confusion to one of alarmed suspicion.

"How on earth did he..." He looked at Ash intently. "How on earth did you do that?"

"It was an accident with a Kadabra." Ash said. Slyther nodded knowingly.

"I've dealt with Kadabras before. Yes, strange things seem to happen when they're around."

"Slyther, is that right? Is that was you were thinking?"

Slyther turned to Tracey. "Slyther." He said, nodding.

"That's amazing!" Tracey exclaimed. He turned to Ash. Before he could say something, the sliding doors opened behind them. Ash turned to see Brock and Misty walk inside, both with tousled hair, Brock with a large bruise, and Misty with a slight limp.

"Hey, guys. Where have you two been?"

"Just discussing things. Pretentious bimbo."

"But, you're covered in dirt and bruises." Ash said.

"Don't worry about a thing, Ash." said Misty. "We're alright now. Thickheaded idiot. Can't even put up a good fight."

"Uhh...Okay." He said, pensively.

"Is it true?" Professor Oak asked Brock and Misty. "Can Ash really read minds?"

"Oh yeah!" said Misty "Definitely! He proved it to both of us, earlier."

"Of course." thought Brock. "Always has to get the first word in edgewise. Don't worry, Misty. It's alright. We're all looking at you. Isn't that what you want?"

"Then Ash, this is an incredible breakthrough!" said Professor Oak. "This could revolutionize the way we study Pokemon altogether! Finally, we have a concrete method of communication!"

"Yeah, but it's not really perfect or anything." said Ash. "I don't just hear Pokemon thoughts. I hear everyone's thoughts. I can block some stuff out, but that takes concentration."

"Even still, this is a new beginning in the study of science itself!"

"W-Wait! You're not gonna study me like a guinea pig, are you?"

"Oh no! Of course not, Ash! Most likely, we scientists (She's incompetent, full of herself, and just doesn't know when to shut up) will simply try to recreate the circumstances of your accident in a controlled setting."

"Oh, good. You scared me at (C'mon, Ash. Dump this guy so we can go off together!)first, Professor." said Ash. "Actually, I was wondering if (Useless. That's all I can say. She's useless. All she's doing is slowing us down.) you could help me figure out what caused (Nothing I ever do is good enough for him! He's an elitist jerk! We were both Gym Leaders before! Why can't he see that we're the same, the idiot!?) it in the first place.

"Well, It would probably have something to do with the psychic energy that Kadabra unleashed on you. Your (No goals, no aims, no ambitions, nothing. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's tagging along just for the sake of tagging along) human brain probably ab (Oh GOD, this is unbearable. I can't stand being in the same room with him for more than ten minutes) sorbed some of the ambient energy. Mos (If you're going to keep keeping her around, Ash, I'm leaving. I don't care anymore. I can't take another single day)t Pokemon have their brains conditioned for....Ash, are you alright?" Professor Oak asked. Ash was holding his temples with both hands.

"Yeah, Professor, I'm (With any luck, this will be Ash finally getting tired of Brock. Come on, Ash! Kick him to the curb!) just....getting a he (I've had enough of this. I'll have a talk with him later about Misty. With any luck, he'll wise up and drop her) adache. It (Pick Brock!)'s nothing...(Just please get rid of Misty so we can go on with out lives) I'll be...(Pick Brock, dammit!) I'll b (Throw out Misty, Ash)e....SHUT UP!"

Even Pikachu jumped at the sudden ferocity with which Ash spun around. He was breathing heavily, his fists clenched.

"But....Ash, we didn't say an-"

"BE QUIET!" Ash shouted. He was literally shaking with anger. "I've had enough of this constant hatred between you two!" Brock and Misty looked at each other, then back at Ash.

"What...are you talking about?" stammered Misty. Ash jabbed his finger at her.

"Misty, you think that Brock is an elitist and uptight jerk who doesn't appreciate all the good that you do." He moved his arm over to Brock. "Brock, you think that Misty is an hot-headed simpleton who doesn't know her own bicycle from her Pokemon." Ash, lowered his arm, panting. Brock and Misty backed away from each other, staring at the other as if they had just seen ghosts.

"Brock....I....I can't believe you....I can't believe you felt that way about me." She bashfully brought clasped her hands in front of her chest. "I'm...not....that annoying....am I?"

"Well..." Brock responded, "you have a tendency to...be a little selfish once in a while. Do you...think I'm that strict?"

"If this is gonna get sappy, I think we should leave them alone." said Pikachu.

"Yeah...Misty, Brock...do you need some alone time?" Ash asked.

"Yeah..." Misty said, her eyes tearing up. "Yeah...I think that'd be best.

"Sure thing." said Ash delicately. He, Pikachu, and Professor Oak walked to the other side of the lab, leaving Misty and Brock to reconcile.