Ch. 12: Enter Flash, Bolt's Older Brother

As I admired the new badge, I saw something move in the corner of my eye. It was a Kirlia, she noticed that I saw her and scooted away to a nearby art shop, a large box in hand. The sign above the entrance read 'Sunset Art Shoppe, where dreams of art are reality.' The phrase didn't make sense at first glance, but given some thought, the more sense it made.

"Want to go to the Café and celebrate?" –Bolt.

"Why not?" Getting Silver Rank is an achievement and celebrating won't hurt.

o0o

Kay and Blaze came up to talk to us about the latest happenings and they decided to join us. We ordered a ton of food to go; it would be more fun eating in the park. When we were about to leave, Bolt began looking nervous. I followed is eyes and spotted another Pikachu, black sunglasses adorned his head and a fiery red scarf loosely hung around his neck area. He seemed to be chatting with fellow explorers about previous mishaps of adventure and mystery.

Bolt dashed for the exit, beads of sweat going down his body. We then ran after him, wondering what happened. It didn't take long to find him; he was sitting at the bench cover by trees, bushes, and other growth.

"Guys, let me talk to him." I had stopped them from going any further. They started to whisper as I joined Bolt.

"What do you want?" He didn't seem happy that I was sitting next to him.

"I want to know what's wrong." He sighed, he knew I'd ask.

"You see, that Pikachu is my brother."

"What?" –Blaze.

"Come again?" –Kay.

"Please repeat that for me."-Razor.

"You have a brother?"

"Yep and I guess you want to know the story."

"Please begin."

Flashback

My brother, Flash, left Hideki to go join a guild. After about a month of nothing but good news, our parents decided to move closer to him. The day we were packing, I got really bored. Being a young Pichu, I wanted to spend the rest of the day with my friends.

"I'm going to out to play!" I couldn't be cooped up in one place for too long, everyone knew that.

"Okay, but be back at sunset." My mother got worried easily so I always did come back on time.

"Byez!" I then left for the park and met up with my friends. We played many games and sunset came fast.

"Do you have to go?" –Gull, a Wingull.

"We will miss you too much." –Vyne, a Bulbasaur.

"Yep, but I will visit when I get strong." We shared a goodbye hug and after that, I left. I skipped merrily along, humming a sweet tune.

"I'm going to see new places today. I'll get there in some way. Years later, I'll come back someday. Hooray!" I began to sing. "Hoo-ray?" I faltered when I came home to an empty house. I ran towards the northern trail as fast as I could. When I got there, I saw tiny lights on the horizon.

"Mommy? Daddy?" They had left without me. I wasn't even named yet.

/\-o-/\

I found a bench in the park and slept there. The next morning, I cried my little eyes out.

"What's wrong?" Herupa had heard my wail of misery and came to see why I was sad.

"M-mommy and D-daddy left without me!" She then picked me up and brought me to the First Aid Center. I'm sure Gull and Vyne saw me being carried by Herupa because they followed us.

End Flashback

I found tears swelling in my eyes; Bolt's parents forgot about him and left? What kind of idiot leaves their child? "How old were you?"

"Just a few weeks."

"Did you ever see them again?" –Blaze. The answer was quite obvious.

"Nope!"

"What about any other family members?" I was curious. At least one member of his family took him in right?

"There was my aunt, sadly she had to go back to grandmother, she was ill. Kay and Blaze adopted me the next year."

"Kay, did he tell you or Blaze anything before this?"

"No, he told us nothing about his life prior to his adoption. Around the time Bolt's parents left, many Pikachu left too. Bolt's parents were planning to leave anyway."

"Why the drop of the Pikachu population?" –Razor

"Oran berries, a Pikachu's favorite food, decreased. Pikachu tend to have a nomadic lifestyle." –Kay.

"Nomadic?" I never heard the term before.

"Nomads are people or Pokémon who roam the land in search of food. They never stay in one place permanently." -Blaze

"Good to know."

"Despite the rapid growth of Oran berries, no other Pikachu have come." –Kay.

"Weird."

"We have talked long enough, it's getting late." –Bolt

"Okay."

-NN-

I was in my straw bed, summing up the day. Tomorrow I was going to see Flash. One way or the other, I was going to talk to him. I'll have to introduce myself to the locals in town first, since I don't know him or them. I'll gather what other info on gossip alone. It goes against my morals but I'll still do it!

-NN-

The chapter was rather…short. I don't care! I do, however, feel bad for Bolt. :'( I nearly cried writing it! This chapter is plotty, just like I promised! Now, onto other business

The Super Awesome Cookie and Cool Cookie goes to Psycro4! Cookies go to all my reviewers, it's only fair.

In remembrance of 9/11, may people not forget what happened that day.

On the next chapter:

"This is important! We are going to strike Mt. Mineral-"

"The biggest volcano in Akemi…"

Next chapter is going to be intense! The plot behind the story is to be revealed! Do NOT miss it. The story is about to conclude.

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Pokémon! The people who do live in Japan! I am American, ergo I don't live there.

R&R! =]