Chapter One
"Which reduces the attack stat..." the boy muttered aloud, his eyes scanning the small textbook he was holding from left to right. On most days, he'd usually prefer rereading his vast collection of comic books, but the ones he brought along were getting (admittedly) boring.
But then again, reading a non-picture book became just as boring as that. That was because it was difficult to actually understand what he was reading with the cold air bugging him to change into a jacket that he didn't have. Then there was the rock-hard and icy cold chairs they provided at the gate, which had nothing of comfort to be found in there, but the large sanctuary for irritation to be stored.
The yellow-furred pet beside him didn't seem to survive the airport's provisions and bad service either, having needed the boy's warm hand rubbing him. It had to embrace itself at times when it got as chill as winter.
"...therefore, burns should be avoided at all costs. But to heal a burn, use a burn heal..." He whispered the text once more, elbows on his thighs and his eyes narrowed, just to make an effort of ignoring their regional airport's inferiority.
"Pika?" The pikachu beside him twitched its black marked ears, delivering a 'that's-new' look. It leapt unto its master's lap, trying to make out what was so special with paragraphs of gibberish and alien symbols. It nuzzled on its trainer again for more warmth, replied by a wandering gloved hand rubbed the scruff of fur that stood up, flattening it until it was hidden with all the other furs that lay down.
"You've got some fur up there. You might look like Ritchie's pikachu later on, you know." he spoke up, flipping the thin sheet of bookpaper to the left, and as the mouse noticed, to two more bound pages with the weird signs and no drawings at all. "Mom's enrolling me in summer classes by the time we're coming back. Go figure."
Pikachu looked up at its trainer once more, now with a 'coming-back-from-where' look. It outstretched its paws in curiosity, hind legs only shifting a little up. "Pika?" It asked, just making sure he understood the question.
"She's saying I'm dumb, huh?" The boy sighed in disappointment and frustration - at himself. The electric-type shook its head very quickly, trying to dismiss the thought before...whatever. "P-Pika!" It shove it chubby paws at him, supporting his 'not-at-all' delivery.
"Well," he paused, snapping the book closed, "Look on the bright side of things though: everything was worth it..."
Pikachu tilted his head.
"The new battle facilities, the new gym...it's a place where Ash Ketchum belongs!"
Unless his eyes were deceiving him, the pikachu caught sight of a transparent claw near the boy's red and white hat. The mouse's mouth went a little agape, as it took a step to its right to catch the sudden flip of it, which went unnoticed by its trainer. He could've sworn he saw the claw give a gesture of keeping his quiet and disappeared.
...And then he saw his master...blush.