Chapter Four: The Match

*Author Note – Hello all!

Disclaimer: We don't own Pokémon. We can speak a few words in Japanese, but that's all. Do the Math*

Chapter Four: The Match

Pichu's Point Of View

There was something itchy on my face. It was a bit annoying. I rolled over to lie on my back. For a moment the itching was gone.

But it started again seconds later. I opened my eyes and saw clear blue eyes staring in mine. It was a Mew, and it was tickling me with a feather. Why was a Mew tickling me with a feather? My morning-temper began to rise. I sat up and closed my eyes again.

For a moment I was wondering how a Mew came into the palace, but then I remembered. I was kidnapped by pirates – how could I forget that? But what was this Mew doing here, with all these pirates?

I did not have much time to think about that question, since 'The Pikachirate' entered the room. I glared furiously at the infamous captain. He simply stared at my face.

"You got unusually green eyes," he said. It was not exactly a compliment, but I should take it as one.

"Yes, I am aware of that." I said it with a small smile, so he would not be offended.

He looked at Mew. "Mew, breakfast is ready. Maybe you should go." Mew simply nodded, mewed a bit, and flew – while turning somersaults in the air – out of the room.

I looked at my feet. This way, he could not catch my eyes. It took all my willpower not to look him in the eye. Sadness radiated from my face, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I think I lied to myself. Maybe it was not so bad to be kidnapped by pirates. It was a relief to know that I did not have to marry some stranger, now I was on this boat.

The reason for my sadness was probably the idea of being betrayed by everyone, even if they did not betray me. I could not trust pirates. I could not even trust my bodyguard.

Pikachirate's voice made me snap my head up, and I looked him in the eyes. "Do you want breakfast? Or are you 'The Princess' who doesn't eat?" He looked at me with suspicion. I blinked once, and the sadness in my eyes was gone.

I looked down again, and spoke carefully. "I apologize. I am not hungry at the moment. Please, leave."

This 'Look! I am a Princess!-attitude started to irritate Pikachu. "I insist that you join me for breakfast." He said politely, concealing the irritating feeling.

"No," I said. "I am not hungry at the moment. So, please, leave the room."

"Fine, but don't go complaining to me when you're hungry." He gave me a death glare. He turned around, and walked out of the room furiously. I was finally alone.

Pikachirate's Point Of View

I couldn't believe her. How could she kick me out of my own room? I was drinking my milk – Chansey wouldn't give me anything else in this mood – and started to complain to Blastoise.

"She was talking as if… as if she owned this ship! But I'm the Captain! Why does everybody keep forgetting that?" I was happy that I could talk to Blastoise about it. It was a relief. Someone else would craw under the table, but Blastoise would look at it without being prejudiced.

"Pikachu, don't forget what she has been through," Blastoise said. I thought kidnapping by us wasn't that bad… It's not like we starve her to death!

"I don't care what she's been through! She has to listen to her kidnappers!" I guess I needed some more sleep… I wasn't intending on kidnapping her! It was all a misunderstanding! I think I'm going crazy in here.

Chansey walked by and stole my milk. "You have got enough milk for today," she snapped. "Maybe you should bring some food to our 'hostage', shouldn't you, kidnapper?" I knew Chansey wasn't happy about the whole kidnapping thing. Gengar was hurt badly, but would be alright after a few days of rest, and Chatot was awfully quiet now.

I hoped Chansey would forgive me soon. I didn't want to give Chansey more reasons to be angry at me, so I got a plate and put some food on it. I sighed, I didn't want to see 'The Spoiled Pichu Princess' again, but I had no intention in feeling Chansey's wrath, so I went to the room.

Normally, I would just enter. Now I had the courtesy to knock, something most kidnappers wouldn't do.

She answered, in a princess-y way. "Who is it?" I could hear her voice break, as if she had been crying. Why would she cry? We are nice pirates!

"It's me, Pikachu. Will you let me in?" I didn't think there would be a way to say no to this question, but she surprised me, yet again.

It sounded like she took a deep breath. "I am forced to say no to that. Unfortunately, I am not great company at the moment. I don't want to bother you, so, please, leave," she said. The end was probably through gritted teeth.

"Well," I said, while opening the door. "I'm not the best company at the moment, either, so we found ourselves a match." She refused to look me in the eye. I didn't know what game she was playing, but her intention was to let me get as little insight in her as possible. There weren't even traces of tears left on her face, not even in her green eyes. I knew for sure that she was crying when her voice broke.

"May I ask what your plans with me are? Are you intending on bringing me back home, or are you going to murder me?" she asked. My lack of sleep got the better out of me, and I snapped back at the Princess.

"We have never killed someone. Don't you dare to jump to conclusions, simply by the word 'Pirates'. You, with your prejudices, will never understand our goal. We call ourselves pirates, since there is no other word that truly explains us." I realised that I was quite intimidating, and took one step back.

"Eat," I said, while sending her a look that said 'or else'.

This time she looked up to me. "I am grateful for the gesture, but I really meant it when I said that I was not hungry." She spoke in a small voice, never leaving my eyes. Her body-language was… random! I was unable to put it in the right box, while I was the best 'Reader' at this ship. Her attitude couldn't have changed that fast, not even someone who was trained for this kind of situation could have put that act so flawless. It was too flawless.

"Princess, we both know you're playing with my mind, so, stop. It's not working." Her eyes widened for a short moment, just to return to normal again. I continued. "So, eat your food, drink your water, and stop playing games."

I shove the plate with food towards her. She would eat. Even if I had to force her.

I had put different food on the plate, because I didn't know what she would prefer.

I saw her glaring at me, but she turned her glare to the plate. She was eyeing the different types of food, and her eyes lit for a second.

She grabbed the apple, and began to take small bites out of it. I started eating my biscuit rusk – like a real pirate.

She ate the apple fast – even with her small bites – like a pro. She was faster with an apple than I was with my biscuit rusk.

"You're free to take anything from the plate, if you want," I said. I was happy I didn't need to feed her with force.

"No, thank you. This apple was enough to end my hunger," she said with hard eyes. I didn't understand the whole sentence, but there was something about the apple she didn't like.

She cut me off before I could say anything. "Excuse me for a moment; I have to go to the bathroom." And with that, she stood up.

She left me sitting in my own room. It would probably take hours, and hours before she would get back. Of course. She has make-up somewhere hidden in her dress, and…

I couldn't finish my thoughts, because she was back. So soon?

She was definitely one of a kind… Or were all Princesses like her?

Chansey

Years ago, I was a nurse at the battlefield. I was the infamous doctor, who never let a patient die. Sure, I saved many lives with my gift. But by doing that, I let those men step back into the war. They would take the lives of men and women from other countries. I wondered if that was fair. By saving one life, I would destroy dozens.

I wished there was more to life than destroying that of others, so I left with my daughter, I didn't want to hurt people anymore.

We were aimless, just walking around in a city next to the ocean, when I saw a fight between pirates.

One ship was firing cannons, while the other ship had two Wartortles, using their water gun to fight.

The Wartortles weren't alone; there was a Pikachu, using attacks I couldn't describe to deflect the cannonballs. I admired their fighting style. They didn't take any lives. I knew I found my home, without even meeting the captain.

The Pikachu won, but one of the Wartortles was hurt by a cannonball. I saw them getting closer to the mainland, and ran with Happiny towards the ship.

I said I could heal the Wartortle, and they let me help him. I asked if Happiny and I could travel with them. Their answer was yes, and I finally found the right place to use my gift.

She is the Pokémon who heals all
No task is impossible
And she uses her gift for the good

She is kind to others, but has a demanding tone
A tone used by a motherly-figure
She is the one who is known for 'supporting', staying at the background
There is nothing more important than the background for her
Because now she can take good care of her child

The young child became happy

Because her mother's smile never left her face anymore

*Author's Note – An old English system of time units said that 'a moment' is a minute and a half, ninety seconds, so Pichu was back within a moment! Yay!*