Poke-genetics: instinct
«Nidoking! » they shouted.
«What is it, kids? »
«Is that story you told us true? »
«Of course, it is. I told you it came directly from the gran…»
«Yeah, yeah, we know who it came from! » cut Ash. «What we need to know is if it is just a legend, a story with symbols, or a true story. »
«Didn't I make that part clear? Did you look at the sky yesterday night? »
«Yeah… » said Ash and Genno, unsure of where that was going.
«Well, you probably saw a shooting star then. That was the great star showing that he had not forgotten us. »
Ash and Genno blinked while Pikachu questioned them silently.
«Why do you think that there is so many pokemon around? That's because the island has just been regenerated by the great star. This place is filled with its care for us. »
«What about humans? » Genno suddenly questioned.
«What do you mean? »
«Can humans get on this island? »
«As far as I know, they can't. »
Oblivious to the new shock he caused them, the elder pokemon went to sleep somewhere else. He left them stunned.
«What does this all mean? » Genno said, trying to put some order on this mishmash of data.
«Let's sum it up. Yesterday, we saw a shooting star. Today, we find this place and you're attacked for being in a human form. Tonight, Nidoking tell us that this island is under the blessing of Mew and was made to be a haven for pokemon. The shooting star from yesterday was Mew itself. Furthermore, humans aren't supposed to be able to enter this place, yet we are here. »
«Great, my father's a genius when it comes to trapping people in the bodies of pokemon. Thanks Dad. »
Pikachu looked alternatively his friends and interrupted their brainstorming.
«Seriously, why is it that important if Mew is around? Aren't we after Team Blast? What would that have to do with anything? We're not even sure if it's true. For all we know, it could be a legend believed to be true. I repeat: why is it so important? »
The two former humans looked at Pikachu, having no answer to give him.
«In that case, I suggest we all sleep on it and think about it tomorrow or some other day. »
That was wise. All three of them walked around to look for a place to sleep. They weren't the only ones though. It turned out to be a bit harder than what they imagined, but, with a little bit of determination, they found a spot under a fruit-tree that was comfortable enough.
Pikachu fell asleep rather quickly, revealing how tired he was. Just as Ash was about to close his eyes and drifted away into sleep, he felt Genno get up. Curious, he didn't react and, instead, followed his friend. Genno seemed to know where he was going because he walked in a straight line, making sure not to wake up anybody, without the slightest hesitation.
«Where is he going? » Ash asked himself.
This got even more confusing as he reached the small beach on the borders of the island.
There, Genno just stopped and looked at his reflection.
Without being noticed, Ash walked until he was just behind him. There, he noticed that the reflection was blurry. Something was perturbing the surface of the lake. His friend was crying.
«Genno… »
The ditto jumped in surprise.
«Ash! What are you doing he…? You followed me? »
«What is it, buddy? Why are you so sad? »
Genno looked away and countered with a question of his own.
«Was today fun, Ash? »
«Yeah… that was the point of coming here… »
«Ash, is it normal for me to enjoy being a pokemon more than being human? »
His jaw dropped.
«Ash, my father is the new leader of a criminal organization. I don't feel like being his son anymore. I actually enjoy when others just see me as a ditto now. It's ironic, isn't it? For weeks, I've longed to turn back and free my father, but now that my father's no longer a prisoner, I don't want to become his son again. »
«Genno, where are you going with this? »
« I… think… I won't change back. »
For a second, Ash didn't understand what he meant. Then, he began to apprehend what his friend said.
«You… want to stay a pokemon? »
He nodded in shame.
«But… Genno… » Ash was lost for words.
«From your point of view, it is horrible. You're stuck in a body that's not yours, but I'm not. I can literally be whatever I wish to be. »
«Except yourself. » Ash answered.
Genno looked away once more.
«Do I really wish to be the son of my father again? »
«Genno! You're not who your father is! The only reason you wanted to resemble him was because he was a great scientist! You are just a poke-genetics lover. It doesn't matter who your father is. In the end, it's your choice alone! »
«You're trying to be like your father, aren't you? And you don't even know him. »
Ash stopped talking completely. Sadness overcame him and his voice was stuck in his throat. The teen stayed still, trying to fight the overwhelming emotions.
«…Sorry, Ash. I… think I'm going to fly around a little. » he said as he turned into a pidgey like the ones sleeping in the trees.
He left.
Ash was now alone on the sand. Alone. How far was the last time he felt like that? No friends were with him, not Pikachu, nor Misty or Brock, not May and Max, not Dawn, not Ritchie. His mother was out of reach, his father… he had no idea who he even was.
Ash wondered.
«Was what Genno said true? Why am I dreaming of being a pokemon master? »
«Because you heard that's what your father was. » His mind answered.
«That was true before, not anymore; I want to become a pokemon master because I like it. That's all! »
«Really? »
«Yeah! »
His inner voice didn't reply this time. Either it had nothing to say or it said all it had to.
Ash sighted and decided to go back to sleep. This was not doing him any good. It was better to have some rest.
He had just gone past the fruit-trees when he smelled something incredibly good.
«What's THAT? » he wondered.
He had to focus for a second to locate the source of the scent. It was coming from the other side of the lake. He hesitated for a second, but the fragrance was literally bewitching. He had to find what it was belonging to. Without thinking, he jumped in the water and swam to the other side.
He never really liked the feeling of the wind on his feathers, but, right now, it gave him something less grim to think about. Genno regretted how he ended his conversation with Ash. His friend had done nothing to be told that. It was unfair of him to say that.
He flapped his wings harder, faster. If only he could just forget his worries for one night. The ways things were going, he'd have to be careful not to be insane by the end of the month.
He was having those dark thoughts when he saw something strange below him. A pink light was flickering under the shadows of the trees.
«What is that? »
He let his body handle the task to land without getting a broken wing or leg. Sometimes, instinct was the greatest thing ever.
Sometimes…
As he landed on a branch not too far from where he had spotted the light, Genno thought about what Nidoking said.
«Each year since then, the great star flew in the sky and life bloomed once more. »
If they saw it yesterday, why was it still here tonight?
Without making noise, he leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the light.
It was there, less than twenty meters away. A gentle light was covering the shape of a unique pokemon: Mew.
«So it was real. » he thought.
He watched in awe as the legendary creature floated between the trees. It seemed to search for something.
Genno didn't have the time to interrogate himself again. Mew suddenly disappeared.
«Huh? »
He felt a weird sensation in his spine and he fell asleep.
Before his unconscious body hit the ground, a sphere of light enveloped him softly and laid him down on the grass.
For a second, Mew shook in anger over the unconscious boy, but, in the end, it just floated away.
Ash was about to go crazy. The scent was more and more enticing as time passed. He was practically running through the woods to get nearer whatever it would lead him to.
He couldn't resist it and he didn't know why. The small rational part of his mind was scared of what might be waiting for him, but it was not remotely close to have an influence on his action.
Ash jumped over a log lying on the ground and arrived in the middle of a glade, smaller than the one where they had the feast.
It was here! It had to be. All his senses were screaming to him that it was this place!
He was alone.
How could that be? There had to be something! He was shaking with his entire body.
He heard the sound of something moving in the bushes. Ash, completely freaked out, waited where he was standing.
Ash's jaw dropped when he saw what came out of the cover of the trees.
A pikachu.
The pokemon looked at him with curiosity. It walked toward him with a slender grace; it even chuckled lightly when Ash tensed up as it got closer.
The sound of its voice brought light to the mystery. The pikachu was a female.
Ash wanted to get away when he realized what it meant, but his body had a mind of its own.
«NO! » he yelled mentally. «I'm not going to do that! I… I'm in love with Misty! I can't betray her! »
His own will got stronger and he could move his legs slightly. He had to get away!
The female was overflowed with joy. The male was so cute. His funny fur on his head, the shaking from his legs, the way he stared at her. She loved it all.
She leaned toward his body and let out an inviting sound.
The male jolted.
She felt he wanted to, but he fought not to give in.
At that, she laughed in her head. She always thought it was fun to win her partners.
Ash was panicking. He felt that he wouldn't be able to resist her much longer. Her body was swaying him. He… had… to…
She kissed him.
His mind went blank. It was like being struck by lightning. He felt flames run through his body. He was…
She leaned on him, rubbing her body against his.
He…
She kissed him again.
Ash lost it. He was taken away by a torrent of wild emotions.