Poke-genetics: chased
He held his unborn child tightly against his chest. He was not holding back his tears. He whispered:
«I'm sorry. You're not even born that I already failed you. Don't worry; it won't happen again. No matter what, I'll free your mother. »
Genno and Pikachu looked depressed. The more time passed, the more crazy this whole conflict was getting. Though there was an even scarier thought they could not try not to notice.
How did Janes's alakazam know where they were? It didn't make sense… unless you considered that the female pikachu had been used to lure out one of them.
It had worked. Now what?
«Ash… » began Genno, as gently as he could. «We need to get away from here. It could come back. »
His friend swallowed heavily and wiped out his tears.
«Yeah… let's go. »
«Genno, if we're going back on the island, you need to transform. »
He nodded and changed.
All three pikachus headed back to the one place where wild pokemon could live together, one of them carrying the most precious thing he ever had.
The aquatic pokemon in the lakes were extremely surprised when the three young pikachus (two actually, but they could not help but think of him that way) returned with an egg.
The first thing they did was propose to carry the one holding it. The second was to actually take him to the island while his friends swam next to them.
Nidoking welcomed them with open arms, or course, but also with an interrogating voice.
«Well, here you are, kids. I was beginning to get worried after you disappeared this morning. You had an… eventful night as I can see. »
Ash didn't answer.
«Very well… don't mind me. Just remember that you can stay here as long as you see fit… and as long as you don't cause troubles, but I trust you on that part. »
«Thank you, Nidoking. » Genno said. «…would you mind if I ask you a question? »
«No, go ahead. »
«Did you see the backpack I had on when we got here? I'm not sure if I left it here. »
«Was there something important in it? » Nidoking wondered.
«Well, there were a few human objects that I used while in that form, but it's mostly because of the food that's in it. »
«Oh… » he said with an ashamed face.
«What is it? »
«There probably won't be a problem with your items, but you can say goodbye to your food supplies. I saw a munchlax with your bag. »
«Oh! » was all he could say.
Ash was contemplating the egg. He was getting used to that curious warmth he was feeling every time he looked at it. Under that shell, there was a life, the life of his child.
«Hey, kid. »
«Hi, Nidoking. » he answered, his mind elsewhere.
«Do you have any regrets? »
Ash didn't reply this time.
«If you could live that night again, would you do it again? »
«I WOULD! » Ash screamed.
He was nervous, anxious, stressed and whatever you want, but he could not tolerate the idea of going back in time to correct that mistake. The thought of his child never seeing the light of the day, wishing that it would not be born, those were monstrous!
«Don't… suggest anything like that again, Nidoking. » Ash said, deadly serious.
«In that case, why are you so hesitant about it? »
At the question, he calmed down and contemplated the egg again.
«I'm just wondering if I'm ready… »
The poison pokemon laughed.
«Kid, if it's here, then that means you're old enough. Nature makes it as simple as that. »
«It's not so simple! I never had a father! How am I supposed to know how to be a good one? » he pleaded desperately.
«Listen, how do you feel when you look at that egg? »
«I… feel like… I want to protect it, to be there for it. »
«That, little pikachu, is love. If you have at least that, you have what it takes to be a good father.»
Pensive, he stopped talking.
«Besides, your two friends, they'll be here to help you. »
He smiled at the mention of Genno and Pikachu. Both of them immediately thought of what he would need to raise a kid. Since their supplies were gone, Genno proposed to go buy some in Cerulean City after he turned into a pidgeotto. He had been gone for an hour or so now. Pikachu was inspecting the woods around the island to think of places Ash could use to teach him the things a pikachu would need.
«The best though would be for its mother to show up. Where is she? » the elder pokemon inquired.
«…she's been kidnapped… by a horrible woman… »
«…sorry about that, kid. »
«It's… fine. I'll just… get her back someday. »
The nidoking shot a worried look at the youngster next to him. «That's dangerous thoughts you're having. Be careful not to be swallowed by them. »
«Hey, Nidoking, do you hate trainers? »
«Hum… why do you think I'd hate them? »
«Isn't that what all wild pokemon think of them? »
«Do you hate them? »
«…not all of them… » he whispered.
«Honestly kid, I don't hate them. It may be horrible for a lot of pokemon to be caught, but it's not worse than being eaten by another predator. They consider that they lose their freedom, but it's only because they were too weak to defend it. In the wilds, if you're too weak, you can't protect yourself. It's not different with the humans. I met trainers before and I was able to defeat them. That's just the way this world works. »
«That's… »
Ash was baffled. Nidoking had an interesting point of view on how things worked. It was refreshing for things to be simple.
This was the best thing he could do: get strong enough to protect everyone he needed to protect.
Genno was exhausted. He was sitting on a bench, trying to restore some strength in his body. Flying was always so crazily tiring, but Ash always asked for him to turn into a bird-type pokemon when he had the chance. For once, he'd like it if he wasn't the one that had to do the transportation.
He shook his head. There was no use to complaining about something like that. Besides, if he was in Ash's place, he would like a free lift too.
Feeling a little better, he got up and entered the first grocery store he saw. He walked between the alleys, looking at the products on display. Genno was feeling weird, mixing with the crowd, like any other normal person in the store. How come doing something as trivial as shopping seemed out of place? His life was definitely too crazy now.
As he paid for his products, survival supplies, first quality miltank milk, baby food, special pikachu nutrient, toys, antidepressants (he intended to play a joke on Ash with those) and a few other things that might come in handy later, he heard an unwelcomed noise.
On a television hanging from the ceiling, the daily news were being reported again. He swallowed loudly. Recently, they were always the sign of really bad news. Reluctantly, he decided to stay and listen to them. If there was something they needed to know, then he had to listen, no matter what.
«Dear viewers, we've received another message from Team Blast. »
«Here it comes. » muttered Genno.
«The organization has requested actions from the citizens of Kanto. »
Once again, there was as much fear as curiosity in the ears of those in front of their television.
«In exchange for this small service, Team Blast is willing to free all the children of the habitants of the city that will obey their orders. »
Thousands of people leaned closer to their television, waiting for the reporter to dictate what they would have to do. It would not matter; all the parents out there knew they'd do it.
«Team Blast is currently looking for a trainer and his two pokemon. Whoever brings them will get to see their children again. »
Genno had his eyes wide open. «Tell me they're not… »
«Team Blast is currently looking for Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and his pikachus. Here is the picture taken from him during the last Sinnoh League tournament. »
«This is BAD! » he thought as he tried to get out unnoticed.
«Hey! It's him! » yelled someone.
«OH SHOUT! » he swore mentally.
Without losing a second, he ran with all his might. Behind him was a frightening sight: an angry mob was chasing him, telling him to stop, wanting to catch him and give him to Team Blast.
As he felt the adrenaline kick in, Genno ran even faster. He had to get out of this town now!
«WHERE ARE THOSE FREAKING BIRDS POKEMON WHEN YOU NEED THEM? » he thought.
He ran past the last house of the town, still followed.
«LEAVE ME ALONE! » he shouted, furious.
«NO WAY! » they answered.
The situation was taking a turn for the worst. Some adults were taking out their pokeballs.
«Take out a rapidash or something like that! » he begged in the inside.
Unluckily for him, none of the called pokemon were like that.
«Oh come on! Couldn't fate choose another day to teach me about irony? » he spit as he entered the woods.
«Don't let him escape! » he heard someone say behind him.
He ducked and rolled under a tree that had fallen during the last storm.
«A pokemon, I just need to see a pokemon while they're not looking! No matter which one! »
He continued his frantic race against parental love with growing panic.
«A town! There's a whole freaking town trying to capture me! » he thought as hysteria was getting to him.
He jumped over some bushes and tripped on some sort of weed. He fell to the ground with a loud noise and pain erupted in his legs.
« Oh perfect! Just what I needed! » he shouted mentally.
Then his eyes stopped on what he tripped on and said:
«Perfect! Just what I needed. »
A minute later, a couple of adult stumbled upon the place he had been moments ago.
«I'm sure I heard someone fell. » one of them declared.
«Look, there's a plastic bag on the ground. » a woman said as she bent to get it.
«Hey! Watch out! » another shouted. «These are oddish's head. If you get too close, they'll release poison spores! »
At that, the woman jumped backward.
The one that seemed like the leader declared.
«He probably tripped on them and now he's too injured to flee. Let's split up. »
They did not hear it, but a small sight of relief was let out by one of the oddishes.
Genno stayed still for hours. With half of his body buried underground, he was feeling safe. His new body even had the power to convert the nutrient in the ground into energy. Genno rested.
He had to; things were getting more and more out of hand. He might need to create another adjective the way things were going. Somehow, he kept his panic at bay for a while, but, as he finally heard the adults giving up and returning to the town, he cried of relief.
Quickly though, bitterness was added to the salt of his tears. Genno cried on the injustice of this conflict. What that an idea of his father? It was twisted, yet he could imagine his father declaring his request to the reporters.
It was so unfair! They were now fugitives.