Poke-genetics: new life
Time flew by. For most of them at least. Ash, on the other hand, thought that time was going slower and slower with each passing day. His anxiety was growing just as much too.
On the island, you could feel a wind of joyful expectation.
All over the place, pokemon were talking about the coming birth.
The soon to be father was going crazy. No matter where he went there would be someone to talk to him about it. Didn't they get that he wanted to think of something else for a few minutes when he was leaving the egg in Pikachu's care?
«Ash! » shouted Genno, urgency piercing his voice, as he ran toward him.
«What? »
«Pikachu said it's about to hatch! »
Ash's legs impulse came instinctively. He ran as fast as he could. It was time! He would be a father in a matter of minutes!
Most of the island population had heard the news and came to witness the scene. Pikachu shot a worried look around him. Ash was still not here! He sent Genno after him, but he could not be sure that he would find him fast enough. The sense of smell was not the most useful here. Those fruits were delicious, but they smelled a lot too! For an inexperienced pikachu like Genno, that might prevent him from finding Ash in time.
The egg suddenly moved, tilting to one side and to the other.
«Hurry Ash! You can't miss that! It might be the most important moment of your life! » Pikachu thought.
The egg moved once more.
«Hurry Ash! »
The mass of pokemon around him stepped aside. They were letting two pokemon get to the egg.
Ash and Genno.
«Ash! It started moving! »
Without a single word, Ash approached the egg.
What was he supposed to do? He had no idea on how this was going to turn out!
A single crack appeared on the shell.
Instantly, the pokemon around it leaned toward the egg. Not wanting to lose a single detail.
Ash was feeling his heartbeat get stronger and stronger. As synchronized with his father, the baby inside the shell pushed harder.
The crack got larger.
«You can do it! » Ash cheered.
The egg tilted again and a few more cracks appeared.
«I know you can! »
The baby made a stronger push and a part of the shell was lifted for a second.
Ash was breathing heavily. His body was hot; his mind was entirely focused on the small life that wanted to see the world.
An oppressing silence fell on the island.
A part of the shell fell to the ground. They could see a hint of pale yellow through the small hole.
«You can do it! » Ash repeated.
The baby pushed with all its might and half the egg shattered. The pichu fell to the ground.
Ash was completely paralyzed. His child… it was just in front of him. He was a father!
The pichu made a small, squeaking noise.
«Chuu… » it called.
It called! It called him!
Ash was the only one to move. Literally hypnotized by the sight of his child, he walked toward it. With tenderness only a parent could have, Ash carefully lifted it. Softly, he held it against its chest.
«Chuu…» it said again.
Ash never felt anything like that before. It was something completely new. There was no comparison to the intriguing warmth he felt before. His whole body was screaming to protect, to care, to love this small life in his hands.
The pichu grabbed his fur with its small paws and rested its head against its father's heart.
After another small «Chuu» ,it fell asleep.
In tears, Ash whispered with all the love he had.
«Welcome to this world, my child. »
Teary eyes and lovely warmth was being shared by the majority of the pokemon there. There were a few males that were trying to act tough, but they could not completely hide their feelings.
It was a touching scene. Beautiful, yes, seen everywhere times after times, of course, but it was pure, untainted, true.
Unfortunately, things like these cannot last forever. A pokemon got out of the circle and approached Ash.
«If you don't mind, I'd like to examine your baby. I promise it won't take long. » it asked.
Ash first thought it was rude to interrupt this first moment between him and his child, but when he looked at the pokemon, he realized it was a chansey. He was baffled. A wild chansey? He thought they were being carefully raised by the pokemon centers. He hesitated for a few seconds, but thought it would be best if the nurse pokemon could examine his child.
The baby clung to his father's fur with his little paws, but Ash, with a colossal discipline of mind, succeeded in giving it to the chansey.
«Let's see. » she said as she lifted the mouse pokemon. «It has bright pink cheeks, healthy yellow fur, the nose is the right temperature, no trouble with its mouth or tongue… its tail is already moving. Hum… the extra fur on his head is unusual, but seeing as it's similar to the father's … »
As the chansey enumerated, Ash observed the work of the nurse pokemon. It examined his baby with great care, making sure it was comfortable every time it moved. After a minute or so of those statements, the chansey gave it back to Ash with a smile.
«Congratulation, you're the father of a perfectly healthy male. »
Ash took his son and hugged him again. The pichu faintly made another «Chu…».
Genno shot a curious look at Pikachu. Why was he looking so strange? His elbow made contact with Pikachu's ribs. Startled, he looked at Genno with questioning eyes.
«What is it? »
«Don't just stand here like a statue, come with me. » he invited.
Both friends approached Ash. The new father was looking tenderly at his son.
«Congratulation, Ash. » they said.
«Thanks. » he whispered happily.
«Did you think of a name? » Genno wondered.
«… I did. » he replied.
«So, what did you think of? »
Ash hesitated for a second and then answered:
«I like Alex. »
While Genno looked satisfied, Pikachu interrupted.
«Ash, a pokemon names must include a part of its species name. » he explained.
«Really? Is your name like that too? » Ash asked.
«Yes. »
«That reminds me… » Genno began. «what IS your name? »
«Er… I'll tell you another day. »
«Why?»
«Because! »
Annoyed, he turned toward Ash.
«Anyway, your son's name should include «pi», «pika» or «chu». »
«But it's not the same with him! » Ash protested quietly, not wanting to disturb his sleeping son.
«Ash, he's a pichu. All the pichus are named that way. »
«Well, he's different. He's special! »
«Ash, do you realize that if he meets any other pichu or pikachu and present himself as that, he might get laughed at? »
Ash was silenced. There were things like that among pokemon too? He sure wouldn't want anything like that to happen to his son. He was stuck. He had no idea of what name would fit his son then.
Genno proposed a compromise.
«What about a nickname? »
Both his friends looked at him with question mark in their eyes.
«His name could be Alexchu and you could call him by a nickname: Alex. That way, he wouldn't be shunned for his name and Ash's idea would be used. Plus, Alexchu would be a reminder of your own nickname, Ashchu. Misty And Brock still think of you this way. »
The two pikachus pondered about this option. It was a good way to solve the problem.
Alexchu… it was a nice name. Ash liked it.
«Well, it's decided then. My son, your name is now Alexchu. »
There was a calm knock on her door. Intrigued, she reached the door and opened it.
«Hello Delia. »
«My, good day to you, professor Oak. » Ash's mother replied.
«May I enter? »
«Oh, but of course. I was about to make myself a little dinner. Would you like to share it with me? » she asked.
«I wouldn't want to abuse your hospitality. »
«Don't be silly. Besides, with Ash gone, it is lonely in here. » she added with a smile.
Without leaving him a choice, she grabbed his arm and dragged him inside the kitchen.
«Here, sit for a few minutes while I prepare us a good meal. » she ordered, still smiling.
For a few seconds, the professor observed the mother. She had put on an apron and was getting out her kitchen knives and her cauldron. She was showing great dexterity and, if Oak wasn't so preoccupied, he'd be fantasizing about the delicious meals she was going to make. As she moved between her oven and her refrigerator, Oak cleared his throat.
«Delia. » he said.
«Yes? » Delia asked without looking at him.
«You don't need to put on a fake smile. »
She dropped her knife on the counter.
«Oh my… I'm clumsy today. This morning, I tripped on the carpet and fell on the sofa. » she courageously tried to cover.
«You miss him? » he said, as if he had not heard a thing.
«…don't be silly. Of course I miss him. He's the only one I have. He's somewhere in Kanto while that crazy Team Blast is out here, trashing everything we hold dear. »
«Delia… Ash is strong. » Oak assured.
«He is! But so was the police force of Viridian City and so was Team Rocket! They are in a league out of our reach! » she claimed.
«Delia! Stop it! » he said as he stood up. «They won't win! We'll find a way and if we can't, someone else will! »
Delia sat down, feeling depressed. She was on the verge of tears.
«What was he thinking? » she wondered in despair.
«I'm sure there is a hidden meaning to all of this. »
«Professor, people are suffering all over the region. »
The scientist saw her crying and lost all will to convince her. He knew he wouldn't be able to help her in this fight. He did the only thing he could: he changed the subject.
«Delia, I've come here for one more reason. As I already told you, Ash's pokeball were all teleported inside my lab a few weeks ago. »
«You've already told me that. Did something special happen? »
«Actually, this happened a few days ago. » he answered as he showed her a pokeball.
She gasped when she recognized the flame sticker on it.
«It… can't be… » she muttered in shock.
«See for yourself. » Oak declared as he opened the pokeball.
Delia lost her breath. There was no possible mistake. This was the only of his kind she had ever seen before. Ash's mother touched it with a hesitant hand.
Recognizing the woman, the pokemon let her do as she pleased.
«You're… his pokemon. » she said to the black and red creature.
She swallowed loudly and asked:
«What happened to your master? »