Poke-genetics: confession
«Brock, there's something I need to ask you. » he started, hesitant.
«What is it, As… hum… Genno? »
Genno looked down. He followed an impulse, but he broke a promise he made and he didn't want things to snowball from here.
«When we'll meet the others, act as if I'm really Ash. »
«What? But… why? » Brock said, confused.
«Something happened and made things a lot more difficult for Ash. Whether he reveals himself or not must be up to him. I told you because of your brother, but… this would mean something different for Misty. Please, I'll explain it to you, so… promise me you'll pretend I didn't talk to you. »
Brock stayed silent.
«Please… it should be Ash's choice. » Genno pleaded.
«I… promise… »
Genno smiled weakly. At least, Ash's secret was safe for now.
«MISTY! »
«What are you two doing here? » the red-haired girl asked.
Misty was right in front of them, surrounded by all the gym leaders of Kanto… well, except for Sabrina and Brock. They were in some kind of hidden basement, somewhat military. This couldn't have been made specially to fight Team Blast, could it?
With a loud gulp, Ash mastered the strength to answer.
«We came here to talk to the gym leaders. What about you? » Ash answered with lots of excitement in his voice.
Misty's eyebrows rose.
«Hum… I guess I'll have to wait for Ash if I want to know… »
Ash's ears fell.
«I hate not being able to speak English. » he whispered sadly.
«Cheer up, Ash! You'll be able to speak with her soon, I'm sure! » Pikachu said with an encouraging smile.
«Thanks, buddy. »
Misty leaned toward them.
«And who might this cute little guy be? » Misty questioned as she scratched Alex behind his ears.
Ash felt a knot in his throat. No sounds could bypass that knot. It was like he had lost even the power of pokemon speech. He couldn't bring himself to answer Misty's question. Wouldn't it break her heart?
«Oh, come on, Misty! Isn't it obvious? I mean… two pikachus and a baby pichu… you're old enough to understand those kinds of things, aren't you? » a man said.
«Oh, shut up Surge! » replied Misty. «They're both guys! Right? » she finished as she turned to them.
Ash and Pikachu nodded furiously. Oh, Ash was so not going through another case of mistaken gender after that annoying chansey.
Alexchu even happily confirmed with a «Chu! » before making a weird face.
All face turned toward the little pokemon.
«What is it, Alex? » his father asked.
He received his answer when the little pichu's stomach made a loud noise. Alex was hungry.
Misty lost sight of Ashchu for a second, only seeing a yellow blur rocketing through the room to get to the fridge. In one move, he opened the fridge with his tail and jumped to the top tablet. There, he grabbed a bottle of milk and jumped on a counter. He looked a bit lost with the lack of silverware and he started talking to the gym leaders which look at him with curious expressions… until Erika moved.
«There. » she said, taking a plate out of a retractable cupboard.
Ashchu looked gratefully at her and pointed at the pichu. Then, he jumped on the floor and ran with the bottle between his small arms.
Ash moved the bottle toward Erika who opened it and filled the plate. With a smile, she gave it to Alexchu. The pichu happily licked the plate, drinking to his heart's content.
Ash turned to Pikachu.
«Can you look for it? »
«Sure. » his pokemon replied.
While Pikachu began running through the place, trying to find «it» for Ash, said trainer was lying next to Alex, looking at his son. At one point, he even dripped a finger in it and poked Alex's forehead.
The pichu stopped drinking and tried to look at the little bit of milk dripping from his forehead. With his tongue, he tried to reach for it, only to lick his own nose.
At his son's face, Ash could not help but laugh sincerely.
Ash stood up and took Alexchu in his arms, raising his giggling son over his head. After a few second, he brought him in a hug and whispered to his son's ears alone.
«I love you, Alex. »
The little pichu smiled at him before burping.
«Are you full now? » he asked while laughing.
«Chu! » Alex said while raising his arms.
«Okay, in that case… Pikachu! Did you find the bathroom? » He asked a lot louder.
«Yes! Follow my scent. »
As the pikachu exited the room, it was followed by the eyes of the many gym leaders.
«Anyone has any idea of why there are two pikachus and a pichu here? » was the question many didn't ask.
Ash got out of the bathroom with Alexchu in his arms after a few minutes, Pikachu following. This was a habit they developed over the past week or so. Alex always needed to go to the bathroom after a nice meal, so they adapted to this little detail when feeding him.
Alexchu was now full with energy and wanted to get down. Unfortunately for him, Ash didn't know the place well enough to let him wander on his own. Instead he brought his son with him as he returned to see the leaders who were discussing the past events with Erika.
«Will you please explain why you let those three in? I mean, they could be spies from Team Blast for all we know. » Lieutenant Surge questioned.
«They AREN'T Team Blast's pokemon, they're Ash's. This is all the proof we need. » Misty interjected.
«No, it's not! What proves that we can trust HIM? » he said. «After all, the last time you saw him, he left you, saying he had things to take care of, just before Team Blast unleashed its attacks. Suspicious, isn't it? »
«Surge, you're forgetting they are looking for him. » Koga countered.
«Desertion is never treated kindly, no matter the place. »
«You do realize that even if he had deserted Team Blast's rank, he'd still be an ally, right? »Koga said with a skeptical expression.
Surge blushed and shut his mouth.
It was then that Ash jumped on the counter with Alex clinging to his back. They all looked startled, except Koga.
«Hum… guys, do you have a computer or something like that around? » Ash asked while rubbing the back of his head.
From the look on their face, they had no idea of what he just said, though Misty did try to be useful.
«Hum… he looks like he's looking for something… Can you…I don't know… try to mime… what you want… »
Ash hit his forehead. This was going to be hard. He shot a look at his surroundings, hoping to have simply missed it.
There! It was not a computer, but it was a good start. He ran to the end of the counter and grabbed the pencil and notebook lying there.
As he tried to hold it correctly, he heard Blaine mutter.
«Is he doing what I think he is? »
Ash carefully moved the pencil, having trouble holding it with his paws. With a lot of concentration, he managed to write a full word.
Misty grabbed the sheet he had written on and, stunned, read it aloud.
«He wrote… computer. »
The shock on the gym leaders' face was much more clear than crystal.
«… There is a portable one in the third drawer… » Erika struggled to say.
Misty followed the instruction and opened it in front of Ash.
Genno and Brock were walking in the middle of the street, Genno having copied a random stranger before entering the city.
«This is what happened to us while we were gone. » Genno completed.
«Wow… you've really been through a lot. I think I can understand why Ash would prefer to say it himself… but won't that be a little hard for… practical reasons? »
«Not necessarily, he only needs to get a hold on a computer or anything similar and he'll be fine… I hope…»
«Hi. We came here to ask you to fight against Team Blast, but it seems that we don't need to ask. »
«No, you don't. » confirmed Blaine, still startled by the writing pokemon.
«In that case, we'd like to cooperate with you in whatever attempt you'll make against them. »
«…we sure need firepower. » commented Koga.
«In that case, can I ask what is going on here? Why did you all get together here all of a sudden?»
«It didn't happen in one day. We were all brought together by Misty and Officer Jenny. »
Ash shot a surprised look at her.
«This is a decision I made a while ago, when things were only starting to get insane. Jenny and I decided we needed allies to bring them down and we chose to ask the other gym leaders of Kanto. From that point on, we traveled full speed to recruit every single one of them. »
«All of them? »
«Yes, Brock was the last one we managed to contact, so he's currently heading this way and Sabrina is traveling around with Jenny. It's unfortunate, but her Alakazam didn't visit a lot of place so its ability Teleport is practically useless. They're going to key locations where we could need to teleport in times of need. »
Ash seemed to be in deep thought. This was a lot better than they had hoped. They had to make the most of it.
Blaine looked as if he was in as much thought as Ash.
«Hum… I'm wondering… who are you? »
«We're Ash Ketchum's pokemon. Was that part not clear? »
«No, I'm asking as individuals. You have to be a gifted pokemon if you know how to write. I'm just curious about you. »
Ash paused for a second. What should he write? That he was really Ash Ketchum? That he was just a pokemon that happened to know it? …yeah, like they'd ever believe that. Hum… perhaps he could just…
«Well, you can start by calling me Ashchu and this little guy on my head is my son: Alexchu. Pleased to meet you. »
He grabbed one of Alex's small paws and made him handwave.
«Say hello to them Alex. »
«Chu! »
It offered a great distraction, as Alexchu's cuteness was heart melting. Unfortunately for Ash, Blaine was not going to let it slide.
«You did not answer my question… » he remarked.
«Who cares about how he knows how to write? » Misty suddenly exploded. «We should be grateful to have new allies, shouldn't we? With most of the population ready to do whatever Team Blast tells them to, we should count ourselves lucky with just one more ally. Speaking of which, is your trainer going to come soon? I've got some things to ask him. »
Ash felt his face turn to a pale yellow. She was suffering. She hid it well, but he could feel it. Under that strong appearance, she was hiding her fear for Ash, her sadness of being alone. He… he… he had to tell her!
«Hum… listen… this is complicated… the truth is… » he slowly wrote.
«Is there someone in here? » asked another familiar voice.
Most of them stood up, prepared for a fight if necessary. However, Misty seemed happy to hear that voice.
«Brock! »
The Pewter City's gym leader entered the room, accompanied by Genno, back in Ash's body.
Their entrance had an important impact on the atmosphere of the room. Time slowed down for a second until the realization hit them. Surge frowned, Koga smiled discreetly, Erika and Blaine both had a content expression on their face. Misty was the last to react, but when she did, it was hard to miss.
She literally jumped on him.
«Ash! It's so good to see you again! » she said to him in a hug.
«Er… it's… hum… nice to see you too. » Genno said as he tried to stop blushing.
The poor teenager shot a worried look at Ash who was silently angry.
«I'm not doing it on purpose. » he articulated just as silently.
Brock was pensively observing the silent exchange. What that Genno said had to be completely true. There was too much dissonance otherwise. Normally, Ash would have told Misty to let him breath or something among those lines. Plus, that pikachu was way too similar to Ash to be a coincidence like they were first taught. That was without the look it had given its trainer when Misty hugged him. This was going to be one complicated mess to untangle.
«How could you just leave me like that? You were fighting Team Blast, weren't you? Is that the reason you left me? » she inquired with a fiery look in her eyes.
«Hum… yeah. »
He anticipated the hit, but that did not allow him to see it. Lightning fast, she smacked him behind the head.
«You idiot! Both me and Brock already fought by your side! You should have trusted us! »
The criticism stroke Ash more surely than any mallet she could have used. It was true; he could have just chosen to tell her instead of leaving her in the dark. But she confessed to him! How was he supposed to react? He couldn't just say: «Sorry to tell you, but you know that confidence you made to a pikachu… well, that pikachu is exactly the person you wanted to tell and the one that looks like him is just a shapeshifter. »
«Tell her. » Genno said, still red like a tomato.
Ash looked at him with round eyes. What was he thinking saying that in front of everyone?
The lack of reaction put some light on it. He had done it before, he probably just said «Pikachu» like he was calling his pokemon, but only them could tell the real meaning of it.
Ash stayed completely still. Should he tell them? Misty looked so happy. Did he have to destroy that happiness after he betrayed her? But… letting her in the dark any longer would not end well, considering Genno's face. He shouted to cover the raising discussions.
«Please…. Misty, I have something to tell you. » he wrote.
«What is it, Ashchu? »
Ash sighted. He had to do this!
«My name is not Ashchu... and I'm not a real pikachu. »
Blaine snapped his fingers, whispering a quiet «I knew it. ».
«Then, who are you? » Misty inquired.
«I'm… »
They all looked at the pokemon hesitating over the keyboard. Genno and Pikachu approached him, offering their support.
«You don't need to… » Pikachu said.
«It is your choice alone. If you think it's better not to… » Genno added.
«No. I have to do this. Thanks for the support, guys. »
He took one deep breath.
«Ash Ketchum. »
Misty was just like a statue, one of a depressed artist. The shock was just too much.
«That's… no… just… how could?... I…. it's… »
«It happened about two months ago. »
Misty turned to Genno, with a desperate pleading in her voice.
«That's not true. That pikachu is just lying… he has to be! »
«He's… not. I'm a ditto, I copied Ash's body. He's the real deal. »
Misty stopped. This was… mad! Ash was a pikachu? There was a ditto impersonating him? How could she believe any of that?
But deep inside, she knew it to be true. There was just something about Ashchu that made her falter. He was the exact copy of Ash when he had been turned into a pikachu. She had doubts before, they had been confirmed.
Her eyes fell on Alexchu.
He remembered what Ash said minutes ago.
«…and this little guy on my head is my son: Alexchu. »
His son. He had a son.
She felt nauseous. Ash had betrayed her. He had been unfaithful, with a pikachu to add insult to the injury! That giggling pichu was proof of her world breaking apart.
«I… will go check the storage. We should make sure that we have enough supplies. » she pathetically declared.
«Misty… » Ash pleaded.
She turned to him.
Ash felt his heart break. Misty was not crying, she was that strong. Cerulean City's gym leader was just looking at him. Without a word, he understood the depth of her pain and his guilt came back stronger than ever. She felt betrayed. She felt hatred.
A hatred for Ash.
When she left the room, Ash was sitting, Alex on his belly.
The baby pokemon repeatedly screamed as loud as his tiny lungs could. He did not understand the situation. He could only feel his father's sorrow.
«Chu! Chu chu chu! CHUUUUU! »
Alex continued no matter how still his father was. The pichu didn't like to see Ash like that. He wanted him to feel better, but his efforts were vain.
Ash was crying.