Poke-genetics: feelings
If it wasn't for Alexchu's yelling, it would be completely silent.
They were all under the shock of what happened. They were trying to digest all those unexpected twists. Someone was unable to.
«Ash… » Pikachu whispered.
He did not answer.
One of his friend looked at him. It was something he thought would happen for a long time, only in different circumstances. He had traveled with the two of them for a long time, being the first to witness love slowly blooming between them, first in Misty, then, much later, in Ash. Both of them never acknowledged those feelings, Ash being as obvious as a ten-year old boy could be, Misty being a bit too proud and tomboyish to admit it. He was ready for this kind of thing, he predicted they would happen.
«I will go speak with her. » Brock declared.
He left, nobody bothering to even interrupt him. What would be the point? As strong as Misty pretended to be, she was clearly hurt.
Surge didn't like this turn of event.
«Okay, now that the melodrama is over, why don't we think about something important? Like who is that Ash! »
The gym leaders stared at Genno in suspicion. The teenager only mildly appreciated being observed that intensively by professional trainers.
«My name is Genno Avery. »
«Avery…» the lieutenant began until comprehension lit his eyes. «You're…! »
«The son of Team Blast's current leader? Yeah, that's me. »
Instantly, the man moved and held him by the shirt. His face was extremely severe.
«I don't trust you. »
«Neither do I. » Genno replied with an icy tone.
Vermillion City's gym leader looked even more angry, if that was possible.
«WHAT? » he shouted.
«You really proved you were willing to fight Team Blast when you… oh wait, that's right, you haven't done anything! You just sat in your gym waiting for things to get better. At least, we have tried something. Because of us, Team Blast's only scientist is my father and since he is in charge of Team Blast, he probably has a lot less time experimenting than he wished. As far as I'm concerned, your only redeeming feature is that you're actually planning to do something. » Genno explained, just as cold as a blizzard attack.
«You little… » Surge muttered between his teeth, enraged. «You may have taken action, but you have also condemned innocents! »
A part of Genno was screaming in exasperation. No seriously, did he have to walk around with a «The kids are not lost forever! » sign on his head? That would kind of defeat the purpose of hiding the fact from Team Blast, but he sure wouldn't have to repeat the same thing over and over again.
The rest of him shunned him for his egoism. «So you have to explain to a few people that the kids they love or swore to protect are okay? What a tragedy. » His mind was a strange place sometimes.
His respect for Surge increased as he saw the genuine concern in his voice.
«The kids are all okay. We gathered them with a powder made to attract pokemon and hid them in a secret location. They are being taken care of by friends. »
The tension in the basement suddenly dropped. Their reliefs showed on their faces. Even Surge looked less severe. With a strange grin that could pass for a smile, he said.
«Hum… I think I like you. »
«What? » Genno exclaimed in astonishment.
«You think like an officer in the army. You have an objective and you follow it, but you don't give up on anyone, even if that means everyone has to live hard times. » Surge explained.
That left Genno to wonder. He never considered himself like that. Was he a soldier or a scientist? He hoped he was more the latter than the former, but somewhere he wondered if both were not a bit too similar…
Misty was looking at the cardboard boxes in silence. She could not bring herself to do what she pretended to go for. She was overwhelmed by contradictory thoughts.
«He… betrayed me… or did he? We were not in a relationship or something… Then again, he told me to wait for him to come back. He sounded like he loved me, but couldn't tell me… Wait! He was already a pikachu at that time! So it was that… ditto… that told me. Were those Ash's feelings or its own? »
She took her head in her hands. Argh, this was so complicated. Couldn't she have a normal relationship?
«Even if it was Ash talking that time, it doesn't change a thing: he has a son. Does he… love that kid's mother? For him to have a child, unless he was lucky (or unlucky), sleeping with her once would not be enough, would it? »
She felt like laughing. The guy she loved was always obsessed with pokemon. For him to become one and get a family of pokemon was deeply ironic… somehow.
«Was it because of me? Did I do something wrong? »
«No, you did not. » someone behind her said.
She jumped in surprise.
«Brock? »
«It looked to me like you might need help «to make sure there are enough supplies». » he explained.
«… I don't really need help to do that. »
«Really? You sure look like you do. Care to share your thoughts with an old friend? »
«…I just don't know about me and Ash anymore. Is it just… » she hesitated.
«Well, this is normal. You ARE in a weird mess. »
«Thanks for the information Brock, I couldn't have guessed! » Misty replied, a bit aggressive this time. «I mean, the guy I love turns out to have been a pikachu for around two months, during which I met him while he still didn't tell me a thing and he found the time to have a kid! How is that supposed to be anything but messed up? »
«Misty… »
Her armor cracked. A few tears appeared in the corner of her eyes and her voice was sometimes wavering.
«Does he not… love me? I thought that… we were made for one another. Was that just a fantasy on my side? Was this his way of telling me he doesn't want me…? » she whispered in pain.
«Misty! How can you think that? »
«I don't know what to think anymore… »
«Misty, the ditto has explained everything to me. None of it has to do with a possible lack of love for you. The reason they didn't tell us was that they didn't want us to worry. At that time, they were about to visit a famous poke-geneticist that could most likely solve their problem. Unfortunately, Team Blast kidnapped that man before he could help them. After that, they swore to fight Team Blast and Ash was too worried about you to involve you in the fight. There again, things went much worse than they imagined. As for the pichu, Alexchu… it wasn't Ash's will. »
«What do you mean? » she said, hope and suspicion mixed within her tone.
«Misty, have you ever showed interest in pokemon breeding? » he asked awkwardly.
«No, that's your thing. »
«Well, pokemon sexuality is not the same as humans. For them, it is entirely a matter of pheromone. Two pokemon of opposite gender would live their whole life together without having any relationship if it wasn't for that. »
«What are you trying to say? Do you want to give an excuse to Ash? Is that what he told you? » she spit with a bit of venom.
«Misty… of all people, you know that Ash wouldn't want to give an excuse for his behaviors. He's the one that's crying on his loss and guilt, you know? I'm just trying to explain the truth to you. Ash had no control over his body that night. It was probably even worse because he had just become a pikachu. It was not something he wanted. Can you trust him on that? »
Misty looked down. What was she supposed to believe in? She wanted to trust Ash, but it hurt so much. He had a son with another and that was a fact that was never going to change. Did he even really love her at some point in their lives?
«He loves you. » Brock told her with certainty.
He had. Her memory of their day together returned to her. She had spent a really nice moment in Viridian City with him and Brock and Pikachu and… that ditto, whoever he really was. But more importantly, she remembered that night on the balcony of the hotel, when whispering to the darkness, she had woken up what she thought was just a pikachu. She had opened her heart to Ash! She had told him everything while he was a pikachu!
And he had cried in her arms.
At that time, she was unsure of the pokemon's reaction, but now she knew: Ash loved her back. He was unable to tell her, he was letting her be sad, he cried for her and them.
And the next day, he had stepped in before she confessed!
The pikachu had been so aggressive, because it was Ash and he didn't want her to confess to another man!
The emptiness in her chest disappeared, filled with a warm feeling. It was true, Ash did love her. At least, back then. Now, if she wanted to live with herself, there was only one thing to do.
Brock witnessed the light coming back to Misty's eyes. He saw her composure straighten as she regained confidence and strength.
«Let's go see the others, Brock. I need to speak to Ash. »
Genno got out of the bedroom that Pikachu and him had brought Ash into. Their friend was not feeling well, but he insisted on being alone with Alexchu. There was not much they could do to change his mind on that. He wanted to reflect on his situation. It was a right they did not intend to deny him, even if it pained them to see his suffering.
«What is your plan? » Genno asked the gym leaders.
A hesitation went through their rank but Surge nodded at them and Koga stood up.
«We are going to sever Team Blast's head and free their remaining hostages. »
Genno looked skeptical but he remained silent.
«We intend to infiltrate their hideout with two different groups. The first group will have the task to discover the place where the children and the officers are held hostages. The other group will go after Jonathan Avery. We need to pluck out both the head and the shield of Team Blast. After that, people will finally enact their revenge against them. »
«IF they enact any revenge at all… we can't be sure they will and we shouldn't rely too much on their will to fight. » interrupted Genno, bitter.
«We understand that you had to deal with them, but trust us, they are doing it to free their loved ones. They will take that opportunity to be free. » Koga answered.
The teenager stayed silent, but his expression was more skeptical than ever.
Pikachu, however, had an important question to ask.
«How do you plan to enter the hideout? »
Genno repeated his words.
«This is the hard part. We are not sure which mean we should use to infiltrate their place. We could disguise as members, infiltrate with a powerful pokemon capable of using dig or just hack into their systems. »
«Hum… there is a more effective way to enter their headquarters… » Genno said slowly.
«What would it be? » Erika asked.
«Actually, I'm not absolutely sure it could work. The best would be to test it, but we need Jenny and Sabrina to come back first. »
In the room, Ash was thinking with Alex clinging to him. He was confused. Misty hated him, didn't she? He deserved it… but it was not easier to live because of that. If anything, it made it harder. His son was looking at him without understanding why his father was acting so weird. Usually, he would always try to do his best to make Alex's days the brightest he could, but he had trouble mastering the necessary strength now.
«Alex… » he whispered.
The door of the room slowly opened.
«Guys… please leave me alone. I need to think about this. »
But it was not Pikachu or Genno. It was Misty.
«We need to talk. » she declared.