Chapter 15 – Pikachu's Memories
Dawn, Serena and May spent all night at Pikachu's side, it felt asleep almost instantly after Lance left the ER room, but they remained at his side anyway.
"Hmm" exclaimed Dawn while waking up "What time is it?"
Dawn looked at the clock on the wall which had just struck 8h00am, she saw May and Serena still asleep with their heads on Pikachu's bed. Dawn looked at Pikachu who seemed very peaceful while asleep and started caressing its head with her hand making Pikachu to wake up
"I'm sorry Pikachu" whispered Dawn "Please go back to sleep"
"Pika…" Pikachu said
"What?" Dawn asked "You don't want to sleep anymore?"
Pikachu shook its head negatively and started looking around trying to understand where he was
"You are at the Elite Four Headquarter Pokémon Center" Dawn said "You were found at Professor Oak's garden and brought here to be healed"
Pikachu looked around like he was searching for something or somebody, and Dawn knew exactly who Pikachu was looking for
"He is not here" she said "He is not here Pikachu"
Pikachu sadly looked down
"What happened with him?" Dawn asked "What happened with you?"
Pikachu starting saying many words but to Dawn, all she could understand was "Pikachu"
"I'm not following you Pikachu" she said "What are you trying to say"
"We'll never know Dawn" said May next to her
"May! Did I wake you up?" Dawn asked "I'm sorry"
"It's okay" May answered "We have no time to waste sleeping"
"Is Serena awak…" Dawn started but it was interrupted by Serena herself
"Yes I am" Serena said
"Sorry too" Dawn said
"Don't worry" Serena answered "How do you feel Pikachu?"
Pikachu smiled at her, it was clearly that he was still weak, he couldn't barely sit, but he was awake and that's what mattered
"We have so many things to find out" May said "maybe we should go find Lance"
Like magic. As soon as May finished her words, Lance himself entered the ER room along with Nurse Joy next to him
"Good morning Girls" said Lance "Good morning Pikachu"
"Good morning" they all said
"Would you please move a little away from the bed?" Lance asked "Nurse Joy must do Pikachu's daily exams"
The three girls stood up and went to Lance's side, leaving the bed all free to Nurse Joy who started immediately the exams
"Don't worry girls, it will take just a few minutes" said Nurse Joy
"So Lance" started Serena "Any news about…. anything?"
"Actually yes" he answered "I may have some information about the Pluma Island"
"Did you find where it is?" Dawn asked
"Not yet" he answered "But now that Pikachu is up, he may tell us how to get there"
"How are you going to understand him?" May asked
"I'm not" he answered "But there's someone who can"
"Who?" Serena asked
"I'll let them in" Lance said "Are you done Joy?"
"Yes Lance" she said "You may let them in"
Lance opened the door and by everybody's surprise entered the room the three persons that they never thought they would see in that situation
"TEAM ROCKET?" Dawn asked
"What are you doing here?" Serena asked as well
The three girls took their Pokéballs in case a battle started, but Lance entered in the middle of them
"Calm down girls" Lance said "I invited them here"
"What? Asked May "Have you gone mad?"
"May's right" Serena said "They are Pokémon hunters. Bad people"
"You know; by a delicate girl I expect more manners from you" said Jessie
"She's right" James said "We're here to help you and that's what we receive in return?"
"Help us?" Dawn asked "And how exactly you are going to help us?"
"They are not. I am" said Meowth
"You? How?" asked May
"Isn't that obvious stupid girl?" said Jessie "Meowth is going to talk with Pikachu to get information about the brat"
May, Serena and Dawn kind of approved the idea, but team rocket…
"Don't worry girls" Lance said "We are inside the Elite Four Headquarter. They would be crazy to try doing any harm to you or Pikachu"
"He's right" James said "Since we arrived here everybody keep looking at us"
"But don't forget about our deal Lance" Jessie said
"Don't worry" Lance answered "I will not forget"
"Deal? What deal?" asked Serena
"In exchange of Meowth's help, the Elite Four will burn our files from all region's police down" said Jessie
"What?" May asked
"That's what you heard" Meowth said "We've been trying to leave Team Rocket for almost five years now"
"But nobody leaves Team Rocket" Jessie said "So the Elite Four will remove all evidences that we once existed and we will move on with our lives"
"You… you want to be good?" asked Dawn
"We just want normal lives" said James "Get a job and started all over again. This time in the right way"
"Well… this is… good I think" said Serena
"Don't worry Team Rocket" said Lance "The Elite Four will keep this promise. Now please, let's start"
"Okay" said Jessie "Meowth, go there and talk with Pikachu"
Meowth got close to Pikachu who just watched him approaching silently
"Hello Pikachu" said Meowth "Let me go straight to the point. You master kind of went crazy and attacked everybody. Now they want to know if you know how to get to Team Tenebris Headquarter"
"Couldn't you be more discreet about Ash's situation?" asked Serena
"Pika, Pikachu, Pikachu, Pika" Pikachu said
"What did he say?" Dawn asked
"He said that he is aware of the brat's situation" Meowth said "And he will tell us everything that happened since they left the Temple of Dragons"
"Good" said Lance "Go on Pikachu"
Pikachu started speaking about everything that happened while Meowth was translating everything to the people on the ER room
PIKACHU'S STORY
Ash had left the Temple of Dragons two days ago, Lance allowed him to conclude his mind trainer on his own, he enjoyed Lance's company and teachings but even for Ash, almost three years away from his family and friends was too much. So he was heading back to Pallet Town to see his mother and then he would go after his friends
"Well Pikachu…" Ash said to his buddy on his shoulder "It was either an exhausted and amazing training. I feel how strong we got since the first day. Now we are ready to keep our journey"
"Pikachu, Pika" Pikachu said
"Don't worry Pikachu" said Ash "I won't forget the mind training. Lance made it very clear that I may be exposed now"
Ash was walking through Veridian's forest, just a couple of hours more and he would be in Pallet Town after almost three years, the longest he ever stayed away from home, he couldn't wait to see everybody in his town.
Ash started thinking about is mother, friends and everything that passed through his life since the day he first left pallet town. He got so distracted on his thoughts that he didn't realize that he was being followed since he entered Veridian's forest
"Pika?" Pikachu said looking behind them
"What's up Pikachu?" said Ash noticing that a smokescreen started to rise from the ground covering all his eyes could see
"What's this?" he asked "I can't see a damn thing"
Ash tried to walk just using his hands to "see" but hit a tree and fell down to the ground
"Enough now" he said "GO TALONFLAME"
Ash released his fire bird Pokémon and quickly commanded:
"Talonflame, use Gust and send this smoke away" he said
Talonflame did as he was said and moving his wings fast and strongly, made all smokescreen vanish really quick. When Ash could finally see clearly, he noticed a man standing up in front of him, he was wearing a long black coat and a hood
"Who are you?" Ash asked
"You were smart using your bird to send my smokescreen away" the man said
"Answer my question. Who are you?" Ash repeated
"My name is Mascaro. And I am afraid you will have to come with us" Mascaro said
"Us?" Ash replied
After Ash's word, three more people dressed the same way as Mascaro appeared behind the trees
"I don't know who you are, but I am not coming with you" Ash said
"Yes you are" said a female voice from behind all four men
It was a woman with blue eyes and purple long hair, she was also wearing long black coat and there were many jewelries on her wrists and neck. She was obviously the leader of them
"And you are?" Ash asked
"You may call me The "Lady"" she said "And as we said, you are coming with us"
"You don't look like nice people" Ash said "I refuse coming with you"
"So be it" The "Lady" said "Mascaro, Willfer, Costa, take him down"
"As you wish my Lady" they all said together releasing their Pokémon
A Tyranitar, Slowbro and Ninetales appeared in front of Ash and were ready to start a battle
"Talonflame, use Wing Attack. Pikachu, use Thunderbolt" Ash said to his Pokémon
"It won't be easy" said Mascaro "Tyranitar use Hyper Beam"
Tyranitar blasted his attack into Ash's Pokémon hitting both of them at the same time, knocking them down instantly
"What?" Ash said surprised "How could just one move knock down both Pikachu and Talonflame?"
Ash was feeling tired; he didn't know why but he just couldn't concentrate on the battle. He looked at his two Pokémon on the ground and saw Pikachu trying to get up, on the other hand, Talonflame had fainted
"Pikachu, stay down" Ash said "Don't try to overdo it. Talonflame return"
Ash returned his Pokémon and took other two from his belt
"Charizard, Heracross I choose you" said Ash throwing his Pokéball and revealing his fire and bug Pokémon "Charizard use fire blast, Heracross use Mega Horn"
"We already said you can't beat us" Willfer said "Ninetales used shadow ball"
Ninetales attacked Charizard who didn't have time to set up his attack and got hit by Ninetale's shadow ball
"Now Ninetales dodge Heracross attack and use Fire blast on it" Willfer ordered
Ninetales once more obeyed and easily avoided Heracross Mega Horn, which made easy to it attack it with its Fire Blast
Now Ash had two more Pokémon down
"What's happening" Ash thought "I could have avoided that…. But why haven't I?"
Ash started to feel dizzy, but fought against his will of faint by keep battling
"Charizard, Heracross return. Now it's up to you two" Ash said "Greninja, Sceptile I choose you"
Ash revealed his two last Pokémon, hopping they would be able to win this time. But he still was dizzy and exhausted somehow
"Greninja, use water pulse, Sceptile use Solar Beam" Ash said
"It's my turn now "said Costa "Slowbro use Psychic and finish them"
Ash didn't have time to strike back, his last two Pokémon were also down by that time
Ash fell on his knee and returned his last Pokémon
"What? It can't be" Ash thought "I lost. But how? The temple training should have made my Pokémon stronger than any other else"
Ash then looked at the woman so called The Lady and understood everything that were happening
"That woman" he said "She is trying to enter my mind"
"Finally he noticed" The Lady thought
"That's why I can't concentrate, she is messing up with my brain" Ash said "I must fight back, I must avoid her to enter my mind"
Ash closed his eyes and started to concentrate on the training Lance had given him. Lance always said to Ash train his mind every day, but for many times Ash trade his mind training to his Pokémon training. Now it was coming back to him
"You are not strong enough boy" said The Lady "I am the most powerful psychic trainer of the world. It is useless to resist me"
"I can try" Ash said "I will not allow you inside my mind"
"Dear boy you have no choice" she said disappearing immediately from where she was standing
"Where has she gone" Ash asked
"I am here" said The Lady from behind them
The Lady touched Ash's head who started crying out loud in pain
"Now your mind belongs to me" she said
Pikachu watched everything but he was too weak to do anything, after a couple of minutes he only saw his master falling into the ground unconsciously
"Mascaro, take the boy to the Island" said The Lady "The Pikachu as well"
"As you wish my Lady" said Mascaro taking both Ash and Pikachu under his arms
After that Pikachu fainted, he did not see anything else, but he knew they could not come back alive to Pallet Town
END OF PIKACHU'S STORY
Everybody at the ER room listened to Pikachu's story by Meowth's mouth and some of them like Serena and Dawn were already crying in despair for what could have happened before
"So that's how they took him" said Lance "It must have been hard Pikachu. I am sorry for had let you leave"
"Pika Pikachu Pikachu" said Pikachu
"Pikachu doesn't blame you Lance" said Meowth "Just like Ash, he wanted to leave the Temple"
"Chu, Pika, Pikachu" he continued
"He says that If Ash and he had trained Ash's mind as you ordered, he could have won the battle" said Meowth "It was their fault"
"It wasn't your fault Pikachu" said May "Nor Ash's"
"May is right" said Lance "The Lady is too powerful, it would take years for Ash to reach a level able to defeat her mind powers"
"But how did you escape Pikachu?" asked Meowth
"Yes" said Lance "Did you see the Island? Do you know how to get there?"
Pikachu looked at Lance and noticed the effort he was making to get Ash back. Ash always trusted Lance, and somehow, Lance was also Pikachu's master, so he also trusted him
"Pikachu, Pika, Pikachu, Chu" Pikachu said
"He said he does know how to get there" Meowth said
Everybody looked at Pikachu. Finally, the answer they all were waiting for
"Tell us Pikachu" said Lance "Where Pluma Island is?"