This new female Pikachu's annoying. She force-dragged Shock away from us, and we didn't have any other choice than to follow wherever this Pikachu's taking our Shockie. Krys and her friends decided to stay behind to gather more info from the evolved trio.

So anyway, back to our situation. This jolly female Pikachu's cheerfully walking on two feet, and pulled Shock's tail as she walked. Shock was gritting his teeth as he clawed on the ground, but his efforts were useless as we followed along the two line paw marks he left behind.

And oh, the female Pikachu kept on talking.

Worse, Fay was walking alongside her AND cheerfully talking with her.

"Where are we going exactly?" I asked the two females for the umpteenth time, but once again, it fell on deaf ears. I sighed and looked at Shock. "You okay there, bud?"

He shot me a very venomous glare. "Do I look like okay to you?" He then gritted his teeth as he tried to dig his hands on the ground to stop the female 'chu from dragging him, but he failed.

"Where do you think she's taking him?" Vixie asked as she turned to Saur.

The Bulbasaur calmly shrugged as his reply.

I sighed again. I'm getting derailed more and more. I need to return home, and the sooner, the be...

I stopped when I saw something from the corner of my eye. I turned to where I thought that something was supposed to be, but all I saw were bushes and trees. Just a forest, and nothing out of the ordinary.

"Huh..." I mumbled as Vixie turned and walked beside me. "I swore I..."

"Swore what?" she asked.

I just shook my head. "Nothing, I guess." At least there are berries on those bushes. "I'm probably just hungry." Quick white lie.

"Then why didn't you say so?!" shouted the female Pikachu, who was already far ahead. No idea how she hea...eh, Pikachu ears... Never mind. She turned to smile at me. "We're almost there!"

"There where?" Vixie asked as we resumed our walk.

"Where else?" she grinned and turned her attention ahead.

I blinked, and noticed that we were heading towards a clearing, if the sun's light from there was an indication. I looked around and noticed that the line of trees are getting smaller. I guess that we're either heading towards a clearing, or we're going to exit the forest.

"Wow!" Fay chirped as the duo plus Shock exited the line of trees, Vixie, Saur and I close behind. "What a lovely place you got here!"

"And so many Pikachus..." Vixie breathed out as we exited the forest.

"Just kill me now..." Shock mumbled before he planted his face on the ground.

I have no clue where in the world map this place is. There's a stream, lots of miniature green hills and burrows underneath. And as Vixie pointed out, there were a lot of Pikachus around. There were even smaller versions of Pikachus playing around!

Anyway, this place was a clearing, that much I'm sure, since there were still lines of trees that bordered the place, but damn this area's huge. A few scattered trees here and there, bushes and flowers, the small hills I mentioned earlier, and...and...that's about it.

Also, Pikachus weren't the only ones living in this area though. As far as my little height vision could see, I could also see Poliwags near the streams, Pidgeys, Sandshrews, and Rattatas. Each species of Pokémon are grouped into their own kind and are settling in one part of the clearing.

"Visitors!" a random voice shouted from somewhere. It was loud enough to make almost every Pikachus' ears to twitch and their attention to turn to us.

I suddenly felt really conscious about myself with that many eyes on us...on me. I couldn't help but take a step or two back.

The Pikachus smiled and waved a paw at us while a chorus of hi's and hello's bombarded our ears. There were even Pikachus who were close enough to walk up to us and...started smelling us.

I awkwardly pushed myself beside Vixie as I try to push a Pikachu head away from me. I think some are even smelling my behind.

Vixie was 'very helpful' for giggling at my awkward situation.

I got awkward replies of 'what's with you?' and 'stop pushing me' and some other crap. I just kept on muttering to stop invading my personal spac—"EEP!"

I jumped forward, bumped on a yelping Pikachu, spun with a racing heart, and stared in disbelief at the Pikachu who poked his, I mean, her (if her heart-shaped tail's an indication) nose on my... She just blinked and smiled at me.

"Hey, back off!" Vixie hissed at her as she walked beside me and glared at the Pikachu. "He's mine."

"You squealed like a girl, by the way," I heard Bill say, and he chuckled.

I just dropped myself on the ground and put my two paws over my eyes. "Can't this get any more awkward?"

...ah, poop. I hope I didn't jinx it.

"—and then I saw Shock among the crowd!"

My ear twitched when I heard the female 'chu's voice. I pulled myself into a sitting position and ignored Vixie's fur that brushed on my side, and turned to look. I'm glad the large numbers of Pikachus already went back to whatever Pikachu business they were doing. The female 'chu's hand still has a tight grip on the tip of Shock's tail, and Shock was still lying flat on the ground.

They were surrounded by other Pikachus though, clearly happy for some reason. The female 'chu was talking to what looked like an old-looking Pikachu, complete with wrinkles and a graying fur. A shiny silver Pikachu! Har har...

My attention was caught by two small Pikachus who offered me and Vixie some berries. There was an adult Pikachu behind them, and Vixie growled at her. I just rolled my eyes and petted the two Smallchus on their heads. ...and they awkwardly liked it.

I guess Pokémon Amie taught me a lot of stuff. I wonder if belly rubs will work.

"So you like Pikachus more than Vulpixes?" Vixie side-glared at me.

W-what? I turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm just petting them."

She turned to fully give me the full intensity of her glare. She opened her mouth, closed it. She mumbled. She looked away, clearly frustrated.

And oh, the three Pikachus were already gone. I'm surprised I hadn't notice them leaving. At least they left us some berries.

I...internally sighed. I better fix this not-in-a-good-mood fox friend of mine before she eats me. And shut up brain. You of all body parts should know what I meant.

Anyway, I sat up straight...raised my paw, sighed, and scratched Vixie's nape. And by scratch, I mean like scratching an itch on one spot. I dunno. Back home, my neighbor's dog loved it. And it kinda surprised me that Vixie purred, her whole body shook, if only slightly.

I arched an eyebrow, but continued 'pet-scratching' her. She purred again as she turned her head and...leaned closer and started brushing her head under my chin like how cats do on our feet and knees. ...It was my turn to tremble.

"Aw..." I heard the female 'chu 'aww'ed' at us. "Shockie, why can't you be just like your friends over there?"

From the corner of my frozen eye, I could see and feel Saur's giant grin.

"Get a den, you two!" Fay shouted teasingly.

"There are lots of dens around here!" the female 'chu chirped. "I'm sure there's an empty one around."