A large brown bird-like pokémon flew through the air, her large horn-like facial feathers ruffling in the breeze as she soared over the ocean. Her eyes were on a lush green island ahead. The noctowl came down to perch on bent palm tree by a beach, surrounded by the salty smell of the sea and the lull of gently lapping waves.
Let's see- Am I fixin' for fish or coconuts? She asked herself, rubbing her belly with one wing. Or both? Ah, I miss havin' a trainer. He coulda made me a coconut fish dish. Well, no use cryin' over spilt milk. Just gotta figure out what I'm doin' for dinner.
She sat there, pondering for a moment as the tropical sun shone down, and krabbies scuttled across the nearby beach. And then she fell off the palm tree squawking.
#Flygirl, is this you? # A familiar voice spoke within the confines of her mind. #I don't want to get the wrong noctowl again. #
#A bit of warnin' next time# Flygirl thought back. # You darn did scare me out of a year of my life you yellow bellied shrink. #
#Sorry#, the hypno apologized via telepathy, #but it's urgent. #
# What's urgent enough to scare me half to death? #
# How would you like to assist with the adoption of a human child? #
# What you mean killin' some bad parents? # Flygirl asked. # Or arrangin' some sort of meeting? Seems like the sorta thing you could handle yourself, but if you need the help- #
#Let me rephrase that. How would you like to be one of three adopters for a human child? # Pocket Watch asked.
Silence reigned for a minute
# Okay, what have y'all gotten yourselves into? # Flygirl asked. # And why did you make the mistake of listenin' to Poison Lance again? #
# I never said Poison Lance was involved. #
# You're kiddin', right? # Flygirl mentally snorted. # This has him written all over it. Now give me an explanation and then I'll head on down to yell at you two in person. #
I'll kill 'em! I'll eat their eyeballs and let them wander blind in the night and then I'll scalp them-
Your passion is appreciated Flygirl, Poison Lance interrupted, but it is not required at this time.
They were gathered on a small island between Pallet Town and Cinnibar Island a few days after the murders. Pocket Watch had teleported Poison Lance and Ash to random locations around Pallet Town and Viridian City for a day in an attempt to throw off any pursuers, before beginning another series of teleportations to their actual destination.
Gentle rain pittered and pattered around them, dripping off of broad tropical leaves, as the four beings sheltered in a small cave. A small fire crackled in the center of the cave, where the three pokémon sat, while little Ash stared outside, seemingly fascinated by the rain.
Why the eyeballs? Pocket Watch asked, keeping one eye on Ash.
Huh? Flygirl looked over to the hypno, head tilted.
Why do flying types always want to eat the eyeballs? Pocket Watch clarified.
They're soft, tasty, and easy to get at, Flygirl explained. You should try 'em sometime.
No thanks, I'll stick to plants and psychic energy, the hypno replied, turning slightly paler at the thought.
You eat the dreams of others, but eyeballs are disgustin'? Flygirl shook her head. You've got skewed tastes.
Fascinating as this discussion of culinary differences is, Poison Lance interjected, we have other matters to discuss.
Right! The kid, Flygirl said, turning to Poison Lance. Quick question though. Why are you so bothered by this?
Why am I bothered by an atrocity? Poison Lance replied, looking offended.
Why you so bothered that you're willin' to spend a decade or two lookin' after this kid? Flygirl clarified. It's not the sorta thing I can see you doing.
Now that you mention it, he did insist on being the one to fight the houndooms, Pocket Watch mused. Even though I know Miracle Eye and could have handled the fire types better. In retrospect, it seems a bit personal.
Yes, I did want the satisfaction of personally crushing those misbegotten murderers, Poison Lance admitted. And it was not strictly a question of ethics. I knew the Ketchum family; many of the wild pokémon did. They were kind and charitable; they fed and cared for many wild pokémon without an ulterior motive. I myself spent many an hour conversing with members of Mister Ketchum's team over a good spinach salad.
The bug-type turned to look at Ash.
I knew his mother well, she made sure to greet any visitor, human or pokémon, with kindness, Poison Lance continued. She was also an excellent cook-
That's the important thing, Flygirl interjected.
Mister Ketchum was a fine trainer, Poison Lance continued, ignoring his comrade. And little Ash was a delight when interacting with both his father's pokémon and with the wild pokémon. It does personally pain me to think that such an environment and the individuals who created said environment are gone from this world. Kindness should be preserved, not destroyed out of callousness or greed. Our actions now may yet preserve some small vestige of that kindness.
I hear ya, Flygirl said, a pensive expression on her face. She sighed. And here I was, enjoyin' a tropical retirement. Still, I won't lie and say that it's not good to see y'all again. I missed ya somethin' terrible to be honest.
I- er, uh- well, I certainly have some fond memories of our time together, Poison Lance replied.
I won't torment you with all my blackmail material if that's what you're scared of, Flygirl said smirking.
Oh, thank you Cresselia, Poison Lance breathed out a sigh of relief. If that is the situation then it is honestly pleasant to see you again as well Flygirl.
If only Plush were still alive, the noctowl sighed. He could be a bed for the kid. Or if Lucas were still here so he could figure out what to do with the kid.
We've been saying that since we stumbled into this mess, Pocket Watch said with a little laugh. Still, if we do this right, we can do him proud. So, are you in?
The flying type pokémon glanced over at the little boy, still entranced by the rain. She looked at him for a minute while the fire crackled quietly, the rain continued to pitter and patter, and wingulls cried in the distance.
Poor thing. He's the sort we were always fightin' to save, isn't he? Flygirl said. I'd want someone to help my kids or Lucas's kids if he had any. So, I'll just have to help this kid instead. I'm in.
And so, the three pokémon began their work. Flygirl took care of long-range travel, carrying the other three over large distances. Pocket Watch took care of shorter distances, using teleportation for more precise travel. Poison Lance took care of handling Ash, using String Shot to create various toddler carriers. Ash, for his part, spent the time traveling looking down at the earth and ocean below, giggling as they passed through flocks of flying pokémon, and crying when they were forced to travel through clouds, mists, or fog.
Poison Lance also took care of creating shelter and gathering food for Ash while they traveled, while Flygirl fed herself and Pocket Watch stole food and clothes from human settlements when he could. Pocket Watch in turn took care of cleaning Ash and his clothes, and gently teaching him the basics of outdoor toilet training. Finally, Flygirl served as Ash's bed and blanket, being the only pokémon in the group with a warm outer layer.
And thus, they made their way from an island south of Pallet Town in Kanto to their first stop: Violet City in Johto, home of the Sprout Sages.
Monks and mystics, dedicated to the co-existence of humans and pokémon, Poison Lance had said when explaining his choice of destination. The Sprout Sages should discourage our enemies from moving openly if they discover us. And yet it is a small enough city that there should be ample wilderness for us to hide in.
Though their smallness may work against us, Pocket Watch replied. They're more likely to notice strangers. It will be harder to slip Ash into a daycare without someone eventually catching on.
Oh, just eavesdrop on their thoughts, ya yellow snoop, Flygirl added. If one of them starts gettin' all suspicious we can just pick up and leave.
Also, just something I thought of recently, Pocket Watch continued. Do they speak the same language in Johto as they do in Kanto?
What do you mean? Flygirl asked, tilting her head. Don't all humans just speak human?
No, unlike our method of communication, human speech is far more limited, Poison Lance explained. People from different places may use entirely different forms of speech and thus be unable to understand each other. However, it is not a problem in our situation. Most of the nearby regions used to be part of the same country so they all use the same language… to a greater or lesser extent. I do believe that some of the regions nearby, that did not used to be part of the country, have come to adopt the same language the present day.
So that's one headache avoided, Pocket Watch said. Alright, now we just have to get him into daycare.
It was easier said than done. Violet City was more of a town than a city and thus not exactly overflowing with services. But after a few days of searching, Pocket Watch was able to locate a daycare that nobody important, dangerous, or inconvenient for their purpose had any contact with. Slowly he began making the preparations for Ash to join, hypnotizing the occasional worker into filling out paperwork with false information so that nobody would notice a discrepancy.
We're going to need a name, Pocket Watch said to the other two pokémon the night before Ash's first day at the daycare, as they sat around the forest under a waxing moon, while Ash slept in a bedroll of weedle silk. Something for the staff to call him.
He's got a name, Ash Ketchum, Flygirl replied. They can just use that.
He needs a false name so that the people we're hiding from don't locate him, Pocket Watch said, rubbing his head.
False name? Huh? Flygirl asked, tilting her head. How does that work.
Once again, human communication does not work in the same manner that ours does, Poison Lance explained. His parents called him Ash Ketchum, but he can conceivably go by any name given to him, just as we now go by the names Lucas gave to us.
Wait, what? Isn't Flygirl just how humans say Chirps in the Night and Swoops in the Night? Flygirl asked. Doesn't it just sound different because it's a translation of a translation?
No, it actually means something more like 'Flying Girl' as a literal translation, Poison Lance told her, but in context of a name for a pokémon who flies it means something more like 'Brave Female Pilot' or 'Beautiful Flier' or 'She Who is Joyous in Flight'.
So, I've been usin' a false name this whole time, Flygirl looked somewhere between upset and surprised, feathers ruffling.
No, you've been using the name Lucas gave to you, Pocket Watch added. You think of yourself as Flygirl and so do others. A false name would be if he wanted to hide your real name from others so he'd call you something like, say, Chirpy for a short time, but then when the need passed, he'd call you Flygirl again.
I guess that makes sense, Flygirl said, feathers settling. So, we're going to hide Ash Ketchum behind what name then?
It might not be good from him to have too many different names, Pocket Watch cautioned. There's a lot of things that go on when humans are this young, especially when it comes to language. We can probably get away with switching up last names, but his first name should be constant.
Last name? Flygirl asked.
Family name, Pocket Watch clarified. Humans consider their family name to be part of their personal name for some reason.
Okay, so his first name will have to be his name from us then, Flygirl said, nodding to herself. And we can use the last name to hide him.
Hmmm, you know, you're on to something there, Pocket Watch said after a few seconds of silence. We should think about what his first name will be. Until he's safe, it's going to have to be the name humans know him by.
Aaron, Poison Lance said with no hesitation. It will be Aaron.
Why Aaron, Pocket Watch asked.
It was the name of one of Lucas's relative, Poison Lance answered, one of the few family members who supported our trainer. He also died young, fighting for the League before it was called such. It is not much, but I would like to give this tribute to the man.
I can't think of anythin' better, Flygirl said in agreement.
Fine with me, Pocket Watch agreed as well. Since the last name doesn't matter, I'll just use the current season. Summer should be good this time.
We do not want to fall into any unfortunate habits in regards to selecting last names for Ash, Poison Lance cautioned. We shall have to use a different device for selecting his next last name.
Understood. But for now, I'll have the paperwork filled out as Aaron Summers.
The next day one Aaron Summers was delivered to a daycare.
At first the boy wouldn't stop crying at all the strange people trying to interact with him. He didn't stop until he found one of the daycare's pokémon, an old chansey. Only then did he quit crying and start playing.
Pocket Watch waited outside, using his powers to avoid perception, keeping a mental eye on everything in and around the daycare. Flygirl occasionally circled overhead, looking for anything that might be happening in the city that might have been of interest. Poison Lance was busy gathering food, trying not to think of all the things that could go wrong with their plan.
Ash spent his time cooing and babbling, toddling and playing, and bursting into a fit of crying that lasted an hour. Pocket Watch winced as he picked up empathetic impressions of the child's emotions. Ash might not have seen what happened to his parents, or have been old enough to even comprehend what happened, but he could still miss them.
He might never stop missing them, Pocket Watch mused. So much about how humans developed was strange to the hypno, how they started talking after they started learning. Ash might never be able to put the exact nature of his grief into words due to his tender age, but nonetheless it would always be a part of him. Pocket Watch had noticed that the child had been having nightmares; those awful dreams might accompany the boy for the rest of his life.
Pocket Watch put such thoughts aside and re-focused his attention on the daycare workers. He was loathe to alter their minds any more than he already had; you could never know the consequences of messing too deeply with someone's psyche. It was best to keep to a light touch as to not cause damage. Bad enough he had to plant false memories of Ash's arrival, memories containing human parents, and would have to plant more false memories to cover their departure. Luckily no one was asking any questions that would merit further meddling, at least not yet.
Sunlight shifted as the orb moved from east to west and the day began to die. Pocket Watch stood by a large mound of food, pacing in small circles and twitching. Orange light and long shadows ruled the forest when Flygirl swooped down, carrying Ash and Pocket Watch.
Poison Lance sighed in relief.
I was unsure of what everyone would want today, so I gathered some of everything, Poison Lance said, indicating the mound of food beside him.
I'm going to need to eat some dreams, Pocket Watch said, plopping down by the food, but some berries will tide me over for now.
Acorns and nuts if you have any, Flygirl said.
How did his first day go, Poison Lance asked, futilely trying to sound casual and unconcerned.
No major incidents, Pocket Watch answered.
I want details!
And so, they continued on in that manner for a few weeks before Poison Lance judged it prudent to leave the city proper and move to the surrounding villages and towns. They repeated the process where they could, in some of the outlying villages, never staying for more than a week.
"Weedle, weedle," Ash babbled one day as they were resting between villages, before switching methods of communication, berry mash, berry mash!
'Bout time he learned to speak proper, Flygirl said proudly, while Poison Lance stared in joyous disbelief.
This is most unexpected, but welcome, the weedle said eventually, not quite understanding why his joy was so great. Intellectually he had always known that such a thing might happen, but to actually hear it…
It's a bit unusual, isn't it, Pocket Watch remarked, looking up into the cloudy night sky. I've heard of some poké-raised children who couldn't speak any language. I wonder why that is?
Maybe that's why they want the kid, Flygirl suggested, while Poison Lance began to make some berry mash.
I doubt that, Poison Lance replied, while it is a remarkable talent, I doubt that they could justify the effort they put into acquiring him just for that. The weedle's eyes narrowed. Though it may be related to whatever quality Ash possesses that they wished to take for themselves….
Berry mash! Berry mash!
Shhh child, I am making it, Poison Lance said, dropping the previous line of thought and focusing on the food, while Pocket Watch smiled.
"Want berry!"
Pocket Watch never picked up on any psychic probes, or the tell-tale signs of an incoming teleportation during their time near Violet City, or noticed any strange energies or minds. Flygirl, for her part, did not notice any strange movements from her aerial vantage point.
Summer turned to fall, and fall turned to winter, and winter turned towards spring. Poison Lance decided that they had spent enough time in Johto and the other pokémon agreed with him. They set off in the same way they had come, heading back to Kanto to stay for a short time while they decided on their next destination.
The four of them stopped in the Viridian Forest once more, after several months of slow travel from small town to village to town, to plot their next move. Poison Lance found Ninetales and Farfetch'd, as well as their children, and the two groups stayed together for a time. The two vulpixes were fascinated by Ash, who had changed so much in the year since they had last seen him.
I'm Ash, the human child said to the two young fire types, but I'm supposed to go by "Aaron" if people asks.
I'm Fire of the Forest Sunrise, the slightly larger and darker of the two vulpixes told him. Though if we're doing weird name things, you can just call me Sunrise.
And I'm Fire of the Forest Moonrise, the smaller and lighter colored of the two vulpixes told him. You can call me Moonrise for weird name games- the pokémon attempted and failed to say Aaron- er, uh, Ash then.
We just saw you a year ago and you've already evolved, Sunrise said, circling the boy. That's amazing.
But humans don't evolve, Ash replied, trying to turn and follow her, almost losing his balance. I don't think we do…
Humans do not personally evolve, Poison Lance told him, briefly turning away from the conversation he was having with his old teammates, and the Farfetch'd and Ninetales couple. Though they did evolve in the definition of the word that applies to geological timescales and natural selection.
What he said! Ash told the vulpixes, before finally losing his balance and falling to the forest floor. Giggling, the two young pokémon pounced on him and a play fight ensued.
While the young ones were occupied, Lucas's old pokémon had been telling their hosts about the past year and the topic of conversation had moved on to future plans.
While the basic tenants of our plan held up, there was the unfortunate tendency for suspicion to grow in the daycare workers, especially in the smaller towns, Poison Lance explained. We had known that this would be a factor of course, but we had underestimated how quickly it would build up and overestimated our own capability to mitigate the issue.
There was only so much I could do to stop them from wondering without damaging them, Pocket Watch added. Sometimes it was hard to even squeeze a week out of some of those daycares. When it got really bad, I had to teleport Ash out of there and wipe him from the worker's memories.
What about the people hunting him? Ninetales asked, curled around her smaller mate. Was there any sign of them?
Not that I could see, Flygirl replied.
I didn't pick up on any sign of them either, Pocket Watch added.
Which only means that we have not yet managed to detect them, Poison Lance reminded them. Though I will also admit that it would seem that we may linger at our destinations for a bit longer in the future. The stability will be better for Ash I suppose.
Well, when is he supposed to start, uh, university or whatever it is the humans call it? Flygirl asked.
He is, Poison Lance did some mental math, about a decade and a half from starting university. He is due to start grade school relatively soon. Hmmm…... I do believe that our next destination will have to include a kindergarten of some sort. Given our travel times he will probably be the correct age when we arrive.
We'll want to choose a bigger sort of city then, Pocket Watch said. Someplace where we can pick and choose where he gets sent, and so we can switch him between schools so he doesn't linger in one place for too long. Or so we can find a school we deem safe enough to let him attend the full year. I know that wasn't what we initially planned, since Poison Lance and I aren't the sort of wild pokémon who make themselves at home in a city, but with how we've been operating I don't think that the issue is actually relevant. So a big city should work.
Ideally, we will also need a city where strangers are constantly arriving, Poison Lance mused. Someplace that is busy. Close to wilderness would also be nice, but it may not be required if things are chaotic enough…
How 'bout Canalave City in Sinnoh? Flygirl suggested. There's always lots of people coming and going off those big boats. And it's bigger than Violet City.
I've never been there, Pocket Watch admitted. But it sounds like that might work. Poison Lance?
I have passed through that city before, Poison Lance answered. It is located on a series of islands connected by bascule bridges. Hmmm….. the forests are less expansive than I would like, but it may do. We can at least make the attempt.
We can also rest for a week or two before I carry y'all any further, Flygirl told them. I don't know about you two, but I'm dead tired from doin' all the work.
A week passed while Flygirl recuperated. The group stayed with Farfetch'd and Ninetales for a few more days during which Ash and the vulpixes played and laughed, before saying farewell and relocating somewhere else in the forest. Flygirl told everyone they would be leaving soon after.
Ash didn't really understand why he and his caretakers always had to keep moving. He had asked the three pokémon about it once and they had told him that it was because he was being hunted. Ash hadn't liked hearing that; he didn't want to be eaten and had told them as much. And then they had said that the people hunting him didn't want to eat him, but they kept moving so that they wouldn't find him.
That left Ash even more confused. Why were people hunting him if they didn't want to eat him and why did they need to keep moving? Hadn't they already moved enough? And then the pokémon told him that they didn't know why he was being hunted and they kept moving because they didn't know how they had found him the first time.
And then Ash had asked what was the first time and they had told him the first time was when the found him and Mareep being chased. Then Ash had asked if that was why he didn't have human parents, and then they got all weird, and then Ash started feeling all weird and bad, and he could sorta remember a human man and a woman with auburn hair and the he just started crying…...
And now here he was, sitting on a log away from his pokémon caretakers, but still within sight, trying not to start crying again.
Tall grass rustled nearby, causing the three pokémon caretakers to look over sharply, before Pocket Watch said something and then they all returned to whatever it was that they were doing. Ash looked at it curiously.
Oh, a human! I've never seen one up close before, the thing in the grass said, before the grass parted and a small rattata came out. Do you have any food? It asked, nose twitching. Oh, right, you can't understand me…
I can! Ash said, standing up and startling the small rodent-like pokémon.
Did you just speak properly? The rattata asked.
Yes! My name is Ash, what's yours? The human boy asked.
I'm Tail in the Grass, the rattata answered. How did you learn to speak properly?
I don't know, Ash shrugged, it just happened.
Silence for a minute.
So, do you have any food? Tail in the Grass asked.
So, why're you hanging 'round these woods, Tail in the Grass asked, munching on some acorns Ash had found in his pockets.
'Cause I'm with them, Ash thumbed over his shoulder at the trio of pokémon talking behind them. And they're here because they want to do nothing for a week before going to a new city so I can go ta kindergarten. It's boooooooorrrring.
They got food? The rattata asked.
'Course, Ash replied. Poison Lance is great at finding berries, Pocket Watch steals a bunch from people, and Flygirl gets fish.
Then what 'cha complaining about? Tail in the Grass asked.
Well, they could always let me eat more, Ash replied. And I can't just do nothing. I'm going crazy.
They're your folk's pokémon? Can't you just, uh call them on a portable phone thing?
Ash froze up for a moment.
I don't have folks, he replied, swallowing back something that felt too much like tears. He just got done crying he didn't want to feel all miserable again…
Oh. They got eaten too, the rattata said sadly, startling Ash out of his funk.
No-but well, close enough, Ash said. They won't tell me what happened exactly, he once again indicated the three pokémon behind him, but yeah, they're gone. They've been gone for uh, a year, I think.
Mine got eaten six months ago, Tail in the Grass replied, looking down and chewing slowly. We were out in a meadow getting some seeds. There was a pidgeot and her chicks. We didn't see them until it was too late and only I got into the forest.
I'm sorry, Ash said, patting the small pokémon on the back.
It's okay. I've been surviving, Tail in the Grass looked up again, eyes wet. He sniffled and then smiled. At least I don't have to do that weird slow evolution thing that you humans do. I mean if you're bored now, how bad was it when you were at that stage where you humans don't walk? Do you just talk all day?
I don't think we can talk then, Ash told him, also starting to smile.
Huh? Wait, how does that even work? You don't walk, you don't talk, what do you do?
I don't remember it myself, but from the human babies I've seen, it looks like we just cried, drank out of a bottle, and pooped in a diaper, Ash answered. It's probably just too boring to remember.
Tail in the Grass shuddered.
That sounds like the worst, the small rat like pokémon spat. How come you don't- oh, right humans don't eat each other, or let themselves get eaten. He sighed. That sounds wonderful.
We still hunt each other though, Ash stared at the ground again. Or, at least I'm getting hunted, from what they're telling me.
Why?
Nobody knows. Pocket Watch was only able to figure out that they were after me and not my folks because he ate some guys mind who know some stuff. Ash clenched his fist. And there were kids I knew back where we were, but they kept moving me because I'm hunted and I miss some of those kids and now I'm doing nothing and it sucks and and and…..
Well, I get what your new parents are doing, Tail in the Grass said. I know it sucks being hunted, but it sucks even more being eaten, or whatever it is you humans do when you hunt each other. But we gotta do what we gotta do.
New parents, huh…. Ash wiped his face, rubbing away the traces of tears.
Yeah, it sucks for both of us.
AN:
This chapter is currently unbeta'd because my beta reader is sick.
So writing a full accent if both difficult and rather obnoxious. So I compromised and gave Flygirl the basics of an accent. A Texas accent to be more specific, which is classified as a lazy accent, which means I have to write out what she's saying and then chop off syllables.
I promised everyone a link to the story on AO3 last chapter, but forgot to include it, so here it is now: /works/21153581/chapters/50346575
Finally, to get ahead of some speculation, I'd just like to mention that there will be some things in this re-write that will appear like they're different from Symbiosis, but will end up being the same, and some things that appear to be the same, but will end up being different. Some new routes to old places and some old routes to new places.
I'm also going to try and release the chapters every Wednesday. And instead of keeping a word count buffer, I'm going to buffer by story arc instead. So there may eventually be delays in releases depending on arc length.
Thanks for reading and I'll hopefully see you next week.
Minor Edits as of 6/6/2020