"Aaron," a gentle voice sounded in Ash's ear. He groaned, clenched at his sleeping bag, and pulled it tighter.
Except there was no sleeping bag. His fist clenched around leaves and needles which jabbed into his palms.
The discomfort and the knowledge that something wasn't right made Ash groan again. He opened his eyes and tried to sit up.
Hey! Pikachu protested as he slid off of Ash's chest. Leaves and needles fell to either side of the boy as he rose from his makeshift bed.
What happened? Ash moaned, holding his head with one hand. It had started to throb as soon as he sat up.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" The gentle voice asked again.
What happened? Ash asked again, before looking around. That was a mistake according to his back. The boy hissed and seized up in sudden pain.
"Lay back down Aaron," the voice spoke again and Ash saw that the voice belonged to Melanie. The blue haired woman gently lowered him back into his makeshift bed.
Are- "Are you okay?" Ash said, remembering to speak like a human.
"I'm fine," Melanie said. Half of her head was covered in bandages, her face was covered in dirt, and there were large bags under her eyes. Despite that, she was able to smile beatifically down at the boy and Ash had no doubts that she was fine. "I'll have a lump, but there was no serious damage."
"It's you I'm worried about," the blue haired woman went on. "I would have let you sleep longer, but I'm concerned that we will need to work on your back again."
Ash groaned.
"Do you know any language other than Sinnohese?" Melanie asked, looking over the boy. "I couldn't tell if that was aphasia or if I was just unfamiliar with the language."
"It's another language," Ash told her closing his eyes. "What's aphasia?"
"It's the medical term for when someone cannot communicate verbally," Melanie explained. "And please keep your eyes open. You can go back to sleep after I've examined your back."
Ash groaned again.
"Bulbasaur, if you could please help me," Melanie requested.
The grass-type and the blue haired woman gently flipped Ash over on his stomach and removed his dirty, blood-soaked shirt and jacket.
"That was my last one," Ash moaned when he saw the state of his jacket.
"I'll buy you a new one," Melanie said from behind him.
"No, you don't-"
"But I'm going to," Melanie said, shutting him up. There was a moment of silence. Ash guessed that she was looking over his back.
"How bad is it?" Ash asked, wincing in anticipation.
"Well, it's better than I feared, worse than I hoped." Melanie informed him. "You tore a section of your stiches out, but the majority are fine."
"So, you don't need to replace them?" Ash asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry Aaron, but I do," Melanie sighed. "And I have to clean the wound again."
"Noooo," Ash whined, eyes squeezing closed again. "What about Aoba? Is he alright? He might need stiches instead! You should deal with him first!"
"Two things, Aaron. First, I have enough disinfectant and stiches for the both of you." Melanie told Ash. The boy groaned. "Second, I already examined Aoba. Other than the minor lacerations on his chest, he's healthy."
"Ugh," Ash groaned, letting his head and shoulders go limp. "I guess it's good that he's fine."
There was an explosion of giggles from behind Ash. The pokéraised child almost glanced back at her. He didn't get what was so funny.
"I'm sorry," Melanie said, though she was still giggling. "You're a very brave and mature young man, but sometimes you can still be a child."
I know, right? Bulbasaur added. Ash could hear the smile in the grass type's voice.
Ash pouted the woman giggled. He still didn't get what was so funny.
"I'll clean everything now," Melanie went on when the giggles finally subsided. "And then I'll let you take a nap and try to replace the stiches while you're sleeping."
"Won't that wake me up?"
"It depends on how hard you're sleeping," Melanie informed the boy. "I'm not going to lie to you, it will probably wake you up."
"Fine," Ash groaned. He was not looking forward to the rest of the morning.
Ash did not enjoy the rest of his morning. Getting his wound cleaned again hadn't been as bad as the first cleaning, but it still stung. And then Ash couldn't go back to sleep, because he knew that Melanie would stab him with needles soon after he did.
In the end he gave up on sleep. He just let Melanie replace the stiches while he ground his teeth together and tried not to cry.
"Sshhh, you've been a brave boy, such a brave young man," Melanie cooed as she finished up the last stitch. "You did a good job. It's over now, so just lie still for a bit and I'll get you some water."
"I don't want to do this again," Ash moaned.
Then quit doing dangerous things, Pikachu yawned from his spot next to his trainer. You're the one who wanted to get involved, remember?
Can't I do this without getting stitches? Ash whined.
That's a great idea! Pikachu exclaimed, pounding one curled paw into the palm of the other. Why didn't you think of it before hitting a Vine Whip with your back?
Ash groaned and then Melanie was back with the water.
Tha-"Thanks," Ash said as she lowered the canteen to his lips.
"You're welcome," Melanie replied while he drank. "What language is that? I don't think I've heard it before?"
Ash nearly choked on the water.
"You need to drink more carefully," Melanie scolded the boy as he coughed. "I don't know where there's another source of clean water that didn't come out of a pokémon's mouth."
"What's wrong with water from a pokémon?" Ash asked, voice hoarse.
"It's clean, but the mineral content is unusual and it makes the water taste awful," Melanie explained. "I only use it for cleaning."
Ash almost shrugged, but caught himself in time. He could not wait until his back was better and he didn't have to worry about moving it wrong.
Ash lay there for another hour until Melanie announced that it was time for lunch. Aoba had woken up in the meantime and the two adult humans helped Ash get back to his feet. Ash got another new shirt (no third spare jacket though) and then joined them for lunch.
Melanie and Charmander had gotten a small fire going. When she saw Ash's concerned look, she explained, "We didn't move after last night, so if Team Rocket is still out there, they already know where we are. And I think we all need a hot meal after last night."
Ash thought there were some holes in her logic, but his stomach growled at the prospect of eating something other than protein bars and dried cuts of meat. He decided to go along with it. He and Aoba helped cut some gathered plants and dried vegetables for the stew that Melanie was preparing.
Working alongside Aoba Ash noticed that something seemed different about the man. His movements were brisker and for a brief moment he hummed while he worked.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked, looking at the man out of the corner of his eye.
Aoba paused for a moment, looking down at the root vegetable he was cutting.
"No," he said finally. "But for some reason I'm feeling…. lighter, for lack of a better term."
"Do you…. do you not miss Ted any longer?" Ash asked cautiously, wondering if the scientist had hit his head.
"No, I still do," Aoba shook his head. "It's something else. I feel like I've been forgiven for something."
"What did you do that needs forgiving?" Ash asked, returning his eyes to the roots he was preparing.
"I can think of a few things," Aoba replied and Ash could hear the wry smile in the man's voice. "But I can't put my finger on what exactly's changed."
"Well, maybe it's because you're safer now?" Ash shrugged. "Or maybe the hole in your side was making you sick and you're better now?"
"Maybe," Aoba replied. "Whatever the reason is, I'm feeling so much better today."
The stew was the best thing that Ash had eaten in what seemed like a very long time.
Or maybe it was simply that anything other than the horrible protein energy bars would taste good to Ash in that moment, because Ash was reasonably certain that he wouldn't normally like such a bitter dish. Or maybe it was simply that he found himself ravenous after the events of the previous night and his appetite had whipped into a further frenzy by the smell of food cooking.
Whatever it was, when Melanie suggested that the group should rest for the remainder of the day, Ash was too full to find it in himself to protest. He checked up on Butterfree, who was almost completely healed from the night's events, and then decided to take a nap. He accepted Aoba's slightly charred sleeping bag and then curled up with Pikachu, underneath the same tree that he had used last night.
His eyes closed and he quickly drifted off into a gentle dreamless sleep.
It took them three days to reach the Yin-Li memorial Pokemon Center.
Melanie had wanted to go slow and take four days, but Ash and Bulbasaur insisted that they move faster. Melanie relented when Aoba informed her that he was feeling well enough to hike and that they could put Aaron on Tauros in his place.
Ash wasn't thrilled with the arrangement; he felt that his back was doing well enough that he could just walk the whole way. But he gave in so that they could reach the pokémon center sooner.
The Yin-Li Memorial Pokemon center was situated in a hollow at the bottom of a large hill in the forest. A large creek flowed over a ledge nearby, creating a pool of water next to the center, the surface covered in fallen leaves that gently flowed towards the point where the creek continued from the pool. There was a large dirt path that led away from the pokémon center and towards the larger roads that connected the human cities together.
The ragtag group stumbled inside the center, completely filling the lobby, and startling the nurse on duty.
"Are all these pokémon yours?" the nurse asked, looking at the large group of pokémon tracking dirt all over the lobby.
"No-"Melanie began.
Yes, Bulbasaur interrupted.
"Yes," Ash said.
"They're not mine, I'm just the one looking after them," Melanie said, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, that means they're your pokémon," the nurse said, getting out a clipboard. "And you're their human. Now what can we help you with today?"
Melanie explained their situation to the on-duty nurse, which set things in motion, like a single falling pebble starts a rockslide.
Ash and Aoba found themselves whisked away to a small, sparse room, forced into hospital gowns, and given several examinations before being confined to hospital beds.
"This sucks," Ash pouted, crossing his arms. "I'm not sick!"
"They're just being cautious," Aoba reassured the boy from his own bed. "They're worried about slow acting poisons and infections. They'll let us up in a day or two."
While Ash and Aoba were confined to bed rest, Melanie arranged for each and every pokémon to be given a full physical, much to Bulbasaur's displeasure.
If something was hurting, I'd tell her! The grass-type groused to Ash later that night. I don't need some humans hovering over me! Worrywarts are the worst!
Wait, I thought you were always hovering over Melanie? Ash asked. I know she mentioned that to me?
That's 'cause you humans can get hurt so easily! Bulbasaur protested. And she keeps neglecting herself, she hides it when she's hurt, and she keeps doing dangerous things-
You try to hide it when you get hurt all the time, Squirtle said, wearing a new pair of sunglasses and snacking on a handful of pokéchow.
That's always been little stuff! Bulbasaur said.
Suurrrree, Ash and Squirtle said in unison.
After all of the pokémon from the village and all of Ash's pokémon had been examined, Melanie found herself cornered by concerned nurses, given a medical examination, and then sent to join Ash and Aoba.
"I don't know why they're fussing over me," Melanie confided to her fellow patients. "It was only a minor head injury and nothing else. I have been perfectly cognizant and functional since I received it."
"I guess they're just being careful," Ash said, with a sly grin on his face as the blue haired woman was forced to take her own medicine.
According to the nurses at the center, none of the damage the pokémon had suffered was permanent. Ash breathed a sigh of relief at the news.
About a day after they arrived, the nurses told them that the service outage in the Saffron area had been resolved and that pokégears would be able to send and receive calls again.
"Great!" Ash exclaimed as he changed back into his own clothes, having recently been released from bed rest. He couldn't wait to call Brock and Misty! He wanted to know how they were doing!
Unfortunately, when Ash sat down at one of the video phone booths, the child ran into a small problem. He had never learned their pokégear numbers.
Faced with that insurmountable obstacle, Ash retreated to the cafeteria and enjoyed the hot food that was neither dried nor a protein bar. He stuffed himself repeatedly that day, sharing all his meals with his pokémon. He also got to enjoy a shower, watch some TV, and sample some of the other fruits of human civilization before turning in for the night and resting his aching back on an actual bed again.
The next day, one of the staff mentioned that they had gotten a call from an individual claiming to be Brock. They had been unable to verify the caller's identity and so they hadn't told them anything.
The news put a damper on Ash's good mood. While he had been busy with his own struggle, he hadn't thought of what might be happening to Misty and Brock.
Ash knew that they were both strong. He had witnessed Misty's strength in the Viridian Forest when she had saved his life. He had seen the power of Brock and Onix in Pewter City and during that first assault on Team Rocket.
But he had forgotten that they weren't invincible. Something might have gone wrong and they could have been killed or captured!
But at the same time, Ash didn't think it was likely. He couldn't say whether it was because he didn't want to think about what might have happened to them, or simply because he had faith in them. He was left feeling pensive rather than anxious.
The boy loitered around the pokémon center for the rest of the day, listless and bored. Pikachu was getting another examination so Ash couldn't even kill time by talking to him. While wandering around the center, looking for something to occupy himself, Ash came across Aoba, who was staring at a closed magazine.
"Hey," Ash said to the silent man.
"Huh? Oh." Aoba started and looked at Ash. "What is it Aaron?"
"Bored," Ash said with a shrug. "What about you?"
"Same, I think," Aoba sighed. "After what's happened, I have no idea what to do with myself."
"Yeah," Ash nodded. "There's nothing to do but wait until Brock and Misty get here!"
"That's true, but not exactly what I was thinking about," Aoba put the magazine back in a rack next to the chair he was sitting in. "Especially given that I might be put into protective custody once the police and some League trainers arrive."
"Wait, what?"
"You didn't know?" Aoba looked surprised at Ash's reaction. "That was one of the first things the staff here did. They called the police and the police said that they'd be calling in gym support."
"I didn't think about that," Ash admitted, rubbing the back of his head. The wound on his back gave a twang of pain, but nothing like it used to. "But what does that have to do with protective- uh- custardy?"
"Protective custody?" Aoba corrected. "Well, I was subject to multiple acts of attempted murder by Team Rocket. The police and the League will want to guarantee my safety until they're done investigating why I was targeted and probably until they're sure I'm safe"
"Oh, well-"Ash thought for a moment. He hadn't really been focused on anything beyond getting everyone to the pokémon center safely. He hadn't thought about what would come next for Melanie and Aoba. "At least you'll be safe?"
"What's the point of being safe now?" Aoba looked down. "I've lost what was most important to me."
"But maybe you find something new?" Ash shrugged. "If you're alive you can keep trying to do stuff. To be happy. You can keep moving."
"I did move on-"Aoba nearly shouted, head snapping to look at Ash, and he began to get out of his chair, but then he stopped and took a deep breath. "I did move on. I found Ted and now he's gone as well. What's the point-"
The biochemist closed his eyes. He slowly sat back down in the chair.
"But you're right," Aoba sighed. "I don't know what I will do with myself, but I think I do want to keep going. I'm not ready to be done with this world quite yet."
"But," Aoba went on, a small grin on his face, "that doesn't solve the issue of me not knowing what to do with myself."
"Uhhhh….. don't die?" Ash suggested. "I mean to start with."
"Thanks," Aoba said, rolling his eyes, his voice dry. "I'll take that under consideration."
Ash soon discovered that Aoba wasn't the only adult feeling lost. He came across Melanie sitting outside on a bench in back of the center, watching the pokémon from the village as they ate, napped, or play fought. She was sitting very still, hands in her lap and her legs at an angle.
"Oh, hello Aaron," the blue haired woman said when she noticed him approaching. "How are you doing today?"
"Bored," Ash replied. "I want to do stuff but there's no stuff I want to do."
"Hmmm…." Melanie pursed her lips together. "Is it because you're worried about Brock and Misty?"
"Probably," Ash sighed, sitting down on the bench next to her. "They're strong but…."
"You're still worried that something may have gone wrong," Melanie finished for him. "I know, I feel the same way right now."
"Yeah," Ash looked down at the ground between his feet. "It sucks."
"Indeed," Melanie said. "I do hope nothing happens to Brock, he's a very cute young man."
"Huh?" Ash looked over at her, confused.
"Too bad I'm too old for him," Melanie went on with a sigh, briefly looking into the sky. "Oh well, such is life."
"What?" Ash asked again, still not understanding what she was talking about.
"Never mind," the blue haired woman said, dismissing the topic with a wave of her hand. "Just trying to distract myself from the fact that my previous life is now over."
"Wait, what?" Ash asked, just as confused by the new topic as he was by the old. "Why is it over?'
"It's not like I can go back to the village; even if it hadn't been destroyed, it's no longer safe there. Team Rocket might come back at any time." Melanie looked back at the pokémon she cared for. "I can stay here until these pokémon are ready to move on, I'll supervise their treatment. But after that, I don't know what I'll do."
"Can't you just start a new village somewhere else?" Ash asked.
"I guess I could, but it wouldn't be the same," Melanie explained. "I choose that location for a reason. It's deep enough in the wilds such that I wasn't bothered by trainers, but it was close enough to Saffron and Vermillion cities to easily find abandoned pokémon. There really isn't another region that would work as well."
"Oh," Ash looked out at the pokémon under her care. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Melanie said, gently laying a hand on his arm. "Nothing lasts forever. And I'm very thankful for what you did Aaron. I've said it before and I'll say it again: You're a very brave and kind young man."
"Thanks," Ash said, flushing, grinning, and rubbing the back of his head. "But I'm still sorry about your village."
"Thank you," Melanie gave the boy a gentle smile. "I'm sure I can find something else to do. Maybe I'll start another sanctuary here, at this pokémon center."
"Why didn't you set one up at a pokémon center before?" Ash asked.
"I don't exactly trust the League," Melanie told him, looking back at the center. "It's too big, too easy for corruption to spread. Too easy to expose vulnerable pokémon to unscrupulous trainers. But I suppose I don't have a choice any longer. At least they can provide security."
"It's something, I guess." Ash shrugged.
"It's certainly better than nothing," Melanie said with a smile.
Squirtle watched his squad play fight in the pokémon center lobby, while a frazzled looking nurse tried to herd them somewhere else. He smiled and then wandered off to the pokémon center cafeteria where he found Charmander eating a bowl of pokéchow in the pokémon's area.
Hey, Squirtle said as he walked over.
Hey! Charmander smiled, perking up and turning away from his bowl.
I just wanted to thank you again for that save in the forest, Squirtle told the fire-type. I thought I was a goner for sure.
I'm sure you- I mean- Okay, yeah, it didn't look good, Charmander admitted. It still feels weird, you know?
What does?
Winning. Being useful. Being the one to rescue someone else, Charmander said looking down. I've never done anything like that before.
I told you, you had it in you, Squirtle said, placing a paw on Charmander's shoulder. You weren't weak. You aren't weak.
No, I was weak, Charmander shook his head. But Ash helped me get stronger.
I can tell, Squirtle replied, smiling.
Yeah! He taught me a new attack-
That's not what I meant, Squirtle shook his head. The new attack is nice and all, but that's not what made you stronger.
Huh? Charmander tilted his head.
You're more confident, Squirtle explained. You believe in yourself. That means you think you can win and you're willing to try harder.
What?
If you don't think you can win, it's so much harder to really try to win, Squirtle went on. Like, sometimes you can win without believing in yourself, but it's a loooot harder. But if you think you can do it, you're willing to go that extra mile.
Is that why you were always telling me not to call myself weak? Charmander asked, eyes narrowing.
Yes, Squirtle grinned and gave Charmander two thumbs up. And I was right! You weren't weak! You just needed to quit believing that and start thinking you were as cool as I thought you were!
Oh, Charmander sighed. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you.
I mean, thanks, but it looks like I was going about it in the wrong way, Squirtle said. What Ash did for you is really cool too.
Yeah! Charmander exclaimed. And then he put his claws together and fidgeted. I- uh- I sorta want- I mean, do you think he'd let me come with him?
You want him as your trainer? Squirtle asked.
Yeah, Charmander nodded. He's helped me get stronger already. Maybe he can do that some more!
Probably, Squirtle said. He's got a lot of ideas I like and some of them are actually good ideas!
Don't you mean he's pretty cool? Charmander asked with a sly grin.
He is, isn't he, Squirtle said. I wonder….
What?
Nevermind, Squirtle said. Just something I'm thinking about.
Evening arrived and Bulbasaur found Melanie sitting out in front of the pokémon center, watching the stars come out. He joined her, resting his head against the side of her leg.
"Hello, Bulbasaur," the blue haired woman said, reaching down to gently rub his head. Bulbasaur nuzzled against the side of her leg in return.
They sat in silence for the better part of twenty minutes, simply staring up at the night sky and watching the stars emerge. Day faded, the trees around them went from being draped in a blue-grey shroud and drifted into darkness. The two of them sat in a little island of light created by the pokémon center lights.
Eventually Melanie broke the silence.
"Thank you for everything, Bulbasaur. Aaron, Misty, and Brock might have rescued us, but none of us would have survived long enough to be rescued if it wasn't for you."
That's what I'm here for, Bulbasaur replied. And it would be rude of me not to mention that the Squirtle Squad helped out too.
"I'm guessing that you said that the Squirtle Squad helped out too," Melanie asked, looking down at him.
Yes, Bulbasaur nodded.
"They certainly did," Melanie smiled. "But I know you played a big part in convincing them to stay."
I just told them the truth about you and what you were doing, Bulbasaur scoffed. It ain't like that was much work.
"If you're saying that they stayed because they liked what the village was doing, that may be true," Melanie said. "But I don't think they would've believed it from a human."
Okay, you've got a point there.
"I'm going to miss those days," Melanie sighed and rubbed Bulbasaur's head again. "You and me in the village, taking care of pokémon. Or even the couple of weeks that the Squirtle Squad was with us before everything went to distortion."
It's not like we're going anywhere, Bulbasaur told her.
"Bulbasaur, I'm afraid we won't be able to go back to the village," Melanie told him. "I don't know why Team Rocket decided they had to kill me after I met Aoba, but it doesn't matter. It's simply not safe for me to go back and start over. They might decide to attack again and I doubt I'd get saved twice. I'd be putting both myself and any pokémon I'm taking care of at risk."
So, you can do something else, Bulbasaur shrugged.
"If you're suggesting that I do something else, then you should I don't intend to sit around and fade away," Melanie told the grass type, looking worried. "I'm just worried….. I'm just worried that things won't go as smoothly as they did before."
It's ain't like everything was smooth sailing before….. okay, I see what you're getting at.
"I'm also worried about you," Melanie said in a soft quiet voice. "I'm afraid that you….. you might not be comfortable with whatever new arrangements I end up making."
What's that supposed to mean, Bulbasaur asked, giving Melanie a small glare.
"Bulbasaur, I'd love it if you would stay with me," Melanie went on, kneeling in front of the grass-type so that she could look him in the eyes. "But wherever I end up going, I'll probably have police or League security. I'm afraid there might not be anything for you to do."
Bulbasaur was silent for a moment as he thought about what the woman had said.
You're right, he sighed. I'm not ready to retire.
"You're a young pokémon, despite your scars," Melanie went on. "And how you act."
I ain't that young….
"Again, I'd love it if you'd stay with me," Melanie repeated. "But I'm afraid you wouldn't like it. You're too active for such a life. You need to get out and spread your roots so that you can bloom."
I hope you mean that metaphorically, 'cause I have no plans to evolve, Bulbasaur told her.
"If you're thinking that I'm encouraging you to evolve, don't worry, I'm just being metaphorical," Melanie told him. "But the point is, I'm not sure I can find something that you'll like."
I like being with you, Bulbasaur said softly. But, you're correct. I'm not ready to just sit around.
He buried his face in her torso and she embraced him.
"You're always welcome to join me, wherever I might be," Melanie said to the grass type, leaning back so that she could look him in the eye again.
I'll hold you to that, Bulbasaur told the blue haired woman. I'll make sure to stop by and visit. And when I'm ready to settle down, I'll come back.
"I hope you said that you'd visit," Melanie said, her eyes starting to water.
Yeah, Bulbasaur said, nodding and reaching out with a vine to brush away a tear from the woman's face, his own eyes starting to water.
"Oh, Bulbasaur, what will I do without you?"
Nothing dangerous, I hope.
"And what will you do next?" Melanie said, hugging him close again.
Bulbasaur didn't say anything.
They sat together in a pool of light outside the pokémon center, the silent stars twinkling overhead.
How's everybody feeling? Squirtle asked his squad. They had gathered in the otherwise empty pokémon center lobby.
Great! One squirtle shouted.
I haven't been this full in ages! Another exclaimed, patting their stomach.
I can't believe 'The Rise and Fall of the Water People' is still on! I loved that series! Another said, sitting in front of the lobby's television.
I forgot how much fun it is to race those chairs with wheels!
They really know how to groom a tail here!
That's good to hear, Squirtle said. Does anyone have anything they'd like me to deal with?
Nope!
I'm good!
Organize more chair races!
Hmm…. what sort of wheelie chairs? Squirtle stroked his chin for a moment before shaking his head. Nevermind, we'll talk about that later. Let's discuss what our next move is going to be.
I thought we were just sticking with Melanie? One of the squad asked.
Yeah! She's cool! And her food is great!
Well, she can't go back to the village, in case it gets attacked again, so she's going to be doing something else, Squirtle explained to his squad.
Well, then, we'll just go with her when she does something else, a squirtle said. They were backed up by a chorus of agreements.
She might not need our help, Squirtle pointed out.
Of course, she will, the other squirtle said. We'll need to help Bulbasaur protect her.
A bunch of police and trainers are coming to do that instead, Squirtle informed them.
Oh, the squirtle looked downcast for a moment and then perked back up. Well, that will make our job easier then!
Yeah!
We'll barely have to do anything!
That was not the reaction Squirtle had been expecting.
But won't that be boring? Squirtle asked the water-types before him. I mean, I like eating and playfighting as much as anyone else, but if we don't do anything else, won't it be boring? Maybe we could go back into the wilds-
No! One of the squirtles protested. I don't want to go back.
I'm sick of having to worry about being eaten, another squirtle said, looking down and scuffing the floor with one foot.
And I'm sick of having to forage everywhere for food, a different squirtle added.
I missed pokémon centers, yet another said. I missed places where people could control the temperatures. It's so nice not to have to worry about getting too hot or too cold all the time.
But…. But…. But we won't get any stronger like that! Squirtle protested.
So? I don't want to try and get stronger. One of squirtles who had spoken earlier said. I'm fine with the way I am! I just want to not be hungry or scared!
Yeah! Came another chorus of agreements.
Squirtle studied his squad silently. He sighed. He took off his sunglasses, storing them in his shell and then grinned at his squad.
Okay, if that's what you want to do, then that's what the Squirtle Squad will do! Squirtle exclaimed, giving the squad two thumbs up.
The squad cheered and Squirtle's grin faltered for an instant.
Also, Squirtle paused to take a deep breath, I'm going to have to leave you all, for a little bit.
Huh? Most of the squad was giving him quizzical looks from behind their sunglasses.
I've got some things I want to do, Squirtle informed them. I've got to get stronger. I've got to learn how to be a better leader. And if you lot are safe with Melanie, that means I don't have to worry about you getting in trouble, especially you Squirtle and Squirtle.
The squirtles in question blushed while the rest of the squad laughed.
While I'm gone, listen to the Squirtle, the former leader of the Squirtle Squad said. She's the only one of you that comes close to making sense.
Thanks, boss, the squirtle in question said, her tone indicating that she was rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses.
How long are you going to be gone? Another squirtle asked.
I don't know, Squirtle said. I don't even know where I'm going to go yet. But I promise you, I will return. And when I do, well, we'll see what we want to do then.
During his second night at the pokémon center, Ash's nightmares returned and they brought new friends.
He had his usual nightmares about being hounded by dark shapes, simultaneously human and inhuman, lit by flames carried in their mouths. He had his usual nightmares about being hunted.
And then there were the new ones.
Inhuman shapes stepped out of the darkness and they wore human faces while they grabbed at Ash with blood covered claws instead of hands. They wore the faces of Team Rocket, they wore the faces of Ash's classmates from first grade, and they wore the faces of teachers, doctors, and other adults that he had interacted with throughout the years.
When they reached for Ash, he batted their hands away and then they began to crumble, screaming in pain and fear the whole time. He curled up in a ball as everyone died and then he woke with a start.
Nightmares again? Pikachu asked groggily from his spot on Ash's chest.
Yeah, Ash said, settling back into the bed. A new one.
You poor idiot, Pikachu yawned. But you're the one who decided to go through that.
It's not that, I think- Ash said, trying to remember the nightmare.
You shouldn't be using that word, Pikachu interrupted, curling up into a ball on his trainer's chest.
Hush you. I think it's that man at the end, Ash explained. He wasn't how I thought he would be.
What do you mean?
He- Ash tried to think of the right word- he was, too human I guess. He knew what it was like to grieve and feel fear. But he still made others afraid and made them grieve.
So? Pikachu asked.
Why? He knew what it was like, he knew how horrible it is to feel like that. Why did he make Aoba go through that then? Ash stared up at the ceiling of his room at the pokémon center.
Who knows why you humans do anything? Pikachu said.
There's got to be a reason? Ash insisted, propping himself up on his elbows so that he could look at Pikachu while they talked.
Pidgeies are hunted, so why did Pidgeotto hunt? Pikachu said to Ash.
I get what you're trying to say, Ash replied. But that's not at all the same. Pidgeotto needed to hunt or she would've starved.
Why can't those humans work the same way? Pikachu asked his trainer, uncurling and standing up to look at his trainer.
Because we humans don't work like that, Ash said.
You sure?
Yes, Ash said. Pikachu didn't look convinced so Ash tried to think of a way to explain it. I know you're a forager, but you can eat meat too, right?
Yes, Pikachu nodded, looking unsure as to where Ash was going.
If you were starving and came across, I don't know, some horsea trying to get back in the water, would you eat it? Ash asked his pokémon.
No! Pikachu looked horrified.
I thought so, Ash said. Would you look down on one of your family if they did though?
I- I don't think so, Pikachu admitted. It was never really a thing with our herd that we shouldn't eat other pokémon, we just never did.
But even if it meant that you would die, you wouldn't do that? Ash continued.
Not to some random horsea, Pikachu said, no. If it was a pokémon I didn't mind killing anyway, that's a different story.
And you're from an environment where starvation is always a present danger, Ash went on. I know Flygirl and Poison Lance got worried sometimes about making sure that I had enough food. They told me what it was like before they met Lucas, back when they were wild pokémon. It sounded like it could get really tough.
Sometimes, Pikachu said. But not always. There are times when it's easy.
But the point is, you are an example of a pokémon that wouldn't hunt even if they were starving and I know that's something that's harder for a wild pokémon to say than a human or a pokémon that was never wild.
Yes, but so what? Pikachu shrugged. I don't see what this has to do with humans being horrible.
I'm saying that it's not like pokémon hunting, Ash explained. There are wild pokémon that won't hunt no matter how hard it gets and most humans have it way easier than them. We have lots of food. We don't have to kill to survive- Ash's head slumped down and he rested his chin on his chest – at least not most of the time.
I guess that's true, Pikachu said, settling back down. Then, sorry, I guess I didn't know.
It's okay, Ash sighed, lowering himself back down on the bed. I just wish I didn't have the question.
AN: I'd like to thank blackcatspecialist for beta reading.
I'd also like to thank everyone who left a comment or review!
So, based off the conflicting feedback I've gotten about the pacing, it seems to be a 'different strokes for different folks' situation, at partially. Which leads to good news and bad news: I have no plans to do another arc in this manner again. This arc was the way it was because I plopped down five new characters and had to establish their dynamics, and then four of them had character arcs, and some of those arcs were coupled together with other characters, and that's not even getting into theme and atmosphere-
The point is that I don't think I'll be dealing with another arc with so much to handle in the future. Though, we'll have to see how the next arc goes to be sure I'm making good on that.
Though, we're not quite out of the woods for this arc yet.
Oh, and further news. I'm going on a trip next week, so no chapter then. The next chapter of Symbiotic will be released on July 1st, 2020.
That should be everything.
Anyway, don't forget to review/comment. Constructive criticism is always welcome!
:AN