Chapter 62: Reliving an Old Issue

Ash and Nikki had been traveling for a few days since their encounter with Ash's new Scyther, and so far things had been looking up. Ash was pumped for his next Gym battle while Nikki had been steadily coming up with new Contest routines. Right now they were sitting in a Pokémon Center talking with Professor Oak over the videophone.

"So, how has everything been going?' Ash asked.

"So far, so good," the professor answered. "Although…"

"What is it?" Nikki wondered.

"Well, it has to do with Ash's Scyther," Professor Oak said.

"What about him?" Ash inquired.

"Well, it may be nothing, but he doesn't seem to want to socialize with the other Pokémon," he replied.

"That doesn't sound good," Ash commented.

"But it gets worse from there," the professor told them. "When other Pokémon approach him he runs them off. He even runs us off when we approach."

"He doesn't attack you or the other Pokémon, does he?" Ash wondered.

"Sometimes. It makes me very wary of letting him out of his Poké Ball, but it wouldn't be fair to just leave him in, so we just have to be careful around him," the professor explained. This worried Ash, something both Professor Oak and Nikki could tell by the look on his face.

"Maybe I can talk to him. Do you think you could send him over?" Ash said.

"I can, but I'd still be careful around him," the professor warned. Ash agreed. He then sent over Riolu in order to make room for Scyther.

"I'll let you know how everything goes," Ash said.

"I wish you luck." With that they ended the call. Ash just sat there and stared at Scyther's Poké Ball.

"What do you think is wrong with him?" Nikki wondered.

"I don't know. I just hope I can figure out something," Ash told her. They approached the front desk where Nurse Joy was working.

"How may I help you?" she asked.

"I was wondering if you had somewhere we could let our Pokémon out," Ash said.

"Well, we have a field out behind the Center that you can use," she told him. Ash thanked her and headed out behind the Pokémon Center.

"(All this is starting to seem real familiar,)" Pikachu thought.

Thankfully no one was using the field, meaning Ash and Nikki were free to let their Pokémon out to stretch. Once they were out the Pokémon all gathered around to mingle with each other, but just as Professor Oak said Scyther stood off by himself, seemingly not interested at all.

"Just like the professor said," Nikki commented.

"Yeah," Ash agreed. "Well, I guess it's time to see what's up." Determined to get to the bottom of Scyther's behavioral problems Ash approached his Bug type. Off to the side Pikachu looked on, worried for his trainer's well-being.

"(Be careful, Ash,)" he whispered. Buneary could sense Pikachu's uneasiness and approached him.

"(Do you think there'll be trouble?)" she asked.

"(If what Professor Oak said is true then yeah, I do,)" Pikachu replied. The two of them looked on as Ash walked up to Scyther.

"Scyther?" he called. The Mantis Pokémon turned to see who had called him. Once he spotted Ash he frowned and turned back around.

"(Oh, it's you,)" he spat.

"Professor Oak said you aren't getting along with the other Pokémon. Is that true?" Ash inquired.

"(Is it so wrong to want to be alone?)" Scyther groaned.

"Well no, but we're a team and I want you to get along with your teammates," Ash told him.

"(And who says I want to be a part of a team?)" Scyther responded.

"What?' Ash said, surprised.

"(I was perfectly fine by myself. I didn't ask you to catch me,)" Scyther hissed.

"I know you didn't ask me to catch you, but…"

"(That's right! I didn't, and yet you did anyway!)" Scyther interrupted. His sudden outburst caught the attention of the other Pokémon. They stopped their individual conversations and watched as Ash and Scyther exchanged words.

"I just want to catch strong Pokémon and you looked real strong," Ash explained.

"(Of course I'm strong! And how do you think I got that strong?! By defeating every trainer that came to try and catch me!)" Scyther roared. "(But you had to go a ruin that.)"

"But I didn't ruin anything for you. I can help you get stronger," Ash argued.

"(I didn't need your help to get this strong! What makes you think I need your help to get stronger?!)" Scyther challenged.

"When trainers and their Pokémon work together there's no limit to what they can do," Ash said. "If we work together there's no telling how strong you can become."

"(I told you I don't need your help getting stronger!)" Scyther spat.

"But…" Before Ash could say another word Scyther took a swipe at him, causing him to fall back. The other Pokémon got ready to come to Ash's defense, but Pikachu beat them to the punch as he ran over and bounded up onto Ash's shoulder, all the while glaring daggers at Scyther.

"(Just leave me alone!)" Scyther demanded. Ash got back to his feet and looked at Scyther. The Mantis Pokémon just turned back around, signaling that he was done with the conversation. By then Nikki had also joined them.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, though I'd be better if I knew what was Scyther's problem," Ash told her. "I need all my Pokémon to be at their best, and that means working together as a team."

"Maybe you just need to work with Scyther some, show him you're a good trainer," Nikki suggested.

"I don't think that'll work," Ash replied. "You heard him yourself he didn't want me to catch him in the first place."

"Yeah, I did," she agreed. "So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know what I can do," Ash responded. "He wants me to leave him alone, but I need to get to the bottom of this."

"You know, if you keep pressing the issue it might make things worse," Nikki warned. "Maybe you should leave him alone for now."

"Maybe you're right," Ash agreed. With Scyther not being very cooperative Ash and Nikki went to check on their other Pokémon.

That evening Ash and Nikki found themselves back on the videophone with Professor Oak to report on their failed attempt to get through to Scyther.

"I see what you mean, professor. He just doesn't want to have anything to do with me, or anyone for that matter," Ash reported.

"So you weren't able to get through to him either," Professor Oak sighed. "This is truly a troubling situation."

"I just don't know what to do. I need everyone to be on the same page here, but with Scyther's attitude that seems almost impossible," Ash said.

"I suggest giving Scyther his space for now. Maybe he'll be easier to talk to the next time," Professor Oak suggested. Ash agreed with him and swapped Scyther back for Riolu.

"So, will you be hitting the road again?" the professor inquired.

"Not now. It's too late in the day. We'll rest here tonight and set off in the morning," Ash responded. With that they said goodbye and ended the call. Ash sat there, contemplating what he could do to get through to Scyther.

"It's like the professor said, he may be easier to talk to the next time you call him over," Nikki said.

"Maybe. Only time will tell," Ash replied. At that moment his stomach spoke up.

"Man, I sure am hungry," he commented.

"Maybe I can ask Nurse Joy if I can use the Center's kitchen to whip up something to eat," Nikki said.

"Sounds good to me," Ash told her. With that the two of them left to find Nurse Joy.

The next day Ash and Nikki were up bright and early. After a good breakfast and getting their Pokémon checked up by Nurse Joy they set off on their way towards Mineva Town. Although the events of yesterday were in the past it still weighed heavily on Ash's mind, something Nikki took notice of.

"It's still bothering you, isn't it," Nikki commented.

"Yeah. I just didn't think I'd have to deal with this issue again," Ash replied.

"Again? This has happened before?" Nikki asked, a bit surprised.

"A couple of times, actually," Ash told her. "The first time was with a Primeape I caught. He would attack me every time I called him out."

"I didn't know you had a Primeape," Nikki commented. "Is he staying with the professor in Pallet Town?"

"No. He's with a friend training to become stronger. I hope one day I'll meet him again to see how much stronger he's gotten," Ash said.

"I see. Who was the other one?" Nikki wondered.

"Would you believe me if I said Charizard?" Ash replied.

"You're kidding," Nikki responded. "Charizard? Really?"

"Really. He was fine as a Charmander, but once he evolved his attitude changed and he stopped listening to me," Ash explained. "But after a while we patched things up and now he's one of my most powerful Pokémon."

"Well, there you go. If you can patch things up with Charizard you'll eventually be able to patch things up with Scyther," Nikki said.

"You're probably right," Ash agreed. "It's just going to take some time." This seemed to make him feel better about the situation with Scyther. With spirits high the duo continued on their way towards Ash's next Gym battle in Mineva Town.

Ash fund out that his new Pokémon has some behavioral issues. With Scyther unwilling to cooperate how will Ash break through to him? What will this mean for the future? Find out in the next chapter of Search for Power!

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