Ash, Brock, and Misty were on yet another ship. Not even an hour after the call with her sisters Misty forced the trio to buy the first tickets off Cinnabar, shelling out for Ash's tickets from her own wallet when he balked at the price. Her impatience had been such that she had refused to wait for the direct voyage to Vermillion and settled instead for a ship headed to Pallet Town with the intention of getting bus tickets to Cerulean once she arrived.
"I feel like this isn't how I'm supposed to do my journey," Ash had said while she was scrolling through options on the pokémon center's computer.
"I'll get us all tickets right back here once I'm done with my sisters if that's what you want," Misty said, her voice a growl and a feral gleam in her eye as she hunched over the keyboard, glaring at the screen. "But we need to get to Cerulean City pronto to stop whatever stupid disaster my sisters are going to cause, so shut up and sit down."
Brock knew better than to resist and the three of them boarded the ship the next morning.
Ash was almost kind of glad that he didn't have siblings after seeing Misty's display.
When they ran into each other Brock immediately started asking Ash questions. Ash tensed when Brock started talking, but relaxed when he heard the question.
"So where did you say you and your folks used to live?" Brock asked.
Ash didn't need to lie for that question; for once the out-of-control train was headed away from him.
"We lived in lots of places," Ash said, a small grin on his face. "Uh… we lived in Violet City for a year, but I was really little so I don't remember it. We lived in Canalave for another year, which I kind of remember 'cause of all the bridges. Then there was Fortree. I liked the place, but I think I wasn't happy there."
"And then we moved to Lavender Town," Ash continued. "And we stayed there for a while, so I got to explore the mountains and meet a lot of pokémon! Then we moved to Pallet Town last year and I met Gary and Leaf, and then I got my trainer's license!"
"Huh," Brock said. "I guess you were well traveled even before you became a pokémon trainer."
"Yep," Ash nodded with his eyes closed. "And speaking of being a pokémon trainer, I've gotta go train my pokémon."
Brock chuckled at that while Ash focused on acting casual as he made his escape. That was the first recent conversation he'd had with Brock where he didn't need to lie, not even once. He really was going to go train his pokémon.
It took a little bit of searching, but Ash was able to find a vacant room meant for trainers. The room wasn't fancy, basically just a giant brown metal box covered in scratches and faded targets painted on the walls, but it would do. And it would give Ash some much needed privacy.
He released his pokémon and set them to doing their drills. Pikachu to practicing Iron Tail, Pidgeot to speed drills so she could learn Aerial Ace, Squirtle practicing water control so he could learn Aqua Tail, Primeape to continue working on Close Combat, Charmander to work on general speed and mobility, Magikarp to work on Tackle, and Butterfree was assigned meditation to help develop their skills at psychic communication.
That left Bulbasaur.
Huh… Ash said, looking around. This probably isn't a good place to work on learning Solar Beam.
Ya think? Bulbasaur asked, raising an eyebrow. Do you want me to go on the deck so I can focus on gathering energy? Or should I help one of them with their training.
Charmander, do you want to practice dodging? Ash called over to the fire type who was busy doing short sprints from one edge of the room to the other.
Sure, Charmander said, skidding to a halt.
Blunt Razor Leaves and be careful, Ash warned the two. I know he's got type advantage, but if Charmander smashes his head into a wall-
Would that help me learn Headbutt? Charmander asked, one claw to his bottom lip.
Probably not, Bulbasaur answered.
Just be careful you two, Ash sighed. As the two went off to practice together Ash turned to Magikarp, who was throwing himself at one of the targets hard enough to make the wall vibrate.
Hey! Ash said, running over and grabbing the water-type. Take it easy! Don't hurt yourself!
Won't I be better at Tackling if I can learn to do it even if it hurts? Magikarp asked.
No! You'll probably learn it wrong or really hurt yourself!
Learn it wrong?
You might either think that Tackle should hurt and focus on doing it in a way that hurts you more instead of your target, or you'll do the opposite and learn bad form to try and minimize the pain because you're trying to hit a steel wall too hard, Ash explained. Just focus on your form for now. Take it slow so you don't hurt yourself.
That makes sense, Magikarp nodded.
Plus you shouldn't be hurting yourself like that just to learn a move, Ash told him. Unless it's something like Self-Destruct I mean, but most of those moves are instinctual.
Why not? Magikarp asked. If it would help me learn a move better-
Because it's not worth it, Ash said. You staying safe is more important than learning a move.
Eh, not really, Magikarp shrugged from within Ash's grip. I can take it.
Yeah, I don't care, Ash said. We've got plenty of time to learn moves safely. Got it? Your safety is more important than a move.
If you say so, Maikiarp said with a frown.
'sides, if you hurt yourself learning a move, then you might not be ready for an actual battle, Ash said, thinking quickly.
Oh, that's a good point, Magikarp's face lightened. Alright, I'll be more careful.
With both a heavy heart and the feeling that someone was laughing at him, Ash set Magikarp down again so he could continue practicing Tackle.
Wandering around the room Ash kept tabs on everyone else's training, noting that it seemed to be going fine. And then he went over to Pikachu and started doing sit-ups to pre-empt the electric type commenting on how Ash was the only one not training.
So, we'll be back by Pallet Town, Ash said between reps. Got anything or anyone you want to say hi to while we're there?
Nah, I spent more of my time in the Viridian Forest and Viridian City, Pikachu replied, slamming his glowing white tail into the target painted on the wall. And my old herd migrated a lot. I think they're over by Matcha City right now actually.
Why'd you leave your old herd?
Migratory lifestyle just wasn't for me, Pikachu said with a shrug before returning to his training.
Well, I'm glad your non-migratory lifestyle led you to Pallet Town just before I set out on my journey, Ash said, continuing to do his sit ups. Though one might say that it was my odd luck that was responsible for getting such a dramatic pikachu-
You mean awesome pikachu!
-as my starter, Ash finished, small grin on his face.
Are you sure that everything else that has happened on your journey isn't just you paying back the karmic debt you must have accrued with such good fortune? Pikachu asked. I mean the universe had to do something to balance things out after I agreed to go with you.
Nah, Ash shook his head, taking a break from the sit ups. Then it would've just been me getting hurt, not any of you.
Maybe we wanted to help pay it off, Pikachu said, looking away from Ash. I mean, it was obviously too much for an idiot like you to handle by yourself.
If you say so, Ash chuckled, returning to his sit ups.
What about you? Pikachu asked. Are you going to say hi to anyone when we stop by Pallet Town?
Just my parents, Ash said. My living ones I mean.
Ah, yes, the weedle, hypno, and noctowl that decided to raise a human child, Pikachu nodded, turning to face Ash again. I'm not sure whether to pity you or pity them.
Hey! They did their best and I wasn't a bad kid! Ash protested. I mean, you should pity me because I didn't have hot water growing up or hot food most of the time, but they did a good job!
What's wrong with not having hot water?
It's pretty awful to try and bathe in cold water, at least if you're a human.
Again, your species is strange.
I mean yes, Ash admitted, but I don't think this is one of those instances. We're just not too good with temperature extremes. I really like being able to take showers in the pokémon centers when we stay in one.
Again, weird, Pikachu said. You gonna mention that to your pokémon parents?
Nah, Ash shook his head. I don't want them to feel guilty about that- Ah crap!
What?
Misty wants to take a bus right to Cerulean City, Ash groaned. We're not going to be able to stop by the woods outside of Pallet Town right now. I'll have to do it on the way back.
Oof, Pikachu said. Well, we just need to wait a bit then.
I just wanted to see them soon… I don't know why, Ash said, taking another break from his sit ups. It's just like, I don't know, I got a feeling that… that… well, something is going to happen soon.
I'm certain that you're not psychic so that feeling is just a feeling, Pikachu told him.
Well, I mean, after everything that's happened it might be instinct, pattern recognition, or paranoia, Ash said with a shrug.
Well, probably not the second one, Pikachu replied, but maybe the first. Or, if it's the third, just remember, just because you're paranoid it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
I do have humans out to get me, Ash pointed out. And it seems like Team Rocket is out to get everyone in Kanto.
And we stopped them each time.
To hear Brock and Misty complain about it, Ash rolled his eyes. But Team Rocket's been there since almost the beginning, haven't they?
Me and Butterfree beat them to it though, Pikachu smirked.
Well, you did, Ash nodded, but remember part of the reason we ran into Butterfree is because he wanted to see what was happening to the caterpies in the other part of the forest?
Well, I beat Team Rocket to being part of your journey, Pikachu declared.
Yes, but Team Rocket was indirectly responsible for Pidgeot and Butterfree joining the team, Ash sighed and looked up at the ceiling. And then I only met Misty because of them and then I met Brock because of them…
Wait, Pidgeot? Pikachu quirked his head.
She was hungry because there weren't any caterpies to hunt where she had been living, Ash explained. Because Team Rocket was illegally poaching them all.
Right, I forgot about that, Pikachu confessed. I mainly just remember how easy she went down to being shocked.
Of course, that's what you remember, Ash sighed, a small smile on his face. But then Team Rocket trying to kill Aoba led them to attacking Melanie's village, which is why Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle joined us. The only members of the team who aren't with me because of Team Rocket's shit are you, Primeape, and maybe Magikarp, but I think those poachers were with Team Rocket.
Ash looked down at the cold metal floor.
All these good things that I got only happened because of the bad things that Team Rocket did, Ash's voice was small and hollow.
You got me because of humans selfishly hoarding their electricity despite my attempts to liberate it and that has nothing to do with Team Rocket, Pikachu declared. You got to meet a bunch of people unrelated to Team Rocket, all those gym leaders you fought, Lara and everyone else at the ranch and race, all those wild pokémon we said hello to.
And so what if you met everyone else because of Team Rocket, Pikachu went on, crossing his forelimbs. I don't think Melanie and Aoba would complain about that. I don't think Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander would. Brock and Misty sure aren't.
Brock and Misty complain about me all the time-
They complain about how hard it is to keep you safe, Pikachu cut Ash off mid-protest. Because they like having you around, even if they only met you because of Team Rocket. Yeah, you got good things because of the bad things Team Rocket was doing, but that's because you were the good thing to a bunch of others that had to deal with Team Rocket's shit.
Awww… you called me 'good stuff', Ash grinned at his pokémon.
You're an idiot, but obviously you're good to have around, Pikachu said, rolling his eyes. But the point is you shouldn't feel bad. You saw the mess that Team Rocket was making and you decided to help clean it up. You keep talking about how most of us were strong before you got us? That's true, but you left out the part where you showed most of your team that they could get stronger by sticking with you because you helped them when they needed it.
I get that, Ash said in a small voice again, looking down at the floor. But-
There is no 'but', Pikachu interrupted again. Bad things happen all the time. You only profited from that because you tried to make it less bad. Don't feel bad about that. Instead, you should feel bad because you don't praise my adorableness enough like other humans.
That's because they're not aware of your true personality, Ash sighed but also reached out to give Pikachu some quick scritches on the top of his furry yellow head.
Oh, you know that's not true, Pikachu said, leaning into the scratches.
And I guess you're right, Ash said with a sigh. Just because a lot of what I got was because of Team Rocket, I shouldn't feel bad about that. I did my best to make things better. I got to meet a lot of cool people and pokémon, which I'll always treasure no matter the circumstances.
That's the spirit, Pikachu said, one foot tapping as Ash continued to scratch his head. Now praise my cuteness!
In your dreams.
AN: I'd like to thank Amationary for beta reading
I miss the days when I could do weekly releases. My buffer is improving but I'm not sure if I'll be able to release that regularly again.
The next chapter will be released May 3rd 2023
Don't forget to review! Concrit is welcome!