Author's note: Hi again!
Here's the rest of the beast that is 'Experiences'. (It used to split up into parts 1 and 2, but that's been changed now!)
I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter Ten: Experiences
Pikachu looked at all the enraptured faces around him. They seemed to be so engaged in his story that they'd forgotten all about the marshmallows they were supposed to be eating.
He had to admit, it was kind of flattering that they found him so interesting, though it was a little bit embarrassing, too.
He shook it off with a light smile. "(With nowhere to go, I just travelled...)" he explained. "(Travelled and trained. It was scary at first, but I eventually got used to it.)"
"(Wow,)" Buizel replied, looking impressed.
"(You didn't stop to settle down somewhere?)" Pachirisu asked curiously.
"(I could've done...)" Pikachu replied, "(but something was driving me forward...)"
Pichu didn't know where he was heading and he didn't really care. In fact, stopping tended to make him restless, so he would only stop for a short time - either to rest, eat, drink or sleep - before moving on again.
He no longer wanted to socialise. Not with humans or pokémon. His only instinct was to keep on moving.
A part of him still remembered being the underdog. Still remembered being worthless in battle. So he trained. He challenged any wild pokémon he came across. It was all he knew how to do, really.
Many times, he fainted, but he kept on trying. Over time, his Thunder Shock grew stronger and stronger, and he was able to withstand it for longer.
"(Life was decent, I guess,)" Pikachu explained. "(I didn't have any friends or family, but I was getting stronger by the day.)" He paused. "(I dunno why, but it was all I wanted, really. I grew obsessed.)"
"(I know that feeling,)" Buizel replied, nodding.
Pikachu gave him a small smile. "(I guess you do.)" He paused. "(It became all I thought about... getting stronger. I didn't have anything else, so it was all I focused on. Then, one day...)"
Pichu had no idea how he'd gotten here. All he knew was that he couldn't stop staring.
All around him was metal. Metal fences, metal structures, metal wires. The wires hummed with life. Electricity. Power.
... He would love to have that kind of power.
Glancing along the compound, he could see that the metal fence stretched all around it, covered with barbed wire and prohibiting access.
Glancing down, however, he caught sight of something. A hole in the ground, leading under the fence. Most likely dug up by a pokémon. A way in and out.
He made his way towards it.
"(I was drawn to the place like a mothim to a flame,)" Pikachu explained. "(When I got in there, though...)"
Still in a trance, Pichu continued walking towards the humming. It was getting progressively louder, and it spoke of power. So much power.
He blinked as he saw something yellow on top of one of the metal towers. It appeared to be absorbing electricity.
The moment it saw him, it leapt down the tower - one metal bar at a time - before landing in front of him with a scowl.
"(What do you want?)" the electabuzz growled.
Pichu scowled back at him, getting on all fours. "(Let's battle!)" he cried.
The electabuzz blinked. After a moment, he laughed. "(Alright, fine.)" He got into a battle stance. "(Bring it on, kid.)"
Piplup's eyes bulged. "(You challenged an electabuzz?!)" he cried.
"(In the middle of a power plant?!)" Pachirisu asked, his paws over his mouth.
Buizel smirked. "(Hardcore,)" he said.
Pikachu chuckled awkwardly. "(Yeah, well...)" he replied, "(not one of my better ideas...)"
"(... What happened?)" Buneary asked quietly.
"(Well...)"
The electabuzz opened his mouth and fired out a barrage of Swift stars.
Pichu jumped around, dodging the stars one after another, before being hit by the very last one. He was blasted backwards, but remained standing. He scowled at his opponent, then gathered electricity in his cheeks.
He fired off a Thunder Shock, and the blast of electricity flew towards the electabuzz, who smirked in response.
"(Heh, please.)"
Standing still, he opened his mouth. The electricity - which had been aiming towards his head - immediately changed course and went down his throat, instead. Pichu's eyes widened.
the electabuzz smirked wider. "(My turn.)" He built up electric sparks around his body, then fired off his own Thunder Shock.
Pichu watched the stream of electricity flying towards him, fearful. It crackled, humming with power, just like the wires had.
He suddenly remembered the electabuzz absorbing it. Eating it. No wonder the attack was so powerful.
The memory remained in his brain, even as the lightning bolt hit.
Pain like he'd never felt coursed through his veins, constricting every one of his muscles. He screamed in agony.
For about five seconds, he kept on screaming. Then, determined to pull through, he gritted his teeth, hard, and tried his best to bear it.
When it finally stopped, he drew heavy, exhausted breaths, though he remained standing. Barely.
He felt different, somehow. His whole body felt like it was humming. It felt like something was aching to be let out.
Keeping it inside was hurting. It was hurting so much. He had to let it out.
He powered up a Thunder Shock, but the crackles around his cheeks seemed larger than before.
When he let it loose, lightning shot in all directions, electrocuting everything around him. Distantly, he heard the electabuzz scream, but he didn't care. All he cared about was unleashing this energy.
It hurt, though. Oh, legends, it hurt. But it needed to be let out.
His electricity must have hit something, because there was suddenly a gargantuan explosion, blowing him off his feet. Landing on his face, he skidded across the floor.
When he stopped, he had no energy left. Glancing around him, he could see carnage. Fire, debris and an unconscious electabuzz.
Finally, he'd done it. He'd become strong.
He smiled to himself. After a moment, he began to giggle. Then he began to glow.
He could feel his muscles expanding, his body becoming taller. Wider. Once the glow went away, he knew he looked different. He felt different. He was a pikachu now.
He giggled one last time before falling unconscious.
"(Whoa...)" Pachirisu said in awe. "(You destroyed the power plant?)"
"(Then evolved from it?)" Buizel asked, looking impressed.
"(Yeah...)" Pikachu replied awkwardly.
"(And you didn't even feel bad about it?!)" Piplup cried, flailing dramatically.
"(Well, I feel bad now... but, at the time, I just wanted power...)"
"(But...)" Buneary said slowly, "(don't... both our species evolve through emotional attachment?)"
"(Well, yeah... My case is weird, though, 'cause I was emotionally attached to power.)" He gave an awkward smile. "(Anyway, when I woke up...)"
Pikachu slowly blinked himself awake, his blurry surroundings starting to come into focus.
"Oh, he's awake," a gentle voice said. The face of a woman with swirly pink hair and a nurse's cap suddenly appeared above him. One that he only vaguely recognised from the few times he'd seen her. "Hey, little guy."
"Oh, what a relief," a rough, elderly voice replied. The face of a man with grey-ish brown hair that he didn't recognise appeared. "I still can't believe he took out the town's power supply by himself."
"It's lucky you found him. I'm very sorry I couldn't treat him... but, with the power going out..."
The man smiled. "Oh, don't worry, dear. I'm just glad you had a potion handy."
"(... Huh?)" Pikachu asked weakly.
The woman smiled sadly. "I'm afraid I can't keep him here, though. I can't keep any pokémon, until the power comes back on."
The man paused for thought. "Hmm..." He glanced at Pikachu. "Well, I suppose I can take him back to my lab in Pallet Town."
"(Huh?)" Pikachu asked again.
The man pulled out a pokéball and pressed the button to enlarge it. Pikachu's eyes widened slightly.
The man tapped him with the pokéball. Instantly, he was pulled inside. He wanted to fight, wanted to escape, but he was still too weak. So he didn't.
"(He took me back to his lab and healed me,)" Pikachu explained, "(and, after that, he kinda just kept me there. Maybe to keep me safe... or to keep the people of... I think it was Viridian City... safe... or maybe both.)"
That was probably wise, considering how he'd blown up the pokémon centre the second time he'd visited. He'd just been lucky that the nurse hadn't recognised him.
"(What was Oak dong in Viridian City?)" Piplup asked.
Pikachu shrugged. "(I dunno. I think he was running an errand, or something.)"
"(And you were okay with him keeping you?)" Buizel asked.
"(Not really...)"
"Pikachu," Professor Oak said, "I'd like to introduce you to your new friends." He waved his arm to indicate them. "This is Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle."
Bulbasaur beamed. "(Hi!)" she said happily.
Charmander nodded. "(Pleasure,)" he said.
"(Sup,)" Squirtle said, folding his arms with a grin.
Pikachu frowned at them, then turned to frown at Professor Oak.
"... Well, aren't you going to say hi?" Professor Oak asked sheepishly.
"(Hmph,)" he replied, turning away.
All three pokémon made surprised noises.
"Come on, Pikachu... be reasonable."
"(Hmph.)"
"Just talk to them and maybe you'll get to like them."
"(Yeah, we're not so bad,)" Charmander said.
"(We're nice, we promise!)" Bulbasaur added.
"(So, do you wanna be friends, dude?)" Squirtle asked.
Pikachu glared at him out of the corner of his eyes. "(I don't want friends like you guys,)" he replied.
Squirtle immediately bristled. Bulbasaur looked confused. Charmander looked hurt.
"(What the heck's that supposed to mean?!)" Squirtle yelled, balling a fist.
"(What, wasn't I clear enough?)"
"Oh dear..." Professor Oak said awkwardly.
"(You little-!)"
Professor Oak immediately got in-between them. "Now, now, there's no need to fight!" He took on a sagely pose. "After all, to fight is to increase might, but it's not necessarily right."
"(Hmph,)" Pikachu huffed, turning away.
"(I... didn't get along with anyone at the lab...)" Pikachu explained. "(I still didn't trust anyone, pokémon or human... so I often got into fights with Squirtle, who was pretty hot-headed himself...)" He smiled awkwardly. "(Kind of appropriate, considering who our trainers are...)"
"(You did that on purpose!)" Squirtle yelled angrily, his face slightly singed.
Pikachu huffed, turning away. "(So what if I did?)" he asked.
Charmander groaned. "(Really, guys?)" he asked. "(This again?)"
Bulbasaur giggled. "(I think it's entertaining!)" she said. "(Where's Oak's popcorn when you need it?)"
"(I was a menace,)" Pikachu explained. He paused. "(Oak would try to put me in a pokéball, but... I'd refuse. Often zapping him, if he got too persistent.)" He paused again. "(After the last time, I came to hate pokéballs...)"
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Buneary's ears droop.
"(But you were still bound to a pokéball, right?)" Buizel asked. "(Since Oak caught you and all.)"
"(Yeah...)"
"Come on, Pikachu, please," Professor Oak said. "Starter day is today, so I need you to stay in your pokéball!"
Pikachu glared at him. "(No,)" he replied.
Professor Oak put on a pleading face. "Please? It'll just be a little while."
"(No!)"
"I'll make it up to you with plenty of treats."
"(No!)"
Professor Oak put his hands together in a praying motion. "Please! The kids are due any moment, and I can't have them being around you!"
"(Hey!)" Pikachu's cheeks started sparking. "(What is that supposed to mean?!)"
Professor Oak shrieked. "I'm sorry, you're just too dangerous to be around ten-year-olds!" He paused, shivering in fright. "I-I'll give you lots of cakes! Or ketchup! Or both! I just need you to get in the ball!"
Pikachu paused. He'd found that he did like the taste of cakes and ketchup. Especially ketchup.
After a long pause, he nodded. Professor Oak heaved a sigh of relief.
Pikachu gave a light chuckle. "(I never did get those cakes and ketchup...)" he said.
"(And the rest is history, right?)" Pachirisu asked, looking intrigued.
"(Yep. I was only meant to stay in hiding until all the starters were gone, but then a fourth trainer came along.)"
"(Ash...)" Buneary muttered.
"(Yep... and he helped me realise that humans and pokémon are worth trusting, after all.)"
Piplup, Pachirisu and Buizel all smiled at him. Buneary, however, was looking down with a solemn expression.
"(Buneary?)" He put a paw on her shoulder.
After a long pause, she looked up at him. "(... I'm sorry you had to go through all that,)" she said quietly.
He smiled reassuringly at her. "(Hey, it's okay. Like I said, I'm happy now. I have Ash... my friends...)" He paused. "(And you.)"
She gave a light smile in response.
Suddenly, Pikachu heard someone stretching nearby. "Man, I'm beat!" Ash said, attracting his attention.
"I guess it's about time we went to bed, huh?" Brock replied with a smile.
"Yeah, it's pretty late..." Khoury agreed before yawning loudly. Afterwards, he smiled. "I had fun, though!"
"Even if your story-telling could use a little work!" Lyra teased, grinning at him.
He gave her a sad pout. "Hey..."
Lyra turned her grin on Dawn. "So, ready to pack it in for the night, Dane?"
Dawn sighed. "It's Dawn..." she replied tiredly, "but sure." She turned to smile at the pokémon. "Is everyone ready for bed?"
Many voices called out either a "(Yep!)" or a "(Yeah!)" in response.
"Alright then," Ash said. He pulled out his pokéballs. "Everyone, return!" Some of the pokémon disappeared in flashes of red light.
Dawn, Brock, Lyra and Khoury all did the same, until everyone but Pikachu, Piplup and Buneary were left.
Buneary gave her boyfriend one last nuzzle, pulling Pikachu's attention back to her. "(Goodnight, Pikachu...)" she said with a gentle smile.
He nuzzled back, also smiling. "(Goodnight, Buneary,)" he replied.
The gentle smile never leaving her face, she disappeared in a flash of red light.