Not Helpless by WyldClaw

Plot: this is a Companion WCverse AAML one shot finfic to my Not Truly Broken AAML one-shot fanfic .. It's set when Misty goes into the woods getting firewood in Not Truly Broken and she ends breaking down. Misty's point of view. . AAML-Ash and Misty Love-obviously. Do you expect anything less in the WCverse? ... Didn't think so I own nothing except for The Collector/Lawrence's last name.

Before go on, i would like to dedicate this WCverse one-shot and it's companion one shot Not Truly Broken to the late 55 year old voice actress Rachel Lillis who voiced Misty, Jessie and did the vocals for Vulpix, Venonat, and Jiggypuff in the original Pokemon anime. Miss Lillis sadly passed away from breast cancer on August 11, 2024 after being diagnosed with the disease in May. Her dedication to voicing two of the show's most memorable characters -including the Team Rocket villain we all loved to hate -was an enormous part of the Pokemon anime . Thank you for entertaining the world Miss Lillis . Rest in peace

() is translated Pokespeech ,italics are thoughts, and " " are humans talking. Warning Spoilers for P2K II: Lawrence's Revenge and Kidnapped and there are a few Pokemon world-swears in this fic. Enjoy!Please read and review

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I gulped as i walked away from the clearing where my new boyfriend Ash and his Pikachu were sitting on an old tree trunk stump into the forest. It was a warm late afternoon I couldn't help get a chill through my palms were sweating I was surprised I didn't drop Cyndaquil's Pokeball. Get a grip Misty.. they'll be fine…nothing's going to happen to them. they'll be fine. They just need,,, time .

My heart broke for them. While we had been walking, my boyfriend had been pretty jumpy and kept looking about his surroundings,. With what he'd been through lately , I didn't blame him. Then when we'd found that clearing, he was about call out Cyndaquil..Everything he'd been through in the past few days hit him with the force of a charging Tauros herd. He'd been kidnapped, threatened and injured by Lawrence and Giovanni , Lawrence destroying his hat, watched Giovanni and his Mew-dammed Persian physically injure Pikachu and watched the mouse Pokemon's unforeseen evolution. not to mention Giovanni also briefly kidnapped him as leverage if the then-Raichu didn't obey him and the teen witness ed with horror , Raichu take bullet meant for him. He must have also been haunted by whatever occurred that night that made Raichu de-evolve as well.

Ash thought their complete and utter hell- and Lawrence using me as a hostage was all his fault . Poor guy . I tried to cheer him up and reassure him it wasn't his fault at all. I offered to get firewood with Cyndaquil's help, as to give him and Pikachu some time alone to princess everything they been though in the past few days. , The two of them just need some time to process what happened. I was also worried about leaving them alone in the forest considering what happened the last time I'd gone off into a forest alone mere days ago. To be honest, that whole forest fight- which was technically Ash's fault-and my ensuing kidnapping by the dimwit dolts of Team Rocket started this whole mess.

I stopped every few feet a few times to gaze back to the clearing before resuming my walk until the woods swallowed them up . Oh Mew.. I hope they'll be okay. Granted I did leave Corsola with them. if something bad happens,, I'm sure he'll let her out and she'd come and get me .. I bit my lip - a bad habit i subconsciously picked up from Ash. With each step I took, the immense feelings that had been increasing ever since I saw my new boyfriend lose it grew.

Memories of my experiences over past few days's events bounced around in my head. I stopped walking as those memories washed over me like a gigantic Surf attack and I felt myself drowning in them :

Our fights both in the forest and at the Cerulean City Gym,

Discovering his his kidnapping and my feelings of utter hopelessness during some of those events-

me being used as a shield hostage by the psychotic revenge obsessed Lawrence

Psyduck - of all my Pokemon-saving me from Lawrence and evolving just for me.

Lawrence threatening Ash multiple times and destroying his hat

Giovanni entering the whole situation and making it much worse..

Seeing that vicious heartless Persian about to kill me and Persian's beyond horrendous attack on Pikachu,

Pikachu's unforeseen evolution,

Charizard saving Togepi and I ,

Raichu taking the Giovanni's bullet meant for my crush.

The feeling and memories seemed to smother me until I couldn't take it anymore . I fell to the hard ground on my knees, feeling tears fall from my eyes roll down my face , I don't know how long I cried for. I didn't want to admit to the boys but I felt beyond helpless watching Ash break down. I also felt the same feeling when he' and I had been used as hostages by Giovanni and Lawrence. He'd been though utter nightmare-ish hell. I want to help him heal but.. I.. I just don't know how. "I feel so helpless.. "I wish I-I c-could do s-something to h-help him h-h-heal. ." I said between sobs. " This is hurting-"

. I nearly jumped five feet into the air like I'd been touched by a Ghost Type Pokemon when a bright white light came from one of my Pokeballs in my backpack . It formed into my Golduck next to me. "Psy-"I stopped and corrected myself. " Err G-Golduck! H-how many times do i have to tell you n-not tp do that.."

(Sorry.. force of habit. ) He looked around and then at my tear streaked face as I wiped away a tear with my sleeve.

Without saying a single word, his red forehead jewel glowed and I looked up and saw a blue transparent bubble appear with a three foot diameter distance in front of us . "Wh-what's this?"

(Protect. ) He paused, shuffling his webbed hands. ( I ..overheard you crying and I .. thought you needed some private alone time.)

I sniffled and wiped my face with my sleeve again.. "I'm n-not technically alone cause I have you and Cyndquail with me.. but tank tTh-Thanks.."

He shrugged ( You know what i mean.) He saw my red tear streaked face. (What happened?)

Wiping my tears from my face, I took a deep breath and told him in a small voice between crying about how Ash's realization about the past few day's events. ".. The hurt l-look on his face when he saw the w-wounds from the rope on his arms.. it b-broke my heart and my soul. He's suffered through so much at the the hands of those two inhumane men in so little time. I l-love him with all my heart and soul. Just seeing him become broken like that , I felt so helpless..I wish i could do something for him.." Tears rolled down my face again and i didn't even try wipe them away this time.

(You're not hopeless at all Misty. ) Golduck told me patting me on my shoulders. ( You got through to me and overpowered the mentally voice in my head.)

I sniffed at this. "I .. did didn't I?"

The blue Water Pokemon nodded. ( You definitely did. I got strength from your words. How you protective held Psyduck-me in your arms and called me brave to take him on despite-)

"Being beyond utterly terrified out of my wits of L-Lawrence?" I finished.

He nodded again . ( Yeah.. Calling me b-brave that gave me the strength and courage to save you. Don''t say you're helpless 'cause you're not. ) He paused for a minute as if thinking. ( I know you feel like you're helpless about being unable to help Ash heal.. but it's a battle he has to face and conquer on his own. He has to learn to to not get stuck reliving some of those events-) he stopped. i felt my body shake. Did he mean Giovanni blackmailing Pikachu by threatening Ash's life? The Persian's brutal attack on the Electric type and The threats to Ash and I ? Did he know about the gunshot? did he know about how Raichu mysteriously being saved and de-evolving ?

The Water Type Pokemon put a cool webbed hand on my shoulder . looked at me and nodded, confirming my thoughts as if he' read them . (I I know about it… about most of of it. )

"H-How did you know? " I squeaked out .

He shrugged his shoulders. ( Don't know.. I'm still getting used to my new powers. You know, you can't blame yourself for being unable to help. Think about it. You were either trapped or too stunned to do anything in the moment. Besides .. you weren't totally helpless- Togepi and I protected you )

I looked up at the blue WaterType Pokemon and thought about that . It was true that when Lawrence had me captive I had been too terrified to react . But the two Pokemon had gone to my defense-not once but twice. A smile appeared on my face, recalling Togepi trying to open his cage when Lawrence was about to slap me again and how his Metronome blew up the airship . "Yeh.. y-you guys did. "

(I know it's hard but you have to let Ash and Pikachu heal on their own. I know it kills you to see your boyfriend-) Golduck smirked as my face flushed the color of a Moltres' wing for a feel seconds-the whole concept that my secret crush was now my boyfriend-was still new to me. (They may not want to fight it some days and just give in .. but that's where you come in. You can still help them by reminding them of good times and that there are things worth fighting for . Remind Ash that he can't give up hope and let.. him win . )

I looked at him, amazed at his deep insight. " How did you get so thoughtful and wise?"

He smiled. (Evolution. How else? ) He gazed down.

I saw Cyndaquil's Pokeball shaking in my hand. "Huh?"

( I think she wants to say something. Do you feel well enough that I can stop using Protect?)

"I think so. Thanks." I nodded and his red forehead jewel stopped glowing as the Protect bubble vanished. I raised my right hand into the air and threw the Pokeball, crying out. "Misty calls Cyndaquil!"

The Pokeball split open in midair and a burst of white energy came out and formed into the Ash's small, bipedal mammalian like Pokémon as the Pokeball flew back to my hand. As soon as the Fire type Pokemon formed, she lit up her back flame throwing light into the slowly darkening surroundings. (Hi Misty..hi Psy-err Golduck.) She looked around and saw my tear stained face and lowered her voice. (I.. overheard what you were saying from my Pokeball. ) she said so quietly Goldduck and I had to sit down next to her to hear her. (I'm sorry you're going through that .)

I nodded. " Yeah.."

She looked up at me. ( I… went through something similar wh-when I w-was l-little. ) Her voice wobbled . Golduck and I looked at her amazed. She never talked about her past. ( I.. lost s-someone I loved v-very much -) she shivered as if remembering something very awful . (I f-felt like a total empty shell of myself. S-someone found me and brought me to a Pokemon Center to heal.. but I refused to talk about it, eat and only drank a little. I felt so hollow and felt it was my fault. The Chansey and Nurse Joy who treated me s-said it was nobody's fault and the great cycle of life works in mysterious ways. )

She paused for a few minutes to get her breath. (They said I had to tell myself to do things like eat, drink and move on and talk about it .Th-this .. someone I lost wouldn't want to see me like that. I took those words to hear. And although the heartache and pain eventually went to a dull ness I had to take it one day at a time. I told the nurse what h-h-happened. when I got released sometimes I'd look up at the star filled sky and let out my feelings . ) She paused for a minute or two to get her breath back. Then she looked down as she shuffled her front paws . ( I kinda wish i had someone to talk about it . I .. didn't really have any friends until Ash caught me .…)

Golduck whistled . ( whoa. I feel bad for you Cyndaquil…)

"I'm sorry you had to endure that pain. It seems like you came out stronger from it That's pretty deep advice Cyndaquil . " I remarked as i got up to my full height . .

She blinked and smiled . ( Thanks Misty. )

"I'm going to take your advice. I've got to get it through to Ash that none of what happened is his fault and see if I -I - " I choked back a sob. " c-can get him to talk about and help him move past .. what happened . "

( I think that will help him. ) The Fire Type nodded .

As she did, I noticed in the light of her back flame how long our shadows had gotten and how dark my surroundings were becoming. It had also gotten colder .I shivered and bit my lip .oh no.. how long have we been out here? Are the guys still okay?Did someone sent by him find them? Oh Mew ..why did i stay away from them? Why did i break down and cry for that long ?

Golduck looked over at me , somehow sensing my thoughts . (Uh Misty? ) he asked, his voice jolting me back to reality.

" H-huh?" I asked.

( Shouldn't we get some fire wood and get back to Ash and Pikachu..before it gets darker ? ) He looked at me and I knew his last four words translated into ' before one of Giovanni's Team Rocket underlings manages find them and snatch them. '

I nodded. " Y-Yeah.. w-we should . Come on you two. Let's get some firewood " I said trying to keep my voice steady.

…

Soon enough we had collected lots of fire wood with the aide of Cyndaquil's Swift attack and Golduck's water attacks and psychic based powers. In fact after watching Cyndaquil use Swift a few times , he tried out the attack . I was impressed with his attempt. That's pretty impressive. " Wow Golduck .. I'm impressed." I voiced my thought. He gave me a thumbs up.

(Thanks. )

We had started walking back when I cleared my throat. "Hey you two.. " they looked up at me. " I want want to thank you for.. helping me out in the forest. " I lowered my voice . " I .. needed that.. "

(It's.. understandable ) Golduck said. (your and his world has changed forever and its going to take major readjustment considering what happened. They'll both need support and that's where you come in. )

(You just have to take it day by day. ) Cyndaquil added.

I smiled. "Thanks. "

We walked in silence until we reached the edge of the forest and near the clearing where Ash and Pikachu were. I stopped as I felt tears prick my eyes yet again when I heard my boyfriend cry. Keep it together Misty. Stay strong. keep it together. The two Pokemon looked over at me, understanding in their eyes. Cyndaquil nudged my right hand in reassurance. You've got this..you've got this. Oh Mew-dammit this is hard.

I heard Ash tearily tell his first Pokemon, ""Y-You're the strongest , most strong willed , st-strong hearted Pokemon I -I know.."

Golduck looked at me and then loudly said as we and the enormous pile of firewood floating in midair, stepped into the clearing (I second that. )

I met Ash's tear streaked eyes and he knew I'd been crying in the forest . "I agree ." I said as we came up to them . i wiped my face with my sleeve again,.

(Same here. You're really strong Pikachu. both in power and in heart.) Cyndaquil remarked.

"You g-guys feel much better now?" I asked , their tear streaked faces and they nodded.

"Mist.. Your face.." my bofriend gaze up to my streaked face, concern in his voice.

I turned to Golduck and Cyndaquil. "Uh, c-can you two set up the campfire and then check around the perimeter of the clearing?"

They looked at us and nodded, understanding . (Sure thing. ) Cyndaquil answered.

(No problem ) added Golduck and the two Pokemon walked away. I went over and sat next to my boyfriend.

After a few seconds of awkward silence he commented , "It h-hit you too… wh-while you were in the forest."

I nodded . "Y-Yeah.." I stated quietly. "I.. nearly lost you twice and … I couldn't bear it if - if.."

(You never saw him again and you never told each other how much you love each other?) Pikachu ended and grinned as our faces turned bright tomato-red for a few second .

" .. Yeah. " I admitted. "I felt terrified on the airship . "

"We all were but.. the fact that you got through to Psy-err Golduck and got him to believe in himself was amazing. " Ash pointed out. "

I wiped my face with my sleeve. "It was, wasn't it?" I wiped his face with my tee shirt and gave him a huge kiss. Time seemed to stop

"Wow.. just wow.." he said in a daze a few minutes later.

"Feel better?" I asked.

Ash nodded."Yes. All we needed was a good cry.. " his stomach yowled loudly-a sound I was all too familiar with . " Now.. when's dinner gonna be ready? "

Pikachu and I groaned at the same time . (Oh for the love of Mew.)

"You and your appetite .." I shook my head but privately I was pleased. He hadn't really had much breakfast or lunch that day. The other night, he was so concerned about Pikachu-well then Raichu-he hadn't really touched his dinner. I had to give him some crackers from the Pokemon Center's vending machine- which he inhaled- in order to give him something to eat. If he's asking about food, he must be slowly starting to get back to normal.. or what gonna pass for normal now, I thought.

I smiled. "Hold your Shiny Ponytas.. I'll get fire going with Cyndaquil's help and then get the ramen soup going."

XXX time change XXX time change"

Pretty soon we had ramen soup for dinner-i made sure to give Ash a way bigger portion than my own-and our Pokemon had their own meals. Golduck was on guard duty. I saw the teen sitting on the ground next to Pikachu a little distance sway from me. I noticed the same sad look that had been in his eyes earlier had returned and his hands trembled.

Not again ..… I thought as I observed him staring at the small tube of healing cream for Pikachu Nurse Joy had given him before we left the Pokemon center in one shaking hand. He seemed to be hesitant about opening it. Tears threatened to spill out of his dark brown eyes again that day. My heart broke for him again - those scars on the yellow small Pokemon obviously brought back memories of his absolute torture on the airship and whatever had happened last night in the Pokemon Center .

. The injured yellow mouse's gazed ping-ponged from his best human friend/ trainer's eyes to the tube in his shaky hand and back looked at him. (Y-you don't have to do this Ash.. Not while it's still fresh in your mind- and not after that .. breakdown ) he said quietly. In the quiet still air, his words seemed magnified and all the other Pokemon looked at him.

The teen teen shook his head-, tripping over the words as if stumbling over rocks on a rocky path at night. . "I..I d-do. It's the o-only way those.. scars w-won't get infected … the cream's g-g-g-gonna make go away. But I ….I .. c-c-can't". his trembling voice echoing in the quiet small clearing as he dropped the tube onto the earth. he doesn't want to see the scars that psychopathic monster gave him and relive them in his memories .

Togepi tugged at my jeans. (Mommy?)

I looked away from my boyfriend-grateful for thedistraction and looked down at the little baby Pokemon. He looked up at me, a sad look on his usually happy face. "Hmm?"

(Is D-Daddy upset cause of what happened wecentlywith those two men?…)

I choked back a sob and nodded as I patted his head. "yes..Togepi. " I said in a near whisper. ""D-Daddy's upset cause of that."

(Poor Daddy.. He's been through so much..I wish i could use Metwonome to make his bad memories an' sadness go away. Or send those two mean men far far away. ) His face brightened up a bit. (Or make those two fo-gets all 'bout Daddy. )

I gave him a slight smile and picked him up to hug him and a happy look came back onto his face. "I wish you could too. It would make our live much easier. Plus you never know what kind of attack Metronome will make occur .. It could be something useful or something that's not so useful- its completely unpredictable . But that's a lot of power you're talking about and you're still little.." I paused to put him down on the ground and smiled . " But maybe you can help cheer him up.. It's hard to be sad looking at your cheerful little face. "

His face lit up . (That's a gweat idea Mommy. I'm gonna comfort him ) he said and walked over to his 'adopted' father. That's my little guy.

I followed him and sat next to Pikachu and Ash. I cleared my throat. "Hey .."

.He looked up. " Hey.."

I cut right to the point. "It's hitting you again… The memories .."

he nodded. " Yeah.. I don't know if i can do this .. I know I'll freeze up when …"

(He sees my scars again. )Pikachu finished. (just like when he saw his own scars from that… inhumane power hungry.). his fur fluffed up and his electrical sacks started sparking. (Cold hearted bast-) But his words got cut off by a yelp of pain. (Ahhh!)

Togepi , Ash and I looked over at the Electric type, concerned as his electrical sacks on his cheeck stopped sparking and his fur went back to normal . We spoke at the same time as the other Pokemon looked over at the sound:

" Pikachu.. what's wrong pal?"

" What's the matter?"

( What's wong?)

(It's that beyond abominable Persian of his. H-He p-punctured one of my electrical sacks deeply and the scars on my face he gave me almost go through it. I can't use my element type )

" Oh buddy … " The tears were welling up in Ash's eyes again. That totally cold hearted psycho!

(I know it's gonna really awful for me.. but Joy said I have to take it slow until it and my other woulds heals.) he looked back up at Ash . (I know you don't want to put the cream on me cause you don't want to relive the memories . but the healing process has to start somewhere ).

His trainer nodded numbly. (That's twue. ) Togepi pointed out . ( an' soon enough you'll be back to yourself. Wight?)

The mouse Pokemon nodded . ( Well. physically back to myself ..Mentally …) he trained off.

He;'s changed forever. I finished in my thoughts. "I'-ll do it.." I picked up the tube from the ground.

"Mist.. y-you s-sure?" Ash asked.

I nodded snd squeezed his right hand . "It' s gonna take a while for you guys to heal from those memories and that experience . I know it hit us earlier today. you just have to take it one little baby step at a time. "

(Daddy.. you gotta be stwong and take it one day at a time . ) Togepi patted his jeans again. ( Please Daddy?) he looked up at him with a cheerful expression on his face .

I smiled slightly as his hand stopped shaking . It was near impossible to stay sad with that carefree little Baby Pokemon's happy expression expression. "I'll try."

( I know you can do it.) he smiled.

"He's got a good point."

Ash stroked Togepi's head and Pikachu turned around . "I guess.. but w-wh-what if when the scars from our bodies leave .. the m-memories haunt me during the days or nights haunt us? "

All of the other Pokemon looked one as Noctowl glided on silent wings over to us . and landed on a branch nearby . (We'll all help out.)

As if this were an unspoken signal ,the rest of the Pokemon followed her and sat down around him. Ash looked at them confused,. "H-H-Hey guys.. "

( If that happens.. you won' t be alone.. we're all here for you ) Noctowl said. (A Pokemon's duty is to protect their trainer from harm …)

( Yup even if we can't see the harm… ) Bayleef put in.

(We'll be there when you're feeling down ) Cyndaquil added.

(Yep..Politoed and i can cheer you up with dances) Totodile stated.

( And i can help whack away anyone who tries to hurt you with my trunk. ) Phanphy added. ( she looked up at me. (We.. don't like seeing you like this. )

"Y-You guys know what happened?"

His Pokemon looked at each other. (N-Not exactly.. ) The little blue Ground Type Pokemon shuffled her feet. (but we all got .. dream messages and feelings in our guts.)

(We couldn't ignore it . ) Totodile said- looking uncharacteristically serious. (we .. didn't like what we saw.)

( The message basically said you needed us.) Noctowl said.

(Pokemon are more intuitive about changes in nature and when something goes wrong.. We can sense it. ) Bayleaf explained.

It hit me me like a Thunderbolt attack. That's t why Pikachu stole Ash's hat back on Shamouti Island . He could sense something was off in nature and knew had to get to Fire Island as quick as possible.. He was acting kind wary when we got there.

As if he read my thoughts, the yellow mouse Pokemon smiled and nodded approvingly. (Yup. That's why i was acting kinda wary. I sensed something was off . when Melody said you had all the next day, I had a feeling you need to act quicker than that. So that's why I payed keep-away with your hat.)

" And don't forget.. you have me" I ended.

(If anyone tries anything I can take them out with Pin Missile and Horn attack) Corsola added.

( I'll help too. ) Togepi piped in.

(And me. And if it comes to it, Noctowl and I can use our powers to give you good night sleeps if you have nightmares. .) Golduck said determinedly.

Tears of happiness rolled down his face he wiped them with my sleeve. he looked around at us . ."Th-Thanks guys.. You're more than my friends you're-"

( P'olili . ) Politoed ended and then explained when we all looked confused ( It's a Poliwag term for family- which can mean both blood kin and non blood kin . Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten and helps each other heal . They're there for each other in good and bad times .. )

IAsh looked at the Water Type then around at everyone else and nodded. "That's de-definitely us, We're P'olili." h wiped his face with his sleeve again. "Thanks everyone. I know things are gonna be a lot … different from now on and I appreciate all the help and healing i can get."

Togepi picked up the healing cream tube and put it in his hand. (Are you weady Daddy ?)

".. Yeah" he smiled widely. We definitely are a P'olili..

The End