A quick note before we get started. This story - mostly the prologue, but you all read the summary - contains Covid parallels. This was not intentional, and by the time I realized, the idea was already ingrained in my brain. The disease in this story was actually inspired by Shadow Pokemon (Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness), a very underrated concept in my opinion. That said, given the state of things as I am posting this, I understand if anyone is uncomfortable with reading. Rest assured, however, that this fic is mostly episodic, and the fictional disease is not the main focus until later on. It will come up, but the first part is mainly about Pikachu wanting to get home and having some misadventures along the way.
Side note: I haven't seen much of the original series, as it first aired in America when I was a baby. I didn't get into Pokemon until Diamond and Pearl, so please bare with me if anything is inaccurate canon-wise. I will probably research certain things, but for the most part I'll make it up as I go.
With that out of the way, enjoy!
Prologue
"Man, feel that sun!"
"Piiii-kaaa!"
Seventeen-year-old Ash Ketchum smiled down at the little yellow creature beside him, its tiny arms stretched as high as they could go. Taking time off to relax with Ash's mother and her Mr. Mime, Mimey, came to a halt when Ash had received a ticket to the S.S. Anne in the mail, directly from the Vermilion City Harbor. It was a shame that Ash's mother couldn't be there to enjoy it with them, but at least she had Mimey to keep her company.
Tickets to the exclusive S.S. Anne didn't come every day, and the day couldn't have been more perfect. Warm with a faint breeze, the sky filled with white, fluffy clouds. The ship was smooth-sailing, and the air was filled with the happy cries of people and pokemon alike.
Not to mention the clear blue pool on the deck, glistening in the sun, just waiting for a cannonball. Well, it wouldn't be waiting long!
Ash hiked up his swim trunks. "Race you!"
Pikachu took off after him. At least until a lifeguard reminded them that they weren't allowed to run.
Ah, well. Ash still reached the diving board first. With a wide grin and a cry of "Cannonball!" Ash leaped off the board as the other swimmers gave him a wide berth. He sucked in his breath, curled up his body, and splashed into the shockingly cold water. He swam back up to the surface to find his best friend standing on all fours on the ledge of the pool, laughing as he instinctively shook off the spray. "Come on, Pikachu!"
Pikachu bolted for the diving board-
Rrrrrrrrrrr!
They flinched at the loud whistle, Pikachu stopping short at the very edge of the board. They looked to the source of the noise. A lifeguard with shaggy pale blue hair and sunglasses that covered most of his face stood not far from them. "I'm sorry," he called out in a voice that sounded vaguely familiar, "but there are no electric-type pokemon allowed in the pool."
"Oh, sorry!" Ash called back.
Pikachu's head and ears drooped as he turned and slowly walked on two feet off the diving board. Ash was just as disappointed. He didn't remember that being a rule, but he supposed it made sense; water and electricity didn't mix on or off the battlefield. He almost mentioned the Chinchou swimming below the surface before remembering that it was also a water-type. Ash smiled sympathetically as Pikachu flopped down on a nearby beach chair and stared at him unhappily. It may seem odd for a pure electric-type, but Pikachu really loved to swim.
"Ah, we can swim any time," Ash called out, climbing out of the pool. Pikachu's ears perked up curiously at his trainer's approach. He sat up, and Ash put his hands on his hips. "There's plenty of other things to do!"
Pikachu's head tilted. "Pika-chu?"
"Don't forget; there's a beach not far from home. That's way more fun than a pool, right buddy?"
"Pika!"
To anyone else, it may appear that Ash was just an ordinary trainer who cared about his pokemon. But, it went deeper than that. Ash had always been very in-tune with pokemon and was usually able to piece together what they were feeling or trying to say, though he could never make any more sense of their language than other humans could. But, Pikachu was different. Ash understood Pikachu better than he understood any other pokemon he'd ever met. Granted, he still couldn't figure out the exact words Pikachu was saying, but he just sort of...knew what was being said. Was it because of their closeness? Because of how long they'd been together? Neither of them knew.
"Excuse me." Suddenly, a woman in a sailor uniform appeared. She had magenta-colored hair pulled into a low bun and the same over-sized sunglasses as her co-worker. She seemed familiar too, but this wasn't Ash's first time on the ship. Perhaps those employees were on-duty last time as well. "We don't seem to have any record of your Pikachu being tested."
"Tested?" Ash asked, Pikachu echoing his confusion.
The employee adjusted her sunglasses. "Surely, you know about that strange disease that's been spreading among pokemon."
Ash did recall hearing about it. A group of pokemon just outside of Lavender Town had been reported running into things, attacking each other and humans, even attacking themselves in some sort of frenzy. Supposedly, not even any of the Nurse Joy's could help them. Ash shuddered. Those poor pokemon. As soon as they'd heard about it, he and Pikachu wanted nothing more than to go there and see what they could do. But, Ash's mother wouldn't allow it. "It's too dangerous," she said. "Not to mention a risk to Pikachu."
She had a point. Ash hated seeing innocent pokemon suffer, but what could they do? They didn't know anything about diseases. Besides, the mental image of his best friend driven mad with illness was more than enough for Ash to listen to his mother. If her "Mom voice" wasn't enough already.
"Don't worry," Ash assured the employee. "Pikachu's just fine. Right, buddy?"
Pikachu smiled. "Pika pika!"
"Oh, it's merely a precaution." The woman leaned in close, as if telling some deep secret. "Did you know that some pokemon carry the virus and don't have any symptoms until it's too late?"
"Pika!?"
His blood running cold, Ash looked at Pikachu, who was now checking over himself frantically. "I-I hadn't heard that…"
The woman smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure your Pikachu is fine, but better safe than sorry. I can take him down to the infirmary right now, just to make sure."
"Yeah, of course."
Pikachu let her pick him up. "We have a few other uninformed trainers as well, so there's a bit of a back-up. Why don't you enjoy yourself in the meantime?"
"Alright." Ash forced a smile for his best friend. "Let's meet up in our room at lunch time, okay?"
Pikachu nodded, his smile a little forced as well.
Once they were out of sight, Ash sighed and laid back on the beach chair. He usually tried to pay attention to current events, but he hadn't heard anything about this. And, if they were testing trainers' pokemon now, this illness must be even worse than he'd thought. Not for the first time, Ash wished he had gone to Lavender Town after all. How many were infected now? Was there any sign of a cure? He'd have to check as soon as he could.
Someone cleared their throat next to him. A very short man with thick curly hair and an equally thick beard held out a tray with a single glass of pink liquid. The man - another employee Ash could have sworn he'd seen before - gave him a big grin. His voice was high and scratchy. "You look a little down. How 'bout a complementary fruit punch to raise your spirits?" He winked. "Alcohol-free, for tw- kiddos like you."
Ash thanked him distractedly and took the glass. Pikachu was fine, he told himself as he sipped his drink. (Not bad, but there was a bitter aftertaste he couldn't place.) His partner was as happy and energetic as ever. No need to worry, as Dawn used to say.
Of course, that was when everyone worried the most...
Ash sighed again. He wasn't sure if he could really enjoy himself until he knew his buddy was alright. He downed the rest of his fruit punch - what was that flavor? - and decided to head back to their room. He had planned to check for updates on that virus, but he suddenly felt exhausted, like he hadn't slept in weeks. Odd, since just minutes ago he'd been wide awake, but he was too tired to question it.
Just a quick nap, he decided as he forced his legs to carry him to his room. Pikachu would be back around noon. Then, they could have lunch and learn more about the virus.
Just...a quick...nap…
Ash woke up to find that he had been asleep for four hours! It was two o'clock. Why didn't Pikachu wake him up? He rolled out of bed with a grunt, the room spinning as he stood. Maybe he was the one who needed tested.
Once the dizziness passed, Ash checked the door. Still propped open. He looked down both ends of the hall. A family of three, a few Krabby, but no sign of Pikachu. Realizing that he was still in his swim trunks, Ash changed back into his clothes as fast as he could, guilt pricking at him. Pikachu must not have wanted to wake him and decided to head down to the cafeteria. Ash hoped he wasn't still waiting for him to eat.
Another thought chilled him as he raced to the cafeteria, apologizing to the passengers he almost bumped into. What if the medics had found something when they tested Pikachu? He tried to push the thought aside. If Pikachu truly was infected, someone would have contacted Ash, right? If nothing else, they would have left him a note; he had left the door propped.
There was no sign of Pikachu in the cafeteria. Nobody he asked had seen a Pikachu come in. Suddenly, Ash lost his appetite.
He barely registered the people and pokemon he almost bowled over in his mad dash to the infirmary. His mind was filled with images of the various Rattata and Pidgey and Spearow online, throwing themselves around and attacking and scratching themselves and each other to the point of bleeding. Then, those images were replaced with Pikachu - sweet, sensible little Pikachu - clawing at himself and shocking himself and-
It took everything in Ash not to kick open the doors to the infirmary. Instead, he opened them normally and looked around. No one in there but a doctor. No fancy equipment either. Just the tables and medicine cabinets and health posters you'd expect from any doctor's office. Was he in the wrong room?
The doctor stood up from where he'd been doing paperwork. "Can I help you?"
"Where do you do the pokemon testing?"
"Excuse me?"
The dark pit in Ash's stomach expanded. "Uh, that thing that's making pokemon go crazy. Where do you do the testing for it?"
"I'm sorry; I believe you're mistaken. We don't do anything like that on this ship."
The last thing Pikachu remembered was that employee giving him a bowl of water. By the time he'd tasted the Sleep Powder in it, it had already taken effect. Now, he reluctantly opened his eyes, trying to get his bearings. He definitely wasn't on the S.S. Anne anymore. The walls around him were red, and he was surrounded by bars. Was he in a cage?
Then, he noticed the two humans, the Meowth, and the Wobuffet huffing and puffing in front of him as their legs spun on their seats. Pikachu could have zapped himself. The blue-haired lifeguard, the familiar scent of the woman who wanted to "have him tested." He bet his tail she'd made up that stuff about carrying the virus without feeling sick. He wondered if they'd sent that ticket too but decided that they probably weren't that clever.
When would Team Rocket give up? Well, they certainly kept Pikachu on his toes. He'd give them that.
"I still can't - huff - believe that worked!" Meowth panted.
"Do you think - huff - the twerp is-is still asleep?" James wondered.
"Who cares?" Jessie said. "We-we finally got Pikachu!"
As they and Wobuffet cried out "Whoo-hoo!" as heartily as they could while gasping for breath, Pikachu's mind went to work. The cage was probably shock-proof. Even if it wasn't, they were most likely in Team Rocket's Magikarp-shaped submarine. Using Thunderbolt underwater wouldn't end well for anybody. Iron Tail was always an option, but Pikachu didn't want them to realize he'd woken up. He could just wait until they reached dry land, but he didn't want to risk ending up at their headquarters or wherever they were taking him.
Wait, how long have those keys been on the floor? Pikachu rolled his eyes but couldn't help a smile. Team Rocket as a whole was nothing to sneeze at. These four? Sometimes Pikachu wondered how they still had jobs.
The cage was just barely big enough to hold him, but if he twisted his body just so…
"Now, if only," Jessie huffed, "our escape - huff - wasn't pedal-powered."
Pikachu's ears squished uncomfortably as he turned his head to the keyring now behind him.
"We need an engine," James gasped, "or at least someone - huff - to do this for us."
Pikachu stretched his tail as far as it could go. Yes! Slowly, as quietly as possible, he slid the keys closer.
Meowth sounded seconds from collapsing. (How a pokemon had learned to talk like a human, Pikachu would never know, not that he wouldn't like to.) "I-I told you. It's-it's not - huff huff - in the budget."
Almost there…
"We're broke," Wobuffet whined, though only the other pokemon could understand him.
Swallowing a triumphant squeak, Pikachu picked up the keyring, cringing when the keys jingled together.
Meowth's ears twitched. "Did you hear that?"
Jessie grunted. "Quit yapping - huff huff - and start pedaling!"
"I'm pedaled out," James moaned.
Meowth legs once again spun the bicycle pedals around and around. "You're pedaled out? Think of how-how me and-and Wobuffet feel!"
"I-I want human legs," Wobuffet said.
Not for the first time, Pikachu felt sorry for them.
As quietly as possible, Pikachu tried the first key. Nothing. Not the second or third either. Something clicked on the fourth. He looked up, but Team Rocket was still preoccupied with trying not to pass out. A relieved smile tugged at his mouth. He pulled out the key but remained in his cage in case one of them decided to check on him.
Now, for the hard part. Pikachu mulled over his options. If they really were underwater, as he suspected, electric-type moves were just asking for trouble. Maybe, he'd call that Plan B. There was a hatch on the ceiling, but it was directly above Team Rocket's heads. Not only that, but he doubted he could open it without flooding the submarine. He was a strong swimmer, but he was no water-type and neither was anyone else in there. He spotted some oxygen tanks and masks on one wall, but there were only three. Of the three, only one was close to Pikachu's size. For Meowth, no doubt. Pikachu wasn't exactly Team Rocket's number one fan, but he didn't want them to drown. Then again, Jessie and James would still have theirs. Meowth and Wobuffet would be safe inside their Pokeballs-
Did Meowth even have a Pokeball? Come to think of it, Pikachu wasn't sure, nor was he willing to risk it.
So...should he take his chances with Thunderbolt? It had always been his go-to with or without Team Rocket, but there was still the factor of being underwater. Hmm…
Crash!
The submarine lurched, and Pikachu fell out of the cage, his chin colliding painfully with the floor.
"Alright," Jessie snapped, her exhaustion forgotten, "who's the wise guy?"
James's was anything but forgotten. "Remember - huff - the last time this happened?"
Jessie went white when Meowth said, "Maybe a Magikarp - huff - is trying to mate with us again."
Again? Pikachu shuddered as he attempted to shimmy back into the cage
Unfortunately, Pikachu's haste caught Wobuffet's attention. "Ah! Pikachu! Pikachu's out!"
"Tell me I'm translating wrong." Meowth turned around and fell out of his seat. "No, I'm not!"
Jessie and James saw him and screamed. Nobody seemed so tired now. "This is worse than the Magikarp!" cried James.
The submarine lurched again. Then again. Jessie glared daggers at the walls. "Do you mind? We have bigger problems right now!"
Another lurch then another and another. Pikachu had barely gotten to his feet when an even bigger shift sent him flying directly into Wobuffet.
"I got him! I got him!" Wobuffet cried. But, Pikachu jumped off before Wobuffet could grab him. "Nevermind."
Crash! Slam! Crash!
Whatever was outside was either really persistent or really dumb. "It's not a real Magikarp!" Pikachu screamed in frustration.
"This thing's made of metal!" Meowth added.
At this point, everyone was aching and scattered all over the already cramped submarine. The two humans - with their long, gangly limbs - were in especially odd positions. The submarine shook even harder, faster.
Thunderbolt, it is!
Pikachu started to gather up electricity, but Jessie (accidentally?) kicked him in her haste. "That's it!" she snapped, rushing to yank one of the oxygen tanks off the wall. "Pikachu is not worth this!" She tossed James an oxygen tank, which he managed to catch. The one she tossed Meowth's way rammed the poor pokemon in the stomach. She pulled off the last one and returned Wobuffet to his Pokeball. "I will not be lovers with another Magikarp!"
"I ain't arguin' with that!" Meowth agreed, quickly strapping on his mask.
"What about Pikachu?" James asked as they were thrown off-balance once again.
Jessie glared at him. "Worry about yourself for once!" James obediently put on his mask.
Another slam, and Pikachu somersaulted backwards, his head colliding with the cage. Dots speckled his vision as Jessie reached for the hatch on the roof. Pikachu barely had time to shake off his disorientation and take in a big gulp of air as she opened it, sea water filling the submarine in less than a second. Team Rocket swam out, Pikachu lagging behind.
Turns out, there really was a Magikarp, but she didn't appear to be in heat. She was flailing and twisting around in a frenzy and moaning, her face pinched in agony, blood welling from a few wounds. Was she infected? Pikachu didn't have time to worry about it. Instead, he propelled himself to the surface as fast he could. Team Rocket quickly disappeared from his line of sight. Pikachu's arms, legs, tail, and lungs worked overtime as he swam and swam, the surface seeming to get farther and farther away. His lungs screamed for air. There were no pokemon around to help him. That Magikarp, who was clearly in no condition to help anyone, must have scared them off.
Eventually, Pikachu's body couldn't take it anymore. His mouth opened automatically, filling his body with water. Suddenly, he thought of Ash in their cruise ship room, wondering where his partner was. Then, there was nothing.
