Chapter 5
Water Flowers of Cerulean
Yellow passed out shortly after being helped onto the back of Misty's Gyarados and waving goodbye to Professor Oak and Brock, and both she and Pika used the gym leader as a pillow for the hours it took the giant sea serpent to find a river and ferry them into Cerulean, otherwise known as 'The Floral Lagoon City'.
It was dark by the time they arrived at the gym, which thankfully meant that most of the trainers and workers that kept the gym operational had gone home. It was a full-time job Misty explained on the way to her office. Despite only being eighteen, she had essentially been the director of operations since she was only eleven-years-old on account of her family ignoring their duties as gym leaders, and instead focusing all their attention on performing in their world famous water shows.
The gym was by far the largest building Yellow had ever seen, and reminded her of a football stadium on TV. If it hadn't been dark and if she'd been able to keep her eyes fully open, she might've better appreciated it, but at the moment, all she cared about was finding a place to sleep. She wasn't very particular, and would've happily settled for a comfortable patch of grass, but Misty was insistent they get somewhere safe for the night.
Her 'office' was in actuality a small apartment in the back of the gym. It was about twice the size of Yellow's cottage actually, but Misty seemed to regard it with no small amount of disdain. Her desk was covered in stacks of papers and the computer had a fine layer of dust, but all Yellow cared about was the empty couch which she immediately collapsed onto along with Pika.
Misty tried convincing her to get up and sleep in her bed instead, but Yellow was snoring as soon as her head hit the cushion. After finding them a blanket, the gym leader made a handful of phone calls before showering and crawling into bed. Despite her exhaustion however, she laid awake for several hours, tossing and turning, thinking about Red.
Alone, she finally allowed herself to cry, especially when Pika cuddled next to her, presumably after waking from another nightmare. His presence was very welcome, as was hers, and not for the first time, the two cried themselves to sleep together.
The next morning, Misty snuck Pika back onto the couch beside Yellow and started the day by making more phone calls and telling her understudies to take care of the gym, and that under no circumstances were her sisters to substitute as gym leader.
Mercifully there weren't any water shows that day or the next, but Misty had taken herself off the schedule for the rest of the week just to be safe. Even if by some miracle they found Red later that day, something told her this business with Team Rocket was far, far from over.
'It won't be over until every single one of them are either dead or rotting in prison,' she thought to herself, her infamous temper briefly getting the better of her.
Movement to the left caught her eye, and she saw Yellow turn her head, trying to get her bearings in the strange place.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Misty said quietly from behind her desk. "I was starting to worry."
"What time is it?" Yellow murmured, collapsing back onto the couch when she tried sitting up.
"A little past noon. You haven't missed much."
Yellow nodded, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "I overdid it yesterday." She lightly massaged her temples while Pika lying beside her didn't ever stir. "Apparently I'm not the only one."
For a while the pair silently watched Pika's rhythmic breathing, smiling whenever an ear or paw would twitch. Yellow held a glowing hand near him, frowning as she concentrated, and stifled a yawn after withdrawing it. "He's having a good dream. Hopefully it stays that way."
"Using your powers," Misty said quietly, afraid the walls themselves might be listening, "do they take a lot out of you?"
Yellow chuckled in what Misty presumed to be her normal speaking voice when she wasn't pretending to be a teenage boy. It was still rough, but there was an almost husky-like quality that Misty immediately took a liking to. She cleared her throat as if it were unnatural for her, and continued speaking without the façade.
"Healing injuries is like losing an entire night of sleep." She yawned again just thinking about it. "Everything else is like having a full belly and listening to Professor Oak's radio program."
"Legends say that Maidens have all sorts of powers." Misty abruptly shut off the computer, which just so happened to have articles of a few of those legends on-screen. "Some of them say you can even manipulate the weather."
Yellow snorted and looked up at the gym leader from under her hat, which she still had yet to take off. "I can read the minds of Pokémon," she said flatly. "From afar it's mostly just surface level thoughts and feelings, but up close I can tell exactly what they're thinking and even dive into their memories. I also have limited telekinesis." She waved her hand and a pen rolled across Misty's desk. "But you probably already knew all that from yesterday."
Misty nodded. Telepathy and telekinesis weren't exactly unheard of in the world of Pokémon. Saffron City just to the south was well-known for being the home of many such psychics, and there were many even more extraordinary people in the world, several of whom Misty had befriended, but healing a broken foot and several crushed toes made everything else pale in comparison.
"I tried reading Rhyperior and Hitmonlee's minds when they were their Pokéballs," Yellow said, perhaps trying to change the subject, "but I was too tired, and they weren't being very cooperative. I'll try again next time we see Brock. He said he's gonna look after them, right?"
She nodded again. "We'll probably see him again tomorrow or the day after. He's investigating north of Mt. Moon right now, and there's no way for us to reach him on foot. He thinks he might've found where Red and Pika were ambushed, but there weren't any signs of him. Either Red got away, or someone took him..."
Pika whimpered in his sleep and Yellow laid a gentle hand on his scarred ear. She had closed the wound again before arriving at the gym, but the scar tissue was thin, and it'd take time to heal properly. Time they didn't have.
'It's not the physical scars I'm worried about,' she thought privately to herself, lulling him into a more pleasant dream courtesy of her powers.
"He'll be asleep for at least another hour or two." Yellow sat up, careful not to wake him prematurely, and staggered to her feet. "Do you mind if I borrow your shower, Misty? I've been riding on the back of a Doduo for the last couple days, and let's just say I really need to get out of these clothes."
Misty chuckled, knowing the feeling all too well. "Go right ahead. Do you need me to fetch you anything? I've got some old clothes that'll probably fit you."
Yellow shook her head, pointing at the small backpack at her feet. "That's alright. I brought a couple extra pairs of clothes with me. If we have the time though, I wouldn't mind borrowing your washer."
"Of course. If you need anything, anything at all, please feel free to ask. I've got a stock room full of supplies here at the gym, and something tells me you're gonna need a bigger backpack."
She nodded. "I'm afraid you're right..."
While Yellow showered in the adjoining room, Misty continued researching Maidens, though in truth, Yellow had been more enlightening than anything found online. The legends were often contradictory and more like fairy tales, some of which Misty remembered from her childhood. They reminded her of DSNY princesses, though now that she thought about it, she supposed Maidens were probably the inspirations for them.
Misty was so lost in thought that she barely noticed Yellow exit the bathroom, and if not for wearing another pair of jeans and long sleeve black shirt, she might've thought an entirely different person had walked into her office.
She had long blond hair that came down just past her shoulders, and was looking at Misty out of the corner of her eye as if embarrassed or ashamed by what she was doing, as if she'd walked out as naked as she felt.
"You were a cute boy," Misty teased, "but you're an even prettier girl."
Yellow blushed. "T-thanks..."
Misty continued grinning, studying her features more closely. Girlish curves were there if only barely, and her cheeks had a slight blush now that they weren't hidden under a layer of dirt. Her mannerisms however were definitely more boyish, but with her hat off, that façade too was also slipping, and she half expected her to start fidgeting with her clothes or start playing with her hair.
"Yellow, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"
"Fourteen, I-I think." She swallowed and turned to face the gym leader. "My earliest memories are of wandering Viridian Forest by myself. I don't remember having a mom or dad, and I haven't exactly kept track of birthdays. Fourteen-years-old, give or take."
"No parents? Who raised you then?"
Yellow smiled. "Viridian Forest and its Pokémon did. I'm their Maiden, and they've always provided for me. I also have an uncle who comes and sees me whenever he can, and he helps a lot, usually with money and stuff like that. He's not really my uncle, of course, but he's the one who taught me about Maidens and what the outside world is like. He knew the Maiden before me, and you could say it's his job to look after us."
Misty nodded, deciding she'd have to ask about her so-called 'uncle' to a few acquaintances of hers. He sounded like a G-Man, a semi-secret organization devoted to making the world a safer place. She'd already spoken to those acquaintances about Red and Team Rocket, but if anyone knew anything about Maidens, it'd be them.
After she was done drying her hair, Yellow's hands seemingly caught fire again, and she ran them through her hair until it completely dried. Afterward she brushed it properly and put it in a ponytail, much to Misty's bemusement.
"If you don't want anybody knowing you're a girl, why don't you just cut your hair?"
Yellow gasped and looked at her as if offended. "Because I am a girl, and I like my hair." She absently started playing with her ponytail, and Misty suddenly had trouble seeing her as the young teenage boy from earlier. "When I'm alone, I can just be myself, but around people, I have to put on an act. Not much of one, but still..."
"Speaking of, why put on an act to begin with?"
"Because Team Rocket's headquarters were in Viridian City, Misty, and until just a few years ago, they were importing dangerous Pokémon into my forest. What if they captured me and forced me to work for them, or found a way to harness my powers for evil?" She shook her head, unable to bear the thought. "I can do a lot more than just heal injuries, talk to Pokémon, or do parlor tricks. A lot more..."
Misty shivered due to her ominous tone. "L-like what?"
Yellow flashed a mischievous smile. "Trust me, it's better if you don't know. Every instinct tells me to keep my powers a secret, and my uncle tells me there are other Maidens out there in the world, and some of them have been killed. Even if nobody bad came looking for me, I don't want the attention, and I don't want people flooding my forest looking for a miracle worker or research subject." She forced a halfhearted smile. "I like helping people, Misty, really, but the Pokémon of Viridian Forest are my priority, and it's an exhausting job as it is."
"I understand, and I'll protect your secret with my life, Yellow. It's my duty as gym leader after all. It's just a little strange to be talking with a real life Maiden. Yesterday, I thought they were just fairy tales. Now I think the truth is probably stranger than fiction."
"Probably," she laughed. "Later, if you'd like, come visit me in Viridian Forest and I'll introduce you to a real stranger than fiction story." Her grin widened but didn't elaborate further because Pika awoke with a sudden jolt, electricity crackling around his cheeks and shooting across the room.
"It's alright, Pika!" Yellow said, hands raised innocently. "We're in Misty's gym. It's just me and her. You were asleep for a long while, and-"
The electric mouse leaped off the couch and sniffed the air, more sparks crackling around his cheeks as he barked something unkind to her.
'He doesn't smell Red's scent,' she mouthed to Misty, not bothering to translate the profanity or resentment he felt toward her. Pika had reacted similarly the day before when he awoke from a nightmare. Had she not been a Maiden, Yellow suspected her extremities would still be tingling from the shock she'd gotten.
Pika ran for the door but collapsed in the middle of the floor. Yellow didn't seem surprised, and scooped him up into her arms despite the sparks. "You're even more exhausted than I am, Pika," she said gently. "Please, sit and rest for a little while. Neither of us are any good to Red if we can't help ourselves."
He didn't seem to agree, but electrocuting the Maiden into compliance was proving to be difficult, and decided to comply for the time being, but only because he was hungry and needed to use the bathroom.
Yellow chuckled and turned to Misty. "Would you mind showing us the way outside? I don't trust myself not to get lost, and Pika could use something to eat."
Her own stomach growled just then, followed by Misty's, who laughed and showed them the nearest exit, and also gave Yellow an ID card in case she got locked out the building or was questioned by anyone.
The courtyard behind the gym was like a miniature forest with trees, bushes, and little ponds full of colorful fish. Misty explained that it was where she usually went to hide when she didn't want to be bothered by gym duties since so few people seemed to know the garden even existed. The courtyard wasn't particularly large, but it was enough to make one forget they were in the middle of a bustling city, and she saw several patches of grass that looked as though they'd make for a comfortable bed.
Misty led them back inside after Pika did his business, and after a quick bite to eat in the breakroom, Misty gave her a proper tour of the gym, which was mostly empty due to the phone calls she had made earlier. She first brought her to a large arena surrounding an Olympic sized swimming pool with seating for over five thousand people. A glass roof hung overhead but Misty explained it was retractable and often was when the water permitted.
Not for the first time Yellow found herself overwhelmed, and assumed it to just be a particularly large swimming pool, but drawing nearer, she expanded her powers and sensed dozens if not hundreds of minds swimming below, most of which were completely ignorant of the outside world.
"A-are all of these Pokémon wild?" she asked, kneeling down to put her hands in the water. "Or do they belong to the gym?"
Misty grinned, holding Pika tightly in her arms. "Technically they belong to the gym, but most of them only partake in the water shows, not gym battles. The Sensational Waterflower is an aquarium, water show, Pokémon sanctuary, and gym all rolled into one. We're Cerulean City's pride and joy, and this pool is my family's life's work."
"This is amazing," Yellow said, green eyes glowing slightly. "Can I see what it looks like underwater?"
"Of course!" She led her down a nearby staircase that descended below. "You can even put on a swimsuit and join them if you'd like. I wear mine under my clothes just for that reason."
Yellow shook her head, chuckling. "They might call you 'The Tomboyish Mermaid', but at least you still look like a girl in a bikini. I'd just get laughed at. Even a one-piece. So long as I keep the hat on, I could probably get away with just swimming trunks."
Misty laughed and glanced back at her, studying her figure now that she'd put the straw hat back on and a brown apron often worn by ranchers. "I don't know about that, but I can find you a vest to wear along with trunks if you don't feel like letting your hair down. Or a wetsuit and scuba gear." She laughed at the visual. "I don't think you have to worry about keeping your secret in my gym, but-"
As if on cue, they heard several feminine voices and laughs above them, and Misty grabbed Yellow by the hand and dragged her away, peeking around a corner until the voices were finally gone.
"Misty, what's wrong?"
The gym leader sighed and leaned her back against the wall, her own exhaustion suddenly catching up with her. "I can keep a secret," she said, "but my sisters, not so much, and they're as nosey and annoying as big sisters get."
"The Sensational Sisters," Yellow murmured, remembering what the trio were called, as well as their often forgotten younger sister. "Daisey, Violet, and Lily, right?"
Misty nodded. "I oversee the gym, they oversee everything else. In theory anyway. I usually end up having to clean up their messes and make all the tough decisions anyway." She sighed and shook her head. "It'd probably be best if they don't see you, or know that Pika belongs to Red."
"Are they really that bad?"
"Probably not, but I've got enough on my mind right now. I don't need my sisters teasing me or spreading gossip about Red, or you. They're the tabloids' favorite source of mis-information in case you didn't know." She continued walking down the dark hall toward a faint blue-green light. Yellow followed, thankful to be an only child, and also thankful that Pokémon weren't nearly as petty as humans.
She turned the corner and froze, her mouth hanging open as she gazed upon a wall of glass thirty feet tall spanning several hundred wide, shielding them from millions of gallons of water. Dozens of various kinds of Water-type Pokémon went about their business, some of them sleeping, others playing, and others merely swimming from one end of the giant aquarium to the other as if it were open ocean.
A pair of Dewgong danced together while a Tentacruel and Lapras took turns chasing one another. A school of Goldeen were led by a mated pair of Seaking, doing laps around the man-made lake while avoiding a Gyarados that ignored all the other Pokémon in favor of filling its gaping mouth with brine shrimp and what Yellow assumed to be specially made Pokémon food.
She shook her head, spying several dozen more Pokémon she had never seen before and didn't know the names of. "Misty, this is incredible. I-I've never seen anything like it."
"Welcome to the world's largest aquarium, Yellow. It's where we perform our underwater ballets, but paying customers are welcome to come here whenever they'd like. All of the gym Pokémon roam here when they're not inside their Pokéballs. It's not exactly a natural ecosystem that you'd find in the wild, but all of the Pokémon get along, and there's plenty of food for everybody."
As if on cue, nearby, a blue tentacle reached out of a twisted shell and grabbed a small fish that wandered too close. Yellow assumed it to be a Shellder at first, having seen plenty in the waters of Viridian, but then remembered Shellder used long pink tongues rather than blue tentacles to snatch their prey.
"Misty-" she pointed- "what kind of Pokémon is that?"
The gym leader grinned. "It's called an Omanyte. They used to be considered extinct, but a few colonies have been found living in the wild, and I was able to pull some strings to get two breeding pairs brought to the gym. Only problem is that the other male Omanyte is bigger and stronger, and prefers having the females to himself."
Yellow nodded, the same being common in the wild as well. Pokémon despite their intelligence and sometimes human-like personalities were still animals, and wildlings rarely had the same social norms as Pokémon belonging to trainers.
"That's not all," Yellow said, frowning. "He's really smart and doesn't like living in an aquarium. It's better than the ocean where he was near the bottom of the food chain, but eating and sleeping isn't enough. I think he'd like to battle."
As if feeling the peculiar mind touching its own, Omanyte poked its head out of its shell and stared at Yellow from the other side of the glass, its large, bulbous eyes blinking at her curiously.
"Really?" Misty said. "He never showed any interest before. I was actually looking to find him a new home." She smirked at Yellow who shook her head, not needing to be a mind reader to know what she was thinking.
"It's too dangerous right now, and I don't know how an Omanyte would feel about living in a freshwater spring back home. Same goes for a Graveler in a forest, for that matter. I don't even know if either of them would like traveling."
"So long as they're with the person they love most in the world, most Pokémon aren't too particular about their environment." Misty kissed Pika atop the head, causing him to giggle and snuggle close.
Yellow continued watching Omanyte, chewing her lip thoughtfully. While Misty wasn't necessarily wrong, Yellow couldn't bear the thought of reading her Pokémon's minds and them being unhappy. Both Ratty and Kitty were natives of Viridian Forest just like Pika, and Dody had been caught just outside of it by her uncle. They were her family, Viridian Forest their home and caretaker, and Yellow herself its faithful servant.
Without warning she telepathically said goodbye to Omanyte and all the other Pokémon, many of whom paused to watch the curious young trainer disappear down the hall with Misty quickly following her.
"Hey, you alright? I said something I shouldn't have, didn't I?"
Yellow shook her head. "It's not you, Misty. Your gym is amazing. I've never seen anything like it as a matter of fact, a-and I might not ever again." She gave a sad smile before looking away. "I don't belong here. I belong in Viridian Forest. I leave it occasionally to go into Viridian or Pewter City, but I'm always close by, and it's usually just to help out at the Pokémon Centers. I dunno, maybe I'm just feeling overwhelmed by everything and a little homesick. I've never been away from my forest for this long..."
Misty patted her on the shoulder. "Trust me, I know how you feel. Before meeting Red, I wanted nothing more than to leave Cerulean City and go on a grand Pokémon Journey to become the world's greatest Water-type Master. Then we met, we started running into Team Rocket everywhere, and suddenly I felt that I was way in over my head."
She glanced back at the aquarium and Pokémon she had swam with for as long as she could remember, and fighting the urge to swim with even now. "This gym is where I belong, and it took leaving it for me to finally realize it. When this is all over, why don't I take you up on your offer and visit Viridian Forest. It's been a while, but I remember there being a lot of great places to fish and swim."
"Really!? You'd do that?"
"Of course! We're friends, and now that I know your secret, it's my duty as a gym leader to protect you. Until then, why don't we finish your tour of the gym? Maybe I can even find a season pass for you, and you can visit anytime you'd like. Cerulean City isn't that far from Viridian on the back of a Doduo or a Gyarados."
Yellow smiled, blushing slightly. "I'd really like that, Misty. Thank you."
The room designated for gym battles was surprisingly mundane compared to the rest of the stadium, possibly because it was Misty herself who oversaw it while the glitz and glamour of the world famous Sensational Waterflower was courtesy of her sisters. The battlefield was a large but comparatively smaller pool with six floating platforms for non-Water-type Pokémon to take advantage of. On either side were balconies that allowed for a couple thousand spectators, though Misty conceded that unlike most other gym leaders, she rarely if ever advertised her battles.
Behind each side of the battlefield was a small locker room for challengers and gym trainers to prepare, with Misty having an office all to herself.
There were aquariums of all sorts of various sizes in every hallway of the gym, all containing a wide array of colorful and exotic-looking fish from all around the world. Pokémon meanwhile were kept in either the water show arena or the gym, which had been empty today due to there not being any gym battles or training scheduled for today.
Yellow was increasingly more impressed with the young gym leader as the day went on, but she couldn't help stifling yawns whenever Misty wasn't looking. She wasn't bored by any means, and thought she had learned more about Water-type Pokémon in just a few hours than she ever would listening to Professor Oak's dull radio program, but she was still exhausted from the day before, and had used her powers throughout the day to converse with her Pokémon from within their Pokéballs and also speed up Gravvy's recovery.
He was a kindhearted but quick tempered Pokémon as she soon discovered, and didn't have much to say beyond thanking Yellow for healing him twice now. He mostly spent the day napping, which was common for Pokémon in their Pokéballs due to the security and comfort they felt inside. Dody and Kitty also slept but Ratty as usual stayed awake and vigilant, awaiting his trainer's command.
Pika was tiring as well despite being carried for the entire duration of the tour. It'd still be another day or two before he was at full strength again, and had long since realized that his incredible feats from the day before were all due to Yellow, much to his chagrin and already bruised pride.
"I think that's everything besides the bodies I've got buried out back," Misty said, turning to Yellow and smiling when she caught her stifling another yawn. "Why don't we go back to my office and relax. My bed's big enough for us both. If anybody asks though, please tell them you slept on the couch."
Yellow shook her head. "Actually, if it's alright with you, Pika would rather sleep outside, and I'd prefer it myself actually. I guess neither of us are exactly domesticated."
Misty glanced down at Pika who nodded in agreement, and leaped onto Yellow's shoulder, surprising Misty once more at how quickly the electric mouse had taken to her despite acting as though he resented her at times. "Campout it is then."
"That's alright, Misty. I don't need a babysitter. Why don't you sleep in your bed tonight?"
The gym leader laughed. "Yellow, more than once I've traveled around the entire Kanto region entirely on foot, and over the years, I've probably slept in a bed less than I've slept on the ground. Besides, I wanna stick close to you and Pika. I don't mind, I promise."
Yellow's grin matched her own. "Campout it is then," she repeated. "Wanna make s'mores?"
Camping out in the courtyard was as good an excuse as any for Misty to show Yellow the gym's storage room where a multitude of sleeping bags, spare clothes, dried foods, and other miscellaneous camping gear were kept stocked in case of emergencies and impromptu Pokémon journeys. Perhaps more importantly, it served as an excuse to finally clean and organize it while also giving her a helping hand for once.
Outside, Yellow found herself snuggled inside a blue sleeping bag with various Water-type Pokémon featured on it. She also had a new backpack that could hold twice as many supplies than her previous one, many of which Misty had suggested and given her tips on how to pack more efficiently. Neither of them knew exactly how long it'd take to find Red, but they both agreed it'd be best to pack as light as possible while still being prepared for any emergency.
The two stayed awake for several hours talking about anything, everything, and sometimes absolutely nothing while looking up at the night sky. Being in the middle of Cerulean City, it meant there were very few stars to be seen, but Yellow knew where to find them all by heart. Although she lived in a small cottage with a perfectly comfortable bed, she more often than not slept outside with the Pokémon, both her own and wildlings.
Tonight they stayed inside their Pokéballs but Misty kept several scattered around the courtyard to keep an eye out for trouble. Yellow practically dozed off mid-sentence after hours of fighting sleep much to Misty's amusement, and might've suspected the girl suffered from narcolepsy if she hadn't caught her yawning every time she used her powers when she thought Misty wasn't looking.
She hadn't expected to sleep much that night, but it was as though someone forced her eyelids closed and she was fast asleep almost as quickly as Yellow.
Amidst their heavy breathing and snoring all around the courtyard, Pika awoke with a cry and sparks crackling around his cheeks. He'd already woken twice that night from nightmares, and glanced at Misty and Yellow who had both fallen asleep in unnatural and uncomfortable-looking positions.
He shook his head trying to clear it, and looking toward the courtyard's entrance where Mt. Moon loomed in the distance, he made up his mind and hurried off.
His footsteps were as soft as a mouse and he used bushes for cover, but it probably wouldn't be until morning the humans noticed him gone anyway. Still, his movements were slower than he would've liked thanks to an injured paw and still being exhausted.
'Going somewhere?' Pika heard in the back of his mind.
He turned and discovered Yellow shuffling toward him as if having radar. Apparently being able to read the minds of Pokémon made her a rather skilled tracker.
Yellow smiled at him. "Not really," she said. "You just have really loud thoughts is all." She stooped down in front of him, doing her best not to yawn. "Pika, we're going to find Red. I promise, but right now we need to save our strength. Brock and Professor Oak are searching Mt. Moon, and others are as well. If Red's still in the area, they'll find him, but if he's not, then we'd only be wasting our energy, something neither of us can afford right now.
She reached out to touch him but was met with a shock that numbed her fingers but didn't cause her to retreat. "Don't you think leaving Misty in the middle of the night without saying goodbye would hurt her feelings? She's just as worried as you are, if not more."
Pika glanced back at the sleeping redhead, shame briefly crossing his face before becoming resolute once more.
"She'd understand," Yellow translated, her smile fading. "She loves him, doesn't she? Does Red love her back?" Pika didn't answer, nor did he have to. Yellow sighed and rubbed something in her eye. "Doesn't change anything. Y'all saved my life, Pika, and also introduced me to Ratty. We'll find him, but you're gonna have to trust me and let me help."
Pika studied her closely as if weighing her words before finally taking a step toward her when his ears suddenly twitched, and he glanced back at the courtyard's only entrance.
"Who's there?" Yellow called out, hoping it was just a security guard. "Show yourself!"
A shoe scraped the pavement as if someone was dragging their foot.
"P-Pika?" a young man rasped. "Pika, is that you, buddy?"
The electric mouse immediately took off running with Yellow following behind as best she could.
"Red!" she practically screamed. "Misty, wake up! It's Red!"
A shadowy figure limped into the dimly lit courtyard and Pika leaped into his arms, crying and screaming on the verge of hysterics. "It's alright, Pika. Everything's gonna be alright..."
Yellow sighed with relief, but in the back of her mind, the part still connected to Pika, she sensed something very peculiar. Red's scent was slightly different from the way Pika remembered it. His voice slightly different. The way he embraced his very best friend in the entire world... completely and utterly wrong...
"Pika!" she shouted. "That's not Red!"
He ignored her. Whatever misgivings his subconscious might've had, Pika was too elated to care, even when a gloved hand covered his nose and mouth, reeking of a potent Sleep Powder.
Pika's body went limp, and the young man holding his body far too tightly laughed maniacally.
"Who are you?" Yellow demanded, hoping to rouse Misty and the other Pokémon from their sleep. Only now did she notice her own grogginess wasn't totally natural. She grabbed a pair of Pokéballs from her belt but froze when the stranger wrapped an arm around Pika's neck as though threatening to break it.
"They called me a fool, you know," he chuckled, a spiteful, arrogant sound that sent shivers down her spine. "I told them all their precious little Pikachu would come here sooner or later, but nobody listened. Nobody ever does. They told me it was a fool's errand. That I was wasting my time. Who's the fool now!?"
"Who are you!?" she repeated.
"Who am I?" He laughed again and retrieved a pair of thick lensed glasses from his pocket which he placed on his face. "I'm none other than the future leader of Team Rocket. Who you are is of no consequence, though I am curious why my Parasect's Spore was able to affect the gym leader and all the Pokémon in the courtyard, but not you. As much as I'm loath to leave questions unanswered, and to brag of my own genius, I'm in a hurry. Marowak, Bonemerang!"
(A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Much like with Gravy, I decided to have a proper introduction for Yellow's Omny. The Cerulean Gym has always been one of my favorites in both the games and anime, and it just made sense to me that if Yellow and Misty are going to team up and regroup back at the gym, that Yellow and Omny would get acquainted with one another. Gravy and Omny just being given to her by Brock and Misty in the manga always felt a little weird to me, and I liked this compromise a bit better. On that note, Yellow starting her journey with Kitty instead of catching him was mostly due to it making sense that she'd catch a Caterpie in Viridian Forest, and because I wanted the scene with him saving her and Misty in the previous chapter. I really like the story told with Kitty, Yellow, and Pika in the manga, but it just didn't fit with this retelling.
Speaking of, the Super Nerd act of the manga is probably my favorite from the manga, and I'm REALLY looking forward to the next chapter. I hope you are as well, and I hope you enjoy.
All credit goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with this story and wonderful readers such as yourself. God bless)