Ash's Team
Styx - Hydreigon
Hemlock - Grimmsnarl
Bane - Zoroark
Mirae - Mytheon
Sagitta - Togekiss
Libra - Hakamo-o
Castor - Krookodile
Polaris - Greninja
Artemis - Houndoom
Orion - Alolan Ninetales
Ladon - Appletun
Wisteria - Galarian Ponyta
At Oak's
Nettle - Naganadel
Ash had been walking with Orion and Artemis on Route 7 for not even twenty minutes when two of his Pokéballs burst open.
He wasn't even surprised when Castor and Hemlock snarled challengingly at each other. This had been months in the making, waiting until both were in their final forms to truly fight.
Ash, Orion, and Artemis backed up to make room for the two friends and rivals to have their match. They really hadn't waited long, the Saffron police outpost still within sight. But as much as Ash wanted to put more distance, he couldn't really fault them. Hemlock had been showboating his new form in front of Castor enough that the croc was half feral with annoyance.
Looking at the two, Hemlock had the benefit of height and reach, but Castor had the environment free for his use.
Crossing his arms, Ash watched the two critically, seeing how they'd do without his input. Hemlock had been with him longer, having the experience to react to most things Castor could throw at him. But Castor was much stronger now and had trained specifically to take Hemlock down.
The croc's excitement for the match had him moving first. He stomped the ground, shaking his scales. Faster than ever before a Sandstorm burst from his body, engulfing the route. While Hemlock's hair would protect him from most of the stinging, his eyesight wasn't meant to see through sand like Castor's could.
What Hemlock should have done, instead of Bulk Up, was get Taunt in, his Prankster ability giving him the advantage and cutting off Sandstorm from the get go.
Nonetheless, Hemlock powered up, but Castor was quick to dive into the ground to use Hone Claws safely.
Seconds before Castor burst from the beneath, Hemlock vanished in a Feint Attack, catching the croc in the shoulder as he searched for his opponent. Spinning, Castor struck with a rather brutal Iron Tail that cracked against Hemlock's wiry hair.
Castor's eyes widened, a Sand Tomb erupting from his body moments before Hemlock's Burning Jealousy touched his skin.
Ash smirked when the makeshift Scorching Sands elicited a frustrated snarl from Hemlock.
The subsequent back and forth was a tense, all out brawl. Castor's longer tail could be used to block some of Hemlock's Drain Punches, mimicking Orion's Iron Shield defense. But Hemlock had more range, utilizing his hair to yank the tail out of the way to land a particularly painful Play Rough.
They traded blows, Hemlock gaining the upper hand with his Fairy attacks wearing down Castor's stamina. At least, until Castor stomped the ground, a single Stone Edge catching Hemlock right in the gut.
Giving his opponent no time to recover, Castor bit down on one bulky arm, through thick hair and sinking into flesh, sending volts upon volts of electricity into Hemlock's body.
The roar the Grimmsnarl released would probably bring Saffron police out to investigate.
Hemlock's arm came arcing around, a powerful Drain Punch catching Castor in the temple. Teeth were torn from muscle, the Krookodile being forced a few meters away. The croc caught himself after a couple trips and a slight stumble, eyes flashing red, but not falling into a full Anger Point.
Hemlock had his teeth bared even more than usual, twitching with blood dripping from his mangled arm.
Castor rushed Hemlock, ducking below the stream of hair that shot at him as a Shadow Claw tore through the second wave. Just as the croc was inches from Hemlock, the gremlin grinned.
Burning Jealousy burst from Hemlock, catching Castor in the overpowered attack. The roar of pain made Ash's eyes flash to the police outpost.
Hemlock didn't hesitate; a hard earned lesson from Surge. Hair from one hand wrapped around Castor as the other glowed an innocent pink.
The croc barely had time to widen his eyes before the Spirit Break caught him right in the chest.
Falling to his knees, Castor was trembling, panting and at the end of his rope.
Hemlock was poised, a Fire Punch at the ready.
With a final roar, Sand Tomb burst from the croc, blocking Hemlock's forward charge for just a moment, enough time for Castor to slam his arms into the ground.
Ash cursed.
Earthquake cracked the route, spreading out from the crater Castor had formed. Hemlock had been too close to jump, stumbling and falling, getting caught up in the horrid tremors.
Ash, Orion, and Artemis lost their footing, falling to the ground and getting thrown around. Artemis yelped, and with incredible skill managed to jump and land directly over a prone Ash, throwing up a Protect in the next moment.
The world stilled within their safe haven, allowing Ash to plant his hands and knees on the green layer separating him from the ground. His sight was spinning and it felt like his muscles would never stop trembling.
"Good girl." His voice was breathless and he felt Artemis's smoldering tongue lick his cheek, leaving light tingles from the toxins behind. Months ago that would have sent him into a panic, but now it only made him smile.
It felt like ages before the earth shattering attack passed. Artemis waited a few beats before allowing the Protect to fade. Ash quickly took stock of the absolutely wrecked route.
Trees had been toppled and cracks and chunks of road were haphazardly thrown all over the place. The crater spanned the width of the route and had to be at least four feet deep.
Castor was unconscious in the center, Hemlock battered and bruised but looking over the lip and smirking triumphantly.
Hearing a sudden bout of sirens, Ash grimaced. Quickly returning his thrashed teammates. He gestured to Artemis and Orion - who was grumbling over having not been protected by Artemis - and the three ran into the woods.
They were unaware that the sirens were not meant for them.
The rain came out of nowhere, dropping buckets on Route 7 as the storm clouds collected overhead. Ash just sighed and returned Artemis and Orion, neither a huge fan of the rain. He swapped the two for Polaris and Wisteria, the little colt loving spring showers.
He could hear thunder in the distance but didn't pick up his pace. Thunderstorms were a favorite of his, and it was somewhat warm, so he wasn't in any rush. Polaris had his eyes closed and head tilted back, letting the fat droplets moisten his skin.
The frog stuck close to Ash, their heart to heart having created a soft connectedness between them.
Wisteria was quick to leap into rapidly forming puddles, stomping her too-big-for-her-body hooves and getting mud all over the iridescent hair at her ankles. Ash couldn't fault her for acting like a child; she was one. Though at the rate she was growing, she wouldn't be for much longer.
While it was only evening, the clouds blocked out the remaining sunlight, smothering Route 7 in a dark and gloomy aura. Ash just laced his fingers behind his head and smiled, the bill of his hat dripping water down his front.
Yesterday had been… a lot. Confusing and overwhelming and leaving him with a minor existential crisis, but there was resolution to his goals now. A knowledge that he'd do whatever it took to ensure his Pokémon's wellbeing.
The Boy wasn't important. Giovanni wasn't important. Sabrina wasn't important.
His team were the only ones that mattered.
On that vein, Castor needed some light healing, and luckily there was a Pokémon center a few miles ahead. It would also offer a respite from the weather, but for now, he and his teammates were content to meander.
At least, they were until there was a CRACK and bright light flashed in his periphery. Ash reflexively flinched, the lightning momentarily blinding him and making all the hair on his body stand on end. The bolt couldn't have been more than 40 feet away.
Turning his head and squinting through the spots and the rain, he froze.
Sitting atop a boulder was a small lump, sparks jumping weakly from its fur. The poor thing was shivering and looked terribly ill as Ash tried to figure out what it was.
In the next second, another powerful crack of lightning fell from the sky, connecting with the small shape. Woven within the bright flash was an absolutely agonized "Pi!". The bolt dissipated, leaving the bundle of fur spasming and sparking wildly.
Ash and Polaris rushed forward, Wisteria close behind, and upon nearing, he blinked in surprise.
How was this tiny little Pichu still breathing?
Pichu couldn't store very much electricity, the electric organs in their cheeks underdeveloped compared to their evolved forms.
The buzz of static over his arms was the only warning he got before he dove to the side. He worried his eardrums would rupture when the next lightning bolt impacted Pichu, drawing another painful screech from the poor mouse.
Lifting his head, Ash saw Pichu trembling feebly and sparking uncontrollably. The only source of light in the storm made the Electric type look even paler than it probably was. It made Ash's gut churn; it was like watching an infant being tortured.
The dots connected quickly as Ash looked between the rodent and the sky.
Lightning Rod.
With that thought, Ash knew they needed to get the Tiny Mouse out of the storm. Time was against them, knowing each consecutive bolt of lightning could prove too much for the Pichu, causing permanent damage to its electric sacs or killing it.
It was astounding the rodent hadn't succumbed at this point.
Ash gestured towards Polaris, who nodded and climbed up, spreading his arms to create a dome of Protect to hold overhead, shielding the young rodent from the lightning.
Rummaging through his pack, Ash withdrew Sabrina's very pointed gift. Should he be relieved she was still looking into his future?
Jogging away from their spot, he quickly released Bane. The Zoroark shook his mane as soon as he was released, water droplets spraying everywhere. Ash got his attention and held the Lightning Rod out, unwinding the long copper wire and grounding rod connected to it.
"Can you climb up a tree and attach this? One relatively close to that rock. Careful not to get struck." Bearing a toothy grin, Bane took the metal stick in his mouth and sprinted off.
Normally he wouldn't dream of putting a lightning rod in a tree, but this was a newer model that was capable of storing up to 100,000 amps. Still, Ash quickly stomped on the grounding rod to drive it deep into the damp ground beneath the tree
Bane was returned upon safely finishing his task.
Returning to the large rock, Ash knelt down and made a soft noise. Blinking sluggishly, Pichu lifted its head, only to flinch and bare its little fangs when it saw Ash in front of it. Even with the sparks, he could see worrying bruises and burns covering its body. The Tiny Mouse growled "Chuu-" before it opened its mouth and shrieked.
"Ack!" Ash slammed his hands to his ears, wondering how such a small body could produce such concussive sounds. Gritting his teeth, he scooched closer.
"Hey, shh, it's alright." Ash let his voice go an octave lower, rumbling in his throat a little. Bane had once implied Familial Thrum was comforting for many Pokémon, sounding a bit like a purr. Pichu's body quickly went slack, sound cutting off, but their dark eyes were wary and stayed locked on Ash.
"Can I help you?" The rodent squeaked pitifully, tremors wracking its body. Ash's heart seized at the sight. He went to pick it up but something must have set it off because the Electric type panicked and tried to shake their head. Ash leapt back and held up his hands. "Okay, okay, no moving you. Can I catch you?" Another vehement shake of their head. A sorry attempt at a Thunder Shock was aimed at Ash but it didn't make it more than a few inches from the Pokémon's body.
Even halfway to death the Pichu had some spunk.
Ash sighed and rubbed his eyes, brushing rain from his lashes. "Okay. Guess we're setting up camp." He unclipped Castor's Pokéball and released the still injured croc, much to his displeasure. He hissed violently, lashing his tail out even though he could flatten his scales to lessen water damage.
Knowing he was still upset about his close loss to Hemlock, Ash got straight to the point.
"Castor!" The croc stilled and eyed Ash, who gestured towards the frail rodent. "I need you to create a Stone Edge and Sand Tomb shelter around the rock. Can you do that? Big enough for supplies."
Castor scoffed without any heat behind it and closed his eyes, shivering until a Sand Tomb burst from his body to encompass the small area. The heavy downpour was immediately swallowed by the sandy shield. The Krookodile even went a step further and sent some Stealth Rock stones floating around for added protection against stray bolts. He then slammed his tail to the ground, stone slabs erupting in a ring around them all and the boulder, creating a teepee-like structure with a small doorway. The shelter stayed inside the vortex of sand and rock outside its walls.
The croc frowned before stomping the ground, uncovering a large rectangular piece of slate. In a surprisingly delicate fashion, the Krookodile picked it up and, elevating onto his tiptoes, maneuvered it so it sat atop the shelter like a roof. Nodding to himself in pride, Castor turned around and tapped his Pokéball, disliking the humid air.
The Sand Tomb would last around a half hour before it fizzled out.
Ash, Polaris, Wisteria, and the Pichu were left in darkness, the sparks from Pichu and Wisteria's glowing mane offering little light. Polaris stood off to the side, arms crossed but eyes alert, an ever-watchful guard.
Humming to himself, he nodded. First part done, now time to get to work.
Ash knelt in the muddy grass and riffled through his pack, removing herbs and medicine as he went. Pausing for a moment, he flipped open his Pokédex and scanned the rodent. Because Pichu wasn't registered to him, he got the general description.
Pichu: The Tiny Mouse Pokémon. Electric Type. Pichu is a social Pokémon known for its playful and mischievous demeanor. It is inept at storing electricity and may discharge if amused, startled, or subjected to shock. However, it cannot discharge without being shocked.
This Pichu is Female
Potential Abilities: Static, Lightning Rod
He re-released Artemis, who quickly picked up the pungent scent of healing items and whined.
"We have an injured friend." The Houndoom's ears were pinned back even as she gracefully hopped up on the boulder to lay down beside Pichu to lend her warmth. Artemis had a thing about severely injured Pokémon.
She had been one.
"Hey, Wisteria, can you hop up here and give me some light?" The quiet Ponyta lightly landed on the elevated boulder, solemn in a way he'd rarely seen her. She settled down a few inches away from their injured acquaintance and allowed her mane and tail to glow even brighter.
Ash was quick to apply anti-bacterial to the open wounds and burn salves to the blackened fur. With little finesse but steady hands he stitched a tear in her left ear. It looked like a claw tore through it. Quick as a flash, he shoved a revival herb down the rodent's throat. Those bruises on her abdomen looked like it might be internal bleeding. The Pichu twisted her face up in disgust at the taste. Finally, he doused her entire body in a Full Restore, one of the few he had, to seal up the wounds.
While he had been going through the motions, he noticed a couple oddities about the Electric type.
She had some weird, spiky protrusions on her back and her tail had a very slight curl to it instead of the usual blocky shape. The growths were… rather unnatural. He pushed it from his mind to focus on healing her.
Already, the little rodent was gaining color back, especially now with Artemis beside her radiating warmth. But Pichu was still sparking, which worried Ash.
"Hey Artemis, Iron Tail into the boulder, then touch Pichu." Nodding seriously, Artemis's pointed tail sunk into the boulder like a hot knife through butter, the metallic tint reflecting Wisteria's purple glow. She leaned forward and touched her snout to what little of Pichu's fur was unbandaged.
The hound immediately flinched, but held still as she grounded the poor Pokémon, the sparks jumping from Pichu's fur slowly lessening.
It took a while for the electricity to drain, but by the time it did, Pichu's relief was palpable, tension disappearing and muscles going slack.
Sighing deeply, he got to work on mashing up a mixture of oran, ganlon, and wacan berries. He somehow managed to coax the Electric type into eating, and after a few bites she was gobbling it down like she hadn't eaten in days.
'Waiting'
He froze. The word echoed in his skull, eliciting a wince from the sharp static. The voice was childish, sounding like a kid whose voice kept breaking. Ash turned slowly to see Wisteria staring sullenly at Pichu.
"Did you just-?"
'Trainer'
Ash scowled, not at Wisteria, but at what her words implied. Someone had left a fatally injured Pichu in a storm. Alone. And she was still waiting for them.
"I didn't know you could speak." Wisteria didn't reply, just lowered her head and slumped over to him, somberly headbutting his chest. Pushing his shock, excitement, and curiosity aside, Ash wrapped his arms around the foal, pulling her into his lap from where he was leaning against the large boulder Pichu had chosen as her vigil location.
Something was digging into his thigh in the grass, and when he shifted slightly to look, his heart sank.
Embedded in the mucky soil was a broken Pokéball.
Ash groaned as sleep receded. His back was cramped, his legs were numb, and he felt gross from rain water and sweat and sitting in the mud all night. Wisteria, the little princess, was dry and happily snoring away on his lap.
Humming under his breath he tilted his head back, only to come face to face with wide eyes.
Pichu was peering over the edge of her boulder, tiny claws grasping at the edge and ears dangling. There was an equal mixture of curiosity and caution in her eyes. Already her ear looked as if it was half healed.
Clearing his throat, Ash whispered, "How are you feeling?"
A tiny barely-there smile pulled at the rodent's mouth, though it wobbled like she was holding on by a thread. Ash slowly lifted a hand, one finger crooked so the Pichu could sniff to become familiar with his scent. He used this time to observe her, noting a slight pinkish tint to her fur, along with some softer angles to her tail.
Even as a baby Pokémon, whatever mutation she had made her look… rather deformed. Ash hated the unkind thought but the protrusions sticking out of her back were grotesque, like they hadn't formed right.
Around them, his other teammates began to stir, Wisteria's hooves leaving bruises on his legs when she stood while Artemis gently nuzzled the Pichu, sneezing when sparks danced across her nose.
Polaris, as a Dark type, had stayed awake, keeping watch stoically. Ash nodded to him, only then the Greninja finally relaxed his protective stance. Standing and shaking out his battered legs, Ash clasped the frog on the shoulder before approaching Pichu who was watching the exchange warily.
Not getting too close, Ash sat on one of the ledges and smiled at the rodent. She wasn't a Chaos type, and as he learned from Nettle, Artemis, and even Castor, sometimes a calmer, kinder approach worked best.
"Did you know too much lightning was bad for you?"
Pichu seemed startled by the question, but she nodded slowly.
"Why didn't you go seek shelter?"
Her cheeks sparked in offense, hissing and squeaking in explanation.
"So you were proving to your trainer that you could obey orders."
The rodent nodded proudly.
"Why would they leave you for dead, then?"
Polaris slapped his forehead as Pichu stumbled back like she had been physically struck. Her bottom lip was trembling and her big eyes were filled with tears and anger. Ash winced and opened his mouth to word it better, but the Tiny Mouse jumped down and rushed past him, leaving the safety of the shelter.
Ash groaned and gestured for Artemis to follow the Pokémon as he packed up. The hound huffed but did as asked, slinking out of the rocky structure. Ash saw Polaris's look and grumbled. "Yeah I know."
He got the distinct impression that both Polaris and Wisteria were harshly judging him but when you spend your whole life preparing to work with the most dangerous and stubborn Pokémon on the planet, you get a little blunt.
Already feeling the humidity of the day, Ash shucked his disgusting jacket and quickly switched his dirty jeans for a pair of lightweight gray cargo pants.
He was just packing up the remainder of his things when he heard an absolutely vicious growl that he almost couldn't believe came from Artemis.
Slipping out as swiftly as he could, Ash dashed towards his snarling Pokémon, saliva dripping from her lips and sizzling on the ground as she stood braced protectively over the cowering rodent.
Ash felt a cold haze fall over him as he saw a new bruise blooming along the Pichu's side.
Raising his eyes, red met amber.
The teenager standing in front of him had the weirdest fucking hair he's ever seen, and he's met Alder and Piers. The orange hair came down in front of his forehead in an X while the rest spiked wildly behind him in a low Pontya-tail. The teen had a midnight Lycanroc beside him that was growling back at Artemis.
Pichu was looking at the teen like he simultaneously hung the moon and burned it down.
Things quickly clicked in Ash's head as he strode forward to plant himself in front of his teammate, hand slipping into his pocket. Polaris slunk around the edge while Wisteria took Artemis's side. The Lycanroc shifted uneasily, realizing its disadvantage.
There was a tense silence, the teen trying not to look uneasy as Ash just stood there, staring. Before long the teen scoffed disdainfully and jerked his chin to gesture at Pichu. "So, the pathetic excuse for a Pokémon survived the night, huh?"
While Ash didn't outwardly react, Artemis and Polaris certainly felt his fury through their bond, growling and hissing menacingly. The teen's eyes darted uneasily at the two obviously dangerous Pokémon.
"No thanks to you, I'm sure." Ash blinked lethargically, channeling his inner Piers. It seemed to work as the teen shifted his weight, feet pointed away from Ash.
"Hmph, I'm sure you healed it all up then?"
"Of course. If she absorbed any more electricity, she could have died. Not to mention the internal bleeding and torn ear that could have gotten infected. "
"One less waste of oxygen, I say." Pichu whimpered behind him.
Inside, Ash was fuming. He could feel his fingers prickling, the desire to permanently protect Pichu itching at him. This piece of shit was entitled and abusive and didn't deserve Xerneas's gift. But he needed just a little bit more.
"And who are you to make that decision?"
The other teen sneered, his patchy stubble looking like acne scars across his chin. "I'm Cross, I was that thing's trainer, but the little freak was useless. Wouldn't even evolve after all the money I paid for it."
'Fucking freak!'
Ash was thrust back to Kalos, to Route 14, to words spat with hissing venom.
He breathed out.
"Were you named after your hair when you came out of your mother or did you style it to match your name? Neither option is preferable."
The red that flooded the teen's face was oh so vindicating, as was the fearful realization he was outnumbered when he took a threatening step forward.
"Now this is how it's going to go." Ash lazily pulled his Pokédex out of his pocket, pressing the button to stop recording as obviously as he could. Realization struck the bastard, and the blood draining from Cross's face was stunning.
"I can go straight to Officer Jenny with this, get your training license rescinded and a lifetime ban from owning any Pokémon. Nice, quick, and relatively easy on my part. Or…" Ash bared his teeth, knowing he had all the power right now, and wanting Cross to suffer.
There was a part of him willing to protect Pichu like she was his own, willing to confront the promise he made to himself back in Saffron. The acknowledgement of what he'd do to ensure his team's wellbeing. The sword around his neck buzzed, his fingers threatened to flood with Death.
But he refrained. He would not damage his team's chances of being accepted.
"You apologize to Pichu. Actually, let's make it groveling for forgiveness. I like that better. After that, you refrain from abusing your Pokémon ever again."
Cross was silent for a moment, before he scoffed and sneered. "That's it? That's nothing!"
But Ash kept smiling, baring fangs like a Dragon. "No? I didn't finish. See, you crave strength, obsess over it, because you're so naturally worthless as an individual. Unsurprisingly, once you have Pokémon of your own, you have a one way ticket to hiding your own failings. And what better way to feel a miniscule sliver of significance and power than beating down something smaller than you? I bet the rush makes you feel valid, and not like the pitiful, empty, second-rate bitch you know you are."
Stalking forward, Ash didn't spare the growling Lycanroc a glance, knowing Polaris had it handled. "No, instead, I want you to continue, knowing every step, every little bit of progress you make could mean nothing because of me. You can claw at power until your nails are bleeding but in the end it could all be meaningless. I will always be there in the back of your mind, you'll always be waiting for that hammer to fall." Ash's grin stretched his face. "Now I have your entire world in my hands, just like you did with Pichu. I can decide to grind that world to dust at any moment, and you'll just have to live with it."
Cross had gone still, breaths coming in sharp little gasps, face pale and eyes wide - pleading. Ash turned away, walking over to Artemis, who dutifully stepped aside, allowing Ash to gently scoop Pichu into his arms. Sparks danced along his scarred arms as she stared at Ash with an inscrutable look on her face. He carried her over to Cross, though he kept some distance for her sake.
"Go on. Grovel."
The moment he made it to the Route 7 Pokémon center the following day, Ash turned over the voice recording to Nurse Joy.
Obviously he wasn't going to let Cross go free, he just wanted to make him freak out for a bit. The soon-to-be former trainer's groveling took some time to become sincere, but they got there eventually.
The past six hours have been interesting to say the least.
In the midst of all the excitement with Pichu and Cross, Grimsley had finally connected him with his colleague, passing the baton for the responsibility of Ash's mental stability. At least, that's how Grimsley worded it.
Dr. Quinzel was a little unhinged, but it reminded him of his Fae. She was an old classmate of Grimsley's and she now worked primarily with abuse victims. A little too on the nose with his temporary travel companion.
It was different, talking to someone who didn't know him like Grimsley did, or know about the things that kept him awake at night. She was slightly more talkative than Grimsley, but it wasn't a bad thing. Just different.
Grimsley, when they first started, acted like there was nothing they could do about his trauma but move forward. He was very much a 'future' focused therapist. There was no changing the past, but there was taking control of how Ash could move forward.
Dr. Quinzel was the opposite. She was more empathetic, letting Ash feel like he was allowed to be resentful of the hand fate has dealt him. She put more emphasis on his past and how his experiences have shaped how he responds to all that has happened to him.
Ash liked her.
They'd only met once so far, but it had been eye-opening. They had only talked about Pichu and Ash's actions surrounding the rodent, as well as her previous trainer.
It seemed like she got a pretty good idea of his character from that.
She had written some things down, lips pursed, but didn't voice her observations, merely asking clarifying questions about his thoughts and his feelings towards the baby Pokémon.
Speaking of the Electric type, the last few hours saw Pichu clinging to him one moment and then angrily shocking him or screaming in his ear, cowering for a moment before looking adorably confused, a soft "Pi?" muttered quietly.
That was another thing that threw him for a loop. The Pichu line were extraordinarily popular for many reasons, but chief among them was their odd vocalizations. Specifically mainland Pichu and their evolutions. While they were capable of growls, hisses, coos, and all other forms of oral communication, they also, well, spoke their species' names.
It was a 'Torchic or the egg' situation. Were they named after their vocalizations? Or did they learn to say their given names over time?
Even more interesting, it wasn't uncommon for Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu to give their trainers distinctive names of their own. There had been a Pikachu at the Ranch who referred to his trainer as Chuchuka.
Acquiring a 'Pika-nickname' - as Poké-fans referred to it - was typically an indicator that Pichu were about to evolve.
So while it might take some getting used to, it wasn't an issue. Pichu wasn't all that vocal while they traveled and trained.
She watched his teammates train like it was the most bewildering thing in the world. Her eyes latched on to every pat, playful wrestle, grooming session, and game with a heartbreaking expression. It was like she was trying to solve a puzzle but pieces were missing.
Mirae and Wisteria had been curious about her, nostrils flaring, tails and wings quivering when in her orbit. She had been rightfully cautious, but the two youngest teammates merely poked at her; Mirae at the protrusions on her back and Wisteria at her curved tail.
On one memorable occasion Mirae had sent a weak Fairy Wind her way, to which she responded with a surprisingly powerful Thunder Shock that made the Eeveelution sneeze. The little Pichu had scampered back to Ash, running up to his shoulder and fisting his hair in one tiny paw for balance.
She was an interesting one, that was unquestionable.
"Thank you, Mr. Ketchum for obtaining this. I'm going to contact the Celadon Police Department and you'll be escorted to the city to give your statement and help decide what will happen with Pichu. Unfortunately, I cannot offer healthcare to her at this time until the police arrive. Please wait in the lobby, I'm sure it won't be more than an hour wait."
Ash scowled, holding Pichu to his chest as the nurse said they couldn't treat her. He had no idea the extent of her injuries. Couldn't Joy heal her and just report the injuries she found?
"What about the Saffron Police? Aren't they closer?"
Nurse Joy grimaced, her face losing some of its color. "They're a bit preoccupied."
"What?"
The nurse lifted her chin in the direction of the TV, the skin around her eyes tight.
Across the bottom of the screen, a large red banner of BREAKING NEWS was stamped, shaky footage from a media helicopter circling the flaming half-obliterated skeleton of Silph Company.
"-the attack has gone unclaimed, but it has been gathered that highly classified technological blueprints have been stolen. Silph President Silphium is in critical condition, her protection detail all having tragically lost their lives. Rescue crews have confirmed zero survivors of the explosion, bringing the total number of deaths to 108 lives lost…"
Ash sat with his hands clasped in front of him, staring at nothing in the Celadon Police Department. The hour wait and the two hour drive to Celadon were like a dream. He knew on some level they drove by the endless myriad of luxury shopping, restaurants, arcades, and general lavishness of Celadon, but his mind had been on others matters.
Oak, Grimsley, and Serena had all messaged him making sure he was out of Saffron. The three knew he was typically in the middle of extreme crises. He had reassured them and then proceeded to devour any news on the event.
Yesterday morning, there was a terrorist attack on Silph Co. The building - the tallest in all of Kanto - had been reduced to charred, smoking ruins. Skyscrapers on either side had been caught in the blast radius, though Psychics had been able to evacuate most civilians within the surrounding area.
Sabrina had been interviewed, her hair and clothes scorched and blackened, her eyes hard.
Team Rainbow Rocket, she had said.
Silph employees, Rocket grunts, and visitors alike had been found in the wreckage. The explosion had occurred around the time Hemlock and Castor were battling. The bomb was supposed to cover tracks, but the building's cameras were backed up to an external server.
Rockets are out of the shadows, now.
The League had to decide their course.
"If you can come with us, sir, we'll need to cross check this Pichu's memories." Ash was pulled from his thoughts, nodding and lightly patting the Electric type's head from where she was situated in his pocket. She was such a frail thing, swinging between moxie and timidness from one moment to the next like a pendulum.
The Kanto Police were divided into human and Pokémon affairs, and this counted as a Pokémon crime. Ash was taken to a small sitting room where the officer, Officer Malone, took his statement.
He was a bit wary after his… altercation entering Saffron. But this was necessary for Pichu to get justice.
He handed over his Pokédex for the police to pull the voice recording and verify his identity. He also submitted the few broken shards of Pichu's old Pokéball he collected as evidence. Poor Pichu was huddled in his pocket, staring at everything with fearful eyes. When a Pokémon Social Worker, Miss Tanaka, came by to take her to get her side of things, the tiny rodent clung to Ash's jacket like a lifeline when Ash tried to pull her from his pocket.
Panicking when he saw her mouth open, ready to release what had to be a Screech attack or something, Ash quickly let go, letting her stay in his pocket.
"I'm sorry, did you catch this Pichu?"
Ash frowned and shook his head, putting a calming hand on Pichu's back.
Miss Tanaka hummed and nodded. "It's not uncommon for abused Pokémon to cling to their rescuers. Alright, why don't you and Officer Malone come back with me. Pichu will be able to see you through the glass."
The group stood and went into another room, this one designed to calm and comfort its guests. There were plush chairs and Pokébeds and the remnants of an Aromatherapy floating through the air. Ash could feel some of the tension drain from the Tiny Mouse.
Ash gently pulled Pichu from his pocket, setting her on a soft ottoman. "I'll be right on the other side of that glass, okay?" Her eyes darted back and forth a few times before she nodded. Lightly petting her a few times, a couple sparks dancing along his fingers, Ash and the Officer went into the other room.
Keeping half his attention on the happenings of the room next to them, Ash answered Officer Malone's questions as thoroughly as he could. Everything he knew about Cross, the injuries Pichu sustained, the state of the teen's Lycanroc, and so on.
Ash even told them about his ultimatum, which got him an intense look from the officer. He looked away and shrugged. "I wanted him to regret his actions."
"Regardless, you should have called the Kanto Police immediately."
Biting his lip, Ash didn't argue. But he didn't lament his choice. Officer Malone looked like she could tell, but she had no further comments.
A frantic squeak was his only warning before a tiny weight scaled his side, pinpricks of claws digging into his flesh through his clothing. Bewildered, Ash looked down to see Pichu safely ensconced in his pocket once more. His red eyes met the sad ones of Miss Tanaka.
"My Elgyem verified your recount. Officer Malone, I authorize the warrant for Cross Osaka's arrest for Pokémon battery and abandonment." Nodding seriously, the officer left the room. The social worker sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Now onto what happens to Pichu."
"Does she go to a new home? A Pokémon preserve?" The indignant squeak from his pocket made them both purse their lips.
"Well, we're waiting on Pichu's history, such as where she was bred or caught or traded."
"Cross said he paid a lot of money for her."
Nodding, Miss Tanaka continued. "From what my Elgyem could gleam, Pichu was never a wild Pokémon, so release is not an option. She likes - or for all we know liked - to battle, and as we could hear from her a Pokémon preserve would not be best. We rarely put abused Pokémon up for adoption, either, especially visibly cross-bred Pokémon."
Ash was growing frustrated and concerned. Was she saying Pichu had nowhere to go?
"That's why I'd like you to take Pichu." Ash tried not to gape, he really did. He knew everyone in this station had checked his history. Did they really think Ash was the best person to take in a traumatized baby Pokémon? Why would they trust him when they could see exactly what type of Pokémon he trained?
"I don't think-"
"Pichu wants it."
That shut him up.
Looking down at the now bashful Electric type in his pocket, Ash was floored. It really hadn't seemed like Pichu liked him.
"But she's always shocking me and screeching and then hiding and looks so confused."
Miss Tanaka's sad eyes only grew sadder. "That's exactly how abused Pokémon act when they get a new trainer. They test boundaries. You have to understand that Pichu is a baby, everything she knows has been learned in the presence of her old trainer. You love your Pokémon, right?"
"Without question." Ash didn't even need to think about that.
"Do you care that she's different?"
Ash fought back his scowl. "Of course not."
Miss Tanaka held out a hand. "There you have it. Pichu doesn't know what acceptance and love look like. She's learning things now that completely juxtapose her prior experiences. She's seeing how Pokémon are supposed to be treated."
"But-"
"Ma'am." An orderly came into the room after a single knock, a folder in his hands. "We have Pichu's history."
"Ah, thank you Elliot." Miss Tanaka took the folder and flipped through the information, leaving Ash standing there awkwardly.
"I'm not sure you're aware, but after how many Pokémon went missing and were lost in the system during the Rocket Wars, the League did a complete overhaul on how trainer-owned Pokémon are tracked and filed. Bringing in the broken Pokéball helped save us a few weeks. We would have had to wait for blood samples to be tested otherwise." She spoke offhandedly as she looked through the pages.
"Well, this is interesting." Her glasses caught the light as she looked back up at Ash. "Pichu here was purchased three months ago at a charity auction in Alola. She has quite the lineage, to be sure. She is the only offspring of Sunyshore Gym Leader Volkner's starter Raichu and Alolan Trial Captain Mina's starter Clefable."
Ash blinked. Volkner's Raichu was known as an absolute beast, probably even more notorious than Surge's ace. She had taken down the likes of Aaron's Drapion and Bertha's Ground-type Gliscor. Volkner could have been an Elite Four member if he wanted.
Trial Captain Mina, on the other hand, was a wild card. She was one of the most prolific abstract artists alive, while also being a Fairy Master. Her Clefable was renowned for his vocal abilities.
Ah. That explained Pichu's rather forceful shrieks.
Wait a moment.
The Pichu line was part of the Fairy egg group.
Ash sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, but his hand went down to Pichu's head to softly brush through the soft fur on her head.
She must have raised a pretty penny for whatever charity.
If Cross had stayed in Alola and been less of a piece of shit, he could have had a powerful Alolan Raichu. Unless with her condition…
"Have Volkner or Mina been contacted?"
Miss Tanaka adjusted her glasses and nodded. "Yes, although we have not received a response yet. Mind you we only found this information minutes ago. Though from what I can see, the breeding of Raichu and Clefable was a specific request by the charity committee. The contract the two trainers signed revoked their claim on Pichu. From what else I can see, all three parties revoked any ties as soon as she was purchased. You can probably guess why."
Ash frowned. He hated business deals like that; it made Pokémon seem like objects.
"You'd be surprised how often this happens. Pokémon won through tournaments, contests, or purchased for high prices are the ones most commonly seen in abuse cases."
Glaring, Ash scratched Pichu under the chin to distract her from this - frankly awful - conversation. He quickly changed the subject.
"So will there be check ups on Pichu to see how she is adjusting to my care?"
Nodding, Miss Tanaka handed him copies of all the documents as she started making her way out of the room, Ash naturally following. "For the next six months, you will be contacted semi-monthly for updates on Pichu's acclimation and behavior. You will be visited by a Social Worker twice during these six months. You will be given 24 hours notice.
"For Pokémon that can evolve through affection and love, there will be one check-in post-evolution before your case is considered closed. There was an instance where an Eevee evolved into a Sylveon when the new trainer wanted an Umbreon and we had to step in."
The next hour and a half was filled with signing documents, giving contact information, emergency contacts, and getting Pichu's updated information into the League system.
The final step was catching her.
They were shown to a private room that had a few chairs and a table. Ash sat down, showing his body language was relaxed and unbothered. He waited a moment before Pichu slowly crawled out of his pocket and stared up at him from his lap.
She was so light he could barely feel her weight through the fabric of his pants.
Slowly, showing his hands the entire time, Ash massaged Pichu's electric pouches, getting a few happy sparks that danced along his fingertips.
Seeing the mischievous smirk, Ash continued his ministrations and waited. The sharper Thunder Shock made him flinch, though he played it up somewhat, to the rodent's amusement.
The happy "chuuu" almost made his heart burst.
"Are you sure you want to come with me?" Pichu peaked an eye open and stared at him for a moment. "You can decide to leave at any point, and Artemis would guilt-trip me if I tried to force you to stay." Pichu sniggered a little at that. She liked the warm canine.
Miss Tanaka had said Pichu couldn't be released into the wild. Could she have even survived given her… malformation?
Reaching into his bag, he withdrew a pink Pokéball he'd bought from Maisie back in Hulbury. Holding out the Love ball to Pichu, he waited patiently.
There was conflict in the Tiny Mouse's eyes, but ultimately she pressed the button. He had to admire her courage and leap of faith. Putting her safety and wellness in another's hands after the first had so greatly abused her trust.
She was stronger than him.
The ball dinged, confirming the capture.
So. He technically just caught his final Fairy.
Suddenly, the ball burst open, Pichu shaking out her fur with an offended expression. Ash could only laugh. He had honestly expected to run into this issue much sooner than now.
"You don't like Pokéballs?" Pichu flattened her ears and shook her head. Ash had to wonder how long Cross kept her locked inside one. "Fair enough." Shrugging, Ash put the ball away. He only had twelve spots on his belt, and if he was going to have 15 Pokémon, he needed another place to store the last three.
Pichu blinked, like she hadn't expected his easy acceptance of her choice or opinion. She chittered quietly to herself before she dove back into his pocket, making herself comfortable.
Rolling his eyes fondly, Ash pulled out his Pokédex.
Pichu: The Tiny Mouse Pokémon. Electric Type . Pichu is a social Pokémon known for its playful and mischievous demeanor. It is usually found in groups and often touch tails with other Pichu as a show of courage, creating a shower of sparks that can make them cry. It is inept at storing electricity and may discharge if amused, startled, or subjected to shock. However, it cannot discharge without being shocked. Charging up is more easily done on days of dryness or with thunderclouds. The crackling of static electricity generated by Pichu is audible. It can zap an adult human but will surprise itself if it does.
This Pichu is Female and has the ability Lightning Rod
Known Moves: Thunder Shock, Sweet Kiss, Charm, Nuzzle, Nasty Plot, and Swift
Egg Move(s): Volt Tackle, Disarming Voice, Lucky Chant, and Sing
This Pokémon stands at 0'11" and weighs 3.11lbs
Ash raised an eyebrow. Huh. Guess her sire's vocal abilities carried over to her. She must have been hitting him with a weak Disarming Voice this whole time. He reached a hand down to rub Pichu's head.
"You're a strong little thing, aren't you?" Her proud squeak was adorable.
He ignored the error code, knowing it must be due to her mutation. They'd have to be vigilant when traveling in storms, however. He really didn't want to be struck by lightning.
Raising Pichu would be very different than raising Artemis. The Houndoom had been abused, yes, but she had such a naive and happy-go-lucky outlook on life even trauma couldn't bend it. Pichu, on the other hand, had already experienced so much for one so young and seemed a bit jaded because of it.
"Do you want a name?" The inquisitive squeak from his pocket had him continue. "All my teammates have one, as you've probably noticed. It separates them from others of their species."
Pichu was quiet for a long moment. Ash wouldn't be surprised if she was thinking about the permanence of the name. If she ever - Mew forbid - left Ash or was removed from his care, she'd carry that reminder of him.
So when she hesitantly squeaked and nodded her head, Ash was once again awed by her bravery.
"I've been thinking about it, and I have a couple ideas. You tell me which you like best. Elektra?" A squeak that sounded like a scoff was her only response. "Okay, Calliope? Harmonia? Circe?" Both were shot down. "Astria?"
Pichu poked her head out of his pocket and stared at him in thought, tilting her head. "Astria? She's a goddess of justice."
The rodent's ears twitched, the injured one almost fully healed, fur growing back but still thin. Finally, she nodded.
Smiling, Ash brushed a finger down her cheek. "Astria it is."
It was comical how tiny Astria was compared to the rest of his team. She hardly reached Wisteria's knee.
Even though his team was on their best behavior - Ash had spoken to them separately and stressed the significance of not intimidating her (he had seen how she reacted to Cross's Lycanroc) they were still a scary bunch. But Astria stood on Ash's head for a height advantage over a third of them, staring them down even as she trembled.
Yes, she had met them all over the past day, but now she was a part of them.
Many of his team didn't care for her. She was a baby, a liability, and weak in their eyes. Specifically, it was Sagitta who really led that front, but Orion, Castor, Hemlock, and Bane were all pretty indifferent to the Tiny Mouse.
Ash was surprised by Sagitta, knowing how much she loved Mirae as an Eevee, but that's Chaos types for you. Never doing what you'd expect.
Styx was doing her due diligence of being the co-leader of the pack, welcoming the Pichu even though the Hydreigon looked like she wanted to be doing anything else. Libra looked rather perplexed on how small Astria was, keeping her distance so she didn't accidentally crush the rodent. One of her scales was bigger than the Electric type.
Mirae and Wisteria were still curious, but now suspicious of the new baby of the family.
Ash could only be patient and hope they'd warm up to her soon.
"Alright Astria. Let's see what you can do."
I have been going back and forth for so long about what final Fairy type to give Ash. I had considered and discarded Ribombee, Mawile, shiny Carbink, even a Dedenne. But as cliche as it is, I really love the Pichu line. Astria's journey is going to be interesting! (There are multiple spellings for Astria/Astrea/Astraea)
I was inspired by Pokémon Yellow, and Gen 6 through BDSP games where Pikachu says its name in battle
If you couldn't tell, I read Batman fanfics. Dr. Quinzel isn't evil, don't worry, I just thought she had that fae-chaos that would mesh with Ash. I've decided she has a Tinkaton.
Note About Last Chapter: I understand Chapter 47 read differently compared to past chapters. Was I attempting to evoke the same feelings of confusion, whiplash, and bombardment that Ash was experiencing? Yes. Was it a bit too heavy-handed? Also yes. Nevertheless, we move onward!