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When Pikachu wakes up, it has no idea what's going on, where it is, or when it is. All it knows is that it's hurt, its mind is fuzzy, and that there are humans around. (Pikachu feels instinctively threatened by them. It must be because humans are bad, evil creatures. Even if there's a feeling in Pikachus mind about someone different)
Pikachu bares its teeth, but feels glad when the humans aren't focused on Pikachu, instead focused on one of their own, surrounding the boy (because something in Pikachu tells it that it's a kit, it hasn't even gotten a look at its face and yet Pikachu knows.)
They were attacking the boy. Good, a part of Pikachu snarls, if they focus on him they won't focus on Pikachu. (Part of Pikachu rages at their attacking. It isn't sure why, it doesn't know the boy, and Pikachu certainly doesn't like humans.)
Pikachu stands up, snarling at the alakazam who drifts closer, but quickly backs away.
Pikachu nearly falls back down, feeling fatigued and a little far away from itself, but it forces itself to move forward. From its new position it can see the boy's face, he's trying to guard himself from the attackers but he's not doing very well. His eyes lock with Pikachu and he looks like he's about to plead for Pikachu to jump in, ( Pikachu almost does ) Pikachu does the opposite, snarling at the human in disgust before bolting away, trying to get as far away from the humans as it can. Even if a part of Pikachu aches at the thought, Pikachu doesn't know why it is, but it is.
But before Pikachu can make it fully away from the humans it comes across a hat.
An innocently sitting hay, red in color with a design on the top. Pikachu doesn't know why it stands there staring at it for so long. Part of Pikachu loves the hat, loves it so deeply it can't possibly leave it behind.
The humans are shifting behind Pikachu but Pikachu stays fixated on the hat. It doesn't know why it likes the hat so much. Everytime it tries to think about it there's a sharp pain followed by fuzz overtaking a large portion of Pikachu's mind.
Pikachu doesn't have time to think, it grabs the hat like leaving it behind would be ripping apart some part of Pikachu, and runs off, leaving the humans, and that black haired boy with kind eyes, behind.
Pikachu took the hat, it doesn't understand why some part of it was urging it to go back, to attack those humans. Save something.
It doesn't even know what it would be saving. So Pikachus logic rules and it continues to run into the surrounding forest.
It's hard to breathe, and tears bloom in Pikachu's eyes for seemingly no reason ( it's leaving him behind, it's leaving him behind! )
Pikachu figures it's just its injuries, that it doesn't remember it got. ( He's hurting too! Remember! Help him! )
Pikachu finds a small burrow that it buries itself in, keeping watch for any predators or humans nearby.
It looks at the hat it kept, confused. It doesn't know why it's so important to Pikachu, but when Pikachu sniffs it, it figures it out. It doesn't know what about the sweat, forest, and electricity in that hat makes Pikachu relax, but it smells like home.
It doesn't remember home. It doesn't remember where it is, or how long it's been since it was home. ( Only an afternoon, you can still find him! )
Pikachu's head grows fuzzy again, and it figures it'll feel better when it sleeps. Pikachu keeps its face in the hat as it falls asleep, feeling like something was missing and deeply wrong.
Over the next few days the fuzziness in Pikachu's head goes away, leaving behind a very large gap of memory that Pikachu just can't grasp. It felt like something vital was stripped away from Pikachu, a core part of his being ripped out and left behind.
The hat feels like a reminder to whatever it's missing.
At least it no longer feels that fuzziness and sharp pain when it tries to remember. Even if it can't grasp what it's not remembering.
It remembers rainbows in the sky, the smell of petrichor as the clouds flee. Pikachu doesn't like Spearow very much. It prefers to not have to travel on foot, instead riding on something. It remembers kind eyes that knew exactly how to cheer Pikachu up. It remembers soft yet firm hands that could wrap around Pikachu in a tight hug that managed to not make Pikachu feel claustrophobic. It remembers adventure and the thrill of being on the road. It remembers loving to battle, being cheered on when it won, being cared for when it lost.
But most importantly, Pikachu remembers that there's someone out there who loves Pikachu more than should be possible.
If only Pikachu could remember who.
( Ash! Ash! Don't you remember? Our pikapi! )
But Pikachu doesn't dwell on it for long. It needs to recover from its injuries and try to find food and shelter for the night. Every day Pikachu creeps closer to... where again? Pikachu doesn't know. It just knows it's going towards somewhere and that it needs to get there as soon as possible.
It'll figure it out as soon as it can walk without too much pain.
But Pikachu can't deny that it feels lonely. Like something giant was missing from its life. And it can't figure out what it is or why there's that giant chunk ripped out of Pikachus soul. By the second week the scent of the hat started fading. Pikachu felt a little panicked at that, although it doesn't know why it is.
Something big is tearing at Pikachu's soul, but that something is far out of Pikachu's grasp, and nothing can feel right without it.
By the end of the first month, Pikachu had almost gotten used to that dull aching left in its chest. That missing feeling.
Its wounds had mostly healed thanks to some berries it found, and it continues moving on following an old worn path in the wilderness.
It doesn't know where it's going, but it knows its destination will help Pikachu remember what it's missing.
It misses being called buddy, it misses a bright grin that shined down on it. It misses being next to a person and that person being the only person in the world that would understand Pikachu. It misses traveling with its human. It misses battling. It misses a lot of things.
But it mostly misses that giant chunk of itself. That whatever pikachu is missing is connected to the hat, that Pikachu has refused to leave behind even as the strong connection Pikachu felt to it faded as the scent did.
Something was wrong, and only wherever Pikachu was going could help it.
Once it figures out where it's going.
It took two months since when Pikachu woke up to feel any sense of familiarity in its surroundings. (Not counting the hat that Pikachu still clings to, often falling over Pikachu's eyes in a frustrating way but Pikachu couldn't bear the idea of leaving it behind. When it tried one day it was hit with such debilitating panic that it didn't even make it a half day without it before doubling back to retrieve the hat.)
It doesn't know where it is, but it knows that this city is where Pikachu has stumbled upon is where it'll figure out why it's so confused and what it's missing.
It wanders the streets of the water side city, avoiding people as much as possible. It doesn't like those people, those people are dangerous. (Not like the one Pikachu knows is out there, somewhere, buried deep in Pikachu's memories.)
Eventually Pikachu comes along a building that makes Pikachu feel happy, a surge of excitement building as it sees it. Pikachu doesn't know why, but it knows that it needs to go inside.
So Pikachu hides in a nearby bush until it sees a person enter, and Pikachu sneaks in right behind them.
When it's inside, Pikachu doesn't know where to go from there.
It runs around the inside of the building, finding a pool area that fills Pikachu with a thrill that makes it want to shock something, but not in a scared way.
Pikachu runs around, avoiding any people it sees and hiding when they come near. Pikachu doesn't know what it's here for, but something tells Pikachu it needs to be here.
"Pikachu?" Pikachu freezes as it's caught running down a hallway. It turns, baring its teeth at the human in case they try to hurt it.
But when Pikachu looks at the person's face it falters, unsure why it feels relieved to see her but it is.
Fiery orange hair and a deeply concerned look on her face the girl walks forward. Pikachu lets out warning sparks only for the hat resting on its head to fall down and block its eyesight for a second.
Pikachu forces the hat up, shifting to tug at the hat with a much less defensive position. By the time Pikachu had shifted the hat the girl had walked up to Pikachu, causing Pikachu to jump when it saw the human towering over it.
It skitters back until it backs straight into a wall, the girl looks confused and scared.
"Pikachu? What's wrong? Where's Ash?" The girl asks, approaching carefully.
Pikachu growls at her but some part of Pikachu, buried deep in its heart, sobs at the name she mentions. Ash.
It doesn't know who that is, or why Pikachu is so attached to it, but there's great love in that name. Along with great sorrow. The name makes Pikachu feel like lounging in a field as the sun casts warm rays down on Pikachu. The feeling of cold wind nipping at Pikachu's fur but being shielded by a warm figure. Of cold stone falling to the ground. Of limited oxygen and coldness surrounding Pikachu. Of gazing at a rainbow the feeling that something has just begun. Of rain beating down on Pikachu as it braces for a Spearow's tough beak against its injured skin. Of love. Of loss.
The name sends shudders through Pikachu’s spine. It wants to know about the name, it wants to forget it and run away and never come back.
But Pikachu longs to know about the name, wants to know why it feels such a connection to it.
But the girl is still approaching, talking softly to Pikachu as she inches closer with her arms outstretched.
Pikachus fur raises and it sends sparks from its cheeks as it growls, ready to iron tail her away and run off. It tries to find a way around her but it doesn't have any openings besides through the girl. When she gets too close Pikachu is about to shoot off a thunderbolt when the cursed hat falls back over Pikachu's eyes when its ears twitch. Its thunderbolt dissipates in surprise and the girl takes it as a chance to grab Pikachu and hold it close to her chest in her arms.
Pikachu squeaks, preparing another thunderbolt as it feels itself get grabbed, but one whiff of the scent the girl gives off and Pikachu automatically relaxes against its will.
Why can't it attack!? Or summon any electricity?
And more importantly, why does Pikachu want to bury its face into the arms around it and sob?
It doesn't know what's happening, or why Pikachu feels so comfortable with the girl. It desperately wants to attack, knowing logically that humans aren't good, and that if Pikachu lowers its guard the girl will try to catch it in a pokeball, ( it wouldn't work. It's already a caught pokemon. To the best trainer in the world. It's pikapi.) but it's instinct wouldn't let Pikachu. No matter what it did it couldn't break free of the bliss that settled over Pikachu, the relief to find someone familiar, someone who could help, someone nice.
The hat sinks over Pikachu's face and the girl keeps talking to Pikachu.
“Where have you been Pikachu?” The girl asks, looking upset and sounding worried, she checks Pikachu over, removing it from her arms to look at Pikachu from all angles, frowning when she sees the injuries over it.
“You're injured…” the girl says, pursing her lips before she brings Pikachu back into her arms.
“Let's go get you healed at the pokemon center before we figure out what happened to you.” she says and Pikachu's tail flicks in annoyance at being brought somewhere it didn't care for, but it couldn't move from the bliss that settled over it. It enjoyed the girl’s presence too much, even if Pikachu couldn't fathom why.
The girl walks, and from under the brim of the hat Pikachu watches faces path, barely containing its growl in warning when they glance at Pikachu.
The girl rubs behind Pikachu's ear to relax it as she moves through the building with ease. Much more confident then Pikachu’s run through it, since she actually knows where she's going.
The scratches behind the ear feel good, but they don't feel as good as someone else's. Pikachu doesn't know who that someone else is. But it knows there's better out there.
The girl leaves the building, flicking a little sign to show that the building is closed as she leaves. Pikachu doesn't get why, but it's too focused on keeping a close eye at the people outside, and breathing in the girl's scent.
Its claws dig into the girl's arms but she apparently doesn't mind, instead holding Pikachu tighter.
The girl's breathing is uneven, her heart beating just a touch quicker than normal. Pikachu purrs, nuzzling its cheek into her arm. It doesn't know why it cares about her, but her being so worried makes Pikachu upset.
The girl breathes a bit easier when Pikachu does so, and continues petting Pikachu. Pikachu tries to smell the hat again, but the sweat, forest, and electricity having long since faded, especially since it fell into the lake. Pikachu nearly drowned trying to get it back, even though it didn't know why it was so important.
The girl takes Pikachu to a new building, approaching another human that makes Pikachu growl lowly at her.
The girl shushes Pikachu and Pikachu quiets down, staring at the new human with a glare.
"What happened to this one? Had a battle?" The woman asks, and the girl purses her lips with a worried expression.
"I'm not sure, I know it's trainer and he's nowhere to be found, it seems like Pikachu has been on its own for a while." The trusted human says, putting Pikachu on the table. Pikachu forces itself up only to fall back down, having been living off fumes and adrenaline for too long, now that it had relaxed it was barely standing.
But Pikachu digs its claws into the soft mattress on the stretcher, growling as a chansey comes close.
"Abandoned?" The woman asks, pink hair swaying with her frown.
"Absolutely not! Ash absolutely hated the idea of people abandoning their pokemon, he adopted many abandoned or abused pokemon. He would never give up his best friend." The girl immediately defends, and a part of Pikachu soothes, like some part of Pikachu wanted to defend whoever its trainer was.
"And besides, Pikachu isn't acting right. I don't think it recognized me, and it seems a lot more anxious and on guard than I've seen in years." Pikachu's eyes slip closed but it forces its eyes back open.
"Hm. It may have been hit with a confusion, or even possibly an amnesia. Those can make pokemon hurt themselves or even attack their trainers." The woman suggests before sighing, "but let's get this one healed first."
"Right." The girl says, Pikachu is suddenly moved on the stretcher, away from the girl by a Chansey. Pikachu growls, standing up only to immediately fall back down. It tries to fire off a thunderbolt but it can't manage to generate any electricity, it's cheeks too covered in mud to do so.
The cart underneath it moves and before Pikachu knows it it was taken away from the girl with the relaxing scent and in a room with a chipper chansey and a woman that puts Pikachus fur on edge.
“Oh you poor thing, you must have been hit with a hypnosis, or at least an amnesia.” the woman coos, trying to scratch Pikachus ear but being smacked away by Pikachus tail, “you must be so scared.”
“This'll make you feel better.” the woman says, picking Pikachu up, Pikachu immediately shocks her and she drops Pikachu back onto the bed.
The woman frowns at Pikachu, but Pikachu feels no remorse. She picks up gloves from a cart nearby and puts them on, Pikachu looks at the hot pink gloves in confusion, before widening in fear as it realizes they were rubber gloves. She picks Pikachu up, and it squirms trying to get away. But with the rubber gloves it can't shock her. And she's holding Pikachu tight so it can't iron tail her.
She puts Pikachu in a box, and Pikachu growls, its fur rising as the box is closed over top of Pikachu.
It tries to irontail the box but suddenly the box lights up and a weird calming energy fills Pikachu. Pikachu's limbs immediately go out, and Pikachu flops down onto the floor of the box. It's only then does Pikachu realize that there were circular indents in the box, for pokeballs.
Pikachu closes its eyes, feeling as its bruises sooth and its cuts stitch themselves back together.
Its mind soothes as well, like pieces that were forcibly shoved deep into Pikachu's mind surfacing, but it's been so long Pikachu couldn't quite grasp them yet. Like a face that hasn't been seen for years, forgotten and morphed that by the time the familiar face is in front of you again you can't recognize it.
Pikachu doesn't quite know what it remembered, or that it remembered anything at all, but it's soothed at the knowledge it knows now. A piece of Pikachus self found.
It's only until the healing energy rescinded and the box is open does Pikachu start to realize what's happening. What happened.
Nurse Joy picks Pikachu up, and Pikachu freezes, realizing it knew who the woman was. Why was it with Nurse Joy?
And just like that, just that little question, a dam was opened for Pikachu.
The memories came flooding back, things that didn't make sense to Pikachu earlier suddenly clicking back into place. Remembering what even got Pikachu into this situation in the first place.
Remembering Ash.
Ash!
Pikachu feels a bubble of joy buildup as it realizes what it's been missing all this time. How could it forget Ash!? Ash is its best friend, its trainer, its other half!
Pikachu remembers Ash, and it feels so much better now.
Pikachu is placed back onto the stretcher carted away. Pikachu just buries its face into the scratchy blanket feeling so much better, not only because it's injuries were gone but that it remembers now. What it was searching for.
Pikachu almost purrs, its ears twitching back as its joy at remembering nearly overwhelms Pikachu.
“You seem a lot better now, let's get you back to your trainer now.” Nurse Joy says and Pikachu flicks its tail happily at the idea. Only to freeze as it remembers why it didn't remember Ash.
Pikachu's eyes snap open, its tail and ears freezing in place and its fur standing on edge.
Ash.
Pikachu feels a bubble of panic over take its joy, remembering how exactly it got into this situation. Those people, the battle, those people hurting Ash.
Pikachu feels fury start to build in its chest, remembering their attack on Ash. Immediately Pikachu stands, having a much easier time now that it was healed. Nurse Joy shouts as Pikachu bursts forward, jumping through the hallways of the pokemon center to burst into the lobby with an iron tail.
“Pikapi!” Pikachu shouts, avoiding startled people to make a break for the door.
“Woah! Pikachu!” Pikachu hears a familiar voice shout and it has to quickly break to not barrel into a set of legs. Pikachu looks up to see Misty, and only feels a bit of its anxiety relax.
Pikachu apologizes, rubbing its cheek on Misty's leg.
“Do you recognize me now?” Misty asks, a bit of hope in her voice as she squats down to Pikachu.
“Pikachu!” Pikachu nods, and Misty sighs in relief, Pikachu feels bad for worrying her, but it really needs to get to its trainer.
“What happened, Pikachu? Where's Ash?” Misty asks, petting Pikachu. Pikachu looks away, having no clue where Ash is. Pikachu doesnt know exactly where it left from when it had no memories, but it's sure it could find it. The question is if Ash would be there or not. Pikachu doesnt know what would be worse, Ash was there, unmoving, left for two months. Or not there, missing and who knows where.
Pikachu needs to get back there. It was glad it came here, found Misty, but now it needed to get back to its pikapi.
“Do you have an idea of where he might be?” Misty asks, and Pikachu nods, at least he knows where Ash was last seen.
“Alright, then we'll go looking for him.” Misty says, sounding heavy but determined. Piachu feels relieved, it knows it would have trouble getting their on its own. And, if those people are still there, Pikachu would have a bit of help taking them down.
“But let's wait until morning.” Misty nods, Pikachu squawks, annoyed they were waiting at all.
“Don't give me that look, it's mid afternoon, I need to get supplies together and call people to see if they've seen any trace of Ash, and you need rest.” Misty gives Pikachu a stern look, “you've been on your own for who knows how long, you need a bath, a warm meal, and a good night's sleep. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
Pikachu grumbles, unhappy but knowing it needs help.
It needs to see Ash now, why does it need to rest? If Pikachu was missing Ash wouldnt rest, searching heads and tails for it.
But then again, Pikachu would be annoyed with Ash for doing so. And it knows Ash would be upset if Pikachu sacrificed its health for him.
So Pikachu sucks it up, it can last a night, after all it lasted two months before now, what was one night.
Apparently, One night was agonizing. Now that it actually remembered Ash, Pikachu knew exactly what it was missing and how much better things could be.
Curled on the counter of Misty's kitchen, glumly eating the food Misty gave it, covering in ketchup. Pikachu couldn't taste it, it's not as fun when it's not a fight. When Ash would try to keep Pikachu from eating the entire bottle of ketchup, rolling his eyes at Pikachu before inevitably giving up and giving the waiters apologetic looks.
Misty was in the background, making calls to dozens of people. Calling Nurse Joys, Officer Jenny's anyone she could contact in any city in Kanto, no one has seen a hair of Ash.
Then she called Brock, who started calling people himself. Rangers, champions, anyone.
Brock nearly came to cerulean city himself, but Misty talked him down, he was in finals week. She told him he could join the search after he took the exams, Ash would be disappointed if he didnt. Brock grumbled for a bit but reluctantly agreed, personally Pikachu didn't agree. Ash was more important then some stupid tests. More people helping look the better. But Pikachu didn't voice it, knowing neither Misty, nor Brock, were as good at knowing Pikachus words then Ash, and that they wouldn't understand.
Whatever. Once Pikachu is out there it'll find Ash.
Misty gave Pikachu a bath, and it begrudgingly sat as its fur was cleaned. Feeling a bit of relief as its cheeks were cleaned and fur untangled. But Misty's scrubbing was too harsh, so different from Ash's soft rubbing. Carefully detangling with his hands before going over with a brush to get the rougher knots out. Mistys tugged at its fur, leaving Pikachu feeling raw and sore.
It liked when Ash would groom it. Enjoyed the days when Pikachu and Ash, and some of his other pokemon would play around all day, getting dirty before Ash would wash it, dry it, and then gently groom Pikachu.
Pikachu curls onto the window sill of Misty's bedroom. Misty crawls into bed, falling to sleep quickly, her bag packed next to her bed and ready to be grabbed as soon as her alarm goes off.
Pikachu stares up at the sky, wondering if Ash was looking up at the stars as well.
Heaviness settles on Pikachu at the thought. It closes its eyes, only to snap them open as it remembers the face Ash made when Pikachu left. And the image makes Pikachus breath hitch.
It left Ash. It left Ash!
How could it do such a thing? How could it ever do that?
Pikachu buries its face into its paws, Ash's hat tipping down to cover the rest.
Ash was counting on it, how could it just leave? Leave like Ash was nothing to Pikachu.
When Pikachu first started traveling with Ash, it was so sure Ash would leave Pikachu, abandon it like all of its other trainers did.
Ash never did, he never would.
Yet Pikachu couldn't do the same. It abandoned Ash like he was nothing more than dirt on its paws. Sure it had no memory, but it should have known. Ash would have.
Ash would have taken one look at Pikachu and decided to protect it through heaven and earth. While Pikachu saw Ash being hurt and actually thought that was good .
Pikachu was a terrible partner. Terrible best friend. Best buddy.
Ash should've left Pikachu behind, should've saved himself the trouble.
Maybe Pikachu should've stayed with those Pikachu they found back when they were first traveling Kanto. Pikachu could’ve stayed, and let Ash leave without it. That way Ash would’ve been better off. Ash would’ve found another pokemon to be his best friend, it would've been hard to not. Ash was extraordinary and any pokemon would be lucky to be Ash's friend. Pikachu would’ve been lonely there, it knows it would've. When it knows it could’ve stayed with Ash. But Ash would’ve been better off.
At least it would’ve been Ash's choice, at least Ash wouldn't have been hurt when he was relying on Pikachu.
A cold breeze rolls through the room, the slightly open window making Pikachu shiver.
Pikachu wants to curl tighter to block out the cold, maybe curl up next to Misty. But it can't bring itself to do either. It wouldn't have been cold if Ash was there. And it was the reason Ash wasn't there.
Pikachu closes its eyes, the scent of the hat long since washed away but Pikachu could now remember it.
Pikachu doesn't get sleep that night.
Ash hasn't slept much these past few weeks.
At least, Ash thinks it's been weeks. Ash doesn't know, he's been stuck in this room for a while.
He doesn't know what these people want from him, he doesnt recognize their uniforms. And it's not like they talk with him much. They just give him food, question him about confusing things, and mostly leave him alone. That is, if he gives them the right answers, but Ash has no clue what those answers are. He tries to answer them as best he can but they were asking about weird stuff. How Ash becomes so close with his pokemon. He becomes their friends. Why his pokemon were so unnaturally strong. Because they give it their all and they train. Why is he so odd, so much of a trouble magnet? How is he supposed to know?
Of course these aren't the answers they like, and they've been going to more drastic measures. With psychic pokemon digging into his mind to try and get the real answers, which only ends up giving Ash a splitting migraine and the people more annoyed.
Or, they go with more traditional methods of trying to get the “real” answers out of him. Which just leads to Ash hurt, and very spiteful, and whoever those people are that kidnapped Ash extraordinarily angry.
Ash tried to escape once, got pretty far, but the confusing hallways made it so Ash couldn't figure out the actual way out. He got far, but got a probably broken leg in exchange.
The bruises that covered him when they first took him in had long since faded, but were quickly replaced by a new one.
Ash huffs, burying his face in his arms as he struggles to not move his leg. Only to yelp, crackly and dry from hours of screaming -for help to find him or from pain- leaving him voiceless, as his leg inevitably is gostled.
Ash breathes in and out, gritting his teeth to force down the pain. It's fine. It's fine.
Ash hits his head against the rocky wall behind him, feeling the thud and blossom of pain from it, but preferring it over his leg in pain. At least he can control this.
He feels restless and yet somehow equally tired. He can't stand and pace like he did before his leg was broken, dragging his arm along the rocky wall to feel the cracks and texture. But he can't sleep.
Usually, he would train, or go for a run when he gets like this out in the real world. But here in this tiny room, that isn't exactly an option.
Ash sighs, knocking his head against the wall again.
He hopes Pikachu managed to escape.
He's been out of his mind with worry for Pikachu. It's at least easier to worry for Pikachu than to worry for himself.
What if they managed to catch Pikachu when Ash fell unconscious shortly after Pikachu fled? He really hopes Pikachu managed to successfully flee. But Ash knows Pikachu was injured and definitely seemed freaked out and worried. He is worried Pikachu was caught, and was stuck somewhere in this building with Ash.
But somehow, Ash knows Pikachu escaped. It had to.
Ash sighs, the only sound in the room.
Pikachu has to be searching for him.
But a little bit of Ash feels his heart grow heavy at the idea. He can't get the face Pikachu made at him before it ran away.
Pikachu just looked so disgusted, so disappointed with Ash.
For the first week or so Ash didn't pay any attention to it, knowing Pikachu would find someone or find him. But as the weeks went on Ash started to think about it more and more.
He's sure Pikachu is still searching for him. He knows it.
But part of Ash questions if Pikachu should just leave Ash behind. Maybe Pikachu would be better off with another trainer.
One who was smarter at battling, one who's better at keeping Pikachu safe, one who wasn't so weak.
Ash wraps his arms tightly around himself, feeling his isolation heavily.
Ash shakes his head, forcing himself to now think like that.
He buries his nails into the palm of his hand hard enough to feel pricks of pain and for his palm to have dots of blood.
Ash closes his eyes, trying to fall asleep. Someone out there is looking for Ash, and he knows it's Pikachu.
But that doesnt mean a part of Ash didn't think that maybe it would be better if it didn't.
Pikachu is glad Misty got a new bike between when she was traveling with Ash and now, it's a lot faster to travel through the forest with one.
It took Pikachu two months to get from where it was, to cerulean city. With countless detours and distractions. With the bike it only took about a week and a half. With Misty pedaling and Pikachu sitting in the basket, directing Misty.
The pace was pretty slow, Misty making sure to pace herself for the long biking. Pikachu wanted to urge her to go faster, to be quicker, but if Misty burnt herself out it would take even longer for Pikachu to find where Ash last was. That doesn't mean that every night Pikachu doesn't sit anxiously, staring at the stars wondering where Ash was.
If Ash would even be happy Pikachu was finally searching for him. Or if he had given up on Pikachu.
He probably should, but Pikachu knows Ash wouldn't.
That fact doesn't make Pikachu's guilt better.
Finally, finally, they make it to the place Pikachu ran from. Pikachu doesnt know if its glad Ash wasn't there, still and cold, or terrified at the blood splatters on the ground.
Pikachu jumps out of the basket before Misty even had the chance to break, rushing over to the red that's dried into the ground, sniffing at it only to flinch back as it gets a whiff of the copper smell. The smell that is exactly like Ash's.
Pikachu feels a bit of rage bubble up at the deep red, growling viciously.
“Pikachu? Is this the place?” Misty questions, getting off her bike to look.
She stops as she sees the blood Pikachu is growling at, plenty has faded from light showers, but there's enough.
Misty breathes in a shuddery breath, giving Pikachu a stressed grin, “I’m outta practice dealing with stuff like this. I don't remember these things being as scary as they are now.”
Fair, Pikachu knows that through the thrill of the journey dangerous stuff can be water under the bridge, only to hit harshly when things calm down. Pikachu has helped Ash through the adrenaline calming down enough times to know that. And with Misty having been several years out of practice, doing mundane things it's easy to lose the thrill when getting back into it.
“Alright, let's look around some more.” Misty says, stepping away from the blood. Pikachu doesn't get how she could, not when there's physical evidence of a grave misjustice right there, but Pikachu obeys anyway.
Misty finds it first, rough tire marks make into the soft dirt of the forest. Pikachu perks up, looking at the marks made. A trail.
Pikachu jumps into the bike, ringing the bell over and over again until Misty gets the message to start moving .
“Fine! Fine!” Misty shouts after the bell was rung a fifteenth time. She gets on the bike and starts following it, using her phone to call people about what they found.
Good, Pikachu stares ahead at the tracks, it's coming for Ash.
And whoever took him will feel retribution.
Pikachu was glad it only took a few more days to track down wherever they had taken Ash. By that point they had several rangers, police, and even champions there to help with finding Ash. Which Pikachu was glad for. It was only one pokemon after all.
Pikachu was walking through empty hallways as they tried to find Ash, whoever was here had long since abandoned the place. But they left in a rush, leaving notes, pokemon, and whatever else here.
Pikachu hopes that, like the pokemon abandoned, Ash was left. Meaning they could find Ash here and now.
Brock hums from next to Pikachu, aiding in opening doors for Pikachu, and occasionally battling the stray pokemon or grunt that didn't make it out in time.
The other parts of the building were also being searched by several different people, Pikachu hopes that soon someone finds Ash.
Pikachu darts into rooms, quickly abandoning them when Ash isn't inside. Brock tries to release some of the pokemon if Pikachu is not forcing him to hurry it up, resolving that they'd be looking back through these buildings anyway, they'd release those pokemon in time. But Pikachu needs to find Ash right now.
There's no trace of Ash within what they've searched, like he didn't exist. But Pikachu swears he has to be somewhere in the building. He has to be.
Just a little more and Pikachu will find Ash. It has to.
Pikachu darts back and forth, Brock trying to keep up. Before eventually Pikachu darts into a room, only to stop dead in its tracks.
“Pikapi!” Pikachu shouts, spotting who it wanted to see.
Pikachu bursts forward, not caring that Ash's head was lulled to the side, bangs covering his eyes. Or the blood on the ground, or the countless bruises and gashes over Ash. Or the fact Pikachu had to splash through a puddle of blood to get there, all Pikachu cared about was getting to Ash.
“Pikapi!” Pikachu purrs, bundling its way into Ash's arms. Ash lets out a low groan, but holds Pikachu tighter. Pikachu breathes a little easier, even though Ash's arms were loose around it, he was moving.
“Ash!” Brock shouts, taking in the room and reeling back much like Misty did.
Pikachu doesnt care, purring in Ash's arms.
Ash winces as he holds Pikachu tighter, burying his face into Pikachu's fur, but Pikachu doesn't mind.
Ash's breath is shaky and relieved. Pikachu is sure it isn't any better. But Pikachu doesnt care.
Even as Brock moves forward, hissing at Ash's definitely broken leg, helping patch up any of Ash's injuries he could. Spreading a bit of healing salve over the bruises if he could.
Pikachu just relishes in Ash being near, moving the hat on Pikachu's head to rest on Ash's instead. Pikachu nuzzles into Ash's side, giving an apologetic croon as Ash wheezes.
Pikachu finally feels the missing part of Pikachu rest. Calming as it is held in Ash's arms. Seeing Ash's relieved, tired smile. The unshed tears welling in his eyes, the crackly dry voice that can't grow beyond a whisper. Pikachu missed it all.
Most of all, the smell of sweat, forest, and electricity.
Pikachu coos, hopping onto the floor as Brock helps Ash up, giving him a piggyback ride and wincing when Ash yelps in pain at his leg being moved. Pikachu jumps onto Brock's shoulder, nuzzling its cheek into Ash's to help calm him.
It works and Ash starts to relax, even starting to doze with Pikachu by his face. When pikapi wakes up, Pikachu will make sure he knows where he is and that Pikachu’s by his side.
Because he's it’s pikapi. And it's his Pikachu.
Ash and Pikachu, forever and always.