SIX MONTHS LATER

/

"I can't believe we're building a city!" Pikachu, giddy, hopped up and down, in awe of a building taking form.

Wartortle pushed up his sunglasses and chuckled. "You weren't as excited when it a bunch of the shingles fell off yesterday."

"Yeah. But you guys fixed it!"

"Got my best crew on it—" Wartortle stepped forward and yelled towards a Blastoise that was encasing a brick in ice. "Ey! Ey! Ey! Blaistoise! No ice beams! That's cheating. It'll just melt."

"Heh, I can see…your hands are full." Pikachu waved. "Catch up with you later?

"Blastoise! What did I just say?" Wartortle shook his head, then turned to Pikachu. "Yeah. Got to keep an eye on them. See you, 'Mayor'." He gave a slight salute.

"I'm not the mayor!"

"Not yet." Wartortle pulled down his sunglasses to wink.

Pikachu rolled her eyes and started to climb the hill that overlooked the center of town. Alakazam was there, meditating.

"Hey."

There was no answer from the psychic-type. Pikachu sat down a short distance from him. The place had been coming together quickly—the idea of having a Pokemon-run city was popular with the Pokemon who had fought alongside Pikachu and the Pokemon who were involved in efforts in other cities, other regions.

Brock and Misty had settled on the location after a long debate: the ruins of what, a year ago, had been Viridian City. Golduck destroyed the remnants of Giovanni's old gym, and, after two hours of staring at a map, had come up with the new town's name : Prism Town.

There was a light breeze in the summer air, carrying the scent of honeysuckle, and Pikachu watched the grass ripple in waves. No wonder Alakazam liked to meditate here.

"It's nice, isn't it. Can you see down there? A Smeargle's painting a mural, and Venusaur's on it." Ash came into view as he walked up the hill.

"That is nice."

"I, uh, I'm glad I found you here. This is really last minute, but I'm gonna go on a trip for a little bit, and I just wanted to see you before I go." Ash stood awkwardly, hands in his pockets.

"A trip?" Pikachu raised a brow in confusion. "Where are you going? There's so much to do still."

"It's not forever…" Ash trailed off. With a blink, he smiled. "Are you hungry? It's lunch time. We could talk about it over some noodles?"

Pikachu stretched. "Sure. Hah, you know I love that place."

That place was a restaurant Jessie and James had opened near the town's center. Along the way, she and Ash passed a Pokemon-run Pokemon Center, with Wigglytuff, Chansey, and the odd Blissey unpacking supplies, a PokeMart run by two Kecleon who had traveled a very long way to set up shop, and a park any grass-type would love, featuring a fountain surrounded by saplings.

A glitzy, too-large sign announced the establishment as "Trouble." A large neon sign next to it blinked, "And make it double." A smaller neon sign glowed beneath that one, flickering lightly: "Portions. Double portions."

Ash squinted at the laminated menu propped up in the window. There was an alternate menu next to it, in Meowth's writing system. Pikachu traced the words with her paw, mouthing the sounds.

Jessie opened the door with a jingle. She wore a pristine white apron emblazoned with a big red "RAMEN," with the R emphasized and several sizes larger than the rest of the letters. "Are you going to stand outside all day?"

Ash glanced at the apron. "You're still going with the Team Rocket theme?"

"We used to work for a crime organization-slash-world conspiracy. It's hilarious." Jessie crossed her arms. "So what'll it be?"

Pikachu slid into a vinyl booth. "Number 8, with ketchup."

"In your ramen?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Customer's always right." Ash grinned. "I'll have the usual."

"Got it." She called out as she headed back to kitchen. "James, we got a beefaroni with the sweet sauce and a kitchen sink!"

James's muffled voice gave an affirmative.

"So what's going on with the trip?"

Ash's face turned bright red. "Gary sent another letter. Actually, a bunch. But there's one I wanted to read to you." He pulled out a carefully folded letter and cleared his throat. "Uh…it's this one. 'Ashy boy. I guess there's no need to be in hiding any more. Would you like to come to the Orange Islands? There's a Lapras waiting for you. And Mewtwo, who has been following me around. In exchange for a place to stay, he's letting me study his genetics. There's some interesting findings, but I don't know what to make of them yet. Anyway, it's been a long time since I've seen you, and you seem to have a knack for understanding legendaries, so would you like to visit?'" Ash folded the letter back up. "He goes on a bit about how everyone's talking about Prism City—even all the way over there—and then some other stuff. But the main thing is Mewtwo probably just needs someone to talk to, who, you know, gets the whole legendary angst thing. I was going to ask you if you'd like to come, but I get that you're needed here. Let's face it, Pikachu, there's not much I can do to help at this point. Human meddling and stuff."

Pikachu slid down in her seat. "Yeah. And if I went with you, I'd just worry about what's going on here the whole time. It'd be fun, though." She balanced a fork on her paw. "But you're needed here too. Maybe not as much right now, but remember how much you did in the beginning? That whole park wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

"I guess you're right." He chuckled, "Can't help it that I'm useless at politics. And when I'm away, I'll send postcards! And I'll call as often as I can."

Jessie slammed the door to the kitchen open. "Food's here!"

Ash looked back into the kitchen, which was spotless, empty save for James. "Where's Meowth? Doesn't he like cutting the noodles?"

Plopping the bowls of ramen down—some broth splashed on the table—Jessie sighed. "Something with paperwork."

"Crap."

Looking at Pikachu's fallen face, Ash asked, "What?"

"I completely forgot about the meeting!" Pikachu hopped off the bench, then reconsidered. She eyed her bowl, picked it up with both paws, and slurped down a significant portion. Then she nodded at Ash. "I'll see you later!"

"I'm leaving this afternoon!"

"Have fun!"

Pikachu ran out the door, leaving bells and chimes jingling after she had left.

Ash drummed his fingers on the table. "I'll pay for her, Jessie."

"It's always on the house for you guys."

/

A bunch of young Rattata surrounded Meowth, who was leaning against a tree in the park.

"Do it again! Do it again!"

"It's so weird! So creepy!"

"I'm tellin' ya, I'm not weird." He groaned. "Okay, I've heard I am a little weird, but dis isn't why. I don't get why you t'ink dis is so interesting. One more time, and dat's it."

One of the Rattata picked up a Pokedex in its mouth and clumsily pressed a button.

"MISSING NO. MISSING NO. MISSING NO.—"

"You're going to break it!"

"—MISSING NO. MISSING NO.— "

Pikachu approached, putting her paw up in greeting. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's not a problem. As you can see, I've been occupied." Meowth gestured to the Rattata. "Okay kids, time to scram."

One of the Rattata scrambled to power down the PokeDex. "Byeeee!" They ran off, giggling.

"Ugh." Meowth shook his head. "So. We gots letters from all over. All good t'ings. Lavender Town—dey've been doin' well by barterin' wit Pokemon for deir utilities. Figured out somet'in' wit Ghastly and phasin' t'rough walls to build up a charge on generators. But it's workin' well all over. Any Pokemin wit HM01 can mow a lawn for a bunch a snacks; it's great. Now dat more know how to write, dey can tell people what dey want in exchange for a favor."

"Sounds good. Construction for the city is almost done, so we'll be officially on the map soon." She leaned back. "You want to go over plans for the ribbon cutting ceremony?"

"Hmm…I mean, you'll be doin' most of da talkin', I'm just translatin'." He sat up on the park bench, swinging his legs. "And you're writing it, too. You picked up on da new system real fast."

"The shapes are kind of pretty. I like it."

"Your nice handwriting helps, heh."

She stared at the fountain for a moment. It was stonework, carved by hydro pumps and smoothed by fire blasts. A statue of a Gyarados, flanked by two Magikarp, spat water in graceful arcs. "How have you been feeling?"

"Fine."

"Really."

Meowth hesitated, then rubbed his eye. "I dunno, Pikachu. No matter what I tell some Rattata, I'm not the same. Not really." He stretched. "Tired all da time. Don't know if I'm even me, you know?"

"I can tell you're still tired. It's…" She inched closer. "It's in your heart and brain, I feel it but—" She examined Meowth's face. "—But it's still you! Everyone's currents are unique, and yours are…unmistakably yours."

"Heh." A few minutes passed as Meowth closed his eyes, smiling, ears twitching to the sound of fountain.

Pikachu noticed a pale daytime moon. She relaxed, meditating on its barely visible outline, until Meowth's voice redirected her attention.

"Do ya really t'ink dat Prism City…dat we're really goin' ta change da world?"

"Sure. We got this far. And we've already changed the world." Her tail bobbed up and down. "I mean, it's still not ideal. We rely on humans for a bunch of our supplies."

"Correction: it's a balance. Dey rely on us, too."

"I guess they do." Feeling a surge of her own electricity, she put her paw on his.

A/N: And, that's it! Thank you for reading all the way through. I had a lot of fun writing this, and I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it, please consider sharing it by recommending it to your friends...or the Internet! If you didn't like it, I'm always up for concrit. Anyway, thank you for your reviews, favorites, follows, and comments. They mean a lot to me! :)