Poke-genetics: the meeting
«Huh… where is he mom? » he said. «Where's Dad? »
«He's… traveling… to become a great… pokemon master. »
«A pokemon master? That's so cool! I want to become one too! »
She chuckled a little. «You will have to wait a little. You need to be at least ten to be a trainer. »
«Awww, come on, I'm already seven. They could make an exception for me, right? »
«I don't think so, sweet heart. That would be unfair to the other kids your age, wouldn't it? »
«Yeah…»
«Now, time to go to sleep.» she pushed him gently toward his room.
«Good night, mom.»
«Good night.»
As the kid slowly drifted to sleep under his blanket, he thought happily: «I'm going to become the best pokemon master in the world… and I'll be able to see Dad.»
The sun was already high in the morning sky. Though, it didn't seem to have the least effect on one sleepy head. Ash Ketchum mumbled in his sleep and in his sleeping bag for that matters. Next to him, his most loyal companion was also enjoying a well-deserved rest. Not for long.
Without warning, his master turned around in his sleep and rolled onto him.
«Pi Pi Pi» it protested.
«Alright, Ash, you asked for it. » he thought.
The yellow mouse took a not so deep breath (there was a human on top of him) and screamed :
«Chuuuuuuuuuu!»
A group of pidgey that were minding their own business were VERY surprised to see a thunderbolt raised and went to the clouds next to them.
It didn't take them long to leave, cooing their indignation.
«WOW, PIKACHU! What was that for?» asked an angry and slightly smoking Ash.
«Pika, pika,pi piiiii.» (Hey, it's not my fault you rolled on top of me.)
Unfortunately, that made no sense to Ash. So, he decided, as a mature 16 years old boy, to sulk a little on his pokemon during breakfast. Pikachu, not exactly in his best mood after being woken up that way, and then yelled at, was quite happy to stay silent too.
This way, Ash had quite a bit of time to think about that dream he had. Although it was not exactly a dream, more like… a memory. He remembered asking his mother about his father when he was younger. He was a pretty curious boy after all, so the mystery of his ever absent father was one of his biggest interest at that time. That and pokemon. The thing is, with time, he realized that it saddened his mother when he asked about it, so he asked less and less until… what? He forgot? Ash wasn't exactly sure.
«Pika pi.»
He was surprised. Pikachu had finished his meal and decided to forgive him. After all, he was sleeping and he couldn't understand him. That was unfortunate, but there was nothing they could do about it. Plus, his trainer really looked strange this morning. Maybe he had a nightmare?
So Pikachu jumped on Ash and began to lick his face. It didn't take long for Ash to start laughing.
«Haha, okay… you win… I give up. »
He tried to make him stop, but the yellow mouse was too fast for him and mercilessly continued until Ash, between too laughs, said:
«Ok, ok, I apologize. Please, stooooop… »
Pikachu decided he had suffered enough and stopped.
«Okay buddy, let's pack our things and get ready for Pallet Town! I'm so eager to see my hometown again. Mom, prof. Oak, my other pokemon, maybe even Gary, if he's home.»
It didn't take long and, before the sun reached the middle of the sky, they were walking on the road to Pallet Town. Dawn , Brock and him each went separate ways a week ago and he was now alone. Surprisingly, he didn't get THAT lost without the others, though it was the way home, so maybe it didn't really count.
Both of them were walking silently when they heard bushes moving.
Immediately, Ash and Pikachu got into fighting stances. If it was a wild pokemon, they wouldn't be taken by surprise.
Except it wasn't a pokemon.
They were both surprised to see a teenager around Ash's age get out of the bushes while mumbling something about «damn beedrills» and «lousy rattatas». Without looking in front of him, he got a few branches out of his light brown hair and dusted his purple jacket and black pants. When he finally stopped taking care of his appearance, he realized he was not alone. The teen froze when he saw the trainer and pokemon in front of him. For a second, he looked frightened. Ash made the first step.
«Hi, are you alright?»
The teen didn't answer right away; instead he looked at Ash's pokeballs and at Pikachu.
«You're… a trainer?»
«Yeah… what about it?»
«Is your name Ash?»
At the mention of his name, Ash felt his curious nature rise to the surface.
«Yes, who are you and why do you know my name? »
Instead of answering, the teen jumped at him with bright eyes and shook his hands.
«GREAT, you're not a pikachu!»
Okay, if there was even a tenth of his mind that was not focused on the strange guy, that definitely took care of it.
«What the heck are you talking about?»
«Gosh, I was so worried when she said she was not sure if you had turned back. »
«No, seriously, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?»
Unfortunately, the teen seemed too happy to even hear his question.
Seeing as this was getting too out of hand, Pikachu grabbed the guy's pants and yelled:
«CHHUUUUUUUUUUUUU!»
Both Ash and the stranger got hit by a powerful thunderbolt. Both of them fell to the ground, stunned.
It took them a few minutes to get back on their feet, but when they did, the teen was (fortunately) much less hyperactive.
«Sorry about my excessiveness… I was just really worried and when it turned out you weren't a pikachu anymore… I just… overreacted.»
«Sorry if I sound repetitive, but what are you talking about?»
The teen stared at him with a look of disbelief.
«You don't remember Lily?»
Lily, the name ringed a bell… the pokewitch! The one that turned him into a pikachu by mistake! And told him that it was temporary… wait. He said she told him she wasn't sure if it had worn off? But it happened more than a year ago! Seems like she had a little bit of explaining to do if he ever met her again…
«Yeah! I met her a while ago. Why do you ask?»
«Well, I met her last week and she said you could help me. She remembered that you were a great trainer and had a good heart, but she also said she turned you into a pikachu and hoped that you didn't get stuck like that.»
Ash grumbled a little. Great trainer and good heart was all nice and fluffy, but if her potion didn't wear off, it would have hardly mattered.
«Before you continue, could you just tell me who you are? 'cause you seem to know me, but as far as I'm concerned you don't have a name right now.»
The teen started to laugh a little.
«Well, my father did like it when I think outside the box, but… okay. My name is Genno. I live in the region of Kanto, in a small house outside of Viridian City with my scientist of a father.»
Ash gave him an encouraging smile.
«Now, that's a good start. Mind telling me about that whole «I need help!» thing?»
Genno hesitated a little, which was strange considering he really needed Ash's help.
«Well, I kind of need a Lightning pokemon's help to get back to my house…»
«Pikapi pika?» (You need me?)
«Yeah, basically. There's been a… power outage at my house and I can't get in. Everything must be operated electronically. So, I kind of need a powerful thunder type pokemon to get inside my house. »
While Pikachu though the story was… unusual nonetheless, Ash noticed something else.
«What did you say?»
Genno looked confused.
«Huh? I said I needed Pikachu's help to…»
«No, I meant the part where you said: «Yeah, basically.» to Pikachu. You… understand him?»
It was really brief, but Genno seemed to panic for a second. With a not so convincing laughter, he tried to shrug it off.
«Oh, come on, there's no way I could. I just guessed he said something about being the one I need.»
Ash didn't add anything. Instead, he just stared at Genno for a moment. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he asked:
«What do you think Pikaachu? Do you mind if we wait take a few days off schedule?»
Pikachu seemed to be pondering. There was something off about that Genno, not bad, just… off.
«Pikaaaa… pika pi pikachu… chu!» (Hum… he sure looks like he need help…okay!)
And he nodded positively.
«Thanks Pikachu.» said Genno.
«Well, I guess that it's settled then. Viridian city, here we go.»
The three of them began walking in the direction of the previously mentioned city. After a few moments, Ash asked Genno something that bugged him.
«Hey Genno, why can't you father restore the power if he's a scientist?»
«He's not an electrician Ash, he's a poke-geneticist. I'd be surprised if he managed to repair our toaster.»
Ash just started to laugh.
«Well, it's harder than it looks, I tried once. It… kind of… exploded.»
«Pikaaaa?» (What?)
«You're kidding, right?»
«Nope, after that, my mother made me swore to just call an electrician if there was a problem at home.»
Pikachu and Genno looked at each other for a second, then they started laughing, soon, joined by Ash.
«Well, always nice to laugh.» Ash said, wiping a tear off his cheeks.
«He's gone…»
Ash was startled.
«Who?»
«My father… he's been… gone for a two weeks now.»
Ash felt like he had been punched in the stomach. Genno's father was… gone. For a second, he thought about his own father who he was without news for nearly all his life. He wanted to apologize to Genno for bringing up the subject, but he couldn't and stayed silent.
Genno didn't like to bath in self-pity, so he just changed the subject.
«Err… how was it like to turn into a pikachu?»
«Oh, eh… it was… freaky!»
«Chu!» (Hey!)
«Well, it WAS… until I realized it was temporary. Then, it became real fun. I mean, I could see the world just like my best pals was and I could understand him. We played for hours together.»
«Oh, it sounds nice said like that.»
«Okay, the moment you wake up in a body that's not the same it has been for all your life is the really freaky part.»
«Yeah, I can understand that. Must be freaky... How did you change back?»
«Oh, I was walking next to Pikachu and it just when «poof» and I was myself again.»
«It just… happened?»
«Yeah, just happened. Why do you ask?»
«I'm just curious. I mean as the son of a poke-geneticist, it's extremely interesting. »
Somehow, that last part sounded fake.
But nevertheless, they went on talking, knowing each other better, on their way to what was yet to become a great adventure.