literature

Inner Strength part 11

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“How are we supposed to do that?” asked Ash, still in shock.
“You know just as well as I do, Ash,” answered May.
“There has to be another way to do this besides sending kids into an HQ filled with people that want each of you dead. We should call the police or the army or something!” said Prof. Oak, freaking out that kids have to go on a suicide mission.
“We can’t call the police,” explained Max. “Remember when we told you how we ended up in jail?”
“I still don’t understand that! None of you are old enough to even be in that jail. You and May should have been in Juvenile Hall if you actually did anything that bad,” said Oak.
“That tells you something else,” stated Brock. “It seems that Team Aqua can control everything the police does. Maybe Team Magma can too, for all we know.”
“How is that possible? You can’t just command all of the police departments,” said Oak.
All these questions where spinning in Ash’s head. Being turned into a Pikachu was a big thing when this all started, now this?
“Well, I’m not sure, but they somehow found a way.”
How where they going to destroy the whole HQ of a giant organization? They where just kids after all. However, they have been through some pretty tight situations and still made it through. That’s very impressive for any kid.
May was thinking about how this was all her fault. If only she didn’t agree with that Team Magma man back at the cell, none of them would be here. They shouldn’t even be risking their own lives just for her.
She looked at her palm. The small black dot was still there, looking insignificant, but made her a sitting duck. To think that this little speck could cause so much trouble.
“Well, back to the point. I’ll go and try to find some kind of blue prints or anything that could help us,” said Oak and made his way out of the room.
Before Oak had reached the door, he noticed that Pichu was crawling over to Ash’s bed. How did Pichu get all the way over here? He last left him in the other room.
Then, the professor remembered something that he wanted to show Ash.
“Ash, I need to show you something about your son.”
Ash sat up on his bed and scooted over to the edge so he could see. When he saw his son and his son saw him, they both had a great impulse to hug, but the professor picked up Pichu and sat him on a table opposite of Ash.
Oak speed-walked out of the room and quickly came back with three brown cups and a bag of Pokeblocks.
“Now, watch this.”
The professor placed each cup upside down in front of Pichu, one on his left, one on his right, and one in-between. Then, he grabbed a Pokeblock and placed it underneath one of the cups. After that, he quickly rearranged the cups, moving the cup that was on the right over to the left and the one that was on the left over to the right, making it hard to find the one with the Pokeblock. But, as he moved the cups from here to there, Pichu watched with interest and playfulness.
“Okay, Pichu. If you find the one with the treat, you get to eat it,” said Oak when he was done with the cups.
Pichu smiled and reached his hands for the cup in the middle with a playful manner. He picked up the cup and underneath was the Pokeblock.
Everyone was shocked at how easily and fast Pichu was able to find the Pokeblock in the three cups. The professor grabbed another Pokeblock out of the bag while Pichu gobbled down the one in his paws.
Oak did the same thing, just this time he moved the cups faster and more confusing like. When he was done, Pichu grabbed the one on his right and revealed the Pokeblock. Oak repeated the process about four more times, each time making it even more difficult to find the Pokeblock underneath one of the cups. But no matter how hard Oak made it, Pichu always found the right cup on the first try.
Finally, Oak was satisfied at showing everyone and picked up the three cups.
“Do you see? He’s not even one year old and yet he has the intelligence of an advanced five year old,” said Prof. Oak.
Ash just stared in disbelief at his son. He watched his son chew down the last piece of Pokeblock that he found. Could he really be that smart? Could his son, Pichu, really have such a mind?
Even Max, who thought he was pretty smart for his age, was shocked and (slightly) jealous.
“What does this mean, professor?” asked Brock.
“Truthfully, I’m not sure. Nothing like this has ever happened before, not even when I did those experiments. This child is surly . . . unique,” said Oak.
Ash smiled. <Of course he’s unique! He’s my son.>
Suddenly, one of Oak’s assistants burst through the door to the room.
“Professor! The Houndoom is making a ruckus with the Pokemon again!” said the assistant.
“Not again,” sighed Oak.
“We’ll help,” offered May. Max and Brock nodded to show that they will too.
Oak gestured them to follow and soon they all walked out of the room except for Ash and his son.
Pichu looked up at his father and gave him another smile, showing Ash that he was done with his Pokeblck. Man, he looks so cute when he smiles. Pichu took his small staggering, baby steps over to Ash and reached his hands up while making a “Chu!” noise.
Ash was confused. What did he want? Pichu sounded like he wanted Ash to do something, but Ash wasn’t sure what it was. Pichu kept pushing his hands up against Ash’s yellow chest and continued with his pleading.
“What? What is it?” asked Ash.
“Chu! Chu!” said his son.
Ash picked him up and cradled him in his arms. Apparently, that was what Pichu wanted for he stopped making his pleading noise.
“You just want me to carry you?” asked Ash while rolling his eyes. He knew that he wasn’t going to get an answer, but he just wanted to talk to Pichu a little more.
Ash walked out of the room with Pichu in his arms. He found a window and saw that it was already night time that was when an idea came into Ash’s head.
“Let me show you something, Pichu,” said Ash to his son.
He walked around the laboratory until he found the door that leads outside, to the front. He had some difficulty opening the door with his small body and holding his son, but he was soon able to open it. He then walked into the cool, dark, twinkling outside.
<Man, this place sure has changed since I left here,> thought Ash as he looked around Pallet Town.
He started walking around his home town, remembering stores and bringing back old memories as he past this and that. But he wasn’t here to show Pichu his home town, he wanted to show him something special. Something that he used to do at night.
<I just hope it isn’t gone or taken,> thought Ash as he retraced his steps. He soon found out that he was walking over to his old home, where his mother still lived along with Mr. Mime. What would she think if she found out what happened to Ash? Should he go and tell her?
No, that could just make her more worried about him. That’s the last thing he would want. Now, where was his spot?
<Ah! Here it is! Exactly how I remembered it,> thought Ash. Close behind Ash’s old house, there was some tall grass where he used to sneak into at night when his mom was asleep. He would come out here to ponder stuff or to just relax. Some of the grass was still bent where he used to sit and watch the stars and wild Pokemon.
“Here we are. Daddy used to go here when he was little,” said Ash. Saying “daddy” made him feel odd. As if he didn’t want to say the word, but it just came out to mimic him.
But Pichu liked to hear his father say such a word. It made him feel loved and cared for. The babyish of it made both of them feel more attached to each other, just like a father and son should be.
Ash laid himself on the grass while Pichu got comfortable on his chest, and they both looked up at the stars. They both laid there for hours, just watching and counting the stars. There seemed to be millions of them, floating and twinkling in the night sky. Pichu sat still as his little mind wondered about the stars and their beauty.
“Chu!” shouted Pichu.
Ash saw it too. A shooting star. A bright mass of light that flings across the sky for their gazing.
“Yeah. You know what that means, right?” said Ash.
Pichu gave him a questioned look.
“That means you get to make a wish! Every time you see a shooting star, you get to make one wish,” said Ash.
Pichu was still confused and continued with his confused look.
Ash just gave him a smile.
“Go ahead, make a wish! What is it that you want? What is it that you would like, Pichu? Whatever it is, just wish for it and it just might come true.”
Pichu understood and pondered for a bit, then finally nodded. He had made his first wish. Ash nodded with him and smiled.
“Good job! But make sure you don’t tell anyone your wish or it won’t come true, okay?”
Pichu nodded again. He then laid back on Ash’s chest and continued his star gazing.
They gazed for about half an hour, just sitting and watching. Soon, Ash noticed that Pichu was asleep. The little ball of yellow fur had cuddled up on his father’s chest and fell asleep with the warmth.
Ash slowly got up and picked up his son, then cradled him in his arms. <Maybe it’s time we go back,> thought Ash.
Then, he heard some noise from behind him, but he couldn’t see due to the tall grass. What should he do? Hide? Run?
The person walked right to were Ash’s spot was and revealed herself. It was Ash’s mother.
“Oh!” she said, noticing the Pikachu. “Hello there!”
Ash started to back away. Mom? Could it really be her? He can’t show her what has happened to him.
“No, no, don’t be scared,” she said while Ash was backing away. “Don’t worry, I wont hurt you.”
She looked at him and noticed his hat. She seemed to daze off, thinking about the memories behind the hat.
“That looks just like my son’s hat. Do you know him? His name is Ash.”
Ash didn’t nod or shake his head. He just wanted to be away from her. He just didn’t want to be seen like this.
Or maybe . . . maybe he should tell her. Should he? What would happen if he did?
“Aw. Is that your child?”
She saw his sleeping Pichu in his cradled arms. Pichu could be one of the reasons to not tell her. What would  say when she finds out that her grandson is a Pokemon?
Ash’s mom crossed her legs and sat in front of Ash, getting herself comfortable. Her eyes didn’t leave Ash or his son. She had the lust of caring for someone again. So long it has been since she has seen her own son. So long . . . to hug . . . to have a motherly kiss on the cheek . . . to talk . . .
Even though he was worried about his mother’s opinion, Ash still missed his mom just as much as she missed him. He wanted to feel her warm hug just one more time. He laid Pichu on the grass and walked closer to his mother.
She noticed that he was coming closer and extended a hand of welcoming.
“It’s okay. I wont hurt you. Come on, come on.”
Ash got to her stomach and surprised her with a hug. She didn’t even think that a wild Pikachu would walk up to her and hug her, but she gratefully returned it.
“Oh, you remind me so much of my son, Ash. Even this hug feels just like he’s here,” she said while hugging Ash tighter.
“I missed you, Mom,” said Ash.
She froze.
Oops. Ash didn’t mean to say that, it just came out. Maybe she might just think that it was the wind or something . . . hopefully.
She held Ash outward from her and stared at him.
“Now I think I’m hearing his voice. Is it really that late?” she thought out loud and placed a hand on her head.
“Well, it’s only . . .” <DARN IT!>
Ash slapped himself on the face for how stupid he was. His mom stared at his eyes with worry and consideration.
“Ash?”
Might as well tell her, she already knows.
Ash scratched the back of his head while making an embarrassed smile.
“Heh . . . Hi Mom.”
His mother looked into his eyes for a full two seconds. Then, her own eyes rolled over to the whites and made her whole body fall backwards, making Ash land right on her stomach. She had fainted.

It was a good thing that his house was near where his mom fainted, otherwise Ash might have never been able to pull his mother’s unmoving body back into the house, while holding the sleeping Pichu.
Mr. Mime saw Ash with his mother and happily helped them. He helped lift her body onto a couch and laid Pichu down on Ash’s old bed. Surprisingly, Ash’s mom still had all of his old stuff in his room.
He told Mr. Mime to go to the lab and tell the others that he was going to stay at his mother’s house. Mr. Mime gladly accepted and ran across town, towards the lab.
Ash waited silently next to his mother’s body. What was she going to think? Would she accept him now that he’s a Pokemon? Maybe if he told her it’s only for a year, but what about Pichu? Would she accept Pichu? Or would she deny him for having a Pichu for a son?
After about an hour of pondering these things, his mother started to stir. Soon, she had one eye open and looked at Ash.
Sadly, right when that one eye figured out that it was Ash, both eyes sprang open along with her body.
“What? Who? Ash?” she was taking deep breaths, thinking that what she saw was a dream and was regretting it.
“Calm down, Mom! Calm down!”
“You? Ash? What? Where? Is this?”
“Calm down. Take deep breaths. Come on, breathe in and out.”
She started inhaling deeply, then exhaled. She repeated her small process until her questions stopped. Soon, she was her old self again and was able to take in the fact that her son was now a small, yellow, electric, mouse.
Ash told her the story, just like he told Prof. Oak. He started with how he was turned into a Pikachu, then to when he met Misty II, then to when Team Aqua took him and experimented on him, then to when Pichu was born, then to . . . well, you get it.
When he was done, Ash stopped to let everything sink in. His mom had sat up strait through his whole story and never moved. As Ash tried to let everything sink, his mom stayed in her position. He started to wonder if anything was sinking into her mind.
After moments that felt like hours, she spoke.
“Ash . . . my little baby . . . so much has happened.”
Ash nodded. It was too true.
“I know.”
He looked at his yellow paws, watched them clench and unclench, as if they weren’t his. Maybe they weren’t.
“And this . . . other Pikachu, the girl one. You . . .?” she asked.
Ash just nodded.
“And that Pichu is . . .?”
Another nod.
She grabbed her head, as if to stop it from spinning.
“So now the Ketchum name is going to be passed onto . . . a Pokemon?”
Here it comes. The total rejection and disappointment.
Ash hung his head down to cover his shame. But then, he heard a chuckle. His mom was laughing. A high cheerful laugh at almost seemed inappropriate to how Ash felt.
“You’re . . . laughing?” he asked, confused.
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.
“I thought you wouldn’t want me anymore. I thought you would be disappointed.”
She stopped her chuckling and stared at Ash.
“The only thing that I’m disappointed about is not seeing my grandchild being born,” she said.
No rejection? No hate?
“B-but, I thought-” started Ash.
“Honey, I’m your mother. I wouldn’t be disappointed if you make a mistake. Human or not, you’re still my little baby, and the same goes with your son. Which reminds me, what is his name?” she said.
“Pichu,” said Ash.
His mother shook her head.
“You can’t just name him that. He’s your son, he’s a Ketchum! You have to give him a special name, a unique name,” she said.
Ash pondered on that. He never really considered giving Pichu a real name. But, what name should he give him?
“What should I name him, then?” he asked.
Now, it was his mother’s turn to ponder.
“How about Ray? I’ve always liked that one,” she said.
<Name my son after his mother’s killer? Defiantly not,> thought Ash and shook his head.
“No?” She thought for a while. “How about Bob?”
<The one that did experiments on me? No again.> Ash shook his head.
“What about Harry?”
“Nah, that just doesn’t fit him,” said Ash.
“What about James?”
“No.”
“John?”
“Still doesn’t fit him.”
“Jacob?”
“Still no.”
“Abby?”
“That sounds like a girl’s name, Mom.”
She pondered for more names. She had to admit herself, none of them did fit her grandson.
Then, a name popped up in her head.
“I’ve got one! This was one of the names I thought of when I was pregnant with you, Ash. How does Xander sound?”
Ash thought about it. It sounded cool, it was a unique name, and it seemed to somehow fit Pichu. Maybe that could do it.
“Xander sounds great! That’ll be his name from now on,” announced Ash.
“Great!” said his mom. “Now, what about his middle name?”
“Does he need a middle name?”
“Honey, everyone has to have some kind of middle name.” She pondered again. “Oh! I saw this one in the dictionary once, Taran. Would that be a good middle name?”
Ash thought about it again. It was another unique name and was catchy.
“Xander Taran Ketchum. I like it,” said Ash. “How about we just call him Xan for short.”
“That’s fine with me,” said his mom.
After that, Ash’s mom made him some dinner. While Ash was eating, Brock, May, Max, Pikachu, and Mr. Mime came in. They said that Mr. Mime came to them a few hours ago, but no one could understand him. Eventually, Oak was able to translate just enough to understand the part about Ash’s mom. After that, they ran over here to help.
Ash and his mom laughed and told them there was nothing to worry about. After that, his mother made more dinner for everyone to eat and offered them to sleep there at her house.
“It’s been so long since I’ve had any guest. And besides, you are all friends of Ash, and a friend of Ash is a friend of mine,” she told them.
They said their thanks and ate. After the big dinner, everyone went to sleep except Ash.
He stayed awake, standing next to his son, Xander. His mom found him there and asked if something was wrong.
“Nah, I’m fine, Mom,” he said, not leaving his eyes from Xander’s sleeping body.
“Something’s wrong. I can tell, it’s a mother’s instinct.”
Ash moved his eyes from his son to his mother.
“I was just thinking . . .” he said.
“Thinking about what?” his mom asked.
Ash sighed. He didn’t feel like telling her, but he just had to get it off of his chest.
“It’s just that . . . this body is only temporary.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Not with him,” Ash said while motioning to Xander.
“I still don’t understand, Ash.”
“I had him while I was in this body, Mom. What about when I’m in my human body? What should I tell him? How will he live his life while knowing that his father is a different species than him?” Ash explained.
Ash hung his head down.
“I just don’t know what to do. I want to be human again, but what would happen to Xander when I do? Should I stay as a Pikachu? What if he finds out eventually?” Ash sighed. “I just . . .”
His mother laid a hand of comfort on his shoulder. She knew that becoming a father at such a young age was a hard thing to go through. But, to add that with these complications . . . not even she has dealt with.
Ash’s mother got down to her knees and looked at Ash strait in his eyes.
“Ash, when I was pregnant with you, I was worried sick at what pressure was put into me. And when your father left, that just made things worse,” she said.
Ash looked away from his mother’s eyes. His father. The one that nearly ruined both of their lives.
His mother placed both of her hands on his cheeks and pushed his face to face hers.
“I thought, ‘What was I going to do?’ And ‘I can’t do this!’ I had doubted myself to take care of you. I even thought about adoption.”
That made Ash shiver.
“But, look at us now. You have become a great friend and trainer to both Pokemon and humans. You have faced so many difficulties, more than anyone should have faced in a lifetime! I was able to raise that son that I thought I could not bear.” Her eyes where piercing into his now. “Oak has told me about all of your adventures. You have faced worst stuff than having a child, Ash. You’re a very smart kid and a kind hearted one too. You have all the requirements of a good father and more!”
Ash started to feel lifted, as if his worries were going away as each word  left his mother’s lips.
“You need to turn back into a human if you want to continue your journey to become the best, and you can do that while taking care of this child! I know you can, Ash. But, this isn’t for me to say. He’s your son, not mine.”
Ash nodded.
“Now,” she started while taking off one of her hands off of Ash’s cheek and held up a finger. “There will be times when you want to just hurt him and give up, but never, ever do that. You told me that Misty II was his mother, right?”
Ash nodded again.
“She told you to watch him and to love him, right?”
Another nod.
“Then do it. If not for her, then for him,” she said while pointing at Xander.
She sighed. “If only I was able to see her. Xander’s mother. She sounds like the perfect mom and wife. Did you love her?”
Ash shook his head. “I loved her as a friend, but no more. She was the one that caught me off guard and . . . um . . . mated with me.”
His mom nodded her head. She took both of her hands off of Ash’s face and walked over to the door. Before she exited the room, she turned her head towards Ash.
“Remember what I said, Ash. I want you to take care of that child, Pokemon or not. In the end, if you stick to what Misty II said, he won’t care what you are, but who you are.”
And with that, she exited and closed the door.

Ash got some blankets out from a near by closet and made a small pallet out of them on the ground next to Xander. He wanted to sleep next to the little guy.
When Ash was finally able to lay his head down, he started pondering his mother’s words.
<“In the end, if you stick to what Misty II said, he won’t care what you are, but who you are.”>
<Who I am?> Thought Ash.
He looked up to Xander’s bed again for the hundredth time. The little Pichu was still fast asleep and probably dreaming by now. Who would have known that such a little creature would be such a hand full?
Its times like this that made him miss Misty II.
Misty II! He just remembered that she was dying! He never wanted to leave her, but he had to come here.
By now, she was probably dead, already buried and resting.
<“I will never be able to rest unless our Pichu is loved and cared for.”>
Her words popped into his head. Even if she is dead, she won’t be able to rest without knowing that her son is happy. He doesn’t blame her.
Ash rolled over in the blankets. Would he be able to care for Xander after they go into the Team Aqua base? Will they live? Will he live?
Ash shook the thought out of his head. <Come on, try to get some rest.>
And with that, he fell asleep.
Just to find himself in the darkness of Artemis’ mind again.

James slowly dragged his feet on the hard ground. It was getting dark and they had nowhere to sleep.
“Jessie, I’m tired,” he complained.
“Shut up,” said Jessie, also too tired to shout at him or to even slap him.
The team had been walking for hours, not finding anything good and became exhausted from it. They haven’t even seen the twerps come out.
“Where are we going anywho?” asked Meouth.
“How should I know? You where the one that side to take a right at the fork!” said Jessie.
“I had a feeling it was on the left,” mumbled James.
Jessie had enough.
“Will you two just shut up! We have to find somewhere to sleep before it gets too dark,” she said.
Then, her side began to ring. Everyone was silent while she pulled out her walkie-talkie.
“Um . . . hello?” said Jessie into the walkie-talkie, not really knowing what to say.
“Who is reporting?” asked the man from the other side of the walkie-talkie.
Everyone froze. They knew who’s voice that was.
Giovanni.
“I repeat, who is reporting?” said Giovanni, slightly angrier now.
“Um, Jessie and James, reporting for duty!” answered Jessie.
“What? You two?!” Some angry grunts and mumbles were heard in the background. Then a sigh. “Okay, fine. Look, I have a preopsition for all of you.”
Everyone smiled with glee.
“I’ll give you the promotion that you have been begging me for if you do something for me.”
“Anything, sir!” saluted Jessie with a smile across her face.
Another grunt.
“Look, we’ve been having reports that a group called Aqua have been stealing our scientists and our advanced technology. We’ve also had reports of the same people have been going around and stealing Pokemon. That is our job and no one gets away with stealing from me!”
“Yes, sir!” said Jessie, James, and Meouth in union.
“What is it you want us to do?” asked James into the walkie-talkie.
“Obliterate Aqua. Then I just might give you that promotion. Over and out.” The wakie-talkie was filled with static noise.
Jessie turned it off and smiled.
“We’re going to get our promotion! Finally!”
Everyone grabbed each other’s hands and danced in a circle.
When they were done dancing, James started to really think.
“How are we going to destroy Aqua? All the times we’ve seen them, they have over powered us,” he said.
“Well first, we have to find them,” said Jessie.
“How do we do that?” asked James.
“With this!” shouted Meouth while holding up something.
A small black machine with a screen in the middle. On the screen, a large green line moved across it while making a BEEP sound.
“What is it?” asked James.
“It’s a radar. With this, all we have to do is look for something big and we’ll know it’s Aqua!” said Meouth with a smile.
“How does that tell us that it’s Aqua?” asked Jessie.
Meouth faced her.
“Because Aqua is obviously a large group, right? So all we need to do is get on our balloon and search everywhere until we find a big reading on here,” said Meouth while motioning to the radar.
“Wouldn’t that take awhile?” asked James.
“Well, with that attitude we won’t!” said Meouth.
“Alright, fine. It’s the only thing we’ve got, but lets do it. Where is it pointing to now?” asked Jessie.
Meouth checked it. He pressed a few bottons and turned a few gears.
“Well, the biggest thing I can find is way over in Pallet Town,” he said.
“Pallet Town? That can’t be right!” shouted Jessie.
“Might as well check,” said James.
Jessie agreed and they all got on there balloon . . . as soon as they found it laying near a couple of angry Absol.
I would like to thank raninum-plum for the idea of the name for Pichu. THANKS!

I'm going to finish my assignment for the Institute now, and maybe I might make another chapter if I have enough time.
MAYBE!
If not, then you will all have to wait until after June 3, because that's when I come back from Disney World! WOO! :XD:

Pokemon belongs to Nintendo
© 2007 - 2024 colb-a-nater
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AngryFlame321's avatar
Oooohhhh sh*t! Angry Absols are going to rekt your sh*t!