Pokemon: The Journey

It was 9 AM when Ash had stepped out of Pallet Town to start his journey, alongside his starter Pikachu.

Things were looking bright for Ash.

He was in high spirits.

Thinking about new Pokémon to catch.

New Pokémon to train.

Defeating Gym Leaders.

Winning badges.

Participating in the Pokémon League.

Winning the trophy.

All with his starter, Pikachu at his side.

Everything was looking great.

...Except that Pikachu was not listening to him at all.

He had stopped listening to him after they had covered some distance from Pallet Town.

He refused to battle any Pokémon they had met.

He had just climbed a tree and sat on the branches as if to watch or spectate what he was going to do.

Ash would have sworn that he saw Pikachu smirking.

He saw a Pidgey, but to confirm it, he had used the Pokédex on it.

"Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. It's a Normal/Flying dual type. Pidgey has an extremely sharp sense of direction and homing instincts. It can travel straight back to its nest regardless of how far away it might have flown. It is a docile Pokémon and prefers to flee from its enemies rather than fight them. Flapping its wings rapidly can whip up dust clouds and create whirlwinds to protect itself and flush out potential prey. Pidgey is a common species throughout its range and can often be found in meadows and temperate forests. It is generally an easy Pokémon to catch. It is recommended for new trainers to catch it."

He would have tried to catch it on his own, but he knew it was pointless.

The only way to catch a Pokémon was to weaken it and throw a Poké Ball. There was another method, but...

The Pidgey had seen him, and the element of surprise was gone. It had flown away after creating a whirlwind.

Sighing, Ash looked at Pikachu, who was smirking at him now.

'He must want to frustrate you enough to release him. He still distrusts you.'

'I know.'

"Let's see what the Pokédex has to say about you, now."

Pointing at Pikachu, the Pokédex replied, which was also heard by Pikachu:

"Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. It's an Electric-type Pokémon. Wild Pikachu are shown to live in groups in forested areas. Pikachu communicate amongst themselves using squeaks and tail-shaking as friendly gestures. Electricity can be used to receive and send messages with each other, as well as with other Electric-type Pokémon. It raises its tail to check its surroundings and is occasionally struck by lightning in this position. When groups grow, they can inadvertently cause lightning storms. Pikachu forages for Berries, which it roasts with electricity to make them tender enough to eat. A sure sign that Pikachu inhabits a location is the presence of patches of burnt grass. Pikachu are also sometimes seen eating and destroying telephone poles, wires, and other electronic equipment. Pikachu charges itself while sleeping overnight, though stress and a lack of sleep can affect this. It can release electric discharges of varying intensity. It is also able to release energy through its tail, which acts as a grounding rod, as well as recharge fellow Pikachu with electric shocks.

This Pikachu is Male. Its height and weight are 1'04" or 0.4 m and 13.2 lbs or 6.0 kg respectively. It knows the following moves: Growl, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Thunder Shock, and Thunder Wave. Please note that this Pikachu is chubbier than many of its kind. Before battling, he must undergo physical training. Immediately."

The sheer offended and murderous look that Pikachu was sending the Pokédex would have frozen anybody else...if only the one doing it was a cute, huggable yellow mouse.

'Ooh~ Ammo.'

Adopting a pitying expression and a look of understanding, Ash asked Pikachu, further fueling the humiliation, "I see. So, you knew that you would not be able to fight any Pokémon, huh? I can understand your nervousness and reluctance to fight."

Shooting his murderous look at him, Pikachu abandoned any plans to escape for the moment, just to show him that he was powerful too, and make the human and the machine shut up.

Looking around for a vict-I mean, Pokémon to battle, he saw a small purple body moving in the grass.

Looking back at the human, he pointed to the body as if to show who he was fighting next.

Arching an eyebrow while still grinning mentally, Ash looked to the side and saw a Rattata.

Its purple body had a line scar on its back.

'Perfect.'

"Alright, Pikachu, you ready to have your first battle?"

Nodding, Pikachu leapt from the branch and landed on the ground with his cheeks sparking, and thought to himself that he would leave the human after defeating this rat and showing his dominance.

The Rattata looked up from the grass and growled weakly.

Neither Ash nor Pikachu noticed that small detail.

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack."

Pouring white energy into his legs to stimulate his muscles with an emphasis on the fast-twitch muscles, Pikachu crossed the distance and leapt at Rattata.

'Quick attack should be even faster, such that it is nearly impossible to see. I can still see Pikachu. It is as if he is only running faster. He needs that exercise.'

Mentally nodding to Roshi's words, Ash focused back on the battle.

Unable to put up resistance, the Rattata was knocked back, struggling to get up.

Pikachu grinned as if to show he was strong.

Ash reached for a Poké ball, enlarged it, and was about to throw it when...

"Ratta..."("Please stop...")

"Pi?"("What?")

Immediately turning back to Ash, he crossed his front paws(hands?) and motioned for him to stop throwing the ball.

Ash's grip faltered upon looking at Pikachu.

Remembering how he met Pikachu, Ash sighed and put back the ball.

It was not known to him, but that act earned him a little bit more of Pikachu's respect.

'Something's up. Let's wait for Pikachu to talk to the Rattata and find out what is going on.'

Mentally nodding, Ash looked at Pikachu and the Rattata and said to Pikachu, "Can you ask him what's going on?"

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After spending some time trying to understand Pikachu's expressions, acting, and deciphering the message with Roshi's help Ash found out about something from Rattata.

He had of course, used one of the potions he had received from Professor Oak on the Rattata.

What? He was a trainer yes, but he also had morals and common sense.

Ahem...

Apparently, the Rattata was a part of a colony of Rattata (which Pikachu had shown by pointing to Rattata multiple times) which was led by a Raticate (which had been shown via pointing at Rattata and gesturing something big). The Raticate was seriously sick (seeing Pikachu act as if dying dramatically was entertaining to watch, no matter the grim news).

Coughing to bring the attention back to himself, Ash said, "Okay. We will help you. Can you take us to your leader Rattata?"

She, (yes female, Pikachu had shown his tail and upon further consulting the Pokédex, he found out that female Pikachu had heart-shaped tails, he found out about Rattata's gender too after guessing and being corrected by Pikachu) started leading them through the open field.

He was looking around for anything suspicious, as it might have been a trap too, according to Roshi. He whispered this to Pikachu, who looked skeptical.

"It's better to be cautious and be prepared than not be prepared at all, right?"

Still looking skeptical, and thinking the human was stupid, Pikachu nodded.

It was going to enjoy the look on his face when he realized that it was not a trick.

For now, the human should follow him as he led them following Rattata's scent.

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Okay.

The human might have been right.

He was also right too, for now.

Ash was just looking at him and the large colony of Rattata they were surrounded by who were about to start eating after the two Raticates would give their signal.

He started to remember how they got here and got stuck in this situation.

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(Flashback begin)

They had followed Rattata to big cut down old tree trunk.

Finding no shrubs and grass for some length of radius around the trunk, they saw that the ground was covered with rocks that looked as if they had been gnawed upon by something sharp.

There were also no berry trees in sight, and they could see some bodies' silhouettes in the grass there. There was a bad smell coming from that direction when the wind hit them in the face.

Wanting to ask about the smell, both of them turned to Rattata, who was knocking on the trunk?...

Blinking stupidly, both of them were about to ask what she was doing, when the earth rose up from beside her and there was also a Rattata.

The new Rattata looked at both of them, and turned to her with a scowl.

They started discussing something which only Pikachu was able to understand.

"Rattata?!"("Why did you bring a human here?!")

"Rat. Ta. Ratta."("I met them. The human has medicine. It cured me, so it might cure the chief too.")

Shooting a skeptical glance at the human and Pikachu, the Rattata started to think something, and gestured for her to wait and went back inside.

The three of them looked at each other and waited.

After a while, the ground in front of the tree started to open up after being dug out by multiple Rattata.

The hole was large enough to fit Ash.

The Rattata that brought them here motioned for them to follow her.

Gulping and steeling their nerves, both of them started to follow her after looking at each other.

The tunnel was a maze. Thankfully the Rattata helped them in navigating it.

They walked for some time with only Ash's flashlight lighting the path, surrounded by different Rattata.

Crunch...crunch...crunch...

Their footsteps echoed from the walls.

If not for the clock on the Pokédex, they would have lost track of time.

The tunnels were wide enough that if a group of Pokémon, like Rattata wanted to move quickly and get out they could do so, and in large quantities too.

The length of walk was disorienting too.

Both Ash and Pikachu were looking around and walking in silence.

Crunch...crunch...crunch...

After some mind-numbing but tense time had passed, all of them saw a light green light coming out from an end.

They started moving a little bit faster.

Upon crossing the threshold, both of them stopped and stared at the scenery before them with open mouths and gasped.

The Rattata were living in a cavern. A really big underground cavern.

The cavern was bathed in a calming green glow that was radiating from the giant big jade-like green crystals that were embedded in the floor, and the walls.

The ceiling was high. It was covered a really big crystal stretching from one side to another. It looked suspiciously a lot like the roots of trees Ash had seen in Pallet. Instead of brown, cracked roots, this was bigger, and had dark green accents in places signifying that crystals were also growing out from there. The 'root' also looked as if it was alive.

The 'root' had thin, in comparison to it, green lines of glowing crystals extending from it and going through the walls and floor. Most of the crystals were concentrated around these. There were also some flower-like structures growing from it in places.

The crystals also radiated luminescent small motes of green-blue light into the cavern which covered the Rattata in their light.

It was mesmerizing.

Both of them took some time to take the otherworldly sight in.

None of them had expected to see such a sight in their lives.

"Rat."

Shaking out of their reverie, they looked at the offender with annoyance.

Gesturing forward, the Rattata led them inwards.

Remembering the reason why they had come here in the first place, they started following them.

While going towards the place where the Raticate resided, none of them noticed the motes of light going into Ash.

After a while, the two of them approached a chamber of sorts.

The chamber was a dug into the wall of the cavern. It had guards outside. It had smaller green crystals on the ceiling than outside. There was an elevated platform in the middle of the chamber where there were some big Raticates.

Remembering that he had scanned neither Rattata nor Raticate, he took out his Pokédex, and pointed it at them.

"Rattata, the Mouse Pokémon. It's a Normal type. Its teeth grow continuously throughout its life and must be worn down by gnawing. This also ensures that Rattata is not awoken by the sound of its grinding teeth while sleeping. Females will have shorter whiskers. Rattata can live wherever it can find food, which it searches for most of the day. Thanks to its sharp fangs, it is able to chew on nearly anything. When it is threatened, Rattata can deliver a powerful bite. Rattata constantly keep their ears up and will immediately scurry away from the slightest sound. Its hardiness lets it live in many environments, although it mainly lives on plains and savannas. Because it reproduces so quickly, a pair of Rattata can quickly colonize an area.

Raticate, the Mouse Pokémon. It's a Normal type and the evolution of Rattata. There are three whiskers on each side of its face, which it uses to maintain balance. It has short arms with three-fingered hands and webbed feet with three toes. The webbing on its feet allows it to swim. Females will have shorter whiskers. If attacked, Raticate stands up on its hind legs, bares its fangs and shrieks in an intimidating manner at its enemy. It is willing to take on larger foes if provoked enough. Its teeth are strong enough to gnaw through steel and their constant growth means it often needs to gnaw on something, like rocks and logs. It may even chew on the walls of houses, and is capable of chewing through cinderblocks and toppling concrete buildings. This Pokémon typically lives in plains and savannas."

Ash heard growling coming from the Raticates, and looked up.

They were looking at him, Pikachu, and the Rattata that was responsible for bringing them here.

Rattata started to explain something to the male Raticate, if the whisker size was any indication.

"Rat!"("Explain! Why did you bring outsiders here?")

"Ratta."("Chief, I brought them here to cure your illness like they did mine.")

"Raticate."("Really? You will have to pay for this transgression afterwards.")

After some time, the Raticates looked at him with hostility but were skeptical too. They gave their permission.

Ash slowly started opening his bag after settling it down, knowing that any kind of hurry on his part will have the entire Rattata colony attack him and Pikachu with possibly the one who brought them here.

He took out his only Full Restore he had received after asking/threatening Professor Oak.

With a slow and steady voice that did not reflect the nervousness he was feeling, he said, "I am going to use this to treat you. Is it okay?"

After a Rattata had smelled and checked it, it nodded at the chief Raticate.

Raticate gave the go ahead.

Ash slowly went to the Raticate.

"I will warn you that it will sting only at first, is it okay?"

Raticate looked to consider it and looked at the Rattata and nodded to him.

"Alright."

Pikachu had been talking with both of the Raticate and Rattata for him. They did not know the human language. In any other circumstances, he would not have Ash, but...

Both Pikachu and Ash realized that they needed to get out of here fast before things turned south.

Ash pointed the nozzle at the Raticate and used it.

"RAT..."

Seeing their leader crying out, all of the Rattata and the female Raticates looked at Pikachu, the one who brought them here, and him.

They were about to attack, when...

"Ratic."

All of them turned around to see the male Raticate starting to get better fast. It was a matter of time before he fully healed and was up and about.

Upon seeing their leader heal, all of the Rattata and Raticates cheered.

Ash and Pikachu gave out a sigh of relief.

After all the Rattata were sent out, the Raticate had called them and gave them something in return as payment and reward of sorts after taking it out from a crystal. He had said they did not know its purpose and they did not need it.

After that, they had been called to the main cavern where we find our heroes now.

(Flashback End)

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"I wonder where the Rattata that brought us here is. I wanted to catch her. She would have been a great addition to the team, right Pikachu?"

Pikachu upon hearing it was already developing plans to ditch the human and be left with Rattata.

Hey, just because it started to like the human does not mean he wants to stay.

Now, where was she?

The Raticate Chief had started giving a speech, after which the food was distributed to all.

Both Ash and Pikachu were looking forward to it.

It was...

A raw mangled flesh with some purple skin?

Feeling their stomach drop at the sight, they looked at others.

They were eating the same thing too.

Daringly, Ash asked, "Do we have to eat this?"

The entire cavern became quiet, and then laughter was heard.

All of the Rattata and Raticate were laughing at them as if they had just told a joke.

Looking at each other, both Ash and Pikachu communicated with each other like people who had received the same end of the short stick.

'We are going to die and get eaten if we do not eat now, huh?'

Resigning, Ash looked at his Pokédex, and whispered,

"Not even noon."

Lifting his head to look at what was given to them, he saw something that made him stop cold.

He felt bile rising up his stomach.

He felt sick.

He whispered to Pikachu to check something.

Looking incredulously at him after hearing such a thing, Pikachu sniffed the meal given to them skeptically...

Seeing Pikachu's eyes widen with horror and realization, Ash needed to know no more.

'The Pokédex said they can eat anything.'

Roshi's sad voice was just static to him.

'I am sorry, Ash.'

Pikachu was looking sadly at him with no form of hostility at all.

"Pika"

Pikachu's sorrow-filled voice as if apologizing with guilt, did not stop his spiraling thoughts.

The Rattata looked at them with challenge in her eyes.

'It's okay. You should cry. The world isn't fair.'

The Rattata was tired but still gave a fight.

The very Rattata who he had nearly caught...

The Rattata leading them to the cavern.

The one with whom he had imagined to form a team with to win the league...

She had brought them here to her chief, her father.

The dead plucked out eyes looking at him...

Nooooo....

The line scar on the purple skin was the only thing on both of their minds...

Cementing a horrible truth.

That which could not be denied any longer.

No matter how hard it was to accept.

They had to eat the very Rattata's remains who had been brought back by them unintentionally, or risk being killed and eaten alive with no body for anybody to recover.