With Ash...
"You've missed food from Kalos, haven't you buddy?"
"Pika pi!"
"My cooking is still better though."
"Pikaaaa..." complained my disloyal, piss-coloured partner.
I took a sip of my Sawsbucks™ coffee. It was overpriced, but I really needed coffee.
"Don't deny it!"
"Pika chu." The mouse pokemon replied stubbornly.
I sighed, as a continent of stress seemed to crush my soul. "We still need some way to pass time before the opening, and I don't want to check out the dorms before I know who my roommates will be."
"chu."
"No Pikachu, I don't want to socialize!"
"Pikachu pika chu chu pi." he argued adamantly, hoping he'd force me into a social situation. Fortunately, his efforts were in vain.
"I'd prefer to train. You just spent the past hour lugging Thunderbolts at Charizard. That's training him, not you."
It was obvious that Pikachu wasn't going to budge. We've been training for three years straight without rest, but he still has an attitude.
Hard life.
Still, I had too many things on my mind, mainly what I was going to do about my little name predicament. I can't just appear as Ash Ketchum after three years of silence. My reason for leaving was 100% justified, but that didn't matter. Luckily (according to Zinnia anyway) I look and sound pretty different than I did three years ago, but I still need a suitable nickname.
Luckily, fate would force my hand.
"Is that a Pikachu?" A childlike voice asked from behind me. I turned around and looked downwards to see a young boy, probably 10 or 11 years old.
"Yeah, this is Pikachu, he's my best buddy!" I clarified, causing him to go wide-eyed.
"wow he's soooo cute!" the starstruck boy shouted, clearly unaware that Pikachu is probably older than he is. "Hey, what's your name."
Dammit, he asked the question.
My eyes searched my surroundings, desperately praying that the condiments at a second-rate coffee shop would mend my bad life choices.
"My name is..." I stammered, my eyes dancing around the room like the author does when he reads your kind comments <3.
"Mustard... no. Coffee bean? Even worse. Ketchup.... I got it!"
"tt...Tomato... Y-Yeah, my name is Tom Ato!
In hindsight, I could've chosen a better name.
"Oh hi Tom, my name is Joey, the trainer of the best Raticate in the world! Can I hug your Pikachu!?" the boy quizzed, bursting with enthusiasm as words whizzed from his mouth like Bullet Seeds from Sceptile.
"Umm I don't think-"
"Okay thanks!" the clueless kid shouted, grabbing Pikachu into a death hug.
"No Pikachu dont-"
I panicked, snatching Pikachu at the last second as pure electric power scorched my body.
Pikachu isn't a big fan of hugs.
"WOAH! That looked like quite a thunderbolt!"
"I know. I felt it."
"Maybe you can even challenge the champions in the exhibition battle! Then you might be able to approach the incredible power of my awesome Raticate!"
YOU ARE READING
Nowhere to Hide
Teen FictionAsh Ketchum, former Champion of the Alola region, disappears without a trace. He knows he needs to do better. Three years later, The Pokemon World Tournament is about to commence, and our favorite raven hair decides to make his new debut, fully awar...
