This was the first story I wrote set in the Pokémon world. It was about a Raichu, along with Ash and most of the gang, but set a few years in the future.

I endeavoured to follow the style of the cartoon, so some of the dialogue might be a bit simplistic. However, the suspense builds up later on in, so it's worth persevering.

Goodbye, Raichu

Chapter One -- Ash

"Bye, Mom! I'm bored," announced Ash. "I'm going for a walk."

"What about your chores, dear?" reminded Mrs Ketchum.

"I'll do them later," he replied, walking out the door.

Ash Ketchum was sixteen years old, sturdy, of average height, with messy, thick black hair. He was on the handsome side of ordinary, but that was for the girls to decide, if he ever got around to noticing them. He spent most of his time catching and training Pokémon.

Pokémon were creatures that, along with people, inhabited the world. Most of them roamed wild, but they could usually be caught and trained. Pokémon had amazing powers and could be trained to fight matches. Every year Pokémon League competitions were held around the world where Pokémon trainers could send their Pokémon to battle one another. Over the years, Ash had entered a number of competitions and had done very well.

As Ash walked out the door, his favourite Pokémon, Pikachu, ran after him, took a bound, and landed on the back of Ash's head.

"Pika, pika!" he cried excitedly, eager to go for a walk with his master. Pikachu was an electric mouse Pokémon, Ash's first, which was given to him when he was ten years old. Ash and Pikachu were inseperable, a perfect team, who knew each other so intimately that Pikachu's limited vocabulary was hardly ever a barrier to communication. They had fought so many battles together and had so many adventures, that they couldn't even recount them all. Ash couldn't conceive of what it would be like without Pikachu by his side.

Ash strolled along the tree-lined street. After a minute or two, Ash saw someone he knew.

"Hey, Gary! Do you want a Pokémon match?"

"Nah! I haven't got time," replied Gary, sounding completely disinterested in Ash. "I'm going out with my girlfriend to see the Pokéball Circus."

"What!? They've come to Pallet Town? Gary, everyone knows how badly they treat their Pokémon."

"What do you know, Ash Ketchum," taunted Gary. "I'll have to admit you're not such a loser after all when it comes to Pokémon, but you're a real loser when it comes to girls."

Ash didn't bother replying. He thought to himself, "So that's all he cares about--impressing his girlfriend. Why do I still bother talking to that guy."

Ash and Gary seemed to get along when they were young, but that was a long time ago now. Ever since Gary and Ash started catching Pokémon, Gary showed himself to be conceited and full of rivalry, putting Ash down at every opportunity. Ash's temper was strained often enough with his jibes.

A while later, Ash noticed another familiar face.

"Hi Timmy, you're back!"

Tim, a short, dark-haired boy, was a relative newcomer to Pallet Town. His family moved there about two years ago when Tim's father got a job as an assistant to Professor Oak, a world-renowned Pokémon researcher.

"Hi Ash. Call me Tim, won't you," Tim replied.

"I see your Meowth's evolved. How was your Pokémon journey?"

A Meowth was a cat Pokémon who "adopted" Timmy when he was still in preschool. When Tim turned ten, he and Meowth started on their Pokémon journey to catch new Pokémon and learn how to train them, just as Ash had done six years earlier.

"Yeah, he evolved into Persian when we got our fourth badge. Oh Ash, you should've been there!"

"Can I see your badges?"

"Sure," replied Tim, and showed Ash six shiny badges that he won while battling in various Pokémon gyms around the land. "I've just got two to go, and I can join the Pokémon League, just like you did."

"Good luck!"

"Thanks. Hey, do you want to battle?"

"Sure," said Ash, who could never refuse a challenge.

"OK! How about my favourite Pokémon versus yours?"

"OK. Go Pikachu!"

"All right, Persian," called Tim to his own inseperable companion. "Pounce."

Persian's sleek, swift body sprung into action. It leapt into the air, and landed on the mark, slamming its small opponent down. "Oh, no!" thought Ash to himself, who had a tendency to rush into things. "I should've thought it was cat versus mouse."

Tim's voice broke Ash's thoughts.

"Persian, Scratch!" he called.

Ash collected his thoughts. "Pikachu, quick, Thunderbolt!"

Persian raised his paw, taking aim, getting ready to strike. But Pikachu's body was already enveloped in a yellow glow, sparks spitting out of his cheeks, priming himself for attack. Persian's paw had scarcely moved, when, at lightning speed, a bolt of electricity shot from Pikachu's body and shocked the feline, mid-strike.

"Right, Pikachu, use Agility."

The cutest among Pokémon was also among the quickest, and Pikachu sped towards Persian, then around him, and back the other way, confusing his opponent. Persian found himself unable to aim at such a speedy foe.

In the midst of the battle, Ash heard someone comment, "That Pikachu's still pretty quick for its age."

Another voice spoke: "Ash is a good trainer. He keeps his Pokémon fit and healthy."

That last voice was Professor Oak's. Ash realized that an audience had gathered.

"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" cried Ash.

"Persian, retreat," ordered Tim. Persian obediently jumped back, causing Pikachu to miss his mark. "Right, now that Pikachu's tired out," continued Tim, "do another Pounce!"

Persian repeated his first attack, slammed the creature that was less than a quarter his weight, leaving him stunned and close to fainting.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" called Ash, but Pikachu didn't respond.

"OK, Persian, do a Slash attack." Tim now definitely had the upper hand.

Ash immediately realized that he had run out of time for an electric attack. "Pikachu, block the attack with your tail!"

Persian's paw, nails extended, descended at such speed that its motion was impossible to perceive. Instinctively, Pikachu's tail arched over to protect his body, and...

"Eek!" The little creature gave a painful cry and then fell silent.

"Wow, I've won!" yelled Tim jubilantly to the sound of applause from the onlookers. "Ash, did I really beat you!?"

"You sure did," Ash replied. During his travels, Ash eventually learnt how to lose graciously. He knew now that there was no shame in losing when one did one's best. Ash received his own badges from those better than him who had lost matches to him in sportsmanship and fair play.

"Sorry, I don't have any badges to give you though," Ash continued, and they both laughed at the joke.

"Your Persian's coming along real fine, Timmy," said Professor Oak. "Better let it rest for a while," he advised.

"Sure," replied Tim, still elated.

"And I've been speaking to your father, Tim. You've been home for two days and he's hardly seen you. Why don't you go and tell him that I said he can have an early mark, and the two of you spend some time together."

"Wow, thanks Professor! Bye Ash," said Tim as he rushed towards Professor Oak's estate.

"I better get Pikachu home to rest too, Professor Oak," said Ash. "Bye now."

"See you later, Ash."

Ash hurried off home carrying his Pokémon in his arms. He noticed that his tail was hurt by that last attack, and didn't want Professor Oak to notice. Of course, Professor Oak's laboratory had better facilities than a home first aid cabinet, but Ash was embarrassed to let the Professor see that he let his Pokémon get hurt like that. Professor Oak entrusted Pikachu to Ash in the first place, after all. The only other place where sick or injured Pokémon could be treated was a Pokémon Centre, but there weren't any in an out of the way place like Pallet Town.

When Ash got home, his mother mentioned that Misty had phoned while he was out, and asked if he could call back.

"Was it urgent, Mom? I've really got to fix Pikachu's tail."

"No, I don't think -- oh my, the poor thing. Ash, how do those poor creatures put up with all that fighting?"

It's OK, Mom. They don't usually get hurt like this. They enjoy competing and trying to win. Don't you Pikachu."

"Pikachu," nodded Pikachu weakly in assent.

Misty was a friend of Ash's who had gone with him on many of his journeys. Misty was a couple of years older than Ash, about Ash's height, slim but strong, with a round, pretty face. She had flowing red hair which she habitually tied in a lopsided ponytail.

When they first met, Ash had borrowed Misty's bicycle to race an injured Pikachu to a Pokémon Centre. However, Ash ruined her bicycle in the process, and Misty started following him to try and get him to pay her back. It wasn't long, though, before they became close friends. Misty lived in Cerulean City, where she was the Pokémon Gym leader.

Shortly after dinner, Misty rang again on the videophone. Ash answered the call.

"Hi Misty, sory I didn't get back to you. I got sidetracked with some chores."

"It's OK, Ash. I've got some news, and I'd like your help."

"What's up?" asked Ash.

"Well you know how two of my sisters got married and moved away? Now Daisy's just had a job offer from the Viridian City Gym."

"Wow! I heard that they're expanding to include gym leaders for all the different Pokémon types."

"That's right," said Misty, "and they've offered Daisy the water gym. The trouble is, I'll be left looking after Cerulean all by myself. Don't forget we also do entertainment, so it's a lot of work. But it pays enough to have someone else."

Ash's mom thought this sounded interesting enough to listen in.

"Hi Misty," she announced with her usual pleasant smile. Videophone etiquette dictated that someone joining a conversation introduce themselves with a greeting.

"Hi, Mrs Ketchum," replied Misty politely, "how are you?"

"I'm well thanks, Misty," answered Mrs Ketchum.

"Anyway, how can I help," asked Ash. "I don't know anyone who wants to help in a gym."

"Well, that doesn't matter so much," said Misty. "I was wondering if you'd like to do it," she announced. "At least part time."

Ash was stunned. "You're offering me ... a job!?"

Mrs Ketchum thought she noticed a glisten in Misty's eyes, and her voice had a restrained eagerness about it. She thought to herself that Misty was doing a good job at hiding something. Mrs Ketchum decided that she better not let her son mess up this opportunity, as she knew he rarely had the forethought to think about his future.

"That sounds like an interesting opportunity, Ash," she commented.

"Me, a gym leader!" thought aloud. Memories raced through his head: all the gym battles he lost, all those he won, and how wonderful it felt to receive a badge. And then, he imagined how happy and proud it would have made him if he could've really offered Tim a badge, and teach him what he knew about Pokémon.

"Uh, sure Misty!" he finally said. "I'd love to do it."

"That's great, Ash. When do you think you can come over and we can talk about it some more?"

"I suppose I can come tomorrow. Is that OK with you, Mom?"

"That's fine," answered his mother happily. "Goodnight, Misty."

"G'night, Misty," echoed Ash.

"Goodnight Ash, Mrs Ketchum."

Author's notes:

Timmy and his Meowth appeared in The Purr-fect Hero.
"Pounce" is not an attack that is authorized by the Pokémon League. However, since it is used on the Persian Pokémon card, I felt the liberty to use it in this story.