Goodbye, Raichu
Chapter Seven -- Goodbye, Raichu
The next day was warm, sunny and pleasant. The sky was blue
and Spearow were crowing in the distance.
Ash slept heavily after his ordeal. In the morning he phoned
Tim's parents and apologized for the trouble he had caused.
Needless to say, Tim's account had put the blame on himself for
not heeding Ash's warning, so Tim's parents accepted Ash's
apology without hesitation. Misty, whom Mrs Ketchum had put up
for the night, was not unimpressed that Ash had at least tried to
make amends.
They were in a jeep now, Misty and a Pokémon nurse at
the front, and Ash, Pikachu and Raichu at the back. Ash and Mitsy
were mostly quiet, mulling over yesterday's adventures. A lot had
happened. Still, Ash's spirits were high, with a happy ending in
sight. After Raichu was back at her home, Ash planned to go with
Misty to the Cerulean Gym so they could finally get around to
talking about his job there as a gym leader.
Pikachu and Raichu, on the other hand, were busy chattering
away happily. "Pika pi!", "Rai, rai!" and "Chu, chu!" went back
and forth with different intonations, gestures and expressions.
Raichu had obviously come to realize that not all people were
dangerous. Some could even be friends.
As they neared the woods, Misty gave directions, and the jeep
carefully turned off the road, and proceeded across the field
toward Raichu's home. Soon the vehicle stopped, and all the
occupants alighted.
"I can wait a few minutes while you say goodbye," said the
nurse, "but I've got to be going back soon."
"It's OK," siad Ash. "Misty and I were planning to walk on to
Cerulean City."
"Well OK, if that's what you want to do. If you're sure then,
I'd better be off."
"Goodbye, and thanks for your help," said Misty.
Pikachu and Raichu held paws and walked on ahead. Misty and
Ash followed behind. As Misty saw the pair together in front, she
sighed. She dared to slow her pace just a little, so that after a
few steps, she could see Ash walk in front of her. She looked him
up and down a few times. She admired his form, the way he walked,
so confidently, so full of enthusiasm in life and all it had to
offer.
Pikachu and Raichu stopped in front of a group of trees that
were growing together. Raichu stopped among the trees and started
to dig.
"Must be its home," said Misty.
"I wonder what it's looking for," remarked Ash.
Meanwhile, Pikachu returned to Ash, hugged his legs and rubbed
his head affectionately against him.
"What's the matter, Pikachu?" asked Ash, looking down at his
closest companion.
Pikachu looked up at Ash, with a sad expression on his face.
It was the saddest look that Ash had ever seen on Pikachu. Ash
crouched down to Pikachu's level and held him gently between his
hands.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Ash was starting to get worried.
What could be the matter this time?
"Raichu!" said Raichu, and everyone turned to see her. Raichu
had returned, holding something between her paws. It looked like
a piece of rock, irregularly shaped, translucent and glittering
on the inside. It looked inert in Raichu's paws, but somehow
still suggested some latent power.
"What's that?" said Ash, now quite confused.
"I'm not sure, Ash. I think I've seen something like that
before," replied Misty.
Suddenly, Ash was overcome by a sinking feeling. Thoughts
raced through his head: Pikachu... Raichu... a stone.
"A Thunderstone!" exclaimed Ash and Misty, almost
simultaneously.
"Pikachu, you want to become a Raichu?" asked Ash.
Pikachu nodded silently. The poor thing seemed so overcome
with emotion, it was difficult for him to talk.
"Oh, I think I see," said Misty. "Do you want to evolve and
stay here with Raichu?"
Pikachu's eyes welled with tears, and nodded. But he wouldn't
leave Ash's side. He rubbed his head against Ash again, and
pointed to Raichu.
Ash was speechless. He was all choked up. Why would Pikachu
want to leave him for some wild Pokémon? He felt the world
crumble around him, as if all his hopes and dreams would be
destroyed if he lost Pikachu. Was Pikachu unhappy with him?
"Ash, I think Pikachu has found a mate," said Misty.
"Pikachu," Ash finally managed to sob, "is that true?"
"Kachu," said the little Pokémon weakly, nodding.
"Don't you like me anymore?"
"Pika!" he shouted to deny such a horrible thought, and
grabbed Ash's legs affectionately.
"Well if you want to go, why are you staying next to me?"
asked Ash.
"Don't you understand?" replied Misty. "Pikachu is still loyal
to you. You're his master. He won't leave you unless you let
him."
"Is that right, Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"Pikachu!" came a firm reply.
"So then it's up to me to decide," said Ash. "Oh, why do I
always have to make the hard decisions!"
Ash realized that Pikachu was not unhappy with him after all.
It was just time for things to change. But why must change be so
difficult, so permanent? Ash recalled the time he first met
Pikachu, and all the trouble he had to earn his first
Pokémon's respect. Since then, however, Pikachu had done
so much for Ash. Without him, he would never had been able to
earn badges, enter the Pokémon League competitions and
catch so many other Pokémon. Pikachu had stuck with Ash
through easy times and hard, through battles and struggles. If
Pikachu was still loyal to Ash, Ash had to be loyal to Pikachu.
"I have to do what's best for Pikachu," he thought.
"Pikachu, I want you to be happy," Ash finally managed to say
aloud. "If you'll really be happy evolving and staying with
Raichu, then I won't stand in your way."
"That's very brave of you, Ash," said Misty with a sniffle.
Pikachu and Ash gave each other one final, long, tight embrace.
Then Pikachu walked over to Raichu and took the Thunderstone.
As the others looked on, the Thunderstone began to glow,
lightly at first, then more strongly. Suddenly, it burst into a
blaze of light that enveloped the electric mouse. Inside the
brilliance they could make out Pikachu's shape. He grew larger,
his tail longer, his ears more elegant. Gradually the glow ebbed
and finally faded, leaving Ash and Misty openmouthed at the
stately form of a newly evolved Raichu.
"Raichu!" said the new Raichu smiling, obviously proud of his
new appearance, and all the increased strength and power that
came with it.
The group of four slowly and silently walked to the edge of
the woods, then onto the field. They stopped, and Ash and his
former companion looked at each other.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," said Ash, choking up again.
"Raichu," said the newly evolved Raichu, tears in his eyes.
"Goodbye, friend," replied Ash.
Quietly, Misty and Ash saw the two Raichu turn around and walk
back into the woods, the female comforting her new companion for
the loss that the Pokémon itself would be experiencing.
They saw them disappear into the trees. Ash finally said:
"Goodbye, Raichu."
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