Little Lost PIkachu
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Chapter 7
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Clean Slate - Pt.2
Nica mumbled before taking a deep breath and flashing a grateful smile. She took a quick pause, collecting herself before continuing on.
Pikachu asked, before seeing how Nica’s ears drooped.
She released a pained whimper before continuing in a depressed tone,
Pikachu’s ears drooped, feeling an ache in his heart which surpassed the burning sensation in his body. He forced tears back as he asked in a sobbing tone,
Nica explained.
he probed before no longer balancing himself on his tail, now standing on the tips of his tiny paws. A few centimeters of the water seemed to have evaporated already.
Nica explained.
Pikachu asked.
She gestured at herself, allowing a small prideful smile to appear on her face.
Pikachu approached, now staring at Nica in admiration, who took a confused step back in response. He waved his forepaws frantically.
She smiled sheepishly.
She tapped her forepaws together. She looked at him in pity.
Pikachu rolled his eyes. She can praise others, but can’t take praise herself. No wonder Rainbow Dash says she’s too humble.
Nica muttered, receiving a nod of agreement.
Pikachu observed his guardian, only to feel her tail lift him once again. Nica rounded him and he felt the soft gentle touch of a sponge massaging his bruised back. Being above the burning water alone brought him great relief.
Nica looked to the side.
Pikachu felt the sponge clean his back, teasing his knotted and stiff muscles. A satisfied “Chuuuu…” escaped his mouth.
Pikachu said as he gave his guardian a proud look, which only earned him an embarrassed blush in return.
Pikachu patted Nica on the shoulder, while still perched atop her tail.
Pikachu gasped and next blushed.
Nica asked.
Pikachu grumbled as he looked away, only to feel a forepaw comfortingly rub his shoulder.
Nica clarified.
He turned around, now looking Nica deeply in the eyes and pouting his lip for extra measure.
NIca nodded.
Pikachu guessed, receiving a firm nod of confirmation. Astra and Nica’s dedication had to be strong for them to leave the region to stop Team Rocket’s plans.
Nica’s ears sagged as she started swirling the water around with the copper edge of her paw.
Pikachu nodded, listening with full attention while feeling a rush of excitement. His mouth slightly open in awe.
She sighed, reliving the memory.
Pikachu shouted eagerly, winning a warm smile and a chuckle as Nica rounded him and began to clean his belly.
He paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
Pikachu narrowed his eyes, thinking back to Brandon’s legendary team, completely crushing Paul when challenged to a battle.
Nica described.
Pikachu wondered, staring back with full curiosity, only to feel a growing heat as his body was lowered back to the scorching water. He grit his teeth and ignored the pain, his attention fully focused on his guardian's intriguing backstory.
Nica revealed.
Pikachu gasped, paws trembling with anticipation.
Nica took a deep breath, her voice now devoid of all former confidence.
Pikachu pointed out.
Pikachu’s eyes became wide as plates, his voice filled with panic. He spread his forepaws and cupped his cheeks in shock while splashing the water, leaping directly in front of the Raichu.
Nodding solemnly, Nica continued,
Pikachu managed to choke out, Seeing a nod, he supported his paws on both of Nica’s shoulders as he looked into her in the eyes, stopping himself from shaking her silly for enduring such torture.
Nica said as she gently situated Pikachu to a sitting position on her raised tail and lowered her head.
Pikachu’s ears drooped as he noticed the hesitation in Nica’s attempt to push the words out of her throat.
She turned around and lowered her head, nearly touching the water with her nose as swift tears streamed down her face. She started sobbing.
Without a moment's notice, Pikachu grasped the sponge from Nica’s hold, now cleaning her back and returning her kindness. He hopped from her tail and nuzzled Nica’s side. Now, it became obvious where the sensitive part of his guardian came from. A kind heart like hers had to have stemmed from somewhere. I can’t imagine the guilt she lives with everyday, blaming herself for something she couldn't control.
She massaged her forehead, depression clear on her lowered face.
Pikachu muttered, shivering while replaying her insecurities in his mind before cleaning her side.
Nica said as she raised her head, meeting Pikachu’s gaze.
Pikachu questioned as he pressed the sponge against Nica’s legs, which were submerged underwater. The taller pokemon took the sponge away, raised him with her tail and started cleaning his little feet instead.
Pikachu wheezed as the surprise after surprise battered his mind. The idea of this sweetheart before him, the kindest Raichu he had ever met, being a bully? Impossible!
Nica nodded grimly as she now started primping his forepaws, washing the last splotches of the dirt as drops of steaming water dripped down from his soaked fur.
Pikachu stated, amazed. Giving Nica a warm smile, he hobbled over and gripped Nica’s forepaws, staring into her eyes.
Nica sputtered with a deep blush as she hid it behind her copper toned paws. She lowered her limbs and climbed out from the bathtub before lowering her tail to the pink and white speckled ceramic tiles.
Pikachu giggled as he stepped from Nica's tail onto ceramic tiles.
Nica rounded him, selecting a fuzzy towel from the nearby table and started patting his fur dry, blocking his field of vision. The moment she withdrew the cloth, his fluff puffed into a large ball, causing a cheerful laugh to escape her mouth. Pikachu raised a forepaw up to his face and pressed it into his furry coat, chuckling as well. He had to admit, seeing Nica enjoy herself had become precious to him, with how often she placed blame on herself.
<Ever since I started sensing the auras and emotions of others I stopped enjoying fights. It was hard to continue battling when all I could feel was an immense sense of rage, sadness, disappointment and sometimes even hatred coming from my foe, whenever they were losing. Not to mention how devastating it was when I failed to protect a human’s life. My entire purpose for existing, to save those in need, failed because I couldn't react fast enough.”
Nica took a quick breath of fresh air, trying to calm herself. She patted her forepaws in excitement, a big toothy smile lighting up her face.
Pikachu grinned, watching Nica bob her head in agreement. He grasped the towel and threw it over his guardian’s head, standing on the tips of his rear feet as he rubbed her fur. Cleaning someone taller proved to be a bit more difficult than expected. The moment he withdrew the towel, Nica’s fur fluffed even more than his, causing them both to drop to the floor and laugh as their fuzz sent small static shocks to one another.
Nica took a deep breath and sat, now perched on the tiles with a tad more presentable fur. Only a few mending bruises were visible on her body. Nica’s eyes glazed over, a small smirk painted on her face.
Pikachu gathered, receiving a subtle in response. He tensed as Nica’s ears wilted, crumbling alongside her tail as it flopped towards the ground. Her previous carefree grin was wiped clean, her mood taking a complete 180. Gathering the sweetest voice he could muster, Pikachu begged,
Nica stroked the side of her limb nervously, not daring to meet Pikachu’s pleading gaze. She took a deep calming breath and spoke up,
Seeing a nod, Pikachu gasped and stumbled a step backward. He pointed at her.
Nica dipped her head in confirmation. She smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of her neck.
Pikachu kept staring in disbelief, his jaw inches away from the floor. A fight which seemed near unwinnable from his perspective was nothing but a training session for the Raichu before him. Don’t you dare be jealous of her, Pikachu. Don’t you dare! He shook his head and grinned widely, a new flame sparking in his eyes.
Pikachu declared, faking offense.
Nica sighed in relief before patting her fur.
He took her example, fixing his puffy coat while asking,
Nica curled into herself slightly. She tapped the tips of her forepaws together and added in a quiet, squeaky voice, She squeezed her eyes shut, fearing the worst, until her hero’s voice cured her worries.
Pikachu whispered, awestruck as he approached and shook Nica’s forepaw, an excited smile present on his face.
Nica replied as she withdrew her forepaw and turned to the side, gazing downward.
Pikachu said encouragingly.
Pikachu tapped his forepaws, energetically hopping from one paw to the next.
Nica said, her voice now lacking spirit. She pointed at him.
Pikachu asked in disbelief.
A steady pounding at the door interrupted his speech, leaving him slightly annoyed at the intrusion. It quickly vanished though as he saw Starlight gaze in through the entrance, a curious look glancing in through the entrance.
The mare leaned down and mouthed a rapid succession of questions to Nica, his ears twitching as he picked up on the mare's muffled whispers.
"Is he angry or jealous of you? Are you two getting along?" The Raichu shook her head no, quickly switching to a nod.
What is she talking about? Pikachu thought, pretending to be looking off into a corner. I mean, I'm a teeny tiny bit envious of her accomplishments, but who wouldn't be? All that matters is she deserves it through and through. After listening to her adventures, I feel as if I could trust her with my life.
He peeked back over towards his company, watching as Starlight flashed a smile and disappeared in a bright spark of magic. As the glare cleared, she was gone.
Nica's eyes popped open and she leaped over to a table, picking both their translating collars while securing them in her tail's steady grip. Her paws squeezed shut, slow drops of sweat sliding from her forehead. Whatever happened next was going to be serious. She leaped towards the exit. Standing in the cavernous crystal hallway, she gestured for him to follow.
Pikachu nodded, waiting for Nica to close the door as he walked side by side with her, taking three steps for her larger two.
Nica said while looking ahead at the long walkway.
Pikachu didn’t say anything, trying to comprehend his guardian's kind words.
Nica lowered her head, pulling her tail which lay flat on the floor. She looked at him with an inspired smile.
Pikachu looked away and grit his teeth. Nica’s humility and her inferiority complex, it was all his fault. But… it’s unfair… If she was in my place, I’m sure she would be able to help Ash way better than I can. She’s blaming herself for something she has no control over.
Nica commented as she patted his shoulder.
Pikachu took a deep breath and asked,
Nica paused in between the two doors leading to their respective rooms. She clenched her forepaws, her stare now firm as perspiration wet her face.
Pikachu gasped and took a step back, finally understanding where this conversation was leading. The title of Pokemon Master, a symbol of being the best trainer in the world that he and Ash had chased all those years... He pointed at Nica with a trembling forepaw and asked,
Nica held her paws together under her chin in a pleading gesture, murmuring to herself jumbled prayers.
With his eyes sparkling as if filled with stars, Pikachu ran towards Nica and grabbed both of her paws while causing both collars to collapse to the floor.
Nica shouted as she took a step back, her face now cherry red in embarrassment.
Pikachu interrupted as he kept staring in admiration.
Nica whimpered. After taking a moment to regain her composure, she asked,
She pounded a forepaw to her chest. Her eyes watered uncontrollably as she started to speak with sobbing hiccups.
Pikachu was cut off.
Nica bowed before him humbly, her face now millimeters above the cold floor.
Pikachu froze, his mind drawing blanks. So this was the source of all of Nica’s fears. Her humility, her inferiority complex, all this time she cared for nothing but his happiness and approval.
Nica pleaded as she looked up from her lowered position, still bowing on her knees.
He shuffled his feet nervously while looking to the side. Under other circumstances earning respect from a top-notch foe and proving his worth to a powerful Raichu would fill him with joy, especially if it was the partner of the World Champion herself, yet seeing Nica humiliate herself for his sake… was just wrong. This particular kind, gold-hearted Raichu… he didn’t want to defeat, much less fight… to prove superior to. So what if she was more powerful, had better honed skills and helped her trainer achieve the title of Pokemon Master? All that mattered to her was achieving his happiness... and he felt the same way.
Nica stood up and sighed.
He ran forward and hugged Nica, pressing his cheek into her fluffy white chest.
Nica stuttered, staring in shock at her hero.
He withdrew his face from her chest and looked up.
Nica sniffled.
He raised his head and held forepaw on his chest, taking an honorable poze.
Nica felt herself bursting into tears again, this time however those seemed to be tears of joy. She returned the hug.
Pikachu grit his teeth, feeling squeezed as his bruised, tired and burned body ended up facing even more discomfort from Nica’s loving hug. He put on a brave face for his friend. Suddenly, he ended up wrapped by her tail as the friendly Raichu escorted him into the guestroom while trotting cheerfully, all past grief seemingly forgotten.
She leaped onto the bed.
Pikachu retorted, watching his guardian place his collar on the table next to the bed before situating him comfortably on a primed pillow. She withdrew her tail and covered him with a warm blanket with apples embroidered on it, one he recognized from the top of the castle while dozing under the sun. The pleasant soft sensation overcame him as his exhausted body finally got the rest it desired.
Nica promised as she gently nuzzled his cheek.
she asked.
.>
Nica shook her forepaw dismissively. She held a paw on her chest, displaying a dreamy smile.
he said, matching Nica with a cheerful grin.
Nica blushed. She turned around and scampered towards the door, quickly leaving the room.
Pikachu chuckled. He waited for the door to close before turning around, looking at the window. The crimson paint streaked sky telling him that the night was still hours away. Was he going to wake up in the middle of the night? Or was he going to wake up tomorrow morning? He couldn’t tell, and couldn’t care less. One thing was certain, he now had an awe-inspiring friend and partner, one who he was proud to call his hero.
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