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The store was a small, cozy haven tucked into the corner of Pallet Town's quiet streets, a place Delia Ketchum had frequented for years. It smelled faintly of dust and worn leather, the scent of nostalgia. As she stepped through the door, the old, familiar tinkle of the bell above the frame greeted her. The place felt frozen in time, with rows of VHS tapes neatly arranged on shelves that stretched to the ceiling, each shelf packed with colorful covers and handwritten labels.
"Delia Ketchum," came a familiar drawl from behind the counter. "Back again already? What, run out of tapes to obsess over?"
Roger, the store owner, didn't look up from his magazine as he leaned lazily against the counter. His face was lined with faint wrinkles, the kind that came more from laughter than age, and his ever-present smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't act so surprised," Delia said, feigning offense as she walked toward the counter. "You knew I'd be back."
"Yeah, well, I was kind of hoping for a paying customer this time."
"I will pay," Delia replied with mock indignation. "Just, you know, when the holidays roll around."
"Sure, you will," Roger said, finally glancing up at her with a raised eyebrow. "The same way you were totally going to pay me back for that special edition Pikachu's Day Off VHS, right?"
"Hey, that was an emergency," Delia said with a grin. "Ash was sick, and I needed something to cheer him up. Besides, you know I'm good for it."
"Yeah, yeah. So, what's on the docket this time, Queen of Kanto Cinema?"
"Queen of Kanto Cinema? I like that. It's way better than the last nickname you gave me—what was it? The VHS Goblin?"
"That's because it was accurate," Roger deadpanned. "Now, are you gonna browse, or are you just here to talk my ear off?"
Delia laughed and turned to the stack of new arrivals he had set out on the counter. Her fingers brushed over the titles, her eyes lighting up as she spotted one. "Ooh, Meowth Impossible—I've been waiting for this one. And look, Pidgeot Cage by Steven Sparrows! Didn't this just come out last week?"
Roger grinned. "Straight from Pokéstar Studios. You're welcome."
Delia grabbed both tapes, then spotted another title further down the stack. "Oh my goodness, A Staraptor is Born? Don't mind if I do."
Roger shook his head in mock disapproval as she gathered the tapes. "You know, most people rent one, maybe two tapes at a time. But not Delia Ketchum. Oh no. You don't do things halfway, do you?"
"What can I say?" Delia said, flashing him a cheeky smile. "I have refined tastes."
Roger chuckled, scribbling her rentals into his worn ledger. "So, how's your little adventurer doing? Still off chasing fame and glory?"
"He's doing great. He made it to Pewter City and should have his first Gym badge by now."
"Not bad for a beginner," Roger said, nodding approvingly. "You planning to send him anything to celebrate?"
"What do you think would be a good idea?"
Roger tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Easy. Get him Poké Kart 64."
Delia raised an eyebrow. "The one where the guy in overalls jumps on Squirtles and throws banana peels?"
"That's the one," Roger said confidently. "Trust me, he'll love it."
Delia considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'll take it. You got any in stock?"
"Always," Roger said, ducking behind the counter to grab a copy of the game. "But I gotta warn you—it's highly addictive. Last time someone rented this, I didn't see them for weeks. They might've been sucked into a Poké Kart black hole."
"Good thing I have self-control," Delia quipped, grabbing the game and adding it to her growing pile.
Roger raised an eyebrow. "You? Self-control? Didn't you once stay up for 48 hours binging Blastoise Wars?"
"That was research," Delia said quickly, her cheeks coloring slightly.
"Uh-huh. Sure it was."
Delia stuck her tongue out at him and gathered her rentals, heading out the door with a spring in her step. When she arrived back at her small restaurant, she noticed the answering machine blinking on the counter. She hit the playback button, her heart skipping a beat as her son's voice crackled through the speaker.
"Mom, uh… hey, it's me. I… I just wanted to talk to you about something. Can you call me back? I don't know how to handle this on my own." A pause, then a muffled, "How do you turn this thing off?" before the message cut off.
Delia's chest tightened. Ash's voice had been uncertain, almost fragile. Without wasting a moment, she dialed the Pokémon Center's number, hoping he was still nearby.
After a brief wait, the call connected. "Hello?"
"Sweetie-pie, it's Mama," Delia said, her voice warm and soothing. "What's wrong, my little Pika-poo?"
"Pika… what?!"
"It's a new one," Delia replied, grinning to herself. "I'm trying it out. You like it?"
"Not really," Austin muttered. "Can we stick to 'sweetie' or, you know, Ash?"
"Oh, alright, my Snorlax Cub," Delia teased, unable to resist.
Austin groaned.
"Okay, okay," Delia said. "What's going on, hon? Did something happen?"
Austin hesitated before launching into the story—Flint's reappearance, Brock's outburst, and the complicated family drama that unfolded in the wake of his Gym victory. He spoke in halting sentences, his voice uncertain, like he was trying to make sense of it all as he went. Delia listened quietly, her heart aching at the weight her son seemed to be carrying.
When he finally finished, there was a long pause.
"Baby, that's a lot to deal with," Delia said gently. "What do you think you want to do?"
"I don't know," Austin admitted. "Part of me thinks I should just leave. It's not my business, right? But another part of me feels like… I don't know, like I should do something. Try to help. I just don't know what's the right thing."
Delia leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowing in thought. "Ash, you're a kind boy—always have been. But you're also just one person. Flint and Brock… that's their family's stream, their journey. You can't steer it for them."
"Stream?"
"Like a river," Delia explained. "Your life is one stream, and theirs is another. Sometimes streams flow together for a while, and sometimes they drift apart. But you can't force them to go where you want them to. That's not your job."
Austin was quiet for a moment, mulling over her words. "So… you think I should just leave?"
"I think," Delia said carefully, "that you should ask yourself what you need right now. Do you want to help? Or are you staying because you feel like you have to? There's a difference, my little Jiggly-boy."
Austin let out a small, exasperated laugh. "Please stop with the nicknames."
"Never," Delia said, her voice light but her words full of love. "But seriously, sweetheart, it's okay to move on if this feels like too much. It doesn't make you selfish—it makes you human. You're not responsible for fixing everyone's problems."
Austin exhaled, the tension in his voice easing slightly. "That… actually helps. Thanks."
"Anytime, my darling Psyduck," Delia said cheerfully. "Now, tell me about your Gym battle. I want to hear every detail."
As the boy recounted his battle, his voice grew more animated, the earlier weight of the conversation seeming to lift with every detail he shared. Delia listened intently, her smile widening as she imagined her little boy—no, her young man—standing confidently in that arena, facing the challenges of his journey with the determination she had always admired in him.
Her gaze drifted to the bag of rentals she had brought home from Roger's shop, her eyes landing on the copy of Poké Kart 64. She let out a small, amused sigh as she picked up the box. It was brightly colored, with Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and even a grumpy-looking Gengar racing tiny karts across a checkered track. She tilted the box, letting the light catch the glossy cover.
"Now, how am I supposed to get this to him?" she wondered aloud. Her brow furrowed in thought. "If he's still in Pewter, I could mail it… but knowing Ash he'll probably leave the second he's done at the Pokémon Center."
She tapped her chin. "Maybe I could send it to Viridian's Pokémon Center and hope he swings by on his way back? Or... should I just hold onto it until I hear from him again?"
Then, a more pressing realization hit her, and her expression froze mid-thought.
"Wait a second…" she muttered, holding the box up and narrowing her eyes at the tiny print on the back. "What's he even going to play this on?"
Delia's lips slowly curling into a grimace. "Did I just… buy him a game without a console to play it on? Oh no."
She groaned, pressing her palm to her forehead as the answer became painfully clear. "Damn you, Roger," she muttered under her breath. "You conned me into this, didn't you? You knew I wouldn't think about the console! Ugh!"
Flopping dramatically onto the couch, Delia clutched the box to her chest, glaring at the ceiling. "What am I supposed to do now, huh? Send him a game console next? What's next, Roger? Do I send him a TV and surround sound, too? A recliner? Maybe a popcorn machine while I'm at it?"
With a huff, she tossed the game onto the coffee table and grabbed the remote. She popped Meowth Impossible into the VHS player and leaned back with her popcorn. As the movie started, her grumbling continued, though now laced with humor.
"People think I'm the dramatic one," she muttered, shaking her head as the opening credits rolled. "At least I don't accidentally light my underwear on fire."
Somewhere in Pewter City, Austin sneezed violently, startling Pikachu, who dropped his half-empty ketchup bottle. Pikachu shot him a glare, and Austin sniffled. "Ugh, I think someone's talking about me."
Pikachu chirped something that sounded suspiciously like "Yeah, they're probably saying you need to buy me more ketchup."
----
The Pokémon Center room was calm, lit by the soft glow of a bedside lamp. Inside, Pikachu, Spearow, Rattata, and Vee gathered around their evening meal, their trainer absent for the moment. The sound of plates being shuffled and occasional squeaks of approval filled the air as they enjoyed their dinner. Spearow, however, wasn't so thrilled. His wings were wrapped in a cast, a stark reminder of his battle injuries, and he glared at it with open disdain.
"I hate this," Spearow grumbled, his raspy voice echoing his frustration.
Pikachu rolled his eyes while carefully sprinkling some dehydrated ketchup powder—liberated from their trainer's supplies—onto his food. He licked his lips and replied with a smirk, "You're the one who kept going in the fight, tough guy. Now you're grounded, and not in the flying sense."
"Only cowards run from a fight."
"Only idiots forget when to stop," Pikachu countered smoothly.
Rattata, chewing noisily, decided to chime in. "At least we fought," she said sharply, shooting a pointed glare at Vee, who was quietly nibbling at his food in the corner. Her tone practically dripped with disdain.
Vee's ears perked up at the comment, his big eyes narrowing as he set down his food. "What are you trying to say?"
"Oh, don't play dumb. You know exactly what I mean."
Vee frowned. "I don't. Enlighten me."
Rattata turned fully toward him, her tail flicking with agitation. "All of us—me, Pikachu, even this featherbrain—train and fight for our human. You? You just sit around and do nothing. Why? What makes you so special?"
"I…" Vee hesitated, his voice faltering. "I don't decide that. The human hasn't sent me into a battle yet."
"Maybe because he doesn't trust you," Rattata said with a sneer. "Or maybe you're just a liability."
"Hey, lay off him," Pikachu interjected. "You're taking this way too far."
But Rattata wasn't done. "Am I? Why should we carry the weight while he gets to just lounge around and eat like the rest of us? If he's not going to fight, why is he even here?"
Vee's ears flattened against his head, his breath quickening. "I—I didn't ask for this," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't ask to be here."
"And yet, here you are," Spearow added gruffly, joining Rattata's side. "You've done nothing but bring trouble to the team. You're not pulling your weight, and you're dragging us down."
The words hit Vee like a stone. His heart pounded, and a wave of panic washed over him. His small body trembled as he glanced between his teammates, unsure of where he stood anymore. Were they right? Was he just a burden? His breathing grew shallow, his chest tightening with fear.
"Enough!" Pikachu's voice cut through the tension like a thunderbolt, sharp and commanding. He stepped between Vee and the others, his cheeks sparking faintly. "Back off, both of you. Now."
Before anyone could say another word, the door creaked open. Austin stepped into the room, his eyebrows furrowed as he took in the scene. The tense atmosphere was palpable, and it didn't take him long to realize something was wrong.
"What's going on in here?"
The Pokémon froze, exchanging awkward glances. Pikachu turned to Austin and let out a series of squeaks and gestures, doing his best to explain the situation. Spearow squawked something unintelligible, Rattata huffed and crossed her tiny arms, and Vee remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Austin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay," he said after a moment. "Everyone, line up."
Austin crouched to their level and looked at them seriously. "Alright, I can tell something's going on here. Pikachu, you're the charades master. Walk me through it."
Pikachu took a deep breath, miming the whole argument with a mix of gestures and occasional squeaks. He pointed at Rattata, mimicked her strutting, and then pretended to snap at Vee. He imitated Vee's frightened shrinking and then turned to Spearow, miming his dismissive flaps and sharp jabs.
Austin frowned, piecing it together. "So... Rattata and Spearow were giving Vee a hard time for not battling?" He glanced at the culprits, who avoided his gaze. "And Pikachu stepped in to stop it?"
Pikachu nodded firmly.
"Alright, Rattata. Apologize to Vee."
Rattata blinked up at him, her pink nose twitching in disbelief.
"Don't give me that look," Austin said. "I know being wrong isn't easy to admit, but you crossed the line, and you know it."
Rattata's defiant stance faltered. She squeaked softly, glancing down at the floor. Her tail flicked toward her bowl of food, and then she pointed at her Pokéball with a quick tap of her paw. She made a sharp motion to Vee, then to the food again, trying to explain herself in the simplest way possible.
"You're saying that because Vee eats the same food as you but doesn't fight, you don't think it's fair?"
Rattata gave a firm nod, puffing out her chest slightly as if to double down on her argument.
Austin crouched down to her level and smiled softly. "First of all, I enjoy making food for all of you. You're my team. I don't care if you're fighting, training, or just sitting around enjoying the sun—you're still my Pokémon. That means you all get to eat. Even you, Spearow," he added, chuckling.
"But," Austin continued, his tone growing more serious, "I'm the one who decides who fights and who doesn't. Not you. Not Pikachu. Not anyone else. Me." He glanced at Vee, whose ears perked up slightly at the sudden attention. "And there's a reason I haven't sent Vee into any battles yet."
The room grew quiet, everyone now paying close attention.
Austin took a deep breath and crouched lower so he was on eye level with Vee. The little Eevee flinched slightly but didn't look away. "Vee," Austin began gently, "to help you, I need to make you evolve."
Vee's ears flicked nervously at the word, and his paws shuffled against the floor.
Austin held out his hand, palm up, an unspoken offer of trust. "I know the idea of evolution scares you," he said. "But it's the only way to help you stabilize. I don't want you to hurt anymore. I don't want you to keep thinking your ability is a curse. That's why I haven't pushed you into battles yet. I wanted to give you time to feel safe. Time to trust me."
Slowly, cautiously, he lifted a trembling paw and placed it on Austin's hand.
"The thing is," Austin continued, addressing all of them now, "Vee's been through more than any of us can imagine. Those experiments didn't just hurt his body—they messed with his mind, too. He can evolve into three unstable forms, and it's painful for him. My goal is to help him evolve into something stable—like Espeon or Umbreon—so he doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Pikachu's ears drooped slightly, his earlier frustration with the argument replaced with understanding. Rattata looked down at her paws, her earlier pride now replaced with a sense of shame. Even Spearow glanced away with a slight frown, as though quietly rethinking his earlier judgment.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll begin training together. I won't push you into battles until you're ready, but I want you to know that I believe in you. You're part of this team, and you're going to be amazing. Do you trust me?"
Vee hesitated only a moment before nodding, his stance firmer now.
"Good," Austin said, standing up and turning to Rattata. His expression grew serious again. "And as for you, little lady, I expect better next time. You're strong, and I respect that, but strength doesn't give you the right to put down your teammates. Got it?"
Rattata squeaked softly, her ears drooping even further. She turned to Vee and mimed a small bow, her squeaks quiet but apologetic. Vee blinked, surprised, but then nodded in acceptance.
"Good," Austin said, clapping his hands together. "Now, here's the deal. If there's ever a problem, you come to me. We don't fight amongst ourselves. We talk it out. Clear?"
The Pokémon nodded, each of them looking slightly sheepish but resolute.
Austin grinned and raised his voice slightly. "Because we are a team."
The Pokémon exchanged confused glances, unsure of what he wanted them to do.
Austin repeated, louder this time, "We are a team!"
Pikachu tilted his head, then let out a confident "Pika!" Rattata followed with a hesitant but growing "Tata!" Spearow grumbled something that vaguely sounded like "Row," and Vee let out a soft but clear "Eve!"
"That's what I'm talking about!"
Just as the moment seemed perfect, a muffled voice shouted from the hallway. "Would you shut up in there?!"
Austin froze, his grin faltering for a moment before he burst into laughter. The Pokémon quickly joined in,
As the laughter died down, Austin glanced out the window toward the distant hills of Mt. Moon. His smile faded slightly as he thought about what lay ahead. Mt. Moon wasn't just another stop on his journey—it was Team Rocket territory.
And Austin wasn't looking forward to it.