Boy Wonder

Chapter 4: ...And the beginning of another.

Ash was slowly shaken awake as the airplane touched down at Gotham International Airport.

"Pikachu pika."

"Not now let me sleep"

"Piiiika-Pi"

"Come on. Just a few more minutes."

Pikachu seemed to charge up a bit. "Pi Pikachu pika"

Then fortunately for most everyone else on the plane Ash was the only one electrocuted.

"AAAAAAH!" Ash nearly leapt out of his seat but he was belted down. "Okay. I'm up. Yeesh."

"Well then I guess I don't have to be the one to wake you up."Ash then noticed that Bruce was standing there.

"Sorry Da.... Fa..."

"Just call me Bruce. If your more comfortable with that."

"Okay..Bruce."

Ash quickly unbuckled himself and grabbed his carry on bag. "Come on Pikachu. Lets get out there." [So this is it. Now I start again.]

Once outside the plane Ash caught up with Bruce and Alfred who were both talking to man outside the plane. He was rather young. In his early to mid twenties. Dark hair almost as tall as Bruce.

[Hmmm looks like decent fighter. Carries himself almost as well as Bruce. I could take him but I'd have to fight dirty] Then Ash got a shocked look on his face for a second. [Where the hell did that come from?]Ash composed himself and approached the three men and introduced himself.

"Hello I'm Ash..."

The newcomer looked Ash over "So your Bruce's son." Ash nodded "I'm Dick... Dick Grayson."

"So you know Bruce and Alfred?"

"Yes. Bruce took me in when my parents died."

Bruce then spoke "So everything has been quiet?"

Dick looked curiously at Bruce for a second then replied calmly "Yes eveything has been quiet" [What have you told him...he couldn't be thinking of...could he?]

"Alfred"

"Yes Master Bruce."

"Take Ash over to Customs please. Dick and I need to discuss a few things."

"Of course sir. Come along Master Ash."

"Okay. Come on Pikachu."

"Pika."

As soon as Alfred Ash and Pikachu out of hearing range and they were alone Dick spoke.

"What have you told him."

"That I have something I want him to see."

"Are you crazy...He's a kid. He's.."

"He's older than you were when you started."

"What about training?"

"Already done to him...physicaly anyway. He gave me as good a fight as you would. His anger would be a problem but this could give him a direction for it."

"He seemed to be a fairly calm kid."

"He hides it very well. He might not even know about it."

"Are you sure he'll accept the job?"

"I've talked with his mentor. He will."

"You would. Not sure if you can trust him yet I bet."

"Considering what has happened to him and who did it to him. I have to be cautious."

Dick could only stand there for a second for he had no response to that.

"Dick...I need you to help him. He needs a friend...a.."

"A big brother?"

"Yes."

"I know things haven't been all that...pleasent between you and me recently. Especially considering what happened to Barbera." Both men were quiet for a moment and then Dick continued. "But I'll help the squirt out. He'll need all the help he can get."

"He just may surprise you Dick."

"Somehow that dosen't surprise me. He is your son after all."

"When are you going to show him the cave."

"A few weeks for him and his pokemon to settle."

"You mean like that mouse he had with him?"

"Yes. He has a rather large team of them. 15 I believe he brought."

"Team? Their not his pets?"

"No before coming he was professional trainer. Ranked #1 in the world when he was kidnaped."

"He's that Ash Ketchum? Well. It seems your blood has something to it then. I'll come visit him later on."

"Maybe it does. Maybe it does."

A few days later Ash was sitting outside with Pikachu by his side as the sun set.

His other Pokemon were out on various parts of the large Wayne estate. His Snorlax was sleeping under one of the trees, and his Toros was nearby grazing on some of the longer grass. Bayleaf and Bulbasaur were wandering around the grand Rose Garden. Tododile and Kingler were enjoying the Olympic size pool. The rest including his newest Pokemon...Mr Mime were inside.

"Well tomorrow is my first day at school."

"Pika?"

"Well I'm as settled as I'm ever gonna get and Bruce said I need to go to school if I'm not going for badges."

"Ka"

"Pikachu have you noticed that Bruce seems to dissapear a lot, especially at night?"

"Pika" the little mouse nodded affermative

"I wonder where goes off to? "

Unknown to Ash this triggered a spark of curiousity in the pokemon. He was detirmined to find out what Bruce Wayne did when he disappeared.

"Oh well I guess if its important he'll tell me." [I wonder if it has anything to do about that question he asked me.] Ash's thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling to him from the Manor.

"Master Ash! Dinner is ready!"

"Okay Alfred I'll be right there."Ash got off the ground and went back into the manor.

Later on that night in a apartment in Gotham a mother and her daughter were talking.

"So you're going out again tonight Helena?"

"Yes mother. Are you heading out tonight."

"No not tonight."

"That's good. Mother. You are getting up there in years."

"Helena Kyle! You know quite well that I am as graceful as ever. In any case your only 17 If I had any mind you wouldn't even be out there beating scum senceless."

"Well at least for my entire costumed carrier I stayed on the right side of the law."

"Not that again. If it wasn't for that I never would have caught your father's attention."

"Not that he knows about me. Hell I don't even know who he is."

"Language dear. You do know who he is. He's Batman."

"That's not enough mom. What's his real name."

"As far as he's concerned that is his real name."

"So your saying he thinks of himself as Batman?"

"Yes. He's totally devoted to his cause."

"That would explain why he's so anal about some things."

Selena Kyle rolled her eyes and turned on the TV turning up the volume as she did so. "Do you really want to know?"

Helena nodded yes emphatically.

"Helena, your father, Batman is..." She was then interrupted by something she heard from the almost too loud TV.

"Bruce Wayne made headlines today when he annouced to the world at large he is a father."

Selena stopped and stared at the TV dumbstruck.

"Bruce intoduced Gotham to its newest celebrity Pokemon Master Ash Ketchum, his biological son. Ash as you..."

Later still back at Wayne Manor Pikachu was doing a little snooping. He first looked around Bruce's room but couldn't find anything that stood out too much. Except for a strange smell. One he hadn't smelt too many times but he knew it. The Smell of Blood.. Pikachu was disturbed by it for a moment but then felt sure that It was Bruce's own.. [Why is it so strong. Its almost as if he comes in here everynight hurt somehow.] Pikachu then moved on to a different room. He decided to check the room of the man who ran the house, Alfred.

Pikachu was mildly surprised to see that Alfred was not in his room asleep. It was late. [Hmmmm. Then again maybe its not so surprising. Maybe I should find him. Hmmm. Okay I got his scent now.] "Pika!"

Pikachu ran around the house all over it trying to find him but unfortunately while Pikachu have a better sense of smell than a human he was no real tracker. [Okay. I know he didn't leave but I can't find him. If only I knew this house better.] Pikachu then headed back to Ash's room to call it a night when suddenly an idea stuck him. "PIKACHU!!" He then ran off towards the Pokeball storage room.

"Pika...Pikachu!"

Pikachu found one Pokeball and opened it up. Out came a roughly humanoid Pokemon. It was Mr. Mime.

"Pika."

"Mime?"

"Pikachu Pika."

"Mime!"

After this conversation both Pokemon ran down the stairs. Mr. Mime eventually led Pikachu to the library and the Clock therein.

Mr Mime pointed to the clock "Mime."

Pikachu looked at his comrade like he was crazy. "Pikachu?"

"MIME."

Pikachu then raised his eyebrow "Chu."

"Mr. Mime." he replied while crossing his arms

Pikachu rolled his eyes and walked over to the clock. "Pikachu. Pika chu chu pika!" Then he unexpectedly opened a door hidden behind the clock..

"Mime" Mimey smugly stated.

The electric mouse glared back at the Mime. "Pikachu" Then he walked down the dark staircase.

Pikachu walked down the stairs and turned around to shush Mr. Mime he discovered that he was alone.

"Pika" he said nerviously

The electric mouse then continued down the stairs alone. Upon reaching the bottom he found he was in an immense cave. To his left he saw what seemed to be a large vault of some sort. He then took a sniff of the air and caught Alfred's scent. He turned to the right and followed his nose. Then he heard what was now a familiar voice.

"Productive night then Master Bruce?"

"Rather quiet actually. Only one mugging and an attempted robbery. No leads on Scarecrow though."

Pikachu then found the sources of the voices. One was Alfred standing right infront a massive computer. Sitting next to him was Bruce but to Pikachu's surprise he was dressed quite strangely. He was dressed in a tight form fitting Black outfit and a cape and what appeared to be a black cowl that was pulled down. Pikachu didn't know what to make of it. Then he noticed what appeared to be a strange symbol on his chest. It seemed to Pikachu to be reminiscent of Zubat

"Pika?"

Both men turned quickly at the sound and Bruce's eyes narrowed.

"Alfred what is that doing down here? I thought they all slept in those balls of theirs?"

"Well sir Master Ash lets Pikachu sleep with him on the bed. As far I know this one is never in a Pokeball."

"Alfred..."

"Don't worry sir. Its taken care of. Come on little one off with you." Alfred walked towards Pikachu who was looking at him indigently.

"Come on." Alfred shooed Pikachu up the stairs and out of the batcave. "I would appreciate it if you didn't inform master Ash about this."

"Pika?"

"In time Master Bruce will inform him but only when he is ready."

Pikachu just looked questioningly "Pikachu."

"Please."

"Ka"

"It'll be worth it Pikachu. It will do them both some good."

"Pikachu."

"Now off you go. I have to see to Master Bruce."

Pikachu then walked off to Ash's room trying to figure out why Bruce was dressed so strangely.

To be continued...

Next time: It's a few weeks later and Ash has now fully adjusted to his new home. Bruce reveals his secret to Ash and asks if he would join him in his mission. Ash then walks the streets of Gotham to seek the answer to the question Bruce asked him that day in Pallet Town: What do you want to do about it? Next chapter : The Decision

Author's notes: Sorry that this chapter is shorter than the others but for about 2 weeks there I didn't do any work on this chapter. It was slow going and I know that this chapter is weaker than the last one. I promise you the next one will be interesting. One other thing just to warn you I'm gonna skip ahead several times in this fic before the final story arc.