Disclaimer: Neither Shadow Squirtle nor I own Pokemon. Someone rich does. We’re not rich. A/N: In Ash’s POV, we learn that the future pokemon master has a secret that he never lets on to until now. Will it damage his chances with Misty? Or will it help him catch her like she’s captured his heart? Rated PG to perhaps PG- 13 for a slightly graphic scene. Enjoy! Ages: Ash- 21 Misty- 21 ½ Brock- 23 ½ Dawn- 11 Kenny- 11 ½ Mrs. Ketchum- 54 ¾ Mr. Ketchum- 58 Grandpa Ketchum- 85 ½ Grandma Ketchum- 80 ¾ Jessie-27 ½ James- 28 One Secret Too Many By Shadow Pikachu and Shadow Squirtle No one truly knows who or what I am. Only the ones in my family do, but not one of my friends know it. That’s the way it should be. Yet I have a feeling that my secret will not be a secret for much longer. It all started this morning. I was actually in a peaceful sleep, having a wonderful dream. One of the few dreams that are good anymore and contain…her. The girl that had captured my heart as if a pokemon. To say the least, I was in utter bliss. But I’m getting off topic. It was at that time, he came running into my room. He turned on the blinding brightness of the lights and then proceeded to shake me. “Ash! Ash! Wake up, man!” he yelled in my ear. It was then that I used my pillow, the one that I had been clutching to my chest for dear life whilst I slept, to smack some sense into his thick head. “Me sleep. Brock go,” I mumbled. “But Ash! Misty’s down stairs!” Brock shouted. I blinded Brock with sheets as I ran out the door. When I reached the top of the stairs, I spotted her. She was just as beautiful as I remembered. She was…giggling. I began to wonder why when her angelic voice called out. “Pikachus and Thunderbolts, huh? I guess you can call them manly,” she giggled cutely. That’s when it occurred to me. I was still in my black tank top and boxers. I truly didn’t mind that she saw my boxers. I’d do anything for her. I loved her that much. What I did mind was that she took a picture with her cell phone. I leaped down the stairs and proceeded to chase her for the phone. Did I ever mention that we were in a pokemon center? If you know what that is, you know that some have those desks that are a circle and you can run around it. Well, that’s what Misty and I were doing. I think that we made the Joy in charge dizzy. We ran into the hot springs and I saw Dawn soaking with her friend Kenny. That goodness for coed hot springs, right? Anyways, it was then that I finally managed to grab Misty’s arm. But unfortunately, I slipped and we both fell into the water. When I resurfaced, I came face to face with Misty. I know that my face turned several shapes of red at that moment. I quickly grabbed her phone and jumped out of the water. I managed to get outside before her and climbed up a tree. Misty was a great swimmer and runner. So was I but she had me beat in swimming and we were matched in running, well maybe I was a little better in running. But anyways, I had her beat in climbing. She’d never catch me if I was up in a tree. I erased the picture and jumped down. “I wasn’t going to send it to anyone Ash,” Misty whined. “Better safe than sorry, right?” I teased. “Since when have you lived by that?” she teased back. ‘Uh-oh. I really don’t want to start any argument today,’ I thought. “Well, since I left for Sinnoh. Can never be to careful with Team Rocket about, right? Although, I don’t think that they could get my Pikachu in a million years. They ain’t got the brains,” I joked. You’re probably wondering why I think so different than I speak. Well, I have a rather large vocabulary, but I don’t like to used it unless it is absolutely necessary. Also, it has to do with my secret. But we’ll get to that soon enough. “That’s true. Anyways, today’s you’re birthday right? You’re 21 as of today, right?” Misty asked as we entered the pokemon center again. I froze. Was it truly my 21st birthday? It couldn’t have been correct, right? I ran to the calendar and sure enough. It was my birthday. “Yep. It’s my birthday today. I’m 21,” I answered to Misty. ‘Oh no. This isn’t good. This is not good at all,” I thought. “ASH KETCHUM. YOU HAVE THREE VISITORS. YOU HAVE THREE VISITORS AT THE FRONT DESK.” The PA system called out. ‘So now they decided to appear. Why must it come to this?’ I thought. “I wonder how wants to see you,” Misty thought aloud. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.” I chuckled. When we reached the front desk, I saw Brock, Dawn, and Kenny talking to three people. And I knew those people. “MRS. KETCHUM!!!” Misty cried out in joy. “MISTY!! It’s been so long!” my mom exclaimed hugging Misty tight. I smiled and looked at the other two. I knew them. They were my… “Excuse, me but who are you?” Brock asked one of the men. “I’m Ash’s father. Thunder,” He said. “Thunder Ketchum. That’s a weird name,” Dawn thought aloud. “Thanks. I always thought so. But my name isn’t the weirdest in our family. We have a very large family. As a matter of fact, one of Ash’s uncle is named Vapor. Vapor Tear Ketchum. I always that his was quite weird. Ash is lucky. We named him Ashton Lightning Ketchum. He doesn’t have that weird of a name,” My father rambled on. “FATHER!!! YOU DON’T HAVE TO BRING MY NAME INTO THE POT!!!!” I yelled, punching him on the head. “YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT I EVEN TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!” He yelled back. “YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE TWO MONTHS AGO!!!! THAT’S WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE YOU, IDIOT!!!!” I shouted in his face. “WHY YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE BOY!!!” he shouted. “BRING IT OLD MAN!!!” I shouted as we both took fighting stances. “PIKACHU PIKAPI!!!” my beloved Pikachu cried out. “I WILL NOT STOP!!! HE BROUGHT THIS UPON HIMSELF!!” I exclaimed. My father charged at me and I blocked his attack. As we fought, I heard my mother talking to Misty on how she looked so cute in her outfit. She was right about that. While I was distracted by my thoughts of her, my father attacked me and I couldn’t defend myself. I heard Misty scream and was distracted again as he punched me hard in my gut. I collapsed and coughed. I was soon back up and laughing. “When was the last time we got to fight? Ten years ago? Eleven? I missed our friendly bouts,” I chuckled, wiping the saliva from my mouth. “I agree. I miss fighting with you. I must admit you’ve gotten far stronger. That move used to knock you out. You have learned a great deal,” my father said. “I have only learned this much through the rigorous training that you have provided father,” I stated. “What the hey?! Why is Ash talking like that?!” Misty and Brock exclaimed. “Ashton. Come now. You know why we are here. Now is not the time for a friendly fight,” the other man stated. I looked away from him and stared at the ground in sorrow. “Surely you feel it closing in. It is enviable. You have reached that age,” he said. “Wait a minute! I have a few questions!” Misty exclaimed, “First off, isn’t Ash’s middle name Satoshi?” I fell over. She was concerned about that?! “It is. Ashton Lightning Satoshi Ketchum. We just like to shorten it sometimes,” my mother stated. “That makes sense. Ok, two. Who the hey are you sir?!” Misty snapped. My eyes widened. She couldn’t figure that out?! “I’m Ashton’s grandfather. Shockwave. Shockwave Ketchum.” my grandfather stated. “What’s with all of the electric type names?” Brock asked. “Wonderful. Now they’re all involved,” I sighed. “Involved with what Ash?” Dawn and Kenny asked. I was about to answer when pain coursed throughout my body. I couldn’t breath. I collapsed onto the ground trying to rip my shirt off of my torso. I was suffocating. It wasn’t unusual for my family but it was scaring. I had never experienced such pain before in my entire life. Misty had ran to my side and had started to cry. I couldn’t comfort her. It was too late…It was just too late. “ASH!!!!!” she cried. I could feel her trembling hands gasped my shirt and tear it off of my person. I’m sure that it looked like I was having a seizure or some other medically confusing disease of that sort. The sounds of her fear filled sobs hurt my heart. There was nothing either of us could do. I couldn’t even tell her that I wasn’t going to die. That it was normal for my family. “Misty, don’t worry. Ash is ok. Yes, he’s in pain, but he’s fine,” my mother stated. “What?!” my friends gasped. “It’s actually a normal part of being a Ketchum. Well…If you’re a male Ketchum,” my father stated. “G…G…Grandfather…” I managed to get out. He sighed, “I can put this off for a little longer. But not much longer, you hear me Ashton?” With that, my grandfather approached me and placed his old hands upon my forehead and I could feel the pain diminish. I could breath again. As soon as I sat up, Misty tackled me in an embraced. She started to release her fear and sorrow upon my shoulder. I just wrapped my arms around her and tried to soothe away her fears. “I-I was *hiccup* so afraid that *sniff* I l-lost y-you, A-Ash *hiccup*,” she cried. “Hey, it’s ok Mist. Don’t cry. It’s ok. I’m alright,” I comforted. “Ashton. I take it that this is the girl that you rest your hopes upon,” My grandfather stated. My parents smiled and I sighed. He couldn’t give me a longer time, could he? “Yes. This is the one,” I sighed. Misty looked at me in confusion, “What does he mean that your hopes rest upon me?” “Misty…” I said. I didn’t have the heart to tell her. It wouldn’t matter in a few moments. I felt the familiar pain bubbling up like it had right before I went through that horrid attack. “This is all your fault,” I muttered to my parents. “What was that Ash?” My father smirked. I gently made Misty release me as I approached my father. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “You’re late. You were suppose to come two months ago. She wasn’t suppose to see me go through this pain. It would have been easier on her psyche. Now she has to find out about me and this accursed life I must live the hard way thanks to your doings,” I hissed. “Don’t blame me. We couldn’t. Grandfather was ill and we didn’t know where you were,” he said, lowering my hand, “Besides, you need to get ready to explain yourself to her. And to your precious friends. You’ll be lucky if they want anything to do with you after this. You know that.” I looked away and stated, “I didn’t want this. I never asked for this! Why’d you have to have me!? Why’d you have me when you knew that this would be my fate!? You could have cause me to be a miscarriage once you learned that I was male! Why would you do this to your child!?” “Because,” My mother spoke up. She captured me in the warmth of a mother’s embrace, “I didn’t want to know. I asked the doctor not to tell me. You’re father knew and I made him promise that no matter what you were that I was going to have you. I wanted my sweet child to be born. I knew what would happen if you were a boy, but I didn’t care. I wanted a child on my first child. And after you, I knew that I couldn’t have another child. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the middle of my pregnancy. So I could have you but then I could never have another. So that’s why, sweetie. That’s why I had you. I’m sorry for the pain you’re about to go through, but I wanted a child. And I got him. He’s the best child a mother could ask for.” I could feel her warm tears falling upon my scalp. I looked up and saw her face covered in the wet tears. “Please forgive me for you’re pain, sweetie,” my mother sobbed. I sighed, “ Why are you asking for forgiveness? I’m the one being selfish.” “Will someone please tell me what’s going on here?!” Misty snapped. “You’re about to see what Ash truly is,” My father said, “And why he needs you. Or so we hope.” At that moment, I gripped my mother’s blouse in extreme pain. I screamed. Was it worth it? Maybe not. But it was too late…far too late. I knew that my friends would watched in horror as my body went limp. As I stopped breathing, I knew Misty would be screaming in complete and utter disgust. I knew that Brock would hold her back when the light went out of my eyes and then close. Predicted that Dawn would shout at my family. Understood that Pikachu would cry. Realized the pain in their hearts as they watched what they thought was my death. Knew that they would be angry at me for not wanting their help. And I knew that they would be shocked when they saw my eyes jolt open shining with a bright light. I knew that they would gasp when my body glowed with that exact same light as my eyes did. Then I knew my father would smile as Misty collapsed on the ground when the light consumed the room. Finally, I knew their reactions when they saw me next. As a pure black Pikachu with a lock of pure snow white fur on my forehead. I shook my fur, yawned, and stretch. I refused to look any of them in the eye. It was impossible to. I knew that they were both confused and irritated. It was a shock, please pardon the pun, when Misty dragged my small body into a suffocating embrace. “Misty?!” I gasped. “Ash, you scared me so badly!” She cried. I stared at her in utter surprise, “I-I’m s-sorry, Misty.” That’s when Brock asked the question. “So Ash turns into a jet black Pikachu?! That’s what you made us watch?!” he snapped. He then took a few deep breathes, “So how long is he going to be like this?” My parents looked at my grandfather. He nodded. “It’s rather difficult. Here, we’ll show you. Delia,” my father stated. “Right. Out of the lightning comes one force in my life. Release the Thunder in my life!” my mother exclaimed. In a blinding brightness of a light came my father’s transformation. He was a pure white Raichu. I smiled. They were going to take that approach, huh? I managed to squirm from Misty’s grasp and scamper to my father’s side. “Grandfather. I was wondering something though. Where is grandmother? You never go anywhere without her,” I asked him. “I’m over here dearie. I was enjoying the scenery of Sinnoh when I saw the light from your change, Ashton.” she said, walking in. “It’s Ash, grandma. Just Ash,” I sighed as I scampered over to her. “That’s right. I’m sorry Ash,” she said, lifting me off the ground, “But I must say, that was the brightest transformations I’ve ever seen.” “What do you expect from Shadow Pikachu?” Grandfather asked. “I told you not to call me that!” I snapped. “Shadow,” Kenny and Brock started. “Pikachu?” Dawn and Misty finished. “Pika Pikachu?” Pikachu asked. I scampered over to my friends, “Yes. You see, every male in the Ketchum family is cursed. Some don’t truly think of it as a curse. Anyways, you’ve heard of the shadow pokemon, right?” “Yes,” Misty, Brock, and Kenny stated. “Pika,” Pikachu confirmed. “No,” Dawn stated. “What?! You’ve never heard of the shadow pokemon before!?” Misty snapped. “No, what are they?” Dawn asked. “Legend states of pokemon of extreme power. They took the form of pokemon that weren’t legendary but many thought of them as legendaries because of their great power. The shadow pokemon weren’t always black like the shadows. They were normally a solid color with the occasional piece of opposite color,” Kenny said. “The shadow pokemon were famous for helping people with their problems. There was a shadow pokemon for each settlement as people settled the lands. They were very well known. But the most known shadow pokemon was Shadow Pikachu. It was the strongest of all the shadow pokemon,” Brock stated. “Everyone knew that Shadow Pikachu was in love with the princess of the Cerulean Kingdom’s Marill and that she loved him. He would come to the palace and wait until the Marill would come out to swim. They would spend the entire time together. He would swim, though not very well, with her and she would in turn walk through the town that he guarded most of the time. She’d help him help out people in need and he would in turn find her the finest of fruit to eat whenever she became hungry. They two were in complete and utter love. The only problem was that Shadow Pikachu was a wild pokemon and Marill was not. She had a trainer who loved her very much. Shadow Pikachu knew and understood this. He would not force the princess to release Marill no matter how he wished it. Everyday, he would try to figure out how he could live with Marill. How he could get her to be his bride. He knew she’d say yes, but he would not take her from her happiness,” Misty told Dawn. “So when he left the kingdom to visit his fellow shadow pokemon in the neighboring kingdom he finally figured out what to do. The princess, Marill’s trainer, was in love with the prince of the kingdom he was visiting. If he gave up his freedom and got the prince to marry the princess. Then all he’d have to do was get the prince to capture him and he could be with Marill forever. So when he reached the prince’s kingdom, the first thing he did was ask his father if it would be alright. His father, knowing that Shadow Pikachu would do it anyways, agreed that it was alright for him to do. Then he went to the prince and asked him if he loved the princess. The prince said that he did and that he’d do anything to be with her. Shadow Pikachu promised that he’d help him capture her heart and make her his queen as his last act for the human community,” Kenny told her. “They quickly returned to the princess’s kingdom. But unannounced to Shadow Pikachu, a lone pokemon, one that was jealous of the shadow pokemon carried, had told its trainer that Shadow Pikachu was no longer going to help humans. Now, its trainer was a lazy and selfish man. He had taken Shadow Pikachu’s generosity for granted many a time. This man hated to work and he knew that Shadow Pikachu would always do the work for him if he asked it and begged it to. But if Shadow Pikachu stopped helping humans, no shadow pokemon would help him. They would not come to the kingdom where he was. They’d stay were they were and live their lives without even considering helping him. He would not allow it,” Brock said. “The man kidnapped Marill before Shadow Pikachu made it back. So when he returned, Shadow Pikachu found his love missing. He became distressed. He called forth his fellow shadow pokemon and told them to help him find Marill. Unfortunately, Shadow Pikachu, the prince, and the princess found Marill. The foolish man had taken a sword and ran it through the poor water pokemon’s body. Shadow Pikachu was filled with so much anger to the man. The man had been so confident that Shadow Pikachu’s loyalty to humans would save him from the enraged pokemon’s wrath that he stayed at the site where he had ended Marill’s life. But he was wrong. Shadow Pikachu attacked him with his most powerful attacks. He was famous for being a very caring pokemon and that if he believed that someone was truly evil and was going to hurt someone innocent, he’d use these two attacks. But he never used them with such anger. He was always neutral when he used them to limit the damage. But the foolish man had caused him such pain that he saw no reason to hold back,” Misty said. “You’re probably wondering the attacks, right? Well, if what we know is correct, they were called Dark Thunder and Apocalypse. Both could wipe out everything with no problem but wielded together and there was no hope of mercy.” Kenny said. “The foolish man barely avoided the Dark Thunder. He saw the anger in Shadow Pikachu’s eyes. He pleaded for mercy. But Shadow Pikachu was far to angry. The was no reason that he could find to spare this human’s life. That’s when the rest of shadow pokemon arrived. They saw Shadow Pikachu’s love with the sword through her body and agreed with Shadow Pikachu. This man did not deserve mercy,” Brock said. “But it was hard for the pokemon. They had never taken the life of a human. Not even Shadow Pikachu. He had always used his powers to injure and frighten off enemies. Never had he killed a human. But there was a first for everything. He looked into the eyes of the foolish man and said coldly to him in human tongue, ‘You killed my love. How dare you? I have labored hard for your peace and happiness, correct? So why have stolen mine away from me? For doing such a deed, you have sealed your fate away by your very hands. Now I fulfill that fate.’ The foolish man once again tried to plead for mercy. But Shadow Pikachu was deaf to the plead and cries from the man. He was blind to what he was doing. The only thing he saw and heard was Marill in her last moments. He refused to let the man live after that. It was then that a faint voice rang out. Marill’s voice. ‘Don’t do it…my love…He isn’t…worth staining…your soul…with blood…If not for you…don’t kill…him…for me…I don’t…want to see…anymore…bloodshed…Please.’ Shadow Pikachu turned and ran to Marill’s side. He gripped her cold, blood soaked paw and held it close to his heart. ‘If that is what you wish, I shall do it. Only for you, my love. I promise,’ Shadow Pikachu told Marill, ‘I love you. I love you with all my heart, Marill. Don’t leave me. Please don’t go. I beg of you, just hold on. Please, I can’t live without you. I cannot live without your smile. Your laughter. You. I simply cannot. So please don’t go. I beg of you don’t ever leave me.’ ‘I won’t…ever leave you…my…love…I shall always be…in your…heart…do not…cry over me…I was able…to find…happiness in…my…life thanks to…you… I’ll…always love you…my…dear…sweet…Shadow…Pi…Ka…Chu…’ With that last breath, Marill was gone. Shadow Pikachu’s tears fell upon her face. He hugged her lifeless body tight and cried uncontrollably. He slowly rocked her lifeless body back and forth in an attempt to come himself. He looked up for a second and saw the foolish man trying to sneak out. But the fellow shadow pokemon grabbed him and dragged him back to Shadow Pikachu. He stared at him in utter disgust. ‘Look at what you’ve caused yourself, you foolish man. But because of my promise to Marill, I can not fulfill your fate.’ Shadow Pikachu stated, “But I believe I have something to teach all humans who think that we are just their servants. From this day on, no shadow pokemon is to help a human nor even show themselves to a human soul. The only reason for a shadow pokemon to show themselves to a human is if the human has a truly kind heart. This is to avoid the pain of another loss. So listen closely foolish man. It is your fault that the shadow pokemon leave the humans to their troubles. I hope they find you and learn of what you did.’ With that, the foolish man was released. He ran away from the shadow pokemon. ‘Send word to all the humans of the world. The shadow pokemon shall never help a human again and tell them who caused this to happen,’ Shadow Pikachu commanded. The shadow pokemon nodded and left. The prince walked over to Shadow Pikachu and gave him a hug. ‘I still owe you a favor, my friend. What do you wish of it?’ the prince asked gently. ‘I want you to kill me. That way I may be able to find happiness with Marill.’ Shadow Pikachu said. The prince nodded and understood why. Life without one’s true love would be death itself. He pulled out his sword and ran it through the very being of Shadow Pikachu. ‘Thank you…my friend…May your…family be blessed…with good fortune…Perhaps your…family…will be…the ones…to bring…back…the… shadow…po…ke…mon…’ Shadow Pikachu said with his last breath all the time smiling. ‘Maybe. Maybe my dear friend. I truly hope so. For a world without the Shadows is not a world that I wish to picture. I hope that you find your happiness my dear friend. May you and Marill live in peace together.’ the prince said. After that, no one ever saw a shadow pokemon again. Soon it became a legend and no one believed in shadow pokemon, or the Shadows as the prince had called them.” Misty finished. I smiled, “So now you know of the legend. May I tell you something? That legend is true.” “Really?” Dawn asked. “Really. But there is more. Several generations after the tale of the shadows became a legend, a young maiden stumbled upon an injured shadow pokemon. I believe that it was a Ditto if I remember correctly,” My grandfather stated. “That’s correct. It was a Ditto. Anyways, the young maiden helped heal the poor shadow. Then when it was fully healed, it wished to help her out in return. The one thing that the maiden needed was a man. Her father was going to make her marry a man she did not love,” my grandma said. “Ditto agreed and he transformed into a very handsome young man. He pretended to be her fiancé for months until he fell in love with her and she with him. They truly got married and within the next few years, she bared him eight children. Two sets of triplets and a set of twins. Two girls and six boys. But the boys were different. Now you see, Ditto was one of the last 17 surviving shadows and he was certain that he wouldn’t pass on the shadow pokemon to the next generation. But he was wrong. His sons were shadows, in a way. They were born shadows, but they turned into humans until they reached 21. Then they changed back into their shadow form. But that was only until they fell in love. The woman they fell in love with could change them back and forth. When his sons bore him grandchildren, he learned that his grandsons were also shadows. When he told the remaining shadows of this, he learned that they had taken up disguises and had married his wife’s sisters. I know. A lot of sisters. They all had the same father but several different mothers. Anyways, they each had had some sons that were the same. They realized that their sons and their sons’ sons and so on, would forever be the shadows. And they would have to find their true love to change back and forth,” my father said. “We now call them the Shadow’s Guardian. Every Shadow has their guardian. Oh! And we should tell you that the young maiden was the descendant of the prince,” my mom said. “I know that it doesn’t make a lot of sense but that’s why I’m like this. And I can’t change back until I find my true love. But the thing is, I may love someone but they need to love me to be my guardian. Normally, we hold the guardian choosing two months before the 21st birthday to give the shadow two months to find there guardian before they change. But for some reason, this is my first chance at the guardian choosing. So I’m just a little ticked for making me go through that,” I said. “I can see why you would be. Wait. So when you’re grandfather said that all your hopes lied upon me, he meant that you loved me? And that you were hoping that I loved you so that I was your guardian?” Misty asked, slightly blushing. I nodded. I couldn’t even look her in the eye. “Listen. You don’t have to say if you love him or not. Just look in your heart and the words will come to you if you are his guardian. Just try it,” my dad said. “Ok. Here goes.” Misty sighed. She closed her eyes and I couldn’t help be think how beautiful she was. “Delia, why don’t we show her ours?” my dad asked. “Ok. Thunder sounds across my heart and lightning lights the skies. Return the Thunder of my life!” Delia exclaimed. With another blindingly brilliant light, my father returned to normal. Misty took another deep breath and returned to thinking. I sighed. What if she wasn’t the one? At that moment, who should come exploding in? Team Rocket. “Is that a voice I hear?” Jessie started. “It shrieks to me loud and clear,” James added. “On the wind,” Jessie added. “Past the stars,” James added. “In your ears,” Meowth said. “Bringing chaos at a break neck pace,” Jessie stated. “Dashing hope putting fear in it’s place,” James said. “A rose by any other name is just as sweet,” Jessie said. “When everything’s worse our work is complete,” James stated. “Jessie.” “James.” “Meowth, now that’s a name.” “Putting the do-gooders in there place,” Jessie said. “We’re Team Rocket,” James said. “And we’re in your face!” the three exclaimed. “Wobbuffet!” “Mime Mime!” I sighed. Did I ever mention how very annoying and aggravating these three are at times? At times I wish that I could ram their heads together pray that it causes them to actually think for once. But who am I kidding? Most of the time I let my temper get the best of me so I can’t think. Anyways, they always seem to find just the right time to barge in on my life. “Hey, wait a minute. Where’s the twerp?” Jessie pointed out. “You’re right Jessie. He’s not to be anywhere in sight. I thought for sure that he’d be with the red headed twerp. After all, he does love her and what not.” James stated. I fell over. This was just perfect. “Hey, James, you shouldn’t say dings dat you don’t know if its true or not. You know dat da twerp will be mad,” Meowth stated. “I shouldn’t worry. One night, the twerp stayed up and was down by a river. I went down there while you guys were asleep. I was trying to sneak up on him to grab Pikachu but he heard me. ‘What do you want James? Pikachu? Good luck but you know you won’t get it. Look I’m not in the mood so I won’t blast you off. But in return, can you help me out?’ ‘Uh…Sure. With what?’ ‘I can’t believe I’m about to ask you this but how do you tell the girl you love how you feel?’ ‘What?! Where’d this come from?!’ ‘I should have known better to ask you.’ ‘No, just tell me why. Then I can help you.’ ‘Fine. I’m in love with Misty. Ok? I really want to tell her but I’m to much of a coward to tell her.’ ‘So you love the red headed twerp? Well I suggest that you take her to her favorite restaurant and then tell her how you feel. That way it’s off your chest. Don’t worry if she doesn’t feel the same. Most women are stubborn and refuse to give a guy a chance, but I have a feeling she will be one of the few don’t.’ After that, he just nodded and I left. I never found out if he told her or not.” James said. I couldn’t take it. I jumped up and attacked James. No one announces my feelings to the world except me. I kinda wished that I had a recorder to record James’s girlie screams. It was hilarious. But it wasn’t to last. Meowth grabbed both my and Pikachu with rubber mechanical hands. We squirmed but couldn’t get free. I looked at the hand saw that if I was my human self that it wouldn’t be able to hold me. I looked at Misty and begged her with my eyes. She looked straight at me. Then something clicked in her head. “Thunder and Lightning fills my life. Return the power and love of my life!” she exclaimed. I felt the light more than I saw it. The next thing I knew, I could hear the metal in the hands breaking. I smirked. Another victory for me. The hand broke and I grabbed Pikachu’s hand thingy. Quickly made my way to where Team Rocket stood in there new weird van. “HOW’D YOU GET WHERE THE BLACK PIKACHU WAS?!?!?!?” they screamed at me upon reaching them. “Easy,” I said, hitting the button to release Pikachu, “I’m a shadow. Blast off bye-bye time!” I ran to Pikachu and smiled at the three clueless Rockets. “Pikachu, thunderbolt!” I ordered. “PI-KA-CHUUUU!!!!!” It shouted. The weird van exploded and they blasted off with their weird star thing. I ran to Misty and pick her up by her waist and spun her around. “I never realized that you felt that way for me,” I teased. “Well, you never asked.” she giggled. I laughed and hugged her tight to my person. I’d never let her go. “So Ash, was it worth waiting till now?” my grandfather asked. I let go of Misty and walked over to my grandmother. I whispered in her ear and she nodded. “Out of the darkness of the night comes forth the lightning. Release the light of my life!” my grandmother exclaimed. In a blinding light, my grandfather changed. Into a Pachirisu. Everyone tried to contain a giggle. “To see you like that and get the girl of my dreams, then yes. It was very much worth it.” I laughed. I hugged Misty again and whispered to her, “I promise that I’ll never leave you.” “I know you won’t. I love you, Ash. But no more secrets, ok?” She whispered back. “Ok. Then here’s the last one. You’ll probably have twins or triplets.” I teased. With that, I proceeded to be pummeled by the fury of her mallet all the while I was laughing my head off. “Oh, and I do plan on having several sets!” I teased her. I managed to get up and run before she set after me. Some things never change. I still love to tease her and she still loves that mallet. Now that we’ve gotten fights out of the way for the day, Misty and I are now about to enjoy dinner together…alone. So I must now ask you to leave. We need to plan how she’s going to travel with me again and still be the gym leader. And how I’m going to survive her mallet. “Ash, come on! Brock’s almost done with dinner!” Oops! That was Misty! I’ve got to go! Wish me luck! At least I know that I don’t have one secret to many any more. Bye! A/N: What do you think? Sorry if it got a little violent. I think that Shadow Pikachu’s story was a little sad. But oh well. Please review if you have the time. Both Shadow Squirtle and I would appreciate it very much. Laters!