Back on the ground, I crossed my small, furry yellow arms across my chest again. However, I wasn’t putting up my guard. I tilted my cute head to the side, causing my slender ears to flip to one side as I closed my round black eyes, frowning over how to get to Pidgeotto.

I still felt bad for breaking his ribs, even though he did attack me. But the once-enemy, now-friend Pokemon urgently needed to see a Pokémon bone doctor. The question was how to safely get Pidgeotto and return because a big angry Ursaring was still on the loose.

“What’s wrong, Sax?”

“Haaaaaah,” I sighed, unable to come up with any good ideas. I opened my eyes, and ruffled the yellow fur on my head as I said, “Ursaring. Quite the big problem. I know I can get away from him, but you can’t. But I can’t bring Pidgeotto here either. Dang it. It’s another miscalculation on my part.”

With a pure and innocent non-blaming face, Charlie responded, “What if we wait for the League Trainer? Maybe a Pokémon Ranger will show up too. They should be coming soon. We just have to trail far enough behind them while they deal with Ursaring. I think they might kill the berserk Pokemon though.”

My eyes grew large due to two reasons. For one, that was a good idea! “Hey! Not bad, buddy! That would work!” I exclaimed, nodding my head and agreeing with Charlie’s suggestion.

But for two, reality hit me again as I realized that euthanizing the rabid-like Pokémon was a likely option that occurred more frequently than not.

“Alright, Sax, follow me! Let’s head back but keep off the road.”

I grinned. “Okay!” I shouted, hopping into a dash by Charlie’s side. We ran back. However, another problem suddenly blocked our path.

I don’t know how, but an angry Jenny appeared out by the nearby tall grass—just like a wild Pokémon! She slightly leaned forward with her elbows out and her hands on her waist.

“I knew this would happen! And where do you think you’re going, young man?!” Officer Jenny growled while glaring at Charlie.

Charlie took a step back before trying to convince our new blockage on the trail.

“Officer Jenny!! Please! Let us through! I need to help Pidgeotto! He’s hurt and needs to see Nurse Joy right away!”

The blue-green haired officer firmly shook her head. “No can do. I told you before. This area is now off limits.” She then looked at me and slightly relaxed her serious demeanor. “Is that the Pikachu that saved you and that young lady?”

“Yes! And Sax’s friend needs our help! Pidgeotto bones were broken! Probably from helping Pikachu fight off Ursaring. We have to save him!”

“Pi - ka, pi - ka,” I awkwardly laughed. Oh, shoot! I didn’t tell Sax not to tell anyone I could talk!

Internally, I sweated and freaked out. Gulping down my fears of being taken to be experimented on, I hesitatingly watched my new trainer in case he blurted out anything unnecessary. I would immediately deny it if he said anything. He also made me out to be a hero that I was not. I’ll set the record straight with him later.

A low flat voice interrupted and intervened in the conversation.

“Hey there, Jenny. I’m here to deal with the problem,” said a somewhat familiar middle-aged man with spiky brown hair. He strode over in a combination of lazy yet confident steps with his hands in the pockets of his denim blue jeans.

I tilted my head and squinted my eyes at him, trying to figure out who he was. The man glanced back and made a weird face.

That sharp nose and wide chin... Hmmm. I feel like I know this guy, but I swear I’ve never met him before. How strange. Where did I see him?

He smirked with his rugged face.

That smirk! That familiar ego! The brown spiky hair! It’s that guy! But he’s a bit older now.

My eyes stretched wide in disbelief and astonishment! The man’s signature fancy long-sleeved purple shirt and iconic green and yellow yin-yang pendant on his chest gave him away!

“Gym Leader Gary! Tell this kid that he can’t go into the Viridian Forest! He should know of all people! Afterall, he was part of the duo that got attacked by that Ursaring!”

Gary crossed his arms and tapped a finger on his chin, all the while looking at me with a curious gaze. “Don’t worry, Jenny. I’ll look after the kid—especially his Pikachu.”

I gulped. Dang it, Sax! This is why it’s rude to stare! Now I’ve drawn Gary’s unwanted attention!

I was suddenly shocked. A shadow covered part of me as Charlie stepped in front of me with his arms stretched out in a defensive and protective stance.

“Pikachu is mine! You can’t have him! Even if you’re a Gym Leader!”

Aw! Charlie! You the best!

Gary laughed uncontrollably. “Ahahaha! I don’t want your Pikachu, kid! He still looks like a baby. It’s just that it looked like your Pikachu knew me somehow.” Gary wiped a tear from his eye as he looked back at me.

I gulped but narrowed my eyes. His annoying voice echoed with the words ‘baby’ in my head.

“Baby!?” I shouted in anger!

Oh, shit!

They all did a double take and looked at me with scrutinizing eyes. Chills ran down my back at my mess up, and I froze. I forgot and slipped up, angrily replying in human speech! Internally, I facepalmed and slapped myself on the face.

I mean, “Pika?” Wait, it was more like, “Pika?!”

Officer Jenny seemed to believe she misheard as her gaze softened, but that Gary... Damn. He’s not buying it! I growled again, “Pika! Pikachu!”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

He waved his hands, saying, “My bad, my bad. You're not a baby. That would be your first form, Pichu. Babies can’t talk. You’re a kid, just like your trainer. A very curious Pikachu. Hahaha!”

That dang Gary Oak! He knows! But bro. I’m the same age as you! No wonder Ash was so frustrated with this guy! Should I zap him?

“Gary! Be serious! You’re going to hunt down the Creeping Murderer! That Ursaring has killed more than seven people and an unknown number of Pokémon! Why are you taking the kid with you?!” Officer Jenny stomped over to pick a fight with Gary.

“You know that Ursaring is no match for me, Jenny. I can take care of the kid too with no problem.”

“This isn’t a game, Gary!”

The two went at it.

“Chaaaa…” I breathed a breath of relief. I didn’t want a possible interrogation. Good thing the two took the spotlight off me.

Suddenly, a set of large hands grabbed my waist and lifted me up. I was confused by the sudden movements. Charlie wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly into his chest. His glare at Gary softened into a concerned and worried look as he glanced down at me and whispered into my ear.

“Sax. You can’t talk around people we don’t know, okay? I don’t want anyone taking you away.”

My eyes widened with surprise.

The brat was not so much of a brat as I thought. I mean, I knew he wasn’t. But he seemed to know and understand more than I presumed. I need to stop thinking of him as a brat and a kid.

I quietly whispered back, “Sorry. That was my mistake. I’ll be careful next time, Charlie.”

His hand patted my head and ruffled my yellow fur. “Okay,” he softly responded before deviously replying, “this is punishment!”

“Pika!” I shouted as he started to tickle me. Little Bro! Stop! This is so wrong! Ahaha! I could not stop laughing.

“You ready, kid?” Gary suddenly asked, standing right beside Charlie and a good head taller. “I finally convinced Jenny. She’s one tough cookie, but nothing I can’t handle. So she’s heading back.”

I was glad Charlie stopped tickling me as punishment, but Gary’s piercing eyes and smirk did not put me at ease either.

I wonder if I should tell Charlie my real age? But would it freak him out? At least, he’d probably stop tickling an older man if he knew.

For now, I had bigger issues. I looked at Gary and yanked my head and turned away with a huff. “Hmpf, Pika - Pika - Pikachu,” which roughly translates to, “You better not try anything funny, or I’ll zap your ass.”

“Seems like both Pokémon and trainer don’t really like me,” Gary stated the obvious.

Charlie's eyes looked suspiciously at Gary but became confused as Gary said, “You need my help to find Pidgeotto, right? I’ll help you two out. I will allow you two to tag along, but you have to do something for me in return.”

“I knew it! You Viridian Gym leaders are always up to something!” Charlie shouted accusingly.

Charlie’s words offended Gary. The Gym Leader stopped all smirks and smiles. A heavy and intimidating aura enveloped the middle-aged man as his demeanor turned cold and serious.

“Kid. Do you understand what you implied just now? You accused me that I was like that villain Giovanni! How are we even alike?! Do you know who I am?! I’m Gary Oak! Grandson of Professor Oak! And also a fellow Pokémon Researcher as well as the Gym Leader of the new and virtuous Viridian Gym!”

Charlie remained unphased and replied, “I know what you want. You keep looking at Pikachu. You want to use him for your experiments.”

“…” Gary went momentarily silent.

Nailed it. Charlie shut Gary up with his last sentence. The kid had a knack for calling people out. Just a few words and done! No way of arguing back. I can attest to it.

“See,” Charlie added.

Gary frantically tried to deny the claim. “Yes! But it’s nothing bad! Nothing like what Giovanni and Team Rocket did, ok?! Your Pikachu is just unusual. My Pokédex earlier made a noise but showed an error when scanning your Pokémon. I just wanted to find out why. That’s what us researchers do: try to solve mysteries. And something is wrong with your Pikachu that needs some solving. So what do you say?”

I started to sweat.

The Pokédex doesn’t work on me? That’s weird, but I think I kinda know why.

Charlie looked down at me. “What do you say, Sax? Do you want to?”

I immediately refused, fervently shaking my head with fear.

“Interesting,” Gary said. His much too curious voice made me tremble. He annoyingly smiled with his rugged face and tenaciously proposed, “How about this? Let me do a routine physical check up to see if—“ Gary looked down at me before turning back to Charlie and confirmed, “Sax, correct?”

Charlie nodded, and Gary reiterated, “Let me do a physical check up here on Sax to see if he’s OK. No machines. No tools. Just a routine physical check up like the ones at the Pokemon Center.”

Charlie hesitated, making many different faces.“ but then he looked at me with a concerned face, and I knew it was game over.

“Well, ok. Just for Pikachu’s well-being and not you!” Charlie gave in and adamantly replied.

Charlie! No! He’s up to something! However, I could only make a yearning face at Charlie in opposition. However, he ignored my protest, focusing on my wounds from the Ember attacks caused by the Houndour.

With firm resolution, he turned to Gary. “I was worried about a patch of inflamed skin on Sax that was showing from what looks like a burn mark.” Charlie then looked at me, trying to convince me. “Please, Pikachu? I want to give you items to heal right away if you're still hurt.”

Oh, that dang Charlie! How can I refuse your big kind eyes, pleading words, and begging gestures? I can’t keep you worried over something that doesn’t even bother me.

“Chaaaa…” I sighed. “Pi - Pika - Pi,” I reluctantly said, meaning, “if it gives you peace of mind, Charlie.”

“Thank you, Sax! OK, sir. But be careful,” my trainer said, handing me over to Gary.

Gary’s large cold hands pressed around my waist, making me shiver.

“Oops, sorry, Sax. My hands and feet tend to be cold.”

I pouted but nodded, accepting his apology. BUT!!! I could not forgive his last couple of actions! No forewarning at all! How rude!

He prodded my spine, starting from my neck to my tail. “Bones look fine.” He then pulled up the base of my tail and looked at a certain exit hole. “Bottom looks ok, too. No parasites.”

Parasites?!

Gary then laid me flat on his arm and said, “Ahhh.”

It was all too familiar actions I did before to Pidgeotto. Gary did the same, prodding around my lips with his finger, opening my mouth by pushing and peeling them back to look at my teeth and tongue. Karma came full circle.

“Everything here looks fine, too.” Turning to me on my side, he checked my ears before adding in a slightly higher tone, “a good ear cleaning would be good, Charlie.”

“Yes, sir!”

Maybe cobwebs got caught in there when I was running through the bushes?

Gary continued and brushed through my fur but gently touched the area of my burns on my chest. “Charlie is right. You’ll need a burn heal. It’ll help return the fur to the area too.”

The Pokemon Researcher then sat me up, and the most unsuspecting and worst part happened.

“Ok, let’s give you one last check, Pikachu,” Gary said, taking his hand and lifting away my slightly curly yellow pubic hair on my front lower half. I didn’t know he was going to check there too!

He revealed my private parts that I completely forgot to even check for the two days I was a Pikachu! I looked down at the new and unknown sight of my junior.

“Looks healthy. You’re slowly developing, Sax.” He nonchalantly said, taking wipes from his pant pocket and cleaning his hands.

“That’s good news, Sir Gary! Right, Sax?!”

Dude! I- I-

I was speechless. Not only that, I felt confused and violated. Not because a doctor examined me. Me; a fully grown man. It was awkward and embarrassing, sure. But that wasn’t the main issue. I had the usual awkward annual physical exams when I was still human anyway. It was nothing new, as a human that is.

It’s just that now, so many things were unexpected.

One, I lost my real manhood. Only one word described my feeling right now: devastated! My junior! My other piece! I mean, I do have a new one now; but they’re not even close to being at all the same! I could cry.

Two, I overlooked a crucial Pokemon feature: the fact that they also have ‘manhoods’ or I guess ‘Pokehoods’? As well as female Poke-parts? And my young new trainer saw all of mine! How embarrassing! I couldn’t turn my head up to face Charlie.

But three… Oh, number three. My new manhood is developing? Everything so wrong combined together. My childhood and adulthood memories felt violated.

Does that mean I’m a teenager again? A teenage Pikachu? Was Gary literal earlier when he called me a kid? I can’t believe what just happened.

“Alright, Sax seems perfectly fine to me, besides his burns. But something is off with the Pokédex. If you guys ever have trouble, come to the Viridian Gym. I’d be more than happy to take a look again or for a Gym battle!”

No! Never! Never again! Don’t you even dare, Gary!

“Thank you, Sir Gary! We will!” Charlie exclaimed. “Isn’t that good, Sax! Let me give you a Burn Heal.”

“Pika,” I pouted then huffed, looking away.

“Ah common, Sax. Mr. Gary was just giving you a health exam. At least now we know you're mostly ok. We just need to heal your burns.”

I looked back at the kid but used my hands to hide my face from embarrassment. Charlie saw everything. I just saw everything. Size doesn’t matter. But Gary just showed everything so openly. How could I not be embarrassed?

“Hey, nothing to be embarrassed about, Sax. We’re all guys here. You’re still growing just like me! Cheer up. Let’s go save your friend, Pidgeotto!”

“Right, you two. I will uphold my half of the deal and help you two find your friend!” Gary exclaimed. “Ursaring! You will harm no more!”

Why do I feel harmed?