“-you!” I said, completing my swearing at Alakazam, who was no longer in sight. Well, since he's no longer in range I can now curse at him all I want! Hahaha!

“Sax, you shouldn’t swear at Alakazam. He really helped us out back there, you know?” Charlie reprimanded.

Charlie reprimanded me! Really, Charlie? I sulked like a kid. I mean, he’s not wrong. Getting an immobilized Pidgeotto down from the tree would have not been easy without the grandpa Pokemon’s psychic abilities. But Alakazam and Gary experimenting on me was a no-no. A BIG hell no!

I pouted like a child, almost messing up again and complaining in human speech. Maybe it was because I was now a young teenage Pikachu. I don’t know. It was hard to control. I was lucky my earlier bout of swearing ended with ‘you,’ the same as ‘U’ in Pikach-‘U.’ I slapped my already swollen fuzzy cheeks, restraining my inner child.

“It’s okay, Sax. Don’t punish yourself.”

My trainer completely misunderstood my intentions. However, I could not mess up by replying back in human speech. Not here. I looked around the room, packed with young and old trainers sitting in a line of chairs off to the side, waiting for their turn to treat their sick or damaged Pokemon at the Pokemon hospital. Everyone stared at us with confused or surprised faces at our sudden appearance due to Alkazam’s Teleport.

I jumped, clinging to the edge of Charlie’s signature denim shorts, and climbed up his dusty white sleeveless shirt onto his broadening shoulder. I plopped my legs, one on each side over his right shoulder, as I sat down and whispered with my hands covering his ears.

“Sorry, Charlie. I will try to do better.”

Charlie caressed my head with light careful grazes from his fingertips. My trainer was mindful of my swollen body. Especially my head but particularly my face. Alakazam could be a real gangst’a when riled up. “Thank you, Sax. Let’s get you and the others healed up.”

He squatted down—with pretty good form, keeping his back straight and butt slightly sticking out—picking up Squirtle. I didn’t even feel a tilt. Such a mindful guy!

The automatic glass sliding doors behind us shut with the sound of air being released with a swooshing noise from some sort of compressor as we walked into the Pokemon Center. A boxed-in receptionist counter stood on our right, with two familiar faces standing and helping the people with their Pokemon, who waited in line.

Charlie rushed past the line of people waiting to be registered. They glared at him, but he ignored them and ran to the counter.

The dreaded moment was here. Although I had no issues with doctor visits before, after my life-scarring experience with Gary with his ‘physical check-up,’ it left me fearing medical personnel. Charlie placed me and Squirtle on the counter, as Nurse Joy began to speak.

“Welcome back to the Viridian Pokemon Center, Charlie. What seems to be the problem? You cut everyone in line. Is everything okay?” Nurse Joy asked with her warm welcoming soothing voice.

“Hello, Nurse Joy,” Charlie said with a rushed smile. The two seemed to know each other well.

“I have an emergency, Nurse Joy,” Charlie said with a hurried frantic speech, placing the three Pokeballs on the metal counter before turning his bag around and pulling out the spider legs I previously squirmed at, thinking my trainer wanted to keep them for eating.

“There are three Pokemon I’m holding for Sir Gary that are related to the recent Ursaring attack. They are gravely wounded. These legs also belong to Ariados in this Pokeball,” Charlie said, pointing to a specific Pokeball.

He then took out the horrid monster ball that ate Pidgeotto and placed it on the counter, saying, “Please also help my new friend, Pidgeotto. His bones are broken. And also Squirtle and Sax here, too.”

“My — Charlie! You have been quite busy, haven’t you? Your hard work is finally paying off. Two new Pokémon to join your team. That’s wonder! Let me take the critically injured Pokemon to the back right away. Chansey, can you assess the other two while I’m gone? I’ll be right, ok?”

“Chansey,” replied the pink-skinned Pokemon with a light ringing voice that calmed my hectic nerves.

Chansey was a curious-looking creature. I wanted to touch Pokemon’s skin, which reminded me of smooth, glossy elastic synthetic silicone. With a body that resembled a large egg, the Normal Type Pokemon’s bright uplifting smile lowered into a compassionate worry as the kind-hearted Pokemon looked at my swollen body. She pulled out the white egg from a darker pink pouch at her belly, handing it over to me.

The large egg approached my face. It was huge! Almost my entire size! I used both my fuzzy yellow arms to hug it and place it on my side. My eyes widened, taken by the selfless act of kindness.

“Pi, Pika, Pikachu,” I said in thanks, meaning, “for me? Aw, thank you so much, Chansey!”

“Of course, you poor thing. How did you get this swollen? You must be terribly bruised underneath.”

I shuddered at the last statement, recalling how Gary once looked at me underneath as well. But I forced a smile at the genuinely concerned Pokemon.

“Yes, I probably am. Thank you, Chansey. Thank you for your concerns. You didn’t have to, but you gave me your soft-boiled egg.”

“Don’t worry, dear. I only want you to get better. That is all that matters.”

I wholeheartedly smiled, reminded of my mother. A beaming stare from my left made me turn my head at Squirtle, whose shimmering large eyes glued to the white egg sitting beside me.

I guess I could share some. Pretty sure I can’t eat it all. It is almost the same size as me after all.

I reached towards the top of the egg, pulling and ripping the soft-boiled egg in half. I was about to just give Squirtle one half but was reminded of Pidgeotto. One-half each would be too much for me and Squirtle, anyway. So I split both halves into halves again. Keeping a quarter each for Squirtle, Pidgeotto, me, and Charlie.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Here you go, Squirtle,” I said, handing over his piece.

“Pika, Pika,” I then said, grabbing another piece and handing it over to Charlie.

“For me, Sax? Really? Thank you, Pikachu! That’s really nice of you!”

I grinned from ear to ear. “Pika, Pika,” meaning “ha, ha, you’re welcome.” You’re too cute sometimes, Charlie!

Nurse Joy hurriedly jogged back with a slight pant in her breath. “You were just in time, Charlie! Those four you gave me are in bad shape. The three for Gary are in critical condition. I don’t know if some of them will survive. We will try to save as many as we can.”

My long slender ears twitched. I heard movement from my back. I turned and looked at my trainer’s face wrecking with sadness. Charlie was kind-hearted, much too kind-hearted. I felt he more better fit the TV series than this current version of Pokémon reality. Me too, honestly. I liked my childhood version—thank you very much.

Hmm…maybe that’s why I act like this? My actions reflect my favorite moments—the goofy, light-hearted parts—of my lovable hero, Pikachu. It’s like I’m embodying that and ignoring this Pokémon-eat-Pokemon world.

But I wasn’t in my anime version. Saddening, but true. I slapped my cheeks and wharfed down some food to feed and console my stressed-out self. I was much like Pidgeotto, who ate a whole towering Pyramid of Oran Berries. It was like when I used to eat a whole bag of potato chips when I stressed over exams.

Which reminds me, do they have some potato chips here? I miss the crisp crunch of the salty fried snack. It was bad eating a whole family-sized bag, but it got me through troubled times. Not good for health, I know. But it works wonders at alleviating my mood. I would have to ask Charlie later about that, and also clear up his misunderstanding that I was not a hero who saved Pidgeotto. Rather, I was actually almost on the verge of frying the bird extra burnt and crispy.

However, crispiness and the yummy savory snack left my mind. A whole new world washed over my taste buds! Oh, how I lamented not fully enjoying the most delightful food in both my worlds!

Chansey’s soft-boiled egg was a top 3-star Michelin delicacy! Just on its own! The refreshing cool smooth and creamy texture—that I could barely enjoy as I swallowed it whole—enriched my entire being. It was like I was taken to a new planet, rushing through the soft fluffy heavens of Chansey egg-goodness. I tasted happiness. True happiness as I cried tears of joy and also tears of sadness from not being able to fully enjoy the delectably divine ambrosia. The bliss that seemed to even heal my soul was too short-lived.

Stupid, stupid, Sax! How could I have done that?! It was not even further prepared into a fancy, super expensive dish.

It was in its purest form, and so sweet and euphorically addicting. The aches of my body melted away, and a new life force pooled out of me and healed my swollen wounds. It was like magic, growing back my missing burnt-off hair on my torso. If I could get this back and sell it to balding men, I would be rich! Wait! I could! To the balding men of this world! But I need a Chansey coop!

However, I looked at the generous and wholeheartedly kind Pokemon. Her happy smile dissipated the money-making scheme from my mind. However, I still couldn’t get the thought of the priceless egg out of my mind! I looked at Squirtle’s piece that he took small bites and savored. Smart, little turtle. Smart.

I wanted to snag it all back! But I refrained, what was given was not to be taken back. That was my new motto as a good Pikachu that I swore to Suicune.

I am a good Pikachu! I am a good Pikachu!

Suddenly, a hand holding an uneaten quarter of the Chansey egg shoved the piece toward my face.

“Here, Pikachu. Take it. You need this more than I do,” my much-too-kind trainer stated confidently.

I looked at it, tempted to snag it away and run to a corner to gobble up the food of the gods. But NO! Bad inner Pikachu! Bad! I pushed it away, tears bleeding inside.

“Pika, Pika, Pikachu,” I said with much effort, meaning, “No, you have it. You deserve it and so much more, Charlie.”

To my surprise, Chansey handed me another whole soft-boiled egg! My eyes teared up again. Never have I been so happy and grateful! Such a divine gift! Two at that! I got on my knees and into a praying position, praising the kind and benevolent Pokemon, “Really, Chansey!? For me!? Oh, thank you! Thank you!!!”

Chansey laughed at my honest theatrics. Nurse Joy giggled too, but she quickly added, “Thank you for looking after them, Chansey. Please hurry to Surgery Bay 2, the other Chansey needs your help. We must try to save as many as we can. I will call over a temporary receptionist to cover for us.”

The nurse then called out to the others in line, “Chansey and I must head in for an urgent situation. Someone will be right over to help you all in line! Please wait a few moments!”

Nurse Joy and Chansey rushed off as another lady in a white medical apron and tied back orange hair walked in. “Have the three of you been helped?”

“I think so, Chansey gave my Pokemon some of her egg, but they needed to leave right away, so they weren’t completely checked yet.”

“Chansey did? Really? How rare. The Chansey here don’t always give out their eggs. They’re limited, so they’re a bit more picky about who they give them to. Usually, the more badly injured only receive them. Your Pokemon must have been in bad shape.”

“Yes, my Pikachu was pretty battered up.”

I was battered, but I don’t think it was that bad, was it? Maybe Chansey liked me? Oh! Maybe it’s a crush…Nah. Haha! I know I’m not her type.

“I see. Well, since your Pokemon has eaten Chansey’s egg, we will register you and put you on the waiting list to be seen by a medical professional. It may take a bit longer, but as they are not in a critical emergency condition it should be fine. Can I get your name? They will call you when it is your turn.”

“Sure, thank you, miss! My name is Charlie, and I would like to have Squirtle and Sax, my Pikachu examined.”

“Squirtle and Sax, got it.” She took a plastic bag and put my egg, given by Chansey, inside. She handed it to Charlie, who stuffed it in his bag (Chansey’s soft-boiled egg, GET-O! Yey!), before saying, “You three may go sit down in any of those rows of chairs and wait to be seen.”

“Thank you, we will!”

Charlie bent forward and grabbed me and Squirtle by the waist, lifting us off the counter as we made our way to sit down per the receptionist lady’s orders.

“Are these seats taken?” Charlie asked another teenage boy with a slightly more muscular build with a cap pulled slightly over his forehead, casting a shadow over her dark brown eyes.

He looked over and shook his head, leaving his arms and legs crossed over a set of similar cool expensive leather wear. “Nope. Go ahead,” he said in a more developed baritone voice. It seemed he progressed through puberty a bit ahead of my still voice-cracking trainer. I almost thought he was that cool trainer who tried to capture Suicune. But he was much younger than the other man. The style was definitely coolish-ly the same, however. Maybe it was a fashion style here.

Charlie smiled and nodded, placing us down three chairs over from the built young man. My trainer then sat in between us and the starter fire-type curled up into his tail, next to his trainer. I couldn’t help but push over Squirtle to move him out of my way as he shouted, “Hey!”

I was lost in a fascinated state, not paying attention to my grumbling water Pokemon buddy as I climbed over our chair and past a curious Charlie’s lap to the edge of his seat. My big round black eyes marvel at the Charmander with a smooth scale-like skin that shimmered in a reddish-orange.

“Pikaaa…Pi,” I said with awe, which meant, “Whoa…how cool.”

The flame on the bi-pedal lizard’s tail flared up and brightened as two blue gem-like eyes opened awake from a nap.

“Chaarr?”