Chapter Text
“Just stop already!”
Pikachu tried to open his eyes when he heard his trainer’s voice. What was Ash doing now?
“Stop!”
When Pikachu finally opened, it was to the sight of Ash being hit by the two Legendaries’ attacks.
“Pikapi!” he screamed, only to close his eyes when the dust cloud reached him.
When he opened his eyes again, Ash was falling slowly to the ground.
That fool! Pikachu heard Mewtwo’s telepathic voice. That human tried to stop our fight?
Ignoring both Legendaries, Pikachu ran towards the fallen body of his trainer. But when he arrived, Ash had turned into some kind of stone.
“Pika…” He tried to shake Ash, hoping that this wasn’t something permanent, that Ash would react in any way. “Pikapi…”
Nothing changed about him.
So he used Thunderbolt.
Again. And again. And again.
It didn’t work.
“Pikapi…” he started crying. No, Ash can’t… he couldn’t be dead… could he? “Pikapi.”
He heard all the other Pokémon, clone and original alike, starting to cry too.
Even Charizard.
All of them were mourning for Ash.
And suddenly, all of their tears started floating towards Ash.
And he started glowing.
Pikachu started having hope again, maybe Ash will survive.
He wasn’t going to give his trainer up. So he mustered all the strength he had left.
And used Thunderbolt one more time.
There are unexpected consequences when you try to mix different elements without knowing how they would react.
And if you mix the residual energy of two Legendary Pokémon’s attacks, an unexplained event such as the tears of all Pokémon helping Ash return to life, and the Thunderbolt of a small, determined Pikachu, then you would naturally get one of those consequences.
Ash felt the stiffness in his body lessen by the second, but it felt different somehow.
Nevertheless he willed his body to move again, and started to rise slowly.
He groaned, as he raised his head and opened his eyes. He was immediately greeted with the sight of his best bud.
Ash smiled. “Pikachu!”
The small Electric–type didn’t move, and the shock on his face didn’t go away.
But his own grew when he heard his buddy speak.
“Ash?”
Pikachu looked back at the individual in front of him.
He sounded like Ash.
He was wearing Ash’s clothes.
But he was a Pokémon, unlike Ash.
He didn’t know what to think of all of this. What happened? Was this Ash? Did Mewtwo and Mew’s attacks do this to him? He had so many questions.
And if the shocked face of this unknown Pokémon was any indication, he wasn’t the only one.
Now, how to deal with-
“Pikachu, did you just talk?” the new Pokémon asked.
That was a weird question for a Pokémon to ask, Pikachu absently mused.
But maybe… maybe there was still hope.
“Ash, is that you?”
Pikachu just spoke to him.
Pikachu just spoke to him.
Did Pikachu suddenly learn how to talk? Or did he somehow understand his starter?
Wait. Why did Pikachu ask if it was him? Who else could he be?
“Of course I’m me. It would be weird if I became Brock or Misty?” he grimaced. “Actually, it would be a torture if I became Misty.”
He heard Pikachu snort, before the Electric-type pressed his small hands on his mouth.
Ash let out a small laugh.
It was him.
Oh, Zapdos. It was him.
Pikachu started crying again.
This unknown Pokémon. It was his trainer. It was Ash!
“Ash!” he exclaimed in elation, and hugged him.
His trainer was fine. His best friend was alive!
Mewtwo looked dumbfounded at the two hugging Pokémon.
This doesn’t make sense. How did that human become a Pokémon? What kind of trickery is this?
“How interesting…” He heard Mew say.
Do you know anything about this… situation? Mewtwo didn’t know what else to call what just happened. And how could he? He had never heard of a human suddenly becoming something else, let alone a Pokémon!
“No,” Mew laughed. “First time I've seen something like this.”
Mewtwo frowned. So what should we do about this?
“Let them be.”
What? Mewtwo stared at the Mythical in disbelief.
“Both Pokémon, original and cloned, worked together to bring the human back to life.” Mew looked at Mewtwo, a glimmer of amusement shone in their eyes.
You’re right. Mewtwo admitted. His sacrifice made them all set aside their differences. And I suppose it did the same for the both of us.
Mew tilted their head in question.
You are a Pokémon who exists just like I do. Mewtwo explained. And if we set aside anything that makes us different, then maybe we can finally understand the true power that all Pokémon share deep inside.
Mew nodded, agreeing with the man-made Pokémon.
I can see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant. Both Psychic-type Pokémon started to descend to the arena. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.
Both Mew and Mewtwo looked at the human-turned-Pokémon in contemplation.
Ash looked back as the two powerful Pokémon stood in front of him. He also felt Pikachu still in their embrace.
Slowly getting up, and putting Pikachu in a better position on his arms, Ash addressed the two Psychic-types.
“Hey!” he smiled. “It’s good to see you’re not fighting anymore.”
Mewtwo looked at him in bafflement. Mew just laughed.
“How do you feel?” The New Species Pokémon asked, floating around him.
“I feel okay? But my body just feels weird.”
“No surprise there,” Mew commented. “You just became a Pokémon after all.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Ash said, tilting his head.
It took five seconds for the words to register in his mind. And when they did…
Ash’s scream echoed all over New Island.
He turned around and hastily looked at his body. His arms were yellow and covered in fur and big and… was there something on his back?
He touched his face. It was also covered in fur and… he had a muzzle!
What happened to him?
Ash looked back at Mew and Mewtwo in panic, hoping they had an answer to… this!
We do not know how this came to be. Mewtwo said, and just like that his hopes were dashed away. Or how are you here with us, for that matter.
"Aw! Do not be sad.” Mew flew close to his face. "You’re an Electric-type now. Just like Pikachu! Now you both have a lot more in common.”
Ash looked back at Pikachu, who was glaring at Mew, cheeks crackling with electricity. He panicked and awaited the pain of being on the receiving end of one of Pikachu’s Thunderbolts.
The small Electric-type released his power and Ash closed his eyes and braced himself.
He didn’t feel any pain at all.
Opening his eyes again, he looked back at his starter, who looked mad at something. He then looked at Mew, who was a couple feet away from the blast zone, alongside Mewtwo.
Mew approached them again.
“Well, your Volt Absorb ability is working!” Mew did a small twirl around him. “That’s good to know!”
Ash saw Pikachu look back at him in surprise, before giving a small groan.
He wondered what his starter was thinking about.
“But what kind of Pokémon am I?” Ash asked, looking back at the small Psychic-type.
“Zeraora.” Mew answered. “A unique Pokémon, just like me!” They laughed again.
Before Ash could ask any other question, he was approached by his friends and Pokémon.
“Ash!” exclaimed Misty and Brock, at the same time Ash was tackled by Squirtle and Bulbasaur.
“What happened to you?” Brock asked, seeing Ash hug the two Pokémon. “You are…”
“You’re a Pokémon!” Misty shouted. “That is a new kind of crazy, even for you!”
“I know, I know,” Ash relented. “This is all so weird.”
“Well, I think you look cooler now,” Squirtle chimed in. “Not as cool as me, but still cool.”
Bulbasaur and Pikachu sighed at the Water-type’s antics.
You were given incredible power, if what Mew says is true. Mewtwo approached the young trainer again. Please, make sure to use it wisely. And do not commit the same mistakes I made here.
Mewtwo looked back at Ash’s group in contemplation. I can leave assured that all of you will help him get accommodated with this new life. As for the rest.
Mewtwo looked back at the other beings in the arena.
It might be best if they don’t remember this incident. Mewtwo started floating away, accompanied by Mew, as both of them started glowing in Psychic energy. It might be best to forget this.
Ash looked confused as the clones glowed, before they started floating towards Mew and Mewtwo.
“But, where are all of you going?” Ash asked.
We have been born. Mewtwo’s telepathic voice echoed. We are alive.
All cloned Pokémon started flying away, led by the Psychic-types. We’ll go on living… In this world… Somewhere… Until I learn what your heart already knows so well.
A bright light engulfed the arena, and Ash felt like he was floating.
And then they all were teleported away from New Island.
They looked as some trainers followed Nurse Joy to get their Pokémon healed.
It was weird, seeing her act as if nothing happened. As if what happened in New Island was nothing but a dream.
“So… that really happened, huh?” Misty asked, looking at Togepi.
“This is gonna be weird to explain to mom.” Ash groaned, looking back at his new… claws, he supposed.
“Let’s hope Professor Oak can help with your… condition.” Brock said. “He might even know more about your new species.”
Ash frowned. He really wasn't looking forward to having that conversation.
“Hey, Ash,” the young trainer looked back at his starter. “Don’t worry, okay? I’ll be there for you.”
Ash smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Pikachu.”
That’s when they noticed something. The storm had stopped.
Going outside to the pier, the group basked on the serenity of the calm sea and the sunlight that broke through the clouds.
And the small figure flying in the distance.
“Is that?” Ash asked in wonder.
“Something the matter, Ash?” Misty asked. “I don’t see anything.”
“Other than the clouds, that is,” Brock said.
Ash smiled. “I saw a rare Pokémon on the day I left home to become a Pokémon Master. I thought I saw another one, right now.”
“No surprise there,” Misty said, amused. “After all, you are a rare Pokémon now.”
“By the way Ash, did Mew or Mewtwo tell you what kind of Pokémon you are now?” Brock asked.
Ash crossed his arms in thought. “Well, Mew said I was a Zed-roar-ah, I think?”
“Zeraora, Ash,” Pikachu corrected him. “Mew said you were a Zeraora.”
“Oh, yes! Zeraora!” the young trainer said. “Thanks, Pikachu!”
“So you can understand Pikachu?” Misty asked.
“Maybe even other Pokémon,” Brock added.
“I guess so,” Ash shrugged. “I know I also understood Squirtle.”
“Hmm… Do you think Dexter might know more about it?
“Let’s see.” Ash took his Pokédex and pointed it towards himself.
“There is no da-ata-a.” The Pokédex glitched, blue sparks covering it. “There are stiiiiiiiiill Poké-ke-kéém0n t*{0} yY^3e34+o0_&lr8333.”
The Pokédex turned off, smoke coming from it.
“Well, either your Pokédex was busted,” Misty commented. “Or we just learned something about Zeraora.”