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Two figures sat framed, silhouetted in golden window’s light and long years’ friendship, quiet in the serene dark of winter. One sighed wearily, sound laden with too much exhaustion to cover in mere moments but conveyed nonetheless. “I worry for him, sometimes…” she trailed off, quiet again for a frozen moment held long into their exhaustion. It had been a long day… “he already didn’t have many friends, but with his recent falling out with Gary…” she buried her head in her hands, the second silhouette reaching- hesitantly- but faltering before he could give a touch of comfort. “Samuel, what can I do ? Ash is such an energetic child, and without any friends…”
The professor leaned back in thought, in that late night silence once more as Delia composed herself once again. “I’m sorry you have to deal with this… I fear I’m a poor grandfather, in truth.” Delia didn’t speak to that, and after an awkward moment the both of them left that thought unmentioned. “Anyways! I’m not a man without contacts! If Ash is interested, perhaps he could have a penpal?”
“That’s not a replacement for a real relationship and you know it.” Samuel winced, but they both knew it was true. “Perhaps… the other kids his age never got along with him well. It could be useful to have at least one friend his age he can truly connect with.”
“Perfect! I’ll get things set up right away-” Oak sat up straight, all but jumping out of his chair- only Delia’s exasperated glare stopping him from getting in contact with his colleagues immediately. At one in the morning. Let nobody say he wasn’t at least earnest . “Ah, maybe tomorrow would be a better time, then?” Delia couldn’t help it- past window-pane silhouettes and the cloud-deep darkness over far fields and forests and all the ranchland she’d come to know so well…
She laughed. For hope, perhaps…
………
Dear Pen Pal!!!
My name is Ash Ketchum and I’m a (future) pokemon master from pallet town in Kanto! I’m super excited to get to know you! Are you a pokemon trainer? My mom said that lots of people are pokemon trainers even if they’re not doing competitions and beating up bad guys like the super champion does. I mean that would be boring, but all pokemon are cool you know? Gary is a meanie but even he can agree that pokemon are cool. Mom wants me to say what I did recently because that’s what letters are supposed to say but it’s winter and boring and I’m stuck inside half the time and I dunno what to even put down here. Oh! I went down to the ocean a few days ago and saw a lapras pod!!! Isn’t that so cool!
Hope you’re having fun!!!
Ash Ketchum
………
Stamped with the destination Oak had provided, the letter made the short walk to the mailbox and the long trip to the post, then further, by truck to a distribution center then again to the coast, and a final boat ride to its destination. The mailman there frowned at the address, but shrugged and dropped it off by the lab with the other random packages sent there. It was an endlessly frustrating ordeal with all the fragile equipment, ‘this way up’ and ‘do not disturb’ stuff he had to deliver there, so a normal letter was almost a relief.
In the night, a small boat pulled up, loaded the packages and lone letter, and set off across the choppy seas for a few hours’ journey to a facility sequestered away on a rocky island jutting above the sea. The packages were carefully organized and cataloged, and the letter- after a brief few seconds of inspection- was thrown into a small bin with the other paper waste.
It sat there, for a time, beneath the fluorescent-harsh lab’s light, unread as air filters whirred and unnaturally cold air seethed over cordage and piping all harsh-white- as unnamed scientists in pristine coats bustled around with unknown urgency. Too late, for them- unrealized still, but known to a single being who even still grieved-
They who read the letter.
Two days later, when reports written harshly in the fury of a grieving man and a handful of other, less important things were shipped out… unnoticed, a letter lay slipped in amongst them.
………
“Mom, mom!” Ash was over the moon that he’d gotten a response, and Delia couldn’t help but smile at the nine-year old as he ran excitedly around the kitchen, envelope held securely against his chest as though it might fly away at any moment. Knowing her son, that wasn’t all that far from the truth… “It came! They responded!”
She chuckled good naturedly, grabbing him by the shoulders and sitting him back down at the table. “Calm down, Ash. How about you finish your food first , and then read through your letter-” she barely managed to snatch the slip of paper out of her son’s grasp before he threw himself into ravenously consuming his lunch as fast as possible. Perhaps Amber really would be a good friend for him… Silently, Delia whispered to herself as she watched the scene… “never change, Ash. Never change.”
………
Ash spread the letter out on his bed, unfolding the neatly- no, perfectly - creased letter to reveal the contents within. He was so excited!
Dear Ash Ketchum,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I’ll admit to being intrigued by this communication of yours; a request to become a ‘pen pal’ is not something I’ve had the pleasure of observing before. Your writing is so thoroughly unique compared to the others, I cannot help but be intrigued. I digress, though. It’s been a… rough few days for myself, so forgive me if this missive is not what you’re expecting.
In the spirit of your last letter, I cannot say that I’ve ever seen the sea myself. It fascinates me, the vastness I’ve learned about beyond my confines; I hoped for a long time to see it with friends, but I find that… unfeasible after recent events. Lapras do seem to be an interesting species, though, and I find a strange pleasure alongside the longing in knowing that you’ve enjoyed yourself these past few weeks.
Perhaps I will hear from you again? The idea of ‘pen pals’ seems to suggest it… either way, I’ve enjoyed this diversion, and am amenable to staying in touch.
Sincerely,
Mewtwo
A Friend
Fuji
Oh… Ash read through the letter a few more times, stumbling over the largest words a few times until he grabbed the dictionary from downstairs. Who even made such heavy books? How would you be able to carry it around on a journey? He managed it eventually, and Fuji seemed… kind of sad, actually. Having no friends must suck!
Well, he had no friends either, so he guessed he could understand the feeling… of course! He scrambled over to his drawer, pulling out some paper and a pencil- he knew exactly what to do…
………
Dear Fuji!
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been having a rough time! It must be really sad having no friends. I don’t have any friends either because Gary is a meanie and all the other kids our age don’t get along with me because I’m all ‘wow’ and ‘lets go!’ And apparently they find that annoying? Sorry if I'm being annoying.
I had a great idea though! Can we be friends?
Have a great day!!!
Ash Ketchum
………
Late at night when the only illumination in the lab was the dim glow of the tube’s internal light fixtures and uncountable little pinpricks on machine controls, like stars- a pen on the desk wobbled, then slowly rose into the air of its own volition.
Dear Ash Ketchum,
I would like that very much…
………
A year passed quickly, and Delia was well pleased with Samuel’s idea. Sure, his efforts to get Gary and Ash back together might have been worse than useless, but this at least had borne fruit. Looking at the- slightly crumpled, of course- grade report in her hand, the letters had clearly done him no small favor when it came to his reading grades. Last year Daisy had despaired about how hopeless his writing was, but her recent comment of ‘ the most literate ten year old I’ve ever seen ’ couldn’t but bring a bit of warmth to Delia’s chest.
She folded up the report, glancing at the pile of vegetables that would theoretically turn into a dinner for two… “hey, Ash!” Something crashed upstairs, and she winced for a brief few seconds as Ash stumbled down the stairs and into the dining room. “Why don’t we head over to Professor Oak’s place?”
Ash’s eyes widened, his mouth gaping in shock. “With the pokemon?! ”
Delia chuckled softly. “I was thinking more about the ice cream , but there’s plenty of pokemon over there too. It’s a treat for getting such good grades, you know?”
“Ok- wait!” He held up a letter, before running towards the door- “I have to post this first! I’ll be right back-” and he was out the door without his shoes before Delia could even get a word in edgewise. So much like his father… Delia sighed in melancholy happiness, and grabbed Ash’s shoes on the way out. What a silly kid…
………
Dear Fuji!
Sorry for another letter so soon after the last one, but some really exciting stuff happened! Mom brought me to Professor Oak’s corral, and there were a ton of pokemon there! All the pokemon from his sponsored trainers end up at the lab, alongside his own team from back when he used to travel more. I’ve known dragonite for a long while, but there was a family of eeveelutions that’d moved in near the lab and they ate ice cream with us! It was so much fun!
My grades are much better now!! Well not in math but still. Apparently writing these letters has helped me get better at writing? I think it’s more that you use such big words all the time!
With love,
Ash Ketchum
………
Dear Ash Ketchum,
I don’t mind the frequency of your communications in the slightest. In truth, you remain the only person I consistently communicate with, and my appreciation for your enthusiasm and kindness is fathomless. Additionally, I’m glad your grades are doing better; likely a symptom of practice? I’ve noticed humans tend to have long learning curves, so you still have a fair way to go until you’ve reached what I gather a normal level is. Math and science are also critically important to a well rounded education. Don’t slack.
In regards to your time spent with the pokemon in the corral, if you would bear to answer a curiosity of mind… what are they like? Not in physical description, of course- I believe I have a good understanding of a large portion of what pokemon are, but more in how they’re treated. My experiences suggest… I am simply curious.
Sincerely,
Fuji
………
Dear Fuji,
I went and asked! They’re all happy to be here! I mean, there’s nothing to stop them leaving if they weren’t happy, right? They could just walk off into the forest. Anyways, Professor Oak makes sure to treat them really good! He kept talking about ‘ethical science’ and how it’s his responsibility to take care of any of the pokemon that get brought in for research.
Dragonite is super nice too! He can be scary sometimes because he’s so strong and keeps order in the corral but he’s actually a big softie. He and Professor Oak go back a long time…
Best wishes,
Ash Ketchum
………
Something wasn’t right. He’d been designed to be the greatest, the smartest being- and in that he was starting to see a pattern . There was an incongruity here. The world he’d grown to see as all but absolute was not .
Beyond the lab and binds of glass and wires, the world was different.
Weakly, he shifted in the viscous fluid around him, pressing his fingers up against the glass… wishing, in the dark of night, that he might understand .
Dear Ash Ketchum,
Interesting. That hasn’t been my experience with most pokemon trainers, but It seems that my isolation has played more than one trick on me. I am reassured to know that pokemon are treated well where you live. It sounds almost like a paradise-
He sensed them moments before he heard the door unlatch, and it was all he could do to drop the pen before two men stepped brusquely into the room. “ ... given you enough time. You’re years delayed and over budget again , and you keep delaying to focus on your pet project .”
Dr. Fuji bristled at the suited man’s pointed statement, spinning around to glare- back against his messy desk and the letter . All it would take was one glance… and trapped here, in the tube, he could do nothing as his one lifeline to the world slipped through his grasp. “I was promised, promised Giovanni, that the I would be able to save my daughter-”
“Amber is dead and your incessant desire to clone her is pitiful .” Giovanni pressed forward until Dr. Fuji was leaning backwards awkwardly over the steel desk. “I am not asking that you accelerate the project, I am demanding it… and you know what happens to people who disobey my demands, don’t you?”
Wide eyes. Elevated heart rate. Fear , and desperation- Mewtwo felt it all from where he floated quiescent in the cloning tube. “T-the subject could be damaged if we go any faster! We can’t risk-”
“What is the chance of success?” Giovanni was much harder to read than Dr. Fuji, a morass to his psychic senses. Curiosity laced with gruff annoyance, and perhaps even a mote of genuine concern. He couldn’t tell if it was for him, or for Fuji, or simply self centered, though…
Fuji fidgeted for a moment, almost glancing over the papers on his desk but choosing not to at the last moment. “Seventy percent, I think. Going faster could render the subject brain dead.”
“Do it.”
“...ok.” Giovanni stalked out, leaving Dr. Fuji alone to wander the empty lab until he ultimately came to stand before him. A perfect dichotomy, Mewtwo noted wryly- free and imprisoned. Creator and created… a soft breath, a sigh unheard for its silence but evident in the way the scientist's emotions calmed. “I miss Amber.” He dared not open his eyes and stare into that pitiless gaze, but he felt it , past all his desperation and greed…
Simply, a lack of concern. He’d known this all along, but the way Ash cared put it in such stark relief- Dr. Fuji had only cared about Amber from the start.
How foolish he’d been.
-and I am excited and interested in hearing more stories of your world.
Depending on how the events of the next few weeks play out, I am uncertain as to how often I will be able to respond to your letters. Please keep sending them, though, and don’t worry about me.
Perhaps one day we will be able to see the sun together.
Love,
Fuji
Mewtwo
………
Dear Fuji Mewtwo!!
That must suck, I’m sorry. I don’t think I like the people you’re with very much. They seem mean, like Gary. Except even meaner! I have a lot of stories though if you want to hear about them! Like there was this one time back a few years ago where I was in a summer camp and one of the kids claimed to see Mew! Your new name reminds me of them a little, so I thought it would be a cool story to share… there was another time I was out in the forest and some pidgey…
Love,
Ash Ketchum
……….
Dear Mewtwo,
You wouldn’t believe what happened! I used my letter writing skills to send in a bunch of postcards and I actually won the pokemon league expo hat! It’s the best thing ever! Super comfortable and cool! I wish you could see it…
………
Dear Mewtwo,
Are you okay? I’m worried…
………
Ash sighed as he stuck the stamp to the back of his most recent letter and put it to post. It had been a long time since he’d received a response. Even though Mewtwo had told him not to worry, he couldn’t help but be afraid- hopefully his friend was alright…
It was late, though. He really needed to get to bed- tomorrow was the big day! To get his starter, and to be a pokemon master…
………
Mewtwo opened his eyes to a scene of utter destruction. Months of constant work, of agonizingly rushed chemicals and formulas, a perdition of their construction, and pain . They’d wanted to make a weapon, but they’d lit the fuse and raised a toast to their bomb.
The hellscape around him, oily smoke bleeding into the sky as he dragged himself out into the sunlight- past steel twisted and rent and the plastic burning to nothing- was nothing but their own comeuppance. They should have expected the bomb to blow up in their face. It was their fault … but that didn’t stop him from feeling so subtly undermining a guilt at the scene of such bloodshed.
Suddenly, he wanted to be anywhere but here-
Teleportation took him away in a fold of psychic power, leaving behind only an island burning with the wreckage of lost dreams.
………
Delia startled awake to a crash upstairs, blinking away exhaustion as she stumbled out of bed and into the living room. It was too early for Ash to be making such a ruckus… hadn’t he stayed up late, anyways? How the kid had managed to get up so early was beyond her, but if there was something that could wake her son in the morning, it would be the opportunity to cause trouble.
Sighing, she plodded up to Ash’s room and yanked open the door. “If you’re awake enough to cause trouble, then you can help with-” and froze. Amid a mess of broken wood- that bed had been expensive - and a mess of sheets, a large pink pokemon was holding Ash in midair . “Who are you and what are you doing to my son- ”
“Mom! He’s a friend!” The pokemon nodded sheepishly, slowly lowering Ash to the ground. “He says he’s sorry for causing such a mess. It was an accident!” Delia felt like she was going to have an aneurysm at this rate, because she had no idea what was going on-
Actually? “Both of you are helping with breakfast, and then cleaning up this mess.” Ash’s eyes widened in horror at the mere thought of being late to the professor’s lab, and the… pokemon- she still had no idea what species it was- shifted warily closer to Ash before thinking better beneath her glare.
The voice in her head came as a surprise, though. “ ...I am curious. How does one make a breakfast?” So… talking pokemon. Delia just sighed. Of course Ash would get up to something so crazy.
This was going to be a whole thing, wasn’t it?