//------------------------------// // Ch.9 - Unexpected Encounters - Pt.1 // Story: Little Lost Pikachu // by CommanderX5 //------------------------------// Little Lost Pikachu - Chapter 9 - Unexpected Encounters - Pt.1 Pikachu peeked his head out from behind the entrance into the kitchen, his attention fully focused on Nica who was now perched on a soft, cotton-candy colored pillow, which sat upon a chair placed directly in front of the table. He twisted around, hopping in place from the excitement. “Is the pear cake ready?” he questioned as he dashed beside the oven, his speed only rivaled by the party pony herself. “Almost,” Pinkie said before poking the pokemon on her head. “Come on Litten, increase the temperature just a teeny weeny bit? Pretty please!” “On it,” Litten responded before sending small sparks of flames into the oven, careful to avoid the delicious treat baking just inches above. Once the fire was the proper heat, he shot Pikachu a sassy smile. “So, you finally decided to invite this charming Raichu on a date. You sure took your sweet time. I was almost nervous she’d realized she could do better,” he teased, flashing the bumbling pokemon a sly wink. Pikachu blushed as his eyes opened in alarm. “W-what.... That’s not it! I just…” He tapped his forepaws. “I just want to thank her for trying… being a great friend. Yeah! That's it!” “Suuuure. You do just that.” Rolling her eyes, Starlight butted in between the two bickering boys. “Sweets on their own won’t do,” she muttered as she sliced the carrot into tiny fragments with the help of her magic. “Carrot salad and some sugar-free dishes should add some variety.” Litten nodded. “My point exactly.” Pikachu kept gazing at the ponies with a warm smile, grateful for all their help, only to reflexively leap to the side the moment Pinkie’s face appeared out of nowhere next to his belly. One mere blink being enough for the party mare to vanish from his sight. “Did my advice help?” Pinkie whispered, for once being surprisingly quiet. “You have no idea,” Pikachu praised as he patted Pinkie’s muzzle, gifting her with another warm smile and a simple “Thank you.” “You’re very welcome,” Pinkie said before nuzzling Pikachu’s fuzzy side. With a quick flick of her muzzle, she picked him up and tossed him onto her back before heading straight for the guest of honor. Nica’s attention focused on the approaching ponies as she licked her lips in anticipation as saliva started pooling inside her closed mouth. Pinkie’s delicious sweets were always worth the wait. Hours could go by and she wouldn’t even notice as long as a treat was offered in the end. The party pony placed three plushed pillows on the chair at the other side of the table, and then rested Pikachu on them. Litten stepped from Pinkie’s back while balancing the finished product atop his head. He lowered it in front of her and took a few steps backward. He sat at the edge of the table and looked at her eagerly, his tail flapping back and forth sporadically while awaiting her reaction. “Enjoy.” “Thank you,” Nica said, giving the cat-like pokemon a warm smile. “Love the pink apron. You look really cute in it.” “It’s too cute for my taste,” Litten answered in annoyance. “If it was orange or red I wouldn’t mind, but pink… not my style. But alas, it was forced upon me,” he added as he fell back in mock agony. “Pink or not, it still looks lovely.” Nica chuckled before placing the bronze edges of her paws on the counter. Seeing as Pinkie placed two plates on it, she asked, “Can I slice the cake, please?” “Sure, go right ahead,” Pinkie responded with a nod, refusing to tear her gaze away from the tiny decorative slices of pear sprinkled across the cake. Nica raised her tail and carefully pressed into the tasty frosting, gently cutting it into three pieces. She placed two slices of the cake on Pikachu’s plate with an eager grin. “Nica,” Pikachu scolded as he crossed his arms. “Yes?” Pikachu poked his own belly. “I appreciate your generosity… buuut…” “Oh, right!” Nica sheepishly blushed before using her tail to switch the plates. “I know I’m the taller one when it comes to merely size, but you’re always the greater and bigger one in my eyes. Someone so brave and amazing like you deserves the best of the best, and that means an extra slice!” Pikachu blushed, suddenly out of words, which seemed to happen quite often to him lately whenever around his guardian. “My my, such a nice complement.” Litten stated at Pikachu and added, “It would only be polite to return the compliment to this endearing lady.” “S-stop it Nica… you’re the better one,” Pikachu meekly answered. “That’s it?” Litten gasped in disbelief. He approached and hissed into Pikachu’s ear. “Come on, you can do much better than whatever that was.” “I am not,” Nica said with a firm shake of her head. “You’re just saying that to please me.” She took the cake with her paws and bit it, now chewing the sweet concoction as it overwhelmed her taste-buds with pleasure. Her cheeks were now inflated like balloons, shrinking down to their normal size with each gulp. She took a glass of water and greedily drank it before wiping her mouth and sighing in satisfaction. Pikachu whispered back, “I wish I could. While she likes to praise me alot, she actually believes in each and everything she says, wholeheartedly. How am I supposed to beat that when she has such a hard time taking compliments as it is? I think it would be best to just roll with it at this point.” “Hmm, I see. That’s really sad, considering all the great things I’ve heard about her,” Litten said. “No kidding...” “What are you both whispering about?” Nica asked as her plate was left with nothing but a few remaining crumbs. “We were just discussing the upcoming attractions! Trust me, this is going to be an exciting day,” Litten said. Pikachu nodded in agreement. “In that case, I can’t wait,” Nica chanted, jumping up with glee. The cake soon forgotten as she darted after Pikachu towards their next activity, a cheerful smile lighting up her entire face. Nica’s smile was anything but cheerful as she tugged on a long, sturdy rope with her forepaws. A small ditch of mud was settled in between the three pokemon fighting for victory, although not with much enthusiasm. When the CMC agreed to play with them, tug of war wasn’t what either of them had expected. Pikachu pulled the cord on the opposite side as he glanced back with an apologetic expression. Litten was aiding Pikachu, using his four paws for support while pulling the rope with his teeth. All their efforts were futile. Nica smiled sheepishly as she simply held tight, rather than pull due to her weight and size advantage. Her rear legs kept her stable as the two unevolved pokemon were unable to gain any ground. The three fillies observed the spectacle from the side while talking amongst themselves. A bucket of water was resting unused by their sides with a sea of apple trees scattered in the background. “I keep telling you, Raichu is just sooo much cooler than her pre-evolution,” Scootaloo claimed in excitement, flapping her little wings rapidly. “She’s bigger, stronger, and has plenty of cool features. I totally prefer the final evolution over the middle one. I mean, that's why she’s the final one. Save the best for last, ya know?” Nica’s eye twitched. Apple Bloom shook her head. “Ah dunno. Ah still find Pikachu to be way cuter. Nica’s cool and all but Pikachu is just too gosh darn adorable for me.” Scootaloo frowned. “Didn’t you once say how you found Nica to be ‘the cutest ever?’ And wait! Are you just gonna ignore how she saved your life by jumping in a hydra’s maw! How can you turn on her like that?” “Ah’m not turnin’ on her.” Apple Bloom muttered as she continued with less defiance, “Ah know she saved mah life, and Ah’m still very grateful. Ah still think Nica’s very cute… but Ah just find Pikachu to be a bit cuter. There’s nothing wrong with that.” The guilt in her voice nearly knocked Nica over, with blame overpowering any affection for her younger counterpart. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo now looked at Sweetie Belle. Their wide-eyed stares were filled with expectation. Sweetie Belle swiftly observed both pokemon, glancing between them one last time, carefully studying their features. After taking a deep breath, she raised her head proudly and said, “It wasn’t easy, but I made my decision.” “Yes?!” the other CMC asked in unison. Nica noticed Pikachu’s ear flicker. “I think both pokemon definitely excel in terms of cuteness. Pikachu has those adorable pointy ink-tipped ears and tiny little paws, leaving him smaller and a prime size for optimum hugging and snuggling. Nica however is bursting with charm and her endearing toothy smile is to die for, not to mention how soft and comfortable her padded belly is. I could fall asleep atop her! Both pokemon have sweet and wide, puppy-like oval eyes that I could just never say no to.” She gasped for a quick breath before pointing at Nica. “However, while Pikachu doesn’t have many noteworthy features, Nica’s diversity of colors, longer tail and more unique ears make her stand out, making her cooler and more impressive. If I had to choose, I prefer Raichu over Pikachu in terms of appearance. Although her being super kind doesn't hurt as well.” “That’s two to one for Raichu,” Scootaloo declared as she peeked at Apple Bloom with a smug grin. “She has an eye for these kinds of things, considering she stays with Rarity a bunch. Told you Nica was better.” Nica withdrew one forepaw from the rope and massaged her aching forehead, now pulling the rope with only one paw. Even with one limb holding tight, she refused to budge an inch. “Why does everyone keep comparing us?” “Because it’s fun,” Scootaloo said, replying instantly. She flaunted a cheeky smirk while Nica let out an annoyed groan. “She’s got a point, it is kinda fun,” Pikachu butted in as he withdrew one of his paws from the rope and chuckled.” He looked at Nica and shook his head, guessing her train of thought. “And before you ask or worry, no, I don’t mind being number two as long as you’re number one, considering how you’ve earned it time and time again. You don’t need to be so tense.” Nica relaxed her stiff muscles before turning her focus back to the CMCs. “Can… can someone help Pikachu and Litten? This tug of war is anything but fair. I don’t want anyone to feel as if things are unjust.” “On it!” Scootaloo shouted before dashing towards the rope. With the help of her teeth, she gripped the rope and gave a mighty pull with all four legs, her wings buzzing behind her to give an extra boost. Nica’s eyes became wide as the rope flew through her paws. In an instant she grabbed the cable with her own teeth as her four paws sank deep into the muddy soil, leaving a scarred trail across the ground. As she was being pulled towards the mud, she burrowed the yellow, lightning part of her tail into the earth for support, bypassing the weak layers of mire until she felt the hardened crust of the dust and dirt buried beneath. She was resisting defeat with all of her might, displaying a rare side of her competitive nature. Drops of sweat started dripping down her forehead. Pikachu glanced at Scootaloo, who seemed to be bigger, heavier and stronger than his guardian, once again unevening the odds. “Can someone help Nica?” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom shared a quick look before dipping their heads in agreement and grabbing the rope. Apple Bloom assisted Nica, using her strong hind legs after apple bucking and carrying loads of apples on the farm for years. Sweetie Belle did the same for the opposite team, using the strength she acquired after carrying Rarity’s bags on numerous occasions. Calling the fashionista a heavy shopper was both metaphoric and literal after seeing the pounds of merchandise she managed to collect in one afternoon. Sweetie Belle would never be able to shop the same way ever again. The match became a draw as Pikachu clenched down on the fraying rope with his teeth. Both teams were at a stalemate. Sweetie Belle grabbed the rope with her magic before withdrawing her teeth to communicate with Pikachu. “This is getting boring. Pikachu, can’t you use one of your attacks to pull the cord harder?” Pikachu nodded, his tail soon glistening with a metallic, steel gray. He thrusted it into the ground and shifted his position, taking a few backward steps with each pull. Upon noticing it, Nica performed a similar maneuver, increasing its strength more than hundred times. Putting all the power into a single pull of her tail, she flung the entire opposing team into the mud. Biting her bottom lip in guilt, she threw herself forward and intercepted her falling companions, pushing Pikachu, Litten, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in the opposite direction with her tail, only to fall into the mud with an unceremonious splash. As everyone gathered around the mud, Apple Bloom awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck and muttered in confusion, “Does this mean… we lost… or won?” Scootaloo shrugged. “Dunno. She ended up throwing herself in there just to prevent us from getting dirty.” “Let’s agree that you and Nica won, alright?” Sweetie Belle stated, receiving a nod from the entire group. Nica fumbled in the mire and finally made her way up, wiping the copper substance from her eyes and quickly noticing Pikachu and Litten standing at the edge of her enclosure. “Thanks, but you do know you didn't have to take the fall for us. It was only mud,” Pikachu pointed out. Litten shook his head. “Speak for yourself. I’m a fire type, and being doused in water to get rid of a patch of dirt is the last thing I want.” He gave her a grateful smile while shuddering in horror from imagining his dilemma. “Thanks for the save. I owe ya one.” “You’re welcome,” Nica replied as she stepped onto more solid ground, satisfied she could make at least one creature happy. Her attention focused on the levitating bucket of water floating above her. She closed her eyes and spread her forepaws, waiting for the cold water to wash away the stains from her fur. Once wet, she sprinted away from the group and shook herself, causing a rain of dirty water to fly through the air while her fur puffed into an adorable little fluff of orange fur. She chuckled, as did her pokemon friends watching from a splash-safe distance. The CMCs laughed, struggling to stand from the giggles that wracked their bodies.   After a moment of laughing, Sweetie Belle gestured with her hooves. “Don’t worry. We have some combs stashed away in our tree house. Follow us!” Nica simply dipped her head in thanks and trailed after the group, her eyes scanning the surrounding orchard. She glanced at Pikachu hesitantly, only to quickly look away the moment he looked back at her. After a minute of gathering her fleeting courage, she nervously shuffled closer and clutched Pikachu’s left forepaw with her right one, praying he wouldn’t pull away. She stared down at the stray flowers lining the grass to hide her blush while taking two steps for each three of her smaller friend. Much to her relief, Pikachu went along with it without complaint. She bit her tongue to resist squealing in excitement. After a few minutes of trekking deeper into the farm grounds, her attention zeroed in on a charming, little house built into a massive tree, seeing two windows and some blossoms laced among the windowsill. A square balcony with a wooden fence surrounded it. She gently withdrew and walked up the wooden stairs on her rear feet, taking one long step for each gap between landings. Pikachu and Litten climbed up after with quick leaps, running with four paws instead. The moment she arrived inside, she sat next to the group and admired the view overlooking the apple’s property. A big stack of papers lay on a wooden box in the corner of the room, acting as a temporary desk with a ladder nearby the main entrance, most likely leading to the attic. Cups with a few random pencils and crayons were placed haphazardly atop the windowsill. Each window had hoof-made curtains, and each drape was decorated in squares with two different shades of red, resembling one dull and one shiny apple blotted across the fabric. The wall ahead of her was covered by numerous photos of ponies, including one picture of Master Gabriela, a friendly and helpful griffon that she worked with more than once, mainly because of her super soft wing-hugs and her desire to help. Nica approached the ladder and gazed skyward, sensing an aura of depression and loneliness stowed away amongst the wooden boards. The moment she felt a comb brush through her drying fur, she looked at Sweetie Belle and pointed up. “Can you introduce me to your friend up there?” “Friend?” Sweetie asked, a hint of fear showing through. “What are you talking about?” “You don’t know?” Nica’s eyes grew wide as she realized this thing could have been sneaking around these young fillies for months without their knowledge. “Does this mean someone has been hiding in your clubhouse without any of you knowing?” She narrowed her eyes and ran up the ladder, now spotting an extra, but darker and smaller, attic room with plenty of boxes. “I can sense your presence, so please, come out. There’s no use in hiding. I’m sure the CMCs will let you stay here if you just ask them nicely.” Nica’s eyes became wide, as her smile light up the darkened room. “Mimikyu!”