Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Ivy
The dark foggy forest didn’t seem so daunting with Vicky at her side. The blonde kept screaming into the fog and then waiting excitedly like any moment a ’Mimikyu’ would pop out of the fog and they would be best friends forever and ever.
Ivy had to admit to herself that it was actually pretty likely. Vicky just had that kind of energy. Pokemon just seemed to adore her, and she them.
Well her energy and her seemingly endless pockets full of berries.
Although that didn’t make this forest any less creepy.
The sun was nearly down, which wasn’t exactly Ivy’s chosen time to wander around a forest, but Vicky had wanted to do it late at night. ’Better chance to find a cute Mimikyu!’ so she said.
Ivy was mostly just wondering what she would even find in a forest this foggy as they would all be hiding as there was no sunlight left.
And Vicky was being Vicky.
"MIMIKYU! I’M LOOKING FOR A MIMIKYU FRIEND!"
On and on. Eventually even Vicky stopped yelling as much as they wandered around. They weren’t finding much. Most of the pokemon that they got anywhere near fled the moment we approached too close.
While they walked they talked, and things turned to Vicky’s rather disappointing attempt to capture the other random pokemon, Vicky was sure she wanted, but Ivy had never even heard of.
"It’s fine Ivy. Honest." Vicky admitted looking upwards. "I’m just grumpy because my overhyped assumption of this trip ran face first into a mountain. But I’m disappointed, not disheartened! I’ll find some new friends for sure!" She said cheering herself up.
Ivy felt herself smile, at Vicky’s return to form. The girl never let something keep her down for long. They smiled together, sharing a look.
Then, just over Vicky’s shoulder Ivy noticed it. Yellow with a particular set of ears, even if one looked crooked. A familiar silhouette after spending so much time with Ash.
"Oh look a Pikachu!" She said, and instantly there was a reaction.
Vicky jerked towards where she was looking fast as lightning.
Ivy didn’t get it. Vicky didn’t want a Pikachu. She had never shown more than passing interest in them.
Even if this one was acting weird. PIkachu had good ears, it should have definitely heard them, and been watching them but instead it was doing a little hopping dance in the grass as if trying to draw in their attention.
"Mimikyu." Vicky breathed out a sound of shock and awe.
And instantly the forest changed.
Ivy felt it, as something was not right something was suddenly oppressing onto her.
Then the Pikachu that was definitely not a Pikachu turned, its neck snapped creaking at the movement, and Ivy felt her stomach do a flip. Horror at what she had just seen flowing through her This was wrong.
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!
"KuUkukkKu." It… Said? Cried? Growled? Ivy wasn’t sure what to describe the noise. The grinding of souls against each other their cries making a noise to warn away all from the terror in front of them!?
Ivy felt her hands reach for her Pokeballs. Venusaur’s ball firmly in her grip. Something was very wrong!
"V-vicky? I don-don’t think that’s a Pikachu!" She admitted staring into the false eyes on the THING that was masquerading as a Pikachu! Made all the worse because Ivy knew what a pikachu looked like. Knew how they moved, and how they acted, and that thing was wrong on every level.
"Yeah. It’s a Mimikyu. They just pretend to be Pikachu. Hi! My name is Vicky… Do you want to be friends?" Vicky asked, and then as if that triggered something the Mimikyu moved.
"KuUkUuKuKUKuKu!" It called as it rushed them. Ivy saw it all. Dark shadowy claws freed from underneath… Whatever it was. Glowing bright lights appeared not from the head of the creature, but its chest. It’s ’head’ somehow bending back with a crackle of noise that still sounded like breaking bones!
Then it leapt!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEE!" Ivy screamed as she stumbled, back Pokeball instead of throwing in between them instead landing to the side as she jerked at the sudden motion of the pokemon taking to the air.
"Venusaur!" Her partner cried out, but far too late, because a moment later the Mimikyu smashed into Vicky, and Ivy jerked her eyes away, afraid she was about to see her friend’s blood as those dark evil wicked claws hit her.
"Ku!KukuUukuKku!" It made the noise again and Ivy simply pointed for Venusaur but then when her partner didn’t actually do anything Ivy raised her eyes.
Vicky had been knocked onto her butt from the impact, but there was no blood.
Instead those ghastly arms of darkness were wrapped around her almost multiple times clinging around her chest and pinning her arms to her sides, but…
Vicky wasn’t in pain. She was making soothing noises with her mouth.
"Shhh. It’s okay. Shhhh." She whispered aloud.
Venusaur stomped to look full at what was happening but didn’t look worried.
Ivy struggled to keep her eyes locked onto one thing.
What was going on?
"What was going on?"
"Give me a second Ivy. I’ll explain after." Vicky whispered, but never took her eyes off the…
Okay it looked like some kind of doll? It was crinkling and crackling as Vicky gently held the pokemon to her chest, even if that was unneeded because it didn’t look like it was letting go.
Ivy got a chance to really look and she was just confused.
It was a Pikachu doll? Or not? Ivy rose shakily and slumped against Venusaur’s hide.
"Ven." She called quietly, supporting Ivy like always.
"I’m okay Venusaur just… Scared and confused."
Vicky didn’t respond to her though. Instead she continued to be focused on the really scary pokemon attached to her chest.
"Do you want to be friends?"
"KKukuKu?"
"I mean it. I know what Mimikyu are. I know why you wear that costume, but it doesn’t matter to me. You’re special. An amazing pokemon that deserves to have someone care about them just like all the others. So… Mimikyu? Do you want to be friends?"
"KU! Kukukukuu!" It seemed to ramble and Vicky let out such a happy laugh that even Ivy relaxed as she snuggled up to the… It was crying?
"It’s okay, Happy tears are good too." Vicky offered, and shifted freeing her left arm a bit to bring it up and… She rubbed at the pokemons chest?
No Vicky said it was a costume?
"There, no more tears. Let’s be friends… Forever and ever." Vicky offered and that seemed to do the opposite as it caused the pokemon to cry even louder as it tugged her even tighter.
"Hehe! This definitely made up for this entire trip. I’ve honestly had a rotten time you know?" She told the pokemon, smiling brightly as she spoke. "But this? Even if I don’t make any more friends on this entire trip. Meeting you? Was worth it all." She then hugged the pokemon even tighter to her chest and both of them seemed to just luxuriate in the hug.
"I still have no idea what’s going on." Ivy whispered a little annoyed, even if the scene was… A little sweet. She was still a little freaked out by the strangest creepiest pokemon she had ever seen! Some kind of zombie ghost pikachu thing! This was so creepy!
First Phantump, and now Mimikyu! If Ivy hadn’t met Lucario and Riolu, and captured her own Fomantis, she would be running from this region as fast as she could, because this place was creepy.
"Mimikyu, have to hide themselves under a costume." Vicky suddenly explained softly, eyes meeting Ivy’s for just a moment, before returning to her new ’friend’ and smiling. "It’s not their fault. Looking at a Mimikyu straight on causes some reaction with almost everything. Some pokemon and people have heart attacks because of it. Basically their body is super scary. Or they just have some weird ability I’m not actually sure. But… It doesn’t matter because they really just want to be loved. It’s why they dress up as Pikachu. So maybe someone will love them like they’re a pikachu."
Vicky then smiled and stood up "But I don’t care what costume Mimikyu wears, because I don’t love the costume. I love the wonderful pokemon inside it!"
"K—-KUJKUK!UK!UK!UK!UK!" The pokemon started crying… From its chest. No Ivy noticed. There were two little eye holes that the pokemon inside was looking out from, and it was definitely where its eyes were because the streams of tears had caught even Vicky off guard as the girl desperately attempted to comfort her new pokemon. Holding it to her chest and rocking it lightly.
Of course Vicky would capture the weirdest pokemon of all time by loving it even if it’s terrifying. It reminded Ivy of Feebas.
It reminded Ivy that Vicky was the only one that knew how to evolve Feebas into Milotic. The only one that had loved that ugly fish enough to help it evolve into the most beautiful pokemon in the world.
But that was Vicky’s family secret, and she wasn’t going to ever admit to knowing it. Ivy slumped back to the ground against Venusaur and decided to just relax for a bit to stop her heart from beating so hard.
This was just another Vicky adventure.
—---
Mimikyu were even cuter in real life than they had been on a screen. Imagine a sort of derpy stuffed animal, ratty and worn, but desperate to be loved.
I hugged my Mimikyu tighter, swearing I would fill this pokemon with so much love, they would never worry about it again for the rest of their life.
"C’mon Vicky. Why don’t we get out of here? It’s getting cold." Ivy demanded, as the girl sat up from where she had been sitting against Venusaur catching her breath. I sent her an apologetic look.
Ivy had quite a fright. I would have too, if I wasn’t already ready for it. I could feel the mixture of leaves and branches that cracked and tore whenever Mimikyu moved too fast. I would have to get them some better quality stuff soon so their costume didn’t creak so much.
And the shadow arms were just how they interacted with the world. But it must be really scary seeing them flying through the air readying a glomp attack.
"Sure. Let me get out Dragonite?"
"Yeah, this forest is super creepy, I want to get out of here." Ivy said and I smiled. She had put up with enough tonight.
"Come on out Dragonite." I called and she appeared with a quiet yawn as she looked around, once more shivering a bit at the cold fog, but then she looked at me, and her eyes drifted down to see Mimikyu.
"Drag?"
"This is Mimikyu. My new friend!"
"KuKukkukUUKuku." Mimikyu greeted, and Dragonite just stared for a while before slowly nodding.
"Drag." She said bluntly. And then turned to Ivy and offered her arms.
Aww. Ivy rushed over after returning Venusaur and leapt up, and then I walked over and with a bit of work climbed onto her back.
Then we were off, into the sky above the forest and free of the fog. Mimikyu tightened their grip around me at the sudden move, but I was pleased to note they didn’t seem bothered by Dragonite. That was good.
Only a short flight later we landed outside the cave and all of us entered checking to make sure it was still empty, which it was.
"Drag?" Dragonite questioned and she walked over to the fire and held her hands out over it and then looked at me.
"Oh sure, let’s get you warmed up. It’s kinda chilly." I released Arcanine with a bit of trouble. My arms were still wrapped up in Mimikyu hug that had tightened during the flight but had loosened now that we were in the cave.
"Arc. Arcanine?" She questioned, sniffing at Mimikyu who was only slightly turning away from me to see what Arcanine wanted. The sniffing continued and started to dip under Mimikyu’s costume.
Mimikyu of course didn’t like that, and their wooden tail lashed out and bonked her right on the nose.
"Arc!" She yelped in surprise, but not pain I was relieved to note.
But then she got competitive.
"Arc! Arc!" She barked and a moment later I was nearly pulled off my feet as Arcanine reached out and bit down on Mimikyu’s Wood Hammer.
Then she decided that tug of war was the game of the night.
"Kukukuu!" Mimikyu seemed to hiss out, but then I was dragged nearly off my feet as Arcanine decided the game was on.
"Arcanine!" I yelped, but she didn’t care, glaring into the eyes of Mimikyu who was seemingly willing to compete just as much as Mimikyu refused to let go, and so I was dragged around the cave as I couldn’t compete with more than three hundred pounds of world class dog wanting to play.
"Help?" I asked Dragonite who just huffed and ignored my plight as Ivy had instead taken on the job of lighting the fire and was bringing it up.
Ivy also just ignored me.
So I was dragged around the cave desperately fighting to stay on my feet.
—---
It had taken a lot of work to finally get Mimikyu to let go of me, so I could cook dinner, but to my happiness Arcanine’s previous play had actually loosened up Mimikyu and they were currently resting on top of Arcanine’s fur, seemingly quite happy by the warmth.
Although their eyes never left me. And every time I looked I gave them a happy smile which perked them up.
I was gonna fill that pokemon with so much love!
"Thanks Vicky."
"Sure Ivy, it’s the least I can do after tonight." I offered, handing her a bowl of rice with a curry topping that had very little heat but would fill Ivy right up. It was what Chansey was going to eat as well.
Mimikyu had a taste for spice which made me sigh. Why did I have so many spice fiends on my team!?
At least it made it easier to cook. I made a big bunch of food for Arcanine and Mimikyu which was just about finished. I hurried over and pulled it off the fire and put together a plate for Mimikyu.
"Mimikyu? Try this for me. Tell me if you like it okay?" I asked and they hopped off Arcanine and scurried over making me giggle as they zig zagged over and practically crawled up my arm, looking from the food to me, back to the food.
"Hehe! It’s okay, I make sure all my friends get to eat. It’s spicy, so tell me if you like it okay?"
"Kuu… KukKuU!" They responded back as they dug in, their costume basically landing on top of it. I held everything steady as I let Mimikyu eat the food. A moment later they pulled away and the plate was completely sparkling clean.
"K-kukukuukukU!KUkUK!UkuKUKUku!UkUK!" They suddenly burst into speech practically vibrating as their shadow hands slipped out and grabbed into my arm.
"I guess that means you liked it." I confirmed and the Pikachu head flopped up and down in rapid fire, cracking each and every time.
I noticed it made Ivy flinch at the noise.
"I’m glad." I said simply, as I put the plate down and gave Mimikyu a nice big hug. "Want to hang out with me while I feed the rest?" I asked and got another spine crunching head nod. So I just lifted them up to my shoulder and let them get settled in. clinging on with Shadow claw. As I rose up and hummed a song as I got Arcanines meal ready. Mimikyu snuggled up to my cheek the whole time.
—--
After dinner I settled into my sleeping bag with a still clingy Mimikyu to do some settling of everything.
"Okay so. Like I said my name is Vicky. Victoria Ferrous. I’m from Viridian City in the Kanto region which is super far to the south."
"Kukuku?"
"Yeah. I’m here to make new friends. You being the first!" I added unable to resist reaching down to Mimikyu who was settled in my lap to pet up and down their side.
"Kuku!"
"Yeah! It’s amazing. I’m so happy I found you! But I should explain what I am doing, because while I’m happy if you stay with me forever! There are some options you can choose from! Also I have some questions too. So I’m going to do this."
I reached out with both my hands and placed them in front of Mimikyu. "So we are going to play a game of questions so we can get to know each other and we can both be on the same page!"
Mimikyu nodded as they tilted their head a bit at my hands wondering what I was getting at.
Very cute! The costume head tilted with them and it was pretty cute.
The crackling bone snapping sound, not so much, but the uncomfortable feeling was also part of their cute point!
"So first off… Are you a boy or a girl?" I moved my hands showing that left was boy, and right was girl.
"Ku?" Then Mimikyus shadow hand reached out and touched my left.
"A boy! How nice!" I said smiling. "Okay so next question. I’m a pokemon trainer. That means I train pokemon to be as strong as they can and battle them against others. To grow stronger, to protect the things I care about. Sometimes just to get back at people that are mean. I battle for all sorts of reasons. Do you want to be one of my pokemon that battles with me? Or not."
Instantly Mimikyu grabbed onto my right and tugged it up and down. Battling it was, but I had to be sure.
"Are you sure? You’ll still be my friend even if you don’t battle for me! I don’t want you to choo- Okay." I stopped as I was interrupted as Mimikyu practically leapt onto my right hand and jumped up and down. "Alright. Battles it is. In that case! Let’s grab a pokeball. Do you know what a Pokeball is?" I asked, and to my surprise he nodded up and down.
A moment later I pulled out one of my Premier balls and held it between my hands.
"This is a Premier ball. I like them more than the normal ones. So I use them as my special pokeballs. All of my battle pokemon go into Premier balls. So… Mimikyu, will you join me?"
And before I could finish. He pressed himself into the pokeball and he disappeared into light.
The pokeball only rang a single time before locking in.
I felt my smile stretching across my face as I released him and he came out in a cry and then leapt at me a big hug.
"I’m happy for you vicky." Ivy offered although she didn’t sound very happy.
"Thanks Ivy! I’ve wanted to make friends with a Mimikyu forever!" I admitted and Ivy frowned for a second before shrugging.
"You always had weird taste… But I guess now that we aren’t in a foggy forest, he is kinda cute… A little." She admitted. Which she quickly learned was a mistake.
Mimikyu shifted, his neck snapping as he locked onto Ivy who flinched at the sudden attention.
"KuKuKuku!Ku!" He cried out as suddenly he leapt at her. I hummed as I ignored Ivy’s scream as Mimikyu smacked into her chest and wrapped her up in a hug. Her surprised eyes went from him to me.
I just sent her a smile and a thumbs up.
Great job Ivy! Really building up my newest little buddies confidence!
—--
"This time for sure!" I called out the next morning. Hat on head. Mimikyu on my shoulder! Finally a pokemon small and cute enough to carry around! I was always the one carried around by my pokemon! I finally got to enjoy the Pokemon trainer dream! Sure, Mimikyu wasn’t cuddly if you touched him under his costume. He felt more like cold, not quite wet, nothingness as his body wrapped around my hand for instance. When I had cuddled him in the night.
But that was A-okay! Better than any Pikachu! Oh! I couldn’t wait until I ran into Ash again! "Mwahahaha!" I had the best shoulder pokemon now!
"Kukuku?"
"Ah sorry I just laugh at things that amuse me! Also I love that you are here!" I told him earning a wiggling motion that was probably a blush from my newest friend. "Cute!" I proclaimed earning more wiggles.
I continued to ignore the bone cracking noise he made as he shifted.
I set off. Once more for the Goomy pool! I was going to seduce them with berries! I was sure of it!
Mimikyu was my partner today so we could get some more time together, and honestly it was kinda weird having a pokemon so small with me.
I mean, Arcanine was one of my smallest pokemon. And she was a three hundred plus pound dog.
Carrying around Mimikyu who felt almost weightless was so nice!
"Ku-kukuku?"
"So there’s a pool of Goomy that I found. I wanted to offer them all to come with! I think Goomy are great, and I wanted to bring all of them that wanted to come with me back to Kanto. But I scared them. It made me really sad." I trailed off taking comfort in Mimikyu’s presence. I had made a new friend. I could do it again! "But that wasn’t a failure. Not really. You only fail when you give up!" I proclaimed happily Mimikyu raising up his Wood hammer tail alongside me in support.
I love shoulder Pokemon!