Chapter 7: Friendship
After Brendan and Tye's escape from the doomed Pokémon Centre, Brendan found himself knocked out from their crash landing by Tye's Skarmory; back into familiar darkness. For Brendan, this wasn't the first time he's been in this state. As before, darkness receded into a memory once again:
April 24, 2008. New York City, New York: Lower Manhattan. Brendan once again found himself in the "dream" world seeing himself and the Pikachu he had saved from the events in Chapter 3.
Nardi...yeah. That's the day... the day we met for the first time. Brendan reflected as he continued to watch the events from his past.
Brendan sat the Pikachu down on the planter curb as he brushed all the dirt off his clothing off from his leap eariler. The Pikachu didn't move as it sat there: saying nothing, looking at the gravel-covered surface. Brendan looked at the Pikachu; examining him closely. A few minor scrapes from the attacking Pokémon, but nothing that seemed to be bothering the little Pokémon. That's the thing: it occurred to Brendan that this Pikachu was awfully small; probably not very well nourished. Probably all alone...
He didn't know what to say to the tiny Pikachu. He didn't seem to show much emotion; the Pikachu just sat there looking away from him. He obviously wasn't sacred: quite a surprise considering how much the poor Pokémon had probably been traumatized through. Brendan sighed and looked around him. People nearby just kept on by: many couples along with their Pokémon close by their side. So many people.. all a part of each others lives. Boys and girls, men and women, Pokémon and Pokémon...all self absorbed in their own little worlds as they seemed to completely ignore both Brendan and the Pikachu. Words finally came to him:
"I know,...it's ok. You don't have to say much. We're both loners here." Brendan said gently as he sat on the small curb next to the Pikachu. He continued:
"We're both looking for a place to be; just "be" just so we can have some sense of normalcy; or whatever society considers that to be these days..."
Brendan stuttered for a moment wondering if the Pikachu even would understand for he's talking about. On the tip of his tongue the words came to him:
"I'd love to help take of you; just to have something I'd never had the chance to have: a friendship."
"...Because neither of us have to fight these battles alone..." Brendan added.
He paused just looking down at the Pikachu who hadn't made any eye contact with him since Brendan had caught the little guy. Finally, a small drop of water and another from the Pikachu. Tears. He was crying as the Pikachu jumped into Brendan arms; grasping him tightly. Brendan embraced him with warm-hearted feelings for him as he too shed a few tears..
It was strange...only a few minutes ago, Brendan was always indifferent to both people and Pokémon, but now this connection was made between them just like that. It was a feeling that Brendan hadn't felt much of: happiness. At least for this moment in time; on that felt like it should last a lifetime, he'd found someone who cared for him; someone he could look after. The Pikachu smiled looking up at Brendan as his feelings of loneliness and insecurity were also trumped by happiness.
Brendan got up holding the Pikachu in arms.
"Okay, buddy. I'll take you home."
"Pika! Pi!" Pikachu favorably replied.
As he began walking he realized:
"Oh!, almost forgot Pikachu. I haven't even told you my name yet." "I'm Brendan Bonasera, 18 years old." "I live alone on 44th and Walker; not too far from here".
The Pikachu nodded.
"Uh, and you're name is.." Brendan wondered for a second. He felt like a nickname is most appropriate than just calling the Pikachu, "Pikachu" It was a very popular trend to nickname Pokémon; people loved to name then anything that sounded cool or trendy.
"Pika!" Pikachu suddenly pointed to a slightly torn advertising poster hanging off a brick wall structure that read in big black script letters: "Ristorante nardi d'italiano"
"..Nardi? Brendan asked. A little puzzled for him to point out something so random. The Pikachu nodded in acknowledgement.
Yeah; ok, Nardi sounds good with me if it's good with you buddy."
"Heh, ok Nardi, let's head home."
"Pik-a! Pikachu!" Nardi smiled as he hugged Brendan closely.
The two began walking by the congested streets of lower Manhattan back to Brendan's apartment as the memory panned out back into darkness.
Fade.
Chapter 8: Coming Soon!