To the Pharmacy

Though it wasn't the first time he had ever seen the Celadon Department Store, Ash was still taken aback by the size of the place. The building reached into the clouds, the windows shining with the reflected sun, stunning Ash for just a moment. A moment was all it took to keep Ash's thoughts occupied while he was approached by a sales girl holding a bottle up to him.

“Would you like to try a free sample?” she chirped with a big smile.

Ash turned with a soft “hmm?” that the girl took as a sound of acceptance rather than of questioning. In a flash, Ash was surrounded by a cloud of purple smoke. The mist **** its way up his nose and into his lungs, burning as it did so. In between coughs he tried to ask what she just sprayed him with.

“I'm happy you asked! This brand new perfume was made with love in our hearts and on our mind at the Celadon Gym! Though we believe all of our perfumes are special, this one is especially so. Its a secret blend of fragrance with a base of wormadam flower essence imported from the Sinnoh region. Wormadam is unique in that it is the only plant based pokemon that naturally learns 'Attract' as it grows and with that in mind we set forth on making a perfume that would do just-” She was cut off by Ash who squeaked out a “no thanks” as he made his way to the elevator. Thanks to the spray, his head was feeling a little odd. He hopped that getting away from the area would help him feel less strange.

“If you change your mind, you can buy a bottle at the Celadon Gym!” she waved as he and his pokemon disappeared behind closing elevator doors.

“We just got a... bath. What...what happened,” Ash clutched his throat.

After speaking a few more phrases to himself and doing his best to return his voice back to it's proper octave, he found himself unable to make himself sound any deeper. It had been such a strange day and it seemed like it was only getting weirder as it went on.

The doors to the elevator

Hypno smiled hearing the voice that came out of Ashley's mouth. It sounded different than he remembered but still very pretty, not to mention much prettier than the one she was speaking with before. As the doors opened into the pharmacy level, Hypno made a mental note to help remind her to keep taking it, so she doesn't forget.

Shelves segmented the pharmacy into multiple sections, each with numerous health items from humans and pokemon, alike. Ash assumed that the place probably smelled like antiseptic but for the moment, all he could smell was the flowery remains of that spray from downstairs. As they entered, they were greeted by a man at a counter as they entered. The team stepped over where Ash curtsied and introduced himself.

“I really need to talk to her about using that nickname,” Hypno thought.

With a breathy voice, Ash explained what he needed and handed over the script. After a short look around, the pharmacy tech came back with a bottle that looked the same as the one Nurse Joy had. It was when he told them how much it was did Ash realize the problem. He opened his wallet and counted what he had but it wasn't enough to cover the price of the bottle.

“Sorry, I can't afford that. I guess I should go,” Ash said turning to leave.

Hypno was distraught at hearing that they were just going to leave. His Ashley needed her medicine and this human had to understand. With all his might, Hypno climbed up onto the counter, much to the surprise of the pharmacy tech. Once again, Hypno used his hypnosis and put the unsuspecting man into a trance.

“Please, Ashley needs her medicine. She can pay you back later. Right now, she needs your help to be healthy,” Hypno informed him.

“Ashley needs her medicine. She can pay me back. Right now she needs my help to be healthy,” the man repeated back before walking away from the register.

“Ashley? Hypno...stop this!” Ash was shocked to see what his pokemon was doing.

He moved forward to stop Hypno but the pokemon turned the hypnotism back onto him. Ash froze in place, falling back into a trance once more.

“It's okay, I'm just helping.”

“It's okay. You are just helping.”

Hypno was just about to talk about the name situation when is spotted a yellow blur. Pikachu slammed into Hypno, knocking him to the ground. He didn't have time to react before he was slapped by a tail whip, which caused Hypno to spin. Pikachu kept up the **** with a thunder shock and Hypno recoiled from the attack. Hypno knew he couldn't beat pikachu in a battle, he was just too strong. The best he could hope for was to talk reason into him. With everything he had, Hypno held up his arm and moved his pendant. Though he tried to shrug it off, he was soon entranced like everyone else. Hypno took deep breaths until he was finally able to communicate.

“Pikachu...I'm not your enemy...I'm not trying to replace you. Ashley is my trainer as well as yours. She won't abandon you now that I'm back. Please, stop fighting me. I'm just helping our trainer.”

It took Pikachu a few moments to process what he had been told. Once Hypno was sure he wasn't going to get attacked again, he turned his attention back to his trainer.

“I know things haven't been normal but just trust me. You should stop going by Ash and start going by Ashley again.”

“Things haven't been normal. I should trust you. I should stop going by Ash. I should....I should go by...,” Ash's mind fought the new command but Hypno wasn't going to give up.

“It's okay. Your name is Ashley, not Ash,” he pressed.

“My name...My name is...My name is Ashley,” Ashley said, his resistance braking.

“Good. I'm so glad you remember! Now, once we get your medicine, don't forget to take it like you are supposed to. Once we do that we can get you something cute to change into for your date with Gary tonight.”

Ashley's mind swirled, trying to take in that last command. The words tumbled around and around until the pharmacy tech returned, jostling him from the trance. He was handed the bottle he came fore but also several items from around the shop. There were several supplements, all for women to promote a healthy body. Ashley read the instructions and removed one dose of everything. He asked the tech for some water and he was all too happy to help. Once he returned with a bottle of water, he handed it over while Ashley stared at his handful of pills that very much not meant for a guy. His pulse raced as he stood there, thinking about what he was about to do. He knew he shouldn't...that they were going to do weird things to him...In a swift movement, he tossed them into his mouth and chased them with the water.

“Come on guys. Let go get me something...something to get changed into for my...for my...for tonight,” Ashley said, still fighting the last commands.