Archive of Our Own ^beta

It’s a lazy day at the Cerise Laboratory. Professor Cerise didn’t have a research assignment planned for today, so there’s nowhere to travel. Ash spent the morning catching up on training, and Goh helped analyze some data. Around lunch, the day fell into a lull, and the two research fellows spent some time relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.

Goh talks about some data he’s gathered recently on the mythical Pokémon, Mew, and its whereabouts. Goh’s goal, of course, was to catch one of every Pokémon—including Mew—so he was always on the hunt for new information about Mew sightings.

It’s a pretty intense goal, Ash thinks. Once upon a time, Ash would’ve said he wanted to catch ‘em all, but he gave up on any serious attempt at it a long time ago. It turns out 150 Pokémon is a lot, let alone over 1000, however Goh was determined to see it through.

“So by cross-referencing this weather data collected by the Hoenn Weather Institute with these Psychic-type Energy readings, and comparing it to the times and locations that people online claim to have seen Mew, we can figure out how Mew’s appearance affects the local environment, and predict Mew’s location by observing these changes!”

Ash smiles weakly. “That’s awesome! Science is so amazing!” Ash doesn’t really get it, but it definitely sounds cool.

Ash hates it when his mind wanders while Goh is talking, but that’s what was happening. He was just no good about the technical side of these things: data and sensors and readings. He wished there was a way he could help Goh out without needing to understand all this data. Surely, there was something he heard that could help… Ash thought about it for a moment before remembering something.

“Did you ever check under the truck in Vermilion Harbor?” Ash asks, interrupting his fellow researcher mid sentence.

Goh raises an eyebrow. “…Why would I look under a truck?”

“For Mew, of course! Isn’t Mew supposed to be under the truck or something?” Ash explains with a toothy grin, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Goh just stares at Ash, searching for some sort of indication that this is a joke, or that Ash is messing with him. He can’t find any. That dumb smile of his is entirely earnest. Goh furrows his brow. What on Earth could’ve convinced Ash that Mew lives under a truck? “Why, exactly, do you think Mew is under the truck?”

“So, when I was first journeying through Kanto, after we were done in Vermilion, we left on the St. Anne—”

“The ship that sank!?” Goh wanted to say that was hard to believe, but honestly, it tracks.

“Yeah! Anyway, on that ship we met this guy who had a Water-type Pikachu called Pikablu! It was really cool!” On his shoulder, Pikachu was giving the impression it wasn’t that cool.

“A Water-type Pikachu? Was it a regional variant?” No, that couldn’t be it… If it were a regional variant, surely he’d have heard about it before. Was there some other way to change types? “Was it Terastallization?”

Ash looks a little confused, “Uh, Tera-what?”

“Terastallization.” Goh restates, “It’s a battle technique used in the Paldea region. It makes the Pokémon look… crystalline, I think? Anyway, it lets the Pokémon change type.” Goh’s never been to Paldea—and he’s pretty sure Ash hasn’t either—so he’s never seen Terastallization in person… What are the odds there was a Tera Water Pikachu on the St. Anne?

“Woah! That’s awesome! I’ve never heard of Paldea before, but I’m definitely gonna go there one day!” Ash gushed. Pikachu shares his excitement, before nudging him back on topic. “Oh, right, it wasn’t any of those things. It was actually just a Marill—”

“What do you mean it was just a Marill!? I thought you said it was a Water-type Pikachu?” Goh shouts, exasperated. He lets out a deep sigh and rubs his temples. There’s definitely something wrong with Ash…

“I’d never seen a Marill before, and my Pokédex only had Kanto Pokémon, so I didn’t know! It’s an easy mistake to make!” Ash whines, trying to defend himself.

Goh shakes his head in disbelief. “No, it’s not, Ash…” There’s so much wrong with this, but it also has nothing to do with anything! “You were supposed to be telling me why you think Mew lives under a truck.” Goh presses impatiently.

“I was getting to that!” Ash huffs, “The guy with the Pikablu—Marill, whatever—told me that Mew lives under the truck in Vermilion Harbor! I never got a chance to check, cuz we were kinda busy after the ship sank, but I live in Vermilion now, so we can check!” Sensing that Goh is still skeptical, Ash quickly adds, “You can trust him, he said his uncle works for Silph Co!”

Goh laughs, “Ash, I think that guy was messing with you. He was just making stuff up to sound cool. Mew isn’t under a truck.”

“No way, he was definitely telling the truth!” Ash insists.

“Come on, Ash.” Goh rolls his eyes, “Do you really think that a Legendary Pokémon is just hanging out in Vermilion Harbor?”

“Yes?” Ash shrugs. Goh stares at him for a beat until he continues. “Lugia was in Vermilion Harbor, wasn’t it? I don’t really know why Legendary Pokémon would hang out in the harbor, but it’s happened before. Maybe they like watching the boats?”

“That’s—” completely correct, huh? Lugia was in Vermilion Harbor, wasn’t it? But still, there’s no way Mew is under a truck…

“Come on, Goh. Let’s check under the truck. It’s not like we’re doing anything else today.” Ash got up and dragged Goh out the door, despite his protests. “Think of it this way: either we find Mew, which would be really awesome, or we don’t. We get to take a walk by the harbor either way. No harm in checking!”

Goh sighs as he gets dragged along. Oh well, he could use some fresh air, anyway.

After a few minutes of walking, our two heroes make it to the harbor. The truck in question is a little tricky to find. It’s not actually accessible from the harbor. It’s boxed in with shipping containers, meaning the only way to get to it is by the water.

It’s a pretty normal pickup truck, if not rusty and worn down. If it’s really the same truck Ash was told about on the St. Anne then it’s been here at least a few years, but it looks like it might be a lot older. It’s kinda weird that there’s an abandoned truck in Vermilion Harbor... But that doesn’t mean Mew is living under it.

Goh bends over and peeks below the truck. Nothing. “Looks like you were wrong, Ash… No Mew here!” Goh says. While Goh would love to find Mew, there’s really no point in getting his hopes up over such a silly idea.

Ash chuckles, “No, Goh, you have to use your Pokémon to push the truck!” Ash calls out Lucario and Dragonite, and asks the two of them to push the truck.

Goh just rolls his eyes, “Whatever.” He calls out Cinderace and Inteleon, and asks them to help too. It’s not like this is going to work…

Ash takes out his Rotom Phone and it floats in the air overseeing the truck, recording a video. Goh questions this, but Ash dismisses him. “If we do find Mew, you’re going to want it on video right? Come on, let’s help push too!”

The two trainers and their four Pokémon push the truck as hard as they can, but the truck is barely moving. “I thought this would be easier, cuz the truck has wheels, right?” Ash comments.

“The wheels aren’t turning because the truck is parked!” Goh says with a grunt.

“Oh! I didn’t think about that!” Of course he didn’t…

After putting in way too much effort, the truck has moved all of two inches. Goh is about to call it quits when suddenly they hear a click. A pink light illuminates the underside of the truck, and a small pink feline Pokémon comes floating out.

“Mew!”

“See, I told ya Mew was under the truck!” Ash says with a laugh.

Goh wants to argue something, but he just can’t find the energy. His focus has been stolen entirely by the Legendary Pokémon that just appeared. “Mew, my name is Goh! It’s my goal to catch one of every Pokémon in the world. Including you!” Goh stares down the Legendary, who just floats upside down curiously. There’s no time to hesitate. “Poké Ball! GO!”

The Poké Ball doesn’t even make it halfway to Mew before it becomes enshrouded in a glow of Psychic energy. The Poké Ball shatters, shards of red and white plastic falling harmlessly to the ground. Of course it’s not that easy! Goh opens his mouth to call for Cinderace and Inteleon to attack, but the words die in his throat when he sees Mew rush him.

In this instant, Goh questions how he got here. A Legendary Pokémon is going to punt him into the sea. Maybe he came on too strong? Maybe he shouldn’t have told Mew he wants to catch it… Maybe Mew saw that as an insult? Oh well, it doesn’t matter. If Goh doesn’t die from the impact of Mew barreling into him at subsonic speeds, he’ll definitely die when his body lands in the middle of the ocean. At least he had a pretty good run, you know? He made a few friends, and he even got to see Mew again. It’s such a shame it has to end so soon, though. He’s going to miss Ash and Chloe, and Cinderace, and… All he can do now is close his eyes and brace for impact.

The impact never comes. Hesitantly, Goh opens his eyes. In front of him is a curious cat, mere inches away from his face. He can see each individual strand of pink fur on its body as it stares him down. Judging him. Its brilliant blue eyes feel like they’re piercing right into his soul. (Can Mew do that? Probably…) After what felt like an eternity, but couldn’t have been longer than a couple seconds, the Legendary raises its paw and gives Goh a light tap on the nose. Goh takes a sharp breath and his eyes go wide.

Mew apparently thinks this is hilarious. It starts giggling uncontrollably while rolling backwards in the air—accidentally thwapping Goh’s face with its tail in the process—before unceremoniously teleporting away.

After another moment of stunned shock, Goh cautiously covers his nose with his hand. “What?”

“Goh!” Ash shouts, recovering from his own shock. “Mew booped you! Do you know what that means!?”

Booped? Goh feels a smile creep onto his face that he couldn’t get rid of if he wanted to. “I have no idea!”

“I think it means Mew likes you! That’s so awesome!” Ash rushes Goh and pulls him into an embrace. Lucario, Dragonite, Cinderace, and Inteleon join in too. Goh lets out a sigh of contentment. He may not have caught Mew, but he did get Mew’s approval… At least if Ash is right. Part of him wants to argue, that it can’t possibly mean that, but truthfully Goh wants to believe Mew likes him. Besides, Ash was apparently right about Mew being under the truck, so who is Goh to question Ash’s judgment?

After their impromptu hug, Ash calls his Rotom Phone down from the air and places it back into his pocket. Right, he recorded all that!

“Ash, you need to send me that video right now.” Goh insists.

“Are you sure you want the video?” Ash smirks, “Didn’t you say recording this was stupid because ‘there’s no way Mew is under a truck’?”

Goh gives Ash a hard stare. “I know what I said, but I swear to Arceus if you don’t send me that video—” A ping on his Rotom Phone alerts him that he received a video from Ash. His expression morphs back into a smile. “I can’t believe Mew really was under the truck! The guy with the Marill was telling the truth!”

Ash rolls his eyes. “Of course he was telling the truth!”

“Did he say anything else? About Mew? Are there any other places we should look? If he was right about the truck, he might know some other stuff too!” Goh interrogates.

“Um… Let’s see…” Ash thinks hard, “Nothing else from him, I don’t think…”

“Oh, that’s too bad…”

“But there were some other old rumors I’ve heard that might be helpful.” Ash says, causing Goh to perk up. “There’s a trainer from Cerulean I met once who said he’s seen Mew hang out around Nugget Bridge sometimes… And there was this old man from Viridian who told me something about finding rare Pokémon on the East coast of Cinnabar Island?”

“Awesome! Let’s go, then!” Goh shouts, and runs off excitedly ahead of Ash.

“Wait, where are you going?” Ash chases.

Goh jogs in place, waiting for Ash to catch up with him. “Cerulean City, obviously! We need to check out Nugget Bridge! Come on!”

Ash smiles at Goh’s excitement, “Ah, okay. But there’s one more thing I have to do before we go…”

“What is—”

Ash taps Goh on the nose, “Boop!”, and runs ahead without saying another word.

Goh turns bright red. “You booped me!? Get back here!” Goh yells, and the two trainers chase each other all the way to Cerulean City.