Author's note: Hey, guys and gals!

Here's my new PokéPark fic! It promises slice-of-life shenanigans, but what's this?! It doesn't start in the PokéPark?!

It will certainly get there eventually, but, for now... backstory!

Also, I made a reference to two characters from a fic called Cursed Yoshi! Which is... undoubtedly the most laughably edgy fic I have ever read. XD And it's set in a world full of yoshi. From Mario. Yes, those cute little dinosaurs with saddles. Wielding weapons, competing in death tournaments, living in assassins guilds and turning into psyonics-blasting edgelords.

... I loved every second of that fic for ALL the wrong reasons. XD I just HAD to reference it at least once.

Well, hope you enjoy the chapter! And here's my best mistake of the day!

'... Well, someone had to put on their faces!'

This Pikachu carries faces around on a backpack like the Happy Mask Salesman from Zelda!

He has a face for every occasion! Buy today!

Chapter One: A Friend in Need

The bright afternoon sun shone down on the region of Sinnoh. Standing on all fours, Pikachu grinned happily at his opponent. The piplup was frowning back in concentration.

Behind the penguin stood a boy. A ten-year-old, by the looks of it. He had brown hair and grey eyes. All of his clothing, strangely, was either brown or grey to match.

"Alright, Piplup," the boy called out, "use Bubble!"

Piplup opened his beak and fired a stream of slow-moving bubbles. Beaming in excitement, Pikachu dodged out of the way.

"Again!" the boy cried.

Piplup shot another stream of bubbles, which Pikachu easily dodged. Wow, he loved battling! Whether his opponent was tall or small, strong or not, it was always so much fun!

Dashing forwards, he rammed his head into Piplup with Feint, knocking the penguin back and sending him rolling.

"Piplup! Get up and use Peck!"

Springing back to his feet, Piplup charged forward with his beak glowing.

Laughing in joy, Pikachu dodged out of the way.

"Keep using Peck!"

Piplup lunged from every direction he could, beak first, with Pikachu continually dodging around him.

Still laughing, Pikachu charged up electricity in his cheeks.

"Bubble, quick!"

Piplup fired off another volley of bubbles. Dodging around them, Pikachu released a Thundershock. It fried the penguin, who shrieked in pain and fell over. He didn't get up again.

Pikachu did a victory backflip, then punched the sky in joy.

"Urrrrgh!" the trainer groaned. "Again!" He fell to his knees in frustration.

Blinking, Pikachu lowered his arm, watching the boy in intrigue.

After a pause, the boy looked down at Piplup in disgust. "... I'm never gonna catch anything with you, am I?"

Piplup struggled to sit up, looking annoyed with himself.

"Urgh..." The boy paused again. "I wonder if I can still go back for Turtwig?"

Piplup turned away, looking hurt, but also angry. Almost like he'd expected his trainer to say that.

The boy heaved an aggravated sigh. "Yeah, it's probably gone by now..."

Pikachu blinked again, shocked. The boy wanted to trade in his starter? Just because he hadn't helped him catch any pokémon?

Wow. That... wasn't good.

He looked back and forth between the two angry faces, not liking what he was seeing. He didn't like seeing people angry. Because that meant they weren't happy.

He didn't like it when people weren't happy...

He considered his options.

As the human stood up, he grumpily pulled out a pokéball, still glaring at Piplup. The penguin still wasn't looking at him.

... Well, someone had to put smiles on their faces! If it had to be him, then so be it! Smiling widely, Pikachu stepped forward.

The human looked at him in confusion. "... Huh? What?"

Pikachu pointed to himself, then pointed at the pokéball. The human looked back and forth between him and the pokéball, even more confused.

Even Piplup had turned to look at him now. The penguin looked just as confused.

Pikachu stepped forward some more. He pointed to himself in a more exaggerated manner, then held out his arms, as if for a hug. After holding the pose for a few moments, he pointed at the pokéball again.

"... You... want me to catch you?"

Pikachu nodded.

Piplup's eyes widened in shock.

"... Really? But I didn't even weaken you!"

Pikachu shook his head, still smiling. Holding out his arms to show how unguarded he was, he waited.

"... Well, alright then." Putting away Piplup's pokéball, the human pulled out another one. Pressing the button on it, he enlarged its size. "Go, pokéball!" He threw it at Pikachu.

It soared through the air, smacking Pikachu on the head. As it opened and began to pull him inside, he started to get excited.

Maybe having a trainer would be fun!

Later, Pikachu was let out of his pokéball and presented with a bowl of pellets.

He blinked at it. Well, he'd certainly never eaten these before! It could be fun trying a new diet.

Sitting down by the bowl, he pulled one out and nibbled on it.

Hmm. Well, it wasn't mago berries, but it was alright! He ate a few more.

"... Hey," Piplup said from beside him.

He looked up, beaming. "Oh, hey!" he replied.

Piplup sat down by the second bowl of pellets. "... Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Get yourself caught. I mean, I lost the battle, so..."

"Oh! Right!" Pikachu's smile brightened. "Well, why not, right? It might be fun!"

"Uh... yeah, sure." Piplup grabbed a pellet and ate it. Swallowing, he continued. "Hey. Thanks."

"Hmm?"

"For throwing me a bone, I guess. I'm a really bad battler."

"Aww, no worries! I had fun in our battle! And you looked like you could use a pick-me-up, so hey!"

Piplup heaved a sigh. "Yeah, I guess I did. Marcus might have sent me back or something if you hadn't done that, so... thanks."

"Marcus?" Pikachu glanced briefly at their trainer, who was struggling to open a can of corned beef. "Is that his name?"

"Yeah." Piplup paused. "I've... been trying to catch him a second pokémon for ages now, but I keep losing." Pikachu turned around in time to see the penguin shrug. "He's getting pretty sick of it now."

Pikachu smiled. "Oh, well, don't worry! You've got me on the team now, so it's all good!"

Piplup smiled back at him. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess so!"

A couple of days' travelling later, Marcus was taking a break. As he lay back on the grass, relaxing, Pikachu and Piplup were playing tag.

"Gotcha!" Pikachu called out as he tapped Piplup on the back.

"Argh, dang it!" Piplup replied, not looking annoyed at all as he turned around. "You're too good at this game!"

Pikachu laughed. "Yeah, well, I used to play it all the time back home!"

Piplup huffed amusedly.

Suddenly, Pikachu heard a set of footsteps approach. "Well, if it isn't ol' Mark," a voice said.

Intrigued, he turned to see another young boy standing over Marcus. His messy hair was a dark shade of blue and a cocky light shone out from his brown eyes.

Looking up from where he was lying, arms behind his head, Marcus looked unimpressed. "Oh," he replied. "Hi, Manny..."

Manny looked over at Pikachu and Piplup. He grinned, revealing a set of rather long canines. "Well! Look who finally caught a second pokémon!"

"Shut up."

Manny looked back down at Marcus. "So. Wanna battle?"

Marcus huffed. After a moment, he got to his feet. "Yeah, sure."

Pikachu's eyes lit up. A battle? With another trainer?! Oh, he was excited already! He looked to Piplup, hoping to share in this joy, but Piplup looked less than pleased.

He was about to ask why, but Manny interrupted him.

"Alright, man. How about I go easy on ya and call mine out first?"

Pikachu turned in time to see Marcus huff in response.

"Be my guest," his trainer replied.

Manny grinned, showing off his canines. Pulling out a pokéball and enlarging it, he threw it. "Go, Chimchar!"

The pokéball popped open. In a bright flash of white light, a chimchar materialised on the grass.

"Alright. Go get him, Piplup!"

Begrudgingly, Piplup stepped forward into position. Seeing his new friend's lack of enthusiasm, Pikachu decided to cheer him on.

Piplup looked back at him in appreciation.

"Alright, Marky. Why don't you make the first move?"

"Hmph. Fine. Piplup, use Bubble!"

Piplup opened his beak, releasing a stream of slow-moving bubbles.

"Chimchar, dodge and use Ember!"

Sidestepping the bubbles, Chimchar shot a small blast of fire from his mouth. It hit Piplup smack in the face, causing him to stumble.

Pikachu shouted some encouraging words. Shaking off the attack, Piplup frowned in determination.

Manny grinned. "Now get in close and Scratch!"

Chimchar ran forwards, his hand curled into a claw shape. As he approached, he began to swing at Piplup.

"Piplup, dodge it!"

Piplup jumped to the side to avoid it, but tripped over his own flipper and fell to the floor with a yelp.

Manny cracked up laughing. "Aw, man! Chimchar, Scratch again!"

Spinning on the spot, Chimchar struck out, scratching Piplup across the face. The penguin yelped in pain.

"Piplup! Get up and use Peck!"

Beak glowing white, Piplup jumped to his feet and tried to peck Chimchar.

"Chimchar, dodge!"

Chimchar leapt back, over and over again, to avoid the strikes.

"Urgh!" Marcus yelled in frustration. "Piplup, Bubble!"

Switching attacks, Piplup fired out a stream of bubbles, instead. They smacked Chimchar directly in the face.

Pikachu cheered. Then he stopped when he realised that it had barely affected Chimchar.

Manny laughed again. "Man, your piplup's pathetic! Now, Chimchar, Ember!"

Opening his mouth, Chimchar fired back a blast of embers, which struck Piplup in the face. With a yelp, the penguin fell over.

He stayed down.

Manny grinned, showing off his canines again. Pikachu couldn't help but notice that Chimchar had fangs, too. Huh, like trainer, like pokémon.

"Welp, guess that's one win for me. Time to make it two, eh?"

With a deep groan, Marcus held up a pokéball and recalled Piplup. Pikachu felt bad. Poor Piplup. Well, the penguin had tried his best and he could appreciate that.

He smiled, telling himself that he'd make sure to praise Piplup for his efforts later.

"Alright, Pikachu, you're up."

Nodding, Pikachu jumped in front of Marcus, landing on all fours. He smirked, excited and battle-ready. Opposite him, Chimchar frowned back, looking determined.

Wow, this was his first battle on a trainer's team! He couldn't believe it! It was no longer a solo battle, like it had always been before. Now he was fighting on Piplup's behalf, too! As well as Marcus'! It was a team effort! And, if he won, it would be a team victory!

That just made it more exciting in his eyes.

He couldn't wait to get started!