GREETINGS MY FELLOW PIRATES! And welcome to 'Perks of the Smallest', the long awaited companion to 'The Smallest Straw Hat'! If you recall a while, I suggested writing a story where basically filler content for Pika-chan could run and play. So that's exactly what this is!

All the filler in here will range from missed filler episodes to AUs and 'what if' scenarios. Depending on the prompt it may be short or it may be long. Who knows? There really won't be an update schedule for this, since I'm focusing my energy on the main story, but the settings will always stem from places Pika-chan has already been. For example, since we haven't reached Water 7 yet, none of these stories will be set before or after that until the main story reaches it. Get it?

Oh, and obviously, if you have ideas for a filler adventure, please don't hesitate to suggest it! I'll credit you obviously and before you all freak out, yes this is most likely where the 'Pika-chan becomes human' scenario will happen. I just don't know when it will happen yet; just know that it will happen!

Got all that? Okay? Okay. Let's do this!

Prompt: Hobby

Set: After Alabasta

Summary: Pika-chan hates being bored...but Chopper has a solution...

I hate being bored. I hate it with a passion. That's probably because I'm the only crewmember who doesn't have a job. Okay, I'm ship's therapist, but these guys don't need that all the time! In fact, most of my time is spent helping the others with their jobs!

I help Sanji cook, I help Nami watch the log pose, I help Chopper gather and make medicine, I help Usopp build things, I help Zoro and Luffy fight. That's literally all I do; help. Not that they don't appreciate it, but I always feel like a third wheel, because they could easily do their jobs without me.

I want something to do that's only for me to do.

"Hey Pika-chan!" I turn around to see Chopper coming towards me. "I have something for you!"

I tilt my head, "Pika?"

Chopper reaches into his bag, "I remember in the desert how you were having memory problems with your amnesia." He says. "I thought about it, and maybe this can help!" He pulls out a small book with a pencil inside.

I take it with a confused expression; isn't this one of Chopper's medical journals?

"It's an extra medical journal, I thought you could use it." Chopper says.

"Pikachu?" I ask.

"Well, Sanji told me that you sometimes get flashes of your memories when something triggers them, is that right?"

I perk up; Sanji told him that? How did he know? The last time he brought up my memories before coming here was back when we discovered Lost Island. Was I really that obvious about it?

I nod to answer Chopper's question and he points to the journal. "If that's the case, then it might be a good idea to write down what you're remembering." He says. "That way, you'll have all your memories written down and maybe you can find a connection; or you could use it to, you know, vent any strong feelings you have."

I look up at him in surprise; I had never thought about that before! I remember all my mystery words and those flashes I got way back when...maybe if I see them all together on paper I can figure out what they mean! I smile big, "Pikachu!" 'Thanks Chopper! You're the best!'

Chopper starts wiggling, "Complimenting me won't make me happy you bastard!"

I laugh and scurry off, holding the journal tightly. I immediately run to our room, open my new journal, and start writing. I don't want to wait for this.

I start by listing out all my mystery words. Arceus, Dragonite, Kyogre, Mesprit, Wailord, Rayquayza, and so on. After that I try to remember when I remembered those words and why I did.

Let's see...I remembered Kyogre and Wailord when we met Laboon...I remembered Articuno when I was hiking Drum carrying Sanji...I remembered Rayquayza and Zapdos when a storm was happening...what's the connection here?

Do they somehow relate to what was going on at the time? But what would words like Zapdos and Articuno have to do with things like storms and blizzards? I sit for a minute and think of the most common of my mystery words: Arceus. That word has been with me since day one of my amnesia. And I've always said it without hesitation. Why do I keep bringing it up?

I think back to all the phrases I've used that word in, writing them all down as I go. Oh Arceus...For the love of Arceus...what in the name of Arceus...Arceus dammit...

I frown and grit my teeth in thought. It's kinda like I'm referring to something high up. Other people have said phrases like mine before...but what do they say? In fact, I don't always say those phrases with Arceus, now that I think about it. I sometimes replace Arceus with those other mystery words, like Mesprit bless him or holy Heatran. But why would I have so many words referring to something high up?

I decide to come back to that and move on. What else can I write down...oh, how about all those figures I keep seeing?

I turn to blank page and start to draw, feeling that words wouldn't be good enough to show what I'm talking about. I make a bunch of wobbly shapes that somewhat resemble what I see whenever they show up. I also make sure to label the aura colors of those two tall figures I saw back in the desert. One is yellow and blue and the other is red and orange.

After that I decide to write about those brief memory flashes. I write about the Dragonite statue changing, the flash I got when we entered the mirage of Lost Island, and what I felt when I got trapped in the freezer.

I frown as one phrase rings through my mind while I remember. 'Don't take me away! Please!'

My grip tightens on my pencil; I have a really bad feeling that I was taken by force from my home. But then, how did I end up on the Baratie? And why did Sandy and I seem so relieved to see each other?

...Oh yeah...Sandy…

I take a deep breath and turn to a blank page. I have to write about him. Out of everything, Sandy gave me the most clues to my memory. He told me the true name of my species: Pokémon. I'm a Pokémon. We're both Pokémon; he's a Krokorok and I'm a Pikachu, but we're also Pokémon.

I guess Pokémon is just the overall name my kind has, like humans or sea monsters. We have a base species, but tons of subspecies within. But if that's the case...how many of us are there? I have a feeling deep down that the number is pretty big...unless of course something happened.

I shake the negative thoughts away and go back to writing. I swallow and start to write about the forgotten memories of Sandy I recovered. He was my best friend; he taught me Brick Break; we trained and fought together; his Muscle Band belonged to his father before being passed on to him.

I glance over to a spot in the room, where the band is sitting, neatly folded in what I consider my corner of the room. I smile and draw a rough sketch of the band among the words; I wonder if there are other items like that out there that can boost our strength?

I also write down all the moves Sandy used in both our fights; Dragon Claw, Iron Tail, Brick Break, Sand Tomb, Mud Shot and that digging move. Something tugs at the back of my mind; Sandy said he would teach me everything he knew... could he have taught me that digging move? Or can I learn it now? I'll have to check the next time we find land.

Once I'm done, I flip through the journal and read through what I've written. I never knew how much I had actually recovered...and it was all thanks to being on this ship. If I hadn't set sail with Sanji, I never would have remembered as much as I do!

The port hole suddenly opens and Luffy stretches his head down towards me, "C'mon Pika-chan! Food's ready!" He says before stretching back up.

I smile and close my journal, placing it next to my Muscle Band in my corner, feeling lighter than ever before. I never knew how much I needed to get all that stuff off my chest! I'll thank Chopper once we start eating.

I give my journal one last glance before climbing up out of the room; I may be a Mystery Mouse now. But with that journal and this crew, I have a feeling that I'll be back to a Normal Mouse in no time.

I remember someone brought this up a while back. They pointed out that Pika-chan doesn't really have anything to do on the ship other than help others or sit around. So I decided this was the perfect idea to kick this story off with and a good way to help you guys try to figure out what happened to Pika-chan if any of you are already theorizing. X3

And I don't know if Pokémon can write or not, so I'm just assuming they can in their own handwriting. I remember in the PMD series, writing was done through footprint runes so there's that. But honestly, Pokémon are eerily close to humans and I'm pretty sure they know how to read so why shouldn't they know how to write? And that's my logic, ladies and gentlemen.