Ch. 1 – Atsune's Big Escape
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the pokemon or anything about it. I only own my character Atsune. Please enjoy the story!
(Team Rocket's Underground Base) —
The locked cellar, lit dimly by an over-hanging light, felt unusually cold. Its prisoner, Atsune, stared patiently at the door. Atsune seemed like just a simple girl; about five foot, five inches, long brown hair, and honey-colored eyes. Her plan was perfect, and not something just anyone could accomplish. Again and again she studied it in her mind, checking every possible outcome. She knew her captors well after her three-year imprisonment, and she felt that not even they could hold her back.
For most of the three years Atsune resided in that hell-hole, she hardly ever disobeyed their wishes. They gave her no choice but to play along like a good girl. Because of this, they had gotten lazy and she knew just how to punish them.
As usual, one of the lower-class Grunts came in to give her lunch. Atsune stood, and sauntered towards him to receive the tray. He hesitated, but still came. Before the Grunt could even utter a sound, Atsune lifted the tray and rammed it into his face, rendering him unconscious. Quickly, she dragged him across the hall into a supply closet.
She left soon after wearing the Rocket uniform and cap, leaving the Grunt tied up in nothing but his underwear. Plus, she took his pokemon who usually switched between trainers a lot in order to gain experience. Also, they had to have their pokemon used to taking commands from anyone in uniform. She knew she'd have no problem using them in an emergency.
On a couple occasions, she tried to escape before, or at least she made the Rockets think she tried. On those days, she spent her escape time locating the exits, and getting a mental image of the base's layout. There existed only one exit she could use, and she could only use it by getting as much attention as possible.
She entered a room labeled "Conference", acting like she had run the whole way there. The whole room was filled with the higher ranking executives of this branch of the organization. "What is the meaning of this intrusion!" someone demanded.
Atsune took a moment to play the part of catching her breath, and then said, "The test subject! She's gone!" Within seconds, sirens announced the escape, and Grunts were swarming everywhere. Atsune looked at the man who sat at the front of the conference table. "Shall I check the sewers Sir?"
The man nodded, "Yes, there's a chance she made it down there. Find her and bring her back ALIVE! We cannot afford to lose our most important test subject."
Atsune saluted and rushed out. That was too easy! She thought to herself. She snickered all the way to the sewer. Once she entered though, her cockiness quickly faded. Atsune's five senses were stronger than most ever considered, and her sense of smell gave her a headache. As she waded through the raw sewage, the rank stench filled her nose and mouth and she soon found herself gagging occasionally. The scent made her dizzy.
After what seemed like hours, she finally noticed light up ahead. Reaching it, she stood in the sunlight for the first time in three years. She adjusted her eyes, and gazed upon all the details of everything she saw before her.
(Littleroot Town – Just Outside Birch's lab) —
"Aw, c'mon guys! What's the big secret!" a young trainer questioned his companions. "You know you're itching to tell me, May…" he told a girl at his right.
The girl, May, shook her head. "No, in fact, I can wait. It's your own fault you're so impatient." She stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
Ash turned to the guy on his left, "Brock, can ya just give me a hint?"
Brock shook his head also, "Nope."
Ash leaned forward toward the boy in front of them. "Max, I'll catch you a pokemon if you tell me…"
Max glanced at him and said, "As tempting as the offer sounds, I can't. Especially knowing it's not my place to say and that May would kill me if I told"
Standing up straight, Ash looked at the pokemon riding on his shoulder. "I don't suppose you could tell me, could ya Pikachu?" he asked somberly.
"Pika," was Pikachu's only response.
"Maybe I could get Professor Birch to tell me…" he hoped, walking into the lab.
"SURPRISE!" A group of people yelled all at once making Ash jump.
"Happy Birthday Sweetie!" A woman stepped forward.
"Whoa! Mom, you're here? But…" Ash trailed off, speechless.
Professor Birch stepped forward, accompanied by and older man known as Professor Oak. "I was talking to Professor Oak earlier in the week. He mentioned your Birthday was coming up, so I told him you were coming back soon. We planned this little get-together for you."
Professor Oak smiled, "I just heard it from your mom a couple hours before I even spoke to Professor Birch. She couldn't help but say how much she missed you."
Ash hugged his Mother, and then gazed at everyone. "Thanks everyone. This means a lot."
Another young man came out, running his hand over his black hair. "Hey Ash! I just finished the last touches to the best part of the surprise."
"Tracey! Wait, there's another surprise!" Ash asked eagerly.
The one called Tracey nodded and replied, "Yup! Just c'mon back." He walked off, meaning to lead the way, but Ash surged by him to rush out the back door.
With tables aligned, tablecloths hanging upon them and swaying gently, varieties of food served on platters, decorations, presents, and a cake everything was perfect! But Ash did not notice these things at first glance, though he did notice who stood in the center of it all…
"CHARIZARD!" Ash yelled, rushing forward and hugging the giant fire-dragon. "You're back! So this means you're the strongest Charizard in Charific Valley!"
Charizard threw his head back and released a mighty flame triumphantly, "CHAAAAAAR!"
As far as Ash could tell, this was the best birthday he's ever experienced...
(Forest – Just outside Oldale town) —
Atsune warily walked through the forest. She recognized this place, as if from a dream…
Sure, when she reached the outside, she only appeared at one of those cement drainage ditches, but no place ever made her happier. Now she followed the ditch upstream, knowing her home happened to be very close. "That's the advantage of making a secret base near a small town. There are less people to possibly find you," she muttered to herself.
In a split second, she sensed something and leapt back as a strong wing attack narrowly missed her! Suddenly more wing and tackle attacks flew at her! She couldn't avoid them all, so she was hit many times. The assaulters were none other than a flock of Taillow! That first wing attack their leader, a mighty Swellow, dished out.
She reached for the pokemon she stole, there were only two. "Go!" she yelled, tossing the pokeballs and releasing a Shedinja and a Loudred. "Shedinja! Fury Swipes! Loudred, Supersonic!"
"SHE! DIN! JA!" Shedinja brought down some Taillow, and they lay in a fainted state.
"LOUUUUDRED!" An eerie screech filled the air, and the Taillow grew confused, flying into each other and the trees around them.
Atsune covered her ears, the screech affected her too. "Now Loudred, use Stomp on the ones trying to get up again!"
"Dred!" Loudred cried, jumping up for a mighty Stomp attack. Before he could, Swellow tackled him to the ground. Loudred fainted.
"Loudred, return!" Atsune called, pulling Loudred back into its pokeball. "Shedinja, use—" but she was cut off, for Swellow used wing attack on Shedinja, knocking him out instantly. "Grr…Shedinja, return." Many of the Taillow got up again and hovered at Swellow's side. They stared into each other's eyes, and Atsune knew what to do. "Stop Swellow! For I am Atsune Tamotsu, the one who used to play so happily within this forest. Let me pass. I do not want to harm you or your brethren anymore."
The Swellow's expression changed at the sound of her name. Swellow hovered for a moment, considering the available options, and then cried out, "Swellow!" Instantly the flock left, holding back for the injured.
"You changed since I saw you last…Taillow…" Atsune whispered. Walking along again, she remembered the little Taillow she helped in the forest so long ago. A group of boys were beating it, so she, even being smaller than them, stepped in for the defense of Taillow. For the fortnight that followed, she took very good care of the Taillow until it was healthy enough to join its flock again.
Occasionally she snuck into the forest to play with it. Taillow was the runt of the flock, so none of the other Taillow felt like playing with him. They had become great friends. When Atsune grew old enough to capture Taillow and start her journey, Taillow flew south for the winter with its flock. Thus, she never saw Taillow again…until today.
She smiled as she saw her house just ahead, but she suddenly froze in fear. She knew her parents were gone, so who took care of the house now? Her legs seemed to move on their own, steadily heading toward the house. The house was a little ways from town, so she didn't worry about anyone seeing her. No…did she just see someone in the window?
She couldn't take the suspense, and she ran to the house up the back steps and busted through the door. A woman stood at the stove, a man sitting at the table, and a little girl in the doorway to the next room. They all turned to stare at her.
The man leapt to his feet, "Team Rocket!" He was glaring at Atsune, who forgot she still wore the stolen Rocket uniform. Atsune hardly noticed he pulled out a pokeball. "Go Ivysaur! Vine whip to capture that criminal!"
"Ivysaur!" The pokemon stood in a fighting stance.
"N-No! You got it all wrong!" Atsune cried, but Ivysaur shot out powerful vines. She jumped to the side, but crashed into a refrigerator! That gave Ivysaur the chance to firmly grasp her in its vines.
The little girl cheered, "Yay! Yay! Daddy caught the bad lady!"
The man hushed his daughter, and asked Atsune, "Who are you! And why are you here!"
For a moment Atsune tried to free herself from her bindings, but Atsune knew it was useless. "You have the wrong idea. I am not one of Team Rocket, my name is Atsune Tamotsu." Her name seemed to ring out in the silence.
The woman spoke up, "How do we know you're telling the truth?"
Atsune sighed and stared directly into the Man's face, "I can only hope that you will believe me."
The silence clung all around them, and the little girl looked between her Dad and Atsune. The man stared back at Atsune, "Ivysaur, let our guest go. We shall hear her side of the story." The Ivysaur released Atsune, setting her down gently. "Come, sit Atsune."
Atsune nodded, "Thank you very much." The Man led Atsune to the next room, where they sat among the couches. The mother clung to the little girl, still wary of Atsune. "Well, it began when…" and Atsune confessed her whole story.
When her story finished, she let them roll things around in their head. "I know you still might not fully trust me, but may I take a look at something? I want to see if it's still there." The man, who introduced himself as Claude, glanced at his wife, Susan. Claude faced Atsune and nodded. "Thank you." Atsune got up.
Before she took two steps, the little girl, Abby, asked, "Oooh! Can I see?"
Atsune looked at Abby, "If your parents say it's okay to follow me." Atsune sauntered into the hallway, going to the side of the staircase. The whole family had followed, watching her from a distance. A carved little ridge hid on the corner where the staircase met the back wall. Gently grasping that little ridge, Atsune pulled it back. The trapdoor opened. She crawled in and went down the spiral staircase within. The family followed.
Everything was how she remembered it. Desk, table, chairs, bookshelf, all covered in a thick layer of dust from the years. No books lay on the bookshelf, just six pokeballs and an envelope. Slowly she went forward, ripping open the envelope. It was a letter…from her dad…
Dear Atsune,
If you are reading this, I am probably no longer of this world. When you were captured, I tried to come and get you. As you might know, I only managed to get your prize-fighter. I am so sorry, but there were too many of them, and my pokemon were tired out by the time we were coming to get you. So, I had to leave, planning on coming back again. Just in case you were gone, I called out all of your pokemon and told them they may leave if they wish, just in case you weren't ever to return. I hated having to tell them you were most likely gone, it shattered my heart. But they surprised me. They wouldn't leave, for they had the intention of waiting for you forever. They knew you were still alive, so I knew I should try again to come get you. Before I did, I asked some distant relatives of ours to watch the house if I failed to get you. If you are reading this, the house is yours; I have included my will saying I want it to be yours if you came back. Do not go looking for revenge, for I do not want you to get hurt. We all love you Atsune. Me, your mother, and your brother. Guard yourself, for I hope you live a strong life. You have potential to become a great trainer, but whatever you do, follow your heart.
With Love,
You're Father Richard Tamotsu
When she was done reading, she realized tears streamed down her face. Little arms wrapped around her, and Atsune looked down to see Abby hugging her. "Please don't cry Atsune…" Abby looked up at Atsune, her eyes large and pleading and lower-lip out.
The face made Atsune smile in spite of herself, and Abby smiled too. "Thanks Abby…" Atsune whispered. Abby picked up one pokeball that stood in front of the rest, blew off some dust, and handed it to Atsune. Atsune took it and tossed it to the center of the room. "Go!"
The familiar beam of light shot out, and it formed into…an Absol who sat in the middle of the room. It saw the Rocket outfit and snarled, but stopped when Absol recognized Atsune's face. "Ab…sol?" it cried.
"Yes Absol. It's me…I'm back at last…" Atsune's tears were coming back, but these tears gleamed with her happiness. Atsune kneeled in front of Absol, and the two embraced. "I missed you so much!"
"Ab, Absol!" She cried. Absol suddenly tackled Atsune, and the two began romping and playing together, laughing as they did so long ago.
Atsune rushed to the bookshelf again, grabbing the other pokeballs. She charged back up the stairs and out the front door, followed closely by Absol. "Go! Electabuzz! Golduck! Growlith! Tropius! Hitmonlee!" She called out the different pokemon. They all stood in front of her, getting angry as they noticed the Rocket uniform.
Absol stood in front of Atsune. "Absol! Ab, Absol! Sol Absol Ab Absol Ab!" The others paused, and in an instant, all rushed forward to greet her. Susan managed to get a camera and take a picture of the greeting. Atsune couldn't have ever been happier than she was at that moment.
(Rocket HQ) —
"So she has finally escaped you fools at last…" said a low, dark sounding voice.
A man kneeled before the speaker. "We regret that we have failed you Boss. How shall we bring her back?"
The 'Boss' stood. "Find her, but do nothing. Watch her until her guard is down. Once it is, report to me, I will have a special team ready to retrieve her."
The man stood and saluted, "Yes, Giovanni!"
Giovanni chuckled once the man left, gently stroking the Persian that never left his side. "That girl is no longer ordinary, not after what we did to her. Retrieving her shall prove interesting…" He began to laugh a cold, sinister laugh.
(Birch's lab – the next day) —
Warm morning sun leaked into the room as Ash looked down at the pokeball in his hand. Torkoal agreed to lay low at Oak's place for a while so Charizard could travel with Ash again. He currently carried Pikachu, Charizard, Corphish, Swellow, Sceptile, and Donphan. He just packed up the rest of his supplies when the door opened, and in walked May. "Ash?"
"Oh, Hello May!" he replied.
"Ash…this is hard to say, but I have to tell you…"
Ash stopped and stared at her, "Go on…"
"I've won all those ribbons and I need to make sure I can hold my title next year too. I've heard of someone in Verdanturf town, and he agreed to help me train. I'm sorry, but I have to leave."
Ash was shocked to the point he couldn't respond, so May went on. "I'm sorry it's so sudden. Traveling with you and Brock helped out a lot, and I learned so much that'll help me. I know what I'm doing with my life thanks to you guys. I'd really like to continue journeying with you, but it's for the best I leave to Verdanturf."
There was a moment's silence. "Well May, I can say I'm happy that you're out to fulfill your dream, and I can already tell you'll do great. It's going to feel weird without you around, and I'm going to miss you." Ash sighed.
"Thanks Ash." May hugged him. Ash and May went to the front, where Ash, Brock, Tracey, Ash's Mom, and both Professors saw May and Max off. "Goodbye everyone!" May called out as everyone waved.
"Bye! I hope we see each other again one day!" Max called.
"We will one day!" Ash called.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said, agreeing.
With as much that happened, much more was still to come…
What exactly did happen to Atsune while she was at the Rocket Base? What does Giovanni have planned for the next few chapters? What's to come of Ash and Brock? What happened to Atsune's Parents and Brother? Am I bugging you by asking all the questions only I know the answers to? Lol, Review please!
