Rivals Chapter 1:

Another Call

After the incident with Giovanni, and after Ash left Kisshu's dimension, life started to go back to normal- except for one thing. Emiko was recovering slower than Pai had predicted. A week after Pikachu's Thunderbolt saved her, she still couldn't teleport, and she also got tired out easily.

Kisshu and the others were really worried about her. This worry only increased when Emiko received a call from Pikachu again.

"I have to go, I promised!" Emiko said.

"But you can't even teleport! How are you going to be any use?" Kisshu asked.

"If they're in trouble, I have to find some way of helping them," Emiko said.

Kisshu sighed, and said, "I'll go instead of you."

"Really?" Emiko asked. "You'd do that?"

"Hai," Kisshu said. "Can you lend me your power to understand Pokémon, though?"

Emiko smiled and said, "Sure." She placed a finger on Kisshu's forehead, and closed her eyes. Kisshu began to glow green, and Emiko finally said, "You should be all set. I'll tell the others where you've gone."

"Thanks," Kisshu said. He kissed Emiko swiftly, and teleported off.

Kisshu landed in a clearing, and found Ash, May, Max and Brock looking glum. "What happened?" he asked.

The group looked up, startled. "Kisshu?" Ash asked. "Where's Emiko?"

"She can't teleport yet," Kisshu said. "She's not recovering as fast as we thought, so I told her I'd come instead."

"Thanks," Ash said.

"What happened?" Kisshu asked again. "You guys don't look very happy."

"Team Rocket got Pikachu again," May explained. "But their balloon got blown away in yesterday's storm, and we can't figure out where they are."

"I'll see what I can find out," Kisshu said. He closed his eyes, and focused on Pikachu. After a minute, he said, "It looks like Pikachu's on some island with Team Rocket. Their balloon is in shreds, so I don't think that they can get off the island. I can teleport there, but I can only teleport two of you. Who's going?"

"I'm going," Ash said.

"Me too," said Brock. "May, Max, stay put."

May and Max sighed, but nodded. Kisshu grabbed Ash and Brock and teleported to the island.

They landed under a large tree, and looked up. Team Rocket was tangled in the ropes from the balloon, but Pikachu was nowhere to be seen. "Oi, what'd you creeps do with Pikachu?" Kisshu called up to them.

"Pikachu got loose and ran off after zapping us again!" Jessie said. "Can you get us down?"

"Why on Earth would I want to do that?" Kisshu asked. "Get down yourselves." He motioned to Ash and Brock, and the boys walked off.

"Any idea where Pikachu might be now?" Ash asked Kisshu.

Kisshu closed his eyes for a minute, then said, "Other side of the island. It's not too far, so let's just walk. I don't want to use up too much energy teleporting."

"Okay," Ash said. He and Brock followed Kisshu as he walked to the far side of the island.

I know, short chapter. I hope the next one will be longer.