I don't own pokémon! Nintendo, Kids WB, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc, do. All I own here is the plot for my fics and the characters for Lupusa, Casey, and Michelle, though, how can you own people? Oh, well…they're mine here.
This is the sequel to "
Friends to the End." (Diving In! …To What?
By Ark9
Chapter One
New, Hidden Territory
Ash looked down at Misty, who was still curled up in his lap. He smiled and then looked over to where Pikachu was laying the night before, but was surprised to find that Pikachu wasn't there.
He shook Misty awake, shouting, "I can't find Pikachu!" He was almost hysterical. That is why he was really shocked when a familiar dizziness suddenly hit his body.
Misty coughed out a black cloud of smoke. "I think that we found him," she stated, bluntly. "What a way to wake up."
"Eh, heh, heh…" Ash laughed nervously. "What were you doing on my head, Pikachu? You aren't a hat! …and you aren't a ditto to transform into one, either!"
Pikachu gave him a quizzical look before replying, "Pikachu chu pika." I like it up there. Then it hopped down and frowned. "Pikapi chuka pi pi chu!" You didn't mind before!
This time Misty broke out laughing. "That is ridiculous! Pikachu is always riding on top of your head, Ash," she continued to laugh.
Ash got a hurt look on his face. "Yeah. Right." He walked out of the cave.
"Wonder what's up with him?" Misty questioned, her smile disappearing from her face.
"Pikachu." I don't know. Pikachu shook his head.
Ash walked a few steps before realizing how stupid he had been. He chuckled under his breath. Silently he let out Charizard and Blastoise.
He looked at Blastoise and pointed to the top of the cave. Then he held up his hand to wait. He got on Charizard's back and whispered its directions in its ear.
He usual smirk was planted on his face as he turned to Blastoise and gave it a thumbs-up.
Blastoise fired its cannons at the top of the cave and Charizard flapped its winds, creating enough wind to freeze the water into a wall. Ash recalled Blastoise and sure enough, Starmie and Staryu came crashing through the ice a few seconds later along with an outraged Misty. Pikachu's laughter could be heard echoing around the cave.
Charizard flew up into the air with Ash still on his back. It flew around in circles, enjoying the attention.
"That was cheap, Ash!" Misty shouted from the ground. "Staryu! Starmie! Team water gun!"
"Ba!" Charizard snorted.
"Haiyaaaa!" Staryu and Starmie chorused and sent out water at Charizard, who continued its loops around the attacks.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh!" Misty shouted in agitation.
"Saiya?" Staryu asked.
"Yee!" Starmie agreed.
Charizard cocked his head to the side and blinked. It made another turn and then lost sight of them.
"Charizard, watch out!" Ash shouted in his ear and tightened his grip on Charizard's neck.
"Sai!" they cried and spun into Charizard's body from opposite sides, pinning its wings against its body.
"Zzzzzoooooooorrrrrrrrr!" Charizard howled as it was forcefully brought down to the ground.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" Ash yelled, his eyes growing wide. He tumbled to the side after Charizard hit the ground.
"Yaa!"
"Yee!"
"Great job!" Misty exclaimed. "Staryu! Starmie! Return! I'm going to get you, Ash Ketchum!"
Pikachu walked out of the cave to see what exactly was going on, just in time to see the red light of Staryu and Starmie disappear into their pokéballs and Misty charge towards where Ash had fallen beside Charizard. That brought out more giggles from Pikachu, who immediately started rolling on its back in a laughing fit.
Misty, on the other hand, was far from laughing. Ash started to pick himself up off of the ground when he looked up and saw Misty.
Did I say his eyes were wide open before? Now they were completely bugged out as he hurriedly tried to run away. However, it was too late as Misty tackled him after a few steps. They rolled a few feet before Misty pinned Ash's shoulders to the ground.
"What do you have to say for yourself, mister?" Misty asked viciously, still breathing hard from before.
Ash grinned. "Absolutely nothing," he said.
Suddenly Misty realized what position he had caused them to land in. She was slightly relieved when her breathing started to even out.
Ash leaned up and gave her a peck on her nose. He smiled even bigger at her startled face.
Misty wrinkled her nose and actually smiled. "Ooooo! Now why can't I get mad at you when you do that?" She rolled her eyes. "You little trickster," she sighed and laid her head down on his chest.
"How long do you think it will take Pikachu to find us out here?" Ash asked slyly. A few seconds of silence passed until…
"Pppiiii-kaaaaa!" Pikachu called.
"Is that your answer?" Misty asked quietly.
"Sh! Not yet…" he replied in a stressed whisper.
Pikachu shouted again a few feet to the side of them, surprised them. Misty shook and was about to scream when Ash quickly covered her mouth.
Pikachu's steps could be heard going away and then stopped. There was a barely audible "chu" of it sighing and then returning. "Pit, pat, pit, pat," the leaves on the ground seemed to whisper.
"Pika!" it shouted excitedly and then started to run up to Ash. Suddenly it stopped and double blinked.
Ash uncovered Misty's mouth and she smiled. "Now is that your answer, Ash?" she laughed and looked up at Ash.
"Yep!" he grinned. "What's the surprised look for, Pikachu?"
Pikachu blinked again and raised its paws and rubbed its eyes. It kept its paws against its cheeks and stared, unbelieving.
Misty sat up and Ash raised himself up on one elbow.
"Oh, come on, Pikachu," Ash said. "You can even be my hat if you want!" he joked.
"Pi?" it asked quietly as it climbed onto his head.
But its question had to be left unexplained and unanswered as a crackling sound announced Charizard's arrival.
"Zzzzzooooorrrrrrrr!" it cried, flamethrowering lots of trees around them, melting the snow as well. Suddenly it swooped down and grabbed Ash and Misty in its small arms.
"Help!" Misty squealed.
Ash wriggled his arms around her. "It's okay," he whispered. "Are you all right, Pikachu?" he asked.
"Pikachu!" it smiled.
Charizard broke out of the cluster of remaining trees and shot a fireball-like attack of ember at the frozen-over ground. It burned through the foot or so of ice and turned into smoke at the metal circle.
Suddenly the metal was hurled aside and an ice beam shot out. Soon the slowbro climbed out along with its trainer, Elite Four member, Lorelei. The purple-haired trainer stood up, smoothed down her navy dress, and then pointed to Charizard, who was flying overhead.
Slowbro sat down and looked up. Its eyes and paws glowed bright blue, causing Charizard to freeze where it was in the air and then lowered it to the ground. Then it let go of its psychic hold on them.
Ash and Misty fell down on their stomachs, Pikachu rolled off of Ash's head, and Charizard caught himself by stamping its foot on the ground. Lorelei and Slowbro stood, unmoved, while the others picked themselves up.
"Whoa!" Ash breathed out.
"Prima!" Misty exclaimed excitedly.
"Cha?" Who? Pikachu asked softly.
"Hm. Some know me as Prima, but my real name is Lorelei. You may know me and the water and ice trainer, Prima," she said, pointing to Misty, "while I have a feeling that you would know me as Elite Four member, Lorelei," she continued and pointed to Ash.
"Ba!" Charizard snorted, flames seeming to appear in its eyes as it recognized the Slowbro from a long time ago.
"Elite Four…Lorelei," Ash looked at her as if he was trying to remember something. "I remember now!" he shouted excitedly. "I wanted to re-challenge you!"
She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
"No? Why not?" Ash asked, clearly disappointed.
"Now that I have resumed my post as on Elite Four member, you have to go through the regular steps before you can challenge me," she said.
"What does that mean?" Ash whined.
"It means that you must go and conquer the four areas of the world," she said, a globe hologram appearing in her hand. "The Pokémon Leagues in Kanto, Johto, and the Orange Islands," she continued, the areas lighting up in turn, "as well as the Cloyster Challenge." An area slightly south of the Orange Islands lit up.
"Hey, that's where I was training before the Pokémon League!" Ash interrupted. Everyone glared at him and he blushed and sweat-dropped. "Oops. Sorry. Go on…" he said in embarrassment.
"After you win in those leagues, you must find all four of us Elite Four members. Your pokédex will give you maps to help you to find us after you win. Can I see your pokédex?" she asked and held out her hand.
"Uh…sure," Ash replied and took it out of his handy pouch and handed to her. "What do you want to do with it?"
"I'm checking your progress. So…you've found Bruno and I. Without maps? That's not supposed to work. I thought we were hidden pretty well…oh, well…and you've beaten the Orange League, Johto League, and the Kanto League as of two days ago…Congratulations!…so…yeah…" she looked up and smiled. "It looks like we may have a challenger soon!"
His eyes lit up. "Really? You think so? What do I have to do after I find all of you?" he asked.
Lorelei started to get excited. "You simply take this to the Pokémon League Headquarters and have it scanned. They will send League kadabras to get all four of us. Then, you will have to battle all four of us in a row. Don't worry. I'll let you battle me first!" she laughed.
"All right!" he exclaimed, bringing his clenched fists towards himself and looked to both of his sides. "Are you guys with me?" he shouted.
"Pika!" it smiled and flashed a peace sign.
"Zzoorrrr!" Charizard roared, sending flames through the air.
"I guess," Misty said, unemotionally.
"Misty!" Ash shouted.
"You know I'll come," she smirked and elbowed him in his ribs.
"Hey! Watch it!" he laughed.
Lorelei smiled at the two, while Pikachu sighed and Charizard rolled his eyes. "Good luck, Ash!" she said. "I'll be waiting!"
"You got it!" he yelled and turned around. "Come on!" He jumped on Charizard's back, Pikachu climbing up on his shoulder again.
Misty shook her head. "I guess he did get a girlfriend to follow him around where he wants, when he wants to go, didn't he?" she laughed. "We'll be back! If I know Ash at all…" she giggled.
"Bye!" Lorelei waved as they flew away in the bright sunlight, as it was a little after noon. She and Slowbro returned to their training area and living quarters underground.