Note: I do not own Pokemon, or any of the music played in this story. Copyright is found at the end of the story.
Another Note: Pikachu is referred to as a him in this story not "IT." ENJOY!
A New Face
One day Ash, Misty and Tracey were walking on a path in the forest. They were on their way back to Pallet, after Ash was done battling for experience in a certain area where the toughest trainers were located. Togepy was riding in Misty's pack and Pikachu was on his usual spot on Ash's hat. A cloud was covering the sun and as usual they were totally lost.
"You think he would know his way back to his own hometown." Misty said. The day had started with Ash and Misty arguing and somewhere along the line they had stopped speaking to each other altogether.
"Hey, I don't want to get mixed up in this little 'lovers spat,' I think you two should work it out." Tracey said as he sketched in his notebook. He didn't see the mallet that Misty had pulled out of ...um...the same place Jessie keeps her mallet, and her other random painful items.
"OW!" Tracey complained from his place on the ground. Misty stepped over him and continued walking. Ash had stopped and looked back, but then turned and mumbled something under his breath like, "stupid girl."
"WHAT WAS THAT ASHY BOY?" Misty yelled. Ash was struggling to answer her with something that would keep him from being smacked him with her mallet, when he heard a sound.
"Hey, What was that?" Ash said.
"What was what?" Tracey asked.
"Thought I heard something...There it is again...Don't you hear it?"
They fell silent and listened to the wind. Misty suddenly spoke up, "Hey, I do hear something. It sounds like a cry, maybe it's a Pokemon in trouble." There was a pause.
"That's no Pokemon," Tracey said, "It sounds like a kid."
"How do you tell the difference?" Ash asked.
"I have been around Pokemon a long time, and I know what they sound like, Ash. That sound is defiantly a kid, a boy, between the ages of three to six." Ash and Misty looked at Tracey for a moment and a little sweat drop appeared on their heads. Misty broke the silence "Well, Pokemon or not, he sounds like he is in trouble."
"You're right Misty," Ash agreed. "We need to find him and help him."
"The crying sounds like it's coming from this way" Tracey said pointing off the trail.
"Lets go" Ash said. They broke out into a run and headed toward the noise. Pikachu ran ahead sniffing the ground.
"Pick anything up yet Pikachu?" Ash asked. Pikachu turned around and said "Pika pi, Pikachu pi pika chu pi pikachu."
"Care to translate Ash?" Misty asked.
"He said he smells a person and an Eevee."
"Ok, Pikachu lead the way" Misty encouraged.
"PIKA!" pikachu responded. The trio followed the pikachu until they came upon a small clearing.
In the small clearing sat a young boy between the ages of three to six (who'd of thought?). The boy was wearing jean shorts and a red and black-striped shirt. On his head was an old red cap that he was wearing backwards. He was wearing a small, dark blue backpack on his back. By his side was a little Eevee. The boy was sobbing and the Eevee was trying to comfort him. "Eevee" it cooed softly. The trio came up closer trying to see what exactly was going on.
"Mommy...Daddy...Why did I have to leave you? Why do I have to be alone?" The small boy continued to sob. Our heroes looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. Ash looked at Misty and nodded his head. Misty slowly got up and approached the small boy. At first Misty moved silently across the field, but then she stepped on a small twig. The twig's snap caused the boy to stop sobbing instantly. The Eevee whipped around and let out a defensive cry. "EEVEE!" The boy turned around just as quickly.
"What do you want!" The boy demanded.
Now that Misty could see the small boy's face he looked almost familiar. On the child's tear streaked cheeks were those little zigzags that are found on Ash's face, his eyes were blurry now, but Misty could tell that at most times this boy's chocolate colored eyes would carry a spark of pure happiness. From what she could tell from the few strands of hair that were sticking out from underneath his worn out, red hat, and his hair was a very light brown color almost as light as the boy's skin, which was also a light brown.
You are certainly a polite little thing aren't you? Misty thought to herself. What she said was, "Um... hi, my name is Misty, and I... er...we...uh...my friends and I were wondering if you were ok."
"Misty?" his face softened a bit when he said her name.
"Yes" she replied.
"I... I'm lost. I want to go home but... I can't find my way." The boy sniffled as tears started to form in his eyes.
"Eevee, eevee." The young Eevee added. Misty knelt on the ground so she could see in to the boy's eyes.
"What's your name sweetie?" Misty asked. The boy sniffled as he looked up and said "Jacob, but everyone calls me Jake."
"I like that name." Misty said smiling gently at the boy. "How old are you Jake?"
"I'm 4 and a half." Jake answered. "And this is my Eevee that my daddy gave to me."
"Eevee!" The pokemon cried, happy that they had found someone that might help them.
"So, Jake where are your mommy and daddy?"
"Home," he replied.
"Yes, but where's home Jacob? Where do you live?" The boy paused and looked around as if he was a little confused. "What City?" Misty encouraged.
"I... I live in Pallet town." Jake said.
"Pallet?"
"Yeah, Pallet Town," the boy responded.
"Well then maybe my friend knows you," Misty said hopefully. "Hey, Ash, Tracey come here!"
Ash and Tracey stumbled out of the bushes with Pikachu and Togepy in Ash's arms. Misty reached over and took Togepy from Ash.
"Hey, Ash do you know this boy? He says he is from Pallet." Ash looked at the boy, "Uh... I don't know. What's your name?" Jake looked up shyly and said softly "Jacob."
"Gee, I don't know. I used to know a Jacob back in elementary school, and then there was that one Jacob that lived across the street from Prof. Oak's lab ... oh and then there was that other kid..." Ash trailed off into his own thoughts. Jacob looked confused.
"Jacob, It might help if you gave us your last name too," Tracey spoke up.
"I...I..." Jacob struggled to answer.
"Come on Jake, it's ok," Misty said trying to be encouraging.
"My mommy says that I am not supposed to tell anyone that I don't know, too much information about myself or where I live, so that I can be safe from strangers and people that might want to hurt me." Jacob's little speech sounded as if it had been practiced many times before.
"So you can't tell us your name because you don't want us to hurt you?" Misty questioned. Jacob nodded slowly.
"But Jacob if we are going to help you, I think it would help us if you told us your last name." Tracey said.
"You can tell us Jacob, we won't hurt you." Misty said. Jake looked down at his little sneakers, "I...I... don't...know," he whimpered.
"Come on, you can tell me, I would never hurt anybody." Misty said.
"Well, actually..." Ash started to say.
"Quiet Ash! You're nobody."
"Ouch, that has got to hurt," Tracey commented.
"No, it's not that I think you will hurt me...but... but... but ...but..."
"BUT what!" Ash said with frustration. Jake looked up sadly and said in a voice just above a whisper,
"I...I... don't remember."
Jake's eyes filled with tears again. "I just want to go home," the small boy whispered. There was a long pause of confusion; finally Pikachu broke in. Pikachu jumped down from Ash's hat and scampered over to the child. Pikachu hopped in front of Jake and looked into his eyes as if searching for something. Jake stopped crying and knelt to meet the Pikachu's gaze.
"Pikachu, chu pika pikachu chu pikachu pi chu," Pikachu said. For a moment Jake remained silent then he spoke up, "Pikachu, Pi pikapika pi chu pi kachu pi." Ash's mouth dropped open, "You can speak Pokemon?"
Jake shook his head, "Only Pikachu talk."
"How did you learn to do that Jacob?" Tracey asked obviously interested. Jake responded, "My daddy has a Pikachu, and I learned to talk to it before I learned to talk in English or Japanese."
"You can talk in Japanese too?" Misty asked amazed.
"Well... Yeah, My …Uncle taught me some Japanese before... uh... before he left us."
"Pikachu pi pika pika?" Pikachu asked. Jake knelt down and started a conversation with the electric mouse. The rest of the group looked at each other.
"Misty, Tracey, we need to talk." Ash said. With that the group took a few steps back from the child and pikachu so that they wouldn't be heard.
"What are we going to do with him?" Ash asked.
"I guess we give him to the police," Tracey said.
"Yeah, but where do we find them, we are in the middle of nowhere!" Misty argued. "And," Misty continued "He is really scared, if we gave him to the police then he would just be more frightened."
"We can't keep him, he isn't a Pokemon, we can't just carry him around with us on our travels." Ash argued back at Misty.
"You know Ash for once your right, we can't take him with us through all our adventures... which is why we'll take him HOME!" Misty said happily.
"We don't know where that is though." Tracey said.
"Sure we do, his home is in Pallet! You heard him, he told us." Misty said becoming happier.
"Yeah, but he also said he doesn't remember his last name, If you ask me the kid's a few Magnemites short of an Magneton." This remark came from Ash.
"Here's a question Ash. What kind of things were you capable of thinking when you were four and half!" Misty was obviously getting pretty mad.
"I ... uh... I knew my NAME!"
"Yeah well good for you, did you know anything else?" Ash searched for something to say.
"Look you guys, I think we should decide what we are going to do, not just sit here and argue." Tracey said in hope of returning the peace.
"Look," Misty said, "we are already headed to Pallet anyway, why not take the kid along? He obviously needs help and we can't just leave him out here."
"All right, all right, will take the kid along with us, and then when we get to Pallet will find his parents. Maybe my mom knows them." Ash decided.
"Sounds good to me," Tracey agreed.
"All right, I'll go tell him." Misty said. Misty approached Jake to tell him the news. Jake was finishing his conversation with the electric Pokemon as Misty walked up.
"Hey Jake, what's up?" Misty said calmly.
"Hi Misty," he responded.
"Listen Jacob, My friends and I are on are way to Pallet town right now, and we were wondering if you want to travel with us," Misty said, hope leaking into her voice.
"You mean you would take me home?"
"Yes."
"Back to my mommy?"
"Of course," Misty said smiling.
"Well then I want to go, but...but... would you be there the whole time?"
"Yes, the whole time," Misty responded.
"You would never leave me?"
"Of course not Jacob," Misty said.
Jake got a thoughtful look on his face and looked up with his sparkling eyes. "May I call you mommy?" At the last question Misty was surprised.
"Well, Jake, sweetie I think your mommy might not like you calling me that. Just call me Misty." Misty said as she tried to hide how awkward she felt. Jake looked slightly upset.
"Then may I call you Okaasan?" Misty looked at the boy's young face, confused. "It means Mother In Japanese, but not mother as in my own mother, but as in the mother of another family...at least I think it does." Jake explained.
"Oh, well I guess that would be ok." Misty stated with a smile.
"Then you can call me kodomo," Jake said with glee.
"Kodomo?" Ash asked from his place behind Misty.
"It means child," Misty said answering Ash, "I know a few terms; my mother taught me some when I myself was a small kodomo." Misty said with a smile.
"Well I guess it's settled then. Jacob you're sticking with us," Ash said. Jake nodded and said, "Tracey, you will be ani, ok?" Jake asked. Tracey was confused, "that would mean...?"
"Older brother." Jake answered.
"Oh, ok that's fine with me."
"What about me Jake?" Ash asked. Jake looked at Ash as if he was just realizing he was there.
"Well... I guess you could be tori!" Jake said as he started to laugh.
"Huh?" Ash questioned. Misty thought for a moment and then she started to laugh as well. "Hey! What's so funny!" Ash demanded. In between bursts of laughter Misty stammered out, "It... means...CHICKEN!"
"CHICKEN? Why you little..." Ash looked like he was about to pounce upon Jake.
"Oh come on Ash, I think it's a cute nickname, it fits you perfectly." Misty said, but then she looked at him and started laughing again. A throbbing vein appeared on Ash's head. "This is going to be a loooonng journey." Tracey sighed.
"PIKACHU PI CHUPIKA!" (Translation: And so it begins!)
A New Beginning
After some arguing and yelling the group set forth once again, but this time they were not lost, tired, and yelling at each other; this time they were lost, tired, yelling at each other and they had to watch Jake. When he wasn't racing Eevee, and Pikachu to trees and back, he was asking questions. "How come Togepy gets to get carried by you Okaasan when everyone else has to walk?" Was one of his many questions. "Because, Jake, Togepy is still a little baby and he can't walk very fast." Jake accepted Misty's answers and then would run ahead to race his Eevee.
It was one of those times, on that first day, that Ash noticed the hat on top of Jake's head.
"Jake? Where did you get that hat?" Ash asked.
"This hat? My daddy gave it to me when I turned four. He told me that he had kept it long enough and that it was my turn to take care of it." Jake answered Ash.
"Why do you want to know about an old hat Ash?" Misty asked when Jake was out of hearing reach.
"Well, look at the symbol on back and tell me what it looks like." Misty and Tracey both looked at the faded symbol on the back of Jake's hat.
"I can't tell... What do you see Ash?" Misty asked curiously. Ash slipped his hat off his head and handed it to her.
"Look at that and then at his hat." Misty did as she was told and a few moments later she let out a surprised, "Oh."
"What's going on Misty?" Tracey asked.
"It's the same green symbol on both of their hats. In fact they are almost identical, only Jake's is really faded."
"Your right Misty." Tracey exclaimed.
"Yeah, now give me back my hat," Ash said. Misty handed Ash back his hat.
"How do you think he got a hat just like yours?" Ash shrugged.
"I don't know but they are really rare, maybe his dad was a Pokemon Master!" Ash said getting excited, "And when we get him home, his dad will tell me his Pokemon training secrets!"
"Well, I guess that's possible," Tracey said in deep thought. With new energy Ash ran forward calling out to Jake, "Hey kid! Don't run so fast, you could hurt yourself, and then your parents will kill me!" Misty let out a sigh.
"Well, at least at the pace he is running we might get to a pokemon center tonight, and we won't have to sleep on the ground."
Later that evening we find are heroes still walking, but now Togepy is being carried in Misty's pack because Misty lost the coin toss on who gets to carry Jake. Jake was snoring softly in Misty's arms, muttering words in his sleep. Togepy was obviously upset over his "competition" for his mother.
"Togeprrriiii!" Togepy called out.
"Togepy, settle down." Misty cooed, "You're going to wake up Jacob."
"TOGEPRRRIIII!" Togepy yelled.
"Togepy! What is it? You want to be carried? Is that it?" Togepy nodded. "Ok, Fine. Ash! Carry Togepy."
"WHAT! Why me? It's not my Pokemon." Ash whined.
Misty let out a sigh, "I can't carry both of them, just hold Togepy until we get to the Pokemon center." Ash grumbled, "Why ME!"
Tracey saw the argument coming. "Hey Misty, I can hold Togepy," Tracey offered.
"Thanks Tracey," Misty said. Togepy unhappily went with Tracey,
"TOGEPRRIII!" It called. Jake stirred in Misty's arms.
"Mommy?" Jake muttered.
"I'm right here Jake," Misty said trying to keep him quiet.
"Huh? Oh, it's you Okaasan. I thought you were mommy." Jake's eyes began to water slightly, "I miss my mom." Oh no, not this again, Misty thought to herself.
"Jake don't worry, we are going to get you home really soon; I promise."
"Really?" Jake asked.
"Yes, my little kodomo," Misty said with a smile.
"Hate to break up the moment but look where we are," Tracey said. Ash looked up the same time as Misty did. There at the foot of the hill that they stood atop of, was the pokemon center.
"Yay! We get to sleep in a bed! No sleeping bags tonight!" Misty said with glee. Ash looked equally happy, "All right! Let's GO!" Ash dashed off with Pikachu at his heels. "PIKA!" (Translation: Let's Go!)
Pokemon Center Nights
After a quick check in with Nurse Joy and a brief eating session our heroes went to their room for the night. The room that they all shared had two bunk beds, just enough places to sleep for all of them. After a brief dispute it was decided that Ash and Jake would share a bunk, with Ash and Pikachu on the top. Jake had to sleep on the bottom because of his fear of heights. Misty slept on the bottom of the other bunk with Tracey on the top.
Ash had climbed into bed with barely a word and had fallen asleep within a few seconds. While Tracey was in the bathroom taking a quick shower and getting ready for bed, Jake stood in the middle of the room confused.
"Hey, Jake why don't you get ready for bed?" Misty asked motioning to the lower bunk, which all ready had his sleeping Eevee on it. "Do you have Pajamas?" Misty asked. Getting no response, Misty walked over to Jake's pack and started to sort through it. "Ah, here we go my little kodomo," Misty said handing Jake a small pair of PJ's. Jake took them from her and slowly started to dress. As he was pulling his PJ top over his head Misty noticed a small brown pouch hanging around Jake's neck on a string. "Jake, sweetie, what is that around your neck?" Jake finished pulling his top on and then clutched his chest protectively.
"It's mine," Jake said, "My mommy gave it to me to protect me." Misty looked confused.
"Protect you from what Jake?" she asked.
"From bad people," Jake said sounding annoyed. Misty decided to drop the subject, seeing that it was just making Jake irritated.
"Well time for bed my kodomo," Misty said when she saw that Jake was done getting into his PJ's. Jake nodded but didn't move from his spot in the middle of the room. Misty reached down and scooped Jake up in her arms, "hey sweetie, why do you look so sad?" Misty asked as she walked over to his bunk with him. Jake didn't respond, he just sighed and put his head on her shoulder. "Cheer up Jake," Misty comforted as she pulled the blankets aside and placed Jake down on his bed.
It was a good thing Togepy was already asleep on Misty's bed or the baby Pokemon would have been really jealous. Misty tucked Jake into bed and then said, "May you have sweet dreams my little kodomo." That's when Jake started crying.
"I want my mommy," he sobbed.
"Oh no, Jake, sweetie, don't cry, it will be ok; I promised you," Misty comforted. Then she got an idea, "hey Jake, did your mommy tell you stories before you went to bed?" Misty asked. Jake shook his head.
"No my daddy did. My mommy would sing me to sleep." Oh, just great, Misty thought, I hope he doesn't expect me to...
"Will you sing to me Okaasan?" Jake interrupted her thoughts.
"Well, I can't really sing very well..."
Jake cut her off, "Please, I can't sleep unless someone sings to me like my mommy did." Misty looked into his pleading eyes.
"Well, I guess I could try; but I will only sing if you promise to stop crying."
Jake agreed and Misty knelt down by his bed. Now what should I sing? Misty thought, a bit desperate. Jake saw her face and then said, "Open your heart and then the words will come." Misty looked at Jake wondering if it was really he that had spoken. Instead of giving her a real answer he just nodded his head in encouragement. Misty shut her eyes and found herself reaching back in time, back when her mother would sing to her. With her heart she reached out for the words that had been forgotten so long ago, and then the words took form and she started to sing.
Goodnight, my angel time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away
Goodnight, my angel now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me
Goodnight, my angel now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful you're life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me
Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabies go on and on
They never die
That's how you
And I Will be
Misty looked down at the small child to find him fast asleep with his Eevee. How did I do that? She thought, I thought I had forgotten all those old songs that my mother sang to me… Whatever, she thought as she looked back down at Jake. She then pulled the covers up to Jake's chin and dropped a little kiss on his forehead.
"Sweet dreams, my little kodomo." Misty walked over to her bunk and sat down just as Tracey was coming out of the bathroom.
"Going to bed?" Tracey asked. Misty nodded and then pulled the covers over her carefully, trying not to wake Togepy.
"Good Night, Misty." Tracey said as he climbed up into the top bunk.
"Good night Tracey." Misty responded. With that Misty shut her eyes and drifted off into a fitful sleep.
Sweet Dreams
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Misty found herself in a strange place. The ground seemed to be made out of crystal and as far as she could see into the horizon there was nothing but the crystal like ground. "Where am I?" Misty wondered aloud. Suddenly a mist moved in all around her. She couldn't see anything through the strange fog, not that there was much to see in this strange place.
As she was looking about she noticed a strange figure coming toward her in the fog. "Hello?" Upon hearing Misty's voice the figure stopped. Misty could see little to no detail about this person, except for that it was a women with long hair and she held a strange staff in one hand. "Excuse me," Misty said, "but could you tell me where I am and why I am here?" The woman stood perfectly still, Misty was about to ask again when the woman's voice pierced the silence of the mist.
"The child must be protected," she said. The woman's voice seemed like a whisper inside Misty's mind.
"What? I ... I don't understand." Misty stammered.
"The youth of the future must be protected, the future and present depends on it." Misty stood unsure of what to say, "What youth? What...Child?" Misty said, totally confused.
"The boy must come to peace with his guardian soon, or else the darkness will descend upon this world and all will be lost to the darkness within."
"Who is this boy! Tell me!" Misty demanded.
"The boy is the one whose eyes reflect pure hope and innocence. The one with the old soul and new face." The figure fell silent again.
"That doesn't make sense! If this is so important, then just tell me his name." Misty yelled.
"He holds no name of his ancestors. Only the name given to him by his keepers." Misty felt her mind searching for an answer; she could feel herself coming close to something, and then...MISTY!
Misty sat straight up in her bed. Where am I? She thought. Misty looked around to see herself back in the room she was sharing with Ash, Tracey and Jake. She realized she had never left the room. I was dreaming, it was all just a strange dream, she concluded, but then why did it seem so real. Misty would have continued this conversation with herself but then Ash interrupted her from her thoughts.
"MISTY!" He yelled.
"Ash Ketchum, what are you screaming about at three o'clock in the morning!" Misty heard a loud sigh from Tracey and then Ash started up again.
"What am I screaming about? It might be because YOUR BRAT has woken up the entire Pokemon Center with his constant wailing!"
"What?" Misty got out of bed confused and that is when she became aware of the high-pitched wailing of Jake. "Oh," Misty said in understanding.
"Do something Misty, he has been like that for at least half an hour and the trainers next door are starting to threaten us."
Misty was mad at Ash, but she found her anger being taken over with concern for Jake. I'm losing it, Misty concluded.
"Well ASH why didn't you get out of your bed and do something about it!"
"Because he's not my brat to take care of, and I didn't even want him here in the first place!" Ash yelled, "And if it was up to me we would have handed him over to officer Jenny!" At this point Jake started to wail even louder (if that was possible).
"ASH, just shut up! You are only making things worse."
Tracey couldn't take it anymore he jumped out of bed and slowly walked over to the wailing child.
"Come on Jake, what's wrong?" Tracey leaned over to try and comfort the young boy. Jake stopped his wailing long enough to whisper to Tracey a single word. Tracey stood up from the sniffling boy and looked directly at Misty.
"He says 'Okaasan,' I think he wants you Misty." Misty sighed and murmured a thanks to Tracey. "Yeah well when I wake up tomorrow, do not remind me of this because I am really tired and to be reminded of it might make me kill someone," Tracey grumbled; with that Tracey went back to bed.
Misty sighed and walked over to Jake's bed. "Hey, buddy what's wrong with you?" Jake started to sob again.
"I want my mommy!" Misty sighed again and kneeled down next to the boy's bed.
"Jake, I told you before, we are taking you home right now and you will see your mommy soon."
"No I won't, she's gone, and I don't wanna be here anymore," Jake sobbed.
"Why not Jake?" Misty asked.
"Because, he doesn't like me," Jake said sobbing harder.
"Who doesn't like you?" Misty asked.
"Ash! He hates me; he wants me to go away. I want to go away, but I can't because I don't know where my home is." Jake cried as he pulled his Eevee closer to him. The Eevee let himself be held as he tried to comfort his young master.
"Nobody hates you. Now come on let's get you back to sleep." Misty said as she pulled the covers up to his chin and tried to tuck him in.
"NO!" Misty jumped back, surprised at the response she had received from the child.
"Wh-what?" Misty stammered.
"I don't want to go back to sleep, the darkness is there waiting for me."
"What darkness?" Misty asked. That's when Misty remembered the strange woman's words, the darkness will descend upon this world and all will be lost to the darkness within. Misty shook her head, that's impossible, she thought, it was just a dream.
"The dark dreams that won't go away." Misty looked slightly relieved.
"My poor little kodomo, it was just a dream and dreams can't hurt you." Jake snuggled closer to Misty, "well, I... I guess it was just a dream, but it felt like everything was happening again, and I lost my way all over again." Misty let out a sigh.
"Jake, it's really late and I am really tired so how about you go back to bed," Misty suggested as she pulled Jake's covers up to his chin once again.
"I can't sleep, I need someone to sing me to sleep," Jake whimpered.
"Again!" Jake nodded, "when you sing it makes me forget and I don't think about Ash not liking me, and I forget about my mommy not being here." Misty sighed again, "Kid, for one so young you certainly can form some complex thoughts."
"My mommy always said to speak with your heart and soul not just with what's up here," Jake said, tapping his head. There was a moment of silence and then the young boy said, "I wish Ash liked me."
"Don't worry about that old Tori, we don't need him. I can take care of you all by myself." Jake looked up, "Thank You, Okaasan."
"Anytime. Now settle down and I'll see about singing for you," Misty said as she tucked Jake in. She looked into the boy's eyes and she knew almost right away what to sing. "I know the perfect song my little kodomo," Misty whispered. For a second time Misty opened her heart and sang a gentle melody for the child who had become so close to her heart.
Wherever you are tonight
I'll see you in my dreams
Wherever I go tomorrow
You'll be here next to me.
And though we are a world apart
I know you'll never be that far.
Because here in my heart there's a picture of us
Together forever, un-faded and unbroken
Wherever you are, your love covers me
Forever more you'll be here in my heart.
Whenever I miss, miss you so much
It's more than I can bear
Now I won't cry
I'll just close my eyes and know
You'll be there.
Another song from my past, Misty thought, what kind of key does this boy hold that makes me unlock these memories from my past? With a sigh Misty leaned down and brushed the boy's forehead with a motherly kiss. I am going through the exact same routine my mom used to go through when she put me to bed, Misty thought. She stood up and headed back to bed when she heard a noise. She spun around to find Ash sitting up and looking at her.
"How long have you been awake!" Misty demanded.
"I don't hate him, I just... just..."
"Are a complete moron?" Misty broke in. Ash sighed and then said, "No, it's just that, well I don't have any brothers or sisters and I don't know what to do for a crying kid." Misty nodded in response. "By the way Misty, nice song."
"Oh, shut up Ash," Misty grumbled. With that Misty went back to her bed where her jealous Togepy sat, "Togepy, go back to sleep," Misty said. Misty climbed under the blankets but found herself lost in deep thought. She fell into a fitful sleep for the rest of the night.
Pokemon Center Mornings
"NNNNOOOOOOOOOO!" a scream pierced the early morning silence. Misty was up with a jolt. " MOOOMMMMYYY!" Not again, Misty thought. She jumped out of bed and stumbled over a panicking Eevee.
"EEVEE!" It yelled.
"Calm down Eevee, I'll take care of him." Misty said with a sigh. Pikachu was also up and pulling frantically at her leg, "pi pika, pi chu!" it said. "If you're telling me that I need to calm Jake down, I figured that out already!" Misty yelled through the shrieks of the small child.
"Misty? Is he at it again?" Tracey asked from his top bunk. Misty just groaned and asked Tracey what the time was. "It's 6:00; are you going to stay up or are you going back to sleep after you get him quieted down?" Misty shrugged and then walked over to Jake's bunk.
"Jake, calm down. I'm right here." Jake looked up with big watery eyes,
"Okaasan, I'm scared, and I can't remember." Misty looked at Jake curiously,
"What are you talking about? Remember what?" Jake just sniffled.
"I don't want anymore bad dreams about stuff I can't remember good." Misty sat down on the edge of the bunk, still very confused.
Then Misty got an idea, "Jake, why don't you tell me what your dream was about. Sometimes it helps to talk about what is bothering you." Jake just sat looking sad, "I want to but I just can't remember." Misty let out a sigh. This kid is impossible, she thought.
"Well, as long as you're awake, you can come with me to go get breakfast," Misty suggested.
"Ok, Okaasan I'll go with you," Jake said, suddenly cheering up.
"Good, now get dressed and I'll be with you in a minute." Misty said as she walked into the bathroom so she could change.
When Misty came out, she found Jake wearing a dark green shirt with overalls.
"Oh, how cute! You look adorable in those overalls!"
Jake blushed, "my mom makes me wear them."
Misty smiled, "Your mom has really good taste." Jake just blushed a deeper shade of red.
"Well, come on my little kodomo; we have to get breakfast." Jake rushed over to her with a huge smile on his face and his Eevee right on his heels, "Eevee can come too, right?" Jake asked. Misty nodded her head.
"What about Tori and Ani?" He asked.
"Those two won't be up for at least another hour," Misty said as she opened the door to the room they were staying in.
Jake smiled and rushed out the door ahead of Misty, "Come on Okaasan! I'm hungry!" Misty sighed, he probably got less sleep then all off us, and yet he is still up and running around. Jake called to Misty from the end of the hallway, "Hurry! Are you really that slow? You're moving like an old person! Are you tired? What's wrong? I want to go now, come on Okaasan!" Misty stood looking at the small child in disbelief as he continued to fire questions and remarks at her. She grumbled and quickened her pace. I think I should start teaching him some manners before his mouth gets him in trouble.
"Okaasan! Eevee says he wants hot cakes!" Misty sighed and continued down the hall, This is going to be a LONG morning.
On the Road Again
After a morning of breakfast and continuous questions from Jake, our heroes headed out on the trail again; actually it was a non-existent short cut through the woods. To the surprise of Tracey and Pikachu, Ash and Misty weren't arguing. It might have been because they had not gotten their usual amount of sleep, or perhaps it was because Misty was too busy to pick a fight with Ash. With Togepy and Jake both relying on her to protect them, Misty was just a little paranoid.
"Jake? Jake! Where in the world are you?" Misty seemed to say every few minutes. Jake was a very energetic young boy and he seemed to be always wandering off to look at something new, under a rock, in a bush, or in a stream. The kid was into everything and he never stopped asking questions. Fortunately, Misty seemed to be handling it quite well.
"Jake! There you are! How many times do I have to tell you to stay where I can see you!" in other words Misty was worried she was going to go crazy.
"Sorry Okaasan! I thought I saw a bug Pokemon in that bush," Jake once replied. Misty's natural reply to this was to give Jake a little speech about how viscous and dangerous bug Pokemon are. Oh, brother, Ash thought, by the time we get him back home he is going to be one confused kid. Ash didn't bother with telling Jake the truth about bug Pokemon; he just didn't see a point in it.
After walking around the forest for a while the group decided to take a rest in an open field. The tired Pokemon and Pokemon trainers had all settled down for a lunch break while Jake and Eevee played in a nearby stream. Tracey was about to pass around lunch when an explosion was heard. The group whirled around and...
Prepare for trouble!
And make it double!
To protect the world from devastation...
To unite all peoples within are nation...
To denounce the evils of truth and love...
To extend our reach to the stars above...
JESSIE!
JAMES!
Team Rocket Blast off at the speed of light...
Surrender now or prepare to fight!
Meowth! That's right!
More explosives went off in the background. When the smoke cleared the group could see the two members of Team Rocket and their balloon right behind them.
"Not this again, don't you guys ever give up?" Ash asked.
"We are here for the Pikachu. Now hand him over," Jessie said.
"Not in a million years! Pikachu GO!" Ash commanded.
"PI!" Pikachu cried as it jumped forward.
"Arbok GO!"
"Wheezing GO!" Both members of Team Rocket said simultaneously.
"PIKACHU THUNDER!" Ash yelled. Pikachu's attack blasted towards Team Rocket as lightning bolts seemed to dance across the clouds. The lightning attack hit them head on and sent Team Rocket and their Pokemon hurdling into their balloon. Then the balloon broke and they were blown away shouting, "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
"Well, that didn't take as long as usual," Tracey said. Misty sighed as Ash congratulated Pikachu. That's when Misty remembered something very important.
"Where's Jake?"
Tracey looked around, "wasn't he just..." Misty interrupted him,
"He was in the stream right over..." Misty's sentence trailed off as she pointed in the direction where Team Rocket had stood, "the stream was be-behind their balloon he was playing in...he...he...Oh, no. HE'S GONE!"
"WE LOST HIM! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT ASH!" Ash looked up surprised,
"My fault? Why is it my fault!" Misty had started to run towered the stream.
"I was already watching Togepy! You should have been watching Jake!" Misty called over her shoulder.
"Misty, you're the one who forgot about him when Team Rocket showed up." Ash yelled back.
"You guys! Both of you, quit it! The important thing is that we find him before he wanders off too far." This idea obviously came from Tracey, "besides his Pokemon is gone too, so it must have gone with him, wherever he is, he should be well protected."
As soon as these words tumbled out of Tracey's mouth, a very confused Eevee stumbled out of a bush that sat on the stream's edge. "Eevee?" it asked. Misty ran to the small creature.
"Eevee! Where's Jake? Is he there?" Misty asked a bit frantic. The Eevee shook his head and looked worried, "Eevee...eevee?" Pikachu scampered over to the confused Eevee.
"PIKA, pikachu pipika pi chu. Pikachu pika pi chu pipika pi chu!" Pikachu said. The Eevee answered sounding worried. As Pikachu listened, the electric mouse became more and more distressed looking.
"This doesn't look good," Tracey said. Then Pikachu spun around and started to speak quickly to Ash, "PIKAPI, pikachupipikachuchupikachupichuPIKACHU!" Pikachu rambled on.
"Pikachu, slow down! I can't understand you when you talk so fast!" Ash yelled. Pikachu started over slowly, "PIKAPI, Pikachu pi pikachu chu pikachupi chu PIKACHU!" Pikachu said.
"Well, Ash, What did he say?" Misty asked.
"Uh, well I'm not totally sure, but he said something like: When the bombs went off Jake got scared and he tried to get to us, but he bumped into the balloon's basket. He hid in it and then, well I guess Team Rocket blasted off again." The group was silent for a moment.
"WHAT!" Misty yelled, "Are you telling me that Jake was in the balloon when it took off?" Ash stammered, "We-well, yeah kind of." Misty let out a wail of frustration,
"No! No! No! No! This can't be happening! We have to find him, what if he is hurt or scared, and if he isn't, then Team Rocket has him. We have to get him back."
"Misty, calm down! We'll find him, just calm down." Tracey interrupted her hysteria. Misty took a deep breath, "Ok, yeah, if we all just calm down and think then I am sure everything well be fine." The group nodded to each other.
"Ok, I have an idea," Tracey said. "Go Marril!" Tracey threw out a poke ball and Marril appeared. "Marril!" it chirped. "Ok Marril, listen for Team Rocket, Jake is with them." Marril nodded and perked up his ears to listen for Team Rocket, the people that you would usually want to avoid, and they were looking for them because they had something very important, they had Jacob.
The Captive
"James? Jessie? Where did you guys go?" the cat-like pokemon asked from his position on a tree branch.
"Where up here Meowth," a familiar voice said. Meowth looked up and saw James on a tree branch farther up than his. Beside James was Jessie and beyond the two Team Rocket members was their deflated balloon, hanging in the very top branches of the tree. They had all fallen there when they had blasted off.
Jessie was the first to stand up on her branch. "We'll get that Pikachu next time," Jessie said.
"Yeah," James agreed, "I'm hungry," James continued. Jessie and Meowth fell over (Anime Style ;).
"Stop thinking about food! We get the balloon down, then we eat." Meowth said. Jessie and James nodded. Team Rocket proceeded to get their balloon down from the top of the tree.
"OK, on THREE. ONE ... TWO ... THREE!" At the end of the count down Team Rocket heaved their weight on a pole that was against their balloon. When three was heard the withered balloon and basket went tumbling down from the top of the tree. It hit the ground with a loud thud. For a moment the only sound was the branches of the tree finally settling. Then a piercing sound broke the regular noises of the forest into a million pieces and it seemed to shatter Team Rocket's eardrums.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The constant screaming came from the basket of the air balloon.
"Did we hurt the basket?" James asked covering his ears.
"Don't be dumb!" Meowth yelled.
"Whatever it is, it's loud," Jessie shouted over the wailing. Team Rocket looked at each other and then Jessie nodded to James. Jessie stepped forward towards the balloon followed by the rest of her team.
When Jessie was close enough to touch it, she snuck up and grabbed the basket by the edge. She looked at James and whispered, "On the count of three, we tip it." James nodded.
"One ... two ...THREE!" she shouted. Team Rocket tipped the basket over and the screaming stopped as a small boy tumbled out, backpack and all. He rolled a few feet before coming to a complete stop right in front of Team Rocket. He sniffled and looked up to see Team Rocket looking at him in confusion. He looked around to see where he was, and when he didn't recognize anything he began to wail.
"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH," Jake started up again. When he wailed it seemed that the ground shook and the wind howled.
"Make him stop, Jessie!" James wailed. Jessie stepped forward, "All right, that's enough out of you! Now tell us where you came from and how did you get in the balloon," Jessie demanded.
"I don't know! I-I was playing and then there was dirt flying and explosions!" he began to cry more. "I wanted to hide and then I was flying in the air in this basket an-and ... I want to go back!" Jake cried louder.
"Listen to my question! Why were you out in the middle of the woods by yourself!" Jake stopped crying.
"I wasn't by myself, I was with Okaasan, Ash and Tracey."
"But I thought there were only three twerps," James questioned.
"Hey guys come here," Meowth said. Team Rocket huddled together. "The little kid's part of the twerp's group," Meowth stated.
"Since when?" James asked.
"It doesn't matter, all that matters is dat we can use this to our advantage," Meowth continued, "I have got a GREAT plan to capture Pikachu."
"What is it Meowth?" Jessie asked.
"Listen up, we keep this little kid with us for now, and then we tell those other twerps that they can't have him till they hand Pikachu over to us," Meowth said mischievously.
"We can put it into effect immediately," Jessie said. Team Rocket looked over at Jake simultaneously, and when they did Jake began crying, "I WANT MY MOMMY!"
"You guys don't know how to handle kids do ya?" Meowth asked.
"Let's hurry up and write a ransom note, so we can get Pikachu and get rid of this brat," Jessie yelled over the cries of the boy. James nodded and they began to work on their new plan.
Later that evening, we find our heroes still searching for Jake. Pikachu was sniffing the ground, and Tracey's Venonat and Marril were searching as well.
"How far could one balloon go?" Misty asked.
"I don't know, it went pretty far into the horizon," Tracey said. Marril suddenly called out, "Marril, Marril!" Tracey ran towards his Pokemon with the others right behind him.
"What is it Marril?" Tracey asked as he parted some of the brush aside so he could see what Marril was talking about.
"What is it Tracey?" Ash asked.
"It's a road," he answered.
"A road?" Misty asked.
"Yeah, It leads to a Pokemon center," Tracey answered as he stepped out onto the road.
"A Pokemon center?" Ash asked as he stepped out also.
"Yeah, right over there," Tracey said pointing down the trail.
"OK, let's go," Ash said as he started to walk towards the warmly lit center.
"Wait a minute!" Misty said angrily, "What about Jake? We haven't found him yet!"
Ash sighed, "But Misty I'm sure he'll be OK, and I'm really tired, the Pokemon are too." Misty looked at the weary Pokemon, "I guess so, But we're leaving bright and early in the morning." Tracey and Ash nodded.
Our weary heroes made there way to the Pokemon center. Misty was walking with her head down, looking really worried.
"I hope he's ok," she mumbled. Tracey was the only one who heard her, he put his hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry about it. We'll find him tomorrow," Tracey said giving her a comforting smile. Misty just nodded and let out a sigh, she then looked back realizing that for once Ash was walking behind and not in front of them.
"Hey, Ash what's wrong?" Misty asked. Ash kept looking down, "Nothin," he mumbled, Tracey looked at Ash with a concerned look.
"You feeling Ok?" Tracey asked. Ash coughed and took a deep breath.
"I feel fine, never felt better," Ash said slowly. Tracey's concerned look stayed.
"Are you sure?" He asked. Ash just nodded, as he continued to walk, staring down at the ground. Tracey stopped him by placing his hand on his forehead.
"You do feel kind of warm..." Tracey stated.
"I'm ok, really, let's just get to the Pokemon center," Ash said to assure Tracey. Tracey eyed him for a minute, trying to decide whether to believe him or not. "Ok let's go," he decided.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket had just finished perfecting their plan.
"Ok, We'll start tomorrow, before the sun rises," Meowth said. Team Rocket had taken shelter in a small abandoned cabin in the woods. Team Rocket was gathered around a table talking about the new plans to capture Pikachu, while Jake was fast asleep on his sleeping bag, which he had carried with him in his backpack. The child had fallen asleep after wailing for three hours straight.
At the moment everything seemed at peace, but then, just as Team Rocket had settled down for the night and shut off the lights, Jake woke up. Instead of keeping to his usual routine of screaming and wailing for his mom, he just lay in the dark sniffling. Meowth was the first to awake, he had heard the soft rustling of Jake's sleeping bag. Jake coughed and mumbled something that couldn't be understood. Meowth crawled out of his sleeping bag and crept towards the boy.
"Hey kid, go back to sleep," Meowth said. Jake just coughed and let out a soft whimper. Something was wrong. Meowth stumbled around for a flashlight. He tripped over it and then stumbled around in the dark for it. Once he found it he quickly turned it on and turned it towards Jake. Jake looked up towards the light with a confused look. Meowth let out a gasp at what he saw, Jake was pale except for his flushed cheeks. He was drenched in sweat and was shivering uncontrollably. Meowth slowly put out his paw to feel the boy's forehead, he was burning up and he seemed to be unresponsive of Meowth's actions. This is not good, Meowth thought, "Jessie! James! Wake up, we got a problem!"
Ash woke up with a start; he was lying in the room that the group had picked out for the night in the Pokemon center. He was drenched in sweat and he noticed he was shaking. Ash tried to stand but his legs seemed to lose all strength and he collapsed back on the bed. Pikachu woke up from his trainer's sudden movements and was about to ask what was going on when he saw his trainer collapse.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu asked. When Ash didn't answer Pikachu leapt onto the young trainer's face, he felt his forehead and cried out in alarm.
"Pi-Pikachu?" Ash asked groggily.
"Pikachu pi Pikapi," Pikachu answered.
Pikachu jumped off the lower bunk and hurried over to Misty's bunk on the other side of the room. He lunged and landed right on Misty's face.
"Ack! Pikachu? What's going on?" Pikachu knew she didn't understand him so he leapt off of her and ran over to Ash.
"Pikachu? What's going on?" Pikachu hopped up and down on Ash's stomach,
"PikaPi!" he said frantically.
"What? Something wrong with Ash?" Misty got up quickly and hit the light switch. She saw what Pikachu was trying to tell her. Misty ran back to Tracey's bunk,
"Tracey! Tracey wake up! We have a problem!"
TO BE Continued...
Words and Music by Billy Joel. Copyright 1992 Impulsive Music. Copyright
1993 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. Lullaby
AND
Music by Plus One
A/N: Story edited on May 24, 2006. It's been a few years. I'm better at grammer now... a little better. LOL. I decided to go back and "fix" some of my writing. Thank you to everyone who had to read the original version. You people are wonderful.