Thank you for the follows/favorites from chapter one. Here's chapter two.
Note, I'm not going to be calling them Ash and mirror Ash through out the whole story, that would just get frustrating, so I found a way around that a little ways into this chapter. Anyways, please enjoy chapter two!
"Are you crazy?!" Mirror Ash cried, holding the plug to the video phone in his hand.
"Chupika!" His Pikachu added, growling.
"Ash!" Ash cried upon seeing his mirror counterpart, "I've been looking for you!"
Mirror Ash glanced around uncertainly, setting down the plug, "What are you doing here?" He asked nervously, "What if you get trapped here?"
"All covered!" Ash said, pulling out the amulet that was on his neck from out under his shirt, "This makes it so I can safely go between our worlds without being trapped. Took me a while to find it, but I really wanted to see you again," Ash shifted, glancing at the video phone, "Um... What was up with that, anyways?" The image of his fashiony and angry mother had been branded into his mind.
The other Ash looked away, paling a bit more, "O-oh no..." He muttered, fear entering his eyes along with tears, "She said Kalos, didn't she... She knows where I am... Oh Arceus! She knows where I am!" Ash expected his counterpart to sink down, give up, and start crying like he usually did, but he didn't. Tears were flowing, but his eyes were wide, as if trying to find a solution of some sort.
"Look," Ash said, taking a step towards him, "I have no idea what's going on."
"I don't know what to do... Oh my Arceus what do I do! Why did you call her?" He spun around towards Ash, "Why would you call her?! Why?" He didn't seem angry at Ash though, only fear lined mirror Ash's form.
Ash still had no idea of quite what was going on, but it didn't seem good. Of course Ash knew that mirror Ash had a habit of taking things as worse than they really were, but the look on Delia's face did not look like a good one. Ash took a deep breath.
"I was just trying to find you, but it seems I've made a mistake. Can you please explain what exactly is happening?" Ash asked, "What was up with my mom- I mean your mom?"
Unfortunately mirror Ash didn't seem to be in the state to answer. It looked like he was about to faint from fear. He grabbed onto Ash's arm, not about to let go any time soon.
"She has connections in Kalos... I'll have to leave all together won't I... But the league! Father would never let me, but Mother knows where I am! What do I do, what do I do!"
Ash glanced around worryingly, his counterpart looked like he was going to start hyperventilating.
Nurse Jenny walked over towards them, "I see you found your friend... Is he okay?" Ash shrugged uncertainty. Jenny looked at them, "Um... Is one of you Satoshi Sakaki? There's a private call in the back for him."
Ash was about to shake his head, but to his surprise mirror Ash loosen his grip on his arm, "I'm... I'm Satoshi... Who's c-calling?" His voice was still fearful, but he seemed a tad bit calmer... maybe.
"Private call, didn't show his name or face. But he paid the fee for the private call and requested you," Jenny frowned, "You look pretty pale kid," Jenny knelt down, touching his forehead, "You need to sit down, I'll tell your caller he'll have to wait."
Mirror Ash's eyes widened, "N-no, I- I have to take it!"
"Take it easy Ash- Satoshi- whatever your name is," Ash was slightly confused with his counterpart saying his name was 'Satoshi'. His mirror friends had called mirror Ash... well, Ash, "I agree with Jenny, you look horrible, sit down. Your health is more important than a phone call."
Mirror Ash shook his head, "N-no. I'll be just fine..." He seemed to be trying to reassure himself, "I need to talk to him..." 'Satoshi' took a few stumbling steps towards the back of the Pokemon Center, still shaking like his death awaited him, "He can fixed this... I hope..." He stumbled again, and Ash reached forward, balancing him.
"No! You need to sit down Ash- Sato- Um... Just sit down!" Ash cried, trying to guide his counterpart to the benches.
"You can call me Satoshi or Ash..." Mirror Ash muttered, resisting being dragged to the benches, "I don't care, just let me take this call now!"
Ash sighed, relenting. It was rare for his counterpart to show this kind of conviction, and he figured this call must be important, "Fine, Satoshi. Take the call, but I'm coming with you."
Satoshi nodded a bit, glancing at Jenny. She still didn't seem happy with Satoshi standing up, but pointed to a small room near the back, "The private video phone is right in there. I don't know what the caller will think of both of you being there, but you guys can sort it out," She glanced between them, "But they must know both of you, you're obviously related. Twins or something?"
"Or something," Ash muttered, "Come on," He helped Satoshi towards the room Jenny had pointed out. Satoshi stumbled a bit more, but there was a bit more color in his face. Ash hoped he'd last to the phone. It would be hard to explain to whoever was calling that he was not the person they wanted to talk to.
Satoshi broke free from Ash for the last few steps, pushing the door open. Ash followed him into a small, narrow room that could have passed as a hallway. Ash saw that it was indeed a hallway, with several storage room doors branching off with an emergency exit to outside at the end. A little ways down the hallway was a video phone. Ash couldn't see the screen, only the side of the phone. Satoshi leaned towards Ash.
"Be quiet and don't show yourself on screen, this is just too complicated to explain at the moment. And keep an eye on Pikachu," He muttered, and Ash nodded, lingering back at the door to the main part of the Pokemon Center. Mirror Pikachu made a face, then hopped onto Ash's other shoulder. It felt strange to have a Pikachu on both shoulders. Satoshi went towards the video phone, gulping slightly. He stepped in front of the screen, "H-hello?"
Jenny had said that the caller hadn't show his face, so Ash had assumed that it was just a vocal call, but the sudden flash of light from the video phone proved that the caller with fine showing his face to Satoshi.
"Satoshi," A deep voice snapped, and Satoshi flinched, lowering his head. Ash frowned.
"H-hello s-sir," Satoshi mumbled, "T-the nurse s-said you call-called?" For a call that Satoshi had so badly wanted to take, he didn't seem to eager to be talking to this person.
There was the sound of something moving on the screen, but Ash still didn't have a view of the caller, "Speak up or don't speak at all," The man's voice was cold and firm. Ash swore the voice sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"Y-yes sir!" Satoshi said a bit louder, though it was barely an improvement from his mumbling. There was a snort from the other side of the screen.
"I got a very interesting call a few minutes ago, Satoshi. Would you like to guess who it was from?" The voice asked, and Satoshi made a noise in the back of his throat, "Your mother. She claims that you just called her, interesting, right? Normally I would dismiss this as one of her lies, but I find it quite strange that she also knew that you were in Kalos. Would you please explain this?" The voice's tone left no room for argument.
Satoshi's eyes went wide, "I- Um... It was- I just-" He stumbled over his words, mumbling strings of incomprehensible phrases.
"Did you call Delia or not?"
"I- I didn't!" Satoshi cried, "Sir... I swear, I didn't..."
"Then why does there happen to be the number of this center in the caller ID from the house? I'm not stupid Satoshi. Was a call placed or not?!"
Ash's stomach twisted in guilt, it looked like Satoshi wanted to melt into the ground right then and there. What mess had he caused?
"T-there was a call... sir..." Satoshi muttered miserably. Silent tears were slipping down Satoshi's face. His Pikachu twitched on Ash's shoulder, then sprang after his trainer. Ash fumbled to try to stop him, but Pikachu's counterpart reached Satoshi first, leaping into his trainer's arms.
"Pika!" He scurried onto Satoshi's shoulder, nuzzling him.
"Hmm..." The voice crackled through the video phone again, "I see that you still have not evolved the Pikachu like I told you to. Again," Satoshi cringed, "Not only that, you lied to me, and contacted your mother after I gave you clear orders not to. Did you think she'd welcome you back with open arms? Are you aware of the trouble you have just caused me, Satoshi?"
The almost dark tone in the man's voice made Ash cringe. Satoshi grabbed his Pikachu from off his shoulder, holding him tight like it was a Teddiursa-toy. Satoshi's shoulders were hunched over as he stumbled back, burying his face into his Pikachu's back. Ash could tell that he was crying, and his heart twinged with regret. He had always viewed his counterpart as more of a cry baby than anything, but this reaction wasn't anything like that. This man was just talking to Satoshi as if he were nothing.
"This is my fault," Ash muttered, so quietly so only the Pikachus' could catch it. Ash wasn't quite sure what was going on, but he knew that he had caused it. He shifted guiltily.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have no choice Satoshi," The voice said, not sounding sorry at, "But I can no longer keep you out on your journey. You will take the next flight back to Kanto. I will buy your ticket right away, so collect your items."
Satoshi jerked his head up. His eyes were red and wide and tears. He was too stunned to speak for a moment, then, "B-but-"
"Satoshi," The man didn't even raise his voice, but Satoshi cringed again.
"I- I have t-the K-k-kalos b-ba-badges," He muttered quickly, "T-the l-league- I swear I'll-!"
"You are returning to Kanto. You have gone no where in the leagues. You are done with your journeys," The voice cut him off. Satoshi fell silent.
Ash's hands curled into fists angrily, who was this man and what gave him the right to treat Satoshi like this?
Satoshi bit his lip, lowering his head again, "... Y-yes... Father."
Ash flinched in surprise, his anger throw off by the sheer surprise. Pikachu seemed just as stunned, and Ash stared at the side of the screen. This man was Satoshi's father? The man treating his counterpart like he was some annoyance? And if this was Satoshi's father...
"Wait!" Ash cried, running forward. Satoshi shook his head with wide eyes, but Ash stepped in front of the screen.
The man on the screen recoiled as a person identical to his son appeared. He jumped a bit, staring at the two boys. Ash's heart raced as he realized that he recognized the man. He had only seen this person two, maybe three times in his lifetime. None of them had been good occasions.
"... What's going on...? Satoshi...?" The firm tone in the man's voice was gone.
"Ash..." Satoshi muttered, glancing between his father and his counterpart nervously.
"You can't make him end his journey!" Ash cried, ignoring all the things he knew about this man from his own world, "He didn't call Mom- I mean, Delia! I did! You can just make him end the journey for something he didn't even do!"
"What's going on here?" The man snapped, his commanding tone back, but his surprise still there.
Ash took a deep breath, looking at Satoshi for a second, "This will take a minute to explain, but it will all make sense in a minute... Giovanni..." Ash muttered, "I assume that's your name in this world, right?"
Giovanni blinked, still stunned, but nodded.
Ash glanced at Satoshi, "Team Rocket is good in this world, right?" Ash asked, trying to recall everything he knew about the mirror world from last time.
Satoshi nodded quickly, "Y-yeah..."
Ash smiled forcefully at the man on the screen. In his own world this man was a wanted criminal, doing horrible things to Pokemon like Mewtwo and Meloetta. This man had nearly killed Ash once in Unova, but he forced himself to be calm. If this man was still the leader of Team Rocket, then that must mean his intentions were good. But considering how he had treated Satoshi...
"Hello, I'm Ash. Ash Ketchum, though I may look a lot like Satoshi over here," He pointed to him, "I assure you that I am not him and this is not a trick of some kind. Believe me or not, but I am not from this world. Am I the 'Satoshi' from another dimension, and we are different from each other, but he is my friend. This is my second time coming to your world, and I simply wanted to meet back up with Satoshi, so I gave a call to his mother, who would be the equivalent of my mother in my world. I honestly have no idea what trouble I was causing, or else I would have never done this. Satoshi was not lying to you, there was indeed a call placed, but he didn't not call Delia. I did," Ash paused, "Also, I think you have no right treating Satoshi like you did, and even more so if you are truly his father. If anyone is to blame here, it is me. And no matter what takes place you have no right to speak to your son to the point where he can barely stand," Ash gave another forced smile, "And if you have any connection to Team Rocket like you do my world, and considering that Team Rocket are 'heros of justice' here, I think you should be a bit kinder," Ash took a deep breath from his rant, "That's all."
Satoshi was staring at Ash like he had just fallen from the sky, and like he couldn't believe Ash would dare talk to Giovanni like that. Giovanni looked flabbergasted and speechless. He didn't say anything for a moment, just sitting there, blinking. After a moment Giovanni seemed to find his voice.
"... Satoshi...? From another world...?" Giovanni muttered weakly.
Ash smiled again, "Yes, but my name is Ash, not Satoshi, so please call me that."
Giovanni sat up, rubbing his forehead, "I honestly have no idea what just happened... but you are definitely not my Satoshi..."
"Glad you got that, sir," Ash said almost mockingly. He knew this wasn't is usual self, but he was still angry on how this he had treated Satoshi, "And what happened is quite simple. I came to your world, and called up Delia, accidently causing this whole mess. You waltz in, treated your child horribly, then I jumped in and explained all this. Any questions?"
Satoshi was next to Ash, shaking his head, as if telling Ash not to act like this.
"I see you Satoshi," Giovanni muttered, and Satoshi froze. Giovanni sat up, scanning the two identical boys, "Now I understand what you are saying, but I'm having a hard time believing it. Sorry if traveling between worlds is not common news."
"Father, he's telling the truth," Satoshi said quietly, "I swear it."
Giovanni continued rubbing his head, "... Unless you were messing with my cloning program I can not honestly think of any other way this could happen."
Ash snorted, "We were not messing with anything of yours. I simply came here to check up on Satoshi, and I'm not leaving until you let him continue his journey."
Giovanni studied Ash for a moment, then laughed, "Yes, you are truly not Satoshi! I don't think he'd dare talk to me like that even if I told him to!"
"I wonder why..." Ash growled, "Considering the way you treat him..." But his comment was lost to the laughs coming from Giovanni.
"Still," Giovanni said, "It does not solve the problem that Delia knows where Satoshi is. I have been hiding you from her ever since you started your journey through Kanto, and you know Satoshi that she's much more comfortable with you at the house," Giovanni didn't seem to notice Satoshi's shudder, "She has made it quite clear that she will not provide me with another heir unless you are dead, and she is only trying to protect you. While I did see no problem with you gaining experience and confidence from a journey, you have not improved. I can forgo any punishments for lying, if this whole 'other world thing' is true, but my decision will remain the same. You have not improved with any leagues, and Delia will be much calmer if you're back in Pallet. You will be returning to Kanto."
Ash glanced at Satoshi, who seemed paler than ever. Giovanni may scare him, but the thought of returning home seemed worse for him. Ash recalled the look of pure hatred on Delia, and had a feeling that he nor Giovanni truly knew what went one between Satoshi and mirror Delia.
"Are... Are you and Delia married?" Ash asked. It was weird saying Delia, but this lady was not his mother, and did not deserve to be called that.
"Of course we are," Giovanni said stiffly, "But I have work to do. With the Pokemon Rangers growing in strength everyday I have to keep Team Rocket growing. The league is counting on me to keep them at bay until they can be disbanded. But with the Ranger's current strength I need to focus all my attention on them. Besides, Delia has just as much right over Satoshi as I do. And she wants him at home, and I can no longer keep juggling Satoshi from region from region while keeping it behind Delia's back, along with managing Team Rocket!"
"Well," Ash snarled angrily, "Maybe if you stop treating him like some object and more like family it wouldn't be like that, would it? You're his father and-" Ash paused, "Wait a second... If you're Satoshi's father in this world... does that mean... That my father is... That Giovanni from my world is..." Ash stumbled, "Oh my Arceus..."
Satoshi looked at Ash confused, "Don't you don't know who your father is?"
"No!" Ash snapped, "Mom just always said that he was a trainer on a journey! I've never met him before!" Ash scowled, "Or at least I thought so..."
Giovanni raised an eyebrow, "Explanation, please?"
"No offense... but in my world you're sort of evil, along with Team Rocket..." Ash muttered, "But if your our father here... that must mean that the Giovanni in my world is my father..."
So this story will be with Ash and Satoshi, Ash's Japanese name. For mirror Ash, the name 'Ash' is just a nickname that Delia calls him, and the name he goes by with many of his friends. But his first name is Satoshi, and will be going by Satoshi for the rest of the story. Because having them both be Ash would just be annoying and frustrating...
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed chapter two, and please leave a review if you have time :)
