Prepare for trouble… make it double…

Pokémon belongs to Nintendo, or Gamefreak. Maybe both. But not me. Original Character are mine, but I'll let you use a few of them if you ask first.

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(Ash's POV)

Okay, I have no idea what's going on. We're in the Saffron Gym with a giggling, maniac Pikachu in a white fedora, a seven-foot talking Electivire with silver stripes instead of black, and now, we found a giant robot attacking Al in the Gym's arena.

Sabrina was unconscious, her dress torn. The robot was trying to grab her, but Al had stepped between the arm and her, staring at it intently. The robot's arm was shaking, and I thought I saw a purple glow around it.

"Holy giant robot, Batman!"

"Ain't no time for yer nonsense, Warp. A human can't keep that kind of strain up for long, even if he did use to be an Alakazam."

Alakazam? Where?

Peter gasped and pointed at the robot. There was a giant R on it's chest.

"It's Team Rocket!" he shouted.

As if on cue (and knowing them, it probably was), a hatch opened up on the robot, smoke pouring out.

"Prepare for trouble, on the double…"

I facepalmed. "Oh, no…"

A man in a white Team Rocket uniform jumped from the cockpit with two Frillish beside him.

"To protect the world from devastation! To unite all evils within our nation! To-"

Circuit burst out laughing.

"And just what's so funny?" the man snapped.

"They're Frillish? That's rich! Hahaha!" He slapped his knee, and nearly double over from laughing so hard.

"I don't-"

"What's your name, anyway?"

"Uh… Marion, but I-"

"Marion? Oh, that's even better! Oh, me! Hoo…" He started fighting for a breath.

"Uh, hadn't heard that motto in a while…" Peter ventured.

"Huh?" Marion started. "Oh look, it's the twerp."

The pair of Frillish were arguing. "How dare he interrupt our motto!" the pink one was shouting.

"But Jessie, it's not like we even say much. I mean, we just say our names, and they can't even understand it when we do, so-"

"That's not the point, James! It's the principle of the thing!"

Matthew had a bored look on his face. He jumped to the ground and walked over to the machine. It had stopped working when Team Rocket got out. Al had wakened Sabrina and the two were watching the whole scene with bemused looks.

Matthew sighed. "I was worried for a second. But it's just Team Rocket, so no worries."

Marion, Jessie and James all stopped and turned to him, enraged. "WHAT?"

"It's a shame, too. I was looking forward to a fight, but this isn't even fair."

"Sar dat one more time, I dare ya!" Marion seethed.

Matthew stared at him. "Circuit."

"Right." The Electivire walked to the robot and lifted it with one hand, throwing it straight up through the hole in the ceiling. It didn't come back down.

Team Rocket's faces were absolutely hilarious. Matthew took a picture.

Circuit leaned down so his face was level with the crooks. He stared at them for a few seconds. Then, so quietly I could barely hear it, he said, "Boo."

I'd never seen someone run so fast.

(Blaze's POV)

Geez, this Misty girl has anger issues. Presto said not to get her mad, but that seemed to be her natural state of being.

Miss Coral had shown me to her home and had apologized profusely. I hate it when people do that.

However, I didn't object when she offered me food.

"So, where are you from?" she asked me.

"Not sure. Never knew my parents, but that's not unusual with Pokémon."

"I'm sorry."

"Yes. You said that."

"Sorry."

I facepalmed.

Misty was still glaring at me.

"So you wanted to know about Ash?"

"That's right."

"I don't know much. He's Peter's Pikachu, but aside from that-"

"Peter?"

"Yes?"

"Poor guy. Sorry, go on."

"But aside from that I wouldn't know. I traveled with Peter for a while, if you want to know about him…"

I grinned, which is very difficult when you have a beak. "My, are you blushing?"

I was ready for the mallet this time. I moved in time, but the chair didn't make it.

"Misty!" Coral groaned. "Not again!"

"Sorry…"

"But no, there was nothing between me and Peter, if that's what you're asking."

"I was just teasing, didn't mean anything by it."

"However," she said with a sly smile. She gave Misty a knowing look. "I know for a fact that Misty here had a thing for Ash…"

She laughed at the look on Misty's face.

"What are you talking about?" she said desperately. "Me? Like HIM? Blech! Ugh! Uh…"

I chuckled, as quietly as possible. Thank Mew, she didn't hear me. I'd have been a dead man walking.

"But yes," Coral went on. "I can tell you about Peter, but if you want Ash, you should ask Misty."

"Tell me about Peter."

"Well…"

(Circuit's POV)

The so-called "Al" thanked us for the save and all, then apologized to Pik-sorry, Peter- for not being able to accept his challenge, due to the damage to the Gym.

Warp was sitting on Peter's shoulder, with Ash on the other. The boy looked pretty smug. I think he enjoys his job too much.

Anyways, we were back in the Pokémon Center, the four of us, and from the looks on their faces, Ash and Peter neede some explainin'. This won't go over well, I'm thinkin'.

"So," Peter began. "What's going on? From the second we met Matthew, or Warp or whatever, it's been one thing after another, and nothing makes any sense."

"Sounds about right."

"So what's going on?"

Me and Warp shared a glance. He nodded.

I stood up and looked around. Nurse Joy was off doin' something, and the waiting room was otherwise empty. I gave him the all clear.

Warp jumped off Peter's shoulders and walked a few feet off.

I glanced at the other two. "You may wanna cover your eyes."

"Why?"

Warp exploded in a flash of white light. Show-off. Peter and Ash gasped.

When the light faded, and kids blinked the spots outta their eyes, I swear I heard a *thunk* when their jaws hit the ground.

Instead of an off-color Pikachu in a hat, there was a tall young man with lightly tanned skin. His hair was brown with streaks of blonde. Guess he hadn't washed all the dye out of it yet.

He was wearin' a white suit with yellow pinstripes, a yellow shirt under the jacket, and a white tie. He was leanin' on a golden walking stick.

Peter stuttered. "W-who are you?"

The new boy looked upwards, at the white fedora sittin' on his head.

Peter looked at it blankly. Then his face lit up. "Matthew?"

Warp grinned. "Hey. And you can call me 'Warp,' please. I like that name better."

Ash was just starin' at him. Warp, bein' Warp, noticed. His grin widened.

"What's the matter, Ash? Of all people, you should be the least surprised at human-to-Pokémon transformation."

"W-w-what makes you say that?" Ash said, fumblin' with the words.

"Oh, any number of things. The amount of fanfiction surrounding the idea is staggering."

"You can still understand him?" Peter said, still shocked.

"But of course. I understand any and all spoken languages, and I can usually get the gist of most sign languages. Just one of the perks of the job!"

Ash tried to grab the opportunity. "And what job is that?" he said quickly.

Warp waved his hand. "Not important."

"Not im-"

"Not at the moment, anyway."

Peter sat down and hung his head. "Will some please tell me what's happening?"

I sighed. I'm not one for subtlety, but compared to Warp I'm the epot… epita… eptimo… uh, the very essence of stealth.

I sat down next him. "Well, it's a pretty long story-"

"With a strong beginning that sets up all the characters and hopefully reaches an emotionally satisfying ending!"

"Shut up, Warp- but it all starts with Arceus getting drunk…"