Pokemon The Movie 2000 II: Lawrence's Revenge

by WyldClaw

WCverse fic. 1st ch: hijacked- after a bad fight with Ash misty runs off. later that night Togepi and Psyduck see our fave TR nimrods kidnap her and leave a ransom note. how will he rescue her? following cha: p2K II AAML sequel to 'Hijacked' and the 2nd film AU: what if lawrence (the collector) hadn't gone straight but wanted revenge on Ash? read on. pokeshippy-AshXMisty fluf

4. P2k II: Lawrence's Revenge Part 2

Pokémon the Movie 2000 II: Lawrence's Revenge Part 2 by WyldClaw

Plot: I don't own any of the characters (asides Lawrence's surname) never did/ never will. I will put out any flames I get with my hydro pump. Brock isn't in this story but there is a bit of a cameo by a legendary near the end of the story. If you want to find out, you will have to read it. I don't know the last name of the baddie in the second fil, so I've given him the name Juardian Le Villiyon - a very lame pun on the words 'the villain', which of course he is. Giovanni fans he does make an appearance in this fanfic but he's pretty coldhearted and evil. how so? you will have to read on to find out This part has Ash and misty love, blood, violence, evolution/ possible death of a character so it's rated PG-13. Warning, there's a wicked sad part near the end of the second part, so you might want a few tissues nearby. The Pokédex entry is from Electric Shock Showdown is in bold. I also don't own the flashback lines from Electric Shock Showdown. I don't own the time has come song lyrics, which are in bold. Just pretend the song is playing in the background while all the memories are going through Ash's head, I also don't own the flashback lines. Lawrence can't understand Pokémon asides from Meowth the other things to keep in mind are: " " are humans talking while Scene change is just that. Italics are thoughts s. Mommy and Daddy are Togepi's names for Misty and Ash. () Are translated Pokéspeech but There's a few exemptions-one where Meowth translates it, one would be very vulgar, one is a cry of pain and finally one where you'll have to use your imagination. I greatly recommend you read the first part. Please read and review. Thanks! On with the story!

Revised: December 2017

Narrator Recap: When we last left our heroes, the Lugia-obsessed mad Lawrence Juardian Le Villiyon II had them trapped on his ship where he tried to kill Misty but Psyduck evolved to save her life. Thanks to a TM James gave him Pikachu was able to use Substitute, a rare move where the Pokémon using it makes an exact replica of itself for a bit, although it drains their energy by half. He has triumphantly freed Misty, James, Meowth, and Jessie and Togepi with his double being trapped in a cage by Lawrence, who thinks that he has the real one. Let's find out what happens next!

XxX XxX

Pikachu held back tears as he viewed the reunion between Misty and Togepi as she freed him from his incarceration. (Mommy!) He squealed happily as she picked him up with both arms.

"Togepi." she said as she hugged him tight, afraid that Lawrence would hurt him if she let go. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. (I think so. H-how are we gonna save-)

A tiny gasp-like a coo of a young pidgey fledgling-came from behind them. "What a sweet reunion. It makes me sick". A sardonic voice came from next to Lawrence, who had his knife against Ash's throat. The teen had been he one to make that gasp. He was being forced to stand up since both his arms and legs were tied with thick bands of rope.

The voice belonged to a slick umber-haired man whose voice made Pikachu's blood run ice cold. Misty stood up in front of him as the man looked toward them, eyes like a searchlight, looking for him. He peered his eyes around Misty's jeans and nearly cried out with horror as his eyes went wide. The man's voice and physical shape were the same as the one who broke into the gym. There was no doubt about it- it was the same human.

The human was dressed in a red suit and a tie held a cage in one hand. He had an atmosphere of evilness around him. He seemed to smell fear, like a Growlithe as he scanned the room with his eyes and then settled on Meowth, James and Jessie. By the man's side sat a well-groomed Persian with a red collar around its neck that hissed at Meowth, who had gotten out of his cage. He gulped as well as Jessie and James. They all trembled at the man, who looked at them angrily. This gave Pikachu the hint man was their boss- the one that they kept trying to impress.

"Uh... hi boss" meowth nervously said." Wh-what are you doing here?"

The mouse gulped. It's their boss! The man they keep trying to get me for. If he sees me trying to save Ash I'm doomed! How am I going to save my trainer? . Then an idea hit him.

.

"Cut the stuck-up crap, cat. Where are you idiots hiding it? I know it's here. I saw it with my own eyes." The man asked them angrily chewing them out while the mouse was using a slow version of Agility to get Ash away from Lawrence's knife.

Even before meowth said anything Ash knew this man had to be Jessie and James' boss, Giovanni, the man Lawrence called earlier. The coldness in his voice was enough proof. I'm in deep danger now' he thought.

"... I thought you three dunces wouldn't mess up for once! I know it's here. So where is it?"

" We... Don't know where it went," James said.

"We were gonna try ta cage him fer ya, boss. Honestly we almost got 'im. But he fought back me and escaped befer we could do anyting. ". Meowth showed his boss his red stained claws. The teen noticed there was fear in the cat's eyes. Did Lawrence tell Giovanni the truth about them? He thought.

"You couldn't even get it? A cat couldn't catch a mere mouse? Persian would have tracked down that rat within a matter of seconds. "

Meowth flinched. He went on but the teenager wasn't paying attention now. He saw a glimpse of something-or someone-yellow with a bloody tail very slowly making his way from behind Misty's pant legs. {It couldn't be ... Could it?}

His eyes found hers and he mouthed, "Is that" She nodded. "But-" he mouthed as the mouse picked up speed.

"Later." She mouthed back.

. Ash saw Pikachu getting closer to him, a speedy yellow-red blur, his hopes rising. Please don't let Giovanni see him. Come on bud.

Persian flicked its whiskers and hissed at the blur as he jumped into the air to slash the deadly dagger away. Giovanni grabbed him by his neck in midair and held him right under the cage. Ash watched unable to help as Pikachu tried to twist his way out of Giovanni's iron grip. When that failed, he began to charge his energy up but Lawrence put the knife right against Ash's cheek. He saw his own terrified expression in the deadly blade's reflection look back at him

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Giovanni told Pikachu, who glared at him. "If you Thundershock I, Lawrence will cut up the boy as a snack for the Tentacruels." He said.

This terrified the mouse, whose eyes went wide with terror as his eyes zipped from Ash to Lawrence to Giovanni and then back to Ash. Ash could tell he desperately wanted to fry Giovanni but on the other hand, Pikachu didn't want Ash to be hurt. He stared at Ash with his two small black eyes. Ash nodded. The sparks coming out of the two electrical sacks on his cheeks came up to a stop. Lawrence removed the knife from Ash's cheeks

"Not so tough now, you miserable rat?" Giovanni laughed as he tied Pikachu's paws together with a rope, gagged his mouth, and slammed him into the cage. Pikachu whimpered, or as much as he could with the gag over his mouth as he hit the bottom on his injured tail. But Giovanni paid no attention to this as he put his free hand into the cage and slapped Pikachu hard repeatedly all over his face, which finished his cries.

The Team Rocket leader removed his hand. "Shut up. You're a wimp and I absolutely loathe wimps. I thought you'd be impossible to catch according to some people," Giovanni said as he latched the cage shut and glared briefly at Meowth, Jessie and James, who all cringed, "who spoke of your incredible power to me. So much money wasted on traps and ways to get you. All I see when I look at you is a pathetic, softhearted wimp. I know the perfect way to get it out of you and it will also harden you up at the same time. When we get back to my headquarters, I'll make you go through a long, harsh beating session and four days without food will remind you about the order of things." Giovanni sneered.

The mouse's face was swelling like an angry Jigglypuff " hey! Quit it" Ash heard himself shout. "Don't hurt my Pikachu! Can't you see he's hurt and needs rest? Let him go!"

The older man stared at the boy with a cold stare. "I don't care if its front legs is broken. I have waited nearly four years to get my hands on this Pikachu. It's mine now and I'll do whatever I want to it. "

Pikachu looked up at his trainer, tears forming in his eyes and Ash knew he felt like he had let him down. His small black eyes were begging him to somehow get him out of there. Ashes own eyes were wet with tears. Ash wished that he could get him out of that small prison and hold him, feeling his soft, yellow fur brush up against his face and tell him everything was going to be all right.

Giovanni was smiling evilly, delighted that his plan had succeeded and then turned to face James, Jessie and Meowth, who stared at him like he had sprouted another two heads and Charizard wings. They would go to any length to snag Pikachu but never threaten to kill his trainer "and THAT is how you nab a pesky Pikachu." he told his grunts. "Explain why it took you dimwits this long to do something that I did in a matter of minutes. "

Meowth gulped. "Um da ting is boss-. He's lots smarter den ya tink."

Their boss gazed over at the trio while Pikachu tried to shock open the cage, but no luck. His electricity merely got absorbed into the cage. " Who… him? You morons can't do anything right! You should be Ruthless! Merciless and Evil like Attila, Hun or butch and Cassidy" Jessie gritted her teeth at Cassidy's name. "You dolts should have gone for his weakness!"

"He's just a kid! We-couldn't K-k…" Jessie trailed off, not wanting to say the rest of her sentence: kill him.

Her boss glowered menacingly at her. "To think YOU are Miyamoto's daughter. She was the ideal Rocket agent- she would do anything to fulfill our wishes- even kill witnesses."

The two teens looked at one another - they knew NOTHING about Jessie's past. Giovanni's words seemed to freeze her in place. "Uh Jess?" James asked.

"She ... wouldn't kill…." Jessie managed in a small voice. "I know she wouldn't…"

"She would, without hesitation. That's right I forgot. You didn't really know her because she abandoned you when you were small to go on a secret mission and got killed on it. I thought you had the same spirit as her but I guess I was wrong. Be glad I'm in a…. forgiving mood. I'm putting you in charge of watching the kid in the helicopter. Even you can't mess that up. Be grateful that you're not getting fired on the spot. Tempting as that is..."

He then saw Misty, shaking with fear, as if for the first time. "Kill her and that useless Togepi. She's seen too much. "He told Persian. The cat sprang with its sharp teeth bared!

…

Misty felt like Stun Spore was rooting her to the floor. As if watching something on in Slow motion She saw the Persian, its mouth wide open displaying fang like teeth able of digging deep into her skin, run towards her. 'I'm going to die. I'm gonna die and I'm never going to be able to tell him my true feelings'

(I don't want to die, Mommy.) Togepi whispered fearfully as he huddled up in her arms. She felt a pang of guilt. She never told him she was sorry for yelling at him back at the gym- it had been Daisy's fault they'd gotten int the fight in the first place but then she saw Golduck, who was standing in front of her, like a shield, a bit wobbly. She saw that there was a long red scar, dripping blood down on his back where the knife had struck him.

'Is the pain too much for him? "Psy-G-Golduck c-can you manage?"

He nodded. He closed his eyes, put his webbed fingers together and become very still. A purple light spread from his fingers across his whole body and she saw the blood and the scar disappear from his back until there was just a faint line left. Then the light disappeared

(Wow, I never thought using recover would work to heal my injuries.) He muttered to himself as he opened his eyes and unclasped his webbed fingers. Then he glared at the running Persian. (Now to take care of this fleabag. HOW ABOUT THIS?) He screamed the last part as he opened his mouth and a blue ball of light appeared, a Confuse Ray attack. The beam blasted out from his mouth and hit the cat whose eyes became red as it became confused.

Persian yowled in pain as it thrashed about the room slashing at illusions the Confuse Ray was forcing him to see. He used a Double Kick to send the cage containing Pikachu out of its master's hand.

His cage flew through the air, but a bluish tinge covered the cage as Golduck used his psychic powers to move the cage away from the confused cat and hover above Misty. Once she put Togepi safely on the ground, the cage landed in her arms and the tinge disappeared,

(Pick on someone your own size, you flea circus!) Golduck said as he Mega Punched the Persian, who was about to pounce on Togepi with its sharp claws. The cat went flying across the room.

He picked Togepi up and put him in Misty's arms. "Thanks, Golduck" she said and he blushed.

(You saved me) Togepi said

(It was nothing, kiddo) Golduck told him

She unlocked the cage, untied Pikachu's paws, took the gag off his mouth and let him out. He looked up and licked her happily on her face "you okay?"

He nodded and panted (just. Drained from making the Substitute. And energy absorbing cage)

"I don't blame you. "

,

.

While this was happening, Giovanni took Ash from Lawrence and was moving toward his helicopter, waiting outside of the ship Ash saw Misty free Pikachu from the cage, but he felt as useful as a Kakuna.

"Why don't you and I pay a little visit to Pallet Town, Ashton? I can't wait to see Delia's face again. She loves visits from her baby" Giovanni said in a low voice only Ash could hear, "and if she tries to contact the authorities." he drew a finger across Ash's throat as he said this. They stopped walking once they were about ten feet away from the other human

'How did he know my full name and who in the world was Delia?' he thought. With a jolt like he had been hit with a high-powered Thunder, he realized that Giovanni was talking about His own mother! He gave a small gasp as he was frog marched off to Giovanni's helicopter, which was waiting outside.

Pikachu's ears perked up at the gasp and noticed what was happening. (Ash!) He jumped out of Misty's arms onto the floor. (Let him go you horrible brute!)

The villian stopped at those words. He stood about ten feet away from the mouse Meowth, James and Jessie had spent of money- his money- trying to snatch. There was an almost imaginable spark in the air as the two locked eyes with each other- the mice in complete hatred as his fur spiked up, the evil Rocket boss's in greed. "I knew I was forgetting something." He beckoned the mouse with a jerk of his head. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

(Are you utterly insane? After you injured me like that, you think I'd go with you?) Pikachu spat on the floor as he slowly walked forward. (I will. Never join you n-now that I see what horrid f-fiend you are.)

"Hard way it is. " he turned to the cat. "You know what to do. Weaken that rodent badly but don't kill it. I need it alive, blood is so difficult to clean off the helicopter,"

The cat's eyes gleamed as he leapt from his master's side to where the mouse was- about halfway between Misty and his master.

(Move it now) the little mouse fiercely growled at the large cat- at least two times bigger than him- looming over him. The cat's tail whooshed back and forth from side to side- blocking his path,

(Let me think about that ...no.) The cat, for the voice tone was deep and masculine gleamed. No longer confused now, he used Double Team; it glowed white and created multiple copies of itself. Now there were six more cats surrounding Pikachu in a thick circle leaving him trapped in the middle.

(Uh oh) the mouse squeaked.

The cats laughed (prepared to be truly beaten mouse!).

All seven cats' eyes glowed purple for a second. Pikachu was confused (huh? what's going-) they attacked him suddenly, slashing & biting his fur, staining it and the floor red with fur and blood.

,

The sea of cats devoured Pikachu but Ash caught glimpses of him trying to get out of the mass of cream fur but each time one cat would pull him back in. Anyone could see it was unfair, seven against one and hearing his desperate cries, he wished he could do something, anything to help him. Unluckily, both of his hands were tied behind his back so he couldn't reach any of his Pokéballs on his belt. He had to watch this for what seemed like forever, but in actuality, was only twenty or so minutes.

The air soon became thick with cries, fur and the stench of blood. Giovanni snapped his fingers once. The pack of Persians broke up into a small circle with a small path to Ash open. In the middle of the circle, he saw an awfully injured form surrounded by the seven still cats, which had blood on their fur. The figure was in a large puddle of blood and yellow-red and cream fur. It hardly seemed to be breathing. Ash thought it was dead until he saw it breathe and it turned its back to him to cough, he saw two stripes on the form's back he had come to recognize. "Oh Pikachu". He was stunned as his little Pokémon turned his bruised body around. Everyone but Lawrence and Giovanni were staring in horror at the mouse. Misty's jaw dropped at the sight. What did they do to you?

It was an appalling sight, one that they wouldn't soon forget. The cats messed Pikachu up so badly he was scarcely identifiable. His yellow fur was covered in scratches, slashes and bite marks. As he made a great effort to get up, Ash saw that places where he had been bitten were dreadfully swollen and in some cases, bleeding as blood dripped off onto the floor. While Pikachu was catching his breath Ash saw chunks of fur on his body were missing. There was a huge cut alongside his ribs and he winced as he slowly got up. He looked like he had been forced to fight fifty different Pokémon at the same time. In other words, he looked like a nearly unrecognizable mess who seemed ready to collapse at the slightest touch. (Is-is he-) Togepi couldn't finish his question.

(I don't know, Togepi) Golduck told him.

"I-I can't believe it. Da boss- he-he tried ta-" Meowth cut off as Misty, Ash, Jessie and James nodded, stunned. There weren't words that could truly describe what they had just seen.

"Come on, Pikachu. You can do it, pal, I believe in you, just make your way over here. I know you can do it. Just put one paw in front of the other and make your way over here." he said, loud enough for Pikachu to hear as he tried to make his way to him but the Persians used Screech, drowning out the words to him.

The noise was so awful that it made claws scratching across a blackboard seem like nothing and he wanted to put his hands over his ears to block it out, like everyone else in the room, asides from Giovanni was doing but his hands were restrained behind his back. Then as suddenly as it had begun, the screeching came to a halt. All seven cats briefly gazed angrily at him as if they were going to mess him up as well.

The mouse got about a foot when his injuries became too much and he flopped onto the floor. The Persians just sat there as if they were waiting for an unspoken order from Giovanni. Then Ash felt a small breeze blow by his feet, he knew what the cats were waiting for, why their eyes had flashed dark blue before they attacked. An enormous white ball of matter appeared in the air next to Ash and zoomed right at him as if he was a magnet and it a bunch of nails.

"Look out!" Ash cried to warn him of the huge Future Sight, which was closing in to him at an alarming rate.

(Huh?) Pikachu looked up and saw the ball of energy just as the Future Sight attack hit!

"KAAACCCCHUUUUU!" He screamed out as the attack struck.

Simultaneously Ash yelled "PIIIKKKAAACHUUUU!" at the top of his lungs as the impact hurled the mouse through the air across the room. He ricocheted off the invisible force field protecting the wall and Fell to the floor. The boy fought against the team rocket leader's grip and his bonds. "You beast! Pikachu! I have to see if he's alive! Please oh please be okay. Please..." His heart jumped as his Pokémon slowly got to his paws.

He groaned as he weakly stood up (Owww). The Rocket boss snapped his fingers again and six cats vanished.

The true Persian swooped on him like hungry Snorlaxes on food but he was too weak to fight. In no time it pinned him to the floor with its heavy paws over his body and dug its claws into his fur so he couldn't escape without injuring himself even more. It asked him something in a low growl. Meowth shuddered as he translated. "Persian is askin' im if he'll go wid dem quietly now an' be da boss' Pokémon or. Else ' " he gulped.

"That's pretty harsh" James replied.

As a reply he spat in the Persian's face. (Now that's gutsy of him) Golduck remarked (good answer).

(What makes you even think I'd go with you, you beast? Go ahead, mess me up again, I don't care. I'll never serve your trainer since I'd rather die than leave Ash. He's a monster and just wants me to be a slave, a servant and doesn't care about my feelings. Ash treats me and any Pokémon he has like equals not like slaves. He treats us if we get sick or injure and he puts our safety and wellbeing first. He never forces me to battle or do anything if I don't want to. I will never abandon him for that horrible, monstrous savage beast you call your master) he replied back.

Ash saw the mouse wink at him. He watched as the Persian furiously slashed an unsheathed across Pikachu's left ear hard as if it were no more than a scratching post. Its sharp claws broke through the layer of skin. He howled out in pain as red flecks came out. The cat slashed the little mouse's ear several more times and Ash knew Persian was beyond mad that Pikachu had called Giovanni a monstrous beast.

{I have to help him, Come on, Think, ash, think. What can I do? Ash told his brain, the part that wasn't panicking about what he had just seen. He thought hard for ten or so minutes, in which Persian was taunting Pikachu, calling him weak, soon-to-die runt, coward and worse insults, saying things like how he didn't care about real power. The young boy couldn't come up with anything since his brain was still in a state of shock. Shock! Shock! Of course!

"Wait a minute! That's it," he said out loud. The answer was so simple and obvious he couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it sooner 'One well done Persian coming up' he called up what little courage he had left

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Persian, Recover and Conversion2!" Giovanni and Ash both called out simultaneously. 'How can a Persian know recover? And what's Conversion2? The teen thought.

"You're in for a real treat," Giovanni whispered in Ash's ears as he tensed the manacles around his arms and he felt them burn into his skin. The teenager bit his lip. "Conversion2 is a very rare move lets the Pokémon change types to a type resistant against the last attack used"

.

Persian closed its eyes for a few a few seconds he did, all the cuts and scratches on his fur vanished. (Th-that's not possible. H-how?) His captive squeaked.

The cat smirked. (Oh it's possible, rat) he- for the voice tone was a deep male's -laughed. (If you think that was something get a load of this) he hissed before letting out an eerie howl that chilled the mouse's fur. His fur and eyes glowed and became as stone gray like Onix. Pikachu shocked as hard as he could, but nothing happened. He tried over and over but the Persian just stood there, unscathed by the attacks. He stopped shocking less than ten minutes later, when he was getting wiped.

(Scared, runt?) He laughed before giving another strange sounding howl as his eye and fur color both went back to normal. (That's your best shot? How pathetic) he laughed again as he dug his claws deeper into Pikachu's body.

Blood spilled out onto the already red -splattered floor. (Let me... go and I'll show you my. best shot) the mouse panted

Persian cackled evilly. (Do you think I'm as stupid as those three-) He jerked his tail in the direction of James, Jessie and Meowth (to fall for that?). Within seconds the cat raised one heavy unsheathed forepaw into the air and brought it down upon the mouse's left side of his face. A serious sharp agonizing pain overcame him as the sharp claws hit their mark- and just missed his eye.

Pikachu yowled painfully in unison as his trainer yelled his name out as four deep bleeding streaks appeared on his face. He could barely move- his paws were in too much pain. The cruel cat's enormous paws were still pinning his body down so any movement would only hurt him more. The electricity in his body was so weak he opened his mouth and let out a weak Growl at Persian, who ignored it and laughed.

(Really? You think you're going to defeat me with that? Like I said, what a pitiful useless attack) Persian said as he dug his claws even deeper into the mouse's fur. A pool of scarlet spilled out. He whimpered softly. (Give up you pathetic rodent. joins Master and me)

His body ached. (Never! Never! I'm... not... pathetic) he panted. (I'd rather die. your master is n-nothing but a c-c-coward. He's way t-too power hungry. His k-kidnaps then Th-threatens people and p-Pokémon just to make them obey orders. He's an in-inhumane monster)

(Don't insult my Master!) Persian screeched as he slashed Pikachu's ear again, harder than before.

"Hey! Leave him alone! You've hurt him enough!" Ash shouted.

(Stay of this pesky human) the cat looked up at the teen and hissed, baring his bloodstained fangs. .

…

The mouse felt faint from the blood loss and the room began to spin. The blood on his fur felt gluey and warm. The air stung from his injuries and the slash near his eye hurt like mad. The scent of the blood on his body and in the room was so strong he could taste it in his mouth. His whole body throbbed with pain. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Giovanni hand Ash back to Lawrence, who literally shoved him onto the floor about ten feet away. He landed in the middle of the fabric that used to be his hat. He looked like he had been beaten up. His face had swollen slap marks on one side where Lawrence slapped him and a small line of dried blood from the knife was under his throat and next to it was another line of blood which had just stopped bleeding. There were little cuts on his arms where Lawrence's knife hacked into the flesh. Pikachu saw the ropes binding his arms and legs cutting into his skin, cutting off Ash's circulation. His eyes and face were red and puffy from crying and his hair was a mess.

(I don't see what's so special about you or that pathetic loser. I'll let that pathetic human watch me beat you up again and again untill he surrenders Then Master can do whatever he wants with you, if you refuse well having that pathetic useless weakling boy around will be useful) Persian said as he lifted a claw near to Pikachu's left ear as if to slice a chunk off.

That was the straw that broke the Girafarig's back, or in this case the Pikachu's back. The comment about his beloved trainer went so hard and deep that he snapped. Ignoring the pain from the huge loss of blood, he did the one thing he vowed he would never do. Desperate times called for desperate measures – he'd heard rumors of how evolution could give one an extra boost in strength and energy. It was time to see if those rumors were true. (That is absolutely it! You may call me weak but NEVER EVER CALL ASH PATHETIC OR A WEAKLING IN FRONT OF ME!) He yelled the last part as he Mega Kicked and Mega Punched Persian off of him. Then a bright white light engulfed him and he began transforming-.

….

Meowth saw the bright light cover Pikachu as he evolved. His small body grew bigger as did his ears and tail. "Holy freaking Miltank."

When the light disappeared, his yellow red fur was a reddish-orange color due to the blood from his injures and the tips of his ears were a muddy brown, with the left one bleeding. His tail was now long and thin with a broad, lightning bolt-shaped tip. His face looked like it had been hacked with a blade badly thanks to that loathsome Persian.

Meowth looked around and saw that he wasn't the only one feeling as if he had just been shocked into paralysis. Everyone but Giovanni was staring at him like they'd never seen a Raichu in their lives. Ash's jaw dropped and in the silence, Meowth heard the muffled sound of his Pokédex:

Raichu, a Mouse Pokémon of the Electric element. Raichu is the evolved form of a Pikachu. It can shock with more than 100,000 volts, enough to render a Dragonite unconscious

He looked at the boy, who stared at Raichu with an amazed look in his eyes as he mouthed the name. The cat immediately recalled Pikachu's speech at the Vermilion City Pokémon Center long ago; when he gave him the choice of evolving so he could beat Lt. Surge's Raichu or staying as he was:

(I will never, ever evolve. I want to battle the Raichu again, just as I am now. I will fight in the name of all Pikachu. I will also defend my honor and your honor too, Ash)

"Dat's odd. ''E said he was never going ta evolve," Meowth said aloud. " An' I taught dat da only way fer him ta evolve was ta use a Tunderstone ",

Ash finally found his voice. "H-h-how?" Misty, Jessie and James could only shrug.

"Meowth, what's Raichu telling the Boss and Lawrence?" James asked Meowth, who was watching Raichu say something to the two men his fur bristling as he talked. He translated what he was saying for the humans

"Raichu ai Chu Rai Raichu Chu RaiAi chu Rai! Ai rai aichu Chu rai Raichu Chu Rai Raichu Chuai Aichu Rai Raichu Chu Rai ai "Raichu was now facing Giovanni. His bristling fur evidenced the hatred the mouse had. "ChuRai Raichu Chu Rai Raichu Aichu Rai RaiAi rai Chu Chu Raichu. Ai Chu Rai Raichu-Rai Chu ai Raichu-chu rai RaichuChu ai RaiAi Chu ai rai rai Aichu rai Chu chura. Raichu rai Chu ai rai-raichu ! !"

" What 'e's is sayin' is dis: I've had up to here wid you hoitin' my best human frien an' pal in da whole world. I don't care dat you kidnapped him or dat ya want 'im outta da way so ya can capture Lugia again'. Ya crossed da line wid me when ya threatened to hoit him". He took a breath. "Dat's beautiful." Tears were running down the cat' face but he took no notice of them as he finished translating "Ya don't know how many times Ash saved my life an' now it's my turn to repay da favor."

After Raichu finished his speech, he tried to run over to Ash, but his paws were moving but he wasn't! (Huh?)

He turned around and saw his new longer tail pinned to the ground by one huge paw of the Persian, whose yellow eyes gleamed at him like an Ampharos' tail in the darkness. The collar that had been around its neck was on the floor.

(Trying to leave, runt? You may have evolved, but you're still no match for me. Any last words?) The cat snickered.

Raichu charged up the remaining electrical energy in his body- he used nearly all of it up making the Substitute, shocking the cage and evolving-Thunderbolted the cat through his tail. (Yes. good-night) he laughed as his tail was released and the cat fell to the floor. With the last of his strength, he summoned a series of stars, which cut the ropes strapping Ash like a knife through hot butter.

He tried to run over to him, but suddenly found his body twitching out of its own accord and then his tail and body seemed to stiffen. (Help.) He muttered. Everything went black as he fainted.

….

.

As soon as the Swift attack cut the ropes holding his arms and legs, Ash saw the electric type faint. "PIKA-RAAAIIICHUUUU!" he yelled out as he ran over to him.

He picked the limp form up, tore off his vest and carefully wrapped the wounded mouse in it stopping his side from bleeding, getting blood on the fabric as well as his badges in the process. He'd have to clean them another time since at that moment all that mattered to him was Raichu's safety. Next Ash knelt down and felt his body. Raichu's body felt somewhat warm and his fur was covered in sticky blood. He wasn't moving at all. "Come on buddy, wake up."

Nothing.

"Want to help me win another badge?" No response. "Say something...Anything… please "

Again there was no reply from the Pokémon. He felt a lump rising in his throat and hot tears began to run down his face. He bent down, put one ear to his Pokémon's chest and for six seconds he listened carefully for a heartbeat, which was very faint.

"Raichu" the black haired boy muttered. "No. Please no, ". He lifted his ear back up 'He can't be... couldn't be.

Suddenly a small smoke bomb exploded and covered him! Misty shouted his name but he couldn't see anything. He felt something thick hit the floor. "What's going on?" he coughed." I… can't see"

He heard Togepi say (I'll help you Daddy. I'll get rid of the smoke) right as Misty said "Togepi no! You don't know what attack is going to happen"

Uh oh. He's using Metronome!

A few seconds later the teen felt a small breeze as a mini Gust attack blew the smoke away. "Thanks Togepi." He looked and saw what hit the floor: a thick closely woven net that covered him and the mouse leaving about a foot distance around him. He looked at the net. I wouldn't be surprised if it's made out of rubber fibers. He gulped as he gazed up through the net and saw Giovanni's smug face.

"You twisted sick monster! You-you killed him. H-how c-could you?" He said, his face hot with tears.

"It's not dead, just extremely weak."

"But-he's barely breathing!"

"You are such a naïve Stupid boy. It takes a lot of energy for a Pokémon to evolve without a stone. It had even less energy because it had used Substitute for the first time."

The teen was confused. "Substitute?"

" A rare move where the Pokémon using it creates a clone that looks exactly like itself. Though it uses up half its energy. " Giovanni explained as Lawrence angrily glared over at meowth, Jessie & James who cringed. "While the clone doesn't last long – for it takes lots of energy to keep a Substitute going it also doesn't cast a shadow. . So I added some Stun Spore dust into a small flap on Persian's collar. All he did while the mouse was talking was Conversion2, put it on his claws ...and well you get the idea. It's so little it wouldn't hurt a human but for the Raichu with little energy. It's just a precaution so it won't fight back. Not that it will fight since I have you." "

"M-Me?" The teenager's heart pounded loudly in his throat. " Why m-me?"

"Oh yes. stupid boy. You're its Achilles' heel. Didn't you see how it didn't want to shock me once I threatened to have Lawrence slice you up? How it risked its own safety to get you free? "

The Spearow attack…he fought them off even when he was critically hurt .the boy looked down at the injured unconscious mouse n his vest briefly. "How despite his injuries he did the thing he swore he'd never do…. for me"

Giovanni nodded. "Yes idiot boy. It shows it will do anything to keep you from harm so I'll use you to break its spirit and bend it to my will. What amazing power, I can't wait to tap into it for my personal gain. But Even if my-" he stressed the word," Raichu had its energy, that net is completely unshockable. If it disobeys me I'll take it out on you. If it continues to rebel …I'll kill you."

Lawrence and Giovanni ignored the trapped teen as they went over to Misty and started threatening her. Ash made sure no one was watching as he unclipped Bayleef's pokeball from his belt. "Don't worry bud I'll have us out in two shakes of a Mareep's tail" he said as he enlarged it, and threw it onto the floor

The pokeball opened. A white burst of energy came out and materialized into his Bayleef. Bayleef was a pale yellow dinosaur Pokémon of the grass type. She had small leaf-like growths sprouting in a ring around her neck and a large leaf shaped scythe sticking out from her head. She had a small tail. She sniffed the air for a few seconds as her pokeball flew back into her trainer's hand. Finding the source of his scent, she ran over to where he was (Ash! Ash!) She licked his face as a sign of affection. Ever since she was a little Chikorita she had a crush on him and although it had subsided she still greeted him warmly

"I know you're happy to see me, but this isn't the time Bayleef" Ash told her and she stopped. She was shocked to see how beat up he looked. She did a double take when she saw a terribly injured Raichu in the net. . It couldn't be ... could it?

Bulbasaur told her how Pikachu refused to evolve- how he made it plainly clear that he would never evoke into one. But yet there was one right there in her trainer's lap. Something must have changed significantly for him to evolve. How's it possible he evolved without a Thunder Stone? She thought she looked up at her trainer as he bit his lip, trying not to cry. He looked hurt- not just on the outside. 'He doesn't look like himself. 'He looks broken

She knew what would help get him back to normal (my Sweet Scent will help calm you down) she said. He nodded. Bayleef waved her scythe and a small cloud of her Sweet Scent powder fell over Ash. As the sweet smelling pink powder settled he felt his worries disappear for a few minutes as it took effect and He sighed almost dreamily

As the powder sunk in, she got a better look at him and her eyes bugged out. His face had swollen slap marks on one side and a small line of dried blood was under his throat next to it was another line of dried blood. There were little cuts on his arms hacked into the flesh and there were deep circles around his arms and legs like something had cut into his skin. His eyes and face were red and puffy from crying and his hair was a mess. (What happened to you?) She looked at the injuries. (When I find whoever did this, they'll get a taste of my Body Slam)

"I'll- I'll tell you later" he mumbled. There was something different in his voice tone- like something had been sucked out of it. She noticed he didn't have his hat.

(Where's your hat?)

"O-over th-there" .he pointed to a spot ten feet away where there was a ton of fabric strips were on the ground along with a shredded red brim in a puddle of red. Wait a minute… red brim? She peered closer and saw the strips of fabric were red and white strips of his famous hat. She also saw there were red puddles with the fabric.

She shuddered then looked away. She saw Misty-holding golduck fearfully as the team rocket leader and Lawrence menaced her. (Psyduck finally evolved?) She asked

"Y-yeah, he did," he told her as he shook some of the sparkling powder off.

(Knew he had it in him.) She muttered to herself (what happened here? Why's there's all this blood)

He choked on the words. "Y-you doesn't wanna know. Trust me"

His eyes were sad. She was worried. She overheard some voices while she was in her pokeball and what she'd heard was very terrible. But instead she said (that's okay with me Ash. Why did you call me out? Do you want me to battle or something?) She asked as he shook the last of the powder off, completely regaining his senses

"Not to battle. I need you to use your Razor Leaf attack to get this net off me and Raichu- "He looked down but all he saw was his blood-soaked vest. He was gone!

"Where is he? Where'd he go" he asked panicky.

(Look over here human) a hiss came from his right side so he looked. He saw that vile Persian smirk at him with a blood soaked claw a half an inch over Raichu's left electrical sack. Another paw held the mouse back against the net. "How did you-?"

The cat's red eyes gleamed. (Get him without you noticing? You'd be surprised how much a large cloud Sweet Scent can dull the senses)

Bayleef gulped. (L-let him go)

The cat pretended to consider this. (Let me think…. No!) He slashed it. Blood ran down Raichu's face, through the fur, through the wire net on its way to the floor. The cat removed his bloodied claw then put it against Raichu's neck as if to slice it off.

He hissed menacingly at Bayleef. (Go on. Try it. You move and I kill the mouse right here, right now. Master can use its fur to clone a new one.)

Ash and Misty gasped as their eyes widened. They were thinking the same thought: 'how does he know about clones if Mewtwo erased his memory back on Mount Quena?'

(He has spent so much wasted money on catching it, though why he wanted it when it was a puny Pikachu I don't know. I can see why now that he and i have seen its power. It will be very useful for us-) Persian licked his lips.

Bayleef shuddered (he wouldn't help you if celebi herself sprouted Dragonite sized wings.) She stood up defensively (I'll- I'll fight you with-)

Persian sneered. (Ha. You and what army? Jessie, James' lame team) Meowth hissed but he ignored it and went on. (I don't care if I have to kill you and the human in order to get it to obey. If that happens well as well then he doesn't have to deal with your trainer ruining his plans anymore. One single move and…) the Normal type let the sentence hang in in the air. (Make your choice) he hissed the last three words.

Her eyes darted from the cat to Ash to Raichu and back again. She was loyal and a bit stubborn but she wouldn't put her friends in immediate danger. She gulped and hung her head. (I- I. I can't. I won't risk my friend and teammate's life). She looked down at her trainer for a few seconds, ashamed that she couldn't do anything. (I'm. Sorry I couldn't help you out of the net. I don't want to risk your safety) she mumbled,

Ash understood her embarrassment. "You tried, Bayleef. Return." he sadly recalled her to her pokeball, and clipped it back onto his belt. After he did this, Persian lifted its blood-covered claw from Raichu's neck.

"No wonder those idiots lost to you, they never attacked your heart." Giovanni said as he walked past and towards where the helicopter was waiting outside, Persian at his side.

Meowth, James and Jessie followed him. As they passed him as they grabbed the end of the net, Meowth whispered out of the corner of his mouth, "We tried ta fool Lawrence but it failed. Sorry twoip. "

"Huh?" The raven-haired boy was confused. "What's he talking about? " It hit him they were the ones who taught Raichu Substitute. As they were dragged along the red-stained floor to the bottom of the helicopter outside on the launch pad he pieced together their plan. " oh…I think I get it," he said to the limp form. "They were going to bring Lawrence the fake you, when you'd be waiting in their balloon. They'd tell Lawrence Misty ran off when they would also be hiding in the balloon. They would then give Lawrence the fake you to give to Giovanni. James would tell Weezing to use its smokescreen attack and Jessie would use a smoke bomb to use as a cover to rescue me. Then we would get in the balloon and split before the substitute faded. Am I right?"

Raichu's reply was a jerk of his paws, which he took as yes. 'Ha. And here I thought those three couldn't do anything right without it blowing up in their faces. Still, it doesn't change a thing between us even though they saved my hide big time' he thought. The net was tied to the bottom of the helicopter very tightly.

Soon the helicopter started moving away from the airship. Soon all Ash could see of it was a small dot. Upon closer look at his tail, He saw it was covered in orange dust specks coming from claw marks at the tip. It was such a tiny amount that it wouldn't affect a human. But when he thought about everything his pal had gone through it was nothing short of unspeakable wretchedness. "That evil sick, power hungry son of a bi-" He began to say a colorful description for Giovanni but before he could finish Raichu's eyes fluttered open.

(H=Huh? Wh-what happened? Last thing I remember-) he began but then the paralysis took effect. His body started twitching, like he couldn't control his movements anymore. Ash knew immediately that it was due to the Stun Spore specks.

" Let's get you cleaned up," he said as he got a small cloth out of his jeans pocket, held him while pressing the cloth against his injured electric sack until the blood stopped running down his fur. "Are you okay?"

(I th-think so) the large mouse nodded.

"I can't believe you did that for me... that took so much courage and loyalty"

(Didn't have a choice.) Raichu shuddered. (Sorry i couldn't. save us...). He seemed to be in great pain.

"Shh, don't strain yourself pal ". He said.

Something nagged at him. It wasn't how Raichu evolved without a stone-though that was puzzling. It wasn't how Persian knew those attacks, another puzzle best left unanswered he concluded. . It was how the team rocket leader knew where he lived and his name. 'How did he know my full name? I've never told anyone, not even Misty'. His mom never talked about his dad, but she told him once that he would have been proud to see him start his Pokémon quest. 'Is Giovanni, the boss of my sworn enemies my father?

XxX. XxX XxX. XxX. XxX XxX. XxX. XxX

After the helicopter left Lawrence wasted no time in trying to get Togepi away. He had her cornered into the cage bars. Knowing he was exhausted she had recalled Golduck to his pokeball, which left her defenseless, as she wasn't going to risk her other pokemon against this madman. Togepi shuddered as he hid in her arms. "You have no place to run, girl. So hand over that Togepi and I won't kill you ... yet"

"N-never" she said.

(I'm scared, Mommy) Togepi whispered as she was pressed against the cold cage bars. They were trapped.

"Don't worry. I'll keep you safe," she told the frightened Pokémon. "I'm not going to let him hurt you." She shuddered as she recalled how Lawrence had tortured him in her horrible nightmare.

The madman grinned. "The kid isn't here to save you this time. If you hand over that creature in your arms I may let you live. You don't have any other options so hand it over!"

(I'm not going with you, you meanie) Togepi proclaimed. (I'm gonna fight for mommy an' for daddy) She looked down and noticed his hands waving back and forth; glowing blue. He was using Metronome again.

'Please oh please be something useful.' He stopped waving his fingers. An orange, fiery twister appeared in his mouth and he blew it onto the floor, where it sunk into the floor and vanished from sight. Lawrence smiled. "I told you before girl, nothing can destroy this ship now! You thought that lame thing could save you? Ha -"

KAAAAABOOOOM!

Suddenly the ship blew up! The explosion, which totally extirpated the aircraft sent Misty and Togepi flying! Luckily she had the smarts to hold him tightly than before the ship exploded. They fell through the air amid blazing scraps of metal. 'So this is how it ends. Good-bye cruel world. I'll never be able to tell Ash how I love-'

Just then something large and orange caught them on his back. (Good thing I'm here or you two would be Fearow food) a recognizable voice told them. Misty recognized the voice-it was Ash's old Charizard!

(Charyzard!) Togepi cried happily. (You saved Mommy and me!)

(Guess I did. I was flying through the neighborhood when I saw you.) He said as they got settled. (What in Mew's name happened here?) He pointed to the blazing scraps of the airship.

She told him a shortened version of what happened, trying not to cry. His eyes went wide when he heard about his old teammate's surprise evolution. "…Now I don't know wh-where they went. If I don't Rescue them now who knows what he's going to do to them. "She ended, choking on the words.

(I don't blame you for being worried. He's inhuman to do that. If it helps I passed a helicopter that reeked of Team Rocket not long ago) Charizard said.

Her heart did a joyful flip. They could rescue them before it would be too late! 'If we get out of this mess alive, I'll tell Ash that I love him and give him a huge kiss', She thought, although she didn't tell this to the dragon as he would probably say something like he knew that from when he was a little Charmander. "Can you track it down?" she asked.

He looked at her like she asked him to fry a Bellsprout (can I track it? of course I can. I'm like a growlithe with wings. Better put Togepi in a pokeball because I'm going to fly super-fast.) He said as he landed on a small ledge jutting out from a rocky cliff.

Misty unclipped an empty pokeball from her belt, enlarged it and showed it to Togepi, who looked scared and shook his head at it. (I don't like those things, Mommy) he protested

"Please do it for me".

(No)

(It's nice and warm, and this way you are out of harm's way in case people try to take you) Charizard added

(Like the man who took Daddy and Waichu?) Togepi asked.

"Y-yes. Th-that man" Misty confirmed.

(From what you told me he's pure evil. if he harms them in any way...) Charizard growled softly as he clenched a claw into a fist.

The little Pokémon gazed from Charizard to Misty and back. (I guess I'll try It. if it means mommy doesn't have to worry about me. You're gonna try to save them wight?)

(On my honor, kid)

"Yes. You just take a long nap in the ball. " She saw a haunted look in his eyes. The events on the ship had shaken him up. "You'll be safe in there."

(Okay) he agreed. She pointed the ball at him and a red beam sucked him safely inside. She minimized the ball and returned it to her belt. .

"Did I make the right choice? " she stared down at the pokeball. She knew she couldn't carry him forever. There were times he walked off and Raichu would follow him to ensure he didn't get hurt. She remembered that time in Viridian City that he got lost and she, Brock and Ash spent all that time looking for him. She recalled that dreadful feeling someone stole him but they'd found him inside the Viridian Gym. Misty still didn't know what had happened to him or how he'd gotten there. Then there was the advantage of having him in a pokeball. "I'll be able to recall him if he's in trouble or hurt'" She said but then a thought came 'what if my pokéballs are stolen?'

Charizard guessed what she was thinking. (He'll be okay in there, Misty.)

"I owe you one," she said.

(He's got to get used to them at some point. at least he won't get injured. I'm surprised he isn't tired. . He's got the makings of a fighter when he learns more attacks. He can't just rely on Metronome; he's got to have some backup attacks too.)

She wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not. Togepi never really battled-there was that one time in Johto when she and Ash had that battle to see who got Totodile but other than that he never really showed interest in learning any attacks. Metronome saved their lives in the Orange Islands once or twice but that was it. "Thanks, I think." She said

(Now let's find them) Charizard declared as he spread his wings and took off from the cliff. He flew, hot on the scent.

The clouds looked like blurs, they went through them so fast. She was glad she was riding a fire type- the tiny droplets of moisture chilled her skin but his internal heat kept her warm. "What's it like inside a Pokeball?" She asked out of pure curiosity as they flew through of the clouds.

(Well. it's kind of hard to explain. the atmosphere gives you a sense of security. Somehow- doesn't ask me I don't know how; you're changed into a ball of red energy and put in your own little world. You can get an idea of what's going on outside the ball so that if you are sent out, you know what's happening but its is kind of like background noise. Many Pokémon see it as a place where they can be safe and take a nap) He explained

She looked down at Togepi's pokeball. "You mean he can hear what we're talking about?"

(Yeah err no. Some Pokémon block the noises out and rest while some like to know what's going on)

'So that's why Golduck popped out all the time. He sensed I was in trouble' she thought.

(To a Pokémon who hates being confined, being in one just for a little bit is like pure agony) the dragon paused for a minute to catch his breath as he dashed through some clouds. (I can see why Pika-) he corrected himself. (I mean Raichu loathes them.). He ended then added (I still can't believe he evolved. it's hard to grasp)

"I know what you mean. We were all stunned. No one saw it coming"

(Seems that Persian went too far. I'm guessing that the extra evolutionary energy burst may have saved his life)

"Evolutionary energy burst?"

(It didn't happen to me but I've heard that when a Pokémon evolves the process sometimes triggers an extra boost of energy. It's quick but that energy can mean the difference between life and death. It can power up abilities and attacks that are low.)

She thought about that for a few minutes. It made sense how Raichu was able to Thunderbolt that abhorrent Persian when he was low on energy. They dipped beneath a wispy cloud to fly closer to the earth (evolution's strange. it affects everyone in different ways. It can change or break a Pokémon for better or worse) the fire type commented.

They said nothing for a few minutes. Misty wondered if this comment stemmed from the fact that he had completely changed personalities when he went through his own evolutions or just a general observation. "What's that?" she asked as she pointed to a swarm of something getting closer to them. As it got closer, her eyes widened when she saw what it was.

"B-B-B-BEEDRILL!" she shouted as the huge swam of poison bees flew even closer. Her face went pale white. She truly hated bug Pokémon.

(Hold on tight) Charizard declared as she clung tightly to his shoulders. He unleashed a huge Fire Blast at the swarm, which burned the bugs to cinders and they fell to the ground like stones. (Beedrill Flambé, yum) he licked his lips as they started to fly down to the ground where the burnt bodies lay in a pile.

"Charizard! This isn't time to be eating!" she yelled at him. He grumbled as he swooped down, grabbed one of the roasted bugs with his claws and flew back up as they were about to hit the ground. "Yuck! How can you eat that?" She asked Charizard as he sunk his teeth into the head of the deceased bug he was holding as if it was a candy bar.

(The only poisonous parts are the tail and arms. A Fearow stole the Raticate I was going to have for breakfast. I haven't had a thing since I left the Charific Valley and I'm starving) he replied. (Are you sure you don't want any? It's very high in protein and vitamins) he said in between bites.

Her face turned the shade of a Bulbasaur's bulb. She hated bugs and Charizard eating the dead one in front of her grossed her out even more. "I'll pass on that offer."

(Suit yourself. But please no hurling on the wings, just waxed them. It takes forever to get vomit off them and chicks dig guys with clean wings. You know what other 'zards in the Valley call me?) Charizard asked her.

"I'd rather not." Misty confessed but the fire type ignored her.

(The love doctor and there's a patient in need of an appointment. Watch the doctor's best shot.) Charizard told her as he flew over to a passing figure, which turned out to be a Pidgeot.

She groaned. 'Great -Just what I need. A pokemonized version of Brock. We'll NEVER catch up with them now'

(Hello, lovely. May I remark how the sunlight hitting your feathers makes you look more beautiful than a shiny Fearow?)

Pidgeot looked at Charizard and then at its feathers for a few seconds. (You're right) she, for the bird's voice was female (I am much more pretty than a shiny)

(The name's zard, Charizard that is. Now that we've recognized how beautiful you are, why don't you and I find a remote cloudbank to show each other our special moves?) Charizard said to the bird

(Go flirt with a Blastoise, lava breath) she retorted back as she started to fly away.

(You're hotter than they are. You're much lovelier than Moltres herself. I've seen her up close) Charizard added.

Misty knew this detail would get the bird's attention. Her black eyes went wide. If she had a mouth instead of a beak, it would have dropped and if the cloudbank she was flying through were a wall, the bird would definitely crashed into it. She slowed down her flying so that Charizard could catch up to her (wheat? You've s-seen M-Moltres herself with your own eyes? One of the most beautiful Pokégods ever?) She sputtered; disregarding there was a human on his back.

(Who hasn't?) He shrugged his shoulders as if a Moltres sighting was common, like a Weedle (But she is a mere Spearow compared to your loveliness.) He replied.

(Would you like to make a new Pokémon with such a handsome specimen?)

(Huh?) Pidgeot was confused (What in the name of Ho-Oh's tail feathers are you babbling about?)

(Moi. Me. Breed with me, lovely. Our egg will hatch into something half Charizard and half Pidgeot)

It took her a few seconds to realize what he was asking. (Selfish rude pig! I don't crossbreed, with jerks! Stupid Charizard! Like I'd mate with someone whose brain's the size of a moon stone) she said huffily as she made a very rude gesture at him with her talon then quickly flew out of sight muttering under her breath.

Misty couldn't hold in her laughter. "Very well played. Is that's your best shot, great 'love doctor'?" she said after she laughed about the talon that the Pidgeot had just given him.

(So, I'm a bit out of practice)

"A bit?"

(But I had her wrapped around my claw when I told her that she was prettier than Moltres. Chicks dig it when they are told they are cuter than a Legendary. Did I have Beedrill guts in my teeth when I talked? 'Cause that's the most likely reason she gave me the talon)

She rolled her eyes, and shook her head. "You're pathetic. Don't you already have a girlfriend? You know, Charla?" She pointed out to Charizard, empathizing the name. The dragon's face went strawberry red, which clashed horribly with his orange hide. "Besides, Pidgeots aren't fire types. It would have never worked out."

(Killjoy.) The dragon grumbled. He spat out what was left of the dead Beedrill, let the carcass drop from his claws, sniffed the air and pointed to a black speck in the distance with one of his nails. (And Bingo was his name-o. There they are!)

"How can you tell?" Misty wondered

(Two ways. One, there's a huge red "R' painted on one side. Two. I can smell Ash and that filthy Rocket scent from here. We're about ten minutes from them. Want me to floor it?) Misty nodded. (Hold on tight then).

He went at such a high speed she thought her face was going to fall off.

XxX. XxX XxX. XxX XxX. XxX.

"Okay I'm going to take the cloth off you." Ash said as he removed the slice of bloody fabric from Raichu's injured electrical sack on his left cheek. The fresh air stung it but the injured mouse ignored it as he licked Ash then curled up into his lap. This was harder than when he was a Pikachu because he was larger now.

"That feel a bit better?" the mouse nodded. The teen took in the innumerable injuries across his body and face. "Sorry I can't fix all your injuries. If that ... horrid Devil has even a shred of humanity he'll let you recover"

(I doubt he will. He seemed pretty serious about whipping and starving me) he shivered. (If he was after me this whole time then why did he take you as well?)

His trainer gulped for a few seconds as he recalled Giovanni's words: 'you're its Achilles' heel. Didn't you see how it didn't want to shock me once I threatened to have Lawrence slice you up? How it risked its own safety to get you free? It shows it will do anything to keep you from harm so I'll use you to break its spirit and bend it to my will. If it disobeys me I'll take it out on you. If it continues to rebel …I'll kill you '

He explained. "When you were out cold he threw this net over us. He- he said I was your Achilles' heel. He noticed that you would do anything to keep me from harm. He t-told me he was going to use me to break your spirit. He- said he was gonna take it out on me if-if you disobey." The boy left out the part about the Rocket leader killing him if Raichu rebelled.

The mouse shuddered again- he seemed to know what his trainer left out. I don't want that man to hurt me. He terrifies me after what happened on the ship...).

"I don't blame you. He scares the blazes out of me too. I won't let him use you for evil purposes." He said as he scratched Raichu behind his right ear and Raichu let out a contented sigh. Ash had taken his bloody vest off him and put it back on himself. "We'll get out of this mess, I promise you."

(Really?)

"Have I ever let you down?"

He shook his head. Ash looked away for a second and Raichu knew who was on his mind. (Misty?) Raichu asked him.

"Yeah" he sighed. "I wish I could see her one last time. I'd do anything to hear her talk even about that stupid bike-"

"You STILL owe me, Ash Ketchum! For your information, it was not a stupid bike!" a voice replied. Raichu sniffed the air with his nose and saw Misty-riding Charizard nearing them.

He nudged Ash with his paws and pointed to her with his paralyzed tail. (Mis-) he called out her name but the stun spore stopped him and he started twitching again. Ash had to hold him down for a second time

"Is that you?" Ash asked tears streaming down his face. She rolled her eyes and gave him a don't-be-a-complete-moronic-dolt-like-Jessie-James-and-Meowth-are look.

"No, I'm Gary."

Ash shuddered at that. Gary Oak was his rival and always seemed to be one step ahead. (She's joking) Raichu told him, which calmed him down.

"If you weren't in this mess, Ash, I'd be giving you something to cry about." She replied, as Charizard got closer. Right now, she had gotten close enough to try to untie the net but first she got a small item-ball out of her pack and motioned for Raichu to stick out his long tail. Misty opened the item-ball above it and white dust fell out of it onto it. He flinched for a minute at the touch of the cold powder and then he could feel his muscles. Charizard,

Ash and Misty watched as the Paralyze Heal powder caused the Stun spore to evaporate. Next she climbed up to where the net was tied at the bottom of the helicopter.

"Don't you worry, I'll have you two out-" Misty started to restore confidence in them as she tried to untie the wire net at the bottom of the helicopter when the glass bottom door opened and she saw two brown shoes. She gulped as her eyes went past the shoes, all the way up to Giovanni's sneering face.

"Don't panic Misty. Just stay calm and don't panic", she said told herself while her brain flashed a red alarm sign PANIC! PANIC! YOU'RE DEAD! YOU'RE DEAD!

Persian put one heavy paw over her hands so she couldn't move. Charizard cut the net open with a small Ember then dived under and caught Ash and Raichu on his back. She saw Giovanni pull out a gun out of his vest and point it straight at Ash's heart. Her heart pounded even faster. "Don't even move. You know boy, you'd make an excellent member of Team Rocket." Giovanni sneered at Ash,

"I'd sooner eat my Charizard and then my Muk!" Ash replied angrily.

(Hey!) The fire type said.

"Don't be stupid like Delia. She could have been rich beyond her puny little imagination. She even promised she'd marry me but she left me when I told her I was the heir to Team Rocket."

"Well, I'd call mom smart if she dumped you!" Ash said but Giovanni continued as if he didn't hear that.

"You can have a plethora of money and rare Pokémon. I can help you become the Johto League champ or rule the world if you join Team Rocket now."

"Rot in hell where you belong." Ash replied.

"I have a deal for you, boy. I let your girlfriend here" Giovanni glanced down at Misty, her face tomato red, "go free and you give me that very powerful mouse of yours in return " He now looked at Raichu, who was shaking with fear behind Ash, with an evil look in his eye," I'll take very good care of it."

"Don't fall for that, Ash!" Misty shouted. "You and I know he'll treat Raichu like sh-" but before she could go on Persian dug its claws deeper into her hands, breaking into the skin and thin lines of bright red blood streamed out running down her hands and she tried not to wince at the pain.

"You'll have to pry him from my cold, dead fingers." he looked him in the eye as he said this.

"As you wish, kid" Giovanni remarked as he pulled the trigger. A speeding bullet came out of the gun's barrel right at him! As if she was watching in slow motion, Misty saw Raichu jump up in front of Ash right as it was about to hit the young trainer and it struck the mouse instead.

"RAAAIIICHUUUU, NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ash screamed at the top of his lungs as the bullet struck him, a few inches from his heart.

At the same time Meowth bit Persian's tail and 'accidently' used Slash on it.

The other cat screamed out in pain. (You'll pay for that!) He hissed as he removed his paws from Misty's hands in order to lunge at his pre-evolved form, who winked at her .

She fell into the cold air. (Gotcha!) Charizard said as he flew under the copter and she fell onto his back. Then the fire type used an enormous Fire Blast at the helicopter, which exploded; sending Persian, Giovanni, Jessie, James and Meowth flew through the air.

"We're blasting off again!" Jessie, James and Meowth shouted before Giovanni started yelling at them as they soon disappeared over the horizon.

XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX

Charizard flew Misty and Ash holding Raichu in his arms, to the closest Pokémon Center as fast as he could and dropped them off at the entrance. As the two humans rushed inside, the orange fire type looked through the window at his old trainer, who was gently handing Nurse Joy Raichu and sighed. 'Wish there was something I could do to help them in their time of need' he thought as he took to the air and began to fly the long trek back to the Charific Valley.

Suddenly he heard a voice in his head "You have done your part well, fire dragon,"

(Huh? Who said that?) He slowed his flying down a bit and looked around. There was no one in sight. 'Okay either I'm going crazy or-'

"You aren't going mad, young Charizard." the voice spoke again –it wasn't harsh but powerful. The dragon opened his maw to speak but the voice continued. "And yes you ARE young for Charizard standards, for them live hundreds and hundreds of years."

(Umm. okay. what or who are you? are you a -)

"I'm afraid I can't reveal myself, I am connected in a way with your trainer"

(Gee, that narrows it down a lot) Charizard said sarcastically muttered.

After what Misty told him a bodiless voice seemed normal to him. He' had an odd feeling he'd heard it before. The voice continued. "Like I said you did your part. You rescued the Chosen One and his Raichu from a fate too horrible to imagine. But Raichu's destiny is in the hands of fate now."

(All I did was save them and blow up that stupid helicopter. I wish there was something else I could do. But my size makes it hard to –)

"There is something you can do. Go back to the center and wait near the window. When the moon is nigh fly against the moon"

(What? How does that help him? Unless you're an über-powerful legendary that can appear in the darkness, heal a fatal wound and turn back time I don't -)

The voice chuckled. "I can't turn back time but I know someone who can. You met me or at least heard me, once me before back in the Orange Islands. You were quite determined to bring the boy to Ice Island so much that you put your pride aside.

Which Legendary do you suppose I am?"

Charizard's jaw dropped as he flew right into a cloudbank and the droplets sizzled against his skin. He knew which Legendary it was. He bowed his head in respect. (I-I –I didn't realize who you were. I'm – I'm so sorry lord-)

He pictured the powerful white and blue bird waving him along with a wing. "All is forgiven. Now you understand why I need your, your size and bulk. Hide nearby and I will give you a sign when it is time. "

(Yes, lord) he bowed his head.

"Thank you. And for what its ' worth, that Pidgeot WAS beautiful," the voice vanished from his mind.

He then turned around and flew back to the Pokémon Center (I owe him my life) he muttered to himself as he flew back, thinking about how Ash had saved his life not once but twice. The first time was when he was a little Charmander. The young boy, Brock and Misty had come along and saved him from dying in a rainstorm after Damien, his jerky ex-trainer abandoned him for being too weak. The other time was in the Orange Islands .a trainer's Poliwrath had Ice Beamed him and his tail flame had nearly gone out. Ash had stayed up the whole night, rubbing the fire type's skin with his hands until they were red and sore, trying to keep the flame on his tail from going out. This sparked a new respect for Ash in Charizard's eyes, for after he had evolved into Charmeleon he had very bad attitude problems. He lost all respect for the human, disobeying his commands to the point of taking a nap in the middle of a battle.

'Poor kid. To witness something like that and after everything he saw in the airship' he touched his heart with a claw. 'He must feel like the bullet did go right through his heart. I just hope that both of them make it through

XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX

Ash was so concerned about Raichu everything else -giving him to Nurse Joy, the Chanseys treating his and Misty's injuries, or sitting down in the waiting room- seemed to be a blur. All he could think was if he was going to be making it through. 'He has to make it. He just has to'. The thought of losing his best Pokémon friend in the world forever- especially after what they had just gone through- was too much to bear.

"Ash?" Misty's voice broke his train of thought. "Weren't you hungry?

"H-Huh?"

"I saw you didn't really touch your dinner. Usually you eat like a Snorlax. You sort of picked at your plate and didn't eat much." she commented after dinner when they were back in the waiting room. "Didn't Lawrence give you anything to eat?"

"Barely" he mumbled. The only thing he had was a stale piece of bread. The aristocrat didn't believe in killing him then only starving him "until you are too weak to crawl to the Shamuti Shrine on your belly", which what he told him when he gave him the bread. The villain had taken delight at seeing him like that. He even ate in front of the starving trainer.

(I ate the whole thing, Mommy) Togepi said proudly Misty had let him out of his Pokeball as soon as she and Ash had arrived at the Center. It was clear that he wasn't upset by the experience at all, but had rather enjoyed it

"I know you did, sweetheart." Misty said. "You're a growing Pokémon."

"I W-wasn't hungry." he mumbled, his growling, empty stomach telling the truth.

She looked him over and handed over two packets of peanut butter crackers and a granola bar she bought from the vending machine. "Here. You may not have been hungry for dinner but you need to eat something. "She lowered her voice. "You went through hell in the past few days. But starving yourself while waiting to hear about Raichu isn't going to help."

"Thanks Mist" he said as he accepted the food. Being as ravenous as he was it only took him a few minutes to devour the food. He had just thrown away the wrappers in the trash as Nurse Joy came up to them.

"Which one `of you is Ashton?" Misty saw Ash flinch at the name. "I have some news about their Raichu for them."

'Must be his full name', Misty thought. 'No wonder he cringed. Now I know why he insists being called Ash. I mean, who in their right mind would name a boy Ashton'.

"That's me. But I go by Ash, not Ashton "Ash said as he jumped out of his seat when he heard that." Is it good news, Nurse Joy? Is the bullet out? Is he going to be okay?" he asked, his face hopeful. "Is he gonna make It"

"It's not looking good" she said as she slowly shook her head. His hopes were crushed. He bit his lip in order not to cry as he sat back down, looking at the floor as if he wanted to hear anything but this news. "Although the bullet is out, he's gravely ill. It seems that it was extremely hard for him to evolve without a Thunderstone and he's also lost tons of blood. There is also some damage done to a few internal organs. It's hard to say if he will make through the night or not. It doesn't look too hopeful at the moment "she ended.

"Can't you do anything else, Nurse Joy?" Misty said in a sad tone. "Raichu was his first Pokémon." she nodded toward Ash. "They were extremely close. They just went through a ... Horrible experience"

"It would take a complete miracle. Chansey, Blissey and I have done all we can, I'm sorry " She sadly and then walked away

…

Ash began to cry his heart out. Misty looked over at her crush. She had never seen him cry like this, sure he cried when he released Butterfree, the first Pokémon he had raised by himself and when he briefly released Pikachu. But never like this, like he was about to lose a very close friend. Their bond was wicked close and what happened on the airship only solidified it. 'What will happen if Raichu doesn't make it?

(Mommy?) Togepi asked her something, interrupting her thought.

"Hmmm. What's the matter?"

(Why's Daddy upset?)

Misty let out a sigh of relief. 'It's a good thing he took a nap in his pokeball. But how am I going to explain this?' She thought. She took a deep breath and began to tell Togepi in the most truthful simple words she could, why Ash was distressed.

"Giovanni," she saw the confused look on his face," the man from the ship with the Persian was going to kill –"

(The dark-haired meanie man that's the dummyheads boss?) He inquired her and she tried not to smile at that. Dummyheads was what Togepi called them, his word for idiot. It was true about Meowth, James, and Jessie. They WERE idiots that couldn't catch a Magicarp if their lives depended on it. But the fact that they actually tried to save them redeemed them... very Slightly.

"Yes, the dummyhead's boss. Why do you want to know?"

(I saw him once before today) he said after a minute.

"W-When, Togepi"

(When we were in that big city, I can't wemember the name. the one where Daddy got his last badge.)

"V-V-viridian City?" Misty asked, realizing she was about to find out where he had been when he was lost there. She remembered that dreadful feeling she'd had that he was snatched.

Togepi nodded. (Yeah -that's the one. The dummyheads found me and took me to him. He asked them what I did and they didn't know and he got mad at them. Then a phone rang and they forgot all about me so I went to find you. Why did you want to know where I had seen him?)

That explains why Giovanni called him useless' "N-no reason." now that she knew what had happened to him, Misty went back to answering his first question. "He had Ash and Raichu tied up at the bottom of the helicopter in that net. I went to try to untie them but a door opened and he had that despicable Persian put its paws over my hands so I couldn't move. He was going to kill me-" Togepi gasped at this. "If Ash didn't hand over Raichu."

(What did Daddy do?)

"He refused a-and-," she stopped, mid-sentence seeing Raichu jump in front of him, taking the bullet for him in her mind

(And what?) Togepi asked her. (What happened next?)

"Giovanni fired a gun right at him but Raichu jumped up in front of Ash and the bullet hit him instead," Misty told him, omitting it struck Raichu one or two inches from his heart- a near perfect bulls-eye.

(Is he going to be okay?) Togepi asked her, a concerned look on his face. (Mommy, w-will he?)

Misty sighed. "I don't know," she admitted. 'I hope so' she added in her thoughts. She then looked over at Ash who had been writing something on a piece of paper he had found.

"Whom are you writing to, Ash?" she asked him.

"Mom" he answered quietly and Misty craned her neck and saw what he had written. There were teardrop smudges scattered across it.

Dear Mom

I will be coming home for good, therefore discontinuing my journey. Misty, Pikachu and I had a horrible run in with Giovanni, the Team Rocket leader. He killed Pikachu right in front of me. I don't want to talk about it. I can't think of going on without him so I will be releasing all of my Pokémon at home. I'm sorry that I let you and dad down. Sorry

-Ash

He put it in an envelope, sealed and addressed it. He stared down at it for what seemed like ages as if deciding to send it or not. He then got up, went over to the trashcan, tore it up into tiny pieces and tossed them into the trash bin. One look at his face as he walked back to his seat and she knew why he chucked it. It was hard for him to explain why his journey was over in a letter to his mom. If she read it, she'd have to come clean with her past to him. Misty guessed that she was trying to forget about it. She would be the same way if Togepi were in Raichu's place.

"When I first got to Viridian City, I called Mom to let her know how I was doing," he said to Misty as he sat back down, a distant look in his eyes, like he wished he were somewhere else "S-she said that dad would have been proud of me. She never talked about him when I was growing up. All I ever wanted was to become the world's greatest Pokémon master" he glanced up at the lighted needle sign above the Emergency Room's double doors, "but I guess this is the end of the road." He started bawling again. "I-If I-I wasn't t-the Ch-Chosen One, n-none of this would have h-happened, R-R-R-Raichu w-wouldn't be d-d-dying." Ash strangled on the words and then resumed crying. To make him feel better, Misty patted Ash on the back.

"It will be okay, Ash "she comforted him. "But, you did save the planet again and at least Psyduck finally evolved "she optimistically pointed out as she picked Togepi up and put him on Ash's lap. By now Ash had stopped crying and was rubbing Togepi's head half-heartedly as if he was trying to think of something.

"Yeah, but you were the one who figured out I was the one the legend talked about. Ummm, speaking of that, I well uh, what I'm trying to say is that uh um." He stopped for a minute, searching for words to say, "I never got to thank you for that, Misty, so uh, thanks. I also want to thank you for sticking with me through this whole mess. It means a lot to me."

She felt her face blush. "You're welcome". She said back.

He resumed looking up at the lighted sign above the ER's double doors. He was like that for the next few hours. He didn't so much as look away when she let out Politoed and told him to cheer Ash up by using his long tongue to stand on his head. When that didn't work, she told him to dance while croaking the alphabet.

(Politoed is funny, Mommy) Togepi rolled on the floor with laughter. Misty looked over at Ash, who just sighed and then went back to looking at the lighted sign.

She returned him to his pokeball and picked Togepi, who had stopped laughing, up with her arms. "Excuse me?" Nurse Joy motioned to misty from the other side of the room so she walked over to her "You came in with the boy with the Raichu, right."

Misty nodded. "Do you know how he lost all that blood and energy?" she asked.

Misty described it to Nurse Joy, omitting a few parts. She felt like she was reliving the events again as she explained them to the nurse.

…

Before she went to bed late that night in the bedroom the Center provided for Ash, Togepi and her, she quietly said "Ho-Oh, Mew, whoever is up there. It's me, Misty. You probably have witnessed the events that brought Ash and I here. I have one thing to ask of you. Please don't let Raichu die. Ash would be beyond brokenhearted. Raichu saved his life." Misty looked over at the next bed where he was asleep. He was so drained from that day's events – both mentally and physically- it had taken him little time to get changed for bed and even less time to fall asleep. "You saw how close they are. He's saved the world a bunch. Please help him now."

(Mommy?) Togepi asked her sleepily.

She smiled at him. "You're supposed to be regaining your energy from doing Metronome twice. Metronome takes up a lot of energy," She said as she got under the covers.

(That's a weally nice what you said. If I were a legendary, I'd answer it)

"I know you would."

(N-night) he yawned before curling up into a ball, closing his little eyes and falling fast asleep. She gently put him next to her and pulled the cover over him so it covered the lower half of his body .She looked down at him lovingly and sighed.

As she looked up at the full moon through the windows and yawned, she thought she saw a large outline against the moon. 'No, it couldn't be... He can't leave' the-' she didn't finish the thought as she yawned again, overcome with tiredness from the emotional exhausting day. Within a few seconds she was fast asleep.

,

When he was sure Misty and Togepi were both fast asleep, Ash- who'd been lightly sleeping for he couldn't fall totally sleepin fear of revisiting the day's events- snuck out of bed. He got a small blue box out of his jeans pocket and quietly walked out of the room, closing the door most of the way behind him.

"Umm... excuse me miss?" he asked a Chansey on the night watch.

(Yes? Can I help you, young man?)

"Th-There was an injured r-r-Raichu that was brought in earlier today. Do you kn-know-"

One look at his worried face and the kindly pink Pokémon understood. (If he's okay and what room he's in?) She finished and He nodded. (Come with Me. dear. I'll show you. )

She brought him down the corridor and to the left. They stopped at a door halfway closed. She opened the door all the way (that's so he gets some fresh air. He was gravely wounded but he's recovering) the teen breathed with relief. (But he's sleeping now)

"Thanks." he walked quietly into the small room.

The sight that welcomed him quickly turned his stomach and made him mentally sick. It was painful ignoring the IV fastened to Raichu's paw, or at the large bag of fluid attached to a stand on the left side of the bed pumping oxygen into his body through the IV. The countless cuts and bites from the Persian had been cleaned up with healing cream and now were simply swollen though a few were gone. There must have been way too many for Joy, Chansey and Blissey to heal in addition to the blood loss, injured paw and bullet they had to take care of. It was worse not to look at the machine next to his bed on the right connected to him by wires attached to his body. It monitored his heartbeat as thin waves on a computer screen next to the bed. Looking at a small table where the bloodied bullet shell had been made his face go pale. He forced himself not to look at it. The room's silence was only broken by the heartbeat machine beeping and the pokemon's quiet breathing.

"Hey, pal. I n-never thanked you for taking the g-gunshot for me" Ash choked as he approached the bed. "Are you up?" he muttered as he stroked his fur, many parts of it swollen where Persian had bitten and slashed him.

A weak (huh?) Was the reply he got . Raichu opened one eye slowly when he heard the voice. He turned around, looked up and managed a small smile. (Hi.)

The claw marks across the left side of his face were faint scars thanks to Chansey and Blissey's help. The teen's face-hardened for a few seconds at the sight of the gashes. "You okay?"

(I-i thinks so. My body is in so much agony and pain.).

"For what you went through you look really good", the human truthfully said. Then after a minute he asked the one puzzling question on his mind ever since the incident.

"H -how did you evolve without a Thunder Stone? I thought it was impossible…."

(It's... extremely rare to happen. There was suddenly this huge spurt of energy that gave me the energy. You were in danger and there was. I knew what I. Had to do. ) He slowly said. (Besides. I had to save your life. You did it for me the day we first met. Remember the Spearows?)

"Yeah." Ash nodded. He would never forget that moment

XxX flashback scene XxX flashback scene XxX flashback scene

XxX flashback scene XxX flashback scene XxX flashback scene

He put the pokeball next to the bruised injured mouse on the wet ground. "Get in the ball."

The electric type shook his head at it. (Are you crazy? No way am I going in that thing again- forget it)

"I know you don't like it but this way I can save you." He stood up and walked a few feet over to where the Spearow flock was fluttering in the howling rainstorm.

He stood tall as he said "Spearows! Do you know who I am? I'm Ash from the town of Pallet. I am destined to be the world's number one Pokémon Master. I can't be defeated by the likes of you! Pikachu, go inside the Poké Ball it's the only way!" He ordered without even looking at the mouse, which was stunned. "I'm going to capture and defeat you all. You hear me? Come and get me"

They flew at him! He waited for the impact but the mouse got off the ground, jumped off the boy's shoulder into the air and harnessed the lightning. (TAKE THISSSS!) He shocked the birds with a massive Thunderbolt-one of which hit the girl's bike Ash had taken and charred it to a crisp.

The combination of lightning and rain was so strong it knocked the boy out,

When he woke up in the sunlight he saw the injured yellow pokemon about two feet away from him. He smiled. "Well we beat them."

(Yeah, we sure did. You know … you're not so bad for a human.)

XxX flashback ends XxX flashback ends XxX flashback ends XxX flashback ends XxX flashback ends

(When that despicable Persian and his copies were attacking me I tried to fight back against them but I was drained from creating the Substitute. I knew you wouldn't want me to give up so I gave it my all. )

"The speech you said to that Persian was so moving."

(Thanks. I couldn't hold on much longer after he pounced on me and I thought that I didn't have any strength left due to the blood loss. But when it said those comments you being a weakling and pathetic really hit deep. I knew what I had to do to save your life and my own. That was when I snapped. You're the best human friend I could have. Don't tell anyone, but I wouldn't want anyone else except you to train me.)

"I won't." Ash said, feeling tears roll down his face. "I-I want you to the first one to know" He said as he reached into his pocket, pulled out the blue box and opened it to show him what was inside.

It was a magnificent- looking ring with a small Water Stone piece cut into Misty's initials: MIW. These three letters stood for Misty Imusak Waterflower, which was Misty's full name. The ring's band was an aquamarine color that matched her eyes.

"After all, you were the one who brought us together. Well technically it was the Spearows that were chasing us but still." Ash said as he closed the box and put it away in his pocket.

He closed his eyes. In his mind images of some of the past day's events started to come up seriatim at once: Waking up on Lawrence's airship reuniting with Pikachu. Psyduck standing up to Lawrence saving Misty's life and evolving. Giovanni entering the whole situation, Pikachu getting hit by that delayed Future Sight attack. Pikachu evolving. Giovanni threatening to kill him. And the worst of all, watching Raichu take the bullet intended for him. This last scene kept recurring over and over in ash's mind. He had to open his eyes to stop it.

When he did he instantly knew something was wrong. Looking back down at the bed where Raichu lay, he saw that his eyes were closed. He felt the mouse's body with his hand, which felt cold whereas a few minutes ago it had been warm and gasped. There was a stillness in the room as the only no breathing in the room was his own. He looked up to the machine that monitored Raichu's heartbeat. It stopped showing the weak waves and now a flat line was appearing on the screen. "Oh no…oh no., oh no. " A huge lump rose in his throat. The boy knew what that flat line meant. At that moment the reality hit Ash like a herd of stampeding Ponytas. Raichu, his first ever pokémon was dead, taken from him in a bold act of sacrifice. Before he knew it, tears were streaming out of his eyes and down his face.

I close my eyes

And I can see

The day we met

Their first meeting and the Spearows

Just one moment and I knew

You're my best friend

'Do anything

For you

Getting the SuperPotion for him

They're many battles with Team Rocket

We've gone so far

And done so much

And I feel

Like we've always been together

The battle with Surge's Raichu

Right by my side

Through thick and thin

You're the part of my life

I'll always remember

All their times together

The time has come

It's for the best I know it

Who could've guessed that you and I...

Somehow, someday

We'd have to say goodbye.

Reuniting with one another after he released him briefly

You've helped me find

The strength inside

And the courage

To make all my dreams come true

Their battles in the Indigo Championship and the Orange Crew finals

How will I find

Another friend

Like you

Huddling with him and other pokemon in that cave during the snowstorm

Two of a kind

That's what we are

And it seemed

Like we were always winning

All of their gym battle wins

But as our team

Is torn apart

The fierce battle with the Persian on the airship

I wish we could go

Back to the beginning

The surprising evolution

The time has come

It's for the best I know it

Who could've guessed that you and I...

Somehow, some way

We'd have to say goodbye.

Giovanni firing the gunshot and Raichu taking the bullet

Somehow today...

...We have to say goodbye

"NOOOOOOOO!" Ash sobbed and his hot tears fell onto Raichu's lifeless fur. "Raichu, please don't-Huh?"

He stopped as a single teardrop fell onto the mouse's body and an enormous white light, not unlike the glowing light of evolution, covered the still body.

He watched as his body started growing smaller, the scars from the Persian's attack vanishing. Yellow fur washed across his shrinking body replacing the red-orange fur. His ears grew smaller as did his tail. His body stopped shrinking and the light disappeared, leaving a Pikachu in the Raichu's spot.

Ash looked up at the screen next to the bed that monitored his Pokémon's heartbeat. It stopped going in a flat line and started going in enormous waves. He felt a small lick on his hand and looked down at him and smiled. (Ash? Wh-what happened? Why do I have an IV in my paw?)

"Shh, pal. Everything's going to be okay" Ash said to restore confidence in him. "Do you remember what happened just now?"

Pikachu looked confused (no. Why?)

Ash bit his lip. "Y-you left this world for a few minutes, pal" ash said plainly.

(You mean...I d-died?) He nodded. (But-) the mouse fell back asleep. Apparently coming back from the dead – on top of everything else - had utterly wiped him out.

Before Ash fell asleep, he heard a familiar Pokémon voice in his head "Chosen One, I have saved your Pikachu's life for you saved mine twice now. He is a very special Pikachu and I now see why you two are destined to be together. May we meet again in the future"

"Lugia…?"

XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX. XxX

Afterwards Misty told him when Nurse Joy came into the room the next morning to check on Raichu she couldn't believe her eyes. The mouse, which had pretty much been on death's doorstop, had changed back to a Pikachu. Aside from a cracked rib and one or two slash marks on his body, there wasn't a sign he had been inches from dying or that none of the events Misty had told her the night before had ever taken place. She was baffled at what had happened but he knew better. Also all of his Pokémon were next to or nearby him. Noctowl had watched the door while Cyndaquil kept Ash and Pikachu warm with her body. Totodile was asleep behind them under the window-he'd been guarding it all night, ready to bite anyone who tried to sneak up on his trainer. His Bayleef had fallen sound asleep; her head on his knee and Phanpy was asleep at his feet, her trunk on his shoe. Misty said Chansey found this out when she went to check out a noise in their room that night, which turned out to be the Pokémon getting out of their pokéballs and coming into the room where they were.

Later that day while Pikachu was getting a check-up to make sure he was okay since he had gone through a great ordeal in the last two days, Ash slipped the blue box with the ring into Misty's bag while she was getting Golduck checked over. He sat back down as she came back into the waiting room, Togepi in her arms "So, um, is he okay?" he asked her, trying to make conversation.

"He's perfectly healthy according to Nurse Joy. She told me that Psyduck really must have cared for me when Lawrence was twisting my arm and threatening to kill me to evolve into such a handsome Golduck. Togepi also had a checkup too, didn't you baby?" Misty happily asked Togepi.

(Nurse Joy said she should be weally proud of me for making the mean man's ship explode) Togepi beamed at Ash, who could only smile feebly

"That's great, Togepi" he said, his stomach feeling like there was a flock of Butterfrees in it.

Misty sat down next to him. "Is something bothering you, Ash? You don't seem like yourself today." She asked him.

'Aside from the fact that there is a ring and a note that explains my feelings for you inside your bag, nothing,'. Instead he gulped, faced her and said, "There is nothing wrong with me, Misty. Honest."

She looked at him strangely as if to say, "Yeah right" so he grinned uneasily as if to prove it and after a minute of silence he got up and ran past her, muttering something about the restroom. As he did, he felt his face redden

,

She stared at his retreating form as he went into the Emergency Room's double doors instead. She sighed, rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Boys act so weird,"

She put Togepi on the floor. Next she picked up her bag, lifted it onto her lap and looked for her journal, a small book that she was able to write in when she pretended to be asleep so Ash wouldn't see its contents, most of which included her deepest thoughts about him. This would be a perfect time to write about what had happened in the past two days but instead of her diary Misty pulled out a small blue box. "What's this?"

(What's in there?) Togepi asked her as she looked at the box

"I don't know." She answered. He watched Misty as she opened it. "Holy Miltank."

Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped. In the center was a ring with three tiny pieces of a Water Stone that were carefully cut into three individual letters, M.I.K., These three letters stood for Misty Imusak Waterflower, which was her full name. The ring's band was an exquisite aquamarine blue color with lines of ocean blue mixed in. Misty just stared at the ring in awe for a few minutes. A note written in neat blue ink, as if the person writing it had taken time to decide on the words, next to it read:

We met each other by accident

I know our meeting was to be meant.

Throughout the years we've developed into close friends

Will you become my girlfriend?

I know at times you think I don't have a clue

But to be honest I really do love you.

-A.I.K

Misty lifted Togepi up onto her lap so he could see it (It's beautiful, Mommy. Are those emitals?) He pointed at the A.I.K at the bottom of the note with a tiny finger and she nodded.

"It's pronounced initials. It stands for Ashton Ihsotas Ketchum" Misty corrected him.

Togepi was confused by the name. (Who is Ayysh-ton eye-suit-taze?) Togepi had trouble pronouncing the name.

"It's pronounced Ih-so-tas "she corrected him

(Oh, who is he?)

"That's Ash, sweetie" she explained dreamily as she put the ring on her right hand and just stared at it for a few minutes.

(Uh mommy...)

She looked up and saw her crush standing in front of her, his face redder than a Fire Spin attack. Raichu, no, Pikachu was on his usual post on Ash's shoulder. At first she blinked and rubbed her eyes with her hands to make sure she wasn't dreaming. No, she wasn't seeing things- there was Pikachu. Asides from a sash-like white hospital bandage around his ribs and a faint slash mark on his face, he looked normal. Like nothing had happened to him at all, like he hadn't been inches away from death the night before, never evolved without a Thunder Stone. She and Togepi stared at him for a few minutes, looking from him to ash back to the electric type mouse. "How did you...I saw you get hit with ... but you were a Raichu..."

Pikachu lightly jumped off Ash's shoulder onto the chair next to her. (I don't know what happened myself.)

"Maybe it's fate for you to be this way"

He shrugged. (Probably)

Misty put Togepi on the floor and placed the box with the note gently in her backpack on the floor "Uh. I see that you got my ring" Ash said.

"Oh, y-yeah I d-did" Misty responded.

"I was going to give it to you in the gym, away from your sisters. But you kinda yelled at me and." he stopped mid-sentence, bit his lip and looked down at his shoes for a minute or two. There was no need to finish the sentence.

'I wondered what he was going on about. I can't believe that we both loved each other but were both as stubborn as Tauros to admit it to one another ' Misty thought as she peeked down at the ring for a few seconds. 'He's got a lot more guts than me"

He looked back up at her. "I-I needs to tell you something, Misty I… forgot that I owed you a bike until that fight in the forest. I. Really like you but it didn't really sink in until I saw the note from the dolt trio and the time n Lawrence's ship. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I l-l-"

(Love) Pikachu suggested.

"L-love you." Ash finished

Misty's face went the color of a rose. Togepi smiled, he knew what she was going to say for it was something that she hadn't yet told the black haired boy. "I have something to tell you too. I l-love you with all my heart, Ash Ketchum. What happened on the ship only made me realize how much I care for you? " She stood up as went right up to him and kissed him right on the lips, something she had wanted to do since she came across him just about four years ago, well really since the whole Lugia incident.

"Uh I-" Ash started to say but Misty surprised him by planting her lips onto his and kissing him. This was not what he expected whatsoever! It was beyond amazing- fireworks seemed to explode as they kissed passionately for an eternity, well it seemed that way to Misty.

XxX XxX XxX

Ash didn't remember leaving the Center. He was in a daze after that kiss, his first real kiss by a girl who was now his girlfriend. Once they had walked for about five minutes, Misty asked him how he had managed to pay for the ring, which she kept looking at. "All the money from the battles-" he started

That reminded misty of something. "Wait a minute, you still owe me a battle from the gym" she interrupted.

"I do not!" Ash protested.

"You do too!" Misty responded to him.

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

"You do too! You and I never ended the battle at the Cerulean Gym. I would have creamed you if Jessie, Meowth and James hadn't stormed in and disrupted our battle".

"Everyone knows I could cream you with Muk alone, But he'd take one look and fall in love." Ash regretted this as soon as he realized what he said. "Eep!"

Sometimes he didn't think before he spoke which landed him in a lot of hot water- this was undeniably one of those times. 'Why didn't I keep my big mouth shut?' he thought.

He began to slink away but he only got about a few inches away before Misty became a violent volcano. Her head grew ten times larger and her mouth seemed to have taken on fangs, all within a minute. Her pupils seemed to be on fire and her veins popped out of her forehead. She could have scared the crud out of Jessie, Meowth and James with her scary facial expression.

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN, ASH KETCHUM?" she yelled at the top of her lungs as she ran after him, her mallet in one hand, Togepi was in the other.

(Bad choice of words. She's going to hunt you down like a Growlithe for that comment.) Pikachu said as he clung to Ash's shoulder with his paws as he steered clear of the blows of the mallet.

"I know, pal. I have got to learn to watch what I say or you can Thunderbolt me every time I say something stupid, like that… for example." Ash said to him as he ran as fast as he could as if his life depended on it, which in a way it did.

'At least she's not bugging me about that stupid bike anymore,' he thought

Narrator: Now that the mess with Lawrence is over, what new adventures and friends will our two heroes come upon next? Will Ash ever learn to think before he speaks? Will Lawrence continue to chase them? I don't know the answers to those questions since I'm not psychic nor know Future Sight

The end

Very Long Author's note: How's that for an ending? Did you know that the kiss and the ring were the reasons I wrote this superb, romantic story? Shocked at Pikachu's evolution? Wasn't it exciting? Happy with the ending?

It's impossible that Persian knows recover, Future Sight and Conversion2-. How it learned them even I DON'T know. It's also unlikely for Golduck to know Recover, but I needed him to use confuse ray and telekinesis to confuse Persian and to get the cage away from puzzled cat so I used a quick recovery move. To my knowledge, Lugia didn't speak to Charizard in the film but I think he heard what Lugia was saying when he was inside his pokeball. I'm aware Lawrence is crueler than he is in the movie. I think his obsession for revenge twisted his mind. As stated before, this fic takes place in between Misty's Poliwhirl evolving and Ash meeting Clair in Beauty is skin deep. In the fic Misty inquires of Charizard if he forgot that he has "a girlfriend back at the Charific Valley?" But in the show it's not said until Great Bowls of Fire by Clair that Charizard is Charla's "knight in shining armor".

. If you're wondering about the whole evolving-without-a-stone thing, well I guessed it's like the friendship evolution. Did anyone like Charizard's explanation of what inside a pokeball is like? I just had to put Jessie, James and Meowth's "We're blasting off again" line in. Come on what's a pokemon fic without that line-too classic! Use your imagination to figure out what kind of attack Togepi used to make the airship explode and to find out what happened to Lawrence and Gio but they don't die.

Did you love the talon? I crack up every time I read it! I didn't put Brock in this fic since he's a source of comic relief- he takes away from the true romance/ plus in my belief he couldn't get a girlfriend if he were the last guy in Johto so I had Charizard flirt. Weird how I mention him three times in the fic yet he's not in it? You figure out how Ash knew Misty's middle name and vice versa. Hope that you liked it.

Thanks again! Please review and check out my other stories