"Ha! Look at those twerps. All back together and everything is so happy-happy-happy." Jessie mocked evily as she and her two companions watched Ash and the others from their binoculars.
"Won't be all happy-happy when we take the twerp to the boss." James interjected.
"Let's get him." Meowth cackled as the trio started to move in quietly while Ash and friends came outside.
"I'm sorry about your father, Ash," sympathized Misty. "He sounded like a wonderful man."
No response.
"Ash?"
Misty shook Ash's shoulder to get his attention. He still did not make any sort of response.
"Pika-pi?" Pikachu vocalized.
Ash stared off into the afternoon landscape, unable to think. He sniffled a bit in sadness at the news of his father's death at the hands of a friend.
"He was his friend. And he betrayed him." Ash sobbed before quickly turning into a rage. "HE WAS HIS FRIEND!"
Brock and Misty stepped back a couple steps and Pikachu quickly got off of Ash's shoulder to give him some space.
"I will find this Drake. When I do, I'm gonna be ready! When I do, I'm going to kill him!" Ash raged. "He is going to pay dearly for what he took away from me! I will not rest until I bring him to justice!"
"Sounds like we're off on another whirlwind adventure." Brock said humorously.
"Just take a deep breath and think this through for a second, Ash," Misty put her hands on his shoulders. "I know that you are upset about your father but think clearly just this once about this. We don't know what may happen with this. We know what they are capable of and for that reason, we may not even come back alive if they are planning on doing what Jack says they are planning on doing."
"I don't need to think about this," was the response from Ash. "I am sure of it this time. I am going to do whatever it takes to make sure this Drake's crime does not go unpunished. Brock, what if someone murdered a member of your family? You'd want to avenge them right?"
"Of course I would," nodded Brock. "I wouldn't rest until that person is held responsible for it either."
"Misty, what about your sisters?"
"I...uh..." Misty sputtered to come up with an answer.
"You would, wouldn't you?" Ash said, knowing what she was going to say anyway.
Misty sighed in defeat. "I guess so. They may drive me crazy at times. Scratch that. All the time. But I would kill for them if they asked for it."
"Exactly the point I am trying to make here, guys." Ash exclaimed. "You now understand why I have to do this. I'm not asking you to come with me, guys. This is something I have to do myself. We have done many great things together but this is something that I cannot bear myself to bring you with me on. You guys will always be my friends, my best friends for that matter. I love you both too much to do that to you."
"Well in that case, prepare for trouble!" An all too familiar female voice cried out.
"Better step on it and make it double." A male voice pipped up.
"To protect the world from devastation,"
"To unite all peoples within our nation,"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love,"
"To extend our reach to the stars above,"
"Jessie."
"James."
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight."
"Meowth, that's right."
"Wobbuffett! Wobbu!"
Ash and the others groaned at the sight of Team Rocket. This was a never-ending narrative that they weren't sure was ever going to end. Team Rocket shows up, wanting to capture Pikachu, they almost succeed on some occasions than others only for Ash and the others to get Pikachu back and blast them off.
"When are you guys ever going to give up?" Misty asked, getting quite tired of Team Rocket's persistence. "No matter how many times you try, you always fail to get Pikachu and are sent blasting off every single time. It's time for you guys to get a new hobby."
"Shut it, twerpette!" Jessie raged before turning calm again and pointing at Ash. "We're not here for Pikachu this time. We're actually here for him."
"Me?" Ash asked curiously. "What could you even possibly need me for?
"Yes. You, you twerp," growled Jessie. "If you come with us, we will happily explain it to you on the way."
"So let's not make a big mess out of this and just come with us." interjected Meowth. "The boss will be very happy to see you."
"If you think I'm coming with you, you're out of your minds!" Ash growled before plucking a Pokéball off his belt and tossing it out. "Charizard, I choose you!"
The fire dragon appeared before his trainer and let out a mighty roar to announce his arrival. He glared at the three villains in contempt, awaiting a command from Ash.
"Well two can play at this game," Jessie shot back before tossing a Poké Ball of her own. "Go Seviper!"
"Make that three. Go Carnavine!" James interjected.
A black and purple snake appeared before Jessie and a Venus flytrap type creature appeared before James, only to have it engulf his head in its mouth after appearing.
"Ah! Carnavine, stop!" James cried out. "Get Charizard. Not me!"
Carnavine eventually let go of James and assumed battle stance with Seviper.
"Seviper, use poison tail!"
"Carnavine, bullet seed!"
The two Pokémon launched their attacks with haste, but Ash was not nervous, not by a long shot. He smirked as he called out Charizard's attack.
"Charizard, fly up and use flamethrower!" Ash commanded.
Charizard did exactly as commanded and flew up into the air, over the two Pokémons' attacks, causing Carnavine's bullet seed to hit Seviper instead when Seviper went for his poison tail attack.
"James, you buffoon! Control your Carnavine!" Jessie raged.
"My fault?" James retorted. "Well if Seviper hadn't gotten in the way, poor Carnivine would not have hit him!"
While they argued, Charizard unleashed a barrage of flames from his open maw, raining down on the two Pokémon and burning them. Charizard flew down and with one giant swipe of his tail sent the two Pokémon into their trainers, sending them flying back into the fountain.
Ash saw his opportunity and gestured to Pikachu, who quickly moved up with gusto, knowing what Ash was going to call out.
"Pikachu, you know what to do. Thunderbolt them!"
"Pika-CHHHHUUUUUUUUUUU!" Pikachu unleashed the most powerful thunderbolt he could muster and sent it toward the three villains and their Pokémon, emitting pained cries from the villains before an explosion happened and Team Rocket was sent into the sky.
"Well that didn't work." James said bluntly.
"I don't see you making any ideas so unless you do have any ideas, just shut up James!" Jessie cried out.
"Why don't the both of you shut up because..." Meowth interjected before transitioning into their catchphrase.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" The three villains yelled out before flying off far away.
"Boy I'm glad that's over." Ash grinned before turning to Charizard. "Great job, Charizard. You deserve a rest."
Before Ash could officially call Charizard back, he received a blast of flames in the face, causing Brock and Misty to laugh.
"Some things never change, huh Ash?" Misty giggled.
"Alright, Charizard. You had your fun." Ash glared before officially calling back the fire dragon.
"Well looks like I'm on my way from here," he then turned to Brock and Misty. "I don't ask you guys to come with me. This is my own personal crusade that must be undertaken by me only. You can go back to your gym and your hospital if you want. But know this, I will be a changed person when I return to you. No matter what, guys, you were my greatest adventure. I don't ask you to try and stop me."
"Ash, we're coming with you." Brock answered on his and Misty's behalf. "I made everyone at the hospital think I was off on a family emergency. I'm in the clear for a couple days so I should be fine."
"And I can close the gym for a couple days," interjected Misty. "Let's make this our last great adventure before we go away from each other forever."
"So are we allowed to come with you?" Brock asked, putting his hand in, which Misty also reciprocated.
Ash hesitated for a minute, not sure what to say. He appreciated the fact that Brock and Misty continually let their lives on the line for him every time they went on an adventure together but this he was not sure about. He felt he had a duty to bring his father's killer to justice by himself but now things were now a little unclear.
"Ah, what the heck." Ash slapped his gloved hand on top of Misty's. "Just so you know, I can't promise your safe return."
"If we're going to go down, we're going down together." Brock smiled, which Ash and Misty returned before they broke with a battle grunt.
"Alright, let's go then."
And with that, the three friends set off into Viridian forest with the afternoon setting at their fronts, ready to face whatever challenges that come before them. It didn't matter what the adversity, they would overcome it together no matter what.
A/N: Review!