It turned morning. The doctor that had given the news to the group the day before walked through the hallway, to the emergency ward. When he was about to enter the room where Misty was being treated, a nurse who came out of the room startled him. "Doctor, I think you want to see this," she said, gesturing him to get inside.
The doctor looked at Misty's sleeping form. She had a lot more color in her face then the evening before. "That is unusual. Yesterday she was as pale as can be. I never thought she would be recovering this fast, if at all," he said.
"That is what I wanted to tell you, doctor. Her life signs are stable. Like nothing happened," the nurse explained. The doctor didn't say anything and began an examination. In all his years he hadn't seen anything like this before.
Ash woke up groggily. He yawned loudly. The night hadn't been good to him; he barely had gotten any sleep at all. He looked around and saw that everyone was asleep, except for Brock. He was nowhere to be seen.
Careful not to wake up the others, he stood up and stretched out. It was then that he realized why he was here. Everything came rushing back. "Was it all a dream? No, it cannot be… a dream… can it?" he thought. He looked at his thumb, and his eyes widened. The wound on it was healed, but still there.
"Hey Ash, awake I see," a voice spoke up. Ash turned his attention away from his thumb and looked at Brock, who was holding two cups of tea. "Here, one for you. Figured you'd be thirsty," he said, handing Ash one of the cups. Ash took it and took a sip. "It is time. I hope the doctor tells us what the situation is," he muttered. Brock wanted to say something, but he was interrupted by May, Max and Pikachu who were also waking up.
Brock had gotten some more tea for the others. Nobody said a thing. They didn't know what to expect. Ash tried not to think about it, and so did Brock. "All we can do is wait," Ash suddenly said. The others gave a nod. There was nothing they could do. However, that changed when the doctor busted in.
"What do you mean, she's alive?!" Ash exclaimed, after hearing the doctor explain what he had discovered. "I mean that she is out of life's danger. In fact, she has recovered so fast she can get out of the hospital," the doctor said. Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
"That is impossible. She was dying when she was taken in," Brock said, stunned. "And now all her wounds have been healed. I don't know how to explain it, but it is a miracle," the doctor replied. Ash couldn't take more of it. "Can we see her?" he asked.
"Sure, follow me. We've placed her in a normal room," the doctor said, and lead the way. The group still couldn't believe it. Especially Ash. He thought back when he met that strange man. "Could he really have saved her?", he thought, as they walked towards Misty's room.
Giovanni sat at his desk, thinking about the events that had happened earlier. He was broken from his thoughts, when his phone rang. "Yes, what is it?" he asked, after he picked up the horn, making connection. A nurse was on the other end. "Sir, you might want to hear about this," she said.
"Here we are," the doctor said, opening the door for the group to enter. And indeed, Misty was in a bed on the other end of the room. Pikachu immediately ran up to her and jumped on the bed, crying out while she hugged him.
"Hey there Pikachu. There's nothing to worry about. I'm feeling much better now," she said, stroking his fur gently. She looked up to see the rest looking at her. Ash couldn't believe what he saw. She was full of life.
Giovanni hand listened to the phonecall with great interest. After he had hung up, he knew that not all was lost. He pressed the button on his desk to use the intercom. "Send Jessie, James and Meowth up here. Now," he said, and cut the connection. He sat back in his chair. He grinned. It wouldn't be long now. He touched the book in front of him.
"So Misty, how do you feel?" Ash asked, still looking very surprised, even more then the others. "I feel just fine. Like nothing happened," she said. The other walked towards her and stood around her bed. "You seem to look much better indeed. Strange," Brock said. Misty nodded. "I've healed very quickly. I don't know how, but I did," she said.
"Damn, we forgot something!" Ash suddenly exclaimed. Everyone looked at him, surprised. "What is it, Ash?" May asked, confused. "We haven't called her sisters about all what has happened," Ash explained. He completely forgot about it, but then again, who could blame him, after all those past events?
Misty interrupted him. "You don't have to do that Ash, I'll call them myself when I may leave here," she said. Ash shook his head. "No, you just lay still here. I'll make the call," Ash said, and turned around to leave. Misty wanted to shout something, but she didn't. "This isn't good," she thought.
The Team Rocket trio stood before Giovanni. "It seems our plan hasn't failed," he said to the trio. James looked confused. "What do you mean, sir?" he asked. Giovanni grinned. "What I mean is, that it has only been delayed. It can still be completed," he explained. "I don't understand what you mean, sir," Jessie asked. Giovanni sighed. "Listen then. The wounds weren't fatal. The girl will live. In fact, she's good to go at anytime," he said.
The trio looked at each other strangely. Before they could say anything, Giovanni spoke again. "Still, any more delays will jeopardize the mission. So get to Olivine Hospital. Fast. Dismissed!" he ordered. The trio bowed and left his office. Giovanni looked pleased. "Not even they can possibly screw this up," he thought, and turned his attention to the book.
The trio took their balloon and made haste to the hospital in Olivine City. "I still don't understand how she could survive. From what I saw, it looked like she was dead," Jessie said. James nodded. "Whatever the reason it is, it isn't important. We can continue as planned," Jessie added. They should arrive in Olivine in less then an hour.
Ash had found a phone in the hospital. He dialed the number of the Cerulean City Gym. It took a few moments before the call was answered. "This is Daisy. Oh hello Ash!" Daisy said, after seeing Ash's face. "Hey Daisy. I have something to tell you," he started. He noticed how Daisy's face turned from cheerful to dark. "Ash, this hasn't something do with Misty, by any chance?" she informed. Her voice was dripping with hatred.
Ash looked confused. What could Daisy mean? Behind Daisy, the two other sisters had joined her. "Well, in fact, it is," he said. Daisy's look didn't change. "Is there something wrong, Daisy?" he asked her. Daisy turned away from the screen. Ash noticed the tears that fell down from her eyes.
Violet took the receiver and sat down. "Listen Ash. You probably don't know this, but it is quite disturbing. What you are about to hear won't be pleasant," she explained. Ash tightened his grip on the receiver, waiting for the explanation that Violet would give him.
Jessie had steered the balloon to the hospital. They landed on the roof, and quite surprisingly, nobody had noticed them. "According to what the boss just said, she should be in the room below. I suggest we get ready and make our move," Jessie said. The others nodded. They got out of the balloon and took their equipment, preparing themselves for the execution of the plan.
"Ash, listen. I'll say it simply. Misty has become a Rocket," Violet said. Ash's mind fell into oblivion. Was he hearing this right? His best friend? Sided with the greatest crime syndicate? "Violet, are you sure…", he started, but was interrupted by Lily. "Very sure. You see, we where her first target," she said, looking angry.
Ash wanted to respond, but the sound of shattering glass made him turn sharply around. "I'll call you back. Something happened here," he said, and hung up before the two sisters could respond. Ash got up from his seat and made a mad dash for Misty's room.
Jessie, James and Meowth stood in the shattered glass of the window they had just swung through. Misty had gotten up from her bed and joined them. Everyone was speechless. What was the meaning of this? "It seems we made quite an entrance," Jessie sneered. At that moment, Ash busted through the door. When he saw the scene before his eyes, he could only stare.
"Ah, I see you have decided to join us," Jessie said to Ash. Ash didn't say anything. He stared at the redhead that stood beside Jessie. And she grinned at him. "What is the matter, Ash? Persian got your tongue?" she said, mockingly. Ash regained his senses. "So it is true then. You really have sided with the enemy," he said. He felt the pain in his heart, to see his best friend, no, his first love, to be sided with his greatest enemy.
James made the first move, and it was a dirty move. He pulled out a shotgun and aimed at the group. His previous hesitation about the plan had turned to determination. "Nobody moves. We've come for your Pikachu, like always. And now, we take him," he said.
Jessie had drawn a tranquilizer gun and when Pikachu leapt into the air to shock them, she fired. The dart flew through the air, striking the yellow mouse in the side. "Pi!" was all that Pikachu managed to say, before he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Meowth acted quickly. Before anyone could do anything, he had placed Pikachu in a cage. "Finally, we have him," Jessie said. The group jumped out of the window, grabbing the ropes that still hung there.
Only Misty waited for a moment. She pulled out a smokegrenade. "Don't try to follow us," she said, and shot a sneer at Ash before she threw the grenade. In seconds, the room was filled with smoke and Misty made her escape. She shot one last look at Ash before she climbed up.
The trio waited for her at the roof. When she climbed up, Jessie helped her. "Good work back there. They didn't expect this to happen," she said. Misty rose to her feet. "Indeed. Mission accomplished I'd say," she said. "Not until we're out of here," James said from the balloon. The others got in and they fled the hospital, which was now in utter chaos.
Ash and the others had managed to get out of the hospital. They looked everywhere but didn't see any trace of the Rockets. After seeing that it was hopeless, Ash sunk to his knees. He cried his lungs out. May tried to comfort him, as well as Brock and Max. But the only thing he thought about was Pikachu. "Pikachu… Why…?" he sobbed.
Ash realized that it was true what Misty's sisters had said. His feelings he used to have for her where now gone. He couldn't forgive her for this. His previous feelings where replaced by only one thought. The thought of revenge.