Chapter 9
We both decide it would be a good idea if we left the others behind when it was still dark. That way, we would be ensured a quick and easy getaway without letting on that we were gone. We didn't want them tracking us down and have them lock us in the Day-Care for countless hours on end. And, besides, travelling in the cover of night would allow us to sneak into Goldenrod without any nosy Team Rocket grunt noticing us and reporting us to their superiors.
I am still under Myla's Three Rules to a Safe Rescue Mission. (At least that's what I like to call it.) She makes up the plans as we go, tells me when to speak, when to eat, what battles to take, and finally, when and where to sleep. It's annoying, to tell you the truth, but it helps to keep me in line. Heck, it's the most organized I've been since I landed here. I think about writing everything down and, when this whole thing is over, I could improve my work habits and impress my mom.
It takes us a good two hours to get out of the Goldenrod borders. Myla just had to make sure no one, and I mean no one, spotted us, for fear of being ratted out in some way or another. That meant sneaking behind numerous buildings like double agents anytime someone walked twenty feet away from us. Oh, and there was the annoying-as-ever reminders to 'stay behind me—you don't want that little head of yours to get hurt'. It was extremely hard to not snap at her. But I did owe her a pile of thanks for even accepting my offer to save Lance. Without me, she'd probably have saved him by now and would be sipping tea at her home. By the time we reach Ecruteak, its mid-morning. The sun beats down on us hard, making us both sweat. It was a bad idea to wear completely black.
The city gate greets us and we go through it and take in our surroundings. There's a PokeCenter, Mart, houses, Gym, the Burned and Bell Towers and a market place in the middle of it all. I never realized there was a market here! I think to myself. It would've been cool to pick up some items here in my game. I wonder if Myla's ever been here before. I look to Myla who looks calm and collected, as usual. But I see a flicker of something in her eyes that tells me that she's actually excited to be here. I smirk. Maybe I can use this to my advantage, I think as we proceed through the market.
Dozens of stores are in neat rows throughout the street. Vendors yell at us to try their wares and to try a free sample or two. I try and ignore them, as I'm used to picky salespeople back home, but Myla wants to actually go up to some of them and see what they've got. I scoff. She's such a market-place newb. I sneak up behind her and pull her away, much to her chagrin.
"Maybe we should look at something else." I suggest.
"You're a real pain, you know that, right?" she says.
"I pride myself on that particular feature of my personality," I reply sarcastically. She rolls her eyes and we start to resume regular shopping. We pass many more stands, all of which are completely useless. But there's a newspaper stand at the end of the particular row we're perusing that catches my eye almost as soon as I lay my eyes on it. I motion for Myla to come over and we both pick up the day's issue. The thing that I see first completely catches me off guard.
My face is on the cover.
I can't help but let a gasp escape my lips. Myla is shocked too, as she groans in frustration.
"Great," she mutters under her breath, "Just great. Not only will the others know that you're gone but the whole darned region will know who you are and where you've come from!"
"No..." I mutter as I scan the article. I pick up that they have released my name, my appearance, where I was last spotted, and who's been seen with me. I feel like Britney Spears! The picture of me isn't a very nice one; it was taken shortly after I had landed near the Day-Care. My hair was still frazzled from flying there and I was looking off into the distance, like I was spacing out.
"Read the article," she commands. Since she's in a foul mood, I decide not to feed the flame and do what she says.
"Ashley Conrad, a young girl recently found wandering the Johto region, has been spotted travelling with rising star Kotone Soul. They were seen fleeing on Kotone's pidgeot around Route 38 after an attempted mugging."
"Mugging?" I ask skeptically. "Who made this crap up?"
"Keep reading!" Myla hisses.
"The mugger has been identified as Myla Castellon, a supposed Dragon Elder's daughter from Blackthorn. This information seems to be a carefully planned façade, to make her seem like a decent person."
She swears again and adds, "They know who I am, too. But that's a load of—"
"Now who's interrupting?" I say sarcastically.
"Shortly after leaving the scene, the duo landed at the Day-Care Center near the Ilex Forest. Witnesses have reported that they saw Myla stalk them back and waited outside of the Day-Care until Ashley left. She then proceeded to attack, kidnap and force Ashley to do her bidding at the cost of her life."
"They're making you look like a psychopath," I add.
"Sources say that Myla is a known bounty hunter and is planning on using Ashley to receive power or money. They have been spotted heading towards Ecruteak City. Police have not released any information regarding Ashley's hometown or her background. If you or someone you know has any information regarding Ashley, please contact the number provided. A reward will be offered."
Myla swears and crumples the paper. The vendor of the stand yells and demands that she pay for the broken merchandise. She tells him off and storms away. I automatically follow.
"Who do they think they are anyways, writing me off like that? Is this they're way of saying I should stay out of their way? Now there's no way I will!"
"Uh, Myla?" I ask.
"What?"
"Did you notice...the Wanted poster?" I take it out of my pocket and show her. (If you don't know, I took it out of the paper when I set mine back down and shoved it in my pocket. I knew we'd need it sometime in the future.) I give it to her and she unfolds it. She gasps. "What? Do you think the picture's ugly? It's not that bad, considering the angle and the lighting and whatnot, but—"
"Not that, stupid! This!" She points to the bottom of the paper, to the phone number and address attached.
"Please call 1-800-762538 or visit our office in the Goldenrod Radio Tower."
"I don't get it," I say.
"Well, you should," Myla snaps. She navigates through her bag and picks out a pad of paper and a pen. She scrawls down the number and address and starts decoding the numbers. "You know on the phone, that the numbers correspond with letters, right?"
"Right,"
"So, if we convert it, we get..."
We both stare at each other and say in unison, "ROCKET."
"I knew it!" she yells, throwing her hand up in the air and pacing. I furrow my brows and bury my face in my hands.
"What...? But how...could they...? Now how am I going to get home...?"
"You think you've got it tough?" she shouts. "I'm now known as a bounty hunter who wants to use your scrawny behind as a way of making money! If anyone recognizes me, I'm screwed to High Heaven!"
"This isn't good...Not good at all..."
"Not, it's not! Team Rocket must've had spies littered all over the region just waiting for you to do something conspicuous. Then they took pictures and made up this phony article to brainwash people into telling them where the heck you are! With that piece of paper zooming all across Johto, they'll be bound to find you before the end of the week! I'll be put in jail and you'll become their lab rat!"
"No...!"
"We are going to get caught. We're going to—"
"Just shut up, for a minute, will you?" I yell at her. Her mouth closes and she stares at me, hatred burning in her eyes. "We don't have to do what they want us to do. We can trick them; give them a false lead or something. That'll deter their attention while we..."
"We what, Ashley?"
"I...don't know..." I say.
"Great." She stops pacing and picks up the poster that had landed on the ground. "Now what?"
It hits me, like that; I noticed that I saw a fortune telling stall during our scan of the market. Maybe consulting a psychic or something might help me figure out what to do next. Heck, she might even be able to tell me what my destiny is!
"I know," I say and drag her back to the market.
xxXXxx
We reach the stall in less than five minutes. Myla stares at the sign and groans. It reads Madame Martha's Psychic Readings and Fortune Telling.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asks.
"Yep," I reply, hoping my voice isn't shaking as I say it. "You just wander around the shops like you would any other day. Is someone spots you or you spot Team Rocket, contact my PokeGear. I'll come out and we'll flee off into the sunset together. Well, not that way, but, you know. When I get out I will, hopefully, have a better sense of what I'm doing here and what I'm supposed to do next." I fish around in my pocket but I've forgotten I don't have any money to pay for it.
"Don't worry, Ms. Other-Worldly-Girl," she says, pulling out a wad of PokeDollars. "Make sure to get my change, will you?"
"Sure," I reply and head into the tent.
xxXXxx
The man peers from behind his hiding place in the forest and smiles. Everything is going according to plan, he thinks silently to himself, just as it should be. His accomplice lifts his binoculars and zooms in on the pair they have been watching for days now. He knows that they will be successful in their mission; there is no more room for error.
"They are approaching the target, sir," the accomplice states. He notices that the Dragon Tamer's daughter leaves the tent and goes off to do other things.
He smiles. "Initiate Phase One,"
xxXXxx
The inside of the otherwise shabby tent is actually really nicely furbished. Purple velvet curtains are draped around the vicinity of the room. A circular table sits in the middle of the room. A crystal ball is placed on it and weird colours and shapes are swirling around inside of it. Two chairs sat across from each other, one of which was occupied by someone. The 'someone' turns out to be an elderly lady wearing a long flowing black shawl. I automatically assume this is the 'Madame Martha' who owns the tent. I smile awkwardly and take a step inside.
"Come in, come in, my child." she coaxes. Her bony finger motions towards the unoccupied chair and I sit down. "What would you like Madame Martha to reveal to you? Your long forgotten past? A lover from your childhood? Your future? Or would you like to know the thoughts of others about you?"
All of these sounded awesome, but I knew it was a ploy to spend your money on stuff you probably already knew, so I put my money on the table and said, "Just my future, thank you."
She nods and snatches the bills away and stashes them under the table. "What is your name, dearie?"
That was the thing I'd hoped she wouldn't ask. So I make one up on the fly. "I'm...Georgie Henley!"
"Then, Georgie let us see into your future." She lifts her arms and starts to make weird motions around the crystal ball. "Anything in particular you wish to see?" she asks. I ponder that for a minute and say, "What are some of the future decisions I'll make?" I don't expect anything spectacular to happen when she continues her motions, but a flurry of colours erupts from the crystal and Martha gasps horribly.
"My dear," she says, "Your future is filled with treachery and lies!" She peers into the ball. "Betrayal is at your heel and those whom you trust will be tested!"
"But..." I can't seem to form words at this time. "What about me? What will I do?"
She looks away. "A future decision...will cost you dearly."
"But, what is it that will—?"
My PokeGear starts to go off. Madame Martha, who is now sweating like a pig, looks at me like I've grown an extra head. I gulp and excuse myself. "Hello?" I say.
"Ashley!" the voice hisses from the other line. "What is your deal? I've called three times now and you haven't responded!"
"Sorry!" I apologize. I must've been too absorbed in my future to notice my phone ringing. "What is it?"
"I've spotted the Rockets. They have one of their goonies placed right near me. He looks like he's been looking for us for a while. We should move out."
"I'm on my way. Where are you?"
"What? I can't hear you?"
I shake my head. "What do you mean? I can hear you just fine!"
"Ashley, you'd better not be breaking—!"
I begin to panic. "Myla!"
The line goes blank and I'm about to hang up when I hear someone's voice come on. "Myla's a little busy right now. If you'd like to speak with her, please surrender to the glory of Team Rocket!" That voice sounds familiar...
I'm shocked. How could they have continued Myla Castellon? How could they have intercepted my phone calls? Why did they want me to surrender so easily? "Not gonna happen, you Rocket nimrod!" I hang up and turn to the medium. "Thanks for your readings. I hope you have a wonderful life, Rocket-free!" I then proceed to bolt out of there. For the next ten minutes, I search all over the city for any sign of her. I don't find anything at all. She couldn't have just disappeared like that. She was a strong and independent girl; she could easily take a few Rocket goons if she wanted to. So why was it that I couldn't find her? I crumple onto the ground. I've landed at the gate that leads out to Mt. Mortar. The market's noise and din is far less loud over here. I sigh. What am I going to do now?
Something rubs against my leg. I look down to notice a shiny quilava looking up at me. For a minute, I wonder whose it is. But, due to the familiarity I feel for it, I know its Myla's.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, a little too enthusiastic.
He pushes his head in the gates direction.
"Myla went that way?"
It shakes its head.
"No? Then what?"
It growls and starts to draw something in the sand.
"Team Rocket."
It nods.
"Does she want me to help her?"
It shakes its head and growls.
"Does she want me to...?"
I'm cut off by it drawing another sketch in the gravel. It looks like a dragon mixed with a dying walrus.
"Hm...uh..." I pause. "Dragonite? Dying walrus? Oh, Lance!"
It nods and rolls its eyes.
"She wants me to save Lance?"
It smiles. I pause. How am I supposed to do that when there's a bounty on my head and Team Rocket's out for me?
An idea hit me like a ton of bricks. I could avoid this whole mess if I could get home. Then everyone wouldn't have to worry about me or what Team Rocket wanted to do with me. Myla could take care of herself and save Lance on her own. The others would carry on life without even remembering what my name was. I could resume my regular life as a girl of Earth, doing stupid school work, annoying my family and trying my best to get into a good school. This whole thing could be a bad dream. I would just go back home. The only question left was this: where was I going to go to transport myself back home?
I stand up and the quilava gives me an inquisitive look. "Sorry, but I have my own agenda now."
I walk through the gates, leaving the Pokémon to find its master on its own. I sigh and walk through the doors. I look at my surroundings and notice the familiar body of water, the mountain and the fresh mountain air. I start to reminisce and, ultimately, space out.
This was the place where I really interacted with Proton for the first time. In Mahogany Town, I was almost mugged by some stupid Rockets for money I didn't have. At Lake of Rage, I met Lance, the awesome Champion of Johto (along with Ash, Misty and Brock, of course. Did you think I'd be able to go around the Pokémon world without running into the infamous trio?). And therein laid the warehouse where I was transported to the Pokemon world and met the Four Executives face-to-face...
The warehouse!
That was where I could go. It all made sense now: I should return to the place where I first got here. Maybe there were some remnants of Pokemon magic that could somehow get me home. That was my only lead and I was going to roll with it.
I'm going to go home, once and for all.
Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in more than a month. I have been busy with my Hunger Games fic, as some of you may know, and have not had time to update this one. But now I have. This chapter was surprisingly fun to write. I put a few very funny hidden puns in here, if you can spot them, you're awesome. ^_^ Martha is actually the name of one of the Trainers from Morty's Gym in Ecruteak. Being a Ghost trainer, I thought she'd be appropriate to play the mistress of fortunes. Also, a little note on the phone number. I felt like I was a spy or something. I had to look at an actual phone to make sure I got the numbers right. A touch of espionage to an otherwise spy-less world. :) And, I realized I really like writing previews, so here's one for the next chapter!
Hi, this is Myla. After what seemed to be a perfectly-planned day, things start to go haywire. Ashley decides she'd rather try to go home instead of help me save Lance from Team Rocket. What kind of girl is she, anyways? Is this what she does back home? It doesn't matter; I know where she's headed anyways. I consulted that psychic and she told me she's off to the warehouse where she first landed here. But is that really such a good idea? Returning to the scene of the crime isn't always the right thing to do. I have a bad feeling about all this. You'd better help me convince her in the next chapter!
I hope this helps! O.M.G. 10th chapter? I'm going to freak when it comes! Never gotten to double digits before! _ Please let me know what you think through review and I hope to see you all back for my first ever double-digit chapter! –Haine-chan
