Chapter 10

Surprises And More Surprises

The next morning…

Misty woke up. There was bright sunlight coming in from a window. It landed near her bed. 'It's probably morning now.' Misty thought. She looked around and realized that she wasn't dreaming earlier. As her eyes roamed the room, they stopped at the Poké Ball on the nightstand by her bed. It was different that most. It looked like a normal red-and-white Poké Ball, but it had a black star-like symbol on the front. It looked like the one that Professor Oak had given her when he first saw Togepi, and told her that is was custom-built for normal-types. He even said that it would be cozy for a baby. Misty was curious about the creature inside of the Poké Ball. She held it up while saying "Come on out." As a white light came out and started to form into a shape, Misty gasped in surprise. It was her Togetic.

Mommy! Togetic cried as soon as she saw her trainer. It had been a long time since they had last seen each other.

"Togetic!" Misty sat up and started to stand but her legs wouldn't support her. They buckled.

Mommy, take it easy. Togepi went to help her trainer. She could lift Misty just enough to set her on the bed, without her powers. Togetic wasn't surprised. Ash had told her that Misty would be weak and not weigh as much for a couple of days, and that she would be covered in bruises and scars, as well as a few new scrapes and cuts. Togetic looked around the room, and spied a tray of food. Using her psychic powers, she brought the tray over to the bed. Misty smiled. She loved her 'baby' and loved to take care of her, but it was time the tables were turned. I take care of Mommy!

"Yes, I guess you have to. Mommy doesn't mind though. I haven't seen you in years, and I want to spend time with my baby." Misty smiled. Togetic started to pick up food on a spoon and feed it to Misty. Misty sat up and took it from her. "I'm not totally useless, Togetic." Misty laughed, and Togepi did too.

'Kay! Togetic brought the tray over closer and set it down so that it sat over Misty's lap.

A door opened and closed. Atsuko walked into the room. "Morning Misty. How are you feeling?" She had a chart, needle, stethoscope and other items to check and see how Misty was doing. She looked over to where the laughter was coming from and smiled. Togetic took off and hid.

"Just fine. I'm surprised that Togetic's back with Ash and me." Misty looked over to where Togetic was hiding.

"How long has she been yours?" Atsuko put her stuff on a table nearby.

"She was a Togepi for a really long time, and about two and a-half years ago she finally evolved when I had come for a visit to see Ash while he was traveling in Hoenn. I was a little upset when I had to leave her behind, but I knew that someday we'd see each other again." Misty laughed. "But I never though it would be so soon, and here of all places." Misty then noticed that the room was built differently, as if partly underground. Togetic, is part of this building underground?

Yup! Togetic smiled and laughed a little. She flew over to Atsuko and looked the 'strange' girl over. Then, Togetic surprised Atsuko by kissing her on the cheek.

"Well, looks like Togetic likes me." Atsuko said, more to herself than to anyone.

Togetic giggled. She flew around the room some more before landing on the bed next to Misty. Mommy, where are Daddy and Pikachu?

"I think they went to find the others. And I haven't seen them since last night, so I don't know where they could be. They'll be back later Toge…" Misty was interrupted.

"Knock, knock. Can I come in?" Ash opened the door and stuck his head in. Pikachu looked in from his perch also. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"No, not right now. I was going to check on Misty. But if you want to, you can visit her before the next training session begins." Atsuko picked up her stuff and left the two teens alone.

"Training session? What's that?" Misty was curious. She was still eating, but she wanted to listen to Ash. She patted the bed next to where she was sitting, inviting him to sit for a spell.

Ash sat on the bed next to Misty. "Oh, we train people to be able to hold their own when they come across a Team Rocket member and are trying to escape. I haven't gotten rid of Team Rocket entirely, and Giovanni is still hiding somewhere. We mostly try defensive maneuvers, but once in a while I like to surprise them and try an offensive attack." He looked at the tray and smiled. "I'm surprised. You ate everything in record time."

Misty looked at Ash, surprised. "Well, I really haven't been eating much, or very often, thanks to…to him." She picked up everything on the tray and stacked it neatly. Togetic used her powers to move the tray back to where it was sitting earlier. Ash grinned.

"She's been doing that a lot lately, ever since she came back here to stay with Pikachu and me." At the sound of his name, Pikachu jumped onto Misty's lap. His chocolate-brown eyes looked into her aqua-blue ones.

Pikachu-pi! Are you okay? Pikachu was glad. Misty was back where she belonged, with Ash, Togetic, and Pikachu.

"Yeah, I'm fine Pikachu. Thanks for asking though." Misty petted Pikachu's golden-yellow fur. She then saw what looked like Pikachu's Poké Ball sitting in Ash's coat pocket. "Does Pikachu go in there now on his own free will?"

"Uh-huh. Usually it's when I'm about to go on another raid or maneuver. He doesn't like being left behind unless he has to, which isn't very often. And both Togetic and Pikachu have learned things which most Pokémon haven't."

"Like what Ash?" She didn't have a clue as to what they could learn. Misty looked to where Togetic and Pikachu were talking among themselves with another Pokémon. He was black, and looked like a big dog. Misty immediately recognized him. He was Ash's Houndoom, evolved from a Houndour. 'Ash must have gotten him back recently. I haven't seen Doomy since I left to go and live with my sisters when I was little.'

"They've learned how to read and write, and how to use a computer. They've become very useful. Especially when we've invaded the headquarters of Team Rocket on one of our missions. We have a lot of information that's come in handy. And they don't know it yet, but whenever new information is put into their computers, anywhere in the world, we also get updates as well." Ash chuckled. "It was easy getting into the main computer room, thanks to Togetic's Teleport ability. Then they did the necessary computer work while Doomy and I kept any Rockets away from them. They were so easy to defeat."

"Togetic and Pikachu can read and write? But, that's impossible for Pokémon to learn." Misty had a shocked expression on her face.

"Yeah, they decided to learn so that I'd have some help when I'm doing solo missions. Sometimes, I've need help from them in the reading department when I'm out-numbered by Team Rocket." Ash stopped for a minute to think. "I bet that you don't know about Jessie, James and Meowth helping us?"

"I know that Jessie, James and Meowth are helping. They stopped to see how I was doing last night after you left. They were on night patrol, and decided to see me. They were glad to see me after two years." Misty brought her legs up so she could put her arms around them. She then rested her head on her knees. "They were surprised that I knew a lot about Team Rocket's Kanto operations." She looked down closed and her eyes. A few tears fell from her face.

"You knew about their operations here in Kanto?" Ash was shocked. 'Misty was 'in' with Team Rocket during these past two years?' He put his arm around Misty to comfort her.

"Yeah. Michael told me everything that would happen before it did. He even told me what will happen in the next few weeks. I was shocked, because he trusted me. I knew that he thought that I would tell someone, but I never did. Michael even tried to train me to be a Rocket Grunt. I kept giving him a hard time. I didn't want to be a part of Team Rocket, and I still don't wanna." Misty stopped talking and looked at Ash's face. She saw his expression. "That's hard to believe, ain't it?"

"I do believe you, though. I know that you would never lie to me unless it was absolutely necessary." Ash smiled. "You don't hafta tell me everything right now if you don't wanna."

"I know, Ash. It's just that, well, I don't know what to really say about the time I spent with Michael. Some of the things that he did would make you sick to your stomach, Ash. They did for me." Misty started to cry some more. "It was awful. All of the pain and torture that he put me through…"

"Shh. Don't cry Mist." Ash rubbed the red-haired girl's back. She was really upset. 'Mist must have been through an awful lot. I've never seen her this upset since we were little kids. But I'm gonna be here for her. She won't be alone ever again.' Ash looked over to where Pikachu and Togepi were. Pikachu, go to the computer database and look up Michael's records. Take Togetic and Doomy with you. Print out anything on his history. And bring Skittlez's Poké Ball back with you. I want to surprise Mist and cheer her up.

Yes Pika-pi. We'll leave now. C'mon Pipi-pi and Doomy. Pikachu signaled for the others and left the room through the little door at the bottom of the big one. Doomy followed without complaint, but Togetic hesitated.

Daddy, do I have to go? Mommy's upset and I wanna stay here with her. Togetic pouted as she looked back and forth from Misty to Ash.

Yes Togetic. Mommy wants to tell me something private, and you may not understand much. When we want to tell you, we'll let you know. And yes, Mommy will be fine. Now, please go, okay?

Okay Daddy, if you say so… Togetic left the room by teleporting to where Pikachu and Doomy were going to be, since they had gone on ahead.

"Did you tell them to go?" Misty looked at Ash. She had forgotten that he could use the same ability as her with Pikachu and Togetic. She didn't know if she could still telepathically communicate with Ash or Gary though. They hadn't done that since before she was kidnapped.

"Yeah, and I also told Pikachu to look something up and print it out for me. He's getting to be very useful when I'm busy. It's like he's another arm, or a lil' me." Ash started to laugh, then stopped. Misty was laughing at his joke as well. 'God, I've forgotten how beautiful her laugh is. It has been so long since I've heard it.' "Guess I haven't lost my sense of humor yet, huh Mist?"

"Nope. Still as witty as ever." She laughed some more. Then, Misty surprised Ash, as well as herself. She leaned on his shoulder. "Ashy, can we please go for a walk. I'm gonna go stir-fry crazy if I'm in this room for another night and I don't see a change of scenery." She looked up into his amber eyes. That was another thing that had changed over the years. His eyes were amber when they were little, then had changed to chocolate-brown right after the move to Kanto. And while Misty had been gone for the past two years, they had changed back to amber. "Please Ashy?"

Ash had a skeptical look on his face. "I guess it wouldn't hurt. But we have to be careful Mist. Team Rocket has taken control of most of the things having to do with Pokémon. They are on the lookout for us. They're calling us 'rebels' and 'terrorists', but they are the terrorists, and we are just trying to free everyone. They've made Team Aqua and Team Magma go into hiding, as well as us. But for some strange reason, they are letting us get weapons and ammo. They won't stop us from doing that. I guess that they are suspecting a huge up-rise or attack soon."

"Kinda like a modern-day escape from Egypt." Misty giggled. "And who's in charge?"

"I'm first, and Gary's just underneath me. We're like a modern-day Moses and Aaron leading 'Our People' to the 'Promised Land'. And you are like…uh, what's her name…Miriam" Ash smiled. His 'brother' was one weird person. Gary used to try to get almost any girl to sleep with him, but now didn't really care about anyone but Sakura. Ash and Gary still had that competitive streak in both of them. But it was mostly in a friendly, brotherly way. And Gary had always wanted to get rid of Team Rocket. When he found out that Ash was trying to achieve the same goal, he had suggested that they team up and have other people help them as well.

"Gary's here!?! I haven't seen him since the Championship Tournament in Ever Grande City!"

"Yes. Maybe we can see him while we go for a walk. You ready Mist?"

"C'mon Ash!" Misty was on her feet and pulling at Ash's arms.

"Okay, okay, just lemme have my arm back." The raven-haired boy laughed. Misty was a happy as ever. Ash got up and the both of them left the room.

As they passed the nurse's station, Atsuko smiled. 'I guess that Ash is gonna be in a better mood now that Misty's here. And they are walking together, hand in hand.' "Have fun you two, but be back here after supper, okay?"

"We will." chorused Ash and Misty.