Chapter 10: Unown Explanations

The sun rose to being the new day at the Pokémon Center near Mount Silver. Brock was up bright and early making breakfast. Pikachu and Togepi raced in, the scent of fresh food ready to eat. "Good morning, you two," Brock greeted. "You hungry?" The two Pokémon gleefully cheered for food. Meantime, Misty woke up to see Talim's bed empty. She recalled last night that she needed to step up and say something to Ash, otherwise she'd take him in consideration.

'Who does she think she is?' Misty thought. 'Me and Ash, together? Why should I have that immature boy? I mean, sure he's stopped Team Rocket often and sure, he's shown how caring he is to Pokémon...' Finally, she snapped up to a seating position, hammering the bed with her fists. "Who cares what she thinks?! If she wants to take care of him, I don't need to get involved!" Her shouting brought for the subject of her matter as he opened the door and checked inside.

"What are you upset about?"Ash asked. Misty jumped in shock that the topic of her outburst would just pop his head around the door and check without knocking, not knowing or realizing if she was naked. The good news, the only thing that wasn't dressed was her ponytail. Her attire was on.

"Ash! Don't barge in like that! I could have been naked!" Whoops! Ash jumped back after hearing that near-mistake.

"Sorry!" He shut the door just in case Misty wanted some privacy. He left the door alone and proceeded to the lobby where Talim was seen feeding Larvitar. "Morning, you two." The teen warrior and the Rock Skin Pokémon turned to Ash approaching them.

"You look chipper this morning, Ash," she giggled. He huffed a slight chuckle from the remark.

"Did...something happen last night with you and Misty? She went off yelling about what your thoughts were, whatever the topic was." Talim wondered if it was a wise time to discuss the matter. Nothing was really going on to worry.

"Is there something about Misty that you like?" The trainer was a little startled with the question. "I'm asking because if there's anything between you two, I don't wanna get involved." Ash understood where Talim was coming from.

"Well... She's the first one to show me the ropes to being a trainer. She's been with me through our home region, here in Johto and the Orange Islands, the same place where I met Lapras. She may have been on my case about her bike ever since I borrowed it to get Pikachu to a Pokémon Center...but now that I think about it, I believe it was fate that I became friends with her and Brock. The bike was there for us to get to know each other. It sounds kind of odd for something like a totaled bike to share a friendship with." Talim understood what Ash had gone through. Hearing both sides and stories checking out, she realized how much the two have gone through.

"I guess I know what it's like when I met some of my friends on the search for Soul Edge." Two people, two different times, a share of stories of friendship. Brock came forward with some breakfast for all.

"Looks like you two are having more of each other from yesterday afternoon," he joked. He's the only one who found it funny. Ash and Talim were befuddled. Brock straightened out for some information. "Anyway, I studied the map and there is a road that loops around the mountain toward Silver Town. It's also along the way to the Pokémon Preserve." Larvitar was almost back home.

"Did you hear that, Larvitar? We're near where you're from!" Larvitar couldn't believe how close he was to his original birthplace...if not for those poachers. After eating, the group left for the mountains in the early afternoon. A couple of hours of climbing had gone uneventful. Without warning, Larvitar sensed something and peeked up. In the sky was a cloud of distorting and fluctuating colors.

("The sky!") he alarmed. Pikachu looked up, viewing the awkward cloud.

("Everyone, look!") he squeaked. Hearing the mouse, the rest looked up to the cloud.

"What's that?" Ash wondered. The cloud had moving objects going in circles. That's when one fell from the could at Misty. It came so fast, the black thing slammed Misty in the head, knocking her down and fumbling Togepi. As bad as it looked, Togepi landed on its feet. Misty was knocked out, crashing the dirt in an awkward thud. Forgetting the redhead, Togepi reached the downed...thing. It was an eyeball which had a rectangular loop on top and a zig-zag line below. The three others glared at the new being.

"Is that a Pokémon?" Talim wondered. Brock had a guess.

"An Unown!" he snapped. Ash dug in his pocket and pulled out the device. Misty slowly recovered, holding her head where she was bombed on, literally.

"Unown, the Symbol Pokémon," it computed. "Very little is understood about Unown." A mysterious Pokémon, more curiosity knowing so little.

"But where did this Unown come from?" Ash continued to ask as he put his device away. Then a thought.

"You don't suppose..." Talim speculated as they spun up to...clear sky?

"It's gone!" Brock shrieked. Ash turned back down to the Unown and lifted it. Right away, Unown was heated.

"This Unown's burning up!" he alerted the rest. A Pokémon with a fever was a guess.

"Is it sick?" Talim thought. Misty nodded. No one paid attention.

"It is!" she clarified. "That Unown is running a fever and now it's upset that it's away from its friends." She was just beaned in the head by a Pokémon and she could understand Unown like that? Talim and the boys awed at the sudden jolt and realization.

"Misty, how can you tell what it's saying?" wondered Brock. Misty wondered how it was able to understand what just transpired.

"Well, when it hit me, I caught a glimpse of...something...it's hard to describe," Misty struggled. "It was a swishy... a-a wooshy... a-a squishy... a-a mushy... wow, wow, kind of-" When she said it was hard to describe, she didn't mince words. However, the rest thought the blow injured her.

"She got hit in the head hard," summed up the breeder. Talim, Ash and the Pokémon agreed. Misty wasn't in that much agreement.

"Not true!" Taking a breather, she shook the cobwebs to clear her mind. "What I saw was a Wonderland, an amusement park of Unown playing around freely. It was a mesmerizing sight and one I couldn't imagine, let alone see." It was a creepy presentation to where Unown appeared from.

"Well, I can't leave a sick Unown alone," Ash urged. Acknowledging, the rest set up camp with the sun setting. The Pokémon watched over Unown, concerned about its health. Unown had a damp towel above the eye. It slipped off toward Larvitar who redressed it back over. Weakened due to the fever, Unown looked toward the Pokémon caring it at the moment.

("You'll be okay,") Larvitar softly roared.

("Yeah, just rest up,") Pikachu advised. Unown closed its eye, trying to sleep. Reading from the experience, Brock hunched on something.

"There's a legend about human/Pokémon communications," he started. "It's not like Meowth that can talk human."

"How so?" Talim asked in interest.

"Some Pokémon can talk to humans using telepathy." This was new to Ash and Talim.

"Telepathy?" he repeated.

"Yeah! It means 'of the mind.' Let's not forget that we've met a handful of Pokémon who've talked to us like Entei back in the Hale mansion and Mewtwo. It could also explain the encounter with Misty and Unown." The information had Talim wondering about something.

"Do you have to be in contact for telepathy to work?" she questioned.

"Not necessarily. Pokémon can be as close as an arm's reach or from miles away to make contact with a human." Misty took Brock's illustrations about the meanings of telepathy. However, a familiar voice came with intrigue.

"So these creatures have special traits to help humans out," spoke Zasalamel as he approached the group. All turned to see the immortal, most for the first time. Talim bit her lip trying to stay calm.

"I won't change my option, Zasalamel," she barked. Zasalamel wasn't phased with Talim sticking around here.

"I'm not worried about returning to the old-time, priestess." He gazed down at the Pokémon, palming Togepi for a pet.

"Talim, who is that?" Misty wondered.

"He's Zasalamel, another soul who pursued Soul Edge," she explained. "He's an immortal who wants to use the sword to break from it." Zasalamel bowed his head in some disagreement.

"That's not quite true, priestess," he wanted to correct. "I've died on multiple occasions but my soul refuses to leave from existence." He came to the group, sitting across from Talim. "In any case, I do apologize for pursuing you. What purpose do you all have in coming up these mountains?" The kids gazed over to the Pokémon still making sure Unown was comfortable.

"We're returning Larvitar back to the Preserve," Ash clarified. "It's also along the road to Silver Town where I can compete in the Silver Conference." Zasalamel huffed hearing Ash's determined grit.

"So you're in a competition of your own. Be as it may, remember that you shouldn't battle with strength." Ash looked at Zasalamel, curious to what he was advising. "Over the time I've searched in this world, I've learned from many Pokémon trainers that strength alone cannot win. To be victorious, you need to use your head and know what to use and what your Pokémon can perform. In other words, battle smarter, not harder." Sound advice. Who knew that Zasalamel was helpful?

"I will." Zasalamel didn't change his face. He did nod so that counts as understanding. Just then, Unown woke, sitting on its...what was it sitting up from? The others noticed it as well just as the cloth fell from the top.

"Unown!" Talim voiced as she reached the Pokémon. "How are you feeling?" Unown looked up at Talim, her worry for it understandable.

("A little better,") it squeaked. ("I'm sorry.") The other Pokémon looked perplexed. What was it sorry for.

("You were sick,") Pikachu tried to reason. ("You fell onto us because you needed help.")

("Thanks,") the Symbol Pokémon praised. Talim smiled at Unown's helpers.

"Why not come with us," she offered. "At least until the Unown come and pick you up." Unown chirped to the idea...but then collapsed on the pillow it was resting on. "Still not at full strength." Larvitar placed the cloth on Unown, keeping it cool. Further on in the night, the kids and Pokémon were sleeping. Talim, checking up on Unown's condition, and Zasalamel stayed up. Talim wasn't convinced about Zasalamel's presence. "Are you still trying to convince me to return to our time?" Zasalamel made no answer. "I've found happiness here. Soul Edge may have sent me here but I feel that it gave me a different path." Still no reaction...for a second.

"Have you really found your true destiny?" he questioned. "One that you can feel satisfied to live the rest of your life?" Talim seemed a little startled about this question. Still, defiant was her face.

"If Soul Edge had its way...I wouldn't be here. I would have died in front of Seong and Yun." She knelt and petted Larvitar. "Why do you insist on taking me back to my home time? Is there an issue with some phenomena?" Zasalamel simply lowered his head.

"No..."

"Then why?" The argument awoke Togepi who waddled his way to the two souls.

"They miss you. Kilik, Seong, Yun, Sophitia, Cassandra, Mitsurugi..." Talim had an understanding, saddening to the names Zasalamel relayed. "They told me about what happened, thinking that I'm immortal and could remember what they wished for." They were right about one thing. "I will die once again...and be revived...but I will retain my memories." Haunting...

"...But when I die...I cannot be reborn." Those words spooked the egg that listened to the conversation.

("You can die?") it whined. The two turned to the Spiked Ball Pokémon, worried that they may have said something to scare the toddler-like creature.

"Togepi?" Talim huddled over and petted Togepi hoping it wouldn't get too upset. "We didn't know you were up. I guess we were a little loud, huh?" Togepi nodded. Talim slapped her head, blaming herself for stirring Misty's baby. "Zasalamel told me about my friends back so long ago and learned how much they missed me. Would you miss Misty if you two had to go separate ways?" Another nod.

("I love mommy. I don't wanna forget her.") Talim hoisted Togepi, giving him a hug. ("You really do miss your friends a lot.") Zasalamel watched, undaunted by the emotional touch.

"From now on, I wanna move forward." She glanced at the sleeping raven-haired trainer. "And if Misty doesn't want to stay with Ash...I wanna take care of him." Zasalamel couldn't sum up a comeback.

"If that's how you feel," he shrugged. "I will not object to your decision. Make sure that it's a decision that you will never regret." Talim fluffed a nod of her own.

"The winds will make sure I feel proud of my choice." Togepi chirped, happy to know that she would stick around. The next morning, a shadow blocked the sun. Opening his eyes, Unown was floating above them. Ash jumped out of his sleeping bag.

"Unown!" he snapped.

("Hi, Ash!") it greeted. Seeing the hovering Pokémon, Ash realized Unown was at full health.

"You're looking a lot better."

("I know, right?!") it flew around the area as everyone else woke to see the revitalized Unown.

"Now that's a happy Unown," Misty chuckled at how playful it acted. It flew to Larvitar who was waking to the sun. Seeing the healthy Unown put a smile on Larvitar's face. Talim was also awake and proud that Larvitar, as well as the other Pokémon, could help the being in need.

("You're all better!") Larvitar gratefully cheered. Both Pokémon bounced in celebration...that would be cut short...by Misty.

"You did a really great job in taking care of Unown," she praised. Her presence triggered Larvitar to freeze. Pikachu shoved Larvitar away from a stunned Misty.

("One day, you two will be friends,") Pikachu groaned. Larvitar snapped back to reality and sighed hard. Unown floated over, worried about the Rock Skin Pokémon.

("Are you hurt?") it asked. Once recovered, Larvitar reassured to Unown that there was no problem.

("I'm scared of most humans,") he confessed. Unown extended it's...leg and patted Larvitar for comfort.

"I'm thinking that since Larvitar took care of Unown, it wants to return the favor," Brock hypothesized. It was a touching revelation for everyone...well, almost everyone. A net came raining from the mountains at the Pokémon. Before it could reach, Talim spotted the net, pulled out her elbow blades and sliced them to pieces. The net was now a giant pile of rope.

"How dare you!" bellowed an upset Jessie from a cliff side. "That net was supposed to be for that Unown!" James and Meowth, joining Jessie at the cliff, balked at Jessie's callous confession.

"Dat's not supposed to come out, Jessie!" Meowth roared a warning. Jessie had a comeback of her own.

"Well, they're getting on my nerves for everything they wreck!" Zasalamel and Talim shifted eyebrows up, unsure about how to approach this dilemma.

"They're a bothersome trio, aren't they?" he guessed. Talim nodded. "Pests don't live long as their annoyances prove fatal to themselves." Team Rocket was appalled that Zasalamel considered them pests when technically...that's what they were to Ash and his friends.

"You have a lot of nerve to call us pests!" James retorted as a blue punching bag with an obscured face popped out.

("We really are,") it said. That bag isn't holding back. Unown hovered in front of Larvitar, protecting him. It started revealing white spheres like Larvitar. Hidden Power? Unown fired the attack and the trio hid behind the living bag.

"Wobbufett, Counter!" Jessie commanded. Wobbufett began glowing red before Hidden Power made contact. The attack bounced off the veil and came back at the group. Larvitar summoned his own Hidden Power, not what Talim had in mind.

"Don't, Larvitar!" she yelled. Too late. Larvitar fired Hidden Power which collided in midair. KABOOM! The explosion ripped through the mountain and blasted Team Rocket from the scene. Cue outro in 3...2...1...

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" They cried out. The smoke that ruptured from the explosion started lifting and Misty and Brock were still there, practically unharmed. With the smoke dissipating, they realized they were okay. They looked around but Ash, Zasalamel, Talim and the Pokémon were gone.

"Ash!" Brock called out. "Talim!"

"Ash!" Misty shouted. "Pikachu! Togepi!" No one calling for Zasalamel? Maybe because they didn't know him as much as everyone else. Are those missing okay? What about Unown? Where did they end up?

TO BE CONTINUED...