Posted On 3-25-17 9:44 PM GMT -600
(Central USA Time)
Author's Notes::
Here is chapter #14.
I planned on 15 chapters - but, it may have to go to, as many as 17 chapters...
This chapter is revealing things that I had planned for another story... But, it seemed like it was best to go ahead and let it all flow the way it wanted...
Sometimes a story seems to sort of dictate what events happen.
Also, fair warning (in case some people are only reading for Misty):
Ash and Delia are both, fairly prominent in this chapter.
Also: from the last chapter, all of the characters who showed up in last chapter, are still here (including the addition of another well known character).
Since some of the revelations in this chapter were not planned to be revealed yet, I'm hoping it didn't get confusing. Also, I was planning them to happen another way, so, I hope it also didn't seem too stupid... And, please keep in mind, the note from Chapter #13- in regards to the Pokemon from here on into the next chapter or more. And, add to that, the fact that; I'm not a game player, or manga reader.
I know what I've read about both. But, I'm not confident enough, on writing about Pokemon battles.
So, don't get high expectations about reading many, if any, Pokemon battles. If there are any, they won't be detailed too much.
.
Chapter#14: Planning & Revealing...
.
Rocket HQ - Under Ground.
Misty woke up, lying in a cage. She blinked around, as she sat up. She was in some sort of dimly light lab. Looking around the semi-dark room, she frowned, spotting Maya and Trinity. Both were unconscious, and in separate cages. Likely around 20 feet away from her, and 4 feet from each other.
"Maya! Trinity!"
She called out, holding the bars of her own cage, there was silence. Then she heard a whimper. Followed by Maya groaning, as she started to shift and move.
"Mmmm...?"
"Maya!"
She said, sounding relieved. Maya held her head as she pushed herself up.
Her purple hair a cascading curtain around her body.
She tried to stop her head from spinning as she looked around through winching eyes.
Finally, the older woman looked at her 16 year old cousin.
"Misty?!"
She said, and frowned.
"Where are we?"
"I'd say: one of team rocket's - research facilities."
Misty said with a sigh. At that, Maya's eyes widened, she jerked her head up fast, and then wobbled where she sat, looking ill. Before she finally groaned and crumbling onto her side.
"Are you OK?"
Misty asked, worried about her. Over the last few months, Misty had realized that being mad at Maya, Trinity or her sisters, was useless... Even being mad at her father, or even professor Oak & Delia (though, they were still hiding something, she was sure of that), it was all useless.
She would have a lot of people to be angry at, if she didn't just stop and think like she had.
She wasn't mad at them.
She was mad at two parties: Herself for taking so long to remember/realize things...
And, she was mad at the main body of Team Rocket: The Giovanni Family.
"Misty, you need to get out of here, you are in danger!"
Maya said, holding her head still, as she tried to sit up again.
"I'm not leaving without you two."
Misty said, sounding somewhat like she was talking about the weather.
"My friend, Ash... He'll come and help us."
She said, as Maya blinked at her.
"He's no matc-"
"He was a top contender in numerous leagues, and, second place in the Kalos league. And, when I last saw him, he was with the Kalos league winner: Alain... So-"
She stopped talking, as a door slid open.
The old woman from Misty's faded memory walked into the room. Heals clicking smartly, as she walked with her arms crossed. She looked a bit older, then Misty remembered. But, she was still the same woman. Same red suit, same confident, defiant stance, same piercing blue eyes. She was looking rather smug, as she walked in and sat down in a chair between Maya and Misty.
"What's so funny, you old bitch!?"
Snapped Misty, seeing the woman smirk. Maya looked startled, she didn't know who this woman was, but, she had to be a high rank in the organization. How could Misty have the guts to-
"That's not very nice. I suppose that you remember, then?"
Said Isabella Giovanni.
"Damn straight, I do!"
"Remember what? Misty, what is she-"
The woman looked at her, and she froze.
"She remembers the explosion, that I had a grunt set up along the roadway, she remembers her family's car plummeting into the ocean below. She remembers waking up, with my arms restraining her. She remembers her mother giving herself over, so that I would spare her, she remembers-"
"That's enough!"
Screamed Misty. Tears in her eyes as she covered her ears.
"Misty..."
Maya said, sadly.
"Your Juliana's daughter, right?"
Isabella suddenly asked, looking at Maya. The young woman blinked, and nodded.
"I was responsible for what she became!"
The old woman was taking great pride in upsetting them.
"You're horrible!"
Misty shouted, when she saw the stricken look on Maya's face.
"If that's all you think of me right now, I wonder what you will think, when we're done, turning you into one of our agents!"
"Turning me, how?"
"Modifications to your DNA..."
"Modifications?"
Misty said, stunned.
"Oh! You had asked me what was so funny?"
The woman suddenly said, changing the subject. Misty blinked at her.
"Yes, when you first came in..."
Said the redhead.
"I thought it was funny that you thought those boys could help you get free... Ash, and Alain... Well... You'll find out about them sooner or later."
With that, madam boss smoothly got to her feet and walked out. Misty felt her blood run cold, as the doors slid shut behind the woman.
What did she mean? Had Domino and the two idiots hurt them?
And Modifications... How were they going to- she heard a gasp just then. Glancing at Maya, she saw some sort of realization hit her cousin's face.
"What's wrong?"
Misty demanded.
"I just remembered... This blond woman and a man named Bingo, or something like that."
At that Misty sweat dropped. Did no one remember that man's name?
"They attacked us, and... The great sea spirit sapphire, it..."
She started shaking and crying.
"It's what?"
Demanded Misty.
"It shattered..."
Maya said, as Misty's eyes widened. What would that mean for them...?
Pallet Town - Oak Laboratory
They had to turn Ash's 16th birthday party into a meeting.
They had to move it to the Oak laboratories.
Currently, they were all in Oak's sitting room. Professor Oak, Delia and Professor Sycamore (Delia standing between the two men) were leaning against a counter that was part of a divider for the sitting room and kitchen. They were watching the younger ones:
Brock stood behind Ash and Dawn, who sat on a couch facing another couch (coffee table between the two couches). Across from Brock, Dawn and Ash, were: May, Serena & Clemont, with Alain sitting on the arm of the couch, beside Clemont.
Mairin along with Bonnie and Max were outside playing with whatever pokemon they could find to bother.
Serena, who, when she heard about Misty, as well as Ash's feelings for the water type gym leader.
And, how Misty had reacted at hearing about Serena kissing Ash... She had broken down. She felt horrible!
May was hugging her newest friend.
She hadn't known that Serena gad kissed Ash, and run off before he could react.
The messes they get in when dealing with boys!
The teen with the bandanna thought. Thinking about her own issues with Drew...
Suddenly, she sighed deeply, then she shot Ash a nasty look.
"This is ALL YOUR FAULT!"
"Huh...?"
Ash said, blinking at her.
"How is it his fault?"
Brock asked, earning a nasty look, as well.
"Because he's DENSE!"
At that, Ash winced a bit.
"I agree there..."
Said Brock. Ash shot him a nasty look, as May continued.
"He's MALE AND DENSE! He's nice to every girl he meets! IT GIVES THE WRONG IDEA!"
She snapped and Dawn blinked.
"He fought with me a lot, and with Iris..."
She pointed out as Brock laughed,
"Yeah, he fought with May and Misty, too. But, Dawn, you and Lyra were still considering him as boyfriend material!"
He said as Dawn glared at him and stomped on his foot. Ash sighed as Brock screamed.
"I guess it is my fault..."
He said miserably. Serena blinked.
"No, May... He-"
Delia watched, from where she sat between the two professors.
"My baby's a babe magnet?"
She asked as Oak laughed and Sycamore choked on his soda.
"You ok, Augustine?"
Professor Oak asked his younger friend/colleague.
"Uh... Yeah..."
He had met Delia when she was pregnant with Ash.
When she said her baby like that, it put him in mind of seeing her 4.5 months pregnant. It was just noticeable at that time, that she was carrying a bun in the oven.
And then add to that the words "babe magnet..." He bit back his own remark.
He didn't think this could be classified as a babe magnet... Just, girl trouble.
Finally Ash screamed from frustration.
"EVERYONE! SHUT UP!"
Ash got to his feet and bowed to Serena.
"If I led you on, I am sorry."
She blinked, and blushed.
"I.. No, Clemont is right; I should NOT have assumed that you might not have feelings for someone else... I... I'm sorry, Ash!"
She said, getting to her feet, and then bowing as well, though, it was very hard to say this. After that, there was an awkward silence, then Clemont cleared his throat.
"Umm... I-I don't know how to ask this, professor..."
He looked at Professor Sycamore.
"-But. How would you AND Alain know where they likely took Misty, here in Kanto...?"
At that, the adopted father and son shared a look.
"I was kidnapped, along with my mentor, when I was a research assistant."
Said Sycamore, then he glanced at Professor Oak. The older man sighed and nodded for him to go on.
"I met Professor Oak, who had also been kidnapped, and... Alain, and his mother, Sophie, when I was being held at Team Rocket... So-"
"Wait,"
Said Ash, frowning.
"How old is Alain?"
"I'm 17 right now. I'll be 18 around the 27th of December..."
Said his older friend.
"So, how long have you been a professor, professor?"
Asked Ash. Sycamore frowned.
"A little under 16 years, now."
He said, finally. Ash nodded, quiet now. Brock noticed both Professor Oak, and Delia release a breath that they seemed to have both been holding.
"So- Anyway,"
Said Sycamore.
"When I escaped, it was from their main HQ, in the mountains between the Indigo Plateau and Mt. Moon."
He said.
"Wait,"
Said Clemont.
"Why were Alain and Sophie there?"
He asked, frowning... Alain sighed.
"My mother was... Involved, with Giovanni."
The room was silent. Delia took a shaky breath, and left to get some drinks for everyone.
"So, Alain..."
Ash was saying, as she went into the kitchen.
"Your father is-"
"Professor Sycamore."
Said the older boy, voice firm. The professor looked surprised for a moment. The boy had never referred to him like that, even after he adopted him. Then the professor's expression softened, and he smiled as Alain continued.
"My surname is Sycamore. Not Giovanni."
Ash nodded at Alain.
"I see."
Meanwhile, Delia had come back in with a tray of drinks.
"Still,"
May was saying.
"Having THAT in your DNA..."
She shuddered and Alain sighed while Delia's hands shook. Alain reached out, and steadied her hands, she glanced at him.
"Thanks for the drink, Mrs. Ketchum."
He said, and she looked at the boy, and then nodded.
"No problem."
She said, smiling.
Ash noticed her hands shaking, as well. But he was more worried about Misty. Meanwhile, Brock had reprimanded May for the DNA comment. Alain said that it was ok. He did have to worry about letting his ego get away with him, though.
He said that, it seemed to be a genetic thing, with the people from that bloodline.
With that, Dawn laughed and said Ash often had an ego problem, that he needed to learn from Alain, how to control an ego.
"Anyway,"
Said Ash, not noticing the worried looks on the 3 adult's faced. Clemont and Brock, both wanted to ask how Alain, if he had been a toddler at the time he was last there, knew the way, but neither could ask, because Ash suddenly finished what he was saying:
"We're getting off track here, I'm going to my house to pack for the trip. I want Misty back, NOW!"
He said, getting to his feet and heading out of the room, Serena started to go after him, but, she hesitated. Finally, she sat back between May and Clemont.
"Ash, I already packed for you."
Said his mother, stopping him. She had done so before they all moved from her house, to the professor's place.
"Uh... Thanks, mom."
Said Ash as he took his backpack and a duffle bag that she held out, for him.
"No problem, darling!"
She said, then she hugged him. He blinked, not sure why she was hugging him all of a sudden.
"Be careful, please. Also, I put Misty's Pokéball belt, with her Pokemon, on it, in there. I got them from her room once we got here... I also packed some of her clothes, just... Well, just to prepare for anything."
He paled.
"Why would she need a change of-"
"We don't know... They could tear her clothes if she struggles, or something. Take them, even, to keep her from escaping... It's best to be prepared."
He nodded, but still looked worried, as his mother put his hat on his head.
"She's a strong girl."
His mother said softly. He smiled.
"I know."
He said and then looked at his friends.
"Whoever is coming with me, let's-"
"Ash, I understand where you're coming from-"
Said Brock, still standing behind where Ash had been sitting moments before. Ash blinked at him.
"But,"
Added Clemont... He and Brock looked at each other, then both looked back at Ash.
"We need a plan."
Said Clemont.
"And we need time to get things together, as well."
Added Brock. Ash sighed, shielding his eyes with his hat brim as was his more recent habit. He kept picturing how upset at him, Misty was... He sat down.
"We know I'm going with Ash."
Alain said, he looked at Brock and Clemont.
"I'm going,"
Said Clemont. Brock had been thinking about it...
"I'll stay here with your mom, Ash."
His friend looked at him.
"I... Lucy needs me in one piece. You were gone, so, you don't know... But Lucy and I eloped while you were in Kalos. She's pregnant. Just found out..."
He said, feeling badly, like he was abandoning his friends - But, Ash smiled at him.
"Congratulations,"
Ash said. Brock sighed.
"Thanks man... Anyway, I'll be your back up."
Ash nodded.
"We'll also be back up,"
Said both the professors. Alain looked at Sycamore opened his mouth to protest and... Closed it, as the man looked at him.
"I know you're worried about me. But, I have Garchomp, and, he can mega-evolve. I can stand up for myself."
"You hate fighting, though"
Countered the boy, his eyes narrowed at his adopted father.
"I will do so, though, if I feel the need, to protect others. This is why I want to be back up."
They stared each other down, then Alain grunted and crossed his arms, annoyed, as he looked away.
"I'll be back up, as well!"
Said Dawn.
"I'm going!"
"I'm going!"
May and Serena said at the same time. Ash and Clemont looked at Serena.
"Are you sure?"
Clemont asked, Serena nodded.
"I want to help! I want to meet Misty! And-"
She sighed, looking at her hands.
"I want to apologize for hurting her... It was unintentional, but, I did hurt her."
She said, looking at Ash, determinedly. He nodded.
"That's good enough for me!"
Ash said.
"Thanks, Serena."
She smiled.
"We wanna go too!"
Everyone looked into the doorway.
11-almost 12 year old, Mairin:
"No."
Alain said, shortly.
9 and a half year old Max:
"No,"
May snapped, looking annoyed.
And 6 and a half year old Bonnie:
"Certainly not!"
Clemont almost shouted.
The 3 younger kids all pouted. Professor Sycamore went over, seeing the two youngest of the 3 about to start throwing a fit.
"We need more back up. Won't you help us?"
Max and Bonnie crossed their arms. Mairin looked beyond the Professor, at Alain.
"You can't tell me what to do! I'm a trainer!"
"I swear,"
He said, shooting her a narrowed eyed glare. His fists clenching as he tried to rein in his temper.
"- I will tie you to the top of this lab, and leave you there, if you don't stay away from Team Rocket's headquarters!"
He hissed through clenched teeth.
"Oh, my..."
Said professor Oak. He didn't want a child tied up there!
Mairin blinked, gulping. She had only seen Alain that mad a few times. And never THIS mad at her.
"I'll be back-up..."
She said with a sigh. Delia smiled, even though the 2 youngest were still protesting. The woman held up a pad of paper.
"Ok! We have our two teams!"
She read it out, for the whole room (her smile was shaky, and she seemed nervous, while reading, however, it was soon realized WHY she looked that way):
"Misty rescue team: Ash, Alain, Clemont, May, Serena and... Me! {At that, Ash paled, everyone looked startled, she ignored Ash's: "Mom, you're NOT coming!" And Oak's: "Delia! Be reasonable!" and continued happily announcing names, as if the two had voiced no protest} Back up Team: Professor Oak. Professor Sycamore. Brock, Dawn, Mairin, Max and Bonnie!"
Then she smiled up at the shocked faces.
"You can't go!"
Said Ash, Alain, AND both professor's at the same time, all looking appalled, at the mother.
"I'm going."
She said. There was a tone to her voice. Both boys and Sycamore backed down. But Professor Oak grabbed her hand.
"Kitchen, now."
He said stiffly, dragging the determined mother from the room. The sitting room was silent. No one said anything else. Finally, the two adults came back into the room Delia smiled at May and Serena.
"Come with me, girls. We can get things together at my house. I have clothing that you can be more rugged in, than the outfits your in now!"
"I only see you in dresses, Mom!"
Said Ash. She gave him a tight smile and lead the two girls out if the lab. Professor Oak looked about mad enough to breath fire. But Ash finally sighed as the professor grumbled under his breath, then he looked at the group of kids around the coffee table.
"Clemont, Alain... My grandson: Gary, keeps some spare clothes and hiking gear here in his old room, you should go see if there's anything you need in there."
They hesitated, then nodded. Both went to the room that he indicated. After a short time, Clemont came out, and asked if the professor had a gadget dump that he could sift through for anything that might be useful. Oak smiled-
"I have something better than a "Gadget Dump", my boy!"
- and with that, he took the teen into another room.
Ash waited, with Sycamore, the 3 kids, Brock and Dawn. His left knee bouncing up and down rapidly as he bit his lip and fiddled with the duffle bag in his hands. The backpack on his back already. He did NOT need to be worrying about his mother, AS WELL as Misty! He would go gray, at this rate, before he turned 20!
When Delia, May and Serena finally came back, each had a backpack, May had a duffle bag as well.
All three were in black, The girls in black shorts, and black shirts of varying styles. Serena's hair was pulled into a messy, barely tamed pony tail at her nape. May had her pigtails braided and coiled a bit like a Joy-like style.
What had the inhabitants of the room doing a double take, though, was: Delia.
Delia's hair was up in a messy bun. But her outfit was a black Team Rocket uniform... Very similar to Cassidy's own. Boots, gloves, Short-ish skirt, glaringly bright red R on the top.
"I can't believe you're serious!"
Ash said to his mother, not initially noticing what everyone else had.
"I am serious"
She chirped. Then the glaring red R caught his eyes.
"And, where did you get that?"
He demanded, pointing at the outfit. Delia sighed softly, as Oak looked at her, his eyes alarmed.
"Delia..."
He said and she shook her head at him.
"Mom?"
Said Ash, seeing the look on both their faces.
"Ash, can you come outside and have a talk with me?"
He frowned. Nodding, he left his pack and duffle bag behind, and walked outside with his mother.
Oak looked like he wanted a stiff drink.
Dawn looked worriedly at the two girls as they sat down.
"Where did she get that?"
Both girls shrugged. But, they looked worried.
Brock and Alain looked at each other... Brock had seen the uniform in her closet when he was cleaning, one day, years ago, just before Ash and Misty came back from the orange islands... He had asked Ash's mother about it and she had paled, and asked that he never tell Ash. All the lot of them could do, now was wait.
Now, there was shouting from outside.
The teens started to get up, to go see what was wrong, but Gary Oak came in, just then. He looked at them, and his grandfather.
"Why is she telling him NOW grandpa!?"
The 16 year old research student demanded.
'He had to pick now to come home.'
Thought Brock with an outward groan.
Gary WOULD have to pick now, likely planning on giving his friend a gift.
He had walked up just when Delia was telling Ash that she had been in Team Rocket and that-
Suddenly, Gary jumped aside. Ash had just stormed into the room, he grabbed his pack and duffle bag and headed out again. Passing Delia as she entered.
"We'll work out the plan on the way."
Delia said, hollowly,
"That's not wise..."
Tried Clemont. She just looked at the professors:
"If you haven't heard anything from us in 2 days, you can assume something has gone wrong...
She had borrowed some of her son's pokemon, before he came storming into the room. Now, she turned and left, following Ash. The rest of their team scrambled and gathered their things.
Rocket HQ - Under Ground.
Misty groaned. She was tied to a gurney. She hurt all over. They had just left the room, as she started to come to. Obviously, they had just taken more blood samples.
They had brought her into this room a while ago, she didn't know how long ago, though: after dragging her from the room she was in with Trinity (who had remained unconscious) and Maya.
A female member of Team Rocket had removed all of her clothes, shoved her into a hospital gown and then they'd strapped her onto this table, here in this room.
Though, she had injured a few of them in the process. She was not a helpless push over!
She had just had her second few tubes of blood taken, and they had knocked her out in between to do god knows what to her.
She hurt all over, but they hadn't beaten her or anything. When she woke up, her legs, well, her whole body actually, hurt. She didn't think that she wanted to know why. Though, she had a fairly good idea, since this was likely a genetics lab.
She shuddered, looking at the lights that were blaring down at her from the ceiling.
"Ash..."
She whimpered, tears rolling from her eyes to her ears.
Kanto - Base Of The Mountains Near Mt. Moon
Ash looked up from the list he'd been going over. Looking around, not really sure why. He thought that he had heard his name called... Pikachu, tugged on his jeans worriedly, wanting to get his attention. Ash blinked and looked at his yellow friend.
"It's ok, buddy."
He said, his voice was somewhat toneless.
'What are they doing to Misty!?'
He thought as a thrill of fear hit him, running to settle in his stomach.
"Ash?"
He looked back at Serena.
She was making the list of what Pokemon they all had with them.
Ash:
Mizukachu - following - Type: Water/Electric W/Normal, Fairy & Ice abilities
Pikachu - Type: Electric
Charizard - Type: Fire/Flying
Bayleef - Type: Grass
Buizel - Type: Water
Muk - Type: Poison
Gastly - Type: Poison/Ghost (new catch! Caught in Kanto, on his way home from the plane trip from Kalos)
Alain:
Charizard - Type: Fire/Flying
Metagross - Type: Psychic/Steel
Weavile - Type: Ice/Dark
Bisharp - Type: Steel/Dark
Psyduck - Type: Water
Pidgeot - Type: Normal/Flying (new catch-Kanto)
Delia:
Mr. Mime - Type: Fairy/Psychic
Ash's: Quilava - Type: Fire
Ash's: Noctowl - Type: Normal/Flying
Ash's: Leavanny - Type: Grass
Ash's: Snivy - Type: Grass
Ash's: Gible - Type: Ground/Dragon
Gary:
Umbreon - Type: Dark
Houndoom - Type: Dark/Fire
Arcanine - Type: Fire
Alakazam - Type: Psychic
Blastoise - Type: Water
Scizor - Type: Bug/Steel
May:
Blaziken - Type: Fighting/Fire
Latias - Type: Psychic/Dragon (new catch-Hoenn)
Milotic - Type: Water (new catch-Hoenn)
Beautifly - Type: Bug/Flying
Glaceon - Type: Ice
Surskit - Type: Water/Bug (new catch-Hoenn)
Serena:
Braixen - Type: Fire
Pancham - Type: Fighting
Sylveon - Type: Fairy
Rappidash - Type: Fire (new catch-Kanto)
Flygon - Type: Ground/Dragon (new catch-Hoenn)
Altaria - Type: Dragon/Flying (new catch-Kanto)
Clemont:
Chespin - Type: Grass
Gogoat - Type: Grass
Luxray - Type: Electric
Heliolisk - Type: Electric/Normal
Bunnelby - Type: Normal
Dedenne - Type: Electric/Fairy (Bonnie offered him)
Misty's Other Pokemon:
Psyduck - Type: Water
Politoed - Type: Water
Corsola - Type: Water/Rock
Marill - Type: Water/Fairy (Evolution-Whirl Islands)
Gyarados - Type: Water/Flying
"Are you ok?"
Serena asked softly, still not knowing what was wrong.
"As fine as I can be."
"Oh, stop acting like a brat!"
Snapped Gary, finally. Ash glared at him.
"What?!"
"You heard me. So what? Your daddy's the leader of Team Rocket! Booo-fricken-hooo!"
At that, the others gasped, except for Alain. Ash glared at Gary.
"I think I have a right! My whole life has been a lie!"
"Ash..."
Said Delia, looking worried, but he went on.
"Alain! Did you know that we're half brothers?"
"Yes, I did."
Said the taller, older, boy.
"Great."
Said Ash.
"Your Giovanni's kid, too?"
Gary asked and Alain nodded.
May suddenly gasped. Remembering what she had said about DNA!
"I. I am SOO SORRY!"
She said suddenly, though, she didn't really know if she was apologizing to Delia or Ash... Ash got to his feet and stormed off, muttering that he would get some water, from the river.
Currently, they were in the woods, located just below the start of the mountains. They had traveled here in Gary's car, which he had gotten for his birthday a few weeks before.
Gary had hidden his car in the bushes and they had walked to the base of the mountains. They would head into the mountains in the morning. Delia and Alain both knew the way (Clemont had finally asked how he knew the way, since he was a toddler when he was here, last. Alain had said that he had scouted the place out a while ago, while he was traveling for Lysander) so they could move more freely through the terrain, meaning they would get to the base, in no time.
But, still, Ash didn't want to wait for morning.
Finally, they'd talked him into it.
He hadn't actually spoken directly to his mother since she told him that he was the product of an affair between herself and Antonio Giovanni. That she had been in Team Rocket since she ran away from her training journey, when she was 16, and she had gotten pregnant with Ash, when she was 19.
Ash really loved Pokemon, but that love had started, when he would wonder, as a child, what his "Traveling" father was doing. Whenever he had asked his mother, she had said that his father was "a traveling pokemon trainer, aiming to be a pokemon master", He had wanted to be like his father. Or, like the father Delia told him he had.
He had, over the years, wondered: about a lack of pictures of his father, a missing wedding ring on her finger... No signs that anyone else had lived with them, at all.
While he still loved his pokemon... Ash realized, he had been chasing an imaginary person!
At least Richie knew who his father actually was. That he HAD a father worth chasing!
Even though he didn't remember him. He had proof that the man existed!
What did Ash have?
1) His proof was an ego problem.
2) The power trips he sometimes went on.
3) His hot temper!
4) His obsession with Pokémon!
As he walked to the river, the Mizukachu and Pikachu followed him quietly.
Both were concerned.
He kicked a rock. He wondered if things might have been different if Jessie and James had known that he was "The Boss'" son?
Would they have harassed, kidnapped, and attacked him and his friends?
When he finally got to the river, he heard a twig break behind him, just as he had kneeled to dip the bucket into the water.
"What do you want, Serena?"
She squeaked.
"You h-heard me?"
"You're not exactly ninja quiet."
"S... Sorry. Should I leave?"
"Do what you want."
He sighed. It was quiet behind him, then, he heard her walking closer. She sat beside him.
"Ash-"
"I really don't want to hea-"
"Well! You're GOING to hear it!"
He blinked at her sharp voice.
"Whatever..."
He finally muttered. She grabbed his face and made him look at her. The action caused him to lose his grip on the bucket, it started floating away, both Pikachu and his new friend, ran after the bucket.
"You LOVE Misty, Right?"
At that, Ash blushed. His eyes darted around, then he nodded.
"Y-Yeah..."
He finally said.
"Then get over this thing between you and your mom, for the time being!"
He let his eyes wander back to Serena's face.
"What's done is done. She and professor Oak likely had reasons to protect you from this knowledge."
"But-"
"Aa~ Listen to me! Deal. With. It. Later!
Be angry later.
It's a GOOD thing that we have someone in their uniform!"
He sighed when she finished, she smiled, seeing some emotions spark in eyes that were dead looking moments before.
"I hear you..."
He said finally as she let go of his face.
"I need to be mature about this..."
He trailed off, his blood running cold, as he realized something.
"I think I'm going to be ill..."
He said, as he covered his face with his hands.
"Ash?"
"Serena... The one who took Misty... The one who tore her family apart... It was Giovanni's mother... Meaning, it was MY grandmother... Misty, s-she'll hate me... She won't want anything to do wit-"
Her eyes widened... Then she rested a hand on his shoulder, he looked at her.
"She will still love you, Ash. It's got nothing to do with you."
He frowned.
"Let's head back..."
He said, sadly, as he got up, taking the bucket full of water with him.
He walked quietly, Pikachu on his shoulder, and the Mizukachu climbing onto Serena's.
"Umm... Ash?"
"What?"
"What is this strange blue Pikachu?"
"Its Misty's. A Mizukachu. Passed down in her family, apparently."
"Oh... Umm...? Why is it sniffing at me?"
"No clue."
He said, still watching his feet, as he walked, his voice sounded dead.
"Ah... Ok..."
She said as she and the water-type eyed each other.
Once they all made it back to Camp, Ash set the bucket of water down, then he marched over to Gary, grabbing his friend by the collar of his shirt, they eyed each other.
"Need to get something off your chest, Ashey-boy?"
"I forgot to ask this before: how long have you known about my dad?"
He asked, at that, Delia looked up curiously from setting a tent up with May. Gary had seemed to not be surprised, at all.
"Oh, that... I've known for years."
Said Gary. Delia frowned.
"How?"
She asked, and he looked over his shoulder, at her, still immobilized by her son.
"I'm not as dense as your son, here, Mrs. Ketchum."
"What was that!?"
"Ash! Temper!"
"Ash! Temper!"
Delia and Serena said at the same time. Gary snickered at that.
"Not a good enough answer, Gary!"
Delia said, coming over to look at him. He eyed her.
"Mrs. Ketchum... You don't want me to say everything, because I know how close you are to my grandpa."
At that, it clicked in her mind. Her hand covered her mouth. He knew about the closeness... Meaning, he knew that she and the professor were in a relationship too. It was bad enough Misty had found out. She didn't know what that would do to her son's mind or temper.
Ash gave Gary a shake, the two looked at him.
"Mom,"
Said Ash, through clenched teeth.
"What's THAT mean!?"
He looked directly at her.
"He must have overheard the professor and I... Talking, once. About... Your... Father."
She sighed.
Ash looked from one to the other, then released Gary, letting him fall on his backside.
"That hurt!"
Snapped the younger Oak.
"You'll live"s
Said Ash, then he looked at his mother, and grabbed her hand.
"Borrowing this!"
He said to his tent-mate Alain, after the boy had just gotten it up. Ash dragged his mother inside, and a minute later, a sound proof, see through box was around the tent. Alain rapped his knuckles against it curiously.
"Mr. Mime's pantomime... The soundproofing, I think that's another skill of some sort."
Gary told him as Serena and Clemont helped him to his feet.
"Did you mean what I think you meant, when you said that his mom and the professor were "close"?"
May asked Gary. He looked at them and sighed.
"They've been in love... I think its love, anyway, as far back as I can remember."
He finally admitted.
"Ash never noticed?"
Clemont asked. Gary gave him a flat look.
"You've seen how dense he is."
Was Gary's only response. Everyone nodded, including Alain.
Meanwhile, inside Ash & Alain's tent:
~"Mime! Mr. Mime!"~
Said Mimmie. Delia patted his head, thanking him for putting the box around them. Then she looked at her son.
"Ok, no one can hear. Let me have it, Ash. Let out all of your anger!"
She said softly, bracing herself. There was a silence that followed. Then Ash sighed.
"That's not why were here, mom."
She blinked.
"It's not?"
"No."
"Then wh-?"
"How did it happen?"
She blinked.
"How did... What...?"
He waved his hand at her black uniform. Then himself.
"Everything. That, and... Me..."
She felt her eyes double in size. She knew he wasn't asking about the birds and the bees, they'd had that talk LOOONG ago.
"You, you want to know how I got into team rocket... And how Giovanni and I..."
He forced, his hat brim hiding his face, again. She sighed.
"It's a very long, complicated story. I will tell you all of it. But... I was confused, and naive. So, I was easily recruited into the team. As for your father..."
At that, he flinched.
"- I loved him... And, I think. In his own way, he cared for me."
He looked at her.
"Why'd you leave, then...?"
"Same reason Alain's mom, Sophia, left. Same time too- we both realized what Team Rocket was up to. And they had kidnapped numerous professor's. My former teacher, Professor Oak was one of many. The ones who refused to cooperated... They were... *Dealt* with. Sophie had grown up with Sycamore... She and I had been disillusioned. But she had a 2 year old, and I was nearly 5 months pregnant. We made a deal, and together she helped me free the two of them. Sycamore took her back to their home region. Oak took me back to my home town, Vermilion City. My parents disowned me, and kicked me out, though, when I turned up from Team Rocket and pregnant... "
Ash blinked, looking at his mother's face, he could hear the emotions in her voice.
"So,"
She said, forcing a smile.
"The professor brought me to Pallet town. He gave me some property from the land he owned, had our home built on it. Bought me a restaurant in town, to run. And gave me some money to start out. Since then, I had been repaying the loan back, bit by bit, over the years."
"And, despite Gary's claim that I'm dense, I'm not stupid, Mom. You and the professor are... Together?"
He asked, remembering all the times he would call one or the other and they'd be together. Her smile faltered.
"So... You figured out what he meant-?"
Her son nodded. She sighed.
"We are. We've been romantically involved since you were lost in the woods, when you were 7."
He blinked.
"That long?"
She nodded.
"It was sporadically, at first. Then... After you left home, it became fore often... More serious. He... Even asked me to marry him."
Ash's eyes widened.
"I refused. He asked again... I said I wanted to wait to tell you..."
She said, looking at her hands. Suddenly he had taken her hands into his own. She looked at him
"You love him?"
She hesitated, then nodded, blushing.
"He loves you?"
She blinked.
"I think so. Though.. I don't know, or want to know, how I compare to Gary's grandmother."
She admitted.
"Then say, yes, mom."
"But, Ash-"
"You've spent your life for me. Do something for yourself."
She felt her eyes stinging
"Aren't you still mad at me?"
"Not as much."
He admitted, pulling her into a hug. That's when she started crying, as she hugged him back.
After she calmed down, they both left the tent. Ash kicked Gary's feet from under him.
"Hey! What the-!"
"That's for keeping secrets!"
Snapped the teen with his mother scolding him for that, as she followed him out of the tent.
Mid-day: the next day
They were wateching the Team Rocket 1HQ. They had been doing so for 2 hours now. They needed to time the infiltration with the guard rotation. So that a new set wouldn't come on duty, just after they got in.
Beside Ash, Gary's cell phone rang for the umpteenth time.
"Will you TURN that DAMN thing OFF?!"
Ash finally snapped, as he glared at his former rival/enemy, sitting beside him. Gary rolled his eyes at his friend and walked off a short distance, answering the call.
Ash put the binoculars back up to his eyes, watching the guards.
Delia and May were with Alain a ways off, watching another entrance. Serena and Clemont were watching yet another.
Finally, when Gary came back, he had turned the ringer down.
"I can't turn it off."
He stated flatly. When Ash looked at him.
"Why?"
"I'm working with the Ranger, Solana, she asked me to find her missing Sister and HER roommate: Maya, the Sea priestess."
"You're helping us, though."
"Killing two birds with one stone, Ashey-Boy."
"Huh?"
"They were taken around the same time as Misty, or just after, and along with them, the Sapphire was taken, as well. On top of that. They were taken by Team Rocket. And, didn't you say that Maya was Misty's cousin?"
Ash sighed.
"So, it's not one person we're saving, it's 3?"
Gary nodded.
"Great..."
Said the pokemon master-to-be.
"Just great..."
~"Pikachu-piiii~"~
Said Pikachu with a sigh, murmuring his name for Misty as the Mizukachu rubbed his yellow back.
"Misty!"
The girl groaned, as she started to come to again.
"MISTY!"
Her hands and head burned! Still, she forced her eye open.
"Misty! Are you ok?"
She blinked at the top of her cage. Gulped, her throat hurt. Felt like she had swallowed glass.
"Maya?"
She asked.
"Misty, It's Trinity..."
She turned her head, looking at the woman. Maya was not in her cage.
"W-What happened?"
"No idea... I came to just as you were put in there and Maya was already gone."
Misty sighed, she was still in a hospital gown, she realized, as she sat up.
"What did they do to you? Your all bruised, and you've been bleeding from somewhere..."
Misty raised a hand to her throbbing head. There was blood on her gown. But, she didn't feel pain from anywhere other than her head and hands. She groaned at the pain in her forehead.
"Misty, what is that on your hand?"
The teen blinked, looking at her hand.
Where it had been a burning pain, there was a gemstone protruding from under her flesh.
"What the-"
She looked at her other hand. In the same place, on the back of her hand, was a gem, identical to the other. It was also on her forehead; she realized as she felt it, trying to figure out what was happening. Wherever the burning pain was, there were blue crystals showing through her skin in softly rounded, dome-like lumps.
"What is this?"
Misty asked the rhetorical question.
"I don't know, Misty. I..."
The door opened. And Maya was brought in. Unconsciously, she was drugged by her arms, her legs dragging behind her. Her head hanging forward limply, blood dripping down her arms and legs and down the side of her face.
"Maya!"
"Maya!"
They both screamed as Maya was tossed into her own cage, still unconscious... She landed in a heap against the far bars
"Damnit!"
Said Misty, as she slammed her hands against her cage bars. The gems in her skin started to glow. As did her eyes. But, just then one of the agents who had brought Maya in, turned a gun on Misty, as her hair had just begun to lift from her shoulders, and float in a non-existent breeze, Trinity cried out as Misty was shot in the shoulder with a tranquilizer.
'I hate these people...'
Misty thought, before she lost consciousness again.
Ash and his friends, along with his Mother were finally ready to get in, The guards had just changed Shift. Ash watched, partially appalled that his mother was doing this, and partially worried, as his mother walked boldly up to the grunts guarding the front and smiled.
"I'm here to see the boss. I have some mission info, for him,"
She said and started walking past. But one of the guards grabbed Delia's arm.
"I don't remember ever seeing you."
He said and she looked at him.
"That's because I left here a little under 16 years ago!"
She sprayed pepper spray in their faces and Ash, Gary and Alain jumped into action. They grabbed the men and in minutes, they were bound, gagged and out cold. They used Mr. Mime to create a sound proof box around the men, as well, and hid them behind some rocks. Ash looked at Delia.
"Good job, Mom..."
He said a bit grudgingly.
She smiled.
"Thanks sweetie. Let's go save my future daughter-in-law!"
She cheered and started heading into the building. Ash frowned, blushing. Pikachu was on one of his shoulders, and the Mizukachu was on the other as Ash and the other teens followed Delia inside.
Serena was thinking that his mom was cool.
.
To Be Continued...
.
Disclaimer:
Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, Shogakukan Comics, And Other Official Companies.
I claim no ownership to any of the games, anime, manga or the characters.
I just love the anime and have since I was around 10-11 Yrs Old.
I am making no money, whatsoever, off of this. This is a story by a fan, meant for other fans who love it as much as I do.
Copyright/Ownership- All pokemon names and media types are copyrighted to:
Copyrighted by Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, Shogakukan Comics, And Other Official Companies, and all other entities that are involved with the creation/publication of the games/anime/manga. I only claim ownership of the original characters that I may or may not add into the stories.