In Love and War

by legionaireofthe10th

Ash Ketchum is the new Indigo League Champion and is about to challenge for the title of Pokemon Master when the Pokemon World comes under attack. A war with Teams Rocket, Aqua, Magma and Galactic plunges Ash and his friends into a conflict that they do not wish to fight but must in order to preserve all they hold dear. They must deal with treachery, death and love. PS CS IS OS

25. A Brand New Attitude

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Dear all you wonderful readers, I am so sorry for keeping you waiting for what is probably the longest time so far. I know I made promises to update at the end of May/beginning of June and it is inexcusable on my part that you have had to wait an extra three months. The only defence I can offer is that I have had the worst case of writers block and for weeks had no idea what to write for this chapter. Anyway, I have finally overcome that obstacle and I once again hope you enjoy this chapter.

Points to anyone who can tell me where I have found the title for this chapter. It is from a Pokemon song but not one with a title that was very useable for this story.

In Love and War

Chapter 25: A Brand New Attitude

Paul watched the green and brown smudge of Shamouti Island slowly shrink towards the horizon with a faint air of indifference. Less than three hours ago he had been fighting to liberate the small patch of land, yet he felt no bitterness at being banished from it, no bitterness at all. He did not belong in the unit. That was clear to him now. He was someone who thrived on his own and, more importantly, succeeded on his own.

In many ways he felt free. He was no longer constrained by the Unit's enraging ineptitude nor its rules. No longer would he have to wait weeks to attack each island nor would his actions be limited by the orders and opinions of those who were in command. Instead he was now able to take the fight to Team Rocket as soon as and exactly how he wanted. This time he would be the one coming up with the plan and this time, no one would stop him.

Paul smiled to himself as his anger was replaced by a renewed determination to destroy Team Rocket. He had no idea how he was going to achieve his goal yet he felt more confident now than he had ever done under the command of Ash Ketchum. He trusted his own abilities more than those of any other person and he knew he would find a way.

Behind him Shamouti Island finally slipped out of sight and Paul realised it was time for the first part of his very hazy plan. He was currently flying north towards Kumquat Island but that was about to change. He didn't know whether Ash had watched him depart, but Paul knew the raven haired trainer was expecting him to fly north back to Kanto and that was exactly what he wanted him to think he had done. He did not want him to know that he was taking the fight to Team Rocket. He wanted the trainer and everyone else who had judged him to be utterly shocked when they found out that the syndicate's downfall was his doing.

Paul calmly ordered Salamence to turn around and the dragon type unhurriedly made the 180 degree turn, its wings beating rhythmically. He pulled his Poketech device from his pocket and brought up the GPS function on the small screen. After a minute of scrolling and punching buttons he instructed it to guide him to the nearby Fairchild Island. He would spend the night there and in the morning he would continue south, away from the Unit and straight into Team Rocket territory.

---

As afternoon turned into evening, order began to return to Shamouti Island. The beach, which had been swarming with trainers and coordinators, was now relatively empty and only a handful of figures roamed the white sand. The hordes of trainers and coordinators had moved inland and were slowly starting to relax after the stresses of the day.

Ships from Kumquat Island had delivered much needed supplies of medicine and food. They had quickly been unloaded and almost immediately refilled with hundreds of grunts who would be taken back to Kanto and put firmly behind bars. Boxes full of captured pokeballs had also been loaded in order to be processed back on the mainland. The pokemon that Team Rocket had stolen would be identified and returned to their original owners if possible. Those that had been legitimately caught by grunts would be kept in storage until their owners were released from prison, or released back into the wild if their trainer chose.

Nurse Joys and doctors from pokemon centres and hospitals on liberated islands had also arrived and both a temporary centre and hospital had been set up in two of the town's many vacant hotels. Though the buildings lacked medical equipment, their numerous rooms were ideal for sheltering and tending to the wounded.

A line of trainers had already formed outside both buildings as they waited to have either themselves or their pokemon seen. A team of Chanceys was hurrying up and down both queues with bags stuffed with bandages and medicines, providing treatment as best as they could. Fortunately, the most serious cases were already inside and the majority of those left only had minor problems.

Inside the makeshift pokemon centre Ash watched the stream of trainers come and go from an armchair that had once belonged to the hotel's lobby. Tables, chairs, plants and anything else that had been taking up valuable space had been hastily shoved into one corner to make room for the horde. He had dropped off his own pokemon, including a reluctant Pikachu, thirty minutes earlier however, he knew it would be a long time before they were released.

He shifted in his seat to get comfortable and settled in for the wait. His eyes followed the cluster of people in front of him however, his brain barely registered the activity. Instead, his mind was focused on a much more important task - ridding itself of thoughts of certain red haired trainer.

Ash pinched the bridge of his nose and tried in vain to push thoughts of Misty out of his head. He had thrown himself into numerous tasks as the Unit cleared up after the battle but it was no use. Even his encounter with Paul had not been enough to drive her from his brain. He tried for another excruciating five minutes to concentrate on something – anything – other than fiery orange hair and bright cerulean eyes and three seconds after that, he gave up.

Ash sighed. It was irritating, not to mention downright embarrassing, that a tiny little discovery, like the fact that he was in love with his best friend, could alter his behaviour so radically. Sure, he had known that his little revelation would inevitably make him self-conscious around Misty and feel guilty for falling for his best friend. However, he had not bargained on the torture of agonising over her actions as well as his own.

Of course, he hadn't for one second entertained the notion that Misty might like him back. As far as he was concerned the possibility of a relationship between the two of them was as good as zero, heck it was probably right down there among the minuses. However, that didn't stop the idea of Misty and Rudy spending a lot of time together from making him want to lash out like a Charizard that had just learnt Rage.

Just look how he had handled his confrontation with Paul. Sure, he had been angry with the other trainer but he had never lost his temper like that before. Under any other circumstances he would have given Paul more of an opportunity to explain himself yet he had barely allowed him to utter a few words. More worryingly he had told Paul that he was better than him, which was completely out of character.

Ash rubbed his temples. His feelings for Misty and her involvement with Rudy had clearly distorted his personality and the result was disconcerting. At a time where so many people relied on his judgement and abilities he could not afford to have such volatile emotions. Yet what could he do about it?

Misty could spend time with, or have feelings for, anyone she pleased and not he, nor anyone else on the planet, could force her to do otherwise. She was an adult and it was not his job to control her life. The more chivalrous side of him told him he should be happy that his best friend had found someone she liked and that made her happy. However, the dominant and much, much larger part of him, hated it.

Ash shook his head and tried to think rationally. Yes, he liked Misty and no, she didn't like him, but he was basing Rudy's involvement entirely on one sentence from Leaf who had never met them before. It didn't necessarily mean there was anything romantic going on between them. He had spent three years travelling with Misty and neither of them had developed feelings for the other, so what was a week in the grand scheme of things? For all he knew, she and Rudy might have been discussing battle tactics together. He was simply being paranoid that's all it was.

Yet even as the thoughts flowed through his mind Ash dismissed them. The answer had been written all over Misty's face. There had been no denial on her features, nor had she made any objection to Leaf.

Ash rested his elbows on his knees had placed his head in his hands. He groaned as a wave of exhaustion that had nothing to do with the physical energy he had spent that day rolled over him. All he wanted was to go to sleep and give his tortured brain a rest for a few hours.

"Hey there, Ashy-boy," a voice that was far too cheery for the trainer's liking piped up.

Ash lifted his head out of his hands and glanced up to see Gary grinning down at him. Melody was at his side, still dressed in the Festival Maiden's outfit and smiling as broadly as her companion. At least some people were enjoying themselves, he mused bitterly.

"Hi," he mumbled half-heartedly, not even managing to crack a smile in greeting.

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Nice to see you too," he said dryly, flopping down into an empty chair next to the one Ash was in.

Melody watched the pair but remained standing, her blue eyes boring inquisitively into Ash.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked.

Ash looked up at her but was in no mood to have his brain picked by the woman for a second time that week. He shrugged in an effort to throw her off the scent.

"Nothing," he muttered in such a sour tone that he might as well have said the opposite.

Melody raised an eyebrow curiously. The trainer was a pathetic liar. It was obvious to anyone with the ability of sight to see that something was bothering him and it didn't take a genius to work out what could have caused his sullen mood.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain red haired trainer, would it?" she asked mischievously.

"No," Ash said stubbornly.

"Yes," Gary interjected with a smirk. "You luurrrvvve her!"

Ash's eyes widened in alarm and he glared accusingly at Melody. "You told him!" he demanded.

"Oh don't act so offended," Gary cut in before Melody could respond. "The whole world knew you liked her way before you're little epiphany. To be to honest I'm amazed she hasn't worked it out herself."

Ash's already wide eyes increased to the size of saucers.

"Relax, she's still as clueless as you were," Gary added before his friend's head exploded.

Ash's panicked expression faded but his morose look returned even worse than before. If Gary knew how he felt he was damn sure Brock, May, Dawn and Ritchie did as well. Things were starting to get way out of hand. At this rate the entire Unit would know by what, lunch time tomorrow?

Melody tilted her head and considered the helpless trainer in front of her with an air of confusion. Ash had been a mess over the past few days but up until now he had only been a frightened one. Right now he looked downright miserable. She smiled as the answer suddenly lit up in her brain. There was only one thing that made someone in love as unhappy as Ash was.

"You're worried that she doesn't like you back," Melody mused, folding her arms smugly across her chest.

Ash winced and scowled at a spot just above Melody's left shoulder. It was at times like these that he wished he had friends who were less perceptive. Still, she wasn't completely right.

"No, I know she doesn't like me back," he retorted bluntly.

Gary and Melody glanced at each other and exchanged a knowing look. Both had to stop themselves smirking.

Gary forced his features to remain serious. "What makes you think that?" he asked.

Ash's lip curled slightly. "Only the fact that she's spent the past week having a great old time with Rudy," he muttered unhappily.

Gary's humour evaporated at the comment and he stared at Ash with a mixture of surprise and concern. He had no idea how his friend had found out about Misty's odd behaviour but that was the least of his worries. Heavens knew how the trainer's already confused mind was handling the information, though obviously it wasn't well. Clearly Ash was blowing the whole thing up into a much bigger deal than it was, therefore the researcher decided that the best course of action was to downplay the situation.

Gary shifted in his seat, pretending that he was more concerned about getting comfortable than what Misty had been up to. "Has she?" he asked conversationally.

Ash shot Gary a withering look. "You tell me, you were on Kumquat Island with her," he retorted

Gary hesitated, suddenly stumped. He couldn't deny the fact because frankly he'd be lying, but for the sake of Ash's sanity he didn't want to say yes either.

Ash smiled bitterly at his friend's silence. "That's what I thought," he muttered.

Gary sighed. "You don't know she likes Rudy," he protested.

"Then how do you explain her behaviour?"

Because she loves you too, you idiot, and believing you were dead made her even more crazy than before…was what Gary wanted to say, but he held his tongue. Although he personally had not made any promise to Misty to keep her little secret, he knew it wasn't his place to reveal it and he had no desire to get punched a second time. Instead he decided it was best to take Ash's mind off the situation altogether.

He straighten up in his chair as an idea crossed his mind. "Come on, I know something that will cheer you up," he said in a sing song voice.

"And what's that?" Ash replied sceptically.

"Talking to your mum."

Ash had been ready to reject whatever stupid idea Gary was thinking of but the objections died in his throat at the suggestion. The researcher, annoyingly, was right. Caught up in the chaos of the day he had completely forgotten about his mother but he was desperate to speak to her, to reassure her that he was alive. She always made him feel better and if there was one person that could take his mind off of Misty, it was her.

The prospect of talking to his mum made Ash smile for the first time in hours however, his happiness was short lived. There was no way he could contact her, not yet.

He turned to Gary with a solemn expression. "I can't talk to her, all the phones are down. They'll need to be fixed first," he said, glancing at Melody as if he were wondering why she hadn't explained this already.

To Ash's surprise the researcher only grinned.

"What do you think I've been doing for the past two hours," he countered.

Ash's eyebrows rose. "You've fixed them!" he exclaimed incredulously. "But Team Rocket cut the lines."

Gary shrugged as if it were no big deal but he could not keep a smug expression off his face. "And I mended the lines. Being a scientist with a ridiculously high IQ does have its benefits," he said haughtily.

Ash was thrilled to hear he could get in touch with his mother but he was not about to inflate his friend's already enormous ego any further by agreeing with him and turned to Melody.

"Er, do you want to come with us?" he asked, though secretly he thought it would be weird if she did.

Fortunately for him she declined.

"No, it's best if it's just the two of you. Besides, I need to find Carol," she said with a smile. "I'll catch you up later."

Melody quickly bid the two men farewell and headed purposefully towards the building's door. Ash's belief that Misty liked Rudy had caught her interest. Of course, she knew this was not the case. Misty was clearly still as infatuated with the trainer as she had been five years ago. However, if she was going to stand any chance of getting pair to admit their feelings to one another she could not let this annoying development get in the way.

She quickly squeezed passed the crowd of trainers and marched through the former hotel's main entrance. It was time to turn up the heat and show the annoyingly stubborn trainers that they could no longer go on finding excuses not to tell one another. She wasn't going to find her sister. She was going to find Misty.

Ash and Gary also made their way towards the mass of trainers but headed for the opposite end of the line. The hotel's videophones were located next to the front desk and they chose the one furthest away from the crowd. Gary hit the on-button and the blank screen flashed into life.

As he waited for the machine to power up the researcher turned back to Ash. He was about to explain to the trainer just how clever he had been to get the phones running again but his friend's sullen expression had returned. Gary ground his teeth in frustration. He should get a job as a counsellor at this rate.

"How do you know anyway," he asked.

"Huh, what?" Ash said, clearly not listening.

Gary rolled his eyes. "How did you know Misty spent a lot of time with Rudy," he repeated.

Ash scowled. "Er, Leaf said so," he muttered as if it didn't matter.

Gary's eyebrows rose and his expression lightened considerably. "Really? You're relying on Leafy? What the hell does she know about human interaction? It's not like she has any experience in the matter."

Gary chuckled at his own joke but stopped when he noticed that Ash's melancholy expression had changed to one of mild alarm. He scowled curiously at his friend but the trainer was too busy staring at something just past his left shoulder.

Gary tensed as realisation clicked into place.

"She's right behind me isn't she?"

"You're damn right I am," came Leaf's curt response.

Gary turned, quickly summoning his usual smirk in the half second he had before Leaf could see his face. His grin grew even wider when he caught sight of her unamused features.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't old Leafy," Gary drawled in a mocking tone. "This is the second time you've crept up on me in less than a few hours. I do hope you're not stalking me. That would be sad even for you."

Leaf's face reddened at the jibe. After her previous encounter with Gary that day she had resolved not to let herself be goaded into an argument by the researcher. However, that resolution lasted all but two seconds.

"Don't flatter yourself, Oak. I was looking for Ash. Why any sane, self-respecting female would even consider approaching you is beyond me."

Gary's eyes flashed with irritation but the sarcastic humour never left his face. "Well if it is beyond you, then I'm not overly concerned," he taunted.

Leaf raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you should be. I see that brunette's stopped clinging to your arm," she shot back.

It took Gary a couple of seconds to realise she was talking about Melody but he shrugged, unconcerned.

"She had to go and do something. Anyway why do you care? You jealous or something?"

Gary had intended the last sentence simply as a throwback remark that would wind Leaf up even more. However, as soon as the words left his mouth he found himself waiting eagerly for her reply. Too eagerly!

Leaf blushed at the suggestion but Gary was too preoccupied with his own motives to catch it.

"In your dreams Oak, I've got higher standards than that!" Leaf retorted, her face returning to its normal colour.

To his horror Gary felt a small stab of disappointment, though he quickly dismissed the feeling. He rationalised that he was only upset because Leaf the girl, not Leaf the individual, was not interested in him. His displeasure simply stemmed from a wound to his male ego and certainly not one to his personal expectations. Not that he had any personal expectations, of course.

The researcher immediately decided to compensate for his unnerving thoughts with a particularly vicious attack, however, before he could let loose a string of insults he was interrupted by a loud snort of laughter. He wheeled around and glared at Ash who was trying - rather unsuccessfully – to hide his amusement.

Seeing his friend's murderous expression Ash quickly pretended to clear his throat and quickly glanced over at Leaf.

"Ahem! Er…Leaf you wanted me?" he said before Gary could launch an attack on him.

Leaf's expression visibly lightened at the question. "Yes I did. I think you, Drake and I need to discuss the command of the Unit," she explained in her usual business-like tone.

Still irritated Gary seized his opportunity to continue the argument. "No can do Leafy, Ash and I were just going to speak to his mum and Professor Oak, so you'll have to wait I'm afraid," he mocked with false apologetic shrug.

Leaf glared at Gary but quickly moved her gaze to Ash.

Despite his own relationship problems, Ash was not oblivious to the pairs incessant fighting and even he could see things weren't exactly hunky dory between them. Leaf and Gary had been arguing with each other for as long as he could remember but this time their feud felt a lot more personal. He thought about saying something but quickly decided against it. He had enough to worry about at the moment and nine times out of ten he couldn't understand what they were fighting about anyway.

So Ash did what he had always done when it came to interfering with Leaf and Gary…stay out of it as much as he could and appease both sides.

Ash nodded warily. "I'm afraid so but you're welcome to join us," the trainer offered.

"Wait Ash. You're forgetting that Leaf has forgotten all about little old Pallet Town and everyone who comes from it." Gary said sourly.

Leaf ignored the researcher's remark and smiled slyly. "You know what Ash, I would love to join you. It will be interesting to see how normal people react to seeing me!"

---

Professor Oak flopped down into his blue desk chair and let out a long, tired sigh. He had been on his feet for the past four hours, without pause, and was utterly exhausted from the exertion.

Beside him, Tracey sat on the bottom step of the small flight of stairs that led up to the room's inner balcony and appeared just as tired as the older man. He too had been hard at work for the past several hours and his usually neat black hair was wildly dishevelled.

Though the pair were over a thousand miles away from the fighting taking place in the Orange Archepilago the reason for the their fatigue was, of course, Shamouti Island. Neither of them had fought during the day's conflict but they had by no means been uninvolved. With the world famous ranch now the storage point for many of the Unit's trainers' and coordinators' pokemon, they had been inundated with hundreds of pokeball transfers both before and after the battle.

The sudden spike in activity had not been a surprise to either of them yet that did not make their day any easier. The two researchers had spent most of the afternoon and practically all evening sending and receiving pokeballs to and from their trainers or Pokemon Centres across the region. Only now, at 8:00 pm, had the flow of requests finally abated.

Tracey yawned loudly and stared disbelievingly at the big red light on top of the laboratory's transferring machine. For the first time in what seemed like years it had stopped flashing, indicating that there were no more incoming requests.

The watcher rubbed his eyes. "I'm pleased that's over, I'm absolutely knackered" he muttered with undisguised relief.

Professor Oak nodded silently then turned to his assistant, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Imagine how I feel," he replied wryly.

Tracey grinned at the joke but his features quickly lapsed back into their previous weary state. The silence stretched on for a long time but neither he nor the Professor made any attempt to break it, nor did they get up to leave. Despite their fatigue, neither of them were going anywhere.

It was not because the pair expected another surge of transfer requests to come through. They knew from experience that those trainers who did not urgently need to transfer their pokemon would wait to do so the next day. What they were waiting for was information.

So far they had received little news concerning the details of the battle. They were even uncertain of the outcome, though they assumed the Unit had been victorious given that the transfers were being made from an unfamiliar machine and not the one registered at Kumquat Island's Pokemon Centre. This gave them little comfort however, as they still had no idea whether their friends - and in the Professor's case, family – were unharmed. After what had happened to Ash they were no longer under any illusions about just how vulnerable those in the Unit were.

The minutes ticked by without anything happening and eventually Tracey began to get restless. He had not eaten since lunch and the last drink he'd had was a cup of tea which Daisy had brought to him nearly four hours earlier. As much as he wanted to hear from his friends he knew there was no point putting himself or a man in his late sixties under unnecessary discomfort. If Gary, Brock or someone else had been injured in the battle then they would have enough to worry about without feeling hungry.

Using the banister for support he slowly hauled himself to his feet. His legs had already begun to feel heavy and he shifted his weight from foot to foot in order to get some circulation back into them. The Professor had been staring thoughtfully at the laboratory wall but the movement attracted his attention and he looked at the watcher questioningly.

"I'm gonna grab some food," Tracey explained. "You want anything?"

The Professor considered the offer for a second but decided to decline. He didn't want show it to Tracey but he was extremely worried about the lack of communication with the Unit and food was the last thing on his mind. He was just about to tell the younger man not to get anything for him but before the words could leave his mouth a high pitched trilling filled the room.

Tracey and Professor Oak stared at one another for a second as if they were unsure what the sudden sound meant. Then in a blur of action, the Professor spun in his seat to face the large screen and Tracey leapt to his side.

"It's a call!" Tracey exclaimed, not caring about stating the obvious.

The Professor nodded and clicked on the little image of a telephone that was dancing on the right side of the screen in time with the sound. The display immediately changed to an image of a person that was so fuzzy it was hard to tell whether they were male or female let alone their identity.

Uncertain as to whether the call was even meant for them the older man leaned towards the screen and greeted the person hesitantly.

"Um hello? This is Professor Oak's Laboratory."

There was a few seconds delay but just as the two men were wondering whether they could be heard a single word blasted out of the computer's speakers.

"Gramps!"

Professor Oak blinked in surprise. "Gary?"

The picture wobbled violently as the screen on the other end was moved but it soon settled and this time there was enough focus to clearly recognise the chestnut haired man.

"Hey Gramps! Hey Trace! Can you see me alright?" Gary asked, his smirking face filling the screen.

Professor Oak nodded. "We've got you, just no sudden movements, ok?"

Gary grinned. "Gotcha. You're a bit blurry but it hides your wrinkles so you shouldn't worry too much?" he replied cheekily.

Professor Oak raised an eyebrow though he was more than used to his grandson's sense of humour. "You're in a good mood. I take it you won the battle?" he questioned.

Gary had taken his Grandfather's turn at speaking as a chance to glance at something to his right and he turned back to screen only having half heard the questioned.

"Hmmm what…oh, yeah we did," Gary replied absent-mindedly.

"What happened? How did you take the island? Is everyone alright?" Tracey asked, firing off each question as fast as he could.

Gary however, was once again interested in whatever was to his right and didn't even attempt to provide Tracey with answers.

"I've got a surprise for you two?" he said in a sing song voice, his features stretched into a barely contained grin.

Professor Oak sighed impatiently at the boy's antics. He knew Gary loved to wind people up, even if it was for a good reason.

"And what's that?" the Professor said, reluctantly playing along.

Gary's grin grew even wider. "First of all Gramps, you've got to promise me you won't have a heart attack or anything," he teased.

Oak rolled his eyes, unamused. "Just get on with it Gary!" he said.

Gary seemed to sense that there would be nothing to gain by irritating his relative further and his features became slightly more serious.

"Look what we found on Shamouti Isalnd," he announced and his hands suddenly filled the image.

The picture jerked violently as Gary turned the monitor he was using and the chestnut haired researcher quickly disappeared off the right hand side of the laboratory's screen. At the same time a new figure appeared from the left, however the sudden movement had left the image so pixelated that neither Oak nor Tracey could tell who it was.

The screen stopped moving and slowly the grainy image grew clearer. The two men watched in stunned silence as raven-black hair, chocolate brown eyes and slightly tanned skin began to materialise in front of them. Eventually the picture was as clear as it had been with Gary but neither Tracey nor Professor Oak could believe what their eyes were seeing.

Ash Ketchum shot an unamused glance at the out of view Gary before turning to face the screen "Hi Professor. Hi Tracey," he greeted enthusiastically.

The Professor and Tracey gaped at the screen for several seconds but it was the older man who recovered first.

"Tracey," he said, his eyes never leaving the screen. "You might want to fetch Delia for this!"

---

Delia Ketchum hated the evenings. She hated the mornings and afternoons as well but she held the last six hours of the day with particular contempt. The pain of losing Ash was with her every minute of the day but it was at its worst in the evenings when there was nothing left to do but dwell on her loss. Though she could not escape it during the day she could at least busy herself in some menial task but when the jobs were all done and the lab's three other residents went to sleep, her grief was at its worse.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd gotten a proper night's sleep though she reasoned that it must have been the night before Ash's death. Since then she had spent her nights either crying to herself or in semi-conscious slumber. Even when her exhausted body did doze off she was plagued with horrific visions, conjured up by her mind of her son's last moments.

When Delia had become pregnant with Ash she had initially been terrified of the responsibilities that motherhood held. She had barely turned twenty and had only just adapted to looking after herself, let alone another human being. However in the months and years after his birth she had found the role of being a mother more natural and fulfilling than anything she had ever done. Even after the disappearance of Ash's father she had never once found the task too much to handle. But that was all gone now. Team Rocket had taken it away from her, just like that. Without a son Delia wondered if she could even describe herself as a mother.

It was at that moment that Daisy walked into living room carrying two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. She walked over to the small coffee table in the centre of the room and placed both cups down on the cream cloth on it. She slid one over to Delia, taking care not to spill any of the liquid, before sitting down on the opposite couch.

Delia nodded but remained silent as the younger woman took her place. She knew she should be more than grateful for all the help and attention she had received from Daisy, Tracey and Professor Oak but she found it hard to be thankful for anything right now.

Daisy watched Delia over the rim of her mug. She wasn't spying on the woman but she had been forced to develop the habit of keeping an eye on her. The night after Giovanni's announcement Tracey had founded the brunette sobbing in the middle of the laboratory's hallway. Ever since then the three of them had barely let the grieving woman out of their sight.

Daisy had been forced to deal with the death of her own parents at the tender age of fifteen but even that tragedy could not compare to the one the Delia was experiencing. Young though her mother and father had been it had at least been the natural order of life. Children buried parents, not the other way round.

Daisy's heart sank further as she realised the woman didn't even have that. When her parents had died she and her sisters had been able to give them a proper funeral but without a body Delia hadn't even been able to say a proper goodbye. The four of them, along with Ash's pokemon who were at the ranch, had held a small ceremony in memory of the trainer she knew that could never be enough.

The sound of running footsteps pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked towards the door just in time so see Tracey skid to a halt. Her boyfriend gripped the door frame but didn't enter the small room. He was out of breath and his face was so pale it looked like he had seen a ghost.

Daisy instantly knew something had happened. "Trace, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

Tracey glanced at Daisy to acknowledge her question but then immediately turned his attention Delia. He opened his mouth to speak but the small part of his brain that had not been overloaded by Ash's survival stopped him just in time. The woman's condition was unstable at best. He couldn't just waltz into the room and say - hey, you know that son of yours who you've thought to be dead for the past week? Well he's actually alive and well and talking on the phone right now. Surprise! She wouldn't believe him and would either burst into tears or try to kill him for teasing her.

Instead Tracey let go of the door frame and tried to appear relaxed. This needed to be handled delicately.

"Gary's on the phone, the Unit managed to capture Shamouti Island," he began in a nonchalant tone.

Delia showed no sign that she had heard the watcher and continued staring of into space. Daisy on the other hand, immediately sat up in the seat.

"Is he ok?" she asked. "Is Misty ok?"

Tracey looked at his girlfriend with a hint of guilt. Misty had not contacted her eldest sister since Ash's death and Daisy had grown increasingly anxious about her well-being."

"I don't know. He didn't say and I didn't ask," he admitted. "He wanted to tell us about what the Unit had found on the island?"

Daisy frowned in confusion. "What? What have they found?" she questioned.

Tracey shook his head. He was desperate to tell them but knew it was best for Delia to see her son with her own eyes.

"You and Delia should go and speak to him yourself."

"No!" Delia cried, speaking for the first time. "I'm not interested in anything to do with this stupid horrible war. "

Tracey had predicted the woman's response and already formed a reply.

"It's important. It's about Ash," he said in a quiet voice.

Delia flinched but the mention of Ash's name captured her interest just as Tracey knew it would.

The brunette turned to look at him for the first time since he had entered the room but Tracey wished she hadn't. Her expression was made from a terrible mixture of the pain from her loss and the desire to seek any sort of closure.

"H-Have they f-found a b-body?" she whispered in a trembling voice.

There's a body alright, Tracey thought to himself.

"It's easier to explain if you come down to the lab," he replied cryptically but also truthfully.

For a second Tracey thought Delia was going to demand that he tell her or refuse to leave the living room but after several long seconds she slowly got to her feet. With small hesitant steps Delia walked towards the doorway. She looked at Tracey as she passed with an expression that showed no hope, just suspicion at what she was having to do.

He turned to follow Delia but before he could move he felt Daisy clasp his hand. He looked back at his girlfriend who was staring up at him with worried eyes.

"What's happened Trace?" she asked

Tracey hated to keep his girlfriend in the dark but he knew it was best if she saw it with her own eyes first.

He shook his head once more. "You'll see." he said

The trio made their way in silence along the hallway and up the small flight of stairs that led to the research floor. Delia was in the lead and they shuffled along at a pace that was agonisingly slow. Eventually she reached the labs door and they all bunched together as they came to halt. After a long pause the older woman reached out with a trembling hand and turned the door's worn brass handle.

The door swung inwards and the sound of voices immediately came floating out at them. The first one they heard was clearly Professor Oak's. His modulated way of speaking with its slightly nasal undertone was unmistakeable.

The second voice belonged to someone much younger than the professor but it certainly wasn't Gary's. It was deep and slightly husky, and just like the Professor's, it too was unmistakeable.

Delia's hunched body went rigid at the sound. It was one she had never expected to hear again and her muscles tensed as a mixture of shock and disbelief washed through her. It was so unexpected that for a second she thought she was imagining it. She had pictured Ash's face and listened to his voice in her heard so much over the past several days that she thought this must be another one of her hallucinations.

She screwed her eyes shut and focused her entire attention on shutting out the voice that had once belonged to her son. Yet, it didn't go away. It carried on loud and clear and finally she accepted that what she was hearing was real.

Without a backwards glance Delia charged through the doorway and into the lab. Professor Oak was sitting in front of his computer and she hurried towards him as fast as she could. He turned at the sound of her footsteps but she didn't once pause in her stride. She almost knocked him out of his seat as she rushed to the desk, gripping it with both hands so she stopped right in front of the screen.

And there he was, right in front of her. Ash Ketchum. Her son.

Delia gasped as she took in the brown eyes and raven black hair. He appeared a little taken aback by her sudden and dramatic appearance but there was no doubt in her mind who she was looking at. He was smiling down at her with the same goofy grin he had worn since he was born and the same one his father had always displayed.

The brunette almost sank to the floor as hope flooded her body. She felt tears of raw emotion well in her eyes but she desperately fought them off. She could not let go just yet. She would not dare to believe her son was alive until she was certain it was really him. If she did and what she was seeing turned out as some Team Rocket ploy, she wasn't sure she would be able to handle the grief a second time.

"Is this real? Is this some kind of recording" she breathed, her eyes pleading the face on the screen to tell her what she so desperately wanted to hear.

"Mum, it's me!" Ash replied. His voice was slightly tinny but there was no doubt it was his.

Delia gasped. "Ash?"

"Mum, I promise you it's me. I'm alive."

Finally the emotion was too much for Delia to handle and her knees gave way. She crumpled downwards but fortunately Professor Oak was behind her and managed to catch her in his lap.

"Steady on there!" Professor Oak exclaimed as the sudden added weight pushed his chair back a couple of feet.

On the screen Ash's face became larger as he lurched towards the camera. "Mum!" he cried as the woman almost disappeared from view.

For a second Delia was too dazed to reply and her own chocolate coloured eyes stared transfixed at the image of her son. Then the spell she was under appeared to lift and her stunned features broke into an enormous smile. Tears of joy began rolling down her cheeks and before she knew it she was laughing for the first time in days.

On the other end of the line Ash gazed wide eyed at his mother. The hotel's video phone had a much smaller screen than the one in Professor Oak's lab but he could clearly see the woman's happy features and he smiled as her laughter filtered out of the monitor's speakers.

For Ash, seeing his mum was both wonderful and heart-breaking at the same time. It was amazing to finally lay eyes on her after such a long and tumultuous time. He had been desperate to speak to her and reassure her that he was ok and to see her so visibly relieved was a joy to behold. However, he couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in his chest when he saw what the trauma of his reported death had done to her.

She had taken the news very hard, just as he had feared. Before he had made the call he had known she would be devastated and the evidence was right there in front of him. Even on camera she appeared thinner and frailer. Her face was gaunt and there were dark rings around her eyes.

He smiled along with her laughter but couldn't help but feel guilty about what he had done to her.

Eventually her laughter died down and Ash watched as Professor Oak helped her onto her feet. She wobbled slightly and for a second he thought she might topple over again but she managed to steady herself and stared directly into the camera.

Then without warning Delia Ketchum's features became uncharacteristically stern and Ash instantly knew he was in trouble. Big trouble.

"Alright! You've got some explaining to do young man!" Delia demanded crossly.

His mother didn't get angry very often but when she did, most of Pallet Town knew about it. Although she was usually quiet and cheerful she had an explosive temper that almost rivalled Misty's. Even the Professor looked scared.

Ash gulped. Despite being over a thousand miles away he felt the full force of his mother's rage. He heard Gary sniggering beside him but didn't dare glance away from the screen. He was an adult, the Indigo League Champion, the commander of thousands of trainers and coordinators and possibly the greatest trainer ever but, right now, that counted for nothing. Right now he was a son, a son that could do nothing but submit to the overwhelming authority of his mother.

"Er…explaining," he stuttered, as his blitz senses tried to recover.

On the screen Delia placed her hands on her hips and leaned towards the camera.

"Don't play dumb with me mister! You've got about twenty seconds to explain yourself to me before I get on a plane to Shamouti Island and finish the job Team Rocket started, so if I were you I'd start talking!"

Ash started talking…he started talking fast!

For the umpteenth time that day he explained the events beginning from the first attack on the island all the way to when he was reunited with his friends. He left certain embarrassing details out and downplayed the injuries he had received but within ten minutes his mother was up to date.

He had hoped that explaining his miraculous survival and astonishing victory would help quell his mother's anger. It didn't.

"You come home right now, young man!" Delia demanded as soon as the trainer had finished speaking.

Ash stared at the image of his mother as if she had suddenly sprouted another head. "Come home?" he repeated incredulously.

"That's what I said. I didn't raised you as a Chatot!" Delia chastised.

"Mum I can't come home, I'm the commander," Ash insisted.

"I don't care. Someone else can be commander, you've done enough!"

"Mum, they need me…"

"And what about me?" Delia wailed, cutting her son short. "I need you! I can't stop you from being a pokemon trainer and I don't want to, but this is too much. This is not what I signed up for when I let you begin your journey. I could deal with you getting lost in some forest or stumbling into a Beedrill nest because I knew you could look after yourself. But these people are trying to kill you. I thought I lost you once and I can't lose you again!"

Ash stared back at the screen, too stunned to know what to say. He knew he was all his mum had left in the way of family but he realised he had never fully understood just how much he meant to her. How could he do anything other than grant her what she wanted?

Fortunately, before Ash could agree Leaf leaned across him so that she was visible for the first time.

"If you don't mind Mrs Ketchum, could I add my thoughts," she interrupted politely.

Delia's eyes darted across the screen, her brown pupils flashing at the intrusion. "And who are you," she demanded, not recognising the young woman.

Leaf wasn't disappointed by the woman's lack of recollection, she'd more than expected it. "Mrs Ketchum, it's me Leaf Green, I used to live down the road from you," she replied evenly.

Delia blinked, completely thrown by the information. She stared at the brunette with an almost dazed expression as her mind wrestled from one unbelievable to scenario to another. She had not seen nor heard from the girl since the day Ash had left on his journey and had barely thought about her in years. However, deep within the recesses of her mind her memory began dredging up images of a young ten year old girl.

Delia slowly began comparing the vague flashbacks to the woman on the screen in front of her. Age and maturity had obviously changed her appearance but there was no mistaking that this was the same girl she remembered. Her thick, glossy brown hair was the same as it had always been as were her shinning emerald eyes.

"Oh my goodness…of course it's you," Delia whispered, her anger evaporating.

Before Leaf could respond Professor Oak's head suddenly popped out from behind the woman like a Buneary checking for danger. He glanced at Delia as if checking she wasn't going to bite his head off, then looked curiously into the camera.

"My word! Leaf my dear, it really is you!" the researcher exclaimed jubilantly.

Leaf smiled. "Hello Professor," she replied.

"It's so good to see you, dear. You've grown so much," Delia mused, admiring the girl properly.

"Yes, it's been a long time," Professor Oak agreed.

"Thank you," Leaf replied, grateful for the pair's enthusiasm. Both adults had been a large part of her childhood and with a strong feeling of nostalgia she realised that she was pleased to see them as well.

Off screen and to her left, Gary's jaw dropped open in disbelief at what was happening. He had been certain that his grandfather and Ash's mum would have shown a little bit of annoyance at seeing Leaf for the first time in nearly eight years, or at least questioned her about it. Yet here they were, welcoming the girl with open arms.

As if she could read his mind, Leaf shot him a sideways glance. Gary shut his mouth quickly but not quickly enough. The brunette turned back to the screen, the traces of a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

"Anyway, back to what I was saying earlier," Leaf said, becoming serious once more. "I understand your concern Mrs Ketchum, but Ash is right, we do need him here. His impact on the Unit is substantial and his survival has revived its morale. Right now we have Team Rocket on the back foot and it is crucial that we maintain this confidence. If Ash leaves now this would be jeopardised and the war could drag on much longer."

Delia's expression immediately sobered. "I'm pleased Ash is helping the League win," she began tersely. "But that's who he is and he shouldn't be put at greater risk as a result."

"Delia, I think Ash will be safer now that he fully understands the risks involved," Professor Oak reasoned gently. "Also, Gary and Leaf are there to keep an eye on him. Those three always managed to get themselves out of trouble when they were younger."

Delia frowned. "But that's completely different, they can't protect him against the entire Team Rocket army," she countered.

"Maybe not but we can stop him putting himself into dangerous situations," Leaf argued patiently.

Delia opened her mouth to protest once more but closed as she realised she was outnumbered. She wanted nothing more than to have her son safe at home but she could not force him to come back. She might hate it but Ash was an adult and ultimately it was his decision.

"Fine," she muttered eventually. "But Ash Ketchum, I forbid you from doing anything stupid or reckless like you normally do!"

"Mum!" Ash objected loudly.

"Don't you mum me, mister!," Delia scolded. "You're incredibly lucky that I'm not coming out there to bring you back myself!

Before Ash could reply she turned her attention to Leaf and Gary.

"Look after him you two! Don't let anyone else hurt him, understand?"

Gary leaned in. "Don't you worry Mrs K. Ash will be alright. Trust me, I've been trying to lose him for the past eighteen years. He's very hard to get rid of!" he said with a smirk.

On the screen Delia's head turned to the screen, her expression thunderous. The position of the monitor meant her eyes weren't looking at Gary but there was no doubt they were boring into his image on the screen in Professor Oak's lab.

"Gary, I know you think you're being funny, but if you ever joke about my son's safety in front of me again you would do well to seriously consider your own!" she said, her voice low and dangerous.

Gary's face went pale, literally bloodless like wax. Leaf snorted with amusement next to him but for once he didn't retaliate.

"Yes Mrs K.!" Gary said automatically, as if he were responding to a Drill Sargent.

Deciding that the atmosphere had become tense enough, Professor Oak leaned towards the camera to calm the situation. "Now now, let's not ruin the good mood," he said lightly. "Leaf it was lovely to see you again my dear but why don't you and Gary give Ash a bit of time alone with his mother and we can speak again later."

Gary nodded immediately and Leaf also agreed though not as quickly. They briefly exchanged goodbyes with the adults before heading back towards the hotel's entrance.

"How the hell did I get a threat from Mrs Ketchum and you not even get criticised for disappearing?" Gary wondered out loud when they were out of ear shot.

Leaf sighed, a repeat of their argument was not what she needed. "Because they care more about being happy to see a friend than being angry because she left. You could learn something from your grandfather you know but I'm not getting into this again. Besides, I have the more pressing issue of finding a place to sleep for the night." She began to turn away but a hand latched on to her elbow.

Gary glared at the brunette as she turned back to face him but without warning the fight left him. He didn't know whether it was because of her words or because of the lack of reaction from his grandfather and Ash's mother but for some unfathomable reason he suddenly felt as if he were in the wrong.

Leaf stared at him, eyebrows raised, ready for an insult. But one never came. Instead Gary just gaped at her with a peculiar expression.

"Gary," she questioned after several awkward seconds.

The sound seemed to snap the researcher out of his daze but his confused look remained.

"Nothing," he muttered.

He let go of her arm and made to leave but paused mid-turn. "Some man called Tobias told Melody and I that Ash and his friends could stay at the island's Festival Hall," he explained, glancing over at Ash, who was still at the videophone. "I guess that means you too."

This time Gary did walk away and this time it was Leaf's who's jaw dropped open. Had Gary Oak actually just given her help!

---

Misty stared up at Shamouti Island's Festival House. It was still and silent just as she had hoped it would be. All she wanted right now was to be alone and it was the only place if the island knew she could achieve that.

The building appeared exactly how she remembered it as she climbed up its wooden steps. The tall stone columns and steep thatched roof looked the same as they had five years ago and she doubted they would change in the next fifty.

Misty grimaced as she realised the observation could be applied as much to her as it could the building. How was she any different to fourteen year old self? Yes, she was older, wiser and certainly physically different but with regards to her personal life and her emotions she couldn't discriminate between them.

She was still in love with a best friend, just like she had been five years ago. He still didn't know she was in love with him, just like five years ago. There was still no way she could admit it to him without jeopardising their friendship, just like five years ago. And the future didn't look any better. Now that Ash believed she was into Rudy she couldn't see her dire situation changing any time soon...just like the columns and the thatched roof.

Misty sighed and sat down dejectedly. Her life was just one obstacle after another. Maybe she and Ash just weren't meant to be.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Misty almost jumped out of her skin. She whirled around to face the source of the sudden voice and started when her eyes quickly came to rest on a figure casually leaning on one of the stone columns. Her mood darkened when she recognised who it was.

"What do you want?" she snapped rudely.

Melody smirked at Misty's predictable hostile reaction. With such transparent emotions she was amazed that the red head had kept her feelings about Ash a secret for so long. However, that said just as much about Ash's perception as it did about Misty's poker face.

She pushed herself off the column and slowly started pacing towards the other woman.

It had not been difficult to find the red head. Shamouti Island was a small place and Melody had predicted correctly that she would go somewhere familiar. She had not counted on finding Misty alone but luck appeared to be on her side. Now, it was time to put her plan into action.

"I don't want anything," she replied, her smile never leaving her lips.

Misty gritted her teeth. "Then why are you here?" she asked irritably.

Melody stopped six feet away and stared at Misty with an expression that made the Gym Leader feel as if she were being examined by a doctor.

"Tobias has allowed Ash and the rest of you to use the Festival Hall so I thought I'd just pop by and check it was ok," Melody said, which was completely untrue.

Frustration boiled up within Misty. Melody was not number one on her list of people whom she wanted to spend time with and there was no way in hell she could think properly with the brunette trouncing around the building.

"I'll get out of your way then," Misty said with false politeness, not caring if it was obvious that she wanted to leave.

The Gym Leader made a move to leave but found her path blocked by the other woman.

"Don't be silly," Melody said cheerfully. "It would be nice to have the company. Besides, as you're hear I want to show you something."

Misty stared at the girl as if she were mad. Couldn't Melody sense the mood? Hadn't Misty made her feelings perfectly clear earlier on the sea wall? But what could she say? The girl hadn't actually done anything wrong and there was no point upsetting her for no reason.

"Fine, whatever," she replied as calmly as she could.

Melody smiled again though she was under no illusions as to how the Gym Leader felt.

"Great, I'll show you the back rooms."

Melody turned and began walking towards the rear of the Festival House, a reluctant Misty in tow. They rounded the stage where the festival maiden played her song and slipped behind a large curtain that was decorated with old tribal patterns. To Misty's surprise a corridor stretched out to her left and right and she realised the whole building must resemble a letter T from above. The wall in front of them resembled the very top of the T and in it lay six wooden doors.

Melody headed over to the door second on the right and unlocked it with a set of keys that she had been carrying in her pocket.

"That's the problem with these old buildings," she said as she swung the door open. "Anyone can just wander into them so every room inside has to be kept locked."

The room was smaller than Misty had expected and was sparsely furnished like the rest of the Festival House. A wooden wardrobe took up the entire left wall and a small dresser was tucked into the far right hand corner. There was nothing in it that Misty thought was worth being shown.

"What did you want to show me?" she asked, impatience growing by the second.

Melody moved so she was between Misty and the doorway "Nothing," she replied once she was in position.

Misty rounded on the girl, her anger flaring. "Then why did you bring me here!" she demanded.

Melody didn't bat an eyelid at the woman's rage. "To chat?" she said lightly.

Something in Melody's voice caught Misty's attention and she glared at the other girl suspiciously.

"About what?" Misty asked, though she had more than a good idea.

"About Ash…"

Misty's hackles rose instantly. It was like an instinctive reaction, as if her body was warning her that there would be trouble when this girl said his name.

"What about him?" she snapped a little too quickly.

Melody smiled triumphantly. "Oohh, that touched a nerve didn't it," she crooned sweetly.

Misty breathed in deeply and forced herself to remain calm. Melody already knew about her emotions so there was no point agonising over the fact. What did worry her was what she was going to do with the information.

"Big deal. You've known how I feel about Ash for years," she said in tone that was more confident that she felt.

Melody cocked her head to one side and nodded to herself. "You're right, I've known for what, five years?" she mused.

Misty glared at the girl. "Yeah, so what?" she challenged.

Melody smirked at the aggressive tone. Good, she thought. The more fired up Misty was, the more likely her plan was to succeed.

"So I'm wondering why after all this time you haven't spilled the beans."

Misty frowned, confusion momentarily replacing her anger as she tried to work out the girl's game. Why on earth did Melody care whether she had said anything to Ash? It didn't affect anything.

"That's none of your business," Misty replied, deciding to keep her cards close to her chest.

"Are you going to?"

"Am I going to what?"

"Tell Ash how you feel?"

Misty flushed and felt her stomach lurch at the idea of telling Ash about her feelings for him. She couldn't envisage a time in the next thousand years when she would have the guts to do that but Melody didn't need to know.

"That's none of your business either," she retorted hotly.

"Oh but it is," the brunette purred dangerously. "It is very much my business."

Fear erupted inside Misty's stomach at the malevolent tone. She still wasn't sure where the conversation was going but something told her she wouldn't like it.

"I don't see how?" she bluffed, not knowing what else to say.

Melody cocked an eyebrow, amused. "Isn't that obvious," she replied patronisingly.

Misty stayed silent, not daring to reply.

"You're not the only one interested in Ash," Melody continued in a ringing voice.

Misty felt her stomach drop sickeningly and she swallowed a lump in her throat. Since she had first seen Melody earlier that day she had feared the possibility of the situation she now found herself in. Now that it was real she felt terror well up inside her. However, with fear came her natural defence mechanism...anger.

Misty drew herself up to her full height, glaring with flashing eyes into Melody's own. "Obviously you didn't get the message last time I was here," she said in a deadly voice. "Ash isn't to be messed with."

Melody held the Gym Leader's gaze, unfazed by the hostility. "Oh I got it, but that was then and this is now. You've had your chance Misty, you don't get another."

"Is that a challenge?" Misty said in a low voice.

Melody had to stop herself from smiling. She knew that Misty was the type of person who could not back down from a challenge and the red head had just gone right out and said it. Plan complete. However, the brunette wasn't going to stop there…she was having too much fun.

"Normally it would be, but seeing as you're too scared to try and win Ash over it doesn't look like I'm going to have much trouble does it?"

Misty's jaw tightened at the insult and she stepped a little closer to the girl. Melody had crossed the line, crossed it big time!

"What makes you so confident that Ash is going to choose someone like you," she hissed, her voice dropping dangerously low.

Melody smirked once again, seemingly unperturbed. "Maybe he will choose me, maybe he won't," she said as if she didn't care either way. "But don't get too comfortable. I admit Ash is a little slow on the uptake but things are different now. He's not gallivanting around the world in the back of beyond with a couple of friends. He's now the centre of attention and a rising super star. Everyone knows who he is - more importantly every girl knows who he is - and eventually one is going to come along that he likes the look of." Melody shook her head in mock sadness. "The game has changed Misty, there are new players on the field. So if I were you, I wouldn't wait another five years to confess to dear old Ash."

With one last triumphant smirk Melody turned on her heel and marched out the door, leaving the gaping Gym Leader to wrestle with her thoughts. The conversation had gone exactly to plan. Nothing worked like jealously!

She walked through the main part of the hall and down the wood steps, pausing only to gaze at the view of bay. She was so pleased with herself that she did not notice the figure lurking behind one of the stone columns, watching her every step of the way.

---

The sun was starting to slip towards the horizon in the Orange Archipelago and the days azure blue sky was slowly turning amber. The light was gradually fading but a mile off the northern coast of Fairchild Island an odd shaped balloon could clearly be seen in the changing sky.

The region was famous for its continued use of the blimp as a means of transports yet the weird object that floated just three hundred meters above the calm waters was not one of the great canvas behemoths. In fact, the balloon was unlike any other aircraft of its type. Instead of the usual bulbous shape of conventional balloons, this particular craft was fashioned to look like the head of a grinning Meowth.

Below the disturbing façade of the scratch cat pokemon a bright green basket swung gently in the light breeze. In it were three people, a man, a woman and one Meowth.

The woman rested her right elbow on the basket's rim and allowed her head to fall heavily into her hand.

"Well this is exciting," Jessie grumbled sarcastically as she stared out at the never ending expanse of ocean.

She was utterly fed up with the situation she was in and made no effort to hide the fact from her two companions.

Meowth, whose chin was resting on the basket's lip beside Jessie's elbow, glanced up at the woman.

"Yeah, I'm startin ta regret acceptin dis reconnaissance mission," it agreed in a voice filled with concern.

Jessie turned her head and shot the cat-like pokemon an irritated glare. "Didn't I tell you this would be a big waste of time," she accused haughtily.

"It's not dat, Jess," Meowth replied with a shake of its head. "I just wish dis mission didn't involve flyin over so much water."

The pokemon look down at the churning waves below and shivered at the thought of falling.

Jessie raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Well don't expect any sympathy from me. You're the one who volunteered us for this ridiculous mission so you only have yourself to blame," she snapped.

Meowth sighed, he couldn't argue with that. When Domino had asked for teams to patrol the sea around Fairchild Island to keep a look out for the League's forces the cat had literally jumped at the opportunity.

"I was just tryin ta get inta da boss' good books," it explained dejectedly.

"Well considering his current mood, I would wager that the only way to do that is to come up with some scheme to beat the twerp and his bratty friends," she retorted.

The fight had completely gone from Meowth and it nodded unhappily at its teammate's analysis of the situation. "I guess you're right," it said before its stomach rumbled loudly.

Jessie looked disapprovingly at Meowth but before she could say anything her own stomach let out a gurgle of its own. She sweat-dropped and grinned sheepishly.

"I guess I'm a little peckish as well," she admitted and turned her head so that she was staring up at the balloon's burner.

"Are those potatoes ready yet, James? You've been cooking them for ages."

James, who was balanced rather precariously on one of the beams supporting the giant flame, wobbled slightly but didn't glance down. He had been enjoying the tranquillity of being away from his bickering companions and didn't appreciate the interruption.

"They'll be done when I say they're done and not a minute sooner," he announced irritably. Arguing whilst cooking potatoes balanced on a beam hundreds of feet above the sea was not his favourite thing to do.

Down in the basket Jessie placed her hands on her hips. That was not the answer she wanted.

"Well can't you turn up the heat or something? We'll have to land soon, before it gets too dark" she snapped.

This time James did look down and he gave the woman an annoyed glare. "If you recall correctly, the last time we tried that idea we ended up crashing near route 36 with burnt food and a wrecked balloon!" he lectured crossly.

Meowth's eyes widen in alarm at the memory of one of the trio's many crash landings and looked nervously down at the sea once again. "Let's not do dat. I have no desire ta go swimmin'," it said in a worried tone.

Realising that it was two against one Jessie huffed loudly and turned her gaze out to sea. Determined to have the last word she was about to shoot some scathing remark at her companions but the words died in her throat as she caught sight of something far in the distance. She squinted but the object was merely a black dot against the sky. To get a better look she lifted the pair of spy goggles that hung around her neck up to her eyes and focused in on strange shape.

She quickly found the object and the magnification from the lenses allowed her to easily identify what it was.

"It's a Salamance!" she exclaimed in a surprise tone.

Both Meowth and James, who had gone back to their own private thoughts, glanced at her sharply.

"Wat is? Where?" Meowth asked.

Jessie handed the goggles to the scratch cat pokemon and pointed to where she had been looking.

"Dat's a Salamance alright!" Meowth confirmed after several seconds of searching.

There was a soft thump as James dropped down into the basket, causing it to wobble slightly, potatoes forgetten.

"That's odd," he muttered. "Salamence aren't native to the Orange Islands, I wonder what it's doing all the way out here?"

The blue haired man quickly retrieved his own pair of goggles from a box on the basket's floor and quickly zeroed in on the creature to get a better view. He soon saw why it was so far from its natural breeding grounds.

"There's someone riding on it," he announced as he spotted the distinctive form of a person sitting on the creature's back.

This new piece of information caught Jessie's attention and she snatched her goggles back from Meowth.

"Ya could have asked!" the cat grumbled as the goggles were ripped from its grasp.

Jessie ignored her companion's complaint and stuck the goggles to her face once more. She had been so focused on the dragon pokemon itself that she had failed to notice the figure seated on it.

"You're right -," she began but stopped mid-sentence as something caught her attention. The Salamence had turned slightly, giving the woman a clear view of what she assumed was its trainer. "Wait a second…isn't that…the Sinnoh twerp?"

James nodded, his goggles moving comically up and down in time with his head. "It is," he confirmed. "The one with the attitude problem. What is his name?"

"Paul, his name is Paul," Meowth answered, irritated at not being able to see.

Jessie lowered her goggles and looked at her two teammates. "What do we do now? Do you think he is part of the twerp's army?" she asked.

"Why else would he be out here?" Meowth replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I can't see any other pokemon, he appears to be on his own," James countered.

Meowth pondered this for a second. "He must be a scout sent ta find out our positions," it said, nodding at its own conclusion.

Jessie glanced down at the scratch cat pokemon, her features set in look of determination. "In that case, we take him out!" she ordered.

Meowth and James nodded. "Roger that!" they said in unison.

---

Paul recognised the strange shaped balloon long before its three occupants had even spotted the trainer and his Salamence. With barely a cloud drifting in the sky the aircraft was visible for miles around, despite the diminishing light. Although he had only run into Ash a few times on his journey around the Sinnoh region he'd had enough encounters with the Rocket trio to identify them on site.

Paul growled in frustration. It wasn't that the trio would be much of an obstacle to him. Far from it. He could beat the two members – Jasmine and Jamie, or whatever their names were – and their irritating Meowth without breaking a sweat. However, he had been hoping to get much further south before being detected by any of Team Rocket's forces. He hadn't yet decided how he was going to find the syndicate's base and bring it down but he knew stealth would be key to any plan.

For a second Paul wondered whether they had even spotted him. Despite Salamence's size it was much smaller than the balloon and its blue hide provided excellent camouflage against the sky. If he was lucky he could simply change course and detour around them without ever being detected. However, as tempting as the idea was, he knew he couldn't risk it. As pathetic as the trio was he guessed they were out on patrol and would be equipped with binoculars or other appropriate gadgets to help them spot threats. If he had seen them, they had probably seen him too.

That left Paul only one option...to take them out before they reported his whereabouts to Team Rocket's HQ.

Decision made, he commanded Salamence to fly directly towards the balloon as fast as it possibly could. The dragon-type bellowed its assent and surged towards its target.

Paul gritted his teeth as the wind ripped past him. Despite Salamence's incredible speed Team Rocket's balloon was over a mile away and it would take him at least a minute to cover the distance. To save time he unclipped Ninjask's and Honchkrow's pokeballs from his belt and tossed them into the air beside him. Seconds later the two creatures materialised and quickly took up position either side of Salamence. He was confident that the dragon pokemon could handle the confrontation by itself but this way it, and therefore he, wasn't the only target the trio would aim for.

The balloon drew closer but as he sped towards it Paul realised the game was up. Even if he did take the trio out before they reported his presence there would be nothing to stop them doing so later. If he destroyed their balloon it would take them a few days - maybe a week if he was lucky - to contact their base, but as soon as they did the whole Team Rocket army would have his description and be on the lookout for him. He wouldn't get anywhere near the syndicate's headquarters…even if he did discover where it was.

Then an idea crossed Paul's mind. One so radically and so uncharacteristic for him that he almost dismissed it without a second thought. Almost.

There was another way to get into a place than just breaking in. A much, much easier way that didn't require force nor did it matter whether he was spotted. He could simply be let in. There was no need to sneak around the back when he could walk right through the front door. Once inside he could wreak as much havoc as he wanted. A Trojan Horse, that's the term people used.

The problem, of course, was being allowed entry in the first place. Team Rocket was not exactly going to welcome him with open arms. If their organisation was half as good as he thought it was they would know he was a trainer and therefore likely fighting against them. They would lock him in a cell and throw away the key before he even got a chance to talk.

He could give himself up as a prisoner but that wouldn't work either. There was no guarantee that Team Rocket would take him to their base and what good was it if he was locked up? No, there was only one way he could get the syndicate to let him into their base...he needed to convince them that he had switched sides. He needed to show he was willing to help them win the war and had some sort of valuable information to offer them. If he did that, they would gladly give him access to their base without anyone batting an eyelid.

Yet that was easier said than done. If his plan was to stand a chance of working he would have to be extremely convincing, which wasn't easy when he didn't have anything to offer the syndicate. He would need to think of something fast or the first Team Rocket members he spoke to would have to be really, really gullible…

Paul smiled. He was suddenly very grateful that he had run into these particular members of Team Rocket. Any other grunts would have been a problem but he could use these three brainless morons to his advantage.

By now the balloon was less than a hundred meters away and Paul bellowed at Salamence to stop before it tore through the crafts fragile canvas. The dragon-type obeyed its trainers command immediately and he was thrown forward as the creature opened its massive wings to slow itself down. To his left and right his Ninjask and Honchkrow did the same and the three pokemon hovered in the air just thirty meters from the giant Meowth head.

Paul stared across the distance to the balloon's green basket and fixed his gaze on its three occupants.

"Don't attack!" he bellowed as loudly as he could. "I surrender!"

Back in the balloon Jessie and James were in the processes of throwing their pokeballs but both stopped in their tracks and looked at each other in astonishment.

"Did he just say what I thought he said?" James asked his companion.

"He said he wanted to surrender," Jessie answered in a disbelieving tone.

Both humans turned their heads slowly to look at Meowth, desperately needing a third opinion.

Meowth's face was screwed up with confusion but it nodded cautiously. "Dat's wat I heard as well," it said, bemused.

The trio fell silent for a few seconds, each of them struggling to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

"It has to be some sort of trick," Jessie said eventually.

"I agree. He's tryin ta lure us inta some false sense of security," Meowth said, its eyes darting over to Paul as if it expected the trainer to be creeping up on them right that instant. However, to the scratch-cat pokemon's astonishment, Paul was not only hovering where he had been ten seconds earlier but was also in the midst of recalling his Ninjask and Honchkrow.

Three jaws dropped open.

"He's actually giving up!" James exclaimed.

"No I refuse to believe it," Jessie cried.

Without further explanation she stalked to the edge of the basket that was closest to Paul and pointed a long, intimidating finger at the trainer.

"Hold it right there twerp," she bellowed loudly. "We're not going to play your games so you attack us right now!"

"What!" Paul spluttered, barely believing what he was hearing.

"You heard us, attack us right now!" Jessie demanded.

Paul gaped at the three Rocket members. Were the genuinely encouraging him to attack them? How stupid were they?

"But I told you, I surrender!" he called back as if he were trying to explain something to an obnoxious toddler.

"Yeah right! We know you're tricking us," James retorted.

"Yeah. We ain't stupid," Meowth added.

Paul ground his teeth in frustration. Part of him was tempted to blast the infuriating trio out of the sky but he controlled his temper. As irritating as they were he needed them if his plan was going to work. He sucked in a deep breath to calm himself and tried once more.

"This is no trick. I don't want to fight," he explained slowly, holding his hands up in a gesture of submission.

Meowth scowled at the trainer. "Why don't ya wanna fight?" it asked suspcisously, struggling to believe that any of the twerp's acquaintances would pass up the opportunity to battle them.

Paul exhaled. This was the moment of truth. Either they would believe him and take him to their HQ, or they wouldn't and he would have to blast them out of the sky and go it alone.

"I want to help Team Rocket."

Jessie, James and Meowth all glanced at each other in surprise, then looked back at Paul with sceptical expressions.

"And why the hell would you do that, you're part of the twerps Unit after all," Jessie pressed, folding her arms.

Paul shook his head. "Not any more I'm not," he replied.

"Wat da you mean, not any more? Ya leave or somethin?" Meowth asked dubiously.

Paul nodded. "I was kicked out for disobeying Ash Ketchum," he said, keeping his voice neutral.

James' eyebrows rose. "You disobeyed the twerp. Isn't he the commander?" he said.

Paul nodded again. "I disagreed with him and he got rid of me because I was the only person who questioned his tactics. He treated me as if I was beneath him and I want to show him that was a bad idea. That's why I want to help." he explained.

Jessie scrutinised the purple haired trainer for a long time but nothing in his features suggested he was lying. Uncertain, she turned her back on him and looked at James and Meowth.

"Do you believe him," she asked her companions.

Meowth stroked its chin thoughtfully. "It's hard to say. He and the twerp were always arguing in Sinnoh but I thought they sorted their differences out," it mused.

"I think we should believe him," James suggested. "If he is lying we can just lock him up but if not he could be very valuable. This might be our chance to get back into the boss' good books."

Meowth's face lit up with the suggestion. "Dat's right, he'll have loads of information about the twerp. The boss will love us and I'll be top cat once again!" it said with glee.

"Alright, we'll trust him but be on your guard," Jessie warned.

Meowth and James nodded and she turned back to Paul.

"Ok twerp, we believe you for now. How exactly are you going to help us?" she called.

Paul smiled inwardly, he was one step closer to destroying the vile syndicate.

"Take me to Giovanni," he shouted back. "I have some information that will help Team Rocket win the war!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Wooo! Jessie, James and Meowth are back, this time for good!

I hope this chapter is worth the wait. I realise that it creates more problems for our characters than it solves but that just means the next chapters will be even more dramatic. I'm sorry there was a lack of A/M moments in this one but I promise you that the next chapter will have more shipping in, particularly contestshipping in it.

So...will Misty rise to Melody's challenge and admit her feelings to Ash? Who was the person listening to their conversation? What has Paul got planned? And what the hell is wrong with Gary. Continue reading to find out!

Once again I am sorry for the delay. I assume I have lost a few of you from the decrease in the number of people following this story but to those of you still reading I thank you. Please stick with me because I will stick with this story and complete it!

Responses to reviews

guess who - Hey! Really, really sorry for taking so long once again. Hope you like this one and thanks for your review!

marie - Once again I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I hope I have explained why it has taken me so long to update and there is no need for deathbeds :P Thanks for your review, I'm so pleased that you liked the last chapter. I'm afraid there are going to be a lot of ups and downs for Paul and Ash before the story concludes but both will redeem themselves in the end. I agree, it would have been rushed and the rest of the story would have been boring if they got together now.

Guest June 29 - Hey, thanks for an awesome review, it was really encouraging and helped me get back on track! I will continue this fic until the end. Thanks for the support.

P.S. Sorry if I have missed anyone out, I've lost track of who I've replied to. If I have missed you out, please rest assured that you are awesome!