Rocket Base – Unknown Location
"Champion Lance send his regards," finished the cool voice of Giovanni, looking through a camera at the son of his former enemy.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" roared the boy. Giovanni gave Ash a smirk, aiming to provoke him further, before cutting off the connection. When he was sure the feed had died, the man of evil allowed that smirk to turn into a look of loathing.
"Red's child is beyond those fools. No doubt they will soon be behind bars, and the operation a failure," mused the man aloud with minor irritation. The Tamago Town operation had not been a priority. Truly, its purpose was to add to the chaos his operatives had been spreading around Kanto, and most of his agents had succeeded in their efforts. The Kanto League forces were spread thin, combatting the barrage of Rocket activity, which was just as it should be. It had allowed his greatest asset, or "partner" as the creature liked to think, to gain much needed field experience unhindered. Still, the sight of that child repeatedly defying him infuriated Giovanni.
"I had thought he had learned his lesson in Celadon City. I was mistaken. Nonetheless, it is something that is easily remedied. A few additional invitations to New Island will be sent, and Mr. Ketchum will be removed from the board along with my other enemies," cackled the man aloud. Clearing his throat, he regained his composure and pressed a button on his desk.
"Yes boss?" sounded an unimportant grunt over the com.
"Send in Ariana," ordered the man.
"Right away sir!" A few minutes later, his most trusted Executive entered the room.
"You called Giovanni?" the red-haired woman asked, taking a seat on the other side of the desk.
"I did. What is the latest from Archer on the asset?" questioned the man, gazing into Ariana's eyes with his own. This was par for the course and Ariana had been under his stare more than a few times, so she continued with ease.
"The asset displayed an impressive level of control during the covert operation in the Safari Zone. Using the machinery we have provided, it assisted with the capture of over 100 Tauros and a few dozen specimens of various other species. However…"
"Yes?" pressed Giovanni, eyes narrowing.
"It is becoming belligerent. The creature had demanded your presence within the next few days. Failure to comply will result in consequences," weakly finished the girl.
Anger returned to Giovanni's features in an instant. "THAT ABOMINATION THREATENS ME!" Ariana flinched. Reigning in his temper with years of carefully cultivated control, Giovanni's features returned to his normal serene façade.
"Very well. I had expected this to happen at some point, though admittedly not this soon. Communicate with Archer, who is to inform that thing that I will arrive at its location in 72 hours," commanded the Rocket Boss. Ariana nodded, biting her lip, as concern wrapped around her face.
"You have something to say?" observed the man neutrally.
"I-I don't want you to get hurt Giovanni. You've seen what it can do. The power it has is unmatched!" exclaimed the girl, in an unprofessional and dramatic fashion. Giovanni stared at her for a few more moment, trying to gage something, before his features relaxed and he let out a small chuckle.
"Your concerns are appreciated, but unnecessary. We will be going with the failsafe and then it will have no choice to obey," assured the man, offering Ariana a rare smile.
"But will you be fast—"
"Yes! There is no chance of failure. It is built into the very armor it wears. Now if you have nothing else, I would ask that you leave and carry out the orders," interrupted Giovanni, exasperation beginning to creep in.
"There is one more thing," she said in a small voice. Giovanni let out a sigh, trying to hold back the explosion that was building within
"And that is?"
"Your son. He's… Giovanni he's angry," babbled the woman.
"I don't have time for this Ariana," grumbled the man, trying to wave the problem away.
"He's angry at you and growing more resentful with each moment that you choose to ignore his existence!" argued the red head, not letting it go.
"And what would you have me do? We are on the verge of realizing our ambitions. My son can wait! The plan will not! For obvious reasons, I let you get away with far more than anyone else Ariana, but my patience has reached its end. LEAVE AND DO NOT BRING THIS UP AGAIN!" roared the man. She stood up, tears streaking down her cheeks, but nodded and walked away with a slump.
"Soon, Ash Red Ketchum... Soon, you and my enemies will be dead, clearing the way for my dominion!" uttered Giovanni aloud.
Tamago Town (Day 29 Late Afternoon)
Shortly after Ash's easy victory over the Rockets, Officer Jenny had arrived on scene with Brock and Misty. The statements provided from the trio, along with the overwhelming evidence of caged Pokemon led to swift arrests for Butch and Cassidy. Brock and Misty tried to get more from him, but Ash was silent the entire trek back to the Pokemon Center.
"Something happened there Misty. Something bad," whispered Brock. He and Misty were a good twenty feet behind the boy, well out of his hearing range, while walking back.
"Why do you think so Brock?" quietly responded the girl, clutching her recovered Pokemon Egg like a lifeline.
"His eyes. They were sharp, focused, and angry. The last time they were like that…"
"Was Celadon City," interrupted Misty, realizing where he was going with it.
"Right," confirmed Brock, keeping his eyes on Ash.
"Well, what can we do?"
"Nothing personally, but somebody else can act. When we get back to the Pokemon Center, I'm going to have a talk with Ash and keep him occupied. I want you to give Miss Ketchum a call," finished Brock. Misty nodded and nobody said another word along the way.
When the gang made it back to the Pokemon Center, Ash went straight to his room to pack, and Brock followed. Meanwhile, Misty made her way to a videophone.
Taking a deep breath, Brock gently knocked on his friend's door.
"Who is it?" asked Ash, voice cold and devoid of feeling.
"It's Brock," gently answered the teen.
"What do you want Brock?" cautiously asked the boy.
"I just want to talk Ash. Please let me in." Ash figured he knew where this would be going, but the boy relented, letting his friend in anyway. Brock took in the room, seeing Ash continuing to store supplies in his backpack, before turning to him.
"Well?" expectantly asked Ash with a raised eyebrow.
Ash is in no mood to play around. Might as well go for broke, thought the teen.
"Ash, what happened back at the daycare?"
"What do you mean what happened? You were there when I told Officer Jenny. I went in, saw those two in Rocket outfits, and knocked them out. That's it," spat the boy.
"If that was true Ash, you wouldn't be acting like you are now," frowned Brock.
"Acting like what?"
"You're cold, focused, refusing to talk to Misty and me, and just unpleasant. At best, I could describe your mental state as a more extreme version of how you act in an intense battle," Brock said with a sigh.
"So, something obviously happened. I think you saw him again Ash," started Brock.
"DON'T!" shouted the boy.
"Ash, I—"
"NO! Don't go there Brock."
"You can't bottle it up. You need to talk to somebody!" urged Brock.
"And you think that somebody should be you?" scoffed the boy. Brock shook his head, catching the eye of the girl at the door.
"In fact, I don't."
"Ash, there's someone who wants to talk with you," softly spoke Misty.
"Yeah, everyone seems to want to," Ash said, rolling his eyes.
"It's your mom! She's on the phone right now in the lobby, waiting for you" bluntly responded Misty.
Ash blinked, caught off-guard by the revelation. Wordlessly, he walked out of the room, pushing past Misty, and heading to the lobby.
"I hope he isn't too mad at us," sighed the girl.
"His mom will bring him back down to earth. Have faith Misty," smiled Brock, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
Back in the lobby, Ash took a seat, coming face to face with his worried mother.
"Hey mom," mumbled the boy in an almost emotionless tone.
"NONE OF THAT NOW YOUNG MAN!" hollered his Mother, flabbergasting Ash.
"Now you will listen, and you will listen good! Understand?" warned the woman with her stern face.
Ash hurriedly nodded, not wanting to face his mother's wrath.
Delia Ketchum watched her boy, satisfied that he was suitably shaken up, and continued. "Misty called me and told me what happened, or rather what you claimed happened. You are going to tell me what actually happened and now!"
"But Mom—"
"BUT NOTHING! I want the truth now mister!" demanded Delia.
"I-I… ok," slumped Ash in defeat. The boy retold his mother what he had said to Officer Jenny, making sure to include his brief encounter with Giovanni as well.
"Don't you see mom. That man is still out there! He killed dad! He made it seem like he's kidnapped Lance, or worse! I have to be strong and stop him!" railed the boy, cathartically letting loose a wave of emotion.
"And shutting down on your friends, making them worry terribly is going to do that how?" his mom dubiously replied. Ash tried to for words, but he had no answers to that. Delia sighed, dawning a look of compassion.
"Listen son, I understand your pain. I understand your frustration. I even understand your hate. However, locking your emotions away and turning aside your friends is not the answer. I know this from experience Ash," tenderly added Delia.
"You do?" Ash looked up with uncertainty.
The woman nodded, a single tear falling from her eye, but her voice remained firm. "Your father acted the same way in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. He isolated himself from his friends, refused to speak with me about his troubles, and then he was gone."
"Mom…"
"Ashy, I don't want you to go after that man, but no matter what I say, it's not going to change a thing. Just promise me you won't close yourself off. Trust your friends, speak your mind, and let it out. Please!" begged Delia.
Seeing his mom in such a sorry state really shifted Ash's priorities. He had been selfish, focusing on his feelings. He still felt hatred towards that man, but he wouldn't let it consume him; not anymore.
"I promise mom. After this phone call, I'm going to apologize to Brock and Misty," swore the boy with sincerity.
"Good. Remember, you can always call me with anything you need. I love you son, so much," beamed Delia. Ash smiled right back.
"I love you too." The call ended, and Ash kept his word, profusely apologizing to Brock and Misty for his cold behavior. This of course led to questions regarding what actually happened, and Ash filled them in without hesitation.
"Ash, I'm glad your back to normal, but there is something big that you are missing here," pointed out Brock.
"What is it Brock?"
The teen sighed, pinching his nose. "Someone needs to be told about Lance's apparent capture. There's a hotline the Pokemon League set up for things like this. Go ask Nurse Joy for the number and make the call."
Ash's eyes bulged and he flushed with embarrassment for overlooking such a key detail. Not wasting time, the boy sped off, leaving amused and relieved friends behind him.
Fuchsia City (Day 31)
"Hurry up guys!" urged the boy, continuing to sprint down the docks.
"We're going as fast as we can Ash Ketchum!" fired back Misty, breathing heavily from the exertion.
The trio had left Tamago Town two days ago in the evening, trying to make it back to Fuchsia City before the boat to Cinnabar Island departed. Though they sacrificed training and traveled at a fast pace, they were still cutting it close. Up ahead, Ash could see a sailor bending down to remove a rope anchoring the boat to the harbor.
"WAIT!" screamed Ash, catching the burly man's attention, and halting his action. Fortune was on the gang's side as he kindly waited for Ash and his friends to arrive. When they did, Brock and Misty were bent down, clutching their knees, and panting heavily. Ash was covered in sweat, but otherwise fine.
"I take it you kids are here for the boat to Cinnabar Island," asked the man with a grin that he made no effort to conceal.
"Yes sir. Here's our tickets," responded Ash, handing them over. After a quick check, he nodded and motioned for them to head on board, giving them a key to their own cabin. Trudging to said cabin, Ash, Brock, and Misty happily collapsed on to the beds. Well, Brock and Misty did. Ash had to settle for the couch, which he would no doubt be sharing with Espeon and Pikachu. Considering what he put his friends through and how they stuck with him, Ash had no problems making the sacrifice.
Rocket HQ – Somewhere Between Pallet Town and Viridian City
Looking down from the helicopter, Giovanni could see the landing pad come into view. One of his Executives waited obediently. As he should. As all should, thought the man. The vehicle touched down in the next few minutes and the hatch opened, allowing the Rocket Boss to make his exit.
"Giovanni sir, thank you for coming," spouted the short blue-haired man.
"Spare me the pleasantries Archer. Take me to the asset!" Giovanni demanded, giving his lacky a cold glare.
"O-Of course sir. Please, follow me," responded Archer, walking to the nearby elevator. The Rocket Boss followed, entering behind the man, and the doors shut. Archer scanned an ID against a senor, allowing him to press a button labeled "B5." Thus, a long trip from the very top of the towering facility to a subterranean level began. There was an awkward silence for a few moments, Archer not exactly knowing what to say.
"Petrel and Proton remain in Johto correct?" idly asked Giovanni, continuing to look forward.
"Yes sir! New recruits are being trained and bases established, just as you ordered," answered Archer.
"Good. Once Kanto is under our thumb, Johto will be a natural second step in the expansion of Team Rocket's power. Having the groundwork laid will expediate our plans exponentially," the pleased man replied. A few more moments passed, and the doors opened. Archer moved to exit, but Giovanni gripped the man's shoulder tightly.
"You will remain behind. I will deal with this alone!" hissed the Rocket Boss, shoving his executive back into the elevator, and moving forward. Walking down a dark hallway, Giovanni came to an open doorway, and he walked through. The man entered a room full of machinery. Walls were lined with various screens, buttons, and other technological devices. What matter though, lied in front of the man. His greatest asset stood on a slightly raised metal platform, garbed in metal armor, which was connected to several wires.
"You came," projected Mewtwo, not offering any hint of the Pokemon's emotional state with his words.
"I did friend. How can I help you?" smiled Giovanni.
"Am I your friend? Am I really?" rebuked Mewtwo with a tint of anger.
"Whatever do you mean? You're my partner," innocently answered the man.
"Then why have I not made any decisions? Why have I been relegated to capturing my fellow Pokemon for your pawns? Why am I being restricted in this armor that saps my power? WHY?" screamed Mewtwo, his eyes glowing blue and body shaking. Giovanni stared at him for a moment, seemingly pondering a course of action with a thoughtful expression. In seconds, he came to a decision and let out a small laugh.
"What is this? DO YOU MOCK ME?"
"I could have spun a tale and answered your questions to your satisfaction, but I laugh because it is pointless," answered a highly amused Giovanni.
"What?" the perplexed Pokemon asked.
"You see, you are not my partner, and never have been. You are a tool, which I have used to my benefit extensively, and plan to continue to do so," explained Giovanni without a worry in the world.
"I was right… you humans are selfish creatures, unworthy of sharing this world with Pokemon!"
"Unworthy? Humans created you fool. You owe humans everything!" Giovanni replied with scorn.
"Humans may have brought about my existence, but my purpose is more than to serve the ambitions of selfish humans. THIS IS NOT MY DESTINY!" loudly projected Mewtwo, machinery starting to explode. A small smile crossed Giovanni's lips and he reached into his pocket.
"Perhaps in another world, you would have escaped, and gone on to strike back at humanity. This is not that world though. This world is mine!" Giovani gave the device in his pocket a click. In the blink of an eye, A small black ball on the chest of Mewtwo's armor expanded, turned inward, and moved forward, making contact with Mewtwo's skin.
"WHAT? I—"
The words ceased as the Psychic Pokemon turned into a beam of dark energy, instantly sucked into the black spherical device that fell to the floor. Giovanni did nothing, watching the sphere shake back and forth. Minutes passed and still the ball struggled, but Giovanni waited. The movement stopped and a ding sounded. With slow steps, the man of evil approached the device. Reaching down, he picked up his perfected Dark Ball. A terrible grin emerged onto his face.
"I have won. I have won! I HAVE WON!" Maniacal laughter echoed around the chamber. Dark days were coming for Kanto.
Cinnabar Island
Ash and the gang enjoyed a relaxing three-day trip to Cinnabar Island. Unlike the S.S. Anne, trainers did not line the walls of the boat. Instead, it seemed to have been comprised of tourists. The ship's design had this in mind as well, and there were no real spots where Pokemon could be trained, much less engage in battle. Therefore, relaxation and strategic planning occupied his mind.
Misty spent almost every hour of the days soaking in the sun, trying to get herself a tan. Her Pokemon Egg has recently begun to shake, indicating it was close to hatching. She wondered if that Rocket lady had been telling the truth about Togepi. Regardless, Misty did look the Pokemon up on Ash's Pokedex just to be safe. It was a Fairy Pokemon, which was far from the normal Water Pokemon she preferred to raise. Togepi did look to be cute though, so she could make an exception.
Brock's time was focused on bad habits that Ash and Misty had thought he had broken. The teenager shamelessly flirted with nearly every woman on board, professing his "love" multiple times a day. His heart, by coincidence of course, was also curbed stomped multiple times a day.
Today, the sun shined down on the trio, as they watched the ship slowly pull into the port of beautiful Cinnabar Island. Ash was positively jubilant, walking off the ship and arriving at the location where his final Gym Battle would take place.
"Praise Arceus, we made it!" cheered the boy
"Someone's excited," laughed Brock.
"Can you blame me Brock? One more badge and I can compete in the Pokemon League!" answered Ash, fired up.
"Do you think we can stop at the beach first?" tried Misty
"No way! We will have plenty of time for that after the battle," firmly denied Ash.
"He has waited for this moment for a long time," offered Brock.
"Fine," sighed Misty, grudgingly admitting that Brock did have a point. With that in mind, the group ventured forth, searching for the Gym. Brock's handy guidebook served as a reasonable guide. The group passed stalls with wares, restaurants, hotels, stores, and more, finally coming to a rundown part of town.
"It should be right around here," said Brock, looking around
"Are you sure we went the right way Brock?" questioned Misty.
"All I see is a giant pile of wood," agreed Ash, pointing to a collapsed building in front of him.
"That pile of wood is the Cinnabar Island Gym young man," a voice spoke up behind the trio, startling them all. Ash whipped around and saw something truly bizarre. A tall man with long blonde hair, dark-shaded glasses, a mustache, an orange sweater, and some beads stood in front of them. He looked like some sort of hippy.
"Sorry to frighten you kids, but like I said, the Gym is no more. Trainers stopped coming and Blaine got bored," rhymed the strange man.
"The Gym Leader abandoned his Gym? Why would he do a thing like that, and why did the trainers stop coming?" Ash asked incredulously.
"Tourists overran the island," simply responded the man. Ash sighed in frustration. This just prompted more questions.
"And why did they overrun the island?"
"What do tourists think is both hot and cool?" retorted the man with a serious expression.
"Did he just ask me a riddle?" a perplexed Ash looked towards Brock.
"Yes, I did, and I'm waiting kid," interjected the man.
"Hot Springs!" abruptly said Misty, causing everyone to look at her.
"I mean, they're literally hot and people think they are cool," clarified the girl.
"That's right! Not bad young lady," praised the weird man.
"So, tourists overran the island for the hot springs, leading to trainers heading elsewhere, which in turn caused Blaine to shut down his Gym?" summarized Brock.
"Correct," nodded the man.
"But this was supposed to be my final badge!" complained Ash. The hippy-like man appraised Ash at that comment, studying him intently.
"Out of curiosity, where did you earn your badges young man?"
"Uh, Pewter City, Cerulean City, Vermillion City, Saffron City, Celadon City, Fuchsia City, and Dark City," listed Ash, also opening his jacket to show off the badges.
"Not bad at all. Six of those seven actually mean something, especially the ones from Saffron and Fuchsia City," the man said aloud. Ash didn't take offense, considering that he agreed one of those badges had been far too easy to obtain. The man looked around for a moment, before leaning in and gesturing for the others to do the same.
"Blaine's got a Gym hidden out of sight," whispered the man.
"Really? Where?" Ash asked excitedly.
"You'll find it in the place where firefighters could never win. Oh, and before I leave, take my card," said the man, handing it over to Ash. The three looked down, seeing the words, "The Big Riddle Inn," written. Looking back up, they found that the man had vanished without a trace.
"Not only did he give another riddle, but he up and vanishes on us too," groaned Ash.
"A place where firefighters could never win? I'm stumped," admitted Brock.
"Guys, it's starting to get dark. How about we find a place to stay for the night," suggested Misty. Ash and Brock couldn't think of anything better to do, so they obliged her, and the trio walked off with Pikachu and Espeon in tow.
A Few Hours Later
Luck was just not on their side on Cinnabar Island. Not only did the trio run into that roadblock with the gym, but every inn, hotel, and even the Pokemon Center was booked to the max.
"I really wanted to take a shower and sleep in a bed too," moaned Misty.
"We've camped out plenty of times before, and will get bye just fine," countered Brock. Ash just sighed, still focused on the Cinnabar Gym, and finding it. If only that weirdo hadn't been so cryptic. The boy wished he could go ask him for a hint at the very least. Well, maybe that was possible? Reaching into his jacket, Ash pulled out the card he had been given earlier.
"Why don't we stay at the place the hippy suggested?" offered Ash, showing his friends the card.
"Hey, that's a fantastic idea!" cheered Misty.
"Does the card have any directions Ash?" enquired Brock. Turning it over, Ash had to let out another groan. Brock and Misty looked at him with curiosity, and he read what he saw.
"If you look near the swings, you'll see my hands, or at least my face." Brock face-faulted, but Misty was thoughtful, analyzing the words. She focused intently for a few minutes, gasping when it came to her.
"I've got it! A few miles back we passed by a playground and I remember seeing a large clock on a hill. A clock can be described as a face, while the moving arrows are the hands," enthusiastically explained Misty.
"Makes sense to me. Let's try it," agreed Ash.
The Big Riddle Inn
"Misty's right again!" confirmed the man, still dressed in his strange garb.
"As a reward for her detective work, your stay is free. As a perk, I also invite you to enjoy the hot springs. If you need me at all, just give me a ring," again rhymed the man. He then departed, leaving everyone to their own devices.
"I don't know about you guys, but I've had enough of this rhyming and riddle stuff. I'm going to bed," muttered Ash, walking off to a room. Brock and Misty followed suit.
The Next Day
Ash woke up, bright and early, as usual. Walking around the Inn, he found that nobody else was up, so he headed outside to get a good look at the place and the surrounding area. The Inn was a giant wooden building with a red roof. Ash figured that the only reason it wasn't packed was because it was so out of the way. One thing that also caught Ash's eye was the giant volcano literally next to the Inn.
"Must have missed it since it was so dark last night. It's probably powering all of the nearby hot springs," mused Ash.
"It's active inside. I can feel it," added Espeon.
"Pika. Pika." nodded the yellow mouse on Ash's shoulder.
"Well then let's hope we don't get an eruption. The lava is probably way too hot for anybody to put out," chuckled Ash. The boy stopped laughing, a lightbulb going off in his head.
"There's no way. Can a Gym Leader actually be crazy enough to hide a Gym inside a Volcano?" Ash asked aloud.
"It would fit the riddle. No fire fighter could win there. I've got to ask that strange guy about this!" Ash decided with determination, running back inside the inn.
"Hey, uh mister! Are you in here? Hello?" called Ash, over and over. It was no use though. Nobody, other than Ash's irritated friends, who he had now woken up," answered.
"What's with all the yelling Ash? I'm trying to catch some beauty sleep," Misty half-yawned and half-complained.
"I think I found the Gym!" Ash promptly said, explaining his theory with his friends.
"That's all well and good Ash, but how exactly would we be able to get inside a Volcano alive?" questioned Brock with his arms crossed.
"Maybe there's a hidden entrance?" proposed the boy.
"Well, I'm already up and we have nothing better to do, so I'm game," Misty surprisingly agreed.
"Let's just make sure we eat Breakfast first and are adequately prepared," advised Brock. The three enjoyed a quick meal, packed plenty of provisions, including lots of water, and began to check the Volcano out. Unfortunately, they found nothing all morning and decided to break for lunch and a dip into the hot springs behind the inn. The spring was separated into two by a bamboo fence, likely meant to give men and women privacy. They all wore bathing suits, so it wasn't exactly a big deal. Still, Ash and Brock took one side, while Misty took the other.
"Oh, I had no idea how much I needed this," sighed Misty, melting further into the water. Of course, things in Cinnabar Island had not come easy, and that was hardly going to start now. Right on cue, Psyduck decided to release himself from his Pokeball, which Misty had left in her backpack next to the water. The duck materialized not on land, but above the hot spring.
"Duck?" uttered the confused Pokemon. Then he fell with a splash.
"PSY! PSY! PSY! PSY! PSY! PSY! PSY! PSY! PSY!" repeated the poor Water Pokemon, struggling to stay afloat.
"Are you actually drowning?" Misty asked in disbelief. Her Pokemon's continued flailing answered that question for her.
"Stupid duck. Who has ever heard of a Water Pokemon not being able to swim?" growled the girl, wading over to assist her struggling Pokemon.
"Stay still," ordered Misty, reaching out for him. Psyduck was anything but compliant, continuing to flail about. The moment she was able to physically lift him, somehow, the Pokemon managed to leap out of Misty's arms into the air and onto a nearby stone statue of a Gyarados. Before Misty's irritation could grow further, the statue lowered and a nearby wall rumbled, tearing down the bamboo fence and revealing Ash's theorized hidden entrance.
"Duck?" uttered the Pokemon, looking blankly at the stares of the three humans, who looked back at him.
"Told you there was a hidden entrance," japed Ash. In no time at all, everyone had gotten dressed into their usual clothing, Psyduck had been called back, and the group made their way into the entrance. They found themselves walking down a staircase, rock surrounding them all and the temperature rising with each step. Nonetheless, they pressed on, led by Ash's pure stubbornness. A double metal door waited for them at the bottom.
"Nobody touch the handles, they're probably scorching hot," advised Brock.
"I'll cool them down. Misty calls Starmie!" said the girl, releasing her ace.
"Cool down the door handles with Water Gun." Starmie obeyed, sending a small jet of water at the handles, creating a good amount of steam from the dissipating heat. Misty thanked her Pokemon and called it back.
"This is it," said Ash, grabbing both handles and pushing the doors open. Inside the next room, a battlefield was held up above a pit of lava by four metal chains, each connected to the corner of the rocky walls.
Slow clapping drew everyone's attention to the other side of the room, where the strange man stood.
"So, you've finally made it."
END CHAPTER
So, I had nothing to do at work today and instead spent the entirety of it writing out this chapter! Hope you enjoyed the surprise update. From the events that transpired, it is evident that the first movie is clearly going to have changes to it. We are getting close, so I hope you are all excited. Also, I will not be covering the events of every movie in this story. Only the events of movies that add will be highlighted. I can tell you now that movies 2-4 will probably not be included, but Pokemon Heroes will be in the story, because it will tie into the Johto plot.
Next Time – We catch up with the Elite Four and Ash battles for his eighth Gym Badge in a 6 on 6 show down!
Rockadoddle88 – Thanks for the review! I appreciate the constructive criticism. English, the school subject, was always my worst, and spelling is a weakness of mine. I may rectify the early mistakes in the future, but for now I wish to progress with the story rather than take time to go back. Please keep the feedback coming!
I am vegito – Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoyed the twists and turns of today's events
CaptainSammyAngel – Thanks for the review! Gyarados has a way to go before he is tamed. It will tie in nicely with Misty's story though. As for Ash, his mom was able to pull him back from the brink, but yeah, he hates Giovanni (though he doesn't know the identity of the Rocket Boss yet) with a passion.
Johnathan-Mandrake – Thanks for the review! I had already planned on Riolu at a certain point, but Zorua is another excellent addition! I will strongly consider it.
Reader – Thanks for the review! You're about to find out if Blaine's ace is indeed who you think it is. Stay tuned for more.
Espeon860 – Thanks for the review! Ash is not in the best place, but his mom certainly helped in this chapter. He still harbors hate in his heart though, and that will feature prominently in the 1st movie arc.
Remember to review with your thoughts and critique :)
Smell ya later!