Chapter 3: Operation Emergency
Everything felt like it was in slow motion for Serena. Her eyes could see the individual raindrops as she was falling into a series of bushes. Ash's bruised face continued looking forward with Pikachu in his arm. She reached out for his hand, hoping she was able to pull him with her. Alas, her efforts were for nothing as she failed.
Time resumed as normal as she rolled off the top of the bushes and down into the ground. A combination of mud and grass ruined her clothes, but she could care less about her looks. All that mattered to her was finding Ash as the flock of Spearow rushed by.
She tried all of her might to stand back up, but there was a sinking feeling in her chest that prevented her from rising. She pounded her legs with her fists to ensure she could them, but they still wouldn't stand. Just why? She needed to help her best friend. Come on stupid legs, work!
Tears began dripping down her face as lightning flashed across the sky. "ASH!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, not caring if she attracted any dangerous Pokémon nearby. Her breathing became shallow and her limbs started to have a tingling feeling. Her vision began to blur before she collapsed and everything faded to black.
Serena's eyes slowly opened; however, she did not recognize anything. She appeared to be in a blacken void with little tiny fragments of mirror-like windows passing by her. Inside of these windows were images of Ash and her; however, they weren't her memories. She didn't recognize any of the locations they were in nor any of the people by their side.
After several images of Ash, she suddenly remembered that he was in trouble. The mere thought slowed her pace down as one mirror-like window hit her. In a blinding white light, she heard a familiar voice.
"Spearows! Do you know who I am? I am Ash Ketchum from the town of Pallet. I am destined to become a Pokémon Master."
She snapped her eyes open to see herself floating in the sky with the flock of Spearow. The flock dove towards her best friend. She tried to stop any that she could with her arms and legs; however, they only passed by her.
Fear filled her eyes as she covered them with her hands; however, she believed he was going to be alright. That's when she saw Pikachu leaping into the air with a bolt of lightning striking it. Everything faded into a white.
The ground rumbled that startled the honey-blonde awake. She picked herself up to see the end of blinding light in the sky followed by a dust cloud and Pokémon flapping away. Echoing through the forest was PIKA-CHU!
Serena rubbed her head. Everything was fuzzy after Ash pushed her beyond the bushes. Her dream couldn't possibly have happened right?
Regardless, the sound of Pikachu's cry meant there was still hope. She mustered her strength and managed to stand. What started off as a walk, turned into a jog, and then a run.
Please be all right! She thought as she raced down the dirt path and followed the source of light from memory. The rain soon stopped with the sun breaking through the clouds.
Reaching a hill, she climbed until the very top where a large shadow passed by her. Looking up, she saw a majestic bird flying across the sky. A golden aura shined beautifully as it soared towards a rainbow in the distance.
Her fears and doubt washed away and replaced with hopeful thoughts. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but it had to be a good omen.
Absentmindedly, she pulled out her phone and used the Pokédex to identify the beautiful Pokémon. Unknown Pokémon. No record found.
Serena's eyes widened. How could that be possible unless…it was a newly discovered Pokémon! Quickly, she flipped to the camera app to snap a photo in time with it flying over a rainbow.
As the mysterious Pokémon flew beyond the clouds, the fears and doubt came rushing back.
What am I doing? She berated herself. This was no time to take a picture!
She quickly scanned the area for her friend. Near the bottom of the hill, she saw Ash standing while looking at the distance. She never ran faster in her life than this moment. She maintained her balance as she slipped and slid a few times on the way down.
"Ash!" She shouted.
Her best friend slowly turned around with Pikachu coddled in his arms. In his right hand, he held a mysterious feather. "Serena…" He weakly said.
The honey-blonde embraced him in a tight hug for a second so she wouldn't crush Pikachu. "I'm so glad you're okay."
Ash grimaced while looking at the electric mouse. Its yellow fur was paler and it did not appear to be breathing as much. "I'm glad you're okay too, but Pikachu needs to get to a Pokémon Center. It drained a lot of its energy just to save me." He put the feather in his torn jacket pocket.
Maybe that wasn't a dream but a vision? It was all too confusing to think about at the moment. Serena pulled up the PokéNav app to identify the nearest Pokémon Center. She frowned at the options. "Looks like the closest Pokémon Center is in Viridian City. We're still an hour away on foot to the city. Maybe a half-hour if we book it."
Ash nodded with determination. They had no choice if they wanted to get Pikachu help. "Lead the way!"
Serena led Ash down sidewalk after sidewalk in the outskirts of Viridian City. She ignored the looks several people gave her as she followed the directions on the PokéNav. The Pokémon Center had to be in the center of the city so despite running for a half-hour already, they still needed another half-hour to get there assuming the streets were willing to cooperate with them.
The pedestrian sign was red with several cars coming from either side. Ash could only focus on poor Pikachu, who looked worse now than ever.
"Please tell me we're close," he said.
Serena frowned, unsure if she wanted to tell him the distance away. "I'm really sorry…"
Before she could finish her sentence, a female voice shouted, "Hold it you two!"
The teens reluctantly turned around as the pedestrian sign turned green. Behind them was an officer, flashing her badge. She had blue wavy hair.
"Is something wrong, officer?" Serena asked.
The officer placed her hands upon her hip and studied them. "Help me understand the picture here. Two people carrying around an injured Pikachu and look like a complete mess. Is there a better explanation other than Pokémon thievery?"
"We're not thieves," Ash growled. "We don't have time to explain either. My Pikachu needs to get a Pokémon Center right away!"
The officer crossed her arms.
Serena gently pushed Ash to the side, understanding his frustrations but the last thing they needed was to upset an officer. "Sorry, officer. It's been one stressful day involving Spearows chasing after us in the rain. Poor Pikachu drained a lot of its electricity to save us. If we don't get to the Pokémon Center soon, it might not wake up." With her phone, she pulled up her ID and showed it to the officer. "We're not thieves, I promise."
The officer studied the ID with her eyes widening, possibly because it states Research Fellow of Professor Oak's Lab on it. She grabbed ahold of her radio on her shoulder. "This is Jenny. I have a Code Red P 2 Critical. Requesting roads to be cleared to Pokémon Center from outskirts. Let the staff know they should expect two kids with some bruises and a Pikachu, drained of electricity."
"And an Eevee whose hurt," Serena added.
"And an Eevee with unknown injuries," Officer Jenny added and letting go of her radio. She motioned them to follow her. "I'm sorry to hold you up during an emergency. To make it up to you, I'll get you guys to the Pokémon Center, myself!"
The teens smiled at one another. Maybe their luck was finally turning around. They followed the officer to her patrol car and hopped into the back. Officer Jenny blared the sirens and began coasting through the city, breaking many of the speed limits.
"Hang on Pikachu." Ash frowned while keeping Pikachu as still as possible. "We're almost there."
Serena decided to release Eevee into her lap to check on its condition. Its fur was roughed up and several bruises appeared across the body. Thankfully, it did not appear as serve as Pikachu.
Eevee weakly opened one of its eyes. "Vee?"
"Rest, Eevee," Serena gently petted it. The Evolution Pokémon squirmed due to the pain. "We're almost at the Pokémon Center. The people there will help you feel better."
Most cars pulled to the side while several streets were empty as they got onto the campus of the Pokémon Center, a multi-floored building with a red tile roof. They managed to get there in under seven minutes.
"Hang on tight," Officer Jenny warned. She slammed on the breaks causing the teens' body to press against their seat beat. The car came to a screeching stop at the front entrance. The teens quickly opened the doors only to be greeted by a woman at the front.
The woman wore pink scrubs, had circular glasses, and magenta-colored hair. A stretcher was by her side. "I'm Jessica, one of the nurses here. I've been expecting you. Dr. Joy is prepping the machines we need to nurse your Pokémon back to health so please place them on the stretcher."
Serena hesitated on placing Eevee on the stretcher. She had been used to handling sick and injured Pokémon off to Daisy and Professor Oak that giving her Pokémon to a nurse seemed odd. Ash must have felt the same way.
"Dr. Joy and I will do everything we can for them," Jessica insisted. "Hurry before it's too late for Pikachu at least."
Ash appeared to be motivated and quickly placed Pikachu upon the stretcher. Serena followed his lead with Eevee. Jessica ensured they were strapped in safely before rushing through the front doors.
Officer Jenny stepped in front of the teens. "Don't be shy. Come on in."
They followed the officer inside the building and approached the front desk in the lobby area. Several people gave the teens funny lucks and held their noses.
A man with lavender hair sat behind the desk with rectangular glasses. He wore a nice dress shirt and pants. He looked up to see Officer Jenny flashing her badge.
"I'm Officer Jenny of the thirteenth prescient and I'm requesting that the Pokémon Center provide rooms for these kids and for the doctor on standby to look at their injuries."
The man nodded. "We've been expecting you." He picked up a phone and pressed a few buttons. "This is Jim. Your patients have arrived and ready to be examined." He nodded a few times before hanging up. He stood up and came around the desk. "If you would please follow me. I'll escort you to see Dr. Proctor."
Ash turned to Officer Jenny. "Officer…I want to apologize for my behavior earlier. It was inexcusable despite the circumstances. Without you, we would never have made it in time. Thank you." He gave a small bow.
"Yes, thank you for everything." Serena joined in on Ash's gesture.
The Officer tipped her hat. "You're welcome. I'm glad to be of service and I'm sorry for accusing you of anything. That probably didn't help matters when we first met. I can't stay here long, but I'll be back later to check up on you two." She turned to Jim. "You can bill their rooms to me."
Jim nodded and then walked down several halls with Ash and Serena following him. They followed until they reached a particular medical room. Inside was a man with a buzz cut in a lab coat.
"This is Dr. Proctor," Jim introduced them. "He'll examine those bruises and cuts to ensure they're not too serious. We also have a nurse if you-" He looked at Serena. "-feel more comfortable with her down one room. Once they finish examining you, come back towards the front desk and I'll hand you the key to your room. There, you can take a shower. I can also have a staff member to help take your clothes to the washroom."
Ash sighed. "When will we hear news about our Pokémon?"
That was also something Serena wanted to know.
Jim placed a hand on Ash's shoulder. "As soon as I hear anything, I'll let you. Given what I saw and heard, it could be a few hours. For now, please be patient and let Dr. Joy handle things from here. You wouldn't want your Pokémon to see you in these conditions do you?"
Ash shook his head while gazing upon the floor. Then he slowly walked into the room with Dr. Proctor.
Serena headed down a room to see the nurse. "Thanks, Jim."
The lavender-haired man smiled before checking his phone. He appeared to have responded to a text prior to returning to the front desk.
The nurse examined Serena and provided proper physical and checkups. Despite being pushed into a series of bushes, she didn't have any scrapes or cuts, unlike Ash. Her best friend was on her mind throughout the entire examination. Upon finishing her exam, she went by the next room to see how her friend was doing, but the door was closed.
She didn't want to barge in so she meandered back to the front desk where Jim handed her a card key to the fifth floor. Once she entered her room, she quickly went into the bathroom to change into a robe and handing her dirty clothes to a staff member. Then she took a long, steamy shower, put on a different robe, and sat upon her bed.
The room was dark with only natural sunlight coming through her window. All she could think about was what had transpired over the past few hours. Her hands hovered over her heart as images of Pikachu attacking Ash came to mind.
How could he be so reckless? Any one of those attacks could have caused serious injuries to him. The way he acted with such pose. Could he have done it before? That would explain why he had some mysterious injuries that couldn't be explained by falling down. Let alone reasons why Gary, Leaf, and her were never allowed to help Ash.
Of course, what shocked her the most probably had to have been his deal. She didn't quite understand his logic and thought he was never going to give up on Pikachu. That wasn't like him at all. Could there be more to it?
She shivered while thinking about the flock of Spearow that chased them and how Ash bravely saved her once again. A nightmare that she didn't want to replay for long, but she did fixate on a couple of key moments.
Despite not falling hard, she managed to pass out and had a strange dream about Ash and Pikachu. The crazy part was it wasn't a dream. According to Ash, Pikachu leaped into the air to save him just like her…vision. Everything was confusing except for the fact that Ash had saved her once again.
Not only her but Eevee. Her own partner and friend for years was saved by him. She grasped onto the sheets out of the frustration and embarrassment. Did Eevee think less of her? Some trainer she was to let someone else save her Pokémon.
"No more…" She sobbed while thinking of ways to make it up to Eevee and how to repay Ash.
Ash winced in pain as Dr. Proctor cleaned his wounds and stitched some of his wounds closed. Those Spearows did a number on him. After getting patched up, he went through a series of exams before being released in good health. His mind kept bouncing between Pikachu and Serena.
He went to the front desk before heading to the fifth floor. In his room, he changed into a robe and handed off his dirty clothes to the staff with the exception of his torn jacket. The same jacket his mother worked hard to make for him. He was disgusted with himself for ruining it and tossed it over a chair.
The teen stood in the shower for nearly half an hour before shutting off the water and placing on a different robe. He sat on his bed, reflecting on the events with a towel over his head while he looked down upon the carpeted floor.
His first day as a trainer had gone sideways in every possible way. Pikachu was not the Pokémon he had expected after his friends received Pokémon they knew and had befriended. He was certain he was going to get a Pokémon he had helped in the past.
Despite his efforts, Pikachu didn't appear to have discovered any trust in humans. Its last attack caused a flock of Pokémon to chase him and Serena across the forest in the rain no less. Hard to imagine her expression being shoved into bushes, but the mere thought of her getting hurt tensed up his chest with tears foaming around his eyes.
How could he put Serena in danger like that? Maybe if he was more honest about his time at the lab or thought of better ways to help Pikachu, they wouldn't have gotten in that mess.
He slammed his fists into the mattress. His best friend must hate him for everything going wrong today. "How am I ever going to make it up to her?" He continued to pound his fists and forearm into the bed.
The shaking of the bed caused the mysterious feather to drop from his jacket. It caught Ash's eye as he remembered seeing a majestic Pokémon flying moments after he came through.
Ash picked up the feather which started to glow with a beautifully radiant shine. A warm sensation washed over him. Many of his doubts disappeared and replaced with an optimistic view. Like Pikachu might have appreciated his efforts in saving its life and how Serena would never hate him. The feeling subsided when it placed it down with many of his doubts returning.
After some time in his sulking, Ash received his clothes back. He quickly got changed, grabbing a different jacket to wear and decided to head towards the front desk. By chance, he saw Serena in the hallway.
"Ash…" She spoke first. "How are you doing?"
"Fine…" He partially lied. Whenever he moved, he could feel some pain. "How about you?"
Serena smiled. "Better, knowing that you're all right. Though, I would feel even better once we learn about the condition of our Pokémon."
The way she talked. It was if she still considered him a friend. He blinked several times. It made things easier in a way. "I'm…sorry for everything that happened today. If I had carefully thought of ways to help Pikachu instead of rushing things, we wouldn't be in this mess. Certainly, we wouldn't have been caught in the storm being chased by Spearows."
His best friend shook her head. "Don't blame yourself for circumstances out of your control. It's not your fault that Pikachu was abused. Not your fault for a Spearow being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nobody would have guessed that Spearow would call reinforcements either. Not even the great Professor Oak."
Ash slowly nodded. He doubted Professor Oak would ever get into a situation like that anyway, but understood where Serena was coming from.
The honey-blonde closed her eyes. "Besides…I could have been a bigger help to you instead of being a burden."
"But you're not a burden." He shook his head.
"It was you who saved everyone," she continued. "I didn't do anything, but no more!" Her eyes opened and furrowed her brows. "The next time you want to play hero, I want to be by your side."
Ash took a step back. He didn't quite understand. Were his actions considered heroic? Upon considering her point of view, he lowered his cap. "Honestly, I couldn't live with myself if anything bad ever happened to you under my watch. Just thinking about it makes me angry and sad."
"That's how I felt when you shoved me to the side." Serena had a hand over her heart. "I don't want to feel that way again. I want to help you face down any danger we come across. At least then, I can be satisfied with my actions instead of being sidelined. Promise me, we'll face any problem together as a team."
Something about Serena's demeanor was different. She maintained eye contact with fire behind her eyes. Her stance appeared to be more of a fighter than girly. It was if she was not going to take no for an answer. Even if he tried, he doubted he would convince her otherwise. This side of Serena also intrigued him.
Finally, he nodded. "Promise."
Serena smiled while giving Ash a much-needed hug. They embraced one another, longer than usual. Like most of their hugs, it felt blissful and right.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Of course, the feeling had to end. Serena checked her pocket to see her mother was calling her. Upon accepting the call, Grace appeared on the screen.
"Oh, thank Arceus you two seem to be in a building," Grace said. "Delia! I got them on the phone!"
"Hi mom," Serena said. "What's up?"
Grace leaned into the video. "What's up? It's two teens who don't call their mothers during a thunderstorm! I understand you just began your journeys, but it doesn't hurt to call or text to say you're okay. Gary and Leaf already informed their families so it baffles us to why you two didn't do the same."
Ash stood by Serena's side. "Sorry about that. We were…"
"Ash!" His mom interrupted him. "What happened to your beautiful face?"
The young man turned his best friend with a frown. Together, they explained what occurred at the lab, Route 1, and how they ended up at the Pokémon Center.
His mother sighed. "I cannot believe Professor Oak would give such a dangerous Pokémon to my little boy."
"I can't believe that little boy put my sweetheart in danger," Grace added. "I trusted him to keep her safe."
"He did mom," Serena interjected. "He bravely shoved me into the woods and then his Pikachu saved his life. Despite our rough start, the important thing is we're okay."
Grace raised an eyebrow and appeared to be thinking.
Mom sighed while shaking her head. "Just be more careful next time, dear." Everyone appeared to be surprised by her reaction. "You know this isn't the first time I've had these types of conversations, Ash. Your father gets into plenty of trouble himself. No matter how much I worry, I know he can't help himself. I see you're not straying away too far from the tree either. Just check in from time to time and I won't question you too much, okay?"
"I will," Ash smiled. He supposed his dad on a journey wasn't the worst thing in the world. His mom could have had a worse reaction.
"I'll check in too," Serena added.
Grace narrowed her eyes. "You better, young lady!" Then she sighed. "Let us know how your Pokémon are doing later. It could be a simple text if it's late."
"Will do!" Ash and Serena said together. "Bye!"
"Bye!" Their mothers replied.
The teens headed down to the front desk. Jim was engrossed with his computer until he noticed them.
"Ah, I just received word about your Pokémon," he said. "Pikachu appears to be recovering with Eevee in the final stages of checkup. Dr. Joy will be meeting with you shortly to go over the specifics." He made a call.
That was a huge weight off Ash's shoulders. Serena had a brighter smile than before.
A woman in a lab coat and pink hair with loops soon joined them at the front deck. "I'm Dr. Joy and it's nice to meet you two."
"I'm Ash and this is my friend Serena," Ash introduced themselves. "How's Pikachu?"
Dr. Joy placed her hands into her pockets. "We're currently providing a stable flow of electricity to its body in the recovery bay. It's going to have to stay overnight so we can monitor its levels and ensure that its internal levels are normalized."
"Can I see it?" Ash asked.
"Unfortunately, I cannot allow it at this time," she shook her head. "Pikachu is still at a critically low level so we're showering it with electricity as opposed to our usual methods. Because of that, the room can be blinding without the proper equipment and we don't have a spare. Maybe in a few hours when it's not a critical level. For now, enjoy being on our campus. If you would like, I can have Jim or someone else keep you updated every hour or so."
Ash found it acceptable and nodded. He was still worried about Pikachu, but there wasn't more he could do but wait. He hated waiting.
"What about Eevee?" Serena asked.
"Just fine," Jessica said while walking to the front desk with Eevee in her arms.
Eevee hopped down from the nurse's arms and ran into Serena's arms, wagging its tail. "Vee!"
"I'm so happy that you're okay!" Serena lifted Eevee into the air and spun around before tightly hugging it. Then she turned to the doctor and nurse. "Thank you so much!"
The Evolution Pokémon looked around, especially around Ash. "Eevee?"
Serena frowned while lightly stroking its head. "Pikachu is still recovering, but don't worry. Dr. Joy and Jessica will ensure Pikachu's healthy in no time." She grabbed her Pokéball. "Why don't you rest in your ball for now?" The red beam returned it.
"You opt to be more careful in the wild next time," Jessica said. "You're lucky Eevee only had a few minor bruises, but it could have been worst." She faced Ash. "As for you, how could you allow Pikachu to use up a majority of its electricity. If Officer Jenny didn't find you, I doubt you would have made it in time."
Ash looked at the floor with fists.
"That's enough Jessica," Dr. Joy said. "These two have been through a lot as far as I can tell. Making them feel bad isn't going to help anyone." She then addressed the teens. "We're happy to have helped. My last recommendation is to avoid any intense battling for a few days. Now if you excuse me, I have other patients."
The duo looked for a place to converse and recoup. Between the cafeteria and lounge, they decided to take up a booth in the lounge. Fewer people there in general and they were hardly hungry. The lounge had all sorts of TVs set to different channels like the Gym Battles, Contests, News, performances, and more. They happened to be sitting near a News station.
A man sat a round table with a fedora and a business suit. He browsed through an old fashion newspaper.
On the screen, there was a segment on the notorious Hunter J and her team stealing Pokémon owned by a series of trainers in the Sinnoh Region. Typically, hunters used cruel methods in capturing Pokémon in the wild, but Hunter J took it onto a whole new level. Her whereabouts and clients remained unknown. Though the International Police believes she's moving to a different region to do business for some time.
Ash tightened his grip on his cup of water while looking at the segment. He hoped the International Police would be able to stop her sooner rather than later.
Serena sat next to him while browsing through her phone. The news made her depressed so she wanted to look at different fashion trends to keep her mind off it. Something caught her eye because she tapped Ash on the shoulder.
When he looked towards her phone, it was an image of the majestic Pokémon. "Woah! You managed to get a picture? Did the Pokédex say what it was?"
"The Pokédex didn't recognize it," she shook her head. "I don't recall hearing or seeing a Pokémon like this before. I was hoping you might recognize it. Since you don't, think it's a new Pokémon?"
Ash's eyes widened at the prospect. "Let's see if Professor Oak knows anything."
He made the call to Professor Oak. It did not take long before their teacher answered the call.
"Ash and Serena!" He joyfully said. "What a pleasant surprise! I hope the Pikachu situation is coming along."
Ash nervously laughed before explaining what had happened. "I'm really sorry to have endangered the Pokémon you entrusted into us." His eyes gazed upon the table. "Based on its last reaction before everything went south, I might need a new Pokémon."
"Wait, you're just going to give up?" Serena asked.
He shook his head. "As its trainer, I have to consider its happiness. I don't think Pikachu is interested in traveling with us."
Professor Oak chuckled. "I wouldn't count yourself out just yet, my boy." They looked at the professor. "While I understand the sentiment, I do believe the circumstances have changed. If what you said is true about it leaping into action, then I think you need to ask what it wants to do again."
"Won't the answer just be the same?" Ash asked.
"You should know better than now to assume anything when it comes to Pokémon's happiness," Professor Oak replied. "Besides, asking will only take a few moments. I'll have something prepared for you in case its answer is no, but I have a feeling that your accident might be a blessing in disguise."
Ash smiled at that possibility.
"Anyways," Serena brought their conversation back on track. "We called you because we saw this Pokémon that the Pokédex didn't know."
The Professor leaned into the camera. "Are you meaning to tell me that you discovered a new Pokémon?"
"We were hoping you could tell us." Serena pressed a few buttons on her phone. "I just sent you a photo."
Professor Oak looked at his phone. His eyes bulged and put on some glasses, probably to ensure his eyes were not deceiving him. "Impossible. You two saw this Pokémon."
Ash looked at Serena in confusion. She had an equally confused look. How was it possible that Professor Oak knew of it instead of the Pokédex?
"So Professor, what Pokémon did we see?" Ash asked.
"Sorry, I'm just marveled at this discovery," he chuckled. "The Pokémon you saw was none other than the legendary Ho-Oh. According to Johto lore, Ho-Oh hasn't been seen in centuries. The only images of the Rainbow Pokémon are through old paintings and tapestries. Many believe the Pokémon passed away long ago while some have searched for it with no success. Now, we have proof of existent so that'll shake things up for sure."
Ash turned to Serena, astonished at their luck. Making a major discovery more than makes up for the day they've been having.
The young man then remembered the feather in his room. "Um, Professor. Ho-Oh dropped a feather between me and Pikachu. Does that mean anything?"
Professor Oak leaned into the screen. "You mean to tell me that you have one of its feathers too?" He pondered the thought. "There might be a few historical meanings behind it. Mind sending me a picture? I'm sure my colleagues would love to see it. Maybe one of them will know more. Of course, I will credit you two for finding it."
"I will when I get back to my room," Ash said, excited to see what will be uncovered by it.
"You have no idea how happy this makes me," the Professor said. "I have lots to look into. If I discover something important, I'll let you know! Take care now and don't forget about the picture and asking Pikachu once again on what it wants to do." He hung up before they could properly say goodbye.
Serena beamed in excitement. "I can't believe we were the first to see Ho-oh after so many centuries."
Ash nodded. "I wonder why Ho-Oh decided to show itself to us."
"I hope the professor will be able to tell us more," Serena agreed. "Maybe if we head to Johto, we can learn more about the legend."
The man with the fedora rose. He folded up his newspaper and approached the table with his cane as support. "Pardon my intrusion and poor habits, but I couldn't help overhear the exciting discovery. Is it true that you saw the legendary Ho-Oh?"
Ash had his jaw dropped upon seeing the man. He blinked several times, but his eyes were not deceiving him on this one. "Y-You're Giovanni, Gym Leader of Viridian City and founder of PokéLabs!"
"Wait…" Serena had an equally shocked expression. "As in the company who partners with the PLA and Pokémon Activities Committee and responsible for different research projects in Pokémon medicine?" Ash nodded. "Why is such an important person doing here?"
Giovanni chuckled while looking around. Many people started to look over to them. He tipped his cap while waving to his fans. "I see my reputation precedes me. I don't see why it's strange to see me here. After all, I'm getting my Pokémon checked up just like you are. May I join you for a while?"
Serena nodded while introducing them. "I'm Serena Paschall and this is my best friend, Ash Ketchum. We just started a Pokémon journey together."
The Gym Leader eyed Ash while taking his seat. "Ketchum? You wouldn't be related to Red Ketchum?"
"He's my dad," Ash nervously chuckled. He didn't quite want his name to be spread around.
"Are you participating in the Pokémon League?" The man followed up.
Ash nodded. "One day, I'll make it to the very top!"
Giovanni laughed. "I admire your confidence, but the road to the League isn't an easy one. After all, hardly anyone has beaten me in a full battle." He turned over to Serena. "What about you young lady? Participating in the League as well?"
Serena scratched her cheek. "Battling isn't my strong suit. I'm not sure what I want to do as of yet, but I'm currently helping Ash with his research until I find the inspiration I'm looking for." She handed him her phone with the picture of Ho-Oh.
The Gym Leader raised an eyebrow while glancing at the picture. A smile creaked upon his face. "Quite a remarkable picture. I feel blessed to have seen what Ho-Oh really looks like instead of an old painting." He handed the phone back and looked at Ash. "Mind if I ask what you're studying and is it related to your relationship with Professor Oak?"
"We're research fellows for Professor Oak," Ash answered. "I'm looking into the secrets of unlocking a Pokémon's full potential. It's another reason why I'm participating in the Gym Challenge. I want to see how Gym Leaders like yourself do it."
"Fascinating." Giovanni clasped his hands together. "I don't suppose you have any philosophical leads at the moment?"
Ash sighed. "Unfortunately, I only just started. But you can provide me with my first lead. What's your philosophy?"
Giovanni sat back while pondering the thought. "Hmm, I would have to say it takes two minds. The Pokémon in question and the trainer themselves. If both are not striving for the same goal, it's difficult to expect the Pokémon to follow their trainer and vice versa."
"So does that mean every Pokémon that a Gym Leader cares for have their own set of goals?" Serena asked.
The Gym Leader nodded. "Indeed, but it's much broader than that. Every Pokémon with a trainer, coordinator, performer, or other has a goal they want to complete. Half the challenge is figuring out what the Pokémon wants to do. The other if finding a way to complete it."
Ash smiled at the insight. Though he wondered what Pikachu's goals might be. He believed they would make a great team if given a chance.
Giovanni checked his watch follow by grimacing. Then he checked his phone and furrowed his eyebrows.
"Is something wrong?" Ash asked.
He checked his watch again and shook his head. "Maybe I've seen one too many movies, but my appointments usually last about a half-hour. I got caught up in the news and your story to have noticed I've been here for nearly an hour. Very uncharacteristic of this staff." He stood up. "I'm going to check with Jim at the front desk."
Ash got up as well. "I want to see if there are any updates to Pikachu's condition. I believe they should be giving me an update soon."
Serena also joined them, curious about what might have happened.
As they approached the front desk, Jessica and Jim were walking side-by-side with a briefcase. It had the League emblem on it, the top half of a Pokéball with a triangle on the side. Walking beside them was a Meowth, on two of its legs instead of four.
"Jessica and Jim," Giovanni called out in an accusatory tone. "Where are you going with my Pokémon? Where's Dr. Joy for that matter?"
Ash looked at Serena, wondering what was going on.
Jessica and Jim turned towards the group with a wicked smile. In one move, they ripped off their clothes, revealing white uniforms with a stylized 'R' on their chests. They wore black gloves and boots with Jessica's gloves being longer.
"Prepare for trouble!" Jessica stated.
"And make that double!" Jim followed.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all people within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!" Jessica revealed her real name.
"James!" Jim revealed his real name.
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare for a fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!" Meowth spoke.
"Team Rocket?" Ash and Serena questioned. "And a talking Meowth?"
Giovanni frowned. "They're part of a gang of Pokémon thieves. I never would have suspected sweet Jessica and kindhearted Jim would be part of a vile group!"
"That was your first mistake," James taunted.
The Gym Leader grimaced. "I won't let you get away with thievery in my city!" The commotion started to attract several trainers' attention.
Jessie smirked. "Oh please, the famous Giovanni can't do anything here."
"Especially since we have your Pokémon!" Meowth leaned against the briefcase. Then he took out a large brown bag. "And more!"
James threw out a Pokéball. "Magneton, magnetize!"
Upon appearing, Magneton started to spin around. Nearby trainers started to panic as their Pokéballs started to fly from their belts. The Pokéballs flew to the Pokémon where Meowth snatched them from the air and placing them into the bag.
Serena managed to grab ahold of her Pokéball. She appeared to be struggling to pull it back to her. "Oh no, you don't!" She hastily pressed the button to release Eevee.
"I'll steal that cute Eevee from you!" Jessie grinned. "Go, Arbok!"
An Arbok appeared and roared that caused Eevee to jump.
"I won't let you nor allow you to walk out that door with any of the stolen Pokémon!" Serena declared. "Eevee, use Quick Attack!"
"Stockpile and then Poison Tail!" Jessie waved her arm in command.
Arbok strengthened its defenses.
Eevee bashed its head into Arbok's chest; however, the Cobra Pokémon flexed its chest, appearing to not have felt a thing.
With a flick of its tail, Arbok knocked Eevee back towards Serena.
Eevee came to a rolling stop before standing up.
Ash gritted his teeth. He wished Pikachu was well enough so he could be helping Serena. Looks like every other trainer in the area had their Pokémon stolen to help. The lights began flickering that drew his attention. They completely shut off before red lights turned on.
"Magneton's magnetic field must be affecting the power systems," Giovanni stated.
The raven-haired boy was conflicted. Without power then Pikachu was not getting better. On the other hand, he couldn't just leave Serena to fend for herself. What was he going to do?
"Swift!" Serena commanded.
"Acid!" Jessie countered.
Eevee launched a series of star-bolts from wagging its tail.
Arbok opened its mouth and spit out purplish ooze.
Both attacks collided with splashes of Acid raining down. Eevee hopped backward and performed a few summersaults to dodge it all.
"How annoying," Jessie said. "Keep up the pressure!"
"Magneton, stop that fur-ball with Thunder Wave!" James ordered.
The Magnet Pokémon spun around to release an electrical wave in tandem with Arbok's Acid attack.
Eevee dodged the Acid only to get hit by the Thunder Wave. Electrical charges sparked out of its body as it began struggling to move. Then an Acid spit hit Eevee.
"Time to take it with Bind!" Jessie yelled.
Serena began running towards Eevee. "I won't let you!"
"Magneton, Thunderbolt on that girl!" James hollered.
Arbok slithered across the floor.
Serena grabbed ahold of Eevee and ducked.
Ash couldn't stand idle anymore and started to run. He wanted to shield Serena from the hit.
Magneton launched the electrical attack. Too quick for Ash to get in front; however, the attack changed directions towards the front desk.
Surprisingly to Ash, Pikachu was standing on the counter, absorbing the electrical attack.
Serena quickly rolled to the side to avoid Arbok.
Giovanni used his cane to whack the Pokémon with little effect.
"How is that little rat doing that?" Jessie scowled.
James narrowed his eyes. "Cut the power! That Pikachu has the rare Lightning Rod ability!"
Jessie stomped her foot. "We should have stolen it when we had the chance!"
Serena managed to get back onto her feet and easily evaded Arbok's movements.
Pikachu absorbed every last ounce of power coming from Magneton. An electrical aura surrounded it.
Ash could feel a lot of determination coming from the electrical mouse. "Are you okay? You shouldn't be out of bed!"
"Pika!" It sparked its cheeks. "Pikachu!"
"That Pikachu is saying it wants to help, especially for what we've done to that Eevee," Meowth translated.
Ash was still unsure considering Dr. Joy's assessment, but did he really have a choice? He gave a nod at Pikachu. "If you're sure, then let's do this!"
Pikachu hopped down from the counter and in front of Ash.
Eevee broke free of Serena's control and joined Pikachu.
"We'll support you!" Serena stated.
Ash was grateful for their help, but they were still way in over their heads. Arbok was a fully evolved Pokémon while Magneton was in its second stage. Both appeared to be well trained. They were going to need a miracle to show up if they wanted to win.
Giovanni tapped his cane on the floor. "If I may, but this is not a battle you can win with brute force. You'll need to be strategic about this. There's only one way to turn the tides of this battle and that's getting me my Pokémon!"
Meowth laughed. "Good luck with that. There's no way we can be beaten by a rat and fox!"
Serena gave Ash a nod. It was like having one of Professor Oak's famous eye contact conversations with Daisy. They had an idea in mind on how to get that briefcase. "Eevee, Helping Hands!"
"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock on Arbok!" Ash shouted.
"Magneton, intercept that attack!" James countered.
"Arbok, Crunch on that Pikachu!" Jessie commanded.
Eevee stood on its back legs and clapped its paws, sending energy to Pikachu, who used that energy to launch a powerful Thunder Shock.
Magneton acted as a shield while Arbok slithered across the floor with its jaws wide open.
Ash smirked. "Nuzzle!"
Pikachu shifted gears and rubbed its cheeks. With an electrical discharge, it slammed its cheek against Arbok's chest. Similarly, with Eevee, electric sparks covered its body causing it to slow down and struggling to move.
Jessie turned to James. "Do something already about that Pikachu!"
James sighed. "Magneton, use Gyro Ball on that rodent!"
"Double Team into Quick Attack!" Ash commanded.
Copies of Pikachu appeared all over the floor. As Ash suspected, Magneton used its magnetic field to find the real one. The Mouse Pokémon began zipping across the floor and smacking against Arbok's chest. In doing so, Magneton also ended up hitting Arbok with Gryo Ball.
Serena snapped her fingers. "Now's our chance! Eevee use Attract on that Meowth!"
Eevee blew Meowth a kiss.
Meowth began having heart-shaped eyes with its jaw dropped. "Where have you been all of my life?"
"Eevee! Vee! Vee! Eve!" The Evolution Pokémon barked.
"Of course because you're such a cutie!" Meowth turned around with his claws out. In one swing, he scratched his teammates across the face. When he landed, he grabbed ahold of the briefcase and bag. He dashed across the field with them in tow.
James covered his face while wincing in pain. "Magneton, stop that traitor with Electroweb!"
Magneton fired an electrical web that quickly fizzled out and absorbed into Pikachu.
"Oh no!" James messed up his hair. "I forgot about its ability!"
Jessie smacked him against his head. "You're the one who pointed it out! Arbok Bind that annoying rat!"
Arbok had a moment of freedom and wrapped Pikachu around its tail, squeezing as hard as it possibly can.
"Quick, use Thunder Shock!" Ash shouted, but it was no use. Given Pikachu's expression, it could hardly breathe.
Giovanni snatched the briefcase from Meowth and quickly grabbed the first Pokéball he could find. Materializing was a Persian, the evolved form of Meowth. It stood mightily on all four legs with a long tail gracefully moving side to side.
The Gym Leader smirked. "Persian, it's time to teach these thieves what it means to steal in my city! Iron Tail the cat back its owners."
Persian's tail was covered in a metallic coating. With a flick of its tail, it sent Meowth flying into James, bring him down to the floor.
"Now Shadow Ball!" Giovanni pointed at Magneton, who was distracted by its trainer.
Spectral energy gathered around Persian's mouth before being launched.
The Magnet Pokémon never saw it coming as it spiraled out of control into Arbok.
The Cobra Pokémon released Pikachu. The momentum carried through as both Pokémon crashed into Jessie.
Ash quickly picked up Pikachu off the floor. Compared to the last time he saw it, it's fur was the right shade of yellow. Maybe those electrical attacks helped bring it back to a near-normal level.
"End this with Power Gem!"
Team Rocket began regrouping when Persian send a powerful beam of rock energy from the gem on its forehead. Team Rocket was sent flying into the sky, breaking through the entrance.
"We're blasting off!" They yelped into the night.
Ash and Serena were sitting at the front desk watching as officers took everyone's statements while others helped to identify whose Pokémon was whose. Officer Jenny and Giovanni went looking for the staff members in the back, apparently, they were tied up in several rooms. Dr. Joy quickly took Pikachu and Eevee from them to tend to the injuries they had suffered.
Officer Jenny approached the two after some time. "How are you two feeling? It must have been some kind of day. Being chased by Spearows to foiling a Team Rocket plot."
"I would feel a lot better if we had captured those thieves." Ash slammed a fist into the desk. "Instead, they managed to get away."
Giovanni joined in as well. "I'm afraid that's my fault. I was unaware of their trademark blast off getaway. Quite clever I must admit to avoid being captured. I must apologize again for being so careless, Officer Jenny."
Officer Jenny shook her head. "You did more than enough considering the circumstances. The important thing is that you three managed to get everyone's Pokémon back, safe and sound. On behalf of the Viridian City Police Department, I thank you for your brave acts of services. I only wished we arrived sooner."
"Horrible," Serena sighed. "How could the Pokémon Center allow those two be employees here? Does this mean all Pokémon Centers are at risk of a Team Rocket attack?"
"I wouldn't worry too much," Officer Jenny assured them. "Now that we're aware of this scheme, I'll be working with every Pokémon Center and regional departments to investigate every employee thoroughly. Let alone finding ways to increase security, especially around here."
"I still don't understand how some people resort to stealing Pokémon." Serena had a hand hovering over her heart. "It's just too cruel."
Giovanni closed his eyes. "There's only one reason, profit. Many trained Pokémon fetch a better price on the black market than wild pending on the situation."
Ash gritted his teeth. Pokémon were not money to be traded. They're living beings and should be treated as friends. Part of him hoped he would run into Team Rocket again, only to capture them.
"Rest assure that the Kanto Police Force won't stop until every member of Team Rocket is behind bars," Officer Jenny said. "Now if you excuse me, I have many reports to write and many phone calls to make." She turned to Giovanni with a salute. "It's been a pleasure working with you. If there's anything else you can tell me, please reach out."
Giovanni nodded and extended his hand to shake hands. "Likewise." They waved goodbye to Officer Jenny. Then the Gym Leader faced the teens. "You should be proud of yourselves. Against all odds, you managed to put up a good fight. There must be a lot of trust between you two as I've never seen two people work together as well as you did."
Ash scratched his cheek. "We only won because of your awesome Persian! Any longer and our Pokémon would have been taken as well."
"Besides, you also gave us the idea to change our tactics," Serena added. "We probably would have continued to use brute force until Officer Jenny arrived."
The Gym Leader laughed. "Perhaps, but don't sell yourselves short. After all, I was only able to get my Pokémon because you bravely took on those thieves. On behalf of the city and League, I thank you. This deserves some kind of reward."
Ash and Serena looked at one another before laughing.
"We don't need anything," Ash answered. "Seeing everyone being reunited with their Pokémon is more than enough."
"An admirable trait," Giovanni smiled. "Then think of it as a promise. Ash, I was impressed by how you commanded Pikachu. It reminded me of Red. I would be honored if you could face me in a full battle. I can't think of a better reward than giving you a battle to remember for the Earth Badge. Of course, you need to have earned at least six other badges before I can legally give you the badge. You can invite your friends and family and I'll ensure they get the best seats in the house."
Ash couldn't believe it. A full battle with arguably the hardest Gym Leader in Kanto. Nobody said the road to the League was going to be easy. He stood up and extended his hand. "That would be incredible! When I earn seven badges, I'll return and I'm going to beat you!"
Giovanni chuckled and shook his hand. "That's the spirit. I look forward to your return. Take care until then."
With that, the Gym Leader left the building, only to be greeted by a swarm of reporters. Several people came by the front desk to talk to Ash and Serena of their heroic deed. Upon seeing a news broadcast on TV, they decided to find a place to call their moms to let them know they were okay.
Giovanni sat in his office chair with Persian in his lap, staring at multiple screens that showed various statistical data, footage, and reports. It was organized in a way that he could comprehend everything that was going on within his operations. When the clock stroke midnight, he pressed a button on his armrest.
One of the screens showed an image of a man with blue hair in a white uniform. The Team Rocket logo was on the pocket of his uniform.
"Archer, those three performed adequately," Giovanni stated.
"But sir, they failed to steal a single Pokémon," Archer replied. "I consider that a failure."
Giovanni chuckled. Archer's drive for perfection was a trait he liked in his subordinates. "I consider Operation Emergency to be a success in terms of prime objectives. Those three collected more than enough samples to move on to the next phase. Due to the public viewing me as a hero, we'll receive additional funding as well. If we need more samples, we can always infiltrate more Pokémon Centers once the heat dies down."
"Still, we could have had a hundred more if it wasn't for those meddling kids," Archer grunted.
"Speaking of those meddling kids," Giovanni pressed another button. Images of Ash and Serena appeared on his screen. He sent a file over to his old friend. "I have the next assignment for those three."
AN: I hope you enjoyed that chapter and how I portrayed Team Rocket along with Giovanni. Let me know some of your thoughts on the chapter.
Next Time - Chapter 4: Forest of Friends (First non-canon Pokemon sighting)
Questions You Might Have
Q: How am I handling Team Rocket?
Smarter Ash = Smarter Villains. They won't appear in every chapter and when they do appear, they'll be more organized and more of a threat, at least for now. I don't want to make them goofy as I'm not restricted by Saturday morning cartoon logic. I'm sorry if this will annoy some of you in terms of Team Rocket's goofiness but its a trade-off I'm willing to make for the sake of tension.
Q: Why did I introduce Giovanni this early?
Gym Leaders are public figures. It would be hard for Giovanni not to be known and stick to the shadows easily. Plus, I think it adds some extra layers of motivation for Ash.
Q: What's the deal with the Rainbow Feather and Ho-Oh?
More or less will be explained over time, but I'm not following the movies to a tee and I have my own lore associated with them.
Q: Why does James have a Magneton?
It fit well for the scheme I cooked up and some of the solutions to overcome the problem. Plus, currently, they get random Pokemon to use so I figured they would have prepared for this in advance.
Q: Why does Jessie have an Arbok instead of Ekans?
Like I said, they're not appearing in every chapter. So I have no time to find a random chapter to evolve their Pokemon. Generally, they will have stronger, evolved Pokemon because of that.
