Brock was excited. Aisha and Misty both had their eyebrows raised as they watched the future creator practically run in front of them. Even Pikachu and Espeon were alarmed by such excitement on his part.
"I don't think I've ever seen Brock so happy." commented Ash while adjusting her cap that had almost flown "What bug bit him?"
"Probably hit his head. Staryu and Starmie looked pretty smug this morning, maybe it was them?"
Giggles that betrayed their true age were carried through the trees in the summer breeze. Brock from time to time would point to a pokemon or plant and tell some facts about them, or pick some herbs that could be used as medicine.
In the distance, three shadowed shapes were watching the teenagers heading towards the town of Scissor Street, or Breeder's Lane as most people had nicknamed it. If it weren't for the white uniforms with the huge R drawn on the front, they would have gone unnoticed anywhere.
"When Boss said it was an extremely important mission, I thought we were going to steal Pokemon League files." complained the magenta-haired woman "They're a bunch of teenagers! Urgh..."
"Not just teenagers Jessie." her partner's tone deepened as he watched more closely, "If I'm not mistaken, she is accompanied by the Pewter and Cerulean Gym leaders. Furthermore, the girl with the Pikachu and the Espeon has already blocked, or destroyed, two important operations of Team Rocket."
"Not to mention our robbery, meow."
The three shuddered. The scolding and punishment they received from the Chief managed to be less embarrassing and humiliating, than getting their ass kicked by a trainer who was only a day.
James' sudden movement put Jessie and Meowth on hold. A moment later he nodded and brushed back his periwinkle hair.
"We should continue. They seem to be heading towards the next town, and once they get there we'll easily lose sight of them."
"What do you mean? Problem brat has a Pikachu on her shoulder and an Espeon walking around her." protested Meowth.
"The next town is Scissor Street, better known as Breeder's Lane. Hundreds of pokemon trainers and breeders move in and out of town every day..."
"A girl with a Pikachu and an Espeon would go as unnoticed as a drop in the ocean." Jessie continued thoughtfully, "Even one given to as much trouble as she is."
Just like before, the three teenagers didn't notice the three shadows disappearing. They continued blissfully unconscious on their way as a hot air balloon flying through the air.
"You still haven't explained your enthusiasm for this city, Brock," commented Aisha as she watched the various people and pokemon, that strolled loaded and valued around the city.
"This town is known for many pokemon breeders. Both for their products and for the breeders who keep their stores here. I've always wanted to visit the town to meet Suzie."
"Suzie?"
"She's a pokemon breeder who focuses specifically on using massage therapy on pokemons, Misty." he replied happily "Her philosophy is to focus on the inner beauty and personality of each pokemon, not the outer beauty."
An admirable thought, Ash conceded before signaling that he was going to enter one of the stores that sold products to clean every type of skin for every pokemon.
It was a typical small town shop and had most of the things a coach would need during his travels. Pikachu and Espeon surveyed the shelves around them, not straying too far from her.
I better hurry, she thought. Brock really wants to meet this Suzie.
Suzie's store was small but cozy. It has been designed with the comfort of pokemons in mind. Unfortunately for Brock, she didn't have time to take an apprentice, even if she wanted to.
"Besides, I'll most likely have to close shop." she declared as she poured the tea.
"Why?"
The sad sigh as she looked out the doors made them all stare at what was across the street. New salons to dress up and makeup Pokemons had huge lines.
"Since the new Salons opened, people are more interested in making up and dressing up their Pokemons." she explained, "Thanks to that I have had few clients."
Pikachu and Espeon made sad noises as they stopped eating. Seeing this, little Vulpix climbed out of his bed and nibbled on the food pellets, much to Suzie's astonishment. Vulpix was a fussy little fox, who ate no food other than what Suzie made, causing Suzie to be amazed.
Pikachu and Espeon made sad noises as they stopped eating. Seeing this, little Vulpix climbed out of his bed and nibbled on the food pellets, much to Suzie's astonishment. Vulpix was a fussy little fox, who ate no food other than what Suzie made, causing Suzie to be amazed.
Misty couldn't resist and started bragging about Brock's ability to cook, and how pokemon food was his recipe, which he changed for each pokemon. This caused a lamp to light up above Ash's head. "I think I have an idea to help you Suzie..." said the girl.
People walked around the city, minding their own business. Coaches young and old alike stocked up on supplies while some housewives did their weekly shopping. Jesse, James, and Meowth walk discreetly through the streets, wearing disguises, and looking for the trainers.
"Urgh... How can someone who attracts so much trouble disappear so easily?" grumbled Jessie as she straightened her coat.
"She must have gone into one of the stores," James commented.
Meowth made a satisfying sound. "Then let's go into the stores! We have to get her, don't we?"
"The mission is to observe her and catalog weaknesses. A direct attack will be too obvious, and the League certainly has an eye on her. If she doesn't show up to compete or continue to get badges..."
"The blame will be thrown on the Rockets," complained Jessie.
"ATTENTION! ATTENTION!" shouted a cheery, steady voice "SUZIE'S MASSAGE STORE WILL BE HOLDING A DEMONSTRATION! COME SEE HOW MASSAGE THERAPY CAN AFFECT YOUR POKEMON PARTNERS FOR THE BETTER! THE DEMONSTRATION WILL BE HELD AT 4 PM!"
"Did you say?" the periwinkle-haired young man jerked. The sound of a slap was heard in the distance.
Meanwhile, people were approaching the store to have a seat at the front so they could watch the entire process. Four o'clock arrived quickly, and despite her nervousness, Suzie started with the performance.
"Good afternoon! Thank you for coming. Most of you must have already participated in a pokemon battle..." Suzie explained how each pokemon has different massage points depending on their source of power.
A Pikachu would have their cheeks rubbed, while an Espeon would have the area around the gem and their heads massaged. A Geodude would have their whole body rubbed with a kind of sand that would be absorbed by his skin, strengthening his resistance and restoring softened parts.
In total, there were about two hours where doubts were asked, questions answered, and demonstrations of the main types of massages were performed. In the end, Suzie got several appointment requests that filled her schedule for the rest of the week.
"I can't accept this!" she fumed as she tried to reject Ash's payment.
"You massaged all my pokemon, and recommended different berries and foods to improve their routine." retorted the trainer "Besides, the prices are very reasonable for most trainers to be able to treat their pokemons. And I don't take no for an answer."
Everyone enjoyed their visit to that city. After all, helping others always brings a sense of accomplishment, and not having to fight for their lives was a much-appreciated bonus. Haunter's abrupt exit from the Poke Ball, however, caused chaos for any poor creature that didn't expect a sly ghost. At least Vulpix, their new companion, was enjoying the company.
Brock and Misty were worried. Ash had challenged Sabrina the day before, and the girl had lost.
"You are an excellent fighter and trainer," commented Sabrina after Ash returned his fainted pokemon, "Do you know why we had a 1vs1 battle?"
"Because you knew you were going to beat me?" answered the Pallet girl despondently.
"I've heard great things from the other Gym Leaders about you. And they are not wrong. You have great potential, but something is holding you back from being better."
"What?"
"That's something you have to find out for yourself. But when you find out, I'll give you a 3vs3 battle. I want to see how well you trained that Espeon, this time unhindered."
After the Pokemon were healed, Aisha disappeared from the Pokemon Center, leaving only a note behind. While both gym leaders were worried sick, in the forest around town, Aisha lay with her partners on the grass.
The battle replayed over and over behind the girl's closed eyes, as well as Sabrina's words, but still, Ash couldn't figure out what was stopping her from being better. Aisha firmly believed that trusting her pokemons, along with good training, was the main key to winning a battle.
"Something is missing from my formula." she commented as she caressed Charmeleon's scales "I trust and believe in you, and I know you're well trained. But..., *sigh*. I think my mom could be right, huh?"
Aisha never doubted that her mother tried her best to take care of her. Being single, with a young daughter and a pretty busy restaurant to run, she'd done what she knew. But often, Aisha believed that her mother was trying to live out her youthful dreams in her.
Delia Ketchum had the same dreams since she was a little girl. Finish school, get a well-paying job, have a boyfriend and marry him, have lovely kids, and live out the rest of her life in Pallet.
In the end, Delia never made it. In college, she became a party girl, and in a one-night stand she ended up pregnant and their dreams fading. So, whether out of fear or wanting to keep a point, she kicked out Aisha when she didn't follow the carefully planned life down the drain.
"My mom never really liked that I was interested in training pokemon." commented Aisha with a choked voice "After coming home one day all muddy, saying I wanted to be a Pokemon Master, she looked like she was going to have an aneurysm. I don't think I've ever seen her refuse something so firmly. Even when I was stubborn. At that, she was either yelling or trying to get me more interested in the research."
Ash's animated conversations, about her being able to teach Eevee a new move, her winning a battle against Daisy or even Gary was always met with a certain veiled contempt.
"Darling, Gary is your age. It's obvious, it would be easy to beat him. Now, try this. Every girl of your age, have been crazy about these dolls."
"My girl. It went well this time. Next time you might lose. It's a matter of luck. And girls your age don't come home as dirty as you do. You need to gain a little more class."
"Of course, you beat Daisy. She's a coordinator, they don't focus too much on attack strength. That, or she let you win. Have you read that recently released article? To be a good researcher, or have a good conversation, you have to be up to date."
"Eevee did the hard work. You don't need to be so excited about something, she did it. Now focus on something else. And that Damian boy? He's so cute, have you tried being friends with him?"
In the end, Aisha gradually started to stop talking about her dreams, sharing what little she could with the Oak family. Even now, she wonders if becoming a trainer was a way to fulfill her dream or make a point with her mother.
"In the battle against Sabrina, I didn't lean or believe." she realized, "I believed in all of you, but I don't trust that I would make the correct call. And because of that, Espeon was hurt."
An orange weight jumped onto her chest and began to rub its head against her neck. Charmeleon's happy sounds caused the rest of them to do the same, slamming the trainer to the floor. Aisha couldn't help but giggle thanks to the tickling they were all doing.
She felt that a weight had been lifted from her shoulders as if things were better from there. Of course, she couldn't have that.
"Aww, have you ever seen anything so adorable James?" commented a sarcastic voice, making them all stand by.
"Hmm, I don't know Jessie. I had a really adorable pokemon when I was a boy. He loved to cuddle with me."
"What the hell do you want? Do you have nothing better to do than ruin other people's lives?" retorted Ash,
"We'd be brats if a certain someone didn't ruin several Team Rocket operations," said a Meowth with his claws out.
"What can I do? I'm happy to please."
"Urgh, enough chit-chat! Ekans, Poison Sting!"
"Koffing, Poison Gas!"
Both attacks were launched almost at the same time, and from the looks of them, they would do a lot of damage. Aisha quickly responded in kind, ordering Haunter to paralyze the poisonous smoke with psychic, while Roselia blocked Ekans' attack with Swift. The resulting smoke allowed Charmeleon to use several Embers to bring them together, while a Thunderbolt from Pikachu and a Hypnosis from Espeon paralyzed the Rockets and put the pokemon to sleep.
Roserade then trapped them with Power Wip, at which point Misty and Brock's voices were heard approaching.
"AISHA! We finally found you,... Team Rocket?!"
"Wait a moment" interrupted Misty "Aren't these the Viridian Pokemon Center Rockets?"
"Whoever they are, we better call Officer Jenny" replied Ash, as she signaled the pokemons to keep an eye on them.
Despite the warm moment they had previously, both humans and pokemon couldn't help but fear what was to come. The Rockets were talented and showed the ability to follow them without them realizing it.
What would be just around the corner?
Published 24/09/2022
We can see many things happening in this chapter.
Our favorite Rockets trio showed up to cause more chaos than usual, and they remain the first-class Stalkers we all know and love. Aisha lost her first Gym battle, and we can see why Charmeleon was mostly ignoring her, plus a little look into her past. While Ash will start to gain more confidence in herself, it will be a slow process, where she will have her doubts, but she will gradually overcome them.
What does Team Rocket want with Ash, apart from the obvious? Leave your opinions in the comments, and if you see any inconsistencies or errors in the story, please let me know so that when you finish writing it I can do a complete review.
Hope you are enjoying it so far, so have a good read and
Bye Bye