Pokémon: Masters
Chapter Seventeen – Twilight
Ash sat in the sterile white waiting room. Misty and Brock had already left to get rooms at the Pokémon Center, leaving him alone for Tracey.
"Paging Ash Ketchum," the intercom announced. "Paging Ash Ketchum."
He put down the old edition of Pokémon Weekly and headed to the nurse's station.
"You Ketchum?" a doctor asked.
"Yeah," he answered. "How's Tracey?"
"He seemed to suffer some minor head trauma," the doctor replied. "I like to keep him overnight."
"Whatever you say," Ash said as he let out a big yawn.
"I think you should get some rest," the doctor commented. "Your friend is not leaving here tonight."
"Thanks, doc," Ash said as he headed to the exit.
It was early the next morning when Dr. Eve called Prof. Oak, but he had already been up a few hours to feed the pokémon in his reserve.
"Eve, what a pleasant surprise," Oak greeted the young archeologist.
"Professor, have you heard from your assistant Tracey?" she asked cutting to the point of the call.
"He ran off a few days ago," Oak answered. "Why do you ask?"
"He was around the ruins when we had some weird accident," she replied. "I was just wondering if he was all right."
"What kind of accident?" Oak asked intrigued.
"My team was knocked unconscious," she answered. "Also, it looks like one of sites was tampered with."
"Do you think Tracey was involved?" Oak asked her.
"I seriously doubt it," she said as a large truck pulled up behind her. "The group from the Pewter Museum has just arrived, so I better deal with them. Bye, Professor."
"Good luck," Oak said as she hung up.
"I better get up with Ash," Oak said as he called Bill to find out where he left Ash and his friends.
"I know I left it somewhere around here," Giovanni commented as he pushed through the tall grass. "Here it is."
Giovanni looked down at the stone tablet that once was buried in the deepest portions of the ruined city.
"Almost time," he said as he looked off to the mountain range in the distance.
"How's it going, buddy?" Ash asked Tracey.
"Fine, considering. I just wished these things closed a bit more in the back," Tracey commented as he tried to keep the hospital gown from exposing his rear.
"Maybe you should get back in bed," Brock laughed.
"The doctor said I should try to walk a bit," Tracey replied. "Just to make sure I won't collapse once I'm released."
"Good idea," Ash agreed. "Wouldn't want you holding us up when we head back to Pallet."
"And you getting us lost won't?" Misty asked.
"I never get lost," Ash shouted. "I just don't always know exactly where I am."
"Shush," a nurse told him. "You need to be quiet here."
"Yes, ma'am," Ash replied as Misty giggled. "What's so funny?"
"You," she answered.
"Oh, really," Ash said as he looked at in the eyes. "Am I just a joke to you?"
"No, not just joke," she smiled, "but you never stop making me laugh."
Ash did not know whether to take it as a compliment or insult. Luckily, a newcomer broke up their conversation.
"Ketchum," a voice behind him called, "I challenge you to a pokémon battle."
"Me too," another said.
Ash turned around and saw the younger Rocket Brothers, Matt and Jake, at the door to the hospital.
Giovanni flew over a field of Gloom which stared up the human in the air.
"Soon," he laughed as he zipped into the Viridian Forest, "I will be your master once more."
He continued his flight until he reached his destination. At the base of a gnarled oak, he picked a scroll. Smiling, he flew in the direction of a nearby mountain range.
"It's simple really," Matt said as he walked up to Ash. "I challenge you now, and once we're through, you get to face Jake here."
Ash glanced at Misty. She nodded back. 'We're finally be through with Team Rocket forever,' he thought as he stepped up to the brothers.
"You're on," he replied. "Since I have to fight two of you, let's make it a one-on-one match."
"Whatever you say," Jake smirked.
"Tomorrow then," he told them. "We'll take care of it at the Saffron City Gym."
"Sure," Matt shrugged.
"Just make sure Sabrina doesn't interfere," Jake warned Ash as the two brothers left.
Misty looked at Ash as they disappeared.
"You up to this?" she asked.
"I have to be," he replied. "Otherwise, they'll never stop."
Misty nodded in agreement. Maybe after all this, they could go on with their lives. This scared Misty in a small way. Now that Ash was through with his pokémon journey, what would they do now? They all would split up with Brock and her going back to their gyms and Tracey and Ash going home.
"I better go get my pokémon," Ash said, breaking her train of thought. "I want to get in a little exercise before the match."
"See ya later," Tracey called to his friend as he walked outside. "What are we going to do while he's off training?"
"I think I'll help him," Misty replied. "Ash is going to need all the help he can get."
"But are you going to help him with his training or something else?" Brock smirked.
"Perhaps a little of both," she grinned, "if he's lucky."
When Ash walked into the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy gave him the message to call Prof. Oak.
"What's up?" he asked as the pokémon researcher appeared.
"Ash, I was wondering if Tracey was with you," Prof. Oak replied.
"Yeah, he showed up a few days ago," Ash replied.
"What kind of shape was he in?"
"Why do want to know?" Ash asked nervously.
"I just received a call from Dr. Eve this morning," he replied. "She said something weird happened when Tracey arrived at the site the other day. I was wondering if he was okay."
"He's was kinda out of it," Ash told him. "He had to be taken to the hospital."
"Is he all right?" Prof. Oak demanded.
"He's fine now," Ash hurriedly replied. "Just a bit beat up, that's all."
Prof. Oak frowned at the young trainer. "Tell me everything."
"I'll try," Ash sighed as he began to tell about the shadow that had taken over both Tracey and himself.
"And this thing came from the GS ball?" Prof. Oak asked when Ash was finished.
"That's what Tracey told me," Ash replied.
"I think we better figure out what exactly was in it," Prof. Oak grimaced. "I'll call up some associates of mine to find out."
"Thanks, Professor," Ash replied as the image disappeared.
He looked over at Nurse Joy who was holding five of his pokéballs.
"I guess I better get to work," he sighed as he picked up the tray.
"Are you ready?" Matt demanded.
"Ready to beat you," Ash replied.
"We'll see about that," Matt smirked. "Go, Raticate!"
"Squirtle, I choose you," Ash countered.
"Raticate, hyper fang!" Matt commanded.
As the large rat leaped at Squirtle, Ash shouted for Squirtle to withdraw. When Raticate chomped down on the turtle, all it received was a chipped tooth.
"Shake it off," Matt shout at it as it screamed out in pain.
"Squirtle, hydro pump!" Ash called to the pokémon.
"Squirt," he nodded as he withdrew into his shell again.
"Raticate, quick attack," Matt counted but was too late when Raticate crashed into his trainer.
"Ash wins!" Misty shouted with joy into Tracey and Brock's ears.
"Not so loud next time," Brock replied.
"Sorry," she blushed.
Jake snickered as his younger brother recalled his fainted pokémon.
"My turn," he said as he pulled out a pokéball. He tossed into front of Ash and a strange looking bug pokémon appeared.
"What's that?" Ash asked as he pulled out Dexter.
"Heracross," Dexter chirped. "This recently discovered pokémon likes to use its horn to toss its opponents in the air."
"Are we going to fight or what?" Jake demanded.
"Squirtle return," Ash replied. "Charizard, I choose you!"
Charizard grunted at the his opponent.
"Charizard, let's show these guys who's the best," Ash shouted. "Fire blast!"
"Ash," Misty cried, "don't you think that's over doing it?"
Ash ignored as he watched Charizard send the flaming figure at Heracross.
"Counter it," Jake commanded.
Heracross turned around and looked at its trainer while the flames crashed into his back. Heracross fell to ground with a loud thud.
"Man," Matt commented. "I guess you haven't been enough training lately."
"I have more important things to worry about than stupid pokémon," Jake grumbled as he recalled his fallen pokémon.
"I hope Rob does better," Matt sighed.
"We won!" Ash cheered as he hugged the dragon. "Two down, and two to go!"
"I guess some things never change," Brock laughed as he watched Ash dance around with Pikachu and Charizard.
Giovanni looked up at the mountain before him.
'This is where it'll begin again,' he thought as he began to climb Mt. Moon.
Author's Note:
Sorry about the delay in continuing this series, but I had no idea how to make a proper ending until last week. I'll probably end the whole thing by next week.
Jaxxon