Chapter 2: Recruitment
"But the city is to the west!"
"Yes. But the harbor is to the south. And we need a boat to take us to the city."
"Why get a boat when we can just use our water Pokemon."
"That's easy for you to say. Water Pokemon are your specialty." Brock sighed happily as
he sat back on the couch and took a sip from his soda. He loved not getting involved in these
fights between Ash and Misty. Which were almost frequent these days. Of course, everybody
knew that the two Pokemon Trainers were really fond of one another. But of course, they would
never come out about it.
"This is the life, isn't it, Pikachu?" Brock asked the gold-colored electric Pokemon who
was resting next to him on the couch.
"Chaaa," Pikachu cooed. That was its way of agreeing. Laying on Pikachu's back was
Misty's egg-shaped baby Pokemon named Togepi. But when Ash and Misty's argument started, it
startled it and it fell off Pikachu's back and onto the couch. Brock picked it up and placed
it back on Pikachu's back. Togepi has just recently learned that Brock and Ash were also its
parents. But unlike Misty who was its "mother", the boys were kind of like uncles.
"You wouldn't know how to find your head with a map, a compass, and a seeing eye dog."
"Oh, give it a rest."
"No. No, I won't. And while I'm on a roll, you never said when I am going to get repaid
for my bike."
"Oh no," Brock groaned. "Not this again."
"Hey look, if it wasn't for your bike, Pikachu would be in the hands of Team Rocket."
"All the more reason why I feel that I should get a new bike. Or at least receive money
to buy a new one."
"And what if you do get a new bike? What would you do with it? In case you haven't
noticed, Cerulean City isn't exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away from here."
"I plan to use it to ride back to Cerulean City."
"And out of my life, I hope."
"Ooooh, Ash Ketchum, you're really making me angry."
"The feeling's mutual. Sometimes, I would wish that you would just drop dead."
"Hey," a random trainer called. "Do you mind turning it down? My Squirtle's trying to
sleep." He referred to the squirrel/turtle Pokemon which had pulled in its head and legs to
sleep.
"NO!" Both Ash and Misty yelled at the trainer. The force of the shout sent the trainer,
Squirtle and all, back thirty feet. Then they continued their argument. Brock sighed. This
time, it was a sigh of defeat.
"Such as the result of anyone who gets caught in the middle of their fight," Brock
commented. Noone was safe from Ash and Misty's squabbles. Even at the Pokemon Center in
Lavendar Town. Pikachu calls them "lovers squabbles."
"I see some things never change," a voice behind Brock said. Brock turned around and
Pikachu opened its eyes (causing Togepi to fall to the couch again) to see a middle-age man
with white hair and white lab coat standing in front of the reception desk. Brock immediately
recognized him. It was Professor William Oak, the Pokemon scientist from Ash's home town of
Pallett.
"Professor Oak," Brock acknowledged. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you three," Prof. Oak replied. "Is there any way to break them up?"
"I think so," Brock said then nodded at Pikachu. Pikachu got up and let loose a thunder
shock the sizzled both of them.
"Pikachu, why did you do that," Ash moaned as he dusted himself off.
"If you two are done playing World War III, we have a visitor." Brock pointed behind him
to Prof. Oak.
"Professor Oak," Ash said excitedly. "What are you doing here?"
"I need your help," Professor Oak said. "Come with me, I'll explain on the way."
"The way where?"
"Viridian City."
"Viridian City?" All three asked. The three Pokemon Trainers followed Prof. Oak out of
the Pokemon Center. Out in the front, there was boat. They all hopped in and rode to the main
island where a white jeep with the words "Pokemon Research Center, Pallett Town" on the door
waited for them. With Brock in the passenger seat and Ash and Misty in the back (the later-
mentioned arguing about who got the front seat until Brock casually got in), Professor Oak took
off.
"I have been asked to teach about Pokemon to the citizens of the world. I need some
trainers to come with me to demonstrate battles and other stuff. I immediately thought of you
guys."
"That's great, Professor," Ash commented. "Where's our first stop?"
"I'm not sure. Nermia or something like that. It's in Japan."
"How many other trainers are there," Misty asked.
"Two. There names are Kojiyoshi and Ayako. I've asked them to meet us at the Viridian
International Airport. I've also asked your old friends Sabrina and Duplica to join us."
"All right," Brock said. "It'll be like a reunion."
"So what do you know about this Nermia place, Professor?" Misty asked.
"First of all, Misty. I made a mistake. The name is Nerima and second, I do know that
it's been famous for disasters."
"Disasters?" There was a touch of fear in Misty's voice and Ash didn't look so brave
either.
"Relax," Prof. Oak assured them. "Most of the disasters are for some reason concentrated
to the west in the residential area. We'll be staying in downtown, to the east."
Misty breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good to know."
Soon, they arrived at the airport. Ash, Misty, and Brock were surprised to see Bill, the
Pokemon Researcher from the lighthouse. Prof. Oak explained that Bill would be taking care of
his lab for the time that they're away. They watched as Bill got into the jeep and took off
back to Pallett Town.
Upon entering the airport, Prof. Oak waved to a group huddled by the check-in terminal.
There were three girls and two boy. The oldest and tallest of the girls had jet-black hair,
calculating brown eyes, and a look that would've frozen a Primeape in its tracks. But now, the
sneer was gone. It's been gone since Ash broke the psychic spell that Sebrina was under using
Haunter.
The second of the girls was Ash's size but wore her blue hair in two short braids. She
had eyes that were neither blue or brown, but both. That was Duplica of the House of Imite,
striving to become the greatest Ditto master.
The last of the girls had dark green hair pulled back into a pony tail, and black eyes.
What was unusual was the boys. They looked exactly the same. Were they both Kojiyoshi?
Were they twins?
"Sabrina, Duplica," Ash called. The two trainers hurried over to them. "Great to see
you."
"Likewise, Ashie-boy," Duplica replied playfully punching Ash in the arm.
"Misty, Brock," Sabrina said smiling. "I hope you forgive me for turning you into
dolls."
"Hey, that was months ago," Brock commented as he went into his "hit on cute girls" mode.
"Let's let bygones be bygones. As a matter of fact, I know this little place where we can..."
Sabrina's eyes glowed and Brock was suddenly twenty feet off the ground.
"Hey, hey, put me down, put me down!"
"As you wish," Sabrina replied. Brock fell to the ground like his Pokemon specialty,
rock. The others laughed for Brock landed right in a garbage can. Ash and one of the boys
yanked Brock out by the feet.
Prof. Oak then turned to the two boys. "Which one of you is Kojiyoshi Yokihama?"
"I am," one of the boys replied. Prof. Oak then turned to the other boy.
"Then who are you?" Prof. Oak asked. The boy glowed and transformed back into a
Pokemon. A Ditto.
"Ditto," the pink Pokemon cried. Duplica picked up Ditto and hugged it. "Ditto's been
practicing his human transformations," Duplica explained. "He's getting pretty good at it,
don't you think?"
"Yeah," Ash replied.
"Oh, Ash," Sabrina said. "there's someone who wants to see you." Sabrina took out a
pokeball and threw it on the ground. The ball burst open and the red energy took the form of a
purple Haunter.
"Haunter-haunter." long time, no see.
"Haunter!" Ash high-fived the ghost Pokemon. "Great to see ya, buddy!" Haunter's eyes
suddenly popped out and Haunter started juggling with them. Everyone burst into laughter.
Prof. Oak came over just as Haunter popped its eyes into its mouth. The eyes slid back into
their rightful place above his mouth (well, that was where they were most of the time). He
lead them over to the customs terminal.
"Everything is all set," Prof. Oak announced. "There's just one problem."
"What's that?" Ayako asked. Prof. Oak pointed to a sign over the customs terminal:
ALL POKEMON MUST BE PLACED EITHER IN POKEBALLS OR IN CAGES TO BE PLACED IN THE CARGO HOLD. NO
POKEMON WILL BE ALLOWED ONTO THE PLANE.
NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
Ditto transformed into a female version of Kojiyoshi. Sabrina called Haunter back into
its pokeball. That only left Pikachu and Togepi.
"Aw, man," Ash moaned.
"Pika-pi, pika-pikachu?" Pikachu said with tears in its eyes. Ash, does that mean that
I have to get in my pokeball? It looked like a yes since Ash really looked depressed.
Pikachu groaned. It never liked staying in pokeballs, even if it was for a moment. It was
cranky when it first met Ash at Prof. Oak's laboratory because it had to be in a pokeball for
most of the time.
Misty frowned too. Togepi didn't even have a pokeball. Misty thought it was too young
to stay in a pokeball.
Ash was thoughtful for a moment. Then he looked cheerful again.
"I have an idea," he said excitedly.
"Uh-oh," Brock, Misty, Duplica, Sabrina, and Prof. Oak all said at the same time.
Whenever Ash gets one of his ideas, someone ends up hurt or in real embarrassment.
Ash zippered up his jacket and picked up Pikachu. He then placed Pikachu inside his
jacket.
Misty frowned. She didn't have a jacket to zip Togepi up in. And she knew that the
customs agent would want her to put her backpack on the conveyor belt. Misty looked down at
Togepi's baby face. It stared back at her, curiously, wondering what she was thinking.
Suddenly, Misty got an idea as well. Of course, it wasn't as daring as Ash's.
Holding up Togepi, Misty went over to the customs officer.
"Excuse me sir," Misty said in a polite and sincere voice. A voice that Ash and Brock
have never heard before or at least, not in a long while, not since she confronted the giant
Tentacruel at Porta Vista. The customs officer turned around and Ash and Brock felt their jaws
drop. It was Officer Jenny! Or one of the Officer Jennies anyway.
"Yes, what is it?" Customs Officer Jenny asked.
"This Togepi is too young to be put in a cage. And I don't have any pokeballs to put it
in. Could you please make an exception this time only?" Misty then did something that Ash and
Brock never thought could happen. Misty's eyes began to swell up in tears and she gave Customs
Officer Jenny a "Bambi face."
Jenny looked at the other customs officer who looked back at her and nodded. "All right.
But next time, get a pokeball for it." The customs officer motioned Misty to step through. As
Misty was about to, Jenny suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait, miss," she called. She motioned to her backpack and pokebelt, then to the
conveyor belt.
"Oh yeah." Misty blushed. She put Togepi down and took her backpack and pokebelt off.
After placing it on the conveyor belt, she went to pick up Togepi but found it missing. The
other guard looked at her curiously. Misty frantically looked around, finally spotting Togepi
at the other end of the conveyor belt. She mentally kicked herself for realizing she put
Togepi onto the conveyor belt. With a wave to the customs officer, she went through the gate.
Togepi was happy about the ride it got and wanted to do it again.
"Togepi!" Again!
Brock was next.
"Excuse me," Brock said. "How are you related to the Jenny in Vermilion City?"
"You know her," Customs Officer Jenny asked. "She's my half-sister."
"Which half?" Ash asked which got him a bonk on the head courtesy of Brock.
"Forgive my friend," he said. "He can be such a nuisance sometimes. So, what time do
you get off?"
"I work the night shift," Jenny said smirkly. Her Vermilion City sister warned him about
the boy who likes to hit on Jennies so Customs Officer Jenny knew how to handle him. "I don't
get off until 5 in the morning. Besides, don't you have a plane to catch?"
"Oh yeah." Brock placed his backpack and pokebelt on the conveyor belt and went through.
Next was Duplica. Duplica was nervous because she was afraid Ditto would be found out.
But either Ditto's transformation is perfect or the scanners weren't designed to pick up
transforming Pokemon. Either way, Ditto was cleared.
Prof. Oak was third. He showed Jenny his identification confirming him as a Pokemon
researcher and she allowed him to pass without even putting his carry-on bag on the conveyor
belt.
Sabrina did the same thing. Only it was a gym leader ID. She passed through harmlessly
too.
Kojiyoshi and Ayako put their backpacks and pokebelts on the conveyor. With a wave to
Officer Jenny, they went through.
Ash was last. As he walked through, an alarm went off.
"Hold it right there," Jenny called. She ran a scanner over him. It stopped at his
stomach. Ash froze. Did Jenny find Pikachu? Ash felt Pikachu scurry around inside his jacket.
"Young man, open your jacket," Jenny ordered. Ash paled. Slowly, he unzipped his jacket.
Inside was... Nothing!
Jenny ran her scanner over the inside of his jacket. The scanner beeped when it passed
over his badges.
"All right," Jenny said. "You can go." After getting his lungs started again, Ash went
through.
"I don't get it, Ash," Kojiyoshi said when they were out of earshot of Officer Jenny.
"Why didn't Jenny pick up Pikachu?"
"I'm not sure," Ash replied. But Pikachu was no longer inside his jacket. But Ash could
still feel Pikachu squirming around. Did Pikachu have a power that not even Dexter knows?
Could Pikachu turn invisible? Or use telepathy to make everyone think he wasn't there? That
question pondered the Pokemon Trainer's mind as he followed his friends to the departure gate.
From behind a pile of suitcases, three pairs of eyes watched. They were Jessie, James,
and Meowth of Team Rocket.
"If those twerps are going on an overseas trip, then we're going to follow them." Jessie
announced.
"How do we do that?" James asked. "We don't have money for a plane ticket."
"James, haven't you forgotten? Team Rocket has their own airline."
"And members can get a ride anywhere in the world for free," Meowth added in its
Brooklyn-type accent.
James slapped himself on the forehead. "Of course, I forgot. So where is this Team
Rocket airfield?"
"Yeah, Jessie," added Meowth. "Where?"
"In Fuchsia City." James and Meowth dropped to the ground. Fuchsia City was on the
other side of Pokemon Island.
"Then what are we doing here?"
"Meowth. Wait, we have our own means of transportation."
"You're right, Meowth," Jessie responded.
"To the balloon!" James cried. He was so excited that he accidentally tripped over the
pile of suitcases that were providing their cover.
Officer Jenny came over to them.
"I'm sorry, but you people will have to clean this up." Jessie and Meowth moaned.
As Ash and the others boarded the plane, Ash still couldn't find Pikachu. He hoped the
electric Pokemon was all right. As Ash sat down, something inside his shirt moved.
Pikachu hopped out from under Ash's shirt and landed on the floor.
"Pikachu," Pikachu greeted. Hi there.
"Of course," Ash said finally getting it. "When you found out that Jenny was going to
scan me, you hid in my shirt."
"Pi." Yup. Misty sat in the seat next to him and Prof. Oak sat next to her. In the
set behind them, were Brock, Kojiyoshi, and Sabrina. Duplica and Ayako were behind them with
Ditto.
"So tell me, Kojiyoshi," Brock said. "Where do you come from." Kojiyoshi paled. He
didn't want to tell Brock the horrible truth behind his origin. That he's been in more homes
than a real estate salesman. He had to make up a fake home-town.
"Uh... Cerulean City."
"Hey cool. My friend Misty lived there."
"Did I say Cerulean City? I meant Celadon City. And call me Yoshi. All my friends do."
"So how did you and Ayako meet?" Duplica asked.
"She's my cousin," Yoshi explained.
The plane ride went smoothly. Ash stared out the window for most of the way.
"Hey Ash," Misty called. "Let me have a look." The redhead pushed Ash to the side and
looked out the window.
"Wow," she gasped. "It's beautiful."
"Yeah," Ash said distractedly. "Beautiful." Ash thought something was beautiful. But
it wasn't the view (although that was pretty nice too, being about 1500 feet up). He pulled
out a magazine in the pocket in front of them and started leafing through it.
{What's wrong with him,} Misty asked herself. {He's acting like he's going to an
execution.}
{Oh man.} Ash was having his own thoughts. {I want to tell Misty what I really think of
her but I'm afraid I might come out like a doofus.} The truth was that Ash had a fling for
Misty. And the feeling was mutual. But of course, him being ten and her being twelve, the
idea of a relationship was not even on their minds at the time. The only thing that was on
Ash's mind was getting all of the gym badges (which he did) and becoming a Pokemon Master.
"But the city is to the west!"
"Yes. But the harbor is to the south. And we need a boat to take us to the city."
"Why get a boat when we can just use our water Pokemon."
"That's easy for you to say. Water Pokemon are your specialty." Brock sighed happily as
he sat back on the couch and took a sip from his soda. He loved not getting involved in these
fights between Ash and Misty. Which were almost frequent these days. Of course, everybody
knew that the two Pokemon Trainers were really fond of one another. But of course, they would
never come out about it.
"This is the life, isn't it, Pikachu?" Brock asked the gold-colored electric Pokemon who
was resting next to him on the couch.
"Chaaa," Pikachu cooed. That was its way of agreeing. Laying on Pikachu's back was
Misty's egg-shaped baby Pokemon named Togepi. But when Ash and Misty's argument started, it
startled it and it fell off Pikachu's back and onto the couch. Brock picked it up and placed
it back on Pikachu's back. Togepi has just recently learned that Brock and Ash were also its
parents. But unlike Misty who was its "mother", the boys were kind of like uncles.
"You wouldn't know how to find your head with a map, a compass, and a seeing eye dog."
"Oh, give it a rest."
"No. No, I won't. And while I'm on a roll, you never said when I am going to get repaid
for my bike."
"Oh no," Brock groaned. "Not this again."
"Hey look, if it wasn't for your bike, Pikachu would be in the hands of Team Rocket."
"All the more reason why I feel that I should get a new bike. Or at least receive money
to buy a new one."
"And what if you do get a new bike? What would you do with it? In case you haven't
noticed, Cerulean City isn't exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away from here."
"I plan to use it to ride back to Cerulean City."
"And out of my life, I hope."
"Ooooh, Ash Ketchum, you're really making me angry."
"The feeling's mutual. Sometimes, I would wish that you would just drop dead."
"Hey," a random trainer called. "Do you mind turning it down? My Squirtle's trying to
sleep." He referred to the squirrel/turtle Pokemon which had pulled in its head and legs to
sleep.
"NO!" Both Ash and Misty yelled at the trainer. The force of the shout sent the trainer,
Squirtle and all, back thirty feet. Then they continued their argument. Brock sighed. This
time, it was a sigh of defeat.
"Such as the result of anyone who gets caught in the middle of their fight," Brock
commented. Noone was safe from Ash and Misty's squabbles. Even at the Pokemon Center in
Lavendar Town. Pikachu calls them "lovers squabbles."
"I see some things never change," a voice behind Brock said. Brock turned around and
Pikachu opened its eyes (causing Togepi to fall to the couch again) to see a middle-age man
with white hair and white lab coat standing in front of the reception desk. Brock immediately
recognized him. It was Professor William Oak, the Pokemon scientist from Ash's home town of
Pallett.
"Professor Oak," Brock acknowledged. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you three," Prof. Oak replied. "Is there any way to break them up?"
"I think so," Brock said then nodded at Pikachu. Pikachu got up and let loose a thunder
shock the sizzled both of them.
"Pikachu, why did you do that," Ash moaned as he dusted himself off.
"If you two are done playing World War III, we have a visitor." Brock pointed behind him
to Prof. Oak.
"Professor Oak," Ash said excitedly. "What are you doing here?"
"I need your help," Professor Oak said. "Come with me, I'll explain on the way."
"The way where?"
"Viridian City."
"Viridian City?" All three asked. The three Pokemon Trainers followed Prof. Oak out of
the Pokemon Center. Out in the front, there was boat. They all hopped in and rode to the main
island where a white jeep with the words "Pokemon Research Center, Pallett Town" on the door
waited for them. With Brock in the passenger seat and Ash and Misty in the back (the later-
mentioned arguing about who got the front seat until Brock casually got in), Professor Oak took
off.
"I have been asked to teach about Pokemon to the citizens of the world. I need some
trainers to come with me to demonstrate battles and other stuff. I immediately thought of you
guys."
"That's great, Professor," Ash commented. "Where's our first stop?"
"I'm not sure. Nermia or something like that. It's in Japan."
"How many other trainers are there," Misty asked.
"Two. There names are Kojiyoshi and Ayako. I've asked them to meet us at the Viridian
International Airport. I've also asked your old friends Sabrina and Duplica to join us."
"All right," Brock said. "It'll be like a reunion."
"So what do you know about this Nermia place, Professor?" Misty asked.
"First of all, Misty. I made a mistake. The name is Nerima and second, I do know that
it's been famous for disasters."
"Disasters?" There was a touch of fear in Misty's voice and Ash didn't look so brave
either.
"Relax," Prof. Oak assured them. "Most of the disasters are for some reason concentrated
to the west in the residential area. We'll be staying in downtown, to the east."
Misty breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good to know."
Soon, they arrived at the airport. Ash, Misty, and Brock were surprised to see Bill, the
Pokemon Researcher from the lighthouse. Prof. Oak explained that Bill would be taking care of
his lab for the time that they're away. They watched as Bill got into the jeep and took off
back to Pallett Town.
Upon entering the airport, Prof. Oak waved to a group huddled by the check-in terminal.
There were three girls and two boy. The oldest and tallest of the girls had jet-black hair,
calculating brown eyes, and a look that would've frozen a Primeape in its tracks. But now, the
sneer was gone. It's been gone since Ash broke the psychic spell that Sebrina was under using
Haunter.
The second of the girls was Ash's size but wore her blue hair in two short braids. She
had eyes that were neither blue or brown, but both. That was Duplica of the House of Imite,
striving to become the greatest Ditto master.
The last of the girls had dark green hair pulled back into a pony tail, and black eyes.
What was unusual was the boys. They looked exactly the same. Were they both Kojiyoshi?
Were they twins?
"Sabrina, Duplica," Ash called. The two trainers hurried over to them. "Great to see
you."
"Likewise, Ashie-boy," Duplica replied playfully punching Ash in the arm.
"Misty, Brock," Sabrina said smiling. "I hope you forgive me for turning you into
dolls."
"Hey, that was months ago," Brock commented as he went into his "hit on cute girls" mode.
"Let's let bygones be bygones. As a matter of fact, I know this little place where we can..."
Sabrina's eyes glowed and Brock was suddenly twenty feet off the ground.
"Hey, hey, put me down, put me down!"
"As you wish," Sabrina replied. Brock fell to the ground like his Pokemon specialty,
rock. The others laughed for Brock landed right in a garbage can. Ash and one of the boys
yanked Brock out by the feet.
Prof. Oak then turned to the two boys. "Which one of you is Kojiyoshi Yokihama?"
"I am," one of the boys replied. Prof. Oak then turned to the other boy.
"Then who are you?" Prof. Oak asked. The boy glowed and transformed back into a
Pokemon. A Ditto.
"Ditto," the pink Pokemon cried. Duplica picked up Ditto and hugged it. "Ditto's been
practicing his human transformations," Duplica explained. "He's getting pretty good at it,
don't you think?"
"Yeah," Ash replied.
"Oh, Ash," Sabrina said. "there's someone who wants to see you." Sabrina took out a
pokeball and threw it on the ground. The ball burst open and the red energy took the form of a
purple Haunter.
"Haunter-haunter." long time, no see.
"Haunter!" Ash high-fived the ghost Pokemon. "Great to see ya, buddy!" Haunter's eyes
suddenly popped out and Haunter started juggling with them. Everyone burst into laughter.
Prof. Oak came over just as Haunter popped its eyes into its mouth. The eyes slid back into
their rightful place above his mouth (well, that was where they were most of the time). He
lead them over to the customs terminal.
"Everything is all set," Prof. Oak announced. "There's just one problem."
"What's that?" Ayako asked. Prof. Oak pointed to a sign over the customs terminal:
ALL POKEMON MUST BE PLACED EITHER IN POKEBALLS OR IN CAGES TO BE PLACED IN THE CARGO HOLD. NO
POKEMON WILL BE ALLOWED ONTO THE PLANE.
NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
Ditto transformed into a female version of Kojiyoshi. Sabrina called Haunter back into
its pokeball. That only left Pikachu and Togepi.
"Aw, man," Ash moaned.
"Pika-pi, pika-pikachu?" Pikachu said with tears in its eyes. Ash, does that mean that
I have to get in my pokeball? It looked like a yes since Ash really looked depressed.
Pikachu groaned. It never liked staying in pokeballs, even if it was for a moment. It was
cranky when it first met Ash at Prof. Oak's laboratory because it had to be in a pokeball for
most of the time.
Misty frowned too. Togepi didn't even have a pokeball. Misty thought it was too young
to stay in a pokeball.
Ash was thoughtful for a moment. Then he looked cheerful again.
"I have an idea," he said excitedly.
"Uh-oh," Brock, Misty, Duplica, Sabrina, and Prof. Oak all said at the same time.
Whenever Ash gets one of his ideas, someone ends up hurt or in real embarrassment.
Ash zippered up his jacket and picked up Pikachu. He then placed Pikachu inside his
jacket.
Misty frowned. She didn't have a jacket to zip Togepi up in. And she knew that the
customs agent would want her to put her backpack on the conveyor belt. Misty looked down at
Togepi's baby face. It stared back at her, curiously, wondering what she was thinking.
Suddenly, Misty got an idea as well. Of course, it wasn't as daring as Ash's.
Holding up Togepi, Misty went over to the customs officer.
"Excuse me sir," Misty said in a polite and sincere voice. A voice that Ash and Brock
have never heard before or at least, not in a long while, not since she confronted the giant
Tentacruel at Porta Vista. The customs officer turned around and Ash and Brock felt their jaws
drop. It was Officer Jenny! Or one of the Officer Jennies anyway.
"Yes, what is it?" Customs Officer Jenny asked.
"This Togepi is too young to be put in a cage. And I don't have any pokeballs to put it
in. Could you please make an exception this time only?" Misty then did something that Ash and
Brock never thought could happen. Misty's eyes began to swell up in tears and she gave Customs
Officer Jenny a "Bambi face."
Jenny looked at the other customs officer who looked back at her and nodded. "All right.
But next time, get a pokeball for it." The customs officer motioned Misty to step through. As
Misty was about to, Jenny suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait, miss," she called. She motioned to her backpack and pokebelt, then to the
conveyor belt.
"Oh yeah." Misty blushed. She put Togepi down and took her backpack and pokebelt off.
After placing it on the conveyor belt, she went to pick up Togepi but found it missing. The
other guard looked at her curiously. Misty frantically looked around, finally spotting Togepi
at the other end of the conveyor belt. She mentally kicked herself for realizing she put
Togepi onto the conveyor belt. With a wave to the customs officer, she went through the gate.
Togepi was happy about the ride it got and wanted to do it again.
"Togepi!" Again!
Brock was next.
"Excuse me," Brock said. "How are you related to the Jenny in Vermilion City?"
"You know her," Customs Officer Jenny asked. "She's my half-sister."
"Which half?" Ash asked which got him a bonk on the head courtesy of Brock.
"Forgive my friend," he said. "He can be such a nuisance sometimes. So, what time do
you get off?"
"I work the night shift," Jenny said smirkly. Her Vermilion City sister warned him about
the boy who likes to hit on Jennies so Customs Officer Jenny knew how to handle him. "I don't
get off until 5 in the morning. Besides, don't you have a plane to catch?"
"Oh yeah." Brock placed his backpack and pokebelt on the conveyor belt and went through.
Next was Duplica. Duplica was nervous because she was afraid Ditto would be found out.
But either Ditto's transformation is perfect or the scanners weren't designed to pick up
transforming Pokemon. Either way, Ditto was cleared.
Prof. Oak was third. He showed Jenny his identification confirming him as a Pokemon
researcher and she allowed him to pass without even putting his carry-on bag on the conveyor
belt.
Sabrina did the same thing. Only it was a gym leader ID. She passed through harmlessly
too.
Kojiyoshi and Ayako put their backpacks and pokebelts on the conveyor. With a wave to
Officer Jenny, they went through.
Ash was last. As he walked through, an alarm went off.
"Hold it right there," Jenny called. She ran a scanner over him. It stopped at his
stomach. Ash froze. Did Jenny find Pikachu? Ash felt Pikachu scurry around inside his jacket.
"Young man, open your jacket," Jenny ordered. Ash paled. Slowly, he unzipped his jacket.
Inside was... Nothing!
Jenny ran her scanner over the inside of his jacket. The scanner beeped when it passed
over his badges.
"All right," Jenny said. "You can go." After getting his lungs started again, Ash went
through.
"I don't get it, Ash," Kojiyoshi said when they were out of earshot of Officer Jenny.
"Why didn't Jenny pick up Pikachu?"
"I'm not sure," Ash replied. But Pikachu was no longer inside his jacket. But Ash could
still feel Pikachu squirming around. Did Pikachu have a power that not even Dexter knows?
Could Pikachu turn invisible? Or use telepathy to make everyone think he wasn't there? That
question pondered the Pokemon Trainer's mind as he followed his friends to the departure gate.
From behind a pile of suitcases, three pairs of eyes watched. They were Jessie, James,
and Meowth of Team Rocket.
"If those twerps are going on an overseas trip, then we're going to follow them." Jessie
announced.
"How do we do that?" James asked. "We don't have money for a plane ticket."
"James, haven't you forgotten? Team Rocket has their own airline."
"And members can get a ride anywhere in the world for free," Meowth added in its
Brooklyn-type accent.
James slapped himself on the forehead. "Of course, I forgot. So where is this Team
Rocket airfield?"
"Yeah, Jessie," added Meowth. "Where?"
"In Fuchsia City." James and Meowth dropped to the ground. Fuchsia City was on the
other side of Pokemon Island.
"Then what are we doing here?"
"Meowth. Wait, we have our own means of transportation."
"You're right, Meowth," Jessie responded.
"To the balloon!" James cried. He was so excited that he accidentally tripped over the
pile of suitcases that were providing their cover.
Officer Jenny came over to them.
"I'm sorry, but you people will have to clean this up." Jessie and Meowth moaned.
As Ash and the others boarded the plane, Ash still couldn't find Pikachu. He hoped the
electric Pokemon was all right. As Ash sat down, something inside his shirt moved.
Pikachu hopped out from under Ash's shirt and landed on the floor.
"Pikachu," Pikachu greeted. Hi there.
"Of course," Ash said finally getting it. "When you found out that Jenny was going to
scan me, you hid in my shirt."
"Pi." Yup. Misty sat in the seat next to him and Prof. Oak sat next to her. In the
set behind them, were Brock, Kojiyoshi, and Sabrina. Duplica and Ayako were behind them with
Ditto.
"So tell me, Kojiyoshi," Brock said. "Where do you come from." Kojiyoshi paled. He
didn't want to tell Brock the horrible truth behind his origin. That he's been in more homes
than a real estate salesman. He had to make up a fake home-town.
"Uh... Cerulean City."
"Hey cool. My friend Misty lived there."
"Did I say Cerulean City? I meant Celadon City. And call me Yoshi. All my friends do."
"So how did you and Ayako meet?" Duplica asked.
"She's my cousin," Yoshi explained.
The plane ride went smoothly. Ash stared out the window for most of the way.
"Hey Ash," Misty called. "Let me have a look." The redhead pushed Ash to the side and
looked out the window.
"Wow," she gasped. "It's beautiful."
"Yeah," Ash said distractedly. "Beautiful." Ash thought something was beautiful. But
it wasn't the view (although that was pretty nice too, being about 1500 feet up). He pulled
out a magazine in the pocket in front of them and started leafing through it.
{What's wrong with him,} Misty asked herself. {He's acting like he's going to an
execution.}
{Oh man.} Ash was having his own thoughts. {I want to tell Misty what I really think of
her but I'm afraid I might come out like a doofus.} The truth was that Ash had a fling for
Misty. And the feeling was mutual. But of course, him being ten and her being twelve, the
idea of a relationship was not even on their minds at the time. The only thing that was on
Ash's mind was getting all of the gym badges (which he did) and becoming a Pokemon Master.