PoKéMoN
Avenger by Ben Russell-Gough
Legal Disclaimer
Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters and their human friends and enemies are all the sole copyright and trademark property of Nintendo Entertainment. No breach of any copyright or legal property is intended.
Author's Notes
This is my first Pokémon fic. I don't know all the monsters or all the moves. I base my story purely on what I've seen of the cartoon. I thank all the other Pokémon writers on this board for providing plenty of inspiration.
This episode is likely to be long and slow-paced. It is a transition between the two halves of my story.
Text in [squared-off brackets] indicates the translation of a Pokémon's language into English.
Text in Italics but not in quotes indicates thoughts.
Ages: Ash is 16, nearly 17; Misty is 18; Brock is 24; Jessie and James are both 23.
Book 1 – The Last Hope
What has gone before…
Ash has finally succeeded in his quest to become supreme champion of the Pokémon League. However, dark clouds are forming on the horizon. In a terrible late-night meeting, his mother and Professor Oak inform him that he is, in fact, the son of a man named Joseph Oak, now known as Giovanni de Rocketti, the mysterious leader of Team Rocket.
Oak explains that both father and son share a special ability that makes them far superior to any other Pokémon Trainers in the world. Ash is the only hope of defeating Giovanni and ending Team Rocket's reign of terror. Ash decides to keep this a secret from his friends. He cannot believe that this is his destiny, and hopes that he can avoid facing and defeating his father in battle.
During this time, Giovanni replaces Jessie and James with Butch and Cassidy. He orders the two brutal killers to murder his son before he becomes a threat. As a rehearsal, they and their squad of Black Rockets destroy Veridian Palace, James' ancestral home, and murder his family. Horrified by this terrible crime, Jessie, James and Meowth resign their positions in Team Rocket and swear to have their revenge.
In a bloody incident by Lake Veridian, Butch and Cassidy attempt to carry out their assignment. Before they pull the triggers on their guns, they make it very plain to Ash that his father wants him dead. Although Ash escapes unhurt and Misty survives by a fluke, Tracey Sketchitt, the Watcher of the Orange Islands and an old friend of our heroes is killed by Butch. Ash and Misty are saved by the timely arrival of Jessie and James.
The four heroes soon make a grizzly discovery. Giovanni has implanted all of the 'grunt' force of Black Rockets with suicide devices and indoctrinated them to self-destruct if captured. Ash realises that, as Professor Oak warned, that he must face and defeat his father if he wishes to protect his friends from Team Rocket.
***
After answering a few heart-breaking questions, Ash and Misty watched as the bodies of Tracey Sketchitt and the two Dan'in were loaded onto ambulances. They turned to join the sad procession returning Tracey's body to Viridian City.
Ash lagged back a few paces. He suddenly turned to a patch of shadow. "Meet me in the city next Tuesday at 3PM," he said in a firm tone. "At the café opposite the Gym. We have something to discuss, you and I."
James stepped forward. "We won't be there, Ash," he replied. "And I don't know what we still have to discuss. We have paid our debt to you, now we have to pay our debt to Team Rocket."
Ash hissed in annoyance at James comments. "You say Team Rocket owes you something?" he asked. "Well, they owe me too. You can either help, or spend the next few months locked up somewhere out of my way." Ash smiled bitterly as he watched anger and shock cross James' face at Ash's threat. "We are in this together, my dear James," Ash continued. "You and Jessie can either stay and help me or keep away from this matter for good. Your choice."
Ash turned to follow the departing ambulances and police cars. He continued in a louder voice. "I'll see you next week," he called back over his shoulder. He then walked away.
In her hiding place, Jessie suppressed a shiver. He seems so certain that we'll be there, she thought. It is almost as if… he already knows…
And now the continuation…
Chapter 4 – Truth and Consequences
In his seven year Pokémon Journey, Ash Ketchum had experienced pain enough for a hundred lifetimes. He had experienced injuries that had threatened to cripple him. He had experienced anguish on behalf of friends that seemed to tear out his soul. There were incidents that he would rather forget and some that he was certain that he had forgotten. However, he would take all that pain back, indeed he would give his life, if only Tracey could still be alive.
Misty, in a black dress, was crying helplessly. Ash, in a hastily hired black suit, put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to support her, unable to think of a word of comfort as the preacher spoke about the tragically short life of Tracey Sketchitt. Ash listened, his heart numb. He knew Tracey was an orphan, but had not known the terrible violence of how he lost his parents. Everything was made horrifically clear by the emptiness of the 'family' section in the pews of the crematorium. Isolated incidents and clues from their travels together, both in the Orange Islands and back on Indigo, came to mind. He should have treated the rather introverted artist far more kindly. Ash felt that he had failed so many times to offer the man the support and friendship he needed, indeed deserved. Now it was too late.
Ash tightened his grip on the pew in front of him as the fine coffin, that Ash had bought himself from his championship prize purse, slowly rolled towards the curtains. Tracey's will stipulated that his body was not to be returned to the Orange Islands, rather that he instructed that his body be cremated and his ashes scattered across Indigo Island from the air. Ash intended to ensure that this took place to the letter.
The curtains swung shut and Misty sobbed loudly, trying to hold in a cry of grief. Ash stirred himself to hug her tightly to him and whisper some words of condolence as tears of his own ran down his cheeks.
As Ash left, he passed Professor Oak. The old man had yet to speak, but Ash wished that he would. He wished that Oak would curse him and hold him responsible for his young protégé's death. Ash knew that if he had acted sooner to move against his father… his cursed insane father… perhaps Tracey would still live. The lack of any condemnation or reproach from his mentor somehow hurt even more than an angry accusation.
Misty leant her head on Ash's shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her, trying to comfort her and offer her his strength. Truth be told, he had precious little of that himself.
***
About ten miles to the north, inside Viridian Forest, Jessie watched as her closest, if not only, friend James paced back and forth across their small, spartan campsite.
"I can't believe that that little… Twerp could dare to issue me an order," James yelled. "Who the hell does he think he is? Well I can tell you one thing, Jessie. If he is expecting us to turn up like tame children he has got another thing coming! Who does he think he is to threaten us?" It had been going on like this all week. James had been expounding how Ash had injured his male pride, and was generally failing to come up with a single concrete reason for not arriving at the café as ordered.
James, in his pacing, disturbed Growly, who looked up and whined worriedly. James sighed and paused long enough to scratch Growly between the ears. He sat down opposite Jessie and let his head sag weakly. "I did not quit Team Rocket to start jumping to his tune."
"Didn't you?" Jessie asked absently. She wasn't really listening to her friend. She was more concerned with the implicit confidence in Ash's voice when he issued that command that so enraged James. His tone was so… certain, as if there was no question of the two ex-Rockets disobeying. It reminded her of Giovanni and that terrified her. "I don't know, James," she finally said. "He seemed so certain. I think we should at least see what he has to say."
James looked up with an irritated scowl. "Now you take his side?" he asked in exasperation.
"James," Jessie finally said, looking into his eyes. "We both know that I am no intellectual, but even I can do math. The two of us are talking about going against the whole of Team Rocket. Do they have a time unit small enough to measure how long we will last?" Jessie frowned as she remembered the icy cold expression on Ash's face as he stared at Tracey's corpse on the beach. "He has beaten the entire might of Team Rocket time and time again… and he is offering to join us. Perhaps not to help us in particular, but he will be there." She cocked her head. "Can we afford to turn him down?"
James sagged. "This is about my parents, Jessie, not his dead friend," he said with a groan. "I am sorry about Tracey, but we have no part in this."
"Don't we?" Jessie asked. "I wonder if the two incidents are not more closely linked than you think." James looked up with surprise. "Team Rocket is rich, it certainly didn't need your parents' money. I think that that whole assault was nothing more than a rehearsal to get them ready to take on Ash."
James rose, his voice rising to a shout. "Are you suggesting that Giovanni ordered the murder of my parents just as a test run?" he blurted. "That all that pain and destruction was just to integrate Butch and Cassidy with those Dan'in?" He shook his head. "That is the most stupid, insultingly derisive idea that I have ever heard. It is… is… is…"
"Almost certainly right," Jessie concluded in a quiet, desolate tone. "You know that life has meant less and less to Giovanni over the last few years. All that matters is power, and Ash lies in the way. What are four or five bystanders compared to that? Or forty, or four hundred?"
James collapsed down with a groan, shifting his shoulders helplessly under the weight falling upon them. "Life never seems to be simple for us, is it, Jess?" he asked quietly. Jessie simply shook her head. She walked over to James and knelt behind him. With practised motions, she tried to knead away the tension in his neck and shoulders.
"Meowth," Meowth suddenly shouted from his lookout position near the road. "Here comes da car Ash promised!" James looked up as Delilah Ketchum drove her Toyota Landcruiser through the brush towards the rendezvous James had agreed too over the 'phone a few hours earlier.
***
Ash sat in his and Misty's room at the Viridian City Pokémon Centre. He was toying with a minidisk that Professor Oak had given him without comment. It contained a last message Tracey had recorded for him in the event of his sudden death. Ash was not looking forward to this, knowing that Tracey had much to accuse him of in such a private message. But he owed it to his friend to listen and learn from what he had to say. He slid the disc into a player, pulled on the headphones and pressed 'play.'
"Hi Ash," Tracey said in his usual cheery tones. "If you are hearing this, I am dead. No big surprise there, as you probably attended the funeral.
"Okay, first things first. I know you, Ashton Ketchum. Right now you are killing yourself with guilt. You are using that fantastic strategic sense of yours to play and replay events over and over again to figure out how you could have stopped this from happening. Well here is a news flash, Ash: You couldn't. No man can be everywhere and do everything, not even you oh-wondrous one. I strongly suspect that I died in a moment of violence while you were rather busy fighting for your life and busily trying to protect Misty, Brock and me. Typical of your type to use up three quarters of your attention on something other than saving your own skin.
"I know that the world is a dangerous place, Ash. With threats like Team Rocket around, violent death is often very close by, even for someone with as brave and skilled friends as I have.
"There. I've admitted it. You are my friend, Ash Ketchum. Okay, you can be arrogant, insulting and a royal pain in the arse some times, but you are always loyal. You might not often admit to friendship, but you show it every time you step forward to take the first shot from the villain and every time you volunteer to tackle the dangerous new kind of Pokémon yourself. Some might regard that as ego, but I know that it is the sign of a true hero.
"You and Misty were always there on the darkest nights to comfort me. You listened to my half-baked ideas and appreciated my amateurish art. You offered me help and encouragement at every turn. You were the one who persuaded me to expand my work to include all the Pokémon islands and their species. If I am remembered to have achieved anything, Ash it was because of you.
"*Sigh* Okay. What is left to say? Firstly, Don't feel guilty for my death Ash. Do what you know you have to do. Get on with your life. Secondly, don't think less of Professor Oak if he seems a little… well odd about this. He does not show emotions easily, does the Professor. Something really horrible must have happened to him once… but he feels the hurt nonetheless.
"Oh, In my will, I've left you Sabredance my Scyther, Nightflight my Venomoth and Seeker my Merril. They are good friends and even better Pokémon. You will do well as their Trainer, far better than I ever could, and they will help you become a Master.
"Only one more request. You and Misty. I know that you two have known each other for years, that you are closer than brother and sister and that you feel a bit awkward around each other but… For God's sake Ash, she is wild about you. She loves everything about you and would gladly die for you. She goes to pieces every time you smile or touch her. *laugh* You will blush and deny it, of course, but I also know that she has the same effect on you. She is your better half and the light to your soul. You love her more than Pokémon and more than life because, without her, you would have no life worth having. Admit it to her. Accept her into the innermost part of your soul. Take her as your lover, if you both think it is right. Do this before time and circumstances separate you forever. I know that this is true. Believe me, they don't call me a 'Watcher' for nothing. *laughs*
"Oh, post script. Misty has her own disc and I am telling her the same thing. *laughs* I am not going to let you wriggle off of this hook, Ash Ketchum. *chuckles for a few seconds*
"Oh… kay… Well that is it, I guess. Um… So long, Ash. It's been a real adventure being with you. Give Misty a kiss for me and… uh… And you can tell me about your adventures together and how you became a Master when we meet again… in a better world. Until then, I will always remain your devoted friend, Tracey. Farewell."
Ash found, to his surprise, that his cheeks were wet. Tracey actually forgave him his many indiscretions and considered him a friend! Well, so much for my understanding of human nature, he decided. Ash ejected the disc and looked at it. He touched it reverently as if a small part of Tracey resided on it. He had always known that Tracey was smart, far smarter than many thought, but he never realised that he was so… wise. He caressed Raichu's head. The little Pokémon had responded to his Trainer's sadness by settling on his lap and placing his head against his chest. [Are you better?] he asked.
Ash smiled down. "I'm alright, Raichu," he assured his friend. "I've just realised how little I understood Tracey and even myself. That's all."
There was indeed much to consider, but now he had the future. 'Do what you know what you have to do,' Tracey asked. Well, unfortunately, that would take a very long diversion before he could also obey the injunction to 'Get on with your life.'
Ash checked his watch. It was time. He rose to his feet and grabbed his jacket. Raichu jumped up onto Ash's shoulders as his Trainer walked out of the small hostel room, away from the past and into the future.
***
Deep inside the hidden Team Rocket Headquarters, Giovanni was doing something that he did best, plan long-term strategy He recalled the communications signal that began this particular brainstorming session…
FLASHBACK – 1 WEEK PREVIOUSLY
Giovanni was busy playing a video game that had recently fascinated him when Mondo's face appeared on his personal display screen. "What is it?" he asked in a commanding voice as he sat as his desk.
"We're receiving a Priority One signal from Team Black Sigma," Mondo said urgently.
Giovanni raised a brow thoughtfully. Could Butch and Cassidy have succeeded already? "Put them through," he ordered.
Butch's face appeared. There were several shallow scratches on his face and he wore a haunted expression. "Boss," he said urgently. "It all went to hell. Half the surviving squad was either captured or worse and Cassidy was nearly electrocuted by that little… bastard's Raichu. We need to pull out before they put the Security Police on our trail."
Giovanni's hand formed a fist and he felt a boiling rage build inside of him. "How…" he snarled in an all-too-calm voice. "How could you possibly fail on such a simple assignment?"
Butch lowered his head in shame. "It was going so smoothly boss. We had that brat on his back, we only had to pull the trigger, and then everything went to hell. Someone set a Weezing and a Growlithe on us. It was enough to give the kid an opening, and it was all over a minute later. I'm sorry, Boss."
Giovanni rose up and slammed his fist down onto the table. "Oh you will be you pitiful failure!" he shouted. "Alright, get yourself and your equally useless partner of yours off of Indigo Island and back to Headquarters immediately. End transmission!"
The screen went blank, cutting off Butch's tedious apologies and excuses. Giovanni swept the LCD monitor off of his desk and it smashed to pieces on the marble floor of his office. He turned and kicked over his chair, throwing his Persian to the floor. The cat screeched and fled through a small 'Pokéflap' in the door that he ordered fitted on an earlier whim.
Giovanni roared in fury and continued to throw small fragile objects around. When his fury was spent, he sat down on the giant inlaid mosaic of the Team Rocket sigil on the floor, surrounded by debris, and thought furiously. I have underestimated you for the last time, my son, he thought angrily. I thought because your mother was weak you must be weak. How wrong I was. You are as strong as I and must be dealt with appropriately. Giovanni raised the hand game unit in his fist and began to tighten his grip, enjoying the sight of the thin plastic and metal shatter under his strength. And as for Jessie and James? Well, they had a chance to disappear, but instead they choose to be my enemies. They, of all people, should know what happens to my enemies.
Outside, Mondo hovered at the door, uncertain as to whether he should burst in after hearing sounds of destruction from inside his leader's offices. Then he heard the laughter, the bitter, angry laughter that was without doubt Giovanni. He did not know what was making his leader react this way, but he knew it boded ill. Not ill for the subject of his leader's wrath, but ill for all of Team Rocket, for never had Giovanni been affected this way before…
END FLASHBACK
Giovanni continued to think. No matter how good Ash Ketchum was, he was just a boy, with a few allies. No one, no matter how skilled, could win against overwhelming odds. Giovanni smiled and touched a series of touch controls on his repaired desktop monitor. He began to move personnel and equipment to a staging area near Viridian City, the largest on Indigo Island. Yes, Ash Ketchum may cause a little damage yet… but he wouldn't last very much longer. Giovanni would see to that.
***
The Viridian City Plaza was one of the grandest public areas on Indigo Island. It is a great shopping and relaxation area stretching from the Pokémon Treatment Centre to Indigo Boulevard, the main road leading to the Stadium. Along its length there are a series of ornamental statues and fountains, giving the area an almost European feel. During the four summer months of the League, every weekend there would be a festival of fun in this plaza with stalls selling League concessions and street performers working the crowds. With the League over for another year, it was a little too empty and the many shops were a little less well patronised.
Ask any League Trainer and he will tell you that the place to eat during the months of the League is the Charmeleon Café, just opposite the Treatment Centre. The owner, a former Trainer himself, has one of the finest collections of Pokémon memorabilia anywhere in Indigo and, more importantly, Trainers can sample the foods of hundreds of cultures at one-third off price. Of course, the Charmeleon suffered the way the rest of the Plaza suffered during the off season. This made it just right for Ash's needs.
Ash walked down the echoing length of the Plaza lost in his thoughts. Therefore, he almost ran into Professor Oak who was waiting outside the Café. "Ash," he said urgently, "I really need to talk with you."
Ash drew in a deep breath and looked his mentor in the eye. He hadn't been looking forward to this confrontation, but he felt somehow relieved that it had come. "Look, Professor," he cut in immediately. "I know what you are going to say… and you are right. Tracey's death might have been avoided if I had been a little less stubborn and a little more trusting of you and Mom. God knows I should trust you, but I was too selfish to think of anything but the disruption to my life this would cause. I was wrong and I know it. Now I am going to try to make things right, but I'm not going to ask anything of you. I know that Tracey was close to you and I know nothing can excuse my failure to protect him, so I will understand if you don't want anything to do with me anymore." Ash ended his statement looking at his feet in shame.
There was a long silence. Surprised, Ash looked up into Oak's face and saw that his old friend was crying. "Ash," he said with a slight smile and a shake of his head. "Oh Ash, how could I ever hold anything against you? If I feel angry now, it isn't because of your rejection of what you have learnt. That was a human reaction and I can't blame you for recoiling from such a nightmare. I am angry because you," here Oak poked the young man in the shoulder, "remain so egotistical that you think everything revolves around you; that anything bad that happens is your fault." Oak shook his head. "You didn't pull the trigger on the gun that killed Tracey, Ash. That murderous monstrosity from Team Rocket did that. That confrontation would have come no matter what choice you made, Ash. Perhaps if you acted immediately, the details would have been different, but the confrontation will have come, and maybe one of your friends would have died. Don't blame yourself for what you could do nothing to change. That is a kind of immodesty, lad, and it is one of the things that ultimately destroyed your father."
Ash rocked on his feet as he tried to take this in. Oak continued, more quietly. "We are blood, you and I Ash. I am your uncle and I have always loved you. I know that you would never, ever do anything motivated by malice when it could hurt someone close to you. I am just glad that you weren't hurt."
"But Tracey died," Ash reminded Oak in a bitter tone.
"Yes," Oak agreed in a suspiciously choked tone. "Tracey died, Ash. He died to save you. Honour him now, not by living in guilt, but by ensuring that his sacrifice has a meaning."
Ash sighed deeply. Oak was right, as always. How could Ash have ever doubted him? "I love you Uncle Sam," Ash said, chuckling slightly at how… right it was to speak to the old man in such familiar terms. "I always have."
"Now you'll make an old man blush," Oak said in a businesslike tone. "And less of the 'uncle' part. You'll make me feel even older than I am." Oak turned to see Delilah's Landcruiser driving towards the Café's parking area. "What do you want with those former Rockets?"
"That depends on them," Ash replied in a discreet tone, frowning as Jessie, James and Meowth walked towards them. "I am going to have to ask for your trust, Professor. Just do as I say and trust in my judgement. I know that is hard after Tracey but…"
"I've already warned you about that argument, Ash," Oak replied, a hint of laughter in his eyes.
"Alright, we're here," James said in a low, resentful tone as he reached Ash. "What have you got to say, Ash?"
"For now, nothing," Ash surprised his audience by saying. "Get your collective tails over to the back corner booth in the café. I'll explain when the others are here." Ash turned to the road with an expectant expression. James reacted in some surprise and was about to reply in heat when Ash suddenly turned back to him. "Believe me, James. You want to hear this. You, of all people, deserve to know what is happening and why."
James nodded thoughtfully and allowed Jessie to lead him into the café. Meowth and Raichu seemed to exchange a silent dialogue before the feline Pokémon went to join his friends. Oak shot his young friend a worried look before entering the café.
Ash stood outside, stroking Raichu's soft fur and gathering his thoughts for the most important meeting of his life. After a moment, he saw what he was waiting for. Brock and Misty arrived in Brock's beat-up old HUMVEE. Brock and Misty got out of the battered off-road vehicle and walked over to join Ash at the front of the Café. Misty carried little Togepi, who was trilling contentedly. That pleased Ash. The little Egg-Pokémon was as reliable a barometer of Misty's mood as anything was. If Togepi was happy, so was Misty. "Hello Brock," he called out. "Misty… hi," Ash, with an air of great daring leaned forward and offered Misty a chaste kiss on the cheek. She shot him a slightly surprised look. "From Tracey," he explained.
Misty's expression darkened and she nodded with a brave smile. She seemed a lot better this afternoon. The roller coaster was over, perhaps. And maybe Tracey had as many wise words for her as he did for Ash. Misty stepped towards Ash and hugged him hard. Ash was surprised, but responded gladly enough. "I don't know what I'd do without you," Misty whispered into his ear.
"I know," Ash replied quietly. "No matter what happens from now on, you will always be part of my heart."
After a moment, the two young people felt strong enough to separate. Ash then turned with a determined expression and led Misty and Brock into the café.
***
Ash entered the small private booth to find all the main players in place. Professor Oak sat at the far end of the table. Jessie, James and Meowth sat on one side, Misty and Brock on the other. Togepi sat on the table, looking around him good-naturedly. Raichu leapt from Ash's shoulders to sit down next to his little friend.
"My friends," Ash said. "Thank you for coming here. Especially you, James, Jessie and Meowth. I know the risk you have taken coming to a public place. Take my word for it, you won't regret this."
Ash drew in a deep breath. "The topic for today is Team Rocket, and we all know why. Seven years ago, I started my Pokémon journey, and Team Rocket," here he nodded to Jessie and James, "were essentially rustlers of trained Pokémon. Dangerous? Yes. A threat? Yes. But murderous? Never. Killing did not come into the equation at that time, did it?"
Jessie shook her head mutely. James just narrowed his eyes. "Keep talking," James advised.
Ash nodded. "But recently, the nature of the beast has changed," he explained. "Team Rocket has become more and more violent. There have been massed attacks, terrorisation of small settlements. The murder of innocents." Ash noted the tension in James: the man tightened his fists until his knuckles went white. "And now we learn that the organisation's Dan'in fighters have been issued suicide pills, something that has never happened before. We are beginning to learn something of the true nature of Team Rocket, and maybe a little about its ultimate goals… What are they again James?"
James jumped at the sudden question. "You know, Ash," he said in a clear voice. "To build a better world, a more orderly world. What random pillage and the murder of innocents has to do with that I couldn't tell you."
Ash nodded sadly. "Before we go on, I should declare an interest," he said. "Misty already knows this, and I think Jessie has guessed from the look she is giving me right now." Ash drew in his breath before continuing. "Giovanni de Rocketti, the leader of Team Rocket, was born Joseph Oak. He is more than just the mastermind behind Team Rocket. He is also the brother of Professor Oak here… and he is my father."
A stone dead silence fell. Misty seemed proud, but sad. Jessie and James gawked at each other and Brock mouthed 'Father?' in disbelief.
"Meowth!" Meowth interjected loudly. "You know I think dat's right. If you look at da shape of Ash's nose… maybe a little around da chin and hairline… He is almost Da Boss's spitting image… ow!" Jessie pinched the cat viciously to stop his slightly random comments.
"Hold on a minute, Ash," Brock protested. "You say in between setting up Team Rocket and becoming public enemy number one, Giovanni lived a different life, that as your father? How come that this has never come up before?"
Before Ash could reply, Oak answered that question. "We never told Ash who his father was, Brock," he said. "Given how dangerous Giovanni is, we thought it best that Ash believe his father was dead until he came into his full power as a Trainer and could defend himself and his associates from Team Rocket."
Brock shook his head in disbelief. "I just can't get my head around this," he insisted. "If Giovanni is Ash's father, then why have we been dodging Team Rocket since day one? Unless…" Brock suddenly looked up and his expression sharpened with insight. "Unless you were not exactly a planned birth Ash?"
Ash managed a slightly wry smile. "That is an understatement, Brock. Giovanni nearly killed my Mom when he found out she was pregnant." He had to sit down. Sharing his troubles was supposed, according to his mother, to make them lighter. Right now that did not seem to be happening.
"How horrible," Jessie whispered to herself and subconsciously shifted closer to James. It was probably a coincidence that this also moved her further away from Ash. Misty, on the other hand, moved closer to Ash and placed a reassuring hand on his leg. Her eyes met Ash's and she seemed to almost radiate compassion and empathy. Strengthened by that, Ash felt ready to continue.
Meanwhile, Brock was continuing to think out loud. "Alright," he allowed. "I can see why Giovanni didn't call his people off. He cared nothing for Ash at all. That does not explain the sabotage attempts, though. It doesn't explain why Team Rocket murdered Tracey."
"Well the reason for that is the weird part in all of this," Ash said. "Firstly though, James," James sat upright and gave Ash his full attention. "James, you should know that what happened to your family and your home was almost certainly a trial run for the team of TR agents who would ultimately murder Tracey. I am really sorry that you have got caught up in my father's little vendetta against me."
James nodded. "Jessie thinks that was the reason behind the attack too," he admitted, making Jessie squirm under several sets of questioning gazes. "I just can't understand why though. Why would Giovanni feel the need to use such extreme tactics, such…" he gritted his teeth, "such violence for just one Trainer, even if that Trainer was his son? Why would he need to set his most brutal killers onto an inoffensive family on a flimsy pretext just so that they are better prepared to work together against you?" James shot Ash an accusing gaze. Ash met his gaze fearlessly. He was not offended, as he felt James had every right to be upset.
Ash hummed thoughtfully. "James, Jessie, how much do you know about Giovanni?"
"Just about nothing," Jessie admitted. "If he reveals himself to anyone, it is only to the innermost circle of Team Rocket. To us he is just a face on a com-screen."
Ash nodded. That was more or less what he expected. He turned to Professor Oak. "Well, Professor, you're up," he said in as light a tone. "If they are to understand what is going on, then I think you should tell them everything, and I do mean everything."
Oak shifted uncomfortably. "I really don't think that is wise, Ash," he replied.
"I asked you to trust me," Ash shot back with a challenging glare. "Now is the time, Professor. Please help me out here."
Oak sighed and looked around in disgruntlement before continuing. "My brother was a remarkable person in many respects," he said after a long pause. "One of the most important was his skill as a Trainer. There was never a more skilled or brilliant Trainer and strategist, and this carried over into his, ah, extra-curricular activities when he first set up Team Rocket as a free-ranging force of heroes and liberators." He smiled at James and Jessie's reactions. "Yes, that's right. Everyone here at the table is really too young to remember, but Team Rocket were originally heroes throughout the world."
"And the rest, please, Professor," Ash implored.
Oak drew in a breath. "This was not just skill. Joe had a special ability that allowed him to work more closely and more effectively with Pokémon than any other Trainer. He knew how they thought and could almost instinctively judge how best to use them. He could also multi-task, creating strategies in the middle of the most intense of battles, thinking ten or twenty moves ahead while still giving his whole attention to the fight at hand." Oak shook his head. "It was an incredible ability. It makes him the match and more for any Trainer. There was and is virtually no one who can hope to match and beat him in a Pokémon Battle."
Misty shuddered. "And now you want Ash to face this… prodigy?" she asked in a tight tone. "Are you crazy… or just sadistic?" Ash could feel the outrage building in Misty. He placed a hand over the hand on his knee, trying to calm her.
Oak smiled slightly at Misty's anger. "Your loyalty does you credit, Misty," he replied in a pacifying tone. "No, I would never ask Ash to do the impossible. Surely you must realise the rest?"
Brock nodded. "I can," he announced. "Ash has the same ability as his father," Oak seemed slightly miffed at Brock beating him to his great revelation. "As soon as you described it, I knew," Brock added. He looked at Ash. "Technically, Ash is measurably inferior in skill to many other League Trainers like Gary Oak. Nonetheless he beats them regularly. Is it luck? No, he can use Pokémon more effectively, judge his opponents' weaknesses and know exactly how to use that knowledge. He does that so quickly too, loosing an opening bout, then winning the match 5-1." Brock looked levelly at his young friend, causing him to squirm slightly. "When I first met Ash he could barely hold his own in battle, but as his experience with different kinds of Pokémon improved, so did this uncanny judgement of his… He could match and beat far more skilled Trainers almost instinctively. Those like Gary, who are technically brilliant but who lack any kind of real understanding of Pokémon don't stand a chance. Ultimately, I suppose that no one will be his match."
Misty nodded in agreement with the former Boulder Gym Leader's assessment. Even Jessie and James didn't seem too surprised. "Does everyone have me figured out except me?" Ash asked in exasperation. He could have been wrong, but he got the strangest feeling that Raichu was laughing at his discomfort.
"Don't feel bad, Ash," Misty said in a comforting tone. "There is an old saying about 'not being able to see the wood for the trees.' You have lived with this ability all your life," she raised a mocking eyebrow. "We lesser mortals can see what you can't because we don't have it and can see the difference it makes."
Ash smirked at Misty's acerbic comment. "Your jealousy is so transparent," he murmured quietly to her. Misty gave him the finger under the shield of the table, offset by a flirtatious wink.
"Okay," Jessie said. "So: Ash here is Super-Trainer mark 2. He is a better tactician, more aware of Pokémon strengths and weaknesses and certainly more efficient than any other Trainer is. That does not explain why Giovanni is willing to cause endless pain and destruction just to get… at… him… oh… shit…" Jessie put a hand to her mouth and her voice trailed away as she suddenly became only too aware of why exactly this was happening. Misty realised too, because her grip on Ash's knee became almost painful.
Ash nodded sadly. "He knows that he can beat anyone, except maybe me," Ash concluded for her. "You know your ex-Boss, Jessie. How do you think he would react?"
"You are the only threat to him in the whole world," Brock said in a tone filled with dread.
"I had to tell you this," Ash said. "Partly so that you could understand what has been happening recently, but mainly to protect you. I won't blame you if you all wanted to get as far away from me as possible. As for me?" Ash sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "These recent events have proven that Giovanni won't stop until I am dead. Period. I am the only one in the whole world who could stop him, and that is what I have to do. If not to protect myself, then to prevent him from turning the whole world into a slave camp according to his perverted 'order.'" Ash looked Misty in the eye. "I am committed to this now. I have to do this or more people will suffer Tracey's fate," he turned to James "and the fate of your family." Ash closed his eyes before continuing. "I won't blame any of you for getting as far away from me as you can. I am a walking target waiting for the bomb to drop."
There was a long reverent silence around the table before James broke the spell. "Fuck me, you are the conceited one, aren't you Ash?" he asked in a surprised tone. "Do you think you are the only one who has some kind of duty in this mess?" Ash opened his mouth to reply, but James rode right over him, his voice rising with rage. "Look, Ash, for whatever reason, Giovanni ordered Butch and Cassidy to rape my home, knowing how that would probably turn out. I owe my family for all my failures in my duty to them. I owe them to settle this debt before I can make any kind of new start in my life. I can't walk away from this fight and I won't walk away."
Ash nodded. "Alright, James," he said quietly, making pacifying gestures with his hands. "Alright, you've made your point. You've as good a reason to fight Team Rocket as I have. You're in."
"I'm 'in?'" James squeaked in surprise. He rose to his feet in outrage.
"Yes, that's right," Ash snapped in reply. "Put your heart into neutral and your brain into drive, James. If we both go off our separate ways, we will end up tripping over each other's feet and eventually get each other killed. Now I don't know what your plans are, but I intend to walk away from this with all my parts in working order."
Ash's anger caught James by surprise. The tall, thin man paused for a moment and sat down. He couldn't argue as he knew Ash was right. To his immense chagrin, he also knew that Ash would end up in charge. James could plan, but he was no match for Ash. Seven years of intermittent conflicts proved that beyond a doubt. "Alright," he conceded. "I'm in."
Oak smiled slightly at the ease of Ash's victory. "Now," Ash continued, "I want you to know, Brock and Misty, that I would understand if you want to walk out of here now." He turned to look at Jessie. "I'm sure James feels the same way about you, Jessie."
"I'm in," Jessie said immediately.
"This is going to be ugly, Jessie," James warned. "I didn't want to speak for you."
"Hey, hero," Jessie responded, grabbing James by the lapels. "I am in this because of you, right? Where you go, I go. Got that?"
Misty smiled at the typically Jessie and James display of affection. Ash smiled slightly and turned to face her. There was a mute appeal in his eyes that indicated that he did not want Brock and her to ask to join him. She drew in an outraged breath, but Brock cut in before she could give voice to her anger. "Ash, we've been friends for almost seven years now, and we aren't getting out at this late stage. I think you can safely deal us into this little plan of yours."
"That's right," Misty announced firmly. "We aren't going to run out on you Ash. You've put your own life on the line for us enough times, so we owe you."
"Guys," Ash said, raising his hands. "I'm flattered and more grateful than you know but I'm not looking for volunteers. I have to do this, but I don't want you risked any more by my father's mania."
Brock smiled a little at Ash's naivete. "What makes you think he wouldn't come looking for us anyway?" he asked. His question made Ash frown in concern. He hadn't thought of that.
"We're both adults, Ash," Misty said. "We can make our own choices, and we want to help you." And I will not let you out of my sight, she added silently. Especially now I know the stakes. I can't lose you now. Ash looked at her in a strange way, almost as if she had hurt him. Maybe I'll never understand him, she thought unhappily.
"Your friends do you credit, Ash," Oak commented with a grin.
Ash raised his hands to the heavens in disbelief. "Alright," he sighed. "You win. You're all in." There were smiles and self-congratulation all around the table. The three Pokémon present were unanimous in their approval of this arrangement.
[Together, we're the unbeatable team!]
"Meowth! That's right!"
[Daddy has so many wonderful friends!]
Ash looked around at his four allies, his small army to face his father. Perhaps it was a good thing that they were all friends (or at least good acquaintances, in Jessie and James' case). It would stop him from ever becoming emotionally detached from their fate.
Ash looked levelly at James. "Alright, James," he announced. "The first part of this is all your show. I want to hear everything that you and Jessie know about Team Rocket: Organisation, numbers, logistics and, most importantly, how they run their field operations."
James swallowed, fighting an instinct to refuse to betray Team Rocket so thoroughly. Then again, he reminded himself. They have already betrayed you.
Oak left the young people plotting around the table. His work was done, and he would not be able to add anything to the discussion now. He walked outside and joined Delilah in her Landcruiser. "How did it go?" she asked.
"Ash is full of fire," Oak said in wonder. "And he seems determined to lose his every tactical advantage to protect his friends." He shook his head. "He is everything we could have hoped for and more. He is a remarkable man."
"Hey," Delilah commented in a slightly snooty tone. "He is my son, you know."
"I know," Oak assured her. He turned back for a moment to see Ash and James arguing a tactical point. James seemed to submit and nodded thoughtfully as he absorbed Ash's comments. Jessie and Brock seemed entranced by Ash's performance and Misty… Every few minutes, she would interrupt Ash and say a few words, capturing Ash's entire attention. He always nodded after she finished her brief comments; occasionally he even smiled and he always continued in a calmer, more reasonable way. "And so it begins," Professor Oak announced in the silence of Delilah's off-roader.
***
After several hours of plotting and planning, followed by a series of extremely silly-sounding promises of brotherhood and loyalty over the Charmeleon Café's excellent viands, the new allies went their separate ways. Brock was to take Jessie, James and Meowth back to their camp in his HUMVEE and then head back to his hotel. Ash walked Misty back to the Pokémon Centre.
Ash was in his introspective mode again, Misty decided as she prepared for bed. He seemed to be sleepwalking and, occasionally, he shook his head or smirked slightly at his thoughts. She cocked her head and realised that she had seen this before. When Ash went onto full-strategic mode, he looked like he was daydreaming, but inside he was thinking over and over again about how to fine-tune his plans. He was doubtless killing himself with worrying over how to minimise the risk to his friends from his scheme. Misty smiled lovingly. It was typical of him that, when he should be worrying about winning, he was worrying about them. It warmed Misty's heart, but it also made her feel for her friend. No man should be forced to bear this burden.
Ash was actually paying more attention to Misty than she knew. He was worrying about her. Damn it Misty, he shouted in his head. How am I supposed to protect you if you won't let me? He knew he should be grateful for her friendship and loyalty, but his feelings for her were greater than just that of an ally and friend. He was in love with her and had been for years now. Tracey recognised that, and recognised that Ash did not really feel worthy of her affections. He taunted Ash with this fact in his good-natured way. Now Ash was trying to do something about it, and the damn woman insists on joining up and helping Ash fight a war!
Ash shook his head in vexation. If he was a formidable Trainer, he and Misty together were invincible. He ought to be glad she had chosen to join him. However, all he could feel was the anguish he felt when he thought that Cassidy had murdered her. At that point, the darkness flooded down on him and he knew what it was to be his father. If she was killed because of her loyalty to him, he knew he would not survive. He would either go mad and become a threat to be destroyed, like his father, or he would simply walk up to her grave, spill out his heart's blood and join her.
Ash made a deliberate effort to draw his mind off of such dark topics. He smiled as he watched her soothe Togepi's fears and encourage him to rest. The little psychic-type Pokémon disliked Pokéballs as much as Raichu, so he had to sleep on Misty's sleeping bag, rolled up in a corner. Ash basked in the warmth of Misty's compassion and empathy as she sung a quiet song for Togepi. It did its job. The little Pokémon closed his eyes and folded up into his egg form. People failed to judge Misty properly. Just because she was no film star or model, they failed to see the beauty and warmth from within that lit up the darkness of Ash's world.
Misty looked over her shoulder and saw the intense way Ash was watching her and blushed a deep shade of red. How does he do it? She asked herself in an amused way. She always tried to keep her feelings for Ash under control. She did not want to embarrass him with her affection… no, who was she kidding, love. Nonetheless, with every smile and touch, Ash tore at the walls around her heart. She shook herself, rose to her feet and walked over to where Ash crouched by the wall.
"Ash, we need to talk," she announced quietly.
"Yeah, that we do," Ash agreed. He drew in a deep breath. "Misty, please. If you never listen to me ever again in your life, listen now. I might sound confident, but there are a lot of random variables. Jessie, James, Brock, me… we might all be killed. Don't come with us. Don't throw your life away because of me."
Misty opened her mouth and was about to shout when she remembered the trouble she had getting Togepi to sleep. "Damn it Ash," she hissed. "What is it with you? I thought we were friends! Don't you trust me now the chips are down? Is that it?"
God, no, Ash silently protested. She could not be more wrong. "No, Misty, I do trust you," he said out loud. She hissed at him and he modulated his tone. "You are one of the finest Trainers I know, Misty," he said. "You are the best person I can hope to have around to watch my back."
"Then what?" Misty asked caustically. "Is it because I'm a woman? Is that the problem?" Misty fretted that she was beginning to sound like a stupid insecure girl. To her relief, Ash did not mock her, even if her last question obviously amused him.
"Wow," Ash said in some amazement. "That is, like, the most pre-historic reason I can think of for dealing you out. No, Misty, it isn't because of that… mostly not anyway."
Misty cocked her head and waited for Ash to continue. He drew a hand through his unruly hair and seemed to try a few possibilities in his head. "Well?" she asked, trying to keep her own amusement out of her tone.
"Well, you are the match for any man I know," Ash admitted finally. He smiled slightly and his eyes twinkled in the dim night lighting of the hostel room. "Even if you are a lot prettier."
Misty stepped back and struck a pose. "Why thank you, kind sir," she cooed teasingly. "I'm glad to hear you have noticed."
"I couldn't fail to notice, Misty," Ash replied in a tone filled with tension. Misty could see that tension in him, and she felt it herself.
"The fact is Misty," Ash said. "I couldn't live with myself if you were hurt because you were tagging along with me out of loyalty…" Ash turned from her and spent a moment contemplating the night sky before turning back. "You are the most important thing in my life, Misty Waterflower. You are my light and my hope and I… I don't want you killed because of me. It's selfish I know… I mean you have your own life and I have no right to dictate what you do or don't do but…" Ash drew in a deep breath. "I love you Misty. Not just as a friend or a sister. I love you with every part of my being. There isn't a moment I spend when I am not thinking about you… what you would think of what was happening, your compassion and empathy or the wonderful way your eyes crinkle up when you laugh…"
Ash trailed off when he realised Misty wasn't really listening to him. She was grinning like a lunatic. "You… love me?" she whispered. "Really love me… as in hearts, flowers and romance?"
Ash boggled at her surprise. "Well, yeah," he admitted with a dumb smile. He began to fret that he had just cost himself what little respect Misty had for him, but he had to say the words. He owed it to Tracey, besides they were true and it would poison their relationship forever if he were not honest now. "I do love you, Misty. That is why I don't want you to come along…" Misty remained silent and Ash began to worry that by telling the truth, he had only driven her away forever. "I'm sorry if I've offended you by getting all dewy eyed over you like some dumb kid with a crush…" he said in a tone filled with self-doubt.
Misty's eyes seemed to be filling with tears. She bit her trembling bottom lip. Ash began to babble another apology when she suddenly rushed forward and hugged him. "I love you Ash," she sobbed. "I dream about you… I could never keep on living if you died…" Misty looked up into Ash's eyes and continued in a low, fierce tone. "And that is why I'm coming, Ash. I am not going to let you out of my sight. I am not going to let you face that… psychopath of a father of yours without me. I would die if you were killed and I hadn't been there to help. I love you more than my life, Ash… but I was afraid that I would offend you if I started getting all sappy on you. Will you accept me as an ally? I don't know what I would do if I were left behind…"
Ash hugged Misty back and began to chuckle gently. "You think this is funny?" Misty demanded in an outraged tone.
"Oh yes," Ash told her. He looked her right in the eyes. "We were both afraid to tell each other, because we were certain we would offend the other… But we share that love, and we couldn't admit it to ourselves."
Misty began to giggle. It was ridiculous when you thought about it. Ash captured her lips with his and kissed her passionately. When they came up for air, Ash looked down at her fiercely "I love you Misty," he said in a firm tone. "Don't ever leave."
"I can't see the future," Misty replied with passionate intensity. "But I do know this: I will never willingly leave you… ever."
"Will you stay with me tonight? Ash asked her, his eyes alight with joy.
"Yes…" Misty replied quietly. "You only ever had to ask."
The two kissed again. Their argument and the subsequent realisation of the truth that had eluded them for years had, unknown to them, roused Togepi from his light sleep. The little Pokémon watched in fascination as Mommy and Daddy gyrated across the floor as they worked their way towards the bunks. The strange outer coverings that all humans wore, much to the fascination and incomprehension of all Pokémon, went flying off in all directions and several unprecedented hand-to-body contacts between them led to gasps of pleasure and the occasional moan.
When Mommy and Daddy reached the bottom bunk, they went out from direct line-of-sight of Togepi. The little Pokémon shook himself in disbelief. Adults, he thought. I won't ever understand them. Togepi closed his eyes, folded himself into his egg form and determinedly went back to sleep to a medley of gasps and gentle cries of passion.
***
Misty awoke to the dawn sun streaming through the windows. They had forgotten to close the curtains last night, she decided. The light blanket of the lower bunk was rumpled, but still covered her. However, she was at the very edge of the bunk and there was a large warm mass curled around her back, making contact from neck to ankle.
In her sleep-befogged state, she could not understand exactly what had happened, why she was stark naked under the blanket and what the warmth at her back was. Then she felt, rather that saw, the arms circling her waist. Ash, she realised, then the memories came rushing back. The argument, the declaration of love and the final release of a passion that had been steadily building in them both for three years or more.
Misty allowed herself to relax and lent back into the warmth of her lover's body. She rolled slightly and looked up into Ash's face. He was so peaceful when he was asleep. His face lost the haggard look it had gained in a seven-year journey and regained its youthful innocence. Ash opened his eyes and smiled down at her. "So you've woken up?" he asked in a teasing tone. "Good, because my right arm has gone to sleep."
Misty smiled in reply and relaxed slightly. Ash looked down at her with a love and passion that simply took her breath away. He kissed her lightly on the lips and she responded with a far more passionate kiss of her own. Ash leant back against the threadbare pillow as he tried to get his wits to wake up and Misty turned over, leant her head against his chest and draped an arm across him. A little part of him was enjoying this so much that he didn't want to wake up, but if last night was the admission of light and love, today the darkness demanded their attention. And neither Misty nor he was the sort to miss an appointment.
Above them, Raichu began to stir. Ash could see the impression the little electric squirrel's weight made in the mattress above move towards the edge. Raichu's cute face appeared over the edge of the top bunk. [Morning, guys. Are you up yet? Ash, why didn't you sleep in your bunk last night… THUNDERSHOCKS AND FURBALLS!] Raichu said, his voice rising to a shriek as he absorbed the sight before him.
Togepi opened up and looked around him with a cute little yawn. [Morning Mommy, Daddy,] the egg-Pokémon trilled phlegmatically.
Misty turned to look at Togepi and began to giggle. "He doesn't even seem to care," she laughed.
Ash began to chuckle too. "He probably doesn't understand," he said. He reached up and caressed Raichu's head. "You do, don't you pal?" he asked.
Raichu sprang down the ladder and crawled up to sit on Misty's covered belly. [So you've finally admitted it? You are together?] he asked gently.
Ash nodded and put an arm around Misty's shoulders and relaxed slightly, getting used to the feel of her nearness. "Yeah, we're together," he confirmed.
Misty looked up into Ash's eyes with a love so intense that poor Raichu felt like an intruder. His two friends kissed again and began to slowly stir, untangling themselves from the blanket and each other. Raichu shot a look at Togepi, who looked on with a childish good humour. He clearly didn't know what was happening, but 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' were happy and it was enough for him. Raichu felt a warmth inside of him. It was enough for him, too.
Ash and Misty were still young enough that there was a lot of verbal teasing and knowing looks as they dressed, but Raichu was of no doubt that a bond had been made this past night that nothing could ever break.
As Ash pulled on his black tee shirt, he felt Raichu's eyes following him. He smiled to himself. The little electric squirrel had worked out there was something between Misty and him long before either of them ever guessed. Even so, the final consummation had caught him totally by surprise. "By surprise," Ash suddenly repeated out loud in an amazed tone.
Misty looked up questioningly from where she was pulling on her jeans. Ash was standing in the middle of the room, half-dressed, with a look of comical surprise on his face. "Ash?" Misty asked in some concern. She walked over and waved a hand in front of his face. "Ash, love, are you alright?"
Ash suddenly grinned. He picked Misty up and whirled her around, much to her surprise and enjoyment. "Yeah, I'm fine," he assured her with a laugh. "I've figured it out what our first move should be, that's all." Ash walked over and pulled his mobile 'phone from its charger. He tapped in a number he only learnt last evening and waited for an answer. "Hello… oh, it's you Meowth," Ash said into the 'phone. "Can I talk to James?" There was a pause. "Yes," Ash added with elaborate patience, "it's important."
There was a long pause while Ash fidgeted impatiently, waiting for James to come to the 'phone. "Hi, James, it's Ash," he said in a business-like tone. There was a pause while he doubtless listened to James' complaints. "Yeah, that's right, it's six-thirty in the morning. Don't tell me you aren't already up and ready to go." Ash chuckled. "Yeah, well remember that I've woken with the dawn in a forest clearing a few times myself. Look, James, I think I have a way to get us started. I want you, Jessie and Meowth to meet Misty and Brock at the Treatment Centre. I've got to get some stuff from Professor Oak, but I won't be far behind." Ash smiled as he listened for a few minutes. "Yeah, James, it's good alright."
Ash smiled darkly as he closed the mouthpiece, ending the call. "Well, Ash," Misty asked tartly. "Are you going to let me in?"
"The key word, beautiful, is 'surprise,'" Ash explained. "I bet that Giovanni is plotting a pre-emptive strike against me right now. We are going to prevent that from taking place and send my dear father an unmistakable message with one simple act." Misty listened with amazement as Ash explained his strategy and realised that what seemed so academic last evening was now becoming a terrible reality.
***
The sky was clear and blue over Viridian City, and it was promising to be a fine day indeed. Misty and Brock were waiting by the Treatment Centre for Jessie, James and Meowth to arrive.
Brock was dressed in a combination of blacks and browns. He was also wearing his multi-pocketed over-vest. Misty was dressed in hard-wearing clothes in subdued colours, her long ginger hair in a tight braid to keep it out of her way. She had her backpack slung over her shoulder and was waiting patiently. Jessie and James sneaked up on her and virtually materialised beside her from thin air. Misty gave a little 'oh' of fright and turned to face the two ex-Rockets. "God, don't do that to me," she gasped.
Jessie snickered and James waggled a finger. "Now, now, Misty," he cautioned. "Remember it's big boys' rules now. You have to be ready for a surprise or two."
"Big boy's rules?" Jessie asked in a superior tone. James shot her a sour look and she stuck out her tongue impishly. Those two flirt outrageously, Misty thought. I wonder if they really know what they mean to each other? Jessie and James looked very different today. They were also wearing dark, subdued colours. Jessie had bound her long red hair back into a tight bun and had not put on any makeup today and the difference was startling. Misty saw for the first time a pattern of scratches on her cheeks and forehead that had to be from the talons of Spearows. James had swapped his dramatic long duster for almost military-looking clothing.
"Meowth! Here he comes," Meowth commented, pointing at Ash.
Ash was walking out from the Treatment Centre with his mother and Professor Oak. He looked, well dangerous, Misty decided, feeling proud. He was wearing khaki jeans, his black shirt, and a long camouflage green overcoat. A pair of dark glasses rounded off the vision of a paramilitary leader. Only his trademark League Baseball Cap failed to fit in with the image. As well as his pack, slung from a shoulder, he was carrying a large sack. Raichu sat on his shoulders, chattering excitedly to his Trainer.
"Thanks for turning up guys," Ash said in his usual easy-going style. He pulled off his shades and slipped them into his overcoat.
"What's in the sack, Ash?" Jessie asked.
"In due time, Jessie," Ash replied. "And no peeking, Meowth." James smirked as Meowth turned away and sulked.
"James," Ash continued. "You told me that Team Rocket has a large staging area in the forest about twenty miles east of Viridian City, yes?" James nodded. "This morning," Ash continued, "it occurred to me that Giovanni's logical next move is to build up an overwhelming force and crush us before we can move against him." He looked around at his four allies' nervous faces. Misty knew what was coming and even she still looked nervous. Good, Ash thought. Stops 'em getting sloppy. "Well," he announced, "we're going to pre-empt the pre-emptive strike today." He smiled at their surprised reactions. "The staging area is the logical place for Giovanni to build up his forces for an attack, so we are going to deal with this threat here and now."
"From Jessie and James' descriptions," Ash continued, gesturing in the air, "the buildings and defences of the staging area has several vulnerabilities that we can exploit." He smiled around at his friends before continuing. "We are going to hit that base and take it out. We will knock out every Pokémon, destroy every vehicle and capture every human we find."
"Capture," James commented scornfully. "A waste of time, surely. They'll just self-destruct when they realise they are caught."
Ash waggled his brows like a professor catching a student out in an error. "Ah, my dear James," he replied. "They won't have a chance." He reached into his big sack and pulled out five pairs of dental pliers. "Primitive, I know," he admitted, "but if the hollow tooth is gone, they can't break it open and swallow the poison."
Jessie made a sound of disgust as she looked at her set of pliers, then shrugged. Brock seemed to be laughing at the very thought of doing impromptu dental work on prisoners. Misty just smiled in approval and patted Ash on the shoulder. The two exchanged a blisteringly passionate look that everyone except Delilah missed. She raised her brows in pleased surprise. Oh well, she sighed. They can't remain babies forever.
"Now I have a few surprises in my bag of tricks," Ash announced. "First, these." He began to pull out a set of bandoleer belts and passed them around to his friends. There were two top-to-bottom straps with eight pouches each, padded and covered with kevlar armour. There were also six other pouches along what would be the back, at belt level. The pouches were big enough for a Pokéball to fit snugly and safely inside.
"Team Rocket originally developed these," Oak explained, "when they were still a crusading gang of idealistic Trainers. They can stop any bullet up to standard rifle fire, protecting Pokéballs and keeping them available for a quick draw." The old man beamed proudly.
"Next," Ash continued, dipping deeply into the bag, "these." He handed Misty and Brock a bag each. "All your other Pokémon," he explained. "I requested that your home Pokémon Centres teleport them over. I'm already carrying a full load." He pulled the lapels of his overcoat back and everyone could see his own bandoleer with Pokéballs peeking out, then he patted his pack, which doubtless contained more.
"Now I have a special delivery for you," Ash continued, nodding at Jessie and James. He leaned over into the bag and pulled out three Pokéballs. He gave the first one to James; "Here is your Gyarados, James." James boggled at the Pokéball. "I managed to capture him after our little sojourn on Giant Island."
He turned to Jessie and gave her the other two Pokéballs. "And here is your Grimer and your Fearow, Jessie," Ash concluded.
Jessie accepted the balls and examined them as if she could not believe that this was happening. "I thought I had lost Fearow forever… how did you find him?" she blurted, on the edge of tears.
"Thank Gary for that," Oak revealed. "He was in the icy mountains about a month behind Ash and found Fearow wandering about. When he saw a Trainer's serial number on him, he sent him to me to return to his proper owner."
"Gary did the right thing," Misty murmured to herself. "Well how about that…"
"I recognised the serial number when I saw the same number on Arbok a week ago," Ash explained in a slightly smug tone.
"What's the story?" an amazed James asked Jessie, who had started crying.
"Fearow was the first Pokémon I captured," she explained, trying to smile. "Me and Arbok, she was an Ekans then, stalked this flock of Spearows for weeks waiting for our chance." Jessie fingered the thin scars on her face self-consciously. "I had one or two false starts, of course…"
Jessie threw herself forward and hugged Ash hard. "Thanks, Ash," she said. James and Misty both bristled. Down girl, Misty counselled herself. She is just grateful, that's all.
Everyone was busy attending to his or her equipment for a moment, so Oak folded up the sack and stood beside Delilah. It is as if it were 25 years ago, he told himself. If Ash were a little taller, he would be Joseph, heading off on some new damn fool idealistic crusade. Oak's expression hardened as his memories caught up with him. Those days were long gone. Perhaps one day those days would return, but not until Ash had dealt with Team Rocket.
"Professor," Ash said, walking over. "I'd like you to look after this for me, until I get back." Ash pulled off his battered League Cap and handed it to Oak.
"Your cap?" Oak asked. "Won't you need it, Ash? I thought it was your lucky charm or something."
Ash laughed good-naturedly. "It was a lucky charm for me when I was a League Trainer," he agreed. "But I'm not one of those right now." Ash's expression darkened for a second. "I'm a soldier now, going off to fight in the wars." He shook his head and gestured airily at the cap. "If… when I get back, I'll be a Trainer again, then I'll need the cap. Not until then."
He nodded in thanks and went over to join his allies. Oak stood straight and, responding to a surprising urge, hugged Delilah, who was trying to keep herself from crying. "Good fortune, my son," she called out. "Come back to me safe and well."
Ash turned around, pausing in the act of putting his sunglasses on. "Hey, it's me," he assured her with that maddening confident smile of his. He nodded once, turned back to his four allies and addressed them. "Everybody ready?" he asked as he put on his sunglasses. There was a chorus of 'ready' and a few chirps from Pokémon. "Alright then," Ash said in a firm tone, settling his pack to his shoulder, "let's go to war."
To be continued…