C. Cowboy: Well, Ash's life just keeps getting better and better! But the question remains: Who is The Hand Of Fate? R&R! BTW How much pressure do you think Ash can take? Find out here in a few!
CHAPTER 5: ASH vs. THE HAND OF FATE; ROUND ONE
The group finally makes it to their hotel with FEW violent situations. Misty and Crystal still barely had a blemish, while poor Ash looked like he had been hit by a truck. Pikachu jumped to Ash's shoulder, "Pi pika pi Pikachu?" (You don't look so good.) Ash just looked at him then continued to walk forward. They all went to their rooms. Ash immediately took a shower. His injuries weren't that bad, and faded easily with some potions on himself. Yeah that stuff is only ment for Pokemon, but Ash thought, 'what the heck!' Ash walked out and was unnerved to see Misty and Crystal outside waiting on him, and NOT FIGHTING! "Uh… hi guys." They both stared at him, "Come on, we're hungry." Ash scratched his head, "Shouldn't you two be at each other's throat?" They both smiled at each other, "Oh yeah, we call a truce. Only till after you buy our lunch!" Misty informed him as he place his face in his hands. Then all the sudden he was tackled. He looked up expecting Misty or Crystal but found Melody, "Hi, Ashy Boy! Long time no see!" then he looked up and saw Misty cringing and staring at Crystal's Blood colored face. "Uh Melody, I don't think that was a good idea." Crystal was about jumped Melody when Pikachu cut her off with a thunder shock knocking her cold. Melody petted Pikachu's head, "Thinks, little buddy!" Misty shot Pikachu a dirty look, "Why didn't you help me before?" Pikachu smiled at her, "Pi ka kachu pikachu, ka chu kachu pika chu pi!" (I knew you could take care of yourself, besides if worse comes to worse you'd pull out your mallet!) Gary then joined the group and once he saw Melody, he blushed four shades of red. "Hi… Gary." Melody said also blushing a little. Ash and Misty looked at each other puzzled. Misty then looked at Crystal, who was still out cold. Gary then looked at the two, "Don't worry, I've already eaten, I'll take the nutbar to her room, you guys go have fun. 'Sides, Ashy Boy could use a little peace."
Ash, Misty, and Melody walked toward the McDonalds a few blocks from the hotel. Ash had three things flooding his rarely used mind.
One: How was he going to keep Misty and Crystal from killing
each other, or, more importantly, from killing him?
Two: Who was this Hand Of Fate, and what does he want?
Three: What else could happen?
The third one was about to be answered.
They were walking when suddenly familiar voices interrupted his thoughts.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
Ash rubbed his temples.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
To unite all peoples with in our nation!"
Ash's lips began to twitch.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Ash began to giggle.
"Jessie!"
"James!"
TEAM ROCKET BLAST OFF AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT!!"
"SURENDER NOW, OR PREPARE TO FIGHT!!"
"Meowth, That's right!!"
Ash then threw his head back in laughter. They all looked at him in fear. "Pikapi? Ka kachu?" (Ash? You alright?)
Pikachu said as he eased behind Misty's leg in fear. "Of coarse, I'm ALRIGHT Pikachu! Why wouldn't I be ALL RIGHT! I just have two girls fighting to the death over me, with me 99% of the time the one getting hurt! Team Rocket shows up again trying to steal you, and I still have no FREAKIN' IDEA WHO THE LIVING HECK THAT HAND OF FATE GUY IS!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Jessie and James looked at each other in shock as Meowth past out. "D-D-D-Did you say the H-H-Hand Of F-F-F-Fate?" Ash settled down and looked puzzled at the two, "Yeah, why?" James grabbed his shoulder "Ash, do you have any idea how deep in crap you are?" Ash looked shocked at the older boy. He knew James was serious because he didn't call him 'twerp'.
Jessie walked up "The Hand Of Fate is Team Rocket's top assassin. No one but the boss knows how he is, what he really looks like or even if it's a he or a she!" James joined in, "Anyone who got close enough to tell, never… lived long enough to tell about it." All the blood left Ash's face, this WAS serious, DEATHLY serious.
"You've said enough!" A voice from behind the group caused Jessie and James to cower behind Ash. The Ninja stood before the group. "So we meet face to face at last, Mr. Ketchum." Fate said with a scruffy voice, "I am truly sorry, but I am order to kill you and I have never failed a mission in my two years in Team Rocket." He stood around the same height as Ash, but a bit more muscular. Fate then jumped back and threw a Pokeball. It flew open to reveal an Onix. Ash turned his hat around backwards, "PIKACHU! I CHOOSE YOU!!" Pikachu jumped in front of Ash and flared his cheeks. "ALRIGHT, PIKACHU, FINISH HIM QUICK WITH THE ULTRA SHOCK!!" Pikachu then powered up and sent the massive blast at the Onix. It hit with a massive flash. When the dust settled, the Onix didn't have a scratch on it. Ash and Pikachu stared in shock. That was the best they had, and Fate's Pokemon didn't flinch. Only Mewtwo had been able to take an Ultra Shock, but that was because of a psychic shield. This Onix didn't need psychic powers.
"Hang on, Ash!" Misty cried as she threw her own Pokeball. Starmie appeared beside Pikachu with a "hi-ya!"
"ALRIGHT, STARMIE, HIDROPUMP!!" Misty commanded as her Pokemon sent a massive blast of water at the Onix. Onix started to buckle from the intense attack. "PIKACHU, NOW HIT IT WITH AN OTHER ULTRA SHOCK, BUT SEND IT DOWN STARMIE'S WATERSTREAM!!!" Pikachu formed another bubble around himself and absorbed it into his cheeks and then jumped to Starmie's back and sent the blast over its shoulder, strait down the stream. It hit the Pokemon with an explosion. When the dust settled, both Onix and Hand Of Fate had disappeared. Misty recalled Starmie, as Ash stared at the place where Fate stood, "Why do I get the feeling this is nowhere near over?" Jessie and James then tried to sneak off with the unconscious Meowth, but Melody grabbed them, "Oh no you don't, not till you tell us everything you know about this guy!!"
Less then an hour later, at Team Rocket H.Q. Fate stood before the Boss's desk. "I am sorry, I have failed. He and his friends are more powerful then I remembered." The Boss smiled, "Don't worry. I think I have a better idea. He is way to good a trainer to let go to waste." He then handed Fate a folder with several pictures in it. "He will not join us without some… motivation. I want you to systematically destroy his life, and then when he is at his weakest, he will beg to join us."
C. Cowboy: What do you think? The action/adventure stuff is about to start up. What will Fate do to the gang? Can Ash stand a chance if and when they meet again? Can you figure out who Fate is yet? BTW, The tournament begins next time! Happy Trails!