The Power of One : The Continuation
By Crow Skywalker
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Disclaimer – Don't own Pokemon or its characters. I'm only borrowing them for my own amusement.
Author's Notes –
Chapter Summary – Ash and co start off on their new journey – what new things await them?
Warnings/Pairings – Contains spoilers for the movie. Otherwise, there will be Ash/Misty and Melody/Tracey.
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Chapter Six – The Journey Begins
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The week passed fast – while Misty, Brock and Ash caught up, Tracey and Melody spent a lot of time together, and over to Professor Oak's. For the time being, Tracey had managed to convince Oak to let him help, and Oak was very pleased to meet the boy. The rest of the time they all spent together talking, getting to know each other, and just plain relaxing. By the end of the week, the group of trainers were well ready for the journey ahead of them.
"Are you sure you have everything Ash?" Mrs. Ketchum asked worriedly as the group of teens put on their shoes, ready to start off with the dawn of the early morning.
Ash nodded, struggling with his shoe laces.
"Money? Toothbrush? Clean underwear?"
"Mooom!" Ash groaned, embarrassed.
"Just making sure, honey," She frowned, hands on her hips, "I don't want people to say I sent you off with dirty underwear – I'd be a bad mother."
Ash decided not to say anything more, since it would only lead to more embarrassment. So, keeping his head down, he finished with his shoes, and stood, stretching. Meanwhile, Pikachu managed to jump upon his shoulder, which was his normal sitting place when travelling.
"Thank you for letting us stay." Tracey said, a bit uncomfortably. He was the first one at the door, and was about to step out and give the others more room. "It was nice meeting you."
"It was nice meeting you Tracey." Mrs. Ketchum smiled and gave her good-byes to the others as well.
"Now Ash," She said once everyone had left, and Ash was the last to go, "Make sure you phone me often, so I know that you didn't get lost or anything. And keep me on an update on what's going on! Last time I came across you in the middle of a big fight between those bird Pokemon – I want you to be careful."
"Yes mom," Ash nodded as he leaned in to give her a good-bye hug. "Take care of yourself." He looked down at her faithful Mr. Mime, "And you take care of her as well."
"Mime!" It nodded in understanding.
Backing away, Ash looked at his mother one last time before turning and heading out the door. His friends were waiting for him, and as he joined them, they smiled and waved to Mrs. Ketchum as they once again started their journey – the five of them. But they did not get far before..
"Hey Ashy boy!"
Ash groaned and looked up to see Gary and his Eevee running towards them, waving his hands. "Wait up!"
"What do you want Gary?"
Gary finally stopped in front of them, taking big breaths from his run. "Its not what I want, its more like what Gramps wants.."
"Ash! Ash!"
The group turned in the direction that Gary had come from to see Professor Oak running towards them as well.
"Yes, thank you Gary – for stopping them. I feared that I would never catch up." Oak gasped as he reached them, and Gary nodded and left in the direction he had come in. "Ash," Oak finally found his breath and stood up straight. "I have a favor to ask of you."
Ash blinked curiously. "Wha..?"
Rummaging through his coat pockets, Professor Oak finally produced a odd colored Pokeball and held it out for the group to see. "This, Ash, is the latest discovery – the GS ball. It's a very mysterious Pokeball, since nobody has ever been able to open it yet – and a lot of people would like to get their hands on it. I'd like to entrust you with this ball – I think that you would be able to protect it very well, and maybe you could find out the answer on how to unlock it on your journey."
Ash took the ball, speechless, and stared at it in his own hands. Indeed, there was something odd about it – but perhaps it was only his imagination that it jerked ever so slightly in his hand, and that it seemed to be very warm. Looking at the others, he saw that nobody else seemed to notice for they were too caught up in what Professor Oak was saying. Shrugging, he locked it on to his Pokebelt with his other Pokeballs.
"I'm sure Ash will take very good care of it." Was what Brock was saying when Ash rejoined the conversation.
Ash nodded and smiled at the Professor. "I'll do my best to uncover the secret."
Professor Oak patted Pikachu on its head and returned the smile. "Take care of yourself and your friends, and enjoy your journey."
The group nodded and watched as Professor Oak walked off.
"What do you think is actually in the ball?" Melody asked curiously.
Ash shrugged and continued walking, the others following as well.
"I bet it's a water Pokemon of some sort!" Misty exclaimed, starry eyed.
"Or a rock Pokemon!" Brock added.
"Maybe it's a new Pokemon. I wonder what it would be like?"
Unclasping it from his belt, Ash held it up to get a better look. At his touch the ball immediately began to warm as it had before, and holding it in his hand now, he could clearly see it move in the slightest. "Hey! Guys! Look at this!"
The rest of the group had started arguing over what kind of Pokemon it could be, or if it was even a Pokemon at all. They all stopped when Ash spoke, wondering why he had a strange look on his face.
"What is it Ash?" Misty was the first to ask.
"Do you see –" But Ash had already noticed that once the others had stopped their bickering and started listening to him, the ball had went dead, as if it didn't want the others to know about its strange behavior. Ash poked at it, hoping to get a reaction. There was none. "Strange.."
"What's strange?"
"Nothing.." Ash guessed that maybe it really was his imagination playing tricks on him, and snapped it back onto his belt. "You guys ready for Viridian City?" He asked instead.
Brock already had his map out, making sure they were going the right way. "We should be there before dark."
"Oh! I've never been to Vermillion City!" Melody grinned evilly at Misty before adding, "You'll have to show me around Ash!"
"Yeah well...it won't take us that long to get there, I still remember my first day out in these woods.."
"And I still remember the bike you stole from me that day!" Came Misty's annoyed voice from behind him. "The same one you still owe me Mr. Ketchum!"
"Yes Misty, I know, okay? You remind me every day that I owe you a new bike! How could I forget!" Ash shot back, causing Pikachu's ears to lower. Pikachu hated when Ash and Misty fought like this.
"Yeah, well I wouldn't have to remind you every day if you'd pay it back." Misty crossed her arms. Pikachu sighed – they were going to start fighting again if he didn't do something quick. Gathering his electricity, he prepared to shock them both – but didn't get the chance.
"Ashy, so after Viridian, where are we headed again?" Melody took Ash's arm, leading him away from Misty before they could continue their fight. Behind her Misty fumed, but Melody pretended not to notice. "We're catching the St. Annabelle?"
Ash nodded, secretly glad that Melody had interrupted his and Misty's little fight. He hated fighting with her, and he didn't want the first day of their journey ruined. "Well, we're taking the longer route to Vermillion City – through Pewter, Cerulean –"
"We're heading through Cerulean?" Misty asked, shifting Togepi from one arm to another. "Cause if we are, I'd like to stop for a while – to see how my sisters are holding out at the gym and all."
Brock nodded from beside her as he studied the map. "And I'd like to stop in Pewter. I haven't seen my family in a while, and I'd like to see how they're doing and if my father is doing a decent job."
From up ahead Melody, who was still holding on to Ash, giggled. "Hey, this is like some kind of road trip where we visit our families on the way."
"Its okay with you Ash, isn't it?" Brock asked. "I mean, you wouldn't mind stopping for a while would you?"
"No, no guys! Its okay!" Ash waved it off. "You deserve to see your families after such a long time. I wouldn't mind taking the time off either to say hello and such. Besides, this will be the last time in a long while we're up around here. Once we arrive at Vermillion City we're off to Johto."
And so they walked on, both Ash and Misty remembering the landscape from oh so long ago. For a long time there was only silence – but that was okay, because the sun was warm and the breeze was refreshing and the sounds of birds in the distance were all a comfort. But as they walked on, they slowly began to notice something. The deeper they got into the woods, the less Pokemon they could see scampering about – and the sounds of birds could no longer be heard.
"Uhm, guys?" Melody asked, who had now fallen into pace with Tracey as they had a quiet conversation along the way, "Do you hear that?"
The small group stopped, looking around their surroundings.
"I don't hear anything." Ash finally concluded.
"I think that's what she's talking about Ash." Misty rolled her eyes.
Ash shot her a look but chose to ignore her. "So what? No noise. Isn't that good?"
"Not if all the Pokemon seem to have disappeared from the area." Brock stated.
"Hey.." It finally dawned on Ash, "Isn't this area usually overrun with Spearow and Fearow? Where've they all gone?"
"This is all very strange."
"Indeed, it is."
"Maybe we should stop and look around a bit?" Ash suggested, "To see if we can find out what the problem is?"
Laying their back packs down the rest of the group agreed. There was definitely something wrong in this area of the woods – and they were going to find out what it was. Leaving Brock to guard their things, the rest of them split up into pairs – Misty with Ash (thanks to Melody, who gave her a secretive wink and dragged Tracey off in the opposite direction) and Melody and Tracey. Ash had immediately headed off, leaving Misty behind to catch up.
"Ash! Wait up!" She called, making her way through the dense foliage around her. When he showed no sigh on waiting she growled silently. Ugh...sometime's I'd just like to strangle that boy! "Ash!" She called again when she realized that she had totally lost sight of him and Pikachu.
"Over here!" Came a voice from her left, so she followed in that direction. After walking a short distance she came upon a clearing that led up to a tall cliff – one that Ash was standing close to at the moment and staring down. Pikachu, who was sitting on top of Ash's hat, was also looking down from the high cliff.
"Ash? What are you doing?" Misty asked, highly aware of how close Ash was to the edge. Ash signaled for her to be quiet and for her to come closer, in which she did. "What's going on?"
"Look down there."
Looking down, Misty was first aware of the height. But then she too saw the familiar colors of red, black and white. "It's Team Rocket! But what are they doing here?"
Ash stared down at them. There was a total of four Rockets – two dressed in black with familiar features, and two dressed in white that he had never seen before. Around them lay all sorts of machines and large cages, one filled with a very large Fearow. What's going on? What're they doing..?
"I don't know Misty...I don't know."
To Be Continued...
