Freedom of the Phoenix - Part 3

Ash watched the flames approach him. He put his arms up infront of his face and shut his eyes, ready to be burnt.

But nothing happened. He didn't feel anything so he opened his eyes.

Flames were all around him, as if he was in the centre of the flamethrower. He put his arms down and looked at his hands. There seemed to be a barrier around him, and the flames couldn't get through. He didn't move, afraid that if he did, the barrier would disappear.

The flames began to die down as Ho-oh stopped the attack. It glidded down and landed, its wings folded to its side.

The flames disappeared and Ash stood, unharmed, breathing deeply.

"A-Ash?" Misty stood shocked behind him. "Your ok!" She ran up to him.

Ash turned around as Misty pinned his arms to his side as she hugged him. "Uh...Misty?"

Misty jumped back. "Uh...sorry..." She turned away so that they wouldn't see her blushing.

Ash sighed, still slightly shaken from the attack.

Brock was grinning over at Misty. He suddenly noticed Ho-oh was still there. He pointed at it and looked at Ash, "What is that thing?"

Ash looked over at Ho-oh, then back at Brock. "Thats Ho-oh" He walked over to Ho-oh.

"Stay away, it could be dangerous" Brock said.

Ho-oh bent down so that it was close to eye contact.

Ash reached his hand out and patted Ho-oh's beak.

Brock and Misty stood frozen, as Ho-oh closed it's eyes contently.

"Your friends with that thing!?" Misty asked.

Ash looked back at her. "You can't be to angry at Ho-oh"

"Oh no...it just tried to burn us to cynders!" Misty yelled.

"Hey, it was worried" Ash answered. "It thought you were coming to capture it or something"

"And how would you know?" Misty crossed her arms.

"It told me" He patted Ho-oh again.

Ho-oh glared at Misty and raised its head. "Can we trust them?

Misty and Brock looked furiously around to see were the voice had come from.

"Ya Ho-oh. They've been my friends for a long time, I think we can trust them" Ash smiled and looked at the others.

Misty and Brock both looked from Ash to Ho-oh.

Ash grinned then turned back to Ho-oh. "We better get back in, its safer inside"

Ho-oh nodded and turned. It walked slowly back into the cave.

"You coming?" Ash asked the others as he started to walk into cave after Ho-oh. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder.

Brock and Misty hesitated for a moment, then followed. They walked up beside Ash.

"So how did you not get hurt by the flames?" Brock asked.

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Well, I dunno really. Maybe it's coz I've got some of Ho-oh's power inside me" He said as the entered the large part of the cave. Ho-oh was already sitting with it's wings folded in the middle.

"Come again, what about you and Ho-oh's power?" Misty asked.

"I think you have some explaining to do" Ho-oh lay its head down and closed its eyes.

Ash sighed and sat down. "Ok, here goes. You see......"

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Entei and Raicou raced across a large field. Behind them, two Captureballs followed.

Giovanni watched the Pokemon from inside the plane.

A Rocket entered, "Sir, we have news on the capture of the Legandary Pokémon Mew"

Giovanni looked at the Rocket, "Yes?"

"We found it flying around Mount. Kayna. The Captureball had some dificuties but it did succeed in the end. The Rockets that went after it have returned to HQ with it" The Rocket glanced out the window to see Entie and Raicou get hit by the Captureballs.

Giovanni nodded and saw the same thing. "No there is only one left to get....Ho-oh"

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Ash had just finished explaining about the Pokémon Master and Ho-oh's powers.

"Well, thats...interesting" Brock said.

"But why did the Pokémon Master pick you?" Misty asked.

"Hey ya" He turned and looked at Ho-oh. "Ho-oh, why did the Pokémon Master pick me?"

Ho-oh opened his eyes a little, "He knew you, and he trusted you"

"He did? How did he know me?" Ash asked.

"Well..... Ho-oh was cut off as an explosion was heard from outside.

"What the?" Ash jumped up and headed towards the exit. He looked outside and saw a hover plane with a big red "R" on it. He knew it was Team Rocket. "Uh, Ho-oh?" He called back, "We got company"

Ho-oh growled and spread its wings again, ready to take off.

Ash noticed a small, black ball come out of a door beside the plane. He hovered for a while, giving him some time to see what it was. It was a black Pokéball, with the letter "C" on it. They were after Ho-oh!

The Captureball shot forward towards to cave. Ash didn't have time to think, he jumped to the side and grabbed it with both hands. He fell to the ground and landed of his stomach. "Oh no you don't, you stay away from Ho-oh" He could feel the Captureball trying to get to Ho-oh, but he wouldn't let go.

Ho-oh noticed there was something wrong, so it folded it's wings again. It was safer to stay there.

Ash heard the door of the plane open and footsteps. He looked behind him and saw a Rocket member walking towards him. It was Cassidy.

Cassidy walked up beside him. "Well if it isn't the little trainer that ruined all our plans before. Well its not going to happen this time. Drop the Captureball kid"

Ash narrowed his eyes and glared up at her, but he didn't say anything.

Cassidy shrugged. "Have it your way" She swung her leg forward.

Ash gasped and coughed as he felt Cassidy's foot connect with his side. He kept a hold on the Captureball. Cassidy kicked again, this time he was hit in the face.

"Haven't had enough? How about a little more then?" Cassidy kicked Ash again.

Ash coughed again but wouldn't let go. He pushed himself onto his hands and knees, keeping the Captureball pinned to the ground under him hand. He felt a sharpe pain as Cassidy kicked him in the stomach. His hand raised off the ground slightly and the Captureball shot forward. He fell to the ground coughing and breathing hard.

The Captureball slammed into Ho-oh's right wing and Ho-oh let out a cry before it was sucked in. The captureball shot out of the cave again. Cassidy grabbed it and grinned. "Thanks for the Ho-oh little boy" She turned and headed towards the plane.

Misty and Brock ran out after the Captureball but stopped when they saw Ash. They ran over and knelt beside him.

"Ash are you ok?" Brock shook him.

Ash groaned and pushed himself up. He was still breathing heavily an he had a black eye. "They've got Ho-oh, stop them" He coughed.

Cassidy walked up to Giovanni. "The Ho-oh Sir" She held out the Captureball proudly.

Giovanni didn't reply. He was looking at the same kind of gadget that the Rocket had used in the Ruins of Alph. There was a red dot labled Rocket Giovanni, and an orange dot labled Ho-oh. "If thats Ho-oh, they why do I still have a reading?" He looked out the window and saw Ash. "I don't believe it"

"Sir?" Cassidy stood behind him.

"Get that boy alive, dont ask questions" Giovanni replied.

Cassidy was confused, but she nodded and left the room. She walked into another room. "Butch, Jessie, James, Meowth lets go"

Jessie stood up, "What is it?"

"The boss wants us to capture that twerp, I don't know why, but lets go" She motioned to them and they all followed.

Misty and Brock had helped Ash onto his feet, but he was still a little weak and wasn't standing up straight. They faced the plane.

"They've got Ho-oh, why are they still here?" Brock asked.

Suddenly, the Team Rocket motto started, but it was a little different.

Prepar for trouble,
Make that quadrople,
To infect the world with devistation,
To unite all peoples within our nation,
To denounce the goodness of truth and love,
To extend our wrath to the stars above,
Jessie,
Cassidy,
James,
Butch
Team Rocket circling earth and day and night,
Surrender now or prepar to fight
Meowth that right!

The five Team Rocket members stood in a line. Arbok, Wobuffet, Weezing, Vistribell, Houndoom, Raticate, Drowzee, Hitmontop, Raichu and Golem stood infrount of them.

"If you think your going to get Pikachu think again" Ash said, his voice a little hoarse.

Jessie laughed. "For once were not after your Pikachu......we're here for you"

"Huh?" Ash straightened up.

"Come with us and no one gets hurt" Cassidy said. Houndoom growled at Misty and Brock.

"Oh ya?" Misty took out a Pokéball, but Ash put his hand infront of her and shook his head.

"No Misty, their Pokémon are to strong" He told he. He turned and faced them. "I'll go, as long as you don't hurt my friends"

"Ash are you crazy?!" Misty yelled.

"You can't go with them!" Brock argued.

"Pika Pikapi!" [Yeah Ash!]

Ash looked back at them, "But if it'll keepyou guys safe I'll go"

"But what if they, you know, get rid of you?" Misty asked worriedly.

Ash smiled. "I'll be alright, don't worry"

"Come on, come on, time is money" James said.

Ash frowned and began to walk over to them.

"Leave the Pokéballs" Butch said.

Ash took his Pokéballs from his belt and handed them to Misty and Brock. He smiled weakly and turned to go.

"Pikapi!" [Ash!] Pikachu ran forward and grabbed onto his leg.

"Pikachu, no" Ash pushed Pikachu away. "You have to stay with Brock and Misty" He bent down to pat Pikachu on the head but James grabbed him by the arm and pulled him off.

Ash was pushed onboard the plane and he felt it start to turn. He looked out the window and saw Misty, Brock and Pikachu before the plane shot off at high speed.

Butch pulled him away from the window and brought him along the hall. He walked into a room and threw him to the ground. He turned and left, locking the door behind him.

Ash sat up and looked around. The room was completely empty, with one little window at the side. He walked over to the window and looked out. He could see Phoenix Mountain getting smaller as the plane flew away. He turned and leaned against the wall. He slid down the wall until he was sitting on the ground.

He was suddenly starting to feel scared. What were they going to do too him? Wordt thing they could do would be to kill him. That seemed possible. He had ruined alot of their plans. He pulled his knees up to his chest and put his head down. He was all alone now.

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To Be Continued

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Aww, poor Ash. Whacha think of the story so far? I like it ^_^. And Im having fun writing it too. Please review. Well, see ya next time,
Bay Bay!
Bayleef
adorable_chickorita@hotmail.com