Disclaimer-I don't own Pokemon

Capture

"God, I'm spent." Misty plopped down on a rock, holding Togepi with one arm while her backpack strap slipped down the other. "Exactly how long have we been walking, Brock?"

"Exactly 9 hours, 46 minutes, and 27 seconds," was the prompt reply.

"Oh, God."

"We walked for longer than that, you shouldn't be tired," Ash said, giving Misty a questioning look. "What's wrong?"

"It never fails. Whenever something bad is happening, my legs feel heavy and I get tired. I checked for the time to reassure myself."

"You never get tired from a Team Rocket attack," Brock said. "So it can't be them."

"No, I mean seriously bad," Misty said. "Life-threatening bad. Like in the Orange Islands, or at Molly's"

"Thank you for that," Ash said sarcastically. "Now I'm feeling creepy."

"Maybe we should keep going," Brock said worriedly. "There's a Pokemon Center up ahead."

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," Misty said, standing up from the rock. "Let's go."

The three ran off towards the Center.

"Mime, mime, mime, mime," Mr. Mime chanted, sweeping rthymically.

"How are you doing there, Mimey?" Delia asked, stepping out onto the doorstep, holding a mop.

"Mr. Mime!" was the reply.

"That's good. Keep it up, Mimey."

Suddenly, something black and shiny whizzed past Delia's head, landing on the floor with a thump. She turned to see what it was.

Her house lit up in a fiery column of red, orange, and yellow flames, and a cold, cutting rush of air throwing her back off her feet. She slammed into her white fence, luckily not breaking it. Shards of crystal glass flew around her, cutting into her face and arms. Small streams of blood poured out of her cuts.

"Mr. Mime! Mr. Mime!" Mr. Mime ran over to Delia and shook her.

"I'm…okay. I'm okay, Mr. Mime," Delia said, wiping dust from her face. "But…but who…"

"Hello, Delia," a voice said.

"Oh, God, please, no…" Delia whispered. "Giovanni."

Giovanni walked out of the dust and stood before her, grinning.

"Hello, Delia. We meet again. Have you been taking good care of my son Damon for me?"

"You…you sadistic son of a Bleep."

"I'd watch who you're calling names." Giovanni bent over and picked Delia up by the shirt collar. He lifted her into the air, her feet inches from the ground. "I've got no time for small talk. Tell me where Damon is."

Delia squeezed her eyes shut, her breathing forced and short. She remembered Evelyn. "I can't keep him in his father's house! There's no telling how long he'd survive there!"

"Ash is not your son," Delia whispered hoarsely.

"I don't have time for your nonsense, woman. Tell me where he is."

They were starting to draw a crowd. Pallet Town was emptying out to see the spectacle of Giovanni and Delia.

"I…I promised Evelyn that I would be his mother. He is not your son. Any tie you had to him has been severed when you murdered your wife." She smirked, something unlike her. "Anyway, I have no idea where he is. He is on his journey."

"Pheh." Giovanni swung his arm and threw her to the ground. Delia cried out in pain as her arm connected to the ground, and Mr. Mime rushed over to help her.

Giovanni closed his eyes, smirked, and snapped his fingers.

Guns cocked up and down the street as Team Rocket agents, led by Cassidy, Butch, and Dominic, stepped out of hiding.

"Hands in the air," Cassidy said, aiming her gun. Quickly, every resident of Pallet Town had their hands raised.

"Cassidy, Butch," Giovanni said. "Kindly escort the Widow Ketchum to TRHQ."

As Cassidy and Butch rushed over to Delia and lifted her up roughly, Giovanni gave orders. "Dominic, see that no one leaves this town. Kill if you have to."

"Sir, yes, sir!" Dominic crowed.

Giovanni took out his cellular phone. "Jessie, James, Meowth. The time is right. Find him."

"…Fear sizes the day as several Team Rocket operatives have appeared from nowhere and taken every resident of Pallet Town hostage…"

Ash, Misty, and Brock stood watching the news in the lobby of the Pokemon Center, struck speechless.

"Oh, God…Mom…" Ash whispered.

"I knew it…they must've attacked just before we got here," Misty said.

Brock was even shocked enough not to flirt with Nurse Joy.

"All, right, hands in the air!"

Jessie, James, and Meowth had burst through the door.

"You!" Ash yelled. "What is Giovanni doing with my mom?"

"All in good time, twerp, all in good time," Jessie said. "We need you to come with us."

Pikachu leaped into Ash's arms. "If you're trying to steal my Pikachu, I swear to God…"

James laughed. "Oh, this is far bigger than your electric rodent. Now, let's go."

"Never."

An evil glint flashed through Jessie's eyes. "Well then, we'll just have to force you."

Nurse Joy screamed as Jessie aimed her pistol towards the ceiling and fired. A hole blew clear through the roof.

"Let's go, twerps. Unless you want something bad to happen to your mommy."

The trio stood motionless, then slowly began to walk.

"Those are good children," Jessie said.

Suddenly, an image passed through her brain. A terrified 21-year-old woman, holding a 3-year-old. "Just remember, I never came through here, okay?"

"Jessie?" James asked. "The twerps are loaded in the van. Ready?"

Jessie closed her eyes and drove the image away. "Yes, I'm ready. Let's go."

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