Return
and Choice
Part 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, any of the characters, or anything of the sort. This is nothing but a fanfic and not official in the least bit. You know the rest.
A week had passed since Misty had been snatched by Butch and Cassidy. Brock, May and Masato were sitting in their Pokemon Center room, while Ash stared out of the window, the bright blue skies, green grass and gentle breeze meaning nothing to him. He turned around to see Pikachu watching Togepi, who seemed to have lost its usual happiness and was sitting on Brock's lap, not making a sound. Ash turned back to look out of the window and sighed. "A week..."
He squeezed a crumpled letter in his hand, it was a note from Team Rocket saying that if he wanted Misty back, he would need to hand over Pikachu. He could never do that, but he could also never let them keep Misty and even hurt her. They had also contacted Ash by telephone. Officer Jenny had managed to trace the call, but it turned out to have been made from a public phonebooth. There was more though. Earlier that morning, Officer Jenny had taken Ash aside and told him that the police had located what they believed to be the hideout of the Team Rocket boss, Giovanni. She felt that Misty may be there with him, but did not want to make a move because Misty could be used for a safe trip out or even harmed or killed if they were to storm the building. He knew it was an impulsive decision, but he didn't have much of a choice. He placed the letter in his pocket and clenched his fists.
Before sunrise the next morning, he woke Pikachu up, pulled on his jacket and headed out of the door. He had the distinct impression someone was watching him and turned around, but the others seemed to be sound asleep. It had to be his imagination. He opened the door, exited, and slowly closed it with a soft click of the lock. Finding his way to the lobby, he looked around and then left the Pokemon Center, Pikachu running alongside him. "Come on Pikachu, we have to get to Misty!"
As Ash walked briskly through the chilly early morning streets, Pikachu in his arms, memories kept flowing through his head. He remembered being pulled out of the river by a redheaded girl and taking her bike to rush Pikachu to the Pokemon Center, unknowing that this single event would get him the best friend he could have ever asked for. He could remember everything that had happened between them, right from their first, rather unusual meeting, to all the adventures they had shared together and how she had always been there for him. But most of all, how happy it made him to be around her. As exciting as his adventures through Houen had been so far, it wasn't the same without Misty at his side. The day they parted was probably the saddest day in his life, and to have her finally come back and be taken away like this hurt more than anything else.
He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even realize at first that he was where Officer Jenny had suspected Team Rocket to be hiding out at. The stores in town were opening up by the time Ash got there, and he wondered vaguely what the others were thinking when they woke up and found him gone. However, he shrugged it off. He couldn't do this with them all present. He stood outside a four storey building with a general store on the ground floor, pulled his cap down lower and walked in, looking around while Pikachu jumped down and walked alongside him. He could see a door at the back end of the store that judging from the layout of the store, probably led upstairs. There was a security camera on the opposite wall that turned and a cashier behind the counter. He would need to go in when the camera was turned the other way and the cashier wasn't looking his way.
This of course was easier said than done, so Ash busied himself by picking up a can of Butterfree feed and reading the label, watching the camera and cashier out of the corner of his eye. After about two minutes of waiting, with the camera turned towards the entrance and the cashier browsing through a newspaper, Ash slipped through the doorway, Pikachu close behind.
"Hey who're you??" came a surprised voice, which made Ash jump out of his skin. He whipped around to find himself facing a a man dressed in all black with a red "R" on his shirt standing at the foot of a flight of stairs.
"Pika!" exclaimed Pikachu, fur bristling and preparing to Thundershock.
"Pokeba..." The man started saying, drawing a Pokeball from his belt.
A resounding thud followed as Ash, who was still holding the can from outside, brought the can down on the Rocket's head, denting the can and knocking the man unconcious. He slumped back against the guardrail and nervously glancing upstairs, Ash pulled the unconcious Team Rocket member out of view and looked around the room.
"What's going on down there?" A voice echoed down the stairs.
Ash froze. "N-Nothing! False alarm!" he called back up in a feigned heavy voice.
"Alright."
Ash shoved the unconcious Rocket under the staircase and made sure he was hidden in the shadows, then caught his breath. He would need to be more careful. "I'm coming Misty, just hold on," he thought to himself. Edging out of the shadows, Ash looked up, then started up the stairs. He stopped just before his head would become visible and Pikachu ran ahead to look into the room With a nod from Pikachu, Ash was satisfied that there was only one Rocket in the room. He ran the rest of the way up the stairs, drawing out a Pokeball, glad that he had contacted Professor Oak. As soon as the Rocket whipped around, Ash had the Pokeball in the air already.
"Bayleaf, go!"
"Magnaton, go!"
"Razor leaf!"
"Thunder!"
"Vinewhip!"
"Magnaton return! Go, Elekid!"
"Bayleaf, Vinewhip again!"
"Dodge and thundershock!"
"Hang in there Bayleaf! Bodyslam it!"
Just then a door flew open on the left.
"Who're you?!"
Ash stepped back, faced by three more Rockets, each holding a Pokeball and each with a firearm on their belt.
"Bayleaf Vinewhip a path through them!"
"Bay! Bay!"
"Go, Sevip...OOF!"
"Bayleaf return!" Ash yelled, running through between the knocked down Rockets. "Pikachu shock them all!"
Pikachu obeyed as he followed Ash through the door, then stopped dead in his tracks, just as Ash had done. "PIKA!"
Facing them were Butch and Cassidy, as well as two other Team Rocket members. However, behind them at a large oak desk, was Giovanni - and tied up on a chair next to him, Misty!
"MISTY!" Ash cried. She looked like she had been treated fairly well, at least as far as things like food were concerned. She still wore the clothes she had been snatched in, although they now seemed to be in need of a washing, and her hair looked somewhat unkept. Her eyes seemed to have lit up at seeing Ash, and were filling with tears that spilled slowly down her cheeks.
"Ash..." she whispered.
Ash temporarily forgot where he was and made a few quick steps towards her, but Butch held out an arm, blocking his path.
"Not so fast kid." he said in his hoarse voice.
Giovanni stood up and strolled around his desk, leaning on it with his arms crossed and surveying Ash.
"Ashton Ketchum, of Pallet Town...so this is the child who has ruined so many of my plans..."
Ash looked on with narrowed eyes. "Why do you want Pikachu so badly? And why did you bring Misty into this?"
"Well, I couldn't get your Pikachu any other way, so I had to get you here instead. I have done my research, I know who you care most about. Caring is a weakness, don't you know that?"
Pikachu stepped forward, cheeks sparking.
Giovanni let his hand rest on a revolver on his desk. "Call your Pikachu off, I have no problem killing anyone in this room."
"Pikachu, stop."
"Pika..."
Ash looked over at Misty, whose gleeful smile had disappeared and been replaced by a sad, defeated look.
"Your Pikachu is quite extraordinary, Ketchum. I said I did my research on you, and the reason I want your Pikachu is for research. I want to find out what makes it so powerful. How can a mere Pikachu perform what yours does? I want to find out what makes it so special, and use it to enhance my own Pokemon. Then, I can sell the enchancer to the public. It's all business, Ketchum. Pure business."
"Well I don't want any part of it!"
"Oh but I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter."
"Yes I do!" Ash cried, pulling out a Pokeball.
"ASH NO!" yelled Misty.
"BUTCH! CASSIDY!" Giovanni shouted.
"I choose you, Dustox!" Cassidy exclaimed.
"Loudred, go!" came Butch's voice.
"Go Treeko!" Ash said, throwing the Pokeball into the air.
"Dustox, Whirlwind attack!"
"Loudred, Stomp!"
"Treeko, Agility and then Mega Drain! Pikachu!"
Treeko dodged the Whirlwind with Agility and then performed Mega Drain on Dustox, but Loudred's Stomp attack hit Treeko dead on. Pikachu ran past, heading for Misty as Giovanni's lip curled his eyes fixed on the battle. Finally reaching Misty, Pikachu quickly bit into the ropes binding Misty and set her free.
"Hang in there Treeko!" Ash called, as Loudred performed a Screech attack. Meanwhile, Dustox was only now starting to recover from the Mega Drain.
Standing up, with Pikachu jumping from her lap onto her shoulder, she threw her arm out. "Pikachu! Thundershock!"
"WHAT?!" Giovanni exclaimed, turning around, surprised to see Misty freed.
"Misty!" Ash exclaimed, grinning as he remembered that next to him, the only other person Pikachu would obey was Misty.
Pikachu leapt off Misty's shoulders and unleashed a Thundershock attack on Loudred.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" shouted Giovanni. "I've had enough games! Go, BLAZIKEN!"
Ash and Misty both froze, staring at Blaziken. After Ash battled Harrison, they both knew what Blaziken was capable of, and Ash didn't have Charizard.
"Blaziken, Blaze Kick!"
"Pikachu!" Ash cried, as Pikachu was sent flying into his arms. Misty ran over to him. "Is Pikachu okay?"
As nodded as Pikachu opened its eyes. "Treeko! Crush Claw!"
"Blaziken, Sky Uppercut!"
"Treeko!"
"Hand over the Pikachu!" Cassidy yelled. It seemed her Dustox was fully recovered from the Mega Drain now. "Dustox, Psybeam!"
"ASH GET DOWN!" Misty yelled, jumping on him and sending them both to the ground, just as the Psybeam passed where they had been standing moments before.
"Thanks Misty,"
"In here!" came a familiar female voice. "Deoxys, Hyper Beam!"
The Hyper Beam sent Dustox flying into the recovering Loudred, knocking them both out. As the glare from the Hyper Beam subsided, Officer Jenny could be seen in the doorway, with five officers behind her, and - Brock, May and Masato.
"Ash! Misty!" Brock cried.
"Hey you guys!" Ash called back.
"EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Officer Jenny suddenly cried, leaping out of sight behind the doorframe with Deoxys and two of the officers. The other three officers grabbed Brock, May and Masato and dived on the other side of the doorway. As Ash looked around, he could see Giovanni, Butch, Cassidy and the two unnamed Rocket Members who had been simply watching until now, drawing out their guns.
"MISTY" he yelled, holding tightly onto Pikachu with one arm and grabbing Misty by the wrist with his free hand. "MOVE!" He got up and sprinted to a desk against a nearby wall, Misty in tow, and jumped over it. Treeko was lying unconcious on the other side, where it had landed after Blaziken's attack, and Ash quickly looked at it. He didn't have time to do anything though, as the room was quickly filled with the sound of exchanging gunfire. Ducking down low, he recalled Treeko into its Pokeball and held onto Pikachu tightly. Misty was huddled close against him, her head bowed low.
"Johnson!" Officer Jenny called out, as a cry of pain echoed through the room.
"I'm on it Officer Jenny!" came Brock's voice. "Just hold steady...don't move..."
Ash thought for a second about trying to see what had just happened, but a bullet ricocheted off the top of the desk and he ducked back down.
Another cry of pain sounded through the room and there was a thud. From their position behind the desk, Ash, Misty and Piakchu could see one of the unidentified Rockets lying on the floor, clutching his side with some blood on the wooden flooring. At the sight of the blood, Misty threw herself onto Ash, burying her face into his shirt. Ash slipped an arm around her and held her close, just about as scared as she was.
The shooting continued for another minute, until Giovanni's voice could be heard again. "Blaziken, Blaze Kick!"
"Stop him!" Officer Jenny yelled, as the sound of splintering wood and shattering glass filled the room.
"They're getting away!"
"Wait for us!"
"It's too late, they're gone."
After about a minute of silence, Brock, May and Masato appeared around the desk. "You guys okay?" Brock asked. May seemed to be wearing a mixture between a frown and a smirk on her face, but held a hand out to help Misty up, as Brock pulled Ash to his feet.
"Yeah," they both replied at the same time, then looked at each other and smiled.
"You look okay Misty, but I still want you to get checked out by a doctor, alright?"
"Okay," sighed Misty.
A medic team was soon on the scene, taking the injured police officer and Rocket to the hospital, as other officers looked around the now nearly demolished room, one looking through Giovanni's desk. One of the doctors came over and looked Misty over while she petted Pikachu. Ash told the others what happened as quickly as he could, then went to Misty's side as the doctor scribbled something on a notepad, gave them a satisfied nod and left.
"Hey Misty," Ash said.
"Yeah?"
"I... I just wanted you to know... I... well, you really had me worried back there Mist,"
"That's... that's really sweet, Ash,"
A few days later, after resting for a while and giving statements to the Police, the gang was on the road again. They looked back at the town in the morning sunlight and Misty smiled to herself. "It's a really pretty town, but I'd rather not go back there again,"
"I know what you mean," Ash added.
"I never got to check out the bookstore for breeding books," said Brock. "But it doens't matter, I'll get them at the next town."
"Yeah, and I didn't get to look at the new Berrydex..." Masato mumbled.
"Nerd." teased May.
"Shut up."
Misty started laughing at this, and soon all the others joined in, until Pikachu tugged at the leg of Ash's jeans.
"Pika! Pikachu!" he said, pointing at the tall grass by the path, which were rustling. Ash leaned in closer to check it out with his Pokedex.
"What's that?" asked Misty, going over as well and peering over Ash's shoulder.
"Tropius," said the Pokedex, as a large brown and green head poked out of the grass stalks. "This Pokemon..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd just like to take this opportunity to say thanks for all the reviews! For the person who asked of this was based on events in the anime: Yes, it is based loosely on the events from the finale of the Master Quest episodes. I know that recent events in Japan have gone against the scenario I created in this fic, but that's what makes this a fic, right? Hope you all enjoyed it!
Part 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, any of the characters, or anything of the sort. This is nothing but a fanfic and not official in the least bit. You know the rest.
A week had passed since Misty had been snatched by Butch and Cassidy. Brock, May and Masato were sitting in their Pokemon Center room, while Ash stared out of the window, the bright blue skies, green grass and gentle breeze meaning nothing to him. He turned around to see Pikachu watching Togepi, who seemed to have lost its usual happiness and was sitting on Brock's lap, not making a sound. Ash turned back to look out of the window and sighed. "A week..."
He squeezed a crumpled letter in his hand, it was a note from Team Rocket saying that if he wanted Misty back, he would need to hand over Pikachu. He could never do that, but he could also never let them keep Misty and even hurt her. They had also contacted Ash by telephone. Officer Jenny had managed to trace the call, but it turned out to have been made from a public phonebooth. There was more though. Earlier that morning, Officer Jenny had taken Ash aside and told him that the police had located what they believed to be the hideout of the Team Rocket boss, Giovanni. She felt that Misty may be there with him, but did not want to make a move because Misty could be used for a safe trip out or even harmed or killed if they were to storm the building. He knew it was an impulsive decision, but he didn't have much of a choice. He placed the letter in his pocket and clenched his fists.
Before sunrise the next morning, he woke Pikachu up, pulled on his jacket and headed out of the door. He had the distinct impression someone was watching him and turned around, but the others seemed to be sound asleep. It had to be his imagination. He opened the door, exited, and slowly closed it with a soft click of the lock. Finding his way to the lobby, he looked around and then left the Pokemon Center, Pikachu running alongside him. "Come on Pikachu, we have to get to Misty!"
As Ash walked briskly through the chilly early morning streets, Pikachu in his arms, memories kept flowing through his head. He remembered being pulled out of the river by a redheaded girl and taking her bike to rush Pikachu to the Pokemon Center, unknowing that this single event would get him the best friend he could have ever asked for. He could remember everything that had happened between them, right from their first, rather unusual meeting, to all the adventures they had shared together and how she had always been there for him. But most of all, how happy it made him to be around her. As exciting as his adventures through Houen had been so far, it wasn't the same without Misty at his side. The day they parted was probably the saddest day in his life, and to have her finally come back and be taken away like this hurt more than anything else.
He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even realize at first that he was where Officer Jenny had suspected Team Rocket to be hiding out at. The stores in town were opening up by the time Ash got there, and he wondered vaguely what the others were thinking when they woke up and found him gone. However, he shrugged it off. He couldn't do this with them all present. He stood outside a four storey building with a general store on the ground floor, pulled his cap down lower and walked in, looking around while Pikachu jumped down and walked alongside him. He could see a door at the back end of the store that judging from the layout of the store, probably led upstairs. There was a security camera on the opposite wall that turned and a cashier behind the counter. He would need to go in when the camera was turned the other way and the cashier wasn't looking his way.
This of course was easier said than done, so Ash busied himself by picking up a can of Butterfree feed and reading the label, watching the camera and cashier out of the corner of his eye. After about two minutes of waiting, with the camera turned towards the entrance and the cashier browsing through a newspaper, Ash slipped through the doorway, Pikachu close behind.
"Hey who're you??" came a surprised voice, which made Ash jump out of his skin. He whipped around to find himself facing a a man dressed in all black with a red "R" on his shirt standing at the foot of a flight of stairs.
"Pika!" exclaimed Pikachu, fur bristling and preparing to Thundershock.
"Pokeba..." The man started saying, drawing a Pokeball from his belt.
A resounding thud followed as Ash, who was still holding the can from outside, brought the can down on the Rocket's head, denting the can and knocking the man unconcious. He slumped back against the guardrail and nervously glancing upstairs, Ash pulled the unconcious Team Rocket member out of view and looked around the room.
"What's going on down there?" A voice echoed down the stairs.
Ash froze. "N-Nothing! False alarm!" he called back up in a feigned heavy voice.
"Alright."
Ash shoved the unconcious Rocket under the staircase and made sure he was hidden in the shadows, then caught his breath. He would need to be more careful. "I'm coming Misty, just hold on," he thought to himself. Edging out of the shadows, Ash looked up, then started up the stairs. He stopped just before his head would become visible and Pikachu ran ahead to look into the room With a nod from Pikachu, Ash was satisfied that there was only one Rocket in the room. He ran the rest of the way up the stairs, drawing out a Pokeball, glad that he had contacted Professor Oak. As soon as the Rocket whipped around, Ash had the Pokeball in the air already.
"Bayleaf, go!"
"Magnaton, go!"
"Razor leaf!"
"Thunder!"
"Vinewhip!"
"Magnaton return! Go, Elekid!"
"Bayleaf, Vinewhip again!"
"Dodge and thundershock!"
"Hang in there Bayleaf! Bodyslam it!"
Just then a door flew open on the left.
"Who're you?!"
Ash stepped back, faced by three more Rockets, each holding a Pokeball and each with a firearm on their belt.
"Bayleaf Vinewhip a path through them!"
"Bay! Bay!"
"Go, Sevip...OOF!"
"Bayleaf return!" Ash yelled, running through between the knocked down Rockets. "Pikachu shock them all!"
Pikachu obeyed as he followed Ash through the door, then stopped dead in his tracks, just as Ash had done. "PIKA!"
Facing them were Butch and Cassidy, as well as two other Team Rocket members. However, behind them at a large oak desk, was Giovanni - and tied up on a chair next to him, Misty!
"MISTY!" Ash cried. She looked like she had been treated fairly well, at least as far as things like food were concerned. She still wore the clothes she had been snatched in, although they now seemed to be in need of a washing, and her hair looked somewhat unkept. Her eyes seemed to have lit up at seeing Ash, and were filling with tears that spilled slowly down her cheeks.
"Ash..." she whispered.
Ash temporarily forgot where he was and made a few quick steps towards her, but Butch held out an arm, blocking his path.
"Not so fast kid." he said in his hoarse voice.
Giovanni stood up and strolled around his desk, leaning on it with his arms crossed and surveying Ash.
"Ashton Ketchum, of Pallet Town...so this is the child who has ruined so many of my plans..."
Ash looked on with narrowed eyes. "Why do you want Pikachu so badly? And why did you bring Misty into this?"
"Well, I couldn't get your Pikachu any other way, so I had to get you here instead. I have done my research, I know who you care most about. Caring is a weakness, don't you know that?"
Pikachu stepped forward, cheeks sparking.
Giovanni let his hand rest on a revolver on his desk. "Call your Pikachu off, I have no problem killing anyone in this room."
"Pikachu, stop."
"Pika..."
Ash looked over at Misty, whose gleeful smile had disappeared and been replaced by a sad, defeated look.
"Your Pikachu is quite extraordinary, Ketchum. I said I did my research on you, and the reason I want your Pikachu is for research. I want to find out what makes it so powerful. How can a mere Pikachu perform what yours does? I want to find out what makes it so special, and use it to enhance my own Pokemon. Then, I can sell the enchancer to the public. It's all business, Ketchum. Pure business."
"Well I don't want any part of it!"
"Oh but I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter."
"Yes I do!" Ash cried, pulling out a Pokeball.
"ASH NO!" yelled Misty.
"BUTCH! CASSIDY!" Giovanni shouted.
"I choose you, Dustox!" Cassidy exclaimed.
"Loudred, go!" came Butch's voice.
"Go Treeko!" Ash said, throwing the Pokeball into the air.
"Dustox, Whirlwind attack!"
"Loudred, Stomp!"
"Treeko, Agility and then Mega Drain! Pikachu!"
Treeko dodged the Whirlwind with Agility and then performed Mega Drain on Dustox, but Loudred's Stomp attack hit Treeko dead on. Pikachu ran past, heading for Misty as Giovanni's lip curled his eyes fixed on the battle. Finally reaching Misty, Pikachu quickly bit into the ropes binding Misty and set her free.
"Hang in there Treeko!" Ash called, as Loudred performed a Screech attack. Meanwhile, Dustox was only now starting to recover from the Mega Drain.
Standing up, with Pikachu jumping from her lap onto her shoulder, she threw her arm out. "Pikachu! Thundershock!"
"WHAT?!" Giovanni exclaimed, turning around, surprised to see Misty freed.
"Misty!" Ash exclaimed, grinning as he remembered that next to him, the only other person Pikachu would obey was Misty.
Pikachu leapt off Misty's shoulders and unleashed a Thundershock attack on Loudred.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" shouted Giovanni. "I've had enough games! Go, BLAZIKEN!"
Ash and Misty both froze, staring at Blaziken. After Ash battled Harrison, they both knew what Blaziken was capable of, and Ash didn't have Charizard.
"Blaziken, Blaze Kick!"
"Pikachu!" Ash cried, as Pikachu was sent flying into his arms. Misty ran over to him. "Is Pikachu okay?"
As nodded as Pikachu opened its eyes. "Treeko! Crush Claw!"
"Blaziken, Sky Uppercut!"
"Treeko!"
"Hand over the Pikachu!" Cassidy yelled. It seemed her Dustox was fully recovered from the Mega Drain now. "Dustox, Psybeam!"
"ASH GET DOWN!" Misty yelled, jumping on him and sending them both to the ground, just as the Psybeam passed where they had been standing moments before.
"Thanks Misty,"
"In here!" came a familiar female voice. "Deoxys, Hyper Beam!"
The Hyper Beam sent Dustox flying into the recovering Loudred, knocking them both out. As the glare from the Hyper Beam subsided, Officer Jenny could be seen in the doorway, with five officers behind her, and - Brock, May and Masato.
"Ash! Misty!" Brock cried.
"Hey you guys!" Ash called back.
"EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Officer Jenny suddenly cried, leaping out of sight behind the doorframe with Deoxys and two of the officers. The other three officers grabbed Brock, May and Masato and dived on the other side of the doorway. As Ash looked around, he could see Giovanni, Butch, Cassidy and the two unnamed Rocket Members who had been simply watching until now, drawing out their guns.
"MISTY" he yelled, holding tightly onto Pikachu with one arm and grabbing Misty by the wrist with his free hand. "MOVE!" He got up and sprinted to a desk against a nearby wall, Misty in tow, and jumped over it. Treeko was lying unconcious on the other side, where it had landed after Blaziken's attack, and Ash quickly looked at it. He didn't have time to do anything though, as the room was quickly filled with the sound of exchanging gunfire. Ducking down low, he recalled Treeko into its Pokeball and held onto Pikachu tightly. Misty was huddled close against him, her head bowed low.
"Johnson!" Officer Jenny called out, as a cry of pain echoed through the room.
"I'm on it Officer Jenny!" came Brock's voice. "Just hold steady...don't move..."
Ash thought for a second about trying to see what had just happened, but a bullet ricocheted off the top of the desk and he ducked back down.
Another cry of pain sounded through the room and there was a thud. From their position behind the desk, Ash, Misty and Piakchu could see one of the unidentified Rockets lying on the floor, clutching his side with some blood on the wooden flooring. At the sight of the blood, Misty threw herself onto Ash, burying her face into his shirt. Ash slipped an arm around her and held her close, just about as scared as she was.
The shooting continued for another minute, until Giovanni's voice could be heard again. "Blaziken, Blaze Kick!"
"Stop him!" Officer Jenny yelled, as the sound of splintering wood and shattering glass filled the room.
"They're getting away!"
"Wait for us!"
"It's too late, they're gone."
After about a minute of silence, Brock, May and Masato appeared around the desk. "You guys okay?" Brock asked. May seemed to be wearing a mixture between a frown and a smirk on her face, but held a hand out to help Misty up, as Brock pulled Ash to his feet.
"Yeah," they both replied at the same time, then looked at each other and smiled.
"You look okay Misty, but I still want you to get checked out by a doctor, alright?"
"Okay," sighed Misty.
A medic team was soon on the scene, taking the injured police officer and Rocket to the hospital, as other officers looked around the now nearly demolished room, one looking through Giovanni's desk. One of the doctors came over and looked Misty over while she petted Pikachu. Ash told the others what happened as quickly as he could, then went to Misty's side as the doctor scribbled something on a notepad, gave them a satisfied nod and left.
"Hey Misty," Ash said.
"Yeah?"
"I... I just wanted you to know... I... well, you really had me worried back there Mist,"
"That's... that's really sweet, Ash,"
A few days later, after resting for a while and giving statements to the Police, the gang was on the road again. They looked back at the town in the morning sunlight and Misty smiled to herself. "It's a really pretty town, but I'd rather not go back there again,"
"I know what you mean," Ash added.
"I never got to check out the bookstore for breeding books," said Brock. "But it doens't matter, I'll get them at the next town."
"Yeah, and I didn't get to look at the new Berrydex..." Masato mumbled.
"Nerd." teased May.
"Shut up."
Misty started laughing at this, and soon all the others joined in, until Pikachu tugged at the leg of Ash's jeans.
"Pika! Pikachu!" he said, pointing at the tall grass by the path, which were rustling. Ash leaned in closer to check it out with his Pokedex.
"What's that?" asked Misty, going over as well and peering over Ash's shoulder.
"Tropius," said the Pokedex, as a large brown and green head poked out of the grass stalks. "This Pokemon..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd just like to take this opportunity to say thanks for all the reviews! For the person who asked of this was based on events in the anime: Yes, it is based loosely on the events from the finale of the Master Quest episodes. I know that recent events in Japan have gone against the scenario I created in this fic, but that's what makes this a fic, right? Hope you all enjoyed it!