ALTERNATE REALITY STORY 1 - WHAT LEGENDS ARE MADE OF
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
(c) Copyright 2001 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these lousy fanfiction.
NOTES: This chapter may be a little boring…I'm not sure because I can't remember writing this way back when. Sorrow for the delay, too.
Italic - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
- Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, our heroes were attacked by a clan of Gyarados, after James' Magikarp evolved. With the help of Zapdos, Pikachu evolved into its ultimate form, Redou. Redou saved the day with its amazing electrical powers, but now the group is stranded on an island they hadn't meant to land on."
Misty's voice: "Episode 16: Stranded on the Island of the Giant Pokémon!"
Ash, Misty, Brock, Jesse, and James were sprawled out on the sand, upside down. Ash's hat was off his head a couple dozen yards away with James's boots.
Slowly, Ash's head lifted. Opening his eyes, he coughed up sand. Rubbing his aching head, he stood up and looked around. Suddenly, he remembered what happened.
Ash, suddenly panicked: "PIKACHU!! MISTY!! BROCK!!"
He turned around at a noise. Misty was slowly getting up, eyes closed and viciously coughing up sand. Ash ran to her side and gently laid her down right side up. After a few moments of coughing and deep breathing, she opened unfocused eyes.
Misty, blearily, not able to see anything, it was too bleary: "Ash?…"
Ash, softly: "C'mon Misty, we've gotta wake up the others."
She sat up and shook her head. Then, her eyes finally focused on Ash, then on Brock and Team Rocket nearby. She got up and hugged Ash in relief of being alive. He froze, eyes wide. He wasn't sure what to do. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest. Then, he gently put his arms around her back and hugged back. Then, they disengaged, both with rather rosy cheeks.
Misty, thinking: Why did I do that?!
Misty, shaking sand from her body, making Ash turn away in embarrassment: "How is it that we're…alive?"
Ash, brightly: "I dunno!"
He helped her up, and they went over to Brock. Pretty soon, he was awake. Then, their attention got caught by Team Rocket, who were flying through the air.
A Krabby had come up to Team Rocket-who had been upside-down and submerged in sand-and had gleefully grabbed their legs with its pincers. Team Rocket flew twenty feet into the air, screaming, then landed with a thump. Jesse unfortunately landed on the Krabby, making a hard landing. Jesse and James looked at each other, crosslegged on the sand.
Jesse, looking around: "Could it be?…"
James, also surveying where they were: "Does this mean?…"
They hugged in joyful relief.
Both, with tears of happiness: "We survived again!"
Jesse, arms raised in triumph: "We're the completely invincible…"
James, also arms raised in victory: "…Unbeatable…"
Both, arms pointing at each other proudly: "…Team Rocket!"
They paused for a moment, tears gone.
[I don't know if these anime tears are real or not, but characters cry them a lot. J]
James, peering around for something: "But I don't hear any annoying…"
Jesse, also looking for something: "…Complaining…"
Both: "Meowth is missing!!"
Ash, bitterly: "Shut up, you two. (Showing his belt grimly) All of my Pokémon are gone too. Even Pikachu."
Brock, grabbing Ash's shoulder: "Calm down, Ash. We need to know what happened, where we are, and what we're missing."
They checked their Poké Belts or sacks and gave a miserable report.
Jesse, in panic: "The Ekans I got for Christmas is gone! So is my new Gloom and Grimer!"
James, frantically: "The Koffing I got for my birthday is gone too! So is my new Zubat!"
Brock, solemnly: "Onix, Graveler, Rhyhorn, and two of my Zubats are missing."
Misty, a few tears in her eyes: "So are Staryu, Starmie, Gyarados, Goldeen, Seaking, and Charmander."
Ash, head bowed: "Pikachu, Wartortle, Ivysaur, Charmander, Pidgeotto, and Butterfree are long-gone."
James, howling: "And we're flat broke!!"
A heavy silence fell over the group. Suddenly, Jesse jolted up and bolted quite a few dozen feet. Where she had sat was a Krabby that looked like a car had run over it. It was crunched down into the sand, eyes in Xs. They looked at it, surprised. Jesse suddenly narrowed her eyes.
Jesse, angry: "How dare you get in the way like that, you little scissor-thing you! I'll teach you a lesson! Pokéball, go!"
She threw a Pokéball, not very fast, at the Krabby.
Misty, looking indignant: "That Pokémon doesn't deserve an evil Trainer like you!"
She threw her own Pokéball, much faster than Jesse's. The two balls were closing in. Suddenly, they hit each other. But then, as they both opened, the Krabby was sucked into both. The Pokéballs came back to two very confused Trainers.
Jesse, perplexed: "What?"
Misty, mystified: "Huh?"
James, hopelessly baffled: "I don't get it!! Who got the Pokémon?!"
Ash, holding the women from opening the Pokéballs: "Hold on. What if half is in one, and half is in another?"
Jesse and Misty's faces suddenly turned green as they thought of half a Krabby in one ball, and half of one in another. They suddenly put their hands to their mouths and fled into nearby trees. Ash and the others winced as they heard unpleasant sounds come from where the had run. Ash himself almost threw up at the thought of a dead Krabby, half of a bleeding stump in one Pokéball, and the other half in the other.
They returned, both still looking green. Misty looked determined, though still a little sick. She threw the Pokéball.
Krabby appeared, still KOed. Misty sighed with relief. Jesse scowled, and threw her Pokéball in anger.
Though everyone expected nothing to come out, somehow, someway, another Krabby came out.
Everyone: "WHAAAT???!!"
The two Krabbys were identical in every way. Everyone gaped at them. Ash, clueless, opened his Pokédex.
Dexter: "Krabby, the Pinsir Pokémon. This-"
Ash, impatiently: "Yeah, yeah, I know. Stats on each?"
He just stared at the screen in amazement. Misty came over, still feeling a bit sick.
Misty: "What's up?"
Ash, looking astonished: "The stats on these Krabbys are identical. Its like one's the copy of the other, and vice-versa. Its almost like one of them was cloned to an exact duplicate of the original. Dexter, what's the reasonable answer?"
Dexter, whirring: "In very rare occasions, two Pokéballs suck up the same Pokémon at the exact same time. When this happens, one copy of each Pokémon goes into each Pokéball. This doesn't harm the Pokémon in any way. No one knows why this happens, as it is known as impossible to test and do this on purpose."
Brock, looking stupefied: "Weird…"
Ash, shutting his Pokédex: "Whatever. Anyway, we've got to get our Pokémon back! What Pokémon do we still have between us?"
Everyone called out any Pokémon they had, while Ash quickly called Professor Oak on his [somehow] still working cell phone.
Professor Oak's voice in a recorded message: "Hello, this is Professor Oak in Pallet Town at (999) MUK-ABRA. If you receive this message, I am currently unable to come to the phone. Please press 1 if you need an emergency transfer of your Pokémon. Press 2 to leave a message. Thank you."
Ash pressed 1 and got the Pokémon he needed. However, at that point the batteries ran out in the cell phone, and he couldn't try to call his mother. He swore.
Pretty soon they had a collection of: Gyarados (James's), 2 Krabbys (Misty's and Jesse's new ones), Tentacruel (James's), 7 Zubat (six of Brock's, one of Ash's), Farfetch'd, Fearow, Venomoth, and Beedrill. [Actually, Ash has Gyarados, too. Redou interfered with Gyarados and stopped it from transiting to Professor Oak's place so that Ash could use Gyarados at the ocean if he wanted. Ash didn't notice Gyarados because he had all of his Flying types out.]
Ash: "Okay. We only need the Zubats, Farfetch'd, Fearow, Venomoth, and Beedrill. Send them to scout out for Pikachu, Meowth, and the others. We'll go by land. First, let's search the beach."
They sent off the Pokémon, and started walking down the beach.
Pikachu woke up on something on something both smooth and rough at the same time. Looking around, he found himself on a beach overlooking a blue sea. Around him were five of Ash's other Pokémon and Brock's favorite Zubat (the one he used to get out of Mt. Moon, and that he has always had in his group).
Pikachu, thinking: What am I doing here? We were fighting the Gyarados, the attacked with Hyper Beam, and now we're here.
He quickly got up and roused the other Pokémon. They were Ivysaur, Wartortle, Charmander, Butterfree, Zubat, and Pidgeotto. They all shook themselves awake and asked the same two questions.
[From now on, Pokémon will speak their own language when together with only each other. J]
Ash's Pokémon: 'Where are we? Where's Ash?'
Zubat: "Where are we? Where's master?"
Pikachu had to explain to all that he didn't know where they were, or where their Trainer was. Pretty soon, they were all in a circle, deciding what to do. Little did they know someone was watching them.
Meowth, Ekans, Koffing, Gloom, Grimer, and James's Zubat were looking at them from in the bushes about 10 feet away.
Meowth, surprised: "So Pikachu and his friends survived? Ha! That means I can finally get my revenge!!"
He stepped out of the bushes.
Meowth: "All right Pokémon, surrender!"
Seven startled Pokémon zipped around to look at the threat.
Ivysaur, whipping around: 'Who's that?!'
Meowth, sounding high and mighty: "Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
They looked at him, then started laughing.
Wartortle, chortling: 'Its just Meowth!'
Meowth fell over in embarrassment. Quickly he got up, slightly put out.
Meowth, looking sheepish: "I guess the Team Rocket motto is starting to lose its impact…never mind! (Pointing forward to his five teammates) Okay guys! Go get 'em!"
He sneered at Ash's Pokémon and Zubat, a look of victory on his face. After a couple of seconds of no action, he looked around, confused.
Meowth: "Huh?"
They were just sitting there.
Meowth, angry at this show of disobedience: "Hey! I said go get 'em!"
Ekans: 'You not master!'
Koffing: 'Not master!'
Gloom, looking around: 'Master not here. You don't give orders, Meowth.'
Zubat: 'No give orders!'
Grimer: 'We take orders only from master!'
Meowth, startled: "Wha?"
Ekans: 'I only obey master!'
Koffing: 'Only master!'
Zubat: 'You not master!'
Gloom, gloomily [but then, its almost always gloomy]: 'Master gone…'
Grimer: 'Gone…'
Two visions of James and Jesse flew into Meowth's head.
Meowth: "Masters?! I'm twice as smart as the two-watt lightbulbs you're calling masters!"
Zubat, angrily: 'Only obey master!!'
Ekans: 'Master is master!'
Koffing: 'You not master!'
Gloom: 'Master is master!'
Grimer: 'NOT Meowth!'
Meowth, using his paws to emphasize his points: "C'mon, we're all bad guys here! We don't need masters to tell us to go out and do bad stuff!"
A fierce reply came at his words.
Ekans, angry: "Pokémon not bad guys!'
Koffing: 'That's right!'
Gloom: 'Pokémon only bad…'
Ekans: '…When master bad!'
Meowth, with a sweatdrop: "What d'ya mean?? That there's no such thing as a bad Pokémon?!"
Zubat, nodding curtly: 'Pokémon only does bad things…'
Grimer: '…When master bad.'
Meowth, a shocked look on his face: "It can't be! My master's not around and I always seem to act like a rat!"
The six of Ash's Pokémon and Brock's Zubat closed around Meowth in a wide circle.
Zubat, grimly: 'Well, Meowth…'
Wartortle, flashing a razor-sharp smile: '…Its up to you.'
Pikachu, eyes narrowing: 'Are you sure you want to fight…'
Ivysaur, looking amused: '…All seven of us?'
Charmander: 'Its your call…'
Pidgeotto, spreading her wings: '…So if you think you're strong enough…'
Butterfree, eyes flashing: '…Try us on.'
It was obvious how much better-trained they were than Meowth. It seemed like only one of them could be able to take him out. Meowth looked around, panicky.
Meowth: "This ain't fair! You've got me outnumbered! (Waving to the other Pokémon) Hey, I could use a little help over here!"
The other Team Rocket Pokémon were around a table [I don't know how they do this], drinking tea. Meowth fell over in stupidity.
Meowth, getting into a sitting position and crossing his arms: "Its no use…oh well. I guess I'll let you guys off easy and call it a draw."
A cheery fire was crackling amid the gloomy forest as night fell across the sky. Twelve Pokémon were sitting around it, eating fruits and roots they had found foraging for food.
Pikachu, inquiring: 'What were you guys doing, before you found us?'
Ekans: 'Looking for masters.'
Koffing, sadly: 'Masters gone.'
Charmander, nodding in sympathy: 'That's really bad.'
Butterfree: 'Our masters are gone too.'
Brock's Zubat, forlorn: 'They must've abandoned us.'
Everyone looked at her. She was huddled into her wings, looking miserable.
Pikachu, shaking his head: 'No way. Brock would never do that!'
Ekans, looking at his group with a sweatdrop: 'Abandoned?'
Koffing, with its own sweatdrop: 'Maybe us too.'
Gloom, also looking down: 'Damien was about to abandon me anyway.'
Pikachu, ears perking: 'What? DAMIEN was your Trainer?!?'
James' Zubat: 'Yeah. He was also Grimer's and mine.'
Grimer, gruffly and hatefully: 'Mean human.'
Charmander: 'What was he like?'
Gloom, sounding very gloomy: 'Well, I was his Gloom for a few months. After he caught me, he made me immediately fight some Fire Pokémon like Arcanine, and I kept losing. He even sent me into battle right after I was defeated in a match right before! Every time I did something good, he didn't notice, but when I did something bad, he'd starve me.'
James' Zubat: 'After Damien caught me in Mt. Moon six months ago, he did nothing but make me battle any opponent, from Charizards to Raichus, even though he almost killed me many times.'
Grimer, bitterly: 'He caught me a year ago, then fed me about once a week after. A few days after I was caught, he sent me into a battle against an Alakazam, who beat the crap out of me so bad I can still feel it. Anyway, how did you know about Damien, Pikachu?'
Pikachu, growling: 'I was Damien's Pikachu for about six months. I don't remember you in his team, though…he caught me as a little kid in the Viridian Forest. He sent me against hundreds of Pokémon. I only won about a tenth of the time, whenever I was fighting Water Pokémon. He almost killed me many times when I fought guys like Charizard, Onix, and Sandslash. But he didn't care. If I won, he just brought me back in to my Pokéball and actually gave me some Poké Chow. I must admit, fighting those Pokémon and losing taught me a lot of stuff, including how to hate a human's guts. Somehow he got me to 15th level. I had to eat his leftovers, when he remembered I was alive.'
Koffing: 'So, how did you meet your new Trainer, the guy our masters' keep trying to steal you from?'
Pikachu, eyes shining in affection and love: 'Damien finally got tired of me three months ago and threw me into a trashcan in Pallet. Ash told me that someone, I think it might've been Damien from the description of the car, kicked up a cloud of dust that sent Ash on his bike into the trashcan, where I slipped into his pocket. Then, he went to get his first Pokémon-'
Charmander: 'Me.'
Pikachu: 'And they found out I was in Ash's pocket. They called Damien on his cell phone number, and Damien gave me to Ash.'
Gloom: 'Is Ash a good Trainer?'
Pikachu, indignant: 'Of course he is! He treats all of his Pokémon with love and understanding!'
Charmander, nodding: 'That's right. I was worried about being good for my Trainer, but he battles me so that I won't get hurt, or if I'm about to get hurt, he recalls me.'
Wartortle, munching on an apple: 'Yeah, and his friend, I think his name is Rock or something, gives us the best meals we ever tasted!'
Ivysaur, nodding enthusiastically: 'That's true.'
Brock's Zubat, briskly: 'His name is 'master'."
All the other Pokémon sweatdropped at the innocence of the young Zubat. Pikachu decided not to correct her.
Pidgeotto, picking up where Ivysaur left off: 'He asked me if I wanted to be his Pokémon, and if I said no, he would have let me go.'
Butterfree: 'Every day, he asks me if I want to fight, and if I don't, he makes sure not to send me. Or, he asks me at the beginning of the day.'
Ekans and Grimer: 'Wow…'
James' Zubat, curious: 'But if he doesn't force his Pokémon to fight, how can you guys gain any experience levels? You guys can't be very strong.'
Pikachu, eyes flashing: 'Take that back!! Ash is such a good Trainer, he can teach us and give us experience without making us battle! And we fight anyway because we want to make him proud! Right guys?'
Ash's assorted Pokémon agreed with vigorous nods of their heads.
Pikachu, going on: 'These guys (waving at Ash's other five Pokémon), are all over level 40. Wartortle and Ivysaur are both level 44. In only three months!!'
Koffing, nodding in appreciation, a bit shocked: 'Impressive.'
Gloom: 'What about you, Pikachu? Are you a high level, too?'
Pikachu, seeming to be trying to remember: 'I can't quite remember what my level was…somewhere around 54 or 55.'
All of the Pokemon's mouths dropped open, even Ash's other Pokemon. They knew Ash's Pikachu was strong, but the fact that Ash had increased Pikachu's level from 15 by about 40 in about 90 days was simply incredible. There weren't any recordings of any level increase that intense in such a short amount of time in any database.
Ekans, turning to Koffing with a sweatdrop: 'Now I see why the masters try to steal Pikachu.'
Koffing, looking at Ekans, with its own sweatdrop: 'Yes.'
Pikachu, grinning: "It helps that each time I get supercharged, my experience level goes up by 5.'
All of the Pokémon: '…Oh.'
A voice: "Hey guys!!"
They all cocked their heads curiously towards the voice.
Meowth, tied to a tree with a rope: "Aren't you ever gonna stop stuffin' your faces and get me out and something to eat?!"
Wartortle, a mischievous smile on its face: 'Are you sorry for all of the things you've done to us?'
Meowth, declining mightily: 'I DON'T APOLOGIZE!!"
Wartortle, gulping down its apple, smirking: 'Then no food for Meowth.'
Meowth, both angry and miserable: "Stop makin' fun of me! Untie me and give me somethin' to eat! Huh?"
A rumble shook the forest. All the Pokémon turned towards where they thought the noise came from. Ivysaur and Wartortle immediately jumped in front of the group, ready to fend off any attacker or opponent. [Ivysaur HAD been the protector of the Pokemon Village, ya' know, and Wartortle had been the leader of the Squirtle squad, and it was natural for them to step forward and defend.]
Suddenly, in a clearing up ahead, a huge, silver-colored foreleg slammed down. As the Pokémon's eyes widened, they looked up. And up. And up. Up above the trees, the huge upper body of a Rhydon roared, eyes glowing neon red. There was no way! It was gigantic! Those knowledgeable Pokémon knew that Rhydon's maximum height was only 5'6", but this one's horn itself was at least 10 feet long. It started walking towards them, slow but with huge steps. Forgetting all dignity and surrendering to their survival instinct, every Pokemon that could move abandoned their food and ran in the opposite direction of the thing.
Meowth, staring at it in awe and frightened respect: "That's one big Pokémon…"
Meowth suddenly noticed that he was alone with no protection, tied to a tree.
Meowth, trying to wriggle through the ropes: "WAIT! Someone come and untie me!!"
He then realized that Pikachu was behind the tree, untying the ropes. He came loose and fell two inches to the ground. Meowth was surprised that Pikachu, the Pokémon he and his team had tried to steal for three months, had probably saved his bacon. But, as haughty as he was, he discarded his feeling of appreciation and put up a face of denial.
Meowth, glaring at Pikachu as he ran after the Pokemon: "I coulda gotten out myself."
Pikachu stood there, looking after Meowth and then at the Rhydon.
Pikachu, thinking: I need you, Ash. Where are you?
Ash, Misty, Brock, Jesse, and James were having their own problems. Specifically the two giant flying Pokémon flying overhead. One of them was shooting thousands of electrical volts, while the other was flaming huge blasts of fire. They both had one thing: that was that both then chasing the 5 Trainers. Ash held onto both Misty's and Brock's hands, towing them along a little faster than they were used to running on sand. Jesse and James were also holding hands, moving surprisingly fast. The thundering Pokémon swooped towards them. Ash glanced back and swore.
Ash, yelling: "DIVE!!"
He pulled his two friends to the ground, as did James with Jesse. The lightning hit in front of them and diminished as the giant Pokémon soared over their heads, not stopping or swerving. Then, the storm disappeared, and it turned back to early evening.
After a few moments, Ash uncovered his head and looked up. He poked Misty and Brock.
Ash, letting his breath out in relief: "Its gone."
James, getting up: "That thing was gigantic!"
Misty, looking up after the direction the Pokémon had gone: "I've never seen a flying Pokémon like that before…"
Ash, helping her up, muttering to himself: "That was Zapdos, the Legendary Pokémon of Lightning, and Moltres, the Legendary Pokémon of Fire. But, in legend, they're only supposed to have a wingspan of 10 and 14 feet. Those were about 20 times that big."
Brock: "That was the most incredible Pokémon I've ever seen! (Turning to Ash) This place is really dangerous. We should try to find a safe spot to crash for the night."
Jesse, as James helped her up: "But…what about Ekans? And our other Pokémon? How will our scouts find us if we move?"
Ash, confidently: "They'll find us. Venomoth can lock onto my mind and Teleport back to us. And we'll look all day tomorrow. (Looking at the sun slowly dipping down towards the horizon overhead) Pikachu…"
They all looked at the sun over the trees. It was warm, giving a feeling of security and comfort, which was all but what the five were feeling.
Jesse, thinking: Ekans…
James, thinking: Koffing…
Misty, thinking: Starmie, Charmander…
Brock, thinking: Onix, Graveler…
Ash, thinking: Please be all right, everyone. We'll find you. I know we will.
They found a large oak tree with a hollow base, where they could stay reasonably safe. There were two things noticeable about this small cave. One, it was small, so that only four people could be moderately comfortable, but five would make it too crowded.
Ash, muttering: "I guess four's a party and five's a crowd."
Two, there were 8 Pokéballs in it.
Misty, mouth opening: "Look! Pokéballs!"
She immediately ran up and opened them. Out popped…
Misty, screaming in joy: "Staryu! Gyarados! Starmie! Goldeen! Seaking! Charmander!"
Brock, yelping with happiness: "Onix! Graveler! Rhyhorn! Zubats!"
A quick reunion, and Brock and Misty had all of their Pokémon back [well, one of Brock's Zubats isn't back yet]. Of course, this just made Ash, Jesse, and James more miserable.
Before they could decide who wouldn't sleep at the base of the oak, 11 really fast shadows landed in front of them. It was Fearow, flocked by 7 Zubat, Farfetch'd, Venomoth, and Beedrill. Fearow landed right in front of Ash, who, after jumping, asked the question.
Ash, stroking Fearow's head: "Did you find them, Fearless?"
[Sorry. Stole that name from manga. Bad boy!]
Fearow, sorrowfully shaking her beak: "Fear, fearow. Fearow, fear fear fearow. Fearow." 'Sorry, Ash. We looked, but the forest is so thick and so big that its impossible to search successfully without damaging our wings.'
However, Fearow's wing was already hurt, scratched deeply by a twig. Ash hissed in sympathy and bandaged it up.
Ash, hugging Fearow around the neck: "Hey, its not your fault you're too big and strong to fly through thick branches and leaves. I'm sure you all did your very best, which is more than I should've asked of you. I'm really sorry to you for sending you on a mission to hurt your wing for me."
Misty, rolling her eyes: "Don't be an idiot, Ash. There wasn't a way you could know that the trees were dense when all you had seen was green off in the distance. Pokémon don't learn to respect you that way, they'll think you don't care if they win, and won't try hard. Believe me, I know. Don't be so dense."
Ash, turning to her with narrowed eyes, after returning Farfetch'd, Zubat, Fearow, Venomoth, and Beedrill: "Look, I could but I don't criticize your methods of raising Pokémon, okay, so don't bother me about mine."
Misty, stung: "I WOULDN'T chastise you if I wasn't RIGHT, you moron!"
Ash, eyes flashing: "Oh yeah? You know what, I don't care if you disapprove of my specific methods of earning a Pokémon's trust, building its confidence, and giving it a higher opinion of itself, or if you try to complain about my efforts to build a good friendship with my Pokémon. (Turning away, trembling) That's your prerogative. Just shut up and don't bother me about it. I'll be on the beach. You guys can have the tree."
He moved silently off, quickly. Misty just stood there, struck. Then, she clapped a hand to her forehead, moaning, and, not speaking, she went after him. Jesse and James looked at each other, blinked, looked after Misty, blinked, then turned to Brock.
James: "What?"
Jesse: "…Just…happened?"
Brock, staring after Ash and Misty: "I don't know. It appears that Ash got angry with Misty for thinking she thought his training techniques and his empathy with his Pokémon was seedy, sappy, and stupid. So he left, and Misty followed him."
Jesse, slamming a mallet into Brock's head: "We knew the last part!"
Brock, screaming as he came back to Earth: "YAAAAAAAAAAAA-ughoff!"
James, looking after Ash: "Geez, he's touché."
Jesse, thoughtfully: "Yeah. Why did the twerp take it so seriously? I mean, all she did was saying he was wrong in saying he failed his Pokémon! And she dissed him. But I do that to James all the time, and he just cowers in fear!!"
Brock, getting up painfully: "Well, Ash actually stands up for himself, unlike James. But also, Ash is extremely sensitive about criticism involving his training mode. He told me once about that…"
Flashback
Brock, as they walked towards Cerulean City: "So Ash, in case I should know, what's gets you really mad? I mean, judging by what I've heard, I don't want to tangle with either you or your Pokémon. Got any sensitive points?"
Ash, thoughtfully: "Well, all I can think of is that you shouldn't criticize me too much at one time."
Misty, laughing: "Yeah, like we'll ever get the luxury of doing that."
Ash, trying to glare at her but failing: "When I turned 10, I entered the Game Pokémon League. After beating all opponents except May and Gary, I was pretty confident. Actually, extremely overconfident. Back then, I was usually overconfident. It was a way of being. It was a way I coped with not having a father. My last opponent was May Oak, Gary's sister. I had always been better at May at almost everything. But then, after two of my Pokémon and two of her Pokémon were defeated, she got luck on her side and had a Rhydon, to my Electrode. After I failed in my attempts to Take Down Rhydon, my Electrode was KOed by an Earthquake attack. Then, Gary beat May. He bragged of beating the Game League for three months. He trounced my sense of pride so badly, I needed therapy to keep from depression. After he saw what that did to me, he apologized and left me alone. After I realized that I had no friends but May, who lived was across town, I went into some sort of trance, and started working on my schoolwork, my martial arts classes, and my weight training. And even though he's a little more friendly rival now, I've never forgiven him for that. I want to be able to, but I never see him get better…"
Flashback End
Brock, ending his narration: "Its funny, though. Its like Ash took the first part as a personal insult, when it was actually just constructive criticism from a friend and experienced Trainer."
Jesse, crossing her arms in front of her: "Well, I think that the twerp needs some more therapy."
James, looking at his feet: "But I thought that those two were like…well…"
Brock, amused: "You thought Ash and Misty were a couple?"
He started laughing so hard that Jesse, angry, whacked him with a fan, making him collapse. She looked at James.
Jesse, shrugging: "I guess they aren't an item."
James, scratching his head: "Sure fooled me."
They sighed and dug into their spots, trying to get as comfortable as possible as Brock tried to get up.
Ash sat alone, knees under his chin, watching the beautiful sunset. It was thirty minutes later and a couple miles away. His hat was off on the sand besides him, allowing his hair to wave around in the breeze. The orange sun reminded him of three separate things.
It reminded him of Pikachu's round face, cheerful and carefree. It reminded him of his mom back home, with her determination in him and her bright demeanor that hid her long-suffering pain of a lost husband.
But mostly, it reminded him of the orange-haired girl he had just walked away from. He had overreacted a bit, he could see that now. First, he had done something that must look pretty pathetic, saying sorry to his Pokémon for not knowing something he wouldn't have known. Then, when she had told him he was being redundant, he had grown hostile towards her, in his own way. She didn't deserve that.
He reflected on life. Back, after his dad died, he had vowed to himself to follow in his father's footsteps. Finding out that the age Pokémon Trainers could start their journeys had changed by three years, he had decided to start training himself so that he would be ready when he turned thirteen. It was also helped me overcome the stress of not starting the legacy I needed to start. He had developed from a quiet youth to a boisterous pre-adolescent. Then, he had…changed. After that big Game Tournament thing. He became quiet, polite, smart, and quick. He developed admirable strength and skill in martial arts.
Then, he had started his Journey, and his life turned upside-down. Not only did he meet his best friend, Pikachu, he met the 14 year-old redheaded water-goddess who completely stole his heart and fed it to him with a steak knife. It was funny, he never really realized their difference in age. They seemed the same age, being the same height. He had to admit to himself, he had fallen, hard, for this girl. She was mature, honest, cheerful, down-to-earth, pretty, bright, caring, and so very ALIVE. He envied that. She had experienced the world through travel, and knew exactly where she was in relation to all things, and excelled in that position. She was now his best human friend. But that wasn't the limit of his feelings for her. He cared, he truly cared for her well-being. To put it simply, he loved her. This was strange in two ways. One, kids aren't supposed to be mature enough to actually develop a love for the opposite sex of this nature so soon. Just a physical attraction. Two, he had only known her for three months.
He was disrupted from his thoughts as a twig snapped and announced the arrival of someone or thing. He immediately recognized the light but audible tread.
Ash, without turning around: "Hey."
Misty, walking slowly towards him, softly: "Hey."
Ash inwardly shuddered as she sat down next to him, knees to her chin as she gazed at the setting sun. It would be another one of their 'moments'.
[Ooooh, I like those, mommy! NOT!!]
They didn't look at one another.
Misty, speaking finally: "I'm sorry, Ash."
Ash, with a small smile playing on his lips: "Forget it."
Misty, forcefully: "No, I will not forget it. I've crossed your line once, and I'm sorry, and I want you to know that I won't do it again."
Ash, rolling his eyes: "It really doesn't matter to me, Mist."
Misty, pounding a fist into the sand: "What do I have to do to get you to take me seriously?!"
Ash, laughing softly: "God, its okay! And I do take you seriously! (In his head) I take you VERY serously, Mist. (Out loud) I overreacted a bit. (Gazing at her) And I'm sorry."
Misty, exasperated: "There it is again!"
They laughed a little, though nothing was really funny. It was as if their little dispute or whatever it was never happened.
Misty watched Ash out of the corner of her eye. She had only been able to follow him those two whole miles because he had cut a path through the forested area. A pretty wide path. God, she was lucky, being able to travel with him.
Her life hadn't been very pleasant. Her parents had died on a ship headed for Vermillion City when she was but four years old. Her sisters hadn't been particularly nice to her, all three at the age of ten. They had just wanted to paint their nails and chase after boys than spend time with her, their little late-bloomer of a younger sister. She was put into her grandparents' care. But, pretty soon, both had died by cancer.
She started working for her sisters at the Cerulean Gym. She helped them clean up, make meals, and remodel. In return, they gave her three gifts. Two Staryu and a Water Stone. After a year, they even let her train them by battling Trainers who wanted the Cascade Badge.
When she turned 11, she left home and traveled around Indigo Island. It was fun, on her own, training her Pokémon. But she felt a feeling she never felt before. Loneliness.
She caught 2 Goldeen, a Magikarp, and a Gyarados. But it wasn't the same as the human companionship she needed. So, she headed back to Cerulean. Her sisters were more sisterly, as she was now a bit more like them (prettier and more mature), and they had actually missed her helping them out and bugging them about stuff (as well as taking care of Trainers who wanted to battle). But she still felt like something was missing. She set off again.
Along the way towards the famous Cinnabar Island, she decided to stop just after Viridian City and let her Pokémon have a swim. A flock of Spearow had different ideas.
They attacked out of nowhere, and she had to recall her Pokémon. She hid in the bushes. But they got to her. It still made her shudder. They had slashed, pecked, and beat her body till she was ready to give up and die. Then, he came.
He had seen her attacked. He hadn't known who she was, only that she was in desperate need of help. So, he had set down his Pokéballs and his Pikachu, then ran out to confront what was ailing her, a whole flock of angry Spearows.
Even now, about 3 months later, she was amazed at his courage and selflessness. He had challenged a huge group of particularly harsh and dangerous Pokémon, just to try to save another. It had been in all probability a challenge to certain death. That one act would've put him into heaven with high honors.
She could remember vaguely that they had charged down at him. They were about to strike when Pikachu bounded across the open field and leaped onto Ash's shoulder. A lightning bolt hit Pikachu, and a huge ball of yellow and white electricity formed with awesome power. It got huge. Then, Misty had thankfully blacked out.
Since then, her life had moved in a whole new direction. With a stupid excuse to keep following him, she now went wherever they went. It was wild, and the most fun Misty had ever had in her life. It was funny. She was with him because he tried and sorta succeeded in saving her life. But, every few days or so, he would save her butt again. She realized that unless Ash was keeping a journal (which she couldn't see), they wouldn't ever know how many times Ash had saved her life. Or how many times Misty had saved him, there were a couple of those. So, how would they ever know when her debt was repaid?
With this thought, came another. She started to realize that she wasn't good enough for him. She was a pretty good Trainer, fairly clever and smart, and she was mildly attractive. But he was an excellent Trainer, abnormally smart, and very cute. Why would he like her?
And yet…yet she had hope. Pikachu had explained to her why she liked Ash more than she should. Her bond with Pikachu made her share a bit of his love for Ash. [Yes, Pikachu loves Ash, but ONLY as a best friend!] It might be that with that bond, Ash might like her or even love her a bit, Pikachu's like of her sparking something. Sparking what, though?
And there were times when she looked into his eyes and thought she could see a compassion unlike just the care of a friend. When she gazed into his, she could almost see her own care mirrored back. Misty inwardly sighed. This thought process was getting way too mushy even for her train of thought. It was nice to dream. Or was it?
Now that her life was leading in a new direction (for better, or worse?), these were the best days she had ever had. Almost every day was a new adventure. Just two days ago, she had actually kissed Ash!
With that thought, Misty blushed. It was her first real kiss, though it would've been a lot better (better meaning more meaningful, more involved, and with a much greater effect), if he had been conscious.
Right now, as she sat near him, she felt a deep longing. She wished they were a couple. In her fantasy, Misty would lay her head back on his chest as he held her in his arms. They would both watch the sun go down, relaxing and hearing each other whisper professions of love to one another.
Misty, thinking sadly: But…that's never going to happen…
Ash himself was thinking along the same lines as Misty.
Ever since he had saved her back near Pallet, his whole world was entering a new, thrilling dimension. He had to admit, he had to gone to extreme measures to impress her, making him train harder than he normally would. A long time ago…
Ash, thinking: Wow…'long time ago'? That was only about two months ago!
Two months ago, he had fiercely wanted to be the best. Now he felt he needed too. Right now he was a lowly yet successful Pokémon Trainer, while she was a Gym Leader. Being a Gym Leader was one of the highest ranks in the Pokémon world. It was only eclipsed by the very highest ranks, a Supreme Gym Leader, Pokémon League Champion, or Pokémon Master.
He mulled over her many qualities that he found appealing, again. Not only was she beautiful, but caring, empathetic to a fault, smart, gentle, determined, and with a very strong mind. There was something about her that just drew him to want to be with her, at all times, every day. He didn't know what it was. She was vibrant and so…alive. She was perfect.
He could imagine them as a couple. Instead of sitting on the sand watching the sunset right now, four feet away from her, they would watch it embraced. They would be in a hug, pressed together, backs to a tree. From time to time they would look into each other's eyes and just lose themselves. Or, kissing passionately.
That thought slightly tickled him. He had never in his life kissed someone on their lips. Once, in Pallet, he had gone on a date with May Oak. They had almost kissed after watching a romance movie. They hadn't really wanted to all that much, but they were curious, and caught up in the moment.
Mayflower Oak was pretty. Extremely pretty. Almost to a fault (this is the kind of girl that Brock would go wild about). She was almost as attractive as Misty, even. (Actually, most would say that May was much more attractive than Misty, but Ash didn't think so.) All of the boys in town (there weren't that many) had crushes on her. This pissed off the other girls. But Mayflower had only liked Ash. (This wasn't surprising. Most girls liked Ash or Gary – they were the smartest, cutest, coolest boys in town. The fact that Ash was very distant to girls added and subtracted to the attraction. But, girls still wanted other boys to pay attention to them, as a vanity thing.)
When they had been about to kiss, Gary showed up and they decided not to. After that, they had abandoned their futile efforts to become more than friends.
Misty was a whole new matter. He really wanted to share a kiss with her. Almost ever since he had known her, he had started feeling protective of her, as if she was his personal property. This alarmed him. He had tried to be modest and not pig-headed for the past few years, to respect people's property and freedom. He had tried to put that attitude into training, and had succeeded.
There were five factors that made him stop from blurting his feelings right out. Number one, the second-most obvious, he was just plain scared. He'd never entered a relationship like that with someone before, even May. Two, the chances were slim that Misty would care for him as much as he did for her. She probably felt only a friendship towards him. Three, IF they developed a relationship, Ash might get distracted from his goals and journey. Four, if somehow they did develop a deeper relationship, it would probably be hard to keep it up until they were old enough to marry. And lastly, five. If Misty only cared for him as a friend, which was the most probable situation, when he did tell her, if he did, it would ruin their friendship. That friendship was extremely important to Ash.
No, it was probably for the best that he didn't have the guts to tell her his feelings.
A redheaded young man was standing on a large branch of a huge birch tree, watching the scene from a couple hundred yards away. Beside him was a young man of the same age with blonde hair.
Flare, idly: "Why are we here, again?"
Spike, turning to his brother: "Well, it was the nearest place I could Teleport us from the St. Anne, and we need to keep watch over our young cousin in case he gets into more trouble than he can deal with. And I'm not up to Teleporting a great distance any time soon, so we might as well watch to see how he's doing."
Flare, looking at his fingernails: "So, why do we need to keep track of him? I mean, if he's not strong enough to look after himself, why bother helping him anyway?"
Spike, turning to Flare, eyes narrowing: "Why, brother, that must be the most cold-hearted thing I've ever heard you say."
Flare, grinning wryly: "Some of your oh-so-charming personality must be wearing off on me."
Spike ignored him, and went back to watching Ash and his Gym Leader friend.
The two young teenagers stared at the disappearing sun as it slowly sank to touch the horizon, casting a new reddish light.
Both, thinking wistfully: If only you knew…
Suddenly, they were jerked from their thoughts from a low, echoing rumble and a slight shaking of the ground beneath them. It looked like an earthquake. Instinctively, Ash moved to get up, but was caught when the ground rumbled again and he slid back down to sit on the sand.
It was proven when a line of sand between Ash and Misty disappeared, as if being sucked into the ground. A split second later, the line of disappearing sand opened and fell away to show a crack they widened with every millisecond.
Misty screamed as she started to fall through another crack.
Ash, panicking: "MISTY!!"
He was up in a flash, despite the ground, and at her side, jumping over the new, extremely narrow trench. Misty fell, and Ash barely caught her hands in his. In another nightmarish moment, the ground moved away, leaving them on a pillar of sand in the middle of a group of islands separated by thin, foot-wide gaps in the ground.
Ash fell a bit from grabbing her, leaving him dangling over the side of the pillar with only his legs to anchor him into the sand. He started to slip on the sand, and Misty descended a little.
Their pillar moved upwards, as if two tectonic plate were pushing against each other under it. A minute passed, and the rumbling stopped. Ash stopped slipping, legs dug into harder ground. He watched, wide-eyed and pale, as Misty's hands slowly weakened their grip on his. They stared into each other's eyes in panic. Ash glanced away, at the fathomless depths of the drop, and gulped, eyes going wider.
Misty, choking: "Ash…please…help me…"
Those words fought deep into Ash's heart and mind. Ash was struck with a sense of forboding and great despair. He knew of Fearow and his other Pokémon on his belt that might help so much right now. But if tried to get them, Misty would surely fall. Very slowly, he was slipping on the sand, legs coming free.
With a dying heart, Ash realized that, for once, he wouldn't save her.
Narrator: "All looks lost, as Misty dangles helplessly over the edge of doom! No one can save her now…unless some miracle occurs! I don't know about you, but I'm scared!"
Hmm. I haven't updated in over a month and a week. I'm really bad. Oh, well. Its my school's fault! Too much homework!
QOTF (Question Of The Fic) – How many people out there are from the U.S.?
POTF (Poll Of The Fic) – Do you think you'll keep reading this fic if I keep adding new chapters, or is it getting too boring?
In the next fic, I'm gonna have some fun, which will probably make it the weirdest fic I ever write. Can Ash save Misty? Will both fall to their doom?? Tune in for the next chapter!
{:FLAREON:}
Author's Note: This is where Flareon ended his story and at a cliffhanger no less so I want somebody else to pick it up from here and e-mail it to me the person who does I will give full credit to.
Thanks once again,
Talent Scout
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
(c) Copyright 2001 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these lousy fanfiction.
NOTES: This chapter may be a little boring…I'm not sure because I can't remember writing this way back when. Sorrow for the delay, too.
Italic - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
- Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, our heroes were attacked by a clan of Gyarados, after James' Magikarp evolved. With the help of Zapdos, Pikachu evolved into its ultimate form, Redou. Redou saved the day with its amazing electrical powers, but now the group is stranded on an island they hadn't meant to land on."
Misty's voice: "Episode 16: Stranded on the Island of the Giant Pokémon!"
Ash, Misty, Brock, Jesse, and James were sprawled out on the sand, upside down. Ash's hat was off his head a couple dozen yards away with James's boots.
Slowly, Ash's head lifted. Opening his eyes, he coughed up sand. Rubbing his aching head, he stood up and looked around. Suddenly, he remembered what happened.
Ash, suddenly panicked: "PIKACHU!! MISTY!! BROCK!!"
He turned around at a noise. Misty was slowly getting up, eyes closed and viciously coughing up sand. Ash ran to her side and gently laid her down right side up. After a few moments of coughing and deep breathing, she opened unfocused eyes.
Misty, blearily, not able to see anything, it was too bleary: "Ash?…"
Ash, softly: "C'mon Misty, we've gotta wake up the others."
She sat up and shook her head. Then, her eyes finally focused on Ash, then on Brock and Team Rocket nearby. She got up and hugged Ash in relief of being alive. He froze, eyes wide. He wasn't sure what to do. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest. Then, he gently put his arms around her back and hugged back. Then, they disengaged, both with rather rosy cheeks.
Misty, thinking: Why did I do that?!
Misty, shaking sand from her body, making Ash turn away in embarrassment: "How is it that we're…alive?"
Ash, brightly: "I dunno!"
He helped her up, and they went over to Brock. Pretty soon, he was awake. Then, their attention got caught by Team Rocket, who were flying through the air.
A Krabby had come up to Team Rocket-who had been upside-down and submerged in sand-and had gleefully grabbed their legs with its pincers. Team Rocket flew twenty feet into the air, screaming, then landed with a thump. Jesse unfortunately landed on the Krabby, making a hard landing. Jesse and James looked at each other, crosslegged on the sand.
Jesse, looking around: "Could it be?…"
James, also surveying where they were: "Does this mean?…"
They hugged in joyful relief.
Both, with tears of happiness: "We survived again!"
Jesse, arms raised in triumph: "We're the completely invincible…"
James, also arms raised in victory: "…Unbeatable…"
Both, arms pointing at each other proudly: "…Team Rocket!"
They paused for a moment, tears gone.
[I don't know if these anime tears are real or not, but characters cry them a lot. J]
James, peering around for something: "But I don't hear any annoying…"
Jesse, also looking for something: "…Complaining…"
Both: "Meowth is missing!!"
Ash, bitterly: "Shut up, you two. (Showing his belt grimly) All of my Pokémon are gone too. Even Pikachu."
Brock, grabbing Ash's shoulder: "Calm down, Ash. We need to know what happened, where we are, and what we're missing."
They checked their Poké Belts or sacks and gave a miserable report.
Jesse, in panic: "The Ekans I got for Christmas is gone! So is my new Gloom and Grimer!"
James, frantically: "The Koffing I got for my birthday is gone too! So is my new Zubat!"
Brock, solemnly: "Onix, Graveler, Rhyhorn, and two of my Zubats are missing."
Misty, a few tears in her eyes: "So are Staryu, Starmie, Gyarados, Goldeen, Seaking, and Charmander."
Ash, head bowed: "Pikachu, Wartortle, Ivysaur, Charmander, Pidgeotto, and Butterfree are long-gone."
James, howling: "And we're flat broke!!"
A heavy silence fell over the group. Suddenly, Jesse jolted up and bolted quite a few dozen feet. Where she had sat was a Krabby that looked like a car had run over it. It was crunched down into the sand, eyes in Xs. They looked at it, surprised. Jesse suddenly narrowed her eyes.
Jesse, angry: "How dare you get in the way like that, you little scissor-thing you! I'll teach you a lesson! Pokéball, go!"
She threw a Pokéball, not very fast, at the Krabby.
Misty, looking indignant: "That Pokémon doesn't deserve an evil Trainer like you!"
She threw her own Pokéball, much faster than Jesse's. The two balls were closing in. Suddenly, they hit each other. But then, as they both opened, the Krabby was sucked into both. The Pokéballs came back to two very confused Trainers.
Jesse, perplexed: "What?"
Misty, mystified: "Huh?"
James, hopelessly baffled: "I don't get it!! Who got the Pokémon?!"
Ash, holding the women from opening the Pokéballs: "Hold on. What if half is in one, and half is in another?"
Jesse and Misty's faces suddenly turned green as they thought of half a Krabby in one ball, and half of one in another. They suddenly put their hands to their mouths and fled into nearby trees. Ash and the others winced as they heard unpleasant sounds come from where the had run. Ash himself almost threw up at the thought of a dead Krabby, half of a bleeding stump in one Pokéball, and the other half in the other.
They returned, both still looking green. Misty looked determined, though still a little sick. She threw the Pokéball.
Krabby appeared, still KOed. Misty sighed with relief. Jesse scowled, and threw her Pokéball in anger.
Though everyone expected nothing to come out, somehow, someway, another Krabby came out.
Everyone: "WHAAAT???!!"
The two Krabbys were identical in every way. Everyone gaped at them. Ash, clueless, opened his Pokédex.
Dexter: "Krabby, the Pinsir Pokémon. This-"
Ash, impatiently: "Yeah, yeah, I know. Stats on each?"
He just stared at the screen in amazement. Misty came over, still feeling a bit sick.
Misty: "What's up?"
Ash, looking astonished: "The stats on these Krabbys are identical. Its like one's the copy of the other, and vice-versa. Its almost like one of them was cloned to an exact duplicate of the original. Dexter, what's the reasonable answer?"
Dexter, whirring: "In very rare occasions, two Pokéballs suck up the same Pokémon at the exact same time. When this happens, one copy of each Pokémon goes into each Pokéball. This doesn't harm the Pokémon in any way. No one knows why this happens, as it is known as impossible to test and do this on purpose."
Brock, looking stupefied: "Weird…"
Ash, shutting his Pokédex: "Whatever. Anyway, we've got to get our Pokémon back! What Pokémon do we still have between us?"
Everyone called out any Pokémon they had, while Ash quickly called Professor Oak on his [somehow] still working cell phone.
Professor Oak's voice in a recorded message: "Hello, this is Professor Oak in Pallet Town at (999) MUK-ABRA. If you receive this message, I am currently unable to come to the phone. Please press 1 if you need an emergency transfer of your Pokémon. Press 2 to leave a message. Thank you."
Ash pressed 1 and got the Pokémon he needed. However, at that point the batteries ran out in the cell phone, and he couldn't try to call his mother. He swore.
Pretty soon they had a collection of: Gyarados (James's), 2 Krabbys (Misty's and Jesse's new ones), Tentacruel (James's), 7 Zubat (six of Brock's, one of Ash's), Farfetch'd, Fearow, Venomoth, and Beedrill. [Actually, Ash has Gyarados, too. Redou interfered with Gyarados and stopped it from transiting to Professor Oak's place so that Ash could use Gyarados at the ocean if he wanted. Ash didn't notice Gyarados because he had all of his Flying types out.]
Ash: "Okay. We only need the Zubats, Farfetch'd, Fearow, Venomoth, and Beedrill. Send them to scout out for Pikachu, Meowth, and the others. We'll go by land. First, let's search the beach."
They sent off the Pokémon, and started walking down the beach.
Pikachu woke up on something on something both smooth and rough at the same time. Looking around, he found himself on a beach overlooking a blue sea. Around him were five of Ash's other Pokémon and Brock's favorite Zubat (the one he used to get out of Mt. Moon, and that he has always had in his group).
Pikachu, thinking: What am I doing here? We were fighting the Gyarados, the attacked with Hyper Beam, and now we're here.
He quickly got up and roused the other Pokémon. They were Ivysaur, Wartortle, Charmander, Butterfree, Zubat, and Pidgeotto. They all shook themselves awake and asked the same two questions.
[From now on, Pokémon will speak their own language when together with only each other. J]
Ash's Pokémon: 'Where are we? Where's Ash?'
Zubat: "Where are we? Where's master?"
Pikachu had to explain to all that he didn't know where they were, or where their Trainer was. Pretty soon, they were all in a circle, deciding what to do. Little did they know someone was watching them.
Meowth, Ekans, Koffing, Gloom, Grimer, and James's Zubat were looking at them from in the bushes about 10 feet away.
Meowth, surprised: "So Pikachu and his friends survived? Ha! That means I can finally get my revenge!!"
He stepped out of the bushes.
Meowth: "All right Pokémon, surrender!"
Seven startled Pokémon zipped around to look at the threat.
Ivysaur, whipping around: 'Who's that?!'
Meowth, sounding high and mighty: "Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
They looked at him, then started laughing.
Wartortle, chortling: 'Its just Meowth!'
Meowth fell over in embarrassment. Quickly he got up, slightly put out.
Meowth, looking sheepish: "I guess the Team Rocket motto is starting to lose its impact…never mind! (Pointing forward to his five teammates) Okay guys! Go get 'em!"
He sneered at Ash's Pokémon and Zubat, a look of victory on his face. After a couple of seconds of no action, he looked around, confused.
Meowth: "Huh?"
They were just sitting there.
Meowth, angry at this show of disobedience: "Hey! I said go get 'em!"
Ekans: 'You not master!'
Koffing: 'Not master!'
Gloom, looking around: 'Master not here. You don't give orders, Meowth.'
Zubat: 'No give orders!'
Grimer: 'We take orders only from master!'
Meowth, startled: "Wha?"
Ekans: 'I only obey master!'
Koffing: 'Only master!'
Zubat: 'You not master!'
Gloom, gloomily [but then, its almost always gloomy]: 'Master gone…'
Grimer: 'Gone…'
Two visions of James and Jesse flew into Meowth's head.
Meowth: "Masters?! I'm twice as smart as the two-watt lightbulbs you're calling masters!"
Zubat, angrily: 'Only obey master!!'
Ekans: 'Master is master!'
Koffing: 'You not master!'
Gloom: 'Master is master!'
Grimer: 'NOT Meowth!'
Meowth, using his paws to emphasize his points: "C'mon, we're all bad guys here! We don't need masters to tell us to go out and do bad stuff!"
A fierce reply came at his words.
Ekans, angry: "Pokémon not bad guys!'
Koffing: 'That's right!'
Gloom: 'Pokémon only bad…'
Ekans: '…When master bad!'
Meowth, with a sweatdrop: "What d'ya mean?? That there's no such thing as a bad Pokémon?!"
Zubat, nodding curtly: 'Pokémon only does bad things…'
Grimer: '…When master bad.'
Meowth, a shocked look on his face: "It can't be! My master's not around and I always seem to act like a rat!"
The six of Ash's Pokémon and Brock's Zubat closed around Meowth in a wide circle.
Zubat, grimly: 'Well, Meowth…'
Wartortle, flashing a razor-sharp smile: '…Its up to you.'
Pikachu, eyes narrowing: 'Are you sure you want to fight…'
Ivysaur, looking amused: '…All seven of us?'
Charmander: 'Its your call…'
Pidgeotto, spreading her wings: '…So if you think you're strong enough…'
Butterfree, eyes flashing: '…Try us on.'
It was obvious how much better-trained they were than Meowth. It seemed like only one of them could be able to take him out. Meowth looked around, panicky.
Meowth: "This ain't fair! You've got me outnumbered! (Waving to the other Pokémon) Hey, I could use a little help over here!"
The other Team Rocket Pokémon were around a table [I don't know how they do this], drinking tea. Meowth fell over in stupidity.
Meowth, getting into a sitting position and crossing his arms: "Its no use…oh well. I guess I'll let you guys off easy and call it a draw."
A cheery fire was crackling amid the gloomy forest as night fell across the sky. Twelve Pokémon were sitting around it, eating fruits and roots they had found foraging for food.
Pikachu, inquiring: 'What were you guys doing, before you found us?'
Ekans: 'Looking for masters.'
Koffing, sadly: 'Masters gone.'
Charmander, nodding in sympathy: 'That's really bad.'
Butterfree: 'Our masters are gone too.'
Brock's Zubat, forlorn: 'They must've abandoned us.'
Everyone looked at her. She was huddled into her wings, looking miserable.
Pikachu, shaking his head: 'No way. Brock would never do that!'
Ekans, looking at his group with a sweatdrop: 'Abandoned?'
Koffing, with its own sweatdrop: 'Maybe us too.'
Gloom, also looking down: 'Damien was about to abandon me anyway.'
Pikachu, ears perking: 'What? DAMIEN was your Trainer?!?'
James' Zubat: 'Yeah. He was also Grimer's and mine.'
Grimer, gruffly and hatefully: 'Mean human.'
Charmander: 'What was he like?'
Gloom, sounding very gloomy: 'Well, I was his Gloom for a few months. After he caught me, he made me immediately fight some Fire Pokémon like Arcanine, and I kept losing. He even sent me into battle right after I was defeated in a match right before! Every time I did something good, he didn't notice, but when I did something bad, he'd starve me.'
James' Zubat: 'After Damien caught me in Mt. Moon six months ago, he did nothing but make me battle any opponent, from Charizards to Raichus, even though he almost killed me many times.'
Grimer, bitterly: 'He caught me a year ago, then fed me about once a week after. A few days after I was caught, he sent me into a battle against an Alakazam, who beat the crap out of me so bad I can still feel it. Anyway, how did you know about Damien, Pikachu?'
Pikachu, growling: 'I was Damien's Pikachu for about six months. I don't remember you in his team, though…he caught me as a little kid in the Viridian Forest. He sent me against hundreds of Pokémon. I only won about a tenth of the time, whenever I was fighting Water Pokémon. He almost killed me many times when I fought guys like Charizard, Onix, and Sandslash. But he didn't care. If I won, he just brought me back in to my Pokéball and actually gave me some Poké Chow. I must admit, fighting those Pokémon and losing taught me a lot of stuff, including how to hate a human's guts. Somehow he got me to 15th level. I had to eat his leftovers, when he remembered I was alive.'
Koffing: 'So, how did you meet your new Trainer, the guy our masters' keep trying to steal you from?'
Pikachu, eyes shining in affection and love: 'Damien finally got tired of me three months ago and threw me into a trashcan in Pallet. Ash told me that someone, I think it might've been Damien from the description of the car, kicked up a cloud of dust that sent Ash on his bike into the trashcan, where I slipped into his pocket. Then, he went to get his first Pokémon-'
Charmander: 'Me.'
Pikachu: 'And they found out I was in Ash's pocket. They called Damien on his cell phone number, and Damien gave me to Ash.'
Gloom: 'Is Ash a good Trainer?'
Pikachu, indignant: 'Of course he is! He treats all of his Pokémon with love and understanding!'
Charmander, nodding: 'That's right. I was worried about being good for my Trainer, but he battles me so that I won't get hurt, or if I'm about to get hurt, he recalls me.'
Wartortle, munching on an apple: 'Yeah, and his friend, I think his name is Rock or something, gives us the best meals we ever tasted!'
Ivysaur, nodding enthusiastically: 'That's true.'
Brock's Zubat, briskly: 'His name is 'master'."
All the other Pokémon sweatdropped at the innocence of the young Zubat. Pikachu decided not to correct her.
Pidgeotto, picking up where Ivysaur left off: 'He asked me if I wanted to be his Pokémon, and if I said no, he would have let me go.'
Butterfree: 'Every day, he asks me if I want to fight, and if I don't, he makes sure not to send me. Or, he asks me at the beginning of the day.'
Ekans and Grimer: 'Wow…'
James' Zubat, curious: 'But if he doesn't force his Pokémon to fight, how can you guys gain any experience levels? You guys can't be very strong.'
Pikachu, eyes flashing: 'Take that back!! Ash is such a good Trainer, he can teach us and give us experience without making us battle! And we fight anyway because we want to make him proud! Right guys?'
Ash's assorted Pokémon agreed with vigorous nods of their heads.
Pikachu, going on: 'These guys (waving at Ash's other five Pokémon), are all over level 40. Wartortle and Ivysaur are both level 44. In only three months!!'
Koffing, nodding in appreciation, a bit shocked: 'Impressive.'
Gloom: 'What about you, Pikachu? Are you a high level, too?'
Pikachu, seeming to be trying to remember: 'I can't quite remember what my level was…somewhere around 54 or 55.'
All of the Pokemon's mouths dropped open, even Ash's other Pokemon. They knew Ash's Pikachu was strong, but the fact that Ash had increased Pikachu's level from 15 by about 40 in about 90 days was simply incredible. There weren't any recordings of any level increase that intense in such a short amount of time in any database.
Ekans, turning to Koffing with a sweatdrop: 'Now I see why the masters try to steal Pikachu.'
Koffing, looking at Ekans, with its own sweatdrop: 'Yes.'
Pikachu, grinning: "It helps that each time I get supercharged, my experience level goes up by 5.'
All of the Pokémon: '…Oh.'
A voice: "Hey guys!!"
They all cocked their heads curiously towards the voice.
Meowth, tied to a tree with a rope: "Aren't you ever gonna stop stuffin' your faces and get me out and something to eat?!"
Wartortle, a mischievous smile on its face: 'Are you sorry for all of the things you've done to us?'
Meowth, declining mightily: 'I DON'T APOLOGIZE!!"
Wartortle, gulping down its apple, smirking: 'Then no food for Meowth.'
Meowth, both angry and miserable: "Stop makin' fun of me! Untie me and give me somethin' to eat! Huh?"
A rumble shook the forest. All the Pokémon turned towards where they thought the noise came from. Ivysaur and Wartortle immediately jumped in front of the group, ready to fend off any attacker or opponent. [Ivysaur HAD been the protector of the Pokemon Village, ya' know, and Wartortle had been the leader of the Squirtle squad, and it was natural for them to step forward and defend.]
Suddenly, in a clearing up ahead, a huge, silver-colored foreleg slammed down. As the Pokémon's eyes widened, they looked up. And up. And up. Up above the trees, the huge upper body of a Rhydon roared, eyes glowing neon red. There was no way! It was gigantic! Those knowledgeable Pokémon knew that Rhydon's maximum height was only 5'6", but this one's horn itself was at least 10 feet long. It started walking towards them, slow but with huge steps. Forgetting all dignity and surrendering to their survival instinct, every Pokemon that could move abandoned their food and ran in the opposite direction of the thing.
Meowth, staring at it in awe and frightened respect: "That's one big Pokémon…"
Meowth suddenly noticed that he was alone with no protection, tied to a tree.
Meowth, trying to wriggle through the ropes: "WAIT! Someone come and untie me!!"
He then realized that Pikachu was behind the tree, untying the ropes. He came loose and fell two inches to the ground. Meowth was surprised that Pikachu, the Pokémon he and his team had tried to steal for three months, had probably saved his bacon. But, as haughty as he was, he discarded his feeling of appreciation and put up a face of denial.
Meowth, glaring at Pikachu as he ran after the Pokemon: "I coulda gotten out myself."
Pikachu stood there, looking after Meowth and then at the Rhydon.
Pikachu, thinking: I need you, Ash. Where are you?
Ash, Misty, Brock, Jesse, and James were having their own problems. Specifically the two giant flying Pokémon flying overhead. One of them was shooting thousands of electrical volts, while the other was flaming huge blasts of fire. They both had one thing: that was that both then chasing the 5 Trainers. Ash held onto both Misty's and Brock's hands, towing them along a little faster than they were used to running on sand. Jesse and James were also holding hands, moving surprisingly fast. The thundering Pokémon swooped towards them. Ash glanced back and swore.
Ash, yelling: "DIVE!!"
He pulled his two friends to the ground, as did James with Jesse. The lightning hit in front of them and diminished as the giant Pokémon soared over their heads, not stopping or swerving. Then, the storm disappeared, and it turned back to early evening.
After a few moments, Ash uncovered his head and looked up. He poked Misty and Brock.
Ash, letting his breath out in relief: "Its gone."
James, getting up: "That thing was gigantic!"
Misty, looking up after the direction the Pokémon had gone: "I've never seen a flying Pokémon like that before…"
Ash, helping her up, muttering to himself: "That was Zapdos, the Legendary Pokémon of Lightning, and Moltres, the Legendary Pokémon of Fire. But, in legend, they're only supposed to have a wingspan of 10 and 14 feet. Those were about 20 times that big."
Brock: "That was the most incredible Pokémon I've ever seen! (Turning to Ash) This place is really dangerous. We should try to find a safe spot to crash for the night."
Jesse, as James helped her up: "But…what about Ekans? And our other Pokémon? How will our scouts find us if we move?"
Ash, confidently: "They'll find us. Venomoth can lock onto my mind and Teleport back to us. And we'll look all day tomorrow. (Looking at the sun slowly dipping down towards the horizon overhead) Pikachu…"
They all looked at the sun over the trees. It was warm, giving a feeling of security and comfort, which was all but what the five were feeling.
Jesse, thinking: Ekans…
James, thinking: Koffing…
Misty, thinking: Starmie, Charmander…
Brock, thinking: Onix, Graveler…
Ash, thinking: Please be all right, everyone. We'll find you. I know we will.
They found a large oak tree with a hollow base, where they could stay reasonably safe. There were two things noticeable about this small cave. One, it was small, so that only four people could be moderately comfortable, but five would make it too crowded.
Ash, muttering: "I guess four's a party and five's a crowd."
Two, there were 8 Pokéballs in it.
Misty, mouth opening: "Look! Pokéballs!"
She immediately ran up and opened them. Out popped…
Misty, screaming in joy: "Staryu! Gyarados! Starmie! Goldeen! Seaking! Charmander!"
Brock, yelping with happiness: "Onix! Graveler! Rhyhorn! Zubats!"
A quick reunion, and Brock and Misty had all of their Pokémon back [well, one of Brock's Zubats isn't back yet]. Of course, this just made Ash, Jesse, and James more miserable.
Before they could decide who wouldn't sleep at the base of the oak, 11 really fast shadows landed in front of them. It was Fearow, flocked by 7 Zubat, Farfetch'd, Venomoth, and Beedrill. Fearow landed right in front of Ash, who, after jumping, asked the question.
Ash, stroking Fearow's head: "Did you find them, Fearless?"
[Sorry. Stole that name from manga. Bad boy!]
Fearow, sorrowfully shaking her beak: "Fear, fearow. Fearow, fear fear fearow. Fearow." 'Sorry, Ash. We looked, but the forest is so thick and so big that its impossible to search successfully without damaging our wings.'
However, Fearow's wing was already hurt, scratched deeply by a twig. Ash hissed in sympathy and bandaged it up.
Ash, hugging Fearow around the neck: "Hey, its not your fault you're too big and strong to fly through thick branches and leaves. I'm sure you all did your very best, which is more than I should've asked of you. I'm really sorry to you for sending you on a mission to hurt your wing for me."
Misty, rolling her eyes: "Don't be an idiot, Ash. There wasn't a way you could know that the trees were dense when all you had seen was green off in the distance. Pokémon don't learn to respect you that way, they'll think you don't care if they win, and won't try hard. Believe me, I know. Don't be so dense."
Ash, turning to her with narrowed eyes, after returning Farfetch'd, Zubat, Fearow, Venomoth, and Beedrill: "Look, I could but I don't criticize your methods of raising Pokémon, okay, so don't bother me about mine."
Misty, stung: "I WOULDN'T chastise you if I wasn't RIGHT, you moron!"
Ash, eyes flashing: "Oh yeah? You know what, I don't care if you disapprove of my specific methods of earning a Pokémon's trust, building its confidence, and giving it a higher opinion of itself, or if you try to complain about my efforts to build a good friendship with my Pokémon. (Turning away, trembling) That's your prerogative. Just shut up and don't bother me about it. I'll be on the beach. You guys can have the tree."
He moved silently off, quickly. Misty just stood there, struck. Then, she clapped a hand to her forehead, moaning, and, not speaking, she went after him. Jesse and James looked at each other, blinked, looked after Misty, blinked, then turned to Brock.
James: "What?"
Jesse: "…Just…happened?"
Brock, staring after Ash and Misty: "I don't know. It appears that Ash got angry with Misty for thinking she thought his training techniques and his empathy with his Pokémon was seedy, sappy, and stupid. So he left, and Misty followed him."
Jesse, slamming a mallet into Brock's head: "We knew the last part!"
Brock, screaming as he came back to Earth: "YAAAAAAAAAAAA-ughoff!"
James, looking after Ash: "Geez, he's touché."
Jesse, thoughtfully: "Yeah. Why did the twerp take it so seriously? I mean, all she did was saying he was wrong in saying he failed his Pokémon! And she dissed him. But I do that to James all the time, and he just cowers in fear!!"
Brock, getting up painfully: "Well, Ash actually stands up for himself, unlike James. But also, Ash is extremely sensitive about criticism involving his training mode. He told me once about that…"
Flashback
Brock, as they walked towards Cerulean City: "So Ash, in case I should know, what's gets you really mad? I mean, judging by what I've heard, I don't want to tangle with either you or your Pokémon. Got any sensitive points?"
Ash, thoughtfully: "Well, all I can think of is that you shouldn't criticize me too much at one time."
Misty, laughing: "Yeah, like we'll ever get the luxury of doing that."
Ash, trying to glare at her but failing: "When I turned 10, I entered the Game Pokémon League. After beating all opponents except May and Gary, I was pretty confident. Actually, extremely overconfident. Back then, I was usually overconfident. It was a way of being. It was a way I coped with not having a father. My last opponent was May Oak, Gary's sister. I had always been better at May at almost everything. But then, after two of my Pokémon and two of her Pokémon were defeated, she got luck on her side and had a Rhydon, to my Electrode. After I failed in my attempts to Take Down Rhydon, my Electrode was KOed by an Earthquake attack. Then, Gary beat May. He bragged of beating the Game League for three months. He trounced my sense of pride so badly, I needed therapy to keep from depression. After he saw what that did to me, he apologized and left me alone. After I realized that I had no friends but May, who lived was across town, I went into some sort of trance, and started working on my schoolwork, my martial arts classes, and my weight training. And even though he's a little more friendly rival now, I've never forgiven him for that. I want to be able to, but I never see him get better…"
Flashback End
Brock, ending his narration: "Its funny, though. Its like Ash took the first part as a personal insult, when it was actually just constructive criticism from a friend and experienced Trainer."
Jesse, crossing her arms in front of her: "Well, I think that the twerp needs some more therapy."
James, looking at his feet: "But I thought that those two were like…well…"
Brock, amused: "You thought Ash and Misty were a couple?"
He started laughing so hard that Jesse, angry, whacked him with a fan, making him collapse. She looked at James.
Jesse, shrugging: "I guess they aren't an item."
James, scratching his head: "Sure fooled me."
They sighed and dug into their spots, trying to get as comfortable as possible as Brock tried to get up.
Ash sat alone, knees under his chin, watching the beautiful sunset. It was thirty minutes later and a couple miles away. His hat was off on the sand besides him, allowing his hair to wave around in the breeze. The orange sun reminded him of three separate things.
It reminded him of Pikachu's round face, cheerful and carefree. It reminded him of his mom back home, with her determination in him and her bright demeanor that hid her long-suffering pain of a lost husband.
But mostly, it reminded him of the orange-haired girl he had just walked away from. He had overreacted a bit, he could see that now. First, he had done something that must look pretty pathetic, saying sorry to his Pokémon for not knowing something he wouldn't have known. Then, when she had told him he was being redundant, he had grown hostile towards her, in his own way. She didn't deserve that.
He reflected on life. Back, after his dad died, he had vowed to himself to follow in his father's footsteps. Finding out that the age Pokémon Trainers could start their journeys had changed by three years, he had decided to start training himself so that he would be ready when he turned thirteen. It was also helped me overcome the stress of not starting the legacy I needed to start. He had developed from a quiet youth to a boisterous pre-adolescent. Then, he had…changed. After that big Game Tournament thing. He became quiet, polite, smart, and quick. He developed admirable strength and skill in martial arts.
Then, he had started his Journey, and his life turned upside-down. Not only did he meet his best friend, Pikachu, he met the 14 year-old redheaded water-goddess who completely stole his heart and fed it to him with a steak knife. It was funny, he never really realized their difference in age. They seemed the same age, being the same height. He had to admit to himself, he had fallen, hard, for this girl. She was mature, honest, cheerful, down-to-earth, pretty, bright, caring, and so very ALIVE. He envied that. She had experienced the world through travel, and knew exactly where she was in relation to all things, and excelled in that position. She was now his best human friend. But that wasn't the limit of his feelings for her. He cared, he truly cared for her well-being. To put it simply, he loved her. This was strange in two ways. One, kids aren't supposed to be mature enough to actually develop a love for the opposite sex of this nature so soon. Just a physical attraction. Two, he had only known her for three months.
He was disrupted from his thoughts as a twig snapped and announced the arrival of someone or thing. He immediately recognized the light but audible tread.
Ash, without turning around: "Hey."
Misty, walking slowly towards him, softly: "Hey."
Ash inwardly shuddered as she sat down next to him, knees to her chin as she gazed at the setting sun. It would be another one of their 'moments'.
[Ooooh, I like those, mommy! NOT!!]
They didn't look at one another.
Misty, speaking finally: "I'm sorry, Ash."
Ash, with a small smile playing on his lips: "Forget it."
Misty, forcefully: "No, I will not forget it. I've crossed your line once, and I'm sorry, and I want you to know that I won't do it again."
Ash, rolling his eyes: "It really doesn't matter to me, Mist."
Misty, pounding a fist into the sand: "What do I have to do to get you to take me seriously?!"
Ash, laughing softly: "God, its okay! And I do take you seriously! (In his head) I take you VERY serously, Mist. (Out loud) I overreacted a bit. (Gazing at her) And I'm sorry."
Misty, exasperated: "There it is again!"
They laughed a little, though nothing was really funny. It was as if their little dispute or whatever it was never happened.
Misty watched Ash out of the corner of her eye. She had only been able to follow him those two whole miles because he had cut a path through the forested area. A pretty wide path. God, she was lucky, being able to travel with him.
Her life hadn't been very pleasant. Her parents had died on a ship headed for Vermillion City when she was but four years old. Her sisters hadn't been particularly nice to her, all three at the age of ten. They had just wanted to paint their nails and chase after boys than spend time with her, their little late-bloomer of a younger sister. She was put into her grandparents' care. But, pretty soon, both had died by cancer.
She started working for her sisters at the Cerulean Gym. She helped them clean up, make meals, and remodel. In return, they gave her three gifts. Two Staryu and a Water Stone. After a year, they even let her train them by battling Trainers who wanted the Cascade Badge.
When she turned 11, she left home and traveled around Indigo Island. It was fun, on her own, training her Pokémon. But she felt a feeling she never felt before. Loneliness.
She caught 2 Goldeen, a Magikarp, and a Gyarados. But it wasn't the same as the human companionship she needed. So, she headed back to Cerulean. Her sisters were more sisterly, as she was now a bit more like them (prettier and more mature), and they had actually missed her helping them out and bugging them about stuff (as well as taking care of Trainers who wanted to battle). But she still felt like something was missing. She set off again.
Along the way towards the famous Cinnabar Island, she decided to stop just after Viridian City and let her Pokémon have a swim. A flock of Spearow had different ideas.
They attacked out of nowhere, and she had to recall her Pokémon. She hid in the bushes. But they got to her. It still made her shudder. They had slashed, pecked, and beat her body till she was ready to give up and die. Then, he came.
He had seen her attacked. He hadn't known who she was, only that she was in desperate need of help. So, he had set down his Pokéballs and his Pikachu, then ran out to confront what was ailing her, a whole flock of angry Spearows.
Even now, about 3 months later, she was amazed at his courage and selflessness. He had challenged a huge group of particularly harsh and dangerous Pokémon, just to try to save another. It had been in all probability a challenge to certain death. That one act would've put him into heaven with high honors.
She could remember vaguely that they had charged down at him. They were about to strike when Pikachu bounded across the open field and leaped onto Ash's shoulder. A lightning bolt hit Pikachu, and a huge ball of yellow and white electricity formed with awesome power. It got huge. Then, Misty had thankfully blacked out.
Since then, her life had moved in a whole new direction. With a stupid excuse to keep following him, she now went wherever they went. It was wild, and the most fun Misty had ever had in her life. It was funny. She was with him because he tried and sorta succeeded in saving her life. But, every few days or so, he would save her butt again. She realized that unless Ash was keeping a journal (which she couldn't see), they wouldn't ever know how many times Ash had saved her life. Or how many times Misty had saved him, there were a couple of those. So, how would they ever know when her debt was repaid?
With this thought, came another. She started to realize that she wasn't good enough for him. She was a pretty good Trainer, fairly clever and smart, and she was mildly attractive. But he was an excellent Trainer, abnormally smart, and very cute. Why would he like her?
And yet…yet she had hope. Pikachu had explained to her why she liked Ash more than she should. Her bond with Pikachu made her share a bit of his love for Ash. [Yes, Pikachu loves Ash, but ONLY as a best friend!] It might be that with that bond, Ash might like her or even love her a bit, Pikachu's like of her sparking something. Sparking what, though?
And there were times when she looked into his eyes and thought she could see a compassion unlike just the care of a friend. When she gazed into his, she could almost see her own care mirrored back. Misty inwardly sighed. This thought process was getting way too mushy even for her train of thought. It was nice to dream. Or was it?
Now that her life was leading in a new direction (for better, or worse?), these were the best days she had ever had. Almost every day was a new adventure. Just two days ago, she had actually kissed Ash!
With that thought, Misty blushed. It was her first real kiss, though it would've been a lot better (better meaning more meaningful, more involved, and with a much greater effect), if he had been conscious.
Right now, as she sat near him, she felt a deep longing. She wished they were a couple. In her fantasy, Misty would lay her head back on his chest as he held her in his arms. They would both watch the sun go down, relaxing and hearing each other whisper professions of love to one another.
Misty, thinking sadly: But…that's never going to happen…
Ash himself was thinking along the same lines as Misty.
Ever since he had saved her back near Pallet, his whole world was entering a new, thrilling dimension. He had to admit, he had to gone to extreme measures to impress her, making him train harder than he normally would. A long time ago…
Ash, thinking: Wow…'long time ago'? That was only about two months ago!
Two months ago, he had fiercely wanted to be the best. Now he felt he needed too. Right now he was a lowly yet successful Pokémon Trainer, while she was a Gym Leader. Being a Gym Leader was one of the highest ranks in the Pokémon world. It was only eclipsed by the very highest ranks, a Supreme Gym Leader, Pokémon League Champion, or Pokémon Master.
He mulled over her many qualities that he found appealing, again. Not only was she beautiful, but caring, empathetic to a fault, smart, gentle, determined, and with a very strong mind. There was something about her that just drew him to want to be with her, at all times, every day. He didn't know what it was. She was vibrant and so…alive. She was perfect.
He could imagine them as a couple. Instead of sitting on the sand watching the sunset right now, four feet away from her, they would watch it embraced. They would be in a hug, pressed together, backs to a tree. From time to time they would look into each other's eyes and just lose themselves. Or, kissing passionately.
That thought slightly tickled him. He had never in his life kissed someone on their lips. Once, in Pallet, he had gone on a date with May Oak. They had almost kissed after watching a romance movie. They hadn't really wanted to all that much, but they were curious, and caught up in the moment.
Mayflower Oak was pretty. Extremely pretty. Almost to a fault (this is the kind of girl that Brock would go wild about). She was almost as attractive as Misty, even. (Actually, most would say that May was much more attractive than Misty, but Ash didn't think so.) All of the boys in town (there weren't that many) had crushes on her. This pissed off the other girls. But Mayflower had only liked Ash. (This wasn't surprising. Most girls liked Ash or Gary – they were the smartest, cutest, coolest boys in town. The fact that Ash was very distant to girls added and subtracted to the attraction. But, girls still wanted other boys to pay attention to them, as a vanity thing.)
When they had been about to kiss, Gary showed up and they decided not to. After that, they had abandoned their futile efforts to become more than friends.
Misty was a whole new matter. He really wanted to share a kiss with her. Almost ever since he had known her, he had started feeling protective of her, as if she was his personal property. This alarmed him. He had tried to be modest and not pig-headed for the past few years, to respect people's property and freedom. He had tried to put that attitude into training, and had succeeded.
There were five factors that made him stop from blurting his feelings right out. Number one, the second-most obvious, he was just plain scared. He'd never entered a relationship like that with someone before, even May. Two, the chances were slim that Misty would care for him as much as he did for her. She probably felt only a friendship towards him. Three, IF they developed a relationship, Ash might get distracted from his goals and journey. Four, if somehow they did develop a deeper relationship, it would probably be hard to keep it up until they were old enough to marry. And lastly, five. If Misty only cared for him as a friend, which was the most probable situation, when he did tell her, if he did, it would ruin their friendship. That friendship was extremely important to Ash.
No, it was probably for the best that he didn't have the guts to tell her his feelings.
A redheaded young man was standing on a large branch of a huge birch tree, watching the scene from a couple hundred yards away. Beside him was a young man of the same age with blonde hair.
Flare, idly: "Why are we here, again?"
Spike, turning to his brother: "Well, it was the nearest place I could Teleport us from the St. Anne, and we need to keep watch over our young cousin in case he gets into more trouble than he can deal with. And I'm not up to Teleporting a great distance any time soon, so we might as well watch to see how he's doing."
Flare, looking at his fingernails: "So, why do we need to keep track of him? I mean, if he's not strong enough to look after himself, why bother helping him anyway?"
Spike, turning to Flare, eyes narrowing: "Why, brother, that must be the most cold-hearted thing I've ever heard you say."
Flare, grinning wryly: "Some of your oh-so-charming personality must be wearing off on me."
Spike ignored him, and went back to watching Ash and his Gym Leader friend.
The two young teenagers stared at the disappearing sun as it slowly sank to touch the horizon, casting a new reddish light.
Both, thinking wistfully: If only you knew…
Suddenly, they were jerked from their thoughts from a low, echoing rumble and a slight shaking of the ground beneath them. It looked like an earthquake. Instinctively, Ash moved to get up, but was caught when the ground rumbled again and he slid back down to sit on the sand.
It was proven when a line of sand between Ash and Misty disappeared, as if being sucked into the ground. A split second later, the line of disappearing sand opened and fell away to show a crack they widened with every millisecond.
Misty screamed as she started to fall through another crack.
Ash, panicking: "MISTY!!"
He was up in a flash, despite the ground, and at her side, jumping over the new, extremely narrow trench. Misty fell, and Ash barely caught her hands in his. In another nightmarish moment, the ground moved away, leaving them on a pillar of sand in the middle of a group of islands separated by thin, foot-wide gaps in the ground.
Ash fell a bit from grabbing her, leaving him dangling over the side of the pillar with only his legs to anchor him into the sand. He started to slip on the sand, and Misty descended a little.
Their pillar moved upwards, as if two tectonic plate were pushing against each other under it. A minute passed, and the rumbling stopped. Ash stopped slipping, legs dug into harder ground. He watched, wide-eyed and pale, as Misty's hands slowly weakened their grip on his. They stared into each other's eyes in panic. Ash glanced away, at the fathomless depths of the drop, and gulped, eyes going wider.
Misty, choking: "Ash…please…help me…"
Those words fought deep into Ash's heart and mind. Ash was struck with a sense of forboding and great despair. He knew of Fearow and his other Pokémon on his belt that might help so much right now. But if tried to get them, Misty would surely fall. Very slowly, he was slipping on the sand, legs coming free.
With a dying heart, Ash realized that, for once, he wouldn't save her.
Narrator: "All looks lost, as Misty dangles helplessly over the edge of doom! No one can save her now…unless some miracle occurs! I don't know about you, but I'm scared!"
Hmm. I haven't updated in over a month and a week. I'm really bad. Oh, well. Its my school's fault! Too much homework!
QOTF (Question Of The Fic) – How many people out there are from the U.S.?
POTF (Poll Of The Fic) – Do you think you'll keep reading this fic if I keep adding new chapters, or is it getting too boring?
In the next fic, I'm gonna have some fun, which will probably make it the weirdest fic I ever write. Can Ash save Misty? Will both fall to their doom?? Tune in for the next chapter!
{:FLAREON:}
Author's Note: This is where Flareon ended his story and at a cliffhanger no less so I want somebody else to pick it up from here and e-mail it to me the person who does I will give full credit to.
Thanks once again,
Talent Scout