-Chapter Four-


(Saffron Train Station, Saffron City)

Grumly stepped nimbly through the mass of people at in the train station, pulling his brown coat tighter around his scaly body. His red eyes narrowed in on Giovanni's daughter and her partner as they stood against a wall, looking at a map and arguing over something.
"James, the quickest way to Viridian is to fly through Fuchsia and over the islands!"
"No, it'll be faster to just fly through Celadon!"
"Can't you listen to reason for once?"
"And since have your ideas been reasonable?"
Grumly calm to a halt and watched as the girl pulled a rather large mallet seemingly out of nowhere, and proceeded to wham him in the face with it.
"Ow!"
The man placed a hand to his nose, which had started to bleed. The girl paused and looked at her mallet thoughtfully.
"Funny…that never happened before."
The man shot her a nasty look. She scowled back at him.
"Stop standing there glaring at me and go clean yourself up!"
A thin smile spread across Grumly's face. If he followed the man, he could simply be rid of him so he could carry off the little lady with no problem at all.

Grumly walked into the men's restroom without being noticed. He stepped inside a stall and watched through the slit between the door and the wall of the stall as James stopped the bleeding and washed his hands. He slipped out of his coat and quietly unlatched the door. Silently, he went to stand behind James.
"Hello there, stranger…"
James jumped a little and turned around, his green eyes following the new voice.
"What the--?!"
Grumly let out a battle cry as he jumped into the air and delivered a rough hi-kick to James' chest. He fell backwards, knocking his head on the hard wall. Grumly smirked as he slid to the floor, moaning.
"It's naptime!" He announced, stepping closer.
He opened his mouth wide and leaned in, breathing out a large portion of strong demon breath. James' eyes rolled into the back of his head, as he was knocked unconscious. Grumly laughed maliciously to himself and reached forward to grab him…but he was stopped when he felt a tap on his head.
"Who's there?" Grumly snarled as he whirled around to come face to face with an Alakazam.
"Huh? Who are you?"
"Ala…alakazam!"
Grumly gasped as Alakazam's eyes glowed and he was lifted into the air by a Confusion attack. The alakazam dropped him roughly to the floor and shot a Psybeam at him. Grumly's red eyes dimmed as hi blacked out and Alakazam picked him, teleporting out of the restroom.

(Saffron Train Station Parking Lot, Saffron City)

Sabrina watched the Cerulean sisters pile their bags into the back of her van. A small sweatdrop appeared at her temple at the sight.
"Do you really need so much stuff for a conference?" She asked in her low, melodious voice.
Lily turned to face her, flipping her hair.
"Like, we're going to an island, which means beaches!"
Violet nodded.
"Yeah! And like, beaches means hot boys!"
Daisy smiled.
"And hot boys means that we have to like, look GOOD!"
Sabrina shook her head and turned around, sensing her Alakazam appear behind.
"Alakazam," he muttered, letting Grumly drop to the floor at his master's feet.
The sisters shrieked and stepped away.
"Oh my gosh! Like, what is that thing?!"
Sabrina stared in silence at the creature before her. Never in her life had she seen anything like it, not even in her wildest imaginations. She closed her deep eyes and concentrated her mind on it, but even her psychic powers felt nothing from it.
"Strange…"
"You mean like, gross!"
Sabrina opened her eyes again and nodded to her Alakazam. Alakazam picked up Grumly and got into the passenger seat of her van.
"Why are you like, taking that thing?" Daisy asked, grimacing.
Sabrina did not answer.
"Are you finished loading?"
The girls nodded. Sabrina walked around to get in the van.
"Then let's go. Koga will be waiting for us."
The sisters offered no protests as they climbed inside. There was something about Sabrina's tone of voice that made any thoughts of arguing disappear. Besides she was their transportation, and they were NOT walking all the way to Fuchsia in their good shoes.

(Ketchum Residence, Pallet Town)

The sun was slowly setting behind Indigo Mountain. There was a slight breeze in the air that stirred up a few clutters of leaves. Ash's hair was ruffled in the wind as he stared out at Professor Oak's laboratory. He could see the professor climbing into the helicopter that had landed on his rooftop minutes before.
What are you hiding from me, Professor? Haven't I proven myself to you already?
He glanced to his side as he felt May come to stand beside him.
"Is he leaving already?"
Ash nodded a little.
"Yeah, I guess so."
May looked over at Indigo Mountain and chuckled.
"It's funny…"
Ash raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
"What is?"
"Well, when it gets dark like this and you look at the mountain, you can barely see the smoke. It's like nothing really happened."
Ash stared at her, then at the mountain, not quite understanding what was funny about that. He shivered and put his arms around himself.
"Don't be afraid, Ash."
"I'm not. I've faced worse before."
May looked at him.
"How can you say that you've faced worse when you don't know what you're facing?"
Ash was trying to think of a reply, when an almost distant voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Ash! Hey, Ash!!"
"Huh?"
Ash looked up.
"Hey…that sounds like…"
He stepped down from his mother's porch and turned towards the road. He felt his heart skip a beat at what he saw. It had been a long time since he saw her…and with the atmosphere of twilight, he wasn't sure what to make of it. May looked from Ash to the approaching person.
"Ash? Are you okay?"
Brock stepped out onto the porch, wiping his hands on his apron.
"Ash, May, come on inside! Dinner's…"
His voice trailed off as his gaze followed May's. He hesitated for a moment, then grinned.
"Hey! Misty!!"
Ash smiled too.
"Misty…"
Misty ran up to Ash and stopped in front of him, out of breath.
"Hi Ash, it's been awhile, huh?"
Ash nodded.
"Yeah, it has. What are you doing here?"
Misty's smile faded.
"I saw what was going on here on the news. The barrier. I came as soon as I heard…"
Her trademark smile brightened her face again.
"Besides, don't think I've forgotten about my bike, Ash Ketchum!"
Ash returned the smile as she hugged him lightly.
"Oh, I didn't you had, Misty! Somehow, I didn't think you had!"

End of Chapter Four