-Chapter Two-


(Blaine's New Gym, Cinnabar Island)

The next day, Blaine led the two groups down a hidden passageway in his newly built gym. The Cerulean sisters walked close together, looking disdainfully at the demon Alakazam continued to carry.
"If it bothers you to look at it, then don't," Sabrina said, without turning around to see them.
Lily and Violet shuddered.
"It's so like, creepy how she does that."
Daisy shook her head.
"But like, Sabrina, what if it like, woke up but nobody knew because nobody was like, looking at it? What would it like, do?"
"Hopefully it would kill you three first," Koga grumbled, half-jokingly.
Sabrina and her Alakazam sweatdropped. Daisy crossed her arms.
"Dude, you really need to like, chill out."
"I agree," Blaine chimed.
"Well, no one asked you," Koga growled.
Gary and Whitney exchanged glances and Whitney smiled embarrassedly.
"I'm sorry, Gary. They don't exactly get along well, but…"
"It's okay, Whitney. Remember, I hang out with Team Rocket. There's not much of a difference."
Whitney laughed lightly, but grew quiet as the group stopped. Before them stood two strange looking pods. Blaine stepped up to them and pushed a button to open them.
"These are my own personal transportation devices. I had them installed all over when the gym was built, knowing that this would happen one day."
He extended an arm towards them.
"All right. Everyone in my group go in this one here. Everyone else go in that one."
Violet hugged her two sisters before filing in with Blaine's group. Daisy and Lily grimaced as Alakazam stood between them and Sabrina.
"Do we have to like, be so close to this thing?"
Sabrina sighed, but gave them a small smirk.
"Would you rather stand by Koga?"
Koga cast the two sisters an evil look. They shook their heads and groaned. Sabrina smiled at Koga, but he looked away.
Blaine saluted them and closed their pods. He pushed a button to send them off. Then, he stepped into his and sealed it. Reaching up to the ceiling, he pushed another button to start theirs. Gary and Whitney took each other's hands as the pod began to shake and Violet closed her eyes.
"Relax everyone," Blaine coaxed. "Get some rest. We'll be arriving in Kenya, Africa in a few hours."

(over the Indian Ocean)

Meowth yelped as white foam from the water's surface splashed onto him, wetting his fur.
"Me-owth! I'm getting soaked! Can't dis thing go up some?"
"It travels faster this way!" Dr. Brown called over his shoulder.
Jessie, James, and Dr. Brown's hair blew violently around them as Dr. Brown's dragonite flew over the Indian Ocean like a speeding bullet. Jessie turned her head slightly to look back at Meowth.
"If you don't like it, you could always go inside a pokeball," she teased.
Meowth stuck his tongue out at her and she turned back. James chuckled and tightened his hold on Jessie's waist slightly, resting his head on her shoulder. She glanced back at him and her lips pulled up into a soft smile. Meowth rolled his eyes.
"Don't yous two start gettin' all lovey-dovey. I can only take so much."
Jessie was about to reply when her Team Rocket communicator went off. She slipped it out of her skirt pocket and flipped it open.
"Agent Parker here."
"Jessie. This is Giovanni. Where the hell are you?!!"
Jessie winced.
"Uh, sir, I'm uh…"
Everyone gasped sharply as Dragonite veered to the side roughly to dodge a speedboat. The communicator fell out of Jessie's hand and into the ocean at the quickness of the turn. Jessie sighed and looked back at James.
"You wouldn't happen to have yours, would you?"
James shook his head.
"I left it at HQ. Sorry, Jess."
Jessie shrugged and faced forward again.
"It's no big deal. I'll call him when we land."
Dr. Brown nodded.
"We should be there in just a few hours. Dragonite, can you pick up the pace?"
Dragonite nodded his reply and sped up even faster. They closed their eyes against the considerably rougher wind and shielded their faces with each other's shoulders. Dr. Brown pressed his face close to Dragonite's face and was momentarily reminded of how he used to seek comfort like this in Blaine when they were younger. He tensed as he was struck with the thought that Blaine might be doing the same thing they were. And then maybe they could see each other again…after all these years. He opened his eyes a sliver and stopped himself. He didn't want to get his hopes up.

(Russian Speed Train, Russia)

Professor Oak leaned back against his seat and looked out the window. He shivered at the sight of all the snow. Pallet Town didn't get snow all that often, and certainly not that much. But he would have to grin and bare it. This was an important task.
Behind him, Professor Elm and Ivy were seated in an awkward silence. Elm rubbed his palms together idly and looked at her.
"I really admire your work-all your research," he complimented uncertainly.
Ivy smiled carelessly at him for a moment.
"Thank you. I also respect your work-all your discoveries."
Elm blushed and smiled back.
"Thank you very much!"
Ivy nodded and glanced out of the window as they once again fell into silence.
"Of course," he started again. "I'm nowhere near as famous as you and Professor Oak."
"You're getting there, Professor."
"Yes," Professor Oak agreed. "And perhaps this expedition will spread your fame."
Professor Elm beamed half-proud, half-embarrassed. It was alittle overwhelming to be in such well-known company.

(Valencia Speed Boat, on the North Atlantic Ocean)

Ash stood on the dock, his black hair ruffling in the breeze. He smiled at Pikachu who was on his shoulder.
"These are the kind of things Pokemon Masters have to do every now and then," he commented. "It's kinda cool huh, Pikachu?"
Pikachu smiled back and nodded in agreement.
"Pika pi!"
May came to stand beside him.
"It's so exciting! I've never done something like this before!"
"Well, I'm glad you decided to come along, May."
May smiled warmly at him.
"Of course, Ash."
"And I'd never miss the chance to save the world with you," Misty said, cutting in and standing on the other side of him.
Ash grinned at her. May frowned slightly and looked away from them.
I can't believe how he just melts when he smiles at her like that!
She shook her head to clear away that thought.
Jealousy isn't becoming, May, she reminded herself.
But Misty left! And Ash traveled with me! She had her chance and didn't take it!
She glanced at them again.
Maybe she's taking her chance now…I shouldn't try and stand between them…
She sighed audibly and Ash looked at her.
"Are you okay, May?"
She blushed clumsily.
"I'm fine, Ash!"
Ash and Misty smiled at her. May forced herself to smile back. Brock watched them from a bit of a distance, a little amused. He thought about going over and starting something when he saw a group of girls clad in bikinis in the corner of his eye. Grinning to himself, he forgot about the love triangle and headed over to the girls in his "Babe Magnet" mode.
The sun set slowly across the horizon as Ash, May, and Misty gazed out to the sea. The sky was light and hazy, giving off quite a romantic effect. In the peaceful silence, May slipped her hand over Ash's hand nearest to her, not knowing that on the other side, Misty was doing the same. Ash's eyes widened slightly and he looked down at his hands. He sweatdropped, but didn't say anything. Pikachu saw and smiled a little smirk as the islands of the Bahamas came into view.

End of Chapter Two