Disclaimer: Unless I somehow inherited the rights to Pokemon without knowing it, I still own nothing…except Lily. I do own her and am very proud of that fact. Or ashamed may be the word I'm thinking of, I don't know. You'll see why I say that…eventually.
Once again, thanks to everyone! If all goes well, this chapter will follow closely on the heels of the last. I can only type so fast, but I am trying. I have to make up for lost time, don't I? Well, enjoy!
Chapter Eight: Giovanni
They finally arrived at Team Rocket Headquarters. Jessie and James walked past the guards, who let them through when they saw the uniforms they wore. Soon they came to a set of double doors blocked by tall guards.
"We're here to see the Boss," Jessie said. "He's expecting us." The guards opened the doors for them.
Once inside the room, Ash saw a man sitting at a desk. A purring Persian sat on the floor next to him. The man had dark, slicked-back hair, and he was wearing an orange suit. He frowned at Jessie and James.
"What is it now?" he demanded. Ash jumped a little, in spite of himself. Jessie and James seemed nervous too.
"Sir, we've done what you asked," Jessie said. "We've brought the boy."
So this is Team Rocket's boss, Ash thought. The Boss looked at him.
"Funny. I never would have thought it would be you," he said. "So, you're the boy with the Pikachu. I've heard a great deal about you and that Pokemon." He glared at Jessie and James, who gulped nervously. "That Pikachu is incredibly strong, I hear. Where is it?"
"None of your business!" Ash said. He hoped they wouldn't go back to capture Pikachu. Luckily, Pikachu would have told everyone what had happened by now. But what good will that do me? Ash thought. They won't be able to find me here. I shouldn't have come with Team Rocket.
"So you're a rude little boy too, I see," the Boss said. "You obviously haven't been taught manners. We'll have to work on that."
Ash didn't like the sound of that.
"You may go," the man said to Team Rocket. "Good work."
They left, clearly thrilled by the praise. Ash watched them leave; then he turned back to the Boss.
"Sit down," the man ordered. Ash sat. "Do you know who I am?" the man asked.
"Team Rocket's boss," Ash said, wondering where this conversation was going.
The man nodded. "That's right. My name is Giovanni. And your name is Ash, is that correct?"
Ash crossed his arms. "Team Rocket told you that. If you're trying to impress me, you can forget about it."
Giovanni frowned, but didn't reply to that. "Your mother's name is Delia, correct?"
"Maybe." Why was this guy asking him these questions?
"Why am I here?" Ash asked. "And why are you asking me questions?"
"It's quite simple, Ash. You see, I am your father."
Ash's head swam. He felt like he was in some kind of dream…or nightmare. He heard a crash and realized he'd fallen out of his chair. He didn't make a move to get up. If this was a dream, he'd wake up soon.
Giovanni came around the side of the desk and extended a hand to Ash. Ash pulled away, then got up on his own and sat in the chair again.
"You're lying!" he said.
Giovanni sat down again too. "No, I'm not lying," he said. "Why would I lie about having such a rude, irritating child for a son?"
Ash didn't think he'd been rude, and he was sure he wasn't irritating, but it was hard to remember sometimes, so he kept his mouth shut.
Giovanni petted Persian. "Do you have any questions?"
Ash had about a million questions, but one was more important than any other right now. "When can I go home?" he asked quietly.
Giovanni smiled. "Why, Ash, you are home."
Ash stared at him, wide-eyed. "I'd like to go home to my mom, please," he managed to get out in spite of his shock and fear.
"I'm afraid that is impossible. You are my child and I'm not about to let you go again."
"You can't keep me here!"
Giovanni glared at Ash. "Oh, can't I?" he said mockingly. "Your mother was wrong to hide you from me, but now that I have you, I intend to keep you."
Ash jumped up and ran to the door. He flung it open and ran out. Giovanni sat calmly waiting. Within moments Ash was escorted back inside by the guards.
"Let me go!" Ash elbowed one guard in the stomach. He kicked the other. They released him, nodded to Giovanni, and left. Ash stood by the door, panting. He glared at Giovanni.
"Why are you doing this to me? What do you want me for?" he asked angrily.
"Because you belong to me. Do I need another reason?" Giovanni still sat calmly, which actually made Ash more nervous. Ash reached for his pokeballs at his waist, only to realize they weren't there. He remembered he'd let his Pokemon out to get exercise that morning. It seemed like years ago to Ash. Why had he ever agreed to go with Team Rocket?
Ash slumped back into his chair. Everything seemed so hopeless.
"Please let me go home," he pleaded. "I won't tell anyone you kidnapped me. I won't even mention you at all."
Giovanni shook his head. "I have other plans for you."
"Kids, it's time to come inside," Ash's mom called out the front door. Misty, Brock and Gary came running.
"Where's Ash?" his mother asked. The kids looked around.
"He was just here a while ago," Misty said.
"He said he was going to give his Tauros some water," Brock added.
Just then, Pikachu came running up to them. "Pika! Pika pi chu! Pika!" It kept trying to tell them something, but they couldn't understand.
"Did something happen to Ash, Pikachu?" Delia asked. Pikachu started running back toward the field; then stopped and looked back as if to tell them to follow. They did, and Pikachu led them to the pit.
"Pikachu, pika!" It pointed to the pit, then into the air.
Misty and Brock looked down at the pit.
"Team Rocket!" they said together.
"What or who is Team Rocket?" Ash's mom asked.
"Only the most annoying people in the world!" Misty exclaimed. "They've been trying to get Pikachu, like, every day since Ash started his Pokemon journey. They're part of a huge gang that works for…what's the guy's name, Brock? Wasn't it…Giovanni! That's it!"
"Giovanni?" Gary said. ""But he's--" He broke off when he looked at Delia.
She had gone very pale. She gasped. "Oh, no," she whispered. She sat down hard on the porch.
"What's wrong?" Misty asked frantically. Gary ran inside and got Professor Oak. The Professor rushed outside and sat next to his wife.
"Delia, what is it?"
She looked up. "Ash. He took Ash." She put her face in her hands.
Professor Oak seemed to know what she was talking about, even though no one else did. "Don't worry, Delia. We'll get him back," he said firmly.
"What are you guys talking about? Who took Ash?" Gary asked.
Ash's mom spoke, her voice catching. "Giovanni."
"The Viridian City gym leader? The one with that evil, powerful Pokemon? Why would he take Ash?"
Ash's mom started crying.
"Gary, you're not helping," his grandfather said. "Look, we'll make some calls, starting with the police. Come on, everybody inside."
Pikachu still sat in the grass, staring in the direction Ash had gone. "Pika," it said sadly.
Giovanni led Ash to a small room. It had a bed, a table and a dresser, but not much else.
"You will stay here for the time being," he told Ash. "There are clothes for you in the dresser. Put them on. Someone will bring you food shortly. I suggest you get some sleep. Tomorrow your training begins." With that, he left, the door locking behind him. Ash stood staring at the door for a minute, and then he sat on the bed.
Mom, I miss you, he thought. I'm sorry I got myself into this. Please hurry up and rescue me.
Wow! Ain't I good to get 2 chapters done so close together? And I only had to stay up all night to do it! Maybe I should go to bed now… Anyway, please review! Nothing makes my day like getting reviews! Thanks!