Enter Chapter 3.

This chapter features the person who got me started with fanfics. She also ended my thing with fanfics. She was my best friend for years only to have high-school attitudes end our friendship. Honestly, I miss her. This is none other than Mia, former author. Mia: If you see this, please contact me.

I didn't fall asleep that night. I had stayed up and worked on the case. Around seven, Misty came from her bedroom, not at all surprised to see me.

"G'morning," she said with a yawn.

"Hey."

She walked back into her bedroom. I thought it was best not to follow. "Where we going today?"

"Well, I don't think you'll want to come with me. I'm going to Agatha's house."

Misty ran out of the room panicked. So panicked she forgot to put her tank top on. "What? Her house in a forest, right?" Her skin crawled at the thought of a bug-infested forest. She felt the chill in the room, looked down and ran back into her room to put on her forgotten article of clothing.

"Yes, it's in a forest." I decided to jeer her on. "With bugs. I heard the local zoo transported about fifteen different species last week in hopes to repopulate the area. Coming?"

She came out with all of her clothes on. "Sure, why not? It's not like we're going to a bug exposition or something."

We reached Agatha's house only to find the door locked and a little piece of paper on the door. It read:

Hello, I'm sorry I'm not able to be home. If your
visit is urgent, I'm volunteering at the Bug Expo
in Celadon City. You can find me there until 6.
Thanks,
Agatha

I tucked the note away before Misty could see it. I turned to find Misty batting at a Caterpie that was trying to crawl up her leg.

"Okay, time to go." I pushed her forward.

"What? She's not home? Where is she?" Like a little five-year-old wanting to know everything.

"No where in particular," I lied.

Misty just about ran off when we approached the gym. "Come on," I said. "It won't be that bad. All of the bugs safely put away in their cages."

"Yeah right, and I'm a virgin. I'm out of here." She turned and slowly walked away as if expecting me to follow her.

I really don't know why she keeps following me. Brock's been gone for two years now at his Pokémon Breeding Volunteer Center. Tracy has his hands tied with his job, and his fiancee. I already paid her back for the bike after the Johto League. Oh well.

As I was walking up the stairs, a young, nerdy guy walked out. I handed him a twenty and said, "Give it to the girl walking over there and, well, enjoy."

He seemed to get the picture. He smiled, said, "Thanks, dude," and ran off towards Misty.

"No, thank you." I turned back towards the building only to watch a stumbling Mia walk down the steps, gripping the handrail. "Hey, Mia. You're gripping the hand rail like it's Gary."

She was shocked and fell down the two remaining steps. "Shut up, Ash."

I walked over to her with a small laugh. "What's your excuse this time? Dress, heels, or lack-there-of, or gravity?"

She looked down at her green dress. "Shut up! So I'm clumsy on stairs, big whoop."

"You're also clumsy on LEVEL ground," I reminded.

Mia tried to lie in order to cover her Achilles' heel (in her case, the phrase hits dead-on.) "What?"

"Oh, come on. You're more clumsy than a Loony Toon on a path of marbles."

She gave up the charade. "Who told you that?"

A man walked by and asked, "You want a free cup of coffee?"

Mia twisted her face in disgust. "No."

I decided to take a cup. "What the smeg? It's free." After taking a small sip, I poured the coffee into the nearest tree pot. "Hm, can use that as drain cleaner. No wonder it's free. Anyway, your brother told me. He told me all about the 'good ol' days' of high school. His growth spurt, your constant nagging--no offense." A small laugh slipped my lips. "He even bragged about you barely escaping your Advanced Chemistry class with your life."

Mia tried to lie. "What about Chemistry?"

I went up the stairs to get out of her immediate punching range. "You know--the Bunsen burner, way too much hair-spray, the other chemicals--"

She cut me off before I got to the best part. "Hey, how was I supposed to know Hydrogen Nitride was flammable?" She quickly changed the subject. "So, why are you here? Looking for a case?"

I turned my gaze to the door. "No. I already have one. The Elite's are--"

"--being hunted down one by one," she completed. "It's all over the news. Just be glad you weren't mentioned. You would be the perfect target. The killer would know who was going to curtail their scheme."

"Which reminds me. Your brother told me to tell you that he still has the scar from your exhibit of that word. And since when does 'curtail' mean to tackle?"

She blushed at the reminder. "How else were we supposed to show something being cut down? He's just lucky I didn't have an ax."

I shook my head, said good-bye and walked inside to prevent ending up like her "bro" after high school: tall, skinny, and scarred from Mia. Author's note: I still have the scar on my hip!

As I opened the door, a bunch of Pokémon calls came from inside. I had never seen so many bug Pokémon in one place before. They had everything from Caterpie to Ledyba on exhibit. I searched the Expo for Agatha. I was pelted with all kinds of coupons like "50 off Potions" or "Buy one Pokéball, Get 1 FREE" and stuff like that. I roamed around until finally I saw her.

She was romping and frolicking with some young Spinarak. I never thought I'd see the day with a two-hundred-year-old frolicking. It was actually kinda scary. She noticed me and finished up her spiel about the Spinarak's webbing and its durability.

She signaled with her hands for me to meet her in her office. The only way to it was to go through the Spinarak cage. One of the little buggers kept trying to mate with my leg. I had a heck of a time shaking him off. Agatha walked in already while I was taking care of the little arachnid. I finally managed to shake it loose and slammed the door behind me. I let out a sigh of relief.

"What do you feed those things? Viagra? Prozac, maybe?"

She just smiled. "No, I'm taking Prozac, not the Pokémon. As for the Viagra--"

I held out my hand to avoid a rather uncomfortable conversation. "Please, don't go on. I really don't want to know." I turned back to the door where the tiny Pokémon kept scratching. It should hire Misty for a day or two. I took my mind off of sex-mad spiders and really weird, old people. "So Agatha, how are you holding up?"

"I'm holding up rather well. How are you?"

"Oh, fine. Fine." I decided not to bring up Bruno's murder the previous day. I didn't want to make her last show…well, her last show. "Do you mind if I check your office for anything suspicious? You know, with the serial killings and all." I mentally hit my head at the mention of the plural "serial killings."

She seemed to notice, but didn't respond. "By all means. Better safe than sorry."

"Or dead," I added. She left as that stupid eight-legged freak came running for me. I stood and gave it one good kick out of the door. Agatha shut the door. I almost felt sorry for the Spinarak. Almost.

I searched most of the entire room. I started with the closet, then the fridge where I swiped a Dr. Pepper. I popped the top and took a long drink. I spit out my mouthful when I was surprised by a series of beeps. I followed the sound under the desk. What I found was a firebomb.

I saw a documentary on PBS about hidden warfare. A little LED display would count down from ten. When it reached zero, it would release and ignite a burst of Propane gas. The fireball would then burn everything it touches and then spread like a wildfire. At the moment, the timer was on 5.

I ran as fast as I could. I opened the door to the fridge and grabbed two more Dr. Peppers and ran out of the door just in time to save my life, and the sodas. I put the cans of pop on a shelf, ran for a fire extinguisher, and ran back.

The fire was out in minutes. I tossed the empty red can to a bystander who held it up like a trophy.

I walked over to Agatha who looked like she saw a ghost. "Well, I must say, it's been a blast." Boo's came from the people surrounding for the bad pun. "Watch your back. The killer's after you now. Lay low."

She nodded absently. I patted her on the shoulder and surveyed the charred doorway. I grabbed the cans of soda and walked away.

Once again, I was startled by a series of beeps. I turned around. It was behind me. I turned around again. Still behind me. I looked at my watch. It was my alarm. I had set it for noon so I'd know when it was time to eat. I sighed with relief and started laughing at myself.

I dropped the sodas, as I was scared to death with yet another sound. This wasn't a few beeps. This was a gunshot. The stampede of people started immediately. I tried pushing my way through the mob, but it was no use. I looked up to see some webs from Spinarak's evolved form. I can't believe it. I trained with Pokémon most of my life and I can't remember what one's name is. I climbed up a few feet only to fall on my butt.

"Why didn't I pay more attention in ROTC?" By then, the mob had ended, with exception of a few Pokémon. I made sure the sodas were okay. All of them were fine, just a little shaken up. I'll have to wait before opening them. That or give one to Mia. I ran back to Agatha's booth. She wasn't there. I looked in the office only to find a large puddle of blood with a trail leading to and out of the window. I didn't think about looking out the window. Besides, the killer probably fled with the crowd.

I gave up and walked out to the empty room. I pulled out my cell phone and started dialing the eleven-digit phone number for Tracy. I hit send and said, "I need to put his number on speed-dial.

This day was full of surprises. A female, obviously in Misty's line of work, answered.

"Thank you for calling Kinky Pleasures. How can I make you happy?"

I hung up and muttered, "I really need to put his number on speed dial." I tried again and made sure it was the right number.

One ring.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Finally, an answering machine picked up. It was Kaz. "Hey! Sorry Tracy can't come to the phone right now. He's a bit tied up."

Tracy's muffled voice was in the back. "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!!!"

Kaz again. "After the beep, leave your name and all the usual stuff. Bye!"

I was expecting a beep, but it was a squeal of Tracy being tickled. I really wanted to hurry now from fright one of them would pick up. "Uh, right, it's Ash, I have more news about out killer friend, nice answering machine message, bye." I quickly hung up.

"I really need to stop calling him at home."

I replaced the phone and walked out. I backed up right back in to see a poster advertising a Pokémon show. Lorelie was hosting a water and ice Pokémon show in Cerulean. "I hope she doesn't mind a visit." I walked out.

I ran back in as I remembered the forgotten Dr. Peppers.

End Chapter 3