The Past Returns
By Serena-chan
DISCLAIMER: Well, you get the idea by now. All previous disclaimers apply to the chapters following them.
PART THREE:
"Hey, Mom," Ash said, "pass the potatoes, please."
The group had finally arrived in Pallet Town and were sitting down to a nice meal that Ash's mother had prepared for them.
"Well, I don't think I can eat another bite," Brock sighed, contentedly.
"That was a really great meal, Mrs. Ketchum," Misty commented.
Ash yawned loudly. "Well, I'm exhausted."
"Yes, you all need your rest," Mrs. Ketchum said, beginning to clear the dishes from the table. "Brock, why don't you sleep in the spare bedroom down the hall. Misty, you and Ash can sleep in his room. I'll set up a futon in there for one of you to sleep on."
They agreed and went upstairs. When they got there, Misty insisted on having the bed because she was the guest. Ash was too tired to care. He just flopped on the futon with pikachu beside him and shut his eyes.
Ash awoke a few hours later. He checked his clock, 12:00am. He sighed and rolled over to go back to sleep, but as he did, he looked over at his bed and saw Misty. She was laying there, dreaming peacefully, with her hair down framing her face. The moonlight was shining on her in such a way that she seemed to be glowing. She looked like an angel. Ash's heart pounded as he reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
A voice suddenly rang through the darkness causing Ash to jump and Misty to awake. "Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double."
Ash groaned.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all people within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!" Cried Jessie, jumping out of the shadows.
"James!" Cried James, following suit.
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth! 'Dat's right!" Meowth said as he joined them.
"What do you three want at this hour!" Misty yelled.
Jessie laughed. "We're here for your pikachu."
"Can't you at least wait till morning?" Ash asked groggily.
"Pika," pikachu agreed, rubbing its eyes with its paws.
"Allow me," Misty said, noting how tired pikachu was and pulling a pokeball out of her backpack. "Go staryu! Tackle attack!"
Staryu lunged at them and sent them sailing through the open window crying, "Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
"You know," Ash observed while Misty called back her pokemon, "I think that was the shortest battle we've had with them yet."
"I really don't know why they bother trying anymore," Misty said.
Brock burst through the door of Ash's room. "I thought I heard Team Rocket in here."
Ash's mother was close behind him. "Ash, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, Team Rocket was here," Ash said, "but we took care of them."
"You mean I took care of them," Misty said, annoyed.
"Well, anyway, now I'm wide awake. I don't think I'll be able to get back to sleep tonight."
"Me too," agreed Misty.
"Why don't we go downstairs and have a snack?" Brock suggested.
They all agreed and were soon seated comfortably in the living room. Brock brought in a tray of toasted rice balls and green tea, while Ash flipped on the TV. There was some early morning soap opera on, and they watched it in silence, munching their rice balls and listening to the wind howl outside.
"It sounds like we're going to have quite a storm tonight," Mrs. Ketchum remarked. As if on cue, rain began pouring down from the heavy, dark clouds above, drumming against the window panes in a steady rhythm.
Suddenly, an emergency news bulletin appeared on the screen. A business-like news anchor began to speak. "The Black Fog scare a few years ago is back. It seems that the destructive creature has returned and has been sighted near Cinnabar Island. Although no destruction has yet been caused, authorities feel that everyone must be extremely careful when leaving their homes. We recommend that everyone remain calm, stay indoors, and leave the fighting to the professionals."
The storm outside had picked up by now, and the TV screen went black as the power went out. They sat there in the darkness, each taking the news in their own way. Misty let out a small scream and dropped her rice ball, Brock just sat there in shock, staring at the blank TV screen, and Mrs. Ketchum clutched her cup so tightly that it shattered, spraying glass and tea everywhere. Ash just sat there, staring at his friends and mother, confused.
"Mom, what's the Black Fog?" He asked.
"Later Ash," Mrs. Ketchum answered as if in a daze.
"But-"
"I said later!" Mrs. Ketchum snapped.
The cell phone Brock carried with him in his backpack began to ring, and he ran upstairs to answer it. He came down looking more worried than before.
"That was Blain," he said. "Mentar has returned and released the Fog, but there haven't been any attacks…yet. All gym leaders need to report immediately to Indigo Plateau. We'll have to leave first thing in the morning, Misty."
"Why does Misty have to go?" Ash asked, and Misty shot him a look. "Oh, right." Misty was so much younger than the older, more mature Brock. Sometimes he forgot that she held just as prestigious a position as he did…
"What about Ash?" Misty asked, "Mentar may come looking for the other descendents."
"I suppose he will be safer with you two than with me," Mrs. Ketchum sighed, reluctant to let Ash out of her sight.
"We'll have to tell him," Brock said. "He can't go to Indigo Plateau without knowing."
"Tell me what?" Ash was getting very frustrated. "What's going on!"
"Ash come here," Mrs. Ketchum said. "I have something very important to discuss with you."
Brock dragged Misty, who was still in shock, upstairs so that Ash and his mother could have a little privacy. Misty's mind felt numb, and her limbs seemed to have become jelly.
How would Ash take the news? Would he know that it was because of her that his father was dead? He would probably never speak to her again.
Misty sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall, blinking back tears. Oh Ash, I'm so sorry!
