Against All Odds

"Has anyone seen Miracle?" Misha asked.
"Last time I saw her, she was outside." Meowth said.
"That's funny. She's not out there." Megan said.
"She isn't? I could have swoin..." Meowth began.
"Are you sure she didn't come in the house and hide somewhere or-" Megan said.
"No. I didn't see 'er come 'n all day." Mitchell said.
"That's weird. Hope she didn't wonder off." Matthias said.
"She would have told us that first." Makenzie said.

Misha and Meowth looked outside. Rain was pouring from the sky. There was no way Miracle would want to stay outside in this weather. Meowth was worried.

"Miracle! Miracle!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Miracle! Where are you?" Misha exclaimed.

Miracle was nowhere in sight.

Meanwhile, Ash, Brock, Misty, and Pikachu were caught in the storm. They were trying to find shelter after leaving Carrie's house yesterday.

"This storm is getting pretty bad!" Misty exclaimed.
"Yeah! We need to find shelter and quick!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.

"Miracle! Miracle! Where are you?"

"Did you hear that?" Misty asked.
"It sounded like Meowth." Brock said.
"It's coming from that hill." Ash said as he pointed ahead.

Pikachu ran towards the hill, hoping to find shelter. As he reached out to the bottom by the hill, he hit his head on something. He thought it was a tree, but it felt harder. He rubbed his head and looked to what he hit. It was Meowth!

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Pikachu? What are you doin' here?" Meowth asked.
"Pika." Pikachu said as he prepared his thundershock.
"Pikachu, I don't want any trouble. I just wanna find my niece. She's in danga." Meowth said as he passed Pikachu.

Pikachu was quite surprised. Usually Meowth would want to capture Pikachu the moment he would see him. But this time, he just walked by. Meowth ran past Ash, Misty, and Brock who were coming down the hill.

"Meowth?" Ash asked.
"What are you doing here?" Misty asked.
"Tryin' to find my niece." Meowth answered as he continued to run.

His niece? They were all so confused. But then they thought about it... Maybe it had something to do with Misha. Meowth searched around the woods, everywhere. He couldn't see her.

"Miracle!" he called again.
"Meowth! Wait!" Ash called from behind.

Meowth stopped and turned to face his sworn enemies.

"If you want, we can help you find your niece." Ash said.
"If she's in trouble, we'd be happy to help." Misty said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed.

Meowth was amazed. Ash, Brock, Misty, and Pikachu would do this for him? The twerps were his sworn enemies, and they want to help him? Meowth just wanted to turn away and search for Miracle, but he desperately needed help. His heart sinking, he smiled, and nodded.

"Okay. Her name is Miracle. She wears a pink colla with her name written in coisive. She was last seen ova at da house down da hill. All I know, she might be somewhere in da woods." Meowth explained.

"Got it." Ash said.
"We'll find her." Brock said.
"... Tanks." Meowth said.

"... Where exactly are we going?" Miracle asked Miles as they were starting up a high hill.
"Patience, Miracle. You'll find out soon enough." Miles said.
"... Miles... I want to go home."
"Have you been up this hill before?"
"No. But I want to see my mother."
"In a while, Miracle."
"No, now! I'm going home!" Miracle exclaimed as she began running back down the hill.

But before Miracle could run through the field, Miles grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Oh, I don't think so." Miles said.
"Let me go!" Miracle exclaimed as she tried to pull away.

Miles smacked her right across the face. Miracle dropped down to the ground, feeling her face bruised.

"You listen here, Miracle. No one runs from me." Miles said.
"Why... why are you doing this?" Miracle asked.
"I'm just trying t' get my revenge." Miles said.
"On who? My mother?"
"Oh no, girl. Someone far more worse than your mother... Your uncle Meowth."
"What? Why him? What did he do?"

"Your grandfather was a great Persian, and he called 'im abusive. Do you realize why you've come here? You're a mistake! Meowth has been poisoning your mind with lies and crazy opinions!"

"No! He would never do that! Meowth is a great Meowth! You're just jealous!"
"Jealous? You call me jealous? My brother was a liar! Just like your mother and grandmother."
"Brother? You mean you're... you're..."
"Your uncle? Yes, Miracle. I am."
"But... but..."

But before Miracle could say more, she blacked out.

"But nothing, Miracle. I'll be waiting for Meowth. And when that time comes... he will pay." Miles said as he picked her up.

"Miracle!" Misty exclaimed.
"Miracle!" Ash exclaimed.
"Where are you, Miracle?" Brock asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Miracle! Miracle!" Meowth exclaimed.

The rain had stopped, and they have still been searching. Jessie and James have volunteered to help as well. So far, they couldn't find her anywhere.

"It's no use. We might as well toin back." Meowth said.
"Not so fast, Meowth."

Everyone looked behind the trees. There, a Meowth stepped out of the field of trees. It was Aisha.

"Mudder? What are you doing here?" Meowth asked.
"I'm looking for your father. He's on the lose and he's coming after you."
"Me? Da point is, Miracle's gone and we need to find her."
"What I can tell you is, she's not in the woods."
"She's not?" Misty asked.
"No... Kids, understand this, before I go."

"Legend says that things get dark,
When you don't watch out,
Where you are going,
When you hear someone shout,
But until you hear the faith you have,
And the confidence inside,
You can understand your true purpose,
Which will make everything all right,
Until you can trust each other,
God will look at you and nod,
That He will guide you,
Through against all odds..."

After that, Aisha disappeared into the trees.

"Against all odds?" Ash asked.
"What does that mean?" Jessie asked.

"... It means, we share da confidence inside of us. Because of our teamwoik and faith, we can find Miracle, and loin (learn) about my true past. My mudder was giving us a clue. So if we can do dis, we can find her. Because of all of you, we can make this joiney." Meowth said.

"... Meowth is right. If we have faith and confidence in each other, we can find Miracle." Misty said.
"I guess so." Brock said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"... Yes you can."

It was Macy, stepping out from the bushes.

"Macy?" Meowth asked.
"Yes. Meowth..."

Meowth listened with both ears.

"I know where Miracle is. And I can take you to her."

TO BE CONTINUED...