Author's note: Sorry for lack of updates to anyone who's been reading this. I'd like to thank Naruto for the reviews of both this story and the last one.

In Viridian City Pokémon Center, the shadowy figures of Cassidy and Butch entered stealthily and stalked to the waiting room, dressed in concealing disguises. The room was empty and they sneaked in.

"Okay, let's do this", Butch rasped.

Cassidy looked about, "Right, now all we have to do is sneak past Nurse Joy and check out the Pokémon Center Records, then we can find out if that kid Ash Ketchum really did check in his Charizard here. And from there, it'll be easy to find him and take him to the boss".

However, they had not been as stealthy as they had thought. A figure who had been listening just beyond the door entered.

"Well well. You're looking for Ash? I think I can help you".

OoOoOoOoOo

Ash, Misty, Brock, Tracey, Pikachu and Togepi were alone, heading through the natural maze that was Viridian Forest. Ash and Misty had many memories of this place, back in the early days of their journeys.

But this time there was no arguing or bickering. Ash was deep in his own thoughts, worried about his mother, his Charizard, and him and his friends. They were all under threat.

Tracey, never one to stay down for too long, was busy making sketches of the scenery as they wandered on. Brock and Pikachu looked at Ash in concern, and then exchanged worried glances. Misty was nervous, aware that Viridian was well known for its numerous bug type Pokémon. However, she was also afraid for Ash. The two sources of fear were overwhelming, and she linked arms with Ash to provide comfort for both of them.

So overall, only the easily distracted Tracey and the ever-oblivious Togepi were in high spirits.

Ash was still teary-eyed after his farewell to his mother. The threat of Giovanni's revenge loomed over her too. If he ever found her…Ash couldn't bear to think of what he might do to her.

His backpack was full of medical equipment for Charizard. Bandages, tablets and a whole bunch of shots that he didn't really understand the purpose of, but he was just going to follow the instructions Nurse Joy had given him to make sure his friend recovered well.

They wandered on for most of the day, and as time wore on they began to relax a little. Misty hadn't spotted any bugs, and Ash realized he couldn't despair forever. He had to keep his hopes up. Maybe Professor Oak was right. The authorities would be able to catch Giovanni and they'd be safe.

Somehow, he knew that wouldn't happen. But he had to keep hoping.

"This feels like the old days, when we were travelling together", Brock said.

"It sure does", Misty nodded, "With a few differences", she rested her head on Ash's shoulder and smiled at him.

"I wonder where all the bug Pokémon are?" Tracey wondered, "I thought Viridian Forest was full of bug types".

"Let's just be thankful they're not here", Misty mumbled.

As if in answer, she felt something brush against her shoulder. She looked at Ash. It wasn't him, he had his hands down by his sides. She paled visibly and slowly turned around to glance behind her while the others walked on ahead.

A high-pitched scream caused the other party members to jump and turn to look at Misty. They stared.

"Misty, it's just a Venonat", Tracey pointed out, rolling his eyes at the sight of the girl cowering from the small creature standing on the branch above her.

"No it's not!" her voice was high-pitched and strained, "Look!"

"Huh?"

The bushes rustled and at least two dozen winged beasts emerged. Large, with poisonous scales and staring eyes. Venomoths. Lots of them. Angry, territorial Venomoths.

"Uh-oh…" Ash summed up the situation well.

The little Venonat, evidently a youngster, jumped down from the branch and landed in front of Misty. She shrieked.

"I know! Charizard can handle them, bugs are weak against fire attacks!" Ash reached for his Pokéballs.

"Charizard's too weak, Ash!" Brock reminded, amazed at his friend's density.

"Oh yeah…"

One of the Venomoths hovered over towards Misty's face and glared at her, as if evaluating her and the threat she presented.

"Ash…help…" Misty whispered, rooted to the spot with terror.

"Venomoth Venomoth Venomoth!" the bug thrust its grotesque features right into the girl's face. She gasped and took a step back, and tripped over something and fell on her back.

"Misty!" Ash yelled.

The Venomoths buzzed angrily. She had tripped over the wandering Venonat and almost landed on it.

Ash ran forward to grab Misty and pull her up and out of the way, when suddenly the air was full of a brown, foul smelling powder aimed at Ash and his friends. They froze in their tracks, muscles suddenly seizing up and paralysing them.

"That's Venomoth's stun spore attack!" Tracey managed to say through clenched teeth.

Only Misty hadn't been in the wake of the attack. The moths reserved special attention for her. As one, they turned to face her.

"Misty, run! Go back to Viridian City and get help!" Ash yelled.

She looked at her friends, and the advancing bugs, and nodded once and turned and ran as fast as she could back down the trail they had come from, clutching Togepi tight. Beating their powdery wings, the Venomoths took off after her.

"I hope she'll be okay", Brock mumbled through immobilized lips.

OoOoOoOoOo

Misty ran.

She was used to running. She had done a lot of running for her life whilst travelling with Ash, so she was no stranger to it. However, it was not a pleasant experience, and her overwhelming fear of bug type Pokémon was not helping.

Also, the one she loved was paralysed and defenceless. He needed her help. So she kept running.

The buzzing and chattering of the Venomoths behind her was getting louder and louder, and she somehow managed to summon an unknown last reserve of strength from her aching legs to put on a credible burst of speed.

However, fatigue was beginning to overwhelm her, and after a while her speed slackened and she staggered a little. Sweat poured down her brow and got into her eyes.

But the bugs were catching up.

Suddenly, her foot caught a rock and she fell, crashing to the floor painfully. Togepi giggled as it fell from her grasp and bounced harmlessly. The shadow of the Venomoths loomed over them instantly. Misty twisted to look up at them, recoiling in fear.

Suddenly, a jet of red flame roared overhead and scorched the Venomoths, wreathing them in fire and burning them. Misty looked in astonishment, then looked at the source of the flamethrower attack.

Standing before her was a flaming, powerful Magmar that dripped embers and leered at the bugs, then spouted another stream of flame at the Venomoths. The bugs panicked and turned tail, not desiring another punishing attack. They beat their wings and vanished into the trees.

Misty climbed to her feet, stunned, and regarded the Magmar, "Um…thanks".

The living flame turned to regard her, and its beak-like lips curled back in a snarl. The girl backed away warily, wondering vaguely if she had been safer with the Venomoths.

Another Pokémon emerged from the bushes. A short, rotund creature with a trunk for a nose and a smug grin. A Drowzee.

Misty would have wondered what two rare Pokémon were doing in Viridian City, if she were not so worried. She picked up Togepi and prepared to flee back the way she had come.

"Well, well, this was even easier than checking the Pokémon Centre records. Our source was correct after all", a scratchy, deep voice growled.

Two familiar figures walked up behind the two Pokémon. Butch, the one who had spoken, and Cassidy, the elegant, beautiful but cruel member of Team Rocket. The two eyed Misty like a Nidoking might observe a Rattata.

"You two!" Misty yelled, defiance in her voice.

"Prepare for trouble!" Cassidy declared.

"And make it…" Butch began.

"I don't have time for this!" Misty turned to run.

"Drowzee, disable", Cassidy ordered.

The psychic Pokémon clapped its hands together, there was a flash of light, and Misty and Togepi were suddenly rooted to the spot like Ash and the others had been. Every inch of her body tried to move and struggle free, but Misty was stuck fast.

"Hah! Let's get her back to the Boss!" Cassidy grinned.

"Shouldn't we look for the other kids? The Viridian City Pokémon Centre records said that the kid's Charizard checked in there, so that little rat will be nearby", Butch pointed out.

"We're not risking losing our prize by pitting Magmar and Drowzee against all of their Pokémon", his partner snapped, "Let's get out of here".

OoOoOoOoOo

Ash could feel the effects of the stun spore wearing off after half an hour of motionless. Feeling began to return to his arms and legs, slowly at first, but I crept over him steadily and at last he was able to shake himself all over and move, stiffly at first. Brock, Tracey and Pikachu followed shortly after.

"Come on, guys!" Ash shook himself again, "We gotta go after Misty!"

He headed off down the path at a dead sprint. Brock, Tracey and Pikachu followed at top speed, struggling to keep him in their sights, such was his speed when he was worried for Misty.

As they moved down the track, Tracey sniffed the air once, "Well, the Venomoth came this way. It's safe to assume they were chasing Misty".

Ash ran. She must have made it away from the Venomoths and gotten back to Viridian City…she just had to!

They dashed on, when suddenly Brock screeched to a halt, "Hey, what's this?"

The others stopped and turned to look at the large tree trunk he was indicating. Nailed to it was a note, which Ash ripped off and peered at. He read slowly in a stuttering voice.

"To Ash Ketchum, we have your friend Misty. Surrender yourself at once if you wish to see her again. We will be waiting for you outside the Viridian City Gym. Signed, Team Rocket".

There was a long silence, and the three young men and Pikachu stared at the note blankly. Eventually, Tracey, Brock and Pikachu looked at Ash, and the expression frozen on his face.

Ash felt sick with dizzy horror. He just stood there for a moment, his whole world turning upside down. Then without a word he wheeled about and sprinted back in the direction of Viridian City.

"Ash! Wait!" Tracey yelled, and they rushed after him.

Ash didn't wait. He ran on, his concern for Misty urging him on. However, he was preoccupied with just running back to Viridian City as fast as he could that he didn't notice a tree root that thrust out across the path, and his foot caught it. He went tumbling and crashed to the floor, wincing in pain.

Tracey, Brock and Pikachu were on him, and they helped him to his feet, but Brock also grabbed Ash by the arms and held him still while the boy tried to break free.

"Let me go! I have to save Misty!" Ash yelled, thrashing madly.

Brock, however, was strong and he managed to restrain Ash, "No, you can't. It's a trap, it's you they're after!"

"I don't care! I have to help her!"

"Ash, listen!" Tracey tried to reason, "If you go to her now, they'll just get you! Even if they did let Misty go, how would she cope with you gone for good?"

That did it. Ash stopped dead in his twisting and stared, thinking. Slowly, Brock released him and stepped back. Pikachu placed a reassuring paw on Ash's leg to comfort him.

"You guys are right", Ash said slowly, as if with great effort, "Yeah. You're right. We can't do that. We'll need to think more carefully".