Ash shook his head. "I can't just leave him..."

"Buff," Igglybuff cooed sorrowfully.

"What you need now is some rest, Ash," Brock advised.

"But...Jace needs me," the dark-haired Pokémon trainer whispered weakly.

"I'm sure the nurse will set up a cot for you in Jace's room," Ash's mother ventured.

"Yeah..."

Pikachu stared at his sleeping Pika-pi worriedly. He hadn't ever seen the trainer so haggard-looking.

With a glance at Jace, the Pokémon reflected that the same went for his Pika-pi's cub. With a soft, "Pi," the yellow mouse gently hopped off Ash's cot and onto Jace's bed, licking the boy's cheek gently in a Pokékiss. The boy had to get better...

Ash began to stir, and Pikachu jumped over onto the young man's cot. "Chu?"

Ash woke up to find a tilted Pikahead looking down at him. He smiled gently, "Hi, Pikachu," but then the realization of what all had happened hit him, and he bit his lip as an almost physical pain passed over him.

Jace moaned, and the electric rat turned quickly, "Ka!"

The young boy smiled up at the Pokémon he suddenly found on his chest, and repeated the words his father had said mere moments before.

"Ka-chu pika?" Pikachu inquired.

"I'm hungry," the child answered.

Ash grinned widely, his heart lightening. His boy was truly back.

"What's for lunch?" Jace wasn't to be deterred.

After he had gotten his share of food, Jace looked seriously to his father. "Go."

"What?" the trainer asked, a confused expression crossing his face.

"They need you. Mom and Riviera."

"Do you remember who did this to you?"

Jace shook his head. "All I remember is something bad..." He shuddered.

"What about this?" Ash queried as he removed a folded piece of paper from his pocket. It was the picture of two bottomless triangles joined by a curve that had been made on Jace's Make-Your-Own-Pokémon Kit.

Another negative shake. "I don't remember doing that. Mighta been mom."

Ash frowned. A possible lead, gone. Uneasily, "I'm not gonna leave until you're—"

"Don't you see?" the boy turned crystal blue eyes on his father. "I'll be fine. They need help!"

Ash Ketchum sighed. "Brock said he and Ivy could take care of you. Would you be fine with them...And mind them this time?"

A slow grin spread across Jace's face. "You know me, dad."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

James took one glance at Ash's determined face before he stated, "You're leaving now, aren't you?"

The Pokémon Master nodded. "Jace is better and I need to leave now before it is too late. There's no telling what's happened to Misty and Riviera by now."

Brock smiled sadly but understandingly. "Ivy will be here soon. Don't worry, Jace is in safe hands."

"I know."

Jessie hesitated, "Are you sure you don't want us to go with—"

"No!" Ash cut her off quickly. Then he spoke more calmly, "The note said for just A.J. and I to go, with two Pokémon."

"Pichu's coming, too," A.J. spoke up. "She has to."

Ash started to object, arguing that they would need a much stronger Pokémon than a tiny Pichu, but after seeing the look in his son's brown eyes he closed his mouth. The boy felt a need to prove himself, much as Ash had all those years ago.

"She can come."

A.J. smiled down at the unenthralled electric mouse. Pichu made a few grumbling noises.

It was then that Ash realized the Egg Pokémon were going to need taking care of. As if sensing his problem, Giovanni said, "We can take care of the young ones. I'm getting a little too laid back in my old grandfatherly age."

His wife smiled at him, picking up Smoochum. "Mimie will sure love her!"

After they had said their goodbyes, Ash set out with his son by his side and his Pikachu on his shoulder. Pichu was walking as far away as possible, angry at having to go on a dangerous mission instead of getting to stay home and eat Pikachu's ketchup all day, but Ash just smiled knowingly at her.

But as they continued on the road, Ash began rethink the plan once more. Why was he taking his son straight into danger? He would be better off without him tagging along!

The Pokémon Master paused, unsure, "Maybe you should go back, A.J."

"You can't stop me from going, Dad. This is something I have to do."

And Ash knew he was right...But that didn't make him feel any better about it.

In fact, he began to mull over his entire plan. What if the second he left Jace was taken again? What if Misty and Riviera had already been—

No.

He couldn't afford to think like that.

Running a hand through his hair, Ash wondered uneasily, What enemies have I made? Who would want to rip me from my family?

But no answers came to him.

Where were the Mews when he needed them?

In spite of their having been in the world for a shorter time than he himself, they were wise in many matters, and often had useful advice...if one could manage to break through their playful facade.

Nowadays they were always running around with Meowth, but Ash thought it was good for him. He needed to distance himself a little from humans and have some fun.

Fun.

The word burned in his mind.

He clenched his fists, picking up a swifter pace.

He would meet with the people that had tried to tear apart his family. They would learn not to mess with Ash Ketchum.

Minutes later and meters back, a few shadows could barely be seen in their cover beneath the trees, watching...and following.