Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, folks. I've been VERY busy.


Ash, A.J., and their two Pokémon, after traveling several hours in a direction they could not determine due to many turns made by the NTR members and due to the fact that they were in a different area from the two NTR members and unable to see out any windows, were taken to a strange building with a sign that said "condemned" on the gate. The building looked like it was about to fall apart on the outside, but on the inside it was as if it were a completely different building.

Large expensive-looking statues and tapestries depicting Legendary Pokémon were scattered throughout, and Ash felt his heart grow heavier with every step.

They were taken to a large room, where a familiar-looking (at least, to Ash) figure was seated upon what might be called a throne, playing a game of chess. The man had ice blue eyes and hair that was a mixture of yellow and neon green. He seemed to be in perhaps his late thirties, early forties, and in his right hand he was idly holding some type of card.

The man looked up with a smile at their entrance, pocketing the card. He stood up and nodded at them. "Hello, Ash, A.J., Pikachu, Pichu."

Ash stared at him, trying to think back....He knew him somehow....

"Who are you?" A.J. blurted.

The man smiled. "Lawrence the Third, known by some as the Pokémon Collector. Several years ago your father and I had a few disagreements over the possession of Legendary Pokémon. He won that battle, but I, years later, am to win the war."

"What are you talking about?" Ash inquired with a glare.

Lawrence smiled. "All you need to know is this: in exchange for your wife, Misty—a very spirited woman if ever I saw one—you must give me all of your Pokémon. Now," Lawrence held up a hand, "before you can protest, do not worry about the Pokémon, as you shall get them back. We merely want to...study them,...especially that Pikachu of yours. We know you cannot be trusted with that electric mouse at your side, which is why we allowed you to bring two Pokémon, hoping that Pikachu would be one of them. As long as Pikachu isn't in your possession, I know that you haven't much hope of providing us with unwanted problems."

"What do you mean 'we?'" inquired Ash quickly.

Lawrence smiled. "A minor slip," he replied. "As for Pichu, we have no need of it, so you may take it with you as you go to retrieve your Pokémon."

A thought occurred to Ash, and he looked at the Collector suspiciously. "You said Misty could go free—what about Riviera?"

Lawrence sighed. "Now, there, I am afraid, we have a few differences to settle. Perhaps you've noticed Belle's and Starr's hybrids. We have a bit of a fascination with hybrids, you might say, and the chance to control a Mew/human hybrid is too much to pass up...."

Ash's face turned cold, and as A.J. looked at him a shiver went down his spine. No sculptor could even hope to carve a face that chilling.

"You're going to use my little girl as an experiment?" Ash spoke in a low but cutting voice which even seemed to take Lawrence aback.

"No, not as an experiment exactly," the Collector said, trying to choose his words carefully. "Your daughter will be well treated—"

"As an animal?" hissed Ash, eyes flashing.

Lawrence III cleared his throat. "You shall be taken back to the Viridian Forest, and you shall retrieve your Pokémon. Then you will go back to the Viridian Forest, where your wife shall be returned to you in exchange for the Pokémon. You will come alone, Ash Ketchum, without your son or his Pichu, and without the authorities. If Belle and Starr are followed, they will know it. One week later, Belle and Starr will come to the Viridian Forest, pick you up and bring you back here. If your daughter decides she wants to go with you, we shall not stop her. Regardless of whether she does or not, your Pokémon will be returned to you after you go back to the Viridian Forest."

"Why am I supposed to trust you?" Ash asked as his son protested, "I want to go with him!"

Lawrence looked at the two. "Fine....A.J., you may come with your father when he comes to check on Riviera."

"And Pichu?" persisted A.J.

"May come as well," sighed Lawrence.

"And trust?" Ash asked, staring at the Collector.

Lawrence thought about that long and hard before a pained expression came upon his face. He reached into his pocket and brought out the card he had been holding earlier. He held it up, showing the picture of Mew on its front. "This card is what started my collecting obsession. I consider it to be priceless both sentimentally and fiscally. I shall give it to you now, and upon your return to see Riviera, you will give it back to me. This is about as much as I can do."

Ash stared into the Collector's eyes, searching for signs that the card was actually of no worth to him. He saw none, so he transformed into a Mew and reached out towards Lawrence's mind. The Collector winced, but willingly let Ash into the forefront of his mind, where he could determine his truthfulness.

Ash transformed back and nodded. "Very well. But why can't we simply transfer my Pokémon here and save a bit of time?"

"Too easily traced," Lawrence III answered.

"Can I see Misty and Riviera?" Ash asked.

"You may see Misty," the Collector said, "but not in person." He walked over to a piece of machinery on the wall and turned on a screen which showed Misty.

"Mom!" cried A.J. as Ash yelled, "Misty!"

The two rushed over to the screen, where Misty was only able to get out both of their names before Lawrence turned the screen back off.

"She's here," Lawrence said. "For you to know that is enough."

"Why did you want A.J. to come with me?" Ash asked.

"To test his powers," replied the older man simply.

"Why have you rebanded Team Rocket? And why did you hurt Jace?"

"It is time for you to go," Lawrence said, nodding at Starr and Belle, who moved forward. "Remember what we have discussed."

Ash glared at him and snarled, "You had better not hurt either one of them, or you will pay," before turning and walking in the direction he knew the two NTR members would want him to go.

Starr stepped in front of him and cleared his throat, looking at the solemn Pikachu riding on his shoulder.

Ash, eyes wide and sad, lifted Pikachu off his shoulder and held him in front of his face. "Pikachu, I'm sorry about this. Do you think it's okay if you stay with them for a little while? I promise I'll get you back somehow."

"Piii," sniffled Pikachu, brown eyes glistening with tears. He leaned forward and licked Ash's cheek before jumping to the ground. He hopped a little, disappearing into Ash's Pokéball, which Ash handed to Starr with shining eyes.

"I'll help you all," Ash whispered. "Somehow...." He turned away, so that his son could see him crying, and he walked slowly off.

A.J. watched him for a moment before glancing down at Pichu, who had remained strangely quiet and still in his arms. Pichu looked up at A.J. then glanced in Ash's direction. She squirmed to get out of A.J.'s arms, then slowly padded after Ash. A few moments later, A.J. and Belle followed.


Author's Note: If anyone's still reading this, I have a question. There's one part where a few (not too long) flashbacks might be best for describing things. Is that a problem for anyone?