Author's Note: I'm not confused, but that's only because I think I know what's going on in the story....Sorry for the ginormo delay. You're probably all gone, but here's the next chappie anyway.


The one week Ash had to wait seemed like an eternity. Although he was happy Misty was back, he knew he would remain troubled until he got back Riviera and his Pokémon.

The Ketchums' was a gloomy household, and the days passed by slowly. Jace regained much of his health, and though Ash tried to put on a smile for Jace and A.J. and all the others his heart was heavier than a Snorlax.

But when at last it was time for Ash and A.J. to go, Ash's face was cold as granite. He hugged Misty and Jace, then nodded at the rest of his family and friends, before grabbing A.J.'s arm gently and walking forward, eyes straight ahead.

But A.J., holding a surprisingly still Pichu in his arms, couldn't help but keep looking back until their house was but a speck in his vision.

"Dad—" A.J. began, but his father shook his head.

"Be quiet, A.J." Ash's voice was almost a plea.

So they walked in silence.

A while later, Belle and Starr picked them up, and when they got to Lawrence's base, the Collector was waiting for them.

"Greetings," Lawrence III said, bringing his hands together and then spreading them out invitingly.

"Where's my kid?" Ash growled, advancing forward swiftly, only to be restrained by Starr, whom he threw a glare at.

"Calm down, Ash Ketchum," Lawrence advised. He made a gesture. "Here she is."

A panel in the wall moved aside to reveal a small red Mew with icy blue eyes. The Mew floated forward, and Ash blinked in surprise. "Riviera?" he whispered in disbelief.

"Yes," Lawrence said. "It is Riviera....You may ask her, but I fear she will not want to come with you."

"Riviera," Ash said in a voice just above a whisper, "it's your daddy. I'm here to take you home...." Gazing at her cold eyes, he added in what was almost a plea, "Don't you want to come home?"

Riviera stared at him, not even twitching slightly. "No," she said in her immature voice, but it was in a tone so frigid that Ash wondered if it were really her.

But it was her. He knewit was her. And, knowing that, he couldn't help but take a few steps forward, hesitatingly holding his arms out. "Riviera, please, I want to take you home. Your mother and brothers and I miss you very much...."

Riviera shook her head slowly, and Ash noted that her long red tail was wrapped around her Clefairy doll. He put on a weak smile, "Remember when you got that doll?" His eyes widened as he remembered something, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small toy tiara. "You left this behind, Riv—" but before he could finish his sentence it was flying out of his hand and landed on top of Riviera's doll's head.

Swallowing, Ash slowly moved closer, and he held out one of his hands, as if he were about to take one of Riviera's paws in it. But before he could touch her, Riviera exclaimed, "No home! Kidda kidda!"

Seeing more of his stubborn little girl in the red Mew, Ash felt a flash of hope. "Don't you want to see Meowth and Psyduck? And don't you want to play with Pikachu?"

Riviera threw a look behind her at her Clefairy doll, as if to make sure it were still there. Then, eyes narrowed, she said, "Stay," and then turned around and went back through the panel.

In a regretful voice, Lawrence tried to console Ash, "I'm afraid she prefers to stay h—"

But in a flash, Ash was on top of the now-grounded Lawrence in the form of a black Arcanine. Showing his canines right next to Lawrence III's neck, he growled, "I'm going to find out what you did to my daughter, and when I do, you are going to wish that you and your sick psychotic friends never chose to mess with Ash Ketchum." As a warning, Ash opened his mouth wide and gently pressed his sharp teeth against the Collector's neck.

Then he backed up and transformed. As Lawrence got up, refusing the aid of Starr and Belle, Ash reached into his pocket and pulled out the rare Mew card Lawrence had given to him temporarily. "Because I'm a man of my word, I am giving this back to you, though I want nothing more than to tear it up and throw it into your face. Remember this, if you harm one hair on my daughter, I will personally tear you limb from limb," Ash snarled, flinging the card at Lawrence who hastily caught it.

Ash turned, throwing a look at his pale son and his son's somber Pichu, "C'mon, A.J., we're going."

A.J. knew better than to protest, and he followed his father, though he couldn't help but throw one last look back at the flustered-appearing Collector. What was going on?


The ride in the transport was mostly quiet, but during one time when Starr and Belle both had their eyes away from their three passengers, Ash transformed quickly into and back out of his Arcanine form.

"Dad, what—?" A.J. tried to ask, but Ash shook his head warningly.

When they had all gotten out of the transport, Starr handed Ash a bag. "Here are your Pokémon, as per the agreement. You may open the bag after traveling for ten minutes. Our sensors will be on you, so don't try to follow us."

Ash nodded, slinging the bag over his shoulder and walking forward. A.J. followed, and Pichu struggled to get out of his arms, jumping down to follow on her own four feet.

After ten minutes, Ash reached into the bag and grabbed only one Pokéball. He knew that all of his Pokémon were in the bag.

A red light flashed, and Pikachu came out of the Pokéball, looking rather haggard.

"Pikachu, I'm so sorry," Ash said, falling to his knees, tears in his eyes.

"Pi, chu, Pika-pi," Pikachu said, his own eyes watering. He leapt into Ash's arms, and his Pika-pi held him tight.

"Can you tell me anything about what happened?" Ash asked in a strained voice after a few moments.

"Pi," Pikachu shook his head sadly.

Ash had known it would probably be so, but he had to ask anyway. If Pikachu didn't remember, then the others wouldn't.

Ash stood up, Pikachu on his shoulder, and he looked at A.J., reaching an arm around his shoulder and pulling him against his side. Pichu looked a little lonely, but when she saw Pikachu looking at her, she made a rejecting noise of "Pi!" and turned her head aside.

A.J. seemed a little sad, but Ash told him, "Don't worry. One day things will be better."

A.J.'s spirits seemed to go up slightly at the thought, but Ash's were dropping as he thought, I only hope so....I only hope....


When they entered Ash's home, everyone seemed excited to see them, but when they saw Riviera was not with them, their faces fell.

Ash gazed at all of their sorrowful expressions then put a hand over his eyes. "She wouldn't come," he whispered, "she wouldn't come...."

Misty threw her arms around him, and he buried his face in her hair.

Pikachu, who had walked in the house on his own power, walked over to Jace, who looked like he were about to cry. Pikachu jumped into his lap and patted his arm, and Jace hugged him tight and cried into his soft fur.

A.J. collapsed into a chair and stared blankly at Pichu, who seemed uneasy at all the sadness in the room.

Ash pulled back from Misty's embrace and looked around at all his friends' and family's faces. They all sat in tense anticipation, as if they were expecting him to say something.

Finally, he did. "I'm going to get her back. I'm going to get my daughter back."