A/N: This is going to be a very fast paced chapter, I know some of you really want them to be a couple but like I said its going to be slow. I did get one email about why I chose to have Skye not have any physical resemblance to Ash, it was because to be frank my own two sons look physically not like me they look like their mom. They both have one trait that physically I know only came from me and its a very sad face, otherwise I am dark skinned latino, with two very white looking latino sons who look like their white mom. There are other things they do or have that also prove they are my sons to those who doubt it. Its just not every time you see a clear combination of physical traits of both parents, sometimes they look more similar to another parent or have mannerisms more similar to one. Its a complete crapshoot and I wanted Ash to be unable to discern Skye was his, otherwise his motivations do not make sense at all. Yes it was planned from day 1 when I started putting this story together. Just please trust it will eventually get there but its not going to be easy for him and Misty at all.
Skye was leaning her back against the bars when she decided to say, "Mom."
"Yeah Skye." Misty responded.
"Were you going to tell me who my father is…or was?" Skye asked.
Misty didn't say anything right away but said, "Yes."
"How good was he?" Skye asked.
"The very best." Misty said with all sincerity. "A bit unconventional at times but he was the very best."
Sarcastically Skye said back, "Like no one ever was." At that both Misty and Skye laughed. "I am sorry mom, if my stopping of Domino got you involved…we just–"
"Skye, you never need to apologize to me for doing the right thing. Lawrence is not a saint but he didn't deserve that." Misty said, "Besides I doubt that's what caused this." Misty said as she kept looking around the cell hoping she could identify some way to break the tulip off her stomach and arms. Skye was also looking at her cell looking for the same thing. Misty slowly began to peel off her left shoe with her right shoe, hoping they didn't find the hidden tracking device she kept on herself being an elite four member. After getting the shoe off Misty had to awkwardly trust her hand to find the device with one hand. Finally getting the sole out by holding the shoe with both her feet with only her right hand pulling on the insole it slowly peeled out. Reaching in she grasped the little tracking puck and pulled it up grunting slightly.
"Mom, are you ok?" Skye yelled across the aisle.
"Just about hun," Misty said then she found the switch and pressed it. Misty just hoped the device worked as well as it was pitched to the elite four. There was a chance it would only alert Team Rocket that she activated a hidden tracking device, depending on how secure this base was. Putting it back in the shoe she tried to hurry getting the insole and shoe back on.
Skye heard steps and said, "Mom what's happening?"
"Everything is going to be alright Skye." Misty said, in a softer tone she said to herself, "I hope."
Finding the entrance after seeing another grunt coming on patrol, Ash and August disguised as Team Rocket grunts were bringing in Charlie as a prisoner. The head security grunt, a burly looking man inside of classic black team rocket outfit with spiky orange hair, fair skin, and green eyes, saw them and asked, "What was he doing?"
Ash responded, "He was trying to stay hidden while observing us, I think he was trying to figure out where our base was. We need to interrogate him to figure out what he knows about Team Rocket."
"Good job, follow Clara here to the holding cells, she will also be accommodating you to Agent Domino for your next assignment." The Rocket security grunt said, Clara was an agent who had brown eyes, fair skin, and brown hair tucked into her Team Rocket Cap. Bringing them to the elevator lift they entered as Clara put in the code to access the floor. Just as she was about to ask them a question Ash put Clara into a sleeper hold till she passed out in his arms, he checked her pulse after finding one he leaned her at the back of the elevator.
Charlie horrified by what he saw said, "Ash, what the hell are you doing? Killing her?"
"I didn't kill her, she is sleeping, she will be fine in an hour, now don't say my name in here." Ash said sternly.
August leaned down to Charlie's ear saying, "We can't have you blow our cover, once they find her body we will have to move quickly, we don't have time to go over each step its being made up as we go along."
"Just great." Charlie said through clenched teeth, "Why did I have to be the bait."
"Technically you are already caught you are much more like lunch." Ash said. August merely chuckled at Ash's response. Charlie just hung his head low. Arriving on the floor they started walking Charlie past the cells leaving Clara's sleeping body on the elevator. As they continued down the row they heard, "Where did you take my mom?" From a familiar sounding voice.
At that August ran ahead of Ash and Charlie finding her cell. "Hey Skye." August said.
"Who the hell are you?" Skye said in disgust. At that August pulled off his hat letting his black hair flow out. "August?! How did you find me?" Coming up behind Ash holding Charlie before releasing him, Skye's eyes widened saying, "Charlie, who is this?" Gesturing at the black bearded, messy black hair man in the Team Rocket uniform.
Charlie then released Charmander, and August released Poliwag. "Let's just say he's and old friend of your mom's." Charlie said, before he had Skye stand back saying, "Charmander use flamethrower on the lock." Charmander enthusiastically did it at full power causing the metal door lock to heat up. Right after that August said, "Poliwag use water gun to burst that lock." Poliwag aimed then fired it's water gun causing steam then a hole to form through the lock allowing them to move the door freeing Skye from the cell. Ash then immediately using the keys from the stolen grunt's pocket to get Skye free from the tulip device. "Where is your mom?" Ash asked Skye.
"The grunts took her, I don't know where." Skye said, "Can you at least tell me your name?"
"In case I don't make it out of this saving your mom, its best you don't." Ash said.
"Huh?" Both August and Charlie said at Ash's comment.
"I am going to find Misty, she will for sure get out of here safely as will the three of you make it back to Ecruteak City, you will be safe there." Ash said.
"What about my Milotic and Scyther?" Skye asked. When they thought they heard a noise, Ash just walked them over to the door where the elevators were and began typing away at a keyboard. Then he found the location where they were holding Pokemon. "Head down there first, get your Pokemon and make sure you pick one Pokemon to make a rucus." Ash said. Looking back through the computer system he said, "I am pretty sure I know where your mom is, Skye she will make it back to you. I promise." Ash said. "August make sure to get to the top of the base before calling out Braviary to fly you three out of here." At that Ash put in the code to get the elevators to come and stepping back into the one that had Clara's body still in it he headed up to where Misty was taken.
"Ok seriously guys who is that?" Skye asked.
Before Charlie could answer August said, "Look Skye when we are safely out of here we will tell you." He looked at Charlie hoping he would get the message.
Charlie sighed as Skye looked at him with some puppy dog eyes trying to get him to relent and tell her, "August is right Skye once we get out of here we will tell you all we know about him." Skye just scowled even though internally she knew both of them were right, getting into the elevator with them they headed towards the floor where they could get her Pokemon back.
Ash heading up quickly got off and sent the elevator back to the prisoner cell floor. Hopefully that would keep Clara from being discovered before she wakes up Ash thought. It was a floor that had a very modern office space look. It didn't seem like anyone was occupying the floor or if there was it was 2 maybe 3 people. So when he saw Domino with the glass office hiding the person in her office he knew that Misty must be in her office. Being sure to stay out of her line of sight he entered only for Domino to say, "What is it?" Seeing Misty on the floor having been electrocuted a couple of times with her eyes still closed, Ash decided to just say, "Prepare for trouble." As he rushed Domino who recognized his voice as he rushed her before she could he slammed her into the pretentious bookshelf behind her desk. It was full of books she kept to flex on those who had to come to her office, but truth was she never really read any of the books there. Grabbing one of her tulips he put it around her causing her to be electrocuted and fall to the ground. At that he used the key to get the tulip off of Misty. Ash quickly took the switch from Domino's suit and smashed it so it couldn't be used. Misty faintly heard a voice that said that terrible opening to the Team Rocket motto, before passing out again due to the pain her body was going through.
Charlie, Skye, and August were just entering the floor which held captive Pokemon. Noticing there wasn't a soul ready to fight them they moved quickly till they found Miltoic, whom Skye returned to it's Pokeball right away. They found many other Pokemon being held there and slowly they kept releasing them till finally they found Scyther who looked at Skye like it was surprised she had come for him. Just as she was about to release him a couple of grunts came out of nowhere saying to their Houndooms, "Flamethrower." Their Houndooms unleashed powerful flamethrowers which lead to Skye grabbing Scyther and pushing it away from the attack. Scyther upon seeing Skye put herself in harms way to protect him, lead to it staring at her in a very different light till it said triumphantly, "SCYTHER!" Releasing Scyther from the tulip brace, Scyther then proceeded to help freeing the other Pokemon as Skye instructed it. August and Charlie were having Poliwag and Charmander battle the Houndooms along with the other released Pokemon. Skye then found it Gyarados she freed it and it unleashed Hyper Beam after Hyper Beam throughout the floor. At that the trio got into the elevator calling back their Pokemon, Skye told her mom's Gyarados, "Don't worry, she will come and get you real soon keep up the attacks." At that the Gyarados got her words clear and unleashed Dragon Rage against the oncoming grunts.
Inside a different elevator heading towards the floor of captured Pokemon, Ash was carrying Misty in his arms, similar to how a groom traditionally carries his bride. Misty was just beginning to wake up and she saw a man with messy black hair, and a pretty gruffy black beard, in a Team Rocket uniform carrying her. Ash didn't notice she was awake as they got to the floor he carried her out of the elevator seeing the chaos Gyarados was causing he then moved his hand from under her thighs hoping to find Gyarados' Pokeball. The movement caused Misty to yelp, "Hey watch your hands." Leaping out of the man's arms she shoved him against the wall saying, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHO ARE YOU?!"
"Saving your neck now let's get your Gyarados and get out of here Mist." Ash said, without trying to resist Misty's hold of him against the wall of the floor. Misty's face upon hearing his voice and realizing who the man was as she looked closer at him. Shaking herself from the briefest trance she had she grabbed Gyarados' Pokeball and before recalling it was pleased at how destructive it had been on Team Rocket's floor. Stepping back into the elevator with Ash she looked over at him and said, "Where is Pikachu?"
"He is with Charizard." Ash said surprised Misty didn't do something more rash. He didn't expect her to kiss him, but she for the briefest moment looked like she wanted to touch his face to know he was real. As the elevator reached the top floor they stepped out onto the roof of the Snowtop Mountain base. Misty began to shiver slightly causing Ash to remove his navy blue duster and put it around Misty. Before they even had a second to talk Charizard and Pikachu signaled that they had been waiting. It was in that moment that Misty slapped Ash hard across the face. Surprised Ash looked at her before Misty said, "That's for not coming home."
"Mist I–"
Misty put up her hand as Charizard was getting ready to land, "We will talk more later…" It was then she noticed Pikachu has a bad scar just above his left red cheek. Looking back at Ash who was still clutching his cheek said, "It's a long story and I am sorry."
Turning her nose up at him she caught Pikachu saying, "Pi-ka-chu-pi." Then jumping into Misty's arms she held Pikachu having believed she would never hold Pikachu again. Tears came down Misty's face like a raging river. Getting on Charizard, Ash was going to get behind her when Misty said, "The fuck you are getting behind me, you are not pulling a Houdini on me Ash Ketchum." Making him sit in front of her she held onto him as they took off. "Did you rescue Skye as well?"
"Yes." Ash said trying to keep his own emotions in check as he still felt the sting of the slap Misty gave him. "If you look up ahead there is Braviary with her, Charlie and August." At that Misty looked up around Ash's big head and saw Braviary not far out in front of them. Misty internally thought ok maybe, Charlie is as stupid lucky as Ash.
"That man is Ash Ketchum?" Skye clarified while still holding onto Charlie, who was holding onto August.
"Yes, we weren't too sure either, we just knew we couldn't try and follow up on him from the tip from our waiter." Charlie said.
"A waiter knew it was Ash?" Skye said in disbelief.
"Of course not, he just said it was a powerful looking trainer, with a Pikachu." Charlie said, "If we hadn't found him, we probably wouldn't have been able to save you."
"I am glad you did." Skye said. She looked back seeing the Charizard flying behind them. In her mind she realized that meant clearly something else must have happened because the tracking device said it failed over the water. If it had why did he still have his Charizard, not that she could really know if it was the same Charizard she heard stories about. "Did he tell you what happened?"
"No." Charlie stated, "He has only told us he was freed, so we know someone was holding him. We are thinking as far as likely culprits, Domino is the likeliest."
"What makes you say that?" Skye asked.
"Didn't you hear the phone call back and forth it was on speaker…I heard your screams…" Charlie said choking up a bit.
"As touched as I am Charlie that you care about me being in pain, that same pain caused me to pass out so no I didn't hear it." Skye said back with bite, but she squeezed onto Charlie a little more without realizing it. Just as Charlie was about to go into more information they landed at the Pokemon Center in Ecrateak City. Some police were already there waiting as they landed before anyone could clarify what was going on after August recalled Braviary, they grabbed August and put him onto the ground holding Charlie and Skye back. August while not saying anything due to him not wanting to appear like he was resisting had his face pushed pretty hard onto the ground by three cops. When Officer Jenny saw what was happening said, "What are you doing?"
"Arresting a member of Team Rocket," One buzzcut blonde haired cop with green eyes said.
"HE IS NOT A MEMBER OF TEAM ROCKET!" Charlie said before he also was put onto his knees with his hands behind his back. Leading to Skye calling, "STOP IT, THEY SAVED ME FROM TEAM ROCKET! THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING!" At that the officers got up off August and Charlie looking at Skye and realization hit them, this was one of the two abducted from Kanto yesterday.
Charizard's roar coming from the air before Ash told Charizard, "Don't attack them Charizard." At that he flapped his wings hard causing the officers to move further away from the boys. Misty jumped off and looked somewhere between bewildered and livid at the same time. "What the hell is going on?" Misty said. Before any of them could answer Officer Jenny said, "Deputy take these three officer's badges and guns, pending further investigation you are not to engage with anyone as a cop until the internal investigation concludes." The three were ready to resist when Charizard gave a look that said it was more than ready to melt them. When they left the scene the rest of the officers looked rather culled. Finally able to hold her daugher without drama Misty hugged Skye who held onto her just as tightly tears running down both their faces. Officer Jenny wiped a tear from her face saying, "Misty we will need a statement from you and Skye before you can leave here."
"Officer while I understand, we have no plans to leave the area yet. Can my daughter and her friends get some food in us and a good night's sleep before we give you that statement?" Misty said in an almost kind voice only a mother could give.
Officer Jenny smiled looking at her saying, "Of course I will leave three deputies to guard the Center, we promise you all have plenty of privacy tonight."
"Thank you Officer Jenny." Misty said.
"We are just glad you were rescued safely, the Kanto elite 4 may be on their way here." Officer Jenny said.
"Tell them to head back to the Plateau, I will give them a full brief when I choose to return." Misty said. Ash looked at her quite shocked she didn't out him but he recalled Charizard. Then helped August and Charlie to their feet and walked them into the Center. While Misty still holding Pikachu and Skye followed them. Before August or Charlie had a minute to process what just happened to them, Misty let Pikachu down and went up and hugged both August and Charlie.
"What happened to you boys, shouldn't have happened, thank you for helping us escape." Misty said like as if she couldn't be more sorry about what happened. Ash had somehow managed to step behind Skye like he hope when she turned around she wouldn't be as heated to kill him. When Misty turned around and found his eyes, there was a fire behind Misty's eyes that not even Skye had seen when she was most mad at her. Skye merely stood aside and Misty marched right up to Ash's face and pulling him by the ear said, "That's for not protecting Pikachu." Then just as he tried to look her into her viridian eyes she pulled it a little harder, "That's for making your mother and I bury you and Pikachu." Tears had filled Ash's eyes as he took in her words then as he was going to look into her eyes again, she grabbed him by the beard pulling his face within an inch of hers and yelled. "That's for making me raise our daughter alone for 10 years." Letting go of Ash he fell face first onto the ground. At that Skye's head exploded and she grew faint thankfully Charlie caught her when she fell over. August realizing the situation didn't call for them butting in the just pulled Skye and Charlie towards a room that wouldn't hear them. Pikachu looked on the two of them not fully sure what to do this had gone well beyond the fight they had after Ash lost to Ritchie.
Ash looked up seeing Misty standing above him looking down into his eyes, like she could kill him herself when he slowly got up he said, "We have a daughter?"
"Yes genius, I haven't been with anyone else but you…in that way…so yes Skye is DEFINITELY your daughter." Misty said a slight blush cutting across her face before her fire returned.
"I am so sorry Misty, I never meant for that to happen." Ash said.
"What? Skye or me being a single mom?" Misty said with venom dripping off the words she spat at him.
"You being a single mom." Ash said, raising his hands in a surrendering look said, "You deserve so much more than I can give you right now."
"What I deserve from you Ash Ketchum is an explanation of what happened." Misty said with zero empathy or acknowledgment of the apology.
"I can't tell you Misty." Ash said.
"Excuse me?" Misty said like she couldn't believe the words came out of Ash's mouth.
"I am not ready to tell you." Ash said like he knew it wouldn't help Misty but that he couldn't find a better way to say it.
"So you were ready to save me, but not tell me a god damn thing on how you are here standing in front of me?" Throwing her hands in the air, "After I have had to live with you being dead for almost 11 years?"
"Misty I never meant for that –"
"Just because you didn't mean for that…" Misty grimaced looking away from him as tears of burning anger came streaming down, "Please tell me you were captured and held against you will because if I find out…"
"Yes, I was held against my will, by Team Rocket." Ash said.
At that Misty's tears just flowed down and she said empathetically, "Ok. I am assuming you barely got out." Looking into Ash's eyes his face downturned like he was hiding, and her anger came roaring back, "How long?"
"That doesn't matter." Ash said.
"Don't fuck with me Ash how long?" Misty said tears running down her face almost like she didn't want to know but couldn't look away from him.
"I was held by them for around 6 years." Ash said looking at her tears of his own flowing down his face. Before he had a chance to react Misty came up to his face like she was trying to find words but instead she just stormed off disgusted to find Skye. Ash knew it would have been hard then, but now he regretted not just calling out to her 5 years ago when he saw her. Now he just hoped Misty wouldn't keep him out of Skye's life.
Misty found the door and took a minute just crying against the door. She knew it must have been hard but it didn't make sense why did Ash not come home to her for 5 years? Something didn't make sense. She then opened the door only to be embraced by Skye as soon as it opened. "Mom I am so sorry, I love you." At that Misty's tears just kept flowing as she carried her daughter to a different room where they would be staying. "I am the one who should be apologizing, Skye, I should have just told you he was your father."
"No, by not knowing I didn't place extra pressure on myself." Skye said. "You have been an excellent mom and I can't imagine being the trainer I am without your guidance." Misty just embraced her daughter never wanting to let her go, yet wishing Ash would come in wanting to hold his own daughter telling her he wouldn't leave again. "Does he have a good reason for staying away?"
"What do you mean Skye?" Misty clarified trying to wipe a few tears from Skye's face.
"We could kind of hear some of the fight, did he at least tell you why he didn't come back for us?" Skye asked with a twinge of hope for a good answer.
Misty hesitated telling her the truth, she didn't really know why, just that he was free for 5 years. "No, and until he does I don't know what is appropriate for you and him as far as a relationship."
"Mom, I know you were going to tell me this trip, but you are the only parent I have as far as I am concerned especially if he knew about me for 5 years." Skye said hugging her tightly.
Ash came to Charlie and August's room, Charlie said, "This is the wrong room to be coming to."
"I don't know if you could hear but I have no business going to their room." Ash said.
"Maybe not staying in their room, but you do need to acknowledge you fucked up to your daughter and her mother." Charlie said surprising even August in the wisdom of those words.
August said, "I think until you do, you can't stay in this room Ash, Charlie's right you do owe them at least that, and for what its worth. Now that you know, you can't drop in and out of her life, either be there for her actively or let her live knowing you are her father and nothing else."
At that Ash walked over till he found the room he heard crying coming from inside which only tore at him more. Knocking he heard some shuffling before Misty peaking through the hole said, "Go away Ash you have no business meeting her right now."
"You're right Misty I don't, I just want you and her to know I screwed up. I should have just told you when I saw you and Skye 5 years ago at your favorite lookout and I am coward for not revealing I was alive." Ash said tears coming from his words, "But I want you both to know I did come looking for you right after I was free. I don't deserve either of your forgiveness and I will spend the rest of my life proving it." When neither Misty or Skye said anything he walked back to Charlie and August's room where Pikachu was napping. Ash didn't know what was coming next but he was surprised when their door opened and Misty was standing there tears flowing down her eyes when she said, "Tomorrow you are coming with me to Pallet Town."