A/N: I had actually been struggling with what to write for this note, then my editor asked, is this the last chapter the answer to that is no. Is this fic heading for its conclusion the answer is yes, but there is going to be one last chapter to send you all out on a high note after this. Please comment and favorite.
Ash, Misty and Pikachu checked into a hotel in Celadon City. As they were settling in, Ash pulled on a very nondescript look of a gray hoodie and jeans. "What exactly is your plan?" Misty asked.
"Scout out and find where the Team Rocket base is." Ash said, making sure all his gear was charged.
"You better not try and ditch me Ash." Misty said, getting on jean shorts and a navy hoodie.
Looking up from his gear Ash said, "Just promise me if the worst happens and I get captured that you immediately call for help from Iris and Lance. You run away, as fast as you can. You don't pursue me." Misty's eyes looked for a minute like they were going to flash back a sassy retort, but before she could, Ash took both of her hands in his and then brought them to his lips to gently kiss them. "We have a daughter. She needs someone to look out for her. We can't both be captured. Promise me."
Misty sighed before saying, "Ok I promise, now lets see if we can find Domino."
Ash had Pikachu scour the rooftops above them so that if something happened to him and Misty, he would be able to escape and alert someone for help. Stopping at a cafe that was outside they were sipping their coffee when Misty noticed a Braviary coming in to land. Ash looked up noticing Pikachu gesturing in a direction thinking it was Domino when he looked over he saw Skye, Charlie, and August landing on Braviary. Pulling their hoodies up to keep their appearance hidden. They watched them recall Braviary and start walking. Ash motioned at Pikachu to follow them while he quickly paid for his and Misty's coffee. Ash made a silent gesture telling Misty to trail them and that he would be following as well. Silently following the trio just then they saw them duck and there she was Domino in a Pokemon League hat with a red sweatshirt and jeans.
Ash quickly signaled Misty to intervene with the kids as soon as they tried to keep following Domino. But then Domino entered the casino, Ash froze then just as Skye was about to rush in. Ash rushed and grabbed Skye pulling her away with his hand over her mouth as he whispered into her ear, "It's Ash, you can't be caught entering on security camera, we don't know if this is where the base is."
Charlie had almost intervened when Misty covered his mouth and said, "It's Misty do not scream or resist." August was surprised at their intervention. But immediately they made it far from the casino. When they knew for sure they were far enough away and private, Misty started, "What the hell are you kids doing here?"
Charlie and August looked a bit cowed, lowering their heads not meeting Misty's eyes. Skye looked right back at her mom defiant and said, "Mom we–"
"Don't you say you needed to do something to me Skye Waterflower." Misty interrupted, "You promised me you wouldn't follow her." Then at that Misty looked back at Charlie and August who looked a bit scared of Misty.
"Let me guess, my dear daughter didn't tell you two, that I was clear for you three not to get involved?" Misty stated rather calmly but sounded rather scary to them.
"Yes, Misty, she told us we would just identify where she was going before calling you or Ash." August said. Skye looked at him frustrated that he was confessing so readily.
Charlie seemed to be thoroughly studying the sidewalk they were standing on. "If we had known she had already spoken to you two, we would have stayed in Orre." Charlie said.
"Charlie, you said you wanted–" Skye started.
"Skye, if you parents are going to handle it, I think we should trust in them." Charlie now looked at Misty and Ash. Misty looked at Ash who just looked back at her a bit bashfully.
"How about since they are here we first get them setup for where they are staying?" Ash suggested.
Misty sighed but knew that was probably more helpful immediately than continuing to reprimand the trio. "Follow us, we will get you set up with a place to stay then we will discuss what happens going forward."
Ash looked up and saw Pikachu hopping down from the rooftops, Pikachu gestured that Domino was still there at the casino and hadn't left. Ash nodded and said, "We will be double checking this location later but do not do something rash like you three just did."
Back at their hotel they got a room and Skye thought she was going to be staying with the boys, when Misty took her by the hand into her and Ash's room. "Skye, we need you to stay right here with us." Ash said.
Skye looked up at Ash and said, "Why? We didn't do anything."
"Yes, because thankfully your father and I saw you." Misty said, "What happens if you get captured thinking you found their base?"
Skye looked at her, then mouth closed and opened again. "I don't know."
"Skye, while I can understand the want to help…" Ash stopped as Misty looked at him, almost pleading with him not to be as sympathetic, "But you are," He paused against this time, kneeling before Skye and Misty who were sitting on the edge of the bed, "The most important person to us, and we." Putting his hand on Misty's with his right, and Skye's hand with his left, "Do not want you to ever be captured by them again."
At that Skye gripped Ash's hand and said, "I am sorry I didn't really think about that."
"We love you Skye and we just need you to trust us to take care of this." Misty said, hugging Skye close to her and kissing the top of her head. With that Ash got up and left the room to go grab Charlie and August from their room. When they came back, Misty had a far less cross look on her face. Sitting the three down on their bed Ash said, "While we appreciate your concern, you three, you will only be back up to make sure Lance and Iris bring help do you understand?"
The three nodded, "What that means is you will be watching when Misty and I go inside the casino tomorrow to do recon, if we don't come out by a certain point, you are to alert them and not follow into the casino is that clear?" Ash clarified.
The three nodded, "Ok, now we are going to eat and Charlie and August will go right to their room and get some sleep." Ash said.
Before Skye could retort, Misty said, "You are grounded with us tonight Skye, you didn't actually think you got no consequences for disobeying."
Skye was starting to open her mouth gesturing at Charlie and August when Misty put her hand up saying, "While I love Charlie and August, they are not our children, you are." Skye kind of huffed while Ash went and got the room service from outside their door. The meal was had amicably, the boys said their goodnights and left the room. When Skye was setting up her sleeping bag to sleep on the couch she said, "Hope you are happy punishing me."
Ash merely looked back at her lying on the couch before saying, "I don't know if you know this, but this is a punishment for us too." Skye just looked at him like Pikachu had fused to his head, "If we didn't have to be good parents and hold our child accountable, your mom and I could have a real fun time right now."
"ASH!" Misty exclaimed with her mouth full of toothpaste from the bathroom. Her face was quite red with embarrassment. Skye gagged and hid her face saying, "Nevermind….now this is a punishment for you and for me now please never say that again."
Misty just looked at Ash in just her bra and shorts with a nonplussed look, "You can't be too mad Misty, it worked." Coming up he kissed her on the cheek very chaste and went to start brushing his own teeth. Misty rolled her eyes thinking, "I hate it when he is actually right." Climbing into the bed, Pikachu slept near the door in case someone tried entering without their knowledge. Ash came out of the bathroom and crawled into bed beside Misty but knew to just spoon her without any naughty intentions at the moment. Misty held onto his arms as they held onto her waist and they all fell asleep rather peacefully that night.
The next morning Ash and Misty took the trio to a lookout point near the Casino. Ash then went over how he would enter first with a blue baseball cap and merely gamble at the casino. Misty would follow separately while wearing a red baseball cap, gambling as well. "Now if both of us are not back within 3 hours call for help, or if you notice anything unusual." The trio nodded and waited in their lookout spot with Pikachu. Ash sat at a machine occasionally pulling the lever and winning and losing some. Misty sat at a blackjack table playing the hands on minimum bets. After about an hour Ash noticed that many people were going to the back of the casino but never returning. Misty was noticing the same pattern as well then Misty started feeling her phone vibrating. Looking and seeing it was Skye she picked up saying, "What's up honey?"
"Mom, some man with brown hair with gray on the side in an orange suit is walking in flanked by bodyguards." Skye urgently said. Ash who was still absent mindedly pulling the lever saw the man known as Giovanni enter the casino. Ash sweated while Misty saw Giovanni out of the corner of her eye. Giovanni seemed to be walking around with a bit of swagger till finally going to that back area they noticed people not returning from. When Ash was sure Giovanni wasn't returning he moved towards that area, double checking he still had Charizard's pokeball attached to his belt. Misty started following Ash. She heard a struggle and rushed over to see Ash putting a random Team Rocket grunt in a sleeper hold. "What are you doing?" Misty asked. Seeing Ash, taking the grunts' uniform, responded without looking at her, "Getting a disguise. Try and find the switch to their secret entrance."
Misty didn't like the ordering but knew they needed to find it before someone came next. Looking around the wall she saw a change that seemed out of place. Feeling in that spot she felt a switch that then opened the wall revealing stairs going down. Ash then took Misty's arms holding them behind her back then cuffed them somewhat tight. "Ow take it easy." Misty said.
Whispering back Ash said, "That wasn't what you said the other night in a similar situation." Misty blushed and stomped Ash's foot causing Ash to grunt.
"If you tease me about that again I won't ask for it again Ketchum." Misty said in a low threatening tone.
"Understood." Ash said through gritted teeth. When they came down the steps they came face to face with a burly man with orange spiked hair and green eyes dressed like a grunt. It took Ash all of two seconds to recognize him from the base he broke Skye and Misty out of. The man seemed to recognize him as well saying, "YOU!" Pointing at Ash before hitting the security alarm. Misty went and dropped her shoulder into his gut knocking him against the wall while Ash jumped up and began to hold the man in a sleeper hold till he passed out.
"Damnit," Ash said now pulling out the keys to Misty's cuffs and undoing them.
"What's the plan now?" Misty said as they just ran down the halls as fast as they could.
"Try and find Domino and if we are lucky also apprehend Giovanni and end this." Ash said, determined. Ash and Misty kept racing down different stairways hoping to find some sign while grunt after grunt was evacuating. Then Ash was caught in the vice grip of a Kingler causing Ash to yell. Misty screamed, "Ash!"
"You two must either be very bold or very stupid to think you could aprehend me." Giovanni said, smirking from down the hallway.
Misty got a defiant look and said, "What makes you think we came here for you?" Misty said now pulling out her Pokeball kissing it before saying, "Now come out my one and only." Emerging was her Gyarados which caused Kingler to release Ash. "Gyarados use hyper beam!" Misty commanded, Gyarados fired its attack at Kingler knocking it backwards and slamming it into the wall next to Giovanni.
"Impressive, it's a shame your beau isn't as impressive as his former title." Giovanni mocked. Ash merely grunted at Charizard's pokeball. "I would love to stay and chat but I will leave before this place explodes in 5 minutes." Giovanni merely strode out the door leaving his Kingler behind.
Domino emerged asking, "Did he say explode?" Before Ash could respond, Misty said, "Gyarados use ice beam." Immediately its blasted Domino before she could react. Now frozen in an ice block Ash and Misty rushed forward hoping to pull Domino out of the base. Then they heard it, sounds of the casino building collapsing. Ash looked around and noticed a decent desk and Misty recalled Gyarados. Ash dragged Misty to underneath the desk while sounds and dust made it seem black as night, unable to see as he put his body over Misty's head hoping this wasn't the end. Then they both started coughing letting them both know they were still alive. "Misty are you ok?" Ash asked.
"Yeah." Misty said they now moved so she wasn't trapped beneath him. "I feel a bit sore but nothing feels broken."
"Same, good thing this desk held up." Ash said. "Thanks for saving me with Gyarados." It was then Misty felt a bit of blood against Ash's Team Rocket uniform peeling it up as Ash groaned and she saw a cut that was bleeding. Immediately Misty took off her hoodie and pressed it to the wound.
"Ash, you need to lie down and slow your breathing. Hopefully it doesn't take them too long to reach us." Misty said. Ash held the hoodie against the wound.
Above them August, Skye, and Charlie were already attempting to move debris in hopes of finding Ash and Misty. Skye called Lance and Iris when the building collapsed after the explosion. They both said they would get there soon. Charlie called out Tyranitar and Magmar to help move debris. Hearing a roar above, August looked up and said, "It's a Dragonite." Jumping down near them was the red haired dragon master Lance.
"Skye, are you and your friends ok?" Lance asked.
"We are fine, but I am pretty sure my parents are trapped beneath this somewhere." Skye responded just as Officer Jenny arrived on scene along with Nurse Joy. Immediately Dragonite and Lance began to help move debris. About an hour later they heard another similar roar and this time Charlie noticed a black haired woman hop off this other Dragonite.
"Skye, Lance, what do we know so far?" Iris asked.
Lance responded as Skye focused on moving debris. "We are pretty sure Ash and Misty are stuck in this debris." Iris nodded and she and Dragonite began helping the growing group of volunteers.
Beneath them Ash said, "Misty don't you still have that tracking puck in your shoe?"
"Ash help me get off my shoe." Ash did as they were fairly cramped under the desk, Ash removed her shoe with a bit of effort due to some of the blood loss. Misty then reached in pulling out the puck she turned it on and it thankfully looked like it still worked.
Lance looked at his phone and said, "Follow me, Misty turned on her tracking puck, this way we can dig right where she is." Skye rushed after him, "Has my dad turned one on?"
Lance looked at her, "Um, Ash didn't want one when I spoke with him months ago." Skye was a bit concerned at that response before Lance put his hand on her shoulder saying, "I am sure he is with your mother, I doubt either of them would let the other out of their sight for too long given everything they went through."
Iris, who had been digging in the spot where Lance told them to start said, "Well they won't be found if you keep consoling her instead of helping me." Lance merely smiled and got back to work as did Skye. Charlie and August and Tyranitar were digging as well. Pikachu was trying to help but found he could not move much given his size.
"Was it similar to how it was with Team Rocket with Aerodactyl?" Misty asked.
"No, it was very different, it was like being buried in a cave with plenty of room to move, just no way out." Ash said, laughing slightly at the question. He groaned slightly and felt his stomach getting a big numb. They held each other's hand to make sure they knew. "I am sorry I got us into this mess." Ash apologized.
"Don't do that." Misty said a tear running down her face.
"But it–" Ash tried to say.
"I came with you because I was never going to let you do something this crazy alone ever again. And you are not going anywhere Ash Ketchum, not till I say you can go." Misty said, helping hold the pressure of her sweatshirt against his wound.
Ash smiled though he felt his body getting cold, "Then can I at least make sure before I go to the hospital that I remember the feel of your lips?"
Misty leaned down rather awkwardly and they kissed. "I love you." Ash said.
"I love you too." Misty said, as she felt his grip loosen just slightly she heard the rubble moving above them.
"Ash, Misty, can you hear us?" August's voice rang out.
Misty cleared her throat before yelling, "YES! PLEASE HURRY ASH IS WOUNDED AND NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION!"
Ash squeezed her hand tighter to let her know he was merely tired but he was still very much there with her. Iris chose to respond back, "We are coming, there is no way I am letting little boy Ash die on my watch as monarch." Ash laughed at the comment but felt more confident they would get out of this fine. Then a bit of light came through it was a Tyranitar lifting a large beam off the desk they were under. Immediately Skye jumped down and hugged her mom beneath the desk, when she saw Ash still lying on his back holding a very blood soaked hoodie. Skye yelled, "Move more debris so we can lift my dad out of here safely." Lance and Charlie kept moving debris with their Pokemon and Iris jumped down with a litter and together with Misty they moved him on top of the litter. With enough space they slowly slid him out of the desk and both Lance's and Iris' Dragonites carried Ash out of the crash site and to Nurse Joy who immediately helped address his wound, along with paramedics before they took him to the Celadon hospital. When Misty emerged from the site she saw the face thawing out Domino being guarded by Officer Jenny and other officers. "When did you find her?" Misty asked Lance.
"About an hour ago, she won't say anything." Lance responded.
Misty just sighed, "At least we caught her, maybe she can lead us to Giovanni in some way."
"Misty while I appreciate the work you and Ash did, right now you need to get checked out that there is no internal bleeding for you before you go check on your fiance." Lance said, helping Skye walk Misty over to the paramedics. Charlie and August decided to keep digging in hopes of helping any other survivors. Iris escorted Misty and Skye to the hospital and Misty hugged Iris having not seen her for some time. "Thanks for coming Iris."
Iris merely said, "You don't need to thank me, I will always come to save Ash from danger."
Skye though she was used to meeting great trainers, due to her mom felt a little in awe meeting Iris. "Mom, are there any trainers you and dad met that weren't super talented or famous?"
Iris smiled and said, "Well it is hard for him not to after meeting arguably the best water Pokemon master on the first day of his journey, even if it was due to his own stupidity."
Misty merely laughed, "You mean as opposed to meeting someone by throwing a Pokeball at their hair."
At that Iris laughed too, "Touche Misty." When they found the doctors who were caring for Ash they said thankfully he didn't need surgery but he will be a little wobbly for a few days and that they would keep him till he could walk safely without too much assistance. When Misty and Skye went to his bedside he looked and held both of his girls. Pikachu was brought in by Lance who jumped onto the scrum. When Charlie and August finally came up they saw Ash was asleep with Misty just sleeping alongside him. Skye was sitting on the chair with Pikachu, "Is everything ok?" Charlie asked.
"Oh, yeah they are ok, I think exhausted would be the right word for them." Skye said.
"You're ok with them like this?" August asked, gesturing at the two of them on the not big enough bed.
"Yeah," Skye shivered, "At least like this." The trio laughed quietly while the boys asked Skye and Pikachu if they wanted to join them for some food. Skye and Pikachu joined right away especially when Skye's notorious stomach voiced its opinion. Ash heard them but didn't want to disturb Misty. Right now he was very happy, Skye finally called him 'Dad' and if he didn't make it he could have been more than happy to know he at least earned that unlike his own father. Kissing the top of Misty's head he settled back down to sleep.