Chapter 22

"Do you have a death wish?" Jessie asked.

"Not particularly." Gary answered. "But I also don't want anyone else to die so we need to stop them."

"I'm on board." Ash jumped in.

"Me too!" Cameron exclaimed excitedly.

"Hold on, he hasn't even told us his plan yet." Brock warned.

"What more do we need to know?" Ash asked.

"All of you just need to calm down." Anabel interjected. "First thing you all need is rest. It's been a stressful night."

"But I'm ready now." Cameron exclaimed.

"Even if you are your Pokémon aren't." Lucy spoke calmly. "All of them are still being looked after by the Blissey."

"Oh yeah." Cameron realised.

"Look, this isn't the best time to come up with a plan." Misty started. "Let's rest here until morning then we'll make a decision."

Everyone eventually agreed that was the best course of action for now and they went to make their way towards the dormitories.

"Hey what about us?" Meowth asked.

"You can't expect someone of my stature to sleep on a cold, hard floor." Jessie said with her nose up in disgust.

"Fair enough." Anabel sighed. "Alakazam."

Suddenly the three former Team Rocket members began levitating.

"What's happening?" James shouted in fear.

"Please escort them to a 3 bed room and if you don't mind keep an eye on them for the night so there's no getaway please."

Alakazam nodded and led the trio through the air towards their room as they twirled above him and as Anabel laughed at the sight.

After everyone was seen to Anabel finally was able to make her way to her own room. She had just closed the door behind her a few seconds when she heard a knock on it.

She took a frustrated breath.

"I already told you Ash, the chef won't be here until the morning you can have food then!"

"That's great and all but I'm not Ash." Anabel recognised Lucy's voice through the door.

Anabel opened the door and let her friend in.

"Sorry for bothering you so late." Lucy said sincerely. "But I thought you might've needed a friendly chat."

"Is that the only reason?" Anabel asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That and Brock kept trying to peak in my room." She admitted. "But mostly for you."

They both shared a laugh for a moment before taking a seat. Anabel sat on her bed while Lucy at her desk chair.

"So, how are you holding up?" Lucy asked.

"I'm good." Anabel answered, averting Lucy's gaze as she ran her fingers over her soft bedsheets. "It's good seeing people again."

"Anabel, just because you have a gift with emotions doesn't mean that everyone else is dense. I can still sense your sadness." Lucy said sincerely.

"Why ask then?" Anabel retorted.

"Because I want you to tell me." Lucy explained. "I don't like dragging it out of you."

"You know why." Anabel replied sadly. "He doesn't like me like he likes her."

"I'm sorry." Lucy walked over and put her arm around her friend.

"Why her? Why not me? Why do I have to like him?" Anabel asked, tears beginning to emerge.

"You know better than anyone that sometimes people can't help their feelings." Lucy whispered.

"Why do I have to know? Why couldn't I just not be empathetic so I could just happily hope?" Anabel pondered.

"Unfortunately, our most treasured gift can also be our most painful curse." Lucy told her.


Back in the Kanto region, a woman looked thoughtfully out her kitchen window as the darkness swallowed the usual bright landscape of Pallet Town.

She glanced at the clock and saw that it was 2am. Though Delia usually slept with no problem most nights, something seemed off today. She awoke with a nervous feeling and butterflies in her stomach.

She took a quick look into the small room to the right of the kitchen and saw Mr. Mime sleeping soundly. She wrote a quick note saying she was going for a walk just in case he awoke while she was gone.

She intentionally left the note vague and neglected to mention that she was actually going to visit Professor Oak. He was always up late analysing every aspect of his Pokémon data, even at his current age. He had always claimed his biggest discoveries came late in the night, but Delia always thought that was the lack of sleep talking.

She left out the front door and began a brisk walk in the direction of Professor Oaks lab. Though she was rarely up at this time anymore, she loves the late-night atmosphere of Pallet Town. She used to love late night walks when he was still with her.

She made her way up the winding path that led to front door of the Professors house. She pressed the doorbell quickly, wary in case she might wake some of the Pokémon or Tracy if he happened to stay over.

After waiting for a couple of moments the door finally opened and a surprised Professor Oak stood on the other side.

"Delia, what are you doing here at this hour?" He asked curiously.

"I just felt like some company." Delia admitted. "Working hard as ever I see." She referred to Professor Oak's unkempt hair, the usual sign he was getting carried away in his research.

"Of course, the world of Pokémon discovery doesn't work a 9-5." He spoke proudly. "I suppose I should finish up though, come in."

He stepped aside and Delia entered the living room. Last time she had been over all that craziness had started.

"Please take a seat." Professor Oak insisted. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"To be honest I'd prefer something stronger." Delia laughed.

"Ah one of those nights huh?" Professor Oak chuckled. "I've had my fair share. One moment."

He left the room for a minute or so and when he returned, he had two glasses and a glass bottle of brown liquor.

He placed the glasses on the table and began to pour the liquor into them slowly. Once he was finished, he handed one to Delia and then took a seat in the armchair next to the fireplace.

"It's been a while since we've had a drink here together this late." Professor Oak mentioned.

"That's true, I still remember the last time clear as day though." Delia nodded.

"Ah yes, that was the night before Ash came home after winning the Kalos League, correct?" Professor asked.

"Yes, I couldn't sleep with the excitement." Delia smiled. "And I'm sure there was many nights before that we can't remember."

"Definitely." Professor Oak laughed. "I know for sure we were here the night before Ash started his Pokémon journey."

The two sat in silence for a few moments. Delia took a sip of her drink and felt warmth spread throughout her body as the alcohol flowed into her body.

"So, what brings you over here tonight?" Professor Oak asked.

"I have a bad feeling," Delia said fearfully. "And I've learned that my intuition is almost always right."

"I have to agree." Oak nodded as he took a drink. "Whenever you have a midnight stroll the next day usually brings something unpleasant."

"I'm worried about Ash." Delia confessed. "When he came home last, Team Rocket attacked him and the day he started his journey he almost ended up in a coma. I don't even want to think about what happened the time I came over just before he was born."

Delia could see Professor Oak wince as she brought it up, a rare flash of the pain he kept hidden so well.

"Samuel, you know I don't blame you in the slightest." Delia said sincerely.

"I know." Oak said as he wistfully stared into fireplace. "But I can't say I don't blame myself."

Oak took a long swig of his drink.

"I believe Team Rocket won't harm Ash if he doesn't interfere with them," Oak explained. "But we both know that Ash won't stay away."

"You're right, he's just like his father." Delia sighed as she clenched her glass tighter. "Samuel there was something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?" Oak replied as he raised his glass for another sip.

"That file Team Rocket took that day, what was on it?" She asked.

Oak's arm froze in mid-air. He didn't even bother having a sip, instead choosing to set the glass down.

"It contained all the data I had gathered from when Red was helping me complete the Pokédex all those years ago." Oak explained. "But perhaps more importantly it had every bit of info that I gathered since Red's disappearance, including everyone and everything involved since then."

"And now it's in Team Rockets hands?" Delia asked.

"Unfortunately, yes." Oak admitted solemnly. "I assume that Red asked for them to retrieve it. Since he knew me so well, he would know that I would keep a record of events. He even knew where I kept my most important research, that's how much I trusted him."

Oak finished off the rest of his drink in one big gulp.

"That would mean that we have to consider the very likely scenario that Red has indeed joined Team Rocket."

Delia knew how dangerous this information could be. Not only does that file contain info on legendary Pokémon but also the perfect way to provoke Ash.

"Does Ash know any of this?" Delia asked.

"I briefed him, Gary and Leaf on most of the details. But, of course, I left some details out, it wasn't my place to inform him."

"I have to tell him, don't I?" Delia asked, she knew this day would come.

"It may not be my place to say but you need to let him know, it will bring both of you some closure." Oak suggested.

"I will tell him who his father was, I owe him that much. But it's still too painful talking about we lost him. Even though it's been twenty years." Delia spoke through gritted teeth.

"I respect your decision." Oak nodded. He refilled his glass before turning to Delia once more. He saw the brown liquid in her glass shift abnormally. He realised then that tears were flowing from her face and the occasional one broke the surface of the liquor.

The sight was almost too much for the professor who felt her sorrow flow through him.

"Delia I'm sorry." Oak's voice shook as he spoke. "If I knew Red was capable of such things, I would never have asked him."

"I don't blame you Samuel." Delia cried. "I promise, it's just..."

Delia tried her best to contain her sadness, she took a deep breath and looked at Oak once more.

"I can't lose Ash too, Samuel. I just can't." Delia shouted solemnly. "He's all I have left."

Oak stood up and made his way over to Delia. He placed a consoling hand on her shoulder.

He turned his head to the side, finding it difficult to hold back his own tears.

"We've both lost so much over the years." Oak spoke. "I know we both can't take losing someone else. If something happened to Gary, Ash, Leaf or any of those other kids I don't know how I could continue on."

He moved away from Delia to stand in front of the fireplace. His eyes reflected the dancing flames that crackled in front of him.

He prayed that the brazen flame would give him the courage to make a positive change for the people he cared about.

"I'll make you a promise Delia." Oak said purposefully, causing Delia to take her head from her hands and her tears to subside for now.

"A promise?" Delia asked quizzically.

"I promise to do everything I can possibly do to make sure those kids are safe. I'll pull on whatever connections I have made over the years, call in favours, I'll do anything to ensure those kids aren't harmed."

Delia could feel by the tone of his words that Oak was completely serious.

"Thank you, Samuel." Delia got up and gave the professor a hug. "I appreciate everything you have done for Ash."

"No problem Delia, it's the least I could do."

Delia broke the hug and finished off her drink.

"Thank you for the drink also, but I think it's time I head back home." She told him.

"I think that's a good idea, you do have an important phone call to make." Oak said emphatically.

"I guess I should do it soon." Delia sighed. "I'll call in the morning, how do I know where Ash is though?"

"As the one who gave Ash his Pokédex I have access to its GPS locator." Oak informed. "I would never ordinarily use it of course but due to possible danger surrounding Ash, Gary and company I looked earlier and saw they were at the Battle Tower."

"Would you have a contact number for them?" Delia asked.

"I do. Scott who is over the Battle Frontier gave me all the contact details of their locations." Oak passed Delia a piece of paper that contained a list of numbers and pointed at the one that read Battle Tower. "This is the one you're looking for."

"You've had this all prepared." Delia noticed.

"I knew this time would come sooner rather than later. And I'm proud of you for having the courage to do so." Oak smiled.

"Thank you for all your help Samuel." Delia praised. "I should be going now."

Oak showed Delia out and waved her off as she made her way back down his winding trail. He noticed she was having a more difficult time handling it, wobbling a bit as she strolled.

"She was always a lightweight." Oak chuckled before turning and closing the door behind him.

Before he called it a night, he had a bit more business than take care of. He made the way to his videophone in his laboratory having his own phone call to make.

He dialled the number and waited. After a few rings Professor Birch answered the call.

"Oak, what a pleasure." He gushed. "What caused you to call so late?"

"Hello Birch, been a while." The Kanto professor smiled. "Good to see you also enjoy late night work."

"I wouldn't say enjoy," Birch laughed. "But it comes with the profession. I'm sure you know all of us regional professors are the same."

"Lucky for me." Oak joked. He then changed to a more serious tone. "I'll be honest with you Birch this call is more for a personal favour than anything else."

"Well it's the least I could do Oak." Birch assured. "As thanks for everything you've done for me, I can do my best for you. So, what do you need?"

Oak explained his idea to Birch who was more than happy to accept the terms. After gushing his thanks, he called up Professor Sycamore to secure part two of the plan.

After explaining and giving all the details to the Kalos Professor he seemed content.

"Well that takes care of everything Oak, obviously there'll be some paperwork to handle, but I'll make sure that's done as quickly as possible." Sycamore smiled.

"I can't thank you enough." Oak spoke relieved.

"Don't mention it." Sycamore waved off. "If you don't mind me saying, I think that you should link in with all the Professors to get word out about this. If your suspicions are right, then we could be in big danger."

"You're right." Oak nodded. "I'll contact the others and see if they can recruit people to help if it comes to it. Well, when it comes to it."

"I'll do what I can from my end." Sycamore said assertively. "Right, I'll get going on this, talk to you soon Oak."

"Bye." Oak replied as he hung up the phone and Sycamores face disappeared from the screen.

He took a deep breath. The fatigue was catching up with him. He's not as young as he once was.

He decided to wait until morning to contact the rest of the professors so he could get a little sleep at least.

Before heading to his room though, Oak decided to take one last detour. He made his way to the seldom opened door that led to his basement.

He creaked it open and switched on the dim light that illuminated the dingy room.

Most of what was down here was old furniture, contraptions with no use or rare use and old, useless files.

There was something here that fit none of those descriptions, however.

He walked over to a locked cabinet and pulled a key out of his pocket. He placed it in the lock and turned until he heard the telling click.

The only thing inside was a green folder. He took it out and then sat on a less than stable chair.

He opened the folder and for the thousandth time stared at the two displays inside. One was a picture of a young Ash, Gary and Leaf taken the last time they visited the lab before they got their first Pokémon.

Gary was posing arrogantly while Ash had a goofy expression. Meanwhile Leaf stood between the two flashing a pair of peace signs.

The other was a sketch of two young kids and a Celebi.

"I'll protect you all." Oak whispered to himself, smiling at the memories. "I promise."

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and are keeping safe! Follow, favourite and review if you like. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long as this one took.