Type: BUG
Shipping: ParasectShipping

One-Shot 3: The ParaSector

Ash, Misty, Brock and their Pokémon friends had just arrived from Cinnabar Island and back to the mainland. Ash had received his seventh Gym Badge from Blaine, the Flame Badge after Ash's disobedient Charizard snuffed Blaine's Magmar. They're next destination was Viridian City. "You know, we can stop by Pallet Town on the way," Brock mentioned.

"Great idea," Ash agreed. "We can show Professor Oak the new discovery with Togepi." Misty's baby Pokémon chirped happily to the idea.

"I nearly forgot that Pallet Town's where he lives," Misty giggled. "I bet your mom will want to see Togepi, too." Ash began to ponder.

"I can imagine how she'll react," he muttered. "From all I know, she may act like she's got a new baby." Misty laughed to Ash's guess.

"Cute…" she laughed. They soon arrived at Pallet Town.

"Well, here we are," Ash introduced. "Pallet Town… my hometown." Misty, Brock and Togepi awed the look of the town.

"This is the first time I've seen Pallet Town," she admitted. "Ironically, I was coming to Pallet Town and to eat at the diner after I was done fishing for Water Pokémon when you and Pikachu showed up and took my bike." Ash gawked to the memory.

"Now, now…" Brock hushed. "Just be glad that we get to see where Ash is from."

"And I'm actually anxious to see how Krabby, Muk and the Tauros are doing," Ash added. "Maybe swap one of them for Charizard." Misty and Brock weren't too sure about the idea.

"I highly doubt Charizard would like to be in a place like in Professor Oak's backyard," Misty pointed out.

"Maybe, but right now," Brock added. "Charizard's not listening. A stay may make him realize how important he is to Ash's team." They proceeded toward Ash's home where they spotted a Persian stirring from napping outside. This startled the trainers.

"Did Mom capture a Persian to bring home?" wondered Ash. No one was sure. Persian approached the trainers before Ash knelt down and Pikachu hopped off.

("Do you belong to Mom?") the Mouse Pokémon asked.

("No, to Cassandra,") the Classy Cat Pokémon mewed. Pikachu looked surprised before turning to his trainer and friends.

("It's not Mom's Persian,") he lowly squeaked. This made the trainers think again.

"I have a sinking feeling that Persian's not your mom's," Brock assumed.

"You're probably right," Ash believed. "But she's home?" Persian happily mewed, Ash acknowledging the excitement. "Alright!" Standing up, Ash opened the door. "Mom!? I'm-" He stopped when he spotted Delia and Cassandra at the table.

"Welcome home, Ash!" the mother started. "Did you want-"

"CASSANDRA!" cried out Brock as he dashed over to Cassandra, bulldozing Ash over. He clasped her hands together. "I finally found the nurse who can give me the medicine of love for the broken heart that I've endured since we last- AHH!" He yelped when Delia pinched his earlobe and pulled it.

"Rules of the house insists that you remove your shoes before you step inside the living room," she scorned as she pulled Brock away. Ash, Misty, Cassandra and the Pokémon blinked to Delia's method.

"That's… super effective," Misty awed.

"Misty, this isn't a Pokémon battle," Ash sighed. "Just… listen to her." He turned to Cassandra as Misty kicked her shoes off. "Anyway, what brings you here, Cassandra?"

"Oh, I was just in the neighborhood and stopped by for lunch at your mom's diner," Cassandra replied. "I was gonna stop by Professor Oak's lab and Persian's unable to stay from her garden. She had some Pokémon food that Persian likes and I waited until he was fed and ready to get going." Ash and Misty giggled to what was a coincidence.

"So, that means the Persian outside's yours?" asked Misty.

"It is," Cassandra confirmed. "I adopted him shortly after you guys left. That talking Meowth seemed upset about it." The trainers gawked to the young woman's claim about Team Rocket's Meowth. "What about-" She stopped at seeing Togepi before squealing in shocked delight. "Oh my goodness! What's that Pokémon!?" Misty giggled again before bouncing Togepi a couple of times.

"This is Togepi," she identified. "We were gonna show it to Mrs. Ketchum and Professor Oak to help identify it better." Delia returned after hearing her name.

"Who were you gonna show-" she started but stopped herself at seeing Togepi. With a squeal, she hoisted Togepi and gave it a hug after taking the Spike Ball Pokémon from Misty. "You're so adorable!" She cried with a smile that no amount of bad news would ruin. "It's like holding Ash when he was a baby!" Misty, Cassandra and Pikachu shyly giggled to Delia's glee.

"I knew it," Ash mumbled, trying to hide his embarrassed face with his hand.

"So, Togepi is the Pokémon?" asked Delia as she returned Misty's Pokémon to her.

"That's right," she confirmed. "I thought to show it off to you since I'm involved with Ash. We'd also thought of going to Professor Oak to help understand Togepi further."

"After all, Mom," Ash sighed as he recovered. "I don't believe it's from the 150 Pokémon mentioned by Professor Oak." Delia nodded to the claim.

"That's for sure," she thought. "Professor Oak may have some information at his lab. By the way, Ash… how far have you gone on your Pokémon Training?" Ash opened his jacket and showed the seven Gym Badges: The Boulder Badge from Brock in Pewter City, the Cascade Badge from Misty's sisters in Cerulean City, the Thunder Badge from Lieutenant Surge in Vermilion City, the Rainbow Badge from Erika in Celadon City, the Marsh Badge from Sabrina in Saffron City, the Soul Badge from Koga in Fuchsia City and the Flame Badge from Blaine on Cinnabar Island.

"I got seven Gym Badges so far," he claimed. "I need one more to enter the Pokémon League."

"We're making a pit stop before we go after the last gym in Viridian City," Misty wrapped up.

"I gotcha," Delia understood. "I can make something for dinner tonight. After all, friends of my son are always welcome… as long as Brock understands the rules." Pikachu sighed from Delia's rule.

"While she makes dinner, why not stop by Professor Oak's place to show Togepi?" suggested Ash.

"Good idea," Misty accepted.

"Besides, My Parasect is there," Cassandra added. "Professor Oak wanted to get a better look at him." They left the house before Brock recovered and pursued.

"Hey!" he shouted. "Wait for me!" A little while later, the trainers arrived at Professor Oak's lab. The professor welcomed the kids with the Mushroom Pokémon which Cassandra spotted.

"How was Parasect?" she wondered.

"Parasect behaved pretty well and I managed to collect plenty of Spore samples," Oak mentioned. "Needless to say, it may render even Dragon Pokémon asleep." Cassandra seemed happy to hear of what Parasect's able to do.

"This means the medicine from your spores are gonna help a lot of Pokémon," she hoped. Parasect seemed on board with Cassandra's dream. That's when Oak noticed Togepi.

"This is an adorable Pokémon," he awed. "Did the upgrade to the PokéDex help?"

"Well, kinda," Misty shrugged. "We learned that this is Togepi… and that's it." Togepi chirped proudly.

"I see," Oak studied. "May I have a closer examination of Togepi? I'm trying to wonder why it hasn't fully hatched out of its egg."

"Of course," Misty allowed. Before she could join Oak, a claw entered and it aimed at Pikachu, but Ash jumped, pulling Pikachu away, but it got Cassandra instead and pulled her.

"HELP ME!" she cried out.

"Cassandra!" cried out Brock. The kids rushed outside with Pikachu and Parasect following. Out at the ranch, they saw Team Rocket's balloon and Jessie and James holding Cassandra and Meowth tied up.

"Hey, why am I tied up, too!?" complained Meowth. "It's me and Cassandra! She nursed me when youse two neva cared!"

"But this is perfect!" sneered Jessie. "We can exchange the twerpette for the twerp's Pikachu!"

"It's trouble for them, double if they resist!" added James. "Sorry about taking your line, but we have a tight schedule." Jessie nodded while Ash had a Pokéball ready.

"Charizard, I choose you!" he summoned. Everyone gawked to Ash's choice. Charizard emerged from the ball and roared.

"Arbok, go!" called out Jessie.

"You too, Victreebel!" ordered James. Arbok and Victreebel emerged before the Flycatcher Pokémon snagged on James' head. "You can celebrate after we take out that good-for-nothing Charizard!" Misty and Brock became worried.

"Don't use Charizard!" warned Misty. "He's not listening to you!"

"Switch to Pidgeotto!" advised Brock.

"I've got an idea," Ash sneered. Charizard yawned and lied down. "So, no battle?" He snorted Flamethrower at Ash who ducked.

"Dear me!" gulped Oak. "Seems Charizard's pride is over the top! He doesn't believe it's worth battling those Pokémon, albeit from Team Rocket." This set off Jessie.

"Not worth it!?" she repeated loudly. "Arbok, Poison Sting!" Arbok spat a volley of stingers at Charizard who scoffed.

"Dodge it!" shouted Ash. Charizard did nothing as the stingers pierced his abdomen. Now, Charizard noticed and gawked. "This is why I told you to dodge." James made the next move.

"Victreebel, Vine Whip!" he ordered. Victreebel flung the vine and wrapped it around Charizard's neck. The Flycatcher Pokémon had a strong hold on Charizard. This made Ash grin.

"Charizard, use Seismic Toss!" he commanded. Charizard roared and raced into Victreebel and Arbok at once, scooping the two Pokémon. Arbok's fangs pierced Victreebel that it made the Grass/Poison Pokémon shriek and lose his grip. To Jessie, the opportunity arose.

"Now for Pikachu!" she sneered as she readied her bazooka. She aimed it at the Mouse Pokémon. Charizard spun Arbok and Victreebel around before chucking them at Jessie.

"LOOK OUT!" screamed James and Meowth. Jessie wove them off.

"Be quiet I-" Arbok and Victreebel landed on Jessie, flattening her. Ash ran up and freed Cassandra while Team Rocket had their backs turned.

"JESSIE!" they cried again.

"Thanks, Ash," Cassandra praised. Ash dragged Cassandra away as Charizard blew another Flamethrower, scorching Team Rocket and the balloon that would explode. All but Meowth were sent flying.

"WAIT!" he yelled. "YOUSE FORGOT ABOUT MEOWTH!"

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAINNNNNNNNNNNNNN!" cried Jessie and James as they vanished. Charizard landed and roared in victory. He looked to Meowth, still immobile.

"Now, wait a minute!" he cried in fear. "Youse can't attack a defenseless Pokémon, right!?" Charizard pondered what to do about Meowth while Misty and Brock debated the reason Ash chose his disobedient Flame Pokémon.

"You don't think Ash had Charizard out to teach him a lesson, right?" wondered Misty.

"I'm thinking that Professor Oak hinted that Charizard's pride was huge," Brock muttered. "Still, that was a rather careless thing to do." That's when Charizard turned to see a herd of Tauros charging. He braced himself to face the Wild Bull Pokémon, but stopped at Charizard's roar. All but one Tauros retreated. It dug its hoof into the dirt, ready to battle the prideful type. Ash came over to Charizard's side.

"Before you and Tauros battle, how about dinner?" he offered. "Something big to eat? I'm sure Brock can fix something." That made Charizard growl happily, making Brock snicker.

"Only Ash can tell what his Pokémon are thinking," he shrugged. Cassandra came to Ash.

"Thanks again for saving me, Ash," she praised. "I may have the right medicine for you." That made Ash blink.

"Why do I need medicine?" he questioned. "I'm not sick. Heck, I wasn't poi-" Rather than let him rant, Cassandra laid a kiss to his lips. Oak gawked, Misty snarled and Brock and Meowth gasped, feeling defeated.

"First, Meowsie…" he whined. "Den, dat Persian and now, da twerp!? I can't win!"

"And neither can I!" blubbered Brock. They cried to the pain of losing their chance with Cassandra while Pikachu got a ride on Parasect to the new pair. Apparently, Cassandra found herself a match with Ash while Brock and Meowth came down with a major illness: heartbreak.

END of BUG
Next up: FIGHTING

(Okay, the next weeks are gonna be hectic as I continue to close out the year. Keep those votes coming.)