POKEMON HEART SOUL ADVENTURES
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Welcome back to my story! I apologize for taking so much time to update, but not having access to a computer for a while tends to put a crimp on your updating plans. Anyway... this will be a welcome chapter for a lot of you, considering that some very beloved characters from the earlier Pokemon series will show up again, and some more of the story's background will be revealed. But let's not spoil too much for the moment, okay? I'll let you find things out by yourself, so... enjoy the chapter, and hopefully I did a good enough job!
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Chapter 7 - Everyday Life In Kanto
"Hmmm... the weather looks quite strange today, I have to say..." Delia Ketchum, a still youthful-looking woman in her early forties, with long red-brown hair tied behind her head, commented as she exited her small home, looking at the sky. Pallet Town was usually blessed with a fine weather, with the sea only a few kilometres away, and the sun shining for the better part of the year. Therefore, seeing a bunch of huge clouds appearing in the skies, promising bad weather, was rather unusual, especially for that time of the year.
Delia reminded herself to watch out for the all too real possibility of rain and bring indoors the clothes she had hung outside, then she stepped out of her home's gate, waving to her Mr. Mime domestic helper. The clown-like Psychic Pokemon, who was busy sweeping the entrance steps, waved back at her.
"Mime!" he greeted energically. For her part, Delia bowed eleganlty to her Mr. Mime.
"Good morning, Mimy! I see you're already working so early in the morning, as usual!" Delia greeted. "Still, you don't have to do all that work, today... I kinda have a hunch that the weather will get worse in a few days, so sweeping everywhere will not be necessary. Yu can take a break today, can't you?"
The Pokemon did a funny military salute. "Mr. Mime!" he answered, before getting back to work all the same, although more slowly this time. Delia waved at him again and went out of the gate, then she started calmly walking towards the small town's market, crossing the road passing near a rather well-known place... the laboratory in which Professor Samuel Oak, one of the world's greatest authorities for what concerns Pokemon, was still conducting his research.
Delia sighed, somewhat melanchonically. Little more than four years had passed since Ash had started his Pokemon journey, and since the day she had seen him depart - late, as one might imagine - for Oak's lab in order to receive his starter Pokemon: the very same Pikachu who had given him nothing but grief earlier on, and that Ash had instead almost risked his life for. To think how far those two had come together... only a few days ago, Delia and her Mr. Mime had watched the Sinnoh League finals, in which Ash had defeated that purple-haired bully. Even if she did feel sad at times about how far away her son was, she was still proud of the fact that Ash had reached those levels of skill and had found his way.
At that moment, Delia heard the unmistakeable sound of a bike approaching at moderate speed, and turned in that direction to see Professor Oak slowing down and stopping near her, riding his old but still functioning and rustless bicycle. The famed Pokemon researcher was an elderly gentleman just a little above his sixties, with a still youthful edge to his demeanor and a sharp intellect, also thanks to the studies he was immersed in practically every day. Now that even his grandson Gary, Ash's childhood friend and former rival, was takking part in his research, Oak had seemingly made some promising discoveries.
"Oh, good morning, Delia!" the professor greeted. "How are you? You seem to be doing fine, these days."
"I could say thesame about you, professor Oak!" the young mother greeted back with a smile. "Still... yes, you could say that, and above all I'm very happy about Ash winning his first official tournament! What about you, professor? Is your work proceeding smoothly?"
"Yes, for now, we haven't met any particular problem!" Oak answered. "Even my grandson Gary is making some huge progresses, and he's aiding me a lot with mt research! It's just that... well... recently, some peculiar events seem to be taking place."
Delia slightly tilted her head on one side in confusion. "Peculiar, professor? What do you mean by that?"
Oak cleared his voice. "Ah-ehm... the truth of the matter, Delia, is that I've heard some strange news from Cinnabar Island."
"Oh, sure... that volcanic island in the southern seas, where there is also one of Kaanto's eight official Gyms. The one led by professor Blaine, a Fire-type expert, if I recall correctly."
Oak nodded. "And indeed you do recall correctly, Delia. Exactly, I'm talking about that. Recently, some strange happening have been springing up around those places. It all started this winter, when I received news that unusual levels of rain and snow had been reported around those parts. Of course, rain and snow are nothing out of the ordinary, but considering that it's a region quite close to the Equator, it is rather peculiar that it snowed at all."
"Well, in fact, it has been some time since it last snowed in Cinnabar Island..." Delia thought out loud. "It's always been a place with a pleasant climate, even during the winter. But still, this could have been a simple coincidence."
"That's right, Delia. As you rightly put it, a single phenomenon cannot be considered the symptom of a problem." the scientist answered. "So, the first time I heard of this, I thought it was an unusual happening, but that things would be stopped there. However, these strange happening have not yet stopped, and they're spreading further, to affect Fuxia City, the Seafoam Islands and even the Sevii Islands."
"Sevii Islands? You mean, those seven islands near the Equator?" Delia asked, just to have a confirmation. "I read a few things about those islands, and they seem to be quite popular... in fact, I've heard one of the Kanto League Elite Four was born in one of these islands. But other than this, I don't know much about those islands."
"Exactly... I'm talking about those... in particular, the inhabitants of both those islands and Cinnabar Islands have recently been hit by numerous minor earthquakes, and the volcanoes lying dormant in those zones seem to be about to awaken. The authorities are already standing guard, and the population has been given warning of the possible eruption... but all these unusual events, at such short time intervals between each other, are giving me quite a lot to think about."
Miss Ketchum couldn't help but agree. A single unusual event coul probably be dismissed as unimportant, but now that strange happenings were springing up so quickly, things couldn't just be ignored like that. At least the volcanoes were awakening slowly and gradually, giving the population fair warning.
"I would be lying if I said that I and Gary were not concerned over such events." Oak want on. "Recently, I've been conducting further research to figure out what's really happening, and I hope I can make sense of the whole situation before a serious problem springs up. Anyway... there is also the possibility that things could go back to normal on their own, which I hope will be the case."
"Me too... I wouldn't want those people to be forced to abandon their homes and go somewhere else... I dare not imagine how terrible it would be for them." Delia anwered, casting her glance to the greyish-white clouds slowly floating to the horizon...
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Somewhere else, in the Cerulean City Gym, such worries seemed to be well away from the audience cheering for the Sensational Sisters who were performing just then... together with their younger sister Misty, now playing the part of a fascinating red-haired mermaid, and by her Pokemon Horsea, Starmie and Corsola! As always, the synchronized swimming performance of the three older sisters, and the youngest sister's skill as a Pokemon trainer had left the audience in awe... which probably also had something to do with the fact that they were four fascinating young ladies in revealing swimsuits!
In any event, the net result was another round of applause and ovation for the four sisters, who had just then headed back to the locker rooms among applauses and catcalls. Once again, their skills had left a good impression on everyone!
"Aaaah! Nothing more exciting than hearing the audience cheer you on after all those weeks of rehearsal!" Violet exclaimed giddily as she toweled her long purple hair. "Aren't you excited about that as well, girls? Maybe next time we should do that Gyarados performance we have been talking about recently... after all, our little sister is not afraid of them any more, is she?"
The purplenette winked at Misty, who had just then got back in her 'civilian' clothes: yellow top and shorts giving her a dynamic, tomboyish appearence, red trainers and her bright red hair tied in a side ponytail. Immediately, the redhead wrinkled her nose, giving her sisters a mock-threatening glare. "Hey, Violet, just because I am not afraid of Gyaradoses any more, doesn't mean I like them either!" she replied, "What's with you and deciding things for me? Sheesh..."
The three older sister chuckled in amusement. "Hehee... now, Misty, we were just joking!" Daisy answered. "By the way, what about your plans for the next days, huh? Are you really sure you don't wanna get some... time off?"
Misty blinked in confusion. "Hmm? What... are you talking about, Daisy?"
The other two Sensational Sisters' ears had perked up at Daisy's question, and now all three of them were approaching Misty with teasing smiles on their faces. "Heheheee... you know you can't fool us, little sis, we know you all too well for that!" Lily giggled. "We saw how excited you were the other day when you saw your... friend... winning the Sinnoh championship!"
Misty's face immediately took on a hue similar to that of her hair, and the youngest of the four sisters stepped back, her eyes comically wide and looking elsewhere. "Huh? And... huh... this has to do with me... how, exactly? Can't a girl be happy when her friend has won a big tourney?"
Her clumsy attempts at hiding the truth could not fool the older sisters. "Oh, so you're just happy that he won? You sure this is all there is, sister dear?" Violet chuckled, getting dangerously close to Misty and looking at her straight in the eyes. "'Cause, you see, I believe that now the first thing your... friend... does," and Misty caught the particular emphasis given to the penultimate word. "will be to head back home for a while, in Pallet Town, to get some well-deserved rest. And, well, this could be the right time to see him again, after so much time!"
Misty's reaction was as predictable as it was immediate - her pretty face became inequivocably, completely crimson! "Wha... what? What... are you trying to say, for crying out loud?" she exclaimed, droplets of sweat spraying comically around her. "For your information, sisters dearest, and this is probably the thousandth time I'm telling you this... I was travelling with Ash because he and his Pikachu had busted my bike, and he had to reimburse me! That's all!"
The oldest trick in the book. The three Sensational Sisters had heard that excuse far too many times not to know that it was a facade...
"But, if I recall correctly, he never gave that bike back, did he?" Violet clarified with visible pleasure, causing Misty to murmur something unintelligible under her breath. "In the end, you chose to stay with us in the Gym, and you pretty much forgot about the bike. So... how are you going to explain this, sister dear? This excuse has grown old!"
"Ugh... you and your 'sharp intuitions'..." Misty murmured, turning the other way. Sisters or not, Misty hated how they always seemed to know which buttons to push in order to embarass her.
Daisy sighed and shook her head. Really, her sister could be so stubborn when she put her mind to that... maybe that was also the reason why she had become such a great Pokemon trainer, after all! "C'mon, Mist, we're your big sisters, right? We have known you since the day you were born... so don't think you can deceive us with these silly excuses, heheheee..." she giggled briefly. "But, jokes aside, Misty, are you really sure you don't want to take a... vacation, so to speak... and go to Pallet Town to meet him? For what concerns the Gym, we can take care of it! After all, we did just that when you were away with Ash and Brock."
Sure, Misty thought with some melanchony, she would be lying if she said she didn't want to see her old friend and travelling companion... but once they would be face to face, how was she going to act? So much time had passed since she and Ash last saw each other... who knows if he even remembered her, at this point...
After thinking about it for a while, Misty sighed and turned slightly towards her sisters, without fully facing them. She obviously didn't want them to read her emotions in her face. "Really, girls, I don't know about that... I'm kinda split on this." she answered, trying not to grasp at excuses. "I... well... how to say... I'll admit, I'd really love to see him again... but... I mean, so much time went by since I last saw him, and I don't know if... er... really, how much things might have changed between us. And I don't know if he even remembers me and what we went through in our journey. You know what I'm saying, right?"
Violet smiled warmly and put an hand on Misty's head, ruffling her hair. "Yeah, yeah, we know, little sis! We know what you're trying to say... even if you're so stubborn, you're also pretty shy when it comes to certain topics!"
"I will... pretend not to have heard that, big sis..." Misty murmured as she tried to comb her hair back into place.
"C'mon, Mist, Violet was just joking!" Daisy laughed. "But... well, you understand what she was trying to say, right? Sometimes, in our lives, we get these chances that we need to be able to grasp. If we don't do so, and we waste our time just thinking about what might hapen if we were to step forward... well, we'd end up wasting our chances! And I don't think it's a good thing to live in regret of what we might have been able to do."
"After all, you and Ash are friends all the same, right? Before everything else, remember that you spent months on end travelling through Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto." Lily added. "So, I'm sure he will be happy to see you as well! Therefore, little sis, don't think too hardabout it, and go meet him! I'm sure he will appreciate it!"
Misty sighed again and looked at thefloor, thinking back of the old times when she was travelling allong with Ash and Brock, foiling Team Rocket's hare-brained traps and incredible dangers... Mewtwo, the mad collector Lawrence III and his obsession with capturing Kanto's Legendary Birds, the Unown Tower... both happy and sad memories that made up the best part of her life, which she never really cast behind her. A small part of her was still hoping that, one day, she and her friends could meet again, even for just a little while... at least long enough to tell each other of their own lives, and maybe... with a little luck... live another adventure all together, just like old times...
In the end, Misty was seriously considering the idea of accepting her older sisters' proposal... however, she was still not one hundred per cent sure, mostly because of the gym this time. "Well, when you put it this way, maybe... but are you sure you can handle both the gym and the performances?"
"Heheheee... our little sister does not know us as well as we know her, it seems!" Lily answered happily, giving Misty a small pat on her shoulder. "Don't underestimate us, Mist! As we said, if we managed to do both things when you were away... and you've been away a long time... I don't see why we can't do that now! We've been studying a bit of Pokemon battling ourselves, and we've been training quite a bit! Sure we don't have your talent for battling, but we can definitelt hold our own! You'll see, our challengers won't have it easy!"
Thiss time, Misty was fully convinced, and gave her sister a bright, thankful smile. "I... I see! Alright, then, you convinced me! I'll try and see when the ships from Sinnoh arrive in Vermillion City, and... I'll make sure I'm ready to show Ash and Brock a nice surprise as soon as they're back!"
"Now that's talking, little sis!" Violet exclaimed. "And remember, try to have him tell you everything, down to the tiniest details! You know how boys are, a girl's got to always keep a short leash on them!"
"Violet!" Misty protested as she struggled to get free of her sister's energetic noogie. "You and your suspicions... I'm telling you once again, I and Ash are just friends! And that's all there is to it! I don't know how you manage to come up with such ideas..."
Daisy and Lily whispered something in each other's ears and giggled, one hand in front of their mouths, as Misty sighed in resignation... and silently thanked fate for having given her such annoying yet supportive older sisters...
Finally, after so much time, she was going to see again two of her dearest friends. Who knows how the reunion would have been... Misty was eager to discover that for herself...
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"Electivire. Use a Thunder attack, now."
This firm-sounding, emotionless order was immediately followed by Paul's massive Electric Pokemon charging himself as much as he could, and then unleashing all of his electric power in a huge spark that struck a pair of trees, charring both their bark and their leaves before sizzling out, leaving an exhausted, wheezing Electivire behind. That attack had left him almost completely spent, and the Electric Pokemon secretly hoped that his trainer, despite being known for his hars training methods, would just call it a day...
Luckily for him, that was exactly what Paul decided a second later. Always keeping his severe expression, the violet-haired boy recalled Electivire in his Pokeball. "Hm. Not bad at all. I wasn't expecting any less, anyway. That's enough for today." he said, almost going as far as to compliment his Pokemon. As Paul put the Pokeball back in its place, he stood there and looked at the results of his Pokemon's attack. He had to say, they were noticeable, but he still thought they were falling short of Electivire's real potential.
"Hmm... that's still not it. If I want to compete in the next Sinnoh league, I need to do more than strengthen my Pokemon... I also need to make up new strategies and new ways to use their moves." he told himself. "And I won't get much of a chance here in Sinnoh. Most trainers are either too weak or too strong for me. I need to find a place full of strong Pokemon which would force me and my team to our extremes. The question is, where?"
That was an issue for Paul... he couldn't just let that defeat slide, just when he was so close to becoming the champion, and at the hands of the Pokemon he had deemed weak and useless. It was a major blow to his personal beliefs, and to his own pride as well.
The young trainer stopped to think for a while, glaring at the charred trees... and then, he allowed himself to relax a little, and allowed himself a barely visible smile. "Hm. I think I've got it. If what I heard about that place is true, that might just be the training field I need for my Pokemon." he told himself. "Alright then... I'll start doing some research tomorrow, and I'll see whether what they say about that place is true."
His demeanor turned grim, as he once again thought of his defeat. "My team will get a lot better after this training. And next time I and Ash Ketchum will face each other, I will be the winner." he muttered, before turning and walking away, his eyes burning with determination and his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Mount Silver... I really want to see how it is."
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Finally, after a few days of travel, Ash, Pikachu, Dawn and Brock had arrived in Canalave Town, where the ship to Kanto was waiting for them... and at that moment, the youngest members of the team, together with their trademark Pikachu and Piplup, were sitting on a bench near the ticket office, waiting for their older companion to buy the tickets. After waiting in a line for a little while, Brock had managed to buy three tickets for the earliest departing ship the following morning.
"Okay, guys, here I am!" Brock said as he returned to Ash and Dawn, tickets in hand. "There is a ship to Kanto tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, which will arrive in Vermilion City after seven hours of travel. From there it really shouldn't take long for us to be back in Pallet!"
"Yeah... Vermilion City, that was when I and Pikachu were up against Lt. Surge and his Raichu!" Ash said, recalling that climatic battle, at the beginning of his trainer's carreer, with a bit of nostalgia. "It was one of the greatest battles I had in Kanto... man, if I think of how reckless I was then, it makes my head spin!"
"By the way, how did it go?" A curious Dawn asked. "Did you really go up against a Raichu by using just your Pikachu, back then?"
"Exactly..." Ash answered, as his inseparable electric mouse friend stood on his hind legs, hands on his hips, and nodded sagely. "I though I and Pikachu could defeat Surge's Raichu by attacking head-on, without thinking of a strategy... but when Raichu easily defeated Pikachu, we understood we were doing it wrong. We had to work up a strategy... and in the end, we figured out Raichu's weak point, and used that towin!"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu nodded, still feeling proud for that victory.
"I remember that battle myself..." Brock affirmed as he handed the tickets to the kids. "That was when I really saw that Ash had the potential to become a real Pokemon master, although his battle against me, in Pewter City Gym, had been quite impressive already! By the way, since we're going back to Kanto, I probably need to pay a visit to the Gym... and I hope there won't be problems..."
"Problems?" Ash asked dubiously. "Why, what kind of problems should there be?"
"Oh, it's just a rumour I heard while I was in queue for the tickets..." Brock answered, trying not to put too much importance on what he had heard. After all, as far as he knew, it could all be simply a temporary problem. "Still, I heard there have been some violent sea storms in the ocean between Sinnoh and Hoenn... violent to the point where all traveling between those two regions has been suspended. Which is strange, because those ships are really huge, and it would take a really terrifying storm to put one in danger..."
"You're right..." a slightly worried Dawn agreed. "One has to hope it doesn't happen to us..."
"Yeah, me too..." Ash went on. "Though I guess they will warn us if that happen. Anyway, no use getting worried over nothing! How about we phone our families and let them know where we're going?"
"You're right, since we have that chance now..." Dawn answered, before pointing a finger to a group of public phones. "We can call them from there!"
"That's a good idea, and two of those phones just happen to be vacant. Ash, Dawn, you can go first." Brock commented as the group stood up and walked to the public phones. The younger trainers nodded and went to one telephone each, inserting a phone card and composing their own home number. They didn't have to wait long before their respective mothers came to answer...
"Hello?" Delia Ketchum answered, grabbing the phone as soon as her young-looking face appeared on the display in front of Ash. "Hey, Ash! What a nice surprise! Are you doing alright, my dear? I saw you on TV the other day, at the finals! You did a splendid job!"
"Hi, Mom!" Ash answered, smiling hugely as Pikachu waved at her. "Hehehee... yeah, I have to say me and my Pokemon did alright! All those lessons we have learned paid off in the end!"
"Pikachu! Pika pika, pikachu!" Pikachu squeaked.
Delia chuckled good-naturedly. "Well, you did take a bit of time to learn from them... Just joking, you were terrific there, it was a well earned win! Everyone in Pallet Town is enthusiastic about it... they say it's great that a trainer from here had upheld Kanto's honor in the Sinnoh conference!"
"Thanks, Mom! Even I and Pikachu are happy about winning!" Ash answered. "And speaking of which, the reason I called was also to tell you that I, Pikachu, Brock... and a friend we have met here in Sinnoh... will be coming back to Pallet Town to get a brief vacation... and to see what's new around there! I guess that, with all the time I've spent away from home, something must have changed!"
Delia's face lit up in joy. "Of course, my dear! I'm always glad when you come back to visit! And as for your friend from Sinnoh, she's welcome as well, of course! I will be pleased to meet her and show her our country! By the way, Mimy would like to say hello to you as well! Look, he's right here!"
She stepped aside for a moment, allowing the mime Pokemon to show up on the phone's screen and wave at Ash and Pikachu with his huge glowed hand. "Mr. Mime!" the Psychic-type Pokemon greeted.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu quickly answered, his long ears standing upright. Ash chuckled to himself for the funny exchange between the two Pokemon before resuming his talk.
"Well then, Mom... if it's alright with you, we'll take the next ferry to Kanto, and we'll reach you as soon as we can in Pallet Town!" Ash said triumphantly. "I really want to see you, Gary, Tracey and Professor Oak again... and to introduce Dawn to all of you!"
"I'd be happy to!" Delia answered. "And even Professor Oak will! By the way, I think he needs to talk to you about something important, so you coming back home would be the ideal chance..."
"Of course." Ash answered, wondering what the problem might be. "Alright, Mom, we'll be departing tomorrow, and we'll come as soon as we can so... just wait for us, okay? Bye, Mom, love you!"
"Me too, Ash! See you soon!" Delia answered before the communication ceased, and the videophone's screen went blank once again.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Dawn and her mother had gone more or less along those same lines, with Dawn politely asking her mother for permission to follow Ash and Brock in their own continent. The blue-haired girl was fervently hoping for an affirmative answer, and she knew that her mother was quite open-minded about that... but it was still a journey to another continent they were talking about, and it must not have been the easiest thing in the world for a parent to agree to that...
"So, Mom... I, Ash and Brock thought it would have been a good idea for me to go to Kanto with them... I could see a few new gyms, know new trainers, and gain more experience for my future contests." Dawn explained, hoping not to trip on her own words. She wanted to come across as convinced, since it was a very important occasion for her...
Johanna stood silent for a short while... then, much to her daughter's surprise, she raises her eyes, smiled and nodded. "Alright, then, dear! You have my approval and can go to Kanto with Ash and Brock! I think it will be a very good learning experience for you, and it will still be a way to stay with your good friends, so... I'm okay with you going to Kanto!"
"Really? I can?" Dawn exclaimed, her face beaming with joy. "Oh, thanks, Mommy, you're an angel! I'm so happy you gave me permission, so... I promise I won't do anything stupid, and I'll call you regularly! No need to worry!"
Johanna chuckled. "You know, dear, that it's when you say that that I start worrying..." she answered, to which Dawn grit her teeth and made a comical grimace. That was a poor choice of words... but luckily, Johanna did not seem to mind that. "Just kidding, Dawn, don't be alarmed! I know you've become aresponsible and independent girl! I still can't believe how far you've come!"
"Dunno whether I should be flattered or worried..." Dawn joked. "Anyway... thanks a lot, Mom, and don't worry! I know I'll be okay even in another continent! And as I said, I'll call you often, so... you can be sure everything will be alright!"
"Glad to know that!" Johanna concluded. "So, dear... I don't think I have anything more to say to you other than... enjoy your time with your friends, learn as much as you can, and... well, all this sort of things! I love you, Dawn... best wishes to you!"
"Thanks, Mom! To you as well!" Dawn answered before the communication was interrupted. The blue-haired girl set the phone down and turned to her friends, seeing that Ash had already finished his call. "Well, that's about it! There weren't any problems, and we can go to Kanto without any worries. Brock, have you heard anything on the weather?"
"Luckily, there doesn't seem to be any problem about that." the Rock Pokemon trainer answered. "The broadcast for tomorrow talks about smooth sailing and calm sea, so... now we have nothing more to do than find a place to spend the night, and get some rest. We're in for a long journey tomorrow... remember, our ferry is from Dock 7, tomorrow at 9 o'clock... so we have to wake up on time. We'll get to Kanto only in the late afternoon."
"Yeah, Kanto is quite far from here..." Ash recalled. As the trio and Pikachu headed towards the exit, they were oblivious to a group of mysterious individuals in trenchcoat and fedora hat sitting near the entrance, their faces hidden by the newspapers they were reading... behind which, their eyes were intently following Ash and Pikachu!
"Well, guys? You heard them, right?" the smallest of the trio asked in a nasal voice, peeking out of the newspaper's page. "Looks like the twerps are going back home... that oughta make things easier for us, doncha think?"
"Could be, Meowth..." a female voice, belonging to a familiar-looking fuxia-haired girl, answered. "We'll be pretty much playing on our home turf! It will be much easier to catch Pikachu and bring him to the boss..."
"But there's another problem to take care of..." James timidly stated. "How do we embark on that ship? We don't have much money, and we can't afford to spend much on tickets..."
"And our pride as criminals keeps us from doing something as honest as buying a ticket!" Jessie replied, wrinkling her nose. "But... don't worry, you two! I think I already have an idea on how to do it, and I'm sure it will work to perfection!"
"Should I start prayin, Jessie, or should I go straight for our last wills?" Meowth snarked, remaining indifferent as Jessie glared daggers at him.
"Grrr... why don't you close that big mouth of yours, Meowth?" the fuxia-haired girl growled. "Anyway, as I was saying... this time I got it all under control! We'll get to Kanto no problem, and then we'll get Pikachu... and get our prize from the boss!"
"Shouldn't we just get Pikachu during the journey?" James asked. "You know, just to make it faster..."
"To make it faster in blasting off again, you twit!" Jessie repriminded him. "On the ship, we have no chance of getting away in time! They will find us and give us the usual routine of getting blown sky high! No, we need to be patient, James... our efforts will be rewarded in the end! We'll use the time we have during our journey to think of a good attack plan... and then, we'll catch the twerps and their Pikachu off guard!"
"Heheee... have to say, Jessie, for once I really think your plan just might work!" Meowth concluded, as the clumsy criminal trio tried to get away without drawing too much attention on themselves...
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A few hours later.
"Have to say, this hotel might not be super-luxury, but it's still very nice!" Ash commented as he relaxed on a chair, as he and his friend were sitting around a table, enjoying a spectacular vista on Canalave Port, with breakers spectacularly washing over the reef, and the fragrant smell of saltwater in their nostrils. In the end, Ash and his friend had chosen an hotel near the coast, where they could spend the night in peace, and allow their Pokemon to get a good night's sleep as well. In fact, a few metres away from them, their Pokemon had been let out of their Pokeballs and were now playing around in a specially devised play area, with Togekiss and Sceptile watching over them.
"Yeah... there's even a place where our Pokemon can have all the fun they want!" Dawn commented as she looked in amusement at her Pachirisu riding on the massive Mamoswine. The small electric squirrel was taking advantage of the enormous boar's Ground / Ice type to shock him from time to time as to make him hurry... which Mamoswine only registered as a slight tickle. Further still, Heracross was carrying Piplup and Pikachu on his shoulders, while Brock's Sudowoodo was using his Mimic to improvise a funny show for the other Pokemon!
"It's a really nice place... and, I have to say, I'm gonna miss Sinnoh." Brock comented. "We did live a lot of great adventures here... and yet, I and Ash have been away from our homes from quite a long time, and we'd like to come back at least for a while."
"Right... and about that..." Ash answered, drawing Dawn's curious stare. "Y'know, Dawn, four years ago I started my journey wanting to become a Pokemon Master... but during all these travels, I kinda fear I lost my goal, and I've ended up fighting... just for the sake of fighting. Now... I would like to return to my new goal and think of what I have to do to get it. You see what I mean?"
"Sure I do..." Dawn answered, thinking how much Ash's position resembled her own. She did want to become a world-famous coordinator, but other than the first steps she had taken, she was unsure of what to do now... "And... well, know that since you've helped me when I was trying to make my dream come true, I will aid in making yours come true! You can count on me!"
Ash smiled, appreciating Dawn's will to help... but before he could add anything else, a notorious aristocratic and arrogant voice inserted herself in the conversation. "A... Pokemon Master, huh? This is news to me."
Immediately, the three of them turned to the source of the voice... and there they saw Ursula walking up to them, arms crossed on her chest and nose slightly tilted in the air. Dawn greeted her rival first with a nod of her head. "Oh... is that you, Ursula? What a surprise, imagine meeting you here of all places..." she said, frowning a little.
The peach-haired girl shrugged. "I wasn't expecting it myself, so I guess we're even." she said curtly. "I was here to take a ship to Hoenn, but with the rough sea conditions, the ferry has been postponed. Anyway... becoming a Pokemon Master, huh? That's quite a feat. I saw your performance in the Sinnoh tournament, and I have to say, I was quite impressed. Your team is strong and well-trained... but you'll need a lot more than that to get this title. I hope for your sake you know what you're getting into."
"Er... If I have to be frank here, I don't know how to become a Pokemon Master..." the Pallet Town boy answered candidly, causing Ursula to frown. "I've never thought much about it... and now that I have some free time, I'd like to think it over and try to understand how to reach my goal."
Ursula seemed to think about that for a moment. "Hmph... well, you know where you stand, at the very least." she answered. "If I were you, I'd try to contact one of Kanto's Elite Four, since you're going there. I'm pretty sure they already know you've won the Sinnoh tournament, and they can give you better advice."
Dawn smiled at Ursula, which annoyed the more elegant coordinator. "Hm? What now... Dee-dee? You think I said something ridiculous?"
"No, it's not that, Ursula!" Dawn answered, further irritating Ursula with her cheerfulness. "It's just that... well, you're showing that you're actually a nice person and a good friend. Thank you for your advice!"
Ursula wrinkled her nose. "Hmph... do not get strange ideas, Dee-dee, because I still don't consider you my friends. And I still don't think you're at my level, even though I accept that I lost to you. Don't get too cocky, because as soon as I'm back from Hoenn, we'll meet each other in a contest... and this time, I will be the winner! Hohohohoooo!"
The haughty girl placed her hand in front of her mouth and laughed out loud, in a manner that reminded Ash and his friends of Jessie... then, she waved a hand and began walking away. "Well, I guess I have to get going! I promised my Pokemon I would have taken them to the beauty salon. See you at the next Pokemon contest... to celebrate my victory, of course!"
Ursula walked away without looking back... and Ash sighed as she disappeared from their sight. "That girl sure is something, huh? First she tries to help us, and then she dumps us like that... I really don't know what to make of her."
"Well, everyone has his or her own way to give advice... Ursula is simply too proud to admit when she wants to help someone." Brock answered. "Think nothing of that."
"Brock is right, that's not the right time to worry about her." Dawn continued. Then, she gripped her fist in front of her, and scarlet flames burst out dramatically from behind her! "And when we'll face each other, I and my Pokemon will be stronger too! I won't lose to her, I'll show what I and my Pokemon are made of!"
Ash stepped backwards, trying to avoid being scalded by the flames that had comically burst around his blue-hared friend. "Er... I... have no problem believing that, Dawn!" he answered with an embarassed laugh. "Man, you're sure taking this rivalry seriously... hehehee, kinda reminds me of the old times with Gary!"
"Still, Ursula is right when she says we can't get too lax. We need to start training again as soon as we can..." Brock was beginning to say...
...and just then, somesort of firework exploded loudly above the Pokemon play area, colouring the sky in an orange hue and then unleashing a chain reaction of smaller explosions! Alarmed, the Rock Pokemon expert turned his head in that direction... just in time to see a proud-looking Gible standing over the dazed Croagunk, Pikachu and Piplup, his reptilian face turned upwards and an orange beam of light coming from his mouth. Croagunk, Piplup and Pikachu hadn't really gotten hurt... but their expressions spoke volumes about how annoyed they felt about that!
"Pi... ka-chu!" the electric mouse protested, giving a dirty look to the Ground / Dragon Pokemon
"Pip! Lup! Pip! Lup!"
"Crooooagunk..."
"Er..." Brock commented as Ash and Dawn sweatdropped in disbelief. "I guess my Gible needs a little more discipline, with that strange attack of his..."
oooooooooo
TO BE CONTINUED
Author's Note: Finally, I've updated my story! My work had been interrupted because of Christmas vacation, and because I haven't had access to a computer for a while, but now I'm going to restart updating, and I hope I'll put up the next chapter in two weeks or so.
I hope I did a decent job with Ursula. She's one of my favourites, and will play an important part later on in my story - my aim is not to write her as too friendly towards Ash and his team, especially Dawn, but still portray her as a decent person, her arrogant attitude aside.
Well, that's about it for now! Stay tuned for the new chapter!