Ash Ketchum walked down the grey hallway of the Son's of Pallet Town Head Quarters. He had grown much over the course of the war with Team Rocket. He had become a well-muscled man. Not as buff as say Kain and nowhere near the size Bruno was before he died. His hair still looked like he had never put a comb to it in his life. He wore an old pair of blue jeans and a dusty leather jacket.
"How was the meeting?" the voice of his long time friend and rival Gary Oak startled him. Ash turned to his friend who also never combed his hair.
Ash sighed holding his hands to the back of his head.
"It stunk the women are still offended that its called the Son's of Pallet town and not the Children of Pallet town or some other PC crap." Gary just laughed.
"Yeah they just don't understand we founded this group so we get to name it"
The two stood in silence for what felt like an eternity.
"Any word from Misty?" Gary asked.
Ash's face fell at the mention of that name.
"No we sent a message to the Vapor Vengeance days ago we haven't gotten a response"
At that moment, the familiar voice of Brock came over a loud speaker.
"Commander Ash, Commander Gary please comes to Base Command"
The two turned around and started sprinting down the corridor.
They soon entered the room titled base command. It has the look of command center computers lining the walls. A giant sized map of Kanto sitting at the head of a large rectangular table. Various strategic points highlighted the map.
Two people sat at the table. The first was Brock the other was woman with long pink hair.
"Brock why did you shave your head?" Ash groaned.
Brock just smiled and said, "I thought it look cool"
"Its because we was going bald anyways he wanted everyone to think its by choice" the woman said coyly.
Brock decided to ignore that comment despite the muffled laughs he could hear.
"Ash I've got some Intel on the Vapor Vengeance sit down please"
Ash held his breath and sat down in the chair at the far end. Gary sat next to the pink haired girl.
Brock had a solemn look on his face.
"Ash the Vapor Vengeance has been captured by a Squad of Team Rocket agents several members of the rebel faction are dead."
Ash slammed his fist into the table, tears forming in her eyes. The pink haired woman collapsed into Gary's arms in tears.
"From what we know three days ago a squad of rockets found the Vapor Vengeance's hide out they captured or killed everyone inside. However"
The last word made everyone look up.
"The Squad was planning to stay behind to capture the leader namely Misty, when she returned to her hideout. The squad never reported in. The next morning the agents had been found dead and with no sign of Misty"
Ash looked up with a new look of hope in his eyes. "So Misty escaped but who killed those rockets"
The pink haired woman stopped drying her tears and looked to Brock. "So my little sister could still be alive." She hugged Gary tightly who kissed her lightly on the lips in response.
Brock gave a hopeful smile
"Evidence suggests Kain wiped out the rocket agents"
Ash stood up and started pacing.
"But do we know what happened to Misty?"
Brock could only shake his head in response.
"Kain might know where she is but he's not known for acts of charity if he saved her it was by accident or because he wants something form her"
"So what can we do?" the pink haired Lilly asked.
Brock shook his head. "I don't know Kain doesn't communicate with other rebels often most don't agree with his methods"
Gary raised an eyebrow and said. "You mean his reputation of butchering his enemies putting there head up on pikes."
Ash nodded "As far as I'm concerned he's no better then Giovanni, anyone who stands in his way gets hurt"
Lilly slid off Gary's lap and sat up in the chair to his right.
"Lets just hope Misty wasn't in his way"
Ash clenched his fists. "If he hurts her I swear I'll ripe out his black heart"
Gary gave a hearty laugh, "ha anyone who messes with Ashy boy's girlfriend had better beware!"
Ash's face blushed a deep red. "She's not my girl friend!"
Meanwhile back with Misty
Misty sat tied to a chair in a pitch-black room. The only source of light was a single bright bulb above her.
The shadowy figure of Kain stood somewhere in the dark.
The red head struggled against the ropes that bound her to the chair.
"Did you have to tie them so tightly you freak" she yelled fiery as ever.
Misty heard sinister laughter coming from the darkness of the room.
"Would you like me to untie you?" the voice of Kain spoke.
"Really would you do that?" Misty asked.
"Just ask" Kain said with a devilish smirk on his face.
Misty figured it couldn't hurt so.
"Could you untie me?" she asked sweetly pulling on the ropes.
"No" Kain said bluntly.
"Bastard, why am I here!" she hollered kicking her legs
"You have quite the temper but I'll be asking the questions" Kain said coldly.
Misty still couldn't see Kain anywhere; the only thing giving away is presence was his voice. He walked slightly over the cement floor.
Despite her fear, Misty kept her defiant face high.
Kain gave an indigent snort.
"I know your afraid Misty, I can sense these things, are you expecting your boyfriend to burst in the door and save you" Kain laughed as Misty's face turned beat red and she stuttered for words.
"Ash isn't my boyfriend he's a boy and my friend but not my boyfriend!"
Kain stepped out of the darkness and evil grin on his face.
"I never said anything about Ash"
At this point, it became impossible to tell if her red face was from embarrassment or her anger. It
Kain was quite amused and circled around Misty half his body under the single light the other half in shadow.
"Back to the matter at hand Misty, The main reason your are here is because I'm testing you"
Misty was baffled.
"Testing me for want?" she demanded using her best death glare.
Kain just smirked.
"You impress me Misty, those agents we're ready to kill you or worse had I not been following you they'd have had their way. Yet you stood proud despite your fear."
"Get to the point asshole" Misty yelled her flailing as best as she could against her bonds. In fact, she flailed so much the chair fell over. Luckily, her arms took the brunt of the impact instead of her head.
"Smooth" Kain mocked he knelt down and stood the chair up right. "This brings me to my second point I could kill you in the blink of the eye and yet you insist on insulting me." Kain said as he moved his face inches from Misty.
"Not even the great Sabrina could stand against me as fearless as you. Join me Misty join the Black Sword"
Misty was disgust. "I'd never join you, you're a monster!"
Kain just sighed. "I know"
"So what are you going to do with me keep me prisoner?"
Kain shook his head. "No I'll leave you somewhere for Ash to find.
Misty was shocked to say the least. "Just like that, I insult you spit in your face and you let me go?"
Kain smirked, "Sabrina and the High Guard know I have you I have do doubt they will inform Ash and the Son's of Pallet town. From what Shadow has told me about Ash. Your friend won't rest until your safe I don't want my secret base uncovered so its just easier to hand you over but not before I give him a little test".
Kain smirked and walked into the darkness. Then came the sound of a heavy metal door opening. Kain stopped in the doorway blotting out much of the light coming in from the door.
"Shadow take Misty back to her cell and make sure she gets something to eat before we leave to meet Ash"
"Yes Master Kain" Shadows voice said from right behind Misty.
Misty was startled and tried to turn her head towards the direction of Shadow's voice but couldn't get her head around far enough.
"How'd you get in here?" Misty questioned.
"I was here the entire time, Kain taught me the art of Ninjitsu" He said plainly.
"Guess you have the skills to match that cheesy Ninja outfit now untie me!" she screamed.
Shadow cut the ropes binding Misty's arms and swiftly moved in front of her. His face as covered by the ninja mask once again. Obviously recovered from after Misty tore it off.
"So James it is you" she said looking at Shadow.
"eh How'd you know it was me?" Shadow said removing his mask revealing it was indeed James.
Misty only shrugged. "How many people have lavender hair, so I guessed"
His face had changed much in the ten years sense she last saw him. It showed the changes of a decade of fighting and training. It had become rough and hard, a scar ran from his right eyebrow down to his cheek.
"Never could out smart you guys for long, Its nice to see you twerp" he gave a light smile.
Misty looked at him with wonder shaking her head in disbelief. What on earth could have happened to James in these past ten years.
"What happened to you where's Jessie, Is she still in Team Rocket?"
James was quite for a moment and a tear came to his eye.
"She's dead, she died because I couldn't protect her from Giovanni"
Misty gasped. "Oh James I'm so sorry"
James moved around her back and finished untying her. He spoke in a solemn voice filled with a lifetime of regret.
"I'd be dead now if not for Kain, I was ready to hang myself after Jessie died, but Kain found me and gave me a reason to live"
"Revenge." Misty finished as she stood up letting the ropes fall. She turned to James who had his back turned to her.
"I already knew how to lie and to cheat, Kain taught me how to fight, how to survive and how to kill." James clenched his fist and kicked the now empty chair away.
"The one thing he can't teach me is how to forget my pain or sorrow, but then he can't teach himself that either"
Misty held her fist over her heart a few tears started to run down her face. "You loved Jessie didn't you?"
James turned to her with a weak smile. "More then anything, I just wish I could have told her that before it was to late"
End of chapter: