Author's Note: Hey I made a banner for this fic so if anyone wants to use it they can! Give me credit though: Go to my page and click on the link to my banner on my main page!

--------

To My Faithful Readers:

gilmaxter – I know I'm writing myself to sleep every night ! I really want to get this done, check out the banner! Do you mind if I use your name in my fic?

AshK - thanks so much for the review, keep reading!

AshK once again – THANK YOU! CHECK OUT MY BANNER!

sonic – thanks thank! I Will!

…/\/\...

Chapter 4 – The Voice

Misty stopped in front of the group of boys waiting for her and she got off the bike.
"Phew," Misty sighed and took Azurill in her arms, "that was hard, my legs hurt so bad!"
Misty stretched her arms and legs before walking past the group into the lab, "I wonder where the professor is…"
"He's inside choosing what Pokemon and information to bring with him," Tracey immediately responded following her with Georgio and Richie trailing behind.
"You look very nice, er, Misty," Georgio looked at his shoes and blushed.
Misty blushed and sat down on a red couch in the laboratory's main room, "Why thank you Georgio."
All three boys sat down on the couch across form Misty when Tracey yelled, "Professor we're ready!"
"Coming," Professor Oak appeared in a white lab coat from a door at the top of a large staircase leading to his dormitory, "Why, hello Misty, how's your gym going?"
"Just wonderfully, my sisters are in charge right now so that I could take this break," Misty walked over to him, "how have you been?"
"Absolutely splendid," Professor Oak walked with Misty down the steps and stood before the group, "the helicopter will be arriving shortly to take us to the tournament so—Tracey, would you mind getting my bags from the bedroom; it's quite a lot for an old man like me…"
"Sure Professor," Tracey smiled humbly and disappeared behind the door.
In a few seconds he reappeared with at least five bags and suitcases, "Umm, guys, alittle help?"
"Sure," Georgio ran to up to aid him and Richie asked, "Why so many things professor?"
"Well Richie," Professor Oak reached over to pet Sparky who sat on Richie's shoulder, "I just think I need enough information about Pokemon and battle strategies since I'm going to be the guest announcer. I'd prefer to be prepared for anything."
"Oh, well I'm sure nothing will get past you now!" Misty agreed.
"RRRRRINGGG!" There was a loud ringing coming from the room across from them.
"Oh, someone's calling," Professor Oak smiled and excused himself.
"I wonder who it is," Misty pondered, straining her ears to listen for any sound coming from the room but was unsuccessful.
"Maybe it's the helicopter pilot," Richie said, "or maybe someone from Hoenn…"
"I don't know, but I think we'd better go help Tracey and Georgio," Misty grabbed Richie's arm, "we'd better hurry before they trip down the stairs with all that luggage!"
——
"Ladies and gentlemen, please make your way to the front of the ferry," the loud speaker boomed, "we will arrive in a time range of fifteen minutes!"
Max and May had long returned and the gang stood up with drinks in the hands.
"Man that soda was good," Ash smiled satisfied and threw it into a garbage can they had passed.
"I can't believe I'm going to get to see the Hoenn League live!" Max jumped up and down happily, "I've been waiting for this moment forever!"
"I know," May smiled down at her little brother, "I'm excited too!"
"Don't worry, it's not something completely awesome," Brock reassured.
"Yeah we've been to over 3 already," Ash smiled triumphantly, "it's not such a big deal… unless I become THE winner!"
"Well, then it's not a big deal," there was a voice behind them.
Ash turned around and looked surprised, "Gary?"
"Hello Ash," Gary and Ash eyed each other, "We haven't seen each other in a while…and look who it is… my two favorite cousins!"
May and Max glared at Gary, "What do you want?"
"Well, you know, since I'm competing for the League, I might as well meet my competition; Ash, I'm thinking you're my future opponent?"
"More than an opponent," Ash smirked, "I'll be the victor."
"Really?" Gary took out a Pokeball, "Then why don't we have a mini battle, battle stops when the ferry reaches port… whoever's Pokemon is most damaged loses!"
"Fine," Ash looked at Pikachu and it jumped down from his shoulder.
"Pikachu huh? You still have that rat?" Gary smiled and threw his Pokeball as a pack of cheerleaders came up behind him.
"Gary, Gary, he's our man," they jumped up and down, "if he can't do it, no one can!"
"Dragonair!" Gary called as a giant flying snake-like Pokemon appeared.
"Dra!" Cried the long blue Pokemon with white wings for ears and an alabaster horn on its forehead.
"Dragonair?" Ash and May puleld out their PokeDexs.
"Dragonair, the dragon Pokemon," the Dex recited, "the evolution of Dratini and Pre-evolution of Dragonite; it's beauty is used to attract prey and it's long slim body is used to wrap their prey in a tight embrace to squish to life out fo them."
"Think your Pikachu can handle that?" Gary stood behind his Dragonair and put his hands on his hips confidently.
"Pikachu can handle anything," Ash said, "right Pikachu?"
"Pika!" The small yellow Pokemon growled and stood before the giant creature.
"Begin!" Brock exclaimed, holding up both his arms and dropping them quickly, moving out of the way of the two opponents.
"Dragonair, thunderwave!" Gary commanded.
Dragonair gave a piercing yell and out of its mouth shot a giant ball of thunder.
"Pikachu, give it your strongest thundershock!" Ash yelled at his best friend.
"Pika-" and Pikachu let out a large bolt of lightning that collided with Dragonair's, "CHUUUUUU!"
There was a large explosion and smoke went everywhere. Gary, Ash, and everyone on the ferry was thrown backwards.
"Wow, I didn't expect it to be that strong," Ash muttered, blushing nervously, "now we're in trouble!"
"What is going on here?" the captain quickly ran up to the trainers lying on the ground when there was a loud laughing floating into the ferry.
"Prepare for a blasting trouble!"
"And make it explosively double!"
"Team Rocket!" Ash exclaimed, "I knew the Pokemon didn't make that huge explosion!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!" a large Meowth shaped balloon was floating above the ferry.
"James!" Two tall figures were inside.
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!"
"Meowth that's right!" a Pokemon appeared next to them.
"Wobbuffet!" And another.
"Chy, Chy!" And another.
"What are you guys doing here?" May asked angrily, "have you come to ruin everything again?"
"You know we'll just beat you again!" Max said.
"Hahaha, that's what you think!" the purple haired woman laughed and the group in the giant balloon smiled down at the panicking crowd, "we're here for Pikachu!"
"And we're not leaving without it!" James said maliciously.
"You're not getting Pikachu," Ash warned as Pikachu hopped back on his shoulder, "so you might as well leave now!"
"Oh, the twerp is so foolish," Meowth grinned and pointed to the black air-conditioning-looking machine that made rumbling noises and shot out bombs of smoke, "the Bombing-Suck-O-Matic Version XVL 739 is our best plan yet!"
Team Rocket quickly took out a long tube and laughed. Jessie and James asked Meowth to plug it in. Meowth froze and laughed nervously.
"Umm… plug it in?" Meowth grinned.
"Yes plug it in, hurry up!" Jessie yelled irritated.
"The box didn't say anything about plugging in…"
"Uh oh," Team Rocket got scared.
"Pikachu, use thundershock on Team Rocket!" Ash commanded.
"Pika…CHUUUU!" The balloon exploded and Team Rocket were sent flying into the air.
"We're blasting off again!"
"That was great Pikachu," Ash smiled and turned to Gary, "I think I see Pacifidlog, I don't think we'll be able to finish our battle…"
"Yeah, yeah," Gary blew it away and returned Dragonair to its Pokeball, "we'll have a rematch tomorrow… Loser."
There was a sudden halt and a happy voice came on the intercom, "Welcome to Pacifidlog Town! Enjoy your stay, please be aware the Hoenn League will be commencing tomorrow night; to purchase tickets please…"
Ash watched Gary smirk and walk down and out of the ferry with his cheerleaders right behind.
"Show off," Ash muttered.
"Aw, Ash," May laughed, "lighten up, you can always show him up at the tournament!"
"You're right," Ash smiled, "thanks May, c'mon you guys, let's go register!"
May, Max, Ash, and Brock hopped off the ferry and were approached by a group of sailors.
"Hello, we saw your amazing performance with your Pikachu on board," one of them complimented, "please accept our gratitude for sending Team Rocket away!"
"No problem," Ash put a hand behind his head and laughed, "We're used to Team Rocket!"
"Please allow us to show you to the Pokemon Center," another announced, "I take it one of you is here for the Hoenn League?"
"Yes, I am," Ash responded proudly, "we were just on our way to register!"
"Perfect, we'll take you there," and the band of sailors led them to what looked like a large camouflage-painted golf cart, "it's a lot quicker this way!"
"Thanks," Ash and friends chanted, sitting in the cart.
And it took off.
——
"Oh Jessie!" James complained, getting up from the grassy floor bed in the middle of Pacifidlog Forest, rubbing his head, "why are our plans always ruined?"
"I don't know," Jessie touched her aching back and returned Wobbuffet and Chimecho to their respective Pokeballs, "how about you Meowth?"
"I got notin," Meowth bowed his head sadly and Team Rocket sighed, falling back on the ground hopelessly, "we'll never get Pikachu!"
I may know a way, a dark voice from the shadows of the trees whispered.
"What was that?" Team Rocket clung onto each other desperately, looking back and forth in search of the owner of the voice, "who are you?"
I'll tell you who I am, the voice continued, if you're willing to help me…
Team Rocket continued shaking and James murmured softly, "w-why should w-we help y-you?"
Like I said, I can get you Pikachu.
"And what do you want?" Meowth called out.
The voice chuckled maliciously, Ash Ketchum.
——
"How long has Professor Oak been on the Pokephone?" Misty sighed and laid down, staring at the wall, "I'm bored and the helicopter should have been here by now!"
"I know what you mean," Richie agreed and sat next to her, "it's been more than thirty minutes!"
"Oh guys, don't get so unhappy," Tracey put down the last piece of luggage into the hallway, "he's probably just making arrangement for a bigger helicopter!"
Richie and Misty sweatdropped as they saw the piles and piles of bags the professor was bringing.
"Georgio," Misty turned to him, "you're so quiet, what's the matter?"
Georgio blushed and glanced at Misty, "Nothing."
"Aw, c'mon, loosen up buddy!" Richie smiled at the awfully shy boy and Sparky ran over to Georgio.
"Pika," it hopped on his head and ruffled up his hair.
Georgio laughed and took the Pikachu off his head, "I guess you're right, but I can't help—well, Richie could I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure," Richie followed him out of the room and Misty sighed again.
"Great!" she looked at Tracey wearily, "so… what have you been up to?"
"Oh you know, sketching," Tracey grinned, "running errands—how's Azurill? You like the little guy?"
Misty nodded feverently and looked down at her Pokemon who was taking a nap on her lap, "Azurill is so sweet, thanks again Tracey!"
"No problem," Tracey walked over and took Azurill in his arms, "That's what friends are for!"
Suddenly the door to their left cracked opened and Professor Oak stepped out, smiling.
"I just got done making the arrangements for a bigger copter, it will be here in 5, 4, 3, 2…"
And there was a rushing sound outside as a giant helicopter landed by Oak's lab.
"I'd better go get Richie and Georgio," Misty got up.
"I'd better go pick up the bags," Tracey remembered.
"I'd better go," Professor Oak heard the phone ringing, "get the phone!"
And the three ran in separate directions.
——
"Hello," Nurse Joy smiled at Ash as he told her his name, "so you're Ash Ketchum… there's someone expecting you!"
"Oh Nurse Joy!" Brock floated toward the pink haired lady, "how our paths continue crossing throughout every Center! I feel like I've seen a hundred of you and you're the most beautiful one!"
"Okay, okay," May and Max pulled his ears and May said, "So who is it?"
"Yeah, who?" Ash asked expectantly, "Professor Oak?"
"No, it was a girl, I don't know her name, she just smiled at me and wrote down 'Ash'," Joy showed him the sheet of paper that had his name scribbled on it, "somehow, I knew it was you!"
"Where is she?" May asked.
"She left but I expect she'll come back in a little while," Nurse Joy finished completing the registration, "okay Ash come to me tonight and I'll tell you who you'll be battling in two days."
"Two day?" Max was confused, "I thought it started tomorrow!"
"No that's just the opening ceremony," Joy corrected, "the morning after is the start of the first battle… and tonight is just to relax and check out the Island."
"Okay," the gang affirmed her response.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Ash slapped his forehead and began walking to a Pokephone, "I wanted to call Professor Oak and I completely forgot, do you think he's still at the lab?"
"Actually," Nurse Joy cut into their conversation, "he called a minute ago to check himself and his guests into a special suite at the hotel across the street; The Gilmaxter! If you want to still contact him I suggest you do it now!"
"Okay," Ash rushed over to the phone and dialed Oak's number, "hello?"
"Why hello Ash!" Professor Oak looked very rushed, "how are you? This isn't a very good time right now!"
"Well I'm at the Hoenn League, I heard you were a guest announcer, how did that happen?" Ash asked.
"Well, I don't really have time to tell you right now!" Professor Oak yelled over the noise, "My helicopter is here, I will get to Pacifidlog Town in a few hours, can't wait!"
"Okay, bye," Ash hung up and just as he turned around, a girl knocked him over in a tight embrace, "Whoa—Bianca?"
The brunette with the green shirt and white skirt let go and stood up, smiling at him. She shook her head and handed him a letter.