Chapter 4

More Than A Feeling

Gold was at his gym at Mahogany Town, ready to fight his next challenger. Since he had taken over the gym, he had not lost a single challenge, and he was confident he would not lose this one as well. He looked over at his opponent, a strange-looking man with long, wavy blonde hair who was wearing sunglasses.

"3-on-3 battle, as it always is here," Gold said. "What's your name?"

"Just call me Firebreather," the man said. He sent out his Magmar. Gold countered by sending out his Typhlosion.

"So, your name's Gold?" Firebreather said.

"That's right," Gold said, as Typhlosion and Magmar fought each other by breathing fire.

"You like it here in Mahogany Town?" Firebreather asked.

"Yeah, actually it's a pretty nice place," Gold said. "It's not that much bigger than where I used to live."

"Oh, where's that?" Firebreather asked.

"New Bark Town," Gold said.

"Interesting," Firebreather said, as Typhlosion began to overpower Magmar. "Too bad about what happened to Pryce."

"Yeah, but my mother and I didn't even know him," Gold said.

"Your mother?" Firebreather said.

"Yeah, I haven't seen her in person since I left home a long time ago," Gold said.

"Very interesting," Firebreather said, calling his Magmar back to its Poké Ball before it fainted. "Well, I clearly can't win this battle. I forfeit."

Firebreather handed Gold ¥10000, then left the gym.

"I sure feel like I've seen that guy before, but I don't know where," Gold said. "That was a whole lot of money he paid me… I only require people to give me ¥2500 if they lose… maybe he was just being suspicious."

Gold called Whitney on his videophone, telling her all that happened.

"Why did you tell him where your home is?" Whitney said.

"Well, I was just being friendly," Gold replied.

"You know Team Rocket was after your mother," Whitney said.

"They're all in jail now," Gold said. "What's to worry about?"

"Not the executives- Lt. Surge and Blaine," Whitney said. "They got off in a court ruling somehow."

"Blaine… that's it! That was Blaine! I remember that Magmar from the tournament!" Gold said.

"And you told him your hometown?" Whitney asked.

"Oh no," Gold said. "I also mentioned my mother."

"Gold, I love you, but you're a little naïve sometimes," Whitney said. "Your mother could be in big trouble."

"We've got to go to New Bark Town right away," Gold said.

"Hurry up and get here," Whitney said. "I'll meet you here."

Gold hung up the phone, just before Jasmine called Whitney.

"Whitney!" Jasmine cried.

"Jasmine! What's the matter? Why are you crying?" Whitney asked.

"It's Silver!" Jasmine said. "He's in jail!"

"What did he do?" Whitney asked.

"He didn't do anything, he was framed- for murder!" Jasmine cried.

"Murder? How?" Whitney asked.

"The police found a bloody knife in his backpack, but Silver says that wasn't his, and I believe him," Jasmine said.

"Gold's in some trouble himself… different trouble," Whitney said. "We think that a Team Rocket member is going after his mother, and we're headed to New Bark Town."

"If I help you, would you two help me?" Jasmine asked.

"Jasmine, we're friends," Whitney said. "I'd help you even if you didn't help me."

"Okay," Jasmine said. "I'll be in Goldenrod City in no time."

"How?" Whitney asked.

"I caught a Skarmory," Jasmine said.

After the phone conversation, Jasmine got on her Skarmory and took off for Goldenrod City, arriving there just as Gold was walking in.

"Hi, Jasmine," Gold said. "What brings you here?"

"I'm going to help you," Jasmine said. "Hop on my Skarmory, you two."

Whitney and Gold jumped on Skarmory, behind Jasmine.

"Let's go to New Bark Town, Skarmory!" Jasmine said.

Skarmory took off, and Jasmine directed Skarmory as they went along. They finally arrived in New Bark Town. Gold immediately jumped off Skarmory and ran to his mother's house.

"Hi, Gold," Gold's mother said.

"Hi, Mom," Gold said. "It's so good to see you."

"You too," Gold's mother said.

"You're in considerable danger here," Gold said. "A Team Rocket member may be coming here to attempt to kill you."

"Team Rocket?" Gold's mother asked.

"You may not understand, but you have to come with us, where you're safe," Gold said.

Gold took his mother outside, introducing her to Whitney and Jasmine.

"This is my girlfriend, Whitney," Gold said. "And this is our friend, Jasmine."

"Hello," Gold's mother said to them.

"Hi," Whitney said, while Jasmine simply nodded.

"Jasmine's shy," Gold said. "Anyway, we have to go somewhere where Team Rocket would not look for you."

"What about Goldenrod City?" Whitney asked. "It's a beautiful city."

"I really want to live near Gold," Gold's mother said.

"Mahogany Town is a nice place," Gold said.

"Isn't it dangerous, though?" Whitney asked. "Team Rocket knows Gold lives there, and you'd be right there, in harm's way."

"Team Rocket only went to my gym, that's all," Gold said. "They wouldn't think to start snooping around. And besides, if they were after me, I'm sure that guy would have sent his Pokémon after me."

"That's right," said Gold's mother. "I'll live with you in Mahogany Town."

The three of them did not realize that Jasmine had snuck over to Professor Elm's laboratory.

"Hello," Professor Elm said. "It's a surprise to see a gym leader like you here."

"Professor," Jasmine said, "do you know Silver?"

"Silver… yes," Professor Elm said. "He stole a Pokémon from me, but later apologized. I forgave him, because I saw how attached the Totodile he stole became to him."

"Does he seem like the type to commit a crime?" Jasmine asked.

Professor Elm stared at Jasmine. "What answer do you want me to give you?" he asked.

"Tell me the truth," Jasmine said.

"Yes," Professor Elm said.

"But didn't you forgive him?" Jasmine asked. "Or are you still holding a grudge against him?"

"Look, I'm not saying he would," Professor Elm said. "But you're asking me to be honest, and I say that history repeats itself. Why do you ask?"

Jasmine gulped. "He's been accused of murder," she said quietly.

"Murder?" Professor Elm said.

"Yes," Jasmine said quietly.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you," Professor Elm said. "Certainly I would hope he wouldn't do something like that, but… well, I don't know."

Jasmine walked away silently, leaving Professor Elm in confusion.

"This is why I ought to go home from time to time, at least to watch the news," he said to himself.

Jasmine walked outside, meeting her two friends and Gold's mother.

"Could we fly to Mahogany Town?" Gold asked.

"Sure," Jasmine said.

Gold, his mother and Whitney could not help but see Jasmine's eyes begin to water.

"What's the matter?" Gold's mother asked Jasmine.

"My boyfriend's been accused of murder," Jasmine said. "I trust him that he wouldn't do it, though."

"Could we take my mom to Mahogany Town, then Whitney and I come with you to Olivine City?" Gold asked.

"Isn't that dangerous, leaving your mother by herself?" Whitney asked.

"I'll be fine," Gold's mother said. "Don't worry about me, really."

"Okay," Gold said. "Let's go."

The four of them squeezed onto Skarmory, which then took off into the evening sky.