Well, here's another chapter for you guys.
I guess a bit more action in this one
I cut the chapter short and saw this as a good place to do it.
Not really much to say, except that the exams are keeping me pretty busy and my writing time is really limited.
Please review you guys: Criticize, complement, anything! Seeing the review count increasing really boosts my motivation to write!
Anyway, enjoy.
I do not own any characters or events related to Pokemon, this story is solely fan made.
Changing Ways: Chapter 15: Same old tricks, same old trade:
Ash, Misty and Pikachu continued to fall down the dark hole that suddenly appeared below them in the restaurant, still screaming in fear and shock. Misty eventually landed on the dusty ground with a thud, accompanied by Ash moments later, both of them knocked unconscious because of the impact. Pikachu however, did not join them in falling. He was caught out of the air before he met the hard ground below.
Pikachu slowly opened one of his eyes to scan his surroundings when he noticed that he never really made impact with the ground. "Pika?" he exclaimed as he looked around. He then noticed Ash lying on the floor below him. "Pikapi!" he exclaimed as he tried to get to his master's side, but he was stopped however, by the steel railings of a cage.
"Whoa, slow down der, Pikachu." Meowth, still dressed in his chef outfit, exclaimed from behind Pikachu.
"Yeah, where do you think you're going?" Jessie, also still dressed in her waitress uniform, added from next to Meowth.
Pikachu immediately turned around, only to find himself locked in a cage, held by none other than Jessie. "Pika Pika?" he asked as he looked at the duo with confusion in his eyes.
"Uh…" Ash mumbled as he slowly started regaining consciousness. He groggily sat up and rubbed his head. He then looked up to see Jessie and Meowth, along with a caged Pikachu in Jessie's arms, in front of him."Hey!" he called out. "What do you think you're doing!?"
"Prepare for trouble, you've been deceived!" Jessie started as she turned her attention towards Ash, with Misty also regaining consciousness next to him, and took off her waitress outfit to reveal her normal Team Rocket attire underneath.
"Make it double, look at all this financial relief!" James squealed as he suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, carrying multiple crisp bills of probably-hard-earned money.
"To protect the world from devastation," Jessie continued as she kicked James from the side, interrupting his little "celebration".
"Yeah, we know it already!" Misty interrupted, causing the three Team Rocket members to look at her in astonishment. "You say the same stuff over and over, day after day!" she scowled, slightly irritated at being rudely interrupted as well as having an empty stomach.
"Why you rude little red-head twerp, you will pay for your insolent interruption of our motto!" Jessie angrily exclaimed as she pointed to Misty. "Do it, Meowth!" she ordered as she turned to Meowth.
"Yes ma'am!" Meowth, now also relieved of his chef attire, exclaimed as he revealed some sort of remote. He then pushed a red button on the said remote.
What followed was a loud rumbling coming from right above where Ash and Misty were currently standing.
"Ash, what's that noise?" Misty nervously asked as she looked up.
"I don't know, but it can't be good!" Ash replied as he too looked up at the rumbling noise.
As if on cue; a large metal object came hurdling down towards the ground.
"Is that, a cage?" Misty wondered out loud while looking on as the object came closer and closer.
Yes, it was indeed a cage and as it met the ground below; it trapped both Ash and Misty within its four metal-railed sides.
"Hey," Ash started as he gripped two of the rails in his hands. "What's this!?" he demanded to know as he gave the rails a forceful pull.
"Good luck getting out of that, twerp." Jessie said as she walked up to the cage. "This," she started as she grabbed hold of a part of the cage that looked like a door. "Is the only way out of this cage and it is locked shut…"She explained.
"Yea, dat's right!" Meowth exclaimed. "And I hav da key!" he informed the trapped kids as he swung the said key around his paw.
"So, tata!" the Team Rocket trio simultaneously exclaimed as they disappeared in a flash, accompanied by Pikachu in his cage.
Team Rocket reappeared moments later though, but this time in their trademark Meowth-shaped hot air balloon. The ceiling above them then opened up, allowing the dastardly trio to make their getaway, with stolen Pikachu in tow.
"Let us out of here, Team Rocket!" Ash called out as he pulled against the side of the cage where the door was located. But it was to no avail, as the cage didn't budge an inch.
"Ash, we've got to do something!" Misty exclaimed as she watched Team Rocket's balloon. "They're getting away!"
"I know, Misty!" Ash yelled back as he desperately kept pulling on the door. He then switched to different measures by starting to ram into the cage door with his shoulder.
"Ash, stop that." Misty ordered as she watched Ash repeatedly ramming into the door. "You're going to hurt yourself, stop that!"
"I…don't…care!" Ash yelled in between blows. "They have Pikachu…and I won't let them get away!" he again yelled as his shoulder, which was now beginning to throb in pain, connected once more with the hard, merciless metal. He rammed into the cage door one more time, before his shoulder decided that it had has had enough. He fell backwards and cringed in pain as he held onto his aching shoulder.
"Ash," Misty started as she bent down next to Ash. "Are you okay!?" she sincerely asked as she gently placed her hand on Ash's shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry, Misty." Ash reassured Misty as he got back up onto his feet.
"Now, how are we going to get out of here?" Misty asked as she put her hand against one of the railings.
Ash also got back up and gave the cage door a close examination. "Hmm…" he mumbled as he closely looked at the detail of the door. "Well, I think that I can pick the lock to the door…" he figured as he frowned at the said lock.
"That's great!" Misty excitedly exclaimed.
"But I don't have anything to pick it with at the moment…" Ash said as his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Awh man…" Misty moaned as she gave off an aggravated sigh.
"Yeah," Ash responded. "We need something sharp so I can get inside of that lock." He said as he pointed to the said lock on the cage door.
"Hmmm," Misty said as she scratched her chin in thought. "I don't think I have any sharp objects on me…"she concluded.
"I've got it!" Ash suddenly announced out of the blue.
"Well, let's hear it then." Misty stated in anticipation.
"It's easy, Misty." Ash said matter-of-factly. "Give me one of those things." He said as he pointed towards Misty.
"What things, Ash?" Misty asked as she inspected herself, not sure of what Ash was referring to.
"You know," Ash started. "Those things that keep your pants up." He explained.
"Do you mean my suspenders?" Misty asked with a quizzical frown as she pulled on one of the said objects.
"Yeah, those things, they have those little clips that are perfect for picking a lock!" Ash excitedly informed Misty as he pointed to her pants, where the clips he was talking about were currently situated.
"Ash, what the heck is wrong with you!?" Misty shrieked as she protectively folded her arms around her body.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked as he frowned at Misty in confusion.
"I am NOT going to undress in front of you, Ash Ketchum!" Misty clearly informed Ash as she menacingly glared at the boy.
"Who said anything about undressing, Misty?" Ash asked as he tilted his head to the side in confusion. "I just want one of those clips so I can get us out of here!" he explained in his usual happy-go-lucky demeanor. "Come on, Misty. The longer you take; the farther away Team Rocket gets with Pikachu!"
Misty frowned at Ash in annoyance. She knew that he was right and the longer she takes; the less chance they had of catching up to them and saving Pikachu. She gave him one more stare before she sighed in defeat. "Fine…" she mumbled. She then slowly started unbuckling the suspender from her jean pants, until she looked up and noticed Ash looking at her in anticipation. "Ash, LOOK AWAY!" she yelled at the boy.
"Huh," Ash mumbled. "Uh, but wh-"
"JUST DO IT!" Misty yelled at Ash, silencing the boy. She now had a pink blush on her cheeks out of embarrassment.
Ash quickly obeyed Misty and turned around to face the cage door instead. "Uh, I'm sorry?" he stated uncertainly.
"Just don't turn around until I give you permission to!" Misty ordered as she took one of her suspenders off. "Okay, you can turn around now…" she informed Ash.
Ash turned around and his attention was almost immediately caught by a bright pink color at Misty's waist.
"Here," Misty said with a scowl and a light blush on her face as she held the suspender out to Ash.
Ash however, wasn't really paying attention to Misty. His eyes were now fixed on the pink color: Misty's panty. "Uh…" he mumbled as his cheeks started darkening to a red color.
"What is it now?" Misty said as she looked at Ash in skeptical eyes. "Hello? "Up here." she asked as she snapped her fingers. "What are you looking at anyway?" she asked again as she followed his gaze and her eyes then grew wide…
The pink pair of panties that Misty was wearing revealed itself because of the fact that the suspender she took off held her pants up. Her pants were now half hanging down on the one side, giving Ash the view of a lifetime, which of course, will not be tolerated by Misty…
"Wow…" Ash absent-mindedly stated as his eyes were fixed on Misty's exposed undergarment. "Those are pretty…"
"ASH, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" Misty exploded in a fit of embarrassment and rage as she desperately tried to cover up her exposed undergarment.
"I uh…I…" Ash stuttered out as he desperately tried to direct his attention elsewhere, anywhere but on Misty at the moment.
"DON'T LOOK!" Misty ordered as she turned around. "Here," she said as she threw the suspender over her shoulder at Ash. "Why don't you start opening that door." She insisted before turning her attention back to keeping her pants up.
"Uh, y-yeah, sure…" Ash mumbled as he picked the suspender up, trying to avert his gaze away from Misty as much as possible. He then proceeded to slowly start unlocking the door.
Misty finally managed to get a grip on her slipping pants. She moved over next to Ash to observe what he was doing. "Ash, where did you even learn to do this?" she asked all of a sudden, which caused him to yelp and tense up slightly in surprise.
"Sjeesh Misty," Ash grumbled in annoyance. "Do you have to sneak up on me like that…" he said before stealing a peek at Misty, breathing a sigh of relief when he noticed that she had gotten everything covered up, but also blushed slightly when he realized where he was looking. "Well, me and Gary watched this movie one time when we were still young, and this guy in it also picked a lock of a door." He started explaining. "So, we decided to hold a little contest to see who can pick a lock first." He continued as he resumed trying to unlock the cage door. "I guess I got good at it after a couple of attempts…" he added before turning his attention completely back to the task at hand.
"I see…" Misty trailed off as she lifted her hand to run her fingers through her hair, only for her fingers to meet with a fabric-like material: Ash's hat, which was still situated comfortably on her head. This caused her to unconsciously smile as she felt the fabric under her fingers.
"Aha!" Ash suddenly exclaimed, causing Misty to direct her attention back to him.
"What now?" Misty asked as she frowned at Ash.
"Ta- da," Ash exclaimed as he pushed the cage door open. "See, I told you I could do it." He proudly stated as he pulled Misty's suspender from the lock and handed it back to her. "Now, get dressed. We've got to find Pikachu!" he determinedly stated.
"Right," Misty agreed. "Could you just uhm, turn around for a sec?" she requested as a blush made its way onto her cheeks.
"Uhm wh-"Ash started questioning before realization struck him. "Oh, right! Sure thing, Misty." He quickly said as he turned his back on Misty, allowing her to get herself properly dressed again.
"Okay, I'm all done…" Misty declared after a while.
Ash turned around to face Misty and breathed a deep sigh of relief when he saw that she was properly dressed and "lookable" in his eyes. "Good, now come on; we've got to go save Pikachu!" he exclaimed with a mighty fist-pump before he started running out of the cage.
"Wait, Ash!" Misty called after Ash, causing him to stop in his tracks and look back at her. "Don't we need to think of a plan?" she suggested. "I mean, we don't even have our pokemon with us…"
"It doesn't matter!" Ash exclaimed. "The longer we take; the farther away they get with Pikachu!" he yelled. "So stay if you want to," he calmly stated as he turned back around. "But I'm going after them." He added before he started running down the tunnel.
"Ash, wait!" Misty yelled as she ran after Ash. She caught up to him in the middle of the tunnel he ran into, seeing as he stopped to wait for her.
"Misty," Ash started as he looked Misty determinedly in the eyes. "If you're going to try and stop me from following Team Rocket; save your breat-"
Misty interrupted Ash by taking his hat off of her head and firmly putting it onto his head. "I won't stop you from going, Ash." She reassured the boy. "I'll go back to the Gym to get some of our pokemon while you follow Team Rocket. They can't be too hard to find, seeing as they move around in a giant Meowth balloon." She determinedly proposed.
"Right," Ash said as he balled his fists in determination. "I'll see you later then!" he yelled over his shoulder as he ran down the tunnel again, on his way to tracking down Team Rocket and his Pikachu. His task was made much more convenient when he noticed a ladder protruding up through the large hole through which their balloon disappeared earlier.
"Good luck, Ash! Be safe!" Misty yelled after him before he disappeared behind the rooftop of the tunnel. She then turned her attention to finding her own escape route. She figured that Team Rocket would probably try to avoid Mt. Moon, seeing as the air currents can get pretty harsh up there. The same went for the ocean, so she figured that they would probably head towards Saffron City. Seeing as the Gym was located towards the opposite side from the route heading to Saffron; she decided to head the opposite way of where Ash climbed the ladder moments ago…
It took her a while, but Misty finally reached a stairway which lead back up to the restaurant. Once she reached the front doors; she immediately started making her way through the crowd, on her way back to her Gym.
Meanwhile, Ash was now outside of Cerulean City, still chasing after team Rocket, whose balloon he could spot as a dot in the distance. He does admit that it was a brash move to chase after Team Rocket without any plan whatsoever, not mention without any pokemon on him. But he didn't care. He knew that if he didn't hurry; he would lose Pikachu for good, so allowing Team Rocket even more of a head start was out of the question. "Hang on, Pikachu: I'm coming…" he reassured himself as he picked up the pace a bit to try and catch up…
Meanwhile, things were not going so well for Pikachu on Team Rocket's balloon. Being captured by the bumbling trio had become a daily ritual for the yellow mouse, which usually ended up in him blasting them off into the stratosphere. But it looked as if they finally managed to get one right for a change, seeing as he wasn't back in his masters arms yet, which greatly worried the yellow mouse.
"Wow," Jessie started as she stretched her arms out over her head in victory. "I can't believe we actually got away!" she excitedly squealed.
"Yea," Meowth added. "It seems so unreal, and we hav Jimbo to thank for all of that!" he said as he gestured towards James.
"We absolutely do!" Jessie exclaimed. "You were the mastermind behind this entire operation!"
"Oh, it was nothing." James nonchalantly said as he crossed his arms in pride. "Just some planning, that's all." He said as he gave his two companions a piece-sign with his fingers.
"But, James," Jessie started. "How did you know where the twerps would sit? I mean, they could have sat down anywhere, so how did you know that they would sit where you dug the hole?" she said as she frowned out of curiosity.
"Yea Jimbo, that's a good question actually." Meowth added as he now too wondered just how James knew where Ash, Misty and Pikachu would sit.
"Well," James started as he placed a finger on his chin in thought. "I didn't…" he announced after a while.
"What do ya mean you didn't?" Meowth asked with a confused look in his eyes. "Of course ya had to know!"
"I didn't!" James firmly stated. "What do I look like, psychic?" he sarcastically asked.
"Well then, how did you know where they would sit?" Jessie asked, now completely taken over by her curiosity.
"I didn't know where they would sit, so I spent last night digging holes under each of the tables so we could be ready the next time those twerps came back into the restaurant, which conveniently happened to be today." James explained to Jessie, Meowth and even Pikachu.
"So, you're saying that you dug about 20 holes last night while we were sleeping?" Jessie asked, making sure that she understood correctly.
"Yes," James answered. "And it's taken its toll on my poor, aching back!" he dramatically added as he held his back in pain.
"Wow James; talk about work ethic…" Jessie remarked.
"Yea Jimbo; you've really gotten tru for us dis time." Meowth added.
"Unnecessary activities like sleep must be sacrificed in order to achieve success!" James explained as he dramatically pushed his chest out.
"Don't you feel even a little drowsy?" Jessie curiously asked as she gave James a skeptical eye.
"To be honest; no, I don't." James plainly stated. "I feel completely DRAINED OUT!" he screamed into Jessie's face, visibly irritated because of his lack of sleep.
"Sjeesh, you don't have to yell at me!" Jessie yelled back at James, which ultimately led to an all-out screaming battle between the two humans of the Rocket trio.
"Come on, yous guys;" Meowth exclaimed as he came in between the two quarreling humans. "Cut it out." He said as he tried to split the two apart.
Pikachu was watching scene unfold in front of his cage and saw the quarreling as the perfect diversion to blow this cage to pieces. "Pika," he determinedly exclaimed. "Pi – Ka – Chu!" he yelled as he unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt attack on the cage.
Sadly; Pikachu's powerful Electric attack did no damage whatsoever to the cage. The cage redirected the electric current right back at Pikachu in response, shocking the poor electric mouse instead.
"Pika," Pikachu exclaimed in pain as the electricity sizzled through his body. This was not exactly what he had in mind…
Pikachu's antics caught the attention of Team Rocket and immediately put a halt to their arguing.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Jessie said as she crossed her arms and shook her head from side-to-side. "Did you really think that we wouldn't come prepared for your sparking personality, Pikachu?"
"Yea, you shud know by now that we's always gots a way to counter your little electric attacks!" Meowth added from next to Jessie. "This here cage is electric, Pikachu-proof!" he notified Pikachu as he pointed to the said cage.
"Pika," Pikachu softly exclaimed with drooped ears, the feeling of helplessness starting to sink in as they floated onward…
Misty, in the meantime, had made her way back to the Cerulean Gym and was now contemplating which pokemon she would need for Operation Retrieve Pikachu.
"Hmmm," Misty exclaimed as she looked over all of her pokeballs. "I guess I can take Staryu, but whom else…" she wondered out loud as she gave her pokeballs another look-over. It then hit her. "Ugh!" she said as she wacked her palm against her forehead. "How could I be so stupid, Gyarados!" she exclaimed as she grabbed both Staryu and Gyarados's pokeballs. She then started hurriedly making her way towards the front door, but stopped when she noticed all of Ash's present pokeballs (save for Pikachu's) laying on the bench near her tray of pokeballs. "Hmmm, I think Bayleef will come in handy…" she said as she picked up Bayleef's pokeball and clipped to her belt next to Staryu and Gyarados's pokeballs. "Now to find Ash!" she determinedly yelled as she ran out the front doors of the Gym, in search of Ash and Team Rocket…
Meanwhile, Ash had finally started catching up to Team Rocket's balloon. He could now see the Meowth-shaped balloon right above him, along with the top of both Jessie and James's heads. He figured Meowth was also in the balloon, being too short to spot, and Pikachu's cage was probably situated next to the thieving trio on the floor. "Darn it." He cursed as he kept an eye on the balloon. "I've got to find a way to get up there!"
"Hey, Ash!" he heard a familiar voice calling from his left.
"Huh," he exclaimed as he turned his head to his left to find Misty running up to him. "Misty? How did you get here so fast?" he asked as he looked at her with a quizzical frown.
"I took a shortcut." She simply said as the two of them ran alongside each other down the road, giving chase after Team Rocket's balloon.
"Wow," Ash exclaimed. "How come you didn't tell me about a shortcut!?" he yelled, slightly agitated at having wasted a good amount of time chasing after Team Rocket down the road.
"Well to be honest," Misty started. "You probably would have gotten lost." She simply said. "It's easy to get confused with all the twists and turns…"
"Oh, so how come you didn't get lost?" Ash asked as he glared at Misty.
"Because I know my way around these parts, Ash, I grew up here." Misty simply answered.
"Oh, so you're saying that I'm dumb and uncoordinated?" Ash irritatedly asked as he looked at Misty next to him.
"Exactly," Misty said matter-of-factly. "Now come on; we've got to get Pikachu back."
"Right," Ash determinedly said. "But wait, do you have some sort of plan?" he sheepishly asked Misty.
Misty banged her palm against her forehead in agitation. "Geez, Ash, didn't you think this through?" she aggravatedly asked as she glared at Ash.
"No," Ash simply replied. "I had to make a fast decision, or I would have lost track of Team Rocket!" he yelled into Misty's face.
"Ugh," Misty groaned, irritated at the fact that they had no plan.
Ash looked in front of them and noticed a rather steep cliff coming up ahead. That's when an idea hit him. "I've got a plan!" he announced to Misty.
"What is it, Ash?" Misty curiously asked as she gave Ash a look.
"You just keep running down the road and follow Team Rocket!" Ash instructed to Misty as he picked up the pace, running ahead of her. "I'll do the rest!" he yelled back over his shoulder at her before turning in front of him, making his way towards the steep cliff ahead.
"Ash, wait!" Misty yelled after Ash, but when he didn't reply; she sighed in annoyance and did as she was told by continuing down the road after Team Rocket's balloon.
Ash had meanwhile started making his way up the cliff, his plan very clear in his mind: Jump onto Team Rocket's balloon.
"Just hang on, Pikachu; I'm almost there…" Ash silently stated as the edge of the cliff began to appear in his sight.
"Ash," Misty stated as her eyes grew wide after she saw what Ash had in mind. "What do you think you're doing!?" she yelled at the boy, but he was out of ear's reach. "Are you crazy!?" she yelled, but it was too late…
"Here I come!" Ash yelled as he reached the edge of the cliff. He trodded his feet into the ground and took off into the air with one mighty jump.
For a moment it looked as if Ash wouldn't make it all the way to the balloon. He started dipping down through the air, almost below the balloon. But in the end; he barely made it and grabbed onto the bottom of the basket, digging his fingers in between the rips of wood.
"Phew," Ash exclaimed as he looked down. "That was close…" he stated in relief.
"Phew," Misty let out an unconsciously-held breath. "That was way too close…" she said. "He is so going to get it!" she stated as her look of relief slowly turned into a glare of anger.
Ash's little stunt didn't go unnoticed by the occupants of Team Rocket's balloon, however…
"Hey, yous guys," Meowth exclaimed as he turned to his compatriots; Jessie and James. "Did yous feel that turbulence?" he inquired.
"Of course we felt it, Meowth!" Jessie yelled as she glared at Meowth.
"It came from this side of the balloon!" James said as he pointed to their current left side.
The three Team Rocket members slowly and carefully made their way towards the left side of the balloon from their current position and peeked over the edge, looking straight into Ash's face.
"Hey look yous guys; it's da twerp!" Meowth exclaimed as he pointed down towards Ash.
"We can see that, Meowth!" Jessie angrily yelled into Meowth's face.
"Pikapi," Pikachu excitedly exclaimed from within his cage, happy to hear that Ash is here for him.
"Shut it, Pika pal!" Meowth exclaimed as he swung his fist angrily at Pikachu.
"Give me back Pikachu, Team Rocket!" Ash yelled up to Jessie and James. He couldn't reach for them because he would lose his grip on the basket.
"Yeah right, like that would happen!" Jessie yelled back as she stuck her tongue out at Ash. "Now Arbok, dispose of the twerp with your Poison Sting!" she ordered as she threw a pokeball up into the air, with the cobra-like Arbok appearing out of it.
"Char Bok," Arbok exclaimed as it landed next to Jessie and started firing dozens of little poison needles down towards Ash.
Arbok's attack connected with Ash, which resulted in a loud and pained scream from the boy.
"No, Ash!" Misty yelled as she looked on in terror.
"Pikapi," Pikachu worriedly exclaimed from inside the cage after hearing Ash's screaming.
"I'm…losing…my grip!" Ash yelled as his fingers slowly started slipping out from between the strips of wood, until his grip on the balloon was completely lost…
"Ash," Misty yelled, horrified as she watched Ash falling.
"Pikapi," Pikachu called out after Ash's screams seemed to get softer, signaling that he was falling.
"Help me!" Ash cried as he came pummeling down towards Earth…
Oh no, what will happen to Ash? Will he survive this fall and what about Pikachu?
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
And please review, even if you are reading from the beginning for the first time; review! It really keeps me motivated.
Until next time.