Summary of previous chapter: Misty and Gary made it to Vermillion City, where Lt. Surge helped them find a place to stay, and a way to get to Cinnabar Island. Misty finally woke up and told Gary what had happened inside the Gym before it burned down. Misty told Gary that the Rockets had mentioned something about a person named Emily Dragon, and that she remembered her name from the battle paperwork. Gary tells Misty that she had also sent Jake Dragon, and that Jake Dragon knows Dawn Hall.

Outlaw

Chapter 5: Pokémon Master

Cinnabar Island was only six hours away from the port in Vermillion. Misty and Gary had traveled for four hours already, trying to catch a nap every now and then. Even though it was the middle of the night, and no one would suspect Lt. Surge's private boat wandering the seas, the feeling of despair still surrounded the two young trainers. The feeling of being watched was in the air, and Misty felt a few times during the night that it had been much easier to remain asleep until they reached their final destination.

Apparently, the League had found out that Professor Oak had given Gary money to get out of Cerulean, so the League had him placed in house-arrest for this. The entire police force of Kanto had been placed on high alert to catch the now official criminals. Becca and Bryan had been questioned several occasions about where Gary planned to take Misty, but they had remained silent. Jen and Britt had been questioned too, but not even the constant hitting of the Pokémon League's police was strong enough to make either of them speak.

Misty and Gary had spent the first couple of hours inside the single room of the boat, discussing and exchanging information. Gary told Misty of all the adventures they encountered while she was still asleep. He told her about being in the hospital, and how Becca and Bryan had gotten them out, taken them to Bill's house in a car Ash had rented for them. He told her that Professor Oak had given them enough money to survive for a few months. He also mentioned the sacrifice Becca and Bryan had to pay for aiding them escape, and how Britt, Jen, and possibly Nurse Joy of Saffron had to pay it as well. Misty had been very surprised when Gary had said that Ash had rented the car Becca and Bryan had used to help them escape from the hospital, and tried her best hide her hope that Ash still cared for her.

Then again, she also could not stop herself from opening her heart to Gary and thank him for everything he had done. He had gone through so much to save her these past days, weeks, and even months. She felt like a total idiot about giving him such a hard time about the badge; it had been her sister's idea anyway. Moreover, even if he could have rejected the badge, she now understood that he was but a young kid who was competing against his old childhood rival. Either of them could have done the unthinkable to watch the other lose.

Misty had been outside the room, staring at the stars. Her mind wandered and she reminisced about the time she had travel these same roads with Ash. In fact, her first kiss with Ash had been aboard the S.S. Anne. He had invited her to a cruise inside the insanely famous boat, and she had happily accepted. It was their first official date in which neither Brock nor any of their loyal Pokémon had joined. Misty could not help a little bit of nostalgia remembering these moments. She knew that Ash would always have a piece of her heart, as he had been her first love.

"Had been?" Misty asked herself, wondering about her choice of words. "Is that what Ash is to me? A had been first love?"

Misty looked down at the sea as she reflected about the meaning of the thoughts in her mind. Could it be possible that Ash was history? Could it be that someone else had won over her heart? On the other hand, was it just a cruel illusion caused by the long distance between them, and the situation she was encountering? Would her feelings come back the instant she lost herself in Ash's eyes? Would she forget about these feelings of closure once Ash stroked her face once again?

However, the here and now was a completely different story. She had months of slow bonding and memorable moments spent with Gary that covered her body like a warm blanket. She did not feel the chill factor brought by the wind in the middle of the sea, at the middle of the night. Thinking about Gary made her body tingle. Thinking about the kiss they shared at the Gym made her lips want more. To top off her feelings, his words back at Lt. Surge's home kept repeating over and over in her head: "I won't ever do anything to hurt you. I care for you, Misty. More than I ever cared for anyone else in my life."

And the moment they had shared before she showered and he made dinner was the ultimate proof that she had indeed move on from Ash's world:

"Misty, if you knew everything that has happened in the past 8 days, you'd know that what I say is true."

"Is it?"

"Yes."

"How can you promise something like that?"

"Because I'd never let anything happen to the woman I love."

It was the turn of Misty's heart to melt. She had promised herself she would never love again. She had promised herself not to ever fall into the trap again. Yet staring at Gary's eyes and listening to the sound of his voice made her break all her promises. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe him so badly.

"How can you say that, Gary? You don't even know me."

"The same way I know that you love me."

Misty closed her eyes. "I do."

If only they could have sealed those words with a kiss. Misty's fingers went to her lips. Misty's mind still wondered if she had developed feelings for Gary because of what he had done to saver her, and if these feelings she felt were nothing more than a result of pity for the person. However, her hear knew that she had started feeling butterflies in her stomach whenever she was near him way before the drama they were in. She remember an uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty when he had her had met in the famous hill in Pallet Town and he had stolen a kiss from her. It was in fact the night Ash has asked her to start dating; Gary Oak had excellent timing for situations like these.

She had brushed off that feeling of uncertainty as just of a feeling of utter surprise. Receiving a kiss from the famous Gary Oak was something other girls had only dreamt. She had not been expecting it at all, and she swore the second of warmth in her heart had only been one of a lovely surprise that is not necessarily unwelcome, but new as this has been her first kiss ever.

And to think that Gary Oak had taken it away from her! She had never mentioned this to Ash, and while she had strongly believed she had not mentioned it because she did not want to cause even worse rivalry among the two friends, she now started to wonder if the true reason why she had never brought it up before to her former boyfriend was because she had enjoyed the kiss and had save it as one of the most important moments of her life.

Then again, she never thought about Gary after that, and she never compared his one time kiss to the hundreds of kisses she received from Ash. The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. It was obvious that complete closure was imminent, and that her heart was more than ready to belong to Gary Oak: The one and only Gary Oak that had been standing right behind her this whole time without saying a word.

He had woken up a few minutes after she had, but had been hesitant to speak to her. He knew that the amount of information they had shared in the past days was very overwhelming, and that perhaps staring at him would only make it worse. He knew that in the eyes of the law he had done many, many, many things wrong so far. Yet, he also knew that in the judging eyes of those who knew him, and in her eyes –the only judging eyes that mattered to him, he had done nothing than to protect the woman he had fallen in love with. He smiled as he remembered her confession of love back in Vermillion, and his hands ached to touch her. She was so close to him, yet so far as well, just as she had been when he went to pick her up from the hospital after Jake's little murder attempt.

The only difference now was that back then, she had been very quiet and he had pretended to be upset to keep the distance between them as he had decided to leave her side forever. This moment was different; he wanted to turn her around, wrap her in his arms and kiss her. Really kiss her.

Misty took a deep breath and turned around only to find the eyes that had stared at her every single day for the past six months. "Gary…"

Gary took a step closer, she did not move or stopped staring at his eyes. This was it, the moment she had been waiting for since she realized her love for him: No more stolen kisses, no more interrupted moments, no one near to get in the way. This was their moment, and no one in the world, not the sea, or the Indigo Plateau police, or Emily or Jake Dragon, or even the unrest memory of Ash Ketchum in the back of her mind was going to get in their way.

Gary took another step and felt her body brush against him. There were no words. Nothing needed to be said. Their body language was doing all the talking. His arms around her waist did the invitation; her arms around his neck accepted it. The tilting of their heads towards the other's face made the final arrangements, and the lips on the other closed the deal.

Gary and Misty spent the final hour of their trip learning every single part of their bodies inside the only room in the boat until the memories of Butch's encounter made her stop.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The lighthouse in Cinnabar Island showed Gary and Misty the final road to travel. Neither of them had been in Cinnabar Island in a long, long time. The last time they had seen this island, there was not really much to see or do. The only attractions were the Pokémon Gym, the Pokémon Mansion, the Research Lab, and the volcano. Both trainers were happy to see that some things never did really change. They were both glad to realize that there was but one lonely soul waiting for them in the dock: Cinnabar Island Pokémon Gym Leader and the Riddle Master, Blaine.

Blaine had not changed much other than the obvious irreversible damage that was caused by aging. He was still as skinny and bald as ever, but his face was even more wrinkled than before. They had to give the Gym Leader some credit; it had been 10 years since they first met. Time waits for no one, not even for one of the most famous Gym Leaders in Kanto.

Blaine smiled as he saw the two trainers wave at him from the boat. Gary ran to the back of the boat and began reducing the speed of the boat. Misty held onto the fence of the boat as she gave Blaine her widest and most honest smile. Blaine returned the favor as he remember how this woman, when just a little twelve year-old, solved all of his riddles with no difficulty at all.

"She was good!"

As the boat approached the dock and slowed down until a complete stop, the light of the small lamps around the dock illuminated Misty's face. Blaine felt a bucket of cold, cold water hit his back. Even though the injuries were almost gone, he could see in her face the damage caused by the fire. He could not believe someone who had been so hurt still had the will to smile.

Before they had arrived, Lt. Surge had called Blaine to tell him about what Misty had said about Team Rocket attacking her Gym. He knew as well as anyone that the Rockets were everything but murderers. He could only imagine what four of them had done to her alone. Blaine shook these thoughts away from his head and decided to focus on providing his guests with the best attention possible. He could tell these kids had suffered too much pain.

Gary turned off the boat and did not waste time to gather their luggage. Misty ran towards Gary as they both exited the deck into the dock. They both ran to where Blaine was standing as if their life depended on it. They were so glad to see they had made it safely to Blaine's home.

"I can't believe that is you kids! You make an old man like me feel young!"

Misty giggled. "And you make us feel like we've got a lot to learn!"

Blaine chuckled. "Indeed, you do."

"We're sorry it was so short notice, Blaine. I owe you so much."

"Nonsense, Oak! You saved my Magmar when everyone else said he couldn't be saved. You two know very well that our starter Pokémon is who made us who we are. I couldn't lose him just like that!"

"Ash knows that better than all of us," Misty thought.

"Anyway, I'm sure you kids are starving! Let's go home."

Both young trainers nodded and followed Blaine. He took them through some hidden caves and tunnels to make it to the Gym that hid under the volcano. Misty remembered the path as if she had crossed it yesterday. This had been the most intense battle that Ash had in his entire starting career. She was not about to forget the ordeal.

The three of them silently made it to the entrance of his home. Blaine locked the door behind them and turned on all the lights with pressing only one switch. The home side of the Gym look like it had been recently renovated. The place looked like a home, more than ever. The cabinets were made out of thick and dark brown wood. The kitchen counter was an elegant black color which matched the state-of-the-art kitchen appliances. The floors were made out of wood, and the furniture and decorations around the first floor of the Cinnabar Pokémon Gym mansion looked as expensive as the ones found in Gary's home. Blaine had really kept himself busy in the past few months. The home of the Riddler was as welcoming and elegant as the owner himself.

"Wow, this is amazing!" Misty said.

"Thank you. After I heard you two kids were renovating the Cerulean Gym I thought I couldn't stay behind. It's not as nice as your Gym looks…"

"Looked," Misty said, looking at the floor to hide the sadness in her voice.

There was a moment of silent that invaded the room. Blaine walked towards Misty and placed his left hand on her right shoulder. "Don't worry about it, lady! You'll rebuild that Gym and it will be better than ever."

"The League won't allow another gym to be built in Cerulean." Gary said as he remembered the verdict of the Pokémon League. Blaine furrowed. "I heard that too, but those people won't be in power forever. Lance is running out of patience, I'll have you know."

"I'm not saying that the changes haven't brought more prestige to the League, but…it's just that…"

Gary placed his right hand on Misty's lower back. "Look, Red. After the League finds out what hell of a mistake they've made with us, they'll build the Gym for us in no time."

"I guess…"

"And if not, maybe we'll start our own League…only hot girls and cheerleaders allowed!"

Misty rolled her eyes and could not help to chuckle. "Wouldn't you like that, Gary?"

"Well, it wouldn't be the worst thing, if you ask me."

Blaine shook his head. "You haven't changed one bit, have you, Oak?"

Gary winked at Blaine before placing a hand on his own stomach. "What's for dinner, Blaine?"

"Don't you mean breakfast?"

"It's still food!"

Blaine smiled as he invited the two guests to follow him to the second level of his home. He showed them the guest rooms and allowed them to choose whichever they wanted. Gary wanted to stay in the same room as Misty, and deep inside Misty wanted it too. However, they both knew that no one could find out what has happening between the two of them, at least not now. They knew that they first had to get out of the deep shit they were in before they could even settle the question of them and where they wanted to take their newly found relationship.

If only Blaine knew what the two of them had done before they arrived to Cinnabar, not much doubt would be left in the accusation that Misty and Gary were romantically involved. Yet, they also knew that it has not been as intense as it was now when they were still under the League's contract. Technically, they had not broken any laws, but they could not prove otherwise so soon.

Gary and Misty choose their rooms and made themselves comfortable. Blaine told them to shower while he prepared a big, nice breakfast for them. They both complied without much protest. They were tired, and they felt like they needed a shower and some food before they took a long nap. Gary had told Misty that they would not stay in Cinnabar for more than a couple of days. She did not know where he was taking her, but she knew that she would follow him wherever he would go.

After about half an hour after they had chosen their rooms, two very refreshed trainers joined Blaine in the kitchen. He had just finished preparing breakfast when they stepped on the dinning room. The food smelled great, and they could not be more grateful for Blaine's hospitality. Misty was happy to know that not everyone in the League thought the worst of them both.

Gary's eyes widened at the sight of food. Blaine had made scramble eggs, scrambled eggs with cheese, scrambled eggs with meat, sunny-side up eggs, bacon, French toast, regular toast, hash browns, honey ham, sausage links, biscuits, and had placed three pitchers with milk, juice, and coffee respectively.

"Who said guys can't cook, uh?"

Misty shook her head. "Not me!"

All of three of them sat down and began slowly enjoying the morning banquet in front of them. Gary was so happy he could have nice, warm, delicious coffee in his hands. He had not had time to have fancy coffee in days, and the ones he got at the gas station while driving to Saffron did not count.

Misty had been asleep too long and had almost forgotten the taste of a good, homemade meal. She had no idea how she had survived eight days with no real food in her system. She was very glad she could finally sit down and enjoy great food.

Blaine was just happy to be around humans again! Once the League started raising the bar for trainers, less and less of them began reaching his Gym. The League had established an order to follow to defeat the Kanto Gyms, and his Gym was the very last one to defeat. Many trainers had been stuck in Cerulean and in Saffron, and the more time that passed, the fewer trainers made it all the way to his Gym. To top it off, the League had decided to stop all official battling until Misty and Gary turned themselves in and they were behind bars. He was very happy that Misty and Gary were there; not only would hey keep him company for a few days, but he would also find out their side of the whole ordeal.

"Good?"

"It's delicious, Blaine. So very good."

"Thank you! It's been a while since I had a reason to cook like this. You kids are going to get fat by being here."

"Misty needs to eat a lot; she was unconscious for eight days…lotsa foods to catch up with."

"Eight days?"

"Yes, eight days."

Blaine's face changed to one of seriousness. Both trainers felt a little uncomfortable with his sudden change of expression. They knew what was coming.
"So, what happened to you?"

Both trainers sighed but did not stop eating. They knew this question was going to be asked to them many, many times until their names were cleaned. They might as well get used to the feeling of doubt that surrounded them.

"Where do we start?"

"The beginning, I guess."

"Ok…well…my sisters got called by the Pokémon League…the new people on top didn't like the reputation the gym had…"

"Yes, Maya is very strict. She came a long way to be a trainer. She started her Pokémon training very late in life." Blaine said.

"I know my sisters had it coming, but they got me involved in it. They wanted me to take over the Gym while they were out training in Indigo Plateau. I couldn't say no to them! We were about to lose our home."

"I understand."

"Anyway, the Gym needed a lot of repairs…and I'm so glad the League sent Gary to me. I'd never have done everything the League wanted from me all alone."

"I know. The League sent me an auditor too. He was called back right after the League stopped official battling. I am all alone again."

"Who was your auditor?" Gary asked.

"His name is Tracie, he is well-known Pokémon investigator. He's a good kid."

"I think I've heard of him," Gary said.

"How did Ash take the news, Misty?"

Misty lowered her head. "We really didn't have to make a decision. Ash had been called to work for the League, with Maya, and I had to go back to Cerulean. We had to break up."

"Well, he achieved his dream. Ash is now the Pokémon Master."

Both trainers looked up and stared at Blaine. Gary knew that Ash would win the tournament, but hearing that his old rival had achieved Pokémon Master Status before him still surprised him. Not bad for a kid who woke up late on his very first day as a Pokémon trainer.

"Ash…he made it? He's the Pokémon Master?"

Blaine nodded. "Yup, took over just a few days ago."

Misty could not help to smile. "I can't believe it! He finally made it! I'm so proud of him!"

"I don't care if he is the Pokémon Master…I'll still kick his ass," Gary said.

Blaine chuckled. "Sure, if you can even get to him. He's got his private office in the same hall as Maya. Only she and his fiancée Dawn can get near him."

Misty froze. "Fiancée?"

Blaine hit himself mentally. He did not know if there was something between Gary and Misty, but he surely knew that not too long ago, there had been something between Misty and Ash. "Sorry…I wasn't thinking."

Misty shook her head. "it's ok…Ash's gonna be a…father now…I was expecting it anytime soon."

Gary felt a little bit of jealousy creeping up to him. He knew that Misty felt something for the playboy, but he also believed that he would never be so lucky as to have her feel love for him with the same intensity she once loved Ash. This was something he had made his peace with, but seeing her and listening to her pained voice as she spoke about him made him hurt.

"Will I ever make her as happy as he did?"

Another moment of silent invaded the room as Misty regained composure as she avoided tears coming down from her eyes. She took a big sip of her orange juice before clearing her throat and continuing her story.

"Anyway, we were alright until two people tried to kill me."

"I heard. Josh Weston and Jake Dragon."

Misty nodded.

"Then the Rockets too. We know who is trying to kill me, but we don't know where to find her."

"Her?"

Misty nodded again. "Jake Dragon told Gary that some person named Emily Dragon was trying to get rid of me. The Rockets also mentioned her, saying that she wanted to get even with me."

"Do you know her, Misty?"

"I don't know her per se. I remember he name being in the Wall of Fame of Cerulean Gym. I remember reading her battling profile. I thought her last name was funny and that is why I remembered her."

"I don't know her either, but as I was filling out the battle files for Jake, I found out that he had placed her as one of her references. I asked him if they were related and he said no."

"He lied," Blaine said.

Both Misty and Gary stared at him again. Did Blaine know him at all?

"That little prick…I never liked him…"

"Do…do you know him?"

"Of course I know him. And Emily Dragon is his sister. She just never liked him because she had to take care of him."

"But, how do you know this?"

Blaine took a sip of his coffee and stared at Misty as he spoke. "The Dragons competed against the Waterflowers to earn the right to lead the Cerulean Gym. The Dragons lost and we never heard about them until we found out they died."

"You mean Jake is native of Cerulean?"

"Yes, he and Emily both. Jake grew up to be a jerk despite Emily's efforts. Once he turned 18, Emily left him alone and disappeared. Many said she secluded herself in one of the Orange Islands. We never heard from her ever again."

"Do you think that Jake was the one who had the grudge against me but is using her sister's name?"

"Possibly…the kid was always getting in trouble and causing general mischief everywhere he went. He was expelled from high school in Celadon. He didn't get to graduate from it."

"How do you know all of this?"

"The League has been around for long…and so have I…sooner or later you find out these things by yourself."

"Wait! If Jake is native of Cerulean, how come he went to high school in Celadon?"

"Emily took him there. That was the only place she could afford to live. They had a hard time after their parents died."

"How did they die?
"Plane crash."

"Same as mine," Misty said.

"I'm not trying to justify him or anything, but losing your parents when you are only a kid can be traumatizing. For a minute the League was worried about you and your sisters too when your parents left you."

"It took all three of my sisters to raise me. I can't imagine what Emily had to go through."

"And my grandpa had to do it alone; me and my sister. Jake gets no sympathy from me. He was lying. We need to find him and make him talk."

"We do…I don't know what his issue is…but we need to find out."

"How are we gonna do that, though. My only contact in Celadon is behind bars."

"Perhaps, but his second reference is free as a bird."

"Who was his second reference?" Blaine asked.

"Dawn Hall."

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Dawn Hall? Maya's Dawn Hall?"

Misty nodded. "How does Dawn Hall know a jerk like Jake Dragon?"

"Only one way to find out."

The three of them nodded and remained silent as they finished their food. As soon as they were done, Gary asked Blaine if he could use one of his computers. Blaine showed him to the office as Misty stayed behind to help Blaine wash the dishes. After walking down a long hall and entering an electronically locked door, Blaine asked Gary if something had been left out from Misty's story. Gary sighed and nodded. "One of the Rockets raped her, Blaine. It was in her medical record that I took from the hospital, and she remembers it too."

Blaine's face became red as his own suit. His fists clenched and shook in anger. How could Jake Dragon set up all this for her? What for? He had to help them find the truth, even if it meant he would end up behind bars in a cell right next to old Professor Oak.

"What can I do for you?"

"Give me a couple of hours. I need to do something using your computer. Can I ask you one final favor before we leave tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Why so soon?"

"Because after I ask you for this one last favor, we need to be far away as possible from Kanto."

"Anything, Gary. Just tell me what you need."

Gary nodded, incredibly thankful for having one last person give him a helping hand. He knew he needed all the help that he could get. In only a couple of days they would both be as far away from Kanto as they could without being discovered. One final favor needed to be asked from someone else in an Island far, far, far away. Gary was not going to take any chances. They had made it this far. He could not afford to let her down.

"I need you to deliver a letter for me, Blaine."

"Sure, who is the recipient?"

"The Pokémon Master at Indigo Plateau."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ash Ketchum yawned for the fifteenth time in five minutes. He had not gotten one blink of sleep the night before as Dawn had spent the night throwing up caterpies. She was barely three months pregnant but her morning sickness had become night sickness and it had gotten worse and worse. The doctors said it was normal, but that she was making it worse with her caffeine, alcohol and nicotine withdrawals. Once she found out she was pregnant she had to quit drinking and smoking. She knew it was for her baby's own good, but she felt like an addict who had been suddenly cut off her drug without further notice.

Ash had stopped smoking too, but it was not much of an issue for him. He had not started smoking until Dawn had peer pressured him, but he had not gotten addicted to it quite as easily as she had. He was not going to lie and say that he did not crave one every now and then, especially when he had to listen to the issues Misty and Gary had gotten themselves into, but a small patch of nicotine would make it all better for him in an instant.

As a Pokémon Master, his main duty was to battle the trainers who managed to defeat the Elite Four; however, the League had stopped any official battling, burying him in tons of paperwork. He had been catching up with old battling files that the Gym Leaders had begun sending almost seven months ago that Maya had not gotten around checking. She had been so overwhelmed trying to keep the League together and lowering the bad reputation it was quickly gaining, she hardly had time to eat.

Ash walked inside his office and locked himself inside. He knew Dawn would be asleep for a while, recovering from the long sleepless night they both had. His plan was to fall asleep in his office as well, for at least a couple of hours. He could not work on a tired mind. He sat on his chair as he shuffled papers out of his way to make room for the pillow he hid in one of his bottom drawers. This was not the first time he slept in the job, and it was most certainly the least guilty he felt from all those times.

He looked at the papers as he divided them in several stacks by Pokémon Gym. His secretary received the papers all together but did not organize them for him. She would just drop them on his desk and leave, leaving him with doing all the secretarial work she should have done. He could not blame her though; she was an old woman who had only kept this job because it would be too cruel for the League to let her go.

"She'd probably die if she was outta of a job." Ash thought.

He had quickly gotten used to this routine even though he was not very fond of it. All his life he thought he would be sitting in a room, waiting for trainers to come and try to defeat him, one after the other, perhaps, for the rest of his life.

Yet, here he was with a name on his door that said "Pokémon Master," and had not battled one single trainer since he began his period in office. "This is so boring."

Moments like this made him wonder if leaving his trainer life to be in Indigo Plateau were worth it. Leaving behind his chance to move around freely, visiting home whenever he wanted, and traveling with his friend and former girlfriend, doing what he wanted whenever he wanted. When he left Pallet Town that faithful night, he believed he had only left his childhood behind. Now he saw how much more he had left behind –lost, when he decided to say goodbye. He missed Brock's cooking. He missed Pikachu's energy. He missed Misty's company, and her love.

Perhaps if he had brought Misty with him, the office part of the job would not seem so dull. He had finally after more than ten years achieved his life goal. However, achieving his dream had cost him his friends, his love, and his bachelor life. He was now engaged to Dawn. He never saw himself marrying her, but he owed her the responsibility, and for once in his life, he was going to act like a real man instead of running away from his actions as he had done before.

His sorting picked up some speed as he reached half of the stack. His eyes focused directly on the section of the paper where the Gym's name was listed. He wanted to finish this as soon as possible so he could take a nap. He knew that the legal issues the League was encountering now would provide him with plenty of time to catch up with paperwork, especially now that Gyms were not operating. He knew that he would reach a point where all documentation would be sent to him, and after that he could come up with a better system to keep records of all the Pokémon battles in Kanto.

"We need to start making all of this online, seriously."

He saw the last quarter of papers on his desk and he sped up even more. His hands moved as a machine that knows exactly what do and when to do it. His eyes shifted from the Gym's name to the stack where the paper belonged. He used both of his hands to finish the process even faster, and after a few more minutes he was done.

Or so he thought.

After the last piece of paper was placed on its proper stack, Ash's eyes caught a glimpse of what look like a card box envelope. He turned it around and saw his name on the recipient's section, and Blaine from Cinnabar Island on the sender's section.

"A package from Blaine?"

Ash's eyes furrowed at the strange method of communication Blaine had chosen to use. He knew that if Blaine needed something from Ash, a simple phone call would have sufficed. He always kept a private direct line for Pokémon Gym Leader's use. The Gym Leaders were one of his top priorities, and he wanted to be readily available to them at all times.

He carefully opened the envelope only to find another regular unsealed envelope inside. He saw his name had been written on the front side of the envelope but there was no sender's name. "An envelope inside another envelope? That's…clever."

Perhaps the Riddler was trying to play a trick on him, for old times sake. "Very funny, Blaine."

Ash turned over the envelope and took out the sheets of paper inside it. He unfolded them and saw the date. The letter had been typed yesterday.

Hey loser!

This is not Blaine speaking, I'll have you know. He is just delivering this for me as a favor. He doesn't know the contents of this letter, so please don't ask him for clarifications. I know you're probably the last person I should contact about our situation, but you're the only one who can help us now. You can choose not to do it, and that's fine. But I beg you to help us…help her…our rivalry shouldn't be a reason for her to be put away for life.

I don't know how much you believe the League, but I think we've been set up. I didn't take Misty from the hospital with her approval. She was unconscious. She had been until two day ago. She was out cold for eight days, Ash. Team Rocket beat the shit out of her. If you had seen her, you'd known she was telling the truth.

I'm putting my ass on the line right now by telling you what we know, and letting you make the final decision on what you want to do with the information I'm about t give you. You may want to use this letter against me, and that's ok. We've come to a point in our situation where we have nothing else to lose. She doesn't know I'm doing this. She doesn't know I'm beggin' you for help.

It all started when Jake Dragon tried to kill Misty in the Gym. I'm sure you remember that. He appeared there with a Pikachu that had an underwater breather. We still don't know how he got his hands on one of those. Those are specially made for the League, particularly the Cerulean Gym. I swear to you we didn't give it to him. Someone else did. Someone who knew about them. Someone inside the League.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but we've got some names. The day I left the Cerulean Gym I ran into this jerk. We fought and he said that he had been sent by a person named Emily Dragon. All I know is that they are related, and that her family competed against Misty's to take over the Cerulean Gym. No one has heard of Emily Dragon every since, but the Rockets mentioned her too.

Team Rocket, particularly Jessie, James, Butch and Cassidy, went inside the Gym when I was gone. They attacked her. They are the ones who burned down the Gym, and killed all those Pokémon. Butch even took advantage of Misty. She remembers it well. You may choose not to believe it, but I have attached a copy of her medical records I took from the hospital. Have someone translate them for you. You will find this information at the bottom of the page.

Someone is trying to screw us over. And they are winning. We need to find Jake Dragon and find who is he really working for, and if this Emily Dragon person is still alive. I know he lives in Celadon, but I can't go there. Look for his records, he has battling records with you. He listed two references when he filled out the forms. One is Emily Dragon…the other…I leave it to you to find out. It's someone who is very close to you; it will be a real surprise.

By the time you receive this letter, both Misty and I will be far away from Kanto. Don't try to find us, you won't be able to. But, if you decide to help us, send any and all information to Blaine's place. We'll get it from there. Please don't ask Blaine where we are. He won't tell you for his and your sake. If you don't believe any of this, search for yourself. James is still alive and in the hospital. Ask him.

I have never begged for anything in my life, but I am beginning you now to help us. If you don't, no one else will. Please, research before you dismiss us. Do it for her, at least; if not for me.

Gary Oak

Ash read the handwritten signature of the sender's name. He could not believe it. Gary and Misty were alive and well somewhere. They had made it out of Kanto. She was ok.

Or was she?

Ash re-read the letter a few more times to try to understand the pieces of information Gary had given him. He switched his attention to the attached copy of Misty's medical record. He tried to make sense of the medical terminology used on the document. He could only make out a few words, especially the ones that said "sexually assaulted."

Ash's hands trembled. His tiredness was gone and was replaced with a newfound energy he did not know he had. He folded the letter again, set it aside, and pulled out his laptop. He was going to make some research of his own. If someone had truly set them up, he was going to find out who it had been, and why.

Ash Ketchum spent the rest of his day going through files and files of information that no one else could access but him. He was never so glad to be the Pokémon Master, and his hard work seemed like it would finally pay off.