Ash Ketchum: I Found My Destiny.
Chapter 11 - The Clock Is Ticking.
Ash's Pov:
My back was starting to go numb and ache after sitting on the cell wall for so long.
I fumble around my pocket for the item I needed right now.
It's a good job she didn't take this with her when Giovanni came! I smile as I hold the two pieces of the photo in my hands.
I turn it around to see the writing side. On the right it says:
"Me & The Family."
Ash & Tri-
3 years of-
In my left hand the back of the picture says:
"-The Family."
xie.
Of age.
I can't believe I was so dense that I didn't get the message sooner! I raise my hands and put the two halves together.
They fit.
The completed photo now say's:
"Me & The Family."
Ash & Trixie.
3 years of age.
I smile, return the photo to my back pocket and look back out to the moon which is slowly fading by the soon-to-be morning sky.
Once again missing the silhouette as it silently jumped through the trees into the night sky.
I didn't spot it because I suddenly felt a pang in both my chest and my head. I clutched at my chest gasping for air. I closed my eyes in pain when images passed through my head. I was falling to the cold harsh carpeted floor. A sharp prick in my neck which would soon be joulsting throughout my body...I couldn't breathe...
...And then his face...I try my hardest to gain control my breathing which had begun labouring. Giovanni's cold smirk. Once again unbelievable madness in his eyes as dark, black flames of anger reside in them yet his voice was as cool as a knife as he laughs down at me.
And then it was gone. The connection I had just snapped like an elastic band being stretched too far. Although this time it felt as if I was the elastic band and it was someone's life which was being stretched...I wonder whom...
The darkness of the sky edges around my eyes as sleep finally overtakes me in exhaustion.
Delia's Pov:
"Delia..."
I gave them a small smile. The teenagers were behind Sam, all with shocked faces.
"I can take it from here..." I said quietly. "So Giovanni came for my kids and that's when everything started too collapse..."
So then I lead them back inside the living room and explained everything.
How everything got worse when Giovanni returned, how he took my daughter away from me, how neither myself nor Ash could do anything but scream at Giovanni to give her back.
I held Misty closer to me as she struggled to keep calm. After all I knew this was hard for her to. A few minutes had passed since then.
"Maybe it was the right thing to do..." I told the group regretfully.
They all gasped.
"If things had stayed the same...then maybe thing's would have gotten worse...maybe if..."
"No Delia..."
We all looked up to the professor.
"Sam?"
(A/N: This song is Everything Changes from Pokémon Live! I don't think it's any of the reprises. If you listen to this separately whilst reading this you can imagine this better. Bold is Oak, italics is Ketchum, both is both.)
Your hearts beating around the clock,
Time ticking away it doesn't stop.
Evolution is taking place.
The world is spinning and changing every day
Changing every day?
Anything you think of with a name,
Think of with a name...
There isn't anything in life,
That ever stays the same
And everything changes, changes,
Things are changing constantly.
And everything changes, changes
It's evolutionary
Everything changes, changes
Changing all the time,
Playing with my mind.
Modified or rearranged
Everything has got to change.
Delia wrapped her arms around her. Sam knew she was still thinking of her lost daughter and her now missing son. Instead of getting more upset through-out the song like she had been, Sam knew Delia was now going to get angry.
You take a chance,
You throw the dice,
You risk it all -it's just a part of life
(Just a part...just a part of life?)
You hold on tight to what you know,
You can't hold back, you've got to let it go
I've got to let it go?
Every little step that you embrace
One road ends,
Another begins
And takes you to a better place
And everything changes, changes,
Things are changing constantly.
And everything changes, changes
It's evolutionary
Everything changes, changes
Changing all the time,
Playing with your mind.
Modified or rearranged
Everything has got to change..."
"Thank you Sammy..." I replied. We all went into a joined silence. All of us waiting for the other to start saying something but not being the one who started it.
"Mrs. Ketchum?"
I looked up from Misty's head to Dawn. "Yes Dawn?"
She hesitated, as if firstly deciding how to string her words together.
"Y-you said Professor Oak helped name Ash...But what about the other twin?... The one that he took?"
Brock and Gary looked up from the floor at this new question too. I giggled which caused Sam to look at me in surprise.
"Well Dawn...I didn't name her straight away like I did with Ash...After all the way my Mother had left, my head wasn't really thinking of things like that..."
The group nodded, so I continued.
"It wasn't until they were a little older I knew what to call her...You see every time I would try to feed or clothe Ash he would try to squirm out of my arms and run away! Ash simply loved to stay messy and was very fussy...A traight I believe he caught from his father.
"...And the girl?" Spoke a small voice whom I hadn't heard of for quite a while now. I looked down at her.
"Well Misty..." I breathed in; remembering the moments. "I'd figured out that she was the one who sort of 'taught' Ash to prank me. You see when she wanted attention or more food she'd cry like she was ill or was in trouble, Ash would follow soon after. She meant no harm mind; just that she liked tricking me."
I paused as the others took this information in.
"So..." Brock started. "Did you call her something like Frankie to rhyme with prankie?"
I giggled at his question. "Oh no, she didn't like pranking me she liked tricking me!"
Another pause.
"Oh I get it!" Gary stated putting his fist in his hand. "You called her Trixie?"
I still remember the day I first called her that.
+12 Years Ago.+
Delia's Pov:
"Darling you must stop crying like that!" I told her as I picked her up. She gurgled in response. I giggled at that. Then pouted. "Darling don't you feel sleepy yet?" This time it was her who pouted. I pointed her head to show Ash drooling uncontrollably in his cot.
"Look Darling, Ashie's fallen asleep don't you want to have a little nap? Hmm?"
She tried escaping out of my arms.
"Well what to you want?" I didn't expect her to respond at this age, but I took her putting a thumb in her mouth and gently sucking as a symbol that she needed milk.
I carried her away from the twin's room and downstairs to the kitchen. I started to heat the milk bottle up in a pan. She gurgled happily. Once the milk was heated I let the bottle cool down for a while. Of course my daughter hated the waiting part.
"Just a few minutes Darling." I looked around for something to distract her; unfortunately I couldn't find any of her toys as they weren't in the kitchen. I pointed outside the window. "Look, look Darling, the sunflower's we planted are starting to sprout!"
She followed my finger and looked outside. I didn't notice her watching something in the pond instead of the sunflowers. (A/N: If you remember in one of the episodes just after Ash leaves Delia make's a comment of the sunflowers in her garden. And how they've grown taller since Ash was home last. Also you guy's should know what she saw in the pond! If not then read the last few chapters!)
"Okay Darling it's cool now." She looked at me then the milk bottle in my hand. She made a grab for it but her arms were too short. I led her to the living room and I cradled her as I sat on the armchair.
"Okay here's your mi-" I stopped in mid-sentence when I realised that her bottle was already a third empty on the table. So I was left with two bottles for her instead of just the one bottle of milk.
"You just tricked me didn't you Mudkip?" I asked her tease fully. Of course she didn't know what I was on about! I kissed her forehead as she drank from the bottle I held. She couldn't finish as she was already going to sleep attached to the bottle. I took it away from her grasp and made my way quietly up the stairs to put her to bed in her cot next to a should-be-drooling Ash.
I placed her carefully next to Ash. They must have known they were close to each other even in sleep as they moved to their sides to cuddle each other. I wonder if they would do that when they were older? (A/N: Answer: Yes, yes they do, once in the cave in the first chapter and again in the dungeon. And yes I switched munchkin to Mudkip because let's face it this is a Pokémon fic.)
I kissed them both on the head as I pulled the thin blanket on top of them.
Then it stuck me. "Maybe I should call you...Frankie?" Ash must have heard me as he instantly frowned. I did too. "Okay maybe not..." I whispered as I rocked the cot to calm both twins down.
"...Maybe...something like tricking...tricky...Trixie?"
She instantly gave a grin in her sleep. I giggled softly to not wake them up and I silently hummed a lullaby I got from an Igglypuff which visited us when me and the twins where out gardening the other day. The Igglypuff made the twins fall asleep but it had no effect on me.
"Alright then, sleep tight, my little Ashie and Trixie..."
+Present Day.+
Normal/ No-One's Pov:
"Yes I called her Trixie..." Delia announced to the room.
"Sounds like you guys were really happy." Gary said.
"If only you were that easy to get to sleep Gary." Sam said.
"Grandpa?"
"You were 10 times worse than the twins, nothing could get you to sleep, and then of course the accident happened with your parents (A/N: They don't know that Giovanni murdered his parents.) And you moved in with me and by then you and Ash were too competitive to fall asleep!"
"Grandpa!" Gary exclaimed blushing.
"Oh yes I remember! Gary and Ash would even fight and kick each other in their sleep!" Delia said.
The whole crew started laughing endlessly when something broke the laughter like a crack in a mirror, shattering to pieces.
"Glad to see your all havin' fun here..." A shadowy figure leaning on the windowsill said. A black tulip was the only thing visible.
"W-who are you!" Delia exclaimed. The figure jumped out of the window frame and landed on one leg.
"You may call me Agent 009." She raised her head to show her face. Delia gasped as she recognized the outfit.
Brock's heartbeat jumped.
"Oh my, an angel has come down from the heavens from us, oh angel why don't you rejoice me by going on a date with m-"
+Thwack+
Domino swiftly knocked a love-sick Brock back to his senses by sending him a spinning kick in the head.
"My names not Angel! I am nothing like the sort!" She looked up to Delia. "However, you all may call me Domino. Agent Domino."
"...Agent?" Dawn said after a stunned silence. Domino nodded to her.
"Yes Dawn. I work with Team Rocket."
"Don't you mean for Team Rocket?"
"No you stupid slut! I don't work for anyone!" Domino harshly stated.
"I'm not a slut!"
"You're a ten-year old girl wearing a mini-skirt!" (A/N: Domino's right, Dawn must be at least ten since anyone who receives a Pokémon starter needs to be at least 10! Ash is above 13 at least now since in the episodes and in one of the movies Ash celebrated his birthday.)
"Hold on!" Gary started before a Meowth-fight broke out. "Team Rocket? You're the enemy!" Domino turned away from Dawn and towards him.
"Just because I have a different belief than you, does not make me the enemy Gary Oak!"
Gary was left stunned. Professor Oak stepped in front of his grandson defendedly.
"How do you know Dawn and Gary's name?"
Domino gave a small smirk.
"Oh I know all about you lot..." She pointed to each person.
"Dawn Hikari Pearl of Twinleaf Town, Sinnoh. Brock Takeshi Harrison leader of the Pewter Gym. Gary Shigeru Oak, infamous young poet and trainer including grandson of Samuel Okido Oak, Kanto. Misty Kasumi Waterflower, the fourth sensational sister and tom-boyish mermaid, not to mention gym leader of Cerulean City..."
Domino reached the quietest of the group. Who had been stunned ever since she saw the logo.
"...And you Delia Hanako. Now known as Delia Ketchum, mother of Ash Satoshi Ketchum, Kanto!"
Everyone gasped at the blonde teen.
"Oh yes, I know all about your past with Giovanni Sakaki Ketchum! The Boss!"
"Domino what do you intend to do with us?" Samuel asked. She put her hand down.
"Nothing."
Dawn let out a breath.
"Apart from lead you to her."
"Who?" Misty questioned.
Domino looked to Delia.
"To your daughter."
Delia let out a subtle whimper. "You know about my daughter? How is she? Is she okay? Is she alright!"
Domino dropped her smirk.
"You must come quickly. Trixie won't survive much longer."
"W-what...what do you mean? Is she hurt?" Delia replied unconfidently.
Domino then proceeded to wipe off the make-up she had on her face. Making the others gasp at her battered appearance.
"Mrs. Ketchum...You must save her...He...He has gotten worse...His drinking again after so long...and his temper-""
Delia nodded gaining now, some strength. "...Wh-where is she now Domino?.."
Domino gave a sad smile. "Right under your nose this whole time..."
Everyone turned to Delia, expecting her face to hold sadness. Instead her face was filled with determination.
"Sam." She said turning to the elder. "We need a car."
Domino led the group outside. Everyone squished into Gary's red sport's car, the one he had since he was a ten-year old, as Domino lead the way. Delia gasped as she realised they were headed straight through Viridian Forest, which was not so far from Kanto.
Now I know what she meant by right under my nose this whole time... Delia thought with teary eyes.
The group got out of the car and were immediately stunned by the sight of the huge black Team Rocket skyscraper.
"Umm..." Misty said after a while. "Isn't walking straight into Team Rocket's Head Quarter's dangerous?"
Domino turned to her. "No. Giovanni's been working on a top secret project that even I - an elite agent - still has no clue about. Everyone is inside preparing."
"What's this project called?" Brock asked.
Domino had to think about this; after all she shouldn't just give out top secret information like this...
...Then again she knew Giovanni was going to kill her..."Project Den." She admitted sourly. "Although Trixie call's it 'Master's Plan."
"Master?" Delia asked. Domino looked at her sadly.
"I'll...I'll tell ya later, when there's not so many other people around.
A pained silence pangs in the air.
"Domino how do we get in?" Misty asked. Domino smirked.
"Leave that to me!" She said whilst giving her a peace-sign (A/N: Please take no offence to this sign. I know some people take offence to this particular sign, but the way I'm using it I mean no offence! If you want this removed I shall edit it.)
Domino then asked the group to hide in the bushes as she made her way to the doors of the grand building. Rocket Grunts were put in charge of standing guard.
"Hey boys!~" Domino trilled flirtatiously. She winked at them.
"Hey get her! She's in trouble with the Boss!" They shouted back angrily.
The Grunt's haven been temporarily forgotten about the fact she was brilliant at aerobics; charged at Domino with great force. She gave them a quick uppercut, kicked her knee into one's chin and threw another over her shoulder.
She spinned round and dusted her hands. "Now, that's done...-"
Domino led the gang out of the bushes and to where Giovanni would be. The gang gasped at the way the Grunts had fallen into a heap on the near-by floor. Misty and Delia remained unfazed however - probably due to the thought of seeing their loved ones once more (Yes I didn't need to read into his files to know that Ash loved Misty, the way he spoke her name in the truck after Jessie and James drugged them helped) - and seemed to speed up.
"-here goes the hard part..."
+Inside T.R HQ+
Pitch black met the group's eyes. Silence was only heard. A metallic taste panged at the back of everyone's throats. The air was eerily cool and clear...
Out from the only source of light, came Giovanni in his black, logoed suit. He spoke...
"Delia..."
"Giovanni..."
A cold smirk in the spotlight.
"We meet again..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
(A/N: I didn't really expect Delia's naming flashback to be that long sorry! And I was originally going to put Ash's bit near the middle of the chapter not the beginning. It'll be nice to hear some feedback about whether or not I did the right thing.
I also haven't been getting as many reveiws as book 1...Is this story not as good or something? I'm not one of those author's who demands a certain amount of reviews for a chapter or anything but hey- some mail once in a while would be nice...
Oh and for the Project Den name, I just got that from Bulbapedia as well as the group's names.
Also do people follow what the Author's Note say and actually listen to the songs whilst reading? There are a lot of hint's you're missing if you don't listen to the song - It's not just in the lyrics!
Because F.F has an error message I couldn't update earlier! Sorry!
Oh and for fellow Author's:
Fanfiction has been showing "Error Type 2" for a lot of authors. If you want to get around that, go to that error page, and in the URL change 'property' to 'content' and you can edit like normal. Hope that helps people!
I got that hint from AxJfan! Thank-you!)