The Year of Rocket's Revenge
Halftime Recap Special, Part 1 (01.02.06/06.14.07)
Time to play catch-up! If you're new to the series, here's one last chance to jump aboard before things really starting hitting the fan! If you're a loyal follower, well, here's a chance to refresh your memory and talk about what you need to know for the upcoming chapters!
Then again, if you're the type who hates 'recap specials,' well... just stay tuned! 'Session: January' is right around the corner!
Disclaimer: All characters and places featured in the Pokémon anime series and other productions belong to Nintendo and Pokémon USA! As for those original characters like Cassie Banks, Arius McFly, and many, many others, they are my creations. You can't use them without my written consent!
This fanfic is only posted at two places: my place, which contains the full-length chapters in one piece, and which has the same story, but split up into smaller pieces. It should not be posted anywhere else without my permission.
All flashback scenes are in italics. Any other scenes are shown in normal type, and represent present time, with Ash, Misty, and Brock commenting on the flashbacked events.
"The last few years have been pretty crazy, haven't they?"
"I know! With me becoming a gym leader and all the baggage that comes along with it..."
"Or me not being able to find a girl!"
"Or those awesome battles at the Pokémon League Novice Tournament!"
"Pika pika!"
"What about Cassie and Arius? They're part of that group called the Pokémon Trainers' Association, who aren't as good as they seem?"
"Or Team Rocket, who keeps finding new ways to make our lives miserable?"
"And don't forget all of the old friends we reunited with!"
"Pika!"
"Before 'The Year of Rocket's Revenge' kicks into full gear..."
"Let's look back at what you need to know before things really start to get hot and heavy!"
"We're covering two-and-a-half years, right? Maybe I should take notes?"
"Pikachu?"
"Tee hee... you've gotta have a brain to take notes, Ash!"
"Hey!"
"Don't worry, Ash. We promise there won't be a test afterwards."
"But you know I'm no good at tests, Brock!"
"Pika pika, pi chu pika kachu!"
"Awww... not you too, Pikachu!"
"Enough stalling! We've got over 80 episodes to remember!"
"And tons of hot girls, too!"
"And a lot of great Pokémon battles! So let's get this show on the road!"
The Year of Rocket's Revenge: Halftime Recap Special, Part 1
"Ash, do you remember how this all started?" Misty asked.
"Not at all!" Ash replied. "You're gonna remind me, aren't you?"
"Of course I am! That's what I'm here for!"
"So... whenever you're ready!"
Misty sighed. "I thought I had weaned you out of being dense! Very well... this whole mess started when we went to Pallet Town after you had gotten your eighth gym badge..."
Ash, Misty, and Pikachu were in shock as Brock announced he was leaving the group.
"I'm going back to Pewter City so I can continue my studies in order to become a great PokИmon breeder!"
"So you're just going to leave us?"
"Please don't leave me alone with Misty, Brock," pleaded Ash. "She'll drive me crazy!"
Misty responded by pulling out a mallet out of nowhere.
"Oh yeah? I'll show you who's crazy!"
"Since when did YOU have a mallet?"
Misty shrugged her shoulders. "For awhile. I just don't use it all that much."
"Thank goodness. Oh, wait... isn't this the part where your sisters call and tell you about that bogus badge journey you had to do?"
"Uh huh. And I thought they were playing a practical joke on me."
"It's about time!" Daisy yelled angrily, via videophone.
"I can't believe what you did!" Lily added in a similar fashion.
"What did I do?" Misty asked her sisters, a bit confused.
"Did you know that your Pokémon trainer's license is about to expire?" Violet told her.
"It is? When did you find out about this?"
"We got a letter from the Pokémon League Trainers Registry yesterday," recalled Lily.
"It said that in order for you to keep your license," Violet stated, "you must earn a League badge by the end of next week, or they will send someone to get your Pokémon!"
Misty was surprised. "They can't do that!"
"They can and they will!"
"I didn't even know that a rule like this was in the Pokémon by-laws," Daisy thought aloud.
"What do I do?"
"There's only one thing we can do, if you want to keep your Pokémon."
"Staryu, Starmie, Horsea,... even Psyduck..." Misty thought to herself. "I've worked so hard to train them. I don't want to lose them."
She then looked at her sisters and asked them, "What can I do?"
"Misty," replied Violet, "we're sending you your old Pokédex, with Professor Oak's latest upgrade included."
"In order to make it to the Pewter City gym," stated Daisy, "you'll have to leave Pallet Town tomorrow morning."
"But I can't leave! What about Pikachu... and Ash?"
"Misty, what's more important, your license or your silly boyfriend?"
That night, by the Water Pokémon area of Professor Oak's laboratory, Ash and Misty were sitting silently next to each other by the lake. As the refrain to "Misty's Song" plays in the background, Misty broke the silence to ask Ash a question.
"Ash, there's been something I've been dying to tell you."
"Which is?"
Misty continued slowly. "I don't know how to tell you this, but... I think I'm in love with you."
"Come again?"
"The first time I saw you, I thought you were a creep, running off with my bike without asking. But the more I found out about you, the more I began to get an attraction to you. You don't know how long I've been waiting to say this but... I love you, Ash Ketchum!"
Misty grabbed Ash's face and embraced him. They remained that way for several seconds, until Misty pulled away, leaving a stunned reaction on Ash's face.
"What... just... happened?"
Misty laughed hysterically. "You were... ha... speechless! Just like I thought you'd be!"
"Well, at the time, I didn't quite understand a lot about romance and love."
"And you do now?"
"Um..."
"What more proof do you need?" Brock interjected, joining the chat. "Have you seen all the girls that want him? I'm so jealous... I taught him everything he knows, yet he's the one getting results!"
"What results? The three girls that went after Ash all already have boyfriends!"
"TJ, just what are you trying to say?"
Duplica was still obviously blind to TJ's attraction to her. TJ slowly bowed his head, then raised it slowly as he muttered three words...
"I love you."
Duplica was stunned. She had never expected TJ to say that.
"Did he just say what I thought he just said?" Duplica thought to herself. "He's in love with me? I can't be in love with him. He's at least two years younger than I am. I'm more attracted to Ash than I am to him!"
"Duplica?" TJ asked, waving his hand in front of her face. "Are you in there or what?"
"I'm here, TJ."
"So, what's your reaction? Are you gonna to hug me? Run off crying? Pull out a mallet and whack me with it? I want to know!"
"You really want to know, TJ?"
"Yeah, stop killing me with the suspense!"
She closed her eyes, puckered her lips, and gave TJ a quick peck on the lips.
"How's that for an answer?"
The only way TJ could respond was by grabbing Duplica and giving her a long, wet kiss back.
As the crowd started to thin out, Joe pulled Giselle into the restaurant. After finding a table, Joe started to question her.
"What did you do that for?" Joe asked, with a hint of anger in his voice.
"I just missed you so much, that's all," replied Giselle meekly.
"You didn't have to tackle me to the ground, you know."
"I didn't mean to! I tripped!"
"You're acting like we haven't seen each other in ages."
"We've been apart for nearly two years! That's long enough for me."
"Gee, Giselle. You've changed a lot."
"All that matters right now is that I have you..."
Giselle kissed Joe on the lips. At first, Joe seemed surprised and reluctant at Giselle's reaction towards him, but he eventually relaxed and gave in to her advances. After having their lips locked for about twenty seconds, they let go... and spotted the waiter impatiently waiting for them to order. They both blushed, and began to look at the menu... but not without each of them stealing another glance at each other.
Suddenly, the videophone began to ring. Cassie walked over and answered it. Arius appeared on the screen.
"Cassie! It's me, Arius!"
"Oh, thank goodness you're alright."
"I'm fine, though me and the girl I'm following, we got jumped by Team Rocket soon after we met."
"Team Rocket?"
"Yeah. Seems like they keep hiring new recruits. They must be on to me, or they know what we know about Misty Waterflower."
"Okay. Don't let anyone, not even Misty, know of your intentions. If anyone finds out, all of us are in danger. Meanwhile, I'll follow up on this Ash Ketchum boy. He's going to the Novice Tournament at the Indigo Plateau."
"Gotta go. Sounds like my friend has finished her shower."
"Now, don't you go doing something that I wouldn't like," warned Cassie.
"Cassie, you know I love you."
"I love you too, Arius. Please be careful."
"I will."
"You mean Cassie had a crush on me?" Ash asked, dumbfounded.
"She might as well! Apparently, girls find you desirable for some odd reason."
"You could've fooled me... didn't she and Gary have something going on?"
"Those two? Yeah, right! With the way they argue?"
"Reminds you of two certain someones..." Brock said with a smirk.
"WE DON'T ARGUE LIKE THEY DO!" Ash and Misty yelled simultaneously.
"Speaking of which, what about the Pokémon Trainers' Association? Maybe we should talk about them for a little bit..."
"You mean what they do for a living?" Ash growled.
"And mess up dear friendships and romances?" added Misty.
"No... because I can't help but think about Cassie and Arius' boss, Patti," Brock drooled. "Man, was she a babe!"
"You're silly," chuckled Patti. "How about going on a date tonight, say about eight o'clock?"
"D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-ate?" Brock stuttered.
"Give it a rest, Romeo!" chided Misty, grabbing Brock by the ear and pulling him off-screen.
"Anyway, the Pokémon Trainers' Association..." began Ash.
"It's about a secret organization for special Pokémon trainers."
"You don't have to take our offer if you don't want to. But think about it before you make your decision."
Cassie looked at the card given to her by the two men, Randy Vicardi and Jones McGray, and saw only this: "The Pokémon Trainers' Association. If you want to join, come to Warehouse # 3 in Ronde Town at seven o' clock tonight." When she looked up again, Randy and Jones were gone.
"I didn't know then if I could trust these two," Cassie thought to herself, "but if I was really as good as they said, wouldn't I want to find out just how good?"
"Excuse me, miss, but can I be of some assistance?"
A young boy, about Misty's age, stood above her. He offered his hand to help, and although Misty knew not to trust strangers, she didn't hesitate to grab his hand. He pulled her out of the hole, after which she dusted herself off. The boy then picked up Misty's satchel, and handed it to her.
"Here, you dropped this."
"Thanks!"
"So, where you headed?"
"To Vermillion City."
"Cool! I'll travel with you! The name's Arius!"
"My name's Cassie. I'm here to assist you on your Pokémon journey."
"Look, I don't need any help," Ash told her.
"Look, it's imperative that I travel with you! The fate of the world depends on it."
"I decided to take up the offer of joining The Pokémon Trainers' Association," Cassie told Ash and Duplica. "But when I arrived at the warehouse that night, I didn't know what to expect. I entered the warehouse, and the next thing I knew, me and all of all my Pokémon were training non-stop for days on end! I was paired up with a 12-year old boy named Arius and our captain, a 23-year old woman named Patti. But we didn't stay together long, as we were assigned different tasks."
"So you're part of some sort of secret organization?" gasped Duplica.
"That's unbelievable!" Ash yelled.
At the dining commons that evening, Duplica and Cassie began to talk, but not under the most pleasant circumstances...
"You couldn't tell me that your 'organization' was trying to recruit me?" the Ditto trainer questioned.
"Duplica, I didn't find out until this morning that you were the new recruit!" Cassie claimed.
"I'm supposed to be here to enjoy the games, but instead I'm being chased by Team Rocket, your team wants me to become a member, and I think I'm in love with TJ!"
"Gee, that didn't come out as jumbled up as I thought it would. Wait, did you say you're in love with TJ?"
"Yes, I did. There's something about him, something that makes him that 'special friend' that I've been looking for."
"That little brat isn't worthy! He couldn't win a Pokémon battle if he tried!"
"Well Cassie, he did get to the first round!"
"And then flunked out! Face it Duplica, you're better off with that kid, what's his name, Gary."
"Who are you to tell me how to run my life?" Duplica yelled angrily. "I trusted you! And what did you do, hide the fact that you want me to be part of something I don't agree with? And now you're telling me who I should be going out with!"
"Duplica, calm down!"
"Calm down! I thought that when I met you that night almost two weeks ago that you'd be my best friend."
"But we're best friends, Duplica!"
"Not anymore, Cassie! Consider our friendship terminated!"
"Cassie, can I have a word with you real quick?" Patti asked her subordinate."
"Sure, Patti."
Patti pulled Cassie to the side and handed her a black camera.
"No, Patti! You can't mean..."
"Unfortunately, yes. We have to brainwash them all."
"Whatever happens from this day forth, don't remind me of any of the events from the past month, no matter what!"
"I understand."
The camera flashed, and everything went white.
"Heh..." Ash chuckled. "Took me awhile to remember that..."
"Anything else you've forgotten that you haven't told me?" Misty growled, brandishing her mallet in her right hand.
Arius and Cassie lied there very quietly. That is, until a stopwatch on Cassie's left wrist beeped to signify that it was exactly midnight. The two then stood up; Arius pressed a button on the binoculars to shrink them to a miniature size. He then attached a press-on clip to it before clipping onto the white shirt inside his jumpsuit. At the same time, Cassie quickly tore the piece of paper into pieces, and then threw them into a nearby garbage can. She then turned to her partner, and boyfriend, and gave him a thumbs up.
"Let's get going," Arius said.
"Right," agreed Cassie.
"Well, it looks like you've worn out your usefulness," Calamity of Team Rocket told Cassie as he placed a gun against her forehead. "You know, it's too bad I have to shoot you. You two would have made great additions to our team."
"Cassie! No!" Arius yelled as he ran towards Cassie.
Three Rockets appeared and immediately tackled him on the spot. Cassie closed her eyes as Calamity pulled the trigger, expecting that her fate had been sealed.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Surprisingly, Calamity's gun was out of bullets. Seizing the moment, Cassie opened her eyes and immediately kicked Calamity between the legs. Calamity gritted his teeth in pain, then fell down and reached for his private area, releasing the grip on his empty gun in the process. The two Rockets that had been holding Cassie down absentmindedly released their grip on her and went to Calamity's side.
"It looks like we've worn out our welcome," Arius said, having broken free from the goons holding him back in the confusion.
"No kidding," Cassie replied as she turned to her Kadabra. "Kadabra, Flash!"
Arius and Cassie joined hands as Kadabra's psychic energy gathered around the trio. In the blink of an eye, the darkness of the landscape lit up. And as the bright light faded away, the Rockets looked over and discovered that the heroes were gone.
Jeanette Fisher gasped as the female news anchor spoke on the TV at the Pokémon Center.
"Repeating this morning's top story... United Indigo Airlines, Flight 360, has crashed somewhere in the Tippecanoe Mountains just west of Indigo Plateau National Airport, where the plane was scheduled to land about an hour ago. Police and medical crews are at the scene, but so far have been unable to locate any survivors.
Duplica was breaking the news to Ash, Misty, and Brock, that Cassie and Arius, who had just shown up there, were responsible for the death of her boyfriend, TJ, a passenger on the aforementioned flight.
"Cassie got TJ killed!" Duplica exclaimed in tears.
"What are you talking about?" wondered Misty.
"After they had stolen some top-secret files from Team Rocket, the Rockets retaliated by setting off a bomb on the plane TJ was on!"
"So TJ died because of you?" Ash screamed.
After Misty and Duplica had both run off in distraught, Ash directed his cold anger towards Cassie, who was trying to apologize for the incident.
"I'm sorry, Ash, but there was nothing we could do. It caught us completely by surprise, just like everyone else!"
Ash was beginning to break down himself. So he did the only thing he could think of that would keep him from running over and breaking their necks.
"GO! Just go away!"
"Another trainer," Cassie thought to herself, crying as well. "That's probably what they're all thinking. They probably think that we consider the life of one trainer insignificant. That the needs of many outweigh the needs of a few. That no one would miss one trainer."
"I need friends who are willing to support me and cheer me on in whatever I do," Cassie told Duplica. "Without friends who will push me to be better, I'll never become the best trainer in the world."
"Friends, huh?"
"Duplica, I know it'll take awhile for me to regain your trust again. And... I can't bring back your old boyfriend. But would you give me just one more chance? That's all I'm asking for.
"If you promise not to hurt anyone else."
"Cross my heart and hope to die," she promised, making a cross over her heart with one finger.
Duplica trotted over and wrapped her arms around Cassie to give her a hug.
"Ooh, here's a clip with Patti in it!" Brock swooned.
Pokémon Trainers' Association Headquarters...
"You're quitting? Did I hear you right?"
"Yes, that's right," Cassie said aloud. "We wish to resign our positions."
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"Ever since I took this job, I envisioned a future where this organization would train us to be the best Pokémon trainers in the world."
"Haven't we always done that?"
"Yes, but at the sacrifice of all of the new friends I've met on the road. There are many things that I've done while I've been here that I haven't been too proud of. Things that have cost other people their lives. Things that have nearly cost me my life. I'm only thirteen! I didn't become a Pokémon trainer to save the world! I became a Pokémon trainer because I wanted to be a Pokémon Master!"
"It's a part of the job I hate too, but sometimes we can't avoid it."
"That's why we want out. It's the only way I feel is right."
"What about you, Arius?" Patti turned to face him. "Do you share the same views as your partner?"
"To an extent," Arius began, "but I wouldn't be the great trainer I am today if it wasn't for her. So I'd like to stay by her side. I respect her decision... though I do not know if it is the right one."
Patti bowed her head. "I'm sorry that you two feel that way. But, we can't stop you from leaving under your own power. I just wish things didn't work out this way."
"We do too," Cassie nodded.
Cassie's two favorite Pokémon, and the ones closest to her, came out, cheering for the chance to get some fresh air.
"Take a good look at the Great Outdoors, guys!" Cassie told her Pokémon.
"Bulba!"
"Meowth!"
"Out there is a world filled with surprises! And in our new lives that start here and now, we'll take whatever fate throws at us with sunlight in our hearts and smiles on our faces. For we have a new lease on life, and no one can take it away from us!"
"And we'll face that world..." Arius said, giving Cassie a peck on the cheek. "Together."
"I have a really good feeling Arius and Cassie are good people," Ash said with a smile. "I'm glad they're done with the PTA."
"I hope you're right," Misty tried to agree. "I really do."
Brock nodded. "But something tells me we haven't seen the last..."
Out at sea, Old Man Bridges continued to row behind his Lanturn.
"Heh heh," he chuckled, "looks like they passed the test after all!"
He flashed a toothy grin as he paddled off, back towards Dewford Island.
Ash, Misty, and Brock all looked and pointed at each other, wondering what was up.
"Creepy clip... hey, that wasn't part of the clip show," Brock noted matter-of-factly.
"Well, who put it in?" Misty wondered out loud.
"WAIT A MINUTE!" Ash suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs. "WHERE'S PIKACHU?"
"Pikachu's gone missing?" Misty and Brock asked in unison.
"PIKA!" Pikachu cried from afar.
The trio looked around, and saw Pikachu about 40 feet away... locked in a shock-proof plastic case. And standing around it were three familiar faces, all laughing hysterically with glee.
"Prepare for trouble, we're here to steal the show!"
"And make it double, the reviewers say your recap blows!"
"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!"
"And James!"
"Team Rocket's blasting off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Persian... dat's poifect! Even if it screws da rhyme scheme!"
"Team Rocket!" Ash, Misty, and Brock shouted together. "What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you listen to our motto?" scolded Jessie.
"We're here to take over this flimsy halftime recap special... and Pikachu, too!" James told the heroes.
"After all," Persian said with a smile. "Dis is a recap for 'Da Year of Rocket's Revenge,' after all!"
"Now it's time to sit back..."
"And enjoy the show!"
Jessie and James grinned evilly as they advanced on Ash, Misty, and Brock to properly dispose of them...
To be continued in Part 2!
