The Year of Rocket's Revenge
Story Written by Freedom Fighter

So, we've arrived at the Month of Love. So, let's create some chaos...

Six relationships to cover in four chapters? Can it be done? The only way to find out is to read the whole session! And it starts right now!

Disclaimer: All characters and places featured in the Pokémon anime series and other productions belong to Nintendo and Pokémon USA! Cassie Banks, Arius McFly, and several others too numerous to name here were created by me and can't be used by anyone else without permission! Those who don't heed this warning will get more than the heart broken into a million pieces.

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.


The Year of Rocket's Revenge
Session: February, Part 1 (01.30.06/08.16.07)


Previously, on "The Year of Rocket's Revenge," the world experienced a cataclysmic shift when popular Celadon City gym leader, Erika Byou, was one of many killed in an explosion that rocked a heavily-populated New Year's Eve party! While family and friends cried out in horror for the loss, both Cinnabar Island and Pewter City were struck with similar anomalies. Originally though to be coincidental freak acts of nature, some are certain to believe Team Rocket is to blame for the attacks... though no definitive proof has surfaced in the month since the incident.

But the world and the Pokémon League still were forced to move on. Not only with the task of replacing the lost gym leader, but to also figure out what to do about her research revolving five legendary kids with the power to possess and strength their Pokémon. Lt. Surge has already made a discovery since taking over Erika's role as the lead researcher, learning that kids who have used their powers twice already are prone to constant fainting! Not to mention three-time users end up dying!

Obviously, both the Pokémon Trainers' Association and Team Rocket are searching for the five teens as well. But the PTA seriously crippled TR's search during an attack on the evil organization's headquarters. Though successful in accomplishing their secondary objective, the PTA was unable to take out Team Rocket. That was thanks to the appearance of two new powerful cross-bred Pokémon, unthinkable monstrosities of nature that their evil leader, Giovanni, plans to eventually release upon the world in order to mold it to his own.

Meanwhile, as Ash Ketchum is formally declared Pokémon Junior Master, after the first one, Marco Pereira, had the title taken away after it was discovered he had recently been connected to Team Rocket, he had to deal with being stuck in a tiff involving his current girlfriend, Cerulean gym leader Misty Waterflower, and Ditto master-to-be, Duplica Imite! Though Duplica owned up to her aggressive mistake and respectfully bowed out of the relationship, and Ash realized that he was in the wrong by not rejecting Duplica's advances, even if not being able to comprehend them at the time, Misty couldn't face the truth, and she decided to run away. Despite his want to chase after her, Ash had no choice but to let her go. And thus, she has been missing in action for almost a month.

Until a letter from the redhead sent Ash scrambling to Saffron City...


Friday, February 1st, Saffron City Pokémon Center

Dawn had arrived on the first day of the new month, and sunlight was already peering through the curtains and into the rooms on eastern side of the Pokémon Center. All of the guest rooms on that side only had one large king-sized bed in them apiece. Pretty inconvenient considering the cramped arrangements due to the Center temporarily serving as a homeless shelter for those displaced by the recent ice storm that pummeled some parts of the city.

Not so, one would say, if the two sharing the bed were married. Or, at the very least, a couple romantically leaning towards marriage.

"Wha?"

"Uh..."

These two... Misty Waterflower being the redhead on the left, sporting a black T-shirt, and Ash Ketchum, the young black-haired man with nothing on at least above his stomach... are probably too young to be thinking that way, much less considering it.

So... what exactly is going on here?

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"


12 hours ago, Saffron City Municipal Airport

Ash and Pikachu walked out of the airport terminal with a lot on their minds, as they hailed down a taxi cab. With just his backpack in tow, Ash and his best friend were quickly on their way to the Pokémon Center.

"Look at these poor people..." Ash commented aloud.

He and Pikachu watched as their cab driver drove past some streets that were blocked off, since a few scant parts of the city still haven't had their electricity restored. The darkness of night made it hard to see the extent of damage to those poor, unfortunate wards. But even though the snow and ice had pretty much melted away, even areas where life had returned to normal were filled with buildings that no longer looked inhabitable, thanks to collapsed walls and roofs, or, in some cases, where only the remains stood.

"I never imagined that Mother Nature could be so destructive."

"You're preaching to the choir, man!" exclaimed the cab driver. "And there was nothing we could do to stop it. Even Sabrina herself tried to help."

"She did?"

The driver nodded. "Unfortunately, even she could not stand up to that horrific ice storm. She couldn't protect the whole city. Not all at once, anyway."

Ash looked down at his feet, feeling down in the dumps.

"Don't worry, man... the people of Saffron here are strong! We'll get back on our feet!"

Ash took the man's words to heart, and restored his focus towards what he had come to Saffron to do.


At the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy and several Chansey were scrambling about, trying to cater to the needs of those still staying there, whether they be human or Pokémon. Even a few local guys and gals were helping the already-burdened facility, which was filled to near capacity. Among the helpers was Misty, who was wearing a nurse's apron over her clothing as she was in the midst of cheering up a young boy and his Teddiursa.

"So... how many Pokéballs am I hiding behind my back?"

Misty smiled as she held a few in a closed fist behind her back, as she saw the boy and Teddiursa whisper to each other, trying to make an educated guess.

"Is it... three?"

Misty brought her hand forward and opened her fist up to reveal that she, indeed, was holding three in her hand.

"Great paying attention!"

"Teddiursa, teddi teddi!" Teddiursa applauded with glee as his trainer clapped in amusement.

The boy's parents watched as Misty continued to play with the duo, keeping their spirits up even as those same parents worried about where they would live, as their apartment had been destroyed in the storm.

"Misty!"

Misty turned around and saw Joy waving at her from the front desk, with a sign that read 'Phone and Transporter Systems are Down at This Time.' The young girl bid adieu to the family, then trotted over to talk to the Pokémon nurse.

"Did you need help with something, Nurse Joy?"

"No. Actually, Misty, you have a visitor!"

"I do?"

It then came to Misty... and suddenly, she found herself in a state of peaceful bliss.

"He got my letter..." Misty thought to herself. "He DOES still care about me! Maybe this won't turn out as bad as I thought! I mean, I still love him!"

"THERE'S THE LITTLE CUTIE!"

Misty's dreamy state was shattered in an instant, as the male voice that pierced her ears sounded nothing like a certain young man from Pallet Town. Though it did sound familiar.

Hauntingly too familiar.

"Lieu... Lieutenant Surge," Misty recalled as the imposing gym leader in the military fatigues stomped up to her.

"Look at you! Somebody's filled out in the last few months!"

Truth be told, it had been more than a few months since Surge had actually seen her in person. Still, everyone in the Pokémon League knew she was going through puberty, albeit as a late bloomer, but not even Surge expected Misty to develop such a tantalizing figure.

"Too bad you're still technically a baby... otherwise I'd ask you out!"

"WHO YOU CALLING A BABY?" Misty yelled. "AND PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDN'T COME ALL THE WAY FROM VERMILION JUST TO FLIRT WITH ME!"

"On the contrary... I'm here under orders of the Pokémon League, here to find out the reasons for your abandonment of the Cerulean Gym!"

"Abandonment? I've done no such thing!"

"Well, perhaps you'd like to discuss the matter... in private?"

Surge then pointed at the dozens of people all over the lobby, particularly towards the young children.

"We wouldn't want the little babies to think you're not being all you can be!"

Misty sighed in defeat. "Fine. Follow me."

She then led Surge off towards the sleeping quarters, and to the room she was staying in.


Once Surge had entered the room, Misty closed the door behind him. He took a seat in the wooden chair next to the work desk by the window, while Misty plopped down onto the bed.

"So, what's this about me abandoning the gym? Did my sisters screw up the 'paid vacation' forms again?"

"Forget about all that... that's not why I'm here."

"What? But you said..."

Surge reached into his shirt and pulled out a manila folder, then tossed it onto the bed, next to Misty. Cautiously, she gulped, then reached over and picked it up.

"Just open that, and all will be made clear!"

Misty did as she was told. Realizing instantly what was going on, she sighed in dismay.

"So... it's that. I figured this day would come the moment the Elite Four put you in charge of the research project Erika had been working on."

"So, you admit hiding the truth from the League?"

"I only hid it because I still don't understand it all myself. None of us really understand what it means to have it. Or why."

"And that's an acceptable excuse?"

"What were we supposed to do? Revealing what little we've learned would prompt questions that we don't have the answers to!"

"How long have you known that you've had these powers?"

"At least since the incident at the Viridian City Gym."

"You mean when it collapsed due to a colossal battle inside?"

"Yes," Misty nodded in reply. "Ash, Brock, and I were involved... as well as Giovanni, the..."

"Leader of Team Rocket? Yes, we know."

"You do?"

"And we were prepared to take action against him. Until that incident in the Viridian Forest, at what is believed to be Team Rocket's main headquarters."

"Is it true... that the Pokémon Trainers' Association is behind it?"

Surge looked at Misty in confusion. "The what? I've never heard of this Association before!"

"They're this group of Pokémon trainers who say they fight for the greater good, and to take down evil organizations like Team Rocket. But their intentions aren't always in everyone's best interests, and they do things that the League would frown upon."

"If these guys are who you say they are, then how come I've never heard of them? Given the estimates of the so-called 'invasion force,' it would be impossible for someone like them to be under the radar."

"Although that recent action clearly states they are against Team Rocket and everything they stand for, I still can't say for sure if the PTA can be trusted."

"So, it must be safe to assume that both the PTA and Team Rocket are also heavily involved in the search for you five 'legendary' kids as well."

"Yes."

"That would explain how that kid ended up in Team Rocket's clutches so soon after the Junior Master Tournament."

"Yeah... that would explain Marco alright..."

"Hmmm... I wonder how many of the IDs each of them have pinned down. And, more importantly, what they plan to do with them."

Misty looked at Surge quizzically, maybe even apprehensively.

"What about the League? What do you plan to do with us?"

Surge stared directly into Misty's eyes, deciding to let his eyes, rather than his mouth, do the talking.

"I see..." Misty stated, turning away.

"It's the only way to get to the truth of this strange phenomenon. Besides, are you aware of its side effects?"

"Erika told me the one that mattered. The fact that anyone who uses their powers three times during its 'active period'... that person's teen years... will die."

Misty and Surge sat in silence for a minute or two, reflecting on that statement.

"The fact that you're still alive must mean you haven't used it three times yet. So... one or two?"

"One."

"Are you sure?"

"Very. Besides, me nor Ash or Brock know how we activated it, or how to do so again."

"I see... so you're useless."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Misty remarked sarcastically.

"How are we supposed to figure out how these 'powers' work if you don't even know yourself? Sigh... I guess the other two are the same way."

"Yes, I'm sure of it."

"So all may rest on finding the fifth. If he or she hasn't been found already."

Misty looked at the folder again, and this time it's visible that she's glancing at a shrunk-down version of the 'class roster,' revealing the 20 people thought to be the five 'legendaries.' Misty's pic was marked with a small Bellsprout sticker. As were the ones of Ash, Brock, and Marco.

"I... never realized Erika had pared down the list to this size."

"I was too. Do you happen to know how she arrived at these findings?"

"No. On that, she left me completely out of the loop."

Surge couldn't tell, but Misty had just lied to him. After all, it was Erika that first warned her that she might be one of the five. And that was months before she manifested her powers... at the same time as Ash and Brock.

"What about Ketchum?"

Misty shook her head. "I was the only one who had constant contact with Erika. Ash only knows what Erika or I tell him."

"So, it's no use sticking around to question him. He'll confirm everything you've said, correct?"

"That's right."

"Still, there will have to be an inquiry with him sooner or later. Do you happen to know where he is?"

"No... I haven't spoken to him personally in almost a month. Though I did try to send him a letter... hoping he'd get it. After all, the phone lines are still down throughout most of the city."

"Uh huh."

Surge got up to leave, and he went to get the folder from Misty. But as he did, she just managed to catch, in the lower right-hand corner of the roster, a photo of Cassie Banks!

"Erika thinks she's one?" Misty thought to herself.

"What's wrong?" questioned Surge as he took the folder away. "Catch something suspicious that we might've overlooked?"

"No. Not at all."

Surge eyed Misty for a second, this time actively trying to deduce if she was lying to him or not. He then closed the folder, then headed for the door.

"I'll check on that paperwork," Surge stated, hastily changing topics, "but you'd better get in touch with the League ASAP."

With that, Surge opened the door and exited the room. Once he had closed it behind him, Misty breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"What was up with that?" Misty asked herself aloud.


As Surge walked out of the Pokémon Center, the taxicab that Ash and Pikachu rode here from the airport was just leaving.

"Well, well, looky who we have here!" Surge shouted.

"Lt. Surge?" Ash replied in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Just taking care of a little... League business."

Ash laughed happily. "So it's true... Misty is here, isn't she?"

"Don't get too comfortable with your sweetheart," warned Surge. "The League wants the both of you on the first flight back to Indigo in the morning!"

"Already? But..."

"Orders are orders! You wouldn't want to defy the League, now would you?"

"Of... of course not..."

"TAXI!" Surge suddenly yelled.

In an instant, an empty cab pulled up in front of the Center, and Surge got in. Before he departed, though, he rolled down the window to tell Ash one more thing.

"And remember... the two of you are still babies! So easy on the mushy stuff!"

Surge finished just as the cab started to drive away. Ash glanced at Pikachu, not completely understanding Surge's last statement.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Pika," Pikachu shrugged.


Ash and Pikachu walked into the Center, and noted how busy it was. The two of them quickly proceeded to the front desk, where Nurse Joy was in the midst of checking records in the computer.

"May I help you?" she asked sweetly, even though she was visibly exhausted.

"Nurse Joy... I'm looking for my friend, Mist..."

"ASH!"

The young man turned to his left and saw Misty standing there in the entrance to the east wing, tears dripping down her face.

"M-M-M-Misty? Is it... really you?"

Misty ran over and wrapped her arms around Ash's back, hugging him as if they hadn't seen each other in years. Ash stood there, dumbfounded, as Misty cried into his shirt.

"I'm so, so, so, sorry, Ash!"

"Uhhh..."

Misty stopped upon hearing Ash stuttering, and she pulled her face out of his shirt to see... everyone in the Center staring at them.

"May I suggest a place more private so you two can talk alone?" Joy suggested to the awkward teens.


A few minutes later, Ash and Misty found themselves sitting with their feet dangling over the edge of an indoor pool. A pool normally used to aid the recovery of injured water Pokémon, though it happened to be empty at this very hour.

They just seemed content to sit there quietly, their solemn faces and the moon's beams peering through the skylight being reflected on the surface of the water. But then, one of them decided to break the ice.

"So... heh heh... how 'bout them Electabuzz?"

Of course, Ash had to think of the most irrelevant icebreaker. And Misty made him pay for it.

"THEY SUCK, SO HOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT, LIKE US?"

"Sorry," Ash apologized, "I was just trying..."

"Trying what?"

"To find another way to impress you."

"Im... press?"

Ash nodded. "That's why you saw what you did. Duplica... she... was trying to teach me..."

"How to piss off your girlfriend?" Misty growled.

"No, no! How to show you that I love you!"

"Last time I checked, kissing a girl other than the one you like isn't exactly a profession of love!"

"But... I didn't know at... at the time."

"What? Your mom never told you about the Pidgey and the Beedrill?"

Ash scratched his head. "What do Pidgey and Beedrill have to do with romance?"

"Have her tell you the next time you talk to her."

"But if you know the story, shouldn't you..."

Misty blushed. "Uhhh..."

"You DO know it, right?"

"Yeah... well, bits and pieces anyway. But forget about that!"

"But you're the one who brought it up!"

"And I'm telling you to forget it! Look, do I have to spell out what you should be doing in this situation?"

Ash turned away and lowered his head.

"Yeah..."

He got up and turned so that he was looking down at Misty.

"I know I made a mistake by kissing Duplica! I swear that it'll never happen again! Please, Misty... you have to forgive me!"

Misty, still a bit peeved as the memories of that night flooded back to the forefront of her consciousness, watched as Ash stood before her, shaking nervously as he awaited her answer, hoping it was the one he wanted to hear.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes, okay! I forgive you, Ash!"

"You do?" Ash said with a smile.

"I know you realize what you did was wrong, and I'm willing to give you another chance!"

"Ha ha! Thank you, Misty, thank you!"

Ash grabbed Misty and pulled her to her feet by her arms, and he started to spin around, making a suddenly happy Misty frightened as their feet danced dangerously close to the edge of the pool.

"Ash, wait! We're too close to the..."

Suddenly, Ash lost his footing and fell backwards into the pool, accidentally pulling Misty in with him. The two disappeared under the water's surface for a second, hidden beneath their splashy entrance. Ash popped his head out first, followed by Misty.

"Oops," Ash apologized with a sheepish grin on his face.

"Oops? That was not an 'Oops,' Ash Ketchum!"

Misty raised her hands so the bottom of her palms were right at the water's surface, and then she thrust them forward, sending a small splash of water right at Ash's face.

"Hey!"

"That's an 'Oops!'"

Ash laughed. "So, you wanna play with water, huh?"

Ash made the same motion Misty did, getting her back by completely soaking her face.

"Better be careful who you gloat to... I am a master of water myself!"

"Oh yeah? I bet I can beat you any day, says this master of Pokémon!"

The two started flinging water playfully at each other, each intent on getting the other as wet as possible. Before long, they had moved to grappling to see who could put the other underwater first.

As the couple splashed around in the pool, Pikachu, Nurse Joy, and a Chansey or two observed from the other side of the glass door leading into the room. They all smiled, content at what they were seeing.


30 minutes later...

After a few knocks, the door into the room Misty was staying in slowly creaked open. The redhead herself stepped in, wearing nothing but a maroon-colored towel around her body and flip-flops on her feet. Turning on the lights, she was a little surprised to see Pikachu sleeping at the foot end, on top of the blanket. And even more so, to see Ash's head sticking out from under the covers.

"How is he asleep already?" Misty asked herself. "We just got out of the pool!"

She tiptoed her way over to her bags on the other side, in order to search for some clean clothes to sleep. But then she came to a startling realization... she didn't have any!

"Aw, man! That set of clothing I was wearing was all I had left! And I was going to do laundry in the morning!"

Misty then got an idea, as she spotted Ash's backpack only a few feet away from her.


A minute later, Misty was standing up. She had ditched the towel for one of Ash's black shirts, which was just large enough to cover her thighs completely.

"Not exactly great covering, but it's this or..."

Misty stopped herself before entertaining the thought of sleeping in the buff, as she grabbed Ash's sleeping bag and laid it out in the floor. She went to turn out the lights, then made herself comfortable and dozed off in the sleeping bag soon afterwards.


Sometime later, in the midst of the night... Ash sat up in the darkness, sweating all over. Immediately looking for relief, he took off his shirt, tossed it aside, and laid back down. And burying himself under the covers, anyway.

At that exact moment, Misty woke up, a little chilly as she rubbed her hands up and down her upper arms. Searching for some warmth and spotting the bed to her left, she didn't give any second thought into climbing into it and burrowing under the sheets herself.

And, without even knowing it, Ash and Misty were sleeping together.


Fast forward to the next morning, where the couple had woken up at the exact same moment, only to find them sharing the same bed. With one realizing he was wearing just shorts, and the other just a T-shirt!

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"What are you doing sleeping in MY bed?" Misty screamed.

"YOUR bed?" Ash retorted. "I was here first last night!"

"Don't you know it's common courtesy to let the girl have the bed?"

"I don't know... let me know when a girl gets here!"

"I'll have you know that I'm 100 percent girl!"

Misty lifted her arms and started to take off her shirt, when Ash started panicking and waving his arms all about.

"Now hold on a..."

At that point, sanity regained its foothold and Misty realized what she was about to do. Stopping just as she was about to raise the shirt over her chest, she did the first thing that came to mind.

She grabbed a pillow and threw it directly at Ash's face.

"You pervert! You made me do that on purpose!"

"I did no such thing!" defended Ash, tossing aside the aforementioned pillow.

Misty replied... by throwing the other pillow at Ash's face.

"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT?"

"HOW ABOUT YOU STOP LOOKING AT ME?"

"I WOULD IF YOU'D PULL YOUR SHIRT DOWN!"

"AHA! SO YOU ARE LOOKING!"

"I NEVER SAID THAT!"

"YOU'RE AT THAT AGE!"

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT AGE IS!"

In the midst of all the commotion, Pikachu came to, groggy and unhappy for the rude awakening. In retaliation, he put Ash and Misty's argument to an end in an instant.

By hitting them both with a Thundershock.

The two of them fell backwards and off opposite ends of the bed, eyes swirling as they were temporarily knocked unconscious with their feet sticking up in the air. Pikachu nodded in approval of his own work, then curled up with his tail and dozed off back to sleep.

To be continued next week in Part 2!