Pastoria City...
Ritchie walked outside to the battlefield, where Ranee was looking up at the stars with her Infernape.
Ritchie went over to her and asked, "Enjoying the stars?"
Ranee smiled as she answered, "Loving the stars. They are just so beautiful, they seem to dance in the sky."
Ritchie laid back, calling upon Zippo (Charizard) to join them. Zippo roared.
Ritchie stated, "Whoa, easy Zippo. We're just enjoying a quiet night in Pastoria City."
Ranee sat up and asked, "This your first time in Sinnoh?"
Ritchie nodded and answered, "Yeah, I've never been here before. I was in the Whirl Islands before I came here."
Ranee was astounded but held out her hand.
She introduced, "My name is Ranee."
Ritchie shook her hand and replied, "I'm Ritchie."
Ranee asked, "Where are you from?"
"A small town in the Kanto Region," Ritchie answered, smiling. He turned to her and questioned, "And yourself?"
"Veilstone City, right here in Sinnoh," Ranee explained, smiling.
Ritchie looked over at Zippo and saw that the Fire/Flying type was next to Infernape, as if it was studying the Pokémon. Zippo seemed to have roared, curiously. Ritchie took out his Pokedex and pointed it at Infernape, wanting to know more about the Pokémon.
Dexter chirped, "Infernape, the Flame Pokémon. It uses unique fighting moves with fire on its hands and feet. It will take on any opponent."
Ritchie looked at Ranee and asked, "So it is a Fire/Fighting type?"
Ranee nodded and answered, "Right and my starter Pokémon. We've been together since Infernape was a Chimchar."
"Infernape," said the Flame Pokémon.
Ranee brought out her Pokedex and pointed it at Zippo.
Dexter chirped, "Charizard, the Flame Pokémon. It is said that Charizard's fire burns hotter if it has experienced harsh battles."
Ranee looked at the Pokémon, interested. She wanted to battle it. Ritchie seemed to have been thinking the same thing.
He asked, "Mind if we have a Pokémon battle? I would like to see how Infernape battles."
"Sure, I've been itching for a battle," Ranee answered, springing to her feet.
Ritchie smiled as he did the same thing. Zippo came over as did Infernape.
Ritchie stated, "You got first."
Ranee nodded and commanded, "Infernape, use Mach Punch!"
Infernape ran towards Charizard with amazing speed. Its fist was glowing a bluish white light. Ritchie wondered why Ranee did that.
He countered, "Zippo, Aerial Ace!"
Zippo gained speed and dodged Mach Punch. Before Aerial Ace could hit, Ranee smirked.
"I knew that you were going to do that," she commented. She commanded, "Infernape, Dig!"
Infernape quickly went underground, avoiding the flying type move. Ritchie was impressed.
He commanded, "Zippo, go after it and then use Iron Tail!"
Zippo went into the tunnel.
Ranee commanded, "Quick Infernape, use Fire Blast!"
Just as Ranee said that, there was an explosion under the ground - shaking it. The two trainers stood their ground, surprisingly. Ritchie looked up and saw that Infernape was on Zippo's back.
Team Rocket Headquarters...
Dr. Zeger was checking over things with their plans. Silver was training his Pokémon: Machamp, Tangrowth, Golem, Charizard, Chingling, and Bronzor. Machamp was the Superpower Pokémon that Silver had first caught on his journey to help out his father. Machamp used Dynamicpunch on Golem but that didn't seem to do much. As for Chingling and Bronzor, they couldn't keep up with the stronger Pokémon. Silver rolled his eyes. Cassidy and Butch came in, as requested by Dr. Zeger. Butch saw Silver training and automatically rolled his eyes.
"Can't you find a better place to train," Butch questioned.
Silver rolled his eyes and answered, "For your information, Leach, I like training in here."
Butch got mad and yelled, "It's not Leach, it's Butch!"
Cassidy rolled her eyes at her partner. She seriously didn't know why she was crushing on him, he had too many name problems.
Cassidy stated, "Calm down, Mitch. Your veins are starting to pop out."
Butch got madder and yelled, "It's Butch, get it right!"
Silver rolled his eyes again as Zeger went over to them.
Zeger commented, "Now isn't the time for this. If we want to take over the world, we have to get all of these Pokémon fully evolved and strong."
Cassidy questioned, "And that's why you called us down here? To help this brat train?"
"Hey," Silver exclaimed.
Zeger explained, "No. Recently, I have completed an evolution chamber that will force Pokémon to evolve and make them evil. This will also help with our Shadow Pokémon plan when we have a Pokémon that is really weak."
"Sounds perfect," Cassidy stated.
Zeger replied, "Place the poke balls in the chamber that need to be evolved and the chamber will do the rest in less than an hour."
Cassidy placed down Houndour's poke ball as Silver placed down Chingling and Bronzor's poke balls. An hour later; Houndour was evolved into Houndoom, Chingling was evolved into Chimecho, and Bronzor was evolved into Bronzong.
Butch was impressed as he stated, "Wow, it actually works."
Cassidy petted her new Houndoom as she purred, "Very well at that."
Silver looked over at Zeger and asked, "Did you show this to my dad?"
"He just did," said a voice.
All four of them looked up as they saw Giovanni on the rafters, having seen everything. Zeger looked at him.
Giovanni stated, "Very well done, Zeger. Now we have something to help the weak and pathetic Pokémon our ray might get."
Zeger asked, "So this pleases you?"
"Very much so," Giovanni answered.
Butch turned to them and asked, "But how are you going to get wild Pokémon in there if they require poke balls?"
Zeger answered, "Good question, Botch."
Butch got mad and yelled, "It's not Botch, it's Butch!"
Zeger ignored him and explained, "This chamber can also work on Pokémon that do not have poke balls or hate being confined."
Giovanni nodded as he replied, "Good, cause we might run into that if we get any Rattata or any Starly. Or if those three idiots ever catch Ash Ketchum's Pikachu."
Nine Years Ago...
Ash was up in his room, crying. He couldn't believe that his father was dead and Raichu was in the grasp of Team Rocket. Ash hugged his pillow as he cried. His stuffed toys were the silent watchers of the nine year old. On the desk in the room was the hat that Ash had won recently. He sent in 1,000 postcards to get it and he was awfully proud of it. Then all of this started to happen. His father was the Pokémon Master one minute and then dead the next. Ash didn't find it fair. Delia came up to her son's room and saw him the way he was. She knew what she had to tell him would break his heart.
Delia went over to her son and tapped his shoulder. Ash looked through his teary eyes, sniffling. Delia had a few tears in her eyes, heartbroken to see her son like this.
"Mom," the nine year old cried.
Delia held him in a tight hug as he cried on her shirt. Eventually, Delia joined him. She knew that she shouldn't cry in front of her son but this time, she made an exception since she was so sad by David's sudden passing. In all honesty, she thought that David would come home with his Raichu - safe and sound - and they could spend some good times with Ash before he went on his journey. And when they were alone, they would cuddle up by the fire together and share a few kisses. Delia sniffled as she knew at that moment she was a widow. A tear rolled down her face and landed on top of Ash's head.
He looked up at her as he whispered, "Mom...?" Delia looked down at Ash as he stated, "I promise to protect you, even when I'm gone on my journey."
Delia smiled as she replied, "That's alright, sweetie. You just worry about yourself."
Ash knew that there was something else wrong, he couldn't explain it. He sensed something in his entire body. It was rather strange to him.
He asked, "Mom, there's something else, isn't there?"
Delia sighed as she answered, "Sweetie, your father was never registered as the Pokémon Master. He was just a challenger to the Elite Four and the Champion."
Ash pulled away from his mom, stunned. He couldn't believe it. His father was never the Pokémon Master...?
"That's not fair," Ash cried out.
Delia responded, "I happen to agree with you. He worked so hard to get that title."
Ash was silent for a while. Even though his heart was still broken from his father's recent death, he knew what he had to do. He grabbed the hat from the desk. Ash placed his hat on his head and put on some green fingerless gloves.
He vowed, "I, Ashton Satoshi Ketchum, vow that I will become a Pokémon Master. I will restore the family name and our honor. My father is the rightful Pokémon Master and I will be the one to make sure that his death was not in vein. I will stop Team Rocket once and for all! And I will protect my mom from anything!"
Delia smiled at her son. Even though it was a lot to do, she was proud of him for at least trying. Delia thought, 'Wait until he gets older, he will realize that he can't do it all and will be forced to accept that.'
AK1028: I figured to give Pokémon 3 a little background where Ash was so determined to save his mom from Entei. I figured that after his father passed away, he would vow that he would protect his mom from anything. So what do you guys think and be honest! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!
