Chapter 2: One Jump Ahead
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It is a clear perfect morning in Alamos, unfortunately the city guard isn't able to enjoy it because of one slight problem, "STOP THEIF!" yep and there it is.
On the rooftops a boy around the age of 17 or perhaps 18 stops at the edge of the roof. This teen was a handsome boy with a thin, but slightly muscular build. His skin was slightly tanned and there was a z-like marking on both of his cheeks. His eyes were brown and his black hair was slightly messy. He wasn't wearing much. A purple vest with no shirt underneath, patched white pants, no shoes and a small crimson hat on his head; the natural look of a beggar. His sudden stop causes him to lose his grip on the loaf of bread in his hand. He fumbles a bit, but grabs it before it could fall to the streets below.
The teen turns around to see several guards approaching, the leader was none other than Crasher Wake, the captain of the guard, and perhaps the person who hated this teen the most, "I'll have your hands for a trophy Street Raticate." He growled while unsheathing his sword.
The teen looks back down at the ground at the bottom and what was above it, "I just can't believe this," he said, "all this for a loaf of bread?" he said looking at the treat in his hand. Then taking a literal leap of faith he jumped off the building, "Whoa!" he said as he fell to the ground, then he landed on a clothesline and slide down it a little bit before falling again.
He fell a few more feat before grabbing another clothesline and riding it like a zip-line causing most of the clothes on it to either fall, or go onto him. He was heading straight for an open window, or at least he was until a lady doing laundry saw him coming and slammed the shutters, "Ow," the teen grunted as he slammed into the closed window. He lost his grip on the line and fell, this time breaking through a couple tarps and stick coverings before falling into the ground in a large pile of clothes.
A hand reached out of the pile and caught the loaf of bread before it touched the ground. The teen got out of the pile wearing a sheet as a robe and what looked like a pair of shorts on his head. He sighed in satisfaction, "There he is," he looked up and saw the guards shouting curses at him, "you won't get away so easy!"
The teen almost laughed, "What, you thought that was easy?" he asked in a joking matter. The teen heard a few laughs and saw some nearby women laughing at his stunts.
The teen shrugged innocently, but a voice caught his attention, "You two, over that way. You, come with me." Wake had gotten more guards and they were on his trail, he had to move quickly. "We will find him."
The teen wrapped the sheet around himself and rushed to the ladies to find some cover, "Morning Candice, Gardenia." He said.
Candice have him amused look, "A little early today to get in trouble, isn't that right Ashton." She said giving him a look.
Ashton only laughed, "Please just call me Ash, Another thing, trouble, no way." He said in a confident tone, "You're only in trouble if you get caught."
"Gotcha," Wake said grabbing Ash and turning him around.
"Oh yeah I'm in trouble," Ash said sounding nervous.
Wake's face was only a few inches from Ash's, he could smell his breath, "And this time-" wake was cut off by something small landing on his head and causing his hat to go down over his eyes. It was a yellow electric-type who, like Ash, was wearing a small vest and a small hat on his head. The small Pokémon pointed down at Wake while laughing.
"Perfect timing Pikachu, as usual." Ash said giving a slight salute.
"Pika," he said giving a slight bow before hoping on Ash's shoulder.
"C'mon let's get out of here." Ash said as he started to sing.(A.N. Italics=Ash, Bold=the crowd)
Gotta keep
Ash literally ran into a guard's chest. The guard started to swing his sword at Ash.
One jump, ahead of the breadline
One swing, ahead of the sword
After dodging a few swing, the guard sliced open a barrel of fish. Pikachu stuck his tongue out at the guard. Ash swiped the guard's belt causing his pants to fall and reveal bright pink underwear.
I steal, only what I can't afford
"Oh wait, that's everything." Ash said as he and Pikachu ran away, the guard pulled up what he thought were his pants, but it was just a large fish, he hopped after them.
One jump ahead of the lawman
That's all and that's no joke
Ash and Pikachu ran into another guard, the guard swung his blade, but the used a post as a shield. Then started to climb a mountain of barrels. When the guards chased after him he knocked a few barrels down on top of them.
These guys, don't appreciate I'm broke.
The guards, now covered with brown syrup or whatever the sticky liquid was looked up at Ash with malice as he climbed up the tower. They started to sing as well.
Riff raff! Street Raticate!
A scoundrel, we hate!
They said throwing a bunch of fruit at Ash to knock him off the tower, Ash easily dodged. He held the bread out and looked at the captain.
Just a little snack Wake.
This time Ash avoided a bunch of knives and other weapons thrown at him. The guards started to shake the tower.
Rip him open, his spine will break
Ash jumped off the tower and grabbed onto a rod before swinging into an open window.
I can take a hint, gotta face the facts
You're my only friend Pikachu.
Ash was in a room filled with girl dancers around his age. They started to dance around. Pikachu started to grab some fruit that was in the room.
Who? Oh it's sad, poor Ashton's hit the bottom
He's become the one-man rise in crime.
Ash tried to run, but he ran into an old and crabby looking lady holding a broom.
I blame parents, except he hasn't got 'em
Ash gave a polite bow and narrowly missed getting hit with the broom he ran to the window.
Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat
Tell you all about it when I have the time.
One of the dancers pushed Ash out the window and someone literally threw Pikachu out.
Ash and Pikachu tried to hide behind a Machoke flexing his impressive muscles with the bread tucked under Ash's chin, but when they missed a pose they had to started moving again.
One jump, ahead of the Slowpokes.
Always avoiding the Gloom
Next time, they catch me I'm doomed.
"There he is!" Wake said and the other guards crashed into him before they regained their footing and chased after Ash. Ash tried traveling across a flock of Mareep, but the guards only threw them to the side and made their way towards him and Pikachu. When the two thieves got Ash ran as if Darkari was after him. Ash jumped over a man resting on a pin board, but one of the guards fell on the man. Boy that must've hurt.
One jump, ahead of the hitmen
One hit ahead of the flock
I think I'll take a stroll around the block.
Ash found that Pikachu managed to get into a jewelry stand and was covered in sparkly gems. Somebody grabbed the necklace on Pikachu's neck, and they weren't pleased.
Stop thief! Vandal!
Ash grabbed Pikachu and scolded him as he pulled him away.
Pikachu!
Scandal!
Ash was starting to get surrounded, he tried to think of something to calm them down.
Let's not be too hasty
He sang with a smile as he leaned against a doorway, the door opened and a really fat and not the most attractive lady came out and out of nowhere picked up Ash.
Still I think he's rather tasty
Ash was now scarred for life, so he got away from the crazy lady and was in a circle of guards.
Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat.
Otherwise we'd get along.
Wrong!
The guards dove at Ash, but he got away at the last second and the guards got all tangled up. Wake saw him try to leave and he and a few other guards ran after him. Ash avoided running across a bed of coals, Wake and the guards however, ran right through it, they had a burn or two on their feet now, but they didn't seem to care.
Pikachu saw up ahead was a sword swallower, he jumped onto the swallower's shoulder, pulled out the sword, probably scratching the inside of the guy's throat and he jumped in front of the guards swinging the sword, "He's got a sword." One of the guards said in fear.
"Chu," Pikachu threatened.
Wake growled, "You idiots," he said pulling out his sword, "we've all got swords!" the rest of them pulled out their swords. Pikachu gave a small smile before dropping the sword and dashing off and catching up with Ash. Ash looked behind him, guards were coming. Ash looked into front of him and skidded to a halt, more guards were coming from the opposite direction. Ash looked up and saw a rope was above him. he jumped up and started to climb causing the guards to crash into each other.
Ash jumped down and started to run again, but groups of guards kept causing him to change direction. Pikachu lead Ash up a flight of stairs, but Pikachu was stopped by three guards, but before they could chop him into pieces Ash grabbed him and dove through a window.
One jump ahead of the hoof beats
Vandal!
One hop ahead of the hump
Street Raticate!
One trick ahead of disaster
Scoundrel!
They're quick, but I'm much faster
Take that!
Ash somersaulted to his feat grabbing a small carpet off the floor in the process. Ash ran to a window and started to wave around the carpet a little bit looking at the guards running toward him.
Here goes, better throw my hand in
Wish me happy landin'
All I gotta do is JUMP!
Ash finished singing as he jumped out of the window just as the guards were about to grab him. Ash used the carpet as a makeshift sail and used it to glide away. The guards on the other hand continued to rapidly fall, fortunately they had a soft landing… in a pile of Miltank manure.
Ash and Pikachu floated down into an alleyway using the carpet as a parachute. They shared a good laugh and a solid high five, "A now my prankster of a Pikachu," Ash said splitting the bread in half, "we feast." He said handing a half to Pikachu. Ash was about to bit into his half, when he saw something.
Across the alleyway digging through a pile of scraps were two small kids, a brother and a sister, they were poor like him, and looked very hungry. The two kids almost hid themselves when they saw Ash's gaze on them.
Ash lowered the loaf and looked at Pikachu, Pikachu took a big bite out of his loaf and the children looked in hunger. Ash looked at his half, he was hungry, but he couldn't stand to see those two kids, he just knew that they needed help.
Ash sighed and stood up and walked over to the two kids, he held out the loaf, "Here you go," he said, they looked shy, "go on take it." the kids accepted the loaf bright smiles coming onto their faces. Ash rubbed the little girl's head.
Pikachu watched Ash leave and looked at his loaf, he swallowed his bite, "Chu," he said almost admitting defeat. The two kids were enjoying the loaf when they saw Pikachu offering his, the girl accepted the loaf and patted Pikachu on the head, "Pika," he said rolling his eyes, "Pikachu." He said jumping a bit causing them to laugh before he saw Ash almost leave without him.
A crowd was forming and Ash wanted to see what was up, when he got through the crowd he saw it was a man with red-brown hair in royal robes, fancy jewelry and riding a regal Rapidash.
"On his way to the palace I suppose." A man said.
"Aye," another man said, "just another suitor for the princess, let's see how long this one lasts." He muttered the last bit.
Ash felt someone push by him and he looked down to see the kids from before, the sister was trying to stop her brother from going into the road, but it was no use, soon they were both in the prince's path. The Rapidash reared back. The prince scoffed, "Out of my way you filthy brats!" he said pulling out a whip and was about to hit them with it when Ash stopped it.
"Hey," he said pulling the whip out of his hand, "if I were as rich as you, I could afford some manners." He said in a sassy tone.
The prince growled, "I'll teach you some manners," he said before kicking Ash and Pikachu into a puddle of mud. Everyone laughed at the two of them.
Ash looked around and then back at the prince, "Well look at that Pikachu, it's not every day you see a Rapidash with two real ends." He said causing the prince to stop.
The prince looked at him, "You are a worthless Street Raticate, you were born one and you will die as one." He said and Ash got mad, "And when you do, only your fleas will mourn you." Ash tried to run after him, but the gates closed. Ash glared at the doors.
"I'm not worthless," he said, he started to scratch an itch on the back of this head, "an I don't have fleas." He said before sighing, there was no use staying here anymore, "C'mon Pikachu, let's just go home." He said as the electric-type climbed onto his shoulder.
A few hours past and the sun was starting to go down. Ash looked back behind him.
Riff raff, Street Raticate
Why do they hate?
He sang as he climbed up a ladder to his 'home'.
If only they'd look closer
Would they see a poor boy?
No siree
He sang as he looked at the mess he called home, it was just a bunch of old pillows, torn tarps and tattered blankets, they only good thing about it was the view they got of all of Alamos, they could even see the castle. Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and ran to his bed. He took of his hat and Ash put and blanket on him as he snuggled in.
They'd find out
There's so much more
To me...
Ash finished prolonging the last note as he walked to the window and looking at the proud two towers of the palace, "You know Pikachu, I just know things will change someday." He said to the sleeping Pikachu, "We're going to be rich, live in a palace, and never have any problems at all." He said as he leaned against a wall admiring the magnificent castle.
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That's a wrap, I hope you all enjoyed it.
Next chapter we meet Princess Dawn and the sultan, anybody want to guess who the sultan is?
This is W. R. Winters signing off.