"Where are they? They're late." Gary ground out, rubbing at his arms. He wasn't too sure why he was helping these people but the scientist in him had woken at the sound of other dimensions and other creatures.

"They'll be here soon, they want their promotion, I'm sure it's all that matters to them." May assured, though she was beginning to lose hope they'd been waiting quarter of an hour and still no sign of them.

Rustling in the trees caught them all of guard and Gary grabbed a poke ball prepared to fight any wild pokemon. But what popped out were three familiar heads.

Breathing a sigh of relief they settled back down, May resting her head on Pikachu's.

"So did you get it?"

"Did we get it? Who do you think you're talking to? We're Team Rocket, what we want we get." Jessie boasted, puffing her chest out.

"Hand it over then." Gary held his hands out, gesturing for the weapon to be passed over.

"No, not a chance."

"Why not?"

"This isn't a loan, you're giving us a promotion and we're using this on your little friends." The tree stayed back from the others, watching them with cautious eyes, "you don't touch this and we'll alter it to send you back. Got it?" They proposed, moving to a corner to work on the gadget.

"Aren't you being a little over cautious?"

"Over cautious, if this doesn't work the boss'll have our heads."

They grumbled as they started working, glancing up every few seconds to check they weren't trying to look.

"For God's sake if we wanted to know how it was done or wanted that bloody thing from you we could battle. I'm sure I could beat you three. Hell, Pikachu could beat you." Gary growled out, forcing himself to relax. He couldn't lose his temper with these idiots, he was helping out and didn't want to be the reason he was stuck looking after them for even longer.

The trio ignored the comment, returning to singing about their promotion as they tinkered with the weapon.

"You need to calm down, this'll never work if you blow a fuse."

"I know."

They didn't take too long to change the device and once they finished they ordered the two other dimension kids to stand before them.

"Hey, Gary, do me a favour and look after Pikachu. Here's his ball." Ash handed over the miniaturised ball along with the pokemon May was clasping onto.

"Will do."

"Can we stop with the talking I want my promotion."

"And we want to get home, our mums will kill us, I'm sure the week's nearly over by now."

"Don't say that May, my mum wants me to get complete attendance."

Jessie lowered the device to the two, scowling at them.

"If you wanna go home that badly stop talking."

"Fine, fine. We'll get on with it." Ash grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"This is goodbye Pikachu, we'll see you again sometime. I hope." The small yellow pokemon stepped forwards, staring at them as though they were crazy.

"Pikka,"

"Hurry up and do it before I change my mind."

"Hold onto that little thing, anything too close is sucked in too." Jessie fired the device at the two, a large portal breaking open behind them and sucking them in from behind. Their feet left the ground and they went hurtling through to the other side, Pikachu breaking free and chasing after. But the portal closed in his face, all he could see was they vanish into nothingness.

"Pikka, pikka." He reached for the air where they'd once been, his small fingers slipping through easily.

"Yes! We're gonna get a promotion!"

"You better keep your end of the deal kid, come by tomorrow after lunch and tell the boss. If not we're telling him you stole his pokemon."

"Yeah, yeah, fine. Just beat it will ya. I'm busy here." They disappeared into the dark, Gary taking Pikachu into his arms and carrying him back to the town. "Don't worry, you'll see them again. I promise. But when that day comes you've got to show how strong you are. I'll train you up. What do you say? Partners?"

"Pikka!" He agreed, a smile on his yellow face.

"Good, now, it's late. Time to turn in."

They landed with a sharp thud on the cushioned grass, the sky bright with stars and animals walking around them. A deer coming close every few minutes to sniff at them as they gathered their bearings.

"May, are you alright?" Ash asked, rubbing at his head as he tried to push himself off the grass.

"Yeah, my head's spinning. It's dark out. We best get going." She stood, dusting herself off before crouching to take Pikachu, freezing when there was no pokemon there to take.

A long sigh escaped from her lips as she straightened herself, her arms falling limp. Ash stood beside her, his head down as he thought of everything he'd wanted to say but couldn't find the words. Their parting wasn't spectacular, and he couldn't help but find he was hating himself for that.

"Don't worry about it, we'll see him again. Someday."

They walked back to their homes, parting along the way but each completely stuck in their minds. They couldn't help regret how they'd not been more open with Pikachu. Knowing what they wanted to tell him but losing the words at that exact moment.

They arrived home at the same time, slid into their beds and closed their eyes. And before they fell asleep a single thought passed through their heads:

'We'll see you soon Pikachu.'

And in another dimension, laid curled up at the foot of a bed a small yellow pokemon smiled in his sleep.

I never intended for this to be the last chapter but it felt right stopping here. Thanks for reading and please review.