AN: Anime fans, this next chapter has a character named White (aka Hilda/Touko in Japanese). White is a video game character from Pokémon Black & White. She isn't that important for this particular fic, but I included her in this story at the request of a friend. She is Rita's mother. Thanks again for all the reviews and please keep doing what you are doing :)

When Ash and Pikachu arrived at Team Rocket headquarters, a flock of office workers and grunts escorted them to Giovanni's office. His mother, Persian, N, White, Rumika, and a scientist he never met before were waiting.

"What's this about?" Ash asked his parents.

"Pika, pika pi?"

"As you know, we think that you might be one of the keys in solving these problems we're having with these fusions," Giovanni started.

"We want to wait for James to get here before we—"

Delia was interrupted by Jessie and James, who came rushing in. James was carrying Alex.

"Why did you bring the kid?" Giovanni asked in an annoyed tone. His Persian growled at them.

"We didn't have time to drop him anywhere, and we don't know where Lucy and Meowth are," James said breathlessly. "Our pilot had to return to Pallet, and we couldn't have him watch Alex and fly the plane at the same time. We were hoping maybe Delia could take him."

"Hi!" said the three-year-old.

He waved. Everyone returned his greeting.

"I can watch him," said Delia. "But I want to sit in on this meeting. Alex can join us for now."

"Thanks," Jessie and James responded before taking their seats.

"Meowth and Lucy are off doing something for me," Giovanni explained. "I need you here."

Giovanni told them about how he already had about two thousand agents spread across Kanto, the Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Toka. He was planning on sending more to other parts of the world and they were preparing to leave as they spoke. He told them about the analysis done on Amber and Jay's Gyarados, and how it had DNA similar to what was found exclusively in the fusions, as well as nearly identical brain chemistry. They discussed their reasons for gathering and how that related to understanding the inner voices of the Pokémon.

"I don't think this is going to work," N told Giovanni. "Pokémon aren't supposed to serve humans. We can't just go down there and expect to have them listen to us."

"This isn't about control so much as getting the Pokémon to calm down," Rumika interjected. "They do not have control over their own minds, they are not at peace with themselves. We think that you can help them find that peace."

"What makes you so certain that the Pokémon will be so willing to forgive us when it was humans that put them into this state of mental instability in the first place?"

"It wasn't us who did it. The Pokémon ought to know that we are the ones helping them," said Ash.

"Pikachuuu," his Pikachu agreed.

"Besides, wasn't it the dark, psychic, and ghost-types that first tried fusion anyway?" White asked. "We can call this human-caused, but we are not the only ones at fault. Humans may have made the problem worse, but we didn't start it. N, you are right, but we have to at least try Gio's plan."

"Our only other option is to annihilate them," Giovanni replied. "And you, N, Ash—wouldn't want that at all, right?"

"I won't allow it," N asserted.

"How would you do that?" asked Ash quietly, aware that Alex was still in the room. "I thought the fusions were indestructible."

"My team has developed a way," Giovanni responded. "It is not very pleasant though, and we are not even sure if it will work—it's speculation."

"We better find a way to make this aura thing work then," said White. "Because Rumika and I—as well as every other executive—know for a fact that we're almost at the end of our rope."

"Well, I'm gonna give it my all," said Ash. "Are you in?"

Ash looked and James and N. N nodded. James was staring at the wall. He hadn't moved or spoken a word since he sat down.

"Speak up, James, you haven't spoken this whole time," Giovanni said gruffly.

"I-I'm with Ash," James said. "I think we should do whatever we think might help. "So, what are we waiting for?"

The group, minus Persian, Delia, and Alex, boarded a small plane. According to the team leaders in charge of the case, the monster fusion was last spotted not far off the shore of Valencia Island. It made James sick to think he was just there with Alex not much longer than an hour ago.

The trainers and their Pokémon changed into wetsuits, for they were planning on making a water landing and would have to swim for the next part of the mission. Giovanni gave them special devices that allowed them to communicate with one another as they swam. Once everyone was ready, they dove into the water. Rumika had a radar keeping track of the beast, and she led them in the direction of the fusion.

"Do you think we should let Diablo out of its ball?" James asked Jessie. "It's been listening to me a lot more this last week. And it can swim."

"Not until we need it. The last thing we need is for that mutant to screw this mission up," she replied. "I can't believe we're doing this. Giovanni fucking owes us."

"I liked it better when the boss thought we weren't special. I wanna go home and play with Alex!"

"These communication devices broadcast your speech to everyone in the group," White informed them. "FYI."

"Oh," Jessie and James replied in unison.

"Um, Mr. Giovanni, Sir…" James started. "I'm so sorr—"

"Can it, James," Giovanni interrupted. "Focus on the mission."

"Yes, Sir."

As they talked, Ash was thinking of Misty and Amber in Cerulean City.

"I wish I asked Misty to come along. I just didn't want her to have to delay those gym battles with the kids…But this can be dangerous—I suppose It's better that she stayed away…"

XO

In Cerulean City…

Misty, Brock, Autumn, Cilan, and Iris, were trying to figure out their next move. It was getting late and Misty still hadn't heard from Ash. The last time she saw or heard from him was that morning. His father had called and explained to both of them the crisis with the fusions. She didn't want him to go alone, but he somehow convinced her that it was best for her to stay at the gym. She called several times, but every time he either sent her a text explaining that he couldn't talk or just ignored the call altogether.

She hadn't heard from Jessie and James either. Remy explained how he flew them to Headquarters. Misty contacted Delia, who updated her on his status. Ultimately, she decided that the best thing to do was to get the keys to the hotel from Jeru and to open the Pallet House so that the kids would have a place to stay. Brock, Autumn, Cilan, and Iris were able to help with the driving.

"I can't believe Giovanni didn't tell me about this mission," Rita said in disbelief. She was sitting in Iris' huge van along with June, Annastasia, their siblings, Amber, and their Pokémon. "I mean, he did sorta, but I had no idea my dad was recruited for this."

"It all happened so suddenly," said Iris. "No one got much of a heads up."

"Amb, are you okay?" Jay whispered.

"Yeah, I mean…I obviously hope my dad is okay…," she replied. "It's weird that he went without my mom. She always stops him from doing dumb things."

"Pi, Pichu," Pip agreed.

"Unfortunately, whenever our parents do dumb things, they do them together," said Jay.

Jay accidentally spoke loud enough for the rest of the car to hear.

"Awe, don't be worried," Rita said as she touched his hand. "They'll be okay."

"Really," Annastasia added. "And while I fully agree with your last statement, I wouldn't say that they are being dumb this time."

"What they are doing is really important. Who knows, they might even save the world," said Iris.

"We've heard that one before," said Amber.

'I wonder why they didn't ask me,' Annastasia thought to herself. Then she remembered how overprotective Delia had become since her visions started. Everyone said Giovanni was the boss, but Annastasia knew that Delia always had the last word. Delia must have been trying to protect her. 'She doesn't want to stress me out. She knows the stress makes it worse.'

"Are you okay, A?" Jay asked. "You're quieter than usual and you got that look in your eyes..."

"Just tired," she sighed.

"Oh." He rubbed her shoulders. "Sorry."

"For what?"

"Just wish ya weren't…uh, tired."

Annastasia rested her head on his shoulder and soon fell asleep. Jocelyn must have been tired as well because she also fell asleep on top of Jay. Amber took a picture of them.

"This is cute. If Lily were here, she would have photographed this, so I had to do the honors," Amber announced.

"Mmmmhmm," Jay hummed. He closed his eyes. Amber snapped another photo in her phone and sent it to Lily, who was riding along with Logan, Takeshi, Soledad, Nolan, Lexi, and Michio, in Brock's car.

"Almost there," Iris yawned. "I know you had a long day, but Misty has the keys to your rooms now, and as soon as we get to the Pallet House, you can go straight to bed."

"I'm looking forward to it," June murmured.

Bulbasaur fell asleep in her lap and soon everyone but the driver had drifted into a doze.

XO

It took the agents and their Pokémon about an hour to get to the fusion. They discovered it hiding in a cave, attacking everything in sight.

"How should we approach this?" White asked Giovanni. "If we can't attack it, what can we possibly do? It will use Recover as always and might harm our Pokémon. If we send the boys out, that monster might kill them."

"That is why we have the Mew," Giovanni responded. "Using telepathy, they can explain our purpose for coming."

Acorn and Aliyah, who have been in their Mew forms since the beginning of the mission, delivered a peaceful message to the fusion. It did not listen and replied with spiteful, murderous words.

"If this fusion Pokémon won't listen to humans or Mew, maybe it'll listen to Mewtwo," Ash suggested. "Mewtwo will be willing to help if it's for the good of Pokémon."

"And we know Mewtwo has excellent communication skills," Rumika added.

"That's what I was thinking."

"I have considered this," said Giovanni. "But Mewtwo is elusive. I'm not certain we can trust it."

"We might have to," said N. "If we get any closer to this fusion, it will kill us. It breaks my heart to see a Pokémon so corrupted by fear and manipulation caused by human interference. I need to make this right. Mewtwo can become our ambassador, then maybe we can communicate with the fusion. Then we can end this fight once and for all."

"So, now we swim all the way back to the fucking boat?" Jessie asked. "All this was a waste!"

"We needed to come here to plant sensors," said Rumika. "Now that we have its exact location, the moment this creature leaves, we'll know. I also have this device that will help soothe Pokémon and weaken them over time. Experiments have already proven that this helps to reverse the adaptation effect that the fusions seem to have. It's slow-moving but better than nothing."

"But what about the thousands of other fusions all over the world that are now loose?" James asked.

"Rumika has more of those devices that will help to weaken and calm the fusions. This will help my agents capture them and will make the ones that are not captured less violent. I was hoping to get more accomplished here, but at least we did something," said Giovanni. "Let's go."

XO

Misty, Autumn, Brock, Cilan, and Iris opted to spend another night at the Pallet House so that the kids wouldn't have to be left alone. When they arrived at the hotel, it was 10:00 pm.

"Hey A, Jay, Joce, Flaaf, we're here. Wake up," Amber said as she tapped their arms. "Time to get outta the car."

"What time is it?" Jay yawned.

"Late," June whispered.

Ines and Luna were asleep in their seats. She motioned for the others to keep their voices low.

"I'm worried Onēsan," said Jocelyn. "Mommy and Papa still haven't called. What if something bad happened?"

"Fla?"

Jocelyn and Flaafy began to cry. Annastasia rubbed their backs.

"They go on missions all the time," she whispered. "I'm sure they're fine."

"How sure?" Jocelyn sniffed.

"Fla flaa?"

"Very much sure," Annastasia replied.

As everyone got out of the cars, Annastasia almost collapsed from exhaustion. Lexi, Nolan, Rita, and Bleu were at her side and caught her just in time.

"I'm fine," she told her friends. "Bleu's got me. But thanks."

Everyone slowly made their respective rooms. Lily and Logan were going to share with Annastasia and her Pokémon, and her room was at the end of the hall. Michio's was right next door, and they were the last ones to turn in. Annastasia sighed deeply as she ran a hand through her disheveled hair.

"You look horrible," Michio commented.

"I know," Annastasia sighed.

"Pup pup, Lillipup lilli," Lil-G barked at Michio.

"Lil-G says that if you want Annastasia to love you back, then you have to be nicer to her," Lily translated.

"It sounds like Lil-G knows something that the rest of us don't," said Logan.

"I don't love her," Michio said defensively. "You're Pokémon. None of you know what you are talking about."

"Pika Pikachu chu," said Scarlett. "Pi pi chu."

"Scarlett says that you are wrong and that you don't mean anything you those mean things you say all the time," said Lily. "And I agree with the part about you being wrong."

" I know you guys like to stir things up, but can you save it for now? I just want to go to sleep," Annastasia yawned. "I'm really stressed."

"Sorry, A," said Logan.

"Yeah, we're done," Lily added.

"I appreciate it," Annastasia said as they arrived in front of Michio's door.

"Goodnight," Michio said to Annastasia, ignoring the others.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Logan said before they walked away. Lily just glared at Michio's back.

Annastasia brushed her teeth while Logan and Lily groomed their fur. Bleu, Squirt Gun, and Lil-G curled up together on the large bed in the center of the room.

"He's improved," said Lily "Whatcha think?"

"Michio improved?" Logan asked.

"Yes, Michio, and I was asking A."

"Improved?" Annastasia mumbled. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, he said 'goodnight'," said Logan.

"I thought you two didn't like him."

"Well, maybe he's not so bad."

"Yeah, and like, us Pokémon know all these things that humans miss," said Lily.

"Like what?" Annastasia inquired.

"Like Lil-G and Scarlett really know what they're talking about. And Jocelyn has hugged him like four times and calls him 'Oniisan'. He doesn't protest or anything."

"I'm glad you like Michio. I think that since we're all traveling together, it's good to have a tolerable level of comfort."

Annastasia shut the light and crawled into bed. Logan and Lily moved in close.

"I love you too, but right now, I love sleep more," she moaned. "What's up?"

"I think you should know that Scarlett says that Michio is in love with you," said Lily.

"Did he tell her that? He doesn't seem to be in love with me. I think he'd act differently if that were true."

"Well…" said Logan. "Scarlett said he didn't actually say it out loud…"

"…but she said he's always looking at you when you busy with something else and she thinks he thinks about you all the time," said Lily.

"Well, thoughts are thoughts. None of this information will change things between us," Annastasia yawned.

"Tarrrrri aaa!" Bleu scolded the cats.

"We know she's tired, but this is important," Lily responded. "What do you mean it wouldn't change things? This will change everything!"

"Not for me," Annastasia murmured. "I have a goal with Michio, and it has nothing to do with romance. I'm not interested in being his girlfriend and never will be."

"Harsh," said Logan. "You wouldn't even give him a chance?"

"It's not harsh, it's my right and of course, I'd give him a chance. I'd give him plenty of chances," she responded. "But he doesn't want any. And he'd get bored of me before things got serious anyway."

"A, you're not boring."

"Logan, you're sweet, but how I feel is something that I can't quite explain. I suppose you'll never understand. And that's okay. You don't have to. All you have to do is let me be."

Annastasia closed her eyes for good. Logan and Lily followed her lead.

In the room next door, Michio was still up with Scarlett. Annastasia and her roommates obviously didn't realize it, but since the two rooms were suite-style, their respective air vents were fused together. Michio was able to hear everything they said. He left the room. Scarlett followed him eagerly.

"Scarlett, look what you started," Michio sighed once they were in the stairwell.

"Pi Pikachuuuu," she replied.

"You have it wrong—it's not like that."

"Piii Pika Pikachu chu?"

"I'm not upset because of what she said, I'm upset because…Well, it doesn't matter. Just…. just…OUCH! GODFUCKINGDAMMIT!"

"Pi?"

Michio sat down on the curb and held his sandaled foot in pain. Scarlett repeated her inquiry.

"I broke my toe," he mumbled.

Michio looked through his bag for a tissue to wipe up the blood while Scarlett kept chatting. She did an impression of Annastasia and then of Bleu.

"I don't need Annastasia and her stupid Altaria to heal my toe," said Michio.

He grabbed his bag, but the bottom ripped, causing the contents to spill onto the sidewalk and street.

His Pokédex, wallet, some gum, a map, a reusable water bottle, some quarters, and half-opened bag of pistachios went rolling down into the storm drain.

"Fuck," he moaned.

Scarlett caught the Pokédex just in time, but everything else was lost.

"As I was saying before," he started, reclaiming the Pokédex. "Just stop talking to Lily and Logan. They're cats; you are supposed to be their natural enemy anyway."

Scarlett rolled her eyes and followed to the open meadow behind the hotel.

"Look," he whispered, pointing to a bunch of Venonat. They huddled near a drinking hole at the edge of the meadow.

"Pika?"

"I know I said no more low-level Pokémon, but according to the fucking Pokédex, where there are Venonat, there are Venomoth. Venomoth can use some of the best flying, bug, and poison-type moves. Now go ask them where the Venomoth are."

"Pi!"

"Please?"

"Pikachhuuu."

"Thanks."

Scarlett spoke to the Venonat. They told her to go deeper into the forest if she wanted to find Venomoth. She and Michio headed to the woods.

"There," Michio said, pointing to a flock of Venomoth. "Now show off that Thunderbolt."

"Pika, chuuuuuuuu!"

All six Venomoth fell to the ground. Michio and Scarlett high-fived. He swiftly captured all of them.

"Pikapi,' said Scarlett.

"I'll have to send most of these to Oak or my house in Alola since I can only have six Pokémon on me at a time. Actually, I only need one. I'll take the one with the best stats and release the rest."

Scarlett shook her head then did her impressions of Amber and Jay.

"I suppose I can give them to the kids…," he hummed. "I caught enough for each of them."

"Pikaaa," she nodded.

"I'll think about it." He tucked the new Pokéballs into his backpack. "Let's see if we can find a Weezing or something."

XO

IN THE NEXT CHAPTER…

· Mewtwo appears in all his glory

· Brock gives Takeshi lady advice (because he is an expert)

· Our main group decides where to go next and they find an interesting way to travel there.

AN: So that's it. Reminder for this chapter I only promised TR headquarters, pistachios, and blood, all of which were present. The part about the bag of pistachios in Michio's bag was originally not there but I added them this morning so that I didn't break my promise to y'all. So yep. Literally pistachios and metaphorically pistachios.

Please consider reviewing:) Thanks!