The road to the hospital was long and cumbersome. Although upon reaching the shore of the beach the young trainer from Pallet Town had found an officer Jenny who was able to help him by calling an ambulance that would take Misty to the hospital, the boy's restlessness and apprehension had not subsided one bit. Pikachu looked just as confused as he was. While he was next to his girlfriend who was slightly complaining of pain while she was being examined by the paramedics, he began to have a suspicion towards Mystery. It seemed that the problems on their vacation had begun as soon as that strange Pokémon had arrived into their lives. At the hospital, a long hour passed with an oppressive silence in the hallway, in which the doctors performed X-rays of Misty along with all kinds of tests to verify her injuries. Ash stood in suspense while Pikachu rested on his lap with a worried expression.
"It seems that these are only minor bruises and sprains, fortunately there were no broken bones, nor is there any internal organ damage," the doctor pointed out happily to Ash, when he came running to meet him in the hallway. The boy breathed a sigh of relief.
-Now, she's sleeping. We applied a series of muscle relieving medications, and she'll be able to leave the hospital in one or two days, depending on her progress. -
"Thank you, doctor," Ash mumbled, barely understanding what he was hearing.
-We just have to wait until tomorrow, Pikachu.- The electric mouse and his trainer were leaving the hospital. The sun was starting to go down the horizon. As they walked back to the hotel. Pikachu stopped suddenly, without any apparent stimulus to disturb him:
-Pikachu, is something wrong? .- The Pokémon had no response. And without doing anything else, he began to try to dig in the pavement with great desperation, as if he wanted to hide some valuable object so far underground.
-Are you looking for something, Pikachu? Are you hungry? - The little one didn't listen to his owner. And suddenly, he lay down upside down making strange gestures that Ash had never seen before.
-Are you sick?- Ash kneeled down, only to receive a bite by his inseparable friend. And a second later, the mouse let his hand go, completely scared by what he had just done.
-That almost drew blood, what's wrong with you!- Pikachu looked at his trainer with great concern. He looked at his hand where the marks of his teeth were still there. He licked his trainer's wound in apology, while Ash stood up. They continued on their way to the hotel, with the raven-haired boy still brooding about Misty and hoping to clarify the problems he had had with her in those days... Just as he reached the street where the hotel was, he heard a murmur calling him from an alley. His mind was so scattered, fixed on his girlfriend's situation, he went towards said place without paying attention to the still embarrassed Pikachu. It couldn't be. Serena was there again in the alley. But now she was completely naked and inviting Ash to come closer, perhaps to have that kind of intimacy that only people seek when undressing in front of someone and making those gestures that she did.
-Serena...this is not appropriate...- Ash turned red.- Also, my girlfriend is Misty. I can't give you what you're looking for because... - The young man couldn't do anything else, Serena's angry scream transformed into a roar as she transformed into a Nidoking, Giovanni's Nidoking that he and his girlfriend had fought against. long ago.-
"Help me, Pikachu!" the young man shouted, falling backwards. "Help!"
The little mouse was sitting on his chest, looking at him with eyes full of tears. There was nothing in the alley. Ash stood up angrily, putting Pikachu aside. He was starting to get really bothered by those horrible, unexplained visions. He didn't have time to do anything else, his cell phone rang immediately.
-Yes, how can I help you?- The boy's gasp was ignored by the apprehensive cries of the trainer on the other end of the line.
-Yes, Ash? It's good that I managed to find you! You have to come help Blaine right away at the Cinnabar Gym! Blaine insisted that I called you, it's urgent! .-The boy sounded terrified. Ash had no idea what it could be. "Team Rocket, some members have arrived at the compound!" A cold sweat ran through the young man. It couldn't be, they were supposed to be finished.
"Now I'm coming!" Ash mumbled and hung up the call, calling Pidgeot to get to the gym as quickly as possible. It didn't take him long to arrive and he immediately ran towards the gate. Sure enough, there were two Rocket officers, they were Skylar and Merrow, the ones that Ash and his friends had faced at Cerulean. They were both smiling contemptuously at Blaine, who looked exhausted. His Arcanine was next to him, panting with exhaustion.
"Our boss has died physically, but not his ideals," Merrow said. We still have enhanced Pokémon. And some of the Rocket soldiers who agreed to follow us too. Soon we will find a way to replicate the serum and rebuild our organization. But first, we need you to tell us where Professor Akibahara is, Leader Blaine. We know that he fled in the direction to this island. -
"I have no idea..." the man roared with that bravery that characterized him. .-Ash, you've arrived!- The Rockets turned around, looking at the young man with surprise. The officers' expressions turned to sarcasm.
-The Ketchum boy has come, is that your best card to defend yourself, Blaine?- Skylar laughed without restraint.- Now you don't have Mewtwo to save your ass. Get ready!- Skylar and Merrow's Pokémon headed towards Ash . A Fearow and a Golem, with rage in their red eyes and that tremor characteristic of rabid Pokémon, made Ash feel a headache as he remembered the events of Cerulean.
-Let's go Pikachu and Mystery!- Ash shouldn't waste time. Maybe you could entertain the Rockets long enough. "Mr. Blaine, get out of here and get help now!"
-Well, let him go.- Merrow made a contemptuous gesture at Skylar.- Either way we will know the truth about Akibahara, we have some soldiers patrolling all over the island. Blaine brought Arcanine back, and immediately left through the gym's emergency door. Ash didn't know what he was really doing. He knew that normal Pokémon were not strong enough to defeat a powered one, so his best card was to try to take advantage of Mystery's unknown powers, perhaps he could surprise them with some kind of powerful attack... - Pikachu, distract him! Fearrow! - shouted the young man, while the little mouse made a mocking gesture towards the large Pokémon bird. -
"Fearrow, don't listen to him, Golem is the one who will do the job!" Skylar responded loudly.
"Come on Mystery, attack Golem!" Ash screamed. Mystery launched a large jet of water from his indefinite forms, which fell with the precision of a laser on Golem, who leaned back. The attack seemed to have worked better than normal Pokémon's attacks, which made Ash excited. The Rockets stared at the strange being. They had never seen anything like it in their lives either.
-I think I saw a similar light on the beach when I arrived at Cinnabar.-Skylar shuddered.- That thing... could it be a Pokémon? And why does the brat have it?
-Alright Mystery keep it up, don't let Golem escape!- Maybe he could win the battle with Mystery, but he also had to entertain Fearrow long enough for Blaine to bring some reinforcements for the battle. Golem used rock throwers. Mystery suddenly looked weakened, reducing its colorful brilliance. The Rocket officers suddenly had their Pokémon return. Ash was taken aback, doing the same.
"What's wrong with you, have you decided to surrender?" the boy snapped. - It better be that way, because I don't have time for you!
-Tell us something, young man.-Merrow took a threatening step towards Ash.-What is that creature do you have there? It's surely a Pokémon, although we've never seen anything like it in our lives...
-I don't know...- Ash said without hiding anything. But they won't have it, they won't steal it!
-You know what, brat? We don't believe you. Maybe it's some kind of exotic Pokémon that your beloved Professor Oak gave you or something. - Skylar made a diplomatic gesture, interrupting her partner.
-Come on. I think I'll offer you a deal, Ketchum. If we win this fight, you must give us that Pokémon. If you win, we withdraw from Cinnabar.-
-And they will stop trying to reform Team Rocket? - Merrow laughed mockingly.
-We can't promise anything, kiddo. But go. You don't have many options. Remember that we have reinforcements on the Island.- Ash swallowed. It was true. Even if he won the fight in an extraordinary case, in any case the Rockets incognito on the island would be alerted and would go after him immediately. He had to trust Misterio to do his thing and continue the battle as best he could.
-What's more, take this.- They threw a full heal kit at his feet- So you can heal your Pokémon before the second round. We don't trust you to go out to the Pokémon center and try to escape. The boy had no other options, but he took the package in his hands with a look of deep bitterness.