Hey everyone! This is actually a special chapter because it's being released on 50,000 Volt's tenth anniversary! That's right, November 30, 2013! Wow, ten whole years of writing this story…that's pretty crazy. We've come a long way! So much has happened since, and I never expected to get this far honestly. We're so close to the end of this story too, so it feels like we're coming full circle real soon with everything.

…

Chapter sixty-four: Michael

Michael and I couldn't believe it: Ansel is driving off back into the city…Celadon City…where we risked our necks to get out of. I get the reasons why he's doing it…his mother, but now…what the hell are we supposed to do!? There's NO WAY we can catch up to him! We're so screwed!

My brother, in a moment of clarity, whistles for his robot companion (Holo, who had been recharged for the day using sunlight and is now idle above the house.) The Spiderbot/Needlebot hybrid does not hesitate: its blinkers flash as its appendages change into a mode appropriate for flight, and they take off. They speed towards the truck in hopes of stopping Ansel. I guess that's a step in the right direction, but now what?

"He's going for his mother" I explained, that was my theory anyway. I went to get my black parka as Michael pulled out a device from his pocket, "we'll be able to track him down as long as Holo is with him" he said while brandishing the tracker he made for Holo.

Millicent just watches from the porch alongside her Ivysaur…knowing deep inside we won't make it to the boy in time…not like this anyway.

"How will we follow them, though!? Ugh!" I started getting frustrated, but I soon calmed myself down…knowing that any further frustration would cause me to burst into flames (literally.)

"I guess we have no choice…we're walking…" Michael said. I know he wasn't trying to be a smartass or anything, but I just snapped at him, "yeah, look how well that turned out for us last time! We almost died!"

"Wait…" Millicent interrupted as we looked towards her, "you may have a better chance going another way…" she led us inside, where she quickly took out an item from a cabinet and brandished it to us. It's a Fire Stone.

"Arcanine are very fast and very resilient."

My brother and I look at one another, realizing what she's talking about.

"My Growlithe…"

"It might be our only shot, Leila…"

I took out the Pokéball containing my loyal dog Pokémon and released him. Once the canine looked up to see me, he could see that I was now holding the Fire Stone. His bluish eyes widened slightly as I crouched to be at the same eye level as him.

"Ansel needs our help…you look ready to take the next step…are you with me, boy?"

The dog simply smiled and licked the side of my face before I chuckled, "I knew I could count on you."

I placed the stone against the Growlithe against them…and a bright flash engulfed us. My Pokémon began to transform! They grew in size…towering above the three of us easily. Their tail growls larger, their ears lengthen and the stripes on their body spread. Most strikingly, they grow a mane that spreads down their chest. Once the evolution is finished, where Growlithe once stood is now a powerful Arcanine…my Arcanine!

My brown eyes glowed in amazement before the canine warbled at me with curiosity. They examined themselves and soon were filled with smug, giving a confident grin back to us.

"Come on" Michael said, wasting no time before the Arcanine is led outside. They crouch down to allow us to mount him. Being the gentleman he is, Michael helps me up and we soon turn towards Millicent, who is with her Ivysaur. She had the biggest smile I've ever seen her make thus far…one of a parent who is proud.

"Go" is all she said in her old, frail, voice.

"B-but…" Michael tried to make her reconsider, but she refused to move, "do the good thing…make the best out of your lives."

Michael looks away, feeling somber about the uneventful departure; however, the thirty-year-old soon looks at Millicent and nods, "take care of yourselves."

"Ansel needs you two" she waved back as her Ivysaur joined her side to bid farewell. Michael and I (I'll admit) smiled softly, and we left with Arcanine to rescue Ansel. We leave behind a content Millicent, her Pokémon, and her peaceful sanctuary.

…

Ansel needed to hurry: his mother was in trouble, and he had to get to her as fast as he could before it's too late! The twenty-year-old Ex-Grunt didn't think about the ramifications that could come from all this. Despite the fact it took hours to reach the haberdashery from Celadon River, Ansel made it back to the snow-filled city in less than thirty minutes.

The first place he checked was his old apartment, which was accidentally burned to bits by Leila/Km. Letting out frustration, the young adult smacked the dashboard with a hand…before deciding to drive to the Game Corner. He thought about how maybe Rk had his mother there, so he drove off into the interior of the city once again. Unbeknownst to him, he is being followed by Holo…who is flying above: making sure not to lose sight of the fugitive.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the cold, and raging, Celadon River, Leila and Michael stop to survey the outskirts of the freezing city…riding on the newly evolved Arcanine.

"If only we had a Fire Stone earlier…" Leila mused, almost in a comedic manner.

"I'm going to miss when he was a cute Growlithe" Michael added.

Leila put her hands on her hips in response and growled at her brother, "Arcanine is cute! Come on" She finished before the girl gestured her Pokémon to travel into the city. With no effort, the dog-like beast made a jump with both adults hanging on for dear life. They yelled as the group passed over the freezing river and made it to the other side (into the city) as if it was the easiest thing to do.

Both siblings looked at each other and then to their Arcanine: their eyes were half-lidded, and they had the smugest grin.

"Oh…he's a keeper" Michael laughed loudly before Leila pointed to a street, "let's go!"

They enter an empty cobble-stone avenue (it seems as though the curfew is still in effect.) The three of them can see patrols all over the place, which sends the humans into a state of anxiety.

"Damn it, the place is still crawling with 'em…"

"Let's hurry and check his apartment first" Michael suggested.

"You heard him, boy!"

Arcanine roared before speeding past the street…they were going just as fast as a car, even faster than one would be able to in deep snow.

As they made their way through Celadon City, Ansel arrived at the game corner, parking the truck across the street. Once he got out, he limped to the entrance of the arcade to see nobody was inside…the authorities must have closed it down days ago after everything that happened there.

As the Ex-Grunt inspected the building, he heard something approaching him from above: a Needlebot!? Ansel/Cy panicked, trying to limp back to the truck; however, he soon discovered that it was actually Holo flying in. His first thought is Michael must have sent Holo after him. Upon realizing this, he sighed and looked up at the XCRM-872, "listen…I need to find her, I know Michael sent you to stop me…but I'm here and she HAS to be close by. Please…help me find her."

The robot stares at the human male with its one robotic eye but does not do anything. Instead, the machine kept hovering above him…idly. Ansel grunted back, "damn robot…"

The former grunt looks to see the ladder still on the side of the building…his determination got the better of him. Despite Holo following him incessantly, Ansel walked over and started climbing it; however, the Spiderbot/Needlebot hybrid used its robotic claw to try and yank on his brown coat. His patience wearing thin, he swiped at Holo before the latter flew back, "I'm doing this, with or without you!"

Knowing Holo does not have any syringes to shoot at him with (they were all previously used in the very place they currently are in) Ansel began climbing and once he got on top of the roof, he saw the destroyed remains of the window. He hopped toward it to see that snow had accumulated inside. The snow inside is deep enough to have formed a cushion for the young Ex-Grunt, and so he jumped and landed on the pile: ending up inside once again.

Not long after, Holo is forced to join the human: lighting up the inside for him with its headlights. The fugitive continued his quest on trying to find any clues regarding his missing mother.

Time passed and he managed to make it down to the lobby to see the Game Corner was completely emptied (their assets had been moved elsewhere.)

Not giving up, he limped toward the reception desk: with help from Holo's lights Ansel saw scraps of paper lined up…all pointing towards one place…Verdigris. It was a collage of random locations forming a map of the abandoned resort. More importantly, it showed a secret passage from Celadon City to Verdigris…a route only accessible on the ground by rail.

"It's all making sense now…they HAD to have had a base within that damn town! And to think…we were probably barely a few meters from a facility too."

B-but why? Ansel thought, why Verdigris…is it because the Research Base and Outpost 3C 273 were destroyed? What are they hiding in that town?

Then, it dawned on the young man, "the Space Needle…it has a transmitter on its roof…did they use that to broadcast their message? Preston…what the hell are you trying to do to get to us?"

Suddenly, they hear doors being forcefully opened across from them. Ansel gasped when he saw it was a towering Arcanine, but soon his fear disappeared once he saw Leila and Michael on its back.

"WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO ALL THAT ANSEL!?" Leila shouted at Ansel, probably one of the few times she had done so, but it was warranted for her.

"What were you thinking!?" Michael added, getting off the giant Pokémon. It didn't take long for the male across from them to figure out that the Arcanine used to be Leila's Growlithe. No matter how intimidating it was, or Leila was for that matter, Ansel made his case for them, "they're taking my mother to Verdigris!"

Michael looked like a disappointed dad funny enough, and he joined Leila's side across from Ansel to scold him.

"Listen…I know you're worried but look at what you've done!" Leila brandished her arms out to him in frustration.

Ansel looked away, crossing his arms in retaliation, and with a low voice he retorted sardonically, "if you told me I would leave my mother behind…maybe…if I knew she was safe, but not now…she's in danger…AND I'M GOING TO SAVE HER! She's family! I'm doing this, WITH or WITHOUT you guys!"

Holo landed on Michael and perched on his shoulder.

Leila scoffed, laughing hysterically a bit, but she soon composed herself to surround Ansel and Michael, "well…no matter what we do from here on out…we're on our own again" she is soon stopped by her brother, "yeah…but I mean, let's face it…you guys were getting bored in that place" he smirked a bit as the other two couldn't help but chuckle at that.

The room fell silent, and Ansel decided to take the initiative to try and win the others over, "they're going by train to Verdigris…there's a map over here showing the route. Maybe we can get to the station on time and save my mother…then get the hell out."

"I bet even if we manage to get to her and get her out of that mess, she wouldn't approve of any of this…" Leila scoffed, knowing full well how much of a straight arrow Ansel's mother is.

"I think if we shut down their operation here, that wouldn't matter…'cause my mom will be safe and we can leave for the border after…hell, maybe we can hijack the train to get us there quicker" he smirked at that last part. Arcanine just sat on his haunches and rolled his eyes at that.

"Well, I hope you're right Ansel…let's get this over with, shall we?" Michael suggested as his sister bit her tongue, but she soon sighed in defeat. NOTHING was going to convince her partner to quit.

…

And so, the group of misfits made their way through the snow-ridden streets of Celadon City to their ultimate destination. Michael, Leila, and now Ansel, ride on the Arcanine (with Holo flying behind.) It's not long before they arrive at the station. The humans dismounted, looking all over for any signs of a train.

They search every corner until Leila stumbles upon something: she picks it up and inspects it: it's a badge…with the letters "TR."

"Yup…Ansel's right…Team Rocket was here." Leila had said, sighing before throwing it away.

Michael put his hands on his hips in response, "so…the train left…what now?" He inquired.

Ansel didn't answer back, he simply turned to face the hovering robot: Holo, "can you have them scan the area by chance?"

Leila's brother nodded, ordering the semi-aware machine to fly high and scan the landscape. Michael checks his PDA and sees a blimp on the digital map.

"Whatever happened to checkpoints?" Leila asked, scoffing loudly.

"Must be the weather?"

"Maybe…"

"So?" She leaned in toward her taller sibling to check as Ansel did the same, "well…would you look at that…there's a train in the outskirts of town…three to five miles south-west from this position" Michael finally said.

"What are we waiting for?" Ansel nodded, calling for Arcanine. And so, the three mounted the Firedog again and they left. Unbeknownst to them, two security guards had seen the cameras and alerted the local authorities.

Even so, the group made their way quickly through the empty tracks. It's a few minutes of traveling until they come across in the distance a locomotive!

"There!" Ansel shouted, pointing in that direction, "that must be it!"

"So, uh…what's the plan?" Leila coughed in.

"Break in, break out…classic Cy/Km tactic" Ansel deadpanned, reminiscing the previous weeks.

Arcanine, being quick as he is now, ended up beside the fast-moving train. The girl in the group nodded and said, "let's find your mom and get the hell out of here."

Her Pokémon jumped and landed on top of the train and the three humans got off. Leila puts the dog in its Pokéball and places him in her belt. She helps Ansel as the three make it across.

"Which car could it be?" Michael groaned, looking back and forth. There was really no way to tell, they'd have to start at the end of the train, which is the direction they were going anyway, "this way" Michael added…climbing down a ladder before helping the other two. Holo lands on Michael and switches to his ground-traveling mode. The group slowly entered (making sure to react properly if anything happened) and they silently and carefully made their way through…until they ultimately ran into somebody. Leila and Ansel knew immediately who it was… it was a Grunt! Leila slid in, knocking the man over and subduing him until he fell unconscious. Once that's done, the girl gestures for the others to follow. Ansel remembered at that moment: he had the collapsible baton and Taser from Verdigris, so he gave it to Leila and Michael respectively.

They quickly move into the next car: which is full of cages…all filled with Pokémon: very similar to the spots they had in 3C 273 and the Research Base; however, there is something far more sinister about these…there were clothes and other articles inside some of these cages. Leila and her partner knew exactly what it all meant: these Pokémon used to be human…

Michael was not used to seeing all this, and he had NO IDEA just how messed up Bartoli's experiments were. Still, there was no time to think about it, and the group hastily made their way through the impromptu laboratory.

Going into the next train car they see computers and screens surveying each car in the entire train, which means only one thing…

STAY WHERE YOU ARE…

There were several grunts with tranquilizer guns aimed at the three. Leila growled, displaying her hands, "no time for this…" fire came out of her palms before the men took cover.

Michael looked behind him, gesturing the others to follow, "move back, we'll climb above! Holo, make sure it's safe out there!"

The machine does so, skittering along the walls to the outside like a true spider. As the team made their way back, more grunts appeared out of nowhere. It was clear what this was (as it always was…) it's a trap! Michael quickly steps in and releases his new Pokémon (his Persian, whom he had revived in the haberdashery.) The large beige feline snarls at the opposing grunts before the thirty-year-old throws his arm out, "Pay Day!"

The cat unleashed transparent gold coins at the Grunts, who were forced to scatter in response. Km threw out her own ball and called out Sandslash, who hasn't participated in a battle since Viridian City and was also revived at Millicent's sanctuary, "tear 'em apart!" She commanded.

The Ground-type, along with Michael's Normal-type, begin working side by side: they deal with the grunts easily before their humans are forced to move into the next car below. Leila called back her Ground-Type before Michael did the same for his Persian.

Ansel, for lack of a better term, was unsettled, "where could she be!?"

"I'm sure she's close by!" Leila reassured.

"I hope so…we've overstayed our welcome, guys" Michael chimed in, ordering Holo to look ahead, but the robot sounded an alarm that caught the group's attention in front of them.

"You don't have to look any further…" a voice called out. Across the decorated interior of the train car, there is a female Grunt (blond hair, about Leila and Ansel's age) holding an old lady…with a purple syringe pointed at the latter's neck.

At that moment, Ansel felt despair overcome him, and with a voice crack he shouted, "Mom!" The Ex-Grunt tried to move in, but Michael stopped him…knowing just how precarious the situation was. Leila (as did Ansel) knew who this person was…

"Sara!" She exclaimed in surprise. Her brother, however, is confused but nonetheless asks, "who is that?"

"That's Rk's partner…Nk."

"Right you are" Sara smiled…looking excited, in a disturbing kind of way, "I didn't think you three would be stupid enough to come here, but when we heard Cy and Km try to get the damsel here…" she tapped Ansel's mother with a free hand as if to anger him more, "Jeremy had a feeling you might've taken the bait."

"Shut up. Let her go…" Ansel growled from across the room, but it had little effect on the woman.

"Always the sensitive one…Cy…" Nk/Sara laughed in response, "you know, I liked you two…I really did…then…to see you two betray us…"

Michael slowly stepped in, having an arm out as if to diffuse the situation (no matter how useless his gesture was) "please…leave that lady out of this…"

Nk simply scoffed back, giving a semi-annoyed face to the man, "and just who the hell are you anyway?"

"Sl, field medic…or I was. That doesn't matter. Listen, no one has to get hurt here today. Let's just…"

"Oh…people ARE getting hurt today, you just don't know how many yet…and you all…are on the list. It's going to be one happy reunion for sure, I can't wait to see Preston's face once we get rid of you two once and for all!"

"Let…my…mother…go!" Ansel yelled but Sara was unmoved by his loud gesture, "one more move from any of you and she gets a taste of formula R-7-3!"

Unknown to them all, Holo had been moving above them…unseen. They were inching closer and closer to Sara without any of them realizing it. Just when Holo got to the point where it was above Sara and Ansel's mother, Leila schemed immediately.

In a split second, the robot jumped down and landed on Nk and Michael rushed forward to disarm her. Ansel's mother is pushed away, and the large man begins wrestling the Grunt. Leila quickly called out Arcanine, who could barely fit in the room, and she instructed them to make a hole in the wall of the car to make their escape. Ansel's mom reached her son, and they grabbed one another as Michael's fight soon took an unexpected turn…

Sara/Nk had managed to free her hand. And once the opportunity presented itself, she stabbed Michael with the syringe…formal R-7-3 was now in his system.

Arcanine's blast paves the way for escape for the group, and Michael pulls away…feeling pain overcome him. Leila is forced to drag him away as they mount the Fire-Dog and they finally escape the train.

Sara stood up…staring at the hole in the wall that was cooling off from Arcanine's blast, and she began to laugh hysterically…finally discarding the empty syringe on the floor.

The group finds safe passage in a small wooden field not too far from the train tracks where Michael is forced to get off…overcome with pain all over his body and he is soon sent into uncontrollable writhing.

Their mission was, surprisingly, a success…Ansel's mother was saved, but now…a HUGE problem presented itself to the group and everyone feared for the worst. Ansel knew what the formula was truly capable of…he had seen what it could do to people. It can transform them into Pokémon (Like Lucas and many others), give them Pokémon abilities, or most disturbing of all: kill them.

The question is, with these possibilities in the air…what will happen to Michael now?

…

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this recent addition to the story. It certainly was a major turn, to say the least. What is going to happen to Michael?

Either way, as I stated before, today is the 10th anniversary of 50,000 Volts! I am so pleased to still be working on this project (after a few years of hiatus.)

Until the next update, take care!