Welp, here it is. The second part of this shocking chapter, meant as an early Christmas present to my readers. Wanna know what happens with Rotom? Just read on.
_
Chapter 63
Misty's POV
Our small respite has come to an end...we've just run into Team Galactic in the middle of Mt. Coronet while on our way to return a Shellos to its side of the mountain. I said I didn't wanna tempt fate, but it didn't need much tempting. Not all of the day was bad though, I managed to have an incredible heart-to-heart with Daisy...and now I'm officially a Sensational Sister! Look, I know I've always said that I don't care what my sisters had to say about me, but no matter how tough a person is, approval from family is always desirable. This trip to Sinnoh has been life-changing in more ways than one, now not only do I have the sweetest boyfriend in the whole world, but I've finally obtained the love and respect that I was denied for so long from my sisters...and I couldn't be happier about it, I have a family again!
Well, I have a family by blood again. Ash, Brock, and to a slightly lesser extent Dawn, they've become honorary family members to me, and vice versa. I'll forever be grateful to them for that. But where was I? Oh yeah, Team Galactic. We found them...Rotom betrayed us...and Ash is...Ash is unconscious! Ash, wake up!
Normal POV
"Ash, Ash! Please wake up Ash!" Misty continued to cry out. Unfortunately, Ash remained motionless. "Brock!"
"I know, I know!" Trying his very best to shift over towards Ash, Brock leaned down to try and get in front of the trainer's mouth, "He's breathing, he's alive Misty." he said in relief, but then he frowned deeply as a thought occurred to him. "Maybe it's best that he's out right now."
Misty looked horrified, "Maybe that's best?!" she snarled, "He is unconscious! He got knocked out!"
"Which means that Ash has a little relief from the betrayal he was feeling a few minutes ago." Brock sighed.
Now the redhead understood Brock's point. Looking down at Ash with a sorrowful expression on her face, she wished her hands were free just so she could caress the boy. She then looked back up at her older brother figure in sad bewilderment. "Why Brock? Why would Rotom just up and leave us like that?"
"Maybe that old guy was telling the truth." Dawn spoke up, her tone also revealing her sympathy for her unconscious mentor, "Maybe he and Rotom really are old friends."
"Even if you're right, that's still no excuse for ditching new friends. Ash took him in! Rotom made friends with Haunter!" Misty huffed, turning away from the coordinator, "I take it back, Rotom was never our friend."
"I'm...not willing to accuse Rotom of that just yet." Dawn said, almost ashamed to admit it, "Maybe Rotom just has some questions for him, or maybe he's trying to find a way to help us by pretending to switch sides!"
"Those are good points Dawn," Brock said, "But I think we have bigger problems to worry about first."
Just then, Ash began to stir, his eyes fluttering slightly as he tried to regain his senses. "Mmmph mmm?" his eyes quickly shot open and he sat up straight as the memories of what had just happened to him came rushing back. "MMM MMM HMMM!"
"Ash, you're gagged, don't try to talk!" Misty exclaimed in worry. Ash growled and slumped, his expression nothing short of furious. "Listen, we've gotta find a way outta this mess!"
"But how? We're completely tied up!" Dawn said, "Maybe Croagunk..."
"Could we at least try to come up with a better plan before we go straight to the barbaric approach?" Brock practically begged, not wanting to be on the receiving end of yet another 'Poison Jab'.
"There is one thing I can think of." Misty said thoughtfully. "Ash...do you think you could get Riolu to come out of his Pokéball using your aura?" Ash nodded and closed his eyes, trying to concentrate. Moments later...nothing happened. He opened his eyes in rage and growled unintelligible curses through his gag. "Ash, Ash! Calm down!" Ash did, and he just seemed to go limp as his anger ran dry, replaced by sorrow. "It's ok Ash, Brock's just gonna have to man up and take one for the team."
Ash shook his head, "That's not why I'm sad. I wish I had a connection with you the way I do with Riolu...but even that isn't strong enough. I can feel that Riolu knows something's not right, but I couldn't get the message that we're in danger through the Pokéball...I'm not strong enough...is that why Rotom left with that Team Galactic guy? Because he's stronger than I am?"
"Ashy, listen to me." the redhead said softly, scooting over to try and comfort him as best as she could considering she was tied up, "I know you're upset about Rotom,"
Ash's eyes widened and he looked at her in shock, "Wait, did you actually hear that?!"
"I dunno why Rotom left with that Team Galactic goon, but I do know that it's Rotom's loss! He betrayed you and now he'll pay for that!" Misty's voice then softened as she leaned against him, "Just know this, I'll always be there for you, no matter what."
"That goes for me too Ash." Brock added.
"And me!" Dawn chirped.
"Pika pika chu!" (Don't forget me!)
"You guys are awesome..." the trainer could feel his eyes starting to get a little damp, when suddenly a light flashed from Ash's belt. "Riolu?!" Ash quickly tried to get a message through, "Riolu, hide quick!" Unfortunately the Emanation Pokémon didn't understand Ash's command, and simply walked up to his master and hugged him. "What's going on? Why am I having so much trouble using my aura lately?!"
"Sir! One of the children's Pokémon is loose!" a grunt shouted out.
"Seize it!" Saturn ordered.
"Run Riolu!" the three non-gagged humans shouted.
Riolu was fully able to understand that, and the frightened baby Pokémon took off like a shot to avoid the incoming grunts. "Rotom, go after it!" Charon exclaimed. Rotom frowned in confliction, at this point he didn't know what to do. "Well what are you waiting for? Stop that Riolu!" Charon's demands at last got to the electric/ghost-type, and he zoomed off after the fleeing Emanation Pokémon.
"No Rotom, don't do this! We're your friends remember?!" Dawn cried. Rotom just ignored the coordinator, and popped up in front of the now startled fighting-type. "Riolu, watch out!"
"Attack it Rotom!" Charon ordered. The conflicted frown once again appeared on Rotom's face, he simply did not want to continue to hurt his friends...but on the other hand...Charon was his first real friend, and he had questions he felt needed to be answered. Thinking fast, Rotom used 'Double Team' to confuse Riolu rather than attack him, and he allowed the Team Galactic grunts to take care of it instead. "Good work Rotom!" Charon then turned his attention to the teenagers. "Make sure those children are kept secure! I must be allowed to concentrate!"
The grunt who grabbed Riolu took some rope and tied the Pokémon up, "Now you behave yourself or you'll be sorry you didn't!" The grunt then went to work on the humans. "The same goes for you four! Gotta make sure these ropes are tight!"
"You just wait until we get out of this...I'll...!" Misty was quickly quieted by the grunt's hand over her mouth.
"Silence!" at the grunt's insolence, Misty made an attempt to bite the man, but before she could the grunt leaned in close, "Just calm down!" he whispered, "Don't say anything and just listen! Team Galactic is looking for the legendary ruin here inside Mt. Coronet, and I'm here to find out what they want with it." the whole time the man was discretely loosening the teens' binds, "Don't worry, I'm gonna get you all outta here so stay cool until the opportunity arises!" the man then stood up and shouted, "Excellent! You're not going anywhere!"
"Who are you?" Saturn asked in suspicion.
"Sir!" the grunt went and stood at attention in front of Saturn and Charon, "I've been sent by headquarters to assist with the expedition sir!"
"They shouldn't have done that," Charon said, "We already have more than enough manpower to handle this."
"I arrived in a hurry sir, so I only know this concerns ruins. Please sir, bring me up to speed if you would." the grunt requested.
"Dear me, what a bother." Charon sighed in annoyance, "Very well...our mission is to find the gateway to Spear Pillar, which is located somewhere here on Mt. Coronet...the tricky part of course is to find out exactly where."
"Gateway?" Misty whispered.
"It must be something else that involves Dialga and Palkia somehow." Brock whispered back.
"Of course when we do finally find the gateway..." Charon looked over his shoulder towards a grunt holding a briefcase. "Show him."
"Sir!" the grunt opened the briefcase and revealed its contents.
"We will then employ this key with which to open it." Charon chortled.
When the teens saw what the key actually was, they gasped in horror, "That's a key?!" Dawn squeaked.
"That's the thing Team Galactic was using on Iron Island that made the steel-types there go berserk!" Misty added.
"So that's why they dug out all those tunnels back there, they're looking for the ruins!" Brock said, "And it also explains how the pink Shellos wound up on the east side of Mt. Coronet, it got lost in here thanks to Team Galactic messing with the regular layout of the mountain."
"Take note of this Charon, remember our leader has entrusted that key to us." Saturn said warningly, "So be extra careful."
Charon just scoffed at Saturn's intense stare, "Your leader Saturn." the old man said, "I couldn't care less about Dialga and Palkia, and I could care even less than that about your so-called new world, which by the way I still feel is a waste of time. Remember when you employed me to help you find Spear Pillar, you did so with the promise that your organization would find a way to make me relevant in the scientific community once more..." Charon took a glance at Rotom, "Discovering Rotom was my biggest success ever, and I would have been perfectly content to simply be able to interact and learn more about it for as long as I could."
"Spare me your diatribe Charon," Saturn said in annoyance, "I'm all too aware of your pathetic life story, the only reason we chose you specifically is because your disappearance would not garner any attention from the rest of the world. Rest assured that your place in our world as a top scientist is guaranteed, as we promised."
Charon growled at Saturn's indifference. "I don't consider the way those foolhardy former colleagues of mine wanted to study Rotom as pathetic, Rotom is not simply an electrical current that can be plugged into, it is a living being that deserves every right that any other Pokémon is entitled to, and it is most certainly not a toy to be played with by reckless children." he glared at Ash when he said that, and the trainer glared right back at him.
"Your agenda against Pokémon Trainers is not our concern Charon," Saturn said dangerously, "Remember that your status as a Commander is merely complimentary due to your importance in our plans, and I am in fact your superior, and I could very well order you to remove your precious Rotom from the premises. Ever since its arrival you've been far too easily distracted and it's making us fall behind schedule."
"I'm aware of your authority Commander Saturn." Charon spat, "But your superiority over me is in rank only." Charon exhaled and turned back to the grunt who had been patiently waiting for the two bickering commanders to stop. "Well? Now you're up to speed, get to work! That's what you were sent here to do, right?"
"Oh yes sir." suddenly the grunt leaped back and got into a battle stance.
"What's this?!" Charon gasped.
With a snap of the grunt's fingers, the bonds holding the teens mysteriously fell off, including the gag that had been keeping Ash from talking. Then he ripped off his uniform, and revealed his true identity. "End of the line Team Galactic!"
"Mr. Looker?!" Ash exclaimed in shock.
"Alright, who are you?!" Saturn demanded.
Looker took a step forward, "I'm a member of the international police! The name's Looker!"
"I knew something was out of the ordinary," Saturn growled, "I recently received a report about some meddling outside agent spying on our work...and that would be you."
"We're always keeping an eye on everything you do!" Looker intensely glared at the ranking Team Galactic officer.
Unfortunately, all of this drama was too much for the young pink Shellos to take, as it began to crawl away in an attempt to escape, sobbing as it went. "Shellos, wait!" Dawn called.
"You four, protect Shellos!" Looker exclaimed, "I'll handle Team Galactic."
"Right!" the teens ran after the little pink Shellos, leaving Looker to take care of the rest of the goons.
"Put away the key and capture that man!" Saturn ordered. With a roar, the majority of the Galactic grunts charged to attack the police officer, but Looker quickly juked them all and managed to gain some distance.
"Drat! Hurry up and catch him!" Charon shouted.
"Hello!" a new voice said, earning the attention of the two commanders. "Quick Seviper, use 'Haze'!" a large serpent appeared from the thrown Pokéball, and the commanders were immediately enveloped by a thick black cloud.
"What's going on?!" Charon coughed through the smoke. Once the smoke cleared, Charon shouted in horror, "The key is gone!"
Cackling was then heard on top of a ledge in the cave, "The key to the whatchamacallit is now putty in our hands!"
By now the teens had caught Shellos, and were watching in disbelief at what was happening. "Team Rocket again?" Dawn asked.
"They always do manage to get in the middle of messes they have no stake in." Misty replied.
"I've had enough of this nonsense!" Charon roared, "Who are you?!"
Jessie: "When it comes to this team, too much is never enough!"
James: "Since we're so strong and tough!"
Jessie: "On the wind!"
James: "Past the stars!"
Meowth: "Ready and wi -..."
"SILENCE!" Charon voice echoed throughout the cave, effectively cutting off Team Rocket's motto, "Give us that key at once!"
"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to interrupt?!" Jessie hissed.
"Someone needs ta teach you manners Jack!" Meowth added.
The trio then cackled victoriously, "After all, with the key in our care there's no need to share!" James chortled.
"Alright, enough of this foolishness." Saturn scoffed, "Surround them!" At Saturn's order, ten Golbat flew up to the Team Rocket trio and removed every possible escape route for them. "Now stop that man!" With another battle-cry, the grunts again advanced on Looker, hoping to use their metal rods to subdue him. Unfortunately the man was apparently trained in several forms of martial arts, as he was easily able to block the downwards strike of the rod and then spun around to smash the grunt's face with his elbow, knocking him out. "He's just one man! Take him!" more grunts came rushing in an attempt to gang up on him, and after dodging a couple of strikes, Looker did a backwards flip that left him kneeling safely on a ledge.
"Look at him go!" Dawn exclaimed in awe.
"Yeah, he's pretty impressive, but we've gotta help him out!" Ash said determinedly.
"Well, here we go again." Misty sighed.
Ash surged ahead with Pikachu, Riolu, and Haunter at his sides, and once he got what he deemed to be close enough, he began his assault, "Let's do this! Ok Pikachu, use 'Thunderbolt', and Haunter, you use 'Shadow Ball'!" The two Pokémon obeyed their orders and fired, and once the attacks hit several grunts fell to the ground, "Ok Riolu, now you use 'Quick Attack'!" Riolu stood still, awaiting his orders...which Ash had already tried to give through his aura. "What is going on here? Is something wrong with my aura?"
"Ash look out!"
Misty's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, as he saw a grunt ready to strike with a metal rod. "Whaa! Riolu, 'Counter'!" Riolu leaped in front of Ash without hesitation, and the orange outline around the Emanation Pokémon's body kept the grunt from attacking and knocked him backwards. "Nice job buddy!" At that moment however, Ash spotted Haunter floating in the air, almost totally unmoving. When he looked in the direction that Haunter was, he realized that the Gas Pokémon had locked eyes with Rotom, who was staring back at him with a frown on his face. "Rotom..."
"How often will I have to put up with these petty problems?" Saturn huffed in annoyance, "Toxicroak, take care of the children!"
"Rotom, help Toxicroak, we mustn't fail our mission!" Charon added. Toxicroak hopped forward without question, Rotom however hesitated a moment before lethargically hovering over to the teenagers. Once in front of Ash, Rotom frowned deeply, hoping to explain the inner conflict he was feeling. "Rotom, attack them!" Rotom looked back at Charon, then back at Ash, but he wouldn't get a chance to do anything as Haunter came out of nowhere and unleashed a vicious 'Shadow Punch' that sent the Plasma Pokémon flying.
"Haunter?" Ash watched as Haunter went after Rotom with an anger he had never had before. "I guess I won't have to worry about Rotom then." Ash shook his head to try and get back in the game, "Alright...Pikachu, 'Thunderbolt'!"
While the teens fought with Toxicroak and the swarming Golbat, now high up near the roof of the cave, Rotom was busy trying desperately to avoid Haunter's attacks. "Haunter please! Let me explain!"
"Explain what?!" the Gas Pokémon spat, "You flat out betrayed us! Betrayed me! Your so-called best friend!" Haunter launched another 'Shadow Ball', which Rotom managed to negate with a 'Shock Wave'. "All that fun we had back at the lab, the cream pies, scaring Prof. Oak and Tracey, you spat on all of it!"
"No I didn't!" Rotom scowled and used 'Double Team', surrounding Haunter on all sides, "Listen to me! I didn't betray you guys!"
"Fine Rotom! Then explain what you're doing with them instead of us!"
"I have to know what happened!" Rotom's whole form seemed to slump as he looked down in sadness. "I have to know what happened. What happened to Charon? He was my best friend for years! Then all of a sudden one day he was just gone!"
"So he abandoned you, is that it?" Haunter fists now looked as if he was crossing his arms, if he had them that is.
"No!" Rotom thought a moment, "Yes...I dunno! That's why I have to find out! The day before he left was one of the best days we ever spent together! It just doesn't make any sense!"
"How do I know this isn't some trick? After all, once a prankster always a prankster. I would know, it takes one to know one after all."
Rotom floated up to Haunter and stared him in the eyes, "I am not joking, this isn't some prank. I've got to know the truth...I don't wanna hurt any of you, I've been trying this whole time to find ways to work around what Charon tells me to do so I don't hurt anyone!"
"So when you used 'Double Team' to catch Riolu..."
"It was so I wouldn't have to use 'Shock Wave' or 'Ominous Wind' to knock him out."
The two stared each other down for a few moments before looking back down at the battle below. Ash and Co. were losing due to the sheer numbers against them. "Alright Rotom...I'm gonna give you one chance to prove yourself...find a way to help us, I don't care how, but find a way to help us."
"Deal." With that, Haunter flew back down to rejoin the battle, leaving Rotom with his thoughts. "Now I just have to find a way to help without raising suspicion." Rotom looked around and spotted two grunts with a radar; they were noticeably distracted by the battle taking place. "That's it!" Rotom zipped back down and jumped into the radar, silently praying that the grunts wouldn't notice the transformation. "I hope this works!" Rotom then activated the radar's alert function, getting the attention of the two grunts who had been scanning the walls.
"Charon sir! We have a signal!" one of the grunts shouted.
"What?! Let me see!" Charon and Saturn hurried over to the grunts, and the scientist quickly used his computer to try and verify the signal, "Well that's strange, my readings don't correspond with the signal the radar is giving us...the nearest I can tell there's nothing there but another cave...we should get the radar checked out, you two continue scanning with our backup radars."
"Belay that order."
The grunts stopped in their tracks, now confused as to who to follow. "Saturn sir?"
"What is the meaning of this Saturn? I told you there's nothing back there!" Charon said.
"This is the first signal we've had for hours, I'm convinced that if the gateway to Spear Pillar is anywhere around here, it's right here." Saturn replied coolly.
Charon sighed in defeat, "Knowledge is wasted on the young." he mumbled to himself. "Very well Commander Saturn, if you feel the need to prove me right, by all means do so."
Saturn smirked victoriously, "Toxicroak, to my side!" Upon hearing Saturn's order, Toxicroak leaped over the incoming Pikachu and Croagunk and landed right in front of its master, "Use 'Rock Smash' and destroy the wall!" Toxicroak faced the wall, and its knuckle claws glowed white with power as it began punching away at the wall.
"We gotta stop 'em!" Ash shouted, "Pikachu, 'Thunderbolt'!" Pikachu fired a bolt of electricity, but several Golbat flew in front and cut the attack off with a combined 'Protect'. "It's no good! We need more firepower!" At that moment, the blue Shellos joined in with an attack of its own, and the attack blinded the swarm of Golbat.
"Whoa, that was 'Mud-Slap'!" Brock exclaimed.
"Wow Shellos! That's pretty impressive!" Misty complimented, "Try and keep it up!"
Now with Shellos and Pikachu both launching attacks, the Golbat were unable to continue protecting Toxicroak as the frog got blinded by mud in its eye from Shellos's 'Mud-Slap'. "How hard can it possibly be to subdue four children and one police officer?!" Saturn snarled, "Just one more Toxicroak!" Despite being blinded, Toxicroak managed to use a wild 'Rock Smash' to punch the wall once more, and that was all it took to destroy what was left of it. Before the dust even had a chance to settle, Saturn turned his attention to the still surrounded Team Rocket, "I'll be taking that key back from you now."
"Dream on dweeb!" the trio unfortunately didn't have a choice in the matter as the Golbat all began biting and scratching them until they released the briefcase, at which time the Golbat immediately took it back and dropped in front of Saturn.
"That's our treasure!" Jessie screeched.
"Stealing what's been stolen is bad luck!" James added.
By now Toxicroak had rubbed the mud out of its eyes, "Hmmph. Now Toxicroak, use 'Dark Pulse'." Saturn ordered coolly. Toxicroak leaped up and fired, and the attack instantly sent Team Rocket blasting off, right through the mountain itself. "Excellent. Now for the gateway."
"Ahem." Charon cleared his throat somewhat dramatically, "If you'll look inside Commander Saturn, you'll find that I was indeed correct when I said there would be nothing there."
"What?!" The Team Galactic commander looked inside, and sure enough the only thing behind the cave wall was even more cave. "This is impossible."
"Not at all, I warned you that there might have been some sort of malfunction with the radar, you merely decided to ignore my counsel and do it your way." Charon said.
Saturn growled and clenched his fists. "Very well." he said lowly, "Pull out!" Immediately the grunts began putting away all the equipment, and in seconds they were ready to retreat.
"Saturn, what are you doing?" Charon asked.
"We've wasted enough time and gotten enough attention from the authorities already, it's time we took our leave." Saturn replied. At that moment, all the grunts who were not busy keeping Looker and the other trainers at bay came and stood at attention in front of their commander. "Move out!" the grunts quickly cleared out, including the ones guarding Looker, so to replace them several Golbat began attacking him and the trainers.
Now everyone was heading out of the cave except for Charon, who was busy running around the cave frantically, "Rotom! Rotom where are you?!"
Rotom was in fact still hiding in the case the grunts had placed his radar in, and he managed to zip out without anyone noticing him. He was about to reenter the cave when he was confronted by Haunter who had his hands crossed. "Haunter..."
"Your buddy's looking for you in there." Haunter said apathetically.
"Yeah...listen, Haunter...I don't wanna leave...but..."
Haunter raised a hand and closed his eyes, "I get it." he opened them and gave a small smile to the Plasma Pokémon. "That prank you pulled on Team Galactic was brilliant, you sent them on the mother of all wild goose chases, and you got them to leave us all alone without them getting what they wanted."
Rotom gave a timid smile back, "Thanks."
Haunter's smile faded, "I won't pretend to be ok with what you're doing, you're basically joining up with the enemy, an enemy that if I caught what they were saying right, is trying to destroy the entire world as we know it."
"I know..."
"But I can understand why you're doing it." Haunter sighed, "Are you sure you won't reconsider?"
"I have to know Haunter...but I promise, once I get my answers, I'll come back and find you guys. Just because I need some answers to my questions doesn't mean I plan on staying with Charon forever. You guys took me in and I'm grateful, I just hope Ash will forgive me for this."
"Knowing Ash, he will. I'll try and explain it to him."
Rotom smiled, "Thanks Haunter...are we...still friends?"
Haunter grinned and gave a thumbs-up, "Best friends. Pranksters stick together through thick and thin, gotta watch each other's backs."
"True that." Rotom laughed.
"Just promise me one more thing."
"Name it."
"While you're there with Team Galactic...drive them crazy, maybe you can slow down their plans a little."
Rotom grinned widely, "They will be my greatest victims. By the time we meet up again, they'll be ready to yank their hair out!"
"Good." the two ghosts then heard Charon shouting again even over the cries of dismay from their friends, "You better get back in there, those Golbat are probably tearing them to shreds."
"Right." Rotom nodded, "Thanks again Haunter, and I'm sorry."
Haunter shook his head, "Don't be sorry, just try not to take too long!"
"I'll do my absolute best, I swear it!" Rotom zipped past Haunter and emerged in front of the worried scientist.
"Rotom, there you are!" Charon exclaimed. Rotom nodded at that, "Come, we must escape from here!" As Charon started to run out, the Golbat began to retreat with him. They were all about to exit the cave when Ash cried out once more.
"Rotom please! Don't go with Team Galactic!"
"Foolish child, he was never yours to begin with." Charon sneered, "Come Rotom, our destiny awaits." Charon walked out of the cave, and Rotom took a moment to smile and wink at the Pokémon trainer before zipping away with Charon.
"Rotom..." Ash sighed in sadness, the bitter feeling of betrayal beginning to well up in his heart again. At that moment however, Haunter returned to his trainer with a sympathetic smile. "He's...gone, just like that." the trainer said almost in monotone. Haunter shook his head at that comment, which confused the black-haired boy, "Whaddya mean no?"
"Haunter haunt haunter." (He's on a mission.)
"A mission? Whaddya mean?" Ash asked.
"Haunt haunt haunter, haunter haunter haunt." (He'll be back, he promised me.)
"Pika pika chu." (I believe it.)
"Well...if you guys are convinced...then so am I!" Ash said.
Now Looker came down from the ledge, his clothes shredded from the attacks of the Golbat, "I'm glad you all are alright, I just wish Team Galactic hadn't gotten away."
"Us too." Misty said. The redhead then narrowed her eyes at the man, "So...international police officer huh? And when exactly were you going to tell us this?"
"If I could've helped it, never." Looker replied, "Just knowing who I am is dangerous, and I didn't want to put you kids into any unnecessary danger by association."
"I guess we can understand that." Dawn said thoughtfully.
"But you know what?" Misty shrugged, "At this point, I'm just gonna have to accept the fact that danger follows us around everywhere, and rather than be worried about what might happen, I guess it'd be best if I met it head-on when the challenge arises!"
"Shellos shellos!" (You said it!) the blue Shellos exclaimed in approval.
"Seeing Shellos reminds me!" Brock said in realization, "We still have to get the pink Shellos back home!"
"Hey yeah! I guess we forgot all about why we came up here in the first place." Ash chuckled sheepishly. But the group gasped when the cave suddenly started to rumble, provoking a nervous whine from the pink Shellos in the process. "What's going on?!"
As if to answer that very question, water began bursting through the walls of the cave, rising up around Looker and the rest of the teens, "Oh no, the subsurface water is rising! It's all flooding out because Toxicroak destroyed the rock!" the police officer reached into the remains of his jacket and pulled out an inflatable life raft that inflated when Looker yanked on a cord, "Quick! Get in everybody!" the teens wasted no time in following through, and it was a tight fit as the raft normally would've held only four total, without any Pokémon involved. "Hang on tight!" the water pressure forced the group to go flying out of the mountain and down a slope of water, seconds later they were level again, and the water was finally slowing down. "I think we're home free."
"Thank goodness." Dawn exhaled in relief.
"I think my heart stopped." Brock commented.
They rode in relative silence for a while after that, each of them lost in their own individual thoughts. By the time they reached the western side of the mountain via the raft, the sun was setting. "Thanks for everything Mr. Looker." Dawn said as they got out of the raft.
"It was my pleasure, I'm just glad you're all in one piece after all this...well, I'm gonna head back to headquarters now and make a report on what happened. What are you all going to do?" Looker asked.
"Well we did promise our little pink friend here that we'd take it back to its friends." Misty said, pointing to the pink Shellos on Piplup's head.
"Well if this map is correct," Looker took a glance at a piece of paper showing the rivers around Mt. Coronet, "We should be on the western side of the mountain, so it shouldn't take you long at all to find them...well, I must be off. Thank you for your assistance!" With that, Looker hurried off.
"Bye Mr. Looker!" Dawn exclaimed after the man. The coordinator then turned to see something she wasn't expecting, "Hey guys, check out the mountain!"
"Whoa, it looks like all the tunnels that Team Galactic dug out got sealed by the sediment in the subsurface water." Misty explained.
"Huh?" Ash scratched his head.
Misty sighed in exasperation, "Stuff in water plug holes." she rephrased.
"Ohh..." Ash realized, "Well that's great then! Now the Shellos won't be able to get lost anymore!" At that moment, the teens heard several familiar cries from behind them, and when they turned around they saw several pink Shellos all rejoicing at the sight of their formerly missing family member. "Hey, that must be Shellos's herd!" Ash was indeed correct, once Shellos saw its family and friends, it hopped off of Piplup's head and crawled over to greet two larger pink Shellos that were apparently its parents. "Well Shellos, now you're back with your family and friends."
"You take good care." Dawn said.
With that, the pink Shellos said goodbye and hurried away with its herd. "Well, that's that." Misty said.
"Shellos shellos." (Mission complete.)
The group blinked and all looked down simultaneously, on the ground next to Misty was the blue Shellos that had tagged along with them for all this time. "Oh no! We forgot about the blue Shellos!" Dawn exclaimed.
"I think we've done enough walking for now, I think it's time for Charizard." Ash grabbed a Pokéball and held it in his hand, "Don't worry little guy, we'll get you back home too."
"Shellos shell!" (No wait!) Shellos crawled closer to Misty and rubbed against her leg in apparent affection, "Shell shellos shell." (I wanna stay.)
At this, Misty knelt down in front of Shellos, "Are you serious? You wanna stay with us?" Shellos nodded vigorously in response.
"Well, I did say you and that Shellos really hit it off." Dawn giggled.
"Guess you were right then." Misty smiled and reached for an empty Pokéball, "Alright then Shellos, hop on in." Misty placed the Pokéball on the ground, and Shellos tapped it with its tiny leg. Seconds later, Shellos was officially a part of Misty's team. "Alright! I just got myself a Shellos!"
"It's great to have a happy ending." Brock said with a smile, "I think it's time we set up camp though guys, it's getting really late."
"Camp? I was kinda hoping to get a shower at the Pokémon Center after all this." Dawn whined.
"How far away is the Pokémon Center Brock?" Misty asked.
Brock pulled out his guidebook and checked the map inside, "Well...if we hurry we might be able to make it before the sun goes all the way down, according to this it's just beyond this last part of the marshland."
"Perfect! Let's not waste anymore time!" Dawn took off sprinting, provoking the others to do the same to keep up with the youngest member of their group. Half an hour later, not all of it spent at full-throttle of course, the teens reached the West Mt. Coronet Pokémon Center, just as the sun was about to disappear. "You know what? We should probably ask this Nurse Joy to pass along the message to the Nurse Joy on the eastern side of the mountain that we got the pink Shellos back safe and sound."
"I'll do it!" Brock dashed over to the reception to begin flirting with Nurse Joy, but seconds later he was on the ground groaning as Croagunk jabbed him.
"I guess I'll do it then." Dawn calmly went over to Nurse Joy to ask for the message to be sent and also for a room for the night.
"So...what's up with you Ash? You feeling ok?" Misty asked.
"Hmm?" Ash glanced at the redhead, "Yeah, I'm fine." he said dismissively. Ash was not fine. Late that night after everyone had fallen asleep, Ash was still twisting and turning in bed, trying to get comfy enough to let sleep take him. But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get his mind to relax enough. "I can't even hug Misty because I probably wouldn't be able to stay still long enough to enjoy it...and the last thing I want right now is to have to deal with a cranky and tired Misty." Ash finally gave up and carefully got out of bed, and quietly went out onto the balcony to be alone with his thoughts. As he stared out into the starlit sky, the events of the past day started replaying in his mind. "Rotom's on a mission Haunter said...but what kind of mission? Is Rotom trying to stop Team Galactic from the inside? He seemed really happy when he met that Charon guy...but he didn't wanna hurt any of us like Charon wanted either...and what's going on with my aura? I can barely feel the connection between me and Riolu anymore, it wasn't like that when I found Riolu in the forest a few days ago...am I...drifting away from Riolu?"
"Ash?"
Ash lowered his head and closed his eyes, a knowing smile on his face, "Misty." he felt a little emotional relief when Misty came up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry if I woke you."
"I went to hug my favorite pillow and it was gone." the redhead smiled softly at him, "What's the matter Ash?"
Ash sighed, "I'm just thinking."
"About Rotom?"
Ash flinched slightly, "Partly."
Misty frowned sadly, "Listen Ash, I dunno what Rotom was thinking, but you can't let it destroy you!"
"It isn't because he left Misty...at least, not anymore. Haunter said that Rotom made him a promise, and even Pikachu was willing to believe it...I guess what's really bothering me now is I don't know what's going on, one of my Pokémon is out there with the bad guys doing who knows what?"
"So that's all that's bothering you? You're worried about him?"
"Yes and no." Ash inhaled and exhaled, "Misty, would you think I was crazy if I said that I don't think that Charon guy is necessarily evil?"
The redhead's eyes widened at that, "I would start to wonder if you were getting sick or something, but I wouldn't say you were crazy."
Ash chuckled dryly, "Yeah that's way better."
"Well can you blame me? He's a part of Team Galactic!"
"I dunno...Charon seems...different, the way he was arguing with Saturn on Rotom's behalf, and the way they butted heads over almost everything...it's almost as if Charon doesn't wanna be a part of Team Galactic at all."
Misty thought about that for a moment, "I'll admit that was a little strange, it wouldn't make much sense if they staged all that for our sakes." Misty looked up at her confused boyfriend, "So what are you saying then Ash?"
"I guess...what I'm trying to say...or at least what I'm trying to convince myself of is that as long as Rotom sticks close to Charon, he'll be ok. All I have to go on is the hope that Charon was telling the truth about him being old friends with Rotom."
"I'm willing to believe that much was true, Rotom wouldn't have left with a total stranger...it doesn't sit right with me though, you don't just leave like that! It isn't right!"
Ash dropped his head down, "You left." he thought to himself. "Actually no, that isn't fair. Misty had no choice." Ash shook his head and looked back to the redhead, "What can I say Mist? I'll just wait and see what happens with Rotom." he shrugged.
"Fair enough." Misty kissed the boy's ear, and then got him to look her in the eyes, "What else is bothering you?"
Ash's frown returned full force. "Mist...I...I-I don't even have a clue about this one."
"I can't help you if you don't tell me Ashy."
"I'm not sure anyone can help me. Not you, not Brock, not Mom, not anyone." Ash gulped down his emotions, "Mist...I think...I think I'm drifting away from Riolu!"
The redhead was stunned, "What? What gave you that idea?"
"You know how I couldn't tell Riolu to come out with my aura?" the redhead nodded at him, "Well even after he came out of his Pokéball, I tried to tell him to hide and he didn't get the message! And then during the battle against Team Galactic, I tried to use my aura to get Riolu to attack, but he didn't get that message either...I think our connection might be dying out."
"Ash, I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. Riolu loves you to death! The idea that you and Riolu are drifting apart would be laughable if I didn't know you were actually worried about it, which makes it just plain sad..." Misty exhaled out loud before continuing, "I won't pretend to be able to explain what's going on with you and Riolu, but I know for a fact that it has nothing to do with your connection when it comes to how much he loves you."
Ash looked back into the sky, "So it's me then."
"Maybe." Misty shook her head helplessly, and sat down in the chair behind her, "Ash, come here." the water trainer opened up her arms, inviting the poor boy in for a comforting embrace. When Ash saw her offer, he went to her, squeezed in next to her and wrapped his arms around her, trying to hold down his confusion induced emotions. "No matter what we go through, I'll always be here for you from now on." Misty placed a feathery kiss on the inner part of his cheek, and she began to feel Ash starting to lose control of his feelings, "It's ok to cry Ash, it's me, you don't have to be tough for me, I love you no matter what." she cooed.
As much as Ash didn't want to let loose, he simply couldn't keep it in him. His tears began to roll down his face, and he began to sob and heave in Misty's arms. "I dunno what to do anymore Misty! I'm just so lost! I've never had to deal with so much all at once!"
"Shh...it's ok. It's ok." Misty began to slowly rock Ash back and forth, letting him cry and get it all out. "Now where have I seen this before?" Misty got a sudden flashback about the last time this had happened, when Sho and his Raichu had almost killed Pikachu. "Maybe it'll work again."
Ash was starting to feel slightly relieved by letting go, but then his heart leaped when he heard something incredibly beautiful.
When I see your smile
Tears run down my face
I can't replace
And now that I'm stronger I've figured out
How this world turns cold
And breaks through my soul
And I know, I'll find deep inside me
I can be the one
She was singing, not humming like she had done when she comforted him when Sho had almost killed Pikachu, she was really singing, with a voice that would make even the angels themselves turn green with envy.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
It's okay, it's okay, it's okay
Ash no longer felt sad, Misty's song had woven its way into his heart and was now kissing away the pain with each melodic note.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
'Cause you're my, you're my, my-y-y-y
My true love, my whole heart
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
Once Misty's song finished, Ash pulled back to look deep into her beautiful green eyes which were twinkling back at him, they were damp with unshed tears, evidently she had gotten herself all emotional as she sang to him, but to Ash, that just meant that she meant every word she had used, and he couldn't have been more grateful. He wrapped her up in a very tight hug and buried his face into her silky orange hair, "I love you Misty." he mumbled into her hair.
"I love you too Ash." she breathed back.
After simply nuzzling for a few moments, Ash pulled back again to look at her gorgeous face once more, "An angel, my angel, I have my own personal angel here on Earth and she has the best singing voice in all of existence."
Misty giggled as she blushed at the compliment, "Have you been stealing lines from Brock again?"
"That does sound like something Brock would say isn't it?"
"Mmm hmm." she nodded.
"Well I don't care, it's one-hundred percent true. Thanks Mist, for being here."
Misty beamed at him, and then she pulled him in for a soft and sensual kiss that made her heart sing with happiness. After their lips finished dancing with each other, they found themselves getting lost in each other's eyes. As much as Misty wanted to stay there though, it was still 2 A.M., and sleep was becoming a necessity. "So...you ready to get some sleep?"
Ash nodded and kissed her forehead, then he got up from the chair and held out a hand to help her up, she accepted it and also got back to her feet. "We'll be fine, right?" Ash said.
"Of course we will!" the redhead chirped, "And hey, the whole Riolu thing is just another puzzle that you need to solve, just like when you came up with the Counter Shield to beat Fantina. Maybe all you need is a little extra support."
"Support..." Ash whispered to himself, "That's it!" he thought.
Early the next morning, Misty woke up and found that Ash was no longer in the bed. "Guess nature called him." she stretched and got out of the bed herself, and then went over to the bathroom door to give it a knock. "Ash, you almost done in there?" When she got no answer, she knocked again. "Ash?" No response. "That's weird." Misty tried the knob and was shocked to find the door was in fact unlocked. "Oh boy, please don't tell me he forgot to lock the door." She closed her eyes and opened the door slowly, then she nervously opened her eyes a slit and was once again shocked to see that Ash wasn't even in there. "If he isn't using the bathroom, then where is he?" She walked in and her eyes scanned the room, until they eventually rested on a piece of paper that was next to the sink. "What's this?" she picked the paper up and started to read, and the more she read the wider her eyes got. "Brock! Dawn!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.
Seconds later, Misty's two other travelling companions burst into the room, "What's the matter?!" Brock panted.
"Ash is gone!"
{Flashback}
Ash's POV
Misty had just given me the best possible solution to my problem, but I knew that if I was gonna pull it off, I had to do it alone. So after Misty fell asleep again, I snuck out of bed and got dressed, grabbed my Pokéballs and my backpack, and carefully picked up Pikachu off of Dawn's bunk so as not to wake either him or Buneary. Then I tiptoed into the bathroom and quietly closed the door behind me. "I sure hope he won't mind." I tapped Pikachu's head a few times, and eventually my little yellow buddy groggily looked up at me, "Gotta be quiet buddy...listen, we're taking a little trip."
Pikachu's ears perked up and he seemed a little more alert now, "Pika pika chu?" (Where are we going?)
"We're gonna get on Charizard and we're gonna get some help with my aura problems...alone."
Now Pikachu was definitely awake. "Pika pika chu pi pika?!" (What about the others?!)
"I wish I could bring them pal, but the less distractions I have the better. Now, are you in or are you out?" Pikachu thought about it for a moment, and eventually decided to hop onto his usual place on my shoulder, which effectively answered my question. "Alright then..." I pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil out of my backpack and I began to write up a note. I certainly wasn't gonna disappear without at least telling them what had happened, I just really hoped Misty would understand.
Hey guys, listen, I'm gonna be gone for a few days, I have an issue that's gotta get fixed as soon as possible. You said it yourself Mist, maybe what I need is some support, and I'm gonna go and get some. You guys just keep on heading towards Lilypad Town and I'll meet you there in a few days, I'll do my best to get there in time for your contest Dawn, but since I've never done what I'm about to do before, I don't know how long it'll take. If I don't make it in time, know that I'll be giving you my support from where I am, and don't worry, I'm ok, and I promise I'll be back soon. And Mist...in case you're worried I'm going after Team Galactic and Rotom, lemme just say right now that that's not what I'm doing. I promise that where I'm going I'll be completely safe. I love you and I miss you already, and I wish I could've taken you, Dawn, and Brock with me, but this is something I need to do on my own. I'll see you guys soon.
- Ash
"Well, whaddya think?"
"Pika pi Pikachupi pika pi." (I think Misty's gonna flip.)
I couldn't but chuckle a little at that, "Well, if that's the case then it can't be helped. This has to happen." I opened the window and crawled out, now that I was outside I ran several yards away so that Charizard wouldn't wake the others when he came out. Sure enough, once I tossed Charizard's Pokéball he emerged with a mighty roar. "Charizard, we're heading out." Hours later, the sun had come up and I knew that soon Misty and the others would be up as well. Charizard was holding up just fine and the few hours of flight hadn't seemed to do much to him or his energy levels. "I guess after flying across an entire ocean to get to Kanto this is barely even a warm up for you, huh buddy?" Charizard looked back at me and smirked. "Well we're almost there, let's start going down."
As we descended, Pikachu tapped the side of my head to get my attention. "Pika pika pika chu Pikapi?" (You sure about this Ash?)
"I'm sure Pikachu. If anyone can help me, it's him." We finally got low enough that we were able to see the land below, and eventually I spotted the person I was looking for, "There he is! Ok Charizard, down!" With a roar, Charizard swooped down towards the man and his Pokémon who were examining something in the rocks below. I saw him and his Pokémon glance in my direction, and they watched us land in front of them. This was it, it was time.
"Ash! Well this is definitely a nice surprise! What are you doing here so early in the morning? And where are the others?" the man asked me.
I took a deep breath and looked the man dead in the eyes, "Riley...I need your help."
A/N: So yeah, Rotom went with Charon after all, but not under the circumstances we all thought. Also, getting these copyright issues out of the way - "Your Guardian Angel" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus obviously does not belong to me. And yes, I changed the lyrics because not everything fit what I needed, you can even change the melody to something else if you can think of it, I know I do. New Pokemon for Misty too, a blue Shellos. Also, Ash is looking to fix things up with Riolu. Will he succeed? All that and more in the next chapter. Merry Christmas everybody, and Happy New Year.