Domino's Sneak Attack by WyldClaw
Plot: very long AAML WCverse oneshot seen through Misty's eyes . What if during the 'A Claim to Flame' Johto league episode Misty joined ash outside when he couldn't sleep? And during their walk the couple encountered ... someone else aside from Gary Spoiler alert: this story contains major spoilers for my WCverse fanfics Pokémon the Movie 2000 II ; Lawrence's Revenge , Cyndaquil's Past and Devon's Despicable Plan. , it is a an extremely belated 20 year anniversary mark to the WCverse -I first started writing Hijacked-the set up fanfic to Pokémon the Movie 2000 II ; Lawrence's Revenge on September 15, 2002. If I owned any original Pokémon characters I'd make the Orange Islands part of the games. But i don't- but Devon is my own creation.
Important notes: italics mean a dream while () mean translated Pokémon speech. {} Have thoughts in them and " " have human speech in them. Enjoy.
last revised/ fixed up : October 2023
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I was having a incredible dream-my boyfriend Ash and i were on a warm sandy beach one late afternoon . It was near sunset but there was hardly anyone else around in our little area so it was just us and our Pokémon . Our Pokémon were near us having a fun time. Golduck, Totodile, Corsola, Politoed, and Staryu were swimming lazily in the waves near the shore. (This is so relaxing.) Golduck commented as he did a backstroke.
(You totally said it.) Politoed told him. Staryu's core at the center if its body flashed cheerfuly as if agreeing with the green and yellow frog Pokémon .
(Yeah. i feel like a refreshed 'mon after that awesome swimming race.) Totodile remarked as he popped his head out of the water.
(I totally agree with you guys.) Corsola added, her pink and white body bobbing up and down with the gentle waves. She looked over at Golduck. (You enjoying the water a lot more now that you can swim with your new form?)
He gave her thumbs up .(oh yeah. i don't have to embarrass our trainer by needing to wear a floating inflatable ring to swim even in the shallow end .) He grinned at me and then did a side leap high into the air and splashed into the water about fifteen feet away with barely a splash. .
I smiled at my intelligent swimming powerful blue duck Water-type Pokémon ."How does he do that?" I wondered aloud. Ever since my then-not very intelligent Psyduck used his Psychic powers on his own -without even needing a huge headache- to save me from Lawrence on the airship - and then evolved. i'd felt a newfound appreciation for him .
(Whoo-hoo!) Noctowl trilled as she flew in the air then dived down to skim the water's surface with her wingtips, her shiny reflection shimmering on the watery surface.(oh yeah!)
Bayleef, Cyndaquil , Pikachu and Phanpy were making shapes in the sand near us to Togepi's delight. (Make the next one like a sunflower. ) he suggested.. Eveyone seemed relaxed and rested.
"It's so serene and beautiful here." I commented as I brushed a strand of my long red-orange hair out of my face. in the dream I was slightly older than my real age of nearly fourteen years- i seemed to be around sixteen to sixteen and a half years old . i wore a light tye-dyed short sleeved shirt and long blue shorts.
"Yes you are," Ash-who seemed a bit older as well - muttered. he was wearing tan shorts and a dark navy shirt.
"Huh? I was talking about the location. " i looked over at him. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Y-Yeah." He bit his lip- a bad habit he had when he was excited or anxious about something.
"No you're not. You're doing the lip biting thing. " I pointed out. What's on your mind?"
He looked me in the eyes and I saw myself reflected in those two beautiful pools of dark brown. "look Mist..We've been together for a long time, right?"
"Yup. since we were ten ." I sighed happily as I gave him a kiss on the lips. {Holy Mew, it seemed like an eternity since we first met. who would have ever thought i'd be actually dating the boy i saved out of the water?} I thought.
"And we've been through a lot together." He went on.
"You've got that right. The list is enormous: Team Rocket attacks, lots of -death experiences, fights with each other, the whole issue with.. " I hesitated , not wanting to bring up the nasty experiences we had with Giovanni or Devon. I knew the emotional scars with what happened on Lawrence's airship, under Giovanni's helicopter and Pikachu brief evolution/gunshot/death/mysterious de-evolution were still with Ash and-his first Pokémon . The ir looked up at me during my pause - thinking I was going to say one of their names " … Lawrence." I ended and they both sighed with relief. " saving the world more than a few times…" I sighed. "And to think it all goes back to my bike that you stole and destroyed."
His face went tomato red with embarrassment for a few seconds. "uh...Well yeah … "
"But i've forgave you for that a long time ago." I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Y-You have." he glanced over to his backpack then back to me. ." I need to look for something in my backpack." He went up and rummaged through the backpack searching for something. {Why is he acting so weird?}
"There's something I want to ask you." He said as he got a small box out of his backpack.
"Go on." I felt a huge flock of Butterfrees fluttering in my stomach.
"Uh well, I ..um well.. i " his face went bright red. {He's cute when he's flustered }
(Oh for the love of the Legendaries ) Pikachu sighed-he could tell his trainer was at a loss for what to say so he got up and brought the small box over to me. (Here.) He saw my face and grinned . (I think you can guess what it is when you see inside.)
I slowly opened the box and my mouth dried up. i could only stare at the exquisite ring resting upon a little stand on a velvet cushion , The ring consisted of two connected hearts cut out of an aquamarine jewel with diamond pieces around it and a sterling band. On one side of the band it said 'together forever ' and the other said ' I love you'.. My eyes darted from the box then at my boyfriend and back again. He'd already given me one ring after the whole incident on the airship - which was around my neck on a simple chain-but this one was much nicer than the first.
My heart jumped a beat and my jaw dropped when he got down on one knee in the sand, taking the open box in one hand. Unlike my older triplet sisters, I didn't have any experience in romance-having only fallen for the boy kneeling in front of me. But even I knew what this particular pose meant..{Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! }
My heart jumped as I stared from my crush's position in the sand to the ring and back again for a few seconds . My mouth felt dry. "Holy Ho-oh .. holy Ho-oh." I finally managed to squeak out my thoughts.
He blushed again and i felt myself lost into those beautiful dark brown eyes. "I-I know we're both really young. But m-my mom was young herself when she got e-engaged t-to my dad.. I mean obviously it wouldn't happen for a few years un-until we are ready. but no one else has been with me as long as you have. You and I have both seen some life altering things lately a- and- there's no other girl I'd rather be with. So um. I .I …" he trailed off and paused for a few minutes . "Sorry. I'm not good at this. Let me start over. " He took a breath." I guess what I'm trying to say is . Well... I th-think we were meant to be together . W-Will you m-marry me?"
"I-I-I ..." My brain was in so much shock I didn't notice the Pokémon had stopped playing and were watching us. I faintly heard Phanpy ask what was going on. "That's why you planned this picnic ? To -p-p-p-" I tripped over over the word. "p-propose to m-me?"
He nodded, his face madly blushing like a Magmar. ".. Yes…I'm not doing a good job of it am I? I asked mom for advice on how to go about doing it. She was only eighteen when she got engaged. Sh-she told me d-dad p-proposed after a romantic dinner. but I didn't think you would go for that . ". He paused for a few minutes. "You're not upset are you? I mean I know we're young and Things got chaotic what with the problems with Devon, Lawrence , Team Rocket a-and .. everything but -"
I shook my head. "I'm not upset, .. I'm just in shock. I never expected this. Ashy, do you mean it? You really feel like I'm the right one to m-m -" I couldn't even finish my sentence.
He nodded yet again. ." I wasn't so sure how you would react. "
*Wh-where did you manage to find the r-ring?" I kept on looking down at it.
He looked down as he tried not to trip over his words. "M-Mom. Said m-my d-dad gave it to her as their wedding ring. She's kept it all these years-s-said it was the only thing Th-that didn't make her sad a-a-after he died."
A tiny gasp escaped from my throat-he never brought up his father. "Oh my! Y-Your dad is d-dead? h-how?"
" Y-yes." He nodded, paused and lowered his voice as if not wanting to say the next words out loud. "She moved for a fresh start. I was only a baby when it happened. She told me that she thought y-y-you k-know who killed him but she... could never prove it to th-the police "
"You mean to tell me..." i gulped and lowered my own voice . "Y-your dad died at the hands of G-G-Gio-." I didn't even need to finish the name as he slowly nodded again shuddering. Pikachu and Bayleef came over and licked his hand comfortingly .
I felt my insides twist at this revelation-this new information was inexcusable. I knew the boss of Team Eocket Giovanni was extremely cold-hearted from our first and only horrendous meeting with during the horrifying episode on Lawrence's airship and on his helicopter. He was vicious, cruel , power hungry and didnt care for anyone but himself . he had threatened both of us nearly killed my boyfriend-, injured and very briefly stolen Pikachu. He even had his Pokégods-awful loathsome Persian beat the mouse Pokémon to a unrecognizable state - and wound him even more after he evolved . Not only he threatened to kill Ash's if Raichu rebelled or didn't do what he asked. Not to mention the evil cold hearted villan had murdered Pikachu when he had been briefly been a Raichu {That's truly repugnant and twisted. killing his dad then nearly doing the same thing to him countless years later. } As if I need another reason to beyond 'loathe Giovanni with every fiber in my being. He never mentioned his dad so I just assumed he left, didn't wan to be a father or wasn't around much . I never excepted this revelation .
"..Ashy...I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I never thought about your dad since you never brought him up."
"N-neither did i. until I called Mom and a-asked her for a-advice.." His face went red . "She n-never really talked about him when I was growing up so I just thought he didn't want to be a father or was a drifter " he paused . "It m-makes sense how that ruthless evil despicable psychopath knew-my n-name. ". He stopped to regain his composure for a few minutes and get off the topic of that horrid heartless killer and back to the proposal. "She told me D-dad w-would have loved you. She pretty much jumped ten feet into the air when I asked her to help me out with this. So what do you say? I mean you don't have to answer right- "
I didn't need even a minute to think about my answer. "What do I say? What do I say? Here's my answer ." I got up and tackled him to the sand, kissing him on the lips, getting sand all over his clothes and hair . "Yes, yes and yes! Of course I'll marry you,"
I don't how long we kissed-I lost all sense and track of time . After I while I felt a cold breeze as the wind picked up . It suddenly got very chilly and the temperature seemed to get much colder . I shivered. "Ashy…"
" Hmm? "
"Something's up with the weather.."
The two of us got up off the sand, stood up and brushed the sand off our clothes. We looked at the sky . It had quickly gone from warm sunny puffy scattered clouds to grey , cold dark ominous clouds that loomed over us like a giant. "That's odd…" he said.
the Pokémon's ears picked up- they were nervous about something. Pokémon are more in tune with nature than humans and something was definitely wrong. They came scrambling back to us .. Togepi ran up and fearfully grabbed my pant leg. (Mommy! I got a bad feeling. I'm scared.) he replied and then to Ash. (what's wong with the weather Daddy?) When he hatched , my little baby pokemon imprinted on Ash and I so he believed we were his parents.
"D-dunno."
Noctowl's feathers were fluffed up and she kept on turning her head. (Something's definitely not right. I could feel it in the shifting air current .)
Totodile, Bayleef and Phanpy nodded. Totodile looked nervous and kept turning his head.. (I can feel that something is off) he said.
Politoed looked worried. It was strange to see the looks on Totodile and Politoed's faces. Usually the two Johto Water Pokemon were pretty jolly and, happy and carefree it took a lot to get the two Water Types nervous. (Something's not right about this weather. I do but whatever it is I really don't like it)
(Agreed) Golduck said as he lifted Staryu and Corsola out of the water with Confusion and over to us.
(Same here . I just know something isn't right.) Corsola added and Staryu's center core flashed , agreeing. .
Pikachu and Bayleef shivered .(I'm with you there.) Bayleef commented as the gray clouds increased and turned into a storm . (This isn't normal weather.)
(Something is very wrong-I can feel it in my gut.) Pikachu stated.( I dunno what. The last time I had a feeling like this was in the Orange Islands near Shamouti Island. you kniw when the weather patterns went berserk during the Legend Festival due to …) His sentence trailed off. That was when we first encountered Lawrence Juradian Le Villiyon II . The second time we encountered the revenge driven aristocratic madman on his renovated airship .. it changed all of us forever. But none more that my boyfriend
"You think h-he's b-back? I don't want to face him a-again. " Ash asked nervously , turning pale as he slightly shook . He had a hellish nightmare on the air ship when Lawrence had tortured and starved him. That was even before Giovanni entered the picture and changed our lives . Though his visible scars were long healed, the mental ones were still there. Neither of us fancied encountering him a third time.{The last time was horrible enough.}
Pikachu noticed his trainer shaking. He nuzzled his hand and licked it until it stopped. The teen slightly smiled. "Thanks pal."
. ( I don't blame you .. I wouldn't want to face him again either.) The Electric Pokémon softly said. He had gone through a lot as well on that airship and underneath Giovanni's helicopter-enduring horrors no Pokémon should have to go through . (I don't know . I can't smell him. )- his trainer relaxed slightly ar these words. (Besides even if L-Lawrence tried his plan again, all up Pokemon would feel the balance of nature shift and we would feel an unspoken instinct to congregate somewhere … this just feels like someone is manipulating the weather around this area. )
. "That's true . But who is doing it? How and-" Ash looked down at Cyndaquil. She trembled with terrible fear at his side as she stared at the increasingly dark stormy sky "What's the matter Cyndaquil?"
(I think I know who is manipulating the weather ) The little Fire Pokémon stated in a small voice- almost too quiet to hear over the strong wind .We bent down to hear her. Her back flame trembled once . (H-h-h-he's doing it . .)
Only one human in the whole world made her that fearful. We all knew who she meant : her malicious former trainer turned ditto- human hybrid Team rocket agent Devon
"You think he could be behind this?" Ash asked.
(I- i really don't know. I just have a gut feeling ) she admitted . ( But I dunno how that can be ..w-we stopped him ) she responded in a whisper.
The clouds were almost over us when sheets of freezing rain started, I saw claps of lightning hit the water not too far away followed by a flash of thunder. The temperature quickly increased and I felt my hair stand on end. Worried about them getting struck, we recalled our Pokémon quick as we could but Cyndaquil refused to go back in. I didn't blame her. I shoved the box with the ring into my pocket as Pikachu jumped up to his usual spot on ash's picked up Cyndaquil and we ran away from the water to a slightly drier sheltered place in an empty cliff side cave about thirty-five feet away. More thunderclaps and lightning hit nearby and the rain started coming down hard. She shivered as she stared at the storm clouds shooting thunder and rain at the water. (This isn't natural .)
Pikachu peered over at the clouds and studied them for a few minutes .I was sure as an Electric type Pokémon, he could tell the difference . (No. It's definitely not. It came too quickly and it's too concentrated on one spot-us and the beach ) He sniffed the air.
A few minutes went by before Cyndaquil spoke . (Unless.)
"Unless what?" We looked down at the Fire type .
Cyndaquil looked nervously around. (H-h-he brought the storm.)
"Your monstrous ex-trainer?" Ash's face lost its color. Devon violently abused her as a baby and killed her foster mother the night they escaped from his complex. We ran into him a while back and poor Cyndaquil had been poke-napped, brutally tortured and starved, massively hurt by Devon. Devon used her as a hostage and forced my boyfriend and i battle his cruel hybrid Pokémon to save her. it had been extremely horrendous. Ash had to do something he rarely ever did-forfeit the battle-when Devon's vicious deadly Teriados- a terrifying winged Ariados and Sandslash hybrid was super close- to suffocating Pikachu. It didn't go well for us after that. Not to mention she -along with Ash-had both been nearly fatally poisoned due to with the help of a strange cloaked figure we got them to the Pokémon Center to be healed just in time. . She nodded. "But how? "
(I thought only Dragonairs has the ability to change the weather,) Pikachu commented as the storm outside got worse
(I know of another Pokémon that can ) Cyndaquil whispered- the three of us looked at her. (Quilava- you know- my foster mother once told me about a powerful Beast Pokémon that roams around Johto able to bring thunderstorms wherever it goes.) She shivered.
"What was its name?" Ash asked.
(I think it was …Raikou. Sh-she said it l-looks like an enormous yellow tiger with black stripes, a white underside and has a long blue tail with a kind of spark like shape at the end. It's supposed to be a powerful Electric type Legendary Pokemon.)
At Cyndaquil's last sentence Ash's eyes lit up. "Legendary Pokémon ? What I wouldn't give to have one on my'-"
I rolled my eyes and flicked his messy hair. "Don't you even think about it.."
"But I'd finally be able to be to beat Gary."
"And how would you even manage to train a Legendary? "
"Uh. My incredible training skills and talent?"
Pikachu and Cyndaquil sighed and I snorted at this. " Ha! That's a –" With a flash of light from my belt Golduck popped out of his Pokeball. I jumped five feet in the air as he fully materialized. "Golduck! Don't do that! . It was bad enough when you were a Psyduck and you weren't so. so . "
(intelligent and handsome?) he prompted
I rolled my eyes at his remark. {oh brother} . " Yes."
He chuckled. (Sorry. But I needed to relay something from Togepi and it'll get your mind off this odd storm.) He jerked his head to the pouring rain outside. We nodded. (he heard you talking. He says he thinks he's seen that Pokémon before.)
(R-Raikou?) Cyndaquil looked up at him and he nodded.
"Wh-when?" I asked.
(Remember how he went missing ...)
(uh Golduck.. you have to be way more specific than that. ) Pikachu remarked. ( that's happened more than a few times.)
(Oops .. well he said it was in Johto when Jessie James and Meowth attacked. you tripped on a rock and he rolled away and disappeared -)
I nodded. "I remember that." I recalled my fear and panic when I couldn't find him after we had sent the the Rocket dolt trio packing.
(But then a day later you found him with that kind hearted Houndoom at the Mareep farm that Jessie James and Meowth tried to steal?)
"Y-yeah."
"You mean Doomy?" Ash asked and the Water Type nodded.
(Yes. Togepi said he appeared somewhere far from the commotion.)
"Metronome." I said. then Ash and I said at the same time . "Teleport."
(Yup. Doomy found him and was surprised to find a Baby Pokémon all by themselves in the forest. After he quickly quickly befriended him Doomy decided to take him back to his human trainer to see if he could help him find 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' ) Ash and I blushed- that's what he called us. (When they were traveling got side-tracked a lot and Doomy tried to keep him safe when he wandered off.)
(I definitely know what that's like..) Pikachu commented and we smiled.
(He said there was a passing thunderstorm and they took shelter in this hollow tree trunk. After it was done the two got out and saw this shadowy Pokemon that matched that description in a few feet away in the bushes the bushes. It let out a few electric sparks and then ..vanished. So did the thunderstorm.)
"oh wow..I can't believe he came that close to Raikou." I said.
(He just thought you should know.)
"Thanks Golduck. Tell Togepi thanks. "
He gave me a thumbs-up. (Anytime.)
"Return." I recalled him to his pokeball. We watched the storm for about an hour , shivering when a thunderclap came close to our shelter or when it boomed loudly over the cave .
But just as suddenly is it begun the storm stopped. The thunderclaps stopped and the sky cleared up slightly. Pikachu sniffed the air. (That's strange. The storm's gone. It's just drizzling now. )
We stepped out of our little cave and looked around as we walked back. Pikachu leapt down from his trainer's shoulder onto the wet sand but soon the drizzle made his fur stick to his body .The wet sand clung to our shoes like moss on a tree trunk.. Ash held Cyndaquil in his arms as his and my clothes soon stuck to our own bodies -our shoes made squelching sounds that echoed on the wet empty beach . A grey fog hung about making it hard to see past five feet in front of us. We walked for a bit- The only sound were the waves, our breathing and the shoes-and Pikachu's paws -squishing in the sand .
Cyndaquil slightly flinched as the rain drops hit her skin. "Do you want to go back inside your Pokéball? " Ash asked her.
She shook her head. ( I'm fine.. Drizzle I can deal with - it just make my Fire attacks weak . I wouldn't be able to handle this if it was a torrential downpour. )
" can you two smell or hear anything?" I asked the two Pokémon. We stopped as they smelled the air for a few minutes.
Pikachu's nose and ears twitched for a minute .(There is nothing in front of us. There seems to be a lot of Pokémon in a group in the forest above the beach from the the direction we came from. I can't specifically make out which ones .The rain washed away a lot of the scents and the fog isn't helping. Perhaps they were sheltering together from the storm.) he said then added .(There is a Pokémon scent that I've never smelled before but .. their is a faint scent of something familiar beneath it but I can't put my paw on it.)
"Huh.. interesting " Ash commented and then looked down at Cyndaquil in his arms. "What about you girl?"
The Fire type Pokémon sniffed the air as she huddled in my fiancé's arms. (I smell the same thing ...but wait! ) she stopped and her eyes went wide. (Oh no.. My instinct was right…)
My fiancé's face went pale as a marshmallow. "A-About h-him?" He asked her.
A roar split the air and the rain suddenly stopped though the sky was still dark grey. A second loud roar pierced the air and we turned around and looked up.
"Yikes!" We all jumped. On thec cliff overlooking the beach there was a very large Pokémon looking down at us. The Pokemon matched the description Cyndaquil gave but it had cold amber eyes . The enormous tiger-like Pokémon had black stripes, a white underside and a thin, light blue tail with sharp angles and a spark-shaped formation at the end. It glared greedily at us. Houndooms, Machokes and lots of Pokémon including at least three Hypnos and an ursaring with a pack on its shoulder. came out behind it. Its cold amber eyes gravitated from us to Cyndaquil who cowered.
(…T-turn into a R-Raikou. R-Raikou doesn't have amber eyes- D-D-Devon does…He -he did it to corner us) she finished in a whisper.
Ash's face went whiter than ever as the Pokémon turned its gaze to him and gave another thunderous roar. "R-r-r-run!"
The fake Raikou roared angrily as we ran throwing thunderbolts in the air. I bolted as fast as I could on the wet sand from the horde of Pokémon chasing us, ducking attacks as my heart pounded wildly . I ran for about fifteen minutes until...
"AHHH!" I heard a familiar cry of pain and then the sound of someone falling in the wet sand ten feet behind me.
Pikachu used Agility to catch up to me. (Ash is hurt. Stun darts got him in the back of his legs and on his right arm). He looked anxious for a very good reason- Ash was right handed.
We backtracked to where they were. Ash was on the sand, wincing in pain. I knelt down to look at it. His legs beneath his shorts and right arm were swelling stiffening up due to the stun darts in them. His arm was swelling up too. "C-Can you move?" I asked my worries rising.
He tried but it looked painful and he groaned and shook his head. "No." He replied. "It hurts too much. I feel a bit sleepy. I think there a tiny bit of chloroform in it. "
Cyndaquil looked up at him fearfully. (Wh-What are you doing?) She asked as he clumsily unclipped his Pokéballs with his left hand. And handed them to me.
"Go… take them. Somewhere safe. He isn't after you y-you just got entangled in this mess because of me.."
We heard the pounding footsteps on the sand grow louder and louder .{ I'm not gonna leave him to suffer at Devon's hands. Who knows what's he'll do to him this time .}
. I couldn't leave him alone with Devon- . "Don't be an idiot. I'm not leaving you alone to deal with that malicious inhumane hybrid.. . " I firmly told him as the two Pokémon huddled next to us. " N-not after the first time …" we all shuddered. . "Besides We're bound together now " I jerked my head to my bag.
He bit his lip. "But….I don't want you to be used by either of those t insane psychopathic bast-"
Just then there was a very thick cloud of smoke covered us. . All four of us started coughing-I couldn't see a thing- i looked up as a shadow fell over me. "What the-" I began bd something heavy hit my head and darkness overtook me.
,..
"Open your eyes girlie." A cold familiar voice said.
"Ugghh…" I groaned, my head throbbing from being clubbed.
"I said 'open your eyes'." The voice commanded and two fingers snapped. My eyes opened like something had forced them open.
"Huh?" I looked were still on the beach but the grey clouds and rain had vanished. I saw the ring of Pokémon from the cliff in a tight circle around us- their eyes were glazed over. I saw the Hypnos in the crowd's eyes glowing blue, controlling them. The rain and the fog were gone had stopped but gray cloud still covered the sky. . A Machamp pinned my arms tightly behind my back and there was a thick ring around my middle so I couldn't get to my Pokéballs. "Let me go."
"Now why would I do that?" the voice said.
I looked about five feet away at the cold familiar voice and my blood turned to ice. My heart pounded rapidly as bile rose up in my throat as i slowly looked up . "Y-Y-You."
Cyndaquil's old 'trainer' Devon stared at me, cold amber eyes radiating zero warmth and his slicked back red hair was be the color of a fire stone. He wore grey pants and a brown shirt. Scars marred his face. His left hand held a gun while his right was a Kadabra's holding a tiny rubber transparent sack with a gagged and tied up Pikachu inside. Ash looked pretty beat up- he was bound and gagged at his side – an Ursaring with scars on its face tightly restraining. In the middle A large Houndoom had its paws, claws extended over Cyndaquil's body on the sand in the ready to slash her. "Surprised? Didn't I tell you I'd track you down?" I wanted to smack the smile off the Ditto Hybrid's face.
"Y-You poisoned my boyfriend after we escaped and saved Cyndaquil." The words flew furiously out of my mouth at Devon . I had been so worried he was a goner when he'd gotten that delayed poisoning.
He smirked. "So what if I did? It was a fail safe back up plan in case you escaped. I knew he couldn't resist touching the weakling after he recused it If a human touches a poisoned Pokémon they get poisoned too.. I just made it so it worked super fast when he touched her It was only meant to give him an painful paralyzing near death until I could knock out grab him, the Cyndaquil and the mouse . He would have been so weak he wouldn't have fought me again. I didn't think you' make it to the Pokémon Center'- I'd hoped you would be mikes away from it when he touched the Cyndaquil'. But I'm sure would have gone willingly if I had chance to shoot you a bunch before that dammed Cyndaquil' showed up .. "
My fiancé tried to say something t-probably that he'd never go with this insane son of a bitch-but I couldn't make it out through the gag. " you were planning on shooting me until he gave in? You sick monster! . " I replied. ..
" hybrid not monster." Devon corrected and shrugged his shoulders." He'd have given in either then or if I had managed to poison the Pikachu .. I would have gotten away with it too if I weren't for those meddlesome softhearted hybrids and the Cyndaquil. Somehow the hybrids stripped me of my precious Ditto blood and took me to the police who locked me in a high security jail.." he grinned . " Luckily we have sleeper and undercover agents ...everywhere." I gulped recalled how ditzy and naive Domino appeared to be until she revealed her true colors and nature. "One of them had a small syringe of new Ditto DNA ready..."
"You're beyond evil and twisted." I stated. "N-now let us g-go!"
He laughed. "why would I do that? I wasn't going to let them get away a second time when there is a huge reward for them from my boss . Besides I still have some unfinished business with that shrew over there. ". He glanced to Cyndaquil who squirmed under Houndoom's paws then turned back to me. "Now. What in the world do I do with you? my ..offer from the last time still stands"
I shuddered. I felt sick as I recalled his offer from the first time we encountered him: for me to act as his charming girlfriend to deceive people and to keep him warm on freezing nights . My heart thumped in my throat and I swallowed back my total disgust. . " What I said before hasn't changed, you insane psychotic creep. No freaking way in utter hell would I ever leave my boyfriend err -fiancé-"
He raised his eyebrows at the word. "Fiancé?" He coldly laughed and I started struggling to get free but it was no use. "Fiancé?" He repeated the word. "Him? You have got to be seriously kidding me. "
Ash shook his head and tried to say something- probably confirming it- through the gag. He tried to get free- as the mouse was trying to do the same thing- but no luck. "If you two are. -Engaged- " Devon spat the word out, "where's the engagement ring? I only see the one around your neck..."
I gulped. . {This beast would snag it then sell it for money}. A second sickening thought entered my mind. {What if… he shows the ring to his vile boss? And his boss finds out whom the ring originally belonged to?} Now that I knew the sad story behind the ring I wasn't going to let Devon get his filthy hands on it.
(It's n-no joke) Cyndaquil told him, trying to sound braver that I knew she felt. . (His pr-proposed right before you sent that storm at us. D-didn't have time t-to put it on. Why c-can't you just leave them alone? I'm the one you want so-)
"Houndoom… shut that thing up." He growled.
(Glad to.) The Houndoom dug its claws deeper into her skin.
(Yeooooow!) She yelped. Lines of blood fell and the sand around her became red.
"Hey jerkwad! Leave her alone! ". I shouted.
Devon gave me another cruel smile and I got an uneasy feeling as the temperature dropped about twenty degrees. "You know… you could be useful in another way. They -" the vile ditto-human hybrid jerked his head to my struggling bound friends. "–Won't cooperate and are being …Difficult to manage. They might need some ... Persuasion to settle down before the long flight."
"Go to bloody hell! I'll never do anything like that," I yelled. He aimed the gun at different parts of my body as if trying to decide where to shoot me. He settled on my right shoulder. {Oh holy Mew! he's gonna shoot me! he's gonna shoot me}
"You sure do have quite the temper. Like I said the last time I like that. Are you sure you don't want to. Reconsider?" He passed off the rubber bag with Pikachu in it to a hypno on one side of him. His eyes glowed blue and an ice-cold Haunter hand appeared next to my face and stroked my face. I tried to shield away from the specter like hand but couldn't. I flinched at the ghostly touch. "You're kind of pretty looking."
"Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmph" My fiancé tried to say something through the gag- probably something like 'get your horrid hybrid hands the hell away from her.'
Devon ignored him. "You sure you don't want to take my offer?"
. Once the ghostly fingers got near my mouth I said " H-h-here's my response." I spat then bit it.
" YEOOOOOOW ! You little witch ! !" He howled with pain as his ghostly hand vanished. The hand disappeared then reappeared to slap me on both cheeks very hard as Ash and Pikachu yelled through their gags. . My cheeks burned and stung where he slapped me and I felt them swelling up. "So you do have some fight in you. The real question is. Will he co-operate with you under danger?"
He focused on my fiancé who was trying to say something through the gag. "Ready to co-operate? If you go with me I might make it easier on her...for now. "Ash glared at him, eyes furious trying to say something to home "oh. Right… I forgot about your gag. Ursaring, swipe it off."
Once the gag was off-and he'd gulped some fresh air greedily - Ash said, "here's a better idea: why don't you go-" He told Devon a term he'd never say aloud in front of his own mother.
The Ursaring slashed his right cheek with its free claw while I yelled his name. The bear removed its now brown red claw from my fiancé's cheek as thick lines of red streamed down his already red , bruised and swollen face from where he'd been hit. "N-not. Going to. give.. in." he winced through the pain.
"I didn't want to have to do this as your fiancé would have been perfect in getting you to do what my boss wants. But if you're both going to be such s little buggering nuisance then so be it!" Devon growled again and aimed the gun straight at my heart. He squeezed the trigger as Ash screamed my name.
"Nooooo!"
,
Suddenly everything froze- even the bullet in midair. I heard someone's thoughts loud as if they had spoken as everything started to fade . . (It's only a dream. Wake up. It's only a dream. Wake up. It's only a dream. .) My surroundings started to fade to white. (Wake up. WAKE UP….)
-Dream ends-
(WAKE UP!)
"Ahh!" I jumped into the air and opened my eyes. I caught my breath and looked around. By the bright light of the moon streaking through the windows I was in the Silver Town Pokémon Center guest room. I looked at the speaker. Whose tall form I could see through the beams of midnight. "Don't do… that again Golduck," I told the blue water-type Pokémon as I panted for breath.
(It w-w-woke me u-up) Togepi yawned from my bed. He was rubbing his eyes with his fingers.
(Sorry kiddo.) Golduck told him. He looked at my shivering body. (It was just a stupid, stupid bad dream.)
"h-How did you do that? See. Into my dream? "
He shrugged his shoulders. (I really don't know myself. I saw you groaning and sweating. I put my hand on your forehead to cool you down and. I kind of got a glimpse of your dream. I'm still getting used to my new powers. But it was just a bad dream. Nothing more.)
"It felt so real." I added. My body stopped shaking a few minutes later. "I'm glad you got me up but what for?" He jerked a webbed hand toward the other side of the room where Bayleef was on the floor next to ash's bed.
My heart began thumping wildly in my chest when I saw it was empty. "Oh no. No, no, No. Not again. He can't be here. They can't be-"
(Chill out, Mist) my face went red at his use of Ash's nickname for me. (They didn't take him.). My heartbeat relaxed at those four words.
Bayleef spoke up from her spot. (He had another nightmare and needed air so he went outside. Pikachu's with him)
I enlarged his pokeball. "Thanks. The next time you need to wake me up from a nightmare like that, just use your Water Gun instead. Return." he chuckled as he was recalled into his ball. I minimized it and put it into my pajama bottom pocket- I was wearing ones that looked like sweats. "I'll go outside and talk to him. It must have been a bad one. Can you watch Togepi?"
(Are Jessie James and Meowth dim bulbs ? Of Course I can) she replied as she moved next to my bed.
I grabbed my guest room key on the bedside table next to the ring Ash gave me. I turned to Togepi. "Go back to sleep." I told him . "I'll be back in shortly. Bayleef's going to stay here in case. And I have Golduck with me. "'
(Okay) he muttered sleepily.
{I'm glad I'm wearing my sweat like pajamas. And we are on the ground level}.} I thought I opened the slider back door then closed it.
I saw my boyfriend sitting in a chair looking down at Pikachu in his lap in his black sleeping clothes . His new Johto League hat we'd bought that day covered his unkempt black hair. "Hey,"
He looked at me with tired dark brown eyes. I noticed that his sleeping outfit looked sweaty. "Hey."
"Bayleef told me you couldn't sleep and had a nightmare." I didn't press on for information once he nodded..
(Not really) Pikachu admitted.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
"A bit, " the teen admitted.
"You seemed fine when Mr. Goodshow told you had passed the screening round."
(He was hiding it from you. He's nervous about doing the competition a-a-after that whole experience…. ) Pikachu shivered.( with… them .) He looked up at me.
Ash stroked the mouse's fur gently. "It's not just that," he mumbled.
"Then what is it?"
He looked me in the eyes, and bit his lip. I knew biting his lip was a habit he did when he was nervous about something . I knew one of the reasons. {He's worried about a Rocket attack. considering what he's been though I don't blame him}.
"I had another terrifying nightmare..." he said simply and I didn't push him to elaborate. "A-and I'm worried about… Cyndaquil. I think I pushed her too hard earlier today-"
Pikachu and I looked up at him. We could understand his concern after what the fire type went through recently. (You didn't push her) he told his trainer. (She enjoyed the battle. it's been a while since she's been able to participate in one.)
"She's one lucky courageous fire type."
"She's tough and strong willed . I'm surprised with how much torture she was able to handle from that .. cold hearted horrendous hy-hybrid …beast ," I remarked as I shivered . I felt my heart beat fast for a minute as I recalled both our encounter with him and my vivid nightmare . {that beyond Insane psycho! What he almost -did in both reality and that vivid awful nightmare- goes beyond any typical wrong doing . }
The two guys looked up at me. "Are you okay Mist ? You just trembled." Ash asked.
(I can hear you heartbeat is going really fast.) Pikachu added . . ( did you have a nightmare about..him? )
I nodded. "Yeah. it started off as ..a really good dream…- " I recounted it . They were a great audience- Ash blushed and went as red as a Magmar when I mentioned the proposal. However then his face when white when I recalled when his dream self explained about where he got the ring and how Devon entered the picture.-
"Twisted power hungry bastards.."he muttered. " Holy freaking Mew.. … that's …"
"A beyond terrifying heart pounding nightmare?" I ended. "Yeah..but .. it was just a nightmare."
He looked away for a few seconds . I squeezed his hand for a minute. "You're also worried that.. he.. or those three bumbling dolts will try something at the tournament."
He turned back to me and nodded. {I Knew it!}
"Listen to me, Ashton." he winced at his full name. "They are not going to come after you."
(How do you know, Misty?) Pikachu looked at me
"It's common sense. Think about it. Were those idiots after us-I mean you at the Whirl Cup?"
"Umm..."
(They were after that Sea Spirit staff of Maya's the whole time. they didn't even snag me when I cut that stupid fishing line they used to get it .)
"Oh yeah..." Ash remembered. .
"So. If there is something else more valuable for those idiotic goons to gain..." I started.
(I get it. Then they won't focus on us hopefully) Pikachu said. (And since there are forty-seven more trainers to scam for a quick buck... that will keep them off our backs for a while)
"Yup. And-he's- probably got other things to worry about " I looked over at Ash, to see if he got my point. He was looking into the distance. "Ash? Hello? Anyone in there?" I lightly smacked his head. {For old time's sake}
"Owww. What was that for?" he rubbed the area that I hit.
"Were you even listening to us?"
"Course I was. I was just…. thinking. It's just ... well... I don't think I was this nervous at the Indigo Plateau Conference."
I smiled at him. "Things have changed a lot since then. Maybe a walk will help your nerves out." I got up out of the chair and stood up and he followed my example
…
It was a full moon out so it gave us plenty of light as we walked. "You ready to take on the Silver Conference?" I tried to break the silence.
"Definitely. I'm ready this time."
{There's that cockiness I know}. "And what if you end up facing Gary?"
I saw a rare I'm-gonna-pulverize-him smiles come across his face. {Those smiles are all too rare these days}. "Oh.. He is so going down."
(Yeah) Pikachu agreed. (Him and that stupid Umbreon...he may have beaten me once but things have changed)
"Oh yeah…"
I half-listened to them reflecting on how much things had changed since we first met for about fifteen minutes as we walked as I was lost in the memories:
me pulling them out of the river, ruining my bike , falling head over heels for him, our countless fights, all the fights with Team Rockets goons, the Shamuti Island disaster - which is when i realized how much I cared about him, , , saving him after he fell into the cold water near The Shamuti Shrine, the whole incident with Lawrence, , the horrible incident with Devon, our new relationship, the ring , etc. {I guess it was destiny that I met up with them. So many good times together.} I smiled and sighed with happiness as we stopped.
. "Mist? What's the matter?" he asked breaking me out of my thoughts. "You look like you're in a daze and you're pretty quiet. "
"Nothing's wrong . I'm just going through all the things that have changed since we first met."
"Yeah… things sure have changed a lot since then."
" One thing hasn't changed: you're still a complete loser." I heard a familiar arrogant voice a few feet in front of us. I looked over at Ash, who balled his hands into fists and looked ticked. It didn't take a psychic to know who the speaker was. There was just one person who had that effect on him- his long time rival Gary Oak.
(Don't let your temper show. Stay calm) Pikachu whispered as he jumped down from his spot on Ash's shoulder to the ground, his fur a bit fluffed up .
Sitting on a flat rock about ten feet in front t of us was Gary - dressed in a black sleeping shirt and sweats- and his Umbreon. "If isn't Ashy-boy and his little Pikachu. Why haven't you evolved it yet?"
Both of them shuddered at this. "I ….He…he's. Happy the way he is. "Ash mumbled under his breath. I knew he didn't want to say anything about what happened on the airship. The wounds still stung and the less people knew what happened … the better.
"What are you even doing out here? Too nervous about the competition to sleep?"
"No. He's not. We were just out for a moonlit walk, talking about how much has changed since our first days as trainers. What's it to you anyways?" I glared at Gary, wishing I could punch him.
"Nothing. I was thinking as the same thing with Umbreon here about how we were looking up at the full moon our first night out." He eyed me. "Surprised you're still around him." I scowled at him-as if he knew anything of what we'd been through.. {Jerk!}
"So what if I am?" I felt my temper boiling.
"Watch it Gary." Ash glared at his rival. "What do you want?"
Gary got up and looked at him. "What's it to you? Hoping to make past the top sixteen this time? Or is another one of your Pokémon going to disobey you again and take a nap right on the field ?"
I could see my boyfriend's face go pale and he gulped at the jab about what his old Charizard did at the Indigo Plateau. " I. I. " he stammered. "N-no."
(Gary has been training me very hard. I can't wait to beat you and your trainer in a battle you definitely won't win) Umbreon told Pikachu.
(We'll see about that.) the mouse replied back. After dealing with Giovanni's cold hearted Persian and Devon's despicable hybrids, the Dark type Pokemon's words were like flies on a Tauros' back in the summer- just annoying.
Umbreon scoffed. (Riiiight.)
Gary got up, called Umbreon to his side. "What's the matter? Meowth got your tongue? You know I'm the better trainer, Ketchum. I proved that back in Pallet"
"That was then …th-this is now. I'll do whatever it takes to beat you." he replied
His rival scoffed. "Oh really? We'll see about that. I doubt it. You're probably slightly better than before but not much. See you tomorrow Ashy-boy. " He walked away.
"Trust me. He'll show you!" I called out after him we watched as he walked away and disappeared from sight and our hearing range fifteen minutes later. "What a stuck up snobbish a-hole." I commented.
"He's right you know." Ash sighed.
"About what? Being better than you? He's just trying to get you going. He's nothing but a big ego-centric pompous jerk who puts you down and doesn't give a Rattata's-"
A twig snapped in the near distance echoing loudly in the still air. Pikachu sniffed the air, ears and nose twitching back and forth. "What's up?" He asked.
(Someone's nearby and they're getting closer. It smells like metal, electricity, and tulips. Sort of like-) he whispered and then stopped as his fur puffed up.
"Who?" We asked at the same time.
His eyes widened as he said one name in a low whisper. (D-D-Domino.)
My heart pounded in my throat. It was just our luck he would send a top agent on our trail on the eve of the Silver Conference . Ash went pale and gulped as he quickly took off his hat and put it in my hands . {He's not going to do what I think he's doing...} I thought as I saw the fear in his eyes.
He jerked his head to the side. "Take him and get out of here fast," he mouthed.
"But that leaves you defenseless."
"I'll ...be fine. It's better for one of us to be caught than all of us in .h-h-his clutches a-again. " His face went white for a few seconds.
"You can't be serious.. Y-you're gonna willingly give yourself up to that… beast?"
He nodded and I gazed into his dark brown eyes. "B-b-but…" I whispered feeling tears come to my eyes. "Y-you-know-who w-will torture and hurt you e-even m-more than the first time.. more than D-D-Devon….He'll use use you as bait.. I...I can't . . "
"I know, Mist... " He replied softly. "But.. I h-h-have to- I'll have to draw her away. W-we don't have a choice/ if it's what I have to do to keep you two out of his hands again …" He let the sentence hang in the air.
The three of us looked at each other in horror and I felt like my heart was being torn. (As much as I don't want to be separated either after. that incident o-or the thing with .. Devon ) Pikachu lowered his voice and shivered. (H-he's got a point. If the three of us all stay here we may as well send up a blazing fireworks signal into the sky saying 'here we are. C-come and get us in one swoop. ) he gulped as if not wanting to say the words . (W-We have to separate .)
Ash nodded again Pikachu looked at his trainer- understanding mixed with pain in his eyes and nodded. The yellow mouse jumped into my arms. (The footsteps are Approaching fast. Misty i-if w want to escape w-w-we have to leave now.)
My heart felt like it was being ripped apart in two. i wanted to stay and protect the boy i loved. But on the other hand they were both right . If all three of us stayed there we would be sitting Psyducks and be completely doomed.I knew it was the only way .
I looked up at my boyfriend and saw his facial expression was pained looking too. "You're both right. I love you. We'll find a way to reunite." I whispered and then I turned my back and ran.
After twenty-five feet . I glanced back and saw two small darts come out of nowhere and strike his arms and legs. He screamed and winced in pain before falling to his knees. He gazed up at me and weakly jerked his head to the darts in his arms and . He mouthed the words "St-stun darts.. go .L-love you. " before wincing in pain. I ran about fifty feet more away before we gazed back again. I saw a shock ring fly through the air, snap around my boyfriend's middle and shock him. He screamed louder than before as to muffle my running footsteps.
I turned around and ran a hundred fifty more feet. I hid against a tree trunk that was off the path and hid us from view-my heart racing . (We. Need more cover) the mouse whispered. (If sh-she comes this way-)
Golduck silently popped out of his Pokeball and wordlessly put a thick Barrier over us. I bit my lip and covered my mouth with my free hand as a smoke bomb exploded over the area.. A thick cloud of pepper spray smoke that made my eyes and nose burn even from inside the barrier -engulfed my surroundings. I heard another scream of pain and saw electric sparks.
Domino must have picked my boyfriend off the ground because i heard her say and bit muffled as if she had a gas mask on-.
"So .. you're the kid the Boss wants. Don't see what's lo special about you. Where's your Pikachu? Boss says it's always with you . "
. My boyfriend's voice sounded strange from the pepper spray cloud. " just m-me go.. to.. hell. "
"Feisty aren't you. The boss'll be very pleased with you. Even if the mouse isn't here I've how .. loyal it is so you'll be perfect bait . ." she chuckled.
my heart pounded loudly and i felt Pikachu tremble. { no}
he coughed. "w-wont get a-away with.-" i hard my boyfriend start to say but then he uttered a gasp of pain and fell silent.
.(tranquilizer shot) Golduck mouthed. My heart pounded loudly in my chest and my stomach twisted.
I imagined Domino smirking as she said. "You're tough kid. But I'm tougher. We've got a long plane ride to viridian city tomorrow morning. nighty- night.." .
My heart pounded in my throat as we heard her tie my unconscious boyfriend to something. There a loud THUD as something hit the ground . There was another thick cloud of smoke- regular smoke this time- that came from the direction we'd come. We waited for twenty-five minutes-which seemed like an eternity to me- until the sound of footsteps disappeared.
Golduck's eyes went back to normal as the barrier disappeared... He used two Water Guns to blow away the smoke cloud. I fell to the ground on my knees – my heart feeling slashed in two and a few tears fallibg from my eyes. "No. H-h-he's… gone-" I coughed- almost feeling some of the pepper spray smoke in my throat. "A-a-gain."
{This just couldn't have happened. I just saw my new boyfriend - with whom I've shared immeasurable adventures and fights with over the years we've known each other -get kidnapped and I ... just stood there. I failed him .I should have done something .i should have stayed with him and not let Domino take him . No. Why now?}
Golduck broke me out of my thoughts. (He didn't want Pikachu and you to suffer the same fate. And Misty...He's not gone…At least not yet. . You heard Domino. They aren't leaving until tomorrow morning. )
My heart leapt at this statement . i wiped my face with my tee shirt sleeve. " Y-you're right."
(We need to get him back tonight before it's too late and he ends up in ... his clutches...) Pikachu shivered at the last two words. After the torture and hellish agony the malicious cold-hearted Team Rocket leader had put him through the first time we met face to face, I didn't blame him one bit. His old claustrophobic phobia/hatred of Pokéballs had been delegated to fear spot number two by utter hatred and total fear of Giovanni.
(But how? This pepper spray's screwing up my nose and-) he coughed. (eyes.)
"We need to get him back- tonight- before she goes back. But how? We need someone who has a Pokemon who's sense of smell is powerful and who can run super fast "
A thought came into my head. {Gary's Arcanine can track them down with no problem}, As much as I hated to say it out loud it was the only option. "W-We need Gary." I was disgusted at saying these three words out loud but he was our only hope.
(Why do we need -?) Pikachu reached the same conclusion I did. (Oh! I get it. We don't really that jerk but his Arcanine for her sense of smell)
"yeah.." i shuddered at the thought. "Golduck a-are you can you able to find him?"
(I'll try. _) He closed his eyes and his forehead jewel glowed for a few minutes. (I found him…)
I was torn. Pikachu looked at me his eyes trying not to water at lingering smell of pepper spray smoke. . (We don't have a choice. If she finds out I was n-nearby )
He squatted down. (Jump on my back)
"But..."
(If we stay here she'll see us if she comes back) I knew he was right. I saw the sense in his words and jumped on his back. (Hold on tight. )
...
The three of us didn't speak as he ran super-fast for being on land. Within fifteen minutes we had reached the back of Silver Town's large Pokémon Center. I spotted Gary as he was about to enter a back door to his room - apparently he recalled Umbreon since he was alone and didn't have any of his usual entourage/ cheerleaders around. He was in his pajamas.
"Gary. Hold on Don't go inside. I." i cringed; knowing the next four words I was about to say would leave a foul taste in my mouth. "I need your help," I said as Golduck screeched to a stop.
"Huh?" He turned around at the sound of my voice- or at the sound of the last four words as the electric mouse and I got off Golduck's back. "Oh. It's you. What do you want?"
I looked him right in the eyes. "Listen Gary, I know you don't like me and I don't like you. But … after you left …there was a sneak Rocket attack. We-" I indicated the two Pokémon and myself… "managed to get away b-but." I bit my lip hoping that ego-sentric jerk would listen..
He scoffed at the gesture in disgust. {jerk!}No." he cut me off as if knowing what I had been about to say.
I raised my eyebrows. "What do mean by that?
"Just what I said. I'm not helping you find that dorky loser. It's his own fault. "
Pikachu uttered a low growl. (Don't call him that)
{selfish arrogant jerk!} I thought as I went right up to him, resisting the urge to knock a few teeth out. "Don't you care about anyone but yourself? He is your friend."
"Correction- was my friend -years ago. Not now- we're rivals," he corrected. "What's it to you? and why would they take him?
I took a deep breath and tried to keep my temper in check. "What's it to me? What's it to me? Deeply for him and. I'm worried about what they'll do to him. We had a run in with the Team Rocket boss recently and it' … didn't go so well. I care about him way deeper and much more than a friend … I can't bear to see him hurt. "
"Wait just a minute … you and that loser are …dating?"
Pikachu looked at him, his fur bristling as if he were resisting the urge to give the arrogant jerk a taste of his Thunderbolt. (Don't call him that. So what if they are? What do you care? You hate Ash.)
"Thanks.." I told him and then continued on. "Pikachu makes a good point: what's it to you if I'm dating him. You don't like either of us or vice versa. Besides he has every right to be here as you do –he's worked very hard to compete in this conference. Didn't you tell us that you couldn't wait to prove who the better trainer is?"
"Well. …Yeah but-"
I didn't let him finish. "How are you supposed to do that if -if he doesn't compete? Put your a large ego aside for once. Besides He helped you at that power plant. now you can repay the favor and help him. Please Gary it's just this once." I practically begged.
A few minutes passed as my words sunk in and then he sighed. "Fine.. But just this once. Wait here while I change." He went inside.
Golduck whistled softly. (Dang. You sure showed him.)
(Do you think we should trust him?) Pikachu asked as he jumped onto my shoulder.
I glanced down at the hat in my hands for a few seconds. "We don't have a choice. We need to get him away from…her before she leaves tomorrow . " I got out Golduck's pokeball with my free hand. "Do you mind-".
(Going inside so that I don't shove a huge piece of my mind or a Water Gun down Gary's throat? Tempting as it is) He finished and I smiled as I nodded. (No problem). He gave me the thumbs up sign and I recalled him.
A minute later Gary came out in his typical blue shirt and black pants. He closed the door behind him and called out his Arcanine from her Pokéball. The huge majestic red and black striped canine Fire type appeared in flash of white light in front of us.
She sniffed the air excitedly. "Easy, my beauty. Steady. … steady .. Good girl. I need you to track someone down." He motioned for me to give him the hat in my hands. "Relax- I'm not gonna keep or destroy it. She just needs the scent."
I reluctantly handed it over and he put it under her nose. "Track down the owner of this hat."
Arcanine sniffed it. (It smells like fear, pepper spray new hat smell and…your rival) She then took her nose up and sniffed the air for a few minutes. (He's a few miles away in the woods .) My heart did a little flip. (But he's injured and out cold. there's some kind of electrical burn on his arms)
My hands trembled as Gary gave me back the hat. {If she hurt him badly...}. Pikachu looked up at me , worry on his own face, which mirrored my own. Gary took one look at my face, sighed as he jumped on Arcanine's back. …
" Fine. I'll go with you to get him." He motioned for me to join him. I did just that and she leapt forward.
She ran so fast it felt like she was flying. The surroundings looked like blurs
. (Whoa!) Pikachu clenched onto my shirt with his paws as I tried to not fall off. It wasn't easy holding on to the Fire type with one hand and holding my boyfriend's hat with the other plus the huge knot in my stomach.
Gary smirked as he turned around to look at us. "Such novices at Arcanine riding."
I glared at my boyfriend's jerky rival, fighting the temptation to give him a black eye. "Stuff it Oak. Turn around and keep your eyes on the path." I replied.
Pikachu's nose twitched as he sniffed the air as we traveled.
…
Twenty minutes later, she stopped before a small clearing and we got off. (He's in there.) Arcanine whispered.
I peered through the trees and saw there was a black camping tent about fifteen feet away. Set about three feet away from a thick tree and tied to that tree by a bunch ropes was my gagged boyfriend,out cold . My heart flipped with joy but then I saw a metal ring around his middle and electrical burn patches on hisarm and legs. . {That witch! If this wasn't just a rescue mission...}
Pikachu looked at me, from his spot on my shirt understanding what I was thinking. By the look on his face he was thinking the same thing.
"Now what?" Gary asked
I rolled my eyes , 'accidentally' elbowing him as we got off Arcanine. {Idiot}."Uh duh…. That's obvious: you wait here while we rescue him."
"I'm not getting my hands dirty."
"Didn't you hear me? I said 'we' rescue him. You stay here. " I paused.. " we may need your help getting back."
I looked down at Pikachu, who gave Gary a look as he jumped to the ground. We entered the clearing and as silently and carefully as we could, made our way to the tree. {That wasn't so bad.}
The mouse Pokémon sniffed the gag. (Than Mew it's not chloroformed ) he whispered. He unclenched his paws from my shirt, jumped up and used Slash on the ropes, which broke apart. He nearly fell onto the ground but I caught him before he did.
I saw my boyfriend's hands were tied behind his back. I yanked the gag-off his mouth and he groaned. "Psst. wake up! Come on Ash, snap out of it. "I whispered..
"Ugggh" He groaned again.
"Come on , snap out of it. "I whispered again but he simply moaned ...{Stupid traquilizer and stun darts.}
I knew how I had to wake him- it was like a reverse Sleeping Beauty. Instead of the prince waking the sleeping princess, the princess- aka me - had to wake the dozing prince- i.e. Ash. "If that won't wake you up then maybe this will." I then planted kisses on both sides of his cheeks then his forehead then his lips . "Wake up you idiot. Please wake up"
His eyes opened at my words and he looked up at me – my name forming on his mouth but I put a finger to his lips for a few seconds. He motioned to the tent. "What if-" he mouthed.
"Shush. We'll just be quiet. Can you walk?" I whispered.
The black haired teen tried and promptly fell on the ground, just missing a stone on the ground. "Ooof!" I knelt down to face him and he shook his head. "Apparently not. "
(Look) Pikachu stared at something black and circular binding his trainer's legs together.
{Stupid Domino} "Great…." I muttered seeing the metal ring remembering them. i helped him up from the earth and he leaned against my shoulder . "How do we get it off?"
We got about a foot away when Pikachu's ears twitched and his fur spiked up as the tent rustled. (Misty? we've got a problem)
I gulped. "Get behind me." He nodded as he did just that and I quickly grabbed two hair ties out of my shirt pocket and pulled my hair into two pigtails. Then I reached down, grabbed a thick handful of dirt and rubbed it all over my face and arms.
A few minutes later a short yellow haired girl wearing dark sweats and a black Tee shirt came out of the tent flap. She stared at the three of us, an electrically charged ' tulip,' in her hand. Her eyes narrowed as she saw us and saw the broken ropes My heart pounded in my chest. For a half minute none of us spoke as her eyes studied us. {Please. please let her not remember me}.
She glared at my boyfriend then at me. "What are you you doing little girl? That kid is mine. Get away from him or else"
After facing Lawrence, Devon and her boss she didn't frighten me that much . But the fact that she was extremely close to Giovanni made my blood run cold. "N -No."
She pointed her weapon at me. "I don't know who you are but Get away from the kid or else."
"No freaking way. S-Sparky and I are going to stop you" I lied. Pikachu and Ash groaned. {Ugh. Why'd I use Ritchie's Pikachu's name}
"This is your last warning..."
A bright burst of energy light came out from my pajama bottoms in front of me and materialized into Golduck. (Can't you take a hint ? He isn't staying with you.) His eyes glowed as he made a Barrier around us right as Domino fired her tulip.
The electric shocks bounced off the barrier. (That was a close one) the mouse told me (but how are we gonna get out of this mess?)
Domino continued to attack the barrier with her weapon. (Boy those shocks are. Strong) Golduck grunted as he kept the barrier up.
"Doing. A great job" Ash told him and then noticed Gary in the shadows. "What's he doing ...here?"
"Helping me rescue you."
(Do you guys have a plan on how to beat her?) Pikachu asked us as he pointed to a small crack in the barrier. (Cause I don't know how long the barrier is going to last). His paws dug into the earth. He looked at ash then at Gary who was hiding in the shadows.
"What a Jerk! He's just waiting for you to admit we need help. " I muttered. "And then he's going to hang it over your head. "
Ash shook his head. "Forget it."
I lowered my voice as a shock hit the barrier hard. "We don't have a choice. Either we have him help or we end up in his. hands Again… and the the only Pokémon we have with us are .. ". I jerked my head to Golduck and Pikachu.
"Your safety bubble won't last much longer" Domino cackled.
"Fine..." he sighed.
"It would be nice if a trainer who just happened to be walking by-" I cried loudly from inside the barrier as the tulip bombarded it with shock waves, "a strong trainer with an Arcanine- - helped us out and burnt that flower." I jerked my head to the 'tulip' then to Arcanine.
Gary got the hint and pointed to Domino. "Tackle her my beauty!"
(Right) Arcanine burst out of the shadows and lunged at Domino.
"What the-OOOF!" The fire type rammed Domino and made her skid twenty feet, her weapon falling out of her hand.
The barrier around us disappeared as Golduck used his Psychic attack to destroy the tulip. (Whoops.)
"You brat!" Domino yelled as she got up.
I didn'teven need to tell anything to Golduck - his eyes glowed as he used his Disable attack to stop her in midair. "What's going on?" She panicked. Golduck lazily waved a glowing finger in the air in a circle. As he did domino went around and around in a circle. We watched until she became a blur.
(That good enough?) He asked.
"Yup. No need to make her or us too dizzy." I told he and he dropped her onto the ground as his eyes and finger went back to normal. "Good job."
She woozily got to her feet. " You little brat…"
"Pi- Sparky-" Ash corrected himself. "Get her with your Thunderb-"
"oh. I wouldn't do have it that if I were you boy " Domino waved a finger at him as she got a small remote with a dial on out of her pocket." Unless you want to be shocked with a hundred more volts." The mouse's cheeks stopped sparking. She looked at me. 'You look extremely similar to this annoying mouthy girl my boss ran into."
My teeth chattered but I said nothing. She studied Pikachu observantly. "That mouse Pokémon isn't yours is it? It's his is isn't?"
My heart pounded loudly in my throat. "N-n-no. S-Sparky's mine." I lied.
She evidently didn't believe me. " He was the one that just gave it an order .My boss has said that he-"she motioned with her head to my boyfriend, who still looked a little bit out of it. "Has a Pikachu that stays out of its pokeball and that it clings to him like a shadow. I was wondering why it wasn't near him. my boss is …interested in it. You have two options girl: I deal with you myself after I knock my prizes- the kid and the mouse into unconsciousness or… you them with me and leave now and forget you saw or heard anything. "
I felt sick to my stomach as the color drained from my, Pikachu and Ash's faces. I shivered-there was no way i way going to let that psycho criminal get his power hungry claws on them again-even for a minute . "L-Like hell she'd leave me alone with you! Your deplorable boss has no heart or soul. I-I know what his idea of being 'interested' is like!" He told Domino who looked like she wanted to slug him senseless.
She growled. "Fine. A powerful shock into unconsciousness it is boy! I'll use the energy absorbing shock ring on your little friend after. Say goodnight!" She raised a finger in the air above the dial.
Luckily Gary and I shouted at that same moment: "Headbutt !"
"Oh no you don't! Golduck Hydro Pump!"
Before she could press the button the two attacks sent her flying through the night sky. The remote fell to the ground. "Currrrrses!" She yelled.
As she flew Golduck's fingers and eyes glowed again until she vanished from our sight. "What did you do?" I asked him as his fingers and eyes reverted to normal
. (Just made sure she 'conveniently' landed in front of the Silver Town police station. Police are always on the lookout for Team Rocket members. And she's a high ranking one.) The blue duck smirked.
"Good thinking making her land at the police ." my boyfriend commented.
"Smart move." Gary grudgingly complimented. I was stunned. {Did I just hear him say that?}
Gary looked at the button with the dial on it. "Arcanine. My lovely. Ember shot then stomp that thing."
She nodded and obeyed his orders.
(I'll get that stupid ring off. This might feel a bit cold) Golduck said as he touched a glowing blue webbed hand to the ring around Ash's legs. Light Ice formed around it and froze the ring and the teen flinched at the touch. His hand went back to normal. Next then he used his other hand to lightly tap it and it broke into small icy fragments.
"Thanks." he said as I helped him to his feet and gave him his hat back. . He looked at the black tent then at Pikachu. "Domino's electronic equipment is in there, pal. Do you mind… taking care of it?"
The mouse smiled. (Need you even ask?) He stepped forward a few feet and let loose a massive Thunderbolt at the tent. (Taaaake this!)
Sure enough it was too much and the tent exploded. Golduck put up a barrier around Gary and us so the debris wouldn't hit us. Luckily it didn't last long. Once it was over his barrier vanished. "Great job buddy. You deserve a nice long rest." I told my water type as I returned him to his Pokeball.
Gary jumped back on Arcanine's back and motioned for Ash, Pikachu and I to follow. We didn't speak on the ride back to his back door. During the ride I had to hold Ash tightly so he wouldn't fall off- he probably still felt the effects of of those darts and the shock ring . He kept on closing his eyes and i had to hug him and tell him good thing things to keep him awake.
….
We got off her when we reached Gary's room. "Good girl Arcanine. Return." He pointed her Pokeball at her and a beam of red energy sucked her inside. He minimized the ball and put it on his belt. He turned to his former friend. "What was that Rocket goon going on about her boss being interested in you?"
Ash opened his mouth to say something but I spoke first. "Like I said earlier. W-we had an unpleasant experience with ... her boss." I spoke up. "What happened is between us and. them. " I shuddered." So mind your own beeswax."
Gary raised an eyebrow. "Seriously who could be interested in him? And for what reason?" Ash balled one hand into a fist as Gary continued. "Let me guess: you didn't think about having any of your Pokémon with you."
He scowled at Gary. "I didn't think I'd be attacked during a walk."
Gary shook his head. "Tsk, tsk Ashy- boy. Haven't you realized by now it's always smart to keep a Pokémon or two with you?"
"I have a Pokémon with me or did you forget about him?" he replied.
"Who … him?" Gary pointed to Pikachu . "Surely he can't be the only one you have with you. If he got defeated by my Umbreon when he was an Eevee he can't be that strong." The mouse's cheeks started sparking at this insult,
"He… he's stronger than he looks." Ash countered.
"And what if your mouse is attacked or hurt? What would you do?"
"I-I-"
I saw my boyfriend's face go white. Personally I was thisclose to verbally telling Gary off again but tried to keep calm. "Will you quit harping on him , you snob? That's already happened to them a lot Mr. high and mighty Oak. And they've come out better for it. "
"That was just dumb luck… "
"It-it wasn't. "He replied. "I had to deal w-with lots more that …her, and Fearow and its gang."
"What moron throws a rock at a Spearow anyways? Oh wait… I'm talking to you."
Ash balled his hands into fists and nearly ran at him but I held him back by his shirt. "Lemme at him. Lemme at him …"
"No. "
Gary laughed. "That's pathetic. You can't even fight back so you have to have a girlfriend fight for you.
"Stuff it Oak..." I was thisclose to getting Golduck out and soaking that jerk.
"If I wasn't injured…."
"Excuse me... I need to go wash my hands- I think I may have gotten 'loser-itus' from being around you for too long. . See ya tomorrow. Be prepared to lose… yet again."
He laughed as he opened the back door into his room, went inside and closed the door. "What an Egotistical jerky snob." I muttered.
(Once a Jerk always a jerk) Pikachu said.
"You said it." Ash sighed as we started heading back to our own guest room. "Gary may be a jerk he's right though."
"On which part? Being the better trainer, or having a Pokémon with you at all times?"
He sighed. "Both."
"He's just trying to get you going."
(We've only battled him once but I know that we'll beat him. Who's faced butch and Cassidy not once but three times.) Pikachu prompted him.
"Well..."
"And faced Lawrence not once but twice" I added.
"The second time we barely escaped with our lives."
(Who got to the final rounds of the indigo plateau conference? And don't say it was dumb luck) Pikachu said as he jumped off ash's shoulder onto the ground.
He opened his mouth to say something but I stared kissing him on the cheeks between words. "And who is the cutest...bravest sweetest... boyfriend in the...competition?"
He blushed as red as a fresh strawberry, "okay, okay. I can tell when I'm out numbered. It's just that jerk puts me down every time he sees me."
(Ignore him)
"Pretend your opponent is Gary and beat the snot out of them."
"Th-thanks M-Mist" he yawned as we got back into the room and I locked the door. {The tranquilizer darts must still be affecting him)
Ash and Pikachu fell asleep on their bed the minute they touched the bed- not even bothering to get under the covers. Togepi was asleep on my own pillow.
I sighed as I went over to my boyfriend's bed, took his hat off his head and put it on the bedside table. Then I walked over and sat down in my own bed gently moving Togepi off the pillow next to me. . Bayleef looked up from her spot on the floor. (Hey. Is everything all right?)
I sighed. "Kind of."
(What do you mean kind of? You were gone for a quite a while you have the look in your eye like something-) her eyes went wide. (By Celebi's wings what happened?)
I explained. "We went for a walk and ran into that jerky rival Gary Oak, who put Ash down…Again. He-he mentioned why Pikachu hadn't evolved and why I was still traveling with him"
(The one with the Umbreon?) I nodded. (The nerve of him! He doesn't know what you've been through together or how much that first question probably felt like a DynamicPunch to the heart for Ash. That guy rubs me the wrong way.)
"I know how you feel- I don't like him either. I would just love for Golduck or Corsola to give him a Hydrop Pump or a Headbutt. Not only was that but there a sneak attack by Domino of you know what. "
(Domino…Domino..) the Grass type thought for a few seconds then lowered her voice as she asked. (Isn'y she that super high ranking Rocket member with those electric black tulips who tried to capture Mewtwo at Mt. Quena? The one who's memory Mewtwo wiped?)
"Th-that's her." I replied as my face went white and I shuddered.
(Oh my! You mean to say she tried to -) she motioned to the other bed and I nodded again.
"Yup. Luckily it was just Ash but we sent her packing with Gary's help. The thing that terrifies me is that she' w-was sent by …him. " I shivered .in the moonlight i could see Bayleef shudder-she remembered how heartless and cruel Giovanni's Persian was. I lowered my voice to a soft whisper and explained what she said - both when i overheard her and when she caught us trying to escape. .
Bayleef's eyes went wide with fright. (Holy Celebi! That's horrible.)
She licked my face, which cheered me up. "Thanks." I sighed. "Ugh. What a night."
(Things will be better in the morning. Don't worry I'll watch them.) She got up, went to the other side of the room to where she was before and sat down. There was total determination in her eyes and I could see how this trait made her tough in the wild. . (I'd like to see anyone get past me)
"Thanks." I climbed into my own bed and looked over at him one last time. I sighed. "Fate seemed to hate him lately: First the whole situation with Lawrence and Giovanni then being ambushed lots more. The problems with Devon and the Pokémon poacher brothers didn't help. Just when he thought he got a break he had to deal with both Domino and egocentric stuck up jerk Gary". {He's been through so much change in such a short time. Just when he was slowly getting back to the way he used to be that jerk has to bring him down by mentioning …that!}
Bayleef looked up at me as if seeing my thoughts on my face. She lowered her voice. (He'll get over It. besides for what he has been through lately,, that arrogant jerk should be the least of his troubles.)
I chuckled as I took off my shoes. " I completely agree." I nodded as I got under the covers. "You're right. I hope he beats Gary. That may take that jerk down a peg or two..."
(I hope that gets him back to normal ...well kind of.) She stated.
I took one last look over his side of the room and sighed. "Same here. Goodnight Bayleef."
(Night.)
I climbed under the covers and pulled them over me. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out like a light.
The end