Chapter 8:

The Shadow of Dreams

Kathy jumped awake as Nathan was shouting Pokemon moves in his sleep. She moved away from him. He began rolling around as if he was celebrating. She kicked his leg. He woke up with one eye half open and his hair all matted up.

"Shut up!" she yelled at him.

Nathan fell back down, and Kathy turned away from Nathan. They both fell back asleep within minutes. The next morning, they all woke up to Phillip making breakfast.

"What on earth were you dreaming about Nathan? You were waking everyone up."

Nathan paused for a moment trying to remember. He scratched his head then shrugged.

"I don't remember." He laughed.

"Your hopeless."

"You know Kathy… I don't remember what I dreamt about last night either." Phillip chimed in.

Kathy stroked her chin in wonder.

A few miles away on the main path Brett and Betty were digging multiple holes in the ground.

"They won't get away this time Brett."

"No they won't. We will catch that powerful Cyndaquil and bring it to the master."

"And then we can hold that Phillip hostage until he decides to join us."

The two Team Rocket members continued to dig ferociously. After another couple of hours, they were able to cover up the holes.

"Uhhh… Betty… do you remember, where we dug all the holes? Those kids should be here any minute."

She laughed.

"Of course I do you fool!"

Brett jumped around behind Betty as they tried to get around the path and not fall into a hole. The ground began to thin from under them. They plopped into the biggest hole which opened up all the others.

In a moment's time Phillip and the team walked around the big hole in the middle of the path.

"That's an odd place for a hole." Kathy said as the team circled around it.

After a couple more hours of walking Phillip grew bored. He decided to stop for training. Tyrogue and Pidgey were exchanging attacks as Phillip would stop them and explain things to them. Nathan decided it would be a good time to introduce Furret to the rest of his Pokemon. Nathan sat down with Heracross, Totodile, Cyndaquil and Furret and they all talked. Kathy whined as she sat in the fetal position. She found herself growing a little jealous of her companions. She hadn't caught anything new since she started traveling with them.

The day flew by and it was time to set up camp again. Further down the road Team Rocket was digging another hole.

"Let's not fall into this again." Brett announced.

"Agreed. We will catch them this time Brett. We'll just dig one big hole instead of several of them."

As the night fell Kathy was dreaming. She was awakened by a strange feeling. She popped up and saw a shadowy figure with a long nose hiding behind a tree.

"Hey you!"

The shadow darted off. Kathy jumped up after it. They flew through several bushes. The shadow continued to hide behind one tree to another. They made their way back to the main path when both the shadow and Kathy fell into the hole. As Kathy laid on top of it she was able to identify the Pokemon as a Drowzee.

Team Rocket fell out of their hammocks just off the path. A moment later Kathy saw the faces of Team Rocket as a torch was shining bright in the night sky. They were dancing around full of excitement. They finished their rhyme about flying into the highest heights when Betty notices it's not who they had hoped it would be.

"It's just that funny looking girl that follows Phillip around."

"And a stupid Drowzee. Boo! Take them both and drown them in the lake Betty!"

Kathy shrieked and the Drowzee hid behind her shaking.

"Maybe we can use them as bait instead." Betty suggested.

"Hmm… I like that idea more."

As the two of them began to fish out Kathy and Drowzee. Cyndaquil charged at Brett and Betty knocking them back. Kathy and Drowzee fell back into the hole. Pidgey flew in behind them unleashing a mighty gust attack that blew them away.

"TEAM ROCKET IS BLASTING OFF AGAAAAAAAIIIIINNNNN!"

Phillip and Tyrogue slid down a rope to help both Kathy and the Drowzee out of the hole. As soon as their feet touched the ground the Drowzee ran away. Kathy cut him off.

"Oh no you don't!"

Drowzee tried to run the other way.

"Go Exeggcute!"

Kathy threw out her Pokeball. She was going to catch Drowzee. An Exeggcute emerged from the Pokeball. Drowzee was stuck between Kathy and Exeggcute with nowhere to run. The two Pokemon stared at each other and began to ready themselves for battle. Without warning, Drowzee threw itself at Exeggcute attempting a pound attack. Exeggcute slid to its right causing the Drowzee to miss. The six heads popped up together firing off heavy round seeds at Drowzee. Drowzee evaded the attack. Drowzee fired a hypnotic psywave. Exeggcute did the same. The two waves collided sending both Pokemon flying back. Drowzee tried to pound again. Exeggcute rolled aside to its left.

"Quick Exeggcute! Confusion attack!"

Both Pokemon fired a confusion attack that collided in the air. The repel confused both Pokemon. Exeggcute recovered before Drowzee did.

"Exeggcute do a stun spore!"

Exeggcute jumped in the air and dust fell off of the shells. Drowzee was paralyzed. Kathy fired a Pokeball at Drowzee. The seconds ticked away as Drowzee stayed in the Pokeball. Kathy caught a Drowzee. Phillip yelled at her from the side.

"Great job Kathy!"

They ran towards each other. Kathy closed her eyes and ran up to Phillip with her arms out ready to embrace him. They met in the middle with Phillip giving her a double high five. Kathy blushed and looked at the ground kicking the dirt around her.

"Why is your face all red Kathy!?" Nathan yelled.

With her eyes narrowed Kathy let out a roar and smacked Nathan across the face.

"Why is your face all red Nathan!?"

"OWWWWWW! What was that for!?"

Phillip laughed at Nathan. Nathan leaned forward with clenched fists.

"What's so funny!?" he roared.

"I bet Kathy would beat you up if you two got in a fight." Phillip said with a huge smile on his face.

"Not true!"

Cyndaquil looked at Nathan and nodded his head.

"What!? No way! You agree Cyndaquil?"

Cyndaquil nodded his head again.

Nathan stood up and crossed his arms turning his nose up.

The group laughed together.

"What should we do now?" Kathy asked looking at Phillip.

"Since we're already up we might as well head to the Pokemon center. It's only a few miles away."

The next several moments were silent. Kathy had a huge smile on her face holding her Pokeball and staring at it. A little while later they stopped at the Pokemon center just outside of Union Cave. As they were eating their meal several travelers ran into the building white with big eyes and drenched in sweat.

To be continued…