Chapter 9 Confidence Prominence
(Disclaimer: I do not Own Pokémon. Pokémon Belongs to Game Freak and Nintendo).
[A/N #1: Sorry for being late for publishing this new chapter, I promised that I would have this new chapter available sooner, but I hope what I have in this chapter will make up for it. Trust me, I spent over 12 Hours writing it (non-consecutively) and I hope that the time it took paid off BIG TIME! Without further ado, sit back, relax, and enjoy chapter 9 of "The Ashes of Confidence". Also, Happy New Year (as in the start of 2025)].
(It was another beautiful and sunny day in the countryside town known as Pallet Town. With its most well-known Trainer, Ash Ketchum and his Partner Pokémon, Pikachu sitting under a tree on a high hill overlooking the town. Ash was in positively high spirits, as he had managed to win the rematches, he had against Gary, Paul, and Brandon who had originally defeated him. And it was all thanks to the Mew Diamond that was hanging around his neck. As he and Pikachu continued to enjoy the beautiful sunny day in his hometown, Ash let out a happy sigh to himself and Pikachu as they continued to enjoy the Sunny Morning they were having).
Ash: What a beautiful day. (Pikachu Smiles agreeing with him).
Pikachu: It sure is. (But then a thought came to Ash's mind).
Ash: But what are we going to do with it? (Pikachu then began trying to think of something, before just smiling happily).
Pikachu: I do not know. But I am happy to just spend time with you Ash. (Ash smiles back at Pikachu).
Ash: Well, we do not really have anything important to do. So, we could just enjoy the day ahead.
Pikachu: Whether we do it here under this tree, or in the Big Blue Kanto Skies. (Ash smiles as he nods back at Pikachu).
Ash: That is right, we do have Charizard with us. (Ash says as shows Charizard's Pokéball to Pikachu). What do you say we just fly around Kanto and let the wind decide where we go? (Pikachu smiles as he nods his head).
Pikachu: Okay. Let us do it! (Ash chuckles to himself as he lets Charizard out of his Pokéball. Once Charizard is free from his Pokéball, he lets out a Roar).
Charizard: Hey! What's Up Ash and Pikachu?
Ash: Charizard, me and Pikachu just want to go for a flight around Kanto. (Charizard nods understanding of Ash's Request).
Charizard: Right. Any specific destination? (Pikachu then climbs onto Charizard's Shoulder before answering his Question).
Pikachu: Nope. Just wherever the winds happen to take us. (Charizard gives a Thumbs Up to the pair as he prepares himself to take flight).
Charizard: Understood. Climb on Ash. (Ash nods as he goes and climbs onto Charizard's back, getting ready to start flying with Charizard and Pikachu). Let us go Charizard! (Without another word spoken, Charizard launches himself into the air, with Ash and Pikachu laughing happily, having missed doing fun things like this for a while now).
(A Couple of Hours later, Ash and Pikachu were still flying around the vast Kanto Region on Charizard's back. They stopped every now and then to give Charizard a break. But now they were flying over the metropolis city known as Saffron City. With Ash saying to Pikachu and Charizard).
Ash: Hey, look its Saffron City.
Pikachu: Yes, it is. (Then Ash heard his and Pikachu's stomach's rumbling, showing that they were hungry).
Ash: What do you say we get a bit of Lunch in Saffron City? (Pikachu, also feeling hungry agreed with Ash).
Pikachu: Okay. (Ash then turned to Charizard to tell him).
Ash: Hey Charizard take us down to Saffron City. (Charizard smiles as he does what Ash told him).
Charizard: You got it Ash. (Then Charizard begins flying down towards the City, before landing right in front of the Pokémon Center. Once there, Ash and Pikachu slowly got off Charizard's back, getting back on the ground. Then Ash smiled as he and Pikachu thanked Charizard, with Ash loving and gently stroking Charizard's Head).
Ash: Thanks, Charizard. (Pikachu then sent his old friend a smile as well).
Pikachu: You Rock. (Charizard smiles at the praise he was getting).
Charizard: No Problem. (Ash then returns Charizard to his Pokéball, before putting it away as Pikachu climbs on to Ash's shoulder).
Ash: Now, let us find a place to eat. (Then Ash and Pikachu Walk off to find a place to get a bit of lunch).
(10 Minutes later, Ash and Pikachu were enjoying their lunch on a public bench. Ash was having a Hot Dog, and Pikachu was enjoying Pokémon food that was meant for him that Ash made a habit keeping on hand for times like this. Ash was enjoying his Hot Dog Lunch saying to himself).
Ash: Delicious. (Pikachu smiled as he happily enjoyed his lunch).
Pikachu: Sure is. (As Ash and Pikachu continued having their lunch, they suddenly heard a blaring Alarm, getting their attention. They looked in the direction the blaring alarm and saw that driving down the streets not too far from them was the City's Registered Police Officer named Officer Jenny in her Police Car was chasing after a Large Armored Vehicle, no doubt filled with Criminals who did something illegal. Then they saw a huge bag full of money through a window and realized that they must have just committed a Bank Robbery).
Ash: It looks like those guys just robbed a bank and that Officer Jenny needs a bit of help.
Pikachu: Well, I am sure that she will get them eventually Ash.
Ash: Yes, I am sure she will. After all, she is the best at what she does. (But then Ash has an idea, causing him to smile which gets Pikachu's attention). What do you say we give her a little bit of help? (Pikachu is quiet not knowing what Ash was thinking, but then realizes what Ash is thinking, causing him to panic and worry a bit).
Pikachu: I do not know Ash. (Ash brushes off Pikachu's worries telling him).
Ash: It will be fine. Trust me. Let us go! (With that Pikachu climbs back onto Ash's shoulder and they take off, following the direction that Officer Jenny and the Criminals went).
(Ash and Pikachu had followed both the Police and the Criminals on foot, following them to what looked like an Abandoned Warehouse found between Saffron City and Vermillion City. They also made sure to stay hidden and out of sight, since they both knew that if the Police caught them, they would prevent them from helping or worse arrested from getting involved in Police Matters. And if the Criminals caught them, he could lose Pikachu and his other Pokémon or end up taken as a hostage. Now, Ash and Pikachu had arrived at the Warehouse where the criminals were hiding out, while concealing themselves from ending up spotted by the criminals by hiding behind trees and in bushes. From their Current hiding spot, they had a perfect view of the Criminal Hideout. But Pikachu was still a little unsure about getting involved in police matters like this, telling Ash this is in a whisper to try and avoid detection by the criminals).
Pikachu: Ash, I still do not think this is a good Idea. (Ash just reassures Pikachu, telling him).
Ash: Do not worry Pikachu. It will be okay. (Then Ash smiles confidently towards Pikachu). Besides, I got a Plan. (Pikachu gives Ash a Small Smile hoping that he was right, and that nothing bad would happen).
Pikachu: Oh, I hope so.
(A Couple of Minutes later, Ash had finished sharing his plan with Pikachu. Despite his worries, Pikachu agreed to do his part of the plan).
Ash: Okay, ready to begin the plan Pikachu? (Pikachu nods his head).
Pikachu: Yes, I am ready Ash.
Ash: Good. (Then Ash and Pikachu turned to a medium sized lake behind him and Pikachu, they agreed to make it their meeting spot where they would go to meet after they catch the Criminals. And in case of an emergency, such as having to move their meeting spot to anywhere for whatever reason, they agreed that the Back Alley of the Saffron City Pokémon City would be their backup meeting spot. Ash had already used his Glalie to freeze the Lake Solid, and it now had a perfect shine with not a crack or stain anywhere, making it the ideal reflective surface that Ash needed for his Transformation. Ash then went and gently pulled the Mew Diamond out from under his Shirt, so he could see it as part of his reflection. Then Ash gently grabbed the Mew Diamond in his hands, causing it to activate. Then he took a deep breath to calm himself down before saying to the Diamond). Now! Mew Diamond! Transform me! (Then the Mew Diamond began to glow and shine bright pink as the power it holds begins to surge. After a couple of moments, the Mew Diamond's bright pink glow suddenly Darkened, going from its Bright Pretty Pink color to an Ominous Black Color. For once, Ash and Pikachu were worried about this, as they did not know what the Diamond was going to turn Ash into this time. Then they saw the Mew Diamond was beginning to spread a Dark Colored Energy over Ash's entire body. Seeing this, Ash braced himself for whatever transformation the Diamond had in store for him). Here we go!
Pikachu: Best of luck Ash! (The Mew Diamond's glow and shine began to intensify even more. Ash then took one last breath before the transformation would begin).
Ash: TRANSFORM! (Ash lets the Mew Diamond use its Power to transform him. Once the Mew Diamond Energy has fully enveloped Ash's Body, the Diamond released a Bright Flash of light, Pikachu then went and covered his eyes while looking away to avoid going blind from the intense light. While Pikachu waited for the intense light to subside, he heard a noise resembling a coin flip and a "whoosh" sort of sound as part of Ash's transformation sequence. Once the Light died down, Pikachu looked over to where Ash was and then went wide eyed at what he saw Ash Transform into).
Pikachu: Hey Ash! Is that you!?
(Meanwhile, inside the Warehouse Hideout, the escaped criminals who committed the Bank Robbery were reconvening inside and were looking over their loot they successfully stole as they slowly took off their Ski Masks and Jackets. One of the Criminals began taking off their Ski Mask...).
Criminal #1: Wow, I cannot believe that we truly managed to pull that off. But then again, only someone who is as talented as me can do it. (... Revealing that the criminal was a Woman who has long magenta hair that is in a comet-tail behind her head and a pair of large green orb earrings. Then One of her accomplices who was just as tall as her, began to take its Ski Mask off...).
Criminal #2: Well, there was Peace in that Part of the Universe, so of course we had to make it worse. (Revealing that the 2nd Criminal was a man with shoulder-length periwinkle hair with a single fringe sprouting from the center and green eyes. He was also wearing a long white sleeve shirt with a large red "R" on it, just like his Female Accomplice. Finally, their 3rd Member, who was much smaller than both Criminals combined, took its Ski Mask off...).
Criminal #3: Hey, who was the brains of the operation? Me, that is who. (... Revealing that the 3rd Criminal was a Small Pokémon that had a Gold Coin on its Forehead. He then said to his cohorts). We may have been unable to do our thing back at the bank, but we lost the Police, so we are free to do it here. (The Female Criminal then smiled at that gleefully as she said to her male Periwinkle haired cohort).
Criminal #1: Yes, we are free to do it now. Ready? (Her Cohort smiled as he said back to her).
Criminal #2: Well, I am ready whenever you are. (He then turns to their 3rd Cohort who smiles as he says to him). Give us a Countdown Old Chum.
Criminal #3: You got it. (He then begins counting down). 3... 2... 1... (Then suddenly the lights in the Warehouse go out...) GO! (... Before a group of spotlights shine on the trio of Criminals before they suddenly break into song as they remove the last of their Ski Jackets revealing their true selves).
PREPARE FOR TROUBLE!
MAKE IT DOUBLE!
To protect the world from devastation
To unite all peoples within our nation
To denounce the evils of truth and love
To extend our reach to the stars above
Jessie!
James!
Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!
Surrender now, or prepare to fight, fight, fight!
Meowth! Dat's right!
WOOOBBUFFET!
(Little did Team Rocket know, there was someone or something else hiding in the shadows of their Warehouse Hideout and had seen and heard their Motto without them noticing, and had a plan that it was about to put into action).
(Once they finished their Motto, Jessie, James, and Meowth had gone back to celebrating their successful Bank Heist as they were looking over all the money they successfully stolen).
Jessie: It may not exactly be Pokéballs full of Pokémon that we stole, but it was still a good heist we pulled off. (James and Meowth nodded in agreement with Jessie).
James: True, and besides, it is good to have a pleasant change of pace every now and then.
Meowth: You bet. And plus, it helps knowing that those Twerps were nowhere nearby to stop us then or now. (Then Wobbuffet, who has already appeared from its Pokéball, looked to agree with Meowth saying while doing its Saluting Gesture).
Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet! (Then suddenly Team Rocket heard what sounded like a door closing. Which did not sound right, as they did not see the main Warehouse doors open).
Jessie: What was that? (James begins to panic at this making a guess as to what they heard).
James: Sounded like someone just opened the door to our hideout! (Meowth then Panics at the sound of this).
Meowth: If that is true, then we are in trouble! (Jessie tries to calm her teammates down telling them).
Jessie: Just calm down! James, you and Meowth go check the back door, as that is the only other way that someone can sneak in here without anyone noticing. (James and Meowth went to go check the Back door of the room as Jessie said, leaving her alone to look over their loot. Once Jessie was alone, she then heard what sounded like an eerie whispering).
Whispering noise: Jessie. Jessie. (The sound of eerie whispering has Jessie feeling afraid).
Jessie: Whose There!? (Then Jessie hears a clattering noise, scaring her more. When she looked over to where the Clattering Noise was coming from, she saw that it was just a simple Oil Drum rolling by itself across the floor, before coming stopping. Seeing this, she calms down a bit, figuring that it was just something that happened by itself and that no one made the barrel roll from its original location. But then, she felt something behind her tapping on the shoulder. Jessie turns around, but she sees what is there, it had her screaming at the top of her Lungs, filling the warehouse with her High Pitched and Shrill Screaming).
(Meanwhile, James and Meowth were checking out the back door of their Warehouse hideout. It was the only other door to their Hideout, as they had worked hard to get rid of the other doors. But when they got there, they saw that the door was wide open).
James: Meowth look, the door is open.
Meowth: I know, that means someone, or something had managed to sneak into our hideout. (James at once freaks out at this bit of news).
James: NO! They better not lay a finger on my Precious Bottlecap collection. (Meowth rolls his eyes at James' skewed Priorities about his Bottlecaps, telling him sarcastically/mockingly).
Meowth: Relax, James I do not think anyone cares about your Precious Bottlecaps.
James: Good, because I have been collecting since I was... (But Before James can keep talking, Meowth interrupts him to say).
Meowth: Will you stopping Yapping about your Bottlecaps James! We need to find the intruder before... (Meowth's sentence ends up interrupted when they suddenly hear Jessie's High Pitched and Shrill Screaming, it is so loud that James and Meowth almost go deaf from the Shrill screaming alone, as they scream in pain from the sonic pitch sounds they are hearing. Once the screaming stops, James and Meowth are lying on the ground, recovering what they just heard).
James: That was Jessie!
Meowth: I have not heard her scream like that since she found that her favorite hair shampoo brand company shut down.
James: We better go check on her. (Meowth nods in agreement with James and the two rushed back to check on their teammate. James even took a moment to close the door behind him. Neither knew that their mystery intruder had already entered the Warehouse but did so without using any of the doors and windows).
(Unaware of how someone or something was lurking within the Warehouse with them, James and Meowth had returned to the spot where they last saw Jessie. Only when they got there, they discovered that something truly horrifying had happened to Jessie. They saw that she was lying on her back on the floor scared and as stiff a statue, with her body only twitching slightly enough to show that she was still alive. But what was scarier was that she was completely white as a Ghost, and her face almost looked disfigured from something that scared her into this state. Suffice it to say, James and Meowth were scared and worried sick for Jessie's wellbeing. And began screaming her name in Worry for her safety).
Meowth: Jessie!?
James: Are you Okay?! (But Jessie gave no form of a response to their calls of worry for her).
Meowth: She is not answering James. What do we do? (James says panicking to Meowth).
James: Get the heck out of here that is what we are going to do! (Suddenly the Warehouses front doors slam shut! Startling James and Meowth into screaming in fear).
Meowth: The Doors! James! The Doors! (James runs over to the Warehouses front doors and tries to open them, but to no avail).
James: They are stuck! They Will not open! (Meowth Runs over to where James and tries to help him, by grabbing them and using them to open the doors, only for that to fail too).
Meowth: It is no good, it is like something is keeping the doors from opening on the other side. Can this get any worse? (As if to answer Meowth's Question, any lights in the warehouse that were still working suddenly shattered, bathing the room in near perfect darkness and becoming non-operational. But James and Meowth were still able to clearly see each other despite the lack of light. The Loss of the light in the Warehouse caused the two Boys to scream in fear again).
James: No! The lights! (Then Meowth says sounding genuinely scared).
Meowth: James, I am really scared, and I want my mommy! (James, also full of fear, was beginning to cry as he said back to Meowth).
James: Me too Meowth! Me too! (The two embraced each other in a hug to comfort each other. After a couple of moments, James says to Meowth). Listen Meowth, let us get Jessie and the Money we stole and run for our lives!
Meowth: I am right behind you on that plan! (The two boys return to where they last saw Jessie, hoping to grab her, the money, and escape with their lives, before anything else spooky happens, only find something strange there. When they found Jessie, she was not in the same stiff a statue, and white as a Ghost position her body was in when they saw moments earlier. Instead, she was lying up against a nearby wall snoozing, somehow having gone from being nearly scared to near death to fast asleep. Suffice it to say, James and Meowth were feeling baffled as to how this happened).
James: What?! Jessie's asleep!?
Meowth: First, she was white as a ghost, and now she is asleep?! What is going on here?!
James: This is starting to feel like a very scary Horror Movie.
Meowth: That it is! No more Horror Movie Nights for us! (James loses his fear and gets angry with Meowth for saying this).
James: But I was truly looking forward to seeing that new Movie called "Final Destination: Bloodlines"! (Meowth, in turn loses his fear saying back to James).
Meowth: Forget it James, no more Horror Movies after this! (But James refuses to back down on this matter, telling Meowth).
James: Now listen here Meowth you little piece of... (But before James can finish what he was going to say, he ends up interrupted when he and Meowth hear static noises getting their attention). What is that? (The two looked around to find out where the noise was coming from. Until suddenly Meowth's Eyes landed on what could be the explanation for the noise and pointed at it).
Meowth: James look there. (James saw where Meowth was pointing to. They saw the static noise was coming from what looked like to be an Old Retro TV that they did not ever remember seeing there before as James says).
James: It looks like an Old Retro TV. But how did it get there? Because I do not remember that being there before.
Meowth: You got me. (But then suddenly, the TV turned on, somehow by itself, scaring James and Meowth once more and causing them to scream again).
James: How did it do that?!
Meowth: I do not know! (But because the Retro TV was so old, it had trouble getting signal for anything and was just stuck on the "No signal" screen and was showing color bars as part of a "test pattern". Seeing this, James calmed down and Reassured Meowth, telling him).
James: It is okay Meowth, it just has no signal. We are okay. (Realizing that James was right, Meowth walked over to get a closer look at the Old Retro TV Screen).
Meowth: Yes, your right James. (Then the TV went dead turning back off, due to losing electricity/power. But when, James and Meowth turned to look at the TV Screen, something suddenly burst through the TV Screen Screeching in James and Meowth's faces, making them scream in fear and collapse to the floor behind them. But by the time they recovered, and looked at the TV again, the thing was gone, having disappeared completely from sight).
James: What was that?! (Meowth, in the middle of having a fully nervous breakdown shouted in fear and panic).
Meowth: I do not know! And I do not want to find out! Let us get out of here now! Because I have had enough scares for one day! (James, having already gone and picked Jessie up, putting her on his back as a means of carrying her nodded with Meowth).
James: No kidding, I am with you on that. Just grab the money and we will get out of here! (Meowth nods in agreement with James).
Meowth: Okay. (But when Meowth turns around to look for their money). Uh, James?
James: Yes, Meowth? (Meowth says sounding Nervous).
Meowth: Where is the money? (James is confused by Meowth's question).
James: What do you mean?
Meowth: I mean that it is not here! (James goes wide eyed from the shock of what Meowth just said).
James: What?! You lost the Money!?
Meowth: No!? Uh, I promise the money was right here when we left to go check the back door, but now every trace of the money is gone!
James: Great! First, we are something or someone is scaring us out of our wits, and now we just lost the money!
Meowth: I do not even care about the money anymore, I just want to get out here before I lose what is still intact of my Nine Lives!
James: Man, I am with you on that one Meowth! But when Jessie recovers, I am telling her it is all your fault we lost the money! (Meowth then gets angry and yells back at James).
Meowth: Not if I tell her that you lost the money first! (But then James and Meowth's bickering ended up interrupted by what sounded like Ghostly Wails. This had James and Meowth reduced to Scaredy cats on the floor, with James saying in a scared whisper).
James: Save this conversation for later. (Meowth, fearfully agrees saying).
Meowth: Okay, I suppose there is one thing we should be doing right now. You wanna say it, or should I say it?
James: Let us say it together! (James and Meowth nodded before shouting at the top of their lungs together at the same time).
James and Meowth: RUN! (The two Boys (with Jessie on James Back) ran as fast as they could towards the back door as it was their only escape from this horrifying Nightmare. Little did they know their mystery tormentor was nowhere near done tormenting them yet).
(James and Meowth were running to the Back door with James still carrying Jessie on his back due to her still being out cold (asleep). Finally, they spotted the elusive door that was the key to their freedom from this terrifying nightmare).
James: There it is Meowth! Our Escape Door!
Meowth: Let us not waste another moment here in this Scary place! (Meowth took off running for the door. Leaving James behind to say).
James: HEY! WAIT FOR ME! (Then James takes off running after Meowth to the door. But then suddenly the floors became slippery and covered in Ice causing James and Meowth to slip and slide, losing their balance, and end up crashing into something that feels Icy Cold. While James was busy recovering from the unexpected slip and slide onto the floor. Meowth recovered and saw something even more scary making him scream in Pure Horror, until he stopped screaming and says to James).
Meowth: JAMES!? WE GOT TROUBLE! AND WE BETTER MAKE IT DOUBLE! (James looks up from the icy cold floor and gasps in horror. He and Meowth discovered that their back door, their only hope of escape from this horrifying nightmare... WAS FROZEN SOLID! Covered from top to bottom in ice, making them even more scared).
James: NO! THE DOOR IS FROZEN! WE ARE TRAPPED! (Meowth Panics even more at this Chilling turn of events screaming).
Meowth: NOW WHAT ARE GOING TO DO! (Meowth then had an idea). Wait, I got an idea! James, what if we used yours or Jessie's Pokémon to bust our way out of here? (James smiles in agreement with Meowth seeing his idea as a good one).
James: Great Idea! (James then turned his body around to reveal his Pokéballs hanging on his belt). Go for it Meowth! (Meowth nods and takes James Pokéballs from his belt).
Meowth: Okay, let us see who we got here, hopefully either Mime Jr., Carnivine, Yamask, Amoonguss, Inkay, or even Morpeko will be able to help us out of here. (But unfortunately, when Meowth Opened the Pokéballs they were... empty!). What?! They are empty! (James then remembers something as he says confessing to Meowth).
James: Oh yes, today was "Free Pokéball Cleaning Day" back at headquarters and I gave my Pokéballs to the service and forget to get them back before we left for the bank robbery. (Meowth is so slack jawed that he screams both in anger and disbelief).
Meowth: ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!? YOU ARE ONLY TELLING US THAT NOW! WHEN WE ARE TERRIFYING DANGER THAT IS WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO TELL US THAT YOU LEFT YOUR POKÉMON BACK AT HEADQUARTERS! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!? (James then admits embarrassedly to Meowth to try and defend himself).
James: Do you know how expensive it is to have your Pokéballs cleaned on any of the other 365 Days in a Year? (Before Meowth can retort to this explanation of James, there is a sudden and unexpected explosion that blows the Frozen Door of its hinges, making an opening in the wall, giving James and Meowth an Opportunity to escape at last).
Meowth: Look! An Opening!
James: Our Freedom!
Meowth: FREE AT LAST! (Without wasting another Moment, James and Meowth run off, leaving their Warehouse behind shouting happy to have escaped from the nightmarish Building. They were so happy to have escaped that they do not even notice the extremely Rare Pokémon that was hiding in the bushes that they pass by with all the money they stole from the bank. The very culprit that was behind all their Scares that happened to them, it said nothing until the trio was far enough away from it).
Pokémon: Well, that was more fun than I expected. (The Pokémon then turned to another Pokémon who was with it and said). What do you say we give them one last "Jolting" Scare. (The Pokémon then nodded in agreement before it left to deliver one last scare to Team Rocket).
(A Couple of Minutes later, James and Meowth were still running as fast as they can with Jessie still sleeping on James' back, for them the further they were from the Terrifying Warehouse they would dare never go near again, the better. As they kept running, something came out onto the Path they were on, cutting them off from running. It was a Pokémon they have seen Millions of times before, with James recognizing it at once).
James: Pikachu! (Indeed, a Friendly looking Pikachu was standing out in front of Team Rocket).
Meowth: What is a Pikachu like that doing all the way out here?
James: Hey Meowth, how about we catch it for the boss? It will be a fantastic way to make up for all the terrifying scares we had earlier. (For whatever reason, when Pikachu heard "Terrifying Scares", it smirked a bit, which Neither James nor Meowth noticed as they kept talking amongst each other, with Meowth agreeing to James' idea).
Meowth: Great idea. (Meowth then smirked evilly as he said). Good thing I have our Patented "Team Rocket Bazooka" with me. It is good for blowing things up and catching Pokémon. (It was not until Meowth finished processing what he just said did he realize something. But before he can process what he just said, James beat him to it).
James: Wait?! If you had that this whole time, then why did you not use it earlier when he trapped in that Amityville House?! (Meowth looks embarrassed as he tries to explain his reasons to James).
Meowth: Sorry, I suppose I forgot. You know, due to ending up terrified the whole time. (Then James and Meowth looked back to where Pikachu was, and saw that it was still there, as if waiting for them to try and catch it. Even yawning from boredom of having to wait for them for whatever reason).
James: Never mind. Let us just catch Pikachu! (Meowth then takes aim at Pikachu, flipping a switch to set the Bazooka in "Catching Pokémon" Mode. But before Meowth could even put his finger paws on the trigger, Pikachu already jumped into the air and fired a Thunderbolt attack at them, hitting them dead on. Then it Caused an explosion sending them blasting off into the sky. As they were flying through the sky, a pair of crimson and black/purple and black balls went flying from what looked to be out of nowhere and hit both James and Meowth. Then a crimson/pink bubble appears around their bodies that soon disappeared and made them both fall asleep. As they were drifting off to sleep while still blasting through the air, Jessie finally began to stir awake from her slumber as she yawns and stretches her arms and feels like she is in a good mood...).
Jessie: Ah, what a great nap. (... Only to discover what is going on and her mood does a sudden 180 shouting). Wait! This is not my Dream World! Now I want a Script Change! AND I WANT MORE TIME IN THIS CHAPTER! (Then both James and Meowth mumbled to her).
James: Jessie! Be careful what you wish for!
Meowth: He might write us out of the Story completely and replace you with Cassidy! (As they continued blasting off through the sky together, Jessie shouted while James and Meowth could muster enough strength to say in a Mumbling voice).
Jessie, James, and Meowth: WE ARE HAPPY JUST THE WAY WE ARE! WE ARE BLASTING OFF AGAIN! (They blast off going far-far-far away, until they disappear completely leaving behind a twinkle in the sky. But then Jessie shouted). UNTIL THE NEXT CHAPTER!
(Once the Team Rocket Trio was gone completely, the Pikachu that had given the trio their final "Jolting" Scare, for a strange returned to the lake that functioned as meeting place for him and Ash. It took only a couple of moments, but then Pikachu someone else arrived, it was by his partner, not Ash. But instead, it was the one who taunted, tormented, and terrorized Team Rocket inside their Warehouse. Pikachu smiled upon seeing him and complemented him saying).
Pikachu: Excellent Job their Buddy. (The Pokémon Pikachu nodded its head, before its Body began glowing and within Moments the Pokémon disappeared, and Ash appeared in the Pokémon's Place. Once Ash had recovered after turning back to normal after transforming back from his Pokémon form, Pikachu climbed onto Ash's Shoulder, and they began walking out of the forest together. As they did so, Pikachu asked him).
Pikachu: So, where is the Money that Team Rocket stole, before you stole it back from them. (Ash smiles as he laughs a bit before answering Pikachu's Question).
Ash: Well, let us just say it is somewhere Officer Jenny, and her Fellow Officers are sure to find when they report to work first thing in the morning tomorrow. (Pikachu smiles happily at Ash telling him).
Pikachu: Fantastic job Ash. Man, I cannot believe I was even worried about this when you were explaining the plan. But you seriously scared the living Daylights out of Team Rocket like you did. And, I am serious, I do not think I have ever seen them this scared ever before. (Ash laughs at what Pikachu was saying).
Ash: Well, I am sure that we will be able to rest easily knowing that they will be having Bad Dreams for quite a while now. (Pikachu bursts into hysterical laughter at this comment of Ash's).
Pikachu: That is a Massive Understatement Ash since you quite literally became the Pokémon who is the living embodiment of Nightmares itself. (Ash then smiles in agreement with Pikachu as he glances down at his Mew Diamond).
Ash: Yes, I really got to give it to both Mew and the Mew Diamond since they gave me the Dark Type Mythical Pokémon, a.k.a. Darkrai this time.
Pikachu: And I am still so amazed at how you scared them off like you did without letting them see even one time. Incredible.
Ash: Man, I bet this is going to be a day that we will never forget.
Pikachu: No doubt. (Ash and Pikachu yawn as they began to feel sleepy as it was beginning to get dark out).
Ash: Well, let us head to the Saffron City Pokémon Center and stay there for the night.
Pikachu: Okay. (With that Ash and Pikachu began heading back to the Saffron City Pokémon to get a bit of very much needed rest, especially after ensuring that Team Rocket will not be getting a wink of Sleep at all for a while).
[A/N #1: I HAD SO MUCH FUN WRITIING THIS CHAPTER FOR SO MANY REASONS! First off, I got to use my knowledge of the Horror Genre (which happens when I have seen about 200 (Or More) Horror Movies (A couple (Especially one about my Favorite "Springwood Slasher" and Hockey Mask Camp Killer going head-to-head in a fight to the after-death) more than once)). And I got to use what I learned from all those movies to create as terrifying atmosphere as I could to scare the Team Rocket Trio Senseless through countless jump scares and other scary moments. (Though Jessie was a bit lucky since she was unconscious for a large part of it). Which was EASILY THE MOST FUN PART OF THE CHAPTER FOR ME! The whole time I was scaring the Team Rocket Trio senseless with every scare tactic that I knew had me laughing whether hysterically or laughing till my ribs ached (I am exaggerating a bit with the "laughing till my ribs ached" part but you get my point). At first, I was not really going to the Team Rocket Trio at first, I was just going to use a generic (run of the mill) trio of bank robbers (Or just one or two nonsignificant criminals) to do it. But then I thought using the Team Rocket Trio would lead to a bunch of laughs, AND IT SURE DID! (AT LEAST FOR ME IT DID!). And I enjoyed the fact that I waited till the very end to reveal just what Pokémon ended up turning into thanks to the Mew Diamond. I sure hope you did too. Let me if you think that if I do bring the Team Rocket Trio back in a later chapter, if I should do this "Scaring the Team Rocket Trio Senseless" bit again but this time have Jessie be the one who stays awake for a couple of the scaring while James and Meowth are asleep during most of it. (So, to speak). Because, honestly speaking I have not laughed as hard as I did while writing the scene(s) where I scared the Team Rocket Trio senseless since I did the "Blooper" scene for my Pokémon Version of "Toy Story 2" (Called, "The New Pokémon 2"). Anyway, like I said at the beginning of this chapter, Happy New Year. And I hope you all had a wonderful 2024, and I hope you have an equally wonderful (if not even better) 2025].
Replies to my reviewers:
Ashpoke55: Thank you. As for Ash catching (a) new Pokémon, I doubt that I will be doing that, but I am not going to say that it will not be happening at all. It is just that I do not think I will be pursuing that Idea any time soon. And I hope you loved this chapter as much as I did. (Especially for the reasons I outlined in the Above Author's note).
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TO BE CONTINUED…