Hi readers! I know I haven't update for a LONG time, thank you for your patients. I am writing three to four stories at the same time, so please accept my humble apology. This is part eight, hope you enjoy. -----Viridian City----- Ash walks slowly in the dark and quiet street of Viridian, which is not a safe thing to do. Walking along in after sunset in Viridian can be dangerous as there is a rumor going around that Team Rocket lurks around Viridian. Ash walks down the street, seeing the lights from the dance; it's probably a block away. Ash guesses that the dance is over already since there is no music playing. Mind as well check out the dance floor, Ash thought, walking toward the big stadium. Then Ash spots someone dash out of the exit and walks swiftly to his left. Ash narrows his eyes to get a better view of the person. Rudy? What's he doing out so late? The burger place is at the right, not the left. After Ash concludes that Rudy isn't going to the burger place, he quietly and stealthy follows Rudy. They run for almost then minutes, arriving at a stair case, leading down to an abandon subway tracks. "What's he doing here?" Ash follows Rudy down the long stairs and arrives at some sort of room. The room is huge, in fact, Ash can't even see the end of it. Ash continues to follow Rudy until… "You're late." A cold and harsh voice said. Ash immediately dives to his right, jumping behind couple of paper boxes, trying to make as least sound as he could. Something from the back of his mind tells him that he doesn't want to get caught by whoever that is. "I am sorry father." Rudy said calmly. Father?! So this guy is Rudy's dad. He's creepy. Ash thought to himself, making a mental note that he will be on Rudy's dad's good side. "Son, how the plan working on the school." The cold voice speaks again, only this time it was more deadly. "It's all set dad. When you give the order, all the Pokemon in the school will be Team Rocket's." Rudy replies while giving a small bow. What?! All the Pokemon will be Team Rocket's, who's this guy, the leader of Team Rocket? Ash thought uncomfortable. If this guy is the leader of Team Rocket, Rudy must be… Ash stifles that thought. If Misty says Rudy is a good person, then I am sure Misty's right. But this isn't right. Ash keeps thinking… "WHO'S THERE!!!??" The cold voice barks. Oh shit! I need a diversion! Ash whisper to the Poke-Ball, "Charmander, can you make a Smoke Screen?" Charmander is release from the Poke-Ball and it is spraying thick smoke out of everywhere. "Come on, let's bail." Ash frantically runs throw the thick smoke, trying to locate an exit. Before the smoke cleared, Ash and Charmander is out of the underground subway tracks. Ash runs back to the school at his top speed, forgetting that he need to something to fill his hunger pangs. -----Pokemon Trainer's School / Misty's & Duplica's Dorm----- "What?! I don't believe you, Ash!" Misty said angrily, "I know you have some sort of grudge against Rudy, but this is just plain wrong!" "But I saw what I saw! Rudy was with this guy-" Ash was cut off by Misty. Ritchie and Duplica are sitting on the sofa, watching Ash and Misty like a Broadway show. "Look, I am sure this is a little misunderstanding." Duplica tries to calm the two down. "I am pretty sure that there is a perfectly fine explanation for all of this." "Yeah, whatever." Ash said walking out of the room. I can't believe that no one believed me! Is time to take this personally. Ash kneels down at his own Pikachu, "Pikachu? I need you to do some spying." -----Ash's Dreams----- "Ash, you have lost to Team Rocket, so say your last words because you are about to breathe your last breath." Ash's elbows are buried into the soil and someone stands over him. Ash could feel the heat from the gaze that the man gave him and he tried to gawk back at the obscure figure's features, but the pain was unbearable. Everything is turning black……… -----Pokemon Trainer's School / Ash's Dorm----- Ash wakes up from his nightmare. What the heck was that?! Ash finds himself asking this question. Was that a nightmare or something else…? Ash wipes the sweat off his forehead, leaving him with a second of cool sensation. Ash sits up of his bed and looks around. It's almost morning now, the sky is lighting up. Who was that? Ash asks himself, trying to gather his memories together, having as much luck as trying to slice air apart. But he can remember one thing though, that person was Rudy. Ash spends the daybreak thinking about his dream. Lately all of his dreams had been coming true. Capturing his Pokemon, meeting Misty. There's also Duplica and Ritchie, Brock and Tracy; whether he like it or not, even Team Rocket. So the question is this: will this dream also come true? This must means that Rudy's a Rocket member. Ash lets that thought wonder through his mind. That means… Team Rocket's going to take all of our Pokemon! Ash fully wakes up at the thought. Asking for help from my friends is out of the question, seeing that they don't even believe me. That leaves me and my Pokemon, going against the whole Team Rocket organization… Ash takes a shower and fully dress before everyone, walking down the stair cases for an early breakfast. Ash tries to push the thoughts out of his mind, focusing which kind of breakfast he should pick. The cafeteria is practically empty due to the early time, but Ash didn't mind. Unfortunately for Ash, the cafeteria isn't as empty as he thought. "Ash." "Rudy." Ash said holding his lunch tray, trying imitate Rudy's tone. Ash could tell that Rudy doesn't want a friendly chatter between them; it was business. "I know it was you spying us." Rudy said, dropping his voice to a whisper. Ash, however, heard him perfectly and scowls. "Let's keep this short and sweet. Buzz off my business." "Oh I am sorry, I didn't understand what you just said." Ash said in a tone that is anything other than innocent. "You want me to stand aside so Team Rocket can take all of our Pokemon? "I'll make you stand aside if-" "If what, Rudy?" Ash snares, "Run to your daddy?" Rudy's 'good side' just disappeared when he hears that. Rudy's face turned red from the anger. However, after a while of staring contest, Rudy said in a cool voice, "If you continue to be over friendly to Misty, you are going leave the school, permanently." "Oh, I am so scared at that threat." Ash said sarcastically, trying to force a look of fear. Ash is trying to provoke Rudy into a fight so that he could give him a couple of left hooks. Looking over Ash's shoulder, Rudy can see students emerging from the hallways, into the cafeteria. "Watch your back, Ketchum. See you around." Ash shouts after Rudy, "That's what I thought! You better run!" Pikachu appears next to Ash, "Hey buddy, what's up?" Pikachu makes a hand gesture showing that it already got the information Ash wanted. Pikachu chatters away in Pokemon language, telling Ash everything it knows about Team Rocket's operations. As Ash had suspected, Team Rocket is trying to take over the school and take everyone's Pokemon. How are they going to do it? Pikachu told Ash that said that the Rocket's planed to send in hundreds of Rockets to swarm the whole place, taking over the school by force. The is only one thing he doesn't know, and that thing can make the difference between a victory and a defeat; that thing is when… Maybe they can help… -----Forest of Love----- "How can they find me so easily?!" Ash said in frustration to himself, "And I can't even find a trace of them." Ash pushes some low branches away, clearing the blocked view. "Come on, where the heck are you?" "Of course you can't find us." "We travel in stealth." "Come out of that stupid tree-suit." Ash said annoyingly at two unreal trees. A third and smaller tree stood in the center of the other two. "Wa do ya mean stupid?! We paid good money fa this." Meowth said as he scratched the tree trunk with his sharp nails. "Wa do ya want anyways?" "You guys are part of Team Rocket right?" Ash asked with his arms folded. He waited patiently for their answer. "No, we police officers. Of course we're Team Rocket!" Jessie said irritated. "Like Meowth said, what do you want anyways?!" "I want you tell me when you guys will invade my school." Ash said dangerously, walking closer to the trees. "And why should we tell you about Team Rocket's plans?" James tired to sound smart, but he earned a smack by Jessie. "Oh that's right," Ash said in a sarcastic tone, "you guys are one of those lower rank Rocket members that doesn't know a thing." Ash smiled as he folded his arms. "Hey! We know exactly when we're doing it!" James snarled. "It is at the end of the month." James looked satisfied with his 'smartness', but he didn't realize we he just said, until Jessie smacked him on the head, again. "Nice going, Jimmy." Meowth said, looking up at the tall man. "If da boss finds out…" "Thanks for the information," Ash said politely and began to walk away, leaving three Team Rocket members that are stupidly trapped inside of tree customs. "Hey twerp! Don't leave us here!" Jessie cried after Ash. Ash just whistles a merry tune and walked slowly out of Team Rocket's hopeful glances. -----Pokemon Trainer's School / Campus----- Ash was walking across the huge campus of the school, observing the scenery when he was suddenly pushed by someone. He controlled his balance and recovered from the fall. Turning around, Ash saw a smirking smile coming from none other than Rudy. "What do you want?" Ash asked calmly as he dusts of his jacket, staring Rudy with the deepest loath. Pikachu growled at the human for pushing his master. Holding a Poke-Ball in his hand, he raised it up to Ash's eye level, "Are you prepared to lose?" Ash didn't moved a muscle as he watched the Heavy-Ball being waved in front of him, he said in a calm tone, contrasting the one he normally has, "We both know that you can't have a refereed battle by the teachers inside the grounds." "Are you afraid of getting into troubles?" Rudy taunted, "Little Ash wants to be the perfect little boy for his parents." Ash felt a pressure of heat let lose within him, he did his best to control his sudden anger, but he was not successful. Pikachu jumped on all fours onto the ground, its jagged tail lifted high into the air. "The rat sickens me." Rudy snarled at the little mouse Pokemon, angering it drastically. "Let me show you what a real Lightning Pokemon is like. Go Jolteon!" A large Pokemon with spikes all over its body stood on all four, lightning crackled through the spikes, intimidating the small mouse. Students started to gather around, observing the Pokemon battle that wasn't allowed. A couple whispered between themselves, while some cheered, taking sides between Ash and Rudy. Ash felt a surge of energy running through him; an energy that he hasn't felt before. Without him knowing it, Ash had found himself a place that he could call his home. Fighting for others and also fighting for himself is what he always wanted to do... "Pikachu, Quick Attack!" A confident smile grew on Ash's face as he commanded. Pikachu streaked across the field and had stroke Jolteon before Rudy got even tell it to move out of the way. Jolteon was paralyzed for a moment due to the surprise attack. "They just took us by surprise, Jolteon, it won't happen again." Rudy murmured to himself and his Pokemon, angered by Ash's 'cheap moves'. "Show them your Pin Missile!" Jolteon lowered its hind legs to built up energy then with a giant burst of electricity, Jolteon leaped into the air higher than anyone had expected. The spikes on its yellow back had started to glow a bright white, then unleashing thousands of small sharp spikes, raining down to Pikachu. "Pikachu, use your Light Screen!" Ash smiled as he watched a invisible barrier had form around the small electrical mouse, and the Pin Missiles as bounced off harmlessly. "Finish it." With Jolteon still in the midair, Pikachu threw a Thunder Bolt high up into a lightning cloud already formed for Pikachu. Seconds later, a huge Thunder attack came clashing down, meeting the scared Jolteon in midair, knocking it out before it even fell to the floor. The crowd of student cheered and whooped for Ash, as well as applauding. Ash's smile grew as he watched Rudy returned his beaten Jolteon. Ash strikes a victory pose as Pikachu jumped back to on Ash's head, bowing for several ladies. "Mr. Ketchum!" A voice ranged from outside of the crowds. The chattering people came to an abruptly silence. Ash's Battle Technique teacher, Jerry Lance, pushed his way over to Ash. "Mr. Ketchum," Jerry addressed Ash again, taking a glance at the Pikachu on Ash's hat. "I am sure that you are aware that there is no battle on the school grounds unless a teacher was judging it, right?" Ash looked down to the ground and murmured, "Yes," then he looked up, "Am I gonna get punished for that?" Few people laughed while Pikachu jumped uneasily off the ground and scamper away. "I think so, follow me, Mr. Ketchum." Jerry made his way away from the crowd, making sure Ash is following him. "To my office, Ash." Jerry said quietly so that only Ash can hear him. Once they got to Jerry's small but comfortable officer, Jerry shut the door. "Please take a sit." Ash sat down, waiting for his punishment. Ash knew that he was in trouble, but not big trouble. Jerry had always been a cool teacher, he won't make Ash go to the principle or anything; but what Jerry said next had surprised Ash. okay, did you like the story? me and Aki Akito will be waiting for your reviews. Thanks for reading!