A Brief Moment in Time

“So, where are we heading Ash?” we had eaten and packed up camp and was now traveling on a long dirt path.

Ash, holding the map upside down, ignored me a moment.

“Ash?”

“Just a sec, I’m trying to find it.”

Misty, who was walking next to him, took the map from his hands, turned it upright, and placed it back in his hands.

“Uh… Thanks.”

“No problem.” But then she mumbles under her breath, to no one particular. “And you wonder why we get lost so often.” I stifle a giggle.

“Ah! Here it is!” Ash says as he points at the piece of paper. “We are going to Mahogany Town!”

“I heard about that town. It’s on the edge of a Lake that is full of Gyarados.”

“Gy, Gyarados…?” asks Misty.

“Yup, but the leader doesn’t use water Pokemon as you might think, he uses Ice Pokemon.”

“So on the way there we’ll practice with Cyndaquil! No problem!” he says in his cocky voice.

*Ring… Ring…*

What’s that? “Ash? Is that a cell phone that’s ringing? I didn’t know you had a cell phone.”

“I don’t. That’s just Dexter ringing.” He shoves a hand into his pocket in search for this Dexter.

“Dexter?” What is he talking about?

“That’s what he calls his Pokedex.” says Brock.

“Ah! Found it!” he says as he pulled out the red miniature dictionary.

“I didn’t know you could use them as a phone too.” That was odd. Why didn’t the Professor tell me that?

“Hello? Ash speaking… Hi Professor! It’s been a while since you’ve called me, I was getting wor-.” He suddenly stops walking, listening to his Pokedex for several minutes. “No! How could they- Are you sure? But how could they regroup so quickly?!”

Brock and I exchange a glance.

Ash bites his bottom lip in worry. “That doesn’t sound like something they would do! I mean, it’s so much-… Yes… But-“ He sighs deeply. “I don’t know what to think now. I don’t even think that I would be any help.” A long pause. “Yes, I’ll get there as soon as I can. Bye Professor Oak.” He hangs up the Pokedex then a groan escapes again.

“Ash? What was that about?” questioned Misty.

“That was the Professor. He called because he was watching the news when there was a sudden news flash about Team Rocket.”

I hold my breath. Please, please don’t let it be what I think it is…

“He said that Team Rocket just took over Goldenrod City, the entire city.”

“But why would they want to do that?!” asks Misty.

“Because of the train station…” I say to myself.

My companions look at me.

“If they take control of the train station then they’ll cut down the transportation in between Johto and Kanto. If they take over Olivine City, then… then they’ll take over the entire transportation system, because of the ship…” I shake my head in disgust. They have trained me in strategy too well.

“The Professor called so you can go there, right?”

Ash nods. I softly sigh.

“Call Officer Jenny, Ash, and tell her that they’ll take control of Olivine City. She might be able to stop them before they reach the city.”

“Go ahead twerps! Call the Coppers! They might be able to keep us safe!”

We look around for the voice that just seemed to come from no where.

“Prepare for trouble!”

“And make it double!”

“Not you three losers!” exclaims Ash.

“To protect the world from devastation.”

“To unite all people within our nation.”

“To denounce the evils of truth and love.”

“To extend our reach to the stars above.”

“Jesse!” a woman with red hair jumps out of a nearby tree and neatly land on her feet.

“James!” a man with blue hair

“Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light!”

“Surrender now our prepare to fight!”

“Meowth! That’s ri-” A Meowth dangles from the tree limb and then lands on his feet.

“Wobbuffet!”

“Cut it out! That’s right!”

“What do you want now?!” asks Misty.

“We need your help!” exclaims James.

“Help?”

“There are after us!” the trio chime.

“Who?” I ask.

James frowns at me. “Who are you?”

I smile. “Name’s Rose Thorn. I’m a Team Rocket scientist, one of the best.”

“A Team Rocket scientist! They’re everywhere!” declares Jesse.

“Not by choice!” I add quickly. I don’t want to frighten them away, they’re my idols. “Now, please answer the question. Who’s after you?”

“Team Rocket is!” says Jesse.

“But you guys are Team Rocket!” exclaims Ash.

“Yes and no.” says James.

“What do you mean by that?” asks Misty.

“Yes, we are apart of Team Rocket. No, there's another Team Rocket! They, they’re pure evil!”

I put my hand over my mouth. It’s true… They had finished the portal.

“No!” It’s too late! I, I couldn’t save it!

My... future.