Chapter One – Dark Planning
By Crow Skywalker
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Disclaimer – I do not own Pokemon. It belongs to its original creators, and I am in no way making any money off of this fanfic.
April 25th – This is the rewritten and edited version of chapter two of The Power of One : The Continuation. It’s about 700 more words than the original, with more detail and dialogue added to it. Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, and although it’s a lot longer than the original, sorry it’s not even longer. This chapter basically starts the plot, and it was impossible to add any more without making it seem odd. Thanks for waiting patiently, and if anyone’s interested, the original chapters (minus the one’s I’ve rewritten so far) up to chapter seven are still up on FFN.
Other Notes – This fic takes place after the second movie, Pokemon 2000, or whatever you want to call it. I’ve changed some things to fit the fic (Ash is older, for one), and so its AU starting at the end of the movie. No new Pokemon (until he reaches Johto, anyway), no new characters…that kind of AU. And this fic will have Ash/Misty and may or may not have Melody/Tracey and Jessie/James.
Summary – After the second movie, Ash and the gang start off again on a totally new journey – but just what awaits them?
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The room was dark, the only light coming from a dull light bulb high on the ceiling, which only just barely lit up the area in front of the large desk in the room. From behind the desk, a large hand came into the dim light, settling itself on a furry head that purred in delight, it’s red eyes flashing in the darkness. Somebody sat on their knees in front of the desk, the dim light shining down on him almost accusingly as if he were on trial. The hand hesitated slightly as the other man began to speak, pleading with the more powerful one behind the desk.
"Boss, please lend me some more money!" The man on his knees begged, keeping his gaze on the floor. If he ever expected to get the boss’s approval, he needed to act like the perfect servant. "I promise I’ll get those damn birds for you this time. All I ask for is Lugia to add to my collection – the other three shall be yours to do what you wish with." The Pokemon collector, Jiraldan, finished, eyes raising slightly to the figure in the darkness.
"I already gave you the money you wished for the first time, and you blew it," Came a deep voice from the darkness, and the hand disappeared into the darkness once again. The large cat-like figure he’d been petting looked disappointed, but with a twitch of its tail, it moved ever so slightly into the light, revealing itself to be a rather large Persian.
"You have failed me and my company, do you really think I’d give you more money? Team Rocket is running low on money as it is, because of the lack of good criminals these days," the dark figure continued.
"But Geovanni –" Jiraldan protested, but he was cut off.
"Don’t call me that!" The man behind the desk, the famous leader of Team Rocket, Geovanni, snapped. "You are not in the position to do so! You may call me Boss, nothing else."
"I do as you please Boss." Jiraldan bowed his head to show his loyalty.
"Good. Now let it stay that way."
Jiraldan glanced up, "But Boss, please reconsider this! Picture you, the most powerful man in the world, with three of the most powerful legendary birds at your side! You would be unstoppable, the most powerful man in the universe! You could even take over the world if you wished!"
Silence followed Jiraldan’s outburst as Geovanni seemed to consider this. As much as he knew the last plan had failed, the promise of power was always tempting. Jiraldan knew Geovanni’s weakness, and he had played on it. There was no way Geovanni would turn this down – he couldn’t do without it.
"Very well," Geovanni’s voice finally sounded through the darkness of his office. "Do as you wish. You may take the money from Team Rocket’s vault. However, I want no screw-ups this time! I want those birds caught and in Team Rocket headquarters soon!"
Jiraldan nodded with a smirk, slowly backing up towards the door. "Yes, Boss!"
"And send those three idiots into my office when you leave." Geovanni’s voice cut through the air.
The other man nodded once again, opening the door to find three figures stood staring at him dumbly, shifting uncomfortably as they waited to be called in.
"The Boss wishes to see you," He told them coldly, walking off.
Jessie and James glanced at each other, scared of stepping into the dark room to see what the Boss wished to discuss with them. Not only had they failed him, but they had helped the twerps stop their Boss’s master plan in capturing the legendary birds. They were bound to be yelled at and punished.
"Well, it’s now or never.." Stated Meowth, gathering his courage and taking the first step in through the door.
He was soon followed by the other two teammates, who were still reluctant to go in. As soon as they stepped through the doorframe, the door swung shut on its own, trapping them in the darkness with their worst nightmare.
A silence followed, and James finally uttered a, "Boss, let me explain!" as he tried to get in a good word of two before both he and Jessie were kicked off the team.
"No need." Came Geovanni’s voice. "I’ve already heard. You helped some boy destroy my ultimate plan."
"But Boss! He’s no ordinary boy!" Protested Meowth.
"Don’t argue with me!" Boomed the voice, making them quiver in fright. "A boy is a boy, nothing else. And if he gets in your way, you destroy him. Simple as that."
"But he has friends.." Jessie protested, and the other two team members nodded vigorously.
"Friends with strong Pokemon! Both of them are ex gym leaders!" Said Meowth.
"No excuses!" Geovanni snapped. "Now, on to what I really wanted you for."
Meowth’s ears perked up – they weren’t going to be punished? "That wasn’t what you wanted us for?"
"No," replied Geovanni’s cold voice. "I know you were eavesdropping at the door," All three Rocket members sweatdropped, looking down at the floor at being caught, "So I don’t really think I have to explain what Team Rocket’s next plan is." There was a pause as Geovanni stared at each Rocket coldly, wondering how he’d put up with them for so many years. "And I would like to inform you that you are not part of this plan, and I don’t want you anywhere near this! Don’t get in the way and do not screw it up!"
"Yes Boss!" The trio promised, happy that they weren’t going to be punished for ruining Geovanni’s last plan and that they weren’t being kicked off the team.
"As for the Rockets I place in charge of this job," He paused as two figured stepped out of the darkness, dressed in normal Team Rocket uniform though it was black and red contrast to Jessie and James’s white and red uniforms. "Butch and Cassidy, whom I assume you’ve already met."
Jessie stopped being afraid of Geovanni for a moment to glare at her rival, who returned the look. "I thought you were in jail!"
Cassidy giggled, a hand formally over her mouth. "Why Jessie, our Boss broke us out! Wouldn’t he do the same for you?"
The trio sweatdropped, knowing what the answer was. Geovanni would never bail them out of jail – they’d ruined too many plans and hadn’t brought in any new stolen Pokemon in years.
"Jiraldan may be getting me the three birds, but I’m not happy with just that." Said Geovanni, watching in mild amusement as the two groups of Rockets glared at each other.
Jessie and James perked up upon hearing this, finally looking towards their boss’s desk in the direction they knew he was, though he couldn’t be seen.
"I’m after Lugia this time," Geovanni went on to say, "And as soon as Jiraldan catches him, I will have all three legendary birds and the mighty Lugia in my grasp."
The trio’s mouths dropped, and they glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes. The last time Lugia had come fourth from the ocean, it had almost meant the destruction of the world – and their boss was going to go after it still? It was happening all over again!
"Now leave!" Geovanni’s voice lashed out, causing them to jump, "I’ve already told you too much! Remember what I said!"
"Yes boss!" The three of them bowed quickly before leaving the room as fast as they could.
Once the door snapped shut behind them they leaned up against it, panting.
"I thought for sure we were gonna be fired!" Said Meowth in between breaths.
"Me too!" Answered James, "It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be!"
"Yeah..I expected much worse." Gasped Jessie.
Finally catching his breath so that his heart was no longer racing, James glanced at Jessie. "So what are we going to do now?"
Meowth frowned up at James, his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? We do what the Boss said! We do nothing!"
"But you’ve seen what happens when the birds are brought together!" James protested, "And this time the twerps might not be nearby to save the world!"
Meowth shrugged. "It’s not our problem!"
"James is right," stated Jessie, hand clenched in the air and a determined look upon her face, "We can’t just sit back and watch it all happen again! We’ve got to do something!"
At this, James got stars in his eyes. "Ehhhwhoo!" He squealed, taking Jessie’s hands in his own, "Do you think this is our chance to be heroes again?"
Jessie’s eyes turned to stars again as she grinned at her partner, "It might be! We’re gonna be stars again!"
Meowth sweatdropped, shaking his head. "Oooh boy…why do I ever stay with these idiots?"
Ignoring the cat Pokemon’s voice, James let go of Jessie with a thoughtful expression on his face. "But what’re we going to do?"
Grabbing a hold of James by the ear, she started dragging him down the hall, Meowth following after them with a sigh.
"I don’t know." She declared, "But we’ll think of something!"
James nodded happily, despite the pain. Once again they would have to switch sides and help the twerps, but it would be worth it in the end. Not only would the world not be destroyed, but they would get to live and be part of something big. And something big was bound to happen.
To Be Continued…