<B>The Chosen Ones</B>

The Chosen Ones

Chapter 4



What could have been a one day trip to Pallet Town became four days as Josh tried to shake off anyone that might be following them. On the third day, he ran to Pewter for a few hours to inform the rest of the Chosen One's Army that the time had come to throw off their disguises and fight Team Rocket and the Emperor. During this four day trip he seemed very calm for just having lost his leader, and he did the best he could to stay away from Ash's friends. They had all taken notice that he was avoiding them.

None of the group of friends were really bothered with it though. Even though they were bursting with questions, their main concern was Misty. She had gotten very ill all of a sudden and couldn't talk. All day she didn't say a word, but in the middle of the night, May and Dawn would wake to her crying in her sleep.

When they finally arrived in Pallet Town, Josh quickly explained that there was a secret, underground base there and that he would be unavailable for a few days. After that, he disappeared before any questions could be asked.

They were shown to the house were they would be staying. It had been so long that they were shocked when Mrs. Ketchum answered the door and ushered them in. Even though she seemed fine, red eyes and tear stains silently informed the group that she had been told about her son. She told everyone where they would be staying and to go unpack while she made lunch.

Brock, Max, Tracy, Drew, and Rudy had to rearrange the furniture in the front room so that they could all fit thier sleeping bags in the room. Even then it was a tight fit, so they decided that the biggest, Brock, would sleep on the couch. The girls would share the guest room, and Pikachu had already claimed Ash's room.

"Lunch is ready!" Mrs. Ketchum announced half an hour later. She watched with a little smile on her face as the kitchen was stormed by her guests. The smile disappeared, however, when she took a head count, "Six, seven, eight..... Where's Misty?" She asked.

"She hasn't been feeling well Mrs. Ketchum." May said, "I was going to grab some sandwiches for her."

A concerened look crossed Mrs. Ketchum's face for a few seconds, "No. That's alright May. I'll take it up to her." She was gone before anyone could protest.

"Maybe she'll be able to get Misty to talk." Dawn said thoughtfully.

"I hope so. She should probably be there when we finally corner the Commander." Brock said. The others nodded in agreement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mrs. Ketchum opened the door to find Misty asleep on the bed. May and Dawn had decided that she might get more sleep in an actual bed. Delia made her way over to the bed and sat down at the end of it. Sighing, she ran a hand through her long, brown hair. She hoped that she was ready for this.

"Misty?" She said as she began to shake the young woman, "Misty sweetie wake up."

Misty stirred, causing some of her red hair to fall into her face. Delia frowned guiltily at the black streaks under Misty's eyes signifying the lack of sleep. Mrs. Ketchum quickly replaced the frown with a small smile as Misty's eyes fluttered open.

"I brought you some lunch." Delia offered the plate to Misty, who took it and began to attack the sandwich hungrily.

Seeing that Misty seemed to be feeling a little better after eating the sandwich, Delia cleared her throat, "Misty, let's talk."

Alarms went off in Misty's head. She'd been cornered. Misty knew Mrs. Ketchum wouldn't let her get away with out knowing what the problem was. Might as well get it over with. She breathed deeply and stuttered out, "About what." Even she was surprised by the sound of her voice.

"I've been told that you haven't been feeling well lately. I just want to know why and see if I can help you with it."

Misty had a good feeling that Mrs. Ketchum already knew what the problem was. She vowed that whoever had told on her would be the first to taste the mallet in over three years. She stayed silent, the words just jumbled in her mind. Her thoughts had been too messed up for her to say anything these past few days.

"Let me take a guess," Delia said after deciding that Misty didn't know where to start, "It's about Ash, isn't it? You're shocked at his sudden return? I know I was when I learned that he was alive, but I was overjoyed. I'm wondering why you are not?"

Misty, being unable to make any words come out of her mouth, merely nodded. Ash's return had turned her world upside down. Her heart had cried in joy and brought her long-hidden feelings for the man to full strength. Yet, in doing this, she became pained at the thought of his death and her betrayal towards him. Misty looked into Delia's eyes. What she saw there was understanding, but if Mrs. Ketchum understood, then.....

"You knew?" Misty managed to get the words out of her mouth. Her voice once again sounded horribly foreign to her.

"Yes Misty. I saw the signs probably long before you and Ash did."

"Me....and Ash?" Misty asked, her voice quivering as the full realization of the statement's meaning hit her.

"Yes. I'm sure Ash learned what those unknown feelings were, even if he never mentioned it. Misty, you must not blame yourself. You feared rejection, as you had a right to. If he had've said no, your whole world would have come crashing down around your ears. We shouldn't grieve over Ash, he would not have wanted us to."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Misty threw her arms around the older woman and sobbed into her shoulder. She didn't know how it was that Mrs. Ketchum knew so precisely what she was going through, and she didn't ask. She cried until no more tears would come. Then she sat up and looked gratefully at Mrs. Ketchum.

"Better?" Delia asked. Misty nodded her head and muttered a "Yes". "Good. Now, let's go down stairs and be with our friends."

As they headed for the door, Misty stopped and turned to face Delia, "Mrs. Ketchum, when did Ash get those uh....powers?"

Delia looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "That will be explained to you soon Misty, but it is not my place to explain it."

* * *

The Emperor looked on with a smile as his "prize's" training progressed quickly. It was amazing to him how easy it had been to control of the creature's mind. Once it was ready, it would be able to single-handedly take on all of the pokemon those misfits could throw at it.

Speaking of training, the Emperor's thoughts turned towards their new prisoner. All would proceed as planned if he declared allegiance to the Emperor. However, his spirit and his will would have to be broken, and the Emperor knew just how to do it.

"Your Majesty," a messenger came up behind the Emperor and bowed, "we have found the book you have been searching for."

The dark man turned from the window overlooking the stadium and said with a smile, "Finally. Take me to it."

* * *

Giovanni growled in frustration. It had been tough enough dealing with the elusive Rebels, but know one of his top units had turned on him and another mysterious force had come from out of nowhere and has started to take over everything in its path.

This newest piece of information seems interesting though. Giovanni thought as he looked at the report sitting on his desk. According to the report, the newest and most powerful of Team Rocket's enemies was looking for something. All across the globe, wherever their territory was, huge digging machines could be found.

"We think it may be a new weapon of some sort sir," Jessie, one of Team Rocket's best, stated in a clear voice.

She, James, and Meowth stood at attention in Giovanni's office. They weren't there to be scorned as they had been on hundreds of previous occasions, that had all changed after the Twerp disappeared. Once he was gone, they had quickly risen to the top. However, deep in their hearts was a longing to have the old days back, to chase the Twerp and his pikachu, to no longer be so cruel.

"Well then we have to get to whatever it is first." Giovanni spat angrily, "I'll have you command an undercover team in Johto. That seems to be where they are concentrating the most."

The three agents saluted and shouted, "Yes sir!" Then they turned and left the room. Though they had sounded confident in the Boss's presence, fear gripped their hearts. Fear that they might have to face the warrior who almost single handedly took out all of the Rebel leaders.

* * *

The group was relieved when Misty came down the stairs as her old self. However, Brock and May noticed that she seemed a little distant towards Rudy. Shortly after the group had gathered in the front room, there was a knock at the door.

"Oh hello! Please come in and have a seat." Mrs. Ketchum said cheerfully to the people at the door.

Gary, Paul, and Professor Oak came into the room and sat down. Soon, stories about what had happened since they had last seen each other were being recounted. Gary and the Professor had been working for the Chosen One's Army since their base had been established in Pallet. Paul, who had been captured by Team Rocket years ago, had been rescued by Ash and had been in Pallet ever since.

As Tracy, Max, and Dawn were telling of their adventures in the Rebellion, there was another knock at the door. When Mrs. Ketchum answered it, she found a soldier standing on her porch. He had been sent to inform everyone that the Commander was waiting in the conference room inside the base. They were led out to a small grove of trees in which a small cottage stood. As they entered the building to proceed underground, none of them noticed a transparent figure watching them from the bushes. None of them knew how big of a part that figure would be in the events to come.