Misty had fallen to her knees sobbing when Ash had closed the door. The guilt she was feeling before was nothing compared to the turmoil going threw her mind now. She sat on the tile floor staring at her hands. She need to talk to someone, anyone. The first person that enter her mind was Chris, but she quickly stomped on that idea. "Sure," she muttered. "Call my fiancée in the middle of the night and tell him that my ex-boyfriend, who I still love, is not only dead, but he was just in the gym." She racked her brain, then it came to her. Brock. Only when he picked up the video phone, his brown hair disheveled and stifling a yawn, did she remember how late it was. "Hello?" he mumbled groggily. "Brock?" she asked, trying hard not to burst into tears again. "Mistara?" he said, suddenly wide awake. "Misty, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice concerned. Brock looked at his friend. She was a mess, her hair was mussed, she had tear stains down her cheeks, and her eyes were full of sorrow. Only once before had he seen her in the state she was in now. The day they called off the search for Ash and proclaimed him dead. "Misty?" he asked again. "Tell me what happened." "He's alive." ~*~*~ Ash sat in a deserted ally, his fingers interlaced behind his head, looking down, with his elbows resting upon his knees. "Pikachu could you do a thunder bomb on me and put me out of my misery?" he asked, staring at a crack in the ground below him. *What would be the point?* Pikachu asked from his position next to him. *You would only absorb the electricity anyway.* "We'll put you out of your misery if you want," a female voice said, from somewhere in the darkened ally. A pair of blue eyes glistened at him. Ash sprung to his feet, immediately regretting the action, after pain shot through his side. Pikachu stood at his feet, ready to battle. "Of course," a male voice chimed in. "We'd be happy to do it." Green eyes sparkled maliciously from the shadows. "To protect the world from devastation." "To unite all peoples within our nation." Ash groaned and Pikachu rolled his eyes. Ash slid down the wall, returning to his sitting position, awaiting the newcomers to finish. "Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light," the female said. "Surrender now or prepare to fight," concluded the male. A woman with long red hair, wearing a skintight black dress that excentuated her every curve, stepped out from the shadows. A man also dressed in black with rather long blue hair, followed suit. "Jessie, James, do you have to say the motto every time you see me?" Ash asked from his position on the ground. "Sorry, twerp, it's a habit," Jessie apologized. Ash sighed, rubbing his temples. "You aren't even with Team Rocket anymore." "Do you have to rub it in time you see us?" James whined. Ash looked at Pikachu, then back to the former Rockets. "Yes, yes I do." Although Jessie and James annoyed him, Ash could never be angry with them. He owed them his life. For two months, Team Rocket had beaten and starved him to within an inch of his life. But, for a reason Ash will most likely never know, Jessie and James had smuggled him out of Rocket headquarters. Then they had stayed with him, nursing him back to health. After that they had to flee, because the penalty for traitors in Team Rocket is death. Fortunately for Ash, Meowth had long since evolved into a Persian and hadn't been partnered with Jessie and James for a long time. But, unbeknownst to Team Rocket, he had remained friends with his rouge teammates. He continues to feed them information, which they in turn, pass along to Ash. A suave voice interrupted his thoughts. "Excuse me but I do believe there is some business to attend to," a large tan cat pokemon said as he slunk his way out of the shadows. The red jewel on his head shone brightly as he walked over to Ash. "Persian," Ash said, surprised. "It's not like you to come out for a simple information passing." "That's true but this information is important and these two are rather...unreliable." Jessie and James grinned widely before realizing they had been insulted. "Hey!" they cried in unison. Meowth rolled his eyes, as they had just proved his point. "Team Rocket has moved it's headquarters to Pewter City," he told Ash, ignoring his former partners. "Why would they do that?" Ash asked. "To be completely honest I don't know. My guess would be because of the large abundance of rock trainers." Ash furrowed his eyebrows, confused. Persian, noting his reaction, explained. "They know you're up to something, Ashton. They want to be prepared. Electricity is weak against rock." Ash let the use of his full name slide. "Why are they suddenly worried about my actions? What are they up to, Persian?" Persian sighed and shook his head, "They have captured Mewtwo." "What?" Ash asked, alarmed. Ash knew Mewtwo well. A few years after he became master, Mewtwo appeared to him. He had restored Ash's memory, and since the two had become good friends. "How?" Ash demanded. "I really don't know," Persian told him sadly. "I thought he was too powerful to ever be captured." There was a long pause before Persian began to speak again. "They have scientists working on him right now at the headquarters. Team Rocket plans to control his mind, and set him against their enemies." "Mewtwo will be unstoppable," Ash murmured. "I have to stop them." He stood up, his face set. "We'll go to Pewter." "Pika!" Pikachu agreed. "Ashton, there's one more tidbit of information I think you'll find rather interesting." The large cat bore his sharp gleaming teeth in what was no doubt a smile. Ash looked down at Persian, folding his arms across his chest. "Do you remember the lab you destroyed two nights ago?" Ash nodded, "Lindham Labs." "Yes Lindham. The man that owns that company, Christopher Lindham, is one of Rockets top agents." Ash shrugged, his arms still crossed. "Not surprising. So what?" "Well," Persian said, taking his time. "Lindham just got engaged." Ash was quickly becoming annoyed. "Persian, get to the point!" Persian smiled, his expression somewhere between sympathy and glee. "The lucky lady, Ashton, was one Mistara Waterflower." Ash took a deep breath and managed to keep his expression impassive, although he felt like he was going to be sick. After a moment of silence Ash regained his ability to speak. "Why are you telling me this Persian? She is not my concern anymore, nor has she been for years." The cat pokemon smirked, although it was difficult to notice with his feline face. "Of course Ashton. I don't know why I even mentioned it." He turned and slunk back into the shadows. With a flick of his tail he was gone. Jessie and James stood a slight distance away staring at him. Ash glanced at them. "Is there anything else?" James grinned nervously. "No, I suppose we will see you sooner or later." "I have no doubt," Ash muttered as he watched the pair also disappear into the shadows. *Ash, do you think Misty knows Lindham is a Rocket?* Pikachu asked, jumping onto his shoulder. "I don't know Pikachu, but like I said before, it doesn't concern us." *Ash! If Misty is going to marry a Rocket and doesn't know it she could be in danger!* Pikachu scolded him. Ash recoiled from the pokemon during his tantrum, then blinked a few times. *Damnit, Pikachu, why do you always have to be right?* he thought as he began walking. Pikachu smiled as they headed for the Cerulean City gym.. A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, they are really helping speed my writing along. I can't believe that I finished the third chapter already. Please review, and once again, if you are going to flame me fine, but be gentle. You know, tone it down so I only get singed instead of running around with my hair on fire. Disclaimer: Pokemon does not belong to me. Pokemon does not belong to me. Pokemon does not belong to me. Pokemon does not belong to me. Pokemon does not belong to me. Pokemon does not belong to me.