Shadows on the Heart Window to the soul
by Flygon
Chapter 7

Misty sighed, and saw pikachu come over to her. Then she remembered her new catch, and released it from the poke ball. She watched as Meowth shuddered at it fully appeared. Then got nervous when pikachu came up to it.

"Heh, heh, No hard feeling Pikachu?" he said in a nervous tone. "I'm never gonna try to swipe you again." he looked at Misty. "In fact, I seem to on the same side wit ya now."

"What happened, Meowth?" Brock asked as they left the alley and proceeded down the street.

"Botch and Cassidy is what happened." he growled. "First they clubbed Jessie and James and tossed them into one of those launches, then the bundle me up and toss me into the thing with them. Then we hit shore and those two started beatin up James and Jessie, and Cassidy starts to drop hot ashes onto em from a cigarette. They cut her hair with a knife, and started laughing at them, saying that the boss had fired them almost six months ago and used to laugh when he remembered that he never told them. Those two took all their pokemon and were trying to figure out how to kill them when yous guys showed up and they grabbed me, and ran. They ditched me telling me that I was useless because I didn't know how to use payday, and couldn't learn any decent attacks because I used up too much energy to learn to talk. Then they said something about heading to the other coast and splitting that way to get away from the law." Then he looked up at Misty. "Sorry to say that you didn't catch a good pokemon wit me. Dey were right. I used up so much energy that I can't learn any new attacks and I'll never evolve into a persian." Then his stomach growled noisily and he gave a nervous chuckle. "You guys wouldn't happen to have any mexican food on yas would ya? I'm starved."

"Mexican?" Brock said sound shocked. "You mean to tell me that you've been eating human food all this time?"

"Yea." He explained. "I figgered that since I talked like a human, I should eat like one. I love the Thai food best, but Mexican is my second favorite."

"Do you have any flavours that you hate?" Brock asked while he rummaged around in his pack.

"Sour stuff makes me want to trow-up." Then he looked at him closer. "Why?"

"It just so happens that my ludicolo is the same way, loves spicy hates sour." Brock said as he pulled a jar of pellets out of his pack. "And I have some of it's food, right here. Try it."

Meowth took four of the proffered pellets and bit into one. He crunched it a few times before stuffing the rest of it into his mouth, smiling broadly.

"Dat's great, a bit on the sweet side, but I can get used to it." he finished three of them and could eat no more. "Dat's weird tho." he said thoughtfully. "Normally I could finish two full plates of Thai food and still be hungry, but three of deas tings seem to be fine."

Misty saw some strange looks from some people walking along the side walk, and wondered about it for a few seconds. A girl carrying a Cleffa, A woman was carrying a cat like pokemon with a long curly tail, one boy had a colourful butterfly like pokemon on his shoulder, and nobody thought to look at them.Then Misty got an idea, and picked Meowth up and put him on her shoulder. At first Meowth was nervous, but soon he calmed down. Meanwhile, Brock began to explain.

"Human food doesn't have the proper nutrients nor high energy needed by pokemon. That's why you don't have any new attacks. Not because you used up your energy, but your diet didn't replace the energy you used. a few days of this diet and you'll probably be getting some new attacks in rapid succession."

"Wow," the pokemon said in awe. "I never knew dat." Then he looked down at the head of the girl. "Uhh, girly?"

"My name is Misty." She stated with a small smile. She was enjoying the sensation of a pokemon on her shoulder.

"OK, Misty, I can walk..."

"I know," she responded; "But I saw a couple of people looking a bit strangely at you. People are either carrying a pokemon, or, like that kid there," And she indicated a boy with a chimchar on his shoulder. "Would let them ride like this." Then she looked up at him again and noticed a tear coming out of his eye. "What's wrong Meowth?"

"Nobody's been dis nice to me before." he used his arm to wipe his eyes. "Da boss would tell me dat I could be wit him as long as I could please him. But he trew me away, like yesterdays newspaper."

Ash listened to Meowth and felt for the pokemon. Then he started thinking of Jessie and James. They were in a similar situation. Not even wanted by a criminal organization like Team Rocket. Ash had a feeling that he knew what James wanted to 'talk about' with him. He had gathered that from the forlorn and abandoned look in his face. He knew that at least James, wanted to go with the group. He also knew that neither of the ex-rockets would be trying to steal Pikachu. True, he thought, they had tried to steal Pikachu countless times, but never had truly succeeded. In fact, he recalled, the only time they had succeeded at anything was the few times they had helped him and the gang. The others, he thought, had only been called names, and tied up once or twice. Then he thought of Misty and Susie. They had suffered a little more then name calling and restraint during the breeding salon scam that Jessie and James pulled off. Susie had had her reputation hurt a bit, and Misty had been made over and made to look totally silly. He would have to think on it.

They made it to the shop and Ash bought enough brushes, combs and such for all of the group, plus two extra sets. When asked about that by Misty he simply replied that it would be a good idea to have extras, just in case. Ash also noticed they had some different type of poke balls and inquired about them.

"Ah, yes." The store keep said, "We have four different types of poke balls that we over ordered." He snorted. "The net ball," and he indicated a ball that was blue and white and looked like it was covered in a web or net. "is supposed to be great at catching water and bug types. The heal ball," and he held up a ball that looked like a regular poke ball except it had a red cross on it. "is great for filling out your team. A wounded pokemon that is caught in that is healed fully to fighting fitness so it is usable at that moment. The quick ball," and he pointed to a Green and blue ball with a lightning bolt on it. "is supposed to be fantastic at catching pokemon without even having to battle them. Supposedly has a catch rate three to four times that of Silph Company's Ultra Ball. And the dusk ball," and he tapped the top of a dark gray, and light gray ball. "Is supposed to work great during the night hours or in dark caves or such. It was a mistake that I am paying for now."

"How?" Brock asked, placing a selection of Potions, antidotes and such that he had grabbed from the aisles, down on the counter. "Those should be fantastic for some trainers."

"Heh, That's what I thought." The store keep laughed. "But the fact is a regular Poke ball is only five dollars, and these were fifty per. I can discount them to twenty five each and still make a tiny profit, but people don't normally believe that they really work. Even bundling them up in boxes of ten, with a premier ball tossed in doesn't work. I keep four boxes of each out here, and have sold only about four net balls in the last six months."

Ash did a quick calculation and then moved all the boxes into the center of the counter where their other supplies sat. He had the satisfaction of seeing the store keeps eyes widen and his eyebrows went up a bit.

"Can we afford that?" Both Misty and Brock said at the same time.

"Guys," Ash began. "We can afford that and a lot more. I've got a little over five hundred thousand on me, and another seven hundred and fifty at home. I told you, Mist, I've been holding onto the winnings from the Orange Islands, Johto, and Hoenn League. I only bought a new Nintendo game cube, Wii, and replaced my N-64 and TV. After that, I didn't buy anything else, oh, except the new computer."

"Wait," The store keep gasped, and stared at the boy. "Orange Island, Johto, and Hoenn, You wouldn't be Ash Ketchum, would you?"

"Yea, I am," He replied, puzzled.

"Tell you what," The store keep grinned. "I'll give you a max discount on those, if you let me sorta say that you bought them here. And if you catch any pokemon in one, then tell me," and he gave Ash a card with the telephone number on it. "and let me know what pokemon you caught with which ball."

"Sure, But why?" Ash was even more confused now.

"The sales potential, Lad." The store keep drawled. "The sales potential of those items will rise if people hear that 'The Ash Ketchum' is using them. You could make a fortune through endorsements alone, now. Your somewhat famous and young, and kids are starting to emulate you."

"Famous, ME?!" Ash was really confused now, and his head was in a whirl.

"Is he like this often?" The store keep asked Misty with an quizzical expression.

"Quite often," Misty replied with a chuckle. "He sometimes requires three or more explanations on some things before it sinks into his thick skull."

"Does not!" Ash snapped out with some heat.

"Does too," and Misty's tone was calm

"Does not,"

"Let's not start this up, this early please?" Brock said evenly, and stepped between the two,

"I was only joking with Ash, Brock." She said with a laugh. Then she looked at Ash. "What's so hard to believe about you being famous, Ash. You were on Television, and after your Hoenn win, your name has appeared in almost every newspaper."

"But I'm not a pokemon Master, yet." Ash said, feeling a little panicked.

"Lad," The store keep started to explain. "Your the closest thing to one now. For the last sixteen years there hasn't been a real Master. Nobody has won five championships in that time. Now all of a sudden, a young boy from Pallet Town comes onto the scene. He doesn't win at the Indigo Plateau, but then sweeps three in a row soon after that. The youngest pokemon master was sixteen, close to seventeen, and here you are, what, thirteen close to fourteen, and two wins away. Before your wins, this town would be called a near ghost town. The only thing we had going for us was the fact that Professor Rowan's lab was here. Things started to get a bit better after you took the Johto Silver Conference, and it became known that you had taken the Orange Island cup. Then your sweeping through that new 'Battle Frontier', came out and things really started happening here. Kids started to go poke-crazy here. I had a problem keeping poke balls in stock. Kids would set up small battles just outside of town, with the pokemon they had caught, and even have what some call junior league competitions. Then after your blitz of the Hoenn league, pokemon turned hotter than a volcano. Professor Rowan has taken to breeding his own starters to keep up with the demand, and the only reason that it's slowed down a bit, is the fact that most if not all the kids who are ten and live around here, have their own pokemon. I wouldn't be surprised if you are asked for your autograph a few times in town."

"I never knew." Ash said in a small voice. He looked towards the others and saw them grinning.

"So, Mr. Ketchum," The store keep said with a grin. "What do you say to my offer?"

Ash looked at the poke balls, then the store keep, then he turned to his friends. He put his hand on the back of his head and grinned.

"OK," Ash agreed, "Now how much do we owe you?"

Ash paid for the items and they stepped out onto the street, with the store keep escorting them, when he heard a shouted 'LOOK OUT'. He ducked just as a black and white ball like thing almost hit him. He watched as the object sailed by and soared up, only to wheel around and start to make another pass. It was a pokemon. He brought out his Pokedex and trained the small sensor on the speeding ball.

"Starly, The Starling Pokemon, no further information is available."

"Gotta get this thing updated." Ash complained and ducked, with the rest of the group as the little bird like pokemon made another pass at them. "What's wrong with that pokemon?"

"A group of about two dozen starlys have staked out an area just outside of town as their territory, and this one regularly dive bombs folk who are around here," The store keep answered.

Ash watched as the little bird came down in a dive and nearly hit a boy who managed to dive to the ground just in time. He started to reach for his belt and the poke balls there and then got an idea. He reached into the bag he was carrying and pulled out a quick ball from the box and placed the bag on the side walk. Then looked to his friend on his shoulder.

"Get ready buddy, in case this doesn't work." and grinned as the little electric mouse jumped from his shoulder and gave out a loud PIIIIIKAAAAA as if in challenge.

Ash watched the small pokemon turn, mid-air, and start another dive towards him. In one movement he turned his hat around, and then let the quick ball fly. It struck the bird squarely in the head, popped open, and drew the pokemon in, before dropping to the ground. He watched it wiggle and twitch as the pokemon inside struggled, and fought. Ash watched intently, one hand clenched into a fist as he willed the capture. Then the ball stopped and the button turned from its alternating red blue to white, and Ash picked up his newest, and first Sinnoh addition to his team.

Suddenly people were crowding around the group and watching them. Kids were whooping and cheering, and three boys who couldn't be more then eight came up to Ash.

"How did you do that without battling it first?" A boy with blue hair asked, wide eyed.

"Used a quick ball," He responded, showing the watching people the ball.

"Wow," The boy goggled at the ball. "I coulda used one of those. My grandma has a bunch of starlys who pick her garden clean, and I wasted ten poke balls and still didn't get one."

"Where didya get it?" Another boy asked staring at Ash.

Ash pointed right at the shop, and saw the store keep smile before he was suddenly inundated by kids with questions.

"Do you have more?"

"Will they work on a shinx"

Ash winked at the shopkeeper, picked up his bag and signalled his friends to follow. They made it back to the pokemon center and saw officer Jenny waiting in the lobby with Jessie and James.

Pokemon and friends

"Ash," Officer Jenny said with a frown. "They gave us statements, and told us what they had done." she indicated the pair who were looking down at their feet. "Since most of their offences were against you, if you decide not to press charges we'll let them go."

"No I don't want to press charges." And saw the two of them breath a sigh of relief.

"OK," Officer Jenny smiled, "I just have one favour to ask of you. Could you take them over to Professor Rowan's lab so that they can get a pokedex as their ID? We cleared it with the Professor, but the force here is spread a bit thin looking for this Butch and Cassidy." Then she looked at the two and rolled her eyes, "And if you could take them out and help them get a pokemon each, it would help. The roads are normally safe but even the camping sites can get the occasional attack from wild pokemon and these two would need some protection."

"Sure, officer Jenny." Ash agreed and then motioned them all towards the dining area.

"We only have two hundred dollars each, but I suppose we could use some food." Jessie said with a resigned sigh.

"This is my treat." Ash stated, drawing shocked looks from the pair. "I'm not going to send you off on empty stomachs, and pokemon less."

"Thank you, Ash." James said with a sad smile. "Considering how many times we caused you trouble, and tried to take Pikachu from you, this is very generous."

They entered the dining area and grabbed one of the big tables, and placed their orders with the waitress. Ash was surprised that neither Jessie nor James ordered a huge meal knowing that they didn't have to pay for it, and mentioned it.

"We don't want to gorge ourselves." Jessie supplied. "If we're going to be wandering around Sinnoh, we don't want to do it stuffed and sluggish. It's going to be a new experience for us, now that we are finally able to follow our original dreams, instead of the dreams of Giovanni."

"What were your original dreams?" Misty said taking a sip of orange juice. "If you don't mind me asking?"

"I always wanted to be a coordinator, in contests. I was born in Hoenn, where the contests started and always loved seeing them." Jessie said with a dreamy look on her face. "It was the only thing I could afford to do since my family was so poor. It was always my dream to be one of the best contest co-ordinators, and have a lot of pokemon with me to win contests with."

"Sort of like May wants to do," Ash said as he took a bite out of a grilled cheese.

Misty bridled slightly at the mention of that name. She had been on the whole Hoenn journey with Ash and even though they thought of each other as siblings or cousins, she still seemed to get steamed.

"What about you James?" Brock asked.

"Well, You'll probably think this is silly," He began with a nervous chuckle. "But I always wanted to be a Pokemon Breeder."

"Like Susie and Me," Brock said with a big smile, then coloured slightly when he realized that he had spoken as if they were a couple.

"Yes!" James exclaimed. "I'm not really good at battling, but I can spend loads of time caring for pokemon. I always dreamed of opening a Salon or a care center. That is until my parents tried to remake me, and marry me off to Jezebel to help in that."

"Which brings you to the reason that you wanted to talk to me?" Ash comment was more statement then question.

"Am I that transparent?" James asked with a sheepish grin.

"Only to somebody wit an IQ above room tempature."

"Ouch, Meowth That wasn't very nice....." Jessie began, then gaped at the pokemon who was sitting next to Misty.

Ash finished his grilled cheese and drank down the rest of his juice. For the next twelve or so minutes the trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth were hugging and talking. Meowth filled them in on how he ended up with Ash and company. Finally James turned to Ash with a serious expression on his face.

"Ash, I know we've never been on the best of terms in the past," He began. "But I hope that we can be at least friends. If you could see it in your heart to forgive us for the past, we would like to travel with you, and learn some things from you and your group."

Ash smiled slowly. He had figured that's what it was, and now he was proven right.

"Whatcha think guys," he began to say to the rest of the group, when Jessie and James got up.

"We'll go a ways away so you can discuss this privately." Jessie began, only to be interrupted by Misty.

"Oh, sit down you two." She said in exasperation. "We're not going to talk behind your back."

Ash grinned as they automatically complied with Misty's command. Then he looked at her and asked her what she thought about letting them join the group.

"It's really your decision, Ash." She said quickly. "And Brock's since he will be doing most of the cooking. But I don't have any objections. All they ever did with me was call me some names." She cast a quick glance at the two. "I think that they have learned their lesson by now about stealing, and think that they have a lot to learn about other things." She finished and watched as he turned to Brock.

"I don't mind one bit." he stated. "I can cook for six as well as for four, and if they agree to help with the camp set up and dish detail, we should have no problem. I say give them a chance." Then he saw Ash turn to Susie.

"Oh Ash, I just joined your group, so I don't think that I should..." She began and was cut off by Ash.

"Susie," he said, casting a sidelong look at Misty. "I learned a lot while I was going through Kanto, Johto, The Orange Islands, and Hoenn. And one of the things was that any group makes decisions together. I think that is where I really screwed up at Indigo Plateau. I tried to make all the decisions and do everything myself. In Johto, I bent a bit and won it, just barely. Orange Island, was a bit easier, and it seemed that the Hoenn League was a lot easier. Your part of this group, so you have a voice, and we want to hear that voice."

Misty was amazed. Ash was growing in more then height. She found herself grinning at the boy from Pallet Town who she had fished from a river so long ago.

"Thank you, Ash." Susie said with a smile. "I have no objection to letting them come with us." Then she looked at the both of them. "If you really want to be a good breeder, and a good co-ordinator, then Brock and I can help, but it will be hard work. You don't get good results in either, without an investment in sweat."

Ash looked at the two ex-rockets. They were looking at him with hopeful expressions and he already knew his answer. They had done most of their dirty work aimed at him, with the occasional tieing up or name calling to the others. Not to mention after hearing how they had been treated by their families, no less.

"The job of a good breeder, or a good co-ordinator is rough, but if you want to come with us, then welcome aboard. I don't know if I am much of a teacher, but I will help you with battle styles, and such as much as I can. And you can help me with some practice and building up my team for the Sinnoh league." He put out his hand towards the pair.

Twenty minutes later, Ash had gotten them another set of key cards for the rooms for Jessie and James, and dropped the bags of stuff that they had picked up on one of the beds. They then headed to the Lab for their meeting with Professor Rowan. On the way they noticed some strange looks that were directed towards them and both Jessie and James seemed to be uncomfortable.

"Why are they staring at us?" Jessie asked quietly.

"Probably your team rocket uniforms:" Meowth suggested. "Doh dey don't look like da normal ones, since yous two made yer own changes. De still makes ya stand out."

"We'll get you outfitted right after we get through with Professor Rowan." Ash said quietly. And he consulted an item that he picked up in the shop. earlier.

"What's that, Ash?" Brock questioned, and then his eyes opened wide as he recognised it. "A PokeNav?!"

"Yea, I hope this thing ends the days of lost in the world." Ash's mouth twisted into a sour smile. And then he looked at the screen and saw a line being drawn from their location to a spot where the Lab should be.

Soon they were where the PokeNav said the lab was, but it didn't look that way. There were at the end of one block and at a T intersection. On the one side there were houses and families. On the other there seemed to be a large park of some kind. A side walk wound from the street, up a small hill and then down to what appeared to be a field house. The front was white smooth stone similar to limestone, and the large double doors were at ground level. Large picture windows framed the doors and the rest of the windows on the front were made from glass blocks six inches square. Four glass blocks wide and six tall, spaced three feet apart. Ash signed as he approached even a pokenav wouldn't help him escape his lousy sense of direction. That was until he saw a sign planted in the grass next to a side walk proclaimed that this was Sinnoh Region Pokemon Research Laboratory, Prof. Rowan. He almost felt like kissing the pokenav.