Shadows on the Heart Window to the soul

Shadows on the Heart Window to the soul
by Flygon
Chapter 8



He stepped through the double doors and they found themselves in a large area with a desk manned by a woman. She looked up with a smile,

"You wouldn't be Ash Ketchum and company, would you?" She asked in a pleasant tone.

"Yes." Ash said with a return smile. "We are."

"Right through that door, and have a seat. The professor will be with you in a very short time."

They went through the door indicated and saw three long tables sitting there. One had three poke balls, another had two poke balls with a blank space in the center where the third would be sitting. The third had a pair of Pokedexs, a small laptop computer, and about a half a dozen poke balls with small lightning bolts on them. There were also a row of about ten chairs and a door near on the other side of the room. The group sat down and waited for the professor. They didn't have long to wait. The other door opened and in walked the Professor and an assistant. They were discussing something, and apparently did not know that the room was occupied at the time.

"Sir," The assistant was saying in an insistent manner. "We don't have the space here for them."

"Jeffrey," The professor seemed to counter. "Those pokemon have been here for almost two months. They have, for the most part, become used to human contact and care. They have lost almost all of their wild skills. To just toss them out would be cruel. I think we have no choice."

"How about giving them to trainers?" Jeffrey suggested with a hopeful look.

"The next trainer through here is due in a month and a half," Rowan argued. "By that time they will have formed an attachment here, most likely to Jason, since he feeds all the pokemon. To separate them at that point would be even more cruel then to put them in the wild. Add to that, the fact that we have to get permission from the League to do that, which would take another month even if we sent the request by staraptor, and we still have the same problem."

"How about that trainer and his friends that are coming today to get those starters?" He held out his hand to forestall any arguments. "We can give them a starter, and one of the shinxes that we have, that would take care of three, and then you have two others coming for their pokedex, IDs and trainers licence, why not give those two each a shinx. That would leave one, and we could stretch things here for just one."

"Hmm, that is a possibility," Rowan said, gripping his chin in a thumb and forefinger thoughtfully. "But I would have to make sure that they would accept them first. The first young trainer, Ash, has a Pikachu who is female, and I defiantly do not want him getting a female shinx with the rivalry ability. Plus I don't know how he would react to being offered another pure electric type." the wandered over to the table with the six poke balls, and then realized that they were not alone.

"Hmm," Rowan stated looking at the group. "Sorry, I had no idea that you were waiting." He cleared his throat. "I am assuming that you are Ash Ketchum and company? I thought that there would be only three."

Ash explained what had happened during the time they were on board ship, and after they had arrived. He told the Professor about Jessie and James and the fact that they were now joining the group and added the fact that they would be needing pokemon. When he finished the Professor looked at Jessie and James with a gaze so stern, that the two seemed to shrink into their chairs.

"Ash is taking a chance on you, so I will honour that." The professor stated levelly. "If it were me in this position, I would not have done this. However, I will tell you this. I will give you a licence as a pokemon trainer, but if I find, or hear of you falling back on your old ways, then I will revoke that licence with out hesitation. Am I understood?"

"Yes," Jessie answered simply.

"Of course," James began. "We were never very successful at being crooks, and something would always go wrong. We just want this chance to try to succeed in honest ways. Besides, I don't think I could bring myself to steal another persons pokemon. I know how it feels and it horrible."

Professor Rowan took one more look at the pair then went to the table with the three poke balls. He released all three onto the table, and motioned towards the three.

"Misty, you first." Ash offered.

"You sure, Ash?" She asked, then went up to the table when he nodded. "I already know which one I want." then she laughed as the monkey like chimchar struck a pose as if it were flexing his muscles. "No, not you cutie, I pick piplup." She reached out and scratched chimchars head. "I specialize in water pokemon." she picked up the little penguin like pokemon, and received the ball from Rowan.

Brock went up at Ashes urgings. Again the chimchar started to strike a pose, but Brock shook his head.

"You'll be going to Ash, little guy." Brock told the little monkey. "I'm into breeding and grooming pokemon and you look like a fighter. Ash is going to be taking on the Sinnoh league, so you'de be better for him." And retrieved turwig and its' poke ball.

Then Ash went up to the table, with Pikachu on his right shoulder, and put Chimchar on his left shoulder. Then he handed his pokedex over to the professor and asked if he could update it with the Sinnoh pokemon.

Jeffrey collected the pokedex and also the ones from the other three and plugged them into a machine. Then the Professor went and handed over a pokedex to each of the ex rockets.

"This is your pokedex, and your ID. It also contains your trainers licence." he started to explain. "If you're going to register for the Sinnoh League you can do so at the Pokemon center here in SandJem town, if you are going to be entering contests then you can do so at the Television station in Jubelife City. Also, here are your sleeves for your pokemon. You will want to throw your old sleeves away, since they would transport your pokemon to a place that this team rocket uses for storage. I have set the place of origin to Kanto, and Professor Oaks lab, since we are somewhat tight on space here right now, until the league and town council approve the expansion project for us." Then he turned to all of them, waiting for Jeffrey to give them their updated Pokedex's.

"Now I have a further favour to ask of all of you," He seemed to smile behind the large bushy moustache. "And the fact that are six of you here would help us even more. As you heard me say we are a bit tight on space right now. One of my assistants brought in six shinxes for a research project, and now that it is over we find that we don't have the room to hold them. Nor can we let them loose, since they have acclimated themselves to being in contact with humans. I would be grateful if you would each take one." He glanced at Jessie and James. "This would help you out since you wouldn't have to try to catch your first pokemon. But you, Ash." And he turned to Ash. "Shinx is a pure electric type, and it is a known fact that some pure electric types form deep bonds with their trainers and may resent another pure electric type. I want to make certain that your pikachu won't resent or feel threatened."

"What doya say, buddy?" He said to his best friend on his shoulder. "Would it bother you if I got another electric pokemon?"

Pikachu seemed to consider this for a few seconds then shook her head,

"Piiii pi pi ka chu," and she continued for a short.

"She sezs that she don have a problem wit it," Meowth began to translate. "It will give her somebody to talk to who is the same type. She said that she waz gettin a bit tired of talkin to pokemon who don know the problems that electrics go truu."

During this, both the Professor and the assistant turned startled looks at Meowth and moved closer. Meowth suddenly gave a nervous laugh....

"This is remarkable." Jeffrey stated.

"Yes, I agree," Professor Rowan responded, "There have been only two other verified instances of a talking pokemon."

"Three, I think," Jeffrey stated, looking toward Rowan. "The machop, thirty years ago, The slowking which is still at large, and that bunery."

"The bunery has no credible backing," Rowan countered. "merely hearsay, no documented evidence." he shook his head quickly and looked at Misty. "Young lady, at some point in the future, I would like to examine this Meowth and do a bit of research on it. Nothing severe." he added when he saw the pokemon swallow nervously. "simply some questions, and a bit of an exam. When you have a spare week or so."

They left the lab and began to make their way back to the pokemon center, each having their new pokemon. Jessie and James seemed very pleased with their new acquisitions. Jessies, as well as the ones for Susie, and Misty were girls, with an ability called rivalry while Susie's had intimidate. And Ash, Brock, and James got males. Ash's had the intimidate ability as did Brock's, while James's had the rivalry ability. Meowth seemed to be both nervous and angry.

"I can't believe dat dey want to study me like I'm some freak." He said riding on Mistys shoulder.

"Not a freak, Meowth." Ash stated. "Just unique. You gotta admit that you don't run into talking pokemon everyday."

"Yea," Brock seconded. "Ash is right. But I don't think that you have to worry much. I don't think Misty will let anybody do anything to you that would hurt you."

"You got that right," Misty said with steel in her voice. "If I do trade you at any time Meowth, you'll have a say in it, and I think that I would trade you to James, or Jessie first. Since they've been with you the longest. But don't worry yourself over that."

"But Misty?" Meowth said somewhat puzzled. "I taut dat yous wanted to stay wit water pokemon?"

"I'll be focusing on water pokemon, but I think that one or two that are different wouldn't hurt." She smiled at the pokemon. "Besides, with your ability to talk human, you can help me understand other pokemon better."

Ash motioned them into a shop that was advertising camping gear and clothes. They bought the extra supplies that they needed for both Jessy, James, and Susie, and then made their way back to the pokemon center where Nurse Joy seemed to be in a state of near panic. She explained that Misty's marill had begun to cry and they couldn't figure out why. As soon as they got to the small ball shaped pokemon, it started to talk and Meowth translated.

"It misses her mom." he looked at Misty.

The group was in the dining area, and it was a sombre time. Misty was absent, using the phone to contact Tracy and see about sending marill to spend some time with his marill who was the mother of her pokemon. Ash was worried about Misty. How she would feel about being separated from the pokemon that she had raised. He remembered togepi when it first evolved to Togetic, the wanted to stay to guard the other Togepi in the Mirage Kingdom. Then he saw Misty coming to the table and she was smiling.

"You alright, Mist?" Ash asked, concern stark in his tone.

"Yea, fine." she said momentarily taken aback at the concern. "It isn't like before," she said, referring to the little egg pokemon without mentioning it by name. "Marill will be there only for a little while, not forever." then she looked at Meowth, still perched on her shoulder. "Besides we learned something about her today."

"The little water ball likes contests," Meowth said, grinning. "specially the appealing part."

Then they heard somebody ask who had the remote, and could they turn up the volume on the TV that was near the door. The volume rose and everybody saw an infomercial.

"New from Devon Corporation and Silph Company, The Campers ball."

The infomercial proceeded to show a boy who took a slightly oblong shaped poke ball from his pocket, press the button on it. and toss it to an area of ground. It popped open and in a flash of reddish energy, there was a tent. The picture froze and went to a corner of the screen as a man in a business suit and a lady were sitting at a table on a round stage.

"So Mr. Glidesman, the Silph company and the Devon Corporation worked on this project for how long, and what other objects can be placed into these Camper Balls?" The commentator asked.

"Well Gladys," He began smiling at the camera. "The day of the animé series where you can store a plane, or such in a small capsule is loooooong away. Right now we have gotten only five items that can be placed into a utility ball, as we call it. The largest being the tent. We have at the moment a two, four, six, and eight sleeper tent, and also a utility tent that can sleep twelve people. We also have two versions of bicycles that can be compressed. The other three items are more for the medical field. A stretcher, a Gurney, and an electric powered wheel chair. We have been trying to get larger items to work, but the results have actually caused some injury, so we are giving up on them for now. We have a few more items in the works, but I can't elaborate on them now"

"So, this would open to be a tent?" she asked, holding a small flattened looking poke ball.

"Yes, though you would still have to secure it to the ground in the standard manner," he said with a smile. "Via stakes that would be attached to the tent. It's basically a wire frame that is shaped in a large dome. When it is deployed, You would have to go around the side of it, and pound the stakes into the ground, or tie the tags onto a secure tree."

"And to take the tent down?" She inquired.

"Simply pull up the stakes, aim the ball, and press the button again." Then he put the 'ball' into a clear plastic shell. "Then you store the 'ball' in this case to prevent an accidental release in either your pocket, or your backpack. This technology is new, but it has been tested in the field for the items that we have. Ambulances are already using the Gurney and stretchers and have been for about six months. We finally started to release the tent and bike version."

"And what happens if somebody is in the tent when another person tries to shrink it?" Was a question from the audience.

"Nothing at all." The man answered quickly. "the process will not work if there is a living thing in the tent or even a poke ball. However, you could leave your sleeping bags in there, and maybe a book or two, even a couple of cots and it would get compressed with no harm to the bag or items. Obviously this isn't for the week-end warrior, but for a hardcore camper, or trainer."

"What about price?" Another person from the audience questioned.

"As I said, this isn't something that a weekend warrior would go for. The Tents are priced from forty-five hundred for the two man style, to eighteen thousand for the utility tent. The bicycles are at thirty-five hundred for the two wheel gear model and fifty five hundred for the tricycle model for the city."

"We have a caller on line two from Goldenrod City. Please go ahead."

"Yes, This is Professor Oak" And Ash started to choke on his mouthful of cheeseburger. After a few slaps on the back from Brock and some sips of milk, he was able to hear.

"We will transfer you to somebody who can take the information down and we will hold the item for him. Since they are based on poke ball technology, they can be transferred via the poke ball transfer network." The man finished.

"Well, that's one lucky trainer." The woman said. "Just in case he or she has tuned in now, Professor Oak has purchased two of the eight man tents and one utility tents for his step son or daughter and party who are somewhere. We will repeat this throughout the night. If Professor Oaks stepson Or stepdaughter is watching, call this number, and give proof of your Identity and we will transfer the items to you."

"Wow, Ash, wasn't that nice of Professor Oak..." Brock began turning to Ash's seat, which was empty, and he saw his friend heading out a door with his hand raised in a waving motion.

"Pika?" A puzzled pokemon said while licking some ketchup from his lips.

"I'll say, Pikachu," Meowth said quietly.

Twenty minutes later Ash returned with a huge smile on his face, and a small sack in hand. He sat down and just grinned.

"Got them, and a message About mom." he simply stated in a hushed tone.

"Don't keep us in suspense," Misty hissed in a whisper.

"Yea, Ash, tell us." Jessie said with a bright smile.

"Let's go to the room, then I will." Ash stated quietly once again. "I don't want anybody else to hear this, especially the part about my Mom."

In the room that was being used by the boys of the group, Ash sat down and sighed deeply. Then at the look that Misty shot him he held out his hands.

"Please Misty, no fights." he pleaded. "first, we got the tents. Professor Oak says that I can pay him back from the winnings if I want, but he meant this to be a present. Actually the news he gave me about Mom, is the biggest present I could ever wish for." He closed his eyes, and surprised everybody there by allowing the tears to flow. "My mom was real sick. She had a form of Cancer in her reproductive area, and this is secret, nobody mentions it." His look was stern when he mentioned the last part. "She was also pregnant, so that is why she didn't just get it removed. When they were in Goldenrod, mom passed out and they thought that they would have to operate and lose the baby, but now it seems that the cancer is in full remission. In fact, two of the doctors at the hospital there think that it is gone. And the babies are fine." He began to cry in joy.