This part was written by me (Utah). Part 14: Emergency Rescue Delia felt trapped. A dilemma she hated: To join, or not to join? Her mind was revolted, but her heart ached to be back with him. She knew he was her soul mate, and that was what made it worse. Fate chose the strangest partners for one... Giovanni watched her expectantly, closely, like a Nyura or Persian watching their prey. He could practically hear her arguing with herself in her mind. "Will you join me or not?" he repeated less demandingly. She looked up at him, closed her eyes, and uttered a single word. "Yes." She broke down crying and clung to him. He held her and stroked her hair. She is mine once again...Nothing will stop me now. he thought. ~*~*~ Jessie and Brock attacked Gary, releasing Arbok, Onix, and Vulpix (Wobbuffet came out on his own), Meowth attacking with them. Gary panicked and released Arcanine, Nidoking, and Gyarados, his Umbreon attacking with them. Gyarados and Onix clashed, a battle of titans; Arbok and Nidoking fired burning acid at each other; Vulpix and Arcanine met, flames erupting from their muzzles, and Meowth and Umbreon met with flashing claws and gnashing jaws. Jessie growled and recalled Wobbuffet, then returned her attention to the vicious battle. "Arbok, Sludge Bomb! Meowth, Slash!" "Onix, Rock Slide! Vulpix, Confuse Ray!" "Nidoking, Horn Drill! Umbreon, Pursuit! Gyarados, Dragon Breath! Arcanine, Take Down!" The battle raged on like this, until Jessie started to become more impatient than usual. "C'mon you cowards! Fight harder than you've ever fought before!" After her "inspirational" pep talk, the Rocket's Pokémon began to beat Gary's back. A shiny piece of metal was sticking out of the ground. In the midst of battle, Onix ended up on top of it. He managed to knock the Gyarados to the ground, the movement lodging the metal between Onix's boulder-like sections. He then began to glow, growing larger, more solid, and more jagged. The glow faded to reveal Onix's new form: Steelix. ~*~*~ Rocket troops flooded into Viridian City. They blockaded all highway systems and entrances to buildings, took hostages, and set up for an attack run on City Hall. The citizens were confused as well as afraid. What was happening? And why is Team Rocket appearing with an Officer Jenny in plain sight...? They then noticed their city's Officer Jenny was helping Rocket grunts escaping from the other police officers. They also noticed the Rocket leaders were two kids, a Pikachu, and a Togetic...Then the Rockets began releasing their Pokémon. A Blastoise used the hydrocannons on her back to blast armed citizens out of the way...The water jets continued on to knock a glancing blow on the female leader, rendering her unconcious. The Blastoise didn't notice, and continued her work. Togetic shot into the air, and noticed a building swaying violently after a Sandslash's Earthquake attack. He looked over to see Misty, his trainer, straight in the trajectory of the unstable building, and began to get anxious, desperately looking around for any nearby human, but found none. He finally spotted Pikachu, and dove down. "Toge togetic tic togetictic! (My trainer's in danger!)" Togetic yelled, pointing in his trainer's direction. Pikachu's ears shot up in alarm. "Pi?! Pipika Pikapi chu pika? (What?! Is Ash nearby to save her?)" Pikachu asked Togetic. Togetic shook his head. Pikachu sighed, closed his eyes, then looked back up at Togetic. "Pi pika pikachu Pikachupi. (Then I will save Misty.)" With that, Pikachu sped off in Misty's direction. Togetic, being slower in speed than Pikachu, decided he'd be better off searching for Ash. Pikachu ran as fast as his little body could muster, using a combination of Quick Attack and Agility to propell him faster still. He blew past other Pokémon and people, paying them no heed, but kept his eyes on Misty's unconcious form. The building's base crumbled, and the rest began to topple. Misty woke to stare in horror at it, and tried to move, but a sharp pain in her chest and right arm prevented that. All she could do was pray and watch the building fall...until she was hit by a yellow blur that knocked her out of harm's way. Pikachu rolled to a stop next to her. She looked down at the little mouse in surprise. "Pikachu! *wince* You saved me. Thank you." Pikachu smiled and held up his paw in a V-for-victory sign. "Pika pika, pipichu kachu pi pichu chaa... (Well, I had to save the one my trainer cares for...)" Pikachu trailed off and blushed at what he just said, but noticed Misty wasn't listening. The pain in her ribs had hit her full force, and she was going into shock (Not from Pikachu. (o^_^o);;) Pikachu cried out. Togetic searched desperately for Ash anywhere there was a Rocket. He finally found him leading other Rockets from a battle scene. Togetic flitted down and fluttered in his face. Ash looked at Togetic in confusion. "What is it, Togetic?" "Toge togetic! Togetic tic toge! (Misty's hurt! Follow me!)" Ash looked stricken as Togetic flitted off in another direction. Ash quickly addressed another Rocket. "Amadaus, you're in charge while I'm gone!" The Rocket nodded as Ash dashed off after Togetic. ~*~*~ Misty had fallen unconcious again. Pikachu didn't know what to do. Again he wondered where Ash and Togetic were, and also if he should try to wake his friend. Pikachu was about to shock her awake when he heard a familiar voice yell. "MISTY! PIKACHU!" It was Pikapi! "PIKAPI!" Pikachu called back. Ash fell to his knees beside Misty and felt her wrist for a pulse. He found one, but it was weak. "We have to get her back to HQ," he told Pikachu. Pikachu nodded. Togetic flitted up beside Ash. "Toge? (She okay?)" he asked. Ash looked over at Togetic. "So far..." he replied quietly. "Togetic, inform HQ that I am returning. Tell them to get a stretcher ready." Togetic nodded and zipped off in the direction of HQ. Ash released his Tauros and picked Misty up, placing her on the bull Pokémon's back. "C'mon, Pikachu." He and Pikachu also climbed onto Tauros's back. "Hya!" Tauros steered off in HQ's direction, Ash holding onto Misty so she didn't fall off. ~*~*~ Togetic flew up to Rocket HQ's front door. A camera watching noted the red "R" around the Pokémon's neck, and opened the door. Togetic flew in and made his way to the infirmary. He hovered over to Rocket Joy. "Toge toge! Tic togetic toge tic tic. (Get a stretcher! My trainer is injured and is being brought in now.)" Joy nodded and hurried off with several paramedics and a stretcher. Togetic followed. ~*~*~ Tauros ran as fast as his body would allow, though his muscles were beginning to burn. He knew he couldn't stop, he had to get to HQ to save his trainer's friend. Ash held Misty tightly as Tauros increased his speed. He had to get Misty back to HQ and fast. Pikachu also held onto her; he didn't want to lose his friend either. HQ came into sight, and so did Rocket Joy and paramedics. Tauros came to a stop in front of them. Ash jumped down and helped the paramedics load Misty onto the stretcher, and they wheeled her to the O.R. ~*~*~ Ash sighed as the paramedics left, his heart still beating rapidly from the adrenaline rushing strongly through his veins. The worry didn't ebb either, and he found it getting worse. Pikachu's cheeks sparked anxiously, and he looked up at his trainer. Ash stood up and walked into HQ, Pikachu following at his heels. Ash was staring at the floor as he walked, so he didn't notice anything until he walked into something...or someone...He backed up, rubbing his head, and looked up as what he walked into. Giovanni watched Ash as he stared at him in surprise and what seemed to be a little fear. Giovanni scowled. "Why are you back so early? You're supposed to be in Viridian." Ash looked down. "I'm sorry, Father, but Misty had gotten injured badly, so I brought her here." Ash explained meekly. Ah...Well, that's understandable. If I want my line continued, then my son would have to protect her. Giovanni nodded. "Well, hopefully Jenny could take over for you. From what I heard so far, you have done well, my son." Giovanni patted Ash on the shoulder. "I guess you can stay to watch her progress. I must be going, I have business to attend to." He nodded curtly and headed off.