I don't own Pokemon. Here's that long one I promised.

Chapter 10

Escape!

Ash struggled to get out of the grunt's grip. He had been taken to the same room they had been cornered in before.

“Piiiiiiikaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Pikachu kept using Thunderbolt to try to break out of its glass prison that had been electrically insolated.

"Don't struggle, boy. You'll only hurt yourself," the important-looking rocket said. "That wouldn't do, now would it?”

“Let me go!” Ash yelled, still struggling. “There’s no way you’re going to use me and Amber!”

“Ash!” Brock said sharply.

The rocket turned and stared at Ash.

“So you are the one,” he said quietly. “It’s true. Our scans weren’t picking up Amber’s aura. They were picking up yours.”

Ash backed up further into the grunt’s arms, forgetting he was being held captive for a moment. He had never thought that they would mistake his ability for Amber’s. The rocket started pacing.

“So we can’t dispose of you afterward, as we planned. You will still make useful bait, though.”

The rocket grinned maliciously.

“Bait?” Ash said, confused. “I thought Amber was Giovanni’s daughter.”

“Oh, she is, she is. . .” the rocket said. “But something. . . or someone. . . is preventing us from either locating her or sending messages to her. We knew you, Ash Ketchum, would come through here again. We also know, since Amber rescued you, that she cares about you, at least remotely, and would attempt to rescue you again. But this time,” he grinned that malicious grin again, “we are prepared.”

Brock broke free of the rocket holding him back and punched him in the face. Ash’s grunt was startled and loosened his grip on him. Ash took advantage of the situation and broke free. He started running and made it through the door, Brock right behind him. He ran into what seemed like a brick wall, and Brock ran into him. A large rocket was blocking their way. He grabbed the two boys and carried them, one in each hand back into the room. This time, he bound the two with rope.

“Tut, tut. Did you two think you were going to get away?” the important rocket said. “I think not. Now, let us see if your little friend thinks you’re worth the trouble of rescuing, shall we?”

* * *

Ralts teleported Amber right outside Mt. Moon. Amber started to wonder who that man was and how he knew about Ash and her.

In fact, how does he know Ash’s name?

Amber started walking into Mt. Moon, letting out Pidgey and Charmeleon on her way. She was going to need all the help she could get. Pidgey pirched onto her shoulder and Charmeleon and walked beside her. She carried Raltz in her arms. She was starting to think that Ralts was close to evolving. It seemed to be on a very high level. That man had done a good job in training her. As she walked through the tunnels, all she could think about was her friend in trouble.

My only friend.

There was no way she was going to let another friend get hurt. No more would her old life shine through. Her determination hardened more and more as she made her way through the tunnels.

* * *

Smoke filled the room.

“Trying the same trick twice, are we?” the important rocket coughed out.

He must have given some kind of signal through the smoke, because the next instant, the smoke was gone and a Peliper was flying in the room, beating its wings. A voice filled the room this time.

“Not quite, Executive Brant.”

Things seemed to happen all at one time. A swirling twister of energy appeared in the room, a sandstorm seemed to have been kicked up, and things started flying around the room, all happened seemingly out of no where. At the same moment, hands brushed against Ash’s as they untied him. When his hands where free, he picked up Pikachu’s case and let it out. Pikachu promptly unleashed a Thunderbolt on the rockets in the room. Ash turned to face Amber to find a grin spread across her face.

“What?”

“I love it when rockets get zapped by that rat of yours.”

Ash ignored the wise crack about Pikachu being a ‘rat’ and grinned.

“We’d better get moving. C’mon, Charmeleon. Ralts. Pidgey,” Amber said as her Pidgey swooped down and landed on her shoulder to perch. Ralts jumped into her arms, and Charmeleon rushed to her side.

“Didn’t you say something about us not being able to be in the same place?” Ash asked with eyebrows raised.

“Well. . . Let’s just say that I value your well-being, Ketchum,” Amber said.

Before Ash could retort, Brock ran up to them while dodging the still flying items.

“Nice diversion. Now let’s get out of here!” Brock said as he started running down the tunnel, Ash behind him, and Amber right behind Ash.

* * *

“They got away, did they?” the voice said from the telephone screen.

“Y-yes, boss. Both the boy and your daughter.” The Rocket Executive Brant cringed. He hated to be the one responsible for the failure.

“Very well. I expected something like this from my daughter. She was very creative when she was a child, and she drove me berserk.”

Brant was surprised at the fondness in the tone with which the Boss spoke about his daughter. In fact, the Boss seemed to be talking half to himself when he spoke about Amber.

“I’ve raised her like my own, and she still has rocket in her, I know it. . . If only I could get a message through to her. . .”

Brant suppressed his surprise. like my own. . . like my own. . . like. . .

“It’s a mystery why no messages have been able to reach her, Sir. No one at HQ can figure it out.”

“I heard that Executive Mark had a hypothesis. . .”

“But there’s no way it could be true, sir! He hasn’t turned up since the Silph Co. incident!” Brant said franticly.

“Which is why it is so likely. . .”

Brant sighed. He didn’t want to admit it, but the Boss was right. It had to be it.

“Should I start looking for him, Sir?” Brant said, knowing the hunt would start all over again.

“No,” said the Boss as he leaned back in his chair. “I think that Travis will come out of hiding soon enough.”

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Ok, this, I think, is the best chapter I’ve written so far! I’ve pulled elements from Pokemon Red and Blue and the anime to create this plot. It’s just starting to thicken, so keep listening! Or tuning in! Or something like that!