Oh, and I don't own Pokemon. Or Nintendo. Or Gamefreak. Or. . . well, you get the point.

Chapter 11

On the Road To Viridian City

(Sorry about the pun. . .)

Amber gasped as she stopped to rest outside Pewter City, gripping her kneecaps.

“Well, Ketchum, I guess you really do need a little help,” she said.

Ash looked up from his own kneecaps.

“I did not. We had everything under control! Didn’t we, Brock?”

“I’m not getting into this.”

“You two were being used as bait, Ash! They wanted to capture me!”

“Then, why’d you come back? It’s your fault they wanted me!”

“No, Ash! That was why they wanted you in the first place, but not now! Because of your big mouth, they’re going to be after you, not just because you’re good bait for me, but because you’re one of the people they’re after!”

“She’s right, Ash.”

“Stay out of this, Brock!” Ash and Amber simultaneously said.

Amber sighed. Ash and his hard head were so annoying sometimes.

“Do-you-un-der-stand-Ash?” she said in the same manner someone would talk to an uncomprehending person.

“Yeah. It’s your fault we’re into this mess.”

“Your head is harder than a Metapod!”

“Your—“

“HOLD IT!” Brock yelled, holding his hands up on either side of him, holding back Amber and Ash from getting at each other. “You two fight like you’re Misty, Amber.”

“Stay out of this, Brock!” the two yelled at the same time, again.

Brock sighed, but just as he did, he heard noises coming from inside the cave mouth in front of him, leading into Mt. Moon.

“Hurry! They’re coming!” Brock said as he started to run.

Amber jumped onto her bike and arrived in Pewter City, long before Ash and Brock arrived at the Pokemon Center to find her waiting on a bench nearby with Ralts and Charmeleon with her Pidgey perched on her shoulder.

“What took you two so long?” she said.

Ash, Pikachu, and Brock fell in sync in anime style.

* * *

Travis watched Amber and Ash from a nearby allyway. He sighed. If they continued on to Viridian City, there was no way he could keep Giovanni from contacting his adopted daughter. Ever since Travis had shut down the Silph Co. operation, Giovanni had wanted revenge . . . so he had kidnapped Travis’s daughter. “I hope we meet again. . .” I hope we meet again, indeed. To kill him, no doubt. Just because he was a better trainer . . . and just happened to shut down every single one of Giovanni’s operations in the process. Travis sighed again. His daughter was in danger, and he had to do the best he could to help her . . . and maybe he would contact Delia.

* * *

Amber was riding her bike through the forest. She would set up camp a good way into the forest for Ash and Brock, who were still traveling on foot. She stopped at a good spot deep in the forest and took her back pack from her bike basket. She set up the shelter her dad had packed along with her other supplies before she left. The shelter wasn’t big. It was only meant for one person, but dark clouds were forming in the sky, and it looked like a nasty storm was on it’s way. She looked at the red R on the black canvas and sighed. She didn’t want to remind Ash of her relation to Team Rocket, so she covered the entire shelter with leaves and twigs, so it looked like it was meant to be built that way. She smiled. It was a job well done, she thought. Amber laid down in the shelter, trying to get some sleep before Ash and Brock came around. She hoped to be a night watchman for them, so they didn’t have any unfortunate run-ins with Team Rocket. Her Ralts and Charmeleon curled up next to her, while Pidgey kept watch. Amber felt secure with her pokemon around her, and allowed herself to drift off into dream land.

* * *

Ash and Brock arrived at the camp Amber had made late at night to find her fast asleep in the shelter she had seemingly made. Ash smiled and rolled out his sleeping bag as rain started dripping from the sky. He would let sleeping trainers lie.

So, we have yet another short chapter. This one was rather boring. . . but don’t worry about that. Next chapter is promising to be exiting. :D