Chapter 11

	After leaving his mothers house Ash had spent almost the entire day at Professor 
Oak’s laboratory. 
	Though it had taken patience, he had finally reached Officer Jenny via vidphone 
and convinced her to send him his Squirtle right away. He only needed to borrow Squirtle 
for a moment.
	Squirtle’s Pokeball was transmitted directly to Professor Oak’s lab.
	“Squirtle! Squirtle, squirt!” the little turtle Pokemon jumped gleefully into Ash’s 
arms. 
	Ash hugged his old friend tightly. “I missed you too, buddy.”
	 Squirtle quickly slid on his favorite pair of dark sunglasses; he wanted to prove to 
Ash that he meant business!
	Once Ash and Squirtle had finished their ‘hello’s’ Pikachu and Bulbasaur scurried 
over -- excited to see their dear friend.
	Ash cleared his throat.
	“Attention, I need all of my Pokemon to come here please. I need to speak to you, 
each and every one of you.”
	At once Ash was surrounded by the loving faces of Muk, Phanpy, Snorlax, 
Heracross, Kingler, Totodile, Bayleef, Tauros (just one), Cyndaquil, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, 
and, of course, Pikachu. 
	The only one not in attendance was Charizard, for Ash was unable to reach Liza. 
Only her answering machine picked up as she was currently out training. 
	*It’s probably best Charizard isn’t here,* Ash thought. *After he hears what I’m 
gonna say there is no chance he’d agree. Getting past Charizard would be worse than my 
mom.*
	Ash began. . . “You aren’t gonna like what I am about to tell you. But I am 
leaving on a dangerous quest. Brock, Misty, Richie, Gary, Tracey, and many of our other 
friends have been kidnapped by something awful. I am determined to find them no matter 
what the sacrifice.” Ash took a moment to look each Pokemon sincerely in the eyes. “I 
love all of you more than words can say. And I am thankful for all our time together. But 
the truth of the matter is: that I might not be coming back. I could very well be abducted 
like everyone else. And that means, as long as you are with me . . . you are at risk too. At 
risk like Noctowl is. We have all been waiting patiently for Noctowl to come back. But 
after so many days I can’t wait any longer. I know in my heart that Noctowl is alive. But 
something evil is obviously preventing our reunion. So . . . what I am trying to say to you 
all . . . is that I have decided NOT to bring ANY of you along. Not even one of you. I just 
needed to see you all, and say thank you . . . that’s it.”
	His Pokemon all cried out in a very loud refusal.
	Ask walked over to Pikachu and gently picked him up.
	“Pika!? PIKACHU?!”
	“I’m sorry, Pikachu. Please understand.” Ash tenderly hugged his best friend. 
	Pikachu squirmed in resistance, certain that Ash had completely gone mad.
	“No means no, Pikachu.” *Gosh, now I sound like my mom.*
	Pikachu’s crafty little mind bustled with thought; Ash was not going to relent --
not this time. Pikachu knew that Ash had thought this through, but nothing in the world 
was going to make him agree. He loved Ash, and trusted him. . . Pikachu would not press 
the issue. . . at least not right now. . . protesting now wouldn’t get him anywhere. He had 
a better idea. . .
	“Pika, Pika,’ the electric mouse squealed with false confidence and snuggled 
against Ash’s cheek.
	Ash smiled. “I knew I could count on you. I’m so happy you are not throwing a 
fit, Pikachu.”
	Both Bulbasaur and Squirtle rushed to Ash, stomping their feet in denial.
	“Bulba! Bulbasaur!”
	“Squirtle!”
	Ash stroked both of their heads, touched by their unwavering loyalty.
	“I’m sorry, you two. But you gotta follow Pikachu’s lead and support my 
decision.”
	“Baaaayy!” tears began spurting from Bayleef’s eyes.
	All at once his other Pokemon began clamoring together; they were trying . . . but 
alas, could not accept what Pikachu could.
	Alerted by all the racket Gary’s Arcanine and Blastoise peered into the laboratory. 
	“Blast?” Blastoise’s voice boomed above all the rest. It wanted to know what was 
going on . . . why Ash’s Pokemon were making such an outrageous fuss.
	“Oh, hi there, Blastoise and Arcanine,” Ash waved at them awkwardly. He would 
have preferred that his plan making stayed between himself and his own Pokemon. 
“Don’t mind us. We are just ending a discussion here, heh-heh. Nothing interesting going 
on in here, heh-heh. In fact, we are done now.”
	Blastoise and Arcanine exchanged a doubtful stare . . . however, they were not 
rude Pokemon. They knew that Ash was politely trying to turn them away, and so they 
nodded and turned around the corner.
	“Arc? Arcanine? Arc Arc Arc!? Arc Arc Arcanine!?”
Blastoise turned to his companion and calmly dipped his head with authority. 
“Blast.”