Chapter 5
	
	A solitary beam of sunlight flickered over the hills encircling Pallet Town. It was 
not until the suns encouraging rays washed over them, that Ash and Misty finally 
ventured forth from their spot within the long tunnels of arching grass.
	Misty had been obstinate last night about not going home until Noctowl returned. 
Ash had pressed that she return home for medical attention, but eventually both were far 
too mentally and physically depleted to argue either matter. They decided to wait a few 
hours before going back. 
	She awoke the next morning to find her head resting comfortably on Ash’s lap. 
He was still awake. There were dark circles underneath his eyes . . . he hadn’t slept all 
night. His gaze was fixed upon the heavens -- hoping that at any moment his precious 
Noctowl would return with imperative news.
	 Ash’s hands were placed protectively on Misty’s arms. She felt safe laying with 
him like this; she felt as though she were precious to him.
	 Despite the aching of her bruised body, and the torment in her heart, Misty 
awoke with a half smile. . .
	*Maybe, she thought, I could get use to this. . . *
	She at once regretted her selfish twinkle of thought. *Brock . . . last night wasn’t a 
nightmare. You’ve really been kidnapped!*
	Ash and Pikachu had both noticed her stirring to consciousness. Ash quickly 
stood, pulling Misty to her feet. She recoiled slightly from his grasp, dozens of small 
points across her body were sore.
	Ash had apologized instantly upon observing her distress. He then insisted that 
they needed to return home so that Misty could have her cuts bandaged. This time she 
didn’t dispute with him.
	“I’m not giving up on Noctowl,” Ash proclaimed. “Noctowl will find us at the 
house -- I KNOW it. But we can’t wait here any longer.”
0o0o0o0o0o0 0o0o0o0o0 0o0o0o0o0o0
	Ash's mother nearly fainted upon seeing he and Misty stagger teary eyed into the 
living room.
	Mrs. Ketchum instantly yanked her son into her arms. Consumed by worry she 
hugged him tightly. She squeezed his body until his face transformed into the hue of an 
Articuno's feathers. 
	Ash and Misty had both blurted out the startling tale of what had occurred last 
night. Ash’s mother was shocked, and instantly called Professor Oak and Officer Jenny. 
Professor Oak had rushed over immediately . . . but, Officer Jenny (all of them) were 
going to need a few days before they could spare a moment to investigate this latest 
abduction.  
	Mrs. Ketchum attentively treated Misty’s scrapes and cuts. Fortunately, none of 
her afflictions were as serious as Ash and Misty had originally feared.
	Professor Oak informed them that at around the same time Ash, Brock, and Misty 
had left his house last night, a news report had announced that Janine of the Fuchsia City 
Gym and Lance the Dragon Master had also disappeared.
	A chill of harsh realization drizzled down Ash’s spine. *It actually beat Lance.* 
	"But. . ." Misty began, honestly perplexed. "How did that kidnaper make it all the 
way from Fuchsia City to Pallet so quickly?"
	Professor Oak cocked his head with thought. "I suppose this menace is not 
working alone. There must be two of them working together . . . maybe more."
	Ash gasped. No Pokemon trainer was going to be safe unless these dangerous 
things were stopped. But why were trainers being targeted anyway? What was going on?
	Professor Oak turned solemnly to Ash and Misty -- a serious expression 
devastated his face. "Ash, Misty . . . you two told your mother and I that you caught a 
glimpse of the attacker. Please, it important that you tell me exactly what he or she 
looked like so we can get Gary, Brock, and your sisters back."
	Ash and Misty exchanged baffled looks.
	"What?" asked the Professor, noticing their obvious discomfort.
	"Well. . ." started Ash. "It wasn't really a HE or a SHE it was more like an IT."
	Professor Oak seemed dumbfounded. "Care to explain that a bit more?"
	Misty shoved Ash aside, "what Ash means, Professor, is that. . . It was more like a 
Pokemon. A really HUGE, really fast, really, really smart Pokemon. It was the size of a 
Tyranitar . . . but bigger! I couldn't really see it actually. I was really far away. But did It 
ever move quickly. It was like a dark blur almost when it ran. . ."
	The Professor bounced backward in surprise. "That . . . that doesn't sound like 
ANY Pokemon I have ever heard of."
	"Maybe it’s a new species!" Ash looked slightly excited. Misty elbowed him.
	The Professor shook his head doubtfully. "No, why would a Pokemon go around 
kidnapping trainers? It doesn't make any sense. Plus IF a new species existed I would 
already know about it."
	"Maybe it was trained to do bad?" Ash suggested.
	"No, Pokemon do not do horrible things like viciously attack people."
	Ash looked really flustered. With a sigh Misty collapsed helplessly onto the 
couch.
	Mrs. Ketchum, along with Mr. Mine, entered the room with iced tea for everyone.
	Ash and Misty passed on the offer. Both of their stomachs were horribly upset 
from nerves.
	"Oh! Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum." The Professor said with a grateful smile as he 
accepted a cold beverage.
	Mrs. Ketchum nodded thoughtfully then glanced toward her son. "Ash, until this 
kidnaper is caught I don't want you so much as leaving this house for a second!"
	Ash looked appalled. 
	Pikachu squeaked, knowing that Ash was about to throw a tantrum.
	"BUT, MOM!" Ash stomped his feet against the floor. "I can't stay in here! Who 
knows how long it will take for that psycho beast to get caught!? Besides, once Noctowl 
gets back I can help to find Brock and Gary. That is IF I'm out side investigating!"
	Mrs. Ketchum's eyebrows narrowed. "No means NO! I will not have you risking 
your life to play detective!"
	Ash's face puckered sourly, he looked to Professor Oak in despair. "Professor, 
please, tell my mom I'll be ok. I'm not a little kid anymore, I'm 14 years old!"
	Mrs. Ketchum hurled a warning look at Professor Oak. The look was so potent it 
would bring a Charizard to tears.
	"Ummm. . ." The Professor hesitated. "I think maybe you should listen to your 
mother, Ash. After all, if both Richie AND Gary were kidnapped . . . there is a great 
chance that you are in very serious danger . . .er-ah. . . ." The Professor gaped at Mrs. 
Ketchum helplessly.
	"There, you see, Ash," his mother squeezed him firmly in her arms again. "Oh, 
Ash! I just don't know what I would ever do without you!"
	Ash sighed and looked to the ground in defeat. 
	*I don't know what I'll do with out Brock, Richie. . . and Gary. . .* he thought.
	Once Ash's mother released him, he staggered over to where Misty leaned against 
the wall.
	"What should we do?" he whispered.
	Misty shut her eyes and exhaled carefully. "I really don't know," she admitted.
	Ash felt more powerless and stupid than ever. He HATED being only 14 years 
old. Everyone was always telling him what to do. Didn't his mother realize that for the 
past four years he had been living on his own and constantly warding off Team Rocket? 
Well . . . maybe he hadn't been alone . . . Brock, Misty, and his Pokemon had always 
been there for him . . . always. How could he just turn his back on Brock now? Now 
when he need help most?
	"Ring, ring, ring! Ring, ring, ring! Phone call, Phone call!" suddenly the vidphone 
rang in the kitchen. Mrs. Ketchum scurried off with Mr. Mime to answer it. In a moment 
she returned and her eyes landed on Misty.
	"Misty dear, you have a call. It's Tracey."
	Misty and Ash looked at each other with puzzlement.
	"I wonder what Tracey wants?" Ash asked as he invited himself to follow Misty 
into the kitchen for the call.
	Tracey appeared on the vidscreen. His long black hair was (as usual) pulled back 
neatly into a headband. Only it wasn't his usual red headband, this one was yellow. Ash 
couldn't help but wonder why he always noticed such odd little things like this.
	"Hey, Tracey!" Ash attempted a genuine smile. But with his mind so overstuffed 
with thoughts of Brock and Noctowl he knew he had failed.
	Tracey's face was solemn, even a bit exhausted.
	"What's up, Tracey?" Misty asked, her own expression burrowing into worry.
	"I . . .ah. . ." Tracey glanced nervously to the size. "H-h-how are you doing, 
Misty? I-ah, heard about your sisters. . ."
	"Is something wrong, Tracey?" Misty asked.
	"N. . .no. . . " Tracey's eyes landed on Ash. "Um, Ash. . . I . . .I need to talk to 
Misty alone."
	Ash was taken slightly aback by Tracey's words. 
	"Oh. Sorry, Tracey. . ." attempting to smother the hurt in his eyes, Ash crept out 
of the room. He was more than a little confused by Tracey's rugged appearance and gruff 
behavior. Why could he speak to Misty and not Ash? After all, the three of them had 
traveled around together alone for months in the Orange Islands. They had all become 
great friends. But now Tracey was studying Pokemon with Professor Oak. 
	*Speaking of which. . .*
	"Um, Professor," Ash piped up, interrupting a deep conversation between his 
mother and the Professor.
	The two adults glanced up, startled. 
	"Yes, Ash?"
	"I thought Tracey was staying with you, Professor? Maybe I'm wrong, I did just 
get back into town not long ago . . . but, has he moved out since . . . because I don't 
understand why he's callin' Misty on the vidphone if he lives next door."
	The Professor sighed. "I guess I forgot to tell you, what with all that has happened 
to Gary."
	"What?" Ash asked, noticing the discomfort in the Professors eyes.
	"Well, a few weeks ago Tracey received on offer via email to attend a four month 
training course for young Pokemon watchers. By attending this workshop Tracey is 
eligible to win a scholarship to a notable university to study Pokemon professionally. It is 
a tremendous offer. I encouraged him to go ahead with it."
	Ash's eyes expanded to the size of The Professor’s fist. "Wow! That's great! 
Tracey sure is a lucky guy.”
	The Professor winced as though Ash's words had struck a sore nerve. "I know. 
Since Tracey left a few weeks ago I have not heard so much as a word from him. I've 
been terribly worried. Each time I call the phone number Tracey left with me, he is 
conveniently never there. I was wondering for a while if he was all right . . . but seeing as 
he is talking to Misty right now I guess I was worrying for nothing. I suppose he IS just 
very busy."
	"If you would like, I can tell Misty to have Tracey talk to ya once she's done." 
Ash offered, noticing that The Professor genuinely cared for Tracey.
	"Oh. . ." The Professor looked unsure, but then smiled, "that would be nice, thank 
you, Ash."
	Ash lunged himself into the kitchen, colliding with Misty who was quickly on her 
way out.
	"Hey! Watch it!" Misty barked as she struggled back to her feet.
	"Me!? You bumped into-"
	"Just get OFF ME!" Misty kicked Ash in the leg and he rolled away from her, 
clutching his sore limb.
	She leapt to her toes and headed hastily for the front door -- stopping only for a 
nanosecond to snatch a hold of her back pack.
	"Hey, Misty? Where are you going?" Ash darted after her, confused as to why she 
was leaving.
	"I'm going back home to Cerulean City."
	Ash gasped. "Why? Misty, it is too dangerous!"
	"I need to find out EXACTLY what happened to my sisters!" her tone was 
furious.
	"You aren't going without me-"
	"Oh yes she is!" Ash's mom stormed over to him and grabbed him firmly by the 
wrist. "Ash Ketchum you are not going to leave this house!"
	"But Mom!  Misty is-"
	"I'm not Misty's mother . . . however-" Mrs. Ketchem glanced over at Misty with 
concern. "I would prefer it if you stayed here with us where it is safe, Misty."
	Misty shook her head deliriously. "No. I NEED to go."
	Ash broke free of his mothers grasp and placed a firm grip on Misty's shoulders. 
"I WILL NOT let you go alone! It is too dangerous! Come on: just wait until Noctowl 
gets back. PLEASE, don’t leave like this."
	She was silent and still for a moment. Her emerald-green eyes shimmered slightly 
with confusion. His own eyes seared into hers -- silently begging her not to be so 
stubborn, so foolish.
	"Oh Ash. . ." she breathed. Misty brushed a finger gently across his cheek. Only, 
no sooner had she began to soften, to give in, did her anger and girlish pride return.
	She shook him off and screamed. "I do not need YOU or anyone else to protect 
ME, Ash Ketchum! AND for your information, I AM NOT going alone!"
	"Y-your not?"
	"NO! I'm meeting Tracey in Viridian City, and then the two of us are going to 
Cerulean to investigate my sister’s disappearance."
	"Viridian? Why are you meeting him there?"	
	"BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE TRACEY IS STAYING!"
	"Oh." Ash looked down, knowing he was beat. "Well, you don't have to yell about 
it-"
	Misty was certainly in a huge hurry, for she then nodded a quick goodbye to 
Professor Oak  - asking him to continue baby sitting Togepi for her - waved to Mrs. 
Ketchum, and dashed out the door.
	“Hey, Misty! Wait a second!” Ash ran down the driveway after her.
	She halted momentarily and glanced back at him.
	“Misty, just . . . watch your back, okay?” Ash was struggling to render the 
demand in his voice.
	She nodded and took off . . . vanishing down Pallet Road.
	A feeling of dread swelled inside Ash’s stomach. He didn't like the fact that Misty 
was traveling anywhere alone -- even if she was just going to Viridian City. And he 
didn’t like it even if she was an outstanding Pokemon trainer. Not to mention he was still 
on edge about Tracey's weird, nervous behavior. Why didn't Tracey want Ash to hear him 
talking to Misty about her sisters? What was the big secret? Why hadn't he kept in touch 
with Professor Oak. . . .  HIS mentor? And why did Misty rush out of the house in such a 
huge hurry? Ash felt as though he was being kept in the dark about something . . . 
something devastatingly important. This feeling of being sheltered was scaring him to 
death.
	Ash jumped slightly as The Professor placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
	"So," began The Professor, "does this mean that I don't get to talk with Tracey on 
the vidphone?"