Chapter 8 
	It had been three long restless days since Misty left Pallet Town to meet up with 
Tracey. Neither Ash nor Professor Oak had heard a word from either of them.
	Ash was physically sick from worry. His concern caused him flu-like symptoms. 
Mr. Mime was constantly darting in and out of Ash's bedroom bringing him hot soup and 
juice (which was futile since Ash couldn't manage to keep much food down).
	Ash tossed, jittery, inside his warm bed sheets. His mind was constantly playing 
out thousands of different scenarios about the fates of his friends. 
	Earlier this morning Ash had been listening to music on his radio. His favorite 
song was interrupted when a news report dominated the air waves. . . Clair of Blackthorn 
City had disappeared without a trace. Normally Ash never would have believed that Clair 
could go down, but after what transpired with Brock and then hearing about Lance’s loss 
. . . 
	. . . Nothing surprised him anymore. It seemed that nobody with skill as a trainer 
was safe anymore. And it clearly did not matter how good you were.
	Ash wondered how much time he had left? With his credentials it was very well 
just a matter of time before this beast came to claim him as well.
	 Pikachu tenderly licked his trainers face with concern.
	"Pika? Pikachu?"
	Ash opened his chestnut-brown eyes. Though his sight was unfocused, Ash made 
out the silhouette of his adorable electric mouse.
	"Hey, Pikachu. How are you today, buddy?" Ash grinned weakly, stroking 
Pikachu behind the ears.
	Pikachu's cheeks sparked excitedly upon seeing Ash smile.
	"Ash?" his mother’s voice blew into his ears like the first warm breeze of spring.
	Ash struggled to sit up. He cranked his head in his mother’s direction as she 
entered the bedroom.
	"Yeah?" Ash quipped hoarsely.
	His mother strode in quietly, her eyes searched Ash's. Her expression was grave.
	Ash felt horrible for being so sick, he knew it worried his mother terribly. "Mom, 
I'm feeling better, you don't have ta' look so glum."
	His mother shook her head remorsefully. "I'm not upset because of your 
condition, Ash."
	He blushed; he was almost hurt that she was not worried about him. However, 
Ash did not like the tone accompanying her words more.
	"W-what?" he hesitated to ask.
	Mrs. Ketchum continued to examine his face with serious concern. She then 
exhaled and began: "I just received a call from Officer Jenny. . . Misty was no doubt 
abducted by the kidnaper, Ash. Tracey too. I’m sorry."
	Ash leaned in closer to his mother. "No!" he wheezed. "When? How?" 
	A wave of emotion stung him, but he blinked his tears back. He did not want his 
mother to worry further.
	"Professor Oak became so concerned about Misty and Tracey that he and Togepi 
paid a visit to Viridian City. He discovered that the building Tracey was supposed to be 
staying at was abandoned-"
	"But Mom,” Ash interrupted, “that's ok, Tracey and Misty were going to go to 
Cerulean. That means it was a misunderstanding, Misty is fine."
	Mrs. Ketchum eyed her son with a shattered look of pity. "No, Ash, sweetie, 
Professor Oak went inside the building and found a torn apart room and Tracey's 
headband. And . . .  there was blood on the floor. Then, to be certain, he called the police. 
Tests were conducted proving that the blood belonged to both Tracey AND Misty. They 
are gone, Ash."
	The manner in which his mother spoke made Tracey and Misty's disappearance 
sound final. It sounded as though all of his friends were never coming back.
	*I never should have let her go alone. . .*
	Ash climbed shakily from his sweat-soaked bed and over to his mother.
	"Ash, dear, get back in bed! You're sick." His mother's tone was unyielding.
	Ash glared up at her. "The ONLY reason I am sick is because I am SO 
WORRIED about my friends! I'M SICK WITH WORRY, MOM! I NEED TO GET OUT 
THERE AND SAVE THEM!"
	His mother stepped back, momentarily startled by Ash's yelling. "But, Ash, if you 
leave this house you'll be kidnapped!"
	"Good! At least then I'll know where my friends are! AT LEAST THEN I'LL BE 
WITH THEM!" He took several deep breaths. Ash tried very hard to calm himself. He 
then glanced up at his mother, eyes pleading, mature, and unwavering. "Mom, I don't 
want to worry you, but I'm going out there to find my friends. I'm not going to lose Misty, 
Brock, and Tracey to this thing. . ." Ash paused to wipe away a solo tear which managed 
to slip free. "Mom, I lost Gary once already -- his friendship. . . I'm not gonna let him go 
again."
	To Ash's surprise his mother only nodded before leaving him alone in his room.
	Ash sucked in a determined breath. He could not believe that he had just stood up 
to his mother like that. He felt somewhat guilty screaming at her, but it was the only way 
he could prove to her how serious he was about rescuing his friends.
	Pikachu tugged gingerly on Ash's pajama paints. Ash peered down at his 
Pokemon. In Pikachu's mouth was Ash's belt . . . with six Pokeballs adjoined.
	Ash smiled and took the belt from Pikachu's mouth. 
	What Pokemon should I bring with me? . . .Is it even safe to bring any?
	"I am gonna save everybody, Pikachu. Don’t worry," Ash announced.
	Just the thought of being reunited with his friends made Ash feel much better.
	*When I see Misty again. . . I’m not gonna waste anymore time. I’m gonna tell 
her everything . . . tell her how I really feel about her.*
	He quickly scrambled into a lose pair of jeans, his sneakers, his favorite black 
shirt, red jacket; and then for the finishing touch. . . he slipped his Pokemon cap on top of 
his head of unruly ebony hair.
	"Let's go, Pikachu." Ash stated as he fastened his belt round his waist. “We need 
to stop by Professor Oak’s lab right away.”
	Ash grabbed his usual backpack of traveling supplies and walked briskly through 
his house until he reached the front door. He stopped momentarily, not in fearful 
hesitation, but to merely assure himself that he WOULD find and free all the missing 
trainers.
	"Um, Ash, honey?" 
	Ash froze upon hearing his mom's voice. He silently hoped she was not going to 
try and talk him out of his journey.
	"Mom, I already told you. . . I'm going now, and you can't stop me."
	He faced her bravely, but suddenly felt awful for making her cry.
	"Oh geeze, Mom, don't cry," he glanced uncomfortably from side to side.
	His mom pulled him gently into her arms and kissed his cheek. "I'm so proud of 
you, Ash. You have become a courageous and unselfish young man. Good luck, Ash. 
And PLEASE be careful."
	Ash nodded, shock and joy flushing his face.
	He turned back to the door as Pikachu climbed onto his shoulder.
	"Oh, Ash, not to sound silly, but . . .one more thing. . ."
	". . .Yeah. . .?"
	"You did pack clean underwear . . . right?"