Motives Forgotten
By Mana lugia

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. I own this plot, and ... this plot. Repeat 
after me: M. Lugia does not own Pokemon. M. Lugia does not own Pokemon. M. 
Lugia does not own Pokemon.

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[Chapter 1]

"WHAT?" Ash screamed out, unable to digest the news presented to him. This 
brought on a few odd stares from the other trainers in the centre. After 
calming down a little, he turned to Misty. "Mist, are you serious? You can't 
scare me like that, you know."


Misty, still trembling, shook her head. "No, Ash. I'm serious. I went by to 
get your chocolate, and the TV there is broadcasting it live from his house! 
H-he was murdered last night..." Ash, still not believing Misty, walked to 
the large TV situated by the counter. The news was still in live coverage.

"The victim, Brock..." The TV suddenly turned fuzzy as it was about to say 
Brock's last name, and a frustrated Nurse Joy banged on it. "Poor 
reception," she explained. "... was found dead in his two story house this 
morning. His body has been removed, but so far, the police have little to go 
upon uncovering the murderer. According to a police report, Brock was 
whipped before being strangled to death. However, no rope was found at the 
scene." The TV droned on for a few minutes. "... Brock's funeral will be 
held in 2 weeks, at the local funeral home. Brock's role as gym..."

Ash stared at the screen in shock. Brock was dead. Brock, his best friend, 
who had helped him through thick and thin. Ash slowly let the feelings of 
sadness overtake him, as a tear formed in his eye. He closed his eyes, 
trying to shake it off, when someone laid a hand on his shoulder. It was 
Misty, who was also teary-eyed. "I know how you feel, Ash." She whispered. 
"But we should call Flint."

Ash nodded, and walked slowly to the videophone. The phone rang on the other 
end for quite a time, before a depressed-looking Flint answered.

"Hello?" Flint said. His face looked like he had been crying, but because 
his whole family had small eyes, Ash couldn't tell very well.

"Uh, Flint, sir? It's me, Ash." Ash said. Flint sat still at the phone for a 
few seconds, before recognizing Ash. "Ash? You're Brock's friend, aren't 
you?"

"Yes, sir. I'm just calling to say that it's a terrible loss for Brock to 
be, well, murdered like that, because um, Brock was one of my best friends. 
I was, uh, wondering, if I can come to his funeral?" Ash asked.

Flint nodded slowly, and told Ash the place and time of Brock's funeral. He 
had always been a fast worker. Ashes nodded, and then hang up. He turned to 
Misty. "Come on, Mist, we've got to hurry if we want to make it to Pewter 
City in time!"

Misty nodded, and said thoughtfully, "Well, the nearest way to get to Pewter 
would be through the Diglett's Tunnel in Vermillion... So shall we head on 
that way?" She turned around, but Ash wasn't there. Suddenly, she heard a 
voice outside.

"HEY MISTY! WOULD YOU HURRY UP ALREADY? BY THE TIME YOU COME, THE MILTANKS 
WOULD HAVE COME HOME!" Ash yelled. Apparently, he had already collected his 
pokemons, and had rushed outside before Misty noticed.

An angered look appeared on Misty's face. "Grrr.... I'm coming, Ash 
Ketchum!" she yelled as she chased him outside, after collecting her 
pokemons, of course.

~*~*~

The trip to Vermillion city was uneventful. The duo arrived at Vermillion 
City's front gates just before nightfall. The city was already brightly lit 
with electric lights, powered by the power plant that is downstream from the 
city.

Ash and Misty went to the Pokemon Centre first, because they needed their 
Pokemons in the best shape possible when they go in the diglett's tunnel. 
Just as they were about to enter, someone wearing a hooded jacket rushed out 
from the centre, bumping Ash to the ground. Ash, however, had quickly 
grabbed the stranger's jacket, and thus caused the stranger to fall as well. 
As they were getting up, the stranger looked at Ash, and for some reason 
tried to run away without saying anything. But Ash was too fast, and pulled 
the stranger back by his jacket.

"Hey! You owe me an apology!" Ash exclaimed. The stranger, however, 
struggled, and tried futilely to escape. Ash, annoyed at the stranger's 
antics, pulled his hood off.

"GARY?!" Both Ash and Misty exclaimed together.

Gary, the childhood rival of Ash patted his shirt, and tried to put up a 
smirk to cover up his surprised face. "Yeah, loser, it's me. What do you 
want? An autograph?" He sneered.

Ash ignored him. "C'mon Mist, we have to hurry," he said, and disappeared 
into the Centre. Misty followed suit. She never liked Gary that much 
anyways. A snob, they called him. Gary, sensing unforeseen hostility, 
quickly rushed in after them.

"Hey Ash! What's the matter, huh? Can't take a joke?" He grinned once he ran 
up to Ash, who was standing at the counter.

Ash ignored him. No point in getting excited over Gary, and feeling worse. 
But Gary wouldn't give up. "Oh, come on, Ash! You know I was only kidding!" 
Ash managed out a emotionless "Yes", but Gary carried on. "Anyways, Ash, I 
heard about Brock. I'm real sorry. Hey, since I'm staying here in the city 
for a while, I thought maybe we can go have fun in the city tomorrow!"

Ash turned to Gary, and in a toneless voice, he said, "I'm not in the mood." 
He got a room key from Nurse Joy, and proceeded to his room. Meanwhile, Gary 
went up to an amused Misty, who was watching the whole scene. She knew Ash 
could be serious when he wants to, but this is... just not in Ash's 
character! Before Misty could speak, Gary quickly expressed what he wanted 
to say. "Um, Misty, I know we've never really been on friendly terms, but 
can you convince Ash? I really want to repent, and I feel so bad that I want 
to make it up to him. Please convince Ash to stay for another day... My room 
number is 104, so you can find me there." Before Misty could ask why, he 
left Misty standing there, not knowing what to do. After much debating, she 
went down to their room.

As she entered, she saw Ash lying on one of the two single beds, staring up 
at the ceiling. She walked over to him. "Hey Ash."

He didn't even look at her, but he did mutter "Hey Mist." Misty gently sat 
down beside him. "Still glum?" she asked. Ash nodded.

"Look Ash, you have to get over it somehow. Let's stay in town tomorrow, and 
try to cheer up a bit before attending Brock's funeral..." Before she could 
continue, Ash put his hands over his ears, trying to shut out the 
suggestion. Misty sighed, knowing whatever she said would not have any more 
effect on Ash. Getting out her towel, she stepped into the shower.

~*~*~

Click. The phone was lifted from its receiver. A number was slowly dialed. 
The man making the call played the phone's cord with his fingers, waiting 
eagerly for the other end to pick up.

Click. The receiver was lifted from the other end. "Yes?" A low, gruff voice 
asked.

"When will psyducks use bite?" The person on this end replied. "Right. What 
do you want?" The low voice said again, but this time, it had a hint of 
danger in it.

"I want you to do something for me. This person whom I needed killed. I know 
where he is."

"Understood. Give me the directions."

A minute of chatter followed with details given, and the phone was put back 
to its stand. The person who made the call sat back in his chair, and picked 
up a book.

The time has come... and soon... he shall die.

~*~*~

The following morning, Misty woke up to an empty room. Ash wasn't there. 
'He's probably at the front desk getting the pokemon', she thought to 
herself.

She found Ash sitting at one of the tables in the cafeteria, looking 
dejectedly into a cup of hot chocolate. She got a cup of chocolate, and sat 
down opposite of him. "Hey Ash."

Ash seemed to struggle with the words, but taking a deep breath, he said 
slowly, "Misty... I'm sorry about last night. I was acting like a child."

Misty patted Ash on the shoulder. "It's ok, Ash. I know you're sad about 
Brock's death. I am too, you know."

"Yeah, I know. But I still can't get over the fact that he was murdered! He 
had so much to live for! I want to track down his killer, and get revenge."

"Ash, that's what the police do. For now, we shouldn't interfere..." Misty 
said.

Ash sat there, silent for a minute, before he spoke again. "M-Misty, I was 
thinking about what you said yesterday, and I think that since Brock's 
funeral is still a long way away, maybe we should stay in Vermillion for a 
day or so. After all, we haven't been here in a while."

Gary chose this time to enter the cafeteria, and sat down beside Ash. "Hey 
Ash! So, did you think about my offer? I know this great battling place 
downtown which is hosting a tournament today!"

Ash smiled weakly at Gary. "Yeah, we'll come with you. Better than sitting 
here and brood, I suppose."

The group spent the day in the heart of Vermillion City, enjoying its sights 
and sounds. There was a street tournament going on, and Ash and Gary 
participated. The final round came to be a match between the two.

Gary smirked. "Ready for a butt whooping?"

"You're the one who's gonna lose!" replied Ash coolly.

Gary started with an Exeggutor. The large coconut plant stood there, a 
fierce look on each of its faces. Ash countered with his Snorlax. The large 
sleepy pokemon, once released, stretched, and yawned. Exeggutor, taking the 
chance, send a barrage of coconuts at the yawning giant.

"Snorlax! Counter attack!" Ash yelled. The giant complied, and his body 
glowed purple. It showed pain when the coconuts hit, but released the pain 
in a large purple wave of energy at the Exeggutor. Gary had an expression of 
surprise, as the purple wave of energy engulfed Exeggutor, fainting it 
completely.

Gary returned his Exeggutor. "Grr. You got lucky this time, Ash! Now fear 
the wrath! Go, Poliwrath!" The water pokemon was released, and immediately 
punched the air a few times, ready to annihilate any opponent it faces. 
"DYNAMICPUNCH!" Gary ordered. Poliwrath charged at Snorlax, its fists 
igniting with a brown flame. It started punching rapidly, each punch harder 
than the next.

"Snorlax! Counter!" Ash shouted. Snorlax's body started glowing purple 
again, but instead of rushing out at Poliwrath, it flew straight up, and hit 
Snorlax. With a large groan, Snorlax fainted. "Ha! Confusion rules, Ash!" 
Gary laughed from the other end of the arena

Ash returned Snorlax, and released his second pokemon.

"Bayleef! I choose you!" The grass pokemon emerged from its pokeball, ready 
to beat the living lights out of its opponent.

Gary wasn't fazed. "Blizzard, Poliwrath! Maximum power!" The pokemon jumped 
back, and gathered cold air in the whirls of the stomach.

"Bayleef! Sweet Scent!" The plant pokemon let loose a sweet powder, making 
Poliwrath confused for a second. "Now! Razor leaf!" Bayleef started a 
barrage of leaves, each with a razor sharp edge. But Poliwrath has 
recovered, and let loose three massive beams of frost, from its stomach, and 
each of its fists. The leaves cut Poliwrath, who promptly fainted, but 
Bayleef was unable to escape the frost, and was frozen as well. It all came 
down to the last pokemon.

Ash directed Pikachu, who was sitting on his shoulders, to take the final 
stand, whereas Gary released his Umbreon. "Seems awfully familiar, eh, Ash?" 
Gary laughed.

Pikachu started with an agility, while Umbreon started by multiplying itself 
with the help of double team. Pikachu, confused as to which is the real 
Umbreon, awaited Ash's next command. Ash directed Pikachu to use a Swift, 
infused with its Thunder. Pikachu nodded, and electric stars shot from its 
tail, hitting every illusion, and leaving only the real Umbreon behind. 
Gary, seeing his tactic failing, ordered a Toxic. Umbreon shot out a dark 
liquid from its mouth, hitting Pikachu's tail. Pikachu squeaked from pain, 
but Ash ordered a rain dance, to clean it off. Pikachu did a funny dance, 
swaying from side to side, and the sky started to drizzle.

"Pikachu! Charge Up!" Said Ash. Pikachu complied, and charged up with yellow 
energy. Umbreon, however, had set up more double teams. But Ash was 
grinning. This was no ordinary thunder.

"Pikachu! THUNDER! Ground Coverage!" Ash commanded. And to the surprise of 
the spectators, Pikachu jumped into the air, and let loose a blinding light, 
a wave of Electrical current flowed through the ground, conducted by the 
rain. Umbreon cried in pain. After the thunder passed, Umbreon attempted to 
stand up, but it swaggered, and fell. Ash was the winner.

The rest of the day wasn't too bad. Ash shared his prize (which was ten 
potions) with Gary, and they returned to the Pokemon Centre right before 
nine. The sky was dark, and so they bid each other good night, and went back 
to their rooms.

~*~*~

Vermillion City...

The Stranger adjusted his hood, so no one would see his face. He must not be 
recognized. Walking briskly, he got to the Pokemon Centre. It was just a bit 
past midnight. The Pokemon Centre was closed. That never stopped him. That 
never will.

He walked to the outside of the Cafeteria. There were windows big enough for 
him there. Releasing Victreebel, he ordered the pokemon to cut through the 
windows and get him inside. The grass pokemon obeyed. The cafe was dark and 
eerily silent. No matter. He'll come back later for a cup of coffee, as 
usual. Taking off his heavy boots, he glided along the marble floor in his 
socks. So silent, so effective.

He came to the door. Yes. This was the one. He picked the lock slowly, to 
avoid waking the occupant. Then, opening a crack, he ordered Victreebel to 
spray Stun spore into the room. This time, there will be no questioning. 
Getting out his gun from his pocket, he put on a silencer, and slowly 
entered. There the quarry was... paralyzed on the chair while he sleeps. 
Victreebel violently whipped the man, who awoke on impact. Try as he did, he 
could not make a sound.

The voice of the hooded figure was low and gruff... "I don't do things 
twice," was all he said...

~*~*~

The next morning, Ash and Misty were all ready and packed. After getting 
their healed pokemons from the front, they went to Gary's room to bid him 
goodbye. A few knocks, but no one answered. Ash realized the door was 
unlocked. He twisted the knob, and opened the door. Misty let out a 
horrified gasp.

There was Gary, sitting in a large sofa chair, with a book in his lap. The 
only difference was, there was a bullet hole in his forehead, and his face 
stained with blood.

==================

What did you think? Reviews are appreciated, as are constructive criticisms. 
I know I don't write very well. You can also send comments to 
manalugia@yahoo.ca

M. Lugia