If I Could Change the World

Ch. 8: Of Chess and Chess Games

~Author's note: I should have put this on last chapter, but... I finally got to skip a year between Chapter Six and Chapter Seven. That's why Ash is suddenly a Dragonair and Misty is plausibly thinking Darien might propose. Thank you. ^^;~

~NOTE TWO: I hereby dedicate this chapter to all of those people who died or were affected by the World Trade Center bombing on September 11, 2001. A tree fell in the forest. Everyone heard it, and yes, it made a sound. And may God help us all.~

~*~

Darien and Misty sat staring at their menus, unaware of the best-laid plans of mouse and man going on around them, and specifically not of the yellow mouse behind their booth and the squinty-eyed guy in the kitchen.

"Have you finished ordering yet, sir, madam?" the waitress asked politely.

Pikachu threw down his bottle of ketchup and listened.

"Yes, we'll have the sushi platter for two, please," Darien said.

"Kachupi!! Pikapikakachu!!" <Brock!! Sushi platter!!>

"I'm on it!" Brock said into the walkie-talkie.

Brock concentrated from behind the sack of potatoes.

"Sushi for two!!" a waitress yelled.

"Wonderful, they're sharing a plate," Brock groaned. "VERY good sign."

He waited for the cook to look away from the plate.

And waited...And waited...

The cook put the plate on the shelf and rang a bell. The waitress grabbed it before Brock could move.

"Pikachu!" he whispered. "I couldn't get to it!"

Pikachu moaned. "Pika!" <Great!>

"It wasn't MY fault!! They wouldn't look away!"

"Pika pikachu pika?!" <Couldn't you have distracted them?!>

"No! PLEASE, Pikachu, we don't have time for this!"

Pikachu was about to reply when he heard something.

"Bleaugh!!" Darien yelled.

"Eee, how old IS this stuff?!" Misty screamed.

Pikachu laughed. "Kachupi, pikapikachu!! Pika pika?" <Brock, you DID do it!! Why didn't you tell me?>

"Er..." Brock threw away the bottle he had been supposed to dump on the food. "Just a joke, Pikachu."

"Pika, pikapikachu!" <Please, you had me scared there!>

"Yeah, well..." Brock laughed nervously.

"Pika pikapikachu, chaaa, ka?" <I think plan 13-B ought to wrap it up nicely, don't you?>

"Yeah, I guess, if they're reordering."

"Pika." <They are.>

"Okay, then, I'm getting into position. I'll call you. Brock out."

"Pi, pika." <Yeah, okay.>

Brock snuck out of the kitchen, hiding behind a potted tree as a harried waitress ran up.

"What the--" Someone in the kitchen dropped a pot-- "is going ON back there?! That was the worst--" The cook dropped the pot again as he stood up-- "food you morons ever made! Make another sushi for two!! And you better get it--" All of the pots in the kitchen fell on the chef-- "-ing right this time, you hear me?!"

"Yes, ma'am!!" the cooks yelled.

"Yeah," said a feeble voice, muffled by several pans.

"GOOD! 'Cause my butt's on the line here too!!" The waitress stormed out.

"Jeeze Louise, she's--"

There was a huge clanking of pans as the cook tried to get up.

"Yeah, man," all of the cooks agreed.

Brock shook his head. "Yeesh."

About ten minutes later, the cook rang the bell. "Hey lady, your--"

The other cook sighed and clanked the last pot onto the counter.

"--food's ready!"

"About--"

The rattling of the door caused all of the pots and pans to fall again on the cook.

"--ing time!!" the waitress yelled as the double doors swished behind her.

"GAAAH!!" the cook yelled. "I QUIT!!!"

Pans clanked deafeningly as the cook got up and stormed out.

"What's HIS problem?" the waitress said.

The cook shrugged. "Danged if I know."

"Ah, whatever." Brock got into position.

"This better be good, you morons," the waitress yelled as she stormed out, "or I'll--"

She tripped on Brock's outstretched foot. The plate broke and sushi flew everywhere. Brock ran like wild Growlithes were after him, knowing that if he wasn't fast enough, something even worse WOULD be.

A middle-aged couple was being walked to a table. "Oh, look at the adorable Pikachu!!" the woman squealed.

Pikachu froze, flashed his cutest smile at them, and ran like heck.

"Hmm, strange," said the woman.

Brock and Pikachu laughed as they ran out of the restaurant.

Misty sighed. "This has been wonderful."

"I should've done something," Darien sighed. "I'm really sorry."

"Oh, I know it's not your fault. I don't blame you." Misty paused, looking out at the stars from the balcony they were on. "I don't think much can be done to salvage this date."

"Well, how about this?"

Misty gasped in happiness. "Oh, Darien!"

~*~

As the dust cleared, Arbok lay on the ground, seemingly knocked out.

"Oh... Arbok, return!" Jessie said.

~There's part one finished. Hope I didn't *really* knock Arbok out.~ Ash grinned slightly.

<Ash, what the heck are you doing?!> Sandstone yelled.

<White knight to square A-5!!> Ash yelled back.

<WHAT?!>

<It's a chess thing!>

"Wheezing, go!" James said.

"Wheezing whee-zing?" <Hi, you--friend?>

Ash saw his chance. <Yes! But your master doesn't know that!>

<Master...Not know?>

<Right! He thinks I'm the enemy!>

<You...enemy?>

<NO!> Ash said. <I'm trying to help you, but he doesn't know it!!>

<YES!> Ash said, slightly exasperated. Wheezing wasn't exactly the brightest bulb in the world, but he was a decent Pokemon.

<Yes! I need your help!> Ash said, relieved.

"Dragonair! Tackle!" Giovanni yelled. Ash flubbed a leap, landing several feet away from Wheezing.

"Me...owth? You're help--"

<SHHH! Giovanni might hear!!> Ash hissed at the awakening Meowth.

"Fine. Meowth? Meowth Meow Meowth Meooooowww?" <Fine. You're helping us? Why the heck are you doin' THAT?>

"Wheezing, tackle!" James called. Ash dodged it easily.

<Because I hate Giovanni, and for some odd reason, I don't hate you!> Ash yelled.

<Why do you hate Giovanni so much?> Meowth asked.

"Dragonair, Ice beam!" Ash took his sweet time powering it up.

<He's a jerk! Why do YOU think?! Didn't you *KNOW* that?!>

"Wheezing, dodge it when it fires!"

<Only recently, after that Ash kid disappeared. Hey, you're in with the boss. Do you know where he is?> Meowth asked.

Ash fired the Ice Beam so off-course that even the slow Wheezing managed to dodge it. The beam crystallized into ice against the wall.

<Yeah, he's right here!> Ash said quickly.

<What?>

<I'm Ash!>

Ash sighed. <Team Rocket, you're never getting my Pikachu!!> he yelled.

Ash looked just behind the Rockets and saw Arbok quietly pop out of its Pokeball and slither towards the Rockets guarding the exit.

"Dragonair you imbecile, try a tackle!" Giovanni roared.

Ash tried to Tackle, but tripped.

<Nice acting, kid,> Meowth complimented.

<Er...> He decided not to tell them that it wasn't acting.

Arbok slithered back, grinning a snake grin.

<Meowth! Drag Jessie and James out when Wheezing does Smokescreen! The guards are out cold and I'll delay 'em!> Ash yelled.

<You will WHAT?!> Sandstone yelled.

<All right!> Meowth said.

"Wheezing, smokescreen!" James ordered.

A huge blast of smoke blew everywhere, obscuring sight and security cameras. Two stifled yelps were heard as Jessie and James' Pokemon shoved them out the door. Luckily, they quickly got the idea.

Giovanni was coughing for a few minutes. Then, as the smoke dissapated, he looked up--and saw the empty challengers' stand.

"PERSIAN! AFTER THEM!" he yelled.

"Per!" Persian started to run. Ash knew it was now or never; Persian would be able to track them down in seconds.

He fired an Ice Beam.

"WHAT?!" Giovanni yelled as Persian was locked into a block of ice. All eyes turned to the Dragonair in the middle of the arena.

Ash's eyes were cool as he looked levelly at Giovanni.

"What do you have to say for yourself?!" he screamed.

There was a silence that scared Giovanni and his minions. Finally, after a few beats, Ash spoke.

<Check.>

He knew perfectly well what he was in for. Ash closed his eyes as Giovanni screamed an order at his Pokemon, hoping the world would go black quickly...

~*~

"Hello!!" Misty waltzed in to the Pokemon Center.

"Oh, hi, Misty. How did your date go?" asked Nurse Joy.

"Oh, it was horrible. All of these accidents kept happening--and that's supposed to be the restaraunt in town!!" Misty pouted.

Brock and Pikachu quietly sniggered.

"But then, something happened that made up for all of it." Misty went into a reverie. Brock and Pikachu turned around, startled.

"What happened, Misty?" Brock asked.

"Well..." Misty said shyly. She grinned. She held out her hand.

Pikachu's jaw dropped. A huge diamond ring was on Misty's finger.

"Darien proposed!!!" Misty squealed happily.

~Proposed...proposed...proposed...~ The word echoed in Pikachu's mind.

He didn't say anything all night. He just stared at the ceiling, eyes full of tears. Eventually he fell asleep.

"Pikachu! I'm back!" Ash called, walking into the Pokemon Center.

"PIKAPI!!" Pikachu ran into Ash's arms, safe and warm again for the first time in a year.

"Yeah, I missed you too, buddy." A tear of happiness leaked out of Ash's eye.

He composed himself. "So, where's Misty?"

Misty walked into the Pokemon Center, clinging onto Darien. "Oh, Ash, hi. This is my husband Darien!!!! Isn't he wonderful!!"

"STOP EMBARASSING ME, MISTY!!!" Darien screamed, knocking Misty to the ground.

"Hey, watch it Mister, you can't just--" Ash said.

Misty struggled to her feet and clobbered Ash with her mallet. "Ash!! Don't talk to my husband that way!!!"

"But--But he was--"

"God, you are such an immature little brat!!!" Misty screamed. She and Darien stormed out of the Pokemon Center, Darien pulling her arm so hard that Pikachu thought it would come off.

Ash slowly put his hand to where Misty had knocked him to the floor.

"Pikapi..." Pikachu put his paw on Ash's shoulder. Ash stood up, zombielike, and left.

Darkness--running--

Pikachu was running frantically though the dark woods, following Ash, not sure what he was doing but knowing that he had to follow. Finally, after what seemed like hours--or minutes-- he saw Ash, standing on the moonlit horizon.

"Pikapi!!" Pikachu yelled.

As he got closer, he saw the cliff, and the rocky shore below. "PIKAPI!!"

Ash turned around, eyes full of tears. "Pikachu, you should have stopped her..."

<I tried, Ash!! I tried as hard as I could!!>

"You didn't try hard enough..."

<Please, Ash!! I need you!! Don't!!!>

Ash laughed scornfully. "If you had needed me, you would have stopped her!"

<No, Ash!! I tried, I swear I tried! She just wouldn't listen! I couldn't stop it Ash, I couldn't! I'm so sorry, Ash!! I tried!!!>

"Pikachu... You know I can't live without her..."

<I know, Ash, but please, just wait!! We'll bring her to her senses! And even if you don't, you'll find someone else! Please, Ash!! I love you!! Don't leave me here! Think of us, Ash!! Think of--think of the Spearow!! Think of the Snow cave! Think of that time we had to collect the orbs! Remember the Houndour, Ash! Remember us!!! Remember the Pokemon!! Please, Ash, you can't leave us now! We all need you so badly! The whole world needs you!! Ash, we'll always be here for you, even if she isn't!! Me, Noctowl, Heracross, Tauros, Kingler, ALL of us!! We love you, Ash! Even Charizard! Please, don't leave us, Ash!!>

"Pikachu..." Ash whispered. "I just can't live like this..."

<Please, Ash!!>

"...Do you know what they did to me...?" Ash whispered. "They beat me...They threatened to kill me...I got barely enough food to live... I was always tied up...If I didn't start the campfire quickly enough, they'd hit me...And do you know how I lived through that...?"

<Ash...>

"I thought of you..." Ash said. "...I thought of having you riding on my head in the forest...Of Brock's Pasta Thursdays...and of Misty...I swore to myself that I would live, no matter what, just to get to Misty and to hold her in my arms and tell her I love her and never let her go..."

<Ash...>

"And...That got me through the worst times...just knowing there was something to live for...Pikachu, I had to swim a river to escape...It was so cold...and I just wanted to stop...to fall asleep, and forget all of the pain...But I crossed...I survived...I did it for Brock...I did it for you...and mostly I did it for Misty..."

<Please, Ash-->

"There's no hope, Pikachu, don't you see that? She loves him...or thinks she does...whichever it is, it doesn't matter. She will stay with him forever...And he'll kill her."

<Ash, it doesn't have to be like this!>

"Yes it does, Pikachu! Don't you see?" Ash cried. "She will never love me!! And I will always love her!!"

<But Ash! Please!> Pikachu cried desperately.

"I'm sorry, Pikachu...I have to do this...Please forgive me."

<No, Ash!!!>

Ash turned around, facing a choppy, wind-tossed sea. A gust blew across him, whipping his jacket like a cloak and blowing a tear from his eyes.

"Forgive me, Pikachu, Goodbye..."

He fell.

"PIKAPI!!" Pikachu raced to the cliff. The stormy sea threw itself against the rocky shoreline like the desperate ranks of the war in heaven. There was no sign of the fallen angel there; who noticed one angel in a sea of thousands?...

The wind ruffled Pikachu's fur. A few drops of windblown sea spray pattered on his face.

~Pikapi...~

He spread his arms wide, staring at the dark-blue, murky waters.

~I will forgive you, Ash, so long as you forgive me too...~

He simply fell forward, feeling the wind against his face and watching the dark sea come closer. He fell, and fell, and fell, and fell, and...

Ceiling.

Pikachu blinked.

~It was...A dream?...~

He turned over and sobbed into his pillow.

Brock walked over to Zubat and Chansey, who were playing chess. He observed the game for a minute.

"That black knight has your queen there, Chansey," he observed.

<I know, but he won't do anything. He has other matters on his mind.> Chansey grinned as she put her white knight near the king. <Check.>

Zubat studied the board for a second and grinned. He moved his queen, taking the knight and putting his queen in line with White's king at the same time. <Check.>

Chansey groaned. <Darn! First the queen, now the king! At least I got those pawns promoted.>

Brock looked. Now that he noticed it, there were five white bishops on the board instead of the normal two.

"Didn't you try to get your queen out of danger?" Brock asked.

<Yeah, my two castles were on the job, but it didn't work.> Chansey sighed. <But I'll get that queen out some time, I just know it!!>

"Mm-hmmm." Brock walked away, leaving the two Pokemon to their seemingly normal chess game...