Mutiny By: Quokka07 julie@grantronics.com.au http://quokka07picz.homestead.com/1.html ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Everybody! Make way for the Great Misty Waterflower! Comin' through!" a man wearing a suit was laeding the way for the now seventeen year old Misty. "Here comes the Great Brock Stone! Excuse me, but would you please move aside for the number one Pokemon Breeder of all time? Thank you, Miss," a man who was dressed like the man with Misty was clearing the way for the nineteen year old Brock. "Excuse me, kid, you can't come past here. You're *way* too immature. Plus you're also *way* too unimportant to be coming anywhere near the Greatest Water Pokemon Trainer of Our Centuary. Who, did I mention, is also very close to becoming better than a Nurse Joy in Pokemon Healing?" Misty's bodyguard got hearts in his eyes and sighed before he continued. "Can you beleive it? Can you beleive *her*? I just don't know how she manages." "No, sir, I can't beleive her at all. At least not her attitude," then, spinning around on his heel the young boy, who looked to be around fifteen, walked away from the astonished man. Because he was standing at the frount of the crowd, he had to push his way through the tightly packed mob. In doing so, he accidently pushed a burly man out of the way of his position at the frount of the pack. "Watch where you're doing, kid," when the boy just kept walking past him, the man decided to follow the kid. "None of you're business," the kid growled. The big man was taken back. Little shrimps like the boy shouldn't be talking to men like him that way. It really pissed him off. But before he could act, the kid was walking off again. "Get back here, runt," he yelled, obviously mad. "Huh?" was the only thing the kid could say before the man's fist connected painfully with his nose. Blood started to poor from it and the kid suspected it was badly broken. After that, it was just punches, kicks, slaps and any other sort of psyical contact, with each and every blow coming from the older man and each and every blow landing on the frail and pitiful body of the kid. The *defenceless* kid. Who had no pokemon with him, and no fighting or defencive skills. When the assult finally finished, the kid was looking dangerously like a well-loved punching bag. Except for the fact that punching bags don't bleed or bruise. The man just left the poor boy lying there. And he didn't move. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Hey Brock, Pikachu?" Misty asked her companions. "Yes?" "Pika?" "Did anyone tell umm...What's-His-Name-Again where we'd meet him?" "I don't think so." "Huh? How'll he know where to meet us?" she asked. "Miss Misty, how did you catch that pikachu? I thought you only had water pokemon?" another annoying reporter asked. "Yes, pikachu's mine. I caught him about five years ago," Misty answered. Brock and Pikachu were shocked. First, Misty couldn't even remember their travelling buddy's name, even if they didn't pay much attention to him lately and pikachu had started to act like Misty's pokemon to get attention and ketchup from the interviewers. Secondly, Misty had just said that Pikachu was *her* pokemon. Plainly. Just said it. Before, they'd just tip-toed around the topic, or made comments that could be taken either way. "Let's go to the pokemon center. Ash'd probably checked in there already," Brock suggested. "Fine." "Chu..." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Hi, Nurse Joy, " Misty greeted. "Oh, Nusre Joy, will you go out with me? Huh?" Brock stuttered. "R-really?" the nurse asked. "Uh huh." "YES! Brock, I'll go out with you!" Nurse Joy took the breeder by the hand and dragged him into the bck room to 'talk'. "Well, Pikachu, that was disturbing," Misty said. "Pi," Pikachu agreed. "Oh, good, she's left the registary book open. Mmm, let's see. Ashley, Annie, Anna, Andrew and Afgahn? What kind of a name is Afgahn? Hmmm, oh well, no Ash. Let's just check ourselves in, huh, Kachukapi?" Misty said, using the nickname she'd given to pikachu. (Oh, and no offence to anybody reding this whos name is Afgahn.) She scrawled a name down onto the book and took a key. When she turned to walk away, she was leaving the book that said: 'Misty Waterflower and her Pikachu.' ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< Three hours later, Misty was still sitting in the lobby waiting up for Ash. He hadn't called or written her a note or anything. He was just gone. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< The next day, the kid was still sitting in the same postion that the man who'd assulted him had left him in. His back was aching, his neck had the worst crick in it, his rump was sore from sitting on it all last night. He had dark bags under his chocolate-coloured eyes, his black hair was messier that usual and his face was still covered in dry blood from his attack the previous night. Head bowed and eyes half closed, he stumbled towards the pokemon center for a much needed rest and bath. By the time he found the center he hadn't eater anything for nearly a day and a half. Sitting in the air-conditioned comfort of the lobby was his old friend, Misty. Funny, he still considered her as his friend, even after she'd run him over with a steam roller and then pegged him up by the toes to dry. "Oh, Ash," she cried as she jumped up when she saw him enter the doors. "Where have you been? It's been over a day!" But Ash didn't answer. He just wrote his name on the registry, picked his key and headed towards the bathroom. "Ash, you fool," she yelled outraged that he had ignored her, something she wasn't used to lately. "I've been worried sick about you. And this is how you treat me? You could at least *pretend* to be thankful!" When Ash didn't answer her at all, or even do anything to show he'd even heard her, Misty yelled, "Ash, you know what? You can just leave me and Brock. You're obviously not good enough for us! And I'm taking Pikachu with me too!" she cried at his retreating back. He didn't even put a foot wrong. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< After that, he refused to talk at all. Infact, he refused to even make a noise, he no longer laughed, grunted or storted in response to anyone. Nurse Joy was the only one who knew what was wrong, but the others couldn't understand what she tried to say. "You've hurt him, Misty, honey. He's depressed." "He'll get over it soon, Nurse Joy. I'm sure of it. He always has before," Misty laughed, recalling the times he'd said he wouldn't speak to her again. It had only ever lasted a maximum of ten minutes before he was chatting to her like as if nothing had ever happened. "But, Misty. You do know how stubborn little Ash is, don't you? I can tell he's got his heart set on this, and there's no way he's going to give in." "Give in from what? I mean, this is just some old fling Ash' having right? I didn't do anything, so it's not my fault or anything." "Oh, on the contrary, Misty, on the contrary. I think it's you, Brock and *his* Pikachu that's hurt him the most." "But how, Nurse Joy? What'd we do?" "We'll from what I've gathered off the Nurse Joy from Pallet, he's always been very emotional. With Gary tormenting him and his father beating him, I'm really not suprised." "Emotional? Tormenting? Beating?" "Well, yes. His parents got devorced when he was six, and I think that's where the trouble started." "What trouble?" "His emotional trouble, dear. He had to visit his father every second weekend, that was part of the leagal thingy that came with the devorce. Ash hated to go, and he always came back with bruises. After that he always froze when people got violent." "And Gary?" "Gary was so terrible to him. He was violent too, so Ash never stood a chance." "Poor kid." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "PIKACHU! Pika pika chu!" "What is it Pikachu?" Brock asked. "Is it about Ash?" Misty wondered. "Pi," Pikachu comfurmed nodding. "Where is he?" Pikachu just pointed out towards the forest. "Did he run away?" "Pi!" Misty and Brock grabbed their bags and ran after Pikachu. Neither of them noticed the extra luggage they were carrying. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< 'I'm so sorry,' Ash thought as he ran blindly through the trees. Branches whipped him in the fce and down his legs, leaving red streaks. He was headed in a rough direction. He thought it would take him to a place near Pallet where he could escape. Forever. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Oh, hello again, Ash," a cheerful Nurse Joy greeted the boy as he entered the Pokemon Center. He made no reply. By now, his stubborn vow over Misty, Brock and Pikachu had become a habbit. "Ash? Are you OK?" Ash just wrote his name in the book and a very confused Joy handed him a key. "If you need to talk to me later, I'll be here. I've got the late shift tonight," the Joy told Ash. He didn't even thank her. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< Days later, the lonley and unspeaking (if that's a word) Ash arrived in the Pallet/Viridian which was unofficially called the Black Coffee Forest and officially didn't have a name. Ash knew this forest quite well; he'd used it as a place to go when his father or Gary started picking on him. There was a special place, deep in the Black Coffee Forest that was special. He'd seen his first true wild Pokemon at that place. True, it had only been a Metapod, but he wasn't going to complain. It was then that he'd decided that going off to be a Pokemon Master was what he truly wanted to do. It wasn't going to be just a test, something to be better than Gary at. It wasn't even going to be an excuse to get away from his dad for a while. That's where he was going now. Ash was close, he could feel it. And then, suddenly, he was leaving the saftey of the tree-line and entering the saftey of his little clearing. The place Ash was going to call home for a while was just a small break in the thick trees. It way only around ten by six meters and a trickling stream bubbled across one corner. In an unusually large tree was a fresh supply of food, apples, ripe and juicy, begging to be picked and eaten. The floor was filled with mossy rocks around where the stream ran and the majority of the rest of the ground was covered with lush grass, with the exception of a tiny space that was bare. That was to be his fireplace. Suddenly, it dawned on him. He had no more Pokemon. None of his own. No more home. At least none yet. No money. No friends. No voice. Saddened, he walked over to where he'd first seen the Metapod. Suprisingly, there was a different Pokemon in its place. A Persian. Ash pulled out his Pokedex and pointed it at the cat. "Registered to a Giovanni of Viridian City. The leader of the Viridian Gym," his Pokedex told him. The Persian was obviously hurt. Badly. Deep scratch marks cut into its side. The work of another Persian, maybe a Meowth. Ash reached into his backpack and pulled out a superpotion. He wasn't sure why he kept them, but it was lucky he did. Once the potion had been sprayed on the cat, the wound started to heal up almost instantly. After a few minutes, the Persian was staggering to its feet. 'Easy, now,' Ash's eyes seemed to say as he gazed into Persian's. "Mian-nyan," Persian answered. 'I'll be OK, now.' Ash blinked several times, trying to understand how he could understand the Pokemon's language. "Myan," it said. 'Thank you.' Ash still didn't get it. "Nyam mi, nyan." 'I'm part psychic." It was then that Ash chose to faint. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Misty, it's been too long," Brock said, placing a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "There's no way in the world that we're going to find him now." "Officer Jenny might be able to help!" she argued. "I'm telling you, she won't." "But her Growilthe..." "Look, Pikachu tried. Now, we've got to get on with our lives. I, for one, am going back home to breed," Brock explained. "What will you do?" "I'm going to look for Ash." "Misty, you're crazy, you know that?" "I don't care." "Look, Misty, just go home for a while. You'll feel better later." "Fine." Misty left with Brock and Pikachu towards home, Pewter for Brock and Creulean for the others. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< It had been over four months since he ran away, and now Ash was living in his little field in a nice wooden hut with Persian and Charizard. He had found Charizard just after the hut had been built. ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Proffessor Oak?" "Yes, son? What can I do for you today?" the Proffessor asked the kid who was standing at his feet. "Well, ya see, I've got this Pikachu I found wandering around, but it won't listen to me. It doesn't even want to go in its Pokeball," the boy explained. "Umm, well kid, I don't think I can help you with that," seeing the kid's face fall, he continued. "But I know someone who might be able to. Where is the Pikachu now? I thought he didn't like Pokeballs." "It's in its Pokeball now," the kid said, showing the man a red and white ball. "How'd you get him in there?" "I got my other Pokemon to attack and weaken it. How else? I can't have any Pokemon running loose now, can I?" "Ahh, of couse not," the Proffessor said, disgusted that the boy would actually do such a thing. "He lives in the forest. His name is Ash Ketchum. Tell him I sent you." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Ring-ring, Ring-ring. Phone call. Phone call. Ring-rin-" "Hello?" "Brock?" "This is he. Who are you?" "Misty." "Oh, hi Misty. What brings you to be calling little lonley old me?" "Pikachu's missing, Brock!" "What?!" "He's just gone. I woke up this morning and he wasn't anywhere!" "Maybe he'll be back..." "No, Brock. I think he's gone to find Ash..." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< Knock. Knock. "Per-nyan?" Ash nodded. Persian walked to the door and opened it, expecting it to be Proffessor Oak. But instead, he saw a yound kid, around fifteen, standing on the doorstep. "Is this Ash's plac- Oh! A Pokemon!" The kid pulled a Pokeball from his belt. It was purple and white instead of the usual red and white. A Masterball. "I'm gonna catch it!" Lazily, Persian reached out and scratched the kid's Pokeball hand. His right one. "YEOW! STUPID CAT! VENASAUR, GO!" And the tired Pokemon appeared. Sure it was strong, but it looked like it hadn't had a proper rest with a Nurse for months. "Vensaur, you stupid Pokemon, solar beam!" Ash heard this from inside and ran to the door. By then, the kid had started to beat his Pokemon, just because it couldn't do a solar beam. Then the kid saw Ash. Quickly, he recalled his Venasaur. "Oh! Sorry... You must think I'm a really bad trainer." 'You got that right...' Ash thought. "With having such a weak Venasaur and all. Well, I can tell you, kid, I'm not a bad trainer. In fact, I'm a really good trainer. It's just my Pokemon re so weak and won't level up quick enough. I gotta evolve 'em myself. With rocks and Rare Candies." 'Oh dear...' "Anyway. I'm hear about my Pikachu I caught recently. It's real strong. But when I tried to make it evolve, it just wouldn't. Even with a thunder stone. It won't even listen to me or go in its Pokeball!" 'Idiot!' "So I had to get my other Pokemon to weaken it." 'What?!' "Anyway here it is..." "Pika? Pi... Chu! Pikapi!? PIKAPI!!" the Pikachu appeared. At first he was annoyed at being put into his Pokeball, then sore from being beaten, the confused at where he was. Then he saw Ash. The Pikachu's face totally lit up and he threw himself into Ash's arms. "Umm, wow. You really know your stuff. Oh well, I'll be going now...C'mon, Pikachu, retur- Hey! Mister! Gimme back my Pikachu!" And then suddenly the kid was gone. "Pernyan. Per!" 'I'm glad he's gone. Nothing more satisfing than teleporting little pests like him away.!' ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "So that's my story, Officer Jenny." "Hmm, Pokemon theft. We'll get him for that. Don't worry." "Thanks." 'MWAHAHAHAHA!! I'll get my revenge yet!' ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Hmm. 'POKEMON THEIF ARRESTED'. Sounds OK. 'A Pokemon theif was arrested just outside Pallet yesterday. The fifteen year old was found in position of at least three stolen Pokemon. A tip- off from a trainer (also fifteen) after he had his Pikachu stolen. The victim was then teleported out of the area. As of yet the theif has not helped the police at all with their enquries, nor has he denied the allegations. He has not even requested a lawyer. After being assested by doctors, he was pronounced medically mute. Later, he was identified as being trainer Ash Ketchu-'" The girl reading the newspaper reached for the phone while saying in her head, 'Oh, gosh, not Ash, not theft, oh gosh...' Once the phone had been answered, she said, "Brock. Newspaper. Pokemon Sun. Second page. Pokemon theif arrested. Read and call me back." Then she hung up leaving poor Brock staring at the phone saying, "Ummm..." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Can you write down what happened?" Pallet's Officer Jenny asked Ash. 'Ask Persian,' he wrote. "You know I can't do that." 'Why not?' "Because I don't speak Pokemon." 'So?' "So, I wouldn't be able to understand it." 'Persian's not an it. Persian's a him.' "Whatever." 'For an Officer of the law, you certinaly don't seem very interested in crimes against Pokemon...' "What!? I'm here with you aren't I? Questioning a Pokemon theif?" 'I'M NOT A THEIF!' "But you had a kid's Pikachu and Giovanni's Persian!" 'It's true the Persian's not mine. I found him. Giovanni abandoned him! And the Pikachu's mine!' "The Pikachu's your's, huh? And I'm supposed to believe that?" 'I know! Ask Misty! Ask Brock!' "They're not here are they?" 'Well...no...' "Then I can't a-" "Officer Jenny? There's a girl in the lobby ask- no, demanding to see you. She's getting really angry..." another officer told her. "Fine I'll go and see her." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Yes, Missy?" "MY NAME IS NOT MISSY!" "Oh, I'm sorry." "You should be. I need to speak to Ash." "I can't let you do that, miss. Not until he says you can." "The ask him, bimbo. Gosh, for a 'smart' officer you *are* pretty dumb..." "Grrrr...fine." "Wait. Jenny. Give him this note..." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "Some girl asked me to give this to you. I'll be back," Officer Jenny told Ash, handing him the note. On the note it read; 'Ash, I'm so sorry. Right now I need to talk to you. Maybe I can get you out of there at the same time. Just tell Jenny you wanna see me. Misty.' ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "He said you can come in." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< When Misty arrived in the tiny cell, she just stood there. Jenny took the hint. "I'll just leave you alone for a second," she said and backed away. "Ash?" Misty asked as soon as Jenny was gone. 'Yes?' Ash wrote back. "Oh, I'm *so* sorry." 'It doesn't matter, Mist. I've forgiven you anyway.' "How'd you get into this mess anyway. I always knew you attracted scandals, but isn't this a bit much?" 'Pity. I thought I was a bit of a chick magnet. Just like Brock. And yet here you are telling me I'm only attractive to disaster...' Misty laughed. "Oh, Ash!" Only now did she take a proper look at him. He had grown quite a bit in the near-to-half-a-year since he'd left. Basicly he was still the same Ash she knew so well. 'Listen. See if you can get Jenny to question Persian. Tell her he speaks telekinetically.' ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "So, you're trying to tell me that Ash isn't a Pokemon theif and that his Pokemon are just you, Pikachu and Charizard?" Jenny asked the Persian. 'Yes. I also insist you investigate the boy who accused him of abuse of Pokemon.' he replied. "Why should I do that?" 'Because I saw the kid hit his Venasaur.' "Fine. I'll see what I can do. I'll go release Ash now." 'Thank you very much, Jenny.' "Whatever." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "You can go now." ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< "So, Ash, now you're out of jail, with no charges, where are you going?" 'Home, Mist.' "So, that's it. I come all this way to rescue you. You're out, I leave?" 'Of couse not. You're coming home with me for a while.' "Do I get a choice?" 'Nope!' ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< After Ash got out of prison, Misty insited that Ash take speech lessons because his 'writing was too hard to read.' Ash progressed nicely and soon could use his voice to make basic sounds again. As soon as he could, he no longer welcomed Misty into the sessions. Eventually, Ash learned to talk, though Misty didn't know it. One night, Ash came home late from his session and the first thing did was speak to her. The first words she'd heard Ash say for two years was; "Misty, will you marry me?" ><*><,><*><,><*><,><*><,><*>< ~Quokka07 I know I should do a disclaimer, but I can't be bothered. I don't own 'em....(that'll be the only one I do...) Damn my 'A' key. I'm an avid beleiver in AAM but I just can't see it happening on TV, can you? Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.