Rose awoke to the sound of knocking on the door. She lit the lamp, woke Timmy and told him to get dressed. She put on her dressing gown and went to the door.
"Who is it?"
"Rose, it's me."
She opened the door. Misty came in, with Brock and Gary behind her. Rose and Misty embraced.
"Misty, it's really you. I was so worried."
"I'm fine, thanks to these fine rescuers. Hey, where's Ash?"
Rose pointed to the couch. Misty saw him, fast asleep, with Pikachu curled on his stomach.
"So that's what he looks like without the mask? Oh, don't they both look adorable?"
"Squirt, squirtle!" said Squirtle.
"Oh Squirtle! I missed you so much," said Misty, hugging it.
"Misty, we're running late," said Brock.
Gary woke Ash while Misty and Rose said goodbye. Everyone thanked Rose and they left. Timmy was last out the door. He turned back.
"I'll do everything in my power to see you again soon."
Rose embraced him quickly. He left. She shut the door. She knelt to the ground, brought her hands to her face and began to cry.
♦
Misty guided the group through dark backstreets to the edge of the city, and from there to the only road to Mt Moon.
"There are no soldiers on the road," remarked Ash.
"After what you lot did last night," said Misty, "most of them would be guarding the palace. The rest are probably guarding the Mt Moon entrance.
"I can hear hooves," said Gary.
"Get off the road!" said Brock.
They hid in the tall grass off the side of the road and waited until a tauros-drawn cart drove past. It was difficult to see in the dark, but they saw the glint of swords and helmets reflecting the light of the risen moon. They waited until the coast was clear before going back to the road.
"Probably a change of shift," said Misty.
"We have to hurry," said Brock. "Pewter plans to attack at midnight, but we don't know how long they can hold it open."
"Hmm... if it's a new shift," said Gary, "that means that an old shift of tired soldiers is coming back."
"How does that help us?" asked Brock.
"I see," said Ash. "You want to steal their cart."
"Timmy," said Brock, "do you think we can take them?"
"Huh?"
"Timmy, you've been quiet," said Brock. "Anything wrong?"
"If we surprise them with Squirtle's water gun..." said Ash.
"Better use Pikachu," said Gary.
"No way!" Ash responded, recalling the image of what he saw last time.
"It might scare the tauros," said Misty.
Eventually they figured out a plan. They continued walking down the road. About half an hour later, they heard the hooves.
Misty stood on the side of the road, calling and waving her arms. The cart stopped.
"It's me, Princess Misty," she called out, throwing her hood back.
At first, they were hesitant, but then one of the men jumped off.
"Yes, it's the Princess! How did you get here?"
"I managed to sneak away while they were asleep. Come, I'll show you where they are."
"We'll need reinforcements. Men, let's go back."
"Wait, if you delay, they could wake up. Better get them now while they're sleeping. They're terrible people from Viridian. They were going to hold me for ransom."
"Alright men, come. Lead the way princess."
Ten men alighted. Misty led them towards the edge of the road. Suddenly, strong, sharp bursts of water sent them reeling to the ground. Ash and Squirtle burst out of the grass. Ash grabbed Misty by the throat. She screamed and pretended to struggle, but Ash appeared to prevail.
"All of you get away from the road or I'll break her neck."
"D-do what he says... I think he means it," she said.
While their attention was diverted, Gary, Brock, Timmy and Pikachu, who were hiding on the other side of the road, sneaked onto the cart. Ash dragged Misty towards it.
"I'll take this," he said.
Squirtle attacked them again, and the three of them jumped onto the cart. As soon as everyone was on board, Brock took the reins and set off. He did a U-turn and proceeded towards Mt Moon.
When they were near their destination, it was evident that there were a sizeable number of soldiers guarding the entrance to the tunnel. They directed the tauros into the grass, got off, and continued further on foot.
By then the moon had risen higher. To avoid being seen they crept through the grass. Soon they noticed that others were hiding there ahead of them. Gary moved forward, grabbed someone by surprise, and, a hand over his captive's mouth, brought the person to the rest of the group.
It was not a soldier. In fact, it was someone Misty recognized.
"Ssh, it's OK," she said. "It's me, Misty."
The fellow gave a sigh of relief.
"We're ready, Princess. We don't think they've noticed us."
"Good," said Brock. "Pewter will attack soon, give you weapons and further instructions on taking the palace."
"What about the monsters?" the man asked.
"Pewter will help you with their own monsters."
They heard a roar above their heads. They looked up and saw Charizard circling over them.
"Ah! It must be one of the king's monsters!" said the man.
"It was, until Ash freed it," said Misty.
"Yeah, but it's going to attract attention," said Gary.
"It's probably after me," said Ash. "You guys move ahead. I'll get back to the road."
"Be careful," said Misty.
The group followed Ash's suggestion. Ash made his way to the road, where Charizard landed and turned the side of its face towards him
"Charizard, you want a pat? Now?"
It nodded. Ash gave it a pat. Meanwhile, as Gary had predicted, soldiers were approaching.
"Halt! Who are you?" yelled one of the soldiers.
Charizard held them back with a burst of fire. It lowered its wing and gestured with its head.
Ash scratched his head. What did it want?
It grunted, and nudged its shoulder towards Ash.
A feeling of trepidation found its way into his stomach as it dawned on him what Charizard was asking. "You want me... to get on your back?"
"Quick! Get the squirtles!" Ash head a soldier say.
The monster nodded. Ash figured that it would divert attention away from the others.
"I bet I'll regret this," he said, and got on.
Charizard lurched forward. Ash gripped its neck for dear life. He felt rhythm of the wings beating up and down as he rose into the air. At first he felt a surge of fear. But the power of the wings, the rush of wind against his face, the knowledge that he was doing what no-one in the Valley had done before—fear turned to awe, which turned to nothing short of exhilaration.
He felt warmth beneath his hands as a burst of flame rose through Charizard's throat. The soldiers scattered.
Two men came with spears. One hurled one into the air. Charizard dodged easily. Ash felt his stomach climb to his mouth as the monster swooped and flamed the men again.
None of the soldiers were getting seriously hurt. It seemed Charizard was just toying with them. And it wanted Ash to join in the fun—and it was working! He had never felt such freedom in his entire young peasant life.
Suddenly things got serious. A sting on his left shoulder almost made him lose his grip. Charizard screamed a roar of pain. The sting was followed by freezing cold as the air rushed past. Another burst of something flew past on their right. Another caught his right foot.
Charizard swooped again. Below them, squirtles were shooting them with water. Charizard was planning to take them on. Ash had a more practical idea.
"No!" he shouted, and momentarily let go with his arm to point towards Mt Moon.
Charizard grunted, left the squirtles behind and headed over the soldiers' heads towards the tunnel. If he let Pewter know what was going on, he was sure they could use the information.
"Can you help me get to the tunnel?"
Charizard swooped low towards the guards posted near the entrance. The men fell to their faces. Charizard turned around and returned towards them, this time firing bursts of flame. The men scrambled away as fast as they could. Ash was amazed at the monster's intelligence.
Charizard landed in front of the entrance and let Ash down. He gave it a pat and entered the tunnel. Apparently tired after the fun and games, it curled itself up into a sleeping position. Some of the Cerulean soldiers approached cautiously. Charizard opened an eyelid. They withdrew in fear.
A lamp had been placed at the entrance to the tunnel. It illuminated some of the way in. Ash moved past a bend. It was very dim. Soon he came to a second bend. He could see nothing ahead. So much for his plan.
He heard a noise. Immediately he felt someone grab hold of him. Ash tried to resist, but a second assailant came upon him and together they tackled him to the ground. They grabbed an arm each and dragged him away.
