Hey! ^_^

Disclaimer: I own the plotbunny and new stuff. Nintendo owns pokemon. I’m not taking their copyright nor am I making money. So there.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics in case a pokemon talks.

Timeline: 2 weeks later

Chapter 2: Actually getting out of Pallet Town

“Aneki, why do you have to go?” Ash asked, sounding slightly whiny.

“I’ve got to head back to Houen.” Charlotte replied, straightening her cuffs. “But don’t worry. You’ll do fine! You’ve done great training in these two weeks.”

Ash nodded. “But now I’m way behind Gary…”

“Oh, don’t say that.” Charlotte said, ruffling his hair. “It’ll pay off in the end.”

“Really?”

“You don’t have enough self-confidence. Believe in your pokemon, and they will come through for you.” Charlotte replied. “Take care.”

She released her Pidgeot and took off.

“Bye, Aneki!” Ash called, waving. “Have fun!”

“You too, little brother!”

“Well, let’s go!” Ash said, grabbing his dark blue backpack and buckling on his poke belt.

< I’m ready. > Natu sent from his shoulder.

< Me too. > Sneasal said from the other shoulder.

Cyndaquil was asleep on Ash’s bed, so Ash recalled him and waved goodbye to his mom.

Delia sobbed and cried for a few minutes, but soon recovered and saw him off.

As Ash walked along, battling the various Rattatas, he idly wondered what would happen. It was a good three and three quarters hours before they stopped for a rest by a river.

“That was great exercise, wasn’t it?” Ash asked.

Nods came from two of the pokemon; Cyndaquil was napping again.

Natu flew over to a tree and began eating some sprouts, while Sneasal dived in the water to fish.

This cycle continued for a few days, until Ash was nearing the Viridian City. He was fishing quietly when a loud screech caught his attention.

“HELP!”

There was a carrot-haired girl in some sort of trainer’s outfit being dragged into the water by a fishing rod.

“Just let go of the rod!” Ash called.

“No! I finally caught something big!” She replied. “I’m hauling it in!”

“Well, you can’t do it on your own.” Ash said. “I know! Natu! Use Peck!”

Natu nodded and pecked at the shadowy thing.

“Do you know what it is?”

< No. >

< Aw, just give it another Peck. We’ll let her deal with this herself. > Ash said.

Natu laughed and then flew back to Ash.

“Hey!” The girl complained. As she glared at Ash, she lost her concentration and the pole went flying, dragging her into the water with a muddy Splash.

Ash laughed as he gave Natu a hug. “You didn’t want my help anyways…”

An hour later, Misty finally made it to shore. She ground her teeth when she realized that he was gone.

“Grr….”

“Viridian City up ahead!” Ash cheered as he ran towards the pokemon center. “Yippee!”

Natu and Sneasal bounded and flew after him.

Ash quickly healed his three pokemon at the center before they all went out to the local McDonald’s and ate a stuffing meal.

Natu fell asleep on his shoulder. She looked like a little fluff ball, curled up against his face. Sneasal yawned and headed off to sleep soon as well. Cyndaquil was already fast in dreamland.

Ash changed into his pikachu-print pajamas and fell asleep. The viridian forest was up next, and he really didn’t want to deal with the problem.

Unfortunately, Viridian had to be breached before he could reach Pewter. Unless…

Ash screwed up his eyes and pondered. “Wonder if I could teleport there?”

< Why not? > Natu asked.

< Let’s try it. > Ash replied.

They both focused, and found themselves on the roof of a pokemon center. Unfortunately, it didn’t look like Pewter.

“We’re in Celadon!” Ash said, surprised.

< Bizarre. >

< Well, I’m going to go see cousin Erika then! > Ash said, skipping off to the gym. Unfortunately, he found his way blocked by two junior trainers who demanded to know if he liked perfume or not.

“I’m a guy…” Ash said. * What’s going on? *

“Then you can’t enter!” The girl said, throwing him out!

“… What?”

“Hold on! What’s going on here?” Erika demanded, hearing the commotion. She spotted Ash clinging to the lintel of the door.

“Let him go, that’s my cousin there.” Erika said.

“Oops.” A junior trainer said sheepishly.

Erika narrowed her eyes. “I don’t recognize you…”

“We are team rocket!” Both shouted, throwing off their disguises.

“Sneasal, Icy Wind!” Ash said immediately, freezing them both to the ground. “So that’s why there are rockets wandering around the town and nobody’s gotten a Rainbow Badge in months.”

“Urk.” One said.

“Voltorb, go!” Shouted the other.

“Sneasal, contain it with Ice Punch so it can’t use Explosion.” Ash called, while Erika released Vileplume.

“Sleep powder!”

Zzzzz…..

“I’m sorry about that, Ash.” Erika said later when they were having green tea together in a spare room of the gym.

“Not a problem, but what’s going on in Celadon? Has TR really taken over?” Ash asked.

Erika scowled. “Afraid so. They ringed the area with fire-types.”

“Ouch…” Ash frowned. “And did the government help?”

Erika snorted. “Those idiotic bureaucrats are still debating. And here, our City is overrun and Saffron is their next target. I’ve even heard about them taking Silph.”

Clenching his teeth, Ash nodded. “I’ll try to help, Erika.”

“I know you will, but you’re only one trainer Ash.”

“I’m going to call for help.” Ash said, picking up his cell phone and dialing the number on Charlotte’s pokégear.

Charlotte blinked in confusion at the numbers flashing on her wrist device. “Hi.”

“Aneki!”

“Oh, hi Ash! How are you doing?”

“Um, pretty good, but Celadon’s in trouble.”

“… What?”

“I’ll explain later, could you fly here?”

“Say no more.” The girl said. “Pidgeot, let’s Fly!”

Three hours later, she had arrived and the trio was discussing plans.

“All I have is a Mantine.” Charlotte said apologetically. “I don’t think it’ll be much good…”

Ash frowned. “There has to be another way.”

“There is.” Charlotte said, sounding pained, “But it would be very painful.”

Ash’s eyes glowed with the sparkle of hope. “There is?”

Charlotte pulled out a vial of faintly glowing silver potion. “You’d have to take this, Ash. It’s a sort of understanding.”

Erika looked puzzled. “That helps?”

“Memories are powerful things, Erika.” Charlotte said. She tilted the flask, watching the interplay of lights. “Will you take it?”

Ash nodded. He knew his own sister wouldn’t poison him, and he wanted to help Erika. Help her and her city.

He lifted the container to his lips and drank.

End Chapter! Definitely a cliffhanger.

Created 10/24/03, completed 2/6/04