All my writing sounds introspective. Grr…
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 2
“Team Rocket!” Ash gasped.
“None other, twerp.” A woman with long violet hair said, barking into a megaphone. “Now hand over your pokemon, and you won’t get hurt!”
“Never!” Ash said bravely. Skitty growled, standing in front of him protectively.
The woman burst out laughing, releasing an Arbok. Skitty shivered, before a Glare attack paralyzed her.
Ash gaped, before the Arbok turned its attentions onto him. A moment later, he was another statue. There was nothing he could do but watch, frozen, as Team Rocket attacked the rest of the trainers, taking their pokemon away.
By the time the Coast Guard showed up three hours later, it was too late.
The Officer Jenny that took his description of Skittle was sympathetic, while Naomi wailed. Her Starly and Bidoof had also been taken.
The captain of the S.S. Anne was most apologetic, but even the wad of pokeyen bills that were hastily stuffed into his hands before he disembarked in Houen was little comfort.
He wanted Skittle back!
His father was waiting at the Slateport harbor.
“Hey, Ash! Over here!”
Ash waved back, but Jacques Ketchum was startled to notice tear tracks on his son’s face. What was wrong?
“Ash?” He asked.
“Skittle’s gone…” Ash sobbed. His father patted him on the back awkwardly, not sure what to say.
Finally, he settled for taking Ash to the seaside house and buying him a Soda Pop. Between gulps and sniffles, Ash managed to get the story out.
Jacques was angry, but what could he do? Team Rocket was more than a pest – they were a menace to society as a whole!
There was no chance Ash would ever see Skittle again…
Ash was angry. It was hard to fall asleep that night – he tossed and turned for hours, even though the bed was soft and his stuffed poke dolls were lined up nicely in a row on his desk for comfort.
Team Rocket was evil!
How could they take Skittle away?
He wanted her back…
“Oh no!” Delia said.
Jacques nodded solemnly, gazing at his wife through the videophone. “Yes. I can’t believe they even infiltrated the S.S. Anne…”
“Poor Ash and Skittle…”
“Honey, I’m worried. Won’t you come to Houen? It can’t be safe if you stay in Kanto…” Jacques pleaded.
“I… I will think about it.” Delia promised, and Jacques said no more.
He did not want to think about the other possibility.
The next morning, Jacques found Ash busy packing his traveling bag.
“Ash, breakfast is ready.” He said. “We have bagels and raisin toast.” Ash nodded absentmindedly, stuffing another pair of underwear into the bulging receptacle.
“I’ll be down in a minute.” Ash said.
Jacques nodded. Moments later, Ash came downstairs, dressed for traveling. Jacques said nothing as he poured himself another cup of coffee. He’d have to leave for work soon.
Ash ate quickly, slathering cream cheese on a bagel and washing it down with milk. He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, before he stood.
“Dad, I’m leaving.”
“Journeying, you mean?”
Ash nodded. “I’m going to become stronger. And then I’m going to fight Team Rocket and get Skittle back!”
“Ash…” Jacques sighed. “It would be best if you gave up on Skittle.”
“What?”
“Team Rocket is too big of a problem for you to handle alone.” He said placating. “Besides, you don’t have any pokemon at the moment.”
Ash scowled, but he had to admit the validity of his father’s words.
“I know it’s hard for you to accept, Ash, but this is the reality of the situation. It will take years for you to become a good trainer. By that time, who knows? Maybe Team Rocket will no longer be a problem.”
“But I can’t just do nothing!” Ash burst out.
“Yes you can.” Jacques said sternly. “I’m your father, Ash. I know what’s best for you. You should finish up the semester at the Trainer’s school here in Rustboro. I’ll buy you a new pet, and then you can journey in the summer.”
That did not sound like a good plan to Ash, who wanted to rush off and fight Team Rocket right away, but he bit his lip and tried hard to listen to reason.
“Good boy.” Jacques said. He watched as Ash trudged upstairs, and then finished reading his newspaper. Half an hour later, he was off at work.
Ash held out for two weeks, but the stuff at the Trainer’s school was boring – he’d learned it all already, and he had nightmares at night about Skittle dying, so as soon as his father came home with a bright-eyed Marill one night, he was off.
Jacques
didn’t realize this for three days, because he had been sleeping in his office,
putting the final touches on the anti-theft poke ball. By the time he did
realize what had happened, Ash was gone, Roxanne had been defeated and Ash was
off training on
Jacques called Delia with the news, but she was hardly surprised, and said that Ash had to make his own mistakes to grow up, so he simply decided to wait and see, sure that soon enough, Ash would apologize and come home.
End Chapter
Completed 6/11/07
Ash: My Skitty! *Cries*
Phantomness: *Hides*
Lance: *shrugs* so, when do I enter this fic?
Phantomness: I’m not sure. I was thinking of having you two meeting at the Battle Frontier.