Disclaimer: I really wish I owned pokemon…

Timeline: 5 weeks later. There is a lot of deviation from the storyline.

Aragorn the Ranger – thank you!

Xaero – heh, didn’t think of it. ^_^

Crimson Hawk – hai!

Takuya – I know, I know

DarkCatXX – I’ll take it as a compliment. ^_^

Eevee Master – good story idea, may use as plotbunny for a different fic. However, I already have this plot mapped out. Plus Ash n’ Misty already fought in the last chapter, remember? And there’s a reason Dratini can’t evolve… As for your wish, let’s just say I’d be happy to grant it! ^_^

Clara200 – thank you!

Caspian Raider – really? That prophecy took weeks to get right… ^_^

Episode 2: Suspicions and Resolutions

The group was walking along a path, when a Hiker challenged Ash. Ash accepted. However, the pokemon he sent out was the one nobody expected. (That is, except the intelligent readers, *wink*)

“Crystal, let’s go!”

“Ash! Are you insane!?”

Ash smiled. * I’ve been training with Crystal every night. But they don’t know that. *

Dratini popped out and landed in front of the Rhyhorn.

“Ha! That little thing? Rhyhorn, use Tackle!”

Dratini’s horn glowed blue. A bubblebeam attacked smashed into Rhyhorn, sending it flying.

“WHAT?!”
Ash smiled. “Great job, Crystal!”

Dratini wrapped herself around his leg and smiled cutely.

Wow! Pikachu said. For a baby pokemon, you’re really powerful.

I know. Dratini said mysteriously.

Misty and Brock spent a few minutes collecting dust with their mouths.

“What is it?” Ash asked.

“Ash… what level is Dratini?”

Ash shrugged. “I don’t know.” He picked Dratini up, and she snuggled into his chest. “But she’s so cute!”
The two others nodded and looked a bit worried.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Ash said. “Let’s head to Cinnabar Island so I can get the Volcano badge.”

Misty and Brock sighed and followed him.

“Brock, don’t you think that something is wrong?”

“What do you mean?” Brock asked. Ash had run off ahead, but they could still see him on the road.

“That Dratini…”
Brock sighed. “Are you still upset over it?”

“No. That’s not it. Look at what color it is, Brock. Silver! Have you ever seen a silver Dratini?”

“I haven’t even seen a normal Dratini since the Safari Zone.” Brock said.

“And it has blue eyes!”

“So what are you worried about?”

“I’m afraid that the Dratini is dangerous. Think about it. I bet it escaped from Team Rocket.”

“Maybe…” Brock said, putting a hand under his chin in thought.

“Come on, its just a few weeks old, and that powerful already.”

“Well…”

“Would a normal pokemon be that strong? Think about it, Brock! This is just not right!”

Brock paused. “You do have somewhat of a point there…”

“And last night…”

Brock looked up. “What?”

“I woke up because I had a nightmare. It was about three A.M. or so. Ash’s sleeping bag was empty. I heard some sound coming from deeper in the woods, so I went to look…”

“And?”

“He was training his Dratini. But he was also training himself. They were doing exercises and it was talking!”

“Dratini was talking?”

“In English!”

Brock shook his head in disbelief. “You’re pulling my leg.”

“I’m serious!”

“Fine, I’ll wake up tonight and take a look.” Brock said finally. “Maybe it is a rocket pokemon… and Ash might be too naïve to figure that out… he might be in danger…”

Ash was sitting by the road and feeding Dratini more milk when Team rocket showed up.

“Prepare for Trouble!”

“And make it double!”

“To protect the world from devastation!”

“To unite all peoples within our nation!”

“To denounce the evils of truth and love!”

“To extend our reach to the stars above!”

“Jessie!”

“James!”

“Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!”

“Surrender now or prepare to fight!”

“Meowth, that’s right!”

Dratini suddenly reared up angrily, creating a white whirlwind of energy, which she flung at Team Rocket.

“Twister?” Ash asked, shocked.

“Meowth!” Meowth said, “A Dratini!”

Unfortunately, he didn’t get to say much more, because the wind flung them into the sky.

“LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET’S BLASTING OFF MUCH TOO SOON!”

*Ping*

Ash hugged Dratini to his chest. “Are you all right, Crystal? They didn’t hurt you, right?”

Crystal shook her head.

“Good.” Ash said. He finished feeding the rest of the milk to Crystal, before he got up. “What’s taking the others so long anyways?”

Shrugs were his answer.

Pikachu looked at Ash and Dratini. * What’s going on? *

“Ash!” Misty said, running over. “Can I hold her for a second?” * Time to prove my suspicions correct… this has to be a rocket pokemon! I just need to get it through Ash’s thick head! *

Ash blinked, but handed Crystal to Misty. Misty immediately plunged a needle into Dratini’s stomach.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” Ash demanded, as Dratini began turning even paler and went limp.

“Dra…tini…” Crystal said weakly.

“Hah. That was liquid ice. Now tell me. Are you from Team Rocket?”

(A/N: No, liquid ice is not water in this case. Special chemical)

Ash scooped up the injured Dratini to his chest. “You’re trying to kill my pokemon and now you ask if she’s from Team rocket?!”

“She can talk! That’s not normal! And no normal pokemon would know such powerful attacks so early in its evolutionary stage! Can’t you see that you’re in danger, you idiot?!”

Ash froze. “How did you know Crystal could talk?”

“I’m not stupid like you, Ash. If you’d been smarter, you would have given her to me. I’d be able to control her.”

“I’m not being controlled by Dratini!”

“That’s what you think.”

“I can’t believe this!” Ash said. He pulled out a poke ball. “Pidgeotto, go! Fly!”

Ash climbed onto Pidgeotto’s back. “We have to get to the pokemon center as soon as possible! Crystal’s hurt!”

Pikachu scampered on after him. Pidgeotto spread her wings and took off.

Ash held Dratini tightly. * I won’t let you die! How dare they do this to an innocent pokemon! Crystal never hurt them! *

End Episode 2!

Completed 10/6/03

Me had lots of fun writing this… ^_^