Well, I needed some way for Lance to come back, soc Team Rocket got lucky!

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 5

 

            Giovanni was terribly shocked – and terribly pleased – when Jessie and James returned with not only the Pikachu they had spent at least three years chasing, but also a good haul of Houen pokémon besides. He was more than happy to give them their paychecks now, but Meowth was quite put out when Persian remained top cat.

            Perhaps they were getting their touch back?

           

            gSo youfre saying that they just glued you with some strange substance before running off with your poke balls?h Lance asked. Similar nods of assent came from all the trainers as the Dragon Master sighed.

            Ash flushed, as he watched the other trainers speaking to Lance. He wasnft jealous, he justc felt bad.

            What if Team Rocket had attacked the Space Center just because they wanted Pikachu?

            Hadnft something similar happened back in Kanto while he was at Kogafs gym? Luckily, Psyduck had foiled Team Rocketfs attempt there, butc

 

            gAsh.h

            gY-Yes?h He asked, snapping back as he noticed that most of the other trainers had left. Lance approached him, followed by a Jynx.

            gDisable.h

            In an instant, the glue dried and flaked off. Jynx crossed her arms and said something in telepathy that made Lance grin.

            gWell, wefd better hurry.h

            gWhat? Why?h Ash asked, blinking.

            gYou want your pokemon back, donft you?h

            gOf course, but-!h

            gNo buts. Jynx will take us to where Pikachu is, but youfll need to concentrate on all your memories of Pikachu. Can you do that?h

            gI think so.h Ash said hesitantly, and Lance nodded.

            gIt would have been useful if someonefs pokemon had seen the culprits and been left behind, but no matterch

            gMm?h

            gDonft you mind my ramblings, Ash! Can you see Pikachu in your mind now?h

            gYes!h Ash said, surprised.

            gGood. Wefre going in.h

 

            They teleported in a flash, and Ash gasped as he saw Pikachu lying on a shelf in a room full of poke balls. Lance tsked, before he nodded to Jynx, who blasted the security cameras with an Ice Beam.

            gWefll have to hurry.h Lance said, and Ash hurried to obey, as they grabbed the sacks that Team Rocket had used to transport the stolen pokemon with. Pikachu was stuffed into his backpack quickly, but a moment later, the doors slid open.

            Jessie and James stood there.

            gHow dare you try and stop us! Cacnea, use Pin Missile!h

            gSeviper, use a Wrap Attack to stop them!h Jessie added.

            Jynx laughed, before waving her hands in the air. On her fingertips two little statues of ice formed, and both Jessie and James fell to the ground, ice cuffs locked around their wrists and ankles. Cacnea and Seviper followed, though they were already frozen solid.

            Blizzard?

 

            gAre you done yet?h

            Ash shook his head, still busily stuffing poke balls into sacks.

            gWe donft have much time left.h Lance warned. gJynx, prepare a teleport.h

            Jynx nodded, and a moment later, more Rocket guards burst in. Lance released Gyarados and the whole corridor warped and flooded as Dragon Rage was unleashed.

            gWe have no more time! Letfs go!h

            And then everything fuzzed out and when Ash dared to look again, they were back in front of the Mossdeep Space Center.

 

            Of course, the people were very happy to get their pokémon back, but what about the others? What about the other stolen pokémon Team Rocket had been keeping in that room? And why had they not bothered to stop anyone from teleporting in?

            Those questions could be pondered later. For now, Morty and Sabrina were summoned from Johto and Kanto, to look through the rest and determine which pokémon belonged to whom.

            It was a very efficient process, though for many of the pokémon, their trainers were found dead or missing, and they had to be released into the wild.

 

            Lance came up to him the next day, since Morty and Sabrina were still sorting – they didnft have much time, so they only did a few before they went to bed, Liza and Tate allowed them to stay in the Mossdeep gym, as fellow Gym Leaders – and now they were still working hard.

            Somehow, he wondered why the – well, Morty and Sabrina were Gym Leaders and not Elite Four, but they looked a little different, Sabrinafs hair was a different color form what he remembered, darker, and her eyes were pretty lavender, lighter than dark purple but maybe it was just the creepy lighting inside of Saffron City Gym.

            Morty just looked more awake.

 

            gAsh?h

            gHmm?h Ash asked, frowning. He didnft have any pokémon that Team Rocket had stolen, and hefd already gotten them back, right?

            gc Would you be happen to be related to a Cypress Ketchum?h

            That caught his attention. gYou mean you have his pokémon?h

            gHefs your father, right?h

            Ash nodded. gYes.h

            gWell, we have his pokémon and-.h

            gIs he missing?h Ash asked anxiously. gI mean, he hasnft been home in years, and mom really misses him, soch

            Sabrina walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. < We did not wish to break this news to you, Ash. But hefs dead. >

            Dead?

            His father was dead?

            For a moment, he just sat there, stunned, and then the tears came. He buried his face in Lancefs chest, while the Champion looked uncomfortable, and Sabrina left them alone while she went back to sorting.

            c Deadc

 

End Chapter

Completed 8/22/06

Yes, I think Ashfs father is dead! Why else would he never come home? Or maybe he hates Ash or somethingc