Part 3! Mwahahah!

Disclaimer: Shadow does not own pokemon. However, Shadow owns Destiny, Tempestwolfe, and any new pokemon/attacks that appear in this fic.

Notes: <> indicates telepathic communication, ** indicates thoughts/feelings, and italics indicates poke speech. Bold text is used for written or printed material, i.e., a letter.

Link Masters – thank you!

SS2 Megami-sama – don’t worry, in my fics it all turns out for the best

Dragi – ok! ^-^

Incomplete13 – I suppose I owe Gary…

Aragorn the Ranger – great!

Part 3: Static Illusion

Pikachu ran as fast as it could. It easily got through the barrier of electricity, climbed over the wall of ice, and swam through the wall of water that protected Ash’s home from the outside world. However, when it got to the wall of fire, it stopped.

How do I get past this? Ash never told me. Pikachu said softly. * What’s happened to him? He changed so much. Too much… I’m not sure I can live with him anymore. He’s grown up and I don’t know what to do. *

Easy. You just walk across. A voice said. Pikachu’s head snapped up. A Flareon lay on a rock near the flames. After all, if you’re Ash’s pokemon, the wall will sense your heightened energy and let you pass. You must be new.

I am. Pikachu admitted, albeit reluctantly.

I’m Jasper. The Flareon said. Just follow me and I’ll take you through.

Okay. Pikachu replied.

After Jasper let Pikachu through, he waved good-bye and settled back on his rock with a plate of poke food that one of Ash’s ‘motherly’ pokemon had sent. Sunny came to keep him company.

So, did anything exciting happen? Jasper asked.

Ash’s Pikachu decided it wanted to leave him. Sunny said. She sniffed the air. You let it across the first elemental barrier, right?

It wanted to leave?! Jasper asked in shock. Why?

I don’t know… it had some misguided notions about romance and other things. Plus, it wasn’t strong enough to handle the shock.

Something like this has never happened before. Jasper said. He didn’t know why any pokemon would willingly choose to leave Ash. It must have been insane!
I suppose you let it through the wall of fire?

I didn’t know it was a rebel. Jasper replied. He looked sheepish. * I hope Ash won’t get mad at me… *

It’s fine. Sunny reassured him. Ash wanted to let it go. But if it comes back with humans, don’t let them through!
Of course! Jasper said. Humans were never allowed into Ash’s sanctuary, unless he personally invited them.

Have fun guarding! Sunny said as she nuzzled him. Your shift will be over at the end of the month, right?

Right.

Do you want to go sightseeing with me, then?

Okay! Jasper replied. He and Sunny shook paws awkwardly. Then, Sunny returned to the cave. Jasper sighed with little heart eyes. * She gets prettier every time I see her… *

Ash looked at Sunny, amused. “So, are you and Jasper going to be a pair?”

< Maybe. He’s nice and I’ve known him for a while. > Sunny replied. < Plus, he’s ageless, like the rest of your Chosen pokemon, including me, so I won’t have to worry about him dying. But then, I love Jolteon. I’m not sure how to tell Jasper we’ll just be friends. >

“Well, I hope it works out for you.” Ash said.

< Oh, I’m sure it will. >

Pikachu ran through fields and forests, caves and deserts, grass and mud, before finally reaching Pallet Town after two weeks of tiring travel. It collapsed in front of Ash’s house.

“Mrs. Ketchum!” Brock called.

“What is it?” Delia came out of the kitchen, still wearing her pink apron. She gasped when she saw Pikachu lying on the porch. “I-is this Ash’s Pikachu?”

“I’m almost one hundred percent sure.” Brock replied. “But why is it here?”

“We’ll answer that question later.” Delia said. She quickly sprayed Pikachu with a dose of Hyper Potion and fed it some broth.

Pikachu stirred as it awakened.

“Where’s Ash?” Was the first question out of Delia’s mouth. Pikachu frantically waved its little arms and tried to communicate with a chorus of ‘Pi’s’, but to no avail.

Brock frowned. “I can’t tell what it’s saying. Maybe we should ask Professor Oak.”

“Yes, I think that would be a wise choice.” Delia said. She took Pikachu and walked over to Professor Oak’s house.

“By the way, where’s Misty?”

“You only noticed her absence now?” Brock asked. “Misty went back to Cerulean four days ago.”

“Well, I asked because misty might know what pikachu is trying to say.”

“Oh. I’ll give her a call.” Brock promised.

Gary looked up as the doorbell rang. “Coming!” He ran out into the hallway and let the guests in.

“Hi, Gary. We need to talk to the professor.” Brock said. “Can you get him for us?”

Gary frowned. “Grandpa’s out on the reserve. One of the Raticates is in labor and he’s making sure that everything goes smoothly. Say, isn’t that Ash’s pikachu?”

“That’s what we wanted to ask about.”

“Hmm…” Gary narrowed his eyes. “I know, I’ll have Eevee talk to pikachu and tell me. How about that?”

“We don’t’ really have another choice.” Brock said.

“Anything to find Ash.” Delia sniffled as she wept into another handkerchief.

Eevee and Pikachu talked for half an hour before Eevee started telling Gary what had happened. Gary nodded and wrote it all down on a piece of paper he just happened to have.

“So, where is Ash?” Misty asked. She had arrived on a rented Pidgeot and was waiting impatiently for Gary to finish.

“Chill, Misty.” Gary said as he finished writing. “Okay. Apparently, Ash is living in a cave in Johto. Pikachu wasn’t very specific.”

“Then it’ll be impossible to find him!” Misty exploded.

Gary dived underneath the table, not very willing to face the wrath of an irate female with a mallet.

“Pikachu? Will you take us there?” Brock asked.

Pikachu hesitated. I’m not sure…

It’s not sure. Eevee told Gary, who stuck his head out and told the others.

“What do you mean? Didn’t Ash take you there?!”

Misty ranted for a good ten minutes, before she finally reached a decision. “I just had an idea. Why don’t we have Gary use his Arcanine to sniff out its trail?”

Gary gulped as all eyes fastened on him. “A-are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Don’t you want to find Ash?” Misty asked. Lowering her voice, she leaned in closer. “I’d make you very happy, you know.”

Gary felt like he was drowning in a Cerulean ocean as she locked eyes with him. “O-okay…”

“Tsk, tsk.” Ash said. The mirror he was standing in front of went blank. “Gary, Gary. You have to learn to deal with these things. So Pikachu is leading them here. Very well then, I must prepare a suitable reception.”

< I knew it couldn’t be trusted. > Sunny spat.

“Sunny, why do you think I bugged her?” Ash asked as he stroked his lightning eevee’s fur. “My suspicions were just confirmed.”

< I suppose you have a plan, then.>

“Of course.” Ash said. “You learn about these things as time progresses. I have experience with this, though.”

< You mean the Crysta episode. And Drake, and… >

“Precisely, Sunny. I trust you can warn the others?”

Sunny nodded and trotted off.

“Where are we? We’ve been traveling for almost four days!” Misty whined.

“Calm down, Misty.” Brock said.

Gary nodded. “Worrying about what’s going to happen won’t help.” He idly wondered how he had managed to get himself talked into this. * Because Misty asked you to help! * His brain said.

Gary winced. * I didn’t need to know. I really didn’t. Mew; help me! *

“I hope Ash is really out here.” Brock said.

Pikachu chirped and hurried on ahead.

“Well, at least we’re riding this time. It’s a lot faster.” Gary said, attempting to lighten the mood. All three trainers were perched atop rented Doduos.

“But I’m tired!” Misty said.

“Well, how did you cope with traveling on foot?”

Suddenly, Pikachu stopped and pointed to a mountain that loomed in front of them.

“Is that it?” Misty asked.

Pikachu nodded. Yes, this is Mount Silver.

Are you sure this is safe? One of the doduos asked.

Don’t worry! Ash won’t hurt us! I promise!

They didn’t know how very wrong they were… perhaps not in the intended way, but still…

End part 3! Yes, I know it’s a cliffhanger. Review and I’ll update! *hint, hint*

Completed 2/28/04