Part 4!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo, Game FREAK, 4Kids, etc. Destiny, Tempestwolfe, and others belong to me!

Notes: <> indicates telepathy, ** indicates thoughts, italics indicates poke speech. Oh, and Ash has changed his appearance back to normal.

Incomplete13 – I didn’t say Ash would kill them every time, did I?

Dragi – thanks!

Anime/tcgfan – k

SS2 Megami-sama – I feel the same way

SilverLeaf – All right

Air Sylph – as you will. ^-^

Part 4: In which Ash is finally located

“I’m getting scared.” Gary confessed as they cautiously tread into the cave entrance. Misty snickered softly to herself. Gary frowned.

“You know, you don’t know Ash as well as I did.” Gary said. “And Ash never gives up. If he really wants to be left alone, he’ll do anything.”
“Gary, I think you’re just scared.” Misty said.

Gary shrugged. “Better safe than sorry.”

Brock wondered where the arrogant trainer they had seen in the Viridian city gym had gone. * What’s going on? Was he really Ash’s friend? Did Ash’s leaving change him so much? *

Pikachu chirped and ran along.

Jasper yawned. Then, he suddenly sniffed the air. < Sunny, there are people coming this way! >

< I know. > Sunny replied. < All elemental barriers up! Master’s orders! > Jasper nodded and tapped in the code for the fire spell to activate. Immediately, a barrier of shining flame appeared in a previously empty corridor.

At the second station, Squirtle and Bulbasaur tapped in their code for the wall of water to appear. The second barrier also went up. Bulbasaur walked through it twice, just to make sure it was working.

< Station two is set and ready! > Squirtle said.

< It will still let us through, though. > Bulbasaur told Sunny.

Sunny nodded to herself from her position by Ash’s control center. < Station three, are you there? >

At the ice barrier, the sleeping Vaporeon woke up as the telepathic query registered in her mind. < This is station three. How may I help you? >

< Vaporeon! This is no time to take a nap! Where’s your partner? >

< Oh, Lapras is eating. >

< I can’t believe this! We’re under attack, girl! Put up the third barrier! >

That woke Vaporeon up in a jiffy. < You’re not kidding, are you? >

< Would I joke about something like this? > Sunny shouted.

Vaporeon shook her head and typed in the code to activate the third barrier of ice. In a few seconds, the wall sprang up, protecting them from the outside gaze. Lapras landed next to her.

< Sorry I’m late! >

< Station three is up. > Vaporeon told Sunny. Sunny nodded and turned to Ash.

< Well? Do we need station four as well? >

“Hmm… considering the fact that they probably won’t get through the first barrier, I don’t think we need one yet.”

< Doesn’t Misty have water pokemon though? >

“I don’t think she’ll be able to use them.” Ash said with an evil smile.

“AAHHHHHH! It’s a bug!” Misty shrieked.

Gary blinked. Sure, there was a Caterpie in their path, but…

“Misty, are you feeling all right?”

“Kill it! Kill it! I hate bugs!” Misty shouted. She pulled out her mallet and began chasing it around. The Caterpie blinked. Suddenly, it shot out some silk thread and tripped Misty, so she landed flat on her face.

“Why, it’s purple.” Brock said in amazement. He was completely oblivious to the fact that misty was now tied up and Gary had run for it.

While Misty was otherwise occupied, Sneasal snuck over and easily picked her pockets, making off with her poke balls.

“See?”

< Ah. Using her phobia against her. > Sunny said.

Ash nodded as he sat down at his control center. “Why waste energy if you don’t have to?”

< What about the barriers, then? >

“Well, Brock is still able to attack.” Ash said calmly.

Brock managed to free Misty with Vulpix’s help. Then, the two of them continued. After a while, they hit the first barrier.

Pikachu stared at the leaping flames. What did that Flareon say again? That only Ash’s pokemon could cross?

“Huh? What did you say, Pikachu?”

I think that only Ash’s pokemon can cross this barrier without getting burned.

Misty shrugged and reached for Staryu’s poke ball. “That’s okay, go- hey! Where are my poke balls?!”

Brock blinked. Slowly. “Misty? Where did your poke belt go?”

“Great job, Night.” Ash said to his Sneasal. “Thanks. Now what should I do with her pokemon? Maybe I can release them into the wild.”
It might be a good idea. But you know, pokemon grow… attached to their trainer as time progresses.

Sunny shrugged. < I guess that solves that problem. >

“Not exactly. Watch.” Ash said as the mirror cleared and showed them what was going on outside.

“Onix, use Dig!” Brock said. The Onix obligingly dug a hole underneath the first barrier. Jasper looked shocked as they materialized on the other side.

“PIKACHU!” Pikachu shouted as it unleashed ten thousand volts of thunder on the poor defenseless Flareon.

Jasper fainted. Pikachu smirked and the group continued on their way.

“See?”

< Oh dear. > Sunny said. < This is more serious than I thought. >

“Don’t worry.” Ash said. A bubble of white light formed in his hands and flew through the mirror. Jasper stirred and woke up.

< Shh… > Ash said in telepathy. < I want you to stand guard in case they try to leave. >
Jasper nodded and took his position on the rock again.

“Well, the second one’s easy. We’ll just swim through it.” Misty said confidently.

Brock winced. He hated swimming. But it was for a good cause… so he changed into his swim trunks, packed everything else in his backpack, and dived in. Misty followed, accompanied by Pikachu.

Bulbasaur and Squirtle were waiting. Bulbasaur started off with Razor Leaf, sending Misty and Brock running deeper into the cave with shallow cuts on their arms and legs.

Pikachu growled. Let me through!

We are. We’re just not letting any humans in unscathed. Squirtle replied.

Right! Pikachu, I hate to say it, but you don’t deserve to be one of Ash’s pokemon. Bulbasaur said as her bulb glowed brightly and she charged for Solarbeam.

Pikachu ran. Bulbasaur and Squirtle shrugged and began walking slowly towards the hidden palace.

Misty and Brock were climbing over the ice wall when Bulbasaur and Squirtle caught up with them.

“Pikachu, do something!”

Pikachu sighed as its cheeks sparked. * I hate to do this, but they deserve it. * It let off a grand thunder, which would have K.O.’d Squirtle, but Bulbasaur bravely jumped in front of him and received the brunt of the attack.

Squirtle’s eyes widened. You hurt Bulbasaur! He shouted. His eyes began to glow bright red as icicle shards gathered around him.

“That doesn’t look good.” Brock muttered.

BLIZZARD! Squirtle shrieked as he unleashed the devastating ice-type attack.

“Aw, crap! Vulpix, use Flamethrower!” Brock shouted desperately. Vulpix managed to vaporize most of Squirtle’s attack, but a few ice shards still slammed into Misty and Brock. Pikachu quickly zapped Squirtle and they hurried over the third barrier. The battered team continued on into the cave.

< I really think we should put station four up. > Sunny told Ash.

Ash nodded. < This is Ash. Station four, activate now. >
Pika and Star nodded as they both pushed the lever into position, lowering the electric fence.

< We’re ready! >

< Are you sure this will work though? > Star asked. < I mean, if they have rock pokemon, it’s going to be very easy to enter, right? >

< Only if they know how to deactivate the spell. > Ash reassured the pokemon.

< Okay. >

Twenty minutes later…

“How do we get past this?” Misty asked in disbelief. “Ash is really trying to keep us out, isn’t he?”

Yes, I think so. Pikachu said in a small voice.

“Can’t you get across and shut this down?” Misty queried.

Pikachu looked nervous. I-I can try…

“Don’t worry, you can do it!” Misty said cheerfully as she boosted Pikachu up. Pikachu quickly began climbing up the barrier, when she suddenly fell through.

Pika and Star were ready. Star transformed into Jolteon, while Pika hopped on her back and they both prepared to attack Pikachu.

Traitor! Pika shouted as his cheeks sparked in a sinister way. I can’t believe you showed humans the way to this secret sanctuary!

You’re not getting any farther! Star added.

Pikachu looked panicked. I don’t want to fight!

Liar!

Why should we trust you?

Pikachu winced. But Ash’s friends miss him so much!
I don’t believe you. Star said as her fur stood on end.

Pikachu had no choice. She charged up all her remaining energy into a Thunder attack and zapped both of them. Then, she found the switch that turned off the fence. Once Misty and Brock were through, the trio continued on their way.

After about ten minutes, they reached a set of doors. As soon as they touched them, the doors swung inward, revealing Ash in his new clothes with Sunny and Tempestwolfe by his side.

Ash smiled, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “Welcome.”

End part 4!

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