Chapter 2 "So, where's Gary's gym?" Ash asked Misty and Brock. Suddenly, Ash had a case of the deja vuu again. "Haven't we gone through this before?" "You're not seriously thinking about going for a badge against Gary!" Misty exclaimed. The small group of three stopped walking. "Why not?" Ash asked perturbed. "I haven't been in a gym since I left! I want to earn a badge. They don't have gyms on the other world you know." Misty and Brock just looked at each other in a sidelong glance. "Is something the matter?" "Well, Ash.." Misty began to say. "Things have changed. Now, we have gyms rated to the trainer levels. The level you're at, will allow you to go into a gym." "So?" Ash asked getting impatient. "It's rated from one to five, five being the stronger trainers and one being the weakest." Brock added. "I still don't see what that has to do with me." Ash growled. Misty and Brock sighed and continued. "Gary runs a level five gym. You won't be able to get in to battle him." Misty said with certainty. Ash went three shades of red. "What do you mean?! I'm Ash-kephm!" Brock put a hand over Ash's mouth to silence him. Ash was still furious when he finally removed his hand. "You know that and we know that. We don't want the rest of the world to know that!" Brock said as he uncovered his mouth. "So no more of these tantrums! We don't even know if you're allowed to battle normal people now." "What? Why?" Ash asked curious. "It wouldn't be fair to the person your battling! All you would have to do in order to win a match would be to order the other persons pokemon to give up." Misty cut in. Ash stopped for a moment, he never thought about it that way. "Well, this is just perfect! Now what do I do? If I can't be a pokemon trainer what am I supposed to do?" Ash growled. Misty and Brock hadn't thought of that either. The silence lasted for all of three seconds. "Well I'll be-Is that you?" Ash turned around to see the voice addressing him was in a vehicle. "Ash?" The person asked in a curious tone. Gary looked at the man with Misty and Brock and sighed; it wasn't Ash. Ash had brown eyes. Ash recognized the rival he had as a young kid, Gary Oak. Ash felt himself freeze on the spot. Gary looked so much like Garnick that he almost expected Gary to warp behind him. "Go away Gary." Misty growled. Gary adverted his attention from Ash to Misty for a moment. Brock saw the glint in Gary's eyes and decided that this was about to get ugly. "Well, if it isn't the most sensational sister of the Waterflower bunch. Ravishing as ever I see. How about you and me go to dinner tonight?" Gary asked in a serious tone. Ash didn't know what to think. "I don't think so, I have plans tonight." Misty said in cold tone. Ash felt himself slightly pleased that she turned Gary down. "Really? Doing what might I ask? Making out with this Ash impersonator?" That made Ash and Misty extremely angry. "Why you-" Misty stomped towards the car to give Gary Oak the slapping of a lifetime. Ash was faster though. "That was uncalled for." Ash growled. "I challenge you to a pokemon match! I win, you apologize to Misty." Ash said in a confident smirk. "Fine, I win, you have to scrub my gyms floor for a week. Meet me at my gym in two hours loser. Or should I say impersonator loser?" Gary laughed and drove off. Ash turned and smiled at his two stunned friends. "What was that about me not getting in to battle Gary?" Two hours later, Ash found himself outside a huge penthouse. Ash let out a small whistle. "See? I told you he ran a level five gym." Misty smirked. Ash hadn't felt like this since he was a kid. Ash was a little bit intimidated by the posh settings when he entered the gym but remembered that it was Gary's gym so he shouldn't have been surprised. Gary always had money. "What is this?" Growled a receptionist in the lobby. "I don't recognize you! Are you on the list? You can't get in if you're not on the level five list!" Ash ignored the comment. "Gary gave me a challenge to be here and battle. Where do I go?" Ash demanded in his most authoritive voice. The receptionist physically winced at Ash's tone and pointed to her left. Ash walked to the doors and Misty and Brock followed. "You might be in over your head Ash." Brock said in a calm voice. "You know that don't you? You're battling Gary to see how far he's taken his training and where you stand." Misty gaped at Brocks sudden evaluation of Ash's actions. Ash raised an eyebrow to Brock. "Are you sure you didn't come with me on my adventure? Not many people can see the reasons to my actions." Ash joked. Brock and Misty walked in the doors with Ash as they opened. Gary was already in his trainers box and was waiting. "I'm surprised that you got in here so quickly. I'll have to get you to tell me how you got by Nina so fast." Gary said in a sneer. Ash walked up to his box with Pikachu. Misty and Brock took a seat on the stadium benches. "Two on two. Loser has to either apologize to Misty or scrub my gym floors for a week." "Why don't we raise the stakes?" Ash said out of nowhere. "Huh?" Gary asked surprised. "Raise the stakes? What do you want?" "You put one of your badges in the pot and I'll clean this gym for a month. Scrubbing floors and windows. What do you say?" Ash waited for Gary's answer with a serious look on his face. "Are you nuts?!!!" Misty yelled from the sidelines. Gary's laughter echoed throughout the massive gym. "Since I will win the match, why not? Alright, you got yourself a deal." Gary said with a confident smirk. "You're move first." Ash growled. Gary put on his typical arrogant smirk and took a polished pokeball from his belt. "I chose you! Go Alakazam!" Gary released the pokemon with a crimson light. The pampered psy pokemon came out with a battle cry. "ALA-KAZAM!" Ash waited for the bravado scene to end before he allowed his own confidence show. Ash let a smirk cross his face and he grabbed a white pokeball on his belt. Gary noticed the strange ball and took a closer look at the balls on his belt. Eight of the balls were the regular standard pokeball and they looked sort of -old. There was the white one that he was holding and another black one on his belt that looked rather odd. "I have someone I would like you to meet. You've probably never seen a pokemon like this before so don't freak on me. Light! I chose you." Ash threw the white pokeball into the center of the ring and an achingly beautiful pokemon came out. "Shhhhhine!" The pokemon's tone of voice was sweet like a bird on the breeze and melodious as harps humming. Gary openly gaped at the hauntingly beautiful pokemon. Its eyes were wide and the deepest blue Gary had ever seen. It looked like a cross of a Persian and the legendary bird Articuno. It had a face like a human girls but with a Pikachu type nose. There were silver stripes that adorned its wings and paws that stopped underneath the cheeks. Gary noticed that its tail was somewhat strange because it had a tuff of fur at the end. Gary pulled out his old and battered pokedex and it beeped out that no data was found on the pokemon. "Where did you capture that!?!" Gary demanded. Ash let his smile broaden. "Oh I didn't capture light. Light came to me." Ash said in a proud voice. "She's a psychic type and half flying type. I would like to warn you to not underestimate her." Misty and Brock were just as stunned as Gary about the new type of pokemon Ash had released. "Wow!" Misty said in awe. "I never knew Ash brought back pokemon with him! I wonder what type of attacks it knows." "We're about to find out." Brock pointed out. "The match is just starting." Gary looked a little bit worried about the pokemon he faced. "Alakazam! Tri attack!" Ash stood there as the beam of fire, ice and electricity shot towards Light. There was a pause in time as Ash ordered the pokemon to attack. "Wedge." Ash said quietly. Suddenly the three parts of ice, electricity and fire split off into their three elements and whizzed by Light harmlessly. "Sing." Ash ordered. "Psybeam!" Gary counteracted. Light jumped up and flew into the air and let the anticipated psybeam pass under her. Ash stood silently still as Light began her attack. "Shiiiiiine, shiiiiiiiiine, shiiiiiiiiiiine!" The tone went from normal to a low note. Light began to sing a hypnotic song that sent Alakazam to sleep. "Now sent it flying with psychic." Ash ordered. Gary could only helplessly watch as Alakazam being hurled around the arena. Light let the pokemon drop, as it had virtually no hp points left. "Alakazam return!" Gary pointed his pokeball at the downed pokemon and it disappeared in a ray of red light. Gary pulled out another pokeball. "I choose you! Go Umbreon." Ash smiled at his rivals best pokemon was sent out. Ash knew what he was doing. "That was amazing!" Brock exclaimed. "That Alakazam was around level eighty! That is one powerful pokemon." Misty watched the pokemon with interest. "I want one." Misty mistakenly said out loud. Brock looked her and understood. Ash's new pokemon was the most beautiful pokemon he had ever laid eyes on and he had seen a lot of pokemon. "So do I." Brock agreed. Misty blushed a tomato red when she realized she had said that out loud. Ash shook his head suddenly. "That won't work Gary!" Ash called out over their pokemon. "If you hadn't noticed, Light is a flying pokemon. Light! Up in the air." Ash ordered. "Umbreon! Do you're swift attack." Ash watched as the tiny stars hurled towards his pokemon. Ash had seen an attack like this once and smiled. "Omniblast!" Ash growled. Ash hated swift attacks they hit no matter what you did. So instead of letting Light get hit by the stars, the omniblast was meant to take out the swift attack. Light flapped her wings and like in a gust attack, the air compressed in front of her wings and let lose a shattering attack. The tiny stars were cancelled. The second part of the omniblast attack happened when Light suddenly used her backward momentum and did a reverse whirlwind attack, sucking Umbreon closer. "What?" Gary asked amazed at the unfamiliar attack. Ash didn't let Umbreon have time to recover. "Zap cannon!" Ash yelled. Light did as instructed and a small ball of energy appeared in front of her mouth. "Shiiiiiiiiine!" The blast echoed in the room and blasted the pokemon backwards. Umbreon hit Gary's trainer box and was immediately knocked unconscious. Gary stood there, open mouthed and staring at his downed pokemon. "Light! Return." Ash ordered. The pokemon floated down on an invisible breeze and landed in front of Ash's trainer box. Ash was coming down the stairs as Gary recalled his pokemon. Gary was awed and angry at the same time. A stranger he had never even heard of before had beaten Gary and he had lost one of his precious level five badge the Silvercloud badge. Gary begrudgingly walked over to Ash and threw the badge at him. "Get out!" Gary growled. Ash crossed his arms and stood there. "That wasn't part of the deal. You have to apologize to Misty. Remember?" Ash waited for Misty and Brock to join him. "Sorry." Gary said barely audible. Misty smiled and nodded her head. Before anything else could be said, Gary stalked off to the opposite doors in a sulk. Ash watched him leave and began to laugh once he was gone. "What's so funny?" Brock demanded. Ash wiped a tear from his eye and in a giggle began to explain what he had found so funny. "I-If Gary is a level five pokemon trainer, I'll eat my hat! That was the easiest badge that I ever got! If that's a top trainer, I'd like to see the worst." Misty and Brock puffed up like Jigglypuffs. Ash sweatdropped. "Er-Something I said?" Ash asked worried. "You could say that." Brock growled. "Brock and I are only level three trainers!" Misty growled threatening Ash with a mallet. Ash and Pikachu backed up. "Eh he he! I get the picture." Ash squeaked. The look didn't leave the pairs faces so he turned around and ran. "Run Pikachu!" Ash was out of the gym with Misty and Brock close behind him. "Get back here Ketchum!" The pair said in unison. Ash was chased into the sunset. 'It's sure great to be back home.' Ash thought. Ash looked back at his two tiring friends and smiled. Ash was happy for the first time in a long time. Even though he had to keep a low profile, Ash didn't have a war to worry about, no one was after his life or pokemon and he was with his friends. 'That's what you think.' Mew sent telepathically from her pokeball. 'I'm going to miss Mysterious's beef pies.' Ash laughed inwardly that his other psychic pokemon was reading his thoughts. 'Wait until you try Brock's home cooked meals. They're to die for!' Ash sent back. Ash let Pikachu jump on his shoulder and ran into the pokemon center. Meanwhile at Goldenrod tower. "This is a stuck up no one move!" There was a scream from the receptionist as many people loaded with automatic weapons entered the building. Within minutes, the goldenrod radio tower was under control of the nefarious team rocket and Giovonni entered the building. "Perfect. This will draw him out." Giovonni stepped up to the microphone and tested it out. Pokemon Center. Ash was just catching his breath when questions from Brock and Misty assaulted him. "Alright! Spill! How long have you been keeping that pokemon a secret from us?" Misty growled. Ash looked at her dumbly. "Who said I was keeping anything from you? I just never got around to a pokemon battle before this." Ash said nervous. Ash looked at the two astonished friends and sighed. "I wasn't keeping them a secret, it just never crossed my mind to show you my pokemon." Then, something tugged on the back of both Misty's and Brock's memory. "That's right! You still have-the little pink one don't you?" Brock said quietly so no one would hear. Brock was excited at the prospect of seeing a live Mew again. Ash simply nodded and sighed. "Yes. Still hates coming over here though. It misses being able to fly around without worrying about other trainers." Ash said in a laugh. Brock and Misty noticed the other unfamiliar balls on his belt. "And who or what else did you capture?" Misty asked hopeful. Ash paled at the look in both their eyes and sweatdropped. "I have Bulbasaur, Kingler, Rapidash, Tauros, Pikachu, Charizard, Dragonite, Light, Dark and you know who." Ash said quickly. "See? I'm not hiding anyone!" "Wait a minute! Who's Dark? I never heard you mention that pokemon before." Brock said curious. Ash got his stereotypical general confused face on. "I haven't? I thought I did, I guess not then. I'll show you them some other time." Ash looked around the pokecenter. "When there's not as much company around if you know what I mean." Misty and Brock took the hint and shut up. "You might have actually learned some common sense while over there." Misty teased. "That's the second opportunity to inadvertently reveal who you are by childish antics and you haven't slipped up once yet." Ash gave Misty his best scowl. "What's that supposed to mean!?!" Ash growled. Misty backed up a step and smiled nervously. Before she had a chance to answer, Brock saw someone come through the opposite door. "Look, it's Officer Jenny. GOSH! Look at her Growlithe!" Ash stopped his argument with Misty and gasped in revulsion. The poor pokemon was almost dead from a flamethrower attack and possibly a few water attacks to weaken it. "That is the most disgusting sight I've ever seen!" Misty growled. Before anyone could stop her, Misty walked over to Officer Jenny after her pokemon was given to Nurse Joy. "Who did this deplorable act?!!" Misty demanded. The Officer Jenny looked at Misty as if she were strange. "Haven't you been listening to the radio? There's an enormous fire fight over at Goldenrod City! Team rocket has taken it over and they're demanding that some trainer called Ash Ketchum come out of hiding! There've been rocket riots all over since then. My group has been swamped trying to keep things under control here." 'They planned this well.' Ash thought to himself. 'Position people all around the place and cause a distraction to the other police forces so they can't help the ones in Goldenrod.' 'So what are you going to do about it?' Mew asked telepathically. Ash sighed out loud and made Misty and Brock turn blue in fear. "No! Absolutely N-O-T!" Misty growled. Misty could see the old determined Ash come back. Ash gave Misty and Brock the traditional wink whenever he purposely got them into trouble. Brock groaned and got out his cell phone. "What say we go to Goldenrod people? I have a hunch that someone wants to see me." Ash asked in a mischievous tone. Ash saw Brock grab his phone and he put a hand on Brocks shoulder. "That won't be necessary either." 'Here we go again.' Mew sent to Misty and Brock. The pair looked around for the sudden voice in their heads and Ash smiled. "We should get going." Ash walked out of the pokemon center with Misty and Brock in tow and left a confused Officer Jenny behind. 'What was that all about?' Officer Jenny asked herself. Little did she realize that she had just talked to the person that team rocket was demanding to see. Ash walked outside of Pallet town city limits and suddenly stopped. 'Sense anyone?' Ash asked Mew. Mew responded by coming out of her pokeball. 'What do you think?' Mew sent telepathically. Misty and Brock gasped at the sight of Mew and began to go starry eyed. Ash spotted their looks and sighed. "You guys are seriously beginning to scare me." Ash said interrupting their thoughts. Misty and Brock came out of their trances. 'Me too.' Mew sent telepathically sweatdrooping at their stares. Ash crossed his arms and sighed. The vibe he was getting from his friends was one of total admiration and awe towards Mew. "Look. Misty, Brock. Guys?" Ash waved an arm in front of their faces so he could get their attention. "Hello? HEY!" Ash suddenly shouted. Misty and Brock jumped. Pikachu on his shoulder expected as much and sighed as well. "If you two still want to travel with me, you're going to have to get used to ultra rare pokemon. I don't want you two to go zombie every time that a legendary pokemon comes by and says hello." The pair looked at Ash awestruck. 'The event on hand? What do you want to do about this team rocket demanding you?' Mew interrupted the pairs thoughts. 'You can't just give yourself up. So do we want the traditional approach to scenarios like these.' Ash shook his head. "Nope. I think this calls for something more original." Ash said to Mew. Misty and Brock finally came around to the conversation. "Ash! You have to be extra careful! Team Rocket has changed since you were a kid." Misty warned. "Changed? How so?" Ash asked curious. Misty and Brock exchanged worried glances and sighed. "They've gone from small time pokemon thefts and annoying pests to murderers and kidnappers. You saw Jessie and James! You should have figured that out." Misty growled. "They've done bombings and raids and-" Ash felt the bottom of his stomach do another flip flop. 'Chosen one will he be, Chosen to set both worlds free. One will be saved and another will be late, But that is the chosen ones fate.' The prophecy came suddenly to Ash's mind. 'Ohhhh crap!' "Well, this is just dandy!" Ash suddenly growled. Ash suddenly realized what the old prophecy was talking about. Everyone in his presence was startled at Ash's sudden anger. "Sorry. I just remembered something. We're about to have our work cut out for us." "What?" Misty and Brock asked. Mew giggled and did midair summersault. That meant that her master had a plan that he didn't like but was probably going to work. Ash began the spell and a glow appeared in the air. "TELEPORT RING!" Ash suddenly shouted. The pair that had been mesmerized by the glow jumped at the sudden flash of brilliant light and let out a small startled squeak. The tower... "What do we do know boss?" Asked an extremely nervous rocket. Giovonni just sat back in the management chair and sighed. "Now we wait." Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon or anything related to pokemon. Pokemon and its associated characters are copyrighted by Nintendo/Game Freak. This is a pokemon fanfic created by my mind only. Author note: Alright people listen up! I'm having a bit of trouble with my computer so it's going to be just a bit hard for me to get these stories into you. You're just going to have to be patient with me. Besides between changing adresses and breaking my back packing I've had a real rough time. Sorry!!!!! Don't hurt me!!!!! Regular updates now I promise!!!!!!