Chapter 2
“The time has come” the Prof. said “to talk of many things”


“I wonder what they could be doing,” Gary pondered as the door to the lab opened and 
Misty and Duplica ran in.
“Sorry we...uh..got held up,” Misty announced.
“Held up? Held up how?” Brock questioned.
“Yeah, and did it have anything to do with the hot painter you guys were drooling over 
before?” Giselle gave Duplica and Misty a arrogant look while Duplica glared back and 
Misty blushed.
Prof. Oak was sitting in a chair in front of his computer as he witnessed a soon to be 
catfight.
“Hey Giselle how about I take that smirk of yours and stick it up your a..” Duplica was 
interrupted by Prof. Oak who got up and walked over to the group.
“That’s enough, I did not call you here so you could bicker like little children.”
“Yeah Giselle,” Duplica stated in a childish manner as Giselle stuck her tongue out at 
her. 
The Prof. just shook his head hopelessly.
“Man, why did your grandfather have to stop them, I really wanted to see a fight,” Brock 
whispered to Gary.
“You and me both.”
Tracey was also observing the scene and was a little disappointed himself. He was 
prepared to make a sketch of the event and perhaps sell the copies.
“Why did you send for all of us Prof.?” Misty asked.
“As you know the world is facing some troubled times, Team Rocket is stronger than 
ever and as their strength increases the more dire the situation becomes. People are 
starting to lose hope that they can be stopped at all.”
“So I was right, you sent for us because you need our help to defeat Team Rocket,” Gary 
concluded.
“That is correct Gary and as you must have noticed by now you were all chosen because 
each one of you specializes in different areas of Pokemon training.”
The trainers all stared at each other sheepishly.
“Come on, you must have noticed that?” the Prof. said expectantly.
“...No actually I didn’t notice that at all,” Brock stated.
“Yeah me neither,” Duplica spoke up.
“..um..I had no idea that was the reason, I just thought I was picked to add some beauty to 
the group,” Giselle bragged.
“..I actually didn’t realize that either gramps,” Gary admitted hesitantly.
“How could you not have noticed, it was so obvious” the Prof,. stated in a exasperated 
tone.
“What about you Misty?” the Prof. asked Misty in a hopeful voice as everyone turned to 
look at her.
“......uh yeah..yeah I..I noticed that,” Misty stuttered.
“Really?” the Prof. asked excitedly. 
“.....no...” Misty hung her held low.
The Prof. sweatdropped “I can’t believe this.” ‘these are the people who are suppose to 
save the world?’
“Ooooh, ooooh, Prof. I knew that was the reason,” Tracey said with a proud grin.
The Prof. looked at Tracey and gave him a annoyed glare.
“Yes Tracey, you did know, and you know why you knew?.......Because I told you!”
“Oh yeah, heh I forgot,” Tracey answered sheepishly.
“Thank God we have a secret weapon” the Prof. whispered to himself.
However Gary overheard “What secret weapon?” he asked loudly.
The Prof. was surprised that anyone heard him so he decided to quickly change the 
subject. “That is not important right now, we will discuss it later, first we will talk about 
the problem at hand.”
The Prof. walked up to a large screen. He then pressed some buttons on the computer and 
a large map of the world appeared. The trainers followed the Prof. and stopped in front of 
the screen as they waited for him to speak again.
“Team Rocket already has control of Viridian City, New Bark Town, Vermilion City, and 
Goldenrod City just to name a few,” the Prof. pointed out the areas on the map.
“If they succeed in their next mission, which is to take over Azalea Town, then they 
would have control over more than half of the Pokemon world, not counting the Orange 
Islands, which was the first place they conquered.” 
“Oh my God, I didn’t realize it was that bad,” Duplica stated in shock.
“Prof., if Team Rocket is that powerful what could we do to stop them?” Misty asked 
worriedly.
“I will tell you now. Gary you are a great Pokemon Master and your skills and overall 
knowledge in Pokemon battle strategies will be a great use in our attack against Team 
Rocket.” 
Gary stood proudly and grinned arrogantly at his grandfathers compliment.
“You Misty are the best Water Pokemon Master that I have ever seen, and since Team 
Rocket’s Pokemon consist of mostly fire types your Pokemon will have a great advantage 
against them.” 
Misty smiled and blushed a little.
“You Brock are a incredible Pokemon breeder. The Pokemon that you raise at your 
center are said to be the strongest happiest Pokemon you will ever find. Your skills and 
Pokemon that you raise would be a great addition to our team.”
Brock scratched the back of his head in an embarrassed manner “Well I try my best”
“You Duplica are here because your team of Dittos would be extremely useful in battling 
Team Rocket since they could transform into any kind of Pokemon that might be needed. 
I heard you have over a hundred different types of Dittos now, am I correct?”
“Uh, actually over 150 the last time I counted.” Duplica stated while also blushing.
“150 huh? That is quite impressive. On to Tracey, he is the best Pokemon watcher I have 
ever come across. Over the years that we have been working together he has helped me 
discover some of the rarest Pokemon of our time. His knowledge of Pokemon will be of 
great assistance to us because I have heard rumors that Team Rocket has Pokemon that 
no one has ever seen before, and if that is the case then I bet on my life that Tracey will 
be able to figure out a way to stop these seemingly “unbeatable” Pokemon.”
“Prof. I’m honored that you have so much faith in me,” Tracey began to get choked up.
Gary seemed to be thinking intently about something as the others talked.
“What about me Prof., what am I here for?” Giselle asked ignoring the teary eyed 
watcher.
“Comic relief.” Duplica stated mockingly.
“Please, if we ever need a good laugh all we have to do is look at your outfit.” Giselle 
shot back.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Duplica asked angrily.  
“Where should I start?”
“Girls please stop, we are never going to defeat Team Rocket if we can’t even get along 
ourselves.”
“I’m sorry.” they both said in unison.
“It’s all right but please try to control yourselves. Now where were we, oh yes, you 
Giselle are world famous for your training techniques, the way you are able to train a 
Pokemon to be strong against types that would usually have an advantage is remarkable 
to say the least. Your training centers are said to be the best around. Your students and 
yourself would increase are chances greatly in defeating Team Rocket."
“Well I wouldn’t say I’m world famous but,....actually yes, yes I would.” Giselle stated 
arrogantly as everyone including the Prof., and excluding Gary who wasn’t listening, 
rolled their eyes.
“Gramps, you said that the next place Team Rocket is going to attack will be Azalea 
Town?”
“That’s correct.”
“But how do you know that?”
“I have some inside information.”
“Would this inside information have anything to do with the secret weapon?” Brock 
questioned the Prof. who looked nervously at Tracey.
“Well I suppose I should tell you now, you are going to find out eventually anyway. I 
have requested the assistance of the Man in Black.”
At this statement the three girl’s eyes went wide in shock and then excitement.
“Are you serious? The Man in Black, you know the Man in Black?” Duplica questioned 
excitedly.
“Well yes, we go way back actually.”
“I can’t believe this, are we going to get to meet him?” Misty questioned hopefully.
“Yes actually he will be here and..” 
The Prof. was interrupted by girlish squeals which led to the guys covering their ears.
“Aaaahhhh, we are going to meet the man in black, he is going to be here with us,” 
Giselle rambled on dreamily.
“I know, we will be living every woman’s fantasy,” Duplica went off into dream land.
“I will laugh so hard if this guy turns out to be 60 years old and have a face that looks 
like a Garydos,” Gary stated confidently.
“Actually he is the same age as you Gary,” the Prof. corrected his grandson.
“He is 18? Oh how perfect is that, it’s like we were meant to be,” Misty sighed.
“Well if he is 18 then maybe we met him before, I mean we did meet a whole lot of 
people when we use to travel with Ash. And I’m pretty sure this guy wasn’t always the 
man in black since he appeared, what like, was it 3 ½  years ago or something?” Brock 
asked the Prof.
“That seems about right.”
“Please Prof. I would be eternally grateful to you if you would tell me who he is,” Misty 
pleaded.
“Uh I...”
“Please do, we won’t tell anybody we promise, it will just be our little secret,” Giselle 
assured.
“Well he..uh..you see...I..”
“Excuse me Professor..” A tall man entered the room carrying what appeared to be a 
large tub.
“I’m sorry to interrupt but I just came to tell you that I’m finished with the job and I’ll be 
leaving as soon as I clean up outside.”
‘The painter. I forgot about him,’ Misty thought as she recalled the incident with him 
earlier that day.
“Oh, all right..uh..we..later okay,” the Prof. gave a signal with his hands meaning they 
would talk later.
“Yes sir.” the painter smiled then bowed politely as he left the room.
Duplica was looking at Misty who had a confused look on her face. Duplica mouthed a 
“what’s wrong?” but Misty just shook her head indicating that everything was okay.
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The Prof. decided it was a good idea to let the excitement of the day die down and they 
would regroup tomorrow to discuss the details of the retaliation against Team Rocket. 
The subject about the identity of the man in black was dropped when the Prof. stated it 
was not his place to reveal anything. Of course the conversation was not dropped so 
easily by the hormonal girls. However when hearing of news that he would be at the 
meeting tomorrow the girls were too excited to question the Prof. anymore. 
Misty was staying at a small hotel in the town but at that moment she was heading back 
to Prof. Oak’s lab. She had forgotten her backpack there during all the excitement so she 
was going back to get it. She brought Togetic along because it was afraid of being alone 
in the hotel room. Misty didn’t mind though because she enjoyed the company. Her and 
Togetic had been through a lot together and even though it evolved 3 years ago she still 
felt like she was it’s mother.
When she reached the lab she knocked on the door but nobody answered so she just 
walked right in.
“Hello, Prof. are you here. Maybe he is sleeping Togetic, we should be quiet then so as 
not to wake him up.” Misty remembered many a time when she was a kid and they would 
walk in on the Prof. while he was asleep.
“Toge, toge, tic”
“ssshhh”
Misty quietly walked into the lab when she suddenly stopped and spotted the Prof. asleep 
on his keyboard
She smiled to herself when she realized ‘that’s why the Prof. always has back problems, 
that’s probably going to hurt when he wakes up’
‘Aha, here it is.’ Misty found her backpack strewn over a chair.
“Let’s go Togetic,” Misty whispered.
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Outside the lab at that moment a guy dressed in blue jeans and a t-shirt was talking to 
what appeared to be himself.
“I can’t believe you made me come back here just because you forgot to take the ketchup 
packets that the Prof. gave you.”
“Pika, chu, ka” A Pikachu popped out of the young man’s backpack.
“I was not in a rush to leave” 
Pikachu stared at Ash.
“Alright maybe I was in a little bit of a rush. Look I don’t feel like arguing, I’m hungry 
and I don’t want to miss dinner, just go in, get them and come right out, okay?”
“Cha”
Pikachu ran into the lab to retrieve his missing ketchup packets.
Inside Misty was making her way quietly out of the now dark lab since the sun had gone 
down 20 minutes ago.
‘You’d think he would have more lighting in this place, I can’t see a thing,’ Misty 
thought as she tried to avoid bumping into things.
Misty walked on with Togetic in hand when she felt something soft hit her foot.
‘Oh no, what is that, it’s soft and it’s moving. What if it’s a bug! No Misty, don’t jump to 
conclusions, you are just letting your imagination run away with you. But then what is 
it?’
Misty didn’t have to wonder much longer as the thing on Misty’s foot used flash which lit 
up the whole room.
“A Pikachu?!” Misty said as she saw what had given her such a fright. 
The Pikachu realizing who’s foot it was on decided that it would be best if he got out of 
there as soon as possible. But it had to do it casually, it didn’t want to make her 
suspicious.
“Pikachu” it greeted.
“How cute, but what are you doing wondering around inside here?”
“Chu, pika,” Pikachu said pointing to the door.
“Oh you are a wild Pikachu.”
“Pika” 
“Wait you can’t be a wild Pikachu, you are too friendly.”
Pikachu realized she was right so he decided to go on the offensive as he got in a fighting 
stance and growled at her.
Misty was amused by the Pikachu who looked so familiar. She giggled at his antics but 
was startled when Togetic jumped out of her arms and approached the ready-to-attack 
Pikachu.
“Togetic?” 
The Togetic walked up to Pikachu and began to sniff his face.
“Toge toge tic?” it chirped happily when it recognized the scent.
The Pikachu sweatdropped at the now giddy Togetic who was hugging him.
“Do you know this Pikachu Togetic?”
“Togetic,” it answered back happily.
Misty then noticed that the familiar Pikachu was holding several ketchup packets in it’s 
paws.
“Ketchup?” Misty questioned as she began to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
The Pikachu realized that it was on the brink of being found out and decided that it was 
best to forget the casual approach and just do the only sensible thing it could. Run.
“Pikachu!” and with that the Pikachu and the light from it’s flash were gone.
‘There is only one Pikachu that I know that eats ketchup, but that’s not possible, is it?” 
Misty pondered in the dark.
“Togetic?” the Togetic was confused as to why his friend left him.
“Don’t worry Togetic I’ll get to the bottom of this.” ‘That was one strong Pikachu for it 
to keep it’s flash on for so long without seeming the least bit tired out, but then again his 
Pikachu was always able to do impossible things. Just like him.’
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Pikachu emerged from the doors outside and joined up once again with it’s trainer.
“Finally, what took you so long?”
“Pika chu” Pikachu looked down at the ground with it’s head hung low.
“She is in there? And she saw you?”
“Chu,” the Pokemon said ashamedly.
“Hey come on Pikapal it’s going to be okay, I’m sure she didn’t recognize you, it was 
dark a...you think she did recognize you?”
“Chu”
“Don’t worry about it, we will think of something.”
Pikachu was glad his master wasn’t mad at him as he jumped into his arms for a hug, 
being careful not to drop any ketchup packets of course.