Chapter 2

“I won’t let you hurt it!”
“You can’t stop me, what are you going to do? Have your little rat give me a jolt? Maybe
you want to take me down yourself. What are you, twelve?”
“I’m 14 and my Pikachu can give you more than just a jolt, I assure you. Now release
Ho-oh right now!”
“Make me!”
“Gladly, Pikachu, Thunderstorm now......”
“Pikachu stop!!!!!”
“Nooooo!”
“Ash, Ash wake up.”
“Aaaaah!” Ash awoke from his dream in a frantic state.
After the events of yesterday Ash decided to rest overnight at the Pokemon center.
Unfortunately for Ash, several of the other trainers from yesterday were also staying at
the center, including his former friends.
“Ash, it was just a nightmare.”
Beads of nervous sweat poured down Ash’s face.
He stared at Misty for a few seconds. The look he gave her was as if he secretly hated
her,....or envied her?
“His voice was low, and hoarse. “If only that was all it was.”
He threw down the blanket that had been covering him, and began to walk towards the
doorway. Pikachu, who had been sleeping next to him, awoke. Misty, who was sitting on
the couch Ash was sleeping on because the rooms were full, tried to communicate with
Pikachu. However, Pikachu seemingly didn’t want to acknowledge her existence, in fact,
Pikachu acted that way with everyone, except Ash.
Pikachu ran after Ash, as they both disappeared into the hallway.
Misty was ready to go after both of them when an arm on her shoulder stopped her.
She turned around to meet the stern eyes of Brock.
At that gaze she stopped in her tracks, dropping down her head as the tears flowed down
her cheeks, and to the floor.
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Ash walked, or more like strolled down the hall. Just by looking at him you knew that he
was in his own world. His own crazy world if you go by what other trainers were saying
about him. Ash might not have been all there at the time, but that didn’t stop him from
noticing the other trainers talking about him.
“Isn’t that the guy that...”
“He’s a freaking lunatic...”
“I wouldn’t go near him..”
“What’s wrong with him?”
‘Me, what’s wrong with me....everything.’ Sad thoughts, that’s all he ever had anymore.
Well, sad and raving. It wasn’t his fault of course, I mean, how could it be? Although, the
other trainers didn’t understand that.
Ash was standing in the middle of the hallway. He was fed up, something in him was
bound to snap.
“You’re all fools, the lot of you.!!!”
Unfortunately though, this outburst just proved the other trainers theories about him.
All he got were strange stares and a rub against the cheek from Pikachu. What else was
he expecting? For them to cheer him on, and agree with his eruption. Utter nonsense,
that’s all it was to them. They couldn’t possibly understand what he was going through.
They couldn’t possibly understand what he had gone through. The world, for all he cared,
was empty, empty except for him and his Pokemon. Nothing else mattered. That’s what
he would tell himself before he went to sleep. Of course, believing in his slogan was
another thing. Damn his feelings. If he had no feeling none of this would be happening
right now. Sure he would be hated, but who cares. Hated and a Pokemon Master. Hated,
but not tormented. What good was being liked anyway? He doesn’t even have any
friends, human friends....a thing of the past. If you’re him and have friends, they become
a liability.
Ash walked past the room where “it” was being examined. ‘Look at “it”, all fluffy and
cute looking. They always look cute.’
“Sooknee, sook, sook” the small dragon Pokemon began to lick the Joy’s face lovingly
while she giggled.
“They never give up.....ain’t that the truth?” “Husky, low, foreboding. All things that
describe Ash’s tone of voice nowadays. That is, when he’s not screaming crazily about
something.
“Pika.”
Games are supposed to be fun. That’s what he always thought. Shoots and Ladders,
Parcheesi, Candy Land. Those were all fun games when he was a kid. He still is a kid, but
this is a different game. So many powers, so many,... and this is how they use them.
You’d think they would have better things to do. I guess it gets kind of boring when
you’re all powerful. I wouldn’t know of course. But I’m sure there are better ways at
solving your boredom than this.
‘This is wrong, but does that matter to them?’
The answer was a resounding no, and he knew it. Understand it, no, but knew it, oh yeah.
Ash managed to find himself back in the lobby.
‘There they are, all happy and pleased with themselves. Not a care in the world. There
minds focused on battling. There love for there Pokemon and there friends are the most
important things.....Why was it taken away from me?’ Tears flowed. All because he knew
the answer to his own question. He looked at the trainers in sorrowful silence.
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“What’s it called?”
“A Sooknee?...” Butch looked over to Cassidy to make sure he was getting the name
right. She shook her head in response as Butch quickly stated the name again confidently.
“Yes, it was a Sooknee, Boss.”
“Interesting,  I new Pokemon. It must be a legendary, and if it’s a legendary that means it
has great powers.” The Boss stared at the elite members expectantly.
“And that means we have to obtain it for you.” Cassidy said as the Boss shook his head in
approval of the conclusion she reached.
“We’ll get right on the job sir.” Butch assured.
“Good, but remember time is of the essence. I don’t want that Ash messing with my plans
again.”
“Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about him this time, Boss. He doesn’t seem like he’s
all there lately, if you know what I mean..”
The Boss stared at them doubtfully.
“But just in case, we assigned a team to keep an eye on him.”
“What team?”
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“Keep it down James! He’ll here us!” Jessie said as she the proceeded to smack James
over the head with a pair of binoculars.
“Oooowww! I’m sorry Jessie but I’m hungry.”
“And I’m not? But we have to wait here and watch psycho twerp until we get the call
from them.”
“Yeah, but knowing them theyz probably forgot about us. I sez we go get somethin to eat
and when theyz call we just lie and say we’re still watching da brat.”
“Okay, listen and listen good!” Jessie grabbed on to James and Meowth’s ears tightly,
and she seemed to not plan on letting go for awhile.
“We are in danger of getting thrown off the team, and right now this team is the only
thing we got left to be proud of. I am not going to screw up our chance of making things
good with the Boss again because you guys can’t control your hunger pains. Got it?!”
“Got it.” They both said with a gulp, as Jessie released there, now throbbing, ears.
“Jessie? James? Are you three losers there?” Jessie suppressed a growl as she picked up
the walkie talkie.
“Yeah we’re here.”
“Good. What’s he doing.”
Jessie shrugged at the question. “Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing, are you really watching him, because I swear if you aren’t-“
“Yes we are watching him, okay?! He is just lying on the grass staring at the sky. I don’t
even think he’s blinked in the last five minutes.” Jessie stated, aggravated.
“Hmmpff, and the rat?”
“There with him, staring at him.”
“Yeah, but Pikachu has blinked in the last five minutes.” James added, as if it were a
matter of importance.
“Well...you better just keep watching him. As soon as he moves, I want to know about it.
I’ll be expecting a full report of from you when we call back.  And since you all are so
keen on blinking you can keep track of that too. Don’t lose count, Jessie dear. I wouldn’t
want you to get thrown off the team.” Cassidy finished off in a disgustingly sweet tone.
Jessie nearly crushed the walkie talkie in her hand out of anger.
“Ooo, that Cassidy she makes me soo-“
“Don’t let her get to you, Jess, that’s what’s she wants.”
Yeah, you’re right. I don’t know why they’re making such a big deal anyway. Look at
him, he’s pathetic.”
“I know, I wonder how he could have changed so much?”
“Who cares, alls I’m worried about right now is that we’re not gonna get ta eat.”
“What do you mean?”
“We got countin ta do, remember?”
They all gave a dejected sigh as they turned to face Ash once again. And so they began:
“.......one blink.........two blinks..................three blin-”
Team Rocket had the right idea. He did look pretty pathetic, and believe me, he felt it too.
There Ash was, lying on the grass in front of the Pokemon center as Team Rocket
watched him from their balloon. Did he know they were there? Sure, he saw them a long
time ago, but he knew they were the least of his worries. Why was he still at the Pokemon
Center, you ask? Simple, because the Sooknee was still at the Pokemon Center. They
wouldn’t let him leave. Apparently the little dragon has grown quite fond of Ash.
‘Go figure.’ Ash mused sarcastically.
He was called into the nurses office because “it” wanted to see him. Now they won’t let
him leave because he is “vital” in the study of this “fascinating” creature.
‘Fascinating my ass. Another stupid game. It knows it.....and it also knows I know, which
makes it all the more fun for them.’
The only way Ash is leaving this center is if Sooknee leaves the center. He would run
away, but it would be pointless. They would find a way to get him back. They could
always find a way.
Ash had many weaknesses. Weaknesses that he claims he no longer has.
‘I don’t!’
But he does. Friends, family, Pokemon. All those are weaknesses that they could, and
would use against him. He knows that, that’s why he doesn’t run. He’d still be in the
same position he’s in now, just worse off.
‘Stuck.’
Indeed he is.
‘I could destroy them all if I wanted to........or not.’ Ash sulked.
Ash has a heart of gold. I know that. You know that. Everybody knows that. It’s a shame
that such a wonderful quality is used against him. I real shame. It makes you kind of lose
faith in the world. You need faith. Faith and love keep you alive. Ash has almost lost
faith, but he still has plenty of love. Even though he denies it.
‘I don’t love anything or anyone.’
See?
“Pika?” Pikachu saw the sadder then usually face of his trainer, and decided to nuzzle
closer to him.
“Except you, Pikachu.” Ash said with a loving smile as Pikachu cha’d back with
affection.
Loving smiles,....Ash used to be full of those.  Again, it’s a shame.
Ash stretched and let out a big yawn. He was tired. Bad dreams, you know. But he
definitely wasn’t going to get any sleep in there, with “it” and “them”.
There would be the Pokemon Center, you all know what “it” is, and “them” are his
former friends and Pokemon trainers who think he’s crazy.
‘Yeah, “them”.’
So it seems that the grass outside was the best place for a nap right now. Naps are usually
great. You wake up refreshed, and in a better mood. That sounds like just the thing for
Ash....and perhaps he’ll have a dream.
‘“I won’t let you hurt it!”
Here we go again.
“You can’t stop me, what are you going to do? Have your little rat give me a jolt? Maybe
you want to take me down yourself. What are you, twelve?”
I think we all know how this will end up.
“I’m 14 and my Pikachu can give you more than just a jolt, I assure you. Now release
Ho-oh right now!”
Do you really need to hear it?
“Make me!”
“Gladly, Pikachu, Thunderstorm now......”
“Pikachu stop!!!!!”
“Nooooo!”
At least Team Rocket got a break from counting blinks. And in fact, I think they are
catching a few winks themselves. I’d say about forty .