Love Is No Longer Enough



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     "Dad, are you done already?" Complained Harper impatiently, awaking from her sleep. Her Dad had brought into his house all the Liquids he made at his Lab and was now finishing it in his room that in some ways resembled his Lab, reflecting how loyal he was to his love of science.
      "I warned you these things take time," reminded David pouring in the last Liquid. Harper began to open her eyes halfway as her body still laid on the nearby table she had been sleeping on.
      "It's been hours... Tell me, you're at least close to finish," whined Harper tiredly. David took a step back and stared victoriously at the four Liquid filled glasses. Harper looked at her father and then leaned herself up, her head looked down to the table he was at and saw the Liquids were done, her smile reflected in the glasses.
     "Finally," she sighed, relieved. Her body sprung up and ran to the table picking up the tray gently but excitedly that held the four Liquids.
     "I tried to remember the Pokemon of each favorites, hopefully that'll help them even more in choosing to fight."
     "Thanks Dad, I'll give it to them right now," promised Harper.
     "Harper, wait, what's that on your arm?" Harper looked down at her scrapped arm.
     "It's just from when Adamos hit me across the wall."
     "You say it like it should have happened... I suggest after you give them these Liquids you get some rest, okay?"
     "Yes, Daddy," smiled Harper, warmly happy that he cares so much about her though he should being her father and all.
     "Harper, I'm serious."
     "Okay," nodded Harper knowingly. She carried steadily the tray of Liquids out of his room and into the Living Room where Ash, Misty and Brock slept upward on a couch, each other leaning against one another's shoulder; Misty leaning on Brock's shoulder as Ash leaned against her shoulders and May slept upward in a nearby chair beginning to awake from her sleep.  Harper placed the Liquids nearby on the Coffee Table.
     "Hey, guys, have a good nap?" Asked Harper, standing near the couch where Ash, Misty and Brock awoke from their slumber now. They all nodded tiredly to her. Brock was the first to get up, attempting to walk into the Kitchen.
     "Where are you going, Brock?" Asked Harper, worried.
     "To get something to drink," he answered.
     "Why?" Harper sat herself next to Misty who stared at her unknowingly as she continued. "...When we have great Liq-I mean drinks right over here. Why don't you guys try some?"
     "No thanks," yawned May, answering for the rest of them.
     "Yeah, I think I'll just get up and get some water with Brock," added Misty.
     "Me too," agreed Ash, about to get up with Misty. Harper reached out and grabbed both Ash and Misty.
     "No!" Said Harper, pulling them back to the couch to sit down. They both stared at her awkwardly then exchanged confused looks with each other.
     "Why not?" Asked May, leaning up from her chair. Harper went up and grabbed May who was getting up from her chair and took Brock along with her, dragging them both over to sit down at the couch alongside Ash and Misty. Harper walked over, moving the Coffee Table towards them and when she finished there four drinks were placed in front of them.
     "What is this stuff?" Asked May, staring at the one in front of her.
     "It's a drink I made."
     "Why are they all different colors?" Questioned May once more, studying the other ones.
     "Because they're different... Flavors," smiled Harper.
     "Harper... How long did it take for you to make this?" Asked Misty.
     "Not long... Just drink, you guys. Drink! It'll help bring you guys some energy. Trust me, lots and lots of energy."
     "I... Don't know about this," said Ash unsure, staring suspiciously at the yellow drink in front of him.
     "Me either," Agreed May.
     "We still have to find Pikachu," reminded Ash, importantly.
     "And this'll help you," persisted Harper, sweetly.
     "But-"
     "WILL YOU JUST DRINK IT ALREADY!" Screamed Harper impatiently angry. The four leaned themselves more into the couch silently and nodded.
     "O-okay..." May leaned forward about to drink, Misty followed, doing the same. Ash and Brock still watched unsure.
     "C'mon guys, just try it..." Smiled May about to drink the clear Liquid in front of her.
     "What harm could it do, Ash?" Persisted Misty assuredly, picking up her blue Liquid. Brock shrugged and did the same with the red Liquid in front of him. Ash was still hesitant, he turned his head to Misty who already held her blue Liquid and eventually forced himself to trust Misty's assurance and picked up his yellow Liquid too. Harper nodded appreciatively.
     "There ya go!" Smiled Harper as if cheering on a small child still awaiting for them to drink the Liquids in their hands.
     David walked outside his room and watched from behind, leaning against his door, anticipating and crossing his fingers, hopeing this would work.
     The four leaned forward and pressed their lips against their drinking glasses, still hesitating a little but then finally drank some and kept gulping the Liquids down to the last drop.
     Harper crossed her arms, smiling brightly as they did. After the four put down their empty glasses, Misty's eyes looked up at Harper who smiled widely.      Suspiciously, Misty kept studying her face, she looked awfully excited for someone who just watched some people drink an ordinary beverage.


At Team Rocket Headquarters...

     As Adamos made his way down the hall, Giovanni walked out of an Office, turning to see Adamos and smiling widely as he did. Adamos came to a stop when he saw Giovanni standing there, awaiting his praise.
     "You got the Pikachu, I'm impressed," nodded Giovanni.
     "I also brought you another gift for your enjoyment." Adamos snapped his fingers and in walked two Guards holding on tightly to each arm of Masato, who struggled to break free.
     "Let me go! Let me go! What are you doing to me! Let me go!"
     "I'm a little cloudy on this... Why do we need the kid for?"
     "You see, Sir, the problem you've been having is you keep thinking inside the square of this box. You shoot for the Stars but you're forgetting all about the Moon. You can have more than you dream of having. So you got the Pikachu, now what? I'll tell you what! We get rid of anyone who stands in our way starting with those nosey kids we stole the Pikachu from." Masato growled up at him, glaring harshly as the Guards kept a good hold on him.
     "Ah, I know who you mean... Those brats who always stand in my way, who those three idiots of mine can never beat," said Giovanni, pointing to Jesse, James and Meowth as they walked by, miserably. Giovanni turned his head back to Adamos. "Have you found a way to beat them?"
     "It's like I always say... 'If you can't beat em... Make them... Join you'..."
     "I like what I'm hearing," grinned Giovanni.
     "When my sister and her friends hear what you're doing there's no way you're going to get away with this!" Screamed Masato.
     "Would someone shut that boy up," retorted Giovanni meanly to the Guards, the two men nodded and pulled Masato's arms forcefully who continued struggling and resisting.
     "No. Wait," said Adamos, the two Guards stopped, leaving Masato to stand near Adamos who over shadowed Masato and looked down at him fearlessly.
     "The boy's halfway right anyway."
     "What do you mean?"
     "The four will find out about our location and like the idiots they are they'll walk right into the trouble once they find out it's in order to save their Pokemon and their fellow brat. But this time they'll fall right into our trap and it won't be the childish pranks they're use to. There'll be a bigger trap waiting for them and he's going to help lure them to our territory."
     "Never!" Shouted Masato back to him. "I'll never help you to win your sick dream. Let me go! Let me go!" Masato kept struggling as the Guards dragged him into a room where they chained both his arms and legs to a wall.
     "Like it?" Laughed the first Guard in a raspy voice.
     "A dark Chamber we just added in, made just for you and your soon to be chamber mates," grinned the second Guard in an even deeper voice. Masato glared at the two Guard, too tired to shout back. The two tall men laughed mockingly and left him in the dark room.
     "I need to find Ash, Pikachu and the others... And I have to warn my sister. But first I have to get out of here... But how...?

     Back outside of the chamber, Giovanni and Adamos continued talking about his new plan in capturing Ash and his friends. Adamos explained that TR will offer their Pokemon only in exchange that Ash and co. work for Team Rocket and help steal the Pokemon of everyone else.
     "This might work... But how can you be so sure they'll accept this offer?"
     "There's no doubt they will," answered Adamos in certainty. "Nothing means more to them than their Pokemon. And there's no other way and no other choice for them."
     "You better be right, Scientist."
     "I have been so far, haven't I?" Giovanni nodded, Adamos grinned.
     "But just to reassure you, why don't I pay them another visit?" Before Giovanni could reply Adamos had used his power of Transport and disappeared. Giovanni sighed sharply, slowly shaking his head to the area Adamos was standing at before.
     "...I hope he doesn't think he's in control now."


To be Continued...