Life Goes On

Chapter 9~
       Hoenn news aired daily at 5:00, reported by Gabby and Ty, the star reporter and cameraman of the Hoenn Region News channel. They went out of their way for the best news. Lately they had been going way out of the way, to the north, that is. Johto and Kanto had the best breaking news. What could be more exciting and dramatic as Team Rocket taking over?  Not that Gabby approved of it, of course, it just made great news.
       They were staying in a fancy hotel, one of the only ones still in business. In Saffron City, they were to cover the massive Rocket uprising and the Pokemon here to put them in their place. Ty turned on his camera when the stars of the show were in view.

"Thanks Rachel. Yes, we are here live in Saffron City, where the Rocket takeover is being slowed by a group of Wartortle, led by a Blastoise," Gabby began. Ty nodded as he caught it all on live tape. She continued. "As you can clearly see, they are attempting to drive the Rockets out of the city, with much luck as it seems. Already since they began their rampage, the Pokemon Center has been returned to Nurse Joy, after formerly serving as the Rockets' base of operation in Saffron. We can only hope that individuals like these Pokemon can stand up and stop the takeover. Back to you, Rachel. Cut.” Ty switched off the camera.
       "That was good, Gabby," Ty remarked.
       "Why thank you.” RING!  Gabby opened up her purse and took out her ringing vidphone. "Hello?"
       "Gabby?  It's Debbie down at the station. You need to get to Pallet fast."
       "Pallet?  That tiny town south of Viridian? Why?"
       "Breaking news, duh. The Legendary Pokemon Rayquaza has been sighted there."
       "~The~ Rayquaza?  I thought it lived in Hoenn!"
       "Um, yeah!  That's why it's such a HUGE DEAL!"
       "Details!  Who, what, when, where, why?"
       "Supposedly the Rayquaza hasn't even left!  It has a man on its back, and is circling the city, destroying every Rocket vehicle that comes close."
       "Who's the guy on its back?"
       "No one knows. Make up some theories, but wait until you get there. Call back then so we can go live.” CLICK.
       "D'ya hear that, Ty?  We're going to Pallet!"


       After about three hours of driving the rental car, the two arrived in Pallet. The eerie silence was broken by the squealing brakes and the sound of Gabby hanging up on a phone call with Debbie. She jumped out of the car and composed herself while Ty set up the camera.
       "Three, two, one, go. Thank you Rachel. We are here live in Pallet town, where the legendary Rayquaza was sighted merely three hours ago. We will attempt to catch a glimpse of this rare and powerful creature tonight.” At this cue, Ty raised the camera toward the starry sky, and sure enough, Rayquaza flew guarding the town against what may come. They even caught a look at the man riding him. Gabby snapped out of her awe as Ty lowered the camera again. "You saw it here first folks!  Rayquaza caught on tape!  Who was the man, cloaked in black?  Why has Rayquaza chosen this town?  The world may never know, but we, here at Hoenn News, will try to find out!  Back to you, Rachel.”


       "WHAT?!!” The infants in Misty's arms began crying. "What do you mean I can't come?!"
       "Misty, calm down," pleaded Ash. If there were two things in this world he was truly afraid of, they were Misty when she was angry and babies when they were crying.
       "Why?! Why?!" demanded Misty. "Why am I not coming with you back home, to fight beside you like I should?” She quieted the twins and stared daggers toward Ash with wild eyes.
       "You're holding the reasons right there in your arms.” Ash replied. "This isn't going to be a pleasant thing. It's not going to be noble or brave or strong to go back home. It's going to be crazy. Nuts!  If I kill myself out there, I want to be sure you're safe. For their sake, please?"
       Misty softened. "Well, I really don't want to leave you. Not even for a second. I don't want to think about our twins not having a father, about not having a husband. You could die!” She was starting to cry. Ash put his arms around her gently.
       "I know.” He looked into her eyes, as deep as the ocean and at times, just as fierce. "If you don't want to think about it, then don't. You're safe here, and that's what matters most to me. But my mother is a close second and I want her safe too. Along with all the innocent people back home. I'll see you later.” He turned her around and gave her a soft push towards town. Then he backed up toward his division of warriors, and as Misty turned to look, he was caught up in a bright flash and was gone.

       "Wobbuffet!"
       "Wobbuffet!"
       "Wynaut!"
       "Wobbuffet!"
       "Wynaut!"
       "Wynaut!"
       "WOBBUFFET!"
       "What is that noise?" asked Jessie tiredly.
       "What happened to the water?” James wondered.
       "Hey!  Where ah we?" demanded Meowth. "We was in da ocean a second ago."
       "Wobbuffet!” Meowth found the flashlight and turned it on.
       "Ack!  We're surrounded by Wobbuffet!” Meowth exclaimed, once he could see. "Dey're everywhere!"
       Jessie and James struggled to adjust to the dim lighting. "He's right!  They're everywhere!” James repeated.
       "Wobbuffet!"
       "Wynaut!"
       "Wobuffet!”
       "Is dat you, Wobbuffet?" asked Meowth curiously.
       "Wouldn't it say yes even if it wasn't our Wobbuffet?" commented Jessie sarcastically. It was creepy being in a small cave with Wobbuffet pressing in on all sides.
       "WOULD YOU MIND PIPIN' DOWN FOR A MINUTE?” roared Meowth. Abruptly all people and Pokemon went silent. "Tank you. Could you repeat dat, Wobbuffet?"
       "Wobbuffet. Wobba buf. Buffet. Bawobbuffet."
       "I see. Jessie. James. It seems dat Wobbuffet has Teleported us to his home."
       "That explains a lot," James agreed.
       "Wobuffet, wobba buffawobba. Wobbuffa."
       "Ah. Guys, we're inside the cave-woiks of an island!"
       "An island?  Where?"
       "Dat's da ting. Wobbuffet has infoimed me dat dah Wobbuffet and Wynaut who live heah Teleport dah island around dah woild all dah time!"
       "Why?” James asked curiously.
       "Wobbah, buffet wa," Wobbuffet replied.
       "To keep death home a secret," translated Meowth.
       "So when exactly can we get off?” complained Jessie, just a little creeped out being in pitch blackness and surrounded by an army of Wobbuffet.
       Wobbuffet began chattering again, and Meowth seemed to agree. "Youah right. We've got nowheah to go, Jessie. Tink about it!  We'd bettah just stay heah while we tink a sumptin'."
       After deciding to stay, the Wobbuffet occupants of the cave began chattering non-stop. "Deah tryin' ta figuah out what tah do wit' us," Meowth informed them as he covered his own ears, desperately endeavouring to block out the noise. The two humans followed suit, and kept them covered until they were too tired to hold them closed anymore…



       Misty had been walking down the road for a few hours, with the twins in tow. It was wrong to call it a road, Misty thought to herself. It was merely a path, barely more than a trail, leading south from Savannah Square to Bayville. The path was paved with grey stones embedded into the dirt from countless rains. She wouldn't have considered it anything remotely resembling a path six months ago. She had almost reached town when she began to break down and cry. 'This isn't right,' she thought. 'He can't just leave me behind.'  Misty recalled a day long ago, before they got married, when she was eighteen.

       ~~~She and Ash had confessed their love for one another about a year ago, and Misty was up early, watching the sunrise. Ash had come up quietly to sit beside her, and had begun to speak.

"Misty," she remembered him saying, still looking at the sunrise. "I saved enough money last week to buy you a new bike.” She had been worried at that moment, recalling all the times she had said that the only reason she travelled with him was because of that bike.

"A really good one too: a nice-quality mountain bike, ten-speed, metallic blue. Brand new, right off the shelf.” He reached up into his vest and pulled something out, hiding it from Misty's view. She had been on the verge of tears, wondering if he was doing this to push her away or to bring her closer. The next moment seemed to stretch on for an eternity.

"Misty," he had continued. "I didn't buy the bike.” She looked at him, shocked. "I decided to spend the money some other way.” She exhaled, and then realized she had been holding her breath. "I spent it on something you might like even better.” He took her left hand in his right, and slipped something on her finger, not once moving his eyes from the sunrise. Taking her hand back to examine the warm metal object, she was shocked to see it was a diamond ring. Ash looked at her hopefully. "Will you marry me?" ~~~

       She comforted the twins, who were weeping silently with her. Misty continued through the jungle surrounding Bayville to the beach. It was almost sunset, and Misty looked over the ocean, at an unfamiliar island that she had never seen before.
The jungle plants behind her rustled. Misty looked back, expecting a Tropius or a Meganium to appear. Nothing showed itself. She relaxed. "AAAAAH!” Someone’s scream broke the silence; many screams actually.

"HELP!  PRIMEAPE!” Misty stood up. Those people had been speaking English!  She had to help them! 
       She began tearing through the jungle as fast as she could with two babies in tow. Finally she arrived in a clearing, where a very large, very angry Primeape was chasing two people and a Pokemon. "Hey!" she shouted in English.
"Please don't shoot!" yelled James in return, after falling from a tree he had attempted to hide in.
       "Hey, she sounds familiah," commented the Meowth from Jessie's head, which was moving violently as Jessie ran at top speed. "Ain't dat dah twoip's goilfriend?"
The Primeape had barely flinched at the uninvited guest and was thoroughly ignoring her as it continued to chase its targets.
       "Golduck, go!” A cobalt-colored Golduck appeared and began to confuse the Primeape, who fell down unable to battle.
       "Yeah, dat is her," Meowth confirmed, finally out of Jessie's hair.
       Misty spoke. "Team Rocket?!"
       "WHERE?” the team asked angrily, looking around as if to kick some butt.
       "*You!*"
       Jessie looked taken aback. "Why I've never been more insulted in my life!"
       "You think *we're* in Team Rocket?" asked Meowth in a similar tone.
       "You're not?" Misty retorted.
       "No!!" they replied.
       "You are her, aren't you?" asked James. "The twirp's girlfriend. I thought they blew up the League," he commented.
       "Wait a minute, how did you get here?” Misty replied. "Kanto's half a world away!"
       "WHAT?!" they exclaimed in unison.
       "So how did you get here?” James wondered, twisting the question unintentionally. "I saw it on TV. Team Rocket blew it up."
       "We Teleported. All of us.” Misty replied.
       "Den where's da twoip?" asked Meowth, looking around.
       "He went back," she replied wistfully.
       "Is he crazy?” Jessie asked.
       "He's nuts!” agreed James.
       "He'll never survive.” Meowth predicted.
       "Don't remind me.” Misty replied, and began to quiet the twins, who had begun crying again.
       "Who are they?" asked James, walking over to get a better look. He pretended to ignore the Primeape, which slunk back into the jungle without a sound
       "This is Shawna and this is Paul."
       "Dey youahs?” Meowth asked, genuinely curious.
       "Yes. Mine and Ash's."
       "Wow. So why did he go back again?" Jessie asked.
       "He and everyone else went back to fight Team Rocket."
       "Well good for them. I wish we could help.” Jessie replied regretfully. "We've been running from them ever since Cassidy became the boss."
       "Cassidy?! Butch's partner?"
       "Yeah, ~that~ Cassidy," Jessie spat.
       "So how'd you get here?" asked Misty, changing the subject.
       "Da Wobuffet express!" exclaimed Meowth.
       "Team Rocket shot our balloon out over the ocean, and Wobbuffet Teleported us into an island, which the hundreds of resident Wobbuffet Teleport all over the world to keep their home a secret," explained James.
       "That's what I saw!  I saw that island earlier!" replied Misty excitedly.
       "Oh no, is she thinking what I think she's thinking?" asked Meowth.
       "I don't think I'm thinking she's thinking what you think she's thinking. What do you think, Jess?" asked James, before receiving a smack on the head from Meowth. Meowth noticed Jessie hadn't even tried to hit him. Lately they had been competing to see who could hit him the quickest after James did something stupid. That guy would end up with brain damage, not like he needed any more.
       Jessie spoke. "You don't really think…  You don't think you can help Ash, do you?” Misty replied with fire in her eyes.
       "Yes. Yes I do.” She got up and ran into town, with the confused ex-Team Rocket right behind her. Misty ran into a rather large hut and began speaking in a different language.
       "And I thought I was bilingual," commented Meowth. "I've nevah heard anyone talk like dat,"
       "Is Kyra here?  Kyra, there you are. I'm leaving. Yes, to Kanto. I'm going to help Ash. Keep the twins safe for me, okay?  They had better be safe when I get back or I'll… There's no time for that. I'm going. See you later.” Misty quickly began explaining the language situation to Jessie and James as they sprinted back to the shore, where the Wobbuffets' Island still remained.
       Wobbuffet appeared out of his Pokeball, and Jessie suppressed the urge to smack him as he moved toward the island. Wobbuffet called his fellow Pokemon out, and many Wobbuffet streamed out of the underwater entrances into the cave. Meowth reluctantly explained to them the plan to Teleport to Pallet, and Wobbuffet helped to clarify the few questions. Then Jessie, James, and Meowth dove into the cave-works.
       Luckily the flashlight was still there, and Jessie switched it on. "We're going to Pallet." Misty stated.
       "Are ya really ready ta do dis?  'Cuz dere's no toinin' back aftah we get tah Pallet. It's a war zone back deah. Literally."
       "Yes. I'm ready. I was born ready."
       "If you say so. Wobbuffet!  Time tah go!" Meowth declared. The many Wobbuffet called out in unison, and with a white flash, everything was as it was.
       "Did we go anywhere?" asked James, confused.
       "Wobbuffet!"
       "He said dah island got Teleported too!" answered Meowth. "Be ready. Deah's really nothin' ya can do except maybe get people tah safety," he added.
       "We're helping too!" declared Jessie. "We have a score to settle!"
       "What?!  *We're* going out ~there~?  I can hear the gunshots from in here, Jess!” James replied, amazed at the recklessness of his former partner-in-crime.
       "Don't be such a baby, James. You're coming too."
       "Me too!" replied Meowth. Frankly he'd rather take the gunshots than the Wobbuffet’s any day. Misty prepared herself and practically ran through the tunnel.
"Wait for us!” called the others. By the time they caught up with her she was on the Pallet shore of the short river connecting the town to the ocean.
       Misty's eyes met chaos. Bullets whizzed past in every direction, a legendary Dragon circled the town, crushing every piece of Rocket machinery he could find, and an army of dark-skinned warriors were taking out scared Rockets on every corner.
       Suddenly there was another flash, and a red-haired woman in a fur coat stood in the center of the fray, a Hypno at her side. Misty heard Jessie seething behind her. "Cassidy," she hissed, and released her Arbok. Meowth stepped forward. James released his Weezing, then his Growlithe to be safe. After the attack on James's parents' mansion, Growlithe had been in bad condition. James had nursed him back to health, and Growlithe was as good as new.
       Cassidy laughed. "Jessie, James and Meowth. And Misty. What a surprise. Can't say I blame you for trying to resist. Raticate, Mightyena, Fearow, Jolteon, go!

A/N~ Hello, fans! (Let's face it~ if you've read this far you must really like me.)  Of course, if it wasn't for Topaz, this chapter wouldn't be here. That's right, and she has more awards than me anyway (but I wouldn't complain if you nominated mine…)  Thank you Topaz!  So what do ya think of the story so far?  Love it?  Hate it?  Don't feel like commenting on it?  Well comment on it anyway; I want to know how the mind of a fanfic reader really works.**  9/30/03