Chapter 3

The Jet landed on a secret Team Rocket Base near Mount Moon. David told Ash he had 
called ahead for a car to take him to Viridian City, then he would be on his own.
   “Thanks, Dave.”
   “It’s David.”
   “Oh, sorry Dave, I’ll remember that in future,”
   “It’s David!”
   Ash smiled. “I know, David. Thanks for the flight.”
   David rolled his eyes, and then they shook hands. Ash turned away from David and 
made his way to the exit, where he found Crystal, standing there, scowling at him.
   He gave her a toothy grin. “See ya.” He walked straight past her and went straight 
down the stairs waiting for him, and only stopped to say, “Oh, and thanks for the 
sandwich. It was delicious.” He then continued down the stairs, leaving a very angry 
Crystal, her leather suit shining in the sunlight, making her body easy to see.
   As Ash walked across the runway, he saw many of the male workers stop what they 
were doing and gaze at Crystal. Ash stopped and stood beside one of them and said, 
“Don’t bother. She’s set her sights higher than you guys and she gets moody if you eat 
her food.” The worker looked at him, then burst out laughing. 
   Ash continued on, his bag on his back and his head held high, cap securely on, jacket 
whipping in the wind. He was ready to return to Kanto.
   He met his driver in the main building before driving down into Pewter City, where 
Ash gazed at all the buildings. All the memories. Then the Gym flashed by his window.
   “Excuse me,” he said to the driver, who raised his head to show he was listening, “do 
you know who owns the Gym there?”
   “Not personally, but I do know who the Leader is. Bloke called Brock.”
   Ash beamed at the back of his driver’s head. Brock. His best friend, when they had 
been travelling together, of course. Now Brock detested him for joining Team Rocket. If 
only he knew he had done it to protect him… Well, the fact he was the leader brightened 
his day considerably.
   They left Pewter and drove through Viridian forest on a small tarmac road. Ash’s 
stomach lurched at a couple of the corners, but it wasn’t that bad.    
Eventually they broke out into the sunlight, and Ash saw Viridian City in front of them. 
He laughed. He had forgotten how beautiful it was on a sunny day. A couple of flying 
Pokemon, including Pidgeys, Wingulls and Spearows, (Ash shuddered at the memory of 
Spearow chasing him on his first day of a trainer) soared over the shimmering buildings 
that made up the City. 
   The driver stopped just outside the city, letting Ash out.
   “Thanks.” Ash said, gazing around him.
   “No problem. Be careful on the road.” And with that, the car drew away. Ash smiled 
and turned towards Viridian.
   Back in the car, the driver spoke into a microphone that was hidden in his ear. 
   “Ketchum has been dropped off, sir.” Nothing. “Sir?”
   Ash’s voice suddenly came on, making the driver jump. “If you are hearing this, then I 
apologize, because I have just disrupted your signal with Team Rocket headquarters. I 
did this because I’d rather Giovanni bugged off so my whole life isn’t watched and 
recorded. Thanks, and have a nice day!” The line went dead.
   Back in Viridian, Ash stopped at a café and sat at a small table in the corner. He took 
out his Pokenav. It said, ‘NOTIFIED’ and he put it away, now in the full knowledge that 
the driver had been spying on him. He hoped his automated message had given him a 
fright.
   A waitress came over, her green uniform tight around her curvy body. She smiled at 
him. Ash held out a hand.
   “Microphone, please.” he said casually. The waitress looked shocked. Ash frowned. 
“Oh come on! Firstly, you’re wearing a tight uniform that shows off your body, which, 
nice as it is, is just a signature Giovanni thing. Secondly, you forgot to take off your TR 
shoes,” The waitress looked down, and her eyes widened, the bright red ‘R’s in clear 
view, “and thirdly, coming back to the tight uniform, I’ve been in here before. It’s not 
green.” He stood up. “Microphones here please!”
   All the waiters and waitresses looked over, their green suits tight on their body as well. 
They didn’t move. Ash eyed the puzzled customers and said, “If you don’t, I’ll tell all 
these people that your work for Te-”
   They dived towards him, ripping out their spy gear and placing it on the table in front 
of Ash, who nodded. “Good. And the people up the street use green uniforms, you gits.”
  They all looked at each other. Then, as realisation dawned on their faces, they rushed 
out of the café and up the street. Moments later, new staff appeared, all in blue uniforms, 
the original colour. 
  As they walked in, they placed their microphones in front of Ash, who took out his 
Pokenav, said, “Cover you ears.” and activated the Disrupt mode. An explosion of static 
filled the room, making everyone yelp and cover their ears. It was over in a few minutes, 
however, and Ash fetched a bin from behind the counter, pouring the now useless 
equipment into it. Settling back down in his chair, he smiled and said loudly, “Coffee 
please. Black. Ooooh, and maybe a little slice of cake. Cheers.” and the Rockets rushed 
about to get him his order.
*
Giovanni had his head on his desk, and he was hammering it slowly with his fist.
   “…. Those idiots!” he spluttered, pounding the desk harder and faster than before.
*
Ash left Viridian in high spirits, still sniggering at the major flaws in Giovanni’s ‘plan’.
  He had a reasonable length to walk. It would take him about an hour or two to reach 
Pallet, but he was glad. He wanted to prepare himself for facing his mum, and he wanted 
to try and enjoy the nice weather. Releasing his Pokemon; Charizard, Ivysaur, 
Meganium, Croconaw and Quilava, Ash let them roam free, as long as it was near the 
path.
  “I was really busy…… no, I was, I was….. I was travelling a bit to clear my 
head…no…..”
  He thought of several excuses that he could give his mother, but deep down he knew he 
would either tell her the truth, or wouldn’t tell her anything. But he had to tell her 
something.