I'll eat my hat if I own Pokemon! If I had a hat. . .

Chapter 5

Cerulean City and What They Find Out There. . .

"We have to tell Officer Jenny!" Ash said as the small group of three exited Mt. Moon. They had finally made it to Cerulean City.

"No, it's too risky," Amber said, quickly trying to make something up. "Do you know what they'd do to you? I've heard stories about some kid who blew up their operation at Silph Co."

Of course this wasn't true. The little runt got away, destroying the base in the process. Rumor had it he had battled his way to Giovanni and defeated him. But team rocket couldn't let it get around that a little kid had gotten the best of the boss, could they? They had spread these rumors around to keep people out of their way.

"Maybe Amber's right," Brock said after he shuddered. "I've heard about it too."

Yes!

"But guys," Ash started.

Great.

"We can't be scared off by a few drifting rumors!"

Here comes the 'we can be brave and fight off anything that comes our way' speech.

"We have to try, guys. For all we know, that could have been a major operation in there! They could be planning something really big! We have to stop them."

Wait for it. . .

"We just have to be brave. If we stick together, we can fight off anything that comes our way!"

Hip hip hooray for you, Ketchum. . .

"Could we wait to dash in a top secret Team Rocket base until we have backup?" Brock said, not convinced.

"We really aren't on the level for that kind of stuff," Amber said, backing him up. "And, no offense, the police aren't either."

"Fine," Ash mumbled, defeated, for now.

* * *

"Ash!" a red haired girl called as she ran up to Ash and squeezed him in a hug as Pikachu jumped off his shoulder. Suddenly, she realized what she was doing, let go, and blushed. "It's been a long time."

"Misty, is that your Gyrados?" Ash asked as he pointed to the big dragon-like water monster that was staring at them.

"Yeah! Isn't he gorgeous?" she said, grinning.

"I wouldn't say gorgeous. . ." Ash whispered to Brock.

"I heard that, Ash Ketchum! I spent a lot of time training that Gyrados, thank you very much!"

"I was just commenting on-"

"I know what you were commenting on! Your saying that a water pokemon isn't beautiful, aren't you? You’re criticizing my choice of pokemon!"

"As a matter of fact-"

"Pika. . .chuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!"

A large bolt of electricity sprang from the little yellow mouse.

"Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!" the pair yelled.

"Do they do this a lot?" Amber asked Brock.

"You have no idea."

* * *

It was already dark and way too late to have a gym battle with Misty, so the group was showed to their room and, tired from their little episode in Mt. Moon, collapsed onto their beds. Everything was so quiet. Amber was not used to this. At Dad's house, there was always a problem to be dealt with. Always a matter to settle. Always an important phone call on the way. It was too comforting to leave, but Amber knew she had to. She knew the agents would be on their way to dispose of the witnesses of their latest plans. Amber tiptoed out of her room into the night, knowing that she had to protect her newfound friends.

* * *

Ash pretended to sleep as Amber tiptoed out of bed. Where was she going this time? After she silently closed the door, Ash leapt from bed and followed her, hearing Brock stir as he, not as quietly, crept after her into the night.

* * *

Ash peeked around the corner of Cerulean Gym into an alleyway. Amber was glancing around, apparently looking for something. She turned her attention to a particularly shadowy part of the ally way. Ash listened as an unknown voice talked with his friend.

* * *

"Who goes there?" a gruff voice called from the darkness.

Amber warily walked toward the voice. It was defiantly a rocket.

"I could ask the same thing," she said. "You're here to dispatch us, aren't you?"

The grunt stirred. He was obviously surprised that a mere girl knew his plans.

"Who's asking?" he asked. He stepped out into the dim lighting as he silently reached for a pokeball.

The pokemon inside must have been trained to kill.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Amber said coolly. “I don’t think Giovanni would like to find his daughter seriously damaged now, don’t you think?”

The grunt blinked.

“What?”

“You heard me. I don’t think Giovanni would like to find his daughter seriously damaged.”

“You’re bluffing,” the rocket said.

“I’m not, just read this card, and you’ll get all the proof you need.”

Amber handed him her identification card. She always kept it with her, but tried not to reveal it too often, but this was an emergency. Her only friends’ lives were at stake. The rocket gaped at the small black card. It had a large red R printed on the corner of it.

“I am Amber Temkell of Viridian City. Daughter of Boss Giovanni Temkell.”

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Ooooooooooh, plot twist! I love plot twists! This fanfic is a lot of fun to write. Especially since the idea for it has danced around in my brain for a YEAR!!! What’s going to happen? Has Amber been working for Team Rocket this whole time? I guess you’ll just have to find out. . . in Chapter 6!!!