"Pikapi!"
Ash stirred. He didn't want to wake up. He was dreaming he could fly, and he felt warm.
"Pika pika!"
He woke up. He was under a blanket with people on either side of him who stirred with him.
"What's up, Pikachu?" he said groggily.
He sat up and looked around. Timmy and Gary were lying down on his left, and Brock was opening his eyes on his right. Directly in front of him stood Misty, a huge grin on her gorgeous face, looking straight down at him.
"Good morning, Ash," she said. "I heard you saved the day."
"Your highnesses," said a voice. It was the captain. Ash looked up. The man looked very tired, but in a good mood. "We've made you breakfast," he said. "Ash, I doubt there's any objection to you joining them."
"Up you get," said Misty, offering him her hand. Without thinking, Ash took it and helped himself up.
Then it dawned on him—a princess helped up a commoner!
"I'm sorry, your highness," he said. "It was... thoughtless of me to take your hand..."
"Relax, Ash," said Brock. "She offered to help you."
"Yeah," said Timmy, "you're a hero. Thank her for the honour."
"Uh... thank you, your highness."
"Call me Misty. Come on, let's have something to eat."
♦
"Very good news," said the captain. "Many of the soldiers that surrendered have joined the resistance in exchange for amnesty."
"Can you trust them?" asked Brock softly.
"No, your highness. We'll take what they have to offer, but keep tight control."
"So Ash," said Gary, "how did you know that puny little squirtle could defeat those great big onix?"
"Uh... well... I just figured out a few things along the way," he replied, scratching the back of his neck.
"As soon as we've finished breakfast," said Brock, "we have to get a move on. We need to take Misty to Pewter."
♦
Soon after, the soldiers busied themselves with their plans while Ash and the others collected a few provisions for their return journey through Mt Moon. Ash put them in his backsack, picked up some torches and collected Pikachu.
Misty decided to send her squirtle back to Rose. She felt that she would be safe now, but Rose could use the protection.
Finally, with Brock in the lead, Gary, Misty, Timmy, Ash and Pikachu entered the dark tunnel.
"Guys, don't you lose your way this time," said Brock.
"We won't," said Ash and Timmy in unison. The pair picked up their last conversation they were having in the cavern from the point where they had left it as if nothing had happened in between.
"So how's King Samuel?" asked Brock.
"Still kicking," Gary replied.
"Sounds like you're sore at him."
Gary didn't reply at first, but changed his mind. "He put that peasant over there second in charge. It's as if he didn't have an heir."
"Your grandfather is a very wise man," said Brock. "He must've had a very good reason."
"To be fair, Gary," said Misty, "I think Ash has shown a lot of courage and initiative, without which I wouldn't be here right now."
"You guys say something?" Ash asked at the sound of his name.
"Just in passing," said Gary.
"Hey guys," Ash said in a hushed voice. "Stop for a sec."
Everyone halted.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
Blank looks.
"Let's walk a bit further."
They continued on. A few minutes later, Ash stopped them again. This time they all listened carefully.
"Did you hear that time?" he asked. "Like someone's following us."
"If someone else was coming along the tunnel," said Timmy, "they wouldn't stop in time with us."
"Unless they're following us and don't want us to know," Ash replied.
"Sounds echo easily inside these caves," said Brock. "Sometimes you hear your own footsteps coming from behind you and it sounds just like someone's following."
With that explanation, they began walking again. Before long, Gary noticed a particular fork branching off behind them.
"Hey guys," he said to Ash and Timmy, "that's where you two got lost last time."
Looking at it now, Ash could see how easily it was for someone to take the wrong route. He could also see markings that clearly indicated the way, something Ash had missed and Timmy had neglected.
"Good time to stop for a break," said Brock.
Everyone sat down to rest their legs. As soon as they did so, it immediately became apparent that Ash had been right. They could hear footsteps, and they were getting louder. They all got up again.
They looked back the way they had come. Their torches let them see back to the previous twist in the tunnel, about a hundred feet away. Just then, three men came round the bend and into view. They were Cerulean soldiers, armed with swords.
As soon as the soldiers saw them, they brandished their weapons and ran towards them. This was not something they had expected. They had planned for a speedy journey to Pewter without weapons to weigh them down.
"We outnumber them," said Brock. "Hold your ground, dodge, and overpower them one by one."
The soldiers neared, their swords at the ready. Two were standing in front, a third one a little behind.
"Hand over the princess now, or we'll run you through," said the soldier at the back.
"Try it and see what happens to you," said Ash, trying to intimidate them. "Pikachu, thunderbolt!"
Pikachu hopped in front of the group, tensed itself and aimed.
"Piii... kaaa..."
Before it could "chu", the first soldier reached it, kicked it with his foot and sent the small monster flying. It struck the roof of the tunnel, bounced off and landed on its head. It bounced again and came to a stop, limp and motionless.
Ash's eyes flared in the light of his torch. "If you've killed my Pikachu," he said, "I'll—"
Brock grabbed his shoulder. "Control yourself."
The soldiers were upon them. The first thrust at Ash, the second at Timmy. Both dodged, jumped to the side, and continued to move around. The soldiers followed them, occasionally slashing or thrusting to no avail. The third soldier aimed at Brock. Gary pulled Misty back, jumped behind the soldier, and called to distract him.
The soldier swung his sword back but Gary was expecting it and dodged easily. Brock, who was holding the other torch, tried to take advantage of his position and tried to burn him with the torch. Them man drew away from both of them and stood in the middle of a triangle formed by Gary, Brock and Misty. Their battle paused in a stalemate.
Meanwhile Ash and Timmy continued toying with their respective opponents. The first soldier took a swipe at Ash, who dodged and swung a kick to the man's hand. The move failed, and Ash had to jump back to avoid being cut by a second swipe from the sword.
Timmy tried to copy. His kick struck the second soldier's forearm, but the soldier was already swinging in the same direction and it failed to disarm him. The man swung his sword back. Timmy tried to move back but was obstructed by the wall of the cave. The sword slashed him across the chest. He went down.
The soldier went in for the kill.
"Help me grab Misty," yelled their leader.
The other two left their opponents and went over.
"Stop!" yelled Misty. "I'll go."
"No," called Brock, "you can't give up now."
"I don't want anyone else getting hurt."
"Wise move, Princess," said the soldier. "Now move!" He pointed with his sword in the direction of Cerulean.
Misty obeyed. As she stepped past Ash, she paused. She looked at him.
"Thanks for doing your best," she said and pecked him on the cheek.
"Go!" yelled the Cerulean soldier.
Misty proceeded up the tunnel. The solder followed.
"No funny business," he told her, "or I'll run you through." He turned to his men. "Finish them off! All of them!"
