I do not own any of these characters, places that you would see in the Pokémon world. Now here’s Part 17b of this fic.

Ash/Duplica: 13
Misty/Todd/Gary: 14
Mondo: 16
Jen: 17
Joya/Kenji: 18
Brock: 19
Laura: 20

Part 17b: After the Battle!

RP: What an interesting set of events. Mizuna ended up saving everyone from the evil Sorcerer Waruii and his minions. Giovanni, on the other hand, is finally going to serve his time behind bars, along with Masaki. Grateful for everyone's being safe, Mayor Imité is throwing a party for at his mansion, but for now, everyone is at Jen and Joya's place.

Ash Title: After the Battle!!

"Do you think Keisuke could come with us to Unc's?" Laura asked Duplica, as they walked towards the big dining area, where everyone else was.

"I bet he would!" Duplica insisted. "Keisuke-san always got along with Uncle." She gave her a sly smile. "When are you two going to finally get married."

"Ma-married?" Her face went slightly red, as they came to the dining area. "D-don't be silly." She rushed off to get a drink.

'She wants to get married.' The girl took a seat at the table, where Misty - who was holding a slumbering Togepi - Ash, Todd, and Gary sat. They'd been discussing what had happened earlier.

"Good, you're here," Misty said brightly.

She looked over to the girl, who was right beside her. "What's going on?"

"Todd was just saying that he wanted to tell us all something."

Duplica looked over at Todd, who looked away hectically. "What do you have to tell us?"

"Well, I-I just wanted to apologize to you all," he told them frankly. His gaze fell upon Duplica. "I'm really sorry about what I almost did to you. I was trying not to, but something was making me."

"That's okay, Camera Boy. It wasn't you acting then." She smiled at him. "The real you would never try to harm me, and the good thing is that you're back to your normal self."

His cheeks went slightly red and gulped slightly. "Duplica," he began almost silently, his stomach flip-flopping, "did you really mean what you said earlier back there…about liking me?"

Duplica felt her cheeks growing warm, nodding. "Yes…I did."

"But why?"

"Now that's a weird question."

"Okay, sorry. I guess…I…was wondering in what way do you like me?"

"I haven't been obvious enough?" Duplica's face was completely red by now. "What about you?"

"You're v-very nice," Todd told her while scratching the back of his head. "I was attracted to you when I first saw you, that's why I asked to take a photo of your Pokémon. I just wanted an excuse to get your picture."

"I knew it!" Misty interrupted, causing everyone around them to jump. "You never take photos of Pokémon, unless they're out in the wild."

Todd nodded, wondering if anyone else had caught on to that small fact. "Anyway, I don't really remember what happened to me. I was in the shopping district, received a call from my boss, and was going to head over to the gym. On my way, that strange Pokémon that's sticking by Misty, attacked me. Next, I remember waking up in a cell, and Giovanni talking about some strange things about legends.

"After that, it's pretty much a blur, other than the things Duplica said, and her calling me 'Toru-kun'."

"That girl, Shelley, mentioned something like that," Ash interjected. "She said she was kidnapped, and that a Pokémon using hypnosis on her."

"That's how it was for me," Gary concurred.

Laura walked back into the dining area. "If you guys want to get ready for the party, you better get yourselves ready." She winked to Duplica. "Joya and Brock already left."

"Oh yeah, that's right! Did you get in touch with Keisuke-san?"

"Yeah, he's going to meet me there."

"Well, I guess Laura and I should go get ready." Duplica stood. "Want to come too, Misty?"

"No, that's okay. I'll stay here for a while."

"Okay. You and Ash can come later with Kenji and Jen." Misty nodded, catching on. "Come on, Snap!" Duplica grabbed Todd's hand, dragging him off, following behind Laura.

"With all this stuff that's been going on, I wonder where Mewtwo is. He was freed, but I haven't seen him since then."

Right at that moment, Ash sensed something; like someone was trying to speak with him, the voice saying, "Hi there, future Pokémon Master. I am at the Imité home."

"Mewtwo?" Ash got up from his seat, and began to look under the table and behind Misty and Gary's chairs. "Yoohoo, where are you?"

Gary and Misty looked at Ash stupidly. Gary shook his head, and murmured, "He's lost it."

Ash ignored his comment, and stared upwards in confusion. He then nodded. "Okay."

"Ash, who are you talking to!" Gary demanded.

"It's Mewtwo," Ash explained, "he's using his Telepathy."

Gary scoffed. "Okay then, where is he, and what did he tell you?"

"He's at the mansion, and said that he'll be there waiting for us."

"Is there more to this party thing other than the mayor being in a good mood?"

Misty nodded. "It's Kenji's birthday. I have this feeling that they're going to throw his surprise party there. It's the perfect opportunity, getting right down to it. Maybe Duplica mentioned it her cousin, who mentioned it to their uncle, which is why both Brock and Joya-san left already."

"Why didn't you tell me!"

"Tell you what?" Ash asked.

"It would be rude to go to a birthday party without some kind of a present."

"You're actually being considerate?"

"C'mon Misty, I'm not that bad. What does he like?" Both explained how he was into art and Pokémon sciences, as well as his occupation. Gary took this all in. "I guess I'll go catch up with that Ditto girl. Maybe she can take me someplace really quick to get a present."

"Hey, Gary, whatever happened to your admirers?" Misty asked.

"I left them behind; grew tired of them."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Ash." He smirked arrogantly. "They were all fighting over me so much I couldn't take the noise anymore." He stared over at Misty playfully. "Now, if Misty would like to take their places---"

"Don't even think it."

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I better get going." He rushed off, to catch up with Duplica and the others.

"Well, it's just us, the ex-Team Rocket members, Jen, and Kenji," Ash noted, after Gary had gone.

"Nope," Jen said walking into the room. "The rest left a good while ago, so it's just us."

Ash looked over at the clock. "Whoa, it's 18:00, no wonder no one is around here."

"Kenji-kun is resting up, and he told me that he didn't want to go to the party, but we'll get him to go. I know him." She grew a bit quiet, as if something were bothering her.

"Jen-san, what's wrong?"

"I have a question…"

"What?"

"Well, I was just wondering about everything that happened today. How did we know what to do, and how did our clothes change and the other stuff? It just…happened."

"Instincts," Misty explained knowledgably. "That's how we knew what to do, and what spells we were capable of using. You were also fighting with your ancient bodies, so that's another reason. All of the spells and attacks that were used were much more powerful than what they were centuries ago, but then again, so were those demons that were summoned."

Ash arched an eyebrow at Misty, asking, "How do you know?"

She shrugged. "I don't know; I just…do."

"What if I had children, would they have that weird power, too?"

Misty shook her head. "It's most doubtful."

"What do you mean?" Ash asked.

"The spirits were all reborn within us; our parents didn't have them. Since Waruii has been defeated, those spirits can now rest in peace, and the shadow demons are gone too, so there's no more threat. Duplica, on the other hand, might, since she's a direct descendent of Hoshi-san.

"Hoshi-san had two children, a daughter named Sutasu, and a son named Shinji. Her husband died fighting in a war shortly after the birth of Shinji-kun. Anyway, both Sutasu-chan and Shinji-kun, grew up, married, had families of their own, who had children of their own, etc."

"I guess that makes sense." Jen stood up slowly. "I'll go check on Kenji-kun, and try to persuade him into going."

"Alright, Jen-neesan."

With that, she left the two seated at the table, Misty having grown pretty quiet. Pikachu hopped up onto the table. ":Hey, Misty, where is that new Pokémon?:"

"Oh, Flamie is lying around some place," she answered absently, her mind wandering once again.

":What's wrong?:"

"Just something is puzzling me, that's all."

"What's that?"

"Well, when I encountered my parents, both told me that I will see them again---"

"That's great!" Ash cut in.

"Not really."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know when I'll be able to see them again since they couldn't say."

Ash's excited look fell. "Oh."

"They told me that they would be around for the 'next major event' in my life, so I'm assuming it'll be a good thing."

"Oh, well, that's not bad."

"Mama also mentioned how it'd seem like years to me, but only moments for them."

He scratched the back of his head, thinking. "What could you be doing years from now? It could be almost anything."

"I don't know, but they also mentioned something about seeing me for the most important event of my entire life, and the results from it."

"The results from it?" Ash looked even more confused than what he had earlier. "I wonder what that could mean."

"I guess I shouldn't worry about it, especially since they told me that it wasn't meant for me to know my future before it comes."

":Guys, we need to hurry and get going,:" Pikachu told them, pointing over to the wall clock.

"Oh, it's getting late." Misty rocked Togepi gently. "Wake up, Togepi. It's time to go."

Togepi opened his eyes, and chirped at the sight he awoke to. ":Mommy!:"

Also at that moment, Jen walked into the room, pulling an exhausted Kenji behind her. "Guess who I got out of bed, guys!"

Kenji looked terrible, and tired. His eyes looked a bit droopy, and his hair was a bit disheveled. He was still feeling a bit bothered about all that had happened earlier. "Hey Kenji."

"So," Jen smiled sweetly at him, "are you ready to party?"

"Not really," he answered humbly, "but it would be rude not to attend, since we were all invited."

"Yeah," Ash told him, standing up, "so that means you can't turn it down."

Misty stood, grabbing Kenji's left arm, while holding Togepi in the other. "He's right, and I, Hanada Kasumi, won't let you, so let's go!"

Jen grabbed hold of his other arm, Ash and Pikachu finding the entire sight amusing. "Yeah, Kenji-kun, let's go!"

"Wait, where did everyone else go?"

"They all got tired of waiting on a sleepy-head like you, and left," Jen told him mockingly.

Kenji could only shrug, but right at that moment, a dark Pokémon ran up to them, standing beside Misty.

"Fascinating!" Kenji exclaimed, his eyes going wide. He got out of both Misty and Jen's grasp, and took out a sketchpad and pencil from out of no place. He kneeled down, studying the Pokémon, beginning his sketches. "What kind of a Pokémon are you?"

Misty sweat dropped. "It's called a Flamie."

"Wow! This is remarkable! I've never seen such a Pokémon!"

"Kenji-kun, can we go now?"

Kenji ignored the girl, as he continued with his work. "Now, what type of Pokémon are you? From the name and the look, I'm assuming some type of a fire type, but then again, I did witness you using a Psywave like a Psychic type, or maybe a Psychic/Poison bug type, like my Venonat. It has Psychic attacks that the writers of the show don't even know about!"
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RP: Sorry, I needed some attempted humor someplace in here.
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Jen tapped his shoulder. "Kenji-kun?"

"Then again, you look like you could be part Starmie, because of that jewel you have---"

"KENJI, YOU CAN SKETCH AND RESEARCH POKÉMON LATER!! I WANT TO GO PARTY!!"

Kenji jumped from the girl's outburst, and put his supplies away. "Gomen, gomen," he apologized hastily.

"That's better."

With that they, along with the three Pokémon (Flamie, Pikachu, and Togepi) headed towards the Imité Mansion. The gate to the premises was already open, and the guards standing by, just let them right in without question. They walked up the pathway, by the fountain, and to the front door. Jen tapped on the door very gently.

Kenji noticed that all of the lights were out. "Somebody didn't pay his electric bill," he joked.

"It sure looks that way," Jen commented, "and no one's answering the door." She tried the door. "Hey, it's open."

"I hope nothing's happened," Ash said.

"I hope not either," Kenji replied, growing apprehensive. "Maybe we should go get the guard at the front gate."

"That's okay, let's just go in first," Jen suggested. They followed behind her, walking a bit further into the house. She felt on the wall by the front door. "I think the switch is right around….here!"

The lights went on, and everyone shouted, "SURPRISE!!"

RP: Well, it looks like he’s going to get his party after all, and I hope he enjoys it. Tune in to Part 18 of this fic to find out if he does or not.
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Okay, another part has come and gone. And here's something I didn't mention earlier, Shawaazu (シャワアズ), is the name that Misty gave to her Vaporeon. Shawaazu is the Japanese name for it, and pretty much means "Showers". It's pun-like, just like with the three birds.

Anyway, you guys ought to be glad; you're a lot closer to finished than you'd think. How did you like this entire part? Was it good? Was it okay? Was it bad? Was it awful? Do I suck as a fanfiction writer? Should I quite while I'm ahead? Okay, I'll be quiet. Lol Well, I appreciate feedback of all kinds, luckily, they won't be flames and hope it stays that way, as I've never received any. My address is pikato8270 at aol.com or you could email me at SSJupiter at aol.com. Either one is okay with me.