"Go Tork!"
"Go Victreebel!"
"Go Smeargle!"
"Go drumstick!" The kid tossed a chicken leg that bounced off all three pokéballs shuting them before they could open. The kid leapt and rolled in the grass catching the food in his mouth. "Federal Agent! You are all under arrest!"
The kid held out an FBI badge and continued to eat. He calmly sat down next to James and took several food items from the pack.
"Your friend here is rather a well accomplished thief." He pulled a tab on a soda can. "Now as I said earlier to you I need answers and if I have to arrest you I will!"
"Excuse me sir what is this all about?" Ash recovered Tork's pokéball.
"Simple kid, Team Rocket has taken over Emerald and is threatening invasion into Amber. I was sent as an Ambassador as my cover but, it was no use the Rocket's knew somehow and now I'm on my own here. Your friend here is wearing a partial Rocket outfit."
"He had the full thing on this morning." Nero snorted.
"Cut it out Nero!" Ash ordered. "Who are you?"
"Agent Burvato, I was here on intelligence mission when the Rockets shot down my plane. I have recieved word that the rest are captives in Saffron. They told Amber offcials that the plane crashed on Mt. Silver and all aboard were killed." He was obviously starved because he was eating through their rations.
"Was that TRs chasing us this morning?" James offered a roll to him.
"Yup! What I need to know is where is Giovanni hiding, you are an "ex-rocket" where is he?" The Agent glared at him.
"I don't know! I left Team Rocket...honestly eight years ago!" James caught Ash holding up eight fingers.
"How do I know that! For all I know is that you are still a TR!" Burvato seemed too connected to this case then he should be.
"What happened to you?" Ash looked him straight in the eye.
"What do you mean kid!" He growled.
"I'm Ash! Quit calling me a kid! You're not so old yourself! And you look too young to be a FBI agent." Ash crossed his arms.
"I'm twenty-nine! I may not look my age but, I still am old enough for you to give me some respect!" He glared back at Ash.
"James is telling you the truth! He hasn't been with the Rockets for years!" Ash stood. "So Agent! What are you going to do? Arrest us for knowing nothing!"
"Don't smart off with me junior! I have earned my rank so sit down and listen to me!" The Agent was upset.
"Something personal is at stake with you! It doesn't take a psychic to see that!" Ash countered.
Nero felt like slipping away, this was too intense for him. Rockets, federal agents, assassinations, he was a simple scribe not a hero.
"I..I.." He was silent. "It is personal. I want to solve this thing so badly."
"If you want us to trust you tell us. Then we'll help." Ash sat down.
"My job is on the line! That personal enough for you kid!" He sneered.
"I have a name! It's Ash!" He returned the leer.
"So do I! Ace! Now will you help me or not?" He noticed something flapping in the pile. "Our glorious leader will travel through Viridian City tomorrow! We will be lead into honorable battle against Greenfield!"
Ash ran over the headline, he scanned the body of the article. Ace snatched the paper away, reading it in detail. He grunted now and then. James found another section of the newspaper reading it. Nero had been trying to say something finally shouted, everyone turned toward him.
"Agent Ace? Is that right? Well I can tell you where Giovanni is." This caught Ace off guard, he spun around almost falling over a tree stump.
"Why haven't you said anything!" He barked.
"You two were too busy fighting. Giovanni is gone." Nero thumbed through his pack. "Here! This is from three years ago! Before any of the newer invasions happened."
"Three years ago! How is that going to help!" He gripped the clipping. "Giovanni, our leader was assassinated last night. It is believed by Rocket Executives that he was poisoned. His wife has been sworn in as our leader. Fear not Rockets! So now this is war against his wife."
Nero glanced at Ash, there was something about the look. He took a step away.
"How did you not know that?" Nero took another step back.
"Nero, we haven't been in Emerald in sometime. We are returning." Ash saw James nodding.
The truth was they never had been in Emerald. Ash was starting to think his dream of Misty was more then it seemed. She told him it was a different world not just the future.
"We can all go on not trusting one another and go our separate ways." James pointed out. "We are getting nowhere fighting."
"He's right. I apologize if I stepped on any of your bleeding hearts!" Ace took something out his back pocket. "I know now what bothers me about you four."
James sweated as he saw the poster unfurl. Pikachu quizically studied the strange writing. Ace just then shot his foot out, smashing Meowth tail.
"You jerk!" Meowth slashed at Ace but, he was far too agile.
"I knew it! You are the ones wanted by the Rockets!" Ash released Tork.
He leapt forward to pin Ace. Again Ace merely side stepped, Tork flew harmlessly into the patch of grass. Ace bounded quickly onto the nearest tree. He smiled before he tossed a pokéball amid them.
A Houndour appeared, it growled with fierce determination to protect her master. Ace leapt near his pokémon, patting his dog's head. Grabing his cloak he tossed it aside revealing his dark clothes underneath. Ash saw the cavliar vest which bore the FBI intials in yellow on the front of it. A sidearm rested at his hip, a night stick rested on the other.
"I told you who I am! Now it's time for you three to come clean! Who are you?" His Houndour took a threatening step forward.
"We've told you the truth!" Ash turned his hat back as Tork sprang backward landing perfectly in front of him. It let out a mighty roar. "You only need to believe us!"
As Ace ordered Houndour Ash collasped. James, Meowth and Nero ran to his side. Pikachu sent thunderbolts shocking Ace's hound. Ace was different, he was nimble in his avoidance. Pikachu caused a huge flash blinding Ace, Pikachu moved rapidly to tackle Ace to the floor. Shouting Pikachu thundershocked Ace.
Gary woke to find Pupitar cold, he leapt. Shook the monster, it did not move. Eevee licked Dark's face, it remained motionless. Gary felt the creature was too light, then what he saw alieviated his fears. Dark was laying in the sun hardening it's shell after it shedded the old one. He ran over to his pokémon.
The Dark Pupitar was still weak but, Gary could see it was healing. Dark watched the master's approach. It was awaiting a death blow. This was the way of Rocket Pokémon, if it was severely wounded a Rocket would rather kill the monster than sit around tending to it. Only honored pokémon were cared for if it was in pain. Dark ran from battle, ran from it's master, it was a canidate for death. Yet this master cleaned his wounds, tending gently to each. His Eevee seemed very loyal and Dark was seeing why.
Gary recalled the monster bug before recalling Eevee. He was going to run into the town, he had no choice since he was nowhere and had no idea where Ash was. He was hoping Ash went to town as well. He thought about many things as he started the long walk. His thoughts often drifted to Cayli. He didn't love her so why did he feel so bad that she left him to go home?
He was remembering how she told him she loved him. He didn't share the feelings so he let her know. She shouted at him. She was upset further when he told her who he was in love with. He told her not to be cruel but, she demanded to know who.
"Who Gary! Who is it?" Her eyes teary yet held hostile flickers.
"I'm not in love Cayli! I'm thriteen too young to be in love don't you think!" He wanted to spare her feelings but, she would not drop it.
"Misty! Okay! Misty!" He had his arm twisted behind his back.
"Ash's girl?" She let go in amazement.
"She's not his girlfriend! They are not dating!" Gary growled.
"That twig? She doesn't even like you Gary! I've been your biggest fan since day one! For crying out loud! I've been your cheerleaders' captain!" She tossed her raven hair out of her face.
"Maybe that's why I find her so intriguing? She not like any girl I've ever known. She is so strong minded! She always says what she has to say, she has wonderful green eyes and..."
"Gary! Look at me and say you don't feel anything for me!" Cayli shouted.
Gary wanted to say something, he didn't want to hurt her. He didn't want her to go either because she was his friend. He was torn between emotions, he opened his mouth.
"Your my friend, I feel nothing beyond that." She calmly walked out on him, as she exited she gave him one last look. He saw the tears roll on her face.
He wanted to stop her. What was he supposed to do? He didn't love her nor did he lead her on. Still he felt bad. He hurt her with the truth yet it was the truth she wanted. What was he supposed to do?
As he thought he walked, as walked he thought, as he thought he didn't see that tree. He woke to find Ash and Misty holding hands. He screamed in surprise, they turned toward him. Both letting go of each other's hand, both were red in the face.
"What happened?" Gary tried to remember what was going on before.
"Gary? How are you here?" Ash helped him stand.
"I don't know? So...what were you doing here?" Gary gave Ash a leer.
"Uh... talking." Ash remembered Ace challenge him, he fell down. He was dreaming again.
"I can explain." Misty looked radiant to Gary. "Sabrina told me the last time you were "dreaming", we were actually linked by Mew's psychic powers."
"Mew?" Ash wondered what that look Gary was giving Misty was about. "What does Mew have to do with this?"
"She is helping the Elite Four find the two of you. So far all we know is that you are in a...what was Sabrina calling it? Oh! Yes, a parallel world named Emerald." She was smart too! Gary kept watching her lips.
"How did we get here and where are Gary and Jessie?" Ash studied Gary, he never gave any attention to her before? Why was he staring at her.
"As far as I could tell I'm outside Viridian." Gary took in every detail of her red hair.
"Well Gary, me and James are just outside Viridian too!" He stepped in front of Gary. "We should meet in Viridian."
"Sure thing Ash." He pushed Ash aside. "Misty, what else has Sabrina told you?"
"Not much." She walked over to Ash. "Just that you must make sure that you two get the crystals and keep them safe."
Gary felt jealous as Misty stood next to Ash. Old flames of hate hatched from old coals in his heart. He crossed his arms and glared at Ash.
"I have mine! I don't know about Ashy boy!" He snorted. "I bet he already busted his!"
"I have it Gary! It never left my side!" He felt Misty's hand on his shoulder.
"Let it go Ash. He'll never change." She whispered in his ear.
What was that! She was whispering in his ear! Gary felt those flames burst into infernos. Why was she so interested in Ash! He was the one with the fame, could get any girl to fall in love with him with just a look! He wanted to punch Ash! He wanted to let those infernos claim Ash. He wanted Misty.
"Calm your anger boy!" Sabrina entered the link. "You hold so much hate in you. You must let it go. It in the end will destroy you."
"Sabrina!" Ash felt his anger melt away as he greeted an old friend.
"Ash, it has been some time." She smiled. "I wish we could talk a little more but, the link is weakening without Mew. I'm afraid I bring only some distrubing news."
Misty's attention was caught with those few words. She slipped her hand back into Ash's. Gary didn't notice because his full attention was on Sabrina. Ash felt Misty give his hand a slight squeeze. He rubbed her hand gently with his free hand. She turned to him blushing slightly. Gary saw this, his rage surfacing again.
"Gary, you are standing right next to Ash." Sabrina spoke but, Gary did not comprehend.
"In this psychic link yeah." He answered.
"Physically and technically yes too."
"How? I haven't seen him!" He quizzed her.
"Here's the technical part. You see, you two are exactly where you are in the physical world yet in the time period no. Gary you are in the past of Emerald, Ash you are in it's future." Her eyes darkened.
"How do we get back?" Distraught crawled under Gary's skin.
"By touching the crystals in the proper way. You must unite the crystals." She lowered her head.
"Then what you are saying is we aren't coming back!" Ash felt Misty hold him tight as she wept.
"No! It's not possible!" She cried on his shoulder, he did the only thing he could he put an arm around her.
Gary felt his hackles raise, not only had he lost his way home he lost Misty! His face contorted with grief, fury, and his mind felt physical pain? Yes, his face was stinging. His chest burned.
"The link is failing! Do not give up hope Ash, Gary! Will is working on a solution. You must have faith." Sabrina faded away, next Gary.
"Just in case this is the last time I see you Ash." She kissed his lips before she faded away.
He woke with questions whirling wildly in his mind. He woke to Emerald, he woke clinging to hope, he woke to some guy lashed to a tree with a sock in his mouth?
Gary woke to pain. Now he saw the tree he hit. That wasn't the only pain he woke to. He thought of the kiss the two gave one another before he woke. Cayli was right, Misty was Ash's girl. He sat for countless minutes before rising to his feet with determination to win Misty's heart away from Ash! He had his hopes that Sabrina and Will would bring him back.
To be continued.......
-JLB