"A Penny for Your Thoughts"
Author: Robert Brown

Disclaimer: This story uses characters created and copyrighted by Nintendo,
            Game Freak, and/or 4 Kids Inc. (except where noted, in which case 
            they were created and copyrighted by me or by another and I have
            permission to use them).  The author hereby gives permission for 
            this story to be downloaded and/or printed at 1 copy per user as 
            long as (1) no changes to the story are made without my express 
            written(not e-mailed) permission and (2) no attempt is made to 
            profit from this story.  If either or both rules are violated, it 
            will be considered a violation of copyright law.

Author's Note: Well, here I am, story #6.  I know, I know, whatever fans I
have left are probably sick and tired of waiting for these stories to come 
out.  I wish I could write them more often, but there's just so much more on 
my plate.  Well, for those who have stuck with me, you're in for a few treats
this time.  The summary told you most of them, but of course, there are a few
more.  Till next time, Happy Reading!
               Here's a side note to all the reviewers out there who are
positive I'm doing Ash/Misty and to those who think I'm doing Ash/Pikachu.  Of
course, one side is right, but I'm not telling who is.  I just ask that 
everyone play nice and keep the flames to a minimum.  These are supposed to be
read for enjoyment, try to remember that, ok?  Support your pairing all you 
want, but please don't attack the other one.  That is all.  

#6

	After a long and thoughtful journey, Ash and his friends finally reached
the shores of Cinnabar Island.  "Great job Lapras," Ash said as they all 
climbed down off the pokémon's back.  "Return!"
	"We finally made it," Misty said as Lapras returned to her pokéball.  
	"Yeah," Ash said, clipping Lapras' pokéball onto his belt, "now I can 
finally go after my seventh badge."
	"Hold it!"  Misty said, making the others jump.  "The only place you're
going is to a hotel or the Pokémon Center to reserve us a room.  Got that?  
And while you're doing that," she continued, placing Togepi in Ash's arms and
taking Pikachu from his shoulder, "Pikachu and I are going to do some shopping
in town.  We'll meet up with you guys later."
	"B-but--"  Ash tried to protest but Misty just turned and walked away.
	"And while we're at it," Misty whispered to Pikachu as she walked, "you
and I are going to have that little girl talk I promised."
	"Pikapi!"  Pikachu wailed, holding out her arms to a stunned Ash.  She
briefly considered shocking her way free of Misty, but she knew that it would
only cause more trouble than it solved.  
	Ash and Brock watched until Misty and Pikachu had blended into the crowd
of people walking along the beach before even blinking.  "That was weird," 
Brock said, for once not even taking notice of the beautiful, bikini-clad 
ladies that were parading in front of him.
	"Umm, yeah," Ash agreed slowly, unconsciously bouncing a now slumbering
Togepi in his arms.  "I guess we should find somewhere to stay, huh?  Wow...I
didn't think there'd be that many people here."
	"Well, Cinnabar Island isn't known just for its badge," Brock said, 
pulling out his guide book and leafing through it.  "It says here that it's 
become quite the tourist trap in recent years as the volcano's energy was 
harnessed to produce some of the best hot springs in the entire region."
	"The volcano's energy," Ash mused, looking at the volcano that towered 
over the people and the buildings as a thought occurred to him.  "Hmm...."
	"Well, unless we want Misty to blow her top, we'd better get moving,"
Brock said, getting behind Ash and pushing him toward the nearby Pokémon 
Center.  "Besides, I can tell there's a pretty girl on this island waiting for
me!"
	Ash shook his head with a smirk, then jogged ahead quickly so that Brock
nearly fell on his face.  But as they headed to the Center, Ash couldn't stop
thinking about Misty's weird behavior.  "Oh well," he thought, "I'm sure I'll
figure it out eventually."
	While Ash and Brock were trying to check into the Pokémon Center, Misty
carried Pikachu straight to a well known women's clothing store.  She passed 
by all the sales clerks without a word and then deposited Pikachu into a 
dressing room.  "Now then," she told the frightened pokémon, "I need you to
change back to a human for me.  I don't exactly want a repeat of Ash seeing
you without any clothes."
	Pikachu's cheeks flushed as she nodded, her fear giving way to shame.  
In the recent excitement, she'd managed to forget about that little detail of 
her transformation.  She changed back to her human form, arms crossed in front
of her bare breasts and her eyes downcast modestly.  
	Misty looked over her form with a critical eye.  Contrary to what her
sisters thought, Misty did have good fashion sense.  But because of all the
travelling she did, she preferred function over fashion.  The type of clothing
her sisters wore wouldn't last a full day outdoors.  Even so, she knew she 
didn't look bad.
	"All right," she said finally, making Pikachu look up.  "We're almost 
the same size, but our coloring is completely different.  I think I know what
would be good for you.  Now I'm going to find you a set of clothes and bring
them back here.  Don't move from this room and don't let anyone in, do you
understand?"
	"I understand Misty," Pikachu said quietly.  Misty dropped her backpack
on the ground and headed out into the store.  Pikachu took the chance to look
at herself in the full-length mirror provided.  "So, this is how you see me
Ash," she thought, looking herself up and down.  "I hope...I hope this is a 
body you can fall in love with."
	Some time later, on the other side of the island, Ash and Brock barely
made it to a bench before collapsing on it in sheer exhaustion.  They had 
checked every hotel and both Pokémon Centers only to find them completely 
filled up.  Apparently a breeder's convention was being held over the next few
days and everything had been booked up for weeks.  There wasn't a bed, much 
less a room, available.
	"I can't believe this," Ash moaned.  "What are we going to do?  If we 
even suggest camping out to Misty, we're both going to have our heads caved in
by fists, feet, or mallet."
	"Stop exaggerating Ash," Brock groaned, throwing his arms over the back
of the bench.  "What I can't believe is that I didn't know anything about this
convention.  If I had any warning, any warning at all, I could've had Vulpix
ready to show.  But I have no chance now.  I feel like I've let Suzie down."
	"Oh don't be silly Brock!"  Suzie said, sticking her head in between 
Brock's and Ash's with a smile on her face.
	Both Ash and Brock jumped in surprise, almost falling off before they 
just caught themselves.  "Suzie!"  Brock yelled as he righted himself.  "You
nearly gave us a heart attack!"
	"Toge prii!"  Togepi trilled from Ash's arms, enjoying herself as only a
baby can.
	"I'm sorry," Suzie said with a slight giggle, walking around to sit on
the bench between the two boys.  "I didn't mean to surprise you.  I'm just a
little surprised myself to see you here.  I've been trying to get a hold of 
you for a few weeks now, but you haven't been checking your e-mail.  I was
hoping you could make it here to the convention, and here you are."
	"I should apologize for that," Ash said, rubbing the back of his neck
with his hand.  "Things have been really hectic for us lately.  None of us
have really had the chance to relax."
	"Oh don't worry about it," Suzie said with a smile, brushing a lock of
her greenish hair behind her shoulder.  "Listen, I didn't mean to eavesdrop,
but I overheard your problem.  I think I could help you, if you don't mind."
	"Mind?"  Ash said, perking up at once.  "Suzie, you'd be a lifesaver!"
	"Well then, you can stay with me.  I was invited to the convention as
one of the head guest speakers, and they gave me a hotel suite way too big for
me to be in by myself.  I'd be happy to share with you; there's plenty of room
to go around."
	"Us?  S-Stay with you?"  Brock stammered, suddenly very nervous and 
finding it hard to breathe.
	"Wow, thanks!"  Ash said, standing up.  "We'd be glad to go with--"
	"Ash, I need to talk to you," Brock said quickly, jumping up and 
grabbing Ash by the shoulder.  "We'll be right back Suzie.  Could you watch
Togepi for us?"
	"Umm, all right," she said, a hint of confusion creeping into her face
and her voice.
	"What's your problem Brock?"  Ash demanded as Brock pulled him away.
	"Ash, there is no way I can share the same suite as Suzie," Brock hissed
in a low voice.
	"Why not Brock?  I figured you'd jump at the chance to be close to her."
	"Are you crazy?"  Brock nearly yelled, just remembering to keep his 
voice down.  "Suzie is the only girl I know that I'm interested in where I can
keep myself from going absolutely crazy around!  I don't trust myself to stay
in control if I'm around her that much!"
	"What scares you more Brock?  Losing control around Suzie or telling 
Misty you turned down her only chance to spend a night in a bed for probably
the next week?"
	"Like I said Ash, don't--"
	"One word," Ash said, cutting Brock off.  "Gyarados."
	Brock cringed visibly at the mention of Misty's newest pokémon.  "She
wouldn't...."  he tried to say, but then hung his head as he realized it was
futile.  "You're right, she would."
	"Great, then it's settled," Ash said loudly, making Suzie look up from 
where she was cooing at Togepi.  "Suzie, we'd love to take you up on your 
offer."
	"Great!"  Suzie said with a warm smile that almost made Brock melt.
	"Go on Brock," Ash said, shoving Brock next to Suzie as she stood up.
"Brock will go with you and take Togepi.  I'll find Misty and Pikachu and let
them know what's going on."
	"Sounds good," Suzie said, threading her arm through Brock's, making his
face go almost completely pink.  "I'm staying at the Flaming Flareon Hotel, in
the penthouse.  You can't miss it."
	"Works for me.  I'll see you two later!"  Ash called as he jogged off, 
pointedly ignoring the death glares he knew Brock was sending his way.  "Now I
just have to find Misty and Pikachu."
	He walked around for about a half-hour, checking the stores he thought
Misty would be in, but she was nowhere to be found.  He even checked a woman's
clothing store, to his extreme embarassment, and had to run out as soon as he
saw that she wasn't in there.  With no other leads, he headed toward a nearby
café to grab some food and plan out his next move.
	By pure coincidence, Misty and Pikachu were at that exact same café, 
relaxing and eating as they talked.  "So that's the whole story," Pikachu 
said, nervously dipping one of her apple slices in ketchup.  "At least, I
don't think I've left anything out.  Except for kissing him and catching
Articuno."  The last sentence was only said in her mind though, not about to
remind Misty about that kiss if she could help it.
	Misty sighed and swirled her lemonade with her straw.  It was a lot to
take in, but the proof was right there in front of her.  "So what are we going
to do then?"  she asked, looking up.
	"What can we do?  I love Ash.  You love Ash.  It's all going to come 
down to who he loves, isn't it?"
	"Yeah," Misty said quietly.  She was scared, scared of losing Ash.  Up
until this moment, there had been no real threats to Ash's affections.  But 
now his best friend and first pokémon was also a human girl when she wanted to 
be.  Add in the fact that she loved Ash just as much as Misty did, and you had
a very combustible situation.  
	"We just need to figure out how to break the news to him," Pikachu said,
leaning back in her chair.  "You know how much he loves surprises."
	Misty couldn't help but chuckle at that.  She caught sight of a certain 
red hat behind Pikachu and grinned.  "Here's our chance."
	Pikachu stiffened and turned her upper body slowly around until she 
could look behind her.  Sure enough, Ash was standing only a few feet away, 
looking like a statue.  "You always did have the best timing," she thought,
shaking her head.
	Ash, on the other hand, felt like his brain had completely shut down.
He had spotted Misty's signature ponytail as soon as he neared the café and 
had hurried over to tell her the good news.  It was only as he get closer that
he had noticed she had company.  The girl Misty was sitting with had long 
brown hair that went past her waist, nearly hiding his view of her light brown 
tank top.  He caught sight of her dark brown shorts ending just above her 
knees as she crossed her legs, as well as the brown knee-high boots she wore.
And the whole time, he knew he'd seen her somewhere before, but it wasn't 
until Misty had acknowledged his presence and the girl had turned around that
he made the connection and his brain shut down.
	"It's you," he said, walking over and sitting down at the table.  
"You're the girl who saved my life!"
	"Umm, hi," she said, blushing a little.
	Ash just stared for a moment into her warm brown eyes before asking a 
lot of questions rapid-fire.  The poor girl was so flustered that it took 
Misty yanking hard on Ash's hair to get him to stop.  "Ow!  What'd you do that
for?"
	"First of all, how do you expect her to answer your questions when you
don't give her a chance to get a word in edgewise?"  Misty asked, arching an
eyebrow.  
	Ash blushed and pulled his hat down a little to cover it.  "Sorry," he
muttered.  "I just have so many questions about what happened and where you
came from.  I don't even know your name."
	"It's...Penny," she said with a slight hesitation that Ash didn't 
notice.
	"Nice save," Misty mouthed at her with a smirk.
	"Well, as much as I'd like to explain everything now," Penny said, 
throwing an irritated glare Misty's way, "I just went through it with Misty
here and I have the feeling I'll have to explain it again when we meet up with
Brock so I'd rather just wait until everyone was together."
	"Speaking of which, where is Brock?"  Misty asked.  "Did you guys find
somewhere for us to stay?"
	"Well, not really," Ash started, but quickly held up his hands when he
saw Misty's anger rising.  "Wait a minute Misty, it's not like that!  There's
some convention here and everything's all booked up!"
	"You mean we have to camp out again?"  Misty demanded, her eyes narrowed
into tiny slits.
	"No!"  Ash yelled quickly, making a few of the café's other patrons look
at him oddly.  "No," he continued in an undertone.  "Actually, that was why I 
was looking for you.  We ran into Suzie and she said we could share her hotel
suite."
	"Suzie's here?"  Penny asked with a smile.  "Wow, it'll be great to see
her again.
	"You know Suzie?"
	"Err...well, she said she'd explain it later Ash," Misty said, standing 
up and pulling Ash to his feet, looping her arm through his.  "Come on, let's 
get going.  I want to see this suite we're staying in.  You do know where they
are, right?"
	"Of course I do," Ash said, sounding a bit miffed.  "It's the Flaming
Flareon hotel in the penthouse suite."
	"The penthouse!"  Penny said excitedly as she stood up and looped her 
arm through Ash's free one.  "I've always wanted to stay in a penthouse.  The
view must be terrific from up there."
	Ash sweatdropped at Penny's excitement, but soon gulped as he noticed 
the stares passing between the girls.  They were being calm, civil, and even
friendly toward each other.  Underneath the veneer of friendliness lurked a
very powerful sense of rivalry, and he had the distinct feeling he was the
subject.  "Brock would give anything to be in a situation like this," he
thought, looking back and forth between the girls as they walked.  "Me, all I
want is for Pikachu to thunderbolt me out of it!"
	"Hey, wait a minute!"  Ash said so suddenly that both Misty and Penny
were almost pulled off their feet.  "Where's Pikachu?"
	"Pikachu?"  Misty asked, hoping Ash didn't notice her sweatdrop.  "She
was feeling a little run down so I dropped her off at the Pokémon Center to
have her recharged.  You can pick her up tonight."
	"Nice save," Penny mouthed mockingly behind Ash.
	"Gee, thanks a lot Misty," Ash said with a smile that made Misty's 
heart skip a beat or two.  
	"Anytime Ash," Misty said with a small smile of her own.
	"Can we please get moving?"  Penny asked, glaring at Misty.
	Ash flinched back from the electricity he could swear was crackling
between the two girls' stares.  "Let's just go," he said quickly, walking
forward and dragging them along.
	They only made it halfway to the hotel when three figures jumped out at
them.  "Hold it right there!"  the redheaded female yelled.
	"Team Rocket?"  Ash asked, taking a step in front of both girls.  "What
are you doing here?"
	"As you know," James said, his arms crossed over his chest, "our boss 
has given us the direct order to capture Pikachu.  Now, that means we actually
have to try it now and again.  Nothing personal, you know."
	"So, without further ado," Meowth said, holding up the Team Rocket fans,
"we present our newest addition to the Team Rocket fighting team!"
	"In its first battle ever against Team Twerp," Jessie said with a small
smirk on her lips, "I present to you, Dratini!"  In a burst of fanfare, 
Dratini emerged from her pokéball.  Instead of looking ready to attack though,
she leapt up into Jessie's arms and nuzzled her face.  "Yes yes," Jessie said,
looking a bit embarassed, "I love you too, but we're getting ready to have a 
battle here."
	A determined glint appeared in Dratini's eyes as she leapt down and 
assumed a battle pose.  "Much better," James said with a cocky grin.  "Now
then, let's get going."
	"So let Pikachu get--"  Meowth cut himself off as he stared at Ash.
"Hey!  Where is she anyway?"
	"It took you this long to figure out she wasn't even here?"  Ash asked
sarcastically.  
	"Can it," Jessie snapped.  "Just great.  We spent all that time working
on our entrance and now we can't even battle."
	"Say, why don't we take some of their other pokémon?"  Meowth asked.  
"We could hold them hostage to make him turn over Pikachu."
	"You know guys," Penny said in a low, dangerous voice, "this is really
not a good time for this."
	"Oh look, another Twerpette," James said in a singsong voice.  
	"Hmm, looks like the other one has some competition," Jessie said, the
smirk back on her lips as she eyed how both Penny and Misty were holding onto
Ash's arms.
	"Why don't you all leave, now, before I make you," Penny said in that
same voice, shrugging free of Ash's arm and taking a step toward Team Rocket.
	"Hmmph, she obviously doesn't know who she's dealing with," James said.
"Why look, she doesn't even have any pokémon on her."
	"Look, I have nothing against you personally," Jessie said, reaching 
for another pokéball, "but you have to learn not to get in our way.  Go!
Lickitung!"
	"Tung!"  the pink and yellow pokémon yelled as he appeared, his tongue
waving in the air.  
	"Lickitung!  Go lick that girl until she learns some respect for Team
Rocket!"
	"Licki!"  Lickitung cried, running over toward Penny.
	Penny's eyes flashed bright with something like electricity as she
watched Lickitung approach.  "I warned you!"  she said, lifting her arms to
the sky.  To everyone's great surprise, she seemed to fall in on herself, 
shrinking in an instant until only a pile of her clothes remained.  
	"What?"  everyone except Misty screamed, taking a step back.
	"Licki?"  Lickitung asked, prodding at the pile of clothes with his
tongue.  "Tung?  Tung?"
	A black tipped, yellow furred ear poked out of the pile of clothes.
"Pi...."
	"Tung!"  Lickitung squealed in fear, backing away so fast it fell on its
backside.
	A second ear, exactly like the first, poked free of the clothing.  
"Ka...."
	"Licki!"  Lickitung wailed, running and hiding behind Jessie's legs, 
quivering in fear. 
	"What is your problem?"  Jessie demanded.  Then she looked over at the 
clothing and saw a very familiar face peeking out from it.  One with a lot of
electricity leaping from her red cheeks.  "It can't be!"
	"CHU!"  Pikachu yelled, launching a powerful Thunder at Team Rocket,
sending them flying off almost before her attack was finished.
	"That was a shocking development," Jessie cried.
	"Yeah, but the shock was on us!"  James moaned.
	"Oh, so that's what she used her wish for," Meowth said, rubbing his
chin thoughtfully.
	"I don't know what you're talking about Meowth," Jessie said, "but I do
know one thing...."
	"We're blasting off again!"  all three yelled as they faded off into the
distance.  
	"Dratini!"  Dratini chimed in, just barely heard by the others.
	Pikachu breathed hard for a few moments before she calmed down.  She 
held her arms straight out to the sides as she changed back into her human
form which she had named Penny.  "I tried to warn them," she said, making sure
all her clothing had gone where they were supposed to as she changed back.  
"Oh well, I just wish I had figured out how to handle these boots though," she
muttered as she pulled her boots back on.
	After she was done, she turned around to face the others and froze.
Misty had her face in her hands, shaking her head back and forth in disbelief.
Ash was just standing there, his mouth wide open in disbelief.  "Umm, Ash?"
she asked, waving her hand in Ash's face.
	Ash stared at her for a moment, then shifted his gaze over to Misty.
When he realized that she was not shocked in any way, his mouth closed and his
lips pressed together in a tight line.  "Let's get going," he said abruptly, 
walking away from both the girls.  "The faster we get there, the faster I can
find out exactly what's going on."
	"Nice going," Misty mumbled as they hurried to catch up.
	"OK, so that wasn't the best way for him to find out," Penny whispered.
"I just acted, all right?"
	"Next time, think first!"  Misty whispered back harshly.  "You're lucky
no one else was around.  I don't think you want this to become common 
knowledge, do you?"
	"All right, all right!  It's not like you haven't made some mistakes
yourself you know."
	"We'll discuss that later," Misty said, slowing her pace as she figured
out that Ash meant to stay at least a couple steps ahead of them.
	As the three made their way to the Flaming Flareon, Suzie and Brock were
already there, seated comfortably on the large plush couch.  "I can't believe
all the adventures you've been through since the last time I saw you," Suzie
said, her voice holding a note of amazement as she idly stroked Vulpix, who 
was laying in her lap.  
	"Well, that's travelling with Ash for you," Brock said with a relaxed 
smile.  After they'd arrived at her suite, Brock had found it much easier than
he thought it would be to stay calm and catch up with her.  "With that boy, 
nothing's ever boring."
	"Still, Pikachu getting evolved into Raichu and then getting de-evolved?
Ash gaining electric abilities like Pikachu?  A strange girl saving Ash's life
in Seafoam?  And above all that, surviving that encounter with the Red Squad?"  
Suzie pressed one hand to her chest as she shook her head, causing the 
butterfree perched on her head to fly up a bit and jostling the sleeping 
female nidoran on her shoulder.  "I'm just glad that you made it through all 
of those safely."  A slight blush stained her cheeks as she stammered, "I 
mean, all of you."
	Brock knew what she meant, but he just couldn't get himself to believe 
it.  So he did what any other man would in his situation.  He changed the
subject.  "So, this is a nice place you have here," he said after nervously
clearing his throat, looking around at the red and orange themed room.
	"Yes it is, but I don't know why they gave it to me," Suzie said, 
seemingly glad for the change in subject.  "What use would I have for a three 
bedroom penthouse?  It's just a waste, which is partly why I'm glad I ran into
you.  I don't like being alone in such a big place."
	Brock was about to ask what the other part was when someone knocked on
the door very loudly.  Brock and Suzie both got up to answer the door at the
same time but ended up bumping their heads together, making each wince in
pain.  "Sorry," they both said at the same time, drawing a nervous giggle
from Suzie and an embarassed blush from Brock.  They both started to talk at
the same time again, but that just made everything worse.
	Whoever was outside the door chose that exact moment to pound even 
louder on it, making Suzie and Brock jump in surprise.  "I'd better get that,"
she said, hurrying to the door as she tried to compose herself.
	Brock watched her go, trying to compose himself as well.  There was just
something about Suzie that made him feel at once at ease and nervous, but he
couldn't quite put his finger on it.  Any thoughts he was about to have were
derailed though as Ash stormed into the room.  "Ash?"  Brock asked, surprised 
at the enraged look on his friend's face.  "What's wrong?"
	Ash didn't answer Brock directly, just nearly threw himself into an
overstuffed chair and stared at the door.  "Well?"  he asked.  "We're here,
aren't we?  I want my explanation."
	Brock looked over at the door and started in surprise.  Misty walked
in with her head down and sat down on one of the loveseats.  But it was the
girl who sat next to her that caught his attention.  "It's you!"  He 
exclaimed.  "The girl who saved Ash at Seafoam!  I knew you were real!  I
almost didn't recognize you with your clothes on."
	"You didn't mention you saw her naked," Suzie said in a too sweet voice
as she sat down next to Brock, her right eye twitching slightly.  
	"Hi Brock," the girl said quietly, feebly waving in his direction.
"Yeah, I'm real...kinda."
	"Kinda?"  Brock asked, more than a bit confused.  "What do you mean?"
	"Oh, I'm sure you'll love Penny's explanation," Ash said sarcastically.
"I know I can't wait to hear it."
	Penny and Misty both flinched from the venom in Ash's voice.  "First
things first," Penny said slowly, "I need to know how much you know about all
this Suzie."
	Suzie looked at Penny, surprised that the girl knew her name, but told
her everything that Brock had already related to her.  Penny nodded and took
a deep breath, telling her tale.  The expressions on everyone's faces ranged
from shock to disbelief to outright denial as she told who she really was, how
she had acquired her new ability, and why she went for it in the first place.  
To prove her point, she stood up and transformed into Pikachu, waved at Brock 
and Suzie, and then changed back, making sure she was properly attired.
	Suzie slowly leaned back into the couch, trying to accept everything she
had heard and seen.  Brock wasn't in much better shape as he leaned back in a 
pose mirroring Suzie's.  "I know this is a lot to take in," Penny said, but
her voice hitched as she looked at Ash.  Ash seemed to have calmed down as 
Penny told her story, but his eyes were as cold and hard as steel.  "Ash?"  
she asked timidly.
	"I need to go for a walk," Ash said suddenly, lurching to his feet and
striding to the door.
	"Ash!"  Misty called after him as Brock ran to intercept him.
	"Don't leave like this Ash," Brock said.  But Ash just pushed him aside,
not paying attention to the yelp of pain Brock gave.  He opened the door, ran
outside, and slammed the door behind him.
	"Are you all right Brock?"  Suzie asked, hurrying over to his side.
	"I'm fine," Brock said, gingerly rubbing the electrical burn he'd
received from Ash.  "I've gotten worse from Pikachu on an almost daily basis."
	"What have I done?"  Penny whispered before dissolving into sobs.
	"He'll be back," Misty said soothingly, drawing Penny into a warm hug.
"He will be back, won't he Brock?"  she asked, doubt momentarily clouding her
eyes and her voice.
	"I'm sure he will," Brock said with more confidence than he felt.  "He
just needs time to think this through and cool off.  It's a lot to take in all 
at once."
	"Brock's right," Suzie said with a smile that never quite reached her
eyes.  "He'll be back before you know it."
	"I need to lay down," Penny said, sounding exhausted.  
	"You can use the bedroom on the left.  It has two beds, so you can lay
down too if you want Misty."
	"That's probably a good idea," Misty said, helping Penny to her feet.
"Is Togepi in there?"
	"Yeah, I put Togepi down for a nap before you got here.  Feel free to 
use anything you want here, even order room service if you like.  Come on
Brock, we'd better get ready."
	"Get ready?"  Misty asked as she and Penny walked toward their room.
"For what?"
	"Well, I have this dinner to go to tonight and I asked Brock to be my
date."
	Both Misty and Penny stopped and looked at each other.  "Under any other
circumstances, I'd be shocked that Brock actually has a date," Penny said with
the slightest of smirks.
	"But under the circumstances, we'll just let it go," Misty finished for 
her as they continued into the room they would share.
	At around this time, a Gyarados-shaped submarine limped its way into a
hidden inlet of a deserted part of the beach.  "You were a little off this 
time," Jessie groused as she popped out of the hatch.  "This thing could've
been a full fifty feet closer to where we landed."
	"Sorry Jessie," James said, climbing up next to her and jumping down to
the beach.  "I thought I accounted for the wind this time."
	"Yeah well, don't make that mistake again," Jessie said, letting James
help her down.  "You know what seawater does to my hair."  She turned back 
to the sub and cupped her hands to her mouth.  "Are you coming Meowth?  We
don't have all day!  I need to get Dratini and Lickitung to the Pokémon 
Center."
	"I'm coming Jess," Meowth said, hopping down between them.  "Just a 
little extra crispy from that Thunder ya know."
	"Oh yes," Jessie said, pulling on a dark red, tight-fitting sweater
over her Team Rocket top, "that reminds me.  What did you mean about a wish?"
	"Well, Pikachu did me a favor, so I did her a favor by telling her 
where this Gem was that could grant wishes.  I never thought she would do
something like this though."
	James stared at Meowth as he traded his Team Rocket shirt for a plain
white button down shirt.  "So you're telling me that you knew where a gem
like this was and never told us about it?"  he asked incredulously.
	"It's not like it's there all the time," Meowth said defensively.  "It
comes and it goes, and Pikachu was around when it showed up so I told her
about it, that's all."
	"Yeah well, you could've told us before this," Jessie said as they
walked off.  "But I do have to admit, it makes things a lot more interesting.
I can't help but wonder how Ash is taking all this."  Little did she know 
that she was not the only one wondering exactly that.
	Hours passed and Ash didn't return.  As the sun was beginning to touch
the western sky, Brock came out of the room he would eventually share with 
Ash.  He was dressed in a nice looking white tuxedo that fit him perfectly.  
It amazed him that Suzie knew his measurements so well, and to be honest it
freaked him out slightly.  But for some reason he was feeling calm tonight.  
He just hoped he could control his normal tendencies when around the fairer
sex so that he didn't embarass himself or Suzie.
	He walked over to Suzie's bedroom door and knocked gently on it.  "Are
you almost ready Suzie?"  he asked.  "We have to leave soon."
	"Almost Brock," he heard her call from inside.  "Could you check on 
Misty and Penny for me and let them know we'll be going?"
	"You got it," Brock answered, setting the corsage he carried on a
nearby table and walking over to the other bedroom door.  "You guys awake?"
he called, knocking gently on the door.  When no one answered, he cracked 
the door open slightly and peered inside.  
	The sight before him broke his heart.  Both Misty and Penny were sound
asleep in their beds, tearmarks all over their faces and pillows.  Togepi
slept fitfully beside Misty, obviously upset like her mother was.  Brock took
in a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh.  He knew Ash would be back
eventually, he just hoped the three of them could work it out.
	"Still asleep?"  Suzie asked quietly, coming up behind Brock.
	Brock nodded as he closed the door.  But the words he had to say died
a swift death on his lips as he looked at Suzie.  She was wearing a sleeveless
gold dress that shimmered in the evening light as she walked.  It fell down to
just below her knees and was held up by one wide strap over her left shoulder.
The neckline travelled from one edge of the strap down to under her right arm,
just hinting at her decolletage.  If she was wearing any makeup, he couldn't
tell.  "Do you like it?"  she asked, spinning around once for effect.
	Brock felt his mouth go dry and nodded.  "You look gorgeous," he said,
somehow getting his tongue to work.
	"You look quite dashing yourself," Susie said, taking his arm in a very
natural manner.  "Shall we go?"
	Brock nodded again and escorted her to the door.  As he held it open 
for her, he silently repeated a mantra to himself over and over.  "Please 
don't let me make a fool of myself."
	It turns out he didn't even have to worry about it as once they arrived
at the dinner, Brock was in his element.  They mingled easily with all the 
other breeders, trading tips on raising and feeding pokémon.  A number of them
had heard of Brock's special pokémon food and constantly asked him for the
secret, some even offering to trade a pokémon for it!  But he wouldn't give 
in, saying that it was the one thing that set him apart from other breeders.
	Once all the talk had died down, Suzie and Brock found their way over to
their private table and enjoyed a pleasant dinner.  "This is the most fun I've
had in a long time," Suzie said, delicately wiping her mouth with her napkin.
	"I'm glad you're having a good time," Brock said with a smile, trying 
not to let his gaze linger on the slight pink smudge on the napkin.  "It does
feel nice to be able to relax like this and not have to worry about anything."
	But as if Brock saying something jinxed it, two metal canisters rolled
into the hall and exploded, sending a red-tinged gas everywhere.  Suzie 
brought her napkin up to her nose and motioned for Brock to do the same.  
"What's going on here?"  she asked, squinting her eyes against the tears the
gas forced from them.
	"You want to know what's going on?"  a scratchy voice asked, accompanied
by a dark chuckling.
	"Well, why don't we tell them?"  another, more soft and sensual voice 
asked.  "You'd all better prepare for trouble and make it double."
	Recognition flared in Brock's face.  "Those voices!"  he yelled as the
gas began to clear, slowly revealing two figures.
	"To destroy the world with devastation!"  the first voice said 
menacingly.
	"To kill all people within our nation!"  the second voice continued.
	"To erase the goodness of truth and love!"
	"To enslave all of the stars above!"
	"Butch!"  the first voice proclaimed as his face became visible.
	"Cassidy!"  the second said as she was revealed.
	"We're the Red Squad, ruling all between Earth and sky!"
	"Surrender now or prepare to die!"
	"All right, we're going to make this really simple for all of you,"
Butch said, pulling a pokéball out of the pocket of his new uniform.  It was
solid red, except for a black "R" that stood out on the left sleeve.  "You 
will all hand over all your pokémon and valuables you have on you."
	"If anyone even hesitates to comply with this," Cassidy added with a
smirk that seemed at once seductive and evil, "we will not hesitate to make an
example out of you.  All the stories you've heard about the Red Squad are 
true, and we're not afraid to prove it."
	"What are you two doing here?"  Brock demanded, jumping to his feet.
	"Oh look," Cassidy said as she spied Brock, "it's one of those children
that got us kicked off of Team Rocket.  I don't know whether to thank you or
kill you."
	"So why don't we compromise?"  Butch asked, leering at Suzie who shrank
away from his gaze.
	"I like the way you think," Cassidy said, pulling out her own pokéball.
"Go Persian!  Let's make an example out of her!"
	"I choose you Rhyhorn!"  Brock called, tossing the pokéball of his 
newest pokémon.  "Take down that Persian now!"  Rhyhorn bellowed and lowered 
her head, charging at the persian.  
	"Oh please," Cassidy said, rolling her eyes.  "Persian, poison slash!"
Persian waited until Rhyhorn was close and leapt gracefully over her, hitting
the ground at a dead run and aiming straight for Suzie, its extended claws
shining an eerie blue.  Brock jumped across the table and pushed Suzie out 
of the way at the last moment, but took the full brunt of Persian's attack 
across his chest.  "Well, that didn't go as I expected," Cassidy said, placing
one finger at the corner of her mouth as she assumed a thinking posture, 
before her lips curled in a sneer.  "But it will work just as well."
	Brock pushed himself to his feet even though the movement obviously
pained him.  "Rhyhorn!"  he yelled.  "Take Down!"
	"That again?"  Cassidy said, yawning.  "Persian, take care of that
stupid looking pokémon with your poison slash!"  Persian aimed its attack at
Rhyhorn, but the rock pokémon's tough skin took the attack with no apparent
damage and the catlike pokémon was sent flying back to land at Cassidy's 
feet.  "Persian, return!"
	Brock tried to call out another attack, but he didn't have the air in
his lungs to do so.  The burning pain from the persian's attack had spread
through out his entire body and now forced him down to his knees.  The last
thing he saw before unconsciousness claimed him was Suzie's face, silently
pleading with him to hold on.
	"That takes care of one of the twerps," Butch said.  "Now then, unless
the rest of you want to end up the same way, hand 'em over!"
	"No!"  Suzie yelled standing up and taking a pokéball from her dress.
"I won't let you get away with what you did to Brock!"
	"Yeah, that's right!"  another breeder yelled, grabbing a pokéball in
each hand.  "You can't get us all."
	Butch and Cassidy both took a step back as they were confronted by at 
least twenty breeders who all had pokéballs at the ready.  "We won't forget
this insult," Cassidy snarled, throwing down another gas canister.
	Everyone covered their faces from the gas as the canister exploded.
When they opened their eyes, Butch and Cassidy were both gone.  Suzie hardly
even noticed as she knelt by Brock's side.  "Brock, can you hear me?"  she
asked, running her hand through Brock's hair and flinching at how warm he
felt.  "Someone help me!"
	Rhyhorn came over and nuzzled Brock worriedly.  Suzie looked at Rhyhorn
a moment and her face lit up.  Using strength she didn't even know she had, 
she lifted Brock up on Rhyhorn's back and climbed up behind him.  "Get us to
the Pokémon Center!"  Rhyhorn took off at top speed, breaking through the 
hall's doors and leaving the breeders to scramble out of her way.  
	Ash walked down one of Cinnabar's many streets, his hands shoved into 
his pockets and his gaze on the ground.  He knew he had to go back to the 
hotel sooner or later, but for right now he needed it to be later rather than
sooner.  Everything he knew was thrown for a loop.  The one aspect of his 
future he felt was fairly certain now had a huge and unexpected variable
thrown in.  The worst part was, it wasn't one he could discount.  He had to
find out; he had to know for certain.
	He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he nearly got run over by 
Rhyhorn as it ran past him.  The near miss was enough to pull him from his
thoughts long enough for him to notice that it was carrying Brock and Suzie, 
and that Brock was obviously not doing well.  
	Ash broke into a run, trying to keep up with Rhyhorn and just managed
to spy it charging into the Pokémon Center.  As Ash finally caught up, out of
breath, he caught the tail end of the lecture Nurse Joy was trying to give
Suzie.  Surprisingly, Suzie yelled right back, screaming something about Brock
being poisoned by a persian.  "That's quite impossible," Nurse Joy said with 
an air of finality.
	"Then explain this!"  Suzie said, pulling aside Brock's shirt to show
Nurse Joy the three slash marks across Brock's chest that were oozing a shiny
blue fluid.
	Nurse Joy almost jumped over her desk to examine Brock.  "These are
definitely the slash marks of a persian," Nurse Joy admitted.  "But this 
poison is like nothing I've ever seen before.  Chansey, get a stretcher for
him!"
	"Chansey!"  the pink pokémon said, giving a salute before running off
to get the stretcher.
	"What's going on?"  Ash demanded as he skidded to a stop.  "What 
happened to Brock?"
	"We were attacked by the Red Squad!"  Suzie said, twisting the fabric of
her dress nervously between her fingers.  "They seemed to recognize Brock and
sent their persian after me.  Brock pushed me out of the way but he got the
slash.  It was poisoned somehow."
	"They recognized him?  What do you mean?"
	"They said something about him being responsible for them getting kicked
off Team Rocket.  Oh, I don't know!"
	"Calm down," Ash said slowly, taking Suzie's hands in his.  "Just go 
with Brock, I'll figure out everything."  Suzie nodded and ran after the 
chanseys that were hurrying Brock into the back.  Ash watched her go until 
Rhyhorn bellowed again, trying to follow after her trainer.  "Whoa, settle 
down Rhyhorn," Ash said, trying to hold onto the pokémon.  
	It was at this point that he noticed something blue sticking out of her
back.  With care, he pulled it out and took a look at it.  "This looks like a
persian's claw," he thought.  "Hey, if this is one of that persian's claws, 
maybe Nurse Joy can use it to find an antidote!"
	"Won't work Ash."
	Ash whirled around to see Jessie and James standing behind him, grave
expressions on their faces.  "This is really not--"
	"We know that Ash," Jessie said, brushing her hair behind her.  "We 
heard what happened to your friend and we wanted to help.  We know who's 
behind this, and it shouldn't surprise you either."
	"The only Team Rocket members that were kicked off recently are Butch
and Cassidy," James said quietly.  "There have always been rumors that they
were Red Squad members, but nothing we could ever prove.  I guess we have the
proof now, don't we?"
	"I should've known," Ash said, electricity starting to crackle around
his clenched fists.  
	Jessie and James took a step back, surprised by what they saw.  "I'd 
love to know how that happened," Jessie said, "but this isn't the time.  Look,
you don't have much time.  The Red Squad is known for tipping their pokémon's
claws and teeth in a special poison that there's only one cure for, and they
have it."
	"So I have to get it from them?  How much time do I have to find them?"
	"It's all on how strong Brock is," Jessie said.  "But from what I know
of him, you have at least six hours, and that's more than most.  Fortunately,
we have a pretty good idea of where they are.  You see, there's a convention
hall in town that used to be a Team Rocket base.  I'm pretty sure the 
underground part of the base was never found, so that's your best bet."
	"Great," Ash said, turning his hat backward.  "Thanks for all your help.
I gotta get going."
	"Hold on," Jessie said, grabbing his shoulder.  "You'll need one of 
these to get in," she added, pressing a cardkey into his hand.  "The door will
most likely be boarded up or something, so don't forget to check everything.
Also, they'll probably be expecting you, so be careful, all right?  I don't
want anything to happen to my favorite twerp.  Good luck."
	"Thanks again," Ash said, taking off at a run.
	Jessie and James looked at each other for a long moment and then at 
Rhyhorn who was sitting by the doors behind which Brock had been taken.
Silently, they went to find Meowth and their pokéballs, knowing what would be
needed.
	Ash ran straight for the Flaring Flareon hotel, nearly knocking other
guests there in his haste to get to the elevator.  Once he was in it, he paced
around the whole way until it reached the penthouse.  He almost broke through
the doors when it reached the top in his haste to get to Suzie's suite.  
"Misty!"  he called, throwing open the doors with a bang.  "Pikachu!"
	"What's going on?"  Penny asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes as she
and Misty came out of the bedroom they shared.  Ash quickly explained the 
situation which drew angry gasps from both females as well as stares of
determination from them both.  "What are we waiting for then?"
	Misty ran over and grabbed her backpack with her pokéballs in it.  She
called out Starmie and asked her to keep an eye on Togepi for her.  "I'm 
ready.  You lead the way Ash."
	Ash nodded and ran out with Misty close behind.  Penny paused a moment
and looked at Ash's backpack.  The pokémon inside would definitely be useful
here, but something inside her told her it wasn't the right time for it to be
revealed.  Nodding to herself, she hurried after her friends.
	It didn't take them long to find the convention hall, but with all the
police around they had no way in.  "Stand back!"  Officer Jenny ordered them.
"This is an official police investigation."
	"But Officer Jenny, you have to let us in there," Ash pleaded.
	"Give me one good reason why I should."
	"It was our friend who was attacked here," Misty said.  "We have to get
something he dropped here.  Please Officer Jenny, he's really ill right now."
	"Well, it goes against procedures," Officer Jenny said, obviously 
wavering.  "But, I guess if you three are quick I can make an exception."
	"Thanks!"  Penny said, flashing Officer Jenny a smile as they hurried
past her.
	"Good thinking you two," Ash said as they ran down the stairs to the
cellar.  "Now, Jessie said the base was underground, so the door should be 
down here somewhere.  Look for a door that's boarded up."
	"You mean like that one?"  Misty asked, pointing to a door that had 
wooden slats across it.  
	Both Ash and Penny stared at the door Misty indicated for a long moment.
"I swear I looked that way," Ash muttered.
	"If you want to hide something," Penny said, shaking her head, "put it 
in plain sight."
	"Where'd you hear that?"  Misty asked as they all walked toward the 
door.
	Penny sighed lightly.  "It's something my mom always used to say."
	"Your mom?"  Ash asked, looking up from where he'd been looking for the
card swiper.
	Penny nodded, looking a bit uncomfortable.  "You see, when I was young,
she always told me the best place to hide was in plain sight because trainers
always look in the hiding places for pokémon to capture.  So I usually just
sat on a tree branch and watched them go crazy trying to look for me.  It was
pretty funny actually.
	"So then how did Professor Oak catch you?"
	Penny blushed here.  "I got caught trying to snitch an apple from his
lunchbox."
	Ash and Misty shared a brief chuckle that Penny joined in on near the
end.  Mirth aside, they concentrated on finding the card swiper so they could
get through the door before Officer Jenny came looking for them.  "Found it!"
Penny called, pulling open the door to what looked like a battered fusebox.
	Ash ran over and swiped the card through, stepping back as the light
turned from red to green.  The door, slats and all, swung outward, showing a
staircase that led further underground.  He went first with Penny following 
and Misty bringing up the rear.  The staircase was very dimly lit, so it was
slow going, and it seemed to stretch down into the very bowels of the planet.
	Finally, after a time that they weren't sure was long or short, they
reached an open doorway at the bottom.  "Come on in," a woman's voice said 
from inside.  "We've been expecting you."  Ash, Penny, and Misty filed into 
the room, glaring at a smirking Cassidy.  "Oh don't be so surprised," she 
said, patting the raticate next to her on the head.  "We figured you'd go to
those losers Jessie and James for help in finding us, so we rigged the door
to set off an alarm when you opened it."
	"Big deal," Ash said, more bravely than he felt.  "So you're the Red
Squad.  So what!  I've beaten you before, and I'll beat you again."
	"Ah, but that was when we were holding back," Butch said, tossing a
small vial up and down in his hand.  "We're going to make this real simple for
you.  If you want to save your friend, you're going to hand over Pikachu to 
us.  You see, we have plans for that electric rat."
	"Are you guys sick or something?"  Misty demanded.  "This is someone's
life we're talking about here!  You're treating this like some kind of
business deal."
	"But don't you see," Cassidy said with a patient smile, "that's exactly
all this is to us.  We don't care about your friend; he could die and we'd
never even shed a tear.  So don't try to appeal to our humanity.  We don't 
have any."
	Ash clenched his fist as a yellow glow began to emanate from it, but he
was stopped as Penny laid a hand on his arm.  "Don't Ash," she whispered.  
	"But--"
	"I have a plan," she hissed.  "I just need you and Misty to be ready.
Please trust me."  Ash looked at her a moment and then glanced over at Misty
for confirmation.  At Misty's nod, Ash relaxed and nodded himself.
	"Stay right there," Cassidy said as Penny took a step forward.  "Who are
you anyway?  I don't remember you."	
	"Take it easy," Penny said, her hands held up in front of her in a very
defensive and unassuming manner.  "You said you wanted Pikachu, right?  I'm 
giving her to you, that's all."
	"So where is she then?"  Butch asked, his eyes narrowing.
	Penny smiled a secretive smile.  "Why, right here."  As they looked at 
her, she transformed, dropping into her clothes just as she did to Jessie and
James.  And, predictably, Butch and Cassidy were surprised and taken aback at
her "disappearance" and bent over the pile of clothes to investigate.
	And that was just what Pikachu had been waiting for.  She leapt out of
the pile of clothes, knocking Butch and Cassidy on their backsides in 
surprise.  With their guards down, she launched a powerful Thunderbolt at 
them, making them yell in pain and making Butch throw the vial up in the air.
	Ash dove for the vial, but he could see he wasn't going to make it.
"Psyduck!  Go!"  he heard Misty yell.
	Psyduck appeared in a flash of white light right under the vial.  "Psy?"
he asked, confused at why he was being called out.  Then the vial bounced off
the top of his head and right into Ash's outstretched hand.  
	"Let's get out of here," Misty said, recalling Psyduck as Ash got to his
feet.  She scooped up Pikachu's clothing and ran toward the doorway with Ash 
in tow.  But before they could get through it, two machokes appeared out of
hidden passages, blocking the doorway.
	"No you don't," Butch snarled, wrapping an arm around Misty's throat and
placing the point of a knife against her skin.  "I don't know what the hell is
going on here, but no one's leaving!"
	"Misty!" Ash yelled, running to her, but stopping as soon as he saw 
Butch press the knife in a little more.  
	"No one move unless you want me to cut her throat," Butch said, backing
away with a crazed look in his eye.
	"I want some answers!"  Cassidy demanded, baring her teeth in feral 
anger.  
	"Dratini!  Thunder Wave!"
	The two machokes guarding the door fell down, paralyzed by the thunder
wave attack.  The moment of surprise was all Ash needed to land a Thunder 
Punch on Butch's face, forcing him to release Misty and stumble back.  He 
pulled Misty behind him, but the sight of a thin line of blood on her neck
made him tremble with anger.  
	"Get out of here Ash," Jessie said, stepping in front of him with James,
Meowth, and Dratini.  "We'll handle these guys; you go save your friend."  Ash
looked up at her a moment and then nodded.  Slipping an arm around Misty's 
waist and calling Pikachu up to his shoulder, the three friends hurried up the
stairs and out of the building.
	"Well well, look who it is," Cassidy sneered.  "Do you pathetic excuses
for human beings really think you can handle us?"
	"We don't think we can," James said, "we know we can."
	"Yes Cassidy, so prepare for trouble," Jessie said, a familiar look in
her eye.
	"And make it double!"
	"To protect the world from devastation!"
	"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
	"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
	"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
	"Jessie!"
	"James!"
	"Team Rocket!  Blast off at the speed of light!"
	"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
	"Meowth, that's right," Meowth said, his claws out and glimmering in the
faint light.
	"You've gone too far this time," James added, his face and voice deadly
serious.
	"Hardly," Butch said, massaging his chin where Ash had hit him.  "But 
don't worry, we'll rectify that soon enough.  Go Raticate, use Poison Fang on
them!"
	"Dratini!  Use Thunder Wave!"  Jessie countered.  Dratini tried to hit
Raticate with her attack, but the rat pokémon was just too fast and Team 
Rocket was forced to scatter.  
	"Victreebel!"  James said, grabbing for the pokéball until Cassidy 
kicked him in his chest.  But she had no time to gloat as Meowth leapt up and
Fury Swiped her face.
	"You'll pay for that you mangy cat!"  Cassidy swore, flinging Meowth 
away and into the wall, stunning him momentarily.  Before she could call out
a pokémon of her own though, Dratini threaded her way through Cassidy's feet
and tripped her up, sending her sprawling.
	"I could use some help over here!"  Jessie yelled, trying to fight off
Raticate by grabbing hold of his teeth, her gloves the only thing protecting
her from its deadly poison.
	Dratini slithered over to try and help, but found herself being lifted
up in the air by her tail.  "You little pest!"  she screamed, slamming the
pokémon headfirst into the ground.
	"Dratini!  No!"  Jessie yelled, trying to push the Raticate off her but
starting to weaken.
	Dratini managed to open her eyes and saw Raticate's teeth inching closer
to Jessie's neck.  Swiveling her head around, she saw James fighting Butch
desperately for control of the knife and Meowth trying to keep Cassidy busy.
It hurt to move, it hurt to think, but she knew she had to save her friends.
But she also knew that she was too weak to do it.  She closed her eyes, 
searching for the inner strength she knew was locked within her.  She found 
it, and she forced it out, feeling it fill her as she began to glow with a
bright, white light.
	Everyone was too busy to notice, especially Jessie who could now feel
Raticate's horrible breath on her neck.  "It can't end like this," she said
through gritted teeth.  Quicker than she could see, something long and a
deep greyish-blue shot over to Raticate and wrapped around him, squeezing so
hard the pokémon nearly screamed in pain.  "Dratini?"  she asked, finally
able to push the Raticate off of her.
	A more gentle and serene face looked at Jessie, a small orb attached 
under her chin and a small horn sprouting from the top of her head.  "No,"
Jessie whispered, realizing what must have happened, "Dragonair."
	Dragonair nodded and tightened her Wrap attack on the now helpless
Raticate.  With her now longer body, subduing the Raticate was simple enough. 
She looked over to the other fights going on and an idea occurred to her.  
Uncurling her body in a whip-like motion, she sent Raticate hurtling into 
Cassidy, which forced her into Butch and then all three into the wall.
	James slowly got to his feet, holding his forearm where Butch had 
managed to cut him.  He helped Meowth up as well and together they stumbled
over to where Jessie and Dragonair waited.  "Well," he said, looking at
Dragonair, "look at you."  
	"Looking good there," Meowth said, then whipped his gaze around to the
Red Squad members who were untangling themselves from each other.  "What do 
you think we oughta do with them?"
	"I know exactly what they deserve," Jessie said with a cruel smile.
"Dragonair, use your Dragon Rage."
	Dragonair's horn glowed as she let out a melodious call that echoed in
the underground room.  A powerful twister formed as the result of her call and
sped away at her direction, slamming into the Red Squad and putting them 
through the wall into one of the many secret passageways.
	"I think Officer Jenny can handle them from here," James said with a 
smirk, and then started in surprise.  "I can't believe I actually just said
that!"
	"Believe it," Jessie said, putting James' arm around her shoulders as
she recalled Dragonair to her pokéball.  "But maybe we'd better get out of
here before she thinks we had anything to do with it."
	A couple hours later, Ash sat with Misty and Penny in the Pokémon Center
waiting for word on Brock's condition.  They all held onto each other tightly,
drawing comfort and strength from each other as they hoped and prayed that 
they weren't too late.  
	When the doors to the back opened, all three jumped up, ready to badger
Nurse Joy with questions until she gave them the answers they wanted.  But it
wasn't Nurse Joy who walked.  "Hey guys," Brock said, looking a little pale,
but far better then the last time Ash had seen him.
	Brock smirked as he saw the surprise on his friends' faces, but his 
smirk soon turned to a look of fear as they rushed him, grabbing him in a bone
jarring group hug.  "Easy on him guys!"  Suzie said with a soft laugh.  "He's
still hurting a little."
	The others released Brock at once, an ashamed blush on all three of 
their faces.  "Sorry about that," Ash said, rubbing the back of his head
nervously.
	"No harm done," Brock said, hiding a wince as he talked.  "That antidote
you got for me worked great, but I'm still a little weak.  Nurse Joy said I 
should stay in bed the next few days until I have all my strength back."
	"And I intend to make sure he does," Suzie said, taking hold of Brock's
hand in hers.  "It's the least I can do after he saved my life."
	"It was nothing," Brock said, rubbing the back of his head like Ash did.
"Let's just head back to the hotel.  It's been a long day for everyone."  And
that was just what they did.
	Later that night, as the moon rose high above Cinnabar Island, three 
people sat on the balcony of a penthouse suite, looking over the ocean.  Suzie 
had insisted that Brock use her bed to sleep in as it was the most comfortable
in the suite.  After making sure he was settled in, she readied herself for
bed and slipped in next to him, causing him all sort of embarassment.  She 
softly reminded him and the others that she promised to make sure he rested,
and she was going to do just that, even if it meant that she would stay in the
bed with him.  A soft kiss on his cheek quieted Brock down finally, and they
both drifted off to sleep as Suzie gingerly rested her head on his chest.
	That left the other three an opportunity to talk and so here they were,
trying to figure out how to approach things.  "For as long as I can remember,"
Ash said quietly, making the two girls look in his direction, "all I ever 
wanted was to be Pokémon Master.  It consumed all my thoughts, all my dreams.
And though it's still very important to me, there's something else I dream
about now.
	"You see, the day I met Misty, something started to change.  She found a
way to get through all the barriers I put around my heart to keep it from
interfering with my goals, and I've never been the same since.  Somewhere 
along the way, I began to have feelings for her.
	"But," he continued, "I was too afraid of doing anything about it which
could wreck our friendship, so I never said anything.  Even when I was sure
she had feelings for me too, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.  But now 
things have changed.  My best friend, Pikachu, can make herself human.  And she 
too has feelings for me.  And do you want to know the worst part?  Now that she
is a human as well, I can't deny that I have feelings for her as well.  I don't
know what to do.  I mean, I'm only thirteen here.  Even if I'll be fourteen in
a couple months, all this scares me."
	"This is partly my fault Ash," Misty said in a voice just as quiet as
Ash's was.  "I could've taken the first step in our relationship, but I was
just as afraid as you were.  No, that's not true.  I thought that we would
always be together, that no one could have the kind of bond with you like I
did.  I waited, I was selfish, secure in the knowledge that your love was mine
whenever I wanted it.  And now I'm paying for it, because I might lose you."
	"I have some blame in this too," Penny said, her own eyes tearing up as
she saw Misty's do the same.  "I knew how you both felt about each other, and
I knew I shouldn't interfere, regardless of my own feelings.  But then I had
the chance to, a real chance to.  I should've said no, but I couldn't.  And 
now I could end up hurting the people closest to me.  But I can't deny my 
heart, and my heart tells me that I love Ash."
	"So what do we do now?"  Misty asked, her voice so quiet is was almost
lost in the sound of the waves.
	"First things first," Ash said, standing up and walking over to the
railing.  "While Brock recovers, I have to go after my seventh badge.  That's
what I came here to do after all.  Once that's out of the way, we'll work on
this.  I don't know where things are going to go, if they go anywhere.  I
just know that I'm petrified of losing either one of you."
	"All right," Misty said as she walked to stand on one side of him and
Penny stood on the other.  "Just know that whatever happens, I'll always be
here by your side."
	"The same goes for me," Penny said, laying her head on his shoulder.
"No matter what, you'll always be my Pikapi."
	"That reminds me," Ash said, glancing at her out of the corner of his
eye.  "How should I refer to you?"
	"Call me Penny while I'm human, but Pikachu's good when I'm in my normal
form."  She sighed and slipped an arm around his waist, unsurprised to find 
Misty's arm already there.  "Oh well, if nothing else, at least I got a kiss 
out of this."
	"Oh yes, that's right," Misty said, arching an eyebrow.  "You two kissed
each other at Seafoam, didn't you?"
	Ash felt his face turning bright red.  "Umm, well you see...."
	"Save it," Misty said, the warmth in her voice dropping a few notches, 
but they could all tell it was forced.  "It's not fair that she got a kiss--"
Misty found herself cut off by Ash's lips covering hers in a soft and gentle 
kiss.  
	He held the kiss for a few seconds as Penny looked on with an amused
smile.  "There now," Ash said as he pulled away.  "Now you're even."
	Misty nodded, her cheeks an attractive pink and her eyes bright in
the moonlight.  She laid her head on Ash's shoulder and turned out to face
the ocean.  Ash put an arm around each of the girls at his side and sighed.
The future was unclear for him for the first time in a long time.  But yet
somehow, he felt more ready to face it then he ever had.