Finding Pikachu

Chapter One: Taken

The campfire crackled quietly with dim embers within it. Ash and Pikachu had had a long day: They just received the Cascade Badge in Cerulean City. They battled Misty, the gym leader. She put up quite a fight, but the determined pair ended up winning.

Ash was fast asleep, however, Pikachu was lying awake, thinking. He was thinking about how lucky he is to have a loving owner and a home. He began to wonder what life was like for those wild pokemon, when he suddenly heard a noise coming from the bushes. He sat up slightly, then figured it was probably another pokemon. He layed back, closed his eyes, and began to drift off. He was soon sleeping by Ash's side.

There was another rustling noise, but neither Ash nor Pikachu heard it. Three figures emerged from the bushes, two tall ones and a short one. They all tiptoed to where the sleeping campers lay. The mysterious shadows loomed over Ash and Pikachu. They started to whisper.

"Should we take the boy too?" One of them said, his voice sounding inhuman.

"Of course not, you imbecile!" A woman said rudely."Grab the bag, James."

"Of course, Jessie." a man replied.

There was an eerie, suspenseful silence as the three figures moved in on Pikachu. They slowly moved the bag over his little, yellow body and let him drop into it with a thud. The three smirked at each other as they began to near the bushes once again, but Pikachu was awoken.

"PIKA PIKA! PIKACHU!" Pikachu attempted to wake Ash from inside the bag.

It worked. Ash rose sharply and yelled, "Pikachu! No!" as he ran after the kidnappers.

The three shadows turned to Ash, and the symbols on their shirts were illuminated by the fire.

Ash stopped. "Team Rocket?! You'll never get away with this!" Ash screamed as he resumed chasing after them. His face grew angrier and more exhausted with each stride.

A small, helpless cry came from the bag. "Pikaaaa!!"

"Shut up already!" Meowth said into the bag.

And with that, the kidnappers started off into the woods.

Ash was defeated. His heart sank as he watched Team Rocket carry his life-long friend away into the wilderness. Pikachu's cries were now distant and faint, and a tear dripped down his face. It sadly occured to him that he may never see Pikachu again. Team Rocket had nearly disappeared into the trees; you could only see a silhouette of the criminals, and they eventually vanished from Ash's sight. Ash had no choice but to lay down again and fall asleep.