Saving Shard

Chapter 5

Team Rocket did not buy Lance's ploy to stall for time. It wasn't that Ash had actually thought they would accept a mere million dollars in exchange for a priceless Pokemon, but he certainly was not prepared for the barbaric response which he received.

Team Rocket replied to the monetary offer with a horrifying video. A video which depicted Misty being brutalized. Brutalized by some male Rocket twice her size. She fought back bravely, Ash expected as much, and was relieved that they had not broken her spirit. But, despite her self-defense efforts, Misty was easily overpowered by her assailant.

Witnessing this unnecessary cruelty caused Ash to turn his office wall into a punching bag. Two sets of bloody knuckles later and Ash accepted that there was nothing he could do. He was as helpless as Misty was in that video. Thank Moltres for a friend like Lance. Lance had entered the scene and instructed Ash to calm down. He advised Ash to save his rage for the bastard who was hitting Misty. Ash intended to do just that.

Lance and Ash had expected Team Rocket to reject the money-bribe, but their retaliation was far quicker and far more violent than either man had anticipated. That video . . . Ash's memory would not cease its torture upon him. Every time he closed his eyes he could see her face – shocked from pain, crying out, telling her assaulter to stop! Ash trembled as the memory plagued him once more. He HAD to save Misty. He could NOT endure one more video or photograph of her being harmed . . . not one more reminder that he, the Pokemon Master Ketchum, was powerless.

Ash prayed that Misty could just hang on. He knew that she was an incredibly strong person, but undergoing such physical punishment was bound to wear her down. Ash was griping the edge of a nervous-breakdown. He needed to grasp whatever positives were tangled within this nightmare. If he didn't, he would surely lose his mind.

Lance had reached out, reeling Ash's wits in with some strong reasons to be hopeful. For starters, Lance had reminded him that the million dollar offer HAD bought them some time. Also (during Ash's meeting with his Elite Four, Professor Elm and Officer Jenny) Lance had presented a brilliant scheme. Not only had Lance strategized a plan A, but a plan B as well. Ash's sanity now had many-a-rope to cling too. Ash just hoped that Team Rocket would follow along with plan A. He wanted Misty back in his arms long before plan B had to be realized.

Ash focused his thoughts upon plan A. He had to understand every detail perfectly. A few hours ago Lance had flown the nation's top Ditto to the Plateau, and this Pokemon had begun immediate training.

The goal: for Ditto to perfectly mimic the appearance and behavior of the genetic monster Pokemon.

The Ditto was flown under the strictest conditions of privacy. Lance was not taking any chances: he was training this Ditto personally. The Ditto had to be a flawless copy. While Lance was busy training the fake, Ash just had to wait for Team Rocket to contact him again to arrange details for swapping Misty.

Ash knew that the Rockets would get to determine the location and time of the swap, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that: he would hand over a phony Master Ball with the Ditto. The Rockets would most likely release the Pokemon (to be sure it was their monster), and the Ditto would then already be in monster form and equipped with some basic psychic attacks. Team Rocket would leave with their Pokemon and Ash would leave with Misty. By the time the Rockets realized they had been duped, it would be too late.

It was a terrific plan and it just HAD to work.

Ash embraced this plan as though every fiber of Misty's being were woven within it. This plan was the merciful hand yanking his mind from the edge, keeping him sane. The little Ditto was as brave as they came and also a true master at holding form. It was prepared to die, or even be forced to join Team Rocket, but was given instructions to transform and escape at the first available opportunity.