Brock was in the backseat with his face pressed against the window. One would think that they were already driving to Misty's funeral based on the volume of his weeping.
Ash clenched the steering wheel as though he were wringing a Rocket's throat. Ash forced a deep breath and stared at his best friend through the rearview mirror. Brock had arrived on a train from Pewter City a few hours ago. He had come to offer Ash moral support, but at the moment, his mournful sobbing only caused Ash moral murder.
Professor Elm was riding shotgun. The kindly scientist reached into the backseat and touched Brock's trembling shoulder.
"There, there, Brock. Please don't cry in such a way. Misty isn't gone, my good man. Remember, I'm here now. I'm here to assure that nothing will happen to her."
Brock sniffled loudly, blowing his nose in an already soiled hankie. "I know. . . I know." Brock muttered, tears streaking his dark cheeks.
Professor Elm adjusted his glasses nervously. "I have a good feeling about this plan! Well, granted, it's not nearly as brilliant as the one Professor Oak conceived to stop that vile Pokemon to begin with . . . what with the irreproducible, amazing Ghost-type property potion, BUT! The Dragon Master and I conjured this plan up, and I dare say, it is fool proof. Far better than your Ditto plan A. It's going to work, heck, we owe it to Professor Oak to MAKE it work. We have a chance to use The Rocket's killer-weapon again them. A good chance!"
Brock nodded. "I hope so, I just can't stand the thought of Misty is harm's way."
Dread spread through Ash like a terrible cancer. His throat suddenly felt thick with tumors and he couldn't breathe right, let alone contribute to the conversation. His chest tightened as though toxic growths were mushrooming about his lungs. Ash possessed the wherewithal to recognized that he was panicking. He knew that he needed to calm down, he couldn't possibly let Brock and the Professor know how terrified he was. Ash sucked in a feeble breath, steadying his thoughts and earning stares of concern from his two counterparts.
"I'm fine." Ash said, focusing his eyes where they belonged: on the road. Neither Brock or the Professor questioned him.
It was now midday and Ash had arranged to meet with the Rockets at a high ravine beyond the Saffron City Bridge at sundown. That meant he now had less than eight hours to create a miracle. But according to Professor Elm: science had a way of helping miracles along.
"Look, we're almost there." Brock piped up, pointing to an upcoming road sign. "Maximum Security Prison, 4 kilometers." He read each word carefully.
Professor Elm adjusted his glasses again, each time he did it Ash felt another nervous tumor swell within his windpipe. "You have all your I.D. requirements right, Ash?"
Ash nodded and kept driving. Professor Elm had already asked him that question fourteen times, this made fifteen and the answer was still yes.
In a few moments more than a dozen armored security guards would lead Ash down into the lowest level of Kanto's most infamous prison. The Pokemon Master would be marched straight into hell. The prison's upper levels caged the worlds most foul murderers and notorious thieves. The middle levels confined the mass murders, terrorists, public enemies and famous criminal masterminds. But it was the bottom level which held the most dangerous fiend of them all . . .one who could obliterate the entire prison with the blink of an eye.
Ash exhaled as another sign snagged his view:
WARNING: MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON.
1 kilometer.
YOU ARE READING
Saving Shard
FanfictionCOMPLETE! In mere minutes Misty became both engaged and Team Rocket's hostage. As Ash struggles to rescue his fiancée on the outside, a mysterious stranger fights to save her on the inside. A man who needs Misty's help just as much as she needs his...
