Vanish

Chapter 21

The four entered Mauville at noon the next day. Everything seemed well...

Ash led the way to the Mauville City Gym, where he spotted a handful of people gathering around the entrance.

"Don't worry, everyone! We're going to get all those pokémon back! We've just got to prepare!" called a voice. "Go home! We'll call you all back to return your pokémon!"

"That's Watt's voice," Brock stated, and Ash nodded in agreement.

"Team Rocket was already here," Ash spat. "They already stole people's pokémon." He saw the crowd slowly and sadly walk away, and he came up to where Watt was standing.

"Ash? What are you doing here?" he asked, seeming somewhat confused.

Ash dismissed the question with a wave of his hand. "It's a long story. Where's Wattson?"

Watt shook his head. "He's inside getting more pokémon. Team Rocket came and stole some peoples'... They stole Wattson's Manectric, and my Ampharos." Watt cocked his head to one side. "What was weird about it though, they defeated our pokémon with a Pikachu that looked exactly like yours..."

Ash turned away, his eyebrows creasing. "Don't worry, Watt, we'll get those pokémon back. Do you know where Team Rocket is now?"

Watt nodded. "Yeah... It was weird. They told us where they would be. It was like they wanted us to come after them."

Ash nodded as well. "Probably to steal more pokémon."

"They're a mile or two north of Mauville."

Just then, a man came out of the Mauville Gym. "Here, Watt, catch!" And the man threw a pokéball to Watt. He then laid his eyes on the four newcomers. "Ash! What's the reason for stopping by this time? I hope you didn't expect a battle..."

"I told Ash what happened," Watt exclaimed. "He can help us out."

Wattson fingered the pokéball he had in his hand. "Those dirty thieves stole my Manectric." Wattson suddenly smiled. "But they won't beat my Electabuzz. I gave you Jolteon, Watt. And, Ash, your Pikachu can help out too. I'm sure your Pikachu can beat theirs."

Ash walked away from them a few steps. "Pikachu's...not around, Wattson."

Wattson threw a curious look at Ash's back and kept silent, sensing that something wasn't right.

"They didn't steal your Pikachu, did they?" Watt inquired.

Ash was silent, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. They didn't steal him...

"We don't have the time to tell you about-about all that. We've got to catch up to Team Rocket before they get away!" Misty exclaimed, trying to snap everyone back into reality.

Watt nodded. "By the way, where's May?"

"She's in Mossdeep City for a contest with a friend. Misty's with us though," Max replied.

"It's nice to meet you, Misty," Wattson said, leading the group north. "I'm sure Team Rocket is just waiting for us to walk into their trap... I suggest we try and faint their Pikachu first, because it seems to be the strongest of the group." Wattson paused. "I don't remember them having a Pikachu... Unless..." He looked to Ash again questioningly. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"As Misty said, we don't have time to explain. And, yes, I agree that we should try to faint Pikachu first. Team Rocket is not afraid to use his attacks directly on you or the rest of us," Ash stated monotonously. "So be careful."

Wattson wondered if Ash knew that Pikachu would use attacks on them from first-hand experience. He also wondered why. There were so many why's, what's, and how's in his mind about the whole Pikachu situation. He expected Ash would tell him later...