Italicized text indicates telepathic communication.

Bird in the Hand

By Steven "Yoshi" Reich

Chapter 1: A Mysterious Figure

Ash, Misty and Brock are heading down a dusty road that leads to their next stop on the road towards Olivine City. It has been a long day as they try to reach the Pokémon Center in Hazelwood Grove. As one might suspect, tensions are running a bit high.

"When are we gonna get there, Brock?" Ash asked.

Misty screamed in response, "Five minutes sooner than the last time you asked!"

Brock sighed, "Only an hour or so, provided we don't get side-"

Suddenly the ground swallowed up our heroes. The group then found themselves several meters beneath the surface. There was little doubt who was responsible.

"You know, I'm beginning to wonder why we don't just dig holes for them." Misty stated bluntly.

A male voice sounded from above, "Jessie, you don't think we've become predictable, do you?"

"Don't be ridiculous, James, if we were being predicable, they would've seen our trap coming. Besides, you have to stick with what works."

Meowth responded, "Uh, Jessie, in case you haven't noticed, these holes haven't worked-ever."

"Well, past performance does not guarantee future results." Jessie answered.

James commented, "But Jessie, that only applies to stock brokers."

"Got any Staryus, Misty?"

"Go fish, Ash!"

Jessie exclaimed, "How dare you play games instead of paying attention to us!"

Ash said, "Then give us something to pay attention to."

"To protect the world from devastation!"

Ash wished out loud, "Maybe I should have been more specific."

"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!"

"Wobbu-"

"Meowth, that's right!"

Brock asked, "So what's your scheme this time?"

Jessie answered, "I'm glad you asked!" She whipped out a strange contraption that consisted of several slots, an electric cord, and a lever.

"Whaddya gonna do to us with a toaster?" Ash wondered.

Jessie explained, "Oh, uh, this isn't what I was supposed to get out. James, do you have it?"

"I thought Meowth was going to bring it."

"You never told me nuttin', James."

"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet appeared with a strange grabber arm-like contraption. Jessie promptly grabbed it, launched it into the hole, and siezed Pikachu with it.

"Pika!" The Pokémon exclaimed.

"Pikachu!" Ash lamented.

"And just so you twerps don't try anything," James tossed a small canister into the hole, which began leaking a strange orange gas. "That's stun spore converted into a gas. We made sure to dig the hole deep enough so it wouldn't reach the top. I'd ask you to thank us, but most likely you can't right now."

Meowth tagged on, "Now, if you'll 'scuse us, we have a date with the boss." Team Rocket then proceeded to head towards their balloon. Then, just as they were about to lift off, a loud noise, reminiscent of a jet plane whooshed by, and suddenly a blur pierced the craft, sending it earthward.

"What was that?" James wondered.

A Pidgeot landed in front of them, and its rider, a young adult male, got off and told them, "The holder of the Pokémon airspeed world record. You guys got some nerve picking on kids like that."

"What's it to you?" Jessie replied.

"A lot. Pidgeot, return! Kadabra, I choose you!" The man put away the bird's container, and threw out the spoon holder's ball.

"Kadabra!"

"Kadabra, use your psychic power to get me that Pikachu!"

"Kadabra!" the Pokémon responded forcefully. A blue aura formed around Pikachu as it was slung into the figure's arms.

"Okay, Kadabra, now use Rivers-Kadabra-Alpha!"

"Rivers-Kadabra-Alpha, what kind of move is that?" James wondered.

The mysterious figure said, "It should blow all the Stun Spore out of the hole and take care of Team Rocket. Pikachu will be safe because it's in physical contact with me. You, however, will not be so lucky." Meanwhile, Kadabra was charging up for what appeared to be a massive Psybeam attack. Then, just as the attack was about to start, Kadabra began to rapidly rotate (at least rapidly for a Kadabra), causing the beam to form a circular ring, which quickly blew away Team Rocket (sending them blasting off again, as they would say), but when the wave reached the man and Pikachu, it left them completly unscathed. It was an unusual experience, with waves of color passing by. Finally, when the wave reached the hole, it removed all the stun spore, just as the man had said.

"Pika?"

"No, I'm afraid I can't explain it completely." Then he quietly added, "Hmm, it seems as though I've let something out I shouldn't have. Can you keep a secret? People will think I'm crazy if I act like I know what Pokémon are saying."

Pikachu responded quietly, "Pi-pikachu." Roughly translated, this means, "Of course."

"Now I'd better get you back to your owner." The figure approached the hole. The affects of the stun spore were beginning to set in.

"Who...what...are you?" Ash moaned.

The man responded, "Not completely human, young man."

He would have to explain that later.