The gang came back into the inn, carrying bags, their boots leaving slushy prints on the wooden floor. Snow clung to their coats and hats, Yellow giggling as she tried not to drop the armful of colorful scarves she'd insisted everyone buy.
Misty pushed the door open with her shoulder, snowflakes still stuck in her hair, "Finally! My toes are frozen off!" she groaned, kicking off her boots as soon as they stepped inside.
Yellow giggled, hugging a bag to her chest, "But we got so much good stuff! Look, Ash, I found you those earmuffs!" She pulled out a pair, bright red with little lightning bolts on the sides.
"Oh no… come on, Yellow…" Ash grumbled, juggling a bulky bag while Vee peeked out from his hood again, now wearing a tiny navy-blue snow cap with a pompom.
"Just take the—"
Brock kicked off his boots and cracked his neck, "Well, we're officially geared up. Crampons, rope, thermal packs, and enough freeze-dried curry to feed a Snorlax." He held up a bag labeled: SPICY EMERGENCY RATIONS: DELUXE TRAVEL EDITION.
Ash snapped his fingers at him, "Don't jinx that. I already fed Snorlax, but he can always eat more."
Misty leaned close and looked at one of the bags, "Who even sells curry in vacuum packs?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A hero," Brock said reverently, putting a fist to his chest.
They set their bags down by the fireplace and began unwrapping layers, the warmth of the inn seeping into their bones again. Pikachu and Chuchu, now with tiny matching snow booties and knitted vests (Yellow's idea), ran to the fire and flopped dramatically onto the rug.
Ash plopped down on the rug near the fire, Vee crawling out of his hoodie to flop onto his lap. Pikachu joined, snuggling close, "Man… I'm not looking forward to tomorrow," Ash murmured softly, scratching Vee's ears, "Think we can get there in one day? I mean, I have Abby, so we only need to make the trip there, then we can get back here right away."
Brock rubbed his chin, "Depends on how bad the storm gets. If it's already starting tonight, it could slow us down. But we've made worse trips before."
Misty curled up in one of the armchairs and pulled a blanket over her legs, "Just as long as there's no caves collapsing, giant avalanches, or unexpected wild Pokémon stampedes."
Everyone blinked, "Why would you say that out loud?"
Misty's face paled, "…Oh no. I jinxed it, didn't I?"
Ash groaned, face in his hands, "Misty…"
Yellow pointed at Misty quickly, "Quick! Knock on wood!"
Brock rapped his knuckles on the table three times, "There. We're safe."
"Isn't it that she has to knock on wood?" Ash asked, sipping some hot chocolate.
Brock crossed his arms, "No, I'm pretty sure it's whoever hears it that has to knock."
"Why don't I just knock now so we can make sure?" Misty asked, raising her knuckle.
"Nooo, if someone knocks and they aren't the one that's supposed to, the jinx is going to be worse!" Yellow shook her head.
"Great… so if we don't know…" Misty muttered something under her breath and sank deeper into the blanket.
The innkeeper came by again, holding a small tray with steaming bowls, "Here we go, dears. Hot stew and some fresh bread. Eat up and get warm, you'll need it for tomorrow."
Yellow's eyes lit up, "Oooh, yes, please!" She hurried over to the fireplace where Chuchu was already curled up on a pillow, enjoying the warmth.
Ash sighed as he leaned back on the couch, "Man… I'm not looking forward to tomorrow," Ash murmured softly, scratching Vee's ears.
Brock passed Ash a bowl of stew, sitting cross-legged beside him, "You're really worried, huh?"
Ash sighed, blowing on his spoon, "It's just… we've had a lot of close calls lately. I mean, seriously, the Olivine incident, then that black Tyranitar, then all the stuff that happened at the Whirl Cup... and let's not even talk about whatever the heck is going on with the legendary beasts."
Brock gave a thoughtful nod, "Yeah. Last thing I'd want is to get stuck up there, especially if we get separated."
Misty, from her chair, peeked over the blanket, "Well, at least we'll be warm and fed tonight. Tomorrow's Future-Misty's problem." She gave a little grin, "Besides, you have Abby, right? So we're fine… probably."
Yellow, sitting cross-legged near the fire, cradled her stew with a soft smile, "We've got each other. That's what matters, right?"
Ash smiled faintly, "Yeah… you're right."
Vee let out a tiny "Vee~" and snuggled closer into Ash's lap. Pikachu curled his tail over them both like a little blanket.
The storm outside rattled faintly against the window, wind howling through the trees. For a moment, the gang sat quietly, just eating, listening to the crackle of the fire and the muffled sounds of the blizzard beyond.
Finally, Brock stood and stretched, "Alright, once we're done, we should check our gear one more time. Make sure everything's ready to go at first light."
Misty groaned, "First light? Can't we leave later? Like, after breakfast… maybe after lunch… maybe never…"
Ash smirked, "Come on, Mist, you'll be fine. I'll let you borrow my earmuffs if you want."
She made a face, "The Pikachu ones Yellow made you get?"
Yellow giggled, "They'd look cute on you!"
Misty buried herself deeper into the blanket, "Not happening."
Ash rolled his eyes but smiled, "Alright. By the way, I'm going to head out, or, well, teleport out. I promised someone I'd help with something. Don't worry, it's far. Like far far. It's not even snowing over there," he said as he stood up.
"Really? Who did you promise?" Misty asked, not really suspicious, just curious. At this point, Ash just left a lot. It had happened enough that she'd stopped questioning it.
"You don't know her," Ash scratched his cheek. "It kinda involves my doctor stuff, you know."
Misty narrowed her eyes, "Ash… while I appreciate the fact that you can save lives, you're not going to go and do surgery for three days again, are you?"
"No… at least I don't think so." Ash tapped his chin, making them all look at him.
He quickly waved his hands, "Okay, okay, I promise. I'm only planning to do one surgery, okay?"
Misty squinted at him over the top of the blanket, "Last time you said that, one surgery turned into five."
Ash rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Heh… yeah, okay, fair point. But seriously, I'll be back tonight. I just need to help with a case, and it's kinda important I do it right now. And before you ask, no, I can't take you. She doesn't exactly want other people there. Abby's fast, and I promised."
Yellow sighed but smiled, "You're always really nice, Ash."
Pikachu gave an encouraging "Pika-pi!" while hopping onto Ash's shoulder and nuzzling him.
Ash patted Pikachu, "Thanks, buddy, but you're staying here with them. No need for you to freeze your tail off twice in one day. Unless you want to go in the Pokéball?"
Pikachu gave a little pout but nodded, hopping back down to curl up with Chuchu by the fire.
Ash nodded as Abby teleported next to him, "I'm off. See ya, guys," he called, and with a bright flash of teleport light, he was gone.
The room fell quiet in the sudden stillness. Misty stared at the spot where Ash had stood, then sighed and flopped back into her chair, "He's gonna come back exhausted again. I just know it," she mumbled, tugging the blanket higher under her chin.
Brock chuckled, standing up and brushing crumbs off his pants, "At least he's dependable. Even if it means running himself ragged."
—
Meanwhile, Ash had teleported to a random location, since Abby wasn't the one he was planning on using for this trip, he just needed to get away from his friends. A moment later, Hypno appeared beside him in a shimmer of psychic energy.
Ash walked up to him, "Good timing. So you got the mark?"
Hypno nodded, though his eyes flicked warily to Abby, "Hyp… [She's not coming with us, is she?]"
"No, probably not." As if on cue, Abby vanished in a blink, teleporting away to do her own thing, "See? Anyway, let's go."
Hypno nodded, placed a hand on Ash's back, and together they teleported away.
—
{Back at the prison ship}
Anabel sprinted down the rain-slick corridor, boots splashing through pooling water. The storm was closing in, snow from the blizzard already swirling into the ship's exposed decks.
Espeon darted ahead, psychic energy shimmering in the gem on its forehead, launching a [Psybeam] that flung a grunt backward into a wall. But even as the man crumpled, two more grunts clambered over the railing, still wearing those weird masks.
"[Psychic], again!" Anabel commanded.
Espeon's gem pulsed, and two more grunts were lifted into the air, hurled overboard into the raging sea.
But it wasn't enough. They kept coming.
The starboard access doors slammed open, and a fresh wave of Rocket agents poured in. Some yanked the pins from flashbangs, others released Pokémon, Golbat, Raticate, Weezing.
Anabel clenched her fists, "Espeon, [Reflect]! Cover the others!"
Espeon shimmered, a barrier flaring to life just as a Weezing launched a [Sludge Bomb]. The deck shuddered with the impact, the barrier cracking but holding.
"Get those charges off the hull!" Anabel shouted into her comm. Only static hissed back. They were cut off, alone.
"Espeon… can you sense them?" she whispered.
Espeon's gem flickered. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the area. A second later, she locked eyes with Anabel, and their minds connected, a smooth, psychic link, "[I found them. They're not here, they're trying to go through the back of the ship.]"
Anabel nodded sharply, "Let's go!" she barked, dashing across the deck.
Rounding a corner, she nearly ran into another group of grunts charging toward her, Pokémon already released.
"Espeon, [Future Sight] the Pokémon!" Anabel commanded without breaking stride.
Espeon's eyes flashed. A pulse of energy shot into the sky, and seconds later, a glowing orb of psychic power slammed down behind them, exploding over the Rocket Pokémon.
Anabel didn't stop. She ducked under a grunt's lunge, twisted, and drove a hard elbow into his gut. As he doubled over, she grabbed his arm and flipped him clean over her shoulder, because of course she had learned the martial arts the International Police taught its agents, and she was damn good at it.
Anabel spun, catching the next grunt's wrist as he lunged at her with a baton. With a practiced twist, she sent him crashing into the bulkhead with a heavy thud, but before she could recover, she ducked just in time to avoid a Golbat swooping in, fangs bared, aiming for her shoulder.
"[Psybeam!]" she barked.
Espeon's gem flared, launching a sharp beam of psychic energy that struck the Golbat midair, sending it screeching and tumbling to the deck.
Breathing hard, Anabel glanced down the corridor. The blizzard was almost on top of them now, snow hammered sideways, visibility nearly zero. But then she saw it: two distant lights cutting through the storm.
The Kanto transport ship. Backup had arrived.
Relief surged through her, but it was fleeting. Carl and Sham. They were still on the move.
She turned to Espeon, voice steady. "Stay here. Use [Morning Sun], signal the ship. They cut the lights, so you're our beacon."
Espeon looked at her, hesitant, then nodded. She leapt up onto the railing and began to glow, her radiant form piercing the fog like a lighthouse.
Anabel turned and ran. As she sprinted, she dug into her coat pocket and pulled out a Pokéball.
Alakazam's.
She skidded around a corner, almost slipping on the slick, snow-covered deck. A fierce gust of wind howled down the corridor, biting through her coat. But she pressed forward.
Up ahead Two figures. Running for the edge of the ship. One was already climbing.
"Alakazam, go!"
The Pokéball flew through the air, bursting open in a flash of white light. Alakazam materialized mid-run, immediately lifting its spoons. Psychic energy surged, freezing the two figures mid-motion,Carl and Sham, suspended in the air just before they could leap.
Anabel approached fast, her voice commanding.
"Give it up. Don't make this worse for yourselves."
Sham narrowed her eyes, her tone like a sneer. "Oh, a little girl... how amusing."
Anabel's gaze sharpened. "Don't underestimate me. Your Pokémon are already in police custody. The rest of the International Police are sweeping the ship, and backup just arrived. You have no escape route left."
Carl raised his hands in mock surrender. "Ohhh, yep. You sure got us. Shame… we were so close~" But as he spoke, his wrist twitched. A hidden signal device flashed under his sleeve.
PING.
Anabel's stomach dropped. That sound, she barely had time to turn before—
SPLASH.
A surge of light and smoke exploded behind her as several figures erupted from the water. Rocket divers, wearing armored suits, emerged, each accompanied by a Tentacruel.
"ALAKAZAM, [Barrier]!" she quickly called out
A shimmering wall of psychic force shimmered into place just in time. The Tentacruel unleashed a coordinated [Hydro Pump] assault, water hammering against the barrier. It held, but barely.
Anabel's eyes locked on Carl and Sham. They were freed, dropped to the deck, and now sprinting for the submarine that surfaced just beside the ship.
'If they reach that sub, they're gone.' Anabel grating her teeth
Her hand dove into her other pocket, The Keystone Looker gave her and the Mega Stone D got her.
"I guess it's now or never," Anabel muttered, heart pounding.
She pulled out the Mega Stone and tossed it to Alakazam. "Catch!"
Still holding the barrier, Alakazam raised one spoon and caught the stone midair.
Anabel raised the Keystone high. "Let's do this! Alakazam, are you ready?!"
Carl and Sham had turned to look. Carl chuckled. Sham rolled her eyes.
"You really think we're going to let you do that?" Sham snapped, and pressed a button on her own wrist.
From the submarine, a piercing screeching sound erupted, Painful. High-pitched. Electronic.
"Mega E-Gah!" Anabel was cut off as she began covering her ears, gritting her teeth. It wasn't just loud, and the grunts also fell to their knees in pain
But it was worse for the Pokemon, Alakazam dropped to his knees, groaning, The Tentacruel shrieked and recoiled, Pokémon were collapsing, the sound was hurting them.
Carl and Sham smiled, both wearing earplugs, "Like it?" Sham asked smugly. "It's a newer toy. Not that it matters, it's not like you're going to be able to hear us."
Anabel was on her knees, gritting her teeth as she struggled to stand despite the noise, "I… won't let you… escape…"
Sham raised an eyebrow. "Huh… how persistent. Well, I suppose we'll just show you how much this can really do." She pressed a button, and a satellite dish emerged from the submarine, locking onto Anabel and the grunts. It emitted another pulse, sharper, louder, focused directly on them.
The grunts collapsed instantly, Anabel held on for a moment, trying to cover her ears, but the pain was overwhelming. Her psychic shields faltered, she couldn't take it. She fell hard onto the deck, ears ringing, the world spinning. Voices became muffled echoes.
Before the blast hit, she had managed to reinforce her ears with psychic energy. If she hadn't, her eardrums would have ruptured for sure. At least this way, there'd be no permanent damage, but her body was shutting down.
Her vision blurred as she saw Carl and Sham disappearing into the submarine, its hatch sealing behind them as it began to submerge. Anabel weakly reached out, fingers trembling, "No… not again…"
But she didn't have the strength.
Then she heard footsteps. Distant, thudding through the fog of her mind. Her head turned slightly, Looker and the other International Police agents were rushing toward her, Espeon leading the way. Their mouths moved, but she couldn't make out their words. The sound was like it was underwater.
The last thing she saw was the light from the Kanto transport ship, finally piercing through the blizzard. Her eyes fluttered closed.
"I'm… sorry…" she whispered, as her fingers loosened and the Keystone slipped from her grip, rolling to a stop at Looker's boot just as they reached her.
They had failed. They'd secured the prisoners, nearly doubled their capture count from the grunts they took down, but the Executives were gone.
They couldn't dwell on that now. Right now, they had to get Anabel medical attention and secure the remaining Team Rocket members on the ship.
—-
{At the Team Rocket Base}
The masked man sat in the dimly lit room, watching the mission replayed through the eyes of the grunts' masks on his monitors. He said nothing, only rewatched, in silence.
The door behind him creaked open. Archer entered, his face mostly obscured in shadow.
"Sir," he began, "Carl and Sham have been extracted. They're on route as we speak."
The masked man barely acknowledged him, "Good. They fulfilled their purpose… but they'll need to be punished for getting caught in the first place." His voice was low, unfeeling, "I'll leave that to you."
Archer nodded, "And I will. One more thing… Boss Giovanni called. He's finished his business with Madame Boss and will want a report."
The masked man turned slowly, the white mask covering his entire face catching a sliver of light, "Well," he replied coldly, "tell him what I told you. Everything is perfectly in order."
"Of course." As the screen's glow washed over Archer's face, or rather, lack of face, because now he was wearing one of the masked man's Masks.
"I'll tell him exactly what you said, boss." Archer bowed and turned to leave.
The masked man was alone again, bathed in the cold light of his monitors. He looked down at his desk. Resting there was a unique mask, unlike the others, which covered the left or right side of the face, this one covered the lower half, the mouth.
His fingers brushed over its smooth surface, "Soon," he murmured, "Very soon…"
---
Remember at 1000 stones you get a extra chapter