Finding Pikachu

Chapter Eleven: Night

At first, Ash, Jenny, Jessie, James, and Meowth were very confused. Both of the parties had just spoken to Pikachu not ten minutes ago. With out a word, they all looked at each other and began searching the trees and the long grass.

The daylight began to fade as the sun disappeared below the horizon. The crescent moon rose high in the starry sky. Team Rocket huddled together away from the other two and whispered. They all nodded and slowly slipped away into the shadows.

Ash noticed their sneaky escape and cried out, "Hey!" as he ran after them.

Jenny followed. The two ran and ran until they were so tired they could run no more. "Let's just turn back," said Jenny, gasping for air. "They're probably long gone."

"Just a little while longer," said Ash, straining to continue.

After another five minutes, Ash spotted the distant glow of light. He told Jenny what he saw, and she simply replied, "Viridian City."

"That's probably where they went!" Ash said, excited.

They followed the glow until they reached the edge of the forest. Viridian City was still bustling with people as the street lights shone down on them.

Meanwhile, Pikachu and Chikorita were each eating a small piece of bread, old and soggy. When they went to the back of the Seven Stars Restaurant they scratched at the door and waited anxiously as they heard loud footsteps heading towards them.

A large man swung open the door so fast and with so much force that the whoosh it made sent the two hungry pokemon staggering backwards. He saw them and scowled. "We only give food to paying customers!" he snarled, and with that he slammed the door furiously.

Pikachu and Chikorita sighed and looked around. Chikorita pushed over a trashcan and numerous pieces of garbage tumbled out in the dimly lit alley. They each grabbed a piece of bread and examined it. It was disgusting, but they were so hungry they didn't care.

Ash and Jenny began searching the city and asking people if they've seen a pikachu. Every reply was the same: they sadly shook their head and said sorry. Each time, Ash's face grew more and more hopeless.

After a while of asking random people, Ash, tired and weary, sat down on a bench and sighed. Jenny came over to him and sat down next to him. "Don't worry, kiddo. We'll find him before Team Rocket."

The two sat in silence for a while. As the sky got even darker, the people slowly made their way back home to bed, and soon the two were the only ones in the city. Jenny looked around. "Hey," she broke the silence. "What's that over there?"

Ash followed Jenny's finger and his eyes came across a tall, gray building that had something painted on it in red. He couldn't quite make out what it was. "Looks like an R to me," he said.

"Let's go check it out," said Jenny.