"Did you get us lost again, Ash?" Misty asked angrily as she looked down at the map she was holding.

"What do you mean, I got us lost! You’re the one holding the map!" Ash replied.

"Can you guys just calm down?" Brock said.

"Pika Pi (Here we go again.)," Pikachu said sadly.

Right now, Ash, Misty, and Brock are traveling through the Viridian Forest. Hopelessly lost, they’re try to find their way through the endless maze. As Misty looks up to see where they’re going, she sees something on the side of the path ahead.

"Look at that! I wonder what that is…" She said curiously. When she reached the unidentified ‘thing’ she cried out, "It’s a person!" Sure enough, it was a girl that had apparently passed out on the side of the road.

"Whoa, she’s really pretty!" Brock said, blushing.

"Brock, you say that to practically every girl you see," Ash said.

"But it’s so true!" Brock retorted back.

"Guys, be quiet! We need to help this girl! She may be seriously injured!" Misty said angrily to Ash and Brock. Just then, the girl opened up her eyes.

"Where am I?" the girl asked, confused. "This isn’t the place where I was before…."

"Who are you, and where did you come from?" Ash asked the girl.

"My name? I……don’t remember. I don’t remember anything," she said helplessly. "I’m sorry. I just…"

"You just what?" Misty asked.

"Don’t pry at her! Can’t you see she’s really confused now!" Brock said angrily.

"You’re right, I’m sorry. But, we do need to give you a name. We can’t just call you ‘girl’ all of the time," Misty said.

"Well, I guess you could call me ‘Serena’. It just…. feels right," Serena said.

At the moment, Pikachu felt really strange, like he felt some sort of strange power from somewhere.

"Are you alright, Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"Pika chu Pi (Yes, I’m fine.)," replied Pikachu, but he still felt that strange feeling.

"Well, let’s keep going on until we reach Viridian City. I’m sure Nurse Joy will let us stay at the Pokemon Center there," Misty said, attempting to look at the map again.

"May I look at the map for a moment? Maybe I can help," Serena suggested.

"Sure, if you think you can find the way," Misty replied as she handed the large map over to Serena. Serena studied the map for a minute, then closed her eyes and thought. Some inside voice told her which way to go.

"I think that we should go that way," Serena said, as she pointed in a southeastern direction.

"How did you read that so quickly? I’ve been looking at that map for hours and I can’t make out a single landmark!" Misty said as they started in the direction that Serena was pointing in.

"I don’t know. I just looked at it and I knew how to read it," Serena replied, a little confused herself.

As Misty and Serena started to walk ahead, Brock and Ash started to talk in hushed whispers.

"Hey Brock" Ash said, "do you think Serena knew how to read the map because she has psychic powers?"

"Ash, it’s just reading a map. It’s not an uncommon sight," Brock replied.

"Maybe you’re right. It’s just reading a map," Ash said, more to himself than to Brock. But still, that was awfully peculiar…

**********

"Man, am I tired," Ash yawned as he stretched out in his sleeping bag at the Viridian City Pokemon Center.

"That was a long hike through the Viridian Forest," Misty said as she laid down her sleeping bag. "I wanted to thank you, Serena, for getting us out of there. If it wasn’t for you, we would still be in there, hopelessly lost."

"Yes, thank you," Brock and Ash said together.

"Pika Pika chu (Thanks Serena)!" Pikachu said.

"Alright, stop chatting," Nurse Joy said as she walked in the doorway. "Loss of sleep is bad for your skin, and it makes you cranky and irritable. Now go to sleep."

"Yes ma’am," they all said, as Nurse Joy turned off the light. They soon drifted off into a peaceful sleep…

**********

A Pokemon. A tall, strong Pokemon with a long, purple tail. Mewtwo. He was trying to tell her something. Something to do…

Serena flew awake and sat up in her sleeping bag. Cold sweat dripped off body as she lay back down. Her dream had startled her. She had never seen this strange Pokemon before. Or at least she thought so. But something did seem awfully familiar about him….

**********

In the morning, Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and now Serena, as well, left the Pokemon Center to head back to Pallet Town.

"You know, Serena, Pallet Town is the place where I grew up, before I became a Pokemon Trainer," Ash told Serena.

"I know," Serena replied as Ash looked strangely at her.

"How could you know?" Ash asked Serena curiously.

"I don’t know, I guess you just look like a person who came from there," she replied.

"He does? How can you tell?" Brock asked her.

"Hey look! There’s Pallet!" Serena said, to change the subject. Saved in the nick of time, she thought to herself.

Brock and Ash noticed that she didn’t reply, so they didn’t say anything more.

Pallet didn’t appear until they rose over a hill. I’m beginning to agree with Ash’s theory about Serena being psychic. But she doesn’t seem to know it herself. Brock said to himself as Pallet appeared.

"Once we get into town, let’s go visit Professor Oak’s lab," Ash suggested. Serena suddenly got nervous, though she didn’t know why. It was the words ‘Professor’ and ‘lab’ that caught her.

Misty noticed Serena and watched as she suddenly got really jumpy.

"Uh, Ash," Misty whispered to him, "Serena just got really nervous. Do you think she has a ‘thing’ against professors?"

Ash looked over at Serena. Indeed, she had gotten really nervous.

"Pika chu chu(Serena, are you alright)?" Pikachu asked Serena..

"Y-yes. I’m fine," Serena said, shakily.

"How did you know what Pikachu said?" Ash asked Serena.

"I don’t know. I just did….." Serena replied, still nervous.

"Do you feel okay about going to Professor Oak’s lab?" Brock asked.

"Well…." She replied.

"Do you want to wait at my house with my mom until we get back?" Ash asked her.

If I do go to the lab, I know I’ll fall apart, though I don’t know why. But if I don’t go, they’ll think I’m a total wuss. Fall apart, or wuss. Fall apart, or wuss. Which one? Well, they already think I’m a total wacko. Better not push it. There’s just no other choice. I’ll just have to try not to make a fool of myself…… Serena thought to herself.

**********

"Professor Oak? Are you home? Hello?" Ash called out. The group had traveled into Pallet and had reached their destination: Professor Oak’s Laboratory.

"Oh. Hello Ash! Long time no see!" Professor Oak called out.

"Hi Professor! This is Serena, a girl who’s traveling with us," Ash said. "We met in Viridian Forest."

"Welcome Serena! Are you an experienced pokemon trainer?" Professor Oak asked.

"Er…..well….I uh….have spent time around lots of wild pokemon…"Serena offered.

"Oh, so you must be a beginning pokemon trainer. What pokemon do you have?" He inquired.

"So, where’s Gary, Professor Oak?" Misty asked, changing the subject because she was noticing that Serena had started to get nervous.

"Oh, Gary. He’s a disgrace to the world of pokemon," Professor Oak said angrily, forgetting about the question he asked Serena. "He was caught abusing his pokemon in Saffron City. I’m ashamed to call him a family member. He’s currently serving a term in the Saffron City Jail. I, frankly, am not going to bail him out. He can afford to learn some responsibility."

"Professor, where are you? We can hear you, but we don’t see you," Brock asked, confused.

"I’m in my main lab. I’ll join you in a few minutes. Just stay there," the professor replied.

After the professor’s voice had disappeared, the group started to talk.

"Pi Pi Pi chu Pika Pika chu Pi (Gary’s in jail? I can’t believe it! But it serve’s him right, the brat!)," Pikachu said angrily.

"I can believe it. Gary was a jerk from the very beginning. I just feel sorry for his pokemon," Misty said sadly.

"Who is Gary?" Serena asked them. "He sounds like a really mean person. I feel sorry for his Arcanine and his Nidoking…"

"How…..did you know that he had an Arcanine and a Nidoking?" Brock asked her, kind of freaked out. Misty, Ash, and Pikachu also gave her freaky looks.

"I know that because I saw that picture over there," Serena said as she pointed to the picture she saw. They glanced over at the picture and read the caption. They were relieved at knowing that she didn’t know that information out of thin air. But secretly, she actually did.

"Hello again," Professor Oak said, walking up to the group. "Ash, Pikachu is doing really well. Have you ever considered evolving it into a Raichu?"

"No. I left the decision up to Pikachu, and he decided against it. I don’t like the idea of forcing pokemon to evolve if they don’t want to.

"Pika Pika chu Pi Pi Pika chu (Yeah, I’m perfectly happy being the way I am. Especially if my personality changes if I evolve….)," Pikachu said sadly, remembering that after Ash’s Charmander evolved into Charmeleon, it never listened to him. Even now, as a Charizard, it still never obeys him.
"That’s a good decision. Anyway, do you want to see my lab?" Professor Oak asked.

"Sure. Do you have any new pokemon? How many do you have now?" Ash asked back.

"Yes, I just got a Porygon. It’s very useful in fixing my computer glitches. I now have 141 pokemon," Professor Oak said proudly. "How about you, Ash? Do you have any new pokemon?"

"Yes. I just recently caught a Lapras and a Snorlax," Ash replied. "Anyway, let’s go to you’re lab."

"Yeah. Let’s go," Misty said.

I agree. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can leave. Serena thought.

*********

The group had visited Professor Oak’s lab, and now was traveling again.

"My advice is to go to Cinnibar Island. That’s always a nice place to go. I’d come with you if I didn’t have so much work," the professor had said.

"What do you think? Do you think we should go to Cinnibar Island, or should we go somewhere else?" Misty asked her companions. "I mean, it’s not like we have something better to do….."

"You’re right. I think we should go to the carnival. Hey, it really might be fun!" Brock said. "What do you think, Ash? Ash? Hello?"

"Wha….oh….yeah. Let’s go to Cinnibar…," Ash said.

"What’s the matter, Ash?" Misty asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No. I was just thinking…come on, let’s go," Ash replied.

Ash thought: I was just thinking about Serena. I’m positive that she’s psychic. I mean, no way she could read that picture’s caption from where she was standing. I was right there, too. But maybe she just has really, really, really good eyesight. Really good…

**********

"Lapras! Return!" Ash called out, recalling Lapras to her pokeball. They just reached Cinnibar Island. They had traveled across the sea on Lapras’s back.

I really hope we don’t go to those really freaky labs where they experiment on things, Serena thought. I…WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!?!?!

As the group looked up, a blinding flash of light prevented the from seeing anything.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make it double!"

"Oh, no! Not again!" Ash moaned.

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evil of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!" Jessie shouted.

"James!" James called out.

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight!" they both shouted.

"Meowth! That’s right!" Meowth said.

"Don’t you guys know when to quit?" Brock yelled.

"Yes, but we have a foolproof plan!" Jessie said.

"Not even we could screw this one up!" James said proudly.

"Who are these people? Are they friend of yours, or something?" Serena asked.

"That’s Team Rocket! They are people who try to steal pokemon, but they always fail," Misty told Serena.

"You’re wrong! We’ll get your pokemon this time!" Meowth shouted. Just then, another blinding flash filled the area. "Go get ‘em, guys!"

"Hey! My pokeballs are missing! Where’d they go?" Brock asked.

"Mine are, too!" Ash exclaimed.

"Mine, too!" Misty cried.

"Where’s Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"Pika Pi Pika (Guys, help me!)!" Pikachu called.

"Oh, no they’ve got Pikachu!" Serena shouted.

"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded.

"Pika cchhuuuu (Take that!)!" Pikachu cried.

"Ha! Your puny little electric attack can’t stop us! We have rubber suits on, and rubber doesn’t conduct electricity!" Team Rocket laughed.

"They’re getting away!" Misty said.

"I’ve had enough of this!" Serena said angrily. "I’m going to stop this!" Suddenly a great force paralyzed Team Rocket.

"W-what’s h-happening?" Jessie asked James.

"I don’t know, Jessie!" James said.

"Looks like Team Rocket is blasting off again!" they all shouted as an explosion caused them to fly into the air and disappear from sight.

Whoa. Where did that come from? I just thought about that explosion happening, and it happened…Serena thought.

"Ash?" Misty asked.

"Yes?" Ash replied.

"I-I’m scared now. Of Serena," Misty said shakily.

"Me too. Serena? Who, or what exactly are you?" Ash asked Serena.

"Exactly what I want to know," a voice told them.

They all looked in the direction of the voice. A man was standing against a tree.

"Get her!" is the last thing Serena remembered him saying.

**********

"Owww….hey, where am I?" Ash moaned. He sat up and looked at his surroundings. He was at the same place he was before. He saw Misty, Brock, and Pikachu all unconscious. They were all lying at his side. But something was missing. Serena.

**********

Serena woke up. She tried to sit up, but she was tied to a table. Suddenly she realized that she was in a lab. Her worst nightmare. She almost started to scream, but decided against it. She didn’t want to draw the scientist’s attention to her. She looked around the room she was in. It was a square room, with glass windows leading to the corridor. The door had a guard by it. The guard was asleep. Just like in the movies, she thought. Where are the others? I’ve got to find them! But first, I have to escape. Hmm…what’s that? She looked out the window. It was a sign. A sign for a pokemon. She realized what pokemon it was. Mewtwo. The one from her dream! The sign read in bold, big letters: ‘WARNING: DANGEROUS POKEMON’. Below that, in smaller letters, it said: ‘This pokemon, Mewtwo, is extremely dangerous. Use extreme caution.’

Serena didn’t know what to think. I can’t trust these scientists, she thought. I don’t believe it. How would they know he’s dangerous…oh my god…they…created him…oh my god! They created him! I’ve got to get out of here!

**********

"You guys, we’ve got to get Serena out of there!" Brock commented.

"Yeah, I hope she’s not hurt!" Misty said.

"Pika Pi chu Pika (She saved me from Team Rocket…)." Pikachu said softly.

"I was wondering…do you think Serena could be a…….pokemon?" Ash asked doubtfully.

**********

Here goes…one, two, three! The bands that held Serena broke. She had been practicing her powers until she could use them to a normal extent. The man guarding the door was still asleep. She quietly tip-toed over to him and used her psychic abilities to put him into a deeper sleep. At least I know now that he won’t awaken while I’m escaping. She walked quietly down the corridor. This place is like a maze…I have no idea where I’m going!!! I know I can’t use my powers because I’m to weak… Just then, Serena passed a fire extinguisher that was hanging on the wall. She glanced over at it, and then a wide grin appeared on her face. There was a map of the building she was in, and fire-escape plans to get out of it. She ripped the map off of the wall then started walking towards the exit. I must not run. Running attracts attention, and I must not catch it. She smiled again as the exit appeared. She was about to walk out when she heard a voice.

"Leaving us so soon?" A dark voice said. Serena recognized it from outside.

"Who are you?" Serena asked angrily.

"I am Giovanni, leader of the Viridian City Gym, and soon-to-be ruler of the world." He said. This guy really has an ego problem, doesn’t he? Serena thought.

"I will win…" She said, glaring at him.

"Doubtful," He said, smiling. "Go," he said to some unknown beings in the shadows.

Stay tuned to find out what happens to Serena in Chapter 2!!!