The Incredible Poke-Odyssey chapter 14

Cameron's Psychic Shock

Today we find Cameron and his friends riding bicycles down a dirt path 
on their way to Saffron City.  They had gotten the bikes from the 
Celadon City dept. store.  Cameron was happily pedaling his new red 
bike with Sandy happily riding in the basket up front.  Jenny was 
smiling at Seymour who had training wheels on the back of his bike. 
"That man never ceases to amuse me!" thought Jenny smiling.

"I don't see why we have to ride these things", whined Misty, "I prefer 
the van."

"I told you", said Jenny, "My middle sister who worked in Celadon isn't 
there anymore.  So I couldn't borrow another van from her.  We were 
lucky the dept. store had a special sale on six bikes for the price of 
one."

"And besides", said Brock, "You've been going on and on about how Ash 
wrecked your old bike.  Well you've got a new one now so for once stop 
your complaining!"

"Ash", sighed Misty still thinking about the situation he was in now.  
Being trapped in the mind of Mewtwo for five years with probably no 
chance of ever escaping.  "Uh, Misty", called out Bill who was riding 
in Misty's front basket. "Are you all right?  Answer me please.  That 
look on your face is making your co-pilot here nervous!"

Misty suddenly became teary eyed.  She stopped, picked up Bill, and put 
him in Cameron's basket along with Sandy. "Misty, what are you doing?" 
asked Bill surprised.

"You all go on your journey without me", she stuttered as she turned 
around. "All of a sudden I've become homesick and I miss my sisters!  
Bye everyone!" and she pedaled in the other direction as fast as she 
could.

"MISTY, WAIT!" shouted out Cameron as he and the others pedaled after 
her.  Misty kept pedaling through a bumpy road that caused her to 
stumble, fall down, and hurt her knee.  Everyone gathered around her as 
she cried her heart out.

"Are you all right Misty?" asked Brock worriedly, "I'm sorry for what I 
said to you back there."

"It's not that", sobbed Misty, "It's just the only reason that I was 
ever on these journeys to begin with was so that Ash could pay me back 
for my bike!  Now that I have a new one, there's no reason for me to 
stay on this quest.  I'm sorry everyone!" and she started to cry.

Cameron just bent down and looked at the scraped knee that was 
showing through a rip in her jeans.  He took out a bandage from his 
backpack and applied it to the wound. "Are you sure that's the only 
reason you stuck with Ash all this time?" he asked. "To tell you the 
truth, I don't think he was ever going to pay you back for that bike."

"What are you saying?!" asked Misty in a now ballistic voice. "Do you 
actually think that I have a thing for that little egotistical creep?!"

"It is hard to tell with the way you keep staring off into space and 
sighing every time we mention Ash's name", said Stella.  And sure 
enough, Misty did right on cue.

"I guess you're right", said Misty quietly, "I'm just feeling guilty 
about what happened to Ash all those years ago.  I wanted to go and 
rescue him but instead I went off to have lunch with his mother 
thinking he could get out of that mess himself.  But instead I got 
trapped in his town for five years comforting his poor mother.  And now 
that I've heard where Ash is now, the guilt has totally increased!  Oh, 
what have I done to my dearest friend?!!!" and waterfalls started 
gushing out of Misty's eyes.  Cameron couldn't help feel sorry for poor 
Misty.  At first he hated her, and Brock and Stella for abandoning Ash 
like that.  But now he could see that Misty was truly sorry.  Sorry 
than she could ever imagined.

"Please don't feel that way", said Brock catching the tears in a 
canister. "All this was mostly my fault.  I was the one who put Ash in 
that Mr. Mime suit and got him in this mess to begin with."

"And mine too", said Stella as she placed her hands on Misty's 
shoulders. "I now see the consequences of mistreating Pokemon along 
with generous humans disguised as ones."

"But we're gonna make it up to him now!" said Brock, "We're gonna track 
down this Mewtwo, make him release Ash, and head back so we can free 
Pallet and reunite him with his dear mother.  And we could really use 
you on our rescue team Misty."

"Please rejoin us Misty", said Seymour, "We're all on the same quest 
and we need all the help we can get."

"What do you say Misty?" smiled Cameron, "And once we get Ash back.  
You can go back to putting him down which always seems to make you 
happy."

"Shrew", said Sandy as he approached Misty and slurped her hand.

Misty wiped away her tears, stood up, and said, "Well why are we all 
sitting around here for?  Let's get going.  The sooner Ash is back in 
my sight, the sooner I get to torment him!" and she got on her bike, 
put Bill back in the basket, and lead the way.

"Are you sure you're gonna be all right Misty?" asked Bill.

"Don't worry about me Bill", smiled Misty. "You just sit back and enjoy 
the ride.  And make sure that any bugs don't fly between your teeth."

"Too late", moaned Bill as he looked down at his two huge fangs.

*      *      *      *      *      *

Our heroes had finally arrived in Saffron City and they had approached 
the Saffron gym.  Misty and Brock stood there nervously remembering 
the horror they experienced the two times they entered the gym and into 
Sabrina's scary psychic world.  "I guess we should go ahead and knock", 
said Seymour as he was the first to grab the doorknocker that was being 
held in the mouth by a statue of a strange ghost.  Suddenly, it turned 
into a real ghost with a scary purple head and floating claws.  It 
slurped Seymour's face and he fell down on the ground paralyzed and 
shaking.

"Seymour!" cried Jenny as she held onto him trying to snap him out of 
the trance the ghost put on him.  Cameron took out his Pokedex and 
aimed it at the laughing ghost.

"HAUNTER, the gas Pokemon.  The evolved form of Gastly", replied 
Dexeena, "Because of its ability to slip through block walls, it is 
said to be from another dimension.  Its favorite attack is the lick 
attack.  One slurp and the victim is paralyzed with fear."

"Hey, you're that same Haunter that Ash befriended and brought here to 
be Sabrina's friend, aren't you?" asked Brock.

"Haunt, Haunter!" said the Haunter ringing a bell with a tiny hammer 
telling Brock that he was correct.

"And I remember that dangerous tongue of yours too", said Misty 
remembering the time Haunter gave her the same slurping treatment.  
Haunter looked down at the shaking Seymour and let out a loud wail 
causing water to spray out of its eyes and knocking everyone down.

"Haunter, what's going on out there?!" said a voice.  Out stepped a man 
with a beard and wearing a hat and jogging suit.  Cameron recognized 
the man as Sabrina's father. "Haunter, did you affectionate another 
poor person again?!" he asked sternly.  Haunter just sunk down into the 
floor in shame.

"Hello sir", said Brock, "Do you remember me and Misty?"

"Why yes I do", said S. father, "You're the ones, along with that boy 
Ash, who brought us that Haunter and reunited my wife and I with our 
no longer mean daughter.  I was hoping I'd see all of you again.  Say, 
where's Ash?"

Misty was about to tear up when Brock stood in front of her and said, 
"Uh, he couldn't be here with us right now.  But we would like to speak 
to Sabrina please."  "I can't believe I'm saying this", Brock thought 
nervously.

"Why sure", smiled S. father, "I'm sure my daughter will be on pins and 
needles to see you.  And she just finished her voodoo class yesterday 
too. Heh, heh!  Come on in everyone."  He pushed open the door and 
everyone stepped inside while Brock and Jenny had to drag poor Seymour 
in. "Sorry about what Haunter did to your friend", said S. father, "But 
its sometimes hard to control.  It just pops up anywhere and anytime it 
feels like it.  Usually when I have Friday nights with the wife." And 
he made a small sour frown.

"Oh no problem", said Seymour who was now well enough to talk and stand 
up.  He felt his face covered with lick. "Has anyone got a hot towel?" 
he asked.  Suddenly a white towel started to float right in front of 
him like a ghost's sheet.  Seymour started to faint while Jenny caught 
him. Haunter who was behind the towel realized that it frightened 
Seymour again started wailing again.

"Listen Haunter", said S. father, "This is not really a good time for 
you to be here.  Why don't you go play in the attic for a while."  
Haunter just frowned and flew right through the ceiling going, "Haunt, 
haunt, haunt, haunt", which meant. "I'm always getting sent to the 
attic whenever we have company.  Do people all over the world do that 
with their ghost Pokemon?"

*      *      *      *      *      *

After they revived Seymour, S. father led them to a door. "This is 
where Sabrina does her psychic training", he said, "You never know what 
she'll be doing so be prepared to be either amazed or outraged."

"I hope she doesn't start turning us into dolls", said Misty.

"Oh don't worry", said S.father. "She's totally outgrown dolls."

"Maybe she'll turn us into lipstick or make up instead", thought Stella.

"Oh Sabrina", said S. father as he gently knocked on her door and spoke 
through the crack. "Are you doing anything decent in there?"

"Oh yes I am Daddy", said Sabrina's voice, "Come right in." Everyone 
stepped inside and there was the lovely Sabrina.  The same one Cameron 
saw in the TV series.  At first she looked scary when she was evil and 
psychic-obsessed.  But now she was smiling while waving at everyone.  
She was sitting at a table with a tiny rodent like Pokemon on it 
sleeping.

"Hello honey", said S. father, "And what are you doing today?"

"I'm testing to see if this Abra can detect when something's near even 
if its constantly sleeping.  Watch." She took out a card that had the 
number 5 on it and put it near the sleeping Abra.  Abra just tapped its 
tail on the table five times while snoring.

"Why that's amazing!" gasped Seymour and Bill together.

"If you think that's hot, how about this?!" Sabrina then took a closed 
MAD Magazine and put it right next to Abra.  Abra started laughing in 
its sleep."

"Those are the types of laughs people make when they read Spy Vs. Spy", 
said Sabrina. "My theory works!" and she happily put Abra back into its 
Pokeball and approached the group. "Well, who do we have here?" she 
asked and then stared at Misty and Brock.

"Uh, oh!" they both thought together as Sabrina approached them with 
her arms out.  She then gave them both a big friendly hug while both of 
them sighed of relief.

"Misty and Brock!" said Sabrina happily. "I thought I'd never see you 
both again after what I did to you all those years ago!  Can you still 
forgive me for turning you into dolls like that?"

"Why sure", said Brock who was glad that this was the nice Sabrina they 
were talking to.

"It's all in the past", said Misty who thought it would be wise to 
forgive her just in case she'd get mad and work her psychic powers on 
them again.

"And who are all these new friends of yours?" asked Sabrina as she 
smiled and bowed to each new face she saw.  But when she saw Cameron, 
she backed away frightened.

"Sabrina, what's the matter?" asked her father.

"That, that boy!" gasped Sabrina, "There's something not right about 
him!" Everyone looked at a puzzled Cameron who was wondering what he 
did that made her freaked.

"What did I do?" asked Cameron politely.  Sabrina's eyes just glowed a 
dark color and Cameron suddenly found himself sealed in a glass box 
with only his head sticking out.

"What are you doing to Cameron?" demanded Misty.

"He's not from this world!" shouted Sabrina, "My psychic powers tell me 
that he's from another world.  Probably one filled with darkness and 
evil!"

"You're right about one thing", said Brock, "Cameron is from another 
world, but I'm sure it's not an evil world."

"Yes", said Cameron, "I come from a place called Trenton."

"Trenton?" said Sabrina, "And what kind of monsters and demons does 
Trenton have?"

"None", said Cameron nervously, "It's just a normal city filled with 
people like us."

"Please Sabrina", pleaded her father, "You've been a good girl for 
such a long time.  Please don't ruin it.  Give Cameron a chance to show 
you what this Trenton place is like."

"Very well", said Sabrina as she approached Cameron and placed her 
hands on his face.  Suddenly an image appeared in front of everyone.  
It was Cameron's home known as Trenton.  There were buildings, houses, 
stores, malls, fast food places, and lots of ordinary people. It looked 
like a normal city to everyone only everything there wasn't animated.

"So that's where you live Cameron", said Misty, "It sure looks like a 
nice place."

"I hope I can return home there soon", said Cameron with a tear in his 
eye.  Sabrina saw the tear drop on her hand and suddenly felt sorry for 
him.  Her eyes started glowing and the glass box that held Cameron 
suddenly disappeared.

"Forgive me Cameron", said Sabrina, "I normally don't like acting so 
harsh these days.  It was just your presence sort of spooked me.  Can 
you please forgive me as well?" 

"Sure, why not", said Cameron who was a little happy that Sabrina 
showed him his hometown again. Sabrina then smiled and gave him a quick 
kiss.  "I know how I can make it up to you", she smiled, "Is there any 
place or anyone in Trenton I can show you?"

"Well", said Cameron, "I'd really like to see how my dad's doing right 
now.  It's been weeks since I last saw him."

"You got it", winked Sabrina as she placed her hands on Cameron's 
cheeks again and created another image.  There they saw a highway jam 
packed with cars.  But in the middle it looked like a car wreck.  
Cameron gasped when he saw that one of the wrecked cars looked liked 
his dad's.  He tried to see if anyone was hurt, but the police were 
surrounding the victims.  Then he saw some medics roll away someone in 
a stretcher.  Cameron turned white the minute he saw who it was.  Then 
a medic approached a policeman and replied, "I'm sorry.  But this man 
is dead."

Everyone stood there silent and shocked at the tragic image they just 
saw.  Sabrina immediately removed her hands and the image disappeared.  
Cameron just stood there silently and emotionless and screamed, 
"DAAAAAD!!!" and then he fainted.

*      *      *      *      *      *

Three days had passed and everyone was sitting in a den thinking about 
poor Cameron.  Sabrina and her father had given him a bedroom so he 
could grieve in until he felt better.

"I can't believe this could happen to a nice guy", said Stella. "It's 
just like how I felt when I lost my Mr. Mime."

"At least there's still hope that you'll be reunited with him", said 
Bill, "But it's not so fortunate for Cameron."

"I'm really worried about him", said Jenny, "He hasn't spoken or eaten 
anything these past three days.  And if we don't get him up and moving 
soon, Team Rocket could catch up with us and catch us."

"But we should let him grieve until he feels like he can stop", said 
Brock, "I remember when my mom died, I just let my siblings cry their 
hearts out until they could no more.  After that, they were well enough 
to get on with their lives."

"It's really going to be hard on Cameron when it'll be time for him to 
return to his world", said Seymour, "He might not have anyone to return 
to."

"Maybe he has a family member or a loved one he can stay with", said 
Misty.

"Shrew!" said Sandy who was listening to the humans' conversation.  
He decided to go into the room and check up on his poor master.  Sandy 
slowly creaked open the bedroom door and found Cameron lying stomach 
down on the bed with his face covered.  He slowly jumped on the bed and 
found Cameron's glasses sitting on the table next to it.  He heard 
Cameron sobbing quietly under his arms.  "Shrew?" asked Sandy as he 
patted his master's arm.  Cameron looked up and saw Sandy looking very 
concerned.  Sandy saw that Cameron's eyes were all red and watery and 
he gave him a comforting slurp.

"Thank you Sandy", moaned Cameron as he sat up, picked up his first 
Pokemon and hugged him. "I'm sorry to be acting like a baby.  But my 
dad was the only family I had in the world.  I always feared that 
something would happen to him ever since my mom died and I'd be all 
alone.  Well it looks like it finally happened!  I just don't know what 
I'm gonna do now!" and he broke out into tears again while covering his 
face.  

Sandy looked across the dresser and found Cameron's Pokeballs lying 
there.  He leapt to the balls and released Vileplume, Zubat, Slowpoke, 
and Electabuzz.  Sandy explained what happened to their master's dad 
and they all felt very sad too.  Even Buzz who had the heart of an army 
tank couldn't help but shed tears for his new sergeant.  Cameron was too 
busy crying to notice that Sandy had released his Pokemon.  He then 
suddenly felt something on his lap.  He saw Sandy hugging his stomach.  
Then Zubat perched herself on his left shoulder, Slowpoke hugged his 
mamma's left arm, Vileplume kept stumbling because of its new huge 
petals but managed to hug Cameron's right leg.  And Buzz who was at 
first reluctant to show affection finally broke down and hugged 
Cameron's right side.  "Thank you guys", sobbed Cameron who hugged all 
his Poke-friends who cried along with him.

Slowly the door opened and Misty stepped in holding a bowl of chocolate 
custard.  She saw the touching scene of Cameron surrounded by loving 
Pokemon and smiled a little. "Hi Cameron", she said quietly. "How are 
you feeling?"

"It still hurts!" sobbed Cameron.

"I know it does", said Misty, "But still you should try to eat a little 
something.  Brock made this just for you."

"No thanks", grieved Cameron, "Custard won't bring back my dad!"

"Neither is feeling sorry for yourself", said Misty, "Come on guys, 
maybe you'd like some of this custard since your master doesn't want 
any." And she secretly winked at all the Pokemon.

"Shrew!" smiled Sandy getting the idea.  They all let go of Cameron and 
approached the bowl.  Cameron watched as Misty spoon-fed each Pokemon 
one at a time. "That stuff must be really great", he thought.

"Slow", said Slowpoke as he approached his mamma and offered him a 
taste of his chocolate coated tail.  Cameron smiled as he put his 
finger against the goop and tasted it. "Say, this stuff is good", he 
said now smiling, "Thanks Slowie", and he patted his Slowpoke's head 
while he smiled his dopey little smile.

"Is there any left for your master?" Cameron asked his Pokemon while 
smiling.

"But of course", smiled Misty as she handed the bowl to Cameron and 
gave him a clean spoon.  Everyone in the room became happy to see 
Cameron eating again.

"Thank you Misty", said Cameron with a chocolate smile, "This is just 
what I needed today."

"You know Cameron", said Misty, "I know just what you're going 
through.  Many years ago, both my parents died too.  The only family I 
had was my sisters and they didn't really treat me like family much at 
all.  I soon became so depressed, that I left home to start a Pokemon 
journey.  If none of that ever happened, I wouldn't've met all the 
wonderful friends I have today, including you Cameron."

"You really feel that way?" asked Cameron. "Even Ash?"

"Especially Ash", smiled Misty who held back her tears.  Everyone had 
stepped inside the room and Cameron saw the wonderful family Misty now 
had.

"How are you doing Cameron?" asked Seymour.

"I'm doing a little better" Said Cameron, "Thanks for the custard Brock.  
I was getting a little hungry."

"My pleasure", said Brock quietly.

"So do you have anyone you can call a family back home?" asked Jenny. 
"Any relatives or neighbors?"

"No", sighed Cameron, "My dad was my only family.  And all the 
neighbors I had moved away a lot."

"Uh, oh", thought Bill, "It looks like this kid might be heading off to 
an orphanage!"

"Why don't you stay here with us instead of going back", said Stella, 
"We can be your family."

"Thank you", said Cameron, "But I don't feel that I belong here in this 
world.  I'm not truly a flesh and blood member."

"I think it would be wise if you stay here", said Sabrina who just 
walked through the wall while everyone stood there in surprise. 

"You think I should?" asked Cameron, "But what if I have a future or a 
great purpose that's waiting for me back in my world?"

"I've used my powers to check on your future in your world", said 
Sabrina, "And it's a pretty sad one.  You get sent to an orphanage in 
New York with a lot of mean boys.  You get a low rent apartment at 18, 
get a job as a UPS delivery boy, get married then divorced very 
quickly, have a son who grows up to be an assassin.  Then you get a job 
as a store clerk, get shot and die at the age of 31."

Cameron turned white listening to the grim future that was waiting for 
him if he ever returned to his own world. "So I become a great loser", 
he moaned.

"Maybe", said Sabrina, "But maybe you can become something even greater 
here in the Pokemon world.  I believe you were sent here because a 
great destiny awaits for you."

"And besides", said Misty, "If you do leave, you'd make five great 
Pokemon here sad masterless orphans." Cameron looked down at his 
Pokemon who were smiling at him and then got down on the floor and 
hugged them all.

"I'll have to think about it", said Cameron quietly.  Everyone was 
about to leave the room until Cameron shouted. "I'M STAYING HERE!" All 
of Cameron's Pokemon cheered and tackled their master while licking, 
kissing, and tickling him to death.  Everyone smiled seeing their 
friend happy again.

"Sabrina", asked Cameron, "Is it okay I challenge you for a MarshBadge?"

*      *      *      *      *      *

An hour later, everyone was gathered inside the same gym that Ash 
battled for his MarshBadge.  "Let's each us two Pokemon.  No time 
limit", said Sabrina.

"Fine with me", said Cameron with determination in his eyes.

"I hope you're up to this", said Sabrina, "Because I'm not allowed to 
go easy on you.  It's the league rules."

"I wonder if there are any rules about turning losers into dolls?" 
thought Misty.

"Give me your best!" said Cameron quietly.  He wanted everything 
Sabrina could dish out.  For he was going to win this match for his dad.

"Then I choose Jynx!" shouted Sabrina as she released a Pokemon that 
looked like a short human woman.  She was wearing an orange dress, long 
blond hair, and had huge lips.  She winked at Cameron and said, "Jynx!"

"A psychic type", thought Cameron, "I'll beat her with my own little 
psychic.  Slowpoke, I choose you!" and Slowpoke appeared ready to 
fight for his mamma's honor.

"Jynx, lovely kiss attack", commanded Sabrina.  Jynx puckered up her 
lips and sent a glowing heart right into Slowpoke's face.  Slowpoke 
started to get very sleepy and was about to drift off.

"No Slowie!" called out Cameron, "It's not your naptime yet!  Use your 
amnesia to forget that you're sleepy!" Little question marks started to 
surround Slowie and when they cleared, Slowie was now wide-awake and 
a lot stronger too. "All right Slowie", cheered Cameron, "Now give her 
your water gun!"

Slowie was about to take a deep breath until Sabrina called out, "Jynx, 
create a substitute." Jynx concentrated hard and suddenly a model of 
another Jynx appeared right in front of her.  Slowie launched his water 
gun at the substitute leaving the original Jynx unharmed.

"Now how about giving it an ice punch?" commanded Sabrina.

"Jynx, jynx", commanded Jynx while the substitute balled up its fist, 
charged at Slowie and punched him hard.  Luckily Slowie was too slow to 
feel any pain right away.  But he did notice his body starting to 
freeze up in a block of ice. "Slow?" he called out to his mamma.

"Uh, quick Slowie", shouted Cameron, "Use your water gun to melt the 
ice!" Slowie responded and squirted water all over himself melting away 
the ice.

"How very clever", said Sabrina. "But is your Slowpoke's psychic powers 
stronger than my Jynx's?" Jynx started to use her psychic powers to 
lift Slowie up into the air.  But it didn't seem to bother him one bit.  
It felt kind of relaxing.

"Okay Slowie, give her your tri-attack!" commanded Cameron.  A huge 
glowing triangle of energy suddenly sprouted out of Slowie's head.  
He set it loose smashing the substitute Jynx and hitting the orginial 
knocking her out cold.

"Very good Cameron", said Sabrina as she pulled Jynx back into her 
Pokeball. "But can you handle the ghostly tricks of Haunter?" Hearing 
his name, Haunter popped right out of the floor and started juggling 
some stuff around.  Everyone gagged when they saw the stuff it was 
juggling was its stomach, intestines, heart, liver, and brain.

"No Haunter, it's not jester time yet", said Sabrina while shaking her 
head, "It's battle time." A blushing Haunter stuffed its organs back in 
its mouth, tied a karate bandana around its pointed head, and shouted, 
"HAUNTER!" which meant, "Senshi!"  It then flew into the ring ready to 
battle Slowie.

"Slowie, give it another tri-attack!" commanded Cameron. "Slow!" he 
happily called out as he launched another triangle at Haunter.  But 
both Slowie and Cameron became surprised when the triangle went right 
through Haunter leaving it happy and unharmed.

"Confuse ray now!" commanded Sabrina, "Haunter then launched a dark 
flashing ray at Slowie causing him to become totally confused.  In 
fact, he became so confused, he squirted water all over himself causing 
him to slip and knock himself out.

"Poor Slowie!" cried Cameron as he picked up his Slowpoke who was just 
sleeping off his pain.  Haunter was just laughing while juggling little 
Vs for victory. "Let's see", thought Cameron, "Ground Pokemon seem to 
be effective against ghost Pokemon.  Then I'll choose Sandy!" and he 
sent his Sandshrew into the ring.

"Shrew!" smiled Sandy happy that his master was back in the battling 
mood.

"Haunter, use your nightshade", commanded Sabrina.  Haunter released a 
dark mist making everything in the room black.  Cameron became worried.  
He knew that nightshade attacks could cause major damage to a Pokemon.  
When the darkness cleared, he found Sandy all curled up shaking 
nervously. 

"You all right Sandy?" asked Cameron.

"Shrew!" said Sandy who uncurled and looked a little beaten, but still 
had some fight in him.  Cameron looked angrily at the Haunter who was 
laughing so loudly that its mouth looked like a huge basketball hoop.  
Cameron then had an idea. "Sandy", said Cameron, "How about showing Mr. 
Haunter that new attack I taught you?  Rock slide!"

"Sandshrew!" Sandy replied in a tough voice.  He started spewing out 
sand, forming them into huge boulders, and started throwing them into 
Haunter's laughing mouth one by one.  Haunter suddenly found himself 
full of a heavy diet of minerals and fell down onto the floor like a 
huge sack of potatoes.

"HAUNTER!" cried Sabrina who was watching the ghost trying to raise 
itself up but was too heavy to do so.

"The winner is Cameron and Sandshrew!" called out S. Father.  Everyone 
cheered for Cameron's and Sandy's latest victory.

"All right!" shouted Cameron as he gave Sandy a high five.

"Shrew!" said Sandy proudly. 

Sabrina slowly hovered over to Cameron while her father started giving 
Haunter some antacid. (A jumbo pack of antacid that is!) 
"Congratulations Cameron", she said, "You've earned the MarshBadge.  
Your father would be proud of you."

"Thank you", said Cameron quietly as he admired the round yellow badge 
he just won. "And I'm gonna keep making you proud Dad", he whispered.

*      *      *      *      *      *

Later that evening, everyone was gathered at the dinner table eating a 
delicious meal Sabrina's mother had prepared.  While Haunter was 
entertaining them by dressing up and acting like famous anime 
characters from Sailor Moon to a Pizza Cat.  

"That sure was a great meal", Cameron said to Sabrina's mom.

"Thank you Cameron", she smiled, "It's great not having to cook anymore 
plastic Barbie food." Sabrina sat there quietly feeling ashamed about 
turning her mother into a doll five years ago.

"Sabrina", asked Bill, "Do you think you can possibly do me a favor?"

"Turn you back into a human?" smiled Sabrina.

"Why yes", said Bill, "You truly are psychic.  Can you do that for me 
please?"

"I don't know", said Sabrina, "I've never tried turning a Pokemon into 
a human before.  But I'll try." Sabrina concentrated hard and Bill 
found himself changing his Rattata shape.

"I think it's working!" said Bill excitedly.  But instead of a human, 
Bill became a duck holding a leek. 

"You've turned Bill into a Farfetch'd!" shouted Brock.

"Oh no!" cried Bill who looked at his webbed feet and wings, "And I 
don't even like the taste of leeks!"

"Don't panic", said Sabrina, "I'll try again" and she did.  This time 
Bill became a huge thousand pound blue bear like Pokemon.

"Oh great", yawned Bill, "Now I'm a Snorlax!  Wake me up when you get 
it right please", and he fell right asleep.

"They say the third times the charm", said Sabrina.  Everyone became 
shocked when they saw what Bill had become this time.  

"No, not a Meowth!" cried Bill who saw his reflection in a dinner plate. 
"And I hope I'm not a female one either!" he cried worrying that the 
original bad Meowth might develop a crush on him.

"Sorry", sighed Sabrina as she tried one last time, but turned Bill 
back into a Rattata. "Sorry Bill", she said sadly, "I'm just not 
experienced enough to change Pokemon into humans."

"That's okay", said Bill breathing very hard, "You tried your best.  
I guess I'll just have to wait till I get my DNA chamber back."

"Don't worry Bill", said Cameron, "We're not gonna give up until we 
complete our entire quest and get you humanized again!"

"Thank you Cameron", panted Bill.

"Sabrina", said Jenny, "There's one more favor we'd like to ask of you"

"Yes", said Sabrina, "I'll do anything to make up for all my bad deeds."

"Can you help us rescue a friend from a Pokemon called Mewtwo?" asked 
Jenny.

Sabrina started to turn white with fear.  She shrunk herself down and 
hid into a sugar bowl. "Was it something I said?" asked Jenny.

"Please forgive her", said S. father who also had a scared look on his 
face. "It's just that only fool-hearted trainers dare to take on Mewtwo.  
We've seen many trainers try to take on that powerful beast only to be 
captured by that horrible mindjail attack of his never to be seen 
again."

"We thought a powerful psychic like you or Sabrina or a ghost Pokemon 
like Haunter would be able to take on Mewtwo", said Seymour.

"Are you kidding?!" gasped S. father. "Every psychic in the world knows 
and fears Mewtwo.  His psychic powers could crush our tiny, 
insignificant, brains with just one thought.  No offense daughter."

"None taken", whispered Sabrina from the sugar bowl.

"Not even Haunter can take on Mewtwo", continued S. father. "We've seen 
Mewtwo pull trainers along with their ghost Pokemon right inside his 
evil head."

"HAUNTER!" said Haunter nervously as it put a red rubber glove on its 
head and a beak on its nose and started making chicken noises.

"But we have to get to Mewtwo", cried Misty, "Ash is one of his 
prisoners and we just have to get our friend back!"

"Did you say Ash?!" shouted Sabrina as she flew out of the bowl and 
grew back to her normal size all covered with sweet sugar. "Why didn't 
you say that Ash was one of his victims?  He helped me regain my sweet 
childhood innocence!  I have to help him!"

"Does that mean you're coming with us?" asked Brock.

"No, I'm not that brave!" said Sabrina, "But I can at least tell you 
where Mewtwo is located.  He's hiding out in an abandoned mansion on 
Cinnabar Island."

"Well I guess Cinnabar's our next destination then", said Jenny.

"This journey sure is leading us from one thing to another", said 
Stella. "First we were looking for Moonstones, then a cavalry, then Ash, 
then a Rocket boss, and now for a psycho Pokemon on a far away island.  
I hope this Mewtwo doesn't lead us to find something else."

"I also want to give you something that might be strong against Mewtwo",
said Sabrina. "Cameron, can I see your Slowpoke please?"

"Okay", said Cameron as he released Slowie onto the table.  Sabrina 
closed her eyes and pointed to Slowie's forehead.  They both started to 
glow a funny color while Slowie was making a relaxing display of, 
"Slows."

"There, all done", said Sabrina as she let go of Slowie who just ran 
back into his mamma's arms.

"What did you do to Slowie?" asked Cameron.

"I just gave him a new psychic attack called mindzero", said Sabrina, 
"I've developed it over the years when I first heard about Mewtwo.  
I was going to use it in case that monster decides to bust in here and 
take on all us psychics.  But now that you're all on your way to meet 
him, I'm sure it'll be in good hands with you and in a good head like 
Slowie", and she patted Slowie's head.

"Are you sure it'll work?" asked Cameron.

"No", said Sabrina, "It's very untested and I'm not sure how Slowie 
will use it, but my psychic instincts instructed me on how to make it."

"Let's hope it doesn't turn me into a Meowth again", said Bill.

*      *      *      *      *      *

The next day, it was time for our heroes to leave for Cinnabar Island.  
Sabrina, her parents, and Haunter were all standing in front of the 
gym, waving goodbye to their friends who were pedaling off on their 
bikes.

"Cameron", asked Misty, "Are you sure you're feeling better about what 
happened to your father?"

"Well, it still hurts inside", said Cameron, "But I now realize that 
grieving forever won't bring him back.  And I'll always remember him 
and love him.  And I'm gonna work and become a great success at 
whatever this new world has in store for me.  I'm gonna make Dad proud!"

"Shrew!" called out Sandy happily from Cameron's front basket.

"You're a very remarkable boy Cameron", said Jenny, "And as soon as we 
free Pallet Town, I'm officially going to make you an honorary citizen!"

"Thanks Jenny", said Cameron blushing, "And I'm gonna stick with my new 
family every step of the way.  I just know together we can free Ash and 
be rid of Team Rocket forever!"

"That reminds me", said Brock, "We've spent four days in Sabrina's gym 
and Team Rocket didn't even bust in.  Do you think they got lost or 
just gave up?"

*      *      *      *      *      *

Sabrina's father knew that Team Rocket was on their way to Saffron 
City, so he put them all in a psychic sleep until Cameron was well 
enough to leave.  Once S. father felt that Cameron and friends were 
far, far away from Saffron, he immediately released the Rockets from 
their sleep.  Jessie, Reiko, and Meowth suddenly found themselves lying 
behind a big clump of bushes.

"What's the big idea catnapping on the job?" protested Meowth as he 
started to lick himself clean but got little thistles stuck on his 
tongue.

"MGLHRM!" mumbled Jessie realizing that a bird had built a nest in her 
mouth while she was snoring.  She spit out the nest while the eggs went 
splat on the ground.  "Someone's gonna pay for this!" Jessie screamed.  
Then a mother Spearow appeared.  She saw her eggs smashed and started 
pecking on Jessie's head angrily.  "OW!" cried Jessie, "All right, OW! 
I'll pay for those eggs! OW!" 

While Jessie and Meowth were busy dealing with the gifts Mother Nature 
offered them, Reiko was quietly sitting on the ground thinking about 
the dream she just had.  She was in a church dressed in a white bridal 
gown.  She happily had her arm around a handsome groom who had a very 
familiar face. "Only in my dreams!" she sighed and started polishing her 
katana.

TO BE CONTINUED