More Troubles Chapter 1:

Going Back

About a month after Emiko, Kisshu and Ichigo had gone to the world of Pokémon, the construction of the house in Kisshu's dimension was complete. Now everyone had a room, and there was a dining room, as well as two more bathrooms. The place was basically a mansion.

Emiko, Zakuro, Lettuce and Pudding were teaching Ichigo, Kisshu, Taruto and Mint how to cook. They had decided that Pai was hopeless in the kitchen, but Ichigo and Kisshu, at least, were starting to get the hang of it.

They all kept Pai out of the kitchen, and told him to stay in his lab. He had a habit of starting something in the kitchen, then going back to whatever he was doing in his lab and forgetting about the thing in the kitchen. After he nearly set the kitchen on fire, Emiko said, "Pai, you are now banned from the kitchen. If you need food, tell one of us. If I or anyone else catches you in here again, I'll put a spell on the door specifically to keep you out."

Pai sulked for about a week, but finally, though grudgingly, agreed to stay away from the kitchen.

About two weeks later, everyone was sitting around after dinner. Ichigo and Emiko were reading, and everyone else was playing poker. Kisshu and Taruto were snarling at Pai because he was winning, due to his ability to not show any emotion. Zakuro was second place.

Emiko was just starting Chapter 3 of a book called Emperor Mage, when she suddenly heard her name being called. The voice calling her was panicked. Emiko jumped up, her book falling to the floor.

"Emiko, what's wrong?" Kisshu asked.

"Something's happening in the other dimension," Emiko said. "I have to go. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Alright, be careful," Kisshu said.

Emiko nodded, put on her boots, and teleported out. She landed in a forest, and ran toward the sound of cries for help.

She finally reached the edge of a cliff. Pikachu, May, and Max were standing there, and they looked up as Emiko ran over.

"What happened?" Emiko asked. "Where's Ash and Brock?"

"Well, Brock had to run to the next town for supplies," May said. "But we heard a cry for help, and went to see what it was. We came to this cliff, and found a Nuzleaf hanging off the side. Ash tried to save it, but the ground crumbled, and they both fell."

"And this cliff is too steep for us to climb down!" Max said.

"Got it," Emiko said. "I'll go down and see if I can find them. You stay here, and wait for Brock."

"Can I come?" Pikachu asked.

"Yes, but you have to stay on my shoulder and hold on tight," Emiko said. She turned to May and said, "Pikachu's coming with me. Please stay here, I'll be back as soon as I can."

May nodded. Emiko then stepped off the cliff, and May squeaked. Emiko looked back and said, "I can fly, remember?" May nodded sheepishly. Emiko then floated down to the bottom of the cliff. It was a long way down.

Finally she reached the bottom. She looked around, and spotted a brown Pokémon with a leaf on its head standing next to Ash, who was lying on the ground.

Emiko and Pikachu ran over. The Pokémon stepped between them and Ash, and said, "What do you want?"

"We want to help," Emiko said. "Pikachu is Ash's friend. We came down to see if you and Ash were okay."

"I'm fine, but I'm not sure about Ash," Nuzleaf said. "He protected me when we fell, and it looks like he's unconscious."

"Let me have a look," Emiko said.

Ooh… I wonder what's going to happen next?