Arceus Drops - Remembering (COMPLETE)

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 04:44 AM

Chapter 15: Pieces

“We probably should’ve asked May which plane route she was taking.” Maylene stared at the rotating screens, counting how many were arriving straight from Hoenn or Johto. “For all we know she could be taking one plane, two planes, or three planes to get here.”

“She didn’t really give us a chance to ask.” Ash shrugged as he leaned against a wall.

“You can blame Angie for that. That ‘we should’ve called Dawn’ remark really set May off.” She turned towards the tomboy trainer… the girl was busying herself with playing and celebrating with her new luxio. Maylene continued, “She probably would’ve been more gracious with her information.”

“Hey, you were the one saying that ‘we still should’ve called Dawn’.” Ash pointed out. “It’s not like you were encouraging May with your attitude.”

“Well there’s a difference between supporting an idea and offending someone.” she countered. “I just supported an idea, Angie was straight-out offending May.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Speaking of which… Aren’t you tired, Ash? You’ve been awake for how long now?”

“Nah, I’m too excited to sleep right now. That fight we had back at the alleyway was insane.”

“You should’ve been there when Angie and I were fighting the Psychics! THAT was insane!”

Ash wanted to ask all about it, but something popped into his mind that bothered him. “Wait, Maylene…?”

She noticed his changed tone and hesitated. “… y-yes?”

“How do you know that Domino girl?”

“OH. That… we used to go to school together.”

“Really?” Ash tilted his head curiously.

“Yep. Fellow classmate.”

“Small world.”

“Tell me about it.”

…

…

“Hey, Ash?”

“Yeah?”

“How do you know that Sabrina girl?”

Before he could answer, a friendly yet reserved emotion entered his immediate area.

“I’m the Gym Leader of Saffron City.” Sabrina walked around the corner and handed a drink for each of them. “Ash was a challenger.”

“Wow, another Gym Leader!” Maylene laughed and bowed in thankfulness for the drink. “Does Ash make friends with all the Gym Leaders?”

“It would seem so. Though how Ash befriended me was done in a rather interesting fashion.” She smiled.

Maylene was taken aback by the comment and stared at her curiously.

Worry not, child. I am not interested. Sabrina’s amused thoughts echoed in her own.

“W-What the heck was that?” The fighter panicked at her mind’s intrusion.

The Psychic leaned against the wall next to Ash and stared at the clock on the wall.

“By the way, Sabrina…” Ash turned towards her. “How’s Haunter doing?”

“I do not have him anymore.”

“Huh?? Why not?”

“A young girl who entered my Gym needed him far more than I did.” she responded with a hint of nostalgia. “I miss him dearly, but his gifts were needed elsewhere.”

The young trainer smiled with satisfaction. “Well that’s good. Everyone needs to learn to laugh once in a while.”

“…haunter? … laugh?” Maylene had no idea what the two were talking about.

An excited energy had rammed into the air. Angie. “Hey guys! Guess what?”

“Torchick butt.” Ash stated.

Wow, how old is that joke? Maylene wondered.

Sabrina and Ash laughed loudly together at the ridiculously corny humor.

Both Maylene and Angie stepped back at the sight of the normally deadly-serious woman laughing.

“Er… uh… no.” The tomboy snickered nervously. “I wanted to say that Luxio knows how to do Roar!”

“That’s awesome!” Ash faced towards her in fascination. “Wanna’ show it??”

“Yeah I do! Come on Luxio, show them y–”

Sabrina interrupted, “I must prevent you from that action. Security in Saffron City’s airport is very strict about Pokémon Attacks being used indoors.”

“…but… I just used it over there…” Angie whimpered, anxiously wishing to show-off.

“And it caught the attention of several officers in the area. They are watching you closely as we speak.” The woman nodded her head towards a wall on the other end of the airport.

Angie looked – and found three guards staring at her, speaking into their radio with discretion.

“Oh, whoops.” She waved apologetically towards them.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Bright, sunny, and absolutely desperate, an emotion had struck Ash after hearing his name. Like the thunder to a lightning strike.

With tears in her eyes, May was running towards the Empathic as fast as her legs could take her.

Strangers and employees alike stopped and stared at the scene playing out, their hearts happy to see such a loving reunion.

BAKK. Which was broken in an instant. May’s fist had met Maylene’s face. Her knuckles cracking on impact. And sending Maylene’s drink skyward.

The twotumbledover in a tussle.

Angie rolled up her sleeves. “That reminds me!” She jumped into the fight with vicious excitement.

As the limbs locked and kicks flew, Sabrina turned towards Ash.

“You keep interesting company.”

Ash laughed in embarrassment.

Security guards charged towards them, calling out orders and commanding them to stop.

The Psychic sighed. “Let me handle this.” she grumbled to Ash in irritation.

She appeared in front of the combative three, blocking the law enforcers. “The three are under my care.” the Psychic Master spoke with frightening authority, “I shall see to it that they are reprimanded.”

The guards froze in place, shocked at her intervention. They bowed quickly in apology. “Y-Yes, Sabrina!” “Th-Thank you, Mistress!” “Have a pleasant d-day, Mistress Sabrina!”

In an instant, they ran off – afraid of being seen as incompetent fools that had offended their city’s hero.

Sabrina’s eyes glowed, surrounding the three young women in a purple aura. Affected by telekinesis, the three were separated and lifted into the air. Each of them continued the fight with bickering while levitated, with May obviously outnumbered in the argument.

Sabrina’s brow twitched in annoyance. “Enough!”

The airport went quiet.

She cleared her throat and let the young women down onto their feet. “Calm yourselves.”

May looked at her in curiosity. “Who’s that?” she asked with an aggravated emotion, almost ignoring the fact that the woman had her lifted off the ground psychically just seconds before.

“This is Sabrina.” Ash introduced nervously. “She’s this city’s Gym Leader.”

The brown-haired Coordinator eyed the woman as if in challenge. “I’m May.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” Sabrina said almost sarcastically.

“A pleasure…” A trickle of blood dripped from May’s lips. She wiped it off in disgust.

“Ha! Mission accomplished!” Angie laughed in victory. “That’s what ya’ get for kissing Ash, ya’ hussy!”

“WHAT?!” May and Maylene shouted.

Ash slapped his face into his palm.

May’s face was suddenly red. “H-How did…”

Maylene laughed. “I better step my game up or Ash might have something else taken away before I get to him!”

Ash now had both hands covering his face. Angie was shocked, nearly having a nosebleed from the thought. May was both dying from embarrassment at such a comment – and burning with anger at such a forward statement.

Sabrinacleared her throat once again. All four gave her attention immediately.

“I suggest we leave the building. We are disturbing the peace.”

_________________________________________________________

Lights flickered dimly on the orange walls and tangerine seats. Brown tables and cream carpet, having the scent of microwaved breakfast, patterned the floor. A neon white sign welcomed any strangers that happened to the pass. Inside the small diner of slow atmosphere and slower service, a group of five sat as the only customers.

“I don’t get it…” A girl of thick green hair poked at her strangely browned food. “If you’re not poor, why did you choose this place to eat?”

Two young females, one of brown and the other of pink hair cared less to talk as they devoured the food placed before them.

A boy wearing messy black hair snored quietly at the seat closest to the window, his food getting cold from lacking attention.

“It’s my favorite.” A woman, whose midnight black hair glowed forest green under direct lamplight, smiled happily as she placed another waffle piece into her mouth.

A feline creature of lavender fur ate silently underneath the table.

The boy choked on a snore and rolled his position. “M-May…”

May blushed at his dream-encouraged mumble.

The Coordinator had traveled far and dodged more than one attack on her journey to this bustling city in the Kanto region. It was well worth it in her mind. She was here for Ash. And she smiled happily at the thought that of finally being able to help him.

“…lene…”

Her brow twitched in annoyance.

“Ha!” Maylene laughed in her face, her mouth still half-full with food.

The young fighter admittedly never fawned over the boy like the other girls, but he was the only man in her life that she had ever been enamored by. Love interest was the definition that resembled him in her vocabulary, with love and interest still being weighed. He was, however, a very fun subject of conflict and charm for her.

May struck the boy’s knee with her foot.

Ash twitched in response and rolled to another position… which caused him to fall off his chair entirely. “AHH!”

THUD

…

Espeon walked over to the fallen boy and licked his cheeks.

His snoring returned, louder. “N-No… …I don’t want to go to the concert…”

The girls giggled to themselves.

Sabrina placed her utensils down and delicately patted her lips with a napkin. “Where has Ash planned for this group to go next?”

“I’m not sure.” Angie pushed her plate away. “Other than May, he never really told us who we were searching for. I didn’t even know we were meeting you.”

“I find it strange that a boy who seeks your help would inform so little.” the Psychic stated curiously.

“Why don’t we just check his pockets?” Maylene suggested.

May tensed. “Doesn’t that seem… you know… a little rude?”

“Doesn’t seem to bother Angie.” The fighter laughed.

Angie was already crouched over Ash’s sleeping body, pulling out contents from his pants and jacket pockets. Standing up, she placed six objects onto the table.

Half ribbon – Sketch – Photograph – Bent spoon – Rock – Newspaper clip.

“What are these?” Sabrina eyed each one with interest.

“These are the items Ash showed us when he said he knew who could help us.” The tomboy looked over them with disinterest. She found it useless to try to figure out the bits and pieces without one of them knowing what they stood for – and she knew absolutely none of them.

May immediately hovered over the half ribbon. “Ash… he still has his…”

She reached into her pocket and produced the other half, reuniting the pieces. The two halves looked as if from different timelines, as Ash’s half had been worn from weather and exposure.

Despite this, the Coordinator smiled with cherishment.

“Well, we now know that one’s May.” Maylene concluded.

Sabrina picked up the spoon. “If these are symbols, then I believe this one represents the Psychics of Saffron – with me most likely in mind.”

“Then what are the rest?”

The four stared at the remaining four objects.

Angie lifted the sketch. “You think this one means Tracey?”

“Tracey?” The fighter tilted her head.

“A Pokémon sketch-artist that works for Professor Oak.” May explained. “But I don’t think that one’s his. This definitely doesn’t look like his style of sketching.”

“Maybe it’s an old one?” Angie scratched her head.

The Psychic let out a slight gasp.

The three looked at her in worry.

“Is something wrong??” Maylene browsed the area.

Sabrina’s eyes focused in suspicion at each object placed before them. “Maylene, release your lucario.”

“What?”

“Do it.”

Hesitantly, the pink haired Gym Leader pulled out a poké ball and released the pokémon inside.

Lucario stretched and stared curiously at his surroundings.

Sabrina’s eyes shined. A purple and blue mist engulfing her. Lucario’s eyes locked, his eyes glowing in reaction.

His trainer stared in wonderment at the scene. “Wh-What are you doing to Lucario?”

I am borrowing his body. Please be patient. she heard echoing in her thoughts.

…

Lucario picked up each object and glared – its eyes becoming lost in unknown reflections.

…

Without her calling him back, Lucario returned to his poké ball. “Huh??” Maylene glanced at the ball in surprise.

“I returned him for you.” Sabrina said before continuing. “There is something special about these objects.”

She stared at each of the girls to gain their attention. “They are not mere symbols. They are objects that have retained traces of Aura.”

“Aura?” Maylene and Angie asked in unison.

“…jynx.” Maylene whispered. Angie growled in response.

“Aura,” May said with serious attention, “is found in every living creature. It’s like a soul. Or like an energy. Ash is able to read and use Aura.”

“What?!” Angie’s eyes widened. “So you mean he can do things like Aura Sph– Ow!” Maylene had punched her.

“I said jynx. No talking.” Maylene smiled mischievously. “No but seriously, can he do stuff like that?!”

May nodded. “He said it’s very draining, but I definitely know he can use it like that.”

“More importantly,” Sabrina returned the topic to its origin, “he’s laced these objects with Aura.”

“…meaning?” The fighter blinked.

“Ash has given these objects great sentimental value. However, as he can manipulate Aura, he has also transferred some of his memories’ auras onto them.”

“…meaning?” the tomboy asked for her to clarify. “Ow! Quit it! Ow!” Two extra punches.

“This means that Ash can find us through these Auras. He seems to be attracted to them.”

“Are you sure?” May questioned skeptically. “All he did was call me, and you were already in the same city as the airport I ended up in. …and wouldn’t he be able to use these to find Misty and the rest? Why doesn’t he just use an object to find them?”

“Valid observations.” Sabrina nodded. “However, there certainly are traces of Aura on these items. And it should be noted that he may indeed carry additional items on his person that would allow him to find the kidnapped victims. But one factor changes the dynamics of that search… Team Rocket is masking themselves.”

“Masking themselves?” May placed Ash’s ribbon into her pocket, leaving her half on the table.

“Yeah, Ash mentioned that he couldn’t sense any of them when they first attacked the house. Ow! Quit it, Maylene!”

“I myself could not sense their presence in Saffron until it was too late.” the Psychic mentioned. “Aura won’t be able to help him find them.”

Maylene picked up the rock. “Then what about the rest? Where do these lead? …like this rock?”

“That is no ordinary stone. It is a meteorite piece.” Sabrina examined.

“Who does it belong to?”

“We cannot know until Ash tells us himself. Your lucario can only sense the Aura, I can only detect mental traces – but even together we cannot know who Ash connected each object to.”

Sketch – Photograph –Meteorite – Newspaper clip.

The four looked down at the sleeping young man, each one curious where he would lead them next.

_________________________________________________________

Ash yawned as he entered the main room. He wasn’t sure how he ended up in a bed, and he wasn’t sure what building he was in – but he knew that his friends were there, as he tripped over their scattered shoes and bags. I guess we went to a new hotel…

The main room was a hybrid quarter; containing a living room, kitchen, and dining room comfortably situated next to each other in a small space. It was white, modern, and nothing spectacular – but definitely something not cheap. He could tell this by just touching the material of the walls and side tables. I hope they didn’t pay with my money… we’re running a little low…

Three energies gathered around a table, one other stood in front of a strong scent, and one more sat comfortably to the side. A warm and silent energy wrapped around his leg. He reached down and picked up the solemnly friendly pokémon. “Hey Espeon. How are you today?”

It yawned in response.

“Yeah, me too…”

He sensed towards the table again.

Serious and inquisitive, Sabrina studying something.

Patient and ready, Lucario waiting for a command.

Frustrated and puzzled, Angie trying to solve a question.

He opened his senses towards the lone figure in front of the scent.

Happy and distracted, May daydreaming.

French Toast? Pancakes? …Pie? He still had a difficult time with scents. Whatever it was, it was breakfast being made by May. And it had smelled like she improved in her cooking. Must be from traveling alone.

And lastly, the casual single that sat on a couch.

Calm and methodical, Maylene searching through a pokédev.

Sabrina stood up and circled the table. “So far, with what we’ve determined– Ah, Ash. We’ve been waiting.”

“Hey guys, what are you… hm?” He finally recognized what was on the table. “What are you doing with those?” his voice suddenly serious.

Angie hadn’t caught the tone. “While you were sleeping your butt away, we were trying to figure out what was up with your mementos. So far we’ve got Tracey, your charizard, probably a clefairy, and one of the Professors in any of the regions. Are we close?”

Sabrina and Lucario, however, caught it. The two looked at each other with concerned looks.

Despite her authority, Sabrina did not feel it in her place to speak with Ash with his suspicions towards them.

May. Stop what you are doing.

“Huh??” May looked around in confusion.

It’s Sabrina. Ash is currently showing offense against our research on his items. I believe he has his reasons to have kept them to himself.

“Uhm… what do you want me to do?” she whispered to herself, unsure how to communicate back in a proper manner.

Ask him what’s wrong. she thought with an air of obviousness.

“Hey Ash?” May felt awkward knowing what he was feeling before even speaking with him. “Is something wrong?”

Her innocent reaction seemed to have a positive effect on him. His body loosened and his emotions culled into a much more manageable state.

“What are you guys doing with my stuff?” Ash asked in a far friendlier manner.

Angie turned around on her chair. “I just said what we were doing with your stuff. You deaf or something?”

“Nope! Only blind! I know that one.” Maylene raised her arm without looking. She was quite proud of knowing that fact, despite it being obvious.

Sabrina felt comfortable enough to approach him now.

Do you not trust us with these items?

Ash’s thoughts curled into a defensive state.

She retreated from his mind. Sighing, she opened herself up.

Uncomfortable at speaking anything else other than her mind, Sabrina’s emotions showed vulnerability and sensitivity.

It was her invitation for fairness. As she showed honesty and allows him to search for whatever he wished, and he would do the same for her. The only thing that would be needed to complete the deal… was his acceptance.

Though it was a rather uncomfortable situation to be in for Ash, as he did not fully know Sabrina on a personal level, he found himself searching into her feelings – an action that sealed their agreement. It wasn’t a choice he made lightly… as he knew what it would mean. But at this moment, he needed to trust his friends and partners. His personal secrets weren’t going to help them get anywhere.

The Psychic entered his mind once again.

Is something wrong, Ash?

… you didn’t find anything else, did you?

Angie had only found these objects in your pockets.

…

… can you look at something for me?

Sabrina nodded. “Excuse us.”

Ash and Sabrina walked into one of the bedrooms and closed the door behind them.

All three girls snuck towards the door and placed their ear against it.

“I suggest you three move away from the door. Otherwise…” The Psychic’s cold tone pierced through the closed entrance.

May and Angie backed away immediately. Maylene exhaled softly and closed her eyes, keeping her ear planted on the door.

“Maylene!” May hissed at the fighter. “Get out of there!”

She responded by waving her away.

“Your funeral.” The Coordinator returned to her cooking.

_________________________________________________________

Ash reached into each of his pockets, trying to find something that he feared he misplaced.

His face winced as he adjusted his wrist in an odd angle.

“There.”

From his hand, Ash produced a strange marble.

Sabrina’s eyes instantly locked onto it. “What is this?” Her voice turned suspicious.

“I don’t know… I’ve always had it. I… think.”

Ash wasn’t sure. Ash was never sure about it. He had found the item in his private toolbox after one of his many journeys. Which journey, he could never remember. All he remembered was that he was surprised at finding the marble as he had no memory of ever collecting it.

However, the strangest fact about the item was that he had no proof that it was new. When he would search through his memories, he remembered always having it. The memories themselves felt fabricated, but such an idea seemed silly. For whatever reason, Ash had this marble, and he never felt the need to carry or toss it. It laid dormant in his toolbox for all his life. …was it really all his life?

In a fashion, he felt like it had always belonged to him, as if it were something very important to him. But he himself could never figure what was its significance. All he knew, was that many of the strange feelings he had felt throughout his journey, may or may not have been affected by… this.

Sabrina sensed all his thoughts, memories, and worries for the small object. She nodded in response to them. “I see…”

“I didn’t just come to visit you for help in getting back my friends and mom… I really wanted a private meeting with you to talk about this.” Ash rolled the marble back and forth between his finger and thumb. “You know what this is, don’t you?”

She shook her head, her honest unawareness disappointing the boy. “I am afraid not. This object is completely unfamiliar to me. I do, however, sense a great energy from it. Psychic energy, and other energies as well.”

“Empathic and Aura.” Ash placed the black marble down. “…ever since I had gotten Empathy, this item’s been… disturbing me. I had always sensed something from it with my Aura, but never as loud until after I had gotten Empathy. I can‘t understand it completely, but…”

He scratched the back of his head, unsure if anything he was saying was true. But it was the only way he wanted to explain it. The only way he could explain it, as if it the marble itself did not want him to explain any further or any differently.

“Perhaps if I…” Sabrina reached out.

He knew what she would mention next. “I’d like that actually.”

With a bow of his head, Ash allowed the Psychic to search his mind.

She placed her palm gently on the young man’s forehead and closed her eyes. Underneath her eyelids, a shining light glowed. A purple aura swirled around her… it traveled down her arm and into Ash.

Opening Ash’s mind’s eye, Sabrina was able to see the world as he saw it – a world of darkness, filled with unphysical color and heat, accented by his inherent Aura ability – which made everything far more clear. But with her trained Psychic mind, she could see far more than Ash ever could.

With the new abilities at her disposal, she felt for the marble.

Where did he place it…

Her fingertip touched it.

In an instant, the object absorbed her mind into itself.

The world around her suddenly turned bright. Colors of every shade, and even ones that couldn’t exist, shot and exploded in different angles and shapes. Waves of Aura faded in and out below her like a tide. And the one element she had always been comfortable with, Psychic energies shaped the sky aboveher – showing things that existed, had existed, and would exist.

A flash of light had almost blinded her.

The powers combined into a single orb, mimicking the visual color and shape of the physical marble, except for its frightening size.

Like a crystal ball, the orb revealed the memories of Ash in this journey. Becoming blind. A sensitive Empathic and a logical tomboy colliding in worlds. Meeting of old friends. His realization of Empathy. Relationships that would bind and hold them to fate. The Team Rocket attack on his home. His journey and arrival at Saffron City. Meeting her. The fight against Domino.

… what’s this? Sabrina’s eyes went wide.

A Researcher and his assistant found in a lone lighthouse. A fierce guardian of powerful charizards. A Pokémon Ranger. A young woman who had befriended a unique pokémon.

The memories… they’re continuing to move forward!

A legend assisting them on their journey. Revealing a young fighter’s past. A trio rescuing them from certain death. A traitor. A massive battle that threatens their very world. A…

The memories started blurring and fading.

These aren’t memories at all… they’re prophecies.

Black. The orb had distorted and disappeared into nothingness. A feeling of changing futures hit Sabrina’s intuition.

Peering into these futures must be changing their outcome… I may have well destroyed those possibilities…

The Psychic studied the environment around her one more time before deciding. Then I shall no longer interfere with the future’s plans. I have everything we need.

…

Sabrina opened her eyes. She saw the young man in front of him, holding tightly to the marble. His face was pale. His body tilting, nearly falling over.

Placing her fingers into his, she opened his hand - allowing the marble to fall harmlessly to the floor.

Ash opened his eyes. “You… saw it… didn’t you?” his voice was wavering in tones, between past and future, light and dark. For a second his physical form shifted into different visions of Ash. An older Ash who had given up on everything. A student who had never gotten a chance to begin his journey. An Aura Guardian seeking nothing but the safety of others. A loving husband to a faceless spouse. An unbeatable champion who searches for the next adventure. A familiar face that shared a common past. And much more… but only for a second.

Sabrina moved away from him, stunned. “I… I know not what that object is. But it has chosen you.”

Ash leaned against a nearby table, almost fainting. “I… I thought… those things it kept telling me… were just weird dreams…”

His hand gripped onto his vest as if to hold himself in balance. “But they were true… they happened… I could’ve stopped them… I could’ve stopped Team Rocket… I could’ve saved Pikachu… mom… Misty… Anabel… but… I didn’t listen…”

The Psychic, her emotions still open for him to feel, approached him with a pitying heart. She held him upright, preventing him from stumbling. “Ash…” her voice adjusted to her mature tone, showing a mothering nature. “Listen to me… it wasn’t your fault. You could not have prevented it. Even if you did, an alternate disaster would have taken its place.”

“…but… why…” Tears flowed down his eyes, his exhaustion from the psychic fusion disabling him from having any true control of his mind, body, spirit, and emotion.

Sabrina sighed sadlyand petted the poor boy’s hair. “Something’s calling for you Ash. It needs you. And it needs you in a certain place, a certain time, and a certain way… you can change the outcome, but you cannot change the fact that you are needed there and then.”

“What do you… mean?” He wrapped his arms around her, feeling lost.

“You’re destined for something great, Ash. And all these events are meant to shape you into a person who can face the challenge.”

“Does that mean… everything will be okay…?”

She frowned. “…no. The future keeps shifting, and it will continue to shift. Despite being destined, the destination and meaning can change at a moment’s notice - but its purpose for the universe will forever remain the same, even if you do not. …you need to strengthen yourself, and we need to move forward. If not… we…” Hesitation struck her throat – Ash’s vulnerability making her fearful of being her usual logical self.

“…we might never see them again…” Ash continued her thought. His hands loosening.

Sabrina lifted his chin with her fingers and wiped away his tears. “Then we must see to it that those futures never occur.” She gave a reassuring smile.

He sniffled, trying to regain his composure.

The Psychic wondered to herself how to cheer the boy up. It embarrassed her at how awkward she was at these moments - admitting she had no experience in them.

Sabrina thought back to how the other girls would treat him...

…

She pushed Ash’s head back and made a pathetically weak punch to his arm.

“Huh?” He tilted his head at her.

“I um… am trying to be friendly.”

…

Ash laughed. She laughed along with him.

Much better.

He smiled back at her in thankfulness.

“Let us go. Your friends must be suspicious in our time together.”

Sabrina opened the door.

A surprised pink-haired girl fell in with a yelp. She looked up at Sabrina and laughed nervously.

How did she manage to stay by the door without me kn–

The Psychic’s eyes thinned into daggers, the memory of her time in the orb revealing to her that the girl was not who she said she was.

She raised her hand, a dark purple aura overtaking Maylene and smashing her against the wall.

The girl was pinned, unable to fight back.

“WHO ARE YOU”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 04:46 AM

Chapter 16: Duality

“I told her to stay away from the door!” May whimpered as she fearfully cowered behind a table.

Maylene was choking, an invisible hand grasping her neck.

“S-Sabrina!” Ash pulled at her arm to stop her. “Stop it! What are you doing?!”

Lucario charged in to protect his partner.

“WHO ARE YOU” The Psychic’s energy flared, tossing aside the pokémon and forcing Ash off her.

“W-Wh…at?” The fighter struggled hard but couldn’t escape the woman’s power.

“YOU HIDE SOMETHING FROM US” Sabrina’s hair began floating upwards, her mind’s power showing itself in a threatening physical form. “I CANNOT READ YOUR MIND – SPEAK OR I SHALL SPILL YOUR MIND FROM YOUR WILL”

“SABRINA! STOP IT!” Ash pressed his hand against the Psychic’s stomach, a blue energy rushing from his body ran through his flexed limb exploded against her.

“GUH!” She flew from the impact and crashed against a side table.

Maylene fell to the ground, grasping her neck as she gasped and swallowed as much air as she could. Ash ran to her side, helping her to her feet.

Sabrina appeared behind him, her eyes noticing Ash’s skin becoming paler and his body weakening to a frail state. “…do not push your body in using Aura. You are not yet experienced enough to handle the effort.” she warned in with a concerned tone.

“Sabrina…” Ash faced her weakly. “…what’s wrong with you?”

“Ask Maylene. She is well acquainted with Domino.” She glared towards the young woman he was carrying.

“They were classmates!” Angie yelled as she helped Maylene balance from the other side. “You paranoid freak! You could’ve just asked!”

Sabrina’s narrowed eyes locked onto Angie at her rude response. “That is a lie. She hides it well in emotion and thought, but I saw for myself who she is. She is a member of Team Rocket.”

“She isn’t!” Angie barked back, ready to escalate the fight further – with words or with pokémon.

Maylene pushed Angie and Ash aside. “No… …I was a member of Team Rocket.”

“WHAT?!” Ash, May, and Angie reacted in unison.

“Was a member of Team Rocket… no longer one.” Maylene continued, rubbing her neck and shoulders. “My father… he always gambled. Got us into a lot of debt. I’m still in debt. …I paid for most of the debt by working for Team Rocket at one point… he owed the most to them.”

“Maylene… why? How could y-”

“Because if I didn’t, they were going to kill him!” she interrupted Ash with a shout, tears forming in her eyes. “I hate my dad and all his stupid gambling… but… I still love him. He’s still my dad. I couldn’t just let them kill him.”

Sabrina stood in front of her, looking down at her with cold eyes. She received a fiery-eyedreception from Maylene. The Psychic ignored it. “Why hide this information? Your experience with them would have helped us, no matter how little.”

“Well you already know everything I know at this point.” She looked down in shame. “I was a low-rank Rocket. I didn’t know too much from my time with them.”

“Wait a minute!” Angie crossed her arms and leaned on one leg. “If you were a Rocket, why in the world did you interrogate that Team Rocket member back at the ferry??”

“I never interrogated him.” she admitted. “I only beat him up and took his costume. I only said I interrogated him so that none of you would suspect how I already knew all that information.”

“Why even bring him to the room? We would’ve taken your word for it!” Angie lied, she would have never believed her explanation after the discussion she had with Ash. But in her eyes, she needed to give as many benefits of the doubt to themselves, as they weren’t the ones guilty.

“I owed Ash that.” Maylene looked towards him with guilt. “He needed information. And unless he knew the information had come straight from an obvious source, he would’ve… thought we were just wasting our time… he would’ve thought we were stalling for too long, even though we were doing our best.”

The raven-haired young man walked towards her, his faded eyes locking with her pink-shaded ones. “Then that means you do share the same ability as the Team Rocket members that attacked my house… the reason why I couldn’t see you in our fight, right?”

She frowned with deep apology. “I… I do. …I wasn’t lying that their pokémon were the source of their lack of an aura, but they themselves have the ability to hide their mental and emotional state as well… some of them can even hide their Aura trace.”

“A very unique technique.” Sabrina caught her attention. “But why trouble learning it yourselves if your pokémon can accomplish it for you?”

“Why do you train as a Psychic if your pokémon already are?”

The Saffron Gym Leader nodded in understanding. “Understandable then… However, why would such an ability be learned in the first place?”

“Well…” Angie rubbed her arm ashamedly and stared at her feet. “I learned it to escape them. No one can ever stop working for Team Rocket now. No one. I learned it so I could become that no one. If they could never find me, they‘d never be able to get me back. I didn’t want to be stuck with them. I had to get out.”

“But how did you learn this technique?”

“I found their manuals… these technique manuals they had made from compiling research from…” She paused, depressed at what little words she could choose from. “…‘testing’ on humans and pokémon alike.” She could feel Ash’s sickening emotional glare press against her. “I… I studied it whenever I got the chance.”

“How could you?!” Ash pinned her against the wall. “How could you learn from those manuals knowing how they researched them?!!”

“I! I don’t know! GET OFF ME!” Maylene shoved him away. Her emotional and mental state disappeared completely. She was completely gone from Ash’s senses… except for the shaking of her body and the growing sobs.

“…Maylene…” His anger started to disappear. The fighter’s cries showing absolute shame of herself. She didn’t mean to… She didn’t mean it that way…

“I’M SORRY!! I’M SORRY!!!” she screamed, her hands gripping onto the Empathic’s legs. Desperation flowed through her every word and twitch. “I JUST DIDN’T – I DIDN’T WANT TO STAY WITH THEM FOREVER!! AFTER I LEARNED IT I DESTROYED IT!! I DIDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE THEM!!! I’M NOT ONE OF THEM!!! I’M NOT!!!!”

The strong fighter had broken completely. Howling and cursing, she fell to her knees and curled into a ball, continuing her wailing in her own private hell – remembering the times when she had found the victims of the experiments.

Ash wrapped his arms around her, unsure what he could do or say to console her.

May joined him, wrapping her arms around her as she whispered comforting encouragements into her ear.

Sabrina sighed, never knowing how to fix the emotional damages she placed on others. “I apologize. I had jumped to conclusions.” She fiddled with one of her coat’s buttons, trying to find the right thing to say. “…I apologize.” She couldn’t find one.

…

Maylene’s sobs stopped; her breathing and tone becoming calm. What she had to say next would affect every plan and decision from now on. A fact that she had never wanted to be responsible for…

“…Team Rocket learned these techniques so that they could capture Arceus.”

The room suddenly went silent. No one moved, no one said a word.

…

“Arceus…? What’s that?” Only Angie showed puzzlement.

“Arceus, creator of worlds.” May answered her. “It was said that it had created the universe this world and many others belong to.”

“…you can capture something like that?” Angie raised her brow in disbelief.

“Arceus is a pokémon.” Ash mentioned. “The most powerful one that we know of. I doubt they can capture it with just a giant poké ball, but it can be affected and weakened by the elements just like anything else. …I don‘t think it‘d be impossible to control Arceus.”

“And how would you know that?” The tomboy continued her skepticism.

“Because I was there when it almost destroyed this world.” he responded solemnly.

Angie jumped back in shock. “You can’t be serious!”

“The Michina Town incident!” May gasped. “You were there?!”

He nodded, saying nothing.

“The michi-michi what now?”

May stared at Angie, almost pitying her lack of knowledge. “I’ll tell you about it later. For now - was it true, Ash?? Was there really a giant battle there between Legendary Pokémon??”

He nodded again, still saying nothing.

She covered one eye with her palm, exhausted from the revelation. “The officials kept covering it up, saying that it was just some mass hallucination or some crazy natural disaster blown out of proportion. But… I can’t believe this is all actually true…”

Sabrina kneeled in front of Maylene. “How would this ability allow them to capture Arceus?” She took a softer approach this time.

“Arceus…” The fighter sat up, still refusing to look the Psychic in the eye. “…is the creator of things. Mental, emotional, aura, and physical energies create worlds. And they’re as much a part of Arceus as Arceus is a part of them.

“You can’t capture Arceus, because it is a being of pure creation. It can recreate itself over and over again, never allowing its mind, emotion, aura, and physicality to ever be bound to a singular object. But it can be killed, because that is the one rule that must come with all things that live - they must be able to die.” She wiped her dried tears and looked up at Sabrina.

“But Team Rocket wants to control it, not kill it. To control something so powerful would give Team Rocket the ability to recreate the universe in whatever fashion they wish.”

Her last words had gained everyone’s complete attention.

“…to capture a creature more powerful than any creation within this universe, something far more powerful must control it.”

Maylene exhaled. Her emotional and mental state was no longer blocked - it was empty. Ash, Lucario, and Sabrina lost their balance, almost feeling as if they were being sucked into its void. … she inhaled, her inner state becoming normal once again.

“That, was just one ability they were training to achieve.”

“Wh-What was that…” Sabrina massaged her forehead, trying to regain control of her psychic abilities.

“The only thing we, creations of Arceus, can create beyond its power, is the ability to take away its power… so they planned to capture Arceus by becoming everything it wasn’t. A sort of anti-Arceus.”

Sabrina gripped the carpet beneath her tightly, not wanting to believe what she had just heard. “Is that possible?”

“Not yet…” Maylene frowned as she turned towards Ash. “…they need to learn how to create anti-matter. They have a long way to go before they achieve their goals… and Ash… matches the description of the one who was destined to stop their goals.”

…

Within the other room, the marble burned. Another piece to the puzzle fitting into where it belonged.

_________________________________________________________

Sabrina shook her head. “I’m sorry, Ash, my teleportation can only take us so far. I would have to have visited the area recently in order to travel so far.”

The small group was walking through another forest by the cover of night. A luxio lit the way; small sparks flew from its glowing tail tip.

Roads were watched, public transports were problematic, and May’s stories of being attacked in air travel had only proven that planes were not an option. The forest was their only path of travel now, and night being their invisible cloak.

“Why don’t any of us now how to drive yet??” Angie sighed in exhaustion as she tripped on another root that stuck above the dirt.

Maylene laughed, with her familiar shame being hinted through. “I could never afford a car.”

Sabrina coughed in embarrassment. “I’m… a horrible driver.”

“I’m just too young to drive.” May shrugged. “I definitely could use a license with all the traveling I do.”

The tomboy patted dirt off her long sleeves. “Well why doesn’t Ash have a car?”

“You really want a blind boy to drive us?” The Coordinator laughed.

“No. What I meant is, why didn’t he have a car before he went blind?”

“What’s wrong with walking?” Ash questioned as he held onto Sabrina’s arm, using her as his guide.

“Nothing’s wrong with walking!” Angie growled as a vine smacked her face for the fourth time that evening. “It just really would’ve been helpful right now.”

May skipped on one foot as she tried to shove a pebble out of her other shoe. “Well, why don’t you have a car?”

“I’m not old enough for one, duh.” she pouted.

“HUH???” Ash turned towards Angie in shock, still walking as he let the Psychic to give him mental instructions. “I thought we were the same age, Anj!”

“Wh-What??” Her face suddenly blushed in shyness. It was the first time Ash wasn’t seeing her as an equal… which had made her feel funny. “N-No. I’m three years younger than you.”

A hand grabbed her head and proceeded to ruin her already messy hair. “Awww, that means you’re the kid in this little family!” May giggled, looking at Angie in an endearing fashion.

The tomboy had bitten her hand in response.

“Ow!”

Angie did not like being treated as a child. Especially by a girl she had always seen herself as at least an equal to. “Don’t get any stupid ideas. I could still kick your butt.”

May blew at her throbbing hand. “Whatever, little sis.” She let out a giggle.

The pink-haired fighter laughed. “That makes me the eldest sister!”

“Sabrina’s older than you, dummy.” Angie pointed out.

“I still would be the oldest sister. Sabrina’s like our mom or something.”

The Psychic almost tripped at being labeled as such. She focused her senses and regained her balanced.

Raise right foot slightly. she sent to Ash, remembering the duty she had given herself for the trip.

The boy raised his foot, avoiding a sudden incline. In truth, he wasn’t paying attention to the conversation the girls were having behind him. His mind was distracted by thoughts of what they should do next, where they should head next after all this.

Psychically linked to his mind, Sabrina did her best to sort out his plans and help him choose priorities. She knew how important each decision was to their journey. A single mistake would only lead to greater disasters. Knowing this, she had assigned a large portion of her mind to assist in his thoughts.

“And what would that make Ash? Our brother?” Angie made a gagging sound at the thought.

“Ew. No way.” Maylene responded. “He’s like uhm… uhm… a boy for an arranged marriage!”

“And Sabrina has to pick one of her daughters to marry him!” May added excitedly.

“And –”

More tasks were brought up for Sabrina to handle. In addition to guiding Ash’s steps, sensing which direction he wished to go, as well as managing his thoughts – she had also given herself the job of scanning the area psychically, becoming familiar with the boy’s mental energy, and discussing strategies with the lucario that walked alongside them. …anything to completely shut out the sound coming from the two Mays.

“So where are we going?” a voice broke through her concentration.

It was Angie. She had left the two playful girls and moved up to the front. “If that map we saw at the hotel room’s right – does that mean we’re heading for Cerulean City?”

“Further up.” Sabrina had answered.

“Further up?” She tilted her head. “…I don’t think there was a city there. None that I can remember…”

“Not a city, a lighthouse.” Ash answered.

At the moment, Ash was extremely curious of how Angie’s age affected their relationship – or if it had any effect at all. In most cases, age never mattered for him, but he had always noticed it when a person treated him according to their age difference. May was one of the primary examples, who tended to show submissiveness to his decisions at certain moments when they were alone – as she treated him as a senior during those rare moments.

Would Anj treat me like a senior? That would be kind of weird.

“What’s up at the lighthouse?” Angie disturbed him from the thoughts.

He pulled out the newspaper clipping. The scrap of paper was far too small to show any names, as it had been destroyed from rough weather striking against the box it was originally contained in.

The tomboy took it from his hand and placed it close to her luxio, trying to read its exact words.

“A famous Researcher in Kanto named Bill.” Sabrina resolved for her. “His experiments are often strange and his behavior and interests are far too erratic to keep contained in a proper facility, but his results speak for themselves.”

Ash nodded in thanks. “Maybe he can give us something. Maybe a gadget or something to give us an edge against Team Rocket.”

The girl placed the clipping back into Ash’s pocket. “Cool. And maybe he can give us some more information on Arceus and all that anti-Arceus stuff.”

Sabrina smiled in surprise. She realized that she had considered the thought herself. Angie was growing to be a favorite of hers. The rough-edged girl did her best never to cause problems for the rest of the group, yet at the same time, spoke and acted honestly. She also showed a sharp mind – being able to come up with ideas no others could.

Studying her mind, the Psychic found that she was blissfully unaware how helpful she was in balancing out whatever crowd she was placed in.

If Sabrina truly was the mother of this group, she would’ve favored Angie for Ash, as the others never really took the possible relationship as seriously as she did.

Ash was blushing and stumbling, as the Psychic had forgotten to remove her mental link with him as those thoughts crossed her mind. Also still being connected, Lucario found himself curiously adding to the psychic conversation.

Sabrina laughed out loud, having understood a rather dirty joke from the calm pokémon.

Ash fell over, his face absolutely red.

Lucario laughed proudly at the reactions.

The three girls stared in interest. They’d harass the other trio for an explanation throughout the rest of the night.

_________________________________________________________

It was morning. The second morning of their travel from Saffron City. The sun shining brightly against the trees, clouds flowing beautifully, and pokémon of all sorts making their calls into the air. It was a wonderful time to be awake, yet there was sleep to be had.

Tents were set and their inhabitants dreamed quietly.

Two pokémon and two humans, however, refused sleep.

Bibarel and Meditite stood guard, protecting the immediate area with careful vigilance.

Inside one of the tents, Sabrina and Ash sat facing one another, the dark marble sitting between them.

The two yearned for sleep, but there was still business to be done.

And after meeting with Bill, I suggest we head to Johto first. Violet City should be our main destination there before moving forward. Depending on transport, the amount of time it will take will vary greatly.

Maybe Bill will give us some Pokémon to get there faster.

I would hope so. All forms of transportation are now too risky to take. But if we must, there is a lesser railroad station located near Cerulean that should take us to Ironwood Station… which is near Route 30, I believe.

You think there’s any chance we can take one of the underground tunnels that Team Rocket built?

Suicide. But if you wanted to take that foolish road, we can discuss it with Maylene to see if she knows of any entrances.

What if we took air travel?

We would have to backtrack to Saffron, but it would be the fastest mode of travel. Though I doubt Team Rocket will be as clumsy as they were when they went after your friend May. They would have redoubled their efforts after such a failure.

“Ash? Are you awake?” the voice came from outside the tent.

“May?” he recognized the tone immediately.

It seems this is a private conversation. I will take my leave.

Hm? No wai- … Sabrina had disappeared.

“Can I come in?”

“Uh… sure. Come on in.”

May’s bright and sunny personality had graced the tent’s originally serious atmosphere. There was something different about the Coordinator this time, however. Ash couldn’t tell what exactly.

She had sat down in front of Ash, with a curious smile hinting her face. Do you notice anything different? She felt towards him, hoping he could still sense her emotions like he used to.

“Y-Yeah… not sure what, though.” He scratched his chin in bewilderment.

The Coordinator giggled.

Since her return to Ash’s side, she had been trying to figure out a way to be attractive in a manner that he could notice. As her friend was now blind, the idea of beauty was no longer something visual. She experimented with different methods, and was now finally testing it.

“You smell nice.” he finally concluded.

Her entire self squealed in emotional delight at the compliment.

Now it was time to test her next trick.

Closing her eyes, she changed her thoughts and ideas. She focused on single emotions and memories.

“How about now, Ash?”

“M-May??” To the Empathic, the girl in front of him changed into someone completely different. In front of him sat a sweet and gentle girl. She had a love for pokémon that resembled a mothering guardian. Her soul seemed gentle, fragile, and needing protection from the corrupt world around it. Her heart gazed into Ash’s, making him melt at the presence of such a saint.

His face turned pink, his jaw fell slightly ajar, and a hint of drool hung from his lips.

The emotion turned back into its simple, far more immature and insecure ways. She was back to normal. And she had just winked at him.

Ash shook his head to snap out of it.

He laughed with an embarrassed tone.

You really felt it, didn’t you?

“Y-Yeah… but what was that?”

Just a little trick I taught myself. She giggled.

“How in the world did you learn that??”

You remember when Anabel said that I had the right heart to be an Empathic?

Ash had just remembered… the incident with Duplica. “Yeah?”

Well, I thought… maybe I could be more useful if I was an Empathic.

“So are you one yet?” Ash asked despite already knowing the answer.

I don’t thinks so… I’m just trying to get used to all this emotional control stuff. Did my control work like it was supposed to?

“How exactly was it supposed to work?”

Something like a dress~! And make-up. That kind of stuff.

Ash’s face showed minor irritation. “Mm… I’m not really into that fake stuff.”

“It’s not fake.” May finally broke her verbal silence. “It accents what’s already there.”

The boy shrugged. “I dunno… If you have to accent who you are, that’s not really a compliment to yourself.”

Offended. that was all Ash could feel from her.

“May?”

She stormed out of the tent angrily.

…

“I have no idea what that was about.”

“You’re very smooth with women.” Sabrina was back, and she brought sarcasm with her.

“I don’t even know what that was about.” He sighed.

The Psychic closed the tent back up and sat back down. “Girls who have low self-esteem tend to be very troubled if you mention anything negative about them. Especially their attempts to better themselves.”

Ash felt no guilt for what he had done. “I was being honest.”

“Honesty is often harder to swallow than a lie. Most people prefer lies.”

He fell to his back and sighed again. “How about you? You prefer lies?”

People can’t lie to me.

I’m pregnant. Ash had sent back with no trace of doubt in his mind.

Sabrina laughed heartily. “Well, I suppose there’s a first time for everything.”

“So are we going to keep discussing plans? Where did we leave off?”

The Psychic thought quietly to herself.

…

“Actually, I’d prefer to eat something. If that’s alright.” she admitted with an embarrassed smile.

_________________________________________________________

“Professor, the vehicle is ready to leave…”

“Dana, it’s Bill.”

“Professor Bill, please, hurry to the transport…”

The man sighed.

Falling back to a luxurious chair, the man ran his fingers through his curly green hair. Frustration and exhaustion slowly spilled out of him yet again. No matter how many things he had solved, the stresses would only come flowing back, causing him to rethink and re-plan almost hourly. Such a task would have driven any person mad… For his powerful logic; the form of insanity would simply take longer to give its full effect.

Gazing at the ceiling lamps, he wondered his fate. It was one of the few free thoughts he could have that did not concern priorities and decisions. Though all his strategies would eventually affect his fate, he knew full well he wasn’t in full control of this situation… a fact that troubled him to no end.

“Professor Bill…”

“Dana, it’s just Bill.”

A woman wearing lab attire and long golden hair adjusted her posture uncomfortably. She stared at the man she had spent the last two years working for. The prodigy named Bill. A young Pokémon Researcher of great renown.

The scientific community had found his lack of focus on a single field to be amateur – his risky experiments to be his inevitable downfall – and his ideas and research to be quack at times.

Yet she saw him differently. Despite being older than the boy by five years, she was fascinated by him. His works were ingenious, his theories were profound, and his confidence and love in his passions were unbreakable and astounding. He was an inspiration, a visionary, and a misunderstood master.

The day she had been chosen as an assistant was like a dream come true. And every hour spent with him felt like a fantasy she’d never wake from. She loved working with him, she loved seeing his efforts come to fruition, and she loved how much he depended on her humble self.

…but the dream was ending, and it was time to wake up.

“Sir, please…” Her hands trembled as she grabbed onto his sleeve. She wanted to shake him, to slap him across the face, anything at all to make him get up and start running. “Team Rocket is almost here! If you do not leave now, we won’t be ab–”

His dark eyes locked onto hers. Just one look from him would always silence her – as she’d listen to anything he had to say as long as he’d look into her eyes.

“Dana, I won’t be leaving. I cannot abandon my work.”

“We’ve already–”

“Yes yes… my research papers and my smaller prototypes. You can tell them to leave with it now. Ensure that their journey is safe.”

The lab assistant took a step back. “S-Sir… what do you mean?” Her eyes filled with tears.

“I know what your plan was, Dana.” Bill turned and looked into his fireplace. Its warm lights flickering fiery reflections in his eyes – a sight that built up his determination. “…you were planning on staying here for me, and seeing if you can protect it yourself.”

“How did you…”

He looked back at her, silencing her once again. “I wouldn’t be a very good Researcher if I didn’t know what my assistant was thinking, would I?”

Her cheeks turned rosy. “Professor…”

“Go with them. I will not abandon my work.”

She stomped her foot, almost breaking the heel of her footwear. “NO.”

“Dana…”

“Bill. I won’t go. I am staying here with you.”

Before he could say anything, she had run to the back door and waved off the delivery trucks.

The vehicles instantly revved and drove off in a panicked speed.

She slammed the door shut and locked it.

“Dana, what are you doing…” Bill was about to stand. He was pushed back down by his assistant, who would not face him.

She ran to the console across the room and activated several security systems, effectively locking them inside the building. With a press of a button, the side-wall opened, revealing several poké balls ready for use. With a sweep, she had gathered them into her sleeves and pockets.

The Researcher walked over and grabbed a few for himself.

“No, Bill.” the woman gave a voice that seemed to command down at his smaller size.

“I won’t stand idle.” His eyes closed and his hand gripped onto the ball. “If you’re willing to risk everything just to protect me…”

She glared at him, refusing to cower to any commands or suggestions he would give. He may have been senior in status, but she was senior in time. Nothing would stop her from protecting the stubborn boy.

“…then I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”

Those were the last words she had expected from his mouth. The surprise had caused her to drop several of the poké balls she was carrying. Her cheeks turned redder as she clumsily tried to pick them all up.

He bent down and placed his hand on hers. Her trembling stopped.

“We’ll do this together…”

A single tear fell from her eye, a smile forming gently on her lips.

She nodded with a cheerful expression.

“Very well, Professor.”

“It’s Bill.”

_________________________________________________________

Fourth night. Dark clouds. Strikingly bright moonlight. Lighthouse.

A luxio of black-silver fur appeared from the forest, its electrical fur slowly dimming as it scanned the horizon with its piercing yellow eyes. Its thoughts of loyal obedience to the commands it was given suddenly blanked into excited tension. There was a certain spark in the air, and it knew that it could mean only one thing. Trouble…

Three figures soon followed.

Sabrina, wearing midnight black coat to match her hair, entered the open air, her eyes adjusting to the shocking white of the moon. Her recently smiling lips quickly turned into a frown. With the psychic waves no longer blocked by the forest’s natural barriers, she could completely read what awaited them. I feared this…

Ash, dressed in a simple black long sleeve with dark green patterns, stood beside her, his hands locked around her elbow. The dangers sensed by the prior two were easily noticed, but exiting the energy-filled woods allowed him to feel the thickness himself. There’s so many of them…

Landing softly from a long-distanced leap, the blue-and-black-furred lucario began glowing with a mystical hue. Individual hairs on its skin stood up at the menacing auras that hung heavily in the air. Maylene, come quickly…

The bond shared between a pokémon and their trainer is often strong, especially when the two have spent years together. It was no surprise that Maylene, covered in a light outfit that challenged the cold night wind, stumbled out of the forest soon after. Not having the extra senses of her preceding companions, she ran up to the edge of the cliff to find the peril they faced. A smirk ran across her face, the sight below being far greater than what she had expected. I was hoping for a fight…

Seeking to find out what all the commotion was, Angie burst from the bushes in a rather plain gray and black jogging suit. She ran up beside Maylene, eager to see what had caught everyone in its silence. Her eyes widened. At least we know who we’re after really is a threat to them…

Covered in dark hues of blue and gray, a rather well-dressed girl stepped uncaringly out of the darkened trees. May was indeed curious of her team’s reactions, but her irritable mood had prevented her from showing any care. Ash’s words still stung at her, putting at her in conflict with herself again. These thoughts would continue to bother her as she closed the distance between her and the boy. The sight of what was ahead, however, threw away any and all petty concerns. Oh no…

Ahead of the seven, an army amassed.

Like an ominous sea of black and red, Rocket members marched and formed, their shapes silhouetted by the white reflection of the moon. Lined and sectioned into different groups, Kanto Pokémon of every type and color growled, hissed, and howled for battle. Patrol groups flew above and climbed below, ensuring that no incoming do-gooders would be able to catch them off-guard.

“I think we better move…” Angie backed away from the cliff. “We might get spot–”

Staring directly at her, a Team Rocket member held a radio up to his mouth. A golem stood by its side, halfway into an attack stance.

The tomboy pulled a poké ball instinctively. “Shoot!”

…

The man and pokémon had not moved. It was as if they were frozen in time.

Sabrina stepped towards them, her arm reached out in their direction as a strange aura misted from her shoulders.

“Girls, please remove this man’s clothes.”

May’s face turned red. “Wh-What??”

Angie and Maylene gladly walked forward. Knocking the Coordinator slightly off balance, the tomboy responded to her reaction with annoyance. “Geez May, it’s not like you‘re dating him. Quit getting so excited.”

The fighter grinned mischievously. “I know I’m excited.”

“You’re just a pervert. Undressing every Rocket you find.” Angie teased.

“You know it.”

The two girls worked quickly in removing every object that was attached to the frozen Rocket… other than the only thing that kept him from being completely susceptible to the elements.

Taking the clothes and items, Sabrina floated the stolen goods toward Ash. “Go into the woods and dress into these. Maylene, lead him there, and I suggest you use that Team Rocket outfit you were saving.”

“H-Hey!” May protested. She was too embarrassed to say anything else against the command. Though Sabrina read her thoughts quite well.

“The outfit she carries is only for male figures.” the Psychic commented professionally. “Your figure would not allow you to wear it comfortably. And she is the only one of us who knows how Team Rocket really works.

“…unless you’re suggesting you’d like to dress Ash.” She raised her brow.

“I. Uhm. I…” May blushed uncontrollably.

Sabrina turned away, focusing her full attention back to the two frozen patrollers.

“Come on Ash~!” Maylene wrapped her arms around his elbow and began dragging him. “Let’s get to know each other better.”

A stutter and stiff movement was his only response.

The fighter turned and stuck her tongue out at the other girls right before she disappeared with Ash behind the pitch-black leaves.

May was upset, to say the least. However, Angie had other worries.

Facing the army was a destroyed lighthouse. Smoke rose from large tears that pocketed the structure. Water leaked from protruding pipes that were ripped from their original placements. The foundation was flattened from hundreds if not thousands of steps. And innumerable attacks had scarred and burnt most of the architecture, with only a single block building to the side being its lone survivor.

Moving shadows and figures within the reinforced windows gave a slight comfort, their existence showing that there was still stood a last line of resistance to hold a defense.

But for how long? Angie wondered.

She turned and walked towards the two enemies that were ready to report their position. If they had caught us, we wouldn’t stand a chance.

“What are we going to do with these two?” She poked at the man, who seemed to only breathe heavily in defiance.

Sabrina swung her wrist downwards, covering the man in a deeper shade of purple.

He fainted immediately.

Angie jumped back in surprise.

“He will not wake for a while… and he will not have memories of this night once he does.”

The Psychic turned towards the golem and tensed her thoughts.

“G-Go… lem…” The Boulder Pokémon struggled stiffly as his body involuntarily walked towards the edge of the cliff.

“What are you doing?!” May panicked. “The pokémon was only following orders!”

It rolled into a ball shape, shaking in fear.

“You mistake me for a murderer?” Sabrina gave a cold smile. “This golem will be fine. I cannot say much for the people below, however.”

KraCkrakAcraCKrackACKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAK. The Rock Type Pokémon started spinning in place, accelerating with every second.

“Oh this is going to be awesome.” Angie crawled to the edge, looking at the rolling hills below.

“We’re readyyy~!” Maylene popped out from the woods, dragging an extremely embarrassed Ash back out into the open.

Disguised in Rocket apparel, the two seemed like a matching no-good duo. Their outfits blended well with the darkness, except for the striking red ‘R’ formed on their chests. Clothes were not the only items changed, as their hairstyles were also altered to seem far more clean-cut and menacing.

Still forcing the golem to speed itself, Sabrina turned towards them and regarded their new outfits with a nod. “Maylene, Ash. Take the west road. You will be attacking them from behind. With your disguises you should be able to get passed several of them easily - do not hesitate to take advantage of that.”

The two nodded. Sabrina tossed a poké ball towards the boy. “Take Espeon.”

She turned towards the two girls. “You two will take the east path. You’re to distract as many of them as possible. Back away towards the last remaining facility and you should receive reinforcement from the defenders inside. Take care to keep distance, as that will be the biggest factor for your victory.”

“How do you know any of this will work?” May’s body was shaking in nervous excitement and utter fear. She felt sick to her stomach, but held her composure.

“I do not.” she replied simply. “However, if we do nothing at this exact moment – we will lose our chance to save whoever is inside.”

Both girls nodded to their assignment, adjusting their clothing and running strategies in their minds.

“Go.”

The teams split and ran in their different directions. Lucario followed Maylene. Luxio followed Angie.

“Wait!” The tomboy stopped and turned. “What are you going to be doing??”

“I will be the one that breaks their will.”

Sabrina spread out her fingers, releasing her grip on the golem. The Boulder Pokémon shot out into the air, crashing and rolling down the cliff in impossible speeds, rocketing towards the crowds below.

The Psychic followed as she jumped off the ledge, her poké balls detaching from the belt and levitating around her body as she fell towards the ground below.

Angie turned and ran to catch up with May. “What a show-off.”

A smile ran across her lips, the realization of the battle to come hit her with a rush of adrenaline. “Let’s steal the stage!!!”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 04:47 AM

Chapter 17: Distractions

Yells, roars, and screams rang out into the night sky. Plumes of dirt clouds and energy accented the sounds with visual interpretations. The scene above was an art piece itself created from the destruction below. Chaos overtook the world in front of the destroyed lighthouse.

An unstoppable force of nature was its source. Like an artist with the most uncontrollable muse, the Boulder Pokémon created a masterpiece of demolition as it rumbled through anyone and anything that stood in its way.

All that were cursed to come into contact with the beast were flattened, spun out of the way, or barreled into the surrounding panicked crowds.

With its momentum unleashed, Sabrina could no longer control its course or speed. Except for one trait.

Selfdestruct. The battlefield and its participants were paved by orange, yellow, and red illumination for a few lingering moments. With a powerful psychic command, the golem had released a devastating blast in every direction – spreading damage and pandemonium within a massive radius. Rubble and other debris rained from the skies.

Team Rocket, Trainer and Pokémon alike, were left disoriented and confused.

Landing softly on the shattered ground, the Psychic studied the battlefield before her.

Alakazam, Hypno, Jynx, Kadabra.

A flash of red reflected against Sabrina’s features. The four Psychic Pokémon released from their containers. Each one stood with calm confidence as their minds linked with their master.

Salvaging themselves quickly from the disaster, the Rockets charged towards the Psychic and her pokémon.

Rushing passed their slower companions, pokémon of pure speed howled in anticipation of battle. Jolteons sparked and barked, rapidashes whinnied and flared, golbats screeched and spun, pidgeots cried and darted, and persians growled and pounced. They spread out, avoiding crashing over one another while still racing to beat the other to their prey. Like a line of incoming traffic, the charging pokémon’s elemental lights and eye shines revealed their pattern and positions – as well as their frightening momentum.

Sabrina nodded, a psychic command floated softly to her golden-haired pokémon.

Hovering to the front, the Jynx readied itself.

Grunting, the human-like pokémon shot its arms out. An expanding box of energy released from her hands towards the battle-bound opponents. In seconds, the box halted in its growth, revealing a cube of intangible light and power that covered a large portion of ground and sky – its blue glow humming softly in the darkness.

Tumbling the speeding pokémon to a halt within the Trick Room, Jynx held her stance and focus – waiting for her next command.

Hypno, Mass Hypnosis.

“Hypnoo…” the exhausted pokémon sighed as it shuffled towards the struggling foes.

Its yellow hand trembled as it swung its washer pendulum slowly from left to right. “Hyp… no…” it whispered to itself, timing its syllables with the sweeps.

Flashing its glare, the hypno let out a low groan.

Like a draining shockwave, an invisible force raked across the ground and through the field – making its victims fall asleep within seconds after contact.

VSSSSSHHHHHHHH-KRAK

The soil below the Psychic and her pokémon’s feet tenderized and scarred as whips of plant green and forest blue struck at them from a distance. Sabrina and her party lost focus as they dodged and retreated several steps back in reaction.

Paused thoughts allowed a team of coordinated machokes and machamps to close the distance without opposition.

To their right, a wall of impossible brute force came in the form of charging rhyhorns – the world trembling underneath their crushing feet.

To their left, towering onixes zigzagged towards them – their stature casting ominous shadows with the full moon.

In the distance, teams of human and pokémon were forming for readied retaliations.

The Psychic reached out and captured the thoughts of one of the commanding members.

…a scyther team coming from above, and a dugtrio team attempting to collapse the earth from below…

Alakazam. Sabrina calculated the plans in her head as swift as she could, fearing that any time wasted defending would give the enemy a greater advantage. Handle the scythers. Jynx, ready yourself for the dugtrios. Hypno, Rockets are charging soon after the onixes. Kadabra, come with me.

Her single-spoon-holding pokémon synced – instinctively searching for their next location.

The two disappeared into thin air.

Kadabra reappeared in front of the bulking machokes and machamps, startling them to a halt.

Sabrina fluttered back into sight, standing boldly in front of the furious rhyhorn stampede.

“MAAAA!!!” An over-muscled fist came down into nothingness. The intended Psi Pokémon target had vanished and rematerialized to the left of its attacker.

Enraged, the grouped muscle pokémon struck, pummeled, and clashed at and through the kadabra. Nothing but the cold night air met their fists. Their angered faces showed obvious hatred towards being toyed with.

Glad with their reaction, Kadabra ended the game…

“CHA–!” A machoke fell flat on its face, its body shut off in order to cope with an overloaded brain. A ripple of illusionary pain spread throughout its system – with nothing to convince its senses otherwise.

The Psychic Pokémon smiled.

Feeling a chill from the sight, the muscled pokémon backed away.

Kadabra loved Fighting Pokémon…

Mind over matter… it laughed to itself… yet it would be an unfair compliment to say that any of you mattered…

Kadabra, focus.

Yes, master. I apologize.

Forgiven. I applaud the pun, however. Sabrina giggled to herself. Her normally serious mood was loosened and far more at ease.

Business and respect had prevented her mind from relaxing within the confines of Saffron City – her kingdom and castle. …the world that had hundreds of others like her, who gazed at and pried into her mind continuously out of curiosity or arrogance. They looked up to her to be the perfect Psychic representative for the rest of the world – a standard that would hold her to an eternal stress.

But here… even in the flurry of battle, her mind found peace.

It was a welcome vacation.

Focus, Sabrina. She returned her thoughts to the wave of instinctual fury shaking the ground before her.

Spreading her hands out and gritting her teeth for the worst, the Saffron Gym Leader let loose a powerful psychic command – its force countering the physical vibrations with its own deadening power.

“RRRWAAAAA–!!!” A rhyhorn was lifted off its feet and launched skyward. Another followed.

Picked off one by one, the stampede slowly lost its power as each of its participants was forcefully removed from the equation…

…revealing a new charge taking its place, a line of proud arcanines.

The night air rustled against their cream fur, making their manes resemble soft embers that contrasted against their bright orange bodies. Like a badge of honor, they wore their orange as a direct challenge to any foe – their barks and howls reflected this virtue in audible form. They never hid or backed down, but commanded those who faced them to do so.

Sabrina coughed a curse as she rubbed a speck of blood off her nostril. Her body showed obvious signs of strain and exhaustion from her attack against the rhyhorns.

She shook off the weakness and prepared her mind for the next challenge.

Now where would my distractions be, I wonder…

_________________________________________________________

“Do… Do we even need to do anything?” May stared in disbelief at the pandemonium caused by the Psychic Gym Leader. Pillars of flame and spears of psychic energy decorated the starry sky. It was almost mesmerizing…

…

“Angie?”

The Coordinator turned, only to realize she had been talking to no one.

“YAHHHHHH!!!” In the distance, a green haired tomboy bit and kicked as a group of Rockets tried to hold her down. Her luxio fought with similar fury and irrationality as it struggled in a battle against a herd of crazed dodrios.

May sighed in reaction.

Click. Vacuum. “Glaceon! Go!!” Snap.

“Glace!” The icy blue pokémon barked in excitement.

“Now Glaceon! Ice Beam!”

A ray of white pierced and swung wide. Mists of snow formed where the Ice Beam cut through the already-cold night air, and patches of frost trailed the path it had followed. The winter blue pokémon slid gracefully along the icy trail, stopping at its edge to admire her work.

To her left, six Rockets froze in place, their limbs stretching out in panicked angles. To her right, four dodrios were captured in mid-jump; a wave of ice encasing them in their aggressive stances.

The rescued luxio didn’t seem too pleased with the conclusion and gave a small grunt in the direction of his stolen victories.

Freed, Angie slid away from the ice sculptures and waved towards her savior. “Thanks guys!”

“Angie!!” May waved back angrily. “Get back over here!! We’re supposed to be distracting them TOWARDS the building!”

“I have no idea how that makes sense! I thought we were supposed to be PROTECTING the building!” she shouted back.

“Sabrina’s already handling the main group! We’re supposed to handle everyone else!! And we need the building’s support to–”

She wasn’t listening. A new fight was already underway with another group of Rockets.

“Why did I get stuck with her…” May sighed in defeat. She turned towards her glaceon and smiled. “Come on, let’s go save her butt.”

“Glace!”

_________________________________________________________

“Come on, Ash, this way.” Maylene held onto the boy’s arm as she shoved through the crowd of alert Rockets.

Not once did any of them look their way. Not once did they ever question their presence. Not once did they ever suspect who the two might’ve been.

It would have been a reason to be proud of their disguises and cunning, but it was the only reason that Maylene had felt shame.

She was too used to this. Too used to these people, too used to their ways. Their lingo and posture being almost instinctive for her – getting irritated by Ash’s clumsiness and hesitation towards them – knowing exactly what her “colleagues” were planning – and actually still calling them “colleagues” in her mind…

Not too much has changed… She bit her lip, holding back the confused doubts that were ready to overtake her.

Thak.

A knuckled strike jabbed into her hip.

She turned. Ash was frowning at her – his punch expressing a hundred more messages than anything he could have said.

Exhaling, she threw away her thoughts. “You’re right. Let’s do this.”

“Lene…”

Hm? Maylene wasn’t used to nicknames. The sounds of her shortened name were alien. “Ash…?”

No ideas of sweetness or cherishment came from his tone.

It felt weak, lost, and utterly confused. His forced frown added to the effect.

“…the emotions…” he struggled to whisper.

Her eyes widened in realization. How could I have been so stupid to drag Ash through all these people?!

“Sorry! Sorry sorry!” She crouched down, adjusting the Trainer’s limbs around her body before standing again. Ash was being piggybacked. Not something he was used to, but definitely not something he could be opposed to at that moment.

“Sorry sorry sorry!” Maylene continued her eccentric apologies as she ran through the flood of people and pokémon as fast as she could. “Lucario!” She whistled loudly.

The blue jackal appeared by their side, ready for any command.

“Get us out of here!”

Bowing low, the lucario placed its head between the fighter’s legs and lifted her onto his shoulders.

The totem pole of figures wobbled back and forth while trying to find balance.

Tilting forward, Lucario kicked off the ground, leaping the trio above the swarming Rockets – the flash of lights, screams, and explosions of faraway battles covering their unique form of escape.

They landed horribly. Crashing and tumbling off one another into an open area.

…

Grass stains and mud decorated their clothes. A few bruises and cuts would later reveal under their skin during a bath. Their ruined appearance made them fit the description of Team Rocket at the moment, as it looked like they had just been through a tough fight.

Maylene laughed loudly, realizing how much fun she had during that momentary escape. Ash tiredly laughed with her. Lucario simply stretched its limbs and patted dirt off its fur.

“What do we have here?” a strange voice grumbled above them. “I hope you’re not planning on abandoning the mission…”

An intimidating man stood in front of them…
his hands behind his back…
his suit perfect and expensive…
his hat adjusted perfectly to shade his eyes…
and his face being fearfully familiar.

“It’s Giovanni!” Maylene rolled off her back and hopped to her feet, readying her stance.

The man frowned and tilted his head curiously. “What do you think you’re doing, runt? Get back there and destroy that lighthouse! And it’s ‘Boss’ to you!”

His voice cracked on the last syllable. Ash caught it. “Wait…”

The trainer weakly got off the dirt and adjusted his head, hoping to catch the man’s voice one more time. “…that’s not Giovanni.”

“Eep!” the voice cracked again. It coughed horribly. “What! I mean, of course I’m Giovanni! I mean the Boss! Your Boss! You dare question me?!”

Maylene squinted, slowly realizing that there was something obviously wrong with the man’s face. “Wait a minute… you aren’t Giovanni!” Her stance relaxed. “Remove that mask!”

“What mask?! I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“Oh give it up, Jessie, I don’t think they’re falling for it anymore.” A blue haired man peeked up from behind a rock.

“Now they’re not falling for it, you idiot!” The man’s voice suddenly turned into a venomous female pitch.

“Da’ boss is goin’ ta’ kill us if he finds out we’ve been impoisonatin’ him!” A cat pokémon popped its head above another rock.

“Would you two shut up! You’re ruining everything!!”

The “mask” fell, its cheap papier-mâché design surprising the pink-haired fighter that she could have been fooled by it in the first place.

With the mask, the hat and wig tumbled off as well – springing a strikingly red hair back to its original, impossible shape. Exaggerated by moonlight, the face’s features were obviously feminine.

Ash wanted to yell ‘It’s Team Rocket!’ after hearing their voices and recognizing their emotions, but realized the redundancy of the exclamation.

Jessie’s eye twitched, realizing that her cover was completely blown.

The cat and man ran up beside her and bowed profusely towards the three witnesses.

“Please don’t tell the boss! We’ll pay you anything!” James begged.

“Find it in ya’ heart to feh’giv’ us! We didn’t means nothing bad! We’s just upholdin’ the Rocket Code!” Meowth blabbered.

“Who needs just one man if we can have all his pokémon? You understand, right?” James smiled stiffly in an attempt to be charming.

“Quit it you two!” Jessie knocked two bruises into their heads. She adjusted her posture and folded her arms. Her face uncaringly serious, as she paused in thought. “You little peons better keep this quiet. We’ve been sent by Giovanni himself to take care of this matter.”

“Whatta ya’ talkin’ about?? I tought da’ boss told us not ta’ interfer–mmph! MPH!” Meowth was shut silent by the woman’s quick hands. She laughed nervously.

“Hm?” James walked towards Ash, tilting his head in curiosity. “You look familiar…”

The Trainer backed away, mimicking Jessie’s same laughter. He did his best to adjust his outfit in the hopes that they would suddenly make him unrecognizable.

However, it wasn’t the clothes James was studying, but his eyes…

“Wait a minute, you’re–”

“HEY!! WHAT ARE YOU THREE DOING HERE?!!”

“Whoops! Gotta’ run!” Jessie grabbed her two companions and ran off into the distance.

A broad-shouldered man in a large coat chased the three off. He stopped halfway and turned towards the still-disguised three. “And what are you grunts doing out here? Where’s Giovanni?”

“Uhm…” Maylene had no idea how to react. She had no clue who this man was or where his rank in Team Rocket placed him. None of his outfit revealed his purpose for the group – something that put her on edge. All Team Rocket members show their rank…

“Doesn’t matter. He gave us a job and we intend to finish it…” The man’s eyes turned dark. “…so what are you doing out of line? We’ve got a bloody massacre going on out there!”

“W-We were just heading back, sir!” Maylene backed away quickly.

“…get back here.”

A chill ran through her spine. She stiffly walked back towards him.

He placed his large hand onto her shoulder. Maylene’s teeth grit, suddenly feeling threatened and completely cornered. Lucario let out a low growl as well.

Inching his face close to hers, the man gave a smug grin.

Ugh… his breath smells like fish… Her face winced.

“Maylene, is it?”

Maylene jumped away, only to be slammed into the ground by the man’s quick grab.

“A word to the wise… Disguising as one of us is a smart idea…” His boot found the back of her neck. It pressed down. “…if you weren’t dressed in the same fashion as your old wanted poster, that is.”

“HAAAH!!” In a blur of blue, Lucario struck at his owner’s oppressor.

“Hitmonchan, take him.”

Three strikes. Lucario fell to his knees.

As if phasing into reality, an abnormally tanned hitmonchan dressed in Team Rocket uniform appeared over its beaten foe. It massaged its gloved hands, hoping that his victim would try acting brave.

Maylene choked, the large man’s boot adding more force against her neck. Her struggles and attacks did nothing to persuade it otherwise.

“We know all about you Maylene…” he sneered as he pulled out a baton from his belt. “Tell me, where’s that blind boy you always babysit?”

Ash?? Her eyes darted back and forth – the boy was gone.

She choked harder, as the weight on her neck increased. N-No… not like this.

The weight disappeared. And she gasped back into life.

“AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! AAAGH!!! MAKE IT STOP!!!!” The man screamed, his knees to the floor, and hands to his head. His hitmonchan followed with the same reaction. The two roared in unison.

Maylene and Lucario stood in bewilderment, seeking the cause.

Espeon.

The lavender cat glared, eyes shining red as it sat nonchalantly beside the fallen foes.

Ash stood beside her, his hand firmly gripped onto its back and his eyelids shut tight.

“Ash, what are you–”

“IT WAS DOMINO!!!” The man screamed. “SHE TOLD US EVERYTHING!!! NNNGG!!! I PROMISE!!!!”

Ash squeezed Espeon harder, her eyes becoming fiercer in response.

The large man kicked and slammed his head repeatedly against the ground. “IT WAS MY ORDER!!! I WAS TOLD TO FIND THE RESEARCHER!! BILL!! BUT GIOVANNI TOOK OVER THE OP!! TOLD US TO CAPTURE THE POKÉMON INSTEAD!!! I SWEAR THAT’S ALL!!! I –”

Silence.

The man and his pokémon fainted – released from the attack.

Espeon fainted with them, completely exhausted from the sudden outburst.

Maylene caught Ash before he could fall himself. “Ash!”

A soft smile appeared on his face. “Gotta’ thank… Sa… brina for teaching me… uf…”

“What the heck did you do, Ash…” Maylene whispered quietly, letting the boy rest on the grass.

“I’d like to know that myself.”

Maylene turned. Another suited man stood over his fallen comrade. The moonlit sky revealing his tall, yet slender form. His calm yet slightly smug face showed obvious arrogance. And like the other, he showed no sign of rank or function in Team Rocket.

“…though I’d take a guess that’s why the boss wants him so much…”

The female fighter stood, readying into stance once again.

“The name’s Copper, pleased to meet you.” He bowed.

“…name’s Maylene. And the one behind you is Lucario.”

_________________________________________________________

“Now, now, two against one? That hardly seems fair.” The man traced his fingers calmly through his long silver hair.

“RAAHHH!!!” Lucario’s strike hit home. Jabbed between ribs, the lucario twisted its arm and released a shock of Aura into his opponent. Such a move would have been lethal for any human, but Lucario knew this was man was anything but ordinary.

He didn’t fall.

He was bent over from the first attack, noticeably in pain… but the aura shock did nothing to his senses.

Lucario released another blast of Aura. The light flashed at the end of its paw – and vanished directly into the man’s body.

“Funny thing about Aura…” Copper grabbed Lucario’s arm and squeezed.

“HRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!” Lucario howled out in pain as it seemed to age within mere seconds, his Aura being consumed by the man’s contact.

“LUCARIO!! NO!!!” Maylene ran and tumbled into a roll, readying a kick to knock him over.

He hopped over the attack just in time. Before the fighter could cancel into a new technique, Copper threw Lucario’s limp body towards her.

He adjusted his tie and swung his hair back. “…I tend to have a, let’s say, a certain affinity towards it.”

The man ran towards Maylene, her body pinned underneath the weight of the black and blue jackal.

With an arrogant smile, he placed a fingertip onto her nose. “…and it works for humans as well.”

…

Maylene blinked oddly at the finger.

Copper blinked oddly at her reaction.

…

He poked her nose. And poked again. His face becoming extremely frustrated and embarrassed.

“Why isn’t it working?! What’s wrong with you???” He slapped his palm into her forehead, his face cringing in effort.

Her fist landed a blow across his face. “You should be asking yourself that!!”

He toppled over. “AHAGH!” a pathetic yelp escaping from his lips.

The pink haired fighter softly slid Lucario off her stomach and crawled back to her feet.

Just a few feet away, the confident assailant was on the floor, writhing as he sobbed pitifully into the hands that covered his face.

…

She sighed. I can’t believe I feel sorry for this freak…

“Hey… you okay?”

Returning to a perfect standing posture, the man had recovered miraculously – his features perfect except for the obvious throbbing bruise showcased on his cheek.

He cleared his throat and held his nose up in pride. “Of course I am. But next time, my mysterious Maylene…”

An abra materialized next to him. “…next time, I’m afraid you won’t be.”

With a wink, he vanished into thin air.

…

…what a weirdo…

Maylene returned her attention to reality, where her beaten partner pokémon was slowly fading back into his normal state. She smiled in relief and leaned him against a nearby boulder.

“Rest up, buddy… you did good.”

“Hrrm…” He didn’t seem to believe that himself.

Looking around her, the fighter realized that the man and his hitmonchan were no longer there, as if they had never been present. Only the cold breeze of the coming morning stood in their place.

Ash, however, was sitting up – with the Sun Pokémon sitting up with the same disposition. The two looked dazed and weak, but functioning enough to still be a threat for any new invaders.

“Are you okay, Ash?”

“Never… better…” He smirked in her direction. “Just… give me a sec.”

“OK…” She patted him gently on the head. “…but I’ve got to go now. We promised that we’d strike Team Rocket from behind, remember?”

He struggled to get up. “Oh… right…” He found himself forced back into his sitting position.

“No, no. You come help once you feel better. For now, rest up, okay?”

“OK.”

She grinned and pulled out two poké balls from her pocket. “Maylene’s gotta’ get to work.”

_________________________________________________________

The fearow screeched as it dove in for another attack. SFF. It was swiped away with a psychic slash.

It turned, flapping into a different angle to attack her.

The Rocket came again, swinging his electrified baton with renewed vigor. His baton leapt from his hand and beaten into his stomach.

The crowd circled. Their flashlights, night goggles, eye shines, lightning sparks, and fiery flares surrounded them with the effect of an angry mob hunting a monster. Many more Rockets were ready to find the perfect opportunity to strike.

Saffron City’s Gym Leader was tiring – starting to make mistakes – losing focus – looking faint. But still she held herself in confidence.

No one would be allowed to get near her kadabra.

The Psi Pokémon had taken a deadly poison into his system.

While such a status was something he normally could have managed through a quick meditation, the poison’s effects had come from three arboks at once. No Psychic could handle that amount of venom, no matter how trained they were.

I need to get him out of here…

Teleportation, Sabrina’s only method of travel that got her there, and her only method out, depended heavily on Psychic focus and visualizing the location she wanted to travel to.

However, she could barely manage the situation she was already in.

The battle was too long, the enemies far too plentiful, and room for mistakes was quickly becoming nonexistent. If she had tried to teleport out now it would mean certain death.

Kadabra, hold on…

She looked around, trying to find her other pokémon. To her relief they still continued their fight.
Jynx and Hypno were cornering a group of Rockets against a cliff. Alakazam had finished his tussle with the zubats within the dark clouds and hovered into a new battle with the magnetons.

They will be fine, but not for much longer…

Sabrina realized that she had bitten off more than she could chew. She regretted her arrogance, but was willing to face the consequences. It was my fault…

Her cold eyes watered as she looked down at her fallen pokémon. I can still get you out of here, Kadabra… guide Ash and the rest to come rescue me.

No… The poison was already ruining his mind, yet the Psi Pokémon still could not allow his master to do what she was about to do.

“I’m sorry Kadabra…”

A tear fell from her cheek. She knew exactly what sufferings she would be put through in the hands of Team Rocket. She had offended the organization more than once and had stopped far too many of their operations for them to be lenient on her.

It was time for her to face their wrath. At least this way, she thought, my capture will be enough to distract them from the boy…

She exhaled. The battlefield before her turned dark, its mental waves disappearing completely.

One by one, she found her pokémon’s mental signatures, readying to relocate them first.

A rhydon was about to strike her with its horn drill, she could sense it perfectly – she had to act fast.

FWHUSHHHIN

The night air was abnormally sub-zeroed in temperature.

Sabrina’s eyes opened, her focus completely broken by the unexpected interference.

The rhydon’s mind panicked… its body frozen solid.

“OUTTA’ THE WAY!!!” a voice Sabrina had forgotten about shouted out of the crowd.

The stubborn tomboy, Angie, was knocking out several opponents from behind as her luxio spread paralysis into the masses.

The Psychic’s savior, the elegant Glaceon, twirled and danced in the air as it dodged several sloppy attacks, its trained skills meant for Contests giving it a unique advantage over the rest.

The unconfident fashionista, May, appeared shortly after. She squeezed between and jogged passed many bewildered Rocket members, as if she was late to an appointment they were all aware of. “Excuse me~! Pardon! Thank you!”

Sabrina’s shoulders relaxed, the tension in the air suddenly gone.

“I thought I told you two to act as a distraction!” her voice spoke with authority, despite her soul feeling relief.

“That’s what I told her!” May shouted over the loud cries of battle.

Angie struck another opponent with her head, a dizzying attack that she regretted as she stumbled backwards. Shaking it off, she responded to Sabrina, “How the heck are we supposed to be a distraction if you’re the one getting everyone’s attention?!”

“A valid point!” Sabrina admitted with a small smile. “Have any of you seen the other two?”

“RIGHT HERE!” Maylene crashed in, striking several enemies with rotating kicks.

Tyrogue and Machoke exploded through, their fists and tackles knocking away everyone that stood in harm’s way.

The fighter rolled and stood in stance next to Sabrina. She quickly eyed the downed pokémon.

Without looking at the Psychic, Maylene quickly asked, “Is Kadabra okay?”

“As long as he is given time to fight the poison, he will be fine.”

“Are you okay?”

“Much better knowing that you girls are here.”

Maylene smiled. Tyrogue and Machoke set up defense positions around the Psychic.

“Where’s Ash?” Sabrina choked the aggressive fearow from the sky with just an eye twitch – her mind finally able to focus on one opponent at a time.

“He’s safe with Lucario. We got into a bit of trouble in the back.”

“Clarification?”

“Met some higher-ups back there.” Maylene struck a powerful punch into a charging henchman. “I think the same kinds that were hunting Ash that one night.”

“And you fared well?”

“Kind of. If it weren’t for Ash – HAAH!” She countered a baton strike with two quick kicks to the arm and head. “Then we might’ve never made it out of there.”

“CHOOOKE!!!” A ramming blastoise was wrestled away from the two women by the amped machoke.

In the enclosing crowd, several waves of Rocket members found themselves being lifted into the starry sky above. Sabrina lowered her hand, allowing them to fall freely. “Is Espeon with him?”

“Definitely. By the way, he did something with Espeon that he said he should thank you for…” Maylene ducked. A kick flew over her head. Sabrina turned and forced the hitmonlee back to its poké ball. “Thanks. Anyways, I think you know what he was talking about.”

The Psychic nodded. “A technique he shouldn’t be using so soon.”

KRAK. Maylene’s knuckles cracked on impact with a female Rocket’s chin. “You think you could teach me something like that?”

“I’m afraid not. You have no attachment to Empathy or Aura.”

“Ah. I was afraid of that.”

A psychic boom launched several figures off the ground.

Outlined in psychic blue, Jynx and Hypno had finally broken through the sea of Rockets to meet up with their trainer.

Hovering down beside them, Sabrina’s Alakazam returned from his aerial struggle – staring with worry at the downed kadabra.

“Looks like we’ve got backup.” The fighter grinned in thankfulness.

Bomf.

Pretending as if she hadn’t tripped at all, May ran up to the gathering team with a smile. “How’s it going over here?”

“Good, but you really should watch your step.” Maylene teased.

A venomoth fell to the ground, encased in a block of ice. Glaceon landed with finesse in front of her owner. “Glace!”

“Angie should be heading this way soon.” May confirmed as she adjusted her bandana and eyed the enemies around them.

Walking silently in, Luxio found an open spot to protect and sat obediently.

“Incoming!” Angie body-slammed on top of Maylene. The two fell over with yelps and struggling kicks.

“Ow! What the heck, Angie??”

The tomboy’s eyes were lit up, sparkling with a grin, as if she were a child in a candy store.

Maylene pushed her off, weirded out by the expression.

Angie shot up and howled in excitement. “ISN’T THIS AWESOME?!”

The three other females blinked at her oddly.

She spun in place and gestured to the scene around them. “We’re like the epic heroes that save the world or something!”

Sabrina smiled. Her heart warmed at the thought of such an innocent view of the trouble they faced.

A flashlight in her eye made her wince and return her attention back to the battle at hand.

All around them, the Rockets were questioning their will to fight. Seeing the few that had decimated their countless numbers crowded into a solid team, hesitation and worrying forced them to a standstill. Someone had to make a renewed assault in order to inspire the rest… yet each waited for the other to start it.

“Look at ‘em! Shakin’ in their boots!” Angie giggled in continued excitement. “Hey, hey, watch this!”

She ran out towards the nearest group of Rockets, roaring like a madwoman.

Startled, the targeted Rockets, both trainers and pokémon, fled from the area.

Entertained beyond belief, Angie fell to the ground, laughing hysterically.

“Remind me not to let Angie near any sugar.” May half-joked.

Sabrina stepped forward.

Surveying the breaking crowds around them, she concluded that it would only take one last action to push them into a retreat. “Their will is broken. It’s time to finish this.”

Her eyes closed and her breathing slowed. A puff of frozen air misted from her lips.

…

Fear. Absolute fear.

Anxiety. Suspicion. Paranoia.

Panic. Vulnerability. Dread. Looming danger.

May found herself about to run, but her sense stopped her in her tracks. “Wh-What’s going on??”

Maylene was shivering, trying to shake off whatever it was that plagued her. “I have no idea!”

The pokémon seemed to be in uncertain alarm as well.

Angie, however, seemed absolutely immune to it. She stared at each of her friends in curiosity.

Her eyes locked on Sabrina. A strange sense coming from her.

In an instant, the feeling ended. But its effect had worked: Team Rocket was retreating.

Those who were the most frightened were already gone, caring little for those who remained behind.

The brave stayed and dragged the unconscious away from the field, their expressions, gestures, and vocal reactions showing signs of complete urgency.

Pokémon were returned to their poké balls or ridden on to escape.

What caught the group of females’ attention were the giant tunnels that opened up for only a few minutes, the main routes Team Rocket seemed to be taking in and out of the area.

Maylene wanted to chase them into the closing tunnels, but the feeling of fright still hung over her body.

The tunnels closed completely, silencing the panicked shouts of the Team Rocket members that once flooded the large field.

Only the last howling winds of night stayed.

…

Deep blue turned slate blue as the sun slowly graced the region of Kanto.

Morning arrived.

Maylene punched the ground in protest. “What the heck is wrong with me?! I can’t move!”

“It’s a Psychic Shriek.” Sabrina said calmly. Her eyes were glazed – her focus not being on what was around her. “A technique I invented. It can force anyone within its vicinity to have thoughts of fear and despair. Very effective in clearing areas.”

“Why didn’t we use that earlier?” May asked, her body relaxing knowing that she wasn’t having a panic attack.

“And how come I didn’t feel it?” Angie was slightly disappointed.

Sabrina fell back. Alakazam catching her with care.

“One…” her strong voice turned weak. “…it drains me. To use it prematurely would be foolish.”

The girls crowded around her, worried that their most powerful had suddenly become their most vulnerable. They checked her pulse and temperature. Pale skin and tired eyes were revealed by the slow-crawling sunlight.

She shook their head at their concerned facial expressions.

“I am fine.” she simply stated and continued, “Two, the Psychic Shriek is only effective against those with weak will.”

Maylene seemed to take offense. Angie, on the other hand, felt pride.

The Psychic sensed their reactions. “…that is not to say Angie has the strongest will of us – her excitement merely made her rather ignorant of any weaknesses… in contrast, Maylene, you found yourself vulnerable… due to the earlier fights you exhausted yourself in…” She rubbed her forehead, hoping to calm the spinning headache.

Maylene seemed satisfied with Sabrina’s answer and nodded with appreciation.

The tomboy cared little, she still found herself invincible.

However, the Coordinator felt shame, knowing that it was her own insecurities that made her experience it.

…

Sabrina’s silence proved it for her.

The Psychic Gym Leader was many things – but she wasn’t a liar.

“Then what about Ash?” Maylene’s question released everyone from their personal thoughts. “Ash was in pretty bad shape. What if he ran too?”

May and Angie looked around in concern. “WHERE’S ASH??” they asked in unison.

“I left him and Espeon with Lucario… the three were pretty beat up from the fight we were in.”

The two girls were about to yell in protest. The idea of leaving the one they were supposed to protect alone, especially in an area that was swarming with Team Rocket members, was irresponsible beyond their belief.

Sabrina cut them off, “They were not in the vicinity of the Shriek, as far as I could sense… they will be fine.”

Angie took off in a run.

“Where do you think you’re going?!” Maylene shouted.

“I have to check on Ash!!”

“You don’t even know where he is!”

“Well it’d be faster if you just told me where he is!! Otherwise I’m just gonna’ run around like an idiot until I find him!”

The fighter sighed. She pointed in the direction where she last left the boy.

Without even a thank you, she sprinted east, her figure turning into shadows as she headed towards the rising sun. “AAAAASH!!!”

Luxio followed.

May bowed politely in gesture and jogged with Glaceon to the location given.

Maylene was about to join them, but Sabrina grabbed her by the wrist. The fighter looked back with concern.

“Check up on the inhabitants of the building… we need to ensure that they are safe.”

With a nod she turned herself around. “Right. Let’s go, guys.”

Tyrogue and Machoke dutifully trailed their trainer.

The fighter laughed embarrassingly to herself. I completely forgot why we were here…

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 04:48 AM

Chapter 18: Support

The woman adjusted her golden hair, trying to hide the split ends. They’d show no matter how many times she’d try. Her posture would always look awkward no matter how many times she changed it. And the items on the side table would always look disorganized no matter where she moved them.

The place was a mess, she was a mess, everything was a mess – and there were guests. What a mess…

“Dana, could you please prepare our heroes some tea?” Bill smiled gently as he patted her arm.

She calmed down and nodded, leaving for the small kitchen… which was also a mess.

“Oh no, ‘heroes’ is a bit much.” May scratched her chin nervously. “We were just doing our best to help.”

“And we are more than grateful.”

Sabrina crushed the polite air with her bluntness, “That is not entirely true. We came here for a reason, Professor.”

“It’s just Bill.”

“Very well, Bill. We came here for you.”

Cups and dishes clatteredin the background.

The Researcher angled his head towards the kitchen. “Don’t worry about it Dana, they don’t mean any harm by it.”

He faced the Saffron City Gym Leader. “At least, I’d hope I’m correct in that assumption, Ms. Sabrina.”

She nodded and continued petting the boy’s head on her lap. “The young man came here to talk to you. We are in need of your help.”

“Mr. Ketchum.” Bill stared at the sleeping Ash. His sleeping body snoring quietly to itself as it twitched from unknown dreams. “…I haven’t seen him in quite some time.”

He looked back up, regarding Sabrina with his attention. “And what was it he needed?”

“You mean you don’t know??” Angie’s foot kicked upwards, revealing her location behind the couch. “An entire army from Team Rocket comes knocking at your door, and you have no idea what they want??” her voice was slightly muffled due to her position.

May dropped a book behind the couch.

“Ow! What was that for??”

The Researcher responded, “I know quite well that Team Rocket was here because of Mr. Ketchum. But as to why Mr. Ketchum specifically, and what I had to do with it – I was given no prior explanation.”

“This is going to be quite a long story.” Maylene passed her water bottle to Lucario. “Where do you want us to start?”

“That won’t be necessary.” the Psychic removed the offer.

Bill nodded. “Yes, I’d prefer Sabrina’s methods of recall, if that is fine.”

“Hm?” Maylene tilted her head. “…OH! OK! Right… Psychic-stuff.”

“Conveniennnt!” Angie pronounced lazily as she threw the book back at May… missing entirely and knocking over a vase. “…oops.”

May rushed off her seat to clean the accident.

A cheerful, pink pokémon beat her to the chore. “Chansey~!” It waved her back to her seat as it started sweeping.

…

…

Other than the noises of tea being prepared, cups and plates being organized, and the sweeping of broken vase pieces, there were no sounds.

Bill and Sabrina stared into each other’s eyes with intent. Despite this stillness, the Psychic continued to pet the sleeping boy’s hair… a position that Espeon seemed quite jealous of as it tried to encourage any of the other girls to give her the same treatment.

None of them really understood its begging-gestures, as their minds were elsewhere.

Angie was coming down from a battle high. Its intensity forever etched into her mind.

I never realized adventuring could be so… epic. I should’ve left home years ago! Can’t wait to tell everyone back home about these adventures! She grinned happily to herself, reenacting the scenes of fighting in her head, with added flair just to make it more interesting.

Maylene observed with curiosity the meditating kadabra off at the side.

Psychic Types are so… weird.

…

Er, pure Psychic Types, that is. she clarified as she smiled at her meditite. It hovered beside a sleeping nidoqueen, having its own meditation session.

Lucario busied himself with studying the room around him… finding items that could be used as weapons, possible exits, and the strengths and weaknesses of each creature that lived underneath its ceiling.

For the moment, he was on guard duty. And any duty he was given, he took seriously. It wasn’t too different from his free time activities, as he even treated games and relaxation as deadly-serious business.

The Coordinator May found herself in a daze. Her focus blanked as she unintentionally stared at Ash’s sleeping body. She was thinking of something earlier, but the slow and methodical movements of Sabrina’s hand had hypnotized her into forgetting everything.

Tyrogue spent its time sizing up the larger pokémon in the room, trying to intimidate those that challenged his glare.

And Bibarel sat with a blank look and mind. It was counting the specs on the wall as if they were important to their mission.

Many more pokémon found something to occupy their moment of rest within the small facility.

Dana had returned from the kitchen, quietly handing out cups of tea and offering small treats to compliment the drink.

Alakazam seemed especially grateful for the relaxing drink and atmosphere. Its mind far more concerned with the present condition rather than past or future happenings.

Jynx ignored the tea and continued brushing her hair in front of a small mirror.

Hypno thanked Dana in place of the uncaring jynx and helped himself to some of the snacks.

Machoke refused, knowing that he couldn’t wrap his massive fingers around any teacup without crushing it.

The Researcher’s Assistant continued to make her rounds around the room, offering and giving, bowing and smiling. She wasn’t used to guests. Strangers yes – but not guests.

I hope I’m being a good hostess…

Leaving Bill’s tea and scone on the table between them, she uncomfortably sat back down on the chair. She found herself adjusting her hair and posture once again, hoping that she wouldn’t look like such a mess.

The Pokémon Researcher’s eye twitched. His attention no longer occupied in his own mind.

Dana sat up straight in reaction. She held her breath, as if breathing would interrupt any conversation from starting.

“I see…” Bill stood. Dana exhaled. He looked at her strangely before continuing. “…I’m still not fully sure why Mr. Ketchum chose me for help, but I do believe I can offer some assistance.”

Angie’s leg appeared again. “We’re becoming like an army! Woo!”

“I won’t be coming with you, however.”

Every creature’s attention, other than the sleeping Ash’s, turned to Bill.

…

He seemed to notice the attention and felt on edge. “I can still help, but I have to see to the moving of my laboratory.”

Dana was about to stand, Bill knew what she was going to suggest. He raised his hand to prevent her from adding anything.

“Both Dana and I need to supervise my laboratory’s transfer, I’m afraid.”

Raising a finger to the air and twirling it playfully, Bill spun and marched cheerfully to one of the many cabinets that decorated his walls. “However! We can still stay in contact.”

“Ain’t that what vid-phones are for?” The tomboy’s foot twitched as if it were the one talking.

May smacked it back down. It retaliated with a kick… that flung its shoe at the cleaning chansey.

“…oops.”

Maylene sighed as she apologized quietly to the helpful pokémon. It responded back with a smile… though she wasn’t sure if it was a new smile, or the same smile it had been wearing the entire time.

“Video phones are far too archaic in this day and age.” Bill returned with a flat pad. He adjusted it to prop up on the coffee table that sat in the center of the room. “And Pokédevs are far too unreliable with their poor signals.”

Pressing a button on the corner of the device, the large screen lit up with a Chime~♪.

The guests all stood and peered curiously at the sleek piece of technology. Except for Ash, who was now sleeping upside-down on the couch.

Icons and text floated around the display. A quiet charming tune played as the items continued to dance inside the screen.

“I call it the Pokétab. Consider it similar to a pokédev, or even a laptop, but far more effective.” Bill pressed a few objects on the screen. Small windows appeared; each showcasing understandable functions and eye-pleasing visuals. “As you can see, each of the icons on the screen offers an easy-to-use program that you’ll find useful in your journey. It has the standard items found in your pokédev, such as communication and a pokémon encyclopedia – updated by yours truly – but it also has…”

He touched a few more icons. “…a Poké Ball Transfer System, maps of every recorded region, notepad and sketch functions, photo and video camera options, battle strategy programs, music player, geographi–”

“MUSIC PLAYER!!!” The three young women dove for the device.

Bill moved it out of the way immediately. Causing the three to crash and break the coffee table.

“…oops.”

“I’m sorry girls, but this is a delicate device.” Bill presented it to Sabrina. “As it is not built to take as much damage as a pokédev, I’d feel comfortable if the most responsible of you carried it.”

The pokétab’s screen fuzzed in static when it touched Sabrina’s arm. The Gym Leader backed away. “Ah… us Psychics aren’t very… technology-friendly.”

“Ah, yes… well…” Bill judged the three girls on the floor. “Very well, May, if you will?”

The Coordinator jumped for joy as she grabbed the pokétab for herself. “YES!!!”

“Be very careful with it.” the Researcher scolded as he loosened her grip.

She bowed. “Yes, of course!”

He sighed. Scratching his head and looking into his fireplace, he continued his previous explanation, “Use this device to keep in contact with me. I will offer you whatever information you need for your journey.

“Team Rocket must not succeed with their plans. And while that means I must help you – it also means that I must protect my own researches. I’m afraid I’ve found some information they might find too useful for their current project.”

“Destroy it?” Angie suggested plainly.

Bill and Dana laughed.

The tomboy blushed, feeling like she said something completely stupid.

“No, no, no… I will be doing no such thing.” the Researcher commented as he wiped a humored tear from his eye. “Besides, this very same research can help you on your journeys as well. To rid of it now would be a travesty to science and a wasted benefit for all of you.”

Dana nodded in quiet agreement.

“We need one more thing, Bill.”

The room turned towards the sound of the voice.

“Ah, Ash. Greetings. I’m glad you’ve recovered.”

Ash still sat upside-down, but his eyes were open and awake. Still blind and looking at nothing in particular, but still open and awake.

The boy rolled over and allowed Espeon to crawl onto his lap. “We need some pokémon, Bill. Ones that we can ride.”

…

“…hm… I’m not sure how much we can spare. My Assistant and I need to move out of here as soon as possible, and we’ll need all the hands we can get to ensure that every item is successfully transferred.”

The golden-haired woman added, “The nearest towns with delivery trucks are at least a day away. We simply cannot risk that time waiting for them.”

Ash frowned. “So…”

“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can offer in transportation.” Bill said coldly.

“Wait!”

Eyes turned to Maylene.

“I saw Team Rocket use a tunnel to get here. Do you think that tunnel can get us where we want to go?”

“That depends where you want to go…”

“Johto.” Ash answered. “Somewhere near Violet City.”

“Ah yes…” Bill adjusted his coat and stared at the ceiling. “…yes, I believe if you take the southwest tunnel, near a large waterfall here, that should take you straight to Johto.”

“Wai-wai-wai-wai-wait-wait! Hold up!” Angie rolled off her back and stood, confronting Bill face-to-face. “You KNEW there was a Team Rocket tunnel here?!”

“Tunnels, to be more exact.” he clarified.

The tomboy scratched her head in bewilderment. “Why would you stay here knowing that there’s tunnels?! And not report it to anyone?!”

Bill explained nonchalantly, “Ms. Angie, there are tunnels everywhere in Kanto. Team Rocket’s known for their love of digging. These tunnels are a part of the region’s geography at this point. To report it would be like reporting a new pebble in a gravel mountain.”

“This region’s getting more and more backwards the more I learn about it.” Maylene sighed.

“Weren’t you a Rocket?” May asked innocently. “How is this new?”

“A Rocket girl from the Sinnoh region.” she countered. “We had tunnels, but not this many tunnels… and especially not tunnels that were common knowledge.”

The Pokémon Researcher coughed. Attention returned to him. “Not common knowledge. Only a few of us know of their existence… and I’m not supposed to be one of them.”

“Not supposed to be?” The fighter found herself confused by the phrase.

“Rocket business is League business.” He shrugged. “League handles big Team Rocket activity, civilians stay out of it. I’m considered a civilian. I’m not supposed to know.”

“So how do you know about it?” May pressed.

“I am a Researcher. Not just of Pokémon, but anything and everything else I find interesting. That includes what business Team Rocket has on my property.”

“Yet you didn’t even know what they wanted from Ash.” Angie replied, earning another hit from May for rudeness. “Ow!”

Bill laughed. “Well I certainly know better now. Research successful!”

Dana and Chansey clapped childishly as a tiny celebration.

“But I digress. I can offer you the key needed to continue forward… if you are sure you want it.”

“Any reason we shouldn’t want it?” Ash was ready to snatch whatever key Bill offered, but felt the need to ask anyways.

“It’s a Team Rocket tunnel.” the Researcher stated simply. “No one but Team Rocket goes in. No one but Team Rocket comes out.”

“Other than Lance.” Sabrina finally added to the conversation.

“Obviously.” Bill shrugged. “But that’s an unfair comparison for anyone else.”

“I wanna’ meet this ‘Lance’ guy people keep bringing up. Sounds like he can do whatever he wants.” Angie admired.

“Lance is the League here in Kanto.” Sabrina admitted. “He very well could do as he pleases, and we would have little choice but agree to it.”

“Why aren’t we recruiting him then??”

“His business is his own.” Bill excused. “Considering he manages League business, often disappears into other regions whenever he feels like it, and handles more than just Team Rocket when it comes to facing evil organizations – I doubt anyone would be able to pull him from his duties.”

“There are even some rumors that he often saves the world from problems like the one we face on a monthly basis.” The Psychic yawned and walked over to Kadabra to check up on him. “The rumors tend to become rather ridiculous and exaggerated, but it just goes to show his influence and importance in the region... it would be an honor to work with him, but I also share doubt that we can obtain contact with him. He always finds himself rather busy.”

“If the rumors are even half-true, however…” Dana joined the conversation again. “You’ll more than likely end up running into him – if your business really is as urgent as it seems.”

“Of course it’s important!!” Angie was offended.

The woman was taken aback by her reaction. “I… uh… didn’t hear your group’s story earlier. I’m not Psychic.”

“Oh… uh… sorry.”

The two looked away from one another, waiting for the awkward moment to pass.

…

“The key, Bill?” Sabrina approached him.

“Very well.” He walked over to a different cabinet and produced a strange, small rod. “Here we are.”

Dana politely took the object and handed it to the Psychic.

Bill nodded in their direction and made a gesture with arm motions. “Simply swing the rod in an ‘R’-shaped fashion next to the waterfall, southwest from here, and the tunnel should show itself to you.”

Sabrina nodded to her comrades, with a mental nod towards Ash.

The group bowed in unison and thanked the two Researchers in their own manners.

Bill and Dana bowed back.

“To good health and safety?” The Assistant raised her teacup.

The group raised their cups in cheers.

Except for Ash, who wondered why he never got a cup.

_________________________________________________________

The sun was setting, and all but a single soul was asleep.

Beside a rushing waterfall, a camp was set and readied. Its bodyguards, a lucario and a Psychic, sat facing in opposite directions. Though their eyes were open, they saw nothing – as their consciousness had fallen into slumber just hours before. Within sleeping bags and blankets, the other inhabitants, human and pokémon, slept soundly.

The battle the group experienced took its toll on them all.

Except for the single soul.

May sat up, staring at the rocky wall. A rocky wall they were told to be the entrance to a secret tunnel.

Click-click-clickick. Clickick-click-click.

She toyed with a strange rod-shaped device in her hand, spinning and turning a mechanical wheel. She was unsure what it did, though she assumed it did nothing as this was her fourth time spinning the wheel all the way around.

Chime~♪

The pokétab was activated again. It was the third time she turned it on since they left Bill’s lab. And it was the second time she stared at its geographical sound map.

So go straight forward… take the first left… then…

…nothing. The sound map could only chart so much until it faded to black. Even with the little information the device could obtain, it already showed how massive the tunnel was. Like a maze, there were far too many sections that split off into dead ends or smaller passages.

Left. May repeated to herself.

Left was the only path that reflected anything close to an area with a transport. Whether a car, a wagon, or a small passenger train – all she knew was that the object moved back and forth according to the echolocation images… and that smaller objects, possibly Team Rocket members, would separate from it whenever the moving object stopped in one section.

She sighed and placed the pokétab back into her shoulder bag.

What do I do…

Since the battle, the Coordinator had felt fulfilled. For once she was directly helping the journey move forward. For once she felt that their chances of rescuing everyone would be far slimmer if she wasn’t there. And for once she knew that she was an important part of the team.

But as the hours passed, memories of past events trickled in. And everything came crashing down into a single thought and concern…

Should I?

Her eyes laid on the rocky wall again. The rod trembling in her hands as she considered using it.

Looking to her right, Sabrina was still asleep… the woman’s eyes gazing into open air as a soft snore rumbled from her nose.

May’s fingers gripped tightly to the device. With limp determination she gestured an ‘R’ with small swings. Her eyes closed shut, regretting the action, wishing that she had never thought about it, hoping that she had done it incorrectly.

…

No sound.

She let out a sigh of relief as she slowly opened her eyes, expecting to just see the rocky wall again.

A gray hallway with hanging yellow signs and red arrows. Florescent lighting marking every major section. A humming of conditioned air flowing out. A ticking of the device in her hand, counting down how long the entry would stay open. Tunnel.

“Oh no…” she whispered with a voice of disbelief.

…now I have to go…

Any and all hesitations were shut out of her mind as she stood. In a single fluid motion, she inhaled, wrapped the shoulder bag around herself, latched her poké ball belt onto one of her belt loops, adjusted her bandana, threw the rod device in Sabrina’s direction, and jumped into the opened tunnel.

Rolling into one of the walls, she let out an exaggerated gasp – her breath no longer held.

The open tunnel entrance suddenly changed into a dead end. No sound, no warning. It was solid as if it was never an exit or entrance.

She stared at the once-entrance wall, finally realizing what she had done.

I’m in… “I’m in.”

Quickly turning her attention to the other side, she found the first left turn.

There it is!

A step forward, and she hesitated.

What am I doing?

What do you mean ‘what am I doing’? She fought her fears with her determination. Why do I keep getting scared when I’m alone?! I’m stronger than this! I know I am!

Still, her foot wouldn’t move forward.

Come on, May! You can do this!

She took a step back, wanting to run towards the dead end and claw at it.

No! I can’t do this on my own! This is suicide! This isn’t just some Contest! This is a Team Rocket base! And you’re all alone! You can’t do this… just…

Gritting her teeth, she took five steps forward.

This isn’t a base. This is just a tunnel. That means there’s more than one exit, and plenty of places to run! It’s meant for travelling, and that’s what we’re doing here!

But why… why are we here…?

Flashes of Sabrina, Angie, and Maylene appeared in her mind. Two images, Ash holding onto Sabrina and Ash sleeping on her lap, especially haunted her conscious.

Because Ash needs someone dependable, not a just a pretty face.

She wiped off a tear and pulled out a poké ball.

“Help me out here…” Click. Vacuum.

Snap. “Blaaze…” The humanoid bird yawned, its eyes opening slowly.

“Sorry to wake you, Blaziken… I just need some company.”

Grunting, it stretched its legs and rotated its shoulders. After a quick shake of the head to bring its focus to the fore, it turned towards May and nodded.

She responded with a thankful smile. “We better hurry then.”

_________________________________________________________

Someone was missing.

The first thought to cross Ash’s mind as he slowed his gulps of air.

Espeon stared at him curiously, almost innocently unaware that sleeping on a person’s face makes them suffocate. Ash frowned in her direction, wanting to let her know that he didn’t enjoy the experience of waking up in that manner. The lavender cat didn’t seem to care too much.

With a few slaps to the face to remove the irritating fur from his cheeks, Ash snapped his consciousness to complete attention and sat up. “Someone’s missing…” he mumbled his thoughts – no, his emotions.

There was something absent in the air. A certain energy that he had just gotten used to again, was gone – again. He tried feeling it out, wondering where it could have gone, and more importantly, who it was. All other emotions and vibes still hung, danced, dimmed, and swung in the air lazily – each unique flavor representing a person or pokémon within their group. Yet of all of those, a single one was missing.

May…

No feeling of sunshine and warm friendliness surrounded the area. Even when she was asleep, there would still be traces of her personality hanging softly in her direction. But it wasn’t there…

It wasn’t hidden, trapped, changed, altered, or locked up. It just wasn’t there. A disturbing idea.

His thoughts first wandered to the worst, believing she was kidnapped or worse… but he realized how unlikely that idea seemed. Everyone else was still there, and more importantly, he was still there. He was Team Rocket’s target, not May, not anyone else. It was a fact that was pointed and spoken out so often that it had been enforced to a ridiculous degree.

The tent he had slept it was not his. The pillows, the blankets, the backpack, and even the food packed near his resting area weren’t his. It was not his choice to sleep in the tent, and it wasn’t his choice to have it in the center of the camp. If he had it his way, he would’ve been out there with everyone else.

But he was Team Rocket’s target. No one else. And for that, he was protected like a jewel. A reality that he hated and was uncomfortable with, but one he had to learn to respect – as his safety was important to outcome of the mission.

Yet in this safety, in this protection, in this fortification, the others were left vulnerable… and no one else noticed that one of them had gone complete missing.

The team’s sunshine was gone, and he was the only one to notice how things dimmed without her.

Ash crawled out of his tent, with the faithful Espeon in tow.

He checked his surroundings one more time to be sure.

Alert, attentive, strict… but simmered down, as if slowed into a stasis. Sabrina asleep on watch duty.

Caring yet stern… also asleep. Lucario.

Infatuation with the pillow… definitely Maylene sleeping.

Fighting something… showing acts of bravery. Subdued. Angie dreaming.

Blissfully oblivious, as much as they are when they’re awake. Bibarel.

Comfort… a special blanket… Machoke.

Meditation, battling what’s left of the poison… Kadabra.

Exhaustion and wishing to no longer care… just for a few more hours… Meditite.

Self-obsession even in slumber… Jynx.

Trying to fall asleep, completely unaware that he already is… Hypno.

Reliving past memories within lucid dreams… still alert of everything around him…

Alakazam! Ash ran up to the dozing pokémon.

Before he could reach him, Alakazam sat up and stared.

She went into the tunnel. The overpowered Psi Pokémon spoke into Ash’s mind.

Wait… why didn’t you stop her?

She needs this. It nodded. A flash of white transported the rod device from Sabrina’s lap into Ash’s hands. And you’ll need this.

The boy felt the metal bar in his palm, noticing that it was still warm.

A small psychic nudge returned Ash’s attention back to the pokémon.

Do not wake the others. It spoke with a soft mental tone, even far more controlled than its trainer. Take the rod with you. I will stay behind to guard Sabrina and the others – she will be informed of what has transpired after she wakes.

Why are you doing this, Alakazam?

Helping you? Or Ms. May? Perhaps both… Its mind trailed to other concerns.

It returned with assured assessment. We are not powerful enough to face Team Rocket at their full strength. The ones we face now are gravel in the face of mountains.

The fox-headed pokémon paused, a hint of its emotion showing through… Worry…

Both of you are needed at your full strength if we are to survive this.

Then why–

No more questions. She will find herself requiring your assistance in a short matter of time. Carry the rod and go now. We shall find our own way into the tunnel.

With a psychic suggestion, Ash’s arm unwillingly spun the metal device in an ‘R’ shape in front of him.

Any chance of refusing disappeared as Espeon ran into the opened tunnel entrance.

The boy chased after, shoving the rod in his pocket and following the trace of emotion fading into the passageway.

You must find her and help her, Mr. Ash. You must help her find herself.

The tunnel entrance faded. And only a wall of rock remained.

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 04:49 AM

Chapter 19: Guidance

“Blaziken! Dodge and Fire Spin!”

“Kricketune, stop and use Double Team!”

“BLAAAAZE!!!” A pillar of fire shot and erupted into the red Cricket Pokémon.

The target vanished on impact, leaving nothing but the nearby crates to be engulfed by the vortex of flame.

“Far too slow, little girl.” A woman of dark complexion sat comfortably on a small railing. Her uniform marking her as another member of Team Rocket. “Tell me… How will your lovely pokémon dodge another Perish Song if it doesn’t know where the next one will be coming from?”

Humming in strange warbling patterns, a trio of kricketunes danced in different corners of the room.

“Blaziken…” May slowly reached for her poké ball belt.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” The woman smirked. Her foot hovered over a small cardboard box on the floor beside her. “We agreed to a simple one-on-one match, remember? You win, I let you through. You lose, your pokémon’s mine.”

Using her heel, she tilted the box – revealing several cases of poké balls of all types and colors. “However, if you want to go back on such a reasonable deal… you can see how well you do against a small army…”

May’s hand pulled away, balling into a fist.

Letting out a laugh, the woman moved her foot away from the box and kicked her feet in careless glee. “I heard of the trouble you and your friends gave my fellows out there… but you’ll find that the ones in here aren’t incompetent buffoons. Kricketune? Would you please add another pokémon to my collection?”

“Kriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii–” All three kricketunes slid their bows together, letting out a low rumble.

May and Blaziken winced as a sharp tone ripped through the air.

Smiling, the woman grabbed a pair of headphones wrapped around her neck and snapped them onto her ears. “You can’t dodge it this time!”

A high pitch shrill shrieked through the air as a melody of chaos crashed towards the Fire Type Pokémon from three directions. One aimed high, one aimed low, and one aimed straight forward – leaving no room or angle to evade.

While May knew that two of the three attacks had to be fake, a one-in-three chance of getting hit was not a gamble to take lightly.

“Dive for the top, Blaziken!!”

“BLAAAYY –” The blaziken had jumped towards the highest song blast, only to be struck silent.

A wave of white surrounded its body and shut its consciousness off. The Blaze Pokémon crashed into a column of steel and fell quietly onto the cold floor.

“Blaziken! No!”

The remaining Perish Songs shattered into soft hums as they came into contact with a wall. The two false kricketunes vanished with them.

Laughing like an arrogant schoolboy, the woman hopped off the railing and spun happily to the defeated pokémon.

She stopped with a mocking pose and kicked the pokémon’s body. “Oh my my, he really isdown for the count! Too bad his trainer didn’t realize that sound, even if mimicked, is still sound.” She gave out another laugh as she yanked the headphones off her ears.

“Wh-What?!”

“Little girl, I warned you that there was no way you could’ve dodged that attack. You should’ve just given up while you had the chance.” Standing up straight, she turned and held out her hand. “Now hand me his poké ball. I’ll take good care of him.”

“No!” May reached for her poké ball belt. Click Click Click. Vacuum.

“Really? You really want to do that?”

“Venusaur! Wartortle! Delcatty!”

The massive pokémon and its smaller teammates appeared in offensive stances in front of their trainer. They growled at the sight of their fallen friend.

“Have it your way…” The woman walked casually towards the box.

“Delcatty! Blizzard!”

A wall of ice blocked the woman’s path completely.

…

For the first time since May had met her, the woman frowned.

“…you little brat!”

KllllkakakkakAK!

Electricity cackled menacingly from her hand. A steel baton sparked as she pointed it towards the Coordinator.

“You… I’ve had a wonderful day until now! You just HAD to ruin it, didn’t you?!”

May backed away, slightly frightened by the woman’s sudden mood change. “V-Venusaur! Vinewhip!”

“KRICKETUNE! FURY CUTTER!!!”

“KRI! KET! KET! KET! KET!” One strike after the other, the kricketune redirected the incoming whips. With each slash it took a stride forward, closing the distance.

“Venusaur! Retract your Vinewhip! Delcatty! One more Blizzard!”

Delcatty took a deep breath, its lips forming frost.

“RYAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

“DELCATTY!!!”

“AHA-AHAHAHAHAAAAAAHAAAA!!!!” Eyes crazed in rage, the woman had struck her electric baton against the cat pokémon’s back. Her laughter halted as she issued more orders. “Kricketune!! Rain some sound on their parade!!!” She ducked and re-covered her ears with headphones.

“KRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII–!!!” A high powered Screech ricocheted and echoed against the steel walls of the large room, changing in pitch with each bounce-back.

May and her pokémon crumpled. The Cricket Pokémon was far too close and its attack far too powerful to be avoided or defended against.

Unable to cover its ears effectively, Venusaur was the first to faint.

Wartortle, Delcatty, and May struggled against the pain that shook every organ and bone in their body.

“My kricketune’s Screech is similar to a virus inside your systems!” the woman shouted over the sound and walked over to May. She nudged her chin with her boot, forcing the suffering girl to look up at her. “As long as you hear it! Your brain’s going to keep sending ALL the WRONG signals to your body! Painful, isn’t it?!”

With a sweep, the woman grabbed May’s poké ball belt. “Or maybe it’s like a tuning fork! Every object has a breaking point when it comes to sound! Including brains!” She laughed heartlessly.

“Of course…!” she continued. “This wouldn’t have happened if you just played fair and square! I had just the most horrible month! Paycheck came in too late for the rent! Car broke down twice! I was demoted for something another person with the same name did! And to top it all off, I was transferred to this dreary region just because of you and your friends’ meddling!”

The woman pried Delcatty’s paw away from her ear, the Shriek no longer blocked. She fainted in seconds.

“I just wanted one day! Just ONE perfect day!” She returned Venusaur and Delcatty to their poké balls, shoving them into her pockets. “I was even being nice to you! Making deals! Making reasonable rules! Well that’s the last time I do that! I’ll tell everyone that I steal from that you’re to blame for my rotten attitude! And – AAAHH!!! OUCH!!! YOU LITTLE CRETIN!!!”

Trying to move away Wartortle’s arms from its ears was a big mistake, as she had earned a large bite mark from the attempt.

Angered, she tackled the tough Turtle Pokémon to the ground and wrestled with its arms.

The Screeching continued, preventing May from doing anything, though her soul begged her to.

No… I can’t let it end like this… I was supposed to clear the way for them… I was supposed to find the way to the other side… But now… I’m such a failure… I’m so weak… I’m useless…

I’m sorry, everyone…

The Screeching stopped. Kricketune continued to make noise, but it was no longer a Screech. It was… yowling.

May blinked open her eyes and uncovered her ears.

The kricketune was hurt. A burn mark was on its shoulder, a hiss of smoke floating off the wound. Its owner ran to its side in a panic. “Kricketune! My poor baby!! What happened?!”

A ball of blue energy struck the Bug Pokémon’s face, knocking it unconscious.

“KRICKETUNE!!!”

“That’s an Aura Sphere!” May’s eyes lit up. A smile of excitement shaping her emotions. She struggled to her feet and turned. “Lucario! Sabri–”

Her excitement was cut short by a gasp.

…

Down the hallway that led to the room, a young man stood. His hands outstretched, his arms trembling from exhaustion. His hair was a mess, his shoes barely tied, and his shirt on backwards. And his face… one that she had memorized almost too well… one that she often took for granted, she realized.

“Ash!”

“Now Espeon!”

A feline pokémon of lavender fur ran around the corner, dashing quickly down the passage and growling with fury. The gem on its forehead shined.

The railings ripped away from the walls and floors, twisting and bending until they wrapped around the Rocket and her kricketune.

“Wh-What?!” The woman struggled to break away. To no avail.

Espeon hissed loudly, its gem glowing brighter.

An aura of psychic blue covered the imprisoned Rockets, lifting them off the ground and slamming them repeatedly against the floor. The woman had already fainted by the fifth slam – yet it continued.

“ESPEON!!!” Ash snatched the raging Sun Pokémon from the ground. “ESPEON STOP IT!!!”

The blue energy faded and the gem lost its light. Espeon grunted in upset understanding… its fur relaxing.

“Geez Espeon, I told you to just do a Quick Attack…”

She turned away and hopped away from his hands, trying to show no care for his words.

Ash laughed nervously. “So...”

He turned. “May? Wartortle? You two okay?”

Arms wrapped around him as the young woman wept into his shoulder. Her usual emotion of sunshine resembled a cloudy day, its dark clouds covering any hope for warmth. Her body trembled, her breath skipped erratically, and her tears abnormally hot.

She was more than relieved to see him. Yet she was more than ashamed to need him.

“I’m sorry…” was all she wanted to say.

_________________________________________________________

I’m useless…

“You’re not useless.”

I’m pathetic…

“You’re not pathetic.”

You saw me… I couldn’t do anything…

“Her kricketune was powerful. I don’t know if I could’ve won that fight.”

But you did… you weren’t even affected by the Screech…

“I did get affected! I can barely even hear right now. You were just too close to the attack.”

Then I let them get too close…

“May, stop it.”

In the corner floor of a small subway car, the two friends sat quietly.

The other seats were taken. A mixture of men and women of all ages, all professions, uniformed and casually dressed – all members of Team Rocket – sat and stood within the cramped underground transport.

No one noticed them.

The young woman sat between the man’s legs. His arms around her shoulders as she pet a tired espeon to her left… To everyone, they looked just like any young couple that joined Team Rocket. Relationships were often bound to happen within the group, as it was the only thing that kept most of them steady.

And the two’s depressed yet comforting posture was common for rookie Rockets. Every single one of the passengers have been there: questioning the morality of their choices, wishing to go back home, or wondering if any of this would lead to a better life… you get used to it, many of the passengers thought when they glanced their way.

If they only knew, was what Ash thought when he first sat down. Though he questioned whether or not any of them didn’t know. It seemed as if one man recognized him, but deemed himself on break, moving interest away with lack of care. Or maybe he took pity on them, as May was obviously miserable.

Whatever the case was, Ash was thankful. And whatever the case was, he only cared for the Coordinator at this point…

Why did you come here? Where are Sabrina and the rest? her thoughts continued. Her mood far too depressed to consider herself worthy of speaking.

“They’re still sleeping… I came here by myself.” and Ash continued his whispering consoles. “I realized you were gone and I came after you.”

But why by yourself? Why not wake the others? …and you took the rod… how are they going to follow?

“I… don’t know really.” Ash wanted to talk about Alakazam and his words. But he had no idea how to phrase them that made sense to even himself. He was too confused about the entire situation, but glad he had arrived just in time. The situation he had found May in was far too close for comfort… and if he had been even a minute late, things would have gotten far worse.

… you… you don’t even need others to save the day. You can do things by yourself… I can barely even last on my own…

“That’s not true. I couldn’t have gotten this far without all of you. And you’ve done great as a Coordinator on your own! I always needed someone to journey with me for my Gym Battles, but you were able to make it by yourself. And already you’re a world famous Coordinator.”

And what are you? You’re popular in every region you’ve set foot in… and not to be mean, but… Ash, you never even won in any of those Leagues.

Ash’s eyebrow twitched at that fact. A shameful fact.

You don’t even need to win in any famous battles to be known. You’ve gotten 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th place on so many competitions – yet people still remember those competitions because of you.

The Trainer wanted to cry at the humiliating statistics his friend was giving.

Not to say anything bad about Brock, Tracey, or anyone else you travel with… but you’d still make a difference in this world without them. I don’t think we’ve ever followed you for convenient’s sake… you really are an inspiration to follow, Ash.

He blushed, though conflicted on how to feel with the sudden change of compliments.

Anyone would follow you… I know you’ve saved the world more than once. I don’t know why you never talk about it… We were there, we saw it ourselves… we talk about it all the time… You saved the world, we were just there to give moral support…

“May…”

I mean, I don’t even know everything about you, Ash. Dawn probably knows more than me… Angie probably knows more than me… People who have spent less than a month with you probably have a million stories to tell about you. You have more reason to brag than any of your rivals, but you don’t… Why? You’re amazing, Ash! Why?

…

Pride would have been the first thing most Trainers would have felt with those praises. But to Ash…

“Someone needed to do those things. Anyone else better than me would’ve done it faster.”

That’s not true, Ash… Look at yourself! You’ve got Aura, you’ve got Empathy, you’re fighting blind, and you snuck into a Team Rocket tunnel! These guys are probably too scared to fight you! Maybe that’s why no one’s done anything about us yet! No one would’ve done it faster, Ash… because no one could do it like you do…

“May… please…”

She was crying. Tears dripping onto his arms, her body shaking again.

And what am I? A top Coordinator with all the ribbons she wanted and more. A self-reliant girl who’s featured on more than one magazine. And probably someone who could get into the League if she tried!

Her fingers clawed into his legs. Her sobbing slowed. …yet you came here to rescue me… when I was here to help all of you. We may be talented and great, Ash… but not where it counts. You have everything where it counts…

…I’m just some girl. Just some shallow girl. Just some pretty face that everyone will forget once someone beats my record.

Ash held her tighter, pressing his chin against her shoulder. He wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how. He wanted her to stop feeling those things, but he had no idea where to start. All he could do was deny her claims and be there to catch her tears.

“That’s not true, May!”

His outburst made the other passengers feel uncomfortable. Many turned away, some made coughing sounds, and others covered their faces with books or newspapers.

…

She was silent. Not wanting to give him a chance to make her feel better. She wasn’t fishing for compliments… she wanted to just dig her grave.

May was tired of Ash rescuing her. Tired of him saving the day. Tired of him wasting his time and risking his life for someone unworthy. She hated his Empathy. Hated having no place to hide when she broke down. Hated having no way of covering her ugly side. Hated having to be so honest even when she never wanted to be.

She wanted to push him away and run. She wanted to go somewhere he could never save her. No more risks taken, no more time wasted. In her eyes, she wasn’t worth it. In her heart, she wanted to be. But in her soul, she believed she could never be.

“…I’ll always remember you, May…”

Her heart paused.

“I can’t make anyone remember you. I can’t make anyone see you for how great you are. But I know I will always remember you… And I know I’ll always see you for how wonderful you are. You mean a lot to me, May. Even if you think I don’t need you, I just want you to know that… I always want you with me.”

Her face turned pink, her mind racing with denials, her heart melting too fast to build walls, and her soul not being able to reject any of his words…

His words… so full of love, so full of care…

She rolled, turning towards “Ash…”

Pushing her lips towards his, her mind went blank.

Her kiss met steel.

The train jostled, slightly rocking its passengers in different directions.

Vrrrrrmmmmm.

The subway doors opened. Ash stood and allowed Espeon to jump onto his shoulder.

“Seems like we’re already here.”

“Phya… thheemth wak et…” May mumbled against the wall that stole her kiss.

He reached down, offering his hand. “Come on, May.”

She looked up, facing the man that had stolen her heart. There were no more doubts of what he meant to her. And though she wanted to tell him, this wasn’t the time or place. Not yet…

With a smile, she grabbed hold of his hand and pulled herself up.

Three quick wipes and a shake of the head and she was ready – showing little sign that she had been crying just a few seconds before. “Okay, let’s go!” she spoke with a sweet smile.

The three exited the subway, being swallowed up by the tide of comers and goers.

A fourth followed them unseen.

_________________________________________________________

Ash…

“I know.”

The man that had recognized them in the subway was following them. Still following them. For an hour, around every corner, down every hall, Ash had noticed him. The stranger’s stalking emotions were hardly subtle.

Originally, Ash had wanted to confront him earlier on, but his constant training and meditations with Sabrina had taught him that patience and careful research was key to finding victory in any foreign situation. He still wasn’t completely sure if he was cut out for that kind of thinking, but… He hasn’t attacked so far… and he had a lot of chances when we were still around larger crowds… Getting impatient would’ve probably gotten us into worse trouble…

May, on the other hand, was completely panicked. Her entire time walking was spent guiding Ash. It was a sense of closeness that kept her completely distracted. All other traces of attention were used for reading the sound map the pokétab had given her.

She hadn’t noticed the man until now. His footsteps echoing in the empty warehouse area were impossible for her to ignore. She wanted to scream, to shout, to turn and attack, but she had to wait for Ash’s call. He was calm; he had been calm this entire time. And she now depended on his unusually cool head to make the best decision.

What do we do? Do we run?

“Two of us, one of them…” Ash whispered in response.

Tap Tap. Espeon pawed at his face.

“Three, I mean.”

Which pokémon do I use?

“Which one of yours is able to fight?”

I’ve got Beautifly and Snorlax. I can also get Wartortle out if you need him… but he’s still a bit dizzy.

“On three, take out Snorlax.”

Got it. She reached for the poké ball attached to the front of the belt.

“One…”

Espeon tensed.

“Two…”

Click. Vacuum.

“Three! Espeon, Quick Attack!”

Snap. “Go! Snorlax! Focus Punch!”

The Sun Pokémon vanished from Ash’s shoulder. A large red aura shined between the two and their stalker. An enormous pokémon with a cat-like head poured in from the light.

“SNORRR!!!!” The snorlax struck its arm down at the Rocket member.

The man dodged with a roll and lifted his hands in surrender. “Whoah whoah whoah! Guys! It’s me! Trace– OOF!” Espeon reappeared with a spinning pounce to the side of his head.

He crashed into a wall and stopped moving.

“Tracey??!” the two yelled in unison.

They ran to his side.

_________________________________________________________

The story of the escape was told to Ash and May – Misty’s efforts, the breakout, the undercover run, the rescue of fellow prisoners, and finally, the split up. The two listened intently and intensely, both barely able to believe what their friends had gone through.

They sat in attention in the corner of another large room. A collection of crates acting as their seats and chairs.

Team Rocket members passed by every now and then. To them, the three humans and pokémon were fellow members on break. Many of them showed envied expressions, wishing they had such lax schedules.

A few of them nodded in their direction. Tracey, in full Team Rocket uniform, waved back casually.

He continued his story, “Misty took Pikachu and Dawn to find Anabel in the East Sector. Ms. Ketchum, Mr. Mime, and Brock led the other prisoners out the vents that led to the ports. They might be in Alto Mare by now. Ritchie and Casey headed west to see if they could stall any of Team Rocket’s other projects. Todd and I split up to patrol the subway sections – to see if any patrols were being sent out for us.

“We had literally just split fifteen minutes ago… We honestly didn’t expect to find any of you in these tunnels…”

Ash fell back, dropping his weight to the crate on his back. He released a long sigh.

“It’s like we fought for nothing.” May spoke Ash’s thoughts.

Tracey patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t speak too soon. We still have no idea where Anabel is… and we are still split up… Until all of us meet again, I don’t think we should feel like we’ve all escaped.”

“When and where are all of you planning to meet?” The Coordinator pulled out her pokétab and opened the Notes section. The sketch-artist stared at the device with great interest.

“Well, we won’t be seeing Brock’s group for a while. They won’t be meeting up with us – we consider them safe now. The rest of us will still meet, though.”

“When and where?” May pushed.

“Vientown in Almia.”

“Almia?! That’s all the way to the east!”

Tracey lowered his voice to a whisper. “And it’s the only region that has active protection against Team Rocket.”

“Then why didn’t you send my mother there?” Ash spoke up.

“The travel to Almia would be far too dangerous. It may be the safest region, but Team Rocket circles the roads and waters that lead to it.”

“Then cancel that meet.”

“What?!” Tracey stiffened. “W-Why?!”

“Because we’re not running.” Ash stared at the sketch-artist, his blank eyes still having stern determination.

“Great… First Casey and Ritchie, now the one we were all trying to save wants to face them head-on. What next?” He turned towards the Coordinator. “What about you? You feel the same way?”

She nodded. Placing her hand on Ash’s.

“Do you guys even know what’s going on here?! Team Rocket’s after you, Ash! Do you even know why?!”

“They’re trying to capture and control Arceus by using some kind of power that makes them anti-Aura, anti-Psychic, anti-Empathy, and anti-Physical. They’re either trying to kill me to stop me from stopping them, or they’re trying to capture me to use me in their project. Everyone I know that can help me or has something they need, is being captured one after the other. And it all started after I gained Empathy, because apparently that was one more sign that made me resemble someone in a prophecy that’s able to stop them.”

He took a deep breath. “Did I miss anything?”

Tracey’s face was pale, his jaw slightly ajar. “….I-IS THAT WHY THEY’RE AFTER YOU???”

May wrestled Tracey’s head down, covering his mouth.

Two passing Rockets stared at them.

“Th-Those darn cops, am I right??” May laughed nervously at them.

“Been there before, honey.” One of the Rockets responded. The duo walked away.

The Coordinator smacked Tracey’s head before letting him go. “Watch your volume, jerk.”

He scratched the back of his head and laughed embarrassingly. “S-Sorry.”

His face turned serious again. “But… that’s really why they’re after you??”

“You didn’t know?” Ash tilted his head.

“N-No! We had no idea why!”

“Then why did you ask him if he knew as if you knew?” May sat next to Ash.

The sketch-artist shrugged. “I thought it was a rhetorical question… to, you know, discourage you from doing anything stupid.”

Ash lifted himself to his feet and pulled his arms into his sleeves… adjusting the shirt as he just realized that the tag was on the wrong side. “Now that you know, what are you planning on doing?”

“I… I don’t know… I don’t even know.” He ran his fingers through his hair in distress. “I don’t think I even understood everything you just said! What do you want us to do, Ash?”

He thought about the question for a few moments – wondering what Sabrina would tell him to do, while still getting what he believed was best for the situation.

“If you can get into contact with them…” he began with a nod, “tell them to take the train you found me on. Sabrina, Angie, and Maylene should be taking it soon.”

“Angie’s safe?! Thank goodness!” Tracey hugged Ash in excited happiness. “When I saw you two, I thought you were all that was left from the attack!” He pulled away and frowned slightly. “Honestly, we had no idea if any of you guys were captured yet or not… or worse…”

Tapping his finger against his lip, he blinked curiously at May. “But wait… I thought they said you went back to Hoenn…”

“I did. And I came back after Ash called me for help.”

“How? By plane? Is that a safe form of travel?”

May laughed. “No way! I was attacked more than once! Barely got out of there unscathed!”

He returned his attention to the young man. “So after we meet up with them, what’s the plan? …and you realize that such a large group won’t look very… inconspicuous, right?”

“Just tell anyone that asks that you’re being sent to go after Ash Ketchum.” May nudged Ash’s arm. “They’ll believe you.”

Tracey gave an unsure smile. “Okay… Well, what do we do after that? And what about Anabel?”

“If you find her, you find her, but… I get this weird feeling in my stomach that tells me she isn’t here.” Ash’s intuition was being honest. Something was hinting him that no fellow Empathic was in the area… wherever Anabel was, she was long gone.

Find the one in charge of all this and you’ll find her. is all Ash could feel. It’s all he ever felt since he went inside the tunnel… and now he knew what it meant. “Find whatever you can about any other prisoners or who’s in charge of all of this.” he continued. “Then head for Violet City. This hallway leads to there.”

“Got it.” The sketch-artist nodded and started sketching an immediate map of the area. As he sketched and continued his study of their situation, he found himself impressed by the boy’s assertiveness. He sure is growing up fast. “One thing, though. All major exits to cities are guarded. You need a metal rod to let you through. If you wait here, Misty’s carrying one she got off a guard.”

The Trainer showed one of said rods.

“Geez, you guys have thought of everything… so what’s at Violet City?”

Ash smiled in confidence. “Our new way of traveling.”

_________________________________________________________

Four mawiles stood in their path.

A bored member of Team Rocket sat on a stool nearby. His eyes completely on his pokédev.

“How do we…” May worryingly adjusted her posture.

The Rocket raised his finger, silently asking for a minute as he finished his game.

…

…

“Aaand, there.” He closed his pokédev and looked up. “Show me your Rocket Rod.”

Ash presented the device.

Taking the rod from the young man’s hand, he inspected it.

He paused, eyeing the two suspiciously.

Oh no… May reached for her poké ball belt. Ash stopped her with a quick grab of her wrist.

“We’re fine…”

The man handed back the rod. “You’re clear. But you should get a replacement for that rod. There’s a newer model back at the armory.”

“S-Sentimental value.” the Coordinator quickly responded.

“You sentimental types…” he sighed and shook his head. “Anyways… Stacy, Fina, Liandra, Jazz, let ‘em through.”

The four mawiles moved aside. One of them unlocked and opened the door for the two trainers.

Each of them bowed as May and Ash passed.

The Empathic took interest in them, as each of them had a very distinct emotion. Bored. Tired. Dutiful. And cheerful. They were sisters, as their family connection showed well in their feelings. Ash considered them to be an interesting collection of pokémon, and wondered what they liked to do on their spare time. He also wondered if any of them would be good friends for any of his pokémon.

The cheerful one looked up at Ash, somehow being able to see that he could sense her feelings.

It winked.

Ash shivered at the thought and hurried out the door – no longer interested.

May patted the cheerful mawile on the head. “You girls are real hard workers.”

“Please don’t pet Jazz. She’s known to follow strangers.” the Rocket mentioned as he returned his attention to his pokédev.

The Coordinator moved on and passed through the door.

Espeon stopped in front of Jazz and hissed. The mawile’s hissed back with its mouth-horn.

The Sun Pokémon didn’t seem impressed. It turned and followed Ash and May.

“…darn rookies.” The man continued his pokédev game. “Close the door, Liandra.”

Rrrrrrrrrrrrclick.

The door had closed behind them, disappearing into the rock wall it had been built into.

“I wonder how many of these hidden doors and entrances Team Rocket has.” May wondered as she poked and prodded at the once-doorway.

Ash didn’t seem to answer.

Curious at his silence, she turned… letting out a small gasp at the sight.

A city of nature and concrete lay before them. Trees stood proud as their thick foliage raked the skies. Buildings sat in relaxed manners beside them, complimenting in a fashion that made them seem like cousins of the trees. And above is where the ribbon of beauty gathered everything into one magnificent view: Bird Pokémon of all kinds flew in the orange, afternoon sky. Their patterns and calls giving the town an almost seaside feel.

The wind blew. And with it, a hundred smells. Sweet berries, soft blankets, fresh concrete, morning dew, and citrus perfumes were ones that May recognized…

Violet City – the “City of Nostalgic Scents”.

“Isn’t this place beautiful, Ash?”

He shrugged. “It’s okay.”

May fell over.

She stood and crossed her arms. “Why can’t you ever appreciate beauty??”

“I’m blind, remember?”

“You can still smell.”

“Not very well…”

May sighed. “Just take my word for it.”

He shrugged again and waited beside her.

She took one more sniff of the air… each fragrance bringing back memories of home and her past adventures… each one soothed her as much as they hurt her.

And for one moment, the aromas had made her forget where she was, and what she had been doing.

She exhaled and looked at Ash with a distant look.

Within that short lapse of memory, she couldn’t recognize him. Who is this… Why is he waiting for me… What are we doing… Why should I keep going…?

And just as fast it had disappeared, she recalled everything again in an instant.

“Ash…”

“Hm?” He tilted his head, unsure of what to think of her vanishing and changing emotions of the moment.

“You’re Ash Ketchum…”

“Er… yes?” For a second he had wondered if she had gone insane… or if he was mistakenly talking to someone new and didn’t realize the change. Either way, he took a step back and scratched his head in nervousness.

“We’re here in Violet City… to find a new form of travelling, right?”

“Y-Yes.”

“…from the Gym Leader, right? Falkner? He has Flying Pokémon... I bet you know him very well, and he owes you something, right?” She smiled at him, admiring her friend’s fame and relations.

“Er… no.”

She blinked. “N-No?”

“No way. Falkner’s a jerk.”

She laughed loudly, her foreign emotions and thoughts snapping back to its usual happy and warm self. The simple yet honest dislike of a great Gym Leader of respectable reputation made Ash sound immature. His refusal to work with someone who could be vital to their mission, all for a petty reason that she thought he was beyond considering. She had forgotten how childish Ash could be.

He pouted. “Hey! What’s so funny?”

“N-Nothing. Nothing at all.” She giggled the last of her laughs away. “So if we’re not getting Flying Pokémon from him, who do we visit in the city to get one? We are getting Flying Pokémon, right?”

Ash tugged on her sleeve, gesturing her to guide him again. “Yeah, we’re getting pokémon that can fly. But not in the city.”

“Wait… then why did you tell Tracey to get everyone to meet in Violet City?”

“Because we’re going to a place near here.”

“And where’s that?”

Ash smiled. “Charicific Valley.”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 04:50 AM

Chapter 20: Alternatives

The two fell face-flat onto the dirt.

“H-How far is this thing?” May whined as she refused to move.

“I could’ve sworn it was closer…” Ash grumbled, trying to drag himself forward.

“Liiiiiizaaa!!!” he shouted into the open air.

No response.

“…you sure that pokétab isn’t giving us the wrong directions?”

“I wouldn’t know! I’ve never been there!” She slipped out the device and slapped it down on the ground in front of her. She lazily pressed random buttons on the screen in the hopes it would magically give them new information. “And who is this Liza you keep calling? I don’t think we’ll see anyone for miles…”

“Liza’s the one who I called to get my charizard to help us, remember? She watches over Charicific Valley…” Ash moaned as he fell back onto his chest. “…there’s no natural road into it. Someone needs to take a Flying Pokémon to get in there. And Liza decides who gets in and out.”

“What?! Why didn’t you mention that earlier?!”

“Why? Would it change any plans if I did?”

“We could’ve called ahead of time!”

“I already did. I called her from Bill’s while we were leaving.”

“And…?”

“Line’s disconnected…”

She groaned in response. “I give up…”

Espeon hopped onto the pokétab and pawed at its flashing and rotating images.

May rolled onto her back. “Yeah… you make it work, Espy… I don’t know how to work that thing…”

Ash rolled beside her. “And yet they trusted you with it?”

“Hey, it’s not like Angie or Maylene would know how to work that device better than me!” She paused, taking a large gulp of water from her bottle before continuing. “Ahhh – that’s good… and Sabrina said that if she held it, it’d probably explode or something…”

Ash fumbled his hand across May’s body, trying to find the water bottle. She shoved the drink into his hand before he could touch anything embarrassing. “Geez, just ask next time.”

He tilted the bottle back, swallowing as much of the sweet water his body would allow him to.

“Don’t drink it all!” She snatched the drink back.

Ash lazily tried to get the bottle back, to no avail.

…

The two sighed in unison, both exhausted.

May looked up into the sky, watching the clouds pass by.

“We should probably set up camp… It’s getting dark.”

Her eyes were tired and her mind was strained. She didn’t want to sleep, but her body protested at her being awake. And to make it worse, her internal clock was completely off.

Their constant sleeping during mornings and moving at night… The nervous energy that had kept her awake during their travels in the Rocket Tunnel… And now her fatigue from their uphill hike… All of them factored in confusing and irritating her body and mind to the point of conflict.

But now was the time for rest – as navigating up cliff roads, that tended to get narrow at the most unexpected times, did not seem smart to continue during nightfall.

“Did you bring any tents?” Ash asked as he struggled to sit up. His body sore from the constant walking.

“You didn’t?”

The two sighed. “I didn’t think we’d need them.” they admitted in unison.

“We should’ve rested at the Pokémon Center in the city…” May pulled out her poké balls and allowed each of her pokémon out. Each one looked groggy or exhausted; some still showing signs of pain.

“Yeah… I didn’t think the Valley would be so far away.” Ash picked up Espeon and started petting her.

The Coordinator applied medicine to any wounds and gave treats to each of her pokémon, hoping that it would sooth their tensed bodies. “So what are we going to do for sleep? And do we build a fire?”

She looked over the cliff path. “I don’t think there’s any firewood for miles…”

“We camp it out the old fashioned way.” The male Trainer walked over to Venusaur, stretched, then fell back – landing his back against its side. He grabbed Espeon and placed her on his lap.

The other pokémon followed suit. Blaziken sat next to Ash. Wartortle sat on-top of Venusaur. Snorlax rolled onto its side to Blaziken’s left. Delcatty rolled up onto Snorlax’s stomach. And May’s beautifly landed softly next to Wartortle.

May watched the scene with playful interest. “Hmmm… Now where do I sleep?”

She was about to find a space between her snorlax’s legs, when Glaceon curled up against her legs – causing her to lose balance and stumble. She fell next to Ash, shoulder to shoulder. Despite its obvious closeness, it was more than a comfortable position.

Her face blushed.

Glaceon gave her a lighthearted smile.

May shot her back a look. “You meant to do that.” she mumbled towards her.

The Fresh Snow Pokémon pretended to not hear her trainer’s response as it snuggled into her lap.

May pet her faithful pokémon’s head and hummed a soft tune to put her to sleep.

…

“Hey May…?”

Her humming stopped.

“Yeah, Ash?”

“Why’d you go ahead?”

“Into the tunnel?”

“Yeah, the tunnel.”

“So I could scout ahead. To help.”

“Yeah, I figured that. But… why?”

…

She went silent, trying to figure out what to say next. She wasn’t sure what he meant by that question, or what answer he was specifically looking for.

“Can I look?”

She turned towards him and blinked. “What? Look at what?”

“Um…” He felt uncomfortable. In truth, he wanted a simple yes or no answer. No thoughts, just a casual reaction to his question. Now that she was giving him her full attention, he realized that the explanation would be far more intrusive than he’d intend it to be. “N-Nevermind.”

“No, tell me!” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Now you’ve got me all curious.”

Sigh. “I meant it like… looking into you. Empathy and stuff.”

Her face blushed again. The simple request seeming far more personal than she expected it to be.

“W-Why??”

“Well… you don’t know exactly what I’m asking… and I don’t really know how to describe it… so I thought I could just, well, find out the answer…” He coughed to seem nonchalant. “If that’s okay with you, that is.”

Throughout their journey, Ash had been slowly improving his Empathic abilities. By poking into people’s emotions and backing away, as well as attempting to block them off, Ash had learned how to control how much he could feel at once from a person or a group of people. Emotions were no longer as obvious or as loud for him now… Like Anabel had told him in the beginning, he couldn’t turn it off, but he had gotten far more used to it.

He still didn’t consider himself as skilled as Anabel, as he still struggled with extremely loud personalities like Maylene’s, or with large floods of strong emotions like the battle at the Bill’s Lighthouse. But he had certainly gotten better.

Ash’s fingers ran through Espeon’s fur, her Psychic energy hidden inside reminding him of why he had truly improved: Practicing with Sabrina.

While Sabrina herself wasn’t an Empathic, she knew how to hone nonphysical abilities and heighten focus to a great extent. Their hours of constant training and exercise had not only increased his Empathy’s effectiveness, but also had created a bond between him and Sabrina.

This bond allowed the two to empower their own abilities. For Ash, it had given him the ability to use the psychic powers of Psychic Pokémon in a much more devastating manner, as well as giving him more clarity and control in reading other’s emotions.

And now, here with May, he had another chance to test himself – another situation for him to truly sharpen and empower his Empathic abilities.

No, not that. He told himself. I’m genuinely worried for May! This isn’t just another test!

The bond with Sabrina also had the unintentional consequence of reflecting one another’s personalities. While the objective-focused, self-improving, and strategically-careful traits of Sabrina were useful, they had also made Ash forget the spirit and heart of what he was aiming for at times.

He could suppress the side-effects, and often times he felt like they hadn’t affected him whatsoever. And in that, he was improving, which boosted his confidence greatly.

Though, he wondered if he really was winning against the side-effects… or if they were becoming less and less obvious.

“S-Sure.” May’s answer snapped him out of his layered thoughts.

The Coordinator played with Glaceon’s tail nervously, her face bright red at the thought of letting ‘Ash in’. “W-What do you need me to do?”

Nothing. She didn’t need to do anything.

“Sure” was Ash’s go-sign. The instant she had said it, he had already dived into the heart of her intentions.

Her emotions flew passed, each one explaining a portion of the story she didn’t want to speak out loud.

Am Useless. Am Weak. Am Burden. Her insecurities showed loudly, showing the obstacles she saw in front of her.

Digging deeper he found what he had been looking for…

Need Stronger. Need Better. Need Useful. Need for Ash. And there were her ‘why’s. Her reasons. Her goal to face her insecurities.

With an exhale, Ash retreated from her emotions and returned reality’s far more restricted grip.

Her emotions had made his face blush a deep red. He was unsure how to respond, unsure of how to feel or think. The Coordinator’s yearning to become better for him flattered him greatly. It would have been an idea that he didn’t understand, if it weren’t for the fact that he felt similarly for her.

May was a friend. A close friend. A very close friend.

She was a part of his past that meant greatly to him. And in their time together, he grew to realize everything that made her great and wonderful. But she was just a friend then. As long as they had a great time together, he was happy. As long as they were friends, then that’s all that mattered.

Then that… moment… they had together occurred.

And though she didn’t want it to change anything, it would change everything. He couldn’t just see her as the friend he travelled with so long. Though he’d admit he could never see her that way after he found that she actually dated someone – that… moment… sealed his old views of May permanently.

She was still his friend. Still his close friend. But now she was someone who depended on him, on his answers, and his emotions. He had to answer to her someday. An answer that he was afraid to choose, fearing what it would mean to everyone else, what it would mean to her. He didn’t want to have to choose… he didn’t want to have to lose one of them…

‘Let them fight over you… It’ll make them know what they really want in their relationship. Eventually they’ll have to give up sometime… or at least admit defeat. And in the end, they’ll still be your friends, and they’ll know what to really look for in a guy…’

The tomboy’s words echoed in his head. Angie…

If he could trust anyone’s counsel, it was his summer friend’s. Her innate understanding of his mind, heart, and spirit even without any special abilities made her words often the truest. She wasn’t biased towards any sides of herself, only by what she saw and was told – a person who could judge a book by its cover and be successful at finding its contents.

A person who understood this situation better than he did.

Ash returned his attention to the concern at hand… May’s insecurities and need to prove herself.

“May, you don’t need to prove yourself… to me.” the two last words were spoken with hesitation.

“I know.” She nodded and returned her attention to petting her glaceon. “At least, I know that now. But… I’d like to at least be stronger. To be better.”

“If it weren’t for your help, we wouldn’t have gotten as far as we have.” Ash responded as he straightened his back, trying to prevent himself from completely slipping off of Venusaur’s abnormally smooth skin. May must put lotion on her skin or something…

She nodded again. “And I know that. But that’s not where I want to improve.”

He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“Ash, you’re the main reason we’re on this crazy quest… this isn’t about being the best Trainer or Coordinator anymore. Not about badges, trophies, or ribbons. We can’t just sit around and just have fun all the time like we used to. And we can’t… make mistakes like we used to.”

She paused, wondering how to continue her thoughts.

Acceptance. “…Angie? She keeps her head focused on what matters. Even if she doesn’t think about it, she’ll get the job done. And she’s your emotional support… at least, from what I’ve seen. You always seem to go to her when you want to talk in private.”

Glaceon sat up and moved onto Venusaur’s back – removing her owner’s only distraction.

May turned and faced Ash. Admiration. “And Maylene? She can fight just as good as her pokémon. Even without her pokémon, she’s a strong bodyguard. And her… thing that she does. That thing that makes her immune to Empathy and Psychic people? With that, she’s invaluable to this team.”

She looked down. Shame. “And of course there’s Sabrina… If all of us left your side, she could probably handle this entire mission by herself. We’re nothing but jokes compared to her.”

“May…”

Self-doubt. “And me? …I’m just back-up. I’m there just so that the job isn’t so hard. Which is nice, but I’m not really necessary.”

“That’s not true.”

She fanned the pokétab in front of Ash’s face. Self-hate. “This is the only thing that makes me useful right now! And what good am I with it? You give any other girl enough time with it, and they’d be just as useful with it. You give any girl enough time, and they could easily replace me in this team.”

Ash was about to interrupt again. May put her finger up to his lip.

“I’m a Coordinator, Ash… not a Trainer. I’m not a Psychic, I’m not a fighter, and I don’t have confidence. I don’t want to build up confidence, I want a reason to be confident. But honestly? I don’t have anything. I train my pokémon how to make their attacks prettier, but not more effective.

“I mean, even Dawn is better at that than I am! You’ve seen her, I’ve seen her, everyone’s seen her! She gets so creative with her pokémon’s moves it’s unbelievable. I’m just a standard, Ash. I’m only a challenge to other Coordinators because I’ve had more time and practice than them. But I don’t have the same spirit and creativity as they do. I’m a high standard, Ash, but standard nonetheless…”

Depression. “What good am I for this?”

“May…”

“Please Ash… no more cheer-me-ups. No more excuses for me. I don’t want any. It’s time to face facts… I–”

“Close your eyes.”

“What?”

“Close your eyes.” he repeated.

…

Her eyes closed. “O-Okay, they’re closed… Now what?”

She felt something warm on her forehead. Ash’s palm.

“Now? We hope I learned this right…”

_________________________________________________________

Sunrise.

Bird Pokémon of all kinds hung on branches of trees, watching the line of strange visitors pass by.

“THIS IS AMAZING!!!”

The shout caused several of the birds to fly from the safety of the trees. They cawed and tweeted as they fled to find a better, far more quiet area to rest.

May had been the one to shout. She faced up towards the trees, her eyes covered by her bandana as she smiled with pure glee.

“Woww… I can’t believe it…” She laughed in excitement and jumped in place.

In her blindness, she saw the colors, she felt the heat. Colors of all kinds that she had never seen before, temperatures of all warmths she had never felt before. No, that’s not it. she thought to herself.

She had seen these colors, felt these heats, but never in this way – never in this manner, and never in this light.

Empathy.

Her Empathy had woken up.

The opposite could be said for Ash, who was dead asleep ontop of Venusaur’s back.

Ash hadn’t slept. May hadn’t slept. The two had spent all their night in unphysical work.

Using a technique that he had developed with Sabrina, the Empathic was able to unlock the latent talent within the Coordinator… Treating Espeon as his Psychic extension, he dove deep into May’s mind. Using Aura, he found the walls that blocked her from the abilities. And using Empathy, he was able to open the gates.

The task was hardly simple, and extremely uncomfortable. The two would grunt in pain and sweat profusely through the night. Mental and emotional challenges often prevented them from continuing, and only working through them slowly and carefully would allow them to pass. Their history together as friends, as student and teacher, and as rivals had given them the tools needed to succeed – as it was these connections that allowed them to destroy the insecurities that slowed her progress towards Empathy.

Ash knew this was another technique that Sabrina would lecture him endlessly if she found out he used it. It wasn’t ready. It wasn’t safe. And it wasn’t meant to be used while he was still so inexperienced.

But it was now or never, he had thought to himself at the time. If May kept on like that… always hurting herself… she might close herself off completely, instead of improving.

He thanked Sabrina’s training, as it was only his bond with her that allowed him to come to that conclusion.

Now, however, he had little to no thought. Absolutely exhausted from the ritual, he had fainted and had not awoken since. Espeon shared the same tiredness, as she slept soundly on his stomach.

May was the opposite. Her granted access to Empathy had awoken her body completely.

For her, it was like a dream. She could see things that she didn’t think was possible, experience things she didn’t think could exist, and feel things she never thought could ever be. She didn’t want to wake from this dream.

And so she kept her eyes closed, her bandana acting as her blindfold.

When she could see, she couldn’t sense as much. For now, she didn’t ever want to stop. Empathy felt far too natural for her – as if she was always meant to be an Empathic.

This, of course, was dangerous. As she’d often trip over or nearly fall off the cliff-side while following emotions in the sky. Her pokémon had to keep a close eye on her.

She took a deep breath in…

“DREW!!! YOU JERK!!!!”

She struck her fist in the air and laughed. For once in her life since that horrible day, she could mention his name without feeling any hate for herself.

She felt… confident.

“DREW!!! JUST YOU WATCH!!! I’LL KICK YOUR BUTT ONCE I GET BACK THERE!!!”

Glaceon and Blaziken grunted together. The two despised the man that had broken their trainer’s heart and mind. And they were more than willing to help her getting her justified revenge.

They looked at each other and looked back at Ash. A better mate for her, they agreed to one another.

“GUYS! I CAN HEAR THAT!!” May’s face was a bright red. ‘Mate’ was far too strong of a word.

“And I can hear you from a mile away.”

The Coordinator froze. She suddenly noticed a large group of powerful energies above her.

H-How could I miss something so huge???

“Wh-Who’s there?!” May struggled with her bandana, trying to remove it out of its impossible knot.

“I should be asking you that. No one’s allowed in these canyons.”

“My name’s M–” She successfully pulled away the bandana and looked up at their threat. “Liza??”

Above them, a team of frighteningly large charizards kept themselves aloft while staring down at them in battle-readiness. A woman of deep sea green hair, blue eyes, and a strikingly red suit stood on one of their backs. Her frown was accented by a scar that ran down from her cheek to her chin.

“Funny, I have the same name.” she spoke with little humor.

“N-no. I’m May! Are you Liza? Wait, you just answered that.” May laughed nervously.

“Choose your next words carefully…” The charizards around her growled furiously. She gave the Coordinator a death glare. “…those looking for me lately have met quite an… unfortunate end.”

May’s blood turned cold. “Er… n-no! It’s not like that!”

She ran up to her Venusaur and started shaking the sleeping passenger.

“Ash! Wake up! We found Liza!”

He snored louder.

“…Ash?” Liza’s eyes widened. She jumped to the ground below, the charizards following closely behind.

Walking up to the slumbering young man, she smiled. “It’s good to see him again…”

The woman faced May. “I apologize for my reaction earlier. We haven’t had much good company lately.” As she bowed, so did the charizards. “It’s a pleasure to meet you May. Any friend of Ash’s is a friend of Charicific Valley.”

May panicked at the sudden mannerisms and bowed quickly in response. “N-Nice to meet you!” She gestured for her pokémon to bow as well.

“You’re welcome to follow us into the Valley. I am sure we have much to discuss if Ash had come to seek us out.” Liza hopped onto one of the charizards’ backs.

“W-Wait… I don’t have any Flying Pokémon…”

“That’s fine. Just call in your pokémon and ride on any of these charizards.”

_________________________________________________________

All around her, charizards stood or sat in lines. Above, they flew in patrols. In one corner, some slept in shifts. And in another corner, they trained their attacks in military precision.

May got off the back of the charizard she had ridden and gazed at her surroundings.

“So this is the Charicific Valley? I thought these charizard were wild… they look more than just trained to me. They’re so intense… and huge!”

Liza gestured signals to the ones she had flown with, giving them silent orders.

She turned towards the Coordinator and frowned. “They are wild… and they weren’t like this before.”

Her finger traced along the scar on her face. “Well, they were always large, but they were never this trained… but I had to. We were too disorganized. No matter how powerful they were on their own, as long as they were disorganized – we didn’t stand a chance.”

“What do you mean?” May leaned the still-slumbering Ash against one wall and let him slide down to a sit. “Did something happen?”

“Team Rocket happened.” She grit her teeth. “They just… came like a swarm. Capturing the charizards… and killing the ones who put up too much of a struggle.”

May gasped. “Oh no… I’m so sorry…”

“I don’t know why they came here. They normally keep a safe distance away from the Valley. It would normally be a big risk for them to try anything here.” The Valley Guardian balled her hand into a fist. “But this time… there were so many… and they were so powerful. We put up a good fight, but it wasn’t enough. …it wasn’t enough…”

…

“Are they gone?” May asked in hesitation.

“Maybe. Maybe not. We got them into a retreat eventually… but I have no idea where they went.” Liza sighed. “They jammed my signals. I don’t know what’s going on beyond the areas that are immediately outside of the Valley’s view. And I don’t want to risk going out too far in case it’s a trap.”

The Coordinator rummaged through her bag and pulled out the pokétab. “You can use this!”

The woman stared at it in curiosity. “What is it?”

“It’s a pokétab! You can use it to call someone if you need to.”

“It has a signal?!” She snatched it from May’s hands. “How in the world does it still have signal?? Charicific Valley’s lines have been blacked out for days now!” She checked her pokédev just to be sure.

“The poketab’s special. Boosted range… or its own private signal. I’m not sure which. It’s all pretty fancy stuff to me.” The girl laughed embarrassingly.

“Clair?! Clair is that really you?!” Liza didn’t hesitate to make her call.

“Liza!!” a voice responded in a hiss of static. “What happened?! I tried calling you yesterday! It said your line was disconnected! I was going to check up on you, but I’ve been busy lately.”

“Is something wrong?!”

“No no, nothing terrible. Just appointments. I should be asking you that! You look terrible! And where did you get that scar?!”

“Team Rocket attacked the Charicific Valley.”

“THEY WHAT?! Are you okay?! How are the charizards??”

“I’m okay. They captured four of the charizards… and killed five.”

…

“I’ll make them pay. Tell me where they went and I’ll see to it that you are all avenged.”

“I don’t know they are, Clair… they’ve got the entire place in blackout. I can’t hazard searching for them as long as I don’t have any signal. I was only able to call you because of this girl’s strange device.” She turned the pokétab towards May.

“Ah, the famous Coordinator.” The light blue-haired woman in the poketab’s screen bowed. “I’ve seen your Contest matches. You are quite impressive.”

“Th-Thank you.” May blushed and bowed back.

Liza turned the device back towards herself. “She’s a friend of Ash Ketchum.”

“I had assumed so.” Clair responded. “I’ve seen her with him during several Contest broadcastings.”

Liza sighed into a smile. “You don’t know how much of a relief it is to hear your voice, Clair. I had thought Team Rocket had already come after you.”

“Hm? Is there a reason you would think that?”

“Not really… but I don’t really know why they came here in the first place. They don’t normally risk such an attack. I just assumed they would come after you, but only because I’m a bit paranoid right now.”

“Don’t worry, that’s understandable. Have you asked May?”

“The girl? Ask her what?”

“Ask her what Team Rocket’s doing there. What else would the girl be doing all the way out in Charicific Valley? She’s supposed to be back at Hoenn, the Contests are already underway – and she was supposed to be one of the main contenders.”

Liza looked up at the Coordinator.

May grinned nervously.

“I’ll call you back, Clair.”

She pressed a button to end the call and handed the device back to May.

“So, May. What are you and Ash doing all the way out here? From what I remember, he was competing in Sinnoh.”

“Well…”

“Team Rocket’s after us, too.” Ash was awake and standing behind May.

She leapt out of the way in fright.

Catching her breath she gave a slight kick at his leg. “Don’t sneak up on me like that! Geez! …When did you wake up anyways?”

He shrugged. “Few minutes ago?”

“Nice to see you again, Ash.” Liza smiled and nodded towards him. “I’m glad you’re… what’s wrong with your eyes?”

“Ash is blind.” May put it bluntly.

“What?! When did this happen?!” She ran up to Ash and inspected his eyes as if she could fix it.

“A while back. Accident. Long story.” He was in no mood in explaining a story he’s had to tell more times than he could count. “Anyways, we came here to get some charizards for transport. I know your charizards don’t really let humans on their back, but–”

“No, they do now.” Liza answered quickly. “Team Rocket attacked lately. Long story, as well. Long story short, they’re far more trained now. If Team Rocket wants to try anything again, they’ll regret it.”

Ash’s face showed panic. “Are the charizards okay?! Is Charizard okay?!”

Despite there being several charizards in the Valley, she knew exactly who he was talking about. “I’ve lost some charizards, but… yes. Your charizard is safe as well. He’s… not in the mood to talk, however.”

She nudged her head back, pointing at a figure in one of the corners. May peaked around and saw another large charizard, its back faced towards them as it stared into the rock wall.

“Be careful if you approach him. He hasn’t slept, and he’s quite irritable.”

“Did something happen?”

Hurt. Pain. Sorrow.

Ash feared the worst. And his fears were true.

“Charla… she was killed in the second wave… she died trying to save an egg they stole from one of the nests.”

…

Ash went silent. Liza fell silent.

May quietly broke the silence. “Who’s Charla?”

“My charizard…” Liza’s voice strained as she refused herself from crying.

“And Charizard’s… partner.” Ash explained in the most respectable way he could.

Gasp. “No… I’m so sorry…” May had regretted her question and took a step back, hoping that her distance would allow them to forget she had ever asked.

“Then we can’t stay in the Charicific Valley. We all need to move.” Ash stated.

“We?” The Valley Guardian crossed her arms and raised a brow.

“All of us. Including the charizards.”

“I’m not abandoning this reserve. We are not abandoning this reserve. You can go, but Charicific Valley must be kept safe.”

“Which matters more? The Valley or the charizards?”

Liza took those words as a challenge. “In case you didn’t hear, Team Rocket’s got a signal block in this area. That means there’s a good chance they’re still out there waiting.”

“It could also mean they’re trying to keep you paranoid enough to stay here while they recuperate for the next attack.”

Ash wasn’t being himself. His words were far too logical, far too intelligent, and definitely far too authoritative. Sabrina’s bond was overtaking his personality again.

“The Valley’s a private zone.” Ash continued. “Because you’re not anywhere public, they can attack this place over and over again without anyone finding out. You’re too far for direct support, and your only line out to the rest of the world has been cut.”

“And what do you propose then?” Liza hadn’t conceded. She had only asked out of curiosity. This doesn’t seem like the Ash I knew. He seems… older. It’s good to know he’s finally acting his age.

“Move to Violet City.”

“Not going to happen. That area’s far too public. It’ll make the charizards incredibly uncomfortable and panicked in those surroundings, and I don’t want any of those tourists and trainers to bother them.”

“Of course it’s too public. That’s why we’re moving there.”

“You keep saying ‘we’ as if we agreed to it.”

“You’re going to have to. If you stay out here, you’ll be hunted until there’s no charizards left for the Valley to protect. If you go to Violet City, you’ll be under the public’s watch – and Falkner’s. Team Rocket won’t even try to risk that obvious of an assault. With any chance of a witness getting away through sky or land, there’s no way they could get away safely.”

But Ash, what about… May held onto his sleeve.

He knew exactly what she meant. The assault on his home. But the difference there was that they were a small family in a quiet town, while this was a large group of powerful pokémon within a bustling city.

May’s new Empathic abilities allowed her to read that meaning from his silence. She nodded. She also wanted to squeal. Her Empathy surprising her in its usefulness. However, it wasn’t an appropriate time to show excitement, so she kept silent.

Ash stepped forward, facing the Valley Guardian – his dulled eyes locking onto her fierce gaze. “Head to Violet City. We need your services as much as you need ours.”

Liza stepped forward in challenge. “And what makes you think that?”

“Because they’re not after you. They’re after me. And they think you’re going to help me. So either make them happy by proving them wrong, or upset them by proving them right.”

_________________________________________________________

“Please don’t touch the charizards.” Liza repeated as another passerby tried to take a picture with one.

“They’re not for sale. They’re not for capturing. They’re not open for battle.” she grumbled loudly as another team of trainers readied themselves for a fight when they noticed one on a rooftop.

Sigh. “How much longer do we have to wait?”

“They’ll be here soon.”

“You said that you took the rod that lets you go through these tunnels. So how are they supposed to get here?”

“They’ll find a way through.”

“Please don’t touch the charizards!” She massaged her forehead. “So Ash… if you were gathering all of us to save your mom and friends, and now they’re all saved… what’s your plan now?”

The young man stretched and leaned against the wall behind him. “Team Rocket’s still a threat. We can’t let them get away with what they plan to do.”

“That’s obvious enough. But how exactly do you plan we do that?” She walked over and sat next to Ash. “We’re not exactly an army… and I don’t think we’ll be able to get any support beyond our little ragtag team. And if you’re right about Team Rocket’s influence, I don’t think getting the authorities or any organization involved would be a good idea.

“We’d have more spies than allies at that point.”

“I know.” Ash searched the Valley Guardian’s emotions, trying to find the answer she was looking for. “We won’t need more than that. Team Rocket’s head group is tiny in comparison to the rest of the team. And they’ll be the only ones who’ll be directly involved with the Arceus project.

“Small team versus small team.” he concluded simply.

“Except they’ve got an army of henchmen and thugs to cushion the blow between them and us. By the time we face them, we’ll be too exhausted to fight back.”

“Then we have to play it smart.”

“Smart’s not really my thing.” she admitted.

“It’s not mine either.” he admitted with her.

They laughed together, relieving the tension.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Ash. You certainly kept your head on straight back at the Valley. I hated to admit it at the time, but you were right.”

He scratched the back of his head and smiled with embarrassment. “Well, that wasn’t all me. I learned a thing or two about logic from Sabrina.”

“Maybe she could teach me t– DO NOT TOUCH THE CHARIZARDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.” Sigh. “I swear, these people…”

Flapping of wings. Large wings.

A gust of wind twirled around their feet. Several dirt and debris flew into different directions, nearly blinding the area in a swirl of activity. The blast of air was strong, nearly knocking Ash off his feet, and causing the nearby charizards to flinch.

The large object landed. A massive pidgeot.

Someone was on its back. Cool, confident, and curious.

“Well now, it has been a while, Ash Ketchum…”

“Falkner.” he nodded at the Violet City Gym Leader, keeping his own cool despite having a bad taste in his mouth.

“And Liza too. Now this is indeed an interesting meeting.”

“Beat it, Falkner.”

That wasn’t a response Ash was expecting to hear. He thought he had been the only one that disliked the Flying Pokémon Master. Or rather, he thought his immaturity had made him dislike him. But if Liza doesn’t like him either, maybe I’m not being childish. he considered with a smile.

“So rude, Liza!” Falkner jumped down from his pidgeot and sighed. “You come to my city as a guest…”

“It’s not your city.” she shot back.

“…you cause a ruckus by inviting your charizards to perch on my buildings…”

“They’re not your buildings, and we won’t be here for long.”

“…and then you endanger my city’s citizens by bringing Team Rocket to my doorstep!”

Liza stood straight. “What??”

“It seems that you thought you could avoid whatever business you had with them by using my city as your time-out shelter.” Falkner frowned. “I don’t appreciate that, Liza. Many of Team Rocket’s clients are happy residents in my city. I don’t want your problems thrown on us just because you’re too selfish to solve it yourself.”

“You–!!!”

“Get out of my city now.”

Ash walked forward and gazed into Falkner’s emotions. Proud. Insincere. Bluffing.

“You’re lying. Team Rocket doesn’t know about this.”

Falkner’s eyes narrowed. “And how would you know what Team Rocket knows and doesn’t know, Ash?”

Nervousness. Hiding something.

Ash peered deeper into Falkner. …Team Rocket… tower…

“Urk!” Falkner found his feet scraping against the ground. Ash had dashed towards him and lifted him by the neckbands. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

“You made a deal with Team Rocket!”

Liza’s frown twitched, her scar burning. “What kind of deal?”

“I don’t know what he’s talki–”

Ash interrupted. “Falkner allowed Team Rocket to build a tower here! The tower’s been the one blocking out the signals in Charicific Valley!”

Panic. Fear.

“H-How did you–?!”

Crk-Crk. Liza cracked her knuckles and slowly walked towards Falkner.

His pidgeoto came to his rescue as it stood in front of the furious woman.

With a snap of her fingers, every Charicific Charizard surrounded and glared at the now-seemingly-small bird pokémon. It cowered in response and moved away.

“Now Falkner…” Crk-Crk. “Tell me… why in the world would you allow Team Rocket do such a thing?” her voice was cold, and her emotions dangerously sharp.

“You really want to harm me in a city filled with Team Rocket? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let me go.”

Bluffing again.

“Give it up, Falkner. I know Team Rocket isn’t here. You’re trying to scare us out of the city before they do find out we’re here.” Ash threw him to the ground and glared down at him. “You sold out Liza so you could protect yourself!”

“You dirty little–” Liza had launched herself onto Falkner. Her fist raised in the air… and it stayed. Her body trembled. Tears formed on the corners of her eyes. “You… CHARLA DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!!!” she roared as she slammed her fist into the ground, missing his head by inches.

The woman pushed herself to her feet, turning away in disgust. “You’re the one who should leave this city, Falkner. Otherwise I’ll let Charizard do as he pleases.”

Violet City’s Gym Leader was shadowed by a large creature.

Atop a tall building, Ash’s charizard stood. His silhouette blocking a large portion of the setting sun. His eyes burning red with fury.

He had been distant from the rest of the group, preferring isolation and time to be left with his thoughts. Ash had barely recognized him during his time away, his emotions refusing to let him in or acknowledge him.

But now his emotions were obvious. Uncontainable rage.

It wanted Falkner dead, ripped apart, destroyed. But just like Liza, he knew it wouldn’t bring Charla back… and it wasn’t Falkner that killed her, he had only been an indirect cause.

Without these thoughts, he wouldn’t have stayed where he was. Angry. Intent on revenge. But still distant, still isolated.

He growled and turned away. That was his last response to the situation. He returned to his thoughts.

Falkner crawled back to his feet, patting dirt off his kimono and hands.

No regret. No concern. No care.

“Hmph. I’ll give you two more hours. If you’re not gone by then…”

He hopped onto his pidgeot and patted its back twice. It began flapping its wings, causing another strong gust of wind to push everyone off balance.

“I’ll remove you myself.”

The pidgeot shot into the air in frightening speeds and rocketed deep into the city.

…

“He’s bluffing.” Ash commented.

“He always is.” Liza spit as she kicked her heel into the dirt.

Thu-thump.

The two turned.

Despite the sun setting, another sun was rising.

With a loud yawn and a grunted stretch, a young woman who had been sleeping quietly for the past few hours – began to wake after falling off the comfortable bench she had claimed as a bed.

“Did I miss something?” May groaned.

“Glad you could joi– DO NOT TOUCH THE CHARIZARDS.”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:24 PM

Chapter 21: Communication

KLANNNGG-KRAK!!!

The false door slammed open, vibrating the inner-metal and breaking the outer-rock of its design.

A ball of mawiles rolled out of the open doorway and smashed into a tree.

Smoke fizzledout into the open air. And a figure stomped through the darkness.

It scanned the area and found what it had been looking for.

“YOU JERK!!!” Angie charged at Ash. “You ditched us and took the rod with you!! Do you have any id–”

She was picked off the ground and pulled back by Maylene.

The pink-haired fighter looked over the tomboy’s shoulder and glanced at Liza. “Man, Ash, what’s with you and always picking up new chicks?” She laughed heartily.

Tracey wandered out of the smoke and coughed. “Well, that’s certainly one way to get through security.”

“I sure wish I could’ve gotten a shot of that.” Todd casually walked out of the tunnel and immediately started taking snapshots of the forest around them.

“Keep an eye out for any ambushes.” Ritchie, with his faithful pikachu Sparky on his shoulder, exited with careful suspicion. “We might not be out in the clear yet.”

“No need. There are no more threats.” Sabrina walked out confidently and nodded in Ash’s direction with a smile.

“Well, if there were any more… me and Electabuzz could handle ‘em!” Casey boasted as she marched out, with her electabuzz in tow.

Dawn shuffled out shyly. She knew who would be on the other end of the tunnel. When she saw him, she blushed and waved lightly.

Ash waved back, feeling her timid greeting.

…

…and that was all.

Before any of the others could give their own personal greeting to Ash, he walked passed them and into the tunnel.

He ran out seconds later. “Where’s Misty?! Pikachu?!”

Each of the recently freed prisoners looked down in self-disappointment.

The sketch-artist was the one to answer, “Misty took Pikachu with her to keep looking for Anabel.”

Ash grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down to his height. “I thought I told you that Anabel wasn’t there! Why didn’t you stop them?!”

“Ash, we tried…” Ritchie defended. He tilted his cap down, hiding his eyes to respectfully show disgrace.

“…she and Pikachu felt guilty…” Casey looked away in shame. “…for all the information we gave to Team Rocket. Anabel didn’t give up anything… so… the two of them wanted to save her. It’s the least they could do for her… and you…”

“Where did they go?” Ash turned and faced down the tunnel. “I’ll find them.”

“I wouldn’t go back there, if I were you…” Todd placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Our cover was blown an hour back. Now the entire place is swarming with armed patrols.”

“Even more reason why I should go back there.”

KRRK-DOMMM!!!

The false door slammed shut, its illusionary wall of stones and boulders reappearing, albeit crookedly due to the damage it had taken. An invisible force had been the one to seal it away. The same force thrown Ash off his feet and yanked him to the ground.

A hint of purple and blue aura faded off his body.

Sabrina…

Ash, calm yourself.

Let go of me, Sabrina.

Let go of them, Ash.

They’re in danger!

And so are we. And we must keep moving.

But…

“Ash, they’ll be fine.” It was Dawn.

“Misty and Pikachu have gotten really strong since you last saw them. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have ever escaped.” She helped him to his feet. “If any of us would be safe on our own, it would be the two of them.”

She was being sincere. And while he didn’t want to believe her…

I don’t really have a choice… do I? he thought to himself depressingly, finding himself completely outnumbered by those who would stop him at all costs.

You always have a choice. But so do we. Sabrina responded.

She walked over and straightened his jacket. “I am glad you are okay.” she said softly.

Though Ash still yearned to get his two oldest friends back… the closeness of Sabrina gave him a sense of calm. The bond they had formed would often make him feel far more stable. And that stability comforted him greatly in this time of loss.

The Psychic shared this comfort, as she seemed to relax greatly in being able to talk to him again. With her emotions open for him once again, she let him know that Misty and Pikachu were well. A message that helped bring a smile to his face.

Ash trusted Sabrina’s experience and knowledge. If anyone knew the two would be safe, it was her. And though he knew he wouldn’t be able to be with them for a while, he knew it would only be for a while. He looked forward to the day when that ‘while’ ended.

For now, he felt an immense relief knowing that all of his friends and his mother were no longer in Team Rocket’s grip… and gladdened to be reunited with so many of them again.

“I’m glad you’re okay, too. I’m glad you’re all okay.” He grinned. “I missed you guys.”

“Me too!” Dawn hugged him tightly, her cheeks rosy with happiness.

“Me three!” Tracey sniffled as he wrapped his arms around the two.

“I guess me four, you jerk.” Angie stood awkwardly by him and kicked at his foot.

“Oh what the heck, group hug everyone!” Ritchie exclaimed, encouraging Casey and Maylene to join in.

The Psychic shifted out of reality before she could be dragged in.

Todd stood in front of the group and readied his camera. “Say hitmonlee!”

“HITMONLEE!!!”

Snap.

…

“And what am I? A zubat in a cave?” May pouted.

Sabrina appeared by her side. “Good to see you again, May…”

“Hey Sabrina!” She smiled and gave a slight wave.

“I see Ash had done something to you that he shouldn’t have…”

Her face turned red. “Wh-What??!”

“The Empathy.” the Psychic clarified, holding back an immature laugh.

“O-Oh!Right… that! Yeah!” She shook her head and grinned widely. “I’m not that good with it yet, but it’s really awesome!”

“Your mind seems much clearer because of it. I am glad for that.”

“Really? Thanks!” Her grin widened.

The smile disappeared when she noticed Sabrina’s narrowed eyes.

“Do not allow him to try anymore forbidden techniques. Clear?”

“C-Clear!” She waved her hands in surrender.

May searched for a new topic to switch to, in order to avoid the continuing evil glare. “O-Oh! H-Have you met Liza??”

She hopped out of the way and gestured towards the woman in red. “Sabrina, this is Liza. Liza, Sabrina.”

The Valley Guardian held out her hand. “A pleasure. I know you by reputation.”

“Similar.” The Psychic simply nodded towards her and moved her attention to the crowd of friends that surrounded Ash.

Liza didn’t take offense to her coldness. Working with charizards all day, it’s nice to run into cooler tempers.

She followed the Psychic’s example and looked back at the chatting group.

“Quite an interesting team we’ve got in the works here.”

Sabrina nodded, having nothing to add to any friendly chatter.

…

Phew that was a nice save. May prided in her escape.

I meant it, May.

Y-Yes ma’am!

_________________________________________________________

“Alto Mare’s our next destination.”

“Are you trying to meet up with your mom and Brock?”

“No, I was planning on going there even before I was told that was their destination.”

Ash and company gathered around a campfire within the thick forest of Route 32. To their south, their pokémon rested within a lone Pokémon Center that sat outside Union Cave. All except for the Charicific Charizards, who stood guard in different sections of the forest.

“What’s at Alto Mare?” Ritchie sat closer to the inner-circle and adjusted the backpack he was using as a seat. He had asked Tracey, who shrugged, then moved his attention to May, who also shrugged.

“Er… Neither of us were there with him.” May responded to his glance.

“What’s wrong with me saying it?” Ash titled his head.

“Well, what I’m wondering isn’t what exactly happened at Alto Mare…” Ritchie scratched his chin, figuring a way to word it correctly. “…but more of why Misty suggested for Brock and Ms. Ketchum to go there. The Team Rocket ports could have sent them anywhere. Why that island specifically?”

“Because it’s the only place they never asked about.” Tracey answered, wincing at the memories of the interrogations.

“With how…” Todd entered the conversation. “…thorough they were with their questions, I’d wonder why they never mentioned Alto Mare.”

“What does it matter? Why don’t we just attack Team Rocket now and bash their brains in?” Casey punched a nearby tree. Her reaction partially out of the immature need to prove herself, and partially out of anger for what she had to go through within those dark cells.

Liza looked towards Maylene. “Do we even know where their main base is?”

“No… we don’t.” The fighter didn’t meet her eyes.

Since their reunion and story-telling within the campsite, Maylene had felt slightly alienated from the rest of the group. The necessary inclusion of her history as a Rocket girl to tell the progress made in their journeys had made several of them uncomfortable or suspicious towards her.

“Lower ranking Rockets never meet within the main base.” she continued. “They just got orders from indirect sources.”

Jiiigullyyy~ Puff~ Jiguulllyyy~yyy Puuufff~♪

Ash and Tracey instinctively covered their ears.

“Cover your ears! It’s jigglypuff!” Ash dove down, as if being closer to the ground would buffer the sound.

…

Ash sensed the bewildered emotions of the group.

May laughed nervously and pulled the pokétab out of her bag. “Oh sorry, that’s just the ringtone I chose… I thought it was cute.”

“Choose a different one!” Ash grumbled loudly as he stood from his embarrassing position.

The group laughed together. Released tension.

Chime~♪

“Greetings, May!”

“Oh hey Bill!” She turned the device’s screen towards the others. “Guys! It’s Bill!”

Each of them gave their own form of hello.

“It seems you’ve got quite a formidable group forming.”

The Coordinator placed the pokétab on a log, allowing the others to gather and hover around it.

“I’m glad.” The Pokémon Researcher adjusted the screen from his side. “The more we have on our side, the better.”

Ash squeezed between Maylene and Todd. “Bill. How are you and Dana doing?”

The blond-haired woman appeared beside the Researcher. “We are doing fine. Thank you for asking.” She smiled and left the screen, going back to her business.

“We successfully moved to another research facility. Far more private and secluded.” Bill explained.

“The lighthouse wasn’t?” Ash joked.

“Well, indeed, the lighthouse was also isolated… but this one has no Rocket Tunnels! Definitely an improvement.”

“Nice. Where is it?”

“Now now, Mr. Ketchum. If I told you, it wouldn’t be so private, now would it?”

Dana’s voice could be heard from the background, “Don’t tell them where it is! This place is still a mess!”

The crowded friends shared a few giggles.

“What news do you have for us?” Sabrina inquired loudly, standing several feet away from the pokétab.

“Ah yes. Now that we’ve relocated successfully, you can now contact us at anytime you wish. We can provide any and all information you may or may not need.”

“Would you have any info on where the Team Rocket headquarters is located?” Liza asked as she tried to find a comfortable spot to look over the pokétab.

“Ah… well… maybe not all the information you may need.” Bill scratched his nose. “I can definitely do some research for that, but I can’t guarantee getting you the location anytime soon.”

“How about recent Team Rocket activities in Alto Mare?” Ritchie asked this time.

“Hm… from what I know…” Bill began pressing unseen icons on the screen. “From my recent notes, there haven’t been any obvious activities there. White collar crimes at best.”

“Then we should be safe. Thank you, Professor Bill.” Ritchie gave a thumbs-up.

“Please, just call me Bill. Is there anything else?”

Ash reached into his pocket and felt around. The meteorite piece rolled in his fingertips.

“The location of Pokémon Ranger Solana.”

“Hm…” The Researcher scrolled through a window invisible to them. “Reports dating back two days show that she was still active in the Hoenn region. Last seen… entering the Forbidden Forest.”

The Forbidden Forest. The two Empathics shared the same worry.

“Any reason why she’d head in there?” Ash questioned.

“A young couple had accidentally wandered in there through a broken wall. It seems the Ranger went in there to rescue them.”

Kinda’ like us. May felt towards Ash with a blush.

Eheh… yeah. Ash shared the blush. Except they probably didn’t befriend any of the pokémon in there.

Solana will save them. They’ll be fine.

“Hm… now this is disturbing.”

“What is it?” Ash and May asked in unison, their attention returned back to Bill.

Bill leaned out of screen and returned with a collection of printed documents. “It seems there’s been a mysterious group of men and women in dark uniforms spotted in a nearby town.” He shuffled through the pages. “And their daily movements seem to reflect that of the Pokémon Ranger’s. They might be trailing her.”

“It’s Team Rocket.” Ash growled.

“That is highly possible… Is there anything else you need?”

“That’s all for now, Bill.” May responded, feeling Ash’s need to leave soon. “We’ll cal–”

“Wait wait wait! Mr. Bill!” Casey crawled between the Coordinator’s legs and popped up in front of her.

“Just Bill.”

“Do you have any more of these things?” She picked up the pokétab and shook it. “These things are so awesome!”

“I’m afraid that’s my only other working copy other than the one I’m using.” Bill laughed. “But once I get someone to mass-produce them, I’ll be sure to give each of you your own copy.”

The baseball fanatic hugged the screen and squealed. “Be sure to give me one with stripes!”

“I’ll try to remember that.” He snickered.

May pulled the device away from Casey’s hands. “So we’ll be seeing you, Bill.”

“Very well. It was a pleasure speaking with all of you.” He reached to one corner of the screen. “Farewell. And… good luck.”

The screen went blank… and slowly faded back to a May’s background.

With a clumsy fumble, the Coordinator hid the device behind her back and laughed awkwardly. “W-Well now, you weren’t supposed to see that.” She whistled nonchalantly and hid behind a tree.

“Was that a picture of Ash sleeping?” Maylene followed. “It’s so cute! Show it!”

“Where’s everyone getting these photos of Ash?!” Angie shoved Casey aside and trailed them.

Dawn shyly tagged along with her purse. “I-I have some.”

Todd waved his camera and grabbed a binder. “Are we comparing photographs? I’ve got tons!”

The mood had changed, and everyone went on with their casual and excited conversations…

Except for Ash and Sabrina.

I assume we have a change of plans.

The male Empathic sighed. Yes…

Then I must apologize, for I have news that I have withheld until I could speak to you in private.

He shrugged. At least we can think up new plans now, instead of making up for it later.

My thoughts exactly.

So what did you find out?

The last known location of Anabel…

_________________________________________________________

In an area of pitch-black trees and frosting winds, a blind Empathic and a silent Psychic sat in complete stillness. The two had separated themselves from the fireplace, finding an area where only the nocturnal could see – an area selected for its distance and privacy from the rest of their team.

Chosen to guard over them, a pokémon of impossible intelligence sat amongst the branches.

Taking advantage of its talent for trickery, it misguiding all those that would near the area – sending the intruders back to where they came by removing their most recent memories and recollections. No victim would remember why they had travelled to these parts of the woods in the first place.

It did, however, find irritation in a certain tomboy who persisted on returning to the spot no matter how many times he would send her back. Yet it had to endure its duty.

Silence and seclusion were of the utmost importance, as the two preferred to hold their meeting in secret due to the difficult decisions made and the sensitive information shared.

Within this personal darkness, Ash and Sabrina sat in quiet. A psychic link being the only voice they had.

Why didn’t you tell me about Anabel earlier?!

Why did you not mention May’s Empathic ability? Why did you deem using a technique I forbade you to use, more than one technique – might I add, unimportant to my knowledge?

“That’s different.”

How so?

Anabel’s life is in danger!

And your life is as well! Those techniques could have killed you, Ash! Yet you use them with little care or remorse!

“But they didn’t kill me. I used them when I thought I needed to, and not one second before. And I’m still not dead.” So I don’t know what the big deal is.

Then you’ll be happy to know that Anabel is also safe. So I do not understand your panic either.

Ash stood.“She is?!” Where is she?! Did she escape?!

Calm yourself. Sabrina waited for him to sit before continuing. She is still in the hands of Team Rocket… they want her alive.

What are they doing to her? “Where is she?”

…

The Psychic’s mind went quiet. Her heart in hesitation. This was unlike her, Ash noticed and she admitted to herself.

Just as their formed bond had affected Ash to become cold and heartlessly logical at times, Sabrina had become at times irrational and too caring. It was a side-effect that she dreaded, as many depended on her intellectual guidance… which required her to be distant and disconnected.

Tell me, please. he pushed.

Sigh. … When they couldn’t have you, Ash. They took her.

“…what do you mean…?”

Their original plan was to locate you, capture you, and use you. For what, we are not yet fully certain. But we assume it has something to do with Empathy. Though I would assume they wanted more than just Empathy… but they settled with her.

“Why do you keep saying ‘we’?” Who’s ‘we’?

Misty was the one who gave me this information.

What?! She knew where Anabel was?! “…I thought they said they were only searching for her! I didn’t know they actually knew!”

Ash continued to switch between voice and thought, each to express two differing opinions and conversations. A social technique he had gained from Sabrina herself – ‘the mind acts as the sword, while one’s words acts as the shield’.

He practiced it rarely, treating it closer to a habit than an actual lesson to keep. However, at this moment, it only felt natural to speak to the Psychic in this way, as it conveyed exactly what he wanted her to understand from his perspective.

Quiet. Others may still overhear us.

Though she was well aware of his intentions, Sabrina decided to prevent him from continuing, for the sake of privacy more than anything else. In her eyes, if the meeting were public it would have caused the other members to see a negative dichotomy between her and Ash – which would only cause them to choose sides.

The Psychic knew there was no real conflict between her and the Empathic, only a strained form of communication caused by their cultural and age differences. It was a gap they had seen bridged with their bond, and she only sought to bridge things between them in every other manner and matter – as to increase their effectiveness as the unofficial heads of the group.

Understanding her need for his silence, Ashexhaled slowly.

So they knew all along?

No, only Misty. The search for Anabel was fruitless, but it did give her the information for where they moved her and for what purpose.

Why didn’t she tell the others?

She had planned to… until we met. Misty had not expected that our groups would ever run into each other until the end.

Sabrina paused, choosing her next words carefully as to not offend or hurt the Empathic. Their bond was her main translator, as she had to be sensitive to how he saw the world in order to communicate everything she had meant without him ignoring what mattered in her words.

The plan you had given Tracey for the meet up in Violet City had excited everyone. If she had given them the information about Anabel, it would have depressed the rest of the group – as they would have had to cancel the meeting with you in order to rescue her.

So she went by herself…

And Pikachu as well, as he had been there when she originally found the intelligence.

…

Ash adjusted his posture, feeling the bark of the fallen tree he was sitting on. He felt the cold night air sting his skin, and listened to the soft hoots and caws echo throughout the woods. His physical senses meant to take his attention away from his emotions and thoughts.

He felt alone. Unsure. And confused.

No matter what he did, he always felt like he was one step behind. No matter what he accomplished, he felt like he was always wasting time.

Team Rocket had snuck up on his life because he refused to listen to the warnings. Team Rocket had already infiltrated Saffron City by the time he got there. May had been attacked twice during her travel to him. Bill’s lighthouse was already surrounded before his arrival. More of his friends were captured and tortured because of his illusiveness. They escaped on their own without his help. Misty already knew where Anabel was. And he still had no idea what Team Rocket wanted from him.

…or where he fit in any of this.

What am I supposed to do…

Sabrina walked over and sat next to him. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder and warming his arm with a gentle massage.

“You’re doing fine…” Sabrina’s voice returned to its far more youthful tone. Light, soft, warm, and absolutely attentive. “You’re facing an entire organization. An organization that has existed longer than you. And you’re still giving them trouble. Being one step behind isn’t a bad thing, when this group’s always been known to be a hundred steps ahead of everyone else. You shouldn’t be worried at all, Ash. They’re worried about themselves – because of you.”

Ash leaned his head against her shoulder and relaxed. “Thanks, Sabrina…”

The Psychic’s words were comforting, caring, and kind. It was her way of speaking to him, when no one else was around. She guided him, protected him, and watched over him. Ash wasn’t sure if it was because of their bond, their time shared with one another, or simply who she was when she wasn’t judged by others. Whoever she was, she acted as his guardian.

With encouraging words, logical explanations, and hesitant warnings, she would help him move forward whenever he found himself stalled. She would give him confidence and strength in a way that made him feel useful and important. And more than once, she had pushed him to become more authoritative and demanding in order for him to take over as the team’s leader.

And though he was never sure why she had wanted him to be, with her only explanation being ‘something is calling you and no one else’, he tried hard for her. She saw potential in him, and he wanted to prove her right. Proving her right, however, was difficult.

Ash always needed her help in making the first step…

“Here.” Sabrina sat up and pressed her forehead against his. “We’ll come up with a plan together, okay? We’ll make it simple and easy. One that’ll blow Team Rocket away! Got it?”

He smiled and breathed a small laugh. “Yeah. Got it.”

Close your eyes and focus.

You too.

_________________________________________________________

“Look! She’s coming back!” Maylene exclaimed as she took another bite of her fire-toasted sandwich.

Angie walked out of the darkness and into the campfire’s light. “I swear! I keep forgetting what I was going in there for!”

The group laughed loudly.

“You were looking for Ash!” Casey shouted with a snort.

“Right! Thanks Casey!” The tomboy turned and marched back into the woods.

“How much you bet she’ll be back in two minutes?” Ritchie half-joked.

Liza pointed her drink in the girl’s direction. “I still say she’s faking it.”

“But didn’t you forget too when you went in there?” May nudged her with her foot.

“I didn’t keep going back in though!”

Rustle Rustle.

“She’s coming back already? New record!” Tracey raised his arms in joking celebration.

“I win the bet!” Ritchie exclaimed.

“No one even bet against you, idiot.” Casey pointed out with another snort.

Angie appeared from the shadows again. This time, with two in tow.

“Look who I found!” She grinned with pride.

Ash and Sabrina walked towards the campfire.

“And where have you two been?” Maylene teased.

Todd whistled.

The group found themselves laughing again. Except for Dawn; the joke flying over her head completely.

A psychic spike shot through each of their heads.

Each of them moaned, groaned, cursed, or went silent.

“Listen up.” Sabrina commanded, not so much encouraged. “Mr. Ketchum would like to speak about the renewed plans.”

“Can’t we talk about it tomorrow?” whined Casey.

“Would you rather wake early tomorrow for a meeting?”

“No way.” “Nuh-uh.” “I’m sleeping late tonight!” “Yeah right.” “Noo! Let’s do it now!” they individually exclaimed their distaste for the early morning meeting.

“Then we shall commence the meeting now.” Sabrina sat and nodded towards Ash. Go ahead.

Ash stepped forward. “Tomorrow, we’re splitting into three groups.”

Complaints were heard all around, but were immediately quieted by a single glare from the Psychic.

“May, you’ll take Ritchie and Maylene to the Forbidden Forest in the Hoenn region. The Grass Pokémon shouldn’t attack you as long as you stay close to May, so keep close.”

The three nodded.

“Angie, Liza, Todd, and Tracey… you’ll be leaving with Sabrina to the Orange Isles.”

The four looked at one another in curiosity.

“Casey, Dawn? You two will be coming with me to Alto Mare.”

Casey silently cheered, hoping for a vacation. Dawn tilted her head.

“We’ll each split up and take a charizard for flight. Any pokémon that has one, should be put into their poké balls to make the flight easier. We leave tomorrow afternoon.”

Casey raised her hand.

…

…

…

May nudged her with her elbow and waved her hand in front of her eyes.

Casey raised her brow.

“Ash can’t see!” the Coordinator hissed.

“OH! OH right. I mean. Er. Teacher – I mean, Mr. Ketchum – er, Ash! Yeah, Ash!”

Ritchie and Tracey covered their face in their palms in embarrassment for her.

“What is it, Casey?”

“Well… thing is… I understand why May and the rest are going to the Forbidden Forest… it’s to save the Pokémon Ranger, right?”

“And get her to join us.” he added.

“Right. That. And well… why is Sabrina’s group so huge? And what exactly are they doing? And what exactly are we doing?”

“What I’m doing, and what you two will be helping me with, is trying to find someone named Bianca in Alto Mare.”

“And she is…?”

“A friend.”

“Seriously Ash, don’t you know any men?” Angie sighed.

“HEY!” Todd, Tracey, and Ritchie barked at the same time.

“She meant REAL men!” Maylene laughed, much to their ire.

“Anyways!” Casey took back the conversation. “So why are Dawn and me specifically for this group if neither of us have ever been to Alto Mare?”

“No one here’s been to Alto Mare other than me. Right?”

“Actually, I vacationed there once!” Liza admitted with a smile. “It’s a beautiful place.”

The group started to chat about the rumors and stories of the island’s wonderful scenery.

Ash coughed to regain their notice. “You have to stick with Sabrina’s group, Liza.”

Casey continued with her questions, “Why is that? Why is Sabrina’s group specific? And like I said – fricken’ huge?”

The Psychic answered for him. “My team will be heading to a secluded isle in the Orange region… where Anabel is being kept.”

“WHAT?!” Shouts, questions, and argumentswere thrown at Ash and Sabrina. The main one being “You knew where she was?!”

Another psychic spike subdued them.

“I had received this information from Misty herself. She did not hand it to anyone else so we could all meet first while she went ahead.” Sabrina knew she wasn’t being entirely true… Misty didn’t want anyone to follow. But this was the only way to calm them.

“But why us?” Todd asked honestly. “Wouldn’t it be smarter to take Ritchie or Maylene for this mission instead of…” he trailed off, not wanting to admit any weaknesses.

“A sketch-artist and photographer?” Tracey finished for him, choosing their profession as a label.

“No, it wouldn’t.” Ash answered. “If a group of Rockets are after Solana, she’ll need the most experienced fighters with her. And since Ritchie and Maylene have more battle experience than the rest of us –”

“Other than Ash and myself.” Sabrina added with no note of arrogance.

“– then they have to stick with May, who the Grass Pokémon will respect in the Forbidden Forest.”

“Then couldn’t Todd and I just tag along with you?” the sketch-artist suggested in nervousness. “I mean, wherever Anabel must be kept must be heavily guarded. We’re not exactly the best trainers.”

The photographer nodded with slight shame.

“Sabrina will be the main one handling any battles in your group. However, your main goal there isn’t to fight, it’s to rescue. Both you and Todd have sharp eyes and probably have more experience than the rest of us when it comes to staying unseen by pokémon… so you’ll both be needed there.”

Angie cleared her throat.

Ash smiled. “And Angie will be there because she knows Anabel the most.”

“Hey! I can fight too!” the tomboy stepped on his foot.

He held back a shout of pain. “I – I know. But Anabel needs a friend more than a fighter right now.”

She sighed, walking off to her own corner. “Man, I don’t even like her that much…” she mumbled to herself.

Angie turned back. “Can’t we at least take Espeon or something?? Have her talk to Anabel!”

“I might need Espeon in case anything goes wrong.” Ash shrugged.

“Gah! Fine fine fine…” The tomboy rolled onto her sleeping bag. “But don’t expect me to handle all her mushy stuff.”

“And me?” Liza spoke up.

“In case there’s any other prisoners there, or in case you run into Misty – they’ll more than likely need their own charizards to make it safely off the island. And you’ll need to be there to direct them.”

“Gotcha’.”

“…does that answer everything?” Ash turned towards Casey.

“Almost.”

The male Empathic sighed. He was getting tired of all the questions, and tired of acting like the one with all the answers. He missed it when Sabrina or Maylene would lead these kinds of meetings…

They need to trust you and listen to you. Sabrina reminded.

I know I know…

“Yes, Casey?”

“Where do we meet after all this?”

“Angie? Maylene?” He nodded to the two of them. “You remember how to get to my hiding place in Pallet?”

“Still do!” Maylene smiled.

“Yeah. I think I can find my way back.” Angie said with a wave.

“Then we’ll meet there when we’re finished. Anyone who gets there early, just camp and wait for the rest. Are we clear?”

Nods and agreements were felt and heard all around.

“Then meeting dismissed.”

“I’ll go print off maps!” May stood and ran towards the Pokémon Center.

“I’ll make a quick trip to Violet City to buy medicine and Potions.” Dawn put her purse around her shoulder and started jogging. “Let’s hope their store’s still open!”

“I’ll write notes, just to outline what everyone has to do in case they forget.” Tracey eagerly pulled out his pencil and notebook.

Ritchie got up and rummaged through his backpack. “I can make everyone small meals they can take with them for the trip.”

“And I’m going to sleep!” Angie slipped into her sleeping bag and rolled over. “Night, all!”

The rest laughed.

“No way am I going to get any sleep. I’m way too pumped!” Maylene grinned with excitement. She began working punches and kicks into a nearby tree, wondering what kind of opponents she’d face.

“Same here! I’m gonna’ go tell Electabuzz about it!” Casey ran towards the Pokémon Center, catching up with May.

“Well I guess I better buy some new photo rolls at the shop then.” Todd stood up and stretched. “Wait up, Dawn!”

“I’ll inform the charizards what the plan is.” Liza walked into the woods. “See everyone in the morning then.”

“Night, Liza!” the ones remaining by the campfire shouted.

“Oh sure, no one says goodnight to me!” the tomboy complained.

“Night, Anj.”

“Thank you! Night, Ash.”

...

Seconds passed and the campsite was quiet. Everyone busied themselves for tomorrow. And for that, Ash was relieved…

He let out a long sigh.

You did well, Ash.

Thanks. Still not sure why I had to explain everything, but I’m glad I did that.

If I had done it, everyone would just be in an irritated or depressed mood.

No, they wouldn’t.

They wouldn’t. But it’s a shorter answer than the one I would’ve given you if I had told the truth.

The two laughed quietly.

“Thanks again, Sabrina.”

“I’m sure I’ll be thanking you by the end of all this.”

She smiled and walked to her tent.

Pausing, she turned towards him.

Get some rest. You’ll need all your energy by tomorrow.

_________________________________________________________

She finished looping the last rope around the charizard’s chest and pulled tight. It tied perfectly.

“What are you doing to your charizard, Maylene?” Angie curiously studied the fastened lines around the dragon-like pokémon.

The pink-haired fighter turned towards her.

Angie jumped back and nearly screamed. “M-Maylene! What happened to you?!”

Large bags and red splotches decorated her eyes. “…didn’t……. sleep…. Tiiired.”

She pointed towards her sleeping bag – tied to the back of the charizard. “I sleep on flight.” she moaned.

“That’s actually pretty smart.” the tomboy honestly complimented, though still slightlyspooked by Maylene’s face.

“Hey Anj! Hey Lene!” Ash walked towards them. “Just thought I’d get say goodbye before we left.”

“Hi Ash!” Maylene faced him with a perfect smile.

That didn’t take much. Angie’s brow twitched.

Ash winced in pain – the sudden surge of loud cheerfulness knocking his senses off balance.

“Whoops. Sorry about that.” Maylene scratched her nose in embarrassment. “So what did you want to talk to us about?”

He rebalanced himself. “Just wanted to say ‘bye’ for now.”

“What do you mean ‘bye’??” She struckhis shoulder with a punch. “You mean ‘see you later’!”

He struck back. “See you later, OK?”

She grinned. “OK!”

Her emotions dimmed down drastically. She turned and pathetically tried climbing into her sleeping bag. All her remaining energy being spent on the merry reaction for Ash.

Angie stepped towards Ash.

…

“So how do we do this?” She crossed her arms, waiting for his response.

“Hm?”

“I mean, do we handshake? High-five? I punch you, you punch me? Or do you just disappear and run off without saying a single thing to me?”

An emotion he hadn’t ever felt from Angie stood in front of him. Hurt.

“Angie, I…”

“You’re a jerk, you know that?” She stared at him, keeping her face serious despite what her lips and eyes wanted. “You didn’t even apologize last night! Instead you had to have your little private talks with Sabrina. Keeping me out of your business and plans.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I have to keep up a neutral face, you know? As long as there are all these friends of yours here, I can’t make a big fuss.” Angie glanced around her, watching everyone pack their bags and belongings, getting to know their charizards, and sharing final conversations with one another. “I want to. I really want to make a big deal about this. But I can’t.”

Tears formed on the corner of her eyes. She blinked them away instantly. “May could probably cry and no one would mind. But me? I might as well have the whole world stare at me if I even dared to. They’d probably side with me just cuz I’m a girl. They’d probably yell at you, thinking you were some horrible person.

“But it’s none of their business. This is between you and me.” Her eyes locked onto his. “I know you can count on me on taking things like a man. I know you can count on me understanding your position and choices. But Ash? I’m not perfect. You have to talk to me for me to really get what you’re doing or saying. You have to communicate with me, like you do with everyone else.

“Now I don’t have any fancy powers to talk to you secretly, and you definitely have had bigger things to worry about to even consider having another private chat reserved for me. But don’t go talking to me normally as if nothing happened.”

Ash tilted his head towards the forest, gesturing for them to walk.

The two of them travelled quietly into the trees.

Something wrong, Ash? May poked with her Empathy.

He blocked her emotions out.

Sabrina’s mind curiously looked in his direction, but backed away when she realized he was in no mood.

The male Empathic leaned against a tree facing the opposite direction of the camp.

The tomboy did the same to a tree next to his.

…

“You left without saying a thing, Ash…”

“I didn’t think it would be a big deal. You seemed… fine without me. Just happy to be a part of the team.”

“Is that how you really see me?”

“I… I’m not really sure…”

“… look… I know all this is crazy… and you have to take care of how many people now, so now it’s getting harder and harder to know each and every person on this ‘team’. But Ash, I’m not just a teammate. And I’m… not just a friend.”

She sniffed away a few tears and wiped her face in her sleeves. “I was worried about you, Ash! I thought Team Rocket got you while we were asleep… I spent the first two hours freaking out and panicking. And I only found out where you went after little Ms. Psychic-know-it-all told us. I mean, you realize how hard it is to get anything out of her?? It’s like talking to a rock! She doesn’t talk back, she just talks when she feels like it.”

“Sabrina didn’t know. Only her alakazam knew. She probably didn’t mention it until he told her.”

“Well I’m glad she has an excuse!” Angie growled in irritation. “But what does a girl who supposedly knows everything there is about you, have as an explanation as to why the boy she followed on this crazy trip because she cares about him – didn’t say a single thing to her before he decided to run into a Team Rocket tunnel just to save an emotional wreck of a girl who keeps irrationally trying to prove herself to him?!”

She ended with a deep breath… and continued, “Look… I’m sorry if I insulted May in any way, but fact is, you keep giving every needy girl your undivided attention… when the one who keeps you as you, and likes you for you, is standing off to the side with barely even a fraction of the attention you’ve given everyone else…”

“I’m sorry…” was all Ash could find as the right response.

“I… love you, Ash. And whether you want that to build into anything important or to keep it as just close friends, I don’t really care.” Angie turned towards him and let herself cry, opening herself completely for him. “I just want to at least know what’s going on in that head of yours. Keep me in the loop. Tell me what’s up before you just up and go away. Because I swear if you somehow end up dead at the end of all of this just because you stupidly didn’t tell me what you planned on doing, and your only excuse would be that you ‘didn’t think it’d be a big deal’…”

She shuffled over to Ash and pressed her head against his chest. “I… I swear I’d… I’d…”

Her voice trailed into a broken sob.

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Tears ran down his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry, Angie…”

“You… jerk.” she forced her words to come back. “I… I know I’m not like other girls, but… I’m still a girl, Ash. As much as I don’t like these stupid feelings and weaknesses… it’s who I am. I can work myself to be better than the rest, tougher than the rest, stronger than the rest. But I’m still a girl. A stupid little girl.”

Her fingers gripped onto his shirt. “Even if I’m not, I want you to treat me like your partner… you tell me what’s going on. You tell me what you want. You tell me what you plan on doing. You don’t have to tell me every little detail. You can hide what he said she said. You can have your secrets. But I just want you to know that I didn’t come on this crazy trip for myself… I came here for you, Ash. I wanted to be with you. So…”

She pushed herself away and wiped off her eyes. “Just don’t go running off without saying a thing. And don’t you dare think I don’t care. Because I do. You stupid jerk.”

Ash nodded, his smile trembling.

“Ugh. Don’t look at me like that.” Angie wiped away his tears with her sleeve. “You’re more feminine than I am.”

“Blame the Empathy.” he laughed weakly.

“At least you have an excuse.”

She stepped back and gave him a long-lasting stare.

“You find that Bianca girl and you come back to Pallet safely, okay?”

“And you take care of Anabel and come back to Pallet safely, okay?”

She frazzled her hair with irritated scratches. “Agh! She’s going to get all emotional! I hate that stuff…”

He laughed. She laughed with him soon afterward.

…

“See you later?” He raised his hand.

Angieslappeda high-five and walked back towards her side of the camp. “We better.”

Ash smiled, feeling satisfaction.

…

I truly believe she’s the right choice for you.

SABRINA!!! Privacy!

_________________________________________________________

“Byyyyeee!!”

“Farewell!”

“Have a safe trip!”

“Take care! And don’t lose your maps or compasses!”

On the backs of their given charizards, each member of the group waved one last goodbye to one another. They had split into their designated teams and prepared for their given missions. Each was given a map, a compass, packed meals, medicine, and a written note of instructions.

…except for Ash, who was only given the packed meals and medicine, for obvious reasons.

Ensure you’re completely secured to the charizard.

Yes, Sabrina…

And make sure Espeon’s poké ball is in a pocket it can’t fall out of!

I know, May…

Have you already chosen who will be the one to lead you to the island?

Yes, Dawn’s the main one leading us.

Does she know how to read the map? Does she have a compass?

Of course she does! You gave it to her, remember??

Would Casey be able to lead in case of emergency?

What? Uh… I think so…

How will you know how to get back to the meeting spot in Pallet Town if neither of them has ever been there?

Well… er…

In case of an emergency, is it possible for you to contact May through her pokétab?

I dunno, I…

I don’t know what the pokétab’s number is! Did Bill ever tell us what it was??

“Ahh! Stop with the questions!!!” Ash shouted out.

The campsite went quiet as everyone stared at the Pokémon Trainer with confused looks.

“Eheh…” Ash blushed in embarrassment. He adjusted his sitting position and patted on the charizard. “Come on, Dawn! Let’s go.”

“O-Oh! Okay!” Dawn hopped on her charizard and kicked her heels against its sides. “Let’s go, Stacy!”

“Wait up! Wait up!” Casey hopped and skipped as she tied on one of her shoes. “Ben! Get over here!”

Her assigned Flame Pokémon marched towards her and dipped its head. She hopped onto its back and completed the knot for her sneaker. “Alright, let’s do this!”

With a kick of the heel, the Charicific Charizard roaredand shot off the ground.

“Ben?? Stacy??” Ash scratched his chin and patted his ride. “…do you have a name?”

It shrugged. Don’t care.

“Well, when you want one, you tell me, okay? For now, let’s catch up with those two!”

It grunted and began flapping its wings.

“Good luck, Ash!!!” Angie yelled.

“You too, Anj!!!”

I’ll ensure she’s safe. Sabrina nodded towards him.

Make sure Anabel’s safe too. He grinned knowingly.

Of course.

And I’ll make sure we rescue Solana! You can count on that!

I know you will, May. Just make sure Ritchie and Maylene don’t get lost in there.

Will do.

Until Pallet! he sent to the Empathic and Psychic.

Until Pallet! May responded as she hopped onto her charizard.

Take care. Sabrina smiled and readied for her flight.

The unnamed charizard growledand took off for the skies.

“Alto Mare, here we come!”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:26 PM

Chapter 22: The Purpose

“Hey Ash!” Casey flew close towards him, adjusting her charizard to his speed.

Ash turned towards her stiffly with a weak smile. The cold air bit his skin, the no-named pokémon’s every movement between his legs feeling exaggerated with every twitch, and the height vertigo playing games with hisfears.

If there was anything he disliked about his blindness, it was the fact that it made him gain an unreasonable fear of heights.

He gripped onto the straps wrapped around the charizard’s shoulders. “H-Hey Casey, what’s up?”

“Just wanted to ask you something!” she shouted above the wind noise.

“Y-Yeah?”

“Which one of the girls are you dating??”

“WH-WHAT?!” Ash’s grip loosened and nearly fell off his ride.

The unnamed charizard rolled its shoulder, adjusting the shocked man back to a balanced position.

“Careful there!” Casey yelled as she moved ‘Ben’ to a different location in case Ash would fall again.

“Wh-What do you mean dating??!” he seemed less concerned about heights now. The question itself didn’t bother him, but the use of the word ‘girls’ to refer to his friends like a harem was an entirely different story.

“So you’re not dating anyone??”

“N-No!!”

The baseball fan did a quick heel kick, gesturing for ‘Ben’ to speed up. “HEY DAWN!! HE SAID HE’S NOT DATING ANY OF THEM!!!”

Dawn didn’t bother almost falling over: She completely dropped from her ride.

‘Stacy’ flinched in panic. With a quick dive, she rushed down to catch her rider.

‘Ben’ flew in for support.

“Why did you say that out loud?!” Dawn’s voice could be heard from below, slowly rising as her charizard regained altitude.

Casey’s cacklecould also be heard.

Ash sighed. Seriously, now’s not the time…

Trying to find something to keep his mind occupied with, he busied himself with tying the straps of his backpack into different knots.

…but his mind refused to be distracted.

Bored immediately, he decided conversation would be the more effective in putting his thoughts elsewhere, and gave notice to the pokémon that carried him. “Hey no-name.”

? The charizard gave him its attention.

“Do you know my charizard?”

Acknowledgement. Denial.

“So… I guess… that’s a ‘maybe’ or a ‘kind of’.” Ash tried focusing. His fear of heights making any emotional response vague at best. “…did you ever train with him?”

Yes…

“How is he? Strong?”

Strong… but stronger now.

“Stronger now? That’s awesome. All that training back in the Valley must be really good for him, huh?”

No… Tragedy. Makes one stronger.

“Tragedy…? You mean… what happened to Charla?”

Yes… but also… egg.

“Egg?”

Team Rocket. Stolen egg. Charla’s egg. His egg.

“Charizard had an egg with Charla??!”

Acknowledgement.

“Team Rocket…” Ash growled. “I’ll make them pay.”

No need.

“Huh?”

Charizard… not with any of us.

“What do you mean not with any of us?”

Left yesterday. Night. Chasing Team Rocket. Can smell the ones who stole.

“He left by himself?! We could’ve–”

No… must be alone. Must do by self. Not satisfied if helped. His fight. His child. His mate.

The Empathic felt powerless. As he soared through the sky to complete another mission, as he was one step closer to fighting Team Rocket at their full strength… another one of his friends was out there, alone… this one fighting for a stolen child and a lost wife.

None of that would have happened if they weren’t after me… if I hadn’t gotten Empathy… if I hadn’t gone blind…

Troubled and slowly becoming depressed, he longed for the company of Angie or Sabrina. He needed someone to tell him it was okay, that it was all going to be okay.

Instead, he was only treated with the silent hum of the wind within the darkness of his sight. Even with his Empathy showing him the warmth and color of others, his blindness would at times make him feel more desolate. Thoughts of failure or confusion were the main culprits that forced him sink into this sense of loneliness.

The black marble… Ash remembered the mysterious item that hid away in the corner of his pocket. His attention towards it seemed to affect it, as it had begun turning hot – warming his skin through the fabrics.

…the black marble… The source of everything that had occurred to him. From the Rocket attack, to their current search mission that split them apart. It had warned him, it had guided him. Through conflict and calamity, it had pushed him. Dangers and the unknown waited them wherever they went. All for the sake of what the black marble wanted from him.

His head suddenly felt clear. As if he could finally see things he never understood before.

Now, more than ever before, he knew… he knew the marble wasn’t there before. His memories of always having it were lies. Illusions. The marble appeared recently. He wasn’t sure when, but he realized the first time he had ever ‘seen’ it when he first brought Angie into his hidden sanctuary. It sat there, mysteriously within his toolbox, as if it had always belonged there.

But… he couldn’t get rid of this feeling that, thought it had only manifested recently – he felt like it had always been with him… always watching him… always being a part of him… and only became physical during recent events.

No… not during. …Because of recent events.

Ash wished he had studied more about the marble and why it came into his possession. However, in recent days, he had completely forgotten about it. Making it far more difficult, Sabrina had completely forgotten about the marble as well. As if it had stopped existing since then.

Or maybe… it only makes itself known when it wants to be.

He returned his attention to the burning sensation on his hip. Then why now…?

It grew hotter. Why is it getting hotter?

He reached into his pocket and risked a touch.

“Agh!” He winced from the heat.

The charizard stopped, concerned for him.

Hm?? What the…

The heat dissipated.

Is it…

“No-name, fly back a bit.”

WHU-WHUMPH-WHUMPH. Its large wings flapped against the wind.

As they reversed, the memories of the marble started fading.

“Wait!”

And the charizard stopped once again.

… the marble… it’s making itself known the closer we get to Alto Mare.

Alto Mare.

Ash’s eyes went wide.

For a moment that had no time, he swore he could see again.

In his sight, he saw himself in the same position as he was now… but with a pidgeot instead of a charizard. The skies were a perfect blue, accented by the purest white of clouds.

…

“Go forward…”

The charizard flew forward once more.

Cold wind chilled his skin and height-phobia poked at his senses…

…and the marble began to burn again.

“It’s Alto Mare!”

“What?” Dawn flew towards him, worried for his slowed speed.

“Something’s at Alto Mare!” Ash took off his vest and placed it on his lap, resting the marble within it, to avoid its rising temperature.

“Well duh! The girl we’re supposed to find!” Casey kicked ‘Ben’ to go faster as Ash and the charizard sped by them.

“No! Not that!”

Another vision. Him on a pidgeot again. The sky was dark. Lightning roared. Rain struck against his face. A woman flew beside him on another pidgeot.

Orange hair… Misty!

The vision disappeared.

“Something else! Something important to all of this!” Ash roared in excitement and desperation. He had to know. Something was leading him here. He didn’t know what, but he had to find out.

“Ash! Slow down!” Dawn called out behind.

“Yeah! You can’t even see where you’re going!” Casey yelled. “…he can’t, can he??” she asked Dawn with a hint of doubt.

Another vision. The storm was stronger. A great light from below.

“Slow down! We need to stick together!” A man cried out from behind. A voice he didn’t recognize.

“Ah! Wait up! Don’t get ahead of us!” This voice sounded familiar…

The light below exploded.

And the world turned black again.

Winds roared against his ears. His arms were wrapped around the charizard’s neck as it continued to accelerate. They were diving.

“ASH!!!”

“Are you sure he can’t see?!”

His ride spun, nearly throwing him off. Their orientation changed completely.

STOMP. The charizard shook.

STOMP. It shook again.

Krikik. Ash found himself falling back as the unnamed pokémon stretched its back.

The marble bounced off his vest and into his lap. HOT.

“OWOWOWOW!!!” Ash leapt off the charizard… and landed.

…a road? His hands felt the ground below, feeling the pattern of cement designs… similar to plaza flooring. Where am I?

Glass. The marble touched his fingertip. It was no longer hot. It’s cold…

He couldn’t explain it, but it had felt like it was… satisfied.

“Weird…”

Ash noticed an emotion of surprise standing next to him. It seemed to have been standing there for quite some time – completely stunned by the rough landing of an exceptionally large charizard.

“U-Um… Excuse me?” he turned and politely acknowledged the presence.

“Y-Yes?”

“Can you tell me where I am?”

The woman looked at him strangely. “…You’re in Alto Mare.”

_________________________________________________________

“Ash! Wait up!” Dawn unsaddled herself from her charizard and began running.

“Hey Dawn! You left your bag!” Casey called out from above as she piloted her ride to the ground below. “…and a fricken’ large charizard! In fact, Ash left one too – you seriously think they’ll be fine standing out here?!”

“Find a good place to put them!” She didn’t bother turning around.

“What am I?! Your chauffeur??”

“You owe me!”

The young Coordinator sprinted down the cobblestone pathway and turned down an alleyway. “Ash!!”

He didn’t hear her. Despite her voice echoing against the tight walls, he seemed completely unaware of her presence. Continuing in his almost random path of searching, the young man travelled down another passageway.

She ran down as quickly as she could and turned the corner.

Another narrow street with several more pathways.

What’s with this place?? It’s like a maze!

Dawn wished she could admire the scenery.

The small streets and near infinite amount of alleys gave the small island town a mysterious kind of beauty. A few hanging gardens and dimly-lit streetlights decorated the area above her, a view that would have given her an enviable sense of a simple life. And as the sun set, the sky slowly painted itself in the most beautiful kind of orange and peach, with a bell tower slowly chiming the change of time…

It was all so extremely magical, but she couldn’t cherish it.

She needed to find Ash.

Down one corner, into another…

Following one path, ending up in a new one…

Crossing a bridge that stood over a lovely side canal that reflected a sharp image of the soft sky…

Passing by a bakery of wonderful smelling bread…

Running across the calming coastline with all its relaxing sounds of stretching mooring lines as their attached gondolas rocked against the water…

It was all beyond anything she could have imagined for a romantic getaway…

But right now, she needed to find Ash…

Ash Ketchum, the boy she considered to be a good friend just a handful of months back, now meant something more to her. She couldn’t get him out of her head, out of her dreams, or out of her everyday thoughts… now she didn’t want him out of her life.

Even as she ran, she reminisced of the times she had spent with him – from all their grand adventures, to all their peaceful moments. She shared more memories with him than she had originally thought… a realization that had been haunting her for the past weeks.

She remembered in being able to rival the amount of stories and epic retellings that even Misty had with Ash. She prided in that fact. Though at that time, it was just out of friendship… just a friendly game. But now it was a jealous pride. They were her memories with Ash… ones no one else could truly share with her. Ones she never wanted to forget. And ones she wanted even more of.

But now… things were moving too fast.

Ash had spent more time and memories with all these new people… and as he did, he continued to change. She loved the change, for that she was sure. But where she was ending up, she was afraid of.

With the way things were moving, he was becoming too busy for her. Becoming too mature for her. Becoming too good for her. She would soon be out of his life, and he’d move on… while she’d be stuck with everyone else. Everyone else who wasn’t him… who could never be him… who could never be there for her in ways he always was….

Compared to all the other women in his life, she was now one of the ones who had the least amount of time with him – real time with him. She had become one of those who had far less stories and experiences with him – who never really knew him on a personal level.

The time she had spent away from him, despite it being nothing compared to the time they had spent together in quantity – was experienced in greater quality.

Misty, May, Angie, Anabel, Sabrina, and Maylene had spent so much more time with him privately… getting to know and understand him completely… She felt like she didn’t know a single thing about him whatsoever anymore.

But that’s not right… I spent more time with him. Didn’t I?

She began regretting never having listened to Lyra…

“ASH!!!”

CRASH.

“Owwww…” Dawn rubbed her forehead and hip. She had collided into someone as she turned another corner.

Looking up, Dawn saw a young woman holding her head, in quiet pain.

“Are you okay??” The Coordinator stood and bowed in apology. “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going!”

The woman bowed back and smiled.

…

…

Why isn’t she moving out of the way??? Dawn was growing impatient.

No… don’t be rude… “Er… You haven’t seen a boy run through here, have you?”

The woman blinked.

“…has black hair, kind of messy, like this…” Dawn described as she pulled at her own hair to mimic Ash’s.

Still silent, the woman tilted her head.

“…goes by the name of Ash.” No wait… she wouldn’t know his name, dummy.

Unexpectedly, the woman’s eyes lit up.

Even more unexpected, she ran down the streets, sniffing the air. She waved Dawn over.

“…oh…ookay…” she followed.

The young woman ran into an alley, continuing to follow an almost imaginary scent.

Despite its odd form of searching, Dawn trailed her.

One pathway, through another, across a bridge, up a hill, and down a hill.

Around a corner, through a small tunnel, and back along the coastline.

The Coordinator was beyond disorientated at this point, but something about the woman kept her intrigued enough to keep trusting her sense of direction.

And it paid off.

Standing by a broken pillar in a forgotten port, Ash faced the endless ocean in silence.

“Ash, is that you?!”

Before Dawn could say anything, another female’s voice had blocked her off.

Coming from the other side of the coastline, the young woman that had led her there was running towards Ash.

…wait a minute…

She looked to her left, and saw her female guide standing beside her.

She looked ahead, and saw her female guide running from a distance.

“Wh-What??” Dawn jumped back in shock.

“Looks like you found Ash first!” Casey waved as she ran alongside the doppelganger.

The baseball capped girl paused when she noticed Dawn’s guide. “Huh??”

She looked between the woman who had led her to Ash, and the woman that had led Dawn to Ash. “Whoah, twins!”

“Twins??” The Coordinator sighed in relief, gladdened thatshe wasn’t seeing something mind-bending.

Ash turned. “Oh hey Bianca! And hey Latias!”

“Bianca?!”

“Latias??”

The silent woman jumped and wrapped her arms around Ash. Dawn felt a tinge of anger spike inside her chest.

“Latias! What are you doing out here?!” The other woman, now known as Bianca, pulled the mute off him. Her voice went down to a whisper. “There’s people out here! How are we going to explain this??”

Ash smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Bianca. You can trust them. They’re good friends.”

Bianca looked at Dawn and Casey with judgmental worry, but eventually decided against her apprehensions. She let her twin go.

The twin grinned.

As if she was a mirage, the woman’s body faded… its true form finally showing.

“WHAT THE HECK?!” Casey instinctively pulled out a poké ball.

Dawn gazed in fascination.

A pokémon of unique shape appeared before them. With a striking pattern of red and white on its strange fur-scales, and a beautiful pair of golden eyes – the Coordinator only saw a magnificent potential in a Contest pokémon…

“Wow…” she gasped.

“Dawn, Casey, meet Latias.” Ash introduced. “And this is my friend Bianca, the one I was looking for.”

_________________________________________________________

The night sky covered the tiny island in a starlit blanket of soft darkness. Lamplights and houselights gave the town a comforting orange hue. As with all small towns, most businesses and public areas were closed and abandoned by the time the sun had hidden itself away. Only a few specialty shops remained open, with its few customers travelling to and fro.

Lit only by a single light that hung off an old fishing supply store, the group of five sat in a circle. Located in an abandoned port away from the eyes and ears of others, they had gotten together and exchanged stories.

With an exhale and a nod, Ash had finally finished speaking.

They were quiet… with Bianca sitting wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Even Casey found herself in shock.

Dawn simply smiled, not too surprised, as she knew the young man well enough.

The story of their entire journey was told, and all four females sat in complete attentiveness.

Though the Coordinator and baseball fanatic had heard it before, they had never heard every detail from Ash himself – only bits and pieces shared and cut down by others.

Latias seemed relieved. Far more gladdened by Ash’s current safety than his past troubles.

Bianca, however, was in disbelief. Her lips wanting to express something, but finding no words.

While she herself has faced her own adventures, she found that it never compared to anything close to Ash’s stories… especially this most recent venture. She felt like a small town girl who had just met a city boy who had been around the world.

What could she say? What could she express? What would be the appropriate response?

Casey, rude as ever, decided that a question would be the right response for her, “So… Why’d we come here to pick up Bianca?”

The Alto Mare native shook her mind back to reality. “Yes, actually, I’d like to know that too.”

Latias nudged herself against Bianca and tilted her head. Me?

“Did you come here to get me because of Latias?” she asked for her shy pokémon friend.

“Well actually…”

…

Ash’s face frowned in thought.

…

“Don’t tell me you don’t remember…” Dawn sighed.

He removed his backpack and opened it. Rummaging through its contents, he pulled out a folded slip of paper and handed it to Bianca.

She opened it and smiled. “It’s the picture I drew of you and Pikachu!”

“You drew that?” Dawn looked over her shoulder. “That’s really good!”

“Thanks!” She blushed. “I think I can do better now, though.”

“For some reason…” Ash interrupted the casual conversation. “…that called out to me.”

“Called out to you?” Bianca blinked.

The Empathic reached into his pocket. “Right… That’s why I came here specifically.”

He produced a small item in his hand.

The girls leaned in to stare at the nearly insignificant object.

“A marble?” Dawn identified.

“What’s it for?” Casey questioned.

Latias and Bianca were utterly fixated by it…

“This thing is the reason why I’m even here… it’s the one that gave me the feeling of who to look for. And it’s the one that led me to this exact spot.”

“What does that mean?” Casey sat back and rubbed her ear, trying to get a hollow ring out of her hearing.

“I’m not really sure how to explain it…”

“An Arceus Drop.” Bianca whispered.

Ash’s ear caught it and his eyes went wide.

Flashes of visions came to him again, far too fast for him to tell what was happening. Blurs of light and moments and histories.

‘…it’s beautiful… it has the colors of every element… like a drop of Arceus itself…’

The visions stopped soon after, pieces of the memory still echoing in his thoughts.

“You… You know what it is?” He gave Bianca all his attention.

“We…We know what it is.”

“You and Latias?”

“Me… Latias… you…”

“…me?”

Bianca stood and walked towards the edge of one of the bridges. Latias floated beside her.

“…we know… but we can’t explain it. As if… we’ve always known it.”

“That’s exactly how I feel…” Ash joined her.

Dawn and Casey followed closely behind.

…

“Something happened here a long time ago.” Bianca mentioned almost unknowingly. “Something important… something we can’t remember.”

The male Empathic held out the marble. “But this can.”

“The Arceus Drop?”

He nodded. “It let me see things. Visions. I can’t really explain it.”

“Then maybe… if Latias and I remember it too… then…”

Bianca and Latias leaned forward and touched the marble.

A blinding light swallowed the reality around them.

Darkness.

_________________________________________________________

“MAYA! STOP!!!”

Black lightning sparked against the walls and floors. Its exploding contact gave it a frightening roar and a deadly touch.

No one could move, no one could get close, no one but Maya.

She poured every ounce of herself into the espeon. Sending waves of fusing violet and magenta energy to deflect every negative shock that came their way.

“DO IT NOW, SATO!!” she screamed.

“I WON’T! I CAN’T LET YOU!!”

“DO IT NOW OR IT BREAKS FREE AND WE’RE ALL DEAD!!!”

He howled in indecisive fury. Tears ran down his eyes as he placed his hands to his stomach.

An arc of lightning went around the barrier wave and blasted straight for his head.

A flash of clashing colors sparked, as a swirl of dark purple shielded him.

He turned. A woman in a pure black bodysuit walked towards him, her arms spread out. “Don’t just stand there! Fire it now, Aura! If you dare have any hesitations now, I swear I’ll kill you myself!”

“Quinn… Thank you…”

“If you really want to thank me, then fire it now!” We only have one chance! Use it!

Sato closed his eyes, focusing all his energy to his center.

A ball of pure blue and white grew from his palms.

“SATO!!!!”

“MAYAA!!!!” He pulled the orb back and launched it forward.

It rocketed towards the gargantuan device that stood in the center of the factory.

The negative electricity desperately reached and grabbed for it, attracted to its life force. Its size far too small and its speed far too fast for any of the dark energy to catch it.

An inch away from making contact, Sato pressed his arms forward and sent his entire Aura into the orb.

It exploded in size, increasing beyond anyone’s expectations.

The darkness wrapped around it, ready to devour and destroy it completely.

Maya turned back and smiled.

The espeon hopped onto her shoulder and covered her in an armor of psychic energy.

She nodded towards Sato... and ran into the spiraling sphere of Aura.

Her figure disappeared completely into the blue and white.

…which soon turned black.

The blackened energy was too much, its energy shredding everything around it, feeding it, nourishing it with its own poison.

“She’s not strong enough!!” Quinn roared as she shot psychic lances into the blackening orb. “Her Empathy’s not strong enough!!”

Sato launched another Aura Sphere into the energy battle. His body crumpled, absolutely drained.

A blast of furious blue cracked the black shroud.

“Lucario!”

The blue jackal dragged itself forward, its legs completely useless after its last battle.

It launched another blast, creating another dent.

But the darkness was winning. Where they had strength, it had endurance. They would fail. They would always fail. Because the darkness was fact. It was a darkness that has existed long before any of their energies came into consciousness. A darkness that had waited for centuries for this one moment. A darkness that could wait centuries more. A darkness that endures all. If the darkness awoke, the dream would end, and every character would cease to be. The darkness was fact, and they were its fiction.

It crept into their minds, hearts, and souls… weakening and breaking their will.

Quinn was the first to fall. “We can’t… win… We’ve failed. All of this… just to fail? No…” The regret and doubt in her heart overtook her.

Lucario fell next, his physical weaknesses dragging him into unconsciousness.

Sato looked on in hopelessness as the darkness began to shrink, crushing the living energies inside it.

Maya…

Maya!

“MAYAAAAA!!!!!!!!!”

A silhouette of light sparked within the black orb, reacting to his voice.

SATO!

A force of every color tore through the darkness.

The nothingness ruptured as a force of everything exploded inside it.

Emotions, Thoughts, and Purposes of all kinds swirled into the fabric of unreality – filling voids that never were, and giving energy wherever it ceased to be… Every color of existence, and even those that have yet to be, and even those that have been forgotten by the ages, flared and shot out.

And as quickly as it had appeared, the colors began to fade. Light slowly warped back to normal… revealing a perfect sight where there had once been nothing but corruption.

Standing where the darkness used to never be, a woman of orange hair stood… staring at the large machine that loomed over them all…

Its lights blinked green.

“We did it…” She smiled.

…

Maya fell. The espeon next to her immediately sniffed her body for injuries.

Sato ran to her side. “Maya, what–”

A black slit on her chest. Where the darkness had touched, nothing was left.

“No…”

“S-Sato?”

He wrapped his hands around hers, locking fingers. “I’m here… I’m still here.”

“…I’ll go check on the machine.” Quinn whispered as she silently made her way to a ladder.

“Is… everyone okay?” Maya’s voice struggled.

“Yes… everyone’s okay.”

Three others appeared by Sato’s side.

The Fighter… Ramie.

The Pokémon Champion… Farron.

The Pokémon Researcher… Leanne.

“You did great, you crazy girl.” Ramie patted Maya’s head softly and sniffed away tears. “You did real great.”

“I…” Farron choked on his words. He was angry… depressed… furious… sorrowful… he couldn’t look at her, he couldn’t think about her. Not now. Not like this. He turned. “I’ll go check on the prisoner…”

“Maya… thank you.” was the only thing that Leanne knew to say.

Sato lifted the broken woman into his arms. “See? Everyone’s okay, Maya. Everyone’s okay.”

“I’m happy… very happy.”

“The machine’s working perfectly! I’ll keep it monitored!” Quinn called from above. “Arceus is ready whenever you are!”

“You hear that?” Sato forced a smile as he wiped away more tears. “Arceus is ready. We can make everything better again… we… c-can go back and everything… everything will be fine.”

He lied to himself.

He told her the complete truth, but it was nothing more than a sick joke to himself.

Arceus can reverse everything… except for what the darkness has claimed.

He held her tightly. “Everything will be okay again…”

“…Sato… I… love…”

The wound was too much, the pain far too strong, and her body finally too weak to fight back death. In her last glances of light, she looked up to the man that held her in his arms.

This man… she thought to herself. This man, that I had just met… a man I had spent no more than two months with… he became everything that ever mattered to me… everything that I had desired in this world… he became my world… and I’m sorry… I did this for you… to say thank you…

Her world started to fade, and she could no longer recall what existence truly felt like.

Memories were vanishing, emotions were dulling, but he remained… whatever his name was… she couldn’t remember… but he was still there…

“No please… please don’t go…” Sato whispered with a shaking voice. Tears ran down his face as he gazed into her jaded eyes. He never saw her like this. She used to be so full of life, so full of care, so full of love… but now she was leaving this life… leaving him alone… to finish a job he never wanted to do without her.

She touched his face one last time. “If we had only met sooner… we could have…”

…

“No…”

Her body had stopped.

There was nothing left of her. No breath, no pulse, no movement – no life. He didn’t want to believe it, he didn’t want to accept it, he didn’t want to realize what had happened. He wanted to forget, he wanted it all to stop and tell him it was a lie. But there were no evidences for him to hold onto. His denials and wishes would be his only comfort from now on…

“…don’t go… don’t go please! DON’T GO!!”

“Can you just get this over with?” whined a lime-green-haired man. Tied up and incapacitated on the floor, the only thing N could do was speak his thoughts and ideas – and he took advantage of those freedoms.

“You heartless piece of trash! You shut your mouth!” Ramie launched a strong kick against the callous man’s head, knocking him unconscious.

Slowly letting his down his loved one’s body onto the cold floor, Sato stood. Broken, but determined. “I’m ready…”

His intentions were made clear.

Sensing these thoughts, Quinn turned away from her responsibilities. “What are you… are you crazy?! Stop!” She grabbed onto the ladder beside her and climbed down as fast as she could.

“Huh?” Ramie looked up at her in curiosity. “What’s going on??”

“You have to stop him!!” She jumped from the ladder and began running across the platform to reach the broken man. “He’s not going to use Arceus to reverse what has been done!! He’s going to–”

Sato had been whispering, his voice too low for anyone else to hear. Inaudible to anyone but the god pokémon.

Eyes burning in energies of all elements, Arceus faced the one it had promised its service to.

“So it shall be…” its voice echoed throughout the minds of everyone within its vicinity.

The ground shook; breaking and shattering all creations of man.

The room burned in white light; devouring all emotion and thought.

And reality began to dematerialize; threatening the fate of the universe.

“No! How could you do this?!” Before the realm of their existence could be covered in the cloud of Arceus’ power, Quinn cried out into the spreading blank nothingness. “After everything we’ve fought for! WHY?!”

And in the emptiness, Sato answered…

“…because we could all have done better…”

_________________________________________________________

Ash… Bianca… Latias… Casey… Dawn… each opened their eyes slowly…

Ash could still see nothing, but he knew he was no longer in that… memory.

The rest looked around their surroundings, completely alarmed at their change of scenery.

…

The visions were gone.

But the black marble continued its existence.

Ash held it in his hand, feeling it roll against his skin.

…

“What was that?” Casey finally asked.

“I think it was a memory.” Bianca responded.

“But whose memory?” Dawn wondered.

Ash’s hand gripped the marble tightly as he slowly began to understand.

“It was my memory…”

The four looked at him in confusion.

“Everything started over… I was Sato.”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:27 PM

Chapter 23: Discoveries

Ash sat quietly on a chair left outside by a corner bakery.

The three girls and one pokémon that had accompanied were nowhere to be found… or rather, he was nowhere to be found around them. He had snuck off while the four were discussing what the vision of the past meant for their present and future.

Ash already knew what it meant.

“Everything’s going to repeat… just differently…” he whispered to himself.

At this point he yearned for Sabrina’s or Angie’s counsel. Their advice and way of wording thoughts often made him feel far calmer. They always had a talent of putting situations into a light that he could easily understand and decipher.

Their guidance was needed now more than ever.

Because I don’t know what to do…

SCRRRTTTCH

The steel chair across from him was moved. Someone had approached him while he wasn’t paying attention.

Fmp. Scrtch.

Whoever it was, they sat in front of him. And by the sound of them sitting, they had to be light.

Ash looked into their emotions to find out who they were.

Casually concerned. Childish. Brash.

…misses the old baseball cap.

“Hey Casey.”

Stunned.

“Are you sure you’re blind??”

“I’m pretty sure.”

He wanted to stand up and walk away. Whatever she had to say would have been too simple or unknowing for his situation.

But he couldn’t. …because it had taken him a lengthy amount of time just to find a lone spot to sit, and he had run into far too many lampposts on his way there. If he were to leave now, he would hardly be able to make a successful exit.

Oh what the heck… he surrendered.

“So what do you want?” the words came out far colder than he intended.

She didn’t seem to mind.

“I should be asking you that. You left us without saying a word. Like a ninja or something. You sure you’re n–”

“Yes I’m sure I’m not a ninja.” He sighed.

“Or maybe that’s what you want us to think.”

…

He had no idea if she was joking. Casey’s emotions were plain enough to understand, but often too simple to really make sense of. For all intents and purposes, she had made an apparently legitimate statement.

“So…” She leaned towards him. “Whatcha’ thinkin’?”

“Just… stuff.” He refused going any further.

Curveball.

Ash’s eye twitched, noticing a change in the girl’s approach towards him.

“Hey now, I’m not trying to peek into your problems or even going to try to pretend that I understand what you’re going through.” She leaned back, her voice trailing as the wind buffered her words. “I just want to talk. Or maybe just listen. Whichever way you’d rather have it.”

Whichever way I’d rather have it?

“Look, if I had it my way, I wouldn’t be…”

Hidden ball trick.

Ash’s eye twitched again. What’s with this girl? Is she playing with me?

“Casey… What is it? What did you come here for?” He wasn’t in the mood.

Brushback pitch?

“You’re the one out here moping. Don’t we have a team to be forming?”

Ash stood. “You’re right… let’s just go.”

He was about to leave, agreeing with the idea that it was better to save this conversation for someone who could handle it better.

He was about to… but his hand was pinned to the table.

Wall climb.

“You’re thinking it’s going to all happen again, aren’t you?”

Ash froze.

How did she…

Fly. Out. She smirked.

He sat back down.

“…yes…” Ash said in a tone similar to a child admitting they had lied.

“And it’s because even though everything’s changed since the restart, you’re still heading to the same battle for Arceus, right?”

Ash gave her his complete attention.

She snickered. “You know, just because I don’t talk or dress as fancy as the others – doesn’t mean I ain’t smart enough to figure out what’s going on.”

“How did you know what I was thinking about?” he finally asked.

“Tch! I’d be thinking the same thing if I were in your position!”

He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know what to do. I just really don’t…”

“Well, what are your options?”

“My options?”

Casey folded her arms and tilted her head. “Well, if you’re going to be repeating history or trying to change it, shouldn’t you at least list off all the things you can do so you can see it clearly?”

“…my options…”

…

Ash went silent. His mind lost within itself.

Casey brought it back out with a small kick to his foot.

“Options like…” She thought for a second. “…what would happen if we went in there and did it all again? Are you going to make the same choice?”

“You mean, if Misty were to…”

“That wasn’t Misty.”

Wait… “What?”

“That wasn’t Misty.” she repeated. “I mean, you did say Misty wasn’t an Empathic, right?”

“Well no, she isn’t…”

“And you did say that Anabel said that only certain people could be an Empathic, right?”

“She also said that if people change they could become Empathic.”

“But think about it this way… you said that marble told you which items to pick when it came to choosing who would help you on your journey, right?”

“…yeah?”

“Did any of those items belong to Misty?”

“Well no, but that’s because…”

“Now name the items you did get.”

…

Ash reached into his bag and pulled out each item.

Half Ribbon. Bent Spoon. Meteor Piece. Photo of Charizard. Newspaper Clipping.

“Now tell me which of those belong to who.”

“The ribbon belongs to May…” He picked up each item and held it towards her. “This bent spoon meant Sabrina. This one’s a meteor piece, it’s Solana. The photo of Charizard is for Liza. This Newspaper Clipping is about Bill…”

Casey sorted out the items on her side. “…and counting the sketch you gave back, we’ve got Bianca and Latias.”

“But I don’t get how any of this really makes sen–”

“You had three friends in the past.” she interrupted. “A fighter, a pokémon master, and a researcher. Count the Psychic, and you’ve got four.”

Ash sat back,waiting for her to explain.

“Hmmm…” Casey studied each item carefully. “…all of these had to help you somehow.”

Scrtch. Scrtch. She moved in her seat.

“…where did that past occur?”

“At the port.”

“No, I meant – where did the past take place that we saw?”

Ash shrugged lightly. “Like I said, the port.”

She looked at him quizzically.

He tried his best to explain, “Maybe the island moved, or maybe there was more land here before… but that incident definitely occurred here in Alto Mare… at that port.”

“Well if…”

Casey began moving around the items.

Her mind was completely busy, making assumptions that didn’t make any sense to him.

“…how did you get to this island in the past, do you remember?”

Ash thought.

…

“On the back of pidgeots.”

“A–HA!” SCRRTTTTTCH!

She stood up and grinned. Pride.

“What?? Did you find something out???” Ash found himself literally sitting on the edge of his seat.

“Call me a detective, because I just solved your case!”

“Tell me! Tell me!” He was standing up now.

“The pidgeots that you used to get to the island! We don’t have pidgeots, but we do have charizards!”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Don’t you get it???”

“Not really.” He laughed in embarrassment.

She sighed. “Let me point it out for you then.”

Casey lifted each item, completely ignoring the fact that Ash couldn’t see the gestures.

“The photograph for Liza. She provides the charizards to get to the destination we have to get to. The sketch was for Bianca and Latias. She led you to Alto Mare, for the memory – and she even knew what the marble’s name was.

“The newspaper thing? Definitely Bill – there’s your Researcher. Weird spoon. Sabrina – the Psychic Quinn. You don’t have a Pokémon Master anywhere in your group, but you’re going to get someone who can get the help of any pokémon… the meteorite, for the Pokémon Ranger Salon!”

“Solana.” Ash corrected.

“Girafarig, Jirafarig.” She waved away the comment. “Anyways! So if you count on Maylene being the one to save you from your home invasion, you’ve got your Fighter!”

Budududududududududu-

She began drumming on the table.

“And last but not least, you’ve got the ribbon! May! The one you literally JUST taught to be an Empathic!”

Though Casey was feeling high and prideful in her successful dissection of the situation, Ash suddenly felt even more miserable and horrid.

BOM.

He slammed his face against the iron table. “YOU MEAN I JUST DOOMED MAY TO HER OWN DEATH???”

Casey’s mood went sour as she realized what she had just done. “Uh…”

“AHHHHHH!!!” Ash’s frustrated cry vibrated the table. “WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO???”

The baseball fan found herself in an awkward situation.

Whoops… I guess it was a shutout.

_________________________________________________________

Casey and Ash returned to the group. The young man had his arm around the girl, supported as his feet dragged, back slumped, and his pale face showed completegloom.

Dawn ran up to them and took his weight off Casey’s shoulder. “Ash! Are you okay??”

“He’s… a bit depressed. Give him a minute.” she suggested withshame.

Dawn glared at her. What did you to him…

“Let’s head to the meet up spot now…” Ash mumbled.

“Um… You mean the spot in Pallet?” Casey asked with worry in her voice.

“We don’t really know how to get there…” The Coordinator shared the same concern. “…we didn’t print out a map for Pallet. We don’t even know where in Pallet it is.”

Bianca spoke up, “Oh! I have a map to Pallet! Straight to Ash’s house!”

Dawn stared at her with suspicion.

She returned the stare with a casual smile. “I always meant to visit Ash sometime.”

“How do you even have his address?”

“Every Ash fan club girl has his address.” She laughed with a blush.

Dawn’s eye twitched. “Fan… club?”

“You’re a part of that dorky fan club??” Casey teased.

“Am I supposed to be hearing any of this?” Ash muttered while Dawn’s shoulder-support suddenly turned into a headlock in her growing anger.

“It isn’t dorky.” Bianca defended. “It’s fun! Latias and I are the presidents of the Alto Mare subdivision.”

“Subdivision??” The baseball fan held back a snort. “Seriously? Are there even that many fans on this tiny isle to even support that? No offense to Alto Mare.”

“I can still hear what you guys are saying. You know that, right?” Ash waved.

“There are fifty-four members in this club alone, if you must know.” the fan girl mentioned with pride. “That’s more members than almost any main division club in Johto!”

Casey’s jaw dropped. “What??! How can there be that many fans on this tiny isle?? You would think that many fans would get us swallowed in a sea of crazy girls!”

“No one knows he’s here yet.” Bianca said playfully. “And by the time I update the site, we’ll be looonnng gone.” She grinned mischievously.

The arm around Ash tightened, causing him to suffocate.

“Ash is mine! You back off!”

…

Did… I just say that out loud?

Dawn’s face turned completely red.

Bianca locked eyes with Dawn and smirked. “If I recall correctly, Ash isn’t taken. Right, Ash?”

“Not… really… the time to talk about this!” The young man struggled to free himself from the chokehold.

“I challenge you to a Pokémon Battle!” The Coordinator pulled out a poké ball with her free hand. She growled angrily. A part of her still couldn’t believe what she was doing, but her instincts had taken over and she didn’t want to stop it.

“Are we fighting for Ash?” Bianca smiled knowingly towards her pokémon.

Latias nodded, cracking her knuckles in Bianca’s form.

“A one-on-one match sound good to you?” the fan girl suggested, accepting the challenge.

“One is all I’ll need.” Dawn smirked confidently.

The sun began to rise, highlighting the determined looks in the duelists’ eyes.

…

PHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!

A high pitched whistle got their attention.

It was Casey. She returned the whistle into one of her jacket’s pockets.

“Girls! End of the world occurring from a science experiment gone wrong ring any bells???”

Dawn grit her teeth… slowly relaxing. She freed the choking man from her grip.

Bianca and Latias turned away in disinterest. “We’ll settle this later.”

The Coordinator smiled impishlyafter a thought crossed her mind. “Ohhh right… we only brought three charizards with us. I don’t think we can bring you back with us immediately. You’ll have to stay here. We’ll send back a charizard for you two.”

“No need. Latias can fly by herself. I’ll just…” Bianca locked eyes with Dawn again, a sly grin forming on her lips. “…sit with Ash on his charizard. They should be able to hold two, right?”

The Coordinator’s eyes burned with fury.

“You two shut it!” Casey grabbed Ash by the arm and dragged him down the road. “Bianca can have my charizard! I’m sitting with Ash so neither of you rip his fricken’ head off!”

Dawn turned from her rival and followed. “Fine…”

“Don’t go too far now…” Bianca strode off in a different direction. “I still need to get the map you need.”

_________________________________________________________

“Hurry up and get to the charizards!” Angie roared as she ducked back behind cover.

The explosion tore through the walls.

Smoke, dust, and debris choked the air around them.

“Luxio! Give them a shock!”

The area cleared with a blast of wind. A fearow had knocked away the smoke with Gust.

Luxio flinched at the sight.

A line of Rockets armed with submachine guns readied their shots.

“No… Luxio! GET OUT OF THERE!!!”

It froze.

“KILL THEM ALL!” the order echoed.

Sabrina teleported next to the frightened Spark Pokémon and dug her fingers into its mane.

Alakazam! Once they reload, take them out!

Yes, Master…

The Psychic grunted, her purple and blue aura overtaking the luxio’s body.

Muzzle flashes decorated the Psychic’s sight.

Before the bullets could reach her, Luxio released a large barrier of psychic-fueled Electricity, exploding the rounds in mid-air.

“Whoah…” Angie gaped at the spectacle with disbelief.

Sabrina turned, her face slowly turning paler. “Get them out of here!”

Angie snapped out of the mesmerized gaze. She returned her attention to the prisoners.

Two young men, an old man, and a strange humanoid pokémon she had never seen before. Supposedly it was from the Unova region. All four prisoners had one thing in common: They were all Psychic.

“You heard the lady! Let’s go!” The tomboy stood and ran for the door, pulling and pushing the prisoners with her.

She stuck her head out the doorway. The hot air outside burned her skin dry. And the island heat wasn’t the only culprit.

Above, the early morning atmosphere raged in fire and steel as the Charicific Charizards faced off against a never-ending supply of skarmories. On the back of one of the charizards, a woman in red issued and coordinated attack and defense strategies.

“You can do it Liza!!!” Angie called out into the battle in the sky.

She returned her attention to her goal.

Several feet away, a lone crowd of five charizards waited impatiently by the shore. Their figures moved and roamed in the distance, obviously irritated at being prevented from joining the fight.

A photographer and sketch artist waved over to her in panicked anxiety.

“Todd! Tracey! Help me out over here! We’ve got an elderly!”

The two men ran towards her.

“Okay, you three.” she regarded the two young men and the black-dressed pokémon. “You’re running with me straight for the charizards. Tracey and Todd will carry your gramps with us.”

She nodded to each of them, not caring whether they understood or not. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

The group made a mad dash towards their destination, avoiding low-sweeps from the aggressive Armor Bird Pokémon.

“This was not what I had imagined a sneaking mission would look like!” Tracey yelled from behind.

“How was I supposed to know they had an alarm hidden underneath the alarm hidden underneath the alarm?!” Angie yelled back. “It’s like they were counting on us to disarm them!!”

“Well that goes to show how important this facility is!!” Todd laughed with an inappropriate sense of jubilation.

“What the heck are you so chipper about???” The tomboy turned back with an annoyed look.

“I got several pictures of this place!!” the photographer boasted. “Not only are they good shots, but I’m more than sure I can get an award for an exposé piece!!”

“At least we have one good thing going for us!” Angie applauded sarcastically.

The group slid to a halt as a large force of tentacruels charged through and blocked their path.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAA!!!!” Laughing with maniacal pride, a man with cyan spiked hair stood on the top of the largest tentacruel. His clothes marking him as an obvious commander of Team Rocket.

“You fools aren’t getting out of here alive!” He turned and faced the growling charizards. “It doesn’t matter how large or powerful these dragons are. Their little fires won’t do much against my tsunami army!”

The man spun and posed. “My tsunamis! Make them feel your tide! Aim for their tails!!”

“No!!!” Angie charged at them.

“CHUUUUUUUUU!!!!”

A violent storm of electricity raced through the ranks of tentacruels, knocking out the behemoths one after the other. The Rocket Commander fainted with them.

“…Pikachu?” Angie turned. Her eyes went wide.

Dressed in camouflage-green, the Cerulean City Gym Leader made her entrance from the foliage. “Glad to see you again, Angie. Wish it could be under better conditions.”

“Well you were invited for a party.” Angie smiled.

“Was a little busy at the time, sorry.” Misty turned and faced an incoming group of Rockets. “Let’s have a party here.”

She pulled a poké ball from her belt. “I’ll host.”

_________________________________________________________

“Capture… on!!!”

The capture disc launched and began rotating around the group of victreebel.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!” One of the Flycatcher Pokémon slappedthe disc back with a Vine Whip.

Solana backed away and clenched her teeth.

She looked around for any other pokémon.

A single gloom hid behind a tree.

“Let’s try this again… Capture on!!!”

The teal-haired Pokémon Ranger aimed her Capture Styler and launched the capture disc again.

Itgrinded against the ground and began spinning circles around the Weed Pokémon.

The Grass-Poison Type continued to shake in fear, not moving away from its position.

Building up in speed, the capture disc continued its spin – its momentum forming a shining ring of light.

“Come on… come on…”

After the twentieth spin, the capture disc ran out of force and wobbled to a halt.

“No!”

“Funny thing about the Forbidden Forest…” The woman in black stepped out into the open. “…the Grass Pokémon here don’t like humans much.”

Solana took another step back and eyed the area.

“Give it up. No pokémon will help you here. They’d rather attack humans than help them…”

A low growl rumbled in the air. Behind the woman, an absol of pure black approached.

“Plusle…” the female Ranger whispered. “Thunder Wave.”

“Pila…” the Cheering Pokémon took a step forward. “PLAAAAA!!!!”

A wave of electricity flew towards the absol. The Dark Pokémon disappeared and reappeared a few feet away… the Thunder Wave vanishing when it had no current to follow.

The woman in black shook her head. “You know the other pokémon here don’t seem to be putting up a fight against me… maybe you should follow their example.”

“What do you want with them?!” the Ranger demanded in an attempt to buy more time.

“Them?” The woman blinked. She peeked behind Solana, seeing a young, frightened couple huddled against a large tree. “Oh I don’t want anything from those two. It’s you I want, Ranger.”

“…so you’ll let them go if I surrender?”

“Oh I never said that. They’re witnesses… and I’m afraid my current mission prevents me from leaving behind any evidence.”

Solana raised her Capture Styler again, readying her next shot.

“You really want to disappoint yourself again?” The woman laughed. She swung her hair away from her eyes in arrogance. “Haven’t you figured out that no one here wants to help you? You’re alone, little Ranger. And Rangers are quite useless by themselves.”

“I wasn’t intending to capture anything!” She launched the Capture Disc. It slammed against the villainous woman’s face.

“AAAAOOOWW!!!”

“You two! Get out of here now!” Solana commanded the couple behind her.

They nodded and made a run for it… only to be blocked off by another dark absol.

To their left, two more dark absols appeared from the bushes.

Completely surrounded, the couple retreated back to the area behind the female Pokémon Ranger.

The woman moved her hands away from her face, which now had a large top-shaped indent. “You… you pest! You’ll pay for that!!!”

“Payment in full!!” a voice shouted from behind her.

Bac.

A kick to the back of her knee caused the woman to drop to the floor.

“Keep the change!!!”

KAK!

Another kick launched against her head sent her body rolling against the grass.

Solana’s eyes widened at the scene.

“Watch out!!” she called out as the absols charged towards the new intruder.

“Sparky! Thunderbolt!!!”

A pikachu, with a unique patch of fur that kicked out from the top of its head, appeared from the trees. It released a torrent of electricity towards the four absols.

Each absol vanished from reality and rematerialized in different positions, growling and barking in fury.

“What in the –?! What are these things?!” A young man with auburn hair ran beside the pikachu, clearly alarmed by the Dark Pokémon.

“Distractions.” the first intruder, a slim woman with pink hair and eyes, warned the male. “There’s only one real one, and none of these are it! The real one’s huge… and invisible until you harm it.”

Shaking the dizziness out of her head, the woman in black slowly got to her feet.

“Give it up, Domino!” The pink-haired fighter ran towards her, flexing for her next strike.

The woman, now named Domino, pulled a black tulip from her belt and struck it towards the incoming combatant. “Charging in head-first again? You’re too predictable, Maylene!”

“And you’re too full of yourself!” Maylene ducked from the strike and sent an uppercut towards the Rocket Agent’s chin.

She dodged beautifully and jumped back several paces.

“PIKAAAA-AAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!”

An invisible entity pinned the heroic pikachu to the ground. Its weight felt as the Electric Type squealed louderfrom a crushing force.

“SPARKY!!!”

Two large Vine Whips lashed against the open air above the held Mouse Pokémon, making contactwith the unseen assailant.

“RWWWAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!!!”

In an instant, the four black-furred absols vanished in a mist of darkness – and an impressively large one took its place, moving away from Sparky in order to face its attacker.

A Venusaur stomped out from the forest, with a well-dressed Coordinator on its back.

“May!!” Solana called out with a smile, finally glad to see someone she recognized.

“Well now, isn’t this an unfair predicament?” Domino pouted. She surveyed the area around her, analyzing every possibility and opportunity in her mind. Finding her chance, she leapt into the gap between the Ranger and her guarded couple.

Pressing a sharp tulip against one of the frightened pair’s neck, Domino found her hostage.

“So, here’s how we’re going to play it…” She smirked and pointed towards Solana. “The Ranger comes with me, disarmed, or this lovely duo becomes a depressed uno.”

Solana frowned.

…

“I’ll go.”

“PILAAA!! PLAA!!!!” her plusle obviously upset at her partner’s decision.

“No way! Let’s go Sparky!”

Ritchie and Sparky tried charging, only to be prevented by the towering Dice – its cold, red eyes stiffening their muscles.

“Don’t even try it.” Domino laughed. “You’re not exactly in the best position in this little deal.”

The Coordinator folded her arms. “Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you…”

“Wha–”

All around them, the forest turned menacingly alive. Vines, leaves, and sprouts of all colors swirled and surrounded the Rocket girl and her ferocious pokémon.

A single Razor Leaf struck at her hand, forcing her to drop her deadly tulip weapon.

“Ah!!” She grimaced, holding her bleeding hand.

“What’s going on??” Solana gazed at all the Grass Pokémon around her. Each of them having a look of determined anger towards the Rocket Agent. “I thought the pokémon here don’t help humans…”

“It helps when your venusaur is the daughter of this forest’s leader.” May half-bragged.

“Team Delta! Team Delta!” Domino dove through the enclosing vines and avoided several razor-sharp leaves. “I need evac now!!!”

“Did I forget to mention that your friends are in similar predicaments?” Maylene smiled as she cracked her knuckles. “It’s just you and me now, blondie!”

“Sorry to disappoint you, pinkie, but my Dice and I can’t be bothered by petty rumbles.” The blond-haired woman launched several tulips from her pockets – spreading them out in a wide arc.

Pokémon and human alike dodged, ducked, blocked, or went behind cover to avoid the explosion-causing flower projectiles.

The projectiles that weren’t caught before reaching a target, burst into flames on contact – spreading fire on wood and plant alike.

“The forest!!!” May gasped. “Glaceon!” Click. Vacuum.

Domino hopped onto the back of her pokémon. “Dice, let’s leave. I’m sick of all this green.”

With a paralyzing roar, the massive absol leapt through the flames and vanished from sight.

“Get back here, you coward!” Maylene prepared to give chase.

“Not now, Maylene! Help us take out the fire!!”

The fighter dug her toes into the ground and grit her teeth.

Next time, Domino. Count on it.

_________________________________________________________

“Are you sure you know where we’re going?”

“Y-Yeah… give me a sec… I haven’t been here in forever, you know…”

“Well hurry it up! You’re looking like a crazy person…”

“Or I look like a blind man, and you look like a heartless caretaker.”

“Yeah, thanks for that. Now hurry up.”

Casey tapped her foot impatiently as Ash crawled on his hands and knees… feeling the dirt and grass in his hands.

“What are you two doing over there?!” Dawn called from the distance.

“I said you’re on time-out, young lady!” Casey growled.

“Aren’t I little too old for this??? … … … And aren’t you too young to call me that?!”

“If I have to babysit you, you’re being a baby! So until you grow up, I’m calling you whatever I want!!”

“So why am I on time-out??” Bianca whined from the other end. “She’s the one that attacked first!”

“You attacked back!” the peacekeeper scolded.

“I was defending myself!”

“You lit my hair on fire!”

“My charizard missed!”

“You. Lit. My. Hair. On. Fire.”

“Okay, I guess, but why isn’t Latias in trouble? She joined in too!”

The Eon Pokémon, in a human form that mimicked Bianca, crawled on the grass – watching Ash with playful curiosity.

“Far as I could tell, she was just following orders, just like the charizards.” Casey crossed her arms. “No such thing as a bad pokémon, just bad trainers.”

“Actually, I’ve met a few bad pokémon…” Ash raised his finger to add his opinion.

Casey kicked his arm lightly. “I didn’t ask you. And besides, aren’t you supposed to be searching for something? Less talky, more searchy.”

“I’m not searching. I’m trying to get a feel for things again. I need to remember where I am exactly.”

“I already told you where we were! Two houses over from your house!”

“And what does that mean to me? I don’t know what two houses over looks like right now. I just know what things feel like.” Ash stood, patting off the grass from his jeans.

Latias copied him, despite no grass sticking to her illusionary legs.

“So you’re done?” The baseball fan changed posture.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure where we are now.”

“Pretty sure?”

“Yeah. This way!” The Empathic began running towards a large group of trees.

“Wait up! You know where you’re going?!”

“Pretty sure!!”

She sighed. “Dawn! Bianca! Ben, Stacy, whatever-your-name-is charizard! It’s time to go!”

“Finally!” The Alto Mare native stretched and chased after the young man. “Wait for me, Ash!”

Dawn turned and began racing towards Bianca.

Casey blocked her way and gave her a strict glare. “No. Fighting. You hear?”

The Coordinator rolled her eyes. “Let’s just go already.”

“Don’t make me sick Latias on you.” Casey warned.

Latias made an exaggerated ‘chomping’ face towards Dawn.

“Fine. Fine. I’ll ‘behave’.” Dawn grumbled. “But I don’t want Bianca hanging all over Ash.”

Casey shrugged and turned. “Last I remember, she’s the fan girl, and you aren’t dating him.”

“Still. If I see her on him, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

“You’re right. Latias will be responsible for your actions.”

The pokémon smiled innocently and followed after Ash and Bianca.

Dawn quietly grumbled to herself and trailed after them.

_________________________________________________________

The last Team Rocket member smashed into a tree, a Flash Cannon launching him off his feet.

He fainted immediately.

Misty gave a thumbs-up to her starmie.

“Looks like that’s the last of them.” Tracey exhaled in relief.

“Other than the skarmories…” Todd pointed out as he set the old man next to one of the Charicific Charizards.

Misty nodded to Pikachu and signaled several orders for him, pointing to the Armor Bird Pokémon as the targets. She gave similar commands to her starmie, staryu, and gyarados, though with slight variations.

Angie studied the gestures carefully, hoping to catch the meaning behind them.

If I could teach that to Luxio, we’d be invincible…

…

“Wait… Luxio!!”

The gold-eyed girl turned towards the facility, complete worry in her expression as she realized how long it had been since she last saw her pokémon… and the situation she had left him in.

An explosion bent the large metal gates of the compound and cracked the cement.

“Luxio! NO!!!”

-JSHIINNNN-

Alakazam teleported beside the group, with a pale-white Sabrina and a fainted Luxio…

Angie immediately wrapped her arms around her pokémon, tears forming at the edges of her eyes. “LUXIO!!!” she sniffled. “I thought I lost you…”

Misty ran directly to the fellow Gym Leader. “Sabrina! Are you alright?!”

“Misty!” the Psychic’s voice rasped in surprise. “N-No time… get on the charizards and retreat.”

“Retreat?”

“Retreat.” she repeated with a forced command.

Angie looked up to her in panic. “What about Anabel?!”

A bright flash of light.

An energy of chaotic colors burned through the walls of the building.

Every living creature the colors touched, turned mad.

Several skarmories and a single charizard spun out of control towards the ground after being affected… their eyes rolled to the back of their head as they roared, bit, screamed, andbabbled in insanity.

The ground shook as their bodies crashed.

“Wh-What the heck was that?!” Angie returned her luxio to its poké ball and began backing towards the charizards, needing no more reason for their retreat.

A shriek of unimaginable pain tore through the sounds in the air, silencing everything while it echoed.

Staggering from the burning building, a frightening woman glowing in dark auras approached.

“That…” Sabrina stood and formed a psychic shield around her comrades. “…was Anabel.”

She turned towards the humans and pokémon under her protection.

“GET TO THE CHARIZARDS! RETREAT!”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:28 PM

Chapter 24: Connections

“You two take care! And be sure to take the LONG way around next time!” Solana waved at the young couple as they bowed again in thankfulness.

They smiled and skipped down the road in absolute bliss.

…

“Wow…” Maylene watched the pair disappear in the distance. “I think if I was in a relationship like that, I’d probably jump off a cliff.”

“MAYLENE!!” May slapped the fighter’s arm, shocked at her comment.

Solana laughed. “To each their own!”

The Pokémon Ranger turned towards the trio, penta if counting Sparky and Venusaur, and offered her hand in greeting. “The name’s Solana.”

Each shook.

“Maylene. Veilstone City Gym Leader.”

“Ritchie. Trainer from Frodomar City.”

“And May. Coordinator.”

Solana smiled at May. “I know, we met. But… A Gym Leader? From Veilstone? Isn’t that in Sinnoh?”

“Indeed it is!”

“And Frodomar? I’m not sure I’m familiar with it.”

“It’s in the Kanto region.”

Solana whistled, impressed. “Sinnoh… Kanto… Wow! I know why May’s here in Hoenn – she’s competing this season. But what is a Gym Leader all the way from Sinnoh and a Trainer all the way from Kanto doing out here?”

“Actually, I’m not competing for this season anymore…” May said with a blush of slight embarrassment.

The Ranger looked at her with concern. “Did something happen?”

“That’s actually what we came here to talk to you about.” Maylene took a step forward.

“Hold on, before we go any further…” Solana bowed deeply. Her plusle bowed with her. “I must thank you for your help. If it weren’t for you, I would have never escaped – much less finished my mission.”

The group bowed back instinctively.

Solana scratched her head, slightly ashamed of herself. “It was a rookie mistake for me to start a rescue mission in an area I was unfamiliar with. You would think a veteran Ranger like me would know something as important as the Forbidden Forest pokémon’s distaste of humans.

“If there’s anything you need help in, I definitely owe you the favor.”

The pink-haired fighter studied the woman for a moment, critiquing her abilities for their mission.

…

She eventually dropped the thought, trusting Ash’s instinct in gathering a team.

“We actually have a big favor to ask from you. And it has a long story. You got time for that?” Maylene mentioned casually.

“Hm…” Solana pulled out her pokédev and began dialing buttons. “Let me report in the successful rescue first…”

_________________________________________________________

Latias dropped her visual disguise and flew into the opening.

Dawn walked in slowly, her breath taken away.

Refusing herself from being distracted by any feelings of fascination, Bianca focused on sketching the scene before her.

Casey’s jog slowed, her attention immediatelycaught by…

“TIRE SWING!!!”

She ran straight for it.

Ash tackled her to the floor.

“Wh-What the heck are you doing?!” She struggled to get him off. Her emotions completely offended by his intrusion of her personal space.

Ash didn’t listen. He clung on tightly. “No you don’t!”

“Get off m–!”

The tire spun towards the girl. An ice cold wind ran through her body.

With barely an effort, she was able to knock Ash off herself and back away in seconds.

“Wh-What was that?!”

The young man rubbed his rib, where Casey’s elbow jabbed in her panic. “It’s haunted.”

“H-H-Haunted?!!” Casey went pale.

He nodded.

“Ash, this place…” Completely unaware of the recent tussle, Dawn turned towards her crush – her eyes sparkling with pure infatuation for him.

“…it’s gorgeous…” Bianca finished with a soft whisper – continuing her draft of the view.

Latias flew and spun amongst the sanctuary’s canopy of branches and leaves. Her emotions agreed with the others as she continued her excited tour of the area.

Ash blushed. “Th-Thanks.”

“What is this place…” the Coordinator’s words continued sounding as if she was floating in a dream world.

“And what the heck are these things?” Casey opened the toolbox and began rummaging through the items.

Ash slammed the box shut, pinching the snooping girl’s fingers in the process.

“YOW!!!”

“These things…” he explained as he moved the toolbox elsewhere. “…aren’t for you to touch.”

“So what am I supposed to do in the meantime?” she sighed as she found a spot to lie down. “Who knows how long we have to wait until everyone gets here… I’m going to go insane from boredom!”

Ash felt through his backpack. “If you consider how far Hoenn is from here… I’d say it’d take them half a day’s travel just to fly there. For all we know, it could take them a day or three to get here.”

“THREE DAYS?!!”

“…yep. Ah! Here it is.”

Finding what he was looking for, he tossed it in Casey’s direction.

She picked it up.

“A book? You can read?”

“No. I can’t read.” he stated with irritation. “Not anymore, at least. I just bought it since I lost my original copy… It’s a good book either way.”

Casey stared at the book’s cover with mocking interest.

“… Commander of Wartortles?”

_________________________________________________________

The charizards began their retreat. Liza coordinated them into a straight line, baiting the skarmories to swarm around them… forcing them to act as their shield against the deadly waves of energy that continuously launched at them.

Below, a single charizard remained.

“Ride as my passenger, Angie!” Sabrina commanded, impatiently reading her mind.

There was no need to read, as she spoke her thoughts immediately.

“No! I have to get Anabel!”

“She’s lost, child! We must leave her!”

“I made a promise to Ash that I’d take care of her! And either you’re going to help me do it, or you pick me up in an hour!”

…

Angie’s body refused to move.

“Wh-What the…?”

Her body felt stiff. Odd. And no longer hers.

Her limbs shook as they began to move without her permission.

Slowly, she was forced to walk towards the charizard.

Tears fell from her eyes. Anabel clenched her teeth and growled – locking rebellious eyes with Sabrina’s cold glare. “You… You really want to do that?” She forced authority back to her mouth.

The Psychic’s control faltered, feeling the tomboy’s will fighting her out.

“You know… why I’m doing this!”

Sabrina’s eye twitched. Her psychic strings were weakened drastically from her previous fights… they began to snap one by one.

“Ash would rather have you than to lose both you and Anabel!” She did her best to speak reason into the stubborn girl.

“Then don’t… let them take me! Help me, Sabrina!” Angie barked back, shoving the weakening psychic power away.

Taking a step forward, Angie stood. Defiant and willful. Refusing to leave until she got an answer. Almost daring the Psychic to try again.

…

Sabrina stared angrily at her, showingannoyance and frustrationwith her disobedience.

Closing her eyes and exhaling, Sabrina conceded. She leapt from the charizard’s back and landed with a small stumble. “Lead the way and be quick.”

“Sabrina…”

“I said be quick!”

Angie turned and began sprinting back towards the burning facility.

The Psychic followed closely behind.

Above, the sky still raged with steel and heated light. Skarmories dropped left and right as they were overloaded into silence by the chaotic shades that passed through them.

The two’s run was mostly uninterrupted… until their objective came into view.

A few feet away, a swirl of frenzied colors rocketed towards them.

Sabrina flexed her mind, letting loose a short wave of psychic energy – knocking away the attack in a flash of conflicting powers.

Another blast spiraled towards them.

The Psychic countered it with another thought.

Several more bursts continued pummeling against her mental defenses, weakening her with each clash.

Focused with her target, the tomboy continued her sprint, silently thanking Sabrina as another wave of burning lights ricocheted away from her direction.

Muffled by the wind, Angie heard violent coughing from behind.

She had no time to turn. “Sabrina?! Are you okay?!”

“I am fine! Continue!”

The Psychic spat the blood from her mouth and kept her pace.

Another attack. Repelled again.

They were getting close.

Anabel turned towards them.

“Looks like we’ve got her attention!” The tomboy forced her legs to run faster.

-SKREEEEEEEEEECH-

Diving low, a team of swift skarmories prepared to slice into them from above.

Angie didn’t halt, though she did panic. “S-Sabrina?! I-Incoming!”

A geyser of water flushed them of their momentum.

Before the skarmories could react, they were finished by a large bolt of lightning.

Angie gave a thumbs-up to her rescuers.

On the back of a charizard, Misty, Starmie, and Pikachu flew in for support.

“Get Anabel back!” Misty yelled overhead.

“What do you think we’re doing?!” the tomboy shouted back with a smile.

Just a few feet away, Anabel stood motionless – facing their direction.

The corrupted Empathic silentlycalculated the two in front of her, her eyes and mouth emotionless.

Sabrina read her next move.

A flash of red released all her Psychic Pokémon from their poké balls.

“Angie! You’ve got once chance! Do it now!”

The Psychics let loose all their power.

A devastating torrent of purple and blue swallowed the tomboy’s body entirely… shattering the massive spear of dark emotions that Anabel launched towards her.

Her attack broken, the tainted Empathic took a step back, her face still showing no emotion.

With a grunt, Angie leapt out of the psychic storm, her face showing complete determination.

“ANABEL!!!!!”

Her fist landedagainst her friend’s face, the strike knocking her off balance.

Anabel locked eyes, refusing to fall.

Angie followed with three more reckless punches, each blow cracking her knuckles.

Still, she stood.

The tomboy finished it as she slammed her forehead against Anabel’s.

Finally crumpling to the physical onslaught, the Empathic fell to the floor. Her knees buckled, her palms scraped against the blackened cement, and a small gasp left her lips.

Defeated.

…

…

Sabrina limped towards the beaten foe, studying her mind with caution.

Her thoughts were blank. But a mental trace was sensed lower down: A steel bracelet wrapped around the young woman’s wrist.

Mind control… The Psychic sneered. Her memories recalling these devices used on a group of young Psychics she rescued from Team Rocket years before. It was the only obstacle that kept Anabel aggressive towards them.

She destroyed the device with a strained thought.

A short distance away, a grunt of disappointment was barely heard, muffled by a thin barrier. Coming from above.

Sabrina traced the sound…

“Giovanni…” she hissed.

The man’s silhouette disappeared into the darkness of one of the windows.

Alakazam, follow–

Another explosion overtook the entire floor the notorious Gym Leader had vanished within.

Gone. The psyche trace ended with the room’s destruction.

…

Angie bent down and picked up the blank-eyed Empathic.

“Come on, Anne…” the tomboy whispered to her friend. “…Ash needs you.”

The young lilac-eyed woman blinked softly and focused her eyes towards Angie. “Ash…?”

“Yeah… he’s worried sick about you, you dummy…” She sniffed away a tear. “And I guess I was too.”

“Ash…” Anabel fainted.

Her mind finally at rest…

_________________________________________________________

“So Ash is leading this little group?” Solana moved a branch aside.

“Well, it’s not really little. We just look small because we’re split up.” Ritchie held onto Sparky as he hopped over a large root that jutted from the ground.

“You should’ve seen it when we first started.” May took off her bandana as it got caught on another tree. “There were only five of us.”

“Three, actually.” Maylene corrected as she led the way through the forest. “We met up with May and Sabrina in Saffron. Before that it was just me, Ash, and Angie.”

“I see.” The Ranger watched her plusle run across the forest floor, smiling as it befriended the wild pokémon in the area. “I find it slightly humorous that he’s the one leading us.”

“Yeah, I didn’t really think he was leader material. I used to lead this group originally.” the fighter mentioned. “Then Sabrina took over. And then somewhere along the way, Sabrina made him leader.”

“What’s wrong with Ash as a leader?” May placed her bandana into her pocket and leapt over a bush. “I think he’s doing a good job with the team.”

“Well no no.” Solana gave a small laugh of embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant. I just think it’s funny that we’re all being led by… well… someone blind.”

“Consider us the blind being led by the blind.” Ritchie snickered. “Because honestly, we probably know less of what’s going on compared to what Ash and Sabrina know.”

“Honestly, I wish those two weren’t so secretive. It’s not like all of us have Empathic-Telepathy stuff.” Maylene grumbled. “In fact, I think other than Anabel and Misty; no one could really talk to them like that. Talk about exclusive club.”

“W-Well… actually…” The Coordinator stumbled a bit as her shoelace caught on the bark of a tree. “I can actually… er… speak with Empathy. N-Now, that is.”

Maylene stopped in her tracks and turned. “What??! Since when?!”

May suddenly felt as if a large spotlight was placed on her. “U-Uhm… After Ash and I went ahead. Into th-the Rocket Tunnel. H-He taught me on our way to Charicific Valley.” Her face turned red, recalling the private moments they shared with one another.

The fighter turned away and shrugged. “Us normals are getting outnumbered every day.”

“Don’t you have a thing that makes you like an anti-Empathy-Psychic-thing?” the Coordinator countered. “That doesn’t exactly make you a normal.”

“Wellll… I don’t use it to hold private conversations.”

“Maylene?” a voice called out ahead of them.

“Looks like we’re here!” Maylene ran ahead. “Don’t drop your jaws, everyone!”

“Drop our jaws?” Solana went into a quick jog. “What does that mea–” Her jaw dropped.

Ritchie stopped in his tracks and let his pikachu onto the ground.

Sparky and Plusle ran into the opening together.

May shuffled into the area hesitantly. Her eyes wide with fascination and wonder.

“What… is this place?”

“Welcome to Ash’s Sanctuary!” Maylene spread her arms wide and welcomed her teammates to their new headquarters.

_________________________________________________________

“Nice to see you again, Ash.” Solana shook his hand. “And these are?”

Ash stepped aside and sensed the area around him. He pointed above him. “This one’s Latias.”

The red and white pokémon blurred into human form. Falling, she wrapped her arms around Ash and landed softly.

“Wow!” The Ranger stepped in close and poked at the light-shifting pokémon. “It’s like an advanced form of a ditto! I’ve never seen a pokémon fully replicate a human like this!”

“Not exactly.” a voice said behind her. “She’s not fully physical in those forms, so she wouldn’t be able to copy attacks or voices. She can only mimic what objects, people and pokémon look like… not actually become them.”

Solana turned and found a girl who seemed to be a mirror image of Latias, or rather, vice versa.

“That and she only seems to copy me. The name’s Bianca.” The Alto Mare native waved slightly, not moving from her crouched position. She looked back down to her sketchpad and continued scribbling into them with colored pencils. “I’d shake your hand, but my hands are a bit of a mess right now. Nice to meet you…”

“Solana.” The Ranger bowed. “Pokémon Ranger.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” She made a slight bow in return.

“And this is Casey.” Ash continued the introductions.

“Yo.” The baseball enthusiast didn’t bother looking up, her attention swallowed up by the book she was reading. Despite nearly two days having passed since her arrival in the sanctuary, she still hadn’t completed the book… due to her rather slow reading skills.

“Nice to meet you.” The Ranger still continued pleasantries.

“Mm.” Casey still didn’t bother. She only had a few hours of sunlight left, and she wasn’t going to waste it.

“And I’m Dawn! Remember me?” The blue-haired Coordinator grinned and bowed.

“Of course I remember! Nice to see you again!” Solana offered a small side-hug to reward the excited greeting. “So is this our team? Or are we waiting for someone?”

Ritchie, Maylene, and May gave their greetings to the two newest members of Ash’s group.

Latias responded with awkward human gestures of ‘hello’s… unsure whether a handshake, hug, high-five, bow, or wave was the proper action to give.

Bianca simply nodded and smiled, too caught up in her work to move.

“Actually no.” Dawn answered for the group. “We’re still waiting for –”

Ash’s head turned immediately to his left. His eyes narrowed as if he tried to spot an object in the distance.

…

Dawn looked in the same direction, only to find thick trees.

“Ash? … Is something wrong?”

He whispered something inaudible.

The Coordinator tilted her head in curiosity.

The other Coordinator, May, eyed the trees as well. She hadn’t heard nor seen Ash’s reactions, but she shared the same ability to notice the importance of the particular area.

Emerging from the deep green woods, a well-known tomboy carried a familiar figure on her back.

“Hey guys. Don’t you wish they made poké balls for humans? They’re so darn heavy.”

“Angie!” May was about to run towards the obviously injured girl, but stopped in her tracks. “Is… is that…”

Angie slowly let down her cargo.

“ANNY!!!” Ash nearly tripped over himself as he ran for the fainted Empathic.

The two Coordinators and the Alto Mare twins watched in bittersweet happiness as the man of their dreams wrapped his arms around his long-lost friend.

Angie leaned against a tree and let out a long sigh. Absolutely relieved that she hadn’t failed in her promise.

Tears ran down Ash’s eyes as he held Anabel tightly to his chest.

“Those two must be close.” Solana stood next to Angie, offering her hand in greeting. “Solana.”

“Angie.” the tomboy responded with a shake. “…and honestly, I didn’t think they were that close.”

Her eyes watered in a hint of sadness. “I actually thought he didn’t really care for her. At least, not that much. I mean… he always wanted to get away from her…”

The Ranger remained beside her awkwardly, feeling as if she had entered the middle of a dramatic storylineshe had no reason to be in.

…

“Careful, you might break her.” a voice commented from the woods.

Misty appeared, with a completely drainedSabrina leaning against her and a tired Pikachu sleeping on her head.

Ash placed Anabel’s unconscious body lightly on the flowered ground. “M… Misty?”

She smiled. “Long time no see, huh?”

Sabrina pulled herself away and stumbled a few steps before balancing herself against a tree.

“Sabrina?” Misty looked at her with concern. “Is something wrong?”

The Psychic simply nudged her head and said, “You should be worried for yourself.”

Misty looked towards the direction of the nudge, only to find herself being lifted off the ground.

Ash had picked her up and spun her. “MISTY!!!! PIKACHU!!!!”

Her face turned pink and her thoughts frazzled into confusion. This wasn’t the response she was expecting. It certainly was more than she had wanted, but a near impossible expectation.

“A-Ash?? A-Are you feeling okay???” She started getting dizzy.

Her best friend dropped her to the floor and pinned her down.

Pikachu had hopped off her and latched back onto Ash’s shoulder, wrapping his entire body around his neck. The Electric Mouse Pokémonhowledand wailed in exhausted elation, never wanting to let go of his human extension.

Completely unaware of the risqué position he put the girl in, Ash clenched his teeth as his tears fell onto Misty’s face. “I… thought… I thought I lost the three of you!!”

His greatest fears… his greatest insecurities… his greatest burdens of the entire journey, were finally relieved.

“Ash…”

She gazed at him. His figure that she had become so familiar with… suddenly seemed entirely different. He looked far more aware of his surroundings… far more mature… far more caring…

The twilight sky, peeking through the warm-colored leaves that hung above them, outlined Ash in a beautiful glow. His normally soft features now looking sharp and strong. His memorable features becoming far more alien the longer she looked at him. And his childish features seeming to vanish as she saw him in a new light.

Ash had grown up.

Hopefully I have too… Her heart would cherish this moment forever.

You have…

She gasped. It had been so long since she’s heard his Empathic voice; she had almost forgotten what it had felt like.

Thank you…

Misty turned away, a feeling of shame filling her.

You should thank Angie. She’s the one who saved her.

Ash brushed his hand against her cheek. Thank you for being okay… this wouldn’t have been worth it without you, Maya…

Misty’s eyes widened. Her heart stopped.

What… did you call me?

He shook his head, clearing his thoughts.

I… I’m sorry.

He rolled off her, avoiding her as his attention moved to Anabel’s savior. Pikachu went with him, unwilling to leave his side.

…

Misty didn’t move.

She had felt something that she didn’t expect from being mistaken for another woman.

The name he had given her felt… right.

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:29 PM

Chapter 25: Burdens

Like the final pieces of the puzzle fitting, the team was finally complete.

The seven from Kanto, the three from Johto, the two from Hoenn, and the three from Sinnoh – and their respective pokémon, all gathered loosely within the secret sanctuary near Pallet Town. Three lamplights acting as their campfires.

Ritchie, the blue-eyed Trainer from Frodomar City – Kanto region, gathered the data of everyone else’s pokémon with his pokédex – excited with every new information.

Tracey, the traveling sketch-artist currently based in Pallet Town – Kanto region, shared drawings and tips with the young woman that eagerly went through his notebook.

Bianca, the fellow sketch-artist from Alto Mare – Johto region, shuffled through her scraps of paper in the hopes of finding one that could impress the veteran artist beside her.

Casey, the baseball enthusiast from New Bark Town – Johto region, continued reading the book that was lent to her – her mind completely entranced by the epic battle occurring within its pages.

Angie, the tomboy from the Solaceon Town Day Care Center – Sinnoh region, read over Casey’s shoulder – waiting for a chance to ask for the girl’s opinion of the book she had grown up with.

Solana, the traveling Pokémon Ranger from the Fiore region – now currently based in the Hoenn region, struck another embarrassing pose with her plusle, much to the delight of her photographer.

Todd, the professional photographer from the Kanto region, snapped several shots of the famous Pokémon Ranger. He happily anticipated the day when he could publish all the photos he had earned in this venture.

May, the now Empathic Coordinator from Petalburg City – Hoenn region, chatted awkwardly with her old friend – trying her best to hide any personal stories she had with their crush.

Misty, the Gym Leader of Cerulean City – Kanto region, conversed with uncomfortable casualness – wondering what her friend was hiding from her.

Slightly away from the rest, Liza, the guardian of the Charicific Valley – Johto region, prepared an empty grave for her fallen charizards. Her remaining charizards helped and mourned with her.

Dawn, the talented Coordinator from Twinleaf Town – Sinnoh region, eavesdropped a private meeting between four members hidden deeper in the woods.

The four that attended the concealed conference were Pokémon Trainer Ash of Pallet Town – Kanto region, Psychic Gym Leader Sabrina of Saffron City Gym – Kanto region, Fighting Gym Leader Maylene of Veilstone City Gym – Sinnoh region, and Salon Maiden Anabel, Frontier Brain of the Kanto region Battle Tower.

…

“I can’t sense her.” Ash sighed and scratched his chin. “I can sense her, but it’s not… in her. It’s around her.” he tried his best to explain it.

Anabel, her face still expressionless, nodded. “I feel the same way… I can’t feel anything inside me. But I know it’s still there. Just not inside.” She leaned against Ash, hoping the closeness would help her feel again.

…

Nothing.

Sabrina studied Anabel’s thoughts carefully, trying to solve the mystery that had bothered them since the Empathic Trainer’s rescue.

Her eyes squinted, as lapses of tortured memories flashed from Anabel’s mind.

“They blocked it.” Maylene interrupted the psychic investigation. “And they succeeded.”

The three turned towards her.

“Team Rocket…” the fighter continued. “…This is similar to the training manuals I read. The ones that I learned how to make myself blank with. But this is a different kind.”

She sighed and looked up into the night sky, the faraway lamplights giving the leaves above an orange reflection. This place is beautiful… she thought to herself, ashamed that such dark confessions would ruin the scenery.

“…I saw some prototype manuals on it… some kind of experiment for the researchers. They can block out someone’s own thoughts, emotions, or aura from themselves.”

Sabrina’s slightly weakened state suddenly went alive in reaction to this new information. “Team Rocket can do this?! Why have you not mentioned this before?”

“Because it was just an experiment… they didn’t get very far with it.” Maylene shrugged. “Those they blocked out thoughts, supposedly only had temporary forms of amnesia – so that test proved too minimal in effectiveness to be of any use. The ones that blocked out auras, made no immediate effects, but would eventually give random side-effects in the long run – so that test proved to be too random to be anything conclusive. But the one with emotions…”

The fighter paused. She stared at Anabel… watching her emotionless eyes, feeling absolute pity for her.

“…it would normally drive a person insane when their emotions were locked out.” she finished. “But to an Empathic? I can only assume they were able to successfully do it without that side-effect.”

Ash’s hand gripped onto Anabel’s ruined coat. “What… What in the world would they gain from that experiment?!”

“A weapon.” Sabrina answered.

“A weapon?”

The Psychic nodded and explained, “During the battle on the isle, Anabel was able to use her Empathy as a projectile weapon. I’m no expert on Empathy, but I doubt it ever had that capability on its own.”

“We don’t have that capability. We can only read emotions and intentions.” the Empathic Trainer supported. “Other than that, we can send emotion-fueled shouts and commands… but nothing actually physical.”

Ash could feel sadness from her, but not from within her. Inside, she felt empty. Hollow.

Sabrina flexedher mind and produced a small orb of purple and blue energy. “When Psychics and Aura users focus their power, they can produce physical manifestations of their thoughts or energies. But to constantly use them drains us physically. This is because the energy directly comes from within us. It uses our mental or life force to fuel itself…

“In essence, we are extensions of our powers, and not vice versa.”

She stood and faced Ash and Anabel. “I would assume you Empathics have this ability as well… however, due to the nature of emotions, it cannot be concentrated into physical form. Physical energy is solid, similar to rocks or other obviously physical objects. Psychic energy is sharp yet fluid, similar to water. Aura energy is attached yet free, similar to fire. Emotional energy, on the other hand, is more akin to wind – soft yet intangible.

“You can hold rocks, you can push water, you can transfer fire, but you cannot control the wind. You can only block it, redirect it, or suffocate it. It is not yours to control or hold.”

“Lovely poem, but what does that mean?” Maylene leaned back and sighed. Metaphors were not her specialty.

“When wind is prevented or funneled, it becomes erratic.” Sabrina completed the allegory. “If Anabel’s emotions are not allowed to go through her, she cannot be drained from her Empathy like Psychics and Aura users become when they use their powers – and as a side-effect, it will also cause the Empathy to fall out of her control. All things need energy and must release energy, and if that energy is not taken or given, the object without energy will release energy into and sap energy from others to fuel and spend itself.”

“That’s like the anti-thing I learned!” Maylene sat up, finally interested now that she understood. “The technique I learned creates an empty power that eats up other energies!”

“Except yours can never be satisfied.” the Psychic warned. “Anabel’s Empathy can be. It releases itself physically and overloads itself into those who can hold emotions. Energy taken and emotions given, at the cost of the victim’s emotional sanity.”

Maylene whistled, impressed. “That’s deadly.” How in the world does this lady figure out this stuff??

“As we speak, every emotion Anabel is feeling is feeding off Ash’s energy.”

Maylene and Anabel turned towards Ash.

Tears were flowing down his eyes, he didn’t notice them.

Inside, he felt angry, upset, depressed, panicked, and absolutely confused. He had thought they were his own feelings… but Sabrina’s explanation had revealed to him otherwise.

These are Anabel’s emotions…

He faced her. Her worried emotions transferring to him and through him.

“How do I stop this? How do I fix me?” the Frontier Brain’s volume escalated, but no emotional tone came from them.

Ash felt her desperation.

In a flicker of light, a large ring of energy shot out from the lilac-haired girl.

Everyone ducked out of the attack’s path. The ring exploded into a sparkle of colors as they collided with the trees.

“I can’t… feel… anything…” the young man whispered. “I can’t… FEEL ANY-”

His scream was cut short by Maylene’s hand.

She held him close as he continued screaming into her.

The fighter glared angrily towards Anabel. “Stop it! You’re driving him insane!”

Sabrina was ready to silence the female Empathic’s emotions by attacking her mind… but the bond had made her take a different approach.

Her hand rested on Anabel’s shoulder. “It’s alright. We’ll find a way to fix you…”

Ash slowed his breathing and began sobbing. “I wish I could feel something…”

…

Dawn quietly backed away and turned…

“Ow!”

Only to bump heads with another person.

“Watch where you’re going!” May hissed as she rubbed her forehead.

“May??? Misty???” Dawn nearly shouted in surprise. “Wh-What are you two doing here??”

“Misty?” May tilted her head and turned around.

She nearly yelped at the sight of the orange-haired Gym Leader standing behind her.

“Wh-What are you doing here???”

Misty sighed at their shocked reactions. “Seriously? Why else would I be here?”

The three girls looked down… each one feeling the heavy weight of depression, as none of them could do anything to improve the situation that had befallen Anabel. Powerless…

“Ahem!”

The three girls jumped back, frightened by the sound.

It was Maylene.

She stood with a hand on her hip and annoyance in her eyes. “What the heck are you four doing eavesdropping on a private meeting?”

“Four?” May looked around in confusion.

“Angie! Get down here! I know you’re up there!”

Rustle.

Angie’s head popped out from the leaves above. “How the heck did you find me??”

“Because Sabrina’s a Psychic, you idiots!” Maylene tapped her foot inirritation. She turned towards May. “You know, for an Empathic, you sure are terrible at sensing people.”

Dawn, Misty, and Angie glared at May. “EMPATHIC??”

May didn’t feel cornered, she was literally cornered.

She waved her hands apologetically and gave a nervous laugh. “I – I was going to tell you guys l-later…”

“When did you become an Empathic?!” Angie growled from above. “Us normal folks are seriously getting outnumbered!”

“That’s exactly what I said!” Maylene laughed.

Her face turned serious soon after. “No time for stories or jokes. May, we need you.”

The Empathic Coordinator pointed at herself. “M-Me?”

“Seeing that I’m the only other May here, and I don’t think I’d be referring to myself, yes. Yes, I was referring to you May, May.” The fighter grabbed her by the wrist and began walking. “Oh, and we also need Misty and Angie. So come on over.”

“Wh-What about me?!” Dawn was about to cry. She felt Ash getting further and further away again. His life becoming far too involved with others to need her anymore.

No… don’t go without me… I need you Ash…

The four girls were wandering away into the darkness… slowly leaving Dawn by herself.

She had never felt more alone in her life.

“Dawn! Can you bring Espeon’s poké ball? It’s by Ash’s backpack!” May called out from the distance.

“Y-Yeah! I can do that!” Dawn ran back to the sanctuary, happy to be able to join them.

…

The new Empathic wasn’t used to sensing people’s emotions without being blindfolded, but it was impossible for her to ignore the Coordinator’s distress.

Despite Dawn being a threat to her personal relationship with Ash, May couldn’t stand seeing her friend that hurt and alone.

No one deserves that…

That thought lingered in her mind when she finally realized an extremely important question that everyone else had seemed to ignore…

At the end of all this… who is Ash going to choose?

_________________________________________________________

“What do you think they’re doing in there?”

“Technically we’re in, they’re out. So… it’d be ‘out there’.”

“What’s with the grammar police here?”

“Is that really grammar? Or is that situational definition?”

“Is that even a thing?”

The group chatted amongst each other – their individual activities suddenly halted after Dawn had entered and left in a hurry. Curiosity of the missing teammates took over everyone’s interests.

Latias put her finger to her lips, gesturing for the others to go silent.

She blurred, turning invisible in seconds.

“Oooh, sneaky. Tell us all about it, Latias!” Tracey encouraged.

“SHHHHHHH!!!” the rest of the team hushed him.

The sanctuary turned quiet.

…

“Wait.” Casey broke the silence. “How can she tell us what happened?”

Several within the group hung their heads and sighed.

“Well, I can understand her.” Bianca pointed out. “I can talk for her.”

“Nice!” Ritchie cheered. “That’s pretty cool! Having a friend who can go invisible and mimic you? Sounds like you can get out of some pretty messy situations with a friend like that!”

Bianca laughed in embarrassment. “Actually, she gets me into more trouble because of it.”

The group shared small laughs.

“So Bianca…” Todd leaned forward. “We all talked about what happened in our crazy little adventure… but we never heard what happened when Ash came to visit you.”

“Yeah, even Dawn kept avoiding that conversation.” Tracey pointed out.

“And Casey here won’t say a word about it.” Ritchie bumped his shoulder against hers.

Casey grumbled and bumped back.

“So that leaves you to tell us what happened.” The Pokémon Photographer smirked mischievously – extremely curious of what her reaction would be.

Solana and Liza, who had been quietly playing cards in the corner, both quickly crawled over.

“I’ll admit that even I want to hear this.” Liza pulled over a backpack and sat on it.

Solana flopped onto her stomach, and leaned her chin against her forearms. “How is Alto Mare this time of year?”

“I… uh… uhm…” Bianca looked around her. She was completely surrounded.

“Come on! Tell us!”

“Did something ‘special’ happen there?”

“She’s blushing! Something DID happen!”

“You can’t back out now. Tell us! Tell us!”

“Er… the thing is…”

“Oh for crying out loud!” Casey stood and walked over to Bianca. She sat down beside her and stretched her limbs. “We’ll tell it together.”

“Wait! I – I don’t think we should!” Bianca panicked.

“Well good thing I’m not thinking right now.” Casey took off her baseball cap and slipped a stick of bubblegum into her mouth. “Gather around kiddies! Cuz Auntie Casey and BiBi have a tale to tell!”

“BiBi?? What kind of name is that?!”

“Hey, I started the story – storytellers get to choose names. You’re BiBi, I’m Auntie Casey, and this is the magnificent tale of Sato! The Man Who Hit the Reset Button!”

The audience applauded eagerly.

Bianca buried her face in her hands in utter embarrassment. “Ash is going to kill us…”

_________________________________________________________

A large wave of emotion crashed out of Anabel, tears fell from her eyes – continuing to soak her already drenched coat.

Her nails dug deep wounds into her two closest extensions…

Espeon yowled in agony. The emotions the Sun Pokémon recognized most from Anabel ran through her… memories flashed within her mind, each one attached to an emotion the Empathic would always remember for her beloved pokémon…

She wanted to falter – to forever be sucked into the Empathy and give it everything it ever wanted. It was Anabel, her master, her partner, her friend. Why shouldn’t she? Why shouldn’t she sacrifice herself for her?

Espeon! Focus!

The psychic call returned the pokémon’s consciousness back into reality.

Sabrina kneeled a short distance away from her, with palms spread open.

Control the emotions. Form them into memories and transfer them to me.

Espeon growled, the gem on its forehead glowing bright in response to its mental struggle.

Sabrina could feel its mind on the brink of insanity. She could no longer keep her own safety as a priority.

The Psychic took a step forward, reaching out towards Espeon.

Sensing the intrusion of an unwanted entity, the fury and rage of Anabel flared out – attempting to consume the Psychic that had wandered too close.

ESPEON!

Sabrina planted her palm against the pokémon’s gem.

TRANSFER THEM!

A glimmer of violet light entered Sabrina’s arm.

Success!

Espeon fainted.

“Move out of the way, Sabrina!!” Maylene called out.

A roar of violent energy dove down, missing the dodging Psychic by inches.

Sabrina rolled and exited the threat zone.

The energy halted in its hunt and returned to patrolling the area around Anabel.

She let out a sigh of relief.

Now it’s up to Misty…

“Anabel, it is Ash’s turn.”

Anabel looked towards Sabrina, her eyes still red from tears – yet remained emotionless. She nodded.

“Ash…”

Another wave of emotion released.

The female Empathic grunted in pain. Tears rained from her eyes once again.

Her grip renewed, digging deeper into a bare shoulder. Blood ran down Ash’s skin, as Anabel’s nails widened the wounds she had already set on him.

Ash’s breathing quickened. He tried his best to hold back the howls of pain.

“Focus on your center, Ash. Just feel the Aura in your center.” Maylene coached from afar – using the lessons she had learned with Lucario to improve their pain tolerance. “Focus on your breathing. Feel it go to your center, then back out.”

“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Ash roared in agony… not from his own pain, but from Anabel’s.

Her emotions of love, loyalty, and care passed through him – bringing memories of the female Empathic’s countless tortures.

She had endured for him. Held out for him. Gave nothing away… all for him. She protected Ash in the only way she could. No one would hurt Ash. Not her Ash. She’d never give him up. She never did. And she was punished for it.

They tried nonstop to break her. If her heart would not break, then perhaps her mind? Perhaps her body?

The fear she felt when she read those emotions – were real to Ash… his body shivered, his mind locked itself away. It would only be the beginning. If only she would just give in, if only she would give them what they want – they’d comfort her, please her, free her from this pain that she kept inflicting on herself. They weren’t bad… they were trying to protect her from herself.

Anabel had shaken and fought those thoughts away. They tried controlling her into obedience. They tried manipulating her into submission.

But she never obeyed. She never submitted. And she was punished for it.

“ANABEL!!!!!!!” Ash cried out. “ANABEL!!! ANAAABELLLLLL!!!!”

Everyone that watched, now turned away – unable to bear the pain they saw in his blank eyes.

Dawn covered her ears and began sobbing. “Stop it, Ash! STOP IT!!” His cries were too much for her.

She wanted to run to him, to comfort him, to stop his pain. But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t be allowed in.

“Misty!” Sabrina yelled.

“Ash…” The Cerulean City Gym Leader held out her hand. “Let it go… let me hold it.”

“NO!!!!”

The voice that had come out of Ash was not his.

“It’s Ash’s! I gave it to him! It’s his!!” Ash and Anabel yelled in unison.

The swirling fireball of fury and rage blocked Misty’s way.

Sabrina turned towards the tomboy.

“Looks like I’m up.” Angie crackedher neck and rolled her shoulders.

Confidently, she stepped into the hazard zone.

“Hey, Anne! Over here!!!”

Anabel, along with her enraged ball of emotions, turned towards her.

“That’s right, right here!” Angie taunted her to strike.

“Anj…” the female Empathic’s voice was cold, influencing the red and orange energy of anger to turn ice cold in colors. “…step out. Right. Now.”

“And what if I don’t?”

“Then I will kill you.”

“Why? Do you really have that much of an inferiority complex?” Angie shrugged as she continued to mock the heartless Empathic. “Afraid I might… win Ash over?”

That was it.

Anabel let go of Ash and forced her raging emotions to strike at the insolent young woman.

“Misty! Now!”

“Ash!!!”

Ash exhaled and released all his held emotions into Misty.

Anabel turned. “NO!!!” The cold fury turned hot and burned towards Ash’s extension.

“MAYLENE!”

“On it!” The fighter ran towards the infuriated force and controlled her breathing.

Come on, Maylene. You got this. You got this. Just like before.

A slow breath out.

A slow breath in.

Maylene closed her eyes and let the Emptiness return.

Everything went silent.

Ash, Misty, and Sabrina fainted immediately.

The Empathic and Psychic energies in the immediate area separated themselves from their physical containers – their powers becoming inhaled by the void that rested in the pit of the fighter’s center.

Churning to a single point, the mixed emotional and mental forces glowed in a wonderful display of light and warmth within Maylene’s hands.

Dawn, Pikachu, and Latias leaned closer – dazzled by the sight.

Angie scratched her nose and watched carefully.

Maylene’s eyetwitched.

Finding the fighter’s signal, Angie pushed the blank-faced girl towards the ball of emotion. “Soup’s ready, Anne. Drink up and feel better.”

Maylene instinctively gave the energy to its rightful owner.

The light and warmth touched Anabel’s chest.

“Ah-!”

She let out a gasp as her emotions and memories returned. Her eyes lit up. “I can…!”

“Not done yet!” Angie patted Maylene on the back, gesturing the fighter to stop. “May! Close her up!”

“Just did.” The pink-haired woman blinked at her.

“Not you. The other May!”

The Empathic Coordinator slid in and ran towards the off-balanced Frontier Brain.

“Here goes nothing!” May pulled her bandana over her eyes and rubbed her hands together. She pressed her warmed palms against Anabel’s heart.

…

…

“A lot… better.” Anabel sighedand smiled.

She fainted.

…

Latias beganclapping.

“Thank you! Thank you!” Angie bowed.

“Will you be here all week?” Maylene joked as she bowed too.

“If I have to carry all these bodies back by myself, probably.”

They looked back. Ash, Anabel, Espeon, and Sabrina were dead asleep. Misty simply raised her hand, gesturing for assistance.

May walked over and lifted her up. “You okay?”

“…that was…” the orange-haired Gym Leader mumbled inaudibly.

“Huh?”

“…was mine…” She lost consciousness.

May shrugged her shoulders and turned towards the others. “Can I have some help?”

They nodded.

Pikachu and Latias carried the downed Espeon.

Angie threw Anabel onto her back. “Come on, Anne. Can’t rest out here.”

Maylene picked up the Psychic. “I have no idea where this lady gets her insane ideas for cures, but man is she effective.”

The tomboy raised a brow as she carried the Empathic through the woods. “What I don’t get is why she just didn’t ask you to absorb all those powers when Anabel here built up her emotions. We could’ve skipped out on all that other stuff.”

Maylene laughed in response. “Well she did say that if we didn’t filter out those emotions that it would’ve been bad. Something about handling it all at once could’ve ended me or something.”

“I guess that’s important.” Angie laughed with her.

…

“Dawn?” May turned towards her fellow Coordinator. “…can you carry Ash?”

The blue-haired girl sat in silence, tears rolling down her eyes.

“I… don’t…”

With the bandana still over her eyes, the Empathic Coordinator sensed for the girl’s emotions carefully.

She had hoped the others would leave Ash so that Dawn would feel useful, as she had been considering herself useless throughout the entire experience.

But now… Dawn felt worse.

“I… I don’t deserve to.”

“Dawn…”

“All of you do so much for each other… I didn’t even know what was happening half the time you were all doing that.” The Sinnoh Coordinator looked away with shame. “I’m so useless…”

Her words broke May’s heart. She knew exactly how Dawn felt, almost far too exact. But unlike Ash, she didn’t know what she could do to change her mind.

“You’re a talented Coordinator, Dawn… in fact, I think you’re even a better Coordinator than me.” she admitted, recalling their match in the Wallace Cup. “You’re not useless. Ash needs you for this mission. More than he probably needs me as a Coordinator. I just had years of a head start over you. Give yourself a few years and you’ll surpass me.”

May gave an encouraging smile, hoping that the young girl wouldn’t mimic the ‘and what are you’ speech she gave to Ash in the Rocket Tunnel. I honestly would have no idea what to say to that…

Dawn crawled over and slowly lifted Ash onto her shoulder.

She walked silently into the thick trees.

I’m glad she’s moving at least…

The blue Coordinator stopped and plainly admitted, “I… don’t really care about being a Coordinator without Ash…”

With a grunt, she continued her march back to the sanctuary.

…

“…you and me both, kid.”

_________________________________________________________

The private meeting had ended, and its participants returned to the sanctuary.

First to arrive was Angie, with Anabel piggybacked. The tomboy’s hair was a mess, and the others could smell that it was slightly burnt. Oppositely, Anabel’s hair remained perfectly intact, though her clothes were soaking wet.

Then came Latias, with Pikachu and Espeon lying on her illusionary shoulders. Latias, as always, looked perfectly clean – though her eyes suggested recent shock and worry. Pikachu also seemed perfectly fine visually, though showed obvious concern for the other pokémon riding with him. The Sun Pokémon was in horrible shape… her fur stiff and frayed, and with four noticeable wound marks on its back. Despite this, she was sleeping soundly.

Dawn and Maylene appeared together, one carrying Sabrina, and the other carrying Ash.

Maylene, as usual, looked slightly unkempt yet cheerful. Stains of all kinds marked her already dirty clothes. The Psychic on her back looked in similar condition. Though unlike the fighter, she was unconscious and mumbling in a fitful sleep.

The Coordinator seemed in almost perfect condition, except for her tired eyes. Ash, on the other hand, looked… ravaged. Half of his shirt and vest were torn off completely, almost as if burned off. Blood was dripping from his shoulder. His face didn’t seem to show care, as he snored loudly in a blissful sleep.

Lastly, May entered into the sanctuary, with Misty fading in and out of consciousness on her back. The two seemed mostly unharmed. May’s only injury was in her hands, which were a soft off-color pink – as if its old skin had been peeled off.

In whole, the returning group was in shambles, and seemed relieved to be back to an area with light.

…

“Looks like that private meeting seemed a lot more private than it should have been.” Todd joked as he gestured towards Ash.

The group laughed uneasily.

Maylene gladly helped the joke, “Oh yeah. We all took turns! It was pretty intense. You shoulda’ been there.”

The fighter was instantly tackled and kicked by two of her helping companions.

Angie and May’s faces were completely pink from the fighter’s explicit insinuation.

Even Latias seemed to blush at the idea.

“What?! We d-didn’t –!!!” May nearly dropped her passenger. She panicked to rebalanced.

“Y-You’re sick, Maylene!” Angie gave another kick.

Maylene dodged and laughed. “Calm down! Calm down! It’s just a joke!”

Dawn tilted her head. “Huh? Joke?” Completely oblivious.

The fighter grinned. “At least one of us is innocent.” She nudged Dawn. “We’ll tell you when you get older.”

“Older?” The Coordinator pouted, “I’m not some kid!”

“Well you are the youngest of all of us.” Bianca pointed out with an air of superiority.

“Er… BiBi?” Casey pointed at her nose. “Nosebleed.”

“Hm?” She looked down. “Ah!”

Bianca covered her face with one hand as she desperately tried to wipe away the nosebleed with the other.

The group laughed.

“S-So…” The center of attention tried to recover herself. “What were you guys doing in there?”

“‘Out’ there.” Ritchie corrected.

“Seriously, call the grammar police.” Casey sighed.

“In there. Out there. Whatever.” Bianca successfully stopped and cleaned her previous embarrassment. “What were you all doing without us?”

“Yeah, it looks like you all had a fight!” Solana leaned back and allowed Plusle to sit on her lap. “It definitely sounded like a fight.”

“Or something else entirely.” Todd coughed.

Angie kicked his head. “Shush, perv.”

“The charizards haven’t seen any activity above or around the forest.” Liza mentioned as she sipped from her can of coffee. “So unless someone attacked underground, I’m assuming you all had a private sparring session with one another?”

“Pff! I wish!” Maylene slowly rested Sabrina against a tree.

Angie did the same for Anabel. “Actually, we were just fixing up Anne over here.”

“Fixing?” Casey stuck her bubblegum to a rock and casually rested her head on her knees. “Something was wrong with her?”

Todd sat up and massaged the bump forming on the side of his head. “Well, she was going berserk back at the isle. I’m guessing that wasn’t natural for her.”

“Definitely not natural.” The tomboy nodded. “She just needed a little tune-up. It was little troublesome, but she’s all fine and dandy now.”

“That’s good to hea–”

Solana was cut off by a loud SNORE.

Angie had fallen asleep next to Anabel instantly.

She was not the only one to fall asleep. Maylene and May had dozed off, their expressions showing complete exhaustion.

Dawn was the last non-pokémon from the private meeting that hadn’t fallen asleep.

She sat uncomfortably against a tree, as Ash’s slumbering body curled up against her.

Latias put her finger up to her lip and smiled to the group. The Eon Pokémon lightly placed Espeon on Anabel’s lap and silently hopped towards Bianca. Finding a comfortable spot to rest, she removed her light illusion and relaxed her body. Long day…

You have to tell me what happened later. Bianca sent her thoughts to the pokémon companion.

Long story…

The pokémon fell asleep.

…

…

“We heard the story about your trip with Ash…”

Dawn’s eyes widened.

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:31 PM

Chapter 26: Worth

“We heard the story about your trip with Ash…” Tracey sat next to Dawn, facing away. “…is it true?”

The blue Coordinator adjusted herself, trying to disguise the fact that she was trying to cover Ash’s ears with her skirt.

“Er… What – What do you mean?”

“That he’s Sato.”

“Wh-Who told you that?”

“Casey and Bianca.”

Dawn looked down, not knowing what to say. This conversation wasn’t supposed to happen. That story wasn’t supposed to be told. Everyone was supposed to keep it a secret; Ash had bound them to that promise. ‘It would cause too much problems’ he had said.

And now the problems were starting…

…

“So it’s true?”

“…yes.”

Tracey sighed. “So what do you think?”

“What do I think about what?”

“That we’re repeating history…”

Dawn’s eyes narrowed. “…repeating history?”

“The same disaster’s going to happen all over again. It’s almost the same exact situation, just with different places and characters.”

“…different characters…”

Tracey looked up to the full moon and covered it with his palm. He turned and tilted his hand, studying its every line and curve being highlighted by moonlight. “Can you imagine that? We all used to be someone else… I wonder who I used to be in that past.”

The Coordinator looked into her own hands. Who I used to be…

“Casey said only Bianca, Latias, and Ash remembered something about that past. Something about how being pivotal to this new fight allows them to remember…”

His hand closed into a fist. “I don’t know what that means for the rest of us, but I do know one thing… that means Ash is going to be in the same position as he was when he was Sato.”

Dawn’s hands began to tremble. …how come I don’t remember anything? Am I not important to this? Am I not important to Ash…?

She held back her tears, afraid of the group seeing her.

…Ash… you’re going to move forward, aren’t you? And I’ll just be me… You’ll go out and save the world and meet so many more people, and I’ll just be me…

…I don’t want to be me without you, Ash. I don’t know why. I don’t know what I’m so scared about. But I want to only be me as long as I matter to you… I want to matter to you…

I want you to always be there with me…

Dawn found herself holding Ash’s sleeping head close to her chest.

She frowned and let his head back onto her lap.

“…so what are you going to do?”

Tracey’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“What do you mean?” She looked towards him.

He still wasn’t facing her – his back being the only thing she could see. From this position it was obvious that he didn’t want others to know that they were talking.

“If Ash tries to reset the universe again…”

She gasped. “Wh-What?”

“No matter how much this world changed, we’re still going to end up in the same situation.” The sketch-artist loosened his shoulders, as if showing exhausted surrender. “And Ash is more than likely going to have to make the same decision.”

“But what if it doesn’t happen the same way?”

“And if it does? What will you do?”

…

…

“I… don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“We all talked about it while the rest of you were gone…” Tracey adjusted himself and began sketching. Whether he was actually sketching or merely pretending to be busy, Dawn wasn’t sure. “…Sabrina, while the most logical of us, has gotten too close to Ash. Maylene’s next in line, but she can get irrational at times too. She also tends to avoid topics when she doesn’t like them.

“May is far too loyal to him to try anything. Bill obviously isn’t here with us. And even if he was, I doubt he’d really believe in all this universal-restart business. Liza said she didn’t want to try anything too hasty – so she plans on just watching and waiting. Solana admitted she’s more concerned with stopping Team Rocket and doesn’t really care what Ash does after that. We already know that Angie and Anabel won’t do anything against him. Bianca wouldn’t say anything about the story, so it’s easy to assume she won’t do anything. And if Bianca doesn’t do anything, then Latias obviously won’t do anything either…”

The Coordinator stopped his long explanation with a sigh. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say. You still haven’t explained to me what you were asking.”

“I’m naming off the people who have items that relate to Ash. Or ones who were with him when he escaped the original attack on his home. The ones he picked because of the black marble.”

“…I know that, but why are you naming them off?”

“Because they’ll most likely be the ones directly involved with that final battle. More than likely, they’ll be the ones that help Ash make the final decision.”

“Okay… but why are you asking me? He… never looked for me… I just ended up here.” she frowned, holding back any outward signs of her depression.

“You mean, Bianca never told you??”

“Never told me what? All we ever did was bicker.”

Tracey laughed quietly. “I guess she wouldn’t want to tell you then.”

“What? What didn’t she tell me?” Excitement was building up inside her. “Tell me!”

“Shhhh…” Tracey reached back in a panic and covered her mouth.

“…hmm? …what’s going on?”

Dawn turned stiff. She looked down. Ash was looking up at her.

“Oh…h-hi Ash… it’s nothing. G-Go back to slee–”

He began snoring before she could finish her sentence.

…

She let out a sigh of relief.

“Be quiet.” Tracey hissed.

“Then tell me what she told you.”

“Thing is… you and Ash didn’t seem to catch it, but Latias and Bianca did.”

“Catch what? Quit with the dramatics.”

“You were there.”

“There where?”

“In Sato’s past. You were with him.”

_________________________________________________________

“What exactly are we waiting for?” Angie grumbled. She took another bite of her cold sandwich and leaned back onto the pure white stump.

May frantically pressed icons on the screen, trying her best to prevent her virtual character from missing a dance step. “Just. Waiting. For Bill to call.”

“Did he even say he was going to call today?”

“No. No… No! No! No No No No NoNoNONONONO!!!! COME ON!!!!” The Empathic Coordinator slammed her head against the pokétab as her low score displayed in a flashing red font.

“Why don’t we call him?”

“I don’t know his number…” May groaned angrily into the screen.

“Can’t you just call him back through some call-back feature or something?”

May peeled the pokétab off her face and shoved it towards the tomboy. “If you can find that, you do it. I seriously don’t know how to check previous calls on that thing.”

Angie stared at the device and pressed buttons randomly.

…

…

“Aha!”

May sat up straight. “Did you find it?!”

Angie grinned with pride. “I found out how to exit the game!”

SLAM.

May planted her face against the white stump. She groaned.

The tomboy began looking through the different programs available.

What’s this? …a diary?

The female Empathic immediately looked up and glared.

Angie locked eyes with her. Oh crap… I forgot she’s an Empathic…

“Eheh… look at the time…” she slowly rose to her feet.

“Angie, don’t you dare…”

“Don’t do wh– See ya’!” The tomboy ran off, with pokétab in hand.

“ANGIE!!!” May roared as she stumbled to her feet. “GET BACK HERE!!!”

“I’ll give it back once I’m done! Promise!” Angie yelled back with a laugh.

_________________________________________________________

Maylene avoided another strike and launched a counter kick.

Her foot bounced off Lucario’s chest harmlessly.

The blue jackal frowned.

With a shrug, she scratched her head embarrassingly. “Sorry, Lucario. Just not feeling it today.”

It tilted its head.

“No offense, but I just really want to fight Ash.”

Lucario folded its arms and grunted.

“N-No, nothing’s wrong with you. You just don’t really fight with your heart like he does.”

BOF. An Aura Sphere exploded against her face.

She rubbed her nose in pain. “I said HEART! Not Aura!”

Lucario turned away.

“Oh come on, don’t be like that. I love sparring with you. I just really wanted to fight with Ash today.”

It waved her off.

“Well I can’t. He’s busy right now. Got an army to set up and he ain’t got time for me right now.”

It turned towards her and shrugged.

“I can’t just force him! That’s rude! Besides, I want him to ready this army up. Sooner we get this done, sooner I can ask him out.”

Lucario smirked.

“Well duh I like Ash. I thought that was obvious.”

His smirk became a knowing smile. He raised his brow.

Maylene’s cheeks turned pink. “M-Marry?? Whoah whoah whoah now! One step at a time, Lucario!”

He kept his brow raised as he tilted his head.

“I – I don’t know if I can commit like that! Yet, at least! I mean, I’ve got a Gym to run! I’ve still got to train more! And and –!”

Lucario put his hand to his chin and grunted.

“R-Run the Gym with me?? … I uh…” Maylene put her hands to her cheeks and began to sweat. “I d-don’t think…. I mean, um… h-he is talented…”

She shook her head and glared at him. “Quit putting thoughts in my head like that! It’s just a date! Just to get to know each other better.”

He shook his head, scratching his ear.

“What do you mean I won’t get the chance?” Maylene narrowed her eyes. “You don’t think I’m a good catch?”

He looked away and snickered.

“Hey! I know I’m not as pretty as the other girls… or as… ‘developed’… but I’ve got personality! And unlike them, I could save him if he gets in trouble. They’re all just princesses. Even if Ash doesn’t know it yet, he’d be happier with a warrior.”

Lucario shifted his eyes quickly to his right.

Maylene glanced and found a familiar tomboy climbing a tree.

“Who? Angie?” She put her hand to her chin and studied the young woman. “I guess. But I doubt she’d get the courage to ask Ash out first.”

Lucario then made an impression of a person with an extremely serious face. He used his Aura to accentuate his body.

“Sabrina? No way! She’s like… well… actually, I don’t know how old she is. But no way!”

…

“You seriously think so? I mean I know they’re close, but would they actually?”

He shrugged.

“Well if she does…” Maylene cracked her knuckles and punched forward. “We can settle it in a fight. I’ve always wanted to fight a Psychic of her caliber!”

Lucario sighed.

“Is he worth it?”

…

She gave it some thought.

“Well, I’m not sure if he’s worth it. But he sure is fun. Don’tcha’ think?”

Lucario smiled.

Maylene smiled back.

“At least we agree on that.”

_________________________________________________________

“You sure you don’t want to eat?”

“I’m not really hungry.”

…

Ash stared at the soup he had prepared for Anabel.

He sighed. I don’t really want to eat this myself…

…

Anabel?

…

“Anabel?”

“Y-Yes?”

“S-Sorry… I’m just not used to you not talking to me with your Empathy.”

Anabel looked down, her eyes showing revealing sadness – though it didn’t matter much to the one who couldn’t see. “Oh sorry… I guess I’m just not used to talking like that. It’s been a while.”

Is… Is this better?

Ash could feel the hesitation, fear, and anxiety in her emotions.

He held her hand instinctively. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, Anabel.”

She blushed and gave a slight frown. “It’s not that I don’t want to… I’m just not used to it. I just kept myself locked up for so long… trying to keep them out. I-It feels weird to know that they won’t… they won’t…”

The female Empathic was starting to break. Her emotions beginning to shake and crack.

Ash wrapped his arms around her and pressed her head against his chest. “It’s okay. You’re here now. You’re fine. I’m here, Anny.”

Broken.

ASH!! ASH!!! I HELD, ASH!!! I HELD!!! Th-They didn’t get it from me! They couldn’t! It’s not for them!! I protected you!! I kept you safe!!! The others broke! The others gave in!! But I never did!! I never did, Ash!! OH GOD!!! ASH!!!

She was wailing into his chest. Her hands desperately held onto his head, as she continued to shatter.

I wouldn’t let them in! I couldn’t let them in!! THEY COULDN’T PULL ME OUT!! NO!! THEY COULDN’T!!! I HELD!!! I HELD!!!! I DID!!! I SWEAR!!! I SWEAR!!! But… But… they locked me away! They locked me away, Ash!! I’M SORRY!! I’M SO SORRY!!! I didn’t… I didn’t want them to!! I didn’t want them!!! I WANTED YOU ASH!!! NOT THEM!!!

His heart tore.

Her emotions far too strong and far too hurt for a single person to bear, he carried them with her.

Anabel’s emotions during her capture were in stark contrast with what her body and mind had felt. Instincts had told her then to give in. And logic told her to save herself or there’d be nothing left for Ash to have. But her emotions fought against these – and because of it, her heart was torn.

She had given all of herself to protect Ash, all for the irrational gamble that it would pay off. That he’d return her feelings. Return her love.

Her cries went silent.

…

No… she felt towards him. Even if you don’t choose me, it’s okay. I would’ve done it either way. Because I love you, Ash.

Her heart calmed. Her breathing slowed.

I… don’t love you more than myself, I am myself, and myself loves you. I don’t love you more than anything – I just know I love you, and nothing can compare to it.

Anabel looked up to him. His face so peaceful, yet his tears continued flowing.

She wiped them away.

I don’t know why I love you so much, Ash. I just do. I know I didn’t love you this much when I first met you… and I know I didn’t love you this much before they took me away from you… but I love you so much now. I can’t explain it. I just do, Ash. And…

“It’s okay if you don’t. I know you love me. I feel it now.”

The female Empathic brushed her head against his neck and took a deep breath in. You smell nice…

“I don’t know why I love you Ash. But you never questioned why you felt this way for me… you just did. So I will too.”

She looked into his eyes. Blank, empty, but with so much emotion behind them.

“I know it sounds silly… but I think I was made for you, Ash…”

“Anabel…”

…can you call me Anny again? I really like that name…

“…Ann–”

“HEY PRINCESS!!! GET YOUR HANDS OFF HIM!!!”

The tomboy’s voice echoed against the trees.

The sound made Anabel boil up in anger.

Angie… her emotions growled.

A horribly familiar tension filled the air.

Oh no… Ash sighed.

The tomboystompedtowards them. “I know I said Ash needed you and all…”

She violently ripped Ash away from her. “But that didn’t mean you could cling onto him like a heracross to a tree!”

Anabel’s lip formed a smirk. You’ve lost, tomboy. “If anything, Ash was clinging onto me. We were having a heartfelt moment. By his choice.”

“Of course it was. Because he wanted to comfort you. Anyone would if they heard you howling like a wailord!”

Her eye twitched. “It was more than just that, trust me. Ash wanted me in his arms. Ask him yourself.”

“And play your game? No thank you.” Angie stepped in close and frowned. I’ll wipe that ugly smug off your face, princess. “I think it’s sad that you always resort to being passive aggressive. Always hiding behind someone else to take care of your problems.”

“Excuse me?!”

“You’re trying to manipulate Ash into making a choice he doesn’t want to make!”

“Who says he doesn’t want to make it?!”

“Apparently the girl Ash always goes to for fair and non-judgmental advice!” It wasn’t a card Angie liked to play, but she would gladly bring it out if it meant it would silence Anabel. She continued, “And not the princess that keeps forcing him to feel and think things on her convenience!!”

“YOU-!!!” Anabel stood and bared her teeth.

“Wanna’ go at it again? Because we can settle that little fight right here! Right now! No Officer Jenny’s to stop us!!”

“Um…” Ash pathetically tried to interrupt.

“STAY OUT OF IT!!!” the two shouted in unison.

“But… May’s coming.”

“SO?!” Anabel fumed.

Angie, however, understood what that meant.

“Oh crap! Um… We’ll settle this later, Anne!” the tomboy gave an awkward bow and started running.

“YEAH YOU GET OUT OF HERE!!!”

…

Anabel exhaled and relaxed. Using her fingers, she combed her hair back into perfection and straightened the wrinkles off her coat.

She gave an apologetic smile towards Ash. “S-Sorry about that… I must’ve seemed a little –”

“Where is she?!”

May came charging in. Exhausted and out of breath, but enough energy and air to shout angrily.

The lilac-haired Empathic smiled in superiority and shook her head. “What did Angie do now?”

“She took my diar– I mean, the pokétab!!”

Anabel pointed her in the right direction.

The Coordinator sprinted off.

…

Diary? Anabel considered. If helped May, I could get Angie pummeled... Or I could help Angie and find what’s in that diary.

Ash sighed.

The female Empathic smiled mischievously. Or I could just help myself and get Angie caught while still taking the diary for myself.

The male Empathic walked away and grumbled, “Just leave me out of it…”

Anabel stayed, weighing her options with great interest.

As Ash neared the sanctuary, a bittersweet thought ran through his mind.

Just like old times…

_________________________________________________________

“You better spit it out, Bianca!”

“Or what, Dawn?”

The Coordinator sneered. “Or I’ll! I’ll!”

She felt a finger tap on her back.

Dawn looked over her shoulder, only to find another Bianca smiling and waving at her.

“What??”

The real Bianca pulled herself away from Dawn’s grip and took a step back.

She smirked. “Two of us, one of you.”

Latias agreed with an innocent nod.

“Wrong.”

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
Vacuum. Vacuum. Vacuum. Vacuum. Vacuum. Vacuum.

Dawn emptied her purse of its poké balls. “You try anything then it’s suddenly seven of me, and only two of you.”

…

Bianca frowned. She crossed her arms and looked away. “What’s it matter to you, anyways?”

“It matters to me the same reason why it matters to you.” The Coordinator took a step forward. “If this wasn’t a big deal, you would’ve told me.”

“Would I?”

“It has something to do about Ash, doesn’t it?”

…

Dawn looked towards the fake Bianca. “It does, doesn’t it, Latias?”

The illusion of Bianca gave a face of guilt and sadness. Refusing eye contact, Latias nodded.

Dawn faced the real one again. “Tracey said you saw me back in Sato’s past. But I was there with you. I didn’t see me at all. None of them looked like me… or even felt like me.”

She looked down to her feet. “I don’t have any connection to the memories we saw that day. And… it hurts me. Because I want to matter. To Ash. And I know you want to matter too, but at least you had that memory – that feeling – that connection with Ash. Isn’t that enough to tell you that you two matter more to him than I do? If I didn’t see me there, I must’ve been too minor a character in the past! Isn’t that enough? Isn’t that enough for you to rub it in my face?”

Her hands shook. Her cry held back. “I… just want to know. Who I was. If I helped at all…”

…

Latias turned, tears forming in her eyes.

“Latias?” Dawn watched as the pokémon ran off.

For a second, she thought she had seen Latias’ human form change…

Bianca walked off, following her pokémon friend.

“Bianca! Just answer me!”

…

Her rival tilted her head. “Dawn…”

“…yes?”

“…what would you do if you found out… that the reason you couldn’t remember… was because you shouldn’t remember?”

“What… What do you mean?”

She continued walking.

“Wait! Bianca!”

“Drop it, Dawn!” the normally calm girl shouted as her body began to shake. She was sobbing. “Just… drop it! You win, okay? You always do.”

The Coordinator paused. Unsure what to think or say to that response.

“What do you mean, Bianca?” was her only valid reaction.

…

“That’s not my name…”

Bianca dashed into the woods, chasing after Latias.

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:32 PM

Chapter 27: Consideration

Water splashed again.

Relief.

“Misty?”

After finding that the sanctuary was near empty, Ash decided to wander through the woods he had become so familiar with – in the hopes of finding the others. While he didn’t know exactly where he was or where he was going, he instinctively knew he was still in the forest, and could find his way back without having to think about it.

However, in his lone wandering, he heard a sound he was never familiar with in the area.

Rushing water.

…

Misty’s emotions showed surprise and slight panic. Hints of anger and embarrassment were flushed away as she realized who it was.

“Oh! Ash… it’s just you.”

“…er… yeah. Um… I heard water back here. And I’m pretty sure this place never had a river…”

Ash felt another presence slightly above her. Lying against the branches of the tree above, Starmie and Staryu waited patiently for Misty’s commands.

“Oh! You got yourself a shower set up! Smart!”

…

Wait… shower?

Ash’s face turned red as he covered his eyes.

…

“S-Sorry! I- uh- didn’t – !”

Ash ran into a tree. “…ow.”

Um, Ash?

“I’ll just be on my w-way!”

Ash.

“Y-Y-Yeah?”

You can’t see, remember?

“W-Well yeah… I guess, but…”

He still refused to move his hands away.

“…y-you’re not… er… wearing…”

N-No…

Misty’s entire body turned red in embarrassment. She grabbed a towel and hid behind a tree.

L-Look. You didn’t have to make a big deal about it. I- I don’t even know why I’m h-hiding now.

B-Because you were –…

I know what I was, you jerk! But I wanted to finish my shower!

I – I can just leave. Ash began to feel his way around the trees.

W-Wait, I…

He stopped in his tracks.

I… wanted to talk to you.

He nervously tried to pull his pant leg away from a curled root that it had hooked onto. W-we can talk back at the –…

No, in private. Misty’s emotions were calm, humble, yet serious and urgent.

…later then?

N-No. Now.

B-But…

I – I know I’m naked, okay! But you can’t see. S-So it doesn’t really count… …and you better not be having any thoughts, because I’ll catch them!

Wh-What?!

Just… walk back over here.

Ash gulped. “Wh-Where do I stand?”

“Just a little closer… I can’t read you very well back there…”

The male Empathic stiffly walked over. He stopped every few steps.

“A little closer…”

A few more steps forward.

“Closer.”

One more step.

“Just a little more…” her voice was so close now.

“Wh-Why?? Y-You can read me j-just fine from here, right??” Ash was sweating hard.

“I…” she began mumbling.

…

“What?”

I said… I need you to s-stand there in case anyone comes. I need to use your body as cover.

“Wh-What?!” His head became red hot.

N-Not like that! Just to m-make sure no one sees me immediately!

“B-But you were standing out here even before I got here!”

I didn’t think anyone would find me all the way back here! But seeing that you found me back here – who knows who’s going to follow you back here!

“I – I said I can just go!”

“And I said I wanted to talk!”

…

She sighed and slowly moved away from the tree.

J-Just let me finish my shower.

…

-flp-

Her towel dropped.

-fsssssssssssssss-

Staryu began to release its water.

Ash stood perfectly still. Trying to clear his mind of any thought or possible distraction. He didn’t want to think of anything else in case the thought moved onto the very ideas he was refusing to think. His emotions reflected that of a statue… a statue that was trying really hard to convince itself that it was a statue.

… Ash?

The statue shattered. Y-Y-Yes??

… who’s Maya?

As if being slapped awake, Ash remembered where he was and who he was…

He was no longer the same Ash before this journey started. Not the same Ash that wondered where he’d end up a few years down the road. Not the same Ash that was trying to overcome his blindness…

He accepted all those things. The journey, his blindness, and even the fact that he might not come out of this journey alive…

He was Ash… the one leading the group to fix everything Sato couldn’t…

“Sato…” Misty whispered.

…

Only the sound of water dripping could be heard.

She had stopped moving. Her mind fixated on the name that floated in Ash’s thoughts.

“…Misty?”

“Ash. Why do I know these names? Who are they?”

His emotions locked up, preventing her from looking into him.

“Ash?”

“I-It’s nothing. Finish your shower.”

“You’re hiding something.”

“It’s not important.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“Maya, just…”

“You just called me her again! Who’s Maya?!”

…

Ash was caught. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. At this point, he had no choice but to talk. While he admitted that he could have avoided this conversation by running and hiding forever, he knew that she would find out some way, some time, somehow down the road in this adventure.

With a sigh, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object.

“…do you know what this is?”

The Empathic studied his emotional extension carefully… he waited for the slightest change or reaction from her due to the sight of the black marble.

…

Nothing. Just casual confusion.

“No… What is it?”

“It’s an Arceus Drop. Does that mean anything to you?”

Though he himself twitched in reaction at mentioning the marble’s name, he felt nothing from her.

She was understandably perplexed. No more, no less.

“No. Not really.”

Ash sighed. Rolling the black marble against his fingers, he considered everything in his memory.

Then why do only Bianca and Latias know something about this? I don’t think I even remember seeing them in that memory… only Misty.

“What memory? What about Bianca and Latias?”

He closed back up, hating himself for not being able to hold up his emotional walls like the others. The topic was no longer open for discussion with Misty. If she didn’t remember any of the topics he had brought up, her reaction to the entire story may have turned out far more negative in its consequences. The less she knew, the better.

And so he kept her out.

“No, Ash. Tell me now.”

…

“Something happened in Alto Mare. Something you’re not telling me.”

…

“Open yourself up, Ash! This isn’t fair!”

“I can’t, Misty…”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t. Because I don’t know what to do if anyone else found out.”

“Why don’t you trust me with this? How can you trust Bianca and Latias and not me? I’ve been with you through more than anyone else in this group! You know you can trust me!”

“This… This is different.” Ash began walking away.

A wet hand grabbed onto his elbow.

He ignored it and wrenched himself away.

“If you won’t tell me, I’ll get it out of you!”

Misty grabbed his arm with both hands and pulled him towards her.

His body collided into hers.

Her body. Soft. Smooth. Wet. And…

Ash got a nosebleed.

“T-Tell me!” Misty wrapped her arms around him. Her face redder than it had ever been in her entire life, but still full of determination, and still in complete control.

“I…! Uhm! …”

He was going to faint. This situation felt too unreal; too different from everything else he had ever experienced his entire life. And his hands… were touching her hips…

Ash shook his head. No! Ignore it, Ash! You’re not just some little boy! It doesn’t matter if she’s doing this! You’re Sato! You’ve got more important things to worry about! You’ve got to… got to… er…

He realized his emotional wall was down.

Misty smirked. “So you’re Sato.”

“Er… thing is…”

“And I’m Maya, right? You saw something back at Alto Mare – something that Bianca, Latias, Casey, and Dawn know about, something extremely important. And you don’t want anyone else to find out about it or figure it out.”

“I…” He sighed. “…yes.”

“So either you’re going to tell me… or I’m going to get the answer out of Bianca myself. I’m fine with either option.”

“Misty, please…”

“Don’t you mean ‘Maya’, Sato?”

His heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he could see again.

Maya was in his arms. Giving him a loving smile.

She looked so much like Misty… though her hair was long.

Like a river of sunlight, her hair flowed and shimmered. Like a vast sea, her blue eyes sparkled. And like a pure bride, her innocent smile showed more love than a thousand poems could ever express.

“Sato, I think I want to move here after all of this…”

“Here?” He looked at the forest around them. “I thought you said you wanted to live up north. The place with the aquarium, remember?”

“I know… but you seem so happy here.” Her soft hand touched his face. “I want to be where you are.”

Blackness returned, swallowing the light.

The moment had ended, and he was Ash again.

But the warmth still remained against his cheek.

…it was Misty’s hand.

“S-Sato?”

She pulled away, standing up and backing away quickly. Her fingers wrapped against her head. “Wh-What was that?!”

The Empathic’s eyes widened. “Misty… you saw it too?”

“Who’s… Misty? I’m… Maya… no, I’m Misty. I’m Misty. Right?”

Confusion. Panic. Fear. The Cerulean City Gym Leader began to shatter under the twisting weight of the two realities. “I…”

Ash noticed his hand increase in temperature.

The marble…

It had been rising in heat while in his possession for quite some time, but he had only noticed it now.

Was it reacting to Misty?

He had no time to ponder the thought… Misty was going to faint.

“Misty!!!” Ash leapt up and grabbed the young woman before she fell.

…

“I think… I like ‘Maya’ better, Sato.”

She lost consciousness.

Falling into rest with her, the Arceus Drop cooled and faded from memory.

…

Ash began to shake her. “Maya… Maya!”

Her eyes opened. Her emotions completely changed.

He felt something else entirely hot in his hands. Maya’s body was heating up.

She was blushing all over. “A-Ash?”

“Yes, Maya?”

“F-First off, don’t call me that.”

“But you just said –”

“S-Second… please let go of me.”

“Huh?”

Ash suddenly remembered his situation.

His fingers twitched, feeling Misty’s soft, bare skin.

The action earned him a hard slap across the face.

His face met grass after falling off balance.

Misty kicked him while he was down and grabbed her towel. “Pervert.”

“B-But you’re the one that –”

“I know what I did. And I did it to get information out of you. Now that I have it, you can go now.” She waved him off.

“Wh-What?? You’re just going to pretend like none of that happened?!”

“Like what happened? Nothing happened.” her voice was cold and sharp.

Ash rubbed his cheek and slowly crawled to his feet.

He sighed and began walking off. “Alright, whatever. I guess.”

The Empathic was irritated and more than just confused. What the heck was all that about? Just goes and uses me like that and pretends like it means nothing… Whatever. I’m going to talk to Pikachu.

It didn’t mean nothing, Sato.

He paused.

I just don’t think we should talk about it right now. …we should get this done first, right?

He smiled. Yeah, we should.

“So get out of here already!” Misty growled loudly. “I still need to get changed!”

I still don’t know what any of this means… but that moment was… nice. You can tell me what you saw back in Alto Mare some other time. For now, I just need some time alone… to clear my head.

I’ll talk to you later, Maya.

Yeah… I’ll see you later, S-Sato…

_________________________________________________________

“And that’s the whole story.”

…

…

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

Tracey leaned casually against a splintered tree. His false confidence easily showing cracks as he constantly changed his posture.

His body was trembling. It had been trembling since he had arrived within that desolate part of the woods.

To Tracey, his fears were justified. He was in the presence of Sabrina… alone.

The sketch-artist couldn’t recall if anyone had ever been alone with Sabrina, excluding Ash.

It seemed Ash and Angie were the main pieces of the formula to make the Psychic approachable… without either of them, she seemed far too cold and deadly to be considered anything close to an ally or friend. Just being near her sent involuntary chills throughout his body.

She never looked at him. She never moved an inch. And she never spoke a word since he first began talking to her. Three factors that made the situation unbearable.

But he was here for an answer, for a solid plan, for an idea of what to do next. And for that, Tracey was willing to risk his comfort and possibly his life.

…

“Sabrina?”

Her strikingly cold eyes met his.

He froze. At any minute he could have sworn she would’ve devoured his soul.

Well, it was nice knowing everyone…

He slapped his palms together above his head and began praying in mantras.

“Answer me, Tracey…”

“H-Huh??”

He stopped and looked towards her.

“I – I mean, y-yes?” he foolishly tried to give a confident tone.

“Why did you tell me this story?”

“Wh-Why? … um… wh-why not?? Isn’t it important? Pivotal? Dire information that we need to consider before we charge in there head-first??”

“That is not what I asked. I asked why you told me this story. Specifically me.”

Tracey scratched his neck in nervousness. “W-Well everyone who didn’t go to that private meeting already knows. A-And I also told Dawn.”

“Again. That is not what I asked. Why did you tell me this story, Tracey? What is it that you seek?”

“I –”

“Know this, Tracey Sketchit: I already know what you are going to say long before you dare utter the vowels. Your mind is slow. Your speech is slurred. And you are desperately grasping for answers that even I would not be ready for.”

Sabrina softly disabled her levitation and stood menacingly over him.

“You think that we are the ones running blindly by not knowing these facts. But do you even know what you ask? Do you even know what you seek from this?”

Tracey was no longer confident, not even falsely so. He was on the floor, crawling backwards.

Despite his original conviction, he was now regretting ever coming here. He was regretting having ever known the Psychic. She was a greater nightmare than any of the enemies they had fought or struggled against. What they could have done to any of their group, she would have done ten-fold against them.

He wasn’t even glad she was on their side… because at this moment, she seemed to only be an authority of her own court, judge, and jury.

Sabrina stared down at him, showing neither pity nor mercy in her eyes. If anything, she showed a deadly curiosity.

“You wish for me to stop a fate that is not mine to control. You wish for me to break a will greater than that of a god that created the universe I walk on. And not only that…” The Psychic’s eyes softened. She looked abnormally human. “…you wish for me to stop and hurt a friend who has done nothing to earn my wrath.”

‘Friend’ was not a word Tracey imagined to be in the terrifying Psychic’s vocabulary. Yet there it was. Used to describe Ash – the one he had been rallying everyone to go against… to prevent him from making another selfish choice.

Sabrina’s eyes turned cold and sharp again. “Who are you to judge who is selfish and who is not? You have lived your life well, Tracey Sketchit. Many others have lived shorter lives, died in horrific ways, and forced to continue existing in worlds that offer nothing but misery. Yet you do not wish him to make a decision to change the fate of the universe… all because you are selfish of your own. All because you have not lived it well enough to find maturity. All because you have not learned enough to greet death with confidence.”

They Psychic slowly levitated off the ground, her hair splitting and turning like snakes, and her eyes showing nothing but devastation. “It was Sato who Arceus had given its power to. The power to change the universe. Things do not happen on coincidence in any realm or dimension, artist. All things have purpose. And it was Sato’s decision to do as he did – and it was willed to be.

“And in the same way, fate is working itself to give Ash the same choice, decision, and power. The burden and responsibility of a god with all the weaknesses of a human. Who are we to judge? Who are you to judge if they had not chosen you? You are insignificant in this game the fates play. Just a pawn who believes they are the king.”

She bent down towards him. Her eyes far too close for him to avoid.

“Run along now, peon. You know not what you truly want. Do not trouble others with wishes that contain consequences you could never grasp.”

Fearful tears were running down Tracey’s eyes.

In all his life, he had never felt so small.

He wanted to run. To run away from any existence that Sabrina walked on and never come back.

But his legs wouldn’t move.

“P-PLEASE! S-SPARE ME!!! I-I’M SORRY!! I-I NEVER MEANT ANY OF TH-THOSE THINGS!!! I KNEW NOT WHAT I WANTED!!! I KNEW NOT!!!”

…

Sabrina gave a completely unfitting smile ofinnocence and patted Tracey on the cheek. “Good.”

She landed softly on the ground and walked back to her meditation spot.

“Now be a good boy and fetch me Latias. I’d like to see this past for myself…”

Tracey bowed repeatedly against the dirt. “Y-Yes ma’am! R-Right away ma’am!!”

The sketch-artist stood up and ran off as fast as his legs could take him.

…

Sabrina giggled to herself, her voice becoming far morecasual and relaxed. “I know it was a little mean. But that’s not important right now. Where’s the device?”

Leaning against a tree, she pulled an item down from its branches and sat back down in excitement.

“Let’s see… she was on her way to Charicific Valley… page forty, I think…”

Rustle.

“That’s a good page!”

“Angie, get back in the tree. Someone might see you here.”

The tomboy hung upside-down. “Why do I have to keep hiding? We’re out in the middle of nowhere.”

“And Tracey still managed to find us. If May or Anabel find you here, I’m not saving you.” Sabrina scrolled through the icons on the screen.

Angie stared at her curiously – still upside-down. “Now that I think about it… I thought you said that Psychics were bad for gadgets!”

“It’s just a popular myth we like to spread around.” The Psychic flicked her finger against the screen, causing sudden blurts of static to shadow the screen. “We can interfere with the electricity like so, but it’s not as if we have no control over it.”

The tomboy crawled back into the leaves, her voice muffling under cover. “So why spread the myth?”

“One, it’s useful. Makes people fear us more.” Sabrina flipped through another virtual page. “Two, it’s fun to see what kinds of things people will believe about us Psychics. And three, it’s because I knew May would write a diary in here if she got it.”

“Whoah! You knew she’d get the pokétab??”

“Educated guess. She was the best dressed of us in that group. Bill tends to judge by outward appearances. Probably assumed she’d be the one to take care of it the best.”

Angie laughed. “Yeah right! That thing’s practically busted because of her! She fell on it like three times yesterday!”

“Four times.”

“I only counted three.” She shrugged.

…

…

“By the way, Sabrina… do you think all that past universe stuff is true? The stuff Tracey was talking about?”

“Anything’s possible. And it didn’t seem he was lying in his mind. Plus, he’d have no reason to lie about those things.”

Angie groaned in frustration. “Man! I should’ve gone with Ash’s group! I wanted to see what I looked like in a past universe!”

Sabrina gave a small laugh. “You don’t seem troubled at all that Ash could be leading us to repeat history.”

“Does it matter? What happens – happens. Besides, all that makes me concerned about is who that Maya chick is…”

“And what would you do if it was any of our companions?”

“Nothing different.” Angie stretched and kicked her legs into the branches. “Be there for Ash. Hang out with him. Wait for him.”

“Whoever this Maya is, I honestly do believe you’re still the best choice for Ash.” Sabrina flipped through another screen page, her eyes showing great interest on the scenes unfolding in May’s diary.

Angie blushed. “Oh quit it. I don’t need those kinds of compliments… even if it is true.” She grinned.

…

“How about you Sabrina?”

“Hm?”

“What do you think of Ash?”

“He’s a good friend.”

“…that’s it?”

“Should there be anything more than that?”

“Well…”

Rustle.

Angie hung back upside-down.

“You two get along so well together. And you spend more time with him than most of us.”

Sabrina flipped the device over her lap and looked up to the hanging tomboy. “Is there something culturally incorrect in my relation with him?”

“Well no… I’m just wondering if you ever… well, considered it.”

“He’s a bit young for me.”

“I didn’t think you’d be the type to care about age.”

…

The Psychic shrugged. “You’d be correct. And I admit I have thought about it.”

Angie let go of the branches and landed with a roll. “That’s so cute!”

“C-Cute??!” Sabrina blushed.

“So why haven’t you?”

“Wh-Why haven’t I??”

The tomboy crossed her arms and laughed. “You’re the Psychic here. You know what I’m referring to.”

…

“Ash is a good friend… but he also attracts trouble. He would complicate many things if I ever got involved with him… so I do not. Simple as that.”

Angie sat next to her. “So… not even a thought beyond that? Not even a ‘what if’?”

“I have only thought about it twice. To think anymore than that would be wasteful to my time. Ash is a good friend. If anything, I see him as a younger brother that I cherish.”

“Ah, I see.”

…

…

Sabrina turned back towards the tomboy. “Why do you ask, Angie?”

“Can’t you read my mind or something?”

“I have no reason to pry a mind that is honest with their mouth.”

The tomboy leaned back and used the tree’s bark to scratch her back. “I just thought that if anyone deserved him other than me, it’d be you.”

“I would agree to that.”

Angie laughed loudly in response. “You’re not much for modesty, are you?”

“No reason to hide positive facts.”

…

“So just to be sure… you are NOT interested in Ash?”

“No.”

“Okay.”

…

…

“Why? Did he say anything about me?”

Angie laughed again. “You’re like a little girl!”

Sabrina’s face turned red. “I – I am not!”

“You so are!”

The Psychic shoved the tomboy back up the tree with a single thought.

“Ow! Hey!”

“Shush. Tracey’s coming back.” She threw the device upwards, allowing Angie or the branches to catch it for her.

“Ooh! Are you going to see the past using your Psychic stuff?”

“I said be quiet. And yes.”

Angie hushed into a whisper. “I’m jealous. I want to see.”

“I’ll make a Psychic link with you after I dismiss Tracey, so you can see it too.”

“Awesome! You’re the best, Sabrina!”

“Hush now. And I know.”

…

“-aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”

Tracey hung on for his life, as the Eon Pokémon sped into lightning speeds to throw the sketch artist off her back.

Sabrina sighed. “Perhaps I should not have asked him to do this request…”

“At least he’s aiming her in the right direction.” Angie snickered in response.

_________________________________________________________

Two charizards flapped slowly to the ground below. Adjusting their angle to avoid the trees, they landed into awkward standing positions.

Liza met them with a nod.

Using the short-phrased gestures she had taught them, the charizards reported their recent flight.

The Valley Guardian quietly watched in professional interest.

“Are these the patrols?” Solana approached carefully from behind, well aware of how paranoid most of her new teammates were. “I thought there were three in every team.”

“Hm?” Liza turned and regarded the Pokémon Ranger. “No, these are returning charizards. They were the ones that returned the Psychics we saved in the Orange Isles.”

“Returned?”

“To their homes… though they said that the Psychics asked to be dropped off near Goldenrod City. A strange place for a Psychic to call home, if you ask me.”

Liza returned her attention back to the two charizards, giving them silent commands.

They nodded and readied for their next flight destination.

“Your charizards really are something.” Solana admired.

“I wouldn’t exactly consider them mine. I only would call them mine if I referred to them as family.” Liza walked over to a patch of long grass and fell back onto it.

A trio of small pidgeys scattered away from her landing spot.

“They’re wild charizards.” she continued. “At least, they should be. So I wouldn’t say they’re owned by me. I just protect them from those they that can’t communicate with.”

“I understand.” Solana raised her Capture Styler and gave a friendly smile. “We Pokémon Rangers don’t capture pokémon – we only ask for their help.”

Liza nodded. “I feel like that’s the way it should be. Nothing against Pokémon Trainers, I just think that many of them don’t understand how privileged they are to work with such wonderful creatures. You don’t need poké balls, you just need their trust – and they’d be willing to do anything for a partner that’s worth it.”

“Very true. The charizards must trust you very much.”

“I lived with them, so it’s only natural.”

“Mm… I’m sorry you had to leave.”

“Hm?”

“The Charicific Valley.”

“Yes, well…” Liza tilted her head back and stared at the leaves above. “…it couldn’t be helped.”

The Pokémon Ranger sat next to her and stretched her legs. “Do you… ever feel like you were dragged into this?”

“This mission?”

“Yeah…” The teal-haired woman laid back into the grass. “I know I felt like I was suddenly dragged into this crazy mission… but I don’t mind since I do indeed want to stop Team Rocket from getting their hands on Arceus.”

“I feel the same way…”

“But for you, it was different. I wasn’t directly involved, and I could have said no. Even if they took me or threatened anyone else, it still would have been my choice.” Solana paused slightly. She gathered her thoughts as she stared at the passing afternoon clouds. “But for you… it felt like since you had your obligations to your charizards’ safety, that you had no choice but to follow Ash and the rest.

“I know this is all for a worthy cause. But wouldn’t it not have happened at all if Ash… or should I say ‘Sato’, never restarted all this?”

Liza smiled and let off a small snicker. “Been talking to Tracey lately?”

“Well yeah, but…”

“Don’t listen to him too much.” She gave quiet signals to a trio of flying charizards above. “The man makes good points, but he isn’t very good for morale.”

She sighed before continuing, “We shouldn’t be fighting each other. We should be helping one another. And besides… I’m still not fully sold on this whole ‘restarted universe’ story.”

“You don’t think it actually happened?”

“I can’t say for sure if it really happened or not, but an idea like that sounds far too crazy to be true.” Liza shrugged. “Then again, the idea that a pokémon created this entire universe is pretty crazy-sounding too.”

Solana nodded with a smile. “Yeah, I guess. But I donno… I think it might be true. Ash and his group get into some pretty unbelievable situations.”

“Heard some of their stories? Or were you actually there for some?” the scarred woman asked with interest and skepticism.

“Well, I certainly was there for some of them. But haven’t you seen the news and newspaper pieces on them? It’s no surprise the boy’s so popular amongst Pokémon Trainers.”

“Oh… um…” Liza laughed in embarrassment. “Call me a bit of a hermit. I don’t actually know much that goes around outside of Charicific Valley. At least, nothing that my friend Clair doesn’t tell me.”

“Well, have you seen that rock that Ash has?”

“That’s a meteorite piece, right?”

“Yeah. That came from a little venture after we found an alien pokémon.” Solana was quite proud of that memory – as very few would ever be able to have an experience like that.

“Alien pokémon? As in, from another planet?”

“Not sure if from another planet. But it got here by a meteor. That little rock Ash carries came from that very meteor.”

Liza rolled over and looked at Solana in interest. “Really?”

The Ranger grinned with pride. “Yep! That’s definitely not a normal occurrence for me. Add in all the other adventures he had with the rest of the group here, and honestly I’m not too surprised Ash would be involved in something this huge.”

“Well if you put it that way, I guess it makes sense.”

They went quiet. Thoughts and plans running through and changing in their minds.

…

…

“So…” Solana broke the silence. “…does that change anything for you?”

“I don’t believe so. I still wouldn’t blame him for what happened to the charizards – that should have been a proper concern of mine with or without his involvement. It was my responsibility, I failed, and I learned from it.” Liza rolled onto her back again. “If all this really revolves around Ash, then I’ll help him in any way that I can. I’m not in the right position to complain or argue. What Ash chooses, whether good or bad, weighs on his shoulders – not ours. But we can help him carry his own weight, at the very least.”

“Wise words, truly.”

The Valley Guardian snickered. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me wise!”

“With age comes wisdom.”

Liza’s face turned aggressive. “You better not be calling me old.”

“N-N-No, of course not!” Solana sweated in nervousness. “J-Just aged. Like fine wine.”

“Why thank you.” She seemed satisfied. “…why don’t we have any wine around here?”

“Because we hang out with kids.”

They laughed together.

…

“Tell you what. If we get out of this alive, I’m buying us drinks.”

“I’ll keep you to that, Solana.”

“Call me Lana.”

“Very well, Lana.” Liza smiled. “Call me starving… Let’s go get something to eat.”

_________________________________________________________

“Well what do you want me to do about it?” Casey blew a bubble and popped it.

She sat casually on a tree branch, reading her borrowed book as her electabuzz roamed the area nearby. Her entire day was spent reading in this position, and she was quite content with it. And she would have spent it like so if Ash hadn’t arrived. His appearance made her slightly annoyed, as it signaled the fact that she might have to do something important soon.

Her guess was correct, as he was here for another serious talk.

Ash sat at the bottom of the tree, rolling the black marble against his jeans’ wrinkles. “I just thought that since you were the one that explained everything for me back at Alto Mare… that you could help me with this.”

“Look, I’m busy. You got me addicted to this stupid book. Go bother someone else until I’m done.”

“Okay okay…” He grabbed the marble and put it back in his pocket.

…

“Wait.”

Just as Ash had predicted.

The baseball fan may have been far more intelligent than he had expected in the first place, but she was still immature. As such, Ash knew she loved the attention and his dependence on her wisdom.

No longer a separate thought or emotion, Sabrina’s bond was slowly becoming a part of his personality, allowing him to analyze situations and people in a dreadfully intelligent manner.

“Hm?” Ash turned and acted surprised.

“So this is about Misty, right?” Casey closed the book and hopped off the branch, completely forgetting her earlier irritation.

“Yeah. She’s definitely Maya.” Ash sat back down and leaned against the tree.

“And you’re one-hundred-percent sure about this?”

“She saw the same vision that I did, except from her side. And she even recognizes my name as Sato even though she didn’t come with us.”

“Did anyone tell her about the journey we had?”

“I don’t think so… unless one of you broke your promise to me.” Ash emphasized with curiosity.

Casey panicked. “N-No!”

He stood up and stepped towards the lying girl. “You… you told them?!!”

“What?! I never said that!!”

“I’M. AN. EMPATHIC.” Ash pointed at himself with each word. “I KNOW when someone’s lying!”

“Ah… er… ahh… I…”

Her mind and heart were in complete chaos. It was obvious to Ash that she wasn’t used to getting caught red-handed.

“Y-You see the thing i-is… uh…”

“Casey. Why did you tell them?”

“B-Balk! Not fair! Y-You’re supposed to be our pitcher! I mean our leader!” She struggled to put words together in both her mind and voice. “Y-You’re trying to f-fake a throw when you know we can make a double play! But you’re just too scared of the batter’s ribbie!”

“W-What??”

“M-Maybe if you just worked with us better, we could show you how much leather we got!!!”

“…what??”

Casey looked frazzled. She wasn’t used to being cornered. With her mind in a daze, her normally thought-kept baseball terms poured itself into her actual speech.

She was about to go on, when Ash put his hands on her shoulders.

“Casey, calm down. I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

“C-Calm down?? Y-You’re the one that –”

“Look, whatever you’re going to say, I won’t understand a single thing. So… deep breath in, deep breath out.”

She glared at him…

But did as he instructed.

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

…

“Okay, try again.” Ash said with a patient smile.

Casey smacked his hands off her shoulders and took a step back.

“What I was trying to say is… you’re the one leading this group. They kept asking and asking about what happened on our little trip to Alto Mare. So… I told them.”

“Why?!”

“Why shouldn’t I?!” She stepped towards him and pushed her finger against his chest. “What kind of team would be willing to follow someone who won’t tell them the truth?! I know you’re scared that we might not want to follow some idiot that restarted the universe just because he couldn’t handle a loss that everyone had to experience at some point in their lives! But maybe, just maybe! Some of us would understand! And maybe, just maybe! Some of us would figure out a way to make sure that wouldn’t happen again!”

Casey folded her arms and tapped her foot in irritation. “There were six in that team! You – the Aura Guardian, the Empathic, the Fighter, the Pokémon Master, the Researcher, and the Psychic! Counting the lucario and espeon and that would be eight! Now count how many we have here!”

She counted off with her fingers – as if he could see. “Me, you, Ritchie, Misty, May, Maylene, Tracey, Todd, Dawn, Sabrina, Liza, Bianca, Angie, Anabel, and Salon!”

“Solana.”

“Whatever! We’ve already got a lucario, and an espeon on this team. And how many more pokémon on our team?? Not just that! NOT JUST THAT! But we have HOW MANY Empathics on this team now?!”

“That’s…”

“That’s right! You, May, and Anabel! Three Empathics. THREE! Three Empathics in a team of FIFTEEN!”

Casey let it sink in before continuing, “So maybe only six or seven of us really count at the end of all of this, but all fifteen of us are going to do our best! Why keep the secret between our small little group when we could ALL do something about it?!”

Ash, while feeling far more relieved, didn’t seem fully convinced by her reasoning.

“So… Did any of you figure out anything?” he raised his brow.

“Well no. But we at least know what we’re facing now! We could at least try to change it instead of just finding out when it’s too late!”

The male Empathic sighed.

…

“What?” Casey was getting annoyed by his solemn attitude.

“Tell me, did telling them even encourage anyone? Did it make any of them more unsure of what we were doing?”

“Well…”

She began mumbling.

“What about Tracey?” Ash didn’t hear, but he could sense her vague emotions.

“T-Tracey’s going around asking people what they should do… about you.”

…

Ash walked over to the nearest tree and slammed his head into it.

“H-Hey! Quit it!” Casey tried to pull him away from the tree.

He successfully slammed his head twice more before being completely pulled to the ground.

Before she could say anything, Ash got up to his feet and started walking away.

“Wh-Where do you think you’re going?!”

“To talk to someone else.”

“That’s not fair!” She tackled him to the floor. “You’re just going to make me feel guilty and not let me do anything about it?!”

He struggled to get her off. “If you hadn’t done it in the first place, you would have nothing to feel guilty about!”

She sat on his back and pinned down his elbows. “If you had told them yourself, they might have taken the news better! There’s nothing wrong with any news, just how it’s told, you idiot!”

“Are you trying to lecture me over how to lead this group?!”

“Maybe I am! What of it?!”

Ash stopped struggling.

…

…

Casey poked him. “Hey idiot.”

…

“What’s wrong, idiot?”

“Can I just… talk to Angie already?” he muffled quietly against the grass.

Casey suddenly felt awful. “Hey… I’m sorry.”

“Please, just get off…”

She let go of him and stepped out of the way.

Ash stood. Wiping something away from his eyes, he took a step towards the trees.

“I really am sorry, Ash. I… I didn’t mean it that way.”

He didn’t turn her way. “Look, I’m just bad at this leader stuff… I don’t know what’s best for the whole group. I don’t really know what I’m doing. All I know is that I’m supposed to stop Team Rocket… I don’t really have anything else planned. Honestly, I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to save Maya… And if losing her again, whoever she is, is what it takes to save this universe… I’ll do it. I don’t want to. But I will. I was given a second chance… I can at least make it count.”

“Don’t get all pity-party on me, Ash. I said I was sorry, and I meant it. Besides… you’re not doing this alone.”

“You’re not going to lose anyone at the end of this, Case. Someone who you just remembered you had made the biggest decision in the universe just to keep… only to forget who she was, and lose her the moment you remember…”

Casey didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what she could or should say. Or if she had any right to.

Would sacrificing one man’s happiness, a man who had the power to change everything, be worth saving the billions who would never fully appreciate their own? Who was being selfish? The one who chose the option to make sure no one would be lost, or the many who just want him to give up his choice just so they could keep their current standing in life?

These felt like the novels she used to read… this felt like the novel she was already reading. Commander of Wartortles. The Commander had to give up everything he had just to save his crew. A man whose life had become hollow compared to what it used to be, just so he could see the happiness grow and bloom in the lives of his crew.

…how ungrateful were the crew when the Commander first lost what had meant the most to him? How little did they know what went through the lonely man’s heart and mind? He gave everything, and yet they continued to demand from him as though he still owed them more.

He wasn’t the best leader, and he never would be. But where he was lacking in skill, he had spirit. He did the job no one else wanted to do – he sacrificed what no one else was willing to give up… and in the end…

…she hadn’t finished the book yet.

Would it be worth it? Would all their struggles and all his sacrifices be worth it in the end?

It could never bring back what the Commander lost, but at the very least, the crew could give up everything they had for their leader in return.

Casey wiped a tear from her eye, spit out her gum, and bowed.

“I apologize, captain!” she shouted with formal respect. “It wasn’t in my place to make that decision to tell the rest! I-I’ll make sure that morale is kept high in the team! I’ll let them know that you aren’t doing this for yourself!”

Ash turned towards her. “Casey…”

She stood straight and faced him. “Y-You’re just trying to keep everyone happy! I notice it, sir! You’re always going around trying to talk to everyone and seeing how they are! Even at your own expense! And… And while we were all talking about the secret we saw at Alto Mare…”

Turning away, a feeling of guilt filled her. “I – I never mentioned it before, but I saw what was happening in the woods in your private meeting! I have good eyes like that… I’m sorry for spying. But I just want to say it was very honorable of you to sacrifice your own health to help Anabel!!”

Ash felt her emotions in curiosity. Her mood had changed completely. An overwhelming aura of loyalty and pride surrounded the area where she stood.

“You can do it, sir!” Casey bowed again. “I know you can lead us! And… if it means anything, I think Misty might have been Maya at one point, but since she’s not an Empathic anymore, I don’t think her life will be taken away in this universe. …but… I will do my best to protect May for you, sir! I’ll make sure Maya’s fate doesn’t happen to her either!!”

Straightening her back, she saluted him.

…

…

Ash wasn’t sure if he was supposed to laugh or cry at her extremely dramatic show of apology and devotion. Whatever reaction he could have given, he was sure of one thing: he appreciated it greatly.

He walked over to Casey and hugged her.

Her body was extremely stiff as she awkwardly hugged him back.

“Thanks, Case.”

“N-No problem, sir.”

“That sounds weird.”

“So does you calling me Case, sir.”

“If I stop calling you ‘Case’, will you stop calling me ‘sir’?”

“Unlikely… sir.”

…

He pulled away from the hug and saluted. “Then thanks for the talk, Case. I’ll see you later.”

She saluted back. “Anytime, sir! I m-may not be the best when it comes to understanding you – but I can always offer you my perspective. It’s not much, but I know you appreciate it – and that humbles me, sir.”

Ash blushed at the respect he was given.

He gave a slight bow and ran off.

…

…

Casey fell to her knees and let out alarge sigh. “What did I just do?”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:33 PM

Chapter 28: Others

“A – A little help???”

Ritchie was pulled out of the swarm of pokémon by a helping hand.

The auburn-haired Trainer fell to the ground with a loud THUMP.

“Oww… thanks, Todd.”

The photographer Todd Snap gave a thumbs-up to his rescued acquaintance before taking several pictures of the blurring scene of extremely active pokémon.

“So why are all these pokémon here?” Todd asked as he continued his photography.

“Ah, well…” Ritchie climbed to his feet and patted the grass stains off his vest and pants. “Everyone’s been so busy worrying about their own big worries about the upcoming mission… so I thought ‘hey, why not just offer to take care of their pokémon for them? Not only will they get a huge relief, but their pokémon will be happy and I’ll get to hang out with them! Not a bad idea at all!’…”

He laughed in embarrassment. “It didn’t seem like a bad idea until I found myself completely surrounded by them.”

Todd scanned the view for more shots.

I could get a picture of that marill eating the fruit… it could definitely get the front of a women’s or pokémon’s health and diet magazine.

That kricketot and meganium playing would make a great fashion reference photo…

Ooh, or maybe that venonat and scyther hiding in the bushes! The right angle would make it great for a Safari Zone or Poké Ball Hunters ad.

Then again that butterfree with the beautifly would catch the attention of anyone for those Bug Pokémon Enthusiast magazines… if I submit it in the right season, I could get a pretty high price, or even an award.

Or…

No. That one!

Todd hopped over several pokémon to get to the perfect position.

Falling flat onto his stomach, he switched to the wide-angle lens and propped his camera onto a small tripod.

“That’s it…” he whispered to himself as he chose between his viewfinders to get the perfect low angle shot. “…just keep at it, everyone’s eyes are on you two…”

Towering above his spot, two pokémon dueled each other for supremacy.

On one side, a furious tyranitar. On the opposing, a cool-headed charizard.

They slammed palms and heads onto each other, growling and roaring to show their strength.

Todd grinned to himself in pure exhilaration. This’ll be the perfect picture for the upcoming Pokémon Championship seasonal Guides! Come on, just hold that pose---! Aaaand---!

Right as his finger let loose of the shutter release, the draconic battlers turned towards the camera with pulled, squished, and twisted faces.

…

The energy and color from Todd’s once-enthusiastic face drained.

“Why…” he muttered in hushed agony.

The two pokémon were smacked in the head by a rolled newspaper. “Zippo! Cruise! That was very rude!”

Ritchie scolded his mischief-making pokémon with a stern attitude. “Apologize right now!”

With a sigh, the pokémon bowed in apology and continued their play elsewhere.

Offering his hand with a smile, Ritchie helped Todd to his feet.

“Sorry about that, those two love to ruin photo sessions.”

Still slightly hurt at his lost prize, Todd gave a weak smile back. “It’s okay. It isn’t the first time I lost the perfect shot.” He sighed. “I really thought I could get into the PCG for autumn with that photo though…”

“The PCG? Cool! I didn’t know you worked for such a prestigious magazine! I buy at least two copies every year.” The Pokémon Trainer pulled at his empty pockets. “Though at my ‘salary’ I can’t ever afford a full subscription.”

“Oh no, no.” The photographer pulled out a business card and handed it to the Trainer. “I’m a Freelance Photographer. People usually hire me for commissioned Pokémon photos, but I also sell my own pictures to several newspapers, websites, magazines, and even some books!”

“Wow, so you must travel a lot!”

“Sure do. Just me and my camera on the open road!” He posed dramatically. “Through the most dangerous jungles, within the deepest oceans, atop the highest mountains, and even in the worst temperatures and terrains – Todd Snap will go and take the best photographs your money can pay for!!”

He stopped posing and smiled. “I don’t always do it for money. Though it’s nice to have it for food and lodging.”

Ritchie tilted his head in curiosity. “Just you and your camera? No pokémon?”

“Nope. Todd Snap works alone.”

“That’s rare these days! Especially for your profession!” The Trainer patted one of the nearby pokémon on the head. “Most people love the security and company a pokémon brings. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve met someone with no pokémon at all!”

“I’m quite good at my craft. I don’t particularly need a pokémon for safety – as I’m often running and hiding more than fighting.” Todd posed with his camera, pretending to take shots. “With my excellent eyes and ears, I can spot and capture any object, creature, or scenery without ever facing trouble!”

“Hm… but don’t you ever get lonely?”

“Lonely?” He scratched his chin as he thought about it. “I suppose sometimes. But a technique I learned during all my journeys really helps me forget that I’m alone until I reach the nearest town. And when I’m in town, I can start a conversation with anyone with my photos. A picture says a thousand words, you know.” He gave a charming grin.

“Technique?” Ritchie sat in the grass, always interested in learning from anyone he meets along the way.

Todd made a wave-like gesture with his hand. “The technique of immersion~…”

“Immersion?”

“No.” He made the wave-like gesture again. “Immersion~…”

Ritchie gave a light laugh at the photographer’s dramatic pronunciation.

Unaffected by the laughter, Todd continued his explanation, “Immersion~ is when a photographer blends in with the environment. But that’s just one step! Once that step is mastered, the second step is where immersion~ really kicks in!”

He hopped onto his belly again and felt the grass and dirt with his fingers. “You must not only blend with the environment… you must also become one with it.”

“One… with it?” Ritchie got on his belly as well and mimicked the photographer’s actions.

“You mustn’t just feel the environment…” Todd took a deep breath. “You must smell it, taste it, feel its air’s texture in your throat.”

The Trainer copied this as well.

“You must listen to the wind, every small sound, every large sound – high pitch, low pitch – long and short…” His eyes opened wide. “Then you must see everything. Every color. EVERY color. Every light, every shade, every black and white, as well as every blur, lining, silhouette, texture, gleam, and haze.”

Ritchie nodded with complete concentration.

“After all this, you clear your mind. The touch, the feel, the taste, the smell, the sound, and the sight become your senses. Your body is no longer your focus – the entire world around you has become your body. When the wind blows – that’s your breath, when the earth shakes – that’s your fingertip, when a creature makes a sound – that’s your voice, and when the light fades and changes – that’s your eye.”

Todd relaxed his body and slowly put the camera in front of him.

…

A venonat amongst the group of active pokémon hopped from one bush to another.

Before it could reach its hidden destination, Todd flipped onto his back immediately and took three quick photographs with lightning fast shutter speed.

“And there. You’re now a part of the environment.”

“Whoah…” Ritchie showed complete wonder for the photographer’s skill.

“And that’s not even the final part of immersion~!” Todd grinned with a hint of arrogance.

“What’s the final part?” The Trainer regretted not bringing his backpack from the sanctuary. I could’ve taken notes…

The Professional Photographer peered into his camera and aimed it at a single pokémon – the lens followed its every step and movement. “The final lesson of immersion~ is to find a target and follow it…”

His body turned perfectly still. “Your body is no longer your body – and your environment is no longer your environment. Your target is now your body. Their thoughts are your thoughts now. Their actions are your actions. Their legs, their head, their eyes, are now yours… you are no longer yourself, you are now them…”

“That’s intense…” Ritchie whispered as if it were taboo if someone overheard them.

“With immersion~ you not only can spend WEEKS in a single position… but you also lose all thought and feeling of yourself. How can you be alone if the whole world is your body and soul? How can you be alone if the world doesn’t find itself alone?”

Ritchie nodded. “That’s deep.”

Todd peeked away from his camera and grinned at the Trainer. “I’m looking into getting into some poetry too.” He laughed. “Maybe I can get a girlfriend if I can work on my words…”

He focused his camera on a wandering Casey. She looked in conflict with herself as she grumbled and kicked at the grass. Her electabuzz followed nervously behind.

Todd smirked.

“You’d have time for a girlfriend??”

Ritchie’s words snapped Todd out of his immersion~, causing slight irritation.

He sighed. “Well, maybe I don’t right now. But a man’s got to settle down someday, right?”

“I suppose.”

Ritchie smiled as he gazed into a different direction of the deep woods… catching a glance of Solana playing with Plusle.

“How about you, Ritchie? You got a girlfriend? Or time for one?”

“Got one?” He blushed. “N-No way. N-Not yet at least. As for time for one? Well… I guess I wouldn’t mind having one as a travelling partner.”

He continued to watch Solana with distant infatuation.

She caught his glimpse and looked at him in curiosity.

Ritchie panicked and turned away, pretending to have been looking at the beautiful scenery. …very beautiful scenery.

“Pfah!” Todd’s mocking exclamation startled some of the pokémon. “Ash must have a harem of travelling partners.”

“Y-Yeah.” The trainer laughed nervously, uncomfortable with negative gossip.

“Seriously, leave some for the other men in the world!” Todd frowned as his camera zoomed in on Casey, who hid behind a tree to spy on Ash and Angie conversing. “Figures…” he quietly growled.

“Did you say something?” Ritchie turned towards him.

“Me? Nah.” He put his camera away as he slowly got up to stand. “So… is this all the pokémon we have? It’s quite an army.”

Ritchie looked around. He explained with an expert focus to detail, “Well, no. Liza takes care of her charizards and won’t let anyone near them until it’s time for us to travel again… Dawn wouldn’t hand me her poké balls, so she still has them. Maylene is training with her pokémon somewhere. I can’t find Misty, so I can’t take care of her pokémon. Anabel left her Metagross and Alakazam with me, but I can’t find her espeon… I think she went off to play with Ash’s pikachu again.”

He stood up and studied each pokémon, trying to remember who each one belonged to. “Angie kept her Luxio, but left her Bibarel and Kricketot with me… There’s no way I can catch Latias, let alone tell between her and Bianca… Let’s see… Casey kept her Electabuzz, but left the rest with us… May let her Glaceon and Venusaur roam the woods, but I’m taking care of her other ones…

“I’m not sure if I want to ask Sabrina for her pokémon…” He laughed nervously. “…and Solana…”

Ritchie found himself gazing off into her direction again.

“She has her Plusle… she takes very good care of him…”

“Man, you remembered everyone’s pokémon! That’s impressive!” Todd patted him on the back. “You’re like a Day Care Center!”

“Y-Yeah I guess.” He blushed in shyness.

The photographer leaned in close and whispered into his ear, “You know… that Angie girl’s the daughter of a Day Care couple in Solaceon Town.” He hinted with a nudge, “So, if you’re into that kind of business, you could always woo the daughter…”

“Eheheh…” Ritchie stepped away awkwardly. “N-No thank you. Kinda’ interested in someone else…”

“Oh? Who’s that?” Todd smirked and raised a brow.

“N-No one here! N-No one here at all!” He laughed uneasily.

He felt a pat on his back – though Todd was in front of him.

“Awww, and here I thought I’d hear some good gossip!” Solana said from behind.

She looked at each of the pokémon with genuine care and happiness.

“These pokémon are so well looked-after, Ritchie! You’re really good with them!”

Leaning close to him and poking him on the shoulder, she gave a friendly grin. “You know… I heard that Angie worked at a Day Care back at her home. I think you two would make quite a cute couple.”

Plusle hopped onto her shoulder and pointed towards the sanctuary in earnest.

“Okay okay.” she regarded her partner with a giggle. “Well guys, I gotta’ go. Plusle here wants us to find Pikachu and Espeon. See ya’!”

“See you later, Solana.” Todd bid her a temporary farewell as he cleaned his camera’s lenses.

…

…

…

Ritchie felt like dying.

_________________________________________________________

“Yeah, Maylene’s lucario has been looking everywhere for you, apparently.”

“Lucario? Why would he be looking for me??”

Angie shrugged. “Mm. No clue… …funny thing is, Maylene was looking for her lucario and asked if he ran into you yet.”

“That’s weird.” Ash felt for the next branch above him and grabbed onto it. He swung back and forth, testing the strength of the tree. “So where have you been all day?”

“Mm. Nowhere.”

“With Sabrina.” He felt her out.

“Cheater. I can’t ever keep secrets from you.” She swung slightly forward from her branch and kicked his foot.

“What in the world would you be doing that needs to be kept a secret from me?” Ash stuck his tongue out towards her.

“Oh pff! You have no right to say that. You have secret meetings all the time with Sabrina!”

Ash let go and landed with a nervous stance, still unused to not seeing where he’d land. “Well that’s different. Ow my leg… Her and I need complete concentration and silencewhen we talk and train.”

“Oh, and you just invited Maylene to that little private meeting just because, right?”

“Hey hey hey, Sabrina specifically asked for her to help with Anabel since she had experience with Team Rocket’s new studies.”

“Yeah I gue–”

“ANGIE!!!!” a roar came from their left.

“Crap! May’s here! Why didn’t you warn me?!” Angie scrambled up into the branches.

Ash laughed. “Whoops! Guess I wasn’t paying attention!”

“You jerk! You owe me!”

“ANGIE!!!!!”

The bandana’d Coordinator stormed out of the thick bushes and stomped towards the tree.

“I KNOW YOU’RE UP THERE!!! GIVE ME BACK THE POKÉTAB!!!”

“I – I don’t have it!”

“LIAR!!!”

“I – I promise!! I let Sabrina borrow it!!”

May’s face showed confusion. “S-Sabrina??? ARE YOU CRAZY?! SHE’S A PSYCHIC!!! SHE’LL BREAK IT!!!”

“Worry not. Your device is fine.”

The Psychic shifted into their reality, holding out the pokétab to May.

May and Angie were stunned by her sudden appearance. Ash didn’t seem to panic.

Weird… I knew you were coming…

And I had sensed your presence before I arrived. Side-effects of our training. Nothing to concern over. Sabrina responded to Ash’s thought.

The Coordinator grabbed the device from her hand and held it close. “My pokétab! It’s fine! Oh thank goodness it’s fine!” She was about to cry from exhausted happiness.

“Er… Excuse me, May but…”

She pulled the pokétab away from her chest.

Bill’s face was on the screen, with an awkward smile on his face.

“B-BILL?!!” May nearly dropped it out of complete embarrassment. “Oh! I – Er! Ah! Sorry! That was really –!”

“D-Don’t worry about it. I just called to announce something rather important.”

“Important?”

“The news you were all waiting for. We found Team Rocket’s main headquarters.”

Angie jumped from the tree and stumbledinto a quick sprint, crashing over May’s shoulder to look at the screen.

Ash took a step forward, wondering if his ears didn’t mistake the too-good-to-be-true-news.

Sabrina’s eyes narrowed, her thoughts returning to its professional self.

Casey appeared beside May, looking into the screen with complete interest.

…

C-Casey??! Where’d she come from?! Ash was feeling absolutely blind for not having noticed when the baseball fan arrived.

Focus, Ash. This is important. Sabrina knocked his attention back towards the pokétab.

Bill looked towards the new arrivals. “I’m assuming you’ll want to gather everyone for this news first?”

“Definitely.” Ash nodded. “I’ll gather everyone.”

“Let me do it, sir!” Casey raised her hand stiffly.

“Sir?” May looked towards her.

“When did Casey get here???” Angie jumped back in surprise.

“Please, sir! I know where at least six of them are!”

“Er… okay?”

Casey began stretching as if readying for a game. “If it’s not too much to ask, sir – could you tell me where Misty, Bianca, Anabel, and Tracey are?”

“What’s with the ‘sir’?” The Coordinator blinked at Ash.

He shrugged.

“Um… Misty should be…” He thought hard… eventually pointing in a direction behind him. “Somewhere back there… near where trees get thicker in a diagonal line. And… Anabel was… er…”

“She’s west of here.” Todd walked towards them nonchalantly. “Bianca’s trying to find Latias in the southeast. Though I have no idea where Tracey or Latias are.”

Sabrina filled in the blanks. “I know where Latias is, and I know which direction Tracey had travelled towards. I shall get them.”

Casey readied herself for her run. “Alright! Leave it up to me, sir! I’ll get the rest into the sanctuary before sundown!”

“It’d be faster if we split this up, I can look for –”

“No thanks! I got this!” Casey interrupted Todd’s suggestion and began running.

“W-Wait up!” He chased after.

…

“Anybody else want to pop up out of nowhere?” Angie asked in irritation. “I wonder how many eavesdroppers we’ve got in this team…”

Sabrina glared at both Angie and May.

The two laughed in nervousness.

Ash pushed Sabrina off balance, an action no one would ever dare to do. “Hey, you’re guilty of eavesdropping too!”

“Y-Yes… well…” She rebalanced and coughed. “I must be off to find Latias and Tracey…”

The Psychic turned and vanished into thin air.

Angie was grinning. “Heheh, so cute.”

The two Empathics blinked towards her. “Cute?”

“Nothing.” She turned and started walking. “Anyways, let’s get to the Sanctuary. I wanna’ kick some Rocket butt already.”

“Right.” Ash followed.

May trailed closely behind.

_________________________________________________________

“So Ash…” Angie sat comfortably under a tree, leaning against him. “…what’s this I hear about your little…‘vision’ back at Alto Mare?” She made sure to emphasize the word with quotation gestures.

He stiffened.

…

…

His voice turned cold and deep. “Where did you hear this? Casey? Misty?”

“Are you serious?? Does everyone get to find out about this before I do??”

“I’m serious, Angie. Where did you hear this?”

She didn’t seem intimidated. “Oh I didn’t ‘hear’ anything. Bad choice of words on my part. I ‘saw’ it.”

Ash turned towards her, knocking her off his shoulder. “WHAT?!”

“Shhhhh!!” The tomboy pushed his head down. “May might hear.”

“She might know already.” He sighed.

…

“HEY MAY!!!”

“What???” she answered from the other side of the sanctuary without turning. The flowers occupying her attention.

“DID YOU EVER FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AT ALTO MARE?!”

Ash wanted to tackle her to keep her quiet. But her hand kept him pinned to a sitting position.

“No! What did happen?? And stop shouting so loud!”

“Oh! Um… they found Bianca and Latias there!”

May turned… giving the tomboy an estranged look. “Well yeah. I thought that was obvious!”

“Just making sure!”

The Coordinator shrugged and went back to her flower collecting.

Angie turned towards Ash with a confident grin. “There, now we know she doesn’t know.”

The male Empathic gave a heavy sigh.

“What? It solved it.”

“I guess… but… how did you see the vision??”

“Sabrina.”

“SABRINA?? She knows?!”

“I said ssshhhhh!” Angie leaned against him hard, squeezing him into the tree. “Be quiet already.”

“How does she know??” Ash hissed.

“Tracey. Tracey came to ask her if she’d do anything about you wanting to reset the universe again.”

“What?? I never said I would!”

“So… you’re not going to? Even if it means Maya’s going to… you know?”

“I never said I wouldn’t… …but wait, how could Sabrina see it from Tracey? He wasn’t there with me! There’s no way he would be able to know what any of it looked like.”

“Oh. Well, she made Tracey fetch Latias for her. So she saw it through her.”

…

Ash nudged Angie off her, finding a comfortable sitting position to think.

“…so then you asked Sabrina?”

“I was with Sabrina.” Angie gave an uncomfortable laugh. “I kinda’ asked for her help to hide me from May. In exchange, I let her look through May’s diary.”

Ash buried his face into his hands and slowly dragged his fingers against his skin. He groaned. “It’s like a never-ending cycle of who did what…”

“Well anyways, I was able to ‘see’ what happened too. Latias showed me too. Sato.”

…

Ash was waiting for a reaction from her.

Nothing.

I guess she wasn’t from that past then…

“And what did you think?”

“You were pretty handsome.”

He blushed. “N-Not what I meant. I meant what do you think of this whole restarting-universe business? And what do you think that we might be repeating it?”

“Hm…” Angie rested her chin on Ash’s shoulder. “What do I think? I don’t really know. Should I think of something? I mean, will my idea really change anything?”

“…so you’re not planning on anything?”

“Anything what? You mean like stopping you?”

“W-Well… yeah, there’s that.”

The tomboy punched his arm lightly. “You know I’m sticking by whatever decision you make, you jerk. Just… make it count, okay?”

Ash smiled.

…

“Wait, how would any decision I make with a god pokémon not count?”

“Dude, it’s just a saying. Take it as an encouragement… or something. Whatever.”

He laughed. She laughedwith him shortly after.

…

“So what was Sabrina’s answer?”

Angie blinked. “Sabrina’s answer?”

“Yeah. For Tracey. Is she planning on anything? You know, about me?”

“You spent HOW long with her and you wouldn’t know what she’d say??”

“Well… I dunno…”

Sigh. “She scared Tracey off. Basically saying that whatever decision you make is your choice and no one else’s. She’s not going to stop you. We’re all behind you, Ash. We know you’ll make the best choice.”

…

…

Sniffle. Sniffle.

“Are you seriously crying again?? You are such a wuss!” The tomboy smacked his shoulder.

“You’re crying too, you jerk!” He hit back, his volume returning to normal.

She wiped away her own tear. “Pff, you wish… … …hey Ash?”

“Yeah?”

“Is anyone from that vision with us?” Angie stared at him. Worry. Concern. “Like Maya…?”

“…yeah. Maya’s with us.”

“Really? Who is it??”

“Couldn’t you tell? It’s Misty.”

“…is it? But Misty’s not Empathic.”

“Not in this universe at least. So… someone else is taking her place more than likely.”

Angie went quiet.

Her mind and heart struggled with an unknown and strange fact. Something that had bothered her since she saw it…

“What is it, Anj?”

“…nothing. Nothing yet. I can’t quite figure it out yet.”

“Is it about the vision?”

“Y-Yeah. Thing is…”

“THE CREW’S ALL HERE, SIR!!!” Casey’s voice rang out and echoed against the trees.

“Seriously, what’s with the ‘sir’?” a voice in the far back questioned.

Ash nodded.

He patted Angie’s shoulder and smiled. “We’ll finish that talk later. Let’s get this conference done with first.”

“Okay.” She smiled back.

…

…

Latias doesn’t think Misty was Maya…

Ash caught his best friend’s thought.

His footsteps stopped. He wanted to turn around and ask her what she meant by that…

But now wasn’t the time. Right now he had to be the leader…

He stepped forward and faced the device on the pure white stump.

“Everyone’s here, Bill.”

Nine-Sixteenths · 11th February 2012, 09:34 PM

Chapter 29: Goodbye

Surrounding the pokétab, the fifteen members crowded, squeezed, hopped, and pushed to get the best view of Bill and his assistant Dana. Even Sabrina found herself trying to get a perfect angle…

Ash, however, stood perfectly in the center, as Casey and her pokémon acted as his overenthusiastic guards.

The only member standing closer to him was Misty, who managed to effectively intimidate the girl into letting her through.

Counting pokémon, Pikachu was closest, as he made himself comfortable on Ash’s shoulder.

They all waited impatiently for the meet to officially begin.

…

“Ash, if you please.” Bill’s voice was barely audible under everyone’s constant chattering, whispering, and shouting – even for Ash.

“HEY! IT’S TIME TO START THE MEETING!!!”

Those closest went quiet. Though those further out continued their conversations and arguments.

“QUIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Everyone covered their ears in pain – and several pidgeys and spearows were seen flying from the treetops.

Casey put away her megaphone and saluted to Ash. “They’re ready for you, sir!”

“Th-Thank you?”

Ash tried clearing his ears, as a constant ringing blocked out most of his hearing.

“Thank you, Casey.” Bill’s voice could finally heard by everyone. “Now if you don’t know about it yet… Dana and I have found the location of the Team Rocket headquarters.”

Any last traces of gossip disappeared.

The Researcher pressed a number of invisible icons on his side of the screen.

An image of a large fortress within a canyon appeared on a small window.

“This…”

Everyone leaned in and studied the massive building made of steel.

“…is not Team Rocket’s main base of operations.”

The group nearly fell over.

Dana moved towards the camera and highlighted the image. “This is, however, their front. A kind of decoy headquarters. If any investigation or search for Team Rocket is to be pursued, all of them will lead to here.”

Bill took over again and shrunk the image’s size. “They not only did this to cover their tracks, but to also have an effective bait for anyone that dares to attack them.”

Several more images popped up, showing the sides of cliffs, buildings, and the surfaces of lakes.

“These are tunnels located around the area. If anyone invaded this decoy base, they could easily create a counter-attack by flanking from all sides.”

“So why are we looking at a fake base and not the real thing?” Liza spoke up.

“Because even though it’s a fake, it’s also their body.” the Researcher explained, “Before we make any attack on their main headquarters, it’s important to cause a diversion, if not a fully successful invasion, on this base to keep them from launching reinforcements.”

“So we’ll have to split again…” Tracey stated with a twinge of fear and regret in his voice.

“If you want to be effective, then yes.” Bill folded his hands on the table in front of him and nodded. “I just sent the location of the fake base to your pokétab. I suggest you print it.”

May popped her head over Casey’s raticate. “The pokétab can print??!”

The Researcherlaughed. “Of course! There’s an icon that appears on the top-right of each image file. Press that, and it should print. And if you haven’t printed yet, then you’re in luck – as I pre-packed ten pages with your device!”

May hopped over the raticate and opened the map file. A small ‘P’ button blinked on the corner of the image. “Is that what the ‘P’ has always stood for??? …I feel so stupid…” I thought it meant ‘Picture’…

Pressing it, the device blinked. In seconds, a small color-copy of the map printed from a tiny slit on the side of the pokétab.

“That’s so cool…”

“Hold up! If we split to attack the decoy base…” Angie pushed Casey’s electabuzz out of the way and looked into the screen up-close. “Then won’t whoever goes after the decoy be in serious danger?? What with the multiple tunnels and all?? If we’re getting all of Team Rocket’s main attention, I seriously doubt we can handle that many goons at once!”

“You won’t have to.” A red-haired man entered the screen’s view.

“LANCE!!!” Nearly everyone in the sanctuary recognized the caped man’s identity immediately.

He grinned in greeting. “The Pokémon G-Men have already rigged every possible tunnel in the area with explosives. Team Rocket will only have one way in and one way out once those passages collapse.”

“G-Men? What’s that?” the tomboy asked. “Some kind of superhero group?”

She imagined a team of spandex-wearing heroes summoning large robots in the shape of pokémon. “That would be so cool…”

Lance laughed heartily. “No, no, no. We’re just an organization that takes care of pokémon in need. Right any wrongdoers that harm or abuse them. Nothing too fancy or super about us.”

“So wait…” Maylene squeezed her way in. “If you already have the explosives in there… why not just blow up the entire base right here and now?”

“We’d love to.” He nodded with a frown. “However, we would also endanger the lives of all the Rockets in there with such a devastating explosion. No matter how evil they are as a group… individually, the majority of them are simple people that chose the wrong road. By our books, they are just misguided citizens… and we will not take their lives away simply because of what their leaders ordered them to do.”

“What about just destroying all the entrances then? Just buy us time to invade the main headquarters?”

“We haven’t been able to infiltrate the lowest levels of the facility…” Lance sighed. “We are unsure if they have underground passages that lead directly to their main base. To destroy the entrances now – would simply cause them to panic, and you can bet that even their main headquarters will mysteriously vanish or become abandoned…

“Team Rocket will leave bases and build new ones in a matter of days. Like a legendary ancestors of the hydreigons, cutting off one head will only cause the body to grow more heads to replace them…”

“In simpler terms…” The screen was tilted and Bill was put into focus. “Attacking them right here and now without simultaneously being at the main headquarters is far too risky. We need to attack both fronts at once.”

“Okay, so why aren’t we being shown where the headquarters is yet???” Angie complained impatiently.

“Because we don’t have any pictures of it.”

A nervous silence took over.

…

…

“But… we still know where it is, right?” Maylene finally asked.

“Of course.”

The entire group sighed in giant relief.

“But it’s underground.”

“More tunnels??? I’m so sick of them!” Casey adjusted her hat in annoyance.

“No tunnels for this one. Just one entrance and one exit. And it’s right out in the open.”

Bill pressed the corner of the screen.

A photo filled the display.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS??!” Several of the fifteen showed their shock verbally and through groans.

“What? What?? Where is it??” Ash faced towards the glowing emotions around him, hoping for one of them to show what they saw.

“Viridian City Gym.” Sabrina enlightened her bond.

His eyes widened. “They’re that obvious?!”

“That’s not even the most ridiculous news.” Dana appeared on the screen and clicked another unseen icon.

A second photo appeared. “There’s an elevator and stairway that leads directly to the underground command center. No special passwords, keycards, or scanners to go through. Just a straight passage.”

“But why?” Ritchie questioned. “Why make it so easy?”

“Because we would’ve never searched an area so obvious and open.” Lance answered. “If there was an abundance of security devices and machinery delivered there, we would have easily noticed it. Instead, this base is built off the same material and standards as Giovanni’s old Gym. No one would have caught it…”

“Then what’s stopping us from just sending the authorities there? Or even just blowing the place up? I doubt there’s any ‘misguided’ people in there!” Maylene growled.

“Giovanni himself.” Lance showed obvious distaste for the name. “He’s a very powerful politician. Nothing happens in Viridian City without him or any of his thousands of connections from noticing it. He has more allies within the court systems and police forces than enemies. I even fear that some of the G-Men might be directly under his influence.”

Misty stepped closer. “If they are, then won’t that mean this mission is already compromised?”

“As far as the rest of the G-Men know, we are only sabotaging the false headquarters in order to stall illegal pokémon shipments… something that the heads of Team Rocket would only find to be a minor irritation. This mission and the location of the main Rocket base are only known by me.”

“And how can we be sure we can trust you?” Tracey questioned with slight paranoia.

Lance shook his head. “You can’t. All you can do is act on my advice, help, and information. Much in the same way that I cannot trust that there may be spies within your group as well.”

Tracey looked around in suspicion. Spies…

“There are none.” Ash stepped forward. “I trust every one of them.”

“I can only hope your trust is well-founded, Ash.”

“I must clarify something, Lance.” Sabrina hovered over the rest and floated softly to the ground in front of the pokétab.

“Ah, Sabrina. Long time no see.”

“You mentioned that nothing happens in Viridian without Giovanni or his connections from noticing…” her voice was calm, cool, and straightforward. “…I would assume that also infers that they know of your meddling in the city?”

Lance smirked and shrugged his shoulders. “Oh they know alright. As we speak, they’re readying for an invasion from a ragtag group of young trainers like yourselves.”

“SHOOT!” Angie shoved several people out of the way and grabbed Liza. “That means we can’t waste time!! Liza! Get the charizards!!!”

“I never said you. I simply said like yourselves.”

The tomboy let go of Liza in embarrassment. “Wh-What??”

Bill moved towards the screen and smiled. “Sorry to say, guys… But you aren’t the only ones that figured out Team Rocket’s plans with Arceus.”

The fifteen began complaining and conversing amongst themselves.

“WHO?!” Ash slammed his hands onto the white trunk. He felt… betrayed.

News like this shouldn’t have existed.

Others shouldn’t exist. Others would only further complicate their plans. Others would only endanger themselves trying to help a cause they were never meant to be a part of.

Something was wrong. So very wrong. It was in the pit of his stomach. In the pit of his emotions. In the pit of his spirit.

“A small group led by Gary Oak. I’m sure you know him.” Bill smiled.

“I found and fed this information directly to them originally.” Lance admitted. “They were the ones I had worked with in the beginning. But as I knew that this plan wouldn’t work out well on its own, I sought out help. Luckily, I found Bill and this group.”

“Your two groups will have to work in perfect synchronization in order for this mission to succeed smoothly.” Dana added. “As we speak, their Beta team is heading straight for Team Rocket’s decoy base. They should reach it the same time you do if you’re ready by tomorrow noon.”

“We won’t be ready by then…” Ash hissed through his grit teeth. “We’re ready now.”

“Ash?” Bill pulled the camera close. “Get rest now. You won’t need to move out until at least tomorrow afternoon.”

“Thanks for all your help, Bill, Dana, Lance. But we won’t be needing them anymore.”

“ASH?! WAIT!!”

“Pikachu, Thunderbolt.”

“Pika?” His pokémon tilted his head in confusion.

“I said Thunderbolt!!”

“ASH! YOU’RE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE!!” Lance grabbed the screen and shook it. “WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER!!”

“THUNDERBOLT, PIKACHU!!!”

“CHUUUUUUUUUUUUU-!!!!”

In a flash of lightning, the device malfunctioned and BURST into flames.

Sabrina suffocated the flames immediately with a ball of psychic energy.

…

What was left of the pokétab was now in shattered and blackened pieces.

May’s face was in pure grief. She was about to cry and looked up at Ash.

Not now, May… I need you to be strong.

She nodded and swallowed her tears.

“ASH! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!!” Tracey roared as he grabbed the Empathic by the collar.

“Hands off!” Casey pulled the sketch artist off and threw him to the ground. Her pokémon stood by her side as she stared him down.

…

The group stood silent at the scene.

“Sabrina.” Ash’s voice was deep and absolutely cold. “I need you.”

She nodded and closed her eyes. Her mind linked with his.

In a matter of seconds she sorted out his thoughts and reinforced his plans.

He let out a soft sigh and moved through the crowd of nervous and shocked individuals.

Reaching an open area, he turned and faced them all.

Casey ran up to him and continued her act as his bodyguard.

“Mist, you’re leading the team to the fake Rocket Base.”

“Ash?” She looked at him in alarm. “I –”

“You’re taking Ritchie, Liza, Bianca, and Dawn to support the Beta team.”

No Ash! I’m coming with you!

Ash’s emotions softened. I can’t risk losing you again, Maya…

Ash…

You need to do this for me, Maya… I know you can lead that team better than the rest.

I… fine. I’ll do as you say, Sato… but don’t you dare…

I won’t. I’ll be back.

His emotions hardened again.

“Once you’ve successfully captured the base, you can lead some of the Beta team towards the main base to support us.”

“WHY DIDN’T YOU LISTEN TO THEM, ASH?!” Tracey was back up, tears flowing down his eyes. “YOU’VE DOOMED US ALL!”

Ash sent a powerful burst of cold Empathy towards Tracey – effectively freezing his will into silence.

“You don’t trust me, Tracey. But I trust you.” his voice was subdued and slightly disheartened. “You can join my group, Misty’s group, or leave. I’ll leave that choice with you.”

He turned towards the rest of the group. “The rest of you are with me. We’re striking the Rocket Base as hard and as fast as we could. Gary’s group won’t be able to stop the… disaster… that will occur there without us. Not only that, but we cannot trust any outsiders with our plans. We cannot allow their group to beat us there. We will not allow that group to beat us there.”

“Ritchie, Liza, Bianca, Dawn!” Misty regarded her team members. “Ritchie, I need all those pokémon back in their poké balls and given back to their proper trainers! Liza, give Ash’s team a charizard per person, we’ll need the rest for our team! Give the fastest to Bianca! Bianca, make sure you and Latias are ready for your mission – you’ll be scouts so be sure not to stress your focus or eyesight until we leave! Dawn, I need you to make sure all our bags and items are sorted! You all have your jobs. Are you all clear about them?”

Each of them gave their awkward acknowledgments.

She turned towards Ash and nodded.

He nodded back.

“May. Anny. You’re my Empathic team.” It was Ash’s turn to form his team’s jobs. “I need your Empathy well rested and tested. If you can, help the pokémon relax before Ritchie puts them away. Todd. Case. You’ll be our scouts, ready yourselves for that. You’ve got two roles, Lene – shock team and Dark Pokémon hunter. Be sure your team is in fighting shape.”

They agreed with firmer convictions.

“Sir, yes sir!” Casey saluted.

“Sabrina.”

She turned towards him and nodded, not needing any instruction.

He thanked her in thought.

“Anj. I need you to handle moving our bags into the open area that I’ll choose. Solana. Make sure your Capture Styler is working perfectly.”

Solana nodded and tightened her Capture Styler.

Angie gave a thumbs-up.

“Are we all clear?”

Each approved.

“I said are we all clear!?”

“SIR! YES SIR!” Casey shouted loudly.

“YES SIR!” The rest followed her example.

“We leave by sunrise!”

_________________________________________________________

Just outside of the evergreen forests that separated Route 1 and Route 17, a large line of Charicific Charizards sat and received their signaled commands.

A soft sunrise made their silhouettes turn to colors and recognizable shapes.

Trainers, passerby, and citizens crowded at the sight.

The powerful pokémon were what caught their attention originally. However, the real showstoppers were the individuals that conversed and readied for their flight.

Todd, the skilled travelling photographer, famous for his work featured in magazines and his images of rare and unknown pokémon from different regions – prepared the tools of his trade for a photo shoot none of the viewers could have imagined.

Ritchie, the charming blue-eyed trainer, recognized as the young man that had lost to Koga in the Elite Four Kanto Trial of the previous year – sorted through his poké balls, readying for a challenge greater than any he had faced before.

Tracey, the youthful assistant of Professor Oak, who was known for his sketches used in the world-famous Professor’s papers and studies – quietly sat a good distance away from the others, struggling with decisions that would have put most others into the same catatonic state.

Casey, the young female trainer who look more fit to be a baseball player, only becoming recently branded as the fan that had brought the spark back to Corey Demario, Team Electabuzz’s star pitcher – ran back and forth, instructing others, and ensuring everything was ready… ready for what, the audience wished to know.

Liza, the Guardian of Charicific Valley, seen by others as the strict hermit that keeps the public away from the legendary charizard reservation – continued her instructions to each of the gigantic figures of fire and strength. Whatever brought her and her charizards out, must have been important. An idea that caused much gossip amongst the onlookers.

Solana, one of the celebrated Pokémon Rangers, known for her recent exploits in the Hoenn and Johto regions, and the focus of several fan clubs within the Kanto region – tested her Capture Styler on the nearby wildlife, much to the delight of the spectators.

Maylene, the pink-haired and eyed Gym Leader from the Sinnoh region, infamous with her Lucario as deadly challengers within the unofficial tournaments throughout Kanto – stretched and exercised with excitement and glee. Her emotions being difficult to avoid, many of the audience became pumped up for whatever fight she faced next.

May, the “Princess of Hoenn”, the master Coordinator recognized for her near-perfect techniques and fashion styles within Pokémon Contests – nervously flattened the wrinkles on her clothes as she noticed the crowd looking her way. Even in her unprepared clothing, she was a stunning creature of beauty.

Dawn, the Coordinator prodigy, fast becoming famous for her extremely creative use of her pokémon’s powers, skills, and talents – seemed absolutely disinterested in what was going on around her and focused all of her attention to a single man on the other side of the field.

Anabel, the Empathic Frontier Brain, the only Empathic publicly known within the higher ranks of the Pokémon League – adjusted her signature espeon onto her shoulder as she approached one of the charizards. Closing her eyes, she seemed to silently communicate with the Flame Pokémon.

Bianca and Angie, two figures unknown to the multitude of watchers – continued their business of packing and moving items into the open area. They had little care that they were given odd looks for being unrecognizable.

Sabrina, the frightening Psychic of Saffron City, seen as a figure of great power that was separate from the rest of the League, sharing the same notoriety as Lance and former Gym Leader Giovanni within the Kanto region – stood quietly at the sidelines. Waiting patiently for the preparations to be complete.

Misty, the “Mermaid of Cerulean City”, a Gym Leader known to keep many would-be Pokémon Masters humbled and unconfident… a powerful contender that had earned her the reputation of being one of the “Gym Leaders you should fight last” – barked orders amongst the other members with fierce authority.

And Ash… The Lightning Tsunami. The already-famous trainer that had become legendary after his reappearance as a blind contender – nodded his head towards the crowd, surprising the many who had thought he couldn’t see them.

…

What all these masters were gathered together for in the same area boggled and drove the mind into excitable questions and stories. The only factor they shared in common… was Ash Ketchum.

“Rumor has it Ash had his charizard trained in Charicific Valley.”

“I saw the battle he had with Ritchie, it was intense!”

“That pink-haired woman from Sinnoh? Apparently she’s a friend of his.”

“I’ve seen him travelling with Dawn. I’ve heard she even acts as his cheerleader!”

“Wasn’t Ash the one that got Tracey his job with Professor Oak? Or did I mishear something?”

“I think May’s dating him.”

“No way, I heard Misty dated him!”

“I heard that he helped two Pokémon Rangers on their missions.”

“Wasn’t that Frontier Brain known for always comparing Trainers to him?”

“I heard Todd has Ash to thank for his successful photo of an articuno.”

“Casey seems to be giving him a lot of attention… you think they’re…?”

“I heard a story that Ash got Sabrina to laugh a long time ago!”

“Who are those two girls? His sisters?”

“What kind of pokémon is that??”

“This is so cool! Did anyone bring a camera?!”

“Oooh, I want her autograph! Do you think it’s okay if we ask?”

“Look at the size of those charizards!”

“Where do you think they’re going?”

Misty had enough.

“WILL YOU ALL PLEASE BE QUIET?!!”

…

The crowd dispersed in panic and went their separate ways. Though some stayed and continued to watch in careful silence.

…

The stillness had not only affected the remaining audience, but the mood of the entire group. The air had become stiff and heavy – with the weight of their upcoming challenges crushing their spirits.

Ash pulled Casey close and whispered into her ear.

“Are you sure, sir?” she asked with a raised brow.

He smiled and nodded.

The baseball fanatic shrugged and pulled out her megaphone. “WHO WANTS AUTOGRAPHS?!”

Excited cheers and screams came from the remaining and returning spectators. They didn’t hesitate to take the given opportunity.

“GET IN A SINGLE-FILE LINE!!”

The incoming swarms made the group take a step back in surprise. They looked at one another in confusion. Some smiled, otherslaughed, and others simply shrugged.

Are you sure about this, Ash? Sabrina poked with her thoughts.

Yes… he responded with calm assurance.

With a sigh, he continued his thought,

I think… I think we’re all really wound up right now because we’re all facing something we don’t want to do… Something we don’t think we’re ready for. Something that even I didn’t think I was ready for.

Ash faced the excitedcrowd. We need this. We have to remember that everything we do… it isn’t just for us… This is for everyone. And if we have to storm a base to save all of the people on this planet, we may as well go in there as their heroes.

_________________________________________________________

Morning had come and gone, and with it, many ravaging fans and overly curious gossipers had moved on.

Autographs, photographs, questions, and quick statements had flooded the fifteen for hours – and many were relieved that the moment had finally passed.

Noon had struck. The sun hung heavily over them.

Time was ticking against them, as they were sadly back on the schedule Bill had wanted them on.

We should be moving soon, Ash.

I know, Sabrina. I just want to let everyone finish their goodbyes first.

The male Empathic smiled. The tension in the air was gone. And all that was left were the fifteen’s realization that this might be their last venture together.

Everyone had their own schedule, their own lives to return to after all this. It was a hard thing to imagine that this would be their final time together as a team.

But now, more than ever, they all knew they’d succeed in this mission.

Something told them they wouldn’t fail… something had been telling them since the beginning, but their own fears, anxieties, doubts, and problems had blinded them from it.

Now with the finality facing them and with all their worries thrown away, their future success was loud and clear.

We can do this, Sabrina…

Of course. I have always known this… The Psychic sighed with a smile. Though I will admit my heart is gladdened that everyone realizes it as well now.

Your heart? He giggled. You never mention that.

He felt a slight psychic jab against his thoughts. Ow!

You know full well I have one. Her vague response hinted towards their bond.

…a bond Ash had cherished in full, and would dearly miss when they would split ways.

…

Ash walked towards Sabrina and wrapped his arms around her.

Ash?

Her thoughts, stiff, cold, calculating.

Her emotions, surprised, warm, depressed.

She let her blush through and smiled softly.

Her forehead met his.

We’re not done yet. We still have one last battle.

I know… but… I’ll miss you.

Don’t say that. Not yet.

Sabrina patted Ash’s hair lightly as her body slowly disappeared from his hold…

S-Sabrina??

I am… fine. I just need some time alone. Do not worry. I will be ready once we take flight.

Her mind and heart closed seconds after. He could no longer read her.

…

“I swear you two are cute together.”

“C-Cute???” Ash turned. The tomboy’s emotions faced him. “A-Angie??”

“If you’re interested in her, I’d be fine with it.”

His face turned red. “Wh-What??!”

“Nothing, nothing. Anyways…”

Angie’s confident emotions suddenly shrank. She felt vulnerable, unsure, and anxious.

“Is something wrong, Anj?”

His familiar nickname for her bolstered her courage.

She grabbed him by the wrist and began dragging him.

“A-Anj?? Where are we going?!”

“Keep your mouth shut.”

Ash’s panicked emotions caught the attention of Misty and May.

Angie noticed their curious glances. “Crap.”

Grunting, she lifted Ash over her shoulder. “Shoot, you got heavier.”

“A-Anj? Seriously, what’s happening?”

She began to sprint into the woods. “Keep your mouth shut before anyone else notices!”

He was about to struggle. A single shift in his weight would have easily toppled the two over for an easy break-free. But he didn’t have enough time.

His body met the ground as he was tossed against the forest floor. “Ow! Ow. Owow! Ow.” he expressed each injury on every rock and branch his body was struck against as he rolled.

A tree was his final impact. “Ow.”

He lay still, wonderingabout his current situation.

Just a few hours ago, he might have found such a predicament to be an annoyance and would have yelled at Angie for dragging him all the way out here before such an important mission.

Yet at this moment, after the jokes and happy exchanges of stories with friends and fans… he felt… comfortable. It had made him reminisce of older times…

“Hey Anj… doesn’t this kinda’ remind you of when you first trained with me? The time without pokémon?”

“That’s because it’s the same place.”

Th-thump.

The tomboy was suddenly on top of him.

“An…Angie?”

She felt… hot. Physically too.

“L-Look, Ash…” Angie’s voice began with an absolutely frightened stutter. “I – I know you’ll choose someone else a-after all this. But y-you owe me for saving Anne! S-So…”

“An–”

Her lips pressed against his.

…

Limbs losing strength to hold herself up, Angie collapsed onto him. Lips still embraced, her heart stood still as everything inside her mind went into complete chaos.

WH-WHAT AM I DOING???

She wanted to stop. To pull away. To run.

But Ash didn’t move. He didn’t struggle. That means he wants it too, right?

Her body pushed forward, leaving no room or gap between their breaths.

Time crawled to a standstill, as she felt trapped in this moment. This moment with him…

What am I… What am I doing… Stop…

Her lips broke away, only to latch back on. Different lip, different angle, different… taste.

She wanted more… she hungered for him…

You’re mine…

Heart, mind, body, and soul were in complete conflict with one another. They all yearned for her to stop, yet all secretly willed her to keep going. To keep her lips locked onto his. To keep his body close. To keep them together.

Ash’s arm twitched, causing her hands to instinctively pin him down.

L-Let go of him! Y-You can stop now! She yelled at herself. No… he’s mine…

More… She pretended she never said.

Angie’s lips were virgin. They had always been. She had never wanted, thought about, or cared for this before. Up to this point, she had no idea how to kiss. She still didn’t know. Though her lips had no idea how to move forward, where to go, or how to please – she wanted to continue. She wanted to know now, care now, want it now. She wanted to think about this, remember it, and never forget.

Everything inside her told her this is what she wanted.

Just once… just…

…

…

She finally pulled away… gasping for air.

Her quick heartbeat was surprisingly audible, her hair was more of a mess than usual, her body was trembling terribly, and her eyes were in a complete daze.

Using her sleeve, she wiped away the saliva that clung onto her chin. “I – I um…!”

The tomboy slowly stood… unsure of what to do.

D-Do I help him up? No, just run. Just run! Wh-Why isn’t he moving?? D-Did he not enjoy it? AAAAAAAHHH!!! OF COURSE HE DIDN’T!!! YOU FORCED IT ON HIM!!! YOU-!!! YOU-!!!

“I – I GOTTA’ GO! I – I’LL SEE YOU AT THE CHARIZARDS!!”

Angie ran as fast as she could. Screaming at her own emotions and thoughts as she tried her best to forget the crime she believed she had committed.

She’d never be able to forget, no matter how hard she would try. And in a way, she was glad.

…

…

Ash continued to lie on the forest floor.

His arm twitched again.

…

Pulling the cooling marble from his pocket, he laid his wrist against his forehead…

He would never be able to forget… when it first happened.

When she wasn’t Angie…

Pressing the marble against his head, he slowly began to remember.

“……Amy?”

Thread: Arceus Drops - Remembering (COMPLETE)

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Chapter 15 Pieces

Chapter 16 Duality

Chapter 17 Distractions

Chapter 18 Support

Chapter 19 Guidance

Chapter 20 Alternatives

Chapter 21 Communication

Chapter 22 The Purpose

Chapter 23 Discoveries

Chapter 24 Connections

Chapter 25 Burdens

Chapter 26 Worth

Chapter 27 Consideration

Chapter 28 Others

Chapter 29 Goodbye

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