James Oake – Pokémon Trainer from Viridian City

Arasan – Pokémon Trainer from Lavender Town

Jeff Hibiki – Pokémon Trainer from Lavender Town

Teal – Trainer from Viridian City

Blu Flyer – Adventurer from Mrey

Trixxie Parker – Adventurer from Mrey

Lance O’Ryan – Leader of the Elite Four. Diplomat from Mrey

Strype – Pilot from Mrey

Vail – Team Rocket Commander

Aka – Team Rocket Agent

Samuel – Vail’s subordinate

Valerie – Vail’s sister

Nora – Vail’s subordinate

Sakakai – The Boss

Risua Darkfire – Mage from the Outer Dimensions

Daavak – Former Elite Four Caretaker

Pheobe Deirdre – Powerful psychic/mage from Mrey

* * *

James gritted his teeth, Raticate had taken the hit hard. Across the dusty field, Teal grinned triumphantly.

"Raticate! Hyper Fang attack now!" James yelled the command desperately, knowing that it would do little good.

"Geodude, finish it!" James gritted his teeth as Raticate hit the ground and laid still.

"Heh. Face it twerp, you'll never beat me. Now stop wasting my time, I have training to do." James sighed miserably and watched as Teal strode triumphantly away.

"Not fair.." Looking down, James forced back a tear. It was difficult to lose a battle, especially against a rival.

"Rat.. Raticate..." James looked down, noticing the felled Pokemon for the first time. "Don't worry about it Raticate, come on back now." Hefting his Pokeball, James reached out and watched at Raticate was transferred into energy for storage.

"Not fair.." James sighed again, to his rear the small town of Pewter city glimmered faintly in the sunlight.

"I'm never going to get my first badge.." James grumbled, but stopped recalling the fate of his father. He had gotten a badge, but only one. He had given up in Cerulean City and returned home to become a breeder. "No, I'm not giving up." James whispered, unconsciously patting his PokeBalls.

"Hmmm, your Raticate is in bad shape young man." Nurse Joy frowned severely over the small desktop PC that she maintained, "The pour thing was on the verge of collapse. You ought to be more responsible. James could only slump, "I'm sorry ma’am, I got here as fast as I could." Joy smiled and tilted her head for a moment, "Don't worry about it. Go get something to eat, we'll take care of your Pokemon."

James wandered into the restaurant nearest the Pokemon Centre and sat. It was good to eat, he had been hungry most of the way through the Viridian Forest.

"What'll it be son?" James considered for a moment,

"How about a plate of spaghetti." The waiter nodded and returned to the kitchen to dispense the order.

"Down here James, don't you recognize me?" Peering downward, James soon located Okido underneath his table. "

Professor? What are you doing down there?" Okido swiftly popped out and shook his head.

"Ah yes, I'm sorry James, but I was searching for one of my Rattatas, I'm afraid that it may have gotten loose." James could only shrug, he had known Okido ever since his entrance into the OPTCC 3 years ago. James had always regarded him as slightly mad, but well meaning.

"So what brings you to Pewter City?" James smiled,

"I'm going to get my first badge Professor!" Okido nodded briefly,

"Ahh. Off to be a Pokemon Master, that brings me back. Oh, food's here. Let's eat James."

"Your Pokemon are fighting fit young man, we hope to see you again." James nodded and collected his PokeBalls.

"Thanks ma’am." Joy only smiled and watched as the youth departed the Pokecenter. Stepping into the warm sunlight of the Pewter City sky, James took a deep, cleansing breath.

"This is it, my first badge." Stepping down the street, it was

not long before the massive stone visage of the Pewter gym appeared.

"Alright, lets go.."

-------

James stepped into the drafty gym and glanced about, rocks and boulders prevailed about the otherwise sparse gym.

"Greetings." James spun, a young man with long gangly arms and dark hair had appeared. Attempting to put on a brave veneer, James smiled.

"I am James Oake of Viridian City. I have come to challenge you." Takeshi only smiled grimly,

"Very well. As gym leader, I must accept all challenges." James stared at the Gym leader and narrowed his eyes, it was time to collect his destiny.

"Go Raticate!"

* * *

Jeff Hibiki stood outside the Pokécenter, leaning against the wall. He was wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans with the knees torn out of them. He sighed as he looked down at his belt which contained three PokeBalls.

He remembered how he got each and everyone of them. Mist, Helluce, and Hyler. Jeff remembered how his life was before everything happened. His father worked in a store in Pewter City and sold just about everything. Then he was only five years old. He used to spy on Takeshi and his father training with Pokémon. But soon after Takeshi's father vanished when he went on a journey to catch and raise Pokémon. Within a few months, Jeff's father went bankrupt. He moved what he had left and moved his family to Lavender Town.

In Lavender Town, Jeff and his father always went into the Pokémon Tower to honor the souls of the dead that lay buried there, but also to see if the illusive ghost Pokémon could be studied. For the first time, Jeff met Professor Okido. He was at first, frightened by him but soon thought of Okido as an uncle. On his first tour through the Tower, Jeff tossed one of his father's PokeBalls and caught the ghost Pokémon, Gastly. His father decided to let Jeff keep the ghost for a keepsake. Then shortly after, Jeff's 6^th birthday rolled around. His mother got him some new clothes, hats, and other things like that, but what got him extremely excited is what his father gave him for his birthday. He was given a Cubone, and ten PokeBalls. Jeff was content for the next 11 months, until his father was possessed by a powerful

ghost Pokémon, Gengar. He met a young girl, named, Arasan, there who was trying to study to become an exorcist. On the day his father was to have the exorcism performed, he committed suicide.

His mother, in depression and sadness, moved from Lavender to Celadon City where they rented out an apartment. His mother worked as a maid to pay the rent and all the other essentials. On Jeff's 9th birthday, his mother took him to the casino and won him an Eevee. After weeks of playing with the

Eevee, he decided to evolve it with a Water Stone. He saved up his money and after a few weeks, he bought the water stone and evolved the Eevee into a Vaporeon. For the next few years, he learned how to garden from Erika. Jeff thought of Erika as a big sister, since he was an only child. At the age of 12, his mother died of stroke and Jeff was alone. Jeff wandered the streets with his three Pokémon, which were his only family left. Helluce, his Gastly, Mist his Vaporeon, and his Cubone, Hyler. He finally wandered on to the streets

of Saffron and ran into Arasan. He remembered her, seeing as she was going to save his father. But it was too late.

"If I only would have talked to her." Jeff mumbled to himself, regretting not talking to Arasan. He stood straight up and looked down the road and he could see Arasan walking down towards him. Jeff ducked behind the corner and made a mad dash for the bushes, which were feet away. He drew one

of his remaining seven Pokéballs and waited. He watched as a Growlithe and a Vulpix were walking side by side. He kept still until the time was right. He suddenly threw his Pokéball in a side arm fashion and watched as the Vulpix was sucked into the ball and the Growlithe ran for it's life.

"Takeshi would be proud." Jeff said, smiling to himself. Only two weeks ago had he seen Takeshi and his new friends, Kasumi and Satoshi. His desire to be the greatest was reborn and he smiled in satisfaction that one day, he could surpass all of his friends and rivals. For the time being, only Takeshi,

Satoshi, and Shigeru stood in his way of being the best. Kasumi was a minor threat to his dream though. Jeff placed the ball in his belt and ran towards Cerulean. He knew that he could find something special there, but who knew what it could be? Powerful Pokémon? Trainers? Badges? He had heard much about

Brian and Ally which were supposedly the newest prospects of the Gym in Cerulean.

"I won't let my dream die." Jeff said to himself, running faster and seeing the town becoming closer and closer. He hopped over hedges, fences, Pokémon, and rocks as he made his way to the town. He dropped one of his Pokéballs and he accidentally caught a Bellsprout in the confusion around him.

"I made it." Jeff said out of breath and holding the newly acquired Pokémon which was encased inside it's Pokéball. He looked around town and saw the usual commerce. He sat down under the shade of an oak tree and closed his eyes. His journey was just beginning.

* * *

"Go Raticate!" James cried, trying his best to keep up a confident veneer. Takeshi merely smirked quietly, as if James was some sort of joke that had yet to deliver it’s punchline.

"Very well, Geodude go!" The blood quickly froze in James’ veins as he recalled his battle with Teal’s Geodude. How could he win?

"Raticate," James called, his confidence waning, "Focus Energy!" The Raticate nodded and shut his eyes, a new level of fighting spirit quickly becoming apparent.

"Geodude, tackle!" Raticate opened it’s eyes just in time to see Geodude’s heavy bulk hurling towards him. Before he could so much as squeak Raticate took the blow to the stomach and went down hard.

"Your Raticate is poorly trained, this will be a short match." James tried to ignore the jeer, but the battle was already beginning to go against him.

"Raticate, Hyper Fang now!" James’s Pokemon swiftly recovered and launched itself towards the stone visage of Geodude.

"Geodude, evade!" Takeshi cried, but it was too late. Raticate launched, and a moment later a large chunk of Geodude’s chin was missing.

"Geodude, return!" Takeshi said solemnly, causing James’ heart to leap for a moment. Only for a moment.

"Go Onix!" James paused for a moment, he had never seen one of the great rock snakes of lore, but he had heard more than a few stories in the OPTCC. A moment later James got a look at an Onix. "It’s… huge." James half murmured to himself. At 20 feet long, the rock monster was indeed a formidable opponent. James had little time to think of that however.

"Raticate, Super Fang! Go for the eyes!" The small yet powerful Pokemon nodded once.

"Come on Raticate!" The Raticate kneeled, and with a single powerful leap was abruptly atop Onix’s head.

"Do it now Raticate, maximum power!"

"That Raticate is quite a fighter, we should grab it." Valerie merely looked at her partner disdainfully and sniffed.

"Don’t be ignorant! The Boss would never want anything like that! We have to grab them both!" Vail smiled, catching his partner’s gist.

"Exactly."

"You can’t win, just quit before your Pokemon gets hurt!" James gritted his teeth as the Onix yet again attempted to bind the smaller, quicker Raticate.

"I’ll never…" James paused, strange yet catchy music was filtering into the gym.

"Huh, what’s…?" James never finished his sentence as the sound of crunching glass and choking gas filled the gym. As the gas began to dissipate, two figures became apparent.

"Who are you?" James demanded. The pair stepped out of the rising smoke and each smiled. Allow us to introduce ourselves."

Tilting his head, Takeshi leaned over, "Look’s like trouble."

The pair immediately brightened, "Trouble, that’s our cue!" Vail nodded, "From Peace and Love we’re protecting you." Leaning back, the pair began to dance. "Snatching Pokemon is our fame, perhaps you would like to know our names? Vail! Valerie! Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light, surrender now or prepare to fight!" James could only shrug,

"Your Team Rocket? Your motto really needs work." Vail widened his eyes angrily,

"Never insult our motto!" Valerie nodded her head vigorously, "Yes! We wrote it ourselves!" Vail smiled.

"I can tell." James said simply, trying not to laugh.

"Let’s show the little boy who he’s dealing with. Vail?" Vail smiled.

"Valerie?" Reaching to their sides, the unsavory duo removed the PokeBalls from their belt. "Time for action Graveller!" Raising his gloved fist, Vail let a maniacal laugh and released his PokeBall.

"Your turn Muk!" A moment later the two PokeBalls burst open to reveal the stony Graveller and the comparably smelly Muk.

"Onix, tackle!" Takeshi yelled, attempting to get in the initiative.

"Graveller, Rock Throw!" Valerie smiled and wagged a reproving finger,

"Show them that size doesn’t matter!" The Onix bashed his head down upon the ground, trying in vain to hit the Graveller. Twisting aside, Graveller rolled into a boulder.

"Rock Throw now!" Flying through the air, the Graveller struck Onix cleanly about the chin, knocking it out in one shot.

"Muk! Poison Gas attack!" James raised his fist, attempting to wave aside the foul smelling gas. Raticate, Body Slam!" Without a word of acknowledge the Raticate immediately attempted to throw his bulk at the Muk, only to find itself on the other side covered in foul smelling goo.

"Raticate return." James watched as the long suffering Raticate was pulled back into its PokeBall. "What do we do now?" Takeshi inquired simply.

James thought for a moment, "Run away!" Diving behind a large rocky outcropping, James watched as Muk and Graveller continued to wreak havoc about the gym. James sighed, things never seemed to go his way.

"I’m sorry Takeshi, but I have to handle this myself. Don’t come out until I say." Takeshi widened his eyes, but said nothing. Walking into the middle of the gym floor, James stared fiercely into his captors eyes.

"I’m James Oake of Viridian City, and I’m destined to become the greatest Pokemon master of all time. You can’t stand in my way!"

Vail merely chuckled, "Strong words boy. Now hand over your Pokemon."

James bit his lip, "Never!"

Stepping forward, Valerie merely laughed. "Then you leave us no choice, finish it Graveller." James narrowed his eyes,

"Alright, go Charmander!" Hefting his PokeBall, James heaved it as a hard as he could. A moment later Charmander popped out.

"Charmander, Ember attack!" Valerie could only shake her head, "Graveller. Rock throw!" But the Ember was not aimed at Graveller. A moment later gouts of water was pouring from the ceiling. "What is this? Graveller, Muk! Finish it!" But the Pokemon were not interested in battle, reeling from pain, the two Pokemon stepped back, only to have a fresh burst of water hit them. That was too much, turning tail, the two Pokemon beat a hasty retreat. Vail could only sneer,

"We’ll be back!"

"Good battle James. One day you will be an excellent Pokemon trainer."

James fairly beamed, "Thank you."

Takeshi nodded gravely, "For saving my Gym, I give you this Boulder Badge. Try to become the trainer that I’ve always wanted to be." James furrowed his brow and stared at the Boulder Badge,

"I can’t take this, our battle isn’t over yet!" Takeshi could only smile,

"You have quite the fighting spirit James. I would have lost eventually." Taking the badge, James took a moment to pin it to his bag.

"Thanks!" Takeshi nodded silently, "You are welcome James. Beyond this city, you may find Mount Moon and Cerulean City. Take care James." James nodded and turned about. "I will!"

* * *

Jeff Hibiki opened his eyes and stood up from under the shade of the giant oak tree. He stood up and smiled eyeing the Cerulean Gym that was about twenty feet away. He walked up to the door and opened it and saw a vast pool with three teenage girls sitting on the edge of a blue platform floating in

the water. Jeff hops onto the other blue platform near the edge and clears his throat catching the girls attention.

"Just exactly are you, huh? Barraging in on us girls like that!" one of them said as Jeff pulled out his one Pokéball and smiled a bit.

"Oh, another contender for the badge, very well...Go Seel!"

"Go Gastly!" Jeff commanded as he opened his Pokéball and the barely visible shadow of Gastly appeared hovering over the sea lion. Jeff chuckled a bit as he commanded his Pokémon.

"Helluce, Night Shade." The ghost pointed at Seel and watched as invisible waves of ghost energy smashed into the Seel.

"Seel, fight it!" the girl said as it was no help at all. The Seel fainted and Jeff smiled in satisfaction.

"Argh, Seel return. Go Starmie!"

"Helluce, come back. Hyler come forth!" Jeff said as he released his Cubone. He knew Hyler was weak to water but it was also a Psychic type.

"Hyler, Bone Club!" Jeff shouted as the Cubone leaped into the air and came down striking the Starmie off balance with it's bone. He then proceeded to bash and smash Starmie with the bone. Soon the Starmie fainted.

"Argh! That's it! Come back Starmie, and go Goldeen." the girl sent out a fish that swam through the water quickly, making it nearly impossible

to hit. "Feeling lucky?" She giggled.

"Hyler, come here. Mist catch that thing!" Jeff said releasing the Vaporeon. The dog dived into the water and quickly swam after the fish. Jeff grimaced a little as the fish kept getting away from Mist's grasp.

"Come on Mist! You can catch it!" Jeff said, encouraging his Pokémon.

Suddenly the Vaporeon smacked the Goldeen into the air with it's tail and then

it leaped out of the water.

"Vaporeon!" Mist released its battle cry and bit into the fish almost instantly killing it. Then it took it's tail and smacked it against the wall.

"Looks like I won." Jeff smiled as his Vaporeon smiled in return as it leapt onto the platform. The next girl stood up and held out a Pokéball.

"My turn I guess..." She said releasing a Horsea. The Horsea shot some bubbles at Mist but Mist easily avoided them. Mist then leapt into the air and bit deeply into the Horsea's tail. The girl called back the Horsea and sent out a Seadra.

"Mist come back...Go Helluce!" Jeff said as the Gastly appeared again. The ghost evaded the jets of water the Horsea sent at it. Suddenly the Seadra dived into the water. "Helluce, Night Shade!" The ghost let out the waves this time the waves being amplified from bouncing off the walls of the pool. Jeff watched as the Seadra couldn’t evade this attack.

"I’m beat…Sis your turn." The girl said pointing to the last girl on the platform. She stood up and smiled some.

"I only have one Pokémon but let’s see you beat it." She smiled releasing a Jynx. Helluce easily dodged the kisses the Jynx blew. Suddenly after evading the 30^th kiss or so Gastly started to glow purple.

"What’s happening?!" Jeff screamed as a purple light engulfed the room and where the Gastly once was floated a Haunter. The Haunter snickered and flew up to the Jynx and licked it. The Jynx was surprised and jumped back.

"Helluce, Confuse Ray, and follow up with Hypnosis!" Jeff shouted his command as the ghost obeyed.

"Haunt…" Helluce said as he released an orb of pulsating light that wrapped around Jynx, confusing it. "ERRR!" The ghost finished as it released Psychic waves which caused the Jynx to slowly fall asleep.

"Jynx!" the girl shouted trying to wake of her Pokémon desperately, but failed. Helluce swooped in for the kill as he used Night Shade, which caused the Jynx to collapse.

"Okay, you won! You can have the Cascade Badge."

Jeff collected the Cascade Badge and walked about of the gym and spotted a young man in a purple shirt and with a hair spike. ‘Shigeru.’ Jeff thought to himself.

"Shigeru! I challenge you!" Jeff said dashing towards the young man. He stopped feet in front of him and saw the face of Shigeru.

"Just exactly who do you think you are?" Shigeru answered, pointing his nose in the air. Jeff scowled as he opened up a Pokéball and let Helluce out.

"Jeff Hibiki. Now are we gonna fight or B.S.?" Jeff said as Shigeru shrugged and opened up a ball and let out an Abra.

• * *

"Freezer!"

"Shhhhh. Quiet Glacier!" whispered Arasan while grabbing Freezer’s Pokeball out of her dresser drawer. "I’ll get you something to eat as soon as I’m able. I promise."

"Freezer!"

"Shhhhh."

Arasan climbed out her bedroom window. It was partially connected to the loft. The log house had real wooden logs that interconnected into each other like Lincoln-logs. So she easily was able to climb down them like a ladder. As she was hopping down each log she was suddenly frightened by a large and icky spider and she lost her footing and tumbled downward! Luckily it was only another four feet to the ground.

She picked herself up and brushed some twigs out of her hair.

"Argh. So far this day is not going too well." She whispered. She grabbed her tote bag that she left under a bush the day before and headed away from the house toward the Lavender Town Pokemart.

It was 3:30 am so it was still dark outside. Arasan pulled a flashlight out of her tote and switched it on.

The light that radiated from it was very dim and began to flicker.

"Oh…drat! I never thought to check the batteries! Humph. Now what do I do? I can’t see a thing!"

"Freezer…?"

"No Glacier, you can’t come out yet. I’m sorry. I guess I’ll have to find my way through the dark."

The sun would not be appearing for another three to four hours so she just began to walk through the dark cobblestone streets using her hands to guide her so she wouldn’t bump into anything…or anyone. Believe or not people were in the city gathered in groups this early in the morning. She noticed some people that she knew. A lot of them held low-lit candles. They were mourning for any dead Pokémon that were going to die that day.

"Leave it Lavender Town to praise the dead when they aren’t even dead yet," Arasan whispered to Glacier. Glacier giggled quietly. "I don’t get this town at all. They sit there and cry for the dead even if the Pokémon are in Pallet Town. Sheesh! Get a life people!"

The crowds started to walk toward her so she jumped into an alleyway and waited for the people to pass.

"Pssst."

Arasan jumped. She then turned to find an old man staring at her. He was bedraggled and dirty. A crust of bread was hanging out of his nostril.

"Do you have a moment?" he harshly whispered with a slight nasal sound on accordance to the bread crust hanging out of his nose like a…well you know. His eyes were wide with anticipation.

Arasan looked him over and sighed.

"Um…yeah. I guess I can stay for a bit. What do you need?" Arasan reached into her tote bag for her Pokeball just in case there was trouble. The man held out a wrinkled disfigured hand.

"Give it to me! I want it. I need it!"

"Need what, sir?" Arasan felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and her right eye twitched.

A sign!

She chose not to pull Glacier’s Pokeball out of the tote bag all the way but she hung onto it just the same. The man might decide to want the Freezer along with whatever it was he wanted also.

"A moment! Give me your moment!"

Arasan had enough knowledge to understand that this man was not crazy like many others would have believed so she calmly told the man to sit down. She stressed the syllable "man" so that the old guy was able understand and comprehend what she was saying. The man sat down cross-legged on the ground. Trashcans lined the alley and Rattata’s were chewing on the discarded garbage taking no notice of the two people within their territory.

"Now, just relax, Old Man," said Arasan, stressing the syllables once more. She found a fairly decent cardboard box that was flattened and put it in front of the man who was starting to once again stand up. The bread crust fell out of his nose at least. She sat down on the box and firmly told him to Sit Down. He did, so she told him to Close His Eyes. He did.

"Now LEAVE!!" she whisper/yelled to the man and waved her hands away from her body but did not stress Old Man this time.

The man began to glow and shimmer. Arasan closed her eyes and began to chant. She stood up and with her eyes still closed she began to walk around the man still chanting strange words. She sprinkled a bit of some green powder onto the man. The man began to glow brighter and brighter until he was a ball of white light with no visible features. (Which Arasan was kind of glad about because the disfigured hand was starting to gross her out.)

A ball of darkness shot straight up and out of the light and flew onward toward the Tower that sat on a hill.

The light dimmed and the man stopped glowing altogether so Arasan took her place on .the flattened box once more. She stopped her chanting and looked the man in the eyes. His disfigured hand along with the rest of his body was perfectly smooth and white and his white hair was now colored brown. The man’s eyes were wide open. He finally blinked and noticed that a girl was staring at him.

"What happened…?" he said without urgency in his voice and without the harsh whisper. He brushed the powder off his shoulders.

"You were possessed," said Arasan while breathing slow and deep. "I have driven the demon like creature out of your body for good."

(((I hope.))) She thought grimly.

"Possessed? By what?"

"I would rather not say if you wouldn’t mind. You would be terribly frightened by all of the details. I will only answer you this- it was a ghost."

"A ghost?! I’m outta here!" yelled the not-so-old man and he ran out of the alley in a hurry leaving a puff of smoke behind him as he ran.

"Well, it was a good thing it was only a Ghastly. If that silly ghost had been a Gengar, I don’t think I would have been able to handle it as well." Arasan told her little Freezer and Glacier agreed with a happy, "Freeze!"

"And I’m glad that I remembered about the little detail that Master Mochimono told us: that if the possessed person asks what held him or her in possession then we should never reveal if it is a ghost-Pokémon. For that might make people afraid of Pokémon altogether."

"Freezer?"

"No, Glacier, I’ll bet everyone will love Freezers. No matter what. At least I will…"

"Freezer, freeze!"

Arasan gathers her tote bag up again, puts the box back where she found it and takes her foot and scatters the green powder. She also tells the nearby Rattatas not to eat the powder. They respond with excited chatters.

Then she heads back out onto the street – this time no parade of goo-goo-ga-ga people to get in her way…

**

"Route 8, huh? More like Route Hate. There’s too many nasty weeds around to enjoy the scenery!"

"Freeze..?"

"Oh, yeah sure…you can come out now. We’re well away from stinky old Lavender Town…" Arasan reached into her bag and pulls out a Pokeball with the designs for Flight and Ice stamped upon it. She opens it up and a beam of blinding light is thrown out. The light crackles and spits and forms itself into the shape of a large bird. The light vanishes and a beautiful Freezer was revealed. Glacier looked around at the landscape and chirped loudly a few times before she began to pick at her feathers.

"Glacier, you can preen yourself later…I know your feathers have gotten all smushed up being inside the Pokeball for such a long time, but it can wait until we’re out of this field of weeds can’t it?"

"Freeze. Freezer."

The Freezer looked back for a second toward the ghost-town and then at Arasan.

"Well?"

"Freeze!" and at that she spread her massive silver-blue wings and shot into the sky, gliding ahead of Arasan as they traveled through Route 8. Many Pokémon trainers challenged Arasan but she turned them all down for she knew her Freezer was not yet up to battling.

"So old but yet so inexperienced…" Arasan mumbled under her breath. "Finding low level trainer fight won’t be easy around here…"

At last they arrived in Saffron. Arasan finally was able to place her bag on solid concrete. Not much of a nature person is she?

"Ah, good. A decent town and a decent place to have lunch." Yes indeed it was lunchtime. Having to eat breakfast next to a thorny bush wasn’t her idea of a great morning-but with Arasan what morning was a great one? Now she was able to eat without tiny bugs crawling all over her causing her to spill her juice. She found a quiet park in town with a large fountain residing there also. She guided Glacier with a flick of her fingers motioning her to land. She did-on top of the fountain! She blended right in with the large stone statue of a dragonair! At first Arasan couldn’t see her so she chirped.

"Oh, you silly thing you…come down here! It’s time to eat."

"Mmmm.. that squid was delicious. Don’t you agree Glacier?" She chirped her gratitude and lay down on the sweet grass to try take a quick nap. Arasan did the same. After the refreshing snooze Arasan gathered her tote and went strolling merrily down the street-well as merrily as she can get with her attitude. As she was walking she noticed something…

"Jeff?!" she frantically began searching the street. Huh? Oh. I thought I saw him…I’m seeing things." But the corner of her mind was telling her otherwise…

• * *

"I’m lost." James sighed and flipped the map over but it did little good.

"Yep, I’m lost. Okay, I was on Route 3, or was it Route 5? Damn it all, lets see…" Seating himself on the ground, James took the moment to remove an Apple from his pack. Munching on the delectable fruit, James attempted to deduce his location, but to no avail.

"Well, maybe if I keep walking I’ll eventually come to… yah!" James didn’t have a chance to finish his sentence as the ground abruptly gave way beneath him and James plunged into the darkness below.

"Raticate? Raticate!" James blinked and awoke, to find Raticate standing over him with a concerned about it’s eyes.

"Raticate? How did you get out? More importantly, where are we?" Looking about, James took stock of his surroundings. He was in a small dark tunnel, the exit to the ground above rose above him, too high to reach.

"Go Charmander!" James cried, throwing out his other PokeBall. Striking the ground, the PokeBall quickly opened to release the fire lizard.

"Char Char!" Ok Charmander lead the way. Turning about, Charmander began to hurry away. "Hey wait up!" James called, trying to keep pace with the rapidly diminishing flame. James had walked for nearly an hour when he suddenly entered a anteroom.

"It’s incredible.." James whispered in awe. The ceiling rose nearly 50 feet and James felt as if he was in some sort of great stadium.

"Halt Intruder, go no further or die." James turned slowly, attempting to get a look at his harasser. "Who, who are you?" James began to turn the rest of the way, but a bony hand halted his progress.

"Do not turn boy, I’m the Caretaker of this place. You are intruding." With surprising strength, the hand spun James about the rest of the way, giving the boy a good luck at his tormentor. It was an old man, with a great flowing beard and a tawdry shawl. There was an air of decay about the oldster, but at the same time he seemed to radiate power unimaginable.

"Who, who are you?" The old man merely cackled,

"I am the Caretaker boy. This is the original home of the Elite Four, before they chose to take residence up on the Indigo Plateau of course. The fools, they always had a taste for the extravegant." James slumped a bit, "I’m kind of lost, I need to get to Mount Moon so I can go all the way to Cerulean, but I fell into this place." The old man nodded sagely, "I do not believe that you can be "kind of" lost boy. Either you are lost or you are not!" The Caretaker’s eyes began to take on a misty look, "Aye boy, you are in Mount Moon. In it’s prime this place had five hundred trainers a day streaming through this place to challenge the Elite Four, of course that was then. When they moved to the Indigo Plateau they decided that they would be the only people to use it so naturally they left me. They never liked me." James was perplexed, "You used to be a member of the Elite Four?" The Caretaker cackled yet again, "Of course I was! Agatha and I cut a quite a jib in our day, hehhee!" Suddenly the Caretaker slumped forward, and all of his energy left him. "But you don’t care do you boy? Oh well, I can tell from the looks of you that you are a trainer. If you want to get to Cerulean, then take that tunnel down there. That should help you. Good bye." Grinning, James began to dash forward but stopped. Turning about, James looked about for some sign of the old man. He was gone.

"Trouble, yes that’s our cue! From Peace and Love we’re protecting you!" Vail groaned briefly, "Really Valerie, must we say our motto everytime we develop a sinister plan?" Valerie could only laugh maniacally, "Of course we do Vail! It’s the Team Rocket way! Now say it or else!" Vail sighed, "Snatching Pokémon is our fame, perhaps you would like to know our name? Vail!" Valerie leaped high and giggled, "Valerie! Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light, surrender now or prepare to fight!"

Vail sighed again, "Leave it to the Boss to send us to this pit and make us dig for, what is it this time?"

Valerie shrugged, "Fossils."

Vail spat and continued digging. "Hey, what are you doing!" Turning, Vail and Valerie suddenly saw James standing in the entrance to the small anteroom. "You! Vail, say the motto again!"

Vail only grimaced, "Screw it Valerie. Go Muk! Go Graveller." James removed his PokeBall from his belt.

"Alright, a battle!" James threw forth his PokeBall, but nothing happened. "Halt Intruders! Go back to where thou came and do not return." Vail and Valerie began to shake and looked about the cave, "The Cave is talking!" But James knew who it was. A moment later he received confirmation.

"Leave Evil One’s, or you shall receive punishment!"

Vail only smiled, "An old man. Hah! Muk, go!" The Caretaker merely laughed. "Fools, you cannot hope to defeat me! Kadabra, come forth!!"

Vail backed up slightly, "A Kadabra! Run!" Valerie looked at her partner, perplexed. "Run? We’re Team Rocket." The Caretaker merely grinned a crooked grin and pointed his finger, "Kadabra! Confusion followed by a Psi Beam!" Valerie held her ground, "Alright old man! Take… Vail where did you go?" Valerie looked about for her erstwhile partner, but he had flown the coop. "Damn you Vail, Team Rocket will return!"

"Thanks a lot, I owe you one. I don’t think that I could have held them off." The Caretaker merely nodded. "It is no problem, I enjoy battling." Pausing, the Caretaker looked at James quizzically. "This is a disturbing thought.. You remind me of myself when I was young.." James blinked, "I do?" The Caretaker only nodded sagely, "Aye. I was looking for somebody like you for a long time. I am old.. It is time for me to go to return to the Earth. Please, take my last Pokémon with you young trainer. He will serve you well. Farewell." Before James could begin to object, the Old Man gone and a PokeBall lay in his place. James smiled and picked up the small sphere, "Oh well.." Placing the PokeBall on his belt, James found himself smiling. "Alright! I got Kadabra!"

James stepped onto the great plateau and looked downwards. "Wow, Cerulean City…." It was a great deal bigger than he had imagined it. "Wow.. It’s bigger than Pewter!" James smiled ignorantly. "Time to get my second badge!" Patting his PokeBalls quietly, James dashed down the path towards Cerulean. Back near the woods, the Caretaker watched. "HEHE, I love doing that to people. HEHE. Well, time to catch another Kadabra. What do you are the odds that he’ll survive?" The Caretaker waited patiently for the emptiness to respond, "Exactly my thought, I would give him one in a thousand too."

We’ll see……

• * *

Ripley cooed and bubbled. He swam gracefully through the waves near the coast of Cinnabar Island. The waves broke and Blu Flyer treaded water. She waited for the Dragonair to come closer. Ripley moved closer and she looped an arm around his slender serpentine neck.

"Tally Ho, m’friend, lets see what I picked up this time!" Ripley agreed and sped back to the Island.

Blu changed into a dry pair of jeans and a black tank top. She cocked her head to the side and wrung out her long blue hair. Ripley was sunbathing on the modest sun deck that was Blu’s porch. Her little house was situated on a remote corner of the island, and was nearly overgrown with brush.

Blu got the netted bag from the dock where her boat was tethered. She carried it to a table on the porch and dumped it’s contents out.

"What have we here?" She asked herself. Ripley slithered onto her shoulder and looked on.

There was the usual stuff; rocks, jewels o f little or no value… A few fossils. Blu sorted through the rest of them. She heard a patting of feet, and turned to see Miller, a blue Ninetales, walk out onto the patio. She never knew how he’d been blue… He’d been a cute little blue Vulpix, and now he was a strong blue fire fox. Something sparkled in the pile of things Blu had dug up from the bottom of the ocean… She looked

closer.

"What’s this?" She asked aloud. It seemed to be a sort of necklace. She picked it up. The silver chain glittered in the light. It had a tiny jewel pendant on it.

"Why, Ripley, Miller," she said, "I believe we have a winner!" She walked inside and grabbed her tote bag. She pushed the fossils and jewels into it. Then she made sure she had her Pokémon… Which she did. She hefted the tote bag. Ripley Dragonair rode on her shoulder, and Miller yipped happily and followed her.

Blu Flyer was a hunter of sorts. She was a treasure hunter, and she also sought after rare Pokémon. It was only by chance that she had been given Dragonair. She laughed at the thought. If she ever told anyone she had been given the Dragonair by Lance of the Elite Four, she’d surely be sent to some halfway house. But not many knew about who Blu Flyer was. To them, she was a happy-go-lucky Pokémon Trainer who let her Pokémon wander free, but also seemed to retain control.

Blu reached the back of her house and grabbed her bike.

"Miller, you up for a run, or do you want to ride easy?" she asked, holding out Miller’s Pokéball.

Miller considered it, but wagged a few of his tails and stood his

ground.

"Alrighty then, let’s make tracks!"

**

It was evening by the time she reached the Pokémon Laboratory. She parked her bike outside. The doors were open, and she walked inside. Dragonair had fallen asleep in a loose coil around her shoulders, and Miller’s toenails clicked on the tiled floor of the lab, but he stayed

close to her side.

"I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t have Pokémon in here out of their Pokéballs," the secretary said.

Blu sighed.

"Alrighty." She held the Pokéballs out. "Ripley, Miller, return!"

Soon she looked like a rowdy smart aleck teenager, with no excuse of being a Pokémon Trainer.

"I’m here to see Professor Cole," she said to the secretary, "I have some things I think he’d be interested in seeing."

"I’m sorry," the secretary said, "Proffessor Cole isn’t in. I can schedule you for another time or you can see one of our other Proffessors-"

"Forget it," Blu said. She walked down the hall before the secretary could tell her not to. She opened the first door she came to, trying to find someone who could help her, or someone who knew Prof. Cole…

• * *

"Helluce, show this guy what Ghosts can do!" Jeff said releasing his newly evolved Haunter. Helluce released ghost energy trying to easily defeat Shigeru’s Abra, but the Abra could teleport faster than the waves could hit it. Soon Helluce became exhausted.

"Helluce, Hypnosis!" The ghost obeyed trying to get the psychic waves to hit the Abra but to no avail. "Helluce, return. Hyler!"

"CU!" Hyler shouted as he was released from his Pokéball. "Bone!" It said as it landed and held it’s bone in a defensive position. Hyler followed the command of Jeff and threw his Bone, the bone missed the Abra though.

"That was pathetic." Shigeru chuckled as the bone returned like a boomerang and smashed the Abra in the back. "MY Abra…Abra come here… Attack, Starmie! Starmie, Swift!" Jeff watched as Hyler was bombarded with glowing stars that simply were too much for the Cubone.

"Hyler, get over here…Bellsprout, go!" Jeff commanded as the small plant appeared and it started to sway with the wind. "Bellsprout, Wrap!" The tiny plant slowly wrapped it’s vines around the huge star, but it was in vain as the vines tightened the Starmie easily snapped the vines in a plethora of

pieces.

"What a weak Pokémon, I think it should have been left at the weed filled area where you found it!" Shigeru said laughing as he knew Jeff was no match for him.

"Starmie, Psi Beam!" Jeff swallowed hard as a beam of psychic energy smashed into the Bellsprout, making it totally frozen in fear.

"I can’t chance my Vulpix, and Mist took out a few Pokémon out in the gym…Mist’s my only hope. Bellsprout return! Mist, go!" Jeff watched as the now sluggish, Pokémon landed on it’s feet.

"Mist, Bite him!" Mist walked slowly towards the Starmie as it tried to leap up and bite it’s opponent the starfish easily batted it away.

"Do you give up, or shall you continue to be slaughtered?" Shigeru laughed as he watched Jeff’s face fill with anger. "Get out of here, you aren’t worth my time at all."

"Hyler, Mist, and Helluce…All beaten…" Jeff whispered to himself, tears streaking down his face. "I won’t give up at all!" Jeff screamed as he ran towards the oak tree he had been sleeping under earlier, and punched a crater in the trunk. He punched it a few more times nearly crippling the tree

with ease.

"I’ve have to get you guys to a Pokécenter soon." Jeff mumbled to himself, jogging towards the PokéCenter that was beside the Cerulean Gym. He opened the door and put his Pokéballs on the tray and was told there would be

a 30 minute wait for his Pokémon to be healed.

He walked out to the path that led to Mount Moon which would be seen in the distance. He saw a boy running down the path at full speed but paid little attention to him. He held out the Cascade Badge and looked at the bluish crystal embedded in it. He sighed as he noticed the boy standing in front of

him.

"Yeess…?" Jeff answered as he looked up at the boy that dared to bother him at a moment like this, after suffering his first defeat. The boy cleared his throat some.

"That’s the Cascade Badge, right?" The boy said, Jeff nodding in reply. "Okay, so you’re the leader of the Gym here then? So prepare to fight for the badge!" Jeff rolled his eyes and turned his back and walked towards the PokéCenter.

"See that building right over there?" Jeff said pointing at the Gym which was now about 10 feet away. "That’s the gym with it’s leaders! Go beat them I just got whomped on and I’m in a bad mood."

"I know how you feel. I just lost for the first time myself. I’m James Oake, and you are…?" The boy said, finally introducing himself.

"Jeff Hibiki." Jeff said sternly opening up the door to the PokéCenter. James followed him in and waited by the door. Jeff picked up his PokéBalls and walked back to the door.

"So James…"Jeff sighed. "Who did you lose to?" James pointed at the oak tree that had it’s trunk nearly destroyed.

"Just exactly who did that?!" James wondered as he sat under the shade that it seemed to still was able to provide.

"I did…After I lost to Shigeru, I couldn’t contain my rage…I know I have a temper, just never did anything about it." Jeff chuckled to himself as he joined his new acquaintance. "So, mind telling me who you lost to?" Jeff said, raising an eyebrow.

"My rival, Teal." James said tossing the ball that held Raticate in. "I think I should have won though, but he’s better than me." Jeff slapped James across the back of the head.

"What did ya do that for?!"

"You are a bit dimwitted." Jeff snorted. "You know that your skill at training never gets worse unless you don’t try and get better! My father taught me that if you want to be the best, you must try hard and must try and beat those who are currently the best. If you don’t try, then you don’t succeed." Jeff turned his head and looked up at the branches of the tree.

"You do have a point…" James said glancing down at Jeff’s belt which held 5 Pokéballs in it. "What Pokémon do you have?"

"A Vaporeon, Cubone, Haunter, Bellsprout, and Vulpix." Jeff said looking down at the ground now. "What do you have?"

James gulped a bit and shrugged, "I carry a Raticate, a Charmander and a Kadabra." The corner’s of Jeff’s mouth rose slightly, turning into a menacing parody of a smile.

"A newbie team, you just started didn’t you?" James gritted his teeth, feeling his ire beginning to rise at the casual jab.

"Hey! I’m not a new trainer, for you information I already have a badge!" James bit his tongue, feeling slightly foolish.

"Oh get lost kid, your not fooling anybody." Turning about, Jeff made to depart for the local Pokémon center. Angered and feeling more than a little brash, James grabbed Jeff by the shoulder. Spinning angrily, Jeff’s mood quickly became dangerous.

"Don’t ever touch me!" James stepped back a bit, but for the most part held his ground.

"No, I challenge you!" Jeff’s eyes widened briefly,

"You!? Don’t be silly kid, now leave me alone and you can go live in your fantasy world." Bristling at the repeated insults, James lost it.

"That’s it! Kadabra, I choose you!" Smiling, Jeff removed a PokeBall from his belt. "Alright then, Helluce come forth!" James stepped back and watched as a Haunter popped from the small PokeBall. "A Haunter huh? Alright then. Kadabra, Psi Beam attack now!" Nodding, Jeff stepped back and watched. "Kadabra!" Stepping forward, the Kadabra raised it’s spoon.

"Kadabra…" Rings of powerful Psychic energy began to fire forth from Kadabra’s eyes in the Helluce’s general direction. The Psi energy struck the Haunter, and the Pokémon began to drift back from the energy.

"Helluce, Hypnosis!" Shrugging off the Psi Beam, the Haunter grinned and launched it’s own attack.

"Haunter!" For a moment Kadabra seemed to shrug off the Ghost energy, but soon the weight of the attack of the attack became apparent. Despite it’s efforts, Kadabra went to sleep.

"Aww geez, return Kadabra, go Charmander!" Nodding, Jeff pointed his Pokeball.

"Return Helluce, Mist come forth." James could only grit his teeth, Jeff seemed to have a counter that he owned.

"Mist, water gun!" Stretching out, the Vaporeon seemed to relax before vomiting forth gouts of water. Frightened, Charmander turned about and ran. James could only sigh for he knew that he was beaten.

Alright Charmander, return. I give up." Jeff smiled lightly, "Humph, that wasn’t even a challenge." James took a deep breath, "Oh, I’ll show you. Come on guys, lets go get a cascade badge!" Jeff could only shake his head.

As James stepped into the main Gym chamber, he could do nothing but marvel at the smooth attractive architecture. Stepping down into the main arena, he peered into the great swimming pool at it’s center and tried to identify the dark shapes swimming within.

"What’s this? Another challenger, go away kid we’re busy." Looking about, James attempted to identify the source of the sound.

"No, I’m not leaving. I’m James Oake from Viridian City and I’ve come here for a Cascade Badge!" A sudden click a moment later, and he spun. Before him stood the three young gym leaders. Well James, if you really want to challenge us then I suppose that there is nothing that we can do about it." Stepping forward, all three gracefully catapulted into the swimming pool and a moment later flew out with a grace rivaled only by a Pidgeot on the hunt.

"We will show you the true power of Water Pokémon." Stepping forward, the middle of the three sisters hefted her PokeBall.

"I’m up first. I call Jynx!" James grimaced, who could defeat a Jynx easily? Fury in his eye, James snatched the appropriate PokeBall.

"Alright then, Charmander go!" Throwing the PokeBall, James was careful to hit the water lapping at his feet.

"Charmander, Flamethrower attack!" James held his breath, he had only recently taught Charmander Flamethrower, he hoped that the fire lizard could utilize the technique sufficiently. Taking a deep breath, Charmander let loose with all the furies of his ancestors.

"Char!!!" The hapless Jynx attempted to beat a hasty retreat but the flames struck the Pokémon full on, partially melting it and sending it directly into the sister who had called it forth.

"Your good, but not better than me. I call forth, Goldeen!" James nodded, "Alright! Charmander return, go Kadabra!" As quickly as Charmander returned, James called out his Kadabra. Kadabra, Confusion!" Stepping forth, Kadabra pointed it’s spoon.

"Kadabra.." The Goldeen seemed initially unaffected, but then it stiffened and began to writhe in pain.

"Goldeen, horn attack!" But the Goldeen did nothing for it was writhing in pain.

"Ok Kadabra, finish it off with Psi Beam!" But before Kadabra could attack, the Leader recalled Goldeen. At last the third sister stepped forth.

"My turn now, go Dewgong!" Turning, the sister heaved the PokeBall into the water. Following the PokeBall’s path with his eyes, James watched a dark shape slide into the water.

"Dewgong, Ice beam!" With a spectacular leap the Dewgong emerged from the water and a withering sheet of ice poured forth to hit Kadabra directly to the torso.

"Kadabra!" James cried, but Kadabra could not hear him for he was frozen solid.

"Kadabra return! Go Raticate!" Tossing forth the PokeBall, James watched as the rodent Pokémon emerged.

"Dewgong, another Ice Beam!" James waited anxiously as the Dewgong again emerged from the water.

"Raticate, Hyper Fang now!" Showing all the agility of his race, Raticate flexed it’s powerful muscles. Flying forth, Raticate his Dewgong directly in the midsection and held on.

"Dewgong, shake him off!" James gritted his teeth as the Dewgong hit the water and began shaking wildly, attempting to batter the Raticate unconscious with it’s long powerful tail. But Raticate clung doggedly, digging it’s teeth ever deeper into Dewgong’s midsection. With a terrifying roar, Dewgong emerged from the water and hit the deck with a great wet smack and laid still.

"Dewgong return, Starmie go!" James knew that he couldn’t hold up much longer under the withering assault of Pokémon, Raticate had been badly hurt in it’s battle with the Dewgong.

"Raticate, Hyper Fan attack!" Shaking it’s head in a vain effort to clear it’s head, Raticate once again leapt forth.

"Give it a Bubble Beam Starmie!" Aiming it’s topmost tip, Starmie fired off a stream of water with the force of a fire hose, knocking Raticate back into the wall with a painful crunch.

"Now, spinning tackle!" Raticate had barely recovered before Starmie once again struck it full on, laying him out permanently. "Oh Raticate!" James looked at the sister, smiling triumphantly and he knew that he was beaten. "I forfeit."

James stepped out of the Gym and sighed, losing was never easy and he knew without even looking up that.

"Lost huh, figures." James twisted his lip and kept walking,

"Shuttup alright? I’ve had about enough out of you. I’m out of here." Straightening, Jeff shrugged and watched as James walked off.

"Oh don’t take it so hard kid, we’ve all lost. I figured that you would want to come with me." James spun angrily,

"Why the hell would I want follow you!?" Jeff smirked slightly and turned,

"Well I’m off to Bill’s house. Seeing as you probably don’t want to go back to Mount Moon I figured that you were going my way. Well, see ya." James gritted his teeth tightly and looked about for something to throw at the departing trainer, but could find nothing. Turning about, Jeff watched James trailing him at a distance.

"I thought you weren’t coming with me." James stopped and shouted back,

"I’m not! You just happen to be going my way!" What a jerk James thought angrily, this was going to be a long trip.

• * *

Jeff and James made their way up the rocky hill towards Bill’s home which stood at the top of the hill overlooking the ocean. Jeff and James hurled the occasional insult at each other, but nothing out of the ordinary.

"Okay we are here…" Jeff said as he plopped down on the ground and took a few deep breathes. Jeff then stood up and knocked on the door of the tower that was in front of them.

"Yes…?" Bill said opening up his door which was covered in carvings of different Pokémon. "What business do you have here?" James smiled and pushed Jeff out of the way and explained about his defeat in Cerulean Gym.

"Well come, both of you." Bill said opening the door fully and letting both of them inside. "I’ll bet you have something extraordinary in store for me. Now, I would like to know, what Pokémon do you fellows have?"

James showed off his Charmander, Kadabra, and Raticate. Bill sighed and then watched as Jeff showed his Pokémon off. Bill was especially surprised that Jeff owned a Haunter and a Vaporeon, both rare in deed.

"Well James what brought you here?" Bill asked as he sat down in a big comfy chair and watched as the other two sat parallel to him.

"Well, I need an electric Pokémon to beat the Gym in Cerulean. But I don’t know where to find one." James said staring at the floor. James shook his head, knowing he’d probably never find one.

"I think I can help you James. I just acquired a second Jolteon and I have no real use for him…I suppose I could give it to you in exchange for something…" Bill said as he cracked his knuckles. "But you have no Pokémon I would care to trade for, Jeff on the other hand does. I’ll tell you what… Someone has been kidnapping some local marine Pokémon from the beaches below. Could the two of you keep watch for me?" James immediately agreed, and slowly followed by Jeff.

"Stuck on guard duty…I’ll let that job stay to the Growlithes." Jeff mumbled to himself as he sat on the white sandy beach. In boredom he tossed a Pokéball into the water and watched as it returned with a Seel inside.

"What the hell…?" Jeff nearly screamed, catching James’ attention.

"Oh! A Seel! Can I have it?!" James asked as Jeff smacked him across the face and put the ball in his belt. Jeff nodded and then looked James in the eyes.

"You can on one condition, you can beat Cerulean Gym Leaders." Jeff said as James frowned. He knew if he didn’t get that Jolteon he would never be able to beat them.

"On the count of three…1.2.3!" yelled a familiar voice to James. He watched as Vail and Valerie threw a giant net into the water and caught hundreds of Pokémon in the net in a matter of seconds. Jeff flashed his flashlight at the pair as they began to give their speech.

"Trouble, yes that’s our cue! From Peace and Love we’re protecting you!" Vail groaned as Jeff wasted no time in releasing Mist from it’s ball.

"Mist! Crew the net into pieces so those Pokémon can escape!" Jeff commanded as the Vaporeon responded and leaped into the water. In a matter of moments Mist had crewed through ¼ of the net.

"He interrupted us in the middle of our speech!" Valerie cried as she released her Graveller. The boulder trudged through the sand with difficulty as Jeff just started to laugh.

"Stop Laughing!"

"I’m sorry, this is just too funny! Cubone, show them how an experienced Pokémon battles!" Jeff yelled as he opened up another Pokéball. Hyler leaped out of the ball with a battle cry of ‘Cu! Bone!’. He leaped onto the Graveller and pounded it’s hard body with it’s bone, slowing it even more. Suddenly the Graveller started to sink in the sand because of it’s bulk.

"This is going nowhere…" Vail groaned as he released his Muk. Soon, James had released his Charmander and watched as the two began a heated battle. Charmander spat fire at the Muk burning it. The Muk then breathed a gas at the Charmander but the fire salamander easily dodged it.

"Charmander, Flame Thrower!" James commanded his Charmander as it obeyed and the Muk went down fast. "Vail and Valerie get out of here!"

"He’s right Valerie…Let’s get outta here!" Vail said returning his Muk it it’s ball and vanished as Valerie did the same.

"Well, looks like we got those losers out of here." Jeff smiled as all of the marine Pokémon had been freed and they had finished their duties.

In the morning James was presented with his Jolteon and couldn’t be happier. But then Bill asked Jeff for what he wanted…

"I only want to have Mist become stronger. He must be taught stronger techniques. I only ask for two Technical Machines." Jeff said as Bill rewarded him with the TM for Hydro Pump and the TM for Body Slam." Jeff thanked Bill and watched as he used the TMs on Mist.

"Vapor. Vapor, eon. Eon, Vaporeon. Vap!" The TMs electronically beeped, as Mist learned the two techniques with ease.

"Come on James, let’s get going." Jeff said after they thanked Bill and were walking down the hill. Soon they would reach Cerulean.

• * *

Tubes.

Wires.

Cages.

Capsules filled with dead Pokémon.

Capsules filled with Pokémon yet to die…

Tane shifted in his own capsule. The bulb on his back was being brutally crushed by the low ceiling of the capsule. He cried out for Aka for the thousandth time that night. Aka promptly came to his aid holding onto a large bucket and mop. Aka had been his only now-living friend during these hard times.

<He helped me.>

<He helped me understand…>

"Hey there buddy. How ya doing?" It was Aka. He had heard him call. "Do you need more air? Do you need some water?"

"Bulbasaur…" Tane leaned toward Aka, smothering his face against the cold glass trying desperately to be able to feel Aka’s warm hands. Warmth is what Tane craved most…warmth! Tane licked the curved glass hoping Aka would understand. But he didn’t.

"Well, hope you feel better tomorrow, little Bulbasaur. And I hope that you don’t…" Aka’s lip curled back subconsciously. Aka went back to mopping the floor on the far side of the lab.

<Aka. Can’t you see? It’s the coldness that’s killing the Pokémon…the coldness.><Help me. I’m freezing to death-as are the others…>

Tane looked around again at the dead Pokémon. Most of the "evil men" didn’t even know they were dead-but Aka knew and had been trying to save the poor things. Yet he did not know what was causing their deaths. An Onix lifted its massive body as far as his large capsule would allow and groaned before resting its head for the last time. A Jigglypuff began to sing a sweet lullaby in homage of the great beast. The Pokémon who were still alive began to get drowsy and started nodding their heads and relaxing their limbs. Tane could feel the sweet song reach his ears. Across the room Aka began to drift away also.

<No…can’t sleep…must stay awake…need energy…can’t sleep or we’ll die…>

"Bulba!!!"

"Jiggly!?" The Jigglypuff instantly realized her mistake and stopped singing at once. The Pokémon shook their heads and the song faded away from their little minds. Aka snapped back to reality.

"Boy, sleep sure would be nice right about now-so would some food." He licked his lips with pleasure.

<Aka…we are dying…please help us…> and at that Tane suddenly slumped over onto his side barely breathing.

* * *

"Food. Food. Food. All I want is food." Aka started to sing in a delusional manner. "Food. Food. Food. All I want is food. Yummy, yummy, yum, yum. Food. Food. Food." Apparently the Jigglypuff song didn’t wear off in Aka’s head quite as fast as everyone else’s.

"Bulbasaur…Bulba…"

"Huh? Tane?"

Aka went back over to Tane’s capsule and peered inside.

"Oh God NO!" Tane lifted his head slightly and stared back at Aka. "Oh, thank-goodness…I thought…I thought you had…" For some strange reason that Tane could not understand, Aka had had high hopes for him and had feelings for him that he didn’t show to the other Pokémon. Tane felt a bit selfish at times because of this but most of the time he was sad for the others. Not ever getting enough attention. Or enough necessities to be able to survive. Or enough love.

Aka opened the capsule door on the side and Tane received the most precious thing imaginable-warmth from the air and Aka’s loving hand. At first so much warm air was filtering in too fast and Tane began to suffocate from the drastic change in temperature but then it simmered down and the air began to flow freely and the coldness was leaving. Aka’s hand was massaging his poor crushed bulb and his freezing cold horn nodes. Tane had only felt Aka’s touch once before-right before they stuck him with the syringe and dragged him off to who knows where…

"I don’t understand it, Tane. Why is your body and bulb so cold? What is going on?" Aka tested some of the other capsules and all of them were as cold as the Bulbasaur’s was-the ice Pokémon’s were even colder! He opened all of the remaining capsules as fast as he could and the Pokémon looked at him gratefully. But Aka wasn’t concerned about the others that much. Don’t get me wrong though-he wanted to save their lives- it’s just that Tane was more important to him than any of them. Then he hopped back over to Tane.

"Tane? Is this what you’ve been trying to tell me the whole time?"

"Bulbasaur!" Tane nodded his head vigorously.

"I see…well I’m glad I found out in time. What I don’t understand is how these capsules were freezing you guys to death? There’s no ice on the glass or a cold air pump connected, and you guys weren’t shivering---."

"Of course not. It would’ve been much to obvious." Aka had heard that voice before. He spun around to find a girl with dark green-almost blackened hair leaning in the doorway to the lab on the far side. She was wearing a blood stained lab jacket. She had two men standing with her, one on each side.

"Midori? What are you doing here?"

Aka stepped back a bit toward his bucket and mop. He lay a hand on Tane, conforting him.

"It seems as if we underestimated you, young Aka. We didn’t think you had the ability to think for yourself." She said that a bit sarcastically. Aka was stabbed in the back. What did she mean by that? He decided to confront her.

"Ah, hahahahaha. You don’t think we knew? You just assumed that we thought you hadn’t the capability of being curious? What a young fool. You believed that mopping the floors up and down and up and down would restore sanctity to your foolish mind? FOOL! You were sent down here so we could keep an eye on you. Ah, hahahahaha!" Minori laid a hand on one of the guard’s shoulders. "Now that you’ve found out our little secret about this whole operation you must make a choice. Either live here forever and learn about our little secrets and perform them or be eliminated from existence!"

Aka’s heart skipped a beat. Eliminated? That meant killed right? He pondered the situation in his head for a moment.

"Well? It’s you’re choice boy-what’ll it be?"

Aka gathered strength. "I’d like to speak to Sakaki first, if no one minds."

"Ah, hahahahahah! Sakaki? That creepazoid that sent you down here in the first place? No. No, I don’t think that will be allowed. Boys, grab him!" The two guards stopped lounging and immediately stood up ready for action-trained to kill! Aka jumped behind Tane’s capsule and grabbed his bucket full of dirty mop water. He waited until the guards were in just the right spot and he lifted the bucket and poured the contents all over the two men. But they were not the least bit phased! They took a hold of his arms and legs. Aka kicked and howled for Tane but when he twisted his neck to look at Tane’s capsule, the Bulbasaur had disappeared! The men dragged him over to the woman in the doorway who was laughing maniacally once more. Aka gasped when he saw Minori laughing over him.

"Minori…why? Why do this…I thought I loved you…I thought you were my girl…we could have been a team like Musashi and Kojiro, and Vail and Valerie…I thought you were in Saffron…I thought you were waiting for me…"

"Well, I guess I lied didn’t I, Ah, hahahahahah! Besides, you truly thought I was "your" girl? Ah, hahahahahah! I guess you’re more gullible than we thought."

"Where’s Sakaki! I want to speak to Sakaki!"

"I told you! He sent you down here! He’s the one who sent me down here to fetch you-he wants to see you die in front of his very eyes!"

"No! Sakaki is my "father"-the only father I’ve ever had! He wouldn’t say something like that!"

"You-are-a-fool." Minori dragged each word out like a snake. "Sakaki is all of our "fathers"! He was my "father" too when I was young! He was Musashi’s "father", he was Kojiro’s "father", he was Vail and Valerie’s "father"! He calls you his "one and only child" so he can manipulate you!"

Aka was once again brutally stabbed with those harsh words. His head lowered and he stopped struggling. I’ll go peacefully if you tell me what is happening to the Pokémon in here. Why were they left to die?"

Minori stuck her fingers on the bridge of her nose and began to rub, clearly the sign of a headache/sinus problem. "Oh, all right-but no one better tell Sakaki that I told you or he’ll have my head on a silver platter."

She sighed and bent down low. Low enough to be able to see Aka face to face. She whispered in his ear.

"Aka…I’m being put through this…please believe me…I’m not responsible for this. If I don’t deliver you to Sakaki, Team Rocket will…Team Rocket will kill my parents, Aka."

She sounded so sincere, but Aka wasn’t sure if it was another one of Team Rocket’s tricks so he didn’t respond to her. He turned his head away.

"Anyways, I guess I don’t blame you for not believing me, but the Pokémon in here are dying because Sakaki needs the "evidence" discarded. You do know what that means don’t you?" Aka nodded. Minori stood up again and regained her smirk and started smugly telling Aka about the whole idea of the operation…

"You mean?! Oh, my GOD!!"

"You were sent to the Freezing Room so you could be watched."

"Freezing room? Actually I found it quite warm in here most of the time." Aka’s mouth was very small and slipped downward to the edge of his chin.

Minori’s head blew up to the size of the doorway! "NO YOU IDIOT!!! A FREEZING ROOM!!! NOT A ROOM THAT"S FREEZING!!!"

And at that Minori motioned to the men and Aka felt something hit the back of his head and his head dropped…

• * *

James fairly charged down the path towards to Cerulean, ready for a rematch.

"Come on Jeff, hurry." Jeff could only roll his eyes as the more inexperienced trainer danced about. To infuriate him further, Jeff slowed his pace.

"Oh come on James, it’s a beautiful day. The Pidgey’s are out right now you know, beautiful formation flying… That brings me back." Looking down, Jeff expected to find James standing impatiently, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Ignorant, I hope Mist kills me if I ever fall to his level." Jeff said to nobody in particular. Sighing, Jeff continued his leisurely pace towards Cerulean City.

"What took you so long?" James said impatiently as Jeff strode up.

"I thought that I’d take my time. A real trainer doesn’t need to hurry, you should have learned that by now." James spat, and pulled open the door.

"Are we going in or not?" Pulling aside the heavy door, James entered the Gym and began to walk down the long hallway.

"Hey hold on there! How do you know that your Jolteon has any good attacks?" James smiled, still exhilarated that he had gained a Jolteon.

"Trust me I know." Jeff smiled quietly to himself.

"Oh do you?" The response echoed from the hallways of the Cerulean Gym.

"Yeah, I do."

James stepped into the great chamber and looked about. Little had changed, the evidence of their previous battle had been cleaned up and the Gym repainted.

"So you’re back." James spun, to find the three sisters standing on the high dive high above the Gym’s swimming pool.

"Don’t you know that you can never win? You will never be able to defeat us." James curled his lip and removed a select PokeBall from his belt. Looking above, James began to casually toss and catch it. This time you won’t have it so easy." The first sister began to step forward, but the third raised her hand.

"No, he’s mine." Taking two PokeBalls from the second sister, the third sister threw the PokeBalls from the high dive and then jumped after them.

"Go Dewgong!" Pulling herself on to the opposite deck, the third sister stood.

"Maximum power Dewgong, show this child who is the real trainer." Gritting his teeth, James hefted his PokeBall.

"Go Raticate!" Tossing forward the small sphere, James forward watched as the Rodent burst forth.

"Dewgong, Aurora Beam. Freeze the Raticate." James widened his eyes, he knew what was coming next.

"Raticate, jump into the pool!" With barely a glance, Raticate promptly dived into the pool, barely evading the stream of ice that had burst forth from the Dewgong.

"Ok Raticate, go in and Hyper Fang!" Diving, the Raticate latched onto the Dewgong’s tail and refused to let go.

"Go Raticate, give it all you got!" For a few moments the intense boiling water obscured any movement in the pool, but it was soon clear who the winner is. Both the Dewgong and the Raticate burst out of the pool and landed on the deck, fighting viciously and ignoring their trainers. At last, with one final push the Raticate slammed the Dewgong into the deck and laid it out unconscious.

The third sister wasted no time, "Return Dewgong! Go Starmie!" Stepping back, James watched as the Starmie emerged from the PokeBall.

"Return Raticate! Jolteon, I choose you!" Throwing his PokeBall, James prayed that it would all work out.

"Ok Jolteon, give him a Thundershock!" Turning, the Jolteon looked at James quizzically. Jolteon, I said Thundershock!" But the Jolteon didn’t listen, it merely yawned and laid down in the middle of the great deck. And went to sleep.

James gaped, "Oh no, it’s unruly!" James could only groan, he had encountered unruly Pokémon but had never actually had to deal with one.

"Ok Jolteon, return! Go Raticate!" James knew that he was in trouble, the Raticate was still very tired from it’s battle with Dewgong.

"Do your best Raticate, Body Slam!" Staggering slightly, the Raticate leapt forward but the Starmie easily dodged and hit back with a Bubble Beam. This served only to worsen the problem.

"Oh Raticate, hold on!" But Raticate was at the end of it’s rope, struggling to stay on it’s feet, Raticate nonetheless collapsed and laid still.

"Ok Jolteon, you’re my only hope!" Throwing forward the PokeBall, James silently prayed. Emerging from imprisonment, the Jolteon turned and stared at James.

"Jolteon, Take Down!" But the Jolteon only yawned and scratched it’s head.

"Haha! You think that you deserve a Cascade Badge boy? Starmie, spinning tackle!" Spinning rapidly, Starmie slammed full on into Jolteon. Yelping painful, the Jolteon hit the deck and shook it’s head. Rising angrily, the Jolteon made ready to attack.

"Alright Jolteon, that’s the way! Thundershock!" Bristling angrily, the Jolteon began to accumulate electrical energy for discharge.

"Now Jolteon!" Growling, the Jolteon leapt forward and discharged everything that it had. The Electrical energy flew forth and hit the Starmie dead on. It stiffened, than fell, attempting to recover enough strength.

"Jolteon, Take Down now!" Before the Starmie could move Jolteon charged forth and hit Starmie with so much force that it knocked clear into the other wall. The Starmie slowly slid down the wall, and laid still.

"It was an excellent match James, you deserve this." James took the Cascade Badge and fairly beamed,

"Thank you." The three sisters nodded and shook his hand, "You show great promise as a trainer. Never give up. Good luck!" James smiled and turned to leave, "Thanks, and you too!"

Jeff knew that he was in for it when James exited the Gym, head held high, badge in hand.

"So where’s my Seel?" Jeff simply raised an eyebrow,

"Well.. I see that you have a badge.." James nodded excitedly, sure of what was going to come next.

"But if you want it, you’ll have to catch me first!" Turning, Jeff made to run out of the city. Taken off guard, James made to charge after him.

"Hey come back, we had a deal!" So the two friends charge towards Vermillion City, uncertain of their destinies. We will just have to see if James ever gets his Seel…

• * *

Jeff dashed towards Vermilion at top speed, James just a few feet behind him. Finally Jeff slowed as did James, at the entrance of Vermilion.

"What…did…you…do that…for?!" James said out of breath. Jeff kneeled down and smiled suddenly.

"I don’t think you willingly would have came with me to Vermilion, would you had?" Jeff said, also out of breath.

it too." Jeff said walking into the town and saw a girl around his age and smiled some.

"Excuse me, but I heard there was a trainer here that was selling a Rare Candy, do you know where I could find this person?" Jeff said, his face a faint pink color. James appeared behind him and waited.

"That’s me!" The girl giggled as she just basically jumped into Jeff’s arms almost knocking him over. "Now, you have a choice, do you want to pay100,000P for it or will you go on a date with me?"

"Date…a date…?" Jeff stammered, nearly dropping the girl. "But I don’t even know your name, miss!" She just giggled and pointed at James.

"My name’s Charlotte. And if you don’t want to go on a date with me, mister, then maybe your cute friend behind you will!" the girl said, James blushing in response. "So you up to it? Are you man enough?"

"I guess I am…" Jeff gulped, James with a smirk on his face. The girl got out of Jeff’s arms and stood on the ground and smiled at Jeff.

"Okay, meet me at the café at 9 o’clock tonight!" Charlotte giggled as she ran off. Jeff just fell to the ground and gulped. James picked him up off the ground and dusted him off.

"What just…happened…?" Jeff stammered again, unable to believe what just transpired. James explained that he was going to go on a date with Charlotte at 9 tonight.

"How did I get into that?!" Jeff screamed as he ran his fingers through his hair. Jeff set down his backpack for once and rummaged through the contents until he pulled out a black leather belt, a pair of dark blue jeans and a black shirt that said ‘Hibiki’ in white lettering on the front. He folded them up and set them on the very top of his backpack.

"What are you so uptight about? It’s just a girl! And what’s so special about those clothes?!" James ranted on Jeff as Jeff just sat on the ground without any emotion on his face. James finally got up enough nerve to kick Jeff to get his attention. Jeff’s reflex caused James to go flying through the air and landing a few yards away covered in dust.

"You really want to know?!" Jeff said, finally breaking his silence. "Ill tell you. Those were the clothes I planned on wearing for my first date! And I thought that it would be with…" Jeff stopped and sighed standing up.

"With…who?!" James said as Jeff simply shook his head and dismissed

the problem at hand and walked off towards a hotel that had a PokéCenter right

next door.

"I’m gonna get us a room, I’ll give you the key. I’ll be hanging out outside if you need me." Jeff said as he walked into the hotel. James followed after a few minutes. Jeff had already changed into his other clothes by the time James got to the room. Jeff had his Pokéballs set on the belt and had his

hair combed off to the side for once and smiled slightly.

"Whoa…Jeff. You look a lot better than you did!" James said amazed by the fact that around 10 minutes ago Jeff had looked like some bum off the street and now he looked like a kid from a middle class family. Jeff just waved to James as he tossed the key to James and he walked out and down the

stairs to the bottom floor.

"I wonder what’s got him so changed from this girl?" James said to him self as Jeff recalled some events from when he was a child…

"Don’t try and get rid of me!" a man with long brown hair and wearing a black gi screamed as he was cornered in a room. A man wearing a priest’s robe and a little girl standing besides his left leg and a little boy standing by his right leg opened up a small black book and held a bag of powder in his

one hand.

"Daryl Hibiki don’t try to fight me…I’m here to get that Gengar that has possessed you. Your family needs you! Your wife, Janice needs you and your son Jeff needs you!" the priest said pointing at the small boy when he said ‘Jeff Hibiki’.

"Arasan and Jeff, get back…" the priest said as he threw some of the powder at Daryl but it had little effect.

"Arasan, I won’t let anything happen to you." The boy said as he sheltered the little girl in the corner of the room. He made sure nothing would get to her. Suddenly a knife came out of no where and flew towards Daryl. Daryl caught the knife and plunged it into his own stomach as the priest was in mid chant. The boy and girl watched in horror as black blood came spewing from Daryl’s stomach as the Gengar appeared above dying body and vanished.

"Daddy!" The boy cried as he watched Daryl die in a bloody heap. The priest picked him up and carried him out of the tower and towards his house which was right next door to Arasan’s house. Arasan had tears running down her cheeks as well. But the small boy was hurt more, seeing his father die in front of his own eyes.

Jeff shrugged off the memory of his father and Arasan. He went into the PokéCenter and left his Pokéballs in the tray. He walked outside and watched as the sun looked like it would set soon. He stood outside for what seemed like a week when he finally heard Nurse Joy say over the loud speaker inside "Jeff Hibiki, your Pokémon are ready." Jeff went inside and got the balls from the tray and went back outside. The sun was setting and he walked towards the café.

"Hi Charlotte." Jeff said in a quiet voice. Charlotte had been at the café for only a few minutes then she saw Jeff. Jeff got them a table and waited to order. Jeff’s eyes had a glassy look to them the entire time. After ordering dinner Charlotte finally noticed something…

"Is something bothering you?" Charlotte said, taking a sip of water from the glass that was sitting by her. Jeff just shook his head and smiled a bit. After a few minutes of conversation like, where did you come from, why are you in Vermilion, and things like that when their food arrived.

"This is delicious." Charlotte said, munching on some shrimp that was on her plate. Jeff had already finished his dinner and was sipping absent-mindedly at some coffee he had ordered. After Charlotte had finished eating, Jeff paid the bill and left with Charlotte, who was just attached to his

arm. Jeff walked her home and looked up at the stars.

"Good night, Charlotte." Jeff said as he turned to walk to the hotel he was staying at. But Charlotte spun him around and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks for a good time, Jeff." She smiled as Jeff just smiled back.

"Can we do that again sometime, when you are in town?" Jeff just nodded and walked off to the hotel.

"Okay. I want all the details of the date." James said as Jeff walked in the door of the room they were staying in. Jeff rolled his eyes and sat down in a chair across from James.

But one thing haunted him throughout the rest of the night, the image of his father dying in that heap of blood and protecting his only true friend.

• * *

Blu opened the doors continuously, checking, and not bothering to shut them. She was able to do this without getting arrested because a) She was a constant supplier to a high ranking Professor in the Lab, and b) She had a mean looking Dragon riding on her shoulder, and an irresponsible looking Ninetales frolicking along her side. Blu could care less if she was kicked out, but she highly doubted it. She came to Professor Cole’s personal office, and opened without knocking. He was no where to be

found.

Blu growled. Miller dog-grinned and began snuffling in the trash. Blu looked over the memos on the desk. Aha! A To-Do List!@

• Analyze Fossils from the northern coast. Check.

2) Have Lunch with Proffessor Daryn and discuss genetic cloning. Check.

3) Visit Safari Zone to research rare Pokémon.

Blu searched for the "Check," but couldn’t seem to find one.

"Damnit!!"

**

It was well into nighttime now. Blu locked her bike to the PokéCenter. She looked at the stars, trying to determine how long it would take her to bypass Seafoam Islands and make it to Fuschia City.

She sat down outside the PokéCenter. She didn’t know why, but she really felt she needed to show Cole the necklace. There was something about it that spooked her and she wanted to show him. She release all her Pokémon to determine what would happen. She carried more Pokémon than many

trainers, and many were rare.

Soon, in front of her was Crash, a Rapidash, Burn, a Flareon, Miller, Ripley, and another Dragonair, Brooke. Brooke was a newly evolved Dratini, one she had found on one of her outings to Seafoam Island. She wondered how it had wandered so far, and had taken it in. Brooke was semi-obedient… Most of Blu’s Pokémon obeyed her out of pure faith; Blu didn’t have nor did she want badges. Well, she did have one; the Volcano Badge. Whenever she happened to be in town she occasionally stopped by the Gyms. However, she wasn’t a hard-core Trainer, but she was a Pokémaniac.

"You guys up for a night swim?" She asked the group. Sometimes she wished she had a flying Pokémon so she didn’t have to ride or swim anywhere. And she refused to evolve Ripley; She had received him as a Dragonair, and as long as he wished to stay one she wouldn’t force him. Brooke, on the other hand, could evolve. Dragonite gained vulnerabilities when it evolved from Dragonair, but also gained abilities.

But she didn’t have a Dragonite.

"Alright. Burn, Brooke, Miller return!" She Flareon and the Dragonair shimmered and returned to their Pokéballs. Ripley stayed on her shoulder as usual. He hardly ever returned to his Pokéball. Blu patted Crash on the neck, and the Rapidash nickered.

"Let’s ride," she said, hoping aboard. Rapidash pawed the ground and took off for the east coast of Cinnabar Island…

• * *

"No Pokémon Allowed! I thought I said that already!"

"But half the people in this whole city are Pokémon trainers! Why aren’t Pokémon allowed here?"

"Because that’s our policy!"

"I want to speak to the manager-NOW!" After being thrown out of the hotel suite Arasan picked herself up and began looking for the Saffron City Pokémon Center. It was on the other side of town so she hefted her tote all the way there, not looking back at the rudest doorman she had ever encountered.

The Pokémon Center was covered with hundreds of mirrors for a professional look so Arasan took a look at herself for a sec.

"A rats-nest…just how I like it." ;P

Arasan shoved fiddled with her scrunchies, tested her sneakers for squeaks and pushed the glass doors wide open.

"Drafts! Please shut the door-it’s already freezing in here with the air conditioning on!" she heard someone reprimand. It apparently was the girl at the desk. She had large pink pigtails and wore the frilliest skirt Arasan had ever seen.

"Oh, sorry, ma’am. I didn’t know---." Suddenly the back of Arasan’s neck began to itch and her right eye twitched.

<This girl? Nah…must be someone else…> Arasan looked around and began questioning other trainers but nothing else triggered the "sign".

<Weird.> Arasan hopped back over to the desk and deposited Glacier, her only Pokémon.

"This Articuno isn’t injured dearie." Said the girl with pink pigtails.

"Oh, I know that. But this guy down at the hotel said that Pokémon weren’t allowed in the rooms so I was hoping Articuno could stay here for the night-I’ll be leaving in the morning."

"Well, I suppose this Pokémon can stay for the night-but try not to do this at other centers. My relatives might not be so lenient." And the girl took Articuno’s Pokeball to a resting room and came back. Here. Take this-so the staff here knows you’re not stealing the Pokémon when you want it back tomorrow. Oh and if you have any trouble just ask for Nurse Joy." The kind nurse gave Arasan a pin with a medical design on the front.

"Thank you Nurse Joy. I will. I know you’ve never been away from me Articuno, but I’m sure they’ll take extra care of you."

"That we will. We pride ourselves on caring for Pokémon. We are a center for Pokémon are we not?"

Arasan went back to the hotel and flashed her pin at the doorman. He said nothing. She bought a room and was going to sleep for the night.

**

Arasan woke up with a start. She grappled around the end table next to the bed and sat up forcefully shoving her glasses on, unknowingly forgetting that one can not see in the dark anyways.

She flicked the bedside lamp on, looked at the clock on the wall that stated that it was only eleven o’clock and got out of the bed.

She went into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet before coming back out again to search frantically through her tote bag for something which wasn’t there.

Arasan threw her tote bag against the wall and the inhabitants of the room adjacent started crabbing at her. She didn’t care. Her Articuno was gone…

<No. Not gone for good. He’s okay. He’s at the center right across town.> She thought to herself.

But that wasn’t it-was it? Was the fact that Articuno was gone that bothered her or was it something else…?

A dream… was it a dream that bothered her? No. She couldn’t remember having a dream that night. Was it the fact that she had sensed something in the center the day before? Was it…? Her mind was full to the brim with unexplained answers and she couldn’t take it anymore.

Arasan got dressed quickly and gathered her stuff up in one big load without bothering to shove it all into her tote. She hurried down five flights of stairs down to the lobby floor. The doorman still sat there-snoring away. She quietly gave the key to the receptionist at the desk-who was still awake and slipped out the door…

**

When Arasan reached the center she found the doors locked. She thought of pounding but the doors were glass, besides they probably had an alarm system. She slumped down on the ground next to the center and thought for a second.

"Oh, Articuno. Why did I leave you."

She still wasn’t sure if leaving Articuno at the center was what bothered her but she used it as an excuse anyways. Arasan took her tote and shoved all of her clothed into it and formed the tote bag into a pillow. She took her robe and used it as a blanket. She sat upright against the mirrored walls of the center and waited for morning.

**

Arasan didn’t sleep a wink that night for she always had a slight case of insomnia every once in a while-especially after being woken up in the night. At around six in the morning the centers doors opened electronically and she immediately went to the desk. Nurse Joy was up bright and early-though she was yawning horrifically.

"Hi. I’m here to get my Articuno…?" Arasan said without as much as an "Ohaio gozaimas" (Good morning).

"This early huh?…yawn…well, okay. Just a second…" The pretty nurse slipped into the resting room and returned holding onto Articuno’s Pokeball. "Here." She said handing Arasan the Pokeball. "We noticed the Articuno wasn’t very experienced-it doesn’t even have Ice Beam yet and it’s at that age so we gave it a boost of some Protein and some Carbos. Hope you don’t mind."

"Not at all. Thank you again."

"No problem…yawn…"

Outside Arasan let Glacier out of the Pokeball and she noticed something different about her. "Well, I guess that Carbos did something-didn’t it Glacier?"

"Ar-ti-cu-noooooooooo!!!!" at every syllable the Articuno was in a different place then it had been the second before!

"Well maybe we should get going now? This city gives me the creeps."

"Articuno?" The poor bird stopped zipping around in the air, visibly exhausted.

"I’ll tell ya later, okay? Right now let’s get out of here."

Arasan felt something inside her jump around. Her mind uncontrollably whizzed around like mad and she began seeing flashes of past happenings…

"Glacier? I have a feeling we should head south to Vermillion."

Vermillion? How did she know Vermillion was south?

So Articuno led Arasan down a side street that she could see from the air was the quickest way toward the next city."

"Alright. Lead the way."

As they traveled at a pretty nice pace Arasan began thinking about that weird feeling she had been experiencing…three times now.

• * *

"Valerie, why must we wear these ridiculous outfits?" Vail inquired sullenly, tugging at his ill-gotten overalls.

"We’re Beedril farmers Vail, that means we don the proper attire." Smiling malevolently, Valerie reached into her tote bag and removed a PokeBall.

"Now it is time to collect our reward." Reaching forth, Valerie gently tapped a Beedril, drawing it into the PokeBall

. "Hey, what are you two doing!?" Seeking the source of the voice, the troubled duo turned to find a grizzled old farm hand.

"We’re just simple Beedril farmers sir." Vail said politely while trying to stifle his pounding heart.

"Beedril farmers? You look like trouble to me." Reaching back, the farmhand pulled out a previously concealed shotgun.

"I hate trouble." Vail’s jaw nearly dropped at the sight of the powerful firearm.

"No need for that, we’ll just turn around and… RUN!!" Spinning, Vail and Valerie ran full speed through the tangled vines before them, a moment later the jarring sound of rifle discharge became apparent.

"Come back here! Hey!"

Vail placed his beret atop his head and breathed a sigh of relief, it felt good to be back in the Team Rocket uniform.

"Don’t worry Vail, we’ll make him pay. I’ve got another plan.." Glaring angrily at his sister, Vail leapt up and threw off his beret.

"No! I’m tired of being shot at Valerie, I’ve never wanted to do this. Can’t we lead a normal life? I can’t.. stand.. this." Leaning forward, Valerie skewered Vail with a single question.

"You want the Boss’s approval don’t you?" Stepping back, Vail turned away. "He’s not our Boss, he’s our Father." Stepping forward, Valerie stepped and spun Vail about.

"He’s both Vail. If you want his approval.. and yes even love then we must persevere! Don’t worry about it, we’ll have to do this only a little longer. Then you can leave. Isn’t that what you want?" Vail nodded quietly and jammed the beret over his ears.

"Yeah. I’ve got you."

Trotting silently through the night, the siblings soon came in view of the Vermillion Waterfront Hotel.

"There it is Vail, the Vermillion Hotel. The contact said that a whole fleet of Pokémon trainers is staying there for the night. You know that their Pokémon are bound to be by their sides." Vail nodded and produced a knife,

"Come on. I think I know a back way in." Creeping silently, Vail circled the building and soon came upon a back stairwell. Producing a small knife, he deftly picked the lock.

"Alright, let’s go snatch some Pokémon.." Entering the building, Vail and Valerie found themselves found them a large basement area.

"We’re in the basement, the elevator shaft is this way. Come on."

Valerie pulled herself up yet another level and groaned, "How much further is it too the top? We’ve been climbing forever Vail!" Valerie cried piteously, attempting to gain the sympathy of her cohort. Shuttup Valerie, only two more floors." Gritting his teeth, Vail made the supreme effort and at last hauled himself to the top floor.

"This is where our contact said the Trainers were billeted, right?" Valerie nodded silently, breathing with some difficulty.

"Right.. He… said … that … the … Vermillion…" Valerie sighed and sat down.

"You need to workout more Valerie. Come on." Picking the first lock, Vail entered the first room to find sleeping trainers and a large number of PokeBalls situated about the room.

"Excellent."

"This is the last room right?" Valerie nodded, and Vail breathed a sigh of relief. "I’ll go in myself." Cracking the door open, Vail crept in only to emerge a moment later.

"It’s them, those trainers from the beach!" Valerie’s eyes widened slightly,

"Them! Grab their Pokémon Vail, that’ll teach those amateurs not to mess with us!" Vail nodded and reentered the room.

• * *

James yawned and stretched, it was still pitch black in the room. Creeping over to the patio, he allowed himself a brief chuckle. Yanking the shade open, James watched as bright sunlight streamed forth. Time to wake up!" He crowed triumphantly, only to find Jeff’s bed empty.

"Jeff?" James looked about the room, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Oh good your up." James looked down just in time to see Jeff emerge from underneath the bed. "I can’t find our Pokémon." James’ eyes widened and the youth looked about the room. It was true, the Pokémon were nowhere to be found.

"It was Vail and Valerie, there are witnesses who say they identified the two from wanted posters." James cursed and hit the wall with his fist, "I should have known they would follow us. Did they take… Everyone?" Jeff shook his head, "No.. They didn’t take Helluce." James allowed himself a brief smile,

"Well that’s good news!" Jeff smiled wanly, "Yeah great.. Come on, let’s go find them."

Jeff and James silently trudged up the road from Vermillion City, deep in thought.

"Do you think that they are very far?" Jeff shook his head, "Jeff! Jeff Hibiki! It’s you!" Turning, Jeff gasped loudly. "Arasan!"

Vail and Valerie from out of their hiding spot and watched as a young woman came running up to the meddlesome trainers.

"Who is that?" Valerie inquired, Vail could only shake his head.

"I don’t know, but she is surely in league with those two. Look at how she talks with them." Vail abruptly gasped as the thought hit him, "It’s her! I know her Father from the Celadon Mansion!"

• * *

It was late morning and Arasan and Glacier, her Articuno, had arrived in Vermillion City. Mounds of dirt and mud caked her shoes so she looked around for a faucet to wash them off. After washing her shoes Arasan returned Glacier back into her Pokeball for a rest. The Articuno had more endurance for flying then Arasan thought but she didn’t argue. Arasan found a cozy little corner café and began to sit down when the back of her neck started itching once again.

"I don’t get it. Why is this happening so much lately? All these signs…and not one of them really meaning anything…"

Arasan thought against the idea of eating at the café and decided to eat somewhere else instead. Glacier’s Pokeball started bouncing around inside the tote bag, impatient for some food, so Arasan sat down next to a statue of a strange looking man-but that same itchy feeling behind her hair line started acting up again.

"Ohhhh, this is ridiculous! Everywhere I go this weird feeling has to follow me!" After finally finding a spot in the city where the itchiness receded and ate breakfast, the duo decided to look around at the sites of the city. They saw many great things including the vast cruise that called itself the S.S. Anne. But when Arasan even tried to near the Vermillion gym that same itchiness started to bug her again. She ignored it and went right past it toward a large fruit and flower stand. She was going to buy a corsage for Glacier to wear on her ribbon-like tail when she heard-no she sensed something. Arasan felt something like wind go past her-but it wasn’t wind-it was more like a vibe. A good vibe that warmed and tingled. She spun around searching for the cause of it but she saw no one except for—

"JEFF!!! I knew it! I did see him in Saffron didn’t I Glacier?!"

Arasan ran after him noticing he had a friend with him…and they were chasing two girls (she thought they were girls because of Vail’s ponytail) toward Saffron.

"Jeff!!! Jeff!! Wait! Jeff!!" then she added under her breath

"Who does he think he is, chasing after two girls?" Of course there is another boy with him…"

**

"Get moving James."

Arasan gave a gentle push against James’ back and steered him in the right direction. Arasan knew that place like the back of her hand.

<Celadon Mansion.> she sighed thinking of the good times her family once had in this place. <Our home.> A small tear dribbled down her cheek and onto the broken tile flooring imbedding itself into the mortar like it belonged there all along.

They had come upon a series of hallways and though Arasan knew the place well that did not mean she knew where two thieves might hide or escape. Or did she?

"Let’s try the rooftop. Follow me."

"Lead the way oh mighty exorcist," said Jeff. "Maybe we’ll find some ghosts in here who’ll want to suck our brains out."

Arasan knew Jeff was joking but she also knew he was trying to humor himself. Too many hard memories flooded back into both of their minds. She gave him daring look that said "Drop it or I’ll give ya a knuckle sandwich." So he did. Though Arasan thought that being next to Jeff in a dimly lit hallway wasn’t so bad…until he stepped on her heel.

They had climbed flights of stairs and had reached the top floor so Arasan told Jeff to release his Haunter (the only flying Pokémon fit for dark places) to look around for something that could bring them to the roof. Helluce searched the whole floor in all nooks and crannies until he found an old ladder of some sort leading to a lofty area…

Jeff commanded Helluce to fly up and take a look. The trained Haunter did just that and a series of screams and shouts came from above.

"That sounds like---"

"---Vail and Valerie!" finished James.

"Helluce? Keep spooking them," whispered Jeff and the trio could now see the Haunter dangling above the lofty area making really goofy faces at the mysterious pair above.

"Valerie? Do you think that creature is a ghost?"

SMACK

"Of course it’s a ghost you nitwit! A ghost Pokémon…let’s see if we can catch it!"

"I don’t want a ghost for a Pokémon Valerie, besides we’ve got all these neat Pokémon right here in our bag." Vail whined.

"Ewwww, maybe you’re right. It’s making faces at us. Ewwww. Vail let’s get out of here and quick before that thing decides we’re good homesteads."

Valerie began to quickly gather up the money that was hidden in the safe when Helluce began to look downward while pointing at the dastardly duo.

Suddenly large shapes of unknown form were riding up the walls and Vail and Valerie started shrieking uncontrollably.

"There’s more ghosts!! That thing has friends!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

"Can you see them Helluce?"

"Haunt. Haunt." Said the Haunter while pointing at the far wall above them.

"Cool. Let’s go Arasan."

Arasan and Jeff climbed the ladder while James stayed below (which he was sort of relieved about) and held the torch up for them as they climbed, the light casting long shadows on the wall…

………………………….

Tane had crept quietly out of his capsule seeing Aka laying unconscious on the floor. The top the evil men were holding up half of Aka’s body.

"Ah ,hahahahahah. Take this fool to the boss, immediately," Ordered the green haired woman Aka had addressed as Minori. The men started to drag Aka out of the room so Tane jumped on top of his capsule and growled an alert. The two men turned to look at the Bulbasaur who was growling like mad.

"Bulba, growl, Bulbasaur!"

"Oh, do I have to do everything myself?" yelled an exasperated Minori.

"Take care of the Bulbasaur and the other Pokémon. Put them back in their capsules. The "evidence" must be discarded! I’ll take care of the boy!" and at that the two men dropped Aka onto the floor and Aka’s nose hit and began to bleed. For a split second Tane saw Minori’s eyebrows change position from a frown to slight concern-but it was only for an instant and Tane never was sure if he was seeing things or not. Then Minori hoisted Aka over her shoulder and hauled him away. Out of the Freezing Room and down the hall to the right she went.

The two men, after releasing Aka and letting him just slam in to the floor, went after Tane. They tried grabbing him by surrounding the capsule on either side and just reaching for him but Tane jumped off of the capsule and skittered underneath some other Pokémon’s capsule just before they could so much as extend a finger.

Tane slipped out from under the capsule and under another one before the men could see him. He did this several times but then one of the men spotted him.

"Bulba!" he screeched after the man had a hold of his bulb, yanking on it like some kind of handle for Bulbasaurs.

"Bulbasaur!"

Many of the Pokémon still running around heard his call and though weak from practically becoming frozen food they were able to help Tane out. A large Machamp grabbed the man’s shirt collar and yanked him into the air-unfortunately he was still hanging onto Tane’s bulb and Tane screeched again. Luckily the man was pretty surprised by the fact that this Machamp had him cold that Tane slipped out of the man’s hands before the Machamp threw him against the wall-the GLASS WALL TO THE OUTSIDE OCEAN!!!!

Even though it was a small crack, water started to seep in. Then it started gushing through in different places.

"Bulbasaur!!!"

"Ma-champ." (Oops.)

All the Pokémon ran out of that room as fast as their little (and big) footsies could take them. Large Pokémon carried smaller ones and they all hauled butt outta there!! Tane was being carried by the Machamp. They twisted and turned throughout the hallways and at first the Team Rocket personnel were abashed at the sight of hundreds of Pokémon filling the halls, but then they got the idea and an alarm sounded!!

"There they are! Get em!"

"Don’t let em get away!"

"The prototypes! They’re getting away!"

"Our experiment will go down the drain!" Soon lots of guards and scientists were chasing the Pokémon through the halls!

• * *

Blu made it to the coast by morning. Crash nibbled contently at the grass at the shore, and Blu fished for breakfast. She was used to staying up all night; She was a night owl. Someone once had called her the Night Dragon Trainer. Speaking of whom…

She tossed a fish to Ripley. She yawned, and decided it was time to set off. She summoned Brooke, and returned Crash.

Ripley looked like a tiny Dratini next to Brooke. Brooke was a full sized, healthy Dragonair… Ripley was like a house cat next to a lion. But he was lovable.

Blu changed into her diving suit, and zipped her dry clothes into a waterproof pack. She made sure she had the necklace. And some empty Pokéballs just in case she spotted another Pokémon she wanted…

"Alrighty Brooke, we gotta make it to Seafoam. We make it there, then we camp out on the Islands. Let’s go." Blu climbed aboard Brook’s back and Ripley made his way to her head.

Brooke took off. The warm coastal waters of Cinnabar Island gave way to cooler currents, but Brooke made good time. Numerous trainers eyed Blu but she declined all challenges. She wasn’t really a trainer, after all.

The ocean was wide and deep. Blu had to put all her confidence in the loyalty of Brooke as she raced through the waves. If the huge Dragonair decided to ditch her, she’d be dead meat. Little Ripley couldn’t take her back either way. After a good swim, she could finally see the faint lines

of the Islands on the horizon.

"Good girl Brooke," Blu said, patting the dragon on the neck. "We’re dining Seafood tonight."

**

By evening Brooke was exhausted. But they had made it! Blu let Brooke eat a few Goldeens that were wild in the water.

The caves to Seafoam had always intrigued Blu; Dark and waiting to be explored. Who knew what treasures were in there. If she ever got enough money she’d set up a house boat and spend the rest of her life studying the Islands.

The sun was going down. Blu summoned Miller, and returned Brooke. She found a nice patch of sand and leaned against a rock and fell asleep.

**

The morning was crisp. The mist hovered in the air and made the rocks slippery. Blu made her way to the cave entrance, allowing Miller to snuffle around everywhere. Ripley rode on her shoulder as usual.

Her footsteps echoed in the vast expanse of caverns. The floor was a complicated network of steps and holes and underwater rivers that rushed and echoed in the ceiling. The smell was of freshwater and life. Every once in a while she could hear the distant splashing of a marine Pokémon,

or the talking of a trainer. The caves were beautiful.

She heard a splash up ahead. She looked, and saw a flash of blue and silver as a dazzling blue bird snatched a Horsea out of the deep water. She gasped, and blinked, but when her eyes cleared the Articuno was gone. She swore silently. This sluggishness was going to loose her many Pokémon. Now all she needed to do was sneeze and scare away the Staryu up ahead. She crouched, contemplating catching it. Did she really want a water Pokémon? Both Ripley and Brooke already had some water attacks… It was necessary if she was to have a semi-well rounded team. With the fire Pokés she would have been vulnerable to water Pokémon. But the Dragons rounded that out.

She took off her sunglasses and perched them above her forehead. The sound of water rushing was relaxing and gave the caves a sense of depth.

She walked ahead, scaring the Staryu into the water. She found a ladder that led to the second level. She climbed up while Miller found more creative ways to get up… Mainly by jumping from a rock onto her back and up to the ledge. Doh.

• * *

Jeff smiled at the sight of Arasan. He pointed at James over his shoulder and grinned as he introduced the two of them. Arasan only smiled and asked Jeff a single question.

"What are you doing out here?" Arasan asked as Jeff explained that all of their Pokémon had been kidnapped and that they had to get them back.

"Oh! Speaking of Pokémon do you still have Helluce? I haven’t seen that ghost in a long time!" Jeff opened up his only remaining Pokéball and watched as the Haunter appeared and Arasan gasped. "He’s already a Haunter? That means he could turn into a Gengar at only moment!" Jeff cringed at the thought. "I’m sorry."

"No it’s okay Arasan…Could you help me and James find those two goons?" Jeff said as Vail steamed at the thought of being called a goon. "I mean who knows what they could do to them!" Jeff said thinking of Mist being forced to run a water wheel, and Hyler being forced to dig graves. Suddenly

Jeff noticed someone standing behind the bushes behind them. He looked over

them and saw Vail and Valerie.

"You guys! Helluce, get over here!"

The pair gulped and dashed towards Saffron as the new friends, James, Jeff, and Arasan, ran after them. After they reached Saffron the pair split up but they both met at the gates at Celadon, the three on their heels.

"Kuso! These guys don’t know when to give up!" Vail said picking out one of Jeff’s Pokéballs. "Vaporeon, Attack!" Jeff smiled as Mist came out of the Pokéball and smiled at the fact that his real owner was upon him.

"Mist! Get our Pokéballs back!" Jeff commanded as the Vaporeon leapt for Vail’s belt and was only able to grab his own Pokéball plus another one. Mist spat the balls onto the ground as the duo from Team Rocket ran towards Celadon.

"What’s in this Pokéball?" James asked as he picked it up and it opened, releasing his Jolteon. "Alright, at least I got one of mine back!" James placed the ball in his belt and led the three towards Celadon.

Vail and Valerie waited in remains of the Celadon Mansion. Vail could hardly believe that a few years ago this place was worth millions but now it was worth nothing. Valerie sat down on a broken piece of wood and watched as a few Raticates, Machops, and other Pokémon scurried around in the dimly lit

ruins.

"I’ll bet they won’t ever find us in here." Vail chuckled to himself as he knew that this latest caper would bring them up in the standings within Team Rocket, greatly above Musashi and Kojiro. Valerie shook her head and sighed.

"We still lost 2 of them though…But we still have 137!" She said her voice perking up when she said the large number. She stood up and looked at a ladder which was leaning against a wall. Valerie curiously climbed it and found a large safe at the top. The door was broken off the safe and she peered

inside, she let out a giddy scream when she saw what was inside…

"VAIL! WE’RE RICH! SOME MORON LEFT A FEW MILLION IN GOLD INSIDE THIS

SAFE! WE’LL NEVER HAVE TO WORK FOR TEAM ROCKET EVER AGAIN!" Valerie screamed

even louder as Vail covered his ears as her voice echoed off the walls of the ruined house.

"Keep it down! Someone might find us!" Vail shouted back as he climbed up the ladder to see if she was lying or not. He smiled and his eyes turned to dollar signs as he saw how much money was in the safe. "We are set for life!"

"Helluce, Night Shade!" Jeff commanded his Haunter as it obeyed. Vail, noticing Jeff and Arasan first threw out a Pokéball and an Ivysaur appeared from the ball and tried to lash out with vines at the ghost. "Helluce, Hypnosis!" The ghost sent out psychic waves causing the Ivysaur to fall into

a deep sleep.

"Ivysaur, return! Go!" Vail said tossing another ball out as Valerie was finally gaining her composure. The ball opened as an Alakzam appeared. Vail began to laugh like a mad man as the Alakzam raised a spoon and almost knocked Jeff off the loft and making Helluce faint almost instantly.

"Arasan, you have Pokémon right?!" Jeff shouted as he got up. She nodded in reply and Jeff grabbed Mist’s Pokéball and looked like he was ready to hurl it. "Then use them!" Arasan got out Glacier’s Pokéball and released the giant ice bird.

"Glacier, Peck!" Arasan commanded the blue bird as it rammed it’s beak into the Alakzam which was nothing compared to the Mystic Bird. Valerie was stunned that a girl that seemed to lack any talent at training had an Articuno!

"Pokéball, go!" Valerie said as she tossed a ball and watched as it opened and released a Pikachu. Pikachu, Thundershock!" The mouse responded by gathering electricity and then fired it striking the bird dead on.

"Mist, go! Protect the bird!" Jeff said releasing the Vaporeon. The Vaporeon stood over the Pikachu and then batted it into a wall with its tail. The bird was a bit dazed from the shock but could still fight. Suddenly a ball appeared near the ladder and it opened, releasing James’ new Raticate.

Vail and Valerie both grunted as they both threw two balls and released four monsters; a Jynx, A Dewgong, A Bulbasaur, and a Graveller. The duo laughed as they knew Jeff, James, and Arasan stood no chance against them.

"Raticate, Body Slam!" James yelled up the command, as the Raticate slammed it’s body into the Jynx, paralyzing it with pain. "Again!" The rat responded and once again slammed it’s body into it.

"Dewgong, Ice Beam the Vaporeon!" Vail commanded the sea lion as it shot a beam of ice at the dog. The Vaporeon was nearly frozen solid on contact with the beam. "Now Ice Beam the Raticate!" The Dewgong fired another beam at the Raticate, freezing the Raticate in place as well. James threw up another

ball and released his Jolteon.

"Jolteon, Thundershock the Dewgong!" James shouted the command. The Jolteon charged up static energy and fired it at the Dewgong, killing it almost instantly.

"Bulbasaur, whip the Jolteon!" Valerie said as the Bulbasaur listened and green vines smacked the Jolteon around and then trapped it in a corner.

"Now, Bulbasaur, go after the bird!" Arasan frowned a bit, she knew that right now Glacier wasn’t much a fight but she had to change that.

"Glacier, rip that Bulbasaur apart!" Arasan screamed as the bird flew into the air and it planted it’s peck in the Bulbasaur’s bulb and tossed it about like it was nothing. Then the Graveller rolled towards Glacier.

"Glacier, defend yourself!" Arasan yelled as the Graveller punched and rolled into the bird, suddenly Glacier began to glow with a faint blue aura.

"Art…ic…uno!" Glacier yelled as it fired a beam of condensing water particles at the Graveller. After a moment or two the Graveller was frozen in place.

"Give up…" James said as he now had finally climbed the ladder and wanted to see what was going on. Vail and Valerie each reached for another ball or two but the bag had fallen off the loft and onto the ground outside. All the Pokémon they had were gone except for Vail’s Muk and Valerie’s

Graveller which was frozen in place in front of her.

"Well, guess we have to make a drastic retreat!" Vail said grabbing a handful of gold from a safe beside him and leaped off the loft and grabbed a rope and swung down towards the ground safely. Valerie just stood there with a dumb grin on her face.

"This is all the money my father lost!" Arasan said as she examined the gold that was in the safe. She filled her tote bag with as much as she could carry (which was 80% of what was left). Suddenly Valerie waved bye and leaped out the window and tried to pull off the same stunt as Vail but failed

miserably. She landed with a thud followed by a crack.

"What happened to her?" Jeff said as he looked down over the loft’s edge and saw Valerie lying in a heap crying with her leg bleeding. "Oh my god…" Jeff said sliding down the side of the house and landed on his feet a few yards away from Valerie.

"What are you going to do?!" Valerie said, tears running down her face, she was in very obvious pain. Jeff gathered up James and his own Pokéballs and stuffed them in his backpack. Then he kneeled down and picked Valerie in his arms and stood up and started walking

"What is Jeff doing?!" James said seeing Jeff carrying Valerie off, Arasan thought the same thing and they both left the way they came in, but by that time they couldn’t find Jeff anywhere.

"Why did you do that…?" Valerie said while sitting in a hospital bed, her leg in a cast. "You could have just left me there…Vail could have came back for me!" Jeff shook his head and sat down in a chair across the room from her.

"No he wouldn’t have." Jeff said peering out the window. "From what I can tell he’d leave you if he had a chance of getting personal gain." Jeff then looked at her. "Besides, I don’t like seeing women get hurt."

"What do you mean he’d leave me?! Me and him are…" Valerie said before a doctor walked in with a clip board. He asked how Valerie was doing and that Jeff could leave, seeing as she needed her rest.

"Valerie, the least you can do is say ‘thank you’, and let me go find my friends." Jeff said opening the door but not leaving yet. Valerie sighed.

"Thank you." Valerie said, as Jeff walked out the door and shut it behind himself.

• * *

After dusting off wet doggy prints from her diving suit’s back, Blu made is to the second floor. From here she could get a better view of the caves. So many sounds echoing back and forth… The caves were alive with life. Krabbies skittered behind rocks, Shellders did their little floppy swim in the shallow water that covered the entire floor of the caves. Miller pranced around gleefully, happy to get as messy as possible. Every once in a while he’d bite at a passing Krabby, too slow in his prancing to actually get one. He pounced, splashed and looked like he was having the happiest time in his life. Blu grinned as she watched him, getting all wet like a little puppy. No one would know by looking at him that he had firepower inside.

Blu wanted that Articuno. It was rare when a Pokémon sparked her interest. She had wanted a Ninetales the first time one of her friends had shown her a Vulpix. That particular friend had go on to help that senile old Gym Trainer who locked himself in his Gym.

The light filtered through small cracks in the ceiling. Blu came to an overhang that looked down onto a large pool. It was a loooong ways down. The water was so clear it looked like crystal! Blu looked around, and saw a ladder leading down. She shrugged out of her backpack and took off her sunglasses and Pokéballs. Miller wagged his tails as he watched, and Ripley slithered to the ground to watch. Blu leaned over and looked again, gauging the depth. It looked pretty deep. She took a deep breath, and swan-dived off the cliff into the water.

The water was cool and hit her like a wave of pure sound. The rushing was fantastic! The water was certainly deep. At first she was pulled towards the exit by the current, but deeper down it was calmer. She saw a Starmie, a Cloyster…And thought she caught a glimpse of a Seadra. She was able to stay down a long time due to her hobby of sea-diving. She looked for a good hand hold on the side, and grabbed on, inching her way up so she wouldn’t be washed away by the current.

The cool air in the caves bit at her wet skin but it felt good. She climbed the ladder and retrieved her things, as well as Miller and Dragonair, who were intently watching a closed-shell Cloyster.

Reluctantly they followed her down the ladder.

She came down and heard a noise. She looked up and was careful not to Blink or Gasp…

Blu stood stock still. The Articuno blinked and cocked it’s head from up in the rafters. She ached to just throw the Pokéball. But she only had regulars. Dammit. She whispered to Ripley, "Can you make thunderstorm weather here, hon?" Not many knew it, but Dragonairs had the uncanny ability to change climates ((OOC: Says so in the PokéDex)). She wasn’t sure if he could coax a thunderstorm, but she’d never taught him any Electric attacks. She desperately wanted the Articuno…It was so rare!

Ripley moved slightly, and a slight electrical current buzzed silently through the air. But it wasn’t enough. The sizzling spooked the bird and it flew away in a plume of silver dust.

Blu sighed heavily, and shook her head.

"Maybe next time…" She decided that her next outing would be to Victory Road, and go after the bird rumored to fly there, Moltres. A Fire-Bird would be the best for her team. Or any Rare Pokémon. The one Pokémon she wanted was Charizard, a Fire Pokémon that resembled a

dragon. If she had that she’d die a happy death.

Man, was it hard to be a Rare PokéHunter. And didn’t help to be a mainstream Treasure Hunter, either.

• * *

Minori searched the halls until she found an adequate place to store Aka for the time being. She found a closet that no one had used in a long time and chucked Aka into it.

"You’re lucky Aka. That Bulbasaur bought me some time. You’re lucky." Minori blew Aka a kiss then she shut the door and locked it so no one would find him. She then went back to Sakaki in his private quarters.

**

"You failed me Minori? I thought you were the clever one."

"I did not fail. I did as you asked. I kept an eye on Aka as you told me too, but when we found out what he was doing he escaped, sir."

"No. You let him escape! I knew you had the hots for him but this is ridiculous! I gave you strict orders to bring him to me!" Minori’s face went stark still and had no emotion whatsoever.

"I tried—,"

"Trying isn’t good enough! Find him! Bring him to me! If you fail…well, you already know what will happen!"

"Yes, sir, I do."

**

Aka awoke to find himself in the darkest place known to man-a closet. He tried the door handle but it was either stuck or locked from the outside. He called to the outside but no one answered.

"Kuso!"

Aka banged on the door as hard as he could but still no answer. Where the **** was he!?! He was afraid of the answer…

**

Minori began searching the halls pretending to look for Aka and as she rounded a bend she noticed a strange cloud of dust heading toward her. Pokémon? And people? The herds careened right into her and over her! She was flattened to a pancake and when she straightened herself up she saw that she had left a dent in the floor-a dent that looked like her. She quickly covered the dent with a rug that she pulled OUT OF HER POCKET !! :P and then she went back to searching.

**

Aka felt like he was suffocating in the cramped closet. He shifted his feet but as he did a large something dropped into his hands. It was a jar so he stuck his hand inside hoping some food would be inside (he was still pretty conked out-not thinking right) and pulled out something slimy and squishy…

He suddenly started to realize, after putting the slimy thing back in it’s jar, that the floor was getting wet and water was rising toward his knees-FAST!!

"Oh my god! I’m gonna drown!"

**

After being trampled on by the large herd of Pokémon and people over 10 times and leaving gouges in the floor covered by rugs, Minori finally decided to take a rest-when she noticed the same thing…

"Water? How in the heck?!"

She hurried down toward the direction the flowing water was coming from and found herself back at the Freezing Room. She gaped at the sight of the now-huge crack on one of the far windows. The pressure was too much for just that one window so it decided to cave in! The whole glass pane shattered and hundreds-no! Thousands of gallons of water rushed inward-threatening to fill the whole floor with water!! The water rose an inch every second! Soon Minori found her self treading water.

"Sakeru! Sakeru!" (Evade! Evade!)

But most of the people had already left so Minori grabbed a fire alarm hoping the people on lower floors would get the message. She was about to climb the steps to the top most floor when she remembered something fairly important.

"AKA!!"

**

"If this keeps up I’ll be in over my head. Oh.. what in the **** did I do to deserve this kind of death sentence? Maybe this was all planned-maybe Sakaki is outside the door right now laughing his head off…"

Aka listened but could here nothing.

"Maybe I’m also in a sound proof closet or something?"

The water had risen to his chest and was heading toward his neck. The jar that he had held onto earlier was now floating in the water around him.

Just as the water was reaching his neck he heard something like a lock being unlatched. And indeed someone was trying to unlock the door. When the door was opened Aka expected the water to rush out but it didn’t. He was surprised to see that it was Minori who opened the door.

"Hurry! Before we both drown!"

Even though Aka was abashed at Minori for rescuing him at such short notice he wasn’t going to argue-he swam as fast as he could toward the stairs as Minori led him down the halls with the water rising very fast. He did take a moment to curiously glance back at the jar that floated in the water. That was a mistake-his face started turning a very unnatural shade of green.

"Aka before this place totally fills up with water I need to do something to your face so you look different." And she grabbed a chunk full of Aka’s bangs and flipped them over his head and secured them in place with some beret (from her pockets!) so that the boy would look like a girl.

Soon the whole place was flooded and Minori and Aka desperately tried swimming toward the stairs but to no avail-it was too far and they were too slow. They would never make it in time…

They looked at each other through the distorted water and before Minori dropped to the floor, the air lost out of her lungs, she blew a burbled kiss through the water and Aka felt ashamed that he had ever thought Minori a traitor…

• * *

Vail stumbled through the woods along the road gasping for breath, behind him was Celadon City and the ruins of the accursed Celadon Mansion. It had been a disaster, the Pokémon and Valerie was gone. The latter having been shipped off to the local hospital for treatment, he had attempted to gain entrance but she was under armed guard. Vail soon began to slow from sheer exhaustion. Glancing over his shoulder, Vail quickly made sure that nobody was following him and slumped against the tree. Taking a random apple from the ground, Vail began to munch on it absent mindedly before realizing that a full half of it was rotten. Throwing it away, Vail moaned "I hate this cursed wilderness!" Rising, Vail made to continue down the path when the ground abruptly opened up beneath him. Gasping, Vail plunged into the darkness.

Happily walking down the path, Raina once again checked her bag full of potions, remedies and other such helping formulas.

"A beautiful day." Looking about, Raina pulled out the tiny reed flute by her side and began to play it. A moment later, packs of Pidgeys, Rattatas, and Nidorans came to her. Smiling, Raina replaced the flute and continued on her way. She had never been able to figure out the power of the flute, it was a family heirloom that had been passed down from her father. Raina had been walking for a considerable period of time when she came upon a pit dug into the ground with a young man in it.

"Oh, are you okay?" The man stirred and looked up blankly, "Who are you?" He whispered. Raina smiled and waved, "I’m Raina. Hold on, I’ll get you out. I don’t know who dug that pit, what a nasty thing to do."

Vail awoke several hours later in a small bed. A pot of steaming soup was by his side and the strong aroma of various potions was about the hut. Entering, Raina smiled and replaced the soup bowl. "Oh your awake, I was kind of worried. Who is Valerie?" Vail licked his lips, attempting to speak.

"Uh yeah, she’s really nice." Raina only smiled, "I’m sure she is. You must care for her a lot, but well I’m babbling. I’m going out on errands, stay here and get your strength back, you’re exhausted." Vail waited, hardly daring to breathe as he waited for her to exit. At last the tell tale sound of a door closing became apparent. Pulling himself painfully out of bed, Vail stumbled over to the videophone on the nightstand. Lifting the receiver, Vail dialed the number that he had come to know well.

"Yes what is it?" Vail smiled and looked at the image on the screen,

"Hello boss," Vail didn’t dare call the Boss his father,

"I’m uh, just reporting in." The image was silent for a moment as the Boss stroked his Persian, "Ah Vail. What do you have to report?" Vail sat down, the fact that the Boss knew his name was promising.

"I’m in a healers hut sir, Valerie is in custody at a local hospital." The Boss bristled at the news,

"Idiot! How dare you let a fellow member be captured! I suppose that there is nothing for it, take what you can and go take care of Valerie. You know what to do." Vail gasped,

"Boss?" But the Boss’s image had already vanished.

Vail spent the next half hour stripping the hut of all Pokémon related items, from potions and elixirs to various PokeBalls on display on the wall. Vail was just about to make his exit when the door swung open and Raina entered.

"What are you doing?" Raina gasped, Vail was caught flat footed. The force of the words on his heart was nearly enough to blast him back through the door. Then the Boss’s image appeared in his head. Rigid, unmoving, he was an icon of Team Rocket.

"Out of my way woman!" Stepping forward, Vail swung his bag of items as hard as he could, hitting Raina about the side of her head. She gasped and hit the floor. Vail gaped, she wasn’t breathing. He hadn’t meant to hit her so hard.. There was nothing that he could do, Vail fled with the loot.

Valerie’s head lolled in the sickbed. Physicians and specialists periodically stood over her and took information, and once several International Agents had entered. That had frightened Valerie greatly as she had been certain they would take her away from here. Valerie was still in terrific pain, interspersed with moments of sleep. Then, a new face appeared over her bed.

"Hello Valerie, it’s your brother." Valerie gasped and coughed,

"Vail.. It’s you! They said they wouldn’t come back for me.. How did you get it." Vail only frowned,

"I’m sorry Valerie, but you’re incarcerated. You know what Team Rocket does at times like this. Nobody can talk." Valerie gasped and began to struggle, but Vail soothed and hugged her.

"Don’t worry about it Valerie. You’re tired, you must have been up for hours. I’ll send you to sleep, goodnight Valerie. Dream of the power and prestige that you never had." His job finished, Vail gathered up Valerie’s personal effects and departed out the window.

Valerie never woke up

• * *

Jeff was the first to wake out of his companions. He got dressed and walked into the bedroom where Arasan was sleeping. He smiled as he knew how cute she looked sleeping. Then he went in and checked in on James, who was curled up and shivering in his sleep.

Jeff opened the door and quietly snuck out of the room. He walked down to the hospital and up to the room where Valerie was, wanting to check on her condition. He was shocked to see an empty room.

"What…happened to her?" Jeff asked the nurse. The nurse said she had died from poisoning. Jeff was stunned. Who would do such a thing? He knew if anyone knew it would be her brother, Vail. Jeff left the hospital with a look of determination.

"If I was Vail…where would I be…?" Jeff mumbled to himself as he walked out of Celadon and walking towards Saffron, completely forgetting about his friends still in town. "I mean, someone just wouldn’t just kill her for no reason…She was pretty innocent, just misguided." Jeff continued talking to

himself, he knew he sounded like a weirdo talking to himself but it helped him think.

"If Vail wanted to get away from me and Arasan, I know where he’d hide from me and her…" Jeff grimaced at the thought. "In the tower at Lavender." Jeff walked through the streets of Saffron, completely ignoring everything around him, and having his mind set on one thing: finding Vail.

**

"Jeff…?" James called still groggy from his deep sleep. He got up and searched the room except for Arasan’s room. He couldn’t find him then he looked in Arasan’s room trying to be more than "friends" with her, but he only found Arasan dead asleep in her bed.

"Wonder where he could be…?" James said scratching his head and as he walked into his room and closed the door behind him. He got dressed and then went and woke Arasan up. James informed her about not being able to find Jeff and asked her to help him find Jeff.

After about an hour both of them had eaten breakfast and gathered up their belongings and left the room. They began to search the town for any trace of Jeff.

"Those losers won’t find me here." Vail said, hiding behind a tombstone in the tower. "I’ll just wait for the death of my dear sister to cool down and I’ll be back on the job…" Vail believed every word of what he said.

Only last night had he slipped his sister a pill to make her hear stop in her sleep. He smiled at the thought of gaining the bosses approval, but he had to make up for all the times he had messed up.

**

Jeff frowned at the site of the tower in the distance. His father had died there, as well as his mother’s love for everyone else but him. He sighed as he knew he’d have to face his fears sooner or later. Besides, he had to find out what really happened to Valerie. He didn’t really love Valerie as

more than a friend but he still cared about her.

"I guess it’s now or never…" Jeff sighed as he stood outside the gates to the tower. He sat down and closed his eyes and began to meditate almost instantly. He knew this had to be done, so his mind wouldn’t give in to some of the more eviler spirits within the tower. After what seemed like seconds Jeff stood up and went through the gates.

**

"I hate ghosts…" Vail muttered as a few Gastlys floated around him but suddenly vanished as a Cubone landed in front of Vail. "Oh go away…I’m bored enough…" The Cubone in responded with smacking his bone onto Vail’s boot. Vail threw a Pokéball and caught the Cubone with ease. "That’ll show him whose boss…"

**

Jeff wandered through the tower, floor by floor checking everywhere. Soon he was nearing the 12^th floor and only one more floor was left. Vail had to be here. After searching the 12^th floor he only had a little hope left. Upon arriving on the 13^th floor Jeff cleared his throat. Vail was caught off

guard a bit by the sudden sound.

"Vail…I know you are here…if you thought you could avoid me, you were wrong." Jeff said aloud, listening to the echo that was caused by the nothingness in the room. "Vail, please, tell me what happened to Valerie…"

"Fine, you want to know?" Vail said, standing up a cocky grin on his face. "I killed her with a poisoned pill. It was the Boss’s orders." Jeff’s mind just shattered at this moment. How could he have enjoyed that? How could someone be so inhuman to do that? "Did you fall in love with her?"

"No…I cared for her as a friend…I guess I’m going to have to avenge her now! Go Hyler…" Jeff said drawing out the Cubone’s ball and releasing it.

"I just got myself one as well…Let’s see whose is better!" Vail said sending out his own Cubone. "Cubone, Bone Club!"

"Hyler evade!" Jeff shouted, but it was too late. Jeff’s Cubone was caught off guard. "Hyler, Bonerang!" Hyler threw its bone and watched as it struck the other Cubone and returned back to it. Suddenly the Vail’s Cubone began to glow and a new fighting spirit entered it and it began to thrash everywhere, knocking over tombstones but it hit Hyler several times.

"Hyler, knock him out with the bone!" Jeff yelled as his Cubone was a bit dizzy and was wobbling about. "Hyler!" Vail began to laugh at the poor abilities of Hyler. The Cubone regained its senses and saw Vail laughing at

him. Hyler was sent over the edge and he began to glow a bright brown color.

"Huh…? Is that thing, evolving?!" Vail yelled as he watched Hyler slowly enlarge and it’s shadow cast over Vail’s own Cubone. The Rocket gulped as the Marowak flicked aside his Cubone.

"All right Hyler! Return!" Jeff said as the Marowak obeying his master returned to his Pokéball. Vail gulped and knew that his sister’s Graveller and his Muk were no match for Jeff’s current Pokémon.

Jeff walked up to Vail and pinned him against the wall and put his hands around Vail’s throat. Vail struggle to get away was futile, seeing the anger in Jeff’s eyes made him not want to move.

"I should kill you, but it wouldn’t matter…" Jeff said quietly. "If I kill you, it’s not gonna bring Valerie back into this world!" yelled Jeff as Vail went wide eyed at the sight behind Jeff…a Gengar.

"Watch out! A Gengar, get outta my way!" Vail said running to the stairs, knowing that the ghost Pokémon would chew him up and spit him out like nothing.

"Gengar!" The ghost roared as tears ran down Jeff’s cheeks. Jeff seemed to be reliving the moment his father died because of this horrid ghost. His hands shook with rage and fear as the Gengar looked like it was sizing Jeff up. Suddenly the ghost vanished. Jeff left the tower, feeling paranoid the entire way down…

• * *

Blu yawned. She kept an unsteady, soundless beat with her foot. The light was beginning to dim. The water became dark, cold and mysterious with a lack of light. She wouldn’t dare dive after dark. Who knew what was down there at night?

Miller yawned squeakily. At many times her resembled a big dog, both in his mannerisms and his stupidity. Blu grinned at the thought. Ripley was sleeping, draped over a sunlit rock. Blu lazily jerked the line, attempting to snag a Goldeen for lunch. She was hungry. And no one ever said she was intelligent enough to bring food; She preferred to wing it.

There was a tug on the line. Blu lightly pulled the rod, testing the hook. It lightened, then tugged again harshly. She yanked, hard, attempting to set the hook. Suddenly something heaved at the line. She

stood up, asserting her weight and using her leverage to pull. It wasn’t a reeling pole and it was tough… She growled under the pressure, yanking again. The line jerked violently and Blu stumbled and nearly fell into the water. Her still-wet hair whipped into her face. She didn’t bother to wipe it away… She didn’t want to loose her grip! She gritted her teeth and put the last ounce of strength she had and tried to yank

the lurching, convulsing creature out of the water.

A huge fin surfaced in the water. She gasped and faltered in her grip. A huge wave washed her over, coming up to her knees. Fins, scales… The whole shebang! Her fishing pole was ripped from her hands and she fell backwards into the water. She watched her pole crunch and slide into the water. What had THAT been??

As she sat in the water where she had landed, with Miller snuffling her hair, she wished she had a PokéDex. From what she had seen she imagined a huge serpent. Large blue scales. From what she had heard of giant Pokémon it fit the description of… No, but it couldn’t be! Blu shook her head in disbelief. No one had said anything about a giant serpent living in the Islands. The description… It fit a Gyrados!

If there was a Gyrados in these caves, she was gonna catch it! Gyrados fit in, many mistook it for a dragon… She wanted it!! She considered. What would she need to catch it?? Gyrados was a flying/water Pokémon. Flying?? That was odd. An Electric Pokémon would be ideal. So would an Ice. Ice. Ice. The word echoed in her head like the dripping of water. She knew of a nearby Ice Pokémon she wanted as well…@

• * *

The Pokémon herd ran up and down the hallways trying desperately to escape the madmen that were pursuing them. The Machamp was still carrying Tane as they raced through the halls. Luck brought them fortune when the "people herd" slowed down as they noticed the water filling the halls with tremendous speed. That’s when both clouds of dust came to a rest and instead of resuming chase started panicking! Water, water everywhere! The halls would be submerged within minutes and no one was doing anything about it. People raced up the stairs grabbing elevators before they were totally underwater and many people were just screaming for their lives-some even dared to pray. The hundreds of Pokémon had all but squished everyone as they were running through the halls and found the people floating in the water almost lifeless.

Water.

It filled the halls halfway already and was still going toward the top! Suddenly everyone heard a fire alarm and now the people started screaming because of the so-called fire too. Tane had had about enough of all this lolly-gagging around and decided to take hold of matters before things went to far.

Tane jumped down off of the Machamp’s arm and landed with a heavy splash. Water didn’t hurt the weak Bulbasaur’s tiny body-it actually strengthened Tane’s endurance quite a bit being part plant and all. Tane raised his voice above the screaming persons and just plain got everyone’s attention.

"BULBASAUR!!!"

Nothing moved.

Tane swam over to some Pokémon who looked very weak from the water. A Charmander was straining to keep his poor tail above the surface and looked about ready to give up.

"Bulbasaur! Bulba! Bulbasaur, Bulbasaur, Bulba!!!" Tane barked out orders left and right and soon the Pokémon were in some kind of army fashion. The Machamp and a Hitmonchan were now carrying the weakened Charmander and some other fire Pokémon trying to keep them above the waterline. Tane and other plant and water Pokémon propelled some bugs through the current. The electric Pokémon agreed that under absolutely no circumstances could they or would they use any electric attacks while everyone was still drenched.

Finally all the Pokémon were set upon the stairs and were hauling butt to get to a floor above sea level. Not one the Team Rocket’s agents dared to stop them for fear of getting drowned was worse than losing a few hundred Pokémon. Though Sakakai’s threats mingled within their minds as the Pokémon ran for cover (or should I say open skies?).

Tane was heading up the stairs with all the rest of the Pokémon but then turned back toward the water filled hallway. "Bulbasaur?" He turned back to look at the people standing there watching the water continue to rise. Tane hadn’t nor didn’t see Aka anywhere. He looked back at the stairs. Bubbles were floating to the surface, which could only mean—

"Bulbasaur, Bulba, Bulbasaur, Bulbasaur!" he began to yell.

A Goldeen that was nearly gasping for water-air volunteered to Tane’s request and slipped out of a Machop’s strong forearms and began flopping idly toward the water filled stairwell. She shloomped under the water with ease and relief and began frantically searching for what Tane had feared most.

Air bubbles from Minori and Aka’s fragile lungs were flowing toward the stairway. Aka had held his breath as long as he possibly could but Minori was already losing consciousness. Aka swam to the top of the ceiling hoping beyond hope that there was a pocket of air somewhere. There was nothing. His mind began to drift and he started floating toward the surface only to drop toward the floor where his precious Minori lay.

Suddenly he was knocked back into reality by a short but very painful poke in his leg. He looked down through the garbled water to find a…a Goldeen? He wasn’t sure if it was a Goldeen or not. His mind started drifting again. His lungs were burning.

<My mind’s playing tricks maybe? No. If it is a real fish Pokémon I should take a chance-what do I gotta lose?>

<Well, that’s a stupid question-my life you dope!> he said not really aware that he was talking to himself.

He reached out and was startled to find that the Goldeen really was three-dimensional. It started nuzzling his hand and swam around him in tight circles. He grabbed onto the Goldeen after grabbing Minori with his other hand and he felt the fish start to swim towards the stairwell right before blacking out.

**

"Cough! Choke! Sputter! Cough! Wheeeeeeeeeeze." Minori sucked in heavenly breaths blinking her sore eyes and looked warily around. She saw Aka kneeling over her. She was surprised to find herself lying on a pile of red leaves.

Aka had wasted no time after being hauled out of the waterlogged hallway by the Goldeen. He dragged Minori out of the underground laboratory. No one missed them of course. They questioned Aka but he just faked a happy-go-lucky girlish voice and told them he was Minori’s "sister". He never let anyone see his face. Minori’s body hid it as he hugged the walls all the way to the outside as he carried her over his shoulder.

After stepping out of the hidden hologram that was made to look like an old shack next to the beach he laid Minori on the ground, her face facing the stars above, and began to kiss her—

Well at least that’s what it looked like.

"Minori? Are you all right? I can’t believe you just risked your life and your entire career to save me." Minori coughed and choked on dry air before answering. Her lungs still burned within and it hurt her throat to talk.

"You would have done the same for me Aka. I have my reasons for doing unexplainable things sometimes." She turned towards the sea, which she despised more than ever now. She then turned back to face Aka who never left his gaze upon her. His eyes shining dully in the moonlight.

"You could have left me. You could * cough* have escaped without me you know. I haven’t the right to live anyway, betraying the only one who I truly adore to pieces." Tears formed and ran into her ears as she was still lying down on her back.

"No. Minori, I didn’t believe you at first but now I do. You were only trying to protect your family. Besides, I couldn’t escape without your help cause your large body had to be used as a face-shield." He regretted it as soon as he said it.

"Why of all the incompetent, immature things a guy can dare to say!" and she whopped him one right on the face with her knee.

"I didn’t mean it like that! I was just—

"I know." And she gave him her cocky smirk he had gotten to know so well. "Well if you’re alright I guess I’ll head back and see if the boss survived."

"What? You’re leaving? Back to Team Rocket? But…"

Minori put two fingers to his lips.

"I have a career to uphold remember? Team Rocket is my home Aka. I’ve lived with them for over twenty years and I’m not gonna quit now. I’m a rocket through and through. But…Aka. You’re going to have to die."

"What?! After saving me you’re gonna just go ahead and…" Minori shook her head, "Leave Aka. Leave and don’t return to the Rockets. I’ll see ya sometime okay?"

Aka was confused. Minori stood up and coughed again-still not used to the fresh air. She looked back at Aka.

"Wait, Minori! Why don’t we become a team now! We’re Rockets! (Rockets that will never see the light of day if we get caught by the boss) but we’re still Rockets and we need to stick together."

"Pretty words, Aka. But no, I can’t. If we became a team, we would be named Team Fugitive. Don’t you see? You’re on the run now-I don’t have to be. I still have a chance. A slim chance, but it’s better than nothing."

Aka just gaped and his own tears were beginning to form. He wiped them away furiously with the sleeve of his shirt and begged Minori to come with him.

"I can’t." she said forcefully as she spun herself around and ran back toward the lab. She was crying uncontrollably now but Aka didn’t see a thing. He watched as she ran off. He considered chasing her down but then thought against it. He sat down finally noticing the Goldeen that he had dragged up the stairs. It was flopping madly about and Aka had not a Pokeball so he grabbed the fish and headed down toward the docks to let it free.

**

Aka was walking along the shoreline when he heard a familiar sound in the bushes next to him. He pushed away the foliage and found Tane growling at a group of Pokémon, one of which was a Dewgong and her pup. They apparently weren’t listening to him as he grunted and grumbled at them as they ignored him.

Aka was grateful to find out that Tane had escaped and could now keep him company. The other Pokémon were relieved to see Tane leaving with Aka by his side.

"Bulbasaur."

"I’m glad to see you too. Tane? Look. I’m sorry I helped get you into all this and I hope you forgive me for anything I have caused or neglected."

"Bulba?"

"Oy very! I guess you didn’t know huh? Well now you do- I helped Pokenap you. I didn’t know what we were doing at first but now I know everything-too much I guess. I’m on the run Tane. I’m a fugitive now and I’m running from Team Rocket now…do…do you…want to join me?" Aka glanced at Tane who was looking toward the sea. Tane shuddered, thinking about what just happened a few hours ago and about what almost happened…

Tane turned back to Aka and nodded his head joyfully up and down. He jumped into Aka’s unprepared arms and began to lick his face. His eyes beamed at the thought of being with Aka for his whole journey-which wouldn’t have been far if those Pokémon had still ignored him…

**

Minori returned to Sakaki as soon as she found him. He was being carried by a group of men who had his chair held up over their heads. His Persian padding silently behind them. She gracefully pranced up to him showing no emotion once again-hard to do when you just dumped off your boyfriend. She said some hello’s but Sakaki either didn’t hear her or was ignoring her on purpose.

"Sakaki? I found the boy Aka. He’s dead, sir. Drowned." Sakaki ordered the men to halt and turn him around to face the woman. "Dead, you say? Well, well, well. He wasn’t supposed to die yet. I had strong hopes for that one I did."

"Silence! I told you to bring him to me and you failed Minori! And you know what happens when someone fails me!"

"No! You wouldn’t! Y…y…you can’t! Nooooo!"

Sakaki ordered his henchmen to again turn and they gallivanted down the hall toward a less waterlogged room. The whole base had been flooded except for the top most floor and Sakaki had a private jet up on the roof in case of emergency.

Minori screamed at Sakaki and threatened him and cursed him until he was out of sight. Then Minori kneeled unceremoniously on the floor in a heap and started to bawl.

"Noooooo..nooooo..* sniff*..not my family! Noooooooo……."

• * *

James yawned and stretched, staring at the ceiling above. His sheets were tossed askew and he was unbelievably cold. Stepping out of his sleeping bag, James wandered over to mirror. The events of the past couple of days had been telling, his hair was tossed about and he looked as if he hadn’t slept in a week. Pulling on a shirt he wandered into the small bedroom where Arasan was asleep. Stepping to her bed, James began to nudge her gently, but she did not rise. James nudged her again, but she still not rise. Exasperated, James finally shoved her out of the bed.

"Wake up!" Showing all the grace of an elephant on Viagra, Arasan tumbled out of the bed pulling sheets with her.

"What, what is it!? Who are you!?" Standing up, Arasan got a closer look at her tormentor.

"Oh it’s you, what’s your name again?" James smiled broadly and replied simply, "James." Standing regally, Arasan gave James the eye.

"And why did you wake me up?" Her voice was like a razor, it was quickly becoming obvious that Arasan was not a morning person.

"Well I am hungry…" James murmured, seeing Arasan’s eyes widen in obvious annoyance, James quickly added, "…and Jeff is gone." Throwing aside the entangling sheets, Arasan dashed into the room where Jeff had been sleeping.

"Jeff! Jeff!? Where did he go!?" James continued to smile, and began giggling like an idiot, "I have absolutely no idea!" Arasan was not amused.

Jeff wandered through the woods near Lavender Town, it had not been a good morning. He had almost gotten to like Valerie, she had been so innocent. It had been obvious that she had no idea what she was getting into when she had joined Team Rocket, unlike Vail of course. Then there was the Gengar… Removing Helluce’s PokeBall from his belt, Jeff eyed it uneasily. He would be a Gengar pretty soon, what would he do when that happened? Jeff had always had an odd bond with the Haunter, ever since he caught it in Pokémon Tower as a Gastly. Jeff had been trudging along for quite a while when he came upon a small hut. The hut had an uncommon air upon it, it was quite obvious that death had visited the place. Pulling aside the door to the hut, Jeff stepped inside. A young girl lay on the ground, she had been dead for at least a day, the horrors of decay had already set in. Carefully averting his eyes out of respect, stepping into the next room, Jeff noted a disheveled bed and clean shelves. A crook had ransacked the place and killed the occupant. A wave of pity swept Jeff, he could take a good guess as to who was the culprit…

Stepping into the sunlight, James yawned and stretched. It felt good to be alive, Breakfast had been filling and he felt ready to search for Jeff.

"What are you waiting, come on!" Arasan was already down the street, waiting impatiently. "Coming!" James noted that the sun hit her in an especially excellent light, she was quite gorgeous. Smiling, James moved down the street toward his companion.

"What are you smiling for?" Arasan asked simply, raising her eyebrows.

"Um nothing." Turning, Arasan pointed toward a great column of smoke rising into the air.

"See that column of smoke, I think Jeff is there." James stopped and looked, there was indeed a column of smoke rising into the air.

"Hey, what is it with you and Jeff anyway?" Arasan only smiled and continued on her way, "Come on tell l me!" Arasan giggled slightly and began running, "Wouldn’t YOU like to know!" Slightly abashed, James kept pace.

They had been walking for nearly an hour when at last they came upon it’s source, a burning hut. A silhouette was apparent among the flames, upon closer inspection the outline resolved itself into none other than Jeff Hibiki. Running up, Arasan tapped Jeff on the shoulder. Turning, Jeff looked at Arasan in mild surprise.

Turning back to the hut, Jeff said simply, "Valerie is dead." Arasan gasped and covered her mouth, "Who would do such a thing?"

The female harbored no love for Valerie, but she still cared about her as a fellow human being, "The same person who would kill the young woman in this hut. Vail."

Arasan sighed and watched as the smoked slowly curled into the sky, "Why would Vail kill his own sister."

James curled his lip and sneered, "Take a wild guess." Jeff nodded, the hut was nearly burned down to embers. "Come on, lets put out this fire. I know a place where we can go." More than a little curious, the trio headed back to Celadon City.

"See this map?" Holding up a map, Jeff fingered a certain spot.

"There, right off the coast of the Seafoam Islands. A monastery for Pokémon Trainers, it has churned out some of the best trainers in the world. I think that it’s time we go there. We wanna be champs right?" James couldn’t disagree with that.

"Then we gotta go to the monastery. There is a catch though.." Arasan stood up, she had a pretty good idea of what was coming up next.

"It’s an all male monastery." Both James and Jeff turned towards Arasan, who could only look about the room uneasily. "This will be entertaining." Arasan muttered to herself, still looking about for some means of escape. Indeed it would be.

• * *

Jeff sighed as they traveled through Lavender then following the docks down towards Fuschia City. Jeff was trailing behind Arasan and James who were mad at each other for some reason. Maybe it was the fact that it was an all male monastery that ticked Arasan off…or maybe it was the fact that she’d have

to borrow James’ clothes if she wanted to sneak in. After what seemed like

days, they reached Fuschia.

"Damn, that was a long, boring walk…" James spat as he sat down on the ground to rest. Arasan sat down but Jeff just leaned against a tree. James wondered why Jeff wasn’t tired. Maybe something happened at the tower and with Vail? He didn’t want to ask knowing it could bring on the full rage of Jeff,

remembered the oak tree in Cerulean.

"I’m going to try and book us a boat so we can get to the monastery." Jeff suddenly said walking off, leaving the two others alone. Jeff walked to the pier and asked a man in blue overalls and with a sailor’s cap on about renting a boat…

"What do you mean there are no boats left?!" Jeff howled as he slammed his fist against a wooden post on the pier. Jeff listened to how some kind of monster was demolishing every boat that got near Seafoam Islands. He suggested that if he wanted to go, he’d better ride a water Pokémon. Jeff sighed as he

walked back to where he had left the two friends…

"No, you aren’t borrowing any of my clothes!" James yelled at Arasan. The female fumed as she yelled back that she needed to get into the monastery. But James argued that she should borrow Jeff’s clothes. Jeff finally snapped…

"WILL YOU TWO STOP YOUR ARGUING?! I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS!" Jeff yelled

as the two immediately shut up and looked at Jeff with looks that said "I’m sorry." Jeff took a minute to calm himself then began to speak again.

"We can’t get a boat. Apparently every boat that goes near Seafoam is destroyed by some kind of monster…So we have two choices, One stay here until the monster goes away, or two try and have water Pokémon take us out there."

"Or three, go and catch the monster!" James butted in as Arasan and Jeff both gave him disagreeing looks. James gulped. "Or not…I vote option two."

"I vote option two as well…" Jeff said as he grabbed Mist’s Pokéball and smiled a bit as James got the ball with Seel in it. Arasan frowned though, she only had Glacier, and as everyone knows, Birds can’t swim.

"What’s wrong…?" James asked as Arasan frowned more.

"Well, I only have Glacier, and birds can’t swim…" Arasan said, still frowning but Jeff chuckled. "What’s so funny?!"

"The obvious…birds can fly! Just ride on Glacier’s back! You’ll get there before either of us if you fly there." Jeff said with a big smile on his face as he had probably just solved their troubles of getting there.

"But Glacier isn’t strong enough to support me! He just learned Ice Beam and can barely use it…I don’t think he could…" Arasan said, frowning again but Jeff just rolled his eyes.

"We won’t know until we try…Let’s go!" Jeff said, dashing towards the pier. He released Mist and leaped into the water, Mist following. "Mist, you think you can support me for awhile? We have to get to the monastery by Seafoam Islands, Okay?" The Vaporeon nodded and began to swim off. James

leaped onto the Seel’s back and began to swim after Jeff. Arasan sighed and released Glacier.

"Glacier, you have to be able to carry me to Seafoam Islands…Don’t rush yourself, just take your time…If you get tired just let me know by calling out okay?" Arasan said softly after letting the Articuno out of its ball. The bird responded with a nod as Arasan climbed onto its back and the bird began to fly. In no time she had caught up with Jeff.

• * *

Blu climbed to the top level, trying to find the highest perch she could. She was gonna catch that Articuno no matter what! She tied her hair back and returned Miller and Ripley to their Pokéballs. She wanted to be as quiet as possible.

Eventually she made it to a high ledge, only through fastidious climbing. Ahead she saw something she never though she’d see; an Articuno sleeping in it’s nest. She froze and contemplated what to do. Throw the Pokéball? Battle it?? She decided for a compromise. She threw a Pokéball at it. As she suspected, the Pokéball shook once, and the Articuno popped out, furious. It cawed loudly and charged at her, just as she hoped it would. Now she had a battle!

"GO – Crash!" Blu said throwing the Pokéball. Crash appeared and bucked. Articuno screamed in rage and dove towards Crash with it’s beak.

"Crash, get outta the way! And watch out, don’t fall off the ledge!" Crash reared and turned to face the bird. The bird dove, and crash turned around and kicked at it. His diamond hard hooves smashed towards the bird’s face, but the Articuno veered and got struck in the wing instead. It spun, but regained equilibrium in time to be caught by Crash’s Fire Spin attack. The whirls of fire wrapped around it and began to take totals on it’s stamina. Blu waited till the bird faltered then threw the empty Pokéball. Simultaneously she unhooked her diving net and tossed it beneath the device. The Pokéball rocked, and pinged as it fell into the net. Blu reeled in the net and hefted the Pokéball out. Now she was

happy. She hooked the Articuno to her belt, along with Crash’s Pokéball. The cave was dark now and she was going to see if she could find that Gyarados!

She made it to the ground floor. Then she realized that if she was going to battle Gyarados with Arty, the ice bird would need to be in top shape. She summoned the bird, who didn’t look all that well.

"Now there, hon," she soothed, taking out some Pokémon food from her backpack, "Have some of this." The bird tried to glare at her but didn’t retain enough strength, so it nibbled on the food.

By the burning light of Crash’s mane and tail, Arty was eventually almost back to normal. He’d need to visit a PokéCenter before he’d be in top fighting condition, but with his ice attacks Gyarados would be no match for it.

Blu tossed a rock into the now dark and murky waters. It rippled. She took a bigger rock and heaved it into the water. Crash whinnies worriedly and sought higher grounds. Arty had found a perch on Blu’s shoulder. The female wondered why Pokémon couldn’t resist her shoulder.

There was a monstrous groaning that echoed menacingly in the caves. The interrupted silence was spooky. The groaning was scary. It sounded like some evil ghost yelling at her. The darkness around the small group made it worse.

"Go, Burn, Miller, Ripley, Brooke!" Blu said. All her Pokémon exchanged glances. She turned to them. "We’re gonna take it on guys, you should be more than a match. Arty, shoot a bit of an Ice Beam into the water, stir him up a bit."

Arty nodded wearily. The Ice froze a small portion of the dark water. Slowly the waves began to roll, and Blu bit her lip as a huge pair of yellow eyes rose into the water ten feet away from her. The pupils

widened, then contracted as it adjusted to the light. The fins on it’s head dripped with water. Blu swallowed and stood straight. She’d seen scarier beneath Cinnabar Island, she wasn’t going to let this Pokémon

scare her. Pokémon would not scare her, she had vowed when she was young, nothing would scare her. The vow had stayed all this time and now was not

a good time to break a promise.

"Ice Beam, Arty," Blu commanded. Arty Ice Beamed again. The Gyrados shook off the effects, and roared, raising it’s head into the air. It was huge! It’s gaping maw dripped with seaweed and water and a spray of water came down as it roared. "ARTY! Ice Beam again!!" Blu yelled over the noise. She refused to give ground. Arty obliged, with a bit of enthusiasm this time. Miller was barking. The noise was astounding. The Gyarados groaned as the Ice Beam hit it. The water was caught midway on it’s retreat back to the cavern lake. A frost covered the Gyarados and it creaked as it moved. Blu threw a Pokéball at it. The Gyarados dissolved into energy. The Pokéball sank to the bottom of the pool.

But Gyarados didn’t come back up.

Blu yawned. She blinked. Of course she had chosen a sleeping spot in the middle of a sunray. Crash and Ripley were sleeping around her; Miller was no where to be found. The others had been returned. She sleepily looked for her Ninetales. She heard a pattering, and Miller appeared, carrying something in his mouth.

"Oh God Miller, what do you have now?" Blu asked, disgusted. She looked closer as Miller brought the dead fish and dropped it next to her hand. He wagged his tails happily.

"Thanks, you’ve ruined my appetite," Blu said, slumping back against the rock she was leaning against. Then she remembered! Hurriedly, she walked to the edge of the water and looked down. The water was clear again, and something white and red glittered at the bottom of the pool. She stepped

into the shallow ledge, and then felt the current tug at her legs. Again with the diving, she reasoned.

She found the perch where she had previously dived, and took no hesitations or grace, but simply jumped off as soon as she got up. The water was a bit chillier this morning.

Her momentum carried her about ten feet above the Pokéball. She waited for her ears to adjust. She dived down with steady strokes, and grabbed the Pokéball. Then she round a good hold on the side of the pool and climbed out. And now was the moment of truth.

"Pokéball, go," she said quietly, tossing the Pokéball near the edge of the water.

The cave was suddenly filled with the bulk of the Gyarados.

"Umm…. Okay, Gyarados, return!" She said. She didn’t really want to see much of the Gyarados till she was sure she had it under control…

"I think we’re done here," she said to her Pokémon. "Let’s head out. Tally ho!"

• * *

"Why didn’t I try this sooner!?" James wondered aloud. Clinging to Seel’s neck, James whooped as the Pokémon playfully leapt in and out of the water. Just above him, Arasan and her Articuno drifted gracefully through the sky and Jeff seemed to cut through the water effortlessly with his Vaporeon.

"I wonder what this ‘monster’ is? I bet I could catch it!" James crowed as the giddiness of the salty sea air filled his head. Jeff and Arasan exchanged looks.

"The way is was described, it could probably catch you." Arasan chuckled. "Oh bring him on!" With a loud bark of agreement, James’ Seel plunged ahead. "Hold up James!" Jeff called, but James was already out of earshot.

"Come on Mist, let’s go!" Powering forward, Mist made haste to catch up to the fast departing Seel. Tapping Freezer, Arasan leaned down towards the Ice Bird’s head. "Come on Freezer, you catch up with those two." The bird gasped loudly and attempted to power forward, but only succeeded in dipping near the ocean. "Don’t worry about it Freezer, I have an idea." Arasan grinned triumphantly.

The impromptu race dragged into the evening hours. Framed by the brilliant colors of the setting sun, Jeff and James spurred their Pokémon on to greater efforts.

"Come on Seel, faster!" Looking towards James, Jeff grimaced, "Faster Mist!" We’re almost there!" It was true for land was becoming apparent. With an extra burst of energy, Mist pulled ahead. That was it, with a single spectacular leap the Seel began to grow stronger and sleeker, the tail extended and a small stubby horn pierced it’s head. When it again hit the water, the Seel was no longer as it had been.

"Seel, you’re a Dewgong!" The Dewgong ignored James, with a great push from it’s might fins the Dewgong swept past Mist and hit the hot sands of the small island with a resounding whoosh. "That’s it! I won!" Both James and Dewgong celebrated loudly with a small jig upon their newly claimed space.

Soon after James’ unexpected victory, Jeff stepped beach with a thoroughly exhausted Vaporeon in his arms.

"Wow, your Seel already evolved. It must be quite advanced for it’s level." James grinned happily, "That’s because I’m her trainer." Jeff frowned and dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand, "Hardly. It evolved because I gave it to you. Everybody knows that Pokémon grow faster when traded." James smiled and made it obvious of what he considered about that particular notion. Looking about, a stray though abruptly entered into James’ head like some sort of evil parasite.

"Where’s Arasan?" As if in response, Arasan called from the bushes, "Right here, what took you so long?" Both James and Jeff gaped as Arasan stepped out from the foliage and proffered some fruit. "Freezer and I got kinda hungry waiting for you." Jeff twisted his lip while James grinned foolishly, "How did you get there." Arasan smiled and cocked her head,

"Agility. Handy little move wouldn’t you say?" Trainer and Pokémon groaned aloud.

"So exactly where is this monastery anyway?" James moaned as he pulled another bur from his shirt, "Well according to the map. It’s right there!" Following the course of Jeff’s finger, both James and Arasan looked up to see a structure rising from the surrounding the jungle. As the trio moved forward, the features of the monastery began to resolve themselves. It was a relatively square building with heavy sandstone walls surrounding the main compound.

"Okay Arasan, time to change." Jeff grinned evilly as he reached for James’ pack.

"I feel like such an idiot." Arasan cried as James and Jeff put the finishing the final touches on Arasan’s getup. Clad in a heavy shirt and Jeans with her hair tied up inside a great hat that James had won at the Viridian carnival, Arasan looked to be some sort of wilderness freak.

"Okay, one last thing." Stepping forward, James stuck a faux beard upon Arasan’s face.

"Aha! There we are, she’s a man alright!" Both James and Jeff stepped back to survey their handiwork.

"You know, with that outfit on she kind of looks like my Dad." James noted off hand.

"Okay that’s it! Lets just knock on the door!!!" Arasan cried miserably. Turning about, Jeff calmly knocked on the heavy wooden door. A moment later a severe looking young man in a monk’s habit pulled aside the door.

"Yes? What can I do for you?" Jeff smiled and pointed to his two friends, "I’m Jeff Hibiki and these are my friends James Oake and um, Stan."

The monk calmly surveyed the three bedraggled travelers and raised an eyebrow, "Are you a Pokémon trainer?"

Jeff smiled and nodded vigorously, "Yes."

The monk smiled in return and pulled open the door further, "Then why didn’t you say so? Our doors are open to all Pokémon trainers!"

Stepping in, Jeff nodded his thanks. A moment later he was followed by Arasan and James. Stepping into the main training compound, the three surveyed the area. It was a relatively small compound, and only a few shrubs decorated the otherwise barren landscape.

"In this monastery, we eat, we sleep, and we train. Now, please remove your clothing." The monk made the request so matter of factly that it took a moment to sink in. "WHAT!?" James, Jeff and Arasan cried all at the same time.

"Oh, I’m sorry. I meant take them off in your cell, you may find the robes our brotherhood within. You will also be placed with another trainee, only recently arrived. Ah there he is. Brother Vail, might you assist these young trainers with their duties?"

The trio gasped in succession, "Vail!" Standing forth, the Team Rocket member threw off the hood to his habit. "Well now, it looks like a happy reunion does it not?"

• * *

Blu began the journey out of Seafoam. It was tough, but not too tough. The rocks were slippery and she had to return Ripley and Miller to their Pokéballs. She didn’t want to have to worry about them. She made her way up and down ladders, swimming deep under the water to make it across the strong current. She looked to count how many Pokéballs she had left. Then she considered how many Pokémon there were that she wanted.

So instead of leaving, she put together a makeshift fishing pole and settled down for a long, relaxing evening. Tomorrow she’d set off for the Safari Zone.

• * *

Aka and Tane had traveled along the shoreline toward some docks they could see in the distance. The sails of bunches of sailboats could be seen hiding behind the dunes. When they arrived at the docks they searched for a sailor or someone who could give them a lift across the water. But no one was in sight. Which was odd.

"Uh…Tane…where the heck is everybody?"

"Bulba?"

Aka was puzzled. There were gads of people that flocked to Cinnabar Island every day but there was no one. No one at all.

"This is spooky…" said Aka cringing slightly. Then he regained composer, "But I’m not one bit afraid. I’m a Rocket after all. And Rockets aren’t afraid of anything."

"Bulbasaur, Bulba." (Except for drowning.)

Aka of course couldn’t understand his pal so he just looked about and started hiking off to the edge of the docks.

"Maybe we can see if we can "borrow" one of these boats. Look for a boat with the keys in the ignition Tane."

Tane walked along the docks searching for whatever Aka had meant by "keys" and "ignition" which he hoped he would figure out, and stumbled upon a strange discovery. It was small and white and was bent into the neatest shape. He picked his treasure up and waddled back to Aka who was trying desperately to jam open a cabin’s door to a yacht.

"Bulba?" questioned Tane while holding up his treasure so Aka could see.

"No, Tane, not a plastic spoon. Keys."

"Bulba?" he questioned again after bringing Aka back something else.

"No, Tane, not seaweed. Keys."

"Bulba?"

"No, not that either. I’m beginning to wonder if you even know what keys are." Said Aka after Tane brought him back a large fishing net. "Though that could come in handy." Aka pocketed it-YES HE POCKETED IT!

"Bulba?"

"No, Tane, not— KEYS! Yes! Where did you get them?"

"Bulba." Tane pointed to the row of boats.

Aka fell onto his back. Then he jumped up. "You do know which boat you got those from right?"

"Bulba…" Tane cowered from Aka as he noticed Aka was grinding his teeth.

"You-don’t-know-which-boat?" said Aka silkily and slowly. "There’s about fifty boats at this whole dock Tane!! How am I supposed to know which boat you got those keys from!?"

Tane jumped back in fear and as he did he let go off the keys and they bounced off of the dock and into the drink.

Aka’s eyes went wide. "Maybe I should’ve left you at the lab! You’re nothing but trouble!"

Tane’s eyes glazed over and began to wiggle, then he burst into tears. They ran down his wide cheeks and fell plop, plop onto the rotten wood of the docks. He turned and started to sadly walk away when Aka realized his mistake and scooped the poor Bulbasaur up into his arms. He nuzzled the Bulbasaur and Tane stopped crying. He even rubbed Tane’s bulb.

Tane saw that Aka was just a little bit frustrated and didn’t mean to yell so he hopped out of Aka’s arms and stood tall ready for another assignment-vowing to himself that he wouldn’t screw up the job this time. They both walked along the docks again searching for anything to help them escape the island when Aka noticed a corral at the far end. A corral filled with water and water Pokémon!

"Yah! We’re saved Tane! We can just glide all the way to Fuchsia on the back of one of these Pokémon!" exclaimed Aka. "Now, which one should we "borrow" for our trip?"

"Bulba!" said Tane as he pointed out a Seel.

"Too small."

"Saur!" he said again as he pointed out a Tentacruel.

"Too big. Hey wait! There!" and Aka pointed to a slug like thing with a large bony shell draped across it’s back. "It’s perfect!"

Aka and Tane strode up to the Lampras while pretending to examine the "magnificent" shell on it’s back. It was a glossy silver Lampras with a pearly white shell. It’s eyes widened as it saw the two strangers on the docks trapsin’ towards it. It tried rearing up in the water when it saw Aka pull out a pocket knife but the suction on it’s stomach held it down-and so did the ropes that bore it to the dock.

The knife glinted off the sunlight and flashed in the Lampras’ eyes and it stunned him for a second. A second too long. As soon as Aka noticed the great beast wasn’t aware of anything he hopped over the rope railing and jumped onto the Lampras’ shell.

The Lampras, not entirely sure of what was going on, cried out. Tane was abashed at Red for wanting to steal the Pokémon instead of really borrowing it but didn’t argue with him at the moment and jumped over the railing and onto the Lampras in one leap.

As Tane was making his leap he noticed that tons of people were streaming out of a building close by and began yelling obscenities at the pair-now a trio.

"Kuso! I wondered where all the people were! It’s time to make our move, Tane, and FAST!"

Aka cut the rope that bound the Lampras to the dock in two places being able to slip a noose around the Lampras’ muzzle and steered the jittery beast out onto the open seas.

Soon the people on the docks were out of sight and Aka and Tane were heading toward the rising sun in the east riding their new Pokémon.

"Ugh! I forgot to buy PokeBalls again! I won’t be able to keep the Lampras!"

The Lampras was glad-for the moment at least.

• * *

"He’s mine…" Jeff growled as he gritted his teeth and took a defensive fighting stance. He couldn’t believe that Vail would have to guts to show up here, in a sacred place. "You have a lot of courage, you killed two innocent girls and dare to enter a sacred place like this…" Jeff’s hands burned wanting to strike Vail out right that instance. Jeff rushed towards Vail but about four monks held Jeff back.

"Brothers, lock this boy up, he’s clearly delusional." Vail said as the monks pushed Jeff into a stairwell and into a cell. Jeff groaned as they locked the door. Vail had known that if they’d show up that he’d make sure Jeff couldn’t hurt him in anyway. Jeff sighed and sat in the corner and closed his eyes. It’d be awhile until they let him out, if ever.

"I wonder where Jeff is…" James said to himself as he had finished changing into his robe. His mind wandered as to what Jeff was doing but he soon fell asleep from the fatigue that was endowed on him from the walk to the monastery.

"What’s that?!" James shouted as a loud clanging awoke him. He opened up the door to his room and peered about, apparently six of the monks were doing something near the end of the hallway, but he couldn’t tell what. Suddenly he heard yell scream as the wall at the end of the hallway shattered and the monks ran through it, after Jeff.

"Where are my Pokéballs?" James said looking around the room, they were gone, again. Vail was up to his old tricks. James frowned and decided to go and find Arasan. First off his changed into his normal clothes and then went to find her. He find her in the next hallway. She changed into

the clothes she snuck in with on and followed James, who went out the way Jeff went.

"Vail…" Jeff said coldly as he walked into the central chamber and saw the member of Team Rocket sitting on a pillow. Jeff, luckily had not been stripped of his Pokémon and was ready to take Vail on. Suddenly, three monks came in carrying bucks of water.

"Splash the demon with holy water!" Jeff stood there and waited for the water to hit him, knowing it would have no effect but suddenly, Helluce’s ball opened and the ghost appeared. Jeff gasped as the ghost blocked the way to Jeff as the holy water was thrown and it splashed the ghost. Suddenly Helluce began to glow black…

"NO, Helluce! Don’t evolve! Please…don’t!" Jeff cried out, tears running down his cheeks. He couldn’t believe this was happening. His best friend was turning on him…The image of the Gengar from the tower reappeared in his mind, causing more tears to run down his face. Then the remembrance of the young girl that Vail killed in the forest hut…Jeff turned around to Vail who had a small smile on his face. He liked watching Jeff’s friends, one by one, leaving him. Suddenly the evolution was complete, Helluce was a Gengar.

"Vail…I challenge you…" Jeff choked out. Vail nodded and sent out a Sandslash. Jeff let Mist out but he watched as the Sandslash wrecked havoc on the extremely weakened Vaporeon. Then Jeff sent out his Bellsprout.

"Whip the slash!" Jeff choked out, unable to look behind him where Helluce was confusing the monks with false images and other things. The plant grew an extra vine and whipped the Sandslash into submission. Vail then sent out Muk. The goo slimed the Plant and it instantly fainted.

Jeff the sent out Vulpix, only his Machop and Hyler were left…

"Vulpix, Flamethrower!" Jeff said, almost recovering from the turn of events. The Vulpix’s eyes glow a reddish color as it released a barrage of flames that engulfed the pile of goo. Vail sent out his Primeape and watched as it beat the Vulpix to a pulp in a matter of moments.

"Hyler!!!" Jeff screamed as the Marowak was released from his Pokéball. "Hyler, rage!" Jeff commanded Hyler, Hyler smashed its bone into the Primeape but it had little effect. Hyler began to growl then glow with a blue

aura, then the Primeape kicked Hyler into the air, and caught him.

Suddenly the Marowak wasn’t in the ape’s hands, it was through the wall.

"Machop, GOOO!" Jeff screamed as loud as he could as he let loose his Machop, which was pumped and ready for action.

"Machop, Seismic Toss!" The fighting monster picked up the ape and threw it but it did little

damage.

"Primeape, Fury Swipes!" The Primeape swiped and clawed the Machop into submission in a matter of minutes…Jeff sighed as Vail stood up.

"Now, you will never be better than me…because your life will be over…" Vail said, with a twisted grin on his face. Helluce had finally made the other monks retreat and watched what was happening with Vail and his master.

"Say hello to Rania and Valerie for me…" Vail drew a knife from his inner robe and dashed at Jeff…

"GENGAR!" Helluce screamed as psychic energy crashed into both Jeff and Vail. Within a matter of seconds both humans had collapsed into a deep sleep. Helluce floated over to Jeff and made Jeff’s sleeping body float in midair as he floated out the door with Jeff in tow.

• * *

James gasped and awoke. "Where am I?" Arasan looked at James forlornly and climbed from her perched on the tiny barred window near the rear of the cell. Tapping his omnipresent pouch, James checked for his PokeBalls. As expected, they were gone. Gazing into the darkened sandstone hallway, James moaned softly.

"What happened" Arasan sighed and gazed out the window once again, "We were ambushed by some monks when we were chasing after Jeff. You put up a pretty good fight though." Reaching over, Arasan patted James’s leg. Without warning, James yelped like a puppy and stumbled backward into the hay pile at the rear corner of the cell.

"What is it? Can’t resist my charms James?" Arasan inquired wryly, but James was less concerned with Arasan’s purported charms. "Look behind you, right there!" Turning, Arasan gaped openly. What James had said was true, a pair of eyes and a large grinning mouth hovered near the exit. "Gengar, Gengar!" It laughed, James hid his eyes and Arasan instinctively drew backward. Helluce, is that you?" Materializing further, the ghost Pokémon drifted forward as if attacked by strings and laughed. "Where’s Jeff!?’ Arasan demanded, pointing furiously.

"Geng, Geng, Gengar!" Flying upward, the Gengar continued to laugh maniacally. "Take us to him Helluce." Grinning, Helluce easily dismantled the bars allowing the exit of the two humans.

"Come on!" Arasan cried. James hesitated a moment. Looking down, Arasan reached out her hand. "Let’s find Jeff."

Slowly the pair made their way down the great labyrinthine hallways, always was Helluce in the lead. On occasion, Arasan and James ran into a monk, but Helluce always stuck him down as if he were a pin. At last, the Helluce led the unfortunate pair of trainers to a small rounded chamber where 2 monks lay, and more importantly Jeff. Dashing to the small unmoving bundle that was Jeff Hibiki, Arasan began to pummel him desperately, praying for his awakening. At last, to the tune of Arasan’s prayer Jeff awoke. "Ow." Jeff whispered solemnly. With that proclamation his eyes began to rove about the chamber ceaselessly, moving about they turned from Arasan to Jeff and then at last Helluce.

"Gengar?" The ghost called plaintively, noting his master’s distress. "Return Helluce." Jeff whispered as he raised his PokeBall, with a flash and a bang the Gengar was drawn into it’s PokeBall. Stepping over to James, Jeff took hold of his shoulder and proffered Helluce’s PokeBall.

"Take it James, I can no longer be Helluce’s trainer." Jeff said, his eyes burrowing into James’s skull.

"But Jeff, I can’t. He saved all of us, you and Helluce are buds.." Jeff’s grip tightened and he repeated the same tortured demand, "Take it. Take it now." Looking down, James at last took the small energy sphere. "Alright, alright I’ll take Helluce. But I won’t keep him, he’s your Pokémon." Jeff nodded, "So be it." It was obvious to both James and Arasan that Jeff did not mean it.

Vail stepped into the grand audience chamber at the top level of the monastery and looked about. A few monks stood before a large computer coordinating with security in the hunt for the fugitive trainers. Stepping forward, Vail took hold of one monk. "Samuel, what is your report?" Removing the hood, the Rocket nodded to his superior. "Sir, the runaways are making their way towards the South Gate." Vail nodded and stroked his chin, "Very well then Samuel. Seal off the compound, make sure that nobody escapes alive." Samuel bowed, "As you command Vail." Vail smiled and released the Rocket, "You have done well Samuel, Sakakai will reward you well. I will return shortly to Cinnabar to confer with him, but for now I have some unfinished business. Continue my friend." Taking hold of Samuel, Vail pulled him into a brief embrace and turned about. "When I go to meet with the boss I want their heads as trophies Samuel."

Arasan, Jeff and James peered around the corner to the monastery. It was an unusually dreary day about the island. The weather did not matter, the South Gate stood open before the trio, begging to be utilized.

"Alright, we go all at once. The monks aren’t watching." James and Arasan nodded, but before they could dash, the gate began to close.

"Move!" Together, the three unfortunates made a run for the rapidly closing gate. Jeff was the first to arrive, blocking the area with his bulk he held the gate open while Arasan ducked through.

"Come on James hurry!" Finally noticing the three fugitives, the monks had turned and began making chase. A moment later several loud pops could be heard. They’re shooting at me! James realized frightened. One monk took careful aim and shot Jeff in the arm, shoving him back and closing the gate. James was trapped.

Jeff stumbled back and gasped in pain as the gate closed.

"No! James, we have to get him!" Arasan took Jeff and began pulling him back, "Are you crazy Jeff!? They’re coming for us, we have to run!" Taking the kicking, struggling Jeff by the arms, Arasan dragged her friend down the steep mountain towards the beaches.

James slumped down in the darkness of the monastery and choked. He had barely made it out of the compound back to the safety of the building, he knew that monks were after him. Fighting hard, James resisted the urge to weep from the fright. Pulling himself up, the young Pokémon trainer began to wander the halls, desperately looking for a way to exit successfully. At last he came to the circular chamber in which they had discovered Arasan. Stepping inward, James saw that the two monks were gone and a second door had opened on the other side.

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light surrender now or prepare to fight." James spun, Vail’s mocking voice seemed to reverberate about the enclosed chamber with no clear source.

"Well, Little James Oake. You stopped Valerie and I so many times, I remembered when you stood before us in Pewter City and declared the Pokémon League champion in the making. And look at you! You are no better then the rodent that you carry, you are pathetic." Turning angrily, James cried into the darkness of the rooms beyond.

"Murderer! You killed so many innocent people, you can’t call yourself a human being much less a Pokémon Trainer!" Abruptly, James felt a terrible shove in the back that sent him sprawling to the floor. Before him stood Vail, he had shed his robes for the traditional Team Rocket uniform with his ever-present beret.

"Well then little boy, we shall see. Primeape, come forth!" Stepping back, James twisted his lip and removed a PokeBall from his pouch.

"I’ll show you! Okay Charmander, time for action!" Materializing, the two Pokémon glared at each other.

"Charmander, Flamethrower!" The fire lizard belted out a gout of flame but the Primeape easily avoided it. Rushing forward, the Primeape began pummeling the Charmander with a devastating array of punches. At last the Charmander could take it no longer and collapsed.

"Return Charmander, go Kadabra!" Stepping forward, the Kadabra raised it’s spoon menacingly. The Primeape attempted to rush forward once again, but the Kadabra opened it’s arm and a Psi Beam came forth, ripping the Primeape’s mind apart.

"Go Cubone!" The Cubone came forth and wasting no time swung it’s bone, hitting the Kadabra between it’s eyes. Gasping and stumbling, the Kadabra pulled back. Taking the advantage, the Cubone leapt forward and finished the Kadabra with a tremendous blow to the head.

"Nice going Kadabra, return! Your turn Dewgong!" The Ice Seel leapt forward, "Aurora Beam!" James cried, the Dewgong fired forth a freezing Aurora Beam but the Cubone weathered the blow and leapt onto the Dewgong’s back.

"Choke it with your bone Cubone!" Vail yelled triumphantly. Taking it’s club, the Cubone began to slowly strangle the Dewgong. "Return Dewgong!" Vail sneered and pulled back his Cubone, This game grows tiresome." Stepping forth, Vail seized James by the shirt and slammed the boy against the wall.

"This time you won’t escape." Pulling out a small ornate dagger, Vail plunged the weapon into the youngster’s stomach. Pulling out the dagger, Vail allowed James to drop to the floor.

"When you arrive in hell boy, tell them Vail sent you." Laughing, Vail turned about and departed the chamber. James slumped against the wall and felt his stomach, removing his hand he saw the blood and near gagged. Slowly collapsing, James slid to the floor. Just before he passed out from blood loss, James thought he saw a black shadow fall across his face.

"Gengar!" It roared. As he closed his eyes James couldn’t help but wonder if Jeff had perhaps been right.

• * *

"I shouldn’t have left him, "Jeff sobbed. Arasan blinked and again dabbed at the wound on Jeff shoulder.

"Quiet now Jeff, there was nothing that you could do." The two Lavender Town natives hugged and swept. They had not know James long, but they had both developed a fondness for the young Pokémon trainer. As if to reflect their black mood, the sky had deepened into an iron gray and begun to weep tears of grief in the form of sharp, cleansing rain.

"I’m not dead." Jef and Arasan looked up sharply, nearly knocking their head about the tree behind them at the same time. So it was, James stood before Jeff and Arasan alive and well. His normally sharp clothing had become tattered and his hair was tussled. Even stranger was the impenetrable grin that he bore, a grin that seemed to hide seething anger and pain beneath it’s surface. But it was the eyes that particularly alerted the pair. They were burning, inhuman eyes. Chuckling, James stepped forward and

proffered his hand. "Yes, I’m back."

• * *

The morning was damp. Wetter than Blu had wanted it. Her clothes and everything outside the waterproof backpack she has was soaked. Including the smelly wet Ninetales curled up next to her.

The sun wasn’t up yet and the caves were almost deathly silent. Blu packed up her stuff and released Crash. The fire horse was nervous around the water, but obliged to help dry them off. Blu made a makeshift torch with the flame from its mane, then let it return to the safety of its Pokéball. She continued on, and found the exit to the caves. The sun was rising now, and it was beautiful. She summoned Brooke and headed off East.

• * *

Vail relaxed in his seat and reflected on the events of the past

few days. An innocent girl, dead at his feet because she had gotten in his way. His own sister, helpless and begging for mercy was now dead. And now James Oake, the trainer that he had vowed to kill was dead as

well, he had thrust the knife himself. He had performed many atrocities in the name of Team Rocket and Sakaki, and now the payoff was at hand.

"Sir, we are preparing for descent." Strapping himself in, Vail prepared to meet his boss in person. His boss… and his Father.

"I am here to see Sakakai." Vail glowered at the unfortunate Rocket henchman. Fidgeting nervously, the Rocket stared up at the dark, imposing figure presented before him. "I’m sorry, but the boss see’s nobody." Sneering, Vail shoved the unfortunate out of the way and thrust open the large double doors before him. The Boss was not to be seen, a great shadow had been cast on the area normally occupied by

Sakakai. "You are late." Vail dropped to his knee and bowed his head,

"Apologies Father, I had unfinished business." A moment later the shadow was lifted as an unidentified light source appeared. Daring to look up, Vail spotted the ever present Persian but Sakakai refused to reveal himself.

"Personal business does not come before Team Rocket. Make your report Vail." Standing, Vail was still careful to keep his eyes averted. "Sir, the monastery action was a success. All the brothers and trainers inhabiting the establishment were," Vail paused a moment for effect, "eliminated and replaced with our own agents. We have captured several rare breeds of Pokémon, including I believe a Dragonite." Vail smiled recalling that battle, the trainer had fought furiously but ultimately succumbed.

"Excellent, you have served me well Vail. Continue to serve me well, and you shall not face my unpleasant side." Vail was forced to take a deep breath, he was fully aware of what Sakakai was capable of.

"Yes sir." Unexpectedly, Sakakai’s chair spun and Vail was forced to look upon the face of the his Father.

"I have another assignment for you." Vail looked down, mildly surprise.

"Another mission?" Sakakai nodded. "Two days ago one of our agents was believed to have been killed in an attempt to go rogue." Vail remembered that, their laboratory on Cinnabar Island had been completely flooded and several rare Pokémon specimens had broken free or drowned.

"I do not believe that he is dead, his body was never found and the agent who reported his death has since vanished. I want him found. Do not kill him, bring him to me personally. He must be brought as an example for the family." Vail bowed, then paused. "Sir, what is this rogue’s name?" Sakakai smiled thinly and stood, "His name is Aka."

• * *

The next morning everyone was refreshed. Blu changed into clean clothes, and released Crash, Ripley and Miller. Miller and Ripley usually stayed out, but Crash wasn’t really very good around other people. But he was a great horse and made good time.

As Crash aimlessly meandered around the vacant areas of the isolated Fuschia City, Blu looked at her waterproof map. Miller trotted alongside Crash, getting into anything and everything he found remotely

interesting.

"Says here," Blu said, "That the Gym Leader her lives in some sort of ninja mansion. Sounds like a shut-in to me." She grinned. "Well, I suppose we could try for a badge before we go on to the Safari Zone," she reasoned. She took a hold on Crash’s fiery mane, and guided him down the

left road.

Soon the Gym came in sight; amidst a semi-dense forest. Blu followed the path that led to the front doors; from here Crash returned to his Pokéball. She cautiously knocked on the door. It opened without warning, and she carefully stepped inside.

On the inside was a hallway, and she walked slowly down the hall. Miller, always the courageous, frolicked down the hall, oblivious to any potential dangers. Incidentally, he was the first to hit the invisible

wall.

He fox-grinned, shaking himself, and tried again, with the same results. After a few times of trying to go through the seemingly empty hallway, Blu couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Miller wagged his tails, pleased that he had invoked some response from her, but stopped trying

the wall. Blu made it to where the invisible wall was, and examined it. It was impenetrable; some sort of practical joke, she guessed. She pushed on the walls around, and finally found a trap door. There was another hall. Miller was only too happy to scout ahead and identify the walls.

Eventually she made it to a bigger room. There was no one there.

"Heeelllooooo-oooooooo…" Blu called. Suddenly a shadowy figure appeared in front of her. He knelt in a dark blue robe.

"Born in darkness, living in darkness… That is the lift of a ninja," he said. Then he stood, and made a sign with his hands.

"Uh-huh. Okay. Hey, I’m kinda in a hurry…"

"Grasshopper has little sense, but big mouth," the ninja said. "So you wish to challenge me in a battle of Pokémon?"

"Uhm… Yeaaah…"

"Very well. Go: Venemoth!"

The ninja-man tossed a Pokéball into the air. Out came a huge flying moth. Blu considered.

"Alright, take him on, Miller!"

Miller snapped to attention, the puppy-playfulness vanishing from his eyes. He squared off with the Venemoth, gauging it.

"Venemoth; Stun Spore!"

Miller was smart enough to evade. He leapt around and landed near the back of the moth.

"Miller, use quick attack! Pull it down!"

Miller nodded, and quickly leapt onto the moth’s back. As Venemoth fell down, it struggled, and tried a psywave. The psychic energy was useless, as Miller was behind it.

"Miller, burn it! I don’t care how, just do!"

Miller grinned, and used a fire-spin. He jumped back as the fire did it’s work. The Venemoth flapped on the ground, but then stopped

altogether.

"Venemoth, return! Go, Weezing!" The ninja-man didn’t hesitate and sent out another poison Poké.

"Miller, Fire BLAST!" Blu said, risking it. Miller began to glow, then crackle with fire energy. The Weezing floated, oblivious to any danger. It groaned a bit.

"Weezing-Sludge attack!"

It was too late. Miller’s eyes glowed. He opened his mouth and let a huge blast of fire that engulfed Weezing. The flames, miraculously, did not set fire to anything but the Weezing. The Poisonous Poké sank lower in the air, weakened.

"Quick attack, Miller!"

Weezing let out a small glop of sludge, aimed at Miller. It hit the fox’s left forearm, but Miller jumped anyways, ignoring the burning of the sludge. He jumped onto the Weezing, and bit it savagely.

The Weezing was called back, but Miller’s paw was damaged.

"C’mon back Miller," Blu said. She dug in her pack for a antidote, and sprayed it on Miller’s leg.

"Alright. Go, Brooke!" Blu summoned the dragon. Brook’s mass nearly filled her half of the room.

"Let it be finished! Go, Golbat! Confuse Ray!"

A huge bat appeared. It opened it’s huge mouth and screeched. Blu covered her ears at the horrible sound. Brooke shook her head, and began to thrash.

"Don’t listen, Brooke! Use your Hyper Beam!!" Blu screamed over the noise.

Brooke’s eyes were closed, but she summoned her power, and let loose a blazing white beam of light in the general vicinity of the bat. It missed at first, but as Brooke wavered her head, it did hit the Golbat.

The Golbat glimmered, then used Haze. It did nothing. The ninja growled under his breath; Golbat was using it’s instinct and trying to defend itself. Instead, Brooke was no longer confused. She opened her eyes, and enveloped Golbat in a few of her coils, using her wrap attack. The Golbat couldn’t move, and Brooke’s coils tightened until the Golbat stopped. Then, she unwrapped. Blu patted her. "Good girl, Brooke." Something wet nosed he other hand.

"You too, Mills," Blu leaned down to hug Miller, and he sloppily slobbered on her ear. "Yuck."

"You fight well; Your Pokémon are well disciplined," the ninja-man said.

"You have earned the Soul Badge. Wear it with honor." He held out a scroll, which opened to display the badge. Blu took it and pinned to the inside of her jacket.

"All right, Ninja-Man, thanks," Blu nodded, and headed out. She didn’t bother to ask his name. Who said it was necessary?

• * *

Aka had managed to sooth the Lampras by promising to let it go and that he never really wanted to steal it in the first place. He convinced the Lampras that some bad men from his old gang were after him.

Which wasn’t entirely true.

They slid through the surf with ease as they neared Seafoam Island with Aka steering the beast who, as Aka had expected, believed and trusted him and had lost his fear of the boy and began to relax and enjoy his leisurely swim. The Lampras was also delighted of the company that the Bulbasaur had to give.

"Lampras." (I was so lonesome.)

"Bulbasaur?" (What about the other Pokémon?)

(In the corral? They were all so stuck-up. No one bothered to talk to me.)

(Well what about your trainer?)

(He was okay. He never hurt me or anything, but he wasn’t friendly in the least. Never talked to me or encouraged me that I would do better in trainer fights or anything. In fact he didn’t use me in fights that much anyways.)

(I know what you mean. You can have the greatest trainer of all time, but your never satisfied until they give you the love and affection you need.)

(Not to mention the attention. But you know? This trainer of yours seems nice enough. At least he talked to me like I’m a living creature. Not like my other trainer, Patrick, who just led me around like a wagon.)

(Yeah, Aka’s okay. For a boring human. I’ve known him almost my whole life. What I don’t get is why he always hints about this "other life" he claims that I’ve had.)

(Other life? How so?)

(Well apparently I had another life somewhere. Some place called Pewter City. I had a really wonderful trainer who pampered me and led me around showing me off to everybody around town.)

(How awful.)

(That’s what Aka used to tell me anyways, when I was prisoner at that nasty…)

The Lampras’ eyes widened and showed a bit of wariness so Tane shut his lips before he could say anything about the lab.

(I don’t really remember anything like that though. Any other lifestyle, if I had one, is pretty vague to me now. It’s like I’ve lost part of my memory somehow.)

(Like amnesia?) asked the Lampras leaning his head in towards Tane with eyes even wider than before. Tane looked up at him with confusion crossing his face.

(No, not like that. It has to be something else…)

Tane turned away for just a moment. He stared into Aka’s eyes. Aka stared right back. They both sort of lost each other in a dream like mood for a few seconds and then they both snapped out of it and they were back riding on the Lampras’ back toward Seafoam.

They had swam quite a ways from Cinnabar and could clearly see Seafoam’s beautiful white sand beaches so Aka rode the Lampras into shallower waters before tying it to a rock. Aka really didn’t like tying up the great beast but he couldn’t just let the thing swim away now could he?

Aka grabbed some mangos when he and Tane waded to shore and bit into the succulent pulp of the large fruity center and laid down on the hot sand for a nice long nap. Tane used his vines to catch some fish with the help of the kind hearted Lampras and they both devoured a large sushi and seaweed salad for their lunch.

After the hearty lunch they decided to take some long naps before continuing their journey towards the mainland.

The Lampras seeing the two landlubbers fast asleep also made the choice to take a snooze. Floating in the blue-green water, he rested his large head on the rock and looked at the pair sleeping on the beach for quite some time before conking out himself. He studied the boy whom Tane had referred to as Aka.

"Lampras." (He seems nice enough. Maybe…maybe I should let him be my trainer…I suppose I’ll just have to sleep on it.) Said the Lampras, with the pearly white shell, as he was whisked away to dreamland, very tired from the trip abroad.

**

Waking, Tane let out a yelp as he noticed that the Lampras, whom Aka had for some reason tied to a rocky ledge out in the middle of the surf, was gone. He had disappeared without a trace. Tane wasted no time waking his trainer.

"Oh, crap! Our ticket outta here has vamoosed! Now what’ll we do now?" cried a very exasperated Aka. His living-ship was gone and he had no other way of leaving the island.

Both Tane and Aka yelped this time when they were shoved unceremoniously into a tidal pool. Aka stood up, wet as a Growlithe and just as temperamental. He pulled the miniature Staryu off of his face and spun around. There was the Lampras with the white shell, making "lamp, lamp, lamp," noises that sounded much like laughter. A Krabby was clamped to Aka’s foot and a Shellder was clamped to his nose. Pulling these Pokémon off resulted in getting squirt in the face with water and pinched on his booted toe.

He totally ignored the water and the pain though, for he was very annoyed at the silver Lampras who was behind him the whole time just a laughing and laughing.

Aka ran straight up to the beast and began pounding his fists against it’s white shell.

"You idiot! You stupid idiotic Lampras! I was so worried. I thought you had gotten hurt."

In truth the ex-Rocket was worried for his own sake that he would never get off the island, but he continued pounding. The Lampras thought nothing of it so he continued his repetitive laughter. Aka, after finding out the hard way that his pounding proved useless, he joined the chorus since Tane had started cracking up also.

After he pulled Staryu off his bulb.

**

Later that evening when the new-born trio was back out on the water heading for Fuschia City, Tane asked the Lampras why he didn’t leave after escaping his bonds. The Lampras replied by telling him a story that he had heard from somewhere off.

"Lampras." (This story takes place at the edge of a lake in a large nesting area home to a Farfetch’d and her tiny little ducklings. The Farfetch’d had just had her little ducklings hatch and she was as happy as a mother could be after watching her ducklings emerge from their large blue eggs.)

"Lampras." (But one little Farfetch’d had not even cracked his shell let alone hatch out so the mother kicked the blue egg into the lake. Never looking to where it landed. The egg cracked by hitting a large gray rock in the middle of the lake. The egg was precariously sitting on that rock for days until it finally hatched into a large yellow Farfetch’d that never stopped holding it’s head.)

Tane laughed once more, realizing what had happened. The Lampras went on.

"Lampras. Lampras." (So after being rejected by the Pidgey’s and the Squirtle’s both he went on to find a more suitable place to live. He soon came to a town called Viridian City. He wandered the streets until a friendly boy with a shining smile and green hair picked him up and gave him a name and a home. So, by the time Dodo, yes Dodo, and his trainer had gotten to Saffron City the poor little Psyduck, which is what he was truly, evolved into a Golduck and had the most powerful attacks a Golduck could ever hope to have in one lifetime.)

"Bulbasaur." (But what exactly does this have to do with not running away?)

"Lampras." (Well if you’ll recall, the Psyduck never gave up. Many Pokémon always trying to find a place to live in peace rejected him. But since that didn’t work out he decided to find a trainer instead and found an amateur trainer who was willing to learn about the real power of Psyducks and was able to give his Psyduck extra care and training. My trainer wasn’t cruel as I’ve said but he never gave me love. Your trainer here gave me something that my old trainer never would’ve given me in return for my actions.)

(And what’s that? Love?)

(Well, that, and concern for me. You see, if my trainer had found me missing he just would’ve let me slip away and say "easy come, easy go". Understand?)

(I think. So your saying you were testing Aka to see what he would do if you left?)

(You are quite correct. I was testing his patience and the fullness of his heart. I was so afraid he was going to just ignore my absence or wish for me to return so he could leave the island, but he was more concerned for me than for himself. So, I’ve decided over long hard thinking, that I’m going to abandon my heartless trainer back in Cinnabar and travel with you and yours.)

(That’s great! And thanks for the story, although long, it was pretty interesting.)

(I’m glad you think so. I heard it from my old trainer’s mother…)

(By the way, Lampras, (your gonna need a name), I don’t think Aka will pound on your shell like that ever again.)

(True. Very true indeed.)

Both Pokémon snickered as they glanced back at Aka who was lying upon one of the Lampras’ bony plates. He was snoring as the Lampras glided through the waves. His hands were completely submerged in ice-cold water being held by mango-rind containers

"Lampras." (I suppose he’s pretty lucky that us Lampras’ are Ice/Water Pokémon.)

"Bulbasaur." (True. Very true indeed.) said Tane mimicking the Lampras’ profound way of speaking.

Then they both started laughing all over again waking up Aka from him restful sleep. It was obvious that those two Pokémon would get along just fine.

Just fine, indeed.

• * *

Blu returned to the beach to catch lunch. Although she favored fire Pokémon over water types, she’s always loved the beach, the water, and seafood. She leaned back lazily, slowly casting her line into the water.

The sun was somewhat setting and she took off her sunglasses and yawned. Something shimmered on the horizon. She squinted, and saw something large moving towards the beach. It was too far away to see what it was. Blu was curious.

"Go, Brooke!" She said. She set her backpack and other loose items on the ground near her pole. As Brooke slid into the water, Blu turned to Miller and Ripley, "You guys watch my stuff," she said.

Blu stepped onto Brooke’s neck, holding on to the dragon’s ‘corn to steady herself. "Head off, Brooke, let’s take a look-see!"

Brooke nodded, nearly dislodging Blu. She took off with a good pace towards the object.

As they neared it, Blu identified the object. Which wasn’t really an object; It was a Lapras! And on it’s back where a Bulbasaur and a sleeping kid (to Blu, anyone who isn’t an adult and she doesn’t know their name is a kid ^.~). The Lapras eyed her and Brooke. Brooke made a noise that sounded a bit like a dolphin, and the Lapras replied. The three Pokémon held a short conversation, then Brooke headed back to the beach, with the Lapras in tow.

When they arrived at the beach the sun was setting. Blu looked at the kid, and the Bulbasaur use it’s vines to gently drag him off onto the sun.

"Hey kid," Blu said. "Wake up."

He stirred, but didn’t quite wake up.

Blu looked to the Lapras, who gestured with it’s head. Blu cupped her

hands around her mouth.

"DadadaDA! Wake up! Your country needs you! You must come to battle!" She yelled, laughing a little. Brooke shook her head, dragon-grinning.

Aka woke up, finding a few dragons, Tane, and some girl looking at him.

"?" He ?ed.

"Land ho, mister," Blu said. "What were you doing out there? You smell like Seafoam. The Islands, I mean." Blu grinned and held out her hand.

"The name’s Blu Flyer. You might be?"

• * *

The rain did not let up. It poured in sheets of crystal clear droplets that soothed Arasan’s already wet face from tears. She looked up at the boy standing before them. It was James.

And yet-it wasn’t James.

Jeff stood up ready to grasp the outstretched fingers extending from James’ massively bloody hand. Most of the blood had dried but as Arasan stared into those burning eyes, her mind felt shockingly cold from a fear never sensed by her fragile mind. Her right eye twitched and the back of her neck itched. Before Jeff’s hand could reach James fingers Arasan immediately grabbed the boy back forcefully whispering in his ear. Jeff’s eyes widened to double their normal size.

Jeff quickly stood up and started yelling at James and Arasan both. "NO! Helluce would never do something like this! He’s our friend! I know it isn’t true!"

James set his arm down to his side and silently and softly whispered. "Yes, I would. Now you are under my control." And at that James/Helluce began to emit psychic waves toward the two under the tree laughing hysterically. The waves hit their mark and the two fell under Helluce’s control. He lifted them both up as for himself and flew straight over the ocean toward Fuschia City. They picked up speed and warp-fast power radiated throughout all of their bodies as they soared through the sky breaking up clouds as they flew-unknowingly toward disaster.

Or so they didn’t know. :P

The trio rested at the gates to Lavender Town’s Pokémon Tower.

Arasan and Jeff were waking when they noticed finally where they were.

"No. It can’t be. Helluce you TRAITOR! Bring James back!"

"Oh, god. Do you realize where we are Jeff?" said Arasan as she pointed high above her head toward the top of the tower. Lighting flashed across the sky for effect. (even though there was no storm)

Jeff looked up and drew in a quick breath. No. Not again. He wouldn’t relive the fate of his father. James mustn’t die. No. James must be saved somehow and the only one around to be able to do it was Arasan… His mind raced as past occurrences flew through his mind. He drew in another quick breath. Then stopped breathing altogether.

Arasan shook Jeff out of his little mindscapes. The Gengar led the two through the tower against their will and then when they were at the very top he released his psychic hold on them. He pointed to a glass case in the middle of the room. Arasan gathered courage and gingerly tip toed past James and peered into the case. She had never been up here alone before. Only once before had Master Mochimono brought the whole class up here for a peek at this exclusive room but Arasan was too scared of what she would find. No one was allowed up here at any other times and she cursed herself for never even peeking. Arasan had never dared to climb to the very top before and now she was here. Glancing around made her nervous but seeing nothing but a glass covered box helped her nervousness to subside. The room was barren except for that wooden box.

Jeff just looked on, staring into James eyes hoping for answers that lie beneath those burning eyes that veiled the truth behind this sudden turn of events. James averted his eyes toward Arasan who had dusted the case off with her shirt.

"Like I care about my shirt right now. Okies. Let’s take a looksie." She peered in the encased unmentionable. Out of the box stared a small ornate telescope.

James answered her by walking up to it and smashing the glass in with his fist-which would’ve hurt if he was fully human. The glass shattered and small slivers got stuck in Arasan’s shoes. Glass fragments cluttered the flooring. Arasan carefully slid her hand through the box and grasped the elusive Golden Silph Scope. It was very small, yet very polished. The lens was either broken or there never was a lens in the first place. Arasan put the telescope up to her eye and looked out it to the other side. Everything was shady and gray when looking through it and Arasan gasped when she centered it on James.

He wasn’t there. A Gengar was. And in the Gengar’s hands were James’ life giving essentials. One hand held his heart and the other held his mind. Arasan moved the scope away from her eye and backed toward the stone wall.

"Helluce? What does this mean? Why can’t you explain it too us?"

Jeff looked puzzled. Arasan held the scope out to him and Jeff took a look. He backed away from it. "No, Helluce. Why?"

Then it was the Gengar’s turn to speak-through James’ lips. He blinked and cleared his throat. "I am bound to James. I did not realize I would be part of him forever if I entered him."

"Why enter him at all?!" screamed Arasan once again beginning to cry. "You know I don’t have the power to free him! You know that Helluce!"

James leaned a hand against the box, once encased within glass. "I did it to save him." He said simply.

"Save him? But why? What were you trying to save him from? And how can possessing him save him?!"

"Because that evil Vail person almost killed him and he is my master now. It was the only way." James eyes softened. The burning within them diminished.

"I can not release this urge to stay in his body. I am a Gengar and it is not possible for a ghost to enter one’s body and be able to release the victim. I hunger for more mind control and it frightens me… Help me. Help me to escape this awful prison which I’m kept."

Arasan couldn’t believe it. Vail had almost killed their only friend and Helluce had saved him by entering his body even though he knew it would hurt the boy more. But, as Helluce had said, she knew it was impossible for a ghost Pokémon to want to leave the host body after possessing someone. After the possession fulfilled, there was no way back.

Except for the simple but dangerous procedure of the Casting of the Body, which she had performed on numerous people, possessed by Ghastlies.

But Arasan knew also that she had no such power to cast away a Gengar even if that Gengar wanted to be released from the body it possessed. Even if that Gengar was a friend. Even Haunters were hard for her. Ghastlies took more strength out of her than most people realized and she shuddered to think of the fact that she would maybe have to use the procedure against the Gengar.

Helluce. Her only ghost friend.

Jeff’s and now James’ Pokémon.

She shunned the feeling away and stood stock-still. Jeff looked at her for recognition but she showed no emotion whatsoever. Trying to hide the feelings and sufferings she went into a trance and experienced that fateful day when Jeff’s father killed himself. She was there watching it all. She didn’t even do anything about it. Arasan eyes clouded over as that day spun fresh through her mind. Then she screamed out loud after the daydream/nightmare was over and looked at Jeff with fear enveloping her heart and mind like never before.

She had to do the Casting of the Body or James would be Helluce’s slave forever. And Helluce a prisoner. But she was afraid. Her eyes screamed torment beyond belief but her heart countered that emotion with one of love for her friends.

"I must perform exorcism upon James!" she whispered harshly not really wanting the words to leave her tongue. That caught everyone off guard.

James/Helluce cowered a bit knowing the consequences and the price Arasan would have to pay but he was also dying for freedom.

Arasan gasped as an unbearably cold hand clasped her own. Looking up, Arasan gazed into the eyes of her friend. "He loves you know." The words were matter of fact, but as Arasan stared into James’ eyes she knew that it was true. "No.." She whispered.

"Yes. And before I leave this world, I would want to grant him his only wish that revolves around you." James/Haunter once again emitted large psychic waves and Arasan and Jeff both slumped to the ground. James then knelt and lifted Arasan’s chin. Tears could be seen forming in her wide open eyes.

"No…" she managed to gasp out.

"Yes." And James neared her still and blocked Jeff’s view of her-not that he could do anything about it. And then he leaned close and kissed her for a moment and then he kissed her for longer intervals. A tear streaming down her cheek as he did so. Arasan knew that the Gengar was trying to ignore the ghostly playful side that caused ghosts to wreak havoc and mischief but Helluce wasn’t strong enough and so he along with James’ "other side" he wasn’t able to resist.

Jeff just gaped at James not really realizing the true feelings that the poor boy had been feeling all this time. His own tear now formed.

The Golden Silph Scope seemed to laugh at Arasan…

Was she doing the right thing?

Jeff finally began to shrug off the psychic waves that the thing that was now Helluce and James was giving off. He stood up and saw that James was about to kiss Arasan. Jeff’s eyes turned ice cold.

"James…Helluce…what ever the hell you are…don’t you dare do that if you do…I’ll…I’ll.." Jeff said his entire body shaking with rage. Jeff couldn’t believe this was happening. Suddenly above Arasan, a black figure appeared, it was that other Gengar.

"The time has come…you will follow the path your father laid for you now…" The Gengar said, linking his mind with Jeff’s. Jeff broke the link almost instantly after the words were said and his body was consumed in fear and rage. Then he saw James kiss Arasan gently on the lips and Jeff totally lost it.

"NOOOO!" Jeff bellowed as his mind snapped. Jeff rushed James and pinned him against the wall. Jeff breathed hard as he suck punched James with little effect. Jeff’s fist connected with James’ stomach a few more times.

"Jeff, please stop!" Arasan said, but Jeff ignored her words. Then, the other Gengar appeared over Jeff like a shadow and tried to consume him with one swift movement but he was repulsed by something. The Gengar tried again but was pushed back again.

Jeff now had a very faint white outline on his body, but it was barely noticeable. Jeff continued to jab at James’ battered body.

"Helluce, why did you do this?! James can survive on his own! You should have known that! I tried to teach you that when you were still a Gastly but you must have ignored it!" Jeff shouted as he punched James in the jaw suddenly. Helluce just realized it. Jeff had tried to teach him that when

people died or were injured that happened because it had to. You must try and help but never to the point where the person or yourself dies. Helluce slowly appeared over James’ body and Jeff picked up James’s body and carried it over his shoulder for a moment. The white outline slowly faded away and

the other Gengar let out a cry.

"Kuso!" Jeff shouted as he set James down next to the wall. Helluce appeared in front of Jeff and let out a barrage of energy at the other Gengar. Jeff watched as Helluce protected him to the best of his abilities.

"Helluce, Hypnosis! Then eat the dream!" Jeff commanded as he knelt down to help James. The wound was a bit worse but nothing Jeff couldn’t handle by himself. "Please James pull through…" Jeff prayed for the safety of his friend. Helluce suddenly began to pull off the Dream Eater but it back fired.

The enemy Gengar had absorbed most of Helluce’s power and Helluce reverted back to a Gastly. Jeff grabbed Helluce’s ball from James’s belt and returned the ghost and placed the ball back in James’s belt. Arasan had been petrified and was still sitting on the ground watching the fight take place.

"Glacier, go!" Arasan finally cried out releasing her Articuno on the Gengar. "Glacier, Ice Beam!" Arasan commanded the bird as it froze the ghost almost instantly. Arasan stood up, tears running down her cheeks. Jeff picked up James and carried him over his shoulder. Jeff could feel the blood trickle down his neck but he ran down the stairs and towards the only hospital that he knew James could be treated at, Saffron. Jeff began to pray even more for the safety of his friend as he dashed down Route 8, Arasan trailing behind. Jeff in a matter of minutes had gotten to the hospital and had the staff put James on a stretcher and ready him to be healed now only time was Jeff’s enemy.

Arasan caught up, totally out f breath, her Articuno perched on her shoulder. Arasan sat down beside Jeff in the waiting room and waited for news about James. By the time news came, Arasan had just basically curled up next to Jeff and went to sleep.

"Excuse me, are you Jeff Hibiki?" the nurse read off of her clipboard. Jeff nodded and his face expressionless. "Your friend, James Oake is fine. His recovery should be finished in three days."

"Three days?! How?!" Jeff shouted, totally amazed. The nurse explained that in a recent grant they had obtained new equipment which would heal a wound, much like James, in hours if not a day or two. Well…would you mind if we stayed here while James recovers? We don’t have anywhere to stay…"

"Yes, you can…Follow me, and wake your girlfriend up too, I don’t think she’d like sleeping in the lobby for much longer." The nurse said, as Jeff woke up Arasan and they were led to a room right next to James’s.

• * *

Raichu, anudder Dunderbolt!" Surge cried. With a fearsome yell and a bray, the Raichu let loose with such electrical power as to break several windows.

Teal only chuckled, "Please, is that the best you can do? Graveller, Take Down." Slowly at first, but faster and faster the Graveller moved forward. Then unexpectedly, the rock monster dashed forward and hurled it’s bulk at the Raichu. It never had a chance. Crying in agony the Raichu was flung back hard, smashing into one of the posts that supported the Gym.

"Match." Teal smirked triumphantly.

"Good battle Teal. As proof of your victory, a dunderbadge!" Clasping Surge’s hand, it was all that Teal could do from being bodily lifted when the big man shook it.

"Thanks a lot Lt. Surge, good fighting you." Surge took a moment to remove a tear from his eyes, "That boy, he’s just like me when I was a little nipper! HAHA!" Surge let loose with a thunderous laugh that could still be heard as Teal exited the Gym.

"He’s out!" A large crowd of people immediately gathered about the trainer.

"Did you do it? Did you get a Thunder Badge?" Teal grinned triumphantly and lifted his new badge, "Behold! Yet another milestone on my path to victory!"

A cheer immediately went up through the small crowd, "Thank you, thank you. One must wonder where my erstwhile rival James Oake is. Perhaps he’s just too frightened to show up." With a chuckle and a laugh, the crowd began to disperse. All except one. Stepping forward, Teal made ready to head for Lavender Town.

"Outta my way, I have business to attend too."

The individual smirked and pointed at Teal, "You’re good. You speak of a rival by the name of James Oake, you know him?"

Teal spat and hefted his bag, "Know him? Course I know him, him and me are great friends! Heh, that is when I’m not crushing him in battle."

The individual only smiled and shook his head, "James Oake was a talented trainer. Was is the operating word." The man made to depart, but Teal stopped him.

"What do you mean he "was" a good trainer. Oake was never a good trainer."

Shoving back Teal, the Rocket removed his cloak. "Why, I killed him of course." Teal only gaped, "You killed James Oake? Who are you?"

The man smiled and extended his hand, "I am Vail of Team Rocket. I’m here to make you an offer."

Teal quietly sat at the local Pokémon Center and eyed his food distastefully. Vail had somehow shaken even his confident veneer. He refused the offer to join of course, but that had been taken in a stride. "I can’t believe James is dead. Heh, even that kid doesn’t deserve die."

Gathering up his leftovers, Teal strode over to Nurse Joy’s desk. "I’m here to pick up my Pokémon."

Joy chuckled quietly and handed Teal his PokeBalls, "You must have had a quiet a battle Teal, your Graveller was particularly lively today."

Teal smiled and made to leave, but suddenly noticed a post. "What’s this?" Joy looked up and eyed the poster, "Oh that? There’s going to be some big Pokémon tournament in Saffron City soon." Teal’s eyes immediately lit up, "Hey, I can win the tournament and pay my respects to James at the same time! Heh, the dead always spend a little time in Saffron before being shipped off to Lavender." Joy smiled and waved as Teal made to depart."

Jeff and Arasan sat quietly and gazed at James. He had been asleep for quite a time now, obviously being skewered and possessed was a tiring event.

"I’m sorry sir, but you can’t see him. He’s extremely tired." Doctor Proctor called, but another highly contrary voice called back.

"Hah! James is my best bud, you can’t tell me that he’s not dead and not expect to visit him." Rising, Jeff stepped into the hallway and confronted the stranger. "Who are you? James is sleeping."

The stranger smirked and removed his sunglasses, "What do you mean who am I? James and I are pals, we go all the way back to Viridian. Now outta my way, I need to talk to him." Shoving Jeff out of the way, the bold stranger entered.

A moment later Arasan exited the room as well, "Who is that?" She wondered in slight shock. Jeff narrowed his eyes, "I don’t know. But whoever he is, I’m going to kill him."

Teal smiled and walked over to James’ bedside. He was sleeping peacefully, occasionally his nose wrinkled and he unconsciously patted the Raticate at his side.

"Hey twerp, been a long time." James didn’t respond.

"Heh, you’re a tough one kid. Shame you aren’t awake or I would battle ya. Met that Vail fellow, claims that he killed you. I knew all along that you weren’t dead." Turning his attention, Teal took one of James’ PokeBalls.

"A Kadabra huh? Heh, you’ve been practicing."

Reaching into his pocket, Teal pulled out his Thunder Badge. "See this kid? You ain’t ever going to see this. Be seeing you at the tournament James." Replacing James Pokeball on the tray, Teal made to rise, but James had taken Teal’s hand.

"Next time, I won’t lose." James whispered, his throat strained. Teal could not help but laugh uproariously and punch James lightly on the shoulder.

"You’re alright.."

• * *

As Blu wandered quietly through the Safari Zone, she wondered what that kid had been doing, floating around out in the water. He hadn’t been all to nice, she hadn’t even gotten a name. But most people didn’t give her a name, even though she always ever-so-polite and gave her. She grinned. Sometimes it scared people when she was so open.

"Now. Professor Cole… Where would I be if I were…?"

-Where would I be?? For cryin’ out loud, there are Dratinis in the Zone!-

Blu walked into the Zone, after returning Miller to his Pokéball. He’d done good, but he was just a little too… She didn’t have a word for it.

Up ahead was a lake. The Safari Zone was kind of dry, with dense brush on either side of the path. And where there was no brush, there was tall grass. Several times she had stumbled upon a group of Exeggutes, but managed to avoid their eggy wrath.

She wondered if she’d see that kid again. He could use some lessons on Pokémon.

The Zone was quiet, interrupted every now and then by the braying of a Tauros, or a bit of a Rhyhorn stampede. Blu made her way to the lake and looked down into the water. She stared at her reflection so long that she zoned out.

Suddenly the water broke and she stared at a little blue face. The worm had huge blue eyes and a little pearly button on its forehead.

"Hey there little fella," Blu whispered without moving.

The Dratini made a cute noise that sounded like a giggle. It came out of the water a little, grabbed Blu’s hair in it’s mouth and dove under the water.

"Erk!" Blu was pulled head first into the water. She managed to take a good breath, and once they were under the water she gently pulled her hair from the Dratini and swam for the top. The Dratini followed her, and just as she was drying off doused her with a small spurt of water. She gasped and glared at the little dragon-worm. It bubbled with glee.

"Now there," she mock-scolded, "After all that, you’ll just have to come with me." She took one of the Safari Balls out and showed it to the little Dratini, who bubbled and sprayed water at her again. "Oooh, you little rascal!" She rolled the Pokéball towards the Dratini. It slowed. The Dratini laid it’s chin on the bank. The Pokéball rolled slowly and bonked gently on the Dratini’s nose. The Pokéball opened. It seemed incredibly weak, and the Dratini cocked his head at her. He nosed the Pokéball and the open ball wobbled from side to side. Blu got an idea…

She reached for Ripley’s Pokéball and let the Dragonair loose. Ripley was a bit longer than the Dratini, yet he was so slender he seemed longer. Ripley looked at the Dratini, who giggled in delight. Ripley nudged the Pokéball, and the two seemed to have a conversation. Ripley then floated

a bit to Blu’s shoulder. The Dratini bubbled, then nudged the Pokéball. It dissolved into energy and the Pokéball pinged

"Yay!" Blu said.

"Yay what?" Said another voice. Blu turned and was met by the face of Professor Cole, a roly-poly white haired man.

"Hey Proff! I caught-"

"Yes, you caught little Chancer!" He said happily, "I watched it all from that tree."

"There’s no tree over there, Proff," Blu said matter-of-factly as she concentrated on hooking the Dratini’s Pokéball to her belt.

"Or issss there?" Cole said.

"Meta Physics again, Proff?" Blu asked.

"Meta-what? Just kidding, Flyer. That Dratini… I’ve been trying to catch him all day," the Proff said, "Called him Chancer."

"Chancer, huh? Nice nick. I like it. Anyways."

"What brings you here, Flyer?" He asked as they walked deeper into the Zone.

"Well, initially, this." Blu unhooked the clasp of the pendant. He held it out to him. As he examined it, she told him what had happened with the green-haired girl.

"My word, Flyer!" Cole said excitedly, "Come, come! Visit my lab," he bustled through a narrow pass in the brush to a little cabin. He opened the door. Inside was a moderately sized lab, with a few weird things inside.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot," he said as he put the pendant under the microscope, "Here. I thought you’d like this. Friend of mine gave it to me… I didn’t really want it, so you can have it." He handed her a

Pokéball.

"Proff, I don’t need any more Pokémon," Blu said, taking the Pokéball anyways. She summoned the creature inside. Before her stood a funny looking duck.

"What the hell is it?" Blu asked, looking at the thing. It waddled back

and forth.

"MagmagmagMAR!"

"It’s a Magmar, Flyer, you should be happy," the Proff said as he looked at the pendant. He adjusted the focus a little. "It’s a rare Pokémon, say ‘Thank you, Proff.’"

"Thanks Proff," Blu said, looking at the fire-duck. It was still waddling. It reminded her of a Psyduck or a Slowbro, with that vacant, unintelligent look on it’s face. "I still don’t want it. I want intelligent Pokémon, not some duck."

"And you call that mutant Ninetales of yours intelligent?" Cole asked.

"He’s not a mutant… He’s…. Special," Blu said.

"Special, eh?" Cole took the pendant out and handed it to her, "Well, just keep the Magmar. I don’t want it either, and you’re the one who’s always bugging me to "Talk to you friends In-High-Places to get you rare Pokémon," and as soon as I do you don’t want it," he said. Blu grimaced

and changed the subject.

"What is it?" She asked, refering to the pendant.

"You have there a Moon Stone," he said.

"Moon Stone? Like a Fire Stone, right?" She asked.

"Exactly. This is rarer, however. The Fire Stones are mined and sold in Celadon City, Moon Stones are pretty rare. They trigger evolution in Pokémon like Clefairy and Jigglypuff."

"I don’t have any of those."

"They also evolve the second forms of both genders of Nidorans."

Blu nodded.

"I don’t have any of those, either."

Cole squished his face up in a disappointed look.

"Well, I’m sure the Proffessors at the lab would like this," he said, taking it back, "Just consider it fair exchange for Magmar."

"I don’t want Mag-" Blu started. Cole had already gone out the door. She sighed, and looked at the Magmar, who was still swatting from side to side.

"Mag…Mar….Mag….Mar…"

Blu rubbed her temples and sighed again.

• * *

"Ow." James muttered, it seemed as if that was the only word that he could utter.

He decided to try it again, "Ow." There was nobody about, Jeff and Arasan had abandoned their vigil for some other more rewarding activity, probably getting something to eat. The room was bright, somebody had been kind enough to open the curtains and their was a bouquet of flowers on the nightstand by his side. James attempted to rise, but a terrible pain in his side made James take a deep breath and fall back.

"Ow." James cried, slightly more serious this time. James finally decided that he would make an effort to get up. First James rose up, the pain was not terribly excruciating. Then he stuck a foot out of the bed, the pain heightened, as if warning him. At last, James took the plunge and got up.

That stoked the pain to the point where it seemed as if a ravaging fungus was moving about his body. "James, what are you doing up?" Sweating and grunting, James looked up to see Arasan standing in the door with a bowl of Ice Cream.

"Doctor Proctor said that you wouldn’t be up for another few days." James grimaced and took his PokeBalls one at a time. "I can’t stand bed, I’m not going to delay my journey just because some," James spat in pain, "Doctor says that I have to. Now come and help me with these bandages."

"What are you doing?" Jeff narrowed his eyes as James stepped into the lobby, supported by a stout cane.

"We’re leaving." James said. Arasan could only shrug. Jeff stuck out his tongue and took up his bowl of Ice Cream.

"And where are we going Master James? You’re not in any condition to go ANYWHERE." James hesitated a moment, then opened the pouch containing his PokeBalls. Hefting an empty one, James smiled grimly. "It’s time that we catch some more Pokémon. What do you say to a trip to the Safari Zone?"

Vail grimaced and looked about the map once again. It had been a pity that Teal had chosen not to deal with Team Rocket, but he would be dealt with. For now, Vail had to concentrate on finding Aka. A formidable task to be sure, he had been told that the former Rocket had been very excellent at hiding himself away.

"He escaped from the Cinnabar Lab.. That means that he’s probably fled to Fuschia.." Vail muttered absent mindedly to himself. Tracing the possible paths with his finger, Vail grimaced once again. "Hmmm, our agents reported that somebody fitting Aka’s description stole a Lapras and headed out toward the Seafoam Islands.." He could not have gotten beyond Fuschia yet. Taking up a small phone, Vail tapped a few numbers.

"Prepare my plane, we will be departing for Fuschia City momentarily." Vail would look for Aka in Fuschia, and if he was not there then he would move to the Seafoam Islands. "You are mine Aka." Vail smiled triumphantly.

"Fuschia City." Jeff shielded his eyes and peered at the dazzling vista before him. Fuschia had always been something of a frontier town, harboring only the Safari Zone and the Fuschia Gym. Fortunately the Train ride to the city had not been uncomfortable. "Come on, let’s go." Hefting his cane, James made to dash down the hill, but stopped from the pain.

"You want me to carry you Jeff?" Jeff smiled mockingly as he made his way down the hill. Sneering, James hopped, skipped and jumped down the hill after his friend.

"Come back here so I can hit you with my cane!" A moment later, Jeff and James halted. Arasan hadn’t moved. "Well, are you coming Arasan?"

Arasan smiled wanly and pointed back, "I’m not really interested in catching anything for the moment, I think that I’ll go try for a badge at the Fuschia Gym." Jeff only shrugged, "Good luck Arasan. Come on James."

James slowly mounted a hill, and cursed his injury for it had hobbled him considerably. Taking his complimentary binoculars, James surveyed the landscape. A herd of Kangaskahn grazed in the nearby field as a flock of Doduo’s weaved there way between the great beasts. James sighed and turned the binoculars, nothing particularly interested him in the matter of catching. At last James caught sight of a male Nidoran.

"That’s promising." James muttered to himself. Crawling on all fours, James inched his way toward the hapless Nidoran.

"Ok Nidoran, you’re mine." Removing a Safari Ball, James smiled and through it with all his strength, hitting the Nidoran square on the head. The PokeBall shuddered as if pain once, twice but then opened and spat out the Nidoran in distaste. The Nidoran exited and glared at James, angry, then dashed away.

"Hey wait, I’m going to capture you!" Snatching his cane, James hobbling after the small Pokémon. The thing obviously did not want to be caught, it dashed between other Pokémon, under bushes and through herds of Pokémon, but James painfully kept pace. At the last the Nidoran dashed underneath a bush, followed by James. Negotiating the branches, James at last exited the prickly piece of foliage. The Nidoran was nowhere to be seen, but a woman was. She was actually quite pretty, but she also wore a look of distaste.

"Stop right there. Who the hell are you?" James brushed himself off, "I’m James Oake, Pokémon Trainer. Right now I’m trying to catch a Nidoran, oh there it is!"

The woman smiled slightly, "Well, I’m Blu Flyer and…" But James was already gone, hopping peculiarly with his cane. At last James exited into an open field. The Nidoran was still running, breaking into a flat run James sucked in the pain and tried to keep pace. At last the Nidoran disapeared into a herd of Rhyhorns.

"Come back here, I’m gonna catch you!" James cried in exhaustion, the Rhyhorns looked up at James glared angrily. Abruptly, the Nidoran leapt upon the lead Rhyhorn’s back and chattered angrily. The Rhyhorn’s snorted and glared.

"I think I’d better run."

Blu sighed and picked her way through the dense trees, the boy named James had been very rude like that. She had never quite liked Pokémon trainers, preferring her own area of expertise. A moment later, a quite rumbling could be heard. It was like a miniature Earthquake.

"What the?" Blu frowned. Not long after, the boy with the cane jumped out of the bushes. "Run!" He cried. Blu looked at the rapidly figure in confusion, run from what. A moment later, she got her answer. A full herd Rhyhorns charged after the youth, championed on by a single male Nidoran. Blu only sighed and followed after the boy and the Rhyhorn herd. She really had seen it all..

• * *

In mid stride, Blu returned Miller and Ripley, and summoned Crash. The horse began running beside them, and Blu jumped to his back, yanking James up as well.

"Hold on, kid!" She said, grabbing ahold of Crash’s mane. "Get outta here, Crash!"

"I didn’t get the Nidoran," James said.

"The What? Hey, hold that thought, kid, and hold on tight!" Blu tugged at Crash’s mane, causing him to pivot sharply to the right and turn into the brush. The Rhyhorns kept going, seemingly forgetting where and what they were charging at.

Blu sighed, and looked to James.

"What the hell are you doing teasing the Rhyhorns?" She scolded, "Those things are dangerous! And you, with a cane…."

She dismounted Crash, patting him on the neck. James jumped down and halfway brushed his clothing into an organized mess.

"I was after a Nidoran," he said.

"A Nidoran?" Blu asked, switching Pokémon; Miller replaced Crash. She didn’t want to call on Ripley, she didn’t know what this kid was. The last one she’d met hadn’t been all too nice. Miller barked once, then began examining James. "Those are Rhyhorns, not Nidorans."

"You don’t understand, what happened was-" James started. Then he shook his head, forgetting it.

Blu grinned. "What did you say your name was, kid?"

"James Oake," James replied indignantly.

"Oh yeah. I’m Blu, and this is Miller… If you don’t watch out he’ll slobber on you. So you’re a trainer, huh? Here for the Pokémon?" Blu grinned and began walking through the brush. James, having nothing else to do at the moment, followed her, keeping his eyes open for any other Pokémon.

"Yeah…" James remembered Jeff who had neglected to chase after him when he’d gone for the Nidoran. "I wonder where Jeff is," he said to himself.

"Jeff?" Blu asked.

"Yeah. Oh wait, I think-" James took out his binoculars and peered beyond the next hill. "Yeah, there he is!"

• * *

Jeff had watched James hobble off after that Nidoran, but he only chuckled at the sight. James looked a bit odd waddling after a Pokémon that was way too fast for him in the current state. Jeff wandered off towards the east and saw a few things that interested him. Rhydons were too slow and

Hyler could easily take their place. Nidorans were a bit wild for him…Then

he saw something whiz by him in a fury.

"Scyther!!!" the thing yelled as it came to a stop about 10 yards in front of Jeff. Jeff grinned a bit as he grabbed a Safari Ball and threw it in an overhand fashion. The Scyther knocked it away and Jeff heard it open and close in the grass behind him. Jeff tossed another ball and the Scyther once again knocked it away, but this time the ball cracked and didn’t open.

"Okay that’s it! Go Kitsune!" Jeff said releasing the fire fox from it’s ball. The Scyther charged forward and slashed at the Vulpix. Vulpix was slashed across the front paw and it cried in pain. "Kitsune, Fire Spin!" the fox’s eyes began to glow after the command was said, and the Scyther made

another charge but this time, it ran into a twister of flames. Jeff rolled a ball at the Scyther and watched as it was caught it with ease. Jeff returned the Vulpix to it’s ball and Jeff smiled in satisfaction. Jeff then began to search through the grass where his first ball went. Once he found the ball, Jeff opened up the ball and saw 5 eggs appear and they were angry.

"An Exeggcute…" Jeff said as he returned it to its ball. Jeff felt content but he knew that he’d never use it, his team was full and he didn’t need a replacement for now.

‘Might as well keep a backup for Dokusou’. Jeff thought, patting the ball that the Bellsprout was in. Jeff walked back to the entrance where he and James had split up. He saw James hobbling back holding a Safari Ball in the air victorious, but he was also running from a stampede of Rhyhorns. Jeff gulped and also saw a woman with dark blue hair,

running as well.

"Hey, you the one with the blue hair! Follow us and you can get outta here!" Jeff yelled as he dashed towards the entrance, making sure both James and this woman both got out alive. Jeff closed the gate and started to catch his breath as James slumped down against the wall and the woman was catching

her breath.

"You didn’t let me introduce myself…" the woman said to James with a bit of anger in her gaze. "I’m the Blu Flyer. I’m a treasure hunter. And you are a rude kid." Blu then glanced over to Jeff. "Mind introducing yourself, kid?"

"I’m Jeff Hibiki. Nice to meet you…" Jeff said a bit coldly as he looked to James. "What did you two catch?"

"I caught a Dratini and I got a Magmar, even though I didn’t want it. But it was a ‘gift’." Blu said motioning to her backpack. James finally

stood up and supported himself on the cane.

"I caught that Nidoran…and caused a stampede in the process…" James said, mumbling the last part of that sentence. Blu smiled a bit, knowing she probably just met some new friends. It was kinda of a Sixth sense though.

"I already have the badge, and who is Arasan?" Blu asked. Jeff explained that Arasan was his life long friend and that she was traveling with them. Blu nodded and said she’d show them the location of the gym. Jeff and James walked behind Blu to the gym. The two walked inside and saw walls

of ice and were stunned.

"Good idea Glacier, cool down the rooms so we can see the invisible walls. Now we can get to Kyou that’s in the main room." Arasan said to her Articuno as he condensed the water in the air by flapping his wings. Within minutes she had reached Koga.

"So another woman comes to challenge Kyou!" A man said wearing a ninja costume. He smiled and waited for Arasan to begin the match. Arasan already had her Articuno out and ready for battle. Kyou sent out a Venemoth.

"Glacier, Ice Beam!" Arasan shouted as the bird opened it’s beak and released a beam of freezing water. The beam nearly froze the bug in midair but it fainted before it could freeze.

"GO Weezing!" Kyou said, letting out the giant gas ball. It let out a poisonous gas at the ice bird. Glacier couldn’t avoid it and started to cough madly.

"Glacier…peck it!" Arasan screamed as the bird flapped through the gas and ripped it’s beak through the gas ball. The ball vanished and re-appeared on the other side of the room. "Glacier, Ice Beam again!" The bird fired another beam of frost at the ball and the Weezing fainted.

"Go Golbat!" Kyou said as the bat appeared. "Golbat, Bite!" The giant bat lunged forward at the ice bird but it missed and the bat slammed into the wall. Arasan smiled as she knew she could win at this rate.

"Glacier, Ice Beam and then peck the bat!" Arasan commanded her Articuno and the bird froze the bat and then slammed into it. The bat was down and out. Arasan had won the badge!

"You win…Here is the badge." Kyou said as he threw a scroll at Arasan’s feet and vanished into the darkness. Arasan giggled knew she had won but then she noticed that Glacier was starting to feel the effects of the poison. Arasan returned the bird to it’s ball and left the way she came.

"What are you two doing here?" Arasan asked as she saw Jeff and James coming in. They explained they came for the badge and that this was gonna be easy. Arasan smiled as she knew they were right.

Jeff walked forward into the main chamber where Kyou was. James had agreed to wait for him outside, and after Jeff left the chamber, James would go in. Jeff glanced around the room, scouting for Kyou, then his eyes fixed on the corner of the room where Kyou was leaning against the wall.

"Kyou…I challenge you for badge!" Jeff said as he grabbed his Vulpix’s ball and waited. He saw Kyou walk forward and send out his Venemoth.

"Go Kitsune!" Jeff let the fox out of its ball. Jeff knew he had a very good

chance of winning now.

"Venemoth, Psybeam!" Kyou commanded, the bug began to gather mental energy and then fired a blue beam at the fire fox. It smashed into the fox and the fox shuddered as its mind was being damaged.

"Kitsune, Flamethrower!" Jeff said as the Vulpix nodded and it’s eyes began to glow blue. The Vulpix opened it’s mouth and let out a huge blast of flames which burned the moth. "Kitsune, quick attack!" The fox leaped into the air and bit deeply into the moth’s throat. The moth hit the ground with a

thud.

"Go Weezing." Kyou said sternly as the moth vanished and a giant gas ball appeared. Jeff pulled back Kitsune and put his Machop in.

"Kienzan…Seismic Toss!" Jeff shouted as the martial artist picked up the gas ball and leaped up into the air. Then at the peak of the jump it threw the ball into the ground. "Kick it hard!" The Machop kick the gas ball into the ground again.

"Kienzan, finish him off with a Mega Punch!" Kienzan wound up his fist and punched the Weezing to the other side of the room.

"Return Weezing…Go Golbat…" Kyou said, letting the bat out. "Golbat…Confuse Ray." The bat let out a ray of pulsating black and white ball that stopped in front of the Machop and then confused it.

"Kienzan come back! Go Dokusou!" Jeff said releasing the Bellsprout. The Bellsprout wrapped its vines around the bat and grounded it. Golbat tried to eat through the vines but found poison seeping out of the wounds.

"Dokusou, Vine Whip!" Dokusou let go of it’s grip and with two of its vines it began to slash and smack the bat into submission which only took a few minutes. Suddenly Bellsprout began to glow…

"Whoa…Dokusou is a Weepinbell now!" Jeff cheered. Kyou tossed Jeff a scroll and vanished, cursing under his breath. Jeff smiled and walked out of the chamber a smile on his face.

• * *

Blu was sitting in the lobby, wondering what she was going to do with the Magmar. It was fire… But it was an insult to fire Pokémon. She groaned. She looked to the girl, Arasan. The silence bugged her, just as it always had. She laughed out loud, startling the two. They were about to ask her what she was laughing at, when Jeff opened the door to the gym/mansion/whatever you may call it.

"Hey James, your turn," Jeff gestured over his shoulder with his thumb.

"Oh, yay," James said with a mixture of anticipation and distraction.

"Good luck, kid," Blu called, absent-mindedly scratching Miller behind

the ears. "How’dya do?" She asked Jeff.

"Got the badge," Jeff said, showing off the Soul Badge.

"Where are we headed next?" Arasan asked to no one in particular.

Blu shrugged, like it was any of her business.

"I’m headed north to Saffron," Jeff said, tossing Dokusou’s Pokéball happily.

"Oooohhh, fer that thing, right??" Blu asked.

Jeff arched an eyebrow, wondering what to think about that.

"Yeah.. ‘That Thing.’ ‘That Thing’ just happens to be one of the most prestigious tournaments going on at this time of the year," Jeff said, a bit irritated. "James is in it, too. So we should head up there ASAP."

Blu leaned back, wondering how James was doing.

"Sounds kinda like fun. Hey, you guys don’t mind if I tag along, do ya? I really have nothing to do, Cinnabar is SO boring during tourist season. Maybe I’ll even be ambitious enough to try for a badge. …. Maybe."

• * *

James smiled and limped into the chamber of the poison ninja. It was dark within, a single flame lit the middle chamber. "I am James Oake of Viridian City, and I have come to challenge you." There was no response, save for the single click of a spotlight hitting the end of the gym.

"Born in darkness, living in darkness. Such is the life of a ninja." James could not locate the source of the voice, but then he didn’t need too. Down through the center of the spotlight came Kyou,

his cape flowing brilliantly.

"Very well boy, it will be an all out battle." James stamped his cane on the floor hard, "I’m not a kid alright? I’m older then your last challenger." Kyou was unimpressed,

"Your age matters not. Prepare for battle."

James smiled and plucked out a Pokeball from his pouch. "That’s fine for me, time for action Raticate." Throwing up his PokeBall, James waited then whacked the PokeBall with his cane, sending it sailing to Kyou’s end of the gym.

"Very well, I choose as my Pokémon Venemoth." James watched as the poison moth burst out of it’s trappings. It looked none the worse for the wear inflicted on it by Jeff’s Vulpix.

"Alright Raticate, a Body Slam!" James cried. "Raticate!" Leaping high, the

Raticate made to down the Venemoth with a single blow.

"Venemoth, Stun Spore." Kyou was insidiously calm. Evading Raticate’s strike easily,

the Venemoth began spraying the toxic dust. The dust hit the circulation and began to drift toward the ground, just in time for the Raticate to burst through that particular space. The Rat hit the

ground, hissing and growling in agony.

"Venemoth, Psi Beam." Buzzing menacingly, the Venemoth burned downward and splashed Raticate with a burning array of lights and sparks. It was more then the Raticate could handle, with a final hiss it fell quiet. "Nice try Raticate, your turn Jolteon." Once again, James whacked the PokeBall with his cane and watched as the electrical Pokémon came forth.

"Venemoth, Sleep Powder." Once again, the Venemoth began spraying forth-toxic dust.

"Jolteon, agility!" The dust was easily avoided however, by the time it his ground Jolteon was on the other side of the room. "Ok Jolteon, give it a Thundershock!" Arching it’s back, heavy waves of electrical energy crackled and hit the Venemoth dead on. The psychic bug stiffened in agony and fluttered to the ground, twitching spasmodically.

"That got it!" James smiled, but Kyou was unfazed. "Return Venemoth, I choose

Grimer." James watched in disgust as the foul smelling Grimer oozed out of it’s PokeBall. Considering a moment, James hefted his PokeBall.

This was a job better suited for somebody else. "Return Jolteon. Kadabra your on." Heaving the PokeBall, James willed the Kadabra to be ready for battle. "Grimer, a pound attack." Oozing forward, the Grimer extended it’s slimy arm and hit Kadabra about the head with a loud

splut. The Psychic Pokémon staggered, but held it’s ground.

"Kadabra, hit Grimer with a Psi Beam." The Kadabra seemed mildly amused as it

raised it’s spoon towards the Grimer, who shrank in fright.

"Kadabra." It whispered as rings of Psychic energy struck the pile of toxic ooze

that was Grimer. The Grimer stiffened, then began to melt as the Psi energy struck home.

"Grimer return. I choose Weezing." James frowned for a moment and leaned on his cane, the Weezing could be a dangerous opponent.

"Weezing, sludge attack." The poisonous ball of toxic gas hovered low and gasped, "Weezing!" As it vomited forth it’s highly toxic sludge. The slime struck Kadabra full on in the eyes and once

again it staggered.

"Hold on Kadabra." The Kadabra struggled with the slime and at last removed the sludge from it’s eyes.

"Kadabra.." It muttered weakly and began to cough incessantly. "Oh no, he’s been

poisoned." James groaned, "Kadabra, finish off the Weezing with a Confusion!" The Kadabra struggled to raise it’s spoon, but at last it succeeded. The Weezing seemed initially unaffected, but as the seconds

ticked past the pain became evident upon it’s faces and at last it closed it’s eyes to drop to the floor with a loud thump. Kyou was not pleased.

"You have defeated me. You may take the Soul Badge, perhaps it is time that I consider taking a new specialty." With that, Kyou’s spotlight vanished and the Gym was once again darkened.

"Return Kadabra." James called, his voice strained. Groping about the floor,

James took up the Soul Badge that had been left behind. "Alright, a Soul Badge." James smiled triumphantly and pinned it to his Pack along with his others.

James stepped out into the lobby and stretched. He hadn’t realized how claustrophobic it had been in that gym. No sooner had he stretched when James’ cane was swept away and a foot blocked his progress, sending James sprawling to the floor. Groaning in agony, James tried to get a

look at his tormentor.

"James Oake? Huh, I thought you dead from our last encounter. Tis a pity really, you will wish that I had killed you."

James focused in on the words, he knew that voice. "Vail? What the hell are you doing here." The sneering Rocket stepped forward and leaned towards James, "I have come to take what it mine." James gasped once again as his wound fired off more pain, looking about he caught

site of Blue, Arasan and Jeff, all had been tied up and were being watched by glowering Rocket agents. "Humph, well the cane does suit you James." Taking up the cane, Vail brought it down across James back twice as James yelped in pain.

"Stop it!" Arasan cried, wincing with each blow. "Silence. I am not here for you three, but you are an unexpected bonus. I am here for her." Vail pointed James’ cane at Blu, who widened her eyes. You. I know that you have met with Aka, now you will tell me where he his or you will all die." Blu spat and did not respond.

"Very well, lets go for a little ride." One by one the four Pokémon trainers were lifted and taken out of the Gym towards a black truck with a large red letter "R" on it. "Welcome to my abode." Vail

smirked triumphantly.

• * *

Miller lifted his head from the interesting bush as he heard a loud noise. He walked to the lobby where Master had been sitting with two more people. Master wasn’t in the room. He snuffled the floor and picked up her scent. He snuffled outside, just in time to see a big black thing roll away at a fast run.

He sniffed the ground. Master’s sent led to the rolling thing.

Miller took off after the truck.

**

Blu didn’t bother stuggling against the rope. She worried about Miller; With that brain of his it wouldn’t take long to get lost. The Rocket had taken all the Pokémon, which highly annoyed her. She scooted to a corner with her back against the junction. She messed with her glove, where she kept her lock pick. Handy for opening cases, and handy for other things as well.

The pick slid out and she began to work at the rope with the jagged end.

Vail looked them over, standing at the back of the truck. He had Blu’s backpack with her Pokémon in it, and was currently going through Jeff’s Pokéballs. Jeff, meanwhile, was glaring at Blu.

"Hey, I didn’t know he was involved with Team Suck it," Blu said.

Vail backhanded her on the head.

"That’s Team Rocket, now say it right," he said sternly.

Blu pulled her wrists apart, snapping the halfway broken rope, and kicked at his shin. Her boot struck home and he jumped back.

"Team CROCKit!" Blu yelled, throwing a punch. Vail got it in his face. Dazed, he turned, grabbing her wrist from the side and twisting it behind her back. She elbowed him with her free arm, getting a good shot in his stomach. At this point he brought her to the back of the truck, twisting her arm a little to make sure the followed.

"Now say it," he said, making a little show of it.

At this point Blu kicked at the bags of Pokéballs, sending them sprawling out across the floor.

"GO RIPLEY!" She yelled at the Pokéballs. One opened, and the Dragonair appeared. Vail twisted Blu’s arm more behind her back.

"Ripley, get outta here! Get hel-OW!"

Ripley got the message, and turned to the doors at the truck. He glowed slightly, but before Vail could stop him, the little Dragonair Hyper Beamed a small hole in the truck. He and several Pokéballs rolled out onto the street.

Vail kicked Blu’s backpack towards the hole, blocking the other Pokéballs from rolling out.

"Damn you!" He said. He pushed her at the wall and then whacked her hard on the back of her head. "You’re in for it," he said.

"Damn you /back/," Blu spat, "Whatchya gonna do? KILL me?"

"Nup," Vail took out a pair of metal handcuffs and cuffed her before she could get up to hit him again. He hooked one to her right wrist and one to the bar on the wall of the truck.

Then he set about collecting the Pokéballs.

• * *

Jeff groaned, as he knocked over both himself and Arasan. He saw Vail picking up the balls that Blu had scattered, Jeff tried to grab one that was near him but he wouldn’t be able to tell what he had grabbed since his hands were behind his back…Guessing wildly Jeff grabbed a Pokeball and released what was inside. A Scyther appeared and howled "Scy!"

"Scyther cut the ropes…" Jeff said as Vail noticed finally. The bug obeyed and cut both his ropes and Arasan’s with ease. Jeff noticed Vail talking towards them. "Arasan, find Glacier, I’ll hold James off till then." Arasan simply nodded and began to search through the scattered balls and in a few moments she found Glacier, but she didn’t want to abandon the others so she found Jeff’s and James’ Pokémon and most of Blu’s…She hoped Jeff could keep Vail busy for long enough.

Jeff hopped onto the Scyther’s back and grinned. "Scyther…Agility!" The bug began to run at top speeds, Jeff barely able to hold on. Vail tried to leap and knock Jeff off his steed but he was failing miserably. Vail then pulled a knife from his pocket and threw it at Jeff. If the Scyther hadn’t been one step ahead of Vail, Jeff would have been on the ground.

"THER!" the Scyther yelled as it leaped over the knife and once again began to run circles around Vail. Vail was getting very annoyed. Arasan had finally collected all of their Pokémon and went over to Blu who was handcuffed.

"Here…I think one of your Dragonairs can cut the handcuffs…" Arasan said as she ran over to attend to James who was still lying on the ground. She handed James his cane and helped him up. She handed James his Pokémon and she let Glacier out, even though he was still poisoned.

"This is getting a bit…bothersome!" Vail said letting out the rock monster, Graveller. "Your Scyther may be fast but it doesn’t have the superior power of the Graveller!" Vail began to laugh but was cut short when the Graveller was frozen solid.

"Thanks Arasan!" Jeff shouted as she just smiled in return. "Lemme take care of this…" Jeff smiled as Blu shook her head and let Crash out of his ball.

"I suggest we get out of here…The old saying goes…’he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day’!" Blu said leaping onto Crash’s back, Arasan doing the same as she returned her Articuno to its ball. Jeff got off his Scyther and helped James onto it, then he got back on. Vail was fuming and was running after Blu.

"Scyther, Agility!" Jeff shouted, making sure James wouldn’t fall off the bug at high speeds. In a matter of seconds the Scyther caught up with the Rapidash and was following the path to Lavender.

"Where to now?!" James shouted over the sounds of feet striking the ground. Jeff smiled and held up a flyer to James that said "Pokémon Tournament in Saffron 3-25.

RULES: Only one Pokémon per trainer, no healing during or in-between rounds. Victor gets Rare Pokémon of their choice!" James smiled and yelled "OFF TO SAFFRON!"

• * *

Blu steered Rapidash along the road. Something blue was running towards her and it looked stupid. Crash snorted and slowed down a bit…

Miller jumped from the street to Blu’s lap, just hard enough to knock both Blu and Arasan of the Rapidash.

"Not now Miller!" Blu said, pushing him off of her face. Ripley, meanwhile, had joined them and Blu followed the two Pokés. The Pokéballs were rounded into a neat little pile. Blu picked them up, dumped them in her backpack.

"Hey, those aren’t yours," James said as Jeff’s Scyther slowed down.

"Yeah, we’ll split ‘em up next time we stop," Blu said. The three others looked doubtful.

"I promise. Here, Arasan can hold the bag." Blu handed the bag to Arasan, and hopped back on Crash.

"That Rocket might be coming, who knows. We should get going, and now is a good time." Blu

rubbed her wrist where it had been cuffed, and scowled as she realized her lock pick was gone. She hopped back on Crash and helped Arasan up.

"Miller, Ripley, return! And let’s get a move-on…"

**

They made it past the docks by nightfall. Lavender Town was as quiet as usual; meaning moderately alive. The four got board and room at the PokéCenter. Which wasn’t really practical, but it was cheap.

They sorted the Pokéballs, and eventually everyone had theirs. But the odd thing was, there were still a few left over.

"Must be from some previous rampage," Jeff remarked, summoning one. It opened to reveal a Spearow. The others included an Ekans, a Gloom, a Paras, a Dugtrio and a Growlithe.

"What should we do with them?" Blu said, trying to sound unsuspecting, but eyeing the Growlithe.

"We should find their owners and return them," Arasan said.

"What if they don’t have owners?"

The three looked at Blu.

"You think Vail caught all these himself? I’ll bet he stole them from someone," James said.

"So should we leave them with Nurse Joy?" Arasan asked.

Blu pondered that.

"Maybe we should just take care of them all, but if we ever find the owners…" Blu said.

"You’re too selfish," Jeff accused.

Blu got a superior look on her face.

"Of course!" She grinned. "Well, really, what should we do with them?"

• * *

Lavender Town.

So many memories.

So many deaths.

Arasan did not want to ever go back to Lavender Town ever again. She had made herself vow that. Yet, she had no choice now. There was no other way of getting to where they were going. Unless everyone had a bird or a bike, and Arasan had a bird but she couldn’t just flit all the way to Saffron and leave the others tagging behind-could she?

They had found a place to rest in the Pokecenter. Arasan grabbed the nearest couch-bed and flopped upon it like a dead duck. She was happy that things were slowing down. She had never ridden a Rapidash before in her life and that had been one heck of a ride. All the while she was nervous for if making sudden moves the Rapidash would maybe singe her backside at any moment. But it appeared that Blu, whoever she was exactly, had complete control over the fire horse. Crash had been what she had called it.

<I wonder why it’s name is Crash?> thought Arasan absentmindedly as she stared at the Pokcenter’s ceiling just a thinking. She did that sometimes. Just kind of thought about stupid unimportant things when too many memories or thoughts wanted to spin around through her head. She tried relaxing finally but James nudged her after finding extra PokeBalls in the backpack.

<Vail stole all these beautiful Pokémon? Oh.. how I yearn for that Gloom.> Arasan sat up after seeing the Gloom with it’s worried expression across it’s face and it’s cute little dribble of drool hanging from it’s mouth. It’s leaves were so soft and it’s fruits were said to be sweet or sour after they fall-depending on the Gloom’s mood. She reached out to touch it and the Gloom calmed down after Arasan spoke soothingly to it. She babied that Gloom to the extreme. Jeff thought it was funny and started to laugh.

"What’s so funny? It’s a Pokémon isn’t it?"

"Yeah, but a stinky one." Answered Jeff after taking a whiff of the Gloom’s eccentric perfume.

Arasan didn’t smell a thing. "I think you’re smelling things." Arasan knew that the Gloom smelled nice for people who didn’t make it nervous. When it felt safe it smelled sweet. But obviously Jeff hadn’t made the poor little Gloom feel safe enough for him to be able to smell it’s sweetness. Arasan giggled under her breath. Then she let go of the Gloom reluctantly.

"We should give these other Pokémon to Nurse Joy. It would be the right thing to do." That was extremely hard for Arasan to say and Jeff knew it.

"Maybe…"

"What?!" Arasan practically shouted.

Jeff resumed his speaking after clearing his throat in Arasan’s face. "Maybe we could each choose a Pokémon and keep it. Then the rest can go to Nurse Joy." Arasan quickly picked up the little Gloom once again. She closed her eyes tight and crossed her fingers.

• * *

James licked his lips and smiled. Five PokeBalls sat on the table before the four trainers, begging to be taken. The young trainer’s eyes darted back and forth, first to the Growlithe, then the Paras then the

Dugtrio. At last, James reached out and snatched a PokeBall. "This one is mine," James called, smiling triumphantly. It was the Growlithe. James made to place it in his pouch, but Blu began coughing wildly.

Smiling, James slowly removed the PokeBall from his pouch.

"Well, I suppose that maybe a Growlithe would be a bit redundant, what I really need is ground type." Replacing the Growlithe, James took up the Dugtrio.

"The Dugtrio is mine." Before anybody could react, he stuffed the PokeBall in his pouch. Jeff, Arasan and Blu all wore gratified looks upon their faces. "Well, I’m off to bed. We have a long day tomorrow."

Rolling over slowly, James sighed and awoke to find a large furry figure upon him. "Augh!" James cried in terror, twisting in a vain effort to escape it’s tongue. Awakening fully, James finally grabbed the invading Ninetails and held it aloft.

"Haha! Thought you could escape eh?" James made ready to drop it, when the beast slobbered once again on his face.

"Miller! Get off the pour guy!" Tapping her knee, Blu summoned the wayward Miller to her side.

"Sorry about that, I think I mentioned that he slobbers on you." James shrugged and snatched his

PokeBalls and medallion, "Don’t worry about it." Blue smiled and walked out of the room. Pulling on his clothes, James stepped out to grab some Breakfast.

After munching on a light Breakfast, the foursome made to depart the Pokecenter. "Did you give Joy that last Pokémon Jeff?" James inquired as he mounted Crash, he had always been wary of both the horse Pokémon. He recalled when he was but four years old, he had attempted to ride a

Ponyta through the field near Viridian and nearly broken his neck.

"Yeah, I did." James nodded and grabbed hold of Arasan’s waist for support (a happy feeling to be sure.) By midday, Crash had ridden into Saffron City with it’s passengers upon it’s back. James smiled and leapt off the Rapidash’s back. "Wow, Saffron City. It’s so big."

Turning his head about, James sighted the Gym to the West and a large stadium to the south. "That’s probably where the tournament will be." Arasan noted, pointing toward the large stadium. "Yeah. I’m gonna go check it out." Using his ever-present cane for support, James began

trekking toward the Stadium.

"Well, James Oake. Heh, you are certainly looking better. The cane is a nice touch." James turned grimly, he knew who possessed that voice.

"Teal? What are you doing here?" Teal stepped forward, his Graveller in tow. "Same reason you are kid, the big tournament."

James groaned, "Oh no, you’re in the big tournament?" Teal grinned and pointed to

Graveller, "Yeah. You don’t have a chance James, you may as well give up while you can."

James sneered and tapped his bag, "Don’t count on it. My Raticate and I will win this tournament AND the rare Pokémon."

Teal smiled broadly, "Heh. Suit yourself, don’t say that I didn’t warn you." Turning smugly, Teal walked off. The Graveller paused a moment and gazed uncertainly at James, but then too turned about and followed it’s master.

"Oh, I hate that guy." James growled to himself, still recalling his embarrassing loss at the OPTLL and later the field outside of Pewter. "I’ll show him!" James cried.

James stepped into the great Pokémon stadium and gazed about. It was truly a stadium on a grand scale, though the great bleachers stood empty James still felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the complex. Young Pokémon trainer, come to survey my great house?" James turned and gasped, "Caretaker!? What the hell are you doing here!? You said that you were going to go and die!" James cried angrily, recalling his encounter with the eccentric trainer back at Mt. Moon.

"I did? OH! I did! Of course, I love doing that to travelers. How’s my Kadabra, holding up well?"

James frowned, "Yeah, Kadabra is fine. What are you doing here, I thought that you were taking care of the Mt. Moon complex?" The Caretaker grinned, "What? Are you kidding, I wouldn’t stay in that dump if you paid me. I’m on the way up, the Elite Four suddenly remembered that I existed and now I’m in charge of this tournament. I get to be the mysterious referee."

The old man grinned haphazardly and twirled, "Hah! Agatha and I will be together again in no time! Oh, by the way the cane is a nice touch." James glared at his cane and sneered, "Shuttup about the cane ok? I’ve had at least 4 people comment on it today."

The Caretaker shrugged, "It befits you James Oake. In any case, I best be going. Goodbye for now!" With that, the Caretaker vanished.

"I can’t believe the old man had the nerve to lie to me back there. Eccentric old coot." James grumbled to himself. Turning, James made to return to the Pokémon Center and his companions. The tournament would begin tomorrow.

• * *

Blu tossed the Growlithe’s Pokéball triumphantly. She followed the others laggingly to the place where this Tournament was. It was huge! She stopped a bit to look at it. Eventually she followed the others into the stadium and watched James talk to some old guy, and caught the name

"Agatha." She grinned and wondered what Lance was up to at this point.

As they were walking around the place, which was sort of set up as a PokéCon, she began to ask about the Rocket.

"His name’s Vail," Jeff explained, gritting his teeth, "He gets around."

"I see," Blu said, "Is he in the tournament, do you think? With so many trainers in here I wouldn’t be surprised. If I see him, I’m entering the tournament, otherwise I think I’ll watch." Blu hefted a PokéT-shirt and stared at it. "Yuck! Miller, get back here!"

Miller looked at her pleadingly, but resigned and padded over. She held out his Pokéball.

"Be good or you’re going in here," she said. "Gee, I wish I had money. I bet they don’t except outdated gold coins from the bottom of the ocean?" She dug into her pockets and took out a battered, salt-stained handful of coins and grinned.

• * *

Jeff watched as the tournament began. He wouldn’t be up for awhile. Blu and Arasan had decided to watch for now, since only Jeff and James were in the tournament. James was in the first match up. James sent out his Raticate and his opponent sent out a Geodude. James remembered how Teal had humiliated with a Geodude.

"Raticate, Hyper Fang!" James screamed as the Raticate leaped into the air to get an advantage over the small boulder. It’s teeth dug into the back of the Geodude and it wouldn’t be able to hurt it from this angle. The Geodude struggled more and soon passed out. James moved on. The only other notable matches happened were the match with Jeff and followed by a match with Vail in it. Jeff was fighting a kid with a Kadabra, and his Scyther was overly dominant in the match. No matter how hard the psychic Pokémon tried to hit the bug with mental waves, it missed. The Scyther only hit it once and the Kadabra fainted.

Vail ended up against Satoshi. Vail grinned as he knew this match would definitely get interesting. Vail sent out his Primeape and Satoshi sent out his Pikachu. Vail’s Primeape was having a field day with the Pikachu. No matter what strategy Satoshi tried it was always overpowered in, and soon his

Pikachu had no chance of winning and was knocked out of the ring. The next round was pretty much boring, James, Jeff and Vail all won. The next match was Vail versus Jeff. Jeff began to prep himself. He couldn’t believe he had to fight Vail, and he was going to enjoy every moment of it.

"Blu…I know you want to go out there and ring his neck." Jeff said as he noticed Blu mangling her box of popcorn. Blu nodded and watched as Vail entered the ring. Jeff slowly followed in and had a very cold look to his face, and he knew that Vail was going to do something.

The match started off with Jeff on the defense. The Scyther ran circles around the ape and no matter how much the Primeape tried to connect it missed. Suddenly Jeff saw a dart fly into the ring and it narrowly missed his Scyther. He looked over where it came and saw Teal with a blow gun. Within that moment the Primeape grabbed the Scyther somehow and threw it out of the ring, Vail being the winner.

"That cheating bastard." Jeff grumbled as he walked over and sat in- between Arasan and Blu who were stunned that Jeff had lost to Vail.

"For some reason Jeff is shooting poisoned darts at Vail’s opponents. So Vail is going to win if this keeps up. Arasan, stay here and make sure James goes into his matches instead of following us. If James asked, tell him me and Blu went to the bathroom." Jeff said, ordering the two women around. Blu cracked her knuckles and stood up. She followed Jeff towards where he had last seen Teal.

Teal was there alright, loading up the blow gun again. The next match with Vail was James Versus Vail for the Rare Pokémon. If Jeff had won it would have been Jeff versus James. Teal smiled and patted the blow gun that one of the members of Team Rocket gave him to sabotage the match with. Blu cleared her throat to get his attention. Teal looked over and saw Jeff and Blu blocking the exit from the area where Teal was. He knew that he’d have to get through them to get away.

"So, you’re Teal." Jeff sneered. "I remember you from the hospital." Blu smirked and said something about Teal working with Vail and that she’d love to strangle both him and Vail. Teal shook his head and grabbed a ball.

"It’s not what you think…I have to do this, if not…" Teal said releasing Graveller from it’s ball. Jeff cut him off right there and tossed out Mist from it’s ball. Blu followed by letting out Brooke.

"Mist, Hydro Pump!" Jeff commanded as the Vaporeon began to glow a light blue color and growl. Brooke had started to use Hyper Beam and caught the Graveller off guard. Mist let out a loud growl and watched as a wave of water washed over the Graveller, knocking it onto the ground, face first.

Brooke began to recover from the Hyper Beam and slammed into the Graveller and watched as the Graveller winced in pain. Mist once again charged up for Hydro Pump and released it again, knocking the boulder into submission. Brooke now looked at Teal who had returned the Graveller to its ball. Brooke fired another Hyper Beam but this time, it hit Teal’s tote bag. The bag ripped into pieces, food, broken chopsticks, PokeBalls, and most importantly a shattered blow gun laid on the floor now. Teal began to pick up what he could and leaped over the railing and into a crowd and vanished. Jeff growled and punched the

wall as she began to watch the Vail/James fight.

"Raticate, Super Fang!" James said, resting on his cane. The Raticate leaped onto the Primeape’s face and began to dig it’s fangs into the muscle of the ape. The Primeape threw it aside and was still recovering from the fangs as the Raticate leaped onto it again and began to bite it again.

"Primeape, throw it away from you!" Vail said as the Primeape struggled to pick up the Raticate. After several tries, the Raticate was on the other side of the ring. The Primeape stood up.

"Primeape, Focus Energy!" Vail was annoyed, Teal hadn’t shot the dart yet. Something must have happened.

"Raticate, Body Slam it!" James yelled as the Primeape charged its fighting spirit. The Raticate ran at full speed towards the ape. Raticate put all of his weight and strength left into the Primeape and caused it to fly up into the air. The Raticate leaped up after it but was punched up higher. Suddenly the Primeape came down and crashed into the stands outside of the ring, the judge stood up and cleared his throat.

"Winner! James Oake. Mr. Oake you may now choice one rare Pokémon of your choice." James smiled as he saw Teal run through the crowd, Jeff hot on his heels.

"I want…" James considered, there were so many possible! So many thoughts flitted through his head, each one wilder then the last. Jynx, Gengar, Zapdos, MewTwo.. James stopped, was it really possible to get a MewTwo? James began to open his mouth..

"Wait! Stop! This winner is a fake! He cheated!" An audible gasp went up throughout the stadium, and every eye turned toward James.

"Uh, no I didn’t." James stammered, he wasn’t sure what to say. Two heavy hands clapped on James’ shoulder and he was dragged off to the office of the Tournament officiator.

Blu sighed and kicked the wall, the tournament was over and she hadn’t had the opportunity to battle with Vail, a depressing thought to be sure.

"Excellent work Samuel." Blu spun as she heard the all to familiar voice of Vail.

"Most excellent." Turning, Blu his behind a corner and watched as Vail and a second Rocket stepped down the hall.

"I’m sorry that I hit your Primeape sir, I was aiming for the Raticate.."

Vail only smiled and continued to walk, "Worry not my friend, the payoff for your action was greater then you can imagine." Snarling, Blu made to follow Vail. She did not know what this "payoff" was, but she saw her chance to take out Vail. Blu moved down the hallway for a time, shadowing Vail’s every movement.

Then unexpectedly, he disappeared. "Where did he.." Blu began to say, but then a heavily gloved hand clapped over her mouth and pulled her aside.

"Scream or move, and you die." To illustrate her assailants’ point, a small knife had appeared and pricked her throat.

"You were following me, I do not appreciate being shadowed." Vail shoved Blu hard, knocking her into the wall. Blu made to rise, but a cocked gun halted her. "Oh it’s you. You do not give up do you? Oh well, take her." Three Rockets snatched up Blu and hauled her toward the truck. "See to it that she is taken care of Samuel."

Blu struggled the entire way to the truck, grabbing walls, screaming and generally creating a ruckus. At last, the Rockets threw her in the back and slammed the door.

"Who, who’s there?" A low moan resounded through the closed space, Blu waited for her eyes to adjust to the dark and squinted. "Who are you?" Blu inquired, more then a little curious.

"I’m Teal, Pokémon Trainer." Blu cocked her head and eyed the young man before her, "Teal? Oh, you’re that guy that James is always talking about. What are you doing here?"

Teal sneered and spat, "It’s a long story. Let’s just say that nobody fails Vail, least of all unwilling conscripts."

James sat in the tournament officiators office and shifted nervously. For nearly thirty minutes James’ unwitting escorts merely stood and stared. But then, they simply turned and departed and the officiator and the Caretaker entered.

"James Oake. You are charged with cheating in the Pokémon League Tournament, what say you?" The officiator was angry, his eyes burned quietly as he eyes James.

"I didn’t cheat. Come on Caretaker, you know me. I didn’t cheat!" The officiator shook his head and the Caretaker shrugged.

"I’m sorry Mr. Oake, but we have conclusive proof." Sticking in a tape, the officiator pointed solemnly. Leaning forward, James watched as his battle was played out once again.

But then, a surprise. The tape went into slow motion, and a dart was seen flying through the air to hit Vail’s Primeape, "Mr. Roe’s Primeape was incapacitated not long after."

James was about to say something, when in burst Jeff and Arasan. "He didn’t cheat, Vail did. Teal shot the darts" Jeff growled.

The officiator only shook his head, "Impossible, Vail of Team Rocket was not even at this tournament." Jeff snorted and pointed at the screen, "There he is right there."

The officiator growled quietly, "That is not Vail, that is Tom Roe." Jeff immediately went into a mad rage, knocking over furniture and unfortunate plants.

"I know who Vail is okay!?" But the Caretaker shook his head as well, "That is not Vail, I’ve MET Vail." Jeff could only gape, "Are you all mad? That’s Vail!"

But the Caretaker smiled, "That’s not Vail, he doesn’t have his hat!" Jeff groaned and collapsed. "Besides Teal could not have shot the darts. He was seen being chased by YOU when the dart was shot." The officiator nodded silently and sighed, "Very well then. It is my judgement that James Oake be stripped of his Pokémon license and banned from competition. Charges will be pressed later."

• * *

Jeff and James stormed out of the office. James was stunned by the fact that Vail cheating had gotten his license removed. Jeff was pissed because they couldn’t tell the difference between the same person if they have a beret or not. Jeff punched the wall silently, leaving fist imprints in the hard brick. James sighed and sat down on the sidewalk. Arasan came out of the stadium and looked at James and Jeff and ran towards them.

"Hey, what happened to you two? And where’s Blu?" Arasan yelled as she ran towards the two boys, who were both staring at her. She smiled and asked what they were staring at.

"Well, I just lost my license to be a trainer. They claimed I cheated against Mr. Roe…I mean Vail. That cheating bastard." James mumbled as he stood up, his cane supporting him. Arasan then blinked at the sit behind James, which was Jeff’s fist imprints in the brick wall. She gulped and then looked back at James.

"What happened?" Arasan asked. James told her that they said He had someone shoot a dart at the Primeape when James was battling Vail. They couldn’t prove it was Vail because he didn’t have a beret. Arasan frowned. "Geez, talk about strict."

"James…I’m going to help you get your license back! I’m going to get Vail and bring him here. Just another reason to go after that cheating bastard." Jeff said, promising himself that.

"James, you just relax here in Saffron. Arasan and me will look for Vail." Jeff said grabbing Arasan by the wrist and running down the street, the girl in tow. James sighed.

"I might as well go for a walk around Saffron…I can’t catch or train any Pokémon for now…" James said to himself, hobbling off, cane supporting him again. He wandered outside of Saffron and walked over to a bush and looked around. Nothing was out…or so it seemed. Suddenly a Rattata appeared and bit James right in the behind.

"YYYYYEEEEOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!" James bellowed, leaping a few feet straight up in the air. He saw the Rattata chuckling at him as it ran off.

"Get back here you rat!" James said hobbling after it. Soon the Rattata ran at James and curved around James and once again bit him in the behind. James yelled in pain again and watched as the Rattata was once again laughing at him. After a few more times of the Rattata biting James it ran off when James

threw his cane at it.

The sun was soon setting, Arasan and Jeff were both on the other side of Celadon in a matter of hours. Arasan finally collapsed. Jeff helped her up but she fell down again.

"Jeff.. Can we sleep now? I’m tired." Arasan groaned as she refused to get up now. Jeff sat down next to her and sighed. Once Arasan had made her mind up on something, she’d want to do it until it was finished.

"Okay we will." Jeff said as he pulled a tent out of his backpack and set it up. While he was doing that Arasan dug through Jeff’s backpack just to see what else he had in there. She saw sandwiches, cans of soup, potions, PokeBalls, sleeping bags, but she stopped at the last thing that was in there.

It was a picture of Arasan’s and Jeff’s families, from a few years ago. Arasan couldn’t believe Jeff still had this.

"Jeff…you still have this?" Arasan suddenly spoke as Jeff finished setting up the tent. Jeff went over and looked at what she was looking at. He blushed at the sight of the picture.

"Well, yeah I did…I mean you’re the closest I have to family left." Jeff said, blushing like mad. She just smiled. Suddenly Jeff kissed her on the lips and smiled. "G’night…" Jeff said as he grabbed a sleeping bag and went to sleep in it. Arasan grabbed one too and snuggled hers up next to his.

• * *

"Damn truck. Damn Team Rocket. Damn Vail…" Blu paced the truck. She was glad she had her Pokémon. But she wasn’t running this time. If she had any say, and she did, Vail would be having a close, intimate relationship with the ground soon.

She kicked the walls a few times.

"Won’t work, I’ve tried," Teal said miserably. Blu gave him a disappointed look.

"I wasn’t trying to get out," she stated, "I want give Vail a nice headache." She traveled along the wall, rapping her knuckles and kicked the truck’s walls whenever she could. They weren’t moving; She wondered what they were waiting for?

She was answered too soon; The truck lurched to a move and she almost lost her footing. She hoped Vail was in the driver’s seat.

"Go Ripley," she said. Teal gasped, and she was pleased.

The tiny Dragonair followed her unspoken command and rammed his horn into the front of the truck. Then, using his powerful coils, he tore a sheet down, and Blu called him back.

She looked out the hole, to see the junction where the main truck connected to the caboose. The road whizzed beneath the thin bar that held the two together. She looked up ahead, and was rewarded with Vail’s red ponytail waving at her.

"Kid, I’m pullin’ the plug when I get out there. Be ready for a ride, and I’ll catch ya later." She climbed out the hole and grabbed a good handhold on the back of the truck. Fortunately Vail hadn’t seen her yet. She stooped to see the connection between the two parts of the truck.

The vehicle turned, and she chose that moment to cut the connection. Working quickly, she managed to release the trailer in time for it to swerve off the road and out of danger.

The cab jerked violently, and she could hear Vail cursing. She grinned. The cab slowed down. Finally stopped on the side of the road. Blu stepped off, making sure not to let him see her until too late…

He opened his door and turned to meet Blu’s fist. Then she hit his hand that had the gun with stunning accuracy, and she grabbed it, holding it to his neck.

He refused to talk, but Blu got in the truck and grabbed his ponytail. She yanked him in, and told him to drive.

• * *

They drove to Saffron, where they stopped and Blu made sure he didn’t have any weapons. It was well into the night and Blu took the Rocket to the bridge to Sunny Town. She had friends in the Bike Gang and trusted them to keep away.

If she was going to get Vail back… If she was going to have revenge, she was not going to have him tied and then just kick him a few times. Other girls she knew would simply gag him and hand him over to the police. But Blu had never been like the other girls. Some Proffessors on Cinnabar had claimed her violent and borderline psychotic. Borderline psychotic; She laughed out loud.

She summoned all her Pokémon, to make sure he would not escape. She left her weapons in the truck, guarded by Ripley. She shoved Vail out onto the open bridge and invited him to try and get a hit at her. He seemed all to eager to try. He must know by now she wasn’t some weakling ready to give

in at the first slap. The two squared off. Blu tossed her sunglasses to the small group of Bikers that were gathering.

Vail took a wrestler’s stance, while Blu herself preferred to do a bit of kickboxing, if it came to that. He wasn’t stupid, and Blu knew what she was doing might get her killed. Mostly because Vail would not give her mercy, not matter what information she had for him, not at this point. And she was not about to take /this/ fight with Pokémon. Only weaklings insisted settling accounts by battling Pokémon. And Blu knew that Vail was lunchmeat to her Dragons.

Vail, not being stupid, did not rush her. He waited, and when she drew in nearer, he tried for a quick punch to the face. Blu dodged it, and crouched and socked him in the gut. He doubled over, and she slammed down on his shoulder with her elbow.

Raucous cheers an jeers came from the group of Bikers, who seemed to enjoy watching a Rocket get the crap beat out of him. It was even more entertaining when it was a girl winning.

Vail slouched, and she backed off. He looked at her, some sort of fury burning in his eyes. He rushed her this time, hitting her head on. If it hadn’t been so violent, Blu coulda sworn he was coming on to her. As soon as he had her back against the support of the bridge, he punched her once. She ducked afterwards, and kicked sharply at his shin. She stood up, wiping the blood off her face. Nosebleeds were annoying. Vail was glaring at her, and he punched at her face this time. She grabbed his wrist as she dodged to the side. Then she did something no girl she knew had ever dared do; She kneed him sharply in a place that most people wouldn’t go….

And this was only the first round.

• * *

A sudden light blinded Arasan. She thought the spirits had come for her and sat up straight ready for the transfer. But she was relieved when she noticed they were only the lights from a truck’s brights. Then she was scared again. It was a Team Rocket Truck.

Jeff had grabbed a stick and was ready to fend off the bastards. But it was not a rocket who exited the truck- it was Blu. Blu Flyer.

Arasan had heard that name before but couldn’t place where. It was on the tip of her tongue too. :P

Jeff and Arasan were about to help Blu with whatever she was picking up off of the ground but hesitated when they both saw who was being shoved around. Vail.

Arasan almost screamed. Her right eye was twitching madly. Her neck was itching so much that Glacier had to scratch it for her with her beak. Arasan knew that having Vail with them was trouble…. But like always…she didn’t tell anyone. She didn’t want anyone to know about these strange coincidences. The "signs" scared her. She didn’t know what was causing them or what they meant exactly. She hugged Mope tightly. Her Gloom would not become part of Vail’s stolen collection.

"What did you bring that fiend here for??!!" That was Jeff. He almost dared to sock Blu right then and there. "Maybe we shouldn’t trust you after all! I’ll bet you are a Rocket spy!! You led Vail here so that after he regains his consciousness and his insanity he’ll just drag us all away!"

Blu ignored Jeff’s commotion and laid Vail gently on the grass away from the party-

Then she kicked him in the side as he was starting to groan. He groaned louder and gathered a fury of strength and grabbed Blu’s foot. But it didn’t last long. Blu yanked her foot out of Vail’s grip and kicked him again. Vail lost his sense of balance and slipped downward onto his back…unconscious once again.

<She’s brave. I’m not brave. I’m to insecure to be brave. I’m also self-critical as everyone can see by now.> Arasan raised her eyebrows as she remembered about the picture. She searched Jeff’s bag again and grabbed the picture. Arasan and Jeff were in it. So was their parents-including Jeff’s dad. Her dad was left missing. He would probably be missing forever. She looked back at the picture closer. One of her sisters was there too. Kaidi.

Long green hair. Piercing black eyes. She had come to that photo shooting after she had graduated from an unknown organization. She never talked of that organization and no one could contact her until Arasan’s family had found a friend-a good friend that Kaidi had known for quite some time. That friend was the only one who could contact her.

Arasan’s mother had begged Kaidi not to join the strange club that was keeping her from her family but she had refused to quit the club. She was never seen since… Arasan had promised to her mother at 6 years old that she would never join a strange group of people that kept her from her family.

She was breaking that promise as we speak.

And here was a picture of her in an unknown world. She barely remembered the day that picture was took. Kaidi was seen standing behind her resting a hand on her shoulder, the hand with the ring that the club had given her on her graduation. Her class ring. Arasan remembered that ring. The ring that ruined her relationship with the family. Arasan remembered the next day more…

"So what do we do with Vail?" said Arasan shaking the bad thoughts out of her head. She was still gonna be very wary about Vail. Something about him disturbed her…and she wasn’t sure what it was…something didn’t quite connect just right.

Her eye never stopped twitching and Glacier rubbed Arasan’s neck much harder.

• * *

Aka had flopped down upon the soft grass surrounding the countryside. Lavender Town was their destination but they had been walking so much that Tane had to collapse on the nice cool grass. It was so sweet too so he grabbed a chunk full and started munching.

"Tane? You eat grass? But I thought you were a Grass Pokémon?" In mid chew Tane spit the grass onto Aka’s face and looked embarrassed. Aka had pulled enough stuff off of his face that day and wasn’t about to pull that off too. He had had enough of the Spearow and Pidgey droppings and the Gloom fruit thrown at him that he just let the chewed up grass stay stuck on his face.

Tane laughed when he saw the grass stuck to his eyelashes and the green grass stains smeared all over his cheeks and forehead so Aka grabbed a handful of the mushy stuff and threw it at Tane who retaliated by slapping him playfully with his Vine Whip. Soon Aka and Tane were having a ball as they threw pebbles and twigs and even dirtclods at each other. Aka summoned Pearl and hid behind him as a fortification. Tane ran behind a thick tree stump and found moss. He threw it at Aka head on and it hit him square in the face.

Aka grabbed a stick and bent it into a boomerang shape and threw it. It knocked back Tane’s Leech Seed and sent it flying through the clouds above and then the stick returned. Aka had a cheeky grin on his face along with the moss stuck between his teeth.

Tane jumped back as the stick came at him again and it got lodged in a tree branch behind his stump. This time Tane had the cheeky grin and Aka had a downed look upon his face. He thrummed his lips with his finger as his eyes rolled back into his head, so much for the boomerang.

Tane sent some more Leech Seeds but Aka’s keen fortification prevented them from hitting their target. Pearl then decided this wasn’t so fun and slid off to another part of the clearing to watch the fight instead of being part of it. Aka cursed the stupid beast over and over but Pearl knew that Aka’s threats of pulling his shell off of his back were in vain. Pearl thwacked him into a tree with one of his flippers and a few of Aka’s teeth fell out and he had this dazed look. Then a look of pure revenge crossed his face and he picked up a rock-a big rock and threw it square between the Lampras’ eyes. The Lampras didn’t like that at all. So she Body Slammed him-yup- Body Slammed. :P

Aka, after blowing himself back up into something not so flat grabbed Slick’s ball and threw it toward the Lampras.

"So, it’s Pokémon against the Master is it? Well then, take this!" The ball landed and popped open to reveal the Grimer. But the Grimer yawned and melted away to nothing as it slunk back into it’s Pokeball. Aka’s jaw dropped.

"Why you good for nothing @#$%!!!" The Pokeball opened a crack and a tongue- a black gooey tongue- stuck out. That made Aka very angry! He kicked the Pokeball out into the field a ways –but it hovered back to him. He put his hand to his forehead and rubbed it downward making his face all contorted. Tane and the Lampras were laughing the whole time. That was the second time those two had laughed at him for acting stupid. Tane wrapped his Vines around Aka and squeezed hard. Aka couldn’t breath.

Tane and Pearl just smiled at each other. The secret of the Pokémon revolution fresh in their minds.

Blu sat down and let her hair down, attempting to straighten it out. Didn’t help much. It was at this point that she realized her captive may not be welcome.

"We were driving through, I thought maybe you guys would know what to do with him," she explained. "Though I can take him elsewhere. I know it sounds crazy, but I’d dearly love to infiltrate Team Rocket and collapse it. Yes, crazy. Crazy me. I’m crazy. But then again, we wouldn’t have

this guest if I wasn’t crazy, now, would we?" Blu patted Vail on the head mockingly.

Jeff kept Arasan out of the way, Blu was beginning to scare him.

"I don’t want that Rocket anywhere near here," he said.

Blu looked at him, and shrugged.

"I just don’t know what to do with him. Oh, I know! Boy, I’m smart."

Arasan dreaded to know what she was going to do now. She hoped it wasn’t something- Pure Evil.

"C’mon Brooke." Blu walked back to the truck, the Dragonair following her with Vail in tow. She turned back to them.

"If you guys need me, we’ll be in Celadon City. I just wanted to stop by and let you know I was okay." She grinned, "I bet you were all worried about me. Actually, I just wanted to let you know that Vail is NOT okay. Feel free to tell the other Rockets what I did. Bring ‘em on."

**

Vail woke up in a hospital. The last time he’d been in a hospital, it had been for a different reason.

He hurt all over, and when he tried to move his arm, a pain shot down his elbow. Despite the energy it cost, he scowled.

"Wakey, wakey!" someone said at the door. A nice-looking nurse came in with a plate of Jell-O. Vail wondered who the hell she was.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Why, I’m just the nurse. The Doctor will be in to see you shortly." She seemed to ignore all the hostility.

"Who brought me here?" Vail sat up painfully, and the years of training were all that allowed him to keep his face straight.

"Oh, your sister. She’s waiting in the lobby, I will go and fetch her. You’ve had a terrible accident…" The nurse left, closing the door behind her.

His sister? What the hell had happened? Why was he in a hospital? Who was posing as his….

The memories of the previous night washed back. That b*tch Flyer…humiliating him and his honor. He clenched a fist as the door opened.

Blu Flyer smiled out into the hallway, nodding at someone in the hall. She walked in, and closed the door behind her. Her smile vanished and was replaced by a wicked grin.

She came in and sat down in a chair next to his bed.

"So, /brother/, how are you doing this morning?" She said, every word dripping with sarcasm. Vail’s eyes filled with nothing but hate. He didn’t say anything, so she kept talking.

"Isn’t it fun, just sitting here, waiting for people to feed you," she said. Then she stared at him. "You know Vail, I could have killed you. You are very lucky. But I wouldn’t want something like that on my record ,now would I?"

"You will be killed," he whispered as loud as he could. "My fa-The Boss’ll make sure that you are tortured first."

Blu laughed, genuinely amused.

"Not when I have you. You’re my hostage. And I win either way; If Rocket ambushes me, I threaten to kill you. You only get one chance, Rocket. If I kill you, and Rocket still doesn’t care, you are dead and I am happy. I don’t kill you, they leave me alone, I am happy. Cept I have to take care

of you. By the way, I burned your Rocket Uniform. The bikers got a big kick outta that," Blu grinned. The grin vanished as she looked thoughtful.

"Y’know Vail, if I didn’t hate you so much, I might have liked you. We might have made a good team. You aren’t dumb like most Rockets. You seem to know what you’re doing. But you’re too damn loyal."

Blu looked out the window. "Me, I’m not loyal to anyone. And I don’t have responsibilities. Except right now. You’re my only responsibility now. And I don’t expect to change you. It’s kind of sad, really. There aren’t enough smart guys in the pitiful world we live in."

"Damn you Rattata, come out and fight!" James hopped about indignantly, waving his cane like a madman. At last, James sighed and stopped.

"I’m worthless." He muttered, swiping at an unfortunate piece of shrubbery. "I’m a 15 year old cripple who’s been robbed of his Pokémon license. I’ll never see competition again."

James tapped his leg, it had gone largely numb. Vail had damaged a nerve, he would never walk normally again. James walked quietly for a time, a thousand mad and depressing thoughts pounding through his head at once. At last James stopped, he didn’t want to go any further. Narrowing his eyes, the youth turned his head slowly to the left. Before him stood Sabrina’s Gym.

The Saffron City Gym." James muttered. It was a strange affair, the building was a sea of elegant curves and angles. It looked vaguely like a large seashell with a terrible appetite.

"Could I?" James wondered aloud. Gym leaders never checked for the Pokémon Trainers license. "Why not, I have nothing to lose. Come on out Raticate." Luckily the officiator had not confiscated his PokeBalls. James looked about warily, half expecting the officiator or the caretaker to appear. As James approached the Gym, it seemed to grow menacingly, like a hungry animal. Raticate chattered nervously and James patted it to silence the pour beast. A feeling of dread seemed to pervade the place. At last James arrived at the large double doors.

"Here goes nothing." With an effort, James pushed open the door and stepped inside. The main corridor was empty, a string of torches lined the entryway. Breathing hard, James made his way down the corridor. The shadows seemed to dance and laugh, conspiring to make a fool of him. At last James reached the end of the corridor and shoved open the door. The chamber was empty save for a man in a white lab coat.

"Welcome James Oake." James took a step back and eyed the man before him with some contempt. "How did you know my name?" James asked flatly, the man only smiled and tapped his head, "Follow me."

James glowered and followed the Psychic into the next chamber. It was dark, the only light coming from a spotlight high above the floor. Ignoring James, the Psychic moved forth and kneeled in the light.

"Great one, this trainer has come from afar to challenge you, as you it would be." There was no response. James was about to give up when the Psychic suddenly grabbed his head and shrieked in pain. "Forgive me great one, I did not know!" Yelling wildly, the Psychic dashed out of the room. James’s attention was not on the Psychic however, a second light had illuminated an ornate throne. In it sat a young woman and a doll. "I’ve been waiting for you."

A loud crack resounded throughout the chamber, and without warning the tell tale flames of the torch began to appear, as one by one the lights were lit until at last the two great pyres near Sabrina’s throne lit up.

"One on one, an all out match." Sabrina’s voice was flat, emotionless yet still carried a ring of challenge about it. In stark contrast to Sabrina’s voice was the doll, which giggled maniacally. Doing his best to ignore the giggling piece of porcelain, James pointed to Raticate angrily.

"Very well, I choose Raticate." Sabrina’s face was neutral, "Come now Kadabra." The doll’s arms rose quietly and a single PokeBall floated forth to hit the ground and release Kadabra.

"Body Slam him Raticate!’ Hissing wildly, the Raticate dashed forward to slam the Kadabra and end the match, but without warning the Kadabra vanished to send the Raticate sprawling.

"Kadabra, Confusion." Sabrina called, her voice barely audible. With a low hum and a flash the Kadabra reappeared and glared at the Raticate. The Raticate seemed initially unaffected, but then it screeched and grabbed it’s head in agony.

Sabrina’s eyes began to glow a crimson red. "Kadabra, Psychic." The Kadabra nodded and pointed it’s spoon. The Raticate trembled visibly, and with terrible predictability was flung clear across the room to slam into the wall. Hard. Stalking forward, the Kadabra glared at the Raticate, as if taunting it. "Raticate, Hyper Fang now!" James cried desperately, not truly expecting the Raticate to be able to perform the attack. Stirring weakly, the Raticate abruptly up and delivered a crushing blow. The Kadabra staggered, fell back and vanished. "

That got it!" James cried triumphantly, Sabrina however was not impressed. "Psi Beam! Without warning, the Kadabra reappeared.

"Cate?" The Raticate inquired softly. "Kadabra!" The Kadabra replied, terrible rings of color struck the Raticate dead on. The Raticate squeaked quietly, and collapsed. "Raticate!" James cried in anguish, hobbling over to his friend. The Pokémon was silent. Taking his Pokémon into his arms, James began to stroke it quietly. Then the terrible giggle filled the chamber. Looking up, James saw Sabrina standing over him. She was silent, unsmiling and unyielding.

"You will not escape."

Jeff groaned as he sat in the waiting room in the Celadon City hospital. He wanted to get to Vail, and clear James’ name. He had seen Blu take Vail in this direction. He even left Arasan on the side of the road, sleeping. Jeff waited even more as he wasn’t allowed in because family was visiting. Suddenly the nurse opened the door and led Jeff to Vail’s room.

"I never knew you could be this brutal, Blu." Jeff said, admiring the sight of Vail. Vail had a few band-aides across his face, his left arm in a sling and the right forearm in white bandages. Blu smiled and agreed with Jeff.

"Now, we just have to get him to Saffron and clear James’ name!" Jeff yelled with glee. Blu shook her head and frowned a bit.

"No, we aren’t. This guy has to be turned into the police! We can’t let him get away from us now." Blu argued. Jeff shook his head and began to yell at Blu.

"Look, this guy is in no condition to run from us! I don’t think he could!" Blu gave Jeff a dark glance and began to argue with him. A nurse peered in and shook her head, knowing the two were probably brother and sister arguing over something.

"Shut up!!! You are giving me a headache!" Vail bellowed Blu and Jeff totally ignoring him. Vail rolled his eyes and stuffed his head under the pillow. Now their argument got worse. Blu, fed up with arguing slapped Jeff across the face. Jeff went wide-eyed. Why did she hit him?! I mean, her friend was more important to her, right? Jeff cleared the thought from his head. He threw a punch at Blu who easily caught his fist.

"You, want to fight huh? You saw what I did to Vail!" Blu said, punching at Jeff. Jeff reeled back and hit the wall. Jeff ran at her, and speared her into the wall. Blu threw him aside, and Jeff landed on the end of Vail’s bed. Jeff stood up and kicked at Blu who easily blocked them. Blu then went for a low blow on Jeff, but Jeff had knocked her feet out from under her before she had a chance to.

"You want some more?" Jeff said, slightly out of breath as Blu stood up. Blu lunched at Jeff who caught her and punched her in the arm then in the stomach. Blu reeled back and then leaped at Jeff. Jeff, caught off guard, went tumbling to the ground with Blu punching at him. Blu had Jeff pinned to

the ground and punched him repeatedly in the face. Blu looked at her fist and saw some blood on it, Jeff’s nose had started to bleed.

Jeff grunted as he threw Blu off of him and into the wall. Finally a few nurses showed up and tried to stop them, but they couldn’t get close with- out being injured. Blu and Jeff were now trading blows eveningly and neither were showing signs of weariness. One of the nurses’ finally got smart enough and called the police. By the time Officer Jenny arrived, Blu and Jeff had slowly moved down the hallway and were in the waiting room. Jeff had a steady trail of blood and bruises along his face and chest, seeing as his shirt had been torn. Blu had a bit of a bloody nose, but she had bruises up and down her arms and face. Blu was starting to tire, since she had already fought Vail, hours earlier.

"Stop this out once!" Officer Jenny yelled through her megaphone. Jeff and Blu ignored her and kept fighting. Finally Jeff backed away from Blu as she lurched towards him. Blu thought Jeff was giving up, but he then ran at her, and tackled her, pushing both of them through the brick wall of the waiting room.

Both were now showing heavy signs of fatigue. Blu and Jeff couldn’t keep this fight up much longer at this rate. Officer Jenny worried about not having any living people to arrest for the charges. Finally, after backup had arrived, the police force circled and pulled apart Jeff and Blu and handcuffed

them. They were put in a patty wagon and dragged off to the Celadon Jail.

"Great…wait till Arasan finds out." Jeff mumbled, holding a tissue to his bleeding nose. He sat inside his plain, gray cell and sighed. He really got on Blu’s bad side today. He wondered how much he had hurt Blu, but worried more about his injuries. He had several cuts up and down his face and chest. Not to mention the bruises as well. At least he didn’t end up like Vail.

Blu groaned as she laid down in her separate cell. She could feel at least two of her ribs broken. She knew when it had happened because it was when Jeff plowed her through the wall. She knew she had bruises up and down her chest, stomach, and back. She rubbed a wet cloth across her face to clean

off the blood that had been coming from her nose. Maybe her nose was broken… she wouldn’t know until she was allowed out of jail and back into a hospital.

They both admitted, the other put up one hell of a fight…neither of them had felt they had beaten the other. They both waited sentencing, which wouldn’t be for quite sometime. Jeff changed into a fresh shirt and looked out the barred window. Blu had closed her eyes and began to sleep. This was one

hell of a day.

• * *

When Blu woke up the room was dark. She looked around and saw Jeff sitting across from her, thinking about who-knows-what. A wall of metal grating separated their two cells. Her limbs were sore and heavy. She thought she’d slept for two days straight. Remains of stale food were

beside her… Maybe she had woken up long enough to eat. She’d always been a fast healer.

"Where?" She demanded. It didn’t sound like much of a demand at this point. At the moment her mind was reeling. She was beginning to hurt again.

"Saffron. Jail."

Blu frowned and realized she had bandages everywhere. She began to studiously rip them off, until she was clean of them all.

"This is disgusting," she remarked, bringing the bandages to the sink and rinsing them out. After they were clean, she got around to re-bandaging everything.

"Dammit, now Vail is probably loose again," she said. "If you hadn’t come barraging in like that…." She began muttering under her breath. She looked at Jeff, who was (fortunately) in pretty much the same state as she. She congratulated herself in her mind for yet again surviving the odds. What odds? She asked herself. If she had been in peak condition Jeff would not be here. And she would be under heavy guard. And she would not hurt so much…

A door creaked in the far room, and in walked Arasan, Proffessor Cole and Officer Jenny.

"Jeff!" Arasan said, going to the cell wall. Cole merely stood where he was, with a look of pleasure and disappointment on his face.

"These them?" Jenny asked them. Both of the Visitors nodded.

"Proff…" Blu said, standing up. She wearily leaned on the bars of the cell. "Why’ou here?"

"I’m the closest to family you have," he said.

"Oh y’are, are ya?"

"Unfortunately."

"What about Vail?"

Cole screwed his face into an odd frown.

"Some men came in and brought him to a private recovery center," Cole said.

"Damn!" The only good thing out of this was that she would get a chance at him again. At the moment the thought was appealing. Officer Jenny unlocked the cells, and Blu was careful not to go near Jeff. She didn’t want to get pissed again.

**

Outside Cole handed Blu her Pokémon. Arasan walked Jeff out and the four stood, blinking in the sunlight outside the Saffron City Detention Building.

Blu turned to Jeff, for the moment forgiving him for letting Vail make his aided escape.

"You wanna clear James’ name?"

At this point, James was near the only person she felt like being nice to. Poor kid. He seemed nice enough. And if she ever got her hands on Vail she’s be doing every one a favor.

"Yeah," Jeff said coldly.

"Look. I’m going after Vail. This time I’m not gonna hurt him. He’s dead this time. But if you think he has the means to clear James’ name, then I will keep him alive long enough to do that."

Jeff eyed her critically.

"Vail’s mine-" he started. Then he saw the look in Blu’s eyes: Revengeful and emotionless. That almost confirmed his decision, but he also saw the look in Arasan’s…

**

Blu thanked Cole and told him not to ask about her or he’d get in trouble. Then she headed off in search of Rocket HQ. She’s heard they’d had some dealings in Celadon… Now if she could find out where…

But for now she was sleeping. Sleeping and healing as much as she could before she got to Rocket. Or they got to her.

**

She was riding Crash to Celadon, when a small band of Rockets appeared silently near her. Crash did not spook, but the intensity of his flames grew hotter. The Rockets had guns. Blu did not protest. You do not protest against guns.

She dismounted Crash and returned him to his Pokéball. The Rockets took her Pokémon and calmly batted her over the head.

**

The next thing she knew was that her head hurt. She was getting sick of this cycle. She looked up and realized she was cuffed and sitting in a chair. Tied, of course.

When her eyes cleared, she looked across the room. The room was darkened, and all she could see of the dark figure across from her were two powerful hands neatly clasped on the dark desk. The golden glint of a Persian’s charm glittered from the darkness.

She heard something behind her. When Vail stepped forward, to her left, she gritted her teeth.

"Blu Flyer," Vail said. He did not sound fully recovered yet. Yay.

"This is the one?" The Rocket Boss said.

"Yes."

Blu waited indignantly as the two exchanged quaint words. Then the Boss turned to her.

"I have been notified of your expertise in combat, as well as your intelligence and…Pokémon," the Boss said. "It has also come to my attention that this Rocket’s team mate has come to an…Untimely demise." Blu felt Vail’s hand tense at this. "I have a proposal for you, therefore."

"Master, no!" Vail started, suddenly realizing where this was going.

"Silence! Flyer, I am prepared to offer you a life of luxury, if you are to swear loyalty to me, and to fill the place of this Rocket here’s team mate."

"Never! I swear allegiance to no one," Blu said. Then she began to think. She could lie. She’d done so in the past. This could prove useful…

"The alternative is death, you do realize," the Boss said.

"Master, I don’t think-" Vail started, to be silenced again. Blu could feel his resentment and anger mixing. She realized this would be the best way to torture him, until he defected. What would she do?

She had already made up her mind.

• * *

Blu made her third trip into a Rocket truck. This was only the second time she had had the "privilege" of sitting in the cab. And she wasn’t dressed like she wished.

The Rocket Gang uniform had been re-trimmed. She insisted that if she WAS going to join Team Rocket, they should at least give her an outfit that fit her activities. This one was not cut-short like most girl’s Rocket outfits.. She was happy with it. It reminded her a great deal of her uniforms before… The top had a high neck, and the rest was near skin-tight, made of a thick material that didn’t threaten to tear if

someone decided to grab her sleeve. It had a small red "R" on the place where she usually had her –F- symbol. High black gloves reached up to meet the ends of the sleeves. The bottom part of the uniform was not a skirt, and that was the only pleasing thing about it. "Fashionable" boots came up past her knees, and were met with what were just about black jean shorts. She had had to take down her hair to get the beret on, now it hung down and was bugging her. She wondered if she should cut it.

She stopped thinking about her outfit and grinned at Vail.

"Never thought THIS would happen, didjya? Thought yer Master would snuff me out. Well isn’t this dandy!"

Vail growled.

Blu knew she was truly safe now. Her goal at this point; wait until Vail was so fed up with her that he either attempted to kill her (in which case his death would be "self defense") or defected (in which case she would probably be sent to kill him anyways). Once Vail was dead and Blu had gained a nice, high rank in Rocket, she’d take down the Boss… Or die trying. She was ready to kill the head of Team Rocket. But what about all the innocents? All the poor kids who had no where to go but Team Rocket… She wondered if Vail was one of them.

"You gotta tell me where we’re going," she said, enjoying the demands his position required him. He was so damn loyal he’d follow any orders.

"We’re headed to the Indigo Plateau."

Blu thought about that. What were they going there for? She’d have to explain to Lance. But he’d understand. He always did.

"Why we goin’ there?"

"We have an agent working there, we’re going to pick up anything he might have swiped by this point." Vail was certainly uncomfortable with spilling the info.

She began to think about why they were giving her this information. Didn’t she have to go through some training? She began to suspect that she was being watched. After a few short words with Vail, she had nearly confirmed it. Rocket obviously didn’t trust her, so they were going to send her on a mission and see if she went through with it. Great. So she’d have to get everything done by the time the mission was over. Mission Impossible, eat your heart out.

She sighed. Lance wasn’t gonna be happy with this. Lorelei would, though. Icy knew Lance was "occupied" with someone already, but no one could figure out who it was. Lorelei was obsessed with finding out. – I wonder what she would say if she realized it was me?- Blu thought. She grinned at that.

"What’re you grinning at?" Vail asked.

That surprised her. She hadn’t expected Vail to voluntarily start talking to her.

"Something," she said guardedly.

"What’s something?"

This was scary! Vail, actually STARTING a conversation with her.

"I was thinking what would have been a better way to kill you back on

the bridge," she lied.

Vail was quiet then.

"What’s wrong with you?" He finally asked.

"Lots of things."

"Why do you want to kill me so bad?"

"Cuz you’re with Rocket and cuzza what you did to that kid James, and cuzza what you ARE," she said. There were other reasons. She mulled those over. Too many of them had lost their sting so she replaced them with new reasons. Which wasn’t much fun. Just wasn’t the same. Note to Self: Never contemplate reasons to kill someone; Meanings loose logic.

"Can’t kill me now. YOU’RE Rocket now," he said, almost pleased.

She leaned over to him. He couldn’t do anything because he was driving.

"Who says I’m Rocket?" She whispered, "And who says I can’t kill you?" If someone was watching she wondered if they could hear her.

She was disappointed when something in her brain asked her if she wanted to kill him. Of course! She told herself. If Vail hadn’t been Rocket, she believed they would have been good friends. But he was Rocket and needed to be killed because he was evil. That was all. Would-Be friendship was no reason not to kill someone. You didn’t fight with friends, either. She wondered if Jeff was a friend. At this point, there were only two people she would refuse to fight with; James and Lance. She wouldn’t kill anyone unless she had a good reason. She’d never killed anyone before, and wondered if she could do it. And she wondered if she wanted Vail to be first on the list. Why not someone truly Evil? Vail couldn’t be all that evil, he hadn’t put up much of a fight on the bridge. She wondered if he had meant to not give a fight? Or maybe he just wasn’t into combat.

Vail didn’t say anything else. But he was not scowling anymore. This was stranger and stranger. She hoped he didn’t hear the tinge of doubt in her pre-recorded words. She decided she might take the time to talk to Lance about it. She also had to visit Lance for another reason. Lance knew how to take care of dragons (but as of his fighting tactics, she wasn’t sure) and Blu didn’t want Team Rocket to get her dragons.

• * *

"This time you won’t escape." James gasped and awoke. It had been like a bad dream. Sabrina’s touch had been like ice.. James sat up and looked about. It was dark, and a mild chill seemed to pervade the chamber.

"Hey, where are my Pokémon?" James grabbed for the pouch that was normally at his side, but it had vanished, as had his cane.

But James did not need his cane. "I.. I can walk.." James nearly collapsed, weeping for joy. "Touching." James turned and tried to see the through the mask of darkness before him.

"Jeff?" The darkness seemed to part, shades of black fading into shades of grey until at last out stepped Jeff Hibiki. This was not the normal Jeff however, he wore a terrible mask of anger and pain. "James Oake.. My aren’t you mighty? You always thought that you were the best. Now look at you!"

James stepped back and looked at Jeff, pain evident in his eyes. "Jeff what are you saying..?" The trainer did not hear the words, then a heavy, gloved hand took James by the shoulder.

"Now you know how it feels to be helpless. The victim." Jeff waved his fist, and as if in a dream James watched as James took Arasan and began to kiss her passionately. Jeff was held, as if by chains as he watched in horror.

"I couldn’t help myself!" Jeff had vanished again. "Show me your secrets James! Show me your secrets!!" James shook his head, terror flooding every orifice of his being. "No!"

Jeff’s eyes widened and his jaw clenched, "Then I’ll take it from you! Neuron by neuron! All of it James, ALL OF IT!" A great hand seemed to stretch forth from the void and take James, memories began to pour out. …The departure of his father to become a Pokémon trainer… His first victory in the OPTCC… His first encounter with Vail and Valerie…. And that terrible kiss… James could do little but scream.

"Enough." James took a deep breath and made an effort to compose himself. "I’m, I’m sorry." Looking up, James stared into the eyes of an older man in jogger fatigues with a neatly trimmed beard. "Where am I?" The jogger tilted his head and proffered his hand, "You and Sabrina are one." James stood up and brushed himself off, relishing his now healed leg.

"What do you mean we’re one? One what?" The jogger shook his head, "You two are joined telepathically, your thoughts flow concurrently. She see’s what you see, she knows what you do."

James sniffed and adjusted the small pendant about his neck, "Then who are YOU." But the man had vanished.

"Fine!" James cried, more in fear then in pain. "Just abandon me, in God knows where!" James took a breath and looked about. The terrible darkness had subsided, in it’s place was a large circular chamber, in which James stood. Stepping over to the window, James took a moment to gaze at the devastated vista before him. There was little vegetation to be had, and the sky had gone a sickly crimson. "Maybe you should go and look." James spun, half expecting to see the enigmatic jogger, but there was nothing. "Hey, I didn’t notice that door before." Indeed, a large a oak door had appeared, seemingly from nowhere. Taking the doorknob, James took an exploratory step into the small corridor. Before him sat a large set of stairs, winding their way up like a serpent.

James gasped and took a moment to rest, the stairs seemed to go on forever. "Damn you Sabrina, what do you want!?" James cried, seemingly into thin air. There was no response save for a light whistle as the dry wind from the outdoors blew in through the cracks in the stone wall. James sighed and stood up, preparing to make the rest of the journey to the top of the tower. For a time the stairs continued upward, seemingly into nothingness until at last James came to a wooden door.

"This must be the place." James threw open the door, expecting to see the carved, emotionless visage of Sabrina. "Hi James, care to join me for a cup of coffee?"

"Arasan?" James whispered. It was Arasan true enough, but she had changed. She had exchanged her normally dirty and slightly tattered outfit for an elegant gown.

"Come on James sit down." Arasan took James by the arm, and sat him down at the table. "What about Jeff?"

Arasan smiled innocently and raised an eyebrow, "Who’s Jeff?" James gulped, somehow he felt that he was supposed to be enjoying this.

"So uh, how are you Arasan?"

Arasan smiled, "I’m fine James." James could not contain his discomfort, loud footsteps began to ring through the chamber.

"Maybe I’ll get up now." But Arasan did not want him to leave, she grabbed his arm and dragged him down again.

"Please! Don’t leave!" James was about to protest, when the door to the chamber burst open. "Jeff!" Arasan cried.

"Jeff?" James half shrunk in his seat. This was not the ordinary Jeff, nor even the Jeff that he had encountered in the chamber below. This Jeff was psychotic.

"I told you to stay away from her!" The second Jeff took up the large ax by his side and raised high, "Now you will die!"

James yelled and leapt away from the table, just in time to see it chopped into the timber by the great Ax. "Jeff, calm down! I’m sorry!"

Jeff was not interested in his explanation, once again he lifted the Ax and gave chase. Breathing hard, James tore open the door leading out of the chamber and slammed it hard. Taking a step upward, James paused and looked back. A muffled roar emanated from the cramped chamber, and the Ax blade slammed halfway through the door.

"Run!" The jogger had appeared once again, "What, what was that!?" James was too tired and frightened to ask the jogger where he had been.

"Sabrina does not wish you to come this far. You ran into one of her blocks." James slowed down and stopped, "That’s one of her blocks? Shit."

The jogger nodded, "You are almost to your destination. Do not give up." James was about to inquire further, when the jogger once again vanished. "Stay in one place!" James cried, groping in the air. "Go in the door." James turned, a door had appeared out of nowhere. "Oh no, not that again." The voice was more forceful this time, "Go in the door." James sighed in resignation, there was nothing for it.

Turning the handle to the door, James stepped into the chamber. "Sabrina!"

James gasped at the crystalline visage before him. It appeared as if the Pokémon trainer had actually been frozen, her doll at her side for all eternity. In front of the prison sat the jogger, weeping quietly.

"What is this?" James asked quietly. He was not quite sure what to say. The jogger stood up and gestured, "This is Sabrina as she truly is." James stepped forward and tapped the large trap.

"She’s frozen." James turned to the jogger and cocked his head, "Okay, enough with the bull. What is this?"

The jogger let out a deep sigh, "Look about you. You see a vast desert, but I see a field… Sabrina and I once took long walks through this place, and it was here that we bonded."

The jogger paused and gazed at the great prison of ice, "That is Sabrina," the jogger turned toward the ruined landscape below and gestured, "And this is what she had become."

James turned his eyes downward and frowned, "Can’t we melt the prison?" The jogger shook his head, "There is but one thing that can melt that prison, and only Sabrina can provide it."

The jogger had vanished again. "Hey, what is this?" As if in sudden displeasure, the door into the chamber slammed shut. "Huh?" James turned and gasped, "Sabrina!"

The Psychic was not happy, her eternal frown was still present. "So now. Time to play."

• * *

It was early morning and Blu was slightly aware that the engine of the truck rumbled to a halt. She heard Vail moving to take the keys, then he opened the door. Blu wondered how he would "wake her up."

"Flyer," he said loudly. She pretended to stay asleep, trying not to grin.

"Flyer!" She still didn’t stir.

She heard him groan a little, and leaned in across the seats and shook her shoulder gruffly. She blinked, and then stretched.

"We’re here."

"Here? Or there? Or do you mean…. Where?" Blu grinned. He almost smiled.

**

The Elite Four Arenas and Deluxe Hotel Suite Complex were mostly closed, but Vail and Blu took a back entrance. Vail’s steps seemed programmed. He didn’t really seem to have much initiative.

"If I didn’t know you better I might say you don’t find being a Rocket very interesting," Blu remarked as she followed him down a hall.

"You don’t know me, Flyer," he said. Something in his voice told her she had at least some of it. Blu started thinking again… That was often a hazardous activity. Maybe Vail wasn’t as steel-set as she thought he was. If he didn’t want to be in Team Rocket, then why did he obey the Boss’s words without hesitation? He was like someone’s kid running errands he disliked doing.

Kid?

As she followed him through the twists and turns of the underground path underneath the Complex, she began to put things together. But not for sure.

"Where ya from, Vail?" She asked.

"Does it matter?"

"How old are you, Vail?"

"16."

That surprised her. At least it explained the fight. She’d had two more years experience, "Where’s your family, Vail?"

"Will you shut up?" He said irritably. Blu shrugged. Finally they came to a door that led into some sort of storage chamber.

"Now, you wait here, I’m going to go find Melv."

"Who’s Melv?"

"Our agent."

"Okay. Hey, I’m gonna explore a bit."

He turned to her. Even if he was younger he was still a good deal taller.

"Don’t go getting in trouble," he said to her. She shrugged impishly. Then she put on a serious face.

"Don’t YOU go getting in to trouble," she said. "I know what I’m doing. I’ve been here before."

She walked to a door she knew to lead upstairs. Vail sighed, and went about looking for Melv.

• * *

Blu made her way to Lance’s room. She hoped he was in. Without knocking she walked in. Lance was sitting in his room, with another unfortunately familiar face.

"Icy!" Blu said. Yuck.

"Who in the..?" Lance started. Blu took off her beret and sunglasses.

"Hiyo Lancey," she grinned.

"ROCKET!!!" Lorelei screamed. She jumped into Lance’s arms, who dropped her immediately.

"Whatchya been up to, Lance?" Blu asked, brushing off her uniform.

"What’ve YOU been doing?" He asked. Lorelei, meanwhile, was running out the door.

"Won’t she cause trouble?"

"No, she’s been known to have hysterical fits. Again, why are you in a Rocket uniform?"

"Long story. I’ll tell ya later. But for right now, it’s imperative that you watch the dragons," Blu took the three Pokéballs from her pouch.

"I’m being a bit of a spy, but don’t tell anyone. I’m afraid for the dragons."

"Three?" Lance said, pocketing them.

"Yes. Ripley, Brooke and a new one, Chancer."

"Haven’t seen Riples in a while," Lance remarked. He held her shoulders and looked her up and down. "You look good in black."

"Thankies! Now, I must go, my would-be partner is probably waiting. I just wanted to drop a visit. Cya!"

"Don’t get killed, Blu," he said as he hugged her briskly and then shoved her gently towards the door.

"No prob, hon, I know what I’m doing. I always do, y’know." She grinned and put her beret back on and headed downstairs.

• * *

Vail shook his head quietly, attempting to quiet the terrible memories that continually swirled about in his head. He couldn’t believe that he was actually recalling that conversation, it had been so long ago. He had been so naïve back then..

"Very good Melv. You have done well, the Boss will reward you for your duties." Vail saluted mechanically and watched as the Agent turned and returned to his small niche in the Pokémon league. Vail took the small pack that he had received and on impulse glanced inside. Several PokeBalls had taken up residence in the pack since the last delivery. Vail took a moment to sift through each one, hoping to find a rare one to keep for himself. Finding nothing interesting, the Rocket shouldered the pack and made to head back for the truck, taking care not to be seen.

"Where were you?" Vail half heartedly snarled at his partner, he was not particularly interested in arguing with the female.

Blu Flyer said nothing, but rather simply gazed quietly out the window. That was just fine with Vail, he had no particular interest in a true conversation with the female. The Rocket quietly pulled out his keys and started up the Rocket Van. Backing out of the small wooded area that he had chosen as a hiding spot, Vail made for the nearby Route 23.

"Who was your original partner?" Vail nearly lost control of the van as the question struck home. Shuttup." Vail muttered, he wasn’t in any particular mood to discuss his sister.

Blu was a stubborn one, she merely tried a different tack, "Where are we going?"

Vail hunched over the steering column, he still didn’t trust her and did not wish to divulge any vital information. "It’s time I get my priorities straight. This is a family matter."

Blu was no fool, she continued to drill Vail for information. "And who’s your family?" Vail attempted to ignore the question, but the words seemed to take hold of his brain. Who was his family? He had no memory of his mother, she had probably died when he was still at an early age. Then another image appeared that of Sakakai. The man who was Vail’s father, or was he? The greater part of Vail’s conscious took hold, he knew who his family was.

"Team Rocket is my family," Vail whispered mechanically, "This is a family matter. Aka would work to dismantle our family, he must be brought before the Boss." Vail’s heart was not truly in the words, and Blu knew it. "Was your partner in your little family too?"

Vail gritted his teeth and tried to let the question slide off of him like water, but his mind once again refused.

"Good night Valerie, dream of the power and prestige that you never had."

What had he done? He had killed his own sister! How could have he possibly killed his own sister? Vail continued to drive, focusing on the road ahead, desperately attempting to ignore the contradictions of his own being. A shadow seemed to fall across his vision, Blu was still talking but Vail’s mind could not quite register the words. With warning, a female stepped out into the road and gasped. "Valerie!" Vail cried, swerving to avoid the unfortunate. The Van swerved left then right as Vail attempted to gain control of the vehicle, and at last swept off the road to run down a hapless road sign. Vail slumped against the steering column and for the first time in his life, began to sob.

"What have I done?"

• * *

"Valerie!"

Blu knocked her head hard on the door as Vail swerved off the road for no apparent reason.

"Watch where you’re friggin’ goin’, damnit!" She yelled as she held onto the chair. The van swerved and nearly tipped as it veered off the road.

Then it finally slowed down off the road, and Blu made sure she wasn’t broken anywhere.

"Damn, don’t you know how the hell to dri – " She brushed her hair out of her face and saw Vail. He was leaning over the steering wheel, and

being too still.

"Aw geeze, you’re not dead, are ya?" That would be just great. She reached out a little, then noticed he was shuddering. Convulsions? What the….?

She realized he was crying. No, not just crying, but practically bawling his guts out. Blu was taken aback. Why now? Even if Vail was hurt he didn’t cry.

"What’s wrong with you?" She asked critically at first. Maybe he didn’t hear her. She prodded his shoulder.

"What’s wrong?" That time it was more like some stranger talking to a little kid who was lost in a theme park. She didn’t ask who Valerie was. But she guessed that Valerie had something to do with why they were not on the road now.

What he did next, she had expected. Vail cuffed at her hand that was still poking his shoulder, and opened his van door to run. Blu slid across the seats and jumped out, grabbing his wrist. She maneuvered him back into the van, in the passenger’s seat this time. She turned the keys and the van rumbled to life. Vail sat, silent, in the passenger’s seat, as Blu slowly guided the van back on to the road.

"You didn’t have to do that," Blu said as they started driving again, "And don’t even think about jumping out of the car."

"You think I’m suicidal?" Vail snapped.

Blu grinned. "No. But I know that you’re stupid when you’re angry."

"I’m not angry."

"Not angry?" Blu took a moment to look over at him, slouched in a very unprofessional position. He glared at her, eyes still faintly red. "Sure, Vail. Whatever you say."

"We’re not going the right way," he said.

"Think I don’t know that?" Blu countered. "We’re not going back to the Celadon Corner to hand over the stuff yet. We got there ahead of time. We’re not due back until tomorrow."

"Then where ARE we going?"

"Viridian City. It’s closest and I have friends there. You’re telling me everything. There aren’t many good reasons for driving on the median, Vail, so you’d better have a good excuse. I’m not going to be partners with someone who doesn’t trust roads."

"You’re not my partner."

Blu arched a brow and side glanced at him.

"If I’M not you’re partner, then who IS your partner, Vail? Valerie?" Vail was ready for a retort, there was one on the tip of his tongue, just waiting to slip out. Then the implications of Blu’s words hit Vail like a jackhammer. Who was she to ask him to tell all? Vail shuddered, recalling that this was the same woman who had ruthlessly taken him apart on the bridge. Why should he even begin to trust her. Vail risked a glance at the female. Blu’s attention was not on Vail, but rather on the road. Vail took a deep breath, unable to believe that he was even contemplating what he was about to tell her..

• * *

"Come on Valerie, we’ll be late!" Vail fairly dashed down the corridor. It was the first day of school, the adults had an interesting word for it. It was "Indoctrination" or something to that effect. Slowing, Vail turned about, impatiently tapping his foot.

"Come on Valerie!"

"I’m coming already. What are you so excited about? It’s only school." Vail snatched up his small beret and his books, trying to ignore his sister’s complaints. How could she say that it was "just school?" This was the greatest day of his life, he would soon become a member of the famous Team Rocket. Vail envisioned the moment when he would one day be liberating the Pokémon of the world, taking them from their evil trainers and placing them in a home where they would truly be cared for. Team Rocket!

"Watch it kid!" Vail smiled and saluted, as his section keeper had taught him to do. The guard scowled briefly, then waved the young one through. At last Vail arrived at his destination. Two by two, the youth of Team Rocket entered the small warehouse storage room. Taking Valerie’s hand, Vail stepped into the makeshift classroom and took a deep breath.

"Recruits, take a seat." The "recruits," none of them older then six years of age took a seat.

"Welcome to Indoctrination recruits. I am Genro of the Rocket Brotherhood, but you will address me as Cutter. You are here because you will soon become members of the greatest organization of our time. Team Rocket!" A rousing cheer promptly cut through the unnatural rigidity of the recruits. Vail cheered as well, even Valerie found herself caught up in the general excitement of the class.

"Excellent. You will serve the boss well." The lessons seemed to wear on forever. Despite his initial excitement, Vail found his attention waning. He already knew everything that they were telling him. In typical six year old fashion, Vail’s attention turned to his uniform. It was terribly rigid and inflexible, he found that he could barely move in it.

"What are you doing!?" Vail looked up to see the particularly vengeful eyes of Cutter burning into his own.

"Why are you tugging on the Team Rocket uniform!?" The six year old looked about, all eyes were on him.

"It’s too stiff."

Cutter’s eyes widened and the Rocket seemed to expand, rage quickly becoming apparent in his eyes.

"This is the Team Rocket uniform! You will respect the uniform, and you will wear it! Do not EVER call it too stiff."

• * *

"Wake up Vail, wake up!" Vail groaned lightly and came awake.

"What time is it?" Gesturing grandly, Valerie gestured at the clock. Turning slightly and attempting to minimize the discomfort of his position, Vail craned his neck to get a look at the clock.

"It’s Five AM Valerie, why do you have the uniform on?" The ten year old female smiled and gestured grandly

"It’s time for our first job Vail! How could you forget? Cutter told us that we would have to get up early!" With that Vail fully came awake and leapt out of bed, rummaging wildly for the uniform that he had so carefully laid out the previous morning. Ten minutes later, the duo had exited their small bunk and hit the streets.

• * *

"Congratulations Vail and Valerie on your latest job. You have served Team Rocket well. I would like to point out that unlike all of you fools, Vail and Valerie successfully lifted a fully evolved the Gyrados."

A raucous applause went up among the Rockets, and Vail and Valerie both took a moment to bow. Vail couldn’t believe how far he had come. Three years since his first successful job.. Vail recalled that one well. Sighing happily, Vail took a moment to pat the PokeBall at his side. Grimer had served him well, with any luck he would soon be evolving. Without warning, a deafening hush went up throughout the room. Vail turned and gasped, the Boss stood before him. The Boss, he had never seen the man before.

"Dad?" The Boss tilted his head, as if trying to recall the young face before him.

"Genro, who are these loyal soldiers of Team Rocket?"

"Vail and Valerie sir, they had a particularly high success rate in their jobs." The Boss seemed to consider this, then nodded.

"Excellent. Keep up the work." Vail couldn’t believe it, his own Dad hadn’t even recognized his face! Was Team Rocket not truly the organization that he had been lead to believe it was, what kind of organization was this where the father did not even recognize his own son?

"One day.. One day he will know who I am."

• * *

"Hello Valerie, it’s your brother." Valerie gasped and coughed

"Vail.. It’s you! They said they wouldn’t come back for me.. How did you get in?" Vail only frowned

"I’m sorry Valerie, but you’re incarcerated. You know what Team Rocket does at times like this. Nobody can talk." Valerie gasped and began to struggle, but Vail soothed and hugged her.

"Don’t worry about it Valerie. Your tired, you must have been up for hours. I’ll send you to sleep, goodnight Valerie. Dream of the power and prestige that you never had." His job finished, Vail gathered up Valerie’s personal effects and departed out the window.

Valerie never woke up

• * *

"Yeah I killed her. I killed her with my own two hands! ME!" Vail screamed aloud and slammed his fists on the dashboard.

"And she wasn’t the only one." Vail shuddered as the memories flitted through his head …Swinging the bag of loot to take out the troublesome young girl that had cared for him …Burying a dagger into the gut of James Oake.

"I did it because I was told too. And you know what? I’ve been pulled so far into the system that I will probably do it again.. and again.." Blu was silent, and Vail took some satisfaction that Vail had actually shocked the fearsome young woman into silence. Vail turned his head in time to catch the sign ahead.

"Viridian City. The Eternally Green Paradise."

Vail spat and suddenly recalled yet another memory, James Oake minus cane defiantly yelling that he was from Viridian City and that neither Vail or Valerie would stop him in his "quest."

"Oh shit, James.." Vail muttered under his breath, he had an idea of what was coming next.

"You are one messed up kid," Blu said finally, as she pulled into the back garage of her friend’s house. She wondered Trixxy would say if she knew her friend had recently joined Team Rocket, as well as begun to pity someone she had been intent on killing. Blu pulled the keys and set them on the dash, and just sat, waiting for who-knew-what.

"Messed up Rocket Kid. Now that’s a headliner if I ever heard one. Or a country song." Vail.. he’d killed Valerie… whoever that was. She was sure of that. Vail and Valerie. Sounded like some sick parent’s idea of a joke for twins.

There was an idea.

"Just back off, Flyer. I’m sick of your remarks. Get outta here before I knife you, too," Vail said, folding his arms in a end-of-discussion way.

Blu tilted her head so her shades slid down her nose, and she arched a brow. She looked over the frames of her shades in a well-practiced maneuver.

"Just try it, Vail." She brought her gloved hand up to the dash and leaned on it, purposefully bending her wrist far enough to raise the glove and reveal a throwing blade. "Seriously, I dare ya to try it.

Anyways, you sound like you don’t want to. And it’s not cuz you’re scared. I know you enough to know you aren’t scared to hit girls." She had to grin. "But I don’t have any qualms over hitting boys. You know that much about me."

He didn’t look at her as she opened her door and walked around the front and opened his door.

She stood in front of the door, with her arm hooked around the top of the door, other hand latched on the frame of the door. Vail didn’t move.

After a while she shook her head.

"You’re just a little kid, aren’t you. A poor, sick, twisted, disoriented and confused little kid."

Vail resented that, but if knew that if he opened his mouth he’d say something that would get him a broken nose. Words were just building in his mouth and they all tasted bad.

Blu continued to think aloud.

"I’m beginning to think you don’t like to kill people, Vail," she said. She shook her head. "You don’t, do ya? You don’t think, either, you just do. And I don’t think you like what you do. Now, I’m no psychiatrist. And I’m definitely no baby sitter. But I do have my morals. And they don’t include killing misguided kids. So you’re lucky. Don’t get any ideas, neither…I am revengeful. One of my faults, you know."

She waited. Wondering what that sounded like to him at this point. She also wondered if she was making the right decision. What decision? She asked herself. You’re not making a decision. You’re just being a fool. You can’t trust him. You can’t change him. He’s Rocket; He always will be. He’s been infected and it’s too late to cure him. He’s scared of you, too. Don’t waste your time. She shook her head, her thoughts were getting mixed up.

"My other fault is that I think too much. There are two ways to go with me: By my friend, or be my enemy. And I’m thinking you’d rather be my enemy. And I make a good enemy." She sighed. She still had to find Jeff to clear James’ name. Too many things to do.

"But I am also a good friend. And that is why we have a place to stay right now. I don’t have many friends. I always have more enemies. But my friend’s enemies are mine as well. So I’m a good ally."

She was scaring herself. Then she shrugged. She wouldn’t trust Vail until he did something trustworthy, till then friendship was out of the question. She was sure his thoughts mirrored hers. But she ventured further anyways. There might be hope for him. Otherwise, she’d just have to carry on with her previous plans. Or maybe hang around long enough to try again. Why was she going through all this trouble for this one Rocket? She didn’t know the answer. And why Vail? That was an even more difficult question. She took a breath.

"You looking for an enemy or an ally, Vail?" An ally? The woman wanted to be his "ally?" Vail nearly vomited on the dash at the very concept, this woman, who had promised to kill him at one point, wanted him to be her ally? Did Vail even have any allies? The Rocket took a moment to consider. Was Samuel his ally? Of course not, he only pretended to be his ally. Vail was quite certain that if he stayed around that Rocket that one day soon a knife would find it’s way into his back. Was Nora his ally? Vail dismissed that concept just as quickly. Nora was an egotistical bitch that was only out for herself. His only ally had been.. Valerie. Now she was dead and buried and Vail had more enemies that he could possibly count. Did he really need another one? There was only one thing that the Rocket could possibly do and not have his throat slit.

"I have too many enemies, I’ll be an ally." Vail fairly whispered the words, almost hoping that Blu would not here them, but she heard.

"Oh." Her tone said that she was disappointed, but Vail knew better. He had learned to read people’s emotions behind the mask, and he could see that she was secretly pleased. Vail found himself hoping that he knew what he was getting into.

"I’m going to go and meet someone, stay in the van Vail." Blu carried the tone of a parent speaking to a child. The Rocket seethed at the notion, it felt as if she was mocking him. Vail had long been independent, he didn’t NEED a parent. At the same time, Vail knew that he was lying to himself. Of course he needed a parent, why else would he be trying so hard to impress the Boss? Vail turned his attention to Blu, the female was entering the house. Sighing, the Rocket leaned back and gazed at the dashboard. Blu had left the keys to the van on the dashboard, even now they sat and taunted the Rocket. Vail couldn’t believe his luck, he could just take the keys and be gone from the meddling woman and her ideas. Snatching the small cell phone in his belt, Vail dialed the all too familiar number and gulped.

"Yes what is it." Vail fidgeted for a moment and nearly lost hold of the phone as he prepared to talk with the Boss.

"Greetings sir, this is Vail."

"Vail? Ah yes, greetings Vail. What news do you bring me. Did Miss Flyer pass the test?"

Sighing, Vail considered what answer could deliver. He knew that Blu had not joined Team Rocket to serve their cause, but rather to kill him personally. In that she had failed the test. But somehow…

"Yes sir. In more ways then one."

"Excellent. You will continue to work with Flyer, she will be superb partner. Now, you have your mission. Carry it out." A light click signaled the end of the conversation. Vail sighed and replaced the phone, and continued to gaze at the keys. They were his ticket to freedom from the accursed female. Reaching forth, Vail made to snatch the keys, but something stopped him. Was it curiosity? Some sort of perverse loyalty to the "alliance" that he had struck with her? At last, Vail withdrew his hand and sat on them. He did not want to leave, she would almost certainly find him. Then he would have hell to pay.

"Who were you talking too?" Blu leaned in the Van window and smiled innocently at Vail. The Rocket gulped and self-consciously adjusted his beret, praying that she didn’t know.

"Uh, no one, no one at all. Blu narrowed her eyes, then reached in and snatched the keys from the dashboard.

"Good. Now come on, I have somebody that I want you to meet." Vail sighed miserably and opened the door, wondering when the end of this nightmare would come.

As Blu walked to Trixxy’s door to knock, she suddenly realized that Vail had agreed to her off-the-bat proposal. That was odd. She had been positive he would have refused, possibly even grab the keys and go. She walked silently, ready for the first sounds of the engine starting and for Vail to drive away. In that case she wondered what she would do.

But she reached the door without mishap. Curiouser and curiouser, and even curiouser yet. She almost laughed. Almost… This was too weird to laugh about. Vail resented her, and he knew that being her enemy would be a bad thing. She shrugged. So he had agreed because he was afraid of her.

That was fine by her as long as he didn’t try anything. She had gotten most of her enemies from fear. Fear was starting to bug her.

Knocking on the door, she wondered what they were supposed to be doing next. Vail hadn’t told her anything. She didn’t really think he would.

The door opened, and Trixxy grinned. Trixxy and Lance were the only ones who didn’t care what she wore, and knew that she wouldn’t put a Rocket uniform without a good reason.

"I never imagined you as the Rocket type, Blu," she bubbled. She opened the door and Blu walked in.

"I never imagined you as the house-type, Trix," Blu replied. She grinned at the décor. "I didn’t really expect you to be in."

"I didn’t expect you to come by… If I knew you were comin’ I’d a baked you a cake!"

Blu smiled. "Hey Trix, I have a… Friend… I want you to meet. He’s in the van. He’s a Rocket with problems."

"What kinda problems?"

Blu shrugged. "Bad ones. Anyways, I have him pretty much under control, but just be ready. His name’s Vail. I’m gonna go get him."

Trixxy nodded, and whistled. A Pikachu hopped into the room.

"Hiya Di!" Blu said, grinning. The Pikachu hopped forward, shimmering, and by the time it reached her it had become a Persian. Blu patted it on the head, and opened the door. The Ditto followed her out, bobbing. It didn’t go far, before it reached the back steps it turned around and went back inside.

Blu made it to the van. To her surprise, Vail was still there.

**

Miller and a pseudo-Ninetales raced through the yard, and every once and again actually brought back the tennis ball. Then Blu would throw it, and they’d go and race after it again.

Blu sat on the bottom step of Trixxy’s backyard picnic table.

"In the morning we’ll leave. You have to tell me where." Then, "You’re a mystery, Vail."

It was pretty much a one-sided conversation at this point. Blu really wondered what had persuaded Vail to this ‘alliance.’ All it was at this point was that she wouldn’t try to kill him, and vice versa. Alliance did not equal friendship. She guessed that it would never get that far. She wondered if it would. Vail had said he had too many enemies. She agreed, and had the same situation. Though she didn’t think Vail himself would be a bad person to have on one’s enemy list; he did have Team Rocket to back

him up. Blu might be tough, and even a bit disillusioned, but she knew she was no match for Team Rocket in its entirety.

The sun was setting. The oranges and blazing reds were nice. Blu has always loved the sunsets over the ocean, where the water reflected into the clouds, and everything was a mixture of blues and purples. She wondered if she would ever make it back home. Going home was after she cleared James’ name, and figured out what to do with Vail. He might seem to be tough. If ordered to be so, he was. But she knew better. She couldn’t just leave him in Rocket. He’d get so screwed up so badly that there’d be no more Vail, only Rocket. This wasn’t far from happening. He’d killed under orders, he’d stolen, betrayed and lied under orders.

"You don’t make any sense, either. A lot of people would rather take their chances at killing me than ever consider alliance. That’s a funny word, isn’t it? Doesn’t sound right. Oh well. I don’t have another word for it. But I personally think you made a good decision.. Mostly cuz otherwise I don’t know what I’d a done with you. But y’know, it would be helpful if I knew what the hell we’re doing." She just talked about

nothing in particular, blabbing on about things that didn’t relate to one another.

She talks too much. Vail sighed moodily and tried to ignore the chattering Female beside him.

Maybe if I kill her, she’ll stop talking. That was a pleasant thought, Vail actually found himself reaching for his knife when he stopped short. Killing her wouldn’t get him anywhere and she would probably kill him first. Vail sighed and took his hand away from his knife.

"Ever been diving? Ever taken a vacation?" Vail took in that question. It was an interesting question, he wasn’t quite sure if he had or not. Staring into the rampant purples and blues of the sky, Vail considered for a while. He had been on vacation.. A very long time ago.

• * *

"Come on Vail, bury me. Pleeeaaasseeee." Little Vail gazed at the little bucket and the shovel. How was this helping Team Rocket? He would much rather be studying with Cutter in the main room.

"What’s the point of all this Valerie? Shouldn’t we be studying or something?" Valerie giggled, and for the first time in 2 years Vail wondered if he might not be overly serious for an 8 year old.

"We’re on VACATION Vail. You’re supposed to have fun, laugh a little! Bury me!"

Valerie continued to giggle, and began to pour sand down Vail’s back.

"A vacation? Fun? Those we’re two strange words.. He shouldn’t be surprised that he had not heard those words before. Valerie was a strange one, she had been raised by someone who was not a part of the family. Vail had been raised by Sakakai and his top aides.

"Come on Vail.. I’ll show you how to have fun! The first thing you have to do is smile!" Vail smiled broadly, he could do that. All he had to do was think of how he would be serving Team Rocket and a smile came naturally.

"Show me how to have fun Valerie."

• * *

"Wake up Vail. God, how long do you have to sleep?" Vail snorted and awakened. He was no longer on the step, he had somehow gotten into the Van. Blu was eyeing him with some annoyance. Sucking in a breath, Vail put on his formerly confident veneer.

"I was just tired was all. I haven’t slept for a while." Blu only shook her head and returned her eyes to the long strip of pavement before them.

"I should think so. You’ve been asleep since yesterday afternoon." The Rocket shuddered and clasped his seatbelt. Why had he slept that long? When WAS the last time that he slept? Vail looked back.. Not since Valerie died, too many nightmares.

"Members of Team Rocket are trained to go without sleep. I go without sleep when I must." The female snorted derisively and continued driving, she was obviously tired as well. Suddenly it struck the Rocket that he had no idea where in the world that they were going.

"Where are we going?" Vail tried to make the question seem as innocent as possible, but it was difficult. Somehow he felt as if he should KNOW the answer.

"Where do you think we should go Vail? You’re the one who seems to know the fugitive." Leaning back, Vail made to rest his head. The Fugitive? She must be referring to Aka.

"We are looking for Aka?" Blu raised an eyebrow and smiled a particularly malevolent grin in Vail’s direction.

"Ever met him before?" The Rocket sighed and shook his head. He had never met the Rocket, he was an occasional contact that the Boss had used but that was all. He had not even heard the Rocket’s name until recently.

"No. I have never met him."

"Really? He seemed like a Rocket after your own heart Vail. Not that it’s a trait to be particularly proud of or anything. So, where are we going? Vail took a moment to consider the question, recalling his little planning session aboard his old jet. He had figured Aka to be in Fuschia City, but he was likely long gone from there by now.. Where would he go if he was Aka? The very thought disgusted him, but it was a thought that he would have to take to heart. More then likely he would either head for a small town or keep low, or try to lose himself in a large population center. At last Vail hit upon a possible location.

"We should go to Saffron City.?

"Why would he go there? The place is crawling with Rockets."

"I am not saying that we should go there in hope of finding him. More than likely there is a contact there who has some idea where he is, we can work from there. If he’s not in Saffron then we have a nice central location to work from."

Vail grumbled softly and tried to bury himself in his seat. He couldn’t believe that he was telling his so called partner all of this information. He would never believe that she had joined Team Rocket because she wanted too. Vail could not stand that woman, just having her sit near him drove him to the edge of distraction. At last Vail glanced out the window and gasped. The sun was coming up, casting away the darkness away with beautiful, purifying light. And in the distance was Saffron City, the Team Rocket world capital. Vail was so enthralled with the vision, that he nearly did not hear Blu’s next question.

"So.. Who exactly was Valerie?"

The words were shoved into Vail’s head like two hot irons into his eyes. He studiously looked out the window.

"That’s none of your business."

"Shyeah, it is Vail. Everyone keeps talking about her." Blu didn’t pursue that, she had something else she wanted to tell him.

"What do you mean, Everyone?"

"Didn’t you know? Oh wait.. You were asleep. The phone rang, so I answered it."

"You WHAT??"

"It was just sitting there, and you weren’t going to answer it. It was the Boss," Blu said the words mechanically, just because she didn’t have anything else to call the man, "He said he needed that kid Aka for something."

"You talked to the Boss??"

"Yeah. Why?"

Vail shook his head. "You just don’t get it."

"I know!" Blu took time to mockingly punch Vail in the arm. "That’s the fun part."

"Don’t do that ever again," he said quietly.

"Ooh, I’m scared," Blu said. "Y’know, I just figured out why you don’t like me. Besides that other thing. It’s cuz I’m everything you’ve been taught to avoid. I’m fun, I’m carefree, I don’t take orders. The only thing you understand about me is the violence. I distract you, I make you think about things you wouldn’t otherwise think about, and you can’t do anything about it. That’s it, isn’t it?" She grinned.

"I had plenty of time to figure it out. Vail, you’re just too… There’s no word. You’re only confident when you serve your Maaaster," Blu put extra sarcasm on that, "And you think you run the whole show because you're Team Rocket, and Team Rocket knows what it’s doing. And people are afraid of Team

Rocket. Except me."

Blu pulled on to the road that led into Saffron. The blazing lights and buildings were almost surrealistic in the morning sun.

"I’m the only one you can’t control with your orders. Can’t control me with orders, or words, or threats. And you definitely can’t control me with weapons or fists. You’re so used to people listening to your demands and bending to your will. You’re confident when your orders work on

people. When your Rocket uniform scares people so they listen to you. I don’t really listen, Vail, and I certainly don’t comply without good reason of my OWN. And THAT’S what scares you." She ended triumphantly.

"And every time you give me information, you give another part of yourself away. And once I know who Valerie is, you’ll have to admit to yourself that what you’re doing is…" She shook her head, at a loss for words for once, "It’s just sick."

Before Vail could say something (or not say something), she abruptly changed the subject.

"Which way?"

"So now. Time to play." James gasped and took a step back. Sabrina obviously did not when him this far up, gazing into the prison that was her heart. It was somewhat eerie seeing Sabrina in the prison and the Sabrina before him, the differences were striking. The new Sabrina looked like she could melt his eyes with a single glance.

"Uh, nice to see you too Sabrina. Nice place you got here, a little violent though." James shuddered as he recalled Jeff with the Ax. He certainly hoped that wasn’t a vision of the future, he could somehow see Jeff doing something like that.

"Enough with your chatter. Get out of this chamber or suffer the consequences." The young Pokémon trainer began to smiled foolishly and made to exit the room, Sabrina’s eyes following him the entire time. Abruptly, a heavy hand clapped on James’ shoulder, near scaring him out of his wits.

"What are you doing? We must free Sabrina!" It was the Jogger again, hardly a surprise. He always seemed to show up at the least convenient moment. Spinning, James did his best to glare at the Jogger without revealing his own fear.

"This isn’t exactly the time to "free" Sabrina. If you haven’t noticed, I think that she wants me dead." The Jogger was not listening, but merely pointed fearfully in Sabrina’s general direction. James turned his attention from the Jogger for a moment to gaze in Sabrina’s direction, and let out a fearful yelp. Jeff had reappeared, and he was wielding his Ax.

"Run!" James did as he was bidden. Shoving the Jogger out of the way, James made to avoid the fearsome Ax. Roaring in frustration, the Teenage apparition raised his Ax and made to attack once again. Yelping and generally screaming, James desperately attempted to avoid the ghostly image of his friend. At last James could run no more, Jeff had trapped him in a corner.

"You can run no more James! Arasan is mine!" Phantom Jeff belted out a loud roar of laughter, and made to swing the Ax downward. James closed his eyes, preparing for the end. He suddenly realized that he hadn’t done a lot with his life. More then that, he desperately wanted to tell Arasan that he loved her.

"You have the gift James. Use it." James gasped and half opened his eyes, Arasan had whispered in his ear! What gift did she mean? James hurriedly searched through his mind, Jeff seemed to be hesitating for some unidentifiable reason.

"Die!" As if in slow motion play, the Ax began to fall at an alarming rate, aimed directly for James’ skull. There was nothing he could do, there was no way to stop it. He could only scream one word.

"NO!"

• * *

And with that James awoke screaming.

"No! Don’t kill me, I’m only 15! ARGH!" James abruptly stopped screaming, he wasn’t in the tower anymore. He was back in Sabrina’s Gym. Dazed, confused and more then a little worried stood up and groaned. His back hurt, it felt as if he had been standing for days. James was not standing for long, as if programmed to do so the youth’s leg abruptly gave out on him and James once again fell to the ground.

"Where’s my cane? It was right where he had seen it last, right next to him. His PokeBalls had also returned to there original position. Hardly daring to breathe, James levered himself up with his cane and looked about. Sabrina was in her usual position in her small throne, yet she was slumped over. Stepping over to the throne, James waved his hand in front of her face, half expecting her to awaken. She did not.

"God, I hope she isn’t dead." That wouldn’t be good. Even if she had drove him close to insanity, he still needed a badge. A badge that only she could provide. Still.. It was probably a good idea that she was dead or asleep, that way she could not wreak further havoc upon his mind. Gathering up his pack, James exited the Gym. James did not recall Arasan’s words.

• * *

The sun was blinding. Despite the fact that it had barely risen above the horizon, the rays were still devastating to the unprepared eye. Desperately attempting to shield his eyes, James reached into his pack and pulled out a pair of shades. The improvement was evident, James could see again.

"Hey kid, we got some beef fresh from the freezer. Interested in a little breakfast?"

Turning his head, James nearly said yes. He was awfully hungry. That all changed when he got a good luck at the proprietor.

"Uh, I’m not hungry." Backing away in fear, James turned and dashed away. He had just seen Jeff behind the counter, holding a rather large butcher knife. What the hell was Jeff doing behind a counter with a butcher knife.

"Oh God, he still wants me dead." James muttered. It did not occur to him that his mind had not fully recuperated from the effects of the Psychic link. Shaking his head, James entered a nearby coffee shop, then promptly exited. Jeff had somehow infiltrated the Coffee Shop, and was wielding a grinder with frightening efficiency.

"He’s everywhere!’ Indeed he was. Everywhere James went, Jeff was always one step ahead of him. Typing on the computer, reading a book, feeding the ducks, walking the dog, cutting meat. It was almost more then James could stand. Visions of Jeff with the Ax stuck with him.

"Hey man, got a quarter." With strength born of desperation, James promptly popped the Jeff clone across the mouth. Surprised and stunned, Jeff went down. Yelling vicious curses, James descended upon the man with a fury that was not normally his own.

"Hey you! Get off that man!" James turned about and froze. Jeff stood above him, a gun pointed directly at his head. To his rear, stood three more Jeff’s with riot bats.

"Get off that man, and come with me." Screaming, cursing and generally fighting for all that he was worth, James was led away by the Jeff and loaded into the back of the Police Wagon.

• * *

"What’s this guy story?" James slowly awakened, and gazed at the calm, female face that was Jenny.

"I don’t know, we found him on some guy beating the snot out of him. We don’t know what’s wrong with him, we’ve got a physician coming over to give him a once over." Choking, James reached for his cane. It was gone, as was all of his belongings but his pendant and his clothing. Pulling himself painfully over to the bars of the cell, James narrowed his eyes as a large police officer with a no nonsense expression about on his face approached the cell.

"Huh, I bet he was drinking. Kids his age are always sucking down the booze. Did you give him a breathalyzer? Did you check his blood?" Jenny sighed and slammed the book that she had been reading.

"We gave him the breathalyzer and the blood exam. He isn’t drunk, just disturbed." Withdrawing to the back of the cell, James huddled and tried to regain his train of thought. Where had all of the Jeff’s come from? It was quite bizarre.

You have a gift. Use it. Arasan had said that. James didn’t know what she meant by a gift, if he had a gift he would have used it by now. Abruptly it hit him. Making sure that nobody was watching, James calmly pulled a penny out of his pocket and placed it on the floor. Staring hard, James attempted to make some impact on it with his mind. It started. He could feel some sort of invisible hand reach forth.. And with almost simple defiance of the laws of physics, the penny leapt forth to bury itself in the cell wall.

"Oh."

• * *

"Which way?" Vail had a retort all lined up, he was just WAITING to lay it on the meddlesome female when she abruptly changed the subject. She was so ridiculously carefree that it drove Vail mad, how dare she lay a psychoanalysis on him? She had no idea what he had gone through, what he seen, or done, or heard. Once again Vail considered killing her, but he did not. She unfortunately was the only one who seemed to care what happened to him. Everybody else wanted him dead.

"Take a lift, one of our agents is standing the corner." Vail could only marvel at the brazen boldness of the agent, standing in broad daylight on the street corner of a busy city. It only served to show how firm a hold Team Rocket had on the city. The agent’s face quickly became apparent as the Van pulled up near him. Stepping up to the window, the agent cocked his head smiled.

"What’s up Vail? Taking a little joyride with your girl?" Vail would have killed the man for the remark had he not been seeking information at the moment. Leaning out the window, Vail silently adjusted his beret and scowled.

"Shuttup Samuel. We’re on the look for some info related to the mission. Any of our agents seen the traitor lately?" Samuel only screwed up his face and pointed downtown.

"Nobody I know has seen him. Word has it that Aaron has seen him, but he was nabbed last week. He’s down in the city lockup right now." Leaning back, Vail took a moment to consider the situation.

"How did Aaron get caught? I thought that the Boss had the entire city under his control?"

"That’s this week. The cops were a little bolder last week. Trust me though, when he finds out that one of the men in blue has grabbed one of our agents. The commissioner will have hell pay." Nodding appreciatively, Vail pasted on one of his smiled.

"If they’re not grabbing us, then who are the cops going after?" The agent merely shrugged and spat.

"Small time chumps. Just this morning I saw them haul in some kid. I think he was drunk, he was beating the shit out of some pour sap on the sidewalk." Vail was not interested in any drunk. Pulling his head back into the van, the Rocket turned his head toward and Blu and issued his order."

"Drive downtown." Blu did not respond, she just sat and stared directly ahead.

"I said drive damnit!" Vail could feel his ire rising, the woman would not listen to a word he said. She seemed to take malicious pleasure in it too.

"Why should I? I don’t have to take orders from you. Just say please and I MIGHT want to drive down to the city jail. But if you’re just going to sit there and demand that I do something, then I’ll just sit here and do nothing." Vail desperately wanted to hurt the woman in some way, shape or form. He knew that it was calculated to make him angry, but he still could not stand it. He gave orders, and people obeyed them. She would obey his orders if it killed him. For now however, it was detrimental to the mission to try and butt heads with her.

"PLEASE drive to the city jail." Vail laid on as much sarcasm as he possibly could, just to see if he could anger Blu. He did not, the female simply adjusted her shades and began to drive downtown.

• * *

"We are here to see Aaron. Take us to him now." Blu shot a look at Vail, and the Rocket threw in one last word with a snarl.

"Please." The Officer behind the deck seemed to consider for a moment, then stared into the pair’s eyes. They had shunned their Team Rocket uniforms for more casual dress. The Officer was not fooled, he knew a Rocket when he saw one. There was little that he could do however, he could almost feel the Boss breathing down his neck.

"Go ahead. Third cell on the right." Pasting a large smile on his face, Vail gestured down the hallway and took hold Blu’s arm. The female did not take kindly to being hauled about and struggled wildly. Risking her ire, Vail hissed softly and let go of her arm. Blu stopped struggling, but it was obvious that she had been angered by Vail’s rash action. At last the duo arrived at the correct cell.

"Aaron? Are you there? I need to talk to you." Squinting into the darkness, Vail attempted to make out the outline of a human body. Unfortunately, there was none to be found.

"Yeah, what is it man? I’m tired." Cocking his head, Vail reached into the cell quietly knocked on the wall. A faint stirring became apparent, and a balding man with shifty eyes appeared at the cell door.

"I could care less how tired you are idiot. You got yourself captured in a place where a cop wouldn’t TOUCH a Rocket unless told too. How could you be so stupid as to get caught in a place like this?" Aaron only smiled lopsidedly and pointed to his ear. It was obvious that the Rocket was drunk at the moment.

"Sorry man. Sucked down a bit too much of the juice, cops picked me up right outside the bar."

Vail spat, disgusted. The man was a disgrace to everything that was Team Rocket.

"Screw the juice. I’m looking for a former Rocket by the name of Aka. Samuel says that you may have heard of him. Tell me where he is damnit."

Swaying unsteadily, the Rocket smiled and gazed at Vail, his eyes suddenly quite glassy.

"Oh yeah! I know Aka, heard through the grapevine that.. that.." The drunk took a moment to stop and consider, then suddenly recalled clearly.

"One of our agents on Route.. Route.. Aww, the Route’s not important. One of our agent’s saw Aka and his planet thing going down the path. Methinks that he is on the way to Lavender Town." That was about all that Vail could get out of the man. Spinning wildly, the incarcerated Rocket spun about and toppled over. Vail sighed and looked about for Blu. She was nowhere to be found.

"Okay Blu, where the hell did you?" Vail was not amused, the woman seemed to delight in annoying him. Wandering through the corridors, the Rocket attempted to ignore the cries of the many prisoners. At last Vail found Blu, she was hunched in front of a cell, a look of perplexion about her face.

"James?"

Blu peered into the cell, and James didn’t seem to recognize her. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and Vail pulled her up and spun her around.

"You’re supposed to stay-"

Blu raised her hand in an inside windmill maneuver that was child’s play, knocking his hand of her shoulder.

"Watch it," she said. She turned around. "Kid, zat you?"

James blinked, "You…"

"Blu. My name is Blu… What the hell happened to you?"

"I remember you."

Blu arched an brow. She could hear Vail shift position, "We need to go-"

Blu raised a hand and he automatically shut up. Then he shook his head.

"We’re going, now!" He grabbed her arm and was greeted with a stinging backhand slap across the cheek. His eyes widened, and he glared at her.

"No," Blu said calmly. He’d heard the same tone when she was talking to her Ninetales. She turned around again to face James. "What are you doing? Where’s Jeff and Arasan?" Blu asked.

"Jeff!!" James yelped. "…"

"What about him?" Blu asked.

"…....."

She frowned, and was about to ask a question when suddenly Vail grabbed a handful of her hair and started dragging her back down the hallway.

"Dammit, leggo’ah me!" She brought a hand around to grab his fist as he continued to walk down the hall.. She twisted around to her knees and yanked her hair out of his grasp painfully.

Blu stood up. "I’m sick of your stupid ego tantrums," she said, looking sharply at him. "I don’t care who else you drag around in Rocket, but it ain’t gonna be me." She reached out and yanked his ponytail.

"Now we’re even. And don’t touch my hair." She stalked down the hall and left the jeering prisoner waving at Vail. She walked to the front desk, intent on questioning the Officer about James.

"What do you want?" The police officer behind the desk was quite severe, he obviously did not get enough sleep at night. Blu couldn’t blame him, if she was a cop in a place like Saffron City, she wouldn’t get any sleep either.

"We’re here to pick up James Oake." Blu considered for a moment, not an easy thing for Vail was fairly breathing down her neck. Blu was half tempted to turn about and hit him once again.

"Who the hell was James Oake?" She nearly laid out the cop for that one. The cop obviously did not care about his job, it was rapidly becoming obvious how Team Rocket successfully took over a city like Saffron so easily.
"James Oake. His last name is spelled O-A-K (OOC – James never bothered to tell Blu how his name is actually spelled). Check the computer for his name damnit." Blu disliked local law enforcement nearly as much as she disliked Team Rocket. It was cops like him that drove her mad. Setting down his cup of coffee, the cop scooted over to his computer and took a moment to tap the keys.

"Hmm, now O-A-K. We have an O-A-K-E. Is that the guy that you looking for?" Blu sighed in dismay and pointed at the cop, attempting to inject as much menace into her voice as possible.

"It doesn’t matter how his last name is spelled, just tell me why he is in here." The cop let out an almost inaudible grunt and pulled his particularly large bulk up to the computer screen.

"Ok, ok. James Oake lets see. Officer Jenny and Officer Mills brought him in this morning. Apparently he was found on some bum on the street attempting to beat the man senseless. Intoxication was suspected, so we put him in the lockup so that he could cool his heels. Don’t know what his problem is, weird sounds are coming from his cell. The other inmates are beginning to complain." With that the cop leaned back and grinned, obviously believing that he was somehow victorious in some peculiar way.

"Are you sure that you want him?" Blu was about to respond, when Vail abruptly shoved her out of the way and grabbed hold of the annoying cop.

"Listen and listen good. You’re going to release that kid right now and what’s more you are going to ENJOY it damnit. We’re from Team Rocket and the boss wants the kid for questioning." The smirk disappeared quite quickly and the obnoxious cop’s face went an ashen gray. Turning around slowly, the cop picked up the phone and began to whisper conspirationally with whomever worked on the other end of the cellblock. Turning toward Blu, Vail delivered a triumphant smirk of his own. He still had it.

• * *

"James, time to leave. We’re getting you out of here." The woman was talking again, how did she know his name? James supposed that it didn’t really matter, as long as she was pulling him out of the jail, he didn’t like it there. His fellow convicts had begun to shun him. Why had he been picked up again? He vaguely remembered attacking a man on the street.. A man who looked like Jeff. Who was Jeff again? James was pretty sure that he was supposed to be afraid of him, but he wasn’t sure why.

"Come on James, we’re leaving now." James attempted to stand up, but he had limited success. His leg seemed dysfunctional, and he needed something to prop him up. At last James gave up and dragged himself to the strangers.

"Oh God, why the hell did they take away his cane? Don’t they know that he can’t walk without it?" The woman seemed unusually distressed, why would she be concerned about him? It occurred to James that he perhaps liked her.

"Do I like you?" It was a straightforward question, but it seemed to perplex the woman. Perhaps she has limited mental capacity James thought. The boy next to her was not perplexed, he also seemed to have a healthy dislike for James.

"Why the hell are we bringing him? He’s a fruit and a cripple, he’ll only hobble us." James did not like the boy, he was unusually cynical.

"Come on, lets get his cane and get in the van." James remembered a van, last time he had been in a van somebody had beaten him with a cane. Was it the cynical boy? The trainer did not like where this was going.

• * *

"What’s his problem anyway? Why doesn’t he talk?" The boy did not talk often, but James still did not like him. He only seemed to only think in the negative.

"I don’t know what his problem is okay? I have no idea where he went after I left, something just happened." James was disappointed at that, he had been hoping that the woman knew what had happened to him. She seemed kind enough, James decided that he liked her. The argument between and the boy and woman was growing quite heated, the pair did not seem to care for each other, yet they still traveled together. The boy’s voice was growing louder, he was obviously angry. James did not care for his voice, and he was distressing the woman.

"Be quiet, I don’t like your voice." The words were plain enough, but they simply ignored the youth crouched in back. James did not like this, he did not want to listen to the boy anymore. There were several large buckets in the rear of the van. James smiled, he would make the boy be quiet. Pointing at one of the bucket, he could feel his mind reaching out, taking hold of the bucket and lifting it. The bucket began to float in the air. Smiling broadly, James promptly flung the bucket toward the back of the boy’s head. The van immediately grinded to a halt and both the boy and the girl peered at him.

"That’s it, I’m going to kill him." The boy unbuckled his safety belt and made to rise. James did not like what the boy was implying. Pointing at the door, James wrapped his mind about it and pushed the handle. With a gentle shove, James quietly pushed the boy out the door and into the nearby ditch. The woman was perplexed again, she stared at James in quiet amazement.

"What’s happened to you James?"

• * *

Blu opened her door, waded down into the ditch and helped Vail up. He didn’t really notice that he had accepted her help, but now was rather intent on doing something relatively bad to James. He opened the side door of the van.

Blu stood where she was and watched, ready to sic Miller on Vail at the last second. She also took out the small throwing knife she kept in her glove. She didn’t particularly want to kill Vail, but a sharp knife in the back of the knee junction wouldn’t be very pleasant. She wasn’t an expert but she felt fairly sure of her aim. Anyways, give or take a few inches anywhere on the back of the leg wouldn’t matter.

"You want to hurt me?" James asked.

"Yeah," Vail growled, "You little twerp, what the hell do you think you’re doing? I don’t know why SHE wants you but I’ll be happy to take you on here and now."

James cocked his head. He sat in the back seat. Suddenly Vail flew backwards, hitting Blu. She scrambled to get out from under him.

"Shit, I didn’t hit you with the knife, did I?"

"Knife?" Vail accused, "You had a knife?"

"Of course I had a knife!" Blu pushed him over and took the knife from the grass. Then she replaced it in her glove. Vail didn’t know whether to be angry or approving that she had concealed weapons. He’d rather be angry. That was easier. She walked to the van to see James sitting innocently in the van.

"Watch yer aim!" She yelled. "What’s happened to you?"

James watched as the cynical boy flew backwards. He hadn’t meant for the boy to hit the girl, but neither of them seemed hurt so he decided that it was irrelevant. Then the girl came towards him. She seemed irritated. It occurred to him that maybe she liked the boy.

"Do you like him?"

"What??" Blu asked incredulously, pointing at Vail, "Him?? I’m assuming you mean like, like. No, of course not. But I won’t have you whacking him over the head with buckets. Me neither. Buckets are…. Evil."

"Shuttup, I don’t need you protecting me, Blu," Vail snapped, joining her.

"I don’t need to be keeping you from killing him!" Blu replied. "He wasn’t always so…" She waved a gloved hand in front of James’ face, "…out of it."

"What does it matter? We’re supposed to be driving." Vail was trained enough not to reveal what they were doing. Though he thought it wouldn’t matter if they discussed Team Rocket’s politics in front of THAT fruitcake. What was he thinking? ‘They?’ He shook his head to rid the thoughts. ‘They’ nothing.

"James, how can you do that? It’s like telekinesis."

"Yes."

The one word startled the two. Vail was tempted to applaud mockingly. But that would mean he was sharing humor with Blu and he wouldn’t do that.

"Yes? You can do telekinesis?"

James looked around, moving his head in halting motions. But he didn’t say anything.

"He’s a nutcase. Just leave him here," Vail said.

"I can’t. I told Jeff I’d clear his name. Anyways, we can’t just leave him here. Just like I can’t leave YOU anywhere by yourself." She seemed to be mostly talking to herself again. Vail turned and went around to the driver’s seat. He didn’t want to see the kid in the back. Only now he realized why he was so familiar. He was THE James Oake. The same one he’d thought he’d done in. Same one who’d beat him in the tournament… Almost. Vail knew that if he’d merely lost that round he wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Blu opened the door and slid into the passenger side of the van. She glanced back at James, who was busy examining the mechanical window mechanism. Only he wasn’t touching it… Just moving the window up and down. Telekinesis… With his mind.

"Why don’t we just get rid of him," Vail muttered as he turned the keys and pulled back onto the road.

"I assume you mean kill?"

"Of course I mean kill!"

"Well you’re lucky I didn’t mean kill on the bridge." She was getting the hang of talking to Vail. Pose a question or a comment, and then change the subject before he had time to reply. Vail’s replies weren’t as quick with her as they were with others.

"Why did you yell at the guard to get him out, anyways?" She DID want to know the answer to that. He considered that. Why did he? Was it because he had wanted to prove that he wasn’t some kid like Blu thought he was, or just because he had wanted to yell at someone? Did he want to impress her?

"I’m driving." Blu shrugged; She had expected as much. She got up (Blu rarely buckles

her seatbelt) and went into the back to site with James. He had given up on the window.

"You have blue hair."

"Yeah. What about it?" She asked.

James remembered someone with blue hair. A long time ago. It seemed like forever ago, if that was possible. Yes, he considered, forever ago was possible. He remembered… noise. And hoof beats. And blue hair. And….

"Fire."

"Fire?" Blu said. "Were you in a fire or something…?" Blu didn’t know where this was going.

Something else wriggled it’s way into James’ consciousness… He remembered a horse. And lots of noise. And he recalled a name…

"Vail."

"Vail what?" Blu asked. She heard Vail scoff up ahead.

Vail heard his name from the back. What were those two up to now? She thought she could help the kid. Damn kid, what right did he have to be in the rocket van at all? By all means, he should be dead. Vail had done the deed himself. He remembered that. He didn’t want to.

"Vail what, James?" Blu asked.

"Vail….." James cocked his head and contemplated that. He remembered faces.. They swirled in his head without reason. A few seemed vaguely familiar. And he remembered a fight… Pain. Vail. More pain… Then darkness.

"…Tell them, Vail sent me…" He spoke the words as they reappeared in his mind.

"Sent you? What?" None of his words made sense at all. Blu slumped back beside him as he continued to shake his head.

"Miller."

She sat straight again.

"Miller?" She tapped Miller’s PokéBall, and the Ninetales appeared, wavering in the unsteady floor. He sniffed James’ hand, and cocked his head.

There was a blue fox next to him. He remembered the fox. Someone told him once, that it… He couldn’t remember. It was so distant. The boy in front finally said something. James absent mindedly petted the fox on the head.

"Flyer we’re making headway. Get up here."

Blu sighed, "Yes, siiiiiiiiir," she drawled the words out mockingly and dragged herself up into the front seat.

She had no idea what to do with James, it was if somebody had simply wiped his mind clean, quite a disturbing thought. More disturbing still was the telekinesis that he suddenly exhibited. Since

when did James start having telekinetic powers? Blu was certain that it had something to do with Jeff, the youth seemed terrified of the younger one.

"Be careful… Or he’ll slobber on you." Blu turned back and gazed at James. She remembered saying those same words in the Safari Zone. That seemed to be good sign, hopefully he wouldn’t remember what Vail did in it’s entirety. She did not want to know what the kid could or would do to the Rocket.

"Ok, stop staring at the kid. My contact says that Aka is headed for Lavender Town. Whether he is there already, gone, or still on his way is anybody’s guess. We’ve got an agent or two in Lavender though, if he’s there or been there, we’ll find him." Vail grinned malevolently, he was back in power. All doubts vanished, it was good to be giving orders again. Blu was ignoring him, she was gazing at the kid again.

"Listen to me damnit!" Blu completely ignored Vail and continued to watch as James mechanically patted Miller. The Ninetails seemed to be enjoying it, but then he

enjoyed any attention given to him.

• * *

It was all coming back. James continued to pat the Ninetails on the head, it’s fur was soft and

it made peculiar noises of pleasure. This was a good thing, he would continue to pat the Ninetails on the head until he didn’t need to know. James risked a glance toward the front of the van, the boy was driving and the girl was staring at him. The youth did not like this, he felt uncomfortable. He was certain that he liked her, in what capacity he did not know. The memories were all coming back, swirls of faces, voices, he had led an active life.

You have a gift. James jerked his head up, expecting to see the beautiful young lady who

had whispered the words into his ear. She was nowhere to be found. This was disappointing, yet somehow relieving. Where the young woman went, the Jeff went. The Jeff brought death, James was quite certain that his goal in life was to kill the Jeff. It all made perfect sense, the Jeff wished to kill him, and the cynical boy worked for the Jeff. That would explain.. the pain.

• * *

Blu was becoming further worried about James’ condition. The youth had begun howling, an annoyingly ceaseless tirade which was not helped by Miller who chose to join in.

"Shut those two up." Vail was obviously annoyed by the howling, and Blu took some measure of satisfaction in that. But that howling was rapidly becoming annoying.

"Be quiet!" The howling stopped, both James and the Ninetails stared at her blankly.

Blu looked about the Van uncertainly, James continued to stare at her, a look of confusion about his face.

• * *

The pain was terrible, it seemed to spread from his side to his leg, unceasing pain. Why had the woman told him to be quiet? He couldn’t be quiet, the pain was too great. Where had the pain come from? Why didn’t it stop!?

When you arrive in hell boy tell them Vail sent you. The words hit James like a jackhammer. The boy in front had inflicted the pain, and his name was Vail. James did not like Vail, he had vowed to kill him hadn’t he? He had vowed to kill Vail!

This is Miller, be careful or he’ll slobber on you. The woman was Blu. She was kind, she had never hurt him. What were the two doing together? It was if Satan and Jesus were dating, a disturbing

thought indeed. Vail must have captured Blu, that would be the only explanation. Vail had to die. Then the memories hit, every single one of them, like somebody had opened up a dam and all the water was rushing to kill the townsfolk below. It was too much, James began to scream in agony.

• * *

Vail gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the boy screaming in back. Why had they taken him? He wasn’t doing anything but driving him mad. It was likely some sort of plot by Blu, she would do something like

that.

"Tell that boy to shut up or else!" The boy suddenly stopped, and so did the truck.

"What the hell, why did you stop?" Blu was obviously in a bad mood, but Vail felt worse. The Team Rocket van had for no apparent reason had given up the ghost. Nothing he tried would work.

"I don’t know, the van just.. died." Vail risked a glance backward, James had curled into a ball and wasn’t moving. Maybe he was dead too, the Rocket suddenly found himself wondering if the van and the youth were connected.

"I’ll go see what’s wrong with him." Climbing out of the van, Blu pulled open the side door and jumped in back. He was not dead, as evidenced by the fact that he twitched when the woman tapped him. At last, he uncurled and sat up, but something had changed. Rather then the wild, slightly mad look that the youth had worn previously, he now seemed completely sane. Like a man on a mission.

"Thanks Blu." Blu gasped, James knew her name.

"You’ve been good to me. You don’t need to fear, I have no reason to harm you." The woman’s delight quickly faded to dread curiosity, his voice had gone completely flat and even carried a few menacing overtones. Now what happened? She wondered.

"It’s all back, I know why I am here. You are a friend" James pointed at Vail, his eyes suddenly filled with hate.

"You on the other hand. You on the other hand will now die."

• * *

"You can’t!" Blu grabbed James’ hand and pushed it down to his side.

"What’s he talking about?" Vail demanded. His voice said he was unafraid, but he knew what that kid could do. And he was, secretly, afraid.

"You can’t kill him, James," Blu said. "He’s not like you think."

"He is evil. He has to die."

"No. If you’re gonna kill him, you go through me first. I don’t know what kinda hokey-pokey you got going in there. But if you kill Vail, I go too."

"Shut up, Blu," Vail said.

"You’ve certainly changed," James said with a bit of exasperation in his voice. Then he shrugged, noncommittally, "But he has to go. He doesn’t deserve to live. You should have killed him when you had the chance. I’m only finishing what you started."

"I started a half-witted destroy sequence," Blu said. "You don’t know Vail. No one does, but I’m getting there."

"No you’re not," Vail quipped.

She glared at him. "Whether you like it or not, Vail," she said.

"He killed his sister, you know," James said. "Valerie."

"FINALLY!!" Blu cried, throwing her arms in the air. She fell backwards, and looked at Vail from the floor of the van. He didn’t have a happy look on his face. It was the most emotion she’d ever seen on him. He turned around to face the front.

"You’re not angry?" James asked, with a bit of disappointment. "Don’t

you want to kill him now?"

"No, no!" Blu sat up and hugged James. "You’ve solved the mystery! Thanks!" Then she got a solemn look on her face. "But my proposal still stands. Can you please make the car start."

"No, I still have to kill him."

Blu didn’t look to Vail, but she wondered if he was crying again. She frowned. She wasn’t happy that he had killed his sister. But she was happy that she knew where he was coming from. Sort of. She couldn’t afford to kill him now.

"Don’t James. Don’t kill Vail." The words took a lot. And Vail knew it.

Blu wondered how many more times she would have to say THAT.

James stared at Blu. She met his gaze and finally he blinked.

"You mean it."

"Yes. I don’t say many things I don’t mean."

"Even after all he’s done? To me? To his sister? To you?"

Blu considered that. "Me and Vail are even. He might even owe me some. But I can’t afford for you to just kill him."

"You mean it."

"Yes."

"Would you kill him if he did something else you did not approve of?"

Blu sighed.

"James, he IS something I don’t approve of. But we can’t lose another to Rocket. Even if they’ve been there their entire lives. Vail is a disturbed person. Don’t go killing him when I’m making progress.

Everything falls into place, now, and I almost have him figured out."

"You don’t understand," James said. He reached out with his mind, touching Vail’s consciousness and Blu’s. Drawing upon Vail’s memory, he fed it to her mind.

**

Blu watched, as if she were a ghost. The room was hazy like a dream. She saw a girl in a hospital bed. She looked in bad shape. Blu would have moved, but she could not, and did not feel the need to. The

girl looked familiar, almost… With red hair… She looked like…

"Vail." Blu spoke his name and she realized it was true. The girl must be Valerie, Vail’s sister.

She felt James appear beside her.

"This isn’t bloody, is it?" She whispered.

James said nothing.

She continued to watch as the door opened. Vail walked in, looking much different than the Vail SHE knew. This one looked unsure, almost sad. He approached the bed. Blu couldn’t hear the words. She

watched as Valerie drifted off into an unwaking sleep. And Vail left.

**

Vail felt his mind being probed. He sat in the driver’s seat, unsuccessfully trying to start the van. His eyes went blank and he blinked. When he opened his eyes, he was watching something that he had

not wanted to remember, ever. He saw the bridge, and he saw himself, and Blu. He shook his head, trying to get rid of the thoughts and the vision, but they wouldn’t leave him. The vision flickered and he recalled being thrown onto the wet earth near a fire, and he remembered the coils of a Dragonair keeping him standing upright. He blinked again, and recalled a memory he knew wasn’t his… Blu had brought him to the hospital, masquerading as his sister. He was angry again, but watched the scenario like a silent member of an audience.

Blu had sat in his hospital room, leaning in the guest’s chair. She refused to leave, despite the nurse’s urging. He watched her, she seemed to be deep in thought.

**

The next she saw was Vail, plunging a dagger into James’ stomach. She watched as James fell, near-dead, to the ground. Vail left, without a seeming afterthought.

**

Vail saw Blu triumphantly burning a Rocket uniform. She seemed to be a bit younger than she was now… He also recognized that Trixxy character. Blu poked at the bonfire as she threw another uniform in, and she spat at the fire.

Vail’s insides retched, the vision made him physically ill. Though in a metaphorical sense it remotely appealed to him. But he banished the thought immediately and reveled in the anger.

**

Blu shook her head and closed her eyes. She opened them and found herself back in the van. She looked ahead and saw Vail shake his head from up front.

"You both stand for opposite causes, you are natural enemies," James said. "I would do you both a favor by killing one of you. And since I have a personal motive against him," James pointed accusationally at Vail, "He will be the one to go. The world will be a happier place."

Vail took a step back, he was still gonna die? This was not good, he had been threatened with death a number of times but never had he actually taken the threats seriously.

"It will not be painful, I will merely take apart his brain very slowly. Vail will merely go to sleep." James’ eyes began to glow crimson, and Vail felt as if a vice had taken him by the skull and the screw was relentlessly tightening. Then, it stopped. Opening his eyes, Vail looked to see that Blu had taken the boy’s arm and shoved him back.

"Sorry James, but I can’t let you kill him." This was bad, the boy was probably going to want to kill them BOTH now. James stood up, anger apparent in his facial expression. Dropping into a classic fighting stance, Blu beckoned James toward her.

"Come on James, stop. I really don’t want to hurt you!" James ignored Blu’s plea, raising his finger the boy pointed at the female. An aura of crackling blue energy appeared about her, and the woman was promptly flung through the windshield of the Team Rocket van. Then, for the first time since they had found the kid, he actually looked tired from the feat. This was his chance, snatching up one of the buckets that was found in the back of the van, Vail swung it and laid out the boy with one hit. The Rocket wondered what to do next. The boy was out like a light, and the woman was in the middle of the street. Vail was half tempted to simply run her down and be done with it.. But somehow he could not, she had tried to stop him after all. Sighing miserably, Vail climbed out of the van and collected up the female.

• * *

Blu awoke sometime around midnight, a pained expression about her face. Numerous gashes decorated her face and it was obvious that she was experiencing a mighty headache. Blu gaped as she turned to Vail. The Rocket said nothing.

"What happened?" Vail tried to ignore Blu, but it was difficult. He had not had anybody to talk to for several hours.

"James tried to kill you. I couldn’t exactly leave you lying there or anything, God forbid that I should be relieved of this hell, so I picked you up and stuffed you back in the van. I’ve been working on the fucking machine for 6 hours now. Nothing works. I think that we might have to walk." Blu turned toward James, who was lying on his side in the rear compartment of the van. A gruesome bruise had began to develop on the youth’s head.

"Is James alright?"

"Why do you care about him? He tried to kill you, give him another chance and he’ll kill the both of us. We should get rid of him right now." Blu gasped and pointed at James, obviously disturbed by Vail’s recommendations.

"We can’t just kill him! James doesn’t know what he’s doing, we can make him better."

Vail snorted and stared glumly at the steering column.

"It’s been my experience that once somebody decides that they want you dead, there isn’t much that you can do to change their mind."

"Well we’re not killing him, and we’re not leaving him beyond. We might as well start walking to Lavender right now, it’s closer then Saffron. I’ll carry James for the first half hour, you carry him for the next half hour. Then we’ll break for camp. Now come on, and I don’t want a word out of your mouth. I have a headache and I’m in a bad mood." Sneering softly, Vail stepped out of the van and watched as Blu carefully picked James up. Then together the pair began to navigate their way through the suffocating darkness toward Lavender Town.

• * *

"Has it been a half an hour yet?" The weight of the youth was unbearable, Vail could barely stand much less walk. It felt like he had been walking for an eternity. Blu sighed and halted.

"Yeah, it’s been a half an hour. Do you have a sleeping bag?"

Vail sighed and shook his head.

"Alright then. Time to make the animals and sleep on the ground." Vail made to lay down, but Blu stopped him.

"Wait a minute, one of us has to stand watch just in case he wakes up." Groaning, Vail rose and looked Blu in the eye.

"I’ll fight you for second watch." Blu widened her eye and chuckled. Vail was obviously becoming a tad bolder.

"Oh don’t bother, I’ll take first watch."

"No! I don’t trust you, I’LL take first watch. I’ll wake you up when I’m done."

"Suit yourself."

Lying down on the hard, rocky ground it was not long before loud snores began to emit from Blu’s general direction.

"Nobody ever told me that she snored." Vail sighed and tried to make himself comfortable. Nothing worked, and he was incredibly tired. At last the Rocket settled for lying on his back, staring at the moon. It had always been his wish to travel to that place, to be in a REAL Team Rocket. But duty had kept away from that joyful little distraction, he would probably never get out from under the Boss’s eye. Vail yawned and turned his attention to James. The youth did not move, he hadn’t moved for many hours. Looking about quietly, Vail pulled out a small pill. It was the same kind of pill that he had fed to Valerie. He couldn’t afford to allow James to wake up. He wasn’t in the mood to die at the moment.

"Bottom’s up." Pulling James upward, Vail made to shove it down the youth’s throat. The youth began to choke, then suddenly his eyes popped open. Vail gasped and fell back as the two glittering red orbs focused on Vail.

"I knew that you could not be trusted. You are unfortunate that Blu is asleep, she is a good one. Now I must kill you. Goodbye Vail." James smiled and reached into Vail’s mind, this was the moment that he had long been waiting for. Slowly, meticulously and with great care James began to unravel the Rocket’s neurons. Then the youth spread his influence to the other parts of the body, shutting down one vital organ at a time. James could feel brain cells beginning to die, in the background he could here Vail twitching and gasping. Then a problem, a terrible wave of nausea hit him. What the hell was he doing? Hadn’t Blu told him not to kill Vail? He liked Blu, it wasn’t fair to her. James made to stop, but then considered once again. Vail was a menace to society, he had to die. The nausea grew worse, for the first time James had reached the limit of his power. The youth began to reel, and at last collapsed once again alongside Vail.

• * *

Blu yawned and stretched. She felt quite well rested and surprisingly vital. Stretching out, Blu watched as the sun began to rise in the Eastern sky. At last it hit him, what the Vail was doing?

"Damnit Vail, I knew that I couldn’t trust you. You’re just lucky that James didn’t wake up and try to kill you." Blu waited for a retort, but Vail did not move. He was frighteningly still.

"Vail, wake up. I don’t have time for this." Scooting over to the Rocket, Blu turned him over and gasped. The Rockets eyes were glassy and unseeing, he looked quite dead. Blu slowly moved her hand over to one of the major arteries, praying softly. She was rewarded with a very faint pulse.

"Oh God, I never thought that I would be grateful to see you alive." Snatching up both James and Vail, Blu began to run toward the still distant Lavender Town. Time was not on her side.

• * *

Vail opened his eyes. Wait.. Now he opened his eyes. Eyes, open…Now!!

"What the f—"

"Shh." Out of the darkness he heard a voice that was familiar. He blinked desperately, and for the second time he was truly scared. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder, and reached for it.

"Vail…" Blu started.

"I can’t see…" Vail started.

"The doctor says you’ll get better-" Vail was silent. His head pounded terribly. The space just inside his ear pulsed with his heartbeat. He shook his head incredulously. This couldn’t be happening.

"You’re in Lavender Town. What happened? I woke up and you and James were just…" he heard the rustling of fabric in an invisible shrug. Unconsciously he gripped her hand.

"The Boss. Has he called?" Vail recalled what happened to disabled Team Rocket members.

"No. But I’m expecting it any time."

Vail blinked a few more times, each time expecting to be able to see…

"I’m scared," he whispered very faintly.

"I know. James isn’t in better condition," she said, with a touch of anger. "I don’t know what happened to him. Or you. What did he do to you?" She reached and ran a finger on his eyebrow. Normally that would have angered Vail to the point of fury but at this moment he needed comforting, even if it was from the woman who had been bent on killing him.

"My head hurts," Vail said.

"The doctors don’t know what happened. They said nothing should have happened. They can’t explain it."

"They better damn well explain it!" Vail said earnestly. He let go of Blu’s and sat up in the darkness. He went over the situation. When the Boss called, Blu would be given the order to get rid of him. He wondered if she would do it. It would be the best opportunity. And the call would come soon; Rocket had ears and eyes everywhere.

But one more pair couldn’t see…

"Will you carry out the Boss’s orders?" He asked suddenly.

She was quiet.

"No."

That was a moment of comfort. But he didn’t want to be comforted. He was Vail of Team Rocket! And he didn’t need comfort or reassurance.

"Team Rocket will come after you as well," he said instead.

"I know." Blu shrugged invisibly again. "I’ll risk it. I don’t believe in those stupid rules. Anyways. The Doctor says you’ll get better." But there was doubt in her voice. He didn’t want to hear it, he

wanted to believe that he would get better.

"If I tell you to kill me, will you?" he asked. He did not want to live the rest of his life as a cripple.

"No. The only person who kills you is ME, and the only person who gives me the order to kill you is ME as well. I saved your life and now it belongs to me, so there."

• * *

Arasan stood there looking in Jeff’s tired but determined eyes. She hoped her soothing stare would calm those determined eyes but it didn’t work.

"Jeff, you can’t! Just leave Vail alone! I didn’t want to say this before but there is something about him that I just can’t put my finger on. But I know that Vail has gone through something. Something strange and diabolical but definitely not good. He’s got problems yeah, but he also has a life I’ll bet. Or had one. Or something. Just don’t kill him. Don’t kill anyone Jeff. Cause if you do… I won’t…I won’t love you anymore!" Arasan’s words stabbed Jeff and his eyes suddenly had a surprised look on them. Like he never knew that she loved him.

Right. She began to melt his hatred but it vanished when he suddenly yelled in her face.

"FINE! I don’t want you to love me anyways! Why should I care about some dumb girl following me around anyways!? Are those really blue pigtails on your head or do they conceal giant horns!? Okay Devil-lady. Just leave me alone with my problems and forget about who killed Valerie and who almost killed James! And forget about that horrible kiss that showed me who James really was! And forget about who saved your butt enough times already! I don’t need you! And you don’t need me!"

Arasan was shocked beyond belief and gasped when Jeff suddenly dissapeared.

"But I—no I don’t need you. But I do want you." She sighed softly to the wind.

• * *

"Agent Blu, are you there?" Blu took a deep breath and placed the cell phone up to her ear. She had been expecting the call for quite some time now, but she knew that she wouldn’t truly be ready for it.

"Is it true that Vail is disabled?" Blu considered for a moment, should she not tell the agent on the other line that he was blind and scared? Should she lie? It would likely not be a good idea for Rocket had eyes everywhere.

"Yes it’s true." She didn’t need to go into details, she knew what was coming next. It was Team Rocket doctrine, it all made her sick beyond all belief.

"Very well, you know what to do. The means to carry out the operation will be provided. You will take Vail’s position, you have served Team Rocket well. Be warned though, if you do not carry out the operation, somebody else will and HE will get Vail’s position."

The phone clicked, and Blu was left alone with her thoughts. She was half tempted to throw the phone across the room and shatter it upon the wall. But she would not, she tried not to give in to her more violent urges when possible.

• * *

Vail sighed and buried his head in his pillow. He could not believe that he been foolish enough to attempt to eliminate the boy, now he was going to pay for it with his life. If Blu didn’t carry out the execution then some other opportunist within Team Rocket would. The very idea of it all terribly frightened Vail. There was nothing that he could do but wait, the suffocating darkness kept him company. The Rocket was afraid to go to sleep, he was certain that someone would come to finish him off. More then likely he would be plain clothes as to slip past the guards and Blu, and that would be the end of Vail. Sighing miserably, Vail waited for the moment when he would finally be released from the jaws of certain death.

• * *

"Miss? Miss?" Blu snorted softly and looked up to see a doctor standing patiently above her. It was obvious that he had something important to tell her.

"What is it?’

"We’re finished running the tests on the patients that you brought in. It really is quite fascinating. Patient 1, I believe his name is Vail? Yes, Patient 1 has severe trauma on all internal organs. His liver and heart are partially dismantled, almost as if somebody was actually picking them apart. There is also some damage to the brain. The neurons that handle the operation of the eyes we’re cut. We were however able to repair the damage, though I fear that Mr. Vail’s heart will never quite be the same."

Blu nodded solemnly and considered for a moment. James had done more then a little damage to Vail’s body, one might wonder why he had stopped.

"What about James?"

"Patient #2 is a complete mystery. The electrical activity in his brain has gone completely haywire, the patterns are consistent with someone with Psychic ability. The problem is that records indicate he doesn’t HAVE psychic ability, we will want to look at him further."

"Why is he unconscious?"

"Mental trauma. His brain is not quite set up to handle Psychic abilities, it appears that he went too far too fast. He should be on his feet shortly. Oh there he is." The Doctor smiled and nodded down the hall. Somebody had emerged from their room and was walking slowly toward her. As the person came closer, it became obvious that the boy was James. He seemed fairly normal, same limp, same hair. But he looked a good deal older all of the sudden, as if he had grown up in his sleep.

"You may want to talk with him personally. I have papers to file." Turning solemnly, the Doctor marched off and left James and Blu alone. The youth was obviously somewhat abashed to be in her company.

"Look Blu, I’m sorry about how I acted. This is all new to me. I wasn’t ready for it, I thought that I could do some good in the world or something. I don’t know, I’ve been real confused lately. It’s sort of a long story." Blu gazed forth and looked into James’ eyes and smiled. James was back, she could see it in his eyes. The other James, the vengeful one, had quite a different look about him.

"Don’t worry about it James." To prove that she was serious, Blu actually leaned forward and gave him a little hug. James smiled and leaned back, obviously still tired.

"Now, tell me all about what happened. Start from the beginning, and don’t stop. This should be interesting." Taking a deep breath, James launched into his personal narrative.

• * *

"Hello Vail. Been a while." Vail gasped and looked about the room, he still couldn’t see. But he who owned that voice.

"Nora. I should have guessed that you would be the one to do me in." The Rocket was no longer afraid. He had committed too many crimes, it was time for him to die. It was actually rather depressing, he had always wanted to look into the face of his killer and say something defiant before he died.

"You’re partner supposed to do you in, but she wasn’t fast enough. It’s been left to me. Well, it’s been nice Vail, but it’s time to go to sleep. The torch has been passed." Vail waited patiently, he felt his jaw being pulled open and a bitter tasting pill being thrust within.

"Hey, who the hell are you? What are you doing?" Vail heard his assailant gasp and attempt to stuff the pill down his throat. The Rocket immediately began to gag, trying desperately to spit out the offending pill.

"Code Blue, Code Blue! Somebody attacked the patient, tried to stuff some sort of pill down his throat. We need a toxicologist in here now!"

• * *

Pheobe Deirdre sighed as she gazed into the crystal ball. People called it old-fashioned… a wooden cube would have been fine.

The crystal swirled, and showed a picture of the land. Pheobe waved a hand, and asked the crystal to show her Blu Flyer.

The crystal obliged, and Pheobe watched…

**

Blu ran faster than the nurse to Vail’s room, leaving James behind. She flung the door open in time to see a woman barge out. At this point she didn’t care about that, Vail was not in a position to defend

himself. He was choking and a nurse was yelling. Taking things into her own hands (so to speak) she took hold of his shoulders and pushed him into a sitting position. She put a knee on the bed behind him and clasped her hands. She shoved them up under his rib cage. Vail gacked and a pill popped out. The nurse was still yelling, and finally a man came in. He saw the pill and Blu sitting behind Vail, and deduced what had happened. He picked up the pill and looked at it. The he yelled orders to the

nurse. The man then proceeded to grab a trash bin, and then shoved his fingers down Vail’s throat.

Vail gagged and Blu looked away. The doctor rushed out.

"We have to get out of here," Blu said.

Vail nodded, clutching his throat. He coughed, and leaned back. Blu was still there but at this point he didn’t care. He had come too close to death too many times and Blu always seemed to be there. He was glad he had made the ‘alliance’ now. But he also knew Rocket would be back.

**

Pheobe cocked her wrist, clearing the crystal ball. She sighed, and stood up, black and white cape flowing harshly behind her. She opened the door to her room in Natsume’s Gym, and poked her head out. She looked around, heavy yin-yang earrings swinging at her shoulders, and finally stepped into the hall. She walked up the stairs to the room with the speaking tube.

"Yes?" Natsume’s voice said, expecting her arrival.

"I am going." Pheobe knew she did not need to elaborate. Her psyche was strong, nearly as strong as Natsume’s. She did not say nor think it, but knew that they were closer to equals than student to teacher.

"Very well."

Pheobe walked outside, her stark black and white dress clashing with the colored life of the outdoors. She summoned an Alakazham from a black and white Pokéball.

"To Lavender Town," Pheobe said as she said.

"Kazam," the Pokémon replied. Her vision swirled, and she found herself in the correct place.

"Good. Return."

Pheobe made her way to the hospital. She would like to see Blu Flyer as soon as possible.

• * *

"Blu, we have to go," James said from the door. He saw Vail. "All of us."

"Why?" Vail asked. If would have been a growl if he had not been so tired. But he was determined to stay awake. The doctor had said that he would be fine, but he didn’t trust doctors.

"There is someone coming that would be a hazard to everyone," James replied. "Blu knows her."

"Who is it?" Blu asked, getting off the bed and standing.

"Pheobe." James said the name like he hadn’t heard it before, more like it had just come to him.

Vail still couldn’t see. The doctor said his nerves would need to repair themselves before he would be able to see again. But he could hear Blu being quiet. For the first time since he had met her he sensed she was afraid. He somewhat wished he could see her being afraid. He was angry he missed it. And yet, he realized that he didn’t want Blu to be afraid… If Blu was afraid of something, then it truly was worth being frightened of.

Pheobe eyed the hospital before her and waited calmly. She had not expecting this, the sheer magnitude of the power before her had not hit the Psychic until she had arrived. It was brooding, dark and just waiting to be unleashed. At the same time though, it was still largely untapped. The possessor of this power knew that it existed, but he was unaware of the full extent of the power at this command. The power attracted Pheobe like a moth to flame, it was of a darker nature. Pheobe would watch and wait to see who this boy was, and when the time came he would belong to her.

"Come on. We don’t have a lot of time here." James scowled and attempted to flex his knee.

"Hold on, hold on. Vail is still trying to figure this thing out." Once again James attempted to flex his knee, but to know avail. The doctors had taken away his cane and instead provided him with a leg brace, the cane had been given to Vail. The whole affair was depressing, the leg brace was uncomfortable and more then a little clumsy. James had gotten used to cane, but the doctor explained to James in no uncertain terms that once he got used to the brace he would come to like it.

Yeah right.

"Alright, lets go Vail." James had to stop stifle himself to keep from laughing. The Rocket was stumbling haphazardly about the room, narrowly avoiding unfortunate patients and physicians alike. <Now he knows what its like to be a cripple, at least he’ll be back to normal in a few days.> James thought bitterly. At last Vail, guided by Blu arrived by James’ side.

"Great, lets move. Keep an eye out for that Pheobe person.." Blu did not say anything, and James could not frankly blame her. He hadn’t met the person yet, but he had a general impression of her power. If she wanted Blu dead, there wasn’t very much that either he or Blu could do.

"Ow, shit. There it is again." It had hit again, it was like some sort of pulse. His energies were like sonar, he could feel his thoughts rebounding off her own. She was nearby, and she wanted Blu. She wanted Blu really, really badly. There was nothing for it, her returns we’re becoming too strong. James began to build a block, something that he had never attempted until now. It was like the child’s blocks from his youth. One after the other, James imagined himself taking the blocks and carefully placing them together to form a solid wall. The one’s with giraffes and aliroos, the colored letters and numbers and the one’s with peculiar looking clowns about them.

"That outta hold her out for a while."

• * *

Pheobe cursed and attacked the block once again with no more success then before. This was extraordinarily frustrating, there were very few blocks that could halt her when she was on the hunt. Even Natsume had difficulty maintaining an effective block when the Psychic wished something known. By the time Pheobe had gotten her thoughts in order for another attack, the source of the energy had already gone. This only served to infuriate the woman further. Stretching forth a long, bony hand Pheobe called forth her crystal ball.

"Show her to me."

• * *

"Where exactly are we going?" James groaned and stretched forth his arms. He was not entirely sure as to their destination, he had not really thought that far in advance. The trio had made good headway along the Route heading West out of Lavender.

"Well, if we want to go back to Saffron, then this is the way to go." That was alright with James, he did not particularly want to go South, there was no good reason to head for Fuschia.

"If we can get to the van then we can probably make camp, maybe even start the sucker up again." That idea elicited a general moan of displeasure from the group. Nobody was interested in making there way all the way back to the Rocket Van.

"Lets make camp right here. We can keep going in the morning."

"I thought that we had to get as far away as possible from Lavender?"

"I know, but I should think that we got far enough away from Lavender for the time being. We should be safe for now." Blu nodded and sat down with a gentle groan, pulling Vail along with her. Reaching into his pack, James removed two sleeping bags and groaned.

"Oh sorry, I forgot that we had only two sleep bags. Oh well, we need to post a watch anyway, just to be safe. I’ll take the first watch, then it’s up to you two to decide who’s on second." That was fine with Blu and Vail, they promptly pulled themselves into the sleeping bags. Stationing himself on a nearby rock, James took up his silent vigil. Pheobe was about, he could feel her presence in the very Earth. Her very existence hounded the youth, he found that he was no longer tired.

"Come on Kadabra, I have to see something."

James tapped his PokeBall and released the Kadabra. <I haven’t used my Pokémon in a while> James mused, but that should hardly have been a surprise considering that his license had been revoked.

"Lead the Kadabra." The Psychic Pokémon nodded and began to stalk forth through the woods. James found the entire experience quite amazing, he could actually feel a Psychic link being forged between himself and his Kadabra. He had been told that Psychic Pokémon we’re only truly effective when trained by a Psychic Trainer, but James had never quite bought into that until now.

" "Go no further boy." James halted and slowly turned. With a flash and a burn, a strange woman appeared, an Alakazham by her side. The youth did not need to ask who the intruder was, he had a pretty good idea who she was.

"Well, if it isn’t Pheobe. You really should learn to cover you’re tracks better." James tried to put on a show of bravado for the woman, he didn’t need her laughing in his face. In truth the woman badly frightened him, she emanated power that he could barely comprehend.

"Begone young fool, I do not have time for you. I have come for Blu Flyer, stay out of my way lest you share her fate." James sighed and quietly placed his hand atop Kadabra. Just his look he should run into one of Blu’s more antagonistic friends.

"Listen lady, if you want to take out Blu you have to go through me first." That felt strange coming from his mouth. He was used to be protected, not vice versa. Then again, all sorts of strange things had happened to him lately.

"You are quite bold for a whelp."

"You’re not fooling anybody woman. I know that you are pals with Natsume, well I have news for you. She tried to take me out, but she didn’t exactly succeed. If you’re boss can’t take me out, what makes you think that you can?" Pheobe smiled maliciously and pointed a long, bony finger in James’ direction.

"I could destroy you without a thought, but I will not. For now. Be warned ye who might challenge me, do not anger the disciples of Natsume, for we are subtle and quick to anger. Now be gone!"

• * *

"Wake up Blu." James quietly tugged at Blu’s shoulder, but the female did not awaken. Exasperated and more then a little unnerved James gave the female’s long blue hair a vicious yank. Blu awoke with a loud yelp of pain and rubbed her scalp.

"Damn you James, if do that one more time I’ll…"

"I met you’re friend Blu." That was enough to silence her. It was quite obvious that Pheobe was one of the few forces in the world that truly frightened her.

"Damn Blu, and I thought that I had enemies. How the hell do you meet these people?"

"I get around."

"Obviously. We better hurry, the woman is out for blood. I know where we are going now."

"Where?" That was the obvious question of course, but it gave James a moment of pause. Did he really, really want to do this? He supposed that it was the only way.

"Home."

• * *

Blu frowned. She did not want to endanger these people to Pheobe. She wished Lance were here. Blu was quite confident in her physical strength, as well as tactics. But Pheobe was not to be trifled with.

Blu pushed Vail over, waking him up.

"Where’s your phone?"

"It’s in the bag," Vail said sleepily. He quickly woke up, however. "What’s going on?"

Blu ignored him and rummaged through the bag like a madwoman. She finally found it, and dialed a number.

"Quincy, we need an emergency pickup on…" She looked around, "Route 7… YES, I know it is 4 in the morning…. Yes, I’m serious."

She closed the phone.

"C’mon, we’re going to Route 7." She called upon Crash. "Vail, you on the horse.

Vail stood up, reaching towards the horse.

Crash nickered, remembering the former Rocket. Blu frowned, took Vail’s hand, and guided it towards the horses nose.

"It’s all right, Crash. We need you to help," Blu said. Crash snorted, and stamped a hoof. "Ever ridden a horse before, Vail?" Blu asked.

Vail shook his head. "Never. Animals don’t like me much."

"Surprise," James muttered.

"Alright. Just jump up. You can hold on to his fire like a mane. No offense but we can’t be guiding you everywhere."

Vail resented that, and did not like the notion of riding a fire horse who didn’t seem to like him.

"What if it burns me?"

"Crash, don’t burn Vail. There, now get ON!" Blu yelled enough to nearly scare Vail onto the horse. "Now just hold on here," Blu showed Vail how to hold onto the moving fire of Crash’s mane. "And hold on tight."

Blu did not want to go through Saffron City. They could take the tunnel… Yes, that seemed the best bet. She took off at a brisk walk, hoping that James would be able to keep up.

"Do you need a ride, James?"

"No, I’m fine. This leg brace doesn’t help, though."

"Sheesh. Now all we need is for Pheobe to chop off my hands. Wouldn’t we be a wonderful little group, then?"

They made it through the Underground Tunnel without mishap. As they go to the road, Blu saw Strype’s wagon. She haphazardly pushed Vail into the backseat with James, returned Crash, and got into the passenger seat.

"Put this on," she said, handing a scarf to James.

"Put it where?"

"Around your eyes, dummy," Blu joked. James could tell she was truly agitated at the sudden appearance of Pheobe, but she did her best not to show it.

"Ooh, nananananananananana bat-man!" James said, obediently putting the scarf around his head. Blu turned around in her seat as Strype began to drive. He knew where he was going. She stuck her hand in Vail’s face. Not that she didn’t believe that he couldn’t see, but she wondered how bad it was.

"Get your hand outta my face," Vail growled. "I can smell your gloves."

"Fairnuff." Blu shrugged.

**

James took off his blindfold in a small room. Next to him was Vail, oblivious as ever. James was quite surprised at how the situation had changed so dramatically. Vail was not the same Rocket he had remembered. Especially now. He seemed to be getting used to the fact that he had to depend on either James or Blu if he was going to make it, but quite confident also in the fact that he would be able too see again eventually. James tried to leave all the depending to Blu. She seemed more willing. Vail had given up on the cane. Despite the fact that it just wasn’t working, it also damaged his ego, even after he had thought he had had the worst.

Blu walked into the room via the only door. She looked quite stressed. Three more people came in, people who had the same wise-but-young and quite confident look as Blu. James looked at them as they looked back, like a panel of judges. Blu stood near the far wall with her arms crossed.

The woman in the trio was a bit shorter than Blu. She was dressed in the same outfit, as well… In fact, they all wore very basically the same uniform; Jeans, black T-Shirts, and jackets. Blu didn’t wear a jacket but James suspected she owned one.

The woman had a purple bandana tied around her head. Sprouts of curly black hair poked out at her bangs and in the back. She had small round spectacles on her nose, and several earrings lining her ears.

The other two were guys, seemingly about the same age as Blu as well. One was oddly familiar, James knew he had seen him somewhere before. He had whiteish-goldish-brownish hair and thick eyebrows. It suddenly hit James that the man looked very much like a picture he had seen of Lance

of the Elite Four. Even if Blu HAD been a Pokémon trainer, she would never have met Lance. Hardly anyone had.

The other guy was strongly built. This was Strype, the one who had picked them up. Strype wore a bandana tied on his forehead, spiky, full, red hair fluffing over his forehead and the back of his head.

"What’s going on," Vail stated, more than asked. "Who are you?"

"Just shut up for a second, Vail," Blu said. Her words carried no malice but certainly were serious. Vail crossed his arms and slouched back in the couch. He knew people were watching him. And he didn’t like it, mostly because he could glare effectively. He didn’t dare move from the couch.

"So this is James?"

That voice was familiar. As Vail tried to place it the woman went on.

"And you’re looking different from when I last saw you…" Trixxy leaned to Vail. "I’m sorry about your eyes," she said.

"Thanks," Vail said, dumping as much sarcasm as he could afford. He was already getting enough crap and pity from Blu, he didn’t need any more.

"I said shut up Vail," Blu said. "She’s trying to be nice."

"Well I know this one," said the man who looked like Lance. "He comes around the Plateau every now and again to collect from Melvin."

Vail’s jaw dropped, and James politely whacked it back into place.

"Ah now Vail, you didn’t think Team Rocket could get by in the Elite Four, did you?"

"How do you know my name?" Vail asked, challenging the darkness.

"It’s a secret-" he started mysteriously.

"-Blu told him," Strype interrupted. Trixxy giggled.

"So you put your rep on the stand for them?" Strype asked.

"Yes. I am ready to stand for them on accounts of liability and personality."

"Even Vail? You wanted to kill him," the man who James was afraid was Lance said.

"Even Vail."

"Well…Then I suppose we should introduce ourselves. I’m Lance. I’m sure you’ve heard of me."

"Trixxy Parker," Trixxy said, winking.

"Strype Quincy."

James nodded. This was all fine and well, but…

"Why do we care?"

Blu stepped forward.

"Because they… I… have something of moderate importance to tell you. It has to do with Pheobe. But first, I would like to answer any questions."

"You guys look like a Team. Like Team Rocket in casual, almost," James remarked.

"You said you weren’t loyal to anyone. That you don’t take orders," Vail criticized.

Blu grinned, and Vail didn’t need eyes to know she was grinning.

"I don’t take orders in Team Flyer, Vail. I give them."

Blu grinned as her friends offered their name. Maybe things would be okay after all.

"Well, now that you’re part of the gang, follow me," she said. She opened the door, and as James followed the others out, went over to the couch and grabbed his hand.

"This way…Watch the frame." Vail no longer walked haltingly, he had finally just decided he would run into something… or he could trust Blu. And though he knew she didn’t trust him completely, he knew she wasn’t going to run him into a wall on purpose.

They passed a room that was much larger, Vail heard talking and the sound of a refrigerator, and potato chips. But Blu didn’t stop, she continued on across the room, holding onto his hand firmly.

"Table to your left… Trixxy on your right…"

He heard the creak of a door, and the flick of a light switch. Blu pushed him lightly onto a bed. He heard the drawers of a bureau open, and Blu rummaging through clothes.

"Hospital clothes just aren’t you," Blu said. "I suppose… You’re about Lance’s size. You can try his clothes."

A pair of jeans flopped beside him, then a T-shirt.

"The T-shirt’s black. Make a noise or something when you’re done, and we’ll get some food into you."

**

James munched happily on the chips. Trixxy was sitting beside him, a bubbly, happy, and energetic presence. He watched Blu guide Vail across the room, and into the room on the other side. He took in his surroundings.

They seemed to be underground. The room he was in had three doors; One had been where they’d come from, and one was where Vail had been taken. The room he sat in was split into two parts, divided by a sort of buffet. On the other side was a small kitchen.

He watched Lance pull a bag of crackers out of the cupboard, and begin to open the bag as he made his way to sit in a chair near James.

Blu came out, closing the door behind her, and smiled.

"As soon as Vail’s done we can get started," she said. She went to sit on the arm of Lance’s chair. She also grabbed a cracker.

"I can’t believe Pheobe is here…" Trixxy started, "How did she get…" Trixxy looked to James, "…out?"

"Out of where?"

"The-" Strype started. Blu clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Solitary Confinement," she said. Then she ate the rest of the cracker.

A muffled voice came from inside, and Blu opened the door. She walked in and neglected to close the door.

"…You have the shirt one backwards…"

"…What??…"

"Just kidding. C’mon." Vail followed Blu and she showed him the couch. He was dressed in the same stuff everyone else besides James was. Black T-shirt and jeans.

"I guess you guys get jackets, too?" Strype asked.

"Depends." Blu resumed her place on Lance’s chair. "He can’t wear the Rocket uniform, and I don’t think we need him in an open-back hospital smock." Trixxy giggled and Vail resisted the urge to backhand her. Though he wasn’t sure he could hit her.

The ‘uniform’ was one of the most comfortable things he had ever worn… Nothing like the stiff uniform of Team Rocket.

"Where’s my Rocket uniform?" He asked.

The group was silent.

"Fire good," Lance said, grinning.

"We have a knack for burning things," Trixxy added.

"Who ARE you guys?"

"My turn." Blu seemed different among these people, James thought. She didn’t seem quite as carefree. Her air of authority held like a comfortably tight steel wire around one’s neck. Almost. Blu stood up in front of everyone. She had a jacket on now, and she wore it like a golden necklace.

"We are the head staff of Team Flyer," she began, "And, if you will notice, that’s team Flyer, just like my name. We’re anti-Rocket. We’re trusting that you won’t spill. We will be forced to do something nasty. Vail, your heart won’t ever be fit to do anything for Rocket except paperwork. Your Rocket days are over." Vail was about to protest, but James kicked him.

"Now. We are all aware of Pheobe. She is closely in with Rocket, though not subservient. More of a…Business Associate. But… And I don’t know how to put this… She is not what you think, nor is she

weak."

"Damn straight," James remarked.

"She’s incredibly powerful," Lance said. James did not look to the Elite Four leader when he spoke. He did not know what to think about Lance. Not after all the Caretaker had said.

"She’s trained with Natsume but it did little to improve her powers. And she has a kill mission for Team Flyer, Lance and I in particular," Blu said. "For personal reasons that don’t concern you. Team Flyer is underground and undercover. We have agents in Rocket. And we also know we may have Rocket agents in our midst. We certainly wouldn’t be surprised."

She looked to Vail. "I trust you two. And I’m putting my reputation on the stand. Which means more than you may think it means. And I have a question to ask as well."

"Ask away, I’m all ears," Vail said. Blu looked to him, a surprised look on her face.

"Humor, from you?" She said, laughing. "It must be the clothes."

"Oh no, it’s messin’ with your miiiind," Trixxy laughed, scruffling Vail’s hair, to his dismay. And he had just ponytailed it, too.

Ignoring Trixxie, Lance piped up, "How exactly does he know who Pheobe is? I’m quite sure that he has never heard her name until recently." The trainer was more then a little skeptical, and it showed. Licking his lips, James stood up and took up position at Blu’s side.

"I don’t know how I know her name, I just know."

"He’s met Pheobe, face to face." An audible gasp went up among the assemblage, not many people have met Pheobe face to face and survived it.

"And how did you manage this? Pheobe doesn’t like people interfering in her business." Lance again. James was about to speak when to the surprise of all Vail leapt to his defense.

"Look, even if this Pheobe wanted James dead, it probably ain’t gonna happen. It’s tough as hell to kill this kid, even when he doesn’t have the psychic thing. Believe, I’ve tried it." Blu turned toward Vail and gaped, the Rocket rarely if ever talked about his experiences in Rocket even when pushed.

"How do we stop her? You remember what she did the last time." Blu remembered, it hadn’t been pretty.

"I have an idea." All eyes turned toward James and the youth blushed.

"I know someone."

• * *

The wagon was cramped beyond belief, James could ill breathe in the conditions. On his side sat Vail and Lance. Blu, Strype and Trixie had all clustered up front and were in deep conversation.

"So you’re Lance of the Elite Four? You know that someday I’m going to dethrone you." Lance turned and eyed the youth, then chuckled quietly.

"I somehow doubt that. I’ve had more then a few challengers, and I don’t lose." The dragon trainer was very obviously cocky, and James could see why. He was the head of the top four Pokémon trainers in the world, why shouldn’t be self assured?

"Hey man, what was it with the Caretaker anyway? Why did you kick him out of the Four?"

"The Caretaker? Who the hell is the Caretaker? Oh you mean Daavak! Hah, he was never in the Four, he likes to pretend that he was though." James was taken aback, the Caretaker wasn’t part of the Elite Four? He should of expected that, the senile old fool had already lied to him about going to die.

"Hah. Daavak was the Caretaker of the facilities back when we were at Mt. Moon. He was always the weird one, I think that he had a thing going with Agatha. Daavak’s been with the Elite Four since before I was born. He picked up a few tricks, but he’s never been much of a trainer." James leaned back and digested the new information. The Caretaker, or Daavak or whatever his name was likely half-senile, why had he ever believed him?

"I never liked him. I was all for it when it was recommended that he stay back and take care of the old facility. Where is he now anyway?"

"Last I saw he was officiating in a Pokémon League tournament."

"Him!? Officiating a Pokémon League Tournament? I haven’t heard of any tournament, damnit!" Lance was silent after that, but it was okay with James. He wasn’t in any real mood to learn of any more of the Caretaker… Daavak’s lies. <Stupid old fool, putting me on like that>

"Any of you boy’s heading for Viridian City?" Trixxy smiled pointed at the upcoming sign. Squinting hard, James managed to make out the print.

"Viridian City. The Eternally Green Paradise – 5 miles."

• * *

"Is this it?" The group had arrived at the outskirts of the city, and even now James kept a weather eye about for their destination.

"That’s it!" James pointed triumphantly. There was not much to see, A fog had set in and quietly shrouded a small house at the edge of the Viridian Wood.

"What’s with fog eh? I can’t see a thing!"

"Don’t worry about it, Ris keeps it about for effect." Strype sighed and maneuvered the Wagon through the suffocating fog before them. The fog was thicker then anybody had guessed, but James urged them onward until at last the wagon creaked to a stop in front of the home of the seer.

"I hope she isn’t busy, she doesn’t normally make the fog this thick unless she doesn’t want to be bothered." James stepped forward and tapped lightly on the door. There was no response, save for an identical knock on the other side of the door. Grinning, James knocked once again.

"Hey Weaver, what’s up bud?" Behind him, the group looked about confused. Nobody was about, and the knocking persisted. At last the door swung open and a bright, lavender Haunter appeared.

"Haun, Haun, HAUNTER. HEHEHE" James smiled and took a mock swing at the ghost.

"Is Ris home? We need to talk to her?" The Haunter seemed to take a moment to consider, then at last pointed inward. Beckoning the travelers inward.

"Don’t worry about it guys, Weaver’s friendly. Lets go." James’ high spirits was infectious, the group all found themselves in a generally good mood. Blu smiled, she hadn’t seen James in this good a mood since she had first met him. Stepping carefully through the house, the group attempted to ignore the myriad cobwebs and oversized Zubats that hung about the rafters. The whole scene seemed to have leapt out of some sort of cheesy horror film. At last they came into a darkened room, a round table it’s only decoration.

"Who dares to enter the home of Risua Darkfire? Come on, out with it now. I have a headache." Vail looked about, attempting to identify the source of the voice. He wasn’t entirely successful, the lilting voice seemed to spread about the entire room. The Rocket found himself more then a little frustrated, he despised the intangible. He preferred to have things right up next to him, where he could seem them.

"Give it a rest Ris, it’s just me James. Come on out, we need to talk." There was a pause and sigh.

"Alright, alright. Hold on now, almost got it. There!" A blinding flash lit up the room, and as if from nowhere a woman popped up from the floor in a puff of blue and purple smoke and smiled.

"Hey Jamesy! What brings you back around here Uncle?" Risua Darkfire was quite an imposing site. She stood near 6 feet tall and kept her long black hair straight. She obviously preferred the gothic for she was clad in a long dark cape with matching attire. The seer smiled broadly and took up James, giving him a great hug and a kiss. James successfully pried himself loose of the woman and stepped back.

"Sorry, I haven’t properly introduced you guys. This is my friend Risua Darkfire, but we like to look on it as family. Ris, this is Blu and her friend Strype, Trixxy and Lance." The seer smiled and placed her hands about her hips.

"Pleased to meet you all I’m sure, who’s that guy with the ponytail. He’s cute." Risua grinned like the Cheshire cat and pulled him forth.

"Oh.. That’s Vail." James’ voice carried a note of warning which the seer obviously caught. Risua sighed and released Vail, but not before tossing the Rocket a wink.

‘So, what can I do for you wandering travelers? If you’re looking for a place to sleep, then my doors are open to none." Risua sidled over to the table and collapsed in a seat, beckoning the rest of the group to do likewise.

"Ris, have you ever heard of Pheobe?" The seer’s jovial mood immediately vanished. Looking about quietly, the seer leaned back.

"What do you know about Pheobe?"

"She’s around here somewhere, and she wants Blu." James was more then a little worried, Risua was rarely if ever serious.

"Stay away from Pheobe, you hear me? That woman is dangerous, don’t even go near her."

"I take it that you’ve met her." James was not entirely surprised, Risua got around. The seer considered for a moment and then leaned forward.

"Yes, I’ve met the black hearted bitch." Risua snapped her fingers, and the group gasped as a large dusty tome appeared before the seer.

"Hmmm, you must be Blu Flyer." Blu widened her eyes and leaned forward, attempting to get a look at the large book that Risua was flipping through rapidly.

"Hah, that’s satisfying. I’ve had my dealing with Pheobe, I’d rather not discuss them. You," Risua thrust her finger in Blu’s direction, "You know her well. In fact, you know her as well as I do." The seer looked about conspirationally.

"You’ve changed James, and you Blu… You’ve always been different. You two come with me, the rest of you stay here and don’t touch anything!" The seer nodded and beckoned the pair to her private study, leaving the rest of the group to putter about the dusty living room.

• * *

The trio remained in the study for hours, but Team Flyer did not notice. Weaver stayed about to entertain the group and plates of hot food continuously appeared on the table before them. At last Risua emerged, closely followed by James and Blu.

"You have been told what you need to know. Go forth, and watch out for shadows. They move when you’re not looking." With a triumphant smirk, the seer moved her hands about and vanished. Vail cocked his head and listened carefully. The silence was deafening.

"We have to go. Is there anywhere that we can stay?" James was solemn, his high spirits had vanished as had Blu’s. Trixxy was the first to speak.

"Well, I’d invite you all to my house but… It would be more then a little cramped. I’m afraid that it would be a bit cramped, I only have two beds." Trixxy blushed, somewhat embarrassed.

"Hey, aren’t you from Viridian City James?" With characteristic bluntness, Vail pointed out the obvious. All eyes turned toward the James, and the youth wished that he could drop through the floor.

"I, I guess… But…"

"But what?" James sighed and rolled his eyes, he really didn’t want to go see his parents now. Not after how he got out.

"But… It’s just fine with me, my parents will be happy to have you." That was the truth, his parents would be delighted to have the group in. It remained to be seen if James would ever get out again.

James raised his hand to knock on the heavy oak door and stopped. <Easy James, it’s just your parents. They can’t do any harm.." The Pokémon trainer knew that was a lie, of course they could do harm and plenty of it. At last James sighed and tapped on the door. There was no response.

"Isn’t there anybody home?" Vail called, obviously agitated at the lack of service. James shrugged and tapped the door once again, praying that his parents weren’t about the house. The youth took a moment to tug on the loose black shirt that he had been outfitted with. It was not as comfortable as his old sweatshirt, but it was quite a bit lighter. He had also been allowed to keep his pendant, a fact that gratified James.

"Hold on, hold on I’m coming!" There was a pause, then the great door was flung open, revealing an aging man with a steel gray hair. Scratching his head, he squinted at the team one by one.

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing on my property? Come on now, out with it!" James rolled his eyes and shoved his way past the man. The oldster seemed perplexed, but James was in no mood for games at the moment.

"Shuttup Dad. We need a place to sleep for the night so we came back." All of the members looked about, more then a little curious. They had never heard James be quite that rude, and they had never imagined him to treat his parents like that.

"Daaadd? What is it, who is it at the door?" Another voice called from the interior of the house, a curt and well cultured female voice.

"Some hooligan kids in black shirts. You take care of them Mom." There was a sigh and shuffle, and a decidedly overly dressed, plump woman stepped into the entryway.

"James! You’ve come back!" The woman snatched James by the shirt, and promptly slammed the door shut.

"What the hell? What are we supposed to do now?" Vail shouted angrily, he was in no mood to face James’ family. As if in response, the door creaked open slowly and the female stuck her head out the door.

"Who are you? Ooh, you’re dressed just like my James, how cute! Come in, come in. You need bedding for the night? That’s just nice, I made up many beds last night. Come on, don’t stay out there in the cold!" The plump woman smiled and beckoned the team inward. The group could not deny her hospital, they were quite tired after all.

• * *

"What the hell are these no good hooligans doing in my house? I thought that I told them to leave." The old man wrinkled his nose angrily and eyed each member of the team like a cat out for dinner.

"Give it a rest Dad, this is just James and his little friends. Now finish eating and come out to the living room." The plump woman smiled and stepped away from the table, followed by old man. The group could not help but marvel at the many decorations about the wall. Trophies, plaques and statues adorned the room and seemed to lend a certain elegance about the room.

"Come on, lets go to the living room." James sighed miserably. He had been forced to shed his Flyer uniform for an expensive black suit with tie. The entire getup made the trainer uncomfortable, he had been wearing dirty, smelly and relatively plain clothing for a several weeks now. The group nodded at James’ suggestion and all rose to make for the living room. As the Team trouped into the room, the two parents smiled proudly and pointed a curtain that had been stationed at the end of room.

"We are Pokémon Breeders, as will our son one day. We’ve decided to treat you to a show." The woman smiled broadly and pulled aside the curtain.

"Allow us to introduce our Pokémon." Pokémon began to strut about the stage. A Vulpix with misty grey eyes and an elegant white tail stepped about. An Arcanine sat regally, it’s fur carefully groomed and it’s tail carefully shaped. James found it all extraordinarily boring, he had never been able to stand Pokémon breeding, it was such a boring practice. The youth leaned his head back on the light armchair and closed his eyes, it had been a while since he had a good nap…

• * *

Blu moved about the large house, snatching up PokeBalls and other items. She had slept in late, the Team had hoped to make out at the crack of dawn.

"Come on Blu, time to go!" A honk from the wagon spurred Blu onward. She was about to exit when she abruptly noticed that somebody was missing.

"James, where are you? It’s time to go!" Blu yelled, slightly impatient. In response, the plump mother stepped out and smiled. Pointing upward, she fiddled with her hair.

"Oh James isn’t coming with you! He’s staying with us to become a breeder."

"What?? He has to come." Blu wasn’t quite in the mood to argue
with Mom and Dad

"Mom, Dad, I’m not in the mood to argue." One knew she was in an irritable mood when she said what she thought. "Where’s James." She stated it, rather then asking. She was happy to be away from the entire Rocket ordeal. But that meant returning to her OWN team, a much more stressing (if not humorous) team, to be sure. "He has to stay here. He can’t be out getting all dirty with you- no offense – rowdy kids."
"Uh huh. Okay, if you’re not going to help me, I’ll find him myself." She pushed past the two parents and headed up the stairs. There was a door near the top and she tried the handle. Locked.
"GO AWAY!" Came James’ voice from inside. "Let me out or I’m jumping out
the window." Blu grinned and did her best to imitate James’ mom.
"Yes, honey, we’ll let you out, as soon as I break DOWN THE DOOR! Sheesh, James, what’s up with your parents?" Blu took her new lock pick from her glove and fiddled with the door. She heard James’ parents yelling for her, and coulda sworn there was Jaws music floating in the air.
"Hurry, hurry!!" (dum dum) James yelled. (dum dum) "They’re getting closer!" (dum..dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum DUM!)
"I’m..going….As…fast as I…CAN! There! Let’s move!" Blu kicked the door and rushed inside, running into James.

"Get outta my way!" She said, grinning, imitating Falco. She got up, turned, and closed the door, simultaneously reaching for Brook’s Pokéball. "Go Brook!!" She said, tossing the ball out the open window. James and Blu went to the window. Brook’s head appeared near the sill, and Blu showed James how to ride on the dragon’s head. She herself caught hold of the window sill and jumped down, the full two stories. Once James was on the ground, about to ask her how she could jump so far and not get hurt, she pointed madly at Strype’s wagon. After returning Brooke she ran as well.
"MOVE IT PARKER!" She yelled as James shut the door. "They’re GAINING!" Trixxy kicked the passenger door open as she started the car and Blu jumped the five feet and grabbed the door frame, swinging herself inwards. She closed the door and looked back at everyone.

* * *

"Ack, ack. Okay I’m awake Weaver. Get out of my face." Risua waved her hands back and forth, attempting to chase the Ghost away from her face.

"Haunter! Haun, Haun Haunter!" The Ghost was emphatic, it needed Risua to get out of bed. Mumbling almost inaudibly to herself, Risua pulled herself out of bed and pulled on her long cloak.

"Now Weaver, show me what’s wrong." The Haunter chuckled to itself and faded out. Risua knew where the Ghost was headed, the seer found herself praying that nobody was at the door. <I should have thickened the fog last night> Risua muttered to herself. Folding her arms about her chest, the Risua took a deep breath and projected her thoughts to her destination. Her body promptly responded. There was a loud WHOOSH, an overpowering smell of sulfur and Risua found herself in her private study. Weaver was waiting for her.

"Okay, okay I’m here." Risua’s bad mood was beginning to escalate. Weaver never woke her up unless something really bad was happening. It was time for the book. The seer snapped her fingers and waited. As if on invisible strings, the book floated to the long, ornate table that Risua sat behind and landed.

"Now then. What going here…" The seer was struck by a premonition. Waggling her fingers, the seer allowed the book to flip open to an appropriate passage. Risua read over it quietly, and shook her head. She knew that the day was near.. The day that she had dreaded all her life.

"This is bad.. Now lets see.." The seer snapped her fingers one last time, and a small crystal ball appeared. Risua was pleased, she didn’t often get the crystal ball on the first try. Planting her fingers about the carved crystal, the seer took a deep breath and began to concentrate. Images began to flit about her head.

"James, you bad boy." Risua smiled as she watched the youth and his friends, singing merrily. The only one who remained silent was the one with the ponytail. It was really too bad that James had told her to stay away from him, he was cute. Now came the hard part. Risua allowed herself to be pulled away from the happy scene in the car to a darker location. Pheobe was nearby, it was always obvious when she was about. A dark, suffocating cloud seemed to follow the woman about. The shroud was difficult to penetrate, the woman had put up blocks.

"Oh Pheobe.. You should know that you can’t keep ME out when I want to come in." Risua probed the cloud, attempting to find any faults or cracks. At last she came upon one, a barely discernible crack in the sphere. Smiling impishly, the seer flattened herself and quietly slid inward. The room that Pheobe inhabited was dark as night and oppressive. There was a boy in the next room, lying on a cot asleep.

""Crystal, show me the nearest Articuno in the land," she said. This was interesting, Ris allowed herself to drift nearer and watch. A girl appeared, Blue hair with pigtails.. Nobody that she had ever met before. Then a second.. It was the girl that had befriended James! This was serious, Ris knew of Pheobe’s obsession over the legendary birds. She was quite certain that she would not go after the second girl, they were after all hated enemies and Pheobe was outnumbered. That left the girl with the pigtails.

"Come Weaver.. We’re going on a little business trip." Risua attempted to still her heart. Pheobe was dangerous, her powers rivaled even her own. Pheobe would not acquire an Articuno though, she was not deserving of such a bird. Pulling a shawl about her head, Risua waited for Haunter to arrive then made to teleport to Saffron City.

* * *

"Tara? Tara? Tara where are you!?" Teal yelled hoarsely. The house was dreadfully empty, the shadows seemed to flit about the empty halls and laugh at him. At last came a familiar voice, that of his younger sister.

"Teal? Teal is that you?" Teal let out a breath he didn’t realize that he was holding and leapt forward, taking his younger sister in his arms.

"Thank god Tara, I thought you were dead." The trainer sniffed and didn’t bother to remove his shades, he didn’t want to see his sister to see his tears. The pair embraced for a time, Teal half sobbing on his sister’s back. At last Tara pushed Teal back and gazed at him quizzically.

"What do you mean that you thought that I was dead? I’m not dead." Tara shook her head and rolled her eyes. Teal was flabbergasted, what was his sister talking about?"

"Weren’t you taken by Vail? Didn’t he threaten to kill you?" Teal yelled shrilly, not wanting to believe the obvious. The Rocket could not possibly have tricked him. Teal wasn’t that stupid, was he? WAS HE!?

"Vail? That’s a silly name. Nobody took me away." Either ignoring or not understanding her brother’s words, the child smiled and flounced back to her room. The trainer was left standing in the darkened hall, unable to comprehend how easily he had been tricked.

"He played me. Mother of God, the bastard shit played me like a puppet! Damn him, DAMN HIM!" Teal screamed in agony and frustration, he had done all that to save his sister. Looking about furiously, the trainer looked for something to destroy. Seeing nothing, the trainer began to kick the wall furiously, attempting to channel his anger. The wall did not respond, infuriating Teal further. Throwing off his shades and pack, the youth began attacking the couch and an unfortunate ottoman that had managed to get in his way. Teal wrought a path of destruction all the way to the kitchen, venting his spleen on anything that got in his way. Then the trainer stopped, somebody was sobbing on the stairway.

"Stop it Teal! Stop it! You’re scaring me!" Tara had returned to the stairway and now cowered behind the railway. Teal abruptly felt a crushing guilt take hold of him, what had he done? Dashing upstairs, Teal made for his sister. Tara screamed and tried to run, but the trainer grabbed her and pulled her to his breastbone.

"I’m sorry Tara.. I’m sorry." The girl did not stop crying. Sighing heavily, Teal pulled himself and his sister to a nearby corner. They did not move for the remainder of the night.

* * *

"Mama! Oooh! Didn't mean to make you cry! If I'm not back again this time tomorrow..." James frowned and stopped singing.

"Come on Vail, sing damnit. Come on, it’s just a song.. We may need the razor after all Blu." The ex Rocket obviously still had no concept of fun. Blu ignored the pair and rang the doorbell once again. No response.

"Damnit, they must have gone out to eat. Well, I guess that we’ll just have to go and find them. Come on!" An audible groan arose from the rest of the group as they made to return to the car. James was about to leap into the car, when a silhouette became apparent against the fading light of the sun.

"Holy shit, it’s Teal!" James yelled. That caught Blu’s attention, she remembered the boy from her tenure in the back of Vail’s van. God, that had been a long time ago..

"Well well, James Oake. What brings you to Pewter City? No never mind, don’t tell me. I probably don’t want to know." James cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. There was something not quiet about his rival. Teal attempted to keep up the same cocky banter that he always did, but somehow it seemed forced. The other trainer was unusually quiet as he studies James’ face.

"I might say the same thing to you Teal." Both James and Teal turned. Vail had climbed out of the wagon and even now leaned about it casually, gazing coolly in Teal’s direction. Teal could hardly believe his luck, he hadn’t needed to find the Rocket. The Rocket had found him.

"You.. You.." Teal didn’t have words strong enough to convey his loathing of the Rocket. Vail stood up and glared at Teal.

"You what? Don’t give me any of this bull Teal, I’m not afraid of you. I know I set you up in Saffron, but I don’t frankly care. That’s all behind me now, I’m not a Rocket anymore." Teal couldn’t believe Vail’s cockiness. He was ready to kill the son of a bitch.

"Damn you!" Teal cried and promptly launched himself at the ex Rocket. Vail easily sidestepped the rash attack and allowed Teal to plow into the car. The trainer shook his head and turned about, Vail stood just in his line of sight. Teal made to charge once again, when a rough hand abruptly took the trainer up by the collar of his shirt and lifted him.

"Listen you, whoever you are. I don’t care WHAT Vail did to you, he’s with us now and that means that he is under our protection. Try anything and I’ll snap your neck." Blu was entirely serious, the youth that she was holding irritated her no end.

"Fine. I’ll leave him alone.. For now. But one day he’s going to be all alone and he’s going to run into me." Shaking himself loose of Blu’s iron grip, the youth took up his pack and marched off defiantly. Vail swallowed visibly as he dimly watched Teal walk off. He had made one too many enemies in his career with Team Rocket, and one of them had found him today. He was just damn lucky that Blu had been around. Surrendering himself to his fears, Vail allowed himself to be shoved into the wagon.

* * *

"Hatred.. Yes. Very interesting." Pheobe smiled thinly as she watched the young trainer stride defiantly away from the hated Team Flyer. This was an interesting development, the trainer obviously hated the one known as Vail. Although he wasn’t of any particular power, the trainer could be manipulated. Pheobe nodded silently and added Teal to her list of to do’s. She would collect him shortly. But first.. Pheobe had some business to attend to.

* * *

Blu watched the kid slink off. As soon as he was gone she slid into the driver's seat. Trixxy and James were walking slowly towards the wagon. Blu turned around and looked at Vail. He turned and met her gaze.

"Hey, cool," she said, grinning. "And this sounds odd coming from me, but I'm glad you're back to normal." Vail's mouth quirked in an almost-smile. He shrugged. Blu swiveled back in the seat as Trixxy and James piled in.

"Alright. Miller and Neil... Where would they be?" Blu glanced at her watch. "If we leave now we might even be able to talk to Zyra and make our way to Mount Moon. You guys wanna camp, or do you want to stay at the Reedses place?"

"Camp!" Trixxy said.

"Camp," James agreed. First there was a high of joining a certified team, now were they gonna make like a rough team and sleep on the ground?

"Either way," Vail said. "Oki, then. We're headed to see Zyra, we'll ask her what she's heard 'bout Pheobes, then go on to Mount Moon. Hear that, Quincy?"

The comm chirped. "Aye aye, Captain!" Strype's ever-present voice said.

"Now. Do you want to try the song again? Or perhaps we should just roll down all the windows and get bugs in our teeth." In answer, Trixxy and James energetically began to roll down the manual windows.

"Whee!" Trixxy yelled. "You guys are so alike, it's scary," Blu said. She smiled and rolled down her own window.

"Let the hair loose everyone," she yelled over the wind. The sky roof was rolled back. Trixxy took off her bandana to reveal curly black hair, shoulder length. Blu pumped the gas and the odd looking bunch raced down the road to north Pewter City.

SOME TIME LATER....

**

"Zyra!" Blu rapped loudly on the door. Zyra was an airhead, but reliable.

"Zyra, it's Blu. You know me, I won't hurt you." (under her breath) "...This time..."

The door creaked open. Zyra Magmarox cracked the door open. Her long blond hair fell to her wait, straight and with a bit of a green sheen. Her grey eyes flicked from James' unfamiliar face to Blu's familiar one.

"Come in," she said quietly, "Don't open the door to far. The Meowths will get out." Blu opened the door and squeezed in. James came next, and then Trixxy and Vail. Trixxy, seemingly obsessed with Vail's hair, had taken it out of the ponytail, and was trying to figure out if it would look better parted from the side.

"Quit it, Trix," Blu said, batting her friend's hair away from Vail's head. Vail stepped away and Trixxy grinned. The inside of Zyra's house was a lot different from the shabby inside. The walls were lightless, and there was a desk full of monitors and mechanical equipment that looked like a sound board. There were speakers, cameras, and TV monitors everywhere. Zyra sat down on the swiveling computer chair, and put a pair of headphones around her neck.

"What do you guys want. I told you I don't like strangers," Zyra said, "Why didn't you go to Miller and Neil." Blu found a chair, and pointed James to a couch, next to a Persian. Trixxy sat down on floor, next to Vail. The tiny room was somewhat cluttered with computer cords and wires.

"They're out. You're on the way. We need to know what you've heard about Pheobe." Zyra looked up and brushed her long bangs from her hair.

"Ph..Pheobe?"

"Yes. Pheobe. She made her appearance." Trixxy got up and went to the kitchen, making sure not to trip on any of the roaming Meowths

"Got coffee, Zy? I haven't had any for...two days now."

"Sure, I have some in the cupboard," Zyra said quietly. She pushed a button on the desk. And exclamation came from Trixxy.

"You've got cool stuff, Zyra," Trixxy said, laughing. The buzzing and beeping of the equipment muffled the sound of a coffee grinder. Zyra put the earphones on her air, the head-band hanging below her chin, supported by her left hand. She typed a few keys and pulled a few switches. The monitors flickered to life, each showing what looked like surveillance cameras all over Pewter. One even showed the Pewter City Gym. Trixxy came into the room with four mugs. She handed one to Blu, which was so black it looked like ink. Trixxy's was creamy, and the handed one like hers to James. The last went to Vail, black as Blu's.

"Because you didn't sing," she explained. Vail snorted derisively. Blu took a long sip of her coffee as she got up and leaned a hand on the main table, coffee in the other. Vail took a sip and coughed madly. Trixxy grinned and James laughed.

"Damn, what is this?" He said, almost gagging.

"Cerulean coffee, black," Blu said, taking another gulp.

"Good, huh?" Vail scowled, but managed to take another sip. "I think it's good this way," Trixxy said.

"How's yours, James?" James twisted his mouth in a funny shape. "I don't really like coffee." "Oh." Trixxy shrugged, "Okay, when I'm done I'll drink yours then. Whatever." She smiled, then pushed her spectacles up her nose and looked at the monitors. Vail took another gulp, trying to figure out whether he should drink it all to prove something, or save his tastebuds. He shrugged, set it down, and looked at the monitors as well. James, not quite having as much experience as the others, merely looked at the Persian, and took one or two glances at the screens.

"This is weird," Vail said, pointing to a screen. "Whoa, yeah," Blu said, interested and approvingly. She took off her sunglasses for the first time today and hung them on her collar.

"Looks like some sort of weird...thingy." Zyra smiled for the first time. She flipped a switch, and the screen became colored. The picture was one of a house.

"That's Teal's house!" James said, finally taking interest. Zyra pushed a medley of buttons, and the screen began to play, frame by frame. The part Vail had pointed out flashed, and a vague figure faintly appeared. "Pheobe..." Trixxy gasped. Blu frowned. Vail could feel her hand clench on the edge of the table. "Play it at half speed," Blu said. The flash appeared, and then there was the distinct outline of Pheobe. After a few seconds she dissapeared, seemingly into thin air.

"She can become invisible, you know," Blu said. "That's what it looks like. That's what happened last time I had to fight her..." Blu frowned. Then, under her breath, "Thank the Gods Lance and Raya made it..."

**Meanwhile, Teal has a visitor.

Blu pulled up near the entrance to Mount Moon. There was a bit of a park near here, mostly for tourists. The sun was very near setting.

"Oki, guys, unpack the tent-thing." Blu popped the trunk and Trixxy went out to get it. Meanwhile, James and Vail got out and stretched. Blu pushed by them and leaned into the backseat, taking out the chaircushion.

"I'll set up the tent, Trix, could ya go to the PokéCenter and get some dinner?"

"No prob, boss," Trixxy grinned. "C'mon Di, let's go for a ride."

"Ditto!" Di bubbled. He glowed, and slowly took the form of a Ponyta. Trixxy hopped on and took off. Blu sent Vail and James on an excursion for firewood while she set up the two-room tent.

**

With the fire crackling and keeping the small campsite light, it seemed like something out of a story-book. Trixxy roasted hot dogs over the fire, and James had the marshmallows. Blu went into the tent and brought out all of the jackets. That is, three of them. Blu left the one Vail had been borrowing in the tent.

"It's not cold," James said.

"I know. It's jacket updating' time." Blu threw Trixxy's jacket to her friend, and handed James his. "Y'see, you do stuff, you get patches. We're pretty informal, but it helps rank you." Blu dropped a plastic bag full of patches on the ground next to James, and sat down, her own jacket in hand.

"Let’s see..." She rummaged through the bag, finally removing a patch about a square inch. It was a little green "R." From the bag she took a needle and thread, and began to stitch the green "R" next to the red "R" on the left sleeve of her jacket.

"What do those mean?" James asked. "Well, the green one means I've infiltrated Team Rocket and survived," Blu grinned. "And the red one means I've killed a Rocket."

Blu frowned. "I wish I hadn't done that. I was young, cocky."

"More so, you mean," Trixxy said. Blu smiled. "Yeah. Lets see James. You're a new member, so you get your first patch."

Blu looked through the bag and took out a patch that looked like an oval with the top fifth chopped off. Inside was an "F."

"What're all those other ones?" Vail asked, referring to the patched on the right flap of the front of the jacket. "Let's see. This one is my Star Team patch, and, the yellow "L" stands for Team Leader. That's from... Somewhere else."

"Where? What's a Star Team?" James asked, trying to get the thread through the needle.

"Actually, I'm not quite sure that if I told you would believe me. So just leave it at that." "Okay..." James looked over Blu's jacket some more.

"What're these?"

"This one," Blu said, pointing at the triple bars on the right shoulder of the jacket, "Make me Lieutenant in the..." Blu looked to Trixxy, who shrugged.

"Cornerian Alliance. And these make me Captain of a Starship." James arched an eyebrow.

"Rii-ight." "Told ya you wouldn't believe me," Blu grinned, happy that there were no more questions. She busied herself with the green "R." Then she looked up, and finally helped James get the thread through the needle.

"Hey Vail, what are you, now, anyways? You said you weren't Rocket; that's obvious enough. But.. Who are you with? Y'know, you could have your own jacket, 'stead of borrowing Lance's old one." Vail shrugged. There was silence.

"Blu, why does my jacket have the triple bars?" Blu examined James' jacket.

"Dunno. Don't worry bout it. You'll never be going anywhere where it'll matter." She laughed and mounted a marshmallow on a stick and jammed it into the fire.

Blu leaned back. The fire was dying and the cold of the night was coming. The "wall" in the tent had been rolled up to make one room. James had already hit the sack, and Blu, Trixxy and Vail were left staring at the fire. Blu picked the burnt marshmallow off the stick and threw it into the fire. Meanwhile, Trixxy had nearly fallen asleep.

"Not used to late nights, Trix?" Blu asked.

"Yeah," Trixxy yawned, "I don't usually stay up till..." she checked her watch,

"Five in the morning." Blu grinned. "You're not a night person. For cryin' out loud, go get some sleep."

"Oki." Trixxy popped a raw marshmallow into her mouth and walked into the tent. Blu let out a long breath. She wasn't looking forward to meeting up with Pheobe. She decided she wanted to handle the bitch, but by herself. She didn't need the Alliance getting involved. They were, of course, plenty aware of the fact that Pheobe had made her appearance... But with more than three notorious Roos in the system, including herself, they had allowed Pheobe to stay.

"Marshmallow for your thoughts," she said, throwing a marshmallow at Vail's head. It hit his forehead and bounced off into the fire. Blu began to poke the expanding white puff with her toe. Vail rolled his eyes and leaned back.

"Fine, don't tell me," Blu said. "Yeah, you never tell me anything anyways. I just hope you don't decide to stop listening. I'm going to bed. You have first watch." Blu scuffed some dirt on the fire and walked into the tent.

**

The morning was somewhat chill, and Blu helped James pack up the tent while Trixxy made sure the fire was out.

"Who's driving?" Trixxy asked. Blu shrugged.

"I could use a break. Anyways. I'm not one who likes to drive along the outside of mountains." "We're driving?" James asked, somewhat disappointed. "I thought we would go inside..." Blu grinned. "And come out on the other side with no car? Heh, I don't think so. But, I suppose that if you wanted to take a trip inside we could split up."

"I'd love a Clefairy..." Trixxy said. "I'll go with James if you two want to drive alone," Trixxy grinned.

"And talk about grown-up things, steada hangin' 'round with us kids." Vail growled from his spot on the hood of the wagon, clearly not enjoying Trixxy's mocking. Blu grinned.

"Yeah right," she laughed. Trix knew Vail wasn't at all comfortable with the Team. Blu knew it as well, and she was glad that he hadn't made a run for it. She didn't think he would, though. Mostly cuz he knew she'd go and find him. And if she couldn't find him by normal means, there were always the paranormal ways. He had had far to many chances to get away from them and hadn't taken any. She frowned. How annoying it would be to track him down, TDT or no TDT.

"Well, I guess we can drive if that's okay with you, James," Blu said.

"I know you haven’t known Trixxy all that long, but she's a pita to be around." Blu grinned over her sunglasses Trixxy mock-gasped, and scruffled James' hair.

"Aw, but we get along good, huh? Anyways, I'd rather hang out with James than try and sing a song with Mr. Crabby Appleton over there."

"Yeah," James agreed. "Mr. Crappy Appleton." Trixxy giggled, Vail said nothing (but looked like he wanted to) and Blu merely finished tying up the tent, and put it in the trunk.

"Okay. Well, we'll meet you all in Cerulean, how’s that? Can you guys make it?" "No prob, Blu!" Trixxy said.

"Oh, but could we borrow Crash? Di can shift but I don't think James has any good riding Pokémon."

"No prob, be nice." Blu laughed, remembering the last time James had ridden Crash. She handed the Rapidash's Pokéball to James.

"Be off then?" "Yup!" Trixxy hefted her backpack and started off towards the entrance. Blu slid into the driver's seat and Vail took the passenger's this time.

"Don't worry, I won't make you sing the song," Blu said. She maneuvered the wagon onto the now-dirt road and headed up the side of Mount Moon.

* * *

"Finish it now." It was all so routine. Lance smiled thinly as his Gyrados reared upward and punished the unfortunate Charizard with a blast of water. The blow was too much for the fire lizard, the Pokemon staggered and collapsed. Stepping out of the shadows, Lance made to console the unfortunate trainer that had challenged him.

"Yes, good battle.. Keep working on your Pokemon’s strength.." Lance never understood Blu’s purported disdain for his tactics, they seemed to work rather well. The dragon trainer shrugged and swept out of the Arena into the E4 personal living quarters. The place had been well outfitted, training gyms for each of the Elite Four, along with numerous benefits befitting their position in the league.

"Lorelei.. Tell everybody that I’m challenging for the day." The blond haired Ice trainer smiled like a shark on the hunt and jabbed her finger toward Lance’s suite.

"Oooh.. Going to have a little bit of female companionship?" Lance sighed and ignored the woman, he had never been able to quite understand that one. (OOC: I have a question: How come Lorelei isn’t leading the E4? She could rip on Lances’ dragons no problem.) Stepping into his cabin, Lance slammed and locked the door tight.

<Last I saw he was officiating in a Pokemon League tournament.> The dragon trainer STILL could not believe that Daavak had dared to set up an "Official" Pokemon League tournament. He would get to the bottom of this little thing. Picking up the phone receiver, Lance dialed the appropriate number.

"Emilie? Yeah this is Lance. Get me Flynt, Jacey and Vincent. They’re going to LOVE this."

* * *

"Mama... Just killed a man... Put my gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he's dead .. Mama! Life had just begun! And now I've gone and thrown it all away..." Blu was singing relentlessly, Vail’s head hurt. His vision had only recently returned, but it was an odd affair. Vail found that he had a difficult time distinguishing objects. He was told that it was because his eyes hadn’t been used in several days and his brain was a tad forgetful. Vail still didn’t like it, Team Rocket had taught him to use all of his of his assets to the fullest.

"Galileo! Come on Vail, say Galileo. Damn you Vail, sing the song!" Vail bravely ignored the female and continued on with his own thoughts. He had never thought of himself as a member of Team Flyer, despite what Blu said he was still in Team Rocket. Wasn’t he? Vail sighed and slumped in his seat, continuing to tune out Blu’s annoying song. When he thought of all the intelligence that he could provide the boss.. The existence of Team Flyer, who led it, the members, what they were doing.. The very thought made him sick. He should be serving Team Rocket, now he was in an organization dedicated to destroying the very thing that he had worked all of his life to uphold.

"What the fuck!? Whoa!" Vail was jarred from his reverie as Blu screamed obscenities and slammed on the brakes.

"Hey watch it!" Vail yelled, he found himself in a foul mood for no apparent reason. He had no idea why Blu had stopped.

"Damnit. I should have known something like this would have happened." Squinting hard, Vail was finally able to make out the source of Blu’s irritation. They had been driving down the pass toward Cerulean, but a great avalanche had conspired to block the road.

"Give me the phone Vail. We may be here a while."

* * *

Daylight was rapidly fading by the time that Trixxy and James exited the interior of Mt. Moon. They had had a pleasant conversation as they journeyed through the innards of the mountain. James had attempted to locate the old Mt. Moon Elite Four facilities, but hadn’t been entirely successful as much of the mountain was sealed off.

"Cerulean City. Heh, didn’t think that I would be back here for a while." James recalled the last time that he hadn’t ventured to the bustling little city. He had met Jeff here hadn’t he? It didn’t matter either way, he was back in Cerulean.

"Ooh. I like coming to Cerulean, it’s so pretty during the night. All those of lights blinking in the sky, it makes me think of everything that has happened." Trixie was about to say more when the phone in James’s bag abruptly rang. Sighing, James took up the phone and handed it to Trixie.

"This is Trixie." As Trixie chatted on the phone, the pair continued on their way to Cerulean. Trixie was still on the phone by the time they arrived at the Cerulean Arms, a small hotel for Pokemon trainers. Dismounting Crash, James made to pat the Rapidash. The fire horse did not take kindly to the gesture of good will, but rather snorted and stepped back, glaring dangerously at the Pokemon trainer. Laughing dangerously, James quietly took the PokeBall and tapped the fire horse, sighing in relief as the beast was drawn back into the PokeBall.

"Well that was Blu," Trixie sighed as she folded up the cell phone and stuck it in her pocket.

"She called to say that the roads been blocked off, they’re going to have to turn around and take the detour. They’ll be a while, meanwhile lets get a room!" Taking James by the hand, the female began leading him into the hotel room. Stepping up to Registration, she smiled and pointed to James.

"Hi. We would like to get to get two rooms." The man at the desk snorted quietly and smiled, as if he knew something that the pair shouldn’t.

"Are you sure that you wouldn’t rather have ONE room?" James rolled his eyes and pushed Trixie aside. He wasn’t really in the mood for any smart-ass registration officers.

"Shuttup and give us the keys man." Shrugging mildly, the officer pulled out two keys and handed them off to James.

"Thank you. Come on Trix."

* * *

James’s room was comfortable, cozy but small. The Pokemon trainer was not entirely surprised, after all they had paid so little that he was surprised that the hotel hadn’t simply dumped the pair in the utility room. Throwing down his pack, James sighed and collapsed on the soft bed. It had been ages since he had slept well, and now he would make the most of his opportunities. James was about to dive under the covers, when the lights blinked sullenly, then went out.

"Isn’t this great, fucking Motel 6 this is.." James stopped, there was something wrong. Breathing hard, the trainer turned about slowly. There was a black silhouette against the window.

"Who’s there? Show yourself damnit." A damp rustle could be heard, and the silhouette moved to reveal himself.

"Teal? What the hell.." It was Teal, but something was not quite right. His face had gone entirely pale, and he did not look as if he had bathed for an eternity.

"Hello James. My master has decided that it is time to collect." The ghostly Pokemon trainer stepped forward menacingly. James could feel power fairly oozing from his rivals fingertips. The trainer paused, he had felt that power once before.

"Pheobe. I should have known." Teal halted in mid stride and began to smile. Straightening, the boy began to glow a sickly purple. The aura became terribly bright, bright enough that James was forced to cover his eyes for fear of being blinded. When the trainer opened his eyes, Pheobe had appeared.

"I have come for you James." The Psychic released her grip on Teal and allowed him to fall to the ground, his energy spent. Holding her head up imperiously, Pheobe stalked forth.

* * *

"They charge way too much for this stuff over here." Trixxy sighed and fingered through the small grocery bag. She had taken the opportunity to stop over at the local market and pick up some food. The female was about to step across the street when something caught her eye. A large swirling, purple cloud had gathered over Cerulean Arms and seemed to be growing in anger.

"What the.." Trixxy never finished her sentence. A blinding flash erupted from one of the windows in the hotel, lighting up the night sky. Forgetting the food, Trixxy made to dash for the hotel.

* * *

"Bingo! I knew it!" Lance slapped the oak desk triumphantly.

"So the thing wasn't licensed at all?" Lance began to scribble down notes on a pad of paper. "Well...Then what was the thing?" Flynt flipped through papers. "Dunno. Some private gig, probably." Lance bit the end of the pen thoughtfully.

"Got anyone who was there?" "Flyer was there," Flynt replied. "And... Well, that entire group who left. Rocket rigged the place. Maybe Daavak's with them?"

Lance shook his head, "Naw, he doesn't have the guts to stand with Rocket. Alright, I can take it from here. Thanks Flynt." Lance hung up the phone. He needed to talk to Blu. He clicked a button on his small comm, channeling Blu's comm.

"Flyer, you there?" All he heard was static. "Blu, talk to me..." Nothing.

"Aww damnit. Okay, comm, give me Trixxy's comm." Instead of static Lance was rewarded with a high pitched tone. He frowned and slapped the comm off, rubbing his temples. "Blu, Trix...Where are you?"

**

Blu sat in the driver's seat, fiddling with her communications computer. She sighed and slammed the dashboard, nearly making Vail jump. She almost dented the dash.

"Why don't we just back up?" Vail asked. "It's not that hard, you know. See, you change the shift to reverse..." Vail said it like he was instructing a ten year old, reaching for the stick shift. Blu slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch that. Something's wrong."

"What, cause your comm comp isn't working?" Vail shrugged. "That's how technology works." "Not this little piece of technology," Blu said. "I don't see the difference. It's all a bunch of wires connected to a bunch of other wires." Blu arched a brow.

"You ain't seen nothin' yet." She tapped it with her finger, then frowned.

"But it ain't working, so we're walking." Blu got out of the car.

"Now I wish Crash were here. Let's do some hiking, we'll have to have someone pick up the wagon later." Blu popped the trunk and took out the tent, Vail took the sleeping bags, and the two began the trek down the side of Mt. Moon.

**

Trixxy's eyes fluttered open. She groaned. "Where the ...?" She looked around. The room was somewhat dark, the only illumination was from a white candle. Trixxy bit her lip. Her wrists were cuffed and bolted to the wall. James was beside her, unconscious. It was hard to see, the limited light made everything look in shades of grey.

"Glad you made it. I was hoping you would wake first." Trixxy growled, she knew that voice. "Pheobe, you don't belong in this world." She meant it quite literally. Trixxy couldn't see Pheobe but knew she was there. "What did you do to James?" Pheobe laughed, a sound like hot chocolate dripping onto ice cream. The thought made Trixxy hungry momentarily.

She shook it off, "The question is, what will he do to you?" Pheobe smiled invisibly. Two orbs glowed black in the room. Trixxy heard James moan beside her. He sat up, unchained, his eyes glowing black.

"Damnit, Pheobe," Trixxy growled, "Let him go. Why do you want him? He's just a kid."

"Ah, but a powerful one. And you two... You two make excellent hostages. Now, have fun my dears, I must go and claim something I've wanted for a good time now." The blazing eyes flickered and distinguished. But James still stood, seemingly aimless and waiting for commands. Trixxy struggled, but her wrists were bolted too tight. She knew how to escape but didn't want to risk the consequences...

**

Aka trudged wearily after Arasan. "Why are we stopping here?"

"We need rest, duh," Arasan said shaking her head. She walked into the PokéCenter, and Aka followed.

**

.

"C'mon Vail, didn't you ever go hiking?" Blu called over her shoulder. then she remembered what the doctor had said.

"Oh. Hey, Vail, I can slowdown if you need it." Vail looked up ahead. "I'm fine. I don't know where you got the idea that I -- " Vail panted and collapsed on a nearby tree.

"For God's sake, Vail, you should have told me you weren't okay." Blu hurried to where he was sitting with his back against a tree. She rolled her eyes as she kneeled down beside him.

"Oh yeah, but that would damage your big male ego, wouldn't it." Vail tried not to look tired but it was hard. The blood pounded in his ears and his breathing was shaky.

"I'm fine." Blu slid down the tree, perched on her heels with her back on the trunk. "No, you're not Vail," Blu said accusingly, "Are you mental? You need to take a break! You're gonna kill yourself! I don't know what they did to you in Rocket, but I'm not ready to make you run ten miles with your feet cut off." Vail ignored her rambling. He felt like he was being scolded for playing in the mud. Except he had never played in the mud. Well, he was certainly *in* the mud now.

"And, we need to make it to Cerulean. I think something is going on, and I am certainly not carrying you all the way there." Something in Blu's voice told Vail she thought she could do it. He nearly laughed. But remember: No laughing aloud. The rush had stopped, he was merely sore now from tramping around on a mountainside. The angle had made his ankles hurt.

"Alright Vail. It's getting dark. I'd like to get to flat land before midnight. If you sleep on a mountainside your blood follows gravity and it's not pleasant." Vail pulled himself up, refusing Blu's offer to help. She shrugged, seemingly because she had expected that. She confused Vail. No matter how rude, arrogant, or mean he was to her she always shrugged it off. His attempts to piss her off all failed miserably. And yet she continued to offer her help, to respect his ideas and to watch out for him. And yes, even protect, at times. Like some big sister and her annoying little brother. Vail let that thought slid out of his mind like Jell-O. He didn't want to think about siblings.

"Y'know, Vail," Blu started, as if she were reading his mind, "You remind me of my kid brother. Kind of. Cept you're smarter." Vail rolled his eyes, now she was going to go off on another of her ramblings. He tried to zone out and concentrate on his footing.

"...Yeah, Joe's got some problems. He had a cocky attitude. He didn't listen to anyone, and in a bad way. He's been to Juvie a few times... But Boomer, my older brother...He never gave up on Joe. Never. And he made me watch out for the kid. And now... Well, now Joe's taken over my place in..." Blu trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging. She didn't expect Vail to ask, and he didn't.

"Yeah, Vail. What I've learned is that persistence plays a key role in friendship -- not that I'm implying we're FRIENDs or anything, God forbid--. Ya can't give up on anyone, no matter what they say. Or do. Or do to you. Ya gotta be there for them. And you have to let them know that they can trust you. I don't know what's goin' on in that screwed-up Rocket guide-book-for-idiots you call a brain, but I think that you need a friend. Vail, we've been through this before. You have problems, kid, whether you like it or not. And if you find the wrong friend, you're dead meat pal. And I am probably not one most people would like to be friends with. Hell, YOU certainly wouldn't want to be. But you gotta find someone who'll be a friend to you Vail, or you're going to go insane."

"You think about me too much, Flyer," Vail said, hoping she'd shut up. No such luck. Blu could hear it in his voice how annoyed he was.

"I know Vail. I worry about you. I really do. Cause you're near the end of the line. You've got an entire life ahead of you, and you were headed in the wrong direction for a long time. I thought maybe I could get you away. I saw you and the way you fought. And I know what you've done under orders. Yet I stick with ya. I believe in the fact that there might be some hope."

Blu licked her lips. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you're already too far gone. I don't think you are, but I've been wrong a lot. And I do think a lot about what to do with you." Vail thought up something to say to THAT, but instead Blu changed the subject again.

"Hey, cool. Flat ground. Woohoo, made it to Route 4!"

* * *

"James, you gotta fight it.. *yaaaaaaaawnn*" James cocked his head.

"Fight what, Trixxy?" James laughed. "There's nothing to fight. You're not even talking to James. James is... Somewhere in there." James' pointed to his head.

"This is just Pheobe's unconscious. I'm here to make sure you don't escape."

"James, you gotta *yawn* fight it.." Trixxy, despite her efforts, was beginning to fall asleep. Sleep was nice after a hard day, but it was not good when you were chained to a wall. 'James' raised his voice and made it sound scratchy. He hooked his finger in a sign language "X" and brought his hand next to his ear.

"James can't hear you now," he said, grinning evilly, and moving his finger near his ear with each syllable.

Trixxy sighed. "Stop it with the Shining gag already..."

**

"Yes! Cerulean!" Blu pulled Vail along, nearly dragging him into town.

"Say you're tired Vail, say you need rest, say it!" Vail scoffed.

"Aw Vail, you're no fun. C'mon." Blu pulled Vail into the Cerulean Watergate Hotel. She paid hastily and continued to drag Vail up the stairs to the rooms.

"You on the bed, go to sleep. I still have those sleeping pills you bring with you everywhere and I'll dilute it if I have to." Blu shoved Vail towards the bed. Blu opened the door that connected the two rooms then went back into the hall and opened the other room

. "Don't lock this door. I have your key. I'm taking a shower, be good." Blu turned back into her room and closed the interconnecting door. Blu sat on the bed first and took out her comm comp. It still wouldn't connect to any channels. She dropped it on the bed and began to take her hair out of its ponytail. The wind, the dirt and dust, the salty air made her thick hair almost brittle and she couldn't wait to get it washed.

**

Blu knocked on the door. "Vail, you there?" She opened it up and saw Vail, pretty much where she had left him, except asleep. She shrugged and walked in, gathering her bags that had been left. She turned out the lights and returned to her room.

"Wish ya no dreams," she said quietly. She knew from experience that no dreams were better than good dreams.

**

Blu heard a knock on her door. "Yeah," she said. Blu was sitting on the bed, dressed in a pair of black cargo pants instead of her jeans. She had her combat boots laced up to mid-shin, and she was messing with her comm comp.

"What're you all dressed up for?" Vail asked.

"We're doing some heavy duty biking today," she said. "I hope you’re up to it, because we need to make it to Fuschia. Zyra passed a message to Lance; Pheobe has been spotted, as well as that kid Aka we were looking for before. And Arasan."

Blu shook her head. "It's weird how these things work out. Anyways, Lance was able to locate us via Zyra's surveillance cams, he called this morning. We have to get to Fuschia and make sure Arasan is okay."

"Why? Why would she be in trouble anyways?"

"Pheobe is obsessed with bird Pokémon. As far as I know, Arasan and I are the only ones with tame Articunos. Pheobe would rather take candy from a baby than another Alir---then from me." Blu stared at her comm comm and hoped that Vail wouldn't ask about her verbal foul up. All this Pheobe stuff was too much and she was beginning to forget herself.

"You said Aka before."

"Yeah, Arasan's with Aka. Zyra says she has his Pokémon. So he's following her around everywhere and there's nothing he can really do about it. Familiar situation, huh? You poor Rocket boys." Blu grinned half heatedly. "Anyways, Lance sent money, we're buying bikes. C'mon, we gotta go." Blu finished lacing her boot and gathered the packs. The two left the hotel, paid, and took a meander through the bike shop.

**

They made it to Saffron by noon. Blu raced through the streets, sticking to the skirts of town. By nightfall the two had made it to the bike path. The sunset was beautiful and luckily no bikers bothered to mess with them. If there were bikers they must have recognized Blu (or Vail) from the last time the pair had been on the bridge...

"I love this bridge," Blu said, as she coasted down the street. "I love the breeze from the ocean... Reminds me of home."

"Where's home for you, anyways?"

Blu laughed. She thought about how to answer that one. "Cinnabar Island. Once I surfed all the way here on Brooke." The cool night air breezed by, and the setting sun looked eerie reflected on the water. It was relaxing, but Blu didn't want to be relaxed. Right now she was on a physical high, after hiking all day once and then biking the next. Her "excitement" presented itself soon enough. The foghorn of a steamer sounded ahead, and the bridge began to rise to let the huge ship through.

"Hurry, Vail, let's jump it."

"Are you insane??" Vail asked as he watched the bridge slowly rise. 5ºnow... The warning bells clanged incessantly.

"YESSS! Come on!!" Blu peddled hard, drawing near the bridge.

"Hey kids watch out!" The Officer's voice called from the booth. Blu grinned and waved.

"C'mon c'mon c'mon..." She felt the pull of gravity as she started up the ramp, which was rising. It was at about 25º now... She could hear Vail's bike screech to a halt behind her.

"YOU'RE INSANE!" He yelled over the warning bells.

"I KNOW!" Blu peddled harder and gave it her last bit of energy as she neared the top at 30º... Blu's bike was suspended in air for all of two seconds before the wheels screamed and hit the asphalt again. Blu rode the ramp down, leaning over the handle and coasting. She hit the brakes slowly, and the bike ground to a halt. She looked back, legs and back aching. The ramp was up and the ship had passed...Now the ramps came down.... Once they were parallel again, Vail took his time riding across.

Blu grinned widely. "I'm gonna be so sore tomorrow!" She exclaimed happily.

* * *

"Ho ho, I’ve hit the big time! You’ve finally done something right Daavak." Daavak smiled and jingled the keys within his pocket. His own apartment, his own suit, his own car.. Chuckling quietly to himself, Daavak continued to praise himself wildly.

"Yes yes Daavak, I know it was a great idea. Oh of course I’ll take this Ricearoni as a gift! I know that I’ve earned it, you’re too kind!" Giggling like a madman, the ex Caretaker stepped into his apartment and threw off his new jacket.

"Now then, to dinner! I’ll just.." A light tap at the door interrupted Daavak’s ramblings momentarily. Grumbling in an annoyed manner, the old man pulled open the door with a dramatic swish.

"You are Daavak Cantor?" The ex Caretaker stirred uneasily. The men at the door were dressed in black, and maintained a severe expression.

"I’m Daavak." The men did not waste any time. Two pairs of strong hands immediately shot forth and took hold of the newly civilized Caretaker, dragging the hapless man down the hallway screaming.

* * *

"You’ve really done it this time Daavak. Damn you man, what were you thinking!?" Lance leaned back and glared severely at the old man groveling at his feet.

"Many, many apologies Lance. I did not know! It just that uh.." Realizing that he had said too much, Daavak immediately fell into silence. But it was too late, Lance’s curiosity was piqued.

"It’s just what?" Lance whispered. Sensing the unpredictable mood that Lance had fallen into, Daavak visibly swallowed and took an acute interest in a minor imperfection about the ceiling. The ex Caretaker’s attention span was unfortunately short, and his neck began to drift downward toward the leader of the Elite Four.

"Okay! I give! Team Rocket set up the tournament! It was all a trick! Poor James wasn’t supposed to win that tournament, Vail was! Oooohhhhhhhh, I’m soorrryyy Lance! I didn’t know what I was doing! They offered me a car, and a house, and, and… Forgive me!" Crying unabashedly, Daavak crept on his knees and began to kiss Lance’s boots. Sneering in disgust, the dragon trainer kicked away the foolish old man and sighed.

"You idiot. You ruined a trainer’s reputation just so that you could get a new car? I outta.."

"Don’t kill me!"

"I won’t kill you. Get out of my sight, I need to think for a while."

* * *

"You’re insane! Mad, crazy! Damn you woman, what is your problem anyway!?" Vail couldn’t believe how the monumentally stupid act just perpetrated by Blu. How could anybody be so desperate, careless and stupid as to actually jump a bridge while a ship went in from underneath? Vail could scarcely believe it, Team Rocket had taught him never to take stupid risks. He was far too valuable to the organization, or so he heard. As of late, he found that he somehow doubted that.

"Lighten up Vail, you have to be the dullest Rocket that I have ever met. Really, have you ever met Mushashi or Kojiro? Now that’s a pair of Rockets, hah." Vail ground his teeth and attempted to keep up with Blu, experiencing some difficulty in the process.

"Those two!? You are bold. When I was in Rocket, I promised to kill the both of those fools. I’m still going to do it." Vail paused for a moment, had he just said "when" he was a Rocket? That was absurd, he was still a Rocket, always would be a Rocket. The pair continued across the great bridge, Vail finding himself struggling to keep up with the exuberant woman before him. The Rocket (or was it ex Rocket? He couldn’t be sure) cursed himself. He had gone soft behind the desk, he had once been in fantastic shape. Vail found himself doubting that he could possibly pull off the job in the Vermillion Waterfront.. Would he really have wanted too though? That was how this entire mess started.

"There it is! Fuschia City! Hmmm, not much has changed. Ah well." Vail narrowed his eyes and slumped over the handle bars of his bike. Not far away was Fuschia City, and not far beyond that the vast wilderness expanse that was the Safari Zone.

* * *

"Come on! Give me back my Tane!" Aka whined, the pair had been waiting in the accursed Pokecenter for what seemed like an eternity. But STILL the blue haired one refused to give up his Bonosaur. Why was she being so cruel? He didn’t want to hurt her, didn’t she know that it was Minori that he hated?

"Arasan? Your PokeBalls are ready." Leaping forth, Aka made to grab hold of the PokeBalls set in the small tray, but was easily stopped short by Arasan.

"You stuck Tane in a POKEBALL!? How could you! He hates PokeBalls! Let him out right now!" Aka hopped up and down like a small child. Arasan merely watched passively, it was actually rather entertaining watching the Rocket exhausting himself.

"Are you done yet?" Arasan asked placidly, trying to effect an air of superiority about herself. It didn’t particularly work, she came off as snotty.

"Not until you give me back my Bonosaur." Shrugging, Arasan took hold of the PokeBalls and made to exit the Pokecenter. Huffing, groaning and generally making a scene Aka made to follow her. Emerging into the sunlight, Aka suddenly had the urge to yawn loudly. The bright sun had a telling effect upon the female before him, she seemed to energize immediately.

"Hey look, is that who I think that is?"

* * *

"There she is!" Blu cried triumphantly, Vail could only cringe. He was finally going to meet Aka. He had been sent out on a mission to capture Aka, it was still his mission. As for Arasan, there was no telling as to what the vengeful exorcist might attempt.

"Blu! I haven’t seen you in.." Arasan stopped short when she caught sight of Vail. The Rocket was conciously aware of the eyes, probing him, trying to figure out why he might be standing with his mortal enemy. Directly behind her stood Aka, once the object of his obsession. What was he supposed to do now?

"What is he doing with you?" Arasan’s voice was like steel, there was no question as to who WHO was. Vail blinked twice and looked between first Blu, then Arasan. It was like seeing a mirror image, one Rocket with one dominating blue haired female. Vail began to shrink back, two of that woman was not a good thing.

"Vail? Oh don’t worry about him, he’s harmless." Blu said it with an edge about her voice, Vail knew what that meant. The two females began to walk together slowly, chatting and going over all that happened of late. Vail found himself beside Aka. Aka, the traitorous dog that had destroyed the underground lab at Cinnabar, the Rocket that nobody knew about until his seditious actions. Together they walked, one a high ranking Rocket Brother and the other a pathetic grunt.

"Vail? Where’s Valerie?" Aka spat the name mockingly. Vail nearly struck the man just for that word, how dare he dishonor the name of his sister? Especially a grunt like him? The Rocket nearly swallowed his tongue, he was already thinking in terms of being a Rocket again.

"Shuttup you." That was all that Vail could think of, this Aka was annoying.

"Hold up. I have to go to the bathroom."

* * *

Vail shut the door to the Men’s room in the Pokecenter softly. He was not interested in anybody eavesdropping, least of all Blu. Reaching into his pocket, Vail pulled out his cell phone. He had intended to throw the thing out many times, he had even told Blu that he would. That was how he got it back. Now it was too late, he was going to do what he had promised to himself that he would never do again.

"Hello Boss." Those words were difficult to say, the man had ordered him killed after all.

"Vail?" It was obvious that the man on the other end was surprised and slightly dismayed at the fact that he was still alive.

"I have much to report sir. I… I have Aka."

"Excellent work! What of your new partner?" The Boss recovered quickly from his initial shock and seemed almost cordial now.

"She.. She’s a traitor sir.." Vail nearly broke down from what he was saying next, he was betraying the confidence of the person that actually cared about him.

"She leads an organization.. And organization who’s goal is to destroy Team Rocket. I.. I couldn’t stay silent." There was a pause on the other end of the phone as Sakakai digested this new information.

"This is of no consequence. We will be sending a van to pick you up and the prisoner. Eliminate the woman." There was a click, and Vail was left alone. It was all happening again, just like before. Once again he would be doomed to repeat his mistakes.

* * *

Vail checked each one of his companions. Aka.. Bound and gagged. Arasan.. Asleep peacefully, she would remain that way for several hours more if the proper injections were in place. As for Blu.. A proper dose of tranquilizer would keep her out for a time. Somehow, he could not kill her, it was not right. Sighing quietly, Vail took hold of Aka and exited the room. Away from the path of redemption, back to the old way, the way that he had known best. It was alright, he had never been meant to be redeemed. He would long ago forsaken the path that might have saved his soul, he might as well travel it too it’s conclusion. The wood’s was quiet, interrupted only by the occasional thump as Aka’s head bumped against Vail’s shoulder.

* * *

Blu awoke slowly. The pain in her head was tremendous, even the soft pillow that she had been provided with did not help to soften the ache. Rising slowly, Blu made to go to her bag to pick up some Aspirin, and stopped. Vail and Aka were gone, their beds neatly made. Something was wrong, perhaps a sixth sense. Shouldering her pack, Blu made to leave the room, not wanting to believe her suspicions. There was no need to awaken Arasan, the youth need not be concerned with the Rockets. The motel that had provided them with accommodations had been comfortable, Blu was rather sad to be departing. Slowly the woman trudged through the woods, picking her way around dry leaves and twigs, attempting to keep silent so as not to alert Vail. At last, she came upon a small van with a great red letter R on the side. There were only two Rockets standing about.

"Hey you woman! Stop skulking about and come here!" Blu cursed herself mildly, she should not have been so careless as to blow her cover. Pulling herself out of the leaves, the female slowly walked toward the van.

"It’s her! I thought I told you to stay out our business!"

"Yeah well, I must not have heard right." Blu didn’t remember this particular Rocket, but it didn’t hardly matter. One Rocket was really no different from another.

"Heh. Stupid fool, you ain’t gonna be getting that nose of yers in our business no more." Blu was just about to ask the dimwit what he was talking about, when two sharp bangs came from behind her. Taking a sharp breath, Blu fell to her knees, she knew that she had been shot. Her eyes were rapidly failing her, and at last she gave out and collapsed.

* * *

Vail took a deep breath and emerged from the bushes. Blu laid at his feet. Shaking his head violently, Vail let out a small cry and dropped the gun, his fingers suddenly nerveless. The Rockets were not impressed.

"Come on Vail damn you. Load the kid in the van, and lets get out of here!" Nodding mechanically, Vail handed off Aka and climbed sullenly into the van. To his destiny.

"Yeah. Lets go."

* * *

Lance drummed his fingers rapidly on the desk. That was boring, instead he picked up a pencil and began to bounce the eraser. Naw, not satisfying. Finally he slammed the desk with a fist and stood up. Daavak was surely in trouble, but Lance didn't know what to do with him. His thoughts were cut short by the sharp ringing of the telephone. He groaned, slumped in the chair and picked it up.

"Yeah? This better be good, I'm busy-"

"Lance, this is Zyra.."> Lance immediately forgot his ire and toned down his voice.

"Oh, Zyra. What's new?"

"It's Blu," Zyra said.

"What about her? Is she okay?"

"I don't know. I've been tracking them with the cams. She left the hotel this morning and I haven't seen her return."

"What? Where?" > "Near Fuschia City," Zyra said. Lance could hear her typing keys.

"Early this morning. And Trixxy still hasn't made contact, we don't know where>she is."

"With Pheobe. But Trixxy can take care of herself, it's Blu I'm worried about. She's brash and she's bound to get herself in trouble. I'm busy here, can you send anyone out?"

"'Fraid not, there's no one free," Zyra said quietly.

"What? There are supposed to be hands free at all time! Damnit, I'll have to go."> Lance took his coat and trudge out the door. He employed the speed of Aerodactyl, and found his way to Zyra's house. He knocked on the door, and Zyra opened it.

"Look here," she pointed to the screen. The surveillance cams in the>hotel showed Blu leaving after taking a pack, but leaving her other>things there.

"Hey, wait. Back up." The tape buzzed as it rewinded. It showed two men in Rocket uniforms. One was Vail. Lance restrained himself from breaking the table. >

"I KNEW we shouldn't have trusted him." Vail yelled at the younger Rocket and then began to go through Blu's bags. Out came the Pokéballs.

"No, damnit, no, this can't happen..." Next the tape showed Blu leaving again. The outside camera was>transferred. Blu left into the back. Zyra pressed fast-forward and Blu did not return to the room. Lance growled. He waved at Zyra and thanked her, and rode Aerodactyl to Fuschia City.

**

Blu groaned softly. Her shoulder and lower back hurt, and she knew it>would have hurt more if her nerves hadn't been in shock. From her place on the ground she was afraid to move. She listened carefully, her training from the Green Country Gym returning to her even in the dizzy state of blood loss. She heard no breathing or crunching of leaves and sticks. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked from where her head was without moving her neck. She was afraid to move her neck. She was afraid to move at all... When you're shot in the back you don't move. Suddenly she heard harsh tramping and she closed her eyes and lay still. If they had returned, she>would be dead. She took more pains to control her breathing..> Blu!" Blu knew that voice, it was familiar...

"My God Blu, what happened?" Lance kneeled beside her in the dirt and gasped as he spied the gun. He>frowned and picked it up gingerly, dropping it in his jacket pocket.

"Blu are you there?"

"This is the answering machine...please leave a message..." Blu's dry attempt at humor left her exhausted and the world faded to black.

**

"Damnit someone close the shades," Blu yelled as loud as she could. A nurse bustled in and hastily drew the curtains.

"Where's Lance?" Blu asked the question three times before her back>spasmed and she gasped. Then she clenched her teeth. The nurse bent over and began to straighten the bed sheets. Blu reached up and grabbed the>nurse by the collar.>

"Get Lance O'Ryan NOW," she whispered, "Or you'll have more in your face than bad morning breath!" The nurse yelled and stepped back when Blu let go, and she hastily opened the door and left. Soon enough Lance reappeared.

"I hate hospitals!" Blu tried to yell. Her voice wouldn't go higher than>a hoarse whisper.

"I can't even complain properly anymore..."

"You gotta stay here till you're better," Lance said.

"Nu-uh. I'm not staying here one more day. I've been shot, sliced, stabbed, burnt, eaten alive and I never stayed in a hospital more than a week. Anyways, Pheobe's gonna get me if I stay here, DUH.">

Lance chuckled lightly. "You can come to the Indigo Plateau tomorrow."

"Don't leave Lance. You can't leave me here in a bed when Pheobe's out."

"You can take care of yourself." Lance got up and closed the door, coming back to sit in the chair next to the bed. He took two handguns and five knives and put them under Blu's pillow. He also handed her a Pokéball.

"With your aim and those knives, plus Aire you'll be fine."

"No I won't Lance. If I can live through two bullets so can Pheobe."> Lance shook his head.

"Vail isn't a very good aim. Otherwise he'd have shot you in the head. You know that."

"What? How do you know it was Vail?"> Lance took the gun in a plastic bag out of his jacket. "Fingerprints. He was messy about the entire ordeal as well."

"That son of a..." Blu ground her teeth. She didn't know whether to kill Vail now, or merely let him kill himself in Team Rocket. She decided that...She would find him...then perhaps feed him alive to Brooke...> She shook her head as Lance patted her shoulder and left without a word. No, you can't kill Vail. Even after what he's done. Even if you can't shrug without his damn bullet holes in your back you gotta shrug it off. Blu wondered if Vail was a lost cause. She wondered if he knew she was alive? She almost laughed, but didn't because that would hurt. She hoped Vail knew she was alive. Because she was sure it would make him scared because he would know she would be thinking these thoughts. –

Vail you bastard...- Blu gritted her teeth and began to methodically rip the bed sheet into strips. Then, as she was thinking, she began to> tie the strips into a noose.

-I am gonna find you. This is too far, you don't deserve to live at this point, you back stabbing little shi- She stopped and shook her head again, reprimanding herself. It wasn't his fault, he was under orders... Those damn orders...

*He's an antagonist, Blu, and whether you like him or not, if he ever got a clue that there are bigger, badder star bases out there he'd be after them. You have a problem, you think you can change the bad-guys. There'll always be bad-guys, and you won't be able to take care of them all.

She recalled Kiv's words clearly. She wished she hadn't.

-Maybe I should just shoot him and be done with it... Maybe I should stick knives in his eyes and hand him back to Rocket...Maybe I should cut his Achilles tendon.. Maybe... Something to do with spoons... Blu cursed at herself for thinking such morbid thoughts. She scared herself sometimes, she found herself imagining every disgusting notion she got... She didn't know what to do with the kid. The kid. He was only a kid… Blu dug her hands under the pillow behind her head, finding comfort in the weapons. She took one knife, and sighted it. She cocked her wrist and whipped the knife at the closed door, running the blade straight into the>doorknob. She hoped it would effectively lock the door. She was also peeved that the Team was known. Oh well, no matter. She already had the idea that they knew. And she happened to lead the Team. And if they wanted to kick her out, so be it.

Blu was not having a good day. There was a knock and a scramble at the door. The door jiggled, and finally opened, but not before Blu had a knife in her left hand a gun in>the right. The door swung open and Blu recognized the girl who had shoved a pill down Vail's throat.

"Get out or I shoot," Blu said in all seriousness. Apparently Nora was not expecting Blu to be armed, and she stood in shock.

"I said GET OUT."> Nora had regained her composure.

"You're alive, and we can't have that," Nora said. Blu laughed, and managed not to wince.

"I'm more alive than you'll ever be. Now like I said, get out or you get a bullet between the eyes." Blu raised her aim a bit to emphasize her>point.

"Vail sends you this." Nora tossed a Pokéball to Blu's bed.

"Where's the rest? That bastard took my dragons?"

Nora laughed. "Of course! Only, they're not his, their Team Rocket's.

You can have your Ninetales." Miller. Blu sighed inwardly in relief. Nora advanced, and began to take a gun from a holster in the small of her back. She didn't make it far enough, there was a shot and the Rocket girl screamed as her left shoulder bloodied.

"Now get out before I shoot you in the head." Nora held her shoulder and dropped the gun. She began to leave.

"Hey and tell Vail I miss his company," Blu yelled after her, "And that I'm gonna find him, no matter where!! And I'll KILL HIM! TELL HIM THAT!" The nurse finally came back and so Blu shouting obscenities after Nora with a loaded gun and a knife in her hand. Blu immediately aimed at the knife." Get out and say nothing or I shoot YOU TOO!" The nurse turned and left, speechless. Blu growled. She kicked at Miller's Pokéball. The blue Ninetales wagged his tails at first, then>whimpered when he saw Blu coughing wildly. Finally Blu dropped the gun and the knife and buried her face in the blankets. This was not a good day at all.

* * *

Trixxy groaned and wriggled her wrists again. She was getting hungry, it had been too long. James was still standing there, staring at her.

"Damnit Pheobe, let the boy rest. His body can't stand that!" Trixxy said. She was worried now. Not for herself. Pheobe had not returned yet and that was odd.

"I suppose," James said. But the black glow did not disappear. Trixxy finally frowned. She was about to fall upon her last resort, when James convulsed.

"Aaaaiya, Trixxy..." he said, sounding vaguely like himself. He slumped to the floor.

"Oooh my head..." Trixxy's eyes widened.

"JAMES!" James looked up weakly. "My legs hurt..."

"Well Pheobe had you standing there for three days straight!" James scooted to have his back against the wall, holding his head. "What happened..?"

"Pheobe had your brain. She was having you stand there..." Trixxy frowned,

"James go to sleep, you need it."

"I can't.. we *yawn* have to get out of *yawn* here..." That much was true.

"Well there's nothing you can do.. Yeowch!!" James was staring intently at Trixxy's handcuffs. The metal was burning at the chain. Slowly the link glowed ember, and the cuff was beginning to burn. Trixxy held in there.. slowly.. pulling at the link... The link became undone. Trixxy yanked, the cuff splitting.

"Ooww...Hey good job." Trixxy's other hand was still cuffed and James collapsed. Trixxy looked around, and prodded James with her toe. He was unconscious. She bit her lip, braced her foot on the wall, and heaved against the wall. The links split after a few seconds. Trixxy gasped. She looked about. No windows, no doors...

"C'mon Di!" Trixxy said, calling upon her Ditto. She hoped its Pokéball was within hearing distance...

"Ditto?" Trixxy laughed and looked around.

"Ditto!" A purple blob fell from somewhere up above. It landed with a smack on the floor. "Alright, Di. Turn into a Rhydon and smash the wall. Quickly." Di complied, glowing purple... And soon the bulk of a Rhydon filled the room. It pawed the ground and charged the wall. The other walls trembled, and a hole smashed in the wall. Trixxy frowned, scooped up James, and rushed out the door before the ceiling collapsed. The night air was calm, and the chirping of bugs was...annoying.

"Okay Di, remember Crash?"

"Ditto!" The Rhydon glowed and became a purple-colored Rapidash.

"Ditto?"

"Yes." Trixxy yawned and exerted her strength in lifting James to the pseudo-Rapidash's back. She hopped on herself, nearly asleep.

"Onward *yawn* ho to...Where the hell are we? Ummm *yawn* take us to the nearest PokéCenter. That's not in Saffron *yawn* City..."

**

Pheobe smiled as she watched Ms. Parker make her escape from the "tower." She sighed, happy with the situation. James would act as an unknowing, unwilling spy. Very nice, Pheobe was suddenly alerted that Blu Flyer was in pain. She smiled ,waving her hand. The crystal fuzzed, then showed Blu in a hospital bed, shouting and waving weapons around. Pheobe wondered what had happened while she had been looking the other way.

"Crystal...what is the cause?" The crystal swirled and showed a familiar face.

"Ah yes, I remember you," Pheobe said. She watched the scene as Vail shot Blu. She frowned. The Rocket had no honor. He would shoot his opponent in the back, instead of meeting her face to face? No. Pheobe knew of Blu's expertise in fighting. If Flyer had seen Vail with a gun, it would be more likely to be Vail in the hospital bed now. And Pheobe knew that Blu would have been there to make sure the Rocket recovered. Blu's passion for righting the wrong never ceased to amaze and disgust Pheobe. If Pheobe had been in the situation Blu was in, Vail would be dead 10 times over. Pheobe shrugged, and wondered if she should make her move now. No, Pheobe reconsidered. I have honor. I will do away with Flyer fairly. As well as the pest O'Ryan. Pheobe sighed, turned from the crystal, and flew into her living quarters.

* * *

"Who is the leader of Team Flyer?" Vail blinked and rolled his head. They had been asking the same questions for hours now.

"Blu Flyer." A scritch on the notepad and a nod. Coughing, Vail attempted to focus on his tormentors. His eyes must still have been bad. He couldn’t focus on the interrogator the room was spinning.

"He’s responding. Hold off on the drug." Another scritch, another nod. What were they talking about?

"Now Vail. List each one of the members of Team Flyer." The words seemed to pierce Vail’s brain in all of the wrong places. They were becoming unbearably painful.

"Strype.. Trixxie… Lance.." Vail opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. His tongue had gone dry. Who was the last one?

"Who is the last member Vail."

"Hmm.. He’s still repressing. Give him another dose." Those words frightened the Rocket. They wanted to put more of the stuff in his body?

"He’s at maximum dosage sir. We can’t fill him up with anymore without killing him." A pause, a merciful pause. Vail gasped out gratefully.

"There is nothing for it I suppose. Bring in Vincent." Vail screwed his eyes shut. He knew what was coming.

"No.. No please!" Vail cried out in vain.

"Vincent, send in Vincent." The man’s voice was relentless. Vail could not tune it out. Through the haze a new figure became apparent.

"He is repressing. You what to do." Vail squirmed in his seat, attempting to shake the evil straps that bound him to his chair.

"Ssh Vail. Calm down and open you mind." A dark figure kneeled softly and removed a black leather glove.

"Now then. Tell me everything." A rip.. It was as if somebody’s shirt had been ripped apart. The pain was excruciating. Memories began to leak, quicker then he could stop them.

"Ahh yes.. This is what we were looking for.."

* * *

Vail awoke slowly. The pain had faded, but only slightly. He had been placed in his old study, all of his shelves and books still remained.

"Vail?" It was as if something bad forcefully screwed his head off of his shoulder. Turning slowly, Vail gazed sullenly at the fantastic vision of a woman before him.

"What is it?"

"You asked to see Aka right before his visit with the Boss." Vail nodded, he knew what the grunt was in for.

"Come on then."

* * *

"Let me in." Vail whispered silently. The Rocket beside him raised an eyebrow, but did not question his superior’s orders. Nobody questioned Vail anymore. The cell was dark and smelly, Team Rocket was not well known for the upkeep of their prisons.

"Well Aka, you’ve really done it now. Destroyed the lab on the Cinnabar, tried to kill one of our agents. You realize of course that you’ll never leave the island alive." Taking a seat on the bench, Vail waited calmly. A moment later, there was a rustle and tussled figure appeared. Aka was in a bad state, his eyes had gone dull, his hair was mussed and his clothing ripped.

"Bastard. You and your sister have always been in the Boss’s favor. Everybody knows it. I’d kill you if.. if.." Aka moaned and fell back into the darkness. Tilting his head, Vail raised and an eyebrow sympathetically.

"Why did you do it?"

"Because! Innocents were dying. I could not just stand by and watch!" Vail was taken aback. Far from the idiot twit that he usually was, the Rocket actually had some backbone. He stood behind his convictions.

"You have entertaining ideals Aka. Tis a shame really, goodbye." Vail motioned solemnly and allowed the two Rockets waiting outside to come and fetch the unfortunate. Vail watched as they hauled the Rocket away. He did not scream like the others, but remained silent. Vail found himself grateful that he did not have to accompany the boy, the sounds that floated from the Boss’s suite were always discomforting.

* * *

"Come on." Vail waited patiently for his agent to work the knob. At last, the door opened and in stepped Nora. She was obviously in pain, a fact not helped by the sling about her arm. Rocket medicine was not the best.

"Well?" Nora was embarrassed and it showed, she played with the sling incessantly.

"She’s alive, and she knows that you did it. She promised to kill you." Vail digested the information quietly. If Blu wanted him dead, he would likely die. Horribly.

"Alright go on." Nodding, the woman made to leave.

"Wait! A reward for your loyalty Nora." Smiling broadly, Nora turned about to receive her gift. Vail pulled the trigger twice, striking the woman broadly in the chest. Groaning, Nora twisted about and collapsed.

"Nobody crosses me damnit." Vail sneered softly. The Rocket was about to leave, when he caught a look at the woman’s face. Her features were frozen in the rictus of surprise, and her eyes were open. Shuddering quietly, Vail exited his study.

* * *

The next morning Blu found herself lying in clean bed sheets, ones that weren't ripped to shreds. She looked around, and immediately jammed her hand under her pillow. She let out a breath of relief as she felt the cool blade knick the back of her hand. She took her hand out and examined the cut... Then shrugged. She looked around. Miller was snoring in a doggy way in the visitor's chair. The windows had been opened, and her bed sheet noose was lying on the table, as if the nurse had decided she might want it. Blu sat up, monitoring the pain in her back. It seemed harsher, more real now...But bearable. And she knew it hurt more because her nerves were finally beginning to regenerate themselves. It helped to know one's own biology, especially if the doctors didn't. And why hadn't she seen a doctor the entire time she'd been here? Oh yeah. Doctors do the surgery, and the nurses make check ups until they can ship ya out. Blu twisted her shoulders to the left side, then to the right. The pain throbbed but she thought she would be okay. She found the button to call the nurses and began to press it every five seconds. If they were gonna be stupid about it, then she was going to be annoying. Finally a nurse came in, looking as if she had run all the way from home.

"Yes?"

"Get me my clothes."

"You're not clear for leave yet-"

"Look lady, I've got a gun under my pillow and if you don't get me my clothes I'm sure I can find someone else who will." The nurse nodded and went off to wherever the clothes were. Blu wondered what she looked like right now. Probably like some crazy teenager. She grinned. With guns and knives and a bad temper. The nurse returned and Blu continued to order her about.

"I need scissors and thread and needles. Or at least staples or duct tape. Just close the door, and get me breakfast. Where's the Jell-O around here?"

**

Blu spent the next two hours modifying her shirt. She opened up the back to make sure the suffocating material wasn't incessantly rubbing against her back. The only place where the top joined in the back now was behind the neck, and just above her jeans.

She got dressed, complete with her jacket. Meanwhile, Miller was hopping around the room, sniffing at every thing. The nurse returned with a cup of Jell-O. Blu fit the knives into her wrist, upper arm and thigh sheaths, as well as holstering one of the guns on her belt and dropping the other into her bag. Aire's Pokéball went on her belt, next to Miller and Brooke’s. She shouldered the bag tweaked Miller's ear, grabbed the Jell-O and made her way out, not bothering to check with the desk.

**

She gasped as she walked in through the hotel bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. After the initial shock was over she curled her lip in distaste. Her hair was dull and hung lifeless at her shoulders. Her eyes had dark patches. She frowned, ran a shower and made sure she had five of those little hospital shampoos to cover her entire head of hair.

**

Finally feeling somewhat back to her old self, Blu sat down on the bed and picked up the phone. First she dialed Lance's private number.

"Yeah?"

"Lanceeey," Blu sang, grinning.

"God Blu, you left the hospital, didn't you." Blu didn't say anything, "Damn you, you're supposed to stay in bed!"

"I am in bed."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I suppose so. Lance, after you left, Team Rocket tried at me again."

Lance groaned. "You didn't kill him did you?"

"I didn't kill HER. I only...uh...shot in her the arm." Blu said the last meekly.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side when you have guns."

"It was self defense! Anyways, how could I ever be mad at you?" Lance said nothing but she could hear him trying to stifle a laugh.

"Lance, in all seriousness. I need the phone number to Rocket HQ."

"They won't answer, they'll probably trace your call and kill you."

"I know that. So what's the number?" Lance rifled through papers. Or computer files. Blu couldn't tell. He listed the number to her.

"That's the number Rockets call. You probably want Vail's private number, don't you?"

Blu grinned, "Oh, I am so lucky to have you on my side."

Lance found the number. "How did we get this information?"

"Ummm... The one infiltrator we have in Rocket who made it high enough in the ranks to get them?"

"Oh. Hey Lance, watch you back. If they interrogate Vail about the team, they'll know who you are. And I know you probably can't take another bullet. Let alone three." Lance chuckled.

"I have other ways to defend myself than knives and guns.

"Oki. Thanks Lance, luv ya for it, gotta go, bye!" Blu hung the phone up. She dug around for her comm comp. Upon finding it, she unfolded it and unplugged the phone cord. The comm snapped onto the phone jack, and Blu replugged the phone cord into it. She dialed the second number Lance had given her.

* * *

Vail started as he entered his study, the corpse had not been removed. It had begun to decay on his floor, and it smelled. Screwing up his face, Vail stepped over and gave the body a mild kick. It did not move. Vail was about to kick it again, when the phone rang. Vail halted and stared. Who would call him at his personal number? Certainly not the Boss, and his agents were smart enough to know not to bother him in his study. The Rocket studied that machine as if it was a snake ready to eat his hand. At last Vail plucked up the courage to snatch hold of the phone.

"What is it?" Vail whispered, not knowing what to expect. He really wasn’t in the mood for a phone conversation.

"Vail? Hi! I don’t supposed that you remember me." Vail nearly dropped the phone. There was no mistaking the voice on the other end of line, the voice fairly dripping with sarcasm.

"How did you get my number?" The Rocket’s tone was guarded, he had no interest in invoking the woman’s anger. He knew just what the female could do.

"I know that you shot me Vail, I’m just calling to give you my regards. Before I rip your heart out."

"And how do you intend to that."

"I don’t know yet, but I guarantee you that you will die. Just let me find and you and I’ll.." Vail didn’t allow the woman to continue her rant, slamming the phone down the receiver. The phone rang again, and Vail glared at it mistrustfully. The phone went silent. Turning, Vail made to leave, but halted. The corpse was still there, lying in the middle of the floor. With a melancholy sigh and a grunt, Vail took hold of the corpse and heaved it into an adjoining seat. Vail desperately needed somebody to talk too, even if she was dead.

"I’m dead Nora. Very dead." The corpse didn’t respond, but that didn’t matter. It didn’t need too, Vail made up his own responses.

"It’s all gone.. All gone.. I through it all away, but hey that’s my nature. I always screw myself at some point, whether it’s with my.." Vail halted for a moment, then choked out the word, "Friends or with my job. It’s all the same. Nobody cares anymore, nobody cares about pour little Vail." Reaching over to a tiny fridge that the Rocket had hidden away, Vail pulled out a beer (OOC: I personally hate beer as much as I hate Coffee, but I figured that Vail would do something like that). Cracking the drink open, Vail took a slug and set it down on the table.

"Heh, you wouldn’t understand, you’re dead. Even when you were alive you tried to screw me. Everybody wants me dead!" Vail took another slug of the beer and considered his position. The corpse didn’t care if Vail was dead. The corpse was dead either way.

"Well maybe I won’t give them the chance. Huh!? What do you think eh Nora!? That’s what you always wanted isn’t it!?" Throwing the beer across the room, Vail yanked out his gun. There was no reason to be alive, everybody wanted him dead. Even his friends wanted him dead, the only person who had ever cared about him wanted him dead.

"Here’s to you Nora." For the first time for as long as Vail could remember, he smiled. It was a foreign sensation. A wonderful parting gift to be sure, a final farewell. Taking the gun up, Vail pressed it against his head and pulled the trigger.

* * *

"Status is critical, bullet to the head. We’re bringing him in now." Samuel kept pace with the gurney. Vail had tried to blow his own head off, a fact that the Rocket had a difficult time comprehending. Vail was far too proud to even consider killing himself, why now?

"No euthanasia! The Boss ordered that he be kept alive!" Even that was no guarantee that Vail would survive, Rocket medicine was absolutely terrible. Samuel tried to keep his eyes averted from the gurney, it was a rather terrible sight to behold.

"Come on Vail, hang in there."

* * *

It was painfully dark. No light shown, nothing. Even Vail’s Rocket uniform did not feel genuine, and that had been part of his life for over a decade.

"Welcome home Vail." A small man with smiling eyes had appeared. He had a head of fluffy white hair, and just a hint of a beard about his face.

"Who are you?"

"Oh I think that you know Vail. Poor child, you’ve created quite the situation for yourself. Putting a gun to your head and pulling the trigger, you should be ashamed of yourself." The man spoke to Vail as he would a small child. Somehow though, Vail found that he was quite ashamed of himself.

"God’s gift is sacred, would you really sacrifice it just because one wishes to take it from you? I think not. I know you better then that Vail, you know YOURSELF better then that." Vail averted his eyes from the man.

"What’s done is done I suppose. Come on, I have something to show you." The Rocket tried to resist the old man’s words, but the tug was powerful. He suddenly found that he WANTED to go with the old man.

"Come now Vail, don’t try to resist. Come." Vail took a cautious step toward the oldster, he seemed to be harmless enough. Smiling benevolently, the old one took Vail’s shoulder and pushed him forth. An image began to take shape, fuzzy at first, but slowly it began to take shape. A boy with long red hair was hovering over a bed ridden girl.

"No.. Not again, don’t show me. I can’t take it!"

"Watch.. We still have much to see you and I."

* * *

"We’re losing him! Get me the stims stat!" The Rocket doctors we’re everywhere at once, Samuel could not get a good glimpse of Vail’s body. The boy seemed to be convulsing wildly as the doctor’s attempted to hold him down.

"Damnit man, I can’t get in close enough for an injection!"

"Hold him, hold him! Get the straps!" Vail was screaming, a high pitched wail filled the entire room, forcing Samuel to cover his ears.

"My God man, what’s going through that kid’s head?"

"Nothing, brain activity is near gone. It’s reflex, we need more stims here!"

* * *

Vail stopped screaming, the old man had gone. He was alone, all alone. Or was he? There was a presence.. Not a malevolent presence.. The feeling that it gave Vail was incredible, every orifice of his being was suddenly oozing with love. The Rocket was about to rise, when a soft hand touched his shoulder. Vail didn’t want to look up, he couldn’t. After what he had done.

"Vail.. Look up."

"No Valerie. I can’t.. I just can’t."

"Vail. I forgive you." That gave the Rocket pause. Valerie forgave him? For all that he had done, for KILLING her? How could she possibly forgive him, nobody had ever forgiven him.

"Look up Vail." Opening his eyes, Vail slowly rose until he was eye to eye to with his sister. The sister that he had killed in cold blood in the hospital bed in Saffron City.

"I forgive you." Taking the boy about the neck, she gave him a light peck on the neck. That was all too much for Vail. For only the second time in his life he began to sob wildly.

"I’m sorry.. I.. couldn’t.. stop myself.." Valerie pulled Vail into a hug and held the boy there.

"It’s alright Vail.. Just let it all out." The two embraced for what seemed to be eternity, Vail found that he did not want the moment to end.

"You have to go Vail. You can’t stay." Vail stopped and backed up.

"I.. I have to go? But I want to stay with you!" Valerie only shook her head solemnly.

"It’s not your time... You have a destiny Vail." He had heard those words often lately, what did it all mean? What did they mean he had a destiny?

And with that, Vail awoke.

* * *

"Vail? You’re awake!" Vail’s eyes focused slowly, painfully. Somebody was sitting at his bedside, somebody familiar.

"Sam.. Samuel? What are you doing here?" Vail’s cohort shook his head and punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"Oh come on Vail, you honestly believe that your best friend wouldn’t be here when he heard that you were in trouble? The docs thought you wouldn’t pull through, but I had faith in ya. You’re too stubborn to die." Winking roguishly, the Rocket smiled and leaned back in the chair that he had set near the bedside.

"You’re.. You’re my friend?" Vail was taken aback, he had always assumed that Samuel thought just like Nora.

"Of course I am. You and me will always be buds Vail.. Didn’t you know that?" Vail slumped back in his bed and sighed.

"No.. I guess that I didn’t." Vail paused and took a moment to consider.. He had a friend?

"I need an ally Samuel.." Samuel smiled and tapped Vail’s head lightly, minding Vail’s wound.

"Vail my man, you don’t have an ally. You have a friend."

* * *

Blu frowned and looked at the phone as it Vail hanging up was it's fault. She dialed the number again, but as she suspected, got no answer. Instead she took her TDT from the wall. And began to pack everything backup. After that, she flopped down on the bed and fell asleep.

**

The sun hadn't risen yet, and Blu paid the nightshift clerk for her room. She stole out into the city, hoping to find a bike. She frowned. Then remembered...

"Go Arty," she whispered. The Articuno appeared and Blu hopped aboard.

"Go on to Saffron." Blu knew that it would be a pita to sneak into Rocket HQ. She considered how she would do it. Her back ached as Arty took off towards the yellow city. Stopping at a clothing shop, Blu perused the clothes. Hmmm... Who would be excepted? A young man seeking to make his way in Rocket? A whore? She considered that. Would Team Rocket take a woman for pleasure? The notion disgusted her. What about something more formal; Perhaps a business associate? Or... maybe if she posed as a lady friend... She grinned, liking that idea. It would be just the best thing to piss Vail off... She had experience acting quite oblivious to intelligent things.. yes... Blu looked through the clothing, picking out a dark blue, long dress. With a back and sleeves...she doubted she would get in if the scars and such on her back were shown. Hmm.. The Rockets would like a beret...Yes. Blu tried on the outfit and it displeased her. She had always loathed dresses, but of all the alternatives she reasoned this would be the most likely to work. But she wasn't going to be able to do ANYTHING in this dress. She frowned and went to find one with a slit in it.

**

During the cover of night, Blu stashed her Team Flyer clothes and sunglasses at the PokéCenter. She took a breath and refrained from blowing her hair out of her face. The high heels clicked almost professionally as she walked to the door of Silph Co. The Rocket standing there, looked her over as she approached.

"Hello there Miss, are you lost?" Blu considered. She put on a snobbish almost southern accent "Well if I'm at the Silph Company I'm not," she said, pretending to be bashful by playing with the dark blue scarf tied around her neck. "I'm supposed to be.. meeting someone here."

"And who would that be?" Blu shifted her weight and blinked a couple times, as if trying to recall. The Rocket leaned leisurely on the door, with his elbow propped on the wall.

"Mr. Vail, perhaps you've heard of him? He always told me everyone knew of him." Blu steeled herself and managed to giggle.

"Well, sure," the Rocket said, "I'll have to pat you down for weapons."

"Oh," Blu said. She shrugged. All she was armed with were knives, and they were all flat handled for throwing so she doubted he'd find anything. He guided her inside and got to work. Neglecting to check her purse and hair...Blu tsked his thoroughness inwardly. Finally he smiled and gave her directions straight to Vail's private quarters. Blu arched an eyebrow (hidden by her hair). She didn't think her disguise was that convincing. At least, she hoped it wasn't.

"Well I hope I an make it alright, these directions look awful confusin'," she added. "Thank you much!" Blu stepped lightly towards the elevator, pretending to misstep and then laugh girlishly.

**

Vail sat at his desk, looking forebodingly at the phone. He was just waiting for Blu to call him again. Samuel was out to change the number. Vail knew he was supposed to be resting. But if anyone came in, there was a cot close enough. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in Sam. Did you get..." Vail's words dropped out of the air and hit the floor with thuds. The woman before him shut the door quietly and blinked expectantly. She grinned, shaking her head so her long blue hair waved over her shoulder.

"You.." Vail reached for the gun on the dresser. Quick as lightning, Blu kicked at in a roundhouse maneuver, knocking him to the floor. She kneeled down, staring fear into Vail's heart.

"You alright in there, sir?" came a worried voice from outside. Vail opened his mouth but Blu clapped a firm hand down. She raised her voice.

"My, Vail, that's no way to treat a lady, teehee," She said, her voice making her sound as if she were abashed and giggling, but her face was menacing.

"Oh ..." The rocket outside dismissed THAT.

"How did you get in," Vail growled. Well, not really. He was staring into the face of Death and he knew it.

"C'mon, we're going for a little walk," Blu said. She took a hold of Vail's arm and yanked him to his feet. She walked him to the window and opened it. Then, she grabbed a firm hand on Vail's wrist, and jumped out. Vail didn't have time to scream. Strong claws clamped onto his shoulders as Arty caught hold of the two and slowed the fall. Before Vail's minor shock in the ankles wore off, Blu was already dragging him away. Whenever a Rocket on the street looked their way, she managed to twirl him or shake her head in a way that they couldn't get a clear look at his face. And she was laughing the whole time, giving the pair the look of a drunken couple out for an evening walk. They rounded the bend. Blu took something from her purse and whacked Vail over the head. Vail's brain jarred and he blacked out.

**

Vail woke for what seemed to be the millionth time in a hospital. With Blu glaring disapprovingly at him. She was back in the clothing he had always seen her in. She looked nothing like the airhead creature she had yesterday.

"You hit me on the head, why am I in a hospital."

"Concussion." She continued to glare at him. He couldn't see her eyes, they were hidden behind her ark reflective sunglasses. The look on her face scared him, it was like starting into a pro-poker player's face. When they had a royal flush in their hand. She stared at him for a long time, and he could do nothing but stare back at his own reflection. He saw a Vail he didn't remember. One that was looking into the face of Death, and not being able to see her eyes. After what seemed hours she finally spoke.

"Vail. You shot me." He swallowed quite visibly. Now was when she dug his eyes out with spoons.

"Make it quick," he said shakily. He cursed himself. No one else dared make him look weak but Blu Flyer. And she was, so far, the only one beside Sakakai that could manage it. There was a presence about her that he only now noticed... Something otherworldly. Something of bigger problems, somewhere with larger concerns. And yet, here she was, staring down at him. He knew his end had come. He thought about that. Well, at least it was for a reason. He had betrayed Blu completely, in more ways than one. Even after she helped him, even when she had been there when he needed her. He had hoped she had died when he shot her. In the back. He had shot in the back, hiding his face. Shot her without any preemption, without even giving her fair chance... He had hoped she had DIED. So that he wouldn't have to be here now.

"You don't get off that easy," Blu said softly.

"Vail -- I don't know how to put this. Your life -- Your entire life -- Is...Is like a molecule of oxygen in the sky. I don't know if you can comprehend how insignificant you and your loyalty to Team Rocket is. Where I come from-- and don't ask where I'm from -- things are much larger. Now Vail... You..."

Blu stopped to cough delicately, seeming to try to hide her mirth, "...*shot* me. Do you know how dead you would be if you killed me? You be like... One hundred times dead. Do you know how dead you WERE? I mean..."

Blu laughed, and finally leaned back in her chair, abandoning the accusing glare, "Lance wanted to feed you to Fyrewayle. My older brother wanted to shoot you into space at Katin--into space and use you for target practice. Vail, you don't wanna know about the things *I* thought up."

"Will you get it over with?" Vail yelled. It was just like her to rant on before she killed him. Blu growled, and her hand darted out and grabbed his ponytail. She pulled back violently so Vail was looking up at her. She took off her sunglasses with the other hand. Her eyes were startlingly blue.

"Just shut UP Vail. I am trying to tell you that I'm not going to kill you! You are so DENSE!" Vail's jaw hung open. Then he closed it with a snap. As she got up to walk to the other side of the room, he waited for her to turn around and blast his skull open with an elephant gun. She reached the bureau acrossfrom the foot of his bed. Vail inched to sit up, leaning against the wall behind the bed. Blu opened a drawer of the dresser. Oh, now she would take out the weapon and kill him... Blu turned around, four knives in her hands. Vail gulped. He had sort of hoped it would have been a gun... Guns were merciless and quick to kill...And he knew Blu could aim a gun under pressure better than he could. And he suspected she didn't have any problem with shooting HIM...He frowned. He had had a problem with shooting her, that was why she was alive... Suddenly he felt self-righteous.

"Hey, you can't kill me -" he started. "Hold absolutely still and don't speak," she said. She stood at the foot of his bed, holding the glinting knives. He wondered where she would throw them, and suddenly he was afraid again. He'd never seen her aim with knives but suspected it was very near perfect...

"Let's do a little demonstration. Now. Each of these knives -- and there are more in the dresser -- represents every time I could have killed you. You represent you. I represent me." Blu shrugged out of her jacket, and dropped it on the dresser. For the first time Vail saw Blu's shoulders. Nothing spectacular, but he did notice a tattoo that went from her neck to her left shoulder. She cocked her wrist, and whipped a knife at Vail. He held still, and the knife *kathunked* two inches from his right ear. He nearly whimpered but managed not to.

Blu looked at him. "This is the bridge scene. I couldn't kill you. Even though I had intended to. This -" Blu whipped another knife. It thunked into the wall at about 10 o'clock, unnervingly close to his head. Vail blinked, trying to get the image of a knife flying toward his face out from behind his eyelids.

"Is when we were on the mission to find Aka. I could have killed you anytime then. This -" Blu whipped another knife. The blade glinted as it twirled in the air and drove itself into the wall directly above Vail's head. He looked up and saw the handle. He looked down just in time to see Blu toss the last knife from hand to hand. She reached behind her and took out two more.

*Gods how long will this go on?* Vail thought. "-Is when James messed with your brain and you were blind." She threw yet another knife, coming in at about 2 o'clock.

"That was the entiretime you were helpless." Blu shook her head. "Helpless, Vail. You were blind. James would have killed you. I stuck with you. This-"

The next knife came next to his left ear. "Is when Nora came to do you in. This, "The knife came in to the left of his neck. Beads of perspiration found their way down Vail's forehead.

"Is when Teal would have had at you." Blu, knifeless, put her hands on her hips. She shook her head.

"All these chances to kill you, and yet...Look! You're still alive. And then, I turn my back for one second..." Blu turned around and began to rummage in the dresser. Vail heard the clinking of more knives. He saw the scars where he had shot her. He knew she had turned her back to show him. She spoke over her shoulder.

"I turn my back for one second, and you shoot me. Everyone knows you did it. And these," Blu turned around quickly and flung four blades toward him. Vail squeezed his eyes shut and heard each knife pound into the wall. Yet none touched him.

"Are all my friends who would kill you. And then. There's me." Blu took a Browning from the drawer and aimed it calmly at Vail. She sighted his chest.

"I could have killed you so many times Vail. So many times. And I never did. Never. Now. I could kill you so easily now." Vail closed his eyes.

"Everyone deserves to live. Even the bad guys. But you, Vail I'm not sure where you stand any more." Vail bit his lip. Now she would kill him. There was a shot. A charging pain shot from his right hand up his arm. Vail gasped. There was another shot and the pain was equaled in his other hand. Blu began to take the knives from the wall, and dumped them all into a bag. In went the Browning. Vail's eyes looked not to the wounds, but to Blu. She looked at him.

"May you never shoot anyone else again. You have my pity. You do not have my forgiveness and you will not receive an apology. My interference in your life is dangerous, and you get now what you've wanted. I hope never to point another gun at you Vail. And if I do, please be warned that I will shoot. You've lost an ally today Vail, and another move like those days ago and you will lose a friend. Come at me seeking to kill me and you will lose your life." The locked door was pounded upon. Blu opened the hospital window and left without another word. Vail stared after her, the throbbing in his hands painful. The door finally swung open and the nurse and the doctor gasped as they saw Vail, hands bleeding all over the bed sheets. He paid no attention as they began to bandage his hands. He continued to stare after Blu. There was a brilliant blue flash outside. Vail blinked ,wondering if he had imagined it. So. He had finally rid himself of Blu Flyer. His hands had gone numb. She had returned his treachery in a way he wouldn’t have thought of. And left. Just…left. She had said he had lost the ‘alliance,’ but she had not said he had lost her friendship. Friendship, phah. He had friends in Rocket. He didn’t need her friendship. Did he? He wondered if he would ever see her again. He had the feeling he would. There was a click, startling the nurse, the doctor and Vail. The tape recorder in the corner began to play, to a preset time and song. "Goodbye Everybody – I’ve got to go… Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth…"

* * *

Vail set out at midday, armed with his gun and a pair of knives, his only provision in the small bag strapped about his back. He was supposed to have stayed in the hospital, owing to his head injuries but the Rocket knew that was just plain stupid. Vail risked a glance at his hand, the terrible scar had been hidden by a black leather glove. Vail had forsaken his Rocket uniform for the more conventional Flyer outfit, minus the jacket of course. He would not be needing the uniform for a time, and where he was going wearing one was just plain stupid. Vail know of only one person that he could to if he wished to berid himself of the nightmares. The only person that could possibly understand him, what Vail needed was a friend not an ally. Samuel was still an ally. Despite his personal feelings, Vail knew that Blu was his only true friend in the world. He had shot her in the back, and she was still willing to let him live. How tolerant was that? Vail sniffed the air and reached out his good hand. A droplet of rain hit it. Vail sighed in resignation, he would have to find shelter, quickly.

* * *

"Why are we heading to Cerulean again?" James moaned for what seemed to Trixxie to be umpteenth time. The female doggedly ignored the youth and steered Crash onward through the wood.

"I told you, it’s a shortcut. We’ll be back with Blu and Vail in no time." James nodded and desperately tried to keep hold of the Rapidash. His leg had gone completely numb from the continuous jolts, James was beginning to think that the Rapidash did that on purpose.

"Whoa!" James nearly leapt off of the fire horse, startling Crash and Trixxie alike.

"Watch it!" Trixxie yelled, then in a softer tone asked,

"Are you alright?" James did not respond for a moment, but rather to clung to Trixie shaking.

"That was… strong. I wish that I could talk to Arasan all the sudden, I miss her."

"Who’s Arasan?"

"Somebody that I met a long time ago." James neglected to mention the kiss, or anything else but the female. He could not help but wonder where in the world she was, he hadn’t seen her since the Saffron tournament.

"You know what else? I could almost swear that Vail is somewhere nearby." Trixxie only shrugged and continued to guide Crash through the woods, stranger things had happened.

* * *

The woods had taken on a damp, spongy aroma, the tree’s were wash from the incessantly falling rainwater. It was going on evening when Vail finally decided to stop. The going had become rough. The woods had gone particularly dense, and hills abounded. Digging a small hole from the loam carpeting the ground, Vail took a match and started a small fire. Sighing miserably, the Rocket took to roasting an apple on the pathetic fire that he made among the pine needles. Vail had not been there long when two tramps wandered close and wordlessly squatted by the fire. Vail found himself becoming uneasy, and attempted to strike up a conversation with the new arrivals.

"Where are you from friends?" The taller of the two spat into the flames, narrowly mission Vail’s apple.

"Nosey young un isn’t he Pat?" The other smiled maliciously, his eyes never leaving Vail.

"Aye Jack, and stupid. Saw his fire a good way’s off I did. But look at all this food, we’s got us a rich one here!" Vail had had enough. Rising, he pulled forth his gun and pointed it at the leader of the pair.

"Get lost." The pair did not even pay Vail the courtesy of looking up, infuriating the Rocket further.

"I said.. gah!" Something round and furry had taken Vail from behind, it began to claw mercilessly at his ears. While the Rocket was engaged, one of the tramps knocked the gun from Vail’s hand and laid the Rocket out easily with a blow from his staff.

"Good work Dolla! Now we eat." The Meowth sat appreciatively and began to lick it’s paws.

* * *

Vail came to his senses slowly. His hands had been hoisted high, tied to an overhanging tree bough. The tramps had set upon the food with a vengeance, sampling and spoiling everything in sight. Jack took a sip from Vail’s canteen, and spat it out distastefully.

"Yerg!? What is this, water!? No wine, beer? Ain’t very considerate of you twerp." Vail was enraged by all logical reasonings. Struggling wildly, the Rocket began to scream obscenities at the two bums.

"You fucking twits! Do you know who I am!? I’m Vail of Team Rocket! Son of Sakakai, 4^th brother of.." An core hit Vail squarely between the eyes, followed by a derisive snigger.

"Oh ho ho! I’m sorry yer highness! Shall I.. Yowch!" Pat grabbed his sore hand and sucked it.

"Who threw that rock!? Whoever threw that rock is gonna bloody die! I’ll ah!" Pat was halted in midsentence as a Raticate, a particularly ferocious one at that, suddenly assailed him.

"Urgh! Dolla help me! Ahh!" The Meowth was nowhere to be seen, the Pokemon had long since taken refuge in the woods. Jack was about to rise and help his compatriot when a Rapidash dashed into the cooking fire, scattering embers about wildly.

"What in the bloody hell is that!?" Jack screamed. Pulling out his knife, the tramp was about to assault the Pokemon and it’s two trainers when it occurred to him that he was alone. Pat had abandoned him.

"Gah! I’ll be back!" Snatching hold of Vail’s pack, the robber dashed into the night. Vail shuddered and tried to get a good look at the riders, the smoke from the rapidly dying fire partially obscured the two.

"Good work Raticate, return!" Vail groaned mightily and hung his head, he was probably better off with the robbers.

"Vail? What are you doing here? Where’s Blu?" There was no mistaking the voice, the cane or the jacket, If it wasn’t Blu, it was somebody else. It was always somebody else.

"What do you want!? Leave me alone damnit!" Vail cried, he did not want their help. Ignoring the Rocket, James calmly pulled out a pocket knife and cut Vail’s bonds. Rubbing his now tender wrists ill temperedly, Vail immediately set upon the unfortunate.

"Blu sent you didn’t she!? I don’t want you or anybody else looking after me damnit!" That was a lie of course, if Vail didn’t want anybody looking after him he wouldn’t be looking for Blu.

"I hate to contradict you Vail, but you weren’t exactly in the position to take care of yourself back there. I think you need all of us."

"I need nobody." Straightening his glove, Vail snorted in an ill mannered way and disappeared into the woods.

"I worry about him sometimes. He’s cute, but weird." James smiled and made to mount Crash once again. Trixxie’s comment was accurate after all.

"Heh, I’ve always worried about him. Where to next Trix?"

"Well, while you two boys were chatting, I called Lance. He’ll have somebody meet us in Vermillion."

"Great! There’s a dock not to far away, we can take a little cruise downriver then circle around to Vermillion. Come on."

* * *

Pat sat by the river, miserably bathing his wounds. No food, no money, not even a Pokemon. No nothing.

"You dumb shit, you abandoned me." Pat shrugged his compatriot’s accusations off and went back to relieving his pain

"Aww shaddup. There was nothing for it, I woulda come back for you mate." Pat waited for the inevitable tongue-lashing, but received none. A strange thing indeed.

"Jack? What is it man, are you..ack!" Vail calmly removed the knives from the two robber’s necks. He was not as good a shot as Blu, but he was good enough. Team Rocket had trained him well. Wiping his hands solemnly, Vail took his pack and continued on his way.

* * *

"Hey Trix come here." James allowed the woman to reach the deck of the boat then pointed.

"Three guesses as to who did that." Trix allowed her eyes to follow James’s then blanched. The two tramps were hanging at grotesque angles along the riverbank. Shaking his head, James tapped his cane twice and returned below deck.

* * *

Blu frowned. Trudging through the woods on foot was certainly not fun. She stopped short.

"Oh f— " Before the words left her mouth she turned about face and dashed back towards Saffron, the entire day's walk going to waste. She continued back, finally seeing the city again.

**

Vail brushed a stray hair from his face, still following a halfway path through the woods. Blu would be going back to the Indigo Plateau, to go and see Lance, he reasoned. He paused as he heard rapid tramping through the woods, coming from up ahead. He crouched low, not wanting to be seen, especially if it was Blu's friends. The running got nearer, a rapid two beat. He stood up to look... and ran straight into Blu. Rather, she ran straight into him.

"My God, what the --" Blu yelled, getting ready to punch whoever had gotten in her way. She was greeted with the startled face of-

"-Vail!" Vail looked almost frightened. She blinked. He wasn't in his Rocket uniform... Why? In fact, he was wearing the clothes he had borrowed from Lance. "

What are you wearing? I thought you were with Rocket." Blu's voice held contempt, not at Vail but at Team Rocket.

"I..." Blu didn't listen. Instead she studiously thought about how she was going to get her dragons back... Brooke, Ripley...Little Chancer... Why wasn't Vail in his Rocket uniform? She wondered if he had a gun. She shrugged. If he was gonna shoot her he would have by now. If he could aimwith that hand. She had hoped to mess with the muscles so they wouldn't work with a gun...At least for a while.

"Vail, damnit, why aren't you wearing your uniform? And aren't you supposed to be in the hospital?" Vail stammered quietly, he wasn’t sure as to how to respond. He hadn’t expected to meet Blu this soon, he had wanted more time to consider his response for when he actually ran into the woman.

"Here are your PokeBalls.." Vail allowed the three PokeBalls to fall to the ground.

"I didn’t hurt any of them." The Rocket threw in lamely. He was still not sure what to say to Blu. Vail hated being taken off guard.

"You still didn’t answer my question." Vail looked into those piercing blue eyes, Blu had removed her shades for some reason.

"I don’t need my uniform right now.. It’s uh, too tight." The Rocket couldn’t believe how stupid he sounded. He didn’t even know why he had gone looking for the woman, he was pretty sure that she would kill him if he took one wrong step.

"Sorry I shot you.." Vail mumbled. Blu jerked her head up, and Vail amended hastily,

"I didn’t think it was you!" That was lame and Vail knew it, Blu knew what he had said. A smile had fallen on her lips, serving to discomfort Vail further. The world seemed to waver for a moment.

"Don’t worry about it Vail. Now come on. Vail?" Everything was spinning wildly..

<He will never abandon Team Rocket again..> Vincent had said that, during the interrogation. With a croak and a moan, Vail fell to his knees and passed out.

* * *

"I think that he left the hospital a little early. Must be his concussion or something. I don’t know, he just kinda collapsed. Vail sat on the bed staring vacantly, nothing seemed to be actually happening in that deformed head of his. Stepping over, Lance took a moment to wave his hand before Vail’s eyes.

"He just kinda sits there and mutters things.."

"The Boss is mother, The Boss is Father.."

"..Like that." Lance shrugged and nodded sympathetically.

"Ya know.. I’ve heard of this kinda thing. Have you ever heard of SIP?" Blu shook her head, she hadn’t heard too much about any of Team Rocket’s perverse projects.

"No, I’ve never heard of it." Lance was glad, that kind of thing had always disturbed him.

"SIP stands for Artificial Intelligence Plant. Through a combination of drugs and psychotherapy, a new personality is created. Custom built, and fanatically loyal to Team Rocket. How much do ya wanna bet that Team Rocket put one in every agent, and activate it when their loyalty is in doubt?" Blu was stunned. She had had a feeling that Team Rocket would try something like that, it wasn’t enough that the agents of Team Rocket give their body but now they had to give their mind as well? It was disgusting.

"Where.. Where’s Vail real personality right now?"

"Team Rocket is your friend. Trust Team Rocket."

"I don’t know.. Supposedly the personality isn’t destroyed but just pushed to the side. I’ve heard stories though.." Blu walked over and tapped Vail’s head. There was no response.

"Hey, didn’t Trix call earlier?" Lance nodded and shrugged.

"Yeah, I sent somebody out to pick them up in Vermillion, what about it?"

"Hmm.. I think we need James."

* * *

Blu looked at Vail. This was bad. He was really starting to get to her. He had apologized...and then BAM.

"Vail... C'mon, snap out of it!"

"...."

"Vail! C'mon!"

"...." Blu frowned. "Blu." Blu's head jerked up and met Lance's eyes.

"Trixxy and James are on their way over. What's wrong?" Blu quirked her lips and looked at Vail. "Do you think it's my fault?"

"What? How would it be?" Lance sat down and looked at Vail as well.

"I don't know..." Blu blinked twice.

"He was different, Lance, the last time we talked. Before I brought him here. I think he was looking for me. He gave me my dragons back." Blu handed a misty blue Pokéball back toLance, Aire's Pokéball.

"And he said he was sorry. And then..." Blu shrugged. "I don't like this, Lance. If they can do THAT to someone, what else do you think they might do?"

"Team Rocket is Team Rocket, Blu. And I hope you don't go and try to convince Sakakai that he's wrong."

"Bastard," Blu said in response to the Rocket's name. Lance put a hand on her shoulder.

"Who's bringing James and Trix?"

"Umm... I don't remember. But they should be here soon." Something on Lance's belt began to beep insanely, and Lance frowned.

"Trainers coming, I gotta go. Can I borrow Brooke? I'm not sure what condition Aire is in, really."

"Yeah," Blu said handing him the dragon's PokéBall absent-mindedly. She continued to stare at Vail's eyes, now as blank as they had been after James had done that...thing. James, maybe James could help. Why didn't Lance try?

"Wait, Lance. Come here."

"I gotta go -"

"No really Lance, try your psychic-whatever on him." Lance sighed in an only-for-you manner and sat down at Vail's side.

"I don't know. I haven't done this in a long time, at least not on a human. Or a native."

"Just try Lance. What's the difference between a human and a Roo?" He looked at her with a grin. He laughed.

"You wouldn't know. But I will try." Lance looked at Vail, dull grey eyes meeting Vail’s green ones.

"What color are his eyes?" Lance asked.

"Green. Why?" "

It’s hard to get into someone’s head when you don’t know." Blu watched, only halfway interested. There was a knock on the door, and she got up quietly. She was delighted to find Trixxy and James, and gave them both big hugs.

"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnncee," came an irritating voice from the hall. "LAAAAAAAAAAAANCCE!!! THERE’S a trainer to see YOU!" Lorelei shoved pass the three at the door. Lance was already standing.

"I’m coming, woman," he growled. He waved to Blu and nodded to Trixxy and James. He paused by Blu.

"He’s still in there. Blu, he’s scared to death, I don’t think he knows what’s going on." Lance looked to James.

"I think James can handle it. I have to go."

* * *

"Hi Blu what’s up?" Stepping into the small room, James groaned and collapsed on the couch. Blu looked at least as weary, but she somehow managed to stay on her feet.

"Maybe you should go see for yourself James."

"Protect the Family.." Frowning, James stepped over to the small couch where Vail now lay. The Rocket had a vacant look on his face, every few minutes he spat out Rocketesque (Rocketesque! I coined that!) propaganda lines.

"What’s wrong with him?"

"He’s got something called an AP, search me." James took a moment to wave his hand in front of Vail’s face then stopped, no response what so ever from the Rocket. He was just kind of laying there in a daze.

"Oh man.. Could everybody leave for a moment, I need to concentrate." There was no argument, they figured that James knew what he was talking about. James didn’t have the faintest clue whatsoever of what he was doing..

"Okay Vail.. Lets have looksie." Taking a deep breath, James took off one of his gloves. He hadn’t worn gloves until recently, when he accidentally scanned a waiter during lunch while handing him his tip, and found out more then he wanted to know. The gloves seemed to help.

"Now.. I’ll just kinda jump into your head like so.." With a deft movement, James slapped his hand against the Rocket’s head. The youth was nearly blown out of his seat as an incredible sea of memories rushed from Vail’s head to his own. Yelling loudly, the youth wrenched his hand away from the Rocket’s.

"Damn Vail.. You’ve lived quite a life." That kid had problems alright, he didn’t think half of Vail’s murders were even under orders.

"Okay, lets try this again now.. Slowly"

* * *

Vail kicked at the prison before him, who the hell had stuck him in this place? He only recalled one thing.. Just before he talked to Blu, he blacked out he was here.

"The Boss is Mother, the Boss is Father." And those damn Team Rocketisms were slowly driving him mad! Vail was just about to try and wrench down the cell door when something came walking by casually.

"Hey you! Let me out or, or I’ll just sit here and keep yelling at you!" The man turned around, and Vail backward in shock. The man had the Team Rocket uniform, with a white beret, bright red hair and a long thick ponytail. It was him.

"Hey, who the hell are you!? And why the hell do you look like me?" The double’s face was completely expressionless.

"I am you Vail."

"Oh shut the hell up, you are not me, I’m me!"

"No you’re not. I’m you, and that’s how it will always be. Forever, and ever, and ever.." Standing up, Vail stuck his hands through the jail bars and grinned at his duplicate.

"Oh yeah. If you’re me where did you come from?" He at least deserved to know that.

"I have always been here. I was just primed for readiness during your unfortunate interrogation. Vincent was very thorough." Vail remembered that well enough.. Why couldn’t the god damn psychics stay out of his head?

"Because Vail. If we did, you would be SUCH a mess." Vail knew THAT voice, how the hell had that kid gotten into his brain?"

* * *

James had always figured Vail’s head for a prison, this simply proved his point. Then again, he had always figured it was a lot bloodier too. <Why can’t the god damn psychic stay out of my head?> The voice was only a thought, but rang through clear enough. James couldn’t resist throwing out an answer.

"Because Vail. If we did, you would be SUCH a mess." Stepping into the corridor, James tosses a salute.

"Begone intruder. This is none of your business." James blanched. Two Vails? The one in the jail cell was probably the that he knew, but since when did Vail not where a Rocket uniform on his own accord?

"Duh it’s my business. Despite that fact that I want to kill him, Vail is my friend." James nearly fell over for THAT slip. Vail was his friend? After all that he had done? Oh man, he was out of his head now.

"I am Vail. Now begone." The prison began to shake wildly, then a very, very large figure appeared behind Vail’s double.

"Vincent was prepared for such complications. You will now face the Enforcer?" The Enforcer? What the hell was this? James found out soon enough, a very large being with jail locks about his face stormed into the prison hall and smashed a hole in the wall. Vail seemed more then a little distraught at that occurrence.

"Hey watch it! That IS my brain you know!" James rolled his eyes. For the first time he was actually grateful to Sabrina for dragging him into her head and making him one through her little funhouse.

"Oh PLEASE! Is that the best that you can do?" Taking a deep breath, James began to concentrate. A moment later, a thunderous cry was heard throughout the prison.

"I AM THE JEFF! DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." James smiled, for once his worst nightmares were coming true. The Jeff had arrived!

"Hey um, Jeff. See that enforcer guy over there, he wants Arasan all for himself." The Jeff nearly blew a blood vessel. But then again, he was good at that.

"HE WANTS ARASAN!? THAT FILTHY CRETIN WILL DIE!!!!!" It was Psychotic Jeff alright, he had known him well. From out of nowhere came the medieval battleaxe. Stepping back, James watched as the 13 year old demon with the axe charged headlong in the enforcer.

"Oh Jamesy Wamesy, how about some cakes?" James turned just in time to see Arasan, clad in that same insipid gown with the look on her face.

"What the hell are you doing here? I didn’t call you up!" She didn’t disappear. A moment later, a little blue Oddish with a sailor’s cap appeared in James’s arms.

"Mr. Oddish!? I haven’t seen you since I was kid!" This wasn’t good, he hoped that the Jeff didn’t see him. Vail’s duplicate was in a frenzy, hopping up and down as the Jeff and the Enforcer continued to do battle.

"I AM THE JEFF! DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"ROARARAGHA!"

"The Boss is Mother, the Boss is Father! Halt this fool Enforcer." Stepping around the Arasan and Mr. Oddish, James pulled open the jail cell and allowed Vail to exit.

"Sorry to let loose my worst fears in your head like that." Vail didn’t seemed that concerned.

"Mr. Oddish?" James grinned foolishly and led Vail out of the prison block, allowing the alternate personality, the Jeff and the Enforcer to do battle while Arasan served cake’s and Mr. Oddish entertained. How entertaining…

"I AM THE JEFF! I WILL NOT SWITCH RELIGIONS! YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG ABOUT MEWTWO! DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

* * *

Vail was sleeping peacefully, which was fine with James. He wasn’t particularly interested in going back into Vail’s head anytime soon. Releasing the Jeff had brought back more then a few unpleasant memories… Stepping into the hallway, James beckoned for Lance and Blu to come back in.

"He’s sleeping peacefully. Assuming Jeff doesn’t destroy his head, Vail should be fine." Blu cocked her head and gazed at James inquisitively.

"Jeff?" James only shrugged. He didn’t need to talk about that did he?

"I think that I’ll go to bed now." Shrugging grandly, James made to go to the bathroom. He never caught the looks exchanged between Blu and Lance. But he didn’t need to..

* * *

WHOOSH! James awoke. A loud whoosh had just sounded throughout the room. Rising ill-temperedly, James stepped into the small room where Vail sleeping and blinked. A large blue portal had appeared in the middle of the room, with Blu and Lance staring at it together. A moment later, the pair walked through the swirling gateway and the thing snapped shut. James wasn’t quite sure he had seen what he thought he had seen. Had Blu and Lance just walked into a big blue portal in the wall? Shaking his head, James resolved to ask about that in the morning. He had seen stranger things as of late.

And the adventure continues..

Blu, Vail, James, Jeff and the rest will return.