Author's Note: Hey there! I'm Illusions Of Insanity and this is my new series, SoulSilverBlast Off!

I'll be setting down a few basic facts for you before the story starts: Kotone is fifteen in this, while her friends Ethan and Silver are both sixteen years of age. This does not take place after the infamous 'Celebi Event'; that hasn't happened yet in this story. Therefore, Silver is just a guy who hates Team Rocket for no clear reason to Ethan and Kotone. Ethan's name was chosen due to the fact that I didn't know his Japanese name at the time of writing and besides, he plays the role of the best friend in this; it makes more sense to me to give him the English name he receives as your childhood friend. Also note, I replaced Silver's Crobat with a Honchkrow and his Alakazam with a Growlithe. At the time, I didn't care for Crobats and it seems impossible to fly on due to the fact that their wings take up most of their height. His Alakazam was replaced due to personal preference. Also notice that a horizontal line either signifies a time-skip or a switch in viewpointthis series will alternate between Silver and Kotone's viewpoints to allow you to fully grasp the story. There will be bonus/extra chapters that will either feature a different character's view or contain a dream sequence. I've already written up to Chapter 11, so following or bookmarking the story is encouraged. The Chapters will be posted as soon as possible; I'm a fast writer so that helps quite a bit in story writing~!

Now that that's out of the way, please read and enjoy the Prologue of SoulSilver—Blast Off! Reviews and critiques are more than welcomed!


I couldn't believe my eyes; standing in front of me was the familiar once-pigtailed annoyance, her hair now falling in short, curled waves upon her shoulders, her once vibrant hazel eyes now a menacing and piercing crimson with all traces of her sweet smile gone, as if they never existed. Behind her stood my father, just as tall and maniacal as the day he left me for the stupid band of fools he had just recently lost due to the meddling of a group of teenagers—children who destroyed his life's work in a matter of months. His hands were grasping her shoulders firmly, holding her hostage while he wore a gleaming grin of untold malice.

"So my son...how do you like your little friend's new look? She's simply breath-taking, isn't she?" His voice came out as a booming echo, the sheer voice of which brought a migraine headache immediately.

I gasped for my breath for a couple of heartbeats—having lost it to the throbbing in my skull—before I spat back, "What did you do to her?! Leave her alone you-!"

"What's the matter, Silvy~? I thought you'd like my new outfit. You always said I dressed so...so childishly that I thought you would enjoy this little makeover!" Her once silky, song-like cheer had been replaced with a harsh, cold venom, spitting out nails of hatred with every syllable.

It was then I looked down at her attire, my eyes wide with shock. Her cutesy overalls had been replaced with a jet-black jacket and mini-skirt, blacker than the darkest, coldest corners of space. Her exposed skin was pale and void of any warmth, resembling that of a corpse than of a bubbly, joyful girl. While trying to make sense of the change, I became aware of a slow trickle down her chest, droplets of liquid slowly progressing towards the edges of her jacket.

Upon her chest was the insignia of everything I despised, everything I fought against—everything we fought against, as an unofficial team. In bold print was a crimson 'R', Team Rocket's symbol...

And it was painted upon her chest with fresh blood. Innocent blood, streaking its way down her clothes and landing with audible splutters on the floor.

I could only stand there in that stark white room and gawk as my stomach churned at this revolting sight. It was the Radio Tower all over again, only this time...it was real.

And she was proud of her cowardice; of her betrayal of me, her team and everything she worked for.

"Tut-tut, Silver! You know, it's very rude to stare at a lady—especially with your mouth open." She lifted her head and flashed me a murderous smile that made me feel as if I was about to vomit.

I clenched my fists as I choked back a scream. "You're not Kotone... She would never join Team Rocket, she's better than that; braver than that." My attempts of staying calm were shattered by her laughter, similar to that of the murderess in a horror movie instead of the innocent giggle she always had.

"Oh, Silver! You always were so stubborn!" She pulled a plastic card out of her back pocket and waved it in front of my face and continued mockingly, "Would you like to see my Trainer Card, Silvy~? Maybe that will assure you that this is all real!"

I growled as I slapped her hand away, letting the card fall to the floor face up while her stupid superior smirk fell along with it. I glanced down at the card and stared blankly at the photo—or should I say lack of one. Where her smiling face used to be, a empty space resided. The only thing in the picture was a splatter of blood—and I was unable to tell if it was in the photo or a smudge from her clothes. Letting my gaze drift to the edge of the card, I could see that she had left bloodied fingerprints upon the now bio-hazard of an identification card.

I gulped down the rising feelings of nausea and glared at Kotone—or what pretended to be her—as she let out a roar of laughter. My 'father' stood there behind her, no longer restricting her movements but seeming to be encouraging her on with a grin. Kotone walked up towards me slowly, her footsteps echoing with every movement, stopping when she was inches from my rigid self.

"Now Silver, as much as I would love to stay and chat with you~," The last eight of her words were accompanied by her fingertips walking up my chest while the last word was emphasized by a playful poke of my nose, creating an uncomfortable itching sensation which I desperately tried to rid myself of by shaking my head violently. I had the most uneasy feeling that she had left her bloody fingerprints on me as well, as if both of her hands were coated with the same blood that still dribbled down her jacket. "I think we should just cut to the chase~." She gently held my cheek as she went on, her contact making my skin feel like it was on fire-and not in the good way.

I winced as I felt the sweat trickle down the sides of my face and tried to sound unamused by her what I assumed to be strange attempts of seduction. "I have nothing to talk about with you. You're nothing but a Rocket coward, hiding behind that mask of Kotone!"

She simply shrugged and smirked, unfazed by my accusations. "Your father and I are going to lead the new Team Rocket...however I have a little proposition for you." She lowered her eyes before she tightened her grip on my face, her nails digging into my skin. I let out a small hiss of pain. "I want you to lead by my side, Silvy~. I can't imagine anyone else leading the way with me..."

I just stared blankly as I let her words sink into my skull. She wanted me to be a partner in this...this madness! "There's no way I'll ever join you and your cowards!"

"Oh, Silver...don't you see? I'm giving you a chance to be great, to be the strongest there is! You're the strongest man in Johto and I'm the Champion! It only makes sense that you be by my side, Silver. You'll be the King of Team Rocket...and I'll be the Queen~!" She smiled at me, released my left cheek from her painful grasp, stood up straight and crossed her arms, letting her left hand hold out flat in the air beside her—letting me see that her hands were indeed bloody but not enough to drip down her wrists. "Or I could be the King and you'll be the Queen since I am the Champion and stronger than you, either way works~!"

I felt my cheeks grow hot at her offer. King...? Queen?! The thought of having Kotone by my side...wasn't necessarily a bad one. In fact, I liked the thought way more than I should. But this wasn't Kotone. At least, not the Kotone I wanted by my side. My voice was barely a whisper when I let out a small no from my constricting throat.

Her smile twitched as she let her arms fall to her sides. "I'm sorry Silver, what was that?" Her eyes were questioning, but I felt as if she was trying to figure out the best way to destroy me.

I swallowed hard as I attempted to gather my voice. "No. My answer is no, Kotone!" I felt like I was ripping my heart in half before shredding it into tiny flakes...but I had no choice. "I'll never join Team Rocket, even if that places me against you, Kotone!" Even if that places me against you... Me against you... The walls echoed my words, effectively slapping me in the face with my own hands.

Giovanni shifted ever so slightly in discomfort; Kotone's lips pursed together as she scowled slight confusion, her hands slowly constricting into fists before she released them quickly. "Are you certain, Silvy~? Those who are against us will be shown no mercy, even if that someone is you."

I let out a snarl as I stormed over to her, stopping when our noses when smashed together. The close proximity made me antsy but I managed to gather up the venom for my retort. "Are you deaf?! I'll never join Team Rocket! You're not Kotone and I'll never stand by your side, I'll always be against you and your filthy, rotten cowards!

Her eyes grew wide for a moment as her face scrunched up in preparation for a yell when suddenly...she let her rage drop off her face and was instead replaced with a small smirk and self-satisfied eyes. "Very well Silver, we'll play this game the hard way~." She turned on her heel and started to walk away, stopping when she had passed the now shivering Giovanni. She slowly lifted up her right hand and snapped her fingers.

"Kill him."

Suddenly, the room was flooded with snarling Houndooms and screeching Muks, all of them inching towards me menacingly. My head swam as I tried to grasp what was happening. She had just ordered these Pokémon to kill me! She obviously wasn't stretching the facts when she said 'no mercy'. More like no soul if you ask me.

I looked up at her in a fury only to find her leaning against the wall, staring intently as the angry beasts grew closer. Giovanni lifted his head towards me in somber dismissal as he walked towards her side—it was now obvious who was in control here.

"Coward! You're nothing but a cold-hearted coward! A filthy dirty, rotten coward! I felt a hot tear race down my cheek as I watched her stare at me, emotionless and unmoving. I could feel a suction on my left leg and glanced down to see to my absolute horror that the largest Muk was trying to envelop me with its sludge-coated body. I thrashed violently in an effort to free my leg but my actions only made the sinking faster.

Kotone slowly rose from the wall and walked leisurely towards me, the advancing Pokémon giving her a wide path through them. She stopped about two feet away from me as she slowly held her chin with her right hand, her right elbow with her left hand. "Hmm, I could make this quick... I do have other things to do today." She paused as she squinted at me with a playful smirk on her face. "Or I could drag this on and make you suffer as much as possible...I would get to see you longer that way~." She then started to tilt her head from side to side as she said each word, like a metronome of death. "Decisions, decisions, decisions~! Oh well! Houndoom!"

A howl rose behind me as white-hot flames hit my calves, making me screech with pain. I fell to my knees in silent agony as the Muk reached my thighs, the burning still fresh even under all of the pressure. The tears descended faster as I struggled to keep myself from screaming any further; if I was going out, I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of hearing me scream for mercy like a weakling.

She watched the Muk grow closer for a while before she sat on her knees in front of me. She let out a chuckle under her breath as she slowly put her arms over my shoulders and leaned closer, stopping when her mouth was right at my right ear and her cold cheek pressed against my own.

"You know what, Silvy~?" She started to whisper, slow and steady as I cringed-I didn't want her this close to me, not one bit. "I think I'll keep your jacket as a little souvenir... I've always loved this jacket." Letting out a small laugh she gently unzipped my jacket, slowly removed it from my shoulders and flung it over her own shoulder. I growled as I glared at her. She just grinned as she grabbed my chin as I felt my blood boiling either from anger or from the Houndoom's Flamethrower. "How about a little parting gift Silver? Just to make things easier for you~." Then, much to my frustration and hatred, she softly placed her lips on mine. I felt my face grow hot as I searched for her lip. I was not going to let this rotten woman kiss me, no way, no how! I found it after a quick search and bit down as hard as I could, making her pull away with a squeak of pain. I let a satisfied grin come across my face as her own blood started to trickle down her chin and I swallowed the metallic liquid.

"Fine then! Suit yourself, Silver..." She turned around and started to walk away slowly. By now, the Muk had reached my waist and I felt the agonizing pressure multiply ten-fold. "Oh," She turned her head to look at me with a sick smile, the blood now slowly dripping from her chin. "Say hello to Ethan for me, will you~?" My eyes widened in terror as I felt something hit my left arm and slowly looked out of the corner of my eye only to find Ethan's hat floating on top of the Muk's purple slime. Instinctively, I grabbed for his hat only to find that Ethan wasn't below it. Kotone let out a laugh as the Muk now swallowed both of my arms, leaving only my shoulders, neck and head above the foul-smelling sludge. "Oh, we disposed of him hours ago! I'll pick up his hat later but first, I have to find a nice spot for your jacket so I can always remember the boy who chose his stupid, worthless ideals over the chance to rule the world by my side!" She then pranced away towards a door that had suddenly appeared in front of her, barely letting Giovanni leave before the door slammed behind her and disappeared forever.

The Muk was up to my chin now, its slime tasting far worse than the hair-burning stench. I coughed and sputtered as I struggled for breath, watching as the other Pokémon sat, staring at me with sick fascination. This is it... I'm done. I'll suffocate to death in the endless sludge of this monster! Well, I let a weak smile come across my face as the tears sped up to a speed I didn't even know was possible. At least my team will be safe in their Pokéballs... I just hope they don't take them and enslave them...they're...too good for that.

I gave up struggling as the slime reached my mouth, then my nose and grew closer towards my eyes. The world around me went from white to lavender, purple to violet before finally becoming an all-consuming black, just like the vast emptiness of space. The last thing I remember was all of the pain in my body vanishing—even the constriction in my lungs—like a candle flame on a birthday cake.

Gone without a trace...just like me.


I leaped up, sputtering and gasping for my breath and drenched with sweat. My surrounding were so unidentifiable that I started thrashing, expecting myself to be in the stomach of that Muk as I suffocated to death. I then found myself getting tangled up in something. I started rolling around and snarling as my limbs found themselves immobilized, which eventually lead to me crashing to the floor like a Kakuna falls from a tree branch. Wait... the floor?! I opened my eyes and started panting for air as the surroundings became quite a bit more familiar—although admitting upside down.

"Silver? Are you alright?!" I looked up to find my Weavile staring anxiously down at my obviously constricted body.

I felt my cheeks grow warm with embarrassment as I bit my lip. Finally, after Weavile had already started to slash through what was apparently the blankets from the small bed I had been sleeping in, I replied with a simple "Humph!".

Feraligatr suddenly wobbled over to my side and nuzzled my hand, making me jump in shock. "You know, Silver... You were screaming in your sleep."

"I was not!" I glared at the duo in frustration. Screaming in your sleep is what weaklings do, which I'm not!

Weavile and Feraligatr exchanged a knowing glance before Weavile coughed out with a raise of his eyebrows, "Yeah, you were screaming her name again! So, was it a good dream~?"

I felt my face feel like it was burning as I caught the implied reason behind my so called 'sleep-screaming'. "N-no! Sh-shut up! Both of you go...somewhere else!" I quickly stood up among the shreds of blanket and stormed over to the only source of light in my location, a small window. It was then that I recalled that I had spent the night at the Blackthorn Pokémon Center after a long day of training in the Dragon's Den...and that the shredded blanket didn't belong to me. Bah! Blankets are cheap and besides, it's not my problem. As I stared out the window at the starless skies above, I still couldn't shake the awful feeling that the nightmare had been more than just a nightmare, that the nightmare meant something.

My stomach churned again and I instinctively grabbed onto it, fearing I may lose the only thing in it—a small fish I had caught with my hands yesterday morning. It was a hard battle, seeing as how the stupid old man in charge of the Dragon's Den snapped my fishing rod in two, claiming fishing was off limits. That and the fact that the fish was split seven ways between my team and I because they wouldn't stop whining for it as I gutted the thing. I just had a bad piece of fish, nothing more. Shake it off and stop worrying! Worry is for weaklings, Silver. But, despite how many times I tried agree with that voice, an even smaller voice deep inside of me kept insisting that it meant something.

Stupid weakness. Stupid Kotone! It's all her fault I felt like this, her fault I even was able to be guilt-tripped into sharing the fish, her fault my Pokémon act as if we're all equals and her fault that I even had any weakness. Her weakness is apparently highly contagious and she should be quarantined immediately—the world is full of weaklings as it is.

I slowly realized that I was being constricted by one of Feraligatr's 'hugs'—which was more like a Bind of Death. "Silver, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, you twit! Let me go! You squeeze tighter than Kotone, darn it!" I felt the color drain from my face as he tightened his grip around me. Besides, I don't want to be interrogated by a Pokémon, darn it!

Weavile puffed out his chest proudly as wagged a claw at my face. "Silver, we know something's wrong, we're Pokémon remember? Kotone told you before that we can smell emotions!"

I struggled against Feraligatr's grip for awhile before I finally freed myself from his grasp. I stormed over to the small sink and got myself a glass of water—which I drank over-enthusiastically just to show them I was really annoyed with this conversation.

"I'm fine. You two get back in your Pokéballs right now; we have another day of training ahead of us and I plan to start before the sunrise today. Now both of you stop this nonsense and go back to sleep!"

"You know, if it's about Kotone you should just call her! Girls like it when you call them, you know." Weavile pointed towards the small coffee table where I had layed down my Pokégear for the night after checking the weather for today.

I snorted as I got another glass of water, ignoring Weavile's stupid comments.

Feraligatr sighed as he added, "Besides, we haven't seen or heard from Kotone for almost a week...it's unlike her."

"..." I swished the small amount of remaining water around slowly, mulling over Feraligatr's observation. It can't have been a week. That's impossible; she's always around me, it can't have been a week already! "We just saw her on Wednesday. She brought me a lunch and she made you all those stupid 'Toppins' or whatever and insisted I eat one too!" Although it tasted very nice... no it was gross! Yeah, it was disgusting and you should never accept any pastry she makes again! She trying to tempt you into weakness with berries and desserts! Well, I'm not falling for it! I shook my head as I internally yelled at myself for accepting the dessert in the first place.

Weavile raised a long claw in the air and narrowed his eyes. "Silver that was last Wednesday and they're called 'Poffins'. We last saw Kotone last Friday and she promised she would call you that Saturday...but she never did!"

"You have to be wrong, she's been around since then..." I focused hard, trying to remember exactly when I saw her last. My heart skipped a beat as I realized that Weavile was right; last Friday was the last day I saw her...and today was Saturday. It had been eight whole Kotone-free days...no wonder I had finished so much this week.

What happened to her?! This isn't right! She always calls or stops by or something! No, it doesn't matter. She's just a pest and nothing more than a weakling. I kept telling myself that but somehow...It felt hollow and meaningless, just some dumb repetition of empty lies. And I hated that those words no longer felt right. What if Team Rocket really did capture her...? I found myself walking right past the duo—who were now fighting over what I should do next—and straight to my jacket that was flung over the couch. What if they're torturing her, trying to get her to snap?! I brushed off the fabric and reached for my belt full of my team's Pokéballs that sat on the couch. What if they've brainwashed her and she's already joined them?! I quickly shoved my jacket on and haphazardly put on my belt.

"Silver? What are you doing?" Feraligatr suddenly snapped me out of my trance, looking at me with his head cocked to the side in confusion.

I sighed. I can't believe I'm doing this. I picked up my Pokégear and shoved it into my pocket before I turned towards the duo and scowled. "Are you two going to stand their bickering or help me pack up? We're heading out. Now."

Weavile pouted at me and whined childishly in protest. "But it's only two in the morning!"

"Well, if we leave now we can...we can," I hesitated, unsure if I really wanted to leave. Back out now, Silver. Just drop the subject and tell them to go back to sleep. Then you'll go train when the sun is actually close to rising. Who cares if you haven't seen her in over a week?! She's not your darn problem, is she?! I swallowed hard, I didn't agree with that at all. "If we leave now we can make it to New Bark Town before noon!" I spat out my answer leaving Feraligatr and Weavile gawking at me.

Finally, after a few moments Weavile spoke up with a gleam in his eyes. "Aha! I knew you liked her, Silver!"

"Shut up, stupid! I just want to challenge her before she runs off to Kanto or some crap like that! Now, get in your Pokéballs!" I held out their Pokéballs, recalling them with the press of a button. Feraligatr went in with a smirk while Weavile dodged it easily as he went on, laughing.

"Maybe you aren't so hopeless after all! You know, I'm certain Kotone would love a rub behind the ears, chicks love being rubbed behind the ears!"

I felt my face burn as I tried desperately to shut him up by putting him back in his Pokéball. "Sh-shut your stupid mouth, idiot! It's not like that! I hate her guts! Besides, that's what Pokémon like, you twit!" I thankfully managed to cut him off right when he started in on 'mating advice', but my face was already probably the same shade as my hair by now.

"Now, we're heading to New Bark Town and you're all going to shut up and sit tight until we get there!" I slammed the door shut behind me as I headed out into the surprisingly bitter, summer evening air. The sooner we make it to New Bark Town...the sooner I can challenge the nitwit to a battle and the sooner I can leave!

...I just hope she's still there...Man, I'm so stupid!