This is the one hundred thirty-seventh chapter of Pokemon Heroes. Gary's quest for power continues! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the songs.

(Opening song)

"Since he left without us finishing it, I guess that counts as my win then."

"But you were trapped under a bunch of rubble...and then you fainted. It sounds to me like you lost."

"It doesn't matter, Brendan! Once you leave the match without the other going unconscious, then it counts as a forfeit!"

"But you did go unconscious..."

It was only a couple hours after Gary's attack. Due to it, they decided to rest in the Pokemon Center for one more day before leaving the city.

Ash, in frustration, started ruffling his hair violently with his hands.

"Damn it! This time I could swear I almost had him! You should've forced him to stay more, May!"

"You would've still lost anyway," said May as she took a drink from her glass of water. Ash glared at her.

Dawn watched her friends talk nonstop about how much of a failure Ash was, but then she noticed that Misty wasn't joining in the conversation.

Misty was by the windows looking out. Ever since they got back, she hadn't even spoken to them once. She just stayed where she was.

It confused Dawn, though. Wasn't she supposed to be happy that Gary came back alive after fighting against a Dark Signer? Dawn had never understood Gary, so him just coming out of the blue fighting Ash was just normal to her, and she could tell it was normal to the others as well, but not to Misty. Misty seemed like she knew what was going on.

Dawn could only wonder what Gary's true intentions were.

It's My Turn

Why?

That was the one word that kept on repeating itself over and over again in Misty's mind.

Why would Gary do such a thing?

Yes, she was quite glad that he came back alive rather than dead, but this could be the last thing she thought he'd do. She saw it herself. She knew how he went on missions and how serious he was to complete them. Even if he wanted May, they could've just brought her to her uncle, but instead, Gary was trying to kill her. She thought he was being rash, but then she saw those dull, expressionless yet focused look on his face, she knew that he wasn't just going to take her back alive.

He just had to make sure her body returned.

What surprised her most though were the reactions of the others. The situation involved the killing of May, so she expected Ash to be chasing Gary around, yelling out questions while destroying buildings and other property.

Instead, right now from the little reflection in the glass, see-through mirror she was looking toward, they were laughing and making jokes.

It seemed like nothing had happened at all.

Even after all of that, they all believe that it was just a simple fight between Ash and Gary. Even May, the one who was being chased down and would've been killed if it hadn't been for Misty's intervention and Ash's determination to fight Gary, was convinced that it was the boys' fight, and that Misty wanted to get her away from there.

If Gary wanted May, then he hadn't "completed" his mission yet. That means he was going to come back, but when? Should she wait for him here again, or should she tag along with the others and wait for the boy to strike? Or maybe she could-

"Hey, Misty, you okay?"

She turned back to see that Dawn was calling for her, motioning her to come closer to the group. Misty didn't want to, and the worry in her mind couldn't be held back from her body movements, so she didn't want to worry them.

"Fine then, you win this time, Brendan," said Ash as he leaned back while crossing his arms. "It was my loss, but that doesn't mean I've given up yet. I'll beat him the next time I see him."

"The next time?" asked Brendan.

"Yeah the next time!" yelled Ash. "And I'll do it in front of your face, you pretzel stick!"

"Good luck," said May as encouragement while she placed the empty cup on the table.

Misty finally got close enough, making them turn their attention to her.

"Aren't you gonna find Gary?" asked Brendan. "You've been waiting for him."

"Now that I think about it," said Ash under his breath, "Gary beat a Dark Signer!"

"Um..." said Misty as she proceeded to scratch her chin." He went back to the island, probably. I'm sure he's there, so I don't have to worry that much about him right now."

"When you do get back there, tell Gary he's a dick," said Ash as he leaned back into the couch and crossed his arms. Misty stared at him, and then she suddenly bowed.

"I'm so sorry about what happened today," she said. "I should've kept a closer eye on him. I promise I will from now on."

Ash didn't respond. Pure shock was in the atmosphere around him as his mouth hanged open. He slowly turned to Brendan and whispered.

"She's apologizing. Do I take advantage of this?"

"Of course! This is the only chance you've got!"

Dawn smacked Brendan on the back of his head and turned back to Misty.

"There's nothing to apologize for," said Dawn as she smiled. "Ash and Gary always get into fights, right? I admit though that Gary was the one who attacked first, but c'mon. You've got to admit that Ash continued the fight even after Gary KO'd Brendan and him, so Ash should be apologizing."

"Hey! Why do I have to?! That doesn't make sense!"

Misty got back her posture as she watched them argue about who was wrong in the situation. Once again, that happy atmosphere was surrounding them.

Did they even know how much of a problem this was? If Gary wants to do something to May this time, then they were all in big trouble.

"Ash-"

"Anyway, the person who really should be apologizing is Gary! Why aren't we bringing Gary into this? Why are all the arrows pointed toward me?!"

"Because you're a troublemaker," said May plainly as she slowly started to lean back with Ash.

Misty tried again.

"Ash-"

"Me? The troublemaker? You've got to be kidding. I'm the freaking trouble-stopper!"

The happy atmosphere was now starting to disturb Misty.

"I was born to stop a troublemaker like Gary, not me!" he yelled. "How can all fingers be pointed at me even when he came into this city to fight me and then just leave?! That's-"

"Gary tried to kill May."

Those words just left Misty's mouth as if she had no control of them. Her mouth moved on its own, bringing the whole area of the lounge in a deep silence. Ash was the first to turn to Misty.

"What?"

Misty, at first, didn't want to say anything about it hoping that they wouldn't think too much into it, but protecting May was more important than keeping the secret. She breathed in and spoke.

"Today, when Gary attacked, he tried to kill May."

"But...but why?" asked Brendan. "That doesn't make any sense. Why does Gary want to do a thing like that?"

"I don't know much of the details yet," said Misty. "But I've been on many different assignments with Gary and I've seen the way he acts upon them. He was acting in the exact same way he acts on those assignments, and this time it was obvious he was going after May. Did you not pick up any of the signs when he tried putting an arrow through her head twice, and then he ignored all of you just to get to May?"

Misty saw the feeling of realization coming from Brendan and Dawn's expressions. She couldn't tell what May was thinking, and Ash was just staring at her like a statue.

"Wait...if he wanted to shoot May with an arrow...does that mean he wanted to kill her?" asked Dawn.

Misty cringed at the question.

"I don't know the full details yet, but he wouldn't just do something like this out of nowhere. I'll have to find out more first before heading to conclusions too quickly."

"Why?" asked May, finally speaking up. Misty didn't respond for a moment, thinking about her answer, but even she didn't know why.

"My guess is that it involved my uncle," said Misty. "I highly doubt Gary was mind-controlled or possessed by a Dark Signer. This probably was a mission ordered by my uncle. It scares me to think my uncle wants to kill you, so I'm thinking he just wanted Gary to capture you and return you to the island to meet with him. I think Gary was too rash and almost killed you. But if this is a mission from my uncle, then I would just do it myself and bring you back with me, but there are questions I need to solve first, so it would be best to keep you as far from that island as possible."

May nodded, and then prepared to say something.

"Bullshit," said Ash suddenly as he leaned forward and placed his chin on his hand.

"What?" asked Misty.

"I said that's bullshit," said Ash. "No matter what happens, Gary's Gary. I hate to admit it, but the guy's smart. He has morals. He knows a good idea and a bad idea. He should already know that killing May, a Princess, would be a bad idea, since it could involve him being listed as a wanted criminal who needs to be found and thrown into prison for the rest of his life."

"I agree with you," said Misty. "But Gary from two months ago isn't the same Gary now. He's changing, and I've been seeing it with my own eyes."

"There's nothing different-"

Ash then remembered his eyes when they were fighting in that alley. It was the eyes of someone with hatred. It was the eyes of a monster, and the eyes of a different person.

"T-There's nothing different about him," Ash continued. "He'd still understand. Just think about it! What would Gary want from May that would make her "worthy" to kill?"

In fact, May did have a special quality that would lead many people to chase after her. She was a Pokemon and a human, being born from Ho-Oh and made into a human rather than a Pokemon. It did this to continue having its power in something else if something bad ever happened to it. It gave May to the royal Maple Family to take care of her. Ash knew this, but he wanted to know what Gary would want from it.

"Ash, this is serious," said Misty. "If we don't do something quick, then Gary might-"

"No matter what you say I won't believe it," said Ash as he slowly shook his head. "If that's what Gary really wanted to do, then the only solution is that it was not Gary. Maybe it was somebody else disguised as him. Gary wouldn't do such a thing. You of all people should have much more faith in him."

Misty could only stare at Ash without another word. That last sentence really hit her, making a bunch of things wander her mind until she finally could focus. She smiled.

"You're right, Ash," said Misty. "Thanks."

"I'm always right," said Ash, and then they heard his stomach growl. A pause followed.

"Um...you did say you were going to take us to a restaurant today, right?"

Misty turned the other way and started walking.

"I'm too exhausted."

"What?!" yelled Ash as he quickly stood and reached out for her. "But I'm hung-I mean, you promised!"

"Just wait for the Pokemon Center to give out food."

"Yeah, but that's in an hour!"

Misty only waved her arm.

"What did I to deserve this?!" she heard Ash yell before she got into the hallways that would lead her to her room. The whole way there, she was faintly smiling.

She was glad that the person who despised Gary the most still had faith in him, even if he changed into a whole different person.

The black portal opened up, and Gary jumped out and landed on the shores of an island.

This was the mysterious island that sat in the middle of the large lake near Ecruteak City. This island was mysterious for a reason, for no one, other than the people who were allowed to, can enter the island due to a thick mist that surrounded it. Any uninvited visitors who came into the mist found themselves back out for no reason.

The island was just like a normal, medium-sized, abandoned island. It had palm trees and normal trees growing that held coconuts. The sandy shore was where people who came to the island would first enter, no matter in what direction they came to the island from. A path in the middle of the trees led to a cabin, where Sephiroth lived. This was where Gary needed to go.

It took him at least five minutes walking on this path, but he finally saw the log cabin in a clearing. He walked up to it and moved the door handle. It was locked, meaning that no one was inside. He sighed and pulled out his spare key.

"Hello there."

Gary recognized the soothing, calm voice coming from behind him. He turned and saw the man he was looking for, carrying a stick with at least ten fishes dangling by strings attached to it.

This was Sephiroth, a tall man that wore a long blue robe, with the sleeves too long that it covered both of his arms. He had long, flowing, silvery hair. His face was calm and soothing as well, matching up with his voice.

"I caught a whole bunch of fish today," Sephiroth said. "When Misty comes back, I'll ask her to cook them for us."

"I don't care," said Gary as he unlocked the door to the cabin. "Just give me whatever you want me to do so I can continue on my main mission. I don't want to waste too much time."

"You just came back and you're already eager for another mission?" asked Sephiroth. "That is so you. Very well then. Let's get inside so I can put these down, and then I'll fill you in on the details of your next assignment."

May exited the bathroom.

It was around ten, and the others were in their room prepared to sleep. As she walked in the hallway the room door was in, she saw Misty walking in the adjacent hallway. May watched her go, and then followed her.

She followed Misty until they got back to the lounge. At this hour, there were barely any people here. The only people who were here were those who slept on the furniture, either waiting for their Pokemon to get healed, or if they just came and were too lazy to find a room to sleep in.

Misty was by the windows once again, looking out into the city. The city's technological advances meant that all building lights were still on, making the city completely lit even at night.

From the reflection in the glass, Misty saw May behind her. She started to chuckle silently.

"Sorry, I just couldn't fall asleep," said Misty as she lowered her head. May didn't say anything to her. Finally, Misty started to speak again.

"I feel so ashamed," said Misty. "I'm saying all of these things about Gary, yet Ash, the guy who hates Gary more than anyone, still believes that nothing wrong happened to him. I find that embarrassing."

"It's not embarrassing," said May.

Misty nodded slowly, and then she turned back to May.

"I'm sorry about what happened today," she said. "Whether or not Gary was trying to hurt you, I must've scared you at the thought of someone trying to kill you."

"Oh, no, I believe you," said May. "I'm not that clueless. I knew he was coming after me, but I didn't say or do anything because I was confused. I didn't expect Gary of all people to be hostile toward me. It's just confusing."

"It is," said Misty as she turned back, and then her shoulders sagged. "You see, I would've gone back to my uncle's island a long time ago after I met Gary, but the reason I'm all holed up here is because I'm scared. I'm scared that once I go back, my uncle is going to tell me something horrible. I wouldn't be able to calmly face it. I just..."

Her voice just drifted off. From the window, Misty could see May giving off a warm smile.

"It's going to be alright," said May. "So far, you're the person closest to Gary, so I believe you'll be able to get him out of whatever he's doing right now. There's no need to worry about. Everything will be fine."

Hearing May tell her that she could help Gary made Misty smile. She turned back to May.

"Thanks."

May nodded. Misty continued.

"I'll try my best to help Gary out. I'll also try making sure that Ash doesn't get involved in it too much. I won't let him hurt you guys. I'll protect you."

"Thank you very much," said May.

The portal opened up on the shore, and Misty jumped out, now on the shore of the island. It was very early in the morning.

She looked around cautiously for any danger. There was none. She then looked out to the path that led to Sephiroth's cabin. Slowly and carefully, she walked on the path.

There was nothing strange on the island as Misty observed, but she was still careful. What usually took her five minutes took her ten minutes to get to the cabin. When she saw it in the distance, she noticed the door closing, signifying that someone just went in.

She slowly walked to the cabin's front door and pulled out her key, unlocking the door. Before she opened it, she took a deep breath, and then opened it. She heard Sephiroth talking to somebody. Once again, nothing out of the ordinary. She walked over to the room Sephiroth was always in with the low table, but before she entered, Gary walked out.

She froze. Gary glanced at her, glared, and then kept walking away. Misty's heart was beating, and she slowly looked inside the room to see her uncle drinking tea. He noticed her.

"Finally you're back," said Sephiroth. "I started to think that you were trapped in that maze for life."

Misty walked into the room quietly and placed the bag that held what Sephiroth wanted on the table. Sephiroth smiled and then looked at her.

"Since you came so late, I had assignments piling up for you. Take a rest, and when you wake, I've got another mission for you to do, alright?"

He continued to sip tea, but Misty stood where she was, keeping her eyes on her uncle. After a while, Sephiroth noticed her just standing there, and placed his teacup down.

"Yes?"

Misty felt an emotion she hadn't really truly felt for her uncle in a long time.

She actually felt anger seething into her mind, and she held back from just flipping over that table and instantly raging at him. Her clenched fists quivered, and she spoke.

"What's wrong with Gary?"

"What about Gary?" asked Sephiroth. "He's alright."

"I was in Red City on my mission when I met Ash, May, Brendan, and Dawn," said Misty. "I was hanging out with them, and then Gary suddenly attacked, trying to kill May. Why?"

She noticed Sephiroth's right eye twitch.

"How unfortunate."

"Did you know he fought a Dark Signer?"

"Yes."

"Did Marluxia do something to him?"

"No. Gary killed Marluxia, and then I brought him back here and fixed him up. There was nothing wrong with him."

Finally getting one option out of the way, she now was left with the most terrifying one.

"Did you give Gary a mission to attack May?"

Sephiroth slowly turned his head away, looking out the window near him.

"Get some rest. I'll be sending you on another mission later on today."

"I asked you a question."

"And I don't feel like answering it. It's none of your concern."

"None of my concern?!" asked Misty, raising her voice just a little bit as her anger started to seep out. "How can it not be my business!? I asked if you sent Gary on that damn mission."

Sephiroth sighed.

"Misty, you won't be able to understand a lot of things because of your inability to, so explaining this to you will just leave you with more questions. And I don't feel like answering questions."

"So you did?!"

"I didn't say yes or no."

Now she couldn't hold it back.

"Don't play around with me! I know it was you who did it! You sent him on a mission to kill someone, right?! I've noticed you have been pushing Gary farther and farther into a monster, and I don't approve of it, but whenever I try to stop you, you tell me to mind my own business AND send me on crappy missions just to get me out of the way! I almost experienced a friend of mine get killed by another friend who I know very well! WHATEVER YOU'RE TRYING TO DO TO HIM, STOP IT, OR ELSE I'LL-"

"Or else what?!" asked Sephiroth as he suddenly moved his head toward Misty, sending a glare so angry that it stopped Misty, and almost sent her falling to the ground. This was the first time ever he'd shown her this emotion. Her expression was covered with fear, and her body trembled. Sephiroth continued.

"I told you you wouldn't be able to understand anything, little girl! This is something that involves Gary and me, not you! This is something that will be able to fulfill my wish, while also fulfilling Gary's wish at the same time! I've worked too long and hard for this, and I won't let anyone get in the way! I'll wipe them off the face of this planet, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE! Do you understand me?!"

Misty fell back on the ground, moving back as he screamed every word. When he finished, she could only nod very slowly.

"Now go and get some rest for your next mission, now!"

Misty didn't move.

"I SAID NOW!"

Misty jumped up and ran out of the door.

Misty ran out of the cabin as fast as she could, running into the forest. She ran deeper in it until she tripped and fell on the ground. She slowly got herself up.

Her heart was beating at an abnormal rate. Sweat was pouring down her face. Every inch of her body was trembling.

That anger Sephiroth expressed to her didn't feel normal. She felt as if the man would actually kill her if she stayed there for another minute.

Suddenly, she threw up.

She kept throwing up for two minutes, until everything was gone. When she was done, she wiped the drool off her mouth as she hyperventilated. She put her hand on her head to calm down.

"So far, you're the person closest to Gary, so I believe you'll be able to get him out of whatever he's doing right now."

May's words crossed her mind, and suddenly, she started to calm down. Her breathing eased, and her heart stopped pounding against her chest. She stayed on the ground for a whole until she suddenly saw a thunderbolt coming from the sky and striking down somewhere on the island, around the shore.

She looked up, and then sighed.

"That's Gary..."

She stayed down for a few more minutes, but then she rose up with the support of the trees.

"I'm sorry, uncle, but now, I'm going to start doing things my way."

She started to limp toward the shore.

"I'm going to save Gary, no matter what."

"She left?" asked Ash as he waited near the entrance of the Pokemon Center with all of his stuff prepared and Pikachu on his shoulder.

"I guess so," said May. "I saw her last night. She did tell me before I went back to sleep that she may be going back to the island the next day, but she went very early."

"We don't have to be worried," said Dawn. "She'll be fine."

"I'm not worried," said Ash as they all exited the Pokemon Center. "I'm glad actually. I won't be bothered too much now."

"Shut up."

"Where we headed to now, Brendan?" asked Ash.

"We have to exit this city from the south gate and keep going until we reach Vaniville Town," answered Brendan as he looked at the map, which was a whole map of the Ransei Region with tons of marks on it to guide them on where to go next given to Ash by his father, who disappeared from the world six years ago. Brendan continued.

"We'd have to go through mountains and a forest, so we'd be able to get there within a week and a half."

"Alright then," said Ash. "Let's get going then. I don't want to waste a lot of time anymore."

They nodded, and then headed for the south gate.

A portal opened up in a plain. Out stepped someone who wore a black coat and gloves. Silver chains shook as that person walked, and the portal closed up from behind. The hood was over the head, and one would notice the hourglass figure.

This person was one of The Dark Signers.

"How annoying."

From the voice and appearance, one could tell that this one was female. She prepared to remove the hood.

"Since that asshole died, I started to think that it was all over, but who says I can't take care of all this alone?"

She finally removed the hood, revealing her bright, blonde, slicked back hair that was about jaw length with two long strands styled into distinctive antennae-like strands. Her slim eyes were gray. She smirked.

"I guess it's time for me to take action."

This was Larxene, The Savage Nymph, and she was ready to make her move.

(Ending song)

Next Time on Pokemon Heroes: While on the dangerous mountains. Ash and his friends encounter a group of performers training for their next show. Amazing at their performance, they reveal to have Mega Evolved Pokemon, and with all that showing off, it intrigues Ash and Brendan to show that they're better Pokemon trainers than them. What will be revealed about Mega Evolved Pokemon now, and how will Ash and Brendan do against these powerful trainers? Next Time: Sky High.

That was that chapter. If you've noticed, next chapter I made it so that it could feel more like Pokemon just to at least show that Pokemon are still a main factor in Pokemon Heroes rather than supernatural powers and punching people in the face.

Now for my excuse for a late chapter:

It was pretty much my fault, for I just overworked myself to the point that I just couldn't do Pokemon Heroes. The weekend I was supposed to be doing this, I had three essays for three different classes and a project that were ALL DUE MONDAY! To put more into it, I had tons of studying to do to boost up my already decreasing grades, and I also had to do three chapters of Pokemon Heroes while also putting the finishing touches on my profile. I didn't worry about it at first thinking that I could do them all easily, but I just couldn't. I had to push all the stuff I wanted to do with my friends away and work, and I pushed it all on Saturday and fell asleep around two in the morning. I then woke up on Sunday at three in the afternoon. This was later than when I normally write my chapters, so I started to worry. (I plan to one day write out the whole process of how it takes me to write my chapters on my profile very soon). I also still needed to study and fix up anything on my homework, and this took me to around seven. I then fell asleep by accident and woke up around nine, and I started to panic. The only thing I completed on Sunday was the Opening and Ending chapter, and I couldn't even write the first sentence of the first chapter. I can't write them on the weekdays, because I have to focus on school on the weekdays. So whenever I had little time, I wrote some of the chapter and then continued to do what I wanted to do. I finished the first chapter on Thursday, and I almost said fuck it and just send you the two completed chapters, but my ignorance prevented me from doing that, and I continued to write this chapter and finished it on Saturday. On Sunday, I fixed up my profile, and now here it all is. I promise I'll try to never make this happen ever again, but it was my fault for thinking I could push myself too hard, so I'm sorry. But hey, the upside is that you get the next two chapters by Wednesday or Thursday, so yay! I will try my best to do them, since I'm not that busy this week. See you next time!

Read and Review please :-)