Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon, I won't own Pokémon. But I do own this story line and everything that isn't from the series.
" " - talking; Italics – thinking; ' ' - speaking telepathically
Xxxxxx - break in day or event; Xxxxxxxxxxxx - change of days
Chase/Nogitsune – 20 yrs ; Leta – 20 yrs ; Kenny – 21 yrs
Mask – 18 yrs (if you haven't noticed by now...)
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Late one night, a Pokémon Center Joy watched as two hooded cloaked figures walked into the center. One of the cloaked figures walked up to the counter as the other hung back a bit from the counter. The figure that had approached the counter removed his hooded to reveal a very tired face that looked like it hadn't seen sleep in quite a few days.
"Welcome to Hearthome City. Is there anything I can help you with?" Joy asked the stranger.
The figure stared at her for a moment before replying. "Do you have any rooms still available?"
These cloaks look familiar, but why? "I have only one left. It only has a twin bed though. Is that alright?" Joy asked, trying to figure out why the cloaks looked familiar.
"We'll take it," the figure said, taking the key from Joy. Room 406. He tossed the key to his partner. Talking to his partner, he said, "I'll be back soon. Just going to go take a walk before I return tonight." And with that, he walked out of the center.
"Fine. Don't stay out too late," the hooded figure said to his back. She just watched as he looked over his shoulder at his partner and just nod. After he left the center, the second figure made it's way to the elevator and went up to the room they had gotten for the night. Unlocking the door, Has that voice been keeping him from sleeping lately as well as driving him crazy during the day as well? He needs sleep before we locate our next target.
Out in the streets, the stranger walked along the sidewalk. Like many nights prior, a pokémon appeared from its pokéball on its master's belt. 'Ahh, another late night stroll right?' the pokemon asked.
"Right you are Shadow," the stranger said. "I still can't sleep, so I need to do something to occupy my time with, right?"
'Yeah, I guess so Chase. But you really should try to get some sleep. You look like death walking,' Shadow said. Shadow had been watching his master grow from being an energetic cocky
master, to an advertisement for death. His skin was starting to turn pale, and the circles under his eyes were very noticeable. Then an idea struck Shadow. 'Why don't we have Sunny hypnotize you to you sleep?! Would that work?'
"Possibly. But what about that fox-thing in my head? It'll appear in a dream, and then the sleep won't be peaceful at all," Chase said, liking the idea of getting even a moment of sleep.
'I wonder if Sunny can block him out of your dream,' Shadow thought aloud.
"We'll never know until we try, right," Chase said more than asked. And then he turned on his heel to return to the center.
Xxxxxx
In a room a floor below that of Chase and his partner's, room 306 to be exact, Leta and Kenny were both planning for the next day. Leta just seemed to agree to everything that Kenny was saying while her mind drifted to another place and time. For the past day, she kept trying to figure out if the person she saw back at Lake Verity was the same Chase that she knew years ago. It couldn't be. He hated them. But he had the pendant that I gave Chase. She was so deep in thought, that she didn't notice Kenny stop talking and just stare at her. Kenny cleared his throat rather loudly, and that snapped Leta back to her senses.
"What are you thinking about?" Kenny asked.
"Remember that kid I told you about?" Leta asked Kenny. He nodded. "His name was Chase. He was also kind of my boyfriend. I met him when my brother went to Kanto last year. I started my journey in Kanto, thinking it would be best to start with someone I could trust. But shortly after starting in Kanto, we ran into Chase. And over our travels through Kanto, I grew to like him."
"So, why is that distracting you now?" Kenny asked, concerned.
Leta drew in a breath. "Because, his parents were killed by Neo Team Rocket. He vowed to get revenge. But about ten years ago, he was kidnapped from me, never to be seen. Until recently. That boy, Rocket, he called himself, I believe is Chase. He has Eevee forms, and names that are exactly like Chase's. And he has the pendant that I gave Chase as a Christmas present back then. And that masked figure even called him Chase. And I've spent since he was kidnapped searching for him. I just can't accept that that is my Chase."
"I see," Kenny said, leaning back into his seat. He closed his eyes, as if he were trying to think hard. "Well, when we catch and arrest him, he will be thrown in jail. Whether or not he remembers you. Being a NTR member has pretty much condemned him already."
Leta stood up from her chair. "I need to make a phone call."
Xxxxxx
When Chase entered the room, he looked over to the bed and saw that Mask had already claimed the bed. What a surprise, he thought with a sigh. He sat down on the couch and released his Espeon. "Think you could do me a favor?" he asked the Espeon while petting it on the head.
"On?" the Espeon cocked it's head to the side in confusion.
"Think you could put me to sleep?" Chase asked. The Espeon looked at it's master in the eyes before nodding it's head yes. "Thanks, Sunny. I really need the sleep."
Chase lay down on the couch as Sunny's eyes began glowing putting Chase into a deep sleep.
Xxxxxx
Please pick up… Leta thought as she heard the phone ring what seemed like forever. Just as she was about to hang up, she heard the other side pick up.
"…Hello," a sleepy voice said from the other side.
"I think I've finally found him!" Leta said into the phone. She heard silence for a few seconds.
"…Found who?" the voice asked.
"Chase!" Leta yelled into the phone, realizing that she might have just woken up Misty back at her gym.
Now totally awake, Misty was all ears on the phone. "You found him? So that means I get to see my little bro again soon, right?!"
This time, Leta was hesitant to say something. "I'm not sure Misty."
"What do you mean, 'not sure'?" Misty asked.
"You've heard of NTR, right?" Leta asked, hearing a small 'uh huh' from the other side. "Well, I think he's now part of them." She heard a thud through the phone. "Misty, you okay?" She listened closely as she heard another voice in the background enter.
"Hey, who's this?" a boy's voice came on.
"It's me, Leta," she responded.
"Ok, well Misty just passed out on the floor. What did you tell her?" he asked.
"Gary, all that I told her was that I found Chase, but I think he's part of NTR," Leta said again, not quite really believing what she was saying.
"Hold onto that thought while I go put Mist back into her bed, be right back," Gary said as he laid the phone down on the counter to go carry Misty back to her room. He returned a few minutes later. "Part of NTR, how's that?"
Leta cleared her throat as she started, "Well, there was a newspaper article not too long ago that had a NTR member who had an Eevee, and also a pendant that looked oddly enough like mine. And then when I caught up to him, I tripped him as he was leaving the island in the middle of the Lake Verity. As he fell, that pendant that looked like the one I gave to Chase fell off and it was the same one! And as he fell, the person he was with even called him 'Chase'."
"So if this is the same Chase, then how do you plan on rescuing him?" Gary asked.
"I can't. If he's part of NTR, then he has to be arrested and tried for his crimes," Leta said.
"Your speaking as though you're a …" Gary started to say before being cut off.
"A Pokémon Ranger?" Leta finished for him.
"Yeah. You really went all out to find him," Gary said, as he whistled in his amazement to her commitment. I often wondered when she was going to give up. I guess never. Until death. A chill ran down his spine at the thought. And Mist won't marry me until Chase is found. "What is there next target you think?"
"We believe he's heading to Lake Valor, which is north east of Pastoria City. He's going to capture the next Being called Azelf. What are you planning?" Leta asked.
"How long to you get to Pastoria?" Gary asked flatly.
"We'll be there in a day. What are you planning?" Leta asked again.
"I'll meet you there then," Gary said as he hung up the phone.
"Uh, bye then," Leta said, hanging the phone up. Guess any help is good help.
Xxxxxx
I need to call Ash and get him to help as well. Mr. Pokémon Master should want to stop to stop Giovanni again, Gary thought as he dialed the number for Ash's house. After a few rings, the phone picked up. "Yo Ash! I got a proposition for ya."
"Yeah, what is it Gary?" Ash asked, interested.
"How would you like to defeat Giovanni, again?" Gary asked.
"When you say 'again', you mean he's back?" Ash asked.
"Yes," Gary said flatly. Gary could hear Ash slam his fists into the wall.
"I thought I took care of him. Fine. Let's do this, again," Ash said.
Xxxxxx
Mask woke up hearing Chase gasping on the couch. Looking to the clock to see that it was shortly after 3 in the morning. Mask walked over to him to go and wake him, but was about to tap him on his shoulder when he jolted straight up.
He had a bewildered look on his face, and was completely covered in sweat. He turned his head around wildly trying to get a focus on anything. He was mumbling something, but too low for anyone to hear clearly.
"You okay, Chase?" Mask asked, concerned about his actions.
Chase stood up, and his mumbling became clearer. He took a step towards the center of the room while still looking wildly about the room. "Where are you, you, you…" Chase collapsed on the ground.
"Um, Chase, can you hear me?" Mask asked. He turned his head to stare back with unfocused glazed over eyes. "Who are you trying to talk to?"
Chase turned his head again to find something. "Nogitsune, where are you? Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
Then a voice Mask never heard before spoke from Chase's body. "Because what you are doing is wrong. Can't you and Mask see that? Can't you see that your 'Master' is evil?"
"What are you talking about? Master just wants to protect the pokémon. And by catching them, we can provide the most protection that is needed. Can't you see that, Nogitsune?" Chase countered.
"What I see is that you've lost your mind," Nogitsune said.
While Chase was having his conflict, Mask was dialing a number hoping that they were awake. As soon as the phone picked up, Mask blurted, "CHASE IS HAVING A BREAKDOWN!"
"What did you say?" a woman's voice asked.
"He's having a breakdown. He's talking to something called Nogitsu…" Mask started, but got cut off.
"He needs attention quickly. Take him to the roof of the building. We're sending a chopper out to pick him up" the woman said as she hung up the phone.
"Yes mother," Mask said, as she put the phone back on the receiver.
Xxxxxx
As the helicopter took off from the top of the building, the two figures on the roof watched as it left their view. Mask looked at the partner she had been given as Chase's temporary replacement. He's way too young to be on a mission like this. And it just won't be the same I think. "We leave before dawn. So get your sleep now Brain." Before closing the door to the roof, Mask looked back to where the helicopter had disappeared to. I hope he'll be alright. Then Mask went back to the room to get the last hours they had before the dawn would come, with Brian following closely behind.
Xxxxxx
After the doctors had gotten a chance to look over Chase, they gave their report to Father and Mother, who looked over it like worried parents. Well, they had good reason to. After all, Chase was their only son. Before the doctors were able to look him over, he had taken a few of them out before being sedated.
"Did you recognize that dark voice he used earlier before he was sedated?" Father asked.
"I did. I think the brainwashing ten years ago is wearing off now. Either that or that exorcist didn't do the job completely. He might have just sealed that Nogitsune within Chase until it could get pass the seal," Mother said with a sigh.
"What do we tell Master now?" Father asked looking over the report.
"Well, he's the one. We can't let Master know that Nogitsune is still around. So the best way would be to say that the brainwashing isn't permanent and that it wore off over time. And with it having worn off, all the suppressed memories are all bubbling to the surface and that caused a mental overload," Mother said calmly.
"And the Rangers? What do we tell them?" Father whispered.
"That the turn that they have been waiting for is about to happen. That their strongest enemy is about to become their strongest ally," Mother said. Then both Mother and Father left the medical room to give their report to Master.
When Mother and Father turned down a hall, a pair of shadows from down the hall emerged from the darkness. One shadow pulled out a radio and spoke into it. When the radio spoke back to him, he nodded his head and silently followed Mother and Father, while the second shadow entered the medical room.
As he pulled a machine over to Chase's bed, the shadow smirked to himself. Turning the machine on, he said, "This is for your own good kid. This'll take care of that 'Nogitsune' and you'll be back to your regular old Rocket self again!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sorry for the long wait ya'll! I ran into an old friend of mine, the brick wall!
Thanks Cem-Chan for your idea! Even though I didn't use it. But after a while, your idea gave me my idea, so here you go. Thanks for helping!
I think this may be my first chapter with no fighting in it. WOW!
Next chapter will have plenty of battling! Boy, the matches I have planned! Hehehe! Stay tuned for the next chapter!
