"Ash, hurry up! It's going to take us another day to get to Saffron if you keep walking that slow!" Angie was waving her arms frantically down the road.
Huff. Huff. Huff. Ash stomped his way through the dirt path. His body was tired and completely drained. "Sleeeep…" he groaned.
"I told you to get some sleep." Maylene quickly said as she continued to jog circles around him. Her constant orbit didn't help Ash at all, who had found her rotating emotions to be hypnotic. "Do you want me to get lucario to carry you again?"
Ash wanted to say 'Yes.' He wanted to give in and let the blue jackal be his portable bed. But his pride wouldn't let him. "No!" Straightening out his back, he began his jog. Maylene jogged beside him.
"Finally." Angie loosened her muscles and jogged alongside the two. "Hey Maylene."
"Yeah?"
"You never answered my question last night."
"Which one?"
"Why did you knock out my shinx?"
"Oh that. I thought it was the Rocket's backup. I had no idea you had a shinx."
"I had no idea you had a Bibarel." Ash joined in the conversation.
"Well I did say I went off on my own journey, you'd think that's something you'd ask first."
"Sorry, I was a little preoccupied being blind for the first time in my life."
"You've been blind for a long time now. You could've asked me anytime."
"Hey, you never asked me what pokémon I had."
Maylene added, "And no one asked me what pokémon Ihad."
Angie went first, "I have Shinx, Bibarel, and Kricketot."
"I have Lucario, Meditite, Machoke, and Tyrogue." the fighter stated.
"Whoah! You have a Tyrogue, Maylene?" Ash's face sparked with excitement.
She smiled with pride. "Sure do! The little guy loves to train!"
"Why don't you let him out to jog with us?" Angie was excited to see the pokémon herself.
"OK." Maylene smiled and pulled out a poké ball. "Go Tyrogue!"
Red light flashed and burst onto the ground in front of them. "TYROGUE!" the pink, humanoid pokémon shouted out.
The trio stopped and welcomed the new face.
"Say 'hi' to my friends, Tyrogue!" Maylene pointed to each of her companions. "This one's Angie."
"Nice to meet you!" She held out her hand for a high-five. Which only prompted the powerful baby pokémon to sniff her wrist in curiosity. A sweat-drop appeared on Angie's head as she laughed at his confusion.
"Sorry, he hasn't met much people." Maylene apologized with a chuckle. "And Tyrogue, this one's Ash. He likes to fight, just like us!"
"Hey there little guy!" Ash held out his hand. Hm? Uh oh…
The tyrogue, after hearing his master's mention of this man's interest in fighting – had mistaken Ash's attempted handshake as a battle stance. It got into a stance of its own, ready to show its strength.
"No wait! I don't want to fight! Aaaaaahhh!"
"Tyrogue! Tyrogue! Tyrogue!"
Ash had dodged the first strikes and started running from him. It chased after Ash, seeking to finish the battle.
Maylene scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. "Yeah… he also tends to pick fights with anything that looks like a challenge."
Angie sighed. "Well at least they're running the right direction."
The two continued their methodical jog side-by-side.
…
"So Angie. I heard you used to work in a Day Care Center with your parents."
"Yep, did so for most of my life."
"What made you want to go out travelling?"
She considered it for a second and answered simply, "Ash, actually."
Maylene gave her a smirk. "Chasing boys, huh?"
Angie's face blushed. "No, not like that. I just spent a summer with him at a camp."
"Go on~…"
"Not like that!" Her faced turned a deeper shade of pink. "He just told me all of his stories and adventures in his journey to be a Pokémon Master. And man… they sounded awesome. I wanted to go out and have my own. …of course, the parents weren't too keen on that idea."
"Why not? It's perfectly normal for a kid to go out adventuring when they come of age. As long as you've got your pokémon and they've got you, there's nothing to worry about."
"Nah. My parents were always worry warts. That, and they wanted me to take over the Day Care business. So I had to keep working there to learn all its ins-and-outs."
The gym leader snickered at the sight of Ash being chased around a tree by Tyrogue. She turned her attention back to Angie and paced herself to her speed. "How did you ever convince them?"
"…I… told them that I'd run the day care with Ash."
Maylene stopped in her tracks. "WHAT?"
Angie's face was red. She hid it by turning away and continued her jogging. A nervous laugh came from her lips.
Maylene ran to catch up. "Wait wait, you told them you'd run it with Ash? Like a business partner or something?"
"Oh no no. That business is a family business only. No outside financers or workers as long as my dad still breathes."
"Then that means…"
"Yeah, it kinda' does." the tomboy said quickly as she quickened herself, trying to rid of that strange feeling in her stomach.
"So you are out chasing boys!"
"No, I'm not! That was just my excuse for my parents to let me go."
"And yet you were training in the same region as him. Mhmm, just an excuse."
"Hey, he's the foreigner. Technically he was training in my region."
"So… you weren't planning on travelling with Ash?"
"N-Not really…"
"Or training to be strong enough to beat him in a match? To win over his heart?"
"Wh-What? N-No!"
"Or maybe you were always going to come in and save the day when he really needed it! Making you his big hero~!"
"Y-You watch too many movies…" Angie's face was red hot. "I was just going to train and see if I could get to the League. Have my own adventures, my own experiences. That's it. That's all."
Maylene crossed her arms and ran backwards in front of the blushing tomboy. "So you weren't hoping what-so-ever that you would run into him again?"
She avoided eye contact. "Maybe a little…"
The tomboy found it very uncomfortable to talk about her feelings for Ash with people other than Anabel or Ash himself… it was a private matter that no one else really had the business of knowing. Especially not a young woman as forward as Maylene, who would've only put obvious thoughts into her mind.
"A little?" The fighter blinked. "Ha! That's adorable!"
Angie ran passed her.
In truth, she wanted to hit her across the face for ever calling her actions "adorable". Ash and Angie do not make a "adorable" couple. …if anything, we make a… an awesome couple… or something. Her stomach started feeling sickeningly floaty.
"Honestly," Maylene caught up with her again. "I had no idea you had a thing for Ash before all this. I honestly thought you two were brother and sister."
"Yeah, we get that a lot." She sighed, that wasn't such an obvious truth. "A lot of people at the Summer Academy thought we were related somehow. I guess it's because of how comfortable we were around each other."
Maylene thought to herself for a second. "I'm not sure if this would be rude to ask, but… how does it feel now that he's blind?"
"Huh?"
"Does he feel any different?"
"Not really. He's still Ash. Only thing different is that Empathy thing he's got." She rolled her eyes at her next statement. "Apparently it makes him a babe magnet or something."
Maylene laughed. "Yeah. I've got a thing for him too."
"I knew it!"
"Was I hiding it?" the Gym Leader giggled childishly.
"No. But I totally made a bet with Misty that you had a thing for him! She said that you didn't. So she owes me lunch!"
"Well, we better save her then if you ever want to get that lunch."
"Eh. She can wait in there for a little while longer."
"Wh-What? Haha–" Maylene stopped herself from laughing by covering her mouth. She punched Angie on the shoulder.
"Ow! What was that for?" The tomboy blinked, suddenly realizing she just repeated a phrase she had known Ash for always saying…
"That's so mean to joke about!"
"Hey, you laughed. Besides, I was just being honest." Angie said seriously.
"You two hate each other?"
"Nah. Misty's cool. It's just her history with Ash."
"She Ash's girl?"
"Might as well be. Between her and May, I really have no idea who's a bigger threat."
"Don't think you can compare?"
"No way. I'm way better for Ash than any of you, no offense. I just think that Misty and May's time with Ash makes him a bit biased towards the two."
"Wow, with all these girls hanging on him, you'd think he'd be a heart-breaker."
"Who, Ash?" Angie laughed. "No way! Ash isn't interested in a relationship. Or at least, he's not sure quite yet. Or ready yet."
"How can you tell?"
"He tells me these kind of things."
Maylene was suddenly interested in the deeper relationship between Ash and Angie. "And?"
"And what?"
"How do you feel that he feels that way? And that there's all these girls wanting a piece of the Ash pie?"
The tomboy shrugged. "How am I supposed to feel? I want to be with him, so I'll wait until he's ready. And the other girls are just problematic for him."
"You think I'm problematic?"
"Not you yourself. But I don't think you and him match too well."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well other than fighting and what Misty has told you – what else do you like about Ash?"
Maylene looked out into the distance. Ash was finally fighting back against her tyrogue, though his fatigued body put him at a serious disadvantage. And though he was knocked down several times, he stood up for another try. And all while still having a smile on his face.
"He's a beautiful man…" Her eyes sparkled as she watched him.
Angie nearly tripped. Beautiful and Man aren't exactly two words you use to describe Ash. she thought to herself.
"Seriously?" she asked bluntly.
Maylene snapped out of her trance and blinked oddly at Angie. "What? You don't think he's handsome?"
"He's okay, I guess."
The gym leader stopped in her tracks again. Her hands hooked to her hips in disappointment. "'Okay'? And you think you're better for him?"
Angie stopped and looked back curiously."What? What did I say?"
"What happens if another girl is crawling all over Ash and calling him handsome and muscular?"
"M-Muscular?"
"That's right, he's got some muscles under there. Small, but they feel nice. Heheh." Maylene drooled. "Anyways! What kind of wife would you be for just thinking 'Eh, he's so-so' when another woman would find him absolutely stunning in looks?"
Wife? I've never th-thought of calling myself Ash's… wife. I've thought about marrying him… but calling myself his wife? … Ash's wife… Her face turned red. …Angie Ketchum… that… that sounds nice.
Maylene coughed. "Well?" She began her jog again.
Angie joined her. "Yeah, he is pretty handsome I guess… but, I just honestly like him for his personality. His looks can change any moment – but he'll always be himself. And I honestly am attracted to that."
The pink-haired fighter bobbed her head from side to side, accepting the answer. "Definitely a good trait… but… I also think he's handsome. I wouldn't mind taking advantage of his blindness, if you know what I mean." She made a quick wink.
"M-Maylene!"
"You can be honest, so can I. You like him for his good parts? I'd like him for his bard parts too." She chuckled mischievously.
Angie was about to scold her like a mother, when a voice in the distance grabbed their attention.
"HEY GUYS! WE MADE IT!"
A sign with a dent in the shape of Ash's head had the words 'SAFFRON CITY' engraved on it.
A bustling metropolis surrounded them. And under the setting sun, the city shined gold.
People of all kinds travelled between buildings, parks, alleyways, and homes. The constant movement and communication flooded the air with sound and human energy. Lampposts and business lights flickered and shined on as the night life would soon hit. There was a certain electricity about the environment, something that could get one lost and be forced on a road to greater and worse things. Saffron City – the "Shining Big City".
Maylene stared at the clock post that stood in the center of a busy street. "So we have about eight hours until we're supposed to wait at the airport for May. What do you want to do unti–"
"Ash?"
Angie's voice caught Maylene's attention. She turned in time to see a strange man in a purple uniform lead Ash down an alleyway.
"Where do you think you're going with Ash?"
The two girls chased down the alleyway, only to be blocked off by a group of more purple-dressed men and women.
"Move or…" Angie pulled out a poké ball. "Get hurt!"
A young woman in the group stepped forward. "No one but the Empathic may pass." her voice was soft, yet commanding.
"They know Ash is an Empathic…" Maylene pulled out her own poké ball. "What do you want with him?"
"You misunderstand. The Empathic came here to see our Mistress." the young woman answered. Her eyes were cold and faded. "She has accepted to meet him, but no others."
Maylene whispered sideways to Angie, "Did Ash say he was going to meet anyone here other than May?"
"No." The tomboy threw out her poké ball. "Go Shinx!"
Maylene nodded. "Go Machoke!"
The two pokémon stood beside their trainers and challenged their foes with battle cries.
"So, either you purple freaks move aside…" Angie smirked with arrogance.
"…or this is going to get messy." Maylene finished her sentence gladly.
"The Mistress warned us that you would refuse to comply." As one, the purple uniformed guards raised their poké balls. CLICK. VACUUM. SNAP.
The air above them turned crimson by the amount of summons being released at once.
"CHIIIIME~!" all twenty Wind Chime Pokémon sung as a single voice.
"I think we're outnumbered." Angie laughed nervously as she backed away.
"We'll never know until we try!" Maylene and her Machoke ran towards the crowd of purple.
"That doesn't even make sense!" Angie and Shinx followed after them.
"Welcome back to Saffron City, Ash Ketchum…"
"Nice to see you again, Sabrina." Ash smiled. He ran his fingers across the bent silver spoon one more time before placing it into his pocket.
The woman with raven black hair stood from her chair and approached the male Trainer. She smiled. "You have grown much. That is good to know. It is a relief to have a friend in these troubled times, but a blessing to have one so experienced."
"Troubled times? What's happening here?" Ash asked, obviously concerned.
Sabrina nodded to the man that had led Ash to her home. The servant bowed and left the room silently.
The psychic master sighed in exhaustion.
In Ash's sight, her exhalation seemed to blow away the wall of stiff emotion. Sabrina's far more childish nature seemed to peek through.
She blew aside a lock of hair that hung around her view. "It is certainly nice to meet you again, Ash."
Despite having greeted her earlier, Ash felt like he was talking to an entirely different person. "You too, Sabrina."
Striding back to her chair, she moved a seat comfortably behind Ash and moved him closer to her with just a thought. She sat and stared at him.
…
"I know why you're here, Ash… but I have troubles of my own."
"What kind of problems? What can I do to help?"
Adjusting herself to a proper sitting position, Sabrina spoke her troubled mind, "Saffron City has always been under my watch, and was always guarded by the Psychics that reside and train here. However, very recently, a few hours before you arrived in this city in fact, a cloud has blocked our vision."
"A cloud?"
"Not precisely a physical cloud, though we wouldn't be too sure at this point, but more of a strange energy that's preventing us from seeing the whole picture."
"Whole… picture?"
She sighed. "Allow me to show you."
Sabrina closed her eyes and transferred her mind's images to Ash's.
This is what it looks like if we can see clearly in our city. Sabrina's thoughts echoed loudly in his.
Visions of Saffron City and its people flickered before his mind's eye.
And this is what it looks like with the cloud…
The same images appeared in Ash's mind, except something was hidden. A nagging feeling as if the entire scene wasn't shown, despite it looking almost perfectly similar.
Do you see?
Kind of… though I don't fully get it.
Sabrina's eyes opened. "That is fine. You do not need to fully understand. What I request that you understand is that this is problematic for us Psychics. Something is disturbing our vision, and trouble may already be here within the city."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I am unsure what you can do, Ash. However, until this problem is resolved, I cannot help you with your quest."
Ash thought hard.
Sabrina looked into his mind curiously…
Maybe it's some sort of machine? On top of buildings or underground?
I'm afraid not, Ash. Sabrina replied to his idea. I have already had several of my students check for strange devices throughout the city. The block does not seem to be triangulated in specific locations, so an item of technology cannot be the culprit.
Hmmm… …counter-Psychics?
Not possible. We vastly outnumber any Psychic group within Kanto. Combined, no amount of psychic forces can stop us from destroying any blocks. And even if it were the case, a psychic-block feels different from this. …it is a description beyond our words.
…end of the world?
Sabrina laughed out loud. "Hm yes, if it were the end of the world, we would certainly find our Psychic powers becoming useless. However, if that were the case, then I'm afraid that you and I would have bigger things to worry about."
Nature? Maybe like a weird anti-Psychic cloud that occurs naturally every thousand years?
You have quite the imagination, Ash. A very specific imagination, it seems. But you may have a point there. We have never encountered anything of that sort before, but it would not be impossible to consider. I will have some of my psychics look into i–
…
Ash? Ash, I can't read your mental wave!
A strange energy seemed to darken the world around her, nearly blinding her mental sight.
She opened her eyes. Her eyes widening instantly.
At every corner of the room, an absol stood. Yet its fur was of pure black instead of its usual snow white.
"Dark Pokémon…" Sabrina growled. "That explains the disturbance. But how did they get passed the psychic link unnoticed? … Sebastian!"
The man that had escorted Ash to Sabrina had entered the room once again. "Yes, Mistres–" He gaspedat the sight of the foreboding Dark Pokémon. "What are these abominations doing here?"
He ran beside Ash and pulled out a poké ball. "Empathic child, we must protect the Mistress at all costs!"
A laugh echoed throughout the room.
Behind one of the absols, a woman in black appeared. "Well, well, well… The infamous Ash Ketchum and the ever-troublesome Sabrina…"
"State your name and business." Sabrina looked coldly at the woman, her red 'R' chest emblem obviously noting who she worked for.
"You may call me agent 009, 'Mistress'." she mocked as she swung her blond hair back. "As for my business? I'm here for the boy. But I believe I can get quite a bonus if I manage to take down the head of the pesky Psychics of Saffron."
"KADABRA! GO– AHHHHHHHH!"
"SEBASTIAN!" Sabrina cried out.
The blond woman had thrown a black tulip at the Psychic guardian, its thorns attaching and spreading a shockwave of electricity throughout his body.
He fell to the ground weakly, his body still smoking from the shock.
"Tsk tsk. I really wouldn't recommend resisting. You'll find that I'm far more threatening than any of these lovely pokémon that grace your room." She pulled another tulip from behind and smiled arrogantly. "Besides, I doubt any of your beloved Psychic Pokémon will be any use against them."
With a snap of her fingers, each of the absols slowly walked towards them, surrounding them completely.
Ash readied to fight. "Why you–"
Sabrina had run towards Ash and wrapped her arms around him. "Hold your breath." She closed her eyes tight and sent out a psychic spear.
The Gym Leader and Trainer vanished from sight, leaving the absols in confusion.
…
"WHERE DID THEY GO?" 009 threw her dark flower into the wall, causing an explosion. She pointed towards the hole she had produced. "GET OUT THERE AND FIND THEM!"
The absols nodded and dashed out of the ruined building.
Sabrina and Ash reappeared in an alleyway covered in moonlight… and cluttered in hectic frenzy. Pokémon and Psychic alike were being tossed around as two girls and their pokémon were causing mayhem amongst their ranks.
"Enough." Sabrina commanded with absolute authority.
Everyone froze in place and gave attention to the Psychic Master.
The calm young female with the cold eyes bowed and addressed her Mistress, "Mistress Sabrina. It is a pl–"
POW. "Down you go! Ha-ha!" Angie had elbowed her in the back of the head.
She noticed Ash… "ASH!" …being held by a rather 'mature' looking woman. "LET GO OF ASH, YOU–"
The raging tomboy had frozen in place, Sabrina's psychic powers holding her down with little effort.
"Lianna." Sabrina helped the assaulted female back onto her feet with a controlled thought.
Smiling as if nothing had happened, Lianna bowed. "Yes, Mistress?"
"Take the guards and spread throughout the city." She ordered with perfect thought and precision. "Gather the other Psychic groups and protect key spots. Team Rocket has infiltrated our city with Dark Pokémon. Send a message to Janine of Fuchsia Gym that we are in need of their Bug Pokémon."
"Yes, my Mistress."
She sent the message mentally amongst her fellow guardians. They nodded as one and spread out.
Lianna stalled and gave Sabrina a concerned look.
"I will be fine, Lianna. Fuchsia City is yours to protect until I return."
She nodded modestly and left.
…
The Psychic Master glared at the two girls and their pokémon. "We will need your assistance, they are coming."
With a thought, she released Angie, who fell over harmlessly.
The tomboy stood up immediately and tried to charge at Sabrina again. This time she was held in place by Maylene. "Calm down, Angie! I don't think she's an enemy!"
"TELL HER TO LET GO OF ASH!" Angie raged.
Sabrina slid Ash into Angie's arms with telekinesis. Angie blushed as his face almost touched hers.
"Maylene." Sabrina searched her through the Gym Leader's mind, taking all the information she needed. "Please release all your pokémon."
"H-How do you know my name?"
"There is no time, do so now."
She pulled out all three poké balls and threw them into the air. "Go Lucario! Go Meditite! Go Tyrogue!"
The three Fighting Pokémon appeared beside the already-summoned Machoke and readied themselves for battle.
Sabrina eyed them quickly, judging their strengths and weaknesses. "Very good." She walked behind Maylene and stood patiently. "Angie, your shinx shall do. Protect us from any rear assaults."
"Who do you think you are ordering me – whoah whoah whoah!" Angie and Shinx were lifted from the ground and placed behind Sabrina.
"Ash, stay in the center with me."
"I can fight!" he growled as his pride was hurt.
"Team Rocket is more than likely here for you. They will want you to fight in order to separate you from the rest. Stand in the center."
He sighed angrily and walked behind Maylene, standing behind Angie.
The Sinnoh Gym Leader looked around in confusion. "What exactly are we looking for?"
Sabrina nudged her chin upwards, pointing to the trio of charging dark absols that ran across the telephone lines.
"What the heck are those?"
"Weak to Fighting types." the Psychic simply stated.
Maylene flexed. "That's all I needed to hear! Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
"HUAH!" The blue jackal shot a ball of blue energy towards the incoming felid pokémon.
The ball of energy impacted against one of them, causing it to disperse into black smog. As if vacuumed back together, the haze reformed several feet closer to them, reconstructing into the pokémon it once was.
"What manner of creature are these…" Sabrina's eyes narrowed.
"I just said that!" Maylene shouted. "Lucario! Another one!"
The Aura Pokémon shot another blast towards the group of enemies. Once again, they rematerialized closer after disintegrating from the attack.
"This doesn't look good." muttered Maylene. "Guys, prepare for close combat!"
Her pokémon responded with ready growls and barks.
"Maylene." Sabrina commanded. "Hand control of two of your pokémon to Ash and I. You will not be able to control all of them at once effectively."
She was about to argue, until Ash gave her a reassuring nod.
"Machoke and Meditite, you're with me. Lucario, listen to Ash. Tyrogue, listen to what's-her-face."
"And what am I supposed to do?" Angie yelled.
"I had already given you a purpose." Sabrina glared. "Do it."
A shiver went down the tomboy's spine and faced back the other way. But there's nothing here…
Sabrina… Ash thought out. I can't see them. They don't have any emotions… How am I supposed to command Lucario in this fight? They're moving too fast for me to hear them.
Feel them out.She responded.
But I can't! They're just blanks!
Exactly. Pin-point them by knowing where they're not. Your Empathy should allow you to do that.
Ash tried…
Despite the world being dark to his sight, he could feel the colors and temperatures of the air around them. And within these blurring winds of emotion, there were dark patches where nothing existed. A complete blankness. There!
"Maylene! What attacks does Lucario know?" he shouted towards her.
She panicked at the sudden question. "Uh – uhm! Aura Sphere! Um! Bone R-Rush! Let's see–"
The empty nothingness was almost on top of them. "HURRY!"
"METAL CLAW AND FORCE PALM!" she completed just in time. "Machoke! Cross Chop! Meditite! Detect then Meditate!"
"Lucario! Forcepalm!"
Sabrina's eyes glowed, surrounding Tyrogue with a purple aura.
Maylene's machoke jumped and swung down its hands in a slicing motion – the attack cut through smog, with the dark absol reappearing behind it instantly with a roar.
One of the shadow creatures ran along the side of the wall, launching itself towards the meditite. The half-Fighting Pokemon vanished and appeared across the alleyway – beginning its meditation.
"HAH! HYAA! HRAAAH!" With each shout, Lucario missed another strike – the absol vanishing into smoke and reentering the fray from a different angle.
Tyrogue stood its ground, waiting for its opponent to get close enough. From her mind's eye, the dark creature didn't exist to Sabrina – or rather, it was the opposite of existence. But seeing through the simple-minded courage of a Fighting Pokémon, the opponent was clear as day.
"Machoke! Seismic Toss! Meditite! Drain Punch!"
"Keep at it Lucario!"
Every strike missed, or impacted into smoke.
"Hey lady! Nothing's working!" Maylene shouted above the sounds of battle.
"Come on! Let me help!" cried Angie from the side.
The nothingness finally came for Tyrogue/Sabrina. He/she struck out; the fist vanished into the darkness. There's nothing here! No entity! But then what are these… No. They exist. I see now.
"Angie! Now! Strike the area in front of you!" Sabrina commanded sharply.
"But there nothing the–"
"DO IT NOW!"
"Shinx! Use Spark!" she growled, pointing at the open air in front of her.
Angie's shinx released electricity across its fur, becoming completely encased in yellow energy. "SHIIIINX!" The tiny blue and black pokémon ran towards open air.
It collided with an invisible entity.
A deep roar shook the bones of everything in the alleyway. And in an instant, the dark absols vanished completely… replaced by a single, giant absol of midnight black fur. It stood behind all of them, facing a frightened Angie who cowered before its size. "G-Guys! N-Need help!"
They all turned and faced their new foe.
"The other absols were mere illusions controlled by this one." Sabrina explained with a cold tone. "It was planning on distracting us long enough until it could take Ash from behind…"
Sensing her correct deduction, the creature's large red eyes locked on Sabrina and pierced through her Psychic mind. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She buckled in pain, pulling at her hair as tears poured from her eyes.
"SABRINA!" Ash reached down and grabbed her head, as if trying to pry the beast away from her thoughts.
Laughter echoed down the alleyway. Agent 009 walked towards them from behind. "I see you met the true form of my lovely Dice. He's quite a charmer, isn't he? Let me give you a bit of warning though… he loves to play with his food before eating them… so I'd advise that you make this fun for him."
"DOMINO!" Maylene charged towards the Rocket Agent, her fists raised.
"Maylene? Is that really you? Why it's been forever! We really do need to catch up!" She dodged Maylene's strike and pierced a tulip into her back, the lightning spreading across her muscles and paralyzing her. "Sadly, we don't have time for that."
The pink haired fighter fell to the ground without a sound of rebellion.
Maylene's pokémon roared in anger. All four of them charged at their master's assailant, ready to avenge her.
"NO WAIT!" Sabrina cried out.
Domino smirked.
THUDTHUDTHUDTHUD – Being cleared of any would-be Fighting Type defenders, the huge absol charged down the alley and grabbed onto Ash's belt with its massive jaws.
"WAHHHHHHH!" The male Empathic panicked as he was suddenly lifted off the ground.
"NO!" Sabrina screamed as she tried to regain control of her broken mind.
The four Fighting Pokémon stopped in their tracks, turning back too late – as the monster was getting away with their trainer's companion – the one she had fought so hard to defend.
"I'VE GOT YOU, ASH!" Angie leapt onto the creature's back and began ripping its dark fur from its skin.
"!"
"MY DICE'S BEAUTIFUL MANE! HOW DARE YOU!" Domino launched a flower towards Angie.
"SHINX! GRAB IT!"
The Flash Pokémon caught the tulip before it reached its mark. Shinx had absorbed the electrical damage from the attack and landed safely on the giant creature's back.
Angie grabbed the organic weapon from her pokémon's mouth and jammed it down onto an open patch of skin where she had removed the fur. The dark absol growled in pain as it continued to try to knock the riders off its back.
"Now! Shinx! Thunder Fang!"
"SHIIIIINX!" Charging off all its electricity into its teeth, the cub bit down onto the tulip, redirecting all its energy into the very flesh and bone of the furious beast.
"!"
"DICE! NO!"
Its massive fangs foamed and flailed, freeing Ash from its grip. Its muscles tensed and locked, dropping it to its side like it had been a wind-up toy running out of fuel. The lightning continued to spread in its body, forcing the creature to spasm despite losing consciousness.
Angie and Shinx jumped off the creature and ran towards the tossed-about boy. "Ash! Are you okay?"
Domino ran towards her pokémon and pulled her weapon away from its back. "My poor, poor Dice… what did those awful creatures do to you?" She pressed a button on her belt, absorbing the creature into a metal device attached around her waist.
"There, there. It's over now. Get your rest. Shhhh…" She patted the device gently.
Ash limped towards her. "You're not going anywhere, Domino!"
Angie stood by his side, her shinx ready for another round. "Time for you to get a beating." The tomboy cracked her knuckles. Maylene's pokémon stood beside her, stretching and readying their muscles.
"Oh my,I believe I'm late for an appointment!" Domino hurriedly said while staring at an imaginary watch. She threw one more tulip to the ground. Its impact spread a spray of smoke in every direction. All who were caught in its radius found themselves choking for oxygen.
Ash felt the enemy's feelings fade into the sky. "We'll have to reschedule this little meeting! Ta~ ta~!"
…
The smoke cleared, revealing nothing but open air.
Their foe had disappeared completely. No traces were left that she had been there other than the damage they had left in their attempt to attack her. Not even a single one of her tulip weapons was left behind. And to where she could have vanished, no one had a clue – as no aerial vehicle or pokémon traced the night sky above.
Whatever the case was, wherever she had gone or what she had done, the danger was finally gone… leaving a strange sense of accomplishment and peace – almost hollow, yet still a victory to be cherished.
The standing combatants stared at one another in bewilderment, still on edge after the strange battle. First to react to the victorious silence, the Fighting Pokémon moved towards Maylene's side.
Angie was the next to act, supporting Ash, the Trainer limping weakly to the downed Psychic.
"Sabrina… are you alright?"
The Saffron Gym Leader slowly got up and stood, wiping leftover tears from her eyes. "I will be fine." She massaged her forehead. "Thank you for your concern. I suggest you tend to the young woman."
Maylene was up, held up by her pokémon. Her eyes twitched to stay open, looking weakly at Ash and the rest of her allies. "Did… did we win?"
"I think so…" Ash responded dizzily.
Before they could make a pathetic celebration attempt, a bright light flashed out.
They all stiffened to a panic.
"What now?"
"Another attack?"
"No wait!" Angie called out. Her eyes widened. Her lips hung open.
The tomboy gazed down in awe, a white radiance reflecting off her amazed expression.
"Shinx is evolving!"
"Come on open… open… open please!" Misty pleaded in whispers as she jammed the hairpin into a strange lock.
Kilink.
"Yes!"
She turned her head. "Come on, let's go."
Swinging the door open into another dark hallway, the Water Pokémon Trainer led her ragtag team of escapees towards their next destination.
For days she had endured countless tortures, sleepless nights, and moments of starvation. The malnourishment and insomnia were tolerable, but memories of the torture frightened her with every thought she made.
Every element of attack and curious form of ailment had ravaged her body during her interrogations. The pain and panic in her senses constantly forced her to cry out and begged her to give in. And at times, she did. At many points, she did.
And when she had, the suffering would stop – and she'd be given rest, food, and kindness as a response. They were trying to break her. To make her compliant and obedient to them. Any answer they wanted, they had to get. And whether it took them minutes or hours, they would always get what they wanted.
Her body still ached, and her heart still felt dead.
She was sorry, she was sorry for giving in – but she couldn't feel it, she couldn't feel anything. She knew she wouldn't feel anything for a long time… not in this place… not while we're still in here… yet despite this, she still was sorry. Always sorry… she didn't want to give in.
Despite still breaking in the end, Ash's mother had held on for much longer than she had. As the noticeably weak woman moved behind her, Misty wondered how much her spirit had shattered in order to give up the answers that Team Rocket sought.
She had to give up her son's safety to keep her own…
It was a sickening idea. A despicable act on her torturers' part. No person should ever have to give up their loved ones. No person should ever be pushed to the limits of giving up the one that they treasure most in life. No parent should ever hold the guilt of sacrificing their child just to stop the pain.
If any pain were to be felt in her heart, Misty yearned to cry for Delia Ketchum. As she knew this was not a memory she would ever forget for the rest of her days…
However, of all of them, Anabel suffered the worst. Not once did she speak. Not once did she break. Her screams and howls of pain would echo terribly across the cells. The sounds were horrendous, serving to make any prisoner more willing to talk when their turn came next. Several times Misty had found herself pounding at her gate, begging her to talk, begging her to give them what they wanted – so that the screams would stop, so that the pain would stop.
But she never talked. She never said a word. She never gave in.
At certain moments, the guards would loudly converse with themselves about how they had gotten her to speak – how their torture had worked – and how they had what they needed. But Misty knew they were lying.
They didn't want the prisoners to have any heart left, to believe that anyone could suffer their punishments and never break. …but Anabel had. Anabel did.
Anabel wasn't with them.
A day ago, the guards had moved her to a different area. Somewhere Misty wished she would find during their time of escape.
Anabel…
A teardrop fell to her arm… it was her first tear, her first feeling, since her first emotional breakdown. She didn't know she had any tears left after that day, yet the evidence left a clean trace against her cheek. Her heart had felt shame, it had felt weak… she wished with all her soul that she was as strong as Anabel was… as strong as the girl she had thought to be the weakest of them.
I'll get you back, Anabel…
"Misty." Tracey snapped her attention back to the dark reality. "Guard."
The group moved quickly behind a corner. A Team Rocket member was walking towards their area.
Three poké balls. Flashlight. Radio. Keys. Misty gathered all the data of the guard she needed from a single glance. A technique she had learned from necessity – a technique that had given them the chance to be to get this far in their escape.
Click. Vacuum.
A starmie appeared beside her. The Sea Star Pokémon was stiff, its gem glowing softly.
It, too, suffered under interrogation. All their pokémon had suffered the same fate. Any answer they had given was relayed psychically from Psychic Pokémon.
Knock. Misty got the Water Type's silent attention with a knock on its gem.
It looked up to its trainer with weakened concentration.
Using simple visual gestures with her hands, Misty issued her commands.
Silent commands, another technique Misty had developed in her time locked up. She had secretly taught these visual commands to any pokémon that faced her cell whenever the guards were looking away. It was through this skill and method that she was able to overpower any and every opponent that faced her in these cold halls.
Starmie's gem glowed once to show its understanding.
After a nod from Misty, it launched itself into the air with a spin. Rounding the corner, it found its target.
"What the heck is th–"
KAK. Thud.
"Guard down." Misty hissed to those under her protection.
They charged towards the downed body and stripped it of all its accessories, clothes, and tools.
"Tracey, put these on." Misty handed the man's clothes to the sketch artist.
As he put on the uniform turned disguise, she turned and scanned the others.
Ms. Ketchum. Starmie. Mr. Mime. Pikachu. And Dawn.
Dawn was the most recent arrival. She was taken in soon after Anabel's disappearance. As such, she had never been put up for questioning. Her body was enviably free of wounds and her clothes perplexingly clean. Misty wondered how she had been captured. She wondered who else were on their way.
"Dawn and I still need disguises." Misty concluded.
She turned and nodded to the Rocket-dressed Tracey. "Let's go."
Returning the star pokémon to its ball, she led them down another hallway.
To where? She asked herself in doubt.
…
The only way to go… Forward.