Hello again everyone. I hope you liked the previous chapter. This one shows what's going on with Kenji and Jen and the return of a couple of briefly mentioned characters. Also, sorry for the long update. Very busy.

Now, as always, I do not own anything dealing with the Pokémon franchise. Nintendo, 4Kids, Gamefreak, etc., have those rights, and here are the age reminders once again...

Ash/Duplica: 13
Misty/Todd: 14
Kenji/Jen: 17 going on 18
Joya: 18
Brock/Mondo: 19
Jessie: 22
James/Cassidy/Butch: 23

Part 21: "Are we…dead?" A Supernatural Stroll through the Park!

Last time, everyone met up and Duplica seems to have some strange power. Will it be limited to only her? Also, Togepi finally was able to get his message through, and thanks to Meowth, the gang now understands that Mewtwo and Todd are in trouble in some way. The group has now gone in search of Kenji and Jen, hoping that they're safe. Will they find them, or will they end up falling to the same fate as Mewtwo, Todd, and Duplica?

Ash Title: A Supernatural Stroll through the Park!

Over in Hoshi Imité Park…

"It was nice hanging out with you today," Jen bashfully told the Pokémon artist, her cheeks tinged pink from her slight blush and the chilling winds.

"I did too. There are so many places around here and seems there's plenty to do."

"There would be more, if it weren't so snowy." The two continued their serene walk through the white park, the snow crunching beneath their feet. "What do you want to do now?"

"It really doesn't matter to me," he smiled to her. "I'm just really glad to be able to hang around you like this, and appreciate your showing me around. I know it couldn't have been easy, given all that's been going on around here lately…"

"It's no problem." She felt her face going even redder. "Y-you're really special to me, Kenji-kun." Her face was blazing now. "You're the first guy I've ever met that I've actually…well…liked," she confessed once again. "I just have this strange feeling about you."

"Not a bad one, right?" he asked in alarm.

"No, of course not. Just like yesterday, my feeling about you is good…very strong…"

"It is strange, since I feel the same way…like…"

"-we're connected somehow," both finished up together, stopping in their tracks after realizing they'd both said the same thing and laughed a bit before resuming their walk.

"I usually don't believe in fairy tales, but after being with you last night, I just knew our meeting one another was predestined…like fate and I know it's not reasonable to even feel this way towards a person after just a day, but…I just can't explain it."

"It's the same for me, and it was bothering me so much last night, which is why I went in search of you to talk. I know that was unethical of me to go to a young lady's room unannounced, and I, once again, apologize for that."

"Oh, it was no problem, and I did kind of…kiss you and all, which left you confused, and it was understandable as to why you wanted to talk privately about that. I did truly enjoy your visit and talking with you. I felt as if I could tell you my entire life's story. I've never felt so at ease talking with someone so openly, outside of Joya-chan, since she's my best friend here on this island."

"Thinking about it, I don't think I've ever been much of the open type and am a bit shy," Kenji admitted in a pitiful voice, "but you made it so easy for me. You too were very easy to talk to. I'm still confused over this though…it's just not logical, but we both strongly feel that we're meant for each other…" he trailed off. 'It can't be love, right? It's just not normal…I mean, I feel so complete when with her, like it's meant for her to be at my side and I know this isn't lust. I like her…I want to learn more about her…'

Just as Kenji was deep in thought, trying to sort out what he was truly feeling towards the young martial artist, she was thinking in a similar fashion. She too felt that she could throw everything that was dear to her, including becoming a Pokémon Scientist, just so she could be with the young artist. She felt so strongly, that if Kenji were to ask her to marry him right then and there, she'd answer, "Yes!" in a heartbeat. Was it love? Was she truly in love? Why did they have such a connection? Could she be mistaking it for something else?

Obliviously, the two clasped hands, which came across as very natural, just as their second kiss had. As they continued their walk, they couldn't explain it, but they felt an invigorating feeling from within…but it was strange, and this feeling was starting to intensify, which caused them both to break away from their thoughts.

"Kenji-kun?"

"Jen-san?"

"What's going on? I feel…weird."

They stopped walking, and looked down at their embraced hands. A soft glow surrounded it, and then it grew, completely engulfing the pair, causing both to black out...

After a while, Kenji awoke sluggishly, the sweet aroma of flowers tickling his nose. He rubbed his head with his left hand, trying to make sense of all that had gone on. "Where am I?" he muttered as he sat up. He finally realized that he couldn't truly move freely, and looked to see that his right hand was still embraced with Jen's left. He let go, and shook her gently. "Jen-chan," he softly spoke, enticed by her beauty. She seemed even more beautiful than ever at this particular moment. "Jen-chan, wake up…"

Her eyes began to open slowly, a gentle breeze brushing across her skin as she yawned. She sat up and stretched, unfamiliar with the place they were currently in. "Where are we?"

"I'm not sure. All I remember is a light surrounding us and then waking up here," he looked around again, "wherever here is."

"Do not be frightened young ones," they both heard a voice say.

Another one then spoke up, mirroring what the first had, mostly. "Yes, do not be afraid."

Neither one felt as if the owners of these voices – the first being female; the second being that of a male – were threatening or harmful in any way, but Jen didn't want to take any chances. Despite still feeling slightly groggy, she jumped to her feet, alert and ready, positioned in a fighting stance. "Where are you?" It was very difficult for her to determine where the sound of the voices had come from. "Who are you?"

"That is of no concern to you, child," the female answered shortly.

While Jen seemed intent on fighting, if it came to that, and trying to determine the location of where the voices were coming from, Kenji – who was now standing beside his female companion – was taking in their surroundings. Both were in a field filled with fresh sweet-smelling flowers, such as daisies, lilies, violets, and roses of all colors, which included unnatural flowers, such as blue roses.

The bright blue sky above didn't have a single cloud in it, and beautiful, exotic birds dominated the skies. Throughout the meadow, a few animals and field Pokémon were frolicking about peacefully, while a few Butterfree were pollinating the flowers. Nearby, was a babbling brook, filled with many water Pokémon, such as Goldeen, Magikarp, Seaking, Horsea, Seadra, etc. The water within this brook was extremely pure and clear, like no ounce of pollution had ever touched its surface, and it seemed that if anything tried to pollute it, that it would magically be rejected immediately.

This serene, unknown, warm place, definitely felt like the type where one could feel relieved and relaxed. It felt like the type of place one would go to escape the perils of the real world; to get away from the pressures of reality and responsibility.

"Where is this place?" Kenji shouted out.

"You are in a special place that few have ever seen," the male voice explained in a calm, gruff voice. "No living mortal has ever come to this place, unless something was going to happen in his or her world, or…"

"Or what?"

"Or if the person is deceased or close to it…" he finished up direly.

"Deceased?" Jen asked curiously, as she remained in her fighting stance. "As in dead? Are-are we…dead?"

"No, you're not," the male voice assured them. "For one to come here who is deceased, the person would know it, as you receive a briefing before arriving. If one comes here without a briefing, it means you are here for another reason, and usually, it's to receive a message to relay back to the world of the living."

"Wait, so why exactly are we here?"

"Your world. Something is going to happen there."

"We must deliver a message," the female explained to them. "Your lives are in danger, as well as a few others. The fate of your world is also in danger."

"Danger?" both asked in perplexity.

"You two possess a power," the woman continued in a tired, exasperated voice.

"I don't understand," Kenji started. "We're in a field, talking to voices of people we cannot see. With how open this place is, I feel that it would be very difficult to hide as there aren't any places for one to hide."

They heard the female give off an antsy sigh. "Calm down."

"Remember, this is a world for the deceased, which you are not, therefore, you are not allowed to see us in our true forms. Only one is allowed to, and she probably will in due time, to help resurrect another memory," the male continued brusquely. "Even if you two were able to view us in our original forms, you wouldn't recognize us because neither of you are directly connected to us in any way, nor are you family."

"I don't really like speaking with people and not being able to see them!" Jen told them sternly as she still seemed to be studying her surroundings suspiciously. "Are you friend or foe? If foe, you will have to fight me! I do not take any chances with those I do not know; *especially after what happened to me almost three years ago!"

They heard the male chuckle lightly. "That's a warrior for you. A true warrior is always alert and ready to encounter most anything, and usually always have his or her guard up!"

"I still don't like the idea of speaking to a person I cannot see!" The martial artist was growing more uneasy as she still couldn't sense their actual presence.

"Fine," the female huffed. "We'll take on the form of a Pokémon that best fit our personalities as well as our old lives. We were granted that ability, if we should ever have to reveal ourselves…"

"Come to the brook," the male instructed.

Kenji and Jen made their way towards the brook, although Jen was still remained alert, just in case. A glow shined from the water, which took on two forms. The two forms looked very human-like. The shine was so bright, the pair had to shield their eyes. When the glow subsided, in the place of the two human-like figures, were a Starmie and a Staryu.

"Is this better?" the Starmie grumbled in the female's voice.

"Y-yeah, I guess so," commented Jen, who finally felt comfortable enough to lower her guard.

"Earlier, you two mentioned something about your old lives," Kenji noted, "…are you ghosts?"

"One could call us that, but we prefer to be referred to as spirits or guides."

"Enough with this chitchat," Starmie snapped, "we have to finish delivering this message! Their world needs the two of them back as soon as possible! We aren't even supposed to interfere in these types of matters, but the process is going so slowly, we must! The gods are allowing it!"

Staryu cleared his throat. "R-right…"

"Um…you said something about our having some type of a…power?"

The Starmie turned her attention to the girl and nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, you two feel as if you're inexplicably connected somehow, correct?" The two nodded slowly. "Well, you are. The both of you possess a power that the all-mighty evil one fears."

Jen literally sweat dropped. "Are you serious? 'The all-mighty evil one'?" The girl shook her head, and thought sarcastically, 'Well, that isn't a clichéd and lame name…'

"Too bad you two aren't real Pokémon," Kenji complained as he started to go completely off-topic. "I could research and study you, and then submit my report to Bill of the Lighthouse and Professor Oak. It would be a very good report for them to review. Who knows, a report like that could even reach the Symposium, making me world famous! No one has ever come across something as rare as a talking Starmie or Staryu!" Kenji slapped his forehead in stupidity. "Now why didn't I think of doing that with that talking Meowth! Who cares if he belonged to the Rocket Gang!"

Within a flash, Kenji pulled out a few materials from his backback. Jen looked on in amazement, wondering why he carried all of that stuff around and why he'd bothered bringing his backpack in the first place. One of the things he took out, looked like a box with a funnel sticking out in the middle. "Now, this is a water pressure meter made specifically for water-type Pokémon." He sat the remote-sized box like object onto the ground, and took out his sketch pad and pencil. "Now, Starmie, could you use your most powerful Hydro Pump attack? Starmie are usually quite capable of this." He then turned his attention to the Staryu. "Staryu are normally capable of having Water Gun as a main attack, so could you please use your most powerful one so that I can measure its pressure after Starmie uses Hydro Pump? Just aim a t the funnel. I wonder if your Water Gun and Starmie's Hydro Pump is more powerful than that of your average water-type Pokémon.

"Let me know when you're ready. I want to sketch out how you actually use the attack so that I may study it and compare it later."

Starmie and Staryu sweat dropped from the researcher's passionate nature. Kenji soon realized that he had gone into researcher mode and apologized as he returned everything back to his bag.

"As we were saying, the fate of Kage Island and the entire world is in your hands," Starmie continued.

"What exactly did you mean by that, anyway?" Jen asked while scratching his head. Starmie and Staryu explained the legends and the myths of the island to the two. The girl looked on in skepticism. "That sounds a bit farfetched and I already knew about this place being enchanted, which is also a bit hard to believe still."

"And there are two others with this so-called 'power'?"

"Yes," Staryu answered.

"Many centuries ago, on this very island – only it wasn't known as Lost Kage back then – the two of you were both a warlock and a witch, but good ones," Starmie clarified. "The two of you were an inseparable loving couple. This is more than likely why you feel as if you have some kind of a bond or a connection now. You two even died while fighting together…but you weren't completely killed."

Kenji blinked. "Not completely killed?"

"That doesn't make any sense. You either die or you don't."

Staryu, noticing that Starmie seemed to be growing huffy again, stepped forward. "I shall explain this as best as I can." He cleared his throat before continuing on with the long-winded tale. "You," he motioned to Jen, "were known as *Junsa. You were very brave and a great warrior skilled with swords and fighting techniques in general." He turned to Kenji. "You, Kenji, were known as *Kei. Kei was a great strategist, smart, and calm. With the bravery of Junsa and the seriousness and intelligence of Kei, they both worked very well together. Kei was good at planning out battles while Junsa was good at fighting them."

"It seems that neither of you are in the same form you were all those centuries ago, but their spirits are resting within you. Both of you have the same powers Kei and Junsa did all those years ago, which defeated the evil one. Since their souls have rested for so long, both will definitely be much stronger.

"As it was said earlier, there are two others whom also have this type of power to help fight, only they ended up facing the same fate as your past selves. The youngest of you all was known as *Mizuna. She was very skilled, but her true powers were unknown at the time of the battle, and still are in her form now, like pretty much all of you, which is why we were allowed to intervene. Mizuna was an ordinary girl who hanged around with Kei, wanting to learn the ways of witchcraft.

"Back then, this place was known for its wizardry and magic, and everyone here showed to have some type of affinity for it, even if very weak. In the case of Mizuna, she wanted to enhance them. In her spare time, she would train her Shadow Pokémon, which were mostly ice and water types. She even managed to teach her Pokémon ice or water moves, even those that didn't naturally have the ability for it. Kei was also her tutor."

"Wait…I…I mean, he was her teacher?"

"Yes, but let's try to stay on-topic here. She turned out to be the most powerful of you four. She was the only one who had the power to completely seal the barrier and entrap those demons, but when using that type of power, it drains your life energy. Call it a double-edged sword. Unfortunately, this is what happened to your past selves. All of you tried your best to combine your powers to seal them, but Mizuna was the one who could fully close it. Due to you all doing this to banish them, a spell was unknowingly cast by Mizuna…an ancient preservation spell, which would allow your spirits to rest. Your bodies may have died, but your spirits lived on…in a manner of speaking, and will awaken if that same evil were to resurface.

"Coming to this island is causing your spirits to awaken, only not fast enough. The fourth one of the group was also skilled with magic named *Hoshi. Hoshi always used magic as a way to entertain young children, which included her own. Usually playful, Hoshi would become fierce in the battlefield when trying to protect her family and friends. She had the highest defensive maneuvers, which allowed her to increase the protection of the troops, thanks to her old teacher."

"Overall, this was a peaceful place…until Sorcerer *Waruii came about," Staryu continued. "He was the one responsible for the demons attacking the island as he wanted to conquer it for himself and then eventually, the world. His powers were strongest on the island…and he had the power to increase his magic levels by defeating others in battle. For instance, as mentioned, Kei, Junsa, and Hoshi were the strongest magic users there and he knew this. Defeating them would've granted him great powers. He was an evil lord feared by most in those days. Your counterparts did manage to defeat him, but not his Shadow Demons. He, unfortunately, had a strong protection/resurrection spell cast on himself so that he could get another chance at world domination."

"It seems like it was a very complex spell, but he too has been reborn in this world, which is why all of the things happening on the island have been happening. We know of his identity...he's caused lots of trouble in your world…our old world…our old lives…" the Starmie spat quietly. To the two teens, it almost sounded as if she were going to cry.

"His present-day self seems to know about the old legends surrounding the island…maybe for a long time now. You guys have to stop him before he shows his true power or fully awaken. It's obviously starting with the strange Pokémon attacks going on and the strange spell being cast over the island."

When the two seemed done, Kenji spoke up, looking rather perplexed. He wasn't sure how to truly respond to such a farfetched story. This story topped the "enchanted island" one that Jen and Joya told him and Brock about the previous day. "So, you're actually saying that in our past lives we were once a witch and a warlock with the power to fight off some kind of evil demons and they are now returning and we have to fight them again?"

The two water Pokémon nodded.

"Yeah, right," Jen scoffed.

Kenji, wanting to know more, as he was still trying to make sense of it, asked, "How do these powers work? How can we protect everyone if we don't know how to use these powers and who are we trying to protect everyone from?"

"You, Kenji, know him well," Starmie told him sympathetically, "but we can't answer anymore of your questions."

"But I want to know about-"

"Our allotted time grows very short," Starmie said again, only more firmly. "We're being restricted from giving you anymore information as you were originally supposed to have discovered this on your own."

"There is one person who will be able to explain everything, once awakened."

"Who is that person? Where can we find him…or her?"

"We're sorry, we're being sealed by the gods. We have to go since our time is up, but we will reveal ourselves again when truly needed, but only to one."

"But-"

"Our time is up," Starmie repeated again, her voice becoming faint. The world was also starting to fade around the two teens. "You'll figure out how to use your power in due time. Your resting spirits will guide you and come out."

"Just remember that the two of you are connected and is the key to your powers, which will definitely come naturally to you. Please remember all that we told you…"

"Wait!" Kenji called, as he ran towards the two Pokémon, whose bodies were going transparent. The babbling brook, the bright blue sky, the Pokémon and animals, and the meadow began to fade even more, the sky growing dark. "Tell us who you are! Who is Mizuna-san? Where can we find Hoshi-san?"

There was another bright flash of light, which caused the two to shield their eyes once again and obliviously clasp hands. When the light subsided, the two opened their eyes to see that they were floating nearly a foot in the air over the spot that they were in right before they ended up in the mysterious meadow. Both their eyes went wide as they fearfully let go, which caused them to fall to the ground, with a loud crunch in the snow below.

Kenji managed to stand first and extended his hand to Jen to help her up. "What just happened?"

The girl shook her head. "We have special…powers?"

The artist could only stand there and shrug, both still in slight shock. "I guess we should go now?"

"Yeah, okay," she said slowly with a nod. The two walked off aimlessly, as both their minds were occupied with all that was just told them. 'I only know of a few people with so-called 'special powers', and that was Mako-chan and her friends back in Tokyo. Could this be the same type of situation only involving me…'

x x x x

Author's Notes

Note 1: This is referencing my A New Enemy fic, which I've mentioned before. It's my unfinished Sailor Moon fic from about 2000 (give or take). Maybe one day I'll be able to get over my bothersome writer's block and finish it as well as rewrite it. Anyway, as mentioned earlier, Jen was a character in that story and was actually one of the victims for it.
x x x

Note 2: Anyway, here's a brief explanation on some of these names…

Kei (慧): So yeah, Kei, using this particular character, means, "wise". The character is wise, hence why I used a name meaning that. Even though for the show, Kenji's name isn't written in kanji, if I were to choose one for him, it would be (研二), which would mean "studying second son" as that's how I perceive the character. Overall, I perceive him as being serious and wise and calm and level-headed, so I wanted his past-life counterpart to have those personality traits as well.

Junsa (じゅんさ): This isn't original at all. Junsaa is the original name for Officer Jenny. The name is written in katakana for the show, but I used hiragana for this and shortened the name and it comes from the word (巡査) meaning "police" which is, "junsaa".

Mizuna (みずな): This is a made up name, and…I used hiragana for it as opposed to katakana (even though it should be in katakana). I wanted something water-like. Mizu = water.

Hoshi (ほし): This is also a non-original name that's strange sounding I'm sure. Hoshi (星) means "star".

Waruii (ワルイー): This is another name that's not very original. The word for "bad" or "evil" is warui (悪い). I added the "i" for emphasis and am using katakana for his name to differentiate between the "good guys" and "bad guys"…just go with it…and this name is also very made up. This is also how the characters of Wario and WaLuigi were named. The "wa" part is pretty much saying, "Bad Mario" and "Bad Luigi".

Fic Chapter Changes

First, and only, change is the name of "Kei". Originally, the name was "Juudai (重大), which means, "serious" in Japanese. It's an adjective and strange for a name, then again, so is the name "Hoshi". lol