*Important Edit* you guys want an epilogue? Okay... I will see what I can do.*
Twenty-five
The remaining Rocket grunts did not know what to do. They stared at the spot where their leader had been with as much shock and awe as Ash and his company. They made eye contact with Ash, and looked fearful.
Ash could think of nothing to say to them.
"What was that?" Gary breathed, the only one to break the silence.
"Arceus," Oak whispered. "It had to be."
"Sup."
Everyone snapped their heads up, looking for the new voice. Above them floated a small, pink and gray creature, with its arms folded and large eyes smiling. "Remember me?"
"Mesprit," Ash recognized. "Where've you been?"
"Around," the Pokemon said lightly. It frowned a little. "I'm kinda alone now, I suppose. With Azelf and Uxie gone. But hey. We're all safe now, at least." The creature sighed and smiled again. "Anyway! We had a deal, didn't we? Kill Giovanni, get back home, right?"
"We can't go back," Drew said. "Cynthia will kill us."
A new voice entered the mix. "They can stay, yes?"
"Deoxys!" Dawn exclaimed. "What happened? Where did you go?"
"I admit I had fear," Deoxys said brokenly. "And I did run."
"Facing your dead friends is scary," a small white deer said from its spot on the ground. Dawn vaguely recognized it. "And as much as we wanted to help, we simply couldn't do it."
"We were afraid."
Suddenly there were a thousand voices, all around them. Creatures of all shapes and sizes encircled them, eyes glittering and watching them intently. "We were afraid, and you saved us."
"So, just like we promised," Mesprit said gently, "a portal back to your world, to save your friend. Palkia?"
A new creature lumbered forward. It lifted its white head and the red lines along its body glowed. It waved an arm. To its left, a swirling pink vortex appeared in the air.
They stared at it. It seemed to stare at them.
"What's the plan?" Gary asked.
Ash blinked and realized he was speaking to him. He looked around at his friends. They all looked at him. Ash swallowed. "Well," he began carefully, "Drew, Misty, and I can fight. We'll go get Paul. Everyone else stay here."
"But it's been weeks!" Drew exclaimed. "I mean... it's not like Cynthia... kept him around that long..." His expression withered as he spoke.
"Time is different here," Misty told him. "At home it's probably been only, like, six hours. Maybe."
No one questioned how she knew that.
"He's fine," Ash affirmed. "So let's go get him."
"What about us?" May interrupted.
Ash and Drew paused in their steps towards the portal. "What?" Ash asked.
May pursed her lips and swallowed. "I mean, our families! They'll think we're dead!" She seemed to crumple inside. "My mom... I don't think she can lose me and my dad."
Suddenly Ash's thoughts were pulled to his own mother. He hadn't thought of her in weeks. How would she fare without him? What if the Company came after her?
What if they already had?
He stiffened at the thought. How could he handle this? Could he really uproot their families and bring them here? His mother would understand. May's would probably panic. Not to mention the fact that there was probably a Delia and a Mrs. Maple already running around this world. Two Pauls that knew of each other was doable. This was not.
And forget about culture shock. This was an entirely new world! He doubted May's family could handle it.
It would be best for everyone if they could stay separated.
But leaving those people there... Cynthia would definitely come for them.
Ash sighed in frustration. He couldn't deal with this much thinking right now. He looked at Mesprit. "How long will the portal be open?" he asked.
"As long as you need," the Pokemon told him. "Time is different here. An hour for you is a week for us. We will leave it here, for you. Palkia will stay to close it when you return."
Drew looked at Ash. They were thinking the same thing. Ash glanced back at them all. "You'll be waiting for a long time," he told them, and there was a hint of fear in his voice.
Dawn nodded. "We know."
"Check back every so often, then," he instructed. Without waiting for confirmation, he turned around and jumped.
Ash blinked. He was staring at the ceiling inside room L17, of which there wasn't much left. Misty's Gyarados had left the room in ruins. There were still bodies strewn about the room. None of them were Paul.
So he was still alive.
Quietly, he picked himself up. Drew was already on his feet and Misty was not far behind. The machine was behind them, its center gone dark with the black of the portal.
"Do you think Paul is on this floor?" Drew murmured.
Ash shook his head. "No. Maybe her office," he said softly. "Or the interrogation rooms."
"Should we split up?" inquired Misty.
"No," Ash said immediately. "No, we need to stay together." Abruptly he realized he had no Pokemon. He had left them all behind. "Anyone got Pokemon?" he asked.
Misty shook her head. Drew reached in his pocket. "I have Roserade," he told him.
Suddenly, a noise emitted from the portal, and someone dropped through it. Instantly the three of them were on the offensive. Then Ash blinked. "Paul?" he said, confused.
Paul gasped and stared up at the ceiling. His eyes were wide and his chest was heaving with panic. Finally, he swallowed, and Drew helped him up. "What are you doing here!?" Drew demanded.
"I had a dream," Paul said, catching his breath. "About the... other... me."
"Already?" Drew cried.
Paul just looked up at Ash. "I know where he is."
Ash nodded and helped him up. "Where?"
"I don't know, I just..." Paul held his head as if it were aching. "I was dragged out of this room," he said, and he followed a trail the others couldn't see. "They made me stand up here," he said from the hallway. They rushed to catch up with him. "We walked all the way down," he continued, but he stopped walking, "all the way down the hall, and they took me to this… white room."
Ash pointed. "Down there?"
Paul nodded.
"Drew, what's down there?"
"I don't know, I've been on this floor like, once."
"You said white rooms?" Misty asked, and Paul nodded. "Ash, in order to perform a blanking, the room needed to be completely blank. We had to wear special suits to cover our heads."
"You think they're blanking him?" Ash exclaimed.
Misty grimaced. "That's what the white rooms were for."
Ash and Drew exchanged a panicked look. Suddenly Drew made to bolt, and Ash only caught him because he had seen it in his eyes. "We don't have weapons," Ash reminded him gruffly.
"I can fight," snapped Drew. He tried to pull away.
Ash yanked him back, roughly. "Don't be stupid, Drew, listen to me!" He looked at Paul. "Did you bring Pokemon?"
Paul nodded. "My whole team."
"Okay. We've seven Pokemon."
"His aren't trained for this," Misty pointed out.
Ash's brow furrowed in frustration. "Go check in there for guns," he ordered, pointing into L17.
Misty disappeared and returned with two handguns. "Probably from the Rockets," she said. "They're not Company issue." She handed one to Ash and held on to the other.
"What about me?" Paul squeaked.
"I got ya," Misty assured him.
Ash checked his gun. "I don't have many shots," he noticed grimly. He looked at Drew. "I'll go in first. Misty, you come behind me with Drew. Get everyone you can. And don't spare anyone." He made eye contact with each of them. "Understand?"
"Yes sir," Misty and Drew replied with a sharp nod. Paul's eyes widened.
"Can't I, um, go back through the—," he began, but he was cut off.
"That's Ketchum!" someone cried. A group of armed Rockets began running towards them.
"Shit," Ash muttered. "Misty!"
"Got it." She fired her shots one after another, easily taking out the two in the front. But the others jumped to the sides, slipping easily into the many rooms lining the hall. Misty immediately spun around and charged after Ash and the others. She heard their guns fire and ducked her head as she ran.
Two guards greeted them at the end of the hall. Ash grabbed one of their guns with one hand and elbowed the guard in the face. Drew handled the other, dodging two shots before easily bringing the man down. Paul kept ducking, narrowing avoiding being caught in the crossfire.
Misty skidded to a halt and faced the way she had come, on the defensive. "Paul!" Drew screamed, yanking the handle and pounding on the door. "Paul!" He raised one leg and kicked, hard. The door cracked in its frame. He kicked again and it gave in.
The room was so stunningly blank that it seemed to glow. They all winced at the brightness before pushing on in. "Paul!" Ash shouted. He looked around wildly for a moment before he saw him.
Drew ran up to him and fell to his knees. "Paul. Paul. Hey." He smacked his cheek lightly. "Hey, buddy, wake up."
It felt off, seeing Paul like this. The wounds that had cleared up weeks ago for them were still fresh on Paul. His clothing was bloodstained and torn. His hair was mottled, with bits of it singed. He lay limply against the wall, his legs and arms splayed while his head drooped onto his chest.
"Paul!" Drew snapped. "Don't you fucking die on me, it didn't work last time!" He grabbed Paul's shoulders and shook roughly. A breath left his lips, but there was no other response.
Drew gave a frustrated snarl. This was his best friend. Whom he was not prepared to lose. He angrily thrust his fingers against Paul's dirty pale neck and felt a pulse. He sighed in relief.
Before Ash could say anything, Drew had Paul hoisted onto his back. "Let's go," Drew said.
"Did they get to him?" demanded Misty. "He looks like they got to him."
"Who? Got what?" the other Paul exclaimed.
"Drew, he doesn't look so good," Ash cautioned.
"So what? We leave him?" He fixed Ash with a burning glare. When Ash crumpled, he smiled. "Didn't think so. Let's go!"
They rushed out of the white room and back into the hall. Footsteps could be heard coming up the stairwell. Ash heard Cynthia's voice and flinched.
"They'll find the portal!" Misty hissed.
Drew and Ash paled. Drew looked at Paul. "Paul, take Paul. Get yourselves back through that portal, now, understand?" He dropped Paul on the smaller one's back. The younger boy's knees buckled. "Don't stop. Just go. Get to safety."
Paul nodded and took off. His running was staggered, unused to the weight and not strong enough to carry it properly.
"We still need to find my mom and everyone else," Ash reminded them.
Drew shifted his gaze to Ash. "I can distract them."
"How?" Misty cried.
"I have Roserade. Give me that gun. I'll make sure they don't find you or that portal."
Ash passed him the gun. "All right. Good luck." He and Misty made eye contact and somehow understood each other. They took off at a sprint, heading for the stairs.
"What are the odds the elevator still works?" Misty wondered as they bolted past it.
Ash screeched to a halt and tapped the button. Misty jogged back to him, about to chide him when unexpectedly the door opened.
"Huh," Misty said. She stepped inside. Ash followed her.
"At least there's no music," Ash pointed out.
Misty nodded as if she could agree. "We'll need a car," she said.
Ash grinned at her. "Leave that to me."
It suddenly seemed like the right moment to kiss her. They were standing there, alone. Her hair had come out of her ponytail and was swishing about her face. Her eyes were sparkling with adrenaline and there was a light flush in her cheeks. She had smudges of dirt on her hands and face and she was looking up at him, smirking. He ought to kiss her. It was the right time. He could feel it. He could—
The doors opened with a ding and Ash sighed. He was never good at these things.
"Come on, let's get going," Misty called as she scampered through the lobby, where the receptionist's body was still lying. He hurried over to the dead girl and found her keys easily. Back when he had been working under Paul, Ash had learned where everyone in the Company kept their keys (except Paul, of course). It was one of his training exercises. He snatched them off the desk ad joined Misty outside.
"Whose are those?" Misty inquired.
"Martha's," Ash replied. "And, um." He ducked his head and kissed Misty full on the lips, as best he could, grabbing a handful of her hair and making sure it was a damn good kiss.
When he finally let go—and it took him a while—he was breathless. Misty was gazing up at him, a little surprised. "Done?" she asked, panting.
Ash nodded. "Yeah we can go now." He pushed the button on Martha's keychain and the car nearest the door light up. He laughed a little, still embarrassed from kissing her, and they both ran to the car and hopped inside, Misty in the driver's seat.
"All right, let's go get May's family," she said. She grabbed the keys from Ash and they sped off.
Max should have been in bed, but instead he was on his computer. At three in the morning. On a school night. He would be grounded for sure if his mother found him. But his father still wasn't home. And neither was May. He knew his mother was in the living room downstairs, waiting for her daughter. May hadn't been answering her phone. Caroline was in a panic.
Max wasn't too worried, though. Despite how un-May-like the whole ordeal was, he had a feeling she was safe.
Abruptly, he saw headlights. He peeked over his windowsill and watched an unfamiliar car pull into their driveway.
Uh oh. Police? No, the two getting out of the car didn't look like cops. Burglars then ? They weren't being very discreet. Cautiously, Max closed his laptop as the two strangers ran up to his front door.
And rang the doorbell? Max frowned. Yes, they were ringing the doorbell. Repeatedly. He crept out of his room and peered down the stairs. His mother was passing his line of vision, fixing her robe as she headed for the door.
"Do you have any idea what time it—Misty?" his mother exclaimed.
"Hi, Ms. Maple." Max identified the voice as May's friend.
"What are you doing here?" asked Caroline. "Is everything all right? Who's this?"
"Ms. Maple, my name is Ash Ketchum," a new voice introduced as Max slowly made his way down the stairs. He peeked through the railing to see a tall man with black standing with his sister's friend. "I work with your husband."
Max could hear the frown in his mother's voice. "Is he all right?" she exclaimed. She looked at Misty. "Where's May?"
"Ms. Maple, it's very important that you listen to me," Ash said.
"We need to get you out of here," Misty added.
Caroline laughed. "What?"
"The people we work for could hurt you or your son in order to get to May."
"I'd rather wait for Norman, thank you." Caroline went to close the door.
Ash stopped her with his foot. "Norman is dead, Ms. Maple."
"This is a very sick, very mean joke," insisted Caroline. "I want nothing to do with it. Now get out of my house!"
"If you don't come with us, you will never see May again."
Caroline froze. "Have you… kidnapped my daughter?"
"No, we're keeping her safe. And we're trying to keep you safe!"
"From who!?" Caroline screamed.
Misty took a deep breath. "Look, Caroline, Norman was working with Ash, for the Company. And now our employers are very upset with all of us and they just might kill you and little Max, all right? So either come with us, or die!"
"You think you can scare me into believing you!"
"Mom," Max interrupted.
All eyes were suddenly on Max. On this twelve-year-old, pajama-wearing boy. He felt nervous. He swallowed. "Can I bring my computer?"
"Hurry," Ash said.
Max rushed upstairs, grabbed his laptop and charger, and came flying back to the door. He walked right past his mother and joined them.
"Max what on earth are you doing!?" cried Caroline.
"Mom, I think they're telling the truth," he told her.
"Get back here this instant!"
"No," Max said. He folded his arms like a child. "I think they're telling the truth. And I'm going with them."
Caroline blinked at him, her mouth hanging open. "You think that your father is dead?" she whispered.
Those words stabbed Max straight through the heart. He took a shaking breath and said, "Why else would he be late?"
Dawn's mother was much easier to convince. When told she would not be able to see Dawn again unless she came with them, she grabbed a sewing kit and a picture of her husband and got right in the car. She greeted the Maples with a smile.
Leaf's mother and father were incredibly stubborn. They didn't know Misty very well and took an immediate disliking to Ash. They "hmph"ed when told their lives were in danger, and were only convinced when Dawn's mother leaned out the window and yelled, "Christ, don't make me come get you!"
Apparently they had a bit of a fear of Mrs. Berlitz.
"Where is your house, Ash?" Misty inquired as she steered. She blatantly ignored the angry vibes emanating for the very cramped backseat.
"Take a right up here," Ash instructed. They sped down the near deserted street for a few minutes before Ash told her to pull over in an apartment complex. "Right, stay here. I'll be right back." He ejected from the car as if launched by springs and flew up the stairs.
When Ash reached his door, he was dismayed to find that he had no key. He pounded on the door. "Mom!?" he called.
The door opened almost instantly. His mother stared at him with sleepless eyes. "Ash?" she whispered. "Are you all right?"
Ash swallowed. "Mom, we have to leave."
"Is it your father?" she asked calmly.
"No. No it's Cynthia."
Delia nodded a few times. "All right," she said. "Let me get you some underwear."
"God, Mom," Ash said, exasperated, and Delia chuckled.
"Just kidding, sweetie." She smiled. "Do I need anything?"
"It's a one way trip to another dimension," he told her.
Delia pursed her lips, thinking. "Running shoes," she decided. Her tennis shoes were right by the door, and she stepped into them without undoing the ties. "Oh! Mom's ring." She hurried into her room and came back with four rings on her fingers.
"What are those?" Ash wondered.
"My mom's wedding ring, my grandmother's, and mine," she informed him. "And this one is from Louis."
Ash stared. "Who's Louis?"
Delia winked. "I'm not telling you, sweetie." Then she pushed past him.
Ash shuddered, turned off the apartment light, and followed his mother.
"Stop!"
Misty slammed the brakes so abruptly that everyone in the car lurched forward dangerously. "What the hell is the matter with you?" she shrieked.
"Just wait here!" Ash was already out of the car and running into some building that looked abandoned.
"What is he doing?" Delia wondered.
The car sat there idling for thirteen minutes (Misty was counting) before Ash reappeared. He slid back into the car easily and grinned. "All right, let's go."
"What was that all about?" demanded Misty as they drove off.
"I just got us some help," Ash said with a smile.
"There's a car behind us," Max announced.
"Don't worry," said Ash. "They're friends of mine."
Misty peered into her side mirror and gasped. "There's like four cars!" she exclaimed.
"They're going to help us out," Ash responded. "Don't worry."
Misty was uneasy, but Ash outranked her, and despite everything that mentality was still there. So she listened.
They stopped the car right in front of the lobby entrance. "Okay, everyone, get out and follow us. Stay with the group. Do not get lost. Understand?" Ash looked at them all in turn.
They all nodded.
"Right. Let's go." Ash and Misty hopped out of the car. Ash slipped into the lobby and made sure the coast was clear, while Misty held the door open and everyone filed in.
She was out there in time to see the four cars that had been tailing them screech to a halt. Almost a dozen people, mostly men, spilled out of each car. "All right folks!" one of them said. "Time to claim this building for the Evelyns!"
They gave an uproarious cheer. Misty paled. This was a gang. She slipped into the lobby and met up with Ash as they jogged for the elevator. "You brought a gang?" she exclaimed.
"They're a better distraction than Drew," he retorted.
"But how did you convince them?" Misty was dumbfounded, and maybe a little impressed.
Ash smirked as the elevator doors slid open. "I showed 'em my skills, and told them all the money that could be made by taking this fine establishment."
Misty snickered and leaned up to kiss him. "You are very clever."
Abruptly they realized all eyes were on them. Misty stopped an inch from his lips and decided this could wait. Especially with Delia giggling at them.
As they neared the floor of L17, Ash and Misty tensed. The doors slid open and they cautiously poked their heads out. There was no gunfire. No hurrying feet. It was all eerily quiet.
Ash exchanged a worried look with Misty, but he beckoned everyone onwards nonetheless. They crept down the hall, completely unarmed. The nearer they drew to L17, the more dangerous their route became. Rubble littered the floor and unsteady cracks became more and more prominent.
"Where is Drew?" Misty whispered.
"I don't know," breathed Ash. And what about the Pauls? Did they make it? "Misty, L17 is right there. I want you to take everyone and get them through, okay?"
Misty looked at their troop. No one was arguing. It was as if they sensed the danger here, and with their children on the line, they were willing to listen. She turned her head back to him. "But Ash, you—."
"That's an order, Gym Leader," Ash stated.
Misty straightened up. "I will not leave you defenseless, sir," she snapped quietly. "You have no Pokemon and no gun. You should at least have me."
"We can't send them through the portal alone!" Ash cried.
Misty looked at their charges and beckoned. Ash watched her lead them to L17, the most important room in the entire Company. They disappeared inside, and then Misty came back out, and closed the door. "They will wait until we come back," she informed him.
"You're so stubborn."
"Right back at ya." She winked. "Let's go get Drew."
Ash and Misty crept silently around the corner, ears straining for any sort of noise. But the Company halls were eerily silent. No gunshots, no hurried footfalls, nothing. Not even the Evelyns.
"Something's wrong," Ash muttered. "The gang should be making all sorts of noise."
"Do you think Drew went through?"
"No," Ash replied. "He wouldn't risk Cynthia finding it."
"What if they're on the roof?" whispered Misty. "Where the stadium is?"
Ash shook his head. He was leaning to look around the next corner when abruptly there was a gun pointed at his head.
Ash's first instinct was to break their hands. He grabbed their wrists and was about to twist when he realized who it was.
"Drew!" he exclaimed quietly.
"Oh," Drew said, and he sounded relieved. "You guys are back." He smiled.
Misty's eyes fell. "Holy shit, Drew, you—you're—."
Drew's eyes dropped to his chest. "Oh, yeah, um, someone shot me." He gave a weak laugh. "I played dead and I guess they bought it, because they left me there and went after Paul."
"They went after Paul?" Ash exclaimed. At the same time Misty cried, "Drew, that's in your freaking chest!"
"I think it's more in the shoulder, actually," Drew said. He sounded breathless. "And yeah, I think other Paul is smarter than we thought. He realized he was being chased and led them away from the portal."
"You sure he didn't just panic," Misty deadpanned.
"Have some faith in the kid," argued Drew.
"Where are they?" Ash demanded.
"Roof," Drew replied.
Misty took the opportunity to flick Ash's ear. "See? I was right!"
Ash just rolled his eyes. "Let's go," he ordered.
The three of them paused in the stairwell. The door had been left open. They could see Cynthia standing coolly in the center of the stadium, a gun in her hand. They could not see either Paul from here.
Ash looked back. "Where's Roserade?"
"Right here," Drew assured him, touching his pocket.
"So we have one Pokemon, and one gun, right?" Ash listed, and the other two nodded. He took a deep breath. "All right then. Here we go." He raised his voice as he stepped into her line of sight. "Cynthia!" he called.
The Sinnoh Champion smirked. "We've been waiting for you, Ash."
Now that Ash was on the same level as her, he could see both Pauls lying at her feet. But they did not have holes in their heads. It looked like they were alive.
"Where's Gary?" she called. "I wanted the full band."
"You'll have to do without him," Ash replied.
Cynthia made a show of squinting. "Are you… unarmed?" She sounded delighted. "You keep surprising me, Ketchum!" She toed one of the Pauls with her boot. "Although this is your best one yet. I mean, two? Really, that's more fun than allowed!" She leaned to look around him. "Oh, and Drew. My, you boys just don't die, do you?"
The Company workers were scattered about the stadium, most of them armed with guns. There didn't seem to be much order to it, but these were all trained professionals, and they outnumbered them.
"How did you get back through?" Cynthia asked.
"Like we'd tell you!" Misty snapped.
Cynthia's eyes narrowed. "This world is about to collapse into war. All because of you, Ash! You and your team that failed. And you have the portal, which can save us! Pokemon can save us!" She raised the gun. "And if you're going to keep that from me, I believe that's treason."
"It won't work, Cynthia," Ash retorted. "Pokemon don't belong here. This world can't handle that kind of power! We'd only kill each other."
Cynthia rolled her eyes and fired her gun. The three of them ducked and the bullet missed. "We're going to kill each other now, Ash, unless you give me what I want."
Abruptly there was gunfire. Cynthia frowned. "What was that?" she demanded.
Ash shrugged. Drew and Misty copied him.
Cynthia looked around at her men. "Well don't just stand there, go fix it!" she ordered.
Two of the Company men nodded at each other. They pushed past Ash and descended down the stairs.
The gunfire continued, but Cynthia ignored it. "Give me the portal, Ash," Cynthia reiterated slowly. She jerked her head. Two more Company cronies jogged over to her and aimed their guns at both Pauls. "Now."
Ash shook his head. "No."
Cynthia pursed her lips and resolutely folded her arms. "Well if that's the way you want to play it. Tell me, at least," she began, "before I kill them… how did you get two Shinjis?"
Ash blinked. She didn't know? The reports he and Misty had written their first time through had explained the phenomenon. Ash hadn't remembered it before. His memory was still full of holes. But he knew—he knew that in the reports he had described the other Gym Leaders. Their parallel selves. Two of everyone. They had remodeled the whole Company after the Pokemon world.
Surely Cynthia knew!
Then Ash had an epiphany. Cynthia didn't know. She never read the reports. She hadn't been Champion when the reports were made and as such never was shown the information. She did not read the reports.
And suddenly he knew they could win.
"You're wrong, Cynthia."
Cynthia's eyes became slits. "What."
"You don't know what you're talking about," he elaborated. Downstairs, he heard the shouts of the Evelyns. If he could just stall her long enough for them to come to his aid, they would be victorious. "Do you have any idea how many Pokemon there are? How many kinds? They wouldn't help us! We can only control them now because there's so few of them. But if we let them all through, they'd destroy us."
"They're animals," she snapped. Insisted. Pleaded.
Ash gave a small smile. "Have you ever seen a Legendary Pokemon?" he inquired as he stepped towards her. "Big as the sky. Many of them can speak, Cynthia. They're more human than animal."
She laughed weakly. "Impossible," she scoffed. But she didn't sound convinced.
"It's true," Misty said suddenly, stepping forward to join Ash. "You couldn't hope to control them. Over there, they are gods."
"How about we take you through?" Drew murmured. He held his wound and staggered up to them. "How about we show you that world. It would terrify you, Cynthia. You would see that world and beg us to bring you back here."
More gunfire. It was terribly loud. Ash hoped they hadn't opened L17.
"You have no idea, Cynthia," Ash continued. He knew they had her. The remaining Company workers held their guns with a slight uncertainty. Their postures slackened. They watched Cynthia for instruction.
Cynthia suddenly swung her gun down so that it was aimed at Paul's head. "Give me the portal or I'll kill him!" she screamed. This was the signal the Company men had been waiting for. They straightened and confidently clicked their guns.
Ash was not stupid. The only reason Paul was alive was because Cynthia thought she could use him to get something out of them. He barely paused. "I give you the portal and everyone dies," he snapped.
"One life is worth that," Drew added haltingly. It pained him to use Paul as bait. Hopefully Cynthia wouldn't pick up on it.
Cynthia's eyes tightened. Her scowl went from Ash to Misty to Drew, searching for any sign of weakness. Her hand did not shake, holding her gun. She kept it firmly aimed at Paul's head. Her henchmen copied her, the barrels of their large guns resting on the skulls of each Paul.
Shouts could be heard from below. Footsteps stomping up the stairs. Ash swallowed. Any moment now. He had to keep Cynthia at bay.
"Of course," he said lightly, regaining her attention, "I heard that the Enigma Stone is—."
There was a crashing noise. The flinch on Cynthia's face was enough to get the three of them to drop to the ground. Both Company workers lifted their guns to be on the defensive. Abruptly, Cynthia was on the ground, guns went off, and both Company men fell with her.
"Hey look!" Ash heard the Evelyn leader exclaim with glee. "It's our pal Purple!"
Blinking, Ash lifted his head.
Paul was on his feet, with one foot on top of Cynthia. He looked at the Evelyns and then at Ash. "What did you do," he said dangerously.
Ash grinned. Suddenly it was like he was a rookie again. "I improvised!" he said happily.
Paul glanced at the bodies of the Company workers, people he had probably known for several years. He shrugged. His gaze turned to his twin. "What the hell is that?"
Other Paul glanced up and tentatively got to his feet. He looked at his other self and gulped.
Ash grimaced. Rather than deal with that, he turned and faced the Evelyn leader. "Thank you for your help," he said sincerely.
"It's a good building," the leader noted. "Lots of techy shit. It's strange it's not more guarded."
"In a few hours it will be," warned Ash. "Get as much as you can and get out of here. Do not take any of the little red and white balls, or any variation of them. Okay? If anything will get you killed, it's those."
The leader gave a little shrug. "Sure." He turned to his troops. "Take whatever you want!" he called.
Misty smiled painfully at them all and hurried through the door. They couldn't trust the gang with this. She knew where most of the pokeballs were and would ensure their safety.
Uncertain, Ash turned back to the Pauls. He scratched at the back of his head and looked down at Cynthia, who was not moving. "Is she dead?" he asked, astounded.
"No. Her head hit the ground when I pulled her feet out from under her," Paul stated. He sneered. "She's alive." He gestured to his other self. "So what is this?"
Ash hesitated. "Well, um—."
Drew interrupted. "He's the you from the Pokemon world. Congratulations." His tone was mocking, but his smile was genuine.
Ash nodded. "And now we're getting him back there. Come on, let's go." He grabbed Other Paul and dragged him to the door.
The four of them ran to L17, highly aware of the raiding gang members around them. They could hear things breaking, hear the whoops and laughs of all of them.
As they approached the most important room in the entire building, Ash saw the door was open. His stomach dropped and he sprinted forward, swinging into the room to see—
Nothing.
Ash peered inside cautiously. There was no glowing portal. No family members. Just the wreckage from the battles not twelve hours ago.
Drew, Paul, and Other Paul appeared behind him. Other Paul gasped. "Where is it?" he demanded, his voice barely above a whisper.
Misty came running up to them. She held a red pull-string bag, the kind the Company issued to their newest members (probably Candice's idea). "I've got the—." She stopped. "Guys?" she said uncertainly.
Ash caught her eye. They both understood. The portal was gone. Delia was gone. All of them were gone. And they were stuck here.
"Ash?" someone called. "That's you, isn't it?"
It was a like a huge weight had been lifted from his chest. Ash's mother poked her head out from the hole in the wall leading outside, where the sky was beginning to pinken with dawn.
"What are you doing out there!?" Ash exclaimed, rushing to help his mother step back inside.
She took his hand and dropped onto the floor. "We heard the gunfire, and Max thought we should hide. So we covered the portal with that sheet and stood on the ledge outside."
Ash beamed. "I love you, Mom," he said.
Delia winked and touched his nose. "I love you too." She turned around and helped Mrs. Maple inside. Paul came forward and took Mrs. Berlitz by the hand. Misty pulled the dirty white sheet off the portal and grinned when the swirling black pool was still there.
Ash looked at them all, lined up and waiting for him. A few of them leered at the portal uncertainly. He had to move quickly. Drew was bleeding out. They had to leave.
"We're going in there," he announced, pointing at the black abyss behind him. "Your children are on the other side. Waiting for you. They have been through hell and they need you there with them. You cannot stay here. I hate to say it but your kids got mixed up with the wrong people—well, they got mixed up with me. And now, in this world, they have real enemies, real people that will kill them or you.
"This world," Ash continued, pointing at the portal, "is nothing like ours. It's better in every way. You won't believe your eyes." He stepped to the side, leaving them all to face the portal. "I hope you're ready."
"Dawn is over there?" Johanna asked, pointing.
Misty nodded. "Yes."
Mrs. Berlitz nodded once to herself. She made sure she had a good hold on her bag before bravely stepping forward. She did not jump in. She closed her eyes and stepped through.
Leaf's mother gasped.
Ash was astounded. He hadn't expected her to be that strong.
"Paul, you're next," Misty said, jerking her head. "Both of you. You have a certain girl to deal with."
Paul hesitated. Other Paul pursed his lips and forced a scowl. "It's his problem, actually," he snapped.
Misty frowned. "What?"
"Who wants to deal with a troublesome girl like that?" Other Paul went on.
Paul was wide eyed. For once, he was dumbstruck. But he obediently followed Other Paul through the portal, and they both disappeared.
Max took his mother's hand and gingerly walked her up the steps. Caroline was shaking. So was Max. But they stood before the pool and at the count of three, they jumped.
Delia smiled warmly and Leaf's parents. "Aren't you coming?" she asked pleasantly.
"This is madness!" her father exclaimed. "You've sent them to their deaths!"
"Leaf can't be there," quibbled her mother. "Not our Leaf."
Delia's shoulders dropped sadly. "I'm sorry you feel that way," she said. She looked at Ash. "I'll be waiting for you," she told him. "Drew, come on, you look like you need help."
Drew gave a weak smile. "Only for you, Mrs. K," he joked. She reached out her hand and he took it, and they stepped through the portal together.
Ash sighed in relief. He looked to Leaf's parents. "Your turn," he instructed.
Leaf's father fixed Ash with a cold stare. "You first."
"If we go through the portal closes," Misty informed him. "It ends with us."
"We can't leave it open waiting for you to jump through," Ash added.
Leaf's mother trembled. "Honey," she whispered, "our baby…"
"You guys know me," Misty reminded them. "I'm Misty! I slept over at your house. You guys took me to your cabin last year! Trust me when I say that Leaf is over there. And the only way you'll see her again is if you go through."
The woman took her husband's hand. "Dear, please!" she begged.
Still, he refused.
Angrily she dropped his hand and bolted. "Emma!" her husband screamed.
She froze just before the portal.
Her husband crept forward gently, arms out. "Emma, please, don't do this, come back with me!" he insisted.
"I won't," she whispered. She inched closer to the portal.
Leaf's father took a few quick steps and stopped just in front of her. "Emma—."
But Leaf's mother interrupted him. She latched on to his am arm and gave an almighty yank. They tumbled into the portal together, both screaming as they went.
Ash and Misty stared in shock at the portal, where the two had just disappeared. "I can't believe it," Misty whispered.
Ash blinked and came back to himself. "Well, I'm glad they did it." He straightened up. "Just us now."
Misty nodded. "Yeah. Just us."
"This is the last we'll ever see of this world."
The redhead laughed. "Not much to see, honestly." She pointed. "Look, there's the bar I bashed in heads with, remember?"
"And that's the hole I pushed Alex into," Ash noted.
Misty's smile became more somber. "We've done more than that here, in this room."
Ash pursed his lips and nodded. "I went through the portal for the first time," he remembered. "After they shipped me all the way from Kanto."
"They assigned me as your partner," recalled Misty.
"You saved me from a flock of Spearow."
"I started thinking you were cute."
They went quiet, and for a while they simply looked at each other.
"If you think about it," Misty said quietly, "this was never our world. That was. Over there."
Ash considered this. "Yeah," he eventually said. "Yeah, I think you're right." Then he beamed and held out his hand. "Are you ready then?" he asked quietly.
Misty took it gently. "Ready."
And together, they stepped into their world.
The End
AN: oh my God fiiiinalllyy it's over jeez I am so glad this is done. I hope you find this a good ending. I tried to get everything just the way I wanted and ugh it was haaard. But I think I got it.
THANK YOU TIMES INFINITY FOR READING THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH. You are the strong and the determined. Thank you for everything. I love you all so so so much.
I will never write anything this long for Pokemon again, I think. I have lots of fluffy/dark ikari related things in storage but that is all. I have moved more to Merlin, so you can read that one if you like. But again, thank you all. I would never have finished this without you. As always, typos are extra credit! Goodbye!*