Disclaimer: The characters of Pokémon do not belong to me. Nor do any of the other known characters that may appear in this fic. The story is mine, and was made for entertainment purpose only.
Another Chance: Arc 2
Years ago…
Misty was all alone; a dark spec in a blank canvas. The seven-year-old tried to push the tears away, but she couldn't choke away the feelings. The emotions had gripped her by the throat, and the squeezing wouldn't stop.
The room was in tatters. Tables were overthrown, machines broken, and papers littering the once pristine marble floor. Her small fingers pressing hard on the ground, broken and pleading why she couldn't save him.
Small blotches of blood inked the marble, destroying any hope that her imagination hadn't made up the entire scene.
The young child couldn't push away the memories. Men in red suits. And there were too many.
Long hair hid her face as more heavy sobs fell through. Her only family was gone, and it was all her fault.
'Leave my daughter alone!' had screamed Daddy. 'Take me. I'm the one you want!'
The soft sound of footsteps broke her trance. The sound's echoes were only amplified in the underground chamber. Daddy's special laboratory.
The noises were getting louder. And the tiny girl's head rose slightly, uncaring and detached. The enemy had probably returned to finish the job. The men dressed like monsters, who blasted fire onto their victims.
She shakily got to her feet. Her once sapphire gown, so similar to the soft hue of the ocean blue, was ripped and burnt from those Monsters.
Her despair only fueled her growing anger.
The footsteps were getting louder.
The seven-year-old girl glared at the only barrier blocking her view. One semi-melted metal door.
She didn't want to hide anymore. If she died, who cared. Her memories a clean slate, and the one central figure she knew was gone forever. Passion over ruled any critical thought as she charged forward into the darkness.
But her attack proved pointless as she felt a single wave of energy propel her backwards. Her mouth betrayed her as she screamed in pain, when her already weakened body hit the floor.
"So you are alive," said her enemy.
Her vision was growing blurry, and darkness slowly began to seep into her line of sight.
"Tell me," continued the voice, "where is your father?"
The child had noticed the voice's higher tone. Definitely a woman had struck her.
Even with her awareness dulling, she would not speak. Like they didn't know already.
The woman, whose menacing glare promised pain, gripped the young girl by the neck raising her to eye level.
"Do not interfere with Team Rocket business," stated the woman. She had jet black hair, and her uniform was a simple black adorned with a Team Rocket badge. "You are the only surviving person in this manor. Now speak."
Being lifted by the throat and ordered to talk? That had to be the most idiotic thing ever said. Said young girl spat onto the woman's face. Before trying to speak, and only sounding like a sputter of incoherent babble.
Noticing the dilemma the woman not so gently dropped her onto the ground. Why couldn't she fall unconscious normally! Unfortunately, her body seemed to have enough energy to give a reply.
"Lies. All lies. You, Monsters took him away," growled the seven-year old. "Give me back, Daddy!" screamed Misty.
Sabrina gave the girl a blank look, while watching the girl topple over unconscious. The young child's statement seemed to verify her own conclusions. Team Magma had indeed beat them to the spot. The research that was going to trade hands today was supposed to be…invaluable. How unfortunate.
Looking at the unconscious heiress, the rumored adopted child, her hand gently brushed the girl's forehead. Information.
Closing her eyes, she pushed a small tendril of psychic energy, and with a familiar burst of energy she could access the girl's memories. Useless emotions and moments were quickly ignored as she searched deeper for the information that would be deemed useful. Stuff such as the feelings of loneliness, and the strive to prove one's worth to a father. And the eventual excitement of finally achieving that goal. Such bonding were trivial.
A particular memory caught her eye, and she delved within. Watching the past as if it were actually happening at that very moment.
OOO
Memory Orb #23.4
Her feet swayed side-by-side as she waited in the empty room. Misty gave a small yawn as she looked at the white walls, and the white ceiling, and the white sofa she was currently resting on.
As the minutes had past by, she just stared at how her feet would dangle off the couch, leaving 2 feet of air between her toes and the white marble floor.
'I hate being so tiny,' grumbled Misty.
Misty quickly shook her head at that abrupt thought. Of course she was tiny; she was only 7-years-old.
A strange feeling of doubt lingered in her mind.
Trying to force away the weird thoughts, Misty carefully rubbed the newly bought toy doll in her hand. Her fingers would comb through the little Pokemon Princess' silky smooth hair.
Two hard knocks on the door interrupted her from her thoughts, and she was not surprised to see the good doctor beaming at her like usual. The man usually had his usual red notebook, and his bright clean white doctor's robe.
Misty almost snorted in the remembrance of the first time she met him. A "Magical Invisibility Cloak" he dubbed his uniform. And to make the situation even more childish, he brought out several puppets. Seriously! She might be a little kid, but the whole charade was just an insult to her intelligence.
"Congratulations on yesterday's birthday young Miss," tittered the old man. Misty had to hand it to him though. He pulled off the kind, old, grandfather look to a tee. "Oh my! What a lovely doll, was that a birthday present?"
"Mhm," nodded Misty, "It was all dad's idea. He's such a big softie."
The older gentleman cringed at that mention. The girl's father was frightening.
"Umm…okay then…back to formalities" coughed the doctor, "Have you've taken your daily medication?"
Misty just stared at him.
"Ah, yes…" sweated the nervous man, "Excellent… let's just start off then." Retrieving his notebook, the man flipped the papers to a certain page. "Okay… we left off at some mountain, and something about Pokemon clones?"
Misty nodded.
"Well, from an analytical standpoint I must say you have a very active imagination." The man rubbed his hairless chin. "So did you dream anything new? Anything pertaining to this last story of yours?"
Misty played with her doll a bit before speaking. "Well…there was this boy…" she squeezed her eyes tight, trying to remember her latest dream. "…and his Pikachu…"
…
"Ah yes," smiled the elderly man, "But, can you please describe more about this, Mewtwo,"
OOOOO
Sabrina watched as "Memory 23.4" disintegrated all around her. Her lips almost formed a frown. That was highly classified information. What else did that girl inadvertently revealed?
Focusing more intensely she studied the girl's memories thoroughly, may it have ranged from being the top student of her class or of the crystal cube she had craftily hidden in her dress.
But she could not search any further when she encountered a large blockade in the midst of the child's mind. Sabrina quickly recognized the symptoms of mental trauma as she recognized the large wall. This was what blocked the girl's past, and was very similar to amnesiac patients.
Pushing deeper into the child's psyche was now potentially dangerous; for her and the child's mental health.
Curing amnesia was never safe. The amount of memories bursting through always…affected both parties. However, Sabrina deemed such consequences minimal. The child was much too young, to have such an amount of experiences.
And Sabrina was no slave to her emotions. She was the master.
So the decision to break the wall, and explore further came with no more hesitation. And as the information flowed and merged, she was instantly overwhelmed.
Around 20 years of information crashing into one's psyche does that to a person.
So it was only natural that Sabrina scream. The emotions too overwhelming, and the icy blockades on her own childhood insecurities shattering and breaking.
Minutes had turned into hours, when Sabrina finally rose to her feet. Everything a bit more clear and so much more confusing. She slowly lifted the "child" in her arms, and gazed at the time-traveler's features.
"A damn Haunter," incoherently muttered the disoriented Gym Leader/Team Rocket General. She didn't know whether she should hate or thank the child. Sabrina glowed a bright yellow, preparing to transport herself and the child back to Kanto.
Before the last flash of white teleported any trace of them from the continent, Sabrina couldn't have cared less for Giovanni.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Present" time
Meanwhile in Celadon Park...
Ash's head tingled as she kissed harder; her soft hands pressed upon his wet clothes. She smelled like strawberries. And while all his senses abandoned him, certain feelings like smell, taste, and touch were overwhelmed.
It was stunning how the chills that accompanied water now drift into the back of his mind, and how the warmth of her arms and hands made him feel like he was going to burst into flames.
Her hands slowly drifted from his back, and were traveling downward to his pan-
"GRAGH!" jumped back Ash, "No, no, no Misty!" The now 10-year-old was simply shell shocked as he tried to make out words. "I-I won't let you distract me."
Misty gave him an innocent look, before walking towards her stumbling partner.
"What are you talking about?" pouted Misty, "I only want a small, tiny, kiss."
Ash was now on the grass, as Misty bent towards him. Trapping him by all sides. "We are still going to get married? Right, Ash?" Her head lowered, both of their cheeks brushing one another. "There is no one to stop us," whispered Misty.
He could feel her body pressing onto him. Everything was telling him to embrace her. Wasn't this what he wanted? He could hardly believe that last several weeks would be this life changing. Reconnecting with his mom, falling off a cliff, traveling back to the past, and…
…
Ash gazed into her eyes. He would be damn to let everything fall apart.
"These secrets are becoming dangerous. I need to know them all, now."
"I can't tell you." Misty looked almost taken aback, at his sudden forcefulness.
Ash tried his best to look sincere. His hand reaching out for hers. "I just want us to be prepared."
Misty's gave a small nod. "I know. But I-I just can't tell you everything."
"Then tell me this," prodded Ash, "Why did you give me the Marsh badge? And how did you use that Psychic energy?"
Misty squirmed under his gaze.
"Sabrina sort of helped me accomplish both."
Ash gave an understanding nod. That was his first guess.
"And she's my sister."
Now that had Ash gasping for air! His arms automatically clenched his chest, while he muttered incoherently.
Misty quickly held onto the catatonic boy.
"H-how?" weakly croaked the time traveler.
"Umm…she found me in Johto, and took care of me."
"O-oh…"
She gave him a worried look. "I'm sorry for not telling you earlier," she cried out.
"It's…nuthin," muttered Ash. His mind trying to grasp what horrible influences that Sabrina (aka: scary lady) did to his once (and still) sweet Misty.
Suddenly, images of his recent experiences with a dangerous and aggressive Misty came to mind. It all made sens-
WAIT!
That couldn't be right. Misty was always a scary, psychopathic, short-fumed, and PMS driven person since the beginni-
Ash couldn't finish his last thought as he felt a pair of strong hands tightly gripping his neck. Ash eyes almost bugged out when he saw that large fake smile on Misty's face.
"Yo-you can read my mind?" squeaked Ash.
"Don't be silly." Misty's smile grew wider. "You were talking out loud."
…
…
"…Oh crap."
A soft rumbling came from Misty's pocket, and Ash studied the quickness of Misty's reaction as she let him go and pulled out a small communicator.
Ash's savior arrived in the form of a small phone, and he was quick to escape from underneath her sprint a small distance away.
Misty already had the small phone pressed to her ear.
"And hello to you too sister."
Ash slowly walked closer.
"I know, I know. What? Yes. I already told you, I am going after Team Magma. You just keep doing with what you're doing. Okay. Wait, what? Stop teasing Daisy. I mean it! Yeah, yeah. I love you too. Oh him? You do? Okay, okay."
Ash almost bolted when Misty walked up to him and handed him the phone.
"She wants to talk to you."
Slowly he reached for the object, and listened to the small phone.
"Is this Ash Ketchum?" questioned the caller.
"Ye-Yes," gulped Ash.
"Oh really? I've heard so much about you," replied a now very excited tone.
"…Sabrina?"
"Yup, but you can call me sister," quickly replied the upbeat voice. Ash could have sworn he heard giggling. "Once you marry my sister, we are going to be one very happy family. Right Ash?"
"Umm," dazedly replied confused time-traveler, "Yeah. I guess that means you can call me brother…?"
"Oh, of course!" came the nerve-wracking happy reply. "I wish we can talk further, but I'm very, very busy little brother." Ash could feel his eye twitching.
"Same here."
"Oh and one more thing," continued Sabrina, "If you ever hurt my sister, I'll find you. Bai Bai." The phone quickly went silent.
A couple of seconds passed as Ash stared at the phone. "What have I gotten myself into?"
OOO
-Vermillion City's Pier-
Sabrina slid the phone back into her coat. She didn't have to wait long when two masked men appeared from behind the corner. Both of them proudly wore the Team Rocket insignia on their uniform.
"General," saluted both men, before rushing in line in front of her.
"What have you discovered?" ordered Sabrina. Her presence giving both men chills.
"General!" barked the larger of the two, "We have lost all communication with the Boss, for the last 63 hours. We have also lost contact with many of our based operations throughout Kanto!"
Sabrina's eyes furrowed. "What is the current analysis?"
Both men looked at one another. "We believe it was caused by sabotage," the leaner man spoke this time, "My contact within Kanto's national station was able to get me this."
The Team Rocket agent handed her a glossy colored magazine. Sabrina raised a single eyebrow at the cover. In big bold letters, the headline declared: "Team Rocket No More!" And a unflattering picture of Giovanni, snarling behind bars was plastered right in front.
Sabrina quickly, flipped through the pages and was not surprised to see a flattering photograph of Misty, standing over an unconscious Ash. In bold letters, it described the "Heroes of Kanto" and some other writing, she didn't bother looking at.
She quickly closed the magazine, before looking at the two Team Rocket soldiers.
"You've both done well," smiled Sabrina.
Both men immediately stepped back at their leader's reaction. Their General never smiled.
"Therefore, you both must be rewarded."
She again kept her face expressionless as she watched their beady eyes glint.
The men watched as her hand slowly dipped into her pocket, revealing a large stack of bills. But before she could liberate the large stack of money from her dress, her body jerked backward and she rose a shaking hand, that pointed behind them.
"A-a Charizard!" yelled Sabrina, her eyes wide.
Reaching for their Pokeballs, both men spun backwards and threw their orbs, in hope of catching the rare/elusive fire-type. But both were confused stupid when they saw nothing behind them. Except for the open sea.
The larger one was first to turn around. "Hey. There ain't no Charizar-"
The Rocket didn't have a chance as Sabrina slammed her fist into his face. Flinging him onto his back, his head cracking the wooden pier. He wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.
"What the fu-GWAAHH!" choked the smaller thug as Sabrina's kick, pierced the other man into the chest.
With a quick burst of speed, she jammed her elbow into his head, knocking him out.
"And to think…you were two of the brightest members, Team Rocket had to offer."
She then lazily kicked both Rocket members into the nearby water. The deep unknown swallowing their bodies whole, till they would eventually hit the sea floor. The bodies enraptured in a purple energy, assuring her that they wouldn't float back to the surface.
Sabrina's attention drifted to the stolen magazine in her hand before pocketing it away.
'Enjoy these next few days, little sister. Because once it comes out...
…The shit will hit the fan.'
Sabrina brushed a loose strand of hair from her face and turned away from the horizon, whistling a happy tune.
"Watch out for the Charizard," giggled Sabrina, "Idiots."
It felt good to smile.
A/N:
I hoped you like the length. It's definitely…longer than many other chapters. : )
Anyways, another unrevised chapter. Sorry all, but I wanted to get this out as soon as possible.
-sigh- Therefore I want to extend an ad for any available betas. I'm searching for someone to revise, and get it back to me quickly.
Also, I know that this chapter had only drama and plot purposes… but it was necessary. And I would be lying if I didn't say that I enjoy writing all that self-reflection stuff.
But yeah, don't be afraid to review. Feedback does help. No lie.
Stay tune for:
Chapter 26: Fire, Fire.