o0o

Missy and Giovanni arrived outside of a twisted iron gate. Ahead of them was a path lined with massive oak trees. The moonbeams brightened the mist that loomed around the blocked path.

A half-moon was high in the sky cloaked by silver clouds. Down the path was the chateau. The lights in the mansion illuminated the night. A cold breeze rushed past them. Dead and wilted leaves dragged on the ground as they chased the wind.

Missy drew her screwdriver. It hummed as she unlocked the padlock. She unhinged it and dropped it to the ground. She pulled the chain off the gate. The links clanked as they hit the earth.

Together they pushed open the massive gate. It creaked as it opened. They stepped past its bounds and onto a dirt path.

The night was quiet, she couldn't even hear their footsteps as they walked on. Missy glanced over to Giovanni, he seemed to be uneasy.

" Do you really think he's going to talk to us on his deathbed?" he asked.

Missy raised a brow. " You heard what the editor said, he was going mad." She peered into the windows of the chateau. From what she could tell there were no movements inside. " I don't think he just died."

They approached the crimson doors of the chateau. Missy knocked on the door. To her surprise when she rapped the door it crept open. The pair glanced at each other before they stepped inside the home.

Finely polished furnishings greeted them as they stepped into the parlor. The room was many shades of blue, from the sofa to the floor tile it had a unique charm.

The illumination that came from the gaslighting enhanced its charm. Many pictures of finely dressed men and women adorned the walls. Ahead of them was a grand staircase. Bright red stains of blood that covered a nearby stairway.

Giovanni took a deep breath as he approached the stairs. Missy followed him, she stayed close to him. He looked down at the bloodstains his eyes followed them up to the stairs.

" Your archive said nothing about a murder," he quietly said.

" That's not what we asked the archive," Missy replied as she looked up the stairs.

She noticed an open door at the top of the stairs. A light was burning in the room. The pair began to make their way up the stairs. Their movements were silent as they climbed the steps. Slowly and cautiously they approached the open door.

The room inside was lit by a candle. The light of the moon illuminated through a window. A portrait of The Mistress had been hung in a corner above the desk. They peeked in and saw an old man dressed in pajamas. He was busy writing something on a piece of paper.

Missy stepped into the room and crept behind him. She peered over him he's drawing pictures of roses. It's written many times The Mistress, The Mistress... Missy touched his shoulder and broke him out of his frenzied drawing. He looked over to her with fright.

" The Mistress, I always wondered when you would come." He looked up at her. " Ever since they told me about you, and ever since you came. Every day all I see is the same," he calmly said.

Missy peered deep into the man's eyes. The image she saw was black. She gazed down at him as she took a step back.

" Thomas Bernard is that you?" Missy asked she didn't let her eyes wander from his.

" It is I the one and only. It's good to meet you, at last, Mistress," Thomas replied.

" Who told you my story?" she asked.

" Ghost! Neither present or past, but he's always there watching me."

He shuddered as his eyes widened with fright. His gaze grew as he stared at the door. Missy and Giovanni quickly turned around, but no one was there. She hesitantly diverted her gaze to Thomas.

" Always going on about the Mistress this and the Mistress that," Thomas said his eyes didn't move from the door. " The Mistress a woman of unspeakable power and incredible beauty. Always talking about her ninetails and the legend, The Legend of the Mistress," he rambled on.

" What happened to him?" Giovanni asked.

Missy glanced over at him. He had turned his attention completely to the door. He clutched the handle of the umbrella and stood ready to defend himself.

" He's been driven mad by someone, a psychic link perhaps," Missy answered.

She jumped as Thomas grabbed her arm. Missy turned and looked him dead in the eyes. " What do you see?"

He closed his eyes when she peered into his. He shrieked his reply, " I see fields of red roses burning!"

Giovanni gasped Missy listened as he took a step back." What does he mean by that?"

Missy turned to him, his position was fixated on the door." I'm not sure, does It means something to you?"

Her screwdriver began to hum before it lite up. The device informed her that they were not alone.

Giovanni became frantic, his clutch on the umbrella tightened." We've got to get back to base."

The floorboards in the hall began to creak, the air grew stale. An unnerving silence crept through the room. Missy peered into the doorway while she listened. She gazed into the hallway and noticed a change. The lights inside the chateau had gone out.

A strong gust of wind passed through the room. The candle flickered as it blew out. Missy spun around as the moonlight darkened. She looked at the window sill, a man dressed in black hovered. He was the same man they had seen in Lumiose City.

His eyes glow red, he glared at the trio with malice. He lunged forward as he charged through the window. The sound of shattering glass filled the room when he burst in. He knocked Thomas to the floor. Missy took a step back and pointed her screwdriver at him.

Holding his hands forward his fingers were like claws. He hissed as he charged at her, growling and screeching.

Giovanni hastily stepped next to her and opened the umbrella. He successfully blocked the attack. The pair were knocked back by the force of the blow. They quickly got up and bolted into the hallway. Giovanni closed the umbrella as he ran.

" What the hell is he?" Giovanni yelled as he kept up with Missy's frantic pace. She charged ahead.

" Something that shouldn't exist," her answer was followed by a shriek.

Their steps hastened as their foe pursued them. She spotted a nearby doorway, they dodged into a room on their right. Giovanni slammed the door and locked it. They both stepped back from the door.

A red radiance filled the darkness. They turned to the window. The forest outside was in flames. Missy ran over to the window. She witnessed three men dressed in red suits use flamethrowers to set the forest ablaze.

The door slammed as their foe assaulted it from the outside. Missy and Giovanni turned to each other. She began to frantically look around the room to see if anything could help them fight this monstrosity. The desk and bookshelf inside would be of no assistance to them.

She turned around and faced a corpse of an old man on the bed. His body had been ripped open. His insides lined the room in a bloody motif.

She gasped, she pointed her screwdriver at the door ready to shoot their pursuer. The sound of shattering glass caused Missy and Giovanni to jump away from each other. She landed next to the corpse. Disgusted, she moved away from the bed.

She looked to the floor, a broken bottle and the flames that surrounded it. This situation was becoming more dangerous by the second. She looked over to Giovanni he had backed into a wall. His eyes were focused on the window.

She could see his train of thought. With the situation growing direr, she agreed it was the only way.

Missy ran over and began to kick the glass out of the windowpane. " We're going to have to jump out together."

Giovanni grabbed a chair and tossed it. The chair knocked the remaining glass from the window. He took her side and clutched the umbrella. He stuck it out the window and opened it.

Missy grabbed his arm and immediately noticed that he was very muscular. Together they jumped out of the window. The umbrella took to both of their weights well. They slowly fell to the ground.

The men began to run over to them. Missy sneered as she aimed her screwdriver. She shot the man on her right. Giovanni pulled her down as used the umbrella as a shield. The other two used their flamethrowers to unleash an onslaught.

" I'm surprised you picked up on that so quickly," Missy frantically said as she prepared to fire another shot.

He braced himself. " It's simple once you understand how it works."

She peeked out and shot the man in front of her. She dodged to cover as he fired more flames to them. She slid past Giovanni and readied herself to fire again. She dodged out then shot the final attacker. Something flew over their heads. The vampire landed a few yards ahead of her.

" Let's deal with this monstrosity, " Giovanni said as he drew a pokeball. " Ryhdon. "

He released his pokemon. Rhydon came out of its ball and charged the man. The vampire was quick to call out his own pokemon.

" Greninja!" He threw his pokeball.

Greninja leaped out and charged at Ryhdon.

" Greninja use ice beam," he said.

A blue orb formed in greninja's mouth. It formed into a beam. The attack hit ryhdon hard. The pokemon took serious damage as it was knocked back. Rhydon stomped back as it regained its poise.

Giovanni pointed at the pokemon. " Megahorn!"

Rhydons horn began to glow white. The pokemon ducked as it charged greninja. Rhydons horn stabbed greninja in the chest. The attack threw the pokemon back. Greninja turned into a black aura as it changed shape.

It became the pokemon zoroark. The pokemon raised its claws as it charged rhydon. The fox was an illusion pokemon, a dark type capable of disguising itself as any pokemon.

" Night shade!" the man in black commanded.

A wisp of dark energy surrounded Rhydon. The pokemon glared as it took minor damage. Rhydon roared and swung its tail waiting for a command.

Giovanni watched the pokemon intently. " Earthquake."

Rhydon jumped up and stomped its feet into the ground. The earth trembled as the pokemon landed. Zoroark leaped to the right and dodged rhydon's attack.

" Grass knot!" his opponent shouted.

Zoroarks claws turned green as it released an evergreen wave, the energy of the forest. Leaves and vines overtook rhydon. The pokemon was overtaken by the damage and fainted.

Giovanni glared at the vampire while he recalled his pokemon. His opponent laughed as returned zoroark.

" Mortals, " he snarled at the pair. " Come out and play Time Lord!"

He outstretched his arms and presented a challenge. The look in his eyes had become fierce. Missy stepped away from the umbrella. She smirked before she stepped out of the umbrella's protection.

" So you want to play with the Mistress." Missy huffed before she said, " It's only our first date."

He charged her then jumped into the air. Giovanni stepped beside her and blocked his attack with the umbrella. She shook her head appalled by his interruption. She bolted from its cover and aimed at her opponent's chest.

" Date?" he hissed. " Never with the ones who murdered my kind."

He shrieked as he readied himself to charge at her again. He bolted to the right.

He didn't get too far before she shot him in the leg. He was stunned for a moment he glared at her. She was certain he had been misled. Still was not be possible. Her hearts pounded it was not possible.

" I wasn't part of that war Vampire!" she shouted.

The vampire glared at her as he shook his head. He ran up to her going into a full charge. Missy's screwdriver screeched as she unleashed a massive yellow beam.

He dodged it, then raised his claws. He leaped close to her and swiped. She simply twirled ahead and dodged the attack. He didn't care or he didn't know the truth. Perhaps she could talk her way out of this.

" We banished your people to the vortex long ago. How did you come to be?" Missy asked as dodged another attack she faced him.

The radiance of the forest fire grew. She could see his pale face he bore his teeth. Missy pointed her screwdriver and fired a yellow beam in his direction. He dodged to the right and rolled onto the ground.

He leaped up and swiped at her with his claws. " I have always been, Time Lord. I am a child of this world."

He glared at her as he began to screech. His hands began to glow with a yellow aurora. He was preparing to take her lives, she wouldn't allow for that.

Missy began to back off. " I can't let you do that."

She backed away from him her screwdriver pointed at his heart. He charged at her again. Missy continued to step back as she dodged his blow.

Giovanni had her umbrella, she needed more defense. She knew that fire was a fatal element to Vampires, an excellent weapon for killing them. Using a pokemon was a cheap tacit but it was better than using her ineffective screwdriver.

She reached for charizard's ball and tossed it. " Charizard!

The dragon took flight in front of Missy.

" Banette! " He tossed the ball and a ghost jumped onto the field. Banette spun in the air as he engaged a mega evolution.

Missy touched the keystone and engaged charizard's mega evolution. A brilliant white energy overtook the vibrancy of the fire. As the radiance of the evolutions ended the opponents stared each other down.

" Charizard use fire blast!" Missy commanded.

Flames erupted as charizard opened its mouth.

" Banette sucker punch!"

Banette launched itself at charizard. The pokemon punched the dragon's chest. The attack knocked charizard to the ground, but it quickly got back up.

He had a good counterblow, the move sucker punch was a priority attack. The move always went first when the opposing pokemon used an attack that would cause damage.

Unfortunately, her charizard had no way to counter banette's priority move. She had a move that could knock out her opponent in a few moves. She just had to hope charizard could withstand the counter-attacks.

" Charizard fly up use shadow claw!" she shouted.

Charizard roared as it flew up. Its claws glow black with a purple aura. It dove at its opponent and struck the pokemon. Charizard's claws ripped across its chest. Banette was knocked back close to the forest. The pokemon took heavy damage but it got back up.

" Shadow sneak," he commanded.

Banette turned into a shadow that fell to the ground. Its movements were obfuscated by the shadows cast by the fire.

" Charizard stay in the sky dodge that attack," Missy commanded.

Charizard began to circle. The pokemon flew higher into the sky. The dragon soared over the billowing pillars of smoke.

The pokemon emerged without warning. Banette appeared behind the dragon striking it. The blow was hard and the pokemon took serious damage.

Charizard grunted as it began to fall to the ground. It spreads its wings open and soared over the flames. It made a sharp turn as it searched for its opponent. Banette reappeared in front of its master.

Missy took the opportunity to attack again. " Charizard use shadow claw."

Charizard aligned itself with banette and swooped down. The dragon raised its glowing black claws in preparation for a strike.

" Sucker punch!" he countered.

Banette turned to charizard. The ghost leaped up punching the pokemon. Charizard was knocked back into the ground. It devolved as it crashed into the dirt.

Missy couldn't believe it, her pokemon was at its maximum level. Then she realized that his banette must have been as well.

She glared at the vampire as she recalled charizard. She readied her screwdriver in preparation for another attack.

Giovanni placed his hand on her shoulder. His action caused her to stop. His nidoking growled, he pointed ahead. The pokemon roared as it charged into the fight.

" Nidoking sandstorm," Giovanni calmly ordered

Nidoking snarled as sheets of dust and sand overtook the area.

Sandstorm, a passive move that created a sandstorm. The attack would deal minor damage over every turn.

" Benette will-o-wisp! " his opponent shouted.

Two orbs of fire flanked the ghost pokemon. They flew to nidoking and circled it. The pokemon grunted as its purple skin chared, the attack had caused a burn.

Banette was pounded by the sandstorm as the attack continued. The ghost took more damage.

The Vampire and Giovanni peered at each other before they gave more commands.

" Banette sucker punch!" The Vampire ordered, but Giovanni also gave a command. " Nidoking focus energy!"

Banette's attack failed. The pokemon was bombarded by the sandstorm again and took more damage. The ghost fell to the ground in defeat. Giovanni's opponent recalled his pokemon. He glared at them before he retreated, leaping to his allies.

They turned and watched him land. He ran to the three knocked out agents and picked up two of them up. He placed his foot on the other. He looked down at his wrist and pressed a button. In a flash of blinding white light, they disappeared.

" Time travelers," Giovanni muttered he took Missy's arm. " We need to get back to base."

Missy was taken aback by his action. He seemed very concerned. She gave a nod and set her vortex manipulator for the base coordinates. She set their arrival time for an hour after their original departure.

They arrived in Giovanni's office. A rocket grunt burst through the door. The grunt frantically looked at Missy then to Giovanni.

" What's going on?" Giovanni asked as he let Missy go.

The grunt saluted him. " Sir, someone is hacking our base. We need you in the command room."

Giovanni nodded as he made his way to the office doors. Missy followed him. The trio made their way to the Elevator and got on. He pressed the button for B-2 and soon the elevator made its ascent.

They got off the elevator and stepped into a massive computer room. The room was adorned with enormous monitors. Below them, many people sat at computers in rows. The sound of many people typing wasn't enough to drown out the music. Missy figured they were trying to stop the hacker. That upbeat song was blaring must have been troublesome.

Ahead of Missy and Giovanni was a set of stairs that lead down to a half-circle office, complete with monitors and a chair. Giovanni began to step down the stairs. Missy followed him down. He sat down and turned on his computer.

Ah, Ah, Ahhh...

We come from the land of the ice and snow...

" I don't believe that," Missy deadpanned as the music continued.

The lyrics went on. The song sang about taking the new lands and the goal of going to the western shores. Missy looked over the screens. She watched the input of codes and counter codes. The next lyric broke her focus.

We are your overlords.

" What's kind of music is this? Who dare say they are my overlord!" Giovanni shouted.

That nearly killed her focus entirely. She looked at the computer screen. The screen was black with numbers and letter that rampantly streamed across the screen. She drew her screwdriver and began to scan the data, in an attempt to get a code window.

She did her best to drown out the song. A black codex window appeared on the screen. She hasitly took his side and began to enter lines of code.

" Hmmm..." Missy hummed.

She had never seen this type of code before, it took her a bit to break it down. In a moment she devised a counter codex.

Ohhh..ohhhh

Missy tapped a few keys on the keyboard. She took complete control of Giovanni's command center.

His eyes narrowed as he watched her. " How dare you just take over my base." He let out a sigh before he rolled his chair back. She took the extra space.

" What are you doing?" he asked.

Yea

" Isn't it obvious. I'm hacking them back," Missy answered as she continued to type code lines.

A new song was playing with a slower beat. Missy quickly opened the codex to team rockets computer systems. She put the codex and a chat bar on display. She glanced up at the center monitor. The workers below had taken notice. A slower song has started to play.

Missy nearly froze when she heard the first lyric.

You are my fire, the one desire, Believe when...

" No!" She began to enter the code faster.

Not this song, this was a terrible piece of music. Who in their right mind... her thoughts trailed, these people weren't in their right mind. The screen became black and a sentence appeared on the center monitor.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN MISTRESS.

Missy's left hand continued to type while she reached for her screwdriver. She shot all of the cameras in the room. With a wave, she disabled the webcams. She set her screwdriver down and continued to work. She began to hack a nearby satellite.

We are two worlds, apart. Can't reach to your... the song continued.

HEARTS

Missy growled as she read the message. She turned her attention back to the code. She entered a new codex to bring up multiple data screens. She found an open satellite network. The Alakazam Music Broadcast Global Network. She hacked the satellite and began to search for the hacker.

Tell me why, Aint nothin' but a heartache...

Missy responded to the new Message.

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

Tell me why... As the music continued Missy entered more code. There was a ding a the message was responded to. She glanced at the screen.

NO

" Doctor Who?" Giovanni asked.

Missy glanced over at him and gave a half-smile. He had asked the question, the question the whole universe had asked.

She smiled at the thought of the Doctor. " The greatest warrior in all the universe. He's a good friend of mine, nasty nemesis too."

Missy turned her attention to the computer screen. She continued to skillfully enter a code. She reached for the mouse and opened another screen. She began to enter a code in D.O.S. format.

She tried to drown out the music. It blasted through her focus for a moment... but I want it that way. Missy bit her lip in an attempt to refocused. She looked to the codex windows turned to red for a moment before returning to black.

Missy quickly re-hacked them. She brought them all back on screen in a matter of seconds. She flawlessly she entered more lines of code as she attacked the satellite.

She bit her lip again as the music broke her focus. Ain't nothin' but a mistake... She growled, who was behind such a nefarious act. She wanted to see what they knew. Missy didn't think they would tell her but it was worth a shot. She opened the chat bar and typed in.

WHO IS THIS?

The response was.

THE MASTER DOESN'T KNOW!

Missy gawked, whoever this person was they knew her well. She quickly typed a response.

IT'S MISTRESS NOW!

" What!" Giovanni shouted in confusion. " What are you two talking about?"

Now I can see that we're falling apart, from the way that it used to be... Missy growled she wanted this madness to end.

" Give me forty seconds."

She was frantically typing while she looked at the multiple screens. The song continued. No matter the distance I... Missy growled as entered more code. She was going to teach this instigator a lesson about taunting. Missy typed in her message and pressed enter.

YOU ARE ON FIRE!

You are, you are, you are...

She pointed her screwdriver at the monitors. " Don't want to hear you... " Missy sang along with the song.

She opened a live feed of a different base. Men and women dressed in red ran down a hallway. They held fire extinguishers.

In another room was a computer data bank. A small fire raged sparks erupted from a few of the processing towers. Both Missy and Giovanni laughed at the sight. The team members below began to cheer.

The music cut out. The screens turned red before the Team Rocket logo re-appeared. Down below people at computers got to work counter entering a code and downloading information. Missy turned to Giovanni he seemed confused.

" What was that about?" Giovanni asked.

" The music is from a different world," Missy answered in an attempt to dodge the question she presumed he was going to ask.

He did not seem satisfied with her answer. She let out a sigh.

" The Master, Former name of mine, a former life, So to speak. Time Lords can live for thousands of years. Name, occasional gender swap all common things," Missy explained.

Giovanni raised a brow. His confusion had clearly become greater. Missy could tell he very clearly intrigued as well.

" Your people can live for thousands of years?" he asked.

" Yes," she said.

The look he gave her hinted at more questions. For a moment she wondered how the Doctor deals with these things. He was always talking. It occurred to her perhaps she should explain it more. He already knew too much. She decided to just give him another simple answer.

" I'm a few years shy of twelve hundred."

" Really." He was impressed at the same time he seemed to have a difficult time grasping the concept. He grinned as he leaned back. " For twelve hundred years of life your very wreck-less."

" After you live so long it becomes a second nature. That's not something a human would understand," Missy replied.

Giovanni glared at her for a moment. " I don't think humans are something Time Lords are capable of understanding."

Missy smirked at his challenge. Inside she was shocked. This one had the nerve to challenge a superior being.

" You don't think I'm smart enough to understand humans?"

He returned the smirk. " I don't think your human enough to understand humans, Time Lord."

They looked at each other with intrigue. A burst of curiosity overtook her. Missy pondered the notion and his challenge. She hated humans for their lack of understanding and love of the Doctor, but this world did not know him.

Perhaps this was a different kind of human race. It was a very different world with different rules and dynamics. For the first time, in a long time, this was something different.