Pokemon2:The New Dimension

by Sarie Cigam

The beginning's not to good, but it gets a lot better... this is not your average Ash&Misty fic

3. Chapters 46-The End

Chapter 46

Oops...

Sarie took in a deep breath as the fans in the stadium cheered for her. She and Beth had become favorites.

Gary Oak had a rep for being mean. He also had a rep for owning rare and powerful pokemon, owing to the fact that his grandfather was Prof. Oak.

Now favorite met privileged for a match to remember.

"Gary, you beat my friend. So now I'm gonna have to beat you." Sarie smiled at Gary.

"Why's that, loser?" Gary sneered.

"A little word called 'retribution.'" Sarie's smile became an angry snarl as she raised Tassadar's pokeball above her head.

"Go, Flareon!"

"Go, Tassadar!"

Flames faced psychic as the two pokemon faced each other down, snarling and growling, circling, testing power.

"Flareon, Fire Blast!"

"Tassadar, Psychic!"

Flareon was thrown sky high as Tassadar let fly his powers. The Fox like pokemon howled in pain as Tassadar crushed her mind. Flareon shook her head, crouched low in pain, ears drooping. With an anguished moan, she fell, fainted.

"Return, Flareon! Go, Arcanine!"

"Tassadar, Return! Go, Char!"

Char made his appearance, smiling at finally being able to fight. He flexed his claws, snorted a puff of black smoke, and smiled deviously at the dog pokemon who stood before him.

(Thank you for giving me such an easy opponent, Sarie.) Char smiled.

"No problem, Char. Use your power and fight like a daemon!" Sarie said, patting her Charizard's head. Char took this literally, and by the time he was done with the Arcanine, there wasn't much Arcanine left. Gary returned his pokemon with a disgusted look on his face.

"Go, nidoking!"

"Char, return!" Sarie attempted to return her Charizard, but he dodged the beam and snatched the pokeball from Sarie's hand.

(Let me go out fighting... if I go out, that is.) Char said, returning the pokeball to Sarie's hand.

"Go ahead, big guy. Give it all you got!" Sarie shouted. Char nodded and snorted contemptuously at the nidoking.

"Nidokiiiing!" Gary's pokemon cried, driving his long, sharp horn deep into Char's thigh.

"Chaaaaaaaaar!" Charizard snarled, bringing his knife-like claws crashing down onto the Nidoking's skull.

"King!" Nidoking smashed his tail into Char, bowling him over. Char roared in agony as Nidoking tore into his back with his horn.

"ChaAAAAARRR!" Char took to the skies, spitting flaming fireballs at Nidoking. The whole audience felt the searing heat as one fireball flew off course and over the stadium wall. Char didn't care what he hit, as long as he killed the Nidoking.

Nidoking borrowed underground, then burst up, jamming his horn again into Char's leg. Char stepped down, burying the horn further into his leg, but snapping it off in the process. Nidoking screeched in anger as blood spouted from the broken horn end all over Char's foot and leg. Char gave a growl of satisfaction and knocked out the nidoking with one smack of his mighty tail. Using his teeth, char yanked the horn out and spat it scornfully at Nidoking. The horn hit the poison pin pokemon on the shoulder, creating another slash in the purple hide.

"Char, return!" Sarie motioned for her Charizard to stand at the foot of her platform.

"The nidoking is down.. Argg!" The announcer was flung backwards as Nidoking's massive paw smacked him in the chest. With a grunt of surprise, Char turned from his master to the Nidoking who would not lay down and die. He furiously rammed his head into Nidoking's chest, but the nidoking barely flinched. Instead, he grabbed the Charizard's head and smashed it into the ground.

"ChaaaaaariZAAAAAAAARD!" Char roared, flapping his wings and flying high into the dusky sky. With snarls of rage, he flung fireballs in every direction, causing widespread panic amongst the spectators. They ran from the stadium as Char's fireballs made enormous dents in the stands and floor. One hit the nidoking square in the chest, knocking the beast to the floor. Sarie signaled Char to come back, but he could not see her.

Char, you won! Come back before you blow up indigo island! Saire said psychically to Char.

(Sorry. Battle rage, you understand.) Char said, standing beside Sarie.

"Sarie has won the match... but to what cost?" The stand in announcer cried.

"You two, get down here!" An indigo official raged.

"Yes sir." Sarie stepped down and walked towards the furious man. Gary did the same.

"You've nearly destroyed the stadium! This'll cost millions to repair!" He spat

"Sorry, sir." Sarie mumbled.

"Have you got millions?" The man asked.

"No sir."

"I suppose you think you'll have to work it off?" He asked.

"Yes sir."

"Well, you won't. But your battle will be delayed for a while." The man said, glaring at her.

"Sorry, sir."

"You two, go back to your hotels. Watch your Charizard, he's dangerous!"

"Hey, I didn't do anything!" Gary shouted angrily.

"Your Nidoking wounded our ref!" The man said.

"Her Charizard busted the stadium!"

"Shut it and go home!" He snarled.

"Fine! My grand dad's gonna see that you're fired!"

"He can't, he's only a professor!"

"Yeah, we'll see!" And Gary stalked off.

"Sorry, sir."

"Don't worry, just don't do it again." The man said, walking back to the announcer's booth. He shook his head at the massive craters. This would take several weeks to fix.

Sarie patted Char's head and returned him, then marched off towards the pokemon center where her friends were waiting.

"That was intense! Did you get fined?" Beth asked Sarie.

"Nope. Just got a warning. I hope we'll get to battle soon, though. Wonder how long it'll take to fix?" Sarie mused aloud.

(If it takes more than three weeks I might be back in.) Nida said, patting her round belly.

"Oh I see. They're due in two weeks and you think I'll let you fight with a bunch of kids to look after? Forget it!" Sarie said, smiling.

(Poo. I want to battle again.)

"Well, you'll have to wait. You'll fight again soon enough."

Chapter 47

One week

For three very board trainers, several weeks with no battles to attend seemed pure torture. There was nothing to do but sit around and do nothing. Several times during the week one of them would go out to train their pokemon, but after a while that, too, was boring. Both Beth and Sarie's pokemon seemed to be at their limit and could only be trained further in special areas, such as water resistance and muscle power. Their levels were at their maximum.

It was on one such training outing that Tassadar discovered something that would change his training forever.

It started normally enough. Sarie had taken her pokemon to the lake to swim and toughen up. Stryka had mastered the art of flying just over the water's surface and had invented an attack that consisted of her creating waves with her wings. It was called waterwing by Stryka. Nida had mastered the use of Surf and now practiced it, under the supervision of Sarie, in the shallows of the lake. Mew had learned bubblebeam, and Chester had found out that splashing your opponent with water made thundershock more effective. Powerplant figured out how to absorb water to heal himself. Tassadar used his psychic powers to create whirlpools and waves in a move known as 'technique invention'. Sarie and he ad been working on it for a while, and Tassadar was almost a master at it.

Watch this. Tassadar grinned, whirling his spoons in shining circles. The water on the lake began swirling, and soon the entire water body was twirling into a rippling likeness of a leaping gyrados. Sarie applauded.Cool! Now, can you use that to attack? Sarie asked.

Tassadar was suddenly alert, his ears perked to capture all sounds. Shh, wait here. I heard something. I'll be back. Tassadar crept into the trees, silent as a stalking persian. Sarie motioned for her pokemon to come closer, and they huddled together, listening, for several minutes. Sarie sensed Tassadar's return, and watched for him. He stepped from a thorny rose bush carrying something.

What's that? Sarie asked, approaching her friend.

Shh, he's asleep now. Tassadar held out the small form of a very tiny, very young baby abra.

Aww, he's so cue! Sarie smiled, touching the baby's foot. The Abra yawned and opened his eyes, which were very strange. Sarie noticed that instead of the deep purple that even young abras had as their eye color, this baby had green eyes. He blinked them sleepily and snuggled back into Tassadar's arms.

Adult Abras sleep nearly 90% of the day. This little guy'll prolly sleep 99% of the day. He's no more than a few days old. I wonder where his mommy and daddy are? Tassadar wondered.

"Do Alakasam parents share the duty of caring for the baby?" Sarie asked, speaking aloud.

Yes, they do. Alakasam parents care for the baby together until he or she is a few months old, then the gender of the child decides who cares for it. Mothers take females, Fathers take Males. This one's a Male. I didn't sense any other Alakasams at all, nor did I sense abras or kadabras. For some reason, this one's alone. Tassadar explained.

(Well then, you will care for him.) Nida said.

Me? I'm a fighter, I can't take care of him. Tassadar protested.

(Look.) Nida said as the baby abra wrapped a tiny paw around one of Tassadar's spoons. He yawned again and burrowed himself into Tassadar's mustaches. (He thinks you're his papa.)

"Looks like you're stuck, Tass. A baby Abra needs an adult to show him how to live, and this baby won't survive long alone." Sarie said, stroking the baby's head.

All right, All right, I'll take him. I suppose it would bother me forever if I left him. Tassadar said, putting the baby over one padded shoulder.

"Now he needs a name." Sarie said.

His name is Kyronn. Tassadar said.

"Kyle for short. Kyronn is too long for a little baby." Sarie said.

"Abwaaaaaa..." The little one yawned again.

"He's so cuuute!" Sarie said, stroking Kyle's head.

All right, Kyle needs sleep. Sarie, hand me your backpack. Tassadar took the backpack and placed the baby gently inside. He wore the pack on his back and began trudging towards the cabin. The others followed.

When they got back to the cabin, a chorus of 'ooh's and 'ah's followed. Everyone thought the baby Abra was adorable, which he was of course. Everyone loved the way he said 'abwa' instead of 'abra', and they loved his beautiful green eyes. There were some odd glances when Tassadar told them his son's name was Kyronn, but nobody argued. After all, his own name was Tassadar, an odd name in itself. Although Sarie had chosen that name, Tassadar had later told her that it was his name beforehand, he had just psychically transmitted it to her.

Little Kyronn needs some sleep. Tassadar said, bringing the baby up to Sarie's room.

"Where's he gonna sleep?" Sarie asked.

Why, next to my blow-up chair, of course. Tassadar said. His blow-up chair had been a gift from Sarie for his victory against their first opponent.

"The floor is hard, though." Sarie protested, leaping up the stairs.

Shh, he's asleep. Tassadar indicated a pile of blankets, on which the little Kyle was sleeping peacefully. Sarie sighed and kneeled next to him.

"He is cute. I wonder what became of his mommy and daddy?" Sarie wondered aloud.

I think I can look into his memories. I'll project them directly to you, ok? I would let you look yourself, but two of us might hurt him. Tassadar said, placing a spoon on Kyronn's head. Sarie's vision began to blur, a white mist covering her senses. As the mist cleared, she saw, smelled, and felt what the baby Abra had felt before his parents disappeared.

Warm, love, mommy. Strong, safe, Daddy. Smell.... smell new flowers, berries. See... see green and leaves and trees. So this is what it's like to be alive!

Sarie realized this was the baby's life right after he had been born. The images blurred again as they traveled to the baby's next chain of memories.

Going, walking, Daddy carrying me. Sense... happiness? No, Sadness? Fear? Fear and sadness. No happiness. Why? See dark shapes, big purple and grey... pink with shell... small pink... yellow, sleepy, sense psychic powers. But muted, why? Not so strong. Mommy fear now. Man and Woman come, black cloths, hit mommy, daddy with club. Leave me on ground. Why? Mommy, daddy on ground, red on head, why? What is this red? Man, woman put black collars, leashes on mommy, daddy. Why? So many questions... sleep and think. Mommy and daddy wake me later. Sleep and think...

Darkness filled Sarie's mind, but she could still fell the salt tears that dripped slowly from her eyes as her heart went out to the orphan.

Wake again, not see mommy, daddy. They say, you be good. Stay, wait. We come back. They come? Why? Daddy come... no, not daddy. 'Nother Alakasam. He look at me, say name Tassadar. Pick me up. Safe, warm again. Sleep again, safe, warm, happy. Mommy, daddy safe too, I'm safe. They be safe. Hope they stay safe.

Sarie saw out of her own eyes again, her vision blurred by tears. Next to her, Tassadar leaned his domed head against the wall, tears dripping from his eyes as well. He wiped a paw across his snout and looked at the young one in the blanket wad. With a careful paw he covered the little one up again with blankets.

Chapter 48

Broken Tradition

The week slowly dragged by until Sunday, when the five trainers received some distressing news.

"Mr. Diego was on the phone. The stadium will be closed for another three weeks." Sarie said, flopping down on the couch in disgust.

"You mean we're stuck here for another three weeks with nothing to do?" Beth asked incredulously.

"Well, I'm not sitting here like a lump. Come on, Tassadar. Bring Kyle. We're going to the lake." Sarie said, trotting up the stairs to her room to pack.

"I'd go with ya, but I have to stay here. Nurse Joy gave me a temporary job at the center." Adnap apologized.

"I guess I'll stay here too." Taro said.

"I'm coming. I can't sit here for three weeks. Come on, Chester, time to get ready to go." Beth said.

"Umm.... I'll go." Alec offered.

"Good. All who are going, pack up. We leave in an hour. And be ready to battle a lot. This is a training expedition." Sarie said. The other two nodded and swiftly began packing their backpacks. Within 45 minutes, they had assembled outside the cabins, their pokemon waiting. Sleeping bags had been strapped to the backs of them and their owners carried backpacks full of canned food, pocket knives, rope, clothing, and matches, along with first aid and their other pokemon. Just in case, Sarie had brought along several high-quality ultra balls. The three were ready to go, and go they did.

"Ok. From now on, I'm in charge here. I know this lake, I know the way, and I have a plan. Ok with you all?" Sarie asked as she stopped Stryka near a water hole.

"It's clear, Ma'am."

"Got it. Thanks, Ma'am."

"Ok, enough. Lets go. We've got a long way to go today." Sarie said, urging Stryka on at a medium pace. The others followed suit.

At around mid-day the three stopped at another small pond and ate lunch. It consisted of a sandwich apiece and a can of soda. They conversed about their plans as they ate.

"This is a training journey. We've got to teach our pokemon about survival." Sarie said as she finished her sandwich.

I know what I need to know. Tassadar said as he fed Kyle a formula of liquid macaroni and cheese.

"You can always benefit from some experience, Tassadar." Sarie said. She then turned to Alec. "You need another pokemon. Kabuteri won't work anymore. He's to wild."

"Ok... where do I find a replacement and what will it be?" He asked.

"You'll know when you see it." She said. Just then, two large purple forms flew from a nearby strand of trees. They snarled and roared at each other, jousting with their long, purple horns. It was a pair of fighting nidokings.

"Dang! They're really going at it!" Beth exclaimed. The two males didn't notice the humans and nearly ran over them in their rage.

"Nida, they're saying something! What is it?" Sarie asked.

(The small male with no scar intruded on the large one's territory. The large one won't listen to apologies and is going to kill the other one. I think we should help him escape.) Nida said, staring fearfully at the two males. Suddenly the large one stopped, stood, and sniffed the air. He caught sight of Nida and grinned.

(Well now, me lassie, what 'av we 'ere?) He said, swaggering up to Nida. He shoved the humans aside and cornered Nida against a rock.

Nida snarled and raised the fur along her spine. (I ain't nobody's lassie, sir. I'm a trained pokemon.) She spat.

(Well now, ain't she the bold brassy maid? Chaa, you need some lessons in manners from me.) He said, cuffing Nida hard across the muzzle. In a flash of brown fluff, Stryka was upon the Nidoking, her beaks an inch from his eye.

(Chakkaaaa! Stay away, She's not for you!) The heads squawked in unison.

(Aye, yer a bold braw beastie, ye are! Take some 'o this!) The nidoking thrust his horn into Stryka's leg, shoving her backwards as he did. She was flung into a short tree and knocked unconscious.

"Oy, leave her alone!" Sarie screamed, running for the Nidoking. With a heavy paw stroke, Sarie was laid flat as well. Alec and Beth went down in a similar fashion. Tassadar came next, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Leave her alone. He said, his voice low and menacing.

(Ach, I donay think so! Take this, ye psychic!) The nidoking roared, blasting a beam of energy at Tassadar. Tassadar whimpered in pain as he clutched a broken shoulder.

(Now it's you and me, lassie! What say I take ye to me clan.) He said, dragging Nida towards the trees.

(You stop now.) Snarled the other Nidoking, neatly blocking the first's escape.

(Go awe a piece, I need te fix accommodations fer me new mate.) He snickered, shoving the other out of the way.

The younger male stood upright again and once again blocked the larger male's way. (In the name of my clan, small as it may be, I refuse to let you take this maid. I am Drakk, only son of Zarach, late leader of the Oak grove clan.) The younger one snarled, glaring at the larger male.

(Och, ye got a fine name, laddie. Drakk, 'eh? Well, I be Chazzak, and I say no lassie leaves me claws. Get on, ye young buck. Go scare some pidgys.) Chazzak laughed scornfully.

(Can you not see she has already taken a mate? She has children! Leave her be! Draaaaaaaaaaakk!) Roared Drakk, kicking Chazzak fiercely in the stomach. He shoved Nida to one side, taking Chazzak's blow full on. He gasped in pain as Chazzak's horn went full length into his arm. Shaking his head, he bullied Chazzak into a wall. With a mad bellow, Chazzak retaliated with another blow, this time to Drakk's thigh. Drakk fell over, terribly wounded. But as Chazzak plodded back over to Nida, some animal rage came over him. Throwing himself onto Chazzak's back he began mercilessly beating the back of his head, screaming at the top of his lungs, (I am Drakk! I will not be defeated! I will defend the weak! I will defend my honor! I will win!)

Chazzak fell to the ground, his horn burying itself into the dirt. With a final roar, he died. Drakk rolled off the dead Nidoking and dragged himself to Nida's side. He stared at her, his eyes full of pain.

(You are safe, fair maid.) He then collapsed, his life slowly seeping away.

Drakk opened his eyes to the sight of a young woman with very pink hair wearing a nurse's uniform. She pulled his eye open, shined a light into it, and turned to the three waiting humans.

"He's alive and stable at the moment. He has massive lacerations and a collapsed lung, but it looks like he'll be ok. It was really kind of you to do this for a wild pokemon." Nurse Joy said, shaking each trainer's hand.

Alec stepped forward quickly and said, "He's not wild. I own him."

Drakk looked up at his new 'master'. The boy was young, only 14. He was not yet a proper trainer. But then again, Drakk wanted only a place to be safe. He didn't care if he never fought again. Happy in the choice of his new owner, Drakk once again fell asleep.

"Well, Mr. Science nerd, looks like you found your replacement." Beth said.

"Well, he wasn't happy wild." Alec explained.

"How did you know that?" Sarie asked.

"I spoke a bit to him the other day. I was on watch, remember? He came awake for a few minutes. I also studied his behavior. He didn't have a territory, no mate, no family, and all the other nidokings were too powerful for a young one like him to fight. He said he wants a master, as long as he'll be safe."

"Ah. I see."

"Very interesting, 'eh Nida?"

(Indeed.) Nida was standing next to the Nidoking's bed, tracing a blunt claw across one thin scar on Drakk's arm.

"Aww, isn't that sweet. Sarie and Alec, Nida and Drakk." Beth giggled. She ducked just in time to avoid a blow from Sarie.

"That's not funny!" She shouted.

"Shh, there are sick pokemon in here!" Nurse Joy raged.

"Sorry." Sarie whispered.

"Hehehe..."

"Be quiet Beth!"

"Sorry... hehe"

Chapter 49

Opposite Born

It took one full week for Drakk to recover fully. Even afterwards, he was weak. Alec cared for him very well and allowed him full run of the house. He didn't feel that it was right to contain a creature who was injured. He also felt that being free would help with Drakk's recovery. In a sense, it did, because wherever Drakk was, so was Nida, and she helped him recover more than any medicine or pill. Although the yet-to-be-born baby nidorans were not his, Drakk had become their father, and Nida didn't object.

The cabin was empty a lot during the third week as everyone was off at other activities. Adnap was still helping with the pokemon center, Taro was re-building the stadium, Beth was training Chester to surf, and Alec had science stuff to do. Sarie was usually at home, keeping a close eye on Nida. Her babies were due very, very soon. She also kept an eye on the recovering Drakk, although lately he didn't seem to need any watching. He instead was watching others, especially Nida.

Wednesday night everyone went to bed quite late after a good meal of cheese Linguini with fresh grated Parmesan cheese made by Tassadar and Kyle. Kyle actually did nothing but snooze in Tassadar's backpack while Tassadar himself cooked up several pots of the specialized Mac and cheese. Everyone agreed that it was the best tasting pasta they had ever had, due to the fact that Tassadar had hovered around the table waving a cheese-coated spoon in the face of anyone who didn't eat. His two favorite pokemon that night were Nida and Drakk, who each ate more than their share. Drakk to feed his recovering body, Nida to feed the six other mouths inside of her.

Late that night in the almost tangible silence Taro crept to the couch to sit. He couldn't sleep very well and had no idea why. Sometimes at home he experienced this lack of sleep, but that was usually due to some internal family struggles. Nothing was bothering him that he knew, but he somehow couldn't find sleep. Subliminally Taro was worried about the strange dreams he had been having. Although he never remembered them when he woke up, they were there. Most of them consisted of a shadowy figure fighting him with a sword and ended with the figure shoving him onto the blade of a massive spear. It was just as well Taro didn't remember these dreams.

He switched on the T.V. Some trainer was battling another with his Venusaur. The other kid had a Flareon. It was obvious who would win. He leaned back and closed his eyes, but sleep still evaded him. He was about to open his eyes and go into the kitchen for some water when he sensed another figure nearing the couch. Instinctively Taro stiffened, listening for any clue as to who the person or pokemon might be. He couldn't identify the person until she gently touched his forehead. He relaxed, knowing it was Adnap. He opened his eyes and sat up, pretending he had been asleep. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"You weren't asleep, you big faker. I saw you come down here." Adnap laughed.

"Sorry, I couldn't sleep." He explained, switching off the T.V.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Nothing really. I just can't seem to fall asleep."

"Is something bothering you?"

"Not that I know of."

Adnap turned to face him, searching his face for clues as to what he was worried about. Instead of finding that, she found his eyes. She stared into their green-grey depths, lost in his face.

"You know you have beautiful eyes." He whispered, touching the side of her face.

"Your eyes are nice too." She whispered back.

"Do you know how much I care for you?" He asked.

"I care for you too."

Oh just kiss her and get it over with. Tassadar said, grinning at them from over the banister.

"Oh great. A loudmouthed Alakasam." Taro smiled, still looking into Adnap's eyes.

"Who cares." Adnap said back, still returning his gaze.

We need to call that couch the 'love sofa.' Tassadar giggled. He stepped back into his room just as Taro leaned forward and kissed Adnap softly. She snuggled against his chest, sighing softly. Taro leaned back also, sleep finally coming to him. Maybe he just had to get his feelings off his chest. Yeah, that was it. Feelings.

Taro was almost asleep when Sarie came bounding down the stairs followed by Alec.

"Sheesh, them two again?" Sarie snickered at Adnap and Taro.

Taro rubbed sleep from his eyes and glared at Sarie, then at Alec. "And what was he doing upstairs?" He asked.

"His bed broke and he came upstairs ta borrow some blankets. Is that a crime?" Sarie demanded.

"Umm... no....What's the rush anyway? Why did you come running down here like a butterfree on fire?" Taro demanded.

"'s time to take Nida to the pokecenter." Sarie explained.

"Oh. Ok, then." Taro said, unsure of what to do. Adnap woke up, shaken from her sleep by Taro's movements and the lights that had been turned on. Completely ignoring the fact that her friends were giggling at her, she stood and walked over to Sarie, firmly stating that she would come with them.

"Ok... it's not really an exciting event but if you want to come, then come on." Sarie said, ushering them out the door.

"Where's Nida?" Adnap asked.

"Outside."

The three were already guiding their pokemon away from the cabin when Beth came bursting out of the house.

"Hey! Why are you just Leaving me there?" She asked indignantly.

"Like I said to Adnap, it's not a very exciting event. The only reason Alec is going is 'cause he owns Drakk. Get it?" Sarie explained.

"Well, I'm going." Beth retorted, sending out Fang.

"Let's get going." Sarie said as Stryka took off in the direction of the pokemon center.

After a minute or so of riding, Beth and Adnap were quite far behind Stryka and Epona. Beth shouted at the top of her lungs to Sarie t slow down, and she did.

"How did your Dodrio get so fast?" Beth questioned.

"Well, Dodrio has an average running speed of 120mph. They can't hold that speed for long, though, and are only able to run at 80mph for long periods of time." Sarie said.

"And Rapidash can hold a speed of 60mph for long periods of time and 140mph for short time periods." Alec said.

"Oh, I see. Well, slow down." Beth said. "Fang isn't a champ sprinter or anything."

"We have to hurry up."

HEY! What about me? And angry voice shouted in Sarie's mind.

"Oops, I forgot Tassadar. Adnap, take Nida. You two go on ahead, I'll catch up. Stryka, back to the house!" Sarie said, lifting Nida onto Growlie's broad back.

It took two seconds to get back to the house. Tassadar stood angrily outside, Kyronn in his arms.

Say your sorry!

"Ok, sorry. Now get on!"

It took an additional three seconds to catch up to the rest of the group. By that time, they had almost gotten within hailing distance of the pokecenter. Once the arrived, the humans leaped off their pokemon and all of them, human and monster alike, stormed into the center.

Nurse Joy was not pleased.

"Can't you see there are sick pokemon in here?" She asked angrily.

"Sorry, but my Nidoqueen is about to have her babies all over the floor." Sarie said, setting Nida down in front of the nurse.

"Well then, if you'd said that in the first place... Chancy, take this nidoqueen to the maternity warn, please." Nurse Joy said.

A cheerful Chancy lifted Nida onto a stretcher and wheeled her to the back of the center.

"You can go on home, I'll call you in the morning to come pick her up." Nurse Joy said.

"I'll stay, if that's ok with you. It's too late at night for me to go back to sleep." Sarie said.

"Well, I'm going back." Beth said. She was followed by Adnap.

"Ok, go ahead. No one made you come." Sarie said.

Alec, who would have stayed, fell asleep then and there on the floor.

"Hmm. Someone better take him back." Sarie said, giggling.

Sarie sat awake for an hour next to Tassadar, half asleep and half awake. Despite what she had said to Nurse Joy, she wanted to go back to sleep. She ended up falling asleep onto Tassadar's arm, her mouth hanging open.

Oh look, Auntie Sarie's asleep. Time for you to go to sleep, too, Kyronn. You've got to be wide awake to meet your cousins tomorrow. Tassadar said, patting Kyronn's head. Sarie opened one eye sleepily and said, "It's Kyle, not Kyronn. Kyronn's too big of a name for a little thing like that."

Kyle, what a dumb name for an Abra. Your name is Kyronn. Tassadar grumbled.

Kyle.

Kyronn.

Kyle!

Kyronn!

Aaaabwaaa....

Ok, it's both. Now quit waking Kyronn up.

kyle....

OY!!!

hehehe Sarie's head thunked down on the other side of the bench as she fell asleep again, snoring uproariously. Tassadar had to plug his son's ears and barely got a wink of sleep.

Next morning found Sarie awake at nearly 5:00 AM, wide awake and pestering Tassadar to no end.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. It's morning!"

It's not morning, it's still dark.

"Morning!"

Not. Now let me slee-e-e-eeep.

"Ok, you sleep, I'll take Kyle to the pokemart."

Kyronn...

"Kyle while he's with me. Now go to sleep!"

Hmm, sleep sounds good... like a big bowl of macaroni and cheese...

"Tehee..." Sarie took Kyle, who was wide awake and smiling, to the pokemart to window shop. The league games always seemed to draw huge crowds of buyers, and therefor the pokemarts had sales on strange and sometimes very useful items. Sarie was looking for collars for her pokemon to display the league medals that she was sure she was going to win. One more fight was all, and her pokemon had been resting well. She knew she would win.

Kyle loved the shiny coins that popped out of the penny-squishing machines. He loved the way they sparkled as children, both human and pokemon, took them out of the little slot. Seeing his fascination with them, she bought him one with an abra on it.

"There you go, little guy. An Abra, just like you!" Sarie grinned.

The baby abra smiled up at her, then a look of intense concentration came over his face. F-f-fank u He managed to say.

"Hey, you talked! I wonder if you've talked to Tassadar?" Sarie mused aloud.

"Hey, look! That girl's got a baby aaaabra. I bet that's all she's got!" Sneered a teenaged boy to his gang of punk friends.

"Umm, no.... I'm taking this abra out to get some air. His daddy's asleep, you see." Sarie explained.

"Oh, I see. So the master is taking the abra away?" Mocked one of the gang, a punk girl with bright pink spiked hair.

"No, I'm not really a 'master' to any of my pokemon. I'm their friend, you see. And besides, this abra is more of a nephew than a trained pokemon. His dad is more of a brother to me." Sarie said, getting annoyed with the group.

Another punk piped up, this one with flaming red hair with purple streaks. "Friends? You gotta be kidding. Pokemon gotta be owned, not be friends." He spat.

"No, they don't. My pokemon got me though the leagues and I'm still winning." Sarie sneered.

"Oooh, big scary winner thinks she's gonna wup us!" the first boy said.

"Not really, but now that you mention it..." Sarie said, flipping Mew's pokeball in the air.

"SARIEEEEEEE!!!" Beth shouted at the top of her lungs as she raced across the pavement to her sister's side.

"What?"

"Nida just had six babies!!!" Beth shouted, jumping around like a hyperactive kangaroo.

"Ok, ok! Later, punks, I'll beat you when I get back." Sarie grinned, running after her sister.

One of the boys spat on the ground where Sarie had been standing, taking out a cigaret and lighting it. He puffed away on it for a moment and turned, saying, "I'm gonna rig the system so I beat her in the final battle."

His friends grinned malevolently and nodded.

"We'll see how far kindness gets 'er."

Chapter 50

The Questers

"Wow, they're so beautiful!" Sarie exclaimed as she touched one of the newborn nidoran's heads gently. Nida purred and wrapped her tail around them, licking one's fur.

"Yes. Three are girls, three are boys." She said, indicating each with a gentle touch of her nose.

"What are you going to name them?" Beth asked.

"I've named each the opposite of it's brother or sister. These two," She indicated two who were curled up near her chest, "Are Konichiwa and Syanora." The two nidorans indicated seemed to be the largest in the group.

"These two are named Azul and Anaran." She said. The male, Azul, opened his eyes briefly and showed his bright orange pupils. It was easy to see why those two had gotten their names.

"The last two, these smaller ones, are identical twins except for gender. The male is Yin and the female is Yan."

"How sweet! Look, Kyle, your new cousins!" Sarie held Kyle close. Kyle looked puzzled for a moment, then laid a paw on Syanora's head.

baby nidowan. He said decisively, then hugged her.

That is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Tassadar said.

"Oh yeah. Nurse Joy, how long will Nida need to stay here?" Beth asked Nurse Joy.

"A few hours. We just want to do some tests and check the babies. We'll call you when you need to pick her up." Nurse Joy said cheerfully.

"Ok, then. Thanks a lot!" Sarie said. The three walked slowly out of the pokemon center, talking animatedly about how cute the nidorans were.

Tassadar, though, seemed quiet. Too quiet.

Tass, what's up? Sarie asked.

I had a dream. Last night. I saw hundreds of psychic pokemon, chained and injured, crying out for help. I saw this man, all dressed in dark purple, and a woman in dark blue, and they had all the psychics captured. I believe we must seek these people out and free the psychics. Tassadar said.

How do you know it wasn't a dream?

Kyronn told me.

How?

In his mind I saw it. His mother and father were taken by the man and woman. Psychics die if trapped like that.

Well, then, lead on, oh half-brother-who-isn't-my-brother of mine.

all right. But only you and I. The others would not understand this. Kyronn must go, also.

Right. Sarie tapped Beth on the shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Beth nodded, gave the thumbs up sign, and began running home.

What did you tell her?

I told her what you told me. She's gonna tell the others that you and I went to do some 'special' training.

Good.

Let's go.

Soon the three were carving a quiet path through the early morning forest, the only sign of their passing was the near-invisible psychic residue that lingered on the air.

Many hours later Sarie, Tassadar, and Kyronn were cooling their heels in a small pond. Sarie had out a rod and line and was fishing for dinner. Tassadar was desperately trying to keep Kyronn out of the water, and Kyronn was desperately trying to get in the water, and was succeeding too.

"Is the world famous Tassadar being beaten by a baby Abra?" Sarie laughed as she reeled in her line.

No, the world famous Tassadar isn't being beaten by anyone! Tassadar said indignantly. Just then Kyronn splashed a wave of water all over Tassadar with his psychic powers. Twin mustaches dripping, Tassadar made a comical sight.

"You, you look like a hahah drown ratatta!" Sarie giggled.

You look like you want a dipping! Tassadar said as he shoved Sarie into the pond.

All three were splashing around in the lake, covered with water, when a tall, white-haired boy appeared beside the lake. Beside him was a beautiful feline on a leash. Both boy and pokemon were looking down their noses at the three in the lake.

"Who, may I ask, are you?" The boy asked in a cultured voice.

"I'm Sarie, this is Tassadar, and this is Kyle." Sarie said, standing out of the water. "Who are you?"

"I'm Charles, and this is Lucia." He said, indicating the feline.

"I've never seen that kind of pokemon before. What is it?"

"It's an eevee evolution. It hasn't got a name yet, but then again, I have a lot of rare pokemon." He sniffed.

"Like what?"

"I won't show you my pokemon if you don't show me yours." He said.

"Fine. Go, pokeballs!" Sarie said, releasing her other pokemon. There should have been only five, for Sarie thought Nida was at home. But instead of Five, twelve pokemon revealed themselves, seven of them from one pokeball.

"Nida, what are you doing here?" Sarie asked angrily.

(I knew what you were doing, and I decided to come.) She said firmly.

"But, what about the little ones?" Sarie asked, indicating the six newborn nidorans.

(They are fine. You can carry three in your backpack, and I'll carry three in Tassadar's backpack.)

Hey! What about Kyronn?

(He can ride on your back.)

"Your pokemon won't listen to you? You must be a bad trainer." Charles snickered.

"I'm not! They're just strong-willed, and I'm not a slave master. What are your pokemon like?" Sarie retorted.

"Mine are all well behaved. Meet Sheila, Trent, Akbar, Brook, and Richie." Charles said, sending out five more unknown pokemon.

"Ok, what are those?" Sarie asked.

"Sheila is a Rediba," Charles indicated a lady-bug like pokemon, "Trent is a Tentacruel, Akbar is a Lugia," Charles patted a massive bird-like pokemon, "Brook is a Ootachi," Charles pointed to a creature that looked like a ferret, "And Richie is a Pichu." Charles held up what looked to be a baby pikachu.

"Ah, I see..." Sarie said, remembering each name and species automatically. She stored the pokemon in her mind, so that if she met one she would know what it was. Later she would input their info into her pokedex.

So, Charles, what are you doing out here? Tassadar asked cooly.

"I'm looking for Lucia's sister. Someone stole her, and poor Lucy hasn't been the same since." He said, patting the eevee's head.

"We're looking for Kyle's parents." Sarie said, holding Kyronn up for Charles to see.

Yes, and I think both were taken by the same people. Lucia said. Her psychic voice was soft and gentle.

"So you're saying we should team up?" Charles asked, seeming repulsed.

Yes, if we want to find Kasha. Lucia said calmly.

I agree with you, eevee. If we team up, we'll find them easier. Tassadar said, nodding.

"Well then, if we all agree..." Sarie trailed off, looking at Charles.

"Fine then. Agreed."

"Good. Now let's go. It's cool at night, and the traveling will be faster. Stryka, c'mere. Ya wanna run?" Sarie said, stroking Stryka's headfeathers. Stryka nodded her three heads, shifting from one foot to the other in eagerness to run free.

"What about me, I don't have a running pokemon!" Charles protested.

"Are you a psychic?" Sarie asked.

"Yeah... why?"

"Fly on Lugia and we'll keep together through psychic contact." Sarie said.

"Ok, fine. Akbar, up." Charles leaped onto Lugia's back, followed by Lucia. Quickly returning his other pokemon, he directed Lugia skywards.

"Nida, you get on Stryka with me. Tassadar, here's Char. Keep up with Charles." Sarie said, releasing Char.

All right. Char, go on. We're gonna have a race...

Two humans and numerous pokemon tore their way through both air and forest, moving as if their life depended on it.

Chapter 51

The slaversA long line of bedraggled pokemon of various shapes and sizes plodded miserably through the dark forest, their chains dragging a path through the soft muddy earth. Walking along beside the line, carrying whips of twisted vine and small, electronic devices, were ten other pokemon, each with many scars and a lean, evil look about them. At the head of the line strode two humans, a man and a woman. Both wore cloaks of night black and heavy leather gloves. The woman wore a headband, the man a mask.

"That cave up ahead looks good. We'll stop for the night there. Jessie, go tell the slavers to speed up the others." The man said, indicating a large rock cave nestled in the foothills of the Indigo Mountains.

Jessie slowed until she was even with a whip-bearing Raichu. The Raichu stiffened at the sight of his master, laying about the slaves to look busy.

"Riptail, speed the slaves up." Jessie said quietly.

"Right, yous slaves, speed it up! Move it! Get yer tails going!" Riptail snarled, bringing his whip down amongst the slaves. The other slaver pokemon did likewise, and moans of anguish could be heard from the wretched chained creatures. A Dark-colored Charmelion with a brown headband smashed the butt of his whip onto the back of a passing slave, roaring angrily, "Shut yer sniveling mouth, wretch!"

In an instant the man was beside him. "Flametail, why do you want to slay the slaves?" He asked, glaring at the Charmelion.

"M-m-master James! I'm s-sorry, I was trying to k-keep them quiet." Flametail choked, cringing fearfully from James.

"Well, don't do it that way. Here, let me show you how it feels." James produced a blackened Nidoking-hide whip from his cloak. He fondled the poison-spiked tip for a moment before striking Flametail hard across the skull with it. Flametail was knocked to the ground where he cringed, holding a claw to his bleeding head.

"The poison will kick in soon, foolish one. You won't faint for a while yet. So keep walking." James said, wiping the blood from his whip.

The Charmelion slowly stood, tying his bandana around his wound, wincing as a bolt of pain shot through his head. A young chained mankey sniggered, then looked hopelessly at his chains. He would allow himself to be struck by James's whip for just a moment of freedom. So would all the other slaves.

Once in the caves, the slaves were stood against a wall and inspected. The chains were tightened and for every weak link in a slave's chain, they were given one lashing. That was the punishment for attempted escape.

The slaves were allowed to sit, and were given pokemon pellets and ragged blankets to share. All except one.

The one was a powerful creature, and one who's spirit was not yet broken. He was surrounded by six slavers, each with their electronic psychic limitation devices ready. One held a strong whip with shocking electrodes on it for punishment. All the slavers were high strung, and would not sleep that night. For their charge was the most powerful pokemon ever born or created.

They were watching a Mew2.

Mew2's mind spun as he sat alone in chains, the guards menacing him and snarling death threats at him. He had not yet broken, and was not about to, but he had not much hope left. He wished for death to free him from this torture, for not only did the chains hold him, but he had nightmares each and every night about the tube, the scientists, and his own cursed creation.

This night was the same. He curled up, his stomach empty. He was not fed, and had to pick food from the trees and bushes as he marched during the day. He had eaten only a few flowers that day, not enough to sustain his 6-foot 7 frame. He shivered as the wind blew across his malnourished body, and wished for even the cover of leaves or grass to protect him. He curled his tail tightly about him and lay on the stone, tears forming in his purple eyes. No, he thought, I will not cry. I have not cried since I was brought here. But still the tears came.

Further along the slave line a group of psychic pokemon sat in a group, sharing their blankets and body heat. This small band consisted of a Hypno, two Alakasams, a Slowbro, and a Jynx. They felt Mew2's pain and sadness, and therefor became saddened themselves. The Slowbro looked mournfully in the direction of the Mew2, then turned to the others.

"My friends," He said in pokemon common, "We are lost. We will not ever be free."

"My good Slowbro, don't be so down. I'm sure we'll survive." The Jynx said, throwing an arm around the shell pokemon's shoulders.

"I don't know, he might be right. We have been here a while." Hypno said, looking down at his dusty, cracked charm.

"I will not die here, I must save my son. They left him to die." One Alakasam said, slamming her fist onto the rock wall.

"Well, sleep would be a good thing now. We can speak of escape tomorrow." The other Alakasam said, pulling the blanket tighter around his and the other Alakasam's shoulders.

The slave pokemon fell into a fitful slumber, knowing full well what the day would bring.

Chapter 52

The Clash

The dawn brought with it a thick, heavy fog that surrounded the two humans and their pokemon in a milky barrier. Not one of them could penetrate the thick fog, so they walked on cautiously, only able to see a few feet in front of them.

"What's with this fog?" Sarie thought aloud, shivering involuntarily.

I believe it might burn off in a bit. We just have to wait. Tassadar said.

"Wait? While Kasha is being tortured by some evil slimes? I'm not stopping!" Charles growled, pushing on through the fog.

"All right, all right. We're coming." Sarie said huffily, straining to see through the fog. Tassadar, Nida and her babies, and Stryka followed.

Several hours later, the fog lifted. The Questers stood on the edge of a dizzying cliff drop, looking around for any sign of the slave train. It was Tassadar who spotted them first.

Look, that broken path through the trees. There they are. He pointed his spoon towards the forest below.

"All right, then. Nida, stay here. Stryka, come with me. Tassadar, into the pokeball for now. Kyle will ride with me. Charles, you make your own plans." Sarie said, returning Tassadar.

This is highly uncomfortable. Tassadar said from the pokeball.

It's the best way to get you down there. When the ball hits the ground, go find them. Follow behind. I'll go in front. When I give the signal, attack any slavers you see. Make sure to free the slaves as soon as you can. Me, Stryka, Char, and Mew will attack from the front. Go! Sarie tossed the ball off the cliff, watching as it fell through the air to land, with perfect precision, near the clearing made by the slavers. Sarie hopped on Stryka's back and they flew off in the direction the slavers had taken.

"Well, what do we do?" Charles asked Lucia.

We go. Akbar, come on. We fly to the side. We'll attack when they do.

"All right. Akbar, take us to the left of the slaves. Brook, Sheila, Take Richie and go to the right. When Tassadar and Sarie attack, you attack. Ok?" He asked his pokemon. They nodded and went about their business.

Everyone was in place and waiting for the attack signal. Sarie crouched on the oath the slavers would take, and Tassadar followed just out of sight. He had already communicated with the slaves, and they were ready also. Charles an co. waited, listening and watching for the attack.

Sarie saw Jessie and James turn a corner and held her breath. Just as they passed, she gave the signal to Tassadar and screamed "ATTACK!"

Jessie and James turned to see the girl leap at them. She smashed her fist into Jessie's cheek and kicked James backwards. Stryka went at Riptail like a mad thing, and Char made a beeline for the injured Flametail. On the other end, Tassadar had freed a gang of Persians and a Snorlax, and they were wreaking havoc upon the slavers. Charles, Akbar, and Lucia had discovered Mew2 and were trying to get close enough to save him. Charles's other pokemon worked to faint the other slavers, and had injured a great many already.

Tassadar sensed the Mew2 and fought to get close to it. He knew if he could free it, the battle would be over quite quickly. He found that the closer he got to Mew2, the more his psychic powers were suppressed. Due to this lack of power, he used his claws, spoons, feet, and even his tiny teeth to attack. One slaver, a Pidgeot, got in his way, and never got back up again.

On the other end Sarie was having trouble with Jessie and James. She had told Stryka, Char, and Mew to join the others, and they had. Now she faced two older, stronger, more cunning, and well-equipped humans alone, and was about to lose the fight. She had taken damage from not only her enemy's boots and fists, but also from their whips. She had avoided James's poison whip butt, but was quite weak now. They closed in on her, James's whip looming like a deadly dagger. Sarie summoned a burst of energy and hurled herself at the pair, knocking them both backwards onto a large, flat boulder. Both slaver's heads cracked against the rock, knocking them unconscious. Sarie stood, surveying her work. The leaders were out, it would be the work of a moment to tame the rest of the pokemon. She ran to join the others, the adrenalin pumping through her veins. Unfortunately, she failed to notice the spreading dark red stain on her shirt's side...

Mew2 was free. His tail lashed out wildly as he demolished the enemy. Slaver pokemon flew everywhere as the psychic's long legs lashed out, knocking anything in their path senseless. Tassadar was working on freeing all the slaves, helped by the other two Alakasams. Each pokemon who was freed joined Mew2 in the fight against their captors, using whatever strength they had to pay retribution to their tormentors.

"Tassadar!" Sarie shouted, waving to her companion. Tassadar waved back as he broke the final chain, the one that had held a proud Dragonite. The dragon bowed to Tassadar, then viciously attacked a nearby Raticate. Sarie turned from the gruesome sight and hugged Tassadar.

"Hey, ya survived!" She said, scratching his head.

Yes, and so did you. Tassadar said. He hugged her back, but drew away swiftly as he felt a warm wetness on his paw. His eyes widened as he looked at his hand, seeing the blood covering it.

you are quite seriously injured. He said, shaking the blood off.

"Oh, that..." Saire said, beginning to sway from side to side.

I believe a hospital would be appropriate. Tassadar said as he picked Sarie up.

"Hmm, put me down... I'm to heavy..." Sarie fainted into a deep unconsciousness as her blood slowly covered Tassadar's arms.

Tassadar managed to stay upright for a few feet, then stumbled and fell onto the muddy ground. He groaned as he tried to stand, but his weakened muscles would not allow him to carry a girl who weighed as much as he did.

help... He whispered, calling out to any psychic nearby. He was on the verge of fainting himself when a huge, grey-purple foot struck the dirt next to him.

You need assistance? The Mew2 asked, his voice reverberating like a drumbeat.

I must carry this girl to a hospital. Tassadar said weakly.

I see. I will take her. The Mew2 picked Sarie up easily and began a quick hoping run. Tassadar flopped over on the ground, his eyes closing in a troubled sleep, his aching body utterly and totally exhausted.

Stryka wandered amongst the ruins of the fight with Mew and Char, screaming out Tassadar and Saire's names. Nida walked beside them, carrying her children in an oversized backpack.

(Tassadaaaar!!) Stryka's lead head shrieked while the other two looked around for any sign of life. The left side head swiftly perked up as Charles walked out from some brush. He was followed by twin psychic eevees, obviously Lucia and Kasha. Charles looked worried.

"I haven't seen her anywhere." He said, scratching his head.

Nor the Alakasam. We asked the other pokemon, but none have seen either. Kasha said quietly.

Wait, over there! Lucia pointed towards a lump of what looked like brown mud. But upon closer inspection, one could see a faint golden tint to it.

(Tassadar!) Nida shouted, running towards the mud blob.

N-nida? Is.. That you? He asked, opening one eye.

(My gosh, you're a mess! Where's Sarie?) Nida asked, dusting Tassadar off.

The Mew2... took her. To.. Hospital. Tassadar managed to choke out.

(Well then, we'll all go there. Charles, follow us. Tassadar, you'll ride Stryka. Mew, Follow me on Char. Let's go.) Nida said, draping Tassadar's limp body over Stryka's back.

Chapter 53

Dameon

Dawn broke, finding six humans at the Indigo Plateau Hospital for Humans. Five of them were in the waiting room, and one was in critical care. Out of the five waiting, only one was really worried.

"I told you, Alec, quit worrying! She'll pull through! She's been in worse shape than this." Beth said, patting Alec's shaking shoulder.

"Yeah, remember when she was dead once?" Adnap asked.

"SHE WAS WHAT???!" Alec screamed, turning a very queer shade of white.

"Yeah. She died and came back. So this is no big deal for her." Beth said, stifling a giggle at Alec's antics.

"B-b-but ho-w..." Alec asked, in minor shock.

"I suppose you'll have ta know sooner or later... after all, Mr. Taro told me 'n Adnap about his little vision..." She shot a glance at Taro, who shrugged his shoulders. "What?"

"Ya could have told us a little sooner... like right after you saw what you did." Adnap said, frowning.

"M-B A and B told me not to." He explained. Suddenly, he found a set of very angry purple eyes looking into his, and choked fearfully as Mew2 grabbed hard onto his shoulders.

M-B specimens A and B? Tell me what they said. He growled, his eyes hard and cold.

"Umm, they didn't really say anything to me." Taro said, edging away nervously from the angered Mew2.

Are you certain? Dameon hissed.

"Yes, positive."

Good. Dameon snarled. He did a short hop-skip towards the door, and broke free of it with a huge psychic blast. He flew high into the clouds, disappearing from view.

"Wow, he's one touchy cat." Taro sniffed, leaning on a wall.

"So, what about this M-B thing? What is it?"

"I just had a vision a while back, that's all. These two mew2 things spoke to me. They told me.. A weird poem."

"What was the poem?"

Taro's eyes glazed over, and words began to tumble from his mouth. He seemed to have no control over them whatsoever.

When the new master is defeated,

By the dark trainer,

The worlds shall open to each other,

The third shall be destroyed.

Five trainers shall fight,

Leader, Fighter, Twin-lived,

One of Knowledge, one of Love,

Shall unite with themselves.

"What the heck was that?" Alec asked, staring at Taro as if he were insane.

That seemed to be a prophecy, one of knowledge. Mew2 was back.

"What?"

A prophecy of what's yet to come. I'd be wary if I were you. the mew2 said, pacing back and forth.

"So, are you going to tell us what it means?" Adnap asked as she smacked Taro across the face. Taro immediately became normal, rubbing his sore face and glaring at Adnap.

I know who this is talking about. You, short girl, you are the fighter. Other girl, you are one of love. The one who is injured, Sarie, she is the leader. You, scientist, you are one of knowledge. And finally, you are the Twin-lived.

"God? What the heck do you mean, Twin-lived? I'm just some poor street kid who managed to find some good friends!" Taro shouted.

I do not know how you are the Twin-lived, but I know you are. This dark trainer will show up tomorrow, and no matter what, if Sarie or the short girl win tomorrow, neither of them can fight him! Dameon commanded.

"All right, but my name's Beth and I'm not short!" Beth shouted.

By my standards you are.

"Yeah, and don't call me scientist, my name's Alec."

"I'm Adnap."

"Taro. What's yours?"

Dameon.

Chapter 54

Crash

A day later Sarie was released from the hospital with nothing but minor scrapes. Nurse Joy had said something about amazing powers of recovery, but Sarie knew it was because she had died, and therefor had been exposed to much, much worse injuries. She was quite happy that Tassadar had recovered at the same speed, and soon the two were walking proudly towards their final battles.

Neither Beth nor Sarie knew who they were fighting in the final battle, due to the fact that all final battles were kept secret so that neither trainer knew about the other.

"My fight's at 6:00 PM! Jeeze, that's late." Sarie said shaking her head.

"Mine's at 6:00 also! I wonder how that happened..." Beth said puzzled. Sarie had a sudden sinking feeling, but brushed it off as butterflies. It wouldn't happen.

"All right, then, everyone to the stadium at 6. Nida, you sure your fit to fight?" Sarie asked, cuddling one of Nida's babies in her arms.

"I'm fine. I've got amazing powers of recovery too, ya know." Nida snorted.

"All right, no offence... which one's this one again?" Sarie asked, stroking the nidoran's head.

"That's Anaran. You can't really tell, but her eyes are orange." Said Nida. Her other five children were curled up on a large pillow provided by Alec. His reasoning was that because his Nidoking was the baby's 'father', he should be caring for the babies as well. No one argued.

So... I'm all pumped and ready for victory! Lemme at 'em! Tassadar growled, throwing mock punches all over the room. He almost hit Dameon, who was sitting in a chair by the fireplace, reading the Indigo Daily.

Watch out, Alakasam. Dameon said in a dangerous tone.

Oops, sorry. Tassadar said, backing off from the Mew2.

"Oh man, by my watch it's 5:30! Time to go!" Sarie said, checking her watch. She and her friends filed out the door, followed by Nida and Tassadar. "You know, I think I heard that the stadium was double-arena. We're prolly fighting different people at the same time." Sarie said hopefully.

"Yeah. Well, we should make a good entrance. You know, with all our pokemon?" Beth said, letting Chester out.

"Good idea. Out, everyone!" Sarie shouted, letting Mew, Stryka, Powerplant, and Helia immediately ran to Chester and began a conversation, while Stryka flexed her long, muscular legs. Powerplant rubbed his huge head against Sarie's leg, happy to be out. Mew flopped down on the dirt, waiting for a command.

"Go, Pokeballs!" Beth let out Moonstone, Bubblebeamer, Peeves, Waterpup, and Fang. Every single one of them began stretching their muscles and doing limbering exercises, as if they knew what was coming.

"All right, let' ride." Sarie was about to hop on Stryka's back when Powerplant lifted her up in his massive, thick vines and placed her on top of his huge flower.

"Well, then, if you want to carry me, ok." Sarie said, hugging one of Powerplant's car-roof sized petals.

Beth and Sarie entered at opposite sides of the stadium, flashing the thumbs-up signal to each other. Sarie's pokemon lined up behind her as she entered the stadium to the yells and cheers of the audience. This final battle was almost a stage performance for those watching, and Sarie was determined to make this battle as artful as possible. She walked across to her battle platform and her pokemon went and stood near the back wall, their pulses racing. It had been to long since they had battled, and they were excited.

Tassadar stood upon the battle platform beside Sarie, leaning pensively on the rail. His long nose twitched slightly in the evening breeze as he surveyed the crowd. Suddenly he stood, his ears pricked.

You are battling Beth. He said, pointing to where Beth had made an entry, followed by her pokemon.

"You? How did this happen?" Sarie asked incredulously, staring into the monitor.

"I dunno, but this promises to be quite a battle, eh? One thing, you gotta promise to fight me like you would any other opponent. Fair and square. Ok?" Beth said solemnly, looking into Sarie's eyes.

"All right. I'll fight hard, Beth. Good luck." Sarie then switched off her monitor, so as not to have to look at Beth as she beat her. She forced a mental picture of another person to block out Beth, and it worked. She almost forgot who she was really fighting.

"Go, HELIA!"

"Gooo, Moonstone!"

Clefairy faced Raichu on the rocky, uneven floor, built to make the fight more interesting. Helia growled uncertainly at Moonstone, her fur beginning to bristle. Moonstone threw a puzzled look up at Beth, who made a 'go on' motion with her hand. Moonstone immediately threw a punch at Helia, but the nimble rodent pokemon evaded the half-hearted punch with ease. She growled angrily at the fairy pokemon, exposing long, sharp canine teeth. Suddenly, the air was filled with electricity as Helia fired off her most powerful attack, thunder.

Moonstone tried to dodge Helia's attack, but was hit by a passing bolt and thrown forcefully against the wall. The thud was heard throughout the entire stadium. Moonstone stood up shakily, only to be thrown down again by Helia's body slam. Then Moonstone snapped.

Snarling with a charizard-like fury, Moonstone hurled Helia in the air in a move known as seismic toss. Helia stood, quite hurt, but quickly came back with a finishing mega kick.

"Return! Go, Chester!"

Chester appeared in the ring, ready to battle, but looked up at Beth in surprise when he saw who he was fighting.

"Rairia, chu? Chu, Raichu. Rai!" Chester said, looking pathetically at Beth.

"You don't want to fight Helia? Ok, then... return." Beth sighed. Chester trotted back to his seat, relief showing in his face.

"Go, Peeves! Don't let me down!"

Peeves appeared, grinning maliciously. Helia froze in terror as Peeves licked her head. Helia toppled over, utter terror on her face.

Lick, one of the only ghost moves, had terrible results on the opponent.

"Return, Helia! Go, Tassadar!"

Why hello, peeves. Time to eat a psybeam. Tassadar blasted a highly concentrated beam of psychic energy at Peeves, fainting the ghost. Beth looked at her fainted ghost, rage showing in her face.

"Return, Peeves. That's it! Go, supermush!"

A parasect appeared on the field, clacking its orange claws fiercely. Sarie turned quite pale at this creature. Parasect was deadly to psychics.

Tassadar didn't appear concerned. He used a powerful Psychic on the bug, expecting to faint it. Instead, the Parasect used the cover of the psychic waves to release a cloud of spores. As the spores landed on Tassadar's skin, a drastic change overcame the psychic. He began to wobble unsteadily, his eyes drooping. Suddenly, he toppled over in a deep sleep. Supermush then dug its pincers into Tassadar's unprotected flesh, drawing nutrients from him. In moments, nearly all the life was gone from Tassadar. A final body slam finished him.

"TASSADAAAAR! Return! No! Go, STRYKA!" Stryka thundered onto the field, glaring furiously at Supermush. She was about to drill peck the bug when it began to shimmer. Where once stood a Parasect, now stood a ditto! The ditto transformed again into Stryka. Both dodrios spat furiously at each other, ramming their beaks into one another's backs. Stryka's lead head lifted high above the others, dodging the flying beaks. Quickly, she backed up, kicking dirt into ditto's eyes. Ditto launched itself at Stryka, clamping its long claws onto Stryka's legs. After bringing down the dodrio, Ditto tore murderously at her underside, its beak turning red.

"Return, Stryka!" Sarie shouted, bringing Stryka back into the protective ball.

"Sarie Cigam has returned her last pokemon! Beth Burts is the winner!" the announcer shouted over the booming din of masses of cheering, booing, rampaging crowds. Sarie turned away, shame showing in her face. She let Tassadar out and revived him with a max revive.

So, we lost?

Yeah.

We cannot win every fight.

I s'pose you were right. Sarie wiped the corners of her damp eyes, then turned again to face her sister. To her surprise, Beth was running across the stadium towards her.

"Sarie! Good job!" She cried, hugging her sister tightly.

"Thanks, sis."

"By the way, how the heck did you get a ditto??"

"I caught it."

"Well that explains a lot."

Both walked out of the stadium, followed by fans and camera persons.

"Sarie Cigam, how does it feel to be beaten by your best friend?" One newscaster asked, sticking a microphone in her face. Sarie spat out a nasty comment about stupid newscasters and shoved the reporter into the crowd.

That was a lovely collection of words. Tassadar grinned.

"Yeah, well, these broadcasters are getting on my nerves."

"Hahaha! Kill the newscasters!" Beth grinned.

"Hey you two, that was an interesting fight!" Taro said, running up to them followed by Adnap and Alec.

"Yeah, it was... oh no."

"What's wrong, Beth?" Sarie asked as her sister turned pale.

"The dark trainer."

Chapter 55

Shukumei

"Oh, you're kidding me." Taro groaned as a tall, black-clothed man approached the trainers.

"Where's Dameon when ya need him?" Sarie eyed the black man with apprehension, suppressing an urge to back away.

I am here. Dameon said, landing lightly next to Sarie. His tail swished nervously, nearly knocking Alec and Beth down.

"You are the five." The dark man said. His voice had a rough quality, but was somehow familiar.

"Yeah, and what of it?" Taro said boldly. Sarie looked up, the dark man's voice sounded remarkably like an older version of Taro's.

"I wish to fight." The man said.

"No way! We know what will happen if we do!" Beth shouted, stepping forward.

"Do you know what will happen if you don't?"

"What?"

The dark man raised an arm and pointed to a black iron cage. Inside it was Charles, looking quite pale and weak.

"Aww maaan, ya know what we have to do now." Sarie groaned.

"We have to be noble. So, who's fighting?" Beth asked, backing up behind her friends.

"Who's got the most power?" Adnap asked.

"Well, although Beth won the tourny, I'd say Sarie's got the most powerful pokemon." Alec stated.

"You would. Oh well, then, Sarie's fighting." Taro sighed.

"If you wanna fight, by all means do." Sarie indicated the man.

"No way, he gives me the creeps."

"Fine then. Mr. Dark trainer, sir, how will this fight be played? Better make it official." Sarie said, taking up her spot. A ring of tourists and other trainers had gathered around the fighters.

"It will be a six on six, non-authorized moves permitted." the man sneered.

"All right then. Go, Helia!" Sarie tossed Helia's pokeball onto the cement, releasing the Raichu.

"Go, Ryteon." The man threw a gold-and-silver pokeball, releasing the menacing ryvee evolution to fight.

"What? Ryteon?? No way!" Sarie screamed, eyes wide.

"Fight or die. Ryteon, Thunderstorm." He snarled.

Ryteon's back spikes bristled as dark stormclouds gathered above the trainers. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck Helia, throwing her backwards several feet. Helia shook with fear, but stood again.

"My my, what a resilient little beast. Make your move, Cigam." The man taunted.

"Helia, Thunderkick!"

Helia ran towards the Ryteon, electricity gathering in her feet. She smashed them both into Ryteon's side, knocking the thunder beast over. Ryteon snarled in his throat, and bit into Helia's back. Helia shrieked in agony, for Ryteon's fangs not only were long and sharp, but contained a pain-causing, paralyzing toxin. That was the end of Helia.

"Return, Helia! You'll be ok. Someone get her an antidote, I have a bad feeling about that poison." Sarie handed Helia's ball to Alec, who quickly put it in the healing compartment of his pokeball-keeper he had built himself.

"Go, Mew!" Sarie let Mew out. Mew took one look at Ryteon, and launched herself onto him. Spitting and hissing, she tore the crud out of Ryteon. It was quite a gruesome sight.

"Return, Ryteon. Go, Ryvee." the man said. Ryteon's ball disappeared as she was re-called, leaving Ryvee's ball in its place.

"You must be kidding. The lowest form of that &$%&^ Ryblade, eh? C'mere, rat." Mew spat, crouching down in a pouncing posture.

"Rat? Sss, take it back, feline." Ryvee snarled, smashing her tail across mew's face. Mew looked up in surprise, feeling the blood on her face.

"Why you little..." Mew leaped on Ryvee, tearing chunks of fur from the evil creature's back. Ryvee turned and sank her fangs deep into Mew's neck, missing the jugular by a few precious centimeters. As it was, she did plenty of damage.

Mew screamed in both agony and rage, and tore Ryvee's tail out. Blood spattered across the field, and several spectators turned away in fear and nausea. Sarie had tried to return Mew already, but the cat had dodged every single beam. Finally, Mew stood triumphant over Ryvee's body, breathing heavily. The dark man re-called his beaten pokemon just as mew toppled over, near-dead.

"This one goes to a pokemon center, now." Sarie said, handing Mew's pokeball to Beth. Beth nodded and ran towards the Indigo center, holding a ball that oozed blood from the sides.

"Go, Ryflare."

"Go, Stryka!"

Ryflare took Stryka out with a single, painful wrench of his muscular jaws. Stryka went with Adnap to the center, her main neck broken like a twig.

"That's it, I forfeit! I can't stand to see my pokemon slain!" Sarie screamed. Her hands shook, blood from her pokemon's bodies on them.

"You lose, then. And that boy loses, too." With a single motion, the man slew Charles with a bright beam of energy.

"Oh my God, you killed him!" Sarie screamed, horror etching itself into her features.

"Yes. I did. Now I wish you to meet my minions. Minions of the sky, seas, and earth. Come, my minions!" The man held up his hands, and blood began to rain from the sky. Looking up, every single person on the whole of Indigo island saw it.

A hole in the sky.

Chapter 56

Beginning of the Chaos

Out of the hole were pouring tens of thousands of creatures, of all shapes and sizes. But these were not your ordinary cute-and-fluffy pikachus.

One was the giant dog, but this time it was encased in solid metal armor with cannons on its back. Fierce, glowing, red eyes glared at the world from two eye holes. The eyes seemed to be targeting devices, for the beast would fix its gaze on something, and the cannons would aim. Huge missiles shot from the cannons and devastated anything they came in contact with.

Following the dogs were the Ryblades. But not your average Ryblade. These beasts were much, much bigger, and had fangs that showed beneath their lips.

After the Ryblades came the Lizard beasts. These were miles tall, with blades sharper than a scyther's for arms. Their tails were huge, and covered in blue armor, as was their head. The skull-like helmed was covered in spikes and blades, and the horn at the tip was as tall as the stadium wall. An armor plate protected their upper body, and a shin plate covered their lower leg. Long spikes extended from their arms and back.

Hundreds of other pokemon came, most huge in size and much more evil looking than their normal counterparts. As soon as they hit the ground, they began killing. Trainers ran from them, only to be cut down by a giant spike or missile, or even a blast of water from a blastois's cannons. Charizards set to work on the stadium, aided by Ryflares and Dugtrios. Even the pokemon center was taken down by repeated pummeling from a Sirius's cannon.

The five trainers ran as soon as they saw it. They were being chased by all manner of being, from pikachu to Lizard. They were using their running pokemon, but couldn't keep running for long. Alec suggested Cinnabar island for a safe zone, because if they could get there the broken buildings would provide a safe spot. Flight might be a good option, because most of the evil flying pokemon were nothing they hadn't dealt with before. So they took off, and soon a dodrio, Magnaton, Fearow, and Gengar took off, dodging attacks from a flock of red-eyed fearows.

"Chester!" Beth called, sending out her Raichu. Chester hug tightly onto Peeve's back as he blew up the fearows with a thunder jolt attack. Several pidgys who were nesting in a tree took off at the sound, but were soon set upon by savage Pidgeots. Sarie turned away from the gruesome scene.

Suddenly, a shockwave nearly knocked all five out of the sky as a triangular ship blasted away at them, hitting a rock and nearly hitting Alec's Magnaton. It blew past them and circled for another attack, followed by four others. They flew in an attack flight pattern, and seemed intent on either blasting the four into nothing or ripping them in half with their ship's wings. As it was, all four beasts and those upon them were sitting ducks.

"We're so dead!" Sarie screamed as Stryka barely dodged another searing laser bolt.

"I've got an idea!" Alec shouted, maneuvering his magnaton so it was right above one of the ships. His magnaton latched onto the hull and Alec climbed on, searching for a way into the cockpit. His friends took his hint and began to chase after their own ships.

Stryka latched her claws into one of them and Sarie and Tassadar climbed off, precariously clinging to the smooth hull of the fighter ship. Sarie returned Stryka quickly so the bird wouldn't fall off, then began to pry the cockpit of the ship open with one of Tassadar's spoons. She opened it a crack, then used her psychic powers to open it the rest of the way. Tassadar leaned over and smashed his fist into the back of the charmelion pilot's head and tossed him over the side. He then wedged his spoon into the controls, keeping the ship level. Both climbed into the cramped pilot's seat and turned on their communications. They heard static and cries of anger, then grunts as their friends entered the ships. Soon all five had commandeered their own fighter, and were learning how to fly them. Alec, as usual, was the first to figure it out.

"Guys, you ever played Flight Sim games?" He asked over the Com link.

"Yeah."

"Affirmative."

"Yeppers."

"Uhh, no..."

"Well, Taro, listen. The stick controls the thing. Push it up to make the ship's nose go down, pulling the ship into a dive. Pulling back on the control stick makes the ship go up. Side to side is obvious, and this button on the back seems to be the firing trigger. On the side, I think this fires missiles. These ships are called Ar-wings, and are high-performance fighter ships. Don't crash into anything, though. They can't take too much abuse from impact. This red button is turbo. Press it to convert the ship into a faster, more maneuverable ship."

"Alec, ya sound like a computer." Sarie giggled.

"It's Cyberr, he's plugged my brain into the computer of the ship. I can control it better that way."

"Well then... good for ya. I think we should split up in a group of two and one of three." Sarie suggested.

"I've got the ship under control, I'll take Taro and Adnap. You two go kick some ryblade butt! Yeeehaw!" Beth screamed as her ship did a sharp dive, then pulled out of it at the last second.

"All right then... Wohooo!"

"Yeaaaa!"

Twin streaks of blue and silver zipped through the air, looping and spinning in an aerial display of talent.

"Wow, I think my psychic power helps here. I can almost anticipate what's gonna happen..." Sarie said as her ship dodged a falling rock from a nearby cliff.

"Yeah, same with my computer systems. Hey look, a base! Dang, look at all those ties!" Alec shouted. Sarie looked ahead and saw an enormous, black ship, and hundreds of tiny, bow-tie shaped fighters. She read her data screen and saw the large ship was a Star Destroyer, and the smaller ships were called Tie Fighters. She couldn't get a data readout on the Star Destroyer, but she managed to load a screen of info on the Ties. They had twin ion engines and two large solar panels on either side of a round body. The body held two high-powered laser blasters, but it seemed that in a 1-on-1 dogfight with an R-wing, the tie would lose badly. But this was hundreds of them...

"Alec, I'm going in. You comin'?" She asked, piloting her ship towards the mob.

"Are you NUTS?? We're gonna get pureed out there!!" Alec screamed.

"Yeah, well, in the defense of the world. Better than hiding and getting blown up." Sarie said grimly over the link.

"We're only two!"

"Yeah, well, we'd only be five with the others. Not much more of a chance, is it. Come on, you with me?" Sarie asked, blasting a tie apart.

"I'd never leave ya to get blown up alone, would I?" He asked, grinning. He too blew a tie apart.

"Wohoo! Let's kick some butt!"

The two ships plowed a path of laser fire through the mob of ties, taking heavy hits as well as dishing them out.

"Sarie, I have a data readout on the destroyer! We've got to fly into the docking bay and shoot the inside of the ship. We'll blow a hole straight to the generator, then we'll blow it up. We'll fly back out, ands the thing will explode."

"All right, then! Just like those games back home, 'eh computer boy?" Sarie's R-wing dove through a mob of fighters and straight to the docking bay, where she proceeded to blast through the hull with her lasers. Alec followed down the burnt hole, dodging twisted metal shards and falling rubble.

"This is crazy!" Sarie shouted as they blew past a huge support pillar.

"Yeah, well, we're crazy! The generator's down this hall, but We're not going to be able to fly these things there. We're gonna have to get out and walk."

"All right then!" Sarie's r-wing stopped and the cockpit opened slightly. She leaped out and smashed the head of a guard who was trying to shoot them, and tossed his blaster to Alec.

"Here, just shoot anyone who isn't me." She grinned.

"What about you?"

"I found this in my ship." She held up a calendrical object about twice the length of a pokeball and with the circumference of a downsized greatball. She activated a button on the side, and a bright beam of silver light shot from the end, forming a saber blade. She slashed a hunk out of the ship's side, then de-activated the saber.

"See, it cuts through anything. Shoot at me." she said, holding the saber up.

"You sure?" Alec asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah. And ya know, you're cute when ya do that." Sarie giggled.

"I really hope I don't kill ya.. You're to pretty to die." Alec shot the blaster bolt straight at Sarie, shutting his eyes tightly, looking away. He heard a ping, then a sizzling bolt of energy shot past his ear. He looked up in surprise to see Sarie, still standing there, holding the saber.

"Oops, almost got ya. I've got ta be more careful..." Sarie de-activated the saber and placed it in her backpack.

"Dang, I think you singed my hair!" Alec rubbed his left ear, which was slightly red and burnt.

"Oops, sorry... ah well, you look cuter that way." Sarie said, patting his shoulder.

"You're gonna make me all red!" He protested.

"You look cuter that way."

"Quit it and come on. We've got to get to that generator. Come on, pretty one." Alec took her hand and ran with her down the hallway, blasting at every single moving object. Most of them were pokemon in white body armor, but some were in black. All held blasters.

"This is where I come in. Move over, science boy." Sarie took out the saber, activated it, and sliced through a charging Ryflare. She ran down the hall, cutting through huge, thick doors and slicing down any creature that dared get in her way. Finally the two reached a circular room with a pillar of energy in the center.

"That's the core! We'll blast it!" Alec shouted, charging his blaster.

"We've got to deal with them first!" Sarie screamed, pointing at several dozen white-clad pokemon charging at them.

"TAKE THAT!" Alec roared, blowing the hall roof down. In his singed and now sleeveless lab coat he looked like some madman in the middle of a battlefield.

"All right, Let's blow this baby sky high!"

"Sarie, how are we gonna get out?"

"We'll figure that out later! On three, blast that thing full power! One, two, THREE!" Sarie flung the activated light sword at the energy pillar just as Alec blasted a high-powered laser into it. With a deafening boom, the pillar began to flash green, and swung unsteadily. It hit one wall, blowing a hole to the outside.

"There, let's move!" Sarie grabbed the Triceragrif's pokeball and threw it, releasing the mighty bird. Triceragrif grabbed both humans in his tail and tossed them onto his back, then hurled himself out the exit hole just as the energy pillar collapsed. A plume of flame exploded from the hole, singing the grass. Then, the whole ship went up in flames. A huge explosion nearly knocked Sarie and Alec off the Triceragrif, and the sonic waves of sound were almost unbearable.

"YEEEEHAW! WE DID IT!!" Alec shouted, throwing his arms in the air.

"We rule!" Sarie threw her arms Around Alec's neck and hugged him tightly. He turned around and hugged her back.

"All right, let's find the others." Sarie stroked the Triceragrif's headfeathers, admiring the beast's powerful muscles and razor-sharp beak. Triceragrif turned and looked at her with his fierce, golden eyes, highlighted by a black streak. His massive horns curved dangerously under his eyes, intensifying the aura of power that surrounded him.

"The others are in distress. Where is your Alakasam?" Triceragrif asked.

"I returned him back there. He was in danger."

"His pokeball fell. I have it." Triceragrif handed her a pokeball, and it was indeed Tassadar's.

"Go, Tass!" Sarie released Tassadar onto Triceragrif's back, behind Alec.

Freedom! That was NUTS! Tassadar roared, waving his arms in the air.

"You saw?" Alec asked, surprised.

Yeah. I was invisible. How do 'y think your gun got so much energy? I have one two. Tassadar held up another blaster, this one with a longer barrel.

"I see..."

We need to get to the others, Taro's in huge trouble. Tassadar said, changing his manner to a grim one.

"All right. Triceragrif, find 'em!"

"All right. Hang on!"

Triceragrif flattened his headfeathers and straightened his neck, whooshing forward at massive speeds. His wings angled themselves like two feathered airplane wings, and his muscular legs were held close to his body. Stiff fur flattened to scales, creating a smooth, streamlined creature of the sky. Triceragrif let out a cry of exuberance that echoed across the clouds, between the mountains, and in the souls of the creatures on his back.

"There they are." He said, pointing a claw towards a clearing in the Veridian forest.

Sarie gasped as they drew in close to the clearing. "Oh my god, Taro!!"

Chapter 57

The Fallen

Taro lay in a pool of red, sticky blood, right beside the dead form of the Dark Man. A bloodied sword lay next to him, and the source of the blood was somewhere on his back. Adnap was holding his body, sobbing, while Beth stood there in shock, unable to move. Dameon was nearby, unconscious, against a tree. A small Mew was trying to heal Taro, but didn't seem to be having any luck.

"What happened????" Sarie shouted, running to Adnap. Adnap was incoherent, unable to speak. She cried and cried and cried, and wouldn't let go of Taro.

"Beth! WAKE UP!" Alec shook Beth's shoulders as hard as she could, trying to get her to speak. All he got was a gurgling sound, as if Beth could not relate the horrors of what she had seen.

"Oh my god, he's gone!!" Sarie screamed. She looked at her bloodied hand, the blood of her friend, and threw up.

"He's DEAD?? What the heck happened here?" Alec touched two fingers to the side of Taro's neck, then shook his head.

I know. I read Beth and Adnap's minds. You won't like seeing this, but... Tassadar placed a spoon on Alec's forehead and began to chant.

Fight... Adrenalin... I will fight... Alec and Sarie realized this was through Taro's eyes. FIGHT! This man dares challenge me? I'll fight... hand to hand! No, sword fight? Fine! I'll kill him!! The view switched to a scene of two fighting. Taro swung his sword towards the man, slicing a slash across his chest. The man swung back, catching Taro across his bare arm. Taro winces, and slices a chunk from the man's thigh. The man falls, but slashes, Taro dodges, then slams sword into the Man's back. He removes the sword, turns to Adnap to shield her eyes. The man lifts himself up one arm, and drives the sword deep into Taro's back. Taro screams, falls to his knees. Adnap screaming, Beth unable to move. Taro dislodges the sword, his eyes glazing over. He looks at it for a moment, then falls onto his back. Hie takes his last breath, a slow, rattling one...

Adnap... I'm sorry... I love you...

Tassadar removed the spoon and sighed heavily. I can not tell you his other thoughts, they would kill you. Tassadar said, kneeling beside Taro's limp form.

"I can't believe he's dead..." Sarie walked shakily over to Adnap and shook her shoulders. "Oy, c'mon, snap out of it... it's not safe here." Sarie said softly. Adnap stood, and Sarie guided her to Triceragrif. Triceragrif wrapped a huge wing around her, and nuzzled his beak against her face, comforting her.

"What... happened... all I remember now is blood..." Beth whispered, standing beside Sarie.

"Don't remember. I wish I would not." Sarie picked Taro's body up and looked at his back. She made a small noise of fear and put him back down.

"It severed his spinal cord, didn't it? I knew it. Here, wrap him in this." Alec took off his lab coat and handed it to Sarie. Sarie dragged Taro onto it and wrapped him up. She and Alec carried him to a small tree.

"We'd better bury him here. Give him a nice place to rest." Alec sighed.

"Yeah. Go, Powerplant and Mew, help us dig."

"Go, Pokeball, Cyberr, and Drakk."

Soon a long grave was dug, and Taro lowered into it. By the time he was buried, the shock had worn off and Sarie was genuinely crying. Alec didn't cry, but felt deeply for the young man he had just buried. He and Taro might have fought, but they were still friends.

Powerplant blew out a spray of white flowers, which landed neatly on the grave. Stryka found a block of stone, and drilled Taro's name in it. Drakk placed rocks around the gave decoratively. Taro's pokemon were now in the possession of Adnap, because she had been closest to Taro. Tauros couldn't even look at his master's grave, it hurt him too deeply.

"I s'pose we should go then..." Sarie sniffed, walking back to Triceragrif.

"Yeah. We need to find out how to stop these things from killing anyone else."

"Oh, they will..." A black ghost appeared near Taro's grave, laughing maniacally. He spread his arms and another split tore through the air...

Chapter 59

The Missing Ones

"Oh no..." Sarie groaned, standing as close to Alec as she could. From this split came human forms, somehow familiar to the five.

"Ash, what mess have you gotten us into this time?" A red-head screamed at a boy who was strangely familiar...

"Hey, that's Ash!" Beth shouted, pointing at the boy.

"No, that's Ash." Sarie pointed to another boy who had entered the clearing.

"Then who's that?" Alec pointed to yet another figure.

"They're all Ash! And there are three Mistys and Brocks as well! This is freaking me out..."

"Who're you? Some sort of Ditto?" One Ash asked.

"I'm Ash Ketchum, and you're the ditto!"

"I am not! I'm Ash!"

"You're both wrong, I'm Ash!"

"I am!"

"I am!"

The Mistys were looking at each other suspiciously, circling like cats about to fight. The three Brocks seemed to be getting along fine.

"There's another Beth, and, Ack! Another me!" Sarie backed away from her twins.

"Sarie Cigam! Hello. I'm Sarie K. I suppose you'll not know me... I'm your 3d dimension self."

"I'm Sarie too! How come there's two of me?" Sarie asked.

"I don't know how this happened, but this is not good. It seems the other dimension broke as well... this is getting worse." Sarie K said glumly.

"What? Oh no, you're kidding! How are we s'posed to fix THIS mess in a day?" The other Beth asked.

"Oy, Link! What are we s'posed to do about this?" Sarie called to a boy of about 17. He was dressed in a green tunic, jeans, and carried a beautifully forged sword, shield, and bow on his back. All of them had a strange triangle design on them, which looked like a central triangle had been cut away.

"I dunno. We've got a day to live, and I seriously doubt this can be fixed in a day." Link shrugged his shoulders.

Another boy joined them. He was a year younger than Link and looked a lot like Ash. His spiked hair was covered by a blue Gengar cap, and a black backpack rested on his shoulders. A black vest covered his back, and he wore dark blue jeans.

"Hey, Jake. What do you think?" Link asked the other boy.

"I don't know. Serena's checking Team Rocket to make sure they're not in on this yet." Jake unshouldered his backpack and took out a laptop. He typed in a few quick commands and groaned.

"Great, guess what. The digital world's linking to the third dimension. It looks like the Sailor world is too, but theat isn't affecting us as much. I think the giant lizards are from the digital world, I've never seen them before."

"Team Rocket's not worth worrying about yet." A blond girl came jogging up to the others. She wore a faded Team Rocket uniform and was followed by a persian.

"Can someone tell me WHAT IN MEW2'S NAME IS GOING ON??" Alec shouted.

"You don't know?"

"No, I don't know. All I know is we're all being hunted by giant reptiles, dogs, and ryblades and I don't know what the heck is going on and I don't want to die any time soon!!" It seemed Alec had snapped.

"Calm down! I'll tell you. All of you. In detail. Don't interrupt me. It all started with the formation of the worlds. Many, many worlds were created, but the three goddesses who created the worlds were not satisfied with leaving them in their present state. So they created two other mirror, or almost mirror, worlds that were linked to the first. These were the three dimensions of each world. As well as having linked dimensions, the worlds themselves were linked. Each world shared something with another, and therefor was linked closest to that world. If one world was to be harmed, the others would too, including the other mirror dimensions."

Link stepped forward and continued the tale. "It happened that the digital world was attacked, and became unbalanced. This caused a disturbance in the first dimension of the pocket world. The pocket world is this one. We are all in the second of this dimension, but as you know, all the worlds connected were affected by this. Unfortunately, the first pocket dimension was also under attack from other forces. It collapsed, spilling the creatures from it into the nearby 2^nd dimension. This one. If these beasts are not all eradicated, this dimension and the third will die. This would cause a massive imbalance in all worlds, and in theory, all creation could die. You see, this dimension, the second, holds the two others together, and all the pocket dimensions together form one corner of a three-sided base for all worlds. The Hylian wolds and the Real Worlds are the other two. They, too, have been attacked by darkness, but are fending it off quite well. But if this world dies..."

Jake stepped in. "The pocket world can't re-generate. The other two can, but not this one."

Sarina finished the story. "One last thing you should know, for every life in one world, there is an almost identical one in the other two. You already know I'm your twin." She said, speaking to Adnap.

"And I'm Taro's" Link said.

"I'd be Alec's." Said Jake.

"And we're obvious. Same names." Beth said.

"So what do we do?" Adnap asked.

"You just fight with all your power. Eradicate this threat. We'll help, but our time is short. We are not compatible with this world, like the evil ones. So we have our own plans. You all must survive though. All of you." Link leaned on his sword. He looked at each in turn, and each trainer felt a great weight of responsibility settle on them.

"Wait, what about... Taro?" Adnap asked.

"Don't worry about him. You just do your job."

"All right. So, let's go then, shall we? I think this would be a good time to release those other pokemon." Sarie said, stroking Triceragrif's head.

The three others nodded, and threw out the pet balls.

"You understand now." Charbe-wan said.

"Yeah. But... Taro's gone." Adnap almost started crying again, but the owl placed its wing on her head and calmed her.

"This is.... most unfortunate."

"Yes, but we fight on!" Spyro roared.

"Yes, for everyone. For everything." Luna purred.

"So... let's set this plan into motion, shall we?" Sarie K said, rubbing her hands together.

"I've devised a plan. Alec, do you have a spare writeable cd with you?" Jake asked, booting up his laptop again.

"Uhh, yeah. Here." Alec handed a small, writeable cd to Jake.

"All right, I've downloaded a copy of the plan onto this cd. If you need to, just open the file labeled "Plan", 'k?"

"Sure."

Sarina cleared her throat and began outlining the plan, drawing simple diagrams into the sand. "You five get to Celedon. There's a fighter base there. Steal the ships. One for each of you. Destroy everything in the air possible. Link will come with you. He's got to get a ship as well. Try to take Tie Interceptors or A-wings, ok? One of you should have a tie bomber or a y-wing, though, just to be safe. After exploding everything airborne, other than each other, head to Cinbarr again. You'll have to face a new challenge there, but we don't know what that is yet. Just use your heads. Triceragrif and MetalTitoismon will assist you. Charbe-wan needs his own ship, and Spyro comes with us. All right?"

"Got it. Let's go." Beth flipped her cap backwards and hopped onto Triceragrif's back.

"All right then. Link, could I have a word with you before you go?" Sarie K asked.

"Sure." Link walked over to her. She threw her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his chest, then looked up at him again.

"I'll see you in heaven, triforce boy."

"All right, angel girl."

They kissed tenderly, then Link walked back to Triceragrif, looking slightly depressed.

"So, what is your mission?" Beth asked.

"Not for you to know."

"Oh, all right."

Chapter 60

Kamikaze

"That's even larger than the other base we blew up!" Beth exclaimed as they watched a huge, ball-shaped airship hover slowly above Celedon.

"It'll be fun getting in there..." Alec smiled grimly.

"I have an idea..." Sarie whispered.

Moments later they had flown in on Triceragrif through a small hole in the bottom of the ship, made by Sarie and Charbe-wan's lightsabers.

"My computer says the ship bay is down here. This place seems too quiet..." Alec whispered.

"Quiet is good. Come on."

The five made their way to the docking bay where nearly two hundred ships of every type rested on the smooth, hard floor. The five eyed each ship, and made detailed plans to get to them. Although the base was quiet, the ships were still heavily guarded.

"Sarie, run for that small, brown-read fighter. Beth, when she starts it up, use the diversion to take the larger y-wing. Adnap, you take that grey, x-shaped one. Char-be, take Titoismon and take a Tie interceptor. Got it? I'll run for the other A-wing. Link, I suppose you have your own agenda?"

"Yeah." Link sighed heavily.

"All right. Go!"

Sarie ran from the cover of the small hallway and dashed into the opened cockpit of the A-wing. She put the ship on auto-pilot and blasted a path out through the other ships. Shouts and cries of anger, followed by laser blast, rang in her ears. She pulled a flight helmet over her head and flew out of the base, then doubled back to circle the area and disable the gun turrets, which a well-aimed laser blast could take out. Her companions raced out as well, followed by a plume of flame from the exploding ships. All three took a run around the base, disabling the defenses.

"I know how to blow this baby up!" Alec shouted. "Someone fly back in the docking bay and throw a photon torpedo in there!"

"I'll go." Beth grinned. "Now it's my turn to blow somethin' to bits." Her ship dove towards the base, smaller ships bouncing off her hull in their attempt to stop her. She began to turn right outside the base, firing off a huge energy bomb. As soon as the bomb was off, she powered up her speed boosters and flew back to the group of ships, which was safely hovering at a distance. Suddenly, the ship exploded in a bright fireball, taking down all nearby ships. Cheers and cries of "Yeaaaa!" and "YESS!" echoed across the ship's com units as the six celebrated. Triceragrif hovered close by, keeping an eye out for danger.

"You fly to Cinbarr." Link said as his ship and Char-be wan's took off south.

"Where are you two going?" Sarie's ship chased after him, keeping the com lines opened.

"We've got our own mission. You have yours. GO!" She shouted, putting on an extra burst of speed. Sarie broke off the chase and headed back to the others, puzzled. They headed towards Cinbarr, making plans and talking about their mission on private channels.

Link and Char-be had made it to Fucia. All around them were masses of huge lizard beasts, known as Warzerdramon, and all were intent on destroying them. Their mission involved using all their photon torpedoes to eliminate as many Warzerdramon as possible, then running their ships into a final one. He would be inside the ship the whole time.

"Time to die..." Link whispered to himself. A strange triangle symbol seemed to burn itself through his gloved hand, one segment glowing brighter than the rest. He grinned insanely for a moment, then launched himself at one Warzerdramon. Just as he was about to hit it, he veered upwards and let a torpedo out. The missile bit through Warzerdramon's back armor and exploded in a bright fireball, taking the first one down. Link watched his ammo counter go down one, then went after a second creature.

They had destroyed around one-hundred Warzerdramon, but more seemed to pop from the ground as if by magic. Link tried to launch another missile at one running straight for him, but he had run out of ammo. He took a deep breath, then put on his speed boosters.

"EULALIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" His war cry rent the air, echoing across the parched, war-ravaged landscape for miles. Then came the impact.

Sarie K gasped and held her heart, then turned to Sarina. The pain was evident in her eyes, and she let her head fall to her chest, tears falling freely from her eyes. One of them was gone.

Chapter 61

Static

My God, I can't believe we just let him die like that!" Sarie said as she banged her head against the wall of a ruined building. Alec put his arm around her had held her close.

"He was gonna die anyway. They've got a plan, and so do we. We're all here for a reason, and all we have to do is find out what that is."

"Uh... I hate to break up such a touching scene... but is that what we're here for?" Beth asked wide-eyed, pointing to the sky. The other three looked up just as she sun was blocked out by a cloud of static electricity. Slowly, the cloud split to form millions of separate static balls, each taking the form of a gigantic bird of prey. They dove in on the four trainers, screaming their warcries to the sky.

"Missssinnnnngoooooooo!!"

"RUN!" Alec grabbed Sarie's hand and ran to the nearest building with a roof, followed by Beth and Adnap. The Missingos smashed into a glass door just as Beth pulled it shut, locking them out.

"God no... Anything but that..." Sarie gasped, backing away from the door, wide-eyed with fear.

"Chill! We're safe for the moment." Beth re-assured her.

"For how long?"

"I dunno."

"Do you know what those are?"

"No, what?"

"Missing Number... Missingo. They're balls of static electricity and virus codes, along with demonic powers and a drive to slay everything in their sight. They can't be killed by normal means, they're practically invincible."

"No way..."

Alec's face lit up as Beth's fell, and he booted up his laptop quickly and began typing madly, as if their lives depended on it, which of course, they did. "I know how to beat 'em!!" He shouted, grinning.

"How? How in Mew2's name do you defeat a static ball of virus and evil??" Beth asked wildly.

"Easy. To kill a virus, use anti-virus software." Alec said simply.

"Oh, and how the heck do you get virus software programed to recognize a Missingo?"

"You program it." With that, Alec tuned out everything but his work, his face glued to the shimmering screen of his laptop.

"Well, that solves it."

"So, what say we go explore this place?" Sarie indicated the building.

"It looks like some sort of lab."

"Yeah. So we explore."

"Adnap, you coming with?"

"No, I'll stay here."

"K."

Wait for me. Adnap, take Kyle. We might find something dangerous. Tassadar handed Kyle to Adnap, kissing his son's forehead before he joined Sarie and Beth.

Wait for me. Dameon said, appearing next to the three.

"Dameon!" Sarie jumped on the Mew2 and hugged him, then backed away abruptly. "Heh, sorry..."

"Don't worry. It's nice to be appreciated once and a while." Dameon chuckled.

"You can speak?"

"Yes. I believe it would be more appropriate for me to speak aloud to you."

"Yeah."

"So, let's go then..." Beth said, walking into the darkness, Chester lighting the way.

"All right, then. Come on, Tassadar, let's go." Sarie began following Beth, when suddenly one of her pokeballs exploded from her backpack in a flurry of brown feathers.

(What about me??)

(You mean us.)

(I'm the better head, you know it!!)

(Loudmouth!!)

(Ow, who asked you? This was between me and her!!)

"Ok, stop fighting! If you wan to come, you'll have to be quiet." Sarie said, hushing the warring heads of her Dodrio.

(It wasn't my fault!!)

(Quiet down, loudmouth!)

(You quiet!)

(Both of you Shut up!)

"One more squawk and I'll tie your beaks up!" Sarie said, annoyed at the bird. Stryka shut up after that. Sarie was about to move on when two more pokeballs exploded, revealing Powerplant and Helia.

(I wish to follow you.) Powerplant rumbled, rubbing against Sarie's leg like an oversized, teal persian.

"All right..."

Helia hadn't explained her reasoning to Sarie, she just ran up to Chester and rubbed her cheek against his.

"Not you two..." Sarie sighed.

(Well, what do you expect? I'm to handsome to resist.) Chester chuckled.

"Yeah, brown, furry, and libel to electrocute us as any moment... you're a real dream boat..." Beth giggled.

"Don't forget short!" Sarie laughed.

(Yeah, well, Alec ain't exactly the hottest guy on the planet, ya know.) Helia shot back.

"That's completely besides the point!!" Sarie shouted, blushing.

"Enough bickering. Who cares who you chose as your mate?" Dameon asked, stepping between the Raichus and humans.

"Umm... mate?"

"Yes, mate. You humans mate for life, don't you?"

"Umm... usually..."

"Well then, if you chose Alec as your mate, it is no one's business to argue."

"He's not exactly my.. Mate..."

"Why?"

"It doesn't work that way for humans. You see, you have to get married first..."

"So get married."

"No, you usually don't get married until you're older." Sarie said, frustrated.

"I don't understand you humans..." Dameon muttered.

"Uhh, S-sarie? Does the floor feel... wet to you?" Beth asked, staring ahead at something.

"Yeah... what is this?" Sarie asked, sniffing a sticky, blue fluid that covered the floor.

"I know what it is..." Dameon placed a paw on the floor, and shuddered convulsively.

"What?"

"Cloning fluid."

"Beth, what's wrong?" Sarie asked, shaking Beth's shoulders. Beth pointed to a lump of something on the floor, and Sarie cautiously approached it. In the dim light, it looked like a pink, furry sack, but as Helia and Chester's light grew brighter, Sarie saw what it was, and screamed.

It was a dead Mysterio, a long glass shard running through it's middle.

"Oh God, what the heck happened here??" Beth asked, finally regaining her ability to speak. The two Raichu's light had illuminated the entire room, revealing nearly a thousand dead mysterios lying amongst broken glass shards and heaps of broken computer parts. Only three tubes still stood, but had cracks running up an down them, with liquid leaking to the floor. They looked like some glass containment device, with a small computer consol at the bottom. Sarie had never seen one, but for Mew2, it brought back a world of nightmares.

No, not the tube... NOOO!!!!!! He screamed in his mind, collapsing to his knees. His eyes were wide in terror, and he looked like a trapped animal, too terrified to move. Sarie, meanwhile, had been sick near another wall.

"What... is this?" Beth asked, horrified by all the dead creatures.

"This... is a cloning lab. A recent earthquake demolished these tubes. I'd say they've been standing here a while, though..." Dameon was normal again, though still shaking like a leaf. He touched a limp, cold body and shuddered again.

"You mean they... cloned mysterios?"

"Yes."

"Then would the creatures in those tubes be alive?"

Dameon walked over to an in-tact tube and peered in. A stiff body was all he saw, and he shook his head.

"Been here too long."

"Let's let them out, then. Out of respect, I mean."

"All right." Dameon kicked the glass, and the tube shattered, sending the liquid cascading across the floor. The mysterio slid out and bumped into Dameon's feet. He picked it up and was about to place it with the others when the thing coughed.

"It's alive!" He screamed, nearly dropping the thing.

"What??" Sarie ran over to Dameon and stared into the tiny, very young features of a mysterio. It brought back a flood of painful memories, and Sarie had to bite her lip to keep from crying.

"It's alive! I don't know how, but it is!" Dameon said, inspecting the limp creature.

"Well, here. Let me have it." Sarie took the bundle of fur and held it close, stroking the soft, pink fur gently.

"Myysssttt..." The mysterio groaned in pain.

"You're going to be ok..." Sarie whispered, rocking the little one back and forth in her arms. It began to purr and snuggled up in her arms, asleep.

"Aww, it's so cute..." Beth smiled. It was odd how, in the middle of all the death and chaos, happiness still abounded.

"She needs a name... I know, I'll call her Shukumei." Sarie said, smiling down at the little mysterio.

"Why?"

"It means Fate. Fate brought us here to save her."

"Ah, I see."

"I don't wish to go any further." Dameon said abruptly.

"Why?"

"Because, we might find a secret to horrible to recover from." Dameon said sternly, and began walking away.

"All right, wait for us."

They went back to the front of the building, where Alec was excitedly tapping away on his keyboard. Adnap was nearby, feeding her pokemon.

"Look what we found!" Sarie exclaimed, jolting Alec back to reality. He looked over the Mysterio, said it was cute, and went back to typing.

"That's it, just 'it's cute?'" Sarie asked, miffed.

"It is, I'm just on the verge of getting this program fixed... there!!" He shouted, as if he had just found a cure for the common cold.

"How do you work it?" Sarie asked. She had a basic knowledge of computers, and was all right in programming, but couldn't make sense of the numbers and lines on Alec's screen.

"It'll create a portal into the other dimension, the one still there, but if anything from the third or this dimension tries to get through it, it'll cause them to go through a reversal."

"What?"

"Things living will cease to exist."

"What about dead things?" Adnap asked abruptly.

"Honestly, I don't know. I assume they'd go back to being as they were before they were dead..."

"Then we can bring Taro back?" She asked hopefully.

"I think... although I'm not sure. He could just cease to exist, like the others."

"Well, it's worth a try." She said, determination in her voice.

"So, what do we need to do to get this thing going?" Sarie asked.

"We need all the people from the first and third dimensions. We have to get them all to go through." Alec said.

"How do we do that?"

"I think the Warzerdramon are gone, Link took care of that... and the Ryblades have been reduced to a few. The Siriuses are gone as well. Our problem is the Missingo."

"No problem. All right, Adnap, you go after the three Ashs, Mistys, Brocks, Tracys, and Prof. Oaks. Sort them out, and bring them here. Alec, make sure that program is foolproof and design something to get the Missingos through that portal. Beth, go after the Prof. Ivys, Garys, our Third Dimension selves, Jessie, and James. I'll find Taro with telekinesis, and get Giovanni, Cassidy, Butch, and anyone else I find. Got it?"Sarie asked.

"Yeah."

"All right."

"Prodigious!"

"Where did that come from?"

"I dunno..."

"What about me?" Dameon asked cooly.

"You find anyone from the other dimensions you can, and bring them here."

"All right."

"Let's go."

Chapter 62

Idiots, Pandas, and a Bowl of Chow Mein

Adnap grumbled to herself as she rode Dragonair through the turbulent oceans, looking for Ash.

"Why did I have to get the idiot?" She mumbled, patting Dragonair's head.

"Draaaagooon..." Dragonair sang.

"I wish you were a Dragonite, this would be easier."

"Gnair." Dragonair laughed, and began to glow.

"Hey, thanks!" Adnap cheered as her newly-evolved Dragonite took off. "You need a new nickname now... hmm... what's a good name for you..." Adnap pondered. "I know, I'll call you Ryu! It's Japanese for dragon."

Ryu smiled and nodded, then began to fly closer to the ground. She pointed a claw at a group of humans, three of whom looked like Ash.

"There they are! Good eye, Ryu!" Adnap grinned, patting Ryu on the head. Ryu smiled and nodded again, then let Adnap off. She approached the group and noticed that not only were there three Ashs, but the other people she was supposed to find were here as well. Adnap was about to speak when a Missingo dove from the cloudy sky and proceeded to attack Brock #1 viciously.

"No! Stop!" Adnap screamed. She let her other pokemon out, and they all began to attack the Missingo. But it was too late.

"Chakakaa, to late... he iss gone now..." Missingo laughed, licking blood away from its fangs. At its feet lay the remains of Brock #1, a mangled, bloody, barely unrecognizable corpse.

"BROCK!!" Misty (Adnap figured this was Misty #1) ran to Brock's corpse and tried to bring him back to life, but failed miserably.

"Brock, I'm so sorry! I was going to tell you... then you left to Ivy's Lab... Brock, I love you!" Misty cried.

"WHAT?? What about me?" Ash shouted, looking angry and hurt.

"I just wanted my bike back. Sorry."

"Yeah, whatever."

"What about me, Ash?" Tracy asked.

"Huh?"

"Don't you love me?"

"No, Gross!!"

"Oh, sorry."

"All right, enough! You three, find the Gary from your dimension. All right?" Adnap said, tired of listening to the idiocy of the 1^st dimension Ash and Tracy.

"All right. GARY, GET OVER HERE!!" Ash shouted at the top of his lungs. Gary came running out of the bushes, a dozen rabid pandas on his heels.

"Where the heck did those come from??" Adnap asked as a rabid panda chased Gary up a tree. The other eleven busied themselves with chasing the other three humans up a rock wall. One trotted over to Brock's corpse, sniffed, then turned back to attacking Gary.

"I don't know, but it ATE MY SHOE!!!" Gary shouted, shinnying further up the tree.

"Ryu, Hyper Beam Now!" Adnap shouted, pointing her finger at one of the pandas. The beam struck it in the side, and the thing rolled a few feet before hopping back up again, unharmed, and began to chew the tree down.

"I know! Feed them this!!" One of the Tracys shouted, grabbing a bowl of Chow Mein from his backpack. He threw it to the Pandas, who all grouped around it and began to eat.

"All right! All of you, follow me now!" Adnap shouted, hopping back on Ryu. She was followed by the three Tracys on their Scythers, three Ashs on their Charizards, three Mistys on their Starmies, and two Brocks on their Golbats.

"I hope Beth found Ivy and Oak, 'cuz I have no idea where he is." Adnap thought as the flock of flying trainers headed back to Cinbarr.

Chapter 63

Fizzle

Cinbarr was seething with people as Adnap landed. All of them were trying to shove themselves through the door and into the lab, but they became stuck on the way. Sarie, Alec, and Beth were outside, waving their arms and trying to get everyone in order, but were failing miserably. Tassadar, Kyle, Dameon, Nida, and the Mysterio were also outside, but they were trying to get the pokemon to calm down. They, too, were failing.

"This is a mess!" Adnap exclaimed as her Dragonite touched down next to Beth.

"Yeah, these people are panicking!"

"Even worse, Missingo are preparing to attack! I don't know how much longer I can wait to get the portal open." Alec said quietly, so no one but the four of them would hear.

"Then open it." Sarie said urgently.

"What if not everyone goes through? What if people from the second go through?" Alec said nervously.

"I've got it. Watch." Sarie grinned and concentrated, her eyes glowing blue. "Everyone listen!" She shouted, her voice amplified so that everyone heard her. "If you came here through a hole in the sky, line up here! If you didn't, go back home!" She indicated a tree, by making it glow bright blue.

"Wow, cool!"

"Yeah, Dameon taught it to me."

"Wow."

In minutes, the people from the second dimension had gone, and a long line had formed in front of the tree. Alec set up his laptop, typed in a command, and a sphere of glowing, silver energy formed next to the tree.

"Walk into the sphere one by one, all right?" He shouted. The crowd nodded their heads, and the line began to move.

Half of the people had made it through when the missingos came again, darkening the sky for miles.

"Haha, foolss! They are gathered like sheep at a harvesst! Feasst, my brotherss and ssisterss!" Screamed one missingo as he dove from the mass. A young boy was his target, and he savagely tore into him. After a few moments, the boy could no longer scream.

The other missingos dove in on the remaining people and ruthlessly slew them all, then ate their souls. Shukumei hid behind Sarie, quaking with terror as Missingos spattered blood across the ground, turning the brown, dried grass a deep red.

Alec was desperately trying to fend off the many Mysterios that had attacked him, but was beginning to fail. His laptop lay on the bloody grass, smashed, and the portal was nowhere to be seen.

"Alec!" Sarie screamed, ramming headfirst into a Missingo. The beast gave a rippling snarl of surprise, but then turned its vicious attentions on Sarie.

"Little girl, leave me be... or I'll ssslay you." The Missingo chuckled, digging its huge claws deep into her shoulder.

"Stay away from him!" She screamed, kicking out at the beast. She scored a hit on the beast's 'leg', causing it to fall, dragging her with it. Its claws were still embedded in her shoulder.

"Oy, that's my sister!!" Beth roared, smashing a cement block across the Missingo's skull. The beast hissed in rage, and lashed its tail at Beth, catching her across the side of the face. A deep would formed on her cheek, but Beth barely even felt it. She grabbed the creature's skin and tugged, pulling as hard as she could. Missingo screeched in agony and wrenched its claws free of Sarie's shoulder. Sarie let out a small yelp of pain, but dove back onto the Missingo with a furious cry. The missingo was taken down under the beatings of both humans, and dissolved into the ground.

"Where's Alec?" Sarie screamed, scanning the field. Alec was sitting a little ways away, a dead Missingo nearby.

"Alec, we've got to go! Into the building!" Sarie shouted, dragging Alec upright. He had numerous slashes across his face and a huge blood splotch on his pants leg where the Missingo had clawed him, but otherwise seemed fine. Sarie and Beth supported him , and three limped into the building just ahead of a pack of Missingos. Adnap was waiting for them, with Kyle and Shukumei in her arms. Shukumei was asleep, while Kyle was drinking formula out of a makeshift bottle held together with psychic powers. Tassadar was sitting alone in a corner, next to a flame. A pot hovered over it, filled with rice.

"Wow, food!" Sarie grinned, watching as Tassadar added butter to the rice.

"Yes. I found some in one of the Lab's storage cabinets." Dameon said. He was seated on a rock, reading a thick sheet of papers. Beside him, laying on the rock, was a golden female Mew2.

"Wow, who's she?" Sarie asked, indicating the Mew2.

"This is S2, or Sarie2. In another dimension, you were cloned to make her." He said, stroking S2's head gently.

"What happened to her, I thought all the others were killed..."

"They were, except her. I saved her. She fell asleep just as we came in."

"Weird."

Rice is ready. It's not Mac and Cheese, but it's all we have. Tassadar said, placing the huge pot on the floor and putting out the fire.

"Great, food! I'm starved!" Beth grinned, letting out her pokemon.

***

Several hours later, the four trainers were settling down to sleep. The sky had gone black as Missingos circled the lab, but Tassadar had provided a light via Flash. It was freezing cold in the lab, so all the pokemon except for Tassadar, Dameon, and Kyle had been returned. Dameon had curled his body around S2's and was speaking to her quietly. She had woken up at the smell of rice, and she and Dameon were exchanging information about themselves. Beth found a huge blanket and was asleep under it, and Adnap didn't appear bothered by the cold. Sarie, though, was freezing.

"D-d-dang, it's cold..." She mumbled, huddling up as far from the door as she could get.

"Yeah, I was cold to." Alec whispered, tiptoeing over to her. He threw his torn lab coat over her and snuggled underneath it as well, next to her. "This will help conserve body heat." He whispered.

"Yeah..." Sarie snuggled up closer to him as the body heat from both humans warmed up the air beneath the thin lab coat.

"I could get used to this..."

"So could I."

In an instant, both humans fell asleep, Sarie's head resting beneath Alec's chin, and Alec's arm around her for more warmth.

Meanwhile, Adnap had sunk back into depression. Now that the portal was gone, she had lost all hope of seeing Taro again, and Sarie and Alec's closeness wasn't helping matters.

"Dang it, why did you have to leave me?" She asked, a tear trickling down her cheek. "I was so happy when you were around, and now I just feel empty. You've got to come back!"

"I am back." Said a cold, yet familiar voice. Adnap turned abruptly as an icy hand settled on her shoulder, and found herself looking into the cold, pale, ghost eyes of Taro.

"I'm so sorry, Taro! I shouldn't have let you duel that man!" Adnap cried, throwing her arms around the ghost form of Taro. To her surprise, she was able to touch Taro. Most ghosts weren't solid at all.

"It wasn't your fault, don't worry." He whispered, smoothing her hair gently.

"But I want you back! I want to be with you again." She cried.

"Shh, it's ok, Adnap. Look." Taro said, releasing her. She stepped back and gasped as Taro began to turn from a translucent, bluish ghost to a living human being. He coughed a few times as his face became living flesh, then turned back to face Adnap, his green eyes shining again. "I'm back." He smiled.

"But... how...?"

"Don't ask, I don't know either. But I'm here and that's all that matters."

"Oh, Taro..."

Chapter 63

Virus

Sarie woke up to find herself still warm in Alec's embrace, and sighed. Even in the most dire of situations, she knew she could always turn to him for safety and love.

She slowly stood up, careful not to awaken him, and surveyed their position in the daylight. Mew2 and S2 were still curled up together, Beth had wrapped the blanket around her like a cocoon, Tassadar had created an invisible blanket of energy for himself and Kyle, and Adnap was still curled up in a corner. But she wasn't alone.

Sarie had to look twice to confirm what she was seeing. Taro was next to Adnap, holding her in a similar fashion to how Alec had held her the night before. But Taro, alive? How the heck did that happen?

Sarie resisted the urge to wake everyone up and instead focused her mind on the task of creating breakfast. She had no idea as to how Tassadar had created the dinner fire the night before, and had even less of a clue as to where food could be found. She let Powerplant out of his ball, both because she wanted company and because he was the best cook she knew. He was a bit afraid of the fire idea, so both human and pokemon set about coming up with a delicious cold breakfast. Sarie scrounged some bread from a nearby cabinet, and Powerplant sniffed up a hidden supply of fruit in Tassadar's backpack. Sarie found a few packets of cheese in the refrigerated compartment of her backpack, and a breakfast menu was made. Toasted bread with cheese and ripe fruit. Stryka added to this with one of her huge eggs, and an omelet was made.

"Hey everyone, breakfast is on!" She shouted cheerily, banging two rocks together like a dinner bell.

"Eee, could you turn it down a bit? I was having a great dream about winning the pokemon leagues." Beth grumbled as she sat up, the covers still around her like a cocoon.

"You did win them, remember?" Sarie giggled.

"Yeah, whatever. Ooh, what's that smell? Where'd you get eggs from??"

"Stryka was kind enough to give up hers."

"Oh."

"Woo, I'm alive! I almost thought I was dreaming again!" Taro cheered as he woke up.

"I'm glad it wasn't another dream." Adnap grinned.

"Hey, we're all together again! Let's try to stay that way..." Sarie said as she served up the omelet, bread, and fruit.

"So, what are we gonna do about the Missingo?" Alec asked through a mouthful of egg.

"I say we use the giant computers in the back of the lab." Mew2 suggested, nibbling on an apple core.

"Good idea! Look, Alec and I will program them to capture the Missingos. Mew2 an S2, you lure them here. You're the strongest, so it should be no trouble. Taro and Adnap, be on the lookout for the Missingos. Beth, watch the pokemon." Sarie said.

"Watch the pokemon? Why can't I go help the twos get the Missingo?" Beth complained.

"Because the twos are stronger than any human ever will be." Sarie explained.

"Wait, I also have an idea... we could turn her into a two." S2 said, eyeing Beth.

"Wait, you say you can turn ME into a Mew2?" Beth shouted, spraying egg from her mouth.

"For a time."

"All right!"

"Well then, come stand over here. Let me place a paw on your forehead." S2 said, rising from the floor. Sarie noticed that the twos had their tails entwined, and guessed there was more than friendship between them.

S2 placed a paw-like hand on beth's head, and closed her eyes. A bright, silvery light flooded from her eyes as she opened them again, and Beth began to change.

Her face became feline, her nose became two slits in the side of her muzzle, and her ears became pointed and rose to the top of her head just as her hair disappeared. Her body became that of a Mew2, but shorter than one. Her skin became a pale, storm grey, and her eyes took on a purple tint. Her tail was teal.

"Wow, I'm a Mew2!" She exclaimed, looking down at her paws.

"Yes. Come now, child, we have work to do." Mew2 said, hopping out the doorway.

"Did you just call me child?"

"Yes, now come on. You are one of us, for now."

The three Mews hopped out the door and into the sunlight and serious danger.

"All right, let's get that computer fixed." Alec said, placing his plate of food on a nearby rock. He stood, grabbed his backpack, and headed for the computer room. Sarie followed, her own backpack over her shoulders.

"Gee, we're all alone..." Taro mused, peering out the window.

"Yeah, but we've got a job to do." Adnap pointed out.

"All right... so if I see a giant ball of static chasing after two clones and Beth, I shout?"

"Right."

"Ok, I can do that."

"Right, we'll watch the window together." Adnap said, staring out the window while leaning into Taro. He wrapped his arm around her, and they watched.

***

"We finally got it fixed and programed!" Sarie grinned, tapping away at a huge computer consol. Alec was nearby, packing up several tools into his backpack.

"Yeah, and now you know how to do it yourself." He said, dusting himself off.

"So now what?"

"We wait for the others, I suppose."

"Great, this proves to be a boring afternoon..." Sarie grumbled.

"Naw, let's see what else is on this computer." Alec said, seating himself next to her. Sarie's heartbeat sped up slightly with him so near. She always felt this way when she was so close to him.

"Look, solitaire!" Sarie grinned, double-clicking on a card pack icon. A game of solitaire came up, and the two were soon laughing as they tried to beat the game.

"Cool, we did it! What else is on here?" Alec said, closing solitaire. "Hmm, games... look, virtual life!" He said, bringing up a virtual board game.

"Here, lemme go first." Sarie said. She picked up a career card and lipped it over. "Hah, Gym Leader! Yes!"

"I got Scientist!"

"Well, duh. I wonder if these cards are just dumb luck or if this is some sort of prediction..." Sarie mused as she rolled the dice. "Hmm, get married..."

"And who might the lucky man be?" Alec whispered in her ear.

"I wonder..." She whispered back.

"Maybe this game really can predict the future..."

"I hope so."

"Hey, what's that space you landed on?"

"Have Twins..."

"Interesting..." Both turned to face each other at the same time, resulting in their lips touching slightly.

"Do you think we'd get married and have twins?" Sarie breathed.

"Most likely, in a few years."

"Good." With that, both leaned forward, and kissed passionately.

"I think we've won the game." Alec grinned.

"Yeah, me too."

They were about to kiss again when a thunderous, evil chuckle resounded through the building. Sarie and Alec looked up in shock and found themselves staring into the massive, white-on-black eyes of Ryblade.

"How touching. But you've not won, you're about to lose." He grinned sadistically, licking his fangs in excitement.

"You won't kill us, Ryblade. We'll kill you first!" Sarie shouted boldly, standing to her full height.

Ryblade chuckled again, sending chills down Sarie's back. He flicked her over with a massive claw, then turned his gaze upon Alec.

"You, boy, you were going to take her, weren't you? Just like that. Hah, you would have felt bad, my boy, because she's only 14... but that would have been after the deed was done. I should have just watched." Ryblade grinned.

"What in Mew2's name are you talking about?" Alec asked, confused for a moment. Then the realization of Ryblade's words hit him. "You sick monster, I'm not like that!" He snarled, glaring at Ryblade.

"I'm so sure. Males are all the same. No matter, you didn't take her, I will." Ryblade grinned. He picked Sarie up off the floor and dropped her next to a tree outside. Alec scrambled up through the fallen roof, ready to kill Ryblade if he got his hands around the beast's neck. Ryblade grinned and caressed the side of Sarie's face with the tip of his leaf tail.

"You know what you really are, don't you?" He asked, beginning to shrink in size.

"What do you mean?" Sarie asked, backing up from Ryblade.

"I mean, you know you aren't all human." He hissed, now only 6ft tall at the shoulder.

"What?"

"You are part Ryvee." He grinned, leaning down so that his face was right up against hers, and his tails were wrapped around her waist, preventing escape. Sarie was almost paralyzed with fright.

"Yes, pretty one. Your grandfather was a Ryblade. Why did you think you had the gift of psychic? And you were so good at it? You didn't really think a pathetic human could have such a gift, did you?" He hissed. His nose touched the side of her neck, and he began sniffing deeply, caressing her with his nose and lips.

"You fear me..." He grinned, sinking down on top of her. "You fear my body, and what I will do to you. You will have my children, girl." He hissed.

"You will stop this." Commanded a cold, vicious voice. A freezing cold wind blew across Sarie's face, and over Ryblade's shoulder she caught sight of a massive, white paw. Ryblade spun around, still keeping a tight hold on Sarie. He faced the voice, which had emanated from a huge, white creature that looked very much like a Ryblade, but quite different at the same time. This beast had only one tail, tipped with a crystal clear spike, which constantly dripped water from it. Sarie realized that this creature must be made of ice, and the tail tip was an icicle. The creature's neck was surrounded by more giant icicles, and its ears were thin sheets of ice.

"Why should I stop, white one?" Ryblade sneered, returning to normal size. Sarie re-gained her senses and slipped out of the creature's grasp as the tails loosened their grip. Ryblade launched itself at her as if to capture her again, but was stopped by a sheet of ice.

"I said, you will stop this. She is but a girl." The white beast hissed dangerously. Its white pupils had become light blue, and frost began to form around its paws.

"I do not care, girl or not, she was my prize. I meant to do this a long while ago, but she escaped me." Ryblade snarled, raising the fur along his spine.

"I will not let you do such to anyone, much less a young girl." The ice beast hissed. Without warning, he struck Ryblade with his tail, and Ryblade's fur turned to ice. Howling in pain, Ryblade cowered to the ground, attempting to lick the ice from his shoulder. The ice beast laughed.

"By this time I would think you'd know better than to attack a Ryticuno." It chuckled.

"You poked your snout into my business first, white one." Ryblade spat.

"Look at the girl." Ryticuno said, pointing a white paw at Sarie, who had huddled close to Alec, holding him tightly, shaking like a leaf, and sobbing. "Look how you hurt her."

"She'll survive."

"Not if you had finished with her. She would be dead."

Ryblade laughed mirthlessly, glancing back at the two humans. "What do I care, one less human life. Humans are nothing, they are worthless. Like any good creature. Like you." He hissed, glaring at Ryticuno. The glare Ryticuno returned was cold enough to freeze the sun.

"You will be punished for your insolence, Ryblade." He snarled, advancing upon Ryblade. Ryblade laughed and unsheathed his claws.

"Punish me, white one."

The two leaped for each other's throats at the same time, clashing in mid-leap. Ice crackled along the ground and from Ryticuno's nostrils as he fought tooth and claw with Ryblade. A white mist had covered him, and anything that came in contact with the mist was frozen solid. Ryblade's left front paw had frozen, and he was limping in for another attack, the paw dead. Ryteon struck him across the face with his tail, leaving a line of ice that covered one red cheek. Ryblade hissed in agony and fell, mortally wounded. Ryteon struck him again, this time with one massive paw, and silenced the beast forever.

Ryticuno turned to Sarie, the blue gone from his eyes. "I am sorry you had to go through that."

"T-t-thank you for s-saving me." She said, still shaking.

"That beast was sadistic and cruel."

"Please, please tell me what he said about me being part... Ryblade... wasn't true." She cried, looking pleadingly into the white face. Ryticuno smiled sadly for a moment.

"You are not Ryblade, but Ryticuno." He said quietly.

"But... how am I so human?"

"Ryvee and Human DNA are very similar. The one who is destined to become your mate is not all human himself." Ryticuno chuckled, glancing at Alec.

"What? What ryvee am I part of, then?" Alec asked.

"You are just part ryvee. You have psychic powers, too, but don't know how to use them yet."

"Really? Cool!"

Ryticuno was about to reply when an enormous, black form broke through the ground and attacked Ryticuno savagely.

"Sss, sssingoooo, you've angered usss, white one." It snickered as it began to seep through Ryticuno's skin. Ryticuno roared in agony as the creature went all the way through his skin, and began to consume his flesh.

The static form could barely be seen now, but traces of electricity jumped across the white fur, and Ryticuno's eyes had rolled all the way back up into his skull. His skin was slowly being eaten away as if by some terrible disease, and bare bone began to show on his legs, tail, and head. Within five minutes, all that was left was a rotting, bare carcass, and the missingo.

"Chaahaa, what a good meal." The missingo grinned evilly. It turned to the two humans and its grin became broader. "Desssert, I sssee."

"No way! There is no way you are killing her! Kill me, but not her!" Alec roared, standing in front of Sarie protectively.

"No way, if you die, so will I. I can't live without you, and you know it." Sarie said defiantly, standing beside Alec.

"Then neither of us will die. Come on, run!" Alec shouted, leaping back down into the building. Sarie followed him, taunting the Missingo.

"Die, foolssss!" Missingo screamed as it dove for them. Just as it was about to strike them, they leaped away, and Missingo hit the computer screen. It shrieked in agony for a moment, then was sucked away into darkness.

"It worked! It worked!" Sarie screamed ecstatically, throwing her arms around Alec's neck.

"Yeah, just wait until the other Missingos come. Ryblade's gone, and when the Missingos are gone, we'll have won!" Alec grinned.

"Hey, you two, the Missingos are coming!" Taro shouted, running full speed towards Alec and Sarie.

"All right. Let's get this going!" Sarie smiled, loading the program.

"What were you two doing back here?" Adnap asked, eyeing the rubble.

"Well, we were attacked by Ryblade, saved by Ryticuno, told of our future, and defeated the Missingo that slew Ryticuno. Why, what were you two doing?" Alec asked.

"We were watching. And what do you mean by all that?"

"Just what I said. The Ryticuno carcass is outside."

"What? God, what is that?"

"A Ryticuno carcass."

"You must have had some fight!"

"Yeah, well... hey look, the Missingos! Sarie, open the lense!" Alec shouted as Missingos massed in the skies above. Sarie scrambled up the side of the computer as Alec took hold of the controls. She opened a small door at the top of the computer, and a beam of bright light shot out of it, hitting the mass of Missingos.

"Here we go!" Alec shouted, pressing the enter key. Everything went deadly quiet for a few seconds, then the computer made a huge whining sound, and screams of missingos could be heard for miles around. The three Mew2s bounded in the door, panting and out of breath.

"Have you got them?" Beth asked, studying the computer screen.

"Yeah, watch!" Alec pointed to the sky, where masses of Missingos began to drop, falling towards the computer.

"Everyone back away!" Sarie shouted, leaping off the computer's top. Missingo after missingo crashed into the top of the computer, disappearing into nothing as they hit the lense.

"Wow! Awesome!" Beth cried as one Missingo burst into flame.

"Too cool!" Adnap cried as the final Missingo was sucked into the computer. The screen had become blank, save for a few bits of static. Alec walked ceremoniously to the computer consol and pressed the 'delete' key, and the screen became normal, as every missingo was taken out of creation.

"We did it! Group hug!" The three Mews and four humans embraced in a hug of friendship and accomplishment, and many tears were shed.

Hey, what happened? I was napping with Kyle. Tassadar asked, walking into the room.

"We won!" Sarie shouted, flinging herself on Tassadar.

We did? Yes! Let's all celebrate with a bowl of Mac and Cheese!!! Tassadar grinned. Baby Kyle, sensing the happiness of the moment, broke into a huge grin and said, "Mac and cheese!"

"Yeah, Mac and Cheese. Let's make some!"

Epilogue

Destiny

Six Years after the Battle of the Dimensions...

"Alec! Come in, Tassadar's got the Mac and Cheese ready!" Sarie called from the door of the Veridian City Gym.

"All right. Come on, Kyle, dinner." Alec said to a full-grown Alakasam who had been walking beside him. The Alakasam nodded, and the two walked back towards the gym.

This is the good stuff, so eat up. Tassadar grinned, serving up huge portions of Macaroni and Cheese.

Really, father, isn't all Macaroni and Cheese the same? Kyle asked, adjusting his glasses.

Naw, mine is the best. So eat! Tassadar commanded, stuffing a spoonful of cheese in his mouth.

"Great, we get back from our honeymoon this afternoon, and tonight we're eating macaroni and cheese for dinner." Sarie chuckled.

"With Tassadar cooking, I'm surprised we ever eat anything but Macaroni and cheese." Alec laughed.

Hey, this is good stuff!

"Ringringring, phone call! Phone call!" The video phone blared from the other room.

"I'll get it!" Sarie shouted, leaping up from the table. "Hello?" She said, flipping the video on. It was Adnap.

"Hi! I heard you two just got back from your honeymoon. How was it?" Adnap asked.

"Great. That resort on Cinbarr is top rate! How are you?" Sarie asked.

"I'm fine. The baby is due in a few weeks, and Taro's a nervous wreck." She grinned.

"Tell him to calm down! He'll scare the Khangaskhan!" Sarie laughed.

"Yes, the Khangaskhan herd we got in last week is doing fine. They've adapted to the Safari Zone well."

"That's good news."

"Beth dropped by here yesterday to chat. She's been getting other pokemon to join the police force, and she actually recruited some of ours."

"I still find it odd that she chose to remain a Mew2. That reminds me, how are Mew2 and S2 doing?"

"They're great. Their second litter of kittens is on the way. The other little Mew2s are running wild all over the place!"

"If they get out of line, send them here. There's plenty for them to do at the gym."

"I'm sure they'd love that."

"Great! Darn, I've got to go, Mewse is fighting with Eric again. Those two Mysterios are a handful!"

"All right, I'll see you soon then."

"Sure."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Sarie hung up the phone and ran back into the pokemon housing area, past a gleaming Articuno named Icicle who nodded at her cordially.

"Hey Ice, good to see you." Sarie stopped to stroke Icicle's feathers before continuing to where the Mysterios lived. Two Mysterios were flying circles around the room, shouting at the top of their lungs, while their mother, Shukumei, tried desperately to get them to come down.

"All right, you two, one more peep and no more candy for a week. Got it?" Sarie asked in mock severity.

"Yes, Mrs. Flare! Whatever you say!" The two Mysterios flew back to their rooms.

"Thank you, Sarie. You are so good with kids." Shukumei said, hovering next to Sarie. "When do you and your new mate plan on having children of your own?"

"I dunno, whenever we're blessed with kids, I guess." Sarie shrugged.

"I bid you good luck. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got two kits to put to bed." With that, Shukumei was off.

'I wonder if Alec and I will have children?' Sarie wondered to herself as she walked back to the dinner table.

***

Later that night, everyone had fallen asleep except Sarie and Alec. They had been talking through the night, but the talking had wound down and both were half asleep, spooned around each other.

"I've been thinkin' about something." Alec said, eyes half open.

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to have kids? I mean, you remember what Ryticuno said... we're part ryvee. What happens if our kids are born with deformations, or die or something?"

"I dunno. I've always wanted kids with you, ever since I knew how I felt about you. I don't think I could not have kids."

"Yeah, your right. I wonder when we'll have them?"

It's kinda too late to have been thinking about not having kids. Tassadar chuckled into both of their minds.

"Huh?"

I said, it's too late not to have kids. Sarie, you're pregnant.

"What? How, how is that possible? We've only done that once..." Sarie trailed off, a look of surprise and happiness on her face.

Yeah, well, they say once is enough...

"Alec, I'm... I mean, we're... gonna have a baby!" Sarie breathed.

Hehe, wrong again.

"But you just said...."

You're not going to have a baby, unless I'm wrong, you're gonna have two kids.

"Two... twins?"

Yeah, twins.

"We're gonna have twins, Alec!"

"I suppose that game of life really did come true, didn't it?"

"Yeah, I suppose it did."

The End