- Neojourney -
.:.8.:.
Now what?
"You've got no choice babe
But to move on, you know
There ain't no time to waste."
--It's Gonna Be Me-- by Nsync
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People didn't panic. It seems that they didn't like to have their world, their routines disrupted and so they went on with life. People shopped, talked, battled...life went on. I myself just lay there in bed though I was supposed to be walking as much as I could. It had been a day since the people vanished from the Magnet Train and I had no word from Gary. I had tried bugging the police, but they wouldn't say anything, the news had no word on the identities of the Train's passengers, and the Vid-Phone systems and all phones were down.
Ash and Misty had dropped by a few times, but they really didn't know me. Misty's right arm was in a cast and it turns out she'd broken it in a fall on that island. I felt somewhat guilty about it, but kept quiet. I passed the time by just lying in bed, counting the small swirls in the textured ceiling. A voice suddenly sneered at me.
Stop being such a wuss.
I stopped counting. Had I thought that?
What? Oh, yeah, you did. I'm your conscience and I'm telling you that you need to get over it. Get up and do something.
"But I don't want to," I said softly, feeling foolish. "I need to hear from Gary first."
The voice in my head snorted, The great Cirrus Blaine needs to hear from some wimpy MALE before she does anything? That is weak!
"I'm not weak," I muttered, "And I don't need his approval or anything, I just wanna know that he's okay."
Fine, the voice grumbled. It paused and suddenly sounded like Gary, though forced and rushed, Hey Cirrus, it's Gary. I'm fine and dandy. Look at me, frolicking through a field full of flowers and hoppity bunnies.
I snorted, "He'd never do that."
Whatever. You need to get up before you look like a Slugma.
"Fine, then I'll get up and go shopping. Will that suit you?"
Fine, that's just fine.
"Aiight."
NO! Do not say 'Aiight'. Only fools and idiots say, 'Aiight.' Besides, it's so last week.
"It is not!" I protested, "The Backstreet Boys say it all the time! Well, at least Howie does."
Howie, like ALL of the Backstreet Boys, is gay. So don't say 'Aiight'.
"Why not? If I say aiight, am I gay?"
No, if you say, 'Aiight', you're a moron.
"Well you seem to like saying aiight, so does that make you a moron?"
There was a pause and I grinned.
No, you idiot, just stop saying that damn word!
Suddenly I started having a horrible, pounding headache and I clutched my head. "What's going on?" I cried out. The pain was immense and brought tears to my eyes.
Promise you won't say that word?
"I promise, I promise!" The pain lessened and then was gone. I sat up warily, wiped at the tears, and slipped on my Teva's. I'd been dressed since this morning. "I know that you aren't my conscience. I don't know what you are, but you're no part of me."
Actually, I'm going to be you whether you like it or not.
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I have to admit, I was very shaken. I was walking around the various shops, pretending to be interested and happy. I was actually quite terrified. It seemed I had something in my mind that wasn't quite me. Riiight. All I could figure out was that it had happened on that island, but I just couldn't remember anything that happened. Plus, I couldn't ask Moonsong or Umbreon - the only two Pokemon I could communicate with - because I had Gary take them all back with him to Pallet.
Why did I do that? I wasn't really sure, it was just a gut feeling I had. I wanted to know they'd be safe and there'd be no better place then with Professor Oak. Besides, there was nothing I couldn't handle without them. I paused by a television shop when I saw that the Breaking News was on. Deep inside, I wasn't surprised by what I saw, but rather the reaction by those that had crowded around me.
"...among the two hundred people missing was recent Pokemon Master Gary Oak. Others reported on that fateful Magnet Train were..."
But I'd walked away, through the throng of people, back to the Pokemon Center. I heard snippets of conversations as I did.
"...Gary is sooo cute!..."
"...He was supposed to be inducted..."
"What is that!" A woman cried out, pointing at the sky.
My troubles momentarily on hold, I paused to look and I almost tripped. Hovering high above us was a large pulsating dark mass.
You might want to back away, Cirrus.
I did as the voice commented, but I backed up into a person. I apologized as I turned around, only to see Brock directly behind me. "Brock!"
"What is that thing?" He was staring up at it and my anxiety level was increasing. We had to get out of here.
"Everyone, run away!" I started yelling, pulling Brock's arm as I did, trying to get him to come with me. "That thing is dangerous!" I wasn't sure exactly how I knew, but whatever was in my mind had a good idea on what it wanted and it wasn't good. The wind started kicking up then, like a Pidgeot's Gust attack. Large black clouds started to fill the sky and the bright sunny day quickly vanished.
I'd managed to pull Brock back about fifty feet, when a streak of dark energy, like a dark lightning bolt, darted down and hit three people who'd stayed to gawk. They screamed in terror as the energy picked them up and pulled them far, far up into the air. The people disappeared into the mass of energy. It was starting to feel like I was on the set of the movie Twister.
People started screaming and running away, and the energy fired bolt after bolt, getting those that were too slow. I managed to pull Brock all the way into the Pokemon Center and we stared out of windows at the energy mass. It seemed to be stationary and it looked like it couldn't get into buildings. A report came on the TV's that were hung along corners of the Center, warning people to stay off the streets, but I didn't hear it.
The time has almost come, Cirrus. I should thank you for letting me visit! The voice sounded vindictive.
"Brock, I..." I began, trying to ignore the voice. I needed to clear up what had happened so long ago.
He stared at me, as if trying to figure something out. "You...I know you, don't I?"
"Yes.."
"Cirrus!" Three voices cried out.
The two of us spun towards the voices and I groaned when I saw Jessie, James, and Meowth running towards us. I turned back to Brock, but he'd figured it out already.
"You!" He looked angry. "You're that girl with the Charmander!"
"Please, let me explain..."
"No, you have no right to try." He started to walk away, but Jessie stood in his way.
"You need to let her explain." Jessie looked arrogant. "Because we're the ones that set her up."
"That's right," James said slyly. "So you'd better listen."
We found an empty bench in the waiting area and I slouched in my seat as four pairs of eyes fixated on me. I took a breath and told as much as I could. I couldn't tell them everything about Xanady and the things she'd done to every human in this dimension, nor could I tell them that I'd had her transformed into a pink marble statue. Twenty minutes later, my tale was told and Brock, as well as Jessie, James, and Meowth, were staring at me.
"That's a pretty tall tale," Brock said, looking thoughtful. "I guess I owe you an apology, Cirrus. I should have taken the time to listen to you."
I shrugged, "What could you do? I was rushed out of Viridian all most as soon as you left."
"Yeah, but now we've got bigger problems," James said, looking out the window.
"Actually, I have bigger problems." I stood up and walked to one of the windows. I could see people huddled inside of shops, saw the huge mass of negative energy pulsating with a life of its own...a pulsating that matched the beating of my heart. Leaves and other debris were being blown around into little dust devils. "This is my war to fight, it's not for you guys."
When I got no response to my self-sacrificial statement, I turned around to see that not only were Jessie, James, Meowth, and Brock not looking at me, but everyone else in the Pokemon Center (and there were a lot of other people) had their attention focused on something in the center of the Center.
I brushed through the crowds to see Nurse Joy talking to a Pokemon, but it wasn't Chansey and it wasn't just any ordinary Pokemon. This thing was massive, powerful, and familiar. It looked at me and its gaze was fixed on mine and I knew it was looking directly at me and not in my general area. It said one word, more out of reflex than something to say.
"Entei..."
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I've never been so scared in my life.
Just looking at Entei was frightening. I never thought it would be possible to be so scared of something, but the power that emanated from that Pokemon...it terrified me. It was simply massive.
What could I say to it? Um, how about..."Hi Entei. I'm here to destroy an evil Pokedemon only it seems that something else has taken up residence in my mind please don't kill me along with it..." Nah, I didn't think that would work either. So I did what any self-preserving somewhat possessed girl from another dimension would do.
I ran away.
Actually, I only ran up to my room and locked the door. I leapt onto my bed and hoped that Entei couldn't teleport like he could in the movie. Minutes passed and I guessed that he couldn't, though I know he could've run faster than I could.
You really are dumber than Ash Ketchum! The whatever laughed from my mind. Entei didn't even bother to chase you, but if he had, with my speed, even he would be no match for you.
I was pissed by the thing saying I was dumber than Ash, but what could I do? Beat myself up? I was about to move when I saw a familiar glimmer of silver sparkles. Mew appeared in her usual style and hovered in the air right in front of me. She blinked and said, "There's something different about you."
I wanted to answer, but I found myself completely paralyzed. A minute passed before I felt my mouth open and my voice asked her, "So, which Mew are you?"
Mew froze in mid-stretch, her eyes wide. "What did you just say?" Her voice was shaky.
I couldn't move, talk, anything. What I'd thought to be an overactive imagination just confirmed itself to be a totally real and evil presence.
Bingo sugah, and I'm taking over this show!
Suddenly, forgotten memories resurfaced: A campfire in a cave, that boy, pain, betrayal. The voice was malicious. "I said, 'Which Mew are you?' I remember several powerful Mews and I want to know if you're one of them."
Mew looked sad, "Oh Cirrus. You went to that island alone, didn't you?"
"No, not exactly. She had several Pokemon with her, but none were able to help her." There was a pause. "So, which one..."
"I heard you the first two times!" Mew snapped. "I am the only one."
I had no control over my body, but I could feel my brows draw together in a frown. The entity was surprised. "Do you regret, then? That you didn't agree in the first place to join with us?"
Mew didn't' pause to think, she shook her head. "Never, not for a day have I ever regretted my decision. No Mew ever has."
"Self-sacrificing fool!" Another frown. "We will talk again." An instant later, I slumped to the bed, unaware that I'd been standing on it. I looked up at Mew, tears in my eyes, and said, "Please help me, Mew..."
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But Mew couldn't help me and in the end, it all came down to facing Entei. It also took about a half-hour for Mew to convince me that Entei wouldn't outright kill me on sight, but even with her beside me, I wouldn't leave the safety of my bed. She had also let me know that it was a Pokedemon that inhabited my mind. I ended up in a TK bubble of Mew's and she teleported us to the lobby of the Pokecenter.
Entei was still there and while people "oohed" and "aahed" over him, they were shocked by Mew's appearance. I didn't know if it was fear or awe or a mix of both, but the people in the lobby gave the three of us a wide berth. I heard Brock, Jessie, James, and Meowth calling out to me, asking if I was okay, but I couldn't move. Once more, I felt the now familiar paralysis, a frozenness that had nothing to do with Entei's piercing gaze.
The murmuring of the crowd subsided and died away as Entei padded closer to me. It looked as though Mew and Entei were talking telepathically; Mew was looking frustrated, while Entei looked determined. Finally, Mew sighed, nodded, and suddenly we were outside the Pokemon Center. I was literally hovering, in Mew's bubble, over the front steps.
My heart started pounding so hard that my body was moving in sync with it and I felt very lightheaded.
Such a frail body for so dominant a species, the Pokedemon snorted. I'll fix that.
I took little glee in the fact that it was frustrated by Mew's bubble.
She hovered near me, "I'm sorry, Cirrus, I must leave you."
- No -
"Entei will help you. He is very powerful."
- NO -
Mew disappeared, her TK bubble lowered me to the ground and vanished. The winds were still gusting and without the protection of Mew's bubble, it blew my hair back one second and in my eyes the next.
Entei took a step towards me and I blacked out only to be revived by the sensation of standing and talking. The Pokedemon had taken control of me again and this time it was stronger. "...is the Legendary Mutt Entei? You were so powerful a species and now you're numbers have been pathetically reduced to one! Only one of the three of you." The Pokedemon laughed, a mocking sound I could never make. "Pathetic."
I could sense people watching us and I hoped they would stay where they were...safe. Entei didn't look upset, he merely roared. A terrifying sound that blasted through me like I was standing next to a huge sub-woofer (no pun intended). If I had been in control of my body, I would have run. Spielberg's T-Rex had nothing on this Pokemon.
Entei roared again and again, getting a step closer with each roar. This seemed to freeze the Pokedemon, but I was getting closer to fainting. Entei stopped, ten feet away, and the Pokedemon said, "You can't win." I thought I saw Entei's eyes unfocus and focus. I felt so weak and I didn't know why.
Because I'm feeding off of your life's energy, you stupid human, The Pokedemon sneered to me.
I wondered if this was the end; had I failed before getting a chance to try? Entei roared again and I blacked out.
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I came to, to the sound of a male voice, very gentle and soothing. It dawned on me that it was a telepathic voice, which nixed out the possibility it was Brock's'. The first thing I noticed was that it wasn't windy where I was, but I had to be in a building, because I could still hear the roaring of the wind. I heard people too, murmuring nervous voices, all around me.
"Clear back at least twenty feet, I think she's coming to." That authoritative voice was Brock's, no doubt about it. Jessie, James, and Meowth helped with the gawkers. Why would they gawk?
Then, gently, a bit awed (?), I heard Brock ask me, "Cirrus, are you okay?" He sounded worried and I wondered why. The second thing I noticed was that I was lying on my stomach on the floor. I still didn't open my eyes, but I could feel the smooth tiled surface beneath me and a pillow under my head.
I wanted to answer, but I couldn't move. Minutes passed and I felt a liquid being misted onto my shoulder and I blacked out again.
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Mew's gentle, familiar telepathic touch woke me. I felt empty, like something was missing. With my eyes still closed, they seemed too heavy to open, I opened my mouth. "Whaa..what happened?" I tried to ask, but it came out as a groan. Ugh. My mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls and my body ached all over.
"Shh, don't try to talk." I felt a small paw gently rub my shoulder, and I could feel a heavy blanket on my back. "Try telepathy...just think what you would say."
I blinked slowly, I felt so groggy, and I opened my eyes to darkness. For a brief moment, I was afraid I'd lost my sight, then Mew hovered into view. "Why is it so dark? Is it night already?" Last I knew, it was early afternoon.
Mew cocked her head and I was struck by two thoughts. One was that she was injured. A length of gauze was wrapped around her upper left forearm. The second was how small she looked. I started to get up, but she held me down telekinetically. I grunted in annoyance.
"Don't try moving. You'll just wear yourself out."
"But why are you hurt? Hasn't Nurse Joy seen to that?"
"Nurse Joy is gone, they all are."
I exhaled, a ragged sigh of defeat that was accompanied, to my shock, by a quick blast of blue flames. Mew leapt out of the way, containing all of the fire in a tk bubble, and extinguished them. "Don't do that!"
"Mew what the hell happened?"
"You don't remember...that could be good."
"Let me guess - this isn't a blanket on my back...is it?"
"No Cirrus," Sounding somber, Mew settled back on the tiled floor. "They're wings. You are the Dark Charizard."
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Mew let me know that two days had passed since Entei lent a helping paw. After Entei's roars caused me to faint, the Pokedemon had the Dark Charizard appear, and I'd been "kicked" out of my body and into the Dark Charizard's, and the Pokedemon kept mine. The Pokedemon was now under tight security/supervision.
"There's more..."
Mew also let me know that while Entei had been busy with his roar thing, (what was the whole purpose of that anyway?) the Pokedemon had the Dark Charizard lure people to the Energy thing and they got sucked up into it. Only sixteen people, including Brock, had been saved. Meowth, like all other Pokemon, was unaffected by the Dark Charizard. The Dark Charizard, under the Pokedemons control, had been responsible for James Wonnur's death, the Mareep slaughter, the Magnet Train, all the little villages and cities where people disappeared...all of it from one bad apple.
"But Jessie and James...gone?"
Mew nodded and I had to stop myself from trying to cry. "I don't remember anything after Entei's roaring."
"The Dark Charizard is a clone of the body the Pokedemon originally inhabited. Pokedemons are actually bodiless entities that control whatever living thing they want."
I thought about the movie, what was it called - Fallen, I think - where some entity was passed by touch. I never saw it so I don't know how it ended, maybe it could've helped me here. "A clone? But Charizard aren't naturally black and they don't have blue fire." I also thought about Tenchi in Tokyo, where a telepathic mutant created shadows of herself. Only the shadows believed themselves to be real. I don't know if that could apply to here....naaah.
"It doesn't matter now." Mew sighed. I think she's gonna be all sighed out by the time this is done with, to tell you the truth. She was probably thinking Mewtwo had a good idea by just being an "observer."
Mew cleared her throat, sighed once more, and said, "The only thing that matters now, is you battling and defeating the Pokedemon."
"Was I responsible for it getting off the island?"
Mew's reply was a nod.
Great, I thought, More to feel guilty over.
Teaser
- Looks like Cirrus has her hands..er..paws full again. How will she defeat the Pokedemon? Can she defeat it? What has happened to all the people that have vanished? All this and more...Same bat time, same bat place.