C. Cowboy: Well, lets see… where was I… hum. Everything that's happened yesterday has kindda thrown me off my game. Ok I remember now! On with the show! The traitor will come out in this one, some of you have guessed right, some of you haven't, but here we go! R&R!

Added note: I'd like to dedicate this chapter, no the entire T.O.D. series, to those people that lost there lives or lost loved ones in yesterday's attack in New York and Washington DC. I, myself, am a proud American, and the fact that some sick coward would stoop to that level just makes me sick.

CHAPTER 12: RIVALRY REBORN

Ash shielded his eyes as Togetic and Pikachu destroyed the last of the Mewtwo tubes. "Well, that's it." Ash said as he looked around. For Giovanni's main force, it was really lightly guarded. There was a few guards and even less Mewtwos out of their tubes. "Something isn't right." Ash said as he walked slowly toward the exit, "Where is everyone?" Pikachu jumped to his shoulder and sniffed the air, "Pi pika chu." 'I don't know.' They walked out but stopped when they realized Togetic wasn't with them, they turned around and saw Togetic with an extremely frightened look on her face. "What's wrong?" Ash asked going to one knee in front of her. Mom… something's happened to Mom! Togetic said with tears threatening her eyes. Ash picked her up, and ran outside not even asking what exactly what she was talking about. Once outside he called out Lugia and made a beeline for Shamouti.

Ash arrived at Melody's house and was shocked to see what was left of it. Holes were blasted into the walls, windows and doors broken in. It looked like the house would fall at any moment. "MISTY!!!" Ash called out as he ran into the house. "Ash?" a voice called. Ash followed the voice and found Gary on the ground. "Gary, are you all right? What happened? Where's Misty and Mom and the others?" Ash said almost in a panic. "I-I don't know where they are… it was Team Rocket… Crystal too… They took… them… said they were taking them… to the ruins… of Avalon…" Gary said in between rough breaths. Ash helped Gary outside, "I'm going after them." Ash said as he started toward the crater. "Wait, Ash, I'm coming with you!" Gary said in newfound energy.

The two along with Togetic and Pikachu looked down at the crater, but couldn't find any sign of anyone. Then Pikachu began to jump up and down and pointing toward the side of a cliff. Ash, Gary, and the pokemon climbed down and found a large, uncovered passageway. Inside was a large tunnel, lighted torch proved someone had been there. On the walls was a large moral. Ash looked at it and could understand most of symbolic pictures. At the beginning, there were two large birds, looked like Ho-oh and Lugia, and what looked like Mew. They were battling what looked like a gigantic black cloud.

Then it showed the pokemon look as if they were injured, and what looked like a knight wearing a crown holding a gold ball that was sucking up the cloud.

What came next frightened Ash, it was a exact likeness him, hanging over a cliff with Mewtwo standing over him, just like what happened a year ago.

Then farther on, he saw what looked like the scene where Togapi killed the first Mewtwo.

Then it showed a Gold Pikachu and a silver Togetic just like his and Misty's along with a army of humans and Pokemon fighting that same black cloud.

Then it showed what Looked like Him and Misty, alone, holding each other with tears running down their faces. "These pictures have to be hundreds of years old." Gary said in shock. "I know, man, I know." Togetic then scurried to Pikachu and grabbed his paw and squeezed it lightly, U-Unka… Pika? Togetic said using her old name for Pikachu, with a look of fear on her face. Pikachu squeezed her paw back, "Pika, pi pikachu." 'Don't worry, I'm here."

They finally reached the end of the long hallway and found a large chamber. In the center of the chamber with a large, shimmering, gold ball. Underneath it were a group of letters, that neither Ash nor Gary could read. "I wonder what it says." Ash said to no one in particular. It says 'Only the chosen one may remove the cursed ball from this alter' Daddy. Togetic said matter-of-factly. "Um… why do I guess that's me?" Ash said starting to regret being 'The Chosen One' once again. He then walked up to it and began debating with himself whether or not to remove the ball. "I think I take this thing to Prof. Ivy and let her take a look at it, and maybe she can figure out what Dad wants with it." Ash said as he picked up the ball a lot easer then he though.

Gary then gave Ash a smirk, as he walked toward him. Gary then grabbed then ball from Ash and punched him in the jaw. Ash fell back on the alter, "Gary? What are you doing?" Ash asked in shock. "What do you think I'm doing, Ashy Boy?" Gary said as he threw Ash down to the floor before Ash could even react. Pikachu and Togetic were too shocked to do anything to help Ash. "Do you honestly think I actually was FRIENDS with a loser like YOU?" Pikachu and Togetic began to power up for an attack, but Gary tossed a sleeping gas bomb at them and they were out like a light. "You were always the one with all the REAL friends, the REAL fans, the girlfriend that didn't just feel sorry for you. Even Grandpa liked you better then me, and I WAS HIS GRANDSON!!!" Gary said as he kicked the downed Ash in the ribs. Gary then picked up Ash by the collar and smiled at him, "Let me tell you a little secret. Crystal didn't try to kill you mom and Pikachu. Any idea who, loser? Here's a hint:" Gary said as he leaned in to whisper into Ash's ear, "It was me."

Ash's eyes widened with rage and shock as he shoved Gary off of him, "YOU… YOU…" Ash was at a loss for words. Gary smiled as the ceiling broke, and a rope ladder came down from a helicopter came down to Gary. "Thanks for giving us our ultimate weapon, LOSER!!! And don't worry about your mom and Misty, I'll take REAL good care of them!" Ash's eyes burned with hatred as he watched him make his getaway, "GGGGAAAARRRRRYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

C. Cowboy: Yes, my friends, my trademark cliffhangers are back! will Ash save his family? What's in the gold ball? Until next time!