Chapter Nine

Fin



Will slowly woke up. His skin burned, like he had a truly horrible sunburn. At first glance, it appeared he did. But then he remembered the electric shock he had received when he tried to get out of the cave.

He didn't stand-he was too weak-but managed to sit up. He sighed, and opened himself to the currents of power in the air. Wind energy poured into him, and diminished the pain from his burns.

The air turned bitterly cold. The flow of energy stopped, and Will was left with what he had absorbed to fight with, if he had to. He attempted to grab more, but there was only a trickle of power in the air.

"So...someone finally comes. And you're a nice little Flyer...." A sinister laugh followed this speech.

Will crawled slowly to the mouth of the cave, careful not to come within a few feet of it. That voice was frightening.

A tall man walked from the depths of the cave. He had obviously been in here for a long time, because his skin was very pale and he was very thin, almost gaunt. His black hair offset the pale skin, and his eyes were a startling silver. His clothes were ragged, and pretty much all that was left was his jeans.

"Well...I can finally-" He broke off into a fit of coughing. Will reached toward him, then pulled back.

An icy, blue white aura surrounded the other person, and the coughing stopped. Will winced; even as far away as the guy was (at least three yards), he felt the pain of the conflicting elemental energies.

On closer inspection, he saw that the aura was weak and thin, as if he had had to run off his own, personal energies for a long time with nothing more than sleep to restore them.

The walls of the cave blazed with silver fire, and Will felt all the Wind energy in the air vanish. All of it. Even the trickle that this person had left when he summoned his Ice energy-which apparently was very dangerous for him, if he was this low on energy.

Will was cut off from all outside energy sources, as well. He knew that he too would soon look like this person.

"My name is Will," he offered. "Will Wyndham."

"Damian," he snorted. "Damian Matthews." He reached out, and the two shook hands.

"You don't look too good," Damian noted, taking in Will's rather bedraggled appearance. "Come back here; there's something that might help."

Will attempted to stand, but fell. Damian tried to support him, but was pretty weak himself, if not as injured as Will. Even if he had been at full health, however, when he touched Will, sharp pain flashed through both of them, causing Will to black out and Damian to flinch back.

Coming back to the waking world quickly, Will sighed. "The only way is to crawl," he said.

"Yeah, I guess that's right," Damian agreed.

Will grabbed a protrusion from the wall, and struggled to his feet. He slowly staggered down the cave's length, supporting himself with the wall when he had to. Eventually, the cave widened into a cavern.

There was an enormous pool in the center, but that wasn't what grabbed Will's attention. Gigantic crystal formations lined the walls, each a different shade, but all incredibly sharp and well formed, though he saw a few round ones as well. Some even appeared to be cut already!

One cluster in particular, a grayish bunch, drew him. He started walking toward them, not needing support for some reason.

"No!" Damian cried, lunging for Will, but he missed, and, overbalanced, fell into the pool. The air again became very cold, but Will didn't notice.

He reached for the crystals. Again, Damian shouted, "No!" but an instant later, he grabbed it.

The crystals burst into bright light, blinding Damian. Will could see just fine, however.

He saw a great bird, not a Pokémon. It-or he, or she-was huge, bigger than Ho-oh or Lugia. It had sapphire blue feathers, and a long tail. Rainbow mists gathered under it, and eddied when the magnificent, avian creature moved.

It turned its head, and saw him. -Seeker of Knowledge, you come to me for answers?- it said telepathically.

-I am no Seeker, Great One.- Will replied, not sure what was going on. But words bubbled up in his mind, and he figured there wasn't anything better to say.

-Then why do you seek me?-

-I come only to gain your gift.-

-The gift of Knowledge?-

-Yes, Great One.-

-Then, it shall be. Awake, and know!-

He came awake with a start. Damian was lying in the pool, soaking wet. Will released the crystal, and gasped as he saw his hand.

The crystal had not been sharp, but there was blood all over his palm. Will began to shake, as weakness spread through him. His hand was bleeding heavily, already drenched in scarlet.

Damian got up quickly, and ran to Will. His eyes widened at the sight of his hand, but he quickly grabbed Will's shoulders, and dragged him to the pool.

He closed his eyes, and spread his hand over the waters, perfectly still even after Damian's intrusion. He murmured a few words, and the liquid became bright silver, chilling the air a third time.

Black and gold flashes danced across his field of vision, signaling that he had overtaxed himself, but he threw Will into the pool before blacking out.

Will couldn't feel much of anything; the loss of blood had numbed his entire arm, and the lack of feeling was spreading. Something tingled across his skin, and shards of pain stabbed through his arm, particularly his palm.

After a moment, they ceased. Feeling began to return to his arm.

Then, it hit him in a rush-he couldn't breathe! He struggled wildly to find air, inhaling water.

But it wasn't water. It was...indescribable. Like breathing light. A warmth filled him, and he felt himself rising.

He broke the surface, sending the silvery liquid everywhere. His senses were somehow increased, but it wasn't just extra sensory power. Yes, he could see the individual fibers of Damian's jeans, yes, he could hear Damian's heart beat-but there was something more.

A kind of...image danced around Damian. It was more like an aura, but not quite. Auras were stationary, and surrounded a being. This was...a flicker, a spark. It leapt from various parts of Damian's body to a different one. It was somehow both blue, white, and beyond color at once. A sound accompanied it. It was a strange ringing, like a tiny bell. There were other senses-an unidentifiable smell, a very strange taste on his tongue-but the flicker and the sound seemed more important.

He felt the sense of being...above the normal level of perception leave. He landed on the ground rather abruptly. But, though his senses were normal again, the extra was still there. The seeing beyond. The flicker, the ringing...even the smell and taste, still there. He just had to try harder.

And his strength was restored, his body healed. He felt good enough to leap a mountain-though he'd have to get out of the cave first.

And a new knowledge of his powers had been granted to him. He knew how to use every one of those techniques that book had spoken of. But he felt a strong, very strong, sense of unease when he thought of them. Almost like they were forbidden skills.

But he couldn't do anything about Damian. He was still out cold. Nothing he knew could...wait.

He opened his hand, and spread his fingers. "Out of winter comes the warm wind...Chinook!"

White light gathered in front of his palm, and became a small sphere. It burst into millions of sparkles, which spiraled down crazily onto Damian's prone body.

His body glowed with a white light, and his eyes fluttered open. "Are you...okay?" he said groggily.

"I think you had better answer that question for yourself. I'm fine, but you are very weak. I can't believe you've survived as long as you have without any access to an elemental energy, and...is there food?"

"Lugia Teleports crumbs in every so often," Damian shrugged. "I guess I'm just a survivor-!"

As he spoke, the cave rocked, and a shrill whistling drowned out any other sound. Will whirled, and saw a steam vent gushing out of the wall. Will thought he detected a silvery flash in it, but was distracted by Damian.

"Get out!" Damian roared, shoving Will away from the steam. He summoned his power, what was left of it, and took the heat from the steam, making it fall to the ground as water, partially frozen. "It'll come back in a moment! We have to get out now!"

The two of them ran down the tunnel to the mouth of the cave. The steam quickly heated again, and began billowing into the cavern. Soon, if it kept pouring out at the rate it was, it would fill the cavern and come into the tunnel.

Too quickly, they reached the mouth. Will sent an experimental breeze at the opening, to see if the barrier was still there. A flash of yellow light proved its existence. Turning, Will saw with dread that the scalding fog of steam was coming down the tunnel.

"We're gonna die..." Damian moaned. "It's never gone this long before..."

Will snorted. "Just hold on a minute there, Damian. I think I have an idea." He made a barrier of solid air a few feet ahead of the steam. It quickly hit the wall, and began to build. "Yes! I can hold it!" Will exulted.

He spoke too soon, for pressure began to build. The air was simply a cork in the bottle, and was about to explode. It was bending already.

"Uh-oh...no I can't...Damian, any idea?!"

"Hmm...I can cool it down, but I'm not sure I'll be good for anything after that," he replied. "But if your air walls can keep it off...you can make a bubble around us, fix it to the wall, and let the steam go through! The barrier shouldn't stop it, but if it does, it'll just destroy it."

"That could work!" Will exclaimed. "Hurry, get against the wall." Damian did so, and Will stood next to him. He created a bubble of air around them, and ingrained it into the side of the cave. He then let the air wall that was holding the steam vanish.

With the force of an explosion, the steam blasted past them, making everything except the rock behind them and the two of them invisible. The steam was a solid wall of white. Again, Will saw the silver sparkles, and a faint hum reached his ears.

It also gave off heat. The air that kept it off of the two humans absorbed most of it, but some leaked through. The steam began to gain a reddish tint.

"The wall's gonna melt!" Will gasped. "Damian, can you make it cooler? Not too much, just enough to keep the wall from melting."

Damian focused, and let a tiny bit of Ice energy out. The wall immediately became transparent again. But too much Ice, and it would freeze, crack, and shatter. The flow had to be just right...

"That's enough, Squirtle!" a voice called. Damian didn't hear, being too far into his concentration, but Will could. He heard it the same way he heard the wall, and the Ice energy Damian was letting out. Somehow, he could hear and see the somewhat magical energy given off by Pokémon, and the humans with the powers.

"Vulpix! Stop the heat!"

"Staryu, Starmie, that's enough water!"

The steam began to taper off, and the hum vanished, as well as the silvery light. Soon, the steam was gone.

Will let the wall go, and Damian stopped his flow of energy. His face was gray, and he nearly fell, saved only by Will's quick grab.

The two advanced slowly into the cave, hearing the voices quite clearly now.

"All right, let's move in!" Will thought he recognized that voice, but wasn't sure.

Three people popped out of nowhere. One was tall, with brown hair that was cut closely. He appeared to be squinting. He wore a green vest and an orange shirt, and was pretty tall.

The second was a woman. She had red hair in a ponytail, tied so that it stuck off to the side. She had a short yellow shirt, and shorts with suspenders. Her eyes were a startling blue, and she had freckles.

The third was the most impressive. He was as tall as the first, with spiky black hair and brown eyes. Little lightning-bolt marks decorated the skin under each of his eyes. He had a backpack on, and a Pokémon League cap. A Pikachu sat on his head.

Will recognized them now. Ash Ketchum, Misty Waterflower, and Brock...he had never picked up Brock's last name.

"How did you survive the steam?" Ash asked, astonished. "That was hot enough to blow holes through rock, let alone flesh!"

Will reluctantly called his power. He felt strangely hesitant, but he knew that Ash was impatient, at best. "I made a wall of air," He trapped Ash in some solid air, then released him to demonstrate. "Damian cooled the steam a little so we didn't cook anyway."

Ash's eyes flashed, and he set himself firmly. "Looks like we found them," he snarled. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt attack!"



With Phoebe-tachi



Phoebe slowly woke, and felt an alien energy leave her body. Opening her eyes, she saw the old woman grinning kindly at her, and Hijou sitting in a chair, looking at her. Kijutsu was glowing softly, which told Phoebe that she had been the one to heal her.

"Kijutsu, Busaiku, you may go now," Hijou said firmly. Busaiku, obviously the old woman, stood, and bowed her head respectfully. Kijutsu simply nodded, and vanished. With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, Busaiku Teleported away as well.

"Now, Phoebe...somehow, you were open to Lugia or Celebi's influences," Hijou told her. "The only way anyone has been able to think of is when you restored Kijutsu's strength. Now, normally that wouldn't have been an opening for those two," A sneer twisted his lips. "But you seem to be very psychically vulnerable. I'm afraid I have to do something about that. If Lugia or Celebi wanted to completely subvert you, they would be able to.

"But if I give you an overload of Dark energy, you'll be completely immune to Psychic meddling, at least for a while. I'd have to renew it every so often, and it isn't a pleasant process. But I can't do it unless you let me." He raised his hands. "Will you let me in?"

Phoebe nodded, though that movement made her head spin. Hijou stood, and touched her forehead. "This might hurt, but it won't last long," he told her. "Just stay calm, and don't fight it."

With that, he started. Immediately, Phoebe lost her vision. It was just gone. Then her hearing went. And her sense of touch, smell, and finally taste. She was completely cut off from the outside world.

Then, searing cold cut through her. It wasn't a physical sensation, obviously, but that knowledge just made it keener. The burning cold filled her, searing her mind.

Then, it changed to heat. Phoebe's eyes would have widened, as she recognized something. The Dark Bomb had felt just like this.

Then, the blackness that had shrouded her changed to a blinding white. A blue orb marred the perfect color, as well as a green one, though it wasn't as large. Sparkling black fire wrapped around the orbs, and made them vanish, then stretched, covering all the whiteness.

With that, it was over. Her senses snapped back, and Hijou removed his hand from her forehead. "There," he said. "That's that. It'll probably be strong enough for...maybe three weeks."

Phoebe tried to sit up, but still wasn't strong enough to move. "You'll have to stay here until Kijutsu can come and return your favor. Here, I'll help you sleep..." He touched her forehead, just his fingertips, and a cool blackness enveloped her.

Her eyes barely seemed to close when a voice echoed through her head. -Phoebe,- it said. -Phoebe, I'm going to do what you did for me. Just accept it.- Phoebe didn't think she could deny anything in the state she was in.

A sparkle of light flashed across the blackness, and skittered around like water on a hot griddle, but couldn't find a place to sink in. -Oh, curse it!- the voice wailed. -The Dark energy keeps me out too!

-Oh, well. I'll get Tatsu to help you out. I'll see you later!- With that, the voice vanished.

Moments later-or what seemed like moments; Phoebe had a hard time judging the passage of time-another voice popped up. It wasn't as sharp and clear as the first had been. There were no words, only sensations.

Something told her to simply do nothing, and as she couldn't do otherwise, she just rested. A pink spark appeared, then grew, absorbing everything that was Phoebe.

In a flash, it was gone, and Phoebe was awake, fully rested and recharged. Tatsu took her hand from Phoebe's arm, and gave her a quick smile before teleporting away.

With a sigh, Phoebe got up, and realized she was no longer wearing her clothes-she had on one of those cloak/robe things that everyone else here wore. It was blood red, thin enough not to be too hot-As if that would be a problem, Phoebe thought-but thick enough to be warm. Under it, she wore a red shirt embroidered with flames-Oh, ick...embroidery.-and blue jeans. Yes!

"Ready to come with me, now, Phoebe?"

She whirled, hand going to her belt instinctively, right to the place where Starmie would be. The pain of loss stabbed through her heart as she realized it was gone, perhaps forever. I'll make each of them pay for that, she vowed to herself.

Kijutsu was standing there, twilight robes shimmering. "Are you going to come with me now, Phoebe?"

Confused, Phoebe shook her head. "What do you mean?"

Kijutsu stepped forward. "Phoebe. Hijou wants to see you." She placed her hand on Phoebe's shoulder-and vanished.

Phoebe gasped. What? Then, a melodious shriek tore at her eardrums. It was as painfully discordant as it was harmonious, and nearly unbearable to hear.

That's...Lugia...it must be... The sound stopped, and Phoebe released her ears. "Why would Lugia send an illusion to take me somewhere? And why is he attacking again?" she asked no one.

-Perhaps because he must.-

"Whaa?!" Phoebe exclaimed. "Who said that?"

-Really, Phoebe...by now, you should be used to psychic voices,- a psychic voice said. Silver fire glimmered in the center of the room, and a small, pink, catlike Pokémon flitted out of it. Phoebe recognized it immediately-it was the Mew.

-Yes, I am the Mew.- it said, psychic voice deep and wise. -I am the one who started this chaos, and I will be the one to end it.-

"You started all this?" Phoebe gasped. "But...how? I mean, the legends all say you're as close to omniscient as makes no difference!"

The Mew shook its-his? her?-head. -I'm sorry, Phoebe,- it apologized. -Even though I'm the oldest Pokémon, and the last of the remaining Ancient Pokémon, I am no closer to being omniscient than you are. The only difference is that my actions cause ripples that reach far beyond anything you could do. It is because of me that you exist. And I am sorry for that.-

"What do you mean? Even life like this, running and hiding, is better than no life at all!" Phoebe argued.

-But if I had never granted your ancestors what I did, you would be living a peaceful life, and those three Guardians would not be trying to destroy all humanity.-

"Why are they trying to do that?"

-Because they were born to protect and help the Pokémon, and they believe that humans only use Pokémon for selfish gain.-

"That isn't so!"

-You know that, and I know that. But just because we know, doesn't mean they know. Osanai te ni tsutsunda, furueteru sono hikari o. Held in young hands, that light is shivering. The Guardians are misled, and must be put to rights. Only a human can do that.-

"But why? Wouldn't you have much more credibility?"

-I am not able to come to this dimension except during the full moon. By the next full moon, this world will be destroyed if someone does not approach the Guardians.- Mew began to shimmer. -My time is growing near. I will not be able to help you, except to tell you that you are the only one who can change the Guardians' minds. The only one. Go now, Sun's Child. Go to your destiny.- With that, it was gone.

"Destiny?" Phoebe whispered. "My destiny?"

A blue portal opened in front of her, and she knew that this was the way to wherever it was the Guardians were. My destiny.

Smiling slightly, she stepped into the portal, letting it absorb her, and carry her to the ends of time. Mine.



End