Jason Creight awoke to the sound of sirens wailing.
He'd been asleep for no more than two minutes. He didn't need a watch to tell him that. He wanted more, wanted to just fall back into that dark abyss where the shackles of reality are left far behind while the dreamer pursues far greater things...
He clenched his eyes shut against the blaring of those blasted sirens. Why the Fuschia City police had to make themselves so rudely known was beyond him. He didn't recall seeing their help at the battle; no, that had been left up to those who were "insane" enough to go out and face the demonic creature themselves.
And now a member of their ranks was gone forever.
*Strange, that,* Jason thought. *Creight comes here from the future in an attempt to save the life of someone he cares about, and then this.*
He began to hear shuffling and hurried voices, and from the sound of them, Jason decided it must be a crew of EMTs working their way through the rubble.
The driving rain didn't help their plight any, apparently. Jason heard the distinct sound of someone falling in the slippery mud, followed by an "Oof!"
He forced his eyes open and found them staring, once again, at the ground of Fuschia City. He snorted, then craned his neck upward excruciatingly slowly.
He saw that Wolf was still seated limply before him. The Shadow clan trainee's eyes were closed, and he almost didn't seem to be reathing. But no, Jason could see the almost infinitesimally small rising and falling of the man's chest. He was still alive.
Jason also saw that the area where Wolf's collarbone had suffered a brutal laceration had now swollen to almost three times its size. The bones were definitely broken, perhaps even severed. Jason didn't envy Wolf his injuries, no matter what the damage had been from the horrific burn that spanned his leg.
And then he heard a different voice. Distinct, desperate, and familiar.
"Jason? Jason?!"
He groaned to himself, feeling proud that he'd even managed that small bit of vocal communication. He pushed at the ground clumsily with the back of his left hand, determined to make sure that when she found him, he would be facing her. He managed to get himself facing upward, but in the process he rolled his upper body into a small mud puddle. He tried to call for her, but all that ended up coming out was more groaning.
His eyes rolled down toward his own body, and he took a look at what kind of condition he seemed to be in. His clothes were coated in a combination of mud and blood, and he had a shallow slash down his left forearm from which blood had obviously flowed freely for a few minutes. His burned left leg was, like most of the rest of him, covered in mud, so that he couldn't possibly make a clear analysis of it. He considered himself lucky not to be able to feel it, then noted that this was probably the first time he'd thought having insensate legs was a virtue.
Then Jason heard Wolf's breathing get heavier. It sounded as if he were waking up, either to the sound of the EMTs or the sound of those sirens, Jason wasn't sure. He arched his head and looked at Wolf in an upside-down perspective. Wolf's eyes were open, and he'd reached over to cradle his shoulder in his remaining hand. He looked at the laceration, then turned away from it, apparently deciding it was best not to think about it until the EMTs got here.
Then his eyes locked with Jason's.
Jason saw the world of hurt, emotional and physical, that Wolf was in through that gaze.
Wolf's jaw rotated, obviously attempting to withhold further tears or emotional outbursts.
But Jason knew perfectly well what he'd witnessed when he'd first crawled to that place.
He knew... and wished he didn't.
"Jason! Oh, my God, Jason! Guys, over here! Quick!"
And then she was there.
Jason wasn't sure if he'd seen a more beautiful thing in his life.
Kelly looked down at him with a pained, desperate look on her face and in her eyes. She knelt down to the ground and scooped her arms under Jason's upper body, uncaring of the mud. She pulled him close in a tight hug.
He swore to himself that he would return that embrace. His brain sent impulses roaring through his nervous system, and before he even fully realized it, he was hugging her back.
He could hear her crying softly.
He wondered if she knew.
He heard her say, "I was so worried..."
He drew in a ragged breath, then found his voice and asked, "Are the others all right?"
She nodded, her head against his. "The ones we could find, anyway. Koga and Janine were thrown clear of the buildings. Neo has multiple breaks in his arm and leg. But they say they can't find Tommy."
*Oh, no...*
Jason didn't want to break the news to her. He turned to Wolf.
Wolf remained silent, waiting for the EMTs to diagnose his condition. Jason could tell that Wolf didn't want to say anything, didn't want to think anything, didn't want to feel anything.
Jason sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Sudenly, being paralyzed was no longer a virtue.
"He's gone, Kelly."
He heard her breath catch in her throat. It was an unmistakable sound. She didn't want to hear him repeat himself, but she asked for it anyway. "What?"
"Tommy's gone. It used Solarbeam while he was on his Fearow, and..."
He couldn't say more. "He's gone."
He couldn't look at her.
But he knew what she was feeling.
She held him tighter and cried as he had.
***
Jason, Koga, Janine, Wolf, and Neo were all released from the hospital within a week. Jason's burn had not been as serious as he'd originally believed; second degree, but hardly fatal. He'd managed to put it out in time. He got out of the hospital after about two days.
Koga and Janine suffered relatively minor injuries, perhaps a cracked rib or two, and cuts and bruises. They got out of the hospital the day after the battle.
Neo had almost completely shattered his arm and leg; he'd landed on them when he'd fallen off the top of the gym. Rods were inserted, and the doctors said it would take the better part of a year before the implants could be removed.
Wolf, as Jason had surmised, had a completely severed collarbone, which was subsequently reattached by delicate microfusion surgery. His arm was put in a cast, and he was released after four days, half of which was spent in the recovery room. He'd refused to wake up for at least 25 hours; the medical staff had almost been forced to feed him intravenously.
Jason and Kelly, after hearing that there would be a private funeral procession, asked to stay in Janine's gym dorms for a couple of days. Koga and Janine both agreed, and Wolf and Neo offered no protest. All four of them knew that Tommy had become close friends with Jason and Kelly.
But none of them knew it better than Jason and Kelly themselves.
The funeral was scheduled to take place at night, in the gym, which would be dark. The reasoning behind this was that Tommy had been raised in the shadows to become a shadow, and in the shadows would his memories rest. No eulogies would be offered; Tommy's memories would speak for themselves, should they be loud enough for the Shadow clan trainees to hear.
Tommy's Pokemon, which had all survived the battle, would be given to the clan trainees who had proven themselves to be worthy of such gifts. The rest of his personal effects would be burned in a funeral pyre on the grounds of what used to be Tirenza's central park.
The night before the funeral, understandably, Jason and Kelly were unable to sleep. Both lay wide awake, their eyes wide open, thinking about the horrific event that would remain burned in their memories and the memories of Fuschia City.
Kelly looked over at Jason through the darkness, trying to find reassurance in him. A tear rolled down her face, one of many she had shed for Tommy. "Was his death worth it, Jason?"
Jason sighed, having asked himself that same question countless times himself. "It was going to be either him or Wolf. I think he knew that when he got on his Fearow. But he was willing to make the sacrifice, and I think if someone's willing to die for a worthy cause such as that, then his death was most definitely worth it."
He turned to Kelly and they locked gazes. Each could see the pain and thoughtfulness in each other's eyes. Jason continued. "I'm not sure Tommy fully considered the impact of what he was doing, though. If he did, I wonder if he would have hesitated in doing it. But I rather doubt he thought about it at the time. All he thought about was saving his brother from certain death."
"And in the process, he died himself," she said. Her voice broke. "I don't think that's a fair arrangement."
"Neither do I," Jason responded, his own voice faltering. "But he knew that Wolf's Pokemon were stronger than his own, knew that Wolf's Pokemon would be without direction if Wolf didn't survive."
"I still don't think it's fair," she said. More tears flowed from her eyes. "If you had been in Tommy's place, would you have done what he did?"
"Absolutely." Jason's response was instantaneous. "I wouldn't have hesitated for an instant."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not going to contest that my Pokemon are more powerful than the ones he travels with. I don't know that, and neither does he. And I would have been saving a life." Jason paused. "That, I think, was probably Tommy's primary concern. Not his own welfare, but that of his brother. And if it was, then he's one of the most honorable people I've had the privilege to know."
Kelly buried her face in her pillow, and Jason was tempted to do the same. Tears were now trickling from his eyes, as well.
"Firenza's only concern was to destroy life. Tommy's was to save it. And he did."
She nodded. "Yes, he did..."
They remained sleepless for the remainder of the night.
***
During the next afternoon, Jason and Kelly spent some time at a nearby clothing center to buy some relatively inexpensive black jumpsuits. It was how the rest of the Shadow clan would be appearing, and it had been a favor asked by Koga himself that they dress accordingly. They tried not to think about exactly why they were buying the jumpsuits, but, understandably, it was hard not to.
After they had eaten at a fast food place in silence, they returned to their dorm, where they would remain until summoned for the procession. They were busy getting themselves appropriately attired when Jason's PokeGear began to ring.
He noted the name on the caller ID, then hit the "CALL" button. "Hello, Professor."
Professor Oak, haggard though he appeared, seemed none the worse for wear after his excursion to Cinnabar Island... what remained of it. He also wore a frown of concern and malcontent on his lined face. "Jason, I haven't been able to get back to the lab until now, what with all the uproar over this incident, and I just tuned in to the local news. The creature stopped at Fuschia City, it appears."
Jason nodded dismally. "Yes, it did."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Jason sighed. "I think it might be much better if I told you in person. Kelly and I have some business to finish up here tonight, but we can start back to Pallet tomorrow. I'll tranfer for a flying type, assuming my Pokemon are returned and well."
"They did quite an amazing job, Jason. A true testament to your abilities as a trainer. I'm proud of them and of you." Oak frowned again. "Did I hear you say you and Kelly? What about Tommy?"
Jason paused. He didn't want to think about the battle, didn't want to think about Tommy, and above all, he didn't want to think about how to word it to Oak. "He's not coming." He felt the onset of tears again.
"I see."
Jason wasn't sure if Oak truly understood, or was just giving the impression to make things less awkward for Jason. Whatever the reason, it didn't make Jason feel any better.
Oak broke the silence over the link. "I must be going. The Pokemon need me. I'll see you soon, I trust?"
"Tomorrow," Jason promised. "Bye, Professor."
Kelly looked over at Jason as she finished packing her things. After the procession, they'd planned to head back out into the wild, but she understood perfectly Jason's feeling of obligation to Professor Oak for answers. The man had given Jason his second chance at life, his chance to become what he'd not thought he could be.
With that chance, as with all others, had come the inevitability of consequence.
And now their friend was gone because of it.
Jason saw the look in her eyes. The look of tiredness. The look that told him she wanted to cry, but she'd shed all of her tears already and had nothing left to cry with.
He reached out and took her hand gently into his. He felt the tenderness, the softness of it.
She knelt down and hugged him tightly, almost as tightly as she had when she'd first found him lying in the mud beside Wolf.
He stroked her hair with one hand and hugged with the other.
Jason and Kelly both knew well the value of human comfort in times of such pain and grief.
And that was why their lips met scant moments later.
The months of their separation evaporated in an instant, and their kiss lasted for what seemed an eternity. Some smart-alecky section of Jason's mind wondered if Celebi were to blame, but the thought was quickly silenced.
They pulled each other even closer and kissed with more passion for each other.
They wanted nothing more than this, nothing more than the feel of the other in their arms.
After a second eternity, they pulled away from each other, as breathless as they'd been when they'd first kissed nearly five years ago.
"I want to stay with you, Jason," she whispered in his ear. "I don't want to be left out again. I don't know if I could have saved him, but I would have tried..."
"I know," he responded in a soothing voice. "I would have tried, too. But I couldn't. Never blame yourself, Kelly."
"Promise you won't leave me out anymore."
Jason nodded slowly, gravely. "I promise."
They held each other close until the knock on the door.
***
As expected, the gym was almost completely dark. What little light shone was the light that came from the moon, glowing through the sun roof.
Jason couldn't help but notice the symmetry of even that. *The light from the moon is only a reflection of the sun. A shadow of its power.* He turned to Kelly, but if she'd noticed, she gave no outward sign of it.
Tommy's considerable collection of capture balls was brought before Koga and Janine, the co-presiders of the procession. Wolf and Neo were the ones who presented the balls to those they considered worthy enough to attain them.
And, much to the surprise of many a trainee, Kelly, and Jason...
...Wolf approached Jason and offered him a capture ball.
Jason didn't know the type of that particular ball, but he knew it was one of the special types Tommy had spoken of just before Wolf had called. The top portion was a shining gray metal and bore six sapphire orbs.
Jason had a pretty good idea which Pokemon was in that ball.
It was exactly the same type of ball that Tommy had been so protective of before.
The same type of ball that housed one of the most powerful Pokemon Tommy had had in his arsenal.
Jason took the proffered ball after an instant's hesitation. By this simple gesture, whoever had chosen for Wolf to make it, someone was paying Jason an extremely high complement. Technically, Jason was not a Shadow clan trainee, and he hadn't expected to receive any of Tommy's Pokemon as a result of that.
*Heavy ball. It's a Heavy ball.* The name came to Jason through the ether of his memories, memories of talking to Tommy during their truncated journey.
Jason vowed he would keep Tommy as alive in memory as he had been in life.
It was all anyone had left.
The battle with Firenza had been many things.
But in Jason's mind, it would never be a victory.
***
After the procession had concluded, Jason approached Wolf. Wolf looked surprisingly clear-headed and refreshed for such a grim and dismal ritual. The Shadow clan Pokemon trainer turned to his paraplegic ally. "Yes?"
"Should I even ask whose idea it was to give me this?" Jason held up the Heavy ball.
Wolf shifted his feet. "Don't bother asking. It was my idea. You showed true courage and true ability during that battle, Jason, and you deserve that ball and the Pokemon inside it." Wolf turned away. "I wanted to part with an ally on good terms. This will likely be the last time we see each other for quite a while. After recent events, I'm beginning to discover a whole new world of possibilities I hadn't considered."
Wolf pulled something out of his pocket and inspected it. Jason couldn't see it, but whatever it was, it was glowing. Wolf kept speaking. "When I first realized what had happened, I thought I would never forgive myself for it. For not seeing the attack myself and responding to it. For forcing him to do it for me, and for forcing him to sacrifice himself for my benefit." He turned back to Jason and returned the object to his pocket. "Anyone willing to take such steps should be canonized. But for now, I think that procession will do."
Jason tried not to raise an eyebrow. "The two are hardly comparable."
"Both involve honor, in a way. Have you ever known anyone as honorable as Tommy?"
Jason looked down. "I suppose not."
"Neither have I." Wolf gave Jason a pointed look. "And, personally, I think what he did for me was beyond what canonization was meant to convey. I think the procession did it for me."
He turned away once more. "At any rate, I hear that you and Kelly have an appointment with Professor Oak tomorrow. I trust you can make it there by then."
Jason nodded. "Yeah, if we start back now."
"Well, then, best you get going."
Jason understood and turned to leave. But he shifted his wheels back toward Wolf and said, "I've got one more question."
"Yes?"
"How on earth did you capture the Pokemon you used in the battle?"
A shadow of a smile played over Wolf's features. "I didn't."
Jason wasn't sure what to make of the response, but he sensed it was the only one he would get out of the man.
He left.
***
Neither Jason nor Kelly could sleep, comfortable though it was on Jason's Fearow's back. Whether it was because their thoughts on Tommy's death repulsed the idea or because they actively didn't want to sleep, they didn't know.
But they contemplated the beautiful starlight that hung so brightly over the land.
"So what now?" Kelly asked after a long time.
"We keep going," said Jason. "He would have wanted that. And I want it."
She nodded, silently vowing that she would stay with him.
After an even longer silence than the previous one, she said, "I heard that you have the option of getting back on your feet, so to speak."
He shook his head. "I don't want to think about that now." He tried to suppress a shudder as he recalled Creight and the insane look in his eyes.
She frowned somewhat, not knowing why he wouldn't want to walk again, but then she mentally shrugged. "Okay."
Jason didn't know how he was supposed to live with all these experiences he'd had in his life. From running away from his family to facing down his demented brother, he might have handled that. How was he supposed to handle seeing his future eyes blazing back at him in such a crazed state, or the death of such a close friend as Tommy?
He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind.
He had to focus.
Jason remembered what he'd felt when he'd seen Kelly in Creight's arms.
She thought it was a dream.
He knew it to be otherwise.
He'd confided in Tommy about the entire incident, something he'd not been able to do even with Professor Oak. And he'd known the latter longer, much longer.
Now he realized that Professor Oak was the last one he could ask for advice.
He resolved to ask.
***
Oak's face showed strong resolve in it during Jason's account of what happened at Fuschia City. He knew that the media were rushing to Koga and Janine for answers to their numerous questions on the details of the battle, but they were refusing to divulge any information. Whether it was because they knew they would become overcome with emotion by speaking of the matter, or simply because they wanted it to stay among those who had participated, it wasn't certain. Not over the TV screen, anyway.
When Jason was finished detailing the battle as best he could, Oak sat back and crossed his arms, a supportive look on his face. "Do you know what happened to Firenza after the blast?"
Jason shook his head. "I figured it must have been destroyed."
"Let's both hope so," Oak replied. "And with his lab destroyed, Giovanni can't clone another one. Or so we hope."
"And pray," Jason added.
Oak nodded.
Jason began to fidget, knowing that the time had come to ask Oak for his advice. "Sam, I have to talk to you about another matter..."
Oak leaned forward again, understanding that Jason would have a lot to say.
When Jason was finished, Oak wasn't sure how to reply. "You seem to have put a lot of faith in Tommy, Jason. Now you're asking me what you should do?"
Jason nodded. "I don't know what else to do."
"Personally, I think you can start by talking to Kelly," Oak responded. "You've left her in the dark long enough. Sooner or later, the truth has to come out."
"Not something particularly fun to think about," said Jason, rubbing at his neck. The incident at the Tengelo Island marina was still vivid in his mind, even after all these years.
"Well, guess what, Jason," said Oak, "you can't keep clouding your mind with fun thoughts. This is reality, and reality is full of as many dark and shady aspects of the mind as it is full of fun and glitz. My advice is to tell Kelly about it, all of it. Let her handle it in whatever way she chooses. You can be much more supportive of each other that way."
Jason sighed, knowing that Oak had him there. She wasn't trying to keep anything secret from him, at least not that he knew of. Why should he be any different about such matters? "Okay. Anything else, Sam?"
"Yes, in fact. I think I've found you the perfect opportunity to clear your mind of recent events."
"That opportunity being?"
"A new Pokemon league."
Jason raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."
"It's all but unheard of around Kanto or Johto because it's so far away. It's nearly five hundred miles south of Cinnabar Island, and it's always on the move."
"On the move?"
"The Pokemon gyms for this league are aboard luxury cruise ships. There are five ships, each capable of holding up to ten thousand people. Mostly, the ships carry rich people and famous people, such as actors, who want to be out of the spotlight. They also carry trainers, those who can make it to the first ship. Each ship does a rendezvous with the next gym in line, but the first ship is the only one that docks on land. It's the pivotal one, and it only docks once every three hundred days."
"Where does it dock?"
"The Selto marina." Oak saw Jason try to hide a wince. "I know you're not fond of marinas, but it's the only way to get aboard the ships; they don't dock anywhere else. They use massive photovoltaic arrays to power their ships."
Jason scoffed. "Don't make it sound more complicated than it is; just call them solar panels, all right?"
"Fine, fine, I see you've been keeping up with current tech."
"Like I've got anything other than training to worry about. And when is it scheduled to dock next?"
"It docks in about four or five days. And it doesn't take in people who try to board after its away from the dock."
Jason nodded slowly, his curiosity of this new league sailing through the roof. "Got a name for this league?"
"An appropriate one: the Atlantis League."
"And what about championship battles?"
"Much like the Orange League. If you make it past the fifth gym, you'll meet with the Atlantis League champion in an undisclosed location for your final match."
"Any information on the gym leaders?"
"None about their Pokemon. I looked everywhere, but there was nothing beyond names. And I couldn't even get the champion's name. You'll have to brave it alone if you want to go."
Jason considered all the info Oak had given him. It was an extraordinary opportunity, leaving Kanto, Johto, and the Orange Islands far behind to pursue a new league no one around here had heard of.
Then he nodded. "I'll do it."
And his thoughts turned from destruction and death to the proposition of a new adventure.
Jason Creight thought on.
----------------------------------------------
This is the end of a journey.
But not of *Against All Odds.*
He'd been asleep for no more than two minutes. He didn't need a watch to tell him that. He wanted more, wanted to just fall back into that dark abyss where the shackles of reality are left far behind while the dreamer pursues far greater things...
He clenched his eyes shut against the blaring of those blasted sirens. Why the Fuschia City police had to make themselves so rudely known was beyond him. He didn't recall seeing their help at the battle; no, that had been left up to those who were "insane" enough to go out and face the demonic creature themselves.
And now a member of their ranks was gone forever.
*Strange, that,* Jason thought. *Creight comes here from the future in an attempt to save the life of someone he cares about, and then this.*
He began to hear shuffling and hurried voices, and from the sound of them, Jason decided it must be a crew of EMTs working their way through the rubble.
The driving rain didn't help their plight any, apparently. Jason heard the distinct sound of someone falling in the slippery mud, followed by an "Oof!"
He forced his eyes open and found them staring, once again, at the ground of Fuschia City. He snorted, then craned his neck upward excruciatingly slowly.
He saw that Wolf was still seated limply before him. The Shadow clan trainee's eyes were closed, and he almost didn't seem to be reathing. But no, Jason could see the almost infinitesimally small rising and falling of the man's chest. He was still alive.
Jason also saw that the area where Wolf's collarbone had suffered a brutal laceration had now swollen to almost three times its size. The bones were definitely broken, perhaps even severed. Jason didn't envy Wolf his injuries, no matter what the damage had been from the horrific burn that spanned his leg.
And then he heard a different voice. Distinct, desperate, and familiar.
"Jason? Jason?!"
He groaned to himself, feeling proud that he'd even managed that small bit of vocal communication. He pushed at the ground clumsily with the back of his left hand, determined to make sure that when she found him, he would be facing her. He managed to get himself facing upward, but in the process he rolled his upper body into a small mud puddle. He tried to call for her, but all that ended up coming out was more groaning.
His eyes rolled down toward his own body, and he took a look at what kind of condition he seemed to be in. His clothes were coated in a combination of mud and blood, and he had a shallow slash down his left forearm from which blood had obviously flowed freely for a few minutes. His burned left leg was, like most of the rest of him, covered in mud, so that he couldn't possibly make a clear analysis of it. He considered himself lucky not to be able to feel it, then noted that this was probably the first time he'd thought having insensate legs was a virtue.
Then Jason heard Wolf's breathing get heavier. It sounded as if he were waking up, either to the sound of the EMTs or the sound of those sirens, Jason wasn't sure. He arched his head and looked at Wolf in an upside-down perspective. Wolf's eyes were open, and he'd reached over to cradle his shoulder in his remaining hand. He looked at the laceration, then turned away from it, apparently deciding it was best not to think about it until the EMTs got here.
Then his eyes locked with Jason's.
Jason saw the world of hurt, emotional and physical, that Wolf was in through that gaze.
Wolf's jaw rotated, obviously attempting to withhold further tears or emotional outbursts.
But Jason knew perfectly well what he'd witnessed when he'd first crawled to that place.
He knew... and wished he didn't.
"Jason! Oh, my God, Jason! Guys, over here! Quick!"
And then she was there.
Jason wasn't sure if he'd seen a more beautiful thing in his life.
Kelly looked down at him with a pained, desperate look on her face and in her eyes. She knelt down to the ground and scooped her arms under Jason's upper body, uncaring of the mud. She pulled him close in a tight hug.
He swore to himself that he would return that embrace. His brain sent impulses roaring through his nervous system, and before he even fully realized it, he was hugging her back.
He could hear her crying softly.
He wondered if she knew.
He heard her say, "I was so worried..."
He drew in a ragged breath, then found his voice and asked, "Are the others all right?"
She nodded, her head against his. "The ones we could find, anyway. Koga and Janine were thrown clear of the buildings. Neo has multiple breaks in his arm and leg. But they say they can't find Tommy."
*Oh, no...*
Jason didn't want to break the news to her. He turned to Wolf.
Wolf remained silent, waiting for the EMTs to diagnose his condition. Jason could tell that Wolf didn't want to say anything, didn't want to think anything, didn't want to feel anything.
Jason sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Sudenly, being paralyzed was no longer a virtue.
"He's gone, Kelly."
He heard her breath catch in her throat. It was an unmistakable sound. She didn't want to hear him repeat himself, but she asked for it anyway. "What?"
"Tommy's gone. It used Solarbeam while he was on his Fearow, and..."
He couldn't say more. "He's gone."
He couldn't look at her.
But he knew what she was feeling.
She held him tighter and cried as he had.
***
Jason, Koga, Janine, Wolf, and Neo were all released from the hospital within a week. Jason's burn had not been as serious as he'd originally believed; second degree, but hardly fatal. He'd managed to put it out in time. He got out of the hospital after about two days.
Koga and Janine suffered relatively minor injuries, perhaps a cracked rib or two, and cuts and bruises. They got out of the hospital the day after the battle.
Neo had almost completely shattered his arm and leg; he'd landed on them when he'd fallen off the top of the gym. Rods were inserted, and the doctors said it would take the better part of a year before the implants could be removed.
Wolf, as Jason had surmised, had a completely severed collarbone, which was subsequently reattached by delicate microfusion surgery. His arm was put in a cast, and he was released after four days, half of which was spent in the recovery room. He'd refused to wake up for at least 25 hours; the medical staff had almost been forced to feed him intravenously.
Jason and Kelly, after hearing that there would be a private funeral procession, asked to stay in Janine's gym dorms for a couple of days. Koga and Janine both agreed, and Wolf and Neo offered no protest. All four of them knew that Tommy had become close friends with Jason and Kelly.
But none of them knew it better than Jason and Kelly themselves.
The funeral was scheduled to take place at night, in the gym, which would be dark. The reasoning behind this was that Tommy had been raised in the shadows to become a shadow, and in the shadows would his memories rest. No eulogies would be offered; Tommy's memories would speak for themselves, should they be loud enough for the Shadow clan trainees to hear.
Tommy's Pokemon, which had all survived the battle, would be given to the clan trainees who had proven themselves to be worthy of such gifts. The rest of his personal effects would be burned in a funeral pyre on the grounds of what used to be Tirenza's central park.
The night before the funeral, understandably, Jason and Kelly were unable to sleep. Both lay wide awake, their eyes wide open, thinking about the horrific event that would remain burned in their memories and the memories of Fuschia City.
Kelly looked over at Jason through the darkness, trying to find reassurance in him. A tear rolled down her face, one of many she had shed for Tommy. "Was his death worth it, Jason?"
Jason sighed, having asked himself that same question countless times himself. "It was going to be either him or Wolf. I think he knew that when he got on his Fearow. But he was willing to make the sacrifice, and I think if someone's willing to die for a worthy cause such as that, then his death was most definitely worth it."
He turned to Kelly and they locked gazes. Each could see the pain and thoughtfulness in each other's eyes. Jason continued. "I'm not sure Tommy fully considered the impact of what he was doing, though. If he did, I wonder if he would have hesitated in doing it. But I rather doubt he thought about it at the time. All he thought about was saving his brother from certain death."
"And in the process, he died himself," she said. Her voice broke. "I don't think that's a fair arrangement."
"Neither do I," Jason responded, his own voice faltering. "But he knew that Wolf's Pokemon were stronger than his own, knew that Wolf's Pokemon would be without direction if Wolf didn't survive."
"I still don't think it's fair," she said. More tears flowed from her eyes. "If you had been in Tommy's place, would you have done what he did?"
"Absolutely." Jason's response was instantaneous. "I wouldn't have hesitated for an instant."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not going to contest that my Pokemon are more powerful than the ones he travels with. I don't know that, and neither does he. And I would have been saving a life." Jason paused. "That, I think, was probably Tommy's primary concern. Not his own welfare, but that of his brother. And if it was, then he's one of the most honorable people I've had the privilege to know."
Kelly buried her face in her pillow, and Jason was tempted to do the same. Tears were now trickling from his eyes, as well.
"Firenza's only concern was to destroy life. Tommy's was to save it. And he did."
She nodded. "Yes, he did..."
They remained sleepless for the remainder of the night.
***
During the next afternoon, Jason and Kelly spent some time at a nearby clothing center to buy some relatively inexpensive black jumpsuits. It was how the rest of the Shadow clan would be appearing, and it had been a favor asked by Koga himself that they dress accordingly. They tried not to think about exactly why they were buying the jumpsuits, but, understandably, it was hard not to.
After they had eaten at a fast food place in silence, they returned to their dorm, where they would remain until summoned for the procession. They were busy getting themselves appropriately attired when Jason's PokeGear began to ring.
He noted the name on the caller ID, then hit the "CALL" button. "Hello, Professor."
Professor Oak, haggard though he appeared, seemed none the worse for wear after his excursion to Cinnabar Island... what remained of it. He also wore a frown of concern and malcontent on his lined face. "Jason, I haven't been able to get back to the lab until now, what with all the uproar over this incident, and I just tuned in to the local news. The creature stopped at Fuschia City, it appears."
Jason nodded dismally. "Yes, it did."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Jason sighed. "I think it might be much better if I told you in person. Kelly and I have some business to finish up here tonight, but we can start back to Pallet tomorrow. I'll tranfer for a flying type, assuming my Pokemon are returned and well."
"They did quite an amazing job, Jason. A true testament to your abilities as a trainer. I'm proud of them and of you." Oak frowned again. "Did I hear you say you and Kelly? What about Tommy?"
Jason paused. He didn't want to think about the battle, didn't want to think about Tommy, and above all, he didn't want to think about how to word it to Oak. "He's not coming." He felt the onset of tears again.
"I see."
Jason wasn't sure if Oak truly understood, or was just giving the impression to make things less awkward for Jason. Whatever the reason, it didn't make Jason feel any better.
Oak broke the silence over the link. "I must be going. The Pokemon need me. I'll see you soon, I trust?"
"Tomorrow," Jason promised. "Bye, Professor."
Kelly looked over at Jason as she finished packing her things. After the procession, they'd planned to head back out into the wild, but she understood perfectly Jason's feeling of obligation to Professor Oak for answers. The man had given Jason his second chance at life, his chance to become what he'd not thought he could be.
With that chance, as with all others, had come the inevitability of consequence.
And now their friend was gone because of it.
Jason saw the look in her eyes. The look of tiredness. The look that told him she wanted to cry, but she'd shed all of her tears already and had nothing left to cry with.
He reached out and took her hand gently into his. He felt the tenderness, the softness of it.
She knelt down and hugged him tightly, almost as tightly as she had when she'd first found him lying in the mud beside Wolf.
He stroked her hair with one hand and hugged with the other.
Jason and Kelly both knew well the value of human comfort in times of such pain and grief.
And that was why their lips met scant moments later.
The months of their separation evaporated in an instant, and their kiss lasted for what seemed an eternity. Some smart-alecky section of Jason's mind wondered if Celebi were to blame, but the thought was quickly silenced.
They pulled each other even closer and kissed with more passion for each other.
They wanted nothing more than this, nothing more than the feel of the other in their arms.
After a second eternity, they pulled away from each other, as breathless as they'd been when they'd first kissed nearly five years ago.
"I want to stay with you, Jason," she whispered in his ear. "I don't want to be left out again. I don't know if I could have saved him, but I would have tried..."
"I know," he responded in a soothing voice. "I would have tried, too. But I couldn't. Never blame yourself, Kelly."
"Promise you won't leave me out anymore."
Jason nodded slowly, gravely. "I promise."
They held each other close until the knock on the door.
***
As expected, the gym was almost completely dark. What little light shone was the light that came from the moon, glowing through the sun roof.
Jason couldn't help but notice the symmetry of even that. *The light from the moon is only a reflection of the sun. A shadow of its power.* He turned to Kelly, but if she'd noticed, she gave no outward sign of it.
Tommy's considerable collection of capture balls was brought before Koga and Janine, the co-presiders of the procession. Wolf and Neo were the ones who presented the balls to those they considered worthy enough to attain them.
And, much to the surprise of many a trainee, Kelly, and Jason...
...Wolf approached Jason and offered him a capture ball.
Jason didn't know the type of that particular ball, but he knew it was one of the special types Tommy had spoken of just before Wolf had called. The top portion was a shining gray metal and bore six sapphire orbs.
Jason had a pretty good idea which Pokemon was in that ball.
It was exactly the same type of ball that Tommy had been so protective of before.
The same type of ball that housed one of the most powerful Pokemon Tommy had had in his arsenal.
Jason took the proffered ball after an instant's hesitation. By this simple gesture, whoever had chosen for Wolf to make it, someone was paying Jason an extremely high complement. Technically, Jason was not a Shadow clan trainee, and he hadn't expected to receive any of Tommy's Pokemon as a result of that.
*Heavy ball. It's a Heavy ball.* The name came to Jason through the ether of his memories, memories of talking to Tommy during their truncated journey.
Jason vowed he would keep Tommy as alive in memory as he had been in life.
It was all anyone had left.
The battle with Firenza had been many things.
But in Jason's mind, it would never be a victory.
***
After the procession had concluded, Jason approached Wolf. Wolf looked surprisingly clear-headed and refreshed for such a grim and dismal ritual. The Shadow clan Pokemon trainer turned to his paraplegic ally. "Yes?"
"Should I even ask whose idea it was to give me this?" Jason held up the Heavy ball.
Wolf shifted his feet. "Don't bother asking. It was my idea. You showed true courage and true ability during that battle, Jason, and you deserve that ball and the Pokemon inside it." Wolf turned away. "I wanted to part with an ally on good terms. This will likely be the last time we see each other for quite a while. After recent events, I'm beginning to discover a whole new world of possibilities I hadn't considered."
Wolf pulled something out of his pocket and inspected it. Jason couldn't see it, but whatever it was, it was glowing. Wolf kept speaking. "When I first realized what had happened, I thought I would never forgive myself for it. For not seeing the attack myself and responding to it. For forcing him to do it for me, and for forcing him to sacrifice himself for my benefit." He turned back to Jason and returned the object to his pocket. "Anyone willing to take such steps should be canonized. But for now, I think that procession will do."
Jason tried not to raise an eyebrow. "The two are hardly comparable."
"Both involve honor, in a way. Have you ever known anyone as honorable as Tommy?"
Jason looked down. "I suppose not."
"Neither have I." Wolf gave Jason a pointed look. "And, personally, I think what he did for me was beyond what canonization was meant to convey. I think the procession did it for me."
He turned away once more. "At any rate, I hear that you and Kelly have an appointment with Professor Oak tomorrow. I trust you can make it there by then."
Jason nodded. "Yeah, if we start back now."
"Well, then, best you get going."
Jason understood and turned to leave. But he shifted his wheels back toward Wolf and said, "I've got one more question."
"Yes?"
"How on earth did you capture the Pokemon you used in the battle?"
A shadow of a smile played over Wolf's features. "I didn't."
Jason wasn't sure what to make of the response, but he sensed it was the only one he would get out of the man.
He left.
***
Neither Jason nor Kelly could sleep, comfortable though it was on Jason's Fearow's back. Whether it was because their thoughts on Tommy's death repulsed the idea or because they actively didn't want to sleep, they didn't know.
But they contemplated the beautiful starlight that hung so brightly over the land.
"So what now?" Kelly asked after a long time.
"We keep going," said Jason. "He would have wanted that. And I want it."
She nodded, silently vowing that she would stay with him.
After an even longer silence than the previous one, she said, "I heard that you have the option of getting back on your feet, so to speak."
He shook his head. "I don't want to think about that now." He tried to suppress a shudder as he recalled Creight and the insane look in his eyes.
She frowned somewhat, not knowing why he wouldn't want to walk again, but then she mentally shrugged. "Okay."
Jason didn't know how he was supposed to live with all these experiences he'd had in his life. From running away from his family to facing down his demented brother, he might have handled that. How was he supposed to handle seeing his future eyes blazing back at him in such a crazed state, or the death of such a close friend as Tommy?
He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind.
He had to focus.
Jason remembered what he'd felt when he'd seen Kelly in Creight's arms.
She thought it was a dream.
He knew it to be otherwise.
He'd confided in Tommy about the entire incident, something he'd not been able to do even with Professor Oak. And he'd known the latter longer, much longer.
Now he realized that Professor Oak was the last one he could ask for advice.
He resolved to ask.
***
Oak's face showed strong resolve in it during Jason's account of what happened at Fuschia City. He knew that the media were rushing to Koga and Janine for answers to their numerous questions on the details of the battle, but they were refusing to divulge any information. Whether it was because they knew they would become overcome with emotion by speaking of the matter, or simply because they wanted it to stay among those who had participated, it wasn't certain. Not over the TV screen, anyway.
When Jason was finished detailing the battle as best he could, Oak sat back and crossed his arms, a supportive look on his face. "Do you know what happened to Firenza after the blast?"
Jason shook his head. "I figured it must have been destroyed."
"Let's both hope so," Oak replied. "And with his lab destroyed, Giovanni can't clone another one. Or so we hope."
"And pray," Jason added.
Oak nodded.
Jason began to fidget, knowing that the time had come to ask Oak for his advice. "Sam, I have to talk to you about another matter..."
Oak leaned forward again, understanding that Jason would have a lot to say.
When Jason was finished, Oak wasn't sure how to reply. "You seem to have put a lot of faith in Tommy, Jason. Now you're asking me what you should do?"
Jason nodded. "I don't know what else to do."
"Personally, I think you can start by talking to Kelly," Oak responded. "You've left her in the dark long enough. Sooner or later, the truth has to come out."
"Not something particularly fun to think about," said Jason, rubbing at his neck. The incident at the Tengelo Island marina was still vivid in his mind, even after all these years.
"Well, guess what, Jason," said Oak, "you can't keep clouding your mind with fun thoughts. This is reality, and reality is full of as many dark and shady aspects of the mind as it is full of fun and glitz. My advice is to tell Kelly about it, all of it. Let her handle it in whatever way she chooses. You can be much more supportive of each other that way."
Jason sighed, knowing that Oak had him there. She wasn't trying to keep anything secret from him, at least not that he knew of. Why should he be any different about such matters? "Okay. Anything else, Sam?"
"Yes, in fact. I think I've found you the perfect opportunity to clear your mind of recent events."
"That opportunity being?"
"A new Pokemon league."
Jason raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."
"It's all but unheard of around Kanto or Johto because it's so far away. It's nearly five hundred miles south of Cinnabar Island, and it's always on the move."
"On the move?"
"The Pokemon gyms for this league are aboard luxury cruise ships. There are five ships, each capable of holding up to ten thousand people. Mostly, the ships carry rich people and famous people, such as actors, who want to be out of the spotlight. They also carry trainers, those who can make it to the first ship. Each ship does a rendezvous with the next gym in line, but the first ship is the only one that docks on land. It's the pivotal one, and it only docks once every three hundred days."
"Where does it dock?"
"The Selto marina." Oak saw Jason try to hide a wince. "I know you're not fond of marinas, but it's the only way to get aboard the ships; they don't dock anywhere else. They use massive photovoltaic arrays to power their ships."
Jason scoffed. "Don't make it sound more complicated than it is; just call them solar panels, all right?"
"Fine, fine, I see you've been keeping up with current tech."
"Like I've got anything other than training to worry about. And when is it scheduled to dock next?"
"It docks in about four or five days. And it doesn't take in people who try to board after its away from the dock."
Jason nodded slowly, his curiosity of this new league sailing through the roof. "Got a name for this league?"
"An appropriate one: the Atlantis League."
"And what about championship battles?"
"Much like the Orange League. If you make it past the fifth gym, you'll meet with the Atlantis League champion in an undisclosed location for your final match."
"Any information on the gym leaders?"
"None about their Pokemon. I looked everywhere, but there was nothing beyond names. And I couldn't even get the champion's name. You'll have to brave it alone if you want to go."
Jason considered all the info Oak had given him. It was an extraordinary opportunity, leaving Kanto, Johto, and the Orange Islands far behind to pursue a new league no one around here had heard of.
Then he nodded. "I'll do it."
And his thoughts turned from destruction and death to the proposition of a new adventure.
Jason Creight thought on.
----------------------------------------------
This is the end of a journey.
But not of *Against All Odds.*
