Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
A/N: Thanks Yuki for realizing that Acolyte was spelled wrong ^^' Just to think I used to be one, too… oh, well! After being grounded from the computer for four days, it's corrected and it's all good. Thanks TomaKat for help in the first chappie! And yes, Dragoness, I'm hoping this story will be different too. I really don't like cliched stories that much and so far, I only have one going! If you have any ideas, just tell me! Thanks so everyone who reviewed!
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Urban Legends
"What?" I exclaimed, leaping away from the branch. "Who would name a tree that?"
"I was talking to the Nurse Joy at the Pokecenter in the other town and she said something about…I have a better idea. I'll tell you tonight." I shuddered, wiping my hands off on my jean shorts.
"Never mind. I don't wanna know."
"Ooo! I do, I do!" Ash nearly yelled, jumping up, eyes wide with excitement.
"Tell him he doesn't want to know."
"You don't wanna know."
"Yeah, I do!"
"Great effort."
"Thanks." I roll my eyes and hike up the light hill sloping to the tree.
"Death tree or no, I'm tired. Let's head to the Pokecenter." Ash switched modes, his face suddenly turning serious.
"Right. And I need to beat the Gym Leader."
After Ash had beaten the Gym Leader, who, surprise, surprise, used Ghost Pokèmon, we were heading back to the Pokecenter. It was well past six and beginning to get dark and boy, was I nervous. I didn't want to hear some stupid legend about a tree. Especially if it was scary.
"I think I'll wait until dark," announced Brock, grinning evilly.
"No! Come on. I agreed you could tell it so I should get to decide when you tell it." Ash snorted and stared out the window. I shot his back a look. "Tell it now. While it's still a little light out." The bed shook as Ash fell back on it. He threw his arms out, one nailing me in the side. I shoved it away and he grinned.
"Fine. It all started a really long time ago and there was this man who was accused of being the leader of a band called Team Ragna. A murderous band of crooks, they were worse than Team Rocket. They drove people out of town with their horrific antics."
"Anything's worse than Team Rocket," mumbled Ash and I giggled.
"ANYWAY," accented Brock, sending him a look. "They hung him at the tree by his neck (he could still touch the ground with his feet and barely stand) and stoned him. Then they shot at him, careful not to kill him with one shot. They did all that to him and buried him alive under the tree." I could feel my face paling and saw, with satisfaction, that Ash looked a little green.
"That's really, really gross," I said, lying back on the bed next to Ash.
"Yeah. And whoever disturbs the tree is said to be cursed." I laughed loudly and Ash scowled.
"That would be talking about you, Ash."
"I didn't disturb it!"
"Oh, so breaking off a branch on the tree is all the sudden not disturbing?"
"Come on you two. It's just a legend. Oh, goody. The cot's here."
"I want it!" I yelped, standing up and rushing to it. But, unfortunately, Ash beat me there.
"Nuh-uh. You got it last time."
"So? You didn't even WANT it last time!"
"So what? It's my turn."
"Flip you for it!"
"You're on! Tails!" I whipped a coin out of my pocket and tossed it into the air. As it landed in my open palm, I smacked it against my arm and held it out triumphantly for him to see.
"Heads!"
"No way! You cheated!"
"How the hell can you cheat when you're flipping coins?" I shrieked.
"I don't know! You just did!"
"Oh, forget it! You can have the stupid cot! I'm taking a shower!" I grabbed my clothes and a towel and stormed into the bathroom.
The hot water pelted against my face as I bent to turn it off. Wrapping a towel around my wet hair and midsection, I dried off before changing into my pajamas. I could tell that it was late as I sneaked out of the bathroom by Brock's snoring. Sure enough, the clock read 11:30. Sighing, I made my way to the bed but stopped when I found someone already in it. I backed away frantically, trying not to scream, when I realized that it was only Ash.
I looked to the cot to find my stuff had been placed on it. Smiling to myself, I ducked under the covers and fell asleep.
The next morning, Ash woke us up again, bright and early. But I felt better than I had the last time and got up without much complaining.
"Thanks Ash," I said while Brock was in the bathroom, blushing slightly. He blushed too and looked away.
"For what?"
"Oh, you know…er, letting me use the cot. That was really sweet."
"You're welcome."
"Come on you guys!" bellowed Brock, grabbing us by the wrists as he popped out of the bathroom. "Let's explore this place, eh? Check out the chicks?" Ash laughed and I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever. I wanna check out the book store, thank you very much."
"Okay Mist. Check up with us at one at the Pokecenter!" called Ash as Brock dragged him away. Chuckling, I made my way into the book store I had spotted last night.
"Let's see…D…D…Ah! Death Tree!" I slid the dusty book off the shelf and plopped into a chair. "'The Death Tree is said to curse whoever disturbs it. Bad luck, death and even the reoccurrence of pastime problems may happen to the person who disturbed the tree. All of these problems are linked to the legend on page 304.'" I shut the book slowly, thinking to myself. "Death?" I whisper. "It's all just a legend though."
"Or is it," said a soft voice as an old lady appeared. "Welcome to the Specter Shop. I see you're interested in the Death Tree?" She blinked her wrinkle-circled eyes at me and swished her odd dress as she sat beside me.
"O-oh no," I stuttered, slipping the book blindly on the shelf. "I had just heard about it. That's all."
"I'm sure you didn't hear the whole story, Misty." How did she know my name??? I've seen movies like this before.
"Well actually--?"
"Here. Take this. Bring it back when you're done with it, okay?" She shoved a book into my arms. "Please take it. Just bring it back when you're done."
"Thanks?" I said, unsure of what to do as she pushes me through the store door.
"Bye!" she called and shut the door.
"What a kooky old lady," I mumbled as I walked through the nearly-deserted town.
"Misty! There you are! We've been looking for you forever!"
"I told you I was in the book shop," I said irritably as Brock and Ash ran up to me. "You're obviously worse with a map than I thought. It's right there!" Ash snorted and Brock smiled amusedly.
"Ah. I see."
"What?" I snapped and turned around. Bertha's Specter Souvenirs?! "But I was just--?"
"I'm not going to TRY and guess where you were," mumbled Ash.
"Probably looking at the cosmetics or something. That one girl with the blue shirt told me they have really good ones when I complimented on her eye shadow." Brock looked into space dreamily and immediately snapped out of it, covering his head. But I didn't notice. Where had the book store gone? I was just there!
"Mist?" I ran my fingers over the small book in my arms and knew it was real.
"What? Oh, never mind. Let's go get some chow. I'm starved!"
"Huh?" I pivoted on my heel and began to walk away. "Misty! Wait up!" He touched my arm. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Is it 'cause we laughed?"
"No, Ash. I'm fine. Don't worry about it, okay?" He looked unconvinced but nodded. "Uh, I'm going to go drop off my stuff at the Center. See you at the restaurant, okay?"
"How are you going to know which one?"
"I'll find it!" I yelled, not looking back over my shoulder.
The curse works immediately within the same day. If there is a curse, you will see changes in your surroundings that you never thought were there before. There's only one cure to this curse and it's--
"PIKA!"
"Dammit!" I shrieked, starting and falling off the bed. "Whatju do that for, Pikachu? I thought you were with Ash!" Pikachu wiped a tear from his eye and smiled delightedly at me. I sneaked a glance at the clock and gasped. "I'm a half hour late! Jeez!" I grabbed Pikachu by the tail and ran out of the room.
When we got to the restaurant Pikachu pointed out for me, I was surprised to see a group of people crowed around it. Curiously, I pushed my way to the front, not caring about the occasional glare or whisper.
"What's going on?" I said and people murmured in agreement. The doors were off their hinges and all the windows were busted off, glass shards littering the ground.
"Back away people!" yelled an Officer Jenny, pulling a silver whistle to her lips. "Clear the way!" I could tell something was really wrong by the way some people's eyes kept flitting around them like they were looking for something or expecting something.
"My friends are in there!" I yelled but no one heard me.
"Everyone is fine! There may be a couple cuts or bruises but they're being taken care of in the back." I backed out of the crowd and began to walk around the back when a flash of red caught my attention.
"What's this…?" I whispered, touching the fresh spray paint on the wall.
Long live Ragna
TA-DA! You know you loved it and even if you did it, please review! Well, there you go. The second part. I really didn't want to add the whole spray painted bit but it was kind of essential to the chappie if ya know what I mean! There's an opening in the next chappie for a little gakishipping =^_^= so be watching out for that! Eight reviews please!!!
~ Kasagi Onaso
