Author's Notes: Just to let the one reviewer know, Butch's thoughts of
Cassidy were of the times when they worked together. Now they don't work
together and he kind of misses it. Anyway, Ash and Misty are together in
this. Although they don't appear in the same scene as each other, they do.
I was planning on mentioning those who were mentioned, but not in a very
good way. However, anyone who has been mentioned so far is still alive
basically. Unless of course I already had them killed as in the first
chapter when Ash is killing the guards. ^_^ Anyway, if you haven't watched
the movie Ladyhawke, you'll be in for a surprise when what Senzei did to
Ash AND Misty. Anyway, a ghost can't cut a person's bindings when they're
tied to a tree. And Ash tied Jared there. It was that or risk Jared running
off as he did when Ash couldn't stop him. Anyway, I've now did what I could
to confuse whatever readers I have for this fic and now, here's chapter 3!
*
Jared looks over the rocks that hide him from clear view. He had let his Diglett out a little while ago, so that his Diglett could get out of the pokeball for a little while. He sees a campsite of a Ponyta patrol. They don't seem to have guns this time, Jared realizes. Why are they using crossbows? Jared decides that he'd rather not find out and as he begins to move, he realizes that something has just come up from behind. He uses his hand to feel if there's anything there and he feels a soldier's uniform. It took a moment for it to register in Jared's mind, but when he tried to bolt, the soldier picked him up by the back of his shirt and dragged him over to the campsite.
Jared was cursing his luck. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Jared thought to himself. The man he was brought up to turned out to be a woman. Jared wasn't too surprised by that fact because he's seen women in the ranks of the officers, though not as many. "Where is Ash?" the woman demanded.
"When I left him, he was riding south," Jared told the woman.
"If that's the case, then we ride north," a soldier said, clearly not believing what Jared told them.
"It's not polite to assume that someone's lying when you've only just met them," Jared replied, matter of factly.
"It doesn't matter," the woman snapped, seemingly both at the soldier and Jared. "He was found on the northwest side of our camp. We'll head northwest."
"But I'm telling the truth!" Jared cried to no avail. It was clear that no one was going to believe him. Jared was tied and gagged quickly. The soldiers mounted up, but they heard a sound in the distance. A rider was on their way here. It's him, Jared thought to himself. The soldiers quickly mounted. Then they hid behind their tents. Crossbows were loaded and positioned towards where the rider was coming from. The west. Suddenly a Spearow flew up. Jared recognized the Spearow as Ash's, but none of the soldiers knew about the Spearow. However, Jared realized that there was some real big importance to the Spearow as it whispered through the soldiers that under no condition are they to harm the Spearow. If they did, they would answer directly to Senzei. Jared knew that something was very special about either that specific Spearow or just Spearow's in general to Senzei.
Jared took advantage of the guards not paying attention to him, since they sat him behind a soldier on a Ponyta. Jared moved his arms from behind him and over his head. Jared had to admit that it hurt really bad, but he knew that he's endured more pain before. Jared begins to take his gag out of his mouth, but the soldier in front of him turned around and saw Jared trying to untie himself. The soldier swung at Jared and Jared ducked to the side, but the motion caused Jared to fall from the Ponyta with an audible thud. As Jared landed, his Diglett appeared and helped Jared take his bindings off. In moments, Jared was untied and he asked his Diglett to dig holes under the Ponytas.
As Jared looked around, he heard Ash's Rapidash rear up and cry out. The soldiers then started to ride towards Ash. As soon as he was in sight of them, Ash shot two of the soldiers right off the bat. The soldiers fired their crossbows and only one shot hit Ash's Rapidash. Though, the soldiers were reloading quickly. Although all of the soldiers had crossbows, some of the soldiers had began to charge Ash. Ash swung his rifle and knocked a soldier off his Ponyta and was killed by Rapidash's hooves. Ash threw the gun at the next soldier and swiftly drew his sword. Jared saw one of the soldiers aim for Ash, but Jared's Diglett had finished making a hole and the Ground shifted under the Ponyta and the crossbow shot high. Jared watched in horror as Ash's Spearow was hit in its breast. Jared started in disbelief. Ash seemed to have seen it as well.
The soldiers realize what's happened and the woman calls the retreat. Jared can tell that she doesn't want to be around to see if the Spearow is dead or not. Jared runs over to Ash. "Get a clean cloth from my bags," Ash orders Jared.
Jared quickly complies and brings over a piece of coarse cotton. Ash wraps his Spearow in it gently. "Come on, Ash," Jared tells Ash. "The poor things done for."
"Don't you say that!" Ash snapped, angrily. Jared takes a look at Ash's eyes and sees anger, fear, and despair combined in his eyes. Ash gently picks up the Spearow and walks over to his Rapidash. Jared sees his Diglett pop up and returns it to its pokeball. As Jared gets to Rapidash, Ash's Pikachu shows up. "Get on my Rapidash," Ash orders Jared.
Jared is startled. Is he that desperate to wants me to take his Spearow? Jared wonders. "But-" Jared starts, but is silenced with a warning look by Ash. What is so important about this Spearow, Jared wonders, as he mounts Rapidash.
"Ride to the Rock tunnel. On the way you'll find a crumbling western style castle. The occupants of that castle will help. Ride hard. You have until sunset to succeed. If you fail, the execution that you would have received at Saffron Fortress would seem desirable. Ride hard. If anything happens, I will exact payment out of your hide," Ash growls at Jared. Jared is just looking back at Ash in fear. Does he really mean that? "Pikachu, go with him."
"Pika," Pikachu replied solemnly.
I guess that he really means to send me. Why? Why won't he take his Spearow? Jared faced Ash and saw his eyes filled with despair. He can't, Jared realized. For whatever reason, he can't take his Spearow. Jared nods his acceptance of the task. "Ride hard, ride fast," Ash tells Jared firmly.
Ash slaps Rapidash's rump and Rapidash takes off. Jared's mind races with all the information that he learned. Something is very important about this Spearow, Jared thought to himself. What that is, I don't know. The scenery was flying by Jared as he rode Rapidash across the land. He held the Spearow close to him and hoped that he would be able to make it to where Ash wanted him to go.
Jared saw the day go by as he rode through the countryside. Before he knew it, it was late afternoon and he was before a ruined western style castle. "We're almost there," Jared said to the Spearow. Jared tried to touch the Spearow's chin with his finger, but was bitten instead. "Well there's gratitude for you," Jared complains to no one in particular.
Jared rides up to the gates, which seem really sturdy although the rest of the castle doesn't seem like that. "Hello!" Jared calls up to the ruin.
"Whadda ya want?!" a voice cries from the top of the gate.
"I was told to bring this injured Spearow here!" Jared replied.
"Take it to a Pokecenter then!" the voice cried back.
"It's dying!" Jared cried.
"Then let me eat it!" the voice shouted back.
"This isn't an ordinary Spearow!" Jared cried, hoping that whoever was speaking would realize that he was going to get in one way or another.
"Oh!?" the voice called out.
"This Spearow belongs to a man named Ash Ketchum," Jared called out.
Pikachu jumped in front of Jared and cried out, "Pika Pika pi pi chu chu, Pikachu!"
Jared was surprised at this. "Okay fine! I'll get the gate opened," the voice replied.
Soon the gate was rising up. Jared then rode Rapidash into the gate. Jared looked at the sun. It was dusk. He fulfilled his orders from Ash. Whoever is in here will be able to take care of the Spearow. As Rapidash stopped, Jared noticed that a Meowth was the one who had been calling down to him. How is a Meowth going to help, Jared thought wearily. However three people walk out from within one of the doors into a part of the castle that doesn't seem to be so much in ruin. There were two women and one man.
One of the women took the Spearow from Jared's hands and carefully took it over to another place in the castle. Jared started to follow, but the man rested a firm hand on his shoulder. "Let her take care of it," the man told Jared softly. Jared merely nodded.
"I must be going now," the other woman said.
"Okay," the man said. "Thanks for the information. I'll be sure to let him know."
The woman leaves and Jared looks back and forth between the man and the woman in confusion. Finally he gives up and decides to do a little exploring as the sun is finishing setting. Before Jared leaves, the man tells him, "Stay away from where Jessie took the Spearow. You might not like the reaction she'll give you."
Jared nods, not even planning on complying with that request. Jared knows when he's in trouble more than he can handle and here if he got a good head start, he could easily make his way out. He had anyway fulfilled his promise to Ash. He could leave now and Ash wouldn't know where he was.
Jared sees the woman that had been called Jessie walk away from the tower that she had taken the Spearow to muttering to herself. Jared then made his way to the tower and silently opened the door. What he saw was very shocking to Jared.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Arcanine begins to run across the fields and hills in search of where it knows the woman that he loves is. Never has he felt her be so far from him. Yet, he doesn't feel that she's in any danger that he can help. In fact he feels that she's still in danger, but also in a place where she is safe. He knows that he'll only make it there at best by midnight. At worst - dawn. The time when he knows nothing afterwards.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jared doesn't know what to say. The woman that had freed him from the tree as well as the one who he had seen in the barn was laying under a blanket not wearing anything on the parts that Jared could see. He also couldn't help but notice an arrow jetting out from the top of her breast. How can this be? Where's the Spearow? Jared wonders. Could she be the Spearow?
"Did Ash. . ?" the woman starts, as she leans a little bit up.
"No," Jared replies.
The woman rests back down, visibly relieved. "There was a battle," Jared begins." "And the Spearow was hit." Jared thinks a little bit more before he finishes, "But you know that; don't you?"
The woman nods. Jared can't believe what he heard. How can all this be happening? Jared is still in mid-thought when Jessie returns. Jared spins around when he feels Jessie grab his shoulder. "GET OUT!" Jessie screams.
Jared flees desperately not wanting anything else to happen to him other than being screamed at. As Jared moves back to where the man and the Meowth was, he thinks over what he now knows. That's why she was so important to him, Jared realized.
As Jared sits down next to the man, the man comments, "So you saw her, huh?" Jared nods.
"I'm Jared," Jared replies, trying to avoid the question.
"I'm James," the man says, letting Jared not answer the question.
The silence goes on for a few moments, until eventually Jared breaks it. "That- that Arcanine, is somehow him," Jared comments. "I don't know how, but I know that it's Ash."
"Very good," James commented. Just then they hear a blood-curdling scream come from the tower where the woman and Jessie were. Jared jumps up and James rests a firm hand on his shoulder again. "It's okay. The bolt is now out of her."
Jared sits back down. There has just been too much going on that Jared didn't understand. "Who is she?" Jared asked.
"Her name is Misty. Jessie and I knew her when she was beginning to train with Ash. During that time we were part of a group called Team Rocket. We tried to catch Ash's Pikachu, but we always failed," James answered.
The Pikachu comes up and sits next to James. Apparently they've stopped trying to catch that Pikachu, Jared thinks to himself. "Who was that other woman?" Jared asked.
"Oh, she was Sabrina. She used to be the gym leader of Saffron city, but now that it's Saffron fortress, she has become a fugitive. Senzei doesn't like it when people are able to elude him. He allowed Ash to be alone because he figured that Ash would one-day return, and he had no clue where to start looking for him. Sabrina, however, was somehow much easier to track. I don't know how, but they seem to always be right behind her. Since she arrived this morning, we've left beer by the gate so that the soldiers can't blame us for not letting them in when they want to," James tells Jared.
Jared is taking all of this information up. "So, why was that woman a Spearow earlier?"
"Ah, the main problem," James sighed. "It began when Senzei first saw Misty. He was infatuated with her. He didn't expect her to love him, but he did want her to be with him. When he realized that she wouldn't leave Ash, he somehow cursed them. Basically they are forever together, but eternally apart. By day she is a Spearow and by night Ash is an Arcanine. Both are doomed to live a half-life. But, Sabrina came here to tell us about a way that the curse can be broken."
"Really?" Jared was very interested in this, against all his better judgement.
James merely nodded. "In three days, after the land is covered in snow, there will be a day without a night and a night without a day. During that moment when that occurs, Ash and Misty will both be able to confront Senzei and lift the curse. If they fail, they will not be able to break the curse."
"Well, Ash is going to Saffron fortress, alright, but he intends to kill Senzei," Jared replies.
James seems to turn a little pale. "He can't do that," he whispered. "If he kills Senzei before the curse is broken, then they can never be together again."
*
Author's Notes: Is this any good so far? I had thought that I wouldn't be able to get a fifth chapter in this, but it seems that I'll be able to. I actually thought that this would cover more, but I guess that my details took up more room than I anticipated. Anyway, what does anyone think about the twist of fate in this? If you've seen Ladyhawke, you know how I'll have this end, but if you haven't, then it'll be a good surprise for you. Although, I am doing things differently than in the movie, but at least, I'm good at rearranging things. ^_^ Anyway, please look forward to next chapter.
*
Jared looks over the rocks that hide him from clear view. He had let his Diglett out a little while ago, so that his Diglett could get out of the pokeball for a little while. He sees a campsite of a Ponyta patrol. They don't seem to have guns this time, Jared realizes. Why are they using crossbows? Jared decides that he'd rather not find out and as he begins to move, he realizes that something has just come up from behind. He uses his hand to feel if there's anything there and he feels a soldier's uniform. It took a moment for it to register in Jared's mind, but when he tried to bolt, the soldier picked him up by the back of his shirt and dragged him over to the campsite.
Jared was cursing his luck. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Jared thought to himself. The man he was brought up to turned out to be a woman. Jared wasn't too surprised by that fact because he's seen women in the ranks of the officers, though not as many. "Where is Ash?" the woman demanded.
"When I left him, he was riding south," Jared told the woman.
"If that's the case, then we ride north," a soldier said, clearly not believing what Jared told them.
"It's not polite to assume that someone's lying when you've only just met them," Jared replied, matter of factly.
"It doesn't matter," the woman snapped, seemingly both at the soldier and Jared. "He was found on the northwest side of our camp. We'll head northwest."
"But I'm telling the truth!" Jared cried to no avail. It was clear that no one was going to believe him. Jared was tied and gagged quickly. The soldiers mounted up, but they heard a sound in the distance. A rider was on their way here. It's him, Jared thought to himself. The soldiers quickly mounted. Then they hid behind their tents. Crossbows were loaded and positioned towards where the rider was coming from. The west. Suddenly a Spearow flew up. Jared recognized the Spearow as Ash's, but none of the soldiers knew about the Spearow. However, Jared realized that there was some real big importance to the Spearow as it whispered through the soldiers that under no condition are they to harm the Spearow. If they did, they would answer directly to Senzei. Jared knew that something was very special about either that specific Spearow or just Spearow's in general to Senzei.
Jared took advantage of the guards not paying attention to him, since they sat him behind a soldier on a Ponyta. Jared moved his arms from behind him and over his head. Jared had to admit that it hurt really bad, but he knew that he's endured more pain before. Jared begins to take his gag out of his mouth, but the soldier in front of him turned around and saw Jared trying to untie himself. The soldier swung at Jared and Jared ducked to the side, but the motion caused Jared to fall from the Ponyta with an audible thud. As Jared landed, his Diglett appeared and helped Jared take his bindings off. In moments, Jared was untied and he asked his Diglett to dig holes under the Ponytas.
As Jared looked around, he heard Ash's Rapidash rear up and cry out. The soldiers then started to ride towards Ash. As soon as he was in sight of them, Ash shot two of the soldiers right off the bat. The soldiers fired their crossbows and only one shot hit Ash's Rapidash. Though, the soldiers were reloading quickly. Although all of the soldiers had crossbows, some of the soldiers had began to charge Ash. Ash swung his rifle and knocked a soldier off his Ponyta and was killed by Rapidash's hooves. Ash threw the gun at the next soldier and swiftly drew his sword. Jared saw one of the soldiers aim for Ash, but Jared's Diglett had finished making a hole and the Ground shifted under the Ponyta and the crossbow shot high. Jared watched in horror as Ash's Spearow was hit in its breast. Jared started in disbelief. Ash seemed to have seen it as well.
The soldiers realize what's happened and the woman calls the retreat. Jared can tell that she doesn't want to be around to see if the Spearow is dead or not. Jared runs over to Ash. "Get a clean cloth from my bags," Ash orders Jared.
Jared quickly complies and brings over a piece of coarse cotton. Ash wraps his Spearow in it gently. "Come on, Ash," Jared tells Ash. "The poor things done for."
"Don't you say that!" Ash snapped, angrily. Jared takes a look at Ash's eyes and sees anger, fear, and despair combined in his eyes. Ash gently picks up the Spearow and walks over to his Rapidash. Jared sees his Diglett pop up and returns it to its pokeball. As Jared gets to Rapidash, Ash's Pikachu shows up. "Get on my Rapidash," Ash orders Jared.
Jared is startled. Is he that desperate to wants me to take his Spearow? Jared wonders. "But-" Jared starts, but is silenced with a warning look by Ash. What is so important about this Spearow, Jared wonders, as he mounts Rapidash.
"Ride to the Rock tunnel. On the way you'll find a crumbling western style castle. The occupants of that castle will help. Ride hard. You have until sunset to succeed. If you fail, the execution that you would have received at Saffron Fortress would seem desirable. Ride hard. If anything happens, I will exact payment out of your hide," Ash growls at Jared. Jared is just looking back at Ash in fear. Does he really mean that? "Pikachu, go with him."
"Pika," Pikachu replied solemnly.
I guess that he really means to send me. Why? Why won't he take his Spearow? Jared faced Ash and saw his eyes filled with despair. He can't, Jared realized. For whatever reason, he can't take his Spearow. Jared nods his acceptance of the task. "Ride hard, ride fast," Ash tells Jared firmly.
Ash slaps Rapidash's rump and Rapidash takes off. Jared's mind races with all the information that he learned. Something is very important about this Spearow, Jared thought to himself. What that is, I don't know. The scenery was flying by Jared as he rode Rapidash across the land. He held the Spearow close to him and hoped that he would be able to make it to where Ash wanted him to go.
Jared saw the day go by as he rode through the countryside. Before he knew it, it was late afternoon and he was before a ruined western style castle. "We're almost there," Jared said to the Spearow. Jared tried to touch the Spearow's chin with his finger, but was bitten instead. "Well there's gratitude for you," Jared complains to no one in particular.
Jared rides up to the gates, which seem really sturdy although the rest of the castle doesn't seem like that. "Hello!" Jared calls up to the ruin.
"Whadda ya want?!" a voice cries from the top of the gate.
"I was told to bring this injured Spearow here!" Jared replied.
"Take it to a Pokecenter then!" the voice cried back.
"It's dying!" Jared cried.
"Then let me eat it!" the voice shouted back.
"This isn't an ordinary Spearow!" Jared cried, hoping that whoever was speaking would realize that he was going to get in one way or another.
"Oh!?" the voice called out.
"This Spearow belongs to a man named Ash Ketchum," Jared called out.
Pikachu jumped in front of Jared and cried out, "Pika Pika pi pi chu chu, Pikachu!"
Jared was surprised at this. "Okay fine! I'll get the gate opened," the voice replied.
Soon the gate was rising up. Jared then rode Rapidash into the gate. Jared looked at the sun. It was dusk. He fulfilled his orders from Ash. Whoever is in here will be able to take care of the Spearow. As Rapidash stopped, Jared noticed that a Meowth was the one who had been calling down to him. How is a Meowth going to help, Jared thought wearily. However three people walk out from within one of the doors into a part of the castle that doesn't seem to be so much in ruin. There were two women and one man.
One of the women took the Spearow from Jared's hands and carefully took it over to another place in the castle. Jared started to follow, but the man rested a firm hand on his shoulder. "Let her take care of it," the man told Jared softly. Jared merely nodded.
"I must be going now," the other woman said.
"Okay," the man said. "Thanks for the information. I'll be sure to let him know."
The woman leaves and Jared looks back and forth between the man and the woman in confusion. Finally he gives up and decides to do a little exploring as the sun is finishing setting. Before Jared leaves, the man tells him, "Stay away from where Jessie took the Spearow. You might not like the reaction she'll give you."
Jared nods, not even planning on complying with that request. Jared knows when he's in trouble more than he can handle and here if he got a good head start, he could easily make his way out. He had anyway fulfilled his promise to Ash. He could leave now and Ash wouldn't know where he was.
Jared sees the woman that had been called Jessie walk away from the tower that she had taken the Spearow to muttering to herself. Jared then made his way to the tower and silently opened the door. What he saw was very shocking to Jared.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Arcanine begins to run across the fields and hills in search of where it knows the woman that he loves is. Never has he felt her be so far from him. Yet, he doesn't feel that she's in any danger that he can help. In fact he feels that she's still in danger, but also in a place where she is safe. He knows that he'll only make it there at best by midnight. At worst - dawn. The time when he knows nothing afterwards.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jared doesn't know what to say. The woman that had freed him from the tree as well as the one who he had seen in the barn was laying under a blanket not wearing anything on the parts that Jared could see. He also couldn't help but notice an arrow jetting out from the top of her breast. How can this be? Where's the Spearow? Jared wonders. Could she be the Spearow?
"Did Ash. . ?" the woman starts, as she leans a little bit up.
"No," Jared replies.
The woman rests back down, visibly relieved. "There was a battle," Jared begins." "And the Spearow was hit." Jared thinks a little bit more before he finishes, "But you know that; don't you?"
The woman nods. Jared can't believe what he heard. How can all this be happening? Jared is still in mid-thought when Jessie returns. Jared spins around when he feels Jessie grab his shoulder. "GET OUT!" Jessie screams.
Jared flees desperately not wanting anything else to happen to him other than being screamed at. As Jared moves back to where the man and the Meowth was, he thinks over what he now knows. That's why she was so important to him, Jared realized.
As Jared sits down next to the man, the man comments, "So you saw her, huh?" Jared nods.
"I'm Jared," Jared replies, trying to avoid the question.
"I'm James," the man says, letting Jared not answer the question.
The silence goes on for a few moments, until eventually Jared breaks it. "That- that Arcanine, is somehow him," Jared comments. "I don't know how, but I know that it's Ash."
"Very good," James commented. Just then they hear a blood-curdling scream come from the tower where the woman and Jessie were. Jared jumps up and James rests a firm hand on his shoulder again. "It's okay. The bolt is now out of her."
Jared sits back down. There has just been too much going on that Jared didn't understand. "Who is she?" Jared asked.
"Her name is Misty. Jessie and I knew her when she was beginning to train with Ash. During that time we were part of a group called Team Rocket. We tried to catch Ash's Pikachu, but we always failed," James answered.
The Pikachu comes up and sits next to James. Apparently they've stopped trying to catch that Pikachu, Jared thinks to himself. "Who was that other woman?" Jared asked.
"Oh, she was Sabrina. She used to be the gym leader of Saffron city, but now that it's Saffron fortress, she has become a fugitive. Senzei doesn't like it when people are able to elude him. He allowed Ash to be alone because he figured that Ash would one-day return, and he had no clue where to start looking for him. Sabrina, however, was somehow much easier to track. I don't know how, but they seem to always be right behind her. Since she arrived this morning, we've left beer by the gate so that the soldiers can't blame us for not letting them in when they want to," James tells Jared.
Jared is taking all of this information up. "So, why was that woman a Spearow earlier?"
"Ah, the main problem," James sighed. "It began when Senzei first saw Misty. He was infatuated with her. He didn't expect her to love him, but he did want her to be with him. When he realized that she wouldn't leave Ash, he somehow cursed them. Basically they are forever together, but eternally apart. By day she is a Spearow and by night Ash is an Arcanine. Both are doomed to live a half-life. But, Sabrina came here to tell us about a way that the curse can be broken."
"Really?" Jared was very interested in this, against all his better judgement.
James merely nodded. "In three days, after the land is covered in snow, there will be a day without a night and a night without a day. During that moment when that occurs, Ash and Misty will both be able to confront Senzei and lift the curse. If they fail, they will not be able to break the curse."
"Well, Ash is going to Saffron fortress, alright, but he intends to kill Senzei," Jared replies.
James seems to turn a little pale. "He can't do that," he whispered. "If he kills Senzei before the curse is broken, then they can never be together again."
*
Author's Notes: Is this any good so far? I had thought that I wouldn't be able to get a fifth chapter in this, but it seems that I'll be able to. I actually thought that this would cover more, but I guess that my details took up more room than I anticipated. Anyway, what does anyone think about the twist of fate in this? If you've seen Ladyhawke, you know how I'll have this end, but if you haven't, then it'll be a good surprise for you. Although, I am doing things differently than in the movie, but at least, I'm good at rearranging things. ^_^ Anyway, please look forward to next chapter.