Note to FF.net readers: There may still be editing for grammar and structure to this story.

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The Road (Revised)
by TG

(Part Five of Fate's Game)


"Death is the Checkered Flag. Some of us race to it, and others limp to it. No matter what, though, we all hit it having gone a few laps around the track. Sometimes the best laps are the last ones."

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Gasglow typed at the computer, its soft glow reflected in his eyes. "So it seems."

Cassidy blinked. She wiped away some of the sleepiness. "What did you say?" She kicked Butch's left boot, causing him to jump.

Gasglow looked from the screen to Cassidy. "Your report, about the past three weeks. You've done a rather fine job of building a solid friendship with those two."

Cassidy leaned back in her chair. "Oh.. I guess." She contemplated the floor in silence.

Gasglow clicked his mouse several times. "Welp, that's done."

Cassidy looked up from the floor. "What?"

"That stage of the mission is complete. You've both done better than expected. I'm surprised you two didn't even ask..."

Butch and Cassidy looked at each other in confusion, then at Gasglow. "Ask what?" they questioned in unison.

"About the mission, why, when you'd be done. You've completely dispelled your hard feelings about them."

Butch coughed.

"Well, most of them at least. Some wounds take longer to heal. But now that you've successfully completed that stage, now it's onto the next."

Cassidy folded her arms, a look of concern crossing her face.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. Now that it's over with, that doesn't invalidate what you've done. Unless her birthday party was just a charade?"

Cassidy looked at Butch. "I don't know.. was it?"

Butch shrugged. "I thought it was pretty real."

Gasglow nodded. "You two have exceeded my expectations. Now comes the hard part."

Both Rockets' eyebrows rose in curiosity.

"That Spearow, you still have it?"

Cassidy placed a hand nervously on the Pokéball. "Yeah, I still have it. I hate it."

Gasglow nodded and leaned back in his chair. "I see. You have concerns?"

"It's evil."

Cassidy looked at Butch. "You took the words right out of my mouth.."

Gasglow nodded, concentrating on some papers stacked on the desk. "It's powerful, and extremely nasty. I trust it has started listening to your commands?"

Cassidy nodded. "Barely. It'll attack what I want, but getting it to stop..."

He nodded again. "Now for Stage 2. You know where Jessie and James are heading, right?"

Both Rockets nodded.

"Good. Intelligence puts three Pokémon trainers near them. One of these Pokémon trainers has become a threat. You're going to arrange an accident that will kill him." Gasglow clicked his mouse several times, glancing at the two Rockets for a reaction.

Cassidy looked at Butch, then back at Gasglow. "Wouldn't it be easier to just steal his Pokémon?"

Gasglow shook his head. "You won't be able to beat him. He has an extremely high-level Pikachu, and several very powerful evolved and unevolved Pokémon. The other two are ex-Gym Leaders, and have powerful Pokémon at their disposal."

The two Rockets looked at each other wearily, then back at Gasglow.

"Ah, so you remember them." Gasglow looked at the clock on his computer.

9:50 AM.

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Cassidy glanced at Butch. "What?"

Butch shrugged, getting into the passenger seat.

Cassidy started the SUV and began to pull away from the building. She glanced at the Rocket, who was being more silent than usual. "Nervous?"

Butch nodded.

"I'm not too crazy about this either." Cassidy spied his surprise. "Killing little kids isn't why I signed up with Team Rocket."

Butch nodded, again.

Cassidy sighed. "These deep conversations we have are touching.." She glanced at the clock display of the radio.

10:15 AM.

-=-=-=-=-

Gasglow watched the two Rockets drive off, then closed the blinds. "They're gone."

A form moved from the shadows at the back of the office. The voice was feminine, yet husky. "The Spearow I gave you...?"

Gasglow sighed, then hopped back into his chair. "It's on the way there now."

"You are certain they will follow through?"

The small man nodded. "They will do everything according to plan. They may not like it, but they will try to complete their mission."

"You will do nothing to interfere?"

Gasglow's eyes narrowed. "I will not interfere. I gave you my word."

Silence prevailed.

Gasglow clicked the mouse on his computer several times. "You won't-"

"I won't forget Giovanni."

Gasglow studied the intruder. "Why don't you just kill the lot of them yourself?"

"Against the rules. It would draw too much attention to us."

Gasglow spied the hint of metal. "This isn't direct intervention?"

"Direct intervention would be if I stole an atomic bomb and detonated it above their heads. Having interfered in their deaths, they would just shuffle off to Limbo. Then I would get to spend a few decades filling out lots of paperwork. Nasty stuff."

Gasglow watched his intruder carefully. "Yeah, I guess."

The intruder smiled to herself. "Thanks, Gaz."

Gasglow looked down at the papers covering his desk and chided himself for ignoring paperwork. "Speaking of shuffling off, don't you.." He looked up to find himself speaking to an empty office. "Just remember our deal, Mya." He glanced again at the clock.

10:20 AM.

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"Hurry up, James!"

James looked at the gray duffel bag. "I'm done." He hefted the duffel bag over his shoulder, then nearly facefaulted when he saw two huge suitcases.

Jessie smiled at his reaction. "A girl has to be ready for any fashion emergencies."

Meowth leaned against the door, watching his team-mates. A small bag was wrapped almost gladiator-style around the feline Pokémon. "I' been waitin' 'ere all mornin'! How many fashion emergincies ya gonna go through!?" Just as he was about to duck one of Jessie's suitcases, the door slammed open, hurtling him onto the couch.

"I heard you three were leaving! Didn't want you sneaking out on me..." The green-haired woman straightened out the white uniform she was wearing. Her hair was neck-length, and her aqua-green eyes scanned the apartment. "You wreaked my flat!"

Jessie put down the suitcase and folded her arms. "What do you mean, Ann? We cleaned it."

Meowth leapt off the couch. "Wat's dis we? Me 'n' James-" The cat Pokémon was silenced when a large duffel bag landed on top of him.

Ann put her hands on her hips and spied James. "You didn't touch my room, did you?"

James closed a door, smiling nervously. "I found that toy you were missing. Starscreech?"

Ann ran over and hugged him, eliciting a low growl from Jessie. "Thanks hon', you're still on my Christmas list." She moved back and looked at Jessie. "Alan sends his best for you three. He was sorry he couldn't make it, but the boss has us pretty busy." She then looked at her digital watch. "Damn, I better hurry, or I'll be even more late than I usually am."

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James closed the hatchback on the Jeep, then got in on the passenger side. "Are you sure the Boss meant Pallet?"

"The Boss was very clear on our destination. You should pay more attention." Jessie started the Jeep and put it into gear.

Meowth sat in the back seat, watching the two humans. Occasionally, he looked inside his bag.

James nodded slowly, lost in thought. "Uh, Jessie... did we forget anything?"

Jessie put the Jeep in neutral. She looked behind her at the bags, then at Meowth, who seemed strangely quiet. "Everything looks to be.." She put a hand to the collar of her uniform, then looked back at Meowth. "Here?"

Meowth pointed at his paw, "And dis?"

Jessie gingerly slipped the black glove off her left hand, and sighed. "Yes.." She then noticed James blushing, and smiled. "Everything's just right." She slipped the other glove off, and laid it on the dash, then put the vehicle in gear and began driving.

James smiled and looked back at Meowth. The feline Pokémon patted his bag and nodded. James then glanced at the clock on the dash.

10:48 AM.

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Cassidy studied the trio. "There they are, right on time."

Butch leaned against the Explorer. "Who's gonna do the deed?"

She looked down at the Pokéball on her belt. "I'll do it. I've had the most training time with this thing. Just be ready to finish them."

Butch smirked. "With Jessie driving, do you really-"

Cassidy growled, "Just do it!" She watched Butch get into the Ford Explorer and drive off. 'I'm glad I didn't eat breakfast, I think I'm gonna be sick.' She looked down at her watch.

11:09 AM.

"Dammit Jess, today's not the day to be on time..."

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Gasglow looked down at the device in his hand. It was a small, round button, blood-red and slate-gray. It's resemblance to a Pokéball was eerie. A bright-red flame was painted over the center where an emitter would go.

"Contemplating your deal?"

He looked up to see a hooded individual sitting in one of the chairs. "You should try using the door more often. What do you want, I thought you had an appointment?"

"Perhaps you mistake me for someone else?" The voice was unmistakably feminine.

Gasglow put the pin down. "What are you talking-"

"I'm from the other side of the fence, so to speak."

Gasglow tried to get a look at the woman's face, but the hood obscured her features. "So you're a...?"

The figure nodded.

"How do I know?"

The figure pulled out a round pin, almost identical to the one on his desk. Except it was bright-silver and creme-white. Two white feathery wings were inscribed over its center. "I believe she gave you something a bit like this."

Gasglow looked from the pin to the figure. "What do you want?"

The figure put away the pin. "I've come here at the behest of a friend of yours."

Gasglow looked at the figure suspiciously. "What friend?"

"You met her a long time ago. She thought you were funny.. for your size."

Gasglow sat back in his chair with an expression bordering on sadness and surprise. "She... how do you know her? And why would you know somebody from 'the other side of the fence'?"

The figure cocked its head.

"I already met her. She's why I'm doing this."

The figure pulled back the hood of her cloak.

Gasglow slid off the chair and walked around. He studied her face, every line, every contour. "It.. it can't be."

Small streaks of gray penetrated the long purple hair. But her sky-blue eyes still sparkled with life. She smiled at the small man. "It's good to meet you, Gasglow..."

Gasglow took her hand, smiling. "Mya, wha-"

"I'm not the Myamoto that you've met, or even the one you knew, Gasglow."

Gasglow looked at her again. "What do you mean, you look..."

She squeezed his hand. "I'm not from this dimension."

Gasglow pulled his hand away in agitation. "What does that mean!?"

"I'm from another dimension. A place different from this one."

He walked back around the desk, angry. "So, care to explain the visit, Mya, or whomever you are? This certainly isn't a social call..."

"I came here against orders, Gaz. What you're doing is wrong. I know that you have feelings for me.. for her.. but she isn't doing this for you. She only wants-"

Gasglow cut her off. "I know that, I know she wants them to die. But she can offer me things I can't get on my own. The first of them is Giovanni Sakaki's head and the end of Team Rocket -- before it puts the whole world in jeopardy. If you haven't noticed, she's going against the grain as well."

Myamoto stood up. "You don't understand, Gaz! Even she doesn't understand. This is exactly what her superiors want, a ready-made team of powerful, vengeful Rockets."

He sat back in his chair. "You're right, I don't understand. I don't want to understand. Why don't you just swoop in and stop her?"

Myamoto shook her head. "It doesn't work that way Gaz, and you know it. You've sent in Butch and Cassidy to do this, and they're mortals. I can't interfere."

"So we're back to where we started." He looked at the clock. 11:15 AM. "You tell me if I don't stop this, evil will triumph in the grand celestial game. But if I stop this, eventually my world will be destroyed or taken over by Team Rocket. I'm willing to lose my soul for the lives of the innocents here."

Myamoto smiled. "Gaz, you have the heart of a lion. I'm not sure there is anything I can do that will convince you to stop this. I can't offer you Giovanni's death, or Team Rocket's destruction. All I can do is ask you to prevent my daughter from dying here."

Gasglow studied her face, something about what she said struck him strangely. "What do you mean 'prevent my daughter from dying here'? She's died in other places, other dimensions?"

Myamoto sighed. "I didn't mean it to come out that way. But you're right, Gasglow. She has died in other dimensions."

Gasglow rose from his chair slowly, looking down at the pin the other Myamoto had given him. "Tell me how many."

Myamoto bit her lip, deep in thought. She finally looked back into Gasglow's eyes. "Gaz... I don't know how many. I tried to count, but after six.."

Gasglow closed his eyes, brow knit in frustration and anger. "This isn't right. If what you're saying is true, then someone's playing a sick game. Why? That's what I want to know; why her?"

Myamoto shook her head. "I don't know, Gaz."

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11:17 AM.

Cassidy looked back up from her watch. "So far so good Jess, a few minutes more.." She scanned the road as far as she could see. Then she saw it, coming down the road. Jessie was driving the Jeep, probably speeding. There was a peel of thunder in the distance, as storm clouds gathered. She rose from her crouch, skin paled. "Dammit, Jess.."

She picked the Pokéball from her belt and threw it. "Spearow, GO!"

"Speeeaaaarrrr..." The bird immediately began to scan its surroundings for targets.

Cassidy pointed at a small camp down a small hill from her. "Spearow, swoop down and attack that Pikachu. Drive it and its trainer onto the road!"

The Spearow turned in the air, soaring downward toward a bush.

Cassidy looked up at the darkening skies. "If there's anybody listening... I.. I'm sorry." She threw the Pokéball down at the ground, where it promptly broke in two. Then she turned, and started to walk away.

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Misty looked around the campsite. "Ash, where's Pikachu?"

Ash grinned and pointed at a bush. "He's over in that bush getting berries. See, there's his tail."

All three Trainers laughed as the electric rodent's tail twitched sticking out from the bush.

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Gasglow opened his eyes and sighed. He picked up the pin and threw it into a trash can. "I'm sorry, Mya... for this mess I've gotten your little girl in. But even if I wanted to, there's no way I can stop it! According to that other-"

Myamoto rose and held out her hand over the desk. "Give me your hand, Gaz. I'll take you there."

Gasglow raised an eyebrow. "What about direct intervention, and the rules?"

"She gave you some insider information. Now I'm going to even the playing field."

He took her hand and the two vanished.

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"It's nineteen past the hour, and you're listening to the Top 20 Hits on 103.3 WGSV. Here's #3 with Britney Spears singing 'Opps, I Did It Again'."

"James, turn that off, I'm begging you." Jessie flinched in the driver's seat as the Britney Spears song began playing.

"Sorry." He turned off the radio, then smiled and let his hand rest on Jessie's shoulder. "Let's stop soon, Jessie."

Jessie smiled. "That's not such a bad idea, James. We still have that expense account, and it'd be a shame to let it go to waste."

Meowth grinned to himself. 'Maybe I'll getta room ta myself..'

Jessie slowly slid James' hand to her leg. She smiled when he blushed.

James casually looked back to the road. Fear washed over him. "WHO IS THAT!?"

Jessie returned her sight to the road and saw a flash of purple hair. Her whole body tensed.

"MOM!?"

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End of "The Road"

Based on the original works...
"End of the Road" by Anni Ruecroft
&
"Archangel" by R. A. Stott

Characters from Pokémon anime (C) 1996, 2001 Nintendo of America, Inc. & GameFreak, Ltd.
Characters & situations from "Archangel" (C) 2000 Denivan Media Services, Inc. - Used with permission.
Situations from "End of the Road" (C) 2000 Anni Ruecroft - Used with permission.