Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
A/N: WAH! Sorry I haven't updated in such a long time -_-; School's been killer this year. Especially math class ^^; sorry to all of you math people out there. Well here it is!! If you're confused, just ask! This chappies a bit confusin'. Thanks!
~ Kasagi Onaso ~
It WaS
* Mind Games *
Gary sat intently as Duplica and Ash each took turns explaining the best they could what was happening. He was good a listener enough to not talk as they feverishly waved their hands and blushed and frowned and almost cried as they made their way through the whole story.
"Oh," he said once they were done.
"'Oh'?" repeated Duplica, her hands dropping against her thighs. "Is that all you can say? 'Oh'?"
"What do you want me to say?" Gary asked more calmly than he would have normally. The pair stared at him in wonder.
"Well," said Ash slowly. "I guess that's okay."
"'Oh'?" squealed Duplica, throwing up her hands.
"You want me to say 'oh, I'm sorry you two kissed in front of her and you didn't know it'? 'Oh, I'm terribly sorry you two split up'? Oh, sorry I can't change your past and make everything right for you again'? What is this, Gary is God Day?"
"Of course not," Duplica snapped, flushing at how blunt he was being. "No."
"Well then." He sat back and propped his dirty sneaks on the plastic table, spraying the surface with caked bits of mud. "I rest my case." Duplica wearily took a seat and Ash gingerly laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Gary…"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think we should look for her?" Duplica whispered, putting her face in her hands.
"Naw," Gary said, putting his hands under his head and leaning back against the chair. "She's tough. She'll come back when she's cooled off. Don't worry."
"But should we go to the HQ while she's gone?" asked Ash. Gary squinted one eye at him as he thought.
"I dunno," he said, shrugging one shoulder and sitting forward. "Let's see… Where's the map… Uh-oh…"
"That doesn't sound good," Duplica mumbled, her voice muffled by her hands.
"It's not. Ash, do you have the map?"
"No."
"Duplica? Tell me you have the map, okay?"
"I have the map."
"Really?"
"No." Gary smacked the table with a loud curse and then began laughing aloud. Duplica and Ash stared at him with bewilderment.
"Goddamn. She may be a bitch, Ash, but she's not stupid."
"Misty? You think Misty took it?" asked Duplica incredulously.
"You bet I do." Gary leaned forward. "The map isn't here. I'm sure of it. And I'm also sure Misty took it." Gary laughed again and whistled low. "Well we better make our way to the HQ."
"But Misty has the map," started Ash but Gary held a hand up.
"Hey," he said, smiling. "I'm not too stupid either. I'll recognize stuff and get us there, okay?"
"Uh…" stuttered Duplica.
"Okay," Ash said firmly, not bothering to cast a confirming glance at Duplica who swallowed deeply.
"All right," said Gary, rubbing his hands together and beaming. "Let's get started."
"What have you gotten us into, Ash Ketchum?" Duplica growled in Ash's ear as they trailed behind Gary. Ash chuckled nervously and shrugged a shoulder.
"Who knows," he muttered and they walked through the doors and to Viridian Forest.
*******
It was resting before her. The tall HQ, looming almost above the trees, its evergreen roof blending in with the leaves, was finally in front of her. She stood in its shadows and stared at in triumph for a moment. Her chest felt funny and tight but she crept forward and leaned against the building.
This was it.
*******
"Dude, you so totally blew it."
"I blew it? You didn't have to say all that stuff to me, Brock-o, and you know that!"
"You bought it up!"
"…So!" Brock Slate sighed and leaned his forehead against the cool prison wall. It was dark and damp, being so near to nighttime, and he longed for a blanket and a bed. "Whatever," Richie muttered and stalked off towards the other end of the cell. Brock glared into the dark, towards the spot he thought Richie was, and then turned back to the hallway.
"'Night, Richie," he snapped finally and pulled his legs beside him. The hallway was the only partially light place in the whole 'dungeon' but Brock could hardly see his hand in front of him.
"Hello?" His head snapped up and soon Richie was at the bars as well, still on the other side of the cell. "Hello?"
"Who's there?"
"It's me. Erika!"
"Erika… The Gym Leader Erika?" asked Richie.
"No the other Erika," snapped Brock.
"Jeez, man," muttered Richie. Five pale fingers glowed in the dim light as they encircled bars of the cell across from theirs.
"I know your voice," she said softly. "I remember it. When you were a Gym Leader… and your father…" He caught pieces and parts of her story as her voice seemed to get softer and softer.
"Erika," he said after a while, not know whether or not he cut her off but not caring either. "We need to get out of here."
"I know," she said. "There are others in here. Other Leaders."
"Who?" asked Richie.
"Blaine and Lt. Serge."
"Whoohoo! We got muscles!" cheered Richie. Erika laughed lightly, her eyes glinting in the pale light.
"We don't know what to do," she said sadly. "We've tried everything."
"Well," said Brock. "We hope our friends are coming." His gut clenched with guilt and he scooted into the shadows as Richie and Erika continued to talk.
*******
"It's starting to get dark," whispered Duplica, almost reaching out to grasp Ash's arm but thought better of it.
"Better for us," said Gary, shrugging it off. "We can sneak around the woods without them seeing."
"Or it could be vice-versa," snapped Duplica.
"Always the pessimist," said Gary, clucking his tongue and winking.
"I bet you don't even know what that means," said Duplica, glaring at him.
"I do so."
"Do not."
"Wait. Shut up." They blinked at Ash. His face was stern in the peach light of the sun and his eyes were half-closed with thought. "Come closer to the Center. Listen."
"Another Leader has been taken under the reign of Team Rocket," said the news reporter, shuffling papers in front of him. He looked solemnly into the camera before continuing. "Leader Sabrina of the Saffron Gym was taken just this afternoon around five-thirty. Tracks have been discovered and are being investigated right now. What is Team Rocket doing with the Leaders? Where are they hiding? We hope all of this will be answered before all of them are taken. Until later, goodnight."
"Sabrina?" gasped Duplica.
"That makes four," said Ash solemnly. "Blaine, Lt. Serge, Erika and now Sabrina." Gary sighed.
"Those are good questions. What could Team Rocket want with Gym Leaders?"
"Since when have they been successful?" asked Duplica incredulously. The group lapsed into silence as the questions were thought over and over, an answer never seeming to arise.
"Let's go," Gary said after a couple minutes, breaking the glassed silence. "It'll only be a while until it's pitch black." Duplica shivered, wishing Misty was there with them, and followed them into the woods.
*******
Darkness was settling over the HQ, deepening the shadows in the moonlight. Misty had been sitting there, studying the map, alongside the wall as she waited for the moon to shine in the clearing.
Now, the light shone clear across the clearing, making the grass seem chrome, and she stood. But suddenly, the thudding of footsteps and muffled cries broke through the night. Misty frantically searched somewhere to hide and hid in some juniper bushes near to where she was standing.
"This is a great plan," snickered one Rocket as they appeared beside the bush. They held someone down as they sat.
"Yeah," agreed the other. "We'll scare them out of their minds."
"Sabrina's got some tricks us her sleeve she wants to show us, doesn't she?" asked the first and the two laughed as the woman between them glowed with a purple aura, her eyes flashing gold.
"Remember Boss has your pokémon," said the second.
"And your Gym," said the first. And they laughed as her aura died quickly and her eyes closed. They pulled her up and yanked her into the woods.
Misty waited until their laughs were only imagination to breathe normally. What were they going to do with Sabrina?
That didn't matter now. Where was Richie and Brock?
*******
Richie rubbed the growing stubble on his chin as Erika continued to talk.
"There's a Houndour that comes in here every day," she whispered across the dusty pathway. "He has the keys in his mouth. His masters tell him to sit just out of reach outside our cell and if we come too close, he growls." She scooted closer to the bars. Her dusty green Sakura-embroidered kimono was now visible in the light, her pale pink obi loose around her waist.
"That's cruel," muttered Richie. He was now counting down the minutes until Ash and Gary would burst through the door, Duplica timid but ready behind them.
"We've got a little surprise for your friends," said a Rocket and sent a sturdy little Houndour trotting down the pathway. He stared into each cell with dull eyes, the keys swinging in his mouth.
"Let us out!" someone called from down the hall. The Rocket laughed and laughed before turning and slamming the door shut.
"Gimme a stone, Brock," whispered Richie. He held out his hand to Brock, his eyes on the approaching Houndour.
"Richie…"
"Just gimme a stone!" snapped Richie. A stone, white with dust, was slapped harshly into the soft of Richie's palm but Richie cradled it to him.
"What are you doing?" whispered Erika, eyes also on the Houndour.
"We're breaking out," Richie replied softly and crouched down to wait for the Houndour to approach.
*******
As they entered Viridian, something was wrong. Each of them looked around suspiciously as a fine mist rose above the earth. Duplica shivered as the pale mist swirled around her ankles and squeezed in-between Ash and Gary.
"Be on the lookout," whispered Ash, dimming his light. Gary followed suit beside him. Duplica bit down hard on her finger to keep from screaming as something moved in the mist. She watched in horror as a man began to walk through the mist, cloaked in nothing but black. He wore a black ski mask and in his hand was a knife.
Her heart froze with horror.
"Duplica?" whispered Gary, nudging her shoulder. Ash, who was a couple paces ahead of the pair, stopped to stare at Duplica with concern.
"The…" she muttered and shakily pointed at the approaching figure. "T-the…" She was rigid. Everything was coming back.
Screaming…no, no…don't hear anything…but oh the screaming…
"Duplica!" said Ash sharply, trying to jerk his friend out of her trance.
"No! Not Duplica!" "Mommy!" "Get out of the way!" A loud noise…a flash of silver…
"It's him!" she cried shrilly, backing away. Her eyes were wide with fear and reminisce.
"Who, Duplica?" The man's eyes were dark as coal. His pale, pale skin shone around his eyes in raccoon circles before the eyeholes of the mask cut it off. His peeling lips were curved in a half-smile.
"Him!" she screamed, pointing. They looked where she was pointing in confusion.
"Duplica! What are you talking about? This isn't funny!" Gary hissed, reaching out to grab her arm.
"Get away!" she cried and leapt away.
You're next…yes you are…one more for the rally…
"No," she sobbed, covering her ears. "No! It's not you! They caught you!"
"What did you do!?" Laughter. Upstairs…"Hello? Police?"
"Get away!" she cried with utmost horror and turned to run into the mist.
"Duplica!" Ash screamed after the sobbing girl and began to walk forward when two people in the mist caught his eye, causing him to freeze. He felt rage, hatred and sadness rise up in him. "No…" he whispered.
*******
Misty crept across the moonlit lawn, her feet crunching slightly in the forming dew. In the corner of her eye, she could see a mist was slowly rising in the woods.
But she kept going.
The map was clutched in her hand, her hand in her pocket. Slowly, ever so slowly, she tried the side door and cursed when it failed to open. She would have to find another way in. Suddenly, a scream flew through the night and she froze in mid step, in mid breath.
Duplica?
No. They didn't have the map. They couldn't be so close already…right? She paid no heed, her ears partially waiting for another scream, and she began looking for another way in. The mist was trailing from the woods now, rolling across the chrome-grass like cotton clouds. Misty, strangely, could feel it as its tendrils wove about her legs. It was thick, moist, and peculiarly warm.
She could see the dark rectangle of another door, the back one perhaps, and made towards it when voices stopped her. She froze in horror and slowly turned to face the people belonging to the voices. Anger, bitterness and a deep sorrow rose up in her chest and erupted through her mouth in a violent cry. And she sunk to the ground as the mist seemed to laugh.
*******
Gary watched in confusion as his companion stared into the mist, a horrid look washing over his face.
"Ash?" he asked timidly. Ash turned to him, glaring with such hatred that Gary took a couple steps back. Ash looked ready to attack him. "What's wrong?" Ash's mouth twisted into a scowl.
"How could you?" he asked, pain dripping in his voice.
"Could I? I do what?" asked Gary, honestly confused.
"Don't play dumb ass with me!" Ash yelled, taking one step forward and Gary took one step back, eyes wide with fear and confusion. "You know exactly what you did!"
"Ash, I--?"
"Shut up!" Ash near-yelled and began to walk away.
"Ash? Where are you going?" Gary called after him, not daring to follow his enraged friend.
"Don't follow me!" Gary shuddered as his friend disappeared into the mist. The mist itself was thickening and beginning to feel quite choking. He stumbled half-blind with bewilderment and slid down a tree trunk. Suddenly, an oddly familiar smell flitted under his nose. The smoky mist had turned into smoke itself.
He leapt up quickly, the whites of his eyes showing with fear.
No, no! There's no time, Gary, love! Put down the toy and take your sister's hand…there's a good boy…
This couldn't be happening….not again!
Go down the stairs, my angel! Shh, shh, don't say anything! Down the stairs now…
The crackling sound was in his ears…so familiar…May's hand was clasped in his, clammy with fear, her eyes shut and her doll clutched to her jumper front.
That's good…now go out the back door, Gary! Don't look back…Mommy will be out soon…don't be afraid…don't cry, May…
Don't cry…stop… Gary sank against the trunk again, his eyes closed. Heat suddenly pressed against his eyelids and the glaring orange and yellow flames were reflected in his brown eyes.
God speed, loves. I love you always.
*******
Was he following her? She couldn't tell. The mist was too thick to answer any questions so she continued to walk quickly through the mist. Ash and Gary hadn't seen him. How could they have missed him? Black against the white mist…
Duplica…go…call…he…police…take Ditto…
She was that same little girl again, running away from everything, trying to find somewhere to hide. Ditto faithfully purring at her side and as she reached for the phone, a knife shone through the door…
No! Stop it!
Stupid girl…trying to call for help?
Was that him? Oh, God, was she scared. Everything spun around her. Yes, she pleaded. Let it end here. Through the mist, two glowing eyes watched her tortured form with sadness.
*******
He choked back tears.
'Scuse me? Mrs. Ketchum? Yes, yes, that's me. What is it, officer? I'm with the Pallet Police. It's about your husband, Mrs. Ketchum… Satoshi? Oh, God, not Sato…anything but…you're lying…Mrs. Ketchum, we're sorry to say…
And that was it. He was gone. At six years, he had lost his idol, his friend, his father. He saw him…in the mist…he was there…His head twisted from the fall…neck broken and one eye filled with blood and the other rolled back in his head.
But he was dead.
Dead…He fell from Mt. Moon…Greatest Pokémon Master ever and his life was ended by a stupid damn mistake. His foot slipped, oh God, his foot…
It had taken him a year to realize his father wasn't coming back and his mother became quiet and concealed for years after that…pain…too much pain…
Come on, Ash honey. Put on your suit. Let me tie that, baby. We're going to be late for the funeral…
He turned, yelled with pain, and punched the trunk of a tree. The rough wood split his knuckles open but his body felt numb already and he hardly felt the stinging scratches form as the bark slashed his skin. He sank to the ground, bottled up sobs racking his body.
*******
"A little closer…" muttered Richie, turning the rock in his palm nervously. "A couple steps…here we go…" The Houndour slowly passed their cell, the golden keys flashing in the pale light, and Richie threw the rock. The Houndour yelped with surprise as the rock cut its neck and dropped the keys as it sped away.
"Nice going," said Brock, clapping him on the back. Richie grinned.
"Can you reach it, Erika?" whispered Richie.
"Only just…hold on…" The sound was metallic as she pulled the ring of keys over the cobble stones, holding on by one finger. "Got it!" she hissed in triumph.
"Quick! See if you can find the right one. They'll be back soon," urged Brock, gripping the bars tightly.
"I'm trying…no…not this one…which…? Ah! I got it!" she cried triumphantly. There was a faint click and the cell door slid open. Erika rushed over and opened their cell as well. "Now what?"
"Get the other Leaders out," instructed Brock. "Richie n' me will be the distraction!"
"Wha--?"
"Come on, Richie!" said Brock cheerily, grabbing the younger man's wrist and pulling him down the hallway. Erika chuckled and began toying with the keys on the ring as she made her way towards Lt. Serge's cell.
*******
Shut up, you little wench!
Daddy no! Leave mommy alone! Don't…
He was dead! He…he wasn't…he couldn't…
Breathing was hard and Misty bent over as her Dad's form made it's way through the mist. He was tall and broad-shouldered, good-looking but aged from alcohol. His eyes were dull and unfocused and he held an empty beer bottle in his hand.
What did you say to me?!, he roared and once again, she was five. Her sisters were behind her, sobbing as she knelt by her mother's bruised body.
"Daddy…I'm sorry," Misty sobbed aloud as the figure before her raised the bottle high above his head. "Don't…don't hurt me…"
Not Misty! She's your daughter!
She's not my daughter. Look at her! Her eyes…her hair…she's so scrawny and stupid! Look at how tiny she is? She'll never amount to anything!
"You're wrong," Misty whispered and waited for the stinging blow and the tinkling sound of breaking glass.
*******
"They have Sabrina," said Lt. Serge gruffly. "I heard them. Looks like that one kid…uh…Ash, yeah Ash, and a couple friend were trying to come here and save us."
"Not like we needed it," snorted Blaine. Erika shot him a look.
"Oh, no! Misty is, like, probably with Ash!" cried Daisy and Lily burst into tears.
"Hush," said Erika gently and motioned for Lt. Serge to continue.
"Seems they're usin' her psychic abilities against the group," said Lt. Serge as Erika helped the last of the Sensational Sisters out of the cell. "They're makin' her show them their deepest fear through mind games." The three sisters froze. Even Lily stopped her crying.
"Oh, no," whispered Violet. "We, like, know what Misty's, like, is." Daisy nodded grimly and laced an arm around Lily's waist as the pink-haired girl began to cry again.
"We have to find Sabrina," said Erika grimly. "And stop them. Let's find Brock and Richie. They'll know what to do."
*******
"I don't want to do this anymore," said a violet-haired woman softly. "It's causing pain. I learned long ago that this is not the answer." The Rockets laughed loudly and one tugged her hair.
"Come on," he said, drawing his gun. "Boss' orders."
"No," she said, glowing.
"Giving up your Gym," said one. "And your pokémon to Team Rocket wouldn't be the wisest choice made here." Her aura faded slightly and a lavender tear slid down her cheek as she faced the boy whose nightmares were of fire.
*******
I left Mister Ears in there, Gary! I want Mister Ears!
A tug on the hand.
Mommy said to stay out here, May. We'll get it after the fire goes away.
No! I want him now!
You're going to make Mommy mad. Flashing lights. He was once again huddled against a tree trunk, sister clutched to his chest and a doll to her own, his eyes clouded with smoke and smoke clinging to his lungs. Siren, siren… Look, May! A fire truck!
Where's Mommy and Daddy, Gary? I don't see them.
They'll come out, May. They're just making sure everything's okay.
"Liar," Gary whispered and willed himself small again so maybe the fire wouldn't see him and go away.
I hope my stuffed Eevee is okay.
But you have a doll, May!
I know. But I like Eevee, too. Mommy said Grandpa could get me one! Do you think he could, Gary?
Shh, May.
God speed…
His mind went blank as the smoke blurring his lungs and vision until everything he saw was a dull…smoky…color…
*******
Crash!
Mommy!
Misty remembered. Mom had jumped in front to take the blow.
You killed her! You killed her! Her voice had rung out shrilly and clearly and her father's eyes had seemed to clear for a moment, realization dawning that maybe he had gone too far this time. A shard of glass pierced her arm, slicing, slicing…
No… she's breathing…look! Look, honey!
No, no, no! You killed Mommy! You did! And she had filled the air with her screams as her father stumbled out of the house and Violet rushed to call the police.
Well! Kind of long…eh… Sorry if that was a little confusing. Here's most of the angst. It shows their pasts, mostly made up by moi, and it's continued in the next chappie. Thanks everyone for reviewing! If all your questions aren't answered, you can sue me!
Tomachan: YAY! We can all sue Gi-kun!
Me: TOMA?? ::gasps:: What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in England!!
Tomachan: I'm here to haunt you!!! ::laughs evilly:: Why? Don't you want me here?
Me: Eh…
Tomachan: WELL!? ::pulls out bokken:: (hehe. Kaoru-dono in the making, ne?)
Me: Anyway, please over 70 reviews for my hard work! ::gets down on knees:: please!! It's very rewarding after a grueling day of school -_-;
Tomachan: Without her reviews, Gi-kun is very grouchy!
Me: HEY!!! Anyway, thanks everyone who reviewed! ::hugs all of you::
