Halves In Soul
By Timberwolf220
DISCLAIMER: Nope, don't own it. And never will.
Chapter Six
More mysteries and battles
Ash brushed the foliage from his face. Gary had been unusually quiet since the battle it had been nagging Ash at the back of his head from quite some while now.
Ritchie and Namida, on the other hand have been arguing all throughout.
A perfect couple in his opinion.
"So does anyone know where we are going?" Namida said grumpily. She had been having major mood swings ever since they left Team Rocket's base. Ash knew her better than anyone though. She was glad to leave the iron grip of her father, but the world outside was unknown to her. She doesn't like not being in control of the situation.
Ritchie was also in a bad mood, "No. I've never been here. I went to Hoenn after the Indigo tournament."
"Why?" Ash asked, voicing his thoughts aloud.
Ritchie gave him a melancholy smile, "I knew if we both went to the same place, we would be interfering with our goals."
"Oh," That made sense.
Gary still hadn't said anything. His brown bangs covered his eyes so Ash couldn't see his reaction to the conversation around him.
"Anyway, I know this place, so don't worry about getting lost," Ash reassured her.
Namida frowned, "You've been here before?"
Ash nodded, "On my way to the next gym, I had to pass through this forest."
Gary interrupted him, "But this time, we have to find the shrine."
Namida paused to shoot Gary an ugly glare, "What shrine?"
Gary ignored the glare, "There's a focal point here. We have to find it."
"But do you know where it is?" Ritchie questioned, "Because I'm pretty sure I don't."
Gary shook his head.
"No worries," Ash continued his path through the woods doggedly, "I know where this shrine is."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ilex Shrine
It was a place Ash knew all too well. He remembered passing through this place with Misty and Brock. They would have passed it without a second glance, but something made him draw back and look at it.
It was fairly simple looking. But the designs were…strange. Brock had mentioned once that they resembled symbols of earth. Twisted and unreal they seemed to him, but somewhere in the depths of his mind, they struck a chord.
Ash had never forgotten that place.
"We'll stop here for the night. Ritchie, you and Namida can go get firewood."
Ritchie spluttered, "Do I have to go with her?" He whined.
Ash raised an eyebrow, "Her powers may come in handy in the forest. There are a lot of wild pokemon."
Ritchie huffed, "Yeah, yeah, Chuchino [1] and I can handle it."
Namida flicked some non-existent dirt from her fingernails, "You're right. Let them go on their own. That way, if he dies, we're rid of him for good."
Ash rubbed his forehead in exasperation, "Can you two work together for once?!"
Gary chuckled, "They're worst than we were. A born couple."
Ritchie and Namida turned a deep red before protesting, "ARE NOT!!"
Ash's temper snapped, "Go before I decide to turn you into dust!!!" His eyes glowed eerily.
Namida took the incentive. She grabbed Ritchie's arm, "Come on Blondie, we're outta here."
Ash watched them leave and leaned his head back against the tree trunk, "Finally, some peace and quiet."
Gary smirked, "They remind you of us, don't they?"
Ash looked up, "No."
That took Gary off, "No?"
"I doubt Ritchie would betray Namida that way. Or vice versa."
Gary winced, "Ash I…."
Ash snapped for the second time of the day, "Don't give me that! You knew exactly what you were doing when…when…" Ash chewed his lip.
Don't let go!
Please…
Don't…
"She's gone Ash. She's gone."
"I couldn't. I tried…"
"You pathetic loser!'
"He let her fall…"
"Her blood is on your hands boy."
Ash choked on the incoming pain. He turned his eyes away from Gary's soul blue, "I can't forgive you."
Gary's eyes turned hard, "Isn't it enough that I came back for you?" He demanded.
"I never asked you to come back for me!" Ash yelled angrily, "How can you expect me to welcome you with open arms after all that?! How can you?"
Gary's face turned stone and he walked off into the forest, leaving Ash to cry.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You know what you are to do?"
The two shadows nodded.
"Good. Make sure none of them are harmed unless it is absolutely necessary."
One of the shadows spoke, "We hear and we obey."
"009 [1], you will cut them off. I'm positive they'll be there. Eien, you will head off to see the renowned Spencer Hale. He has some information…that is vital to us."
The shadows nodded.
"Go."
They left quietly enough. Giovanni turned to the picture on his wall, smirking softly to himself. He stroked the picture with his hand,
"Soon Namida, all our plans will be accomplished. And then," His eyes gleamed with an unnatural light, "The unknown will strike."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Namida levitated another bunch of twigs and held it there. Her mouth twitched.
Who said being a psychic was no fun?
Ritchie grumbled as he picked-dragged the bundle of twigs he had collected, "That's cheating," He protested as she levitated another pile of twigs.
Namida raised him one slim eyebrow, "You make this sound like a Pokemon battle."
Ritchie laughed, "Face it brat, you couldn't win a battle with me."
Her sea-green eyes flashed, "And why the hell not?" She demanded.
Ritchie smirked at her, "You don't seem to be the type."
That did it.
"Want to prove that Blondie?!" She taunted, her hair eerily floating.
Ritchie's eyes were bright with anticipation, "Oh yeah…"
"I choose you Butterfree!"
"Go Misdrevious!"
A tiny greenish-pink ghost hovered in the air. Beside it was a large Butterfree with radiant wings that glimmered in the sun.
"Butterfree, Sleep Power!"
The bug pokemon complied sending sparkles all over. But the ghost pokemon faded and reappeared slamming Butterfree in the chest.
"What the…." Ritchie was taken aback. That was a Dark Move!"
"Never underestimate the power of TM's," Namida said smugly, "And the fact that almost all ghost pokemon are half dark."
Ritchie growled, "Butterfree, Whirlwind! Blow it away!"
Fierce brittle winds tore at them. Butterfree was giving it all he's got, but the ghost was unfazed.
"End this Misdrevious! Night Shade!"
The world turned dark and when the light came back, Butterfree was on the ground, clearly defeated. Ritchie growled at himself, sweat falling off his face.
"You win," He said drained.
Namida smirked, but let it go at that.
They proceeded to go back to the camp, when Namida froze.
"What is it? Why aren't you moving?!" Ritchie asked impatiently. Then he saw it.
"Oh crap."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gary had no clue what was going on. Immediately a large flying plane from the middle of nowhere showed up and this girl with curly blonde locks came down and started battling him.
It didn't help that there were Team Rocket members pouring out from the ship.
"Umbreon, Quick Attack," Gary commanded, while wiping the sweat of his brow.
The girl just smirked, took out a black tulip. The black tulip glowed and shot a pure energy ball at Umbreon.
Umbreon dodged them at first, but finally one of them his it's target.
Umbreon collapsed in a heap.
Gary growled murderously and called Umbreon back.
He was about to call for another pokemon when the energy ball hit him hard and sent him flying into a tree.
Gary's eyes lidded.
"Gary!" Ritchie called out and ran towards him. Namida however turned to face the girl.
"Domino."
"My Lady," Domino said bowing, "Your father wants you back. He's been extremely worried since these," Here, she threw a scornful glance at Ritchie and Gary, "People arrived and kidnapped you."
Namida let out a humorless laugh, "Oh, is that what he said? Well, tell him I like it here and I'm not going back,"
Domino's ice eyes flashed with anger, "He will not be pleased."
"Like I care whether he is pleased or not."
"He's your father!"
Namida grew cold, "No, he is my user. I am just a tool."
Domino got up and twirled the black tulip in her hand, "You know I can't disobey your father. He would be so hurt that I had to take you back with force."
The black tulip glowed menacingly.
Namida closed her eyes and her hoary staff reappeared, "He would so hurt if I sent your dead body back to."
Domino snarled, "Ready?"
Namida smiled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mr. Hale?"
"Yes?"
"I need some…information…from you."
Spencer Hale swallowed.
"You know the truth Mr. Hale…and the truth is very dangerous for people like you…"
"Take what you want and leave me!"
Molly glanced at her father as she came down the stairs. Why was Papa arguing with this man? The man looked strange. He had silver-blonde hair and dark green eyes.
She shivered. Papa never yelled at anyone. Who was that?
Then the man looked at her.
And her blood turned cold.
She screamed loud and painfully.
It was so cold!
"Papa!"
"Molly!"
She toppled down from the steps, her form blue.
"NO! MOLLY!"
She was so cold…
So cold…
It was so cold…
And in the ice, she heard a scream. And a low guttural laugh.
"Have fun in eternity little one…"
It was so cold…
R&R!!!
CS: ¬_¬** You're leaving it there?
Me: ^^* It has to end somewhere.
