Author's Notes: I'm sorry that it's taken so long for this chapter to be
updated. It's just that I had a bit going on and I wasn't in the mood to
write any romantic stuff at the time; and I had quite a bit of writer's
block. Anyway, there are a few things that I need to note about before I
begin this chapter. This IS kind of a Highlander/Pokemon crossover, but
there are some things that I didn't know about on the Highlander series, so
I need to explain them a bit. During the time that I hadn't done anything
with this fic I learned that Immortals can't have children, and I noted
that they could earlier but I'll have that corrected in a sense in this
chapter. Also, I also didn't know that Immortals always stayed the same age
that they were when they first became an Immortal, but I don't agree with
that, so I'll keep that part this way. And I'm thinking of ending this a
different way than I initially intended to end it. Anyway, please enjoy
chapter 5! ^_^
*
Ash woke up. It was dawn. Ash sighed. It was the first morning that he had woken up. . . a killer. Although Ash was sad that Achmed had died, he was more preoccupied with being someone who had taken another life. Just because in self-defense and to keep that immortal from killing others didn't make it any easier. Ash went down to the cafeteria that the pokecenter had and got a small breakfast. As he went to sit down, he saw Lachlan staring into a cup of coffee. Ash sat down next to him and just started to eat. Neither said anything for quite a while. Even after Ash finished eating, they sat in silence. Ash sighed. He didn't want to continue the silence, but he couldn't think of anything to say.
Ash jumped when Lachlan spoke. "It's hard to believe that he's gone."
Ash nodded as he sipped his cup of coffee. "I know. I just can't help but wonder if we should have done something to join in the fight before he was killed."
"He wouldn't have liked that. He was pretty much a guy who wanted to do things on his own or not at all. He would usually have me around when those few immortals that he killed since he met me just in case he died and then I could be his back up after he was dead. I just didn't expect it to happen this soon."
Lachlan sighed as Ash thought that information over. It did seem to fit in with how Achmed acted, but Ash wondered if that was all there was to it. "So, Lanacan is dead now."
"No, Lanacan is still alive, or at least he should still be," Lachlan replied.
"How do you know?" Ash asked, intriged.
Lachlan held up a small book that seems to have been a diary. "Achmed put a description of Lanacan in here. I don't know why, but he probably didn't want to forget what he looked like just so that way he'd know who he was when he fought him again. There's also a lot of other interesting things in here that Achmed never told me. For example, he never told me about him fighting in the great war that occurred two hundred and fifty years ago in the Orange Islands. All over who had the coconut rights for two specific islands."
Ash smiled in spite of himself. "I don't see much point in that," Ash commented, taking a gulp of his coffee before going to get a refill.
"Neither did Achmed. He just fought in a third party that didn't like the entire archipelago in such chaos. Eventually the third party won. Achmed noted that there were several other immortals that fought in that war, but most were on the third party's side."
Ash returned to sitting with Lachlan. "What are you going to do now?"
"I'm not really sure. I think that I'll just travel around a bit. I think that I might even take a look at some of the places that Achmed described in his journal. Even though the places are definitely different than when he last was there. What are you planning? Going to train and stay the Pokemon Master?" Lachlan asked.
"I think I'll keep the title a little longer. But it doesn't feel the same anymore. The guy I faced yesterday was difficult, but it was as if he was only there to win and didn't care about his pokemon. I don't want to stay as the champion if that's the only people I have to face. It just isn't right. I might even let it go in a few years," Ash answered.
"Hmm. I never thought about that. I never really was into pokemon, but then again, I was terrified of most pokemon since that Gyarados destroyed my family and home. It's only really been recent that I've become completely comfortable again with any pokemon. But I don't think that I'll ever get over being killed as a small child by a Gyarados."
Ash sighed. He never really thought much about Lachlan's past. Especially how traumatic it must have been for him. Ash opened his mouth to say something, but before he could say anything Ash sensed what he sensed the day before. Another immortal was nearby. Ash and Lachlan both looked around and were surprised at what they saw. An officer Jenny was the immortal that they sensed.
"So, I take it Achmed's dead?" Jenny asked.
Both were in silent shock, but the managed to nod. Neither expected an officer Jenny to be an immortal. Especially considering how many Jenny's there were.
Jenny looked away and said, "It's been a while since I saw him, but when I heard about what happened yesterday, I had to come."
"How did you know him?" Lachlan inquired.
"I met him about seventy years ago. I was just working on becoming a helper at the pokecenter in my hometown when it was attacked by a Team Rocket raid. I was the only casualty. When I woke up with the white sheet over me, I knew something was wrong but I didn't know what it was. I almost went back home, but when I left the morgue Achmed stopped me from going anywhere. It was days before I began to accept what happened. As it is, I've have quite a few proffesions since then, but I haven't found any as informative as being a police officer. This way I can know of when Immortals are fighting and so I can then help stop more killing of those who shouldn't be killed by an immortal. And as a result of that I've almost lost my job countless times and my head almost twice as much. But that's at least only in these past ten years that that's been going on."
"So, do you know anything about this Lanacan?" Ash asked.
"Not much, but I have heard about how ruthless he is. He doesn't seem to like killing others that aren't immortal, but he won't hesitate to use them when he can. He'll hold someone hostage to get those he wants to fight him, and he'll even kill the hostage just to get to the immortal. It all seems like some sick game to him. But his favorite game is basically a more complicated version of Cat and Mouse. He'll get you in a place where you think that he'll kill you, but he won't. He'll even try to make you think that he isn't what he is. But all that just does is allows him to finish his business with someone else before he then takes you out." Jenny paused a moment before finishing, "The biggest thing is, is that I only know this from others. It's said that if you know firsthand what kind of person he is, you won't live very long if you're an immortal. Mortals have a chance to leave before he thinks of a cruel way to use them." Jenny sighs before muttering bitterly, "I hope he loses his head soon."
"I guess that means that you don't know where he is then?" Lachlan asked.
"No. He's been laying low for quite a while now. I think that since he infiltrated Team Rocket to take out an immortal there, he hasn't felt that it was safe to come out in the open."
"So, no one knows where he is?" Lachlan asked.
"As far as I'm aware, he's the only one who know exactly where he is. I know he has to be somewhere, but where that 'where' is I have no clue," Jenny answered. She sighed before she stood. "I guess my coffee break is over."
"Why did you talk with us?" Ash inquired.
"I just wanted to talk with someone who knew Achmed. Someone needs to continue the hunt for Lanacan in place of Achmed. And I know that the more that are on the hunt, the more likely he'll fall. Eventually everyone falls, whether it be to another immortal, or to themselves," Jenny said. She took a few more steps away before stopping and whispering barely enough for Ash and Lachlan to hear, "I just hope that his time comes soon."
Before Ash or Lachlan could think of anything else to ask her, she was gone. "So, what do you think that we should do?" Lachlan asked.
"Well, it's obvious that we should start tracking this Lanacan. I don't want anyone that I know to be killed by such a sadistic man. That's if he can be called a man," Ash replied, determinedly.
They soon finished up at the cafeteria and when they were walking out into the lobby, they saw the after effects of an immortal falling to another immortal. They rushed outside to see a headless officer Jenny on the ground with a man standing over her, wiping a bloody sword off on her shirt. "Who are you!?" Ash demanded.
"I see you haven't seen me before," the man answered. "I am the one you have been looking for." At this the man turned around. "I an Lanacan."
Ash could only feel hatred towards the man who had just killed that officer Jenny. There wasn't even a sword that appeared to have been hers. Ash could only conclude that she had been unarmed when she was killed. Ash wouldn't have felt so upset had there been evidence that it had started off fair, but it was obvious that she hadn't had an opportunity to try and defend herself. "I can tell just by looking at you that she did tell you about me. I guess that just makes it that much more interesting. I was getting bored with everyone being so oblivious to me until I actually came for them." Lanacan smiled, infuriating Ash and Lachlan even more, before finishing. "But, I have some other business to attend to before I can take care of you. So, I'll have to make you wait for your hunt for me until I finish with that small piece of business."
Before Ash or Lachlan could react, Lanacan had already run into an alley. As they followed him to there, they didn't see him. All they saw was an empty alley that ran straight into a dead end.
*
"So, that's what happened?" Officer Jenny asked.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, and before either of us could react, he had ran off."
"Hmm," Jenny seemed quite troubled with that, and Ash couldn't blame her. He was troubled by it. "So, let me make certain I have this written down. You heard something outside and when you came out, there was a man that was standing over her body and he ran off then?"
"Yeah. We tried to talk with him, but all he said was that he had some unfinished business," Ash answered. "I have no clue what that business could be."
"Thanks, but I think that the police should take it from here. I just hope that we can capture him before he kills anyone else," Jenny said, turning to leave.
"Good luck," Ash called after her as she was leaving.
Jenny just waved at him with the back of her hand to show that she heard.
"So, what should we do about this?" Lachlan asked Ash, coming over next to him from where he was interviewed.
"Well, we should find him on our own. We can't afford to have him threaten anyone that would cause us to hesitate. Otherwise we'll probably be killed as well as whoever he threatens," Ash replied.
"Yeah. I'll go write a note for your friends on why we've left them," Lachlan told Ash. "It'll probably be better for me to do it, so that way Lanacan won't think that there's any real connection that would give him an advantage. But, you should take your pokemon. From what I can tell, they'd rather die themselves than have you die, so you won't have too much to worry about with them being captured."
Ash nods understanding what he should do if his pokemon are used against him. "Hurry. We need to leave before any of them realize that we've left."
*
Misty can't help but feel tears form as she reads the note. She had been woken by the door shutting, but she wasn't certain who it was. The note seemed to be written by Lachlan, but why would Ash not say good-bye to her? Could it be that. . .? NO! Misty told herself. Ash DOES care about me.
Then why did he leave with out saying good-bye? Another, darker, part of her asked.
He just has had something come up! Misty shouted at the other part of herself. Misty sighed. She would really need to think about this. As she leaves her room, she walks out into the lobby only to find a crowd of police wandering around. Misty is confused. She didn't expect to see so many police around. Misty walks over to the Nurse Joy behind the counter and asks, "What's wrong?"
"An officer Jenny was killed just outside the pokecenter," Nurse Joy replies, grimly.
Misty was in shock. She hadn't even considered that someone was killed. Could this be why Ash had to leave so suddenly? Misty thought. "How was she killed?" Misty asked, knowing that she'd first need more information before she jumped to conclusions. That officer Jenny might not have even been an immortal. It could all be just one big coincidence.
"She had her head cut off," Joy says slowly. Misty could tell that Joy was trying to act as normal as she could, but could see that she was really frightened by it.
"Were there any witnesses?" Misty asked.
"Your friend Ash said that se saw a man standing over her with a sword. I don't know much, but that's basically all I know."
Misty doubted that Joy didn't know any more, but Misty knew that Joy was just probably trying to forget about it so that she wouldn't be so frightened. Misty figured that Ash just went after this immortal and would be back eventually. Misty just hoped that he'd be back and wouldn't be killed himself. Misty also wondered just what kind of immortal that he was facing.
*
Ash sighed. It was hard not saying good-bye to Misty, especially because of how he might not get to see her again. But, that was just too big of a chance for him to take. He'd rather not say good-bye to her than have her killed just so that way Lanacan could kill Ash. As Ash thought about that, he could only feel anger burning inside of him. Also regret. Regret of having to have had this happen to him, while also having Misty having such powerful feelings for him that he could tell just by how she spoke to him, but having him also in a position that he couldn't return those feelings as they deserved. Yes he loved her deeply, but he should be there to help her whenever she had a tough time with anything, but here he was doing what he could to keep her from getting involved involuntarily. Ash just didn't know what he should do anymore. He knew that he'd also probably have to kill Lanacan and Ash wasn't looking forward to that. He just wanted to go back to the way things were before when all he was looking for was a tougher pokemon battle. This was just something that he wasn't ready for.
*
Author's Notes: So, how was this? I'll have the next chapter up within the end of the month at least. So, please look forward to it. Also, if anyone has any suggestions on where the final battle will take place, as in what kind of environment (i.e. sewer, forest, alleyway, abandoned building, etc.), please let me know. I'm still debating that with myself. Anyway, please look forward to the next chapter. ^_^
*
Ash woke up. It was dawn. Ash sighed. It was the first morning that he had woken up. . . a killer. Although Ash was sad that Achmed had died, he was more preoccupied with being someone who had taken another life. Just because in self-defense and to keep that immortal from killing others didn't make it any easier. Ash went down to the cafeteria that the pokecenter had and got a small breakfast. As he went to sit down, he saw Lachlan staring into a cup of coffee. Ash sat down next to him and just started to eat. Neither said anything for quite a while. Even after Ash finished eating, they sat in silence. Ash sighed. He didn't want to continue the silence, but he couldn't think of anything to say.
Ash jumped when Lachlan spoke. "It's hard to believe that he's gone."
Ash nodded as he sipped his cup of coffee. "I know. I just can't help but wonder if we should have done something to join in the fight before he was killed."
"He wouldn't have liked that. He was pretty much a guy who wanted to do things on his own or not at all. He would usually have me around when those few immortals that he killed since he met me just in case he died and then I could be his back up after he was dead. I just didn't expect it to happen this soon."
Lachlan sighed as Ash thought that information over. It did seem to fit in with how Achmed acted, but Ash wondered if that was all there was to it. "So, Lanacan is dead now."
"No, Lanacan is still alive, or at least he should still be," Lachlan replied.
"How do you know?" Ash asked, intriged.
Lachlan held up a small book that seems to have been a diary. "Achmed put a description of Lanacan in here. I don't know why, but he probably didn't want to forget what he looked like just so that way he'd know who he was when he fought him again. There's also a lot of other interesting things in here that Achmed never told me. For example, he never told me about him fighting in the great war that occurred two hundred and fifty years ago in the Orange Islands. All over who had the coconut rights for two specific islands."
Ash smiled in spite of himself. "I don't see much point in that," Ash commented, taking a gulp of his coffee before going to get a refill.
"Neither did Achmed. He just fought in a third party that didn't like the entire archipelago in such chaos. Eventually the third party won. Achmed noted that there were several other immortals that fought in that war, but most were on the third party's side."
Ash returned to sitting with Lachlan. "What are you going to do now?"
"I'm not really sure. I think that I'll just travel around a bit. I think that I might even take a look at some of the places that Achmed described in his journal. Even though the places are definitely different than when he last was there. What are you planning? Going to train and stay the Pokemon Master?" Lachlan asked.
"I think I'll keep the title a little longer. But it doesn't feel the same anymore. The guy I faced yesterday was difficult, but it was as if he was only there to win and didn't care about his pokemon. I don't want to stay as the champion if that's the only people I have to face. It just isn't right. I might even let it go in a few years," Ash answered.
"Hmm. I never thought about that. I never really was into pokemon, but then again, I was terrified of most pokemon since that Gyarados destroyed my family and home. It's only really been recent that I've become completely comfortable again with any pokemon. But I don't think that I'll ever get over being killed as a small child by a Gyarados."
Ash sighed. He never really thought much about Lachlan's past. Especially how traumatic it must have been for him. Ash opened his mouth to say something, but before he could say anything Ash sensed what he sensed the day before. Another immortal was nearby. Ash and Lachlan both looked around and were surprised at what they saw. An officer Jenny was the immortal that they sensed.
"So, I take it Achmed's dead?" Jenny asked.
Both were in silent shock, but the managed to nod. Neither expected an officer Jenny to be an immortal. Especially considering how many Jenny's there were.
Jenny looked away and said, "It's been a while since I saw him, but when I heard about what happened yesterday, I had to come."
"How did you know him?" Lachlan inquired.
"I met him about seventy years ago. I was just working on becoming a helper at the pokecenter in my hometown when it was attacked by a Team Rocket raid. I was the only casualty. When I woke up with the white sheet over me, I knew something was wrong but I didn't know what it was. I almost went back home, but when I left the morgue Achmed stopped me from going anywhere. It was days before I began to accept what happened. As it is, I've have quite a few proffesions since then, but I haven't found any as informative as being a police officer. This way I can know of when Immortals are fighting and so I can then help stop more killing of those who shouldn't be killed by an immortal. And as a result of that I've almost lost my job countless times and my head almost twice as much. But that's at least only in these past ten years that that's been going on."
"So, do you know anything about this Lanacan?" Ash asked.
"Not much, but I have heard about how ruthless he is. He doesn't seem to like killing others that aren't immortal, but he won't hesitate to use them when he can. He'll hold someone hostage to get those he wants to fight him, and he'll even kill the hostage just to get to the immortal. It all seems like some sick game to him. But his favorite game is basically a more complicated version of Cat and Mouse. He'll get you in a place where you think that he'll kill you, but he won't. He'll even try to make you think that he isn't what he is. But all that just does is allows him to finish his business with someone else before he then takes you out." Jenny paused a moment before finishing, "The biggest thing is, is that I only know this from others. It's said that if you know firsthand what kind of person he is, you won't live very long if you're an immortal. Mortals have a chance to leave before he thinks of a cruel way to use them." Jenny sighs before muttering bitterly, "I hope he loses his head soon."
"I guess that means that you don't know where he is then?" Lachlan asked.
"No. He's been laying low for quite a while now. I think that since he infiltrated Team Rocket to take out an immortal there, he hasn't felt that it was safe to come out in the open."
"So, no one knows where he is?" Lachlan asked.
"As far as I'm aware, he's the only one who know exactly where he is. I know he has to be somewhere, but where that 'where' is I have no clue," Jenny answered. She sighed before she stood. "I guess my coffee break is over."
"Why did you talk with us?" Ash inquired.
"I just wanted to talk with someone who knew Achmed. Someone needs to continue the hunt for Lanacan in place of Achmed. And I know that the more that are on the hunt, the more likely he'll fall. Eventually everyone falls, whether it be to another immortal, or to themselves," Jenny said. She took a few more steps away before stopping and whispering barely enough for Ash and Lachlan to hear, "I just hope that his time comes soon."
Before Ash or Lachlan could think of anything else to ask her, she was gone. "So, what do you think that we should do?" Lachlan asked.
"Well, it's obvious that we should start tracking this Lanacan. I don't want anyone that I know to be killed by such a sadistic man. That's if he can be called a man," Ash replied, determinedly.
They soon finished up at the cafeteria and when they were walking out into the lobby, they saw the after effects of an immortal falling to another immortal. They rushed outside to see a headless officer Jenny on the ground with a man standing over her, wiping a bloody sword off on her shirt. "Who are you!?" Ash demanded.
"I see you haven't seen me before," the man answered. "I am the one you have been looking for." At this the man turned around. "I an Lanacan."
Ash could only feel hatred towards the man who had just killed that officer Jenny. There wasn't even a sword that appeared to have been hers. Ash could only conclude that she had been unarmed when she was killed. Ash wouldn't have felt so upset had there been evidence that it had started off fair, but it was obvious that she hadn't had an opportunity to try and defend herself. "I can tell just by looking at you that she did tell you about me. I guess that just makes it that much more interesting. I was getting bored with everyone being so oblivious to me until I actually came for them." Lanacan smiled, infuriating Ash and Lachlan even more, before finishing. "But, I have some other business to attend to before I can take care of you. So, I'll have to make you wait for your hunt for me until I finish with that small piece of business."
Before Ash or Lachlan could react, Lanacan had already run into an alley. As they followed him to there, they didn't see him. All they saw was an empty alley that ran straight into a dead end.
*
"So, that's what happened?" Officer Jenny asked.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, and before either of us could react, he had ran off."
"Hmm," Jenny seemed quite troubled with that, and Ash couldn't blame her. He was troubled by it. "So, let me make certain I have this written down. You heard something outside and when you came out, there was a man that was standing over her body and he ran off then?"
"Yeah. We tried to talk with him, but all he said was that he had some unfinished business," Ash answered. "I have no clue what that business could be."
"Thanks, but I think that the police should take it from here. I just hope that we can capture him before he kills anyone else," Jenny said, turning to leave.
"Good luck," Ash called after her as she was leaving.
Jenny just waved at him with the back of her hand to show that she heard.
"So, what should we do about this?" Lachlan asked Ash, coming over next to him from where he was interviewed.
"Well, we should find him on our own. We can't afford to have him threaten anyone that would cause us to hesitate. Otherwise we'll probably be killed as well as whoever he threatens," Ash replied.
"Yeah. I'll go write a note for your friends on why we've left them," Lachlan told Ash. "It'll probably be better for me to do it, so that way Lanacan won't think that there's any real connection that would give him an advantage. But, you should take your pokemon. From what I can tell, they'd rather die themselves than have you die, so you won't have too much to worry about with them being captured."
Ash nods understanding what he should do if his pokemon are used against him. "Hurry. We need to leave before any of them realize that we've left."
*
Misty can't help but feel tears form as she reads the note. She had been woken by the door shutting, but she wasn't certain who it was. The note seemed to be written by Lachlan, but why would Ash not say good-bye to her? Could it be that. . .? NO! Misty told herself. Ash DOES care about me.
Then why did he leave with out saying good-bye? Another, darker, part of her asked.
He just has had something come up! Misty shouted at the other part of herself. Misty sighed. She would really need to think about this. As she leaves her room, she walks out into the lobby only to find a crowd of police wandering around. Misty is confused. She didn't expect to see so many police around. Misty walks over to the Nurse Joy behind the counter and asks, "What's wrong?"
"An officer Jenny was killed just outside the pokecenter," Nurse Joy replies, grimly.
Misty was in shock. She hadn't even considered that someone was killed. Could this be why Ash had to leave so suddenly? Misty thought. "How was she killed?" Misty asked, knowing that she'd first need more information before she jumped to conclusions. That officer Jenny might not have even been an immortal. It could all be just one big coincidence.
"She had her head cut off," Joy says slowly. Misty could tell that Joy was trying to act as normal as she could, but could see that she was really frightened by it.
"Were there any witnesses?" Misty asked.
"Your friend Ash said that se saw a man standing over her with a sword. I don't know much, but that's basically all I know."
Misty doubted that Joy didn't know any more, but Misty knew that Joy was just probably trying to forget about it so that she wouldn't be so frightened. Misty figured that Ash just went after this immortal and would be back eventually. Misty just hoped that he'd be back and wouldn't be killed himself. Misty also wondered just what kind of immortal that he was facing.
*
Ash sighed. It was hard not saying good-bye to Misty, especially because of how he might not get to see her again. But, that was just too big of a chance for him to take. He'd rather not say good-bye to her than have her killed just so that way Lanacan could kill Ash. As Ash thought about that, he could only feel anger burning inside of him. Also regret. Regret of having to have had this happen to him, while also having Misty having such powerful feelings for him that he could tell just by how she spoke to him, but having him also in a position that he couldn't return those feelings as they deserved. Yes he loved her deeply, but he should be there to help her whenever she had a tough time with anything, but here he was doing what he could to keep her from getting involved involuntarily. Ash just didn't know what he should do anymore. He knew that he'd also probably have to kill Lanacan and Ash wasn't looking forward to that. He just wanted to go back to the way things were before when all he was looking for was a tougher pokemon battle. This was just something that he wasn't ready for.
*
Author's Notes: So, how was this? I'll have the next chapter up within the end of the month at least. So, please look forward to it. Also, if anyone has any suggestions on where the final battle will take place, as in what kind of environment (i.e. sewer, forest, alleyway, abandoned building, etc.), please let me know. I'm still debating that with myself. Anyway, please look forward to the next chapter. ^_^