"Saur, saur, saur, saur..."

Minoru waddled about the clearing with me, proudly chanting 'Saur' as we walked along. It was nice and sunny out today, and the grass was wet with last night's rain, and both elements being ones he enjoyed, he insisted I take him on a walk. The sky was clear and blue, without a cloud to be seen. My hands were stuffed in my pockets as we walked along.

"Bulllba?"

I heard the feminine voice of a Bulbasaur behind us, and I spun around to see her. Minoru dashed over, drooling over her as he always did with other Pokemon, and she just blushed (can Bulbasaurs blush?) and motioned for him to follow her. The two dashed into the forest, Minoru probably cheering in his mind for his good luck. A faint smile appeared on my face as I sat down in the wet grass, twiddling a piece in my hands.

"I miss you, Kin..." I whispered softly, looking up at the sky. "You shouldn't have ever done any of that. I deserve to be dead... not you." I smiled a little, as tears rolled down my face and onto the ground. "Have you been watching us, lately? Katsu says I have to stop Team Rocket, or everyone will..." I took a big breath of air, trying to stop myself from choking on my tears again. "Everyone will end up just like you."

Something began to cloud my vision as I gazed lazily at the sky; something black and cloudy. I couldn't quite tell what it was... It was billowing out from the east, covering half the sky with black. I sniffed the air and smelled... smoke? "Oh, god no..." I whispered. It couldn't be... could it?

I turned to the forest where the 'Bulbasaur' had led Minoru into and saw the smoke billowing out from the treetops. I gasped, and shot over there like a speeding bullet.

"Minoru!" I screamed, and I heard cries of pain come from deep in the woods, and without thinking I darted in. I came to a small clearing, fire licking the treetops and spreading across the plains. I fumbled for my belt, and nearly fainted when I realized I had left it at home.

Then I saw Minoru.

He was barely alive, doubled over in pain, his skin burnt black as he groaned. I picked him up in my arms and ran out of there, crying my eyes out. I ran far, far away from the fire, and dropped Minoru on the ground. "Shh, Minoru, it's going to be alright, okay?" I said, not convincing him or myself. He began to cry and I held him in my arms until I could no longer feel his heavy breathing. I lay him gently on the grass, and broke down, sobbing over him.

"Minoru... why? Why did you leave me, too? Why are you doing this?" I cried.

"He isn't doing this, you fool... I am."

I spun around, only to see the Bulbasaur that went with Minoru standing not to far away from me. I blinked in confusion. "Wha... what?"

"Keiko, you don't recognize a fellow teammate?" It chuckled, and slowly, it twisted and turned, morphing into a little floating Shuppet before my eyes. "Surprised that I could do so much damage to one little girl, Keiko?" He smirked as he floated in front of me. "Team Rocket hired me after discovering my amazing ability to transform, you see; but I'm no Ditto. Just a human trapped in a Shuppet's body, is all. Quite literally, at that."

I was fuming through my clenched teeth. "So you're a human, are you? Well show yourself! Let's see you try and fight without your powers!"

He chuckled. "I'm not truly a human. I was born a Shuppet, but I knew I was far to intelligent to actually be a Pokemon. Nonetheless, I'm sure you deserve to see the one who's been causing all this trouble, hm?" He laughed as he glowed black, arms extending from his body which was growing in size as he morphed into a human. His hair was black, and he wore a grey trenchcoat along with black jeans. "Silly child. You couldn't see what was right in front of your nose, all along..."

I glared at him, my teeth and fists clenched tightly. "Why...? Why have you been doing this? Why me? If you want Sakura so bad, fine, take her! You can't do worse to her than you have or will do to anyone else!"

He laughed as if this were the funniest thing he had ever heard. "You ignorant fool! It's not about the Cherimu!" He exclaimed, still laughing. He stopped himself, and put a serious face on. "It's about you."

"Me...?" I replied, blinking.

"Of course it's you!" He screamed. "We murder your pathetic Pokemon to get to you! Do you who you are, you foolish child!" I shook my head weakly as he went on. "You are the chosen one. The one destined to stop Team Rocket and every other source of evil in the world!"

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "...'Chosen one'? I... I thought there already was a chosen one..."

"Oh, you remember Ash Ketchum? Heard about him on the news a few times I suppose?" He replied, his eyes darkened. "We took care of that meddling kid long ago."

I dropped to the ground, sobbing. "I won't interfere with Team Rocket! I swear, just leave us alone!"

"Impossible," he scoffed, shaking his head. "There's no changing that. Eventually, forced or decided, you will." A smile grew on his face as he continued. "And who says it's all about Team Rocket, anyway?"

I shrugged, not quite sure what to say.

"I'm only using Team Rocket to get to the top. Those pathetic worms could all die as far as I care. By then I'll have plenty of power... And you... you can help me, willingly or not." He grinned. "Every time we've killed one of your pathetic monsters... The anger and hate that burns inside your icy little heart!" He screamed, holding both hands up as if he were holding a trophey in each one. "It's simply wonderful. The power that I hold, all from the immense hate that lurks in your heart!"

Tears welled up in my eyes again, as I shook my head. Me? He has all this power because of me...?

"Do you see who's fault it is now, Keiko?" He said, his voice lowering to a whisper. "I wouldn't have the power to do any of this if it weren't for you, my precious little energy source."

I shut my eyes, hanging my head and letting my hair fall over my face. I couldn't stand to look at him again. I couldn't stand him at all... Ever since I saw that Shuppet, I knew something was up.

"Oh, and I seem to recall..." He stated, holding a finger to his chin as he thought. "I seem to recall a young fellow, died to protect his master?" His face lit up as he came up with the name. "Oh, right! It was Kin, your little Sandshrew, wasn't it? Got killed by a Mightyena, did he?" He walked towards me and bent over on one knee to look at me.

I was shaking now, from all the anger and sadness inside of me. "Yes." I replied, emotionless.

"Well, I've got a little secret for you..." Shuppet whispered, lifting up my head with his finger. He leaned into my ear, and I could hear his sickening breathing. "I... killed... Kin..."

That was it. I couldn't take it anymore.

I leaped up at him, and we tumbled among the field and into a rock patch, my back crashing against each rock as we locked eyes, glaring at each other. My nails were digging into his skin as I kicked at him, doing everything I could to hurt him. No... kill him.

"You idiot!" He screamed, and I could feel some heat as he began to glow black again, this time forming into something much worse than a human. His muscles grew larger and stronger, and a bushy tail extended from his back end while a mane grew down his neck and spine. The sick, twisted face of Shuppet morphed into that of a dog, snarling at me with piercing yellow eyes.

He quickly stopped us from moving, pinning me to the ground as he breathed on my face, baring his teeth and digging his extended claws into my skin. I was frozen still as he growled at me, and I shivered when I felt the blood roll off my arms. "Do you want to die the same way your little Sandshrew did?" he hissed, digging his claws further inside my arms. "Isn't this what you wished for last night, Keiko? Perhaps instead of a cliff, one quick swipe across the neck would do..." He held a claw dangerously close to my neck, the sharp point of it barely touching me.

"No... just leave me... be..." I replied, gasping for air. "I won't touch Team Rocket..."

He got off of me, but stood his ground defensivley. "We shall meet again soon, Keiko..."

I glared at him. "It doesn't mean I'm not going to tell Katsu all about you and what you've done, Shuppet." I replied, and he laughed and shook his head, slowly transforming back to Shuppet as he came closer to me.

An eerie, mysterious melody filled the air as Shuppet looked into my eyes. "Nonsense, you fainted in the meadow after seeing Minoru, don't you remember...?"

And that's all I remember before I fell to the ground, my head spinning as I could hear Shuppet's maniacal laughter fill the air.

-----

"Oh, Keiko... Please..."

I could hear sobbing, and I felt another hand gripping mine as I opened my eyes blearily, to find myself in a hospital room, lying in a bed. When everything came to, I saw Katsu with his eyes closed and tears rolling down his face as he held my hand with worry.

"Katsu...?" I whispered softly, and he opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Keiko... Keiko! You're okay!" He exclaimed, and fell to the bed with his arms wrapped around me. I could feal his tears spilling onto the bed. "Your pulse stopped every so often, and you stopped breathing, and... It doesn't matter, you're okay!" He sat up, and I could see his eyes were puffy and red. "I thought we were going to lose you!"

Amaya leaped on to the hosptial bed and curled up on my chest. "Breee," she purred as she rested her head against my neck. I smiled weakly and petted her. "What about Minoru...?" I whispered, hoping that maybe it was all a dream.

Katsu's face fell. "By the time we got there... he was gone." He hung his head. "I'm so sorry, Keiko... things like this can never be helped. I'm sorry."

I looked over at Shuppet who was floating a few feet away from us, glaring at me. I glared back at him and shook my head. "And yet sometimes they can be..." I sighed and sat up. "Katsu, why are we even bothering to go on? I put these Pokemon in danger every day, just so I can get a stupid trophey or some badges. Where's the morality in that! Two of them died, Katsu! What's the point on going on this stupid journey anymore! What's the point in trying anymore, Katsu? In this journey or life?"

He looked at me, and I could see the tears in his eyes. "Don't say things like that, Keiko, please. You still have Amaya, and Sakura, and Kasumi, and me!"

I crossed my arms and looked away, trying to hide my tears. "Knowing the way things are happening around me, all of you will die too. And I can stop all this by just dying myself..."

I couldn't tell if Katsu was angry or sad. He grabbed my arm tightly, almost cutting off circulation. "What about me, anyway, Keiko? What would I do without you! Where would I be now if I had never met you? You can't kill yourself, Keiko, want to know why? Because then I'd just have to follow your example!"

I looked up at him, trying to blink back tears, my whole body shaking. And then I began to sob, curling up in a ball and just crying my eyes out. "I'm sorry, Katsu! I just don't know what to do anymore! There's nothing left to live for!" Amaya sat up and stretched, and rubbing against my cheek, purring. I just turned away from her. "Everyone I love keeps slipping away from me..."

Katsu sighed, releasing his grip on my arm. "They did an investigation, Keiko. They caught a Team Rocket member near the scene." I looked over at Shuppet, who smiled mischieviously and winked. I turned back to Katsu, who was going on and on again. "If you would just try to stop the-"

"There is no try, Katsu! There just isn't! There's no reason to try anymore! We can never stop Team Rocket, no matter what we'll do!" I screamed, sitting up now with my fists tightly clenched. "Just stop saying that! Just stop it, okay! I don't care about Team Rocket, I don't care about this journey, and I don't care about you!" I jumped out of bed and grabbed my coat, hurrying outside.

"Keiko, please, wait!" I heard him call, but it just made me walk faster. The Nurses were rushing after me, telling me that I couldn't leave yet and needed to be checked, but I just brushed by them and walked out the door into the cold afternoon air. Light grey clouds covered the sky, making sure not to leave one speck of blue visible to the naked eye.

"It's all over for me," I whispered as I hastily walked along. "I just don't care anymore. Every one of them can die for all I care. But not before me." I clenched my teeth, as tears of hatred, anger, and sadness poured from my eyes. "Goodbye, everyone. Goodbye, world..."

-----

I curled my toes over the edge of the cliff, looking at how long the drop was. "Long enough," I muttered, as I let the wind blow through my mangled hair. "I hope they've said their goodbyes by now..." I whispered, smiling like a madman. "This is what I dream about. Taking the fall to come see you, Kin... Minoru... I'm coming, I'm coming..."

"Keiko!"

I spun around. Katsu was panting, with Amaya, Treecko, Rune, Kasumi and Mightyena running behind him, and Sakura in one of his arms. "Keiko," he said, all the hope and enthusiasm lost from his voice, "Keiko... Please don't. We need you... Just hang on, okay? Don't give up yet..." He slowly walked over to me and pulled me away from the edge, looking into my eyes desperately. "Keiko, you're... you're going crazy... Do you listen to yourself talk? Please, just stay with us a little longer..." He took me by the wrist and started to drag me away. I didn't say anything, or do anything, just let myself get pulled away.

"I'm sorry," I whispered quietly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Katsu just looked back at me and smiled weakly. "It's okay, just relax, alright? We're going to the hospital now, okay? Then you can sleep and you'll feel better in the morning." His voice was shaky, and he sounded a bit doubtful, but I nodded anyway and stumbled along.

We eventually made it to the hospital, and the Nurses helped me to my bed. Amaya and Sakura immediately hopped up next to me, snuggling on each side of me. I smiled and let them sleep next to me. Katsu shut off the light and began to head out the door. "Get some rest, Keiko," he told me, "Goodnight." And he went out the door.

"Goodnight..." I whispered. Rune was sitting next to the bed, resting against the wall.

Keiko, why did you try to kill yourself today? He asked me without looking up.

There was a pause as my mind registered the question. "Because I'm dead inside already, Rune. I'm already dead mentally... and now... I- I'm just a waste of skin, see? I can't think straight any more. I'm going mad, Rune..."

You need help, Keiko. He replied, his voice shaky. I swear that for the first time in my life, I could see tears in his eyes. Do you know what it's like to see your master slowly go mad, every single day of your life? Do you know what that's like, Keiko! He fumed, his voice deep with rage. I shook my head meekly. It's horrible! It's to much to bear! The way you handle things, you'll kill yourself without the need of a cliff! He shouted, clenching his fists that were now glowing faintly with psychic energy. You need help, and now. Not just the talk-it-out with an adult help, you need medical help. You're not dead inside, yet, Keiko, but you're so close and I can't stand it! He closed his eyes and let tears pour down his face, forming a small puddle on the ground. You are the only one I will ever serve, the only one that I could ever be loyal to. And to think that you nearly died today... Rune drooped his head. It makes me want to kill myself, too. What else is my purpose but to be loyal to you, Keiko? Nothing! And if you were to die... so would I.

I sat up, but didn't look at him. I just closed my eyes. "I'm sorry, Rune. But... I... there's just nothing left. Everybody is going to die if I can't stop Team Rocket... and I just can't do that, Rune. I'm not strong enough, inside or out." I wiped my eyes dry. "And knowing that you'll leave me someday, too... You were my first Pokemon, Rune. How could I lose you? All of this can be stopped if I just disapeared... and there would be a new chosen one... And you guys could stay safe, and happy."

Rune shook his head. I could never be happy without you around, Keiko... You're my master. The leader. The boss. If you left us, I wouldn't care if I died... I'd have no control or direction in life. You have to just try to hold on, Keiko. Because if you don't, the rest of us won't be able to, either.

Neither of us said anything for about a half hour. Just silence; pure, stinging silence, before I broke the ice.

"I won't... I... I won't do it ever again, Rune. I promise..." I sighed, and looked at him. "But... Will we ever be able to stop Team Rocket?"

Rune smiled up at me with a glint of confidence in his eye.

We'll just have to find out, won't we?