VT: Well, nothing much to say except for this, Chapter 40 is on its way.

Multiple Surprises

Matthew unfolded the note and all it said was this.

Trust in your own strength today, it is strong enough for the tasks at hand.

Nothing else was on it, neither name, nor anything else upon the sheet of paper, Matthew then stuffs the piece of paper into his pocket and turns to face Becky and Ethan, "Well, let's get started. We might get to the next town before night fall."

Becky looked at her watch as well, and then looks again. "Uh… Matt… either my watch reset itself, or we are about two hours in the past." Matt looked at her shock in his eyes as he comprehended this.

Ethan and Eve both looked perplexed as well, "What are we going to do? Where did those kids go? I mean should we go back or go forward?" Ethan would have gone on with his little rant but at the moment he stopped and looked up the path they were on. "Uh… I think we have some trouble." Indeed for coming up the path arguing along with looking over their shoulders frequently are Garth and Violet, however when the two saw the threesome they stop their bickering and right away charged forward as if going in for a fight. Instead of attacking them they run and jump behind them. Violet was whimpering to Matt not caring that she was talking to a Vulpix in a tone of a voice that was threatened to break down at any moment, "Please, please, save us, a black Ninetales attacked us and tried to do something to us. I think it is after us or something." Matthew looked behind him eyes wide with a look, but then a smile spread across his face.

"If I do help you…. Will you let my Vulpix go permanently and forget about the hair?" Violet looked pale but then nods her head in agreement.

"Fine, whatever, the Boss has taken us off you anyway, so it doesn't matter….. Wait, you won't tell anyone that we were behind you?" She really looked scared now. Garth was staying quiet staying behind Ethan, however Eve was sniffing him and he was also really scared of the dark type Pokmeon.

"Deal, now…. If you don't mind, can you let go of my leg?" Matthew asked the Rocket, she was indeed clutching his leg, but it was in a way as if letting go would spell her demise. But she did as she was asked and screamed again as a Ninetales walked from the bushes, instead of the silky gold fur color, the pelt of this Ninetales was a black as a midnight sky as well as a little oily bringing with it dark clouds that soon blocked out the sunlight.

Give back what I claim as mine, they are Rockets and as such they belong to me, so hand them over, all rockets belong to me, so unless you wish to stand in my way, and risk yourselves, hand over the two cowards, they will do nicely in my ranks to show that anyone can be changed by me.

The voice of the Ninetales was slick and smooth, but behind it were a growl and a feeling of fear and dread. Matthew looks at the two grunts and then to Becky and Ethan who all nod at one another.

Please, I enjoyed their failed attempts at the beginning of my journey. Matthew replied in the same language as the Ninetales, But Dark Tail, you really must know that I will not let you have anymore power then you do, so please leave, or I will show my full force, and light always conquers the night. Matthew is given as a reply a howl and then, from the growing shadows, soon Pokemon and men appear from the shadow, some of them wearing black clothing with red R's and Garth and Violet gasp, seeming to recognize the faces of most of the Rocket people. Matthew could tell that there were more people in the wings then the night before, it seemed either Dark Tail was busy, or he didn't show his full strength last night.

Garth and Violet are staring at Matthew with fear as well, at hearing from his lips the same language, but at the same time a feeling from his words gave them strength to begin turning their head.

"NO!" Matthew barked out in English, snapping the two heads back to look at Matthew. "Don't look at him, look at me or my two Vulpix, but if you look upon Dark Tail you will be lost." This made the two Rocket grunts rivet their eyes upon the two Pokemon at his side. In fact they began counting the number of hairs on the tails of the Pokmeon.

A light broke out of one of the Pokeballs and a Flareon appeared growling at the Ninetales, anger and no fear in his eyes as he stared down the Ninetales.

Well, well, well, looks like you are indeed weak, you hid behind your own little army…The Ninetales smiled a fox-like grin. He then snaps his head and the group he had called stopped from their advancing and then began to step back, looking but not truly seeing. With a laugh and growl, Dark Tail begins to speak again. I challenge you to a Battle, only you, and me. No one else, not even your mate may help out. Matthew turned red and growled back and in a way taking the bait.

She is not my mate; she is a friend who happens to be a female. But I take your challenge, I will show you my power; you will not succeed in your plans. Matthew's own mind became foggy before he felt himself become a Ninetales causing the two Grunts to gasp and really go white before fainting away, they still were breathing but other then that, they were dead to the world.

When the Ninetales spoke in front of Becky, she could tell that in fact it was not Matthew, but someone else speaking, the poster and verbal structure of words were different, the voice sounded old, as if seeing more then it's fair share of life, yet it still had a trace of Matt's voice behind it, or was it really the trace of the one speaking in Matt's voice? Becky could go crazy really if she thought too much about it. But Ethan on the other hand was fuming at this along with Flare, they both didn't like it and in fact both were planning out just in case the Black Ninetales did something tricky and tried to do a cheap shot.

The Ninetales circled each other slowly looking at each other, waiting for an opportunity to attack and lunge. However, the two jump back at the same time and launched two attacks of fire. However the one coming from Dark Tail was pitch black and looked quiet powerful, but then it hit the flames of Light Tail that seemed to have turned white instead of the normal color of flames. Almost as if Light Tail was calling upon something inside him causing the color change, the two attacks hit and even though the black flame pushed against the white flames, it was no use, the flames were split and the white flame hit Dark Tail causing damage that was visible against his dark fur. Dark Tail howls in pain and rage but snarls at some of his army that was advancing, it seemed his pride was at stake, but then at the last moment as if waiting for dramatic effect shot out a thick fog of blackness, which evaporated very fast taking the dark clouds along with Dark Tail and his hordes.

Ethan however was fighting against something, it seemed the darkness was gathered around him and Eve who were struggling against some unseen hand trying to either strangle or push them in a certain way, that is until a flame of light pierces the cloud and it releases it hold upon the two dark types, however Ethan seemed to be a little darker in hair color and his hair had lost the curls that he had with his red hair. Also his eyes had taken on a blood shot look to them. The Ninetales only shakes his head.

Ethan, my brother, my little spell has been broken, you are showing your Umbreon side a little, and there is nothing I can do to reverse it, he has a slight hold on you as a Dark Type, but you fought him, so he may control your element, but not your mind, but keep on your guard. Ethan looked at himself and freaked a little, fear in his eyes and he realized that he was indeed a little more Pokemon then before the battle had started. He could feel a little more of an urge to get out of the sunlight and into the shadows of the trees but he pushed it down and stood a little taller, Matthew then goes back to normal, and the human Matthew looks around and blinks a little, "Uh…. What happened? I feel like I got all fogged up for a moment." The others around him just look at him completely shocked at how he doesn't remember the events that happened just moments ago.

However he does sees the two fainted Rocket's, he takes only one look at them before turning to Becky. "You take Violet and I'll take Garth, let's take them with us, maybe we can find a Video Phone and call home so we can protect these two's. Maybe we can set them straight and hope that they leave their live of crime." Becky only nods her head and walks over to Violet and bends down and wrap Violet's arms around her neck and Matt does the same thing to Garth, however they being taller then the two teens they end up dragging their feet behind them causing two strange marks like a pair of unsteady bicycles that are going down the path.

(Saffron City)

A female dressed in a red female business suit sat in a chair that over looked a flame lit Battle field, empty at the moment, not battles nor anything else, but the way she was moving her eyes you would think that their was indeed some unseen battle going on, her mouth twitched once in awhile in ghost movement of words, and sometimes smirks at some unseen remark or comment, she was foreseeing one of her next opponents and indeed it seemed that she was enjoying the battle, but then confusion streaked her face and then her eyes snapped open and in her cool and unemotional voice says out loud to no one in particular. "They are approaching, two minds that I can read, the third protected by the energy of the night, so looks like I must succeed where the others have failed." A smile spreads before she sits up and leaves the room, the moment she does, the flames go out as if something extinguished them that was unseen.