"Get him under control!" Ethan roared. "He's an animal, treat him like one."

The juvenile teddiursa swiped at Lyra's midsection, attempting to disembowel her. His claws bounced off a barrier that Eon erected in front of Lyra. The teddiursa fell backwards, his weight off balance after bouncing off Eon's barrier.

"Lyra, you need to impose your will on him. He's a solitary animal, he respects strength." Ethan looked at Eon, and nodded. The xatu dropped the barrier separating Lyra from the teddiursa. "Now show him your strength. Project it in your voice. Force your will to overcome his own."

The teddiursa got to its feet, glaring daggers at Lyra. It lowered its head, growling at her. Lyra summoned up what courage she could muster and planted her heels in the dirt. The teddiursa let out a low roar, and bounded towards her. Eon's barrier sprung up, knocking the teddiursa on its ass.

Lyra swelled up her chest, and let out a triumphant shout. The teddiursa glared at her and got back to its feet, still growling.

"No" Lyra said firmly. The teddiursa dropped its head as if to charge. "NO!" Lyra shouted forcefully. The teddiursa hesitated for less than half a second, then charged again. Eon's barrier was there, knocking the teddiursa back to the dirt.

"Better, but he only hesitated" Ethan said. "I want to see him fear you. He needs to know that challenging you for dominance is useless. I want you to inspire fear in his eyes. I want you to make him loyal." Lyra opened her mouth to protest, but Ethan stopped her. "You wanted a pokemon that can fight. I'm giving you one. This is how you train a teddiursa. They're animals, not pets." He sighed, and patted Lyra on the shoulder. "Try again, this time use his name."

Lyra swallowed the lump in her throat, and nodded. "Again" she said. "Lower the barrier."

Eon's barrier dropped, and the teddiursa let out an angry bellow. It dug its claws into the dirt and charged, roaring angrily.

Lyra took one step forward and planted her feet. "Koda, NO!"


Jay ducked under the low hanging rock and turned around, lighting the opening for Misty to duck under. "How much further?" He asked. "We've gotta be close by now."

Misty shook her head. "I feel like we're going in circles" she said. "We should've been there by now."

"I thought you said you knew the way through?" Jay asked.

"I thought I did" she said. "Things seem different down here. It's like someone collapsed the tunnels that were here and tunnelled new ones…" Her voice trailed off. "But I don't think that these new tunnels were carved by humans."

"Misty, are there onix under Lavender Mountain?" Jay asked slowly.

An onix burst through the wall of the tunnel behind them, answering his question for him. It spotted them, and shrieked madly. The onix sped after them, widening the tunnel with every movement of its body.

Misty took off like a rocket, screaming for Jay to follow. Jay didn't hesitate, dashing after Misty.

"Misty, I can't see a thi-" a solid wall of smooth rock cut him off. He fell back, blood streaming from his broken nose. The wall of rock rumbled and turned, tearing apart the tunnel walls. Jay rolled away from the moving wall of rock, narrowly avoiding being crushed by falling rocks. Jay scrambled to his feet, pointing the flashlight up at the moving wall of rock.

The flashlight's beam swept up the wall of rock, revealing the beast's true shape. The tyranitar planted its feet into the rock, and roared a challenge that shook the newly formed cavern. The onix abandoned its pursuit of Jay and Misty, facing down the much larger threat. The onix launched itself at the tyranitar, coiling around the beast's chest. The tyranitar broke free of the onix's coils and tossed the pokemon into the wall of the cavern, shattering the brittle rock.

Jay hauled himself to his feet, keeping the flashlight trained on the massive tyranitar. Misty appeared behind him, hauling him away from the onix's flailing tail.

"I found another tunnel!" She shouted. "Let's go, befo-"

Another onix burst from one of the cavern walls, knocking the tyranitar to its knees. The first onix launched itself at the tyranitar, coiling around its chest while the other onix coiled itself around the beast's legs. The tyranitar flailed, knocking the first onix into a wall. The massive titan tore the second onix off its body, and swung it into the first onix. The cavern wall cracked open, sunlight spilling into the room.

Jay and Misty recoiled from the sudden burst of sunlight, eyes used to the darkness of the cave. The tyranitar's reaction was far worse. It shrieked in pain and dropped to one knee, shielding its eyes with one arm. The onix however, weren't affected by the sunlight. They launched themselves at the tyranitar again, attempting to take advantage of its weakened state.

Jay turned to look at the tunnel behind him and yelped. He grabbed Misty's arm and hauled her out of the way, allowing a third onix to barrel past them and into the tyranitar's side.

"Go for the opening!" He shouted. "It's our best chance!"

Misty bolted for the gaping hole in the mountainside, followed closely by Jay. An onix's tail slammed into the rock directly in front of them. Jay scrambled backwards, losing track of Misty and desperately trying to avoid the hail of rock that the onix kicked up. The onix's tail moved, and Jay bolted for the opening a second time. The tail of an onix slammed into the ground in front of Jay again. Jay attempted to vault over the tail, taking desperate measures to get away from the carnage. Jay landed as the onix yanked its tail away, whipping it towards the tyranitar.

Jay resumed his mad dash for the gaping hole in the mountain, frantically searching for Misty. He skidded to a halt, looking down at the sheer drop in front of him. He heard a yelp of fear, and saw Misty skid to a halt on a rock outcropping thirty feet down the mountain. Her starmie appeared with a flash of light while she frantically gestured up at Jay.

Jay took a glance behind him and jumped, followed by tons of wrestling pokémon. Jay landed beside Misty and grabbed hold of her arm. Acting on only mad instinct, he leapt off the outcropping. The outcropping exploded under the weight of the falling pokemon, sending rock shards in every direction. Jay felt his descent slow, then saw his vision tinge purple. Misty's starmie appeared at his shoulder, steadying their descent.

"Keep us ahead of them!" Jay shouted. "Aim for the water!"

Misty's starmie shot forward, pouring on speed with Jay and Misty in tow. A thunderous crash tore through the air, the tyranitar and the onix carving a new path down the mountain with their bodies. Jay caught a glance of an avalanche of rocks following them down the mountain. He looked forward, and registered the wall of water rushing towards them.

"Slow us down!" He shouted over Misty's screams. "Or we're gonna die when we hit the water."

Misty's starmie let out a pained tone, it's central jewel flickering. Jay saw the purple aura around him falter, and felt himself accelerate. Knowing he was running out of time, he curled his arms around Misty.

"Find me" he said.

Before Misty could register what he had said or ask what he had meant, Jay let go of her. He felt himself tear away from Misty, and out of her starmie's psychic grip. He hit the water at terminal velocity, not knowing if he had saved Misty's life.


"Shepherd! There's something up ahead."

You hear that, Alan? Your flock is calling you. Maybe this time they need you to wipe someone's ass for them.

"Where's the Shepherd?"

They're looking for you. The damn fools are lost without you.

"Oh my god. Someone get the Shepherd. We've got a body."

Well Alan, I guess it's time for you to go save their lives again. This is fun, isn't it? When are you gonna learn that sticking your neck out is a good way to get it cut off?

Alan pushed his way past a pair of his men, forcing his way through the crowd. A lone body lay there, burnt far beyond recognition. Alan looked down the narrow path warily, then back down at the body.

So what's the plan, Shepherd? You gonna keep driving your flock to their deaths?

"Maybe a charizard attack?" The man beside Alan wondered aloud. "Nothing else could have caused these burns."

Oh I can think of a few things that could've caused that burn. None of them are good.

Alan stood up, eyes still locked on the burned man. "Keep moving" he ordered. "Charizard won't attack a group this large, but I'll still feel better once we're out of these mountains."

That's not a charizard attack and you know it. That's something even more powerful. Lie to them all you want , but it won't help you protect them. You better hope that whatever did that isn't around, or else they're all going to die.

"Shepherd!" A voice shouted from further down the path. "The path opens to a clearing. You're gonna want to see this."

You already know what you're gonna find. You've heard the stories. You're already dead.

Alan forced himself through the crowd. He burst out into the clearing, and gaped up at the massive building that lay there. A massive hole had been torn in its side, leaving debris scattered all over the clearing. A faint glow emanated from the hole. The man who had called for him stood in front of a sign, tearing a layer of overgrown plant life off a wooden sign.

Do you really need to read the sign? You know where you are.

"Kanto National Power Plant…" Alan muttered, reading the sign. "Zapdos… Mew help us."

Goodbye Alan. It was nice knowing you.

An earth-shattering shriek tore through the air, bringing a rock slide down on the narrow path. The former Rockets still on the path were swept away by the avalanche of rock. Another shriek ripped through the air and Alan felt the hairs on his body stand on end.

The glow inside the plant grew stronger, forcing Alan to cover his eyes. He felt the static electricity in the air grow stronger, until the air itself was crackling with the sharp sounds of electricity. He opened his eyes and fell to his knees. Zapdos stood before him, electricity jumping between the jagged points of its wings.

Alan closed his eyes, not wanting to see what happened next. He heard one final shriek and then the world exploded around him.


"You are quickly becoming much more trouble than you are worth."

Jay opened his eyes, already knowing where he was. "How much trouble am I worth?" He asked.

The grey lady sat back in her floating rocking chair and sighed. "Enough that you have grabbed my undivided attention." She cocked her head to her left and raised an eyebrow. "What made you think that jumping off a cliff for a second time was a good idea?"

Jay smirked. "Technically I didn't jump the first time. The ground kinda crumbled underneath me."

A withering glare from the crone cut off his chuckle before it began. "Do you think I am amused?" She asked. "Your life is a waste of my strength, and I have precious little strength left to spare. So tell me, why should I waste my strength on your life?"

"Because you need me" Jay said quickly. "We wouldn't be having this conversation if you didn't."

The crone smiled, and shook her head. "You don't even know your own importance. Yet you act like you are entitled to my help."

"I'm not entitled to anything," Jay said. "Except maybe a stiff drink. But I know that you're going to help me. I'm important to you."

She frowned, and furrowed her brow. "You're right, but I don't have to like it." She stood up, her chair floating off into the swirling storm of miasma. "Go back to your world Jason. Our time here is done."

"Wait!" Jay shouted. "I want information. I want to know why I'm so important."

The crone shook her head. "It is not my place to tell you. Seek out the elder at Lavender Town. He will teach you what you need to know."

Jay shook his head in return. "That's not good enough."

The old woman laughed. "It is good enough for me." She laughed, and Jay felt his vision fade to black.


Jay jumped awake, coughing out what felt like gallons of water. He rolled off his back and coughed until he felt like his lungs were on fire. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, chest heaving. Misty appeared at his side and slapped him across the face.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" She shrieked. "Why the fuck did you let go? Are you trying to kill me?"

"No," Jay said back. "I was trying to save you. Judging by the fact that you're screaming in my face, it worked."

She slapped him again. "Don't you dare do that to me. You don't get to nobly sacrifice yourself for me. I'm not your damsel in distress."

"I never said you-"

She interrupted him with another slap. "Just shut up." She ordered. "I wasn't done." She stood up, distancing herself from him. "I thought you were gone, alright?" She turned back to look at him. "Look, I'm not good with the whole touchy feely stuff. I care about you. Don't go do something stupid like that again."

Jay stood up, expression softening. "Misty, I was only trying to keep you alive. Starmie couldn't slow us both down fast enough, so I let go. I knew that I had a chance at surviving a fall like that. You didn't." He took a step towards her. "I care about you too Misty. That's why I let go." He took another step. "Because if it's between me and you, I'd choose you every time."

Misty looked away. "You could have died" she said. "Then where would I-"

Jay pulled her into a kiss, cutting her off. He pulled his head back and smiled. "I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I'm with you till the end."

"Oh for the love of Mew." An umbreon stepped out of their shadows. It cocked its head at them and its voice appeared in their minds again. "I've never seen two humans be so absolutely infuriating."

"Umbreon!" Jay shouted, startled by the pokemon's sudden appearance. He grabbed at his side, looking for his sword. His hand brushed an empty scabbard, and the umbreon gave him a look of annoyance.

"There won't be any need for that Mr. Gould. We do have a schedule to keep. You made good time with your whole jump off a mountain idea, but if you don't get moving then you'll miss it."

Jay drew back, his hand brushing cautiously against the pair of balls on his belt. "Miss what?" He asked.

The umbreon drew closer to him, studying his reactions. "The gates of the city close at sundown. You can still get there in time, and that would probably be for the best." It looked between Jay and Misty, studying them. "You two wouldn't last an hour out here at night."

Misty planted her feet in the dirt and crossed her arms. "So what are you suggesting?" She asked sceptically.

The umbreon turned around, facing away from the shoreline. "Let me take you to the city. I know the terrain, and the pokemon around here tend to keep their distance from me."

Jay shook his head. "You really think we're gonna follow you?" He laughed. "I'm not going anywhere with one of hell's pranksters."

The umbreon cocked its head to the side. "I think you will. The alternative is staying with him."

The tyranitar burst from the water and surged onto the shore, showering them all with water and silt. Jay grabbed Misty's arm, and ran for the tree line. The umbreon leapt into a shadow, and reappeared in front of Jay and Misty. A black pit opened on the ground in front of them, sucking them into the dark.

The tyranitar roared and stomped forwards, wiping away the black mark left behind on the ground.


Well, there isn't really a good way to say this or start this kinda talk. My dog died. I kinda lost the will to do anything for a little while. Sorry for the wait, things should keep going at the pace they were before.

On a much happier note, it's St. Patty's day so I'm gonna go finish my beer and have another 3 or 4 with my girlfriend before I leave for a 12 hour shift. Thanks everyone, have a great and safe Thursday!

UPDATE: I kinda got a bit tipsy and I forgot to post this yesterday. Sorry about that everyone!