Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon, I won't own Pokémon. But I do own this story line and everything that isn't from the series.

" " - talking; Italics – thinking; ' ' - speaking telepathically

Xxxxxx - break in day or event; Xxxxxxxxxxxx - change of days

Chase/Nogitsune – 20 yrs ; Leta – 20 yrs ; Kenny – 21 yrs

Mask – 18 yrs

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

The sun was still below the horizon, and the moon was just starting to disappear from the morning sky. Chase and Mask had traveled by foot to Lake Verity for the last two days. And for those two nights, Chase hadn't been able to get any sleep because of the voice that he thought he was hearing. He found himself often yelling at this voice. And this was making Mask a little nervous around him. So he learned to keep the yelling inside of him, since he was sure that she wasn't hearing the voice anyways.

Suddenly, a pokéball opened and a red ringed Umbreon appeared. 'What are you doing still awake?'

"I can't sleep," Chase answered calmly, watching the moon fall.

'Why not?' the Umbreon asked.

"It all started when we acquired that Leafeon. I started to have problems sleeping, and now I can't sleep at all. And above it all, I think I'm starting to hear voices Shadow," Chase said, trembling slightly.

'I did notice that you were starting to act strange when Blade evolved. But a voice? What kind of voice?' Shadow asked.

"It's a voice that seems familiar, yet I can't remember who or what it is," Chase said, looking at Shadow.

'What does this 'voice' tell you when you hear it?' Shadow asked.

"At first, it said "You are not who you think you are,". Then on another occasion, it said, "She is still looking for you,". Actually, that happened right after I ran into that Ranger and girl back in that town." Chase stopped talking and tried to think back to that day.

'Did the girl look familiar at all?' Shadow asked after some time passed.

"That's the odd thing. I can't say for sure. You know best of all, Shadow, that my memory of anything back beyond when I joined Neo Team Rocket when I was around ten is all a blur. I can't remember anything. I just know my training from NTR and up to this point," Chase said.

"Maybe you should seek her out,' Shadow suggested. 'Who knows, maybe that voice knows something that you don't.'

"The voice just comes in at odd times. It only says a phrase, then it's gone. Except for that dream…" Chase said, remembering.

'You never mentioned a dream,' Shadow said. 'Tell me.'

"I remember that I was sleeping until I heard a voice say something. Then I thought I heard it from the window. When I looked out the window, instead of seeing my reflection in the glass, I saw a face similar to that of an Eevee. As I backed away from the glass, the reflection came out of the glass, and a body appeared. It was more human than anything. But it was covered in fur, a tail, and face that of an Eevee. Then it said something that got me to snap awake. "I am you." " Chase cringed at that part.

"That's an odd dream," a voice from behind Chase and Shadow said. Both of them turned to see that Mask had woken up and had been listening to them. "So that's what you've been yelling at lately? A voice in your head?" Mask asked Chase.

Chase looked back over the lake. "Yeah, a voice that seems oddly enough familiar to me, but I don't know from where."

"Maybe it's from before you joined NTR," Mask tried to reason.

"Maybe," Chase sighed. He continued to stare over the lake and the sun started to rise into the sky. Chase stood, and said, "Today, we raid the island at the center of Lake Verity and take the being know as Mesprit."

Xxxxxx

"Are you sure he's going to be here?" a girl in a Ranger uniform asked.

"If he was truly after the three beings, he'd have to come by this island sooner or later," a slightly older boy said. "And since this was the closer resting place of one of the beings, it makes sense to come here first. Does it not, Leta?"

"I guess so Kenny," Leta said. She and Kenny waited just inside of the cave entrance of the Lake Verity Island. Soon, I will find you Chase. I promise.

Xxxxxx

Chase rowed the boat quickly over to the island and both he and Mask jumped out as soon as they landed on the island. Chase started to remember some of the things that he had read up on about this being known as Mesprit. "It was written that this being known as Mesprit is referred to as "The Being of Emotion". It taught humans to sense emotion such as the pain of sorrow and the value of joy. If a human touches it, three days after the touch, the person will lose their emotions."

"So, let's not touch this pokémon. Let's just capture it," Mask said. As they entered the cave, the noticed how dark it was, so Chase lit a flare out of his bag. Up ahead, they saw the body of Mesprit. "It's so small. This is the Mesprit?"

Chase pulled out his book, the book he stole from the library, and turned to a page that had an ancient picture of the creature. He carefully examined the book and the pokémon ahead of them. "Yes, that is Mesprit," he said quietly. Chase pulled out a shadow master ball that he had helped create for this opportunity. This is almost too easy.

"Hold it right there Rocket!" a young man's voice called out. Suddenly, a large spotlight lit up the cave, and was aimed right at Chase and Mask. "You aren't capturing Mesprit today. And you never are going to."

"It's you!" Chase yelled. "You're the Ranger from the Eterna library!"

"Glad you remembered me kid," the Ranger laughed. "By the way, I didn't catch your name the last time we met. Mine's Kenny, what's your's?"

"You can call me Rocket," Chase replied. "No Ranger deserves to know my name."

"Ok, fair enough," Kenny said, glancing over to mask. "And who are you?"

"The name is Mask," Mask said, taking a position next to Chase's side. "Who's your girlfriend Kenny?"

"First of all, I'M NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND! And my name is Leta Masters," Leta responded angrily.

Chase focused on Leta for a second. Why does that name sound so familiar? "You take care of the two Rangers, Mask. I'm going after Mesprit." Chase turned around and went farther into the cave to find the pokémon being.

"NOT IF I WON'T LET YOU!" Kenny yelled as he chased after Chase into the cave.

"Now, Mask. You are left to deal with me. Dratini, GO!" Leta released her Dratini. It was the same pink Dratini that Chase had giving to her ten years ago on that Christmas day.

A pink one?! "Fine then. A battle you want? A battle you get! THUNGER GO!" Mask said, as she released her Raichu.

Xxxxxx

Chase ran down the through the cave trying to find the pokémon Mesprit was sleeping. He slowed to a walk as he carefully approached the being. Like stealing candy from a baby, he thought as he pulled out a shadow ball. In a second, you'll be NTR's. He threw the ball, and captured the sleeping Mesprit.

"NO! I'm too late!" Kenny yelled as he entered the room.

"That's right, loser Ranger," Chase said, as he stowed the shadow ball into his bag. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I have some other business to take care of."

"You're not going anywhere thief," Kenny said, as he blocked the only escape to the room. "You'll have to go through me to get out."

"Didn't we do this once before?" Chase asked, grabbing a shadow ball of his belt.

"The only difference is that you're not getting away this time, Rocket!" Kenny said, grabbing a poke ball himself. Both trainers released their pokémon. "TY, GO!" Kenny released a Typhlosion.

"Blaze!" Chase released his Flareon. The battle between the rocket and the ranger went on for at least a half hour, and neither pokémon were willing to admit defeat, nor were their masters. The battle raged for a while longer until Kenny fell flat on his face. Behind him, stood Mask.

"Are you done playing with the Ranger yet?" Mask asked.

"Aww, things were just getting fun too," Chase laughed. "You took care of that Leta girl?"

"Of course," Mask said, smiling under the mask. Then Mask and Chase started to run out of the cave and onto their next part of the mission.

Right as they were exiting the cave, Chase's foot caught on something and he fell flat on his face. As he landed, the pendant that he was wearing came out from under his cloak and fell to the ground.

Turning back, Mask asked, "Chase, you alright?"

"Yeah, my foot got snagged on some…" Chase stopped short, seeing what had caused him to trip. Her! It was the Leta girl. He watched her shift her focus between him and the pendant that now was laying on the ground.

She called him Chase? Leta asked herself while looking at him. Then she looked to the pendant. I gave that to him, why would he have it? Unless… Then it hit her. This Chase, the one that was on NTR, was the same Chase that she was searching for. Chase shook his foot free of her grasp, picked up the pendant, and started to run off with Mask. But why would he join them?

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

So, there you have it. Phase one of the mission is complete. A little too easy? Yeah, I couldn't think of anything. But I hope to have the next chapter up soon, with a little more action, battle wise.

You know what time it is?! REVIEW TIME! Tell me what you think, and I'll greatly appreciate it. Until next time, dear readers.

Chase/Nogitsune