I DO NOT OWN POKEMON!

Greetings once again readers. First, allow me to thank you all for your wonderful reviews and for answering my poll! Thankfully, my sickness didn't last too long.

Before we begin, let my just say that this will not be the last chapter. If it is, if you will, just something to slake whatever wanting for more of this story you have accumulated. It may be short, but I still hope you like it.

Oh, and feel free to inform me of any consistency errors, Kay? Now,

Enjoy chapter 11!

The scene: Veilstone City, Paradise Falls Hotel.

Three girls sat in a hotel room. Normally, this would seem a common situation, neither intriguing nor cause for any concern. But within this simple room, harsh events had taken place the previous day. These girls had lived very enjoyable, common lives. Until now.

As they sat trying to put all of their emotional suffering behind them, Dawn Berlitz, May Maple and Zoey Sanders could only think of one thing... Them. Ever since yesterday, the only way they mentioned the traitorous Assassins, even to themselves, was with the term, 'them'. The pain of betrayal had been so great, especially for Dawn since she had confessed her love to Ash only days ago, that they postponed their leave of Veilstone and had not left the room since.

In fact, they could not recall even saying anything much except for 'Good Morning'.

Right now, they envied the hundreds just outside the room, free of this burden of emotional pain. They went about their business, talking, laughing and enjoying themselves; as all normal people should. But Dawn, May and Zoey in a more extraordinary situation than even they knew.

There was a ray of light piercing this gloomy darkness: Very late last night, May had awoken and found Drew outside. She had merely felt more tormented at the sight of him at first, but he started to explain and by the time he was done, May's hollow emotions were purified. She had forgiven him. So much so that she and Drew had confessed their own love in a single passionate but all too brief kiss.

Even thought May found peaceful sleep before long, unlike her friends, she had stayed awake for a while, just stunned at what these killers were doing to protect them. She was, unbelievably, happy. With her emotional wounds healed, May had slept. It had taken all she had to avoid waking Dawn and Zoey and telling them the truth there and then, but she felt they should regain whatever energy they could.

Now, May sat in silence too, but for a different reason than Dawn or Zoey: She was thinking how best to tell them this. They might tell her she had been foolish for believing a liar a second time, but May had just known Drew had been telling the truth. Not that it would be easy conveying that to her friends.

She couldn't come up with any brilliant strategy and decided the only way to do this was to tell them straight out. Inwardly bracing herself, May said: "Guys?" She waited, knowing they still felt the pain of the supposed betrayal.

Eventually, Dawn replied glumly, "Mm?"

Taking a deep breath, May decided to start at the beginning. "Last night, I... I couldn't really find sleep. I was so preoccupied with my emotions that I was fully alert. So, even a faint scuffling sound outside startled me." Zoey looked over, raising her eyebrows, no doubt wondering what May was getting at.

"I might've ignored it, but it felt... Suspicious, so I went outside and looked around. I... I found Drew." There was a lingering silence. It was the first time any of the Assassins' names had been mentioned since the girls had banished them from their lives. "I wasn't angry; only sad. He was nervous, guys. Really, he seemed as traumatized as we are when he saw me."

"Are you sure he wasn't just trying to kill you?" Dawn asked coldly.

"Don't say that!" May retorted without fire, "He had a blade in his hand, but I think he was expecting someone else. He actually dropped the weapon when he saw who I was and backed away but I stopped him."

"What?!" Dawn exclaimed.

May held up a hand, as if to quell her rebukes. "I know it sounds dumb, but I needed answers from him. Sure enough, he gave them to me."

That seemed to pique the other two's curiosity enough that they both looked at May.

"He-he said they had been sent by some organization called the Assassin's Guild to..." She swallowed. "To kill us. Wait, wait!" May added, for both Dawn and Zoey looked ready to interrupt. May continued, "A contract had been set up against us, but not even Drew knew why. He said they just weren't able to do it because we have no criminal background; none worthy of a contract, anyway. You know that abandoned warehouse?" The other two nodded.

"That's where the Assassin's Guild is hidden. Drew said Ash and Paul had gone their to find out who commissioned our contract and... kill them, I guess. From what I can tell, those three are out to exact vengeance."

After a pause, Dawn said: "How do we know this isn't a trick of some sort?"

May was ready for this question. "For starters, those three are now considered outcasts by all other Assassins. Drew said they were being hunted by their former comrades. In addition to that, the Assassins were looking to kill us too. Just last night, in fact, Assassins were attempting to get in here. They actually might have succeeded if Drew wasn't there."

"He was protecting us guys! He actually said he would rather dispatch his former comrades, his former brothers; than let us die." She sighed in joy. "They are protecting us from other Assassins, infiltrating their former home and are looking to end this contract now and keep us alive! It's the truth, I can feel it. Trust me. And... Drew said that all of them had genuine feelings for us." Just saying the last few words brought a smile to her face.

May waited for what felt like a long time. Zoey was staring at May with her mouth slightly open in awe. Dawn, on the other hand, hand her hands over her face, pressing her temples. May waited for some reaction for Dawn; then saw tears leak out of her fingers.

May stood up, startled. "Dawn, w-what is it?"

Zoey seemed convinced by May's words; and it showed. "There's no need to worry, Dawn." She consoled. "They were never looking to kill us, they actually did like us. Even Paul." She put a hand to her chest, staring into nothing with sparkling eyes.

Dawn looked up... and May and Zoey couldn't help taking a step back.

Dawn's face radiated joy. Her face was shining like a newly blossomed flower fresh out of a Spring rain; dazzling happiness was all that there was on her face. It brought smiles to her two startled friends, seeing her like tears had been nothing more or less than tears of mirth; and a soft smile was gracing her mouth.

"I know, guys." She said, "I know."

(A/N: Sorry, I gotta say this: I was really happy writing that part.)

The scene: The Assassin's Guild.

The heat of battle was hardly a good time to think. But now, being assaulted by dozens of the Assassins he had known so long with Drew and Paul at his side, Ash could only think that it had all come down to this.

The three outcasts slashed, riposted and jabbed at their much more numerous attackers. But now, their desire, their lust for vengeance had peaked. They fought with a near-superhuman agility and strength that stunned, not only the Assassins, but even the heads of the Guild; Kenny and Harley.

The two normally composed men now had a touch of worry on their expressions, as if these outcasts were causing more trouble than they were worth.

Kenny raised his hand, shouting over the combat, "Blademasters to the front!"

The outcasts soon found themselves confronted with expert swordsmen, wielding longswords and claymores, while they themselves wielded only small daggers. They would have to improvise. Ash had no need to relay his plans to the others: he knew they would do the same.

The dagger-wielding Assassins parted slightly to make room for the Blademasters. Ash met the first one head on, slashing at the man's midsection, but his heavy claymore more than deflected the strike. Not that this had anything to do with Ash's idea. Letting the dagger clang to the floor, Ash raised his arms, assuming a hand-to-hand stance.

Ash could see the pompous grin under the Blademaster's hood as he slashed downward with his heavy blade. Ash quickly sidestepped, letting the blade's contact with the hard floor stun his attacker. Quickly grabbing the hilt of the claymore, Ash wrenched the weapon away, producing a sickening crunch from the man's arm. The man's screams were silenced as Ash cleaved him with his own weapon.

Turning back to the battle at hand, Ash saw both Drew and Paul had disarmed foes and were now wielding longswords, making the weapons seem far more potent when wielded by them. The build of the claymore's former wielder was stronger than Ash, so it took him some time to adapt to the weight of the blade as he swung it. Eventually, he managed to utilized the resulting inertia to clear the space around him, sending Assassins reeling back or dropping to the floor with deadly wounds in their bodies.

Even though they knew the upper hand was theirs, Ash, Drew and Paul knew they couldn't let overconfidence take its toll. If they had to kill their friends to end this, so be it. If they had to kill all of them, then... so be it. Vengeance was theirs.

Overlooking this mayhem, Harley and Kenny exchanged thoughtful looks, then nodded.

"CEASE THIS CHAOS!" Harley boomed with such power that both the Assassins and the Outcasts stopped immediately, staring at the two leaders of the Guild. Ash, Drew and Paul were all breathing heavily and sweat rolled down their foreheads; but the fire of vengeance was burning ever stronger within them.

Kenny and Harley made their way towards the Renegades, stepping over the many corpses of fallen Assassins and Blademasters, not sparing them a second glance. They were worthless in death, after all.

The survivors parted for their masters, inclining their heads slightly, much to Ash's disgust, showing respect for these tyrants even in the current situation.

"I commend you three," Kenny said, "You certainly have proved to be formidable adversaries. Even now, though, I only regret you cannot be allowed to rejoin us."

"Do you think we would want to?" Paul shot back.

Kenny shrugged. "Apparently it is not so. If it is your desire to die fighting, then it shall be so."

I think not. Ash thought. Harley and Kenny both loosened and dropped their cloaks to the floor, revealing two long sheaths. The two heads of the Guild drew their weapons.

"We are not mere armchair commanders, you see." Harley said. "All the tactics you learned during your time here all originated from us. We are the Two Assassins." The Three faced the Two, weapons at the ready for one final confrontation.

"And now..." Kenny said quietly. "We will be your Salvations."

Kenny's longsword met Ash's claymore. The two glared at each other from across their lock with intense hatred. Beside them, Harley met the longswords of Drew and Paul with his own claymore, matching their strength.

"Perhaps not in a way you think." Ash said, gritting his teeth.

Kenny smirked mockingly. "Indubitably, Ash. Indubitably."

Well, there you go. I've got nothing much to say. A bland chapter, at the most. Not much happened, but hey, you got to see the girls again, right? That's something! It's still infuriatingly short though... Ah, well!

Please, guys, strengthen my lifeline with more links (That is, reviews). It would mean more than I can describe. In short:

R&R, dear friends!

Daijobu!