Chapter 3 – Falling Leaves
"You bastards will all rot in hell. And then I hope hell spits you out so I can send you all back there myself." Ash – Destruction of the League
[07:47AM] – May 17th - Cerulean City – Cerulean Cave – SECTION Base - Misty
Misty stared at the dawn.
There wasn't much to look at nowadays. It was just the same old, boring grey. It never seemed to change. The girl ran a hand through her long, fiery orange hair, closing her blue, green eyes in sorrow. She opened them again seconds later, staring up and trying, hoping she would see a change in tone. Or maybe a hint of blue or possibly even sunlight streaming past…
The grey sky remained unchanged.
Her head dropped down onto the cold windowsill, and she let out a ragged breath. She struggled to compose herself, to pull together the pieces before starting each new day.
It all seemed the same nowadays.
She would wake; stare out of the hidden window, the only one in the entire complex, and think of him. Her thoughts had seemed to linger longer on him with each passing day, trying to hold on to the memories. His face, his smile, his sparkling eyes and the soft feel of his hair beneath her hands. His soft touch that she would never feel again. She flinched and her eyes fluttered. She took another deep breath, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to hold together the broken parts of her heart.
"Azurmaril?" she breathed gently. There was a responding squeak and the aqua mouse hopped into view. It more closely resembled a rabbit, with long floppy ears. Its fur was blue with white spots dotting her bottom belly. The tail looked like a spiky antennae from a kids toy. The rabbit blinked its black eyes at the ginger haired woman. "ZuRill?" (Misty?)
Misty sighed, wishing for the millionth time that she could understand what her Pokémon was saying. She wished also that her other Pokémon could be with her, but she had agreed to let them be used by the soldiers. She had been left with her young Azuril, since evolved. It seemed like so much had changed.
Oh if only you were here.
You'd know how to end this stupid war.
Four years ago some people who thought they knew what was best for the world tried to change it. These people included the former villainous gangs. Now, the opposing enemies were generally and consistently known as the Team. Four years ago had been the beginning of the war and the end of everything she had ever known. Pokémon fought Pokémon. Human fought human. Initially the League stood strong, but the rising forces of darkness overwhelmed them.
Life was pretty sombre nowadays. The Teams had done something to wreck the balance of the world. The sky turned dark, and eternal darkness where no sun ever got the chance to rise. Devices became locked and most technology with the typical, solar core of the age ran out life. Pokéballs stopped working, and since nobody was mad enough to go out into the wild to try and catch a feral Pokémon, people were forced to quit their previous occupations of PKMN Trainer and PKMN Co-ordinators.
Three years ago, the League, thinking they knew best sent spies into the Team to try and bring them down. They overrode SECTION instructions, and their foolishness, and belief that they knew best brought itself to its demise. The Teams knew of the plan, and the spies and double agents were flushed out. The League fell, along with the old Pokémon League building. And he died, stabbed through the heart and thrown over the cliff.
They never found his body.
That had been three years ago. But it seemed to the former Cerulean Gym Leader much, much longer. Each day the hole in her life grew and each day seemed to span lifespans. She lived the same routines, stuck in the Cerulean SECTION base. She had never qualified as a member, bar her former gym leader status. She lived here with her sisters for safety, less she be caught and used as a hostage against them.
Like him.
And her life went on. Repetitive and seemingly never ending.
"Misty?"
The red head turned to see the green haired man looking at her. He wore a white coat with piles of books held against his chest. "What is it Tracey?" Misty asked, curiously.
The technician shuffled his feet, nervously, a bad habit he hand picked up. He shuffled through several sheaves of paper, biting his lip as he flicked through them. "I have something for you-" he broke of as several sheaves drifted to the floor. Misty bent to pick them up but Tracey's Sciscor had already scooped them up with surprisingly delicate claws and handed them back to his master. "Thanks," Tracey smiled, before locating the needed piece of paper, "Here we are,"
Misty took the crumpled sheet, her eyes drawn to the tear and blood stains on it. "Looks like the messenger Pidgey's are getting intercepted again,"
Tracey shrugged, "Team Rocket wouldn't be able to work out the code anyway. The Pidgey made it to us, chased by several members of the Ghastly family. Looks like the Rocket Lavender Division had been working on that Pokémon mutation."
Misty's eyes widened, "What were these like?"
Tracey picked a picture of the top of the pile, showing it to her. "Your Gyrados took three of the monstrosities down. Seems like they've been working on Muk/Gengar crosses." The image showed a decaying body, looking like a small purple demon with sludge for features and an evil grin plastered on its unseeing face. Misty turned away in disgust.
Her turquoise eyes drifted back to the letter. Seeing the sender she tutted in surprise, "Wonder what the Western SECTION branches have to say. Pewter and Viridian think they are so much higher than Cerulean and Vermillion." Her eyes rolled. The four SECTION branches seemed to be slip into two, the two on the eastern side of Kanto separated from the west. They rarely linked. Misty flicked through the letter, her eyes scanning across the page.
"What do they want?" Tracey asked curiously.
Misty paused for a moment before answering. "I don't know," she replied eventually. "The decoders seem to have messed this up properly!" She frowned before throwing her hand down in annoyance, "Best I can make out is that a shadow is hunting for gears. I've got to warn Lorelei." She snorted. "Why they sent this to me I don't know,"
"What does DeeDee mean?" Tracey said, tipping his head upside down in an attempt to read the mail. Misty showed it to him and he frowned, "Who the hell is Rock? And what is that about leaves?"
"Brock?" Misty shrugged. "Maybe I'm meant to show Leaf?" She sighed, slumping against the wall. Then she stood up again, "Where is Leaf?"
Tracey shrugged. "Where she normally is…I guess. Wherever that is…" he was left talking to the wall though as Misty had already turned away, walking at a fast pace. He called after her, "I'd slow down if I were you. People will begin to think you don't have anything better to do."
Misty didn't turn as she called over her shoulder, "I don't!" Azurmaril was close behind her, trotting at her heels.
[08:01AM] – May 17th - Cerulean City – Cerulean Cave – SECTION Base – Intel – Leaf
The woman with long, straight brown hair slammed her filing cabinet closed with a loud crash. She smiled at the noise, as if it pleased her. From the top of the grey metal cabinet she hooked her white hat down, modelling it on her head for a few seconds before satisfied. She wore a short red skirt with a blue shirt, white shoes with blue socks. She posed thinking about something before coming to a decision.
"Ditty! Rise and shine!"
The filing cabinet in front of her seemed to shimmer for a moment, before it seemed to globule into a jelly –like substance. The grey faded and it gradually became a pale pink, with little dot like eyes and a small mouth. The blob shrank to, until it was only the size of a handbag.
"To?" (Good enough?) The Ditto asked. Leaf nodded.
"That was pretty convincing. You just need to remember to include files in the filing cabinet. If some Team Member wants to file something away it will look a bit odd if that is the only thing in there."
The blob seemed to consider this before proudly remarking, "DittoDit!"
The woman nodded, "I told you could maintain forms while sleeping." Now she addressed the pink sphere with large blue eyes, "Thanks for the song Jiggly!" The Jigglypuff squeaked happily, waving its microphone that doubled as a pen with her hand. Her large eyes blinked mischievously.
There was a knock at the door. The Ditto and Jigglypuff looked at the woman curiously but she shrugged. "How am I meant to know who it is?" she protested as she wondered over to it, twisting the bolt and pulling it open. Her face lightened though as she saw the visitor and she stepped back, letting Misty step into the room.
"Leaf, can you make any sense of this?"
Leaf pouted, "What, not even a Hello? Hello Leaf? How are you? I'm fine thank you for asking, how are-"
"Leaf,"
The woman threw up her hands in exasperation, "Fine, fine," she moved forwards under the lamp to peer at the crumbled, blood specked paper. She winced, "Looks like those Messenger Pidgey were some creatures' lunch,"
Misty nodded, "I think they were," she admitted, but didn't say any more.
Leaf sat down in a chair, sighing as she stared at the translated code. "Looks like they mucked up the code again. Do you have the original?"
"Flip it," Misty told her, and Leaf did so, finding the original on the back.
The brown haired girl poured over the original coded letter. Then she looked at the translation. She nodded impressed, "A code inside a code. Impressive. Looks like something Gary would try."
Misty looked at her eagerly, "I think its talking about you since your name's in there."
The woman in the white hat nodded in agreement, holding a hand out. Her Ditto obliged, morphing into a pencil with two small dot eyes and a large pink rubber on the end. Leaf began scribbling away on the crumpled paper. She paused after a while, chewing the pencil thoughtfully before realising what she was doing, stopping it and letting the pencil morph back into a disgruntled pink blob. The woman gave a hasty apology.
"Well, best I can comprehend is this." She cleared her throat, "It's from Gary but he sent it via Pewter and they added something. Letter: Misty, we need to meet somewhere to discuss something. Where the moon faeries dance at… when the full moon was meant to Leaf so she can come to. It concerns both of you. Whatever you hear, whoever you hear it from, don't trust the rumours about the shadow. Trust him, he is your friend. That's where Gary's message end and SECTION added something under it. Recently apprehended man named Shadow. Escaped from Pewter base. He knew everything about me Misty… wait, this is from Dawn!" Leaf's tone grew excited.
"What else does it say?" Misty asked, frowning.
Leaf peered at it, "I don't think he's bad but I don't think we can trust him. He's hunting Time Gears. Need you to try and get to them before him. Use them as bait. My only hint is talk to Lorelei. Brock sends his love. Dee Dee," Leaf snorted. "She hates that name."
Misty tucked a loose strand of orange hair behind her ears, "Dee Dee is Dawn?" she asked.
Leaf nodded, smirking, "Stands for Diamond Dandruff. Childhood nicknames…" she sighed, smiling. Misty elbowed her gently.
"What? Like Green, Blue and…" her face fell and she crossed her arms across her chest and forced a smile. Leaf noticed her actions but didn't comment. She nodded. "Yeah, like that."
There was an awkward silence before Leaf jumped into action. "Ditty, I need a calendar, accurate for this month, showing dates, times, events and most importantly…" her eyes gleamed, "Moons,"
The blob seemed to roll its eyes before shimmering. The pink condensed, into a thin paper booklet. It was still pink, and each month had pictures of Ditto and more Ditto. Now it was Leaf's turn to roll her eyes but she didn't comment, instead flicking to the current month.
She paused, "What month is it again?"
Once Misty would have hit her head but it wasn't an odd question. She had to think for a few seconds before answering, "May," She counted the days on her fingers, "The seventeenth,"
Leaf flicked the calendar to a page where blue dittos wore black glasses and suits. She tutted, "Shame, I forgot to tease May about it. I always used to call her April this month,"
Misty tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear again, "I'm sure she doesn't mind," she reassured the brunette.
Leaf nodded, her finger running along the page. She tapped a date triumphantly. "There. The twenty second. Full moon!" She smirked, "Then we have to find where the moon faeries dance and…oh it sounds so romantic," She grew starry eyed.
Misty elbowed her friend sharply in the ribs, "I'm sure Gary missed you to. But I swear I am not putting up with your lovey dovey girlfriend boyfriend act for one second. Got it?"
Leaf seemed unperturbed. She shrugged but refrained from a retort. Her ditto transformed back into its natural shape, looking fed up. Leaf's blue eyes were thoughtful.
"So, we should get ready to go to Mount Moon then," Misty shrugged.
Leaf gazed at her curiously, "Why Mount…" her mouth formed a small 'o' of understanding. "Of course. The Clefairy." She smiled. "Mount Moon," Her blue eyes sparkled thoughtfully and her mouth was twisted in a mischievous grin.
Misty knew something bad was coming. She voiced her fears in the easiest way possible.
"I hate it when you get that look,"
[10:12AM] – May 17th – Celadon City – Celadon Gym – Erika
"Move it you lazy lot!" The rocket grunt snarled at the grass-type trainers. Erika let her black hair fall over her face as she plucked another leaf from the plant. She winced, feeling its pain but pushed it aside, laying the green plant in her basket.
"Rocket Scum," The young boy next to her muttered, angry eyed. His back was red and swollen under his pale white shirt. The blood had already soaked through, staining it red. The grunts were all too quick to use the whip on them.
Erika reached forward a comforting hand, "It's all right Joey! It's okay! The League will sort it all out one day and the Rockets can burn in hell." She hoped her fevered whisper was correct.
"Stop whispering!" The man behind them shouted and Erica turned away, plucking another leaf from the plant.
Smoke weed. A lethal toxin that the Team used to create poisons from. When burnt it provided a deadly gas. The Team still hadn't worked out how to contain it within bombs yet, but they were getting there. Slowly. Erica feared for the rebels when they finally discovered how for whole nations were at their mercy then.
She plucked another weed, taking a quick glance around the gym. It was worth the skin of her back to stay here, checking that all her precious grass type trainers were safe. They were like children to her. Her brothers and sisters she had never had. The rocket guard with red hair and a peaked cap glanced her way and she let her black hair fall over her face as she continued her work. The green headband was still tied through it, just as it always had been.
Next to her, the young trainer, Joey breathed quietly, "When will League forces reach us?"
Erica gave him a wry grin, "I don't know. Soon Joey. Soon," she promised. "One day we'll be back in the gym, happy and carefree. All our Pokémon will be here and it will be peaceful." Her eyes gleamed with hope as she spoke, her voice barely containing the vision.
The young trainer caught onto her mood, "Will I get to see Ratata again?" His voice sounded so hopeful, so damn hopeful. Like he was offering candy to a child. Erika's heart reached out to the young boy she loved like a brother.
She nodded, "And I'll find my Gloom and Sunflora. We'll all be together again," She smiled at him, painting the image in Youngster Joey's mind.
He blinked at her happily. "I look forward to that day," His hand plucked another leaf from smoke weed. The heavy footsteps of the rocket guard were audible and Erika turned back to her work, keeping her head down.
She hoped that she was right.
[10:13AM] – May 17th – Celadon City – Unknown
He watched the world pass by.
And he wondered on the reasons.
Why?
Where?
How?
His eyes closed, blocking the grey, dull, unchanging sky from his eyes. He examined the memories in his head of kindness, love and beauty. Of sacrifice and meaning, a purpose in life.
Then he opened his eyes and examined the consequence.
Anger rose within him. Anger at the anger, and hatred that had been introduced. It snuffed of the light of the kindness and empathy like snuffing out a candle. His eyes narrowed. He stared at the oppressors, letting the hatred build.
They would pay, all of them.
Let them burn.
[10:19AM] – May 17th – Celadon City – Rooftop of Celadon Department Store - Janine
The ninja sat, her feet hanging of the edge of the building. Her short purple hair was tied up, making her face look angled and narrow. A short purple cloak sat behind her, dropping onto the rooftop. Below her the world was hers to see, spread out below her. Her violet eyes examined the world, seeing the faults of mankind. Her lips curled at the marching Team members in the streets, disdain rising in her. Then sorrow.
If only she could find her father.
Not that she couldn't if she tried. It had been her quest for so long she hardly wanted to complete it. To find Koga of the Elites was hardly difficult, but then it was hardly easy.
Janine just didn't want her quest to end.
She sighed, watching over the city. Then, bored, she turned her gaze to the unchanging sky.
Something caught her attention. A figure with a ragged brown travelling cloak. Standing on another high office building.
Hope rose within her. It was impossible to get up there unless you had special powers of some sort. Janine stood from where she hand sat, her feet balanced right on the edge of the building. Her eyes gleamed at the figure, then her brows narrowed in confusion, forming a 'V' shape.
Across from her the spectral figure had one arm outstretched. From it a wave…a pulse seemed to radiate outwards. Janine stumbled at the sound, her well-tuned ears picking it up.
[10:20AM] – 17th May – Outside Celadon City – Ash
Ash flinched and materialised mid-teleport.
"What the hell was that?" he gasped, clutching his ears, trying to block out the...
ScreamingPainDarknessHellFire...
Burn.
[10:21AM] – May 17th – Celadon City – Rooftop of Celadon Department Store - Janine
The ninja girl struggled to maintain her balance on the building edge, and stumbled, thankfully backwards. Her eyes widened and her arms were outstretched in shock as she watched the power omitting from the cloaked figure.
Not her father. Not her father. Not her father.
Janine watched in awe as the waves became more rapid, and the heat seemed to build, coming from the outstretched hand of the stranger.
Down below the rocket's marched in ignorance, blissfully unaware to their fate.
The Ninja Master watched as flames began to flicker, spreading outwards from the epicentre. Her mouth dropped open as she watched the ripple flames spreading in a sphere up, down, all direction.
Taking the best course of action possible the ninja turned and sprinted for her life.
[10:23AM] – 17th May – Outside Celadon City – Ash
His auburn gaze flittered upwards. To a point in the sky that seemed to explode with energy. Weakly he could still feel the pulse of power behind the barriers he had emitted around his mind.
Besides him Raichu chirped in alarm. Va let out a plaintive cry.
And the sky seemed to explode.
[10:23AM] – May 17th – Celadon City – Celadon Gym – Erika
It was all calm. They were picking the smoke weed, snatching the odd conversation.
Then the room filled with heat and Erika's one ear seemed unable to work.
The Nature Loving Princess turned across to the other side of the room. She stared in shock at the wall that had been there, but now was crumpled, engulfed in flames. The truth hit her like one of the sparkling, dancing embers.
Celedon City was burning.
Disgust rose in her. Her beloved, beautiful city was burning.
Heat. There was heat rising up, and it was too hot. A dreadful smell filled the room, sickly sweet and it made her head spin. She gagged and pressed her ragged sleeve to her mouth in an attempt to avoid the poisonous fumes. She staggered across to where two of the beauties that had worked in her gym had been working. The now lay on the floor unmoving.
Dead.
Not them. They couldn't die. Then Erika remembered the youngster that had been beside her. "Joey!" she cried and the two met, Erika clutching the young boy making sure he was all right. His eyes were wild.
"We have to get out miss Erika," he gasped. Erika's one ear was ringing and she couldn't hear. But the panic and general situation set in.
This way!" she cried, pulling him along. She almost tripped over a sprawling Lass, and she dragged Tanya with her. The girl's one ear was bleeding from the sound of the impact and she was just as panicked as Joey. The gym leader pushed them ahead of her.
The rocket barred their way. "Not so fast. Bet this is all the little rebels planned. Well if I die…you die…" An evil sneer lit his face. At his feet a weak form huddled. "Gloom, get these idiots out of the way,"
Erika's eyes widened. "Gloom?" she asked. Then her gaze fell to the Pokémon and she fell to her knees in relief. "Oh Gloom it is you!"
The Pokémon's gaze slid over her blankly.
The black haired girl's eyes widened in shock. Her Pokémon…her Gloom. He could see the little nick in the leaf that her Pokémon had and that spot above her eyes. Her Gloom.
"Powder them,"
"Nooo!" Erika screamed. Once again the Pokémon merely blinked, before sending out a spray of powders.
Erica was begging, "Gloom. Do you remember me? I'm your trainer. It's me! Erica!"
Erika must have been lucky. She was hit with a paralyzing powder. It only caught her one half of her body and made her numb to the bullet that skimmed her side. The two next to her were caught in the full blast of a poison powder, coughing and dry retching. Tanya pushed Erica down out of the way. "Please leave miss Erica. Escape! For us!" Erika couldn't have if she wanted to. Fear rooted her, and her paralyzed limbs refused to obey.
The Team member levelled of the gun at her friends. "Time to deal with you for good," He snarled.
He must have been oblivious to the burning flames. He must have wanted to get the hell out of there and save his own life. But he took the time to let his finger slide towards the trigger.
No.
She wouldn't let it happen.
Erika screamed.
[10:30AM] – 17th May – Outside Celadon City – Ash
Ash froze, blinking at the sound that rent the air. The sorrow contained within was unmistakable, piercing and soul tearing. It split the air, above the general panic from the explosion over the city. His head tilted to one side, trying to place it.
Next to him Raichu blinked his dark eyes, tilting his head on one side. "Rai?" (What was that?)
Ash shrugged the black cloak he had donned rustling slightly as he spread his gloved hands, "I don't know. Someone sounds sad."
His black Lucario was leaning against a tree, his eyes closed. A low growl issued from his throat and the raven haired man turned to look at the jackal. "You can talk," Ash snarled.
One blood red eye shot open and the jackal curled his lip, "RoRiocar Lucar,"
Ash paused, considering it. "We can't help everybody in this damn war,"
A purple fox looked down from the tree branch she was perched on. "They'll be Rockets," she reminded him calmly. Her dark eyes gleamed faintly with the prospect of a battle. Her eyes were pupil less and the centre of her ears a dark blue. In the centre of her forehead sat a deep red jewel that sparkled with psychic energy. Her forked tail flicked in anticipation.
Raichu let his long whip like tail flicker from side to side, "Let's cause havoc," he agreed, dark energy sparkling on his pale cheek pouches.
The raven haired man wasn't one to argue with that. His eyes were shadowed but his mouth was curled up in a smile. He was silent but with a slight shimmering his form vanished as he teleported away. Lucario opened his other scarlet eye lazily. Raichu chirped softly before he vanished to.
"Coming?" The Espeon asked, her one foot held against her body as she prepared to leap down. The Lucario shook his head.
"There will be plenty more opportunities to vent my wrath upon them,"
The fox gave a snort, her fur shimmering. Instead of teleporting, the whole of her being seemed to rip across space and time, morphing the fox. Her pink fur grew orange and a mane of flames sprang up around her neck. Her black eyes grew bright sapphire blue. She shivered, her red fur seeming to flame up before jumping upwards. Her feet had just left the branch before she had teleported away, jumping through dimensions.
[10:32AM] – 17th May – Celadon City – Celadon Gym – Erica
"Silence, girl!" The grunt's hand shot out, slapping her across the face. It knocked away a tear drop and sent the girl flying across the floor. Erica lay with her eyes burning with sadness and anger as the black dressed man took a step towards her across the floor. She could see his black polished boots, his black trousers and polo neck shirt, the red letter R still resting on it. The man was masked, his sharp eyes gleaming at her through the slits.
His face was twisted in malice. "And now you die gym leader. How does it feel?" The gun materialised in his gloved hand.
Erica glared at him, "I hope you rot in hell!" she hissed, her fists clenched. She wasn't scared. Why should she be? She would see all her beloved friends again. She blinked calmly at him, preparing to meet her fate.
The grunt's finger slipped towards the trigger. His smile grew wider. And then his body stiffened.
"I agree with the girl," A deep voice said. A disbelieving grunt looked down at the shining black blade piercing his chest and had inly seconds to marvel at the blood dripping from his body before his life drained out of him. Erica had only time to glimpse a dark cloaked figure before there was a rush of heat and the side of the gym erupted into flames.
She screamed again, turning her face away from the burning heat. The orange fire flickered and danced, licking at the wooden walls. There was a creaking above her. She cast a frightened green gaze upwards. Her eyes widened. How could the building burn this quickly? Above her, the embers eating at wooden beams had left it balanced precariously above her. Erica's body froze.
"Va! Rai! To me!" Erica's face was drawn to the dark figure as a Flareon and Raichu materialised beside him. The fire fox was chattering something but Erica couldn't hear the sounds.
She scrambled to her feet, forcing herself to move and managed to walk three steps before the wall in front of her crumbled. Only now did she whirl on the man.
"What's happening!" she screamed. "You're destroying the gym!"
He looked mildly amused, "That's the idea. Although it was already pretty battered. Now, for the next bit it might be better if you close your eyes," A gloved hand grasped her arm strongly, even as she tried to pull away and then the flames vanished.
Twisting…
Morphing…
Time…
Space…
The ground slammed into her and the world tilted alarmingly sideways.
[11:34AM] – May 17th – Outside Celadon City – Ash/Erica
The black haired woman woke feeling terribly cold. She shivered and opened her eyes.
Instantly the world span alarmingly around her and she slammed her eyelids shut again. She heard faint movement around her.
"She's waking up," The deep voice of her rescuer. "Va, some healing elements will be good now,"
There was a vibrant cry, "FeonLeaf?" The tone was musical, rising and falling in pitch. Erica's eyes opened as she recognised the tone of a Leafeon. (That better?)
The world had stopped spinning and she tried to sit up to see her rescuer. A dark shape at her side steadied her. "Slowly, teleporting is really bad for wounded people. Makes you feel nauseous,"
Erica shook the fog from her thoughts. Her hand was still pressed against her side but when she spread her pale fingers there was no blood. Her green eyes drifted to the ripped material. She froze.
"What happened to my wound?"
The man standing behind her chuckled, "I healed you. Va helped too," The fox in front of her did a little dance. It was cream with brown paws and green tipped ears. The tail resembled a leaf, as did the centre of her forehead. Her eyes were a pale brown.
Erica smiled, "You have a Leafeon and Flareon?" she asked, remembering the fire fox from the flames. The her mind jolted back to her dead friends and she stiffened. She had tried to push them out the way but… she screwed the memories into a ball of anger and pocketed it for later. There would be plenty of time for revenge.
The man beside her smiled, not noticing her musings, but if he did he didn't show it, "Sometimes,"
Erica frowned. That was no answer. Then a thought struck her. "Wait…you healed my wounds?" Her head turned to the man leaning against the tree to her right. He wore a black cloak, black gloves and generally black clothing. He had a hood up but tussled raven hair was visible. She swallowed nervously at the dark man, realising she didn't even know his name.
He shifted uncomfortably, "Yes. I can use aura. I healed you with it." He was still leaning against the tree, his face hidden so Erica leaned for wards, feeling stronger. He turned his head as she did though and her eyes narrowed.
She pulled her knees to her chin wrapping her arms around her legs, "Explain about your Leafeon."
Another dark chuckle that sent chills up her spine, "Well she's a Leafeon…sometimes. She's a Flareon too…sometimes. Most of the time she's just a plain old Vaporeon…"
Erica stiffened, "She's a morph? All of the Eeveelutions?"
The man nodded, "Mostly she is a Vaporeon but she likes to show off." The prancing verdant Pokémon glared at him, barking something in her musical voice. Then, her whole form shimmered and seemed to crackle. Erica blinked, and in front of her stood a Vaporeon. She gasped, then covered her mouth.
"Who are you?" Erica asked, curtly. The man didn't answer.
Slowly, almost painfully she stood up, easing her stiff muscles before striding forwards, turning to look at the man. Her gaze flitted over his shadowed features for a few seconds.
Ash looked back at her, noticing who she was for the first time. "Erica?" He was surprised. He spoke to Rai, "Looks like we rescued a gym leader." He frowned at her, "A gym leader who doesn't work for SECTION…"
Erica had been living under the rule of Rockets for too long. She had heard the rumours and she flinched now looking at the dead man in front of her. "What?"
Ash blinked at her, "You really have been out of it. You don't know about anything do you?" His dark eyes grew sorrowful, "I am truly sorry for you. Four years of living like that."
Erica was surprised at this. Her lips curled. She mirrored him, leaning against a tree and crossing her arms, "So enlighten me, you whose name I don't know."
Ash smirked, "The League is split in two. The cowards…" he gestured with one hand, "The main League hide away in Diglett's cave. And SECTION," he gestured with his other hand, "The militant rebels who fight."
"Whose side are you on?"
He shook his head, "So many questions…"he mused, "I don't work for anybody. I was in SECTION…once…but that was in the day when the cowards thought they knew what to do. That job killed me."
Vaporeon and Raichu let out separate growls. Erica felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck.
"SECTION had four bases. Cerulean Cave. Mount Moon. Viridian Forest. Vermillion. The Rockets…the Team, whatever those scum of the earth call themselves… they have a hold in Celadon, Fushia, Cinnabar, Viridian and their main base…Saffron."
Erica nodded, absorbing this, "You didn't mention Pewter or Cerulean…" she noted.
Ash shook his head, "No man's land. Everybody skirts around the edges, not willing to cross territories. And the other place….Pallet…well…that's history,"
Erica missed the note of sorrow in his voice, "I heard the Pokémon league is destroyed. There was a battle there three years ago. Rockets killed some of the League members who had been double agents, posing as Rockets. They say that was the start of the war."
The woman again noted the silence. She glanced up at the man in front of her and instantly wished she hadn't when she saw the look of anger and pain in his eyes. He spoke eventually.
"I was there. I was one of the agents."
Erica titled her head to one side, "You must have escaped," she contemplated.
He shook his head, "I didn't." He eyed her warily. "Do you recognise me Erica? Probably not, since it has been eight years since I last saw you, challenging your gym." A wry smile crossed his face, "You wouldn't let me in because I didn't like your perfume… remember?"
The woman tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear, thinking back over all her challenges. She prided herself in remembering everyone and she was working through them. Slowly. Her eyes flickered up at the shadowy man. She blinked.
She gazed at him for a few more seconds before she worked it out.
"Ash?"
He didn't react, his eyes impassive. He nodded slowly, but kept his hood up.
"Why do you hide?"
He smirked, "I was killed up at the League that day. My dead body was thrown over a cliff." His voice was cold.
The grass type trainer shook her head, "Not possible. You're standing before me right now."
Ash nodded, agreeing with her, "So I am. What does that make me?"
"Dead?" Erika couldn't make any sense of it. She shook her head. "You're hiding from everybody? Wouldn't they be happy that you aren't dead?" she didn't try to question the shadow further.
Ash shook his head, "I can't see them. I have a mission." His eyes seemed to gleam, "A relatively good mission if you consider the amount of rockets I get to kill. When this mess of a world is fixed and time is running I fade from existence. I die. Time moves on, I'm left behind." His fists clenched, "No coming back,"
Erica stood up from leaning on the tree, "That seems a bit unfair," she commented.
Ash rolled his eyes, "Tell me about it," he sighed. His cloak wafted in the breeze. Erica suddenly became aware of the dark presence haunting the former champion.
"Why are you telling me this? How do you know I'm not going to run to SECTION and tell everybody that you're back? Throw a welcome party?"
Ash stood up, brushing down his black clothes. His eyes gleamed darkly and he smirked, "You're not," he said.
"How do you know?" Erica protested.
"Because you won't," was the cryptic answer. The dark man turned east and began to walk slowly through the forest. He didn't look back.
Erica stared at him in confusion, "Where are you going?"
"Do you want the truth of the part-truth?" Ash threw back over his shoulder. In the trees above him the Nature Loving Princess noticed his Raichu running along. Va trotted at his heels, tail waving back and forth. Her green eyes didn't notice the shadowy fox and jackal in the shadows.
"Tell me where you're going Ash!" Erica shouted, running a few steps after him. Her feet thudded on the ground and he paused, half turning to look at her.
"Truth. I'm hunting for time gears. I'm heading to Saffron to steal the two the Team have in their possession. Part-truth. I'm going rocket hunting."
Once these words would have sent shivers up Erica's spine. But now she felt something stirring deep within her. Her thoughts flashed back to the memory of those in her gym. If it hadn't been for those foul accursed bastards they would still be here.
She fought away tears.
"You mustn't follow me," Ash warned, "Revenge is not your path," The emotions rolling off her reminded him too much of himself, all those years ago. He still was.
She shook her head, "What about your path? Are you not motivated by revenge?"
He regarded her coldly, "You could get hurt. Me…" He turned away. "I don't have anything to lose,"
Erica watched as his figure walked away, black against black, the forest dark around them. She made up her minds seconds later.
The Celadon Gym Leader was following shadows.
A/N - Finally got that to my liking. Although I still think the Erica scenes are rushed. The introduction of Janine was a little rash since I don't know where that plot is going. But I needed someone to bear witness to Unknown, blowing up Celadon.
Unknown above is probably kinda' obvious, but I like his short part. He might even make another brief and unidentified appearance.
Hope you guys all like Leaf. She kinda wrote herself into the story with a very manga version of her character there. She and Misty are currently together. MISTY IS ALIVE.
And the main purpose of the last scene was to bring Erica into the picture as she plays a role. I always liked her and so have given her a minor spotlight.
Hope y'all enjoyed it! ~ Eclipse