Okay so cos I'm nice I've done a double update as an apology for taking so long to update. And also because I love this chapter to bits. So enjoy :)

Chapter 5 – Saffron

"I'm not fit to help anyone. Not my family. Not my friends. Nobody." —Cloud in Advent Children, Final Fantasy VII

[15:02PM] – 21st May – Saffron City – An Alleyway – Erica/Ash

"So, we've been here three days and achieved what?" Erika grumbled to Ash. They were crouched in an alleyway in Saffron watching some Team members march past. Ash's eyes narrowed and even Erica was planning how to kill them.

Across her back was strapped a bow she had made from a branch in the forest. Arrows were flecked with leaves. Ash had questioned this but she had smiled and commented, "Some leaves are sharper than others," At the tips lay a deadly poison. Erica had somewhat failed to mention this fact to Ash yet.

Ashe leaned forwards, his breathing slow and calm. Behind them Lucario leant against the alley wall, his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Above them Raichu was crouched in the shadows. A small brown fox was crouched beside Erika, brown eyes wide as it chirped.

"VuiEve?" (Where are we going?)

Erika raised her eyebrows at the dark man. "What's she saying?" she asked, blinking.

Ash shot her an annoyed glance, "I'm not a translator," he snapped, his spiky hair falling in front of his ever changing eyes. Currently they were a dark blue.

Erika tied a pink piece of cloth she had found into her hair. Then untied it. "What's with your eyes?" she asked, watching as the colour in them seemed to flicker. She produced a green piece of cloth from somewhere and seemingly satisfied tied it into her black hair. Her green eyes stayed focussed on Ash.

He shrugged, "Va wants to know where we're going, I don't know, I can't see my eyes, and I preferred the pink,"

Erika glared at him.

The man ignored her turning to Lucario, "Where's Zo now?" he asked.

The Lucario lazily opened one red eye. "Rio, ro LucarioLucCarr?" He yawned, his arms crossed across his cream torso. The crimson red eyes slid shut again. (Why are you asking me?)

Ash curled his lip up for a few seconds at the Lucario before turning away in annoyance. He muttered something under his breath but Erica missed it. The raven haired man shook his head.

"Where are we going?" Erica asked.

Ash didn't reply, staring moodily at the marching rockets. The grass type trainer noted his hand, clenching and unclenching, blue/black balls of aura forming in the palm only to be crushed by the black gloves. Then annoyed, Ash pulled one glove off, staring at it, musing. She shivered and touched her bow and quiver strapped across her back. Her green homespun cloak slipped from where she had wrapped it around her legs and she wrapped it close to her. Her brown shirt and plain jeans were drab and old but would do until she could find better clothes.

A voice called from the other end of the alley way and she let out a scream at the sight of a female rocket, dark eyed and uniform dressed. Ash clamped his hand over her mouth, stifling the piercing noise.

"Shut up," he hissed. He seemed relaxed in comparison and when his gloved hand came away from her mouth Erica whipped out her bow.

Ash pushed it away angrily, "Idiot," he muttered as the figure came closer. Erica glanced at the rocket wide eyed.

"Who is she?"

The rocket grunt smiled, revealing her teeth. Her eyes seemed to swirl purple and red. She glanced at Ash, "Rockets are swarming the whole city. They walk past the gym as if it isn't there. I don't think they see it."

The dark man nodded, "Good. That'll be it then. We'll have to check out the witch, as much as I hate to…" he turned to stare in confusion at Erica, "What's the matter?"

Two things were plaguing the Nature Loving Princess's mind. One was the strange girl they were talking to. Never had she seen her before but Ash must have known her.

The rocket smirked again. "Can I change? I hate being a damn Rocket!" Ash nodded, not even looking at her and in a flash of blue light the woman vanished, to be replaced by a red and black fox.

This only solved one of Erica's problems. So the Zorua was a shape shifter. It was used to sneak around and gain information. She had met the feisty little fox but didn't know about its ability.

This still only solved one problem.

The other she was still staring at; Ash's un-gloved hand where her arrow had cut into his flesh as he pushed it away. The tip was coated in a deadly poison. And Ash seemed totally oblivious to the fact he was meant to be writhing in agony right now, foam and spittle drooling from his mouth.

"Ash?" she decided to put the query to him. "Why aren't you dead yet?"

He turned in surprise, misunderstanding the question. "I thought we went through this yesterday…"

She shook her head, "I kinda' forgot to mention it but I have this poison. I used it on my arrows. On my arrow tips."

"And?"

Erika blinked at him. "You cut your hand. Just now, when you brushed the arrow out of the way,"

For the briefest of moments Erica thought she saw panic flash in Ash's eyes and then he shook his head dismissively. "I didn't cut my hand." He held up his single un-gloved hand, smiling disarmingly. Erica's brown-green eyes fell on the palm, once scarred with a light gash, blood seeping through. Now the skin was just like it had been before; unmarked.

She blinked. "But your hand was injured,"

Ash shook his head, "No it wasn't," he smirked. His voice told her that he hadn't been cut by the arrow but his eyes told a different story. They were a pale blue now, wary and cautious, as if avoiding some issue. He turned away sharply, directing a question towards the legendary Illusion Fox. "Which way is the gym?"

"Follow me," the fox still spoke, its voice telepathic even though it sounded like the spoken word. Her lips didn't move but the sound hung in their air, free for all to hear. The black fox pranced a little way down the alley way then lifted its tail and turned. "Well?" she demanded. "Are you coming or not?"

Erica was still gazing at Ash, her face a mask, concealing her confusion. Ash slipped his glove back on, helping her up with one hand. "Ready?" he asked.

She nodded and the two vengeful humans followed the Illusion Fox down the alleyway, into the shadows.

[15:32PM] – 21nd May – Saffron City – Saffron Gym – Sabrina

The psychic narrowed her eyes through the window. Yet another load of Rockets were stalking past, conversing in hushed whispers. Her hand balled into fists, barely concealing her anger.

Along the walls of the gym spoons were stuck into holders. As the blue haired woman looked out of the window, her purple eyes flashing with anger several of the spoons quivered, bending at middle until they had folded back upon themselves.

"Mime," The Pokémon complained its clown like face sorrowful in its anger. Its large white hands glowed pink, as did the spoons as it restored them to their former glory. Sabrina sighed and turned away from the grey, obsolete world outside. (Not again!)

She rubbed the psychic bracelets on her wrists ruefully, "I wish SECTION would decide what to do with Saffron. Then I could get the hell out of this damn place. I so preferred Vermillion."

Beside her the air shimmered, a bronze humanoid psi Pokémon appearing, "AlakaZam," he announced, as he hovered in mid-air, legs crossed as if in meditation. A spoon was held in one hand while the other twirled his moustache thoughtfully. He blinked at his trainer. "KaZam?"

Sabrina pulled the curtain closed on the outside world. In times like these they did nothing but to further her depression. Her eyes scanned the room, resting on a doll house at the far end. She lingered on it before snapping her head forcefully away, as if trying to avoid a bad memory. Her dark eyes shone with bitterness and self-loathing and her hands clenched.

The humanoid clown sighed and corrected the spoons again.

The gym leader wore a pink tank top, white jeans and pink shoes. Her dark blue hair was loose and it came to rest just below her shoulders. She shook her hair, contemplating something. She turned to her Alakazam. "Can you sense dead people?"

The psychic type looked puzzled.

"Best comparison…when in Lavender did you ever sense the spirits of the Pokémon there? Ever? And ghost-types? Can you read their minds?"

Now the Pokémon seemed to grow moody, "AlaAlaZamKaZam," (They are just like dark-types. Nothing.)

Sabrina crossed her arms across her chest. "Just like dark types, huh," she mused. "Dark,"

There was a noise from outside. Shouting and pounding feet. The sound of rubble flying and rockets crying out. Gun fire. Gasps of shock. The whip of arrows. Cries of pain.

Then the door to her gym slammed open, dislodging air. Sabrina smirked, turning to her Pokémon, "The illusion still held?" she asked. He nodded.

The Mr Mime hopped from one foot to the other, "Mime Mister Mister Mime Mime?" (Do you want me to deal with them Mistress?)

Sabrina shook her navy hair again. Her eyes danced with curiosity and the pounding feet drew closer.

The door slammed open.

[15:33PM] – 21nd May – Saffron City – Overhead – Lance

The champion was bored out of his mind.

If he was asked to say what was the worst part of travelling by zeppelin with two Rockets he wouldn't know where to begin.

First, the two were complete idiots. The man, Frutch, was a complete idiot. He acted like a girl, screaming at the stupidest thing. The two always seemed to be talking, endless chatter about the most idiotic things from motto's to hair colour to jabbering on about some Jesse James. It made Lance's head spin and he plugged his fingers in his ears.

Second, they travelled so damn slowly. They had stopped off in Fusia only to get drunk and kicked out of the pub. Lance had almost missed them leaving and he now wish he had. There was no wind, and the engines had died and the air balloon seemed to drift slowly through the air at a Slugma pace.

Lance had met up with his Dratini who was now, coiled around his neck. His Dragonair he assumed was outside, keeping an eye of things. He was itching to be off since the idiots had finally arrived over Saffron. The city that was impossible to get to.

Saffron was the head of the Team here in Kanto. Actually Viridian and Saffron were but Saffron was impossible to gain access to. From the north Cerulean was a no go. From the east Celadon was under Rocket control. From the west, monsters of all heredities stalked Lavender and the rebels were still vying for control in the south. And here he was getting a free lift into the city.

He had amused himself for much other time either talking to May, or playing Ekans on his Pokétch. He failed at game as the stupid snake kept eating its own tail, losing him points. He was bored to death and was already waiting for the first opportunity to sneak off.

"TiniDrat?" the tiny dragon snake squeaked in his ear. (Are we leaving?)

Lance smiled, trying to guess what the snake was asking, "Yeah, hopefully we're getting off now."

He must have guessed right for the dragon gave a happy chirp.

Lance clipped up his cloak. Right. Time to unleash havoc on the unknowing Saffron City.

[15:34PM] – 21nd May – Saffron City – Saffron Gym – Ash/Erica/Sabrina

The three people stood warily in the room. Two were on one side, the door at their back, one of them frowning at the multiple spoons around the room. The third person stood alone on the other side if not for the two Pokémon either side of her.

As if to mirror that the air around the two people shimmered and a small black fox materialised. Next to her an Umbreon growled softly. The Raichu was forever sitting on his master's shoulder and the black Lucario took up a stance beside the woman.

Sabrina smiled. "Look what the cat…" she glanced at the Zorua, amending her words, "Look what the fox dragged in." Her lips curled up in a sneer.

The black haired woman with the green head band blinked. "Sabrina?" she let the name hang in the air. The grass type trainer made to move forwards but Ash held her back, his dark eyes wary.

The psychic trainer examined him with curiosity. "You're meant to be dead," she told him critically.

"You're meant to be in Vermillion," Ash noted.

Sabrina narrowed her eyes, "You're a bit out of touch aren't you? I've been stationed here five months," her voice dropped to a hiss and her fists clenched. Several of the spoons bent over. Erika gasped. Mr Mime sighed.

Ash gave her a cocky smile, "A bit stressed aren't we?" he asked. He sent an aura thought to the Mr Mime who froze in surprise as a dark light engulfed the spoons, straightening them again for the faithful mimic Pokémon.

The psychic type trainer stiffened. "Where have you been Ash?" she hissed. "Hiding like a coward?"

Ash rolled back on his feet, examining the gym leader. "I think we both know where I've been witch. You can't read my mind, can you? And I'm not shielding…"

Erica switched her gaze between the two, "Explain," she commented tartly to the bickering pair.

Sabrina didn't even glance at her as she answered, "I'm a psychic. I read minds. Usually Ash uses his aura to block me. He's not doing that. I can't read his mind. That means he isn't meant to be here,"

Ash rolled his eyes, "Tell us something we don't know," he retorted.

Erica nodded in agreement, "Do you have anything helpful to say, and otherwise I'll say shut up,"

Sabrina turned her gaze to the ebony haired gym leader, "Your attitude's changed a bit darling," she smirked.

"I see you haven't," Erica crossed her arms, "I don't recall you being this sarcastic before," she noted, her own voice dripping with sarcastic.

Now it was Ash's turn to get annoyed, "All right, shut up woman!"

Sabrina glared at him. "What do you want dead aura guardian?"

Ash fixed her with a piercing gaze, his eyes flashing from dark black to a pale, dead sort of grey-brown. He didn't reply for a moment. Then he tilted his head to one side, "Why are you stationed here? In the middle of Saffron with two Pokémon quite capable of teleporting troops in?" His tone was only mildly curious but his eyes were expressionless. "Oh and why is there an illusion around your gym? Not that I can see it…dark typing and all that…?" His questions hung in the air.

Sabrina sighed. "You really are out of touch, aren't you," she noted.

"Answer the questions,"

She curled up his lip and strolled to the window, turning her back on the two at the door. "I was stationed here originally with the intention of leading troops via teleporting. But the city has a dark barrier and you can't teleport in or out. The illusion is to stop the Teams investigating the gym. They think it's ruined, they leave it alone. They also believe it is haunted by a fighting type. Alakazam throws focus blasts at any dark type that usually comes along and so the Rockets keep their dark Pokémon away." Sabrina sighed. "He missed your Zorua though. Since she was a person he didn't attack. Sneaky,"

On the floor the fox let out a small snicker. Her red tipped tail flickered and her eyes gleamed. "RuaZor," she snarled. (Stupid Psychic-types!)

Ash glared at her, "Shut up or I'll get Va as an Espeon to kiss your ass. Again." He emphasised his point. The dark type turned up her nose, but stopped her tirade of how rubbish psychic types were.

Sabrina glanced at the Umbreon, "I'm still stationed here for information. I've been here five months. I hear rumours from the passing idiots of the experiments the Team conducts. One was of an Eevee who could change between all its forms. They tried it with several dozen. The results were the same. They all died. Now they settle for Flareon and Umbreon morphs. Espeon and Vaporeon. Jolteon and Glaceon… every possible variant."

Ash's eyes narrowed. He didn't say anything as his red eyed Umbreon seemed to shiver, her black fur turning ice blue and a crest of ice crystals forming on her head. Va blinked her Glaceon eyes then with another ripple of space, her fur became a jagged yellow, electricity crackling through her needle like spikes. The Jolteon blinked once and let out a snarl before seeming to shrink. Now a brown fox stood on the floor with a cream collar.

Sabrina blinked, "Eevee's don't have black tipped tails or ears," she commented. Indeed the Eevee had black tips to her ears and tail, as well as a long black stripe down her spine. At the comment Eevee turned up her nose, let out a quiet "Vui," and frisking her tail in anger. (Bastards!)

"Eevee's don't switch like that between forms either," the dark man pointed out. His Eevee was still switching from Leafeon to Vaporeon. "Stop showing off," he told he and she settled back as an Umbreon with a disgruntled sigh.

Sabrina sighed, "You haven't answered my question. What do you want?" She glanced at Erica, "And where did you pick up the Celedon Gym leader?"

"He didn't pick me up!" Erica hissed. "I'm travelling with him,"

Sabrina raised one eyebrow.

Ash snapped at them, "You can read minds can't you?" he retorted, "Witch,"

Several of the spoons slowly began to bend over, glowing purple.

"Where else to find a Celedon Gym leader than in Celadon?" Ash asked, observing with one eye lazily as the spoon bending glowed black, slowly bending upwards again. Sabrina's face creased into a frown, struggling to force them down. "Her gym was killed after an attempted rebellion from Rocket control. I save Erica and we got the hell out of there." Sabrina was fighting a losing battle against Ash's aura. The spoons were slowly and gradually bending upright. She let out a muted snarl.

Va narrowed her crimson eyes, "BreoUmbre?" (Now who's showing off?)

Ash glared at her, straightening the spoons up much to a Mr Mime's gratitude and turned to Sabrina, his tone talking business. "We need to get into their base. Main base. The vaults specifically."

Sabrina gave up trying to move the spoons. Her head shot around, "What?" she hissed in surprise, spinning around.

Ash cast a glance at Erica then back at Sabrina, "We're not going to tell you why. It' better if you don't know." His gaze had darkened, hiding something. The air suddenly seemed cold and the grass-type trainer shivered, drawing her shawl around her.

The Nature Loving Princess's eyes burnt with dark fire. "We need your help. Please." She begged.

Sabrina's gaze switched from Ash to Erica and then back. Then to the Raichu on Ash's shoulder. "Why did Pika evolve?" she asked.

Ash stiffened. "He… well… simply he couldn't survive. So he got a little electrical overdose from Zekrom and that triggered the evolution." He was a bit vague despite both the woman's curious glances. His dark gaze fixed on Sabrina, "So do you know how to get in?"

Erica blinked at the psychic type gym leader. Ash sighed, "To be honest we weren't actually expecting to find you here. We were planning to use the gym as a base that I could teleport to and from since I can't get out of the city. But we find you here. And I think you know how to get in,"

Sabrina nodded uncomfortably. "I do. But its madness. There are way too many guards. You won't survive." Then she realised something in the man's words, "Wait…teleported?" Her question of how somebody was able to teleport went unanswered.

Ash ignored the last comment, "No need to worry," he told her then paused at what he had just said, shaking his head. "I mean… how can you kill a dead man twice?"

The sentence hung in the air and both Erica and Sabrina wore similar expression.

Erica glanced at the psychic. "He's mad isn't he?"

Sabrina agreed. "Totally,"

[16:21PM] – 21nd May – Saffron City – The PKMN Centre Ruins – Lance

Lance had been stalking along the streets, keeping to the shadows, his Dragonair gliding along beside him, invisible. He had been tracking those two idiots back to their base, ignoring their endless mind saddening chatter. He had been following closely, noting everything and shocked at how the once prosperous city had changed.

He had been doing this quite successfully when Britch...Butch and Cassidy had gotton distracted by something shiny.

Literally.

"Ooo coin!"

"Hey, I saw it first!"

"No! I did!"

"It's mine."

"Actwally, technoically 'tis mine idjits!"

Lance paused and looked towards the strange accent. A talking Meowth who was currently joining the blonde and green head in stupid chatter. The Meowth had picked up the gold coin and prove it to be his by fitting it neatly to the top of his head. The cat also, strangely, was walking on two legs unlike the normal kind of his species.

At least, Lance hoped that the species normally walked on four legs and that this was an unusual variant.

"Hey, Meowth! You learnt Payday!"

"Shuddup Jimmy!"

Lance sighed in frustration. Now two more idiots had turned up. They were slightly unusual in that they were still wearing the very old white uniform with red R's. The man had purple lavender hair and sounded gay. His partner had long red purple hair and was currently nose to nose with the blonde Cassidy, the one brandishing a purple cobra by the tail having just hit Butch with it. To say that Jessie's Arbok looked peeved would have been an understatement. It certainly did not like being used as hammer to hammer the idiotic Crutch...uh...Butch into submission.

Cassidy was glaring at the red head, "What do you three want?" she snarled.

Jessie turned her nose up in the air, "As if we'd want anything with you." Her Arbok was still dangling by his tail from her hand.

The purple haired man quit arguing with the Meowth and stood in a similar posture to his partner. "We're Team Rocket's special elite operatives," he boasted. And on it went

Lance had been simply standing in the shadows, listening to the arguing idiots.

Then Cassidy chose to kick James's Wheezing and the scratch cat straight towards where Lance was hiding.

That was how he got to now. Racing down a street followed by several idiotic Rockets.

He would have stopped to battle them. But he was in the middle of Saffron City which was simply plagued with Rockets. His face still stung with the scratches Meowth had given him and he wanted to cough up the smog from the startled Wheezing that had flown into his head. Dratini was still wrapped around his neck, through of the occasional dragon rage at the pursuers. Dragonair was firing dragon pulses, flamethrowers and a few other attacks as she glided along beside him.

"Damn it!" Lance muttered under his breath. A few other obscenities joined this as he skidded around a corner. He had to get out of the line of the mad Rockets. "Hyper Beam," he shouted to the dragon snake that began to charge up a golden beam. The four people and several Pokémon were scrabbling over each other in a mad rush to capture him. Amazingly they were still agreeing.

"You're an idiot Jessie! I'm going to be the one to capture the champion!" Cassidy boasted, between heavy pants.

Beside her Butch was skipping along like a girl. "Course we are Cas darling," he smiled, his Raticate running…umm…skipping at his heels.

James snarled, his purple hair flying. "You idiots couldn't catch a Magikarp if it hit you in the face!"

Lance slipped down an alley, racing straight down and out the other side. The arguing idiots continued along the main street. He sighed in relief.

"DrrrraaaaTini?" (Ummmm Lance?)" His dragon chirped from around his neck.

"What?" he asked.

Then he looked up.

"Oh shit,"

[16:34PM] – 21nd May – Saffron City – Saffron Gym – Ash/Erica/Sabrina

"So we turn left after the first corridor. Sabrina maintains a position there too…what was that?"

Ash and Sabrina looked up at Erica's comment. Sabrina blinked at the excited cries coming from outside.

"This way! Double promotion for whoever captures him! Triple for whoever brings me his head!"

Ash stiffened and cast a glance towards his seemingly lazy Lucario who once again had his eyes closed. The dark man's eyes flared pale blue and when the eerie light faded there was a faint trace of despair.

Sabrina who had been using her psychic powers to find the source of the commotion now looked up. Her eyes were wide. "They've got a SECTION member cornered somewhere. He's fighting it out."

Ash sighed, "Lance did always know how to get himself in a good fix."

"Lance?" Erica and Sabrina's mouth dropped open.

From where he had been pacing the orange mouse looked over, his long whip like tail flicking. "Does this mean we're going hunting?" he asked. His black eyes gleamed.

Ash smiled. "Yes." His gaze met that of his oldest friends. "You up for it?" he asked verbally.

"Always,"

Was the faithful reply.

[16:36PM] – 21nd May – Saffron City – Somewhere – Lance

Lance spun his sword, killing another rocket with the swirl. They were so cramped he barely had any room to swing the damn thing. He hated hand combat weapons. A blinding light from his dragons allowed him to back up a little bit, keeping the mob at bay from the alley he was trapped in.

He had been such an idiot.

He couldn't believe he had walked straight into the bunch of marching rockets.

Dratini fires of a purple and red dragon rage. Taking the moment of peace Lance switched to a more favourable weapon. The gun fit his hand as if it had been made for him. He gained several more metres.

"Dragaiiiirrr," was the weak cry as several air cutters and cross poisons from the multitude of evolutionary bats in the air sent her knocking against the wall. Distracted the champion turned, his cloak blowing behind him as he stepped towards his dragon.

Her head lifted weakly, eyes blinking. Lance cursed. Then her great blue eyes slid past him to where the rockets were. He spun around, eyes blazing, gun levelled.

His Dratini was knocked back from a Houndoom's flamethrower. The dragon squealed, eyes pinched closed as she struggled to produce a safeguard. Then the champion's attention slipped back to the multitude of rockets, all garbed in identical black outfits, a single red R on their shirts. Every single one had their guns trained on him.

Lance sighed. "Shit. Oh well. Least I went down fighting."

And the rockets fired.

To Lance's credit he did not even flinch. He was too pumped with adrenaline and battle ready to even acknowledge his impending doom. That was why he saw clearly the man materialising in front of him, dark cloak with a hood that covered his head. The gloves were also black with strange blue patterns on the back. Lance's eyes were drawn to the gloves as a blue shield erupted from the outstretched right hand.

A Raichu appeared to his right, a single tail slicing the flamethrower in half as if it was a leaf. Several volts of black, sparkling volt tackling mouse knocked the Houndoom to his doom. A battle cry was ripped from the throat of the mouse.

"ChuRaiRai," (Bring it on idiots!) the mouse snarled, black static dancing like fire along his dark orange fur. Black eyes gleamed and he lept forwards towards the fray.

The dark man in front of him dropped his hand, the shield dying. He cast a glance back at the champion but his face wasn't visible, cast in shadows. The tone however was mildly amused, "Can't stay out of trouble can you?" Lance blinked at the dark, cold voice. It sounded… it couldn't be familiar could it… "I'd advise you to stay back," the man recommended darkly as he turned, vanishing into nothing.

Lance caught only a glance of the Rocket's shocked, amazed, mouth open expressions mirrored on each of their faces. Then havoc and chaos was introduced among them.

The black cloaked figure appeared among them, a black blade formed of shining, black energy swirling into existence. The man didn't pause, twisting and cutting across the ranks. Then he vanished, appearing a metre off behind their turned backs.

The black shadow showed no mercy.

Lance was too shocked to do anything. Instead he trusted the stranger with his life as he turned to his injured Dragonair. She crooned weakly at him. Dratini floated over, her gaze distracted by the flitting movements of the Raichu as he used his long tail like a blade, cutting and swiping Golbats and Rockets alike. The pair of darkness was merciless in their killing.

Lance stared. At the faultless movements of the mystery man. Slash, Duck, Vanish, Stab, Vanish, Spin, Dodge, Parry. It was like moves to a strange dance that was hauntingly familiar to Lance. Not just because he saw something of himself in this man. But…

He shook his head. He was getting delusional.

He turned to his Dragonite. "Recover. Please," he begged. "I won't let you die,"

The Pokémon crooned faintly. There was a flicker and the hooded man appeared crouching by Lance's side. The red haired man jumped.

"She's badly hurt," was his only comment. On hand reached forwards, faint black light spilling softly from his palm. Lance frowned but the man shook his head, "I'm healing her," And before Lance could push his hand away he saw it was true. The torn scales and bleeding cuts were self-mending themselves.

Then another thought occurred to him. "Who's dealing with the Rockets?"

"What Rockets?" The man answered with another question. Fear pulling at his belly, Lance turned, only to see no standing person. The score or so of Team members that had been behind them all lay…

He pulled away from the gruesome act and fixed his gaze instead on the Raichu stalking towards them. The large mouse blinked up at the man. "RaiChuChi? KaaRaiAi AiChu AiChuRai." (That dealt with them. What now?) The dark tone made the champion shiver.

Then the cloaked man abruptly pulled away from the now healed Dragonair. "Stay out of trouble in the future," he spoke sharply before walking away. The Raichu cast them a dark glance, the emotions impossible to decipher in his eyes as he turned following at his master's heels.

"AiChi?" The mouse asked, the words having no real translation. The cloaked man cast one glance back at Lance. His face was still hidden.

Then he turned. "We go to Sabrina's." And then he teleported away.

Lance stood for a moment, musing the words. His two Pokémon crooned softly beside him.

Then the red haired man cast one look at the bodies littering the streets and made up his mind.

He set off in pursuit of Sabrina's gym.

[17:16PM] – 21nd May – Saffron City – Saffron Gym – Ash/Erica/Sabrina

"Lance is following you know," Sabrina told the dark man critically.

Ash nodded once. "I know. I wouldn't expect anything less,"

Sabrina narrowed her eyes. "I thought you wanted to remain undetected."

"I do," Ash said bluntly. "I'm leaving when he gets here. Although he'll probably recognise me on the way out."

Erika frowned at him, her green eyes blinking in puzzlement at the man. "Why don't you leave now?"

Ash shook his ebony hair and turned away, his dark eyes a muddle of confusion and indecision. His fist glowed black with aura and unconsciously the spoons in the room began to slowly bend downwards. Erika failed to notice and Sabrina's eyebrows merely rose.

"We have a mission," Raichu reminded him softly. "But then he is our friend,"

Ash sighed. "We can't let this all to waste. But as you say, he was our friend and he can help with this mission. But then again…"

Va rolled her eyes. She sat there, a Vaporeon, flexing her muscles. "Just tell him. And threaten to kill him if he talks. They were bound to find out sooner or later."

"Yeah, you just as well told that Dawn girl. I mean, you told her you were a friend and hinted at something more." The Zorua narrowed her eyes. "What was the something more? Because there is no way you would ever have changed your mind about Mi-"

Ash cut of the thought. "Dawn was like my sister. An annoying sister but still a sister. And I don't want to think of her. Just like I didn't want him here. It just makes the job harder."

Raichu stepped forwards.

"You need your friends," he reminded gently.

With the last thought still echoing in his head Ash heard the door slam and a victorious cry. "Ha. Knew the bloody door was somewhere around here."

A faint cooing could be heard from his dragons as the floated around the champion. The red haired man appeared in the main room. He smiled at Sabrina, "Good illusion," he told her, smirking. Then his gaze fell on Erika who had been pouring over a map drawn by the psychic, plotting. "Erika?" he asked surprised.

Then his gaze flickered to where the final person was stalking out of the room via the back door. The hood was down and Lance's eyes widened as the door slammed shut. Erika and Sabrina exchanged a glance. It was as if they were sharing the same thoughts. Raichu looked at the door and chirped helplessly.

Lance looked at the door. Then at the woman. "Was that Ash?" Lance asked stupidly. His voice was quiet.

Sabrina and Erica nodded. Again, in sync.

"But Ash is dead,"

Sabrina rolled her eyes and Erica sighed, "Tell us something we don't know,"

Lance pushed past them and raced for the door the ebony haired man had vanished through. The Vaporeon narrowed her eyes at him as he raced past.

"PourEon Vap PourEonEeVui," she spat. (All the time we spend staying hidden and in five days it's wrecked)

Next to her the Zorua rolled her eyes. The small bushy tail flickered across the floor, "This is going to be fun," she sighed. Lucario stayed lazing where he was, leaning against the wall, his blood red eyes closed. Raichu poked him with an electrocuted tail, clearly annoyed at something.

The jackal was too far away to hear.

A/N. Love that chapter. What with Erika and Sabrina arguing and Ash being totally awesome! Just to let you know, Ash didn't get his teleporting skill from aura. He got it in the past but hopefully that will be covered in the story. Yeah, also because he's meant to be dead he's got dark typing. Haha...I was laughing as I wrote the scene with Jessie, James, Meowth, Butch and Cassidy. They're fun to write. And Lucario is doing something...not just being lazy. It will be explained...

Next chapter involves Misty and Leaf. And Psyduck. But that's when I next update again.

Whenever that is going to be.

Thanks to those who have reviewed my story. And to those who have read but not reviewed. Thank you sooo much for the supportive comments.

~ Eclipse