Chapter 6 – Ghost Peak
"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real, too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." - Stephen King
[16:43PM] – 21nd May – Outside Mount Moon – North of Cerulean – Misty/Leaf
Misty narrowed her eyes at the brunette. She wasn't happy.
"I still can't believe you found me my Psyduck," she complained bitterly.
Leaf smiled at her, "I thought you'd be happy,"
Misty rolled her eyes, "I was! I thought I'd finally managed to lose that stupid duck! And then you find him for me!" Her voice rose slightly in volume and she threw her hands in the air in frustration. Behind her a yellow duck cocked his head on one side, blinking stupidly.
"Psy?"
"Grr!" Misty exclaimed. She clenched her hands into fists and stormed up the hillside.
Leaf cast Azurmaril a confused look. "Wonder what the matter with her is? I mean…did she really want that raging sea monster back?"
The two girls were on route…well they had probably known the name once but now the sign was lost, the name a useless piece of knowledge they had erased from their memories. The two women were standing on the route leading up to Mount Moon from Cerulean. Somehow Misty ended up with a giant backpack while Leaf had only a dinky little shoulder back on her shoulder. Her Ditto was nowhere in sight but the bag occasionally blinked.
The route was open, rolling plains that rose smoothly towards the dark, reddish coloured mountain. A few trees lines the route, giving it an airy feel and it seemed so spacious, not cluttered with all the trainers that once used to linger on it. Misty and Leaf made slow progress up from the basin where the Cerulean ruins lay. They weren't hurrying or taking their time, somewhat the pace traveller trainers of the past had used to get somewhere but still see their surroundings.
Behind Leaf her Clefable blinked its long eye lashes. The pink fairy was secretly very excited about this trip. Not just because her mistress would get to see the-one-that-makes-her-happy but she would finally meet the ones of her species that worshipped the bright-fierce-sun-that-appeared-at-night. Then the ears of the Pokémon dropped, since the moon hadn't been seen for year. She chirped sadly and paced after her brown-haired-blue-eyes-falling-leaf mistress. She pushed along the yellow-stupid-psychic-idiotic-slow-duck who seemed to have stopped to hold its head. Misty was still raging up ahead. The Pokémon didn't really understand it.
Humans were hard to understand.
"Remind me again why we are doing this a day early?" Misty asked in frustration at the all too cheery Leaf.
She gave a grin. "I want to be there in plenty of time. Oh, and the Clefairy are grouchy at this time of year."
That explained it.
The two of them trekked up the mountain in silence, maintaining their pointless chatter. Leaf's eyes kept drifting up to the obsolete sky, as if hoping for a speck of sunshine to tip its way through the clouds.
Nothing.
"ZurRill…" (This is…) the mouse summed up the gloomy mood that seemed to have befuddled the humans. Next to her Clefable nodded solemnly.
"FableCleff," (Depressing) The fairy sighed. Her ears twitched. Her dark eyes focussed on a dark hole in the mountain ahead of them.
Misty narrowed her eyes. She hated Mount Moon. It was one of the few places in Kanto which wasn't swarming in either SECTION of Team forces. She wasn't quite sure why, but knew that since Lavender had been turned into one giant experiment, the ghost types took residence here. And the dark types. The mountain was a labyrinth of darkness and shadows.
The rumours were that nobody came out alive.
Rumours, of course. The red head tried to reassure her quivering nerves. She shook her loose hair over her shoulders and cast one exasperated look at her Psyduck who was waddling some metres behind them. She rolled her eyes, concealing the slight affection she felt for the idiotic duck. She would never admit it, ever.
The two woman paused before entering, both of them looking apprehensively at the dark, forbidden entrance. Then their eyes met and they mirrored each other in a shrug.
Let's go for it.
And they entered Mount Moon, the riddling mountain, the labyrinth, the death hole, the ghost peak and the moon alp.
The first thing that struck the turquoise eyed gym-leader was the chill. It was cold and damp, as if no light had ever reached its fingers into the earth to illuminate the shadows that stained the walls black. Without being asked Clefable used Flash and the woman blinked in the light, bright in the Pokémon's hand.
"Thank Cleffy," Leaf smiled and the Pokémon replied in the positive.
Their travelling for the most part was uneventful. Leaf kept having to remind Misty to wait up for her waddling duck who was just out of eye reach, a metre or two behind them in the shadows. The Tomboyish Mermaid got frustrated at this and eventually picked the duck up, stuffing him under her arm.
"Duck," the yellow Pokémon protested weakly but Misty merely scowled and ignored his complaints.
Leaf observed this critically, "That's a bit harsh," she chided but Misty simply huffed, ignoring this too.
Leaf somehow managed to cut her arm on a jagged piece of the wall. It tore the skin and left a bloody gash. Refusing to stop and let Misty bandage it she wrapped a torn piece of her sock around it. Then she discovered that Clefable knew Recover.
"I wish you'd tell me when you learn knew moves," she complained.
The fairy blinked its apology. And moved both its hands to heal Leaf's arm. As she did so the flash in her paw died and the group was suddenly plunged into darkness.
"Oh great," Misty's voice was sarcastic.
Leaf could feel her arm beginning to heal under the invisible light of recover. She wasn't in the mood for the red-haired woman's complaints. "Thank you Princess Sarcasm. I didn't know you were afraid of the dark?"
"I'm not afraid of the dark,"
"Yeah, right,"
"Do I look afraid to you?"
"I can't see,"
There was the sound of Misty smacking her palm against her forehead. Then there was silence as the two let Clefable do her work.
Then… "Do you hear that?"
Leaf twitched, irritated, "What?" she asked.
"That?"
"What is…" her voice trailed off as she too heard the noise.
It was like a rustling tree branch, the leaves whispering together. At the same time it was like water trickling over pebbles. The noise was soft, like a whisper, or like steam from boiling water.
"What is that?" Leaf frowned.
Misty began shaking. Couldn't Leaf hear them? Couldn't she hear the screams?
"Make them stop," she whispered, clutching her ears with her hands, "Make them stop," her face creased, her eyes tightly closed.
Leaf stood almost knocking her head of the black rocky wall. "Cleffy, use Flash again. Quickly! Misty! What is it?"
The red head was wincing in pain, trying to block out some invisible noise. She twitched and shook as if in pain.
Oh no, please. Not that.
The screams echoed on, reverberating around her skull. The smell of blood rose up, making her retch and suddenly she was somewhere else.
"No, no, no you can't let them do this!" She was screaming now, throwing herself forwards but Lance caught her in strong arms.
His eyes were sorrowful, "We can't lose this whole thing just to save him."
Misty was screaming, a savage animal, "He's more important than any of this,"
On the ground three metres in front of them the man on his knees shook his head, awkwardly because of the knife pressed against his throat. "I'm not Misty. You know I'm not."
Tears run from her eyes as she takes in his defeated form, the small yellow shape lying still in the mud, red scars criss-crossing his body. The man with the shaggy hair looks even worse, his black shirt hanging in ragged tatters off his body. The bleeding wounds are clearly visible underneath.
"Live your life Mist. Live it for me. Do everything you ever wanted and be happy. Promise me that you'll be happy,"
And her heart tears open. He sounds so defeated. So lost. So ready to lose.
She wants to scream. She wants to race over and embrace him She wants to curse and cry and…
He is going to die.
And there is nothing she can do.
"NO!" Misty's eyes flash open and she sits up. Too fast. Too quickly. She felt a wave of dizziness fall over her and paused to get her bearings. Leaf was crouching next to her, eyes wide. Her Clefable was once again illuminating the cave with a weak flash.
"Are you all right? You just seemed to have a fit, shaking and you collapsed. I didn't know what to do."
Misty tried to sort her muddled thoughts. "I…had a vision. A memory." She pressed her lips shut stubbornly. "I don't know what happened. I'm sorry." She tried to sit up. "We should get moving,"
She stood. From where she was crouched the flash illuminated Leaf's worried expression. "Are you…"
"Let's go," Misty snapped, cutting her off. She crossed her arms, hoping to soften the pain, the tear through her heart. She shivered and looked left and right down their passage. "Umm, which way?"
Leaf's head shot up in surprise. "I thought you knew," she remarked.
Misty shook her head, "I thought you had the map,"
The younger girl blinked her blue eyes at Misty. Her lip pouted innocently. "Map, what map?"
They stared at each other in silence.
The moon fairy rolled her eyes. "Fable, CleffAiAirClFFable," (Idiots. I know this mountain like the back of my hand) she boasted and scurried of to the left.
Misty glared at Leaf before following the pink fairy. "At least someone knows where they're going," Azurmaril trotted at her heels.
Leaf smirked, but there was still a faint trace of worry within her sapphire eyes.
[17:39PM] – 21nd May – Mount Moon – Upper East Section - Somewhere – Psyduck
He wandered around lost. The pain in his head was aching. Through the blur of pain he tried to dimly register the world around him.
Where was the fiery-water-mistress? The duck tilted his head to one side. Where was she? Had she left him? Was he that terrible?
He wanted to cry. But his pain struck mind refused to co-operate.
He wandered onwards through the gloom.
And realised that he was not alone.
[17:59PM] – 21nd May – Mount Moon – Upper East Section - Somewhere – Misty/Leaf
"We've been wandering for ages," the brunette complained, "Cleffy, are we there yet?"
"CleeEfff," (You asked that five minutes ago) the Pokémon replied, good-naturedly. Unfortunately for her there was a lack of understanding between species and Leaf didn't comprehend.
The woman paused. Misty slid to a halt beside her, blinking tiredly.
Then Leaf stiffened. "Do you hear that?" she asked. The whispering. The muffled noises.
Misty stiffened as well, her muscles tense, "Do you mean the screaming?" she asked quietly. Leaf shot her a look of surprise.
"No, that whispering. Like water. Or leaves. But… Misty?" Leaf's voice rose in alarm as the red-head stumbled sideways.
NoNoNoNo Not him please Arceus not him.
Lance took a step forwards, "You kill him this is war. And we won't hold anything back."
The enemy smirked and nodded once to the grunt holding the man, "Then we won't either." His hand waved carelessly in the air, "Throw him over the cliff when you're done." And then he turned, orange suit bright against the bleak surroundings.
"I hope you bastards rot in hell. And then I hope hell spits you back out again so that I can send you back there myself," the man's eyes were dark and Giovanni paused, turning slowly on the spot.
He smiled, evilly, "Finally found your tongue aura guardian? Finally ready to plea for your life?" The man knelt down beside the wounded double agent, his eyes gleaming, "You can still join us…" he left the offer open.
The raven haired man eyed him distastefully, "You better watch your back Giovanni. Because I swear on all those whose lives you have touched, I will hunt you down and kill you, inch, by inch until you scream for me to end it. You can send me to the far reaches of darkness but your days are numbered. You'll spend the rest of your time on this earth, watching your back, because one say you'll turn around…" this threatening phrase was barely whispered but the man in the orange suit stiffened before standing curtly and walking away without a word.
His hand waved once.
The knife slipped along the flesh, cutting cleanly along the skin.
Misty screamed and tried to race forwards but Lance was there, holding her back, tears streaming down his own face as he pulled her back.
No. Not him. Please not him she'd do anything. Anything. He promised. He said it would be okay. HE COULDN'T DIE!
The rodent let out a squeak at the loud shots that rang out, fired into its small pitiful body.
No. Never. They were meant to be together. Forever.
Lance gave up trying to hold back Misty, drawing his sword and moving forwards, only to be held back by his own men. Misty tried to move forwards but strong arms held her back. Even Lance was struggling against his own men, face a mask of anger.
Misty closed her eyes, hoping it will all be a bad dream and that she will wake up. When her eyes open the grunts are standing by the cliff edge, brushing off their hands. She screams.
"ASH!"
Lance shook off his men, pulling his large blaster out.
His eyes blazed as he snarled at the remaining grunts, too slow to flee.
"Game on,"
And Misty Waterflower woke up crying.
"Is she okay? Missingno would have a bad influence on her after her loss." An elderly voice, rough like sandpaper but kind and caring.
Leaf glanced at the gym leader's rapidly dilating pupils. She was sweaty and tears were running from the corners of her eyes. Leaf wiped her friend's forehead with a damp cloth Azurmaril had wetted with a bubble. Slowly, coming to her senses the Tomboyish Mermaid began to look around.
"Who are you?" she asked her voice sharp and swift as she stared at the new arrival.
The old lady wore a purple frock, a cream apron on. She leant heavily on her wooden stick, her short hair grey and white. Her eyes were sharp and craggy, but full of warmth. Her face was sharp and defined but her lips were curled into a smile. "I'm Agatha," she introduced herself, "I'm one of the Elites," she gave a wry grin.
Now Misty recognised her. Sure enough a Gengar was hovering at her shoulder, his demon like grin mischievous. Misty gave a weak smile.
Leaf tilted her hat respectfully to Agatha. "I'm Leaf Green, disguise expert at SECTION, Cerulean. This here is Misty Waterflower, the Cerulean gym leader,"
Agatha leaned back on her stick, "I know," she cackled. "My Gengar and Haunter have been watching," she smiled. "Sableye was but he got too lazy the little devil," her eyes grew fond as she talked of her Pokémon, as if they were children.
Leaf shifted her weight nervously, "Umm, excuse me for asking marm but why are you here? And not in Pewter or Viridian?" She blinked her blue eyes hopefully for an answer.
Agatha scowled, "I'm too old to fight. Least I can do is stay up here and help wayward travellers. Save them from Missingno."
"Missingno?" Misty and Leaf chorused.
Agatha's gaze grew grave. "Ai. Missingno. A freakish monster created by nature. Completely natural. Missingno." She seemed to enjoy the riddles.
Misty asked politely, "What is Missingno? And was that what was affecting me?"
Agatha frowned, "Forgive me. I got distracted." Her tone grew grave. "Missingno is a Pokémon. I believe it to be a ghost type since Gengar and his family have an affinity for knowing where it is. It also has a weakness to psychic types. It haunts Mount Moon and has since the world was plunged into darkness. Its presence harms few but those who are affected suffer extreme emotion."
Her eyes grew sad, "Missingno affects those who have lost a loved one close to them, witnessing their death. It causes them to relieve the moments, watching it over. It feeds off your pain,"
Misty flinched as Leaf turned to her, eyes all too knowing brimming with sorrow. "Are you all right?" Leaf asked, concerned. The red head nodded, hoping the pain was evident in her turquoise eyes.
The Cerulean gym leader swallowed a lump in her throat. "I'll be fine," she whispered.
Leaf blinks at her sadly. "You're been out a while. We should really get going," She smiled gratefully at Agatha.
The old lady gave her a wry smile. "I'll come with ye a little way. Keep that damn Pokémon out of your heads for you. And keep an old lady company, teehee," she gave a little chuckle but her sharp eyes were kind. Behind her Gengar hovered, the malicious smile surprisingly kind as he muttered something to the Ghastly. The ghost agreed.
Misty sat up, looking at Azurmarril. Her gaze drifted down to where a fat yellow duck should have been sitting.
"Where's Psyduck?"
Leaf blinked before whirling around, as if it had only just occurred to her. "Ummm…she trailed off guiltily.
Misty practically leapt to her feet as she looked wide eyed down both passages. "Where is he?" she asked again, a note of panic rising in her voice. Agatha looked confused. "Where is he?" Misty repeated.
Agatha blinked. "You missing someone?"
"My Psyduck! He's not here. And I know that sometimes he's useless and sometimes he's an idiot but I don't care! Where is he?"
Leaf hopped around, waving her arms in a vain attempt to calm the red head down. "Woah, he'll turn up. He's probably wandered off somewhere,"
The old lady smiled reassuringly, "I'll get Haunter to have a look for him. This mountain be our home and we're more than willing to help a lost little duck,"
Misty's mood abruptly changed, "I'll give him 'lost little duck' when that yellow pathetic excuse for a Pokémon turns up." She pouted, but her bottom lip trembled, despite her bravado. "When do we have to meet Gary?"
Leaf shifted uncomfortably. Then she spread her hands in a shrug spinning happily on the spot. "Who knows? Anytime today!"
The Cerulean Gym leader frowned, "Tomorrow," she corrected. "He said the twenty second,"
"Yeah well the thing is tomorrow is today already,"
"How long was I out?"
"A while,"
Misty clenched her hand, "Then we should get going now." She stretched her aching, cramping muscles and enviously wondered how Leaf managed to stay so…jolly…
Said person was currently skipping down a rocky passage, giggling at faces the purple Gengar was pulling. Misty observed this for a few seconds, trying to get her head around this before giving up and marching after the disguise master. Agatha was already following, Clefairy and Azumaril by her sides.
"Ready?" The elite asked.
Misty forced a grin.
She didn't answer though, but turned the lock on buried memories in her mind.
She would not be effected by them.
He was dead.
Dead and gone.
Just a memory.
In the darkness she hoped Leaf and Agatha missed the lone tear rolling down her cheek.
[5:49AM] – 22nd May – Mount Moon – Lower West Section - Somewhere – Misty/Leaf
"Time is sooo messed up," Leaf complained. "It feels like night but it's actually day and yet there isn't any sun or moon to tell us any different. And trapped in these caves how are you meant to know what time it is? But then it's no different from outside… and…"
Misty interrupted her friend's speech, "Leaf, you're rambling,"
"I'm tired," the younger girl complained. "We've been walking for ages and all I can see is white spots across my eyes. Not to mention I had to stay up the night looking after you,"
Misty crossed her arms, "You could have slept." She argued, but her heart wasn't in the mood.
Leaf pretended to think this through, "Well…thing is…I did… but someone like me needs more than six hours beauty sleep,"
Agatha paced along with them, listening humorously to their chatter but remaining silent. Sometime throughout the night/early morning Misty had noticed Haunter returning to the elites side.
Psyduck hadn't been found.
And Misty was worried.
She refused to show it, gritting her teeth and moving on, walking down the incessant tunnels of darkness.
And for just a second… she allowed herself the hope that when the emerged…there would be the sun again to welcome them into the day.
Instead there was a gloomy exit in the distance. Leaf gave a shout, jumping around for a full minute before skipping towards the light, pausing only to straighten her hat and tidy her hair.
"Your boyfriend will be happy to see you, no matter what you look like," Agatha smirked.
Misty wasn't listening.
She could no longer see them. Screams were echoing in her ears. And her turquoise eyes widened.
Her ears were ringing and her eyes widened at the blood-stained walls. White… harsh white lighting and him eyes unrecognising as he slowly… warily paced around her, avoiding her.
"Who are you?"
"Ash? What are you playing at? It's me! Misty!"
"I…I'm sorry. I don't remember…anything…"
Crashing, falling, burning. He didn't remember her. He couldn't not remember. He couldn't. She fought back rising panic. The room was too white and the needles and syringes too many. Papers with horrible drawings depicted, blood staining the metal surfaces, staining his clothes. Black clothes…sodden with red.
His eyes…a bright brilliant blue. Misty fought back a scream. Not his eyes. His eyes were brown. Then, almost as the thought crossed her mind the colour flickered, changing to a milder hazel.
What did they do to you? She asked herself, but she kept her voice level.
"Well let's start from the beginning. I'm Misty. You destroyed my bike and I followed you around until you repaid me,"
"Misty!"
"Leave the girl alone!"
"Leaf, behind you!"
Voices called to her but she struggled away from them. Back to him. Back to the memory.
"I sound like I was a pretty stupid kind of guy,"
"Incredibly. But that might be partly my fault. I used to hit you a lot with my mallet,"
"So you gave me brain damage," he joked, eyes, now green lighting up. But she could see the edge to them that wasn't there before.
"You remember Pikachu?"
He nodded his spiky raven head. "Yeah. He was my first Pokémon. We didn't get along. These idiots kept trying to take him away." He smiled slightly but the edge to his eyes was still there, shadows and darkness and pain and anger. SECTION had tried to get there as soon as possible but it had already been too long, finding that mad scientist dead, Archer, Adriana, Petrol and Proton scattered around the building in fear.
Mew.
There were data files on Mew.
But what that had to do with the amnesiac elite was beyond anybody's guess.
"Shit! Umbreon use a dark pulse on that thing!"
"That's not going to work."
"Well what do you suggest?
"Misty! Hey Red! Hang in there!"
"So what did you think your name was?"
A shrug. "Don't know. A colour actually. I saw blood and I thought Red. That's what people used to call me. I know that. I was Red. There was a girl…Green and a guy with spiky hair…Blue."
She crossed her arms. "Really. People call me that too. Because of my hair."
"It's more orange. Pretty. Like flames."
"Uhh…" she felt herself heating up, "Thanks,"
The small tattered eared Eevee trotted into the room, Pikachu and his ragged tail following curiously. The mouse remembered more than his master but only just. And the fox just stuck as close to them, another experiment.
Specimen. The word felt so… hollow… disgusting. It stuck in her throat.
He was hers. Not some project to test out some sick theory.
He was only human.
"Misty!"
Her eyes fluttered open. A guy with spiky hair was standing over her, occasionally shooting glances over his shoulder.
"Blue?" she muttered half dazed.
A frown crossed Gary's face. "Where'd you hear that?" he asked in surprise but then ducked as something whistled over his head.
Misty shook herself out of his trance, stupor, memory…whatever it was. Her eyes focused to the scene behind the brown haired man. A purple gas cloud hovered near the centre of a clearing, by a glowing white moonstone. It was trapped in some pinkish light, writhing to escape while everybody else watched in silence.
"Gol," Misty glanced in surprise towards the sound. Her blue eyes widened at the blue, sleek duck, webbed hands outspread as his eyes glowed blue, obviously using psychic.
The word caught in her throat, and she coughed it out. "Psyduck?"
[5:49AM] – 22nd May – Mount Moon – Lower West Section - Clearing – Psyduck
The poor duck thought he had been abandoned. He sat addle brained by the big-stone-shine-pretty and held his head in his hands, wishing as always that the relentless headache-pain-block-confusing would cease and let him think clearly. Let him act and respond normally instead of walking around half dazed.
He didn't want to be a burden.
"Sableye! Leye Sabl!" (She'll come and find you. Humans are like that!) The shadow that had been stalking him commented happily, jewel eyes gleaming.
The only thing the yellow duck could manage was a faint 'Quack'.
He blinked, watching through his headache as the spiky-blue-researcher appeared, dark furred yellow ringed Umbreon at his heels. He didn't see them at first, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back.
"Looks like we've got the whole damn day to wait. Gonna' be fun,"
"breon," the fox sighed, red eyes blinking.
In contrary to Gary's words, there was an excited squeal from a dark tunnel the other side of the clearing.
"We're there! Come on Cleffy! Let's go dance round the moonstone 'till that no good boyfriend of mine gets here!"
The leaf-green-ditto girl was surprisingly happy. Misty would be following her and Psyduck waddled hopefully towards the entrance. Beside him Sableye stiffened, claws twitching. Seconds later Psyduck sensed the dark presence in the air.
Leaf appeared in the cave entrance, smiling at Gary and Umbreon, turning around to look back at where Misty would presumably be. Psyduck saw almost in slow motion as her face fell and she bounded back out of sight in sudden panic.
Then things were a blur and the only thought was 'I'm going to be in the way'. Then Leaf was trying to wake up his mistress and Gary was shouting. The ghost-elite-elder was ordering her ghosts to attack the purple gas cloud that had appeared, hovering around the clearing, malignant and evil.
"Misty!" Leaf called, shaking the red head gently. Psyduck stared, not comprehending. What was wrong with her? Around his red head mistress he sensed the darkness…the purple cloud tainting her body. He was helpless to do anything.
"Leave the girl alone!" Agatha shouted as it aimed a shadow ball towards Leaf and Misty.
"Leaf, behind you!" Gary bundled them aside, shouting instructions to Umbreon. "Shit! Umbreon use a dark pulse on that thing!"
Agatha shook her head. "That's not going to work."
"Well what do you suggest?" Gary practically snarled, holding Misty while Leaf ran towards Clefable and Azumaril, shouting again but the duck couldn't hear. The darkness he sensed around the water trainer was growing stronger.
Leave her alone! He screamed but all his brain processed was a "Psy?"
"Misty! Hey Red! Hang in there!" Misty moaned in her sleep as Gary shouted, slipping further away with each passing second.
No.
Psyduck was not going to stand there and watch.
He was not going to be a burden.
He was going to save her.
He was strong enough. He would prove it.
And strength rushed through him, he felt more agile and he could think.
He could think.
No splitting headache pounded his head and he felt surprisingly calm and restful. He fixed his blue eyes on the purple-MissingNo-dark-taint.
Stop.
Hurting.
My.
Mistress.
"Misty!" Gary cried gratefully as the red head blinked, waking up.
"Blue?"
"Where'd you hear that?"
Psyduck let out a growl as MissingNo tried vainly to escape his psychic hold. His voice was clear and crisp, a low "Gol,"
"Psyduck?"
Yeah. Like he'd ever want to be that again.
Golduck was thankful Pokémon could not de-evolve.
[6:04AM] – 22nd May – Mount Moon – Lower West Section - Clearing – Misty/Leaf/Gary
She felt so proud.
Her stupid yellow duck had evolved.
To save her.
"Oh Psyduck," she almost sobbed. "Thank you," Her eyes gleamed. And almost as if her words contained some strength the psychic hold tightened and a piercing scream filled the air.
Then there were shadows and gloom and light and then the four humans and seven Pokémon were in the clearing, with nothing else there.
They blinked.
And stared.
And blinked some more…trying to work out how everything had ended so quickly.
They blinked.
And the author, remembering that they had just done that hurriedly moved the plot line along.
Misty was the first up, launching herself across the clearing to hug her new Pokémon. He seemed surprised by the action, his head titling, just like when he was a Psyduck before he quacked happily. Her aqua rabbit bounced over, chirpy and happy.
The disguise girl squealed. "Gary!" she bounced across the clearing, literally throwing herself into her boyfriend's arms. Clefable seemed all intent on racing after Leaf but as the two shared a passionate kiss the fairy decided better and turned instead to the pretty white stone, her eyes widening slightly.
Agatha smirked in the background, as her three ghost faded out of sight. She herself shared a nod with Gary before turning back to the tunnels.
This was her mountain. She was the protector of Mount Moon and would be until time started again.
Company affairs no longer interested her.
Leaf looked around, surprised by the old lady vanishing so quickly. "I never thanked her," she said wistfully.
"You'll see her around," Gary smirked.
The now three humans and four Pokémon and suspicious looking bag with dot-like eyes (Leaf's Ditto) poured out tales and settled down, sitting on the fresh grass as Leaf wide eyed explained about MissingNo and Agatha. Misty for the most part stared at the ground shamefully. To her surprise Gary kept shooting her pained looks, as if he knew something he couldn't tell her.
Then he spoke, telling them the news that he couldn't put into a letter.
"This guy broke into my lab looking for me. Shadow. He…I know who he is…"
"Who?" Leaf leaned forward eagerly.
A pained look crossed the scientist's face. "You… wouldn't know him," he stated, uneasily. "He was looking for Time Gears. He told me they need to be taken to a place… to where the sun died."
"Why was he asking you?"
"I… I know where the Time Gear of Viridian Forest is… hidden. I wasn't going to do anything but then, Dawn phoned. SECTION apprehended him and took him down to Pewter. He told Dawn the numbers to a vault containing the Time Gear of Victory Path and scarpered. SECTION want to question this guy further."
Misty stared at the repeated reference to Time Gears.
Whatever those were.
"Ummm…" she began, "I think Dawn told us where another one is hidden. She said talk to Lorelei."
"But nobody knows where Lorelei is hiding?"
"I think that's the point,"
"Dawn wants to use it as bait,"
"Don't. This guy. You can trust him. With your life. Honest. When you get the Time Gear contact me and we'll work out where to take them,"
Leaf frowned, "But we're going against SECTION," she put in cautiously.
"But it might be the right thing to do."
"But…"
"We'll do it," Misty put in, firmly. "Leaf, you don't have to, but I just feel…" she trailed off….
She had to do this.
She didn't know why…
But she had to do something.
AN - Finally! I update again! But considering I'm drowning in exams at least I have a good excuse. Ah well, hope you enjoyed that chapter, I'm quite fond of it even if it was a bit too squashed together in places.
The flashbacks in italics are Misty's memories. They come from two different past events, one was from the battle of the league up at Indigo and the second was from about...a year before that. I'll have more explanation somewhere but Ash ends up stuck in a lab half dead at Cinnibar. SECTION arrive but he has this case of amnesia which lasts about a month.
I felt so sorry for Psyduck. :( So sorry. But now he's happy and some more use to this story! So YAY for Golduck!
Thank you so much to the people who have reviewed (there are only about five of you)! Thank you for taking the time to comment and let me know that somebody is reading this. I'd like it if more people did but I do understand if you don't, since I'm terrible at dropping reviews. But it's still nice. :)
Hope you enjoyed ~ Eclipse :)