Longest… chapter… ever.

Seriously, you will need to make some time to read this one.

Spend some time with your Pops, Dads, and Fathers first.

This chapter will still be here when you get back.

You'll see why almost immediately.

National Suicide Hotline Number : 1-800-488-3000

Being quick to judge only means that you'll be quick to be judged.

"(And I'm not telling you anything else.)," Siggy sulked.

"(Thank ya kindly.)," I bowed to the little Torchic, "(you've been a great help.)"

"(Wait, I've told you all this and you…)," Siggy tilted her pretty little head, "(are you really a Reborn?)"

"(You can trust me. I will not abuse this information.)," Blare waved a friendly claw in the air, "(I'd tell ya some of my secrets too, but ya'd neva believe me.)"

"(Can you really say that after what I've told you?)"

"(I suppose not.)"

"(Now if you don't mind I need a nap myself.)," Siggy hopped onto the higher levels of the 'mansion', where Tyler and Fia were currently sleeping. She made herself comfortable in some hay near the two of them and fell asleep rather quickly.

I opened the wooden door only to find Jay-jay standing there. Her feathers were covered in black soot. She was breathing as if she had been running around all day. In her beak was Dad's pendent.

"Jay-jay, where's Dad…?"

"(Master's gone.)," Jay-jay dropped the pendent, "(We couldn't stop him…)"

"Why do you have that," I unlocked the screen door.

"(No, stay inside!)," she picked up the pendent and threw it at me.

"(You have to use that! Please, let me protect you!)"

"Where's Dad? What did you do to Dad?"

"(He's gone! But he told me to protect you!)"

"Go get Dad you dumb… bird," I slammed the wooden door.

"(Wait! Young Master!)"

"Don't come back without Dad!"

"(A little harsh, don't you think?)," someone tapped me on the shoulder.

"Oh," I turned and was greeted by a fuzzy pink face, "what are you?"

"(Don't play dumb Johnny boy.)," the pink cat zipped its way around me, "(you know who I am.)"

"Are you a Mew," I awed, I had heard about this Pokémon, "you look a lot cuter than your pictures."

"(Helloooo!)," Mew knocked me on the head, "(is anyone home?)"

I reached to pet the Mew.

"You're really real and so soft," I tilted my head, "but what are you doing here?"

"(By Arceas, you really don't remember do you?)," Mew leaned back as if it fell into an invisible chair, "(Well, I don't have time for this.)"

Mew swished closer to me and flicked me between the eyes.
I fell backwards and rolled onto my butt.
My head felt heavier for some reason and…

I remembered now…

"(What the hell do you want, fuzzball?)," I crowed at Mew.

"(There we go.)," Mew flipped, "(Now that you're back to your senses, how are things going?)"

"(Oh swell. Peachy. Everything's going marvelous.)," I sarcastically laughed, "(How the hell do you think I am!)"

"(I kind of meant for your search for the Phoenix Gate, but thanks for letting me know.)"

"(Sorry, now's not really a good time.)"

"(Did you just apologize?)," Mew placed a paw to my head, "(are you sick.)"

I sat down, "(I haven't seen the gate yet.)"

"(Okay…)," Mew backed up.

"(What's wrong?)"

"(I was about to ask you that.)"

"(This was the first sleep that I've gotten in a while.)," I sighed, "(I'm still tired and I was sort of hoping to see him…)"

"(So that's it.)"

"(What's it?)"

"(The very core of your anger is towards your father, isn't it?)"

"(Like hell it is!)," I snapped.

"(You felt betrayed when he didn't come back, but you kept those emotions bottled up.)," Mew explained while projecting a physical form for his metaphor, "(and in turn, you subconsciously let loose your anger on anything that reminds you of him.)"

"(You don't know what the hell you are talking about!)"

"(Then why did you run away from the campfire when you quoted him?)"

I was about to answer Mew, when I realized that the cat was right. I couldn't say anything against what the little furball said. On the other hand, how did Mew know about that?

"(Your father was a good human, John.)," Mew floated closer, rubbed me on the back and continued, "(even when I took him to the other side, the only thing he thought about was you and your mother.)"

"(Wait, back up a minute.)," I stood up to face Mew, "(You took him to the other side?)"

"(Now, I know what you're thinking,)" Mew scooted away for a moment, "(however, I didn't kill him.)"

"(No, but you could have brought him back.)"

"(That's true but…)"

"(But? But what?)," I stomped to my feet, "(Why didn't you bring him back?)"

"(He just didn't qualify to be a Reborn.)"

"(Didn't qualify! Why the hell not!)"

Mew sighed, "(He lived a full life, he bore no regrets, and his purpose was done.)"

"(What do you mean he bore no regrets?)," I felt angrier than ever, "(He swore to me that he would come back. He promised me.)"

I jumped Mew with a few Scratch attacks. Mew was caught off guard at first, but I had somehow missed. I didn't let that discourage me. Actually, now that I think about it. I think that Mew was egging me on the entire time. It turned into a sick game for Mew's amusement.

"(That's right, let out all of your anger.)," Mew giggled as he dodged my attacks.

I shot a few Embers at where Mew was going to dodge my Scratch attack. They still missed somehow. Mew flicked his tail between my legs and I landed on my face.

"(You done yet?)," Mew smugly floated down as if he was laying on the ground with his head propped up, "(because if you are then know this: even if your father did come back, he'd just wind up with more regrets.)"

"(How would you know?)," I glared at him.

"(Trust me. I have lived a few lifetimes more than you.)," Mew smiled, "(I'm willing to bet that you feel a lot better now, don't you?)"

I took a moment to think. Strangely, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders and my mind.

"(See? Letting out all of that anger was good for you.)"

"(I guess…)," I sighed, "(but I still don't understand something.)"

"(And what's that?)"

"(What happened to my dad?)"

"(It's not my place to say.)," Mew looked away from me, "(But I guess that if Kubbi can't tell you, then I guess that it's up to me.)"

"(Tell me what?)"

"(There's a reason that I couldn't let you move on, John. It wasn't just because you had regrets or that your life was cut short.)," Mew looked at me as seriously as he could, "(By just being alive, you help to protect the world from a dark force.)"

"(Is that what killed my father?)"

"(I'm not completely certain, but it is very likely.)," Mew floated over and through the door where I had kicked Jay-jay out, he came back with Dad's pendant, "(Your father's partner brought this to you for a reason. It's more than just something left by your father and her.)"

I took the metaphysical pendent from Mew's paw. It's funny how my wings act like hands in the dream world.

"(This is what he was killed for…)"

"Tyler, wake up," Karen shook him awake against my best efforts to stop her, "we figured it out."

Tyler groggily glared at Karen. Both Fia and Siggy stayed perfectly asleep.
Brandy had let Phineas out a little bit before and he stood beside me.

"Sorry, but it's important," Karen held up a sheet of paper. Obviously, she wanted him to read it himself.

"(I think that what I was dreaming about was slightly more important than your homework.)," Tyler would have burned da page if Brandy hadn't spoken up.

"I'd have to disagree with this one, Tyler," Brandy took out one of their school books, "we know who Youko is."

"(Really?)," Tyler's attitude did a 360, "(Who was he?)"

"Look. He's on Mrs. Lawrence's test."

"(I'm dyslexic. Remember?)"

"She can't understand you, remember," Brandy mocked Tyler's voice.

"(Just tell me who this damn bastard is already.)"

"Was," Brandy corrected me, "Youko used to be a very evil Pokémon. He's the reason why Golnar is so strange to outsiders."

"What do you mean," Rio returned through da front entrance.

"Where were you." Karen crossed her arms.

"I was taking some girls to the infirmary."

"Oh really? Again," Karen rolled her eyes, "do you fall for every pretty girl that sweet talks."

"We'll talk about how I screwed up later," Rio sat down, "so what is it about this town?"

"Before Golnar was officially founded, the settlers where plagued by a demon shadow that they called Youko," Brandy started drawing a picture into the dirt, "to stop him, they had to seal up the sources of his power." Brandy drew a monster surrounded by eight stick figures. "Apparently, when the founders bonded with their partners they became living seals to Youko's evil," Brandy finished by circling the monster drawing.

"(But if Youko was sealed away, then why did Terry think that I was him?)," Tyler thought to himself, "(does that mean that Youko's escaped the seal?)"

"I don't think that's possible," Brandy drew branches from the human stick figures, "according to legend, as the founders families get bigger, the stronger the seal becomes. So I can only see the seal grow stronger over time."

Brandy continued to draw the branches in da dirt slowly, growing da circle surrounding da illustrated Youko. Da rest of us stayed deep in thought. Phineas especially concentrated on da drawing that Brandy kept scribbling. I could see da instant dat da little lightbulb clicked on.

"(I've got it!)," Phineas shouted, before he took off and ran over Brandy's drawing. Phineas stomped off the branches.

"Phineas! I thought that you were getting better at-" Phineas stopped suddenly to let Brandy know that he wasn't 'playing'.

"Oh, I get it," Brandy slapped his forehead, "there's still the chance that the families might have not been able to grow, so then the seal would become weaker too."

"(Exactly!)," Phineas danced.

"Great thinking Phineas," Brandy pet the Totodile on the head.

"(Suck up.)," I huffed, "(if that's true then why hasn't Youko gone a rampage.)"

"(Guess that's something that we need to ask him ourselves.)," Phineas shrugged.

"Guess the question now is," Karen thought out loud, "if Youko was able to escape then why hasn't he gone on a rampage?"

"Guess the only way to know that," Rio shrugged, "is to ask Youko."

"(I never realized how much I'd miss be'n understood.)," I sighed.

"(I think it's funny. It keeps us on our toes.)," Phineas laughed, wiggling a set of his blue toes in the air, "(Plus it means that these kids are smart on their own.)"

"Hold on," Brandy took a moment to redraw his drawing complete with the branches surrounding and connecting with each other, "Yes, that could be it. Maybe the seal didn't weaken at all."

"But you just said-," Karen tried to argue.

"I know what I said," Brandy looked up at Karen, then continued drawing until he connected all da branches together, "But what if the eight founders were unintentionally sealed with Youko?"

Looking at the picture as it was, da kid's idea didn't seem to be that crazy. I thought back to when Mr. Tight-britches first warned me about Golnar. It wasn't just cut off from the world, Golnar was down right sealed away. That's why it took three days ta go over a few miles of mountains. We went through a barrier that even the legendary strong Mr. Tight-britches couldn't get through.

"(Not just the eight founders, but this here entire city. While we were flying over da mountains, time seemed ta be warped. Dat must have been da seal dat them founders had put up.)," I said before I remembered the language barrier, "(Tyler be sure ya tell 'em all dat.)"

Tyler translated for me and Brandy translated for 'im. No one had a thing ta say 'bout dat.

After a long dull silence, Brandy spoke up again.

"Okay, let's try not to jump to any conclusions," Brandy stood up and patted himself down, "if we panic then we wont be able to think straight."

"You're right," Rio tried ta stay calm, he was failing. I moved my tail flame in front of 'im to help 'im in 'is endeavor. A few moments later, Rio was laying back completely relaxed. It didn't last very long, seeing as though he sat back up and pat me on the head for the effort.

"Thanks for trying Blare," he frowned, "but I think we need to get out of this town asap."

For the next moment, you could hear everyone asking 'what!' in surround sound.

"I'm sorry," Rio scratched his chin, "I shouldn't have been so blunt."

"Ya couldn't have been less blunt with a wreaking ball," I snorted, turning to Phineas.

Phineas stood there with big eyes. I raised a brow at his expression (in a manor of speaking). I looked up ta see dat both Brandy and Karen had similar expressions. It took a moment ta turn around. What were they looking at dat made them all so silly look'n. I saw my little brother with another expression. I haven't seen 'im look at me like that since… oh no…

"Ruby?"

"You can talk!" Both Phineas and Tyler pointed at me.

I pointed back at them, "so can you!"

Obviously, I wasn't thinking. Had I been smart, I would have pretended ta be me possessing Blare's body again.

"Ruby, why are you back?" Lucky, my little brother's not that good at figuring things out.

"What's going on," Phineas grabbed at his throat, "why can we talk?"

"I'd be more shocked if this was the first time," Tyler sighed, "but why now?"

"(Milkshake?)," Fia yawned, waking up, "(is that you? You sound funny.)"

"I'm fine, go back to sleep."

"(Okay…)," Fia laid closer to Tyler.

"Well, whatever it is," Phineas sighed in relief a little too soon, "seems to be over now."

"You'd lose dat bet," I scratched my head.

"Wait, but that's Ruby's voice," Rio backed away from me, "Sis? Is this your doing?"

"Why are you calling Blare your sister," Karen was slowly recovering from da shock.

"Because that's my sister's voice," Rio was tearing up, "she possessed Blare before, right Ruby?"

"Uh, yeah, of course she did," I laughed uneasily, it's hard thinking on your feet.

"But that doesn't explain why Tyler and Phineas are talking too, but not that Torchic," I saw Brandy look back down at Phineas. Brandy wasn't nearly as slow as da normal person. I think that he figured it out den, but he didn't want ta say it, "Why don't you take out your Magnemite and we'll see if it's effecting it too?"

"Okay," Rio shakenly took out the Pokéball, "Gizmo you're up."

"(No change in vocal patterns.)," the Magnemite sparked.

"Doesn't look like it effects him either," Phineas crossed his arms deep in thought, "it looks like it's only effecting… the three of us…"

"Strange, it hasn't lasted this long before," Tyler tried to get up, but Fia held on to his wing in her sleep.

I looked back at the ground, "It's the power of the Phoenix Gate. While it's being used, certain Pokémon will possess the ability to talk."

"So someone's using it right now?"

I nodded.

"And how exactly do you know this," Tyler questioned.

"Let's just say dat (a little birdy told me… huh?)"

"(Sounds like it stopped.)," Phineas blinked.

"(Dat was close…)," I sighed, rubbing my arms for warmth, "(Rio almost found out da truth.)"

"You were possessed by Ruby again," Rio pat me on the back, "You okay?"

I nodded. I needed ta do someth'n ta calm my nerves.

"(If I may make an observation.)," Gizmo floated down.

"(No, you may not!)," I growled.

"(It seems that the effects of the Phoenix Gate are only effecting Reborns.)"

"(We Know Dat Gizmo!)," I huffed a small flame at it.

"What did Gizmo say," Brandy whispered to Tyler.

"(I'm not allowed to say.)," Tyler shook his wing free of Fia.

"(I need to go for a run.)," I signaled to Rio so that he wouldn't worry about me. I overheard the last sentence that Brandy spoke.

"If what Ruby said was true, then that means that someone must already have the Phoenix Gate."

"Why isn't it working," I screamed. No matter how long I focused the Phoenix Gate on myself, nothing changed.

"Maybe it's broken," Louis suggested.

"(I hope not!)," Paki stopped eating his Pokéchow, "(I don't wantta be a Rattatta forever!)"

"Look even if it is broken, you'll become a Raticate again… someday."

"(Do you know how hard I worked to become a Raticate.)," Paki got back to eating, "(though the food here is pretty tasty.)"

"It's because you're younger now," I needlessly explained, "all of your senses should be fresher."

"(What are we going to do then?)," Sue spoke up, "(Your mother's waiting to catch you in the backyard and your dad's watching the front.)"

"There's no way you can sneak out, Jade," Lou sat down, "I don't want her to put you under again."

"It wasn't her," I looked away, not completely sure myself, "It was Uncle Smith."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Margret came in from behind the door, I hid the medallion quickly under my blouse, "Your uncle left long before you fell asleep, Miss Jade."

"How long were you listening in on us?"

"Little Miss you can trust me," Margret placed a hand over her heart, "I am loyal to the Mrs. but I don't believe that to be her."

"I don't know if I can trust you," I shook my head, remembering the dream that almost reprogramed my brain, "I can barely trust myself."

"I trust her Jade," Louis cutely pulled at my jeans.

"Please Jade," Margret lowered her head, "I'll even carry you myself if I have too."

I took another moment to think things through. I had to find Tyrone, he needed me. I also had to do this on my own, but I was still weak from lying in bed almost all week. I couldn't run on my own, let alone outrun my mesmerized parents.

"Okay, Margret you can help, but I need you to wait elsewhere while I talk to Lou."

"Yes, Miss Jade," Margret bowed just like she always did as she left. Not knowing that the next time she saw me would be a betrayal.

The fake Mrs. Dolly sat quite comfortably out on their deck. She had a perfect view of their rock garden. In her current state, she didn't truly enjoy it. It was only a false emotion that was programed into her by Smith. Her true purpose for being outside was to wait until Jade's programing was complete. (Even if she didn't know it herself.) Likewise, her husband would watch the front gardens, not knowing that he would be looking out for Jade as well. Servants would bring them their meals and the need for toiletries was deemed unnecessary. The only time that they weren't there was at night at which time both would see if Jade was still in her room and lock the door with the only copy of the key.

Tenma Smith had set it up perfectly this way. Even if one of the servants tried to help Jade, Tenma made certain that they would receive a harsh punishment. Of course, if Jade wasn't awake by his Battle with Tyrone, then he'd have no reason to worry after that. He only have himself to blame for why she didn't see his final bang.

Mrs. Dolly could hear the back door open. She turned but didn't see anyone at first. In the corner of her eye she spotted a dark shadow but she ignored it.

"Mistress," Margret shouted from the second floor, Mrs. Dolly looked up, "Jade's trying to escape!"

"Oh, really," Mrs. Dolly stood up, "I think that I found her!"

Mrs. Dolly threw the plastic cup that she was drinking from into the bushes. She heard a couple of cries as two figures came out.

"You're so bad at playing hide and seek," she grinned at them causing them to freeze.

Mrs. Dolly stood there looking at the two of them from behind. They wore dark cloaks as if they were thieves in the night. The figure stopped and stood at her full height, a smaller one by her side. Mrs. Dolly knew that it was Jade because of her size. Mrs. Dolly stepped closer, but Jade made a break for it.

"Silly girl," Mrs. Dolly ran after her.

Told you it was a long chapter.

Almost 4,000 words.

Thank you and Good reviewing!