Well, I finally decided that it was time to update. How many years is it? I'm sorry people. And I'm not sure how many people want to read the end. But it's here for those of you who want to see it. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the end. But close to it. This is the start of the intensity that sets the stage for the end of this story. There should be about five more chapters. For those of you who have messaged me and wanted to see how the boy would end up, here it is. For you.

If you're one of the ones that really wanted to see the end of this story, please review. It would mean the world to me. I hope it's worth the wait.

What I fear and what I've tried,
Words I say and what I hide.
All the pain, I want it to end

And it finds me
The fight inside is coursing through my veins.
And it's raging

I'm still the same
Is it worth all that I've gained?
We both know how this will end,
But I'd do it again.

The fight inside is breaking me again.

"Well, well, well."

A hissed reply. A stubborn acknowledgement. An empty threat. Anything would have been nice. As it was, he found himself at a loss for words, gasping in pain and fear. An innocent mockery of the person he spent his life portraying.

Makaila stared at him. Expression worry, fear seeping into her despite herself as she watched his obvious panic attack.

And through it all Ash just stared. Who was the boy? How was Makaila suddenly with him? He looked to the wall to see Eitan staring at the boy with venom, obviously beaten. He was lost. Just minutes ago, Makaila had been pulled from the room by Eitan, and now he leaned against the wall while Makaila kneeled next to another boy he had never seen before.

What had happened?

"Makaila-" he started, knowing that he needed to do something at least before his daughter was taken from him forever by the people on the other side of the room.

"Be quiet."

Ash startled. His eyes went to the man that had spoken. He stood on the other side of the room, dark purple hair drawn to the side of his head, white suit proclaiming dedication with the large "R" on his chest. For a moment Ash was confused and then the man looked below his eyes and Ash's hand went to his neck without thinking, gulping.

It took him barely a moment to realize what he had done.

Ash's eyes widened, his hand leaving his neck in an instant and a glare coming over his face, hating what he had just done. Almost loathing himself for doing it. He had listened. He had listened. And all the man had to do was adopt the same tone that he had heard as a child. It had been so long. How could that affect him? Did he still have rocket left inside him. Another voice deeper screamed, 'Of course not. He had never wanted to be a rocket in the first place.' But another one closer to home scolded him. Berated him for giving into hidden urges if only for just a moment.

Ash's feet spread on the concrete, taking a more defensive stance without realizing it. The man blinked, eyes widening slightly. "Ah, a runner then?"

Ash failed to see the couple or rockets around the man who straitened, curious or shocked. Misty did. She hoped they made it out alive. There had to be something. There had to be something that this could do for some of them if they saw Ash's sacrifices. Saw that some people did go against Team Rocket. They were just like Ash once, and some of them didn't want what they had any more than Ash had. It made her almost not want to fight them. But with her daughter sitting between them, feet closer to them than her, she knew that she would have too.

. . . But first they would try Ash's plan.

Ash ground his teeth. "Makaila, come here." He said carefully.

Makaila looked at him and hit him with the raw emotion in her eyes. He only had to look in her eyes to know that she wasn't moving. Not without the boy at her feet.

Ash growled in frustration and went for the pokeballs on his belt, and with the action the new leader of the rockets moved as well.

"Defensive! Now!"

Guns were out, pokeballs in hand, all faces looking towards Ash. There was a slight pause as each side tried to figure out what to do, and of course, the man spoke first, tones hushed and intense.

"Dead or alive, I don't care." He pointed, his next words obviously for the benefit of Ash, Makaila, and the boy. "Just leave these three to me."

Ash's heart was in his throat as he spoke knowing that he had mere moments before they attacked. "Misty, run."

Misty looked at him in shock. "Ash, Makaila-"

"Go. . . Now!" He wasn't angry, merely desperate.

Misty knew that she had a moment to decide what to do. She looked at Ash. He didn't look back, his gaze intense, focused on the upcoming battle before him. Suddenly she saw him, her Ash. An Ash she hadn't seen in a long time. Ready for battle and passionate about the importance of the out come. He would protect her daughter. She would be okay.

"I love you."

Ash didn't reply, but the corner of his mouth turned up as she ran past him calling May and Alexi as she did. The girls followed her, hesitantly as Drew pushed May after them and Alexi rolled her eyes, only to have Keagan follow Drew and push her as well. Alexi looked at him incredulously, a look that asked if he seriously thought that she was going to run. Unlike May and Misty, Alexi wasn't married, and though she felt the dedication, the care and desperation of a relationship, she had yet to know the importance of the protection, the need that the man often had. She felt no need to run for him, more to fight with him.

Keagan smiled softly, silently begging her to follow. She didn't want to, and yet she found herself nodding and forcing her feet to move, making herself follow the others. Although still in battle, there was a release that she hadn't expected, a peace to letting Keagan take control and she wondered in it as he turned away, back to the battle at hand.

Michael took off from the men, taking Taylor's wrist and leading her in the same direction. Skye reeled, turning to watch them run and finally joining the others. He didn't know if Michael could protect her, could protect them. But he had no choice but to trust in him.

As they ran, Ash, Drake, Skye, Keagan, Gary, and Brock stayed to block the way.

And then it came loose.

"Move!" The order pushed the grunts to act. The pokeballs already out released their pokemon while the grunts simply using guns pulled them out to fire.

Ash simply stared as the grunts spilled from behind the man spewing orders. Mark. Mark was his name.

Already Ash hated him.

Mark stepped forwards and pulled a pokeball from his belt as Ash ran forward. He stood before Makaila and the boy beside her and both looked up to him, none more surprised than the boy. Ash glanced down at them both, eyes resting on the boy. "I don't know who you are." The boy jumped at being spoke to. Ash's voice softened. "But it's obvious Makaila cares for you. . . . I'll get you both out of this. . . . I promise."

Both stared at him and then the boy bowed his head. His hair covered his eyes and his hand left his chest. He couldn't seem to move. He didn't want Ash to protect him. But something moved within him at the words and he couldn't place the feeling. It felt . . . good.

"Pay attention to your opponent."

Ash's eyes rose.

"Isn't that one of the first rules when battling?"

Ash paused and glanced around himself despite the words, placing everything in his mind.

Misty, Alexi, May, Taylor, and Michael were halfway down the hallway but slowing. Good.

Skye, Keagan, and Drew blocked the hallway, while Gary and Brock stood feet behind him. Somewhere between himself and Skye's group.

And then there was him. Him, Makaila and the boy. It was close. No one was missing. They were ready.

"Hey! Didn't you hear me? A good rocket soldier knows where to put his gaze. Is that something that left you with your leave? Or did you simply abandon your instinct in exchange for quiet?"

Ash ground his teeth but stayed silent, waiting for him to move.

Mark smiled. "Oh well, you'll remember soon enough. After all," He raised a pokeball to his vision. "A man can always be rebuilt."

He paused with the ball in his sight and smiled for the first time since he had entered the room. An eery and controlled smile. "Leaving is against the rules, and I'm the one to meter punishment. . . . You must be a glutton for such to fight me. Don't you worry, I'll give you what you want. You'll never leave that room again."

And somehow through the anger . . .

. . . Ash hid a smile.