Hi! How do you like that? I'm actually on time according to my mental calendar! Heads up, there are more cliffhangers. Lots and lots of cliffhangers. Not only in this chapter but in the ones to come. So, no reviews to reply to as yet, so I guess this non-story section is going to be short.

Author's Note: I have included two little surprises for all of you in this chapter. I hope you like them.

Copyright Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or their world, I only own the plot and the characters.

Chapter Fourteen: Kuro Cave

Mira was a cynical Pokemon. Legends, myths, curses, it was true that most of them might have a tiny grain of truth, but experience had taught her that legends were more often rumors that had been exploited for another's benefit rather than actual happenings of the past. Of course, others didn't hold to that belief as strongly as she did. "Guys, in case you hadn't noticed … I am not a poke' toy."

Ahanu, who was stubbornly clutching her like a favorite stuffed toy, whined, "But … but I'm scared!" Oh really, I never would have guessed.

Sekani refused to relinquish her tail, instead wailing, "I don't wanna die!" Mira growled darkly, Ahanu I can understand, he's a big blue target who can't hit back. But seriously? Sekani and I don't even get along!

Squirming irritably, she hissed, "I don't care, go hug someone else. Or better yet, grow spines."

Ahanu squeezed harder, "Wobbuffet don't have spines!" You can say that again.

Castor looked around at the abandoned campsite they had found just outside of the entrance to the Kuro Cave, "What happened here? Where is everyone?"

Dale sniffed the air experimentally, "No one has been here for at least two days. But I'm picking up the scent of Wartortles and … a few others." Tired of being uselessly clutched, Mira delivered a strong electric shock to her 'captors'. As they fell to the ground, temporarily dazed, she trotted over to Dale's side and joined him in sniffing.

She narrowed her eyes, "I'm picking it up too. Wartortle, five by my guess … but those other scents…"

Leal hissed angrily, "I smell a houndoom."

Mira nodded, "A houndoom, a croagunk, a machoke and …" she sniffed, "someone else. But I can't place it."

Cora stared bleakly at the cave, "Do you think they went … in there?"

Dale flattened his ears nervously, "No one knows how deep the Kuro Caves run. It is quite possible that they went in there two days ago and are still scouting it out."

Ahanu whimpered, "Or they could have been carried off by ghosts!"

Mira twitched her tail contemptuously, "I don't believe in ghosts. However, there's only one way to find out."

Sekani squeaked hopefully, "Stay here and see if they come out?" All of the Pokemon present who had a spine stared at him silently. Sekani drooped, "What? Is it so wrong that I don't happen to feel the urge to be killed and eaten by whatever horrible monster hides in there?"

Mira pointed out flatly, "Don't worry, most 'horrible' monsters don't eat the scrawny Pokemon. They just use them as toothpicks. 'Terrifying' monsters however, will, but only if they're desperate." Now it was her turn to be stared at. Okay … note to self, no one appreciates my kind of humor. "Never mind, I was joking."

Castor cleared his throat uneasily and turned towards the dark cave, "No sense standing around here. Let's go everyone."

Sekani moaned, "I was afraid you were going to say that." Mira just rolled her eyes as she and Castor lead the way into the cave, her electric pouches and his fire-tipped tail lighting the way into the most feared location in all of Meiro Woods.

The darkness was oppressive and the air heavy. The light from the entrance disappeared almost before it entered the cave, leaving Mira and Castor alone in their task of lighting the way. It was as if the shadows were living things, frowning disapprovingly at the meager glow thrown by her cheek pouches and Castor's tail. Mira felt her fur beginning to stand on end. Though she tried not to let it show, she was almost as afraid of dark places as Sekani. But not that afraid, not like the fear she was feeling now. Something is either seriously wrong with this place or Sekani's paranoia is getting to me.

Raising her nose into the air, she sniffed. The air was old, lingering scents from ages long gone still floated on the edge of her perception. Pokemon, death, fear … and something else. Something far more familiar to her. Sweet yet sour in an unpleasant way, mixed with the unnatural, still sharp sting of … soap?

Mira's mind identified the scent mili-seconds before she caught sight of irrefutable evidence in support of it. Castor frowned at the tall silver rail fixed firmly in the ground and reached out to touch it, "What is-?"

Mira's voice cracked slightly under the force of her yell, "Don't!" Everyone froze, staring at her in surprise. Mira could feel her heart thumping in her chest so hard it sent vibrations through her skull, her stomach tumbled nauseously with confusion and she was only dimly aware of Castor asking what was the matter. It … it can't be. It just can't! Mira staggered forward, her legs uncooperative to the extreme. Rearing up, she shakily touched the rail with a paw and felt a strong electrical current snap from it and up her paw.

She exhaled weakly and lowered her paw, "It's a monorail."

Castor asked, "What's a monorail? Is it dangerous?" Mira didn't hear him, or at least, didn't register his words deeply enough to answer. Her mind was far away, wrenched to long buried memories by the sight of the somehow still active rail.

Flashback

Laughter, voices, a thousand and one new sights and sounds to take in. It was amazing! She briefly wondered if all towns were this busy. There were human trainers going to and fro, people selling boxed lunches or trinkets in mobile street stands, and lots and lots of Pokemon. Not just the grass or normal-types she was used to, but fire, psychic, dark, water, all kinds! Even a few fairy-types floated cheerfully past her wondering eyes.

Her attention was pulled away from the crowds by an excited voice next to her, "Look Mira! There it is! The monorail!" Mira followed the indicating finger and gasped, it was so huge! So much larger than a little pichu like her!

Gentle paws nudged her back, "Keep walking little ones, we don't want to be late." Mira looked over and grinned excitedly at her best of friends. Jack smiled back, his eyes alight with the same glee she knew was in her own. This was to be their first trip on the monorail and they were going to make the most of it.

Jack glanced mischievously from Mira to their two chaperones and suddenly bolted, "Last one to the station it a rotten exeggcute!"

Mira laughed and took off after him, completely ignoring the surprised shouts of her guardian coming from behind, "No fair!" She yelled, "Wait up you cheater!" Jack didn't slow down, he only laughed. Well, she would show him a thing or two! He had a head start, but Mira was faster. As they both clambered up the steps onto the station platform at the same time, breathless and happy, Mira pumped a tiny paw in the air, "I win!"

Jack shook his head, "Nu-uh! I did!"

Mira rolled her eyes, "You cheated, so I win by default."

A bustling Flaaffy and her concerned female trainer rushed up the steps after them, calling in unison, "Come here right now you two! Don't you ever run away like that again you hear? It isn't safe!"

Jack and Mira exchanged bored glances, their chaperones were far too protective. Best to appease them though, the risk of being banned from the promised monorail ride was too great to do otherwise, "Yes, ma'am." They chorused together with mostly straight faces.

End of flashback

The sensation of someone shaking her jolted Mira back to reality, "Mira! Wake up! What is that thing?"

Cora piped up, "Yeah, and who made it?"

Mira shook her head clear of memories, her throat tight, "Sorry. Its … its a metal bar that carries a strong electrical current. Touch it and it could kill you if you aren't an electric-type. As for who made it…" Her right paw flexed and clenched into a fist, "Pray that you never find out." Throwing one last glare at the monorail, she snarled, "Come on, we've got Wartortles to find."

She bounded ahead, trying to somehow outrun her confused thoughts, what is a monorail doing on a non-human populated island? More importantly, why is it still working after all this time? Who built it? Pokemon memories are long, surely someone would have remembered if humans once lived here. Which according to the smell and that … thing, they did. So if no one remembers, how long has it been here?

Her jaw tightened as she picked up the pace, oblivious to the protests of slower Pokemon following behind, Pokemon disappear in a cave with human scent and working human stuff in it. That can't be a coincidence. Someone is here, someone evil. Her lips unconsciously curled into a snarl, someone I'm going to deep fry after I find them and question them.

Dale ran along with the others, trying to catch up to Mira. Seeing the 'monorail' had shaken her up. In the seconds after warning Castor not to touch it and being asked what it was, he had seen pain in her eyes, an expression of loss and memory that made him want to hug and comfort her. Dale tried to run faster as he recalled the cold look that had suddenly entered her eyes afterwards, he hadn't seen that look since the battle where she'd lost her temper with that Fearow.

Why did a metal bar make her so … angry? What's wrong? Leal, sprinting next to him, said uneasily, "We are moving too fast, friend Dale. If someone has laid traps in this tunnel, at the rate we are going we will not see them until it is too late!"

Dale realized that Leal was right. She needs to slow down, we all do. Gathering as much lung power as he could spare, Dale yelled, "Mira! Slow down! Wait for us!" She didn't slow, Dale felt his endurance draining and whispered, "Please. Stop running from me…"

"They're fighting again." She glanced up at the words and casually eyed the scene of a snarling houndoom facing off against a smirking croagunk.

The Houndoom roared, his short fur standing on end with rage, "You will bow to me, your superior or-"

The Croagunk cut in cheerfully, "Or what? You'll burn me with your itty bitty ember attack? Oh, oh! Maybe you'll bite me and poison yourself! Yeah, that will really teach me a lesson! Face it 'hot stuff', you ain't the boss of nobody. Specially not me." She sighed in irritation, this again? Really?

Bored with the tedious infighting between the two Pokemon, she went back to studying her tiny claws, "So I see. Move a little bit to the left will you, dear?" Her companion obligingly shuffled left, his steady electric light casting shadows all around as she delicately resumed sharpening her dainty retractable weapons, "Thank you."

The Elekid smiled at her adoringly, "Anything for you, Cassandra!"

Cassandra smiled sweetly back at the over-enthusiastic Pokemon, "Aw, you're so nice, Baethan. I think you deserve a … kiss." She pursed her lips softly, offering her newfound sidekick something she knew he wanted. Baethan Elekid's eyes widened excitedly and his arms twitched, obviously fighting to keep them from spinning with glee. Leaning over, Cassandra prepared to kiss Baethan's cheek.

A hot stream of flame whipped past her, blackening some of her fur, "Hey!" Cassandra whirled on the fight a short distance away, her eyes snapping furiously at the close call. She hated fire with a passion, "Break it up you two, we've got bigger problems!"

The Houndoom paused in his fight long enough to sneer at her, "Ah, stay out of this, milk tooth!"

Oh, that is it. "I said break it up!" Cassandra pressed her paws close together to form a ball shape and focused. Wind swirled and snapped within the cage of her fingers, growing more powerful until she suddenly released it in a glittering Fairy Wind that slammed into the Houndoom.

The Houndoom howled in pain as the Fairy-type attack slammed into his side and bowled him over. The Croagunk, caught in the edge of the attack, hissed and clutched her arm where the wind had cut it painfully. Before the Dark/Fire-type who had ticked her off could regain his footing, Cassandra had crossed the distance between them and clamped her steel fighting jaws over his muzzle, effectively cutting off his one method of effectively attacking her.

Cassandra glared down at her potential victim, "When I say stop, Connlaodh Houndoom, you would be wise to listen to me. I may be part steel, but don't forget exactly how well Dark-types do against Fairy-types." In the background, Baethan was clapping widely and the Croagunk, Delilah, was whining about getting caught in the Fairy Wind. Cassandra ground her jaws on the captive muzzle slightly, "Got it?"

Connlaodh whined pitifully, his eyes wide and submissive. Cassandra purposely ran her claws across his nose, leaving almost unseeable scratch marks on its sensitive black surface and eliciting a muffled yelp before letting him go, "Now, why don't you two do something useful like check on our … guests?"

Connlaodh rolled to his paws, rubbing his face dolefully, trying to soothe the pain of a bruised mouth and scratched nose. He shot her an angry look but muttered in a stuffed-up voice, "Yeth Ba'm." Delilah murmured a similar sentiment in a more coherent form and the two shuffled off, still snarling at each other under their breath.

Cassandra sniffed irritably and looked down at her fur, I just brushed it too. Baethan ran up to her, his face alight with awe, "You are amazing, Cassandra! When I grow up, I want to kick tail just like you do! Hi-ah! Ha! Whoosh! Smack!" She couldn't help but chuckle a little bit as the exuberant Elikid mimed ridiculous combat moves with enthusiastic sound effects.

She carefully patted him, mindful of the static electricity hidden in his fur, "Well, an electric-type can't fight like a steel/fairy, but you're doing great with your powers."

Baethan grinned, "Like when you had me use Thundershock on those intruders?"

Cassandra idly started brushing her fur, "Uh-huh. You've got talent kid, I'll bet you'll be learning Thunderbolt in no time." Baethan looked almost ready to faint with glee. Cute, it's so easy to please the little shrimp. I could probably call him an idiot and he'd like it as long as I said it in a nice tone.

"Mistress Cassandra." Cassandra turned to address the newcomer, noting the cold chill that had entered the air and knowing who it was without even looking.

"Yes, Fuyuki?" She acknowledged the cold tempered glaceon primly.

Fuyuki's tone was one of complete indifference, as always, "I've confirmed who it was our two thieves encountered. They were telling the truth. It was a group of seven led by an unidentified electric-type. Pikachu according to them. They're the same ones who disrupted your operation in your home cave."

Cassandra hissed in hatred at the very mention of the humiliating incident. Recovering her composure quickly and reining in her temper, Cassandra drawled, "Oh really? Well, I suppose couldn't expect those two to stand up to that group. I wonder what they are doing in Meiro Woods?"

Baethan barreled into the conversation with all of the tact of a rampaging tauros, "If they're here, I'll go find 'um and beat 'um up for you Cassandra! When I'm done with them-"

Cassandra lightly placed a paw over his lips, "I'm sure you would, Baethan, but let Fuyuki finish his report first." She looked at the eevee evolution expectantly.

He sighed softly, his breath crystalizing briefly in the air as it left his cold mouth, "They've entered the Kuro Cave. They should be entering the trap zone soon."

Cassandra smiled, "Oh, really? Well, this is surprising news. Round up the others, we need to make sure our intruders get a warm reception." Fuyuki nodded and trotted silkily down a tunnel to do as bidden.

Baethan bounced up and down eagerly, his arms spinning from excitement, "Can I come? Can I come? Can I, can I? Please?"

Cassandra stepped back a safe distance from his now sparking fur, "No." Baethan stopped spinning his arms with a disappointed 'aww!' Smiling sweetly at him, she continued, "Because I have a much more important job for you."

The Elikid perked up, "Really?"

She nodded, "Really. Now, listen carefully, Baethan. This is what I need you to do…"