Shoutout to PichuFan who gave the idea about Tohjo Falls in a review, that suggestion actually helped me a lot in writing this chapter, so thanks!

Anyways, here you all go, another chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter forty-nine: Journey of Fugitives Part 1

Fourteen years ago…

The smell of smoke and gunpowder pollutes the air in New Bark Town, close to the border of Kanto. The number of refugees from the southwest had increased considerably in the past several weeks. The civil war in Johto had reached its peak and the south portions had seen the worst atrocities. Even after breaking away from Kanto and declaring itself its own independent region, Johto was not faring well under its new provisional government. At first, the protests were peaceful, but soon they descended into violence thanks to several groups. Soon enough, some factions claimed territory and the province fell into chaos.

Kanto had arrived not too long ago to try and restore order, having made gains in the south near the town, and now there were people being led out through the plateau in the east towards safety.

I was about six years old…and by that time…my mother and I were about to leave as well…

My family lived in Cherrygrove City, and it was among the first to be occupied…

I was in my room, having just came back from school when I felt the first shockwave. I looked back and forth in fear before my mother came bursting in…her face full of panic. She grabbed me and took me out of my room through our small wooden house. Once we made it outside, I saw carnage for the first time…

Smoke rose from the interior of the city and the hills behind them as we got into the car to drive off. My mom placed the seatbelt around my body before barely having time to put on hers. She turned on the car and almost carelessly drove through the neighborhood along with several other panicked families.

I started crying, being six years old I didn't know what was going on…it was all so sudden…like the whole world was ending…and it didn't help that we eventually ran into the military…

There we were placed inside of a truck and taken east. It was dark…and we were in a tight space surrounded by people we didn't know…all of them panic-stricken and desperate to leave.

"Mom…where are they…taking us?"

"Just hold my hand" I do as she said and she placed my head closer to hers, shielding me from what was going on…

When we arrived at the border, we were rushed out and placed into a line of anxious and terrified people.

"Ansel" she said, "don't let go of my hand!"

I nod silently as I look around…

I followed her through the chaotic crowd massing by the boat next to the river. We passed through New Bark Town as we heard distant explosions in the mountains, echoing all around us. Some Kanto military choppers flew above us at high altitude towards the battlefield as my mother picked me up from the ground to carry me.

"We're almost there honey, just a while longer!"

My mother and I waited feverishly for our turn to get on the ferry, and when we finally boarded, we were among the last. The vessel began its travel down the river away from Johto and reached the outskirts of Kanto on the other side not too long after. Within the same hour we disembarked, and we're soon met with the view of a grandiose waterfall surrounded by gray lifeless rocks…Tohjo Falls…

When I looked up and saw the tall body of water…I notice the lifts that the military were using to get refugees up.

"This waterfall will take us to a safer place" a random man, wearing a tattered suit, said as we turned to see him. I looked up to see hope filling his eyes, "this is the door to Kanto…"

"Come on Ansel…don't fall behind" my mother said as my six-year-old mind reflected on those words the distraught man said…

Kanto…

Present Day

Our group traverses the snowy Celadon Forest as the winds begin to slowly encumber us. My plan, which Km and Michael agreed to, is for us to head west adjacent to Route sixteen, then going north through the forests to get to Route three. Once there, our party will head west again to Pewter City and finally toward the border of Johto…through Tohjo Falls…having recounted my experience as a young child. I had remembered descriptions regarding this special location: it's right around the area encompassing the Johto League and may be our best shot at jumping to the border region. There will indubitably be people there, but perhaps not as many as there would be heading straight through the mountains as we had discussed in Michael's apartment. The two Ex-Rocket members seemed to like the idea, and to me…made the most sense. It might sound easy to get to, but the routes are prone to being infested with itinerant trainers itching for a fight.

What other option is there…the truth is…I don't know…but probably none…

Michael, Km and I eventually stop to rest…close to an abandoned house…soon we'll lose sunlight and it'll be colder and darker…and we're going to need some food for the night. So, with the help of my Pokémon, Fearow, Km and I hunt small game for a good while. Once we've collected enough food, we press onward, heading west as planned; however, we ourselves were being "hunted."

"Hide!" Michael yells as we suddenly hear the round of something hovering over the forest. Above us there are police helicopters that search the forest for the three of us. Although they have decreased in numbers the farther we have gotten from the city, there are a few left that are still determined to find us.

We duck and conceal ourselves behind trees as they pass over us, and it appears as though we're safe again. Unfortunately…I wasn't talking about the Helicopters earlier…they're not the only ones hunting us…

"Km!"

The brunette quickly looks up and finds herself in the path of a leaping feline heading straight for her. She barely gets out of the way as it claws make a mark on the bark of the tree. After she rejoins us, we realize that we are in the presence of a wild Persian! It has a heavier coat than normal due to the cold and its red orb on its forehead shines brightly as it snarls in our direction. Our scents must have brought it to us!

"Are you okay?" I ask Km. That's when I can feel her palm begin to gather heat and her face begins to intensify…her anger's growing…and she's about to let it out! I quickly step away as she yells, unleashing a stream of fire toward the Pokémon; however, the normal type has time to avoid the hit and jumps on several trees to make it to the three of us.

"Le…Leila!?" Michael shouted in disbelief, never having seen Km use her abilities before, nor have we told him about it either…I guess we forgot…so naturally the man is standing there in total shock, but there's no time to be all surprised about it!

"Scatter!" I yell as we all move out of the way, and the cat lands in the center.

"Holo…Shoot it!" Michael regains his composure as he orders his robot to act: it detaches from his shoulder to go on the offensive. It begins firing its needles, but unfortunately…it runs out of ammo…

"Damn it, try to distract it!" The older man had said.

"Michael, take Ansel to that house over there" Km shouts to her brother as she deals with the Persian.

"Got it…come on kid" Michael grabs me and we quickly enter the abandoned wooden house. Once we enter, we are met with the view of a dilapidated living room: with fallen or torn furniture, a crumbling chimney, and a tree growing out from the window on the other side. Light snow is falling from the exposed roof from above as well.

Km, meanwhile, tries her best to avoid the Persian's aggressive swipes. Holo attempts to distract the cat but is ultimately hit by the feline and is temporarily stunned: crashing into the snow due to the sheer force of the cat's paw.

Eventually, even the girl herself becomes exhausted…

"C-crap…damn thing…" the girl lets out one last shot of her fire blast before the Pokémon pounces toward her. Fortunately, this time…the Persian is hit and the feline falls into the deep snow…momentarily stunned by Leila's attack. This action gives the nineteen-year-old a perfect window to escape from the predator, so she turns around to join us in the derelict house. Just as she approaches the entrance, she hears the feline recovering, and it's even angrier than before…it begins charging for the girl once again.

"Oh sh-" she yelps before entering its interior. From the corner of her eye, Leila can see Michael and I going up the broken stairs, "hurry up" she yelled. Upon hearing a growl from the approaching Persian, Km tries to avoid getting hit; however, she is ultimately caught in its grasp!

The Pokémon's razor-sharp claws hit her shoulder and Leila screams immediately from the pain.

"Km!" Both Michael and I call out to her from above. She's now on the floor, face against the cold rotten wood…breathing quite rapid from the injury. The cat looks up toward us…teeth bare…its intentions are clear. We don't waste anymore time, the both of us hastily make our way up the stairs as it follows us from behind…though its progress is hindered by some steps from the stairs, which break under its weight. The man and I arrive on the second floor, which is flimsy due to the rotting wood…one bad step and the floor underneath us may collapse…

We carefully make our way across until we find ourselves confronted by the wild animal...it has finally made it up, and I quickly reach for a Pokéball. It steps closer and closer to us while Michael notices we're both behind a door and an idea pops up in his head. The Persian makes one last jump to finish us off…but…

"No!" we both heard...from the stairs behind the cat, we can see Leila releasing a barrage of fire that strikes the creature from behind and it falls against the floor, which causes it to collapse. Michael pulls me back by the coat towards the door as the floor completely collapses in front of us. Km, though in pain from her recent injury, jumps off as the stairs break down behind her. Michael and I are saved by standing in the other room. We peep down from the door frame to inspect the wreckage below: the Persian is badly injured and is trapped underneath the rubble.

"You guys alright?" Km calls from the first floor.

"Are you alright!?" Michael asked back, noticing her bleeding shoulder.

"Don't…get too concerned about it…are you two able to come down?"

"Think so" Michael looks around and Holo helps him spot a place we can descend safely from, "thanks bud" he expresses gratitude to his companion as we make our way down.

"Come on" Km says, heading for the door after we reach the bottom. Her brother goes into his bag of supplies…the only one we have…

"Hold up, we got to take care of that."

She yields unquestionably, recognizing the dangers that can come from an untreated wound, and the taller man disinfects and covers the scratch marks in only a few minutes, "you should seriously do some field work again" she compliments him as he rolls his eyes to her. Then…his face shifts to a more serious tone.

"Mind telling me what that was you did back there…" Michael asks as she looks up, realizing she never showed him…never even told him about her…special ability…

"I…ah…well…you see…" she begins to explain everything to him, figuring he deserved an explanation anyways.

Meanwhile, I have been staring at the barely conscious creature across from us. Something deep in my mind reminds me of something…two things actually…

The first is reminding me of when the balcony in Verdigris collapsed and I injured my leg…

The second…well:

Listen to me…I can save your life…trust me!

Your friend…I didn't save him because I could…I saved him because he was in need of help…

I rub my forehead as a result…my thoughts replay the scene from the battle of Outpost 3C 273 when I was trapped under the rubble with a certain somebody…why does this always happen…why whenever I'm around stuff they collapse around me, and I do this!? Third times a charm, I guess…

"Lucas" I silently whisper under my breath.

"Cy…what's the matter?" Km asked before I turn around to face the girl.

"We…can't leave it here…not like this" I mutter softly, almost to the point that it was barely heard by the two people in front of me.

"You're joking" the brunette mumbles, half confused and half angry.

"He's not…" Michael whispers in her ear as she shakes her head. I sigh softly in response to Km's protests.

"Damn thing tried to kill us!" She retorted in an aggressive tone, "why should we bother to save it?"

"Km…we can't keep living our lives like this…we can't keep…being cruel…" I mutter softly in response to her statement.

"Why not!? The world has been cruel to us…all our lives…the way I see it: I'm just returning the gesture" she snaps back with the same ferocity.

"Maybe…we could use this Persian for a future endeavor?" Michael suddenly suggested, while also trying to diffuse the situation…probably because he didn't want his sister to light up on fire again...

"Great idea" I nod in agreement.

Km just slaps her arms against her sides, not wanting to believe what is happening. I, on the other hand, pull out an empty Pokéball, getting ready to chuck it at the feline. Finally, she decides to calm herself down. The girl sighs to herself before walking closer to me, placing a soft hand on my shoulder, "this is about what happened back at the Outpost…isn't it?"

Wow…it's like she read my mind there or something…

"Wait…what happened?" Michael raised his brow, but we both ignore him, figuring we'll tell him later…he's going to be overwhelmed by everything we must tell him…

"The Pikachu…Lucas…when I saw him in the rubble…it…reminded me of you…just…"

I turn around to face her again as our eyes meet, "vulnerable…needing something or someone there to help you…I want to show this world that I can be better than what it is now…try to make it less cruel…even if that might be unrealistic…" I then give the device to Michael, "besides, where we're headed…we'll need more allies than we have now…"

Km can't bring herself to agree or disagree with me, but she knows that I have changed…

I probably wouldn't have done all this before the whole "Bartoli" incident at our base…Bartoli, and Km's run-in with the Beedrills, sure were the catalyst…making me re-assess my entire life and where it was headed. I don't say anything else to them…I just want to rest from this point on…I limp away to lie down for a few minutes while the siblings look at one another. Michael just shrugs to Leila, "I might as well, I don't have any Pokémon with me currently."

Right after he said that he throws the ball lightly at the Persian's head and its entire body glows in a red light before being consumed by the sphere: rolling off the debris straight into the ground below. It shakes for a few seconds before finally stopping. The man picks it up.

Km raises an eyebrow, putting her healthy arm on her hip, "Going to give it a name?" She says this while grunting at the thought of having that cat as a part of their team now.

"How does Saber, sound?"

"I don't know, it's your Pokémon now…" Km retorts.

"Yup." Michael puts the ball away, "now, about your magic powers and this outpost he was talking about…"

"I guess we owe you an explanation to everything" Km nods softly.

"You do."

"Okay…I'll explain everything that has happened leading up to us making it to Celadon City" Km paces back and forth while the male realizes something.

"Hold up" Michael interrupted: he steps out to the entrance, calling for his robot to come. Nearby, the spiderbot emerges from the snow, shaking itself rapidly before joining us in the house. Michael finally rests against the rubble, ready to have everything revealed to him.

And so…as we rested in the decaying house, Leila explained everything to her brother…

She told him about Bartoli…about her experiments with people…and how Leila gained the ability to use fire-type moves initially reserved for Pokémon.

The girl describes our illustrious escape from 3C 273…and our departure from Team Rocket.

She explained…everything…

Michael seemed amazed most of all by Km's newfound abilities more than anything…who wouldn't though? He asked questions…A LOT of questions about it, like if she has to change sweaters and coats every time she powers up…since they would all burn to a crisp every time she went hot.

Eventually, as the sun began its march down the horizon, we pressed on…continuing our lengthy journey to the Kanto border. Before it is completely dark, Fearow helped us find shelter inside of a hollow tree: with enough space for all of us to fit inside. It's no longer snowing, but the ground is still covered in it, about one to two feet deep. Km's Growlithe started a small fire for us to keep warm whilst Holo patrolled the area for the night. It appears the Celadon Police have lost our trail, and seeing as how we're almost halfway to Route sixteen, they must've given up…

As we rest, I feel Leila's shoulder against mine as I look over to see the ex-grunt had passed out.

We must make it to the border, for their sake…I think to myself, I look up to see an opening in the tree bark where I can see hundreds of stars in the clear sky, I wonder if we'll pull this off…it's still a long journey and with Rk and the authorities on us…I know we'll have to fight them again no matter what…

I finally close my eyes, the last one in the group to fall asleep…but I don't stay asleep for long…

Eventually I am jolted awake by my own body when I felt something against my leg, sweat falls from my brow as I look down…it's just Km's leg on mine…she doesn't know it…it felt like my leg was getting crushed again in my dream…it was the whole balcony scene in Verdigris all over again…and the Pikachu…Oreo…or was it another name…fell with me…

I place a palm against my forehead and sigh softly. I keep having the same nightmares…I wonder if they'll stop…

I'm unable to sleep now, at least for a while…instead I just stare at the sky and think…

I wonder what happened to Lucas and Oreo…where could they be right now? Maybe they're running around like crazy much like we are…or maybe they're living life in peace…Lucas…probably not though…I know he must be trying to become human again…I mean who wouldn't? I wonder if they're doing alright…

...

Alright, next chapter will focus on Lucas and Orion again. Until next time!