Hey everyone, I'm back with another update! It looks like we finally hit 100,000 Views on this story! That's a lot of people tuning in, I never thought I would get here, but here we are…9 years into making this fanfic! This next chapter will be from Km's (Leila's) POV. Interestingly enough, this is the first time we see her POV in the story. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this next addition!

Chapter fifty-four: Journey of Fugitives Part 3

Even after thirty minutes, Ansel did not stir, no matter how many attempts I tried. Growlithe and the robot Holo managed to locate a small den where we could rest and treat Cy for his injuries. In the meantime, Michael left with Holo in search of a way through the ice wall…this place is really getting on my nerves!

I place my palm on my human partner's head, looking to see if he has fever…thankfully he doesn't. Growlithe licks the side of the man's face, however, and I can't help but let them. I checked his leg…nothing's broken or infected. That's when I concluded that he passed out from fatigue than anything else. We've been running, running more than we usually have…and for days now, so it makes sense. I can't blame him…this snow is taking a toll on all of us…him especially!

Ironic…huh Ansel…not too long ago I was the one you were taking care of…I won't let you go…we'll do EVERYTHING we can to get you back on your feet again! I swear!

I stand up, covering Cy with a blanket before giving a heavy sigh.

What CAN we do? If we call for help, we're screwed…if we don't…Ansel's condition could worsen!

I clutch my head, being careful not to accidentally activate my flame powers…I wouldn't want my hair to be on fire after all, or burn this shelter down…

I reach into my pocket, taking my flip phone out.

What should I do, Leila, I think to myself. Rk tried to torture us, there's no way I'm calling Jeremy after what he did to us…

Bartoli? Forget it. The police…yea right! Who else then?

I scroll through my contacts, frustration seeping from my face. My phone starts to heat up thanks to my hand…I got to calm down before I start a fire! I begin taking breaths to control my anger…figuring it must be linked to how strong my power can get.

Through all my troubles I give a brief glance over to my partner: who is still passed out and shivering from the cold.

I'm…sorry Ansel…I have to. I must call Team Rocket, only THEY can help us!

And so, I start dialing the number; however, before I can even hit call…Michael barges in the shelter with his robot pet, "Leila, we found an opening!"

Surprised by his sudden appearance and this new revelation, I put my phone down. My eyes widened in response.

"Come on!" Michael wasted no time: picking up Cy from his resting place and begins carrying the smaller adult, "stay close!"

"Alright" I silently mutter, putting my device away finally.

We left the shelter…heading back into the snowstorm and it isn't long before I am met with a rocky slope that isn't covered in ice or snow. My brother, Holo, Growlithe and I climb the obstacle before reaching the top within minutes. Once we finally reach the top, we heave a much needed, and heavy, sigh of relief.

We look around soon after before I give a look of worry, "uh, now what?" I muttered.

Michael looks around, becoming quite nervous too, "Holo, go ahead and find a route for us to take!"

"We can't keep doing this Michael," I stopped him, "we should head back to the shelter and climb this when the storm stops!"

"What if it freezes over!? What if snow covers it!?" Michael clapped back, still holding Ansel as my firedog whines behind me.

"I think…" I stop myself, shaking my head in utter defeat. The wind blasts us from every direction, our ears deafened by the background noise, "w-we should CALL for HELP!"

"A-are you okay? A-are you dizzy or what!? Call who!? Your friends…who tried to hurt you!? The police…who'll lock you away!?" Michael went off the list of things as I growl at him:

"What else do you suggest!?" I shouted back, "we're going to DIE here if we don't get out of this damn place soon!"

"Damn it!" Michael yells loudly at the sky in sheer despair.

Suddenly, Growlithe's nose tingles and he turns toward a section of the snowy forest. His eyes widen before he starts barking loudly, getting our attention.

"What is it, boy!?"

We realize that through the blowing snow we can see a faint light in the air getting closer by the second. We ready ourselves, believing this to be a prelude to an imminent battle: a possible group of police officers out looking or us.

This is it then…this is the end for us, it must be…this is going to be our last stand right here.

It was not.

Before we can do anything, we are surprised to find a small figure carrying a lantern. They are dressed in a bright heavy blue parka with fur stitched around the neck area. The stranger lifts their head to reveal a frail, old, woman…who right after smiles at us. Right next to them is an Ivysaur, which is shivering slightly from the cold.

"W-who are you?" Michael asked, quite confused by her sudden entry.

"I should be asking you that question, young man. This is my property."

I look to my brother who has a look of despair washing down his face, but nevertheless he strengthens himself and looks back to the owner, "w-we got caught in this storm."

"I see…" her voice is so fragile from being a very old age…I would imagine she is in her nineties, "and you all seem exhausted from it…please…come" she turns around as her Pokémon follows closely behind, eyeing us every few feet.

"I'll pass…" I mutter, scoffing at her silently, but then I hear Michael, "Leila…" he moves in, "would you rather Ansel freeze…we got no choice, come on…" he starts following the woman as the light from the lantern starts to fade slowly. He turns around with an agitated expression, "Leila!"

I look down to Growlithe, who is giving a look of uncertainty, yet I can tell he wants to follow too. I sigh softly, finally yielding, "fine…"

Hopefully this isn't a trap or will lead us into deeper shit…

We ended up at a small wooden cabin beside an equally small windmill. Small candles light up the interior and exterior of the property. The storm makes it hard to get around, but with the old lady leading us, we finally enter the refuge, and finally a warm one at that.

The inside is small, full of items on shelves and other places…almost like this is a store…is this a Pokémart? No, it can't be…it looks more like a haberdashery. There is a couch by a warm fireplace that we drag ourselves to. The stranger closes the door behind her, sealing off the blowing snow from the outside. She removes her beany, scarf and coat. Michael rested Cy on the couch, the latter is still covered in the blanket. I warm myself by the fire before Michael, though shaking from the cold, walks up to the lady in a friendly gesture, "We appreciate the hospitality, what is your name, ma'am?"

She seems thrilled by this and gives a fond smile, "I am Millicent. Please, do warm yourself." Michael decides to do so, all the while keeping an eye on the woman: who is now brewing coffee in the kitchen across from us. Her Ivysaur sits and rests on a chair next to the couch, but it never takes its eyes off us…apparently suspicious of us.

It isn't long before this 'Millicent' comes to us with a tray of coffee for us to drink. I'm guessing my brother was trying to get on her good side, but I wasn't having any of it. Once her gaze catches mine, I give her an untrustworthy glare as I take the cup, but Michael steps in suddenly.

"Thank you for helping us, our friend here is hurt badly."

"No need to thank me. Might I ask this…what exactly were you three doing out there in the cold this evening?"

The tall man looks back to me as I raise a cold eyebrow back, but the former decides to act before me: "we were hiking from Celadon City when the storm hit…"

My mouth twitches at this, but for our sake…and Ansel's sake…I decide to play along.

"We…ended up climbing this rock, and my friend's leg here was hurt in an avalanche" I lied.

"I see…" she looks to Cy as we, the siblings, look to one another. Holo is perched on the side of the couch beside the unconscious Ex-Grunt as Growlithe lies next to me…curled up to keep warm. The old lady smiled, apparently pleased that we are all in a better position than we were just minutes before, "well, you are all safe now. Please feel at home, I am here for you." She bowed respectfully before walking away with her Ivysaur, who squints its eyes at us in suspicion.

My brother, having warmed up by the fire and with the drink, stands up: the snow that was on his coat having melted by now, "I say we stay, but remain vigilant."

"No kidding…nice going with the drink…didn't check to see if it was poisoned before you drank it?" I chided him.

"I'm not dead…or passed out…so…" Michael deadpanned.

I scoff at him, shaking my head in disbelief, "how can we trust an old hag that lives by herself with her weird Pokémon? Who the hell owns a shop in the middle of a damn forest?"

"We got no choice in the matter, let's just…wait…and get our heads together till morning or when Ansel comes around…whichever comes first. Then, we'll plan our next move…hopefully we're not too far from Route 16."

"You idiot" I gave a scolding laugh at him, "what if the snow doesn't thaw until Spring?"

"I dunno…honestly…I think we should be glad we're still alive…" he finished, "it could be worse, Leila…a lot worse 'ya know."

I got to hand it to him…it COULD be worse…after all we've been through…but I ain't letting my guard down for a second. As soon as Ansel wakes up, we should get the heck out of this weird place! I guess I should…rest for now…at least for a bit…I need it…

Some time passes by the morning had come around. Ansel finally begins moving again and he slowly opened his eyes. The young adult is met with a strangely warm and welcoming scene. Growlithe and I are sleeping by the fireplace, but Michael is nowhere to be found. Cy gets out of his soft, warm, blanket and struggles over to me and my firedog.

"Leila…" he whispers softly, confused. He gets no response and decides to whisper even louder, "Leila!"

I jolt up, awakened by his voice. I meet his gaze head on and I give a look of utter relief, "Ansel!"

"W-what's going on here?" He asked, still tired from our journey out of Celadon City. The guy could barely walk enough as it is, just putting pressure on his foot gave him pain.

"Ansel, don't move too much" I lead him back to the sofa, helping him, "some old lady offered shelter to us in the forest."

He looks around again before resting on the couch once more. He's going to need more rest for sure. Ansel rolled up his dirty jeans and saw that his bandages were replaced.

"W-what is this?" They asked, dumbfounded, "some kind of shop?"

"Haberdashery" I nodded.

He and I spot my brother, Michael, by the kitchen with this so called: Millicent, both appear to be smiling and talking as if they were close friends…

Geez, he really trusts this person despite having met her…or maybe he's trying to hustle her for information and stuff? Soon enough, they spot us awake and both come to us with drinks.

"Morning kids" Michael smugly condescends us as I growl at him, "so…she told me about a shortcut through Route 16. I think It'll cut our time getting to the border a bit."

"Oh yea?" I raised an eyebrow, shaking my head to him in the same smug fashion. I hate to say it…like brother like sister.

"We'll have to wait till the thaw…unfortunately…" he muttered as the two of us scoff softly.

"I figured you were going to say that…" I can't even be angry at him…at this point I'm expecting bullshit like this honestly. Besides…if I DID get mad…I would end up burning down this cabin probably…so yea…can't really get mad right now to be honest.

"S-stay here? Do we even know where we are?" Cy butted in.

"We'll have to, Ansel. In the meantime, enjoy the peace and quiet and try not to draw attention…please…that goes for you too sis." He walked away. I look to Cy who just mirrors the same expression of uncertainty toward me.

...

By the afternoon it has stopped snowing and the sun is out as the snow on the ground glitters brightly. We're resting on the porch, just Ansel and I, deciding to take my brother's advice. Speaking of him: he's helping the lady collect wood for the fireplace tonight. Cy rests his injured leg on a seat while we talk.

"So…what exactly happened while I was out?" Ansel asked softly.

"I…" I stopped myself. The twenty-year old raises a brow to me in response.

I decide to tell him the truth…I can't lie to him…not after all we've been through, "we…were desperate. I almost called Bartoli…"

He sighs right after, quite loudly too…as if disappointed, and I can tell with the face he's making he doesn't appreciate that, "Leila…"

"I'm sorry, but what choice did we have at the time? Should I remind you of when you called her to save me"

Ansel looks down, reminded of the day I was swarmed by the Beedrils in Viridian Forest.

"Bartoli…she killed dozens of people through her twisted experiments…they weren't even experiments…she straight up tortured them for her own amusement. She manipulated us, have you forgotten?"

"No…of course not." I handed him bread from the table next to us and he eats it, sending Ansel into a state of comfort. I can't help but chuckle before he looks at me, "what?"

"Nothing. This just reminds me of when we were training to be Team Rocket grunts."

"When we were on that Canyon, right? Yea…I was thinking about that too recently" the boy chuckled back.

"You're right, they used us. They made us into their tools, but it's all water under the bridge." I said confidently, taking a sip of hot chocolate. The latter scoffs back, looking toward the white scenery in front of us.

"Well, we can't trust anyone but ourselves. You, me…Michael…just as it was before…like before we became Grunts."

"And the more I think about it, the more I believe we were never meant for them. It's always been about us." I smile, putting the cup down. I lean closer to him. Ansel seems to accept my invitation, feeling gravity pull him closer to me, "always will be" he silently murmured. Our lips touch and for a few moments we feel our souls connect once again as they always have. Then, concern strikes Ansel when he opens an eye to see my shoulder. He is reminded of our recent encounter with the wild Persian. Cy pulls away from our moment, "how's your shoulder?"

I look at it in response, "it's good." Underneath all this heavy winter clothes is a scar being left behind as the wound slowly heals. I curse silently under my breath, "I still can't believe Michael took it…"

"That Persian could be useful in the future, 'ya know." Ansel rubbed the hair on his chin as I snicker back in retaliation.

"When are you going to shave that forest off your face?"

"What, you don't like it…I was hoping to get a flannel to match my beard and an axe while I'm at it" he sarcastically responded. By now he had a medium stubble growing, looking quite different than from our escape from Outpost 3C 273.

"I'll shave it."

"Your call, not mine. I might grow to like it, just don't go bald on me for heaven's sake" I giggled as he rolled his eyes back at me.

Suddenly, we see Holo flying in from the forest before crawling up to Ansel's lap. Instead of all the times before, the Ex-Grunt doesn't mind the Spiderbot/Needlebot hybrid's presence. Not too long ago he despised the robot, but now he's allowing the thing to be perched on him. Dang thing acts like an animal, thanks to its programming. I guess Ansel's growing attached to Holo. I must admit, it helped us so far throughout our journey.

"You two seem to be getting along now…" I had to rub it in, however, with a smug look no less.

"I guess, Holo is not like the other 'bots', took me a while to figure that out." Ansel replied, "he kind of reminds me of my Diglett a little bit."

"Oh, come on!" I laughed back, slapping his good leg.

"No, seriously…it's-" he doesn't finish because we soon hear echoes in the forest. Holo seems to have picked up the sound as well and jumps off Cy to investigate further. They're voices not familiar to us, and we spring into action as a result!

Michael heard it too just as he was going back to get more logs with Millicent. Ansel and I can hear it now: the sounds of police officers approaching!

Soon, law enforcement will be all over us! Despite the confusion coming from the elderly homeowner, Michael sets the logs down and comes to us, "inside!"

"Where though!?" I exclaimed frustratingly.

"Anywhere!"

The three of us make our way inside while the old lady approaches us, "what seems to be wrong?"

Michael looks back nervously as Holo lands on his shoulder, "we-we can't be seen…"

No way he just SAID that to HER! What was he THINKING!? Now we're TOTALLY screwed! We should just run out of here NOW, run off into the woods and now!

The elder looks back to the outside where the sounds of a car engine and radio can be heard. To Michael, this was it, they were either going to be helped by this person or we'll be fighting our way out again. In only a few short seconds Millicent nodded weakly, much to our surprise.

"Go down the basement, that door." She pointed with a shaky, gloved, finger.

"Much obliged" Michael helps Ansel and I into the basement before the old woman closes the door behind us. She goes back outside to confront the officers coming out of their patrol car.

"W-welcome." She said only.

"Good morning Mrs. Oyami, there's been an incident in Celdadon City…"

Some time passes by as we listen carefully against the door, hearing what is being said. Most of the dialogue is muffled, but we manage to understand some of it.

"I doubt such people have passed by this property. If I see them, I will be sure to notify authorities." The old lady said as we heard her Ivysaur roar back.

"Be careful please" one of the officers said before they re-enter their vehicle to leave. Once they're gone, we hear the old lady approach us and open the basement door.

"You three may come out now" she simply said. We walked out of the shelter, confused out of our minds. Michael, mouth gaped, looks to her, "why?"

"I know you three are the fugitives, that is evident in your actions. I knew right when I met you three." She retorted as we backed away slowly. Her Ivysaur growls at us as Growlithe returned the gesture. Holo seemed to be ready to release a syringe toward the opposing foe, but Michael calmly stops it from doing so.

"I also know you three are from Johto." We all look to her in total shock and surprise.

"H-how do you-" I asked in shock.

"Because I too am a Johto refugee from the civil war. Your accents are Johtonian" she paces back and forth in front of us as sweat falls down our heads.

"And you didn't tell them…why?" Ansel asked wholeheartedly.

She stopped, calming her Pokémon, looking to the young adult straight in the eye in retaliation, "because I believe people deserve a second chance. When I was younger…much younger…I was the same as you: I fled Johto for another life, a chance to turn myself into something greater than I was. I wasn't a very good person when I was your age and I tried to find ways to better myself in the years that followed. I felt as though isolation would aid me in this endeavor; however, finding you three has given me the chance to finally redeem myself…I hope you understand."

We all remain silent; all we hear is her shaky breath as she speaks to us in a soft voice, "I want to come to an agreement with you, show me you want to change, and I shall help you out of this forest to wherever your destination might be."

We look to one another: we are too tired, too fed up with running and throwing more attention to ourselves. I can't help but step forward slightly with a cold look on my face, "what's stopping us from simply getting our way with you…"

"You would have done that already. I've known many people in my long life…many from different backgrounds…I've met some of the worst people in my life. I don't believe you…or the rest of you…are one of them."

Michael nods as I scoff, looking away at this, "you have no idea who we are…what we're capable of…" I growl to her.

"I know you are scared" Millicent said bravely, "I know you are desperate too. Whatever you three have done…I'm sure you regret it."

"Oh…we do" Ansel bumps in as I look at him with a bewildered face; however, there's something in me that made me think about Ansel's condition. If we stayed here long enough, his leg would heal and traveling to the Kantonian border will be less stressful for us all. It's not up to me, though…the other two have made up their minds already…waiting on me for an answer.

"Are we in agreement?" Mrs. Oyami asked firmly.

I sigh softly, having made my decision, "okay…you got it."

Hey readers I hope you enjoyed this next addition to 50,000 Volts! The next chapter will go back to Lucas and Orion.

A note: this is off topic but I am quite nervous regarding the Ukrainian War and I really hope everything resolves peacefully. My prayers go out to all the victims from the senseless fighting.

I hope you all take care and see you next time.