"Over here sir!" The young grunt announced.
"Good work!" Jesus grinned as he saw the trail that the kid took on his death plunge. "Make sure to give Roxy a commendation for her brave prevetion of the Queens assasination. Also you will get that raise you wanted."
"Yes! Sir!" The grunt saluted before running off to join the hunting party.
"You'll pay for embarassing me kid!" He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Still trying on the boss' uniform?" He spun around to find Big Sue glaring at him.
"I... I... I was just giving some simple instructions my Lady." He sweated profusely.
"If I catch you pulling another stunt like this and it's lights out for you." She rolled a fist.
"Of course Big Sue! Sorry, I will not do it again." He began to walk away.
"Jesus! My hat!" She held her large hand out.
"Uh sorry! Forgot." He removed the Chief Trappers' hat and returned it to Suelly.
Jesus kept thinking to himself, if he brought in the kid it would be him wearing the Chief's hat and Big Sue would be a big meal for the Queen's Lickatung. He quietly slipped away following the path of burnt and broken trees.
Brock was shocked about the last twenty-four hours. It would be just four in a few minutes. He began to see familar sights of Goldenrod. The train pulled past the mall, he saw the gym in the distance. He saw the radio tower against the pale moon out.
He wasn't as lonely as he thought he would be. Every time he felt lonely he thought of Melanie. He knew after they found Ash he had to go back to Pewter. He had to patch things up with Jr.
A familar face waved at him as he passed the platform. Whitney was there but, where was Bugsy? Someone tapped his shoulder. It was one of the attendants.
"I see you're friend is here. Cute girl. Is she the one your thinking of?"
"Sorry sir, I was thinking about my girlfriend back in Saffron." Now Brock waved back to Whitney. "I have a lot on my mind these days. When will we be allowed to get off?"
"A few minutes go ahead and get your stuff." The attendant smiled as he saw the kid run off to gather his stuff. "Well if she's not going out with you maybe she'll go out with me."
Brock stopped, he turned around and stared. It couldn't be could it? There standing before him was Todd! He ran back to him.
"Snaps! Why are you working on the Magnet Train? Shouldn't you be out taking photos?"
"I know you?" He tried to back away.
"Quit the act I know you!" Brock crossed his arms.
"Alright Brock it's me." He looked down.
"What are you doing here?"
"A long story I don't want to go into right now." Todd walked with Brock.
"Well your not going to stay with this job! Are you?" Brock saw Snaps remain quiet. "Well I have a job for you! Come with Whitney, Bugsy and me. We need to find Pryce the gym leader."
"Brock I'm fine. I have a great job." He still was blue.
"I need your help, Ash is missing."
"What!" Todd looked at Brock. "When did this happen?"
"He disappeared two days ago. I'm here to meet the aforementioned friends to go find Pryce. Sabrina is sure he knows something."
"Well for Ash I will. I might be able to get my boss to let me have that vacation I'm due in two weeks. Go ahead and I'll meet you at the Goldencup Café"
"I'll wait with my friends and we'll discuss the following trip."
"Well Brock you're looking good." Whitney shook his hand. "I think you remember this little girl."
Miltank nosed Brock's luggage. He opened one of his bags and gave Miltank a couple of his specially made treats. He rubbed the cows head while it ate happily.
"Where's Bugsy?"
"Right here!" Bugsy ran toward them.
He was badly out of breath. He smiled to the others while a new round of handshakes began. He explained that he broke scyther's pokéball by accident and was having it fixed. He was in hurry after picking it up from Kurt that he forgot to check if he had his train pass. He arrived at Azalea's train station to realize he left the pass at home.
He ran home but, got back to the station in time to see the train disappear over the horizon.
"I had to pedal all the way here. My bike has a flat tire to boot now." He suddenly leapt up a tree. "I don't believe it! Pokéball go!"
Brock shrugged his shoulders. Bugsy came back down holding the ball in his hand. He clipped it to his belt.
"A Pineco is a very rare find around these parts." He rejoined them.
"If you ask me I think he was catching bugs all the way here." Whitney giggled at Brock's comment.
Misty was thinking of how sad Brock looked when he left. He hadn't traveled alone very much before. Well, he would have friends waiting for him. Then her thoughts fell to Sabrina's Master. He was surely powerful yet eccentric.
He wore that dark robe all the time. It was so long it hid his shoes, that's if he wore shoes. He was able to move about without making the clumping sound of shoes. She watched as he sat in the middle of the gym meditating. Swirls of energy flowed around him.
"Mentor?" She politely addressed him.
"Yes, child?" He had a soft voice.
" Master why do you hide yourself?" She sat across from him.
"I believe that's not the question you wanted to ask." He laughed gently.
"Actually it wasn't." She giggled slightly to her surprise. "I wanted to know if it was possible to bring Ash back."
"You love him. I can see it in your heart young one. Yes, you do. I am working hard to find a way child. Do not lose hope." With a gloved hand he touched her cheek. "It may take some time but, I promise to bring him back."
Togepi ran right up to the Mentor. It happily chuckled while trying to hug the Mentor's arm. Misty could see the shine of a purple eye fixed on Togepi. He laughed again before picking up the pokémon and rocking it to sleep.
"It's your kindness is what makes Sabrina trust you so dearly." Misty smiled at him.
"Now don't go getting any ideas about that. I wasn't always kind child. No, I was once a very cruel thing. I was so hopelessly lost. I hated the world and was so lost in revenge that I lost sight of what life is about." He lowered his head.
"I'm sorry I upset you Mentor." She felt bad about it.
"No child do not apologize for something you haven't done. I was already thinking about it. I've changed my life though child."
"How did you do it?"
"A young boy gave me a second chance. I listened to him, I learned, I changed. Then Sabrina found me tormented by my past and offered help to me. I took her help and in return helped her. I have not regretted that boy defeating me nor taking Sabrina's help." He placed the sleeping baby in Misty's arms. "I owe so much to that boy."
Gary thought of Misty, he hit the crystal. It began to hum as it trembled. He kept thinking about her. Then the crystal glowed like before. An image began to appear.
"Who's there! Who is it!" A familar voice sounded.
Gary opened his eyes to see that an image of Sabrina appeared.
"Sabrina? I was trying to..."
"Gary! How are you talking to me?" She was faced away from him. "I found out how to use the crystals to contact you Sabrina.'
"Good! Misty had read something on that subject in the Shao Lin Legends. She was trying to figure out the meanings of the old text. I am glad I can talk to you now." She turned toward him.
"Sabrina how's the solution to get us back coming along?"
"Slow right now I'm afraid. Be patient my Mentor is very wise. Gary you must contact Ash and give him this information."
"I already did."
"Your Grandfather is correct when he tells me how smart and responsible you are. Please Gary tell Ash we miss him also, especially his mother. She is calling every hour checking if we found a way yet." In the distance a phone rings, Misty shouts she's got it.
"I will Sabrina, goodbye."
"Goodbye Gary and thank you for your help." Sabrina walked out her room.
The Mentor came charging toward Sabrina. Misty gasped, the Mentor was moving fast but, she got the hint that his legs were malformed. Delia was asking if Misty was alright, she told her that someone bumped into her.
"Sabrina! You had a crystal here! Why didn't you tell me?" He looked her square in the eye.
"What are you talking about Mentor?" She was confused.
Misty excused herself from Delia and hanging up she quietly advanced toward the two. The Mentor said Sabrina had a crystal here, how could that be.
"You know nothing of it. There is a power here student that is very similar to the power of the crystals."
Misty saw the gym plaque float towards the Mentor. He studied it. Then he threw his hands on each side of it and began to concentrate. A green glow flowed from the large replica of the Marsh Badge. Purple streams of psychic forces surged from the Mentor. The gold on the replica began to crack.
He was thrown back as scrapes of metal and other materails flew from the plaque. There before them all floated a perfect copy of Ash's Emerald crystal. Misty stared in disbelief.
"It's ..." She saw the Mentor, his hood off his head.
She fainted, the Mentor caught her before she hit the floor. He looked toward Sabrina seeing her still facing her room. He began to put things together.
"You're blind!" He was shocked to see her finally turn toward him.
"I am not!" She snarled yet he saw through her lie.
"The girl has seen who I truly am Sabrina." He replaced his hood.
"What do we do now?" She was now seeing something other than darkness.
"What we have been doing, trust her." He sensed something else. "She is talking to Ash again."
After hauling Ace several yards away from his crash site they hid in a thick stand of trees and shrubs. The boulder behind them had an amazing lip that curved several feet above them making with the trees a sort of cave. James was right when he said it would provide an excellent windbreak.
Knowing someone might be looking for Ace they did not make a fire. Nero complained about eating canned meat and almost retched as James ate those pickled pigs feet.
"They're very good! You just have to give it a chance." He pulled on his new shirt, a black one and a jacket.
Nero didn't agree with the idea of him changing out of his scribe's robe. He fought till he realized they would be looking for Ash and Co with the expecting idea that he was with a scribe as well. He choose a brown windbreaker and a black fleece vest. Emerald was getting colder by the days as fall was withering into winter.
Ash slept nearby, he was upset that Gary had figured out the power of the crystals before him. James ate while he thought. Why was he being nice to him, all he had done in the past was always trying to ruin things for Ash.
"Things change Nero, if you think about it I think things will get better for you and your people." He yawned and said his good nights before he laid down near the only safe entrance into this little nook in the forest.
"Are you sure you can watch out for us? If anything happens you'll be first to be attacked." Nero yawned.
"Of course I'm sure it's the least I can do for all the help Ash is giving me. A second chance doesn't happen everyday you know. Besides Meowth will help too."
"Sure thing Jimmy boy, except I'll be watching from over here by the back." He laughed as he stretched out.
James felt something bump next to him. Pikachu curled next to him and muttered to him in his language.
"Translation?" James asked Meowth.
"He said he was going to help too." Meowth opened one eye as he spoke.
Ace moaned as he shifted to his side. His fever was breaking but, he still hadn't waken. He was trapped in the past. His memories haunting him in his sleep.
Brock drank another cup of coffee as Todd finally arrived. Brock and the others waved him over. He sat down with them ordered a coffee.
"So Snaps how's it been?" Brock stuffed a doughnut into his hand.
"Please! Don't call me Snaps anymore!" He grew silent. "Just call me Todd please."
"Todd what has happened since I last saw you?" Brock was getting concerned.
"Nothing I want to talk about now!" He stood to leave.
"Alright I'll drop the subject but, I will ask you this. Where have you been?" Brock raised an eyebrow.
"Between Kanto and Johto mostly. I have done some traveling." He sat back down. "What happened to Ash?"
"Well we are not sure. Ash was going for the title two days ago, Team Rocket interferred with his match by stealing Pikachu and Gary's Eevee. Ash gave chase and now both Ash and Gary are missing."
"Team Rocket! I'd break them into bits if I knew where they were!" Todd slammed a fist on the table catching everyone by surprise.
"Well, Sabrina and Will are working with us on a way to find them. I will go a little further into detail but, for now let's get some rest. The train leaves in six hours so let's find a hotel and get a little shut eye." Brock lead the group down the street.
He knew that whatever happened to Todd had something to do with the Rockets altough he wouldn't talk about it yet Brock was sure an old friend can pry it out of him.
Ash heard Misty calling out in fear. He ran to her, the echoes gave away the link's presence. Knowing he wasn't dreaming he ran to her. She was standing before him. He smiled as he took her hands in his.
"Misty! I'm glad your here!" He looked into her green eyes.
"Ash! I'm glad too. But, I have other things we need to talk about." She turned serious.
"Really? Like what?" He wanted to ask if he dreamed the kiss or had she really given it to him.
"Ash, Sabrina has brought me to her gym. Brock has set out to find Pryce and I don't know if I dreamed it or not but...."
"What do you think you might have dreamed?" He was worried, if she had dreamed the kiss too then what did happen.
"Ash I swear I saw that Sabrina's Mentor was Mewtwo!" Ash was surprised by what she said.
"Misty you didn't dream it." A robe figure appeared.
"It's him." She turned.
"Yes, you saw correctly." He pulled the robe backward till it flew behind him like a cape. He removed the hood revealing to them his true self. "A deception that was very necessary."
"Mewtwo what are you doing here?" Ash's curiousity flared.
"As I told Misty earlier I was depressed about what I had attempted to do upon New Island. I nearly killed my Mother. I killed you yet you gave me a second chance. I was still depressed though when I was exhausted from running from my past. I was weak and pathetic when Sabrina found me outside her gym. She offered me safe harbor and doctored me till I was strong again." He took off the gloves and twitched his fingers. "I have made so many enemies I had to hide. I began to teach Sabrina how to expand her powers beyond what she thought was her limits. Her father has been quite helpful."
"Why do you call Mew your Mother?" Misty asked.
"Yes, I know that my genetic code did not come from Mew but, an ancient Mew yet she has helped me let go of so much of my rage and watches over me. She is like a Mother to me Misty. A sister, and a friend. I owe a lot to Mew." He smiled at the two.
"You really have changed Mewtwo." Ash smiled back.
"Thank you Ash. For all you have done for me as well! I owe it to you to find a way to bring you back. Drat! How could I forget! We made a break through with the crystals!"
"Ash you won't believe what we found!" Misty shouted.
"Yes! I discovered that Sabrina's grandfather created the Marsh plaque from an Emerald crystal similar to yours." He raised a finger. "If another Emerald Rod exists in this world then a matching Amber must be somewhere! When we find it someone from this world can bring you back!"
"That's excellent!" Misty shouted.
"Uh, I'll leave you two to talk before this link weakens anymore. I will use the Emerald Rod from this world to locate it's mate. Good night Ash and I thank you again." Mewtwo bowed before fading away.
"Misty?" She turned to him. "I have a question."
"What is it?" She had a huge smile on her face.
"I wanted to know...Pain! I feel pain!" The world around them darkened. The cherry trees that had been releasing blossoms exploded into flames.
"What's happening!" Misty began to feel the pain also.
The sky turned blood red, the moon was blackening. Great rifts began to cut the land.
"Wake up Misty!" Mewtwo shook her, something went wrong. "Help me Sabrina!"
James woke to Ash's screams, a dark figure loomed over him. Ash was being held in a headlock as the figure shouted demands. James sprang into action. He slammed a fist into the figure. It struck out catching him cleanly across the face. James was stunned then he saw the shadow rushing at him.
"Ash!" Misty leapt up, dazed she looked at Mewtwo. "Ash and James are in trouble."
She went out again, this time into a normal sleep. Mewtwo looked at Sabrina. He needed answers but, how could he help Ash from this world.
To be continued.....
-JLB