Chapter 6: Past and Present Wounded.

Chapters:

Back
Next
Emerald Index

Legends of the Merfolk speak of two heroes that travel beyond their world to shatter Emerald and restore it to it's former glory. Shao Lin shall return to breath life once more into the merfolk. When Emerald is healed then the two shall be returned.

Human legends speak of a hero who rises against the rulers, who brings hope to the enslaved nations. His travels inspire them to revolt and his band of raiders liberate the world. When Emerald is liberated he will fight for two worlds, uniting the past and present and saving the future.

All legends are born of dreams. The dreamers are often those who give hope and bring light into the lives of others. The scribe Nero kept those hopes alive in his people. He was free or should be said as free as the tyrantal rule allowed. He was not a slave nor was he a citizen. To be a citizen you had to betray your people to become one of them.

Nero came upon the sleeping figures, he watched with an alert and curious manner. He wondered if they were them, the slave trappers. He was not a slave but, if he said the wrong thing or even if the trappers were greedy he could become one. He found a hollow and hid his scrolls, it was forbidden for a scribe to carry the Emerald legends.

As he returned to the path he saw that the trappers had awakened and stirred. He felt his frame tremble but, he had to be strong in appearance if he wished to remain free. One trapper pointed toward him. He knew the routine, he stopped dead in his tracks. He removed the hood from his head. His young face was a shocking contrast to his long white hair.

"Stop! I need to talk to you!" The young man shouted as he ran toward Nero.

Nero's eyes flew wide open. He saw the man wore a dirty white shirt with a red R embossed upon it. He knew now it wasn't enslavement he was in danger of. He bolted for his life.

"Stop! Hey you stop! I only want to talk!" James gave up and kicked some dirt at the fleeing kid. "Why did he run?"

"Hey James!" Ash came running. "Did he see Gary or Jessie?"

"How should I know. He wouldn't stop runnning long enough to tell me." He looked down.

"Great. What is with these people! Everyone is scared to talk to us." Ash spotted a sign.

Meowth saw it and ran toward. He read it and turned towards his companions.

"Well dis answers your question twerp!" Meowth shouted.

"It's Ash Meowth!" He walked with James.

"Warning! All travelers beware of a band of Forest Raiders. Two males, one in a red Pokemon League hat, blue vest, white shirt and blue jeans, da other will be a Team Rocket imposter with blue hair. They are dangerous and will be in the company of a talking Meowth." Meowth shut his mouth and looked around. "The reward for their live capture is freedom."

"They knew. How did they know we were coming here?" Ash stood next to Meowth. "The date! This thing is dated 2009!"

"But Ash you said we were only three years in the future!" James studied the sign.

"The sign at the stadium looked new to me. This one is old James." He could see the wear and tear on it. "Who ever is after us is psychic. We should change our clothes as well. Meowth will have to go in a pokeball."

"Meowth will certainly not!" Meowth protested.

"It'll be just till we can find some disguises Meow." James tried to explain.

"I have a problem with this though." Ash read the sign one more time.

"What's that?" James inquired.

"If someone is putting a reward on us why would it say freedom as the reward?" Ash rubbed his chin. "And why does it not give a discription of Gary and Jessie."

"Or why they want us?" James began to think also.

"Yeah. Well we are perfect targets out here in da open!" Meowth shouted.

"We're perfect targets if you don't shut up Meowth!" James scolded. "And walk on all fours."

"I'll try." Meowth stumbled around a bit before he gave up and walked on two legs.

"This is not going to work!" Ash thought again and reached a solution. "James, you go into town and buy the new clothes and some supplies. Me and Meowth will hide here in the forest till you come back."

"That's a brillant plan...but, one problem. I have no money." James frowned.

"Well we are all in the same boat so here James." Ash handed him his wallet.

"You would trust me?" James looked surprised.

"Of course I know you're not that bad. You just hang out with the wrong people." Ash shook his hand.

"You don't know how much this means to me! To have someone trust me." James removed his Team Rocket shirt.

He had put it on after they woke up to the cold morning and he wondered now why he had. Was it because he wanted to be part of the Rockets again or was it just the cold. He couldn't tell yet but, he felt this was the last time he would wear a Team Rocket uniform. He left Ash and Meowth in hiding as he followed his way toward Viridian city.

Nero had been hiding nearby when he heard the Meowth speak. He couldn't remember the part of the legend that spoke of a talking Meowth. He needed his scrolls, so he would wait for as long as he could to retrieve them.

Gary woke to a nightmare. He was bound to a tree. He struggled and cursed Jessie. In a tree across from him the letter hung. He had read it after his vision cleared. All he remembered was that he was talking to her working out a plan to search for the others when something hit him from behind. He had hid the crystal in a tree and if she hadn't seen him it shouls still be there.

"So long Loser! Thanks for the lovely gifts I should be enjoying some rich rewards from the boss by the time you come to! -Love Jessie!" He could hear her laughing at him now.

"How could she trick me!" Gary spat. "I'm a loser!"

Gary relaxed his arms and rested his lungs. He was exhausted from shouting for help and his attempts to free himself only bought him rope burn. He was dreaming of sweet revenges when the forest came alive. Birds flew wildly, small animals cried while fleeing. The shrubs rattled near Gary. He returned to shouting for help.

Misty slowly lifted the sad pink bundle. Mew was silent and limp. She felt the tears trickle down her face. Will was still speaking with Sabrina through the ethreal powers they controlled. Misty began to speak to Will when Mew leapt from her arms. Misty screamed and fell backward. Mew sent the other psychic pokemon scattering as she landed in the center of them. She blinked a few times and shook her head before she slumped over and became still once more.

Misty struck her head on the wall, the room swam wildly around her then she went under. Tracey tried to wake her up but, she continued to sleep. He found the same to be true for Mew. Will was still oblivious to these events.

Sabrina was sensing something strange, someone in there world was speaking to Ash. She began to expand her powers she had to know who. It was time to return to her Mentor. She would Melanie's help more than ever.

"Where are we Ash?" Misty asked him.

"How did you get here Misty?" Ash was confused.

"I don't know? I just sort of woke up here and I saw you Ash. Where is this place?"

"We're eight years in the future somehow. Gary is too I think." He was glad to see her but, he was wondering still how she traveled to the future with him.

"Sabrina is trying to figure out how you got here and how to get you back." She looked him in the eye. "We have to find Gary, then Sabrina can bring us back. What has changed in the future?"

"You don't want to know." He became silent and faced away from her.

"Ash what's wrong?" She grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.

"Misty in three years Team Rocket kills Prof. Oak and Elm. They trap several people in Indigo Stadium and kill them. Including a lot of our friends and..." He trailed off, he saw his own name on the plaque.

"What else Ash?" She felt time ticking away.

"They keep people as their slaves. Everyone is afraid of us here. Trainers are filled with mistrust and attack you with no reason or warning." He held back the darker facts.

"Now that we know it's going to happen we can prevent it Ash." She held his hand. "We just have to be brave for each other."

Something happened just then, the world began to fade out. She heard Ash shouting for her not to leave him. It was too late though, she saw the face of Sabrina staring at her in the darkness then she woke.

"Misty! Are you alright!" Brock shouted as he helped her to her feet.

"Brock? Tracey? What's going on? I was with Ash. He was telling me about the future." She allowed Brock and Tracey to help her up.

"You were not dreaming. You linked psychicly with Ash. Mew's powers caused it somehow. Sabrina has told me very little about it but, you must go to her and follow her to Saffron." Will held the still dizzy Mew in his arms.

"But, Will wouldn't it make sense for Misty to stay here and work with Mew?" Bruno asked.

"No, my Lady Sabrina's Guide has mental powers that far surpass Mew's. He can help her guide these "chats" with Ash." Melanie bowed to Will and Bruno before speaking out of respect.

"Melanie is correct. Sabrina has informed me of the same news. Misty you must travel to Saffron with Sabrina." Will felt a furry tail poking him in the chest.

Mew was purring and mewling in her language. She had a smile and seemed to be rather cheerful. Will looked at her with some regret.

"No, I'm sorry Mew you can't go. You need to help me. Sabrina will have plenty of help and her Mentor is very capable." Mew looked disappointed when she spoke again. "You can visit her Mentor after this is over Mew."

"I must speak to Misty privately. Please everyone leave the room." They all filed out politely.

"Will why do I have to travel to Saffron? I should be here with Brock and Tracey, they need my support." Misty felt Mew hop onto her shoulder.

"Tracey and Brock will be fine. They are to be sent on their own missions soon Misty."

"What?" Misty looked up at Will.

"Sabrina wants Brock to travel to Mahogany Town. Sabrina senses that their elder Pryce knows something of these events. Brock is to go to him and question him. We must know what Pryce is hiding." Will picked up the book of legends from the floor and handed it to Misty. "This is a diffcult time for you now Misty, I know it. You must be brave if you want to see your love once more."

"He is not my boyfriend." Misty pouted.

"You love him Misty. Don't try to hide it. I sense it, it's this love that allowed you to glimpse into Emerald. You have strong feelings Misty and they are going to help get him back." He gave her a ensuring look. "Read the legends of Shao Lin. If you want a future with this boy you must stop hiding your feelings."

Morning came and she was packed and ready to ride the Magnet train to Saffron. She saw Sabrina stumbling toward her. Melanie alongside her.

"What is wrong Sabrina?" Melanie asked.

"Nothing! I am just weak from my powers. I am fine." She almost tripped over someone's luggage.

Brock was racing toward them, he left his bag next to Misty. She rolled her eyes and booted Brock's bag to the side. Tracey was making his goodbyes to Misty then he made his to Brock before he began scribbling in his journal. He was keeping the events in a well ordered fashion in his journal.

Will met Sabrina face to face and thanked her for her help. Misty was suddenly hugged by someone. She realized it was Ash's Mom. Delia and Professor Oak thanked her for traveling to Saffron to help find Ash.

"Don't thank me Mrs. Ketchum. I would have done this anyway for Ash." Misty was a bit embarrassed.

"Now Misty remember to show Sabrina the utmost respect when you are speaking to her and especailly in her gym." Prof. Oak smiled at her and gave her a hug as well.

Misty felt a few tears come to her eyes, the kind Prof. if he was killed in the future what would she do? He always treated her like a daughter, he was always giving her advice and had an open ear when she had a problem. She never held some much respect for anyone since her father, he left home one day and everyone said he was killed. Three years she reminded herself, that was a lot of time to change the future.

Gary saw his Dark Pupitar launch into view. He was relieved it wasn't anything else. He ordered the creature to cut the ropes. It crawled slowly toward him. Gary noticed something clung in it's tail blades. It flopped around as the Pupitar swished it's tail back and forth.

It rasied it's tail showing Gary the rag. It was a white rag with red spots on it. Then the wind blew opening the rag. Embossed on the front was a shredded red R. The Dark Pupitar closed it's spines shearing the shirt from it's tail. Gary had gotten revenge on Jessie just not the revenge he would have taken.

To be continued.......