When Destinies Collide

[Last Exile]

The Almighty SuperSonicMewtwo: Ok, this question is a bit muddled! But if you're asking about whether Sakura and Li were a couple before the kindapping, well, yeah.

[Gavin Luper]

EXPLOSION!

Wow this has taken off! I can't wait for the new chappies!

Cheers!

[Wolfsong]

Yep, I got in, and this is my fourth week here. I've already written one paper (still don't know how i did on it), Will have another assigned today, had 2 biology lab quizes (i only know what grade i got on one thugh 10/10) and one 50 point biology quiz (i got a 46/50). So i guess i'm doing ok so far. Thanks for asking.

And keep up with the great chapters. Have fun, and talk to you later

Bye!

[SuperSonicMewtwo]

that's not what i mean. i mean more than a couple.

[Last Exile]

Gavin Luper: Yeah, it seems to be doing well, as is your fic! Have a good one mate!

Nala98: CONGRATS AMY! Well done! You obviously deserve to be where you are now and I hope all goes well for you. Out of interest, do you now live on campus or is your home nearby? Because in Australia we don't live on campus.

The Almighty SuperSonicMewtwo: Ah! Now I see. Well, they weren't married. They were gradually heading towards it, for they had been together for eight years. But things were a little rocky just before the kindapping.

[Last Exile]

Chapter 4 ¡V Four Seasons In One Day


Misty Waterflower woke up with the mother of all headaches and feeling like she¡¦d been turned inside out. Her vision was incredibly blurred and the light that penetrated their eyes hurt her so much it made them water from the pain. So much pain. Her head was throbbing from a severe blow that she couldn¡¦t quite remember how she got it, and her lungs felt like they were breathing in pure smoke, leaving them raw and ravaged, though for all she knew she might have been breathing the cleanest air in the world. She slowly pushed her slim figure up from whatever she was sitting on. She had a hunch that it was brown, but apart from that she had no idea. Her senses were still incredibly deadened, and she wanted nothing more to go back to sleep, get away from the pain and drift into dreamland. But the pain gave her no chance whatsoever. She was staying up whether she liked it or not.

Sitting against something solid, which she made out to be a stone wall from the feel against her back and fingertips, as feeling slowly drained back into her battered being. Her blurry vision was gradually regaining its true clarity, but she might have rather been locked in the former. As her eyes began to clear out and blurs melded into straight outlines, she realised she wasn¡¦t in Pallet Town anymore. Her mind was sifting through the pain and piecing together random events that came back to her in flashes. A crimson R. An Umbreon. Ash¡¦s Noctowl. Guns. Male voices she didn¡¦t recognise. Ash¡¦s broken hearted screams. Her own despondent cries. Then it all came back to her!

She had been kidnapped by Team Rocket. She buried her soft face in her gentle hands and began crying gingerly. She remembered it all now. She remembered how Ash finally confessed his true feelings for her, and how the two of them shared a kiss so mind-blowing that it was the best moment in her life, hands down. The feel of his body against hers, the fire she felt wherever he touched her, the sensations that dazzled her mind when running her fingers through that velvety crop of black hair, the emotions and secrets hidden in those mysterious black eyes of his. It was so wonderful. She desperately tried to relive every single part of it, invoking the fire which still lingered where Ash had touched her, imagining the gentle longing in his breathing, and the melting sensation she felt when their lips met. She closed her eyes and let herself slip away. Here she felt safe. This was something that no one could take away from her.

For what seemed like forever, Misty was lost in her fantasy. She would stay there forever if she had to. But her dream sequence was cruelly shattered by the harsh rattling of metal. She was broken from her trance with a start. She wasn¡¦t in the lush green fields of Pallet Town, making out with Ash against the backdrop of a sunny day. She was somewhere else. She was cold, tired, in pain, and alone. She took the next few moments to study her environment more closely. She was surrounded by four walls of stone, all cold to the touch and unforgiving in the chill they invoked upon touch. Misty was suddenly aware of how the chill was rattling her, and she rose to her feet in an instant. The ground seemed to be made of solid concrete, but it was covered by at least a few inches of silt, dust and rubble. There was a window carved out of one of the smaller walls, but it was perforated by several steel bars, and only a few rays of light seemed to slip through, but that was better than nothing. At least some warmth and light existed in this place! Wherever she was! That made her think deeply for the first time in hours. Where was she? But such speculation seemed futile. She had no idea. There were no clues. She was truly alone.

Or so she thought. She heard that chilling rattle of metal again. It made her shudder, and she couldn¡¦t stop her teeth from rattling. She shut them with a start, realising her mistake. She had now revealed her presence, and furthermore, she had displayed her fear. Now the other person would know she was here and that she was afraid. Misty swallowed what felt like a gallon of sand, leaving her throat so dry, raw and scratchy that she felt herself gasp every time she drew in breath. Her heart began to thump so hard it felt like it was tearing through her chest, and her stomach felt like it was experiencing a nuclear meltdown, sending her stomach acids into overdrive and unsettling her system no end. Misty covered her face in fear and slid away to a corner, cowering from the perpetrator. Now she could her footsteps against that dusty concrete floor. They were so slow, and that heightened her tension no end! She began shivering so intensely she felt like was an earthquake, splintering her entire being, yet somehow she stayed together, all in place. Misty began to sob a little. This pain was horrible! Why didn¡¦t her perpetrator just end this?! He¡¦s probably just some sadistic bastard who wants simply to invoke fear and pain in me, and he¡¦s enjoying every minute of it! Typical Rocket bastards! Misty wanted to scream out and demand that it be ended, but her voice always died on her dried up throat. She was left completely helpless, and the fiery redhead hated being reduced to this! She began holding her hands and praying that if her end was here, that it be swift and painless. After five minutes of paradise, her life was falling apart by forces she had no power over. They had power over her. Her mind began racing over what would follow. Torture? Rape? Starvation? Thirst? Drugs? Poisons? She didn¡¦t want to know. She just bunched up in a heap in her corner, hoping for salvation. Then a familiar male voice spoke out. It was so raspy itself that she almost didn¡¦t recognise it, but as the light shone across his hawk-like face, she knew that she was in no danger, and relief flowed through her veins like the gift of life.
¡§Hey, Misty.¡¨ Harsh coughing followed. She could hear the male figure hacking up saliva and blood, from the look of it.
Courage finally spurred on her first word in a long time. ¡§Li.¡¨

[SuperSonicMewtwo]

argh! you're still not getting it!
okay, take the word that is much stronger than 'like'

add 'rs'.
understand? now, can you PLEASE answer the question?

[Last Exile]

Li Syaoran was barely standing upright. His legs felt like masses of quivering jelly, as if someone had ripped out his entire skeletal structure, robbing him of his supporting bones and leaving nothing but muscle and skin that fell instantly. Yet he hung on. He had wanted to give into despair from the moment he woke up, but one thought kept him going. Sakura. That sparkling and ever innocent face of hers beamed like a beacon in this hell-hole, providing him with a glimmer of hope. It was all he needed to keep going. Otherwise the harsh, aged beyond his years being trapped inside a young man¡¦s body would have given up long ago. Those sometimes cold eyes of his were so broken and flat. They say that a person¡¦s eyes are the windows to their soul. Right now, they showed that Li was hurting more than he had for the rest of his lifetime. The blow he had received against his back had been severe, and while he was sure he had no broken bones, his spine and back muscles were so bruised that it hurt like hell just to move them. His entire body was in complete agony, and his mind was a swirling miasma of scintillating thoughts and turgid ideas. He wanted something else to give him hope. Something to do. Someone to talk to, to rely on. And as soon as he saw Misty lying there after she had been brought in, tossed like a piece of rubbish against the wall, adding to her countless bruises, he knew he wasn¡¦t alone. If he was, he may not have had the courage to keep going. But with a fellow strong spirit with him, Li was compelled to live on. He knew that Misty would hang on in the faint hope that Ash would save her. He would live on in the hope that Sakura could save him. At least that was clear now. Despite the blood that surged from his float and spilled like red wine from an overflowing cup, staining the dust and silt it fell upon. He regretted putting Misty through those moments of terror, but he had no choice. His voice had only just broken through the pain barrier after hours of torment. He longed to talk to Misty, but his voice had been ravaged by thirst and had been drier than the Sahara in the middle of an African summer. Eventually some Rocket grunt had slid in some water, which tasted more like bitter bile, but he grimaced and swallowed the liquid. Anything to regain his voice. Communication with his only ally in this time of madness was essential to keep them going. And now they had taken that first step.
¡§Misty, I¡¦m sorry you had to go through that. But I¡¦m still so weak.¡¨ Li began spluttering in fits of coughing that rattled his lungs like the harshest of sandpaper. Misty gently reached out and touched his face, providing some shelter from the storm. A touch that worked better than a million words ever could have.
¡§It¡¦s okay. I¡¦m just glad I don¡¦t have to do this alone. Although I would rather wish you weren¡¦t caught up in this yourself.¡¨ She groaned and slowly picked herself up, straining against the cold stone wall for support, which ate at her being like creatures of the undead. Li leaned against her to provide some of his own healing. The presence of a friend worked wonders in times like these.
¡§Do you have any idea where we are, Li?¡¨
¡§None. But I know that we¡¦re in Team Rocket headquarters. You can hear the trademark slang and traits of the Rocket grunts. They come every now and then to check up on us. They left this water once. You¡¦d better drink it. Watch for the bitter taste though.¡¨
Misty complied without any inhibition. She couldn¡¦t remember the last time she had anything to drink, and her entire system was screaming for liquid fuel. Most of all her brain. It was feeling like a pufferfish from the strain, and Misty carefully lifted the steel cup containing the precious liquid to her lips. She could even smell the bitterness of the water now, but she forced herself into thinking she was drinking the sweetest water she would ever taste, and that it would refresh her soul forever. She put the cup to her lips, trying not to spill any, and let the water flow into her. It felt like water entering water, and her being went past the bitter taste, finding comfort in the fuel. Misty gasped in delight and licked her lips. ¡§Thank you, Li. That was wonderful.¡¨
¡§Under these circumstances, I guess so.¡¨
Misty lingered on the sensation of the precious liquid relieving her dried throat, then her mind floated back to the moments before she was captured. Panic began to surge in her veins.
¡§Ash! What happened to Ash? Did they get him?¡¨
Li shrugged gently. ¡§I don¡¦t know. But I don¡¦t think they did. When the Rockets kidnapped me, one of them wanted to have their way with Sakura, but the other told him to leave her alone, for Ash and Sakura were meant to do something else together. I have no idea what or why, but I know that they weren¡¦t captured somehow.¡¨
¡§Yeah, you¡¦re right! The Rockets said the same thing when they got me. I wonder how they are.¡¨
¡§Probably heartbroken, consoling each other and trying to figure out how to find us.¡¨
¡§Mm. I remember all the times Ash had Pikachu stolen from him. Ash would spend eternity looking for Pikachu if he had to.¡¨ Misty stopped on the thought of his Pokemon, and then thought about hers. Poliwhirl, the tadpole with legs that was way beyond its physical limitations and was drawn to her for good ever since she found Poliwag in the Orange Islands and rescued it from Team Rocket. Corsola, the perky coral like pink Pokemon, her most recent addition to her team, during their time in the Whirl Islands. Staryu, the crux of her team, and a symbol of her fighting spirit. Goldeen, the beautiful white and red goldfish, that always did her best while maintaining beauty. Just like her. And Togepi. Misty began sobbing on the thought of Togepi. She couldn¡¦t imagine how Togepi would be feeling now. Wondering where its mommy was and finding no solace. She hoped that Ash might have been able to comfort it. Togepi had grown to consider Ash a good friend too. Ash seemed to be the only other person Togepi felt safe with. Togepi. Her little baby Pokemon. It came from Ash¡¦s brush with Aerodactyl at the dig site in Kanto, chose her as its mother, and awakened a side in Misty that she didn¡¦t know that existed, or not that strongly. A warm side that began to mellow her aggressive and violent tendencies when pushed over the edge of her temper. She found a new joy in mothering Togepi. And now all that was gone. All she had built her life up around was gone. She had followed Ash just to get her bike back, but now she had a lifelong friend, and more importantly, maybe a life partner. She¡¦d come too far and experienced too much with Ash to lose it all now. She hoped that somehow Fate would straighten things out.

Li felt the same way. He came to Readington years ago to capture the Clow Cards, and was outraged at Sakura being made the CardCaptor and what he considered to be extreme incompetence. Having been bred from birth into the ways of magic, being an ancestor of Clow Reed, he was disgusted that someone with only a few days of experience was the one with this incredible responsibility. When he caught a card instead of Sakura, he made sure people knew he loved it, and the fact that Sakura didn¡¦t get it. Those facts really drove Kero around the twist time and time again. But once Li began to understand how Sakura lived, he began to see how she worked. Sakura was a normal 10 year old girl, for crying out loud! She had been flung into the deep end from day 1! Heck, if he was her, he¡¦d be just the same! Li began to secretly help her out. He used the Time Card to help Sakura defeat the Power Card and capture it, making her think she did it herself, when Li was the one who made it happen. As Sakura reached the end of her quest, she didn¡¦t mind if Li caught the odd card, and Li was amazed with Sakura¡¦s confidence and poise in capturing the stronger cards with her valuable experience. From the day that Sakura caught the Firey Card, the most powerful of the four elemental cards, by allying Windy and Water, two powerful attack cards, a feat not accomplished until then, Li had undying respect for her. The Final Judgement put the two of them through hell, and Li had almost been severed from Sakura¡¦s life forever. But somehow Sakura pulled through and earned the right to claim the cards as her own. And then followed the duels with Eriol, and the confrontation that lead to their love being recognised. Sakura was the salve and the balance to Li¡¦s harshness. Her innocence, beauty and happiness burned brightly in a world that was plagued by darkness and enforced responsibility, and he longed for her more than ever. No one was keeping them apart. Fate was pairing them up again, or else.

¡§Hmm, looks like they¡¦re awake now! Moving and talking too! Better let the boss know!¡¨
¡§He¡¦s already on his way down, moron! If you hadn¡¦t been bust eyeing the redhead, maybe you¡¦d have kept your mind on the job!¡¨
¡§Ah, put a sock in it! I had to cover your butt earlier, pal, so don¡¦t complain!¡¨
¡§Alright! Keep your shirt on!¡¨
Misty and Li were stirred from their private universes by the ramblings of Rocket grunts. Something was up, and they had better be ready for what happened next.
¡§Shut it! Here he comes!¡¨ The two Rockets stood like statues thousands of years old as Giovanni entered the hallway, donning the usual orange Armani suit, black shoes shiny as mirrors and bearing those burning black eyes of his that burned into anyone¡¦s soul.
¡§Thank you. I trust there were no problems in capturing these tow, Melvis?!¡¨
¡§No sir! All carried out as followed! We got these two easy, and the other two were left as you asked! Pretty easy job, sir! Hard to understand how these two screw us up all the time!¡¨
¡§Well, love can be quite a distraction for many strong people! Very well! You shall be rewarded for your efforts! Contact the doctors and surgeons. I heard they suffered some pretty nasty injuries. Don¡¦t cower like that! I know you had to use necessary thoughts! No need for excuses! Waste of time! We need them all bright and pretty for the presentation. So get onto it! Your bonuses will be deposited in your accounts shortly.¡¨
¡§Thanks, boss!¡¨ responded Melvis with sardonic pleasure. ¡§We¡¦re on it! Swell! Now I can get that toy and shut the kid up for once! What a pain!¡¨
¡§You said it, man!¡¨ piped in another Rocket. ¡§Now I can get the wife that holiday she wanted so bad! This one¡¦s been a long time coming!¡¨
¡§Yeah! About time those young punks got what they deserved! All the more for us I say! Hawaii, here we come!¡¨
¡§Aloha!¡¨
Sadistic laughter rattled through the hallways, chilling Misty and Li to the bone. What did these bastards know about love?! And why did Team Rocket hate them so much?! What did they ever do to them besides foil Jesse, James and Meowth?!
Giovanni smirked a little. Nothing like a morale booster to inspire greater efficiency among his troops. Yes, being the mastermind of the world¡¦s greatest crime syndicate had its perks. Time for the brats!

[Last Exile]

The door swung open like an iron lung, revealing Giovanni to Misty and Li, who were still weak from their experience and drained of energy.
¡§Well, nice to see the two of you getting along like a house on fire! I could say the same for your little friends!¡¨
Misty lit up at that comment. ¡§Ash and Sakura?! What do you mean?!¡¨
¡§The two of them were quite friendly when I saw them. Though I must say they weren¡¦t that pleased to see me.¡¨
¡§Who would, bottom feeder?¡¨ snapped Li.
Giovanni snarled and cracked Li on the jaw, flooring him instantly. ¡§One more word and I¡¦ll really do you in! Any more smart aleck comments will cost you dearly!¡¨ He smoothed his hair back, relished in scaring the hell out of the two, and continued his procession.
¡§Yes, they weren¡¦t pleased to see me. But they were interested to hear about the two of you!¡¨
Li picked himself up and stared Giovanni down. ¡§What did you tell them, you heartless bastard?¡¨
Giovanni smirked again. He could see the fear in Li¡¦s eyes as well as Misty¡¦s. Despite their show, they were afraid for Ash and Sakura more than they could ever admit.
¡§Simply that you are under my control, alive and well. Don¡¦t seem so surprised, you pack rats! I have no intention of killing you, YET! But we¡¦ll leave that for now! I made them know how much those two have meddled in my plans! You should have seen them quiver! Just like you are now! Pathetic wretches! You should have seen them beg for mercy when I threatened to kill the two of you! Oh, the looks on their faces were priceless! That snivelling Ash and that teary, glassy Sakura! So reliant on my every word! Delicious!¡¨
Misty began welling up so hard she couldn¡¦t contain herself anymore. ¡§Shut up! How dare you talk about them like that! I¡¦ll smash you until that smile of yours is ripped off your face!¡¨
¡§DON¡¨T YOU DARE TALK BACK TO ME LIE THAT, MISSY!¡¨ growled Giovanni. Boy, he was going to have a handful with these two! As if Ash and Sakura weren¡¦t bad enough! Misty didn¡¦t back down a bit. She still maintained that look of defiance and showed no signs of relenting. ¡§Admirable! Such courage is rare these days! However, a visit to our torture chambers could change that!¡¨ He could see doubt and fear creep into her expressions, which began to crumble into uncertainty. Good! Giovanni relished in reasserting his authority. He was the one with all the cards. He had to make sure they never forgot it. But hope. He had to give them hope. Or where would the fun be in all this?!
¡§Well, this will be fun! I decided to give Ash and Sakura a shot at getting the two of you back!¡¨ He loved seeing that glimmer of hope well up in their eyes. While Misty and Li surged with the feeling that hope provided them a while, Giovanni scoffed at it. He considered it a denial of reality and rational thinking.
¡§Ash will be heading to the Green League to win the badges and the League itself, while Sakura will have to track down some new Clow Cards.¡¨
¡§What?¡¨ Li was aghast. ¡§They¡¦re not looking for us? What are you saying?! I don¡¦t believe a word of it!¡¨
¡§Listen to the whole thing, boy, then you¡¦ll understand. When each wins a badge or catches a card, they will get a worded clue as to where this base is. If they complete the tasks completely, they will get visual clues. By then, they should be able to find this base. Whether they can escape alive, and with the two of you alive, is another matter! They have one year to complete their task! Fail, and the two of you die!¡¨
¡§One year?! Are you nuts?!¡¨ Misty and Li spoke as one. ¡§There¡¦s no way!¡¨
¡§Yes there is! I want them to feel pain for messing with my affairs! And they will! How you live here is determined by how well they do in their quest! If they do well, you shall live well! If they mess, up, it is YOU who will suffer! And they will watch you suffer! Yes, they¡¦ll do this! They¡¦ll do it just in the hope that they can save the two of you! Well forget it! They will NEVER succeed! Not that I¡¦ll meddle, because I WON¡¦T! But that I want them to hope, to live just for the moment to save you two, and when it comes, I¡¦ll snatch it away, leaving them empty and shattered forever, knowing true pain! And then they will die too! I find it amusing you think they could possibly succeed! They don¡¦t have a chance! Ah, youth! So impetuous! You think you can change the world! Hah!¡¨ And with a snap of his fingers, several Rockets entered the room. ¡§Get them prepared for the presentation! Take them up to the guest room for now. We¡¦ll get started tomorrow.¡¨

Misty and Li were left in the complete opposite to where they had been for the last 24 hours. They were in a room, lined with exotic carpets and art, diamond chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, golden embroidery covering the whole room, rich foods and drink adorning tables, and all kinds of amusement. They had no idea how to proceed. Did it mean anything? Was all of their hope in vain? They pushed that thought back. They had to keep going. For the sake of Ash and Sakura. The four were going to go through a year of hell for them in the hope they would all meet again. Ash and Sakura sounded like they were ready to do whatever it took. Misty and Li had to do the same, at least. So they filled their growling stomachs and relieved themselves of their woes, if only for a little while. How did it come to this? The world is a crazy place. Misty reached for a TV guide, handed it Li, and they flicked the screen onto the news, and flicked between it and sport events. One story caught their attention.
¡§Famed Pokemon Trainer Ash Ketchum has registered to participate in the Green League. Ash has won the other three leagues over the last six years, and if he should win this one, he will qualify to fight the Elite 4 for the title of Pokemon Master. For one so young to have this chance so early, it is truly incredible. An interesting note is that his usual companion, Misty Waterflower, is not with him. Authorities have been searching for her since five days ago, and consider her disappearance foul play. They are also searching for Li Syaoran, the academic and athletic whiz who graduated with the most impressive results ever recently. He and his equally capable partner, Sakura Avalon, were ready to enter any one of a number of prestigious universities when Li also disappeared from sight five days ago as well. Authorities believe the two kidnappings to be linked, and suspect that the sinister crime syndicate Team Rocket is behind this. Sakura has joined Ash in his quest for glory, but neither are saying much about the ordeal and what they hope to accomplish.¡¨
Misty and Li watched as they saw pictures of Ash and Sakura. They were heartbroken and so shattered. None of Ash¡¦s fighting spirit was apparent, nor Sakura¡¦s bright nature, innocence or charm. Or maybe they didn¡¦t want anything to show on the cameras or say anything to the press. Giovanni would make life difficult if that happened. Misty and Li then drifted into the sports programs.
¡§In one of the greatest games of all time, Newcastle United has scored an amazing 4-3 victory over the juggernaut that is Manchester United in the English Premier League. This result puts David O¡¦Leary¡¦s Leeds United to the top of the table with their 2-0 win away at Charlton. Arsenal maintained their high position with a 2-1 victory against the upgraded Fulham, while fellow new boys Bolton were clipped from top position with a 1-0 loss at home against perennial strugglers Southampton, giving them their first points of the season. Leicester City and Middlesborough also scored their first win of the season in 3-2 and 2-1 victories, while West Ham fell to last after losing to Middlesborough. And in the last play of the game, Chelsea has snatched a 3-2 win against Tottenham in the London Derby, while Liverpool beat fellow Merseysiders Everton in a 3-1 display, breaking their 2 game losing streak. It is still early in the season, but Leeds, Liverpool and Arsenal look to have the goods the challenge Manchester United for the title this season. With Manchester¡¦s defense undergoing shifts, walkoffs and the like, despite their high goalscoring, they¡¦re letting in as many as they score. This could be the factor that may cost them.¡¨
Even if you have no idea what is going in, in sport you could somehow relax and let yourself drift away. Misty reached for the music collection on display, and picked out a CD. ¡§Recurring Dream ¡V The Very Best Of Crowded House.¡¨ A group of New Zealanders that became the toast of Australia with Neil Finn¡¦s classic lyrics that had few equals. She put it on to the thirteenth track. One she had grown to love. Four Seasons In One Day. It seemed to describe the situation so well. And as they listened, Li seemed to appreciate the sentiment, so he let himself mingle with Misty as they found some solace amongst the chaos and pain, if only for a little while.


Crowded House ¡V Four Seasons In One Day

Four seasons in one day
Lying in the depths of your imagination
Worlds above and worlds below
The sun shines on the black clouds
Hanging over the domain
Even when you¡¦re feeling warm
The temperature could drop away
Like four seasons in one day

Smiling as the **** comes down
You can tell a man from what he has to say
Everything gets turned around
And I will risk my neck again, again
You can take me where you will
Up the creek and through the mill
Like all the things you can¡¦t explain
Four seasons in one day

Blood dries up
Like rain, like rain
Fills my cup
Like four seasons in one day

Doesn¡¦t pay to make predictions
Sleeping on an unmade bed
Finding out wherever there is comfort
There is pain
Only one step away
Like four seasons in one day

Blood dries up
Like rain, like rain
Fills my cup
Like four seasons in one day

[Wolfsong]

I live on campus, because it's too far for me to drive every day. It's two and a half hours from where i live. The only thing about it is that i'm in a freshman dorm and having to take freshman studies when i have enough credits to qualify me a senior..... (90 +)

Anyway another great chapter. Keep em a coming!

[Last Exile]

The Alimghty SupersonicMewtwo: *shows how off the planet I am these days* Yeah, they're lovers. They would have been lovers for six or seven years now. I thought Chapter 2 made it pretty clear. Maybe not. Oh well.

Nala98: Oh well, as long as you don't feel too homesick or alienated. Hope all goes well for you.

[Snakes N' Legends]

Very interesting, CCC. You know I like how you add music into your story or chapters. It makes it a little better. Well, great job!!!! (How many times have I said that already?)

[Last Exile]

tyranitar master: Yeah, I'm a music nut. But not for that mainstream crap. And well, a compliment is a compliment! So don't worry!

[SuperSonicMewtwo]

k, just neveer read anything close to that on tpm...

oh, poor misty and li, they're suffering so bad. oh well.
*grabs popcorn*
more chapters please! *adds butter*

[Last Exile]

The Almighty SupersonicMewtwo: My my, the popcorn is being passed around! That's a good sign! At least I finally managedto answer your question. Forgive my recent ineptness.

[SuperSonicMewtwo]

i happily forgive you, for in trying to tell you what i meant, i was able to build up a few extra posts, completely following the rules.

heh heh

Want some popcorn?

[Last Exile]

Chapter 5 – Fallen Angels

For days they had nothing in their future. It had been cruelly torn apart, battered and broken beyond recognition. Dreams burning up in stingy smoke, hopes flowing down the drain like blood spilling from lifeless bodies, staining the ground like a memory that never goes away no matter how much you wish it would. This was something these two young adults should never have been forced to live through. But this was the real world. And reality can be cruel. Very cruel. Hopefully you have the strength to persevere, to succeed, and to live on. Right now, Ash and Sakura seemed like they just might have what it took. But then again, their moods seemed to swing every single moment. Something as small and seemly insignificant as a contorted face or a stormy dark cloud, black and blasting torrential rain and thunder down on an unsuspecting populous, could send them into the depths of despair. On the other hand, the sound of a cheery voice from a young child, or a simple look from one of Ash’s Pokemon or Kero, a look that emanated years of friendship and understanding, could send their souls soaring higher than ever.

As the world does, they swayed back and forth. Such is the balance of power in the eternal fight between good and evil, while the chaos is somehow brought to order by the presiding forces of neutrality. For good and evil can’t exist without the other, yet they are complete opposites. Something else must exist to represent the most abnormal fusion in the universe. But being neutral right now would lead to feeling numb and detaching oneself from the situation. And that was something Ash and Sakura could ill afford to do now. For while the events of the lasts few days hurt them like hell, they needed to focus on the pain more than ever. It was an eternal reminder of what lies ahead. What they needed to do. It kept it real. For the pain they felt was sure to be mirrored or amplified by what Misty and Li were going through.

So Ash and Sakura needed to constantly remind themselves of the prime directive. The fiery, instinctive, energetic yet skilled Pokemon trainer and the spirited, loving, dreamy yet mature witch were going to rely on each other like the air they breathed. They were finished without the other. Team Rocket would kill the ones they loved without a second thought. That fact had killed something inside the two of them. Pizzazz in Ash’s actions, which were normally so brash, impulsive and flung him headfirst into pandemonium along with anyone else nearby, and the sparkle in Sakura’s eyes, which sprung out a shower of happiness, innocence, youth and dreams had begun to subside. Optimism was a source of hope in the time like this, but too much optimism could lead to getting too far ahead of oneself. This was no video game. This was really happening. Ash and Sakura had the lives of Misty and Li in their hands. And for one year, they would have to sweat it out together in order to have one shot at rescuing their loves from the clutches of evil. Any slipups, and Misty and Li would suffer the consequences. Giovanni would be watching their every move. As if they were in the nightmares worlds of Big Brother, Brave New World or Fahrenheit 451. Was this journey all in vain? No point in holding back. It was all or nothing. And nothing didn’t even bear thinking about.

Ash and Sakura walked hand in hand as they made their way towards Destiny City. It was called Destiny City because only very experienced trainers would bother to try out to qualify for the Green League. It was virtually the home stretch for many trainers, as they sought to win their last league before facing off against the Elite 4. Anyone walking by would have recognised the infamous young Pokemon trainer, and they would have been quite curious as to why another young woman besides Misty was at his side on his final leg of his journey. But by now news of the latest wave of Team Rocket attacks had spread across the continent, so many people were actually hanging out to get a glimpse of Ash and Sakura. People knew by now that Ash was definitely not the person who craved the limelight. He wanted nothing more than to accomplish his dream and have friends around. Was that too much to ask? It was for Team Rocket obviously.

At least Ash had Sakura. And Ash already had very high opinions of Sakura. That day at Silver Lake, when he caught a momentary glimpse of who Sakura really was. He saw Sakura’s true happiness, the aura that shone around her being that emanated from her soul, that insatiable lilt that reached out, sucked you in and held you hypnotised that always lingered in her voice, her pearly, luminescent skin that shone like the sparkly beaches of paradise, and those sparkly emerald eyes that were the portal to a soul so beautiful and mind-blowing that words were too pathetic to describe the feeling. And he could also see a ditsy, hilarious side to her. He saw a bit of himself in her. He felt sick inside that Sakura was reduced to a mere fraction of her true happiness. Ash silently swore that he was going to make sure that Sakura would regain that happiness, if it was the last thing he ever did. She was one of a special kind, and if she was lost too, then all of his hopes would slip down the drain into a never-ending ocean of despair, never to be seen again.

And conversely, Sakura had high opinions of Ash. He had such a strong, spirited will that somehow spurred out in full at Silver Lake. She could see the fire in his eyes, the power within that pushed him on whenever adversity stood in his way. She saw the special connection Ash had with his Pokemon. He viewed them as friends rather than pets that battled for him. He was full of empathy, just like her. And it came from pure, young honesty that somehow escaped being corrupted by the evils of the world. Just like her. She saw some of her own being in him. Horrified that someone as defiant and honest as Ash was wronged so deeply, Sakura felt sympathy well up in her, and she silently vowed to make sure Ash accomplished his dreams and that his true nature returned to him. In that moment, unknowingly, the two had bound themselves even closer in their private quest. It would be telling in the months to come. But for now, the two strode on hand in hand, letting touch from someone that cared and understood provide some relief to the mental anguish that raged within.

Ash remembered some things that Professor Oak had told him back in Pallet Town. He had forgotten at the time, but Oak had told him that he would meet up with Ash as soon as he got to Destiny City. Oak had something special to give him there and some advice to give. Advice he couldn’t give back then. Ash figured it was important, so he knew he had to reach Destiny City with haste. He didn’t want to keep Oak waiting. Plus Sakura had gotten word from Tori that he would be in Destiny City around the same time as Oak, so he had something for her too. So their pace had gradually increased as they made their way to the beginning of a chapter in their lives that would lead to true happiness or to the stinking bowels of oblivion.
“Ash, I didn’t know so you were so popular!” Sakura had only just begun to notice the intimidating hordes of people that circled round them for miles. Thousands of eyes burning in on them.
“It started ever since I won the Johto Championships. I wish they’d just cut it out personally.” Ash made it clear he was in no mood for unwanted attention. He could see news reporters and the like.
“Mm. Why did those reporters have to bug us like that back at Silver Town?! Couldn’t they give us some privacy, considering what just happened?! It still hurts, Ash! It’ll never stop hurting until it’s over! I hate others suffering for things I’ve been forced to do for the good of others! And I don’t want people prying into my life as if it were an open book everyone has to read!”
Ash put his free hand on her neck, gently stroking it, relaxing tense muscles and letting them assume their proper form. Sakura sighed in pleasure, relishing such a welcome sensation. “People want to know, I guess, because they care. If people stop caring, they begin to lose the battle. But I agree. There is a point to which people can learn things about others. We deserve to have some things kept to ourselves.”
“Remember what Giovanni said?! He said that if the media got word of what happened, he'd make Misty and Li suffer for it! I know what that man is capable of!” Sakura didn’t cry. She was too strong for that at the moment. She needed to be strong. If she began crying, she might never stop. Such was the hurt locked up inside her. Soon there would be time for release. Now it was time for resolve.
“I know. And I know you don’t want anyone to know about your magic!”
“They would fear me Ash! Because it’s something they don’t understand! People fear what they don’t understand and can’t control! They’d probably burn me at the stake or something! Yet they can see the magic in Pokemon. Why not the rest of the magic around them?!”
“Maybe they once did. Maybe their own personal experiences made them lose sight of it. We have to keep sight of it always, lest we give in to darkness.”
Sakura nodded and hummed in agreement.
“I wish things weren’t so dire. Otherwise I could spend forever looking at how beautiful this place is.” Sakura was right. Destiny City was on the horizon. At the centre of Destiny City was a marble statue of a Dragonite, countless millennia old, yet stronger than ever. The spirit of the legendary Pokemon lived on in this city and inspired anyone who came here in their epic leg of their Pokemon journeys. Greats like Lance, Agatha, Bruno and Prima had passed here before on their ways to greatness. And here it would start for Ash. In a town where buildings were glossed over with plants and bushes all over. People in Destiny City didn’t want to live in a concrete jungle. So they kept Nature close, and people living there felt far more relaxed and content than people in more urbanised areas. Pokemon thrived in these conditions. Kids spent hours every day playing with wild Pokemon, and if one liked them enough, it would stay with them, leaving new trainers in the making. It seemed like a great place to live, and an ominous place for experienced trainers. A town of green and dreams.

Ash and Sakura entered the Destiny City Pokemon Centre. It was a common meeting place, so there were plenty of trainers about as well as other people. This was where they were meant to meet Oak and Tori. Ash and Sakura waited in eerie longing, sitting against soft blue sofas, lying down next to each other. It was weird that Ash and Sakura didn’t mind being so close, but their reliance was 60-60-24-365, so they couldn’t leave each other’s side. Ash and Sakura let the comforting presence of their warm hands linger near each other’s, providing some quiet peace to heal the hell that waged war on their private universes. The radio in the centre piped up, causing many people nearby to swing round in curiosity.
“And now folks, we’ve got a treat for ya! Ben Folds, former lead singer of the American group Ben Fold Five, which split up last year, has returned with his debut solo album, Rockin’ The Suburbs! You’ve already heard Rockin’ The Suburbs for the last few weeks, and now it’s this weeks feature album here on Triple J! So here’s another track from the album. This one is the opening song, and it’s called ‘Annie Waits.’

Ben Folds – Annie Waits


And so Annie waits Annie waits Annie waits
For a call from a friend
The same
It’s the same, why’s it always the same?
Annie waits for the last time
The clock never stops never stops never waits
She’s growing old
It’s getting late
And so her forgot, he forgot but maybe not
Maybe he’s been seriously hurt
Would that be worse?
Headlights crest the hill
Shadows pass her by and out of sight
Annie sees in dreams
Friday bingo, pigeons in the park
Annie waits for the last time
Just the same as the last time
Annie says, you see?
This is why I’d rather be alone
And so Annie waits Annie waits Annie waits
For a call from a friend
It’s the same, why’s it always the same?
Annie waits as the last...
Headlights crest the hill
Who will be the one forever more
Annie, I could be
If we’re both still lonely when we’re old
Annie waits for the last time
Just the same as the last time
Annie waits
But not for me


Ash and Sakura sat up as soon as the song broke free from the speakers, hanging onto every single note and word until the last syllable and piano chord zipped out. In those four minutes, they found themselves thinking about their own scenario as Ben portrayed a scene of a woman who waited for a call to find true happiness, but it never came. Her dreams slipped by, her youth was gone, and still no release. It made the two of them feel a little scared. Was this what was in store for them? Were they doomed to fail, leaving them a lifetime of being alone, waiting for the one moment to bring them back to happiness, yet it never comes? The piano and Ben’s vocals amplified some hope and longing into the song, which never came to fruition, further reinforced as the piano and vocals turned sombre as verses melted away. The hope never went away, but it never was realised. Annie’s situation was so haunting. To think this was what some people will live through. Ash and Sakura realised that age had nothing to do with it. Nothing could prepare you for the prospect of living the rest of your life alone in the hope that one day, it will all end and happiness will return. But for some, it never will. And they’re forever stuck in that cycle, just like Annie.
“Hey, that sounded good!” said one trainer nearby, stroking her Flareon. “I always hoped ol’ Benny would still keep going after the band split!”
“Yeah! Ya never can beat the sarcasm and the personal stories that he writes! Heck, he may be a jerk, a self-confessed jerk, but man he’s good!” commented another.
“But only a self-confessed jerk could write Rockin’ The Suburbs! Everyone in my neighbourhood is still hung up on that one!” mentioned a third trainer,
“Well he finally decided to use guitar!” noted the first trainer. “Who would’ve thought it?!” The rest of them nodded in agreement.
Ash and Sakura looked at them in envy. Those trainers were probably looking forward to an epic adventure on the final road to the Elite 4. Yet all the two of them could think about was getting Misty and Li back. Nothing else mattered. Their hearts would stop beating without them in their lives. It would be like trying to breathe underwater. Impossible.

[Last Exile]

“So, my dear fellow yellow one, what do they call you around the ol’ gang, heh?” inquired Kero, dreaming of, obviously, pudding. A great big mountain of pudding.
“Pikachu!” sparked out Pikachu in a happy tone.
“Ah, nice name! Finally someone around here who can talk! At least I don’t have to pretend no more!” Kero began pumping his arms in delight, like he does when he’s about to get sweets.
“Pika pika chu!”
“What?! No Pokemon can speak human language?!” Kero began sobbing like a shattered kid who doesn’t get what he wants.
“Pika...chu chu!”
Kero looked at Pikachu as if he was nuts “Except for that talking Meowth! What talking Meowth? You’re having me on, aren’t ya Sparky?!”
“Pika chu! Pika!” Pikachu was a little confused. He was being honest, but the flying squirrel was taking no notice of that.
“Yeah sure! The day that I see a talking Meowth, I buy you a bottle of ketchup!” Kero folded his arms and sneered.
“PIKA!”
“Huh?! What’s grabbing your tail, Sparky?! Huh?! What the...?”
A Meowth, which looked like it had been beaten over a hundred times with an iron bar or something harsher, hobbled up to the two of them. It was crying gingerly and looked at them like a broken man through those puffed up black eyes.
“I can’t believe it! After all these years, after all we’ve been through, Jesse and James dumped me! Like that! Then again, considering how many times we’ve backstabbed each other, why am I not surprised?! It made a lot of sense! They got a big promotion for nabbing the two brats, and they kicked me out to get more of the bonus and the wage increase! Typical Jesse and James! And now ol’ Meowth had gotta fend for himself! Ah!” Meowth sighed as if he was ready to throw in the towel for good. “What am I gonna do now?! Maybe if I found that Pikachu, I could do something!” He sunk down to the floor in exhaustion, sinking in his sorrow like sinking into quicksand.
“Aw great! Here’s your ketchup, short circuit!”
“PIKA!” Pikachu lashed out at Kero with its tail, then began to power up its cheeks for a light attack. It didn’t like Kero’s attitude one bit.
Kero grabbed Pikachu’s tail and flung it back at him, nearly flinging Pikachu off balance. “Look! I gave you the ketchup! Don’t give me another of those damn shocks, or I’ll give it to ya I swear!”
“Pika!”
“Okay! That does it! Winner gets a pudding!” Kero and Pikachu began staring each other down Western-style, like they were in a showdown. Kero began pumping his fists, psyching his little body up while Pikachu began powering up his electric cheeks for combat.
“Pikachu? Is that you?!”
“Pika?” Pikachu swung round to meet the source of the familiar voice. He knew that feline voice anywhere! “Pika!”
“Hmm, he’s looked like he’s seen better days! Er, scratch the fight, Sparky! Hey there, kitty? Pudding?!” Kero whipped out the pudding cake from Sakura’s satchel, looking for any excuse to get some pudding without retribution.
“Thanks.” Meowth’s burnt paw carefully picked up a piece and savoured the sweet taste of every molecule of sugar, custard and fruit. “It’s been awhile since anyone was this nice to me!”
“Pika pika!”
“Well, shows ya what bums those two jerks are!”
“Kero!” Sakura then noticed the hastily opened package left dangling on top of her satchel. “I said NO pud...er, who’s that?”
“Oh, this guy? He a talking Meowth. In bad shape too!”
“Talking Meowth?” Ash woke up from his daydreaming and felt like he was in the twilight zone. “All right! What are ya up to this time, Meowth?! And where are Jesse and James”
“Don’t mention those two! I don’t ever wanna see those heartless cowards again after they kicked me off the team just to take the promotion for capturing the two twerps!”
Ash and Sakura looked at each other in blinding hope. Sakura grabbed him by his arms and began pleading at him. “Were they Misty and Li?! Please tell us! We’ve gotta know! Please!” Sakura began sobbing a little, coming across a lump of sand in her throat, making it so hard to breathe her eyes couldn’t stop watering.
“You mean the readhead? Yeah, it was her. And that brown haired magician too!”
“All right Meowth!” Anger that had been building up in Ash like a virus was now active and ready to infect. “Where are they?!”
“I don’t know! Jesse and James threw me out of the balloon after them and the two other Rockets got away with the two of them! Can you believe that! They threw me outta the balloon from a mile up! I can’t believe I actually survived that fall!”
“Well, I kinda know how you feel,” mentioned Sakura in a guilty tone. “Then again, I always did have the Fly Card to help out. Still, the Jump Card almost did me in that way.”
“Gee, I didn’t know things were that bad for ya, Meowth!” Ash looked at the feline he resented for so many years for his endless attempts to steal his best buddy in the world from him. But seeing him helpless as he was, Ash was compelled to help him.
“Nurse Joy! This Meowth needs help!”
“Oh dear! Chansey, prepare the emergency room! And a bed for this Meowth!” Nurse Joy began ministering her healing powers as she took Meowth into the dominion where many lives were rescued while some were not as fortunate.
“Sakura, this whole mess keeps getting weirder and weirder!” Ash began looking at the GS Ball Oak had given him. “I wonder what’s in this?! God knows how long I went around delivering this thing! Hope it’s something good! I could use a break about now!”
“Yeah!” Sakura was a little concerned herself. “I’ve been wondering about these new cards Giovanni mentioned. It takes a pretty powerful magician to create new cards. And I don’t like thinking what kind of cards were created if they fell into the wrong hands!”
“Yeah. Looks like maybe more people than just us and Misty and Li may get hurt in this fiasco.”
Sakura nodded in desperate tones. Team Rocket had gone so far as to expend their own. Could they even trust Giovanni? He seemed to be a man of his word. Except when it benefited him to betray it.
“I think maybe we should let Meowth tag along, Ash! Maybe he can help us! I mean, think about it! A Pokemon that can talk human language could be pretty useful on our quest!”
Ash bit his lip. He never really trusted Meowth. But Pikachu had mentioned that time he and Meowth had to work together to survive that time they got lost in the Orange Islands. Meowth did have a heart. He just got hurt badly early on in life and fell in with the wrong crowd. Ash sighed. This was getting nutty. And things were sure to get even crazier.
“Okay. Meowth’s in.”
“Pudding?” offered Kero.
“Better get someone before it disappears, Ash! Magic, you know!” joked Sakura, smiling for the first time in hours, which even managed to invoke a smile on Ash’s lips.
“Sounds good to me.”

Letting Meowth join the fold! Misty’s reaction would have been classic, thought Ash. Misty. Her very life in Ash’s hands. Such an enormous responsibility for someone so young. And Sakura had Li’s in her own hands. For now all they could do was wait and see how Meowth was doing. He will still in intensive treatment. And where were Oak and Tori anyway?! Ash and Sakura absolutely resented idle time! They had a job to do, and their loves’ lives were at stake! Sitting around doing nothing wouldn’t accomplish a thing! Except make them feel as helpless as newborn babies, and that was the last thing they wanted.
“Well, Ash, at least you’re early for once!” Ash knew that voice anywhere. Oak.
“Nice to see you, Professor Oak. Er, this is Sakura. Sakura, this is Professor Oak, the world famous Pokemon expert that started me on my journey.”
“Cool! It’s nice to meet the person who started Ash on the road to glory!”
“Um, I’m flattered. Though I don’t know whether I was that influential on Ash!” Oak never was one to grab the spotlight.
Ash broke in eagerly like a kid in a candy store. “So Professor, you said you had something for me?”
Oak got straight to business like a university lecturer. “Yes, Ash. Yesterday I got hold of a new Pokeball system. It allows you to carry 15 Pokeballs with you instead of 6! So now you can have all your Pokemon with you!”
“Wow! Professor! That’s great! You mean I can have Kingler, Muk and Tauros with me all the time now?! Plus I can catch some new ones without to send any back?! Great!”
“That means you can catch 5 new Pokemon without having to send them back. As for the GS Ball...” Oak could see Ash welling up with excitement.
“What’s in it, Professor?! You’ve got to tell me!”
“I don’t know, Ash. I honestly don’t know. But it’s something rare and powerful. I could tell from the energy contained within the GS Ball. The lock on the ball will break in a week’s time. Then you will know. Be sure to let me know. I’m eager myself to see what it is, considering how much time we’ve spent on that saga.”
“Sure Professor. Was there anything else you came here to tell me?”
Oak’s face hardened like steel. Ash knew he was getting pretty serious. “Ash, don’t be fooled. The Green League is VERY tough. Many trainers take years to even qualify, and more to be lucky enough to win! These Gym Leaders are the toughest breed of all! And furthermore, their Pokemon are a cut above the rest! For they have the ability to use attacks they normally wouldn’t! Water types using Electric attacks, Fire types using Water attacks. Be aware of this, Ash. These Pokemon have hidden powers you couldn’t dream of!”
Ash’s youthful optimism was shattered in an instant like glass windows by an errant ball, and a sullen look broke out across his worn out face. “So you’re saying I might not pull this off in a year?!” He then buried his hands and began crying uncontrollably. “Misty!”
Sakura began breaking down herself like a waterfall. “Li! No! Professor, there must be a way! We have to do this in a year! Please, help us! Anything!”
Oak felt like the world had fallen on his shoulders when he saw that look on Sakura’s face. Her eyes looked like they were falling out of their sockets and their emerald hue was barely alive at all, and her mouth looked like bits of frayed rope instead of luscious lips. She was an absolute wreck, as was Ash. These kids deserve better after all they’ve done for the world. I hope I’m doing the right thing!
“Which is why I really came here.”
Ash and Sakura stopped crying in a flash, held each other’s hand tightly and sat up as one, living for his every word like it was the air they breathed.
“Ash, I want you to have these.” Oak handed fifteen electronic modules to Ash. All the size of wristwatches.
“What are these?”
“They’re learning modules. Ash, these modules can help to awaken a Hidden Power within a Pokemon. Just like with these Gym Leaders.”
Ash felt a ray of light permeate his stormy world. He liked what he was hearing.
“In other words, they will learns attacks of an element they normal couldn’t perform! Ash, I know why you have to do what you’re doing! Take these. They will help you immensely.”
Ash felt a half smile slip across his cracked lips and let it linger like a sweet aftertaste. “Thank you, Professor. Thank you for giving me hope!”
“Ash, I truly believe you can do this! It won’t be easy, but seeing what you’ve done has made even the harshest skeptics change their views on you. So do it, my boy. Go get them back.”
Ash shook hands with the man that started it all, then Oak walked out of the centre. “I’ll keep in touch.”
“Guess I’d better start using these things”, figured Ash. He called his Pokemon out and began strapping the device onto each of them. “Just bear this for a while! It’ll give you all powers you didn’t have before, and they’ll make you stronger!”
All his Pokemon agreed to go through with this and let the modules enhance the power within. “You feel stronger, Pikachu?”
“Pika!” chirped Pikachu happily in reply.
“Great! Guess these things are as good as Oak said. I bet Pikachu learned something really cool!”
Kero began musing. “Yeah, but one of the others learned something a whole lot better.”
“You got that right.”
Everyone whirled around to the entrance to the emergency room. Standing there was Meowth, with no sign of the scars that ravaged his body before. His fur coat had its normal sheen restored and his golden charm was as shiny as ever.
“Lucky you found it when you did. Otherwise it would have been done for. I hope you can care for it well. Knowing you Ash, I know you will.” There wasn’t a Nurse Joy anywhere who didn’t recognise Ash Ketchum within five seconds.
“Thanks Nurse Joy.”
“Anyway”, continued Meowth, “I agree with my fellow talking comrade here. I reckon the leafy one over there was the one that really benefited from those modules.
“Mm,” nodded Kero in strong agreement. “Definitely. Bayleef is going to learn something really powerful soon.”
“Really?” Ash and Sakura looked at Bayleef intently. Bayleef still had that sparkle in her eyes that she had as a Chikorita, she had an invigorating spicy aroma permeating from the leaves on her neck, and her skin was a lush green that shone in the afternoon sunlight. They noticed that Bayleef was somehow different, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it.
“Guess we’ll find out someday soon.”
“Lazy as ever squirt?!”
Sakura sighed heavily. “Oh no. Here’s trouble!”
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Tori had just entered the building. “Well, it’s nice to see you’re actually awake this early in a day, Sakura!”
“Tori!” Sakura really wasn’t in the mood for one of their regular showdown sessions.
“And that you actually made it one time for our meeting is even more miraculous! Must be the Bermuda Triangle or something! A Sakura from a parallel universe! Have you seen my real sister?!”
“Grrrrrrrr!” Sakura was fuming like Mount Vesuvius must have when it sent Pompeii into extinction. “Can you just get to the point?! Why are you here?!”
“Alright squirt, keep a lid on it. I came here to escort someone else you’ll need on your quest.”
“Hey Sakura.” Sakura’s heart missed a heartbeat for sure. She knew that sweet, mellow female voice anywhere.
“Madison!”
Sakura jumped up and eagerly embraced her lifelong friend. Madison still wore her silky black hair long, her sapphire eyes were as sparkling as ever, and she still bore her own trademark smile like a charm. Sakura laughed for the first time in days. She felt so carefree and safe in the presence of one of her best friends.
“Um, so why are you here?”
“Well, Tori told me what you guys are going to be up to. I figured that you could use my planning skills, my electronic equipment, my brainpower and my costumes as always! Sakura! Did you honestly think you’d capture more cards without me around? And without a costume?! Forget it!”
“Hey hey!” piped in Kero happily. “Nice to see you around here, partner!”
“Hey Kero!’ glowed Madison. “Guess what I’ve got!” She let Kero take a quick peek inside her backpack.
“CAKE! Lots and lots of cake! I’m in heaven!” Kero beamed in ecstasy.
“That makes one of us, at least,” mused Ash.
“I can help you guys out. You can’t do this alone. Oak asked me to personally.”
Ash and Sakura stopped in their tracks and listened like hawks scouring for prey. “Oak said that?”
“Yeah. He said that despite how strong the two of you were, he felt certain that you’d get into trouble sooner or later.”
Ash and Sakura sighed lightbulbs anime style. They hated to admit, but it was true.
“So that’s why I’m here! I’m coming along with you guys!”
“I’m not turning you down!” laughed Sakura. “Thank you, Madison!”
“No problem, Sakura! I wouldn’t miss this for the world!”
“I’m outta here, squirt” stated Tori as a mere formality. “Don’t take no wooden Indians.”
“Bye Tori!” Sakura had to admit that Tori could be nice at times. If he tried.
“So where are we headed first?” inquired Madison.
Ash looked on the map on the Pokedex screen. “This says that the nearest gym is in Zinc City. Guess we’d better go there.”
“Just as long as we’re finally mobile,” Sakura pointed out.
“Agreed, Sakura,” choked Ash. “I don’t want to be idle for a second longer. And you’re coming with us whether you like it or not, Meowth.”
“Hey, I ain’t complaining, Ashy boy,” mused Meowth. “I’m not letting that group of no good, backstabbing losers hurt anyone again!”
“Guess we’re off then.”
And off they went towards Zinc City, with their first goal in sight. With the addition of the learning modules and the presence of Madison and Meowth, things were looking up for once.

“Hmm. I didn’t suspect those two would tag along,” growled Giovanni like a wild animal from the security of his hidden base.
“Would you like them ‘removed’, my lord?” inquired the Rocket standing guard.
“No!” Giovanni licked his lips in delight. “Let them be. The game’s getting more interesting! Let them have hope!” He picked up a pencil and snapped it in half with minimum effort, sending splinters flying across the air. “For now...”



There! The repost continues! Sorry for the delay!

[Gavin Luper]

Can't wait for chapter 8!

Oh, i just realised we have the same amount of views! I dunno why that was interesting .

[Snakes N' Legends]

Poor Meowth!!! Being betrayed by his own teammates. If I was in Ash's Place, I would take care of Meowth and never let him go. Also I would maybe find a way to get Meowth to learn pay day ... what, anybody or any thing can do something if they really try. So Madison and Meowth are part of the group. Poor Sakura!!! Who knows what costumes Madison has come up with for Sakura!! Great chapter, CCC. Keep it up!!!!!

[Last Exile]

Gavin Luper: Well, it is an interesting point! Good to see your fic is doing well. A question, if I may. Where in Australia do you live? Sorry if you said before, but with all my thesis work, I'm bonkers lately!

tyranitar master: Sakura gradually did get used to those costumes. Besides, I think she actually liked the better ones. And some of them were created to stick her with the innocent young girl stigma, which grows weary quite quickly. Anyways, Madison ends up tending Meowth. I doubt Ash would be able to relate to Meowth for a bit considering their history.

[Wolfsong]

Another great chapter CCC. Keep up the great work. Anyway i can go home on the weekends so it doesn't bother me being here. In fact, i'm enjoying it here...

[Last Exile]

Nala98: Well, that's good to hear. If one gets along with their parents and can still see them when at university, that's a bonus.

[Darkgel]

... Whoa.

I'm finally back and I find this masterpiece back where it was.

Keep it up, CCC!

By the way, if you wanna read my CCS Fanfic, PM me. I don't think we're allowed to advertise, are we?

[PlatinumHawke]

Originally posted by Citrus Crush Chikorita
tyranitar master: Yeah, I'm a music nut. But not for that mainstream crap.

Amen to that bruttha.
A big "gomenne" for not keeping up to date and reply, though I'm still waiting on the new chapters to be posted. I think you left off at around 20-odd.

And in a bit of news, I got my hands on the 6th CCS manga, which details the Judgement by Yue... and it is far different than the anime version.

[Last Exile]

Darkgel: Welcome back! Well, if your fic is on TPM, I don't think you'll have Damian bothering you. So yeah, I'd love to read it.

Platinumhawke: Well, I really should respond to Glory's Long Road! But my mind's haywire these days with thesis work. Thanks for replying! And I'd love to see the CCS manga.

[Last Exile]

Chapter 5 – Fallen Angels

For days they had nothing in their future. It had been cruelly torn apart, battered and broken beyond recognition. Dreams burning up in stingy smoke, hopes flowing down the drain like blood spilling from lifeless bodies, staining the ground like a memory that never goes away no matter how much you wish it would. This was something these two young adults should never have been forced to live through. But this was the real world. And reality can be cruel. Very cruel. Hopefully you have the strength to persevere, to succeed, and to live on. Right now, Ash and Sakura seemed like they just might have what it took. But then again, their moods seemed to swing every single moment. Something as small and seemly insignificant as a contorted face or a stormy dark cloud, black and blasting torrential rain and thunder down on an unsuspecting populous, could send them into the depths of despair. On the other hand, the sound of a cheery voice from a young child, or a simple look from one of Ash’s Pokemon or Kero, a look that emanated years of friendship and understanding, could send their souls soaring higher than ever.

As the world does, they swayed back and forth. Such is the balance of power in the eternal fight between good and evil, while the chaos is somehow brought to order by the presiding forces of neutrality. For good and evil can’t exist without the other, yet they are complete opposites. Something else must exist to represent the most abnormal fusion in the universe. But being neutral right now would lead to feeling numb and detaching oneself from the situation. And that was something Ash and Sakura could ill afford to do now. For while the events of the lasts few days hurt them like hell, they needed to focus on the pain more than ever. It was an eternal reminder of what lies ahead. What they needed to do. It kept it real. For the pain they felt was sure to be mirrored or amplified by what Misty and Li were going through.

So Ash and Sakura needed to constantly remind themselves of the prime directive. The fiery, instinctive, energetic yet skilled Pokemon trainer and the spirited, loving, dreamy yet mature magician were going to rely on each other like the air they breathed. They were finished without the other. Team Rocket would kill the ones they loved without a second thought. That fact had killed something inside the two of them. Pizzazz in Ash’s actions, which were normally so brash, impulsive and flung him headfirst into pandemonium along with anyone else nearby, and the sparkle in Sakura’s eyes, which sprung out a shower of happiness, innocence, youth and dreams had begun to subside. Optimism was a source of hope in the time like this, but too much optimism could lead to getting too far ahead of oneself. This was no video game. This was really happening. Ash and Sakura had the lives of Misty and Li in their hands. And for one year, they would have to sweat it out together in order to have one shot at rescuing their loves from the clutches of evil. Any slipups, and Misty and Li would suffer the consequences. Giovanni would be watching their every move. As if they were in the nightmares worlds of Big Brother, Brave New World or Fahrenheit 451. Was this journey all in vain? No point in holding back. It was all or nothing. And nothing didn’t even bear thinking about.

Ash and Sakura walked hand in hand as they made their way towards Destiny City. It was called Destiny City because only very experienced trainers would bother to try out to qualify for the Green League. It was virtually the home stretch for many trainers, as they sought to win their last league before facing off against the Elite 4. Anyone walking by would have recognised the infamous young Pokemon trainer, and they would have been quite curious as to why another young woman besides Misty was at his side on his final leg of his journey. But by now news of the latest wave of Team Rocket attacks had spread across the continent, so many people were actually hanging out to get a glimpse of Ash and Sakura. People knew by now that Ash was definitely not the person who craved the limelight. He wanted nothing more than to accomplish his dream and have friends around. Was that too much to ask? It was for Team Rocket obviously.

At least Ash had Sakura. And Ash already had very high opinions of Sakura. That day at Silver Lake, when he caught a momentary glimpse of who Sakura really was. He saw Sakura’s true happiness, the aura that shone around her being that emanated from her soul, that insatiable lilt that reached out, sucked you in and held you hypnotised that always lingered in her voice, her pearly, luminescent skin that shone like the sparkly beaches of paradise, and those sparkly emerald eyes that were the portal to a soul so beautiful and mind-blowing that words were too pathetic to describe the feeling. And he could also see a ditsy, hilarious side to her. He saw a bit of himself in her. He felt sick inside that Sakura was reduced to a mere fraction of her true happiness. Ash silently swore that he was going to make sure that Sakura would regain that happiness, if it was the last thing he ever did. She was one of a special kind, and if she was lost too, then all of his hopes would slip down the drain into a never-ending ocean of despair, never to be seen again.

And conversely, Sakura had high opinions of Ash. He had such a strong, spirited will that somehow spurred out in full at Silver Lake. She could see the fire in his eyes, the power within that pushed him on whenever adversity stood in his way. She saw the special connection Ash had with his Pokemon. He viewed them as friends rather than pets that battled for him. He was full of empathy, just like her. And it came from pure, young honesty that somehow escaped being corrupted by the evils of the world. Just like her. She saw some of her own being in him. Horrified that someone as defiant and honest as Ash was wronged so deeply, Sakura felt sympathy well up in her, and she silently vowed to make sure Ash accomplished his dreams and that his true nature returned to him. In that moment, unknowingly, the two had bound themselves even closer in their private quest. It would be telling in the months to come. But for now, the two strode on hand in hand, letting touch from someone that cared and understood provide some relief to the mental anguish that raged within.

Ash remembered some things that Professor Oak had told him back in Pallet Town. He had forgotten at the time, but Oak had told him that he would meet up with Ash as soon as he got to Destiny City. Oak had something special to give him there and some advice to give. Advice he couldn’t give back then. Ash figured it was important, so he knew he had to reach Destiny City with haste. He didn’t want to keep Oak waiting. Plus Sakura had gotten word from Tori that he would be in Destiny City around the same time as Oak, so he had something for her too. So their pace had gradually increased as they made their way to the beginning of a chapter in their lives that would lead to true happiness or to the stinking bowels of oblivion.

“Ash, I didn’t know so you were so popular!” Sakura had only just begun to notice the intimidating hordes of people that circled round them for miles. Thousands of eyes burning in on them.
“It started ever since I won the Johto Championships. I wish they’d just cut it out personally.” Ash made it clear he was in no mood for unwanted attention. He could see news reporters and the like.
“Mm. Why did those reporters have to bug us like that back at Silver Town?! Couldn’t they give us some privacy, considering what just happened?! It still hurts, Ash! It’ll never stop hurting until it’s over! I hate others suffering for things I’ve been forced to do for the good of others! And I don’t want people prying into my life as if it were an open book everyone has to read!”
Ash put his free hand on her neck, gently stroking it, relaxing tense muscles and letting them assume their proper form. Sakura sighed in pleasure, relishing such a welcome sensation. “People want to know, I guess, because they care. If people stop caring, they begin to lose the battle. But I agree. There is a point to which people can learn things about others. We deserve to have some things kept to ourselves.”
“Remember what Giovanni said?! He said that if the media got word of what happened, he'd make Misty and Li suffer for it! I know what that man is capable of!”
Sakura didn’t cry. She was too strong for that at the moment. She needed to be strong. If she began crying, she might never stop. Such was the hurt locked up inside her. Soon there would be time for release. Now it was time for resolve.
“I know. And I know you don’t want anyone to know about your magic!”
“They would fear me Ash! Because it’s something they don’t understand! People fear what they don’t understand and can’t control! They’d probably burn me at the stake or something! Yet they can see the magic in Pokemon. Why not the rest of the magic around them?!”
“Maybe they once did. Maybe their own personal experiences made them lose sight of it. We have to keep sight of it always, lest we give in to darkness.”
Sakura nodded and hummed in agreement.
“I wish things weren’t so dire. Otherwise I could spend forever looking at how beautiful this place is.” Sakura was right. Destiny City was on the horizon. At the centre of Destiny City was a marble statue of a Dragonite, countless millennia old, yet stronger than ever. The spirit of the legendary Pokemon lived on in this city and inspired anyone who came here in their epic leg of their Pokemon journeys. Greats like Lance, Agatha, Bruno and Prima had passed here before on their ways to greatness. And here it would start for Ash. In a town where buildings were glossed over with plants and bushes all over. People in Destiny City didn’t want to live in a concrete jungle. So they kept Nature close, and people living there felt far more relaxed and content than people in more urbanised areas. Pokemon thrived in these conditions. Kids spent hours every day playing with wild Pokemon, and if one liked them enough, it would stay with them, leaving new trainers in the making. It seemed like a great place to live, and an ominous place for experienced trainers. A town of green and dreams.

[Last Exile]

Ash and Sakura entered the Destiny City Pokemon Centre. It was a common meeting place, so there were plenty of trainers about as well as other people. This was where they were meant to meet Oak and Tori. Ash and Sakura waited in eerie longing, sitting against soft blue sofas, lying down next to each other. It was weird that Ash and Sakura didn’t mind being so close, but their reliance was 60-60-24-365, so they couldn’t leave each other’s side. Ash and Sakura let the comforting presence of their warm hands linger near each other’s, providing some quiet peace to heal the hell that waged war on their private universes. The radio in the centre piped up, causing many people nearby to swing round in curiosity.
“And now folks, we’ve got a treat for ya! Ben Folds, former lead singer of the American group Ben Folds Five, which split up last year, has returned with his debut solo album, Rockin’ The Suburbs! You’ve already heard Rockin’ The Suburbs for the last few weeks, and now it’s this weeks feature album here on Triple J! So here’s another track from the album. This one is the opening song, and it’s called ‘Annie Waits.’

Ben Folds – Annie Waits


And so Annie waits Annie waits Annie waits
For a call from a friend
The same
It’s the same, why’s it always the same?
Annie waits for the last
Time

The clock never stops never stops never waits
She’s growing old
It’s getting late
And so her forgot, he forgot but maybe not
Maybe he’s been seriously hurt
That'd be worse
Headlights crest the hill
Shadows pass her by and out of sight
Annie sees in dreams
Friday bingo, pigeons in the park

Annie waits for the last time
Just the same as the last time
Annie says, you see?
This is why I’d rather be alone

And so Annie waits Annie waits Annie waits
For a call from a friend
It’s the same, why’s it always the same?
Annie waits as the last...

Headlights crest the hill
Who will be the one forever more?
Annie, I could be
If we’re both still lonely when we’re old

Annie waits for the last time
Just the same as the last time
Annie waits
But not for me


Ash and Sakura sat up as soon as the song broke free from the speakers, hanging onto every single note and word until the last syllable and piano chord zipped out. In those four minutes, they found themselves thinking about their own scenario as Ben portrayed a scene of a woman who waited for a call to find true happiness, but it never came. Her dreams slipped by, her youth was gone, and still no release. It made the two of them feel a little scared. Was this what was in store for them? Were they doomed to fail, leaving them a lifetime of being alone, waiting for the one moment to bring them back to happiness, yet it never comes? The piano and Ben’s vocals amplified some hope and longing into the song, which never came to fruition, further reinforced as the piano and vocals turned sombre as verses melted away. The hope never went away, but it never was realised. Annie’s situation was so haunting. To think this was what some people will live through. Ash and Sakura realised that age had nothing to do with it. Nothing could prepare you for the prospect of living the rest of your life alone in the hope that one day, it will all end and happiness will return. But for some, it never will. And they’re forever stuck in that cycle, just like Annie.

“Hey, that sounded good!” said one trainer nearby, stroking her Flareon. “I always hoped ol’ Benny would still keep going after the band split!”
“Yeah! Ya never can beat the sarcasm and the personal stories that he writes! Heck, he may be a jerk, a self-confessed jerk, but man he’s good!” commented another.
“But only a self-confessed jerk could write Rockin’ The Suburbs! Everyone in my neighbourhood is still hung up on that one!” mentioned a third trainer,
“Well he finally decided to use guitar!” noted the first trainer. “Who would’ve thought it?!” The rest of them nodded in agreement.
Ash and Sakura looked at them in envy. Those trainers were probably looking forward to an epic adventure on the final road to the Elite 4. Yet all the two of them could think about was getting Misty and Li back. Nothing else mattered. Their hearts would stop beating without them in their lives. It would be like trying to breathe underwater. Impossible.

“So, my dear fellow yellow one, what do they call you around the ol’ gang, heh?” inquired Kero, dreaming of, obviously, pudding. A great big mountain of pudding.
“Pikachu!” sparked out Pikachu in a happy tone.
“Ah, nice name! Finally someone around here who can talk! At least I don’t have to pretend no more!” Kero began pumping his arms in delight, like he does when he’s about to get sweets.
“Pika pika chu!”
“What?! No Pokemon can speak human language?!” Kero began sobbing like a shattered kid who doesn’t get what he wants.
“Pika...chu chu!”
Kero looked at Pikachu as if he was nuts “Except for that talking Meowth! What talking Meowth? You’re having me on, aren’t ya Sparky?!”
“Pika chu! Pika!” Pikachu was a little confused. He was being honest, but the flying squirrel was taking no notice of that.
“Yeah sure! The day that I see a talking Meowth, I buy you a bottle of ketchup!” Kero folded his arms and sneered.
“PIKA!”
“Huh?! What’s grabbing your tail, Sparky?! Huh?! What the...?”
A Meowth, which looked like it had been beaten over a hundred times with an iron bar or something harsher, hobbled up to the two of them. It was crying gingerly and looked at them like a broken man through those puffed up black eyes.

[Darkgel]

I remember this one. Good!

By the way, my fic's NOT in TPM. But I plan on to get it here. Just as soon as I rebackup Chapter 2, I messed up the files while writing the 3rd one.

[Last Exile]

“I can’t believe it! After all these years, after all we’ve been through, Jesse and James dumped me! Like that! Then again, considering how many times we’ve backstabbed each other, why am I not surprised?! It made a lot of sense! They got a big promotion for nabbing the two brats, and they kicked me out to get more of the bonus and the wage increase! Typical Jesse and James! And now ol’ Meowth had gotta fend for himself! Ah!”
Meowth sighed as if he was ready to throw in the towel for good. “What am I gonna do now?! Maybe if I found that Pikachu, I could do something!”
He sunk down to the floor in exhaustion, sinking in his sorrow like sinking into quicksand.
“Aw great! Here’s your ketchup, short circuit!”
“PIKA!” Pikachu lashed out at Kero with its tail, then began to power up its cheeks for a light attack. It didn’t like Kero’s attitude one bit. Kero grabbed Pikachu’s tail and flung it back at him, nearly flinging Pikachu off balance. “Look! I gave you the ketchup! Don’t give me another of those damn shocks, or I’ll give it to ya I swear!”
“Pika!”
“Okay! That does it! Winner gets a pudding!” Kero and Pikachu began staring each other down Western-style, like they were in a showdown. Kero began pumping his fists, psyching his little body up while Pikachu began powering up his electric cheeks for combat.
“Pikachu? Is that you?!”
“Pika?” Pikachu swung round to meet the source of the familiar voice. He knew that feline voice anywhere! “Pika!”
“Hmm, he’s looked like he’s seen better days! Er, scratch the fight, Sparky! Hey there, kitty? Pudding?!” Kero whipped out the pudding cake from Sakura’s satchel, looking for any excuse to get some pudding without retribution.
“Thanks.” Meowth’s burnt paw carefully picked up a piece and savoured the sweet taste of every molecule of sugar, custard and fruit. “It’s been a while since anyone was this nice to me!”
“Pika pika!”
“Well, shows ya what bums those two jerks are!”
“Kero!” Sakura then noticed the hastily opened package left dangling on top of her satchel. “I said NO pud...er, who’s that?”
“Oh, this guy? He a talking Meowth. In bad shape too!”
“Talking Meowth?” Ash woke up from his daydreaming and felt like he was in the twilight zone. “All right! What are ya up to this time, Meowth?! And where are Jesse and James?”
“Don’t mention those two! I don’t ever wanna see those heartless cowards again after they kicked me off the team just to take the promotion for capturing the two twerps!”
Ash and Sakura looked at each other in blinding hope. Sakura grabbed him by his arms and began pleading at him. “Were they Misty and Li?! Please tell us! We’ve gotta know! Please!” Sakura began sobbing a little, coming across a lump of sand in her throat, making it so hard to breathe her eyes couldn’t stop watering.
“You mean the readhead? Yeah, it was her. And that brown haired magician too!”
“All right Meowth!” Anger that had been building up in Ash like a virus was now active and ready to infect. “Where are they?!”
“I don’t know! Jesse and James threw me out of the balloon after them and the two other Rockets got away with the two of them! Can you believe that! They threw me outta the balloon from a mile up! I can’t believe I actually survived that fall!”
“Well, I kinda know how you feel,” mentioned Sakura in a guilty tone. “Then again, I always did have the Fly Card to help out. Still, the Jump Card almost did me in that way.”
“Gee, I didn’t know things were that bad for ya, Meowth!” Ash looked at the feline he resented for so many years for his endless attempts to steal his best buddy in the world from him. But seeing him helpless as he was, Ash was compelled to help him.
“Nurse Joy! This Meowth needs help!”
“Oh dear! Chansey, prepare the emergency room! And a bed for this Meowth!” Nurse Joy began ministering her healing powers as she took Meowth into the dominion where many lives were rescued while some were not as fortunate.
“Sakura, this whole mess keeps getting weirder and weirder!” Ash began looking at the GS Ball Oak had given him. “I wonder what’s in this?! God knows how long I went around delivering this thing! Hope it’s something good! I could use a break about now!”
“Yeah!” Sakura was a little concerned herself. “I’ve been wondering about these new cards Giovanni mentioned. It takes a pretty powerful magician to create new cards. And I don’t like thinking what kind of cards were created if they fell into the wrong hands!”
“Yeah. Looks like maybe more people than just us and Misty and Li may get hurt in this fiasco.”
Sakura nodded in desperate tones. Team Rocket had gone so far as to expend their own. Could they even trust Giovanni? He seemed to be a man of his word. Except when it benefited him to betray it.
“I think maybe we should let Meowth tag along, Ash! Maybe he can help us! I mean, think about it! A Pokemon that can talk human language could be pretty useful on our quest!”
Ash bit his lip. He never really trusted Meowth. But Pikachu had mentioned that time he and Meowth had to work together to survive that time they got lost in the Orange Islands. Meowth did have a heart. He just got hurt badly early on in life and fell in with the wrong crowd. Ash sighed. This was getting nutty. And things were sure to get even crazier.
“Okay. Meowth’s in.”
“Pudding?” offered Kero.
“Better get some before it disappears, Ash! Magic, you know!” joked Sakura, smiling for the first time in hours, which even managed to invoke a smile on Ash’s lips.
“Sounds good to me.”

Letting Meowth join the fold! Misty’s reaction would have been classic thought Ash. Misty. Her very life in Ash’s hands. Such an enormous responsibility for someone so young. And Sakura had Li’s in her own hands. For now all they could do was wait and see how Meowth was doing. He will still in intensive treatment. And where were Oak and Tori anyway?! Ash and Sakura absolutely resented idle time! They had a job to do, and their loves’ lives were at stake! Sitting around doing nothing wouldn’t accomplish a thing! Except make them feel as helpless as newborn babies, and that was the last thing they wanted.
“Well, Ash, at least you’re early for once!” Ash knew that voice anywhere. Oak.
“Nice to see you, Professor Oak. Er, this is Sakura. Sakura, this is Professor Oak, the world famous Pokemon expert that started me on my journey.”
“Cool! It’s nice to meet the person who started Ash on the road to glory!”
“Um, I’m flattered. Though I don’t know whether I was that influential on Ash!” Oak never was one to grab the spotlight.
Ash broke in eagerly like a kid in a candy store. “So Professor, you said you had something for me?”
Oak got straight to business like a university lecturer. “Yes, Ash.
Yesterday I got hold of a new Pokeball system. It allows you to carry 15 Pokeballs with you instead of 6! So now you can have all your Pokemon with you!”
“Wow! Professor! That’s great! You mean I can have Kingler, Muk and Tauros with me all the time now?! Plus I can catch some new ones without to send any back?! Great!”
“That means you can catch new Pokemon without having to send them back. As for the GS Ball...” Oak could see Ash welling up with excitement.
“What’s in it, Professor?! You've got to tell me!”
“I don’t know, Ash. I honestly don’t know. But it’s something rare and powerful. I could tell from the energy contained within the GS Ball. The lock on the ball will break in a week’s time. Then you will know. Be sure to let me know. I’m eager myself to see what it is, considering how much time we’ve spent on that saga.”
“Sure Professor. Was there anything else you came here to tell me?”
Oak’s face hardened like steel. Ash knew he was getting pretty serious. “Ash, don’t be fooled. The Green League is VERY tough. Many trainers take years to even qualify, and more to be lucky enough to win! These Gym Leaders are the toughest breed of all! And furthermore, their Pokemon are a cut above the rest! For they have the ability to use attacks they normally wouldn’t! Water types using Electric attacks, Fire types using Water attacks. Be aware of this, Ash. These Pokemon have hidden powers you couldn’t dream of!”
Ash’s youthful optimism was shattered in an instant like glass windows by an errant ball, and a sullen look broke out across his worn out face. “So you’re saying I might not pull this off in a year?!” He then buried his hands and began crying uncontrollably. “Misty!”
Sakura began breaking down herself like a waterfall. “Li! No! Professor, there must be a way! We have to do this in a year! Please, help us! Anything!”
Oak felt like the world had fallen on his shoulders when he saw that look on Sakura’s face. Her eyes looked like they were falling out of their sockets and their emerald hue was barely alive at all, and her mouth looked like bits of frayed rope instead of luscious lips. She was an absolute wreck, as was Ash. These kids deserve better after all they’ve done for the world. I hope I’m doing the right thing!
“Which is why I really came here.”
Ash and Sakura stopped crying in a flash, held each other’s hand tightly and sat up as one, living for his every word like it was the air they breathed.
“Ash, I want you to have these.” Oak handed fifteen electronic modules to Ash. All the size of wristwatches.
“What are these?”
“They’re learning modules. Ash, these modules can help to awaken a Hidden Power within a Pokemon. Just like with these Gym Leaders.”
Ash felt a ray of light permeate his stormy world. He liked what he was hearing.
“In other words, they will learns attacks of an element they normal couldn’t perform! Ash, I know why you have to do what you’re doing! Take these. They will help you immensely.”
Ash felt a half smile slip across his cracked lips and let it linger like a sweet aftertaste. “Thank you, Professor. Thank you for giving me hope!”
“Ash, I truly believe you can do this! It won’t be easy, but seeing what you’ve done has made even the harshest skeptics change their views on you. So do it, my boy. Go get them back.”
Ash shook hands with the man that started it all, then Oak walked out of the centre. “I’ll keep in touch.”
“Guess I’d better start using these things”, figured Ash. He called his Pokemon out and began strapping the device onto each of them.
“Just bear this for a while! It’ll give you all powers you didn’t have before, and they’ll make you stronger!”
All his Pokemon agreed to go through with this and let the modules enhance the power within. “You feel stronger, Pikachu?”
“Pika!” chirped Pikachu happily in reply.
“Great! Guess these things are as good as Oak said. I bet Pikachu learned something really cool!”
Kero began musing. “Yeah, but one of the others learned something a whole lot better.”
“You got that right.”
Everyone whirled around to the entrance to the emergency room. Standing there was Meowth, with no sign of the scars that ravaged his body before. His fur coat had its normal sheen restored and his golden charm was as shiny as ever.
“Lucky you found it when you did. Otherwise it would have been done for. I hope you can care for it well. Knowing you Ash, I know you will.”
There wasn’t a Nurse Joy anywhere who didn’t recognise Ash Ketchum within five seconds.
“Thanks Nurse Joy.”
“Anyway”, continued Meowth, “I agree with my fellow talking comrade here. I reckon the leafy one over there was the one that really benefited from those modules.
“Mm,” nodded Kero in strong agreement. “Definitely. Bayleef is going to learn something really powerful soon.”
“Really?” Ash and Sakura looked at Bayleef intently. Bayleef still had that sparkle in her eyes that she had as a Chikorita, she had an invigorating spicy aroma permeating from the leaves on her neck, and her skin was a lush green that shone in the afternoon sunlight. They noticed that Bayleef was somehow different, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it.
“Guess we’ll find out someday soon.”
“Lazy as ever squirt?!”

Sakura sighed heavily. “Oh no. Here’s trouble!”
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Tori had just entered the building. “Well, it’s nice to see you’re actually awake this early in a day, Sakura!”
“Tori!” Sakura really wasn’t in the mood for one of their regular showdown sessions.
“And that you actually made it one time for our meeting is even more miraculous! Must be the Bermuda Triangle or something! A Sakura from a parallel universe! Have you seen my real sister?!”
“Grrrrrrrr!” Sakura was fuming like Mount Vesuvius must have when it sent Pompeii into extinction. “Can you just get to the point?! Why are you here?!”“Alright squirt, keep a lid on it. I came here to escort someone else you’ll need on your quest.”
“Hey Sakura.” Sakura’s heart missed a heartbeat for sure. She knew that sweet, mellow female voice anywhere.
“Madison!”
Sakura jumped up and eagerly embraced her lifelong friend. Madison still wore her silky black hair long, her sapphire eyes were as sparkling as ever, and she still bore her own trademark smile like a charm. Sakura laughed for the first time in days. She felt so carefree and safe in the presence of one of her best friends.
“Um, so why are you here?”
“Well, Tori told me what you guys are going to be up to. I figured that you could use my planning skills, my electronic equipment, my brainpower and my costumes as always! Sakura! Did you honestly think you’d capture more cards without me around? And without a costume?! Forget it!”
“Hey hey!” piped in Kero happily. “Nice to see you around here, partner!”
“Hey Kero!’ glowed Madison. “Guess what I’ve got!” She let Kero take a quick peek inside her backpack.
“CAKE! Lots and lots of cake! I’m in heaven!” Kero beamed in ecstasy.
“That makes one of us, at least,” mused Ash.
“I can help you guys out. You can’t do this alone. Oak asked me personally.”
Ash and Sakura stopped in their tracks and listened like hawks scouring for prey. “Oak said that?”
“Yeah. He said that despite how strong the two of you were, he felt certain that you’d get into trouble sooner or later.”
Ash and Sakura sighed lightbulbs anime style. They hated to admit, but it was true.
“So that’s why I’m here! I’m coming along with you guys!”
“I’m not turning you down!” laughed Sakura. “Thank you, Madison!”
“No problem, Sakura! I wouldn’t miss this for the world!”
“I’m outta here, squirt” stated Tori as a mere formality. “Don’t take no wooden Indians.”
“Bye Tori!” Sakura had to admit that Tori could be nice at times. If he tried.
“So where are we headed first?” inquired Madison.
Ash looked on the map on the Pokedex screen. “This says that the nearest gym is in Zinc City. Guess we’d better go there.”
“Just as long as we’re finally mobile,” Sakura pointed out.
“Agreed, Sakura,” choked Ash. “I don’t want to be idle for a second longer. And you’re coming with us whether you like it or not, Meowth.”
“Hey, I ain’t complaining, Ashy boy,” mused Meowth. “I’m not letting that group of no good, backstabbing losers hurt anyone again!”
“Guess we’re off then.”
And off they went towards Zinc City, with their first goal in sight. With the addition of the learning modules and the presence of Madison and Meowth, things were looking up for once.

“Hmm. I didn’t suspect those two would tag along,” growled Giovanni like a wild animal from the security of his hidden base.
“Would you like them ‘removed’, my lord?” inquired the Rocket standing guard.
“No!” Giovanni licked his lips in delight. “Let them be. The game’s getting more interesting! Let them have hope!” He picked up a pencil and snapped it in half with minimum effort, sending splinters flying across the air.
“For now...”

[Last Exile]

Darkgel: Well, hope it gets up soon. Hope you read the bit posted after you posted!

[Wolfsong]

Another nice chapter. Keep up the great work.

Thanks again for helping me get those last few words for that paper... 7 words is a bugger when you think you've said all you could say.....

[Last Exile]

Nala98: And for the millionth time I say, your welcome, and thanks for making my day better!

PS. I LOVE YOUR SIG! IT RULES!

[Gavin Luper]

Hey CCC! Or can I call you Ryan? Whatever suits you ^^ I've been eavesdropping on what Tara calls you

Still can't wait for chapter 8! Oh, by the way, I'm from Western Australia. What about you? For some reason I keep thinking you're from S.A. but you're probably not

Cheers mate!

[PlatinumHawke]

Well, I'd love to scan off some of the manga... but:
1.) my scanner is down, since I removed the software for it, and
2.) the whole computer is down because I fried it during an upgrade. However, I will write up a synopsis if you like.

[Lady Vulpix]

As I said on both the UBB and the EZBoard, that was a GREAT chapter! It's good to know you're still working on this fic.
So, you helped Amy with her paper? That's great! I wish I could talk to you more.
Well, good luck with everything, Ryan! Keep writing and drop me a line when you can.

[Last Exile]

Gavin Luper: Hey, call me Ryan, mate! Feel free to. I think we can use the first name basis now. And yes, I AM from South Australia! And you're from WA? Nice! Always wanted to check out Perth. Seems like a pretty decent place to live. My mum's quite fond of it too. *breathes sigh of relief* I was praying that you weren't Victorian and/or a Victoran AFL supporter. Not that I have anything against Victorians. It's just that Victorians always diss South Australia at any opportunity the get. Guess you guys get it t

Platinumhawke: Hey, no worries! A synopsis would be cool. I actually saw some CCS manga once, and it is fairly different from the anime. I agree with you there.

Lady Vulpix: Well, since I found that my lab computer actually has AIM capabilities, I just need to know when you are online, because I'd LOVE to talk to you! Thanks for the praise!

[Gavin Luper]

Hi! Well, I'm from WA, but I am a Collingwood supporter .

Oh well. We find out tomorrow if we win or not. I think we'll lose the grand Final by a goal >

Oh well. Get the rest of the chapters up soon, ok?

Cheers!

[RaZoR LeAf]

*is a secret reader*

I think i saw one or two chapters of this out of morbid curiosoity on the EZBoard, i didn't realise it was here as well.

I love the idea, CardCaptors is one of my favourite animes, i can't wait to see what cards Sakura has to capture.

[Andrew]

Hey CCC, looks like you're an AFL nut by the looks of it! And well the Lions are going to win today! Apparently, I really couldn't care less about AFL... Queensland's not really an AFL state, cause we only have 1 team! lol! We're much more NRL, but I couldn't give a damn about that either! Not anymore that is!

Just dropping you a line, looks like you've sorted out that problem and you've gotten rid of that nasty lack of quotation And well you're crusing along quite nicely and are you editing the chapters along the way if you found some grammar/spelling errors? And how do you deal with people walking past your PC and seeing Pokemon all over it! I'd just DIE!

Good work CCC, hope to see more!