Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. If I did. Then Misty would have never left the show in

the first place.

An: OK OK OK!!!! IM NOT DEAD!!! Yeah I haven’t updated this in a while huh? Well

I wasn’t at home for a month and I just came back. So I wrote this chapter between last night and today. It would have been more detailed but I don’t want people forgetting about the story. Oh yeah. IMPORTANT. This fic is going to go a different direction that the first chapters hinted it to be. From now on you will see references from different animes and movies. Sorry. Ok on with the fic. ENJOY!

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Something. Wet. Soft. It felt like…………..a tongue? Passing across his cheek.

Ash opened his eyes ever so slowly and saw what every man would like to wake up to. That is a beautiful woman, looking at him with a smile on her face. Ash copied it and put on a grin of his own. “Misty,” he whispered.

The beautiful red head leaned in still smiling sweetly. Her face got closer to Ash’s, ever so slowly. Painfully and agonizingly slow was her movement. Ash waited in anticipation but Misty stopped suddenly and exclaimed, “PIKA!”

Ash’s eyes opened for real this time and he jumped at the site before him. “WAAAAAAAAAAA!”

He covered his central area with the blanket he had shared with Misty the night before to hide areas only she should see, from his audience.

There in front of him was the whole gang, minus Max, waiting to go. Ritchie and Gary had grins on their faces while Erika and May had faint blushes and looked at the ground. Brock had a small smirk on his face but he knew that this was always in the cards with Misty and Ash together.

Ash just sat silently with an angry glare set in the group’s direction. Gary, as usual, was the first to break the silence.

“Well Ashy boy. Looks like you got some last night.”

Ash growled at Gary’s statement and looked at him with eyes set to kill. But Gary knew his friend would do nothing of the sort. So he continued.

“Don’t worry man. You might as well get all the pie you can while……heh…heh…..”

Everyone, even Ash, smiled at the site before them. The elegantly curved elven sword was gently pressing againt Gary’s neck forcing him to tilt his head back slightly.

“Now, now Gary. You wouldn’t want to ridicule the Lady of the elves in her own community now would you?” Misty’s words were light and smooth. She examined Gary closely and noticed he was starting to sweat. Surely her friend couldn’t be frightened of her. Could he?

This brought a frown to her face. The first since the group had seen her. “Are you frightened Gary?”

Everybody noticed the venom in her words. Their smiles faded and they watched her curiously.

Gary stuttered a bit but still managed an answer hoping it was the correct one.

“Well Misty, we haven’t seen you in two years. That changes people you know.”

Gary felt the pressure from the blade leave his neck. He then lowered his head and turned to his left so he could see the Elf. What he saw made him feel guilty somewhat.

Misty’s face was calm and she had a small smirk on. But the smirk and the look in her eyes told everyone she was disappointed in Gary’s response.

The smirk left and she took a commanding pose.

“All of you leave and wait by the tree of life.”

Though they did not understand what Misty had gotten upset over they knew better than to ask at that particular moment. So they all nodded, turned, and walked out of the trees to meet in the middle of the enchanted area.

Ash though a little more relaxed that they had left, was still perplexed at his mate’s actions. He couldn’t see her face as she was facing the direction that the group had just retreated in. He stared at her long, white, flowing gown and noticed her bare feet upon the grass. He then stared at her back for sometime.

He hung his head and thought out his words carefully. When he knew what he wanted to say it did not matter as Misty beat him to it.

“One of my best friends was actually afraid of me. Not because I am an elf but because he has not seen me in a while and has lost his trust in me. It’s not a good feeling Ash.”

She turned and Ash could see a side view of her. She looked at the ground with the look in her eyes that she was far away and deep in thought.

“Mist,” he whispered.

Upon hearing her nickname she gave a small smile. Through that smile came a small sigh.

She turned towards Ash and looked at him in his eyes. Her smile grew larger and she took a few steps towards him, knelt and kissed him.

When Ash opened his eyes after the kiss he reveled in her touch as her hand caressed his face once again.

“What’s this?” he heard her ask.

He looked to his right arm where her fingers now caressed. He did not have to see it to know what she was talking about. On his arm was a mark. It looked like three raindrops that ran in a circle.

“I don’t remember seeing this last night,” Misty said as she thought about the night before.

It was because Misty’s attention was on Ash’s arm that she did not see his eyes. They were eyes full of regret, they were full of remorse, but above all else, they were full of fear.

When the elf did not get an answer from the man she looked at his face. Ash though worried for a minute quickly shook it off before she suspected something. He grinned at her and pulled her in his arms.

“That’s because you spent most of the night on my arm, thus the reason you couldn’t see it.”

His grin grew wider and he closed his eyes. “That and the fact that your attention was on……… other things,” he boasted.

Misty smirked to one side. “Don’t flatter yourself Ketchum.”

Ash chuckled. He was almost ready to go back to sleep with her in his arms until he caught a mischievous glint in her eyes.

His eyebrows raised questioningly at the female elf as if to ask her what was wrong.

Misty smiled her fullest and quickly said, “Get dressed. Someone wants to see you,” before picking up the few things she left(sword, shoes, and pokeman belt) and walking back through the trees at a brisk pace.

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Ash fully decked out in his cloak and dark clothes walked towards the group. Misty was already there and she wore her sweet smile while talking to Gary.

Ash smiled inwardly thinking that she must have approached Gary about earlier.

As he drew nearer to the group he got in his leader mode.

Emotions left his face, his voice turned husky and threatening and he walked slow and steady. This was a routine for him whenever dealing with his friends. He did not want to be like that but it helped to be neutral in battle and whatever could help him save his friends he would do.

“We all set?” he asked.

Everyone nodded. He assumed since Misty nodded that Steven had arrived. But Ash was not one for greetings.

“Alright, lets go.”

Everyone smiled while Brock refused. “We can’t Ash.”

“Why not?” Ash growled slightly agitated.

Brock’s smile turned into a toothy grin. “Because there is an elf who would kill us if we left and she didn’t see you.”

Ash’s eyebrows went up questioningly again. Who could it be?

Ash was deep in thought but was broken out of it by a child’s voice.

“UNCLE ASH!”

Ash’s eyes grew wide. That voice was familiar. Very familiar. But…. It couldn’t be. It was physically impossible for it to be her voice. His eyes found Misty’s and he noticed slight moisture within them. Seeing this made him confused of his feeling. Could it be?

Slowly he turned around and froze at the sight. Standing a little in front of him, was a little girl with flowing orange hair. It seemed as though Misty had something contagious as his eyes became moist with unshed tears.

He stared at the girl hard. She smiled brightly and everything about her was happy.

“Sakura?”

The girl giggled and ran towards Ash. He bent down and scooped her up in his arms and hugged her tightly. His eyes met Misty’s again and he saw that hers were just as red as his probably was because of the desperate attempt to hold back the tears.

“How is this possible?”

Even though he addressed the question to Misty, she was not the source of the answer.

“I’m sure Misty can tell you what happened later.”

Ash held the girl in his arms and turned around. There he saw three beautiful elves watching him.

They approached him while he put Sakura down on the ground.

“So my sister’s lover is alive is he?” asked the blonde haired elf.

She shared a smile with Ash before they shared a hug.

“It’s good to see you Ash,” she whispered.

“It’s good to see you too Daisy,” he replied.

Violet and Lily followed suit with Lily hugging him while shaking side to side and laughing. She always was the wildest of the three.

Ash now did not want go at all. He now knew Sakura was alive and had not in fact died at city A. He wanted to spend more time with her but he knew that was not possible. He had a mission to do. A mission which would determine whether or not Sakura lived or died for real this time.

“Uncle Ash are you leaving already?” Sakura asked innocently.

Ash gave a sad smile and stroked her hair.

“Yes. I have to go with your Aunt to do something very important.”

Sakura’s eyes fell to the floor and her shoulders slumped.

But Ash lifted her chin upwards and looked at her in the eyes.

“But I promise you nothing will stop me from coming back to you.”

Sakura smiled, “Promise?” she asked with excited puppy eyes.

Ash smiled, “I promise.”

Sakura hugged Ash and he returned it just as hard. She then let go and ran to Misty.

“Come back soon Auntie Misty.”

“Don’t worry honey. We will,” the older elf soothed as she stroked the girl’s hair before letting go.

The next ten minutes consisted of slow walking and countless waving until the group lost sight of the tree of life and the female elves.

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Everyone walked briskly and Ash wore a smile on his face. Everyone was happy because he had not been so in two years. He always tried to hide his emotions but now, he just seemed happier. Misty looked at his face and was truly happy that he was like that but the warrior in her told her it was not safe. They had to be on their guard. Who knows what they would encounter.

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“This is it. From here on out we are far away from the enchanted area to turn back. We have to be careful.”

Everyone got serious and nodded at Misty’s comment. They then proceeded to walk to their destination. The ruins of the temple of Amak Anra.

The breeze blew and rustled the leaves of the forest.

May walked silently besides Ritchie until an arrow hit the tree next to her.

Everyone stopped and Max jumped out from the trees ahead of them with his bow in hand.

He motioned his finger to his lips to keep everyone quiet before gesturing them to move towards him.

They crouched and met him behind a bush.

“We may be in trouble,” Max said casually.

“Already? Damn, I was hoping to get at least a day’s walk in without any disturbance.”

Max looked at his sister before replying.

“So did I but there are a lot of guards up ahead. I did not see any animals but the Shiabu are hiding well. I really don’t know how much are out there.”

“How much did you manage to see then?” asked the group leader.

Max sighed. “Twenty-six.”

Upon hearing the number Ash groaned. “To take out twenty six members while looking out for others is going to take up time. How troublesome.”

He looked up at the sky for a moment before resting his eyes back on the group.

“Ok. We move for stealth kills. If anyone is discovered then we forget that and join up to fight head on.”

He turned towards Gary. “Gary, you and Erika along with Mis……….Misty?”

Everyone looked around but there was no sign of the elf.

“Damn it. She always liked her to do her own thing. Ok. Gary, you and Erika take out as many as you can with your bows. You guys are the best at long range. Brock can you do illusions and that sort of thing?”

Brock grinned. “Something like that.”

Ash nodded before turning back to Max, May and Ritchie.

“The rest of us……..well we have to do it close up.”

They nodded and got out their daggers that hung on the other side of the waist to the sword.

“One more thing guys. If you are discovered. Release your pokemon at once. Do not hesitate at all or you could get injured which will just make our progress slower.”

They all nodded, “Hai!” and dashed into different directions.

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Ash saw a foot behind a tree. Pikachu jumped down from his head and walked straight passed it.

The Shiabu member gasped. “A wild pokemon? In these parts?”

Pikachu closed its eyes and squealed, “Pika!”

Suddenly the man was grabbed from behind and a dagger was placed at his throat. The clan member did nothing but stay still and drop his sword.

“Please. I…I won’t do anything, I swear. Let me go…please.”

Ash had an evil grin on his face. “I can’t do that. It’s against my nature to see men like you live.”

The clan member’s eyes opened wide. “Who…..who are you?!?!”

Ash grinned wider. He put his mouth by the man’s ear and whispered softly, “Death,” before a fountain of blood gushed from the man’s neck.

Pikachu jumped on Ash’s shoulder and they proceeded to the next victim.

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Five Shiabu members gathered in one spot to see what was going on. There was a circle in the ground glowing a pure white. It was simply amazing the way the pure white shone upwards in a perfect circle while a touch of wind kicked up the leaves close by.

“What the hell is it?” one asked.

Suddenly a man jumped out from the ground, like a ghost through a wall, at lightning speed and stood in the glowing white spot. “Boo!”

With that it seemed time slowed down as Brock spun himself in a circle with his sword hand outstretched.

He stopped in his original position and walked forward slowly.

The five men dropped to the ground already dead.

Ash looked ahead and saw six men dead. He had only killed three so he knew that this was Max’s dirty work. After all, Ash trained him himself.

Ash heard something whip in the air and a body hit the floor. He spun around quickly and saw a Shiabu man not too far a distance away with a bow and arrow on the ground.

“Don’t forget you have enemies all around Ash. Not only in front of you.”

Ash watched the elf drop to the floor gracefully.

She looked at the six bodies ahead. “Yours?”

Ash shook his head.

“No. Has to be Max. Only he could stealth kill faster than me at close range. The student surpassed the teacher appreciably. The only thing is, when he gets like this he normally becomes………”

A horn is heard. The signal of an alarm.

“…..<sigh> complacent. Come on!”

Misty and Ash sprinted towards the noise.

By the time they reached the clearing, the trainers had their pokemon out fighting the clan’s animals.

Brock’s onix lead the charge sending three tigers flying with a swing of its tail.

May’s blaziken sent out a fire blast and killed a Grizzly bear, a wolf and three clan members. By the time Misty and Ash reach the center everyone was dead.

Gary patted Blastoise. “Once again you are late for all the fun Ash.”

Ash smirked at Gary’s comment before his attention was turned elsewhere.

“I don’t think so.”

Everyone turned in Misty’s direction.

“This is not good,” she said while looking ahead.

“What does your elf eye see Mist?” Ash asked.

Misty’s eyes narrowed and her head leant forward. When she spoke her words were sharp and her face serious. “A battalion. I count thirty alone but they each have more than one animal. And…………..Two Giants…………with one eye each.”

Everyone looked at her curiously, but they knew she was not fooling around. If that’s what she said was coming then it would definitely come.

Ritchie’s eyes suddenly lit up as though he now realized something.

“Misty?!”

Everyone turned towards the young man fairly intrigued.

He unsheathed his sword and carved into the dirt on the floor. Everyone didn’t understand what he was doing except Misty. She looked worriedly at her friend. ‘How does he know that?’ she asked herself.

“Does it look like that?” he asked her while pointing to the drawing.

She looked at him. She still didn’t understand but she decided it was important at that moment.

“That is exactly how it looks.”

The rest of the group looked at him expectantly. “That is a Cyclopes guys. They are normally giants and have immense power. If it smashes the floor we could feel the effect even if we are thirty feet from the original strike.”

Gary looked at Ritchie before closing his eyes and shaking his head while growling. “I guess this is all those myths that you have been studying. But we should retreat if what you say is true. We will hide and wait for them to clear out before we continue.”

As Gary said that a tailow came flying from the path the group had taken to arrive at the clearing. It landed on Max’s hand while chirping its name and pointing to Ritchie’s drawing.

Max’s face slowly turned angry until it looked like he was going to burst.

“SHIT!!!!” he screamed while turning away from the group.

His outstretched arm still had tailow while his eyes scanned the forest. It looked like if he was looking for something.

His eyes closed and his teeth clenched.

“Misty?” his speech clear even though his back was to the group. “Look in the direction we just came from and tell me what you see.”

Misty stared at the back of Max for a while before slowly turning towards the direction they had traveled from.

“Misty?” called Ash.

Once again Misty’s face was serious and nothing else. No fear or anxiety. She just stared into the direction from which they came.

“Four more Cyclopes. With another battalion.”

After saying this she looked at Max.

“We’ve been set up. The Shiabu that were here were just decoys so that the other squads would have time to corner us. They knew we were coming.”

Everyone processed the information. Their eyes then turned from Misty to another of the group. Their faces desperate.

Brock’s attitude did not change when he noticed his audience. Instead he simply stated what they all did not want to hear.

“I don’t know about these Cyclopes. But if what Ritchie said about their strength is right then I don’t think I could take more than two.”

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Max clenched his fist hard.

“Damn it! How could I not see this coming! I always work out steps ahead beyond any foe!”

“We don’t have time for this!” Eyes turned to Ritchie after his bellow.

“Let’s analyze things. Our pokemon are almost at their limits because of the battle a little while ago and we are tired as well. Next comes the six Cyclopes that are cornering us. Brock can only take two while the rest of us should be able to handle the other four if it did not have sixty Shiabu members that are armed with weapons as well as animals. We need a plan guys otherwise we’re all dead.”

They all gritted their teeth and their faces squeezed together in frustration. What the hell could they do? Were they going to die? They would if they didn’t form a plan quickly. Suddenly……..

“Hmmh.”

The group’s attention turned once more. This time to their leader.

“What is it Ash?” asked May.

Ash’s eyes were closed and he had a grin on his face. But it was not a friendly grin. In fact, it was very frightening.

He turned to face the east, the direction the second battalion with the four Cyclopes were coming.

“Brock let Onix use the remainder of his strength to tunnel a deep trench ahead of us.”

Brock rubbed his chin, “I see. That way the ground below this battalion would be hollow once they reach a certain distance. If we can get them to concentrate all of their forces on a small area it should be enough for the ground to cave in. But what about the other battalion?”

“Don’t worry about that Brock,” said the red head while facing everyone (except Ash because his back is towards the group.)

“I got a plan.”

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The two battalions were at the edges of the clearing and the heroes were in the center, trapped.

The Cyclopes all had clubs while two used them to beat drums.

DUM… DA DA DA DA DA DUM …... DA DA DA DA DA DUM

The drum beat was menacing. Loud war cries and growls were head. Swords hit together to show the hunger for blood from its holders. Suddenly, the noise stopped. The was a sharp contrast between the thundering noises just heard to the deathly silence that was not. That was until……..

ROAAAAAAARRR!!!

Clubs pointed towards the group and all Shiabu sprinted to the center.

Misty, Gary, Erika and Ritchie faced west with the two Cyclopes while Ash, Brock, May and Max faced east.

“Ready Pikachu?” the raven haired man asked.

“PIKA!”

“Well what are you waiting for? Go!”

The yellow mouse jumped off his Master’s hand into the air. ‘PIKACHUUUUUUUUUUUU’

A strong Thunder was sent towards the Shiabu running in but at the last moment it split into two and took out the wings of the group. Less than twenty stood now.

The remainder saw what happened and crowded into the middle and ordered the animals to do the same. They were all cramped in a small area.

“Just as she predicted,” chuckled Max.

Meanwhile, Misty stepped in front of her group and took two pokeballs from her belt.

“Misty chooses Starmie! And a little help from you too Staryu!”

‘Hyuah!’

The two star pokemon stood on either side of their Master. Misty watched the thirty clan members running towards them with about sixty animals and kept her face serious.

“Ok guys. You haven’t seen Ash and the gang in a while. So why don’t we show them our special trick?”

‘Hyuah!’

Misty’s face was serious but her mouth twisted into a sick and wicked smile.

She took her remaining arrows from the sack on her back. She separated the arrows into two sets, one in each hand. When she saw the clan was close enough she uttered soft and deadly words to her pokemon through her evil smile.

“Death Wave attack.”

She then tossed a set of arrows in front of each pokemon.

Just before the arrows loosened from each other Starmie and Staryu let out powerful water guns, hurling all the arrows towards the unprepared Shiabu.

Grunt and screams were head as none were missed and only six were left alive while the animals were reduced to less than twenty.

One of the members looked at the fifteen animals and the two Cyclopes.

“GET THEM!!!!! I WANT YOU TO KILL THEM ALL!!!! EXCEPT THAT RED HEADED ONE!!! I WANT HER ALIVE!!!

The Cyclopes grunted and started sprinting towards the center making the ground tremble with each leap.

Gary, Erika and Misty pulled out their bows while Erika handed half of her arrows to Misty. Ritchie on the other hand pulled out a pokeball. “Go Zippo!!!”

A flash of red and a few second later a strong Charizard appeared. Ritchie whispered into the ears of the beast.

“Can you do that?”

The dragon pokemon just snorted and flew towards the Giants.

“I hope you are right about this Ritchie,” Misty said while aiming.

Ritchie pulled his own bow from his sack on the ground.

“This is your plan, not mine.”

“I mean are you sure about these Cyclops?” corrected the red head.

Ritchie simply shook his head before taking aim. “Cyclopes are just like humans and they will feel pain for the same things we do. We just have to make the best use of these weapons as they are relatively small for a Cyclops.”

Charizard flew right between the two club wielding giants. They spun around and watched him and tried to swat him from the air. When Charizard was sure they were locked on him he sped back to his master.

The two Cyclopes just stood watching the dragon fly. “NOW!!!” screamed Misty.

On her command all four released two arrows each aiming for the giants’ eyes.

Misty and Ritchie for the one on the right and Gary and Erika for the one on the left.

GUROOOOAAAAAHHH!!!!

RAHHHHHH!!!

The monsters were in so much pain they dropped their clubs and their hands went to their eyes.

“Step two guys!!!” Misty screamed.

They then spread both arms as far backwards as possible while running at a speed barely visible to the naked eye.

Gary reached three bears but did not slow down.

“Syther! ULTIMATE SWORD DANCE!”

Because he knew Erika and Ritchie had his back.

Three down and twelve more animals to go.

Those two and Misty should be able to deal with the animals. He was going for the big guys.

He glanced back and saw two gorillas run at Misty with one a good length behind but another dangerously close. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he watched her. Her fingers barely moved to release a pokeball and she ran full speed at the incoming animals.

The one closest to her jumped high in the air with arms up, both fists clenched and trying to bring them down for the final blow. But it never came as the beast was sent hurling because of an ice spike that was driven right through its chest courtesy of Misty’s Vaporeon that she released.

Even when the first gorilla jumped Misty did not look away from the second. And she was still fixed on it. When the both of them were only feet apart the creature stopped and raised both fists in the air. Misty in full sprint reached for her sword on her left but did not draw.

Finally she was right in front of the creature that already begun his downward swing but………

Steel scraped and Misty’s sword came out of its sheath faster than anything on the earth. She jumped while her right hand held the handle and her left punched the back of the sword straight into the gorilla’s throat.

“Hiten Mitsirugi style! Ryu Sho Sen!” she shouted as she flew in the air, watching the blood squirt out of the body landing on the ground.

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With this going on Ash and the others had problems. The Shiabu and the animals fell into the hollow trench Onix dug but the Cyclopes were a little more than they expected.

“You see their armor? It indicates that they are a higher rank than the other Cyclopes and unfortunately the original plan most likely wouldn’t work. They were watching Gary and the others while the Shiabu attacked us. They know the plan.”

“I agree Ash. I saw them too. Also, their bodies are not developed in the way the others are. These are actually leaner. They may actually have the basic martial art skills. Combine that with their strength and its very dangerous,” replied Max.

The wizard and the three humans stood side by side while the Cyclopes on the end of the clearing did the same. Neither moved. It was because of this that the Cyclopes’ skills were confirmed. They were more than just grunts.

Brock, who was on the left, broke the silence.

“Ok. I’ll take the two on our left. Ash the one in front of you is yours. The last one is for you guys, understood?”

“Hai,” answered May and Max. Ash just paid attention to his opponent.

“Enough wasting time!” came the voice and the back of Ash’s cloak.

Brock then sprinted to the two on the left while Max and May went to the one on the furthest right.

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Gary closed his eyes and concentrated. The Cyclopes jerked around violently because of the pain in his eye.

‘Its time to use it Gary,’ said the man to himself.

He opened his eyes and sprinted to the moving foot of the Cyclopes.

“SHUKUCHI!” he shouted.

He then moved at such a speed the naked eye could not see it.

It was almost as though he disappeared and teleported to the giant’s shoulder.

His right hand reached for his sword on his left side. He pulled it out and the tip pointed in the air, then his arm moved to the right so it was at ninety degrees with his body and parallel to the ground. Finally his arm and sword moved horizontally to his left side slicing the Cyclopes’ throat. The beauty about this, was that…………….all that was done in one swift motion.

As the body fell Gary rode it until it reached close to the ground. He then jumped to the side, rolled, and as his feet hit the ground he shot his sword straight up in the air to catch a wolf that was heading for Erika.

“Thanks Gary,” Erika acknowledged.

Gary nodded while flinging the beast off his sword. He looked around. Only four animals left. Two tigers and two rhinos.

“Well I guess it’s four on three,” Gary stated.

Just then the ground shook to their right and a loud thud was heard. When the dust cleared they saw that the other Cyclops was on the ground dead. But where was………

“I suggest we go and help Ash and the others. They don’t seem to be fairing to well.”

The groups’ heads spun around to the source of the voice. Standing there, was the Lady Misty, and at her feet were the last four creatures. All were dead.

“She’s gotten even better……..if that was possible,” whispered Erika to Gary.

He looked at her open eyed and nodded.

Misty wiped her sword before putting it back in its sheath at her waist.

“Let’s go.”

And she broke off into a sprint, her cape flowing behind her. Her targets, the giants at the other side of the clearing.

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Brock rolled quickly to his right while one of the Cyclopes brought a club crashing down with his left hand. Before Brock could recover however the giant swung his arm to his left straight at Brock. The club stopped after going halfway through a giant boulder.

The Cyclopes smirked. If this foe was so easy then the others should be nothing. His master would be pleased to find that his enemies were destroyed.

“Gruh?”

The Cyclopes was broken out of his thoughts. Deep in the boulder, where his club still lay, had some strange light illuminating from it.

At first the light was weak but pretty soon a strong blue color surrounded the boulder. The large rock shook violently and the Cyclopes tried his best to get his club out and run away but it did not move. In fact, it was almost like the blue light was holding it in.

What was that? A sound. It sounded like a faint scream.

The rock was almost jumping at this point. The Cyclopes felt a great fear well up within him. The light grew stronger. Confused the giant let go of his club and tried to run but for some reason he couldn’t move. Then he saw it. The blue light was keeping him back. It did not touch him directly. No. In fact the thing the light was holding back was……..his shadow?

“AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

The boulder screamed!

It screamed right before…..it exploded!!!

Sending sharp fragments all along the Cyclops’ body.

The monster could not even roar in anguish as a fragment stuck right through his windpipe making any noise impossible for him to make.

But the screaming had not died down.

The source? A man dressed in white where the boulder lay a few seconds ago. He floated in the air surrounded by the blue aura.

When his screaming died down, he dropped to the floor.

Falling……………….falling……………….

Right before he hit the dirt, hands got around him and his rescuer skidded to a stop.

“Got yuh.”

Gary put Brock on the ground. The wizard had changed attire completely and he was the most worn out Gary had ever seen him.

“Brock, how did you get in those clothes?”

Brock sat up slowly. “Never mind that Gary. You have to help Ash and the others. These Cyclopes are not like the ones you just killed. They are stronger, are trained in the martial arts, and…… I sense foulcraft amongst these creatures.”

Gary looked at him.

Brock held his chest while trying to continue. “A powerful sorcerer gives these creatures extra abilities. You have to help them take those things out as soon as possible.”

Gary looked over his friend. “What about you?”

Brock just grinned, although one could see it pained him to do it.

“Don’t worry about me.”

He closed all his fingers except for his index and middle finger on each hand. He then pressed those two fingers on his left hand flat against his palm on his right hand.

He muttered something and then…….

“What the….”

Gary looked around frantically. “Brock where did you go?”

“Forget about me. I’m invisible for now. So I’m in no danger but Erika and the others are. Go.”

“Erika?” Gary whispered.

He turned to the battlefield.

Erika, Misty and Ritchie were struggling with one monster. The beast was incredibly fast despite his size.

Ash, May and Max were not any better. They struggled with their foe also.

But why was the last one staying behind them? Why had he not engaged?

‘No time to think about that now Gary,’ he told himself.

.

.

.

Misty jumped at the enemy but his club came flying towards her. She timed it and pressed her feet against the incoming club and flipped away gracefully.

Erika shot an arrow from the side but the Cyclops raised his forearm to let the armor deflect it. There it was. The opening left for Ritchie.

Ritchie got in a pool playing stance but leant back further. His sword in the position the cue would be.

“Gatotsu!”

He slid against the ground without moving his feet before jumping in the air. The giant had no chance as the Gatotsu attack struck in the center of its chest while the force caused a small explosion causing many organs to fail.

It slid to its knees before dying a few second later.

Ritchie landed on the ground and assessed what was going on.

Misty, Erika and himself were worn out. Though the other Cyclops was just defeated by Ash and Gary, they were also worn along with Max and May.

Wait a minute. Where was Brock?

“Ash?! Where’s Brock?!” Ritchie shouted over the distance.

“He’s safe! Worry about us for now!”

Though he addressed Ash, Gary was the one to respond.

Ritchie nodded as Misty led their group towards Ash and Gary’s.

When they were all together, they took a minute to compose themselves before taking on the last enemy.

The last Cyclops must have found something amusing because he started to chuckle.

That chuckle eventually resulted in a full blown laugh.

Misty was the first to stand up straight. With her usual seriousness, she asked the question.

“Do you find something amusing Cyclops?”

“Cyclops?” it replied. It was almost as though it was confused by Misty’s words.

It then looked at the club in its hand and its body.

“Oh my, I seem to have forgotten you can’t see the real me. Maybe this will do better.”

Suddenly purple light shone from the giant’s eyes and hit the ground. At first the result looked like smoke but then the group realized that the smoke, was in fact forming into something else.

When it was all said and done, a man appeared wearing the same clothes as Brock except his was in black, even his staff.

“Yes Brock. That’s right. I can see you perfectly. So why don’t you remove that silly invisibility spell,” said the man.

The group was confused but they looked behind them anyway.

Brock blended back into visibility.

The group spun their heads back to the man who had a smile on his face.

Ash stepped in front of the rest.

“Who are you?” he growled.

The man mocked hurt at Ash’s question. “Ashy boy? Do you not recognize me?”

Ash was surprised. Not only did he know Brock’s name but he knew Ash’s as well. What the hell was going on?

He stared at the man. He tried to remember something about him, anything.

“Ohhh yes,” the man began, interfering with Ash’s current operation.

“You wouldn’t remember me. You were out cold. Well I guess I ought to introduce myself.”

He opened his arms wide letting his cloak slide from them to his back.

“I am Sheku, Kartik of the Shiabu’s right hand sorcerer. I am Brock you could say. Just that I am him in evil. In other words I’m beyond any of you right now.”

A great deal of anger welled up in our heroes upon hearing this.

“Oh yeah? How bout we test that out?”

Everyone stared at Ash. He looked like he was about to explode. Like he had hated this man all his life. As though this man had committed some crime against his family or done something to Ash in the past. But no one knew what was going through his mind. Not even Misty.

He stepped forward again walking straight and tall. Right hand on his sword.

Sheku laughed. “Ash Ketchum, you sure have the will of fire within you. You would do anything to keep your friends safe from harm even if you don’t show it. But despite your will, you are still weak,” the man ended grimly.

This earned a gasp from May, and frightened looks from the rest.

“Weak huh?! See if this is weak!!!”

Ash drew his sword and leapt with his left foot.

“Hiten Mitsirugi style! Kuzu Ryu Sen!!!!”

Misty gasped. ‘The unblockable attack. Why would he use it so carelessly.’

Ash’s sword was inches from Sheku’s head when………

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

They all saw it. The Kuzu Ryu Sen. The unblockable attack that uses God like speed which Ash and Misty had perfected…..was stopped. Sheku’s hand was outstretched and out of it came black lightening.

Ash’s body was suspended in the air and shook violently as he let out blood curling screams. “PIKAPI!!!!” Misty couldn’t take it. She was about to attack but Sheku dropped his hand and when he did that the lightening stopped. Ash hit the ground.

“Stay out of this Lady Misty. I will harm him no more as long as he does not attack.”

Misty’s eyes opened a little more. She was behind May. How could he know she grasped her sword. Was this man really Brock’s equal. Or was he beyond even Brock.

Ash’s breathing was labored. A light smoke emitted from his body. He rolled on his side to see Sheku.

“You are lucky that you have built up a resistance to electricity Ash. You should be dead.”

Sheku looked into Ash’s eyes as he spoke. He saw it. It was almost out. The demon.

“You are holding it back aren’t you Ash?”

Ash gasped. ‘How does he know?’

As though reading his mind Sheku answered, “Because Ash, I am the one who put the curse seal on you in the first place.”

Ash was shocked. He just simply froze as he heard this. That was, only for a minute. Everything about Ash’s movements were full of anger and hate now.

“You?! You did this to me?!” he screamed pointing at the mark on his right arm.

Sheku laughed. “Yes, it was me. So I guess you can say it is because of me you slew all those people too. So in repent for my sin I’ll give you a fight. But only after you have killed the last Cyclops. This last one was trained by me personally. If you defeat him, then I’ll give you what you want. A chance to be rid of the demon within you. Goodbye Ash.”

Smoke came from the ground up. The group coughed violently until the smoke cleared. When the smoke was gone so was Sheku.

The group looked around. No sign of him. Everyone’s attention turned to Ash who was still on the ground. Pikachu who was in front of Ash saw his face. “Pika!!!” it exclaimed and ran back to Gary and hid behind his head. “Pikachu pi chu pi.” It said.

‘It’s happening again? What does pikachu mean by that?’ Misty asked herself.

She tried to approach Ash but Gary and Ritchie held her back.

“What are you two doing?” she asked, confused as to what was happening.

Brock limped up to her. “Trust us Misty.”

He looked her in the eyes and nodded.

Misty was confused. What was happening? Never the less. She saw in Brock’s eyes what she always saw. Knowledge.

If he said to do something she would do it as he was most likely correct. So she nodded and listened to the older man.

Brock limped towards the front of the group but behind Ash.

“We’ll take care of the last one Ash. Just rest for a while and we will..” but he was cut off.

“Nooooo,” growled Ash.

Misty visibly jumped. “His voice?” her hand went to her mouth.

“It’s not his.”

She stepped back.

“The last one is mine! If you interfere, I’ll kill you all!!!”

Ash screamed. It was true what Misty said. It was no longer Ash’s voice coming out his mouth but something deep, something dark, and something evil.

Misty stared at him in terror but only had a second before he used his God like speed to jump in the air.

The only thing was that he moved beyond the Hiten Mitsirugi’s God like speed. It looked more like Gary’s super speed Shukuchi.

Ash was now above the giant’s head. His both hands clutched his katana, his left knee bent into his stomach while his right was a little straighter.

The giant brought his club in the way of Ash but the man did not stop.

“Hiten Mistirugi style!!! Ryu Tsui Sen!!!!!”

After a great flash of white all that could be seen was blood and the remains of what the group guessed was the giant’s club.

A few seconds they saw the result of Ash’s attack. The giant’s shoulder to his waist lay to one side while the rest of his body lay to another.

And there at the foot on the body, was Ash.

He showed no signs of breathing. He just stood there, hand at his side and the sword’s tip touching the ground, dripping of blood.

Everyone drew their swords. Everyone except Misty.

She did not know what was going on. They were all acting as though………as though this happened before. And by the way they were going about it, more than once.

“What is going on Gary?”

Though Gary’s back was facing Misty, she knew he heard her.

The group all had their fighting stances, facing Ash.

“Remember when I told you two years changes a person?” Gary asked.

Misty remembered right away when he told her that. It had hurt her a bit and she confided in Ash.

“Yes I do,” she replied.

At that moment Ash made a move. Slowly, he turned around and faced his companions with closed eyes.

“Why did you ask me that?”

Misty asked Gary while looking at Ash.

But Gary couldn’t answer because Ash made the next move. He opened his eyes.

Misty gasped. “What? What is that?!?!”

She looked at Ash’s eyes, or not Ash’s eyes.

They weren’t the amber eyes that she got lost in. They weren’t the eyes that you could see kindness and gentleness even with his rough exterior. They weren’t the eyes that belonged to the man she was in love with.

These eyes were a brown alright. But it looked like the eyes just restructured themselves. It looked………evil.

“We have to knock him out quickly. In our present condition a prolonged fight would mean death.”

Misty looked at Brock. “Knock him out? Fight? What are you talking about?”

“Understood,” said Erika while pulling out her double kodachi. One for each hand.

“Misty, I suggest you draw your sword.”

Misty looked at Gary like he was going mad.

He stole a glance back to see his friend. Normally they were the ones that knew nothing of the situation and she was the calm one. But bring Ash into the picture and everything sure changes don’t it.

“DIE!!!!!” Ash flew at breakneck speed towards the rest.

Misty was so stunned she barely heard Brock’s next words.

“PREPARE YOURSELVES!!!”