Fate's Mission by Lord Kadabra Note: I neither own Pokemon nor claim to. In addition, the concepts of the controllers of natural forces comes from a series by Piers Anthony called the Incarnations Of Immortality, which I also do not own but am using for several purposes. Otherwise, the story is mine. Thank you. *** Part 2: Rats in a Maze *** "Ash, I love you!" Ash sat stunned, and lowered his head. "Misty, I know, and...I care for you as well. But, I don't know if you've sensed it, but I can't start another relationship yet. Misty, after Allegra, I've felt lost and confused, and...I've been happy that you've been such a good friend. And, I'd like it to stay that way...for now." Misty looked at him, and said, tiredly, "I understand. But I couldn't leave that unsaid, not when I don't know if I'll see you tomorrow." Ash smiled at her. "Maybe...someday." *** Jesse, James and Persian were watching the spectacle from a nearby high rise. Jesse sighed lovingly. "Oh, look at those two, there," she said longingly. "It's so sweet." James looked worriedly at the area around the two younger trainers. "What?" Jesse glared at him, and whacked him in the back of the head. "They're in love, you imbecile!" she snapped. "And you two are forgetting what we're supposed ta be doin' here!" Persian yelled angrily. "If ya want that money, keep your eyes on da kid!" Jesse snapped back into vigilance, staring watchfully down at Ash Ketchum. A low chuckling filled the low knoll. A tall figure dissolved into view, dressed in a red tuxedo and with black hair slicked back. James screamed in shock, and Persian stepped back, hissing. "Da Boss!" Persian yelled. "W-what are you doing here?" Jesse demanded. The man's grin faded for an instant. "Huh? What the Devil are you talking about? I'm not the Boss; my name is Satan!" Jesse screamed, stepping behind James. "For G-, er, well, I'm not here for YOU, you imbeciles, although I will see you again shortly. I'm here for the boy." Jesse glared at him, not shaken by the implications of his statement. "We don't care if you were the God Almighty himself! We're not letting you take him!" Satan grinned. "Herself. And anyway, it doesn't matter. Lachesis has already taken him." James whirled around to see the knoll where Ash had been standing...empty! *** Ash started when a middle-aged woman appeared behind him. "Who are you?" he demanded. The woman smiled wanly, and looked sadly at Ash. "My name is Lachesis, weaver of the Tapestry, and the plotter of your demise," she said quietly. Misty shoved Ash aside, growling at the weaver. "You're not getting him!" she snapped. "I don't care what the reason is, I'm not going to let you kill him!" Lachesis gave a sympathetic smile. "I'm not here to kill him, at least not directly," she said. "You see, Ash, if you do not die, the entire world will end, taking everything and everyone with it. We, the Incarnations of Nature, War, Fate, Time, Death, Good, Evil, and Night, decided to end your life. Ash, we have had difficulty, and so we offer you a deal. We have developed a challenge to test every one of your skills, and if you succeed, you go free for the three to four days until the world ends. If you lose, well, the maze is designed so that if you fail, you will die." Ash looked into the woman's eyes, staring deeply into her soul. "I accept, but only...if Misty comes as well." Lachesis frowned. "Why?" Ash smiled. "She's my closest friend, and I want her to be there, so she can know what happened to me. Please." Lachesis closed her eyes, as if listening to something in her head. "All right. She may come. If there are any others you wish to see, simply tell me. The contest will take place in Purgatory, so you may choose the dead." Even as she spoke, the air faded, until they were standing in a large reception area. Five other people were standing in the main area, each dressed in somewhat normal clothing. Ash looked around, startled. "Let everyone see this. I want them to know why this is happening, and let them see what is being done to stop it." Lachesis smiled, and turned to a man dressed all in black. "Tell God and Satan that they must release their wards for this time, as agreed in the contract. And Gaea," She turned to a woman dressed in earth tones. "Arrange for it all." The two people vanished, and a man appeared with a man, woman and large feline in tow. "Jesse? James? PERSIAN?" Misty asked incredulously. "What are YOU doing here?" Jesse almost made the motions to begin the Team Rocket motto, but froze. James turned to Ash. "We were protecting him, and this guy, who bears a remarkable resemblance to the Boss, distracts us long enough for HER to get you away. And so we came with Satan to watch you fight for our survival. Good luck!" He tried to give a supportive smile, but failed. Gaea and the mam in black appeared suddenly, and the woman bowed gracefully. "The maze is ready, and the audience assembled," she said. "Ash, allow Atropos to take you to the maze, and she will explain the rules. And please, remember the stakes." Ash turned to his companion, who was now an ancient woman of a heavy build, who gestured, and he felt drawn to her. The two vanished from sight, and Gaea gestured. "Come, we must watch." Soon the room was empty. *** It was a true maze, over seventy acres, covering every conceivable landscape. It was visible only to the spectators, as Ash stood before the entrance with Atropos, who turned to him. "Ash, here are the rules. You will enter the maze, and will face challenges of every manner. Intellectual, physical, and even ones to use your Pokemon." She handed him a bundle of small straws. "If you need help, you can summon help with these. But, if you use them, remember that there are only forty-two. After that, you are on your own. And Ash, be careful, because you've got a beautiful woman out there who couldn't live without you. So go get'um, son." Ash stared at her, dumbfounded. "You're not a woman, are you?" Atropos smiled sheepishly, nodding his head. "You caught me. You see, I was the best for the job, so I disguised myself. And if you can spot that, I think you'll be fine." Ash nodded. "Thank you, sir." He turned to the entrance, and entered the maze. He walked into the first chamber, and froze. There was a low hissing echoing from the depths of the huge cavern. Slowly, a reptilian shape slid into view, hissing a word that sent fear into Ash's heart. "Bassilisssssk." *** Continued in Part III-Challenge of a Lifetime! Ash fights monsters, wracks his brain, and finally discovers the idendity of the Lady. And then he faces the hardest decision of his life in the next part.