Pokemon

REVELATION OF THE MASTER

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon, never have and never will. I writing this because I love pokemon and I’m making no money off it whatsoever so don’t sue me!

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Part 6: Tough choices

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At this point Ash was beginning to wish more then ever that he was back home or on a journey where the biggest threat he usually had to face was Jessie, James and Meowth’s next plan. Instead he was facing death for what seemed like the hundredth time today as Entei, claws bared, raised its paw to crush him. What made it all the worse was knowing that he would likely survive the first blow then it would have to strike him again. Ash wanted more then anything to stand and face the threat, to dodge it, stand up to it but after the injuries Mewtwo had caused him and the hard hit he had just taken from Entei he was simply too stunned and weak to move much.

Entei’s paw came down like a sledge hammer as Ash braced himself when seemingly from out of nowhere another huge paw collided with Entei’s stopping it cold. Ash looked up to the welcome sight of his Snorlax smiling over him. "Snorlax [need a hand?]" the huge creature asked. Entei struggled against the mighty pokemons left arm with its right neither giving way when Snorlax’s face turned serious and it raised its free right arm high. Energy flashed about its fist as it swung it forward and gave Entei a hard upper cut in the jaw with a Mega Punch. The hit was so hard that it sent Entei flying backwards where it landed hard on its back.

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Misty stood a safe distance away from the fight glad that Ash was safe for the moment. She had seen Entei knock Ash down and was about to jump in and do she didn’t know what when Snorlax had leaped down from the canyon top and stopped the beast. She looked back to the canyons entrance to see Pikachu and Raikou still at it, neither giving in yet though she could tell from the pained expression on Pikachu’s face that it wouldn’t last much longer. Excess energy from the warring attacks shot out from between them in the form of huge bolts of electricity that ripped the ground around them apart. It had never kept up a constant Thunderbolt for this long before. She then looked to Brock and Tracey high atop their new perch watching the proceedings with concerned faces. Misty sighed, there didn’t seem to be much of anything she could do to help at the moment, she hated feeling helpless.

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Entei stood back up as Snorlax stepped forward to face it. The fire lord let out an ear-piercing roar and charged forward. Snorlax yelled his own battle cry and did the same. The two pokemon collided with some force, Snorlax grabbing the creature’s face and trying to slam it into the ground. Entei was too strong however and knocked Snorlax away with a Headbutt. Snorlax slid backward some distance before digging its feet into the ground and skidding to a stop in a cloud of dust. Entei had no trouble seeing through the dust cloud and fired a Flamethrower into Snorlax’s chest. It was a direct and prolonged hit. Snorlax stood firm on his feet but emerged badly burned.

"Snorlax use your Hyper Beam full strength!" Ash commanded. Snorlax obeyed, opening his mouth and draw bright yellow energy into it. Energy surged all around it and the ground cracked apart as it charged the mighty attack, unfortunately Entei was doing the same. Once charged the two fired their beams which hit, formed an orb, grew, and then exploded causing a great burst of light and a strong blast wave of energy that kicked up the dirt and dust even more. Both pokemon stood firm despite the buffeting and got ready to fire again though Snorlax was now panting heavily.

"Snorlax I know you’re tired but you have to give it everything you got our lives depend on it!" Ash called inwardly wishing he could take his friend’s place. Entei raised its head and fired again as did Snorlax, but this time Entei’s beam won out pushing Snorlax’s back, exploding and making a large crater and trench where Snorlax’s body had slid. The battle over Entei turned to attack Ash but then turned back, its eyes wide in surprise. Bruised and battered Snorlax refused to give in to its fainting response and struggled back to his feet taking on a fighting stance. Entei turned toward it and crouched preparing to finish the creature, then leaped forward. Its attack was cut short however as a huge stream of water rained down and struck it in the side knocking the creature to the ground.

Ash looked up in the direction of the blast and was surprised and happy to see Lapras. Slowly but surely the water/ice pokemon had slid her way to the battlefield and now sat at the top of the canyon wall smiling proudly. "Lapras it’s great you’re here but you got to press your advantage use Hydro Pump again." Lapras obeyed and released another blast of water that rained down on the bedraggled Entei. Snorlax took full advantage of the time Lapras had bought him and fired another Hyper Beam this one making a direct hit on the creatures upper body just as the full force of the prolonged Hydro Pump struck it in the back. The Volcano Pokemon fell to one knee, is whole body steaming from the evaporating water. All was still for a moment as the beast breathed in and out heavily then with one last burst of energy and a loud cry released another Hyper Beam up to the ridge that Lapras was on. The beam cut through the canyon wall causing a large portion to collapse Lapras with it. Lapras was left unconscious and partially buried in the resulting rubble, as Ash looked on horrified, crying out Lapras’s name. Its energy spent Entei crashed to the ground on its side, totally defeated.

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Outside the barrier Delia and Samuel sat on the ground watching with grim faces as Gary and the Elite Four’s powerful pokemon continued to assault the shield.

"Do… do you think they’re okay Professor?" Delia asked cautiously as though afraid that the professor might answer in the negative.

"There’s no telling," he replied in his usual matter-of-factly way, "but if there is any group of people and pokemon that can get through this its them." That said they continued to watch their faces etched in worry.

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"Chu!!!" Pikachu screamed painfully above the sound of the clashing lightning, the strain of keeping Raikou’s energy back was becoming too much for it to handle. Still he stood firm, hoping to weaken the creature as much as possible before going down. Then out of the corner of his eye the electric mouse saw Ash, Snorlax and Misty approaching. Maybe there was hope after all.

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"Snorlax Double Edge now!" Ash slightly rested and recovered from his injuries, commanded to the huge pokemon. Snorlax roared and ran towards Raikou, arms spread wide and pulsing energy surrounding his body. Snorlax knew it was going to take a hard hit to take Raikou down and so without Ash’s knowledge planned on using the drop-off near the entrance to the canyon to increase the damage of the attack even though it meant going down with the cat-like creature. Energy pulsing even brighter Snorlax slammed into the unsuspecting pokemons side headfirst. Raikou was distracted and stunned enough by the hit that it stopped producing electricity allowing Pikachu’s to surge into it full force. Such was the force of the Double Edge and the Thunderbolt that Snorlax and Raikou literally flew a few dozen feet across the ground, crashed through a low wall of rock and tumbled down the sharp incline for a good distance before coming to a stop where they lay battered and still.

"Snorlax!" Ash cried out after seeing Snorlax fall and ran to the edge of the incline, Misty running behind and grabbing him so he wouldn’t tumble down after it. She turned him around, hands on his shoulders, so he would look right at her. "Ash don’t be stupid!" she yelled at him in a caring voice. "There’s no way you can get down there safely right now and even if you could how do you plan on helping Snorlax?" Ash had no answer to this and conceded. Suddenly he noticed a small form nearby heave a heavy sigh and collapse. Ash ran up and cradled the creature lovingly, Pikachu managing a small smile and soft "pika-pi" before falling unconscious in his arms.

"Pikachu! Pikachu!" Ash cried shaking it gently in hopes that it would wake up. His body shook and tears welled in his eyes not only for Pikachu but for all the other pokemon he had watched fight themselves onto the brink of death that night. His voice broke as he buried his head into the creatures fur sobbing, "Pikachu…"

Misty watched the sad sight near tears herself then walked up and put a loving arm around Ash’s back. "We can still stop this," she said softly as he turned to look at her then nodded solemnly, it always surprised her how mature he could be. He wiped the tears from his eyes as he laid Pikachu on the ground.

"I don’t want to leave you but I’m not going to let you get hurt anymore on account of me," with that he stood up and turned to Misty his face more serious then ever, "lets do it."

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Brock watched as Ash and Misty started toward the shrine again, if anything he and Tracey’s perch afforded them a nice view of the plateau but that was the least of the things on his mind right now. He was intensely worried about his younger friends. Though he knew they were quite capable of taking care of themselves they still had almost always had either him or Tracey to watch over them, their experience, and their wisdom to help them. Now they were truly on their own.

"Lets hope they’re up to this," he said, his face stony. Tracey merely nodded as he watched them go, his face locked and serious.

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"Faster Arcanine!" Gary yelled as he raced after the constantly moving Celebi and Mew on his fire pokemons back. Mew had locked Celebi’s time travel abilities with its own powers but could do no more to control the creature. Leaping over the crest of a hill Arcanine released a Dragon Rage attack Celebi dodging the twister easily then firing a blast of psychic energy at them before blocking another charge by Mew. Arcanine leaped away from the blast and skidded to a stop, Gary leaping off as Mew slammed the shielded Celebi into the ground with a blast of pink psychic energy. Celebi responded by charging its own green energy just as Mew began to recharge. The twin Psychic attack blast met and exploded knocking both pokemon back. Celebi raised its arms and threw several seed-like pods at Mew who managed to dodge all but one which planted itself on the cats neck and sprouted a long vine which grew quickly and wrapped around the creatures body beginning to pulse as it sapped its energy and sent it back to Celebi.

Arcanine ran forward to attack and leaped at the green fairy-like creature its jaws wide in a Crunch attack. Celebi merely raised on hand and created a shield, knocking Arcanine back then threw several more Leach Seeds at the struggling Mew. Celebi proceeded to float forward, its eyes glowing bright green as it drew waves of energy from Mew and into itself in a Giga Drain attack further weakening it. With great effort and a loud cry Mew finally managed to Teleport out of the restraints and reappeared over Celebi before flying down quickly and Mega Kicking it hard into the ground where the stunned pokemon looked up to see an angry Arcanine snarling in its face.

With a surge of power and speed Celebi leaped back into the air just as Arcanine let loose a Flamethrower then began to fire multiple green orbs of psychic power at it. Mew flew in the way and made a shield blocking the attack and allowing Arcanine a chance to attack again. Elemental weaknesses didn’t seem to matter to Celebi as it easily collected the Flamethrower in its hands and sent it back at the opposing pokemon. Arcanine and Gary stepped back as the fire burned around them and Mew positioned itself to attack again. Spinning about quickly in a Swords Dance the enigmatic pokemon then released dozens of glowing stars in a beam formation from its mouth. Celebi raised one hand and scattered the Swift attack fairly easily. It was apparent that Mews past battle against Butterfree and Pikachu plus the energy it had lost from the Giga Drain and Leach Seed meant it was now weaker then Celebi. Celebi took full advantage of this and sucked up more energy in another Giga Drain before the tiring Mew could move away from the attack.

"We have to help it!" Gary yelled passionately as he stood up amid the flames. "Arcanine Fire Blast!" The graceful creature responded with a loud howl and released the blast straight at Celebi. Celebi saw the attack approaching, lit up its eyes and raised both hands, stopping the Fire Blast cold, and then spread them apart ripping the X-like wall of fire straight down the middle and sending each half harmlessly flying off each side of it. Gary was dumbfounded at this. Celebi had easily dealt with his pokemons strongest attack and it was of an element it should have an advantage against! If something didn’t change soon they were finished. It was then that he noticed Mew talking to his Arcanine, the dog nodded to the cat and turned to his master communicating the message to him in a series of barks. "It wants you to keep shooting Fire Blast?" Arcanine nodded. "Well go ahead and quick!" he said happily, a bit touched that his pokemon wanted to get his permission first.

Arcanine shot several more Fire Blast at Celebi who blocked some and dodged others. All the while Mew watched. Gary noticed it had the same expression on its face that he had often seen on his pokemon when they were trying to learn a new move. All of the sudden its eyes flashed red and the mysterious creature opened its mouth wide and released a Fire Blast of its own just as Arcanine fired a particularly large one. Celebi stretched its arms out in front of it and blocked both Fire Blast, one with each hand but seemed to be unable to knock them aside this time; there was simply too much power. It soon began to visibly strain against the combined force of the Fire Blast.

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"Curse them!" Cassidy yelled as she watched the battle progress on the computer screen. Celebi’s energy was dropping like a stone.

"If its going to go down then let’s be sure we take those three with it," Butch said with an evil smile. Cassidy nodded, flashing her own smile, and typed in some final commands for Celebi.

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As Celebi strained against the Fire Blast its eyes suddenly lit up even brighter and it opened its mouth wide letting out a terrible screeching noise in several strange notes that shook Gary and the two pokemon straight to their bones. Gary recognized the sound instantly but there were several things different, for one whoever was controlling Celebi somehow had made it so that it was effecting him too.

"It’s using Perish Song! We have to stop it before it finishes or we’ll all go unconscious. For that matter we may never wake up. Somehow they’ve manipulated the sound waves so that they will cause a lot more damage then usual to both us and Celebi."

Despite their fatigue Arcanine and Mew each shot another Fire Blast Celebi incredibly holding these back as well. In desperation Mew flew forward to knock Celebi away, hoping that if it got Celebi a good distance from Gary and Arcanine then the Perish Song would not effect them. It was too late however as Celebi let out one final note and all of them were surrounded by green energy as waves of the terrible sound spread out and destroyed the Fire Blast. Mew thrashed its body in the air as it convulsed in pain while Gary dropped to his knees holding his hands to his ears screaming. Arcanine howled in agony attempting to stay in a standing position as the sound waves coursed through its body draining it of all its energy before it crashed lifelessly to its side Gary falling unconscious soon after. Finally Mew and Celebi dropped from the sky and hit the ground hard, injured badly and unconscious.

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"Well that’s that," Cassidy said as she leaned back in her chair and placed her hands behind her head, "the only pokemon still in the fight are Mewtwo and Lugia."

"I guess we just have to sit here till its over…" Butch moaned disappointedly.

"It kind of makes you feel neglected…" Cassidy pouted.

"Your jobs aren’t over quite yet," Giovanni said calmly, slightly startling his elite members in the process, as he hadn’t spoken to them in some time. "I want you two to rid me of the remaining glitches in this program. Am I understood?" Cassidy and Butch nodded and smiled.

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Ash and Misty ran as fast as they could but it seemed as though the shrine was getting further away rather then closer.

"Misty how about next time let’s just get lost in the woods somewhere like usual?" Ash huffed.

"You read my mind," Misty replied as she ran beside him, "I’d rather walk through a forest full of every bug pokemon in existence then go through this ordeal."

"Misty if we get through this I promise the first thing I’ll do is pay you back for your bike."

"Ash if we get through this just forget about the stupid bike. It was never the reason I started following you in the first place and riding on Starmie is faster anyway," Misty said giving him an annoyed look.

"I know," Ash said smiling at her, "I just wanted to hear you say it." Misty smiled back warmly and took his hand as they ran. Their mirth was cut short however as a large bulky creature leaped over a nearby ledge and latched onto Ash’s back ripping into him with its large teeth. Misty moved quickly and tore the creature off and onto the ground where it crouched to attack again its long tail twitching in agitation. "I recognize that Raticate!" Misty yelled as she stared the creature down, "its Cassidy’s."

"Indeed it is," Cassidy said as she walked out into sight with Butch on the ledge and leaped down.

"What do you two want," Ash demanded angrily.

"We’ve been sent to eliminate you two insects," Butch replied, "there’s no way for you to escape so you may as well give up now and make it easier on yourselves."

"In your dreams!" Ash yelled and ran at them, Misty calling for him to stop. Cassidy watched unmoved as he approached then smiled slyly as her Raticate rammed Ash in the side and knocked him away.

"Raticate show these kids we mean business, Hyper Fang!" Raticate obeyed its mistress and leaped at the still stunned Ash, ripping into his arm and biting hard before Ash could fling the huge rat away. Misty ran to him as he stood up holding his now bleeding right arm before nearly collapsing on his knees Misty managing to hold him up. She then looked to the Rockets and growled menacingly, "you’ll pay for hurting him…"

"Don’t tell me you’re thinking of taking us on after seeing what happened to your boyfriend," Cassidy said unimpressed at the sight of the angry red head. "In your current condition you don’t stand the remotest chance against us. You have no pokemon to protect you and you’re outnumbered." Misty merely continued to glare at them.

"Cassidy can we get on with this?" Butch asked sounding impatient.

"Yes let’s get on to the fun part," Cassidy replied calmly and raised a Poke Ball. Butch responded by raising two of his own.

"Go Ariados!" A large spider-like creature proceeded to materialize from its Poke Ball.

"Primeape, Drowzee go!"

The four pokemon lined up ready to attack on command. "I’ll have you know," Cassidy boasted, "that these pokemon have been trained to use their attacks with deadly precision. I have also changed the makeup of my Ariados’ venom so that instead of merely weakening a target it is lethal if not treated."

"You monsters!" Misty yelled in red-hot anger, "how could you turn your pokemon into killing machines? It’s a trainers responsibility to become worthy of the trust and admiration their pokemon feel for them, not to use their loyalty to do their dirty work."

"All pokemon exist for Team Rocket to do with what we please simple as that and frankly I’m tired of listening to your whiny little lecture," Cassidy replied matter of factly. "Ariados, trap them with Spider Web!" Ariados lifted its abdomen up and shot out a large net that fell over the two teenagers and stuck fast to the ground.

"You won’t get away with this…" Ash growled through clenched teeth as he and Misty struggled in the powerful web.

"And who’s going to stop us?" Cassidy asked sounding quite amused with the thought.

"Time to die," Butch rasped as he lifted his right arm to command an attack. At that exact moment a red rose shot down and stuck in the ground, cutting Butch’s hand in the process. "Who did that!?" he growled murderously.

"What’s going on?" Cassidy demanded as she looked up to the ledge where the rose had shot from.

"We’re what’s going on," came a female voice from the ledge.

"And if you lay one finger on those twerps you’ll regret it," added a male voice from the same location.

The clouds above cleared a bit shining moonlight down on the two familiar figures now standing back to back on the ledge. James held another rose in one hand as he and Jessie began to recite a slightly different version of the Motto.

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite all peoples within our nation."

"To lift up the goodness of truth and love."

"To declare our love to the stars above."

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"We’re going to blast Team Rocket off at the speed of light!"

"So surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! That’s right!" Meowth finished, leaping in front of Jessie and James as they all posed.

"What are you three idiots doing here!?" Butch yelled as he held his cut hand, "you were ordered to remain at base until further notice!"

"For that matter how did you three disgraces get past the shield?" Cassidy asked much calmer then her partner.

"Oh that was the easy part," James said holding up a small scanning device, "we just got one of these handy gadgets from headquarters that that can adjust the shields harmonics in a small area to allow us to pass right through."

"After Meowth hacked into the computer and found the shields frequency it was simple getting in," Jessie said happily while Meowth nodded proudly.

"We also found out all about your plans and we’re not going to sit by and watch it happen," Meowth finished.

"You dare betray Team Rocket?!" Butch yelled raising his fist at them angrily.

"Team Rocket betrayed us a long time ago Botch!" James yelled back, making Butch all the angrier by getting his name wrong, "promising us fame, fortune and a good life that we were never going to get."

"Well I can’t say I’m disappointed Jessie," Cassidy said crossing her arms, "I’ve been waiting a long time to give you a real beat down and now that you’ve turned traitor you’re going to see how nasty I can really be."

"We’ve known each other for a long time Cassidy," Jessie replied calmly then narrowed her eyes menacingly, "so you should know by now that I’m not the least bit intimidated by you." She then looked down to Meowth, "Meowth go with Ash and Misty, we’ll take care of these two." Meowth nodded, leaped down to the shocked teenagers, and then proceeded to Slash them free of the net.

"Well come on you two times a wastin," Meowth said motioning for them to go. Ash and Misty were too shocked by this turn of events to say anything for a moment; finally Misty found her voice. "You mean you three are really turning to our side this time for good? No tricks?"

"No tricks," Jessie replied with a kind smile, "now you better get to that shrine."

"We’ll be rootin for ya," James said giving them a thumbs up and a wink.

As Misty and Meowth turned to run Ash stopped and looked worryingly to his former foes. "But what about you two?"

"Don’t worry about us just get going!" Jessie yelled back.

"Yeah they can take care of themselves kid now let’s get while the gettins good," Meowth said tugging on Ash’s good arm and pulling him along.

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"Are you seeing what I’m seeing?" Brock asked as he and Tracey watched what was happening through binoculars.

"If its Jessie and James helping us out again then yes," Tracey replied sounding just as surprised.

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"Well are you two going to just stand there or are we going to get on with this exercise in futility?" Butch taunted.

Jessie and James ignored him and looked to each other. "Well Jess are you ready?" Jessie smiled, "yes James, let’s protect the world from devastation." With that they linked hands and leaped to the ground to face their opponents.

"You fools don’t know what you’re getting yourselves into," Butch said as he motioned to the pokemon who quickly lined up to face Jessie and James.

"We know exactly what we’re getting ourselves into, we’ve taken enough from this world and now we are going to give something back! Victreebel, Weezing! I choose you!" James shouted as he called out the two large Poison types.

"So let’s rumble, Arbok, Wobbeffet! I choose you!" The large cobra and odd psychic type appeared and lined up side by side with Weezing and Victreebel. They had all been informed beforehand of what was going on and were more then happy to help their masters defend the world.

"Remember these creeps are playing for keeps so don’t hold anything back and make sure you don’t get stung by that Ariados," James warned the group.

Cassidy looked over the assembled pokemon and smiled mockingly. "This won’t take long. Just our Drowzee would be enough to defeat your pathetic excuse for a team."

"We may surprise you, everyone attack!" Jessie ordered.

"After we’re finished with you those brats and that worthless cat are next, attack!" Cassidy yelled. The assembled pokemon flew forward to fight like they never had before.

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Arbok repeatedly struck at Raticate in Bite and Slam attacks, the large rodent proving itself surprisingly fast and maneuverable as it repeatedly dodged the attacks but Arbok’s onslaught was so fierce that Raticate didn’t get a chance to attack back.

On command Arbok reared its head back then forward, shooting dozens of bright needles from its mouth in a Poison Sting attack. Raticate jumped up avoiding the stings and, as commanded, rammed into Arbok in a Skull Bash before slicing into its neck with Hyper Fang. Arbok had over the years grown quite resilient however and it swiftly grabbed Raticate in its coils and slammed it into the earth hard where it lay still. Without a moments notice however its eyes flashed open and it attacked with renewed intensity Arbok just managing to whip it away with its tail where it righted itself in mid-air and skidded to a stop chattering angrily. The two then charged at each other and butted heads, Arbok proving stronger and knocking Raticate back further.

"Come on! That overgrown worm should be nothing to you, use Shadow Ball!" Cassidy roared at her pokemon. Raticate proceeded to form a dark shadowy orb in front of its head and with one quick Headbutt sent it flying towards Arbok. The snake dodged to the side and dug underground before rocketing from the earth under Raticate weakening it further.

"We may have experienced little but losing over the years but its still experience," Jessie remarked happily, "and it looks like all that experience is finally paying off. Arbok lets pump up the power! Hyper beam!" Arbok opened its jaws and fired the bright beam at Raticate who was still flying through the air from the last hit. The energy beam slammed into Raticates body full force where it fell to the ground unconscious and sparking from the excess energy.

Arbok you were wonderful!" Jessie cried as she ran up and hugged the creature. Cassidy was more then shocked at this defeat and turned to see how the rest of the battle was going.

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"Primeape Mega Punch!" Butch called as his Fighting type ran at Wobbuffet and hit it hard only to have the energy of the attack sent back at it doubled thanks to Wobbuffets Counter. Weezing rushed forward and tried to Tackle Ariados but only succeeded in crashing into the ground as the spider leaped into the air and kicked at it. Meanwhile Victreebel and Drowzee squared off.

"Victreebel Razor Leaf!" James ordered. Victreebel for once obedient proceeded to fire dozens of the sharp leaves at Drowzee. Drowzee responded by surrounding itself with a psychic aura and waving its hands thus sending the leaves back and striking Victreebel.

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Ariados shot another Spider Web straight at Weezing who managed to block it with a blast of Sludge and then Tackled the Bug type into the ground, it recovered quickly however and leaped away before Weezing could hit it again.

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"Victreebel we have to keep trying!" James pleaded.

"Try all you like you’ll still be no match for us, Drowzee hit that freak with a Shadow Ball!" Butch commanded. Drowzee formed the orb in-between its hands then threw it at James with its right. The Shadow Ball rammed James in the stomach and knocked him to the ground dissipating in a flash of darkness, as James lay stunned. Upon seeing its master injured Victreebel screamed in rage and summoning all the light from the moon and stars it could started to gather solar energy into its large tube-like mouth.

"Solar Beam?" James muttered in disbelief as he slowly got up, "when did you learn that?" Victreebels only response was another scream as it fired the newly learned attack. Drowzee raised its hands as the beam struck in a dazzling display of light. James and Victreebel’s eyes widened in shock as the light suddenly parted, revealing Drowzee surrounded by an orb-like shield completely unharmed by the attack, its eyes glowing hauntingly.

"Not a bad turn of strength," Butch admitted, "but still not enough. Psywave!" Drowzee fired out a thick beam of psychic energy that knocked Victreebel back further as James watched in horror.

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Primeape ran at Wobbuffet again this time preparing to hit it with Dynamichpunch but at the last second Weezing rammed it in the side and knocked it away. Wobbuffet thanked Weezing with a smile and salute as the normally glum looking pokemon smiled back; Primeape meanwhile skidded to a stop and unleashed a deafening Screech at the two who shook as their defenses fell. Out of the blue Ariados jumped in and unleashed a NightShade from the dark aura now surrounding its body. Weezing was hit hard by the dark beam and crashed into a rock face badly injured.

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Noticing Weezing and Wobbuffet had been backed into a corner Jessie called to Arbok. "Alright Arbok squash that bug just like you did Raticate," Arbok slithered forward and cried out a challenge to Ariados as Primeape stepped back to watch beside Cassidy, Butch and Drowzee. James meanwhile ran over with Victreebel to check on Weezing.

Arbok struck forward in a Bite attack Ariados just barely dodging aside. "Its payback time Jessie, lets open up some old wounds Ariados Night Shade!" Cassidy hissed. The dark beam hit Arbok like an upper cut and continued forward as Arbok lay on the ground twisted with its forehead against its back. Slowly, deliberately the cobra reared back up and shook its head back and forth to clear it then stared the bug down apparently ready to keep fighting. "That’s it Arbok," Jessie encouraged.

"I’ve had enough of this!" Cassidy screamed, "finish it off for good Poison Sting!" Ariados opened its jaws wide, shooting out a stream of the deadly needles straight at Arbok. The next few seconds seem to pass in slow motion as the needles moved closer and closer, ensuring death to whoever they touched. At the last moment a form stepped out in front of the snake-like pokemon and stopped. Arbok could barely believe what it was seeing and James was horrified.

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Cassidy smile was broader and more menacing then ever, as she looked apparently quite pleased with the sight though the effect was not what she had originally intended. Jessie slowly collapsed to her knees in front of Arbok, several of the poison needles imbedded in her side. "Well well, that was certainly unexpected," Cassidy commented haughtily ", I never considered you the type to sacrifice herself for a pokemon."

Jessie struggled to stand as she pulled the needles out and held her throbbing side. "If that’s what you think then you don’t know anything about me, the real me! Not the one Team Rocket manipulated me into believing I was."

Cassidy laughed cruelly at her words. "You are too much Jessie, but then I guess you always were too weak to compete against me."

"Why you… you unfeeling beast!" James yelled in fury then ran at Cassidy his desire for vengeance fueling his attack. Cassidy moved her head aside easily dodging his punch and raised her right arm like a pole, which slammed into James chest, knocking his breath out. As James painfully collapsed onto her she looked down at him in disgust and delivered a swift kick in his stomach causing him to fly back and fall hard on his back.

"You two are getting more pathetic by the second," Butch said in amusement then motioned to Ariados who leaped over James and shot him full of the poison needles as he yelled in pain. Drowzee meanwhile began to power up again.

Arbok was angered beyond words and slithered in front of the injured Jessie, slamming its tail into the ground with immense force and sending an Earthquake attack at the assembled Rockets and their pokemon. Drowzee stood in front of them, creating a shield that blocked the seismic waves sending them around the group and leaving them unharmed. Drowzee’s eyes flashed brilliantly as it spread its hands and sent another, much larger Psywave in a shock wave-like appearance outward. The wave hit everyone and knocked them into the ledge Jessie and James falling beside each other. As they held each other shaking slightly from the effects of the venom one by one their pokemon struggled back up, much to Butch and Cassidy’s surprise. Victreebel fired a Sludge Bomb from its mouth, which struck Primeape hard and in a huge explosion of black slime it was knocked unconscious. Drowzee extended one fist and formed a Shadow Ball in front of it then opened its fist sending the Ghost attack at Wobbuffet and knocking it out as Jessie watched, her eyes shaking in anger, frustration and sadness over not being able to do anything to help it. Ariados shot yet another Night Shade, this time at Victreebel the black beam knocking it down and out. Arbok flew forward to strike at the group but was caught in the aura of a Confusion attack by Drowzee. The psychic pokemon lifted Arbok up, twisting the poor creature about as it cried out in pain, before slamming it down beside Victreebel unconscious. Weezing floated above them, its face grimmer then usual.

James buried his head in his hands any silliness or optimism left in him gone. He could feel the poison circulating through his body as he grew weaker and weaker, it was apparent that they may not survive this one and the happy life he had been hoping for with Jessie would never happen. Had they done the right thing coming to help? Yes, he knew in his heart that they had. "We can’t give up now," he strained to say as he raised himself up into a sitting position only half believing his own words, "we can’t let those fiends get to Ash and Misty. Weezing! I know that you can do it, use Sludge Bomb and make them pay!" Weezing was encouraged by its master’s words and blew out the powerful Poison attack but to James’ shock Drowzee’s shield blocked it as well.

"Its over!" Butch shouted from within the dome-like shield as Drowzee charged up again. Weezing slammed into the shield with all the strength it could and continued to press against it as Butch and Cassidy laughed at its efforts.

As James realized what Weezing was trying to do he began to shout more encouragement "That’s it Weezing! Keep going, if you can just get a little farther into the shield we’ll beat them."

"You beat us? That’s a laugh!" Cassidy shouted as Weezing continued to force itself against the shield its eyes shut tightly and moaning from the strain. Slowly, almost imperceptibly the globular creature moved further and further into the barrier until at last it broke through. James seized the moment without hesitation. "Explosion now!"

Weezing began to glow brighter and brighter as the two Rockets and pokemon suddenly realized what was happening too late to do anything about it. The resulting explosion could be heard and seen through much of the plateau as the shield shattered almost as soon as it exploded but Weezing still managed to contain the blast so that Jessie and James would suffer minimal damage. When the smoke cleared Cassidy, Butch, Drowzee and Ariados lay beaten and unconscious next to the crater resulting from Weezings explosion. Weezing itself lay beaten on the ground, weaker then it would usually be after such an attack as it had put a life threatening amount of energy into the Explosion. Jessie and James lay side by side growing weaker by the minute.

"Jessie…" James whispered.

"Yes James," Jessie replied weakly.

"I’m cold." He said, the venom beginning to take hold.

"Me too," she said as she placed her hand in his.

______________________________________________________________________________________

High above Lugia and Mewtwo continued to clash, the light from their impacts lighting up the sky. Lugia reared its head back and fired a Hyper Beam at the still shielded Mewtwo, forcing it back.

"You have certainly proven to be a worthy opponent," Mewtwo complimented, "though you do realize that if it had not been for those unfortunate interruptions you would have long since been defeated."

"That is true but as things now stand we are equal in power," Lugia replied panting.

"Perhaps, how bout we find out? After all my real body is elsewhere making this one expendable. Thus unlike you I have nothing to lose." With that the two charged again and broke away.

Mewtwo stopped attacking and took a moment to look around. It spotted the unconscious Cassidy and Butch lying on the ground and frowned then looked to Lugia who was charging at it. The mutant pokemon released several new orbs of psychic energy from its hands and sent them at Lugia who flew up, easily dodging the blast. However to the water guardians surprise the orbs suddenly sped upward toward it. "Incredible, somehow Giovanni has made it so those blast will home in on me…" Lugia thought in alarm as it streaked across the sky, twisting and turning whenever it could but still managing to stay only a few seconds ahead of the energy blast.

"That should keep you busy for awhile," Mewtwo said in a pleased tone.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Persian!" Giovanni called from the suit and looked to his startled pokemon, "it seems that you are the only one left I can rely on. Go. Do what Butch and Cassidy seem to have been unable to." The large cat smiled slyly, turned and walked into the darkness.

"Its about time we started wrapping this up," Giovanni decided.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Lugia flew vertically high into the sky, the orbs close behind it, then dove down in free fall the orbs still following. Only a few feet above the ground its eyes glowing bright white, it spread its wings and with a burst of psychic energy stopped it fall. It dove forward quickly, the blast landing behind it and exploding.

Mewtwo didn’t give Lugia any time to rest and rushed forward like a streak of light, striking it multiple times at various points on its body. Finally Lugia saw Mewtwo coming in time and struck forward with its wing. The hit only ended up striking and crumbling the ground in front of it however as Mewtwo suddenly went vertical at high speed. With another push of its legs and burst of power Lugia followed it into the sky and shielded itself as the two began to clash yet again.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Look at those two go at it," Meowth commented as the group continued on, "Lugia is sure fighten a lot harder then it did back in the Orange Islands. It’s not holden anything back."

"Yeah but I don’t know how much longer either of them will be able to keep going," Misty said as she held Ash’s good arm to help support him as they jogged along.

"She’s right, even they can only use Recover so many times," Ash added. "I think Lugia’s already past its limit."

"Well if we can get that stupid sphere then none of that will matter right?" Meowth asked.

"Right. According to the Elite Four that sphere has the power to heal everything of anything," Meowth looked hopeful at Misty’s words, "there’s just one snag."

"What’s that?" Meowth asked once again discouraged.

"No-one has ever been able to release that power on a large scale, but according to the legend the greatest pokemon master who will ever exist will release it. He or she," Misty added to make the prophecy politically correct, "will command the Master Ball and save the whole earth. I sure hope its one of us since no-one else seems to be here."

"Uh huh," Meowth said skeptically having read the legend for himself on a computer back at the Rocket Base in Viridian, "doesn’t the legend also say that this master will fail the final test and the world will never recover?"

"Uh… yeah but I try not to think about that part," Misty said smiling nervously. They were nearing the base of the hill that the shrine was set upon.

Ash decided to change the subject and looked to the scratch cat. "Say Meowth what made you, Jessie and James decide to turn over a new leaf?"

"Well I guess you could say a blast from the past stopped us," Meowth quipped. When Ash and Misty looked at him with matching sweat drops and "huhs?" he decided to elaborate. "I’ll explain everything about who we met later if we live through this but for now let’s just say she helped us finally realize why you goodie goodies were always so happy, it was because you were doen the right thing. Bein selfish and nasty had its own appeal but it sure didn’t make us many friends and it never got us the happiness we were really lookin for."

Ash and Misty smiled and nodded, not noticing a dark shape moving in and positioning itself behind them. Almost too fast to see it leaped out and shot past them before disappearing back into the rocks. Ash stumbled and fell to his knees as Misty tried to hold him up and looked at what had happen to him in shock. Ash held the wounded area for a moment before pulling it away and looking at his bloody hand in astonishment. The middle of his shirt had been cut open with a neat horizontal swath and had in the process sliced a similar looking wound just below his chest. "That looks like a Persian Slash," Meowth commented while looking at the wound. He then looked about grimly and soon spotted the attacker with his keen vision as it ran behind another rock.

"Hey come on out and fight ya coward!" Meowth yelled in challenge. The panther-like creature soon appeared on a nearby ledge, its side to them and silhouetted against the dark night sky. Meowths eyes narrowed angrily, "I recognize that Persian…" he said as the muscular, graceful pokemon walked out into the moonlight on the ledge and sneered at them. Meowth only had to think for a moment before he had decided what to do. "You twos better get goen. I’ll hold off this fancy furball."

"Meowth that Persian looks like its really strong, you can’t beat it! Let us help you," Ash pleaded as he got back up despite the wound.

"Don’t you think I know that!" Meowth growled back. "Listen the prophecy refers to a pokemon master not a pokemon which means you two are the only ones who will be able to do any good up there. Jessie and James have already put themselves on the line for us and now it’s my turn. I owe it to them, I owe it to you, I owe it to the world!" Misty and Ash were quite speechless in the face of his passion and Meowth had lost his patience. "Well don’t just stand there gawkin get movin!!!" Ash and Misty looked at him in understanding and continued on as fast as they could. For a moment it looked like Persian would follow them but Meowth ran to the front of the ledge and got its attention.

"Oh no ya don’t. If you want to get those kids you’re gonna have ta get past me first." Persian turned to the smaller cat and sneered again but seemed to agree to the fight. "I’ve been waiten a long time for this," Meowth said as he got into a fighting pose and unsheathed his claws. Persian however seemed to want to talk first and communicated to Meowth in a series of low and high meows, growls and hisses.

"Why am I doen this? Why am I betrayen my Master?" Meowth repeated the questions it had asked. "Giovanni was never my master! He was only ever interested in me because I could talk. He never cared about me and beyond what you can do for him he doesn’t care about you either. Perhaps the better question is why are you still obeying him. Don't you realize that what he’s doen is gonna really mess up the world for everybody? Do you really think he’s going to take care of you after he gets what he wants?"

Persian seemed angered by his words and replied with loud growls. Meowths face turned sorrowful as he listened. "I see. You’re loyal to him so you’re gonna obey him regardless of what happens to you or anybody else because that’s what he’s taught you to do all your life. Well I know its not going to mean anything but I feel sorry for you, there are a lot of good trainers out there who would love to have a pokemon as loyal as you." That said Meowth assumed a fighting stance again, "well lets get started."

Persian responded by leaping from the ledge and ramming into Meowths stomach before he could react. The scratch cat was knocked head over heels by the blow and Persian swiftly rammed him again before he could regain his footing then turning around and in a quick rush Slashed him, leaving him spinning slowly and dazed. Time and again it continued the merciless ramming and Slashes Meowth trying his best to attack back but finding his clumsy swipes easily dodged by the lithe pokemon as it would leap away, jump on a vertical hill side then leap from rock to rock at dizzying speed before hitting him again. Finally Meowth saw Persian coming in time and rolled away Persian digging three lines through the ground with its claws where he had just been lying. He found an opening and leaped forward shouting "Fury Swipes!" but with swift movements of its neck and head Persian easily dodged the repeated scratches and then pinned Meowth hard on the ground with its right paw raising its other to strike him. Meowth reacted faster however and delivered a hard Scratch across the left side of Persians face. Persian stumbled back, a bit in shock from actually being hit. However its surprise was soon replaced by anger as it growled in fury and unleashed a devastatingly loud Screech.

Meowths whole body shook as his defenses fell and his ears stung but he refused to fall. He managed to put on a smug grin and stay cocky saying, "Screech huh? Well I can do that too," with that Meowth screamed out his own Screech which although not as strong as Persians had a noticeable effect on the cougar-like creature. Persian was still hardly daunted and with a roar opened its mouth and released a barrage of bright bubbles. Meowth was struck repeatedly by the bubbles, which exploded, in bright flashes of light upon contact but he still managed to stay on his feet, resting one arm on a bent knee and the other on the ground.

"Bubblebeam?" Meowth panted, "that was sure unexpected." Persian smiled as electricity began to flash around the gem on its forehead and it struck Meowth with a Thunderbolt. Electricity still crackling around him and his body singed and smoking in several places Meowth still stood back up. "You know, one benefit of being shocked by Pikachu so many times is that I’ve developed some resistance to electric attacks over the years especially to none-electric-type pokemon like you." As Persian stared in wonderment that Meowth had not gone unconscious yet Meowth tried to psych himself up. "Come on Meowth," he thought to himself as his body heaved in fatigue, "you can do this. You have to do this. Everybody’s countin on you. You have to give this everything you got and then some!" All of a sudden Meowth felt something unlock inside his mind and he raised his paws high. Persian leaped at him claws bared.

"Pay Day!" As he yelled dozens of coin-shaped glowing disc appeared floating on either side of him. Throwing his arms forward the discs struck the surprised Persian hard causing it to crash into the ground beside Meowth.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Meowth…" Brock started.

"Just used…" Tracey continued.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Pay Day…" Jessie unknowingly finished as she and James watched the fight from their own binoculars.

"I can’t believe that wonderful feline was holding out on us all this time!" James cried dramatically despite how weak he was becoming.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Meowth looked at his hands in disbelief. "Well I guess there’s more to me then the sum of my paws," he punned. Even under torturous circumstances his ability to talk meant he did not have the space needed in his mind to activate the ability Pay Day or so he thought. Somehow wanting to help others instead of save himself had made using the technique relatively easy. Persian was hardly beaten however and rushed at Meowth again. "Take this!" Meowth yelled blinding it by flinging several more bright coins at its face. He then leaped slightly above it and raised one paw high, "Slash attack!" he seemed to cut a swath through the air as he swung his claws-bared arm down across Persians chest causing it to fall on its back then side with a thud. It started to try to get up when Meowth stopped it holding his claws threateningly near the Persians neck.

"You give up?" Meowth asked confidently. Persian closed its eyes and nodded in resignation. Meowth withdrew his paw slightly in response and that was all Persian needed. With more speed then it had shown before Persian opened its eyes, knocked Meowth away and Headbutted him into a rock wall where he fell on his face. As Meowth struggled to get up and failed falling on his face again Persian walked toward it snarling and angrier then ever at having been beaten by a lower evolution. It intended to make this puny thing pay with its life.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Meowth…" James whispered as he watched his friend fall through the binoculars.

"Come on, get up! Fight back!" Jessie pleaded, though he could not hear her, as tears welled in her eyes.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"This doesn’t look good," Brock said in a stressed and worried tone, "Meowth just took a really hard hit. I don’t think it can fight anymore."

"But Ash and Misty aren’t at the shrine yet!" Tracey said quite panicked as he checked the binoculars and saw they had only just reached the base of the hill the shrine was on. "He has to hold Persian off longer or they’re finished!"

______________________________________________________________________________________

Managing to get to his hands and knees Meowth struggled against his fainting reflex. His body wracked with pain and it was all he could do just to stay conscious. He had no choice. It was the only option left. He closed his eyes and concentrated, releasing all the internal barriers against it he had built up over the years. A long bead of sweat slid down his forehead and face. Straining mightily he screamed, eyes still shut, "for all the pokemon in the world!" His eyes flashed open gleaming with an incredibly bright light.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mewtwo turned away from Lugia briefly and cocked an eyebrow. It sensed a new power emerging on the battlefield but that could only mean one thing. A pokemon was… No! That was impossible there weren’t any pokemon left conscious that could do that… was there? It looked down and saw a bright light some distance away on the floor of the Plateau.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Ash and Misty turned their heads back and stared wide-eyed as a portion of the area they had just left began to fill with light.

"Is that what I think it is?" Ash said in wonderment.

"Meowth’s evolving…" Misty breathed.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Persian strained to keep his position as waves of energy shot out from Meowth, his whole body now glowing brightly. A loud deafening screech erupted from the glowing form as it began to change shape.

Meowth meanwhile was reveling in the feeling. He could feel his very molecules rearranging as his whole being surged with new power. New muscles grew and others enlarged, claws lengthened and grew sharper. His form tripled in size and much of the fatigue he had been feeling vanished. It was the most incredible thing he had ever experienced.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"I… don’t believe it…" Jessie said in shock.

"Meowth’s evolving…" James said as though it was the most unbelievable thing he had ever seen.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Persians eyes widened in fear as it stepped back several feet. It was no longer facing a mere Meowth, in his place stood a new pokemon, just as large as it, still crackling with energy. His lithe, muscular body was unblemished now and his coat shined like moonlight. He opened his slit eyes, the gem on his forehead giving off a slight flash. Slowly, in a slightly lower and more sinister voice, he spoke as he lowered his head and crouched. "Let’s see how you like it." The gem let out a much brighter flash, momentarily blinding his opponent, as the new Persian leaped forward with unbelievable speed and knocked him aside with a quick Slash. Giovanni’s Persian cartwheeled through the air several times before coming to a halt and slamming into the ground. It slowly stood up, snarling and angrier then ever.

*As long as both Persians are on the scene I’ll call are newly evolved Meowth Persian/Meowth so you can tell them apart*

"How does it feel to be on the receiving end of that Slash?" Persian/Meowth asked as he got ready to attack again. The enemy Persian didn’t answer but pounced forward, claws bared. What followed was almost too quick for the eye to see as both powerful felines leaped about and at each other, swiping, slashing, kicking, biting and throwing Pay Day attacks at each other then ricocheting off a ledge or rock and starting again. Their Slashes cut through boulders with ease and tore ground apart. Persian/Meowth leaped into the sky and spun about his tail glowing brightly as he called out the attack, "Iron Tail!" Persian dodged the first blow as the hardened tail slammed into a rock and broke it to pieces but Persian/Meowth kept his footing, spinning about on one heel and striking Persian in the face and away with the Steel type attack. Persian incredibly got back up and fired a stream of Bubblebeam, Persian Meowth managing to leap over them and ram into Persian again. Persian shot Persian/Meowth away with Thunderbolt and began to chase him about the rocky area again; neither getting a clear advantage. After several seconds of this the two ran hard into each other and began to grapple, claw-to-claw on their hind legs. As Persian/Meowth began to overpower Persian it bit him hard on the neck and leaped away, gem crackling with electricity. As it shot the Thunderbolt it was surprised to find Persian/Meowth firing its own. The two electric attacks blocked each other and the air was left crackling with electricity as the two cats stared each other down. Persian/Meowth smiled slyly.

"That’s not the only new move I’ve got up my sleeve," he said ominously, bright energy beginning to build around his gem. "Hyper Beam!" he yelled as the mighty beam shot out from the gem and tore through the earth heading straight for Persian. Giovanni was not fond of it for no reason however and with another display of incredible speed it dodged the attack, leaping over it and onto the ledge where it had originally spoken to Meowth. It stared down and began to charge its own Hyper Beam.

Persian/Meowth would not be able to charge and fire another beam in time to stop this one and hoped to himself he would be able to pull off the same maneuver he had just seen Giovanni’s do. Muscles tensed and tail stretched Persian/Meowth leaped up as far as he could as the beam came surging down. Charging his own he aimed his body toward Persian and fell toward it. With a ferocious yell he released the Hyper Beam in midair. It literally swallowed up Persian in a blast of light and shot it backwards as Persian/Meowth landed behind it. He looked back and sighed in relief. Persian was defeated.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mewtwo threw a huge ball of energy into Lugia, knocking it away then turned to look in Persian/Meowths direction, its face twisted in anger.

"No one betrays me and lives!" it shouted mentally and formed another huge orb of psychic energy throwing it down with great force.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Persian sighed in exhaustion and his body ached from his injuries yet still he was happy. He had defeated his long time rival and had defended the world from evil though it had costed him his Meowth body. "I did it!" he cried happily but then spotted a nightmarish meteor hurtling towards him. Striking the psychic orb exploded outward and left Persian lying on his side breathing weakly. He could feel his life leaving him and knew there wasn’t much time.

"It’s strange…" he whispered to himself, "I’m not sad… Somehow dying for something like this feels right… All my life I thought that the secret to happiness was to have everything you wanted but now I find that I feel more complete in this moment then ever before… My only regret is I couldn’t say goodbye… Jessie… James…" images of his friends smiling at him appeared in his minds eye along with memories of some of the good times they’d shared and a tear slid out from the corner of his eye as he closed his eyes. Slowly the light of his gem faded… then died.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"No… Meowth" Jessie whispered as she and James took each other’s hands and weeped bitterly in each others arms. If there was any comfort it was that they would soon join him.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mewtwo’s lips turned up in a wicked grin as he watched the newly evolved pokemon fall. "That was most enjoyable." It turned just in time to see a shielded Lugia, more enraged then ever, ram into it. Though shielded Mewtwo was still knocked back into a hillside and drove a deep rut in the ground where it had slid. Rocketing out it rammed into Lugia with just as much force and nearly knocked it from the sky before the Sea Titan could right itself. Rising up it blew Mewtwo back with a huge Gust attack. However the attack seemed to do little more then keep Mewtwo back and Lugia knew all to well it could not keep up the Gust for long.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Slowly but steadily Misty and Ash ascended the hill where at the top supposedly was the answer to all their current problems. Ash stumbled and fell from Misty’s grasp and hard onto the ground but when she tried to help him back up he pulled away from her.

"Go on without me, you’ll get there a lot faster if I’m not weighing you down."

"No way. Ash I want to be a Water Pokemon Master, my aspirations are a bit different from yours so I think it’s more likely you the prophecy is talking about you not me so you have to come," Misty replied gently pulling him up.

"You really think so?" Ash asked a little unsure of himself. Misty nodded and smiled as the two began to walk again. "Just don’t let it go to your head."

______________________________________________________________________________________

Glowing bluish energy seemed to burn like fire around Mewtwo as it charged up a Psychic attack despite the buffeting from Lugia’s Gust. Seeing that this was doing no good Lugia stopped producing the Gust just in time to block the mighty beam from Mewtwo’s most powerful attack. The stream of psychic fire ricocheted off the shield and shot towards the ground, Lugia looked to where it was heading as its eyes widened in horror. "Look out!"

______________________________________________________________________________________

Lugia’s warning boomed into Ash and Misty’s minds just in time for them to turn and see the huge stream of psychic energy hurtling towards them. Without hesitation Misty grabbed Ash and threw him down the hill where he rolled a good distance before coming to a stop safely away from the blast. Misty however was completely engulfed and left floating in the resulting crater among the swirling residual energy left over from the attack.

Ash’s eyes shook with horror as he forced himself up, screamed her name and ran to her, reaching his soul mate just as her battered body floated to the ground. Lying on her back she looked to be in bad shape with scorch marks all over her body, her ponytail had come undone and her hair lay spread out messily on the ground, who knew what a Psychic attack that strong could of done to her insides?

"Do… do I look as bad as I feel?" she asked weakly as Ash picked her up and carried her to a more comfortable resting-place where she could prop her upper body up on a rock. Ash tried to smile as he replied, "you never looked better." She smiled back weakly and took his hand in hers, then her face turned serious. "Ash, get to that shrine now. Before its too late," her voice was stern and forceful.

"Are you crazy!" Ash cried back, his emotions far overcoming his logic, "I’ve abandoned too many friends already I’m not leaving you!"

"You have no choice! If you don’t then we’re all finished!" Misty yelled back as fiery as ever despite her injuries. Ash didn’t say anything. "Please Ash," Misty continued her voice now soothing but still forceful, "this is no time to be stubborn. You know it’s the right thing to do."

Ash said nothing for a moment then reached down and caressed her face, Misty closing her eyes and rubbing her head into the comforting feel, then he stood up. "You’ll be alright. I promise." With that he turned and started up the high hill. Misty watched, her skin still tingling from his touch, "please… be safe Ash." Again the sky lit up from Lugia and Mewtwo’s collisions.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Danger! Danger!" the computer beeped again and again as warning lights flashed on and off everywhere, "Mewtwo’s energy extremely low, further exertion will cause irreparable damage."

"I don’t care! As long as Lugia goes down with it!" Giovanni yelled back from the suit. "Set Mewtwo on the automatic kamikaze program I installed. Once their twin destruction’s have taken place use the resulting energy wave as your signal to destroy the shield. The Elite Four are getting dangerously close to breaking through." As he said this he calmed down and deactivated the suit as it opened up he walked out of it. "Meanwhile there is one last detail I must attend to…"

______________________________________________________________________________________

Lugia was panting hard now, its muscles throbbing from overuse and its body unable to exert the energy needed for Recover anymore. Mewtwo was in similar shape as it floated motionless in front of the Sea Titan. Suddenly its eyes seemed to glaze over a bit and it began to float backwards first a few hundred then a good thousand feet back. Lugia knew better then to think it was retreating and scanned its mind with its powers only to find Giovanni not there and Mewtwo’s consciousness still trapped. All that was left was the command from some computer program. Lugia analyzed it as Mewtwo continued to increase the distance separating them until it had reached the other end of the barrier. Rising resolutely higher into the air and powering up Lugia spoke.

"Very well, my life is a small price to pay for the safety of this world," its eyes then turned sad as it spoke to Mewtwo’s consciousness. "I only wish you did not have to fall with me." Lugia then looked to where Ash was slowly ascending the hill. Too weak to communicate with him at this distance he still spoke in hopes of reaching Ash’s heart. "Courage Chosen One for your greatest challenge is yet to come and when it does all our fates will lie in your hands."

By this time the two pokemon were about as far apart as they could be within the shield and had risen as far as they could in the sky. Using all the energy left in its body Mewtwo surged through the sky like a comet Lugia doing the same. The clouds they shot through disintegrated from the power surrounding their bodies as they built up speed. Coming ever closer their forms were soon enveloped in their respective blue and white energy shields.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Ash couldn’t help but stop and stare up into the sky upon spotting Lugia and Mewtwo racing toward each other looking for all the world like two comets.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Brock and Tracey had also turned their attention to the two mighty Psychic pokemon and stood in speechless awe as their energy shields grew to three times their normal size.

"They’re putting all the energy they have left in these attacks," Tracey realized.

"We better brace ourselves," Brock cautioned anticipating the shock wave that would result from the collision.

______________________________________________________________________________________

The remaining distance between them was closing fast; there was no turning back as the two pokemon put every ounce of strength left in them into this last great effort. "For the world we share…" Lugia whispered then closed its eyes.

No words can fully do justice to the spectacle that resulted from Mewtwo and Lugia’s collision. First the two pokemon were enveloped and hidden from sight as their sphere shields collided and merged resulting in one great orb surging with blue and white lightning. Next the orb spread outward as a huge wave of energy and continued ever outward nearly knocking everyone still standing to the ground until it at last reached the inside edge of the shield.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Ancientpower!" Lance commanded as his Aerodactyl let loose the mighty Rock attack. The boulders smashed into the shield and broke apart as the shield shuddered and flickered from the hit.

"I can’t stand this!" Bruno growled and clenched his huge fists, "we have to get in there and help them!"

"Patience," Agatha ordered calmly as she and Prima looked at her computer screen, "according to these readings we’re almost through." Suddenly the energy readings went off the scale, as they all stood spellbound at the approaching energy wave.

The edge of the wave hit the shield and it began to pulse chaotically. Prima’s eyes widened in absolute horror as the shield broke apart and flared outward in a huge multicolored wave. Her Clowster slid in front of her and made a shield as Gengar did for Agatha, Delia and Professor Oak.

"No!" Lance yelled as his Dragonite leaped in front of him to shield its master from the blast with its own body, Machamp doing the same for Bruno. The wave continued to grow in intensity as the shield collapsed and Prima began to realize what was happening.

"This can’t be!" she screamed as Clowsters shield began to weaken. "The force of the shield and all the energy of all the attacks we’ve been using on it is being sent back at us!" Clowster’s shield shattered and she was sent flying with her pokemon.

Gary’s pokemon tried to shield themselves but only managed to resist for a few seconds as the energy of dozens of their most powerful attacks plus the energy of the shield was poured onto them.

"Dragonite!" Lance called desperately, as the energy became too great for even his most mighty Dragon to handle and it was sent tumbling back as the energy of their attacks coursed through its body as well as its masters and all his other pokemon. Despite their best efforts Bruno Machamp and the rest of his pokemon succumbed as well at about the same time. At last even Gengar could not keep up the psychic shield and the remaining humans were enveloped in the incredibly high energy.

Within moments the energy wave had passed them but it left a scene of devastation. Amid the ripped apart ground lay the bodies of the Elite Four and their pokemon. Prima lay on her back; her glasses cracked and tears trickling down her face from the both the physical and emotional pain she was going through. "It… can’t end like this…"

Lance struggled to stay conscious, his face bloody and etched in anger he managed to only speak one word through gritted teeth losing consciousness. "Giovanni!"

Delia lay on the ground bleeding and beaten but still only one thing on her mind, "Please Ash, don’t die…" she managed to whisper before going unconscious.

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Blue and white lightning continued to strike about at the site of Mewtwo and Lugia’s collision. The two pokemon themselves floated briefly face-to-face kept aloft by their dissipating energy before they both fell backwards and dropped like stones as Ash watched. Lugia hit the top of a nearby hill and slid down it violently flipping over once and digging a great trench before finally coming to rest bright crimson blood flowing from all over its body. Mewtwo struck another hill making a crater before bouncing up and rolling limply down the rest of the way. Thick blue blood began to leak from its battered form.

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Mewtwo… Lugia…" Ash uttered emotionally before collapsing to his knee’s, "if you can be beaten what chance do I have?" Ash was surprised to hear an answer as a by now familiar voice echoed in his mind, "Chosen One!" Ash looked down to see Lugia still conscious, holding its head up and speaking to him telepathically.

"Lugia! You’re okay?" Ash cried hopefully. Lugia’s voice came back sad and dead serious "no, my time is limited and there is much I must tell you." Ash listened carefully as Lugia spoke.

"Chosen One you must take the Master Ball and restore the order that has been lost."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about! " Ash cried back. "What order? How am I supposed to do this and how do you even know about the legend?"

"Please let me start from the beginning," Lugia pleaded and Ash fell silent again. "Millennia ago, long before our age, the world was ruled by light and darkness symbolized by the good and evil Pokemon Masters of that era. A short time before the order we know now was established there was a great battle where the righteous masters were finally able to drive the darkness back. (As it speaks there is a flashback were we see an army of pokemon, blanketed in black, charging towards a even larger group of trainers and their pokemon.) Mine, as well as the ancestors of all the other legendary pokemon also participated in this battle (we see a large group of pokemon including a few Lugia, Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno flying over the advancing dark army and attacking it.) We passed the story from one generation to the next. You see unlike what some of your cultures people have made us out to be we are not immortal gods. At any given time there are several of us scattered among different parts of the world living out our lives just as any other pokemon does. Among my kind and the three Elemental Titans there is a ceremony every century where we all gather and select the strongest and wisest of us to become the next guardian. (We switch to a scene of one Lugia bowing before another as it levitates over it and sends a beam of energy from its mind to the others.) All of the previous Water Guardians knowledge is then transferred to its successor most recently me. Thus I can say with utmost confidence that you are the prophesied master. From the moment I first saw you I knew you were unique. Your will, the strength of your inner character, was such, as I had never seen. Where most would give up you continued on no matter what the consequences to yourself. The light within you has grown even more since then and thus I am certain you can do this." Lugia took a moment to rest and contemplate then added one last thing, "I know your friends would say the same."

Ash was completely overwhelmed with the prospects of this task and could barely stutter out his one major question. "And… and what… if I can’t?"

Lugia sighed sadly, "then the world we know… the world you and I cherish will cease to exist to be replaced by a dark, chaotic universe devoid of anything resembling light or love. Chosen One… Ash… please save this world, the world I love. He is coming, he will try to destroy you but you must overcome him. Rely on your perseverance, the power of your heart, they have served you well in the past."

"Lugia I still don’t understand how I’m supposed to do this. How do I use the Master Ball to save you? Who’s "he?" Ash cried to the creature in frustration.

"That you must discover for yourself," Lugia answered, its voice growing ever weaker.

"Lugia please, you’re the only one left who can help me you have to tell me more!" Ash cried out.

Lugia’s eyes began to glaze over as it said a few more words. "Save this world… please… please save it…" With that Lugia laid its head down on the ground and closed its eyes as blood continued to flow from its body, even such basic healing mechanisms as clotting no longer able to work.

Ash clenched his fist as his body shook in emotion, his eyes shut tightly and fear and doubt filling him. He didn’t know what to do. Suddenly he raised his eyes to the sky in determination. "No. I won’t give up now not when I’ve come this far. Whether or not I’m the prophesied master I’m going to do this, I won’t let my friends sacrifices be in vain." (Images of his pokemon and friends even Jessie, James and Meowth flash through his mind.) "You hear me? I am Ash from the town of Pallet and I will never give up!" As new confidence surged through his being Ash became aware of another presence behind him and an ominous clapping.

"Beautiful speech, very inspiring," a tall figure higher on the hill commented, he was completely cloaked in darkness.

Ash glared up at the man, he didn’t know who he was but it was apparent enough that he was trouble. "Who are you?" Ash demanded as bravely as he could in his current weak, injured state.

"I am many things," the man replied as he began to walk forward, darkness still hiding his features. "I am the leader of the Viridian City Gym and one of the worlds strongest Pokemon Masters. I am also leader of the world-wide organization known as Team Rocket and soon I will be the ruler of this world." At last he stepped out into the moonlight and Ash got his first good look at him. He was an imposing man, tall and fairly muscular with eyes that seemed to cut right into his very soul searching for the slightest weakness. His expensive business suit added to his powerful presence. "But you may call me… Giovanni."

Ash now recognized him as the man he had seen talking to Butch and Cassidy at various times across a videophone link as well as the man he had seen at a distance when he and his friends rescued Mewtwo from a shielded trap. That had been the first time Ash had really seen how powerful Team Rocket was as they descended upon Mewtwo and its clones in a literal army of air ships and used a device that could contain and weaken even the mighty mutant. Now he was standing face to face with their leader. Still Ash felt little fear, only anger as he shouted at the man. "So you’re the one who started all this! How can you call yourself a great anything? You’re not a true Pokemon Master or true trainer for that matter."

"Strange that you should say that Ash. We are really not all that different from each other."

"What do you mean?" Ash asked now angry and confused. "We’re nothing alike!"

"You may see it that way but the way I see it we both have the same goals, to gain power through pokemon. You have chosen to do so by a long, hard quest where you capture occasional pokemon and attempt to make them powerful. I have chosen the far better method of taking pokemon that are already powerful and making them stronger still."

"You’re wrong!" Ash shouted back. "Pokemon get more powerful through training but that’s not the real reason you do it. A true trainer does all he can to become as close to his pokemon as possible and understand them. He helps them grow and in the process he grows too. He does what is best for his pokemon even if it makes him weaker in the short run." (We see flashbacks of Ash releasing Butterfree, Pigeot, Lapras, Charizard and others.) "You’ll never be a great trainer if power is your only goal. You’re no Pokemon Master you’re just a power mad control freak who forces innocent pokemon to hurt and enslave others!"

"I must say you are quite passionate in your beliefs Mr. Ketchem but I have no time to debate philosophy and ethics with you, destiny is at hand."

Ash was even more confused now, as it looked like Giovanni didn’t have anything left to fight with. "What are you talking about? Look around you Giovanni! You’ve lost! Your army’s been defeated, you won’t be able to conquer anything with them now."

Giovanni began to laugh. "You don’t understand a bit of what this is really all about do you?"

Ash’s eyes widened in surprise as Giovanni had just mimicked what Dr. Fuji had said to him hours before. He looked closer; there was something wrong. Ash nearly fell backwards from the force of the dark aura that suddenly surrounded the man. The dark, cold evil he felt around him was overpowering. His very being seemed to exude darkness. Ash had never felt anything quite like this before; he was clearly no ordinary human… at least anymore.

"I guess since you’ve made it this far I should tell you everything." All around Giovanni a strong, cold wind began to blow and the aura around him began to grow. "You see I don’t really need them… not any more. In fact I wanted most if not all of them to perish." Giovanni closed his eyes and smiled as though reminiscing. "To rule the world with pokemon… It is certainly possible but I’ve found an easier way. By studying the writings of the ancients I’ve discovered a way to gain power that makes Mewtwo’s seem paltry in comparison." A wave of dark energy suddenly expanded from his body knocking Ash to the ground as he began to laugh harder. "It’s already happening, glorious power, soon this world will be blanketed in darkness!"

Ash tried to stand up but the waves of energy made it almost impossible. Giovanni looked down as though pitying Ash. "Lugia told you the legend so let me ask you this, what made the dark masters of the past so powerful? After all there were more on the side of the good masters including the Legendary Pokemon and yet in the final battle they put up such a fight that the original Elite Four and their pokemon were killed," instead of letting Ash try to answer he continued to speak. "I too once wondered about this and realized it was something worth looking into. The events in the Orange Archipelago involving the Legendary Birds only drove me on and after years of study I finally found out the secret. You see back then the Earth was young and the balance that exist today because of the Legendary Pokemon was not yet fully developed. This imbalance allowed the dark masters to tap into the evil, the darkness that is as much a part of this world as is the good, and use it to crush their enemies. It was said that good energy, the light, could also be accessed but it was seldom done because the good masters did not want to risk endangering the developing balance of that chaotic world. The dark masters had no such hindrances, they saw a source of power and seized it." Giovanni chuckled. "You have to admire that." Giovanni let his aura die down enough for Ash to stand.

Seeing that Ash did not respond immediately Giovanni decided to drive home his point even further. He was really enjoying this. "You should have realized that I could have summoned any of the legendary pokemon that exist on this planet, even Unown, but I made certain to summon all those that helped maintain the balance of nature as well as some purely for fighting purposes, the strongest of their kind. Now that the Legendary Pokemon are no longer capable of maintaining the balance the darkness of this world, the evil within everything, will grow uninhibited until the entire Earth is consumed. There will be more dark power available then ever before and as I am the Dark Master of this age all of that power will flow into me!"

"You’re lying!" Ash yelled not wanting to believe it.

"Oh am I? Look and see for yourself." Giovanni pointed towards the shrine where high above it a circle of pure black could be seen forming. Tentacle-like clouds of darkness began to expand from it covering the sky and blotting out the stars and moon. Giovanni’s own power could still be seen growing as he leveled his gaze with Ash. "Do you comprehend the magnitude of this? Do you understand the implications? The power that is filling me now will sustain me. I will be immortal, I will be invincible. I will become god on this planet! And perhaps… even more…"

Ash’s confidence hadn’t been fazed much by these revelations, indeed he felt braver then ever. There was no point in being afraid, not now. "I wouldn’t be declaring your divinity just yet! Not while I’m still here!

"Foolish boy!" Giovanni reprimanded. "You are injured and weak, you can barely stand let alone attempt to stop me."

Ash smirked. "You’d be surprised what I can do but if you’ve really become so powerful then why don’t you just get rid of me?"

"No, you have caused too many problems to be worthy of being the first to taste my powers. You will die the conventional way…" as he said this Giovanni pulled out a gun and aimed it then grinned cruelly as though something interesting had just occurred to him, "just as your father did…"

"My father?" Ash gasped. He had never really known his father and his mom rarely talked about him. According to his mother he had been a fairly accomplished pokemon trainer and had disappeared during a journey only a few years after Ash had been born. He was never seen again.

"I normally shy away from murder," Giovanni said casually as he lowered the gun to engage in some psychological torture, "it simply draws too much attention. However in this case I simply had no choice. Your father stumbled upon a particularly large operation of mine, which if revealed would have endangered my entire organization. The fact that he was on a journey in such a remote area meant it was fairly easy to make it appear as though he had merely disappeared. It was nothing personal. Nor was it for Miss Waterflowers parents…"

Ash was forced to gasp again as he recalled a conversation he had once had with Daisy, one of Misty’s sisters. Ash had asked her about her parents since Misty had never talked about them. For once her "valley girl" talk seemed to vanish as she explained solemnly that they too had disappeared while on a journey when Misty was still quite young. She then remarked rather proudly how Misty had not needed her sisters much while growing up as she had always been a very responsible, independent person. Ash had to agree with her on that and their shared experiences of parents being lost made him feel closer to Misty in a special way.

Ash could barely take in what he was now hearing from Giovanni yet he knew it was true. At last one of the greatest mysteries of his life had been solved though now part of him wished he still did not know the truth.

"So now you know everything," Giovanni said as he raised the gun again and aimed as Ash clenched his fist and growled in fury.

Ash didn’t care about the gun. He didn’t care about his wounds. All he cared about was making this man pay. Whether he knew his father or not did not matter, he had still killed him and done who knows what else. He represented everything he hated. Ash didn’t even make a mental decision to attack; his anger drove him as he charged forward. "You monster!" he screamed at the top of his lungs and raised his fists in mid charge. A moment before he could ram into the man Giovanni pushed the gun into his chest and fired. The shot resounded throughout the plateau.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Any attempt to describe the emotions that ran through Misty’s mind would fall far short as she watched Ash fall backwards and then attempt to get up only to collapse on his hands and knees. The bullet had gone straight through him doing untold damage. "No…" She didn’t want to believe it even as the first tears began involuntarily forming in her eyes but in an instant the reality of it pierced her heart like a knife. "No!!!"

______________________________________________________________________________________

Notes:

How will Ash survive a bullet through the chest? How will Giovanni be stopped now that he’s become a personification of the world’s evil? And what of Meowth? Find out next time on Pokemon: Revelation of the Master!

Cheesy I know but I couldn’t think of anything better J

As for Ash’s father and Misty’s parents I have no evidence whatsoever that this happened to them, I just thought that such a revelation would be good for this story. Hope it didn’t sound too far fetched (no pun intended.) I hope that no one thinks the characters are getting too OOC. I’m trying to write so that the characters are acting the way they really would under these extreme circumstances. Hope I’m succeeding. Man I say "hope" a lot…