Poké

Sanders gritted his teeth. He shot an ice beam at mew and the bland holding her, freezing them. Endo instantly unfroze them with Ember, and Ralen stepped up to Sanders. He had a kid type voice. "Listen Sanders! I hate to do this but-"
"But what?!" Sanders looked kinda' scared.
"Spark!" Sanders fell tot he ground after a fainting shock. Ralen grunted in disgust.
I ran to my suicune. "Ralen! Enough! Sanders! Return!" My poke`mon disappeared into a fast ball. I hooked the ball back to my belt. "Ruddy smart ass."
I stared at the blond to get a full feel of her look. She wore white tattered pants and a shirt that looked like she had wrapped a cloth around her chest. Her blue eyes showed no recollection of even being frozen as she stroked her pink cat-like creature. She looked up at me and smiled in a relaxed sort of way.
'By the way." she said in a soft voice. "You can call me Mace."
"Ok. As I…Cassidy said earlier, I'm Serenity. Nice to meet you." I held out my hand to shake, my cold expression never leaving my face.
Her guise seemed to be a total contrast to my cold expression. She took my hand and said "You too." before letting her mew back into its little ball.
"So, I bet you really liked my suicune, Sanders." I grunted in disproval of the poke`mon I should have never caught.
"He intrigued me. Needs discipline though."
"Trust me. He wasn't always the nearly worthless smart ass he is today. It got to his head when I was with Team Rocket, ruddy poke`mon thieves."
"Mmm. Yes. I see." I didn't like the tone she used to say that. She had said it as if she was holding a dark secret.
"Sorry. I'm not a very likable person that much, after joining Team Rocket. Glad I quit, not so sure Sanders thinks that though. Bah! Team Rocket can rot in the hottest spots of Hell for all I care."
She looked me up and down which I didn't particularly enjoy.
"I heard the gym leader in Goldenrod knows about Team Rockets new hide out. Why don't we go together? I heard that the new TR leader is tough, and that he's looking to beat the new mystery master." I didn't answer her. "Well. What do you say?" I looked her up and down in about the same manner she did me.
"Ok." I finally agreed. She gave me a warm grin, but I didn't return it. I could all ready tell this decision (with the exception of leaving team rocket) would change the course of life I chose. Even without my powers I could tell the woman had an aura of mystery about her strong enough to choke a ghastly, and she wasn't about to share. She gazed quickly at me.
"Shall we?" she headed in the main direction of Vermillion City. We'd have to take the S.S. Aqua to get to Goldenrod.
The two of us traveled for on hour or two before she let her mew out of it's ball. It gave her a happy blurb mew and hovered around her shoulders and head. Then it struck me.
"Can it FLY?" I asked out of the blue.
"It's flying right now." She retorted to me.
"I mean FLY. Like the HM." I almost snapped.
"Yeah."
"Then why don't we just FLY to the radio tower?"
"Mew doesn't come out in towns." Was her short answer.
"What? Why not?"
"Mew is a legendary poke`mon, most people don't even believe it exists. I don't want the attention and neither does Mew." She explained. I didn't let my face show my confusion.
"How do you know that?" I asked after a few more steps. "It can't talk."
"It doesn't need to. After you've been with a poke`mon long enough you can create a bond. You can read each other." She looked ready to cry. Maybe she was thinking about an old companion of hers, one that died…or betrayed her.
"How old are you?" came another question. She didn't look at me when she answered.
"Emotionally, older than you."
"How about physically?" She still didn't look at me as she got out Mew's ball.
"C'mon. We're getting close to Celadon, Mew." It mewed and dove into it's little home. She closed it and looked at the lowering sun then finally at me. "We need to hurry if we're going to get to Celadon before night." She said avoiding my questions.
I grunted in disproval. I took a fast ball in my hands. "Sander, er," I put the ball away and grabbed another fast ball, "Endo! Go!" I climbed onto my Entie's back and offered to Give Mace a ride. She grinned with obvious delight. It was easy to see that she was going to soak up this joy ride to the brim.
"Let's go." she replied on his back.
"Endo! Celadon City!" With a great rush, he was of. Speeding to Celadon city as fats as the winds. He skidded to a stop and grinned. He lowered down for the girls to climb off.
"Whooo!" Mace threw her arms into the air as she slid down. "That was great Endo." I watched her give him a little hug then straightened her hair.
"Heh. Like Entie's, eh?" I smiled a bit, then faced the poke`center.
"I like all of them." she answered me swiftly.
"All, huh?" A pulled a fast ball form my belt. I stared at it. It held Sanders. My eyes got Misty as I got deep in thought. I put the ball away.
"You regret catching him?" she seemed to read my mind.
"Um, yeah..." Truth be told, the Real Suicune was dead. Ran over. Disappeared into a gust o what seemed to be the North Winds. My powers had been given to me, then, my true love, a member of team rocket, Sanders, was cursed. A poke`mon was stolen from a woman by the handsome purple haired boy. She turned him into a suicune. I saw this, and had no choice but to catch him. Now, my boyfriend has been my smart ass suicune ever since. It was almost impossible to know that that Sanders the suicune was actually my wonderful, handsome, Sanders, the thief, and, also, my caring boyfriend. I put the ball away. "So, what now?"
"We go to Vermillion City and take the S.S. Aqua to Olivine." She replied. Then to Goldenrod to visit the gym leader."
"Endo!" My Entie lay down so Mace and I could climb on his back. he stood up, and we were off.

I always did love the rush from high-speed travel. Once we had gotten to Vermillion I could tell something was amiss.
"Where is everybody?" I asked thought aloud.
"Team Rocket. Prolly hiding, and blocking off areas as well. Better watch your step, but, with taking out Sanders that easily, You can deal with 'em. Just might need my help though. Now. Follow me. I was in one of these stupid city plots once. San... my partner and I had to block off the gym." Serenity faced me with a slightly wicked smile, as usual. She tossed a Master ball and a heavy ball to me. "Since Sanders is outta' commission, we should take an even amount of poke`mon.
"I...I don't think I can..." I tossed the balls back to her in a hurry. "What would Mew think?" I had never had more than one poke'mon at a time, and only two in my life.
"Please tell mew to understand." She handed me the balls again. "What ya' got in that Master ball is Reika, an Articuno. In the other, Ferin the Lugia. I'll take Endo, Ralen, and Doomers, my Houndoom. Watch your step. Take that side of the city, I'll take this side." She snuck behind a building and crept around, after recalling Endo. She stayed to the side and kept her eyes on her surroundings, lowering to the ground when having to turn a corner. I seemed a little impressed. Suddenly, I heard her shout.
"Ralen! Go!" I heard a popping noise. "Thundershock!" A bolt of lightning came form Ralen and shocked a Blastiose, knocking it out. I felt sorry for it. Serenity came running. "Watch out! He'll call for help! There will probably be at least twenty trainers setting up an obstacle course of thieving trainers as we speak. Watch your step." She ran down a street, knowing it was useless to be sneaking. The last thing I heard was, "Doomers! I choose you!" before I ran of into the left side of town.
"Ok Miss! Hand it over! That'll be $50,000!"
Serenity smirked. "Think I'm gunna give you that much?"
"Of course! That or you don't go any where!"
"Don't you know how I am?"
"Prolly a little girl who better not mess with Team Rocket!"
"How would you feel if Serenity Domin came up to you?"
"I'd be kissing her feet! Why?"
"Because..." Serenity pulled off her cloak and let her hair down. "I'm her!"
"Ahh! Serenity! No matter! I can take you on! Boys!" Seven more men arrived dressed in black.
"Eight against one! You only have six poke`mon!"
"Three" I thought. Sanders was K.O.ed and I had the other three. "Endo! Ralen! Doomers!" The three poke`mon popped out of their poke`balls. "Mace! You gotta help me!"
I let out Reika, then Ferin. I could feel Mew's ball rattling, but I hesitated on letting it out. "Too many people." I whispered to it.
A blastoise, a charizard, a venusaur, a typhlusion, a feraligatr, a meganium, a pidgeot, and a beedril popped out. Serenity got nervous. She turned to me. "We'll need mew too!" She pulled a small, box that looked like TM. "The last of my powers went into this thing before they got fully taken away. I can erase the minds of those who see it! Just help all of us out!" She faced her poke`mon as Reika and Ferin flew to her. "Everyone! Give it your best shot!" I could tell she wanted to use sanders, her most powerful poke`mon, so he could help. But the suicune was still K.O.ed.
I whipped out the special poke`ball.
"Mew!" I commanded as forceful as ever. The ball popped open and Mew came out.
"MEW!" it exclaimed as a few of the team rocket members passed out. Four of them pulled out the poke`mon and ran. That only left the blastoise, charizard, venusaur, and pidgeot.
"The odds are a bit more even now." I scoffed.
"Thanks! I can take it from here! If that's ok with you?"
"Fine by me." I replied and Mew got into my arms.
"Ferin! Water gun! Endo! Flame Thrower! Ralen! Thundershock! Reika! Ice Beam!" I watched as her poke`mon blasted their element attacks at the four remaining poke`mon. They dropped like flies as soon as they were hit. "Bwhahahaha! Don't mess with Serenity Doman!" I shivered when she laughed. it was the usual Team Rocket mad scientist laugh.
"Are you done?" I asked heading towards the ship. I decided to let Mew stay out. With that machine of Serenity's she could wipe their minds after we got to Olivine.
Serenity turned to me. "Thanks for helping. And you to Mew." She petted Mew's head, having a smile of warmth on her face. I bet she never smiled like this since she was a girl. And I was right. "Everyone! Return!" Her poke`mon disappeared in flashes of white light. She turned to the ticket seller. "Give everyone their money back! Now!"
"No!"
"Gyaaaaah! Ow! Fine!" Serenity had crushes his foot. He gave everyone their money back.
"Stand back Mace!" I stood out of her way as she open the box. Everyone's mind was wiped out from the past half hour. I smiled.
She faced me, still smiling. "Done."
I walked past her onto the boat. Mew purred a little with its eyes blissfully closed as I rubbed it between them.
Serenity walked up the boat, and onto a seat next to me. "So, shall we get a room? We had no reservations." She pulled out the fast ball to Sanders, thinking of something. She tried not to cry. "So, what do you say?"
"I say...that I will one day help you with Sanders. I have connections. I could get him restored for you." I blurted. It was mostly Mew saying it through me than myself saying it to her. My voice changed a little as I spoke for it.
"What?!" She stood up. She was outraged. "Get out of my head!" She stormed off to the other side of the boat. She never even looked at me, except to maybe glare at me for a brief second. I guess she wasn't big on mind readers. I guess I wouldn't be either if I had to keep something so personal inside me. I sighed. "Please. Come back here."
She stopped, but didn't look at me.
"I'm not the one that's psychic here." I declared. Mew hovered out of my arms and towards Serenity. It looked at me and I spoke for it again
"I couldn't help it. You looked so sad. I don't like it when people are unhappy." I involuntarily told her.
She glared at me, as if to say I was crazy.
"How could she do that?" Mew began relaying her thoughts to me. "I, I've kept this secret to myself for as long as possible. And then, after I began trusting another human being, bah! Why am I thinking? She could be reading my mind right now? Well, she can read this! How could you?! It've been better if you hadn't said anything, mind reader!" Serenity began crying. Actually crying for the first time in the short time I knew her.
"I'M NOT A MIND READER!" I exclaimed. The entire ship of people looked at me. Though I hated the attention I tried to ignore it. "MEW IS!" I finished. I looked at Mew. "And stop making me talk. You're scaring the locals!" Mew cocked its head at me and my sudden outburst.
"What the? Ferin! Go!" The giant Lugia appeared in a flash of red light, filling up a lot fo the ship's hallway. "Lugia! Is she telling the truth?!" Serenity glared at me, and gave me a look like I was stupid or something.
"She is." Mew said through me again. "ARGH!"
"Mmmmm. Yes." Ferin replied.
Her eyes widened. "Then then, how do you know?"
"I didn't! Not until Mew started taking over my voice box." I snapped crossing my arms. Mew had never done this before. Of course I had never let it out with other people around either.
"Oh." Serenity sunk into her seat, and covered her tear-streaked face with her hands. Her voice was muffled. "Sorry."
"Don't be." I softened. "I shouldn't have blown my top. I've been stressed as of late. Mew just wanted to help, and I didn't want anything to happen to it." I looked at the tiny pink cat-like creature. "I'm sorry." Mew gave me and "it's ok" feeling. I smiled and took it into my arms again.
"Ok." Mew left my arms. "Um, I guess, I'd really like my boyfriend back, the thing is, he might leave me and go back to Team Rocket." She handed Sanders's ball to mew, who floated over to her.
"Maybe." It once again said through me. "But every living thing deserves freedom and choice." Mew was very philosophical.
"I know. I've only kept him because I thought there was no way to get him back to normal. Thanks Mew. And, even if he does leave me, I guess I'll be happy for him. I'd go nuts if I was him being ordered by his girlfriend acting to be a smart ass poke`mon that had to be given the power to talk. He, unlike Reika, Doomers, Ralen, and Endo, was always able to talk. I just hope he won't leave." Serenity walked back next to me and sat down. She seemed as if the world had been taken off her shoulders. Her eyes were misty with tears, but she wasn't sad. She was happy.
If Mew had a mouth I know it would have smiled. I got a warm happy feeling inside and knew that things would be ok. I was about the relay my message when Serenity got up.
"Let's get us a cabin." She said.
Suddenly, a granbull that looked terribly under weight went by.
"Bull, bull, bull, bull, granbull!" It was running.
"Get back here you good for nothing! I'll give you double time your normal beating for this! Trouble maker!"
A Team Rocket executive was racing after it. Serenity jumped in front. The executive gasped.
"Serenity!" She started backing away.
"I don't think so." Serenity had grabbed her shirt and punched her right into he jaw before any one saw what happened.
"Owie! I'll leave that dumb thing alone! Bye!" She scrambled to her feet and took off like a bat out of hell.
Serenity shook her head in disgust. She pulled an apple from her pack and got on her knees and remaining hand. She slowly crawled to the Granbull.
"Buuuuull!"
Serenity stopped about two feet from it. She held out her arm with the apple. The Granbull approached, sniffed, and ate the apple.
"Graaan!" It smiled happily. Serenity stood on her knees and petted the Granbull.
"It's ok baby." She took out an ultra ball. "Wanna see?"
The granbull quickly pressed the button on the ultra ball happily and disappeared inside the ball. She put it on her belt.
She turned to me. "Ya' see, I never actually got a license, and well, I can have as many poke`mon as I want. I say we get our cabin, go to the dinner room, and fatten this granbull, our poke`mon, and ourselves."
I nodded, thinking of how carefully and quickly she won the Granbull's trust
Since we hadn't made any reservations we couldn't find a room. I didn't really like the thought of having to sleep on the deck, but what else was there? It was night now; it had been for some time. Mew seemed happy I was letting it stay out of its ball and it hovered all over the S.S. Aqua. No one seemed to notice it really. In fact one person said I had a nice Butterfree. I got onto the wooden deck floor using my pack for a pillow. Serenity was using her Lugia for one and the new granbull cuddled at her chest. I managed to drift off myself when Mew woke me up.
"Whasit?" I whispered sleepily. Mew just hovered away, stopped, faced me, and waited. I got up and stumbled crookedly in pursuit. I was a bit sore from the hard cold bed, but I kept up just fine.
I woke up with a full jolt as I heard something shriek from the room I was now standing in front of. Mew dove behind me and I began to feel enraged. I rapped my fist on the door several times. When no one answered I kicked it open. A buff sailor was lying cold on the floor while his eevee had fainted beside him. A cloaked figure in all black towered over the stiff with his arbok. I then saw fang marks on the sailor's neck. I glared at the man and could hear my mind snap. My chest heaved and I clenched my fists at my sides until the knuckled were solid white. He looked into my eyes; I looked into his. He lifted up his gloved hand, pointed at me, and the arbok slithered my way. Mew flew in front of it ready to defend me. The man glanced at it, but didn't withdraw like the others had. "Mew…" I mustered through my teeth. "False Swipe." Mew bitch slapped the arbok until only one more hit would take it down. The arbok struck without any verbal command from his trainer and scratched Mew's arm when it dodged. That was too close for me. "Tackle." I grinned. Mew jumped the arbok causing it to black out. The shadowed man whipped out an escape rope and was gone. Mew hovered toward the eevee and looked at me with pleading eyes. I nodded, got out Mew's poke`ball, and I put the eevee inside.
Serenity skidded on the waxed floor with her socks. She crashed into some janitor's equipment, and then ran up to me again. Only this time, she grabbed the door before skidded off the side of the ship. She looked inside. "What the he- oh." Serenity gasped. "Damnit! Giovanni will pay! It's bad enough he's my dad and he steals, but, really, killing people!" Serenity stomped her foot down so hard, she made a big dent in the waxed wooden floor. Her granbull ran in and sniffed the sailor, then whimpered. Serenity kneeled on the floor. He granbull crawled up to her and she hugged it, hot tears staining its fur. She looked at me. "No. I don't know this man. But. My father orders poke`mon thieves to steal, hurt, and, even, kill poke`mon, and sometimes hurt, and even kill, people. That's wrong!" She looked around. "He's still on board."
"Who?"
"The murderer. When you're an Ex-Team rocket member, you know things!" Serenity ran to and up a flight of stairs, her Granbull at her heals. "He's up here!" Serenity grabbed a fast ball and threw it up and down. "Really wanna mess with me and Mace?"
"Seren..." I began. She looked at me as if she couldn't believe I gave her a nickname. "Serenity." I corrected.
"Yes?"
"Let's just leave it alone." I began to back off.
"What?! Are you insane?! He just killed this man!"
"Yes. Alert the entire ship." I replied coldly. "I didn't live this long by getting in the way. And I don't intend on getting roughed up now."
"You aren't makin' any sense. You're the one who WANTED to take down Team Rocket."
"Yes. But not this way."
"There ain't no other way! I know. I've tried."
"There has to be. And there will." I left her in the room after that. They were docking now.

I thought long and hard. She was right. I faced the floor. "Now. You may be plotting how to get the ever powerful, ever famous, especially to Team Rocket, Serenity Doman silence. Give me what you got." I put my fast ball away, but I kept my hand on my masterball, just in case. When I looked up, the man was gone. "Darnit!" I looked at Mace staring solemnly at Olivine City's dock. I wondered what all she had been through and if it were possible it was worse than I could ever identify with…"Nah." I told myself. "Ya' know. If I smoked, and with as many adventures as we've been in since Cassidy, the blonde bimbo, stole your pack," I faced Mace with a friendly smile, "I'd have about three packs downed already." I suddenly thought of something. I just remembered I bought a max revive and found about five mystery berries. "Sanders! I choose you!" My fainted suicune lay down on the floor. I sprayed the max revive on him and fed him the berries. He was now fully restored. I hugged him. "I miss you." I whispered only enough for Sanders, and, if it was listening close enough, Mew to hear me.
"S.S. Aqua docked." Came a voice from the speakers behind us. I watched Mace jump at the sudden sound. She must have been deep in thought for that to have scared her.
"Let's go." She said to me without looking into my face. I fallowed her off.
We walked down the stairs onto the dock. There, I saw a very unwelcomed face in my book. "You!" I made a low growl. This woman had a wicked smile. I grabbed Mace's wrist harder than I realized and ran forward at full speed, probably Mace was feeling as if I was going to tear her arm from her body. I ran into a hotel, where I stopped.
"What was that for?"
"Ask mew! it knows! I don't want to see that, oh no." The woman from earlier, the same one who cursed my beloved Sanders, walked in and grinned evilly at me. "Please! leave me and my friend Mace and our poke`mon alone!"
She cackled like an old hag, even though she was a pretty woman.
"Just! Just stay away!" I clutched the poke`ball to Sanders and slipped it to Mace. I whispered very, very softly. "Guard this. She's probably after Sanders."
"What do you want?" Mace approached her. "Why are you here?" I couldn't believe she was talking to this woman so calmly.
"What I've always been after." was her only reply.
"Ok. Fair enough. How did you know we were coming here?"
"Intuition and good sources." She was growing irritated.
"Nice answer. Last one. Can I kick your ass?"
"What?" Mace made a buzzer sound.
"WRONG!" Mace made a swift kick into her head. The woman staggered a bit and looked like she was preparing a spell.
"Mace! Watch out!" I screamed, but she all ready had it taken care of. She kicked the woman in the gut and swung her pack off her back to slam it into her. The woman back off and retreated quickly once she realized Mace wasn't going to give her the chance to use any magic. I gapped at her and she looked at me.
"Poke'mon aren't the only ones who can fight." She smiled.
I quickly closed my mouth, crossed my arms, and turned my head slightly with my cold look. "Hmph. I know. I, uh, well," I looked at her with a stupid look, "You didn't look like someone who could fight. I, I must say that I'm not big on fist fights, so, I um, I use my Pokémon for those purposes, but, um, only if Team Rocket or a trainer challenges me. I've just about forgot how to fight, really. Eh heheheheh." I sighed. "Well, um, now what? I say we get to Goldenrod, and I know how. Just thought of the idea." I pulled out my heavy ball and my master ball with a grin.
"No." She sighed and walked out of the center. She looked to the north exit and glanced at me. "I want to walk."
"Ok." I put my Pokéballs back and stood next to her. "What's wrong?"
"Uh...nothing..." she muttered. We traveled northward on foot. After that speech she made on the S.S. Aqua I surprised she didn't want to get there as fast as I would have liked. We traveled in silence. Mew was hovering around proudly with its new sleeping eevee in its mouth.
"So what are you going to name it?" I asked seeing as how Mace had her mind elsewhere.
"Eevee." the answer came from Mace's mouth, but she was using a higher pitched voice. Mew's I know assumed. "No point calling it something it isn't." it added.
"What if Eevee evolves?" I wondered still looking at Mew for less confusion.
"Then its name will change." Eevee began to open one eye, and then it gave a squeak (as if sucking in air) as it looked down. It swung itself around a bit trying to get free when Mew made a strange purring sound. The eevee seemed to be soothed by it and even I myself grew more relaxed.
I shook my head hard in a futile attempt to keep my guard up. I looked over to Mace, but it didn't seem to be affecting her as much as it was me...of course I couldn't really tell by her dazed expression.
"Sorry." came the reply as the noise stopped. I grew tense again. "I sometimes forget how extreme that is for humanoids." I was looked at Mace as that was said. She still had that empty look, this time I decided to bring her back to reality.
"Doomers! Go!" My houndoom popped out of it's Pokéball.
"Houndoooooom!" It walked up to me and nuzzled me. "What shall I do for you?"
"Nuzzle Mace. It always freaks people out when they realize they're getting nuzzled by a hell hound."
She did as told, but just before she nuzzled her Mace stopped. We were standing in front of a Miltank farm. She looked over at the farmhouse on the top of the hull with tears swelling in her eyes. I looked at a sign on the fence that read Moomoo Farm.
"Um, you ok?" I faced Mace. "If you're thirsty, I can buy some Moomoo milk." My expression turned from cold to extremely sympathetic.
Mace sniffled and wiped her tears away.
"No. I'm fine." he voice jumped.
"You know them?" She nodded. "Then let's go say hi!" I slapped her on the back. At first she didn't say anything then she looked at Mew. It was probably talking to her.
"You're right." She said. I didn't know if she was answering it or me. She looked me in the face now. "Let's go."
We trudged up the hill toward the farm. In the distance I could an old man in a rocking chair whittling something round in his hand. When we got close enough we stopped and he looked up when Mace sniffed. His oddly familiar blue eyes squinted at us.
"Macie Ray? Macie Ray Moomoo is that you?" his voice cracked from old age. He sounded surprised.
"Hi pahpaw Moomoo." she smiled and ran up to him in a hug.
I looked at Mace. I was about ready to cry. I snapped out of it. I waved. "Hi."
"What's all this racket?" A woman in her mid forties came out. She had long brown curly hair that got somewhat in the way as she rubbed her hands in the dishtowel. Her green eyes opened wide when she saw Mace's face. "Macie Ray."
"Ma." she sniffed again and went to hug her next.
"Well I'll be going." I whipped out a fast ball.
"Wait!" Mace called out to me. "I need you to stay here with me."
"What for?" I asked putting it back. She didn't answer me as I fallowed her inside.
The place smelled strongly of…well…farm. There was really no other word to describe it. Another smell filled the air.
"Chicken fried steak, chitlens, fried green beans, and…" Mace sniffed the air one more time. "Corn cakes. Mmmm." I didn't even know what half of that stuff she mentioned actually was, but I assumed it was edible. We walked into a small kitchen with a table and chairs. Food was frying and Ma gestured for Mace and to sit down. I did, Mace didn't. She went up to her mother to help serve, as if she were bringing back old habits.
"Now, Macie Ray, yer a guest. You go sit down."
"Ma, s'ok. I wanna help." Mace grabbed a pan and started to serve. I twitched my nose at the grayish brown stuff that was put in front of me. Next to the meat were some charred black things, caramelized green beans, and a rough yellow piece of bread. I poked at my food to make it look as if I were eating. The rest of the family was joining us now. I watched as two girls filed in with a stout man behind them. I determined him to be the father. He had an unkind face that made my cold expression look like a ray of sunshine. What surprised me was when he looked into the eyes of his long lost daughter he didn't even crake a grin.
"Hello, father." Mace said dropping her accent that she had recently gained.
"Five years." Were the only words to come out of his mouth and they chilled me t the bone.
"I know." She looked down.
"Your brother died the day after you left." A long awkward silence filled the room. One even I wouldn't break.
"I know." Mace replied reluctantly. Her father's eyes widened.
"You know?"
"Yes."
"How did you find out?" he mother asked innocently.
I gulped. "Um, Mace, Mace's family, can I be excused? I really like Miltank and I wanna see yours." I gave Mace a quick and apologetic look.
"Sure," her mother said as sweet as can be. "Betty Jean, Mary Jane, show her to the barn will you?"
"Yes, momma," the twin girls said in unison. They got down from their chairs and each one took my hand. They had to be at least five years old if not six.
I got up and followed the girls. When they made it to the barn, they both turned around. "We saw some cool poke`mon when you and Mace came. Can we see them?"
"Please?"
I looked shocked. "Okay...." I took two fastballs, a masterball, a heavyball, and a love ball. "Endo, Ralen, Reika, Ferin, Doomers, go!" An entie, raikuo, articuno, lugia, and houndoom appeared.
"Cool!" The girls spoke in unison again. They petted the different poke`mon.
I took the last fastball in my hand. I put it up to her mouth and spoke softly. "Behave!" I gave my other poke`mon a semi warningful look. "Sanders! Go!"
"What's with the old man? Where are we?" Sanders demanded.
"Shut-up you." I snapped at him.
"Make me you..." He suddenly grew silent and I watched Mew round the corner a little.
"What's up with you anyway?"
"Poke`mon get stiff inside poke`balls?"
"You're not a poke`mon though."
"They heard you say that."
"So? Hi Mace. Hey mew." Mew floated over to me and I scratched it's ears.
It gave Mew a look of delight.
"We have to go..." Mace swallowed once again on the very brink of a full out flood.
"Now? What happened."
"We have to go." She stated again harshly, and snatched up Eevee from below Mew's floating body.
"What's goin' on Macie Ray? Ya' just got here." Granpa sounded worried.
"My name is Mace. Not Macie Ray. Macie Ray is dead!" She snapped and climbed onto Endo's back. "Let's go."
"Ferin, Reika, Ralen, Doomers, return!" I climbed onto Sander's back. Endo and Sanders took a slow (to them) run out of the barn. Once we made it to the end of the road, I stopped Sanders. "Endo!" Endo stopped and Mace nearly flew off him. "Mace, please explain." She wouldn't answer me. "Mace."
"It wasn't her fault." Mew began through her mouth. "It was the other poke`mon. He killed her brother. She still blames herself. He was evil. Not her."
"I had to have been evil." Mace said for herself without ever looking at me. "Or else he never would have chosen me."
"You were a pawn. If it were any other reason I would have never chosen you." Mew said through her so everyone could hear. Mace didn't reply, she just leapt off Endo and started walking.
"Endo. Take care of her. Do as she says. Also, don't forget to tell her I'll be at my house in Ecruteak, okay? See ya'." Endo took off and I rode Sander's to my house.
"Pretty bad seeing if she comes back she'll be looking all over and never suspect Burned Tower, huh?"
"For one thing, it's called Brass Tower, and for another, she's got Mew and Endo."
"True. Let's go."
I jumped off Sander's back and we walked into Burned tower. It smelled of burnt wood and must. Cobwebs were everywhere and ratatta were skittering around. I walked over to a poke`mon statue that was different from the others. I pressed down one of it's claws and a trapdoor with stairs appeared. Sanders and I walked down them to a cave like area with soft dirt on the ground. I wiped away a few tears and continued to walked forward and up about three stairs. I sat down and looked around. I spotted something shining. "It's still here."
"What?"
"You'll see." I laid on my back, quite aware of the dirt gathering on my clothes. I rolled over and soon fell asleep on the dirt.
Endo led Mace down the trapdoor and to where I was. Mace looked around and I woke up. "This is strange, very strange..."
"I know it's confusing..."
"Not that...this feeling."
"What?"
I looked up at the cave like ceiling. Even though no wind could make it in here, my hair and clothes and Endo's fur blew around. Sander's and Mace felt no wind and nothing on them moved. Same with Mew. It stood, or rather floated, very still.
"Oh. That. Sorry, but us dogs are used to it. We were born used to it."
"Dogs? Seren?"
"Shit!" I covered my mouth and my eyes popped open very wide. "I wasn't supposed to slip up like that!"
Mace watched me in total confusion. Mew and Endo seemed to understand, but Sanders was, if possible, even more clueless than her. And he was my boyfriend too.
"What was that?" She got nervous, another damned emotion. Trying to harden herself she folded her arms across her chest. "What did you screw up?"
I sighed. "No use beating around the bush, but you might understand better. Want the long story or not?"
"Not really." She turned her head away.
"Well, fine. I don't have to tell you." I scoffed at her snobbish response.
"If I cared I'd beg you to tell me, but I don't." She looked back at me. My brow creased and my head cocked to one side.
"What's up with you anyway? You've been nothing but a bitch since you left your old house."
"None of your business."
"Tell your story anyway," Mew said through her again. "I'd like to hear it. Perhaps it'll persuade Mace to tell hers."
"I HAVE no story." Mace snapped but didn't object.
"Ok. Well, Mew, remember how I told you guys that the real suicune got ran over, and that witch bitch just turned Sanders into a suicune because he tried stealing from her, well, most of that is just dog shit!"
"Dog shit? You lied?"
I gave her a sharp look. "I've lied big time and you won't trust me. Even Steven!"
She got mad.
"Anyway...." I looked at her, then at the ground. "Truth be told, I'm the legendary water dog, suicune. I'll continue into more detail if you want." I waited for her response.
"What the hell?! I've been traveling with a humanized poke`mon?! What kinda freak are you?!" Mace raged. Her anger was starting to take over the harder she tried to lock it away. Mew started her purring again to calm Mace down, but it just wasn't working. "That's it! I'm outta here!"
"I'm losing her..." Mew projected through Endo's mouth now. "This isn't good at all." That was the last thing She heard before she stormed out.
"I'm going to. Endo, Sanders, return." I ran up the stairs and out of Burned Tower. I stopped long enough to give a look at her and say, "You have a lot of things you won't tell me. You could be an ax murderer for all I know, and I tried to trust you! Even Steven." I tried wiping away some tears before running off in the opposite direction of her. I was soon out of sight.
Mew started speaking through her. "I wish I knew what was up with you. You probably just lost a friend."
"So!"
"She never trusted any human before except her boyfriend because of what she is, and what that witch woman did to her boyfriend so she could be human. Quite dishonest of her to do that to poor Serenity--"
"How do you know that bitch did to that dumb dog?"
Mew shook it's head. "A dog? She was your friend."
"I just let her come along in case Team Rocket stole you again!"
Mew shook it's head again, then floated to the black and twisted top of Burned Tower.
"WHO NEEDS YOU ANYWAY!" Mace shouted up at it as it floated away. "I'm going to finish what I came here to do and go." She muttered to herself and started walking wherever her anger lead her.
I was back in Olivine. I was sitting on top of a rock at the edge of the sea. I was crying. Great sobs of tears flooded my face. Sanders was trying to soothe me. I looked up at the heavens. "DAMNIT! WHAT'S THE POINT OF TRUSTING HUMANS! THEY'RE SCUM!" I looked into the water at my reflection. I saw goldeen swimming beneath it, which soon scattered as tears fell into the water causing ripples. "Now I'm scum too." I slipped of the rock and took of my shoes. I walked into the shallows of the water, but I wasn't in the water, I was on the water. A bright white flash surrounded me as I pulled a necklace hidden behind my shirt and held it. My normal clothes had changed into a near see through blue dress with diamond shaped cuts going down the side. I had a flowing purple cape on, and two long, white strips of cloth flowing from the ends of my sleeves. The tips of my toes touched instantly cleaner and clearer water. I looked down at my reflection and smiled. "I'm still what I am, a! nd who I am, and so Is Mace, whether that's good or bad, but I'm sure she'll realize that soon."
Sanders walked on water up to me. I bent down and hugged him. "I miss you."
"As do I, Sanders. As do I."
"Mew!"
I turned around. Mew was there, and his eyes looked worried.
"Mace is sick...." Mew used Sanders to speak this time. I knew this because he had that mechanical voice that Mace got when Mew spoke through her. "I'm losing her." It looked ready to cry.
I was instantly back in my normal clothes. I walked back to shore. "Sick? Losing her? Huh?" By this time Sanders was back at my side.
"Mace got sick. Was made sick by first poke`mon. I heal. Now she get sick again. I know not what to do." Mew sounded like she was having a hard time projecting through Sanders. He must not have been fully letting her do it. Couldn't blame him really.
"Do you know where she's headed?" I gave Sanders a slight kick. This was important.
"Yes, but you wont like it." It answered.
"Why?" I had a strange feeling I'd be at Team Rocket's base again. Sanders seemed to be smiling. He knew what the answer was because of mew.
"You know already." Mew sighed. It turned away and began to hover. Sanders bounded behind like a puppy about to go for a ride. I let out Endo and followed. This was going to be a long trip.
I began thinking about my life right after I was turned into a human. Giovonne found out who and what I was. He had convinced me that, with me being what I was, staying with team Rocket was the only safe place to be. He had told me to say that I was his daughter. Soon after, I was persuaded to be a Team Rocket soldier. I was partnered up with a hateful boy named Sanders. After a while we began liking each other and eventually I became his girlfriend. Then we met up with that witch again. She turned into a suicune. As far as why, I had no clue. Before then, I was ready to quit Team Rocket because I had learned that I was at more risk of being in jail for being a member than being caught for what I was. I caught Sanders to his great disliking, then I ran for it. I met up with my old pals, Endo and Ralen. They agreed to let me capture them. Along the way I met more of my Friends. The zapdos Zack, Mandy the moltrese, and Reika. Reika wanted to journey with me, so I caught her. ! After a trip to Tin Tower, I met Ferin and Linda, a ho-oh. Ferin had never been very many places outside of Johto, so he wanted me to capture him. With some of my friends with me, I began to travel a lot. Team Rocket kept trying to get my friends and me, but they could never beat me and soon they all became scared of me. One day I saw a team Rocket member picking on a poor houndour. Right after I saved it and healed it, it evolved into a houndoom and wanted to stay with me. I named it Doomers. I had then stayed home in Brass Tower before traveling again. Then I met Mace....
"Are you awake?"
"Huh?"
"Are you awake?"
I was too deep in thought and hadn't realized I was about to fall off Endo. "Sorry En.
"Ok."
"Here." Mew pointed. It now used Endo, who was a bit more willing. Before me was a gym. It looked like it was about to fall in on itself. Was Team Rocket here?
"But it's just an empty building." Sanders complained.
"No." Mew glared at his stupidity. "Do not look at the outside. Look through it."
"Look though it? What does that mean?" Sanders snapped. Suddenly I began to see the gym change. It grew bigger and repaired itself.
"It has a spell on it." I muttered. "The witch...."
"What?" Sanders gave me an uncomfortable look.
"She's with Team Rocket." I hopped off Endo's back. "Endo! Return!" He disappeared in a flash of light.
"I don't get it? How can this be my place of employment?"
I rolled my eyes. "Never mind. It's too complicated for your tiny brain."
"Hey!"
"Deal with it. you know it's true."
Mew hovered in as Sanders and I followed quietly behind.
"Hey! It got bigger!" Sanders declared. I hit him on the leg.
"Hush." I commanded and peered over the ledge in front of me. Looking down I saw two figures, the witch and the tall man in a black cloak who was on the S.S. Aqua. They were whispering to one another. I strained to hear when suddenly the conversation became clear, as if I were hearing it in my head. "Thanks." I whispered to Mew and listened in.
"She's near. It won't be that hard to find her. Especially with our loyal Sanders keeping close track of her. That boy doesn't know how much he's helping us."
I faced Sanders. "What are they saying?" I kept glaring at him. I heard a man's voice. The cloaked figure must have been talking.
"Giovonne might not be that thrilled with our plan, but Sanders might. I've been trying to tap into him whenever he was near. He'd do anything to come back to Team Rocket."
"Good. So, he won't be much trouble?"
"Not really. It's a good thing he can't hear us with as near as he is."
"Huh?"
"He's here."
"He is?"
"Yes, and so is the other one." He almost chuckled. "She should break in the door soon."
"YOU!" I watched Mace burst in full of rage. "I should have known it was you!" She marched to the cloaked man completely ignoring the witch.
"Right on time." He reached out to touch her shoulder with a gloved hand. She jerked away from him.
"You've changed." He sounded surprised. "There was once a time when you revered me."
"That was before I learned you were evil," she grumbled.
"Only because you are," he reasoned. "A poke`mon only becomes what his trainer teaches him to be." He pulled the hood down revealing his head.
"Mew Two." I gasped.
"Help!" Sanders was trapped in a blue light. I recognized it. The light took form of a human, then vanished. Sanders was back to normal. Easily seven feet tall, purple haired, and handsome, he stood there, looking like I hadn't seen him as for a long time.
The witch smiled. "You are no longer needed for our plan."
"What plan?"
"Sanders! Get away from here! This isn't your business." I walked up to where Mace was and stood next to her, facing the witch."
Sanders hesitated, then ran off.
"What are YOU doing here?" Mace snubbed me once again.
"Relax. I'm not here for you anyway. I'm here to help Mew." I snapped.
"So, Mew's turned on me too huh. First my brother, then my parents, then you, now Mew."
"That's what happens to the evil." Mew Two declared. "Remember what happened to your brother when he left you?" Mace closed her eyes as if trying to block out the memory.
"I..."
"Well?"
"I..."
"SAY IT!" he commanded.
"I KILLED HIM! OK! I...KILLED...HIM!" She lashed out.
"He's not the only one is he?"
"Uh..."
"IS HE?"
"NO!"
"So you're evil! ADMIT TO IT! GIVE IN TO IT! YOU KNOW YOU ARE!" Mace grabbed her head her face in a hard grimace.
"NO!" She fell to her knees.
"YES!"
"STOP IT!" I shrieked.
"This is where I come in!" The witch had grabbed my throat and began choking me.
I grabbed her wrists and pried them off of me. "Don't even think about it." Like saying that will help!
A blast of green light shot out at me. I jumped up as it passed, then landed.
"You have to catch me first!"
"Agreed."
I had a plan. Hopefully she'd follow me, then I'd move to where I was between Mew Two and her, and just before she'd hit me with a spell, I'd move and it'd hit Mew Two. Now only if it would work.
"ADMIT IT!" Mew Two lashed out at me.
"NO!"
"YES!"