Part 9 Deleted

The three of us continued deeper, moving at a considerable pace. We were in complete silence apart from the sound of footfalls, and slow, anxious breathing.

It was difficult for me to stay focused on any one thing. The events that had transpired only a short time ago constantly returned to my head, and I had to force them out of my brain in order to keep going. It was mentally demanding, and was giving me a bit of a headache. I needed something to get my mind off of it.

That came fairly quickly in the form of one of the soldier leaping out of the darkness. Instinctively, I raised my arm to send him aside, but my telekinesis seemed to stop short of him. I was caught off guard, and only barely protected by Jacob, who gave him a strong backhand swing to knock him down.

Our attacker grumbled as he struggled to his feet. Once he balanced himself on one knee, he took a second, hunched over and breathing carefully.

In the blink of an eye, he shot past both of us, and grabbed the Buneary by the throat.

"No." I gasped almost silently.

He stood up slowly, turning to face us in the process. His face was completely emotionless. He gripped her more tightly. Jacob winced and his hands flared up with blue aura. "Let her go."

"Only he can go any further." He pointed his free hand at me.

"Not a chance. You're gonna pay for-"

"No. I'll go."

Jacob turned and stared at me. "You're kidding. You called all of us here, and now this close you decide you want to do it alone?"

"I've had enough. I can't take more." I replied solemnly.

The soldier looked me in the eyes. He almost seemed grateful to me. "Go. He's waiting for you."

I turned around and walked further into the cave.

---

I had gone quite a distance before I reached a narrower part of the cave, almost like another cave opening within this one. I moved through, and found that there was no more light illuminating. I closed my eyes, and sensed the walls around me. I followed a thin path down, and carefully made a turn around a corner. After walking for a minute down this direction, I opened my eyes.

I was met with a surprising light in front of me. It took my eyes a moment to adjust, and I took a moment to admire the almost magical glow. I looked closer and noticed a small Pokemon encased within a crystal shell. Its body was white, with a simple face and tiny, cute appendages. Around its head was yellow headdress that looked like a three pointed star, and small teal blue ribbons hung off of each point.

I took a step towards it, but was met with a familiar voice telling me, "Ah ah ah. It's still sleeping, buddy."

I closed my eyes and tried to keep a hold of myself. "Surprised to hear that you care."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed him step away from a wall he had been leaning against. "With something this important, you can't afford to take chances."

I took a deep breath. My mind was racing through thoughts I couldn't control. If I weren't showing restraint, I would have surely lashed out at him. Not that it would have done me any good.

Dark snorted. "You want to fight don't you?"

I closed my eyes again and let my body relax. I stood up straight and looked at him. "This ends now."

He smiled. "Cool."

I pulled out Sandslash's Pokeball and prepared to open it. Before I could get to the button, Dark delivered a hit to my arm, that knocked the ball out of my grip.

I was startled by the attack, and Dark quickly took advantage. He lashed out with his claws towards my face, only leaving me enough time to barely turn my important facial features away. The nails sliced lightly across my cheek, and a throbbing pain shot through the whole side of my face.

The feeling disoriented me, and I struggled backward. I had to shove the pain down to take defensive action, barely leaning back enough to avoid the oncoming attacks. After two sweeping slashes, he went in for a stabbing thrust. In order to dodge, I had to contort my body awkwardly, and I fell to the ground. Dark quickly delivered a kick to my midsection that rolled me a few feet away. I quickly got up, raising my hand to grab his leg as he went for a kick. I looked him dead in the eyes, and saw a flash of shock as his pupils swelled. I threw the leg aside, sending him turning sideways into the ground.

With a slight chuckle, he lifted himself to one knee. "Finally. I've been waiting for a hand to hand fight. Just you and me. No stupid psychic powers."

He rushed towards me, sweeping both arms towards me, and I stepped out of the way. However, he pivoted off of one foot and propelled his next attack directly at me. He knocked me to the ground and delivered a slash across my chest. I ignored even more searing pain to punch him in the gut and throw him off.

I managed to catch a punch as he threw it, and he frustratingly did the same when I threw my own. Locked in a stalemate, we struggled against each other before he dug his claws into my hand, the pain distracting me enough for him to throw me into the cavern wall.

Before I could step away, he plunged a claw into my stomach. Every negative sensation I could imagine swelled up within the wound, leaving my entire body debilitated from one blow. He pulled his hand away, and I let out a noise that likely sounded like a combination of a grunt, a gasp, and a scream.

I crumbled down to the ground. My vision began to become dark, my head spinning. I looked up at him as he flashed a faint smile.

"Well. I'm a little disappointed, to be honest. I expected more from you. But I guess things have changed since the times we first fought. You're weak, always have been. Now you're finally letting it show."

I clutched at my midsection, and asked through clenched teeth, "Why would you...do this?" I spat out a few drops of blood. "Do you...have any idea how many idea how many...are hurt or dead because of you?"

He grinned. "Bold accusations. Especially since I know that deep down you blame yourself."

I didn't say anything, which meant the pain was much more noticeable.

"We're not very different, you and I. We both refuse to give in to the other side."

While curled in a writhing ball, I barely looked at the source of the glow, and noticed some movement. An idea quickly entered my head, and I quickly decided to pursue it. A bit of confidence built up within me.

"Shut up." I told him. He seemed a little surprised. "Just shut up. All you do is talk. That's all you insist on doing. I've let you get to me over and over. Not anymore. I...I won't let you have that advantage on me."

He looked down at me with a pitied expression. "Do you really think your little pep talk scares me?" He scoffed, the noise filling the quiet emptiness of the cavern.

"You're always talking. But do you ever back it up with what you do?" I asked him, whilst managing to shift to a less feeble position. "You think of yourself as so powerful and smart-"

"Because I AM!" He growled in response.

"Then WHY HAVEN'T YOU BEATEN ME!?" 

He seemed to be taken aback. He started to reply, but stopped himself. I could practically sense the seed of doubt that was beginning to bother him. When it became clear that he wasn't going to reply, I continued with a little more confidence.

"You talk like you're some kind of master strategist, like you're always two steps ahead of me. But really, you're no better than me! Over the times you've showed up and tried to ruin my life, I've always stopped you. No matter what advantages you had on your side, I found a way."

He listened in silence to my words, and after being still for a moment, he swallowed and angrily exclaimed, "Well this time is going to be different!"

I shook my head and chuckled once. "No it won't. It won't be different. Because we're not the same. When it comes down to it, I always know that I'm fighting for the right thing. If you're really supposed to be a clone of me, then you'll never have the resolve to win without knowing that."

His surprise and doubtfulness were turning to anger. He threw a punch across my face, and asked, "And how do you know that?"

I shook my head to try to settle the pain, and spit onto the cave floor. I raised my head to look at him, and didn't look away as I lifted myself to my feet and met him at eye level, my gut screaming from the wound. I was dizzy, tired, and aching, but I didn't dare look away.

"Because I know myself." I told him. "And even with how much I've had to grow and mature, I never would have made it without my team. My family."

He stared back into my eyes. I could see the uncertainty in his, as clear as day. I could hear his breathing now, a little bit faster than normal. He was nervous. He was confused.

His expression shifted into a frown, and he shook his head. "Please. All anyone needs to get something done is enough people to help them. I have an army. You do remember that, right?"

I sighed and shook my head. "You missed the point. If only you could see just how important my team is to me. I wish...!" I said a little bit louder.

He was at first confused by my wording, but quickly turned to his side to look at Jirachi which finally opened its eyes at that moment.

Without hesitating, I continued. "I wish Sandslash was out!"

The Pokemon didn't make any sound, and nothing seemed to happen in any spectacular fashion. But in that moment, the Pokeball, which had been lying inactive on the opposite side of the cave, suddenly opened. With a flash of light, Sandslash appeared, already running towards Dark and tackling him.

The two tumbled off to my side. I gritted my teeth through the pain as I hurried over to them. Dark managed to throw off the Pokemon, and he got to one knee and opened his mouth, but before he could get out a word, I punched him in the face. He fell back to the ground, only managing a grunt of pain. 

I decided to try out something that I wasn't sure would work. I pointed down at him as he slowly got up and shouted, "I wish that you couldn't make a wish!"

He looked up at me and a look of shock and anger flashed over his face. He quickly got to his feet, but I easily stepped aside. I looked over at Sandslash, who had walked over to my side.

"Let's show him how we do it, buddy."

He grabbed my hand as I took out the stone from my father. Within a few seconds, we merged into our combined form.

I looked down at Dark. He could barely get up, but he still insisted on trying. He was just as stubborn as I was.

"If it means anything, no one deserves what you've had to deal with."

He glared up at me. "Shut the f*** up."

I lifted him up and punched him in the face.

The feeling of victory was strange. It didn't seem very exciting. I didn't want to start cheering or anything like that. It wasn't even a sensation of relief. The only thing there was an acknowledgement. It was over. That was all that mattered.

It didn't feel good.

As I relaxed, I felt my body separate from Sandslash. I took in a breath, and exhaled slowly. There wasn't any other sound apart from it. I reached down to the floor and picked up Sandslash's Pokeball.

The Pokemon looked up at me with a clear look of excitement. "We did it!"

I looked down at the sphere, glancing at my own reflection in its smooth surface. "I guess we did."

He sighed. "Come on. Cheer up a little! It's over now!"

My mind continued to think back to the people I had lost. The allies who had given their lives. Looking at my reflection, I didn't want to imagine it with a smile. It gave me a sour feeling.

"Is it, though?" I asked aloud. "Is it ever over?"

I could see him frown out of the corner of my eye. "What's that supposed to mean? You know, I'm worried about-"

"Thanks for the help, bud." I lifted and activated his Pokeball, and he was quickly absorbed into the device.

I placed it on my belt and let out a deep breath. I looked up at the awakened Pokemon that sat before me. The one I had come all this way for.

It gave me a small smile. Its mouth opened, and a voice like that of a young girl chimed out, filling the whole space.

"Hello, Todd. Congratulations."

I decided not to question how it knew my name. "What for?"

"For being victorious of course. Your goal was achieved, and your enemy has been stopped."

I looked over at Dark. He lay unconscious on the ground. He was probably in better shape than I was feeling at the moment.

I looked up at Jirachi. "Yeah. I guess we did win."

The smile shrunk just a little, as if solemnly acknowledging something. "But you don't feel that way. You feel as if you have a duty you must still fulfill."

I shook my head. "This wasn't worth it. It never was. What kind of guy asks others who have no idea what's even going on to throw down their lives to help him? What kind of guy lets them be the ones who pay the ultimate price?"

I felt tears well up, and I tried to blink them back. My heart didn't feel any better for saying the things I wanted to. It just felt heavy under a new weight.

There was silence for a while.

Jirachi finally spoke softly, saying, "I may grant you one more wish, should you choose it."

I sniffled, my words catching in my throat. "I-I...I do. I w-wish that..." I couldn't find the words.

The Pokemon nodded. "I can see your desires. I know the wish you hope to make, and it shall be granted. Now take a rest. You need it."

I felt my eyes grow heavy, and I was fully asleep before I felt anything.

---

High atop a tower, pillars shot up toward the sky. They didn't connect to anything, but they never seemed to end.

A throne of sorts sat further back. A small series of steps leading up to a pedestal. And atop it stood a creature of significant size. It watched far beyond its personal tower, far beyond that point in time and space.

Lightning began to flash out in the distance. The creature watched it. With a grim recognition. It let out a low, rumbling growl. The whole tower shook.

Something was changing. Something unnatural.

---

The sun coming in through my window was always a pleasant sight.

I glanced at my alarm clock. 6:44. One minute before the unpleasant noise would have jolted me from sleep.

I lay there on my bed. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Same sheets, same ceiling. Same old alarm clock.

I glanced over and noticed that the clock now read 6:45. There was no alarm coming from it.

I heard footsteps just outside my room. I sat up slightly as they continued in through the door. When I looked to see who entered, I was startled.

It wasn't that I wasn't expecting to see my mother. What I hadn't been expecting, though, was for her to look entirely normal. I hadn't seen her like she normally was in so long. 

She smiled when she saw me. "Hey. I was just about to wake you up." She took a step through the door, and leaned against the frame. "Today's the big day, kiddo."

"Uh..." For whatever reason, I had no idea what she was talking about.

After a few seconds, she seemed to recognize my confusion and elaborated. "It's your birthday! And the day you get to go on your big adventure."

"Oh. Right...!"

She sighed and shook her head. "Alright weirdo. Come down and eat when you're ready." With that, she turned and left.

I sat silently on my bed for a short time, trying to make sense of everything. I knew what I had wished for, but it still hardly felt real. I reached a hand under the plain white T-shirt I had apparently worn to bed the previous evening. I felt no pain in my midsection, and there was no scar or noticeable wound from anything that I knew had happened the day before. The events...they had never existed.

I got up, and did a quick scan of the room. I noticed that I couldn't seem to find Sandslash's Pokeball. As I was still trying to wrap my head around what was going on, I glimpsed my reflection in a mirror.

I could hardly say I was shocked. I had seen almost the exact same reflection once before, in the body of a version of myself from an alternate universe. My body was largely the same, maybe just a little taller, and my face still looked just as charming.

My hair was blonde again, though a sort of muddied yellow that wasn't so glaring. My eyes were a completely normal dull blue. No black, no purple.

The thought of my eyes made me realize something. I turned my attention to the alarm clock sitting silently on the side of my nightstand, and held out an arm. I concentrated on it, and tried to lift.

After almost a minute, it hadn't budged. I lowered my hand. I didn't have powers anymore. I was normal.

I stepped outside my door.

-2 Years Later-

After a nearly a week of searching, I finally found it.

It was certainly well hidden. But after a lot of training, tracking the aura was fairly easy. It felt as if something were telling me exactly where to go. I looked at the cliff side, rising majestically upward. The top edge jutted out, piercing the orange sky.

I looked down at my belt and removed Sandslash's Pokeball, and began turning it slowly in my fingers. My memories were bothering me again. It was strange, remembering a life that I had lived for so long, but having another one keep putting facts into my head.

I didn't know why I had come all this way. Especially given who I was coming to see. I guess I was looking for someone I could talk to about it. Someone to finally tell about this.

Placing the Pokeball back on my belt, I began to walk toward the cliff. The wind picked up, carrying small bits of grass and flower petals through the air. Its pleasant noise distracted me enough that I almost didn't notice when something dropped out of the sky in front of me.

I stumbled back, reaching just slightly toward my Pokeball. However, upon looking up, my disposition changed.

I stared at the Lucario in silence. It raised a paw, cloaked in blue flame, and demanded, "You. Leave this place. This is not for your kind."

Hearing his voice made me smile out of instinct. I hadn't heard it in so long. I rushed up to him, and he began to take a fighting stance.

But he stopped, and let me wrap my arms around him. "Oh, it's so good to see you, man." I told him.

After we stood there silently for a moment, I had a thought, and separated from him. "Of course, this is probably...really weird for you. Sorry about that."

The Pokemon seemed deeply confused. I wasn't dead yet, which probably meant that he could tell my aura was genuine.

I raised a hand. "Right. I'm just here to talk to your...teacher...master guy. You know who I'm talking about."

The Lucario seemed to be shaken back to reality with that statement. He quickly shook his head. "I'm afraid he will not speak to just any inquisitive child."

I frowned at that. "Hey man, I'm legally old enough to vote." Immediately after saying that his expression reminded me of an important fact. "You have no idea what that means."

He only nodded.

"Look, I know you can see that I don't want to hurt anyone. Can I just...have a real brief talk with him?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Wait." The voice startled both of us, me in particular. After a moment, a familiar looking Pokemon emerged from directly out of the rock face. The Mewtwo radiated a feeling of power and knowledge. He floated just above the ground, his body almost completely still apart from the somewhat hypnotic back and forth motion of his tail.

Lucario quickly dropped to one knee. The Mewtwo looked at me, his purple eyes suddenly making me very uncomfortable. I was almost certain he was reading my mind, and I was quickly realizing that it's hard to think about something when you tell yourself to think about it.

His gaze turned to the other Pokemon. "I will...speak with him."

Without looking up or reacting, Lucario replied, "Of course. My apologies."

He didn't even look at me as he turned around and began to move toward the wall again. "Come."

I swallowed and followed him in. I was kind of concerned as we approached the solid cliff, but he did something akin to snapping his fingers, and suddenly there was a large cave opening before us.

As we stepped inside, I tried to ask about what had just happened. He responded simply, "It is a mental projection. I create a psychic field which causes the minds of those who enter it to perceive this as an ordinary rock structure."

"Oh." I nodded, kind of wishing I had figured out how to do that when I had the same powers.

After we gone a certain distance back, and the light had stopped reaching us, he told me to sit.

"Um...do you mind if I get myself some light?" I asked, not entirely sure if I was even facing towards him.

You are facing towards me. He projected into my head, before speaking aloud, "Very well."

I pulled a flashlight from an outer pocket on my small backpack, and activated it. There wasn't much to the cave, it seemed. His white skin reflected the light of the cave well, making it difficult to look directly at him.

"So...you come here to meditate? Or something?"

He sighed. "I want to know why you wished to speak to me."

I frowned. "Well, you can read my mind and all that, right? So you should probably-"

"I am well aware of the reasoning you had in your mind. But given the absurdity of it, there is surely some other reason."

"Absurd?" I asked.

"Of course. You cannot possibly be my child. I have not taken reproductive action with-"

"Weeeeellll, it doesn't make sense in this universe, but in another one..."

He shook his head. "What on earth are you talking about?"

I looked down at one of my hands. "It's...well, it's kind of a long story."

-The End of Part 4-

Wow.

That was hard.

I'm really sorry how long this took, guys. I kept trying to get stuff done, but I always put it off. In the end, my desperate rush to get this published resulted in a pretty disappointing writing quality for these last two parts especially.

But enough self-deprivation. I still have to finish this story, but I'm definitely gonna take a break for a while to restore my confidence and establish a stronger story basis for the TRUE FINALE of Pokemon Max. I really hope you guys will like it.

In the meantime, I should hopefully be getting into more regular uploads of chapters of Mega Man, which you guys should check out if you haven't yet.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you guys around!