Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Taz remarked cocking his head. His voice was filled with undisguised worry and his tails were tucked tightly under his cream belly.

"I think we had been hide." Gary cautioned. He had not spoken since the hall perhaps thinking of the things that could happen to his beloved Umbreon in a place like this. They had passed sterile rooms filled with instruments of pain and torture. Some had modern machines others sharp metal instruments that would look appropriate in a medieval dungeon.

His brown eyes were hooded, but his face was pale. Raj agreed and slid into the shadows. With his black coat and dark brown dapples he easily blended with the dark. Taz crouched down beside him covering his cream belly with the darker brown paws. Gary used his cloak to cover his purple shirt and pale face. Ace, however, was having problems with his light colored markings that were on his tail, mane, and fringed his legs.

"Get behind me." Raj hissed hoping he was large enough and that the canine could flatten himself to succeed in camouflage.

Just as they had settled a strange procession matched by. First came a large, barbaric looking Houndoom. He was limping in the front and wounds covered his tightly muscled body, but he still managed to strut proudly ahead. Then there were all sort of pokemon, mostly of the Dark element. All were exceptionally large and shared a face devoid of emotion.

In the middle were a sorry group of prisoners. Raj bit his lip hard to kept from shouting and his muscles were taunt, ready to fling himself in the fray. Mirei was at the head shooting nervous glances at her smaller companion. Her crimson eyes were fearful and her tipped ears were flattened against her skull. She seemed to be unharmed for the most part and that was the only thing that stopped Rajah from jumping to her defense.

The smaller creature pasted to her side was some sort of Vaporeon hybrid. She was quivering, but between the two was a whispered conversation. Following directly behind was an dark green Umbreon. He was glancing neither left or right staring straight ahead pensively.

"That's Umbreon." Gary hissed in excitement. Taz had taken his eyes off the procession and stared up ready to do anything should the trainer blow their cover. Luckily, he calmed down to roll his five pokeballs in his hand. Raj already knew that one of those was an Arcanine and another a Nidoking. He just hoped the rest of Gary's team was as powerful as the first two.

Turning his attention back he briefly noted that there was also a Espeon hybrid as well as the other two evolutions. The fire one was looking surely and occasionally his nearest guard received a few words of appreciation. They were ignored of course. It was hard to take the fluff ball seriously even with two flaming wings of Moltres jutting out of his back.

When the last of the victorious pokemon marched past the four came out of hiding. Now that they were in the light Raj could see that they were heartened by their stroke of odd luck. Gary's face was flushed and his eyes determined. Taz's eyes were fighting among the two colors, but for once the green seemed to be winning. Ace's tongue lolled pleased that they had found out where to go and that the mission could be complete.

<Wait.> Taz stopped them as they started after their quarry. Silver had crept back and the shiny gray reflected the light dimly.

"More guards?" Gary questioned his grip tightening on his pokeballs. The red and silver spheres clanked together in his palm.

<No…> The fox seemed undecided and he wavered, <It sounds like someone's hurt.>

"Then we should help." Ace said plainly.

"Unless it's an enemy." Raj pointed out intent on following Mirei. He wasn't pleased with the hesitation fearing that the more time the wasted the less likely they could follow. The lab was an elaborate maze and it would be easy to get lost. It was a stroke of pure luck that they happened to be in the right place at the right time.

"You guys go ahead then. I'll go back and see." Ace said stubbornly unwilling to let it go. He had been raised to believe that life was sacred.

<May Mew be with you then.> Taz sighed knowing he could not sway the asinine dog. Turning silently he felt the other two behind him. A single set of paws wandered down the opposite direction with a lonely pitter-patter.

~~~~~

Mirei tried to hush Aqua. The little Vaporeon had been going on and on about the trouble that they were in. Finally she slapped a paw over the water creature’s mouth and said loudly, “That’s enough.”

That caused some stares from their fellow prisoners and a glance from the Houndoom. Uncomfortable under the scrutiny Aqua fell silent.

“What do you think will happen to us? I’m mean, we’ve caused a lot of trouble.” Her timid sister ventured finally. She licked her lips nervously not quite ready for any of the answers that Mirei would give her. The cat could think of many and all were unpleasant to say the least.

“Nothing much, I hope.” Mirei muttered unsure of who exactly they were being taken to. Was it Giovanni or the man who had kidnapped her off the street and brought her here. Both were daunting, however, she preferred the stranger over Giovanni.

“Not bloody likely.” Loki snorted from behind them. His mood had intensified from sulky to sour.

<Shut up.> Twilight snapped.

“He’s here.” Midnight muttered completely out of nowhere. His eyes were unfocused and his walk was weaving.

“Who’s here?” Blitz asked out of curiosity. He padded closer to the pensive Umbreon and his eyes took on a calculating look.

“Gary.”

<What!> Twilight hollered loud enough mentally to make them all wince with pain. She glared at her brother as if he was playing a clever prank on her. <Explain yourself.>

The Umbreon looked up with his blue eyes clear, but they were filled with unshed tears. He stared at her for a moment more then replied, “I can sense him. And there are others too. We passed them awhile back, but I couldn’t figure out what I was sensing. It was him! He came for me!”

It took all of them to calm him down he was in such a state of mindless frenzy. All his carefully hidden emotions were bubbling out and all his secret hopes of rescue.

“Others?” Mirei asked gently hoping that her secret wishes would come true also. If only she could see her friends again, especially Raj.

“I didn’t recognize them.” Midnight sighed clearly expectation Gary to have brought a whole army to his rescue.

<And May is not with him.> Twilight said then shrugged.

“No.”

“Quiet. That is enough talking.” The Houndoom snarled growing tired of what he thought of their prattle. He had been paying attention to every word spoken, but like someone who had burst in the middle of a conversation he was lost. He had no idea what they were talking about, especially since no important names were uttered. Had he listened closer he might have let them continue in hopes of locating the intruders.

They were silent for the rest of the trip. Instead of ascending then actually took a side corridor that went back down. This one had cold marble floor the color ash swirled around with white. Torches flickered eerily casting shadows and reflections on the hard stone walls. These walls were worn smooth, but carvings were still faintly visible. Instead of becoming colder as they went further into the earth the air became dry and hot.

They paused at a large ornate door decorated with entwined snake-like dragons. The serpent bodies slid across each other with clawed feet digging delicately into the flesh of a neighbor. Each gingival scale was carved to perfection and gold inlayed the eyes and other important features. It was exceedingly beautiful begging to be admired, however, the theme was frightening, even cruel. It caused a mutual shiver among the prisoners and dull stares from the guards.

The Houndoom shouldered open the door flamboyantly and strolled through calling over his should, “Follow me and make no trouble. No speaking unless you are asked.”

Reluctantly Mirei bunched her courage and she stepped through hoping the others would follow. She heard a reluctant set of footfalls and she realized that it was Aqua. Soon others joined and their entourage fell back unwilling or ordered not the pass the doorway.

It occurred to her that they could make a dash, surely with all of them scattering it would be difficult to pick a target. Then she discarded the notion as dangerous and useless. She would be the prime target and the others may be killed

As they entered the room she got the feeling that this was a palace throne room. Rich tapestries lined the walls and a thick red carpet embroidered with gold threads was spread down the hall. Thick pillars of the same marble that had made up the corridor stood equally spaced. At the end was a set of large stairs at the top a platform. One the platform the largest dragon Mirei had ever seen curled lavishly around the biggest pillar. This one was coal black with a glossy surface and smooth as an undisturbed lake.

~~~~~

Ace slunk warily down the hall feeling the air around him dampen and grow stale. A chill had settled on his fur like a wet blanket and he shivered. Doubts plagued him and he wished he had never separated from the others. At least then he would have company.

Turning the corner a flash of color caught his eye. Swinging his head around he peered at the heap closely. The hybrid was a lavender color with thick black stripes coating its body. Puffs of white fur floated out from its ankles, ruff, and head. The tail was odd with the puffs coming from twin prongs. Twin misty gray eyes stared up at him glassy with pain.

<Who…?> The prone creature managed in a faint whimper of pain. He could tell now that it was a she by the voice.

"A friend."

<Mirei…?>

"I don't know. She seemed safe when they marched her past. My friends followed them." Ace replied giving her the bare facts. He wasn't so naïve that he trusted her without knowing more about her.

<Good. For how long…> That last part seemed to be spoken to herself and he wisely kept silent. He wasn't sure what to do since he had no healing power and no way to get her to one who could.

"Don't talk." He said realizing how much pain it was causing her even with fragmented sentences.

The two sat there each in their own thoughts. A vague purple mist hung over the room and Sha'lace materialize startling Ace. She looked around cautiously then smile.

"Good, Celebi is gone. I cannot stand him." She said happily then looked up her violet eyes glowing. Her mouth twitched in a half smile and she remarked, "Someone did beat me here it seems. Where are your friends?"

"After Mirei."

The ghost nodded not surprised and she made her way over to the big violet dog. The creature backed up at a crawl baring her teeth in an attempt to rebel. Her slate gray eyes were wide with fear and her tail lashed listlessly.

"Stop."

Obediently she did. The life just seemed to melt out of her and she slumped forward. Her eyes rolled a little and the tip of her tongue protruded out between her teeth.

"What did you do?"

"Eased the pain. I need to finish the job, however, so make sure no one interrupts me or things could go badly." The hazy pokemon replied already intent upon her task. Ace recalled how she had healed him and nodded.

He wasn't sure how she had gain the power of healing or how much energy she had to sacrifice to do it. He knew that with any 'magically' power there was always a price to pay. He just hoped that Celebi didn't decide to drop in as he seemed prone to doing. The Arcanine wasn't sure if he could stave off the careless legendary without help. He was smart, but not witty and he didn't have the advantages that Taz and Raj possessed of knowing him well enough to bring up embarrassing moments.

"High ho!"

Ace's nightmare had just come true. Cirus was poking around calling out aimlessly. It wasn't until he heard a much deeper voice that Ace's mind relaxed.

"Shut it."

Chapter Sixteen

The girl stood warily outside the iron gates of the large, dark mansion. It towered in the moon filled night like some dark, medieval castle with pinpricks of light that emerged from a few select windows. Those were near the top, the only part of the huge house that was lived in. The grounds were just as forbidding and she knew that there were guards. Pokemon, far deadlier than any human could be. They could tear an intruder to tiny bits and scatter them to the four corners of the grounds with deadly efficiency. Luckily, she wasn't an intruder, not tonight at least.

Silently she shook mustering her courage until she felt a warm nose nudging her hand. Smiling she ruffled her companion's fur and with her free hand pushed the button.

"ID." A mechanical voice requested.

"Erin Summers, I was asked to come by the house's keeper." She pronounced each word carefully knowing how easily offense was taken and she hovered over the small speaker waiting for the reply.

There was a beep on the other end and the gates swung open invitingly. Patting her companion for reassurance the two walked forward. Slowly the gates closed behind them with no sound. Evidently creaks were not tolerated in such a place.

The front door yielded easy and she knew the way from there. How many times had she been summoned? And she still was scared and nervous. The dark halls were eerie and the lamps lining them were dim. Reaching her destination she opened the door and bowed to her summoned. He attempted a smile, which came out rather shark like. Ushering her to sit he began without preamble.

"Thank you for coming at such a dreadful hour." What a lot of bull. It was only nine and she had performed many jobs far later. In fact, she preferred working at night when others were asleep.

"We seem to have lost a guest. This guest was very important and she was not to be known about by our lord master downstairs." So someone screwed up and that meant more work for her.

"Apparently her guard was knocked out by some spores of the magical variety." Meaning the legendary kind. That she didn't understand since they both worked for Mew. Why would one under her bidding sabotage her orders?

"And she is now of her way to his majesty with a handful of other hybrids that she freed while running around downstairs. Acquaintances it seems. And her sister also." How could this happen? She was suppose to stop this now, when it was almost over! Even for one so well trained as herself it would be impossible. This was a waste of time. Enter Jamis and there was even more trouble.

"Mew, so let me get this straight, Mirei is going to Sh'ir Khan. And you want me to stop this how?" The young woman shouted and her Growlithe snarled. The man's eyes widened at the mention of HIS name, but she didn't care.

"I cannot say." Deal with it. That's what you are paid for.

"Great. Just great!"

Thrusting herself off the chair she stomped out of the room and made her way down to stop the end of the world before it was too late.

~~~~~

"So, you have finally arrived little one. I've long awaited having the chance to speak with one so special as yourself." The glib tongue paused as the Dragon considered, "And with loyal friends I see."

"Don't speak just yet. You will have ample time after I tell you what you need to know. Long ago a great battle was fought between myself and the legendary of Fighting. She lost, however, a mighty blow had been struck. Fearfully for my life I retreated into hiding, away from this wretched world. Now I have returned to fulfill my destiny and change the world to that of my liking. Yet I lack the one thing that would guarantee success. There was a curse, or legend rather, placed upon my manifestation by a powerful shaman. She required that I secure a willing component of living proportions to my cause.”

“Me.” Mirei whispered not intending anyone else to hear.

“Precisely. Unfortunately my own resources were limited and I was not aware of your presence until you had already escaped your birthplace. Had I only know I would have taken you away for proper education concerning your role in history. Alas, I can only offer you this brief explanation for which you must base your decision on. The right decision.”

“Was that a threat?” Aqua murmured nervously peering up with curiosity. She seemed to be the least awed by the giant golden dragon lounging before them.

“I think so.” Midnight replied grimly, “It’s his way if Mirei knows what’s good for her, I believe he was trying to say.”

“Huh, he has to abide by her decision.” Loki spat contemptuously glaring at the Houndoom who had taken himself to the side. “That curse thing made sure of that.”

<There was no mention of force or other dirty ways to get her to agree. He could threaten her or something she loves dearly.> Twilight pointed out morbidly her ears flat. Everyone shot her a glare at being so unhelpful.

“I intend to make the world better for all pokemon and have all the legendaries unite as one as it should be. There would be order and there would be respect. All things would fall into place and there would be peace with all the plagues of humanity gone.”

“Uh, did he just say what I think he did?” Loki whispered in surprise his eyes gone wide with disbelief and his mouth hanging open. Midnight nodded and Twilight blinked. “The end of humans?”

“You have one hour to talk it over with your friends and decide what you will choose. The new beginning will not wait forever and the time draws near to set it in motion.”

The Houndoom approached and led the group out of the chamber and into a smaller, more comfortable room richly embellished with gold and red trimmings. He bowed to Mirei and still managed a dirty look at the rest of them. Evidently he thought of them as useless baggage or worse, trash.

“So what do you think?” Mirei turned her golden eyes keen with distress. Her gold tipped ears were pasted back and her tail ticked unhappily against the carpet. She had been thinking it over wishing she could ask Raj or better yet Taz. The little fox always seemed to have the answers to this sort of things. Except that neither were anywhere near and Jamis was probably lying dead down in the cold, dark corridor. She had to make do with what she had.

“No.” Midnight snipped, “How could you even consider it? He means to play God and kill all the humans.” What the Umbreon didn’t add, but they all knew was that Gary was one of those humans.

Twilight announced her head high, <Everyone should state their opinion and support it. That way you receive more points of view than just your own. I will begin.

“What if he doesn’t stop? He’ll kill them all.” Midnight protested venomously, “Just what exactly is an acceptable level or population? Two, twenty, two hundred? Think of the suffering it would cause the surviving humans to have lost friends and family.”

Twilight cut in and continued her cold logic, <With his rule we would no longer be Freaks, but acceptable members of the pokemon society. Do you suppose such words would come from the humans who created us? Absolutely not.>

“There are good humans too.” Aqua protested softly flinch when Twilight swung her head around to glare, “And there are greedy, bad pokemon.”

Mirei listened almost indifferent to the squabbles. She listened when there was a relevant point, however, at the rate this was going there was going to be more than words soon enough. Thoughtfully she turned to Loki who had been surprisingly quiet. Generally, he was the first to offer his opinion.

“So what do you think?”

“Me?” The Flareon yelped jumping like a startled bunny. His fur cracked with the movement and his eyes shifted guiltily, “I don’t know. I mean, it’s not like humans have been particularly nice to me or anything. I was born in a lab. Maybe there are nice humans out there? You know, like Midnight’s Gary. I wouldn’t mind having one.”

Everyone stared at him in surprise including Blitz. His ears drooped at the stared and he blushed embarrassed at the unwanted attention. Swallowing he managed to look up and add an irritable growl, but they could tell his heart wasn’t in it.

“I never… well, you just seemed so prickly…” Aqua stuttered breaking the silence.

<That’s three to one.> Twilight remarked softly in bitterness. She was not pleased with losing her case. Deeper down she was disappointed with her own trainer. Why had her brother’s trainer appeared while hers left her at the bus stop?

“It may be that Twilight’s right.” Blitz offered cautiously. His black eyes flickered calculating and his mouth twitched with discomfort. “Humans do seem to make awful messes of things and pokemon should be allowed their chance at domination, however, if that were to happen then we would have to make sure that the same does not happen to us. Hubris is a great and deadly fault, and it would be a shame to ignore history’s dreadful lessons.”

“What do you mean by that?” His brother sputtered.

“Simply that I think that the offer should be taken up as an opportunity to expand.”

<Yes.>

“No!” Midnight jumped up and slammed his paw down. His petite size discounted him as a possible threat normally, but he was standing up for what he was believed in. His normal mild, thoughtful eyes were blazing.

“I think that decision is up to me.” Mirei said suddenly, “I’ll make the one I think is right. Thank you all for giving me advice and opinions.”

Her ears twitched suddenly and she crept to the door listening. She could hear the breathing of her guard, but softer, farther away was familiar voices. A new debate had started behind her and she hissed. An immediate hush fell over the group as they all turned to stare at her.

"I hear something."

Then there was a scuffle outside her door and she opened it to find Raj giving the guard a sound beating. It was the Houndoom leader just a lackey and was taking a good wallop. Raj paused in mid swing and had a hilarious look of surprise stamped on his features. Dropping his paw, he bounded over to her greeting in the normal cat fashion by rubbing up against her with his head.

"Raj."

"You don't sound very surprised." He grinned.

"What? I heard you a mile away."

Taz's head popped in next and a genuine smile crossed his face. His eyes flashed a brilliant green and he jumped into the room. Lastly, a human head with spiky brown hair cautiously peered around the corner. Midnight leapt up and raced into the boy's arms.

<What the hell is going on here?> Twilight shouted in confusion.

~~~~~

The Clone took a firm grip on the Celebi and clamped his hand over the small creature's big mouth. Outraged to be treated in such a fashion, Cirus thrashed and his muffled yells echoed dully off the walls.

Mewtwo snarled tightening the pressure, <Or you may meet with an unfortunate accident, do you hear me?>

The green fairy went limp and he was released. Hate shone in his bright blue eyes as he looked up at the big psychic and stuck out his tongue. Mewtwo coldly ignored his childish attitude and turned to Ace.

Uncomfortable and feeling severely out matched Ace managed to look up. Black meet black as there eyes made contact. Ace suddenly calmed and nodded feeling at ease all of a sudden. He had seen that Mewtwo was here to help.

<Cirus.> There was that same coldness and sharpness too, <Pick yourself up, and stop acting like a two-year-old human. I am not as tolerant as Mercedes.>

"Done." Sha'lace whispered tiredly and glanced at Cirus too tired to move. Her eyes were glazed with exhaustion and she evaporated to conserve her energy leaving only her violet eyes watching.

"What's the other option?" She retorted bitterly.

Jamis began stirring and she wobbled to her feet. Finding her legs, she made it one step at a time to the wall. Still a little weak she sagged there for a moment before pushing herself on. She had made it halfway up the corridor before anyone even noticed her disappearance. Unfortunately, that someone was Cirus.

"Where are you going?" He sneered revealing his true self. Jamis realized that he played dumb to keep suspicion off of him. They probably thought that he was stupid as well as drunk.

<None…of your…business.> She managed to sneer back. She knew how to handle his type. Hell, the lab was full of jerks like him. She was fairly sure he wouldn't pull something with the others just down the hall.

She had no idea who any of them were or why there was such tenseness. She had just been lying there waiting patiently for death. Her body had already gone numb and surprisingly she did not fear leaving. All her life she had fought with all her strength and it still came. Just when she had accepted it, all those weird people arrived. She knew who Mewtwo was and Celebi. After all, who didn't? Then there was the Arcanine and the strange creature that had healed her.

Now all she knew was that she had to save Mirei from making a grave mistake. Her sister was wanted for something and she knew that whatever it was it wasn't good.

"Everything's my business."

<Don't care.>

A fine powder sprinkled down about her and it settled deep in her long fur. Her limbs and muscles locked up forcing her to a halt. Outraged that Celebi had dared to do that she howled her rage. There was a brief silence as the ones still downstairs considered then scuffling of racing paws.

<What is going on here?> Mewtwo asked sternly directing the question at Jamis. Celebi tried to protest and The Clone cut him off with a sweeping of his hand.

<I’m not sure yet.> Jamis snapped glaring at the green fairy and continued,

“I was simply putting paralyzing on her so she wouldn’t run off.” Celebi cowered and all three of his companions glared. “I was trying to help.”

<Stop helping. Go back to Mercedes, she’ll have something for you to do.> The Clone barked with displeasure.

“I don’t think so.” Cirus sneered dropping all pretenses of the bumbling fool. A sneer covered his lips and his eyes turned to ice, “No, I really don’t.”

Chapter Seventeen

“What do you think Shadow? Me, I think this whole thing is a giant mess. Imagine trying to stop all of this now.” Erin sighed and her Growlithe nodded in agreement. The black dog trotted slightly in front of her wary for any dangers that may present themselves along the way down. Both of them knew about the experiments and the prophecy.

“Growlithe. Growl.” Shadow growled staring off down a side corridor.

“What is it? That’s not the way down.”

“Growl growl growlithe!” Shadow grated her legs stiff and her muzzle wrinkled revealing her teeth. A ridge of fur stood up on the back of her neck and her eyes were hard.

“All right then. You know the stakes and if you think that’s important we’ll go check it out.

“Ahem, we trailed you here.” Raj said pointedly to the Espeon as if it were obvious.

She howled at the insult to her intelligence. Gary’s presence upset her far more than anything else.

“Rajah Panthra.”

Loki had been covering his ears at all the noise and crept towards the door. Peering out he clapped a paw over his mouth and slid into the room wide eyed.

“He’s coming here.” The Flareon trembled scared out of his mind. Despite all his bluffing and bold words he knew when he was outmatched.

Immediately everything stopped and they all went towards the door. Mirei peeked out first and her crimson eyes flashed before she ducked back in. One by one they all looked and sure enough, the Dragon legendary was making his way down the hall unhurried and confident.

“We have to get out of here!” Loki whimpered looking frantically around the room for an exit. Stone greeted his searching paws leaving them trapped.

“We have to run then.” Blitz remarked unruffled. His coal black eyes flickered boldly and his body with tense with anticipation. Loki panted stressfully from beside him and Aqua quivered from Mirei’s side.

“Fighting?” Aqua said nervously peering at her companions with scared eyes. They were tinged with a mute yellow.

<You don’t think they will just let us go do you?> Twilight snapped.

Mirei, Raj, Aqua, and Taz were first to bolt out the door. Aqua had refused to leave Mirei’s side so Taz agreed to be her partner. In the wild rush he was pretty confident he could keep up with her and protect her. Twilight and Blitz, ended up together with Loki, Midnight, and Gary as the last team.

Bolting out the door Mirei could sense the Dragon’s confusion and disbelief. He was trying to search her out disregarding everything else. She put on an extra spurt of speed skittering right under his long, serpentine body. She brushed against the soft belly scales and avoided the sharp ebony talons. He whipped his head around missing her by little. His teeth closed on empty air where her tail had been.

She could feel Raj to the left of her slightly behind. He lashed out with a needle sharp paw catching the distracted Dragon a stinging blow. Aqua was still glued to her side although she had shorter legs and less stamina. Her breath was already coming in short gasps, but she had her teeth set and her eyes half shut against the pain concentrating on keeping her paws moving.

“Guards!” The golden Dragon bellowed swinging his head around and cutting off the other two groups with a concise motion. Blitz and Twilight were shoulder to shoulder staring him down. Electricity crackled and a light purple aura of power shone. Behind them was Midnight and Loki along with Gary. All three were looking petrified faced with the massive creature standing before them. Gary made to remove his pokeballs, but stopped in mid motion frozen his muscles locked up.

Then the cavalry arrived in the form of two dozen mixed pokemon. The Houndoom was still limping, but he proudly lead the pack giving them a shark grin filled with many teeth. His tail lashed and his sinister eyes roved over them, picking a target. They stopped on Raj and the dark dog gave a curt nod of satisfaction at the chosen.

Taz slid silently from under Mirei and whispered, <No matter what happens you need to go. Even if it’s me. Even if it’s Raj. Do you hear me? Run and get away, or none of us will have anything to live for.>

She made a vague protest not liking the order, but knew that he was right. She shot forward surprising both her followers and the pack. Like a black blur she bolted through the mist of all the enemy and into open area. Never pausing she continued racing on not venturing a look back.

Two things happened at once after her daring move. Aqua blazed forward with speed she had never had before her wings whipping around her. All her fatigue and soreness was gone leaving bald determination. The other was that the pack turned to follow. They knew their master’s wishes and failure to obey meant facing his wrath.

Aqua knocked through them with her tail slamming around heavily and her wings whipping into their faces blinding them. Several fell back in shock or pain wondering what had hit them. The Houndoom never moved throughout the whole ordeal. His eyes rested solely on Raj and his demonic smile had yet to leave his face.

Aqua caught up with Mirei and the two raced on side by side. Reaching the clean spotless rooms Mirei made sure to knock things down in the path of her pursuers. Aqua flitted up to the counters flinging bottles, flasks, and tubes down. Whatever she could lay her paws on. Unfortunately for the pack snapping at Mirei’s heels, some of them contained acids or poisons narrowing down the amount that chased them. The smell of burned flesh and fear filled the air.

“Turn.” Mirei panted suddenly on impulse and shot down the side tunnel that had led to the dungeons. Aqua followed nimbly managing to land a few slaps with her tail. A hesitation filled their hunters, but fear and self preservation overrode it and they plunged down only to be confronted by more than they bargained for.

In the hall was Sha’lace, Mewtwo, and Ace. The three were facing a rather angry Celebi. The normal jolly legendary’s face was a mask of rage and stark hatred. His blue eyes had filmed with red and his body glowed with a dark energy.

“Help.” Mirei managed to yelp as one of the pack caught her foot. She wrenched free and fled behind Ace. It was hard to tell which of the four parties was more surprised at the unexpected guests. The pack screeched to a halt confused and fearful. Mewtwo and Sha’lace stared unable to comprehend that what they had been searching for fell in their laps. Ace was joyfully hugging Mirei who was happy just to see a friendly face among all the well wishing strangers. Celebi had a look of contempt as well as horror.

<Back off scum!> Mewtwo thundered recovering himself.

“Attack!” Celebi countered pointing his finger, “In the name of our master, attack!”

The pack wavered between the two commands. There were only about a dozen of them. The boldest of the bunch and strongest, however, they did not get so strong by being stupid. The temporary leader suddenly lunged forward making up her mind. Her long claws torn down Mewtwo’s side breaking the psychic barrier that he had erected around himself.

“We’re Dark!” The female Sneasal crowed urging her troops on. “The Psychic cannot harm us and he is weak!”

Suddenly the whole mob lunged. Suddenly Jamis jumped out of nowhere. Her teeth were bared and she hit the nearest foe hard with her shoulder. He tumbled over and slid on the rough floor tearing out hair and drawing blood.

<So Psychic’s are weak then?> She snapped standing stiff and tense. Her tails lashed and her eyes flickered daring one to jump at her. The pack shrunk away casting nervous glances at their injured companion.

“Get them! She’s still Psychic.” Sneasal roared evidently seeing a promotion in her future. With the flat of her claws she started hitting her troops. Startled they jumped forward on Jamis and Mewtwo ignoring the injuries doled out. A few encircled Mirei, Aqua, Ace, and the other creature.

Ace firmly stood his ground his big paws set. The foes circled and lunged testing his defense. He held them off fairly well until he overshot his goal and slipped. He scrambled to get back into position, but it was too late by then. The opponents whirled past towards Mirei sure that they would have the prize in hand.

The leader was a good bit ahead of the others and jumped. His snapping jaws were two inches from Aqua's nose when a hard bone club smashed his face in breaking his jaw. The blow made him crumple to the ground and the others screeched to an undignified halt undecided. Evidently they had not counted on their prey fighting back and they were partly right. Aqua and Mirei would never do more than show their teeth unless it was the direst emergency.

The violet Marowak, however, had no such scruples. She expertly twirled her club like a baton daring any of them to attack. Her royal eyes were narrow and her mouth set. It was clear that she had no love for fighting, but was skilled.

"Run." She said coolly to Mirei, Ace, and Aqua. The other two legendaries were locked in combat. Mewtwo had sustained damage from the Dark army, but he was still strong with Recovers. Celebi looked surprisingly fierce and he was fighting with everything he was worth. Claws, teeth, and powers. Jamis broke off after finish her last opponent and raced after the three hoping that she could provide some protection.

They cut across a corner slipping and tripping in their haste. There was a human yell and Mirei looked up unable to stop. She tried to swerve in the narrow corridor. Jamis managed with her lightning speed to avoid both the girl and her pokemon landing heavily on the other side. Aqua was so small she darted through them her soft scales brushing the Growlithe's heavy fur. Mirei almost managed to make it past while the girl dodged out of the way.

Instead she miscalculated and smashed into the girl's legs. Dizzy she looked down hoping she hadn't killed the human. She knew that they were extremely fragile sometimes. The girl peered up with a broad grin on her face.

"Talk about lucky. Thanks Shadow, you knew just were to find her."

Mirei forgot her concern and bolted sure that these human had been sent to bring her back. Aqua was right on her tail and the two sped into open ground and florescent lights. Turning down an unknown corridor Mirei only wanted to escape. Thoughts of her friends, of Raj, and of the human raced as fast as her legs.

~~~~~

Sha'lace hit the creature's skull with a resounding thump and heard the bone underneath crack. Wrenching up her club she looked around finding only fallen foe beasts and the legendary fight still going on. Wiping her club off on a nearby body she concentrated of shifting her gas form to a different pokemon. Once down on all four paws she skittered off with her spikes rattling softly together. Coming to a bend she could sense human as well as Mirei.

Both had gone up and to the right. Her large ears flattened in fear and she shot forward as a blur. Violet electricity crackled around her and her Jolteon body was going full out. They were going the wrong way! She knew it, sensed it. There was evil down that tunnel. Evil and death.

Chapter Eighteen

Mewtwo and Celebi stood slightly apart panting with fatigue. Both were tired and drained, but neither was willing to be the loser. There had been a silent feud between them since Mew first rescued Mewtwo from his self and introduced him to the other legendaries. Mewtwo knew what evil ambition was and sensed it in the green fairy. For years he had awaited the betrayal, but he had never in his wide imagination dreamed that it would be at this fated time.

"So the time has come." Celebi sneered wiping blood off his face. It left a crimson smear across his cheek.

"Finally." Mewtwo agreed.

The two flew at each other with a blur of physical moves. Neither was very adept at them, however, they needed to regain their lost elemental power. It had been used up in the initial fling and now the fight hung on who got theirs back first.

~~~~~

Mirei stopped short and Aqua bumped into her. The room was dimly lit with all sorts of glass contains lining the walls. These containers were over six feet high and had a diameter of about four feet. Curious, she drew closer with her sister shadowing her foot steps cautiously.

Peering in she could only see her reflection at first, but the glass cleared and she stumbled back appalled. Aqua darted out of the way and to the door not sure why Mirei had reacted that way. Her feathers were frazzled and her frill up in fright.

"It's okay. We're safe." Mirei whispered going up the glass once more.

A hideously warped face stared back with topaz eyes and a fierce snarl. The creature's muzzle was thick as a bears, but devoid of any hair or fur. Instead there was dull orange scales pebbling the surface. The eyes were small and squinty with the teeth long like daggers. A thick neck connected the head to the body with broad shoulders. The thick arms hung down with sharp white claws on heavy paws. The back legs were also thick and a long, thin lizard tail emerged from the end. It looked like it was built to walk on two or four legs. Except that she was quite sure that it had never seen the outside of the tube. Small bubbles drifted through the clear liquid and the shoulders moved with respiration.

"Let's go." Aqua pleaded shivering as she glanced up.

Mirei agreed readily secretly glad that the creature was asleep and locked up. She wondered if it had been another hybrid experiment except that it didn't seem like any pokemon she had encountered before. There were too many things about it were more monster than anything else.

Turning she flicked her tail in disdain. It hit the small, almost indistinguishable control panel. A light flashed green, flickered a few times, then abruptly cut off. Neither of the two intruders noticed.

They continued on pausing to peer into tubes or step cautiously around something. Suddenly a rangy violet Jolteon barred their path. The light purple hackles were raised in anger and the royal purple eyes were accusing.

"Foolish ones. Do you not sense what you are walking into?" She panted driving them backwards as she pressed forward. Her ears were pricked towards behind them then they swished back as the human entered with room with Jamis trailing slightly behind her. The Growlithe was ahead boldly staring about.

"We were getting away!" Mirei protested feeling surrounded. She tried to go around the Jolteon and the misty creature dashed in her way determined not to let her pass. Turning Mirei saw that the human had closed in. Panicked she blundered past the Jolteon straight down where she wasn't suppose to go. Aqua, faithful as always, followed.

Suddenly there was dead-end. The hall had emptied into a circular room with no other exits. The door had been locked, but in her panic Mirei had used her powers to bust it to piece. Steel parts were scattered around charred and partly melted.

The room itself was quite chilly, cold actually. Their breath clouded in the air a ghost mist white and the floor was so cool that they had to dance to keep their toes from freezing. Shelves neatly placed and well constructed lined the round walls bending with the folds. A glass plate shielded each bordered by more steel. Heavy bolts kept them together and ensured that nothing sort of an earthquake would disturb them. Sterile counter tops and stools were organized and sorted. The room was spotless with no clutter or show of wealth. Whatever was stored in here they wanted to keep under control.

Jamis and the others entered in behind her. The Marowak’s, for she had changed back, eyes narrowed to mere slits and she growled, “Biological war! I had not imagined that he would sink so low."

"Bio-what?" Aqua yelped at how dire it sounded. She stood rooted in the middle of the floor not daring to move for fear she let out this unknown menace.

"It means a lethal disease in most cases." The girl put in, which was hardly reassuring. She could easily understand Sha'lace and Jamis' speech, and guess anything else. Shadow was sitting at her side sniffing suspiciously at a wooden cupboard. Evidently it wasn't dangerous and all she did was sneeze.

"Well, it he's got this, then why does he need me?" Mirei whispered puzzled and cast nervous glances at the skulls painted on the signs all around.

"He believes in the prophecy." Sha'lace grimaced in disgust. She tossed her bone from hand to hand with nervous energy. Evidently, the thought that the Dark possessed such an indestructible force made her twitchy. For the others in the room, it did more than that most were scared silly.

"I suggest we leave." Erin the human said coolly glancing between them. She turned with Shadow at her heels and strolled out. The fact that there was a fatal virus contained in there was a trivial matter to her. She had found her intended target and now all she had to do was return the hybrid to her Boss.

"Good idea." Aqua seconded skittering on the floor and out the door. Everything on her body was flat with fear and her movements reflected her nervousness. They were jerky and slightly uncoordinated.

Jamis cast a glance at Mirei and shrugged. Mirei tried to use the link that had bonded them for their whole lives and found it blocked. Evidently, Jamis didn't want her prying. She was just grateful that after all that had happened they still had a link. They felt more like strangers than sisters who had spent their whole lives together with ultimate closeness.

Sha'lace exited last silently thinking. She had turned in a violet Vulpix for comfort. With the exception of their human companion, all the others had four legs. A distinct advantage over her favored Marowak form. She had chose the Vulpix in case she had to go somewhere small rather than the speeder Jolteon.

<HALT!> A strong, cold voice commanded them. The word was slurred as if the user wasn't familiar with it and there was a thick accent over it.

Mirei stared up in fear rooted to the spot. Her eyes widened in horror and she stumbled back a pace. The creature from the tube, the monster, was towering over them. He was taller than a man and much more slender. Cord muscles and a thick tail promised strength even though he wasn't wide or barrel-chested.

<Surrender or die.> That sounded better, which only made them cringe more at the command since they could understand it. Someone had released him and put the formal words in his mouth. Now the choice lay before them.

~~~~~

Raj stared measuring at his opponent. The large dog was panting showing no signs of stress or anxiety. His paw looked completely healed with new skin pink and shiny. The nails had been replaced and the bones reset before they were fused back together. Whoever had healed him was at least as good as Sha'lace. The thought that she could have been the one who had healed him. He wasn't sure of her dealings and a turncoat was easily within her grasp.

"So little kitty, shall we play?"

"Sure. Let's play Kill." Raj smirked in deadly humor.

Then the circling began and the eyeing. Neither was completely sure of their opponent and they needed a brief time to fill in the knowledge gaps. His foe was experienced as well as strong and fast, Raj knew that much. He had watched the fight between Mirei's sister and the beast carefully sure that he would get this chance. This chance to end the Dark's evils once and for all. Not even a skilled healer could heal death.

Raj decided to dart in rather than wait for the other to move. His claws slid across the beast's slick hide, probing a weak spot. Thin scratches dribbling rivulets of blood were scored down the evil creature's side. Raj broke off not finding a place to suit his purposes. Jumping back he felt teeth graze his whiskers and was unflinching.

A leer was stuck on the Houndoom's pointed dog muzzle and his horns were jutting forward like a defensive shield. The Houndoom knew enough not to expose his throat and that the sharp points of his wicked horns would repel attack.

Pokemon, as humans selfishly believed, were not made solely for well controlled battles under supervision. Their ancestors had to be able to survive in the harsh wilderness. They evolved to fit the requirements of survival with elemental powers and natural weapons or armor. The horns on his head served as both and a thousand years of development had honed them perfectly.

Suddenly he blazed forward nimbly avoiding Raj's defense and scoring a hit. His canine teeth tore into the tender flesh of the heavier cats underbelly. Just as quickly he darted back out of retaliation's way. Raj winced at the searing pain pausing to examine the damage with one eye watching for another offensive move. A pocket of flesh had be partly disconnected and the flap hung loosely down. There was only a little bleeding and plenty of pain. Hardly life threatening though.

Raj realized he would have to follow a different strategy. Trading blows was earning him more wounds than anything else. Jamis had the right idea trying to slow him down, but the big black cat knew that he didn't have the jaw strength to duplicate her brilliant move. Instead he would have to make a plan that suited his attributes.

The Houndoom it seemed had quite enough of playing around and taking turns. He breezed in raining down blows and Raj fell back shielding himself. The canine sensing weakness pressed in harder sure that he had already won. Raj backed away ducking his head and limping on one side.

Just when the Houndoom had lunged forward intending to catch what he thought was his weak foe by the throat, Raj spun out. Gather his speed and his legs under him he slammed forward with his heavier shoulder. The Houndoom, having been led to a slippery spot on the floor, couldn't keep his footing. He skidded frantically trying to gain his balance before submitting to gravity and crashing down on the hard stone floor.

A loud crack rendered the air and his left shoulder blade showed through his skin. White on the black fur made Raj slightly nauseous, but he didn't have time to consider it anything, but a lucky break.

Pouncing he held the lithe wolf down and applied pressure to his foe's hard throat. It took some adjusting to work around the hard bone necklace, but once he had found the spot he wasn't letting go. Slowly, the thrashes slowed then stopped as he suffocated the hated creature trapped beneath him. In the manner of all big cats he held the airways closed so that none could get to the lungs. Without the life giving oxygen it was a slow death.

Letting go, Raj viewed his surroundings. After the defeat of their leader, the hoard had fled leaving himself and the good guys. Taz appeared suddenly appeared at his side and they silently both started out in the direction Mirei had gone without waiting for their eeveelution allies.

Chapter Nineteen

"We surrender." Mirei said rushing forward and cutting the others off. Something was not right here. Besides, they couldn't have a battle in the middle of a hazardous room filled with deadly plagues.

"What?" Erin shouted in surprise and outrage. She had a throwing knife in each hand and Mirei had no doubt that there were even more on her person. Shadow growled at her feet with all the fine black hair raised. Jamis had the same expression on her face. She had been planning to fight. Imagine fighting in her condition.

"She's right." Sha'lace seconded quickly. Her clever purple eyes flickered between them. Obviously she also realized what they were sitting on. "So long as you do not hurt any of us."

<No hurt. For now.> The powerful creature promised pleased that they had chosen to cooperate with him. Mirei was sure now that it was a him.

<What are you doing?> Jamis hissed in private mind speech. She didn't use the link that ran between them confirming Mirei's suspicions that it was now off limits. Whether it was blocked on purpose or not she couldn't use it.

"What I have to."

"That only one you are getting." Mirei whispered back while keeping a careful eye on their captor. His thick tail was perfectly still and his near blank eyes remained constant on her. He gave no indication that he heard what she was saying, but she was taking no chances.

<Come.> The monster commanded his deadpan stare never moved as they trooped towards the exit.

What happened next was to frightening. A blast of Psychic power tore through the sides of the building and soared over their heads smashing into the monster. Instinctively Mirei had jumped behind a metal table. Aqua had crawled inside a metal cabinet. Both of them trembled at the expected assault.

In the ruined, smoking doorway was Mewtwo. Cuts and abrasions covered his once sleek armor leaving smears of blood. Chunks of flesh were missing out of his arms and shoulders where Celebi's shots had clipped him. His eyes were glowing a neon blue as if someone was controlling him, except that somehow Mirei knew that no one was. He was controlling himself, yet still not doing it. It was as if some part of his mind took over.

<He dared to make another.> Mewtwo stated wrathfully his tri-fingered hands clenched into bony fists. Power pulsed out of him in waves and his strong tail lashed knocking into several things. It didn't matter.

"Oh no." Sha'lace whispered subconsiously morphing into an Umbreon. Her rings were a stark white contrasting highly with the misty lavender of her coat. Her eyes were filled with unaccustomed fear as was her voice. Her long spear shaped ears did a series of movements with each thought then drooped as she finally spoke again, "We have to… I don't know."

"We have to stop this. They can't blow up this lab." Mirei howled to be heard over the crashing noise. For now the two clones were testing their strength against each other. Push became shove and things were being bashed into or knocked down. "Lure them away or something?"

<With what? Neither of them would notice if a bomb went off right now.> Jamis snapped stressed at the situation. This was one of the few occasions where her massive size and abilities had no sway. She could do absolutely nothing. She was powerless. That wasn't a feeling that she experience all that often and it put her over the edge.

"I don't know, but we can't let this happen!" She yelled in frustration. Breaking cover she scrambled and wove her way between the powerful blows being thrown and promptly bit Mewtwo on the foot.

He contemptuously turned and swatted he away. The bite marks were ugly and painful being of the Dark element, however, he didn't even seem to notice. Sha'lace was next to try exerting her power as the Ghost Legendary. Unfortunately, being unknown by the humans had made her weak. Mewtwo and the other were man created by the laboratories. They had no need for belief and there was no conceivable limit to their power, only their bodies. Lastly, Jamis sighed seeing the wasted efforts and clamped down on the monster's tail.

Bunching her muscles she physically dragged him down the hall. He was so immersed in the battle that he just kept on fighting as he was pulled backwards. Suddenly he ripped his tail out of her mouth, yanking her teeth in the process, and turned batting her aside. His eyes shone a dull red. He had obviously received his orders. No doubt from the Dragon to stay near the secret lab in case it needed to be destroyed. The thing about him was he always had a way to win, even if it was cowardly or that was so simple it was mind-blowing. After the lost battle so many years ago losing was no longer an option in his opinion.

Sha'lace knew all that and shrugged, "There is nothing more we can do. The human race is doomed."

<What?>

"Doomed?" The two sisters shouted in unison. Evidently neither had fully considered the consequences of the battle raging before them.

<Can't Mew do anything?> Jamis cried in desperation. She had never been fond of humans, she tolerated them for the most part. However, her life had been all about them. Who would take care of her, give her orders and missions, feed her? Her life had been one long, painful trial, but it was all she knew. <She's suppose to be in control!>

"I fail to see what she could do." Sha'lace remarked dryly. She had already accepted the inevitable.

"Stop them?" Mirei whispered doubtfully.

She hadn't met Mew, but there were all sorts of stories surrounding her power. Images of all the kind people she had met filled her head. Alex, the little girl, and her mother; the woman who had chased them down here; Jamis' former partner; not to mention Gary. Then there was the Persian pride. They depended on humans for the food they scrounged and the place they lived. Then she thought of all the pokemon who loved their trainers and what would happen to them when they were abandoned. There was no doubt about the prophecy. This would change the future in ways radically and mundanely unimaginable. She now wasn't sure her role in all this. She couldn't stop it, she had no choice. The prophets had been wrong.

But what if they were right and something she had done unknowingly in the past set this off? Then it would be all her fault. Except that it wasn't. She had never been informed off this choice she would have to make, knowing or unknowingly. She had been watched, that was true, but never told. She doubted that either Raj or Taz knew much about it anyway and Ace certainly knew nothing.

"Watch out!" A voice shouted to her left and someone bodily knocked into her. For an instant she was worried about smashing Aqua, only to realize that the little marine pokemon was no longer at her side. The she crashed to the side mutely hearing the explosion that hit the spot where she had been laying.

"Raj!"

"That's right." He grinned then the smile vanished, "We have to get out of here. The way they are fighting this place will be in a million pieces."

Mirei then realized that this was most likely the pivotal point. This was her decision. Pushing him off she shook her head, "We can't, or I can't. There's a human killing disease in there! And if it gets out there will be no more humans. This has got to stop."

"Sure, but how babe? I'm assuming you and your sister have already tried." Rajah asked gently. His tail was twitching nervously and his ears were swiveled back tracking the fight. When her face feel he grimaced.

"You can do something, can't you?" Mirei pleaded.

"No, I can't." There was no pet name add. The tone was dead serious and the phrase came out with no hesitation. He knew that even as a half Legendary that there was no way he could break the colossal brawl behind them. "We have to get out of here."

Mirei bit her lip and nodded her crimson eyes filling with tears. Whether they were tears of shame or sadness Raj couldn't tell. Gently he wiped them away reflecting that she had taking her role in this too hard.

"We have to find the others." Raj nodded silently rather than argue that they should leave. He spotted Taz and Sha'lace huddled across the room. Jamis was standing boldly off to the side watching the fight with undivided interest her slate gray eyes stormy. The human had long since departed with her Growlithe. Apparently she wasn't planning to stick around and get killed. Ace was gone too, if he was ever there that is, and Raj could only assume he left under Taz's orders. Of the Vaporeon there was no sign. That worried him.

"Where's Aqua?"

"Don't know love, but we can't just hang about. Taz! Let's go!"

The quick little fox expertly wove between the frenzied duelists and Sha'lace followed. The two Vulpixs looked uncanny next to each other with one purple and the other orange.

Taz said flatly right off staring up at Mirei. Silently Raj congratulated his intuition, and tact, or rather lack of.

"We can't." Mirei said back defeated. "We have to go before this place blows up."

"Right."

"But Aqua is gone!"

<She probably went to join the other eeveelutions where it was safe. Or left with that human girl. If anything she's a whole lot better off than we are at the moment.> Taz soothed pointing out the obvious solutions. He didn't mention his dark fears and misgivings. They need to escape in one piece and that didn't include dragging a half-hysterical cat.

Once they were outside there was no sign of Ace, or the other eeveelutions. The girl Erin was leaning half in the darkest shadows watching emotionless as smoke and debris sprouted from the foundations. She spoke at their approach in a subdued voice, which was much different than her normal cool tone.

"Giovanni left you know. Like a Zubat outta hell. Drove that big ol' limo through the gates he was in such a hurry. Except that he can't run from this. It will follow him and in it's wake with be world upsetting chaos." She said pensively and remorseful, "That disease is too dangerous and these politics are worse. People will fry for this and the fur will fly. I'm leaving, as far as I can go and as fast too. I want to be in some isolated place of ignorance when this bomb goes off. I suggest you do the same. An island would do nicely. Take your friends and warn your acquaintances who are trustworthy. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I failed. Failed the future of the world. My boss was in there you know."

That last sentence was said bleakly as all the windows in the house imploded and fire welled up around the edges, "We'll fry sooner or later."

Then she slipped off into the night with the silence and grace of a cat leaving a very confused and bemused group.

Jamis suddenly leapt forward running full speed. She smashed through the front door deaf to the cries of alarm behind her. She pounded down the hall taking the secret entrance to the lab. Down the whirling stairs she reached the lab. Frighten occupants bleated and screamed. Some in unintelligible fear and others in rational voices. One by one she released each giving them at least the chance to live. Before this life hadn't been precious to her. And it wasn't until the girl had spoken that she realized that the humans wouldn't survive this. No matter what they did, the plague would came and do what it was made for. To destroy.

Having freed all that she could find and still not having found any of the missing eeveelutions she skittered down to the Dragon's den. She would get some measure of revenge for the evil he had created, the pain and suffering he had and would cause through his actions. She hurtled downed bodies of his army. All the live ones have escaped fearful of their lives. She just hoped that the Dragon hadn't fled also.

Turning a tight corner she felt the fur on her side brush against the cold walls. That only made her go faster. She had to find him and take him out at all costs. It didn't occur to her that arriving winded and weak would hurt her already slim chances of winning. All she knew is that he had to die, provided Legendaries could die, even if she had to escort him to the gates of Hell herself.

"You come. To see my great triumph I hope?" The deceptive voice hissed softly behind her. She whirled wondering privately where he had hide himself and snarled. Coiled loosely around a stone pillar in the shadows the golden Dragon regarded her.

<Your greatest one ever.> She proclaimed tensing up.

"You think you are doing to world a service, fool?" He jeered knowing precisely why she had returned. Death did not scare him. Retreating from grievous wounds would provide an opportunity he needed to consider what next to do with his new world. His humanless world.

<We need humans.> Jamis replied never taking her eyes off him as she stalked closer. <They were the ones who made you what you are.>

"So what am I then? A turncoat perhaps? Humans made me out of hate and spite. It is my nature to do the same. Why do you need them? Food, love, shelter? You could take all of those without assistance with a little relearning. Needles, scorn, fear? What purpose does that serve but to make your life a misery." He replied carelessly, but his tone was tinged with bitterness. It was then that Jamis realized that he had been thinking this over since he was created. Asking all the questions of himself that a normal being did. Who was he? Why was he here? Should he be here? What was right and what was wrong?

<No, you're wrong. There are good humans too. Except that you can't differentiate, can you? A human is a human. To you they don't have feelings, morals, families. To you they are merely a species. A species that has done a wrong to you in the history of wrongs. Then again, none of the humans now would even know you. Isn't that what you want? To sink into obscurity. No, you want recognition no matter how brief.> Jamis shook her head slowly starting to understand things she hadn't been able to pin point about herself. <And that's really all you have ever wanted was to be known. Like the great Mew. The child goddess herself. All pink and playful, but filled with extreme power for good? The golden child, the favorite child of the humans. With you only to be feared and hated like the bad boy who can't do anything right.>

"Stop it! Stop your detestable lies and deceiving depiction! I am perfectly pleased with my role as the 'bad boy' and Mew will no longer be the favorite!" He screamed in a berserk fury whipping his lithe body forward propelled by his whip-coil muscle.

With his flattened jaws gapping and his dagger tipped claws scrabbling furiously he bore down on her with fiery intentions. A whirl of flame hovered before his canines, which jutted out slightly. It was made of the palest blue fire. So pale that it nearly looked clear. The deadly Dragon Rage brought up to it's full potential.

In reply Jamis brought forth an attack that she had been working on for years. She had never used it before, but she knew that it would work. It had to work.

Purples of all shades and tints began to gather about her in little balls of energy. They were joined by flickers of oranges, reds, and yellows. The cold given off by the purple balls and the heat from the fires melded. The fused energy formed a blurred shape that pulsed dangerously creating strange lighting and a sense of dread.

"What is this? A parlour trick to scare me into submission?" The Dragon sneered with insanity dancing in his passionate eyes. A wild grin played across his flattened face and an amused sound which was not quite a chuckle torn from his throat.

"A joke."

<We'll see.> Jamis replied feeling calm and level. She had never tried this attack before for a good reason. It took all of the welder's energy just to control and direct it. Basically it was suicidal, but good enough to gureente victory against a foe. She hoped.

The blur moved in closer gathering energy from the area around it. The last of the fading energy in the dead was sucked out, even energy from the Dragon himself was pulled together. Jamis felt her legs start to weaken and she had to strenghten her resolve. There was still time to turn back and she considered it, but bit her lip and kept on going. If she was going to insist on playing the hero then she may as well do it right.

After all, she wanted good things to be said after her death. She wanted to give her future nieces and nephews a chance to grow up without the control of a power hungry legendary. She had seen the way it was between Mirei and Raj, and for some reason it really made her happy.

"What are you doing?" The golden beast screamed in fear and pain. He was feeling the energy drain as well and it dawned on him that he was not immortal. The end was coming.

In a burst the breaking point had been released. Energy flashed and rendered the air with visiousness tearing apart stones and pulling apart the very building foundations. In the mist of it was Jamis and her foes.

Silent screams of pain and horror issued from the great maw of the once legendary. His lithe body was writhing in agony and the sharp claws were scrabbling against the raised chunks of stone uselessly.

Jamis gritted her teeth enduring while she felt her body being tore apart as the stone were. Her mind and thoughts were filled with worries about the future. Worries that she would never again have to deal with. An uncontrollable rage that she would never have to force back. Her life was ending yet she didn't feel the things she would have associated with death. Closing her eyes peacefully her body went limp.