Phoenix of Chaos
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Just Gotta (Thanks, Vye!)Just Gotta
Prologue
"We are on schedule," a mysterious voice said.
"The preparations have been made." a second replied. A third said
"Everything is ready."
"Very good." a fourth voice replied. "Proceed as planned."
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Elsewhere, somebody was in trouble. He sat across the room, Game Boy slippy in his hands.
"She's got that look!" another boy whispered to the girl next to him, muttering about the first boy's opponent.
"Yeah, he's doomed," the other replied. "But what can you expect when he's up against the Mewtwo Queen?" in the room next door, two more girls were playing with pokémon cards. One looked up, and told the other
"Looks like your sister is about to win, Shellee."
"Of course she is." Shellee replied without even looking away from her hand. A thin trickle of sweat ran down the boy's face as yet another of his pokémon fainted. Down to one.
"You shouldn't show fear." the Mewtwo Queen commented, a smug grin on her face. Angered, the boy slammed his Game Boy on the seat and stood up, yelling
"It's not fair! You've been using cheat codes again, haven't you?" the grin faded slightly, only to be replaced by a confident smirk.
"Cheat codes, huh?" she mused. "Sorry, but no. I only use cheat codes when Mewtwo isn't available, nothing else. And besides, this particular Mewtwo was legitimately captured from Firered. No cheat codes involved. Even if it was one of those Mewtwo's, it wouldn't have made a difference. But you have made me curious..." she paused slightly to stare at her opponent. "Do you always accuse your opponent of cheating when you're about to lose?"
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Chapter 1; Apologies
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One short battle and a lot more complaining later, it was time to go.
"It was fun, guys," Shellee said. "We'll see you later. Come on, Hillaree!"
"I'm coming, Shell!" she replied. Hillaree was 14, and had a rough background. Her eyes were green, and her chin was pointed. Her hair was brown, but had two blond streaks running from her fringe to the back of her head. She turned to her opponent, who looked decidably downcast. She decided to cheer him up. "I had fun battling you today. You're getting much better! Keep trying, and I'm sure you'll beat me someday!" she walked off to catch up with Shellee, a smile still on her face.
"And there she goes, acting all innocent again," one of the boys (not her opponent) commented. "She's merciless in battle, but is so nice afterwards. It makes you wonder... Which Hillaree is the real Hillaree?"
"Either way," a girl replied. "She still beats us."
"True..."
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"You know, Hillaree..." Shellee said.
"Hm?"
"If you keep beating everyone like you have been, they may stop inviting us over."
"It's not my fault if they're sore losers." Hillaree pointed out.
"Maybe if you didn't use Mewtwo..." Shellee hinted.
"No way! I should be able to use whatever pokémon I want, no matter how strong!" she said defiantly.
"And they already limited you to one Mewtwo per team." Shellee continued undaunted.
"I KNOW!" Hillaree yelled. "It's such a conspiracy!"
"Well, maybe if they knew why Mewtwo is your favourite..."
"What?" Hillaree asked, thrown off her rant. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about your power," Shellee said, surprising Hillaree. "Mewtwo has powers just like yours. They might not care that you use him if they knew."
"First off, I fail to see how telling them would change anything. Second," she paused slightly to hold up two fingers. "Even if it would help, I'm already the "Mewtwo Queen". Let's not make it more so. Third, the similarities between my powers and Mewtwo's are far and few between. You can hardly say they're just "alike". Fourth... will you stop talking about my powers like they're a good thing?"
"Why aren't they?" Shellee asked. "Why do you hate your power?"
'I don't know...' Hillaree thought, a tear appearing in her eye. 'Just something, deep inside, tells me I'd be better off without them. Mewtwo isn't my favourite because of my powers. When I first saw Mewtwo, I noticed there was something... familiar, about him.'
"Do you think your real parents had powers?" Shellee asked, for Hillaree was adopted.
"Do you think your real parents asked stupid questions?" Hillaree asked, for Shellee was also adopted. Suddenly, Shellee's eyes widened.
"Forgot your Game Boy again?" Hillaree asked.
"Shut up!" Shellee replied, running back. "Wait here, I'll go get it and be right back."
"Yeah, yeah," Hillaree replied waving. "I know the drill." she looked at the sky. A clear blue, with the occasional cloud. She started whistiling the battle theme from Firered, when a voice said
'I'm sorry.'
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Hillaree flinched, and looked over her shoulder.
'Who... said that?'
'I'm really sorry,' the voice continued. Something rumbled at Hillaree's feet, and she looked down. Something was shooting up at her! Before she could react, they'd grabbed both arms, her stomach and both legs in a tight grip. 'But this is for your own good!'
'What's going on?' she asked. Maybe herself, maybe the voice, there was no way of telling. 'What are these things? And why... why am I not more afraid?' something started making a noise. Sssh... SSHEMM... Hillaree looked over, thinking 'Now what?' A bright, glimmering... hole was in front of her, and the things were dragging her closer to them.
'When you are ready...'
'Ready?'
'... I'll bring you back.'
'Ready for what? What do you mean, "back?" I don't understand...'
'Please, forgive me.' the voice said again. The things surged towards the hole faster, and she was quickly thrown in. She let out a panicked cry, but thought
'Why do I feel... like I've done this before?'
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Somebody sighed loudly.
"Is it dinner time? Already?" he asked. He had a heavy accent of some country or other.
"Char!" Something replied. Whatever it was, wasn't human.
"Okay, okay. You vin, my friend. Ve vill eat." he looked down at an orange lizard with a burning tail. "The study vill vait, but you vill not. I should know by now not to get between you and food, no?"
"Char!" it said again. It was, in fact, a Charmander.
"Gardevoir, can you get the pokémon food for me?" the man had turned to a Gardevoir, who confirmed his request and nodded. The Gardevoir's look of willingness turned to one of curiosity. Sshem...
"Vhat is wrong?" the man asked.
"Gardevoir..." Gardevoir replied, pointing. The man looked over his shoulder, and saw the Charmander was staring at a... at a...
"Vhat... is that?" That was a hole in the sky, which glimmered slightly.
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Hillaree saw a light at the end of whatever it was she was in. She heard a voice, and it sounded human.
"Vhat is happening?" it asked, worried.
"Huh?" Hillaree replied. Whatever was holding her put her down with a gentle tap and receded into the portal. It closed with a final sshemp. Hillaree and the mystery man stared at each other, both lost for words.
"Charmander?" Charmander asked, tilting his head.
"Huh?" Hillaree replied, glancing down. It took two seconds to recognise Charmander, and another half-second to decide how to react. "AAAAAHHH!!" she screamed at the top of her voice.
"Calm down," the man said. "You are acting like you have never seen a pokémon before."
"I haven't!" Hillare yelled, naturally freaking out.
"Oh..." the man said, puzzled. "Really?"
"It's still there!" she yelled, pointing at it.
"{Why haven't you?}" the Charmander asked.
"'Cause pokémon aren't real, that's why!" a slight silence appeared, then the man stuttered
"Did you just... understand vhat he said?" this truth hit Hillaree like a ton of bricks.
"Oh my gosh!" she yelled. "I did! What the heck is going on?!"
"Ve vill figure this out. Please, be calm." the man said not calming her down in the slightest.
"{She is not from this world.}" Gardevoir said.
"{She isn't?}" Charmander asked.
"This... world?" 'What...?' Hillaree asked.
"Vhat vas zat?" the man asked, but he was ignored.
"{I'll explain.}" Gardevoir said.
'I don't get it,' Hillaree thought to herself. 'Where exactly... am I?'
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Chapter 2: Our Similarities
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To human ears, the conversation between Gardevoir and Hillaree would have sounded like this;
"Gardevoir, Garde Gardevoir."
"Uh-huh..."
"Gar Gardevoir Voir Gardevoir."
"All right..."
"Garde Gar. Gardevoir Gar."
"Okay." a pause. Evidently, the conversation was finished. Hillaree seemed lost in thought.
"Vhat did she say?" the man asked. In his hands was a bowl of food. Charmander wagged his tail expectantly, a drop of drool in the corner of his mouth.
"Your Gardevoir says there are many different worlds," Hillaree explained. "Dimensions, universes... she said that some psychic pokémon can sense them. She says I'm unnatural."
"So you vere somehow brought to our vorld..." the man muttered. "I did not know you could sense that, Gardevoir. Tank you!" he gave Gardevoir a thumbs up. Gardevoir appeared to blush slightly.
"Who exactly are you, anyway?" Hillaree asked.
"Oh, I apologize!" the man said, turning to face her. "My name is Professor Elrich Evur. I used to be a trainer, but then became a Professor to study pokémon. I just recently graduated, but I hope to study the best ways to heal a pokémon and restore their energy after battle. I'm not sure how successful I'll be."
"Why not?"
"Vell, I don't have a name that is a plant."
"That's true..." Hillaree admitted, thinking of Professors Oak, Birch, Rowan...
"Butterfree!" a voice wavered somewhere outside.
"Oh, there you are." Evur said.
"Is that your Butterfree?" Hillaree asked.
"Jes. I have many pokémon. Did everyone get enough to eat?" this question was aimed at the pokémon, who confirmed it. "I have no human assistants, but..." he held out his arm. Butterfree landed on it. "My pokémon are the best assistants I could ask for." Hillaree glanced over at Charmander, who was wiping his mouth.
"So the Charmander is yours?"
"Hm?" Evur said. "No, not really," he saw Hillaree's confused look, so he continued; "I found him about six months ago. He vas very ill. I took him home vith me to treat him. He's been here ever since. I haven't actually captured him, but he doesn't seem to vant to leave. At any rate..." he looked back at Hillaree. "Ve got a little off track. Ve know you are from another vorld, but how do ve send you back?"
"Beats me," Hillaree replied without looking up. "I don't even understand how I got here." Gardevoir held one hand up, and said
"{The one who brought you here could send you back.}"
"Any idea who that is?" Hillaree asked, giving Gardevoir one of "those" looks. A moment of silence, then Gardevoir shook her head, a smile on her face.
"Vell, until Ve figure this out, you are more than velcome to stay here." Evur offered.
"Oh, I don't want to be any trouble." Hillaree hastily said.
"It's no trouble, really." Hillare looked a little surprised, then sighed.
"Okay."
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Sometime later, the sun was sinking slowly.
"Hm..." Evur pondered. "From vhat you have said, it doesn't seem like the one who brought you here meant you any harm. You vere even put down carefully."
"Yeah, and they kept apologising! I just wish I knew why they did it!"
"I vould like to know that too." another silence settled between the pair.
"I really do appreciate you taking me in like this." Hillaree finally said.
"It's really no problem, I promise." Evur replied. They'd had this converation several times by now. Charmander yawned. Hillaree giggled.
"Looks like this little guy is ready for bed."
"Yes," Evur agreed. "I hope I didn't work him too hard."
"What do you mean?"
"I vas studying his attacks."
"His attacks?"
"He is a low levelled Charmander, barely level 10. But he has high level attacks, such as Flamethrower and Slash."
"Is that weird?" Hillaree asked. "Can't they inherit attacks from their parents?"
"Vell, yes, but he didn't know them before. He's learnt them vhile he's been here, and it is that vhich is unusual.
"Whoa, really? I see... I think that's amazing! Great job!" the Charmander looked surprised, then outright happy.
"Vell, you're all set. Are you sure you don't vant me to take the couch?"
"No, it's fine," Hillaree confirmed. She was sat on the couch, blanket in hand and pillow supported on the couch's arm. "I don't want to be any more trouble."
"I just hope you can sleep okay."
"Oh, don't worry. Once the sun is down, I'm out." Evur turned to check on the pokémon. Gardevoir was yawning, and Butterfree's antennae were drooping.
"Looks like they're ready for bed too." Hillaree noted.
"You're right, I should see to them now." Evur commented. "Are you sure you'll be..." he had turned back to Hillaree, who was sleeping as soundly as if she'd been asleep for a couple of hours. "She vasn't kidding!" Charmander looked at Hillaree and, murmuring something, leant down and slept beside her.
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"Real pokémon?" someone asked. His voice sounded deep, all-knowing.
"Yeah!" Hillaree replied. "Can you believe it?" the mystery voice chuckled.
"You'd be surprised what I can believe."
"Isn't it cool?" the voicelaughed quietly.
"It's been a while since you've been this excited."
"Can you blame me?" Hillaree asked. "I've loved pokmon for so long... just to think they're real! And that Charmander was so cute!"
"Maybe you'll meet that Mewtwo you're always going on about."
"I didn't think about that!" By now, Hillaree was in full fangirl mode. "That'd be awesome!" the voice laughed again.
"Well, you're happy, so I'm happy."
"Yeah, but..." Hillaree had become a lot more sensible, as if a switch had been thrown. "I bet that Mom, Dad and Shellee are worried. Should I really be enjoying myself like this?"
"They wouldn't want you to be miserable." the voice replied. "You can find a way back. It's okay to have until you do."
"You're right," Hillaree admitted. Her mouth formed what could mbe mistaken for a smile. "You always know just what to say."
"That's what I'm here for. I wish you could stay longer, but someone out there needs you."
"Huh? Who?"
"You need to wake up now, but I'll be waiting here when you dream again." that said, she woke up.
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She blinked. It was still dark, but a source of light was making flickering shadows.
"Char!" A voice pierced the darkness, and the shadows jumped around.
"What's going on?" she asked hoarsely. Almost in reply, Charmander murmured again.
"Charmander?" she asked, looking down at him. He was gritting his teeth and if he dragged any further with his claws, Evur would need a new carpet.
'Is he dreaming?' she asked herself. 'If he is, it can't be good.' worried for him, she shook him lightly.
"Wake up, little guy."
"{Huh?}" he jerked up and gasped
"It's okay! You're safe!" Hillaree said. Charmander looked into her eyes. "You're okay." she repeated softly. Charmander looked down and gritted his teeth again. "Tell me about it." Hillaree said. Charmander opened his eyes. "I'll listen."
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"{I have this nightmare a lot.}"
"What happens?"
"{Everything's dark. I hear humans talking.}"
"What about?"
"{I don't know. I can't hear them well. Something about me, I think.}"
"Then what?"
"{I hear two voices screaming. Then someone grabs me.}"
"Anything else?"
"{... no. I never see anything after that.}"
"And you don't know what it means?"
"{No. But it always scares me.}" a silence settled between them.
"Something from your past, maybe?"
"{I wouldn't know.}"
"Why not?"
"{I can't remember anything before Pr. Evur found me.}"
"Really?"
"{Not a thing.}"
"Wow... how weird."
"{I know. I wish I could remember something. Anything.}"
"Hm..." Hillaree said, lost in thought. An idea struck her. "Hey, we should go on a journey together!"
"{A journey?}"
"Yeah! My friend said you needed my help. I think this is how I can help you!"
"{Your... friend?}"
"Oh, right. I don't have dreams like everybody else. When I dream, I visit my friend. We play, we talk... pretty much just hang out. We do it every night. I don't know what he looks like or his name, so he's just "my friend." He's a great listener, and gives good advice. He's probably the best friend I could ask for. But... now I've gone off on a tangent."
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