Chapter 43: Fate

"What about the guy's Pokemon he left behind? And what if he comes back?" I asked worriedly as we walked.

"We'll send them back with some simple shots of the time dimension gun. And I don't think he can come back or else he would have by now. That or he's regrouping to hurt us at some other time in the future."

"Us?" I repeated, then frowned. "Wait, why was he only attacking us anyway? And why did he kidnap you?"

Daniel took a deep breath, about to speak. He closed his mouth as he looked ahead. "There they are."

He started jogging, finding what felt like a battlefield. Trees were splintered, the green of the forest floor had been stripped away to rubble.

"What is up with this guy's Pokemon? They seem unbeatable," I said, making my way past the Donphan from earlier, passed out. Daniel fired the gun without flinching. The Donphan disappeared. A green head poked out from behind a tree, a slim red eye honed on us. We walked around to find Anthony with his Rapier, who was down for the count.

"You figured out what it did," Anthony stated, panting besides Rapier as he bandaged up his tail.

I looked ahead to see Misty's Starmie still fighting against Rhydon. I was too tired to help.

"I'm on it," Crikey growled, charging forward. "Wait until I sink my teeth into your rocky head!"

"The others still have Pokemon left. But hardly. These Pokemon have special stat boosting items that I've never seen before. Go use that thing." Anthony indicated the gun.

Daniel took a deep breath. "Alright. Since you're busy playing doctor."

"I am. Hurry up." Anthony tightened the bandages, making Rapier hiss.

"Come on. I'll help," I said.

Daniel squared his shoulders. "Right. No offense, Em, but you have horrible aim."

I scowled. Zuko nodded in agreement with Daniel.

"See? He knows it. So it's up to me. Again," Daniel said, aiming the gun at Rhydon and pulling the trigger. He disappeared before Crikey even got in a hit.

"Hey! That was my fight."

Daniel grinned, then moved onto the next battle, which Brock and his Geodude were enduring against an Aggron. He was gone in a flash. Brock and Geodude collapsed together in relief, but not before a Venusaur moved in the camouflage of the forest, vines extending to grab them. Daniel noticed and sent a shot his way. Milliseconds before the vines ensnared Brock and his partner, he was gone.

"This guy had more than six Pokemon," I commented.

"Yeah, well. He probably cheated the system somehow," Daniel said as he shot another portal at an Aerodactyl, then at Snorlax.

"Help us out!" Amanda yelled as Bonnie used Thunderbolt on a Kabutops, which slammed into her with Waterfall.

"He's fast. Crikey, go get him," Daniel said, taking aim.

"My pleasure." Crikey started forward, using Waterfall until Kabutops slammed into a tree. Crikey moved out of the way and Daniel fired.

"Is that all of them?" Amanda asked.

"Where are Ash and Misty?" I asked.

"They went to go find you a while ago," Amanda answered. "Did you not see them?

"No," I said. Something bumped against my hand. Reg. I patted his head. "We need to go get them."

Crikey stomped back over. "What about that Metagross?"

"We forgot all about that one," I said, shuddering. It was so strong too.

"I need to go do something," Daniel said suddenly. "Here Anthony. Take the gun."

"Me?"

"Yeah. I have the weird suit still." Daniel gestured to his right arm, where he'd put it back on just in case. "You need that to shoot at Metagross. Problem solved."

"Daniel-" I started, not sure what else to say.

He smiled at me. "Don't worry, I'll be right back. Crikey, come on."

"Right behind you."

He ran off into the forest. Brock came over to our group, holding Geodude. "Guys, this is the hardest day I've ever had."

"You're telling me," I muttered to myself. "Come on. We need to go rescue Ash and Misty now."

"Now they're in trouble?"

"Probably," I said.

We trekked through the forest. It was almost sunset by now. It felt like the longest afternoon ever.

I heard Ash first. "Give her back!"

I started running, Anthony and Zuko next to me. Metagross was holding Misty twenty feet in the air, flailing upside down as she screamed. Brock instantly ran over to Ash, yelling at Metagross with the same fury.

"I can't send him back as long as he's holding Misty," Anthony said, aiming despite the fact.

"Emma, we have to get her now and only Zuko seems strong enough to battle," Amanda said.

But it wasn't going to be that easy. Metagross had a super computer as a brain. He wasn't going to let Misty go without getting something in return. He was way smarter than I was and there was no point in denying it. Especially right now, when I was dead tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep for days.

"I know what he wants," I said. "Metagross!"

His red eyes honed in one me.

"Let her back down and I'll let you take me."

"Emma, you can't do that," Amanda argued, grabbing my arm.

"That is the stupidest idea you've ever had," Anthony said, still aiming the gun as if Metagross would decide everything should be a happy ending. But I knew that's not what this would be.

"He's not going to stop until he has me. And this way my mom will be safe." I took a deep, shaky breath. "I felt like I've been testing fate this whole time anyway."

Ash was too busy trying to jump up and get to Misty. "Celebi, come help! Celebi!"

But there was nothing. And sure, Celebi was a Legendary Pokemon. But what was he going to do against this giant Metagross that wouldn't stay down?

"Ash!" Misty yelled, closing her eyes and trying to reach down to him despite their fifteen foot difference.

"It's for the best, guys."

"What about Daniel?" Amanda asked, trying to persuade me differently.

I shrugged indifferently. Because I couldn't let anything or anyone sway me from the right thing to do. "Just tell him what happened. Maybe I can get back here."

"Emma," Anthony said, "Daniel will kill me if I let you do this."

I smiled. "Nah. He loves you too much."

Anthony stared at me, speechless.

Which meant I was free to save my mom. "Alright Metagross. It's a deal. Let her go. Amanda, Anthony... why don't you guys step back."

Zuko growled.

"Zuko," I said firmly. "I love you so, so much. But you have to let me go."

I did love him. He would always be my first partner. My best Pokemon friend.

He shook his head.

"Please. I have to do this. You know I have to."

He let out a defeated growl of a whimper, sinking to the ground, mane extinguishing as he backed away.

Metagross descended, gently lowering Misty to the ground about fifty feet away from where we stood. Ash and Brock took off at a run to check on her. Metagross came over to us, holding out a clawed arm to me. I had no idea what he planned to do with me. I was guessing take me somewhere to kill me, even if he didn't have his Trainer with him.

I extended my arm in acceptance, ready for whatever my fate was.

A lot of things seemed to happen at the same time. I heard the trigger of the gun. The blast of energy rush at Metagross, nowhere near me. But then his eyes glowered blue, stopping the energy. I only had enough time to inhale in reaction as he grabbed my arm roughly and stopped the Psychic attack, the energy flying at him, forcing him and myself into the vortex. His grip was rough on my arm, cutting skin. I cried out, which became screaming as the portal shook me. It felt like being inside a tornado.

And then it was over. I was collapsed on white, sterile tile. I sat up quickly, feeling woozy, and curled up into a ball. Deep breaths. Eyes closed. After a short recovery, one I wished could last longer, I stood up to find a man in a lab coat in front of me.

"So the mission was a success after all." I looked at brown eyes I knew so well, just on a different man. A man I had never seen in person before, but only in the newspapers. Only heard talked about in spite.

"Mr. Hayford," I said, on edge.

His smile was like his son's, but colder. "Let's stop with the formalities. Call me Zachary."

Well, did you guess that? Let me know in the comments :) Tell me what you think.

Pokemon Question of the Day: What would you want your parents to do in the Pokemon world as jobs? I'm guessing not evil scientist.

See you in the next chapter!

-Flips