Chapter 10

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Beginning):  </B><A HREF="dr_pro.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prologue"><U>Prologue</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 1"><U>Chapter 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 2"><U>Chapter 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 3"><U>Chapter 3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 4"><U>Chapter 4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 5"><U>Chapter 5</U></A></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making:  </B><A HREF="mim18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 18"><U>Chapter 18</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 19"><U>Chapter 19</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 20"><U>Chapter 20</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 21"><U>Chapter 21</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 22"><U>Chapter 22</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 23"><U>Chapter 23</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 24"><U>Chapter 24</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id734.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 25"><U>Chapter 25</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 26"><U>Chapter 26</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection:  </B><A HREF="dr6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 6"><U>Chapter 6</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 7"><U>Chapter 7</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 8"><U>Chapter 8</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 9"><U>Chapter 9</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 10</B>   |   <A HREF="dr11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 11"><U>Chapter 11</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 12"><U>Chapter 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 13"><U>Chapter 13</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 14"><U>Chapter 14</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Finale):</B>  <A HREF="dr15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 15"><U>Chapter 15</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 16"><U>Chapter 16</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr_epi.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Epilogue"><U>Epilogue</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/oldnews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Old News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrfic/" TARGET="_top" 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broke off with a gasp, as Spook stopped laughing over Sani's predicament, and smacked the two medallions into their depressions.  {No!  This can't happen!}</div> <bR> <div>     {What's going to happen?} Starlight asked in a panic as the great stone door started to rumble open.  {Is that where the Rock Demon is?}</div> <bR> <div>     Goodheart protectively held the Cleffa at his side.  {Don't worry, Star.  It'll be all right.}  The Clefairy winced as the door sunk all the way into the ground and stopped with a loud grinding sound.  {Somehow, it will be all right...}</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Spook and Fright giggled with glee as the door completed its descent.  "Yes!" Fright burst out into a fit of  insane laughter.  "We did it!"</div> <bR> <div>     Spook nodded, "Yes!  Now let's go inside!"  Without another word, the two ghosts shot into the reopened chambers at top speed.</div> <bR> <div>     Meanwhile, Destiny had helped Sani to her feet.  "You ok?" the girl asked her friend.</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, I think I'll be all right." Sani mumbled.  "I think we'd better start hoping that there's no such thing as a Rock Demon, though.  Otherwise, we're all going to be in trouble."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, and pulled Sani along after her through the door.  "Come on, we'd better see what Spook and Fright are up to, and try to find a way to stop them."  The two of them ran after their captors, with their pokémon companions not far behind.  Scared as they were of the Rock Demon, they all knew that there was safety in numbers.</div> <bR> <div>     However, they found no huge monsters in the next few chambers they roamed through, although Rosebud pointed out some pictures of Onix that were inscribed in the walls.  Onix were generally friendly, though, so they almost certainly were not the dreaded Rock Demon.</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny and company soon found Spook and Fright in a large chamber, the floor of which was a good two meters lower than the tunnels they had been running through.  Without hesitation, Destiny jumped down, catching Sani as she followed.  "There they are!"  The two of them dashed towards the two ghost-types, which ignored them until they ran up beside them.  "Stop right where you are!" Destiny commanded.</div> <bR> <div>     Spook glanced in their direction.  "Oh, it's you again."  Dismissing them, the Haunter stared at the mostly blank wall in front of him.  "What's this, Fright?  Where's the source of ultimate power?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I dunno, Spook," the Misdreavus admitted in confusion.  There should be something here.  Yes, there should.  What good is a door if there's nothing behind it?"</div> <bR> <div>     "See!"  Destiny interrupted.  "There's nothing here that can make you invincible.  Now, if we don't get out of here and close that stone door fast, the Rock Demon is going to eat all of us!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Silly girl," Fright giggled, lighting up the whole cavern with a Flash attack.  "See?  There's no Rock Demons here!  Nope, not even one.  It's just a fairy tale to scare all the bad Cleffas and Igglybuffs into behaving!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yep, that's all it is," Spook agreed.  "There's nothing in any of these caves but old carvings and broken stones.  Too bad...  We'll have to find ultimate power somewhere else!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Let's look around more," Fright suggested.  "We still might find a secret tunnel or something that we can explore."  The Haunter nodded with agreement, and the two ghosts began making their way around the room, examining every inch of the walls.  </div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shot a questioning glance at Sani, who just shrugged.  "I don't know, Dest.  I guess there really isn't a monster here.  I didn't see any side tunnels, and it sure isn't in here.  Maybe it really is nothing but an old scare story."</div> <bR> <div>     "Then why the strange door that our friends, the terrible twosome, couldn't get through?  I don't know what, Sani, but there's something strange about this place."</div> <bR> <div>     "Clef clef cleffa clef." Destiny turned to find the rest of the group had caught up to them.  Starlight was running her little hands over the stone walls, apparently not worried about any dangers anymore.  Her father, however, looked quite a bit more nervous.</div> <bR> <div>     As Sani started up a discussion with Rhalii and Strongwind, Destiny joined Starlight at the rock wall.  "Finding anything interesting there?" she asked the Cleffa.</div> <bR> <div>     "Cleffa!"  The little fairy pokémon announced, pointing at the markings on the wall.</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, that looks neat, doesn't it.  Sorta like a star..."  Destiny suddenly jerked back.  "Sani!  I think I know where the Rock Demon is!"  At that announcement, Goodheart jumped to Starlight's side, looking around wildly.  "No, wait, don't panic yet." Destiny quickly added.  "Here, Sani, check this out."</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew sprinted over to Destiny's side, and stared at the section of wall her friend was referring to.  "Hey, that's..."  Sani squinted and looked closer.  "That's the outline of our pendant!  This must be the one of the temples that we're supposed to find!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Let's find out, shall we?"  Destiny slipped the star-shaped piece of jewelry from her neck and slipped it into the slight depression in the wall.  The gem in the center immediately started to glow.  A moment later, the ground started to shake violently.  Moonstone yelled something about the Rock Demon, which caused the other pokémon to go into a panic, running to the nearest corner of the room to hide.  Spook and Fright ceased their detailed examination of a section of the ceiling and shot back toward the main group.</div> <bR> <div>     "What's happening?" Spook demanded crossly.  "You didn't steal our source of ultimate power, did you?"</div> <bR> <div>     "No!"  Destiny shouted, as a wall on the other end of the room cracked and split with an explosive blast of noise.  Parts of the wall fell onto the floor, adding to the terrible noise.  "It's not a source of power like you thought!  It's the Rock Demon!"</div> <bR> <div>     As if to punctuate her sentence, the cracked wall exploded out, throwing broken boulders everywhere.  Starlight shrieked and hid behind Destiny.  From out of the new hole in the wall, a mostrous dragonlike pokémon appeared, with a gray hide that appeared to be made of stone.  It spread great wings and took to flight.  Passing over all the rubble that now littered the room, it landed before Destiny with enough force to make the ground shake slightly.  The Rock Demon, Aerodactyl, had arrived...</div> <bR> <div>     The huge pokémon leaned in close and scrutinized Destiny with one eye, his sharp teeth uncomfortably close to her chest.  The Aerodactyl growled softly as he looked over each of the intruders.</div> <bR> <div>     When he got to Spook, the Haunter darted right up to him and poked him in the belly.  "Hey, where's our source of supreme power, huh?  I know there's got to be one of those around here somewhere, and I bet you know where it is!"  The rocky pokémon roared in irritation and blew out a stream of blue fire right in the ghost's face.  Spook jerked back and blinked.  "Did you see that, Fright?  Did you?!"</div> <bR> <div>     Fright nodded, "That was rude of him."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny watched dumbfounded as the two ghost types floated around the vicious-looking dragon, poking at him and bouncing away when he turned and snapped at them.  "I don't believe them..."</div> <bR> <div>     The Aerodactyl growled loudly as Spook poked at him again, managing to grab the Haunter's hand in his teeth.  "Look!  He ate my hand!"  Spook yelled gleefully before diving through the rock dragon and coming back out with both hands intact.  Reaching out with one wing, the Aerodactyl smacked the Haunter into the ground hard enough to make the ground shake.  Spinning around, he repeated the procedure with Fright.</div> <bR> <div>     "Looks like a Wing Attack-Earthquake combination," Sani observed, as the Aerodactyl grinned triumphantly.  Both of the ghosts groaned.</div> <bR> <div>     "He's mean, Spook," Fright complained.  "Yes he is."  She was silenced by a roar from the Aerodactyl, who left them lying on the floor as he strutted over to Destiny once again.</div> <bR> <div>     "He just told them to stay there and behave," Sani informed Destiny.  "Hopefully, they'll listen for once."</div> <bR> <div>     "Maybe," Destiny said, then addressed the Aerodactyl.  "We're here to battle you for the Orb of Rock...  Or the Orb of the Dragon -- whichever you have."</div> <bR> <div>     The rock dragon opened his mouth in a smile that was somewhat disconcerting, considering the amount of sharp teeth it displayed.  He growled at them in his language, then nodded at the two ghosts and asked something with a questioning screech.</div> <bR> <div>     "He said it's the Orb of Rock, Dest."  Sani confirmed.  "He said the Orb of Dragon is in the other realm.  I guess that means Zeth has to find that one.  He also asked me if they were with us."  Sani nodded at the two moaning ghosts.</div> <bR> <div>     "No, I assure you, they aren't," Destiny told the Aerodactyl.  "They're just two crazy pokémon that thought there was some kind of mystical power source here to make them invincible or some such nonsense."</div> <bR> <div>     Aerodactyl growled again, and Sani quickly translated.  "Ok, he thought it was some strange attempt to defeat him in battle.  He hopes that we won't be as easy to beat.  So do I, of course.  You think I should use my powers now?"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny rolled her eyes.  "Of course you should.  What are you, crazy?  We need this Orb to stop Team Rocket!"</div> <bR> <div>     From her spot on the ground, Fright mumbled, "Orb?  What's an Orb for?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Just ignore her," Destiny cut in, as the Aerodactyl glared at the Misdreavus.  "She's not important right now.  The Orb of Rock is, though, and I want to get it as soon as possible."</div> <bR> <div>     Another series of growls and roars.  "He's ready to go, but I think we'd better think up a strategy first.  You remember what happened at Stormy Peak."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded.  They had won that battle, but under mysterious circumstances.  Later, they had found that Mewtwo had helped them to win to find out what they were planning.  This time, they wouldn't have a curious enemy to help them win.  "Yeah, you're right."  Destiny surveyed the various pokémon that had accompanied them on their journey into the mines.  "Will any of you help us in this battle?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div>     There was silence for a moment, then Rhalii stepped forward, "Tuff wigglytuff!" she announced.  After another short moment, Strongwind joined her, then the three Clefairies stepped forward.</div> <bR> <div>     "Not you, Goodheart," Destiny said, as the injured Clefairy joined the others, "I'm not letting you fight with that wound you have.  And Starlight's too young for this.  Make sure she's out of the way during the battle so she doesn't get hurt."  Goodheart started to protest, but Destiny cut him off.  "No buts, you're not going to battle in this, and that's final."</div> <bR> <div>     Looking downcast, Goodheart nodded and led Starlight away from the others.  Once Destiny thought they were at a safe distance from the rest of the group, she addressed the Aerodactyl once again.  "We're ready to battle now!"</div> <bR> <div>     Roaring, the dragon pokémon stretched his wings out and rapidly flapped them, creating a whirlwind that drove back the five opposing pokémon.  In response, Sani fired off a Shadow Ball attack, which shot straight through the center of the windstorm and slammed into the Aerodactyl.  "Good job, Sani!" Destiny called over the howling wind.  "Now try a Psychic attack!  All the rest of you..."  The girl paused for a moment, trying to remember the other pokémon's attacks.  "Uh... just do whatever you can!"  They did so, Strongwind leading the two Clefairies in a charge that ended in a mostly ineffective trio of Mega Kicks.</div> <bR> <div>     The rock dragon laughed at the efforts of the fairy pokémon, smacking them away with one wing.  He stopped laughing, however, when an Ice Beam smacked into his side.  Spinning around, he found Rhalii grinning at him.  The Wigglytuff sent another freezing ray hurtling towards the Aerodactyl, but he managed to dodge it just in time.  Ignoring a barrage of Swift stars from Sani, the dragon flew at Rhalii, grabbing her in his talons.</div> <bR> <div>     The Aerodactyl carried the howling Wigglytuff to the top of the high chamber, then flung her back down to the ground.  Thinking quickly, Sani caught Rhalii with her psychic powers.  However, by that time, the Aerodactyl had moved on to other targets.  He unleashed a powerful Hyper Beam at Rosebud, slamming her into the nearest wall.  As he landed to recharge, Moonstone dove at him, smacking him with a Dynamic Punch attack that knocked the rock dragon to the ground.</div> <bR> <div>     The Aerodactyl kicked at the Clefairy, scratching him with his sharp claws.  Scrambling back to his feet, the dragon spun around, giving the surprised fairy a sharp blow with his tail.  Moonstone fell to the ground, out of the fight.</div> <bR> <div>     Another Ice Beam crashed into the rampaging dragon, who roared in pain.   Now that Rhalii back on the ground, the Wigglytuff was on the offensive again.  Snarling, the rock pokémon threw himself at her again, biting at her with his sharp teeth.  He managed to get in three good bites before he suddenly found himself hurtling backwards into the cavern wall.</div> <bR> <div>     Waving a hand, Sani sent him crashing into the ceiling, then the ground.  "That's it, Sani!"  Destiny yelled.  "Use that psychic power!"  The Mew complied, flinging the stunned dragon into the wall again.  While the huge creature was down, Strongwind took the opportunity to hit it with a sparkling Thunder Punch.  The dragon weakly shoved the Clefable away with one wing, but he didn't get up.</div> <bR> <div>     It took Destiny a moment to realize what they had accomplished.  "We did it!  We actually won, Sani!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani smiled, and was about to reply when a roar from the Aerodactyl cut her off.  The rock dragon had risen to his feet once more, and was glaring at Sani.  Bellowing out a war cry, he spread his wings and hurled himself at her.  She teleported out of his way, forcing him to loop around and fly back.  "He just doesn't know when to give up, does he, Dest?" the Mew exclaimed in surprise.</div> <bR> <div>     "Just hit him with Psychic again."  Destiny suggested.  Sani nodded, waving her hand at the Aerodactyl.  Even as she grabbed him with her mental powers, the dragon began to flap his wings at high speed,  starting up a whirlwind filled with dust and grit.  The raging funnel of wind kept growing until it filled the entire chamber.  Destiny winced and covered her eyes as the Sandstorm attack washed over her, obscuring her view of the battle.</div> <bR> <div>    She could dimly hear the sounds of battle from the center of the storm, but the dust was so thick that she couldn't make out any details.  Something touched her leg, and she looked down to find Goodheart huddled against her.  "Where's Starlight?" she yelled over the raging wind.  The Clefairy shouted something back at her in a worried voice.  "You don't know?  The storm separated you?"  Goodheart nodded, looking panicked.  "Don't worry," Destiny reassured him, "I'm sure she's fine.  As soon as this clears up, we'll spot her."</div> <bR> <div>     A loud roar cut through the roaring wind, then something rolled towards Destiny.  She ran to it, finding it to be Strongwind, another of the Rock Demon's victims for the day.  The semiconscious Clefable moaned as Destiny gently picked him up.</div> <bR> <div>     Suddenly, the wind seemed to die down, although the dust still hung in the air.  Destiny peered through the cloud, trying to see what had happened inside.  A moment later, she jumped back in surprise, and just barely held back a shriek, as the gigantic form of the Aerodactyl landed in front of her.  In his mouth was the unmoving form of Sani, which he dropped at Destiny's feet.  Although the Mew was battered and bleeding from a set of shallow cuts along her sides, she was still breathing steadily, and appeared to be mostly intact.  Destiny tried not to think of what might have happened if the Aerodactyl had decided that the battle had made him hungry.</div> <bR> <div>     The rock dragon grinned at her, once again displaying his sharp teeth.  "So,"  Destiny murmured in the silence that followed.  "It appears that we've lost, after all."  At that, the Aerodactyl nodded it's huge head in satisfaction.  Turning from Destiny, it limped off, as if no longer interested in her.  She sighed, unhappy at losing to the huge guardian, and wondering how they could do better next time.</div> <bR> <div>     "Cleffa!"  Destiny suddenly heard through the dissipating cloud of dust, as the Aerodactyl disappeared into it.</div> <bR> <div>     Goodheart ran toward the voice, with Destiny close behind.  They caught up with the departing dragon, only to find a terrified Starlight in his path.  Tired from the battle, the huge creature just stomped past the frightened Cleffa, but Star must have thought he was going to attack her, because when he passed by, she smacked him across his rocky leg.  The Aerodactyl just stared down at her for a moment, then gave her a light shove with one foot that sent her rolling onto her back.  She jumped back to her feet and yelled at him.  Ignoring her, he just continued on, heading for the broken wall he had come from.</div> <bR> <div>     "Star, just leave him alone,"  Destiny suggested, walking over to the Cleffa's side.  "You don't want him to get mad at you."  She looked around the room which was finally visible now that the dust had settled.  All her other companions were either unconscious, or examining their injuries.  "See what he did to everyone else?  He could do that to you too." she pointed out.</div> <bR> <div>     Goodheart said something in a questioning voice, and Destiny looked down to find him staring at his daughter, who was wagging her fingers back and forth.  "Clef cleffa," she responded, then shouted out at the  Aerodactyl once again.  "Cleffa clef clef cleffa!"  Growling, the dragon spun back around and roared at them.</div> <bR> <div>     But Starlight didn't seem to care.  She continued waving her fingers, yelling at the annoyed rock pokémon.  "Clef, clef, clef, clef, clef, clef, cleffa!"  Shouting the last word as loud as she could, the fairy stopped her hand motions.  There was a moment of silence...</div> <bR> <div>     ...Then a blast of water shot our from the hole in the wall, smashing into the Aerodactyl's back.  The rock dragon fell under the tremendous force of the rushing water, growling in furious anger.  He tried to stand but the water just kept coming, pinning him down.  Destiny stared in amazement as the huge creature that had just defeated seven adult pokémon was held at bay by a single attack from Starlight.</div> <bR> <div>     Finally, the attack stopped, but not before the chamber's floor was covered in an ankle-deep layer of water.  Destiny sloshed toward the Rock Demon, who lay motionless.  As she neared him, he raised his head to look at her.  "I think you have something to give us," Destiny declared.  The Aerodactyl glared at her and growled menacingly.</div> <bR> <div>     "He thinks you cheated," Sani said, floating over to Destiny.  The Mew wobbled in the air a little, obviously still dazed from the beating she had taken.</div> <bR> <div>     "I did nothing of the sort." Destiny objected.  "That was my sixth pokémon, and she used a perfectly legal Metronome attack on you.  It's not my fault you ignored her when she first attacked you."</div> <bR> <div>     The Aerodactyl growled softly, and glared at Starlight, then pointed with one wing to the wall with all the carvings on it.  A stalactite in front of the wall glowed for a second, then fell to the water-covered ground and shattered, spraying water and rock shards out around where it landed.  Flying over to the remains of the broken stone, Sani picked up a perfectly round object, which glowed with a bronze light as she held it up.  "This is it, Destiny!  The Orb of Rock!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Good, now let's get out of here."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani nodded, "I'll second that.  I've had quite enough of being underground!"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny led the others back out through the tunnel they had come through, which, due to its height above the main chamber, was totally dry.  As they walked past the rubble that the Geodudes had been clearing away, the door to the Rock Demon's lair rumbled shut behind them.  Destiny pulled the two medallions free and handed them to Rhalii and Strongwind.  "Here, you guys can have these back."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani stared at the closed door for a moment.  "You know, I don't think I saw those two ghosts after the battle.  I wonder where they went..."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shrugged, "Maybe it's better not to know.  They're probably just getting into more mischief."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Destiny was correct.  At the moment, the two ghosts were floating through the Emerald Forest, discussing what they should do now that their latest plans had failed.  "Come on, Fright," Spook complained, "I'm bored.  Let's go give someone nightmares!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Misdreavus shook her head.  "We <B>always</B> do that!  I wanna do something different."</div> <bR> <div>     Spook nodded, "Ok, wanna look for power again?"  At that, Fright made a face.  "No?  Neither do I...  Hey, I know!  Yes I do!  We can do <B>pranks</B>!"</div> <bR> <div>     Fright grinned, "Yes!  That's a great idea!  Pranks are fun!"  Floating high up into the air, the Misdreavus spotted Jasper Town nearby.  Returning to the ground, she pointed in the direction of the little town.  "Come on, Spook!  There's people that way we can prank!"  Giggling, the two ghosts floated off towards their next unfortunate victims. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     It took a good two hours or so, but the battered travelers finally found their way out of the mines, staggering into the welcoming late-afternoon sunlight.  Destiny fell to her hands and knees, too tired to go any further without a rest.  "Sani, promise me something..."</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew sat down beside her, and laid back on the grass, looking at the sky.  "What, Dest?"</div> <bR> <div>     "If I ever decide that I want to go spelunking again, get a shrink to check my head..."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani chuckled, "I bet Mewtwo would do it for free, if you wanted to try that."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shook her head, "No thanks, I like my mind too much for that."  Destiny stood up as she heard a muffled ringing sound.  "What's that?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani glanced at her.  "I don't know.  It's coming from your backpack."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny unzipped her pack.  "Ah, I see.  I had almost forgotten about this," she murmured, pulling out the phone that the Dragon Resistance had given her in Jade City.  She activated it, not at all surprised to find that it was Greg, the Dragon she had befriended.  "Destiny, I'm sorry it's been so long.  The Rockets took over Jade City a week ago, and I had to go into hiding."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny stared at the screen in shock.  "How bad is it?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Pretty bad.  Most of the other Resistance members have already been captured, and I've just barely managed to avoid the Rocket patrols.  I'm not sure how much longer I can stay undetected, but there's no way for me to get out of the city."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, "Me and Sani will be there as soon as we can to get you out."</div> <bR> <div>     "NO!"  Greg ordered.  "Stay away from Jade City at all costs.  Mewtwo's been showing up here every now and then, and he'll be sure to capture you if he runs into you."</div> <bR> <div>     "But, Greg," Destiny objected, "what about you?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Forget about me, I'll be fine.  Just continue your mission.  I'll try to stay in contact and inform you of any changes in our situation."  On the screen, Greg looked to the side for a moment.  "I have to go now.  Good luck, Destiny, we're all counting on you."  A moment later, the screen went blank.</div> <bR> <div>     "I don't like this, Sani."  Destiny said, shaking her head.  "I don't like this at all."</div> <bR> <div>     "Neither do I, Dest.  We have to get them out of there, no matter what Greg says."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shook her head, "But what about Mewtwo?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew sighed, "We'll have to face him again sometime.  Hopefully, we'll be able to get into Jade City undetected, but if we run into Mewtwo...  We'll think of something."</div> <bR> <div>     "I hope you're right, Sani.  I really do."</div> <bR> <div>     Strongwind walked up to the two of them and looked at them for a moment.  "Clefable fable fable?  Fable clefable?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yes, Strongwind," Destiny answered him, "We're going to go rescue our friends, even if it means risking capture ourselves.  I guess that means that this is where we part ways."  The Clefable nodded, and reached up to shake Destiny's hand.  "It's been a great adventure.  I hope we'll meet up again."</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah," Sani added, as Rhalii said her own farewell and shook the Mew's hand.  "Next time we'll do something more fun than fighting an enormous rock monster, ok?"  </div> <bR> <div>     Destiny chuckled as the rest of their former companions lined up to say their goodbyes.  "Sani's right," she told Moonstone.  "No death-defying adventures next time we see each other.  And no more dangerous exploration," she added to Goodheart.</div> <bR> <div>    Starlight ran up to Destiny and hugged her leg.  "Aw, I'll miss you too, Star," Destiny said, bending down to give the Cleffa a hug.  "We'd have never won today if it wasn't for you."  She straightened up again and took a step back, but Starlight followed after her, and grabbed onto her leg again.  </div> <bR> <div>     Goodheart patted his daughter on the head and gently tried to pry her off Destiny's leg, but the Cleffa wouldn't budge.  "Clef clef cleffa!" she declared, gripping onto Destiny even tighter.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani shook her head.  "Uh-oh.  Looks like Star wants to come along with us."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny rolled her eyes.  "I kinda figured that, Sani."  Bending down, she managed to pull the Cleffa off of her.  "You don't really want to come with us, do you?  It'll be too dangerous."  In response, the fairy pointed at the opening to the mines, then to herself.  "I guess you've got a point there," Destiny admitted.  "I doubt Goodheart will let you go, though."</div> <bR> <div>     At that, the Cleffa leapt out of Destiny's arms and ran to her father, "Cleffa clef?" she asked him, giving him her cutest face.  Moaning, he covered his eyes, then nodded.  Shouting in happiness, Starlight ran around in circles.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani was the first one to notice her start to glow.  "Hey, Dest?" she said, pointing.  "Look!"</div> <bR> <div>     "She's evolving!"  Destiny exclaimed.  She was absolutely correct; after a moment, the light faded, leaving behind a Clefairy.  Starlight jumped for joy one more time, then ran up to Destiny and hugged her leg again.  "I suppose that settles it, then," Destiny said.  "You're coming with us, Star; and I have the perfect pokéball for a friend like you!"  Destiny reached into her backpack and pulled out the Friend Ball Zeth had given to her on Crystal Island.  "Pokéball go!"  The ball sucked up Starlight and landed on the ground without a single twitch.  </div> <bR> <div>     Picking it up, Destiny froze for a moment.  "I just realized something, Sani."</div> <bR> <div>     "What?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I forgot to get a belt to hook my pokéballs on."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani grinned, "Well, you were the one who was telling me that there are more uses for rope than climbing.  You demonstrated one back in the mines.  May I suggest another?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, go ahead so I can blame you when people say I look strange."  The Mew just giggled at that.  Sighing, Destiny took out her pocketknife and started cutting off a section of rope...</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>