Chapter 12

<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>   |   <A HREF="dr10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 10"><U>Chapter 10</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 11"><U>Chapter 11</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 12</B>   |   <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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cold wind blowing on him, although he would never admit that to any of his agents), he activated the controls that brought the observation platform back into the helicopter.</div> <bR> <div>     Flicking the switch on the intercom, he gave orders to his pilot.  "Have all but three of our craft spread out to search other parts of the forest.  If anyone finds anything at all, report to me at once."  Switching off the intercom, he added to the Persian that was napping in a corner, "Soon, we will have them!"  The pokémon looked up at him for a moment, then curled up to sleep some more.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Unaware that Giovanni already knew of their plans, Destiny and Sani had stopped for a lunch break in the middle of Peridot Forest.  They had yet to discover the Forest Temple that Mewtwo had spoken of, but they were sure that they would find it before too much longer.</div> <bR> <div>     "Hey, Sani, have an apple," Destiny said, tossing her friend one of the two apples she had just pulled out of her pack .  "They're as good as I remembered.  Good thing Team Rocket missed the apple orchard when they destroyed Garnet..."  Destiny trailed off, then suddenly dropped her piece of fruit.</div> <bR> <div>     "What's wrong, Dest?" Sani asked.  "Worm in your apple?"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shook her head, "No, it's just that...  I remember Garnet Town being so beautiful, and now it's just gone.  The Rockets wiped it out, and did who-knows-what to all the people who lived there."</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew floated over to her friend and patted her on the back comfortingly, "You know that your Garnet Town's still around, though.  The Rockets haven't destroyed that."</div> <bR> <div>     "But that's not the point!" Destiny exclaimed, a tear tumbling down her cheek.  "That could have been my town.  I could have lived here and had to go through what everyone else is going through!  Back home is great, but here there's just a lot of suffering and pain.  Everything is wrong here.  I bet even your Mew tribe is gone; probably running from the Rockets, just like we've had to do.  We can tell ourselves that this isn't our home, and we'd be right; but the people here are just as important as the people back home!  They have as much right to live in peace as we do; but they can't because evil has taken over."</div> <bR> <div>     "But, Dest, you have to look on the bright side too.  We're still together.  You, me, Star -- we're a team, and I'm sure that someday soon we'll manage to defeat the Rockets!  We have to be brave, though.  We can't let our circumstances hold us back, or we'll never make it."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny wiped at her eyes, "I know you're right, but it's hard..."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani gave her friend a gentle hug, "Now who's the pessimist, huh?  It'll be fine, just wait and see.  In the meantime, you should finish your apple.  We need to keep up our strength."</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm not hungry anymore..."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani unclipped the single pokéball from the belt Destiny was wearing.  "I'll give it to Star, then.  I'm sure she'll want it."  As the Mew had predicted, Destiny's Clefairy was happy to have some lunch.  </div> <bR> <div>     While Sani and Star continued their meal, Destiny took a walk, watching a few different pokémon just going about their normal lives.  <I>Lucky them</I>, she thought to herself.  <I>They don't have to worry about Team Rocket or quests like we do.  I wish I could be that carefree again.</I></div> <bR> <div>     As Destiny spotted a Sentret looking for food, she suddenly had an idea.  "Of course," she mumbled to herself, suddenly feeling a lot more cheerful.  "Why didn't I think of that before!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Sani and Star were just finishing their apples when Destiny returned.  "Come on, you two!" she called to them.  "Let's get to that Forest Temple!"  Beckoning for them to follow, Destiny spun around and dashed back through the forest.</div> <bR> <div>     The two pokémon jumped to their feet and sprinted after Destiny.  "You found it?" Sani asked, when she caught up to her friend.</div> <bR> <div>     "No, I didn't," Destiny answered.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani blinked, "Then why the sudden hurry?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Because," Destiny explained, "I may not know where the temple is, but that Pidgey up in that tree ahead does!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Really?  How do you know?"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny gave her friend a wink as the three of them came to a halt at the base of the tree Destiny had referred to.  "I asked, that's how.  I suddenly realized that if the temple was around here, the pokémon around here would probably know where it is.  I talked to a Sentret, a Pichu, and finally this Pidgey."  Destiny gestured at the bird pokémon, who was watching them with interest.  "He says that he can show us to the Forest Temple!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani shook her head, "I didn't know you could understand pokémon, Dest..."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I can only understand a couple.  I use to spend a lot of time in the forest, so I can understand most of the forest pokémon.  I sort of understand Star, too, although trying to understand Clefairy is a little like trying to make out garbled speech."</div> <bR> <div>     Hearing that, Star rolled her eyes, "Fairy, clefairy..."</div> <bR> <div>     "Not that I think your speech is garbled, Star," Destiny hastily added.  "I just can't figure it all out yet."  Up in the tree, the Pidgey warbled questioningly.  Destiny smiled, "Yeah, we're ready to go.  Lead the way!"  The little bird took flight, and Sani quickly followed, carrying Destiny and Star along with her.</div> <bR> <div>     Their guide had no problem showing them to the Forest Temple.  The large, ivy-covered building was oval-shaped, with rows of windows cut into the top of the walls.  At the back of the temple were two huge arches, which allowed sunlight to pour into the building.  "This is it!" Sani exclaimed as she set everyone down inside the temple.  "It couldn't possibly be anything else!"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny thanked the Pidgey for his assistance, then walked over to the far side of the room to examine the carved stone.  As she scanned the images on the walls, the Pidgey flew up to one of the small windows and watched her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     They were not the only ones to have found the Forest Temple, though.  Giovanni's helicopter and its three blimp escorts made their way toward the temple at top speed.  On board the helicopter, a Team Rocket special agent told Giovanni the latest news.  "We've just spotted them," she informed him.  "The other pilots have already changed course.  We'll be on top of them in less than five minutes!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Excellent, Domino!" Giovanni smiled victoriously.  "Now we have them!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I would not be so certain of that," Mewtwo spoke up from the corner of the room, which he had claimed from Giovanni's Persian when he had first come aboard.  Giovanni had noticed that the psychic pokémon seemed more sulky than usual.  He decided that the clone was probably feeling annoyed that someone else had succeeded where he had failed.  "The girl and her Mew are obviously clever, or they wouldn't have been able to liberate their Dragon friends.  I suggest that you remain cautious of any tricks they might use against us."</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh stop whining, Mewtwo." Giovanni growled.  "I don't need strategy from you.  You couldn't escape me; neither will these two.  Besides, you worry over nothing.  They are not so clever as you might think, or else they would have discovered our little spy by now." </div> <bR> <div>     <I>Of course</I>, Mewtwo mentally cursed himself, <I>that's how they found them!  I had completely forgotten about the traitor!</I></div> <bR> <div>     "Rest assured," Domino added mockingly.  "We will have far less trouble than you in capturing our prey."  The Rocket tapped one of her black tulips against Mewtwo's chest.  "You'd be surprised at just how easy this could be."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     The sunlight coming through the two archways disappeared for a moment as a shadow passed by overhead.  Destiny grinned as she put away her pendent, waiting for the guardian to land.  To her surprise, two different birds, a Pidgeot and a Fearow, landed beside her, one in each archway.  The Pidgey that had guided them to the temple called out to the Pidgeot, and Destiny suddenly realized that the Pidgeot was the Pidgey's mother.  <I>No wonder he knew how to get here!</I></div> <bR> <div>     {We welcome you to the Forest Temple, Travelers,} the Pidgeot said, shifting her weight from one foot to the other nervously.  {But trouble comes on the wind, so we must proceed at all speed.}</div> <bR> <div>     "That's ok," Destiny said, before Sani could begin to translate for her.  "It's probably best to hurry anyway."</div> <bR> <div>     "You couldn't possibly hurry fast enough!" Destiny spun around to find a Team Rocket agent, wearing a uniform just like the one she had stolen -- even the cap was the same.  Destiny wondered for a brief moment if the Rocket actually liked the cap, a thought which quickly fled at the greater question of how the Rockets had found them so quickly.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani beat her to the question, though.  "Who are you, and how did you find us?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm known throughout Team Rocket as Domino or Agent 009, but you can call me the Black Tulip!"  At that, the Rocket aimed a strangely-black tulip at Destiny.  Suddenly, a blast of energy shot out from the flower's petals.  Destiny dove out of the way as the glowing blue sphere flew past.  "I don't think you really need to know how we found you; merely knowing you're been beaten is enough knowledge for you!"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny sprang to her feet.  "If you think that you're going to be able to defeat us by yourself, you've got something else coming!"</div> <bR> <div>     {She is not alone,} the Fearow behind her warned.  {As we came, we saw more enemies in the skies.  It seems that you may have come here too late.}</div> <bR> <div>     "I guess that means we have to make our getaway now," Destiny glared at the Rocket agent.  "This isn't over yet!"</div> <bR> <div>     Domino shook her head and smiled, "It is for you!"  Aiming another of her tulips at Sani, she fired off a bright white sphere at the Mew.  Sani quickly created a glowing purple shield to block the blast, but the shot went straight through, knocking her to the ground.  The Mew shakily stood up, and staggered toward Destiny.  Star ran to Sani's aid as Domino smirked.  "You'll find that you won't be teleporting or flying away from here anytime soon.  That was a special weapon we've developed that disrupts psychic pokémon's abilities for a nice amount of time.  It's not permanent, but it'll be enough time for the boss to get here!  Ah, here he comes now!"  As she spoke, more Rockets ran in through the temple door, followed by Mewtwo and Giovanni.  It was the first time Destiny had ever seen the criminal mastermind, but she could tell right away that he was the one in charge.</div> <bR> <div>     "Good work," Giovanni congratulated Domino, before walking to the middle of the room and addressing Destiny and Sani.  "I would suggest that the two of you surrender now.  It would be much easier for everyone that way."</div> <bR> <div>     {That must not happen,} the Pidgeot said quietly.  The Rockets didn't seem to notice, so Destiny decided that none of them could understand the birds.  {Their mission must not fail, or there will be no way to stop these evil ones from dominating the planet!}</div> <bR> <div>     {It will not happen,} replied the Fearow, loudly enough that everyone could hear.  Some of the Rockets backed away, before realizing that their superior numbers would overwhelm the bird if he attacked them.  {We will distract the evil ones while the Travelers escape.  Your son will guide them through the forest and help them evade the rest of the evil forces.}</div> <bR> <div>     "I like that plan," Destiny agreed.</div> <bR> <div>     Most of the Rockets looked puzzled at that, since none of them understood what the birds had said.  To them it seemed as if Destiny had just accepted their leader's suggestion to surrender.  Giovanni blinked in confusion, "You do?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Not your plan!" Destiny retorted nastily, as Star and Sani reached her side.  "Your plan's stupid, so we're going with one of our own!"  Grabbing Sani and returning Star to her pokéball, Destiny spun around and ran past the Pidgeot guardian, jumping out of the temple through the arch the bird was standing in front of.  It was almost a two-meter drop to the ground, and Destiny almost twisted her ankle when she landed.  Still, it took the Rockets by surprise.  </div> <bR> <div>     Before any of them could pursue, the two guardian birds unleashed a double hyper beam attack that filled the room with blinding light.  Neither Giovanni nor Domino was actually hit by the attack, but both were thrown back by the sheer power surging past them.</div> <bR> <div>     Outside the temple, Destiny ran into a trio of Rockets, catching them by surprise.  She started to grab Star's pokéball again, but before she even touched the sphere, a swarm of Pidgeys and Spearow shot down on the guards.  They panicked and ran, allowing Destiny to pass unchallenged.  The Pidgey that had led them to the Forest Temple landed on a low branch beside her.  {Like my friends?}</div> <bR> <div>     "Love 'em!  You'll have to thank them for me later.  Now let's get out of here!"</div> <bR> <div>     With the Rockets unable to follow, Destiny ran for her life, carrying Sani in her arms.  Ahead of her, the little Pidgey flew, leading her through the forest.  She just hoped that the bird knew of someplace she could hide while Sani recovered her powers.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Back in the temple, everything was in chaos.  "Mewtwo, you idiot, attack those birds!" Giovanni shouted over the din.  The clone did as he was told, flinging a Shadow Ball at the Fearow, who quickly dodged the attack.  A second attack was just as useless, as the agile bird shot away, allowing the attack to slam into the Rockets behind him.</div> <bR> <div>     "Can't you do any better than that?" Domino asked insultingly.  Using one of her tulip-weapons, the special agent scored a direct hit on the Pidgeot.  "So much for the amazing Mewtwo!"</div> <bR> <div>     A moment later, Mewtwo smiled with satisfaction as the Pidgeot used her Mirror Move attack to send Domino flying back into the temple wall.  "It must hurt to be so skillful," he mocked, before sending the Pidgeot crashing to the floor with his psychic powers.  By this time, the other Rockets had recovered, sending their own pokémon to battle the two birds.  The overwhelmed guardians soon began to slow down, allowing the Rockets to punish them more.  Finally, the two birds crashed to the ground.</div> <bR> <div>     "Capture them," Giovanni ordered.  "They will make an excellent prize for us."  At his command, several Rockets jumped on the birds, pinning them to the ground.  Two more Rockets threw restraint hoops on the birds, rendering them helpless.</div> <bR> <div>     "No," Mewtwo disagreed, "that would be foolish."  Before the Rocket leader could make any nasty remarks, the clone quickly explained, "Destiny and her Mew are looking for four glass spheres, each of which is guarded by its own guardian, or, in this case, two guardians.  These spheres seem to be the key to their whole mission.  So, if we control the spheres, we will be the victors."</div> <bR> <div>     Giovanni nodded, "Yes, that's understandable, but you haven't given me a good reason to let these birds go."  He beckoned, and Domino pulled two black pokéballs out of her backpack.</div> <bR> <div>     "The reason is simple, you fool!"  Giovanni glared at Mewtwo, and the clone quickly amended, "I mean, master...  The guardians will not reveal the location of their treasures if they are captured.  We must allow them to leave in order to control the greater prize."</div> <bR> <div>     The Rocket considered this for a moment.  "I don't like that at all.  Still, if it's the only way to stop this quest, then I will just have to make the sacrifice.  We'll do it your way just this one time.  Let them up!"  He waved his forces away from the two defeated guardians.  "You two are free to go, so long as you give us the sphere that the girl was looking for."</div> <bR> <div>     The two birds looked at each other for a long moment, then hung their heads in defeat.  A moment later, a green sphere fell from some point on the ceiling.  Strangely enough, the ball didn't break upon hitting the ground, even though it appeared to be made of glass.  Giovanni bent down to pick up the object.  "Very interesting.  Of course now I can capture you and not have to worry about--" The criminal mastermind looked up and realized that he was talking to empty air.  "Where did they go?" he demanded.</div> <bR> <div>     Domino shook her head, a mystified expression on her face.  "Don't ask me how they did it, but they just vanished!"</div> <bR> <div>     "No matter.  We have more important problems to deal with.  I want everyone to start searching for the girl and Mew immediately!"  As the Rockets scattered in a rush to obey, Giovanni examined the dull green ball he was holding.  "Not a very impressive object, is it?"</div> <bR> <div>     "No, it's not," Domino agreed, rubbing her back and wincing.  "I almost wonder if it was worth all the trouble."</div> <bR> <div>     "Stop complaining, 009.  Winning is always worth the trouble."  Giovanni pocketed the sphere and smiled.  "Of course, next time we'll see if we can make our victory cause trouble for someone else."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Deep in the woods, Destiny had finally stopped for a rest, sure that no Rockets had followed her from the Forest Temple.  "Oh, Sani, what are we going to do now?  There's no way we can go back to the Forest Temple to get our next Orb; the Rockets are bound to have the whole place surrounded by now."  Destiny looked down to find that Sani had fallen asleep in her arms.  Irritated, she briefly considered waking the Mew, but then she decided that it was probably best if she let her friend sleep.</div> <bR> <div>     {They will not have to guard the temple,} Destiny turned around to find the Pidgeot guardian behind her.  The huge bird looked battered, and she was wobbling unsteadily.  {They defeated us in combat and claimed the Orb of the Forest for their own.}</div> <bR> <div>     "What?" Destiny shouted in frustration, "Now what are we supposed to do?  The Rockets will have that Orb guarded day and night!  There's no way we'll be able to get it away from them!"</div> <bR> <div>     {Then I would think that you only have one choice left to you.  Retrieve the last Orb, and hope that you somehow manage to regain the Orb of the Forest.}</div> <bR> <div>     "But where do I look?" Destiny asked.  "Can you tell me where the last Orb can be found?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Pidgeot hesitated, {I am not supposed to reveal the Orb's location, but these are dangerous times, and rules must be bent...  Go to Rainbow Cove, Traveler.  Go to Rainbow Cove as soon as your friend recovers, and gain the Orb of the Air!  My son will stay with you until you are ready to depart from our forests, but I must depart now and recuperate from my own injuries.  Know that I wish you the best of luck.  Just be careful, Traveler, for the forces of evil are growing in strength!}</div> <bR> <div>     {I'll take care of them, mom!} the Pidgey called from his perch in a nearby tree.  {I'll make sure that they get out of the forest safely!}</div> <bR> <div>     The Pidgeot nodded her head, {Of course you will.  I knew I could count on you to watch over the Travelers.  Be well, my son.  And be well, Travelers.}</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Once again on his own, Mewtwo searched for Destiny without success.  The clone knew he had to find them before they reported back to the Dragons again, or the traitor in Jade City would give away their position.  <I>They will be doomed if that happens.</I>  <I>I just have to find them!</I>  Hoping that he would not be too late when he finally caught up to the two travelers, Mewtwo continued his search.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>