Chapter 2

<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>   |   <B>Chapter 2</B>   |   <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>   |   <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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sealed shut ages ago.  In front of the great stone door was a pedestal with eight concave indentations on it, presumably to hold the eight Orbs once they had been found.  In the center of the pedestal was a final round indentation, which Destiny suddenly realized must be to hold the completed pendant.</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, it's a pretty interesting place, isn't it?"  Sani commented.  "There's no way to get that big door open, though.  I've tried, but it's sealed so tight that even my psychic powers can't budge it."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, "I thought that from the moment I saw it.  It will probably only open when we've finished our quest.  What would you suggest we do in the meantime?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani glanced around the room, then pointed to the side of the room opposite of the side they had entered on.  "Let's try to open the little door over there."  Destiny followed the Mew to the archway she had pointed to.  Sure enough, there was some kind of exit there, matching the doorway they had first come through, but with the large stone slab that served as the door still blocking the way through.  "It's just as impossible for me to budge as the big one, but there might be another way to open it.  After all, the other door is open."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny ran her hand over the inscriptions on the door, "Can you understand what these say?  Maybe that will -- wait a minute!  Raise the light level over here so I can see this better!"  Sani quickly complied, revealing a familiar star-shaped outline beside the door.  "It's the pendant!" Destiny exclaimed.  "The two united pieces we have open the door!"  Quickly, Destiny took off the bronze star and fit it into the indentation.  Immediately, the heavy stone door ground open, revealing another small tunnel, with light showing at the end.  Destiny ran through, with Sani close behind her.</div> <bR> <div>     She stopped suddenly as the air around her seemed to waver for a moment.  Sani almost flew into her, but quickly teleported to the side instead.  "What, why did you stop?"</div> <bR> <div>     "It's weird, everything just seemed to flicker or something."</div> <bR> <div>      Sani shook her head, "Oh, that's nothing to worry about.  That happened on the way into the temple too, but you probably didn't notice it because I hadn't lit everything up yet.  I've always thought that it might be the protective field that kept me from opening the doors.  I've been to the temple a lot, so I guess I don't pay much attention to it anymore."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, then, let's continue, shall we?"  The two resumed their sprint through the tunnel, turning the corner at the end to reveal... the other side of the mountain.</div> <bR> <div>     The two stared out at the land below them, Destiny spotting what she presumed was Jade City at the base of the mountain range and wondering if the far off blur was the distant Obsidian City, central city of the local pokémon league.  Sani sat down hard on a jutting rock, grumbling.  "All this time I've been trying to open a second exit.  That didn't help us at all..."</div> <bR> <div>     "What do you think we should do now?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani thought it over, "I'm not sure.  I guess we could go back in the temple, although I don't remember anything else that could help us back there.  Maybe we should look for one of the Orbs, like the Orb of Ice or the Orb of Forest."</div> <bR> <div>     "Wait, Sani!  Look down there!"  Destiny pointed down to Jade City, where a cloud of smoke was beginning to rise.  "Something is happening down there, and I don't think it's anything good."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani strained her eyes to try to make out details.  "I can't see well enough from up here, but I think that it must be a really big fire to be making that much smoke.  Do you think we should go down to take a better look?"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, "Yeah, I think so.  Maybe you can help put out the fire, but we'll have to be careful that no one sees you do it.  I don't think the other Mews would be very happy if we slipped up like that again."</div> <bR> <div>     "You're right about that..." Sani said, wincing.  "Well, let's see what we can do without getting into too much trouble."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Jade City was in chaos.  At least six Charizards flew between the buildings, spitting fiery destruction wherever they went.  On the ground, a troupe of Slugma, Quilava, and Magmar added their flames to the Charizard's, making the city into a deadly inferno.  Residents of the city ran in panic, while a few others sent out their pokémon to combat the unrelenting attackers.</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny jumped back as a stream of flame from one of the Magmars burned past her.  In response, Sani flung it into a wall with a psychic blast, knocking it out instantly.  "This is insane!" The Mew half-shouted, even though she was talking with a psychic voice rather than an audible one.  Even so, Destiny could barely make her out over all the commotion.  "Where are these pokémon coming from?!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I think I can explain that!" Destiny yelled back, pointing into the mayhem.  "Look over there!"  Behind a line of fire pokémon marched two men and a woman, each with a black uniform having an "R" emblazoned on the front.  "I never thought I'd see something like this actually happen, but it looks like Team Rocket finally worked up the nerve to actually attack a city!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Hey, Destiny, look at that guy!"  Destiny turned and spotted the object of the Mew's interest.  He was all alone, but instead of running from the Rockets, was running towards them, releasing a Gyarados and a Starmie from their pokéballs.  The two water-types immediately started blasting water at their fiery foes, who responded by combining their flames into a single wave of fire, which evaporated the two streams of water from the stranger's pokémon and washed over them.  The combined fire was too much for the two courageous pokémon, and they fell over in agony.</div> <bR> <div>     One of the Rockets grinned wickedly and threw two black pokéballs, which sucked up the two defeated pokémon, obviously having been illegally programmed to be able to catch pokémon that already had owners.  The two pokéballs flew back to the Rockets, but suddenly stopped in midair and reversed direction, flying toward Destiny instead.  She grabbed them out of the air, a smile crossing her face, even though she was in the midst of a burning city.  Now the Rockets were going to get what was coming to them.</div> <bR> <div>      "Ok, Sani, why don't you show them what a Mew can do!"  The psychic pokémon gave her a quick nod, then unleashed a barrage of black Shadow Balls, each of which slammed into one of the opposing pokémon, throwing them back into their trainers.  As the few that had withstood the blast started to rise again, Sani slammed them back down violently with her Psychic attack.  Looking up, the Mew's eyes flashed as she started to wave one hand in the air.  Suddenly, the clouds above started to swirl together into one large cloud.  Before Destiny could ask what Sani was trying to accomplish, a drop of water hit her cheek.  The girl's mouth fell open in awe as the skies began to pour down rain.</div> <bR> <div>     One of the Charizards swooped down from the skies, but it flew past them, landing beside the three downed Rockets.  Soaking wet from the downpour, it picked up its pokéball and let itself back inside to escape the hated water, much to the amusement of the two friends.  Elsewhere, the rest of the fire pokémon were also in retreat, returning to their pokéballs, or hiding under the closest shelter.  "You could consider that to be the Mew version of Rain Dance." commented Sani, winking.</div> <bR> <div>     "I don't believe it..."  The two spun around, finding the man they had rescued behind them.  "You're a Mew, aren't you?" he said, pointing to Sani, who nodded slowly.  "I thought so...  Well, come on, we have to get out of here before the Rockets find out about you."  Sani started to ask why they should go with him, but he interrupted.  "No time for questions!  If word gets back to Giovanni that a Mew is here, he'll send that monster of his after us!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani gave Destiny a quick glance, sending her a psychic message that the man could not hear.  "He's telling the truth, as far as I can tell, although I have no idea who Giovanni is or what monster he's talking about.  I think we'd better go with him, though."</div> <bR> <div>     "I agree, let's go."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     The man, who they learned was named Greg, led them back toward the base of the mountains, showing them a small, man-made tunnel that led down to a tight chamber, lit with small battery-powered lamps.  "Sorry that it's a little cramped down here, but it's the best we can do in times like this."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny was confused, "Times like what?  What's happening around here?"</div> <bR> <div>     Greg looked at her as if she asked what year it was.  "The same thing that's happening everywhere else...  Team Rocket's taking over..."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani shook her head.  "That's the first I've heard of it.  Last time I heard, the Rockets were just an annoyance."</div> <bR> <div>     "Then you must have been living in a cave for the last four months, 'cause Team Rocket has been a major threat to the world ever since their boss Giovanni came up with that psychic terror of his.  If he ever finds out that you two were here, Mewtwo will be on your trail in a flash."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I <B>was</B> living in a cave --" Sani started, then realized what the man had just said.  "Wait a minute, did you just say that Mewtwo is working for the Rockets?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, for the last four months Giovanni's been using him to pound cities into submission.  The Rockets already control Kanto, Johto, and the Orange Islands.  Now they're quickly taking over nearby countries like Cusim, Treva, and Obsidia.  It's getting really nasty.  Just last week, they smashed up Topaz City.  I hear they leveled a couple buildings, stole everything in the museum, and really made a mess of the stadium."</div> <bR> <div>     "That's impossible!" Destiny blurted.  "I just watched the Topaz City games over the last few days!"</div> <bR> <div>     Greg stared at her again, "Either you're delusional, or there's something funny going on.  The games were canceled this year because of preparations for the Rocket's attack."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani poked Destiny, "Hey, Dest?"  Before the girl could ask her what she wanted, they heard voices from outside the cave.</div> <bR> <div>     Apparently, Greg heard it too.  "Hold on just a minute while I see who it is.  If it's the Rockets then you'll have to try to get out before they can find you."  The man climbed to his feet and sprinted out of the cave.</div> <bR> <div>     "Destiny!"  Sani whispered loudly, throwing a glance at the exit tunnel.  "I think we'd better get back to the temple ASAP.  There's something terribly wrong here, and I think I have an idea what it might be."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, "Yeah, I'm starting to think that the second door wasn't just another way out."</div> <bR> <div>     Just then, Greg returned, this time accompanied by two other men.  The first thing Destiny noticed about them chilled her.  Both of them were wearing white shirts with a raging pokémon on the front - one had a Gyarados, the other a Dragonite.  Usually something like that would just earn a quick glance from her, except for the fact that both the pokémon were "posing" in front of a capital letter "D."  "You're from the Dragons!" she exclaimed, recoiling in shock.  Obsidia's counterparts to Team Rocket, the Dragons had recently been caught up in a gang war, opposing the Rocket's arrival in their turf.</div> <bR> <div>     Greg shook his head, again giving them "the look" that he had been giving them all afternoon.  "Of course we are.  After the Rockets began to take over, everyone banded together to fight them.  The Dragons have become the biggest resistance force in the area, and we have dozens joining us in the fight every day.  I'm amazed that you don't know any of this; are you hermits or something?"</div> <bR> <div>     "No, we're not... We're um... foreigners... I think..."  Destiny tried to explain, failing miserably.  Greg just looked at her in confusion.  "Well, I can't really explain any better right now, since I'm not sure myself.  All I know is that Sani and I have a little trip that we need to take right now, so we'll just be on our way!"  Destiny quickly grabbed Sani's hand.  "Come on, let's go before anything else happens."  Before the Dragons could ask where they were going, Sani had already teleported them away...</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     "I don't know about you, but I thought that was really weird."  Destiny remarked as the two walked back into the temple.  "How do you think that the Rockets took over everything in that short time we were gone?  Or do you think we somehow traveled through time to the future or something?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani shook her head.  "No, not time... If you remember, that Greg guy said that Team Rocket started taking over four months ago, right?  Well, that's also about the time when our Mewtwo broke out of Team Rocket's base, after finding out that their Boss had double-crossed him.  I'm certain that Mewtwo would never help the Rockets after that, at least, not if he could help it."</div> <bR> <div>     "So what do you think that was?" asked Destiny, pointing at the door they had just passed through.</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, the legend said that we would go on a quest to save two worlds.  I'm thinking that we just found out what it meant."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny thought for a moment, then nodded slowly.  "Kinda like some of those sci-fi shows that have mirror worlds... One's good, and the other is evil."</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, something like that, but as far as I could tell, that world was just like ours until about four months ago, when something happened there that didn't happen in our world."</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, something big..."  Destiny glanced over at the pedestal in front of the large stone door.  "I guess we'd better start collecting those Orbs then, cause that world needs saved pretty bad.  Let's go through that list and see if we can think of a good place to begin."  Reaching into her pocket, Destiny gave the little slip of paper a quick study, then showed it to Sani.  "Ok, we have the Orb of Thunder, Orb of Fire, Orb of Rock, Orb of the Sky, Orb of the Sea, Orb of the Forest, Orb of Dragon, and Orb of Ice.  Any idea where we could find any of those?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, why don't we just start with the Orb of Thunder, since it's the first one on the list.  What's the most Thundery place you can think of?"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny smiled.  "Stormy Peak, near Topaz City!  There was always rumors of Zapdos sightings around there -- that's how it got its name!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani grabbed Destiny's hand and pulled her along after her, heading for the exit to their world.  "Then what are we standing around here for?  Let's go!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Wait, Sani...  Do you think we could make a quick stop by my house, so I could tell my parents that I'm going to be gone for awhile?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani stopped suddenly, "Well, I guess so...  But what are you going to tell them?  I hardly think that claiming to be running off with a legendary pokémon to save an alternate dimension is something that most parents would like to hear from their child. They'd probably think that you'd gone insane."</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't worry, I'm not that dumb.  I'll just tell them that I've finally realized that I want to be a pokémon researcher, so I'm going to tour Obsidia and learn about all the different pokémon I find.  They'll believe me, cause I spend so much time in the woods already.  And while I'm there, I'll pack a backpack full of food and clothes and stuff, so our quest will be a little more pleasant."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani giggled, "Traveling with a Mew will get you information that any pokémon researcher would give his right arm for.  If I were you, I really would consider that for a future career."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny winked, "Well, maybe I will.  We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds for us!"</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>