Chapter 7

<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>   |   <B>Chapter 7</B>   |   <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" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanfics</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrart/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/a-j/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors A-J</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/k-z/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors K-Z</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/art/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Fanart List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/ffsubmit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit a Fanfic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/fanart_submit.htm" 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what they were looking for before he brought them back to Giovanni.  He still had plenty of time before he was supposed to report...</div> <bR> <bR> <div>       Unaware that they were being watched, Destiny and Sani began their exploration of the mountain peak.  As they began to scan the steep slope for any sign of a temple, flashes of lightning from angry storm clouds flashed on the far side of the mountain and caught Destiny's attention.  "Hey, Sani, look over there.  See all that lightning?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani glanced over, "Yeah, don't worry about it.  I'll keep us from getting too close."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shook her head, "No, that's not what I meant.  If we want to find the Orb of Thunder, we need to go where the lightning is!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani stared at the ominous clouds.  "You're kidding, aren't you?"  The Mew looked at her human friend long enough to realize that she was not joking.  "Ok, then, we'll head for the center of the storm.  Hold on!"</div> <div> Before Destiny could ask exactly <B>what</B> it was that she could hold on to, Sani had carried both of them into the dark clouds.</div> <bR> <div>     Interestingly, there was no rain falling from the cloud, but there was more than enough lightning to make up for it.  Sani suddenly yanked both of them backwards as a huge bolt slashed down past them with a deafening roar.  "You'd better be right about this, Destiny!"  Unable to hear over the thunder, Sani could not make out Destiny's reply.  She started to ask Destiny to repeat what she had just said, but the girl was pointing down at something.  Sani glanced down as well, spotting a construction on the side of the mountain that could only be the Thunder Temple.  As another bolt of lightning flashed past, Sani brought the two of them in for a landing.</div> <bR> <div>     The two friends rushed into the temple, unwilling to stay out in the dangerous lightning any longer than they had to.  Taking off the amulet, Destiny ran to the far wall.  After a moment of searching, she found the expected depression where she would have to place the star-shaped piece of metal, just as they had needed to do with Zeth's piece in the two temples they had seen earlier.  With just a moment of hesitation, Destiny pushed the talisman into place.  The gem in the center of the star gleamed with internal fire, then went dark again.  Outside, the storm picked up, as if it was trying to beat its way into the temple.  Sani, standing by the doorway, jumped back with a yelp as bolts of lightning shot down in rapid succession.  A moment later, a huge streak of lightning shot through the temple's door, smacking into the center of the temple's floor with a bang.  Instead of disappearing, the colossal arc of energy flashed so brightly that Destiny had to cover her eyes.  When she looked back, she found that the master of the Thunder Temple, the fearsome Zapdos, had arrived...</div> <bR> <div>     The bird shrieked out what seemed to be a war cry.  "Zapdos says welcome to the Thunder Temple." Sani explained, then added, "..if you can call that racket a welcome."  The bird screeched something else, and Sani continued her translation.  "He says we're pretty brave for flying through his storm, and he really wants to battle us and see how courageous we really are."</div> <bR> <div>     "Tell him we're ready to battle when he is." Destiny told the Mew.</div> <bR> <div>     The bird called out something else, at a quieter volume this time.  Sani nodded her head, then translated for Destiny.  "Zappy wanted to know how many pokémon you wanted to use, but I told him it was just me, since you don't have any yet.  I think he was surprised, but we'll show him that one's enough!"  Sani turned back, addressing the Zapdos, but allowing her psychic voice to reach Destiny as well.  "Let's start!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Zapdos did not waste any time.  Right away, he unleashed a massive Thunderbolt that threw the Mew back into the wall.  "Cheap shot," the little purple pokémon muttered as she jumped back up and took to the air.  She bounced the next bolt of lightning off of her psychic shield, which flickered at the strain.  Diving in close, Sani hit the Zapdos with a Mega Punch.</div> <bR> <div>     The Zapdos was fast, perhaps even faster than Sani.  The bird shot around in a tight loop, avoiding a Shadow Ball that the Mew flung at him.  The bird glowed, then fired off a Zap Cannon attack.  Sani tried to reflect it off of her psychic shield again, but the attack was too strong and about half of it broke through.  "Keep going, Sani!"  Destiny called out encouragingly.  </div> <bR> <div>     Teleporting above and behind Zapdos, Sani shot a hailstorm of tiny balls of light at the bird.  The spheres of light ricocheted off the bird and fell to the ground, their glow fading.  Destiny picked one of them up and realized that it was actually a coin.  "Pay Day?  Come on Sani!  Stop throwing money at him and use your Psychic attack!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani did not answer, but the air around the Zapdos suddenly glowed blue.  A second later, the bird plummeted down onto the floor.  Sani dove down and tried to use an Ice Punch on the Zapdos, but the electric bird rolled onto his side.  Sani smacked the rock ground instead, freezing it over, but hurting her hand as well.  As she yelped in pain, the Zapdos took advantage of her mistake.  Grabbing her in his talons, he pecked her with his sharp beak three times before Sani Ice Punched him to get away.</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew stumbled away from the Zapdos in a daze, while the lightning pokémon shook off the ice that covered his feathers.  Unleashing a flurry of Thunderbolts, Zapdos spread his wings and flew into the air again.  Sani saw the electricity coming and teleported out of the way, just in time to get hit with another round.</div> <bR> <div>      Destiny called for Sani to watch out, but it was too late.  The Zapdos rammed her, throwing her back into  a wall.  The Zapdos landed next to her, pecking at her randomly as she tried to curl up and avoid his blows.  The bird crowed in triumph, then unleashed a final bolt of electricity at the barely-conscious Mew.</div> <bR> <div>     The attack never hit... At least, it never hit Sani.   The arc of energy bounced off of a renewed psychic shield, then slammed into the Zapdos, throwing him back.  As he shrieked in surprise, he suddenly flew up into the ceiling, then back down into the floor, then sideways into a column.  Destiny just watched, with her jaw hanging open.</div> <bR> <div>     The bird finally fell in a heap in front of her.  It weakly crowed something, which Destiny could not understand at all without a translation from Sani.  Apparently the bird noticed she could not understand her by herself, so he just pointed a wing to a shelf, where the Orb of Thunder had just appeared.  Destiny nodded and picked up the sphere.  Zapdos stood unsteadily, then flapped his great wings and disappeared in a rather weak bolt of lightning.</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny ran over to Sani and picked her up.  "Sani?  Are you ok?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew groaned and held her head.  "I don't think I'm dead, because I hurt too much."</div> <bR> <div>     "Are you well enough to take us back to Jade City?" Destiny asked, hoping the Mew still had enough energy to do that much.  Otherwise, it was going to be a long hike back.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani nodded, "I think so...  Just give me a few minutes, ok?"  Destiny nodded, looking down at the Orb in her hand.  If this was just the beginning of their quest, she hated to think of how it would end...</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     It took them nearly an hour, but Sani managed to fly them back to Jade City.  Back at the pokémon center, Nurse Joy did her best to treat Sani's injuries, although the nurse pointed out that if anything serious ever happened, she might not have enough Mew medical knowledge to safely treat her.</div> <bR> <div>     "I assure you that I'll try my very best not to get shot, stabbed, or maimed." Sani assured Joy, rolling her eyes.  "Just get me something for this headache."</div> <bR> <div>     "As I said," the nurse explained, "I have no way of knowing what medicines will work on you and which will make you sick.  I can't --"</div> <bR> <div>     "Just give her some aspirin."  Destiny interrupted, not really wanting to have Joy repeat all her warnings.  "That shouldn't hurt her."</div> <bR> <div>     Nurse Joy frowned, but gave the Mew a pill anyway.  "Very well.  But if anything happens, don't say I didn't warn you."</div> <bR> <div>     As Joy left the room muttering about stubborn patients, Sani shook her head.  "There's times I wish I had already learned how to transform.  I bet she wouldn't have hesitated to give me a painkiller if I was a Pikachu."</div> <bR> <div>     "Look on the bright side.  At least we won."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani looked at Destiny questioningly.  "How did we win, anyway?"</div> <bR> <div>      Destiny laughed, "You mean you don't remember?  You reflected Zapdos' lightning back into him, then slammed him around the room a few times."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani stared at Destiny for a moment.  "I did?  But how could I have done that?  I wasn't even able to stand up at that point!"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shrugged, "Hey, I don't know how you did it.  You're the psychic, not me.  All I know is that I saw it happen."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, if you saw it, then it must have really happened.  I still think it's weird, though."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     "What do you have to report?"</div> <bR> <div>     Mewtwo gazed down at the image of Giovanni on his vidphone, a new feature which had been added to the left wrist of his armor.  He treated the Rocket leader to his sternest glare, as usual; but, because of the helmet, he doubted if the crime lord even noticed.  "I tracked the girl Destiny to Stormy Peak, where she encountered a large electric-type bird pokémon of a species I have never seen."</div> <bR> <div>     "An electric bird?  That sounds like Zapdos!" Giovanni exclaimed.  "What else did you see?"</div> <bR> <div>     "The girl was indeed traveling with a Mew," the psychic said.  "They defeated the... Zapdos, in a battle, and received some sort of glowing yellow sphere when they won.  After the battle, I followed them back to Jade City, where they are at the moment."</div> <bR> <div>     "This legend I've heard about..."  Giovanni began.  "Do you thing this encounter with Zapdos has anything to do with it?"</div> <bR> <div>     Mewtwo considered that.  "Yes, the two of them knew that they would encounter a pokémon such as Zapdos, that much was obvious.  It <B>must</B> have something to do with their quest to overthrow Team Rocket."</div> <bR> <div>     The psychic was gratified to see the Rocket leader shift uncomfortably at that proclamation.  "Then they must be stopped at once.  Begin your attack.  Bring me the girl and the Mew, alive if possible.  Giovanni out."  Reaching forward, the shadowy figure pressed a button, terminating the transmission.</div> <bR> <div>     Mewtwo scowled.  He had purposefully neglected to tell his "master" that the Mew had been badly battered in her fight against Zapdos, or that he had defeated Zapdos with his psychic powers when she was about to lose.  The psychic knew he was walking a dangerous line, and probably for a futile cause, since Destiny and her Mew would have no chance against him when he confronted them.  Still, it felt good to actually do <I>something</I> to sabotage his vile overlord's plans.  Perhaps it was a good enough start...</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Something made a ringing noise, and Destiny turned around, looking for the source.  A moment later, the sound was repeated, behind her yet again.  She suddenly realized that it was the phone in her backpack.  Curious as to why she would be receiving a call, she opened it up, guessing that it was probably a wrong number.</div> <bR> <div>     She was wrong, though. Greg's image appeared on the screen, and he looked worried.  "Destiny!  Look out the front window of the center, but don't go outside!  He's here!"  She started to ask who "he" was, then her heart raced as she realized who Greg had to be referring to.  Already in the front of the building, she turned toward the nearest window...  and jumped back with an involuntary scream when she found the helmeted face of Mewtwo staring back at her.</div> <bR> <div>     "<B>Sani!!!</B>"<B>  </B>The Mew woke up with a start as her friend barreled into the room, slamming the door behind her.  "<B>Sani!!!</B>  <B>We've got to get out of here!  Mewtwo's right outside, and he knows we're here!</B>"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani jumped off the bed, "Are you sure it's him?"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny pointed at the door, shouting at the top of her lungs.  "<B>Of course I'm sure!  He was six feet away from me!</B>"  She jumped behind the Mew as the doorknob started to turn.</div> <bR> <div>     Mewtwo could have just shattered the window and grabbed the girl, or blown down the door to confront them; but he did neither.  Instead he simply teleported into the building and opened the door, finding Destiny and her Mew in the next room, staring at him in shock.  He looked them over for a long moment.  "So, you are the great threat I have been sent to defeat.  I must say that I am not impressed."</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew faced him with an attempt at bravado that failed miserably.  "We're n-n-not afraid of you!" she stammered.  </div> <bR> <div>     Mewtwo nearly groaned.  <I>This is pathetic.  Once again, I'm reduced to fighting frightened children.</I>  "You are no match for me." he informed them, wishing that he was incorrect.  He hated to do this, but he had no choice -- not if he wanted Giovanni to let him live for another day.  "You were not even able to defeat the pokémon Zapdos without my help.  Perhaps my master was wrong in believing that you posed a threat to him.  However, I still must complete my mission.  The two of you will be delivered to Giovanni immediately."</div> <bR> <div>     "You'll never take us alive!" Sani shot back at him.</div> <bR> <div>     "Perhaps," Mewtwo remarked coldly.  "Either way, you'll be coming with me."</div> <bR> <div>     "Sani!"  Destiny hissed between her teeth.  "That's not what I want to hear at a time like this!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Enough talk!"  Mewtwo ordered.  "If you wish to put up a pathetic struggle for your freedom, I would suggest that you begin now.  Otherwise, come with me."  The psychic wondered if either of the two would take him up on his challenge.  He hoped so.  It would make him feel a little better to know that they were stubborn enough to face even the most hopeless odds with courage.</div> <bR> <div>     When neither of the two moved, Mewtwo sighed inwardly.  <I>So much for a fight to the death...  After my so-called master is finished with them, they'll wish that they had taken me up on that...   </I>Reaching out with his mind, he yanked Destiny towards him.  "Very well.  Follow or be dragged, it makes no difference to me."</div> <bR> <div>     Then it began.  Sani flung a Shadow Ball directly into Mewtwo, throwing him back a step before he caught himself.  A small smile crossed Mewtwo's face, almost too brief to notice.  "Very well, let the battle begin."  He waved a hand and the room disappeared in a flash of light...</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny blinked as the three of them reappeared on the street outside.  A few cars were parked nearby, but the street was basically deserted, most likely because of Mewtwo's appearance in the area.  "I have always wondered what it would be like to battle a Mew," the armored pokémon told Sani.  "It is quite a shame that you are still so young...  Still, I will try to make this as fair a battle as possible."  Stepping back, the psychic glowed, and all his armor teleported off of him into a neat pile on the curb.  "Now, defend yourself!"  Raising one arm, he launched a spinning Tri Attack from the palm of his hand.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani and Destiny dove to the ground as the whirling triangles of energy shot right through the space they had occupied a moment before.  "Go, Sani!" Destiny yelled.  "Hit him with all you've got!"  In response, the Mew fired off a round of Swift stars that were totally ineffectual against Mewtwo's psychic shielding.</div> <bR> <div>     "Is that all you can do?" Mewtwo asked demeaningly.  "This will be too easy!"  Eyes flashing, Mewtwo fired off his own Swift attack, but the glowing stars that he threw were twice as big as Sani's and also twice as powerful.   They rebounded off her shield as hers had done with Mewtwo, but this time, some got through, flinging her back.  As she tried to recover from that hit, Mewtwo gestured with one hand, psychically throwing Sani down into the pavement with a loud smack.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani sat up with dazed eyes, obviously no match for the superclone.  Mewtwo stepped closer, intent of finishing her off, but he stopped as an ice beam shot past his head.  Destiny spun around, and found a team of freedom fighters heading their way, with forty or more pokémon out to battle at one.  In the front of the crowd, Greg's Gyarados spat out another ice beam, which Mewtwo easily blocked.  "So, the fools think they can stop me?" he growled, scowling at the newcomers.  "They will fall as quickly as everyone else who has stood against me.  I will not be deterred from completing my mission."  Hefting a Shadow Ball in both hands, Mewtwo threw the spheres at the oncoming pokémon with devastating results.</div> <bR> <div>     However, he also took his eyes off of Sani and Destiny.  Realizing his mistake, he twisted around, just in time to be blinded by a bright Flash attack.  Wincing at the light, he felt something hit his side, then the world disappeared... and exploded back into existence a moment later.  Slightly disoriented, he glanced around.  He was still in the streets, but Destiny and Sani were gone.  A pokéball lay at his feet, the object that had hit him a moment earlier.  Of course, the ball was not nearly strong enough to contain him, but it had managed to distract him long enough for his targets to escape.  Looking back to the resistance pokémon who were still coming for him, Mewtwo teleported his armor back onto himself.  Raising both arms, he unleashed a psychic wave, flinging back all the attacking pokémon.  He followed that up with a Blizzard attack, freezing most of the pokémon.  Satisfied that they would not annoy him further, the psychic activated his armor's wrist-phone to contact Giovanni.</div> <bR> <div>     Mewtwo got straight to the point.  "I confronted my targets, but they managed to escape during a surprise attack from their companions in the Resistance." he informed the Rocket leader.</div> <bR> <div>     "What?!"  Giovanni exploded.  "You idiot!  You know what I do to failures!"</div> <bR> <div>     Mewtwo calmly watched the screen, unable to stop himself from saying the first thing that came to mind.  "You dock their pay and have them chase after some kid's Pikachu for all eternity."</div> <bR> <div>     The Rocket scowled.  Mewtwo knew how much he hated to be reminded of failures, which was probably the reason the psychic enjoyed doing the reminding so much.  Still, Giovanni was controlled enough to not let himself get overly upset by that particular reminder.  "I only keep those three around for comic relief." he said scornfully, pointing at Mewtwo.  "You, however, are expected to succeed."</div> <bR> <div>     "And I will." Mewtwo interrupted him.  "Provided that you will prevent the Resistance from hindering me further."</div> <bR> <div>     "That's supposed to be your job," the crime lord countered.  "But if you're so worried about the girl's Resistance friends in Jade City, then go ahead and subjugate the city.  I'll send a team in to mop up anything you leave behind.  With another one of their cities conquered, the Resistance will think twice about assisting the girl Destiny."</div> <bR> <div>     "As you wish," Mewtwo managed to get in before Giovanni terminated the transmission.  So, the vile scum wanted him to conquer cities now.  <I>At least</I>, Mewtwo considered, <I>this gives Destiny and Sani some more time.  Maybe they'll have the chance to fulfill this legend after all..</I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>