[ Vermilion City - Pokémon Center ]

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock.

The clock didn't stop for anyone. Time never waited for anyone or anything. No matter how many times we get the opportunity to do something, only time will be able to tell the outcome. That's how it is.

That's why choices were important. Very important. You can never go back on your choices, unlike video games. If you decided to go to school today, you can't go back unless you make another decision of faking an illness or injury. Or, if you decided to go buy two packets of biscuits instead of one, then you can't return them, can you?

Even if time were to be a piece of human perception and a social construct or an illusion we created for ourselves; you can't help the nagging feeling that time is slipping away slowly, right beneath your fingertips... Can you?

Tick tock, went the clock, tick tock.

It's nine in the morning.

Brock couldn't help but look at the bowl of milk and cereal in front of him.

" Hey; Brock, have you heard from Ash ?" A voice called out to Brock who couldn't help but shudder as he looked up to see Yellow looking at him with eyes full of wonder.

" Yeah, Professor Oak told me that Ash has finally passed his advanced trainer exam."

" Yay! When is Ash going to meet us ?"

" Soon." Brock lied in a monotone voice as Misty asked Yellow to get them something from the cafeteria.

Misty and Brock watched Yellow as she left the door before looking at the breakfast in front of them.

It looked extremely unappetizing to the duo who couldn't help but sigh.

" Any word from Professor Oak?"

" No, you were there when the professor called last time."

" Yeah."

" .... "

" Do you think it's because of us ?" Brock asked while breaking the uncomfortable silence between them.

" Yes, Yes, Yes, Of course! It has to be something we did." Misty screamed out in anger causing Brock to flinch.

Misty's tense face relaxed as she said in a soft voice.

" I am sorry for yelling."

" Don't worry, Misty these last few weeks haven't been easy."

" Yeah, tell me about it. Those police inspections, medical checks ups and ' talks' with officers, " Misty said while continuing

" I know but that isn't what is bugging you is it."

" Do you think Ash blames us ?"

" Blames us for what ?"

" Misty, I know you know so stop playing dumb."

" ..... "

" ..... "

" Yeah; sorry Brock, I just don't want to think that something bad happened to my friend and he blames me for it."

" He has every right to," Brock replied in a whisper that was heard loud and clear.

" What was that ?!"

" Misty, Ash didn't want to go on the SS. Anne but we convinced him otherwise and...."

Brock was cut off mid-way by Misty who screamed out.

" And.... and what ?! You think we know what is going to happen in the future. You think we knew that Team Rocket was going to launch an attack on the ship, huh; Huh ?!"

Misty suddenly stood up and went to the bathroom.

Brock sighed as the sound of the bathroom door being forcefully shut echoed through the room as Brock held his head in his hands.

What did we do to deserve this?

...

Inside the bathroom, Misty couldn't help but fall to her knees while her back touched the door.

A few tears escaped her eyes as she looked at her shaking hands.

Ever since she was little, people blamed her for things out of her control.

Her beauty, her intelligence, her nature, and her talent.

She wasn't perfect but she never let that get to her now it was different.

Something had happened to her friend and it was her fault.

It was her fault.

It was her fault.

Misty's thoughts drowned her mind as the silence of the bathroom was broken by the sobs of a small girl who didn't know what was going on in her life.

Why did they have to deal with all of this?

What did we do to deserve this?

☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠

[ Lavender Town ]

Walking through the desolate roads of the lavender town, Austin felt as if he was being watched, and considering the rumors he had found online about this place and the ambiance that the fog that rolled wherever he went and the seemingly silent houses didn't help Austin's paranoia.

( ~ Crack ~ )

" Pika !"

Pikachu shot a thunderbolt in the general direction of the sound.

( ~ Boom ~ )

The mist parted to show that Pikachu's thunderbolt had destroyed a tree.

Glancing at Pikachu, Austin said," Nice going buddy."

" Pika, Pi " Pikachu rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment before he saw a look of seriousness on his trainer's face.

' Why isn't anyone coming one to see what was all that commotion about ?'

( ~ Swoosh ~ )

A cold breeze blew through the eriely silent streets of Lavender town.

Austin looked at Pikachu as both of them were sweating like crazy.

" Let's speed up a little."

" Pika ." Pikachu nodded at his trainer's words as Austin walked as fast as he could since the feeling of being watched was increasing rapidly.

( ~ Lub ~ )

( ~ Dub ~ )

The moment Austin heard the sound of his beating heart, his stomach sank from fear.

( ~ Gulp ~ )

Austin didn't like the idea in his head but he knew he didn't have much choice.

Taking out a pokemon, Austin threw it upward as the surrounding mist parted a little showing Fearow in all his glory.

" Fearow, can you fly me towards the giant tower in the center of town."

" Fear, Fearow !"

Fearow looked at his trainer in wonder.

Wasn't he afraid of heights?

The look in fearow's eyes told Austin, what he was a thing?

" He he He ." Laughing sardonically at his fears, Austin took off his shirt and wrapped it around his eyes.

" Problem solved ."

Fearow looked at Pikachu as he outstretched his wing toward Austin.

Was this idiot serious?

Pikachu just rubbed his head and nodded.

Fearow looked at his blindfolded trainer before outstretching his wing toward him.

" Fearow !"

" Alright, Alright I got it."

Austin grabbed Fearow's wing as he slowly made his way toward him with Pikachu helping him.

Austin hugged Fearow's body for dear life.

Seeing their trainer covered in fear, Fearow and Pikachu just chuckled.

" Guys, not now !" Austin shouted as he heard his partner chuckle.

( ~ Peck ~ )

" Fearow, come one don't Peck me. I am sorry please."

Fearow just smirked as he flapped his wings and shot towards the sky with a screaming Austin on his back.

Pikachu used magnetic rise to fly beside the duo.

" Ahhhhhh !"

The sounds of a screaming boy echoed through the desolate and eerie ghost town yet not a single person even peeped out of their window to look.

☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠

[ East of Lavender Town ]

Towards the east of Lavender town lies an unnamed mountain commonly referred to as " Suicide Mountain."

Below this mountain lies Aokigahara, also known as the Sea of Trees is a forest, thriving on 30 square kilometers (12 sq mi) of hardened lava laid down by the last major eruption of Suicide Fuji in 864 CE. The western edge of Aokigahara, where several caves fill with ice in winter, is a popular destination for tourists. Parts of Aokigahara are very dense, and the porous lava rock absorbs sound, contributing to a sense of solitude that some visitors attribute to the forest.

Since the War of Kanto and Orre, Aokigahara has become associated with suicide, eventually becoming known by the nickname "Suicide Forest" and gaining a reputation as one of the world's most-used suicide sites during and after the War.

The trees on either side, swung helplessly as the chopper blades revolved powerfully, the gale enough to push a herd of Rhydon backward. An executive got out of the chopper, staring at the several groups of grunts, all of them holding an Umbreon each, the dark types having a collar attached to their necks, waiting for orders.

"Executive Birch!" One of the men said.

The executive scowled, as he took a single step forward before swinging his large fist over the grunt's unfortunate face, making the man spin around and fall to his face, blood splattered over his mouth, and a few teeth broken by the looks of it.

"It's Butch, you fuck'r. Butch, remember that if you wanna live."

"Sorry, sir." The grunt trembled as he apologized, somehow managing to stand up.

"Yeah, and I don't wanna see that splattered blood wiped off from ya'r face. Be like that for the entire operation. Is that understood?"

"Ye- yes, sir."

"Now, go, get me the good stuff."

The grunts gave him a salute, before leaving the spot, and entering the depths of the forest. Butch wiped off the blood on his knuckles, as he plucked out his pokeballs, releasing the pokémon in advance. Given the importance of the mission, he might just need them.

The lights ceased and in front of him, stood a large Houndoom, a Drapion, and his best buddy Magmortar.

He took out a single phone and dialed a number.

"Have you reached?" came a calm, calculated voice on the other end.

"Yes, boss. The grunts are sent to get what we want."

"Good. I have no interest in the others. Get me the Ghosts of Lavender Tower."

"But sir, the evolved ones have quite the teeth on them." Butch tried.

"Don't make me repeat myself. I need members of the Gengar line. Anything other, I have no interest. Enjoy your call."

And with that, the call disconnected.

"Damn!" Butch muttered, shaking his fist in empty air.

" Well at least, I get to capture the others for myself!"

☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠-☠

[ Lavender Tower ]

Austin tried to catch his breath while trying to calm his beating heart.

I am never going to try flying.

Taking a few minutes, Austin looked up at the Lavender Tower.

A plain building that didn't have anything special about it yet it sent chills down Austin's spine as he continued to gaze upon it.

Austin had an eerie foreboding feeling that this place was evil.

Seeing his trainer in a daze, Pikachu cried out.

" Pika, Pika, Pika !"

Pikachu's calls snapped Austin out of his daze and he took a step back.

Just what was that ?!

Austin gulped as he picked up Pikachu and Raticate's caskets and went toward the tower.

Walking through the door, Austin found himself walking in. Gazing upon the empty hall, Austin thought,' Of course, it looks like this. Why don't you place a cosmic killer clown in the hall to eat me ?'

The lights flickered as Austin and a scared Pikachu made their way toward the reception.

There was no one at the reception causing Austin to gulp as he rang the bell.

( ~ Ring ~ )

The sound of the bell echoed through the empty hall.

( ~ Scratch ~ )

The moment the sound entered Austin's ears, he instinctively turned to see that there was no one.

Suddenly a claw etched closer and closer towards Austin's shoulder from the back.