Haunting Past (Part B) by Michael Keens/ Exodus  

Rick had lost the sinister figures, but was soon drawn to a spectacle going on 
in the town square.  
Many people were surrounding a small space, all with different expressions:  
Interest, fear, concern.  
Rick pushed his way through the back of the crowd until he could clearly see 
what was the big attraction.  
“My god, Veronica.”  
“Noooo...” she was moaning, as if in torment, “Please stop...”  
Rick forcefully pushed his way forward until he was closer.  
“You know her?” asked a man close by, “We’ve got an ambulance on its way, you 
know what’s wrong with her?”  
“I... don’t know.” said Rick nervously.  
“I don’t want to...  Leave me alone...”  
Rick kneeled down in front of Veronica, placed his hands on her shoulders and 
tried to make her face him.  
“Veronica...  Veronica!...  Ronnie?...  Please speak to me...”  
“Please stop...” she sobbed, “Stop torturing me...”  
“I’m not doing anything, I-”  
“Ricky?...” she managed to say.  
“I’m here Ronnie, what’s wrong? You’re making a spectacle.”  
“Not you too...  I can’t take this from the both of you...  Not both of you...  
Not here in reality...  Agh! Stop!”  
She suddenly started panicking again, pushed Rick hard in the chest, and ran, 
barging part anyone who didn’t have the sense to move hastily.  
“Ronnie...” muttered Rick with worry, “What happened?...”  
He looked into the distance, saw her running straight, until a glint of blue 
flashed at the side of her and making her instantly change direction.  
“That wasn’t...” said Rick through shocked eyes, “It couldn’t be...”  

Rick hastily followed Veronica, darting away, occasionally pleading and 
screaming, and changing her direction several times, until both ended up in the 
dark woodlands near the town.  

“Why do you have to torture me?...” cried out Veronica, “I’ve suffered every 
night, you’ve haunted my dreams...  And now you’re here in reality...”  
“Because you did not heed my words in your sleep, you continue to pursue a life 
of good, when we both know you don’t deserve to.”  
“Okay...  Okay...  I’ll join the Rockets... again...”  
“Good girl...  You’re finally listening to me.”  
“But... what if they kill me... for betraying them?...”  
“Then it will be your own fault for ever thinking you could change...”  
“Ronnie!” called Rick.  
“What the?” spluttered the ghost.  
“Ronnie! Stop running, and tell me...”  
Rick froze up upon clearly seeing the face on the haunting ghost, “Mother...”  
“Ricky...”  
“I...  I don’t know what to say...  You’re here...”  
“Yes my son, and I’m back to make you and Veronica here understand your places 
in the world.”  
“What do you mean?...”  
“Veronica is a Rocket, and will always be one at heart.”  
“Mother...  I can’t believe you’re saying this...”  
“Its hard for you to hear this but you must.  Veronica will never change.  She 
killed me so long ago and yet she didn’t change then, she will never change.”  
“But she has...  She’s sorry for what she did, she didn’t mean to-”  
“What do you know Ricky?! You weren’t there, you didn’t see how it happened, 
what you believe, you heard it from her, and she’s lied to you.  She knew what 
she was doing, she came to our house that night knowing who lived there, she 
wanted to cover up her tracks, destroy those that knew her former self...”  
“That can’t be...  She never attempted to hurt me, she helped me...”  
“Only so that you wouldn’t turn her in, can’t you see Ricky? Can’t you see 
she’s lying to you? I know you used to be friends, but that’s what’s blinding 
you to the truth.”  
“Mother, I-”  
“Do what your mother tells you Ricky, and convince this witch to go back to her 
kind, that way she’ll one day pay for her actions as will all of those 
Rockets.”  
Rick was torn, he couldn’t believe his mother was back from the grave, full of 
hatred he’d never seen in her, and wanting Veronica to pay for her murder.  
He really couldn’t believe it.  
“Veronica...” he said darkly, “Get up.”  
“No Rick...  Please...  Don’t get angry at me too, I just can’t take anymore.”  
“Get on your feet Veronica...  Do it!”  
Her eyes widened, believing that the ghost of Marisa Zane had now enlisted her 
son, a proper physical and living person, to ensure she went back to her old 
home.  
“I can’t believe you’re turning your back on me too Rick, I thought you wanted 
me to change, to lead a life without the Rockets...”  
“Don’t believe everything you see and hear.”  
“What?”  
“Leave...”  
“Rick...”  
“Not you Ronnie...  HER!” shouted Rick.  
“How dare you!” shouted the ghost, “Don’t defy me Ricky, drag her back to her 
wretched group!”  
“I’m not taking orders from you, you’re not my mother! You may look like her, 
and know a lot of things about her death, Veronica and me, but that’s not 
enough to make me do your dirty work for you!”  
Veronica simply stared at Rick’s bravery, standing up to the ghost that 
resembled his late mother.  
“My mother would never act so much out of hatred, she was pure and innocent, 
and during our final days together she didn’t call me Ricky, but rather, by 
what I wanted to be called:  Rick.  Finally, this will prove once and for all 
of what you are...”  
With that a Pokéball was tossed to the floor, and Rick’s closest Pokémon and 
formerly his nanny appeared.  
“Jynx...” she said, shocked at the sight of Marisa Zane.  
Serena approached the ghost slowly, looked deeply into its eyes, and the 
scowled.  
“Serena here was Marisa’s closest Pokémon, she knows her even better than I do, 
and you’re not her...”  
The fake ghost screamed out in rage, but was interrupted by a Blizzard attack 
initiated by Serena, which blasted through the illusion and froze something 
within it, making it fall to the floor.  
The illusion of Marisa Zane still floated with it, overlapping it with its 
translucent body, but it didn’t know what to say.  
The Jynx suddenly turned to the side.  
“Serena senses something more...” he said to Veronica, who had shaken off her 
panicked state and removed the tears from her eyes and face.  
“Jynx!” she shouted, pointing upwards.  
“Blazer! Flamethrower!” shouted Rick, unleashing his Growlithe which saw 
Serena’s message and blasted.  
The flames contacted something and the previously invisible Pokémon rippled 
into sight:  An Alakazam with robotic parts strapped around its body.  
And down below, where the frozen thing and the illusion of the ghost were, the 
ice shattered to reveal a Gengar, also with many devices strapped around its 
body.  
“It was all a big hoax to try and force you to return to Team Rocket.” Rick 
explained to Veronica.  
“But who exactly knows so much about you, me, your mother and her death.”  
“Me and my mother I’m sure could be found on computers, as for you and her 
death, who else would know so much about it? Who would have gone through all 
this trouble just to get you back on Team Rocket?”  
“You mean...”  
“That’s right.” said a heavy and familiar voice, and five figures appeared in 
the area, some attending to their Pokémon that had been working the scheme.  
Its was Crater, along with the rest of the Lunar Crew:  Nebula, Depth, Form and 
Phase.  
“You guys are sick.  How dare you pretend to be the ghost of my mother!” 
shouted Rick.  
“You weren’t meant to know.” said Nebula, “But you might have been convinced to 
help, instead of being our downfall.”  
“I guess you’ll be wanting an explanation.” said Phase calmly, before speaking 
loudly and outgoing, “Well, without the tactics and ideas of our former leader 
Vertigo, we haven’t performed as well as we used to.”  
“Uh huh.” added Form, “We’re still on top o’ Rocket projects, only not as good 
as the old days.”  
“We surely couldn’t get Veronica to return to us willingly after she betrayed 
us...” stated Depth in her usual calm manner.  
“So we needed someone else to, we couldn’t come up with the funds to 
impersonate Ricky Zane in a way Veronica would believe, so we used our Pokémon 
to impersonate the ghost of Marisa Zane.”  
“Using my Gengar to float around.”  
“And my Alakazam to telepathically speak out to Veronica but no one else, using 
the words we relayed to him...”  
“We nearly forced Veronica to return to the Lunar Crew in order to lead us 
again.” finished Crater, “Although I was against this plan from the start.”  
“Only because you’re the current leader.” interrupted Depth.  
“But your plan failed, Veronica’s surely not going back to you now.” said Rick 
confidently.  
“I guess not.” said Crater, “But there’s an alternative.  Veronica’s been 
interfering with any Rocket schemes she’s come across in her quest to be good, 
and we just can’t have that.  She’s too powerful an enemy to have, so we’re 
going to finish the both of you off now!”  
With that, three Pokéballs were thrown, and the two Pokémon already out joined 
them as they were unleashed, one Pokémon of each member now stood ready for 
battle.  
“Gen-Gar!”  
“Alakazam!”  
“ONNNN!!!”  
“Blastoise!”  
“Ex-eggutor!”  
“You ready Ronnie? I’m willing to fight for you.” said Rick comfortingly, “You 
do realise that, don’t you?”  
“Of, of course.” she stuttered.  
“Set aside everything they told you about where you should go, we both know 
better than that.”  
“Of course Rick.  Thank you.”  
“Return Serena, Blazer...  The other Pokémon can handle this.” said Rick, 
recalling her and drawing two Pokéballs, while Veronica drew three.  
“Poli-Wrath!”  
“Viiiii!!!”  
“Para-Secta!”  
“Gol-Bat!”  
“Maro-Wak!”  
“Choose an easy opponent and take ‘em out!” ordered Rick.  
“Ditto to that.” said Veronica to hers.  
The battle went seemingly okay, when in the past, battling the Lunar Crew would 
have been a tough piece of work.  
Obviously Rick had trained his Pokémon a lot lately, while the Lunar Crew had 
been lazy.  
Veronica however had trained her first six Pokémon immensely while living in 
Team Rocket, and now that they had evolved, they were close to unstoppable.  

Veronica’s Parasect, Mushroom, was doing a lot of dodged from the psychic 
onslaught, powered by the voice that had driven Veronica almost to insanity, 
glowing energy spheres were generated and hurled at the bug but it continued to 
scuttle to the sides during its approach in order to avoid them, it found an 
opening and sprayed its Poison Powder forward, but the Alakazam caught onto it 
and disabled it with psychic energy, it then unleashed its Stun Spore but the 
Alakazam got lucky with its next attack and a small blue beacon hit it and 
froze it for a moment.  
It shook it off, but the attack had somehow made it forget how to use its last 
attack, so it continued its approach until it got close enough to slash it.  
The Alakazam was already weak from being blasted, and from all the work it had 
done today, so Mushroom had no problem with it at close range, and used Leech 
Life on it, and then Spore to put it to sleep.  

Vortex, Rick’s recently evolved Poliwrath, took on the huge Onix that belonged 
to Crater, who slammed itself around and soon got lucky, crushing the small 
Poliwrath with its rock hard body.  
It groaned, apparently in pain, but as it turned out, only in frustration as it 
was trying to pull itself free, and because it still despised Rockets.  
It finally managed to pull an arm free, and then started punching it hard with 
a touch of Fighting-type moves until the rock around it cracked and it was able 
to free itself.  
It then spun itself around and closed in on the Onix, before battering it hard 
with a Submission attack, it then pumped up its special stats by concentrating 
and initiating the Amnesia technique, and then blasted the Onix with an extra 
powerful Hydro Pump that took the huge Pokémon down.  

Next was Vampire, Veronica’s Golbat, who was doing a great job at avoiding 
Form’s Exeggutor’s Grass and Psychic projectile attacks, it swooped down and a 
disgusting dose of Toxic liquid flowed out of its mouth and splashed on the 
Exeggutor, poisoning it lots.  
Then it swooped down and bit the Grass/ Psychic-type, finishing up with a Leech 
Life drain and finally a Wing Attack.  

Rick’s Victreebel Leafer, also evolved recently, was fighting against Depth’s 
Blastoise, it had already tried powders of the sleep and poison variety, but 
the Blastoise shot the dust out of the air by shooting jets of water to nullify 
them.  
It then aimed its cannons at the Victreebel and fired two parts that made up a 
Hydro Pump attack.  
Leafer screamed out as most Victreebels did and unleashed a wind of sharp 
spinning leaves that surprisingly cut through the water jets and reduced the 
jets to small showers.  
Before the Blastoise could see through its own blasts, Leafer slammed its 
weight into it, and then went into a Vine Whip frenzy, almost slashing into the 
Blastoise with its violent whipping.  

Finally was Veronica’s Marowak, Skull, who was being smogged by the Gengar’s 
poisonous attacks, not being infected, but hindered.  
The troublesome Gengar that had been the form of the fake ghost that tormented 
her today then unleashed its Night Shade attack, a dark shifting beam that 
changed between straight and swirling shapes as it approached the Marowak.  
It drew it large bone, and batting the changing beam away, and then used Focus 
Energy during its few moments of peace.  
Then it hurled the bone right at the Gengar and whacked it so hard that it fell 
over and stopped battling in order to cover its sore head.  
The Marowak was running at the Gengar when its bone returned to it, and it 
battered the Gengar with several swings of its bone club.  

All five of the enemy Pokémon used were defeated.  
“Leave.” said Veronica firmly and darkly.  
“No way.” said Crater, “After all the trouble you’ve caused, I want to drag you 
back to the Boss personally so he can punish and destroy you, you betrayed him, 
your father figure!”  
“Tell him I’m sorry, but I can’t be responsible for the pain of others any 
longer.”  
“You’ll tell him yourself!” shouted Crater, and the Lunar Crew unfortunately 
each released the remaining five Pokéballs in their possession.  
Rick and Veronica were now confronted by a Magneton, Hypno, Jolteon, 
Electabuzz, Mr Mime, Primeape, Venusaur, Ditto, Victreebel, Machamp, Charizard, 
Golem, Magmar, Rhydon, Flareon, Cloyster, Sandslash, Vaporeon, Dugtrio, 
Marowak, Muk, Venomoth, Beedrill, Parasect and Weezing.  
“We are so screwed...” said Rick quietly, “I’m sorry Ronnie, I truly wanted 
you to be free and to be good.”  
“I’m sorry too Rick.” she replied.  
“You’re finished.” said Crater, about to point a commanding hand to his Pokémon 
to attack, but he stopped for some reason.  
“Nebula, Phase, turn off that stupid ghost, its old now.”  
“But we didn’t turn it on.” protested Nebula.  
“Her Alakazam is sleeping, and-  My Gengar has been defeated!”  
Crater eyed the arena, past the lines of Pokémon to the five that were 
defeated, it was true that the Gengar and Alakazam, the Pokémon that were 
essential for the fake ghost, were unconscious or asleep.  
“Then that means... this ghost... is real...”  
“Real?...” questioned Phase, her head quivering as she turned towards it, “Get 
it!!!”  
Her Jolteon and Electabuzz, closest to the ghost leapt to attack it, and passed 
right through it.  
Not only that, but touching the bizarre substance of this ghost forced the two 
Pokémon to sleep.  
“Everyone! Get it!” shouted Crater, but before the army of Pokémon could 
attack, the ghost turned to them and a fog swept through the evil Pokémon, and 
every one of them drifted to sleep.  
“No, this cannot be!” shouted Crater, before the ghost laid its eyes on them.  
“RUN!!!” screamed Nebula, and many, many sounds of recall lasers occurred over 
and over until all of the Rocket Pokémon were back in their Pokéballs, and the 
Lunar Crew beat a quick retreat.  
“We’ll be back! You can’t escape the Lunar Crew, V’!...”  

With the creeps gone, Rick and Veronica turned slowly and nervously towards 
what appeared to be the real ghost of Marisa Zane.  
“M, Mother?...” stuttered Rick.  
“Rick...  Its me, the real me.  I saw what was to come and had to save you...”  
“You’re the best...” smiled Rick, he wished he could reach out and touch her, 
but that would probably force him to sleep.  
“Rick, I’m proud of you...  You’re so close to accomplishing your dreams and 
mine, I always knew you could go far as a trainer.”  
“Marisa Zane...” said Veronica nervously, even if she was the real thing, it 
didn’t change Veronica’s fear of her.  
“Veronica.” said the ghost, almost sternly.  
“Yes...  I’m ready to accept any punishment.”  
“No, there is no punishment, but do heed my words.  I was upset at what you 
became, I won’t hide that, but if my death has convinced you to walk the road 
of good, then it won’t have been in vain.”  
“I want to be good, I really do.  I’m so sorry about what I did.”  
“You are forgiven, provided you stay strong, and never hurt anyone again.”  
“I will, I mean, I won’t, I-  I’ll do as you ask.”  
“Mother, before you go...” said Rick, throwing a Pokéball.  
“Jynx?...  Jynx, Jynx!” said Serena, recognising her former trainer 
immediately.  
“Serena.  Thank you for taking care of Rick, I want you two to continue looking 
out for him in my absence.”  
“Mother, could you see everything I’ve done, or heard me when I prayed to 
you?”  
“Every word, every moment, including what you did with Aimee in that tunnel of 
love attraction.”  
“Aw Mom, I’m glad you were watching but I need my privacy.” said Rick 
embarrassed, almost as if this wasn’t a strange situation at all, as if his 
mother was truly with him.  
“I have to go now, take care of each other, I love you all...”  
“Jynx...”  
“Goodbye Marisa Zane...”  
“Mother, I love you, I’ll never give up on my dreams...”  
With that, the ghost disappeared slowly, until she was completely gone...  

Rick and Veronica stopped at the outskirts of Maiden’s Peak.  
“I can’t believe what happened today, for months I’ve believed that your mother 
cursed me for what I’d done, but she forgave me, she truly is a magnificent 
woman, with a great son.”  
“Ronnie, my offer still stands you know, we could travel together, until the 
Pokémon League.”  
“I’m sorry Rick, but its just not that simple, I still can’t be with you, I’d 
be a constant reminder of what you’d lost, and if I was with you every day, you 
might even despise me, its better we part ways for now...”  
With that she turned away, a tear streaming down her right eye but not letting 
Rick see.  
“Ronnie...” said Rick quietly, “We used to be close friends, we’ve changed a 
lot but I’m sure we could work through all the problems we have... if only 
you’d learn to accept friendship again...  I won’t give up on you...  We will 
meet again...”  
With that Rick departed, on a different path to Veronica.  
She might not ever truly accept his and his mother’s forgiveness, Veronica 
still had a long way to go to prove herself, she had a lot to make up for, but 
after this incident, her desire to do so burned more than ever...  

End of Part B  

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