Disclaimer: Pokemon and co. doesn't belong to me . . . . blah blah blah . .
.


Authors Notes: Here I am again and all ready for season 2 of this fic for
the few of you that'll probably come banging on my door to demand I
finish this already.
As usual, Feedback would be greatly appreciated!  And so would
suggestions for the final chapter of my fic Forever.  I kinda got writers
block on that one.



Ketchum: The Journey Continues
Season 2

Warrior Of Ghost
Chapter 12


~~~~~~Musashi's POV~~~~~~

Oh man . . .
I can't believe how hard it was to get inside the house, the reporters were
swarming it!  Satoshi probably didn't anticipate this.
It's a good thing Raptor learned to teleport.  However we still had a
problem, how on earth were we going to get to our next battles?
Sighing I looked around the room yet again, Satoshi and Inferno, still
asleep.  Julie was hiding out in a bookstore away from the reporters and
Raptor was doing . . . something.  I haven't figured out what he's up to
yet.
<"Meditating.">

<"Raptor's meditating.  It's not an uncommon thing for Psychics to do. 
It helps them focus and explore their potential.">

Machop paused.  I could feel some hesitation from her.

<"Well . . . it's just that . . . no one really knows.  There are only myths
and legends about their abilities.  Some said mature Raptors are more
powerful than Mew . . . others claimed they're no more powerful than a
Hypno.  The rest thought they were gods."> She finally admitted.

<"No joke my friend.  Raptors are very long lived, and it's rare that they
lay eggs.  Once in their lifetime or not at all.  Then it's only one egg they
lay.  That's why they're so rare.">

Machop sighed.
<"Raptor will out-live Satoshi, Nodoka and should they find mates
probably their children too.  I once met a Raptor who claimed to be over
700 years old.">
My jaw dropped.
Was it even possible for a pokemon to live that long?  Aside from the
God Birds?
I was totally stunned.

<"I know . . .but there's a paradox.  Raptor and Satoshi are linked
through their minds.  The paradox is, will Satoshi live as long as Raptor? 
Or will Raptor live as long as Satoshi?">
Truth be told, I hadn't considered that.  Never crossed my mind at all.

I sighed and flipped through the TV channels, needing to totally turn into
a vegetable for the next hour or so.  Just to absorb what Machop had told
me.
It all sounded pretty unreal.  I mean, no pokemon and no human could
live to be over 700 years old . . .
Ugh, better think of something else before I get a headache.
I had a battle on the Ice Field tomorrow, who should I bring?
Lupis would be good to start with, then Nidorina and Raichu.  Nahhh . . .
I couldn't put Nidorina on ice like that, besides this was a four pokemon
battle.
Lupis, Raichu, Vaporeon?  Yes.  And . . . Pidgeot.  It would be nice for
at least one of my pokemon to have an air advantage.
But the advantage would be null and void against an Electric pokemon
and Pidgeot didn't have that much resistance against lightning.
Feareot, however.  Did.
So it was simple, I'd use him in tomorrow's battle.  Working with Zeus
his resistance to Electric attacks was fairly high.

Suddenly Raptor jerked from his meditation and looked out the window,
eyes narrowed.
"Raptor . . .?"
<"A Ghost, she's really strong.  A Banshee I think.  The reporters are
gone."> He said as he released Makaar.
"Sheee banshee."
<"I know.  We're going to look into it, please don't wake father.  We'll
be back soon.">
I watched as they carefully slid out the door.  I hope they weren't
planning to fight her, she might be a Warrior.
In his bed I could still hear Satoshi snoring, totally unaware of his
delinquent pokemon roaming the streets.
Since I really shouldn't wait up I decided to get some sleep myself.


~~~~~~Charmeleon's POV~~~~~~

I opened my eyes, suddenly feeling a little uneasy.  When I looked out the
window I saw Makaar and Raptor heading down the street by themselves.
 I wondered quietly.  There was no answer from
Satoshi, he was still sleeping.  I swear that human could sleep through
just about anything!
I wobbled when I stood up, how in the name of the God of Fire do
humans use these gangly legs?!  Splashing myself with the water by the
bed I was relieved to have my body back.  Inferno was still sleeping, so
was Satoshi despite the transformation so I slipped out the window to
follow the two vagrants.
As I did I marvelled at all the wonders around me, such a far cry from
what I had known before.
The streets were strangely deserted though, not a good sign no matter
what era you're in.  So it was pretty easy to track them from a distance.
Something in a window caught my eye so I paused to look, it was . . .
something.  About the size of Satoshi's pokedex.  It was puzzling, there
was a small screen with many many little buttons.  I shook my head, I'd
figure it out later.  I had two pokemon to recover.
Turning the corner I stopped.  There was a Banshee standing in the
middle of the street emitting a chilling presence that no doubt drove away
all humans.  Even Makaar and Raptor looked hesitant to approach her.
However I wasn't like that, ignoring her frightening aura I strolled right
up to her and bowed respectively.
*Greetings Warrior of Ghost.* I said.  She looked down at me.
*Greetings Charmeleon.  I assume you've been following those two?*
*Yes, I'm here to take them back to their trainer.*
She nodded and looked toward Makaar and Raptor.
*Don't worry, I won't hurt you.* She assured.  Makaar looked hesitant
but came over.  Raptor remained where he was and I realized he didn't
know how to act toward a Warrior.
*Come on now Raptor, Satoshi's taught you better than this.  Come here
and be polite.* I chided gently.
He shifted from one foot to the other, nervously tapping the seven inch
claws on his middle toes before he tentatively began to walk over,
bobbing his head as he walked.
I gave a tolerant smile that seemed to encourage him slightly.  
*Ah, a Raptor.  I've heard tales that there was one in the League.  Never
have I seen one before though.* She remarked.
*He's the only one in the world with a trainer.  Who knows, he might
actually be the last of his kind.* I told her quietly so Raptor wouldn't
hear.  I'd always suspected that Raptor was the last Raptor in the world,
but I wasn't that sure about it.
*Don't be so sure, I've heard tales of a pack of Raptors across the ocean
in Brazil and of a pack in Canada.*
I blinked in surprise.  If that was true, then how on earth had Raptor's
mother gotten here of all places?
<*H . . . Hello.*>
*Hello Raptor.  I'm the Warrior of Ghost.*
<"Charmeleon?  What's going on?"> Satoshi yawned.

<"Lemme up then!  He sounds cool!">

I could feel some mild embarrassment from him and chuckled inwardly as
I stepped back.


~~~~~~Satoshi's POV~~~~~~

The first thing I noticed was the Warrior jump slightly at the shift.  The
second thing was Raptor hugging me tightly.  The third was the Warrior's
bemused expression as Makaar explained the situation.
To my surprise she actually chuckled.
*Oh you do lead an interesting life!*
*Understatement of the year.* I sighed. *What you got was the short
version.*
She nodded.
*At our last meeting, the Warrior of Fire made an . . . interesting
statement.  Since you know him I thought it best to pass it along.*
I raised an eyebrow at this.  Charizard could've just told me.
*Apparently he's been thinking about this long and hard since your visit. 
He wants you to know that should you ever decide to do something other
than train pokemon then you're welcome to be his apprentice.*
*Huh?*
*That means if you become his apprentice he'll train you to become the
next Warrior of Fire.*
Silence.  I could hear crickets chirping in the background.
*He doesn't expect a straight out answer anytime soon. So you're
welcome to take your time to think about it.  However I think he knows
something about Charmeleon that the rest of us don't.*
I was in total shock.  I couldn't move, couldn't think.  
Dimly I heard Raptor and Makaar bid the Warrior farewell as they led me
back to bed.



~~~~~~Inferno's POV~~~~~~

My eye sleepily opened when I heard the door.  In came Raptor and
Makaar leading Satoshi to the bed.
*I had the strangest dream Inferno . . .*
*Of course it was a dream Satoshi, now go to sleep.* Makaar soothed as
he laid Satoshi down. *Raptor.*
<*Right.  Sleep now father.  Sleep.*> Raptor used Hypnosis, Satoshi
slipped into dreamland.
*Mind telling me what that was all about?* I had to know, not only was
Satoshi in Charmeleon form, he looked like he'd swallowed two gallons
of pop.
Raptor and Makaar looked at each other, not really willing to be the one
to tell me.  Looks like I'd have to choose a victim.
*Raptor, you tell me.  Makaar, you stay!*
Both of them cringed.
<*Well, father was sleeping and I was meditating . . .*>

I didn't believe this, but it was probably true.  I listened as Raptor
finished.
<*Then the Warrior said something I didn't understand, father . . . kinda
blanked out.*>
I raised an eyebrow and looked at Makaar, it had to be pretty big to
throw off Satoshi like that.
Makaar sighed.
*The Warrior of Fire asked her to relay a message to Satoshi.  Basically
he said that Satoshi, should he decide training was not his path, was
welcome to become his apprentice.*
My jaw dropped.  Makaar gave a sympathetic smile.  God of Fire what a
bomb to drop on him!  In the middle of the League games too!  Plus we
had a battle tomo . . .  I looked at the clock . . . today, I only hope
Satoshi was up to it.  Our opponent was really experienced, with almost a
decade of training behind him.
No matter what though, we'd all give our best for him.
I yawned and drifted back to sleep.

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