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

Mistress Of Ghosts: Leila
Chapter 23


Mentally I blinked in surprise when Charmeleon told me what Raptor had
done.
Had I underestimated his power that severely?
It seemed so.  But then again, the look on Inferno's face when I told him .
. . I chuckled.  It was almost worth finding out the way I did about
Raptor.
But anyway, back to the subject at hand.
I was about to face the successor of Agatha, Leila as the third member of
the Elite 4.  Come to think of it, didn't Inferno say he had a friend that
worked at the bookstore named Leila?  Could she be the same person . .
.?
Nah!
According to reputation, Leila has a totally emotionless attitude that
matches Lorelei's.  The Leila Inferno knows is the total opposite.
Ramona's Ground attacks will do nicely against Leila, Raptor's a little
too tuckered out to fight.  And judging by the way her pokeball has
remained still for the past five minutes that means she's finally calmed
down enough to battle.
I paused in mid step, Inferno turned and looked at me.  I should give
everyone a few potions to help them recover quicker while they're in their
pokeballs.
As I reached in I felt something strange and pulled it out.
It was the weird black pokeball thing.
But the only pokemon who knew about it was . . .
"Raptor . . ."  I said quietly as I put it back, I'd talk to him about it later.

We walked through the gate and looked for a platform, there was none. 
It looked like the battle would be on the ground.
"Welcome, I am Leila."
"I challenge you for the right to face the Pokemon Master!"  I called to
the figure in the shadows.
"So be it."  There was a pause.  "Inferno?"  She asked as she stepped into
the light, Inferno's jaw dropped.
(Leila?!  But I thought . . .)
"The bookstore is a hobby of mine during the off season."
"That's your friend from the bookstore?!"  I asked, wide eyed.
He gave a semi-sheepish grin and nodded.
"Shall we battle?"
"You're on!"
"Ghastly, go."
"I choose you, Ramona!"
(Ready to . . .)  She stopped and gave me an embarrassed look, I sighed.
"Just keep your attention on the battle Ramona."
(Right!)
"Night Shade."
"Bonemerang!"
BOOM!
We all started coughing as the smoke and dust from the sudden explosion
engulfed us.
"Flap your wings!  Clear the smoke!"  I wheezed out.  To my left I heard
the sound of flapping as Inferno began blowing away the smoke.
Inferno saw the intruders before I did.
(Team Rocket!)  He growled.  My mind began to reel, I hadn't heard the
motto!
"The Boss wants your pokemon boy!  Hand them over!"  Shouted one of
the many black clad Rockets.
"No way!"  I yelled, angry that they were interrupting the match.
She held up a single pokeball, I swore.  It was Draco's.
"Give me back Draco!  And all the others!  They'd never listen to you!"
"Wanna bet boy?  Watch your own pokemon turn against you!  Send
them out!"
The other eleven Rockets each held up one of my pokemon, inwardly I
quailed as they were sent out, evil looks on all their faces.  Even Pippi and
Lullaby!  Those son of Muks had evolved them!
"No . . ."  I whispered hoarsely.
"ATTACK!"
"NOOOO!  Pippi, Flutter, Bob, Lullaby, Candy, Draco, Tananda,
Paradox, Chewy, Makaar, B.B., Tochi!  Fight their control!  Don't listen
to them!  It's me, Satoshi!"
They remained silent as they charge Ramona, Inferno and I.
I couldn't believe they'd turned them against me!  This was totally
unforgivable!
"Stone Golem!"
"Stonebreaker Fang!"
"Feather Barrage!"
"Thrash!"
"Spirit Bomb!"
"Dragon Rage!"
"Pollen Pump!"
"Metronome!"
"Sonic Boom!"
"Metronome!"
"Psychic!"
"Air Rage!"
They didn't know Candy's, and Flutter's special attacks Ultimate Combo
and Enclosure!
But there was no time for that now, I had to get them to listen to me!  
But how?
I didn't want to hurt them at all . . .
Would my clarinet work?  It worked on the Drowzees . . .
"I choose you, Shelldon, Rare Beauty, Zeus, Raptor, Inferno and
Ramona!  Keep them occupied!  I've got an idea!"
It only took one look and the six of them had the gist of the situation.
(Get behind me!)  I heard Shelldon yell as I upended my pack for my
clarinet.  (Freezer Burn!)
Leila had released her pokemon to help.  Shelldon's Freezer Burn froze
them all in a huge block of ice, but Team Rocket was already beginning
to thaw them out with Ice Heal.  I had to act fast!
There was one flaw to Shelldon's plan though, Freezer Burn had frozen
everything in my pack!
Now what?!


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

I paled when Ms. Jaega told me the bad news.
Team Rocket had stolen Satoshi's pokemon from Professor Oak's lab! 
And they wanted Raptor!
And there was nothing I could do but pray he'd get through this.
Wait a minute . . . there was something!
Grabbing my pokeballs I ran into the bathroom, hoping this plan would
work.
"Ms. Jaega, cover for me!"  I told her as I closed the door.
I hid my pokeballs at the bottom of my pack and covered them with all
the potions, revives and full heals I had before transforming.

I only hoped I was right about this.

With Machop in control and me sitting impatiently in the back of her mind
we walked up to the door.  The guard looked at us.
"State your business!"
*Master sent me for potions.*
He eyed us, Machop eyed him right back.
"Proceed."  He grumbled as he stepped aside.

<"I don't like this deceit.">

Behind me I heard the guard speak into his radio to Bruno.  I ran.


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

I didn't like this, we were seriously outnumbered.  The ice was almost
thawed.  Raptor jumped onto Makaar's back before he was fully thawed
and glowed.
"Ultraball go!"
*Look out!* I hollered as I saw a Rocket throw the Ultraball at Raptor. 
He shrieked as he was pulled in.
Makaar paused in mid attack and blinked, I looked at him.  Hopefully
Raptor had a chance to undo some of the brainwashing.
His eyes suddenly cleared and he sent Spirit Bomb over to Tochi.  She
was knocked down and hit her head.
That was the solution!  They needed a knock on the head to snap them
out of it!
The seven of us with our senses intact nodded and launched ourselves at
the others hitting their heads.
I swooped down on the Rocket with Raptor and snatched the pokeball
before they all turned their wrath on the Rockets who dared set them
against Satoshi.

The police finally arrived and arrested the Rockets who hadn't escaped
our wrath.  Satoshi was giving us all hugs, happy we were all back to
normal.

"Bonemerang!"
"Night Shade."
Ramona and Leila's Ghastly began the battle again.
After the first hit on Ghastly the bone swings around, before it can hit
Ramona is blasted with a Night Shade.


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

There's only one word to describe my current situation.
Busted.
Halfway through Lorelei's arena the guard's Growlithe had caught up to
me and sent me reeling with a Take Down attack.
I pouted as I sat in a locked room.
Then I had an idea.
<"I certainly hope it's better than your last idea my friend."> Machop
chuckled.  I frowned.

Getting off the table I walked to the door and began to pound on it.
*I've gotta use the bathroom!  Let me out!*
I felt Machop's disbelief as the guard opened the door and escorted me to
the bathroom.
"Three minutes."  He grunted.
A huge grin broke my face once I was inside.  Grabbing my clothes from
behind the toilet I turned on the hot water tap with some difficulty and
changed back.
Once I was dressed again I casually walked out and cheekily waved to the
guard as I passed him.
"That was very cheeky of you Musashi, I'm surprised."  Ms. Jaega said as
I sat down.
"What?  You think I'm going to let that bozo take me to a Pokemon
Shelter when I've made it this far?"  I grinned.
Ms. Jaega sighed and shook her head.


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


I winced as Leila's Gengar used another Toxic attack on Ramona.  I
wasn't sure how much longer she could hold out.
She'd lasted through Leila's two Ghastly's and two Haunters, this Gengar
was Leila's last pokemon.
What I'm sure was currently infuriating her at the moment was the
seemingly endless supply of Hyper Potions Leila kept using on Gengar
whenever his health was low.
"Ramona finish it!  Mother's Revenge!"
I can't imagine how happy she was to hear that attack.
The Marowak skeletons rose from the arena and began to attack with
Ramona.
Gengar didn't stand a chance.

After a brief talk Leila while Satoshi was giving Ramona a Hyper Potion,
we made our way down the corridor that would lead us to the final
challenge of the Elite 4.
Lance, the Master of Dragons.

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