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Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Chapter 22: An Old Friend Drops in Like Katana Bricks
He�d been waiting for over an hour. It wasn�t like her to be this
late. There was that nagging feeling that something must, MUST have
happened to her, to keep her away for this long. He firmly pushed those
thoughts away, always keeping the faith in her promise, always
believing...
Breathless, she stumbled over the hill, beautiful as always even in
her torn dress and with a fresh bruise under her eye. Jellic stood up to
help, but as soon as she saw him, she was running down the hill in her
bare feet, determined to reach him herself no matter what the cost. He
sat down once again, feeling the lump in his throat as he wondered what
it had been that had kept her, knowing what the answer would be, yet
hoping that he was wrong.
Finally, she attained the bench and sat down next to him, avoiding
his gaze as if he were a Gorgon. �Sorry I�m late,� she panted.
�That�s all right,� said Jellic. �You�re here now, and that�s all
that matters to me. I�d wait for a year if I knew I�d see you at the end
of it.� He expected that to bring a smile to her face, but it didn�t.
�Jellic, maybe we should forget about this. I�m not sure ��
�Of course you are! What happened this time to change your mind?�
�My father... he still doesn�t like the idea.�
�Then tell him what you really want! You�re fourteen years old! You
can make your own decisions!�
�It�s not like that,� she sobbed, and Jellic could see that she was
crying. �He tried to stop me from coming to see you.�
�Did you tell him off?� asked Jellic, a slight waver in his voice.
There was a long, unnerving pause before she replied. �I � I
magicked him!� Jellic pictured her father incinerated in a huge
fireball. �It wasn�t fatal... just a stasis spell. I would never hurt my
father...� She trailed off, leaving only the sound of her sobs until
Jellic finished the sentence for her.
�But you�re afraid of what you might do if this keeps up?� She
nodded.
�I never thought I could raise my hand against someone I loved,� she
said. �What if the stasis spell is only the beginning?�
�It is the beginning,� replied Jellic. �The beginning of an
adventure! You�ve proven to your father that you want to be a hero no
matter what he thinks!�
�No. I only wanted to be with you. I learned magic because you were
busy training with Serculain. I thought that if you were going to become
a hero, I should too, to be with you. But that�s not going to happen, is
it? If we both become heroes, they�ll separate us and we�ll never see
each other again.�
�You know I won�t let that happen,� said Jellic, holding her in his
arms. She accepted the embrace reluctantly, too weak of will to pull
away.
�Jellic... it won�t always be like this. You can tread the line now,
but soon you�ll have to choose. You can stay with me, or you can become
a hero. But you can�t live the rest of your life thinking you can have
both.�
�Is that so? Well, I�m ��
She put a finger to his lips. �Don�t say anything, Jellic. Let�s
just enjoy the time we have left together now and trust the future to
work out as it must. Whether we choose to stay together or separate and
become heroes doesn�t affect what happens right now.� She kissed him,
and felt him relax as the heat of passion worked its magic over him.
�Katana, I �� The kiss continued, and whatever thought had occupied
Jellic�s mind was pushed aside, never to return. He could no longer feel
his own body or see anything but blackness. The world was gone, and a
new one was slowly taking its place in his senses. His arms were long,
hard, and sharp � dangerous weapons. He sighed internally, knowing that
when he opened his eyes, the woman he loved would be gone. He opened
them.
She was still there. His compound eyes saw hundreds of tiny pictures
of a face significantly older than the one he remembered, but it was
definitely her. �Scytherna?� he asked.
Katana smiled. �You do remember me.� She placed her hand on his
thorax and closed her eyes. �I can feel the human still inside you,
Jellic. Your true form still sleeps deep inside. Let me try to awaken
it.�
�Can you do that?� asked Ashley from nearby. �That would be so
great!�
Katana nodded. �I believe I can. Most of my magic was stripped from
me when I entered this dimension, but the human part of Jellic yearns so
strongly to be free that I believe I can bring it to the outside, where
it belongs. Now, Jellic, close your eyes. Picture yourself as a human,
as you used to be. Concentrate on that image. If you lose your focus,
you could become trapped in a body halfway between this and that.�
Jellic squeezed his eyes shut and tried to imagine himself as a
human once again. The familiar feeling of two arms with hands and
opposable thumbs, two legs with knees that bent the way he�d always been
used to, a pair of simple eyes that saw images once instead of hundreds
of times, no wings... the wings would be quite a loss. He�d miss the
maneuverability of flight, the lightness �
�Jellic, you�re losing your concentration!� Katana�s voice cut
through the reverie and forced Jellic to focus on being human. His mind
burned from the effort of ignoring the true physical sensations he felt
while he tried to remember what it felt like to flex his fingers and
toes. Now he could feel it perfectly. He felt his body changing shape
and becoming human once again. His blades became arms, his torso
expanded, and shoulders sprouted to separate his head and neck from the
rest of his body. Finally, he felt the changes stop and sat up to view
the world through simple eyes once more.
�It didn�t work,� moaned the hundreds of copies of Ashley that swam
before his eyes.
Katana shook her head. �I do not understand. The human body has
reawakened, but it is still shadowed by the other.� She paused, then
moved over to take Ashley by the hand. �Do not cry, child. I have done
what I could do.�
�Jellic will never be human again,� sobbed Ashley.
�Do not lose hope,� said Katana. �There must be a solution. We need
only discover it. And I must learn more about this strange world...�
She was interrupted by a shrill cry from behind that brought Jellic
instantly to his feet. �Mooool!� shrieked the Moltres as it flew past in
a fiery ball that knocked the three of them off of their feet.
�It wasn�t running away!� shouted Ashley. �It was just circling
around to attack us from behind!�
Jellic�s eyes glowed as he flew up to meet the Moltres in the air.
This time, he was going to use his human brain to give himself the
advantage. He opened with his most effective defensive move � Double
Team. He felt his body split into two... but the horrible wrenching
feeling in his gut told him that something had gone wrong. He was
falling to the ground while still flying.
Katana raised her arms to create a cushion of air that slowed Jellic
�s fall, but he still fainted upon hitting the ground. Ashley�s eyes
darted back and forth between the human Jellic on the ground and the
Scyther engaging in a dogfight with the Moltres. �What happened?�
�I believe that the human part of Jellic separated from the other
part,� said Katana.
Ashley watched as the Moltres engulfed the Scyther in a Fire Spin.
�There�s no way the Scyther can beat a Moltres without Jellic�s skill
controlling it.� She quickly held out the Pokeball. �Scyther, return!�
The red beam engulfed the Scyther and dragged it into the Pokeball. A
second red beam pulled Jellic in as well.
�It seems that the two halves are connected permanently, but can
separate at will,� said Katana.
Ashley quickly threw another Pokeball. �Blastoise, take out the
Moltres with your Hydro Pump!� The Moltres easily dodged the jet of
water and escaped into the distance.
�I�d be willing to wager that that creature will return,� said
Katana.
Ashley nodded. �I�d better let Jellic out in the meantime. He doesn�
t like to be kept in the Pokeball.� She threw the Pokeball and Jellic
emerged � and promptly began to glow.
Katana gasped. �What�s happening to him?�
�He�s evolving!� shouted Ashley. �But Scyther doesn�t evolve!�
Nonetheless, the glowing mass was shifting into a different shape as
they watched. The wings were sucked into the mass, and the Scyther�s
arms and legs grew shorter and rounder. Before long, the glow vanished,
revealing Jellic in his fully human form.
Jellic stared at his hands as if he�d never seen a pair of human
hands before. He reached up to feel his face, confirming that he was
once again human. �Jellic jellic jel jellic,� he said. Ashley�s jaw
dropped. �Only joking.� Ashley laughed with delight and ran to give
Jellic a huge hug.
�It�s nice to finally see you again, now in the body I came to know
and love all those years ago,� said Katana. �It�s certainly changed for
the better.� Jellic blushed and thrust his hand into the satchel on
Ashley�s shoulder for his tunic. Once he had dressed and his Pokebelt
was secure around his waist, he took the satchel back, then turned to
Katana.
�So, what are you doing here?� he asked.
�I�d just defeated the sorceress Kasmira,� explained Katana. �She
cast some sort of spell over me, and when she died, I found myself in
this dimension.� Her face darkened. �Tell me something, Jellic � what
sort of place is this? Magic doesn�t work here, strange creatures attack
me everywhere I go...� She suddenly lurched as if pushed. �And this
strange duck has been following me around since I got here!�
The yellow duck nuzzled Katana�s leg lovingly. �Psy, duck!� It
glanced up at Jellic and Ashley, and its eyes grew wide. It clasped its
tiny arms to the sides of its head and began to run around Katana in
circles, shouting �Psy, psy, psy!�
Jellic laughed and aimed his Pokedex. �Psyduck, the insane Pokemon.
This Water type Pokemon is also known for its Psychic powers. However,
no one has yet determined what strange thoughts run through the mind of
this Pokemon. Most trainers prefer to induce the evolution to Golduck as
quickly as possible, as Psyduck�s unusual behavior makes it very
unpredictable in battle.�
�That little fellow is a Pokemon,� explained Jellic. �So were the
other strange creatures you�ve seen. In this world, people capture
Pokemon and use them to battle each other.�
Katana considered this. �Interesting... does that mean I could
capture this �Psyduck� and use it to battle?�
�Of course,� said Jellic, tossing her a Pokeball. �Just throw this
ball at it and it�s yours.�
Katana threw the ball at the Psyduck. The duck stared at the
oncoming ball and squinted. The ball bounced harmlessly off of the
Psyduck�s head and fell to the ground. �It didn�t work,� said Ashley.
�Maybe it already belongs to someone,� guessed Jellic. The Psyduck
shook its head no.
�Try again,� said Ashley, throwing the Pokeball back to Katana for
another try. Once again, the ball failed to capture the Psyduck.
�I wonder why it�s not working,� said Jellic, consulting his
Pokedex.
�This Psyduck is using the Disable technique to disable the Pokeball
�s capture mechanism.�
The Psyduck leaped into Katana�s arms. �Psy, psy!� it shouted.
�I think it wants to follow me without being trapped inside one of
those balls,� Katana hypothesized. The Psyduck nodded gratefully and
climbed up onto her shoulder.
Jellic shrugged and retrieved his Pokeball. �Looks like you�ve got
your first Pokemon.�
�Great. Now what do I do with it?�
�Use it! Quick!� shouted Ashley, pointing skywards. The Moltres was
circling in the sky, waiting for an opening to attack. �Its attacks are
Scratch, Tail Whip, and Disable!�
�I can take care of it,� said Jellic, throwing a Pokeball.
�Gyarados, go!�
Katana shied away from the water dragon as it emerged from its
Pokeball and flew up to meet the Moltres in combat. �You � you have a
dragon?�
Jellic shrugged. �It used to be a cute little red fish... it�s hard
to explain.� He turned his attention to the ensuing battle in the sky.
�Gyarados, go for the Dragon Rage!� Gyarados lunged at the flaming bird,
but the Moltres used its Agility to dodge and retaliated with Fire Spin.
The Water Pokemon shrugged off the attack and lunged again, missing.
�You can�t hit it while it�s using its Agility,� noted Ashley.
�Gyarados is just not fast enough.�
�Is there any way to stop it from using Agility?� asked Jellic.
�I think I have an idea,� said Katana. �Psyduck, use your Disable
technique like you did on the ball.� The Psyduck�s eyes glowed, and the
Moltres slowed down considerably. Gyarados� fangs closed on a wing, and
the Moltres squawked in pain. Moltres beat its free wing against
Gyarados� scaly hide in an attempt to escape its viselike jaw. While
Gyarados stubbornly kept a firm hold on its opponent, the Moltres�
flames flickered visibly.
�It�s weakening,� shouted Ashley excitedly. �We�re finally beating
it!�
Jellic launched an Ultra Ball. �I�ve got it now!� he shouted. The
Ultra Ball closed around the Moltres and fell to the ground, wriggling
like a worm on a hook.
�I hope it was weak enough,� said Ashley. �When a Pokemon escapes a
Pokeball, it can be pretty mad.�
While Jellic and Ashley watched the Moltres� struggles with bated
breath, Katana�s attention was focused elsewhere. �Jellic, one of your
medals is glowing!�
Jellic glanced down at the Badges pinned to his tunic. Sure enough,
the Solar Badge was glowing. �It must be using its power to help me
capture the Moltres!� 'But will it be enough?' he silently added, as the
ball showed absolutely no signs of stopping its motion.
�It�s going to escape!� shouted Ashley. �It�s still moving!�
�Mewtwo and Digmama put up quite a fight,� Jellic reminded her. �And
I�ve got the power of the Solar Badge helping me this time.�
�They didn�t fight for this long!� As if in response to Ashley�s
declaration, the Ultra Ball opened and the Moltres shot skyward. Before
Jellic could react, Gyarados lunged and caught the flaming mass in its
teeth. Katana was the first to take action, grabbing the vacant Ultra
Ball and throwing it at the heavily damaged Moltres. The Moltres once
again vanished into the ball, beginning its struggles to escape even
before the ball had hit the ground. This time, however, its movements
were rather less violent.
�This is exciting!� enthused Katana. �I think we might have it
imprisoned!� The ball rocked for one final time before falling
completely still. Jellic and Ashley resumed breathing. Katana leapt into
the air. �I did it! I caught the Moltres!�
�Psy! Psy!� cheered Psyduck, holding onto her shoulder for dear life
as her celebration nearly cost the poor duck its perch.
�It was MY Gyarados that did the damage,� Jellic fumed, recalling
the dragon.
�You wouldn�t have beaten it without Psyduck�s help,� Ashley pointed
out.
�But that Psyduck would never have beaten the Moltres on its own.�
�Why, Jellic, I do believe you�re jealous!� said Katana. She sighed.
�Once I was the cause of your jealousy. It seems only fitting that now I
have become the object of it.�
�I am not jealous!� shouted Jellic, before the memories of the past
flooded his mind. It was true, he had been jealous over Katana many
times in the past, when they had been as much in love as any young
adolescents could be. He brushed a tear from the corner of his eye.
Katana gasped. �I�m sorry, Jellic. I shouldn�t have brought up the
past. It must be painful for you.�
Ashley picked up the Pokeball and handed it to Katana. �So, you knew
Jellic before he came to this dimension?� she asked, hoping to become
involved in the conversation.
�Intimately,� Katana replied. �We grew up together. We were going
to be married, but becoming heroes made that impossible, and we
separated knowing that we would never again see one another. Now that
the fates have once again brought us together, perhaps it is a sign that
we were meant to be.�
�Really?� asked Ashley despondently.
�That�s right. When two people in love can meet again in an infinite
number of dimensions, it�s no coincidence. It�s a prophecy of our future
life together.�
�But � Jellic and I...�
Katana glanced inquisitively at Jellic. �I thought your friend would
be happy for us.�
�Well,� Jellic began, �Ashley and I have been-�
�Ashley?� Katana stared long and hard at Ashley. �Oh my god... you�
re a girl!� The color drained from her face. �I think I understand
now... you also fell for Jellic, didn�t you?�
Ashley nodded, causing the tears running down her cheeks to splash
to the ground. �I tried not to, but every time we�ve been apart, I felt
so empty inside. We don�t have much time left together, and I want to
cherish every moment of it!�
�I remember when I felt the same way, knowing that Jellic and I were
going to walk separate paths and that our lives would never cross again.
We lived those last days to the fullest, always hoping that something
would intervene in our favor and find some way to keep us together...�
�We�d better get going,� Jellic interrupted gruffly, motioning with
his right blade.
Ashley and Katana froze. �Jellic...�
�What?� asked Jellic. �What�s ther problem?�
�You have wings! And blades!�
Jellic looked down at himself. �I�m therning back into a Scyther!�
�Concentrate, Jellic!� advised Katana. �You should be able to
control the change.�
Jellic pictured himself in human form, and watched as his blade arm
turned back into its human counterpart. �Am I fully human again?� he
asked.
�As much so as you will ever be,� replied Elvor�s voice. Jellic
turned to face his arch-nemesis. �I see that you, too, have discovered
the true power of the DNA modification. Once you evolve back into your
human form, you can freely change between human and Pokemon forms at
will, or even change parts of yourself at a time.�
�Why would you tell me about it?� asked Jellic. �I know you�re
planning something.�
�Only this,� said Elvor. �I wish to challenge you to a battle.
One-on-one, in our own Pokemon forms. No captured Pokemon allowed.�
�I don�t see any choice but to accept,� said Jellic.
�Good,� said Elvor, as he began to grow. And grow. And grow...
----------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to "Whose Line is it Anyway?" where we make things up as they go
along, whether they make sense or badger.
"There's a billion places like home. But only one of them's where you
live." - Granny Weatherwax, "Witches Abroad" by Terry Pratchett
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp