I would like to take this time to apologize for my absence, I did some moving twice and last time i did a chapter it just didn't end like wanted it to. I am learning my limitations for this art form and that is a bit daunting as writing really makes me happy. Never the less these stories help me grow and I want to honor them for the joy and pain they brought. Thank you to anyone who commented or stayed with the story, I hope at the very least this story as my first and sure to be many will ease your boredom on a slow slow day. Without further ado-

It was now early morning and the sun was rising over Viridian city slowly bringing light as it came into view. Before it would reach the inner-parts of the city the light would pass by the Viridian forest where a tremendous battle had come to an end. Gabriel was backed against a tree with a very well trained Hitmonchan staring him down with it's fist to his neck. Gabriel tried to regain his focus. He glimpsed around his surroundings. To his front was Hitmonchan eyeing him fiercely. Right behind him was his trainer. Bruno.

' No! Not them.' Gabriel thought looking around. To the side of him in the direction of the town was Lance of all people placing Ash on the ground checking his wounds and Lorelei watching over a frozen Ghastly with her Dewgong by her side. The odds were seriously against him but Gabriel wasn't about to quit, not yet. Lance threw out a pokeball releasing an Aryldactyl. The fossil pokemon roared fiercely as it emerged.

'' Arydactyl We're taking this boy to the Hospital now!'' Lance commanded with authority as he placed Ash on top of Arydactyl next to him. Lance looked back to his team. '' Make sure he stays here, I won't take long.'' Lorelei and Bruno nodded in agreement. Lance looked back to Ash who was unconscious. '' Your gonna make it through Ash.'' Arydactyl took flight and headed off. Gabriel watched as Lance took off to the town hospital and turned his gaze to Ghastly. He paused for a moment and looked at Bruno's direction.

'' So, where is the hag?'' Gabriel said calmly.

'' Be silent.'' Was all Bruno said.

'' What, you can't do anything without your fearless leader? Gabriel poked.

'' That's enough.'' Bruno said getting agitated. Gabriel noticed.

'' You two that's enough. Bruno remain calm.'' Lorelei pleaded.

'' Hmph.'' Bruno nodded in agreement. With the two focused on each other Gabriel grabbed Hitmonchan's arm and phased through the tree forcing the pokemon's face to smack the tree hard. Gabriel phased back to the front of the tree where Hitmonchan was trying to regain composure. Before the two elite members could get to him he touched Hitmonchan and it fainted. Bruno called it back and threw out another pokeball releasing an Onyx. Gabriel called out a Chandelure from himself in response.

'' They say Hitmonchan is the spirit of a fallen boxer who has a restless fighting spirit, would you like to know if that's true?'' He said eyeing the two. They looked at each other and back to Gabriel. Lorelei was first to attack.

'' Dewgong Ice beam!'' She commanded. Dewgong let out a freezing burst in Gabriel's direction and he retaliated with a fire blast.

'' Chandelure now!'' The ghost let out a large fire attack at the beam but the attacks wore each other out. Gabriel went for a second attack while Dewgong was charging but Onyx blocked the blast with it's body. The fire landed mostly on the ground and Onyx wasn't very affected by the attack. Gabriel clutched his fist in distaste of the situation he was in. Bruno called out for a tail whip from Onyx.

'' Onyx tail whip over there!'' Bruno called and directed over to Gabriel. To his shock Gabriel saw Onyx's huge tail coming down at him. He jumped out of the way barely in time trying to avoid the debris caused by the enormous blow. Before he could get back his grounding he saw Dewgong launch its hydro pump at him. There wasn't anytime to react. Gabriel shut his eyes waiting for the impact. It never came. He opened his eyes to see Chandelure taking the attack. Gabriel never made the command to defend.

''Chandelure!'' Gabriel cried as he looked to his side to see Onyx launch itself down on him head first. At that moment Bruno cried out in pain causing Onyx to stop and look at it's trainers distress. Bruno fell over trying to catch his breath having taken a nightshade from Ghastly who hovered above him. Lorelei looked over to see the ice block Ghastly was locked in to be melted with fire near it. The fire was same from Chandelure's attack. It made a line from the spot it hit earlier all the way to Ghastly. The two elite four members weren't aware Chandelure was able to command the flames after it made the attack. Now that Ghastly was free they would need to strategize quick. Gabriel called Chandelure into himself now that it had been weakened which Onyx caught. It Looked to make an attack on Gabriel but Gabriel looked back into it's eyes with his glowinng purple. The Onyx fell down unconscious. Gabriel thought back to the Chandelure's protection and was confused. It did save him none the less.

''Thank you.'' Gabriel whispered. He looked to see Lorelei standing there. Gabriel knew how she was since he was a kid, she was surely thinking of a plan. He turned to see Bruno trying to stand back up. He was tough,tougher than Gabriel wanted him to be, but he wasn't the look before you leap type and Gabriel was willing to bet this fight on that conflicting personality trait between the two elite members. He focused his thoughts to Ghastly and Ghastly confirmed by nodding itself.

'' You guys made a mistake backing Giovanni, now we have to fight and your all alone.'' Gabriel sneered at the two. Bruno called back his Onyx and was searching for a more suitable opponent. Lorelei looked to Gabriel feeling some remorse for the small child Agatha had brought over to train with them. But she was never one to let her feelings direct her.

'' We have no ties with Giovanni.'' Lorelei responded. She knew why Gabriel was doing this, she just didn't care about Giovanni. Gabriel only heard excuses coming from her as far as he was concerned.

'' You all could have crushed him in seconds but you let him get away with everything!'' Gabriel countered. He wasn't trying to strike a argument but the feelings were still there. '' you know what he does yet you and your fearless leader sit by and let people suffer!'' Lorelei stood and watched Gabriel go off. perhaps she could stall long enough for Lance to return. Bruno stood up and chimed in.

'' You think we let bad things happen?'' Bruno spoke. Gabriel looked at him confused. '' We are not the police, we are here to battle, for ourselves and for the trainers who seek more strength.'' Bruno said firmly.

'' If your not stopping a mass-murdering, thieving, kidnapping piece of shit like Giovanni then your just helping him!'' Gabriel's anger was brought out now. Lorelei wasn't sure this was aiding them. She had to stop this now, they still didn't understand Agatha's power much less Gabriel's and angering him was not the best way to stall him out. She had to step in.

''Now hold on here, it's not so black and white, Giovanni is not the person of the year I'm not disputing that, but we can't just go in and demolish him, there are laws even for us.'' Lorelei desperately tried to take control of the situation. Bruno did not.

'' All just unnecessary politics, people either get over obstacles or they are ruled by them, your just making excuses and your no different then him as far as i'm concerned.'' Bruno said having no trace of emotion in his face. Lorelei looked at him in surprise but decided to hold herself from furthering the conversation in that direction. Gabriel had wanted this to escalate but was still shocked by the dry response from Bruno. This would be enough and there wasn't a possibility for debate with an opponent like Bruno, Gabriel pitied him. Bruno would forever seek more strength but it had no true porpose for even if he had this ''ultimate battle'' he always spoke of it would never satisfy him forever and it was a bit to vain a concept for Gabriel anyway. None of that mattered anyhow. Gabriel sighed and quickly turned to run into the woods behind him. The two elite four members returned their pokemon and called out more suitable replacements. Lorelei brought out her Glalie and Bruno called out Primeape. The four ran after Gabriel, but Bruno took to the trees with Primeape hoping for a birds eye view. Gabriel headed for the messiest part of the woods he could think of and had Ghastly at his side trying to gain distance. Bruno and Lorelei were not far behind. Bruno was leaping from tree branches gaining some distance from lorelei and closer to Gabriel. Then he heard Lorelei's voice call out.

''Bruno he's over here!'' She shouted. Bruno headed in the direction the voice came from. The voice seemed so far away but he hurried as fast as he could. Meanwhile Lorelei looked around for Bruno but couldn't spot him or his Primeape. She had lost him and was left to her own devices. She looked around for any clue of Bruno's whereabouts. She heard a noise from her side and swore she heard voices too. Lorelei stood there for a brief moment then started to run in that direction. But she didn't see Gabriel or Bruno. Just a little girl. The girl was sitting down and she had long blonde hair that ran down her back. The odd thing was she was wearing a sleeping gown and they were in the middle of the forest. On top of that she was crying. Lorelei walked over to her but the girl heard her and got up to run. Lorelei tried to run after but the girl stopped behind a tree looking at lorelie with teary eyes. Lorelie slowed her approach.

'' Little girl what are you doing out her?'' She called out while keeping her distance. The girl stood there looking at lorelei and began to speak.

'' Your the lady on tv with the ice pokemon.'' The little girl said still hiding behind the tree. Lorelei gave a light smile to appease the child.

'' Yes, I am Lorelei of the elite four.'' She said reaching her hand out to the little girl. The girl was still frightened. Lorelei wasn't making much progress here. she needed to step it up. A girl alone in the woods was never good.

''Sweetie, what is your name?'' Lorelei asked. The girl just stood there looking at Glalie.

'' Would you like to pet him, he's very friendly.'' Lorelei said. The little girl walked over to the pokemon and patted it softly.

''Amanda.''

'' What?'' Lorelei asked looking down at the girl.

''My name's Amanda.'' She said smiling at Lorelei while petting Glalie.

''Amanda do you live around here?'' Lorelei asked.

''Yep, just over in town by the pokemart. I love watching all the trainers go in with there pokemon. '' Lorelei smiled. She was a little at ease to be making progress with Amanda.

'' Well we should get you back to your parents, sweetie.'' Lorelei said trying to sound safe for the little girl.

'' We can't do that.'' She said quickly. Lorelei's eyebrow raised in confusion.

'' Well how come Amanda?'' She said softly.

''They aren't around.'' Amanda said coldly.

''Amanda where-''

'' What pokemon is this?'' Amanda asked.

''Um, it's my Glalie of course.'' Lorelei answered.

'' You didn't have this with you last night in the competition.'' Amanda said puzzled. Lorelei was confused. She had this pokemon for years and she wasn't in a competition last night.

''Amanda what competition do you mean honey?'' Lorelei asked.

'' The Kanto cup. You went against a strong psychic trainer and beat him.'' Amanda answered. Lorelei thought for a moment and recalled the event but it was years ago not yesterday. And why didn't Amanda recognize Glalie at all. Lorelei looked over Amanda again very slowly.

''Amanda, What year is it?'' Lorelei asked as her body tensed. Amanda stared at Lorelie.

''...2007 of course.'' Amanda said in a confused tone. Lorelei's heart sank.

Meanwhile Bruno was running towards the voice and was mentally preparing for anything that could happen. As he ran forward he heard voices ahead. Bruno looked to see what appeared to be a pokemon battle. There were two trainers and one had just lost. Badly. A young trainer was knocked over with his Graveler by the much older opponent who had a Machamp. The younger trainer called back his pokemon and started to leave. Bruno saw the man come near him.

'' Listen you two, This place is danger-''

'' Save it man, I need to hit up the pokemon center. '' The man bumped his shoulder as he passed Bruno by. Bruno got a look at the old man and was shocked. He looked just like him but older, decrepit. Bruno walked over to the old man to look closer. The old man spoke up and had an angry look on his face.

''Don't bother, it's me. Not what you wanted to see I take it.'' The old man said.

''This is impossible.'' Bruno said trying to calm his nerves.

''Is it?''

'' Your only an illusion.'' Bruno said quickly.

'' Time is an illusion, I'm real.'' The old man said getting a look at his younger self.

''Gabriel, stop this at once!'' Bruno said roughly.

'' Still chasing ghosts I see, look at all this time you wasted, what you did to me, us!''

''Nonsense! I am a proud warrior as are my pokemon.''

''Your a fool and you wasted our youth. I could have had a family, children, instead I wasted all my time searching for a fight that could never exist.'' The old man said bitterly. '' And no, to answer your question, I never found that great battle.'' The old man looked down in defeat. Bruno was certain this was an illusion but it felt real. More then physically but it had some kind of weight. something personal.

''Gabriel this is not amusing, stop this at once!'' Bruno said. Never had he heard silence laugh at him so. He had his fill. Bruno grabbed the old man by his collar and looked him dead in the eye. There was no light to be found in his eyes. At that moment Bruno felt a strong push throw him to the ground. He picked himself up to see the Machamp standing by the old man's side. The Machamp ran at Bruno growling. Before it hit Primeape came down from the trees where it would keep watch and strike the Machamp with a mega-punch. The Machamp went back about 10 feet and both pokemon stood by the sides of there trainers. Bruno stared into the eyes of his doppelganger.

'' I am not you.'' Bruno said defiantly. The doppelganger stared right back.

''Not yet.'' He said. The two ordered their pokemon to attack.

'' Lorelei, why are you acting so weird?'' Amanda asked in a soft tone. Lorelei stared at the child uncertain on what to say.

'' Amanda...It's 2017.'' Lorelei said very in a low tone. Amanda started crying.

'' No it's not! Stop lying!'' Amanda lashed out. Lorelei's hand was shaking.

'' Sweetie it's true-''

''NO!'' Amanda screamed. The wind started to pick up, it's presence known in the bustling leaves.

'' I'm sorry... But your not really here.'' Lorelei said looking down in defeat.

'' STOP IT!'' Amanda's voice was heard echoing from all directions. Lorelei looked back up and to her surprise Amanda was gone. She stood there for a couple of seconds thinking. She spoke up with anger.

'' Gabriel...Stop this farce.'' She said looking down at the ground. she had enough.

'' Now look what you did.'' Gabriel said emerging from nowhere. '' You scared her off.''

'' Was she even real?'' Lorelei asked holding back a tear.

'' Amanda is real.'' Gabriel said coming closer to Lorelei. Glalie came between the two halting Gabriel's pace. '' She just never got a chance to grow up.'' He said. Lorelei's head shot up when she heard this.

'' You mean she's dead?'' Lorelei asked with both her words and her eyes.

'' About ten years ago yes, She watched you battle all the time and wanted to be a great trainer like you. She was going to the pokemon tech school to get a head start, gifted girl.'' Gabriel started speaking lowly. '' She was days away from her very own pokemon journey.''

''And then she lost her life to team rocket, is that it?'' Lorelei asked looking at Gabriel, not letting him disappear.

'' Yes, one of many.''

''Stop it.''

''She looked up to you so much.''

''Enough.''

'' Nobody heard her scream for help.''

''That's enough!'' Lorelei screamed.

''...She was going to pick Squirtle.'' Gabriel said unphased. Lorelei tried to compose herself.

'' Doesn't she know she's dead?'' Lorelei asked.

'' Yes and no. When someone dies in tragedy they can't always process it, If you try to force their awareness they get upset and flee.'' Gabriel explained.

'' If you have the power to bring them out why not set them free?'' Lorelei asked.

'' honest answer?'' Gabriel asked. Lorelei nodded. '' I don't know how to. My mother did but well dead men tell no tales, or women as it were.'' Gabriel said.

'' And you just call these souls out to scare people?'' Lorelei questioned.

'' Oh no I can call them but they mostly wander, she just happened to be close to my pull. You wouldn't believe how many people and pokemon i have met who were offed by team rocket.''

''So why don't you call your parents to help you heal them?'' Lorelei asked. Gabriel eyes narrowed at her.

'' How dare you!'' Gabriel said advancing towards her. Glalie wouldn't allow that and shot a ice beam at him. The target hit and Gabriel turned to smoke. An illusion. Lorelei heard the leaves behind her rustle. He was escaping, she wouldn't let him. She ran after him.

Bruno and his older self stood adjacent from each other trying to catch their breath. The older Bruno's Machamp was defeated. The old man panted and with his pokemon withered away in darkness. Bruno breathed heavily, thankful that horrible illusion was over. He heard something to his side and looked quickly. He saw Gabriel watching and when he was noticed he ran into the distance. Bruno and primeape took off and tried to bridge the gap. They could barely see Gabriel but they kept at it. Eventually they started to get closer and were now only several feet from him when he just disappeared. Bruno stopped to look around when he saw a powerful blast come his way. He parried the blast by sweeping to his side. He saw where the blast came from and would have to launch an attack there. This would not be easy.

Lorelei was running around trying to keep up with Gabriel and after a few minuets she would find him looking around. Lorelei took a second to think. He was concentrating on something. expecting something. She needed to think this through. She would approach him slowly and subdue him. Glalie followed.

Meanwhile Bruno was running to where he was certain Gabriel was and dodging the blasts that came his way. At last he saw Gabriel firing what seemed to be nightshade attacks at him. Bruno would bounce from tree to tree to get closer. He was almost there.

Lorelei was getting closer to where Gabriel was and she signaled for Glalie to charge an energy attack. If she could just freeze him she would be home free. This had to end, this madness, it had to stop and this was her best shot.

Bruno saw Gabriel stand there. He wore such a blank face but somehow Bruno could swear there was a smile behind it. Now Bruno was close enough to wage an attack and he had already gotten Gabriel's attack pattern down. If he moved now Gabriel would respond and then he could have Primeape use it's quick attack to slug him one with enough force to knock him down. This was likely Bruno's only chance and he needed to end this quickly. Bruno wasn't much for a quick match but this was different, he was different. It was now or never. Bruno motioned at Primeape and it nodded. Bruno took his shot and as a result so did Gabriel. Bruno tried to maneuver around the nightshade but it nicked his leg and he fell.

''Primeape!'' Bruno called. The pokemon leapt and took a swing at it's target.

Lorelei took step closer to Gabriel when she saw Primeape come her way. She couldn't react and Primeape slammed her face hard with it's fist dropping Lorelei. Bruno witnessed his image of Gabriel vanish and saw Gabriel a few feet off from where he was supposed to be and Primeape looking in shock at a fallen Lorelei. Glalie and Primeape both looked at Gabriel who sent a nightshade towards Primeape knocking it out. Glalie looked to fire it's charged ice attack at Gabriel but Ghastly appeared behind it and used lick paralyzing the pokemon. Their pokemon out and what little strength they had to maintain consciousness was waning.

'' An Illusion, it was all an illusion.'' Lorelei said trying to get up.

'' Coward!'' Bruno yelled unable to move with an injured leg. Gabriel walked over to them smiling.

'' I presented you with a story, what truth you get from them is entirely up to you. Now what should i do about you.'' Gabriel said thinking over the options. '' I know, Your going to sleep, for a very long time.'' He said emitting dark energy from his hands. He reached to place his hands on the two when he saw a huge bright blast come his way. The blast was strong enough to force him and Ghastly against a tree knocking them out. Lance walked over to his team to check vitals while Dragonite eyed Gabriel and Ghastly. He reached in his ear and activated a communication device.

''This is Lance, We have him.''

Well that happened. I don't know about you but I think maybe Lance used a little excessive force. This probably isn't the most common type of Pokemon story and I'm certainly not trying to have Gabriel take the spotlight. I want this as my first written story here to be about the characters I grew up with and to give them a different lighting that frankly all of pokemon is restricted by as it's ultimately a kids show. Now i don't want to overload the edge factor but I remember ghost types being serious business and I wanted to show that also in this story. I again apologize for my absence ( if noticed at all) but I plan on writing more. May we all find the driving force to stick with what we love. Smell you later.