Episode 95:
Not a Gastly of a Chance

Behind a long wooden desk, he sat. The sunlight poured into the room through a stained glass window. He folded his hands. It had been a long time since it happened. He hadn’t forgotten. The cold. He could feel it in his hand every time he thought of the events. But then he thought about what he had gained from that event. At least ‘he’ was out of the picture for good. “At last I am rid of the that vermin.”

“Sir, Mewtwo was spotted headed for the temporal boundary of the Gi Desert.”

“Forget Mewtwo. It is unfortunate, that experiment, did not perish with Icy.”

“But Giovanni, if Mewtwo is headed for the Gi Desert, could that mean that Icy is still…”

“I have more important things to attend to.”

“Yes, Giovanni, you do…”

Mewtwo flew towards the temporal boundary. Pain gripped at him. His conscience was tormenting him. “Aghh, why does this bother me? I didn’t kill him, at least, not yet.” The pain only became worse. “It was his own fault for sacrificing all to save them.” As he closed in on the temporal boundary, anger was all that fueled him.

“He was nothing close to pure. Allowing his own friend to sacrifice herself. He knew the outcome of that battle, yet he still cheered her on unto death.” He broke through the barrier. The Gi Desert was dark. Nothing had survived. “Was this what would have become of all the land? He stopped this…” Mewtwo’s heart was speaking for him. He quelled the words with his hatred. “No! He must pay for the crimes he and his kind have committed before. It was fate that allowed him to stop the world’s destruction. Mewtine didn’t finish his job.”

“Yes Mewtwo. Allow your hate to consume you. Hate is the path to victory. You will be at peace once he is dead. Allow your hate to become your ally. Complete Emperor Mewtine’s destruction and destroy Icy.”

Meanwhile, inside the Ice Palace, three figures seemed to be at complete peace, yet trapped within a thin sheet of glass ice. Whether they were still alive was yet to be known. From the outside, one could not determine if they were still alive in their icy prison. It was quiet now. No one was left to make any noise. Light glimmered down on the three captives from the prism-like ceiling. If someone was still there, they’d agree it was a most spectacular site.

But not everything was inanimate inside the chamber. Two small pokémon were struggling to free their frozen masters. The one bashed against the ice again. “Open!” She started to cry as the bruise on her head only got worse. “Whaaa, please…, open…” The tears flew from her face as she slammed into the ice again. “Agh…” she cried falling to the floor. Her energy was totally gone now. She attempted to get up but could not. Her friend came to her aid.

“Are you alright?”

“NO!! Icy is trapped in there and there’s nothing I can doooooowwwaaaahhhhh….” She started crying again.

“Buttercup, please don’t cry. We must stay strong. We obviously cannot open this glass ourselves. Where did their other pokéballs go?”

“{sob}I… I… I don’t know…” Buttercup resumed crying. She was devastated. It was like Icy and her had traded places. She knew now how Icy would have felt when she had died fighting for him. Now, when he needed help the most, she was totally powerless. Buttercup managed to get on her feet again and began to charge up a Hyper Beam attack.

“NO, Buttercup. You’ll kill yourself using that much energy.”

“But…” she stood down. “But, I have to free him. What about Sara? Don’t you want her free too?”

Aura thought for a moment. “Of course I do. But I don’t think either of us can break this trap. We have to hope that something will save them.”

And so the two saddened Butterfree waited there, staring at their once joyful, now frozen masters with the hopes that something, or someone would save them.

Meanwhile, Mewtwo was headed straight for the Ice Palace. “Aghh… why is this happening…” His head hurt a lot now. The pain was too much and he landed on the cold sands of the Gi Desert. “What’s happening to me…” In his mind, a great conflict raged on. For some reason, he still felt responsible for the current turn of events. But on the other hand, he was the one who prevented it from being any bit worse. So why did it continue to bother him?

“Mewtwo.”

“Ugh… I can’t…”

“That’s not a good answer. You have a job to do, now do it. Kill them both and anyone else trapped in there.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I understand everything. This little psychological trauma of yours is becoming a nuisance. Kill them and move on. You’ve waited for this day, now finish the task.”

“Yes. I will destroy them once and for all.”

Back in the Ice Palace, another familiar pokémon wandered around aimlessly. This must have been the saddest part of this whole tragedy. Here was a most intelligent pokémon who had everything going for him, and in an instant, all was shattered. Now, Hocus walked around the cavern searching for the group. He had been blow away in the explosion but could no longer home in on his master.

“Master? Where is everyone? Please, somebody answer me.” Hocus began to think about the worst-case scenarios. What if Icy had died in the explosion, or the cavern had collapsed on him. He shook his head. No, Icy couldn’t die, not now, not after all they had been though. This just couldn’t be how it ended. But without any clear signal to follow, Hocus continued to search for the main chamber where Icy awaited, frozen.

“Ahh, there it is…” Mewtwo could see the Ice Palace straight ahead now. It was still glowing even though light was no longer in the desert now. “Of all the places in the world, this one is by far the most magical. Hmm, time to finish this.”

“Mewtwo…”

“Huh, who is it?”

“Do you not recognize me?”

Mewtwo suddenly saw flashbacks from his birth. His head ached again. “Are you, my creator?”

“I am the creator of all this land. The pokémon, the people, the air, water, and ground. I am Goddish, and I have come before you to make a request of you.”

Mewtwo bowed before the great pokémon. “If you are my creator, why was I brought into this world by the hands of humans? You know of my current goal, so why should I not have the revenge I deserve?”

“Because your quarrel is not with the entity known as Icy. You have been upset with humanity and pokémon alike because of your method of birth. Mewtwo, I am truly sorry that life was given to you by those playing Goddish. But like all living creatures, you are still one of my children, and all of my children have good in their hearts.”

“But mine is filled with hate and anger. Surly you cannot say I still have good to your standards.”

“On the contrary Mewtwo. What you did on Mewtine’s ship was very brave. You risked your own life in an effort to save countless lives.”

“I only stopped Mewtine because he would have destroyed my world. I had no care for its inhabitants.”

“I think you do.”

“No… All I feel is a deep hatred… And the one that angers it the most is that child Icy.”

“Mewtwo. I understand how you feel. But, if you look deeper, you might see that you and Icy are more alike than you thought. You and him were the products of human experiments. You, a super-clone of Mew, and Icy, a subject of Team Rocket’s weapon. Neither of you asked for your situations, they were handed to you as fate decreed. But, you must not still think Icy is your enemy.”

“I must destroy him…”

“Free him. You are aiding someone whose power surpasses anything I’ve ever seen. The game you are playing has very high risks and you may turn out a loser in the end.”

“No. I will not be betrayed.”

“Giovanni led you to believe you were partners with him, what makes you believe your new friends won’t double cross you as well?”

“Stop this.”

“Mewtwo please. Do not kill Icy. You have the power to free them from their icy eternity. Use it to do good, not evil. In your heart, you know what the right path is…” Goddish faded away.

“No… In my heart… there is nothing… no feelings… only hate…” Mewtwo stood up and flew once again towards the Ice Palace.

Inside, Buttercup and Aura were simply trying to comfort themselves with the current situation. They had no idea what to do now that their masters were not with them. It was worse then being abandoned. Their loved ones were trapped and they could only stare helplessly at them. Buttercup started crying again and Aura could finally no longer hold it in. She started to cry as well.

“What’s that?” Hocus sensed the high pitch noise of the crying. “Hmm, perhaps I can teleport to the origin of that sound.” Hocus used his teleportion skill and appeared just in front of the two weeping Butterfree. “Buttercup, Aura!”

“HOCUS!!!” they both said in reply.

Hocus turned around to see his master frozen. “MASTER! Oh what has happened to him? Psybeam!” Hocus unleashed a large psybeam at the glass but it had no effect. “My psychic attacks are ineffective…”

“{sniff}We’ve been trying for hours to free them, but {sniff} we CAN’T!!!” Buttercup burst into tears again.

“Buttercup please, calm yourself.” Just then, the rest of the pokémon found their way back to the main chamber. Static, Flutter, and Sapphire all entered. “Ahh, so you weren’t all killed.

“No. Oh no, are they alright?”

“I’m afraid our attacks do little good to free them… I think only those generators are the only hope…”

“So, they are trapped forever…”

“Let us hope not…”

Hocus could have sworn he heard a strange voice whisper just then, but no one had spoken. He was getting the feeling they were being watched. It was the same feeling they had when they first entered the Palace. He sat in a corner to meditate and think of a solution to their problem.

Just then, he sensed something. A huge energy buildup was heading their way and fast. Hocus stood up just as the ceiling cracked open. Mewtwo floated into the chamber. “So, we meet again Icy…” Hocus didn’t know what to do.

“Psybeam!” He fired his most powerful attack at Mewtwo but it had no effect.

“Pathetic creature. Psybeam!” Mewtwo countered back with a psybeam of his own knocking Hocus into the wall and unconscious. “Any other worthless challengers?”

The other pokémon backed away, too afraid to defend their masters from a force this great. They went over to Hocus to try to revive him.

“Good.” Mewtwo shifted his attention over to the frozen Icy, Sara, and Frosterpie. “This will end here and now…” Mewtwo focused his energy on the icy glass. “Telekinesis,” he said. Slowly, the ice began to melt away.

The other pokémon gazed as Mewtwo freed their masters. But their hopeful expressions turned to distress as Mewtwo charged up his psychic attack. “No, please don’t hurt them Mewtwo.”

“You dare to interrupt my vengeance. Away foolish one!” Mewtwo blasted Buttercup back into the wall.

“Agh…,” she muttered before fainting. Aura came to her side to protect her from anymore attacks.

“This is the end of you Icy.”

Icy’s eyes slowly opened. As he looked ahead, Mewtwo’s image slowly began to focus. He could just about see the psybeam hurtling towards him. “AGHH!!” he cried being flung back against the wall. His body smashed against it. “Oww…”

“No, Icy!” Flutter got up and was about to attack when Sapphire held him back.

“Flutter don’t. Mewtwo will kill you.”

“But he’ll kill Icy.”

“Let’s try to revive Hocus.”

Flutter’s eyes began to water as he turned around to assist the others in reviving their fallen friends.

Sara and Frosterpie were coming to now. “Ah, so you both awake. I have been instructed to destroy you all and that is exactly what I shall do, ugh…” Mewtwo grabbed his head. “No… I must destroy them… ugh…”

Sara turned to her back to see Icy barely moving. “ICY!!!”

“No… Psybeam!” Mewtwo aimed his attack directly at Sara and fired. She too was thrown hard against the wall.

“Agh… I…c…y… …,” she spoke softly before falling.

Frosterpie crawled over towards the two Pikachus to protect them. He gave them both some energy to revive them but Mewtwo was already about to fire again.

“This will be the final blast. Now, you die, Icy…” Mewtwo fired his strongest attack at Icy, Sara, and Frosterpie.

Icy gasped and his eyes widened as the beam was about to hit…

The blast hit pinning the three against the wall. “Ugh…,” Icy moaned as he collapsed.

“Mewtwo.”

“Huh. So, you are awake again. Do you actually think that you can beat me?”

“Not me…” All of Icy’s pokémon surrounded Mewtwo.

“What’s this?”

“You’re out-numbered Mewtwo. Leave us and do no more harm. You’ve caused enough pain and suffering today.”

“My mission is completed. Besides, there’s no way any of you can escape this area because of the temporal barrier. You’ll be trapped here for eternity.” With that, Mewtwo flew out through the opening in the ceiling. “I have a score to settle with another…”

“MASTER!!!” Hocus ran over to Icy’s motionless body. All three of them were out cold. Was this how it was to end? Hocus couldn’t accept that fate. “Master, please, wake up. Open your eyes.”

“Sara. Oh Sara no… No, Sara…,” whimpered Aura and Sapphire.

All the pokémon gathered around them. Suddenly, Frosterpie awoke.

“Look, Frosterpie is still alive, but the others aren’t moving.”

Frosterpie looked at the two Pikachus who had assisted him in stopping Mewtine’s plot. “Icy… Sara… You both were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save countless millions. I must try to save your lives now.” Frosterpie’s body began to glow, as did Icy’s and Sara’s.

“What is he doing?”

“I think Frosterpie is giving them some of his own life-force energy to revive them.”

Finally, all three stopped glowing. Frosterpie collapsed. He had used so much energy that his strength was completely gone. Hocus checked to make sure he was still alive, and he was. Icy and Sara both started coming to.

“Master, you are alive!”

“Sara!!!”

Icy’s eyes began to focus. He was too weak to get up so Hocus leant him a hand. “H… Hocus…”

“Shh… Save your energy master. Mewtwo nearly killed you and Sara. But Frosterpie used some of his energy to revive you both.”

“Sara…”

“I’m right here Icy.”

“I’m… I’m glad you are ok…”

“As am I.”

The two Pikachus literally fell into each other’s arms. “You two should rest and regain your strength. I and the pokémon will attempt to find a way to leave this place and return to the normal time frame.”

“Thank you Hocus…”

“Rest master.”

Icy and Sara both fell asleep next to each other. Buttercup and Flutter took Frosterpie and laid him next to them. Then, they too napped beside the three.

Meanwhile…

“You have completed your task?”

“Yes my lord.”

“Good. I sense you ready for the real plan then?”

“I wish to begin immediately.”

“Janus.”

“My grace?”

“It is time.”

“As you command my grace.”

Back in Viridian City, some local trainers were watching the latest pokémon battles on TV.

“And it looks like this will be the final move. Terry sure has a clear victory here. He and his Lapras have sure iced the competition. Ok, here it…” The screen went to static.

“Hey, what gives…” Boo’s and hissing were heard from the group of trainers who had been watching.

Finally, the picture returned. “We interrupt this presentation to bring you breaking news. Police are now almost certain they can pin evidence on Team Rocket President, Giovanni, for the devastating explosions and earthquakes around Cerulean City and the massive tidal waves that destroyed much of the Seafoam Island coast last month. No word yet on what Giovanni’s reaction to this issue is, but it looks like this could be the turning point in his infamous career. We take you live the Team Rocket’s gym in Viridian City with news correspondent, Ashly.”

“Thanks Brian. I’m standing outside one of the most impressive gym structures ever built. Unfortunately, this gym belongs to the infamous Team Rocket, a well-known band of pokémon crooks. According to latest reports, Giovanni has been staying in his office for the past few weeks now while the gym remains closed to trainers.” Suddenly, a flash streaks through the air. Ashly, who didn’t notice it, continues her newscast.

“Whoa, did you see that?”

“Yeah, what was that thing?”

“And so, this might be the final chapter in Giovanni’s career. I’m Ashly reporting live from Viridian City Gym, back to you Brian.”

“We will keep you updated on this as more information comes in. We now return you to the event already in progress.”

“Oh, a crushing defeat for Terry and his Lapras. My, they were really controlling this match till the very end there.”

“What a spectacular finish for this young and rising little girl from the Spectral Islands.”

“Yes. Trinity has definitely proven herself a very capable trainer in battle, and in caring for her pokémon. Our best wishes go out to this fine young lady and her bright career.”

“Hey, don’t miss tonight’s special movie presentation of, Porygon: The Movie. It’s the story of a human created pokémon computer with a mind of it’s own. Definitely a must see!”

“Aww man, we missed the battle!”

“Hey, that Trinity girl is kinda cute.”

“Don’t get any ideas. She’d kick your butt in a battle.”

“Oh, like you could beat her?” The trainers went on arguing while Giovanni looked out over the city from his office.

“There’s no proof Team Rocket was any bit involved in those incidents.”

“Could someone be planting evidence on us?”

“Definitely a possibility,” Giovanni sneered. The same flash streaked by the window. “Huh, what was that? Ugh, everything was going so perfect until that Frosterpie incident. I never should have gotten involved in all that.”

“Do you want us to get you to our Pallet Town headquarters?”

“No. That will only arouse suspicion. I want agents posted and armed around the gym. With all this media coverage, there’s likely to be a few foolish brave trainers who’d like to gain fame from defeating me. But that won’t happen.”

“Right sir. I’ll make sure the guards are posted.”

“Good.”

“Your guards are no match for me Giovanni. Hmhmhmhmhmm…”

Back in the Ice Palace, Icy and Sara were cuddled up together in a corner of the room while Hocus was meditating. They had given up on finding a solution for today and decided rest was a much better idea. But their time was running out. Several parts of the palace had begun to collapse. Hocus was aware of this. He knew if they didn’t come up with something, they’d all be buried for eternity…

Will Hocus and the others be able to escape the Gi Desert realm? Find out next time on Pokémon: Icy’s Quest…