The Outcasts

By: SilverstartheWaterbender

Silverstar: Sorry about the wait, I got sick on Friday…then I went to an all-day church thing on Saturday…and on Sunday the computer erased my disk…ON WITH THE STORY!

Medabot Freak: It is a romance story! Glad you liked it! Thanks for your review!

Imagine100perc: Yeah, that came out wrong. Don't worry, I'm not offended. Thanks for your review!

Wolfen-Ways: Ok, I got stuff to say, so listen up: First, thanks for your review. I'm happy you like my story. Second, a million thank yous for letting me use Sora again. Finally, I can't thank you enough for all your support in this story. You rock!

Disclaimer: Ditto Chapters 4-13.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter Fourteen: The End? No way!

"Lazula!" "Please get up!" "Don't leave us!" Scores of voices ran sluggishly in and out of Lazula's head. She moaned softly and opened her eyes. Mareep was staring at her worriedly, while Sora looked on, a similar expression on his face. "Lazula!" Mareep shouted and nuzzled her. "You're okay!" "Yeah," she whispered weakly. "You had us worried, cuz," Sora told her. "We thought you were a goner." He turned around. "She's okay, people! Nothing to worry about here!" A cheer followed his words. Lazula sat up slowly and saw Ash, Misty, Brock, and all the clones nearby. They all appeared to be in some sort of cave. Plants were growing everywhere. Lazula clutched her aching head. "How long was I out?" she asked. Bulbasaur (the doctor) walked over and answered, "All day. The sun just set. We were all very worried about you." He placed an assortment of Berries near her arm. "You should eat these," he advised. Lazula's stomach growled; her last meal had been dinner at Luna's cabin, yesterday.

Once she finished, she felt a strange presence behind her. She stood and turned around. Mewtwo was standing on the edge of an enormous lake, smiling. Lazula grinned and hobbled over. "I told you you'd be okay!" she told him. "Yes," he answered, "thanks to you." He frowned. "There is one thing I don't understand; why did you jump in the spring? In your weakened state, you could have drowned." Lazula smiled weakly. "I was so worried about you; I guess I just wasn't thinking." "Whoa, whoa, whoa, back it up," Mareep said, walking over. "Did you say you jumped in the spring?" "Yeah, but –" Lazula stopped and her eyes widened. Slowly, she knelt down and pulled up her right pant leg. The scar was gone. Her leg was as it had been back when she was ten. "It's gone!" Lazula shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm free!" The crowd cheered again, Sora and Mareep the loudest.

Lazula turned back to Mewtwo. "So, where are we? And come to think of it, what was with that freaky light?" "I have moved the lake and the spring beneath Mt. Queyna," Mewtwo explained. "The Pokemon will be protected here." Lazula nodded. "Makes sense to me." "Wait till I tell Professor Oak about this!" Ash said. Lazula rounded on him. "ARE YOU CRAZY!?" she yelled. "Do you want this whole thing to happen again? What the hell is wrong with you?" Ash sweatdropped and muttered, "Sorry." "You need not worry," Mewtwo said. "None of you will be able to speak of this. I will erase this memory from your minds." Lazula gaped at him. "You can't do that!" she protested. "She's right!" Everyone whipped around to see Meowth jump out from behind a bush, Jessie and James on his heels. "Meowth, be quiet!" warned James. "Keep your nose out of this!" Jessie added. Meowth glared. "It's got nothing to do with my nose! (1) It's about what all these other Pokemon are saying!" "Yeah!" the clones shouted. "It's only natural to want to know who and where you came from," Meowth continued, "and someday these little ones will want some answers, only there won't be any. Not if you make everybody forget!" The family of Nidoqueen and Rhyhorn nodded. "So what if their parents were clones?" Meowth asked. "They're still living creatures, and they deserve to live, and they deserve to know about themselves as much as you, or me, or anybody does! That's what we think," he finished. Mewtwo still looked unconvinced, so Lazula gave it a shot. "Mewtwo, you remember what I told you about my life, right? Well, all through those years, I hated myself. I was convinced that I couldn't do anything right. Today, though, I helped someone. I did something right. You gave me confidence, Mewtwo. Please, don't take it away." She smiled pleadingly. "So, what do you say? You gonna let us remember?" Mewtwo smiled. "Yes. We deserve to remember. If we are able to look to the future as other Pokemon do, then we should also look to the past. The shame of that past is not ours; it belongs to those who used us for our pasts. To protect my fellow Pokemon, and this healing place, I will erase the memories only of those who seek to destroy them." He glowed bright blue. "Only they shall forget."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lazula leaned against the cave wall and stared up at the sky. After Mewtwo's announcement, he restored the memories of Ash, Misty, and Brock, who had apparently met him before. Most of the crowd had then fallen asleep. She, however, followed the lake. She discovered that it fed into a river, which led to a waterfall that ran down the side of Mt. Queyna. "Hard to believe Mewtwo did all this," she thought as she looked at the moon. It would be full for one more night before waning. "I thought you were sleeping." Lazula whipped around to see Mewtwo walking toward her. She clutched her heart. "You scared me, dude." Mewtwo frowned. "I'm sorry. I just didn't expect to see you here." Lazula smiled. "I like the moon, too," she whispered, staring up at the sky.

They were silent for a minute before a thought struck Lazula. "Hey, Mewtwo, about Cullen and Luna--" "Their memories have been erased." Mewtwo said. "I didn't want to take any chances." "Good." More silence. "This is getting awkward," Lazula thought. She sighed. "Mewtwo, last night I learned a little bit about you –" "From Blastoise," Mewtwo interrupted. Lazula stared at him. Mewtwo smiled. "While you were unconscious, he told me about your conversation." Lazula blushed. "Sorry, I was just so curious." Mewtwo nodded. "It's all right, Lazula." Lazula smiled and continued. "Well, if we're going to be friends, I think I'd better know the whole story." Mewtwo hesitated, and Lazula added, "I can keep a secret; I won't tell anybody." Mewtwo nodded. "Very well," he said reluctantly. And so, Lazula learned of the New Island fiasco, and Mewtwo's origins in full detail. When it was over, she said softly, "I'd be like that too, if I went through that." Mewtwo blinked. "Aren't you an outcast as well?" Lazula shrugged. "Yeah, but I had Nurse Joy." She was silent for a moment. "Thanks, Mewtwo, I really appreciate this. I swear you won't regret it." Mewtwo smiled. "Oh, we don't need to worry about that, my friend."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A few hours later, everyone was getting ready to go. Team Rocket's balloon had been fixed, and two more had been constructed. (2) Ash's balloon was in the shape of a Pikachu; Lazula, Mareep, and Sora's, a Mareep. Mewtwo had already flew the clones out; now it was only him, Pikachu (2) and Meowth (2). Pikachu (2) smiled sheepishly. "So, sorry about the whole, 'not trusting you' thing…" Lazula grinned. "S'all good." Meowth turned to his clone. "If you ever see our balloon, fly by and say hello!" "I will!" Meowth (2) promised. Mewtwo turned to Lazula. "Thank you. I will remember you always." Poor, stupid Ash thought Mewtwo was talking to him. "This time, we both will!" he said, and got jabbed in the ribs by Misty. "Ow! What?" Lazula rolled her eyes and answered, "I'll never forget you either, Mewtwo." Before Sora or Mareep could stop her, she jumped out of the balloon and hugged Mewtwo. He hesitated, and then put his arms around her. Lazula let go, grinning, and jumped back in the basket. Mewtwo lifted into the air, lifting Pikachu (2) and Meowth (2). The balloons followed him. "Bye, Mewtwo!" Mareep shouted. "Good luck!" Sora added. Lazula waved, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Let's meet again down the road, okay?" she called. Mewtwo nodded, and Lazula saw a tear in his eye. "If you here my voice," he told her, "know that it is my spirit, calling across time and space, to you." Lazula waved, crying, until she could no longer see Mewtwo. "Bye, pal," she whispered. "I'll miss you. Thanks for all you've done."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next morning, Lazula, Mareep, and Sora waited at the bus stop. Cullen and Luna (who still remembered her) had called the bus for them. Lazula turned and asked her cousin, "So, where are you headed now?" Sora smiled. "People say they saw Entei near the Ilex Forest. I'm gonna go check it out." Lazula rolled her eyes and said, "I'm going to Olivine City and catch a boat to Hoenn." "Good luck, cuz," Sora said, hugging her. "You too," she said. "And remember: the past two days did not happen." Sora grinned. "Got it. Later!" he said, and walked off. Lazula waved until the bus pulled up. "Hi," Emma said. "You're Lazula, right?" "Yup," Lazula answered, and walked on the bus, Mareep following.

They were about halfway over the mountain when Lazula heard a voice. "I will remember you…always." Lazula jumped and looked around. "What's up?" Mareep asked. "Nothing," Lazula answered. "I thought I heard Mewtwo talking to me. But, it could be only a memory." Lazula smiled and peered out the window. Those words spoke a promise. She knew that if the journey got tough, she would have somewhere to belong.

She was no longer an outcast.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

(1)What nose?

(2)How did that happen?

Silverstar: Well, there you go…THE LAST CHAPTER! I want to thank all of my wonderful readers and reviewers. You guys are awesome! Now, who wants a sequel? (crowd of people cheer) Excellent! Now, I won't tell you what it's about, but I'll give you a hint: it'll be a remarkable story. Keep your eyes out for it! R&R!