Part I: Memories

(Quick Author’s note: I suggest you read The Deadwood Days before continuing...)

Upon reaching the kitchen, Gatoris stuffed his face. Eventually, only Aerith, him, and Almathea were in the room. "I can’t believe that we ended up like this..." Gatoris pondered. Aerith held her glass of water tightly. "None of us can. You want me to make a pizza?" Gatoris could see where this was going. "Sure, Angie. Why not? I gotta have the strength to sing later..." both of them looked at Almathea. "I’m not saying a word. Garrett chewed me out the last time." Gatoris began to laugh. "I seem to reminisce a lot. There are times I wish I was still back in Deadwood." He began to think about how he got to where he was. "What still gets me is how Final Fantasy Tactics was still in the case, even though I had locked it away separately..." he turned to Almathea. "...thanks yet again." She seemed stunned. "Hey, that one wasn’t me. That was fate." Suddenly, Sephiroth walked into the kitchen. "Talking about the old days, eh?" "Yeah, Jason. We are. Want to join us?" Suddenly, Sephiroth ran off. "Oh, shit... He’s probably upset about those days." Garrett commented. He then chased after his friend.

Gatoris cornered Sephiroth in his room. He was sitting at the edge of his bed, facing the window. "Thinking about back then makes me hurt inside..." Jason began to mumble. Gatoris sat down next to him. "Listen, snap out of it. What’s done is done. You heard me say that I wished I hadn’t gone, either..." Jason cut Garrett off there. "You didn’t have a choice. I chose my fate. I wish I had thought it through. I was only thinking it was best for Angie if she never saw scum like me again..." Now it was Garrett’s turn to cut him off. "Wait up! You... scum? Just because you screwed up once or twice? We all mess up. You were, and still are, a better man than I ever was. You had the courage to admit your love..." Garrett began to cry. "I never fully did. To me, that e-mail message did not count." Jason seemed to be snapping out of his self-induced depression. "Listen, I have something I gotta admit. You had more courage than me. You admitted to her how you felt. She asked me out. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so I agreed. Then I fell in love." ... maybe he wasn’t. "Look at it this way. I could have killed Sephiroth the first time I saw him, which was even before I knew you’d come here. I had a feeling that he would become important. I watch out for my friends, and you are one of the best ones I have." Now that sounded sappy, Garrett thought. "You’re right," Jason replied. "I have been looking at this from my view. I never thought of anyone else, even when I said I was thinking of Angie. Thanks." Sephiroth stood up, and went to his daughter. Gatoris felt like his proverbial rhinoceroses had come back. So this is what Almathea goes through with me, he thought.

"So, you got it worked out." Almathea stated when Gatoris returned. "Yeah. Any penguins explode while I was gone?" was his reply. They laughed. Angelina felt left out. "I went bowling one day, actually the day you called me..." Garrett bean to elaborate. "I got my finger stuck in the ball. After getting it out, I turned to Almathea and made a comment about leaving before a penguin explodes. When I got home, I found out one did." Now aware of the joke, Angelina laughed.

Meanwhile, ‘Chris Gaines’ found out about Pikachu’s demise. Meowth promptly left, leaving Garth Brooks to wonder what the hell he had been doing.

Part II: More Pokémon Arrive

Three odd figures stood at the gate of Castle Tonberry. Two appeared humanoid, the third looked like a pink balloon with eyes and a mouth. "You sure this is where we have to be, Mew?" one spoke. "Yes, it is," replied the creature called Mew. "I sensed Pikachu’s presence here. There was also a major struggle. If this isn’t the place, he does not exist." The three saw the tonberry guard. "Hey, we need to see Gatoris. Can you let us in?" asked Mew. The guard looked up, saw the creatures, and ran for a phone.

"WHAT? Pokémon at the door? Hold on, I’ll take care of this." Gatoris hung up the phone. He seemed agitated. I shoulda known... Take out the leader, and all the toadies will target you..., he muttered to himself. He then teleported outside.

"Gatoris! We need to talk..." one of the figures said. It looked like some type of genetic mistake. It had two tails, and was completely gray. Gatoris paid no heed to its message. "Damn Pokémon... I figured I would be rid of you if I killed Pikachu." he growled. "We weren’t with him!" Mew spoke up. it looked similar to the first one, except it was smaller and had only one tail. Gatoris again ignored the creature. "Like I can buy that. Well, I could buy Jigglypuff being against him..." he said looking to the third Pokémon. It replied with a happy sounding ‘puff’. "Congratulations on killing Pikachu..." Mew said. Gatoris became his usual puzzled self. "Guess you weren’t lying..." Jigglypuff smiled. "...just don’t let him sing," he added pointing to the pink puff. "But he has to..." butted in the larger creature. "Why, Mewtwo? So I can go to sleep and you rob me?" Gatoris was edgy. "No, it is the test." Mewtwo replied. "We must make sure that you are the true protector of good, as legend says. He is the only being who can withstand the hypnotic song of a Jigglypuff."

Gatoris, having nothing better to do that day, agreed. "Get it over with..." he said, positioning himself in a seat. The Jigglypuff began to sing its song. It seemed beautiful, and it made peaceful thoughts run through one’s mind. After about five minutes, the creature stopped singing. Gatoris was wide awake. The Jigglypuff danced in joy. Mew and Mewtwo were fast asleep. Jigglypuff woke them up, and reported the good news. "You mean you are not tired?" Mew asked, after yawning. "Nope, not a bit. I kind of trained for this day." Mewtwo jumped in. "You may have defeated Pikachu now, but he will be back. As long as his spirit roams the universe, he can regenerate." The creature then tossed a ball at Gatoris. "This is the only Pokéball that is capable of holding him. We cannot use it, for only the hero of legend can fully harness the power within." Gatoris examined the silver Pokéball. "You guys have the same clichés in your dimension as does every RPG. Hero of legend, stuff like that..." Gatoris added, then laughed. Suddenly Gatoris made some kind of connection in his mind. "Mewtwo, you haven’t been helping me before, have you?" Mewtwo replied, "You mean suit of armor and a chicken? Yes that was me." "Thought so. You have the same size, so I had a feeling." Gatoris had been right. The three Pokémon began to walk off, then Mew turned around. "There is one more of us. It will visit soon." Gatoris went into the castle.

Vegita Tonberry was in a small, neglected room in the castle. He was studying books on many subjects, ranging form astrophysics to psychology. Needless to say, he was distracted. Vegita never saw the cat-like creature messing around with his circuitry.

Gatoris rounded a corner, and noticed Vegita. What also caught his eye was the object around the android’s neck. It looked like a golden Pokéball. "If you shoot me, Vegita..." Gatoris knew this wasn’t good. "What makes think I’d shoot my master?" Vegita said with a smug look. Gatoris began sneezing. "You been ar... around... ACHOO! ...any cats?" He couldn’t stop sneezing. "I’m allergic... ACHOO! ... to them..." At that point, Gatoris made the connection. "Meowth, show your... ACHOO! ... your.... ACHOO! ...yourself!" From the Pokéball, the cat Pokémon, Meowth, appeared. "Master Pikachu never told me of this weakness..." Gatoris sneezed on the minion of Satan, covering him in a thick layer of mucus. "Jesus! Use a tissue, or at least turn your damn head!" the cat yelled. While Meowth was on a health and politeness tangent, Gatoris booted him. Expecting to hear a thud further down the hall, Gatoris was surprised to see the cat-like creature stuck to the ceiling. Looking at his foe, Gatoris decided to try tactic number 22: taunting and other verbal abuse. "How did some kuso yaro become second-in-command in the world of evil?" "I was the only other one that could talk. He thought I was one of the smartest ones, except the four who were against him." Meowth began to explain. Gatoris decided to get all the information he could. "If Chris Gaines is so evil, why didn’t Pikachu do it?" Meowth, seeing no escape, did what every cornered villain does: he spilled the beans on the operation. "Chris was a front. The music was meant to hypnotize all the bakas in the world, making them bow before the master. Unfortunately, he had me do it. I can’t even hypnotize a rock." Gotta e-mail Fritz Frandourf and tell him he was on the right track, Gatoris thought. "That, and many people were sick of Garth Brooks to begin with." the cat continued. In between the sneezes, Gatoris commented. "So that’s... ACHOO! ...that’s why he took me... KACHOO!! ...me over. I’d have more pull..." Suddenly, Gatoris felt as if something had gone through his back. He looked down, and saw a familiar blade. He then turned around: Vegita was behind him. He had run Gatoris through with his own sword. Just as Vegita was attempting to pull it out, Gatoris grabbed his neck. He turned him around, opened his back panel, and found the emergency shut-down button. Before Vegita fully turned off, he managed to pull the sword out. Gatoris collapsed on the ground. Meowth also fell to the ground. But from that height, he was killed instantly when he hit the floor.

Aerith stood up. She had a look of dread on her face. As if someone was dying, and she couldn’t help. Almathea felt the same way. Both women ran through the corridors of the castle, looking for Gatoris.

Sephiroth was ambling carelessly in the castle halls, when he found Gatoris. He was unconscious and losing excessive amounts of blood. Jason saw this and felt he had to do something. The healing ability Almathea had given him would not be strong enough. About the only way both Gatoris and Sephiroth could survive was way out there, but it might work. Jason made his decision: He would rejoin with Garrett on the spiritual level, so he could survive long enough for Almathea to heal him. Jason left Sephiroth’s body, never to return...

Part III: Steele Embargo

...Or so he thought. Within Gatoris’ mind, this plan was not well accepted. "Jason..." Garrett said, watching Gatoris’ power drain away, "Thanks for the gesture, but this isn’t over yet! I will not let you join with me until we both are dead!" Jason didn’t seem thrilled, either. "I don’t want to do this, but it’s the only way you can live. I... I..." Garrett knew what was coming: He was going to explain it by saying that he had hurt Angelina in his last life, and he wanted to make it up to her. "... I hurt Angie before. I am not doing this for you. I want to see her happy as much as you do." Yeah, Garrett was right. "If you want to make her happy, tell them where I am. She wants you alive as much as me." "But... you’ll probably be dead by the time we got back..." Jason was set on doing this. "No. I have plenty of energy to spare." Garrett tried to explain. "All these extra souls in here are for power. The only two needed for Gatoris to live are me and Zack. I’ll live." Jason, seeing Garrett was set in his ways, decided to let him have it his way. He began to return to Sephiroth. "Wow. You never think of yourself, do you?" Zack had been watching. "I’ve never considered myself more than some baka from a shit hole that is called Deadwood. I’ve never mattered..." Garrett went on.

Aerith and Almathea found Gatoris. He was bleeding less now, but he still didn’t move. Almathea began to kneel down by her friend, but Aerith spoke up. "No, this is mine..." She pushed Almathea aside, and began to heal him. "OK. Just don’t over-do it..." Almathea saw the other three bodies. Vegita was in one piece, but he was turned off. He had the bloody Masamune in his hand. She pondered why he’d turn on Gatoris. She got her answer from the second body: Meowth. Seeing the cat was covered in copious amounts of mucus and blood, she went to the third body. Sephiroth was not hurt, but he was unconscious. Jason didn’t seem to respond, either. Gatoris began to open his eyes. Aerith hugged him, promptly ruining her shirt. "I thought we were even..." Gatoris said in a weak voice. He was alive again, but not fully healed. "We are now." Angelina replied. Both looked at Sephiroth. He still wasn’t moving. Had Jason not made it back? Or had Sephiroth rejected him? He then moved. "Got ya!" Jason yelled. Gatoris shook his head. "You were always one for sick humor." Gatoris got up, and walked to his room. "Someone wake me up tomorrow, so I know I won’t be a grave man." Almathea, getting the Shakespeare reference, laughed. "You, grave? If so, a plague on Pikachu’s house!"

Gatoris laid down on his bed, and began to rest. As one would expect, his mind began to act up... again.

Part IV: From Vulpix’s Mouth to Gatoris’ Mind

Gatoris began to have an odd dream. He was in his castle, but something was amiss. The walls were soaked in blood. Intermingled in the blood were decorations for a New Year’s party. Gatoris wandered through the halls, and saw dead tonberries scattered throughout. He then got to the courtyard. The sight there made him physically ill.

All of his friends were there... all dead. In the center were Sephiroth, Aerith and Almathea. He then looked at a neighboring wall. There was a message scrawled in the blood of his friends:

Gatoris:

You weak kuso yaro. You will never stop me. This is just a sample of what I am going to do. Look at your friends now!

Veni, Vidi, Vici...

P.

Pikachu... he had done this. Suddenly, Gatoris felt something at his feet. he looked down and saw a Vulpix standing next to his friends. Gatoris picked up the many-tailed fox and looked him over. Why is it here, he pondered. Then it spoke. "Beware, the dawn of evil’s reign is upon us. On the eve of the new century, the reign of humans will end. Pikachu will slaughter everyone. No survivors. He will rule all." Garrett began to shiver. "Can this be prevented?" He felt strange saying that. (After all, he was talking to a Vulpix!) "Yes," the creature replied. "If his means of destruction are cut off, he cannot carry out his genocide." The Vulpix jumped down and scurried to a television. The set was showing a replay of the New Year’s festivities in Junon. Every year, like New York, they dropped a ball. This year, however, it looked like... a Pokéball. "Many will see him. The seizures will paralyze all mankind. His stormtroopers will finish off all opposition." The Vulpix preached. Gatoris though about what the date was when he fell asleep. It was December 1st. He had thirty... actually twenty-nine days to stop him. "Not if I have something to say!" Gatoris screamed into the air. "PIKACHU, YOUR ASS IS MINE, YOU HEAR ME?" The Vulpix went back to the center of the courtyard. "You have been warned..." it said. It then sat next to Almathea. Gatoris was at his boiling point. Now, how would he get back to reality to stop this? A laugh signaled the obstruction. "Even if you do get back, you cannot stop me!" Pikachu was back already. He faced off with the rat...

...then he woke up startled. A Vulpix was on his chest. Gatoris did not wonder about his dream, for a message was on his night table. It was written in blood.

Dearest baka,

I have Almathea, and your beloved Aerith. You try anything, and they get a one-way ticket with me to hell! Happy Holidays!

P.

"That kuso yaro!" Gatoris screamed. "He thinks I am the key to the world? Well, I’ll find some way to stop him." At that instant, Yuffie busted in the room. "Gatoris, Aerith and that other girl’s gone..." she said, out of breath. "You mean Almathea. I know. Pikachu’s got them. I gotta think of some way to get them back that doesn’t look like I’m trying..." Gatoris looked at the ninja with an odd gleam in his eye. "You want me to do it?" she asked. "Why not? He knows I really don’t like or trust you. He’ll never expect it!" Gatoris was scheming. "Thanks for the vote of confidence..." she said, before she began to think. (gasp!) "... you are right! He would never expect me!" With that, Gatoris told Yuffie her objective: save Aerith and Almathea while he kills Pikachu once and for all.