Chapter 36:Strangers and Illusions
Just after the St. Anne Attack.
"Are you sure you will be all right, Harrison?"
Harrison Miller turned warily to his compatriot, the one he had aided in getting rid of the last traces of the Rocket grunts, in the aftermath of the devastation that was the battle between that creature, and that gigantic specimen of a Dragonite, if it might even be called a Dragonite that is. He wasn't exactly sure what had caused the powerful dragon to awaken from the depths of the ocean, but he sure wasn't going to complain. The worse part was-he somehow had a sneaking suspicion that his friend and competitor Ash Ketchum had something to do with it, given how Cynthia had been glancing at his fallen form occasionally. That was of course, not counting that unfairly large specimen of a Pidgeot—seriously, it seemed like the world had started becoming more and more unreal ever since he had set foot in Vermillion city and…
Well... after he had encountered Ash.
Harrison glanced at his unconscious and nearly comatose friend, who had just narrowly avoided a gruesome death thanks to the avian's timely evolution into that thing, not that he was complaining or anything.
"I'm unsure if you have all the luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Ash."
"Or perhaps the right place at the right time?" The sudden voice which he registered to be Cynthia's, spoke from behind him.
Harrison sighed. "No, I think my version is more apt. The world made much more sense before I met this guy."
Cynthia chuckled at that. "For the life of me, I cannot argue against that statement." She paused for a moment. "Don't worry. He's gonna be all right."
Harrison turned to face her. "You seem awfully confident about that, given your limited interaction."
"I'm a Champion. We have a right to be confident." Cynthia bragged haughtily, though the amusement in her tone betrayed her expression.
"Point taken." The brown-haired trainer accepted it, as he cast a wide glance at his surroundings. "So… what happens now?"
"Mirage Archipelago seems closer, or at least, that's what Steven told me. We have to get Ash to the Hospital there." She hesitated, "but I cannot really do that until everything is taken care of."
"You go." Harrison offered. "I'll stay back with Steven for a while, to see if I'm needed." Personally, he didn't think he would be needed, considering the message from the coast-guards, saying that more League personnel would be arriving in any moment. "You get him to the hospital. Those wounds look rather serious."
Cynthia looked conflicted. "I… I owe you one for this."
He waved it away. "Don't bother. The brat saved my ass before this. It is the least I could do."
Cynthia blinked, before replying. "You are a good man, Harrison. Don't let anyone tell you any different."
He laughed at that. "Sure. I'll keep that in mind." He was quite sure he had concealed the hollowness in his laughter. "I'll just hang around for now, and after that, I think I'll just leave for home."
"Do you have a water-type?"
"My Blastoise should do."
"Good enough." Cynthia opened her mouth to say something more, but then decided against it. "Very well."
Harrison chuckled. "Very well."
Without further delay, the Sinnoh Champion climbed on her infamous Garchomp's back, as the tremendously large avian swept off with Ash's unconscious form clutched tightly in her claws, though even from his vantage point, he could clearly see the bird trying to ensure that her trainer was not… uncomfortable in her grasp. It reminded him of his silly Arcanine, who was resting at Oak's ranch—thanks to Ash. He would have to ensure that he asked Professor Birch to get him back.
Several steamer boats were already visible in the horizon, the bright fog lights on them vivid, despite the slight mist all around.
"Seems I was right. There is no need of my help anymore." He muttered to himself. He cast a casual glance at Steven, who caught his eye, before nodding back. Harrison nodded in reply.
Sighing, he lifted a pokeball from his belt, releasing the beast within, out into the somewhat calm sea waters. "Blastoise... it is time for us to return. Are you up for a long journey?"
The long, extenuated grunt from said pokémon was supposed to be his proclamation of agreement- or so, he assumed. Not wanting to delay, he easily climbed aboard the giant turtle, getting himself a comfortable position behind one of the cannons on the back. "Let's go, buddy. We head north."
Blastoise let out a grunt, before pushing himself forward, his hind limbs easily pushing the water backward, aiming for a straight trajectory to the nearest landmass in the north. By his own estimations, he supposed he would reach his destination before the first rays of the morning sun.
"I guess…" Harrison muttered, as he pushed himself into a comfortable position, the strain of the entire night slowly catching up his bones. "I will get myself a little bit of rest while I have it. It seems it short supply."
It wasn't long before the Hoenn Trainer drifted off.
…
…
…
"Toise!"
The deep grunt from his pokémon woke him up from his nap. Harrison rubbed his eyes, feeling the sting as overwhelming tiredness threaten to inundate him, but somehow, he managed to push his straining form up from the comfortable position he was in. From the look of things, they had traversed quite the distance, since the St. Anne wasn't visible, but they were quite far from the mainland as of yet.
"What's wrong Blastoise? Why did you…" His words almost stopped midway in his throat… "—stop?"
"I see you have had your siesta…"
All traces of tiredness evaporated out of him, as a calm demeanour washed over him. "...You."
The man standing in front of him merely grinned, though not necessarily with malevolence. In fact, his eyes were shining, like he had been handed an invaluable gift he didn't know he wanted in the first place. "How… surprising that I would come across you like this, especially so close to Hoenn? How very… serendipitous, don't you think?"
"Pierce." Harrison stood up, still standing on Blastoise's shell, as the gigantic turtle regarded the others warily. Sensing his pokémon's wariness, he gently rubbed one of the cannons with one hand. "Don't worry. We're good."
"Of course, you are." Pierce chortled. "You have made a big name for yourself, over here. Second in the St. Anne Challenge."
The Hoenn trainer didn't dignify that statement with a reply.
"You must be feeling proud of yourself." The Team Rocket Executive continued, sarcasm dripping in his tone. "After all, you decided to follow the path of mediocrity over power."
"You and I remember Team Aqua very differently, Pierce. Besides, it seems 'success'"—he raised his fingers to raise quotes in the air— "didn't favour you. After all, here you are, a fledgling of Team Rocket, or have you started selling yourself to the highest bid-"
The rest of his words died in his throat—instead, he focussed on the long, and very, very sharp steel pointed at his throat.
Harrison sighed. "And here I thought my life wasn't in any danger, 'brother'."
Present Day.
Harrison. She said Harrison. Harrison from Little Root Town in Hoenn.
The first three seconds passed silently, but Ash Ketchum had come to a pause, his logic and pragmatism completely shut down for a moment, as his mind tried to comprehend the possible implications of that statement.
Harrison had been one of the identified members of the Team Rocket group that had attacked Saffron city. Sabrina had said.
His mind went back to what he remembered of the elder boy. Harrison had been the helpful elder-brother that had aided him getting acquainted with Vermillion, and had gotten him a room when he hadn't managed to find one. Harrison had been the one to take his word and try to solve the power issues in Vermillion. Harrison had been the one to aid him fight against the grunts at Commerce City. Harrison had been the one who defeated him fairly in the Challenge. Harrison had been the one who had saved his life from that Team Rocket Admin.
And yet… Sabrina said that Harrison was in Team Rocket.
It didn't fit. It didn't fit at all. There had to some— "Sabrina!" Ash nearly yelled out, catching both Sabrina and himself by surprise at his overly loud tone. "I mean, are you absolutely sure that it was Harrison? He's my friend and he'd never join the filth that is Team Rocket."
"So, you say." Sabrina replied offhandedly, exchanging a meaningful glance with him, as she lifted her hand, and the screen shot off towards Ash, levitating in front of his eyes. And there it was, perfectly captured in the frame—Harrison, just as he remembered, only this time, dressed in Team Rocket grunt outfit, and leading several other grunts in front of the Pokémon center. For a moment, all sorts of theories ran across his mind, ones that told him that this was all a giant mistake, reminding him of how Harrison had been nothing but an honest person and trainer—as well as ones that began to seed doubts in his mind, searching for clues that would have proved all of the brown-haired trainer's behaviour as nothing but a carefully prepared façade. Ash wasn't sure which was right, and which wasn't.
"You still think it is a mistake?"
Ash opened his mouth, but then decided against it. Finally, he let out a sigh of resignation. "If you allow me, I can face him. I faced him back at the Anne. I know how he fights."
Sabrina was almost about to chastise him about how an Ace needn't not bother with Harrison's manner of battling-who was, an Intermediate-rank trainer at best. However, she didn't proceed with her words, and instead- "In that case, I want you to go with her," she pointed out to the woman standing at the entrance— "and check if the Police stationed at the Pokémon center need any aid. You have full permission to escape should the situation turn out to be over-strenuous for you. The League will not hold it against you."
"I won't." Ash answered stubbornly. "My pokémon need treatment. Helping to secure the Center only helps me. Trust me, I and my team can help."
Sabrina appeared to hesitate for a moment, before coming forth to a decision. "Get what you need. You might not have time for it later."
Said trainer had already taken the opportunity to pick out some more pokeballs out, replacing the three from his belt to the bag on his back. "I'm ready."
Sabrina nodded quietly, before raising her palm, facing Ash. The usual feeling of psychic-induced teleportation grabbed him, as the trainer from Pallet was whisked away to his destination.
Before the feeling of being displaced from one point to another at speeds twice the speed of sound could have registered, the transportation was over, leaving a slightly shaken Ash a few yards away inside the lane next to the Pokémon center. Before he could get over the sudden feeling of nausea, there was a sudden flash of intermittent, bright light, leaving behind one of the female police officials he had met at the gym.
"Ash Ketchum," He introduced, extending his hand towards the woman, who seemed to look at him like he was merely adding to her existing baggage of problems.
"Emily." The woman, a brunette with long, flowing hair and accentuated feminine features, replied with a slight head jerk, before looking away towards the building at the end of the lane. "You sure you are up to this, kid?"
Shoving his inner indignation aside, Ash nodded, making no attempt to hide the scowl on his face. "I am."
"I'll be the judge of that." The woman went ahead to mutter something incomprehensible under her breath, before giving him a side-glance. "The Gym Leader sent you, so I'll take it that you can handle your way through the grunts at least."
"Where is Sabrina? Wouldn't she fight off Team Rocket?"
Emily's lips frowned at the remark. "The Gym Leader has more responsibilities than to face off every single skirmish by herself, boy." A somewhat haughty expression floated on her face. "Team Rocket has attacked on the Center, and the Commercial Estate,"—Ash paled at that— "and we think that these two might be mere distractions for a third attack, at a much more important location."
"The Silph Co. Labs." Ash mumbled, realizing what she was hinting at. It was no secret that Saffron City housed the prestigious Labs of Silph Co., along with the main administrative offices of the company. An attack on the labs would be crippling for Kanto as a whole. "So, Sabrina is at the-"
"Sabrina is off where she thinks is best." The police official gave off a professional response, pointing at the direction of the Pokémon center. "There should be a team already defending against those idiots, so I will cover for you. Your job will be to get into the Center and see if you can take out the ones that might have gotten past the security. Is that clear?"
"Why can't I just fight alongside—DUCK!" Ash yelled, leaving the rest of his words unsaid, as he leapt on the woman, pushing her to the left, as a shaft of liquid light came gunning down at her—probably a stray attack that had missed the target or gotten deflected off its trajectory. That was immediately followed with a deafening explosion. Both he and Emily hit the dusty ground, as the attack—a concentrated hyper beam that had been deflected away, missed them by several inches, before hitting the neighbouring wall, creating a miniature crater on the surface, throwing up an array of dust and concrete fragments.
"Are—are you okay?" Ash yelled, slightly disoriented with the loud sound that had shocked his eardrums. Tiny pieces of concrete hit his back, and if not for the jacket, would have maimed him significantly.
"Stop yelling!" Emily snapped, her eardrums paining, and with some effort, she managed to push her hands off, out to the ground, pulling herself to the side, while Ash pushed himself off. "I—you-" Still slightly disoriented, she reached for a pokeball.
"That was—" She began to speak, "well-timed. I cannot believe I missed something like—WAIT, where the hell do you think you're going?"
Ash had already sprinted off towards the end of the lane, turning towards the source. The last thing that Emily managed to spot was a single pokeball that the trainer held in his hand as he ran past.
"…shit!"
When he had left the building earlier in the morning, the Saffron city Pokémon Center had been a large complex, sprawling out over three hundred yards, with the Greenhouse and a miniature corral at the back, occupying another four hundred yards. With Saffron city being one of the three main centers of commerce, the pokémon center was perhaps one of the largest in entire Kanto, second only to the one in Celadon. The entire place was home to the latest medical technology with enough provisions to run without a hitch for over a week without severe issues. Now though, the entire thing looked like a war-scarred area, with several of the outer pillars completely shattered, with the north-western compound completely decimated and fallen to the ground. Even from the distance, Ash could see around a dozen grunts—all of them wearing Team Rocket regalia, with only the leader—Harrison, with his head gear removed, for everyone to see. Fighting against their pokémon were a squad of Saffron Police Department, though Officer Jenny was nowhere to be seen. He pushed off the bitter feeling of betrayal, his fingers reaching for the balls in his belt. From his vantage point, Ash could count a maximum of five officials, somehow managing a defense against the onslaught. Almost in cue, Harrison's Blastoise—which somehow looked stronger and more malevolent to Ash—let out an earth-splitting roar, before blasting at the defending squad with two powerful jets of water.
And the reality of the situation just… sunk in. He saw Harrison—his face without a mask on, for everyone to see.
And something in him… broke.
All this time, he had had doubts in his head about Harrison's shift of mentality and allegiance to something as sinister as Team Rocket, about something extremely fishy in the entire thing, alongside worry regarding the attack. He had had enough of Team Rocket from his very first experience at Mount Moon. The battle of St. Anne, and the massacre at the Forest had only scarred him with nothing but immense hatred towards these… these terrorists, who didn't care who or what suffered as long as their own desires were fulfilled. But seeing Harrison openly attack others like that—it triggered something vicious inside his mind. The righteous anger had flickered and died, and instead replaced by a cold blizzard.
For a moment, he felt an alien presence inside his mind, expressing amusement at his thoughts- only managing to propel his cold rage with every growing second. His fingers twitched, as he prepared his stance. If Team Rocket wanted a battle so hard, a battle is what they would get.
He threw off three balls off his fingers into the ground, as his team materialized in front of him, all of them staring at the ongoing destruction with boundless fury.
The plan had been simple, and yet, highly effective. Attack on the nerves of the city, and everything would go into turmoil. Besides, the legendary psychic that had devastated the Anne was there, in case something went wrong. The creature—they did not know its name—had proved to each and every single grunt that it was infallible, and omnipotent, or at least the closest thing to that description. Not even the Champions together had stood a chance against its fearsome wrath, and the Boss had revealed that the Creature had merely been playing with them.
The attack on the Center and the Pokemart went perfectly, creating mass panic and diverting the police squad to the two zones. It would leave a perfect spot to attack the Labs, a job that would be carried out by Executive Cassidy and Arianna. Just one of them was strong enough to send even the Ace trainers running with their tails between their legs, but with the two of them together—it was overkill, and the Grunts knew it. As for this one, the objective was simple. Keep the attack on, and by extension, a distraction. Should they get their hands on anything substantial—they would be playing for keeps.
"The compound is unguarded." One of the grunts—Michael, a lad of seventeen, spoke up. "We should get in and capture the pokémon inside. Petrel would be happy with-"
"Hey Assholes!"
"…" Michael looked up, his face contorted with fury at the crass words, only to scream out in fear, as humongous wings—each of them spanning at least ten feet—slammed into him, or rather one of the wings did—lifting him bodily and slamming him into the ground, several yards away. A monster of a Pidgeot-her wings creating massive gusts of wind, forcing most of the pokémon off their feet, screeched with indignation, as the person sitting on her back spoke again.
"Flamethrower."
"…" For a moment, Michael seemed slightly confused at how a Pidgeot—if that thing could be called a Pidgeot, use Flamethrower, when another infernal roar shook the heavens, as a bluish dragon of the size of a Charizard with red wings soared above them, before drenching the frontal assault team, composed of Weezing, Arbok and Magnemite—with scorching flames.
The police officials looked up at the sudden intruder with looks varying from shock to confusion to outright elation, their pokémon using the moment to retreat and take a better stance. The two pairs of Growlithe that had been maimed while taking Blastoise's attack head-on, whimpered as they limped back to their trainers, who were busy pulling out rejuvenation sprays to treat the more immediate injuries.
"Blastoise, use hyper beam!" Harrison replied coldly, not even registering Ash's presence as he aimed at the Salamence in the air.
"Long time no see, Harrison." Ash raised his voice, his tone judgemental, attracting the brown-haired trainer's attention, as the hyper beam missed Salamence by several feet. "But first, someone else wants to say hello!"
The tidal wave from the collision came first, the sound a little later, as Blastoise was bodily thrown back, the gigantic turtle crashing into the street, throwing up rocks and concrete as it did. The smoke died a little later, and finally, everyone registered the steel behemoth on the ground, his two iron appendages raised upwards and glowing with a lethal glow. Up in the air, Salamence let out a furious roar, as he showered the frontlines with another burst of dragon breath.
Seeing their major battler smashed down into the ground, their frontline attackers pushed back, helpless against the might of the flying dragon, the grunts pushed back, standing a little further from Harrison—their pokémon still maintaining a defensive stance from the sudden attacker that had all but destroyed the operation.
"Ash." Harrison acknowledged. "It seems like the months have been good to you. You weren't this focussed in battle back then."
Ash didn't reply. Instead, he simply stared at his friend, or someone he had believed to be his friend—as Salamence and Metagross took up position on either side of the giant Pidgeot. A demonstration of pure power, and an open challenge.
"Do you think that you would win simply because of an evolved team?" Harrison asked evenly. "I have pokémon that can match yours and win, Ketchum."
All right. We definitely are not friends any more. Ash concluded. "Salamence, attack Harrison."
Before Harrison could even retort back, he had jump back in shock, his pokeballs falling off from his fingers, as they rolled down to the ground, barely manging to escape the hot, scorching flame that the dragon sent his way. The rolling pokeballs were caught up by a psychic force—possibly Metagross—and levitated to Ash's hands, who caught them, placing them inside his pocket.
"Not fighting fair anymore?" Harrison sneered, though the frustration in his voice was pretty evident.
"I don't think we are in any position for a fair battle anymore." Ash muttered, more to himself than to him. He released the other pokémon in his belt, as Poliwrath, Alakazam and Gyarados materialized around him. None of them required any telling about the hostile nature of the situation they were in.
Do you intentionally get into such situations, midget? Alakazam communicated, though no less ready to attack at a second's thought.
I try. His trainer replied dryly, before addressing the audience in front of him. "From what I see, your team could not manage to break past the defenses of the police, despite you having a 3 to 1 advantage. Now though…"
No one moved.
Ash sighed. "I suppose I didn't make it clear. This is a threat. Yield immediately, or else your little hunting party will become the prey."
Silence pervaded for ten, long seconds, before a yell from the other side of the street attracted Ash's attention. A large truck had been bodily raised up by Harrison's Blastoise, and thrown in Ash's general direction.
"…what?"
"Met-taaaa!" Metagross roared, slamming the full force of a Flash Cannon straight into the incoming vehicle, destroying it mid-flight, the water evaporating rapidly, and covering the entire street with mist. Ash thought he heard a cracking sound, but before Pidgeot could shove the mist off, Harrison and his team had vanished.
They must have had a psychic ready for a quick retreat. Metagross communicated, reminding Ash of the way the Team Rocket Executive had escaped with an Abra at the last moment.
I guess so. His trainer surmised, nodding at the steel behemoth for a job well done.
"Impressive." Ash recognized the voice as Emily, who had arrived behind him. "Didn't think you had it in you, Ketchum."
"Well, the situation demanded something a little dramatic." Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Good job, guys. Team Rocket's gonna be pissed."
"Yes." Emily agreed with a bright, beaming smile, before her expressions inverted. "At you. You stopped them from getting what they wanted. Do you think this will have no repercussions?"
Ash scowled. "Listen Madam, all I did was to help you guys protect the-"
"I'm pretty sure that the 'help you guys' was replaced with 'take them head on by myself' somewhere in the middle. You are not a cop, Ketchum. Don't try to pretend that you are one." Emily raged. "If anything would have happened to you, the gym leader would have my hide, for your stupid little- what? Is there something you want to say?" She changed course, registering the angry glare Ash was sending at her.
"No. I'm perfectly fine with just thinking it." Ash muttered coldly, before returning his team back to the pokeballs. With one jab at his pocket, he threw off the three balls he had snatched from Harrison. "These are pokémon enslaved by those terrorists. Try not to get them killed on your watch."
"Why you little-" Emily began, but before she could finish, the black-haired trainer on the Pidgeot had swooped off into the sky.
Damn!
The Pokemart lay in ruins. Even from his vantage point from above, the entire area seemed more akin to a warzone than what had been a busy centre of commerce for the Kanto mainland a few hours ago. The glass panes along the southern wall of the Pokemart had shattered from what seemed to be a detonation from the inside, with tiles and glass littered on the ground. The stalls were on fire, the entrances destroyed, and the medic teams were in a hurry, transporting whoever survived the catastrophic disaster. Half the Pokemart had fallen in from the middle, and by the look of things, it would take a long time before things would turn to normal.
It was like being on St. Anne all over again.
Pidgeot flapped her wings, blowing glass and dust all around, before she landed on the ground, allowing Ash to jump off her back, before letting out a screech and taking off to the air once again. Pidgeot, Ash was discovering, didn't really like to stay on the ground—and if possible, would even prefer to sleep in the air, had that been an option.
However, currently he had eyes for a single individual a few yards in front of him.
Sabrina.
The Psychic-Master and Elite Four member seemed to stand and stare at the devastation all around her. Ash didn't blame her.
"… Sabrina?"
"Ash Ketchum." The psychic master answered, her tone devoid of emotion. She did not even look back at him. "I can hardly recognize this place. Can you?"
Ash didn't know how to answer that.
"I could be rhetorical and ask if a worse thing was possible. But we both know that you have seen worse."
Yeah, she was talking about the Anne all right. Her tone was quite ominous in its own way. Ash didn't know what to think of it, but it sure wasn't to his liking. "Yes…" he mustered a reply.
"Tell me Ash Ketchum, have you perchance, heard of a psychic by the name of Olympia Flores?"
"I can't say I have." Ash muttered, taking a step closer.
"Olympia Flores is a Gym Leader in Anistar City of the Kalos region. There are those in our world that call her a genius. I am one of them. I also consider her a Charlatan, though the two aren't that far apart when it comes to psychic manipulation."
"…"
"My powers are more along the manipulation of force, and calculation. Olympia's… are more in the esoteric fields—in fact, there is an entire cult that follows her as the High Priestess of some age-old pagan deity. Either way, because the powers of the Creature, or as I am told, Mewtwo, seems to be restricting my powers more than I can be comfortable with, I had to turn to Olympia, to look past the confluences of the timestream and look into the future, so that we might be able to discern something about the person running Team Rocket from the shadows. I must admit, even my own psychic powers haven't been able to get any information out of the captured Executive Arianna Ortega."
"You captured an Executive?" Ash blurted out, unable to help himself. "That should give you a lead, right?
"Her battling skills are just as her mind." Sabrina replied nonchalantly. "Empty."
"…"
"Today morning, Olympia sent me a missive. She said that the Leader of Team Rocket is shrouded in darkness no psychic can penetrate." Sabrina paused. "She also sent a second message, for you."
Ash felt his throat constrict. "For… me?"
Sabrina turned around. "She said, and I quote… when the seal breaks, your destiny will be shrouded in darkness no psychic can penetrate, end quote. I suggest you think about it deeply, Ash Ketchum."
Ash swallowed. "I… I don't understand what that means."
Sabrina sighed. "I am afraid I don't either. Should I have had come to a conclusion, things would be different." She cast a sad glance at the debris all around her. "I am afraid that our battle cannot be concluded, not with the scheme of things around."
"I understand-" Ash began. It seemed he would have to try his luck some other time. Chances were, with the attack, Sabrina would possibly be busy for over a month.
"—that said, I have determined your calibre from the first three fights. Which is why, I think you should have this." She raised her palm out, as a glittering, heart-shaped, pink badge appeared in her palm. "The Marsh Badge. As gym leader, I recognize you as the recipient of this badge."
"But—but I didn't even win. It was a draw." Ash gushed. "At best, it was just a-"
"Be as it was, you insufferable boy," Sabrina seemed slightly put out by his reaction. "I am not presenting it out of pity, but in acknowledgement. I recommend you not question my decision."
Ash wasn't a genius by any lengths, but he did know when the situation demanded that he shut up and suck it up, whatever the situation yielded out to him. He gratefully accepted the badge, nodding his head towards the psychic master. "Thank you."
"Route 8 seems like a preferable option for you. It even has a Pokémon center." With that, Sabrina teleported away, leaving a gobsmacked Ash Ketchum behind.
Well, it seems like that woman threw you out of her city.
"For the life of me, I cannot argue against your logic." Ash muttered, a scowl marring his face. He had been walking alongside Aoi along Route 8, one that led travellers from Saffron city to Celadon, crisscrossing several stops in the middle. He had had enough flying for the day, and wanted to cover the path walking—or at least, that was the official excuse. The truth was perhaps something along the lines of—he was puzzled at Sabrina's words and wanted to talk about it to someone, preferably one who had her own share of esoteric and incomprehensible experiences.
Like the golden Ninetales that accompanied him everywhere for example.
"At least I have a badge to make the entire thing count." Her trainer replied morosely. "The police officer yelled at me for forcing Team Rocket back. I helped the gym leader and she literally threw me off her city. It's almost like I'm being punished for doing good deeds."
Are you sure that the badge wasn't just her way of feeling better for throwing you out?
Ash looked utterly horrified by her discernment. "But she just-" His words died in his throat at Aoi's howls.
"Good to know that you still believe that you have a sense of humour."
The vulpine's chortles stopped in an instant.
"Either way," Ash felt the mood fall again. "I certainly did not expect Harrison to turn out like… like…"
A traitor? Aoi supplied helpfully.
"Yes, that." Ash went on. "I first thought that there must have been a mistake of some sort, that he might be under some psychic compulsion or something, or something sinister might have happened to him. But he was… it was real. I was wrong."
And how did you arrive at that conclusion?
Ash pulled out his Xtransceiver. "This is connected to the Hoenn Regional Database. Unlike what I thought, this doesn't limit to knowledge of pokémon alone. With my access as a League-associate, I can access some public records of people belonging to the Ever-Grande League."
Aoi nodded her head.
Ash went on. "Harrison Miller. Brother of Pierce Miller. Suspected Members of Team Aqua. Apparently, they are obsessed with something involving legendary pokémon over there. Harrison was arrested by the local police and subjected to community service under Professor Birch's command. He was released from service two years later, and came to Kanto for a fresh start, with Professor Birch's sponsorship. Seems like the professor thought Harrison changed his old ways."
Aoi didn't comment.
"Harrison's elder brother Pierce, seems to have a face match-up with Executive Pierce, another of Team Rocket's known Executives. Pierce was the one that attacked Lance and his team to keep him from coming to aid us at the Anne."
And you think that your friend was maintaining a cover?
"I don't know what to think. I just don't. Right now, I'm just confused why Steven or Professor Oak hadn't informed me about this when Harrison had been reported missing. It's not as if they didn't have access to the Database or anything."
Human behaviour is often needlessly complicated and prone to emotional shifts, or so I am told.
"You sound like Metagross."
I'm nothing like the little steel head.
"Little?"
Aoi didn't dignify his question with a reply.
Ash sighed. It was a good thing he had sent Sylvi, Magnus and Crawdaunt to the Ranch through the Xtransceiver. Having to wait another day at some center wasn't something he was looking forward to. Besides, it allowed him to have some of his team altered to make room for the other members back at the ranch. He was certainly looking forward to seeing a few of them.
Where are we heading to? Aoi asked enthusiastically, her bright golden tails lifted up in the air, practically exuding royalty as she walked. Being out like this feels different than being in the wild.
"Pokémon Tech Academy," Her trainer answered. "Misty studies there, and she asked me to visit it when I crossed this area."
And just like that, Aoi felt her enthusiasm extinguish.
"You know… I've been thinking. About that form you took back there on the island. Was that some kind of psychic confusion attack or something?"
Aoi stiffened at that, but continued walking.
"I mean, not even Absol was immune to the effects. We all thought that you were… you know-"
Why do you bring this up?
Ash frowned. "I'm sorry if I brought up bad memories. You must-"
It's not that. I'm simply curious why you would consider remembering my past actions towards you back at the island. Are you still… skeptical of my allegiance?
"What?" Ash looked affronted. "Why would you think that? No, it's not like that. I just… wondered what it was like. I mean, even in the forest, you exuded that darkness everywhere, to stop Shel-Salamence and Magnus from fighting. So, I was wondering what about the nature of your own powers."
Aoi sighed. Her trainer was too inquisitive for his own good. Really, why did he have to be all that insightful at times and oblivious every time else?
"Crimson Red Vermillion." Ash continued. "The only things I know is that it is highly dangerous, and pretty much as rare as Legendaries themselves. Not even Agatha could tell me much about it. So, I was wondering if you would… you know,"
Aoi stopped in her tracks.
"—and it would be really—wait, what's wrong?" Ash questioned, turning back to glance at his companion who had abruptly paused midway.
Only there was no Ninetales. Instead, there was the same woman—Aoi, he had encountered back on the island. The curled, black-hair tied down to a ponytail to the back, the heart-shaped face and slightly crimson eyes, the serene expression on her face, her green kimono outfit—it was just like what he remembered. And just like that, the answer came to his lips, as if he had known it all along.
"An illusion."
"It is a deviation from the powers of the all-knowing ones. Some even refer to it as magical, instead of psychic." Aoi spoke, though now that Ash could observe it, he could see her lips actually moving, but her voice was being manifested externally.
He couldn't help it. He moved ahead, and held her hand. The soft skin felt just as real as real can be. He could even feel the slightly raised body temperature—had he not known better, he would have thought this woman had a fever or something.
"This is… amazing." Ash admired, making her blush slightly. "Are you sure this is just an illusion?"
"What did you expect? That your hand would pass through mine like it was air? The solid real it feels, the better the illusion. Are you done feeling my skin or would you like some more?"
"I…" Ash literally jumped back, embarrassed at her teasing. "I—I'm done."
"If you say so." Aoi tilted her head to the left. "I must admit the prospect of maintaining this form for long is not something I've ever tried. Perhaps I should try to expand my limits."
"You mean, you can stay like this? Instead of, you know, your normal form?" Ash asked, curious.
"I cannot say I have done this before. It should be interesting to try." Aoi replied.
"…whoa!" Ash muttered under his breath.
Aoi blushed. "I'm flattered you like it." Without further ado, she walked up to him, and put her hand through his elbow, much to his embarrassment. "Let's go."
It was merely a trick of the afternoon light that made it seem like Ash was blushing. There was nothing more to it.
The Pokémon Tech Academy was a symbol of the slow but certain privatization of the way things ran in the world. It could very well be considered a form of government that ran parallel with the existing administration of the Leagues, and yet, enjoyed a peaceful coalition with them. Unlike most trainers out there surviving out in the wild, catching wild pokémon and training them to become better, stronger and efficient battlers and then participating in the League Conferences, the Academy students were allowed a more sophisticated alternative.
There was no need to go out in the wild to catch pokémon. Hundreds of pokémon, local and exotic, were made available thanks to the Academy's partnering with the Reserves in Kanto and adjoining nations. The Academy had its own share of pokémon breeders who ensured that the brought-in pokémon stayed healthy. The students could catch these pokémon in a controlled, safe environment, that was often made to mimic the wild through psychic manipulation of the senses. It made it safer for the aspiring trainers, and more comfortable for parents who did not prefer their children risking their lives out in the wild.
However, that did not, in any way, mean that these students were slobs. The Academy ensured a rigorous training regimen, both in theory and practice, from simulations to actual battle-practice, ensuring that the students were able to harness the complete strengths and abilities of their pokémon, and become better trainers. Often, the Academy would visit a Type-Master as a visiting professor to test their skills. After a training period that ranged from one to three years depending upon the student's strength and diligence, the Academy would pronounce him or her ready for their final entrance exams, and once said student passed out with flying colours, they were given an Intermediate Trainer ID, stating that they had acquired all Eight Badges as required by the Indigo Conference, and pronounced ready to participate in the Conference.
The direct entry of the Academy students into the Conference had initially attracted a lot of remonstration from the masses, before the Indigo League issued a circular, stating that it had found the training system employed by the Academy to be decent enough to cover the experience of the average trainer with eight badges under their belt. There were a lot of protests about how it was simply a way the League was bending down to appease the Elite and the wealthy sections of the society. However, with Lance's direct proclamation, the protests soon died down.
This was the school that Misty went to. Of course, Ash didn't know very much about her course of study, only that she hadn't taken the standard programme and instead focussed on the breeding and training of water-types, and become a Water-Master. It was rather unorthodox, but not unprecedented. Usually, the old clans, obsessed with mastery over a single type chose this option. Of course, most of the above usually preferred private study in their own mansions. Perhaps, Misty and her sisters would have chosen the same, if not for her parents' unfortunate demise years ago.
Ash and Aoi stepped up at the grand entrance of the academic institution, the former feeling slightly odd and, if he were honest with himself, slightly inadequate at the majestic edifices all around him. For someone from a reasonably modest family with an average lifestyle, Ash felt slightly out of place.
Aoi seemed to have sensed him stiffen up a bit, causing her to send him a meaningful look, only for him to shake his head in answer. Without further ado, the two walked past the entrance gates, encountering the security team at the outer gates. On showing the card Misty had given him back in Cremini Town, one of the security personnel directed him towards one of the larger buildings in the entire complex, asking him to submit for identification at the next security station.
It was all he had expected, and so much more. The institution had dozens of acres of land, just for pokémon training, specialized gym equipment, breeders and private teachers who taught the students everything they would need to learn without being in the wild. It was in itself, an artificial niche created for Trainers.
Anything wrong? Aoi communicated mentally, squeezing Ash's right arm a little as she did. Ash just shook his head in denial before walking ahead. The two of them had walked the better part of two miles before arriving at a Pokémon Center, where he had spent the night with his team. Come next morning, he had renewed his journey, and finally he was here, on his first stop on the way to Celadon city. Aoi had seemingly stuck to reforming her illusion of her young woman illusion, only this time fashioning herself in a modern-day attire, with a purple top and a white mini skirt, with black lycra shorts, and sneakers. Apparently, she could transform into anything and stay inconspicuous as long as people weren't particularly paying attention to her.
"Nah, just thinking." Ash murmured, as the pair walked through the lanes, with grassy lawns on either side. A little further to the south, they could see a group of students yelling enthusiastically—a pokémon battle, Ash guessed. A second later, his suspicion was proved correct as an Ivysaur fell out amidst the converging audience, with a black-haired boy breaking out of the mob, to get his pokémon back.
"I want to watch how other people of your age battle." Aoi spoke. It wasn't so much as a demand as it was a request borne from knowledge that her trainer would not deny her over something so common.
Ash raised an eyebrow. "I thought you disliked battling."
"One's interests and proclivities are two completely different things." Aoi replied flippantly, only for her trainer to roll his eyes.
"Fine. Let's see how trainers my age battle."
Aoi beamed, squeezing his arm, as she pulled him ahead with her.
He was right. This was a battle amongst the students. The winner, Ash mused, was the green-haired boy standing on the other end, with his standoff-ish and slightly arrogant pose, his hands on his hips and a condescending expression on his face. The boy reminded him so very much of Gary that Ash couldn't help but feel slightly irritated by his presence.
"Fancy a second round, Joe? I assure you, I'll go easy on you this time." As if to make sure that his point reached the other boy, the green-haired boy's pokémon—a rather intimidating Scyther, snorted at the fallen Ivysaur.
The black-haired boy, whom Ash assumed to be Joe, shook his head. "It won't change anything. I'll just lose to your pokémon because of type disadvantage."
"You know," Ash spoke before he realized it himself. "Type advantage can only take you so far. There are ways to counter it just as easily."
It seemed that his sudden comment was what made the boy—Joe, notice him. Pushing himself off the ground, the black-haired boy gave a withering glare at the stranger. "Really? You think that you can back up your words against this guy?" He sharply pointed towards the green-haired one, who seemed to be preening at his hard-earned praise.
"Really? You think that you can win against Drew?" Another rather short, black-haired, bespectacled boy who stood right next to the green-haired one—Drew, Ash guessed—seemed to look through him that at him. "Drew has the highest score in all of the simulations, and he is the one who's successfully won through each of Sabrina's and Surge's simulations without a single loss."
Ash's facial features contorted, as his lips almost twisted upward, failing to keep from smirking.
"-and his pokémon are all at 90+ levels, with a perfect team taking into account all possible type advantages. By my calculation, he is currently at Semi-finalist level for the Indigo League Conference."
A slight throaty sound was the only indication that Ash had tried and failed to hold back the chuckle.
"—and by the end of the year, he would be able to beat the Elite Four's pokémon, based on the simulation data I gathered from his performances."
Ash couldn't stop himself any further. He guffawed, his palms hitting his thighs as he nearly fell down in laughter, much to the other boy's confusion.
"What? Is there something funny?" The bespectacled boy questioned. Drew simply looked half-amused, half-bored at Ash's shenanigans.
"Sorry, sorry!" Ash held up his hands in surrender. "I couldn't stop myself when you started comparing him to the Elite Four."
"—I'm not comparing!" The bespectacled boy retorted in aggravation. "It is based on my calculation of the simulations."
"Listen uh—what's your name again?"
"Max." Said bespectacled boy replied, his glasses shining with a hint of condescension in his voice.
"Right, Max. You cannot just blurt things out like that based on simulations. A real battle out there with the Elite is a completely different thing that the simulations you might face here." He wasn't joking. He knew for a fact that Cynthia, or any of the Elites he had encountered could easily defeat him without batting an eye, should they stop holding back. He wasn't even powerful enough to face Paul and try for a chance at victory, and Paul was not even a League winner. He'd know.
"Big words." Max claimed. "Care to prove it against him in a—" Max used air-quotes to emphasize his next words, "—real battle?"
Drew raised an eyebrow gracefully, as if waiting for him to deny and walk away with an excuse.
"Uh… sure. Why not!" came the nonchalant reply.
It might just have been his own tiredness playing tricks, but Joe felt a strange premonition that by asking this stranger to battle with Drew, he had set forth something terrible at Pokémon Tech Academy. Perhaps that was why, despite his wish to see the outcome of the battle between the two, Joe acted on his sudden urge to flee and bring the issue to someone with more voice at the Academy than his green-haired classmate.
"Scyther is unable to battle." A shell-shocked Max muttered out, amongst an equally stupefied audience.
Ash folded his arms on his chest, staring at the green-haired trainer in front of him, who seemed to having a certain level of trouble digesting the fact that his no-doubt intimidating specimen of a Scyther had folded like a pack of cards against his Poliwrath.
It had taken twenty seconds. Twenty fucking seconds.
"But—how?" Max bawled. "Scyther held a type advantage, and used all the correct moves to the absolute precision. There is no way a fighting-type should-"
Ash raised an eyebrow at the over-enthusiastic and more than a little annoying brat.
"That," Drew spoke, addressing Ash for the first time, "was a wonderful battle." The green-haired trainer swept his fingers over his hairs, before extending it out towards Ash, who took it. "I must say, you have a rather well-trained Poliwrath, to make it put a stand against my Scyther, even if it was already tired from its former battle."
Ash almost frowned. All right, so that what it was going to be like.
"but still," Drew went on, "I know potential when I see one. In a year, I can make that Poliwrath better than what it presently is, maybe even good enough to use it for the Indigo Conference. Say what, how you would feel about selling your Poliwrath?"
Ash opened his mouth to stop a certain someone before something else happened. Unfortunately, Drew hadn't noticed the sudden terror in Ash's expressions and nonchalantly went on. "I cannot afford to waste so much time on capturing a Poliwag and evolve it all the way. Besides, Politoed are better in the coordinator business. Say-"
Ash raised his hands to stop the inevitable. "I don't think that would be-"
Too late.
"—how does two thousand pokedollars sound to-bluhbluhbluh-"
And Drew was bodily raised off the ground and shot all the way to the wall, several yards away. A classic example of usage of the traditional water gun attack, only one empowered with someone of Poliwrath's level of power and finesse.
"—a good idea." Ash finished lamely, as he turned to give a blank stare at the tadpole pokémon.
"Poli!" Said pokémon gave him a blank stare, as if to say— "Duh!"
Aoi patted his back, as if in consolation.
"That, I must admit," an amused voice called out from his back, "was the most hilarious thing I've seen this month."
Ash turned around, only to lock eyes with an extremely gorgeous girl, with jet-black hair falling down to her waist, bright blue eyes and a pleased expression on her face, one that made him think that he had just won her a lottery.
"Um… do you think Drew is all right?" Joe asked from behind the girl with a voice full of concern and disbelief.
"Hi!" The girl extended her right hand, not at Ash, but at his somewhat confused Poliwrath, holding onto the tadpole's left fist, shaking it warmly. She gave Ash a conspiratorial wink, before turning to said tadpole. "I'm the School President of Pokémon Tech, and from today, your biggest fan-just for doing that to the nuisance." She turned to Ash. "You can call me Giselle."
And Poliwrath preened. Rather exuberantly.