Chapter 28:XVI. Back from the dead: Sacrifice
„This is your home? A cave?" asked Cynthia, surprised after the teleportation.
The first thought she had was why were they inside a cave. But as she took in the surroundings, she knew this was no ordinary cave. The grass on the floor for starters wasn't something you would find in caves. Then the torches all around the cave. Some kind of pond in the corner, hidden behind several bushes with some berries growing on them. There was a big campfire, of which they were standing by. Speaking of the campfire, there was a bag right next to it. A green backpack that was in really bad shape. The backpack's color was a bland green, there were several holes, and the backpack was all in all pretty worn out. It all pointed to the fact that the Aura Guardian lives here, with a bunch of Pokemon. Speaking of these Pokemon, all of them started running towards them as soon as they appeared.
„We like to call it 'The Haven', lady Shirona. But... Yeah. You could say it's just a cave." said the Aura Guardian. He was still sitting in his meditative position on the grassy floor of the cave. „He still can't get up." thought Cynthia.
Before Cynthia could say anything else, they were surrounded by a lot of Pokemon. She immediately reached for her pokeball and was ready to call out Garchomp for defense if the fight would emerge, but someone caught her hand before she could do so. She looked over her right shoulder and saw the Pokemon to who the Aura Guardian referred to as 'Mewtwo' caught her hand and he slightly shook his head.
„How have you guys been?" asked the Aura Guardian to the Pokemon who stood before them. One Pokemon made her way through the crowd of Pokemon and knelt beside the Aura Guardian. And a Gardevoir took the arm with the missing hand in her hands and looked at the missing hand with a sad expression. In fact, all of the Pokemon were staring at the missing hand with worried, sad, and surprised faces.
„Hope you guys had a better time than me." said the Aura Guardian sadly as he looked at Gardevoir and his missing hand.
Around this time, Mewtwo finally let go of her hand. Cynthia looked at all the Pokemon before her. There was truly a lot of them. And all of them looked strong and well trained. „Are they all his?" thought Cynthia.
Then another Pokemon emerged from the crowd of Pokemon and this time it was a Pikachu. Immediately Aura Guardian lighten up and he smiled when the Pikachu run towards him and jumped on the Guardians shoulder and nuzzled the Guardians cheeks to which the Aura Guardian chuckled and the Pikachu released a cute 'chaaaaa'.
„Did they listened to you when I took an unreported vacation, Pikachu?" asked the Aura Guardian while petting the yellow mouse in a joking manner.
„Pi, pi pikachu chu pika pika." said Pikachu cheerfully.
„Yeah. It's even hard for me to keep them in line. I'm not surprised there were troubles with those two." said the Aura Guardian.
Cynthia who was watching the whole exchange had a sense of Deja vú. The sight of a man with a Pikachu on shoulder brings back a handful of memories from the past regarding a certain boy from Pallet Town. An image of a raven-haired boy with brown eyes and a signature hat on his head appeared in front of her.
„Lady Shirona?" asked the Aura Guardian and he snapped Cynthia out of her thoughts.
„Yes?" she replied.
„I would like to introduce you to my Pokemon. Guys, this is lady Shirona. She will stay here until its safe for her to return to the outside world." said the Aura Guardian.
All the other Pokemon looked at her with watchful eyes, all of them carefully examining her which in turn, made her a little nervous so she decided to break the silence.
„Pleasure to meet you." she said, trying to sound as lovely as she could. But it had no effect and instead, the Pokemon greeted her with eyes that clearly stated she is not welcomed here.
„Guys, be nice. She saved me and took care of me when I needed it. She even risked her life for me, so until Team Rocket is gone, she will stay here and I would appreciate it if you would treat our guest nicely." said the Aura Guardian to his Pokemon.
This, thankfully worked and even when they were still looking at her, however, their looks were of gratitude, and not those of dislike and suspicion like before. But then their eyes drifted towards the dozen of Team Rocket members that were teleported with them too. And right then and there, Cynthia heard some growls and saw the looks of unbridled rage in those Pokemon.
„When will they wake up, Mewtwo?" asked the Aura Guardian, who was now looking at the dozen Team Rocket grunts that were teleported here with them.
„In an hour or two." said Mewtwo in an emotionless voice.
„Guys. Find some ropes and tie them up." said the Aura Guardian.
„INFERNAPE NAPE INFERNAPE IN INFERNAPE!" was heard from the crowd. An Infernape yelled out something, of which Cynthia didn't understand as the other Pokemon went for some ropes.
„Don't worry Infernape. You will have a round with them as I will be recovering. But I need to know what they know before I give them to you, so you will have to keep your fists to yourself just a little longer." said the Aura Guardian.
„You're going to let your Infernape beat them up?" asked a surprised Cynthia.
„It's entirely up to Infernape what will happen to them." said the Aura Guardian.
„Don't you think that's a little barbaric?" asked Cynthia.
„And trying to shoot an innocent woman and an injured person isn't, lady Shirona?" said the Aura Guardian.
„It is... but still. I thought that you would try to find a more reasonable solution." said Cynthia.
„A reasonable solution would be to kill them all. Scum like these don't deserve to live." said the Aura Guardian.
„What?! That's too much! Even for people like them!" exclaimed a shocked Cynthia.
„Don't be mistaken, lady Shirona. These creatures are not people. They do things you can't even imagine. Things that a sane mind could never come up with. They are monsters, lady Shirona. True monsters. And unlike those under children's beds. These are real" said the Aura Guardian.
„Try me then. Try to describe to me what they can do." asked Cynthia, who was getting a little angry at the Aura Guardian. Killing someone is serious business. Even if they tortured him, life is a precious thing. Nobody has the right to kill someone. „Although. They tried to murder us..." thought Cynthia. It was really complicated to decide whenever the life should be taken or not now that she thought about it.
„I will tell you an alternate story then. A story where I would not end up at your doorstep. If they would come into your house and didn't find me there, you would still be in big troubles too. They would demand information about me even if you wouldn't have them in a first place, and you would truly know nothing about me. Do you know what they would do then? They would beat you up, with you not knowing what you did to them. And it would not be a light beating either. These monsters enjoy the pain of others, they enjoy the suffering of others, and when you could not take any more beatings any longer and you would fall unconscious. They would then transport you to one of their bases so they could 'play' with you. After you would wake up, the worst part would begin. Some sick Team Rocket grunt would most likely rape you, and the more you would cry, the more these monsters would enjoy it. After you would get used to being used like this and you would show that you don't care anymore, they would raise a bar. They would start to torture you, and your cries of pain would be music to their ears once again. Helpless and in pain, the only thing you would wish would be death. Painful or not, you would not care. You would only want to die, to end the suffering, your only goal would be to die. And when you will finally be on a verge of death, an iron helmet will be placed on your head. After this, the final phase began. An Experiment, an experiment that will completely shatter your brain and you will be suffering mentally for god knows how long in your own mind. Only, after all of this; after hours and hours of suffering, the sleep, which you will never wake up from, will finally come." said the Aura Guardian. And after a small pause, he continued.
„Now tell me, lady Shirona. Do 'people' that do these things deserve to live? I no longer think so." Said the Aura Guardian.
„... No." said Cynthia. Cynthia initially thought that the Aura Guardian was tortured because he knew something. Something valuable. If they torture people just for fun of it, then these people are true monsters. Not that a torture for information is any better, but just for fun is just pure sickening.
„So... You will kill them." said Cynthia nervously as she looked at the unconscious bodies of Team Rocket grunts near the big boulder that was blocking the entrance into the cave.
„No. I am no murderer, lady Shirona. The fact that I think they don't deserve to live doesn't mean that I can go around and murder people I think to deserve death. I am an Aura Guardian, not an executioner or a judge." said the Aura Guardian to which Cynthia formed a small smile on her face.
„However, they will not leave this place unpunished. Infernape will beat them up until they realize that what they are doing is a monstrosity." said the Aura Guardian.
„I... can get behind that decision." said Cynthia.
He is truly special. Cynthia began to really admire the man sitting before her. He was tortured to some unimaginable lengths, but he is still keeping his head calm and rational. He isn't blinded by rage and hate for what they did to him like most people would. Other people with this power would go on a murderous killing spree after being treated like he was, but he didn't. He must have a strong will to not succumb to the hate and murder every Team Rocket grunt he could get his hands on.
Cynthia then looked around and saw that all the Pokemon were looking at her. Even the Aura Guardian was watching her. They were watching her whole conversation with the Aura Guardian. It was getting quite uncomfortable.
„What now?" asked Cynthia.
„Even with a large fireplace like this, it's still cold in here. Why is it so cold in here? And where am I?" thought Cynthia, sitting near the big fireplace in the middle of a cave.
Cynthia poked the burning embers in the fireplace with a stick that was around to get more heat from the fire. Turning her head to the right, she saw several Pokemon talking to the Aura Guardian. Some Pokemon even pointed at her when saying something to him in a pokespeech. She no doubt shook the regime they were having here in the foundations. No one expected her here, not even her herself. It all happened so fast.
Cynthia then looked into the fire and was watching the wood burn. Thinking. She nearly died. The bullets meant for her were stopped just a few centimeters from her face. When the Aura Guardian told her the story of what could happen to her, she didn't believe it at first, but the more thought she put into it, the more sense it made. They didn't even care she was there. The only thing they wanted was to kill the Aura Guardian. They wanted him dead so much, and they didn't even care if she died alongside him. A Champion of Kanto. That would have to put a lot of attention towards them. „Is the Aura Guardian really that dangerous?" she thought.
After another nudge to the burning wood, a small cloud of smoke emerged from the fireplace. It was heading towards her so she covered her eyes and looked at the ground. With her eyes half closed, she saw a green worn out backpack, but she didn't see a backpack, she saw information.
„I need to know." she thought, unable to suppress her thirst for knowledge. She then glanced at her right where the group of Pokemon with the Aura Guardian sits. When she saw that nobody was paying any attention to her, she grabbed the backpack and opened it.
„Good. There is a lot of things." thought an excited Cynthia. It has been some time since she could solve a mystery, and this one peaked her interest very much.
The first thing she encountered was a bunch of black T-shirts. When she took them all out, there were 7 of them. 7 folded black T-shirts. When she took a closer look at all of them, she saw that each one was in a different size. If he is truly the only human living here, why are there different sizes? There were also several blue trousers in different sizes too.
Another cloth she pulled out was a grey scarf. Nothing really interesting was about that item so she placed it next to her and continued searching.
Cynthia placed the T-shirts to her left and went back into the backpack. She then encountered a red pokedex. However, when she took it out and examined it, the pokedex was broken.
„Damn. That could have been a very strong source of information." she thought.
She then reached into the backpack once again, and now she pulled out a small, blue, flat box. She opened it and was greeted by a tusk on a leather necklace.
Her eyes widened at the sight of this item. She snatched it from the box and took a closer look. She saw small notches all around the tusk. And just from that, she knew this was one prehistoric tusk. The same tusk she saw on a picture from Steven. The same tusk she...
„Wait... No... No.. NO! THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!" she thought.
And without a second thought, she threw the tusk on the ground and reached inside the back once again. This time she nearly ripped through the backpack once she reached the bottom. She then grabbed whatever was inside and pulled it out. When she lied eyes on the thing she pulled out, her heart stopped.
Black jacket with short white sleeves and a yellow stripe across the chest. A signature clothing of a certain boy. But that wasn't the thing which caused a storm inside of her. It was the cap. A red and black cap with a blue symbol on the front. She just stood there, completely unable to move and just staring at the cap.
A minute passed by and she still stared at the cap in front of her, like she saw a ghost. She then threw the cap and jacket on the ground too and she then quickly took the backpack and looked at it with the eyes of a detective. Yes. It was definitely it. The same backpack he once wore.
She then looked to her right again. Now carefully examining every Pokemon there. An enormous Charizard, even by Charizard standards. Infernape. Shiny Noctowl. Pikachu. The very same Pikachu which was very affectionate towards him just a few minutes ago. She could name every Pokemon he had and she could find the Pokemon here.
However, he himself looks different. The only thing that was connecting the seemingly two unrelated men were coal black hair. But there was no doubt. The way he spoke with his Pokemon. Only one person she met in her life could understand Pokemon like he does.
Without a second thought, she stood up and ran to the Aura Guardian. To the Aura Guardian that was supposed to be dead for three years.
„I know, I know, I know. She shouldn't be here, but what could I do? Let her be hunted down by Team Rocket?" said Ash to his crew of Pokemon. He was leaned against a wall of the cave and all of his Pokemon were surrounding him. The first thing they were asking him was things about his hand and the eye scar. They quickly learned not to ask those type of questions, because Lucario had to step in and calm Ash down when he thought about the time he spent in the torture room. That left only one topic to be discussed.
„You could have sent her anywhere else." said Torterra to him in a pokespeech.
„The only place where she is safe, is here. And until Team Rocket is defeated she will stay here." said Ash.
„What if she discovers your identity?" asked Sceptile.
„She won't. She thinks I am dead and I look nothing like my younger self." said Ash, and as soon as Ash said it, Cynthia emerged from the group of Pokemon and she pushed other Pokemon aside.
He was about to ask her what is going on, but then he saw the look on her face. Her uncovered eye widened to such an extent, that it looked like she was just spooked by a ghost. Her lips parted ever so slightly for him to just see the glimpse of her teeth. Quick breaths were let out from those pink lips like she has just run around the entire city, and her hands were shaking extremely.
„Ash?" asked Cynthia, with tears forming in her eyes.
„Dammit." thought Ash. „What?" he asked trying to get out of this situation.
„Don't Ash. Please. Just. Don't." she said with trembling voice and teary eyes.
„Lady Shirona. What are you talking about?" asked Ash. He knew very well what she was talking about. How did she figure it out so fast? He is not prepared to tell her the truth. Not after all the things he went through. Not right now.
„Why did you let us think you died, Ash?" asked Cynthia with more tremble in her voice, and now her tears were falling freely from her cheeks.
How did she figure it out? She wasn't supposed to know! Not now. Ash looked around from something that could give him away and he saw his backpack with his things scattered around the campfire. Of course, she jumped at the first opportunity to find out something about him. It's just who she is. „Why can't you let some things be a mystery, Cynthia." thought Ash sadly.
„Cynthia..." he began but was interrupted again.
„Why?" Cynthia asked more forcefully, with her eyes shut and her hands in fists, with nails digging deep inside her own palm.
„I..." began Ash, but he couldn't finish the sentence.
He couldn't take it, seeing Cynthia cry like that, trying so hard not to punch him in the face. The hurtful look she gave him was enough for his heart to stop for a moment, and not in a good sense. It is of no use. She knows. She hates him. And for a good reason. He let the whole world think he had died. They even made him a goddamned statue, a statue for a boy with a heart of gold they called it. „What a fucking lie." he thought. Would a boy with a heart of gold cause a lovely girl like Cynthia cry and hate him so much? No. Would the boy with a heart of gold hurt her like this? No. Would the boy with a heart of gold lie to the whole world? No. He is no boy with a heart of gold.
„Go on, Cynthia. Tell me how horrible I am." said Ash in a defeated tone. He needed to hear it from someone. He wanted to hear it from someone.
Ash then got up, and with trembling legs, he stood up. Lucario immediately went to him to support his stand up, but Ash gestured for him to stop and that he has it under control. He then looked at Cynthia, and she had her watery eye open and was watching him with the widened eye.
„Do it. Let it out, Cynthia. Tell me. Tell me how horrible I am that I stole food from others." said Ash as he took a small step towards Cynthia.
„Tell me how horrible I am to let the Pokemon League build me a statue for thousands and thousands of pokedollars." said Ash, after another step with his gaze locked in Cynthia's eye.
„Tell me how horrible I am for making the whole world believe I had died." another step. Ash's voice was getting louder with every step.
„Tell me how horrible I am for making people all around the world spend money on flowers, candles and all of that for them to attend a fake funeral!" another step
„Tell me how horrible I am for making my friends, which whom I traveled across the Pokemon world with, believe that I had died!" another step.
„Tell me how horrible I am for making YOU believe that I died!" another step.
„Tell me how horrible I am for making MY OWN MOTHER bury her only child!" said Ash now eye to eye with Cynthia.
„TELL ME!" Ash lashed out in frustration with his deep voice.
Every pokemon in The Haven believed that he was doing the right thing. But is he? He can die and accomplish nothing. How heartbroken would his friends be when they would find out he lived? How heartbroken would his mom be when Mewtwo would show her his 16-year old body? How heartbroken would she be when she would find out that he survived and he didn't tell her. He may be trying to save the world, but he has hurt a lot of people in a process too. He hurt people that are precious to him, that's the worst thing about it.
Ash knelt down with his head hung low. „Please... Tell me. Tell me the truth." Ash said quietly with a trembling voice, with his eyes shut and all of his Pokemon eyes upon him. And just like that, Ash broke down. His tears started falling on the grass floor of the Haven as he was kneeling in front of Cynthia. So much for people who he loves to keep them from being hurt. He hurt them himself, and it was all for nothing. Can he even win at this point?
As he was kneeling there and thinking about all the horrible things he caused to his loved ones when he disappeared, a pair of arms wrapped around him, and just from the touch, he knew it was Cynthia.
„Ash... I don't think you are a horrible person, and I'm not mad at you... I mean. I am. A little. But more than angry, I am happy beyond description. So happy. You survived, Ash. You are alive! It's a dream come true! I just... I don't understand why you are in hiding. Why are you hiding from everyone? It doesn't make sense. You would never leave your friends and family like this." said Cynthia in a gentle voice in kneeling position, hugging Ash like her life was at stake. A huge tight enough to ensure that he will not leave again. It took a minute, but he calmed down from his break down and finally began talking again. „Like an angel's touch..." he thought.
„What if I can't beat them?" asked Ash, ignoring the question and voicing his doubts out loud for the first time.
„Who?" asked Cynthia as she broke the hug and looked at Ash into his blue aura filled eyes. Both of them finally stopped the tears from forming in their eyes by now.
„Team Rocket. What if they catch me again? What if they succeed? What chances do I have against an army of Psychics?"
„Team Rocket? Army of Psychics?!" asked Cynthia in disbelief.
„Yes..." Ash said in a quiet voice.
„Ash... Are you fighting Team Rocket again? Alone? Why?" asked Cynthia again.
„I have to Cynthia. I am the only one who can stop them." said Ash.
„That's not an answer." said Cynthia.
„He was given this task by Arceus, lady Shirona." said Mewtwo.
Ash even forgot that Mewtwo was here as he broke down and let his frustration burst. And not just Mewtwo. All the Pokemon were watching the scene before them without a single word spoken.
„Arceus?! Arceus tasked you with this?! How did you manage to get involved with the GOD?! Again?" asked a surprised Cynthia.
„I would like to know as well." said Ash.
„Ash is the Arceus's Chosen One. It is his destiny from the day he was born to erase the evils of the Pokemon world." said Mewtwo.
„Chosen One... That's how the girl from Orange Islands referred to you during your... funeral." said Cynthia and she unsurely said the last word.
„Yeah. The Orange Island encounter with Lugia was an unbelievable experience." said Ash and he took a glance at the legendary bipedal Pokemon recalling another unbelievable experience where he nearly died. A short silence filled the cave until Cynthia spoke again.
„Why didn't you ask us for help? You know that we would do anything to help you? Right?" asked Cynthia.
„I know. And that is exactly why you know nothing. And I would like to keep it that way. At least for now." said Ash.
„What do you mean?" asked Cynthia.
„Cynthia. You saw it with your very own eyes. Team Rocket is not an ordinary criminal organization. They walk through corpses, and they don't care about their names. They would have killed you without hesitation when they discovered me in your house too. Champion or not, they don't care. As soon as I destroyed their first base, I became their target and they will stop at nothing to get rid of me, by any means. If there was just a slight whisper around that I am associated with you, mom, or even Pallet Town, they would get to me through the people I care about. That's why I don't want any of my friends and family to be even associated with someone who is trying to take them down after 3 years of preparation." said Ash looking in Cynthia's eye.
Now Ash has finally a chance to examine Cynthia's eye. Grey isn't a very common eye color and many people don't even like it that very much. But her eye have a color of a smoke. No. Not exactly smoke he thought. It was darker than a smoke. The eye had the color of ash.
„You could have told your mom at least." said Cynthia sadly.
„I wanted to. I still do. I want to let my mom know I am alive. But. If I would have showed up in my mom's house and somebody saw me, she would be in danger, and I don't want to risk it." said Ash.
„Aren't you a little paranoid? I am sure if you would show in the middle of a night, nobody would find out." asked Cynthia.
„With Team Rocket, there is no such thing as being paranoid. They have eyes everywhere." said Ash.
„Ash, I am happy that you found your soulmate, but we need to talk to you right now." said Lucario to Ash in pokespeech. Ash blushed and immediately replied.
„What do you mean by soulmate, Lucario?!" asked Ash and he looked at Lucario.
„Soulmate?" asked a curious Cynthia.
„I am sure he is joking." replied Ash nervously with a chuckle, and he looked back at Cynthia.
„I am not. The mark on your abdomen is the same as the one lady Shirona has. Then there is the thing when you two touch the marks begin pulsating simultaneously. And even throughout this serious conversation I can sense how you two have desire for each other." said Lucario seriously in pokespeech.
„See? I told you he was joking." said Ash to Cynthia. Thank Arceus Cynthia doesn't understand pokespeech. However Lucario than slapped Ash to show his displeasure with his trainer.
„Doesn't look like he is joking." chuckled Cynthia when she saw the light slap Lucario gave Ash.
„Lucario. I wouldn't do this again if I were you, or I will reveal your secret to your soul mate." said Ash, as he rubbed his cheek. The slap wasn't hard, but it wasn't pleasant either. Lucario blushed at this, but it didn't end there.
„Secret? Everybody knows he has hots for G..." began Weavile but was silenced by a panicking Lucario when he put his paws over her mouth so she couldn't speak.
„Okay. I get it. No more talking about soulmates, but back to the topic. We really need to show you something. You need to read the file we found. It's really important." said Lucario and he looked at Gardevoir who was watching this scene with a confused look.
„Fine, Lucario, Cynthia, If you would excuse me I have to look at something. Make yourself comfy and do whatever you want here. I'll be back shortly." said Ash, and Lucario pulled him up so he could stand up. Those few steps to Cynthia took a lot of his energy in this state. Cynthia wanted to help him, but before she could grab his other arm, Infernape appeared near him and supported Ash by his other arm. As they were taking Ash somewhere, Cynthia suddenly asked.
„Ash?" she asked.
„Yes?" he replied and his two Pokemon turned him around so he was facing her.
„Where do you go to a... toilet here?" asked Cynthia nervously.
„Usually it's that bush over there in the corner." he said to Cynthia and with his healthy arm he pointed towards a corner of the cave near the pond.
„A... bush?" asked Cynthia. „But. What if you want to... poop?" asked Cynthia.
„Same bush." replied Ash. And when he saw disgusted face of Cynthia he quickly added. „But don't worry. There aren't any there. Mewtwo teleports them out of here." said Ash.
„Please, don't remind me..." said Mewtwo.
„And... toilet paper?" asked Cynthia and she nervously awaited the answer.
„I stopped using a toilet paper few months after my 14 birthday to decrease the debt I have to everyone I stole from. I use big leaves that grow inside this cave." said Ash without any hint of shame.
„L... Leaves? Are you serious?" asked Cynthia.
„I live in a cave with not a single pokedollar. What did you expect, Cynthia? A five star hotel?" said Ash with a chuckle.
„Faster Charizard, You have to go faster, buddy!" yelled a black haired man covered in a black hood on top of a orange dragon flying through the skies of the Johto region.
„RAAAAAAR." roared the dragon and Charizard put all of his efforts into the flight.
However, it wasn't easy. A few minutes ago, rain broke through the skies and slowed Charizard down. The man then reached into his jacket and pulled a phone out. He scrolled through his contacts and called a certain number. The phone rang a few times but then somebody picked it up on the other side.
„I got it! I discovered their HQ and I know what their plan is! I already sent pictures of the maps to you in an email so check it out. I am currently above Blue Moon Falls and I am on my way back, but I don't know if we'll make it. There is an entire army of them behind us. I need help. Their plan is..." but the man was cut off when two Ninjasks came out of nowhere and used their X-Scissors on Charizard and since Ninjasks are one of the fastest Pokemon, Charizard didn't manage to dodge the attack. The impact caused the man to drop not only his phone into the lake below them, but the maps that were attached to his belt fell down too. „Damn." thought the Charizard rider when he saw the items falling down into the water.
Charizard, not being in the best condition already, was now falling into the lake that was created by the waterfall.
„Charizard!" yelled the man, who was holding onto Charizard as they fell.
Charizard's eyes then shot open and he spread his mighty wings and flew upright seconds before they were about to fall into the water below. The man then saw the two Ninjasks preparing to attack once again.
„Charizard, heads up and use Fire Blast!" yelled the man.
As instructed, the Charizard raised his head up and used Fire Blast. However, the two Ninjasks managed to dodge the attack and were ready to use X-Scissor again. The man on top of Charizard gave another command seeing they were about to collide.
„Charizard, Steel Wing!"
And as the two Ninjasks were about to hit the Charizard due to their incredible speed, Charizard's wings turned white, and with each wing he smacked the Ninjasks into the lake below them.
„Go, Charizard. Go!" yelled the man, and the Pokemon and human duo was again on the run.
And a tired Charizard flew in the direction of a big mountain. However, his speed was decreasing drastically due to the previous fights.
„You are amazing, buddy. Just hang on a little longer." said the man as he petted Charizard's bruised head.
They slowly flew through the light rain that was going on. After a minute, they heard a buzzing sound, and this time a Scizor came from below using an Iron Head and he hit Charizard right in the belly. This time, both the man and the Pokemon fell from the sky before either of them could say anything. They fell into the clearing near the lake of Blue Moon Falls. The force of the impact threw the man off Charizard and he painfully landed on the hard ground. Charizard lied a few meters away from the man, however, unlike the man, Charizard was and slowly pulled himself up. And as Scizor was diving for another attack on Charizard, the orange dragon looked at his trainer for command, but he was just beginning to pull himself up. So Charizard, without a command, surrounded himself in flames and flew towards Scizor. And as he took off, these flames turned blue and with a powerful Flare Blitz, he collided with Scizor's Metal Claw. And as they collided, Charizard grabbed Scizor by his pincers and threw him into the ground. Then, he continued with a Flare Blitz attack and pinned the Scizor into the ground with Flare Blitz.
Charizard panting heavily flew out of the small crater he created and he went to the man as he received some recoil damage from the powerful attack he used against Scizor.
„Good job, buddy." replied the trainer who was now standing on his legs. And as he was about to jump on Charizard's back, he saw a helicopter with two Dragonite's on each side flying to them. Not only that, Scizor was slowly pulling himself up from the crater too.
When the man took a closer look at Charizard, he knew Charizard couldn't fight anymore. He already defeated so many Pokemon during today's mission that it was a miracle he was still standing. As a matter of fact, it was a miracle that his tail was still on fire when even the weather was against them. „Charizard, return." said the trainer and grabbed a pokeball from his belt and he recalled Charizard, despite Charizard's loud protests.
Right after that, a man with a red R on his uniform emerged from the forest and ran to him trying to punch him in the stomach. The man in a black hood just did a small sidestep, grabbed the attackers hand and twisted it behind his back. And right after this, another man with a red R on the uniform jumped out from the forest trying to punch him, so he let go of the first man's arm, he turned around and he punched the second man in the face and with a quick round kick, he kicked the first man into the stomach, giving him an opening for the escape.
However, as he was preparing to run away, more and more men emerged from the forests, but now with guns in their hands. 15 men in total created a circle, surrounding the hooded man with their guns charged up and ready to shoot. With no way to escape, the hooded man put his hands behind his head and knelt down.
The helicopter was slowly approaching his position and in a few minutes, it landed in front of him. The black-hooded man wanted to cover his eyes as the propeller caused gushes of wind with small raindrops hit his face. The engine then finally stopped, and a man in an orange suit stepped out of it. There was a young girl right beside him holding an umbrella so they wouldn't get soaked walking right beside him.
„You are in big trouble. You know that?" said the man in the early thirties with short brown hair, dressed in an orange suit. Despite saying this, the man in a black hood didn't answer. In fact, he didn't even look at the man in an orange suit.
The man in an orange suit than did a gesture with his hands, and one of the grunts came towards the black hooded man, and the grunt took some handcuffs and handcuffed the man. Then the grunt looked at Giovanni, and he only nodded. And so the grunt pulled his hood down, revealing the face of a man.
What surprised Giovanni, was that the man wore a cap under his hood. A red and white cap, that was covering his face. So Giovanni still hadn't had the pleasure to see the face of a man that is trying to ruin his plans.
The man in an orange suit with the blonde girl then came to the kneeling man. The man then knelt down in front of his enemy and was now face to face with him.
„How about we introduce ourselves? My name is Giovanni." said Giovanni, but the man didn't answer.
„Now it's your turn." said Giovanni. Then some grunt put the gun against the kneeling man's head.
„Red. My name is Red." said the kneeling man.
„Another one. How annoying." said Giovanni with an uncomfortable chuckle at the end.
„What do you mean by that?" asked Red.
„You think that I don't know about Pokemon Rangers and their stupid nicknames?" said Giovanni.
„How?" asked surprised Red.
„After some harsh convincing, your pal 'Blue' told me about Pokemon Rangers and their tendency to give their field rangers color nicknames." said Giovanni.
„Blue?! Where is he?!" exclaimed Red and he tried to jump at Giovanni, but the grunt that handcuffed him stopped him by hitting him in face.
„Few meters underground." said Giovanni. Red's eyes widened and changed color from chestnut brown to a mixture of brown and glowing sea blue. Red growled in anger at hearing such news and light blue flames formed around him. The flames got bigger and bigger with each passing second. Giovanni's shocked expression put a smile on Red's face even though he himself couldn't control the aura flames.
However, when Red received a hit with the back of the gun to his neck, the menacing blue flames disappeared.
„I'll be damned! You are an Aura Guardian?! Huh. You are going to be very useful to me." said Giovanni with an uncomfortable smile.
„Like I would ever work for you." said Red and he spat into Giovanni's face. Giovanni released an unpleasant grunt and motioned to the blonde girl to give him something to wipe the spit on his left cheek.
„Who said anything about working?" said Giovanni calmly as he wiped the spit.
„Now. I believe that you stole something that doesn't belong to you, so where is the map with the location of my bases you stole?" asked Giovanni.
„I am afraid I don't know what you are talking about, Giovanni." said Red with a cheeky smile.
„Don't lie to me. I hate liars." said Giovanni.
„I am telling the truth. Go on and search for my clothing. You would do it sooner or later regardless. But you won't find any map there." said Red.
And they indeed found nothing except for a few pokeballs. Red was left there in blue trunks, and a dozen grunts were tearing his clothing apart desperately for any sign of the paper map.
„Now. Could you at least give me back what is left of my red and white jacket before I will freeze here?" said Red with a cheeky smile. When they finished the search. Most of his clothes were in shreds, but they didn't destroy his jacket. Not to the point it couldn't be worn at least. One of the sleeves was gone, and there was a slash from a knife across the top half. Still wearable. Especially when it's raining and its cold.
„What did you do with the map?" asked Giovanni.
„Nothing. I never had it in a first place." said Red.
„Really?" Giovanni asked.
„Yes." replied Red.
„You think I am completely stupid? The map is gone from my office and somebody saw you around the cave where the entrance to my HQ is. Doesn't seem like a coincidence to me." said Giovanni and the grunt holding a gun at Red's head pressed the gun against his head harder.
„Okay. Okay. Maybe I stole it, but I really don't have any of the maps." said Red. And when Giovanni was getting ready to say something, police sirens were heard in a distance which brought a smile to Red's face.
„Huh. Seems like we will have to postpone our talk. Bring him into the helicopter. Let's see how long you last in a special room established for getting information out of people." said Giovanni.
Red's eyes widened when he heard Giovanni's statement. He saw what they do to 'problematic' people when he infiltrated the HQ. And when he felt how the grunt with a gun pointed at his head tried to make Red stand up, Red, without a second thought, and with handcuffed hands quickly grabbed the man's gun against pointed against his head, dismantle the grunt, and with a low kick he made the grunt trip.
But, before he could do anything else, five grunts shot from their guns, and 3 bullets hit him during the maneuver. Two in the left leg, and one into his stomach. Right where the lung is. Red let out a harsh breath and fell to the ground coughing some blood.
„Goddamnit. You just have to cause problems don't you?" said Giovanni to Red. It was a shame. He knew that now.
Police sirens grew louder and louder with each passing second. And this little trick he pulled of delayed them a lot. Especially if they wanted to transport him back to the HQ for the torture. That is not an option if he is going to resist and delay them even further. But they can't let him go either. He knows valuable information about them, that Team Rocket can't allow to being known. There is only one option left.
Giovanni himself then pulled his gun out and pointed it at Red's head. Shame. He will never get a chance to examine another Aura Guardian.
„You should have went with us willingly. The stunt you performed will cost you your life." said Giovanni as he prepared to fire a bullet, but Red somehow managed to kneel, look into Giovanni's eyes and start talking in unhealthy voice because of his pierced lung.
„... I know. But... at least let me... say some last words." said an injured Red, dealing with the fact, that this rainy day will be his last day on this planet. Giovanni didn't fire, so he took it as a yes and tried to speak.
„This... You are not going to get away with it. I know you won't. It may not be me who will bring you down, but someone eventually will. Your Psychic army. They will fail. Just like thousands of years ago, Aura Guardians will rise against Psychics. Even if there are not many of us now, I know that they will come and stop you. And even if only one Aura Guardian will fight against you, he will prevail. He will be stronger than you could ever imagine. Because. Where the evil is, Aura Guardians are there to oppose it. That's why you are doomed to fail, Giovanni. And when you think you have already won and you will think nothing could stop you, an Aura Guardian will come and the day of reckoning will come with him." said Red, looking at Giovanni with a few pauses between sentences to cough some blood out.
„Huh. I didn't know you were a prophet too. Shame you couldn't see your own death to avoid it." said Giovanni sarcastically. And he pointed the gun to Red's head.
„I am sorry, my darling. I am sorry, my little Pokemon Master. Take care of each other." whispered Red to himself as he looked at the ground and waited for death to come for him.
And on a rainy evening, a shot heard throughout Blue Moon Falls ending a life of one courageous Pokemon Ranger and a former Champion of Kanto region. But more importantly, the shot ended a life of a loving husband and father.
„Dad." Ash whispered.
Ash just finished reading the 'RED' file his Pokemon gave him. When Lucario said he needed to read a file he didn't expect this. Maybe some file with the location of another base. Or if he got lucky, some kind of file concerning the Team Rocket HQ location.
The thing that solidified that Team Rocket killed his father was the picture in the file, not the actual description of that day.
Giovanni didn't describe the mission in the file with many details. But the place of death was a nice clue. He now knew where his father was killed. It was where the police found his dad's body with a hole in the head. Blue Moon Falls in Johto.
Then there was the fact he was flying on a Charizard. Dad's favorite and strongest Pokemon. And just like Ash's own, this was no ordinary Charizard. When the mission report revealed that the Charizard of said man defeated two Dragonite's in the Team Rocket HQ, then an Alakazam and Rhydon on their way out, it was another solid clue, but it didn't stop there. During the chase in rain, he defeated 2 Ninjasks and a Scizor. Another great clue.
And a then there was the photo. There was a reason why this file caught Ash's Charizard's attention despite Charizards inability to read. It was like Ash was looking into a 3-year-old mirror. He may not look like his dad now, but he sure did look like him before the Aura training caused massive changes in his body. Messy short black hair. Brown eyes. Slightly tanned skin with Z marks on cheeks. And to add more similarities to them, his dad wore a cap too. That's how Richard Ketchum looked like. Or Red, as Team Rocket knows him.
„Crying for a second time today. God, I am pathetic." thought Ash as a single tear escaped his eye with a scar and rolled down his cheek. Ash still couldn't tear his gaze from the photo of his father in the file. It was a long time since he last saw him. A very long time.
And when he did tear his eyes from the photo, Ash read the part of a mission report where his dad said his last words to Giovanni again. The part where he told Giovanni that his plan would never work. Ash didn't know if the part, where his father was talking about the Aura Guardian that will defeat him in the future, is about him or not, but he had a feeling his father was truly talking about him. He has a feeling that his father entrusted him with this task long before Arceus gave him this mission.
He admired his father even more now. He was a true hero in his eyes, and he died like one too. It is thanks to him, he could even begin taking those bases down. If not for him, he may never have even found the bases in a first place.
„Dad. I will not let you down. I will finish, what you've started." said Ash with a new found confidence. And with a new found anger for the organization too. He didn't hate Giovanni as much as he hated Domino. But now, those two were on an equal footing. So much rage is boiling in him for the organization that he even considered killing the two people he hated the most. But, he quickly shook those thoughts off. He is no murderer, he thought. Even if those two deserve it like no one else.
Although, he may not kill them, he will make sure that they will never hurt or even think about hurting another human or Pokemon ever again.