Disclaimer: I own nothing.
O.O.O.O
Eldes and Ardos have informed me of your plan to begin business with us. Naturally, we are not objecting. Merging with Team Rocket would allow us to have more bases in more regions. Orre is ours, and if we're to make the rest of the world ours, then we'd need assistance. Of course, you'll be immensely rewarded for your help and cooperation.
Signed,
Grand Master Greevil, Orre Leader of Team Cipher
Giovanni leaned back in his chair, examining the note in some attempt to see if it was real, and not another phony attempt to gain his trust. He had heard of the success that Team Cipher had had in the Orre region; and he wanted the same for his team.
"What sort of rewards do you mean?"
Ardos simply smirked, and adjusted his glasses. "Cipher possesses a large amount of money, not to mention the entire Orre region. The region is under our control, and it will stay that way. Forever—"
"But, if Team Rocket agrees to collaborate with us, then it will be impossible for anyone to defeat Cipher, or Team Rocket. And we have the means to accomplish this goal." Eldes said, looking slightly nervous.
"Shadow Pokémon—they're more powerful than regular pokémon. With their hearts sealed, it'd be impossible to form any sort of bond with their trainer," Giovanni stated, "last I heard, the factory in Orre had been destroyed by a child.''
Ardos smirked, "Merely rumors, Giovanni."
Giovanni leaned forward in his seat, and scanned several of the documents that the two of them had given them; blueprints of the shadow factory, papers that explained the procedure of sealing the heart of a pokémon, and letters from Evice.
"Would this technology be available to Team Rocket?"
"I—"
"Of course," Ardos assured Giovanni, "that technology led to us claiming Orre as our own. It'll be vital to you; especially if you wish to conquer the Kanto region."
Giovanni glanced at the two of them briefly, wondering if what they said was the truth. On one hand, they could just want access to the new pokémon that had been discovered in the Sinnoh region, as wild pokémon were very rare in Orre—nearly impossible to find.
"Gentlemen; I believe that we have reached an agreement. Team Rocket will have access to the shadow factory, in exchange; we will help you maintain your influence in the Orre region."
It was at that moment, that the door swung open, causing Eldes and Ardos to jump away from the door.
Jessie and James had fallen to the floor, as had Meowth; it was apparent to Giovanni that they had been eavesdropping on the entire conversation.
"Jessie. James. What should I do with you two?"
"Please forgive us," Jessie pleaded, jabbing Meowth and James so neither of them would dare to say anything, "We were only passing through. We'll be on our way now."
"No, please stay, what we are talking about concerns you as well," Ardos smiled.
Taken by surprise, the three of them stayed glued to the spot, wondering what this could possibly be about.
"Aren't you from Team Cipher?" James asked, staring at the two new arrivals.
"Eldes and Ardos are associates of Grand Master Greevil they have come with an interesting proposition. And I would like you two to be the first to try it," Giovanni smirked.
"Really? Thank you, sir," Jessie gushed, hoping that their boss wouldn't ask for the real reason that they had come to see him for the umpteenth time.
"Of course, it would require giving up at least one of your pokémon," Giovanni elaborated, as he scratched behind the ears of his fierce-looking Persian.
"No way—" Meowth began, but stopped speaking as soon as Persian hissed at him, and Jessie poked him in the ribs with her elbow.
"There's no way that we would pass up an opportunity like this one," Jessie answered for Meowth.
"The question still remains; which one of your pokémon are you willing to give up in order for it to become a shadow pokémon?"
"Shadow pokémon—"
This time it was James that gave Meowth a good jab in the ribs.
"If you keep talking; you'll be the one who's going, Meowth," Jessie hissed.
"We have reached an agreement then," Ardos said, adjusting his glasses again, "Team Cipher will await you and the other Rocket operatives in our secret base in Orre. Until then..."
The door was slammed shut, as Jessie, James, and Meowth were thrown out of the office.
"I guess we don't need to tell the boss about what happened last week," Meowth said.
"The sooner we get to Orre, the better," Jessie whispered, ignoring the looks from people that were passing them.
O.O.O.O
"Check this out!"
Brock held up a colorful poster, which displayed images of the Pyrite Coliseum, Realgam Coliseum, Phenac Stadium, and Mt. Battle.
"Wow!" Ash grinned at the thought of a brand new adventure; he took the poster from Brock, and marveled at the pictures of triumphant trainers in the coliseums, and on Mt. Battle.
"I heard that Orre was really dangerous," Max said, "Some of the cities have pretty much gone to the dogs."
"There hasn't been a region yet that has been able to stop me from going there," Ash proclaimed proudly.
"Yeah, but there have been kidnappings, you've lost Pikachu on a number of occasions, gotten lost…need I go on?" May asked smugly.
"Shut up," Ash muttered.
A second later, the doorbell rang, and Ash raced out of the living room to receive the visitor.
"Hi, Professor Oak—mom went out to buy a few things for dinner, but she'll be back soon," Ash greeted.
Professor Oak seemed to be anxious about something. He ran his hand through his hair, before saying, "That's good, but what I came to tell her concerns you as well."
"I—"
"Professor Oak! It's nice to see you."
"Hi Brock," he replied.
"Well, no use standing around here. Come in, Professor Oak," Ash smiled.
It wasn't long before Ash, Brock, May, Max, and Professor Oak were sitting in the living room of Ash's house.
"What's wrong?" asked May, "did something bad happen?"
"Well," Professor Oak said, grinning nervously, "I don't mean to frighten any of you, but something unfortunate has indeed taken place."
"What?!" Max inquired, nearly on the edge of his seat waiting for the answer.
"An associate of mine, a Professor Krane, has informed me that the safety of Orre is in jeopardy."
"Why?" asked Ash, "last I heard it was pretty much a desert wasteland; the only thing that kept people going there was Mt. Battle and the coliseums."
"No, Ash. He means Cipher. Right, Professor Oak?" Max said.
Professor Oak nodded. "Cipher has an iron grip on the entire region. It's not safe to travel in or out of Orre now-a-days. That's what I wanted to tell your mother about, Ash. There's a lot of risk involved with going there."
"Like that's ever stopped me before!" Ash remarked, who was immediately hushed by Max.
"I remember seeing something about that on the news once," Brock admitted, "Cipher has total control over the region, and who can travel in and out. They do let trainers into the region for things like Mt.Battle. Unfortunately, you have to sign up for that, and signup closes soon."
Ash couldn't believe what he was hearing. He stared at Brock in disbelief for a few seconds before saying, "What are we waiting for? Signup closes soon, and I want to go to the coliseums!"
He bolted towards the door, before Brock caught him by his shirt collar.
"Do you even know where the signup is being held?" Max asked Ash, having a feeling about what the answer would be.
"No," Ash replied sadly.
Professor Oak checked his watch, "Oh dear. You're never going to make that signup now. But, I have an idea. I'm going to see Professor Krane in a couple of days, so I'd be able to take all of you to Orre, as long as your parents agree."
"Really? That'd be great," grinned May.
"Mom will never let us go," Max grumbled, "she'd be too worried about how we would fare in a desert region."
"Right," sighed May.
"Don't worry I'll talk to your parents," Professor Oak said, "Though if they do refuse, I can't do much about it."
"We—"
May was cut off by a loud rapping on the front door.
"Ash! Ash! You locked the door! Could you open it?" Mrs. Ketchum called from the front door.
As soon as Ash opened the door, his mom came into the house, carrying so many bags of groceries, it seemed as though she would fall over. She dumped the groceries on the table, before turning to face Ash.
"It seems quite a few people stopped by," his mother grinned, before beginning to put away groceries.
"Mom, Brock just told me about Mt.Battle in Orre. Can I go?" Ash asked, bursting with excitement.
At that moment, Ash's mother stopped what she was doing, making sure that she had heard that proposal correctly. Normally she had little objections with Ash's travelling, only worrying about him in the same way any parent would in that situation. Orre, however, was a different matter entirely...
"Ash, Orre's a dangerous place--I wouldn't want you to go. It's too dangerous there."
"But Mom," Ash whined, "I'll be fine; besides, Professor Oak is going to take us."
Mrs.Ketchum spotted Professor Oak in the living room, talking to Brock and May about the trip. She had faith that he would be able to get Ash to Orre and back safely, however, she still wasn't sure.
"How is he going to get you there?" she asked.
"I don't--" Ash began.
"A boat to Gateon Port," replied a voice, "from there, we will drive to the Pokemon HQ."
Mrs.Ketchum smiled, having noticed the person who was standing behind Ash.
"Professor Oak, it's nice to see you. I have a friend who lives in Gateon Port; Acri is her name. She'd be a good guide around Gateon Port," she remarked.
Professor Oak nodded, "It's nice to see you too. As for Acri, I'm sure that she'd be able to help us a lot. I haven't taken the boat to Gateon Port yet, and don't know my way around that city."
"So can I go?" Ash asked again, looking between the two adults for a moment, trying to judge the answer from their expressions.
"Okay," his mother sighed, "just be careful."
Ash couldn't believe his ears. He was now going on his next great adventure.
"To Orre!" he exclaimed, forgetting that the rest of his friends hadn't gotten permission from their parents yet.
O.O.O.O
"Remind me why we're here again?" James asked, dragging his bag into the small room that Jessie, Meowth, and himself would be sharing. He set the bag down next to one of the small cots, before turning to glance at Jessie.
"We're here because the boss sent us here," she replied; Meowth nodded, "Besides, do you think that he wants to know about what happened last week?"
"...No," James sighed.
"No, the less he knows about that the better," Meowth added, jumping out of the way when the doors to the compartment slid open, revealing a Team Cipher member, dressed in the usual silvery armour.
"Jessie, James," he addressed them, before continiuing, "Lovrina, the Cipher Adminastrator in charge of this base, requests that you two, and the other Team Rocket arrivals come to the meeting room to discuss a plan that she has devised--well, is carrying out. The real plan was thought up by the brilliant Ardos. A plan that involves infultrating several places that are not completely under Cipher's control--that includes attractions that trainers are drawn to from all regions--"
"And the twerp is bound to be there," James interrupted.
"Tell Lovrina we accept," Jessie hissed.
"Yeah!" agreed Meowth.
The Cipher Peon smirked, "Very well, then. To get to the room, take the elevator down the hall up to the second level. It's the first door on your left. You can't miss it."
"Oh, we'll be there," Jessie assured him, in a voice that served to scare both James and Meowth, "We wouldn't want to miss an oppurtunity like this..."