More Cress/Jasmine - however, this is based on the fan theory that the Striaton City brothers are the Shadow Triad working for Ghetsis. I personally doubt the theory holds any water, but at the same time it could be a possibility. Since I ship Cress and Jasmine now, I started thinking about how that would impact their relationship if it were true and... yeah. This happened. This is a two-shot. Hopefully part 2 will be up later today. In the meantime, why not message me and/or Ekaterina Hansing about a Cressmine contets we're holding? ^_^
Pokemon is copyright to Tajiri Satoshi-sensei.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The brunette was so stunned, she couldn't even cry. "C-cress... how... how could you? How could you?" she cried out, cradling the shattered PokeBall that had once held her Steelix in her small hands. The Pokemon remained nearby, but now the device that bound it to its master was destroyed - despite all they had been through together there was no guarantee it would obey her now. "I trusted you!"
"I know, Jasmine," he replied from under his mask - the mask that represented a member of the Shadow Triad. "That's what made it easy." His voice was cold and emotionless as he spoke these words. His sapphire blue hair had turned out merely to be a wig - his apron had been replaced with a dark suit, the Team Plasma logo emblazoned proudly on his chest.
"This can't be true..." She gripped the fragments of the PokeBall in her hands so hard, they cut into her skin. "This just can't be true..."
"It's not as bad as you're making it out to be-"
"Not as bad? What about my Steelix? My best friend?" The colossal metal serpent was aimlessly wandering around the arena looking for a means to get outside, not even responding to its former master's mention of its name. "How is losing my best friend not that bad?" Now was the time her tears started - she had never felt more betrayed...
Cress actually stepped backwards - while understandable, it was still unsettling for the normally sweet, shy Jasmine to get so worked up. "This is for the greater good, Jasmine! You want your Steelix to be happy, don't you? If Team Plasma keeps this up, soon we'll be able to create a utopia for Pokemon where they can all be happy!" This was a bold-faced lie on his part - the Shadow Triad composed of Cilan, Chili and himself were Ghetsis's right-hand men and knew the truth - but Jasmine didn't need to know that part.
"And will the people be happy too?"
"Yes! Don't you understand?" Stepping forward, Cress reached out and gripped her wrist - she tried to yank herself away but he was too strong. "Team Plasma is working for the greater good of the Pokemon world. Why can't you see that?"
"What about your Panpour? Are you saying you'd be willing to give him up too?"
He hesitated for only a split second before deciding to lie through his teeth once again. "Yes. We will do whatever Lord Ghetsis requires of us to make Team Plasma stronger - even if that means giving up our Pokemon as well." Cress's grip on Jasmine's wrist softened slighty, though she still couldn't get away. "Come join us, Jasmine."
"... what?" Her eyes widened in shock at the proposition.
"Come join Team Plasma. You'll still be able to interact with Pokemon - and you and I will get to stay together." His lips curved upwards in a smile he didn't mean. "Don't you want to stay with me?" he asked softly, slowly moving in for a kiss... Jasmine balked and tried to pull away, but his grip was still too tight...
"Kingdra! Use Hyper Beam now!" Both started at the sound of a strong female voice calling out an attack - and a split second later a blur of purple and pink swept Jasmine away from the scene, right before a beam of yellow energy engulfed the area.
"You okay, Jazz?" the purple-haired kunoichi asked Jasmine as they landed safely back on the floor from the powerful ninja-wall-leap.
"Janine," Jasmine breathed as she was set safely back on her feet. "What are you..."
"Nurse Joy called the two of us and said there was something wrong - we came as fast as we could," the blue-haired Dragon Mistress spoke up from behind her Kingdra. "Lance is talking with the Unova Champion Alder as we speak."
"Clair..."
"Hey, Monkey Boy!" Janine yelled out. "You're really gonna get it now! Nobody hurts Jazz and gets away with it!" Pulling a red and white PokeBall from her obi, she threw it into the air. "Let's go, Venomoth!" A white light burst from the ball as it opened, and soon a large, light purple insect fluttered above the stadium as though daring the target to escape.
Clair glanced over at Jasmine, her hardened expression softening as she saw how heartbroken her friend was. "You don't have your Pokemon anymore, do you? Stay behind Janine and I. We'll take care of Cress." Kingdra flapped its flippers in agreement.
The man stood up. "All right. I see how it is. Such a shame," he spoke, pulling something from his belt. "I really did care about you, Jasmine. I may have even loved you..."
"Enough talk! We end this now!" Janine, always quick to anger, pointed an accusing finger at Cress. "Venomoth, use Sludge Bomb!" On command, the insect-like creature spat brown globs of goo at the man. Thinking fast, the man of the Shadow Triad dodged out of the way as the barrage continued, and in a sick way Janine couldn't help but admire his reflexes. "Keep it up, Venomoth! You got him on the run!"
A glob of the sludge hit the floor right next to the exit of the gym - coincidentally, where Cress had been headed. Unprepared for the obstacle, he stepped directly in it and couldn't get free. "Now, Kingdra," Clair called out, her strong voice echoing through the stadium, "end this with Dragon Pulse!"
Jasmine started, hearing the words "end this". Suddenly, the memories the two of them had shared came flashing back before her eyes...
The storm had blown itself out overnight, leaving the Olivine Harbor bathed in sunlight. Again, Cress and Jasmine found themselves at the top of the lighthouse, enjoying the sunlight together. "I love moments like this," she sighed wistfully. "The warmth of the sun, the sparkling of the ocean, the salty sea breeze..."
Then he gently took her hand. "I had fun just spending time with you." Immediately Jasmine blushed. A soft sea breeze gently flowed through her hair, and in the sunset light Cress was finally able to appreciate how beautiful she truly was...
"Jasmine..." Suddenly her eyes snapped open - she recognized that voice. Standing in the doorway was the boy who had occupied almost all of her thoughts that didn't involve battling. "Your voice is music to my ears," Cress said with a grin...
"Jazz!" Janine cried out as the Olivine Gym Leader ran forward from behind the two women battling. "What are you doing? Are you nuts?" Clair's eyes widened as she realized - "Clair, she's running for him!" the ninja realized. "She'll get hit by the Dragon Pulse!"
The large blue seahorse let out its cry as it shot forth a powerful burst of energy. Jasmine kept running, tears streaming from her eyes as she reached out, trying to reach for the boy she had fallen for in the beginning...
"JASMINE!"
