Hey guys! I know I haven't written a story for a loooong time, so here's one to compensate for all that. Being my first Pokemon fanfic, and having not watched or played Pokemon since D/P/PL, I hope you can forgive me if I make mistakes.
Anyway, this story is a action piece. It's split into three arcs, title Beginnings, Counter and Assault. This is the Prologue to Beginnings. Hope you enjoy, and please leave a review! Constructive criticism is encouraged.
Anyway, here's the first part of Pokemon: Rise of Evil!
BTW, all main characters except Max and Bonnie, who are 15, are all 18 years old. Screw the anime.
Chapter 1
To say that I am going through emotional turmoil is an understatement. There isn't an apt way for me to adequately describe how I feel at the moment. I don't know whether to feel sad, angry, thankful, or anything. My brain cannot—will not—accept what has happened, and it can't compute if what happened is good or bad.
I stare out in the distance, hoping to catch a glimpse of flying Pokemon. Trying to differentiate between the flocks of Fletchinder and Fearow flying, trying to catch that all-red one, and trying to see him for the last time. But no, all I see are flocks of bird-like Pokemon flying into the sunset, moving to pastures anew.
As the sun sets on another day, I can't help but really think, with the limited functionality of my brain, about how the day had gone so wrong so fast.
6 hours earlier…
"Alright, Lumiose City!" Ash cheered as we saw the outer boundaries of the massive city. Bonnie, who had been asleep and was being carried by Ash, groggily woke up, and instantly became alert and excited as they neared her hometown.
"Yay, we're almost home!" She exclaimed happily. "Dedenne!" The Wire Mouse Pokemon residing in her pouch shared her enthusiasm.
It had been 2 weeks since Ash competed in the Kalos Pokemon League Tournament. After some intense competition and some really close calls, Ash made his way to the finals, where he faced the defending champion, Diantha. It had been intense, with a highly charged atmosphere as both trainers threw all they had at each other. Ultimately, it had come down to Ash's Pikachu against Diantha's Gardevior. With both Pokemon going at each other blow for blow, and with the field quaking with the sheer power of the attacks, it looked very tight, and the simplest slip-up could prove costly.
Thankfully, it was Diantha who made that mistake, creating an opening for Pikachu to launch a fully-charged Volt Tackle and landing a direct hit. With that, Ash claimed his first league title: Kalosian King.
Things were almost as smooth for me. With two Princess Keys under my belt, I would have made it as long as I won one of the remaining two Showcases. However, it seemed that my recent wins got me much publicity and popularity, and I swept through the remaining Showcases to be crowned Kalosian Queen. With Ash being crowned Kalosian King, Bonnie had begun mercilessly teasing me, implying that Ash and I should get together like real royalty.
If only telling Ash my feelings were so simple.
With Bonnie's teasing, and with both of us being crowned as Kalosian Royalty, it seemed like a no-brainer that Ash and I should have made a good couple. Bonnie and Clemont, who had finally seen and learnt about my feelings for Ash, constantly kept pressuring to tell Ash, to tell him how I feel. I've tried, but everytime something stops me. Everytime I try to tell him, I clam up, unable to tell him. Whether it is out of fear of rejection or simply the lack of bravery to tell him, I can't tell.
"Serena." I am woken from the confines of my mind by Clemont. It is then I notice that we are alone, outside the gates of Lumiose.
"Where's Ash and Bonnie?"
"They're already inside the city." He steps closer to me with a stern face. "Serena, you have to tell him."
I sigh. As I've said, I've been under constant pressure to confess to Ash. "Clemont, you know I've tried. I just can't…"
"NO!" Clemont suddenly yells, and his shift in character catches me off guard. Clemont realizes this, and softens his voice, "Serena, he has already cleared the Kalos League. There is nothing else for him to do but return home. Lumiose is the final port before he leaves for Kanto, and once he gets on that blimp home, you're not going to see him again. This is your last opportunity to tell him."
"Why is this any of your business?" Annoyance and irritation eat at me as I fold my arms and challenge him. "My relationship with Ash is my business." I don't mean to snap, but I've had enough of this.
Clemont sighs, "I just want you to be happy. As a friend, isn't it part of my job to help make my friends happy? You say you're happy just being crowned Kalosian Queen, yet I can see in your eyes that you're not completely satisfied. You're missing something, Serena." He opens the gate and walks into the city, leaving me with his parting words and my thoughts.
One thing I love about Lumiose: the markets. Sure, Vaniville had its own markets and fashion stores, but in Kalos, nothing beats the capital city. The four of us had agreed to go around the city for the afternoon, before meeting at Clemont's house for a goodbye dinner for Ash. Bonnie and I chose to go shopping, Bonnie hoping to get a good goodbye gift for Ash, I hoping to find some cute clothes, and to be with myself for a few hours.
Come on, Serena! Pull yourself together! It's Ash!
I just can't. I don't want to ruin our friendship…
You know him better. Even if he doesn't reciprocate, he will still be your friend.
It's awkward…
"Excuse me?"
I awake from my thoughts for the second time today by an elderly storekeeper. "Yes?" I ask.
"Sorry, miss. It's just that you happen to have been staring at my wares for a while now, and they're not that attractive if you know what I mean." The storekeeper says, smiling at me.
I blush in embarrassment. "I'm really sorry for disturbing you. I just…have too many thoughts on my mind. I wasn't really paying attention." I wasn't really in the mood to talk, but the old man seemed so genial that I couldn't help it.
He chuckled softly. "Can I presume that you happen to be in a complicated situation? Perhaps with someone whom you are close to?"
I stumble briefly. "How…how did you guess?" I stutter out, my face turning red. Was I really so obvious?
"I've seen young people like you go through such scenarios. In fact, I myself went through this when I was younger." He explained kindly, before leaning in, "May I enquire as to your situation?"
Others might have seen this as an invasion of privacy, and probably would have left, but the old man had me engrossed. He genuinely seemed like he wanted to help. I gave him a summary of my problem, leaving out details like names.
"He's leaving for another region tomorrow, and I'm afraid I won't see him again for a long time, if not ever. I don't want to lose him, but I'm so afraid that I would jeopardize our relationship with him." I conclude.
"You would rather let him stay ignorant of your feelings if it means the two of you can never be more than friends?" There was no judgment in his voice, only gentle sadness.
I consider this for a while, before answering with a nod. The old man contemplates for a minute, before asking, "Say you do tell him, and he does not reciprocate your feelings. Would you resent him?"
There is no hesitation in my answer. "No. I won't. "He's travelled a lot, and I heard about some of his other 'companions'. He has no shortage of suitors, so perhaps he has feelings for a certain one. As long as he's happy being with her, I'm happy for him. I can understand if I'm not the right girl for him. I may not like it, but I won't hate him, because if he isn't happy being with me, then I'll do whatever it takes to make him happy"
"Which is why you ought to tell him your feelings immediately." The old man says with a smile. I am caught off guard by his quick response, and I blurt out, "What?"
"Young lady, just this short conversation tells me one thing: you have a good person. You have a sweet personality, you have striking good looks, and you are willing to step aside if necessary; in other words, you are the perfect girl for anyone. Any boy who can reject a sweet girl like you clearly does not deserve you. My suggestion is to admit your feelings to this boy. You have nothing to lose, for if he rejects you, then perhaps he isn't the perfect person for you. And if he reciprocates…"
I consider the old man's words, and realize that they made a lot of sense. I really didn't have anything to lose. And regardless, if Ash doesn't reciprocate, he's nice enough that he'll still keep me as a close friend. And frankly, I would rather that than be estranged from him.
"You're right, sir. Thank you." I bow in gratitude to him, and my eyes come across one of his wares. "How much would this be? I think it would make a good gift for him."
"For you, no charge." He says with a nonchalant wave of his hand. "Just promise me that you will tell him. You have a very good heart, Serena Yvonne."
I blush again at the compliment. "Thank you." Then his words strike me. "Wait, how do you know my name?"
The man chuckles, "I do believe that even in my old age, I can recognize the Kalosian Queen. And another reason for my advice: that Ash Ketchum fellow seems like a decent guy. I'm confident he won't reject you."
Speechless, I slap a 20 pokedollar note on his stall and race away from his stall, my face now a dark shade of red and my confidence at an all time high.
Clemont's house
"Thanks, Clemont! You sure know how to make a good meal!" Ash compliments.
"Well, it's your last chance to taste Kalosian food and my cooking, so naturally I spared no expense and threw all my cooking expertise into preparing this!" Clemont says proudly.
"And again, you've outdone yourself." Ash says, before tucking into a slice of cake.
Clemont had spent the first part of the afternoon at the gym, ensuring that things were working and checking in as to how Lumiose was progressing economically and socially. Then he had come back to prepare, in his own words, "the greatest banquet in the history of Kalos and in the history of organized banquets."
And he didn't disappoint. It had started with an appetizer of a local Kalosian delicacy, Kreme Brulle, a type of pie made with a mixture of blended berries, sugar and milk. Then the main courses arrived, and the table had been filled with delicious dishes. Dessert was unlimited servings of Kalosian ice cream, apparently taken from the frosted breath of Vanilluxes, which for their seemingly weird appearance, could make really great ice cream. Clemont had to restrain Bonnie because she took one bite of the ice cream and went berserk, trying to spoon as much ice cream as possible. The scene was so adorable.
Once Bonnie had calmed down sufficiently and everyone had eaten their fill, Clemont stood up and gave a speech, thanking Ash for bringing the three of us on such an amazing journey. Bonnie thanked Ash by hugging him and Dedenne celebrated by shocking Ash. Then it was my turn. I stood up, nerves racing.
"Ash, I can't begin to describe how this entire journey has been, and how much it has influenced me. You were a major influence on me when I was young, and this long journey has really changed me more. Without your support, I wouldn't have been able to be crowned Kalosian Queen, let alone win one Showcase. When I was done, you were always there to comfort me, to encourage me to never give up, and to be the very best like no one ever was. I would say thank you, but I feel that those words are insufficient to describe this journey. How can two small words adequately bring out the significance of this journey? But since I can't find a synonym for thank you that can really bring out the extent to which I'm grateful for having joined you on this journey, I guess I'll just have to say thank you for everything."
The silence that permeated the room thereafter was eerie. Upon completion of my speech, no one moved for a minute.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door.
"I've got it! Bonnie, wanna come along?" Clemont quickly announced, before giving me a wink. I could have hugged him right there and then.
"OK!" Bonnie got up and followed Clemont out of the dining room, leaving me alone with Ash.
"Serena, I…I don't know what to say." Ash broke the silence between us first. "You know, you're a really great girl, Serena. I thoroughly enjoyed journeying through Kalos with you."
This is it, Serena. This is your chance.
I took a deep breath. "Thanks, Ash. Actually, there is something I want to tell you."
"Yes, Serena?"
Till today, I wonder. I wonder what would have happened if things hadn't transpired the way they did. Would it have changed anything?
Would I have been in this predicament?
"Ash…" I hear Clemont call. I look up to glare at him, only to see his serious face on. Something's wrong.
"Ash…you have to see this." Clemont calls again. Ash hears the seriousness in his tone and gets up. "What's wrong?"
Clemont doesn't say a word, only turns on the television. He flicks through channels until he finds the news channels.
What I see makes me gasp in horror.
I see a city much like that of Lumiose, only bigger and filled to the brim with skyscrapers. Or at least, what's left of it. Smoke rises from destroyed buildings. Craters litter the pavement and walkways. I even catch a glimpse of bodies lying all around.
At first, I don't know which city was this, my first thought being what kind of twisted soul would something like this. Then my eyes fall on the tallest building in the city, a skyscraper that stands even taller than Prism Tower. An old memory rises to the surface; I had seen a similar building before, when I was younger.
Ash answers for me. "That…that's Saffron City. What happened to it?" His face is a mixture of shock and anger. On his shoulder, Pikachu glares at the TV screen, cheeks sparkling with anger manifesting in energy.
The newscaster speaks, "Reports are still streaming in as to this surprise attack on Saffron City in the Kanto region, in one of the worst terrorist attacks to ever hit the region. The death toll is reported to have reached nearly a thousand, and more than that number have suffered injuries. Yet this is not the only city to be attacked, as reports from Celadon, Viridian and Vermillion City have also been reported…"
Suddenly, the screen turns fuzzy, and after a few minutes of static, the image is replaced by that of a man standing in a dark room. He has a clean shaven look and wears a orange suit, with a Persian prowling around him. He begins to speak.
"People of the Pokemon World! I am Giovanni, leader of an international organization called Team Rocket. We have taken over command of the Kanto region, and as you have seen from the footage at Saffron City, we are not afraid of using force to get power. Our ultimatum is this: the leaders of the remaining 5 regions are to surrender to the command of Team Rocket. Your leaders must abdicate and all Pokemon must be handed over to Team Rocket. Do so within 48 hours, or suffer the consequences."
The screen fizzles, then reverts back to the news channel, who begins to report about the mysterious hacking. I'm barely listening any more, my mind unable to take the shock. Team Rocket? How could an organization that hires people like Jessie and James ever seize control of a region?
My mind suddenly recognizes the sound of someone running down stairs, and I turn to see Ash running out with his bag. Without thinking, I race out.
"Charizard, come on out!" He throws a Pokeball, and out pops a dragon-like Pokemon with fire spewing from its tail. He prepares to get on, but I quickly grab his hand.
"Ash, you're not seriously thinking on taking on Team Rocket, are you?" I ask worriedly. "These don't seem like the kind of people to mess with."
"I have to go, Serena! They attacked my home. They killed innocents, enslaved innocent Pokemon. Do you expect me to just stay here and not do anything about it?" He turns to me and exclaims.
"I'm trying to make sure you don't do something stupid that will get you killed!" I exclaim back. I'm not going to lose him, not right now. Not when everything was going so well. "Ash, these people took over Kanto, one of the toughest regions to beat. I'm not doubting your abilities, but do you really think you can take them on yourself?"
"What's the alternative? I stay here in Kalos and wait for Team Rocket to attack? I'm not letting them touch another region, Serena…especially Kalos. Besides, does it really matter now? I'm not letting them get away with this." He growls.
"I'm not going to let you do this, Ash. I get it, you want to get back at Team Rocket. But you're just one person taking on an entire organization! This isn't a rescue operation, this is a suicide mission!" I can't stop myself from yelling. I have to convince him to stop, even though I know he won't. I can't lose him, not here, not now. "Ash, please don't…"
It takes my brain half a minute to realize that my mouth was being covered by something, and another ten to realize that it's Ash's lips on mine. As my brain registers the shock of being kissed, and by ASH no less, he pulls away. His aggressive look softens.
"My Kalosian Queen, I will return. It may be a month, a year or a decade, but I will come back to Kalos. I will come back to you. I'm doing this because I know that if I don't stop this, Team Rocket won't stop. They'll keep coming, and eventually they'll reach Kalos. I can't stand them attacking this beautiful region." He pauses, then continues, "Or you."
And leaving my shell-shocked self staring in disbelief, he leaps onto Charizard, and the mighty dragon flies off into the sunset, leaving me staring as the boy I loved flew off into the sunset.
That night, I cry myself to sleep. I cry for the uncertainties of the future. I weep for how the day changed so rapidly.
But most of all, I cry for the love I lost.
HOLY SHIT! 3,146 words! I have never written so much for one chapter ever. Well, I thoroughly enjoyed writing this regardless. Hope you guys enjoyed, and please R and R!