I'm Breaking Us to Protect You
Chapter 3: In Upmost Secrecy
Rated T for swearing and violence
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon! If I did my favorite pairings would have gotten together already!
Location: Route ?; Somewhere in between Pacifidlog Town and Slateport City.
Time: 0300 Hours.
To say that Tabitha was enervated would be an understatement. The dark circles and bags under his eyes would support that claim.
It has been almost four months since his confrontation with Maxie.
He was juggling his divided time between a myriad of things for these past months:
While performing his role in being Field Commander for Team Magma, he had been doing on the side research in predicting on what Maxie would do next.
Tabitha had also been gathering information from multitudes of secret sources in order to see and hear what sorts of crazy conquests that the Magma leader would come up with. Tabitha also then planned to try to get the Team Magma leader killed. Maxie trusted him enough, so he would not expect a betrayal. The purple-haired man truly believed the world would be free if Maxie was no longer living.
At the same time, he had rallied a multitude of followers from former members of both Team Aqua AND Team Magma.
They became known as the Resistance.
These people felt that both of their former affiliations were becoming unstable and highly dangerous, or they felt that their ideals do not match up to theirs, so in order to protect themselves, they either left or became double agents.
They were also tired of the chaos and strife that these two organizations have brought into Hoenn; all they wanted now was peace. They assisted him to accumulate information on both organizations and what certain key figures of the organizations were currently doing.
He did not know how, but everyone's mutual hate for war and chaos helped to settle aside their differences and actually led to everyone working together. Yes, some rivalry from old memberships was there, but it despite the fact all operations were running smoothly.
These people would then report to him through secret files, meetings, and telegrams almost nightly for the past four months. The paper work would always be hidden in a compartment in his desk.
It seemed surreal to him, but he had become the face of the Resistance, their LEADER; The highly secretive double-agent who wanted everything to end.
…If he was ever found out, death could be his only comfort.
When asked from his members of why he was doing this, he would simply answer, "I'm not just doing this for you and me; I'm doing it for HER."
The Resistance leader did not know how, but everyone felt mutual respect and hope for him leading them to the promised peace. He thinks it had something to do with how they think he's the only man brilliant enough to outsmart Maxie and rebel against him.
Tabitha was surprisingly open with his Resistance members and told them all about himself, Shelly and his love for her. In return his members became close allies and did their best with missions they were given.
This led to many stories and accounts of former members of Team Aqua, and Magma having forbidden lovers from opposing sides. There were more than Tabitha ever dreamed of or realized. To them, getting rid of all this chaos would hopefully reunite them once again.
..Arceus, it was starting to sound like some damn classic love story. Although...
….He could have never forgotten Shelly.
Since her reign as the new Team Aqua leader, the purple-haired man would ask certain members of the Resistance with high recon experience to now and then check up on her. And he did not like what he was hearing.
Tabitha really felt iniquitous of what he did.
He badly wanted to tell her why he left, and why he was doing this, but he did not want to put her in danger- especially with her being on the top of Maxie's black list.
In addition, he knew that Shelly…would have mixed feelings on leaving Team Aqua.
Sure, he loves her enough to go against everything he's ever known and believed in, that's why he created this Resistance, but if there was one topic that was very sensitive to her- it was of her feelings on Team Aqua. He understood that she considered it as her home after the period in her life where it was arduous to make a living. Not that being in a criminal organization was hard enough as it is.
…He never got to question her about her feelings on this whole matter.
He also knew that if they both leave like they planned to; it would never bring them true peace as they would be hunted down by both criminal organizations internationally for the rest of their lives.
…Which is why after exterminating Maxie, he would then seek to disband both Team Aqua and Team Magma.
Personally for him, he genuinely believed that Shelly, himself, and the people of Hoenn would be at peace if the two criminal organizations would no longer exist.
Once that was done, Tabitha knew that Shelly would not forgive him so easily. He was hell bent that she would be very, very wrathful with him for leaving her so abruptly. He was sure that she would murder him herself.
Shuddering at the thought, he was brought back his surroundings when he heard a voice call his name.
"..What do you want Matt?"
The burly former Team Aqua Admin strode right out of the shadows and right in front of the Resistance leader. A savage smirk on his face and a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Matt had long ditched the Team Aqua get up and now sported a long black cloak that covered his whole body. For reasons unknown he kept the Team Aqua bandana around his head.
Matt had graced him with his presence shortly after Archie died. He had told Tabitha that with Archie gone, there was no hope left for Team Aqua and his loyalty for the organization died along with him. He then unexpectedly joined the Resistance, saying that it would be a better world if both organizations ceased to exist. Tabitha never liked Matt, but he needed as much help as he could get in order for the chaos to end. So He chose Matt to be his second in command. It would make sense since Matt used to be one of Archie's top Admins. Besides Shelly of course. Although Tabitha never understood why Matt left Team Aqua in the first place.
Probably the former Aqua Admin was just as exhausted from all chaos as everyone else was..
"Hehehehehe...Hey Tabby-Cat, I got a gift for ya."
"..Don't call me that you idio-"
WHAM!
Tumbling down, Tabitha cradled his left cheek as he gazed up dazedly at Matt. The stupid bastard just punched him! That was gonna leave a big ugly bruise...
"..THE FUCK'S YOUR PROBLEM?"
Both men glared at each other, waiting tensely for the other to move. Matt then smiled savagely as he crouched down near Tabitha.
"Hehehe…So I just came back from recon and I happened to finish early. So I decided to stop by my sis' place to see how she was doin'." Matt's smile then dropped from his face, an angered glint in his eyes appeared in its place.
Tabitha then felt two huge fists grab at his black cloak and he grunted as he felt his whole body being pulled upwards until his feet was off the ground.
"Lemme tell ya Tabby-Cat, I didn't like what I saw…She's losin' it. Shelly's lookin' like the living dead. And it's ALL. YOUR. FAULT."
Grunting in pain as he felt another punch delivered into his other cheek, Tabitha strained his voice,
"..You're lucky that you're my second in command Matt. Otherwise you'd be banned from the Resistance...or worse."
"..Dammit, Tabitha, she's like a little sister to me! You promised me when I came into the Resistance that she wouldn't get hurt!"
"…If I remember correctly, you left her too Matt. We BOTH did. Now put me down. You're stretching my cloak."
Flinching, Matt released Tabitha, dropping him none too gently down on the ground. Rubbing his face, Tabitha glared up at his second in command. Both bodies were tense and both waiting for the other to make the next move.
Matt was the first to move. He scoffed and ran a hand over his face. He looked at Tabitha with weary eyes and exhaustion as he slid unceremoniously to the floor. Blinking in confusion, the purple-haired man sat down right beside him.
After a few minutes of uneasy silence, Matt was the first to speak.
"..I feel really bad Tabby-Cat…Shelly's important to the BOTH of us. And we caused her to be like this…"
"…I know Matt…we really fucked up this time didn't we?"
"..Hehehe yeah…I don't think she'll ever forgive for this..."
"..Tabitha, she's going to be more than furious with us. She's going to do more than feed us to her Sharpedo! I understand you did this for her protection but really if anything else, for her sake, I hope your plan works. I'll be honest, I never liked you because you hold her affections, but I trust that you will make her safe and happy after all this. That is, if she accepts you again after everything. Good luck boss…and sorry for punching ya."
"..Huh, did anyone tell you that you get stupidly sentimental when you let your guard down? And thanks, Matt. I hope this works…By the way; don't call me Tabby-Cat. Just because Shelly came up with it a long time ago doesn't mean you're allowed to use it."
"Don't care Tabby-Cat. It suits you."
"…Shut up Matt."
Both men sighed and picked themselves off the floor, right when they stood up, one of the grunts ran up to them and told her commanders that the packaging that they waited for has arrived.
The Resistance leader eyes flashed with anticipation and he perked up at the information.
"Good work. Matt, report to meeting room A."
"Yes boss. Should I tell everyone else?"
"Yes…Tell them that operation Alpha has begun."
Hello everyone! I'm sorry! I know it's been a while!
For those of you who don't know, Aqua Admin Matt worked beside Shelly in the Manga and in the original games. His character is defined by being loyal to Archie, but with Archie gone he lost belief in the organization. In this story Shelly and Matt have a brother/sister relationship.
Also, Matt and Tabitha became somewhat friends/rivals in this story because of their love for Shelly, although Matt's is platonic.
FullMoonPhoenixShadow, thank you so much for letting me remember that I have a duty to write this story. I had been having writer's block for this story so I got caught up writing Fire Emblem: Awakening stories.
I completed summer school last week so I am free!
As usual, please leave a review and be respectful!
See you all soon!
-K.A.