Chapter 03: Catching wind
After a good night's sleep, Ash awoke with a loud yawn. He got up from his bed and freshened himself up. His minds where with the new mission he was about to do, and like always, he was very exited. He hummed a tune while he got dressed, and headed for the office next. Like always, he would bring his two handguns and sword with him, since those are the tools he always used to do his job. Some might say it his sword for instance is an extension of his own power and an embodiment of Ash's strength and spirit. His guns, like he says, are to "reach out and touch someone, or something". He took his coat from the rack and the guns from the table. He twirled them around a few times and threw them in the air, and they dropped effortlessly in his back holsters on his coat. He then took his sword and placed it in a fluid motion on his back. Now he was ready, and with a wide smile on his face he left his office, to be greeted by the rising morning sun.
The sun was slowly rising in the sky, as Ash sped down the road towards Pallet Town on his bike. He took a detour around Viridian Forest, as it would be easier to navigate outside the forest then being hindered by a view full of trees. After a few minutes more of driving, he finally noticed the largest building of the town in the distance. As he sped up even more, he grinned at the thought of coming home for the first time since a long time. He didn't let up on the accelerator as he entered the town's limits, and sped off towards his mother's home. But his arrival didn't go unnoticed, as there was someone waiting outside in de garden when Ash stopped his motorcycle.
Ash fluidly jumped off his motorcycle and he approached the person in the garden. "Good morning Ash. I must say, you're early.", his mother greeted him with a smile. Ash spread his arms as if to invite her for a hug as he walked towards her.
"Good morning mother. You know me, always on time.", he greeted back. He took his mother in a loving hug.
"I've missed you, my son.", Delia spoke softly. Ash smiled warmly.
"I missed you too mother.", he said. He held her close, and proceeded to swing her around a few times.
"Ash! Stop it, it makes me dizzy!", his mother shouted with a laugh. Ash complied with the order and placed her gently on the ground.
"Couldn't resist.", he smirked. They both shared a laugh before Delia ushered him inside.
Ash placed his sword against the wall in the living room, and took off his coat which held his guns, and hung them on a chair. His mother had gone into the kitchen. "I take it you don't want any tea?", she said.
"No thanks. But something fresh would hit the spot.", Ash replied, as he placed himself in the couch. He placed the bag with Pokéballs on the table. A few minutes later Delia returned with a cup of tea and a bottle of soda.
"Here you go!", she said, and Ash took the bottle from her. He took a long sip from it before placing it on the table. Delia noticed the bag on the table.
"Are those Pokéballs? What do they carry?", she asked as she observed the bag.
"Houndoom. Got them from my last job. They don't appear to be bonded with a devil, but maybe the professor can enlighten us more about the state of these Pokémon.", Ash replied as he took another sip. Delia nodded and decided to let the topic drop for now, and told herself she would bring the Pokéballs to the professor later.
"I'm sure you want to hear what your new job is, am I right?", Delia asked, as she took a sip from her tea. Ash grinned widely.
"You must be psychic mother. So, what kind of job is it this time?", he said, getting excited. Delia took the files she had received from Lance and placed them on her lap.
"Well, it is something… different then what you are used to.", she said with a smile.
Ash frowned. He was always in the mood for something different, as long as it had something to do with exterminating devils and demons, or if it was connected with exterminating said beings. He also never backed down from a job, and whatever this new job was, it sure as hell wasn't going to be the first. Delia handed him the files and Ash opened the first one. As soon as he started reading it, his face started to contort into an angry scowl, which gradually intensified.
"And then to think I've stopped such a cult in Vermillion…", he muttered below his breath. He continued to read on as his mother looked at him, feeling how he felt. His eyes started to glow a little red. Ash closed the file and placed it on the table.
"Safe to say I know what I must do. I'll send them to the place they like so much to draw their powers from.", he said, his voice an angry growl. Delia gently shook her head.
"Not precisely, Ash. Read this as well.", she said, as she handed him the death threat. Ash scanned over it and almost crushed the piece of paper in his hand when he noticed the symbol on the bottom left corner.
"Any idea what this is? Looks like their symbol or something.", he said, as he examined it.
"That's correct. That symbol has been linked to the group that Norman was investigating.", Delia explained.
Ash's anger subsided, and the red glow in his eyes dimmed slowly until it was gone. He placed the piece of paper on the table.
"Does the League have anything solid?", he asked, looking at his mother. Delia shook her head and Ash let out a sigh. "Just great. Can't crash their party if there's no address.", he said, looking away. Delia silently agreed.
"The League does have Norman under protection every moment of the day. But that's not the main problem that Norman has.", she said. Ash stared at his mother again, this time surprised.
"What do you mean, mother?", he asked. Delia didn't reply, but handed her son the second file. Ash opened it and several papers and photo's were inside. As Ash examined the contents, his eyes widened. He didn't notice that Delia's smile widened as well. He looked at her, his eyes full of disbelieving.
"You can't be serious."
At that same moment, only several hundred miles away, the peacefulness of one of the forests in Johto was about to be ripped apart. Silently and swiftly, through the bushes and past the trees, a large team of men and women were moving towards a target, like hunters stalking their prey. And it was exactly that, because these people were hunting a big prize in the early morning. The team, clothed in black uniforms, had been sent to capture the last of their targets: the legendary dog of lightning, Raikou. They has already managed to capture the two other legendary dogs: Entei and Suicune.
In the lead, two hunters moved towards a clearing ever so stealthily. The clearing contained a large lake, and within the lake several rocks stood as a make-shift island. One of them raised his hand, and the rest of the team stopped immediately. He lowered his hand and crouched next to his partner.
"There it is. Looks like the intelligence we got was right.", he said. His partner looked at him through the helmet they all wore.
"You doubted our leads? Don't let the boss hear it, or he'll have your balls, James.", she said. The hunter, known as James, shrugged.
"I don't care, as long as we get paid Jessie.", he said, and motioned the others to spread out. Within seconds, the clearing was surrounded, and the sleeping form of Raikou that lay on the rocks in the lake sensed no danger at all from the humans around him.
James looked around the clearing, but never took his eye off of Raikou.
"Is everyone in position?", he asked his partner. Jessie looked around the clearing more carefully, and saw that every spot they had indicated prior to the attack was accounted for. She gave him a thumbs-up. He grinned, as he activated a small intercom in his helmet.
"We are all in position. Tranquilizers at the ready, and capture team stand-by. Fire at my command.", he ordered. The duo noticed the team readying to execute the next command. The grin on the hunter's face grew wider.
"Fire."
Ash stood up and paced around the living room for a few moments, in total disbelief. His mother wasn't kidding when she said it would be different, but he never would have thought it would be something like this. He sat down again and took the files once more, as he glanced over them.
"Has the League lost its mind or something? Has Lance gone crazy?", he said, his voice filled with a hint of frustration. He still couldn't believe it. His mother smiled at her son's behavior. It seems that even a half-devil can be surprised when using the proper methods.
"Ash, just read through it and examine the photo's. The League could not find anyone else for this task.", she said.
Ash let out a long sigh. "I really doubt that to be honest. I have been home-schooled by you and the professor. And now I'm going to a high school?", he said. He threw his hands up in the air before slumping down in the couch. "This just keeps getting better and better.", he murmured sarcastically. Delia looked at her son. She felt a little remorse for doing this to him, but she knew that there were no other options. Also, a small part of her was enjoying watching her son in despair.
"Ash, allow me to explain a few things.", she said, getting Ash's attention. He sat straight up and looked at his mother, who started to explain in more detail what the job was going to be like.
"You don't have to worry too much about anything. Your job is to be a hidden bodyguard for Norman's daughter. The principal of the school has been informed and has given his full cooperation on this task. You will be placed in her class, so that you can be close to her and keep her from harm. And by harm, I mean any kind of harm.", she said. Ash listened intently.
"So, I don't have to follow subjects or do homework?", he asked. Delia nodded.
"Your cover for this is that you are a transfer student who is examining how the school teaches its students. Only thing you have to do is take notes and participate in school activities.", she explained. Ash grinned. He was starting to like this job now.
Ash looked at the pictures which were included with the file. They showed a girl which had brown hair, blue eyes and was dressed in casual clothing. Ash examined the picture closely so he could recognize her when he got to the school.
"I see that no school uniforms are in order?", he said. Delia nodded. Ash grinned. "Good. They would only get in the way of my style.", he grinned. Delia chuckled.
"Yes Ash. You have a lot of style. But remember, this is a school, not a hunting ground.". she said. Ash shrugged.
"Same thing.", he said.
"Ash, be serious now. How do you think they would react when you walk into the school with your sword on your back and your guns on your coat?", Delia said, a little sternly, but there was a slight humorous tone in her voice. Ash thought about it; she did have a point.
"But going out there without my gear is like walking in there naked.", he said. True, he was strong enough to fight bare-handed, but he loved his weapons.
Delia understood his plight, and smiled.
"I didn't say you could not bring them with you. I only said that it isn't smart to take them to class with you.", she said. Ash thought about it.
"I can hide my guns, and only use them as a last resort to perforate whatever it is that threatens her. But my sword is a different story indeed.", he pondered out loud. Suddenly, he remembered something.
"Where exactly am I going to stay? On the school grounds or somewhere else?", he asked. Delia smiled widely.
"On the school grounds of course!", she exclaimed. Ash groaned a bit.
"But, the principal has arranged a dorm for you, to be used entirely for yourself. No other students.", she added, which brought Ash back from his thoughts. A smile once again plastered on his face.
"I like the principal already.", he grinned.
A large building in Goldenrod City stood majestically above the other buildings. Several stories high, it was nearly as big as the radio tower that was also present in the same city. A modern day office building, owned by one of the greatest companies in the world: Rocketto Pharmaceutical. From outside, Rocketto Pharmaceutical is a pharmaceutical company like the name suggests, making various vaccines and other products for that market. But behind that mask hides the greatest crime syndicate the world has ever seen, known as Team Rocket. Utterly ruthless in their endeavors, they reign supreme in all the regions. Every region has a different HQ they use, so there is no need for a single base of operations. The head of Team Rocket decided to do this, so that if one should fall, the others would prevail. He was a smart man, and he had his sights set on something different now.
On the top floor of the building, he had his office. Seated behind a large wooden desk, he was deep in thoughts as he read an old book with ancient texts. Reading was something he enjoyed; it calmed his mind and it made him think more clearly. This book however, was something he read for the success of his next plan. The ringing from the videophone on his desk tore him from his book. Remembering where he left off, he pushed a button on the device. Instantly, the face of a middle-aged man appeared on the screen, with a few scars on the cheeks and blue hair that looked unkempt. He had a sneer on his face; something that didn't go unnoticed by the leader of Team Rocket.
"James, one of my oldest members. I assume you called me to report the success of your mission?", the leader said in a strong voice. The man on the screen grinned widely.
"Indeed, Giovanni. We have successfully captured the three legendary hounds of Johto. We are on our way to Goldenrod as we speak.", the man known as James spoke. Giovanni's face turned into a wicked smile.
"Excellent. Was there any trouble?", he asked. James shook his head.
"None whatsoever. We've put them to sleep quite easily, thanks to the suits you have given us. Remarkable technology I must say.", he said. Giovanni leaned back in his chair.
"What did you expect? We're not doing our research for nothing, mind you. We always deliver the best we can offer. You should know that by now.", he said. James grinned.
"I got even more then I had expected. But back to the task at hand: I believe we will arrive at headquarters in twenty minutes.", he replied.
"Good. When you return, I want to see you in my office.", Giovanni said, and leaned forward to terminate the call, not waiting for a response.
"You could have chosen to sent me with them.", a voice suddenly sounded in the office. Giovanni didn't react surprised; rather, he smiled as he turned to his book again.
"That I could have done. But I have a more delicate matter for you to attend to.", he said, not looking up. The owner of the voice slowly approached one of the large windows, and stared outside. The light revealed a young man, in its late teens. He wore a blue coat that reached his shins. Brown boots and a dark pair of pants and shirt, combined with the look in his eyes made him look intimidating. His brown-gloved hand held a sheath, which held a katana. His purple hair shimmered in the light as he continued to stare outside.
"Yes, the investigation that one of the Gym Leaders is doing in one of our cults. I am well aware of that. It seemed the Order of the Bloodhound had met an untimely end. They're completely eradicated.", he said, his gaze not averting from the outside view. He closed his eyes for a moment before he continued. "Even with the powers of devils, which we provided for them, they fell. Weaklings.", he added.
"Yes, that was most unfortunate. It was by far one of the most useful groups in Kanto. Raising another cult there would take too much time and would be very costly though, so that is not going to happen.", Giovanni replied, as he closed his book. He turned to the figure at the window. "So I have the Order of the Dice expand instead.", he added.
The blue-coated youth turned to face him. "You're actually giving that lunatic that calls himself 'the Dice' even more influence and power?", he asked. Giovanni nodded.
"He may be a loose cannon sometimes, but he knows that without our help he is nothing. So he does what I say he must do, and he gets from us what he wants. He's good at keeping the attention diverted from us.", he said.
"Hence the death threats he has been sending out to that Gym Leader in Petalburg. Effective, but in the event that he is caught, he will spill it all, just to save his own hide.", the youth said, as he walked towards the desk.
Giovanni shrugged. "You're so sure he will do that. Well, he's so high of himself and loyal to us that he will die before revealing anything. Besides, he is the only one that knows about us, and his followers don't dare question him. So I suggest stop complaining and start thinking straight.", he said, his eyes following the youth as he neared his desk.
"I'm not complaining. I merely say he could be a liability.", the youth said as he stopped before Giovanni's desk. Giovanni sighed and leaned forward.
"Enough of this. You're bored, I can tell. So, you want something to do, right? Well, I'm sending you to Vermillion City. Find out what you can about the extermination of the Bloodhounds. I have a hunch, but I want to be sure. Now go.", he ordered, as he gestured to the door. The youth sighed, and turned to leave.
"Don't make a mistake you are going to regret, dear father.", he said, and left the office, the katana gripped firmly in his hand.
"No, my dear son. Don't make me regret raising you.", Giovanni said as the door closed.
In Pallet Town, Ash was still reading the files and examining the details he needed to know. Although it was vastly different, he had a plan in his head that could work.
"Is she single?", he asked. Delia looked at her son instantly, and she was dumbfounded by that statement. "What?", Ash said, as he noticed his mother's stare.
"Why would you ask that, Ash?", she said, but then a mischievous smile played across her facial features. "Are you taking a liking to her?", she asked sweetly. Ash chuckled.
"Drop it mother. I merely said that because if she is, she is easier to protect then when she has a boyfriend or something.", he told her. Delia grinned.
"Sure Ash, whatever you say!", she chuckled. Ash sighed. Why couldn't his mother act normally? Although he had to admit, the girl in the pictures looked stunning. Then he remembered something as he put the picture back.
"Mother, do you still have it?", he asked. Delia knew instantly what he meant.
"Yes, I will get it for you. Just a second.", she said, and left the living room for a moment, the entire earlier conversation seemingly forgotten. She returned with something in her hand. "Here it is. I took good care of it.", she said, as she handed the object to Ash.
Ash looked at the small trinket in his hands. It was a pendant, roughly shaped like an oval made of silver. In the middle was a golden yellow stone, which seemed to glow in the light, and something seemed to swirl in it. If one looked closely, the stone seemed to emit small sparks of lightning. He stared at it for a long moment, and Delia watched Ash's facial expression change in something that resembled sorrow. Even someone like Ash could feel that at times. As Ash looked at the amulet, he remembered again why he had it.
Almost ten years ago, when Ash was fifteen, he was walking through Viridian Forest, when he heard a faint cry in the distance. Wasting no more time, he rushed to the site to see what it was. He came upon a gruesome display. Before him, a group of devils had attacked a group of Pikachu, and the last one was barely able to defend itself. Ash had rushed in and cut down all of the devils, and tried to help the Pikachu. It fell unconscious and Ash had hurriedly taken it with him to professor Oak for aid. The Pikachu had taken a liking to Ash, and after it had been nursed back to health, it was Ash's companion for a long time, until a routine job turned sour and Pikachu was fatally wounded. Ash had taken a small round stone, and he held it against Pikachu's body. Ash managed to use his own inner devil strength to remove the soul from the fallen Pokémon and bonded it to the rock. He had his mother made a pendant of it and he told her to keep it safe. From time to time, he wears it, and he can feel the spiritual power of the Pokémon through the stone, knowing that it will always be with him.
Ash placed the pendant around his neck and put it underneath his clothes.
"When exactly do I leave?", he asked.
"Whenever you're ready. You are allowed to bring your bike to school, so you do have means of transportation. The school is located in Johto, in Olivine City. It will be quite a trip. Lance has already informed Norman of the situation, and as agreed, May must not suspect anything that you are protecting her. Who knows what will happen when you use your abilities in front of all those students.", Delia explained. Ash gave a nod in understanding.
"Alright, I'll try not to show off too much.", he said with a smile. Delia sighed. Sometimes her son could be sure of himself.
After getting the needed information, Ash packed up his stuff and tossed in a few regular clothes for good measure. He had a large box, where he could hide his sword in. His guns were stowed in his duffle bag. He tied the bag on his bike, and managed to place the box with the sword easily on his back without hindering him while he drove. As he got on the bike, his mother was talking to him for the last few details.
"Norman will be in touch with you via the principal. It is secure, so no-one will be listening in. If anything happens, you know what to do and how to contact me. Once everything has settled down, your job will be done. But that could take some time.", she said, as she handed Ash a cell phone. Ash nodded and gave his mother a hug after he accepted the small device.
"Have no worries mother, because I will see this one through. Remember to bring the Pokéballs to the professor.", he said as he let go of her. After a last wave, he sped off, towards his destination. The midday sun shined brightly in the sky as the dust settled from Ash's departure.
On a boat, coming from the Johto region, stood the blue-coated youth, staring on the front deck at the sea. There were lots of trainers on board, and many had challenged him, thinking he was a trainer as well. But after he had given them a cold, hard glare, they hurried off to find someone else to bother. That's why he hated trips like this, and that's why he stood on the front deck. There weren't many people with him, so he could concentrate on what he should be looking for. He shared the same hunch his father had dropped back in Goldenrod. Needless to say, he was getting a little bit excited over it. For him, challenges were a rare treat, and if their hunch proved to be right, he would be facing his biggest challenge yet.
"Hey you!", voice from behind him shouted, which made him forget his thoughts for a moment. He sighed and closed his eyes for a brief moment before looking at the sea again.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!", he heard again. Judging by the voice, he figured it was another trainer looking for a challenge. He slowly turned around, his coat and hair waving in the wind. He saw a kid looking at him, tossing a Pokéball in his hand. "I'm looking for a challenge, and I'm challenging you!", the kid said, determined to make him fight.
"I am not interested, because I am no trainer.", he said, glaring at the kid with murderous intent. The kid stopped tossing his Pokéball and gulped. Without further speech, he turned around and hastily left the front deck. "Kids…", he groaned, and returned his attention to the sea again. He saw the lighthouse of Vermillion City. He let out a small smile, as his trip was coming to an end.
Ash had made quite a trip and reached Vermillion City in record time. As he entered the harbor, he thought back on the last time he was here. He grinned and steered his bike towards the pier where the ferry would be docking. In the distance, he could see the boat approaching. He checked in and waited patiently for the boat to arrive. But something seemed to be bothering him as the distance between the dock and the ferry lessened. The closer the ferry neared, the more he felt a strange feeling in his stomach. He couldn't place his finger on it what it was; he had never experienced something like it before. Like something was on board the ferry that wasn't neither human or devil. He tried to shake the feeling off, but he couldn't. So, he waited patiently for the ferry to arrive, leaning on his bike, to see what caused this feeling inside of him.
On the ferry, the blue-coated youth stood before the exit, to leave as soon as the docking was completed. He was getting sick of all the trainers on the boat, and his hand gripped his sword tightly at the thought of decimating every single one of them in a single strike. He relinquished the thought; he had other matters to attend to. But as the boat neared the pier, he noticed a feeling inside of him that he hadn't noticed, or experienced, before. He didn't know what it was; it felt like he was been watched. He tried not to focus on it, and when the ferry docked and the doors opened, he left the boat as normal as he could.
Ash watched the people leave the ferry, and waited patiently to board it. The feeling in his gut was at its most intense; whatever it was that caused it, it was close by. Ash looked more closely to the crowd, and noticed a purple-haired youth with a blue coat walking amongst them. He was sure of it now. That person was the course of what he felt right now. As he looked, the youth suddenly looked into his direction. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, time seemed non-existent between the two. They continued to look at each other with great interest, when a crowd of people interrupted their line of sight. As the crowd lessened, the youth was gone. With his mind still registering the event, Ash boarded the ferry and waited for it to depart.
The blue-coated youth had eyed Ash carefully as soon as he felt he was being watched. When their eyes met, he felt a strange sensation, something he couldn't quite place. He moved along, not letting Ash out of his sight. Unwittingly, his grip on his sword tightened. As the crowd got more dense, he walked on, giving it a place in his mind to wonder about later. He removed himself from the crowd, and headed towards the other parts of the harbor, which was still closed off by the police. He managed to gain access to the warehouse where Ash put an end to the cult's remaining members and their leader. Although the police had thoroughly cleaned the place, the youth could still pick up pieces of what had happened. But the most disturbing clue was the scent in the air. His eyes widened for a moment, before he rushed out of the warehouse. He heard the ferry leave when the horn blew, and he stopped dead in his tracks, knowing his attempt was futile. He cursed silently in his mind as he watched the boat leave, as he realized the hunch he and his father had was right.