A/N: It's been… quite a long time. If you've been following this story, I'm sorry to have left you waiting for so long! This is the conclusion to the Amazon Lily arc, and it gives the first real glimpse into the underlying mystery of Pokémon appearing in the One Piece world.
Future updates will continue to be slow, as I'm once again working halfway around the world—this time in South Korea—and I have to work long hours if I want to keep food on the table. But I'll do my best, both for this story and for Reign of the Serpent and Rise of the Uchiha. You guys deserve my best effort, and I'll try to deliver.
The next arc features a new island, one that I will design myself instead of taking from One Piece canon. But there will be many familiar faces to spice things up, including Ace and Captain Eustace Kidd. I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or One Piece
Chapter 9: The Treasure of Amazon Lily
Ash was a bit confused, to say the least. When he'd last seen Misty she was over a pirate's shoulder, and Ash's only concern was how to immobilize Hawkins and save his friend. Now Misty was fighting with Hawkins against extremely powerful Pokémon that were giving off a majorly creepy vibe. The ring of crystal columns was yet another mystery, and not one he was particularly happy about.
Those glowing eyes… what could do that to wild Pokémon?! It's like they're hypnotized, except they fight just fine. Those pillars have to have something to do with it – they're the same exact shade, after all. Some kind of signal broadcast?
But saving Misty and Hawkins (although the latter less willingly than the former) took priority over figuring what the hell was going on. His crew was in danger, and Ash could try to get to the bottom of things once the threat was neutralized.
Ash and Charizard's arrival brought the fighting to a momentary halt, as the guardian Pokémon and the pirates both reassessed the battlefield. Ash released his Butterfree as well, so he had four Pokémon taking the field, including Butterfree and Wartortle, to support Misty's squad and the remnants of the Hawkins Pirates.
The frozen moment shattered when Aerodactyl gave a roar of primordial rage and took to the sky, abandoning its perch atop the crystal pillar. Charizard vented a plume of fire and prepared to take off in pursuit.
"Stop!" Ash shouted. Charizard broke off reluctantly, watching Ash with a pleading eye. "Don't even think about it!" he snapped.
Ash was running through probabilities in his head, assessing the battlefield and the various factors in play. Of course Charizard wanted to meet Aerodactyl in battle, competitive as it was, but Ash wasn't convinced this was the best strategy.
"Pikachu, can you take it down?" he asked. His most loyal Pokémon chittered with glee, charging up energy for a massive Thunderbolt.
At the same time, however, Aerodactyl initiated a technique that reshaped the very structure of the summit. Chunks of rock and small boulders detached themselves from the earth and rocketed upward like a hailstorm in reverse. Soon Aerodactyl disappeared from sight, cloaked by countless rocks and boulders circling it at high speeds. It was like Aerodactyl had become a star, and everything that came too close was sucked into a high-speed orbit.
Telepathic control over the earth… this must be Ancientpower! Ash realized. This is NOT going the way I planned!
Pikachu unleashed its Thunderbolt. Two boulders detached themselves from the revolving cocoon around Aerodactyl, and even though the lightning bolt reduced them to rubble, Aerodactyl itself was unharmed.
Charizard let out a scornful cough tinged with wisps of flame, its expression saying very clearly: NOW can I fight?
"You watch Hawkins!" Ash shouted, gesturing to the pirate captain. Hawkins had just begun to bait Rampardos like a matador baits a bull, escaping death by a hair each time the monstrous dinosaur Pokémon tried to run him down.
Ash trusted Charizard to understand his intention: While Hawkins was in danger, Charizard should fight alongside him and keep him from harm. But when that danger passed, it would be up to Charizard to make sure that Hawkins didn't bring any more harm to Ash's crew. Charizard glowered, but obeyed. Rampardos swerved in his next charge as Charizard flew over to stand beside Hawkins.
Ash turned to the rest of his Pokémon, which had formed a defensive wall with Starmie in front of Misty and the Amazons. "Follow Misty's orders now," he called out, making eye contact with Wartortle and then Butterfree. Meowth jumped down from Ash's shoulder to join them. "Keep her safe, and fight smart! Brock and Gary are coming, so draw the battle out and don't take stupid chances."
Misty frowned at Ash. "You have that look like you're about to do something stupid." On Ash's shoulder, Pikachu chirped its agreement.
"You know me too well," Ash laughed. "Pikachu, you're with Misty too. I'll handle the Aerodactyl."
With identical snorts, Misty and Pikachu made it clear what they thought of that idea. "No arguing," Ash insisted, tossing Pikachu gently but firmly into Misty's arms.
"But you're leaving most of your Pokémon here," Misty objected. "And Fearow probably wouldn't be able to take Aerodactyl on its own, even without you slowing it down. This is insane!"
"A little insanity can be a good thing," Ash tossed back. Fearow flapped its powerful wings, taking to the air once more. "Don't worry," Ash called back as he ascended to meet Aerodactyl. "I've got a plan!"
Ash thought he heard Misty reply with a rude word, but then Fearow flew out of earshot. Aerodactyl circled overhead, awaiting the Trainer who dared challenge its supremacy. Its protective field of rocks swirled like a living organism, or perhaps a swarm of flying insects controlled by one dominant mind.
Here we go…
Even though Fearow was Gary's Pokémon, it flew like it could read Ash's mind. With speed most bird Pokémon could only envy, Fearow darted close in to Aerodactyl and then out again, baiting the larger creature into lashing out. Volleys of rocks began to target Fearow, forcing it to fly as never before. It dodged and swooped and rolled until Ash was dizzy from the aerial acrobatics.
Ash knew, however, that he was never going to get past those rocks unless he took some risks.
"We need to get in close," Ash yelled to Fearow. "Can you do it?"
Fearow rolled one eye up in its socket, somehow managing to look offended and scornful at the same time. Ash shrugged.
Like Trainer, like Pokémon, I guess.
"Then let's risk it," Ash resolved. "Agility!"
Fearow became a feathered blur shooting forward, while the rocks swirling around Aerodactyl contracted to form a defensive cocoon that hid Aerodactyl from sight. "Now use Drill Peck!" Ash commanded. Fearow focused all its strength and speed into a single point, colliding with Aerodactyl's rocky armor and shattering it with the force of its strongest attack.
Even as the other rocks shot towards them and Aerodactyl itself turned to meet their charge head-on, Ash threw the only Pokéball that he'd brought with him. Aerodactyl was ready for Fearow, but a new Pokémon appearing out of midair, inches from its face, caught it by surprise.
Ash's newly caught Larvitar chomped down on Aerodactyl's snout, just like it had tried to do to Ash earlier. Aerodactyl was more surprised than hurt, but a creature latching its jaws onto your snout is going to be distracting even if your snout is made of living rock.
Aerodactyl flailed in midair, trying to dislodge Larvitar. Aerodactyl's powerful tail hit Fearow a devastating blow. Ash lost his balance and went soaring into empty space, while Fearow went into a downward spiral, unable to control its flight with two injured wings. Ash was quick enough to recall both Fearow and Larvitar to their Pokéballs before he fell out of range.
Now's the time, he thought, praying that his plan would work.
Pidgeotto's piercing cry was music to his ears. Ash's Pidgeotto dove with perfect timing, capitalizing on the moment when Aerodactyl had been distracted by Larvitar. Ash had been counting on his Bird Pokémon, which had been circling with Bulbasaur ever since he had sent them ahead, to recognize the opening he had created.
Ash couldn't see it as he was currently falling towards a painful death, but his Bulbasaur landed on Aerodactyl's back with surprising grace for the stodgy little Plant Pokémon. Its vines pinned the Aerodactyl's wings to its body, and Bulbasaur began pumping out Sleep Powder like its life depended on it—which it absolutely did.
Pidgeotto peeled away to avoid the rocks controlled by Ancientpower, then dove once more to rescue Ash. Pidgeotto spiraled around Ash until he managed to grip its neck with both hands, orienting himself into a manageable flying position. Pidgeotto leveled out and came around, allowing Ash to see the results of his desperate plan.
Aerodactyl was falling from the sky.
With Bulbasaur's vines securing its wings and the feisty Plant Pokémon still saturating its opponent with Sleep Powder, Aerodactyl couldn't sustain Ancientpower or even remain airborne. The rocks and boulders it had collected fell with it, so that it looked like an avalanche was raining down from the heavens.
What if those rocks hit Misty or the Amazons? Ash thought with sudden horror. Or Hawkins?
He guided Pidgeotto into another dive, straining to make out the positions of his allies on the summit below.
It seemed the tables had turned while Ash had been setting up his elaborate trap for Aerodactyl. None of the guardian Pokémon remained standing. From the presence of a certain giant snake made of living rock, Ash guessed that Brock and Gary had arrived and turned the odds in the Trainers' favor.
The assembled Pokémon on the summit took defensive measures against the falling boulders: Wartortle and Starmie shot some out of the sky with Water Gun, Pikachu blasted a few with Thunderbolt, and Butterfree and Brock's Golbat redirected a large number with Gust attacks.
Meanwhile Onix reared its giant head to meet the falling Aerodactyl. Brock's Onix was prepared to cushion the impact, but Aerodactyl was still about to take a beating. Bulbasaur released its vines and jumped at the last instant, landing proudly on Onix's rocky snout.
Aerodactyl crashed into Onix's neck, bouncing and sliding down the larger Pokémon's back. Its wings received tremendous punishment as they cushioned Aerodactyl's body during its fall.
Ash guided Pidgeotto to land next to Brock and Gary, and they watched Aerodactyl come crashing into the ground beside Onix. It rose to its feet almost immediately, shaking off the effects of Bulbasaur's Sleep Powder, but the damage to its wings was too much for it to take to the air again.
"Ouch…" Ash breathed. "Bit of a 'rocky' landing, eh? Eh?"
Gary didn't even dignify the pun with a groan.
Brock watched the majestic Rock Pokémon with concern before turning to Ash. "All the other Pokémon guarding this place are dead," he reported sadly. "They wouldn't stop fighting no matter what injuries they received, and Hawkins insisted on avenging his men. We should save this one, though... if it lets us."
Ash watched the injured Aerodactyl with a critical eye. It kept its savaged wings close in to its body, and its eyes still glowed the same ghostly pink shade as the crystal pillars.
"Go on, Brock," Ash said at last, gesturing for the Pokémon doctor to proceed. "If you can figure out how to help it, you should."
"You sure, Ash? You beat it fair and square, not me."
Ash gave him a thumbs up. "I've already got Pidgeotto and Charizard," he reassured Brock. "You need another flier more than I do. And that's even assuming we can break the force controlling it."
Even injured and alone, Aerodactyl commanded respect as it forced its weakened body to stand tall. The Pokémon Pirates moved a safe distance away and reunited with the three Amazon warriors, while the survivors of the Hawkins Pirates huddled close around their captain. They were only three now: Hawkins himself, and his two lieutenants with Devil Fruit powers. The rest must have perished before the last of the guardian Pokémon were wiped out.
Everyone watched as Brock carefully approached the Aerodactyl. He kept his Graveler on his right, Rhyhorn on his left, and Golbat hovering above his head. Onix coiled into a battle-ready position behind Aerodactyl, ready to play the anvil to Brock's hammer.
Ash was glad to see that Brock was not foolhardy enough to try defeating this Pokémon in single combat, even handicapped as it was. There was a world of difference between a young Rhyhorn and a mature Aerodactyl, after all.
The battle was short and brutal. Brock's Graveler used Rollout to distract Aerodactyl, then Golbat disoriented it with Confuse Ray. Rhyhorn and Onix suffered the brunt of Aerodactyl's aimless thrashing, until finally they managed to pin the guardian Pokémon under Onix's bulk.
Ash found the fight difficult to watch, even heartbreaking. Aerodactyl had been robbed of its free will, and now it was reduced to a victim when it should have been living free and proud. But Brock would do everything he could to restore this Aerodactyl to health, which gave Ash a small measure of hope.
Only Aerodactyl's head remained visible, and it stared at Brock with those emotionless glowing eyes. Brock locked gazes with Aerodactyl for a long moment. Then, as everyone on the summit held their breath, he delivered a punishing two-handed blow to Aerodactyl's temple.
Ash winced with sympathy at the attack. When Aerodactyl opened its eyes, however, they were restored to a normal hue. It blinked twice, confused and disoriented. Then Aerodactyl gave a tremendous sigh, as if the weight of the world had fallen from its shoulders. Its eyes closed and its breath took on a ragged rhythm.
Brock tossed an empty Ultra Ball, the only one he had, and it barely quivered twice before coming to rest. Brock "the Boulder" had caught an Aerodactyl.
"Cognitive recalibration…" Brock mused. "It never fails."
Ash scratched his head. "Say what? Did you do some freaky Rock-type mind-meld thing to break it out of its trance?"
It looked like he just smashed it in the face…
"I hit it really hard in the head," Brock clarified.
"Ah."
Basil Hawkins stepped forward, his deep voice drawing the attention of the humans and Pokémon on the summit. "The battle is over. Whatever force controlled these monsters, it has no power here any longer. Thank you for your assistance, Captain Ketchum."
"You can shove it up your ass," Ash replied hotly, wheeling to deal with the pirate who had gotten his crew into this mess in the first place. "Release Misty and the Amazons from your voodoo spell and I'll let you go. Otherwise I'll send you to Hell to reunite with your men. I doubt they'll be all that happy to see you after you sacrificed them for nothing."
"Not for nothing, Captain Ketchum," Hawkins replied. "For a prize well worth the sacrifice. I will now claim that prize, after which I shall return your comrades to you… as I promised from the beginning."
Ash cursed inwardly at the situation, which had returned once more to a stalemate. All that fighting against the guardian Pokémon, and yet nothing had changed.
Even in the midst of battle, Hawkins had planned his strategy well. He and his lieutenants were closest to the central crystal pillar, while the Pokémon Pirates were all outside of the surrounding circle. With the Devil Fruit users covering his retreat, Hawkins walked over to the runty bush next to the central pillar.
He came all this way for a fruit? Ash thought. Well, let him have it… he knows if he tries anything afterwards, we'll destroy him. Maybe we can actually trust him to keep his word.
But just then, Kikyo the Amazon warrior split the air with a piercing cry. "Don't let him take that Devil Fruit! It's worth our lives to keep it from him!"
She sent an arrow at Hawkins before any of Ash's crew could react. The Devil Fruit user with the summoning ability created a clay construct that exploded from the force of the arrow, while Hawkins closed the remaining distance to the bush.
Ash was already in motion, though he didn't know what he could do. He couldn't possibly reach Hawkins in time – and he didn't even know what he was supposed to be stopping!
Hawkins' lieutenants moved to block him, but Pikachu's Thunderwave left them spasming on the ground. Hawkins let out a loud shout that brought Ash to a stop, mere feet from the other captain. Hawkins held up the fruit with one hand, and held his sword to his own neck with the other.
"Hold, or Miss Misty dies," Hawkins said icily. "Are you really willing to jeopardize her life – over a single Devil Fruit?"
There was really only one answer to that, and Ash and Hawkins both knew it. However terrifying Devil Fruits could be, no matter what powers Hawkins might obtain by eating it or giving it to a subordinate, it wasn't worth risking Misty's life. But as Ash prepared to back down, something extraordinary happened.
The Devil Fruit just… exploded. Something whizzed by Ash's face so fast he only heard the sound of its passage a second after it had gone by. The pulpy explosion of the Devil Fruit followed immediately after the object passed by—it must have been a bullet, Ash's brain reasoned belatedly—and coated Ash's face in sticky fruit particles.
The pulp got in his eyes and nose and even his mouth. He swallowed instinctively, almost retching at the foul taste, and swiped at his watering eyes with both hands. "Blech!" he spat. A burning sensation kindled in his stomach.
Hawkins stared at Ash, his mouth open in shock. In spite of the foul taste of the fruit and the stinging sensation in his eyes, Ash treasured that flabbergasted look on the captain's face. It was the first time he had seen Basil Hawkins at a loss.
Hawkins' mouth closed, forming a grim line, and his eyes burned with coldly controlled rage. "I didn't see this… it escaped my gaze. I don't know how you corrupted my vision of the future, Captain Ketchum, but you will pay dearly for it. I was willing to let your allies live… but you have taken my prize from me. Now your beloved Misty shall die."
Hawkins pulled his sword back, preparing to plunge it into his own heart. Ash threw out his hands uselessly, wishing for nothing more than the power to stop that blade. But it was useless—Misty was going to die, and he couldn't do a thing but watch.
A shimmering, luminescent barrier materialized between Hawkins' chest and his sword. The blade hit the barrier and bounced off, sending a musical chime ringing through the air.
Did… I do that? Ash wondered. The barrier looked like nothing so much as a Light Shield attack, but as far as he could see neither of Misty's Starmies were on the battlefield, and they had no other Pokémon that could form barriers. Then something about Ash's own outstretched hands captured his attention.
They were larger than usual, and the fingers were abnormally swollen. They were also pure white, and looked more like oversized gloves than actual hands.
What the bloody hell?
Ash returned his attention to Hawkins, who was looking at him like Ash had sprouted an extra head.
Hawkins tried once more to stab himself, and once more Ash reached out with one hand, visualizing another barrier like the one before. This time the barrier winked into existence at an angle, with the edge connecting with Hawkins' sword just above the hilt. There was a ringing crash, and then the blade shattered. Hawkins was left with nothing but a hilt and a few inches of broken blade.
Ash's Pikachu jumped back onto his shoulder – which felt strangely misshapen, now Ash thought about it – and used Thunderwave on Hawkins. Misty cried out, since the paralysis took hold of her too, but at least she wouldn't die from it.
Ash advanced on the enemy pirate, whose muscles were still locked in place following the paralyzing attack.
"Ash, look out!" Gary's cry caused Ash to spin in place, alert for a new threat. He noticed a swirling patch of darkness streaking in his direction. Still not sure how he was doing this, Ash created another barrier that cut through the living shadow. But it passed through without any effect at all.
The shadow flashed forward, faster than he could react, and resolved into a man-sized form. Ash just made out a feline face, fur as dark as night, before the oversized black cat lashed out with a dagger aimed for his heart. It was too fast – whatever strange power Ash had gained, it wouldn't be enough to save his life.
Another crack echoed across the summit and the cat jerked to the side, hit by a single sniper bullet that seemed to come from nowhere. The cat crumpled to the earth, already slain by the bullet hole through its chest. From the moment it appeared out of darkness to the moment it died, it hadn't spoken a word.
Ash took one breath, then another, as his heart tried to hammer its way out of his chest.
What. The. Hell?!
Ash still didn't know what had happened to him, why his body seemed to have transformed, or why he could create barriers of energy with his mind. Nor did he know who this man-sized cat was, though it had probably been one of Hawkins' lieutenants, with orders to step in only as a last resort.
Ash knew only one thing for sure: The next time he saw Team Rocket, he was going to hug both of them until they begged for mercy.
Damn nice shooting, you two! …But where were you shooting FROM?
oOoOo
Several Minutes Earlier…
"Are you sure about this?" James asked Jessie nervously. She was a few feet to his left, her spyglass fixed on the summit of the mountain slightly more than a half mile away, where their captain and fellow crew members were locked in battle. They had hiked many miles to reach this spot, which was the only elevated area close enough to have a clear view of the summit.
"Neither of us can see the future," snapped Jessie, "and Lunatone and Solrock say they can. So unless you've got a better idea, shut up and keep that rifle steady!"
James gulped. His sniper rifle was nestled against his body under the crook of his arm, aimed at a point of empty space much higher than Basil Hawkins and far to the left. The wind was blowing unpredictably, and his target was at a higher elevation! James was not a bad shot, but there was no conceivable way he could hit one of the guardian Pokémon or Basil Hawkins on his own. He would have to curve the bullet to hit anything, relying on wind that could change at any second. No sane sniper would even consider taking this shot.
Yet here he was, rifle in hand. Jessie was acting as his spotter, and James was preparing to launch a random-ass shot on the word of two psychic floating boulders who claimed they could see the future.
"Calm yourself," Lunatone advised, its voice broadcasting directly into James' mind. "Your adversary's Third Eye sees clearly, but he has never encountered one who can do what he can. He does not know that the act of seeing the future changes it, and that knowledge shall be his undoing. If you want your crewmate to live, you must trust us. You will only have one opportunity, and after that your enemy will adjust his vision to include our presence."
"That's a lot to ask," James whispered, feeling the sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. With the distance and the wind factored in, he couldn't even see Ash or the others within his scope. He was relying on Jessie to keep an eye on the situation, and Lunatone's as-yet-dubious Future Sight to tell him when to fire.
Damn it, I don't even know what I'm supposed to be shooting at!
"It's turning into a standoff," Jessie reported. "Hawkins is holding up… some kind of fruit?"
"A little higher,"Lunatone told James, its mental voice carrying an undercurrent of urgency. "Yes, that's it. The critical moment approaches. Time rests on a knife's edge… Now!"
James pulled the trigger.
"A hit!" Jessie crowed, watching through her spyglass. "One fruit smoothie, coming up. Haha, Ash's face is covered in fruit, take a look."
James muttered a curse, his entire body quivering like jelly, before checking the summit through his rifle scope. He saw Ash as Jessie had described him, face smeared with the remains of the giant fruit.
"Why in the hell did you want me to shoot the frui-" James cut off abruptly, because his captain had just turned into a Mr. Mime.
What the fu-
Then Hawkins tried to stab himself, and James could only watch as his captain – now apparently a Mr. Mime, for reasons that still escaped him – stopped him with a perfect Light Screen technique.
James was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that his captain had just transformed into a Pokémon when a patch of darkness resolved and hurtled towards Ash's unprotected back.
"James!" Jessie barked, but James was already moving.
Without pausing to think, James swung his rifle back to the position it had been before, then adjusted it slightly for the new target. There was no time for precise calculations, only memory and instinct. James fired once, then looked back through his scope to see the result of his desperate shot.
The bullet struck just as the cat-assassin took on solid form, killing him or her instantly. James and Jesse remained alert for another long minute, waiting for any other incorporeal assassins to appear out of nowhere.
"The threat is over," Solrock informed them – its "voice" was easily distinguishable from Lunatone's, somehow lower and more deliberate. "That was an excellent shot, human."
"Where the hell was that cat when you saw the future?" Jessie demanded. "It could have killed Ash!"
"We told you that seeing the future changes it… that assassin could not have known that his captain would fall, so his decision to attack Ash only came into existence after your choice to shoot the Devil Fruit. That choice was hidden from our Future Sight."
It was hard to be sure, but James thought he caught a tinge of regret in Solrock's tone. It sounded sincerely apologetic.
James' head hurt from sorting out the chain of causation. "You're sure the threat is over?"
"Quite sure… or at least, as sure as we can be. The danger has passed for now."
James still kept his finger on the trigger of his rifle, and Jessie kept an eye on the direction and force of the wind. They wouldn't relax until their team was safe at the bottom of the mountain – good snipers couldn't possibly have done otherwise.
oOoOo
Ash was doing his best to deal with the developments of the last few minutes. They boggled his mind, but at least he was alive. Even better, so was Misty.
So I can turn into a Mr. Mime… ok, weirder things have happened. Yeah, right…
Back in his human form, Ash advanced towards Basil Hawkins. Pikachu was on his shoulder and Bulbasaur at his feet, since those were his two Pokémon capable of immobilizing without killing. He wasn't about to take any chances with Basil Hawkins, who had shaken off the effects of Thunderwave astonishingly quickly.
"You have two choices," Ash said grimly. "Option A: you release Misty and the Amazons from your technique right now. Then I let you and your subordinates live, though the Amazons will probably lock you up for the rest of your lives. Option B: you refuse. Then I truss you up in Bulbasaur's vines, pump you full of Sleep Powder and electricity, and cart you down to the water's edge. Since you're a Devil Fruit user, my guess is the touch of seawater will break your technique. Then I kill you. Those are your only options. What's it going to be?"
Hawkins grimaced slightly. "I know when I have been defeated." He spread his arms wide, and four glowing dolls materialized from his forehead before floating over to Misty and the three Amazons. The dolls were absorbed into their skin, causing them to gasp as if they had suddenly been drenched with ice water.
Creepy… Ash shivered.
Then Hawkins finished his technique, sagging like a puppet with its strings cut. "It is done," he declared. "Will you keep your word?"
Ash turned to the Amazons to ask what they wanted to do with the prisoners. At that moment, however, Hawkins made his move.
He transformed into his giant scarecrow form, shrugging off the resulting Thunderwave from Pikachu as if it were a puny static shock. With one long arm he gathered up his two lieutenants, then crossed to the edge of the summit with two long strides. He jumped off before anyone could react.
"Um…" Ash said, flummoxed by the apparent suicide. "Good riddance?"
Then a dark shape came back into view. Hawkins' shapeshifting lieutenant had finally thrown off his paralysis, and was now in his oversized raven form. Hawkins was human once again, and he clung to the giant bird's neck with the Summoner lieutenant riding behind.
"We will see each other again, Ash Ketchum!" Hawkins called out. "I will not forget what happened here this day!"
"Show your face in front of me again," Ash yelled back, "and I'll bury you! Go after them," he added to Charizard. "Fry him if you can, but don't overextend yourself. Come back if they fly out to sea."
Charizard took off as ordered, but Ash didn't hold out much hope. The raven Devil Fruit user was as fast as Fearow, which meant it would probably outfly Charizard. Still, he doubted that Hawkins would try to stay on the island. Only death waited for him if he provoked the Pokémon Pirates again, and he had to know that.
Ash breathed a long sigh of relief as he turned to survey the summit. The only humans left were the Pokémon Pirates and the Amazons, the latter of whom watched Ash with a healthy measure of wariness. They had thought that Jessie and Misty were in charge, but clearly Ash was the one calling the shots here.
The corpses of several of the guardian Pokémon were scattered around, where they had fallen defending the area enclosed by the crystal pillars.
Such a waste, Ash thought. Any one of those Pokémon would have made a fantastic addition to their force. Now they were dead and of no use to anyone. Except for Aerodactyl. Brock will have a job and a half getting it healthy again, though…
"No one's trying to kill us anymore, right?" Ash asked, clasping arms with Gary and slapping Brock on the back. Misty put a hand on his shoulder, and the two looked at each other for a moment that stretched a beat too long. Misty broke away first, looking at the ground and blushing slightly.
"Doesn't seem like it," Brock ventured. "I think we can find Team Rocket and start healing our wounded now."
"Good. By the way, did you two catch Kabutops and Omastar?"
Gary scoffed. "Did you ever doubt us? They fought well together, but our teamwork isn't half bad either." He swung a sword towards Brock, who blocked it with his bare forearm. They grinned at each other and Ash had to grin, too.
"Captain… Ketchum," Kikyo called out, approaching the Pokémon Pirates hesitantly.
"Yes?" Ash tensed up. The Amazons wouldn't get mad at them for deceiving them… would they?
"We owe you our lives," said the Amazon warrior, bowing her head. "We would like to offer you something as a token of our gratitude." She brought her pack forward and fished something out from inside.
It was another misshapen fruit, this time an oversized apple with odd spikes and a pattern running around it like a dark stormcloud.
"I hate these stupid fruits," Ash muttered, thinking about how silly he looked as a Mr. Mime.
"I was carrying an apple in my pack," Kikyo explained. "When Hawkins' assassin died, the power of its Devil Fruit must have manifested within the nearest available fruit. I do not know why or how this came to be, but no one deserves this prize more than your crew, when you so bravely risked your lives for ours. Will you accept this?"
"I would be honored," Ash replied, taking the fruit carefully. He tried to suppress his disgusted expression, not wanting to offend the prideful Amazons. "I guess this fruit will give whoever eats it the ability to turn into insubstantial darkness, like that cat assassin. Kind of awesome, now that I think about it. Anybody want this power?" He looked around at his crew. "Remember that eating it costs you your ability to swim."
A small, furry paw shot into the air. "I never liked water much anyway," Meowth said, trying and failing to sound casual. "It's a cat thing, you know. So… if nobody else wants it…"
Ash answered by tossing Meowth the fruit. The one and only cat burglar of the Pokémon Pirates caught the Devil Fruit and gazed at it with something close to awe. "Now…" he breathed, "I am truly Stealth!"
While Meowth began wolfing down the fruit, Ash and the others walked over to examine the crystal pillars. "We'll have to study these more carefully," said Gary, rapping the stones on top of the shorter columns with his fist. "But offhand, this looks like a Moon Stone to me. I think… these might all be Evolution Stones!"
Brock was more interested in the central pillar, which was far larger than the pillars topped with Evolution Stones. "This must be what those Pokémon were guarding," he told Ash, as they circled it carefully. "Your Larvitar, my Aron… I bet they were related to the evolved forms Misty fought against. Something took over their minds and forced them to fight, but it left the younger and weaker ones alone."
"Maybe the force emanated from the pillar?" Ash suggested. "It does kind of seem like a living thing."
"Or maybe a signal tower," Brock returned. "I'll bet you anything that on the other islands where Pokémon are appearing, we'll find more crystal pillars and guardian Pokémon. Whether it's the cause of Pokémon appearing or just a symptom, I'm sure they're related."
"A signal tower…" Ash mused. "But if that's true-"
"It means there must be a broadcasting center!" Brock answered with a grin. "And if we can find it-"
"We can stop the bastards who are controlling Pokémon and causing them to overrun the Grand Line. Maybe it's even related to why we arrived in this world in the first place!"
It was a start, anyway. Excitement welled up in Ash's chest as he thought that maybe, just maybe, there was light at the end of this crazy tunnel. They simply had to conquer the Grand Line, discover the source of the crystal pillars that warped the minds of wild Pokémon, and avoid the wrath of pirates and the World Government along the way.
Yeah… what could be simpler?
Ash turned to see Gary chipping away at one of the crystal columns, carefully avoiding the Moon Stone embedded in the top.
"What are you doing?" Ash demanded, rushing over.
"Maybe if we dismantle these smaller columns, the big one will stop whatever mind-control voodoo it's got going on," Gary answered calmly. "Plus, this is a Moon Stone, and there's another over there! I have two Pokémon who could use them, and if we catch more Pokémon the other Stones might come in handy. We're doing the Amazons a favor, aren't we? These are just the spoils of war."
Ash considered this for a moment, then shrugged.
Well… he's got a point. We ARE pirates, after all.
oOoOo
Ash's crew reunited at the village, where the Amazons anxiously awaited news of their kidnapped sisters. Cheers of joy and relief echoed in the capital of Amazon Lily when it became known that the Pokémon Pirates had vanquished Basil Hawkins, rescued the hostages, and ended the threat posed by Aerodactyl to boot. There was a festive atmosphere that was hard to resist, but the Pokémon Pirates didn't allow themselves to join the celebrations.
Brock immediately located the village doctor, enlisting her help in caring for all of the Pokémon that had been wounded in the battle. The casualty list was worrying, with Misty, Brock and Gary all having Pokémon in need of urgent care.
While most of the Amazons celebrated the safe return of their sisters, and while Brock led the Pokémon Pirates in caring for the wounded, Ash found himself in a tent with Elder Nyon and the psychic duo of Lunatone and Solrock. After the confused round of introductions between Pokémon and humans, Elder Nyon had requested the presence of Captain Ketchum and the only two creatures that seemed to have any clue about what was really happening on Amazon Lily.
Two humans and two Pokémon filled Elder Nyon's living quarters to capacity. They hunkered around a coffee table in purposeful silence.
"First things first," Elder Nyon declared. "Captain Ketchum, thank you for your efforts in defense of our village. We would have lost many of our warriors if not for you and your brave crew."
"Thank Lunatone and Solrock," Ash said, uncomfortable with the praise. "Without their help, I'd be dead and Basil Hawkins would have gotten away with the Devil Fruit."
Elder Nyon fixed him with a level gaze. "A Devil Fruit whose power you now possess."
Ash shifted in his seat. "Yeah, I guess. I'm still getting used to that." He turned to Lunatone, who seemed to be the more talkative of the Pokémon pair. "Did you know that would happen?"
Lunatone projected its response directly into their minds. "It was one of several possible outcomes. Admittedly, it was better for all involved than the scenario where the bullet took your head off."
Ash shivered at that image. "Yeah… turning into a Mr. Mime beats decapitation any day. Thanks for that."
"If we could stay on topic," Elder Nyon suggested acerbically. "I still want to know what happened on that mountain. How can we make our village safe once again?"
"A good question," Lunatone replied. "Young Ketchum can explain what he found on the mountain."
Ash launched into a lengthy description of the crystal pillars on the summit and the way the Guardian Pokémon had acted. Elder Nyon listened with rapt attention, quizzing him frequently for more detail. Ash shared the theory that his crew came up with in the aftermath of the battle, about the pillars acting as a kind of signal tower to control Pokémon.
"They are far more than that," Solrock spoke up for the first time. "The pillars are also the doorways into this world. Pokémon are drawn to their counterparts in our world—as we were, several years ago—and transported here. Whoever controls the pillars keeps the strongest Pokémon as Guardians and allows the rest to run free to create havoc."
"Why weren't you Guardians?" Ash asked. "Surely with your powers, you qualified."
"We were under another's control for a time," Lunatone admitted, its mental projection carrying an unmistakable undertone of anger. "But our psychic abilities make us less susceptible to mind control, and we eventually came to our senses when our captor's attention was elsewhere. Since then we wandered this island, watching… and waiting."
"Do you know where the signal is coming from?" Ash asked eagerly. "If we find the bastards behind this and kick their asses, we can stop the influx of Pokémon."
"Alas, we do not know," Lunatone said. "We know only that a great deal of power is required to exert control over the minds of so many Pokémon at once – even more so if there are similar pillars on other islands in the Grand Line. I don't know for sure, but it's likely that the source is somewhere in the New World. The second half of the Grand Line is perhaps the only place safe from the reach of the World Government."
"Then the only thing we can do is keep sailing the Grand Line," Ash concluded. "We have to get to the New World."
Elder Nyon snorted with amusement. "Just like that, young man? The New World is a place of unimaginable danger. Think of how close Basil Hawkins came to destroying your crew. The New World is filled with pirate captains who could dispatch Hawkins with a stray thought. Do you mean to say you think you can challenge them?"
"We'll just have to get stronger as we travel the Grand Line," Ash said firmly, crossing his arms. Pikachu chittered agreement, not in the least intimidated. "We'll be as strong as we have to be."
He chuckled, and added as an afterthought: "Besides, we have a few new powers of our own!"
"I heard about that," Elder Nyon, eyes narrowing. "You can now turn into a… mime?"
"A Pokémon from our world," Ash confirmed. "It makes no sense, though. I know some Devil Fruits allow humans to transform into creatures, but Pokémon aren't from this world! How can a Devil Fruit allow me to transform into one?"
Solrock emitted a kind of mental harrumph, gaining their attention. "We are also curious about this. How can these… Devil Fruits… capture the essence of creatures from another world?"
Elder Nyon gripped her cane tightly, eyes growing unfocused as if staring into eternity. "Very little is known about Devil Fruits," she said a moment later. "I have lived many years, and I know little more than what is commonly known by any pirate or Marine. But Devil Fruits are thought to be at the very heart of the mysteries of our world. Perhaps they responded to the intrusion of these crystal pillars and evolved in new ways. The power you now possess, Captain Ketchum, closely resembles the Zoan fruits that transform humans into animals, often greatly augmenting their close-quarters combat ability."
"Most Devil Fruits have names, right?" Ash said. "I remember hearing that from Red Leg Zeff. What should mine be called?"
"You say your monsters are called Pokémon, correct?" said Elder Nyon. "Then your fruit would be the Poké Poké no Mi, and the model would be the specific name of the monster you can transform into."
"Poké Poké no Mi, Model: Mr. Mime," Ash said slowly. It was a little weird, but he thought he liked the sound of it.
"You already know that you can generate Light Screen attacks," Lunatone added. "It will be up to you to discover what other powers you can call on."
"I'll have plenty of time to train on the way to the next island," Ash agreed. "But that brings up another problem. What's the next step? I want to set sail as quickly as possible, but what about that crystal pillar on the summit? If it activates again, Amazon Lily will be right back where it started."
Lunatone floated forward purposefully. "I believe we can help with that. The main pillar is currently inactive, because you removed the Evolution Stones powering the secondary pillars. Other Evolution Stones will eventually grow out of the crystal, but it won't happen overnight. We can lead the warriors of Amazon Lily in guarding the summit."
"Pokémon are here to stay," Elder Nyon added. "There are thousands of the creatures running wild in the jungle, and many in our village have already befriended the ones resembling birds and rats. Perhaps we can become partners with Pokémon the way you Trainers are, and stand guard together to make sure that the crystal pillar remains inactive."
Ash listened to Elder Nyon negotiate with Lunatone and Solrock, hiding a small smile. From the sound of it, a powerful partnership was in the making. Ash had only one suggestion to make, and waited until Elder Nyon had hammered out the details of Amazon Lily's alliance with the Psychic Pokémon.
"I think you ought to establish an outpost on the summit," he said. "In my world we have similar outposts, which we call Pokémon Gyms. The main goal would be to keep watch over the Crystal Pillar, and the secondary goal would be to collect strong Pokémon and form bonds with them. The warriors of Amazon Lily will be even stronger if they become Pokémon Trainers, too."
The plan took shape surprisingly quickly, since Elder Nyon understood the potential of working together with Pokémon instead of driving them away. Lunatone and Solrock would act as the Amazons' teachers in all matters pertaining to Pokémon, and Ash would be free to take to the seas in search of the source of the mysterious signal.
Ash felt a little weary at the thought of the islands that lay ahead of them. If all of them had crystal pillars and guardian Pokémon, then the Pokémon Pirates had many deadly battles ahead of them—and that was saying nothing about all the pirates and Marines who would try to bar their way.
On the other hand, the more Pokémon they could find and capture, the stronger their crew would become.
"It has been a pleasure to meet you, Captain Ketchum," Lunatone told Ash when they had finished their planning. "Perhaps we will meet again. But until that time, rest assured that we will protect Amazon Lily to the best of our ability. Not only that, but we will not give up until the bonds between people and Pokémon on this island are too strong for anyone to turn them against each other."
"That's what I like to hear," said Ash.
oOoOo
Once all the injured Pokémon were stabilized and receiving treatment under Brock's watchful eye, Misty felt the need to be alone for a while.
She wandered away from the village, following a vague pull that led her all the way to a rocky promontory overlooking the ocean. The sight of the ocean soothed her, as it always did. Misty took out her foldable Super Rod, which she always kept in her pack, and baited the hook with a piece of dried meat.
She cast the line far out into the sea and sat down, to wait and to think. Fishing was like a form of meditation for many Water Trainers, and Misty was no exception.
The confrontation with Basil Hawkins had affected Misty tremendously. Perhaps she had let the Wanted Posters go to her head; with Lapras and Gyarados always there to wreak destruction on any pirates who crossed her, Misty knew she deserved her reputation as the "Sea Witch." But Hawkins' abilities had nullified her Pokémon's strength, leaving Misty as nothing more than a weak, defenseless human.
Now Misty meditated on that weakness, and how she could remedy it. Brock and Gary were both cultivating close-combat abilities, and now even Ash could hold his own in a fight with his Devil Fruit. But if you took away her Pokémon, what did Misty have? Just some acrobatics and the ability to hold her breath underwater for slightly longer than average. Hardly something to strike fear into pirates' hearts.
"I thought you might be out here," a voice broke into Misty's thoughts, almost making her drop her fishing rod.
She whirled around, exhaling in relief when she saw Ash. "Don't do that!" she exclaimed.
"At least keep a Pokémon out to guard you next time, okay?" Ash chided her gently. "What if something happened?"
Misty colored slightly, ashamed at the reminder of their recent situation.
"I just wanted to fish for a while," Misty said. "Maybe I'll catch a Pokémon. Except for Team Rocket, I'm the only one who hasn't caught a new Pokémon on this island. Makes me angry."
Ash sat down next to Misty, his legs dangling over the edge of the stone precipice. "Is that really what you're mad about?"
Misty didn't answer, instead focusing on the fishing line that continued to wave back and forth in the slight wind. The silence stretched out.
"No," Misty admitted at last. "I'm pissed about being the weak link. I was captured and used against my team, like some idiot girl who needs Prince Charming to save her."
"You know that's ridiculous," Ash replied instantly. "Want to know the first thing I saw when I reached the summit? You and your Pokémon facing off against three-to-one odds. Without you, I doubt even Hawkins would have lasted for a minute."
"Still," Misty insisted, "I was a hostage because I wasn't strong enough, wasn't fast enough. I want you to promise me, Ash! If the time ever comes when it's my life or the crew… you choose the crew."
"What?!" Ash cried. "That's stupid! We're all in this together."
"That's my choice," she says. "I won't be a burden. Pirate code. Swear it to me, Ash. Swear you won't ever hesitate because of me."
But Ash shook his head firmly, brooking no disagreement. "You're thinking about this all wrong," he insisted. "Hawkins took us by surprise, because we've never dealt with someone who had a power like that before. And no matter how strong we get, there are going to be things we can't expect. I'm sure we'll be in dangerous situations again. Sometimes we'll save you, and sometimes you'll save us… but I've got a feeling that more often than not, you'll be the one doing the saving."
"But we're never going to give up on our crew," said Ash. "Because we're not just a crew. We're family. Let's say I tried to sacrifice you—the others would elect a new captain immediately and tell me to screw off. Here's what I can promise you: We're going to get stronger. We're going to get smarter. We're going to become the most feared pirates in this waterlogged ass-crack of a world, and we're going to do it together. Fair enough?"
Misty managed a chuckle. "Fair enough."
Ash reached for the fishing rod. "Here, let me have a turn-"
Their hands touched, triggering what felt like a spark of electricity. Ash blushed a dark red and Misty felt her own cheeks flame, but neither moved their hands away. Misty was suddenly aware of how close Ash was sitting, and felt herself begin to lean forward… when the fishing line gave a violent jump, tugging Misty away from Ash.
She jumped to her feet. "I've got one!" Misty cried triumphantly, trying not to think about what had almost happened.
Misty battled with whatever she had landed, giving it some line and then reeling it in, until she could sense that whatever it was had begun to tire. She pulled mightily on the fishing rod, and a second later a Poliwag broke through the surface of the water.
It somersaulted once and landed on the beach, eyes blazing, feisty and ready for a fight.
"This would be my sixth Pokémon," Misty noted absently, hand straying toward the Pokéball at her belt. "I'm thinking I want something to show for my time on this stupid island, too."
Ash edged away slowly, as Poliwag locked eyes with Misty and lowered its center of gravity. The Water Pokémon was young and obviously tired, but there was no arguing with the fighting spirit blazing in its eyes.
"Seems fair," he said. "Team Rocket will be disappointed they didn't catch any new Pokémon, but Meowth did get a power-up."
"Welcome to the party, Poliwag," Misty said as her Starmie materialized and prepared to fight. "I think we're going to do great things together."
End of Amazon Lily Arc
