Chapter 9: Revelations and Memories, Part 1
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, everyone! Be sure to read the A/N at the end, even though you may not want to.
Enjoy!
As the mysterious man looked down at the scene, he chuckled. "Looks like he could be useful for our operations, if I can get him out of there. Picking up a phone, he said, "This is Leader. Subject C-1 may well be useful for our needs. Pick him up discreetly. Perhaps while disguised as police officers? Just make it discreet!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leaving the defeated pair and their group behind, Ash and his company headed towards town, planning on getting something to drink in celebration. As they headed to the nearest coffeehouse, Cynthia felt someone breathing on her neck and heard a voice. "Hey, sexy…"
Cynthia quickly twisted to attack her assailant, but she was too slow. Suddenly, she was stuck in a headlock and her right arm was pinned behind her back, barely able to breathe enough and unable to move. Her assailant was a large man with a hockey mask on his face, dressed in black jeans and a trench coat.
"Whoa, Cynthia!" Ash yelled, making everyone else turn towards the commotion. Ash's trusty Pikachu glared, sending sparks from its cheeks. Then he noticed who the man was holding captive, and stopped charging electricity. The Sinnoh Champion struggled and clawed against her captor's grip, leaving several deep gashes, yet she could not escape. Before anyone could make a grab for a Pokeball, the kidnapper pulled a knife and held it at his captive's throat, making her stop suddenly.
"Don't even try. Do I need to say what'll happen otherwise?" he snarled in a guttural voice. The group stopped, but remained tense.
"Come on, dude. Just what do you want from us?" Isaac asked, taking the diplomatic route and guessing the answer. 'This could be really tricky.'
"Ain't it obvious? I want her, and if I can't get her, no one does!" Ash's sight turned red at this, and prepared to lunge, but Paul stopped him.
"Ash, wait! He's got the upper hand right now, and we all know it!" he hissed. "We've gotta bide our time and wait for an opening!" Seeing his former rival's angry face, he added, "I know, and I'd love to tear out this guy's throat, too. But he's got Cynthia captive, with a knife at her throat! What do you propose we do?!"
The Kanto Champion's mind went into overdrive as he considered his options. One, he could reveal his powers and rescue his girlfriend. But he didn't want to ruin that surprise yet unless he had no choice. Two, he could send out a Pokémon, possibly Mewtwo, to do the job. But it might not be fast enough. Three, he could try to bluff the man or bribe him. But that wasn't likely to work. Or four…
Ash's angry and worried face suddenly cleared, much to the confusion of everyone. He started muttering something quietly, something that was clearly not English or any other language they knew.
"What the hell are you muttering?" the man growled, apprehensive about the results. Suddenly, he felt a finger tap his shoulder. The man shuddered, and turned slowly. Without a moment's warning, a small yet powerful energy-coated head slammed into his, making him drop his captive and his knife, while also knocking him out.
Looking at the Pokémon, the group noticed the V-shaped ears, the small red-and-orange body, and a look of determation on its face. The Pokémon that had done the deed was none other than the Victini that Ash had helped save from imprisonment. It had heard its friend's call for aid, and Victini had rushed to the scene to provide help.
The Sinnoh Champion got up shakily, looking thankfully at the small Fire-type and glaring at her kidnapper, before heading back to her friends. As she approached her boyfriend, he took her into his arms. Cynthia returned the hug with vigor, almost making Ash wince from what he felt like ribs cracking.
"Don't worry, everything's all right. Next guy who tries it won't get off so easy," he reassured her gently, brushing her hair with his hand. He felt her ragged breathing, and he knew she was suppressing her fear and tears. Even the most powerful Champions could still feel the dark emotions that haunted every being, fear being one of them. Suddenly, they heard the wail of a police car approach. As the car stopped, two uniformed men stepped out.
"We heard what happened. We'll take it from here," one said, picking up the unconscious kidnapper's limp form and dropping him into the back seat of the car. Giving a curt bow to the group, they re-entered the vehicle and drove off.
"Bunch of rude asses. Didn't even ask if she was alright," Paul muttered, relieved that his region's Champion wasn't injured and in slight disbelief at what Ash had done. What did he do to invoke the aid of a legendary Pokémon, one that would only appear in front of a human who had a pure soul? Turning towards Cynthia, he asked, "Are you all right?" She looked up and nodded, having regained her composure. Max and Tory sighed in relief, Isaac and the girls grinned, and even Paul smiled. The group relaxed, and they entered the coffeehouse to put that part of the past behind them.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The masked man was dumped onto the floor of the office, his mask lifted. It was none other than Brock who had tried to kidnap the Sinnoh Champion. The man at the desk smiled.
"Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?" he asked, amused.
Brock sat up. "You? What are you doing here?" The Pewter City Gym Leader remembered that face. He remembered it clearly, several days before the tragedy in Pallet.
(Flashback)
Brock was tending to his Gym, cleaning off the pink painted rocks. He grumbled, wondering what could have made his dad agree to his mom's insane ideas of decorating. Suddenly, a door opened.
"Sorry, but the Gym's closed for renovation. How'd you get in here, anyway-" he said, then stopped. A thickly clothed man stood in the doorway, a large hood cloaking his face.
"Hello, Brock," the man said amicably. "Do not worry; I am not here for a Gym battle."
"Umm, okay? Then why ARE you here?" The hooded man chuckled.
"Because I have a proposition for you. Do you remember your "friend", Ash Ketchum?"
"Of course I do!" the Gym Leader exclaimed. "How could I forget him? What did you do to him?!"
"Nothing, just yet. However, I mean to change that. Still, that's not why I came here. I have a deal that I think would suit both our interests."
"And what would that be?" Brock was tense, unsure of the man's demands, and yet getting the feeling that he would like his end of the bargain.
"Do you ever feel overshadowed by him, always the cook or the referee? You've never found a girlfriend, yet Ash could have had twenty at the very least? Yet he was always so DENSE and STUPID! Look at the list: Anabel, Cynthia, Cheryl, and so many more. Any of these girls could have been his, yet he insisted on floundering around with baby Pokemon at Leagues, only to lose at the end! Wouldn't you want to have that many girls? To be able to have your way with them?" the man said, appealing to the Gym Leader's basic interests.
"Yeah… I guess…" The Gym Leader struggled against the visitor's words. 'Ash is your friend, for crying out loud!' But his baser instincts drove him on.
"Then hear me out, for this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do not speak of this to anyone, or you may find your lifespan shorter than expected. Understand?"
"Yeah," Brock said nervously.
"Good, that's what I like to hear," the other man said appreciatively. "I plan on burning down Pallet Town in three days' time." Upon seeing the horrified look on the Gym Leader's face, he said hastily, "Now hold on. I do not mean to kill people, only to kill that Trainer's reputation. There are measures I have taken to minimize the casualties. I have rallied many others, other companions of his, against him. You are the last one I am offering a reward to. If you turn against him, drive him out of his hometown, make him SUFFER, then you shall get this in exchange." Upon finishing this statement, he pulled out a large briefcase, removing the lock on it with a key and opening the case up. Looking into it, Brock saw that the case was stuffed to the brim with hundred-dollar bills. The man removed each stack, showing the authentic bills to the Trainer. Each stack made Brock's jaw drop further to the ground, until it could open no more. The money was returned into the case.
"See? All authentic hundred-dollar bills, all yours. The sum comes out to one hundred million dollars. Can you imagine it?" he whispered.
"I'm in," Brock said immediately. Inside, he was in turmoil. 'What the hell are you doing, man? Kick his ass!' However, he wanted to be able to provide for his family easily, and get money to get girls for once in his life. Plus, the man didn't seem like the kind of person to be an enemy of.
"Very good," the other man said happily. "Now, here's what I want you to do…"
(End Flashback)
"I'm here to finish what I started five years ago in Pallet Town," he said, looking at the other man. "I have another proposition for you."
"And what would that be?" Brock asked, interested. The money had gone miles to help him. Getting his mother into a painting school and leaving his Gym alone, more funds for the town, keeping his family well cared for. Yet he never found a girl he wanted to be with, even with all of that money. Did they hear of his actions? Maybe so…
"There are several quite beautiful girls in Ketchum's villa, aren't there? Cynthia, Rosa, May. I've also gotten intel that at least one other means to rent a villa there. Also, quite the collection of Pokémon, some Legendaries, are there as well. Do you want them?"
"Sure, those Trainers are too powerful anyway. It would be good to kick them down several notches. Plus, why should those guys get all the hot girls?"
"I like the way you think. You'll get far among us," the other man said, relieved that the Gym Leader hadn't smartened up and set his priorities straight. "A simple proposition. Take this key and this device." He handed a black key and a strange wristwatch to the Trainer.
"Uhh, what do they do?" Brock asked, confused.
"It's a skeleton key, designed to be able to open up ANY villa in Undella Town. Your first assignment is to steal a Keldeo, using the device. It will silence your footsteps, with technology I can't be bothered to explain. Just press the button and no one will ever hear you coming. Also, hold it over a Pokeball to see its contents. Do NOT take any other Pokémon; we don't want to risk getting caught too soon. The reason why you are assigned to take the Keldeo is because its Trainer, Rosa, is not participating in any events for the opening ceremony tomorrow. Do this, and you may keep the key and the silencer for your own uses."
Brock smirked. "Mind if I take some other guys along? One could use some payback for a battle, and the other is one that you bribed too." He could already imagine the fun he would have with the key, and being able to silently enter people's buildings for some… perverted actions.
"But of course! The more, the merrier! Plus, it should make your assignment a little easier. Beware, however. I can't rescue you should you be caught. Today was a freebie, a gift."
"Understood. And thanks."
"It is no trouble. Think of it as payment for a job. Now get going!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"So, what did you do?" May asked, curious about Victini's appearance. They were sitting in a private booth in the coffeeshop, having received their drinks for free. The waiters and the owner did not forget a debt easily, and had promised to provide the utmost luxury they could, and at no charge. Victini and Pikachu were catching up with each other's lives, and Victini's ears wilted slightly at the tale of the betrayal.
"Well, when we got backstabbed, you know how we went to Mt. Coronet?" Ash explained. Max and Tory nodded. "Well, one night, Arceus appeared before me in my dreams. He said that too much has happened to me to be ignored, which is true. He told me some sort of… poem or something that I could use to call upon basically any of the wild Legendaries for aid. To top it off, Arceus said that as a reward for you guys for sticking up for me in front of the entire damn crowd, one Legendary each that you knew and formed a bond with would join you. And that's how you woke up to find those odd Pokeballs."
"Ohhhh… So that's how it happened…" the two Champion said, grinning at the memory. When they saw Jirachi and a Deoxys emerge from the Pokeballs, they cheered and went off to enjoy the suddenly cheerful-looking cliffs of Mt. Coronet. The two of them were like young children finding a stack of gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.
Cynthia giggled. "Good to know." Watching the two young Trainers and their Pokemon chasing each other through the snow, she was reminded of her days in Celestic Town, when she was a child. The sight and memories at the time made her smile and laugh like she never had before. Especially the sight of a serious-looking Deoxys tossing snowballs at its laughing friend and Trainer.
Paul and Isaac nodded. "Good tale," the Orre Trainer said. Paul wondered slightly on why he didn't get a Legendary when he had fought off the crowd for the escape, then dismissed the thought from his mind. 'Thinking like that will just get you into trouble, so STOP. NOW. Besides, I was an abusive bastard then. I did change, but then, who could have guessed?'
"What I'd like to know is," Rosa said, "why those traitors are so freaking adamant on making your lives hell even now?" This made everyone stop to think.
"Maybe they're being paid to do it?"
"I don't think so. Are they just flat-out idiots?"
"Even they can't be THAT stupid, maybe. Trying to look tough?"
"And getting flattened each and every time? Doubtful."
As this small debate was going on between the two younger girls, Paul, and Isaac, Ash and Cynthia took the time to share a proper kiss, one that they haven't had since the night they were on the cruise ship to Unova. The two youngest Trainers rolled their eyes, and turned away to give some privacy. Both of them had also gotten one plate of chocolate cookies each for the coffee, but Tory had finished his. He quickly took one from Max and ate it, making him give a mock glare before laughing.
"You want them that badly? Go buy some!" he said, still laughing.
"Nah, that's too much effort. We're sitting down already."
"You're a miniaturized Snorlax, you know that?"
"Oh, really? Does any Snorlax get the move Snatch?" Tory said jovially, swiping another cookie and scarfing it down. This made both of them nearly fall over laughing. They didn't realize that the Kanto and Sinnoh Champions had finished their make-out session and looked at their students fondly. The other four finished their debate, not having come to a conclusion. Everyone got up, thanked the owner and the waiters, and left for home.
Victini waved goodbye to the group, wanting to wander the world again. Cynthia and Ash hugged the Pokemon thankfully, the others waved, and the Pokemon stole a macaroon from the coffeehouse before teleporting away, much to the surprise of the staff.
As they walked back to their villa, Isaac asked, "So, how did you start going out with Cynthia?"
Ash chuckled. "We'll tell you when we get inside, okay?" Isaac nodded, and they set off, enjoying the sunset and the cool evening breeze of the beach.
"Oh, right! Tomorrow's the opening ceremonies!" Max commented, glancing at Ash and barely suppressing a smile.
"What, really?! Oh, crap! I forgot!" Ash yelped, looking at his watch. Sure enough, the next day was set for the start of the tournament events. This made everyone collapse into laughter. Even Paul started cracking up, thinking back to their encounters in Sinnoh. 'He's gotten stronger, definitely. But has really changed that little?' he wondered as he laughed.
"Aw, shut up…" the embarrassed Champion moaned, looking at Cynthia. This only served to make them laugh harder. The blonde Trainer was the first to regain her composure.
"Sorry, dear. Couldn't help it," she said, chuckling as she kissed her boyfriend's cheek and wrapping her arms around her. This still made Ash blush, despite three years of dating. Paul got up, having calmed down, and rolled his eyes.
Finally, everyone stopped laughing enough to reach their villa, and went inside for some rest.
A/N: Well, another chapter done.
I tried to improve the quality of the writing, starting with this chapter. Tried making it a bit less cliché, make it a bit more realistic (I hope I did better this time), and tried for an overall better plot.
Special thanks to freddycoops and Trainer Theta for their honest input. They may have stung, but they're true. There's a quote that I made, based on a famous one (We are all our own worst critics). My quote is: "We are not just our own worst critics, but our own greatest fans." I thought I wasn't doing anything wrong with this fanfic at all. Thanks for being honest enough to step up and inform me of my errors. I encourage everyone to do the same. (But please, give some HONEST compliments to this newbie writer.)
In my defense, I'm a new fanfic writer. XD
Still, that doesn't excuse the errors, and I'm doing my best to improve.
Well, read, review, input ideas/criticism, and I'll see you next time!
Red Aura Guard, signing out.
