Chapter 10: Extreme Revelations
A/N: This is my longest chapter yet, sitting at over 3500 words! Whoa!
Anyway, enjoy!
An ear-piercing scream rang through the villa, startling everyone as they were eating breakfast and scaring passerby. Rosa had gone to feed her Pokemon, and when she checked her team, one was missing.
"Where the hell is Keldeo's Pokeball?!"
"Umm, did you guys have anything to do with it?" Max asked. Everyone shook their heads. "Okay, just checking."
"Someone broke in, then?" Isaac asked. Thinking back, he hadn't woken up from anyone walking around downstairs last night, and he was a light sleeper. If there had been someone, surely he would have known.
"Well, whoever it was, if they did do it," Tory mused, "they would have had to sneak into her room, with all of us sleeping nearby. Plus, the windows lock from the inside and nothing's broken. Did they pick the lock?"
"If they did, then we're all in trouble. Everyone check for your Pokemon, we've gotta leave by noon," Ash said. Everyone else nodded, and checked their bags. Strangely, no other Pokemon were missing.
"Everyone's accounted for."
"No Pokeballs missing here."
"They didn't steal mine."
"Then what is going on? Who could have done this, and why?" Rosa wailed. Max put a comforting arm around her.
"Well, Keldeo is a tough Legendary," Paul said. "It took down Max's Gallade and did well against Jirachi, despite losing. Probably some rich idiot who thinks they can sweep the competition with someone else's Legendary Pokemon." Max thought for a solution. 'Finding Keldeo's gonna take time, more than what we have. She can't fight in this competition with only five Pokemon? What do I do? Wait, there is one other that I have…'
"You know, I do have one more Pokemon, not on my main battling roster, but it's extremely powerful. Even Lucario and Gallade together struggle against this one, despite the massive type advantage they have…" the Hoenn Champion said, taking out a mysterious red-and-black Pokeball. Tory's eyes widened at the sight of it.
"Are you sure, man?" Tory asked uncertainly. "I mean, will it obey Rosa?"
"Hopefully," Max said. Stepping outside, he tossed up the Pokeball, releasing the Pokemon within. It stood at a towering eight feet tall, with gleaming armor, long sharpened claws, and a pair of giant horns on its head. A large tail swished back and forth slowly. The Pokemon was none other than an Aggron.
"Hey, can I ask a favor of you?" he asked. His Pokemon looked curiously.
"You see, my friend Rosa just got one of her Pokemon stolen, a Legendary named Keldeo." The Iron Armor Pokemon's eyes widened at the words. "We can't find out who did it or why, so could you battle for her for a while?"
Aggron turned towards the Trainer spoken of. Rosa seemed to be a genuinely kind person, just like Max was. Especially when he rescued it from… No, the memories were too painful. The Pokemon thought for another moment, and slowly nodded.
Max relaxed and smiled. "Thanks, you're the best." He hugged the massive Pokemon, who returned the gesture, almost crushing the Trainer by accident. The Champion handed the odd Pokeball to his girlfriend.
"That's the Pokeball for Aggron, and he's got two abilities: Rock Head and Sturdy. His moves are on this list." He handed her a paper of Aggron's moves. They were: Double-Edge, Iron Head, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Focus Punch, Protect, Iron Tail, Automize, Superpower, Curse, Dragon Tail, Aqua Tail, Magnet Rise, and interestingly, Dragon Rush and Head Smash. Cynthia, who had wandered over to see the list, raised an eyebrow at the last move.
"Interesting… Aren't those Egg moves?" she asked. Max nodded.
"It is, but we EVENTUALLY figured Dragon Rush out, from watching your Garchomp several thousand times," he replied. "Believe me, it took ages, and we thought we would never get it. It was all worth it, though. Dragon Rush let us beat those non-flying Dragon-types much faster. We based the training for Head Smash off of the Dragon Rush training. That was much easier. Head Smash, has taken out so many enemies, it's ridiculous. The Iron Armor Pokemon nodded proudly and flexed its biceps, enjoying the glory from mastering moves normally possible only by breeding. This behavior, so similar to its Trainer's, made everyone laugh.
"Say, where did you get that Aggron, and why is it so big?" Paul asked. "Mine's only about seven feet, standard for Aggron's. Also, how does it have two abilities?" Aggron winced at the memories of the answers to those questions.
Max winced as well. "Sorry, man. There's a story I can't exactly tell right now." Suddenly, Aggron nudged its Trainer, indicating to tell the story, before wandering off towards the beach, to swim. The sight of the large part-Rock-type Pokemon swimming made everyone stare for a moment. He sighed.
"All right then, listen up, because I'm only going to tell it once." Rosa, Isaac, May, and Paul sat down on the sand, and so did Max.
"Aggron was actually rescued from Team Rocket." The audience stared in surprise, not expecting that as an answer. "Yeah, I know. We all know what that organization's like; not caring about the limits of nature, just wanting to take over the world at any cost. Aggron's one of the lucky ones. He survived the experiments thanks to sheer determination. Others… weren't so lucky."
"I don't know exactly what they did, and I sure don't wanna find out. The point is, as we were training in Hoenn, some crazy Team Rocket agent- Domino, I think- confronted us. Of course, she wanted our Pokemon, and it looked like she would have killed us all with her team. Her other five Pokemon were pretty easy to defeat, then she pulled Aggron on us."
"Let me tell you, beating him was a royal pain. Any Pokemon with a quadruple weakness to Fighting-type attacks that can take multiple Close Combats and Drain Punches from Gallade and Lucario is a serious threat. To this day, I still don't understand how that's possible. Swampert's Earthquake was stopped by Magnet Rise, and he just cut through Water-type attacks with Steel-type attacks. I even needed to call out Jirachi to end the fight. When Aggron finally fell, we had to knock the agent unconscious with our remaining Pokemon. When she was taken away, I kept Aggron's Pokeball. Why? I thought I could help him."
"At first, Aggron was pretty distrustful of us. No surprise, especially after what had happened to him. The only reason he didn't go for our throats, I think, was because we got his former Trainer arrested and we genuinely wanted to help. Slowly, he opened up. It was in small steps. One was accepting food directly from me, instead of me having to back up in order for Aggron to eat something. Another was watching us train, instead of just wandering around and looking at his surroundings. Eventually, he decided he wanted to join my team. We welcomed him with open arms, since I only had five Pokemon beforehand. This was before I got Hydreigon."
"The Gym Leaders in Hoenn who I didn't fight prior to then were in for a nasty surprise. I already defeated my Dad before the betrayal, so I had no need to return to Petalburg." May looked down, sorrowful at this. "Winona got pretty flustered at fighting a Steel-type. Tate and Liza's Pokemon got crushed by the giant rocks slamming into the ground. Wallace was borderline terrified when Aggron cut through Surfs and Hydro Pumps with Dragon Tail. Yeah, Ash had lent me the TM for the occasion."
"When I got Hydreigon, I had to put my team on rotation, so everyone would have a chance to fight challengers. Since then, whenever I used Aggron, people would lose their morale at the sight of him. The League almost banned me from using Aggron in Championship battles. Can you imagine this? They weren't afraid of a fire-breathing three-headed dragon that's constantly snarling, but they were afraid of Aggron."
"An armor-plated, eight-foot tall Rock-and-Steel-type Pokemon that resembles a Dragon, with large horns and claws? I can't imagine why," Tory commented. Max chuckled.
"All right, fair enough. Point is, earning Aggron's trust was difficult, but well worth it." Everyone applauded at the end of the story.
"Wow, I can't imagine a Pokemon being able to trust people again, after what happened to it," Isaac said.
"Wow… That's impressive. I doubt the rest of us could have done that," Paul said.
May sniffed. "That was… beautiful…" She ran up to the returning Aggron and hugged it tightly, confusing the Pokemon.
"I'm honored to be able to recruit Aggron temporarily… Thanks, both of you," Rosa said, wrapping her arms around Max.
"Umm, guys? It's eleven-thirty. We REALLY have to go…" Isaac said in alarm, looking at his watch.
"OH CRAP!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Hello, one and all! Welcome to the Pokemon World Tournament, where only the best from each and every region is participating!" The crowd roared with applause in response.
The announcer was none other than Scott, the man who had introduced Ash to the Kanto Battle Frontier. As it turned out, he had been the one chosen to organize this event, much to Ash's delight.
"Now, as you all know, we have been given the honor of hosting this tournament in none other than scenic Undella Town, and as a result we have the luxury of being able to rent these villas for our stay. Be sure to thank your managers for this generosity."
"Now, onto the tournament information. First off, a major rule change. You are not required to register your rosters ahead of time!" The crowd stared at this message. Rosa's eyes gleamed; when she got Keldeo back, she would be able to return the Legendary to her team. Max smiled; he would be able to rotate his team like in Hoenn.
"Now, I understand your confusion. However, let me tell you, only the best Trainers will be able to adapt to this change, and such Trainers are what we are looking for."
"Also, the first two rounds will be double battles, where you will choose your partner to battle with in three days' time. DO NOT START DECIDING YET! WAIT UNTIL I AM DONE!" Scott suddenly announced, thinking about the possible reactions to that statement. Max and Tory grinned at each other, Ash and Cynthia leaned into each other in their seats, and the others shrugged.
"There are 512 competitors for this decade's tournament, so the officials decided it was necessary to incorporate the double battle system. After these battles are over, there will be 2 rounds of single three-on-three battles, and the final two rounds will be full six-on-six battles. The winner of this shall be known throughout the world as a true Pokemon Master!" At this, the crowd exploded into cheers. It took Scott several minutes to regain control of the crowd.
"I know you're excited, but that's not all. The winner of this tournament shall get the honor of battling a legendary Trainer. Have you heard of the 'Ultimate Trainers'?" Many gasps rang through the arena, Cynthia's in particular. "Well, they are real! The strongest of them will be your opponent if you conquer the rest in the World Tournament!" Some Trainers almost let their jaws drop to the floor in excitement. Oh, to best one of those Trainers and enter their elite ranks!
"Now go get yourselves signed up and be ready to battle in three days! May the greatest Trainer triumph!" The crowd cheered loudly one more time before heading towards the Pokemon Center to sign up.
"It can't be… I thought they were myths…" Tory said, shaken.
"Is Scott screwing with us?" Max asked, slightly pale. "They can't be real. If the stories are true, they're actually unbeatable…" Cynthia could only nod, shocked into silence at this revelation.
"Umm, who are these 'Ultimate Trainers', again?" Ash asked. His friends stared at him.
"You don't know?! Even I know, and I'm from Orre!" Isaac yelled.
"Open your ears when you walk around towns where they tell these things!" Paul snarled. "The Ultimate Trainers are extremely famous!"
"All right, let's tell him," Rosa said. "Besides, we've got to wait for the crowd to thin out." Everyone nodded in agreement and got into the massive line.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Long before Pokeballs were first invented, people had the idea of training Pokemon as friends and as teammates. Back when befriending a Pokemon was far easier, the people and the Pokemon harmonized as one, something nearly no one can do today. Their synchronization was perfect, making their growth and power beyond what even technology can do. It was truly a golden era of Pokemon and human relationships."
"Legend has it that there were several Trainers who had befriended Legendaries. Not fought, not captured, befriended. These Trainers, unlike most, did not want to wield the power of the Legendaries to become stronger, nor did they want the power of the blessings they gave. Indeed, some people did desire this even in that era. These Trainers just wanted to become friends. It took them time, but after a long period of time, these Trainers obtained the blessings of the Legends: extended life, external charm, physical strength, everything. Also, the Legendaries promised to fight at their friends' side if the cause was just."
"But then, legend says that a great darkness befell the world. Some claim it originated from space. Others say it was the dreams of the few evil individuals in the world that had caused this, boosted by the natural power exuded by the Psychic, Dark, and Ghost Pokemon. Beings of both sides fought with each other far more than usual, humans became tainted by the power. They tried to enslave the Pokemon, take over the world. That was the last time the entire human race banded together for a cause."
"Only the Trainers who had obtained the Legendary blessings were immune to this darkness, along with their Pokemon. These people saw the reason for their blessings; they had a great duty to the world, and only they could do it. They had the strength of will and justice, but they needed something else; what the blessings granted. These people, along with the befriended Legendaries and their teams, fought the great darkness and the mysterious creatures that lurked within."
"The battles were fierce, with the Trainers fighting against what seemed like the whole world to claim victory. They had to travel from region to region, defeating ALL of the strange darkness to purify the region. The Shadow Pokemon of the criminal organizations would be considered pure compared to the darkness. How could these Trainers have done it alone? No one could help them."
"But somehow, they did. They freed every region in the world, after several hundred years of fighting. Their will and justice never flagged throughout this ancient war, the very first war in the history of the world. And so, they succeeded in trapping down and sealing the darkness, for they could not destroy it. However, the darkness' taint still exists today. That is one of the explanations for human evil, like Team Rocket."
"When this war ended, the Legendaries who had fought in the war created younger versions of themselves to take on the roles of the world, for they were tired and needed rest. It is said that to this day, the Trainers and Pokemon rest to prepare for the next end of the world."
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"And that's the end of the story," Cynthia said as they told the tale while in line. Ash was silent for a minute, absorbing this information.
"Wow… That's… indescribable," he finally said. "If they're real, then who can beat them?"
"Maybe it's just a test; not of victory, but of bonds between the Trainer and their Pokemon?" May offered. "Oh, we're up for signing up!"
The group turned to the desk, where a slightly hassled nurse was signing people up for the tournament. After registering, they sat down on the couches in the guest area to finish their discussion.
"So, if they are real," Paul began, "do any of us stand a chance?"
Max thought, then shook his head. "I really don't think so. I mean, they were POWERFUL. Their power came from a bond that almost no one can form today between ANY two beings, along with the blessings of a Legendary. Those blessings are nonexistent in today's age. Even Jirachi hasn't given me a blessing yet."
Suddenly, Ash heard a voice from Kanto that he thought he would never hear again.
"Yo, I'm gonna sweep that competition!"
"Yeah, that "Ultimate Trainer" is going down!"
"You're the man, Chief!"
Cynthia glanced at the group with slight disapproval. "Hmm, they seem pretty confident about that one guy's skills…"
"A bit cocky, maybe?" Isaac commented. Paul rolled his eyes. Then the Sinnoh Trainer noticed his former rival.
"Umm, you alright?"
Ash's eyes were twitching and his hands were clenched. He was breathing heavily as he recalled the Trainer standing in the middle of the other group and his actions towards a certain Pokemon of his. One that had left the Trainer and joined Ash. Cynthia looked at him with concern, and everyone else looked confused. The guy wasn't one of the traitors at Pallet, so what was going on?
Suddenly, Ash stormed up to the group, intent on revenge for the Trainer's actions. His friends followed, intent on backing him up and reducing the physical violence to a minimum.
"So, abandon any Pokemon recently, Damien?"
Said Trainer's head twisted, as he seemed to vaguely recall the furious man's voice and appearance. 'Hey, I've seen him before. Now where… Oh, right! My pitiful Charmander joined him!' Looking at his company, Damien noticed seven others, all of whom were backing up Ash.
"Well, long time no see. How's that pathetic Charmander doing?" Damien commented, smirking.
Ash growled at this. How dare Damien insult one of his top Pokemon, one that had bested Gary's Blastoise in Kanto? "If you hadn't noticed, he's one of the most powerful Charizard in the whole world, if not the first strongest. You haven't changed. Our Pokemon are powerful because we care for each other, not like you'd know anything about that."
"Please," the blue-haired Trainer said cruelly. "You couldn't get a powerful Pokemon for your life. Look at mine!" At this, he held an armful of Pokeballs, all with a star on bottom. Damien's gang applauded at this, and Ash's friends rolled their eyes.
"Umm, who's this nutcase again?" Max asked.
"I'm Damien, one of the strongest Trainers in the world! Good luck even beating one of my Pokemon, nerd!" This made the Hoenn Champion grab one of his Pokeballs, but Rosa stopped him. Max relaxed, and Rosa glared at Damien.
"Hold it," she said. "He could wipe the floor with your whole team before you could even react! Don't play with fire; you'll get burned."
"Well, what are you doing with a pathetic Trainer like him? Why don't you join us, and we'll show you true power! Same goes for Cynthia the Sinnoh Champion over there."
"All right, that's enough," the blonde Champion interrupted, wanting to avoid a fight while also wanting to get even, later on. "We'll settle this at the Tournament. Until then, steer clear of us, got that?"
Damien snorted, along with the rest of his gang. They started to make disparaging comments about them.
"What's so special about any of you?"
"If this was a battle, we'd tear all of you down for a warm-up!"
"Enough of this crap!" Ash interrupted, defensive of his friends. "Why don't we settle this once and for all?" He placed a hand on a Pokeball, and his friends did the same, along with Damien and his group. Suddenly, Damien threw one into the air, right in the Pokemon Center!
"Scizor, Slash this fool down to size!"
The Steel-and-Bug Pokemon flew up, and lunged at Ash with glowing claws. Ash glanced at his shoulder for Pikachu, but then he remembered that Pikachu had stayed at the villa to train in private. He went for a Pokeball, knowing that he'd be too late.
"Arcanine, Flamethower!"
The Fire-type Pokemon sent a large stream of fire at the offending Pokemon, sending it crashing into the wall. It slid to the floor, unconscious. As Ash looked at the Arcanine, he saw its Trainer next to it. A Trainer who Ash would have least expected to save him.
"What the hell?! Gary?!"
A/N: Yet another cliffhanger! XD
So, how's this chapter? Sorry for not updating recently (you're gonna hear that a lot), but I had to study for several tests.
Anyway, Gary saved Ash?! Yep, this story's not gonna be a run-of-the-mill betrayal story; it'll have reasons for each and everyone's actions. I've got plans for each and every person who participated at the betrayal in Pallet, and I hope they're satisfying!
Read, review, comment, post ideas, and I'll see you next time!
~Red Aura Guard, signing out.