The Journey Never Ends

Chapter 10: Emissary of Evil

"Great job Squirtle, thanks for all your help."

Ash gazed out across the barren site where, until recently, the Silph building had stood. After waging a war against the inferno, the fires had finally been put out, but the terrible mark was already burned into the ground.

R

Standing next to him, directing the teams extinguishing the remaining embers, was a Squirtle wearing pointed sunglasses. The Squirtle Squad, led by one of the first Pokémon Ash had travelled with, had come to Saffron to help fight the fires.

Ash continued to stand pensively as Squirtle and Pikachu walked down into the field to more closely monitor the squad's progress.

The spot of ground was devoid of anything but ashes. There should have been some charred wood or melted steel from the missing sky scraper. But there were neither, and this troubled Ash. Buildings don't just vanish into flames.

A police woman with light blue hair approached Ash.

"We've swept the perimeter of the city and we unable to find any trace of the people who were blocking the entrances. They seem to have fled when rescue teams began arriving. We've got officers and Growlithes still searching the outskirts of town."

"Thank you, Officer Jenny," said Ash. "Have you discovered what ignited the fire?"

"No," she answered. "Nor is there any trace of the building's remains. We're currently interviewing the city's residents to see if they saw anything suspicious."

"Alright, let me know if you find something right away."

Officer Jenny saluted him. "Yes, sir."

Ash sighed as she walked away, staring once again across the burned plot of land. News of this disaster would soon spread around Kanto. With all of the troubles already occurring in the region, this could be enough to start a panic. There was little he could do except finding out what had transpired, and trying to prevent it from happening again.

As he stared across the barren wasteland, he suddenly got a strange feeling that someone was watching him. Turning around, he glanced at the police line. There were police officers, ambulances, and reporters already on the scene. But one lone figure caught Ash's eye. Leaning against a streetlight, there was a man dressed in a long black coat. Though a dark hood obscured his eyes, the man was clearly staring at Ash.

The trainer moved towards the perimeter of the area. He approached the reporters as if he were going to give a press conference so as to not alert the mysterious stranger. Television and radio reporters began shouting questions at him.

He stopped just short of where they waited at the edge of the police line.

"I have time for only a single interview tonight." Silence fell as the reporters waited anxiously for his next words. Ash lifted his hand, pointing randomly into the crowd. "You," he said, looking into the bright eyes of a young woman. He beckoned her towards him, the other reporters shrinking back, clearly disappointed that they weren't chosen.

The woman crossed the police line, and Ash bent down and whispered into her ear. She nodded, pointing to a white news van not far from the mysterious man.

The two walked towards the van, fighting their way through the multitudes of journalists. The reporter slid the back door open, and they climbed inside. It was much smaller than Ash had imagined. He and the woman sat facing each other, their knees touching in the cramped van.

"I'm Selena. Thank you for allowing me to ask you some questions, Mr. Ketchum," the woman said. She seemed to be about the same age as he was, and rather pretty, too. Her black hair was in two long pigtails which reached to her lower back, and she wore a forest green mini-dress over black jeans.

"Ash," he said, waving away the formalities. "I'm not here for publicity. There's a suspicious man outside, and I needed a way to watch him without scaring him away. There's a good view of him from your window."

Selena's face fell. "Oh. I thought you were actually going to allow me to interview you. I've been told you don't like the media, but when you pointed to me, I thought…"

"Hold on," Ash stopped her. "I didn't say I wouldn't speak with you. I believe he's watching us, so he needs to see me talking to you."

The young woman nodded. "Alright, what do you want me to do?" she asked.

"You can tell your viewers that the tragedy which took place tonight at the Silph Company is unprecedented. The building appears to have burned down in a large fire. The criminal behind this has not yet been identified, but every resource is being used to determine what caused the disaster," he said, vaguely. He watched as Selena scribbled down his words on a notepad. She paused, trying to decide what to say next.

"Can I ask you something? Off the record, I promise." The trainer nodded reluctantly. "I've only been a reporter for several months. But in that time, so many strange things have been happening. Where have you been?"

The question startled Ash. It was just like the kind a reporter would ask, but Selena asked it more innocently, as if she actually cared where he had been.

"I've been working to discover what's been going on," he answered plainly.

Selena lowered her notepad. "Ash," she said, her voice growing somber yet steady. "You were a hero to our generation: a sign that we could reach our dreams no matter how young or unknown we were. And now you've just disappeared. To the people you swore to protect, it's like you abandoned them, abandoned us."

This stung Ash. He wasn't fond of the spotlight, but he was still fulfilling his duties quietly. But he never considered that people didn't realize this. He slammed his fist against a high tech piece of machinery next to him, making Selena jump.

"Is that what people really believe?" the trainer shouted. "That I'm doing nothing? That I'm forsaking my duties? If it seems like I'm not doing anything, then it's only because people like you spread rumors that I've disappeared instead of reporting on real news."

Ash was standing now, towering over Selena. The young woman was cowering in fear. Shame replaced Ash's anger, and he slumped back into his seat.

"I'm sorry. That was unprofessional and uncalled for," he mumbled, his head in his hands.

"N-no," stuttered Selena. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to attack you like that. It's just that you were a hero to a lot of people, including me, and no one ever hears from you anymore. I know you didn't abandon us, but a lot of people feel like you did."

Ash sighed. He had let his anger against the media go too far and forgotten that there were real people in the world who wanted to know if they were safe. "I'm working hard to protect the citizens of Kanto. Believe me," he said. The girl nodded.

"Ash… I want to help you, somehow," Selena murmured.

"Tell the people of Kanto what I just told you. Tell them that I promise to do my best to protect them. Don't twist the news like every other reporter I've ever met." Selena nodded again.

Ash relaxed in his seat. Perhaps there were still honest people like Selena in the world. "So I was your hero, eh?" he chuckled, winking at her.

The young journalist blushed. "I watched all of your battles in the Pokémon League. You're an amazing trainer. Your determination inspired me to become a news reporter to help people see that there were incredible people like you in the world."

"I apologize for inspiring such a career," Ash joked, "but I'm honored to hear that."

Suddenly, Ash stood up, startling Selena. "No! He's gone?" Ash was staring wide-eyed out the window at the streetlight post where, until a minute ago, his mark had been standing. "Impossible, he was just-"

But Ash's words were cut abruptly short as the van turned on and began to move. The sudden acceleration caused Ash to lose his balance and fall on top of Selena.

"Damn it," Ash shouted. "Sorry Selena." The poor girl beneath him had had the wind knocked out of her and was unable to reply.

The back of the van was divided from the front by a solid sheet of steel, so they couldn't see the driver. The man, whoever he was, must have entered the van while Ash was distracted and hijacked the vehicle. Ash struggled to his feet, trying desperately to unlock the back door, but it was jammed.

"Is there any way we can send a signal using the television broadcast to let the police know where we are?" the trainer asked, turning to the woman.

Selena shook her head dubiously. "The engine and the hardware can't work at the same time. I think we're stuck in here."

Ash had played right into the stranger's hands. They had been abducted.

"Stand back Selena," he grimaced, reaching to his belt for a Pokéball.

There was a flash of red light, and a small green Pokémon sat in the middle of the van.

"Bulbasaur, use solarbeam on the door!" Ash instructed it.

The grass type nodded, concentrating on focusing the energy in the bulb on his back. Seconds later, a huge beam of light tore through the back door. Ash grabbed Selena by the waist, and the two jumped out of the van closely followed by Bulbasaur. They tumbled onto the road, slightly bruised, but otherwise uninjured. Thankfully, there were no cars immediately behind them.

"Are you alright?" the trainer asked Selena. She nodded, shaken from their fall. The van, however, was still quickly getting farther and farther away. "Razor leaf!" Ash coughed, choking on the dirty air from the van's exhaust.

Bulbasaur obeyed, shooting four shuriken-like leaves at the van's wheels. Each one slashed its target, creating large gashes in the tires. The vehicle swerved out of control, mounting the sidewalk and almost hitting several late-night pedestrians. It finally slowed to a stop, and Ash began walking towards it.

A man, the same man whom Ash had seen earlier, leaped out of the car. He and Ash stood staring at each other for several minutes.

"Will you surrender, or do you wish to fight me?" Ash asked, loudly and clearly, stepping forward boldly. Bulbasaur bounded in front of him, ready for the latter.

The man replied by pulling out a Pokéball. As he threw it, a red light materialized into a large black bird.

"HonchKROW!" it cried, flapping its wings threateningly, but Ash held his ground.

"Shadowball," the stranger snarled.

A black mass of energy gathered in front of Honchkrow. It flew directly at Ash, who neatly sidestepped it. A huge cloud of darkness spread, obscuring the streetlights and making it almost impossible to see.

By the time Ash, Selena, and Bulbasaur could see again, Honchkrow and its trainer were barely visible in the dark sky, far above the city.

Ash turned back to face the reporter. She was trembling. He put a strong hand on her shoulder, and pulled a lock of her long black hair out of a bloody cut on her forehead.

"I need you to tell the police what happened. I'm going after him. We'll meet again. Be strong."

"Thank you Ash. But I want a proper interview next time since you decided to trash my van," she said with a smile.

Ash chuckled. "Alright. You have my word."

Bulbasaur returned to his Pokéball, replaced by Pidgeot whom Ash quickly mounted. The trainer shouted a command, and they flew away.

It was only by Pidgeot's keen eyesight that they were able to pursuit the shadowy bird and black-clad rider in the dead of night. The chase lasted several hours until Honchkrow finally began to descend. Based on their direction and proximity to water, Ash assumed that they were now in Vermillion City.

Honchkrow landed at the end of one of the long piers protruding into Vermillion Harbor. Ash and Pidgeot landed several yards away. The wind was strong, and the sea breeze was buffeting them with droplets of water from the rough sea below.

"Have you given up yet?" Ash called through the howling wind. The man's back was turned to him.

The stranger returned Honchkrow to its Pokéball. He turned to face Ash, the hood still obscuring his face.

"I was sent as an emissary, nothing more. I have a message for you." said a gruff voice.

"I'm listening."

"My master extends an invitation to you. He would like to offer you a place in command of his new organization. Ash Ketchum, will you stand by his side as a member of Rocket Nation?"

Ash threw his head back and laughed. "The day I join Team Rocket is the day I turn my back on my morals, my friends, and who I am. Your master should never have sent you."

"You are wrong, Ash Ketchum. We are not Giovanni's horde of fools. We are Rocket Nation, and you will one day fight by our side, regardless of what you say now."

"Eternity stands between that day and today," Ash shouted. "You're under arrest for kidnapping, affiliation with an illegal organization, and in connection with the disappearance of the Silph Company. Stand down."

Sirens could now be heard through the wind. Flashing lights were getting clearer through the fog.

"Hear my words, Ash Ketchum," the stranger decreed, walking backwards towards the edge of the dock. "Rocket Nation has risen. And even you will be unable to resist our power."

Ash realized a moment too late what the man was doing. The trainer began running towards him.

"Don't do it," Ash warned. It was too late. The messenger stepped backwards off the pier's edge and fell, vanishing from sight.

By the time Ash reached the edge, the man was gone. Huge waves far below crashed against the posts, making it impossible to see a body floating below.

A police car pulled up behind him, lights flashing. Squirtle and Pikachu jumped out, quickly followed by Officer Jenny.

Ash bent down and spoke to the Pokémon. "Squirtle, thank you so much for your help in Saffron. I need you to do one more thing for me." The turtle nodded. "Have the Squirtle Squad scan the waters for the body of a man dressed in all black. I need to know if he survived."

Squirtle nodded again, hugging Ash's leg.

"I know, buddy. I missed you too. We'll see each other soon."

Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulders, waving goodbye to his fellow Pokémon.

"So Selena told you what happened?" Ash asked, standing to speak with the police woman.

"Yes sir. She said you were flying south, so we came right away."

"Thank you," Ash whispered. "Follow up on the investigations. Let me know if the Squirtle Squad finds anything, or if there's any evidence to indicate what happened to the Silph building."

"And you sir?" Jenny inquired.

"I have to get back to Cerulean City. I have business there."

Ash had begun walking away when Officer Jenny stopped him. "Ash, there was another suspicious occurrence today." Ash raised an eyebrow. "A section of Mount Moon has caved in. Rescue teams have been unable to find any survivors thus far."

Pidgeot and Ash were airborne before Jenny even completed her final sentence.

Author's Note

First, I must appologize for the long delay. My first priorit was getting chapters rewritten and improved, and that has now been completed. Those will be up with my next update. I was then struck by vacation and writer's block. Not good, so sorry that it's taken so long. I also plan on finally getting a new Dream Chaser chapter up. Should be done by this weekend.

So I made you wait this long and you still don't know what happened to Allie. Yay cliffhangers! I promise you'll get an update sooner than this one. I don't like this chapter as much as the last, but it does reveal a bit about what's going on and Ash's character, and I have an epic few chapters coming up, including finally explaining the first part of chapter 1. Keep reading!

Thanks to Neon Knightly, Braviary, jade92, Pratik Roy, and Corrupt Druid for their reviews. Glad to see you guys enjoying my little project. I'm very pleased with the reaction to James, and you will eventually find out what happened in the missing years. For now, though, he remains a mystery. I'll address specific reviews in my next Author's Note, but for now, please keep reviewing/favoriting/following, I really appreciate it. Sorry again about the long break.

Thanks!

-Waras