GS ball unlocked
Chapter 21, meet the leader
''I…can…explain!'' A man with disfigured face and a red/orange armor resembling flames was out of breath. He was speaking to a figure who had his hood and was entirely dressed in black compared to the clean white other members of Team Union wore on their robes.
''Did I tell you to talk back?'' The Fire type user immediately whimpered and started peddling faster.
After his failure of beating Ash and breaking the ''Rules of Conduct'' the disfigured man was brought back to Team Union's hideout. The Fire type specialist was strapped to a bicycle on a plateau of some sort. The man had to generate a certain amount to keep the facility running with enough electrical power.
Accepting his punishment he was strapped on the bike and was peddling for what seemed like hours now. Having witnessed the persons power and ferocity firsthand he knew better than to talk back like that but he had to defend himself. If the lights in the facility even lost a bit of their glow, an electrical Pokémon that usually would provide power for them would shock the pyromaniac until he would start again.
''You came to me with a plan. I told you I approved it. You know what happens when you turn away from it. You'll always stick to the plan unless I tell you too. You'll know this little stunt gets reported to the press! I don't mind a little publicity but how do we pass our philosophy with you harming innocent people?'' The figure in black scowled at him. This figure was the leader of Team Union.
''You told us…to blast…the mansion…with Draco Meteor!'' The black figure went up on the plateau and kicked the bicycle with Mixture still on it. Falling off and being unable to peddle further, the lights went out for a few seconds before the other electrical Pokémon that were stacked in their engine room would provide power again.
The man now was hanging above Mixture's face leaning over him with a presence of threat.
''Because it was in a city where the gym leader has Fairy types you numbskull. I was counting on everyone to stop the mansion from collapsing. That Draco Meteor would've done nothing if a Fairy type move was used.''
The black figure wanted to impose an ideology on the Kalos region. The attack on Laverre City was only to announce themselves to the world. It won't help if people were getting hurt because of their actions. If they wanted the general public to agree with their stance on certain things, no one could get hurt.
''They weren't really…innocent. And you heard from your spies…how he spoke about them. How could I know that to him…their comparable to trash?'' The Fire type specialist defended himself while trying to regain his breath. The man who he was talking to now agreed by letting him use Team Rocket as hostages and leverage to put the Greninja trainer at an disadvantage. Why he took those words back now, was quite hypocritical in his eyes.
''Out of my sight. You lost your chance. From now on you'll be getting send on errands like the pack. Be glad I don't demote you too doorstopper.'' And with that the scarred trainer left licking his wounds. He got away from it quite well knowing the black figure's temper in some cases.
An urge to protest against his demotion was unbearable almost, but a small part of his brain was yelling at him to let it go. Worse things have happened to those who failed before.
One other knight that was part of the Laverre City attack took great pleasure in seeing Mixture run off like a dog with his tail between his legs. Nothing felt better to her then seeing that sad excuse for a type specialist leave like that.
Despite her thoughts she was still focused on her duty and she came with a request to her leader.
''He might've had an earlier encounter with Team Rocket before. Want me to go deal with them?''
''Maybe I can get more out of them than Mr Combustion over there.'' The one in blue armor thought about it. It might make her score some bonus points with the leader and she would have an edge over the boy they were ordered to defeat. No doubt with her unique skill set, she was confident that they would spill some information about Ash and Team Rocket themselves.
''No. I'll deal with them personally. I'm more interested in what the rest of you have in store for the boy. Unless you want the same power I have, you have to defeat him. Isn't that the entire reason why you came here?''
Now that Mixture had failed, he lost his chance of proving himself being worthy of wielding the leaders power. But he was sure his other three knights were more than capable enough of beating the boy with his Greninja.
''Without endangering anyone.'' He warned the one in blue armor.
''Considering the others already have left for their plan, I would like to explain mine now.'' Since the leader told her that he would take care of Team Rocket himself it was time for the blue knight to move on to her scheme of defeating the boy from Pallet Town.
''You think you can beat them to it?'' The leader asked her. The other knight who had shown a disdain for showcases and the Kalos Queen had set out to enact her plan for defeating Ash. While the last one was working on a way to draw the boy towards him instead of ambushing him like Mixture did. The element of surprise didn't work so a more direct approach would be more suited in his eyes.
''Don't compare me with that rundown old woman and the arrogant one. They should get with the times. I'm the future.''
The leader intently listened to all the blue knight had to tell him. It was quite an elaborate plot she thought of and despite her past successes in Team Union, the leader wasn't as convinced about her plan as he was with Mixture's.
''Admiring. But do you have the skills to pull it off?''
''I'm hurt sir. Do you remember how I came here in the first place?'' She acted like something terrible has happened to her. Trying to sound as sad as convincingly possible she was always trying to make the leader believe her claims. Everyone else in the team always fell for it, but the black hooded one had never fallen for her ploys.
''I do. And I'm still cross about it.'' It was safe to say that the one wearing the blue armor didn't came to join their ranks, in the usual way the others did or would join an organization. He didn't trust her as much as the others.
He'd think that his henchmen would be a bit more disciplined than allowing her to following them to where their hideout is.
Still the blue knight had proven herself in the eyes of the leader and whatever trial he gave her, she performed admirably and never had a single failure thus far. And she could sell ice to an Beartic, she was that good with words.
Some of the grunts even suggested that she was the leaders favorite henchman seeing as he let her get away with matters other members would be punished for severely, but whenever she heard those acquisitions she beat them back hard with her own strength.
She was her own woman and no one else's. She just came here for the leaders special power, nothing more. And she would do anything to obtain it.
''Just remember if you change it too much. My hounds will hunt you down.'' The six Mightyena trainers that formed a pack together were loyal to the leader and him only. They were trained to follow his commands and never questioning his motives. Despite how strong his knights were he kept a tight lease on them.
''You've seen how strong he is and that is without his Greninja. Are you sure you're up for it?''
Standing in the doorway she turned around and faced him. Did he suddenly have doubts about her defeating the raven haired boy? Was he that scared of him now? Like beating the Fire type user was such a big accomplishment. She knew he did it to make her stay focused and Mixture's fate won't fall on her.
''Are you afraid that failure is contagious? Mixture is a buffoon. He never beat me before. Despite the circumstances he was always failing against me. The boy won't be much of a problem.''
''Very well. Best of luck, Lady Unity.'' Were his final words before he would set his attention to the Team Rocket trio. The way the Greninja trainer talked about them was intriguing to him. His spies told him they had history for years and that he was getting sick of their charades. Maybe the leader could get some intel out of them regarding the boy.
On his way to their prison cell he was already thinking on how to proceed with the three. If they knew him for so long, the three might have some uses for the leader. He just had to convert them to his cause.
''After all. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.''
''IF IT WASN"T FOR YOUR STUPID PACK I WOULD"VE WON!''
Still fuming over the punishment and demotion the leader gave him he was ranting inside his head. He was quite outgoing but he knew the walls have ears and eyes here. Nothing escapes the black figure's attention in this compound.
Entering his private room he started to remember how exactly he came here in the first place.
He wanted nothing more in life than to be the strongest fire type trainer. Ever since he was a young boy he found comfort in fire. It soothed him, gave him comfort and warmth during cold nights while he was alone and yet when handled in a different way had enough capability to destroy something.
Mixture took it to himself to be the greatest Pokémon trainer alive using only Fire types.
So he started his journey learning everything there is about Fire types. Traveling through Sinnoh he arrived at Pastoria City. The home of Crasher Wake.
Water type gym leader and Wrestler, the burly man was quite known for being as tough as they come.
He trained for this moment intensely. Knowing he would face up against a Water type expert he devised a dozen strategy's against that specific type. He would have no doubt that despite the disadvantage he would be victorious.
He tried vaporizing the water in the gym. He lost. No amount of flames was enough to get rid of all the water inside the gym.
He taught his Pokémon electric type moves. He lost again because the gym leader would always spray the platforms with water making sure his Fire types would always electrocute themselves.
How was it fair that Water Pokémon had such an advantage over Fire Types? And Water was the most common species found in the Pokémon world. How could he ever be a fire type master with so many water Pokémon around that he couldn't beat? One day losing himself in a fit of rage at his failures at defeating the gym leader, he decided to burn the gym. He couldn't stay around to admire his work because he knew that now that he was a fugitive.
He continued travelling the world despite him being a wanted man. With nowhere to go he took small jobs as a demolition expert for people who wanted to get rid of something. Seeing how much people were willing to pay for his services he could make a decent living out of it.
One day he was found by the Mightyena pack of Team Union. Their leader wanted a meeting with the self proclaimed Fire type specialist and wanted him to work for his organization alone leaving behind his life as a hit man of some sort. He declined telling him that someone like him wouldn't understand him and never would be able to match his expertise with flames. But seeing that the man was willing to pay him well, he decided to stick around for a bit.
It was a standard job. He did it a hundred times before. Plant a small bomb and detonate it from a distance. Being told to blow up the Pokémon Centre in Shalour City he went through an underground tunnel and was preparing to set the charge.
He was nearly finished planting the bomb when he noticed a ticking noise. The bombs timer went from 10 minutes to 10 seconds. Panicking he dropped it and ran as far away as he could before the charge would blow up.
The explosion happened but the tunnel didn't collapse. It was quite a controlled exploding to what he normally used and the blast wave came rushing to him while he was still running away from it. Being hit by the wave and some falling debris he was knocked being let at the mercy of the flames.
The pyromaniac woke up. Calling it a miracle that he survived, he felt his face was hurting like never before.
He came crawling out of the tunnel still being woozy after such a blast. Just how long was I out he wondered? Crawling over a small lake the water reflected his face off of it.
He was horribly scarred on his face. Skin started to peel off and he knew from this point on there was no turning back. His face was forever singed in burn wounds before he passed out from exhaustion.
Being brought back to Team Union's compound by the Mightyena pack he woke up in the room he was given to from the leader. The leader clad in black told him he was sorry for having his face disfigured like that.
The now scarred man didn't mind. It made him remember his commitment to mastering the Fire type. It made him remember the times he was defeated by a Water type user. It made him remember the reason he fell in love with fire and why he would grow to respect it.
He saw it as a message. Fire had consumed him partly and it had accepted him as his master. It didn't turn him into a pile of ashes so he must've had complete control over it. From that day on, every time a flame was set on a Team Union target, they knew who was responsible for it.
The leader was so impressed with his commitment to burning things for them, he offered him the title of knight in Team Union. It was the highest title you could receive except for leader himself.
His former life now long gone he know was known as Sir Mixture.
His leader gave him that name seeing that a mixture of chemicals could create a massive explosion. Seeing how much he loved setting things on fire, it was only suitable he was named after a chemical blend that could cause an explosion.
And it suited the whole Union thing he was going for.
And now as a knight he was offered the opportunity of the Grand Prize. Mixture knew that the leader had complete control over a certain ability and he knew that the power that the prize would give would make him able to vaporize every Water type user that stood against him.
While the leader and Lady Unity were of doing their own things Mixture was stumbling through the halls of the compound Team Union took shelter in. Despite everything that the leader put him through and said that he lost his chance at the Grand Prize he still was plotting and needed to prove himself worthy of the Grand Prize.
But not against the raven haired boy that humbled him during battle in the hotel. The boy was nothing but an obstacle to overcome. He was plotting his revenge against Lady Unity.
''She thinks that kissing up to the leader makes her the best? I'm going to burn that pedestal with you on it.''
I had real trouble finding a punishment for Mixture without making it seem like torture. Continuously running an electrical current through his body went a bit too far for the rating I put in this story.
I thought it was about time to flesh out our villains a bit. What's one of the reasons that makes Batman so great? His villain cast is arguably one of the greatest ever assembled for one guy.
And next time you're going to hear bit more from the leader himself and how he's going to handle the TRio.
I wrote Mixture's past in less than two hours this morning. WHY CAN'T I WRITE LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME!
See you in two weeks (at least)