Chapter 27: Getting to know Claid
"Riolu saw what!" Lucario blurted out when I was done explaining. "That's impossible for a human with a disguise like that! I can understand a Ditto, or someone with some kind of operation, but that's impossible if it's just some disguise."
It wasn't exactly easy to get in the V.I.P. stands from the regular hallway. The sailor who kept watch told me that it was invitation only, while I told him that I wanted to talk to Cynthia, he refused to let me in. Thankfully, Riolu snuck in and managed to convince Cynthia to let me in. once I was able to talk to her, I asked if Riolu's brother Lucario could also talk with us, where I explained to him everything Riolu witnessed.
"Hmm." I thought over his opinion about my look-alike, then a thought occurred to me with what Ratata "said". "Out of curiosity, what does 'Silvershade' mean to you?"
Lucario's rounded bits of "hair" stood on end, and his ears shot up when I mentioned this name. "S-Silvershade… you honestly don't know?"
"Lucario, you're telling us that you do?" Cynthia asked, intrigued.
"Actually, I heard it through a frightening rumor among the others." He explained. "It was before you used that Pokéform with Garchomp. As soon as Eric Claid as being circulated among the gossip of the Pokémon, the Ghost Pokémon were saying something about an unspeakable evil of sorts… something that's destined to battle against the one of the Sacred Fire. Not much detail was given out, but a Pokémon Tower in Sinnoh was talking of a being called 'Darkness Silvershade', that he's corrupting the world with an evil only the Sacred Fire can heal."
Darkness Silvershade, huh? I thought to myself. That's quite a name… but what's this about an evil? Could it have something to do with Shadow Pokémon, or is it something worse?
"What does this evil do?" I inquired.
Lucario shook his head, "I don't know, I wasn't able to ask."
I pondered over it for a while, and Electabuzz was the first thing to come to mind. There was no doubt in my mind that no ordinary Electabuzz would disappear the minute its life was extinguished. I wasn't sure before of Dusknoir, being a Ghost Pokémon, but finding it happen to something that isn't a ghost is very unusual.
"Well, at least I'm sure that this guy Silvershade knows something about where Joey is." I said, trying to think as positive as possible. "Maybe his Mightyena could tell us."
"Umm, Ewic?" Riolu piped up, "Tat Mightyena don't belong to dat guy who looks like you."
"Huh? You sure?"
"Ya, Cus ta Mightyena tat chased me is wight teah!" he pointed out towards the battle arena. Sure enough, it wasn't some guy that looked like me.
It was Leeroy that's commanding the Mightyena that Riolu pointed out.
"Leeroy!" I exclaimed. "You're sure?"
Riolu nodded rapidly. "I twied to read his mind, but it was all messed up and wieud."
I gave my shot at reading Mightyena and as Riolu said, the thoughts were fuzzy and unclear.
"Well? How is it?" Cynthia, who was observing my attempt, asked.
I paused, and flashed back towards Riolu's memory. By last recall, there were two people over at the shadow: one was my impersonator (assumed to be this "Silvershade" person), the other was unclear. Joey and his Pokémon were held, and while Joey was dragged off somewhere, his Pokémon went through some kind of torture.
Riolu got chased by a Mightyena with concealed thoughts, and he pointed it out by reading the mind of the one Leeroy commanded.
A few pieces of the jigsaw puzzle were starting to come together, but the picture was still unclear.
"Eric?" Lucario noted my silence.
I looked at Lucario and Cynthia, and then I gazed at Riolu, whose expression was curious about what's next.
"Seems to me like we have our first suspect." I concluded. I looked around briefly, then got the attention of a staff member.
"Excuse me, when does the Tournament go on a lunch break?"
He sifted through a small packet of papers, and glanced at it before responding. "Right after this round, Mr. Phoenix."
"Thanks." I told him, then I came back to Cynthia and Lucario. "OK, I might be able to get to the bottom of this… but I might need to ask something of you, Cynthia."
"Alright… depends on what you request." She answered, skeptical.
I paused, being extremely careful on how I worded this request. "Would it be OK if we do a temporary trade?" I asked, "I'll leave my Charizard with you, and Lucario comes with me… is this alright with you?"
Lucario was puzzled at my question. "What would you want me to come along?"
"I'm thinking of keeping an eye on Leeroy for a little bit, perhaps he might help me find a clue to locating Joey." I explained. "But to do that, I need to stick close without being seen. My Pokémon aren't exactly able to sneak around corners of a ferry without being noticed. Lucario appears perfect for sneaking around, and unless what I read about them is incorrect, he's also able to Track someone with ease."
Cynthia looked at Lucario, who paused for a couple seconds. "Alright, looks like you have a plan, kid. You better hope it works, though."
Just an unofficial mission for a Rocket elite with a kind heart. I thought.
"So, we have a Deal?" I asked Cynthia.
Cynthia paused for a second… and smiled. "You think I could hold onto your Blaziken instead?"
The response surprised me, and I hesitated before accepting the deal. I handed over Blaziken's Pokéball, and in return, she handed me Lucario's. I told myself to remember to trade back after the stakeout on Leeroy was finished.
I looked over Riolu and found that Leeroy's battle was recently ended. I checked what side he was on, and seconds later, it was me and Lucario dashing off towards the Red Entrance.
...
After dashing out of the room, with Lucario close behind, Eric's Pokéball was all that's left, the Pokéball that Cynthia now is holding onto.
She juggled it a little, still wondering a bit about Eric Claid and what the Pokémon have been saying.
"When the Darkness rises, a boy by the name of Claid will face it." a Xatu had prophesied. "with the help of the turbulent winds of love and the Sacred Fire he will soon share, He and his companions will unite the world against the shadows that threaten us."
Cynthia rolled over the Blaziken's Pokéball a couple times, and decided to ask a few questions about the kid.
She opened the Pokéball, and Blaziken stood in front of her.
"Huh, hold on a—where am I?" Blaziken said in confusion, looking around for his Trainer.
"You're in the V.I.P. seating." Cynthia told him. "After a little discussion, Eric made a temporary trade with me to stake someone out with my Lucario."
Blaziken narrowed his eyes at Cynthia. "How can I know if you're telling the truth?"
"Hey, Yuua Blasiken, wight?" a voice piped up.
Blaziken looked, and Riolu sat on the railing, swinging his legs back and forth.
"Hey, so you're the Riolu he told me about." Blaziken said, smiling mostly with his eyes. "Nice to meet you."
"Cyntia talked with Ewic about finding tat Joey guy tat went missing, he tinks Leewoy might know something, so he and my bwudda Lucawio gone off to spy on him."
"Leeroy, huh?" Blaziken's attitude towards that name felt grim to Cynthia.
"What's Eric's relation with this Leeroy kid, anyways?" Cynthia inquired.
Blaziken's expression was mute. According to his thoughts, however, he flashed back on an offer Eric was given…twice, by-… the memory cut off when he remembered that people can read his mind.
"Let's just say that he went downhill for awhile." Blaziken said.
Cynthia thought it over, and quickly figured out what Blaziken meant, based on a news bulletin about a month ago.
"Did he really join Team Rocket?" Cynthia asked, up front and fast.
Blaziken jolted off the spot and snapped his gaze towards Cynthia. Thoughts of sudden surprise of whether or not it was a random accusation or not went through his head. Cynthia, her suspicion confirmed, began wondering what the kid was like.
"Sorry, I remembered that news bulletin awhile back and I recognized Eric from the broadcast, and the inquiry a little while later." Cynthia said, and explained her encountering the prophecy from Xatu, along with her curiosity about Eric. "So, since I know now that you're his best friend, I guess I'd like to know what he's like."
Blaziken was quiet for a few seconds, taking in what was said. He sat down in a seat acrossed from Cynthia and folded his hands, looking down as he reminisced his experience.
"When I first met Eric in Lavaridge City, I knew from the minute he gazed at me that we'd be friends." He explained. "He chose me out of the three starter Pokémon sent in from Professor named Birch, and he took me home to introduce me to his family. He came from a family restaurant, and he was taught to be a great cook, so he could occasionally help out in the kitchen."
Cynthia was impressed. No wonder Riolu was fond of his Pokéblocks. She thought, smiling. After he left his room, he couldn't stop talking about them when we went off for breakfast that morning.
"Later, his parents reminded him to make some food for the Pokémon staff that helped out in the kitchen. He always was able to make them all pleased." Blaziken continued. "They told me that he's good at cooking for the Pokémon. It's easy for him to know what kind of taste a Pokémon has, and when I was being served, they weren't kidding!" he began to laugh, Cynthia recognized the feeling he felt and joined in briefly without much thought.
"Then one day, a couple of kids of the recent customers went outside to play and I was sitting and enjoying the weather. But the kids found themselves being bullied by a couple of new trainers. The kids only wanted to meet their Pokémon, but the Trainers had them cornered. I managed to divert Eric's attention towards them, and he recognized them and jumped out. The Magmar cook and Scyther that usually chopped vegetables came with him to help out. The Battle went by so fast I hardly knew what happened. The Trainers recalled their Pokémon and ran off, and I later learned that Eric used their skills in the kitchen as a strategy in battle."
I guess he's not only a good cook for the Pokémon, but apparently he's the bouncer as well. Cynthia thought, then said "Well, I guess we know how he gets his resourcefulness. So when did he leave on the traditional pursuit like other Trainers?"
"Actually, we overheard him and his folks discussing that." Blaziken said. "His mother suggested that perhaps he could go learn about what kinds of stuff is out there. His Pop thought he could be a great chef in the world, and just as good in Battling… he went a little overboard when he could make a nice advertiser for the restaurant, but Eric was convinced either way. So he packed up with a couple foldable pots and pans and we set off for Kanto, where we took part in the Pokémon League."
Hmm… who'd have thought such a nice kid like Eric would join up with Team Rocket. Though that's what's bugging me, how'd a nice guy like Eric wind up with criminals? Cynthia mused. "How'd the League go?"
Blaziken's expression turned grim. "Before we entered the Indigo Plateau… Eric and I ran into Giovanni. He told him that he could help him become the strongest trainer in all of Kanto. Eric refused politely, and we took part and enjoyed the thrill with other Trainers… until we met Leeroy."
"Leewoy?" Riolu piped up, "You mean ta Leewoy who Ewic and Big bwudda is spying on?"
Blaziken nodded. "The Battle was apparently intense. When I got called out, it was down to the last Pokémon. And the announcer guy was in awe at how Eric was doing so great. A great start with Charizard, then a furious counter upset with Kadabra before passing out. It was down to Masquerain and me. The battle was nuts, and just I was ready to deal the finishing hit, Eric got cut off issuing the attack, and seemed suddenly dizzy."
Riolu and Cynthia both noticed the pain Blaziken felt in the memory.
"I was only distracted for an instant, and then Masquerain pummeled me with an assault of Hydro Pump and Psychic." Blaziken's hand tightened up, and his fist was close to erupting. "Eric talked with me later, told me of the message that Leeroy told him… I don't remember much of it, but he said 'all your pathetic efforts went up in smoke because you fight clean.'"
Riolu began feeling sorry for Eric. Cynthia was concerned about him, but began to get the idea of what happened next.
"Giovanni appeared in front of the doors to the deserted stadium, and told Eric that he could get back at Leeroy. Eric, being troubled about the message he was given, decided to go along to Team Rocket. We found out later what it really was, and somehow, Eric's managed to maintain the appearance of a criminal. I start to wonder what happened to him. A Hoenn born chef turned to a potential criminal mastermind, I would have had enough if it weren't for him still being a caring person…"
The room was quiet. Riolu looked at Cynthia, who was a bit amused at how Eric acted, being vulnerable to false promises and was willing to get back at a guy who beat him unfairly. Born in Hoenn with a family restaurant, convinced by his parents to see the world, and to take on the Pokémon League. But to lose in his first tournament can hurt, Leeroy might have set him up for Team Rocket by humiliating him like that… poor kid.
"So, what did Ewic leaun in Team Wocket?" Riolu asked
Cynthia was intrigued with that question. Hmm… now that I think about it, what did he learn to fit the description Blaziken gave him?
Blaziken was surprised at the question, and he paused as a result.
"He…" Blaziken took a deep breath. "He learned quite a bit from Team Rocket. He learned about maintaining an acceptable posture on the outside, he's able to act out in whatever disguise he's given, and above all, he's strengthened his moral endurance."
Riolu tilted his head, not understanding what Blaziken meant.
"He makes himself look acceptable to others, he's a master of disguise along with being sneaky. Then… while he knows what he's doing is wrong, he… doesn't show it." Cynthia summarized for Riolu.
"Oooooh…"
Blaziken stared out into the scenery past the arena, his melancholy expression left the room silent again.
"Yeah, he knows that what he's done in Team Rocket is bad. But sooner or later, all of it's going to come back to haunt him," Blaziken said, worry in his tone of voice. "All it needs is a breaking point, and…" he hesitated. He took another breath "and… I'm not sure what will happen to him when he finally can't bear with Team Rocket's evil anymore."
