Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Chapter 28: Last Car
The rain poured down outside the Nimbasa City Pokemon Center as he gazed out the window of his room at the cityscape. His thoughts were on his encounter with N the previous day, and of the revelation that he was the leader of Team Plasma. Ash tried to figure out how he could've not seen that coming. But then it was the sort of thing that usually comes out of left field. Even so, he had failed to see that N was the leader of Team Plasma just as he had failed to see that Cyrus was the leader of Team Galactic until it was too late two years before. Ash thought that maybe if he had seen whom Cyrus truly was a little sooner… but then it was pointless to dwell on such things.
What hurt Ash the most though was that he considered N to be a friend. And N was right to an extent; the two of them were alike in a way. Which was why it was so hard to accept that N could be Team Plasma's leader. Ash was stirred from his thoughts by a knock on the door.
"Come in." Ash called as he turned away from the window. Slowly the door opened and Misty walked in.
"Hey there." Misty greeted.
"Hey." Ash greeted back. Sensing that the two might like some time alone, Pikachu and Lucario discreetly left the room. "What brings you here?"
"Just came to see how you were doing." Misty replied as she walked closer to him.
"I'm okay I guess." Ash told her as a small smile came to his face. "I've just been trying to figure out how I could've missed who N really was."
"Ash, nobody could've seen that coming." Misty pointed out. "Sure, N was a little odd. But he seemed like the last person someone would think to be the leader of an organization like Team Plasma."
"So was that bastard." Ash reminded her.
"N isn't Cyrus." Misty pointed out.
"I guess you're right about that." Ash admitted. "But still…"
"What's done is done." Misty told him. "And besides, nobody's gotten hurt."
"So far." Ash gravely pointed out. "I just wonder if I'll be able to stop N if we face him again."
"You always do." Misty told him before planting a kiss on his cheek.
"…So what's got you down?" Ash asked after a moment.
"It's Bianca." Misty admitted. "I've been thinking that maybe if I had treated her better, things would've turned out differently."
"What was it with you and Bianca, anyway?" Ash asked.
"I thought… that she was trying to steal you from me." Misty admitted.
"…What?" Ash replied with a small laugh as if the idea was the most absurd thing he had ever heard.
"Well she kept throwing herself at you." Misty pointed out. "I come in, and there she is right on top of you."
"Yeah, that's because she kept tripping and falling on me." Ash explained. "Every time she showed up she'd be charging at me and Chili as mach speed and suddenly trip and fall right on top of me."
"Are you serious?" Misty asked in disbelief.
"Just ask Chili about, or even Pikachu and Lucario." Ash replied.
"Oh god!" Misty exclaimed, feeling very foolish.
"Why would you even think that I was even interested in Bianca?" Ash asked.
"I don't know." Misty replied, almost on the verge of tears. "I guess when I saw you and Bianca on the ground together like that all those times something in me snapped. I just can't bare the thought of losing you to someone else."
"You don't have to worry about that." Ash assured her before pulling her into a hug. Moments later there was another knock on the door.
"Ash? Misty? Can I come in?" Chili's voice asked from outside the door.
"Uh, yeah. Go right ahead." Ash told him, as he and Misty broke apart.
Chili entered the room alongside Pikachu and Lucario. "I just thought that maybe you guys would like to check out one of those Pokemon Musicals. We didn't get a chance yesterday after what happened."
"I would like to see one of those musicals. But it's really coming down out there." Misty pointed out.
"No problem. We can just take the subway." Chili suggested. "Ash, you were wanting to check that out anyway."
"That sounds good to me." Ash replied.
"Well in that case, why not?" Misty agreed.
The complex subway system of Nimbasa City was not just a way for the citizens of Nimbasa to get around. It was a massive mobile arena for trainers to test their skills. And it was all overseen from a darkened control room by a mysterious pair of gentlemen. From one of their monitors the two saw Ash arrive with the others at the station near the Pokemon Center.
"That's the boy, isn't it?" one of the two gentlemen asked with eagerness in his voice.
"According to the description I got." The other man confirmed. "Long black hair in a ponytail, blue vest, and he's traveling with a Pikachu and a Lucario. There's no mistake it's him."
"Good. Let's get him in the car then." The first of the two men decided.
"Hold on brother. He's traveling with friends." The second of the two men observed. "It might be interesting to have one of them along for the ride. After all, two opponents are more of a challenge than just one. And I haven't had a chance to battle for awhile."
"Oh, fine then!" the first of the duo said impatiently. "Which one do you want?"
"Hmm… I think we should try taking on the girl." The second man decided. "She and the target seem quite friendly with one another."
"Alright, send the order." The first man told him. "It's time I taught that punk a lesson."
Ash and the others had made it to the station without incident. But upon getting their tickets, Ash and Misty were quickly directed by one of the conductors to the last car of the train. Something about the other cars exceeding their passenger limit. Upon entering the last car with Pikachu and Lucario, the couple found that the final car was completely deserted. But with little choice, they took their seats and soon the train was off down the tunnel.
"Did you think that the train car we were in with Chili looked crowded?" Misty asked.
"No, but then who knows what kind of train regulations this subway has?" Ash replied.
"Still, it just seems a little weird." Misty pointed out.
Before they could ponder things any further, the car was suddenly rocked by a loud noise that sounded as though they had disconnected from the rest of the train. Ash rushed to the front of the car to look through one of the small windows by the door. The car had indeed disconnected and was getting further away every second.
"Ash, what's happening?" a worried Misty asked.
"I have no clue!" Ash answered.
"Pipipi!" Pikachu called to Ash as on his shoulder. The electric rodent pointed to the windows on the right side of the car.
Ash looked and saw on the track along side their own another shorter train that was black in color and had a bullet nose. The black train took a junction and went onto the track Ash and Misty's car was on. In seconds the car connected with the train and the door opened to the middle car.
"All passengers please proceed to the next car." A voice called from beyond the door.
Ash and Misty looked to each other for a moment before cautiously going through the door with their two Pokemon companions. The door slide shut behind them after they entered. Standing at the other end of the dim car were two men shrouded in darkness.
"What the hell is going on here?" Ash demanded to know. "Who are you?"
In answer to Ash's question, a spotlight shined down on the two gentlemen. They were both tall and had grayish-brown hair that grew into sideburns. Both of them had the same face, indicating that they were twin brothers. The man on the left wore a black conductor's uniform with a long coat with two wide tan stripes running down it. The other man wore an identical outfit, save for the fact that it was white instead of black.
"I am… Emmet!" the man in white announced dramatically.
"I am… Ingo!" the man in black announced.
"And together we are… the Subway Masters!" the announced together as they finished with a dramatic pose.
"Subway Masters?" Misty asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Our job is to run the Nimbasa City subway system." Ingo explained. "We also oversee the battles that sometimes take place in some of the cars."
"On rare occasions we even join in on some of the battles." Emmet added. "What we're riding in right now is our special battle train. When we see a trainer or pair of trainers we like, we detach the car they're riding in from their train and attach it to this one."
"So why challenge us?" Ash asked.
"Because Ash Ketchum, you and I have a score to settle!" Emmet declared.
"What did Ash ever do to you?" Misty asked.
"He'll have to win the battle to find out." Emmet answered.
"As for me, I'm a little more interested how well you two fight along side each other." Ingo explained. "So, care to take us on?"
In answer to Ingo's question, Lucario stepped forward, growled, and took a fighting stance. At the same time, one of Misty's Pokeballs opened and Dewott burst out next to Lucario.
"I guess we don't have a choice." Ash noted.
"Very good!" Ingo praised. "Now then, come on out Chandelure!"
Emerging from Ingo's thrown ball was a ghostly chandelier with black metal arms and a large glass ball for a head. A purple flame blazed from the top of its head and smaller flames lit the pointed lights on its arms. On the front of its head was a pair of round yellow eyes.
"Spark on Elektross!" Emmet called out as he threw his own ball. Emerging from the ball was the same sort of large eel-like creature that Elesa had used against Ash. "Now Ketchum, suffer as I have! Elektross, attack Dewott with Thunder Bolt!"
"Lucario, block it!" Ash ordered.
Elektross fired a yellow bolt of electricity at Dewott. At the last second, Lucario leapt in and blocked the attack with his body.
"How dare you?" Emmet complained.
"You should've seen that one coming brother." Ingo pointed out to him. "Now then Chandelure, use Flamethrower on Lucario!"
"Not so fast! Dewott, intercept with Aqua Jet!" Misty commanded.
The second that Chandelure fired a stream of purple flames from the top of its head at Lucario, Dewott jumped into the air and became shrouded in water. The samurai otter took off like a rocket through the flames and struck Chandelure in the face.
"Ash, Dewott and I will handle Ingo. You and Lucario just worry about Emmet." Misty told him.
"Right." Ash agreed. "Okay Lucario, hit Elektross with Aura Sphere!"
Lucario brought its paws together and threw a ball of blue light at the eel creature. Elektross was hit in the chest.
"Not good enough!" Emmet declared. "Elektross, use Thunder!"
"Dodge and used Bullet Punch!" Ash commanded.
Elektross sparked and fired a bolt of yellow lighting up at the roof of the train car. The lightning came back down to strike Lucario, but the jackal Pokemon quickly jumped out of the way and came at Elektross with a glowing white fist. Meanwhile, the battle between Dewott and Chandelure was still going on.
"Dewott, use Swords Dance followed by Razor Shell!" Misty commanded.
Taking his two seashell weapons at his waist, Dewott raised them to his sides and spread his legs apart. He then crossed his arms and brought his right foot forward. After that he brought his arms down and brought his feet back in. Dewott began to glow with a red aura as water enveloped his seashell weapons and became blades.
"Chandelure, use Protect!" Ingo ordered.
Just as Dewott jumped up and raised one of his blades to attack, a barrier of light blue light formed around Chandelure. The blade of water was blocked by the ghostly chandelier's shield.
"Now use Will-o-wisp!" Ingo commanded.
Chandelure fired a ball of purple fire that hit Dewott in the chest. The attack left the samurai otter with a burn. Meanwhile, Lucario and Elektross were still engaged in combat.
"Discharge!" Emmet commanded.
Elektross slammed its tail into the ground and sent a current of electricity through the floor at Lucario. Lucario was struck by the attack and fell to his knees.
"Misty, now!" Ash called.
"Right!" Misty agreed. "Dewott, attack Elektross with Aqua Jet!"
"Lucario! Hit Chadelure with Bone Rush!" Ash ordered.
"What?" both Ingo and Emmet exclaimed.
A water-shrouded Dewott took off into the air and rammed into Elektross' side. At the same time, Lucario jumped at Chandelure as a blue light from his paw formed into a metal bone. Lucario began to repeatedly strike the ghostly chandelier with his bone weapon.
"Dewott! Finish off Elektross with X-Scissor!" Misty ordered.
Dewott twirled his shell weapons in his paws as they began to glow with a bluish-green light. The samurai otter charged at Elektross and hit the eel with an X-shaped slash of light. Elektross fell to the ground unconscious. At the same time, Lucario finished his attack on Chandelure. The ghostly chandelier hit the ground out cold.
"Well, I guess that's that." Ingo commented as he and Emmet called back their Pokemon. Emmet had a displeased expression on his face.
"Okay, we won. Now what's this all about?" Ash demanded to know.
"Well if you must know…" Emmet began. "I was trying to avenge my darling Elesa!"
"Huh?" Ash and Misty said together with dumbfounded expressions.
"Elesa!" Emmet sobbed as he fell to all fours.
"I guess I should explain." Ingo sighed as he tugged on the brim of his hat and came up closer. "You see, Elesa, my brother and I go way back. And for years Emmet has had a thing for her. Of course he doesn't stand a chance with her, but try telling him that. Anyway, we heard recently that Elesa has locked herself in her apartment because of some rough challengers at her gym."
"Now that you mention it, Elesa did say something about spending five days in bed after she was beaten by Bianca and Noir Mask." Misty recalled.
"Emmet heard about this and desperately wanted to avenge Elesa by defeating those challengers." Ingo went on. "We haven't caught sight of those two girls who beat her trying to ride our subway. But when we saw you trying to board, Emmet immediately wanted to challenge you. As for me, I just wanted to see how well the two of you battled together."
"Elesa." Emmet sobbed again, this time a little more quietly.
"Man, this is kinda pathetic." Ash quietly commented.
"Reminds me of Brock." Misty added. "So Ingo, is Elesa interested in Emmet at all?"
"Actually just between us, there's someone else that Elesa is interested in." Ingo quietly revealed.
"Who?" Ash asked.
"Not my place to say." Ingo replied. "Anyway, we should be reaching your destination shortly."
True to Ingo's word, the battle train arrived at the very station they were originally headed for. After they pulled in, Ash and Misty departed and found Chili nervously waiting for them by the door out.
"Where the heck were you guys?" Chili asked them.
"It's a long story." Ash answered. "Anyway, we should get going if we still wanna catch that show."
The following day the sun was shining down on Nimbasa City as Ash and his companions departed the Pokemon Center. They had gotten word that the drawbridge to Driftveil City had been repaired, which meant it was time for them to leave and head for the next gym.
"So how far is it to Driftveil City?" Ash asked Chili.
"Shouldn't be long at all." Chili replied as he looked over the map.
"Then let's get going." Ash told the others.
Thus the travelers began heading out of Unova's city of light. They would remember their time in Nimbasa as a time when they ended up losing friends. Though they would also remember the strong trainers they had encountered. But the time had long come for them to move on.
Author's Note: Originally I wasn't going to have the Subway Masters appear in this story, but the chapter seemed to need something and having them show up seemed like the best solution. Plus I had yet to show Ash and Misty fight together in a double battle.
Please review and let me know what you think.
