Chapter 34: Legend in the Depths
Ryo's day had started out as any other. He and Rosa had arrived in Cerulean City the night before. It was strange how he'd slowly become acclimated to a normal life outside of Cipher. Yet he still felt burdened by guilt for running away. Haruka and Mei both called daily. He'd heard their messages. Ryo felt a pain deep in the pit of his stomach from Haruka's call the day before.
Haruka voice echoed in his mind, "Ryoko, please come back. I need you." Her crying killed him. He wanted to run back to her. Be there for her. Tell her everything will be alright.
Ryo clasped his chest as tears began rolling down his cheek. "There is no shame in a man crying. This is nary the moment for tears. Tis a bright and beautiful day." Rosa motioned to the sky. "Breathe it in."
Ryo's X-Transceiver rang suddenly. "Who could be calling now?" He collected himself and looked at it.
"Your maiden calling? Mayhaps your friend? They call endlessly." Rosa noted her dissatisfaction at all the calls Ryo got and never answered. He had an ironclad resolve not to answer them until he was ready.
"Blaine?" He answered, "Blaine, what's up?"
"Ryo, I'm glad you answered. We have an issue." Blaine said rather urgently.
"What's the problem. People causing problems on Cinnabar Island?" Ryo was ready to go at the drop of a hat.
"No, it's the Whirl Islands. I just received word from Tom that Cipher was spotted on there. It's not just a couple agents. They assembled an army from what I was told." Blaine told Ryo. "Would you know anything about this?"
"No, but I'm going to find out. Blaine, you'll probably want to stay clear. They may actually try to take Mewtwo this time if you showed up." Ryo hung up and ran back into the Pokemon Center.
"Halt!" Rosa shouted. "Would you really so willingly expose thyself? Just because thou wishes to try and stop Cipher activity?"
"Yes! I will not let Cipher have their way, especially outside of Orre." Ryo glared at Rosa. She was not going to stop him.
"Very well, a warrior's resolve is absolute. Trying to stop thou would be utterly pointless. Now make haste." Rosa respected him wishes.
Ryo didn't want to have to do this, but he quickly switched to his old team. "Alakazam use Teleport." Instantly Ryo was in the Cianwood Pokemon Center. Unfamiliar surroundings were not ideal. He ran across the beach seeing if he could get a better vantage point. He eventually noticed a large cliff and a series of stairs up to them. He made a run up the stairs, but found himself winded half way up. "I'm not that out of shape."
The top of the cliff providing a complete view of what was happening. An older man looked back, "Who might you be?"
Ryo took a second to catch his breath. "Ryo, I'm here to help. Blaine told me. I used to be a part of Cipher." He hit on the important details.
"I see, perfect more allies the better. Speaking of." He looked to the sky as a figure gradually came into focus. It was a Flygon and its rider. "Well, this will be interesting."
The Pokemon and trainer landed. "Chuck, what's the situation?" Tom asked before noticing they had company. "Ryo?"
"Tom." He nodded.
"Looks like we've got a few dozen men. I don't know any of the agents to tell who's in charge. The last of our back up should be arriving shortly." Chuck explained.
"You told someone else?" Tom was not privy to this information.
They hear running from the steps. Light and agile, they weren't stopping. Ryo looked back as the person reached the top. A tan girl with crimson red hair approached with great urgency. She was very fit that was apparent. She wasn't even winded running those stairs. Something felt familiar about her to Ryo.
"Chuck, I'm here." She looked around at Tom, but fixated on Ryo. "You!" She gave Ryo a death glare and immediately charged at him.
"Wait, no! He's not the enemy!" Tom tried to explain, but she dove at Ryo. Tackling him to the ground.
"Ah! Get off me. I'm not the bad guy here." He got a better look at her face. The voice, it finally clicked. Hitting him like a ton of bricks, almost literally.
"Tia stop!" Tom tried pulled her off of him, but she was too strong for him.
"Tia." Chuck put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
She took a deep breath and got off Ryo. "You have exactly one second to explain why you're here. What is Cipher up to?" Tia shouted viciously.
"I don't know! That's why we're trying to tell you. I defected!" Ryo could finally get a word in edge wise.
Tia paused, "You're not with Cipher anymore?"
"Yes! Ask him." Ryo knew Tom would vouch for him. "Hell, ask Blaine or Prof. Oak. Ask your own brother. I'm not lying."
"When did you mean Prof. Oak or Red?" Tia asked more calmly.
"When I defected, I wanted a clean start. So I went to Pallet Town, begging for a chance to redeem myself and a Pokemon from Oak." Ryo wanted it to be crystal clear he wasn't lying.
"Wait, but Blaine told me that you betrayed him and stole information on Mewtwo." Tia remembered how distraught Blaine was too.
Ryo sighed with relief. "He's a pretty good actor. I told Blaine to say that. Just in case Cipher came looking for me. I did betray him, but I also tried to undo what I did. I couldn't stop it though." Ryo confessed his past transgressions.
"Anyway, we need to figure out what is going on." Tom interrupted.
"Right," Ryo pulled out some binoculars, "there's something big hiding in the Whirl Islands. Cipher wouldn't pull something like this unless it was for a good reason."
"You recognize anyone? Like a leader?" Tia asked.
Ryo focused more. "Oh no, that's Ardos." Ryo would recognize him anywhere.
"Ardos?" Tom asked.
"One of Cipher's elites. He's never on missions. He's Greevil's right hand. Cipher is primarily run by two men. Greevil and Evice. Ardos, as well as, Eldes are Greevil's right hand." He paused and scanned the surroundings a bit more. What Ryo saw next made his blood run cold. "No." He stood paralyzed.
"Who do you see?" Tia quickly took a look.
"Haruka." Ryo collapsed to his knees. He'd turned his back on Cipher. Utterly betraying them. Now he was conspiring against them. He was ready for their hate, but he wasn't ready for Haruka.
His X-Transceiver rang. He didn't answer he saw her reaching for it. He let it ring and ring. Once more Haruka left a voice message. As if to further torture himself he played it back. "Ryoko, please. I'm on a very important mission. I just need to hear you tell me this will be all okay. That I can do this. I've been having a very hard time not getting sick. I know if Ardos sees me like this he'll send me home. Please, I love you." Ryo felt his heart being ripped out of his chest.
"I don't know if I can do this." Ryo had lost all his will to fight back. He was helpless before Haruka. He couldn't even muster the energy to stand.
Tom felt his absolute misery. "I know how you feel." He remembers that same dread when he knew he'd have to stand against Sabrina and Team Rocket.
Tia balled her fist and stared down at Ryo, "Are you really going to give up?" She shouted. "You were my enemy. You attacked my home region, my friends, and tried to steal helpless Pokemon. Yet, when we battled there was something I knew about you that stuck out more than anything. Your love for her! You jeopardized you own mission just to protect her back at the Lake of Rage."
"Her and I weren't on opposite sides then." Ryo explained.
"So? Do you really think her loyalty to Cipher is more important than her love for you?" Tia couldn't believe that.
Ryo got up, "You don't know Haruka like I do. Seeing me fighting against Cipher will crush her. I can't even think about how painful that would be for her."
"Regardless, we have to act now." Tom stepped in. "Ryo, are you in or out?"
Ryo paused, he had a million reasons for and against. "I'm… in."
"Good, now what's our strategy?" Tom asked.
"Frontal assaults suicide. Attacking from behind is also pretty useless. The islands are pretty well covered on all sides." Tia examined the battlefield.
"So if we can't surround them, then maybe we can surprise them from above?" Chuck winked.
"No, Cipher's smarter than that. We'd be blasted out of the air before we could get over the islands. Unless we went in with Rayquaza." He looked to Tom.
Tom smiled and petted his Flygon, "I've got one better."
"So Tom attacks from the air. What do we do? Sneak around the sides?" That was Tia idea anyway.
Ryo nodded, "That'd be the best choice. You and Chuck can take the right where the largest volume of agents are. I'll handle the left and make my way into that cave." Ryo figured they were headed for that cave so if he could sneak in first he could corner Haruka.
"Are you sure about that?" Tia knew Haruka was over there too.
Ryo nodded silently. "That's the plan. You're going to have to think on your feet."
"Should we call in more back up?" Chuck asked.
Tom shock his head, "No, we are just going to stop whatever they plan on doing." Tom had a sinking feeling he knew what they wanted though. If that was the case, then he couldn't stop them regardless.
From the ground the mission was proceeding smoothly. Haruka hung up and looked around. "I want all men in position, Lugia can awaken anytime now. We need to be on guard. Especially if someone catches us. Then we take no prisoners." Haruka ordered.
"Haruka, you're efforts have been exceptional." Ardos was happy to report. "Does everything seem to be going smoothly?"
Haruka nodded, "Yes, we haven't had an issues yet. Taming Lugia is not going to be easy though."
Ardos nodded, "I had no notions that it would be. Carry on." Ardos tended to his own agents as plans carried on.
After several moments preparations were for the most part complete. "Ma'am there appears to be something in the sky."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious. What is it?" She saw it too, but the light concealed it.
"Alright Flygon use Draco Meteor!" Rocks fell on the unsuspecting grunts as Tom descends.
Men scramble every which way as their Pokemon get pulverized by the attack. "Who is attacking us?"
"Hydro Pump!" Tia called out as her Gyarados blew away more Pokemon.
"You!" Haruka recognized Tia's voice.
"Why is Cipher in Johto?" Tia demanded an answer.
"That is of no concern of yours, girl." Ardos called out a Gengar to fend off Tia.
"Fire Punch!" Chuck and his Hitmonchan hopped into the fray as well. Fire Punch connected with Gengar and successfully burned Gengar.
"Who are you people?" Ardos angrily demanded an answer.
"I am Chuck, gym leader of Cianwood Island." He was not intimidated.
"I'm Tia and we're not going to let you get away with whatever it is you're doing." Tia may not know the details behind Cipher's plans, but she didn't care. She knew it was no good.
Ardos scowled, "Protect the machine and Haruka!" Ardos had to prioritize this over an all-out battle with three party crashers. He looked up to Tom who was attacking with Flygon's Flamethrower left and right. "The world champion, of course." Tom's reputation definitely proceeded him.
The men rushed Haruka into a cave with a large machine. "What in the world? How is this happening?" The men were frantic.
They hear the sound of footsteps from behind them. "Who goes there?" They called out their Pokemon to guards the machine and Haruka.
The light slowly exposed Ryo and Metagross as he walked up to Haruka and the rest. "Ry…Ryoko." Tears welled up in Haruka's eyes as she ran to him. Throwing herself at him. She sank to her knees, slowly anchoring him down. It was like a dream to her. Except this was no dream. The warmth of his chest. His strong arms. Everything was so real. Instead of a dream it was like Haruka had finally awoken from a nightmare.
"Haruka." He held her close and tightly. "I'm so sorry I've put you through all of this."
She sobbed uncontrollably. Tears of pure joy and bliss. It was like everything was suddenly right with the world. "It's fine. I'm just glad you're back. It's been killing me not knowing where you were."
He slowly caressed her hair. "I know. I'm so sorry for all that, but I had no choice. I love you, Haruka. I never want to leave your side again." He desperately hoped that would become a reality.
"Why?" Haruka whimpered.
"What?"
"Why didn't you come back for so long? Why now have you decided to show up?" Haruka was asking questions she was not going to like the answers to.
Ryo was terrified to answer her, because he couldn't lie. He couldn't do that to Haruka. No matter how much it would crush her to hear the truth. "Haruka, I'm sorry." He saw the agents protecting Haruka and the machine. They had to divert their attention to fend off Chuck. "I'm so sorry."
"Ryoko please tell me." Haruka cried into his arms. Ryo felt his clothes getting wet from her tears. It would kill her to know the truth, but it killed him that he had to tell her.
"I left Team Cipher." He finally confessed his betrayal.
"What?" Haruka couldn't believe him. She looked him dead in the eyes.
"Haruka, I quit Team Cipher. I'm here to stop whatever they're planning. I tried stopping Mika from stealing Mewtwo's data, but when that failed I fled. I needed to get stronger. So I could return to Orre and take down Team Cipher once and for all."
Haruka's eyes widened, "So we're enemies now?" She choked out the most devastating realization. Her and Ryo were now on opposite sides.
"No, please Haruka. Come with me. We can stop Cipher together." He said full of hope now that they were reunited.
"Ryoko? What are you saying? Cipher is all we've ever known. We have nothing without them." Haruka started shaking and trembling. "I can't give that all up."
"We can! we can run away from all of this. You and me. We can convince Mei too. I know it. Please Haruka. Cipher is full of monsters." Ryo tried to keep his composure the best he could, but he was cracking.
"We're monsters!" She shouted back at him. "Ryoko if you love me then you won't do this."
Ryo didn't know how to respond. The only reason he was doing any of this was so they could have a better life. It was for the good of all the people of Orre, but especially Haruka. He got up, slowly letting Haruka go. "Metagross, Meteor Mash!" Metagross flew forward and obliterated the machine and Pokemon the grunts were controlling.
They turned to Ryo, "Traitor!" There it was. The final nail in the coffin. Ryo was now and forever going to be branded a traitor. "Sir Ardos we've located Agent Ryoko. He's gone rogue and destroyed the machine!"
"What?" Ardos was furious. "I will get that bastard." He gritted his teeth and ran for the cave with his Pokemon providing cover.
"Where do you think you're going? Tyranitar!" Tia had her Pokemon block his path and step intercepted him.
"Out of my way child. You are not my problem right now." Ardos was not above using physical force.
"Well from where I'm standing I think I am. Tyranitar use Avalanche." Tyranitar called down piles of ice and frozen rock on the surrounding Pokemon.
Ardos growled and walked right up to Tia. "Don't trifle with me, girl." He reached for her quickly, but Tia easily knocked his hand away.
"You're not going anywhere. Now kneel." Tia ordered.
"Kneel? I would never kneel to weak trainer like you. You have strong allies, without them you are powerless." Ardos was not threatened by Tia in the least.
"I said kneel!" Tia shouted. Suddenly her eyes began to glow and Ardos's body began to feel like it was being weighed down by tons of force.
He tried to stay up, but slowly he felt the air around him increasing in pressure. He collapsed to one knee when his strength to resist finally gave in. "How are you doing this?" Ardos had never felt anything like this before; he was sweating and exerting all his strength just to keep himself kneeling.
Tia stood over Ardos like she was his superior. Her eyes radiating with Ki. "It's called Ki Pressure. I'm using my Ki to exert force down on your body. It's a trick only Adepts can use. I created it myself."
Chuck saw this, "Tia's abilities are getting stronger every time I see her." His student was very quickly surpassing her master.
Tia began to sweat though, she felt a sudden sharp pain course through her body. Her head started to throb and her Ki Pressure released.
Ardos quickly got to his feet and walked over to Tia. Looming over her as she clutched her head. "Seems like your abilities have their limits as well. I must say it was an impressive trick, but it won't stop us." He reached for Tia to restrain her.
Tia quickly retaliated with an uppercut to Ardos's stomach. Knocking the wind out of him and causing him to double over in pain. "I can still fight. I just know where my limits are now." It was a solid blow that kind of hurt her hand. Looks like Brendan won that bet, she thought.
Tia ran past and towards the cave where the agents seemed to be hiding the device. "Ryo, we've got the outside under control. How is the situation in here?"
Haruka stared at Tia with malice. "You're working with her? Ryoko why are you doing this?" Haruka felt her heart being tore right out of her chest. Her head was spinning. Suddenly everything was wrong in the world.
"Haruka!" Ryo grabbed her before she toppled over. "Haruka are you alright?"
She recovered and wrenched herself out of his arms. "Get away from me! Ryoko, I need an answer!"
"I told you already. I want to stop Cipher once and for all. I'm doing this for you and everyone else." Ryo tried to explain this to her.
"Me? Why would you ever think I'd want this? We had everything worked out for us. Our futures are admins. We could have ruled Orre together. Why did you turn your back on our dream?" Haruka fell to her knees and started gagging. She clutched her stomach and began crying.
"Haruka!" He put a hand on her back.
"Don't touch me!" She screamed. "Don't ever touch me again. You are not the man I love!"
Ryo froze, he felt his blood run cold. As if the life had been drained out of him in a single second. Ryo loved Haruka, she was his world. "Haruka, please. I love you." Tears began streaming down his face.
She snarled back with her own bloodshot eyes. "If you really loved me, you wouldn't have done this! I hate you!"
Ryo collapsed to his knees, he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Haruka hated him? The words repeated over and over in his head, but they didn't sound real. Haruka was his girlfriend. The woman he loved. The woman he wanted to settle down with, get married, have children with. Haruka was Ryo's everything. Without her there was nothing in his life.
The cave began to shake. The rocks rumbled as it grew in intensity. "We have to get out of here now!" Tia started for the mouth of the cave, but neither Haruka, nor Ryo moved. "Come on!"
"Leave me. I'd rather be dead." Ryo said deadpan.
Haruka heard Ryo's words and looked at him sympathetically. "Ryoko. What I said was horrible. Without you, I'd rather die too."
Tia balled her fist and ran up to both of them. "Snap out of it!" She back handed Ryo and Haruka. "We're getting the hell out of this cave!" She grabbed them both by the arm and dragged them out. "Nothing good ever happens in caves!" Tia shouted on their way out.
The cave rumbled and collapsed as a shadowy figured rose up from the under the surface. "No." Tom saw it from the sky. A long neck, slender form, two large wings, and tail. "So that's what Cipher was after." He saw Tia, Ryo, and Haruka running out. More Tia dragging them, but they narrowly avoided the cave in. "Guys! It's awake! Lugia is coming up from the surface!" A cyclone shot up from the surface as Lugia flew through it. Lugia stretched its mighty wings and dispersed the cyclone causing it rain down on everyone.
"Yes! It's awake! Come to your new masters Lugia!" Ardos motioned for all his remaining forces to attack the legendary bird. "Soon Cipher will have not one, but two legendary Pokemon!"
"Draco Meteor!" Tom deliberately attacked Lugia in some hope of scaring it off. Lugia was understandably not pleased. Lugia trained its sights on Tom and fired a devastating Ice Beam. "Oh crap!" Flygon got hit and frozen solid. Tom was heading for the ground in a free fall. "Gardevior use Teleport!" He threw his Pokeball at the ground. Gardevior quickly teleported Tom inches from the ground. With a loud thud Tom landed. "Okay, that didn't work." He called back his frozen Flygon.
Ryo quickly snapped out of his numb state and got up. "Metagross use Flash Cannon!" Metagross fired back at Lugia as well, but the legendary Pokemon wasn't going to be taken by surprise again. Lugia flew swiftly through the air and fired back with a Thunder attack. The size and sheer power of the Thunder was sure to hit more than just Metagross.
Suddenly, a large green blur appeared in front of them, absorbing the attack without a second thought. "I must say, tis quite a sight to behold. A mighty adversary hast awoke from the depths."
Ryo looked over in shock at his protector. "Rosa?"
She smiled, "Twas not my concern, but as a knight thou shan't turn one's back on an ally in danger."
"What Renaissance Festival did you meet her at?" Tia asked. Though her concerns were more on the Pokemon Rosa had with her.
"Still thy tongue plebeian. I am a royal knight of the mighty King N. This is my stalwart Pokemon Virizon." Virizon stood majestically against Lugia. It's quadrupedal form and bright green body stood resolute.
"Virizon? Rosa?" Tom ran over with Chuck, both equally shocked. Tom more so than Chuck.
She stared down Tom. "Sky Dragon wielder. The boy who dared stand against my king. Aiding that infernal Black Hero." Rosa and Tom weren't exactly on good terms. She looked at Haruka who was still a crumbled mess. "I take it the fair maiden is your swain?" Rosa addressed Ryo.
Ryo didn't look at Haruka, "Yeah." His melancholic response spoke volumes.
Haruka got to her feet and glared at all of them with great distain. "Magnezone." She called out her Pokemon.
"Haruka, no." Ryo had Metagross at the ready. "I don't want to battle you."
"Then stay out of my way. I'm catching Lugia no matter what." Her response was cold.
"Haruka, you can't do this." Ryo still tried reasoning with her.
"Then try and stop me, traitor." She refused to speak his name.
"Haruka, please. It's me, Ryoko. I love you. I just want to be with you." While also putting Haruka is a very difficult position.
"Shut up! As far as I'm concerned my Ryoko died after his mission on Cinnabar! You're not the man I knew! Just a hollow impersonation!" Tears streamed down Haruka's face. Her voice was hoarse. She felt nauseous, her head began spinning, and the whole world felt off kilter. Haruka was in a bad way.
Ryo helped stabilize her. "Don't touch me!" She smacked his hand away.
"Magnezone use Thunderbolt on Lugia!" She finally attacked.
"Haruka no!" Ryo shouted desperately.
"Virizon!" Virizon intercepted the attack for Lugia. Lugia itself looked down at Virizon. The two legendary Pokemon had an unspoken, mutual respect. Lugia, the sea's guardian. Virizon a noble and just Pokemon. One of the Swords of Justice legends spoke of.
"You're out numbered." Tia said. Ryo wasn't going to let Cipher have Lugia even if he had to fight Haruka, and Rosa had no qualms with battling Haruka.
"Extreme Speed!" Arcanine came Between them and Magnezone. Tom a top his Arcanine, but oddly wearing his X Mask.
"Tom, we got her cornered." Tia said confidently, but something bothered Tia. "Tom. Why are you wearing your mask?"
X sighed, "Let her go." His voice was distorted under the mask.
"What?" Ryo was shocked to hear this. "We can't. Haruka, please just come peacefully."
"No, she's to capture Lugia." X said coldly.
"What?" Tia shouted. "No way! Tyranitar use Dark Pulse!"
"Fire Blast!" Arcanine struck down Tia's Pokemon before Tyranitar could ready his attack.
"You bastard!" Tia ran up to Tom and yanked him off Arcanine. Holding Tom by the collar. "We have Cipher right where we want them! We can save Lugia. Why have you decided now to let them take Lugia!" Tia shouted in his face.
"It's my orders." X's stance was unchanging.
Tia ripped the mask off his face. "Orders? Who the hell do you answer to that gave you those orders?" She was furious.
"Release him, tis pointless arguing with a master's dog." Rosa spoke knowing more than she'd let on. "Lugia has made its decision."
Lugia slowly descended upon the group. Virizon bowed its head respectfully and parted for Lugia. Lugia giving a nod as to acknowledge the Sword of Justice.
"Lugia no!" Ryo stood in front of Lugia without stretched arms. "You don't know what Cipher will do to you! They'll capture you, imprison you, corrupt your heart, and make you their slave! A tool to take over Orre! You have to listen to me!"
"That's enough out of you traitor!" An older man's voice echoed from behind them. They turned to see Eldes and Ardos flanking the short, old man. "Lugia will be ours."
"Greevil!" Ryo snarled.
"Who is he?" Tia let go of Tom and shifted her focus.
"The head of Team Cipher." The last man Ryo hoped to see.
"Haruka. Complete your mission." Greevil ordered.
Haruka nodded silently. Walking past Ryo without even once glancing at him. She pulled out a Pokeball and tossed it at Lugia.
"Legendary Pokemon choose their trainer." Tom said. The Pokeball shook once. "That's why I had to stop you." Twice. "I'm sorry Tia, you must hate me right now, but it was Lugia's decision, not mine." Three times and locked with a ping.
Haruka picked up the Pokeball. She held it tightly in her hand. "Lugia," she gritted her teeth and called it out, "destroy this traitor!"
Ryo froze as his heart felt like it stopped. Lugia trained its sights on him. "Haruka. Why?"
"It's what you deserve after what you've done to me. Aeroblast!" Haruka ordered, but suddenly, Haruka felt a shooting pain. She clasped her stomach and doubled over in pain. She covered her mouth, but she could stop herself from getting sick. It burned in her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes. At this point Lugia had ceased its attack.
Ryo ran to her, "Haruka!"
"Don't touch me!" She swatted his hand away.
Eldes and Ardos grabbed Ryo by each arm and dragged him away from her.
"Haruka! Haruka! Haruka!" He shouted desperately over and over.
"Let him go." Both Tom and Tia stood before Eldes and Ardos.
"I'm afraid we don't take orders from children." Eldes scoffed.
"You will if we say so." Tom glared at both of them both were beginning to feel very nervous and on edge. Eldes started shaking like a leaf.
"What is this?" His face twisted to pure terror and he relinquished Ryo.
Tia looked Ardos right in the eyes, "You know what I can do to you."
He begrudgingly gave up Ryo. "This isn't over."
Tom released his empathic influence. "You're right. All those men we beat. We're keeping by the way. They will be more than enough to build a case against Cipher. Invasion, disrupting the peace, and heck why not throw an act of war in there too." They had them dead to rights there.
Greevil cackled, "I suppose that can't be helped. Let us go. You can keep the dog for now." Ardos returned Lugia to the Pokeball while Eldes grabbed Haruka. The four teleported out as if nothing happened. Everything felt eerily back to normal.
"What do we do now?" Tia asked.
Tom sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "You're going back to Hoenn. I'll take care of Ryo."
Rosa stepped forward, "Nay, I shall handle him. We are travelling comrades."
"That explains it. I take it you don't know where N is?" Tom felt like he was missing a few key details.
"Indeed, we shall venture onward. Though me thinks he may need a break to recover." Rosa gave Ryo a sympathetic pat on the back.
"I wanted to fix all this, but all I did was make her hate me." Ryo stood a hollow shell of whom he once was.
Tom put a hand on Ryo's shoulder. "She didn't mean that. Haruka was a mess of emotions, but never once did she truly feel hatred towards you."
"Let me guess, she was afraid?" Tia figured that had to be it.
Tom nodded, "Don't give up."
Ryo finally smiled, "Thank you all."
Chuck walked up, "Well taking care of all those grunts was a chore. I missed all the fun too." The group chuckled. "Ryo, I can't say I know anything about you or your situation, but I saw a strong trainer today."
"Well said master." Tia gave Chuck and Ryo a thumbs up. "I'm ready to go back to Mauville City."
"I'm ready for bed." Tom groaned. "Here, I'll teleport you back." Tom called out his Gardevior again. "Good luck."
"Thank, and Ryo." Ryo looked to Tia. "I'm glad you've found the right path." Tia smiled and teleported out.
Tia was back in Mauville City. It was getting close to night time. Tia looked at her X-Transceiver and saw her messages. Brendan left a voice mail. They'd headed to Verdanturf. Tia quickly headed for the next town. Thankfully, the two weren't very far apart.
Tia walked into the Pokemon Center silently after about an hour's travel. Nel and the others weren't around, but she did see Brendan. He seemed to have doused off waiting for her. Tia gently nudged him. "Huh? Tia, your back." He said with great relief.
"Yeah, thanks for waiting." She sat down next to him.
"Is everything alright?" He looked Tia over to make sure she was okay.
"It's complicated, but for now yeah." Tia couldn't really get into all the details right this second.
"You're not hurt are you?" He asked.
Tia chuckled, "Well, I did bruise my hand." Punching Ardos. Tia winked, got up, and giggled, "Hope I don't make Roxanne jealous."
"Why?" Brendan asked, and quickly learned why. Tia leaned down and gave Brendan a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you for worrying about me." Tia ran upstairs without even bothering to grab a key while Brendan sat confused and more than a little surprised.
Meanwhile, back in Kanto. Ryo and Rosa returned to Cerulean City and settled in for the night. Ryo went to sleep, but all he could think about was his next move. Where was he going to go from here? There was one thing he knew for sure. He was going to stop Cipher. He knew this now more than ever.
Thank you all for reading and I hope you all enjoyed. Please don't forget to leave a review with your thoughts on the chapter, the series, and the Pokemon Sagas Universe as a whole. Well a whole lot sure happened in this crossover chapter. Things are really starting to happen now. The next chapter of Tia's Tales will pick up right where all of this left off. So I hope you all look forward to that and the next chapter of Shadow Destiny.