Final Stand at Realgam Tower
The group was now in Pyrite Town. They had rested at the Pyrite's Hotel since yesterday after they succeeded in taking control of the Cipher Lab. Wes lay on the bad on his back, his face under a pillow. Rui sat on the floor feeding Pichu, Plusle, and Minun. Terry sat in the armchair half asleep.
Ash with Pikachu on his shoulder was out reporting to Duking at his office to find out if Nett managed to get any information from the data they managed to collect from the lab.
"We've managed to snag almost all of our targets." Duking said. "However, there are some, but very few that escaped with their Shadow Pokemon. The Shadow Pokemon are currently being treated at Agate Village."
"That's good," Ash said relieved to hear that. "How many more Shadow Pokemon are there?"
"Eleven more," Dunking said. "Including the Legendary Beasts," Duking was silent for a moment. "At least we think so,"
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"You say that Ein said something about an Ultimate Shadow Pokemon right?" Duking asked.
"Yes," Ash agreed with his question. "I don't know if it's a bluff, but he did say that there was some kind of Ultimate Shadow Pokemon. Did the Kids Grid find anything on the data we sent them?"
"As a mater of fact, yes they did." Duking said. "They found out the location of the location of the Main Base. It's at the newly built Realgam Tower."
"Realgam Tower," Ash repeated confused. Pikachu called out not knowing what he meant.
"It's the construction site where you found Cubone." Duking explained. "It's done building Realgam Tower. Apparently Team Snaggem had members disguised as construction workers build secret rooms when the tower was being built. They were able to hide in secret rooms, and operate in the walls of Realgam. Cipher is going to use that Colosseum to secretly distribute Shadow Pokemon. It is their only hope now."
"It is," Ash asked.
"Yes," Duking said. "With the Pyrite Colosseum out of Cipher's control, the Under and the Deep Colosseums' both abandoned, and the Colosseum at Phenac City keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, Realgam Tower is the only place that Shadow Pokemon can be distributed. But with all the ones we snagged, it's doubtful they will be distributing any time soon. And with the Three o'clock attack we did, we seriously crippled them. Most of the agents have been arrested. Now all we have to do is take them out a Realgam Tower."
"Which means we got to hit them while they're crippled," Ash stated. Pikachu called out excited it will all be over soon."
"Good," Duking said proud of Ash's bravery. "While you and the others enter as a diversion, me and a group of other Pokemon Trainers will enter as a diversion to finish them off and make arrests."
"Leave it to us," Ash said. "We'll leave for Realgam right away." He turned to leave.
"Ash," Duking called. Ash stopped and turned to him. "It's the Snaggem main base. There's probably hundreds of Snaggem Agents there. It's okay if you don't want to do this."
Ash quenched his fist. "We don't have to," Ash said. "We want to. We won't let Cipher have their way. We will beat them and save all those Pokemon." Pikachu called out not wanting to back down. "Let's go Pikachu." The two exited the room.
Duking watched as they exited the room. "I probably don't have to tell you this Ash." Duking thought. "But be careful."
In the front of the Town, Wes was preparing his bike for departure. "So to Realgam huh," Wes repeated.
"That's right," Ash said.
"It will all be over as soon." Rui said with a sigh. "Just one more place. One more and it will all be over."
"Yeah," Wes said with a nod. "Hard to believe isn't it? So what are you guys gonna do when this is all done?"
"I guess me and Terry are going to try and find Celebi and get back to our own time." Ash said with a shrug.
"That would make sense." Wes said.
"Speaking of Terry, where is she?" Ash asked.
"I think she's at Madam Fateen's place," Wes answered.
"I got to go talk to her for a moment." Ash said walking off with Pikachu following.
"So Rui," Wes began. "What are you gonna do when all this is over?"
"Well," Rui said looking down at her feel. "I really don't know." She looked at Wes. "What about you?"
"I don't know," Wes said stretching. "I'm sick of Orre. I've been there, done that, and beaten that person down. I think I'll go some other place like Hoenn. "
"Hoenn," Rui asked.
"I heard there's an opening for Team Magma," Wes said.
"What," Rui asked shocked.
"I'm kidding," Wes said. "The opening was for Team Aqua,"
"Will you stop that," Rui said angrily.
"It was a joke," Wes said irritated. "Don't take me seriously."
"I want you to be serious," Rui said angrily. "Isn't there anything you wanted to do with your life besides snagging Pokemon?"
"Not that I can think of," Wes said with a lazy shrug.
"There isn't anything," Rui asked looking at Wes in the eyes. "No dream you want to accomplish?"
Wes didn't know if it was the way was looking at him or the irritation of it all, but he eventually caved. "Fine," Wes said irritated. "If you want me to be serious then I'll tell you. But don't laugh."
"About what," Rui asked. Wes looked away blushing. He whispered something that Rui could not hear. "I didn't get that, can you talk louder?"
"I want…" Wes said speaking louder. "To be… a Gym Leader,"
"A Gym Leader," Rui repeated.
"Not so loud," Wes yelled covering her mouth. "I never told anyone that, not even my own Pokemon."
"But why hide it?" Rui asked when Wes removed his hand.
"It's embarrassing," Wes said. "Becoming a Gym Leader, it's like some kid's fantasy. You think I want people to know I want to be Gym Leader?"
"But there's nothing wrong with that," Rui said with a smile. "If it's your dream, you should go for it." Wes turned away annoyed. "I'm serious," Rui said defensively. "You're a strong trainer, and you care about your Pokemon."
"You're forgetting something," Wes stated. "I'm a criminal. I have a record. The only reason they haven't arrested me yet was because I'm helping the good guys out. Do you think that they'd let a criminal run a Gym? It doesn't matter how long I play good, I'll always be known as a member of Team Snaggem."
"Enough of that talk," Rui said angrily. "You shouldn't say things like that. Any dream can be accomplished if they put their mind to it. Ash has a dream of becoming the Greatest Pokemon Trainer of all time, and you know what, I think he can. He believes in himself and his Pokemon. You should too." Wes looked away from her annoyed. Rui was beginning to get irritated at Wes' stubbornness. "Fine, if that's the way you feel, then I'm going to follow you."
"What," Wes asked irritated. "Didn't I get enough of you throughout this adventure?"
"Nope," Rui said childishly. She clung onto Wes' left arm. "Did you forget? You're my knight in shining armor. I'm going to repay you for all of the times you saved me by following, and I'm going to follow you until the day you become a Gym Leader." Wes' expression became a surprised one. He looked at Rui. "I'm not going to let you give up on your dream."
Wes looked away in disbelief. No one had ever supported him like Rui did just now. "You really think I can become a Gym Leader?"
"I know you can," Rui said.
Wes snatched his arm away from her annoyed. "Like I need you tailing me everywhere," Rui's expression became a saddened one. "But," Wes continued. "If you want to come with me I won't stop you."
Rui cheered happily hugging Wes from his back. "We're going to have so much fun Wes."
"Get off me you annoying little girl." Wes yelled irritated his face red.
Meanwhile, Ash had entered Fateen's Building. Inside, he could see Terry sitting across from Fateen, the fortune teller. As Fateen looked in her Crystal Box, Ash looked over at Terry. She was holding a box. It was the box that had the same symbol as the Time Flute.
"Did you find anything," Terry asked.
"I'm sorry," Fateen said with a sad tone. "But I cannot see everything, even with my powers."
"So you can't find the Key to open this box?" Terry asked disappointed.
"Terry," Ash interrupted. Terry looked over at Ash.
"Ash," Terry stated. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here looking for you." Ash explained. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought Madam Fateen could tell us where the key to this box is." Terry said. "I thought maybe whatever's inside it could help us. But she couldn't find anything out."
"I see," Ash said with nod. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped. It was a good attempt though."
"Yeah," Terry said sadden. "Thanks Ash,"
"Wait," Fateen interrupted seeing something interesting in her Crystal Ball. "I see it."
"The key," Terry asked excited.
"No," Fateen said. "There is no key."
"Then how can we get it opened," Terry asked disappointed.
"The box will open by itself when the time comes," Fateen stated.
"What time," Terry asked anxiously.
"I'm not sure," Fateen said. "I lost the image." Terry looked down disappointed. "But this is a good omen. The box will open child. Just be patient and the time will come."
Ash and Terry left Fateen's home. Outside, Terry looked at her feet disappointed. Ash understanding her feelings put a hand on the short girl's shoulder. Terry looked up at Ash.
"Don't worry," Ash assured with a smile. "We'll find a way back home to our time."
Terry looked up at Ash a little taken aback by the smile. She looked down again. "My pa smiles like you did just now." Terry said. Ash's smile turned t a concerned expression. Terry then looked up again with a smile. "Thanks Ash, I really needed that smile of yours." She then began to take off. Ash smiled as he saw her run off to Rui and Wes' direction.
He looked over at Pikachu who stood near his feet. He knelt down and picked the Mouse Pokemon up. "We're almost done." Ash said. "Pretty soon, we'll be back in Pallet Town. What do you say Pikachu? When we go back to the future, let's come back to Orre, and see the new world."
Pikachu's facial expression became a saddened one. Ash understood why. "We're going to have to leave. That means we won't be traveling together anymore." Ash began to reminisce of the times they spent, in Pokemon Fights, having fun, and sharing their stories and their travel experience. He concluded he would miss them all. He's going to miss the good old days.
"Hey Ash," he heard Terry call. He looked over to see Wes on the driver's side of the bike; Rui was in the passenger's carriage. Terry stood outside of the passenger's carriage waving to him, Pichu peering through her hat. "Come on, or we're going to leave you behind."
Ash looked at Pikachu and smiled. "We're going to miss them, but if there's one thing we know Pikachu, it's this." Pikachu smiled as it called out. "That's right," Ash agreed. "Friends never truly say goodbye." Ash ran over to his friends to go fulfill their destiny. The Final Battle waits.
To be continued…