Chapter 55: Bad Omens


Route 209

Ash and Lillie started travelling again with their next destination being Veilstone City. In the whole route there were many people who were coming back and forth to visit Hearthome City or Solaceon Town. As a result, many wild Pokemon were hiding instead to avoid contact with humans.

While Lillie was in high spirits due to the last night, she noticed that Ash who was walking ahead on his own wasn't looking good. Throughout their walk, he was looking down most of the time, ignoring his surroundings and hiding his face using his hat. She thought about asking him what is going on but she decided to give him some space instead.

Both of them saw a tall tower which Ash didn't seem to recognize.

"What is this tower?" Lillie muttered.

"It seems you are not from Sinnoh, young lady." An old man who was passing by heard her.

"No, I am not. You must be native so you could probably tell us about it." Lillie admitted it without second thought with Ash approaching the old man to hear what he has to say.

"Indeed I am, this is the Lost Tower. It used to be a graveyard for Pokemon. Trainers throughout the Sinnoh region were coming here to say goodbye to their deceased partners. But then three years ago the whole tower was occupied by a bunch of people who turned the place into a prison destroying all the tombstones. Their presence was so dangerous that people who wanted to visit Heathome City had to take other longer routes. Later, when Hearthome City and Solaceon Town's Officer Jennies and members of the International Police tried to secure the tower, they found only dead bodies of those people and their prisoners' too. Now, the tower as you see is damaged and abandoned since it's too dangerous to approach. It's really a shame since I used to go there to visit my poor Glameow in my younger days." The old man fully explained what was going on.

"That is really heartbreaking. Thanks a lot for sharing this story with us, kind sir." Lillie bowed to the old man.

"No need to thank me, young lady. It's always nice to see younger people showing interest in sightseeing. Take care youngsters." Said the old man as he left.

"Ash, were you even listening at all?" Lillie asked Ash who was staring at the tower.

"Yeah… I did. It was pretty sad but that man stated that no one visits the place anymore. I think I saw someone entering inside though." Ash claimed with a cold tone. "Maybe we should check this out."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lillie sounded reluctant.

"Not really but I think I have seen that person before." Ash stated and headed towards the tower. "You can stay outside if you don't feel like it. We aren't going to see a pleasant sight inside after all if everything that man said is true."

"No, I'm ok. I will be right behind you."

Both of them entered inside the tower. The place just like the elder stated earlier was abandoned. Broken pieces from the tombstones where scattered around too showing while there were cracks and holes on the walls. There were also jails that had skeletons in them. The person Ash noticed entering wasn't around but there was a staircase which led to the next floor.

"Let's go upstairs." Ash stated with Lillie reluctantly responding with a nod.

They reached the top of the tower where the man, Ash saw was looking down at something.

"Why are you following me, Ash?" The man said.

"I knew it was you, Joseph." Ash nonchalantly revealed who that guy was.

"Told you not calling me that…"

"Joseph? Who is that?" Lillie was puzzled.

Black then turned around revealing his face. "It's good to see that you are doing well, Ms. Aether."

"I really cannot say the same thing about you, Mr. Black! How dare you treat Ash like trash after what he did back in Johto?!" Lillie became angry once she recognized.

"Lillie, that's ok. This belongs to the past. Right, Joseph?" Ash said but Black ignored both of them looking at his tracker making Lillie even angrier.

"So after all, you have nothing to-?!"

"Lillie, could you leave us both alone for a bit if you don't mind? I would like to talk to him in private." Ash interrupted her drawing Black's attention too.

"Oh ok, I will wait outside." Lillie said and menacingly glared at Black before she makes her leave.

"Thank you." Ash said to her and then looked at the man in front of him. "Your relationship with her seems to be in tatters."

"There is not much to talk about that. I and Ms. Aether are just acquaintances because of the International Police and Aether Foundation's collaboration. I maintain a closer relationship with her brother since he is the one I talk most of the time whenever I visit the place. With Ms. Aether we are just exchanging a 'hi'. But I'm sure this isn't what you want to talk about."

"Yeah even though I'm wondering why you are addressing her by her surname now unlike back then there are more important things to discuss. I want you to do me a favor."

"I use both first and last name but when I'm talking to her I use the latter." Black answered the first pointless question. "Now why would I accept?"

"Because I know you aren't a bad person despite your attitude so I know I can entrust you this." Ash then revealed an envelope from his backpack.

"What is this?" Black asked as he took it.

"Just open it."

"Sigh, fine…"

Black started reading the letter that was inside but the more he read the more freaked out he seemed to be.

"What… the fuck… is this? Why would you write something like that?! Explain yourself!" Black said as he grabbed him from his collar.

"I'm really sick. Last evening I saw visions from the past and saw events which either I didn't remember or I was acting out of character. Throughout the whole thing I had a strong headache and saw my eyes changing color for a moment through a mirror. I had another incident like this a few days ago and have many nightmares almost every night too. I know it sounds crazy but something is really wrong with me." Ash revealed.

"Does Ms. Aether know anything about this?"

"She saw signs of this before. I'm trying to hide it but I'm sure she is already aware that I'm not well. And it's not only that. I feel I am overflowed with negative emotions and thoughts that I'm unable to suppress. I sense pain, sorrow, fear, fury… Sounds weird but I cannot explain it otherwise." Ash claimed making Black feel uneasy.

"And… what do you want me to do?"

"Just keep that envelope and give it to a friend of mine in case I don't make it."

"Don't say that so casually!"

"Also, could you tell Lillie to return back to Alola? She is not going to listen to me. Also, don't say anything about that envelope."

"Why do you want her to leave?"

"Right now, only two things are helping retain my sanity. Pikachu's current situation and my friends' well-being. If Lillie stays close to me, I'm afraid for the worst to happen." Ash revealed as he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

"Look, if neither even you nor her brother can change her mind, then no one else can. And she is gonna berate me further instead." Black stated.

"Just give it a try." Ash insisted.

Black sighed. "Fine… but don't expect too much and this will bring you more trouble instead."

"Thanks…" Ash said and then looked around this place. "Who destroyed this graveyard?"

"It seems you know something about the Lost Tower. It was the cult." Black revealed.

"I figured." Ash sighed.

"I'm going outside. My job here is done." Black claimed as he went ahead.

"Why did you come here for?"

"It's classified." Black responded without a second thought.

"Right… I will stay here for a bit if you don't mind." Ash said as he checked the place.

"Whatever." Black said but when he was about to go downstairs he stopped for a moment. "About back then, I'm sorry for that punch. I was really angry that I lost some partners of mine and couldn't hold myself so I lashed out at you. I lost every right I had over your irresponsible action."

"Don't mind it. I kinda deserved that for acting so recklessly anyway. As I said earlier it belongs to the past."

Black smiled before he makes his leave. Once he exited the tower he encountered Lillie who was waiting outside.

"Why isn't Ash with you?" Lillie asked him while still maintaining her menacing look.

"He wanted to check the place a bit more." Black hastily responded.

"Ok then, I will join him." Lillie said as she proceeded to go inside.

"Wait, Ms. Aether." Black said but Lillie ignored him. "You should go back to Alola." Then she stopped.

"Why should I do that?"

"Ash is not well. You are putting yourself in danger if you stay close to him any longer."

"Where did that come from? I know he doesn't look well. One more of a reason to not leave him alone. Are you done spouting nonsense?"

"Look, I don't want to have any more involvement in this. Ash himself begged me to tell you that."

"And are you expecting me to believe you?!"

"Believe whatever you want. But because I treasure the good relationship I have with your brother if something is wrong please give me a call and I will come to help. He gave me your number for that."

"What?! I swear I'm going to chew him out the next time we will talk!"

"Sigh, here." Suddenly Lillie's cellphone started ringing and then stopped. "This is my number so make sure to not delete it. Anyway, I'm leaving because I have a job to do. Take care." The agent said and left with Lillie attempting to enter the tower again only for Ash to come out.

"Gary, it's me. We have a big problem. You should come as fast as you can to Sinnoh. Contact Mr. Aether too. He needs to know." Black was speaking to Gary through his phone while revealing a mysterious old book he found at the tower before he disappears.

"Ash!" Lillie once she saw him run at him and gave him a big hug.

"What was that for?" Ash chuckled a bit. It was the first time of this day he actually looked a bit happy.

"Black told me that you want me to go back to Alola?! Please tell me he's lying!" Lillie asked him looking him straight in the eyes but the latter averted his gaze and didn't say anything.

"Don't tell me…"

"I'm sorry, Lillie. If you stay with me I'm afraid that something really bad might happen to you. I won't be able to forgive myself. I just want you to be safe." Ash revealed still looking away.

Then that moment Ash felt Lillie tightening her hug making him look at her again.

"Lillie, are you crying?" Ash stared at her green watering eyes.

"It's nothing. I was just moved by what you said to me just now. Whatever you are going we can overcome this together, Ash. I promised you that I will be with you and check up on you. I'm not going to break that promise. Never…" Lillie looked more determined than ever before to help him.

"Thanks for that, Lillie." Ash said as he started wiping off of her tears. "But I don't want to involve you any more in this. I have to do this myself."

"I'm not going to let you even if you keep insisting on that." Lillie said that with a smile.

"I was sure you were going to say that… I wish I had at least half of your own optimism." Ash returned the smile. "Anyway, time is flying. We should keep moving."

"You are right. Let's go."


Unknown Location

Three people with black outfits were spying from afar the International Police HQ.

"We have finally found it." Said one of them who was using binoculars.

"Yeah I think we should inform our boss right now." The other one stated.

"We have company." The third one who was checking the perimeter said.

Two guys who wore grey outfits and had their mouths covered were approaching.

"So it seems you did our job already." One of the two guys claimed and started laughing.

"I severely doubt you even bothered to search for the police's base." The grunt who held the binoculars claimed.

"It doesn't matter what you think." The other man stated.

"I cannot wait for this temporary alliance to end." He claimed one of the opposing team.

"Right back at you! Team Rocket and Team Plasma's ambitions are opposing after all!" Said the guy who belonged in the latter group.

"Exactly. The moment we get our leaders back, it's a war all over again! The police is already weakened as it is while the cult has abandoned its former territories. I doubt you can call them an underground empire right now like we used to years ago." One of the three Team Rocket grunts stated.

"That is true. Let's head back to the camp." The Team Plasma grunt stated.

The five grunts left the place and headed to a small camp that the allied rogue members of the former Team Rocket and Team Plasma were gathered.

Three Team Rocket Executive along with five old men dressed as priests having the Team Plasma emblem on them appeared.

"Anything new?" The Team Rocket Executive asked.

"We have located their base, sir." One of the Team Rocket grunts stated as he gave a map device of his where he had marked the location.

"Good job. Now we have to think of an invasion plan. The base's location is making the whole thing more difficult. Being surrounded from two sides by sea is not really helpful." The Executive claimed and then looked at one of the other two Team Rocket Admins. "Petrel, your mastery in disguises should come in handy here."

"I'm not sure, Archer. Going there by myself even with a disguise sounds like a suicide." Petrel looked doubtful about the whole thing.

"Don't forget the Shadow Triad, young man. They might not be very active lately but there are masters of stealth. No one else can be compared to them and can disguise themselves too." One of the five old men claimed.

"What are you talking about, Gorm?" One of them suddenly snapped. "Why should we give our private force to them? The Shadow Triad should only offer their services as guardians for us the Sages in case something bad happens to us!"

"Here you go again with your meddling, Zinzolin! We aren't going to accomplish anything if we keep this kind of mindset! We have to take risks if we want to succeed! And let me remind you something! The Shadow Triad is not our own guardians. They belong to Ghetsis. I wish Rood was here to calm you down from this outbursts of yours like he used to."

"Don't even mention that traitor, Bronius! That useless idiot decided to abandon us and side with N and be part of his own bastardized Team Plasma that does 'good deeds' to the people of Unova. There is no point talking about traitors here." Zinzolin protested to Bronius.

"Just stop it! This is going nowhere if we keep arguing. We offered an alliance to free Giovanni, Pierce, Ghetsis, Dr. Zager and Colress and bring down the police once and for all. If you cannot reach into an agreement then we are going by ourselves to free our own people." Archer interrupted them.

"I would like to have the Shadow Triad to back me up to be honest. They would make my infiltration easier while I will be looking for the building's control panel." Petrel stated.

"Well then let's vote! Should the Shadow Triad take part of the plan? If you say yes, raise your hand!" Zinzolin said and kept his hand down.

The other four Sages raised their hands instead.

"Even you two, Giallo and Ryuku?" Zinzolin was surprised that he no one agreed with him.

"Sorry, Zinzolin but we have to compromise." Giallo claimed.

"I agree. This is not time to be picky after all." Ryuku added too.

"And there we have it." Archer said with a satisfied look in his eyes. "So are you ok with that Proton? You haven't said anything." Then he stared at the other Team Rocket Executive who was staying silent the whole time covering his look with his hat.

"I don't mind. As long as I can play with those rotten cops during our invasion I'm perfectly fine with it." He claimed and let out a devilish smile.

"This is the answer I wanted to hear from you. Now, it's time to tell you in full detail what I have in mind."


TO BE CONTINUED