Merry Christmas if I update this in time! Things are soooooo so busy with the season.
Amy47101 does not own pokémon, only Vale, Sara Knight/Agent Blitz, and the Bennet family.
o.0.o.0.o
The Adventure Saga
The Truth Behind Us
o.0.o.0.o
Start Date: June 2nd, X017
Current Date: October 8th X017
o.0.o.0.o
"… Do you think it's safe for us to talk in here?"
Hun glanced up at Atilla, who was sitting against the wall with his legs and arms crossed. Hun, honestly, wasn't sure. She remembered being ambushed in the halls of the palace and then shoved in here, then no updates. This was shortly followed by Atilla, who wasn't putting up nearly as much of a fight as she did. The room was locked, and there was nothing.
"Since when did you care whether things were safe or not?" Hun asked with a small smirk as she pulled her knees to her chest. Atilla let out a small chuckle.
"I dunno. Might've been between the shock torture and the whippings."
Hun mustered up a smirk for his sake moreso than her own. Atilla always had cruder humor than her, but she wasn't sure how to feel about jokes at the expense of his torture. Sighing, she rested her chin on her knees.
This is a pathetic life.
She was once considered quite powerful, of course. Among Team Rocket, the Masked Rockets, whatever, she was an admin. She lead grunts on missions, but mostly, she and Atilla were renown for their ability to steal and destroy. They were professional pokémon hunters… reduced to grunts. Useless grunts that Ghetsis mostly used to play around with.
What had they done wrong now?
The thought drifted through her head as she waited. Normally when Ghetsis wanted to punish them, he just made her clean everything he could without sleep. Attila withstood tons of physical torture. Hers was purely psychological. She would have to stand guard for hours or clean for hours without sleep, and if she nodded off, there was always someone nearby to keep her awake.
Yet, in all their punishments and "mess-ups" they were never locked in a single little room together, unguarded. Or she supposed unguarded, as she didn't hear anyone outside the door… But that didn't mean anything.
Just as the thought of punishment drifted through her head, the door creaked open. Attila snapped his head up as well, and Hun glared at the door.
As quickly as it opened, it shut, leaving them with one of the Shadow Triad and… a girl. Or rather a woman, though she could've only been a few years older than Vale. Her long pink hair reacher her back, and her dress screamed she was of importance.
Well, anyone who wasn't decked in a Plasma uniform was of importance. Though they barely had contact with the sages, let alone the King, but it made her wonder who this girl was.
The Triad member shut the door behind her, then stood in the corner, watching. Hun kept cold eye contact with the woman. The woman's expression was somber. Then, she turned and moved towards Attila.
"What are you-" Hun exclaimed, standing up, only for the Triad member to shoot across the room and roughly place a foot against her chest, keeping her pinned against the wall. She felt the wind fly out of her chest, struggling to breathe as she lifted her gaze, a metallic pole with the end sparking with electricity.
"Saburo." the woman spoke gently, but sternly. "Let her go. Attacking them isn't what we came here to do."
"Right, sorry." Saburo removed his foot and stepped back, turning off his pole. The woman kneeled across from Attila, who regarded her with a scornful, distrusting look.
"Are you in pain?"
"I'm always in pain because of your fucking boss." Attila hissed. The woman had a sad expression on her face, which then morphed back to the same, stern one she was wearing prior. Reaching out a hand for Attila's face, he quickly slapped it away in retaliation. "Don't touch me."
"I want to see your wounds."
"So what? You can pour some sick concoction in it?" Attila hissed back. "Fuck off. I'm not stupid."
"… Saburo." the woman stepped back from him as Saburo removed his glove.
They kneeled across from them as Saburo held out his hand, bringing out a knife. With a clean cut, blood began to pool from his hand. The woman simply took it, then her eyes began to glow in an unusual manner. Runes of light came from her eyes, swirling down her arms and hands, then aiming for the cut on Saburo's hand, specifically. The runes surrounded his wound, and before their very eyes, the wound closed up on itself, leaving nothing but the bit of blood that came from it.
"Thank you, Saburo." the woman said calmly. Attila's jaw was practically on the floor. Hun swallowed anything she wanted to say. She never saw a human perform such a thing before… "My name is Anthea, one of our King's caregivers. I specialize in healing physical wounds. I want to help you. Where are you hurting?"
"… My back." Attila muttered. "I got a lashing 'cause I couldn't find any leads on the legendary pokémon in Chargestone Cave. Do I need to-"
Attila was cut off as Anthea's eyes glowed again, and the runes flowed around him in breakneck speeds. When they faded, Anthea closed her eyes, but Attila seemed unable to close his mouth.
"Attila?" Hun felt her voice waver on being a question, a bit of concern she wasn't quite used to showing. But obviously they were dealing with supernatural forces here and she didn't know how, exactly, to handle it.
"… The pain is gone." Attila muttered, glancing up at Anthea. "What the hell are you?"
"I've already introduced myself, and in truth, I don't know where my powers come from."
"… You're one of the girls we aren't supposed to talk to." Hun muttered. "Trying to set us up?"
"Not at all." Anthea shook her head. "This room is completely soundproofed. No one will hear nor know of what takes place here."
"… Then what's your angle?" Attila asked. "Why help us?"
"It has come to my attention," Anthea spoke calmly, brushing off her skirts. "That we are all in immediate danger under Ghetsis."
"Noooo, really?" Attila asked sarcastically. "What makes you think that?"
"If you would take this seriously," Anthea spoke sternly. "My sister and our King is blinded by Ghetsis's sweet words and visions. Saburo and myself are all under such strict surveillance that we could never hope to achieve anything…"
"So why are you talking to us?" Hun asked.
"You two are not like the others in Team Plasma." Anthea explained. "You are neither desperate to live up to King Natural's ideal, but you are also not swayed by Ghetsis's promises. According to Saburo, you loathe him… You loathe him enough to make this work."
"And 'this' would be…?"
"Saburo and I want to destroy Team Plasma from the inside." Anthea stated boldly. "We want to tear apart the lies that Ghetsis has told and be free from this organization built on puppetry, manipulation, and abuse towards anyone who dares to stand a threat. But… we can't do it alone."
"Anthea is under to much surveillance." Saburo reiterated. "If I even show a hint of stepping out of line, my brothers will make sure I'm punished. So we need people like you."
"People like us?"
"People who Ghetsis thinks he's broken down to the point of being submissive. People who can glide under the radar and cause mistakes that will prove detrimental to the organization." Anthea elaborated.
Attila narrowed his gaze at them, the met Hun's eyes. She kept her expression neutral, unmoving.
"If either of you are hurt or found out for this," Anthea continued, keeping her gaze on them. "Saburo and I will keep you safe. I promise this. But," she held out her hand to Hun. "I need your help in order for this to work. Please."
Hun stared at that outstretched hand from the floor, eyes first shooting from Anthea to Saburo, and finally to Attila. He smiled his signature grin, a grin that meant he was ready to cause trouble… A grin she hasn't seen in so, so long.
"Hun, you and I both know what we should do. Free, unlimited and magical healthcare, a ninja bodyguard? Fucking around with Ghetsis and maybe getting outta here alive? Not a bad cut to cause some trouble."
"You're right, but it will be the only time you hear me say it." Hun said, taking Anthea's hand. Gripping her palm, Anthea pulled her up so they were eye to eye. "Not a bad deal at all. But just so you're aware, princess,"
Hun gripped her hand harder, glaring into her eyes to drive her point home.
"If this is a trick or you and Sabby here don't hold up your end of our deal… I will, with every fiber of my being, find you and make you suffer."
Anthea, with a look that was stern but also meant business, nodded only once, understanding her consequence should she back out to soon.
"You have my word."
o.0.o.0.o
"… fascinating…"
"… tests are normal…"
"… no side effects…"
"… how…?"
Hilda sat in the chair next to Vale's hospital bed, whom looked rather annoyed at the hushed whispers of the doctors and nurses about her. She was dressed in her spare set of casual clothes, arms crossed as she waited for the doctors to sign release papers. Hilda herself was started to feel annoyed too.
They were whispering about her like she was some freak of nature that needed to be poked and prodded. Granted, Vale was shocked pretty badly, and was showing no side effects other than the criss-crossed burns across her clothes and back. They had examined her for about two hours after they reported what happened, and then kept her for overnight observation.
The results? Nothing. They had quickly corralled Hilda away from Vale to interview her as a witness to the incident, and Hilda was honest, as she only could be. No loss of consciousness, no muscle spasms, or breathing complications. No seizures or irregular heartbeat complications. Vale reported no numbness, tingling, headaches, and no vision problems with her still good eye.
Hilda herself would admit, it was fucking weird. Being shocked at such a high voltage should've at least caused something beyond simple burns… But even still…
"Dammit!" Hilda marched across the floor and around the corner, startling the doctors and nurses. "What the hell! Are you gonna release my friend or keep talking 'bout how much you wanna prod at her like some poor lab Patrat?!"
"… We're aware of your concern, Miss… um…"
"White." Hilda hissed out with a glare. "Hilda White."
"Miss White." the nurse cleared her throat. "But even you must see how abnormal this is…"
"Sheriff Clay reported to us that the device that was used to shock our patient could reach up to five hundred milliampheres. Isiah broke under questioning. Your friend, according to Isiah, withstood up to 250 milliampheres. Most people die at one hundred milliampheres, or at least experience some sort of complications, yet your friend…"
"Please." Hilda rubbed her temples. "Please. I'm tired. She's tired. Neither of us wants to be here longer than we have too. If Vale is fine, then she's fine. But I can't fucking stand you lot talking about her like she's some freak of nature that needs to be prodded at."
"But even still, Miss White, the complete lack is anything but natural, even you-"
"When traveling in Kanto, I trained with Lt. Surge." Vale suddenly cut into the conversation. "Additionally, my Joltik was hatched prematurely, so while he relies on my static for the first couple of months to stay alive, if he got overstimulated, he'd unleash it on me. So you could say I'm used to electricity."
"… I see." the doctor didn't say a word, then shooed the nurses away. "Go file discharge papers for Miss Grey."
"About damn time." Hilda muttered, going back to her chair to get her bag and to wake Eevee, who had fallen asleep between her putting him down and her talking to the doctors. The doctor was exchanging a few more words with Vale. As Hilda rose, with Eevee in her arms, she saw the doctor with a kind hand on Vale's shoulder. Vale was reading something, ignoring the doctor, even after he left.
Sighing, she turned on her heel and threw whatever the doctor gave her in the trash. Hilda, feeling nosy, peeked into the trash, then reached down, pulling out a crumpled brochure. The front showed a drawing of a woman being hugged by an angel.
"What is this?" Hilda asked, raising an eyebrow as Vale put her belt of pokéballs around her waist, followed by her bag over her shoulders.
"A brochure to an abused woman's shelter." Vale said simply. The bitterness in her voice was obvious. Hilda's must've shot her an odd look on her face, because Vale made eye contact, then averted her gaze. "What? What's the point of an abused woman shelter if I'm not currently being abused?"
"… I guess the point is pretty mute, huh?" Hilda muttered. "But Vale-"
"Hilda, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to roll over and be a victim anymore. I don't need sympathies right now, I just want to move forward and complete my end goal." Vale turned, a smile on her lips as she met Hilda's eyes. "So I don't need worry or brochures about where to get help. I just want to take Team Plasma down and save N… and that is all."
Vale strode out of the room, and Hilda's gaze went back to the torn up brochure.
Dammit, Vale…
Vale was a good liar, an incredible liar, so accomplished that Hilda struggled to see her true emotions. It was almost like Black, she could only really see the true emotions of Vale when she looked into her eyes. And Hilda saw pain. Bitterness. A look that almost begged the question; where were these shelters and help so long ago?
Additionally, Hilda was disturbed by what the doctors said. She knew Vale was lying about being an electric type trainer, and she knew Joltik wasn't strong enough to store, let alone release, such powerful jolts that it would make Vale that resistant.
Hilda walked out of the room, grabbing the doctor she had seen giving Vale the brochure.
"Hey, I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier."
"It's okay," the doctor spoke, smiling at her. "You both went through something traumatic, it's understandable that you want to continue on with your daily routine."
There was a dip in the conversation, and the doctor cocked his head.
"You look like you have a question, Miss White. How can I help you?"
"… Do you hand out those abused women brochures to every girl who has some scars?"
"Ah, you must be talking about your friend." the doctor seemed to him and haw over something. "I can't just give out patient information, however…"
"Well, what criteria would a woman need to meet for you to show enough concern?"
"… Since pokémon are often caught in the wild, it's not unusual for trainers to come in with scars from bites, scratches, or so forth. It's a part of taming and training pokémon, parts of the bonding experience, you could say. However…"
"However?" Hilda pressed.
"… Some patients come in with scars and scar tissue that aren't as simple as being scratched by a pokémon once or twice. Repetitive or an excess in places where a trainer wouldn't normally be hurt by a pokémon, or scars that show almost no sign or effort of being treated…"
"Or maybe impaired vision in one eye, doc?" Hilda pried. The doctor glanced down at her, then averted his gaze.
"Perhaps that would fall into that category." he said quickly, taking a step back. "If you would excuse me, I need to see to some of my other patients."
With that, he hurried off.
o.0.o.0.o
"Howdy there, lassie." Clay greeted her on the battlefield as she stepped off the elevator. "How're ya feelin'?"
"Fine." Hilda shrugged. "I only got tossed into a steel wall. I've been through worse."
"Hmph." Clay crossed his arms with a smirk. "Spoken like a true trooper. You aware, lassie, that you've got yourself a reputation among us gym leaders?"
"Reputation?" Hilda quirked an eyebrow.
"Yer only the girl who seems to keep gettin' herself into a load of trouble, whilst tearing through gym leaders, lass." Clay adjusted his hat, giving her a stern grin. "Now then, little miss. I ain't gonna let ya win so easily, ya hear?"
"Ha! Wouldn't expect any less!" Hilda grinned. "Do your worst and I'll do my best, sounds fair?"
"Well, then." Clay brought out his own pokéball. "I ain't 'bout to take a threat like that layin' down! Especially from a young'un like you! Krokorok!"
"Dewott!" Hilda immediately sent out her partner, prepared to clear this battle with just him alone, if not with Lilligant will clean up the last couple. "Let's make this quick, Razor Shell!"
"I'm gonna wipe you clean, you dusty ground type!"
"You best not be mocking me, you runt!"
Dewott, wielding both his shells, ran forward with them glowing blue. Slashing an X over Krokorok's chest. As Dewott stepped back, however, Hilda noticed some sprouts coming from the ground below. Confused, Hilda focused on that, only to cringe back as strands of grass suddenly burst from the ground, crushing Dewott's arms to his waist.
"Ow, damn… Ow!"
"Krokorok, Crunch!"
With a grin, Krokorok rushed forward and ground his teeth into Dewott's shoulder. Screaming, Dewott lashed back by unleashing a Water Pulse.
"Did you expect me to not be prepared for a water type, lass? I reckon that's one of the oldest tricks in the book! I'm the fifth gym leader, lass." Clay shook his head, fiddling with the brim of his hat as he smirked up at her. "I won't be fallin' for the same tricks as the triplets, ya hear?"
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised." Hilda shrugged her shoulders, pulling out her pokéball and deciding to go with a tactical retreat. "I mean, you don't become the second richest man in Unova by being stupid!"
With that, she pulled out her next pokémon, her Lilligant.
"Hil-da! Hil-da! Hil-da!" Lilligant chanted, jumping up and down and spinning. "Go, go Hil-da and Dew-ott! Go, go!"
"Lilligant, you're fighting now, not cheering." Hilda reminded her with a grin. Lilligant turned to her with her eyes shining.
"Really?! Oh! Okay, okay!" smacking her cheeks, Lilligant put on a serious look and turned to Krokorok. "I'm gonna take you down for Hil-da!"
Hilda smiled at Lilligants tough act. Even in her new form, she was just as sweet and adorable as she was when she was a Petilil. Sweet, adorable, and so willing to please everyone around her.
"Lets show 'em your new power!" Hilda exclaimed.
"Gotcha, gotcha! Wheeeeeeeeee!"
With a fabulous spin, Lilligant let out a flurry of magical pink petals that came bursting from the flower on top of her head. They swirled around her, and in increasing speed, the petals flew towards Krokorok and burst, sending the mystical petals over the battlefield like a pink blanket of snow. That one attack was enough, Krokorok collapsing under the weight of the super effective attacks.
Lilligant let out a cheer, spinning and grinning, kicking up petals in her wake before they began to fade away.
"Not bad, lass. Not bad at all." Clay said, returning Krokorok. "But ya do recall what I said, yeah?"
Hilda couldn't suppress her smirk as Clay sent out a Palpitoad.
"Water-ground dual against a grass?" Hilda couldn't help but tease.
"Don't be actin' disrespectful and cocky now, lass!" Clay snapped, a temple throbbing on his head. "Palpitoad, Sludge Bomb!"
"Shit-!" Hilda couldn't help but shout as a toxic, foaming ball of sludge came hurling towards Lilligant, exploding on contact. Lilligant shrieked, ceasing her dancing and instead wildly shaking her arms. "Lilligant! Lilligant, calm down, please, I need you to focus! One good hit and you'll knock them out!"
Hilda clenched her fists tightly, feeling foolish for mocking Clay. He was prepared for a water type with his Krokorok, why wouldn't he be prepared with a move to counter the quadruple type advantage of Palpitoed?
"Hil… da…"
Hilda snapped her head up as she heard Lilligants pained moan.
"Hil… da… I… I don't feel very good…"
"Poisoned…" Hilda clenched her fists. She was a moron. A stupid, stupid moron. When Lilligant, as a Petilil had the option to learn Aromatherapy, she didn't think it was necessary since she wanted to focus on the offensive rather than missing a chance to attack using a move to cure status conditions. But now, hearing Lilligant's pain… "Okay. Lilligant, Giga Drain!"
One move, Lilligant. I just need one move to hit…!
Thankfully, the Giga Drain hit and hit hard, knocking out Palpitoed in one go. Irregardless, however, Hilda wasn't going to risk Lilligant any longer in the battle. As soon as Palpitoed fell, Hilda returned Lilligant.
"Tch." Clay grabbed his final pokéball with a glower. "Givin' up is the easy way out! If I wanted, I could've given up any ole time!"
With that, he let out Excadrill barred his claws in Hilda's direction.
"A steel-type…" Hilda muttered, staring at Exadrill's shining claws. "Fine then! Lets melt them, Victini!"
"All right! Time to show the might that is the legendary Victini! Tremble before my peasants, for I am the right hand of Reshriham, the harbinger of victory and the one to vanquish all my foes. Watch, as I unleash the blazes not unlike those of hell…"
Hilda let out a sigh as Victini rambled on and on. Clay's lips turned upwards.
"Don't mind him," Hilda waved her hand. "He's a braggart."
"That ain't why I'm smiling." Clay said simply, crossing his arms. "Lass, did you forget where ya are?"
"What?" Hilda asked, but Clay simply shot his arm out.
"Excadrill, Rock Slide!"
"Oh fuck!" Hilda exclaimed, feeling like she herself was about to get hit with a Rock Slide. How the, in the great mother of Keldeo, did she forget that this was a ground type gym?! "Oh shit, shit, shit!"
Desperately, she began to flail her arms, Victini dodging the rocks in response. Enveloping himself in flames, Victini launched himself towards Excadrill. While the attack hit, Excadrill dug underground, pummeling Victini as he leapt up from the Dig attack.
"Victini-!" she called out, only for the entire gym to rumble violently under an Earthquake attack. "Come back! Dammit, dammit, come back!"
She returned Victini as he was thrown in the air, cursing her stupidity as she let out Dewott.
"Revenge!" she shot out her arm as Dewott rushed forward with his shell. That super effective attack was enough to crush Excadrill, sending him across the room and slamming into the giant crystal behind Clay. Clay let out a grumble, returning Excadrill.
"I'm seein' these results, but I sure ain't likin' it!" walking across the battlefield, he crossed his arms. "For such a young'un, you have an imposin' way of fightin'. However… ya need to rely less on type advantages and more on some strategy, lass. However…"
Holding out a hand, Clay finished.
"Ya've got yerself a good team. And ya've gotta way about ya that makes me think you'll go far. Ya just need the right people to unearth that potential."
Hilda was quiet as she shook Clay's hand, him having slipped the Quake Badge into her hand.
"Thank you, Clay." she said simply. "I… I'm going to go to the pokémon center."
She pinned the bag on the inside of her vest, leaving for the elevator. Even though she won, she felt like an idiot. Like a part of her had lost. She didn't think this through entirely… She needed to get to the center, and to talk to her pokémon…
o.0.o.0.o
Hilda sat in the center with her other pokémon beside her. Lilligant was being treated for poisoning while Victini was being treated in a secret ward due to his rarity and injuries.
"Hilda…"
Hilda lifted her head, gripping her bulging bag now filled with status healing ailments. It was Braviary who was speaking to her, Dewott, Eevee, and Zebstrika staring at her.
"Hilda, I chose you as my trainer because you have the qualities of a hero… But… I don't understand. What hero, what leader, sends out a unit who is at a disadvantage in a fight?"
"A shitty leader, I guess." Hilda muttered, lowering her head. "You guys… I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I just… I wan't thinking. I was so shaken from Lilligant's poisoning that I just sent Victini out hoping that he could handle Excadrill… We were in a ground type gym! But we were doing so well… I got arrogant. To cocky. I'm… I'm sorry."
"Not even a lick of defensiveness…" Eevee muttered, hopping up next to her. "Oh, Hilda, you've grown. You would've gotten so mad if anyone dared to criticize you, even if you did make a mistake."
"And she apologized…" Dewott muttered. "Listen, Braviary, I know that Hilda might've looked really bad back there, but don't loose faith in her."
"It is not that I lost faith," Braviary shook her head. "But. I have learned that a good leader is both strong, but able to take criticism and blame. A leader who takes to much blame and fault is weak and able to be pushed around. A leader who refuses to take blame and instead blames other lowers the moral of the flock. I needed Hilda to take responsibility for her actions."
"I will do better." Hilda vowed, standing up to address her pokémon. "I… I'll do my research. I'll be better. Stronger. No more scares. If I wanna be an unbeatable champion, then I've gotta be prepared for anything."
"Well, Hilda, you already spent a good chunk of your cash on medications for us." Zebstrika tossed her head. "I've never seen you spend so much money."
"I'll be prepared for anything!" Hilda declared. "Anything at all…"
"Hilda?"
Hilda turned and saw Bianca. She had a cup that looked to be steaming, smiling at Hilda as Bianca often did.
"You looked pretty down, so I got you this. It's pumpkin spice!"
"… Thanks." Hilda took the cup. "How're you?"
"All right." Bianca smiled. "You okay, though? I'm not used to you being so… sad."
"I just… feel bad. I was stupid during the gym battle, and it caused Lilligant to get poisoned and Victini to get hurt… But my pokémon already gave me a pep talk so I feel a little better now."
"Hmm…" Bianca hummed as she sipped her drink. "Hilda, was Black there?"
"… No, I don't think so." Hilda furrowed her brow. "Why?"
"Well, I'm a little worried." Bianca shrugged. "I mean, I'm not interested in him anymore… But he always watched your gym battles, didn't he?"
Hilda mused on that. Now that she thought about it, Black always was there to watch her gym battles. The first three were under excuses; eating dinner in Striaton, studying the museum in Nacarene, checking out Burgh's art in Castelia… Then, after that, in Nimbassa, he made a point to stay, no excuses. He was either there physically or he was there watching it on the monitor…
Where the hell was Black?
As the thought flitted through her head, Cheren suddenly ran down from the residential area of the center.
"Oh, Cheren!" Bianca exclaimed, stopping him. "Wow! If we just had Vale, this would be like a little reunion!"
"No time to talk," Cheren exclaimed, almost out of breath. "Ghetsis is in Driftviel."
"Ghetsis?!" Hilda exclaimed, dropping her cup in the process. But before she could demand more answers, Cheren was already out the door. "Hey-! Bianca, stay here with Braviary and Zebstrika for updates on Lilligant and Victini! Dewott, Eevee, come with me!"
o.0.o.0.o
Hilda ran after Vale with Eevee on her head and Dewott sprinting behind her. As they neared the sheriffs office, Hilda felt her stomach sinking. Was Ghetsis here to break out his cronies?
"Fuck off, Ghetsis!" Hilda exclaimed, rushing to the front with Clay. She wasn't sure when she had outrun Cheren, but he came jogging up next to her, out of breath and adjusting his glasses. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Ah, if it isn't Miss Veritas." Ghetsis greeted her with an unsettling smile. "Good day."
"Good day, my ass." Hilda hissed. "What's with you assholes calling me by the wrong name. My name is Hilda White. W-H-I-T-E. Say it right or don't speak my name at all, you sweet-talking son of a bitch."
"So strong, yet so naive. Irregardless… Sheriff Clay." Ghetsis turned his attention to Clay, who was standing stern guard in front of the office he was in charge of. "Are you sure you won't release my associates? I'm sure you've been taking such good care of them, but it's time for me to take them back."
"Are y'all aware that yer buddies not only were smuggling goods in my city, but also tryin' to kidnap two trainers and were in association with a yellow-bellied coward who is in disgustin' violation of pokémon protection laws?"
"What's this? It seems as if there has been some misunderstanding. We only free Pokémon from wicked people. You know how teenage girls are," Ghetsis spoke with such faint sincerity that Hilda wanted to vomit. "Always overreacting to simple conversation."
"Gag me, asshole." Hilda hissed. "You're damn cronies almost killed Vale and had already accomplished killing pokémon! There's no misunderstanding."
"Killed Vale?" Ghetsis echoed with a chuckle. "Oh, my, my, my, that I highly doubt."
"The way you say that…" Cheren crossed his arms. "It doesn't make for a ringing endorsement, Ghetsis."
"It wasn't meant to be." Ghetsis addressed him. "You see, it would take quite a bit to actually hurt Vale, let alone kill her…"
"So you admit yer guilty." Clay snarled.
"I admit to nothing." Ghetsis said. "All that happened was nothing more than a gross overreaction."
"I've got hospital records that say otherwise." Clay suddenly looked very annoyed, glaring at Ghetsis. "All you lot are preachin', that sounds real mighty fine... if it's true. I may not talk purty, but at least I'm an honest man. You talk real nice, but what yer sayin' kinda sounds like lyin'. So tell me plain, what are ya tryin' to say?"
"I'm simply trying to get my associates back, Clay."
"Yeah? And I'm tryin' to keep criminal scum like you from wreckin' Driftviel… no, Unova as a whole."
"Hilda." Ghetsis suddenly turned his attention to her. She felt a shiver go down her spine under his gaze, but she refused to let that discomfort show in her face. "You've built yourself quite an interesting group of friends. A steel tycoons daughter, an intelligent son of a lawyer, a girl you, quite literally, picked up off the streets… But ah… who am I missing? Hmm… If I recall, he was a young man around your age, always around you and quite an accomplished liar…"
"Black…" Hilda felt her stomach drop with realization. "You motherfucker… Where's Black?!"
"Hold back, Hilda! Stop!" Cheren exclaimed, hooking his arms under hers and trying his best to keep her from launching herself at Ghetsis. Her Dewott was at her feet, holding onto her leg.
"Let me go! Dammit, Cheren, I'll get Victini to steal your glasses again!"
"Clay," Ghetsis turned to him. "Some of my associates picked up this boy, Black, approximately two days ago. As far as I know, he's had no nourishment to speak of since then. And given where we have him… how long do you think he'll last, Clay?"
Hilda was shaking with inexplicable rage as she tried to get a read on Ghetsis, meeting his gaze, eyes blazing with fury.
"… I can't tell if yer lyin' or not." Clay muttered.
"He's not." Hilda growled. "I can tell. He's not."
"Best take her word for it." Ghetsis said simply. "She can always tell when someone is lying. And trust me," Ghetsis place a hand over his heart. "I do not wish to keep the boy any longer than neccessary. I am a man of my word. You release my comrades and I'll release my guest."
"Ya mean your hostage." Clay muttered.
"Clay." Hilda glanced at him. "Listen to me. He's not lying. He has my friend and he's been gone for two days… He missed my gym battle, he never misses my gym battles."
"Hilda…" Dewott's voice was barely above a whisper. "You're shaking."
Was she? Hilda wasn't even aware she was shaking, but now she was beyond nervous. Because Ghetsis, for once, was not lying, not one bit. Black was his hostage, and who knows what he's been through during that.
"Fine, then." Clay held up a ring of keys. "I've got the key to yer buddies right here. I need to key to your hostage in exchange."
"Release them, first." Ghetsis said, holding up his own little key. Clay snarled, cursed some obscenities, then marched inside, returning shortly with Zinzolin and the Plasma grunts he arrested.
"Here's your buddies, but I'm keepin' Isiah." Clay said simply. "Now gimme the key and git!"
Ghetsis smirked slightly, tossing the key in the air. Clay was fast, but Hilda was faster, darting forward and snatching the key.
"Do check Cold Storage for your friend, Miss Veritas." Ghetsis said simply. "I'm sure he's still where Team Plasma had gathered."
Hilda didn't need to be told this. Ignoring Clay and Cheren, she ran back to where she came from. She swore she was sprinting like she was on the back of Zebstrika, not even caring if she slid on the ice as she got to the storage unit. Panting, her breaths coming out in puffs of cool smoke, she slowly entered the unit, looking around.
"Black?!" she called his name uncertainly, glancing at the key. The key was to small to open the unit, and even still, it was already open. "Black…"
Her voice shook with uncertainty as she edged her way inside. Was he really here? Was she really fighting these assholes and he was here…?
Her foot caught a piece of ice, and she slid across the unit, slamming into the wall at the end, where Team Plasma was gathered.
"Ow…" she muttered, slowly getting up and glancing around. As she looked, her heart leapt to her throat with hope. There lodged in the corner, perfectly hidden by the few remaining steal beams, was a wooden box.
Squinting her eyes, she saw a silver pad lock dangling from it. Glancing at the key, she crawled across the floor towards it.
"Please, let this work…" she muttered, sticking the key in and turning it. With a gasp of relief, she let the lock fall and she threw open the lid.
Inside, she saw Black.
"Black…" she breathed out his name. He was tied up and gagged, but he was here. "Black! Come on, Black…!"
He wasn't conscious… He wasn't even answering her. She ripped the gag from his mouth in a panic, and her heart sank with a new sense of dread.
"Oh my Arceus…"
His lips were tinted blue.
o.0.o.0.o
Well. I tried my best. When I decided I was going to update this, I was doing it out of fun and excitement. But… my great grandfather passed away on Friday. He was 107…
I'm just trying to update because it was really the only thing that made me feel somewhat happy. Thank you for always supporting me.
Amy47101 signing off! ^.^