Chapter 90 – Masked Princess
"…And that is why my government will continue to make the rights of women and girls and ending rape culture a pillar of it's foreign policy. After all, women's rights are human rights. And human rights are women's rights," the Prime Minister said, bringing to a close her address at the Prime Minister's Breakfast. "I will know questions from the members of media."
The breakfast was an annual event held on the day of the Princess Festival in Entralink, usually hosted by a female member of the Parliament. This year the Prime Minister herself, who also served as the keynote speaker.
And of course, in typical politician fashion, the event to honour the women and girls of the Seven Nations, had proven as good an opportunity as ever for Dracaena Tabuu to sell her government's policies.
There was a smattering of applause of the women gathered at the tables that filled the castle's great hall. The Breakfast was of course a woman only event attended usually by the most powerful women in the Nation. There were lawyers, Business leaders, scientists and some celebrity guests.
And of course, the Journalists... At the table right in front of the podium sat the esteemed representatives of the varying news agencies. GNN was there, ONBS, the Castelia Times and the Goldenrod Post.
Each of the journalists slowly raised their hands.
"Yes you," said the Prime Minister picking one a random.
A young woman in a red blazer stood up. "Chloe Talbot, GNN. Prime Minister, how do you respond to the ongoing allegations of sexual harassment within Pokémon Centre's in Kanto raised by Nurse Joy."
"As I understand it that matter involves a plea to the courts," Dracaena replied. "It's my policy to never comment on any matter before the courts."
This answer did not satisfy Talbot who continued, "But how can the government be committed to ending rape culture when sexual assaults and harassment are occurring within a major government agency."
Dracaena pursed her lips clearly unimpressed by Talbot's persistence. "As I said, the matter is before the courts and I have no comment. Next question. Yes, you in the blue."
Before Talbot could say another word, a woman in a blue dress had stood up. "Prime Minister, how do you respond to the story in the Ryme City Constitution-Journal that your office is attempting to fire Special Counsel Heather Dunbar."
Dracaena's expression went dark and her eye flashed at the question. "That report is, to use the colloquial, fake news. Neither myself, nor any member of my cabinet or staff, has made any endeavour to fire or otherwise interfere with the Special Counsel. In fact, I welcome this type of investigation. Because the public has a right to know whether their Prime Minister is a crook. Well I am not a crook. I have never sought to profit from public service beyond my lawful salary. And I have never in the course of my official duties sought to bring any harm to any Pokémon. I look forward a full exoneration from the Special Counsel's report."
"Do you have any comment regarding the Aether Foundation and its Branch Chief," the journalist continued.
There was no mistaking it. The Prime Minister's eyes flashed at the question. It felt as if the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees.
"I would refer you to my earlier comment when I said I do not comment on matters before the court. I believe that applies here. I will indulge you only so far as to say that the Aether Foundation's activities are above reproach."
[Pokémon]
Contest Hall, Lilycove City, Hoenn Region…
"Hey uhh Ash…Can Ashachu come out to play?" Hunter asked hesitantly, tugging on the trainer's pant leg.
Ash, and Pikachu from the boy's shoulder, looked down at him. Ash smiled, but before he could he could anything, Pikachu replied, "I'm afraid Ashachu won't be coming out to play for a little while."
"Oh." Hunter's head and tail drooped sadly.
Ash smiled weakly at him before saying to his partner, "Pikachu. Can't you…"
"No Ash. He has to learn," said Pikachu sternly.
"Alright."
Hunter sighed and went and sat himself back down in the seat beside Cameron. He rested his head in his paws and stared down at the battlefield in the stadium below. The queen of the festival contest was surprisingly uninteresting without Ashachu to talk and joke with.
Nova wasn't interested in playing with him at all. The Cyndaquil was only interested in taking a nap on top of Typhlosion's head. When Nova had tried to prod him awake, he'd been greeted by a flamethrower to the face and Cameron snapping at him, "Hunter, sit still."
Down on the battlefield a Sneasel was stealing the show. Dominating in a battle against a Grovyle.
'Well a grass type is a poor match up for an ice type,' Hunter thought to himself.
Grovyle's trainer had after all been the second to choose her partner, and contestants were allowed to enter up to four Pokémon. She could have chosen a Pokémon with a better type match up.
'A fighting type like me. I bet I could take on that Sneasel.'
"And it's another win for Jessalina and her amazing Sneasel," the announcers voice boomed over the speakers, as Grovyle fell onto its back and lay motionless.
Sneasel examined its opponent's body and a smirked smugly.
'Yeah I bet I could take you down Sneasel.'
It was shame, Hunter thought, that the contest only permitted girls to participate.
'I wonder if that guys anything like the Sneasel Ashachu met. Probably not. Ashachu said he was strong, and that guy looks weak as.'
A cheer echoed through the contest hall for the two participants, before the trainers cleared the arena to make way for the next group of semi-finalists…
[Pokémon]
"You did good Sneasel. You did good. Here you go."
Jessie tossed the confectionary to him.
Blade caught it in one claw and examined it. It was a single piece of purple Poké-block. Barely a mouthful.
"Oh thanks," He grunted sarcastically.
"Hey! Why don't I get no stinkin' Poké-block," said Meowth resentfully folding his arms gruffly?
"Because you didn't battle," Jessie replied to him sharply.
"Neither did Wobbuffet." Meowth pointed at the Pokémon whom resembled a blue blob, holding a sack full of Poké-block, multi-coloured cubes of concentrated berries, shoving them happily into his mouth.
At the sound of his name, he happily saluted and let out a cry of "Wobbuffet," grinning stupidly.
Jessie folded her arms and looked down her nose at Meowth. "Yes, but it's my Poké-block, made from my berries, and I chose to give it to Wobbuffet."
Meowth glowered at her. "No fair. And I seem to remember I picked da berries." He brandished his claws and mimed slashing at a berry tree.
"Yes, but it was my idea to pick them and I bought the Poké-block maker."
Realising he wasn't going to win this argument, Meowth sighed and glanced around jealously at Blade, Arbok, Serviper, and James' Noibat all holding or munching on Poké-block.
Blade couldn't resist. He shot Meowth a smug grin before throwing the purple cube into the air and catching it in his teeth. It wasn't bad. Fruity and sweet. There just wasn't much of it. Not much of reward for winning the battle for his trainer.
Meowth glared at him and clenched his paws into fists. "Nya. Why you stuck up little!"
The grin on Blade's muzzle widened as he watched Meowth's face contort with rage. All the cat could do was mutter or hurl insults. He wasn't tough or stupid enough to fight him…Again!
Tormenting him was one of the few things he could enjoy about being forced to fight for these humans. Otherwise he would have found the experience intolerable.
He swallowed the Poké-block before closing an eye and sticking his tongue out a Meowth.
Meowth's face went a deep shade of vermilion. "Nya. I'll show ya!"
The cat suddenly lunged at Blade, taking a swipe at him with his claws. Blade side stepped him and fired an ice beam, encasing Meowth from neck to foot in a block of ice.
"Nya. No fair. Lemme go."
"Well it serves you right for attacking him like that," said Jessie.
"But but he was," Meowth started to protest before Jessie interjected.
"You need to cool down."
Meowth's face flushed hot. Blade covered his mouth this his claw to suppress a laugh.
"Wobbuffet," Wobbuffet said still grinning stupidly.
Suddenly there was a loud bang from behind them, and a nasty burnt smell filled the air.
Jessie spun around to see an ashen faced James staring over a smoking machine of sorts.
"James. WHAT DID YOU DO!"
"I-I didn't do anything," James sputtered, cowering under Jessie's glare.
"You broke my Poké-block maker. YOU CLUMSY…"
Blade rolled his eyes and strolled away before Jessie and James could really start their psychotic argument. He knew he couldn't get far. Certainly not with the collar, but he could get away from their screaming.
The Trio had gathered near the lighthouse that stood on a hill on the east side of town. He slid down the side of the hill and onto the beach. He sighed and stared out at the waves.
"Fuck my life," He muttered to himself under his breath.
How had he ended up here? How had it all gone wrong?
A trained Pokémon. He was now a trained Pokémon being trained by Team Rocket of all humans. A trained Pokémon despite all those years of avoiding being caught by humans. To prevent happening to him, what had happened to…them, long ago.
How had he managed to lose…everything? His family… Pyre and Raiee his friends. Even Shadow…The Darkrai he loved so much…And thought loved him… hadn't lifted a paw to help him.
Of course, Blade knew how it had all gone wrong. It was all thanks to a kid. A fucked up little kid Blade had been too stupid but to trust.
"If I ever see that fucking kid again." He clapped his claws together threateningly.
He sighed again and walked out along the beach, far enough to allow the waves to wash over his foot paws. From the hill above he heard Jessie's angry voice shout, "THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT MACHINE UNTIL YOU STARTED USING IT."
"You asked me to make Poké-block."
"I asked you to make Poké-block. Not to break the Pokémon-block maker. Do you have any idea how much that cost?"
"You bought it in the princess festival sales. It was half price."
"I still had to sell your bottle cap collection to raise the funds to buy this."
"YOU DID WHAT."
"Guys," interjected Meowth. "Will you stop fightin' and get me outta dis t'ing."
For a second, Blade serious considered just walking out into the sea…
[Pokémon]
Back in the Contest hall, the second match of the semi-finals of the Queen of the Princess Festival was heating up and a Psyduck was stealing the show…
Its trainer had, for whatever reason, chosen to keep her identity secret, adorning a large wooden mask over he faces. With a long green cloak wrapped around her body, Ash thought she look a little bit like Cameron's partner Type: Null.
To the competitors and the audience, she was known only as the Masked Trainer…
Psyduck was clutching at its head, as if in pain, but unleashing a powerful psychic attack, Throwing its opponent, a giant menacing Aggron right across the field. The crowd gasped as it hit the flood with a loud thud.
Ash couldn't help but grin. The first time he'd attended a Queen of the Princess Festival competition, the contest had also been won by a Psyduck. That particular Psyduck had been Misty's partner, and by getting a headache at the right time, it had defeated Jessie from Team Rocket's newly caught Lickitung
That same Lickitung had managed to take down his Bulbasaur, Brock's Vulpix and even Pikachu!
The grin on Ash's face quickly disappeared as thoughts of Misty soured the memory. He wondered where Psyduck was now. Had it been set free when Misty was arrested? Had it been scarified to Team Flare for the Ultimate Weapon.
Misty had always complained about it. In all the time they had spent together, Ash could only probably count on one hand the number of compliments and nice things Misty had had to say about her partner.
"Pikapi." Pikachu had noticed his partner's stony expression and became concerned.
Seeing Pikachu look up at him with those loving brown eyes now filled with worry soften Ash's heart. He smiled at the mouse and rubbed the back of his head gently. The loving gesture reassured Pikachu, and he smiled back at Ash.
Another thought crossed Ash's mind. Where was Jessie's Lickitung. The last time he remembered seeing it had been back Johto a long time ago. For an apparently strong Pokémon, Jessie never sent it out to battle.
"Aggron is unable to battle," declared the referee as a massive hydro pump knocked the Steel/rock type flat on its back. "Psyduck is the winner."
The conclusion of the match was followed with the usual shouts and cheers from the crowd and the announcers booming voice…
"…And there you have its folks. The match goes to Psyduck, meaning the Masked Trainer will go on to battle Jessalina for the title of Queen of the Princess Festival."
"That Masked Trainer is amazing," Jimmy shouted to Ash and Cameron over the roar from the crowd. "That Psyduck's really strong and the two are clearly in synch. She knows how to use it's headache's really well."
"Headaches?" Questioned Cameron.
"When Psyduck gets a headache, it can produce powerful psychic type attacks," Jimmy explained.
"Oh." Cameron nodded.
Lucario rolled his eyes and muttered into his years, "the Pokédex did say that."
"…Alright Folks that does it for the semi-finals. We'll be back at 7 O'clock this evening for the finals…"
[Pokémon]
"Seven O'clock," said Jimmy as the they left the contest hall. "Pity we can't stay to see the final."
The ferry for Mossdeep was set to leave port at five that afternoon.
Cameron shrugged. "Meh. We all know that Sneasel's going to win. It's powerful and it got the type advantage."
"I dunno," replied Jimmy raising an eyebrow. "That Psyduck's amazing. I wonder who the masked trainer is."
"Maybe the masked trainer is really a boy and trying to hide it?" Cameron suggested jokingly making Ash and the Pokémon laugh.
Jimmy however shook his head and replied, "They almost certainly check trainer licenses."
They wandered along the Main Street of Lilycove city. It was lined with shops, cafés, food houses and food stalls, all packed with female patrons taking advantage of the large discounts available to them. The smells and scents of fat, sugar, salt and coffee wafting from within quickly made them hungry.
Ash's stomach gave a loud rumble. Pikachu's too.
"You hungry too buddy."
"Pikachu."
"Man, it's so unfair," Cameron groaned. "All this food around and its only for girls."
Another image flashed into Ash's mind. This one of Misty with a table full of treats in front of her, stuffing her face. He sniggered then scowled at the memory.
Cameron's eyes suddenly lit ups. "Hey, I got an idea. Ash Come here."
"Wha. Cameron!"
Cameron grabbed Ash's hand and pulled him off the street…
[Pokémon]
"Cameron no," Ash snapped upon hearing Cameron's idea after he'd pulled them into an alleyway.
"Oh, come on," Cameron plead. "It' means we can get the good stuff too."
Ash folded his arms. "No way. It's too dishonesty."
"How it's dishonest?"
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Seriously. You want Zoroark to pretend to be a human girl, so you get all the food that's supposed to be for girls. That sounds like something Team Rocket would do."
"Yeah, that idea seems kinda low," Jimmy agreed.
Cameron sighed. "Alright how about this. We have a battle. And if I win Zoroark goes and at least gets us an ice cream cone."
"N O," Ash replied sternly folding his arms and shaking his head.
"Fine," Cameron said a little bitterly. "But can we find somewhere to get something to eat at least I'm starving."
"And here we have yet another boy complaining about the Princess Festival," said a soft voice from behind them. "It's such a fixture of the day they may as well rename entire festival the asking when the princes festival is."
The three trainers and their Pokémon spun around to see who had spoken and found themselves confronted with non-other than the masked trainer, the competitor who had dominated the semi-finals of the Queen of the Princess festival.
Dressed in that long grayish-green cloak, with her face obscured entirely behind a wooden mask, she was accompanied by her Psyduck.
"Psy."
The small yellow duck like creature with a large bill gazed at them with empty eyes. It was eerie how much it reminded Ash of Misty's.
"It's you," Ash and Cameron chorused together, as did their Pokémon.
"Pika Pikachu."
"Lu -car."
"You're the masked trainer," said Jimmy.
From behind the mask the corners of her mouth twitched into a smile. "And they say boys aren't very observant."
Ash and Cameron scowled at this comment.
Jimmy however said excitedly, "Wow. I saw your battles. The two of you are amazing."
Typhlosion on the other paw gave the mystery person a distrustful look, and put a paw on his trainer's shoulder, as if to stop him walking over to her.
The masked trainer gave a small bow graciously. "Why thank-you."
"Psy." Psyduck continued to stare ahead with that blank expression.
Jimmy brushed off his partner's paw and continue, "No I mean you were really good. The two of you were in perfect synch, and you really know how to use its abilities."
"You sound so surprised," the masked trainer replied cooly. "Isn't that the basics of being a trainer. Or is it the fact that I'm a girl."
"No no." Jimmy held up his hands apologetically.
"Alright. Who are you and what do you want," Ash asked both slightly annoyed and confused?
"I could ask you the same question," she replied. "Except I don't need to. The illustrious Ash Ketchum I presume."
Ash's felt a lurch in his stomach and Pikachu gave a cry of "Pika."
"Wait how do you," he begun.
At the same time, Cameron pointed at him, then at the Masked Trainer and asked, "Wait What. Ash do you know her."
"Your reputation precedes you," the Masked Trainer continued, apparently smirking at their reactions from behind her mask. "A familiar face at the Pokémon League yet never victorious."
Ash wasn't sure how to react to this comment. He just continued to gape at her.
Cameron opened his mouth protest while Jimmy frowned. But before either of them could say anything, she continued, "And this must be your partner. The famous Ashachu."
She strode over to him and stroke Pikachu's face with a single finger.
"Pika." Pikachu gasped, and Ash stepped three paces backward in shock. "Hey. Stop that."
"There are a lot of rumors about you kid. That you defeated Team Galactic. That it was you that took down team flare. That you were in the Relgeam Tower when Cipher attacked. That you have an extremely powerful Dewott in your party. A Dewott with alien abilities according to some sources. There are even rumors that the elusive Type: Null obeys you."
"What!"
Ash and Cameron both said the word at the same time, except Ash in bewilderment and Cameron irritable.
"Actually it's," Cameron continued before Lucario grabbed him from behind and placed a paw over his mouth.
"Don't," he whispered.
He let go as the Masked Trainer looked from Ash to Cameron. But Lucario saw it in her eyes. She had noticed.
"Umm. What do you want," Jimmy asked, starting to get a little concerned himself at this point?
"I seek the truth," she said simply. "I want you to tell me that truth. And in return I'll tell you the truth."
The three trainers and their Pokémon each exchanged confused looks.
"What in the distortion world is that supposed to mean," Cameron snapped at her.
"The Aether Foundation. The Aura Dewott. And the one they call the Shadow. Tell me about them Ketchum and I will tell you about the danger you and your family are in."
Ash sighed. "I'm well aware of it."
"Pika."
"And about your past."
This took Ash by surprise. "My past. What are you talk about…"?
"I will wait for you by the entrance to the forest an hour after the finals. If you want the truth. And you can tell it. Come find me…"
And with that she left, strolling the the alley and disappearing into the crowd, Psyduck plodding along behind her.
"Hey wait." Ash ran after her, Cameron, Jimmy and the others behind him. But as he got to the entrance to the alleyway she was no where to be seen…
[Pokémon]
A few hours later…
The S.S. Tidal departed Lilycove City on time at 5:00pm, bound for Slateport City, a journey of some distance that would take it about halfway around the entire Hoenn Region. It's ports of call along the way included Mossdeep City, Sootopolis City and Pacific Log Town.
The service provided an important link between some of the major settlements in the Hoenn Region, and thus the ship was full. Her Passengers consisted of; trainers and their partners on their journeys, businessmen and traders making their way between Hoenn ports, a few scientists working at the space center on Mossdeep and of course our heroes.
Ash stood at the railing at the bow as the big ship left the bay. As he watched Lilycove recede into the distance, his thoughts dwelled on their meeting with the mysterious Masked Trainer.
"What do you think she meant," he asked Pikachu. "My past."
"Not a clue," Pikachu replied with a shrug.
"Does she know something about me that I don't. Or about you. Or someone else in the family?"
"She probably doesn't know anything," said Pikachu. "It's probably a trap. She's trying to make you curious enough, so you'll follow her in the forest and then. Who know's what'll happen?"
"She obviously knows something about us. Enough to mention aura Dewott. And the Aether Foundation. How could she know about that?"
"Cause she's probably working for them. Seriously Ash forget about her." Pikachu nuzzled his trainer and lover affectionately, holing to distract him.
It had at least some of the desired affect. Whereas Ash had been leaning on the railing, staring at the shore with a brooding expression. He straightened up and petted Pikachu on the side of his head.
"You think she could be working for the Aether Foundation?" he asked his partner.
"Maybe," Pikachu shrugged again. "All I know is my instinct tells me not to trust her."
Ash sighed. "You're probably buddy. You usually are. I just can't help but think. It's kinda of a weak trap isn't it. I mean of all the ways." He broke off.
"Hmp. Well you managed to fall for all of Team Rocket's traps," Pikachu said teasingly, a big grin spreading across his muzzle. "And they're not winning the worlds greatest villain award."
"Ugh. Don't remind me," Ash half groaned half laughed.
But Ash wasn't able to put the Masked Trainer out of his mind. Certainly not when, watching the live feed of the final round of the Queen of the Princess Festival competition in the ships lounge beamed live by satellite, the Mysterious trainer and her Psyduck were defeated by Jessalina and her Sneasel.
"OH YEAH!" Cameron shouted, jumping out of his chair and punching the air when the referee called the match. He pointed at Jimmy and continued triumphantly, "Told ya Jimmy. TOLD YA."
Jimmy sighed and rolled his eyes and Lucario groaned and snapped, "Cameron sit down."
"Oh sorry." Cameron blushed and sat back down on the couch besides his partners, who shook his head exasperatedly.
"You're worse than Hunter…Sometimes."
"I have to admit that wasn't what I was expecting," said Jimmy. "I would have thought a trainer like that could have seen through that Sneasel's tricks."
"It's like I always say," added Typhlosion. "Nine time out of ten, the stronger Pokémon with the advantage will always prevail."
Ash's ignored his friends and stared at the TV, the brooding expression from earlier returning to his face.
"I know what you're thinking," Pikachu murmured as he noticed his trainer tense. He was sitting in Ash's lap.
"Hmmm." Ash glanced down at his mate.
"You're thinking about going to meet with the Masked Trainer aren't you. You're thinking if that Sneasel is able to beat her Psyduck like that, she's not much of a threat. Don't think after as long as we've been together, I don't know how your mind work," and then under his breath, "and I using the word likes broadly."
The last comment earned the yellow mouse a little poke in the ribs.
"Okay, that was what I was thinking," said Ash exasperatedly.
Pikachu let out a sigh. "You know I'll go with you anywhere Ash, but I still think it's a bad idea."
"What are you two whispering about," Cameron asked suddenly making both of them jump.
"Nothing," they both said together.
[Pokémon]
Hours later still…
A purple ring hung in the air…
Behind it the trees forest. But through it, in the centre of it, what appeared to be the deck of a ship.
A boy and three Pokémon, A Pikachu sitting on his shoulder, a Dewott by his side and a strange purple Djinn like creature with a wicked face having behind his head, stepped through the ring and into the forest.
The woman smiled from behind the wooden mask. "Mr. Ketchum. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show."
Ash gave her a stony look. "What's all this about danger that we're in. And what's do you know about my past."
Without taking his eyes off her, he removed a Pokéball off his belt and returned Hoopa. The purple ring vanished.
"Cutting straight to the chase are we," the Masked Trainer replied. "We'll get to all that. But first I want to the truth."
"What truth?"
"Is it true. Do you have an aura Dewott?"
Ash gestured to the dark blue-green Otter Pokémon standing patiently by his side. "Here he is?"
"Dewott." Geyser nodded.
Ash noticed her eyes light up from behind the mask. "So. It is true."
"What's trues?"
"The Pokémon the Aether Foundation is looking is an aura Dewott."
Ash's eyes narrowed and he felt his heart rate speed up. "How do you know that?"
"I have my. Sources!" said the Masked Trainer. "I know many things about you Mr. Ketchum. You are a boy with quite an interesting history."
Ash let out a groan of annoyance. He could feel the heat rising in his face. Pikachu stiffened on his shoulder, his fur bristling.
"Will you quit with the cryptic non-sense. What do you know about me? What is it you want with me? Why did you ask me to meet you here? And what is it you know about my past."
"Pika Pikachu."
"Let's just say I have employers who are interested in knowing more about the aura Dewott."
Ash experienced a simultaneous lurch in his stomach and a flare of anger. He glared at her and said through gritted teeth, "If you so much a touch him."
At the same time Pikachu let out a little growl. "Piikaaa."
Geyser just stood patiently by Ash's side.
To his surprise and annoyance from behind the mask, the woman appeared to laugh. "Hahahaha. Fear not. I deal only in truth. In information. Not in Pokémon. I am not the source of the danger that stalks you."
"What danger!"
"It is my employers belief that Lusamine Mohn, the President of the Aether Foundation, wishes to take possession of your Dewott for its power. I believe there is a network of thieves and poachers stalking you."
"I know about that," Ash replied at least half truthful. He had been told Lusamine wanted Geyser but didn't know what she had planned. "Is that really all the truth you had to tell me. Things I already know."
"Pika."
"Dew."
"Perhaps," said the Masked Trainer. "But you don't know the full extent of what I know. And if you don't know, how do you know I can't tell you important information that you need to know to protect your family."
"Ummm." She had a point and Ash knew it.
"Here's my proposition. Your aura Dewott against my Psyduck. If I win. You answer all my questions. If I win, I will tell you everything. Do you accept."
Ash's eyes narrowed. "Alright. You've got a deal!"