Wow, to think the story is almost finished. A couple more chapters and I would say it could be done.
Don't ya think?
Well, let's not just dwell on that and move forward right to this next chapter. Please do enjoy.
"I honestly expected more from you Guzma," spoke Professor Kukui as the leader of Team Skull and a few grunts were guiding him, Professor Burnet, Serena and Meowth downwards a dark grey hallway. Giovanni had taken Ash somewhere else, he wasn't sure where but he prayed that the kid was okay.
"Joining Team Rainbow Rocket to create a war? That is even low for you," continued the teacher, glaring sideways at the man. Guzma just scoffed, looking away and burying his hands in his pockets, "You wouldn't understand Kukui."
"Really? Is this what running has come for you? That you are now running away from Alola? Only become some pet to Giovanni to do his bidding?"
"Who you calling a pet?" snarled Guzma, his eyes snapping open whirling around to Professor Kukui, clenching his fists, the atmosphere becoming tense in a crashing weight and ready to snap at any moment, "You were the one who became a pet to Hala! You were the one who had everything given to you Kukui! You got all the glory and everything! You became all 'Protect Alola's nature and all' because of that! I tried to catch up but you just left me in the dust! Well, I got tired of losing to you!"
"That is why you were running and still are!" argued Professor Kukui, "But don't you see what this is doing to you Guzma! Joining Giovanni could be your biggest mistake! People and Pokémon will die if he succeeds! Then what!? Their blood will be on your hands!? Will you finally be happy about that!? That you won because you became a murderer!? Stop being a coward Guzma and wake up!"
"SHUT UP!"
That was the final straw.
It happened so fast.
"Kukui!" Professor Burnet could only watch in horror as Guzma's fist connected with Professor Kukui's cheek and her husband was sent down to the ground. She tried to struggle free but the grunts holding her didn't budge an inch, just tightening their grips on the woman.
Guzma was seething in rage, his breathing ragged as he pointed his finger down angerly at the man on the floor, "You have no idea how it feels like to lose!"
Professor Kukui chuckled dryly while wiping the blood away from his mouth with his sleeve. Looking up at Team Skull's leader, the teacher smiled, "I do and I have lost plenty of times, Guzma. But I learnt to live with it and move forward. Trusting in my Pokémon to help me accomplish my goals. I help them grow and they help me. You got to ask yourself Guzma: is this really worth it? You have to decide else you might end up making the biggest mistake in your life."
Silence fell over everyone as Guzma just stared quietly at Kukui, the man on the floor returning it. It was almost like the two were staring into each other's souls, the former debating on what to do.
"Erm, sir we have to take these prisoners to the cells like Giovanni asked," hesitantly spoke one of the Team Rainbow Rocket grunts, watching the white-haired man cautiously for any sudden movements.
Guzma huffed and turned his gaze away from Kukui to the wall, "You can take them. I have something to talk about with Giovanni anyways." Turning on his heels, he calmly left the grunts behind and could practically feel everyone's eyes on his back. Once he was far enough, Guzma began thinking over what Professor Kukui said. The words replaying through his head.
Looking behind him once more he watched as the group was taken away by the grunts. Guzma sighed heavily and shook his head, continuing to walk down the hallway.
He was doing the right thing.
Right?
"Hmm, interesting," muttered an red-haired scientist as he studied Protect Nucleas and its energy readings. Looking across the lab he saw Ash strapped down on a metal chair looking bored and slightly nervous. The kid had wires and motoring stations placed around him, most leading to the console panel controlling Project Nucleas' vital signs.
Giovanni had dropped the raven-haired trainer off earlier by the lab, telling that Ash could help with Protect Nucleas' energy source issues. The scientist, at first, thought his boss was crazy. What could a simple boy do to help? After a few tests, he had found about the child's aura and to say he was surprised was an understatement. Now, he was testing to see how Project Nucleas reacts to both Ultra Wormhole energy and Ash's aura.
"Use some more of your aura. The system seems to be stabilizing," ordered the red-haired scientist, pressing a few buttons. Ash glared at him before sighing heavily and nodding his head, hesitantly complying with the man. If he showed any resistance his friends and family could pay the cost.
With no other choice, Ash began concentrating and closed his eyes, calming his mind. The result was almost instant, his entire body engulfed in a electric blue haze. The wires connected to him glowed as well, his life force transferring to Project Nucleas.
The creature within the orange liquid-filled container lite up in a wash of bright multi-colors that mingled together in perfect harmony, not from Ash's aura but the Ultra Wormhole energy. It was truly an mesmerizing sight to everyone in the lab as they watched the display.
Who knew a kid could do this?
Looking downwards the red-haired scientist, that Ash assumed was the leader by now, frowned at the numbers. They almost perfect but not quite enough to activate Project Nucleas. Scratching his chin, the man began to think of what to do next, "Maybe try using a little less aura. It might work."
Ash gave a struggled grunted in response, having trouble controlling his aura to such an extent. His limited time training with Lucario didn't prepare him enough for this and wasn't helping the fact that the trainer hadn't physically used his aura in so long until recently. Gritting his teeth together in effort, the glow around Ash dulled slight but not by much.
"Alright, stop for now." The trainer broke from his concentration taking in a deep gasp of fresh air as the blueish light faded away, feeling utterly exhausted. Closing his eyes, Ash wondered how Serena was doing. He hoped that she was safe with his mom and friends. Just until he could figure a way to escape and get everyone to safety.
That was when a new plan dawned on him.
Opening his eyes, Ash scanned the lab around him, making sure he wasn't being watched. All the scientists were huddled by their computers or Project Nucleas, all too preoccupied with their work to notice him. Perfect.
After giving another quick glance at the lab to make certain, Ash closed his eyes once more and began reaching out, searching for someone. It wasn't that hard since he practically knew most of Aether Foundation's layout. He, inwardly, grinned as he found who he was looking for.
'Greninja, can you hear me?'
'Loud and clear. Please tell me you have plan?'
'Yes I do. But where are you, Pikachu and the others?'
'Down at the lower floors. Pikachu is in an electric proof glass dome of some kind and the others are next to me safe in their pokeballs.'
'I am glad to hear that. Do you think you can break free of your pokeball?'
'You do realize that pokeballs are meant to keep Pokémon in and not let them out?'
Even through their mental link, Greninja could feel Ash's deadpan stare.
'Right, I will try. Then what?'
'Get Serena and the others free to somewhere safe and away from here. They are most likely held in the floor above you. It's the only place I know that Giovanni could have possibly taken them.'
'What about you?'
'I will figure something out.'
'Why do I have a feeling you going to do something stupid?'
'What makes you think I would do that?'
'You literally jumped off of Prism Tower and lept into a freaking active volcano in Kalos! Not to mention all the other crazy stunts you pulled! With the way you jump off stuff people must think you have gravity issues!'
'That was ages ago! Besides, those were nothing big.'
'I am sure Lysandre and your mom would agree to that.'
'Just do what I told you please!'
'Fine, but that doesn't mean I agree with you on this. Promise me one thing before I go.'
'What?'
'Don't die.'
Before Ash could answer, loud snapping of fingers ringed through his ears breaking his mental link with the Pokémon. He grimaced from cut off from Greninja so abruptly. It left him disoriented and feeling dizzy.
Blinking the blurriness away from his eyes, Ash saw the red-haired scientist glaring annoyed down at him, "Pay attention boy. This isn't the time to sleep." Shaking his head, the man tilted his head, observing the trainer, "Use your aura one more time instead with more power. It will hopefully get Project Nucleas working and then," he began to smirk, "You know what happens next."
Ash could only sneer up at him, disgusted by how this man talked almost like Giovanni. It was frightening how willingly he was to help the dark-haired create a war. The trainer wondered if all of Giovanni's followers were this loyal.
Deciding to play along, the boy nodded his head and began using his aura again. The trainer only hoped Greninja would be able to escape with everyone else.
Greninja stood up in his pokeball, still a little shaken from his bond being shut off from Ash like it was, and began looking around it for any weaknesses in the metal.
The Pokémon wouldn't be lying by saying it was excited, after cutting those damn roots for the last couple of months it was itching for a little action lately. And, of course, as soon as he reunited with Ash something out of the ordinary happened.
I mean, how many times do you meet up with a dead guy, who tried to control you and your trainer, now suddenly becoming said trainer's overprotective body guard? Not only that but said trainer recently captured by his power hungry father that wants to create war just so he can rule the world. What a way to spend a holiday.
Shaking its head, Greninja buried those thoughts knowing he should consider this as normal, well for Ash anyways.
It began smirking as it found a slightly rusted and dented area in the metal. From the looks of it, a few attacks should be able to break it open easily. In the Pokemon's curdled up blue webbed-hand an Cut began to form, the normal type attack pulsing with energy.
Oh this was going to be fun.
'Damn this stupid worthless contraption of wires!'
Lysandre flinched as he was shocked for about the fourth time today, having trouble taking the tracking device apart that was currently connected to one of the spare computers that Brandon allowed him to use.
He couldn't use rubber gloves to protect him because of the small size of the mechanical gadget meaning he had to use his bare fingers, much to the orange-haired man's annoyance.
He scowled, irritated that he was still nowhere at finding out where Ash was taken, let alone making any progress. Rubbing his forehead, Lysandre leaned backwards trying to dull the headache pounding against his skull. Why can't anything just be easy?
"Do you need some help?"
Lysandre practically lept out of his skin, startled by the new voice. Looking around with wide eyes, he half expected Mewtwo again to be standing by the door but, to his surprise, it was Lucario.
Blinking in confusion, the man rose an curious eyebrow at the Aura Pokémon, "Weren't you sealed away in a staff for a thousand years?" Lucario frowned, "Yes, why?"
"Not to insult your intelligence but I don't think you will be able to lend much of a hand with such advanced technology considering your from such a distant era of time," replied Lysandre, skeptical that the Pokémon even vaguely knew what to do.
Lucario hummed in agreement, dipping his head slightly forward in acknowledgement, "I can understand your logic in this situation. However, I must question why are you doing this alone? Why not have the others aid you? I am sure you would be able to find where Ash was taken with less trouble."
Lysandre frowned, turning back to his work on tracking device, fiddling with one of the thinner blue wires, "I have to do this by myself. It's my fault Ash is in this mess and got captured in the first place. If I wasn't the blind fool I was, he would still be here."
"Why are you humans so confusing? I will never understand your species always refusing any aid from others! You are clearly in distress yet won't except help!" mused Lucario, having originally thought only Ash and Sir Aaron were stubborn when their minds were set on something. Are they all like this or is it just anyone who spends their time around Ash? He will never know.
"I guess we are all different in our way," the orange-haired man chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. He frowned again, pulling one of red wires over carefully making sure he wasn't shocked this time, "I think I almost have it anyways. I just need to pu-Ow!"
Lysandre's fingers suddenly burnt and locked up as an electric current travelled through him, nothing dangerous but enough to be a pain. Massaging his shocked hand, which also happened the one he injured earlier, the man glared daggers down at it, inwardly wondering why he hadn't sent Pyroar out to burnt the device off the face of the Earth.
He was about to when Lucario stopped him by grabbing on his shoulder, pointing to the computer screen, "Wait, I think we have something." Lysandre's gaze followed Lucario's and his eyes widened, "Is that?"
The Pokemon nodded, smiling, "Yes, we have found Ash."
And that is a wrap of this chapter!
What did you think? Let me know when you review!
That is all for now folks and see you all next time!
Petrolhead1 shifting gears away!
