Chapter 426
"Firestarter 3"
The politics of Sasha taking Donald Trump prisoner were lost on Ash. He was never one for politics. It sucked but as he aged and matured, he was forced deeper-and-deeper into that world. Any chance to use pokemon as a buffer to anything was utilized by Ash. However, this journey into the woods was deeper than that. Pokemon brought him to Misty, the woman who'd betrayed him, and Brock, his dear friend.
Roman tried his best to be on the right side of history. It was a whirlwind to go from being a wrestler to being associated with the Swords and learning the historical implications of The Shield.
Now on Atlantis, everyone seemed lost and without anyone willing to step up and lead, perhaps it'd have to be him. Perhaps he would have to be the Chief. It wasn't a position he wanted to crash himself into. However, someone had to take the lead sooner rather than later with so many pieces moving against The Swords.
If Prince, Larrell, Sasha or Carlito wouldn't do it, then he probably would have to. It was understandable how anxious each one felt about doing it. Everyone had their strengths and weaknesses, as did all leaders. In the end, they were only human. However, someone had to paint the target on their chest. Someone had to become the head of the snake soon in order for Atlantis to become what it was destined to become. Perhaps it'd be him. For now, he'd help Ash. A quick moment to take a breather between the turbulent undercurrent among the swords and the shield.
With Pikachu on his shoulder and clinging to his snapback, Ash pushed through the thick bushes. Although all of Atlantis' cities hadn't been resurrected, a lot of its wildlife and natural habitats were alive and well. The most annoying thing was the bundles of insects and bug pokemon that roamed through the foliage.
"I wish we had a machete." Roman groaned.
"Yeah," Ash agreed, "Or a Scyther. Would be nice if I asked Prince to borrow his Scizor."
"Yeah, it would be." Roman concurred.
"Thanks for having my back," Ash stepped over a thorny bush, "With everything that's going on, it's good to have some backup."
"It's better than just sitting around the camp." Roman followed, "Besides, you're battling Bray and my pokemon could use a battle so they don't get rusty. Backing you is good for me mentally. It'd suck to sit there guarding Trump and that goofball. It's just not my style."
"Damn," Ash cursed as his forearm was nicked by a sharp bush, "So what comes next for us? Now that we've got Sithis controlling all of America and coming after us what do you think we should do?"
Roman carefully pried through the bush and followed Ash onto a dirt road, "We do what Prince and Sasha suggested. We activate the towers. All we can go on is what we've seen happen. Ever since we took that one tower, it lit up that one side of the island. Taking more towers might light up or bring Atlantis back to life. I'm not sure how this place was long ago but it had to have some way of defending itself right? Maybe we'll find something if we light up more of the towers."
"Yeah," Ash understood, "We'll get a lot more firepower once we get Brock and Misty back."
"Let's hope so." Roman replied as the road turned into a steep hill and the trees began to narrow. Creating a tunnel of sharp twigs.
"I hope this is the way," Ash exhaled, "There's no other path."
"I've got it," Roman tossed his pokeball, "Malietoa," summoning his Rhydon, "Head on through, we'll follow behind," using the pokemon's hard shell as a shield to break through the path.
"Good thinking." Ash followed Roman and the Rhydon through the sharp path until the encroaching trees sagged off and created a clearing. Within the giant clearing there stood a small rickety shack in the distance with a single tree beside it. Roped to one of the trees branches was a makeshift child's swing.
A woman wearing black overalls, knee-length tubed socks, sat on the swing playing with two dolls. She had silver-blond hair pulled back into pig tails and layers of makeup on her face.
(Is this the place?) Ash wondered.
Roman wasted no time, he patted the Rhydon on the shoulder and strode in front of it, leading the way towards the rickety shack. In the dirt outside the shack a rectangular sign had been erected with the words: Firefly Fun House painted in loopy handwriting.
"This must be it." Roman guessed.
(Where is Wyatt?) Ash wondered. Approaching the woman on the swing, "Hey," he called, "I'm here! Where's The Fiend? Where's Bray Wyatt? Where are my friends?" Ash paused. Calling Misty a friend after she betrayed him felt odd. Yet, given all that they'd been through the title still did fit her.
The woman on the swing set glanced up, "Your friends," holding up the dolls, "are with me."
Ash gawked, staring at the two dolls. Both were modeled and shaped to resemble Brock and Misty.