AN: Hey Guys! Welcome to Chapter 43 of the Story! I'm currently typing this around New Years, so, let me be the first to say Happy 2019! The story is progressing slowly but surely. Last chapter was a major step towards the finish line, but unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your POV, that was only the first of many steps towards my ending goal. Personally, as much of a longshot as it is, I'd like for this story to surpass over 300,000 words and possibly 100 chapters. I'm fairly certain I'm more than halfway to that goal of 300,000 words, but now it's all on the table for me. I know what it is I need to type and the events that need to take place.

Anyone into Crossovers? Just curious.

(This part right here I am typing a few weeks after I pretyped it)Oh BTW, if you are a guest and have something to say through a review, please type your name in the review comment so I know how to address you, otherwise I will just read the comment and be done with it. For this part, I am responding to a guest named "Mark Andrew" about last chapter.

Mark:John is very powerful, yes, that is because he is about a year older and has already mastered aura abilities. In the upcoming chapters, Ash's aura will increase as well, and he will master it sooner than later. I'm very glad you're enjoying the story, updates come out every Friday. (So it gives everyone a good start to their weekend) Thanks for your concern about my semester in college, the smoother it goes the more time I have to type.

Also, my apologies for the filler chapter. Yeah, it a long filler chapter, but I also timed it to this post because I also had to update chapter 1 of the story to more… recent situations. I was aware the first chapter was typed rather poorly and I went back to edit it and leave a good first impression and leave some notes there as well. It's been updated, so please, if you want, go back and reread chapter 1. I changed a little bit of it. (Grammar, Intro and Ending, etc.) Overall, nothing too drastic other than the explanation at the start of the story.

(Back to pretyped version) The funny thing is, I still have yet to really bring out the main villain in this story, as they have barely been mentioned throughout this story, but in these waning chapters, you should definitely pay attention to everything, because almost everything has a backstory to it… and said backstory will be explained thoroughly.

Anyway, enough backstory shite, if you're new, please make sure you follow and favorite the story! It goes a long way to help me, so please make sure you do so! Thanks guys! Onward to the chapter!

ReignZ Presents… 10 Minutes Chapter 43

Previously…

"… Mistress." There was a small pause before the woman spoke. "Rise, and you may cut your manners, I know you are looking to release your true emotions… so… may they be released." Another small moment passed before Clemont sighed and got up before saying with a hint of anger. "Where is it?"

He began pacing the room slowly and stopped right in front of the stray corner desk. The woman followed his steps by slowly turning in a circle as well. Much to their fortune, and good fortune at that, the woman's face was illuminated enough to see just under her nose, and the top part of her face was cut off. They saw the woman smile, almost smirking at him.

"Where is what?" she asked, playing dumb for some reason.

"You know what I am talking about, don't deny it." Ash looked to his side, and Keeghan was filming with a camcorder. Gary, meanwhile was realizing what exactly Ash had done to make them this "Invisible." To be honest, that was exactly what he had done. Ash had made them all invisible!

Clemont continued, completely unaware of the three men's presence in the corner of the room. He snarled. "My MONEY!" She was still smirking underneath the hood. "What money?" Clemont scoffed and walked closer to the hologram. "The Money you owe me for the sabotage, you-"

"Watch your tongue. You may be the brains… but I could have you killed in a mere instant, and none of your little "toys" would put a dent into my forces." The woman said, losing her smug look and a rather angry one replaced it. Clemont held his glare before he took a couple of steps backwards, acknowledging it. Ash was beyond confused now, she was making it sound like she could control Rocket, or, she was not a member of Rocket, but rather a leader of another force.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Been months since the payment has been due… yet no payment. Where is the money?" He said with a very large hint of impatience. The woman merely smiled once more. "It is on its way… you must have more patience nonetheless…" Clemont interrupted rudely and spoke with annoyance. "If you don't have the money soon, someone will notice its missing. And you already know what will happen if people notice I have millions of dollars unaccounted for and vanishing under mysterious circumstances…"

The woman sounded unfazed. "You must wait longer. Our agents are working to get the money you so desire." Clemont, for possibly the first time since he began the conversation, smiled. Then, it was replaced with a frown. "The tournament is not guaranteed to fall in your favor, there are many opponents who could knock out your so called "Champions."

The three had to cover their mouths from gasping in surprise, Rocket had members uncover in the tournament! Ash, however, caught something else. Serena was the obvious one, however, what had caught his ear, was that Clemont had said, "Champions" and not "Champion." Which meant, it was likely she was not the only one whom Rocket had planted in the tournament! The woman spoke again, snapping his train of thoughts.

"Who do you mean? Nobody can defeat them, you have nothing to worry about." Clemont turned around and said quietly. "You know very well who I speak of… Alpha and Omega. The two are the most obvious threats to your champions. They appear to be a force unimaginable in a chemistry sense and strength sense. They complement one another perfectly." The woman was about to speak again when Clemont cut her off. "Don't try to deny it. I've watched their battle tapes, I know their tendencies and I know for a fact that those two will not lose until they play your champions, if of course, they are as good as you say. Alpha is the brute force. His Pokémon have so much raw power it is staggering."

Clemont paused before continuing. "Omega is the strategist of the two. His tactics make his Pokémon impossible to predict and combine him with Alpha, Alpha's strength is enough to hold them both up, and Omega's tactics keep Alpha's Pokémon out of hot water, all while chipping away at their opponents."

The woman said nothing as she watched Clemont walk around, pacing anxiously. He paused and said with a hint of impatiencess in his voice. "What if your two do not win the money? How will you ever repay me?" The woman smiled and said. "We will work something out, I am sure." Clemont replied. "I am not."

XXXXXXXXXX

"I'm very glad you chose to see it my way. Your contributions to the Rocket cause will not be forgotten and you will be compensated." Little did they all know, what was coming for them just moments away. All of the sudden, a man with a blonde buzz cut poked his head into the room. "Umm hi." Clemont and the others looked more than just a little surprised at the newcomer. Nonetheless, he plastered a smile on his face.

"Hello sir, something I can do for you?" The man looked sheepish. "Actually, I need to ask you a personal question, do you know what a prison looks like?" Clemont was immediately thrown off by the rather odd question. "Uh… no? I've never even been inside a prison before." The man cast a smirk. "Well you will now." All of the sudden, Lumiose agents rushed into the room with Pokémon at their side. The man grinned cheekily. "Lumiose Special Ops. You're all under arrest for conspiring with Team Rocket. Anything you say can be used against you in court, you have the right to remain silent."

Present…

The 7 of them sat in the front room of their living room. All the girls with the exception of Skyla, along with Ash, Gary, Daniel, and Keeghan were all sitting, preparing for the news to hit the public. Ash knew how difficult of a decision he had given Gary. The problem was really quite simple. If they were to give the evidence to the police or special ops of Lumiose City, they couldn't alter anything inside the USB other than copying the evidence into a USB of their own. Sure, most people would consider this a very important victory. However, the victory they had was slightly deterred by one thing: the world would now know Gary Oak did not die in that fire.

That was unfortunate for multiple reasons, but for one reason in particular. Gary was still adamant on going to the Party that Daisy had invited Ash and him too. With this news out, it put much more pressure on him. There was no doubt in his mind Daisy would hear the news. To make things worse, the party was tomorrow. The thoughts of him would be fresh in her mind, and he would be even more tempted to reveal himself to her depending on how she acted.

He really should've been more focused on the fact that they just sent a major blow to Rocket and their entire force. But, for once, he was putting himself first. He couldn't help but feel selfish for acting this way. One part of his body felt like celebrating, while the other felt as though as one door closed, three more for him were opening. These thoughts were eating him alive; he almost just wanted to fast forward the days ahead just so he could go back to the way they were before.

The rest of them were currently paying attention to the news and listening to what the reporter had to say when Ash looked around, slightly perplexed. He knew where John was; showing Skyla all the information they had gathered from Clemont. They were unsure of their next move with Clemont in lockup. Gary himself was fairly certain Rocket would make the next move. As for Daniel, he was spending countless hours trying to analyze the information he had been given.

Daniel had been extremely perplexed when he heard the talk of a "Fortress." He knew very well Rocket had multiple headquarters and therefore may be called a "fortress" but the way it was making it sound was that this fortress was on a whole 'nother level. He tried to recall any talk about making a huge "fortress" but nothing came to mind. There had been rumors many years ago when he was very young about the rumors of creating the ultimate Rocket battle station, but to his knowledge, it never manifested. Why, he was unsure. His mind also drifted towards the reason that he did not follow his father. He still had no concrete proof, however, the camcorder clip that Keeghan had taken while inside the tower heavily supported his theory, but he still needed more concrete evidence. Clemont's computer was absolutely loaded with information on Rocket, however, it did not have any evidence to connect them to other Rocket members, to Daniel's disappointment. Had there been, he would've possibly had evidence to support his theory.

Gary, meanwhile, watched as the entire world picked up on the news that they had stirred inside Lumiose City. He watched as Clemont was fully exposed as a high-ranking member of Rocket. He watched when the reporter announced that according to the information they received anonymously, it meant that Gary Oak was still alive. The press asked for Gary to come forward if this was the case, but they all probably expected nothing anyway, and that was what they would get. Gary was not ready to reveal himself, at least, not yet. He needed a little bit more time to decide if he would come forward at all, and if yes, to the public, or to Daisy at the rapidly approaching party that she had invited Ash and him to.

Keeghan's focus was purely on the Rocket fortress. He too was hell bent on discovering what this fortress even was. For that reason, he spent the majority of his time with Daniel, attempting to decipher and piece together all the information that Clemont's USB had given them. Daniel certainly appreciated the company. They were the information gatherers of the group, while Ash and John were the men of "action" most of the time, and Gary was a little bit of both. The five men made a very good team.

They all watched as nearly every piece of information they uncovered was made public about Clemont. This was a huge victory for them, because it put a huge dent in Rocket's technology. When the story was finally over, Elesa was the first to walk up and hug Gary tightly, and then everyone followed suit, trying to comfort the man who was presumed dead for many years and now rumored to be alive. However, something broke them all out of their thoughts. A cry and Skyla running out of the room nearby and then straight out of the suite altogether had them all at a loss for words.

Ash looked at Gary and then at Keeghan. Both of them had looks that mimicked worry and confusion. Elesa ran after her friend while Jasmine and Cynthia shared looks of fear. Ash was the one who decided to walk into the room and see his friend. What he saw shocked him. John was sitting in the chair right in front of the computer with his head in his hands, seemingly deep in thought. He was sniffling, as though he had been crying. Ash looked beyond bewildered, what could've John possibly have done?

He got on one knee next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "What's up man? What happened?" John removed his hand from his eyes and said weakly. "I… I told her…" Ash's eyes widened in shock. "You mean…" John nodded softly. Ash stood up and ran his hands through his hair in worry. He was at a loss, he knew what John had told Skyla, something he had not mentioned to her even though he had known about this one thing for quite some time. John sighed and stood up, getting control of himself. "I should've told her once I found out." Ash replied. "It's okay man, you thought you knew what you were doing, and that's fine. Everyone makes mistakes. But, you really oughta tell everyone out there what you told her." John nodded and walked out and saw everyone staring at him. Elesa had returned to the room without Skyla, she had lost her. Gary, Keeghan, and Daniel were looking at him expectantly. Jasmine and Cynthia were looking at him, almost disapprovingly.

John paused before he sighed and began.

"I had to tell her something that I've known and kept to myself for a long time. I never wanted to tell her, but I realized she needed to know the truth, and if she was going to get mad at me, then it would be worth it." Cynthia questioned him. "What did you tell her?" John took another deep breath.

"What do you all know about Skyla's father?" Everyone looked at one another in confusion, this had not been the path they expected to go down. Elesa spoke. "He was a traveling Pokémon instructor to my knowledge. He was wrongfully convicted of being allied with Team Rocket, although no proof was ever brought forward against him. He swore that he would get out to be with Skyla again, but a prison accident ended his life too soon. Skyla cried for days when that happened."

She appeared to be the only one to know that, however, as everyone else in the room appeared rather shocked by the news. John ran his hands through his hair and turned around, trying to control himself. He then took another deep breath and turned back around and said sadly. "Skyla's father was a part of Team Rocket."

A chorus of gasps flew through the room. Elesa's eyes were as wide as saucers. "W-what?! No he wasn't! Her father was a good man! How can you say that about your Lover's father John? You don't know…" John interrupted her. "ELESA! Do you think I want this either? I love Skyla, but she needed to know the truth."

Cynthia said, still not convinced. "How do you know that her father was with Rocket?" John replied with a hint of conviction in his voice. "I have two pieces of evidence, one that I have with me, and one not with me." He paused before he continued. "On the very day I that I met Ash, we were on a bus when all of the sudden Rocket attacked us with some sort of Gas. When I came to, Pikachu was gone and I immediately traced the aura of the perpetrator through the forest and I found the man wearing a Rocket uniform…

Flashback… (Chapter 2)

John emerged from the trees and said quietly. "I doubt that."

The grunt turned around and fired a pistol. The bullet went straight at him, and then it didn't. The grunt had a bewildered look on his face, and then a shocked one when John magically reappeared and said grinning.

"You think you can stop me?" He then TELEPORTED with a zing! "I was ZING always and always ZING will be ZING One step…" John Started.

ZING

John appeared right in front of the grunt and uppercutted him straight to the face, sending him hurtling into a tree. "-Ahead of you."

Just before John could check the man to make sure he was unable to fight back, images flooded his mind.

"Wow… She's beautiful." John Whispered. John was staring at a wall of pictures. Most of them were of a beautiful girl. She was extremely attractive. She had flowing red hair that had a blue flower in it. She had a radiant smile on her face and seemed as though the end of the world couldn't take it was mesmerized. She was so beautiful…

And then it was over. John gasped and shook his head. He had never had a flashback like that before! He would wonder what it was later; the more important thing was to get Pikachu back safe to Ash. And then, he got another surprise. He felt around the man's chest area, attempting to get an identification of the team rocket grunt. He read the man's name aloud. "Walter Adams." The name didn't ring a bell.

He then fished around for anything else, and then he saw it. It was a picture of the beautiful red-head.

Flashback End…

The entire room appeared shocked. Elesa was staring in pure disbelief. "He… He tried to shoot you?" John nodded solemnly. Jasmine asked her lover. "You mentioned you had another piece of evidence, but actually with you? What is it?" Ash walked in the room with the computer in tow. John sighed a little and began once again. "Okay… when Ash and I raided Southpaw, we managed to get our hands on some evidence in the intelligence center inside the base. It was some of the same information that we found at Clemont tower… but some was different." (AN: This Information was Around Chapter 25)

Ash was going around and showing each and every person in the room the description of Walter Adams and that John Stamkos had gotten him arrested. "As you are all seeing, this confirmed that it was indeed Skyla's father that I had arrested unknowingly, and because of the prison accident, I… I… sent Skyla's father to his death." He wiped his eyes before continuing. "When I show Skyla… she refused to believe me, saying I was making it all up." He slowly began to break down.

"I pleaded with her to believe me… but she didn't, I saw how badly I hurt her. I was hoping for a reaction not like this, and now I have no idea how much she hates me… It's all my fault!" John sat down on the floor and cried a little. Elesa sighed, she wished she had known where Skyla had gone so she could explain to her friend what had happened. And then it hit her. She knew where her friend had ran off to.

"Guys, I'll go see Skyla and talk with her." Elesa assured them. She walked over to John and hugged him. "It's okay John. Skyla knows her father differently than you knew her, and it's hard for her to take it, if it was yours, you'd react the same, or maybe differently. But what I do know is that you have only good intentions." Elesa then stood up and walked out, off to find her friend.

Later that Day…

Elesa checked her watch, she had been walking for a little over an hour or so. It was a bit of a walk from where they were staying, and yet, she knew that was where her closest friend had gone. (AN: If any of you played Pokémon Soul Silver/Heart Gold, Imagine the Top Right Part of Cerulean City where you battle Suicune. That is where Skyla is.)

Elesa walked up a flight of stairs to a small clearing surrounded by fences. She turned to the sunset and smiled a little. There, standing and leaning against the fence was none other than Skyla. She appeared to be in deep thought and did not even acknowledge her presence. "It's a nice view huh?" Skyla immediately whirled around and saw her friend standing there. She relaxed and sighed softly. "It sure is…"

Elesa walked up next to her friend and they both looked at the sunset. Skyla continued. "It helps me clear my mind." Elesa looked at her friend curiously and then Skyla spoke once more. "I take it John told you about my father." Elesa questioned Skyla. "What makes you say that?"

"You have that look on your face. It's the "I'm concerned, tell me what's wrong" look." Skyla said, weakly chuckling. Elesa sighed and said. "Skyla, John is crying over you right now because he thinks you're going to leave him."

That got Skyla's attention. She gasped and cried as she turned to her friend. "W-w-what?! No! I Love him! Why does he think that?" Elesa smiled a little. "You did run out on him after all, in tears nonetheless." Skyla covered her face in her hands. "No… I'm not mad at him at all!" Elesa said slowly. "But there's clearly something bothering you… what is it?" Skyla hesitated before murmuring. "I… I just can't believe my father was seduced by Rocket's power. My father always seemed so happy and at ease but…"

Once more she paused before saying quietly. "He always seemed to take pleasure in the suffering of others. My family was always so rich… I never knew why… I expected his travelling job made us very rich and I never thought more than that. When John told me my father was in Rocket, I didn't want to believe it, but it made sense. I…" She sniffed once or twice.

"I knew that everything fit. Rocket paid him for his services while he hurt those around him. I just couldn't believe it when John first told me that my father was in Rocket. He told me all about how he arrested him, and how John had a vision of me, then saw the picture of me inside his wallet. I was so crushed… all this time… my father, the man I thought was a man of pride and selflessness, was only in it for himself." She cried softly after she spoke.

Skyla desperately looked at Elesa. "If you were in the position that I'm in right now Elesa… what would you do?" Elesa paused, considering her following words carefully.

"Well, to start, I never knew my father. He left my mother at a young age." She relaxed a moment before saying. "I know I was jealous of those girls who had their fathers driving them around. Pokémon for me was what I became obsessed with as a result." Skyla stared at her friend in surprise. "Why… why did your father influence you to study Pokémon?" Elesa smiled a little and looked up into the air, where the stars were beginning to become visible one by one.

"My mother, she was so… unhappy… as a grew up. I never knew a time where she was happy. I wanted to make her proud so she had something to smile about. I discovered Pokémon when I was young… my mom had an Emolga that I always played with as a young girl, and it was then I realized I wanted to be a Pokémon trainer. I loved Pokémon so much, and it was my goal to make my father regret leaving my mother and to make my mother proud she had me and raised me to be the best me I could ever be."

Skyla had tears in her eyes from the story. Elesa spoke softly. "To answer your question Skyla, if I was in your shoes, I would try to power through it. Connect with what makes you "you" and latch onto it for support. I held onto my mom and Pokémon, what do you treasure most?"

Skyla paused before softly crying as she realized what she treasured most: John. She loved him so much, and he probably thought she was going to break it off. Elesa put an arm around her friend comfortingly. Skyla sniffed once more. "Th-thanks for coming and talking with me Elesa… You're the best." Elesa smiled a little before saying. "That's what friends are for Skyla… but we really need to get going… John is probably worried sick." Skyla nodded. "You're… you're right. Do you wanna ride Swanna back?" Elesa grinned. "Why don't we just walk? It's a lovely night." She gestured to the sunset that was nearly out of view over the horizon. Skyla smiled a little and nodded.

That Night…(AN: THERE IS NO LEMON)

John was currently unable to fall asleep. In his one arm slept his beautiful girlfriend, and his other was currently empty. He silently pleaded that Elesa had found Skyla and that she still wanted to return to him. He regretted telling her about her father; it had only made things worse. He finally found himself drifting off to what he knew was going to be a restless sleep. Just as his vision was about to be pitch black, he heard the door to his room open.

John wondered who it was. He got that response very shortly, when he heard someone take off their clothes. He lifted his head up and smiled in pure relief. Skyla stood there completely nude before his eyes. She smiled shyly with the moonlight seeping through the blinds and hitting her body in multiple places. She slipped into bed with him and Jasmine and he pressed his lips to hers.

No words needed to be spoken other than quiet "I love you's." Skyla snuggled deeper into her lover's arms, happy and content. For that night, she completely forgot about her father, and focused purely on the man that made her feel happy and content. And for that much, she couldn't have been more grateful.

AN: I told you, I'm making sure I hit everything. I haven't forgotten anything from early chapters, at least, I don't think so. And if I had, I may already plan on going back and hitting it sometime later in the story. This was obviously more of a filler chapter because the previous one's set up big time events. (AKA the Raid on Clemont Tower)

So, Clemont is arrested, disarming Rocket of a great amount of technology. Skyla finds out her father was a highly-paid member of Rocket. A Party is being held and Daisy Waterflower has invited Gary (Told her his name was Ian Poscha) and Ash (Told her name was Gary Scepter.)

What will next chapter bring? Will I unleash a surprise on you? Will it be the party? Will it be something else completely? Keep reading to find out! Make sure you follow and favorite the story! It goes a long way!

Thanks guys, 'till next time!

ReignZ