The ride to the Goldenrod Banquet hall was ridden in an uncomfortable silence.
But Ash didn't notice, or he just didn't care. His mind preoccupied with his own thoughts as he stared blankly out the tinted window.
He knew his objective, capture the business man. Don't start a commotion, and don't get anyone killed.
Simple.
But his mind kept drifting to when he'd be administered the antidote. He was currently two people, one at the moment. But once he regained whatever memories, he'd be… Be someone, someone with an entirely different take on how the way he works.
What if the clash of his personalities drove him insane? He, and he was pretty damn well sure that Cynthia and the scientists didn't know to what extent the drug he'd been given would do to his mind. For all he knew, by then end of this he could have two voices speaking over each other for control of his body…
God that would be offal.
But what if the drug failed? Then what would he do? He could still very well return to Team Rocket, they'd take him back with open arms despite what he'd done. He had the location to the G-Men headquarters for a trade if it came down to it.
But would he return if given the opportunity? He'd been lied to; they were the ones who did this to him. To make him forget his past life. But then again there was Domino.
His thoughts always ended up going back to her, no matter what it was about.
It always returned to Domino.
He shook his head and glanced at Alyssa, sitting much like he was, except with her head against the window staring out into the passing world. Then there was Misty, obviously nervous because of her shaking leg, and wringing out of the hands.
"You two nervous?"
Both girls seemed to startle at his sudden voice in the quiet cab, "No, anxious is a better word," Alyssa answered turning her blue eyes to him.
"And you Misty?"
The brunette nodded, "Can you blame me? This is… This is going to be a long night,"
Ash felt the inside of his jacket where his handgun lay, "I'll get you hopped up on wine coolers, loosen you up a bit," Both girls regarded him with raised eyebrows, and he let a small grin flicker onto his lips, "we can't have you jumping every time someone comes over to speak with us now can we?"
"I won't jump," She rebutted, but when he snorted in reply, her brow furrowed, "I won't,"
"Sure,"
Oh god he couldn't… He couldn't be remembering how to irritate her cold he? He wouldn't, "I won't, I won't be jumpy!"
He shrugged unconvinced and said nothing, "Idiot," she grumbled.
Ash turned his attention from Misty and to Alyssa now, "You know where to go?"
"Yup, once we're in I'll head to the rooftop,"
He nodded to himself, "You have your headset?" Alyssa took her purse and searched through it until she pulled out what looked like a pair of yellow tinted sunglasses, with a mouth piece coming down from the left side, "Good,"
"Where'd you find this? It's a nifty little gadget,"
"I may have gone down to the uh," He cleared his throat, "R and D department and taken a look at what they had on display."
Their eyebrows shot up in surprise, "You stole these?"
He feigned hurt, placing a hand over his heart, "You hurt me Alyssa, such accusations are uncalled for really,"
Her mouth drooped open and she stared at him in disbelief. Before she shook her head amused, "Did you liberate anything for yourself while you were down there?"
"Liberate sounds about right," He said casually, "I've got a pair like yours, no mouth piece though. The interface of the glasses are top notch, I rigged ours though to track. Make it easier on you for when the chase goes down,"
"Chase?" Misty whispered in surprise, "What chase?"
"I have a feeling I'll be running the full mile by the end of the night, which is when you will go with Cynthia or Alyssa depending on how things work,"
Alyssa glanced to her expensive watch, taken from the confiscated items at the G-Men HQ, "It's almost seven,"
At her words, Ash reached into his pocket and pulled out his little radio. Taking a single ear bud, he placed it into his ear, and flicked the switch.
Lances match was close to beginning.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The Johto Champion rolled his shoulders, hearing the slight pop as he did so before he shook himself out a second time.
His match was due to begin in fifteen minutes, and his nerves were beginning to get to him. He knew he wouldn't be winning this match, but he wanted to make sure that his challenger and Rocket who went by the name Raiden, had one hell of a time trying to take his title away from him.
He and Ash trained brutally for the past few days, Ash showing him how to play dirty, how to dance his way around the rules, how to lethally harm a Pokemon. Ash had told him repeatedly, to go for the ribcage. The ribcage so that fire or water types would be hard pressed to use special attacks, and so that fighting Pokemon would be unable to use their arms in battle.
Then for the Pokemon who use all fours, he was to break their legs. He knew come the first time he did that, the Rocket would pull out his A-game and probably end the match quickly. But he wouldn't give the Rocket the satisfaction of a clean win.
He would defeat one of those shadow Pokemon, even if it killed his Pokemon in the process.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
They arrived not to long after, the door to the limo was opened by the driver and Ash climbed out, before turning around and offering his hands to both girls.
Lights flashed, and reporters stumbled over each other asking for an interview or for a word with him as the girls each took an arm and he led them towards the front doors.
As the three of them walked up to the front, a man in a suit came forward, "Good evening Sir, may I see your invitation please?"
Ash inclined his head and slid a hand into his jacket where he removed the invitation he had received from Lance, and handed it to the doorman.
The doorman flipped open the invitation read the name and searched down his clipboard until he came to his name, "Ah excellent," He said, "Welcome to the Goldenrod Emporium, Mr. Mackenzie,"
Ash inclined his head once more, "Thank you, are we all set here?"
"Of course sir, have a wonderful time tonight,"
"We will," And then he led the girls inside.
The Goldenrod Emporium was a large circular room with a crystal dome roof, which refracted the light coming from the night sky into rainbows of color across the room. The hall had two floors, the bottom where food tables and a large dance floor was constructed, currently obstructed by tables which would eventually be moved out of the way for when the music began.
The second floor was a balcony, which ran along the circumference of the room. Doors ran along the balcony that led into god knows what. But what really topped off the whole room, was the large crystal chandelier that hung high above the ground, with trinkets of gold, silver, diamonds dangling here and there.
And then of course there were the thousand attendees throughout the hall, talking laughing, eating…
Ash didn't like the feel of this place. Not because something was off, but because it would be so easy to kill everyone in the building. Give him a canister of gasoline, a couple chains, and a gun with 30 or so rounds… All of these people would be dead.
It was a sick thought.
But entirely true.
It would be impossible to locate the Rocket in the crowd on the bottom floor. He and Misty would have to take to the balcony. He'd have to mark exits and routes for him when it came for the take down. But… His target hadn't arrived. Not inside the building at least.
Ash walked the girls towards the bar, "Why don't you go see if you can't find our table?" He whispered over into Alyssa's ear, "See if we're in a decent spot?"
She smiled up at him, "Of course," She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek before starting away, he caught her wrist and pulled her back to him.
"Keep an eye out behind you," He said quietly, reaching into the flap of his jacket and removing one of his two concealed knives, "I don't want someone stealing you away from me,"
She swallowed and nodded, taking the knife and slipping it into her purse, "That won't happen," She whispered back.
And he knew it was true, he jerked his head towards the crowds near the tables, "Go on,"
She did, and he watched her walk away until she had completely disappeared from his sight. There goes his over watch, turning to Misty he offered her a grin, "Come on love," He said leading her towards the bar, "Let's get a drink,"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Lance walked down the long corridor and onto the lift. He crack his knuckles, felt the red spheres on his hip, and looked up into the darkness of the shaft.
There was a large tremor running throughout the building, the crowds had formed in masses, waiting for the Championship battle to begin.
And he was right below them.
Cynthia would have arrived at the banquet in Goldenrod not too long ago, Ash and his friends? He wasn't as sure as to when they'd arrive. Maybe fashionably late, or early to prepare.
It was a guessing game with him.
One of the stadium hands came up from behind him, "One minute," He said.
Lance nodded to himself, "Okay," there wasn't a way for him to mess this up. Or if there was, he was unaware of it. No matter how this played out, he was losing this battle.
The floor shook, and then began to rise upwards. He stared up into the darkness, above him, until the sound of gears started up, and the roof begun splitting into two. The cheering echoed down the chute as he rose up in front of the thousands of fans around him. His position rose up out of the ground, on the other side Raiden had already taken his place.
Dark blue hair, a black jacket over a white T with jeans. There was nothing fascinating about him, he looked like your average Trainer.
But he wasn't.
"AND NOW WE WELCOME OUR CHAMPION!" The announcer boomed overhead, "LANCE!"
The referee stepped up to the center edge of the field, "This is six on six Pokemon battle," He announced, "No substitutions are allowed by the Champion, and the challenger may only substitute out a Pokemon after five minutes have run down the clock. Once one Trainer has lost all six of their Pokemon, the battle will end and the victor crowned as Champion!"
He looked between Raiden and Lance, "Do both Trainers agree to this ruling?"
Lance gave a two fingered salute, and Raiden bowed his head.
"Then Trainer's! Please call out your first Pokemon!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Ash turned the radio up a notch, "The battle started," He said to Misty as they were handed their drinks.
She looked to him curious, "What Pokemon is the," She paused to stop herself from saying Rocket, "Opponent using?"
A pause, "Shit," He muttered, "It's a Tyranitar… Good, he called out Dragonite,"
Her eyes went wide, "Why is that good?" She asked in a hushed exclamation, "Dragonite are at a disadvantage to Tyranitar!"
Ash took her hand and began leading her towards the staircase which lead up to the balcony, "It's what we worked on. Dragonite is… Dragonite isn't a happy camper let's say. Tyranitar will be the first to go down, and then Raiden's second will go down as well before a comeback begins,"
"How do you know?"
They started climbing up the staircase, Ash holding her hand as they started towards the middle of the long path, "They'll make it seem as if Lance is winning this battle, then when he has been given hope. They'll snatch it away," He paused, "You do look beautiful by the way,"
She blushed at the unexpected compliment, "T-Thanks," She mumbled, "You uh, you don't look half bad either," He grinned at her and her blush deepened.
"Keep it PG down there you two," Ash walked Misty over to the railing and leaned against it.
"How's it looking?" He was looking at Misty, but spoke directly to Alyssa.
Up on the roof, Alyssa now out of her dress and in a tight black T, with black jeans, and headset on watched Ash and Misty through the scope of her sniper rifle. "Nothing, suspicious. How about drawing attention to yourselves, see who looks your way?"
What he did next surprised both girls, "Hope you know how to act," He said quietly to Misty.
She blinked, "What do you-" She was silenced as Ash pulled her against him and placed his lips on hers. He leaned her up against the railing and put himself on top of her where he deepened the kiss.
At first, she had been surprised, throw in a bit of horror as well as Ash kissed her. But almost immediately, she lost herself like she had when they had first kissed back in Pallet Town. The kiss was long, but then he removed his mouth, and put it just below her ear, "Laugh and push me back, loudly," He then started placing small kisses from her ear down her neck.
He almost stopped himself as a small moan escaped her, stealthily he pinched her arm and she let out a gasp. Which she thankfully turned into a high pitched laugh which rang out high above the room, "Mr. Mackenzie!" She squealed loudly, "Please if you really want my attention why not book us a room!?"
Ash grinned and pulled her into his arms, so that her back was to his chest, and his arms around her waist. He and Misty were facing the railing, and his eyes darted across the room with precision. Everyone who had looked their way, gave a slight tilt of the head, or raised eyebrow was sketched into his brain for further watching.
"How do you like the view?" He asked casually.
Misty replied to him, but he dismissed her words and waited for Alyssa's reply. It was about a full minute before she did, "I-No umm," She cleared her throat, "No facial, umm recognition… Cynthia is lower left of your position-" He followed her instructions, "speaking with two older men by the band- orchestra- thing."
"Great," He then spoke to Misty, "Now Kaitlin, next time… Try and keep your head out of the clouds,"
Misty blushed again, but smiled none the less, "If I can help it-"
He brought his mouth down to her ear and spoke quietly, "You will help it, whatever… Game you were playing there wasted seconds that could have been used for locating those who watched us… Are you drunk?"
She turned her head so that her eyes could see his, and her breath hitched at how close they were. Lips no more than a centimeter apart, "No… No I'm not," she whispered.
He regarded her carefully before nodding, "Let's see if we can find any of our friends," He suggested.
"Cynthia is still by the orchestra, might want to throw on your shades. It is offaly bright in there"
Ash snorted in amusement, and began leading Misty back towards the staircase. He reached into his pocket with his free hand, and turned up the radio while pulling out his own pair of yellow tinted sunglasses.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Flames rushed passed him and into the stanchions, scorching the ground black, and making him sweat terribly.
"Dragonite!" Lance called out, "Get in close range with Thunder Punch!"
The yellow dragon bellowed as it flew towards the Charizard, three clawed hands crackling with electricity.
"Flamethrower!"
"Take it head on!"
Raidens Charizard opened its jaws and unleashed another massive jet of flames towards Dragonite. The Champions Pokemon flew straight into the attacks, flames engulfing it's body as it pushed through.
Dragonite roared, and using one hand, wrapped an arm around Charizards long neck, followed by a horrific display of brutality. The Pseudo drove it's electricity infused fist hard into the Charizards ribcage, lifting the orange dragon off the ground, and then delivered another, and another.
"Thunder!"
Releasing its neck, Dragonite swung one last hard Thunder Punch this time into Charizards snout, sending it to the ground. Before looking into the sky and crying out as a thunder clap sounded and a massive bolt electricity came crashing down from the sky onto the downed Fire Type.
Charizard screeched, the fans in the stand wild with excitement as the challengers Pokemon withered in pain as electricity coursed through its veins.
The attack ceased and Dragonite smacked it's chest with one of its claws before flying back in front of Lance.
The referee stepped forward after a long moment, one hand raised in the air, "Charizard is unable to battle! Will the challenger please call out their next Pokemon!"
Lance watched as Raiden recalled his second Pokemon. The Tyranitar had gone down fairly fast, taking six lightning fast Brick Breaks in rapid succession, a Flamethrower, and then a finishing blow with another Brick Break.
It had managed to land a lucky Mega Punch, but that was about it except for its sandstorm capability. Which did minor damage.
The Charizard had been a step up; they had remained relatively unscathed for the battle. But had taken multiple Flamethrowers from long range.
But once again the win had been fairly easy, a few back and forth between Flamethrowers and Thunders in the sky, when he had ordered a Brick Break while the two had been in mid-flight. With Charizard brought down, he called for Thunder Punch, which strengthened with each blow to the ribs, and then the final Thunder made an easy win.
To easy.
"You're better than I thought Lance, I underestimated you!" Raiden called out wholeheartedly, "I won't make that mistake again!"
What bullshit, Lance thought as Raiden pulled out his third Pokeball.
"Go Garchomp!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Miss Shirona!" Ash exclaimed delightedly coming into Cynthia's view, "My god it's been to long!"
Cynthia, dressed in a long slate colored form fitting dress, eyebrows shot up when she heard him, "Jonathan?" She asked noticing the gleam in his eye, "How did a slacker like you get invited?"
Ash grinned, "Well Lance asked for me to come personally, you know how his battle is today right?"
"Of course, how- Oh please excuse my manners," She glanced to the two older men beside her, "David Clearwater, Arthur Macklemore, this is a long-time friend of Lance and mine, Jonathan Mackenzie. He works with Lance and I on training regimes, our official coach if you will."
Ash stuck his hand out, "It's a pleasure to meet you both," He grinned, "This lovely lady here is my date Kaitlin,"
Misty grinned nervously, and mumbled a hello with a small bow, "A tad nervous she is, first big party and all,"
Cynthia's eyebrow rose, "Not so nervous a few minutes ago on the balcony though I see," Misty blushed tenfold while Ash laughed.
"A little carried away is all; you don't mind if we join you would you? Seeing as how we're at the bottom of the social list here."
"Not at all, Arthur, David and I were just discussing how the League plans to expand in worldwide coverage. They run the distribution of broadcasts, contests, minor leagues, and all things surrounding League viewer ship,"
"Is that so?" Ash asked, "Would you mind me asking, but how one from say… Almia get broadcast coverage? With the Ranger headquarters there, the censorship increased to block all battle networks correct?"
Arthur nodded knowingly, "We've been in talks with the Pokemon Ranger's, Almia as you know is a big center for upcoming Rangers, so the main issue the Region has with battling is that they are afraid that instead of growing up to be a Pokemon Ranger, that children will take to the Trainer path. Which is understandable, and lessen the amount of Ranger's worldwide?"
"Is there a way around this? I ask because my cousin lives in Almia, she absolutely adores battling, but due to the censorship-"
David interrupted politely, "We're in a negotiating phase with the Regional Government, we have plans to air commercials, and programs about becoming a Ranger during League broadcasts, and throw in a few advertisements in say Trainer weekly, or League Digest,"
"Give them publicity, while also expanding networks?"
"Exactly," Arthur finished.
"Excuse me John," Cynthia asked before the conversation progressed.
"Yes?"
"Would it be alright if I could get a word in with you in private?"
Ash nodded enthusiastically, "Of course!" He said goodbye to the two higher ups in the media department and followed Cynthia away from the party.
"Any sign?"
"Alyssa?"
A pause, "It's pretty calm, I transferred some facial data to your HUD while you were speaking to those two guys. Quite a few people were glancing your way,"
"Nothing, but… I know he's here, I just got to scope him ou- The match is tied up, both down to their third Pokemon,"
Cynthia took notice of the ear bud, "How bad is he doing?"
Ashs lips pursed in a thin line, "Raidens Garchomp is a monster… But I don't think it's a Shadow… It took out Lapras and his Dragonite, Lance just called out Aerodactyl."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The prehistoric Pokemon screeched into the air, before glowering down at the land shark Pokemon, "Aero use Ancient Power!" Aerodactyl eyes shone white, and the ground around it churned, rock and dirt coming together in a sphere in front of it.
The ball of rock shot off, a trail of dust behind it towards Garchomp, "Block it and use Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp crossed its fins in front of it, and braced its feet into the ground. The sphere slammed into it, shoving Garchomp back ten feet until it flexed and pushed its arms out disintegrating the attack.
A dark orange light erupted in its chest, opening its jaw to the sky, it unleashed an orb of intense light.
"Grab it and shield yourself!" Lance retaliated.
Flapping its massive hide wings, Aerodactyl tore down the field, towards Garchomp. Raiden called out to dodge, but Aero soared past Garchomp right as the orb burst into dozens of falling meteors, and grasped both of its arms with its taloned wings.
In a move that surprised all but Lance, Aero rolled onto its back, placed its large feet onto Garchomp back and pushed outwards, pressing the struggling Pseudo up towards the falling attack.
"What a turn of events!" The announcer cried, "Aerodactyl is using Garchomp as a meat shield to take the full force of the attack!"
The orange meteors crashed around the field, blowing craters and dust all across the stadium. The spectators howled as they watched Aerodactyl hold furiously onto Garchomp. The land shark, took a falling meteor of its own attack square to the gut, followed by two more in rapid succession, "Bite!"
The massive teeth drove into Garchomps shoulder, who looked as if it was still nailed to a cross. The razor like teeth buried deep into the rough hide, until the taste of blood hit Aero's tongue.
Lance watched with a weird feeling in his gut. His Pokemon battle with natural instincts now more than anything, as if they were wild. Ash had removed the function within a Pokeball that would turn it passive, which let his Pokemon revert to stages of the Pokemon in the Farwinds.
"Garchomp use Incinerate!"
With a screech, Garchomps eyes shone an intense orange. Aero held on, barring its teeth further into its flesh as it heated to insufferable temperature. The screech rose in pitch, before Garchomps body seemed to burst into flames, shooting in all directions like a firework.
Aero cried out as the flames shot into its mouth and all across its body at close range. It let go, and kicked Garchomp away from itself. Before getting to its feet and taking off into the air where it let out a defiant cry.
Garchomp staggered to its feet, blood leaking from its shoulder, body drenched with sweat and dust. "Garchomp?" Raiden called out worriedly, Lance knew that it was fake empathy, "Can you continue?"
Garchomp roared before letting loose a Flamethrower which lit the stadium with an orange hue. Without his order Aero retaliated with its own, meeting the adjoining flame mid-way.
The two attacks fused together in a sphere of flames before flashing white, and exploding in the center of the field creating a thick layer of dust across the field.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
They were getting drinks and eating at the bar instead of their assigned table, Ash felt sorry that Alyssa had to be on the roof in the cold while he and Misty ate down in the warmth of the party.
He wasn't eating all that much though, with him being far more interested in the information that ran across the lenses of his glasses. Pictures of the guests, with a name appeared one after another, he compiled them in his mind. Looking for resemblances, or a certain name to spark his interest.
"So tonight's not all that bad is it?" He asked conversationally to the brunette.
Misty took a sip of her wine, and shook her head, "It's really not like I expected… I thought there'd be a lot more… Well… You know?" And he nodded. "I'm having fun though,"
He smirked, "Especially with our little make out session yeah?" She choked on her salad and he snorted, "Thought so," He paused, "What do you think it looks like from the roof?"
Alyssa's voice, although a little tense came through,"I recommend getting up to the balcony Ash, with everyone sitting you may be able to get a better view of who's who… And I don't think you want to get caught dancing, no better place to put a knife in your back."
Ashs eyebrow arched and he turned his gaze slightly to the roof, "Don't give me that look," He snorted again and Misty regarded him curiously.
"It's nothing," He said simply.
"How's the battle? Is Lance winning?"
"There at a break, his Aerodactyl pulled some stunts and took out the Garchomp, whoever Raiden calls out next will be the first of his strongest,"
After a pause she looked at him with wide eyes, and he nodded, "This is where Lance will need to drop the reigns and give his Pokemon full control. I kind of wish I was there to see it, it'll be a blood bath. From what I heard, he's already drawn first blood."
"Like Arcanine and Houndoom?" His eyebrow rose in confusion, until he blinked in understanding.
"Yes, but in a more… Drastic way. He's shown Raiden that he will do what others are scared to do. That he'll pull a… Ash Ketchum and try to take out the his strongest without mercy."
"Ash seriously, get to the balcony. Dancing begins in five, and you'll want to get a quick look at who's here before the crowds form once again,"
She was right, and he knew it. "Let's head back up to the balcony," He said, "I like the view,"
It was a quick walk, mostly because of his pacing. The night was almost over, an hour and a half remained. And… And he still waited for the business man to show up. It was soon he could feel it, but how soon was the question.
It would only take a second for the person to leave, or do their deal and bail. Hell he was half tempted to draw his gun and loose a shot, get everyone looking in his and Mistys direction…
No… No commotions… Unfortunately, things tend to work better for him when there was mayhem. Which he usually started.
The sunglasses truly a work of genius. From what he understood, his brainwaves activated facial recognize scans, the small teal reticle jumped all across the his lenses. It landed on a person, zoomed in on their faces, and placed their name in the top left corner.
He wished it moved faster though, at an impossible speed. His eyes went left, and to the orchestra who were tuning their instruments… The invitees were clearing the floor of tables now, pushing them off to the side and out of the way.
The reticule danced across Cynthia who was speaking once again to Macklemore and Clearwater, it moved far right, near the entrance where the doorman stood just on the inside, over to the orchestra where-
"Ash, Ash listen to me. Look directly in front of you." Alyssa's voice startled him, her voice shook, but there was an ice which surprised him underling it.
He turned his gaze to the far end of the hall, looking for what- or whoever Alyssa saw. "What am I looking for Aly?" He asked seriously, "What am I supposed to be seeing?"
"I… It's her Ash…" Her who? "I can kill her right now, give me the word Ash. I'll put a bullet right through her fucking skull!"
"WHO IS IT!" He asked loudly, ignoring Mistys worried gaze as he searched desperately for this girl.
"Domino."