C. Cowboy: Well, ff.net's back in business and so am I! Anyway, for a quick recap, Misty, Gary, and officer Jenny have caught up with Team Rocket, and have found the Elite Four on the ground dead and Team Rocket with a new hero. It's gonna start getting even worse from here on in though, you've been warned.
CHAPTER 19: Fall Of Kento
"A-Ash?" Misty asked not wanting to believe her eyes. Ash just dropped his head in shame as Crystal and Amanda giggled at the sight. "How could you defeat them? They were the best of the best!" Gary asked looking at the bodies of Kento's greatest heroes. "Oh, I didn't," Giovanni laughed cutting his eyes at Ash, "And Crystal nor Amanda did it ether!" Misty stared at him and then it hit her what he was saying, "Ash, please… tell me he's not saying what I think he's saying." Misty asked as she looked at Ash with pleading eyes, Ash just looked sadly into her eyes, and looked away when he saw tears forming in her eyes.
"It was my son, Adrian, who murdered them with his extremely well trained Charizard, and he seem to enjoy it, too!" Giovanni said with an evil smile on his face. Misty let a tear slide down her face, making Ash's heart shatter. "Alright men, take them outside and let them go, just like my son and I agreed." Then a group of guards took Misty, Gary and the others and drug them toward the door. Misty tried to fight free, "ASH, WAIT, NO PLEASE ASH, PLEASE LET ME JUST TALK TO YOU, PLEASE…" Misty yelled as Ash silently watched them drag her away.
After they disappeared outside the door, Giovanni looked down at Ash, "I let her live. If you continue to do as you are told, no rocket will touch her in any way." Ash narrowed his eyes at him but just dropped his head. He then felt someone snuggle to his side, "Don't be sad, Ashwy, just forget about that stupid carrot top! You've still got me! It'll be just like old times!" Crystal said making Ash feel sick. "Remember Ash, as long as you keep us happy, your little girlfriend can keep breathing!" Amanda added with a hateful tone. Ash looked up to his father and saw that he only laughed. Ash then looked down at his feet and thought, 'Alright, Ketchum, how are you going to get out of this one.'
The guards threw them out the front door of the stadium. Officer Jenny, Gary, and Jenny's assistant all set where they landed, but Misty jumped as soon as she landed and began to beat on the door of the stadium, "ASH, OPEN UP!! YOU JUST CAN'T LET IT END LIKE THIS, ASH! PLEASE, ASH…please…" Misty said now merely leaning against the door crying.
"Come on, it's dangerous to stay out in the open like this! Lets get back to the others at the pokemon center." Gary said trying to calm Misty down. Misty looked at him then back at the door, and then finally nodded in agreement and they all walked silently back to the center.
When they got back they told Brock and Melody what has taken place. Before they could talk too much about it, a news special report came on the television.
Attention this is a special report, live from the capital
of Kento, Indigo City!
Kento has been overtaken by a group of revolutionaries
calling themselves The Red Empire, they are being led by Pokemon Master
Giovanni 'Red' Ketchum and his son, Pokemon Master Ash Ketchum. They have
forcefully taken control over the country with out any opposition and have
defeated and killed the Elite Four. Now we have an announcement by Master Red
Ketchum,
Giovanni then appeared on the screen, "Attention, good people of Kento, I would like to announce that I will now be in complete control over this country. Anyone who challenged my rule will have to face my Hands Of Fate: My son, Adrian, better known as Pokemon Master Ash Ketchum, and his future bride, Crystal Page…"
That last part about Crystal made Misty's heart stop, "f-future…b-b-bride?" She jumped from her seat and ran up the stairs to her room and locked the door behind her. She dove into her pillow and began to cry her heart out, when that strange voice returned, Misty, you must stay strong… Misty rose from her bed and looked around, "W-Who's t-there?" Misty asked frightened, you must be strong, for not only your sake, but for his sake as well. Be warned, it has only just begun.
Ash set silently in his room as the words his father had
said repeated in his mind. His door slide open as Giovanni walked in, "I
presume you are wondering about my speech earlier today, well, you and Crystal
always did make a cute couple when you were kids, and I have thought of Crystal
as a daughter for the past few years now, so I thought why not betroth you two.
Sure you're both only fifteen, but I run the country now so I decide the legal
age of marriage. I think I'll push it back to sixteen, by then, the Red Empire
will be at it's mightiest, and your wedding will mark its one year
anniversary!" Ash felt like he was going to be sick when he heard a voice in
the back of his mind, Stay strong, Master, 'Lugia?' Ash thought as he
listened to the guardian, you must stay strong; the Time Of Destiny is here
at last!
C. Cowboy: well, Ash's day just keeps getting better every minute doesn't it? Giovanni now controls Kento; Ash is now engaged to Crystal, what else can go wrong? What is Lugia talking about? What is going to happen during the 'Time of Destiny'? and more importantly: who will survive to see it?