[Cues: J Dilla – Let's Grow]

The Outsider's Insurrection

Indigo Iliad

Chapter 106: Dawn of the Phantom Ruby

Translated Pokémon Speech

Pokédex Entries/Computerized Voices/Flashbacks

Reference to an Accessory in the Games

-o-

(Mt. Ember, One Island | June 8th | 11:00 a.m.)

The trio had made landfall into the mountain before returning their fliers. Crimson decided to make several swaps on his current team. Rhint, Tessa, Marquesha, and Jett were sent off to the house on Outlaw Island for Atlas, Capone, Galena, and Sub-Zero to come back to the active party. He sent out Capone to walk this.

"Welcome back to the front lines." Crimson said.

"About time. Hopefully there's someone who face needs to look like their ass." Capone sniped.

"I'd suggest having a Pokémon out. I sense Rockets." Crimson said cracking his knuckles as Capone jumped up on his shoulder. "Follow me."

Ash and Heather followed along to see Crimson clearly knew where he was heading. It was there they saw several members of Team Rocket. Among them was a young man who is very short in stature, his height and body proportions being similar to that of a small child. He has large eyes with black pupils and short, spiky yellow-gold hair. He wears a collared, loose fitting gray jacket with black cuffs and a black zip, with a logo of Team Rocket etched onto his left part of his chest, a dark belt around his waist, loose fitting gray trousers, black boots, and a black beret. Crimson recognized him as Carr of the Three Beasts.

"You have your orders. Seek out the Phantom Ruby…once you've done so, return to Four Island. With the Phantom Ruby, our operation on capturing those Lapras will a slam dunk." Carr said before leaving on the Skarmory.

"That short bastard is a dead man." Heather snarled looking completely furious.

Crimson could relate as Pikachu crackled with electricity ready to fight.

"We jumping them?" Ash asked to Crimson's surprised.

"I'm proud of you for asking them, and yes, we're jumping their asses!" Crimson said.

All three sprang out of hiding to confront the three grunts standing front of the path to the Phantom Ruby.

"Well, well. Seems you all clearly can't read, Team Rocket's dead. Kanto and Sevii belong to the Black Dragons." Crimson said as Capone hissed.

"Fuck you, you might be the Champion, but that isn't make you invincible!" The grunt said sending out a Marowak. "We can take you."

"Can you though? Your Marowak is on Level 35. But oh well, your funeral." Crimson said having Capone jump in for the fight.

The other two grunts sent out a Raticate and a Sandslash.

"Broot, you're up." Heather said sending out her Venusaur.

"Flexor, I choose you!" Ash said sending out his Hitmonlee.

It…was not fair fight. Capone froze Marowak solid with Ice Beam, Flexor got Sandslash with a Sucker Punch, and Broot used Giga Drain to make Raticate into a snack. Also did not help that at this point, Team Rocket consistent use of the same lines of Pokémon…made them predictable. The three grunts stood shocked…their Pokémon hastily defeated.

"Move." Crimson said.

"Fuck you. I'd like to see you make u-"

Capone had enough and electrocuted that grunt.

"I'm going to stay this one more time. Get out of my way." Crimson said as the other two grunt wisely bolted dragging their fallen friend.

With the way clear, the party entered the cave with Crimson getting out the Dowsing Machine. The 'Ruby Path' was a hot one which steam wafting around. He noticed a few Slugma and Magcargo moving about and was careful to give them plenty of room. They were all pretty glad that raising Fire Pokémon had upped their heat resistance. They went down the path's few floors before coming across the fourth floor which has all white stone. There were even Braille inscriptions much to Heather and Ash's confusion.

"Bulma, can you translate?" Crimson asked.

"It says 'Everything has meaning. Existence has meaning. Being alive has meaning. Have dreams, Use power.'" Dex Bulma said to bewilderment of Heather and Ash.

"I don't really get it." Ash admitted.

"There's supposed to a sister location to this. It's actually where Kassai Academy is. That one says, "Let the two glittering stones, one in red…one in blue, connect the past. Two friends sharing power open a window to a new world that glows. The next world waits for you." Crimson says stoically. "I believe it refers to the bonds people make with each other and the power that it holds."

The machine blipped pointing to the way down.

"Gotcha." Crimson said as the four went down.

[Cues: Sonic Battle OST – Emerl's Theme]

There was the Phantom Ruby, glittering on a pillar. Crimson took it up and his eyes widened for a brief moment. What would appear to be a split second would be far long for Crimson. He saw it…a run though of regions beyond what he knew of. Seasons he had not had sense. Manga he had not read. Games he never played in full.

"Wha-"

The Phantom Ruby glowed brightly, lighting the room red before letting out a blinding light before fading to normal.

"What the hell just happened?" Ash asked.

"I saw things yet to happen….and things of a past life, long made into dust." Crimson said before pocketing it.

"Yeah, I'm going to need you to hand that thing over." A grunt said revealing himself.

[Music Ends]

"We were having a moment!" Pikachu screamed before electrocuting the poor grunt.

The grunt screamed clutching his heart only to suddenly explode from the grenades he was carrying. Crimson dusted himself off looking rather annoyed.

"Capone, you alright?" Crimson asked.

"Mostly. I think I got a rock up my butt." Capone said before taking a breath to force it out. "Never mind, got it out…but I want to go back in the ball for a bit."

He was returned as Crimson helped Heather up to her feet as she had a few small cuts from debris.

"Thanks." Heather said as Ash and Pikachu looked horrified by what they did. "Not really your fault there."

Crimson looked at the mess to see melted grenade pins and pointed them out to Ash, which calmed the trainer and his electric mouse down a bit. Ash clutched his sides having gotten marred by debris.

"What dumbass carries explosives in a hot cave full of fire Pokémon?" Crimson asked in disbelief.

"Well, the dumbass blew up the way back up." Heather scowled.

"Not a problem. I have Mayla. She can teleport us back to the Pokémon Center." Ash said sending his Gardevoir out. "Mayla, get us out of here."

"As you wish, Ash."

Mayla glowed bright pink before all of them vanished from the room and finding themselves in front of the Pokémon Network Center.

"Thank you for that." Crimson said before they went inside. "Celio! I…yo, what's wrong?"

"Team Rocket. That's what wrong. An officer just caught a few of the now…and spilled some information in exchange for being exiled back to the mainland. Looks like they're planning something with the ruby and sapphire I'm tasking you with." Celio said as he was given the Phantom Ruby.

"It's more than that. These things got power…power Team Rocket doesn't need." Crimson said shaking a bit.

"It might be an issue. The Solid Sapphire was stolen from Kassai Institute. It wasn't by a Rocket…but they're led to believe he's seeking them out to sell it to him." Celio said as Crimson looked far colder. "What's your plan?"

"I know where that scientist is going, but first, we're going to Four Island." Crimson said as Heather and Ash. "Later Celio. Hang on to that ruby."

Celio got it locked into the machine as Crimson, Heather, and Ash got on the ferry. As it took off, Crimson's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"It's Roulette. We got a situation back in Kanto." Roulette said. "One really bizarre."

"What about you mean?" Crimson asked.

"Remember Butch?" Roulette said. "Well…some red light flashed over him…and he's back to being human again."

Crimson went quiet for a moment.

"The Phantom Ruby…" Crimson said to her confusion. "It seems I inadvertently activated its power. In doing so, it seems the universe retroactively 'corrected' itself by restoring Butch back to life. Trust me, it's as weird as it's sounds. What's his status? He going to be a problem?"

"Far from it, I came down to deal with the matter. I made an offer that he gladly accepted. I also had to pay off the Channelers at the tower considering Butch literally tore out of his grave like a zombie." Roulette said. "As for Butch, he's taken our offer and is flying out of Kanto with his Pokémon as we speak."

"Good riddance." Crimson said.

"Oh and Cassidy wishes to speak with you when you're all done with business in Sevii." Roulette said before her voice went serious. "Speaking of Sevii, be careful. The Team Rocket cell in the area is supposedly the most dangerous…a pile of cornered rats."

(A/N: Yes, me calling the Phantom Ruby was on purpose. For those serious, the PR triggered the latent 'warper' energy within Crimson (that got him to the world of Pokémon in the first place) which allowed him to be 'caught up' with Pokémon as it is currently while also subtly affecting the world of Pokémon as a whole. Also the names of the two jewels are a reference to what Pokémon they are linked to in the Pokémon Adventures manga. But now we get more time for Heather to shine.)