"Ahh" Looker said, settling back into his chair. He, Ash, Misty, Serena, and Brock were at the cafe that Ash had seen the day before, sitting at the one of the tables outside. The waitress had just brought them coffee, and Looker was downing his mug faster than Ash thought possible. "So, then, Ash. How did you manage to get tangled up in this mess? What info do you have for me?" Looker asked, gazing at Ash from the rim of his cup. "To be honest, I was just going for a run with some of my pokemon when we ran into them." Ash said, uncomfortable. He didn't want to keep anything from Looker, but there was some information that he just couldn't expose now. "So you just happened upon them? How did that happen?" Looker prompted. "Well, I was running with some of my pokemon when we heard the Dreepy cry out. Gengar lead us to the poachers." Ash replied. "Hmmm. These poachers… have you ever seen their like before?" Looker asked, holding his chin in his hand and staring thoughtfully into the distance. Ash frowned. "What do you mean, 'their like'? I've had run ins with every major pokemon poaching organization in the world." Looker shook his head. "No, no. That's not what I meant. I'm well aware of your escapades, Ash. Including how you just fell off the grid five years ago." Looker replied, shooting him a look. "No, I mean this particular team. We've heard whispers of a new criminal organization acting on the fringes of two or three regions, but we've never had solid proof of their existence up until now. And in less than a day, you, who up until now had been reported missing for the past five years, have managed to capture four of these poachers in the very act just outside of one of the busiest cities in Kanto." Looker said, raising an eyebrow.
Ash shifted in his chair, sitting straight up. "I've already told you everything I know, Looker. As for whether I've run into one of them before, I think I'd remember-" Ash paused, thinking back to the incident on the island. "Well?" Looker asked. "Actually, I may have." Ash said, drawing looks from everyone present. "You've run into them before, Ash?" Brock asked, his arms crossed. "Maybe." Ash responded, stroking the stubble along his jaw. In one swift motion, he grabbed the luxury ball and clicked the button at the center, and seconds later Zoey was standing before the sitting trainers in human form. "Everyone, meet Zoey. She's a zoroark." Ash said. "Zoey, this is detective Looker. He works for the International Police." he said, gesturing at Looker. "Hi there! I'm Zoey." Zoey said, waving. "Do you remember the, uh, guy I had you look into the other day on the island?" Ash asked, hoping Zoey would get the message. Please don't spill everything! He silently prayed. "You mean the guy you ki- uh" she paused when Ash shot her a look, one that did not go unnoticed by those at the table. "The guy who interrupted us. Remember?" Zoey nodded. "Oh yeah, I remember who you're talking about!" Ash sighed. "Do you remember what he was wearing? Was it anything like those poachers we ran into earlier?" Zoey nodded again. "Yup! It was the same uniform, after all!" Looker's face morphed into a serious look, but he didn't interrupt. "And what else do you remember about him?" Ash prodded. "All I was able to get from him was that he was a member of a group that called themselves Team Infinite, and that he wanted to grab any pokemon he could to bring back to his boss." Zoey said. Looker stared off again, deep in thought. "So they're calling themselves Team Infinite, huh? How very creative." he muttered. "Have you encountered these people before, Mr. Looker?" Serena asked. Looker smiled. "Just Looker is fine, miss Yvone." Serena's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and Looker laughed. "Yes, I know who you are. How could I not recognise the reigning Kalos Queen?" he asked. Ash blinked, caught off guard. "Wait a minute, Serena, you're the Kalos Queen?" he asked excitedly. Serena just nodded, a pink blush infusing her cheeks. Unnoticed by all but Brock, Misty turned the color of her hair in obvious jealousy. Serena nodded, unable to look Ash in the face, as flustered as she was. "Yeah, well, I won the position a few years ago, and have held it ever since." Looker cleared his throat. "Not to interrupt such a poignant reunion, but if we could continue?" he asked. Ash nodded, sipping his coffee while it was still hot. "My team will be here soon." Looker said. "Team?" Brock asked. "I thought you worked alone, Looker?" Ash asked. "Once upon a time, yes. But things have changed within the last few years." looker paused. "I believe you know a member of my team, actually." Ash frowned, confused. "Know them? Who?"
"That would be me." Ash and his friends turned to the source of the voice, and Brock and Ash recoiled in their chairs, shocked. Walking up to them were two women. The first Ash didn't know. She appeared to be in her early twenties, wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt with a gold skirt and leggings. She had brown eyes with long, curly black hair. Next to her was a woman Ash DID recognise. Sure, she was wearing regular clothes, a white and blue stripped shirt with gray jeans and sneakers, but Ash would have recognised her purple hair anywhere, tied up as it was in a large bun. "Jupiter!?" Ash and Brock blurted almost simultaneously. "Well hello there. It's been quite a while." Jupiter said, smiling mischievously, coming to a stop behind Looker. Looker sighed, rolling his eyes. "Everyone, this is Emma. She and Melissa" he said, gesturing to Jupiter, "along with myself, form Interpol's Advance Field Team, also known as AFT." The woman Looker identified as Emma smiled and waved. "I'm Emma. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Now that introductions are out of the way" Looker said, turning to Jupiter. "I need the two of you to interrogate Celosia. Get whatever you can from her about this 'Team Infinite'." Jupiter cracked her knuckles. "Anything else we need to know?" She asked, smiling evilly. "She was leading a team in the capture of two Dreepy early this morning. Ash and his friends interfered." Looker replied. Jupiter just rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes. Champion-boy and his friends are very heroic, we know this. IS there any relevant information?" Looker shot her a look as Ash sputtered, trying to recover from her insult. "If you would let me finish, I was going to tell you that you should interview her lackeys as well. Make them think she gave them up for a deal. Emma, help her out. Use the suit if you need to." Jupiter and Emma nodded, turning around and starting to walk away. Looker rose, taking out a pack of cigarettes and placing one between his lips. "You kids stop by the station later. We'll discuss what we learn from those Team Infinite goons. I have a feeling you might run into them in your travels, and I would far rather work with you than keep you in the dark." he said, turning and following after his partners.
No one spoke for a few moments before Misty broke the silence. "What are you going to do, Ash?" Everyone turned to look at Ash, and he found himself starring down at the empty mug on the table in front of him. "I'm going to rechallenge the Leagues." he replied, not looking away from the mug. "Why?" Serena asked, leaning forward intently. "I want to live up to the title 'Pokemon Master'. I want to beat Cynthia and gain the title of world champion, but I also want to feel that I've earned it." he replied steadily. He didn't want to lie to his friends, but he wasn't sure either Misty or Serena would believe that Arceus of all beings had set him on this path. "That's it?" Misty asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Not- not exactly." Ash replied, looking away. "I'll explain the rest later." he said, hoping to end the conversation once and for all.
"Well I'm coming with you." Serena said, drawing shocked looks from everyone at the table. Misty steamed, turning red, while Ash gaped and Brock merely raised an eyebrow. "I'm coming, too!" Misty said after she recovered, breaking the silence. "I… I don't mind, but why? And how?" Ash said, turning to the girls. "Don't you both have too many responsibilities for that?" he inquired. Misty shrugged. "My sisters can take over for me, at least for a while." she replied. "I would have to talk to my manager, but the next set of events that I have to attend don't take place for at least six months. It shouldn't be too much of a problem." Serena said. Ash groaned internally. Great. Now I have to deal with more of whatever that was last night! He caught Brock smirk, and he put on a smile, though he was crying inside. "Alright then. I plan on leaving after meeting with Looker at the police station, so lets grab our stuff and get packed. It'll be a long trek to Saffron." he said, getting up and reaching for his wallet. "I actually rented a car for the next month or so." Serena said, rising as well. It seats six, so there should be plenty of room for everyone's luggage as well." Brock smiled. "That's perfect. We've been staying at the pokemon center. We'll grab our stuff and meet the two of you at the station." he said as they paid.
Not an hour later Ash and Brock were walking to the police station. Ash was apprehensive. The last thing we need is to get involved with another criminal organization! He thought to himself. Meanwhile Brock was thinking about the night before. I'll bet he doesn't even know what that was all about last night. He said, looking at Ash only to find him lost in his own thoughts. Brock shook his head, smiling . Oh yes, this was going to be very entertaining.
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"You should tell me what you know. You're already looking at twenty to life, Celosia." Jupiter said, leaning forward with her hands on the desk. Officer Jenny, Ash, Looker, and Brock were watching from behind the one way glass. Jenny was taking notes while Looker watched the interrogation take place. Meanwhile it took all of Ash's energy to keep Brock from asking Jenny to marry him. "Don't make me laugh, Commander Jupiter." She laughed at Jupiter's reaction. "Oh yes, I've heard of you. One of the leading members of Team Galactic. You turned tail and left after your precious Cyrus vanished into the Distortion World. Then you struck a deal with the feds, even married the agent that cornered you!" Celosia spat, disgusted. Jupiter merely put on her trademark smirk in return. "What can I say? He's quite the looker, after all!" Ash, Brock, and Jenny all turned to look at Looker, who merely groaned in exasperation.
Meanwhile, Emma was dealing with one of the Team Infinite Grunts disguised as Essentia, mask and all. Serena, Misty, and Officer Dalton watched from behind the glass. "You don't have many options." Emma said, her mechanical voice sending a shiver down all the onlooker's spines. It was cold and mechanized, the total opposite of Emma's caring and warm voice. Plus, her get up was black, stylized with a gold 'E' on her helmet. And apparently it was working, as the grunt shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Your boss already sold you out." Essentia said. The grunt sputtered, jumping out the chair and laying their hands palm down on the desk. "That's impossible! The commander would never… never do something like that!" he shouted, hesitantly. "Oh? Then what is this?" Essentia said, bringing out a tablet and showing the grunt what was going on in the other interrogation room. The sound was off, but he could clearly see Celosia smiling, gesturing with her hands and saying something to Jupiter. The grunt's eyes widened until they looked like matching dinner plates. "Oh well. I guess Celosia will be getting off with a deal." Essentia said, putting the tablet back in her bag. "How does twenty years sound to you?" The grunt visibly panicked, stuttering and stammering. "Oh well" Essentia said, turning to walk out the door. "WAIT! Wait wait wait!" the grunt shouted, trying to wave hit still cuffed hands. "Okay, I'll tell you whatever you want to know! But I want to walk free." he stated confidently. "We'll see about that. For now, tell me what you know" Essentia replied coolly.
…..
"We are not here to talk about me. We're here to talk about you." Jupiter said, pacing the room. Celosia scowled, crossing her still cuffed arms and leaning back in her chair. "You can ask as many times as you want. I won't give you anything." She replied coolly. "Is that so?" Jupiter replied, one brow raised high. "Well then it's a good thing I don't need to, isn't it?" she asked. Celosia frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly. Jupiter grinned widely. She stopped pacing, and turning, said "Your fellows have already told us everything we need to know. That, along with witness testimony, should be more than enough to build a case against you and open a formal investigation into your 'Team Infinite'." Celosia's scowl deepened. "That's impossible!" she protested. Jupiter smiled. "To the contrary, Celosia. I have a full confession on record by-" FRABOOM! The whole building shook, and alarms blared to life. Ash, Looker, Jenny, and Brock turned in sync as the door to the interrogation room burst open and a police officer burst inside. "Ma'am, someone has blown a hole in the roof! We're under attack!" Jenny nodded, her eyes hardening. "Secure the suspects. I want all available officers to stop the intruders. We can't let them get to Celosia!" The officer saluted before running out the door speaking into his walkie. Looker hit a button, and his voice projected into the section of the room containing Jupiter and Celosia. "Jupiter, interrogation's over. I need your help." Still smiling, Jupiter joined the others behind the one way glass. "Good." Looker nodded. "We need to keep these intruders from freeing Celosia. Jupiter, I want you to stay here and guard the room. Ash, Brock. Can you assist us in repelling these invaders?" he asked, turning to look at the two directly. Ash and Brock shared a glance before nodding to each other. "Consider it done, Looker." Brock said. He turned to leave the room with Ash on his heels when Jenny spoke up. "One of you should probably take the north eastern stairway. The elevators will be off, and from what Officer Mallone said, the explosion likely blocked the northwestern stairway." she cautioned. Nodding, Brock turned back around. "Ash, get to Misty and Serena. I'll handle the cut off." Ash nodded, though Brock likely didn't see it, and took off, running down the hallways towards where Misty and Serena were. As he ran he passed police officers and the intruders, who were dressed mostly the same as the Team Infinite grunts, locked in battle. He desperately wanted to stay and help, but the destruction got worse the farther he went, and his instincts screamed that the real fight was up ahead. After ten minutes of running he rounded a corner only to be met by the sight of an intense battle playing out between Misty, Serena, Essentia, and two men. The first was dressed in the standard Team Infinite uniform, the only noticeable difference being the sunglasses he wore. The second man had short, slicked back blonde hair, with a single blue lock spiraling around his head. Dressed in black pants and a lab coat, and with his ever present glasses and electronic tablet, was Colress. His Mienshao and the other man's Magnezone were fighting Misty's Staryu and Serena's Delphox, along with what he assumed was Essentia's Meowstic. The magnezone was using it's bulk, as well as well timed screens, to repel any and all attacks, while the mienshao was using the magnezone for cover, darting out from behind it's partner to quickly strike at it's opponents and then rushing back to cover.
"We need to get rid of that Magnezone! Mimi, hold it still with Psychic!" Essentia called. The female meowstic glowed with a pink outline, and suddenly the magnezone, which had been zipping from one spot to another, was similarly outlined. It froze, seemingly unable to move. "Now, Delphox! Use flamethrower!" Serena commanded. Delphox leapt into action, darting into range and raising her wand-like branch. She pointed it at the magnezone, firing off a blast of flames right at the steel type. A form leapt over the magnezone, somehow blocking the flames and rushing towards Delphox. It struck out, and the branch in Delphox's hand went flying. Ash knew he had to intervene, so, still running, he grabbed for the ball on his belt and flipped it overhead. "Help them out, Sceptile! Greninja, help Sceptile! Lucario, deal with that Magnezone!" Three separate red lines flashed to life, and before he knew it Sceptile, Greninja, and Lucario were all running in front of him and beside him respectively. Sceptile dashed into the fray, the leafs on his arms glowing bright green. Greninja followed a hair's breadth away with black, glowing blades in each hand. Lucario had summoned his own glowing bone shaped staff, and he leapt towards Magnezone, swinging and redirecting it's electric attacks. Greninja caught Delphox as she fell, while Sceptile kept his opponent busy. Ash realized with a start that the pokemon was a Meinshao. That explains it then. It must have used knock off. Ash thought absently, running over to Misty and Serena. "Where's the grunt?" he shouted. Misty shook her head, while Serena just looked angry. "Dead." Essentia answered. She pointed over to a limp body at the corner of the room. Ash noted a single dart sticking out of his neck. "And them?" he asked, gesturing to their opponents. Essentia shook her head. "We need to detain them." Ash nodded. "Leave this to us. Looker is going to need your help." he said, gesturing with his head to the gaping hole in what had been the wall to the interrogation room. Essentia retracted Mimi and darted through the hole. Guess she didn't need much convincing. Ash smiled for a moment before shaking his head. Need to focus. "Misty, Serena! We need to surround them. Run interference!" he shouted. Neither girl turned to face him, but he thought he saw a nod from both of them.
"Alright! Greninja, help Sceptile corner that mienshao. Lucario, keep Magnezone busy!" All three pokemon cried their affirmations, engaging their respective opponents. Before Lucario got in close enough to stop it Magnezone fired off a beam of crackling electricity at Greninja. Sceptile leapt in front of Grninja, absorbing the blow and allowing Greninja to continue it's dogged pursuit of the mienshao. Lucario rushed forward, swinging it's bone staff overhead, but a light screen flared to life, stopping the blow just before it struck the electric type. Lucario struggled against the screen, while Magnezone pressed inward, it's lone eye level with Lucario's two. On the other side of the room, Sceptile and Greninja were swiftly chasing their opponent's mienshao, which was staying just past their reach at all times. Sceptile was leaping from one wall to the next in an attempt to keep up, clinging to the sheer surfaces effortlessly, while Greninja was swiftly running behind their foe. "Ethos! You swore your magnezone's defensive capabilities were up to par!" Colress shouted. The man with the sunglasses shook his head, muttering a string of curses. "And you said that pathetic fighting type of yours would keep them off it! Do your job, Colress!" So his name is Ethos, then. We need to contain them until help arrives. Once more grabbing the luxury ball, he discreetly pressed the button in the middle. "Gengar, I need you to incapacitate them. Use hypnosis on the trainers" he whispered. There was a red flash, but Gengar never appeared. It may have been his imagination, Ash could have swore he saw a pair of laughing eyes vanish into his shadow. A cry broke him out of his thoughts, and he turned to find Misty's Starmie getting fried by Ethos's magnezone. Lightning streamed from the steal type, and based on it's trajectory Ash surmised that the blast would have hit Lucario, who was down on one knee, square in the chest. "Starmie!" Misty shouted, rushing forward to catch the pokemon as it fell to the ground. The magnezone turned it's lone eye to Misty, the magnets at it's side sparking. Ash's eyes widened as he realized what the pokemon intended. "Misty, GET OUT OF THERE!" He screamed frantically. The tomboy turned just in time to find Magnezone bearing down on her, it's whole body buzzing with electricity. "Zurrrzrururur!" it cried, almost as if it were laughing maniacally, as lightning streamed forth from it's body. Ash and Misty both shut their eyes tight, neither willing to watch. There was a bright flash, and when Ash opened his eyes he found that Lucario had jumped in between Misty and Magnezone. He stood in front of Misty with his bone staff firmly planed in the ground. The electricity made contact with the top of the staff and seamed to travel downward, dissipating into the tiled ground. After what felt like an eternity, Magnezone cut off the stream, appearing surprised by this turn of events.
Meanwhile, a shadow was condensing behind Colress. As everyone was busy with the fight, no one noticed as Gengar took form, laughing soundlessly the whole time. It eyed it's target with disdain, before firing off a hypnosis at the man a few feet away from Colress. Ethos fell like a sack of bricks, and Colress turned with a startled cry. Just as Gengar was preparing to deal with the man in the lab coat, another explosion rocked the building. The wall behind them collapsed, and Gengar vanished in order to avoid the debris. Ash, Misty, Serena, Colress, and all their pokemon swayed, and many fell over. Ash leapt forward, catching Serena as she fell backward, before glancing over to make sure Misty was okay. After ensuring that she was, he turned to the sight of the explosion, finding a cloud of dust obscuring any sign of what lied beyond. After a few tense seconds, wherein Serena passed out and Misty quickly scurried over to where her friends sat, the dust cleared, and Ash saw a helicopter just outside the two story building. A pair of ropes dropped down from the hovering craft, and Colress was all too quick to grab onto one of them. "Meinshao, grab Ethos and Magnezone's pokeball! We're leaving!" The swift fighting type grabbed onto the other man, dragging him over to where Colress stood beneath the ropes. "Stop them!" someone shouted. Ash's pokemon rushed forward, but a blast of thunder struck from the sky beyond the roof, carving a line in front of the four of them. Colress tied the rope around the limp form of his companion, and they rose through the air as the helicopter flew away. Laughing mechanically, Magnezone followed them through the hole, floating away. "Don't let them get away, Dragonite!" Ash and Misty turned as a Dragonite flew through the whole in pursuit, only to find the Champion of Kanto, the Dragon Master Lance, standing behind them. "Lance?" Ash asked, bewildered. "Later. We need to get to the other room!" the dragon master said, cutting him off. The quartet turned, running along with their pokemon down the many hallways leading further into the building. As they ran Ash noticed that many of the battles had come to a close, and a new group of people were helping the police detain those that had not yet fled. As they turned the last corner they came upon an odd scene. The door to the room was hanging off it's frame, clearly blown outward. Looker, Jenny, and Essentia were slumped against the wall, unconscious, while Jupiter and her skuntank were standing between the three of them and a familiar trainer. Said trainer was dressed similarly to Celosia, and a toxicroak stood threateningly in front of him, poised to lash out at any provocation.
"I'm disappointed, Jupiter. You used to be rather formidable. But then, that was before you threw your lot in with the feds." He spat, scowling. "Stop right there!" Lance shouted, rounding the corner just behind Ash. The blue haired man turned, his gaze settling on the Kanto Champion. "Ahh, the Champion. Of course you came." his gaze flitted to the rest of the group, and horror, shock, and revulsion spawned to life upon his face in quick succession when he noticed Ash. "YOU!?" he screamed, stepping forward. Ash's pokemon took on guard stances in protection of their trainer. Ash had to wrack his brain. Why does she look so familiar? Or is it a he? He thought idly. Then it clicked. "Saturn." he said plainly, trying to keep his voice level. "That's right. Thanks to you and your friends, Master Cyrus was swallowed up by that abomination." he said, recalling his toxicroak. "You will not stop us this time." Saturn said, grabbing hold of a rope behind him. All the pokemon in the room, as well as Ash and Lance, surged forward, but before they made it a yard smoke rose from the ground, obscuring everything. When the smoke cleared, Saturn was gone, the only sign that he had been there the gaping hole in the wall.
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"You are a hard man to find, Ash." Lance said. It had been nearly two hours since Celosia escaped with Saturn's help. The Gmen had finished rounding up the Team Infinite stragglers, and Ash and co. were sitting around a large table in the Cerulean Police Station conference room with Lance and the ATF. Emma and Looker were nursing concussions, while Jupiter had a bloodied bandage around her shoulder. "While I still want to talk to you, we need to compare notes about this Team Infinite first." So for the better part of an hour they went around the table recounting their experiences during the brawl while Officer Jenny and Mallone took notes. "Hmm. You're positive it was both Celosia and Saturn? And Colress, as well?" he asked Ash and co, stroking his chin. Ash nodded. "I'm positive. I would recognize Colress anywhere after what he did to Pikachu." Pikachu let out a "chu!" nuzzling Ash's cheek from where he sat on his right shoulder. Those seated around the table did not miss the murderous look that flashed across Ash's eyes. Lance continued, "and Saturn?" This time it was Jupiter who answered him. "I'm positive. Saturn and I, we… we worked together while under Cyrus. It wasn't often, but it did occur on occasion." she said, appearing altogether uncomfortable. Lance nodded. "I see. Officer Jenny, please contact every major police station across both Kanto and Johto. Get the word out that anyone dressed in the Team Infinite uniform is to be apprehended on sight, and held without bail until trial. The last thing we need is another incident like Team Rocket." he said, staring at the table before him. "Of course." Officer Jenny said, slightly bowing her head in response, before motioning to Officer Malone. The two of them rose from their chairs and exited the room. Lance looked back up at Ash. "And what do you plan on doing Ash? Where have you been? Why return now?" he inquired evenly, cape swaying as he shifted in his seat. Everyone looked over at Ash. "I… no, we" he said, gesturing to Pikachu, "are going to retake the gym challenges. All of them. And when we're done, we'll take the rank of World Champion." he said, hands clenched in determination. Pikachu cried out his agreement, punctuating Ash's statement. Lance's eyebrows raised, and he sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "And the rest of you?" he said, looking at Brock, Misty, and Serena in turn. The three of them looked at each other before nodding subtly. "I can't exactly speak for everyone here, but I'll be with Ash every step of the way!" Misty answered confidently. Ash and Lance reacted with shocked expressions, while Looker, Emma, and Jupiter watched the exchange with humor. "The whole way? And what about your gyms?" Lance inquired. "My brother is more than capable of managing the gym in my absence." Brock said. Misty nodded. "My sisters will handle any challengers while I am gone." she said. Lance stood, pushing back his chair as he did so. "Very well then. Come see me before you leave, Ash. We have much to discuss."
Hey guys! Miss me? I just finished SV, so I figured I'd drop this xl chapter for the hellofit. This story will still be mostly on hiatus, but if I find the time I may drop another chapter. It's doubtful that I'll be able to do so before Christmas. Oh well. SV is fun, but sooooo janky it's almost painful somethimes. My favorite mon from these gen is 100% Lokix. What about ya'll?