"Goodness, Ash!" Misty berated me. "You really know how to make a scene; everyone is going mad trying to figure out what happened in Jubilife City."
"No joke," May added. "All the news channels seem to be talking about Hunter J's capture and the mysterious Ace Ranger Ash Ketchum that came out of nowhere."
"You even made the news in Hoenn," commented Max.
Right now, I was in a conference call with Misty, May, Max, Brock and Gary, while waiting for Champion Cynthia, Elite Four Lucian, and the Head Ranger of Jubilife City to get to the Pokemon Center. So, we could all discuss the best course of action to take during the Press Conference later today.
"Do they really expect a mere contest to be enough of a distraction from the fact that Hunter J had finally been captured?" Gary scoffed.
Not that I could deny his words. From what Josh and Sarah had told me, the League and the Ranger Commission had arranged the Press Conference to be one day earlier to the Jubilife Contest to take people's mind off the issue.
While it might, and I stress the word might have worked in Sinnoh. The news has reached all the Regions in this continent, even reaching some places in Kalos- from what Gary had told me.
It had become too much for a single contest to cover up.
"That was the plan," I sighed. Ignoring Charizard's snigger. "But I believe that now they understand it won't be so simple."
"How did they even get ahold of the story?" Brock asked, suspiciously. "It wasn't as if you had had the time to plan the attack and, in return, for the information to leak. It was all a last-minute operation."
"No one knows," I answered. "They told me to leave it to them and to focus on recovering. Honestly, I don't care at the moment. I'm too tired to try and hunt them down." I sighed. "I'll let them do it for me."
They all looked at me concerned, even Gary!
"Good thinking, Ashy-boy. Taking off the arm sling when talking to Gramps and your mom." He said, changing the topic of conversation for me. "They would have lost their minds if they had found out that you fell from an airship and dislocated your shoulder."
"I had to," I defended myself. "Otherwise, they would have hounded me down."
"The same way the news crew is doing?" May asked, with a teasing smile.
"Don't remind me," I moaned. This time I did glare at the sniggering pokemon on Charizard's infirmary bed. I only stopped when I heard a knock coming from the door, Pikachu rapidly came to my side. "Yes, come in!" I called out.
"Ace Ranger Ketchum," Nurse Joy said sweetly, as he opened the door. "Champion Cynthia, Elite Four Lucian, and Head Ranger Violet have arrived. They are waiting for you in the business room."
Yes, Pokemon Centers have business rooms. Who would have thought? Not me! I exclaimed in my head.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy," I replied. "I'm coming." With that she exited the room, waiting for me outside when I turned back to my friends on the screen. "It seems like I have to go."
"Try not to get involved in any more trouble," Misty scolded me.
"This is Ashy-boy we are talking about, he is the trouble magnet," commented Gary.
"I'm glad you all came out mostly unharmed," Brock told me.
"Bye Ash, I'll consider your offer," Max said.
"If anything happens, call us. Ok? We'll be there to help." May assured me.
"I will," I replied. "Bye, guys!"
"Bye, Ash!" They answered, and then the screen went black.
"Quilava keeps an eye on Charizard," I told her, before returning the rest of the pokemon, only leaving Jolteon, Honedge, and Pikachu out. "The rest, follow me."
As we exited the room and walked towards the business room, I started to see what the rest of my journey will be like. Every staff member's eyes were on me. Even Nurse joy seemed to be turning to look back at me from time to time. I hated it, and I was suddenly angry at the person who leaked the information about the mission. But I also knew that there was nothing I could do. If anything, this served as good training in case I win the Sinnoh Conference or if I became a Frontier Brain. I might not like this kind of attention, but those positions are quite media catching.
"Ace Ranger Ash," Champion Cynthia greeted me with a smile as soon as I entered the room. All three very powerful people sat surrounding the small circular table, there was only one empty chair between Elite Four Lucian and Head Ranger Violet. They all had stood up when I entered the room. "It's wonderful to finally meet you. After all the stories from Lance and Steven, I've always wanted to mee you."
Another thing I had to get used to. Champions wanted to meet me on daily basis. I even received worried calls from the male champions and the Kanto Elite Four.
"It's an honor, Champion Cynthia. Please call me Ash," I silently begged her.
"Then call me, Cynthia." She laughed, making me relax a little bit.
"Thank you for your service," Head Ranger Violet said offering me a smile. "Call me, Violet."
"I'm Lucian and it's nice to meet the hero that finally captured Hunter J." The Elite Four member presented himself.
"A pleasure to meet all of you," I told them, shaking their hands with my unhurt arm. "So... how will this work?" I finally asked once we all took a seat.
This was my first Press Conference, and I had no idea how to deal with all of this.
"Well, we will first decide what should not be mentioned," Lucian answered me warmly.
I was stunned for a second, I was not expecting that much warmth from a psychic specialist. Thankfully, my shock prevented me from blushing.
He was just so hot! Dammit! I hate hormones. I complained in my head.
"The anonymous tip shall stay anonymous," Violet stated. I sent her a grateful look, which she returned with a kind smile. "It's the least we owe them for their service to the Sinnoh League. Not to mention it's for their protection."
"We shall tell the press that the information on Hunter J's whereabouts was collected by one of the various intelligence teams we had gathered for her capture." Cynthia continued. "Another thing we should keep quiet about is Ash and Charizard's injuries." I looked at her confused. "No one but us, Nurse Joy, Ranger Sarah, Ranger Josh, and your friends know about Charizard's condition. While not serious, if the story about Ace Ranger Ash's Charizard defeating Hunter j's Salamence without any injury circles around- if only by the lie of omission- the public's morale will increase."
"It would also stop Team Galactic from doing something," added a serious Lucian. "Your Ranger's file might be sealed, but word about a young boy who has exterminated Team Aqua and Team Magma, and has stopped Team Rocket countless times, is starting to go around. If news about your fall and Charizard's injuries go around, no matter how small, they'll take the chance to attack."
"Not to mention how hard things have gotten now that Team Galactic knows you are in Sinnoh and are officially part of the Rangers." Violet sighed. "They'll easily deduce we've sent you to hunt them down."
"No kidding," I commented. "The intel Josh gave me a week ago is now useless." I sighed. "I won't be able to use it or make a move with so many eyes on me." I shook my head. "It doesn't matter, now. I'll just take off the arm sling for the interview and stray clear of anything Charizard related. I'll just sing him praises and show how proud I am of all my pokemon, that should be the easiest thing I'll have to do... I should also stray clear of anything Feraligatr related. I don't think I'll be able to pull off a lie if they ask me how he evolved during the mission."
"Good idea," chuckled Cynthia. "If you can, have your Pikachu mount your unhurt shoulder and as soon as we get to the Conference Table, jump off. Otherwise, people will question why he isn't on his usual spot."
"Got it," I replied.
"Other than that, we'll just retell what happened," continued Lucian. "With the Ranger Commission receiving the intel and you gathering the forces for her capture. Then with us, putting her away. If reporters ask why you didn't do it yourself, we'll just say that it was us performing our Elite Four and Champion duties... try not to mention Hunter J blowing a hole on her airship. That will arise too many questions you are not prepared to handle." I nodded my head, trying to memorize everything. "If they ask about how you were able to capture her when others failed..."
"I'll just say that I had the element of surprise on my side and she underestimated my team and me." I cut him off- knowing that saying: 'no one was crazy enough to dare the possibility of falling to their deaths', was not the right answer.
"Right," Lucian sighed.
"Other than that, they'll ask about your personal life." Cynthia cheerfully cut in, when the mood started to turn gloomy. "When that happens, we'll cut in and steer the conversation back to the topic in issue."
"That will be all," Violet assured me.
In theory, it was all easy, but I knew that practice will be a whole different issue.
"About the League using the Jubilife Contest as a distraction..." I began but stopped when Lucian sighed.
"That was the plan, but the hype is already out there. News reached Kalos of all places. This is what happens when you capture a worldwide criminal." He answered.
"I thought so," I sighed.
"Pi-Pikachu," Pikachu comforted me- I scratched his cheek in return.
"If things get out of hands, you'll have the League to help you," Cynthia assured me with the authority of a champion.
I blinked startled at the sudden change of behavior.
"Of course, the Rangers will have your back too," Violet added. "We take care of our own."
I smiled at that, feeling much calmer now. She was right, I was one of them now. I was a Ranger; I was no longer saving the world on my own. I have helped at this time. I hadn't known how much I had needed that until now.
I was glad to have found out.