Last Chapter…
The two men turned to face the new voice and discovered a veiled figure standing there. He had a menacing cape flowing behind him, and he carried the presence of darkness. His face was hidden by a hood. The original grunt threw out his one and only Pokémon, a houndour. His friend let out midnight-Lyncanroc next to him, and the two took sides against the newcomer.
"Who is inquiring?" One of them yelled, clearly anticipating a fight.
The man removed his hood, revealing smooth brown hair and green eyes. His jawline was firm, and he appeared to be twenty years old. "I figured your boss would have told you; Raven come to mind?"
The males were taken aback. "We're aiming for you. If you were going to sneak up on us like that, you should have started with that!"
"Please spare me. Let's get this over with; I've got a woman to please at home, and you're holding up the line. Besides, I'm sure your boss isn't pleased that you've been lazing around while his informant was waiting for the act to end." Raven sighed and rolled his eyes.
"All right, let's go—"
The grunt rested his hand on the shoulder of his partner. "Keep it up, mate. We must not overlook etiquette." He looked at Raven. "Sorry for the inconvenience... sir, but we need to inspect everyone before transporting you to our headquarters of operations. You get it, right? We're just making sure there aren't any security flaws."
Raven agreed with a grunt. The man carefully patted Raven down, noting the numerous pokeballs tied to his belt. "You've been around, man. That's quite a haul, sir; we're delighted you're on our side." He finished patting the man down before almost nodding and claiming. "He's sober. It's just him and his Pokémon."
Raven only grumbled before speaking once more. "Can we leave now? By the time you two finish, I'll be fifty." The two grunts exchanged glances before one sighed. "Okay, then, let's go. Our transportation is right outside the door."
Raven followed the grunts from the warehouse to their truck. To his dismay, the grunts told him to get in the back. Regardless, he agreed, and they were on their way in seconds. After a brief briefing from their leader, stillness descended on the truck, leaving everyone to their own ways.
Twenty minutes later, the three was standing in front of a gigantic mountain with jagged rocks all around and as far as the eye could see. Raven scoffed as he gazed around from the rear seat. "Is this supposed to be a joke?"
"Perhaps that's why the boss likes it so much." The grunt in the car's passenger seat lightly hammered on the glove compartment, revealing a small, ten-digit box. The grunt quickly pressed four numbers, and the box vanished into the glove compartment. For a little period, nothing happened, but then some of the smaller boulders on the mountain began to shift open. A hole large enough for the vehicle to pass through opened up, and the grunt driving pushed it straight through.
As they drove by, there were several grunts and a Pokémon escort standing guard. The tunnel was sufficiently illuminated to allow for mediocre visibility. After a brief while, they emerged onto a massive factory-like complex.
Raven gazed around, startled that such a massive plant was operating just outside Vermillion City.
"Even if these garments leave little else than lasting impressions, Boss thinks it's always better to operate under the cover of night. Come on, he's expecting you." One of the troops stepped over to the Raven's door and opened it. The man stepped outside, his eyes tightening at the number of moans he heard. He counted a few dozen troops, each with at least one Pokémon. How had they remained concealed for so long?
A new voice pierced his thoughts. "Impressed?"
He turned to see a brown-haired man in a white lab coat with a smug expression on his face. "Very. I know everything there is to know about this area, but I never realized this mountain was hollow."
The man laughed dryly. "It has its benefits. I'm guessing Raven?" Their visitor gave them a nod. "Charmed. Alexander is my name. I am the branch leader and one of our top five."
Raven appeared to be intrigued. "Look, all I'm here for is money. I heard you had the bling, which is why I'm here. Let's get down to business."
Alexander seemed irritated but nodded anyhow. "That's excellent." He looked at the two grunts. "I'm guessing you examined him for... the usual?" The grunts saluted and expressed their approval. Alexander nodded again and beckoned for Raven to follow him. "Such business transactions should not be conducted among peasants. Let's travel to a more productive location."
"That's fine with me. Set the example."
After a few minutes, the foursome found themselves in what appeared to be an office. Raven took a minute to admire the rich décor before realizing he was being watched by the other persons in the room. The grunts seemed intrigued, their Pokémon as heartless as ever. Alexander made a remark. "I respect your taste, presuming you were the only one who was truly enjoying mine."
"I was."
"Hmm... a wise response. Now, as you mentioned, let's get down to business." Alexander sat at his desk, staring at Raven, who was now sitting comfortably on a couch not far from where the desk was. Both grunts were now at the doorway, as silent as mice.
"I've heard from sources that you know the Kanto layouts as well as some lighter schematics of Indigo Plateau, is this correct?" Raven did, in fact, snort. "I wouldn't be here if that were false, would I?"
Alexander sneered, disinterested in back-and-forth. "Keep your mouth shut. Because I'm the one prepared to pay for your services, a little less of your cheek would be excellent. I require your assistance in gaining access to the commercial ports and trade routes used by Red and his elite four to obtain supplies for Indigo Plateau."
Raven cocked his brow. "You want me to tell you how and where to find the supply channels so you can, what, starve Red to death? What kind of plan is that? You've been gone for years, and this is how you present yourself?"
Alexander chewed his lower lip. "To be sure, the fortifications at Indigo Plateau are far stronger than I or any of our administrators anticipated. It also doesn't help that we currently have one of his elites in custody; I'm sure they'll do all in their power to get him back." Raven, to his credit, didn't appear to be intrigued. "Look, Alex, I'm not interested in an elite; it's none of my concern. But what you're proposing is extremely risky. You expect me to do elite four and league recon in their own battleground with no backup."
Alexander laughed. "I have a strategy in place for when you've obtained the routes and details. However, as I recall, I'm the one paying you to devise and implement a strategy. Will you take the opportunity or not? In any case, I'll have to ensure your silence concerning our amenities."
Raven laughed. "Shame on you if you mistrust my ability. If you're skeptical of my desire to plunge myself into one of the region's most strongly protected places, you'd be right."
Alexander's pupils constricted. "Do you, like everyone else, fear Red?"
"I admire him. He isn't one of the world's most powerful fighters for nothing. He's also smart, smarter than most people give him credit for." Alexander brought this up. "Despite this, you have eluded capture. Why is this the case?"
"Because I'm the best," he says. Raven said matter-of-factly.
The brown-haired man scowled at this sentence, thinking carefully about his next words. "What are your agreement terms? I am willing to negotiate the pricing to fulfill your requirements."
For a little period, Raven remained silent. He made his decision after some deliberation. "I'd like four million unmarked credits. I accept one million as a down payment and the remaining three upon completion of the operation. I want information that only Team Plasma has for my own needs, any information I request, and your word that Plasma will cooperate with me during the recon. If I go through with this assignment, I'll be putting my neck on the line more than ever before; it had better be worth my time."
"Deal. Rack!" One of the Plasma grunts stood tall. "Proceed to the Treasury. Bring back Mr. Raven's credits, and we'll get into more technical terms." The grunt gave a salute. "Sir, yes!" He walked away, carrying his Lyncanroc with him.
"There's another thing." Alexander grimaced, not like the insertion of a new phrase after he had already agreed to the plan. "What exactly is it?"
"I also want the information I mentioned up front. You can retain your credits if you don't like it. That is my proposal."
Before nodding, Alexander had an unreadable expression on his face. "Okay, I'll take it. What do you want to know? Please keep in mind that I am not allowed to disclose certain things about the organization because it would violate the code. But, aside from that, what information would you like to know about?"
For a little while, Raven appeared to be lost in thought. "Do you have an outpost on Indigo Plateau that can assist me if the operation fails?"
"No. We have four bases, one in each zone. Our primary leader is hidden, and each of us admins is in charge of one of the four areas. So, if you are apprehended or the'mission fails,' you will be on your own. Next?" While pouring himself a shot of whiskey, Alexander spoke in a bored tone.
"What made you decide to expose yourself in Indigo Plateau? What purpose did that serve?"
Alexander nodded slowly, sipped his glass, and spoke. "Our first assignment after being dragged underground was a kidnapping of the elite Koga Briarwood. We understood we'd have to attract Red's attention in order for him to focus on finding Koga rather than our main goal. It appears to be working so far."
Raven laughed. "Are you sure you have Koga?"
Alexander laughed a gloomy laugh. "Of course, would I make something like that up? It happened in front of so many people as well; everyone knows Plasma has returned, and if we can capture one of the elite four, everyone is in danger."
"What happened to him? Despite the fact that you people originated in Unova, I assumed he'd be locked up at one of your four facilities." Raven gently prodded. Alexander seemed either unconcerned or unconcerned about the authenticity of the query.
"Oh, he's hiding out in Pallet Town." Raven was going to say something when Alexander finished his glass and spoke out. "In fact, in a moment, I think I can show you something you'll appreciate." He started typing quickly on his computer, attempting to enter something and bring up a screen for his visitor. Raven got up and came over to the screen Alexander was trying to show him.
Alexander confidently puffed out his chest and stated within seconds. "Enjoy."
Raven's eyes darkened significantly. Koga Briarwood's tied-up and bloodied body was shown through a surveillance camera. He appeared to be imprisoned in some sort of jail, with only a little bowl of water beside him. His hair was matted with filth, and he was covered with bruises.
"Son of a b*tch..." Raven murmured and quietly tapped the screen of his watch, going unnoticed by Alexander and the last grunt. Meanwhile, Alexander looked unconcerned by Raven's suffering as he poured himself another drink, his third since Raven arrived at the bottom. "So, what are your thoughts? The cretin is getting what he deserves—"
BOOOM!
A massive explosion shook the entire base as the mountainside covering the hideout was smashed to smithereens. A swarm of Pokémon surged inside in an instant, led by a group of individuals. Alexander let out a roar as he dashed to the window that oversaw the most of his operation. He noticed a man with a red vest standing beneath the window, looking up with a cheesy grin.
"It's the color red! He's tracked us down!"
When Raven grabbed Alexander by the head and shoulders, bashing his head against the wall and splitting his skull open, Alexander could only let out a little cry of horror. In his trance, the grunt failed to respond quickly enough to save his boss, who was flung out the window. Alexander connected with the earth again, this time with a terrible crunch. That appeared to jolt the grunt out of his stupor.
"Flamethrower, houndour!" Raven rolled on the ground to dodge the fire and summoned his faithful companion.
"Mabostiff, please use Crunch!" The dark-type was in front of the black-dog and the grunt in the blink of an eye. As Houndour was hit and hurled into the grunt, they both cried out in pain. Both fell senseless to the ground. From upstairs, more explosions and Pokémon attacks could be heard.
"Good job, Mabostiff; keep an eye on the entryway while I upload all this data." The Pokémon nodded and moved to stand guard at the entryway.
Raven tapped his watch three times, and the disguise came off, revealing Paul. He knelt over the computer and began typing quickly, just like Alexander. He spoke directly into the watch. "This is Raven, Paul. I'm in. Buy as much time as you can for me."
"Paul, do the same. Maintain your focus." Ash's voice returned. Paul contemplated their tactics as he continued typing quickly. For several days, the elites and Ash had been working to track down Plasma grunts while casually circulating false tales about a mercenary named Raven who was well-versed in the region.
Ash even held a news conference about Raven without even informing the other champions or Mr. Goodshow. If they were to get Koga back, they needed complete secrecy. Thankfully, the rumor mill did the trick, and Paul was dressed as the outlaw Raven. It hadn't been difficult to gain the favor of the Plasma grunts; they'd just been promised the ease of good graces with their superiors and that Raven would vouch for them if they put in a good word.
The rest of the gang stayed hidden from a safe distance while Paul went disguised as Raven, watching the situation through Paul's watch, which served as both a communications device and his disguise. They all sent out five Pokémon, keeping one in case something went awry, after taking down the perimeter grunts and their Pokémon as discreetly as possible. Ash scaled the mountain and blasted his way in from above. Sabrina and Erika entered through the main entrance, and while everyone panicked, they were able to pincer their opponents from above.
And, of course, Paul would be inside the commander's room gathering intelligence the entire time. Sabrina had suggested posing as a decoy, and Ash had been apprehensive at first, not wanting to risk having two elites in Plasma captivity. However, it was the resolve of the other two that eventually drove him to accede to the idea.
It was everything to save Koga from Plasma's grasp. It remained to be seen whether Alexander had been telling the truth regarding the other hideouts in the remaining places. He sounded sincere enough, but he had been drinking, albeit not excessively. Regardless, once the hard disk information was copied in, they would have all the information they required.
Paul waited impatiently for the data to be duplicated for a few minutes. The plan's key components were to keep the power on, divert their forces, buy Paul time, demolish the base, and notify the authorities. Paul could still hear screams from the Plasma soldiers all across the base, which was now covered in tremendous flames from head to toe.
'What irony...' He thought without levity. When Paul heard a loud 'ding!' he was hauled from his comedy club. The data transfer was finished. He cried to Mabostiff as he yanked the device from Alexander's PC "It's completed! Clear the corridor!"
Paul dashed out the window and gazed down, feeling a strange mix of delight and guilt as he saw Alexander still laying broken on the ground below, flames almost swallowing him. "Data transfer is finished, repeat, data transfer is finished. Let's get started!"
"Copy! Put on your nightgear, team!"
Paul and the rest of the team responded positively before the room and facility went completely dark. "Vision is impaired; put on goggles!"
Cinnabar Lab had given the four their specialized gear, and they were all so much more than what the world thought they were, but Ash didn't want anyone else to know that right now. As Cinnabar Lab detested media attention in the first place, Ash didn't want people to know that the place actually manufactured cutting-edge weaponry for the league they represented.
With the facility's power down, the rest of the grunts were easy pickings. Their Pokémon posed some challenges because they could detect and smell intruders. However, without their masters' directives, there was little they could do in the long term. When the four left the main gate, they were met by an army of police officers. Many grunts were already on their knees outdoors, submitting.
"Police from Vermillion City have arrived, sir." The leader appeared and saluted everyone. "Don't be concerned about the technicalities, officer. Inside, the electricity has been cut. We eliminated the vast majority of grunts, but there may still be a few." Ash waved him away.
"Is there a KIA?" Sergeant McMichael, the officer, inquired.
"A lot of 'em. They threw all they had at us, yet we escaped quite undamaged." Paul acknowledged meekly.
McMichael gave a nod. "Affirmative. I'll notify my squadron, and we'll get to work straight away." He then turned around and yelled. "Chalmers and Rhodes!" Call in the Arcanine team! Be on the lookout, all breaching officers! Many opponents have been killed inside, but others may still be roaming! According to Red's information, the emergency generator is placed in the leader's office. Let's get out!" The police officers saluted and followed the Arcanine squadron inside.
A fresh voice may be heard. "I assumed it would be you." The four turned to see a man standing there. "
Lt Surge, the Vermillion City-based Electric-type gym leader, responded with a cheeky punch. "I'm tired, fatigued. Imagine my surprise when my chief of police informed me that Red and his elites had uncovered a Team Plasma base just outside my city and that I needed to come out for any possible aid."
Ash only laughed. "Well, you didn't RSVP. "Would you like to request a rain check?"
Lieutenant Surge laughed. "Of course. Raichu was itching to fight again after being knocked out in the round of 16 by Green, or rather Misty. She is an excellent trainer. I'll have to be the one to tell him he'll be disappointed when he gets home."
"Of course you will. Please pardon us, Lt Surge, we need to get back to the league." Paul smiled as he spoke.
"But…" Ash spoke abruptly, drawing the attention of all his elites including Lt Surge. "If you and Raichu are still interested, we could need your assistance to stay here and enforce whatever happens." Otherwise, then—"
He abruptly cut him off. "We'd be delighted, Red!" We'll continue from here!" He summoned her electric-type, and the two dashed towards the front door, which was still engulfed in flames.
They started walking carefully away from the flaming base. After a few seconds, Ash talked normally, but urgently enough for his elites to take him seriously.
"Keep walking and talking about anything enjoyable; we're being observed." That seemed to pique the interest of the group, particularly Sabrina. "From where?"
"The rocks to our right, without a doubt a Plasma scout." He said it with a big grin on his face.
This time, Paul burst out laughing. "Should we remove them?"
"…No. All we have to do is keep up appearances. We now know where Koga should be. We only need to let nature take its course. Let's assess what we know at HQ and then shift it." Erika summoned Tropius after Ash summoned Charizard. Sabrina boarded with Ash, while Paul boarded with his girlfriend.
The four then took off in the direction of the league, aware that they were being monitored the entire time. Sure enough, there was a Plasma grunt resting prone with a pair of binoculars on the ridge Ash had mentioned. She was more than a little alarmed by what she had just witnessed.
"Maya, please report in." "How is Vermillion HQ doing?"
"Destroyed sir," the thin woman said grimly to her CO. The league discovered it with ease and destroyed it much faster."
"Was it obvious how they got into the entrance?"
"No, but they figured out where to search." Everyone on the inside appears to have been either captured or... killed."
That bit of information seemed to take her boss by surprise the most. "Killed? And you're confident Red was in charge of the mission?"
"Yes, sir, I'm certain."
For a few period, silence came from the other end of her earphone. "How intriguing... Red... the ruler of a territory... prepared to slay others to avenge one of his own." Once again, silence. "Did they notice you, Maya?"
"No sir. I stayed out of sight, just as advised."
"Good."
She was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Sir, what are my orders?"
"Return to base immediately. They were almost certainly looking for Mr. Briarwood. We can't afford to lose him for the time being. The league most likely attacked the base in the hopes of finding him or learning where he is being held. They now have no doubt that they have that piece of information. We need to have him moved before the league finds our base. So... sure, go back to the hideout right away. Over the next few days, we'll put together a comprehensive plan."
"Copy that instruction in and out, Maya." She tapped her earpiece to turn it off, then slowly moved backwards, disappearing from view in seconds.
Present… Enjoy everyone!
Flashback… Same one that last chapter ended with…
"There will be no road to triumph. There will be difficulties. There will be no pointless battles when leaders don't care about their responsibilities and hand out badges on a silver platter. This will be a region that invites all trainers and demonstrates what a true challenge may be. This is my plan for making Kanto the most powerful area the world has ever seen." The crowd applauded their young leader, clinking their glasses in honor of their newfound hero.
Ash held up a piece of paper for the audience to see. "And it starts right now. I'll go over each of the four persons I chose and explain why I chose them. Keep in mind that if your name is not called, you may still be able to work as a gym leader if you want to be a part of Kanto's vital branch."
Ash threw down the paper and cleared his throat. Lance was wandering towards the back of the pack, holding the hand of a dark-haired girl. Ash said. "Keep this in mind now. While I had an advisor at first..." Lance felt a small sense of remorse sting him as he came to a halt. Sabrina remained silent, waiting for Red to continue. "I decided that it was preferable to rely only on my instincts. These decisions were taken entirely on my own, and I am certain that they will pay off quickly."
"With that... the first elite..."
Ash continued, clearing his throat. "When your name is called, please come to the top of the stage to be inducted. After that, I'll accept you into the league and you can leave backstage. I will not take questions at this moment or after the elites are announced. Applications for gym leaders will be accepted beginning a week from tomorrow. After all formalities have been completed, I will declare the first elite."
The whispering in the room had progressed from non-existent to audible. The first elites to set foot in Kanto would be remembered for the rest of the league's history. A few moments passed, and the muttering continued. Red suddenly held up his palm and, as if air had been sucked out of the room, the murmuring came to a standstill.
Ash cleared his throat for the second time in a short period of time. "The first elite... is a young man with a bond with his Pokémon that few others can match. He is a hand-to-hand combat instructor in his spare time and understands everything there is to know about fighting. His battling style, while not the most advanced, demonstrates the bonds he has with his Pokémon, which he uses as a tactical advantage in combat. In the brief time I spoke with him, he was respectful, kind, and shown a thorough understanding of Pokémon procedures and care. A situational battler who feeds off his Pokémon's bravery and adopts it as his own in order to enhance the relationships they share, and a rising legend in the making. Mr. Paul Shinji, who hails from Veilstone City with his partner Torterra, is Kanto's first ever elite."
The young man who was inducted received respectful applause from the hall. After a brief pause, a young man with dark hair and wide-eyed eyes made his way up the stairs to the stage. As he came into view, he had brown eyes and a large smile on his face. Red extended his hand in greeting, which Paul firmly shook.
"Hello, my brother, and welcome to the league." With a smirk on his face, Red said.
"Thank you..." Paul whispered, disbelief still in his eyes, though his smile never left his face.
Red indicated for them to take a seat next to the podium, where everyone could hear through the microphone. He looked at Paul and said the sentence he had written for the occasion. "Do you vow allegiance to the Kanto Region, Paul Shinji? Do you vow to guard, assist, and cherish her lands as if they were your own, as they will be now?"
"I-I do." The man, who couldn't have been more than twenty years old, got out.
Red announced with a nod. "Then, Paul Shinji, I consider you one of Kanto's best... an elite four member. Congratulations." The hall erupted again when Paul turned to face the audience and waved politely. He went away from where Red had signaled for him to leave.
With that, the champion returned to the crowd and looked down at his paper once more.
"The second elite... is a young woman who cares deeply for those she knows and even more for those she does not. This amazing cook and model has served as a role model for women around the region. Her battle approach is patient, allowing her Pokémon to sense their opponents' opportunities and weaknesses as well as her own. This young woman will be an excellent addition to the league's foundations, fearless in defending people she cares about and courageous on and off the battlefield. Ms. Erika Grassall, who hails from Celadon City with her partner Leafeon, is Kanto's second ever elite."
Another tiny round of applause erupted, and a stunning young woman emerged from the crowd, clearly unable to contain her joy. She had beautiful green hair, dark green eyes, and the curves of Aphrodite. The majority of the males in the room were unable to tear their gaze away from the young beauty. She appeared to be in her early twenties. Her bright smile was nearly contagious. As she headed back to meet Red, she yelled out to her Leafeon, who seemed equally as joyful as she was.
She shook his hand firmly, a smile spreading across her face. "Hello, dear sister, and welcome to the league." Red said the same thing he said to Paul.
"Thank you so much. Thank you very much!" The woman appeared to be filled with joy. Leafeon, who was standing next to her, seemed just as excited as her trainer. Erika moved next to Red and stood pat, using the same hand motion he'd given Paul a minute before.
"Do you swear allegiance to the Kanto Region, Erika Grassall? Do you vow to guard, assist, and cherish her lands as if they were your own, as they will be now?"
The girl made no hesitation. "I do!"
"Then, Erika Grassall, I consider you one of Kanto's best... an elite four member. Congratulations!" Erika was still taking in all that had just transpired when the audience erupted in applause. She gave her leader a determined expression. "I will not disappoint you."
Red grinned and nodded before following Paul's example and disappearing. He then returned to the crowd and cleared his throat for the third time, which did nothing to calm the anxiety of those waiting to hear their names called.
"The third elite... is a man who maintains his cool in the most difficult conditions. These folks are particularly remarkable in that they can tune out the noise around them and focus solely on what is in front of them. You can see why having someone like this is such a crucial asset to the league's foundation. Prior to joining the Kanto league, this man replicated his poker techniques with bold and unpredictable plans that had his opponents guessing at all times; a true force of a battler whose sky-high potential makes him a lock for an elite role. Mr. Koga Briarwood, who hails from Fushcia City with his partner Venomoth, is Kanto's third ever elite."
Despite the cheers, everyone could plainly hear "Holy Fuck," which seemed to carry the most loudness in relation to anything else. As a young male approached the new leader, it was clear that those of the opposite sex were drinking him in. He stood approximately six feet tall and had silky-smooth brown hair. He looked like a male model, and the females in the audience loved it... as did some of the men.
'Is it just me, or does Ash choose people based on their physical attractiveness?' Lance paused, speechless. 'If that's the case...' Sabrina should be chosen, even if he refuses to do so and simply refuses to listen to my reasoning... 'Wait, am I selfish, or am I thinking of Sabrina?'
Lance was so caught up in his inner conflict that he didn't observe Koga being officially inducted into the league with the identical oath he'd delivered to Paul and Erika. Before disappearing, the man gave the young leader's hand a strong shake.
Ash gave his final announcement by tapping the mic in front of him twice. "With that... this is the ultimate elite." He lowered his gaze to the sheet of paper in front of him and seemed to sweep the throng with his eyes, as if looking for someone specific. He then returned his gaze to the ground and stated.
"The fourth and final elite... is a lady who can change her battle style at any time. She—" The champion was cut off as groans resounded along the corridor, nearly entirely from men.
"Silence!" Red yelled.
The hall became very silent. "I will not react in such a childish manner. Consider this: those who have decided to express themselves at such an unsuitable time, perhaps your maturity is a reason why I have chosen not to select you as an elite." The room was remained hushed; no one dared to challenge the man who'd so simply defeated his opponent.
Red looked around the audience one more before moving on. "This woman's previous job was an unusual one: bounty hunter. However, she has morals. This woman denied all contracts pertaining to the law and was thus seen as a valuable asset to the Saffron City police force. She was no stranger to battle, having hunted down criminals and their Pokémon alike. As previously said, this trainer is strong in combat, but she thrives even more when put under duress and forced to adapt her battle techniques on the fly. Having someone unpredictable, like Mr. Briarwood, greatly improves the league. I'd like to welcome the final elite of Kanto, Ms. Sabrina Natsume, who hails from Nimbassa City with her partner Aurorus."
Lance's jaw dropped open as applauding began, disbelief coloring every one of his features. Meanwhile, Sabrina stood next to him, a shocked expression on her face. The redhead was the first to react. "Go, go!" He gave her a little push, jolting her out of her trance. She made her way to the podium's front, where Red stood with a tiny grin on his face. He'd trained Lance well, and he knew it.
Ash reconsidered his decisions as he formally named Sabrina the final elite. He knew he'd get some flak for not picking a single trainer who finished in the top eight of the Kanto league, but he didn't care. Ash saw incredibly high ceilings for all of the trainers he'd chosen, and he'd chosen them all for various reasons. He just prayed they'd all work well enough together.
Sabrina took the oath and then disappeared behind the scenes, where everyone else was waiting. She couldn't believe she'd been chosen, especially since Lance had told her that Red didn't seem to be open to his suggestions.
She entered the single available room and saw the three persons chosen before her waiting. The green-haired girl squealed as the blonde boy nodded. "Yes! I'm not the only female!" Sabrina offered her an embarrassed grin, not knowing how to answer.
The man with dark hair shrugged. "Most leagues have two ladies and two gentlemen. Nothing out of the norm, in fact." He took a closer look at Sabrina before speaking again. "What's your name, by the way? We never got a chance to—because we were in here."
"My name is Sabrina. Are you all sorry?" The pink-haired girl cut in.
"My name is Paul. I'm from Sinnoh's Veilstone City." In greeting, the blonde boy raised his hand lightly.
"Erika is my given name! It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm a Kanto native who grew up in Celadon City!" The other female responded proudly.
"Briarwood, Koga. That's my name. Fushcia City is where I spend the majority of my time, but I imagine that's changing now, huh?" The other guy in the room laughed.
A fresh voice interrupted the conversation. "I see you're all mingling." The foursome turned to see their new leader standing there, hat in hand, with a little grin on his face. Erika was the first to speak up. "This is incredible! I still can't believe it's happening! Are we truly all elites?"
Red gave a nod. "That's right. You are all the region's first elites."
"Would you mind answering a question?" Koga raised his voice. Red turned to gaze at him with anticipation. "Not to be ungrateful, but if my memory serves me well, none of us advanced past the top eight in the competition. Is there any other reason to appoint us as elites? Isn't it possible that there are several reasons for this?"
All of the newly discovered elite members looked to their champion, who responded truthfully. "I'm aware that none of you made it past the quarter-finals. As far as I can see, you all have tremendous talent. As your leader, I hope to bring out the best in you every day. Our operations will be held somewhere for the time being, which is good. I shall put you all through rigorous training programs in order to make you and your Pokémon the strongest in the world."
Red turned and indicated for them to move carefully behind him. "Enjoy your night for the time being. Feel free to socialize with the rest of the group. Meet me here in this room at lunchtime tomorrow. Training will commence at that point, and we will begin to unearth your genuine talent." He then exited the room, his arms behind his back and his hat now on his head.
It had been some time since the ceremony. The hall was packed, and it appeared that no one was very upset over not being chosen as an elite. The dark-haired elite had been shaking hands with individuals she didn't know for quite some time when she noticed a familiar face.
When she saw the red-haired champion, she burst out laughing and dashed towards him.
"Congratulations, Sab!" The pink-haired girl wrapped her arms around Lance and laughed. People in the area took notice but said nothing. Lance sat her down and handed her the drink he'd made for her. "Raise a glass to your future!"
"Cheers!" They clinked glasses and sipped their beverages. Lance instantly beckoned for a neighboring waiter to refill their glasses and struck up a discussion with them. "It appears like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other, huh?"
"That's how it appears to me. I guess I owe you a lot of thanks for swaying Red." Sabrina addressed the man. Lance sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "As I already stated, he was not paying attention to me. He seemed to want to do the exact opposite of what I was attempting to tell him the entire time."
The lovely lady frowned. "Well, it appears it had to have functioned in some capacity?"
"Maybe. He's usually difficult to read, so I can't really say one way or the other."
"He isn't required to." When the two looked around, they saw Red with his hat pulled low, obscuring his face. "While he did spend a considerable amount of time attempting to advocate for you, Ms. Natsume, it would have made no difference. You're a formidable fighter, you appear to have a personality that fits in well with the elite group I'm attempting to develop here, and you have an outstanding bond with your Pokémon. That is, in general, why you are here. It had nothing to do with what Lance had to say, for better or worse."
Lance exchanged a long gaze with Ash, who couldn't discern what the young champion was portraying owing to his outfit. "Enjoy the rest of your nights, you two." He then stalked away slowly, as if enjoying the attention he was sure he was getting.
"Let me tell you, Red is a peculiar person..." Lance laughed quietly.
"Do you not know him better than anyone else?" Sabrina questioned him with interest.
Lance burst out laughing this time. "Trust me, even with that title, it doesn't say anything. He is special; he is one of a kind. As far as I know, he's the perfect leader."
The dark-haired beauty simply nodded, unsure what more to say in response to that remark. "How about another round?" Lance nodded happily as they glanced at their now-full glasses. "Then here's to another round!"
And the drinking continued for a few hours, with both Sabrina and Lance becoming increasingly inebriated as the night progressed. They danced with one another, with other elites, and with individuals they didn't even know. Sabrina was a woman who knew how to control her alcohol, yet even she was a little tipsy. Lance, on the other hand, was getting a little tipsy. He was splattering vodka around the corridor like it was water, and he appeared completely unconcerned about it.
Sabrina, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind and seemed to be enjoying the night as if it were her last.
After another hour, Sabrina was also fairly inebriated. The majority of those present had already fled, and those who remained were as inebriated as the two. Sabrina, on the other hand, was soon yawning and slurring at the same time.
"I… I believe it is time to... head to beddy-bye..."
Lance had a hiccup. "Saby, no... T-the corridor m-monsters will-hic-get-you."
"Sir, I'm exhausted... I-I need s-some s-sleep... hic!"
The inebriated champion made a false bow. "T-Then let me to es-es... uh... assist... you, your-hic-highne—" In an instant, he covered his mouth with both hands to attempt to stop the bile rising in his throat. He appeared to gag a few times before swallowing in discomfort.
Sabrina, as expected, thought the incident humorous. "Did you just-hic- eat your barf?"
Lance just moaned.
Sabrina smiled at his misfortune and motioned for him to follow her. "Come on... h-handsome… Let's return to my room..."
Lance lurched forward a step, and Sabrina halted him with an outstretched trembling arm. "What for?"
"Some... some... some nice time..." She slurred quietly, herself stumbling a little.
Sometime Later… Noon…
When Ash arrived at the meeting location at twelve o'clock, he anticipated the elites he'd recruited to be ready for anything, if not a little nervous. Nothing else. What he didn't expect was three elites towering over the remaining elite, who appeared to be in distress.
Ash approached them with caution. "What's the issue?"
Koga charged towards his leader, his rage fuelling his reaction. "How about you ask your little buddy Red?"
Ash lifted an eyebrow, refusing to budge one inch. "What exactly did you say?"
Paul intervened before Koga could respond. "Koga, hold on, you don't want to get kicked out of the elite four less than 24 hours after you're admitted, do you?" The brown-haired man opened and then closed his mouth, most likely for good reason. Paul nodded and sighed in relief before turning to face his new boss. "We're all preoccupied with this, but it's not our narrative to tell. Speak with Sabrina. We'll give you two spots."
The blonde boy motioned for the others to join him outside. Koga did so without looking Red in the eyes, while Erika did so with her hand over her mouth. Ash took in her appearance as he gazed at his shaking elite. Her head was lowered in her lap, as if she lacked energy. He recognized her ruffled clothing and guessed that she had been drinking extensively the night before. It also appeared that sleep had arrived in very small doses.
"Sabrina? Are you okay?"
Silence. Ash waited for a reply but received none.
"Sabrina? Do you—"
The girl's head jerked up and she sobbed. "DO I LOOK OKAY?"
For the first time in a long time, Ash felt actually terrified of another human being. The girl had massive bags under her eyes, and her eyes were red and blotchy. Her right cheek had a big cut that was definitely recent. Ash silently thanked the gods for the dark hat he wore to disguise his face, for she might have preyed on him if she'd seen his eyes.
"... You're asking a trick question."
Sabrina had no idea how to respond. Instead, she simply continued to droop her head low. "I need you to talk to me, Sabrina." She remained deafeningly silent.
"Remember the oath you took not long ago. I took an oath that was very similar to yours to defend Kanto. As you are now among Kanto's finest, it is my job and responsibility as leader to assist anybody I can, commoner or elite. Now…" He dropped down on one knee and put his hand on her shoulder. "Please explain what happened."
She slowly lifted her head, and Ash noticed something else he'd overlooked before: her eyes. They used to be colorful and vivacious. They seemed nearly... lifeless now, less than twelve hours after he'd last seen her.
And what she said next started to fit the puzzle together. "Last night, Lance... and I slept together."
Her commander was supposed to snort, giggle, or do anything of the such, but he did nothing and said nothing. Instead, he nodded gently, as though to encourage her to keep on. The pink-haired adolescent sniffed. "For me, it was the first time. He admitted it wasn't for him, and I didn't mind. W-We were drunk, and I knew I wasn't thinking well..."
"What exactly happened?" Ash spoke slowly.
She bit her lower lip and flushed profusely. "We... w-went the distance. But…" She said quietly. "He harmed me."
She could tell Red was a little uneasy when he delivered his next words. "From what I know... ah, it's... supposed to, for a girl."
Sabrina's cheeks became redder. "That's not what I meant!"
"The... er, scar on your face?"
Sabrina jerked her head. "N-No!"
This time, Ash was genuinelly perplexed. "Then I'm not sure what you mean..."
Sabrina bowed her head. "I was such a moron! I was naive to believe that he might like me! But... but..." She moved her head. "He took advantage of me. He had betrayed me. I kept thinking... he was being genuine the whole time." She made a gentle snarl. "I should have seen right through it."
Ash remained bewildered. "I could be mistaken, but what exactly did Lance do to you that was so heinous?"
Sabrina chewed her lower lip once more. "He wasn't there when I awoke. He'd taken all of his clothes and other belongings and simply... departed. There was no note, no message, nothing." Lance, as far as Ash knew, was a man who sincerely respected integrity and his own reputation. At this, the shrouded guy shook his head. "I need to hear Lance's side of the story before making any snap decisions. If what he did to you is accurate, I'll take care of everything."
Sabrina was motioned to go by him. "Go ahead and join the others. I'll be there shortly."
The young lady stood shakily and stumbled out slowly. Ash quickly shut the door behind her and pulled out his Pokégear. In an instant, Ash dialed Lance. After a few moments, a drowsy voice could be heard.
"Speak, Champion Lance."
"Prove to me you didn't do it."
Some mutterings came from the other side of the gadget, and Ash pretended they didn't happen or weren't a blot on Lance's record. "W-What exactly do you mean?"
"Lance, cut the stuff. Please tell me you did not do what I believe you did."
Lance's end resulted in a protracted period of silence. Ash had more than enough time to realize Sabrina was telling the truth. Ash shook his head, sensing Lance's tension even over the phone. "Lance... why? Why did you decide to leave?"
Lance's response was inadequate. "I-I was inebriated! I apologize! I—"
"Did you get drunk this morning?" Ash sounded almost enraged.
"N-No! No, I wasn't!"
This time, Ash sounded like he was about to burst. "Then why did you leave before she woke up?"
Lance was taken aback; he'd expected Ash to be enraged with him for sleeping with his new elite, not for departing so early. "I… I thought you and your elites were going to burst! I was afraid you'd think I was exploiting her!"
"If she wanted it as badly as you allegedly did, why the heck would you think that?!"
"I'm not sure! It could have been the hangover exploiting—"
"Damn you, Lance!" The champion was cut short by Ash's yell. "Do you realize how much you harmed her? She appears..." Ash pondered for a bit before responding gently, "Lifeless."
Lance's heart tightened at the prospect of Sabrina being broken. The tight grasp on his heart became a grip as he realized Sabrina was feeling this way because of his deeds.
"What can I do to make amends with her?"
Before speaking, Ash was silent for a time. "Leave her alone, let her heal with us."
"What?"
"She has no desire to see you. My elites have no desire to visit you. I'm going to assist them in getting through this. Through this, I'm going to assist... her."
Present...
And Ash had done so. Despite scarcely knowing them, he led them through their first big challenge as their leader and buddy. Lance, on the other hand, was terrified to set foot in the area. Unsurprisingly, Ash had turned colder. As Mr. Goodshow began to wonder why the newest champion wasn't showing up to their regular meetings, Red told Lance, "You tell him that I'm busy constructing a league from the ground up."
Lance never had the courage to defend Ash, knowing full well that the facts he possessed could ruin his image. That was Lance's issue back then; he never looked at the matter appropriately. He needed to see it through Sabrina's eyes, but instead he was paranoid because he saw it through everyone else's.
Lance never improved. He was only getting worse. He just hadn't realized it until then.
The champion cradled his head in his hands, realizing what he was doing. He was a demon.
"What... what have I turned into?"
(Twenty Minutes Later…)
Ash stormed into The Party Starter's top floor, fully prepared to hear from Mr. Goodshow. It was essentially a smack on the wrist at the end of the day. Ash was preoccupied with something else. On the ride over to Charizard, Ash remembered receiving a crucial update from some of his operatives, aka Team Rocket. Given the information disclosed on the hard drive from the Vermillion City outpost, they'd been tasked with determining where Koga was being held.
With any luck, Koga Briarwood would be free in no time. His most trustworthy operatives might come up empty handed on occasion. He wished for the former rather than the latter. Nobody noticed him for a few moments on the beautiful rooftop. Ash had to agree that the event's designers had pleased him; it was certainly lovely.
"Wait till you see who decided to show up!" Ash turned around to find Steven Stone and an unknown woman on his arm. "Good day, Red! Congratulations on making the top eight!"
Ash smiled politely. "Thank you so much, Steven. I appreciate the sentiment, but what are you doing here? To my understanding, only the top eight and one additional person were permitted to attend this event."
Steven gave a nod. "True, but the champs are also anticipated to come. Your delay has fortunately gone unnoticed."
"That doesn't sit well with me for some reason. What's going on?"
A new voice joined in. "The only reason I don't tear your ass apart is that you bothered to come." Ash turned to see an old man, a well-dressed one, but nonetheless an old man.
"Who didn't bother to show up?" Ash inquired, perplexed.
Mr. Goodshow moaned. "If you're curious, my name is Lance. Instead of showing up without a significant other, the blowhard chose to simply not show up at all. He's the only reason I haven't exploded with you, Red."
Ash cracked a joke. "Don't forget to thank him afterwards."
Mr. Goodshow's face appeared to become purple in response to Ash's statements. Steven restrained a chuckle at the commissioner's expression, while Ash failed at the task. "S-Sorry." The Kanto champion covered his mouth with his hand as he battled to hold back his laughing.
"Red, be careful. Fortunately, there are bigger fish to fry." Mr. Goodshow then turned on his heel and walked away. For a while, Ash moved from one group to the next. Goh was seen with Chloe on his arm, and when Ash realized he was being observed by the runt, he was shocked Goh didn't approach him. On the one hand, based on what the nurse informed him, Goh could be completely unaware of his sister's illness. On the other hand, perhaps he was aware and had a valid cause for keeping his lips shut. It was quite strange, to say the least.
Ash noticed Clemont conversing with an unknown young woman in a balcony corner. The champion didn't seem to notice the young man watching him. Clemont was a bit of a puzzle; what was his take on the traitors? Why did he cease identifying with them? Given that he and Clemont were unlikely to meet in the tournament, he found it more difficult to concentrate on Clemont when the other traitors needed to be exposed.
Iris and Cynthia were talking with a group of people Ash didn't recognize nearby. It was strange how one year he looked up to these individuals as legends, and the next year he was working with them, facing them, and showing to them that he deserved his position in the league. Both greeted him pleasantly, though Cynthia's was significantly more contrived. Ash wondered if it was only because she was his next opponent that it felt so forced. Iris, on the other hand, was bright, boisterous, and upbeat.
Ash completed some final rounds. That's where he came across Tyson Tetsuya, who was alone. To Tyson's delight, Ash had dryly joked with him that Goh would be the first person to get hammered by Tyson. He seemed to have a strong dislike for Goh, which Ash shared. Since Goh had taken his Pokémon, the boy had become much more open.
Lance was nowhere to be located, as Mr. Goodshow had predicted. The rest of the time, Ash spent mingling and making sure everything was in order. It was a good thing he had planned ahead of time, for his pokégear rang not long after. He knew what it was and where to find it. He crept into the shadows and withdrew off the rooftop under the cover of darkness.
(TPS Poolside)
"Are you certain the source is... trustworthy?" Ash spoke slowly. His fellow elites waited nearby, gazing and listening for the replies they thought were correct.
James gave a nod. "I'm confident about it. I am certain that what we witnessed was accurate."
Sabrina talked with zeal. "Then we'll be able to bring him back soon... extremely soon!"
Ash extended his hand to Sabrina. "Take it easy. Remember, there's a significant likelihood that someone relayed our search for Koga to their headquarters. If they know we're willing to massacre a base full of their men for him and still keep him alive, there must be a good reason. Before we rush in, we need to figure out what that reason is."
"How come?"
"Because what's preventing them from getting rid of him at the proper time when we're already knee-deep in Flare Grunts?" Paul spoke solemnly.
"Precisely. If our plan is to work, we must proceed with prudence." Ash gave a sermon.
Sabrina sighed. "Why can't we just march in there, beat the snot out of them like we did the first time, and get him out?"
Jessie exhaled a sigh. "This base... it's nothing like what you encountered the last time. I'm worried it'll be a higher hill to climb."
Erika glanced incredulously at this sentence. "Are you saying the base we're about to breach is more complicated than a base with an autonomous moving rock wall and is carved out inside a hollowed mountain with hundreds of grunts?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
Paul lifted an unsure eyebrow. "I'm all for getting Koga out of those crazies' clutches, but does this sound like a suicide mission to anyone else? What's to say that even if this works, one of us won't be captured in place of Koga?"
Sabrina frowned for a bit before sighed and spoke. "As much as I dislike to admit it, Paul has a valid argument. If we're going in there, we'll need to make a plan."
Ash had a contemplative expression on his face that James couldn't help but notice. "Do you have anything interesting to share?"
Ash slowly nodded. "I have a plan."
"Already?" Meowth shook his head, his small arms crossed.
"Yeah. I do."
"What kind of idea could you have come up with in four minutes?" Erika questioned her commander with skepticism.
The said leader only grinned toothily. "Take a seat and pay attention. With what we know, I believe this is our greatest chance to reclaim Koga." The gathering listened intently to his strategy, with each participant assigned a plan. They had no idea that the captors were plotting something on MeléMelé island. They were well aware that the league was on their tail. But who would devise the superior strategy? That was the query.
After all the specifics were worked out, Ash's pokégear rang once more. "Please wait a moment. This is something I must do."
He answered the phone with authority. "This is Red, please speak."
For a few moments, there is silence. "Please excuse me. Could you repeat that?"
Silence. "I… I see… I'll be there immediately away. Yes, I am aware." There is more stillness. "There will be heads rolling."
Ash hung up the phone and stared blankly into space for a few moments, unsure what to make of the phone call he had just received. Sabrina gave him a tap on the shoulder. "Red? What exactly is it? Who just phoned?"
James spoke up. "And why will heads, uh, roll?"
Ash bit his lower lip and frowned at the group. "There was an attack."
The audience let out a collective gasp. "W-What? An assault?" Erika muttered with surprise.
"Yes."
Paul clenched his teeth. "What was its identity? Who was assaulted?"
Ash groaned, licking his lips.
"Tyson."
