Last Chapter…

"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 pink-haired girl. Ash screamed. "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 dark 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 Kanto's HeaHea 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.


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 Plasma 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."

Present...


Darkness. Cold. Pain. Koga had known nothing else for the past four weeks. Was it five or six? Three? He couldn't remember anything; when you were kidnapped and thrown in a random room for, well, you know. He had little recollection of his captivity other than the same two grunts who seemed to feed him a piece of bread every day and give him a small pan of water to sip from.

Koga took pride in his ability to fight, but he knew that even if he managed to break away, he wouldn't live long. He had no idea how this place worked. He didn't have his Pokémon with him. He prayed to Arceus that everything would be OK. Days passed, and he felt as if the rest of the world had forgotten about him. His thoughts turned to Ash, Erika, Paul, and Sabrina. Were they sick with worry? Were they even looking for him?

Aside from the obvious fact that he was an elite four member, why had he been targeted for this kidnapping? Koga had not been outspoken in his opposition to Plasma. He'd been keeping his distance from Malva for a long time. With the time he'd been spending with his girlfriend, he'd become somewhat distant from his own elites. Ash was obviously conflicted about rescuing Koga now; he'd been temporarily suspended from the league, and Koga had been kidnapped by the same group that his girlfriend had formerly been a member of.

The more he thought about it, the less sense it made to him. Malva had to be worried sick, but since she was no longer a member of the organization, she was in a completely different boat than his fellow elites. They may be approaching the matter from very different perspectives. Did Koga's teammates realize he was officially suspended from the league?

Regardless, it seemed pointless to be upset about. Instead, he was preoccupied by his leader, who could have fired him at any time for what Koga had done. He hadn't, however. Koga had to leave, if for no other reason than to apologize. While he loved Malva and didn't want to see her depart, his league brothers and sisters mattered the most to him.

A thunderous slamming of the door cut him off in his mental path. His dirt-coated brown hair obscured most of his face, but he could see two men standing in the glaring light. As far as he could tell, both had their arms crossed and appeared to be angry.

"Is it food time yet, fellas?" Koga made a lame joke.

For a little moment, the two exchanged no words. "Come on, it wasn't even a joke." Koga sighed, believing that a quick kick or sock in the face would suffice. He did receive a response this time. "Release him."

Koga had the decency to appear perplexed. "Pardon?"

Before he realized it, he was hit in the stomach by a knee. He wheezed and collapsed, the chain wrapping tightly around his leg impeding his progress. As the dark-haired man turned to check why he was being assaulted without warning, he saw a boot hit him firmly in the jaw before everything went dark. Koga went in and out of awareness for a while before finally coming to.

He was now standing in what seemed like an office. The office, on the other hand, was more or less a room overlooking a waterfront that looked to connect with the mouth of a cave of some sort. And'standing' consisted of two grunts supporting him under his shoulders. Ironically, the last thing he noticed was the man across from him. His identification was obscured because his face was hooded.

Koga gazed around the room, puzzled as to why it was so quiet. Was he supposed to speak the following words? How long had he been away from it?

"I'm not complaining about the change of scenery here," the elite grumbled.

Snarled one of the grunts. "Close it."

The shrouded man talked almost monotonously. Their speech was muffled by some sort of modulator. Koga was unsure whether the figure speaking to him was male or female. "Hello, Mr. Briarwood. I'm sorry for not introducing myself when you arrived, or even now. I'll keep my true identity hidden from you. All you need to know is that I've been your warden for the past few weeks, and I'd like to thank you before I send you on your way."

"What do you mean?" The elite did not believe he had heard correctly. "Are you letting me go?"

The figure laughed. "Oh no, you're still our prisoner. However, you will be transferred to one of our sibling locations in the near future. We will not release you now or in the future. Having you as a bargaining chip will provide us with tremendous leverage in achieving our objectives. But, notwithstanding, the league will be disbanded soon."

Koga couldn't help himself at this point. For the first time since being apprehended, he burst out laughing. "What do you believe you are capable of? It makes no difference how many 'troops' you bring! We're going to blow them all out of the water. Or was the message we sent you all four years ago insufficient?"

The grunts were going to attack their hostage, but the stranger held their palm up and the grunts stopped moving. "We've underestimated you and your crew before, Mr. Briarwood. That will not occur again. I'm determined to make this the last time your pals annoy us."

Koga laughed. "You'll be pitted against everyone in Kanto, not just the elite four and champion. Don't you see you shouldn't have tried to conquer other regions when you couldn't even conquer your own?"

The figure smirked. "That bug of a boy and his ilk were considerably more powerful than any of us had anticipated. Things will be different now. Today will demonstrate this."

The creature stood, their gray cloak still completely covering their body. Closer scrutiny revealed that the figure was also wearing a mask that resembled a silver robot. Their identity was no closer to being revealed. "Just out of curiosity, Mr. Briarwood, who do you believe to be your allies in Kanto? Please be amused."

Koga laughed. "You wouldn't be asking me if you'd done your homework."

"Who's to say I haven't?" The figure turned around to face the sea and resumed his talk. "Your relationship with the Cinnabar Lab location is one of the league's better-kept secrets, isn't it? So, I've got a surprise for you."

The figure returned to Koga. "Mr. Briarwood, your league pals were willing to massacre hundreds of soldiers to get you back. They've recently exhausted themselves by testing every known idea and contacted every single individual they could in order to locate your location. They achieved... exactly as I predicted." Koga gave a puzzled look, and then responded quickly. "It's not a good thing if you don't recognize which side you're fighting for."

"No, it isn't. Previously, it was they who launched an all-out assault to find you in Vermillion City. Some of my best men and women were killed in battle. Alex, one of my administrators, was also slain in the tragedy. As a result, the only thing I can do in retaliation is wipe them off the face of the earth. And you, Mr. Briarwood, will be forced to spend the rest of your life in a cell, knowing it is your cause they died."

Koga was pale, but he didn't stop asking questions. "How do you even know they're coming after you? Or are you simply afraid of superstitions among your own troops?"

An aggressive response followed. "I know your miserable pals are assaulting as a result of their confession to Cinnabar Lab. My source there has worked tirelessly, and now, due to them, I will wipe the Kanto Elites and their prized champion from the face of the planet in a single blow. They will be caught in a trap as they attack this base, while you will be transported safely away just before they arrive. There will be no convoy since it may alert them that you have been relocated. Instead, you will be transported by a single vehicle to one of our other bases, following which you will be transferred to a completely new region."

The figure walked around the desk and stood in front of Koga, who swears he saw a sneer on the person wearing a mask's face. "Mr. Briarwood, you will never see the light of day again."

Koga hissed and clinched his teeth furiously against each other, knowing he couldn't break free. "Take him away from me. Bring him to Dock G-S3 along with a squadron of grunts." The two grunts who were supporting Koga nodded and hauled the injured elite out. "You over there." The guy standing watch at the entryway saluted. "I await your order, commander."

The guy in front of them nodded and reached into the desk. "Here." It was a belt with five shrunken pokeballs on it. "This is where Mr. Briarwood's Pokémon can be found. This button..." He motioned to the grunt. "Prevents the Pokémon from escaping on their own. I'd like you to put it in a safe place on the vehicle. If our ambush fails to defeat the league's forces, I cannot let these Pokémon fall into their hands. Is this clear?"

"I shall not fail, absolutely supreme leader! Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"There isn't any. The attack will take place within the next half-hour. Please get him out of here. Take him to our base in Lavender Town and use the docks across the island at night. Our safe houses should suffice until the boat is free to leave the docks. If somebody disputes your authority, tell them they're questioning mine. Is that clear, trooper?"

"I comprehend the mission! I will not disappoint you." The soldier stepped out with one final salute. The leader remained silent for a few moments before returning to the waterfront. The figure gradually removed the mask. They sat in their chair with a smile on their faces.

"Soon."


Meanwhile, a mile outside Cerulean City's headquarters, a group of people were openly discussing their plan in a grassy field. Their Pokémon were all running around... it was like the quiet before the storm.

Ash was dressed in a black cloak, and his elites were dressed in something they'd never worn before: body armor. Their strategy was gradually coming to fruition. The group was discussing the final details of their operation. Ash had determined that a surprise maneuver was in order.

"What did you do?" Erika gaped in disbelief.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Paul was taken aback.

Ash moved his head. "No, I'm not sure it was the best decision. It's possible that I'll grow to regret it."

"What part of the ruling are you referring to?" James spoke hesitantly.

Ash frowned. "Both."


The idea was known to the grunts inside Cerulean City HQ. Red was most likely going to enter through the front entrance. If he didn't, all of the other entrances were prepared. Due to backup generators controlled in various portions of the base, the electricity could not be cut this time. The target they were guarding has vanished. There was nothing in their way now, and they could attack with abandon.

The ultimate leader donned their mask once more. They spoke up, knowing their mask had a built-in radio. "Remember, sergeants, show no pity to your adversaries. Remove anyone who stands in our way of eternal glory." The responses poured in quickly.

"Copy the command."

"Affirmative."

"Please copy that."

The supreme commanders chamber, like the Vermillion City HQ, had a big window that overlooked the entire facility. It was primarily a lookout point. Nobody could get up to the leader's room without a flying Pokémon or getting past their elite security. After a few more anxious minutes, a report from one of their scouts arrived.

"Mr. Supreme Leader, I wanted to let you know that I spotted a strange floating thing in the sky that looked like... a balloon of some kind, and it was going this way... There's something coming... there are so many of them! What on earth—oh my... AUGGGHHHH!"

There would be no time to waste. It sounded like the elite's Pokémon had arrived, therefore it was time to eliminate the league's danger once and for all. "Battle positions for all soldiers! It's Pokémon time!" Hundreds of light rays could be seen throughout the base. It was time for battle, and Plasma knew they couldn't afford another defeat. This was their chance to make their mark in Kanto, and they planned to do so by eliminating the legendary Red and the rest of his gang.

For a brief period, the base was deafeningly quiet, but for the growls of Pokémon and the mutterings of Plasma grunts. Then, all of a sudden, the overcom installed around the base started to static. The Supreme Leader exclaimed. "Inform Tech! Get that interference out of here as soon as possible!"

Instead, another voice could be heard. "Heh heh, sorry, not happening."

As the sound spread throughout the base, the soldiers and Pokémon began to glance around wildly. If anything, the tension increased. "Is anyone there?"

"Oh, don't act like you don't know." The voice laughed threateningly.

The Supreme Leader was not playing games. "This will cost you money. You're going to die here today, Red, and you and your league will be sorry for meddling with us. If you surrender now, you may be spared."

"Counter-Offer: You surrender yourself to Kanto's forces. This offer applies to everyone inside this base; surrender now and your life will be saved. If you do not accept this offer, you will all perish in a grizzly bear attack. I'm sure you know what happened to your former Vermillion City buddies." The grunts began to stare at each other, their anxieties plainly growing.

"I recall their screams... how they pleaded with me to save their worthless lives. I also recall how many I slaughtered that day: 300. No, wait... four hundred. Or was it five... heh, guess I killed too many to obtain the exact number."

The tension in the base had only increased, and the Supreme Leader was doing nothing but waiting for his adversary to appear. Red, on the other hand, was playing perfectly into Plasma's hands. "We know far too much about your adventures, Red. You believe you can walk on water because you are invisible. When I say no surrender, I speak for all of my men and women at this base." The Supreme Leader yelled, knowing full well that Red was about to enter via the front entrance. The troops of the leader began to yell in unison.

"No Giving Up! No Giving Up! No Giving Up! No Giving Up! No Giving Up!" The grunts cheered and whooped, knowing their combat stations and that Red was going into a trap. However, in an uncanny coincidence, the champion uttered a single sentence.

"So you've chosen... Death."

The Supreme Leader had no time to respond. An explosion shattered the tops of their bases to smithereens in an instant. As their bodies were crushed by debris, the grunts' applause transformed into cries and wails of agony. Pokémon experienced a similar fate, however their battle conditioning increased their chances of surviving tenfold. A distinct yell came from the grunts. "There he is!"

However, it did not appear like Red was the first to arrive. Five big flying Pokémon swooped into the base and began wreaking devastation. It didn't take long for the Grunts to worry.

"What is it?" A female grunt screamed in terror.

"It's a Metang! A Dragonair, too!" Another person yelled.

"Wait! Red does not possess those Pokémon! None of the elites do either! What's going on?"

"What does it matter? AUGHH! Take them!" Before being destroyed by a Charizard's fire blast, their sergeant spoke. The surviving grunts in the main chamber soon recognized all five flying Pokémon: Metang, Dragonair, Altaria, Flygon, and Charizard. The grunts Pokémon all throughout the base concentrated their attacks on the flying Pokémon, hoping to eliminate the intruders.

The Supreme Leader was perplexed as he stared at the attackers. The riders were difficult to see, but that didn't matter. "The… What are the G-Men? What exactly are they doing here? How are they here?" Something went badly wrong; the contact in Cinnabar Lab should've told them that reinforcements were on their way. Instead, the expertly constructed trap was unraveling before their eyes.

And the league hadn't even launched an attack yet. 'Wait, where could Red possibly be?' What happened to the rest of the league?'

It wasn't long before the flying Pokémon began to hover in the center of the base, their armor absorbing much of the damage. The grunts from all throughout the base were committing their firepower to smashing the G-Men, who appeared undaunted by the onslaught of opponents. The leaders' forces were doing their best to match them, with gobs and gobs of men being devoured by the battle by the minute. To the naked eye, though, it appeared that the grunts were on top.

The troops at the front gate let out whoops and began high-fiving one another. It didn't take long for the supreme commander to sense foreboding. Something was wrong. Why was the league not attacking? It only took one more glance at the front gate to see what Red was up to...

... and why it worked. "NO!" They raged and yelled at his men. "You cretins! Take note of the main entrance!"

It's too late.

BOOOOOOM!

The main gate was destroyed by a massive explosion caused by a swarm of pokemon. The detonation, totally blanketed by the burst, killed or permanently wounded the grunts who weren't paying attention. Their Pokémon met similar demises. The smoke from the explosion hampered eyesight, and it surely cost the grunts who dared to explore first. A barrage of attacks rushed out of the haze.

As a thunderbolt burst from the billow and struck them and their Pokémon, the first three grunts shouted in agony. Red's trusty companion was the first through the gates, and it took down two more grunts and their Pokémon with its Iron Tail strike just moments afterwards. Another flash of lightning appeared from the shadows, revealing Red's Manectric, who smashed through the Grunts like a set of bowling pins. This was because of its Wild Charge attack.

A few grunts were intelligent enough to try to clear the smoke from the area, but they were burned to crisps by a surge of flames. Their Pokémon tried to respond in time, but their opponent arrived from the skies and punched the earth with a fire fist. The potency of the move virtually vaporized the five Pokémon nearest to Red's Infernape, while all others in the vicinity were knocked unconscious quickly.

Bodies, both human and Pokémon, dropped from the sky at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, as the two electric types annihilated their opponents on the ground, high in the sky was a duo that could not have been predicted.

Red intended to use her as a type of token for his opponent in the upcoming battle, but his devoted Garchomp swooped over the skies with a passenger: Lyncanroc. He'd acquired Garchomp as a Gible. He regarded it as a memorial to his Gible, whom he had lost when he was betrayed, and adopted it to nurture as his own. He'd planned to unveil himself against Cynthia, but felt that a pre-match warmup could be the best option.

While Garchomp flew for a few moments before landing quickly to reclaim flight, Lyncanroc used its Rock Tomb attack from the sky to crush its opponents in large numbers. True, despite their overwhelming numbers, the grunts had no answer for the three-man ground force paired with a devastating air strike.

The Supreme Leader was speechless as their forces were slashed like grass blades. As they returned their focus to the base's main entrance, they felt a shudder go down their spine as a person began to emerge from the now-thinning smoke.

The hue of the clothing was obvious at first: black. Then came the outfit: a cape and a huge black hat. Finally, there is a purple cat guarding the man. The remaining Plasma forces that spotted the person and his Pokémon charged at them, Pokémon snarling.

"Use Psychic, Espeon." Bodies were flung madly off their path in a second. The grunts and their Pokémon were helpless as the purple cat wiped the floor with them and their vain attempt to stop them from achieving their goal. The leader said nothing as they watched their forces crumble before the champion's power. They said nothing as they watched the person approach them, until the figure was beneath them and staring up. Nothing was said as the two stared at each other, both aware that the other was the leader of their obvious adversary.

Red only said one word.

"Surrender."

The supreme leader also said only one word.

"Never."

This message appeared to be approved by Red. "I didn't think so." His little smile had morphed into an almost sinister grin. "So, before we demolish this base, we'll reclaim Koga. I'm going to torture you for hours until you tell me everything. When that's completed..." He moved in closer. "I'm going to end your pitiful existence for all the pain you've caused others. You'll be wishing you'd surrendered. You will beg for pity, but you will receive none."

The supreme commander laughed heartily. "Ah, Red, do you think I wouldn't arrange for something like this?" Because Red did not respond, the leader continued with a chuckle. "Mr. Briarwood, I'm afraid, is no longer present. You may have outwitted me and my men, but you only came here for one reason. Mr. Briarwood will be tortured and executed; he was already relocated from this place prior to your raid."

They let out a wicked laugh. "You won't see your friend again."

Red, on the other hand, said nothing. Nothing but quiet. "What's the matter, attack not going as planned?" the leader teased.

"Sir or Madam?"

"What exactly is it? I'm in the process of—" The leader screamed loudly.

"There are much too many! We can't—GASP!" The leader was aware.

"No! Please have mercy! Have some NHAHHHH!" Another voice came across the comms.

"Who is this, troops? What exactly is going on?" This time, the leader spoke loudly and clearly enough for Red to hear.

"S-Sir!? Sergeant Kilthers here!"

A familiar sense of dread washed over the commander. "How about the transportation?"

"Affirmative! I'm not sure how, Sir, but the league is attacking us! Sir, there are far too many Pokémon for us to vanquish! They're going to kidnap the hostAGGGGGGHHH!" The link was cut abruptly by the sergeant's agonizing scream.

"Sergeant? Sergeant?! Respond, soldier!" The leader screamed. The other line was silent; it was dead. The leader shook their head in disbelief; it couldn't be true; it couldn't be true; it couldn't be true. How had things devolved so quickly?

They gazed down at Red, who had remained still. A sneer formed on the champion's face as the bottom of his face became frighteningly visible. Red spoke quietly.

"What's the problem, things aren't going as planned?"

The leader saw red, and after pressing a nearby button, smoke engulfed the Plasma leader's room. Thanks to Espeon's psychic, Red was up in a moment, but it was pointless; the leader had fled without a trace. The two eliminated the adjacent guards and discreetly searched the area to validate their suspicions. Unfortunately, it appeared that the commander had vanished without a trace.

Fortunately, the mission proved to be a big success, as intended. He spoke authoritatively, tapping his commlink once. "Red is my name. We'll leave the base after the G-Men have finished with the last grunts. You have permission to sweep the remainder of the base Officers. I'll order my men to retreat in preparation for the second wave."

"Sir, please replicate that. We'll be there in five minutes."

"Affirmative. Out with the red." One last tap on the commlink ended the transmission. Red was tapping his earphone a split second later. "G-Men, Elites, and Rocket; the raid was successful. Cleared the base. Can I ensure that all squads are healthy and that all missions have been completed?"

"This is Rocket; we're keeping an eye on things from a safe distance; all clear."

"Guardian leader Kiawé is here; I confirm that all of us are in good health; we're leaving the base for law enforcement."

"We have Paul and Koga. He's bruised and abused, yet he's still alive. It appears that they were attempting to slip him away under our noses. We're currently meeting with Rocket, boss."

"Affirmative. This is Red, and I'm exiting the base with all of my Pokemon intact. All units arrive at a safe spot to reorganize." He closed off communication with that sentence. He directed his Pokémon to congregate atop Garchomp and prepare for evacuation. In utter disbelief, he sat down on the ground for a moment. He'd done it; Koga had been saved. He was once again under the league's and the G-Men' protection.

Koga had returned.


The hospital was a raucous place. Koga was awake and gradually regaining his health. The group eagerly welcomed their friend back to the actual world, saying that Koga had been kidnapped by Plasma for just over two weeks. Paul also explained that they'd noticed Koga's car leaving the base approximately five minutes before the attack began, but they didn't want to engage in open combat until they knew Koga was present.

Fortunately, the Plasma Grunts' outfit gave them away. Because of the obviousness of the outfit, the grunts were either erased or subdued.

Ash also took the time to explain his entire strategy and expectations.


Flashback… Just before the attack…

"Let's go, everyone, and make sure your armor is properly fastened on. Don't forget about your left leg, Erika. Paul, please confirm with Rocket that they are ready."

"Got it!" The blonde man made a mock salute before proceeding to chat with Jesse, James, and Meowth. The group exchanged glances as the tension in the air played with them. Sabrina appeared to be the only one who was unconcerned by the situation. In fact, she appeared almost ecstatic to be on the verge of victory. She spoke with zeal. "They'll be sorry they took him. I'm really looking forward to this."

"Sabrina, I'd take your statements with a grain of salt. I'll explain the strategy—" Ash started slowly.

"We already know what the plan is. Let us squash these cretins." Erika was enraged. "Precisely. We've already leveled them; let's do it again." Sabrina agreed with her peers. Ash shook his head angrily. "No."

Silence.

"No?"

"What do you mean?"

Ash gave a nod. "No, we're not going in there blindly and expecting to come out uninjured. We'll approach this strategically. We're changing our strategy." The girls virtually all gasped at the same time. Paul spoke forward, having just come from meeting with Rocket. "What? We're changing the plan? Why? Didn't we work on that for hours?"

Ash slowly nodded. "Yes, however there was a development shift."

Sabrina expressed her disbelief. "What might have changed in the last twenty-four hours to warrant this? After all of our preparation? After all of your efforts with Rocket? After raiding the previous base?"

"Hm… What about a spy discovered at Cinnabar Lab?"

For a little while, the elites remained silent. "W-What?" Paul took a breath.

"Cinnabar Lab was penetrated by plasma? How?"

Ash pressed his nose on the bridge of his nose. "Lusamine informed me this morning that she suspects Cinnabar Lab has a double agent. We communicated with Cinnabar Lab to determine the most exact attack pattern. Anyone at Cinnabar Lab, human or Pokémon, has access to that information. I need to change my strategy and... bring reinforcements. I kept Cinnabar Lab in the dark and thus devised a fresh strategy."

Ash signaled for Rocket to follow them, and they were soon beside the elites. "What is the definition of boss? Is it time to go?" Meowth gave a salute.

"No, I was only informing my elites that our strategy had changed." James gave a nod. "OK, if the plans have changed, what is our part in this new attack?" The champion nodded, his cap covering his little grin. "For the most part, nothing has changed." Ash motioned for everyone to pay close attention. "First and foremost, I'm going to start with Rocket in their balloon." The group took a look at the now-armored Meowth balloon.

'Old habits die hard,' they say.

"We'll get rid of their scout. Meowth will hack into their frequency, and I will try, but fail, to get them to submit. If Cinnabar Lab does have a spy, the fact that we're modifying our plans will catch them off guard. They may believe they know how we intend to strike, which we will exploit. Because we know they are unlikely to surrender, Rocket will drop the bomb on their base as usual. This will create a crack in the cave's roof, allowing us to send our Pokémon in; at least all of the flying Pokémon."

Ash gave himself a nod. "Multiple fliers will command the Pokémon when they arrive. We'll keep them at bay as long as we can. Because they expect us to enter by the front entrance and subsequently the sewers, an attack from the skies will catch them off guard. I'll enter through the main gate with Espeon as my guard and Kilowattrel, Manectric, Garchomp, and Lyncanroc as the hunters. They'll deflect the guards' rage long enough to keep the flying Pokémon from the initial strike alive. The armor is of the highest quality; it's designed to repel Ultra Beasts, so grunting Pokémon should be easy work."

He continued to speak to his elites while looking back. "Finally, if a spy has our old plan, Koga will inevitably be moved because they know an attack is imminent. They won't risk sending him out on a boat because the front entrance is on the water. They'll either try to sneak him through or send a convoy with him." Ash spoke to his three elites. "You three and your Pokémon will undoubtedly be the ones to save Koga and prevent anyone from fleeing. No stone should be left unturned. From here, three routes branch off. Each of you chooses and defends a path. Maintain regular contact. If someone tries to flee, eliminate them."

Ash adjusted his cap. "That is our strategy. Questions?"

"I've got one; Ash, you're forgetting something." Erika was speaking slowly. "We'll have no Pokémon and no more manpower coming in via the top of the base if the three of us control the routes with our armored from the sky Pokémon. What is our plan for that? Tell us you've thought of something, anything."

Ash rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes... but I admit it's a big gamble." Ash sighed and leaned forward, carefully considering his next words. "Okay, I'll be honest. These are the reinforcements I mentioned. The G-Men approached me directly; they've been wanting to join the fight since the region was attacked. I gave them permission to assist us in our assault on Cerulean City's headquarters."

"What did you do?" Erika gaped in disbelief.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Paul was taken aback.

Ash moved his head. "No, I'm not sure it was the best decision. It's possible that I'll grow to regret it."

"What part of the ruling are you referring to?" James spoke hesitantly.

Ash frowned. "Both."

Rocket was taken aback by Ash's bravado. The champion gave out a sigh of relief and apologized. "I'm well aware that the G-Men are accustomed to Ultra Beasts rather than Team Plasma, but I had no alternative. They asked to be included in the war."

Ash chewed his lower lip cautiously. "That's why I told them not to talk to Cinnabar Lab about this new invention... Lusamine included."

"Are you keeping Lusamine in the dark about this?" Paul exhaled a sigh of surprise.

Ash took a peek around the room. "I am, indeed."

Sabrina was impressed as well. "This is... a significant risk, even for you."

"This is something I'm aware of. The G-Men will be caught in the crossfire; I've already warned them, and they've prepared with armor. They're aiming to distract the grunts and eliminate as many of them as possible. Rocket carries two explosives, one of which will be used to cave in the roof and the other by myself on the front gate. Following that, Rocket's mission is to serve as a landmark for the police and to keep an eye out for any potential Plasma reinforcements."

Ash's gaze was drawn to the horizon, where he noticed five figures gliding towards them at breakneck speed. "They've arrived."

He addressed the audience directly. "Get yourself ready."


It had worked flawlessly. The grunts had no idea why the attack hadn't started at the front door, and because troops had been defending the sewers beneath the base, the roof caving in had trapped both Pokémon and warriors. It had been a flawless assault. Because to their Ultra Beast training and high-tech armor, the G-Men were only slightly injured. Rocket had summoned the police to their location, while the grunts attempted to transfer Koga as the onslaught began.

Ash's strategy was spot on. The base was razed. The grunts were either killed or captured. They were accompanied by their Pokémon. Koga had recovered and was now in remission.

Perhaps the only thing that hadn't gone as planned was the capture of Plasma's leader, who Ash fully anticipated to be in the base watching the league be 'defeated.' They were, indeed, there and taken off guard. Sadly, they'd escaped before Ash could apprehend them.

Regardless, it was apparent; the league had scored a significant victory today, and there were only two bases left. The media was all over the event, and Ash had to make numerous reports, but he always emphasized the same thing: they were reclaiming their region, and if Plasma thought they were secure, he was going to enjoy proving them wrong. He was also relieved to learn that Koga had returned safely and that their onslaught had forced Plasma's leader to escape with "their tail between their legs."

It didn't take long for Indigo Plateau and the region to catch Red and his elites' contagious momentum. Ash had not mentioned the G-involvement Men's in the attack at Lusamine's request after learning that her G-Men had been involved in the conflict. Ash had an obvious light radiating about him for hours after the battle.

He'd followed Lusamine's words and intuition, and they'd buried Plasma when they thought they'd figured out the league. Their boss would now have to spend valuable time hiding their tracks and licking their wounds. With Koga returned, a difficult chat was unavoidable.

As soon as Ash finished his meeting with Koga, he intended to check in on Tyson Tetsuya. Ash was casually leaning on the doorframe while Koga was surrounded by his fellow elites and Pokémon who had been retrieved during the assault. Koga seemed to be singling out a single individual in the room the entire time, even as his friends and Pokémon crowded him; Ash himself.

"Welcome back, buddy!"

"Those cretins are going to pay."

"Rorrrrr!"

Koga just chuckled in a hoarse voice after roughly eleven-zillion pleasantries. "All right, you crazy youngsters, I need to speak out."

"And with whom?"

"Him." The elites turned to face their commander, who was now standing a few feet away from Koga's bed. Paul took an uneasy look around. "Er... do you need the room?"

Koga started. "Yeah, I believe—"

"No. You are all welcome to remain. I believe you should hear this as well." Ash spoke with authority. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife, according to the elites. Erika took the floor next. "Guys? What exactly is going on?"

Ash took a few steps before coming to a halt and speaking. "I've been keeping something from you three for quite some time now, and it's about time I told you all." Kilowattrel on his shoulder looked at him knowingly as he licked his lips.

"I told you I was the first person on the scene when Koga was kidnapped. That was correct. What I… What I didn't tell you was that I had already arrived, along with Koga. That I was aware of..." Ash cast a glance at Koga, as if seeking his approval. The man nodded, his face obscured by an unreadable look, pushing him to continue. "Even after I told him to stop, I knew he was still seeing Malva behind our backs. When I went to Uraliz' shop, we got into a violent disagreement. It didn't help that Malva was fanning the flames; it merely fueled the fire. I lost tolerance after a few minutes of arguing."

Before speaking, Ash held his head for a few seconds. "I pulled Koga from the competition, placed him on elite probation, and found him fit for house arrest."

The elites let out a collective gasp. "What?"

"Disqualified from the tournament?" Sabrina widened her eyes.

Ash gave a nod. "Yes, he was kicked out of the event. Even if he hadn't been abducted by Plasma, I wouldn't have let him fight."

Koga interjected, astounded that Ash was being so forthright, but also astounded that his equals appeared to be unaware of his tournament standing. "H-hold up, it's not entirely his fault, you didn't hear the whole story—"

"It goes beyond than that. My objectives were to violate the statutes that established this league, and I delivered the decision without providing him the opportunity to correct his acts or show himself otherwise. I did so without your input, and I really apologize. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I will do my best not to let them do so again." Ash addressed his elites immediately before turning to Koga.

"Koga, I've had the privilege of knowing you for the past three years, and those are three years I wouldn't trade for anything. You've been nothing but faithful to myself and your fellow elites; you've done everything you could to serve Kanto. You've never truly been defeated in battle. I understand how hasty it was of me to rule you out of the fight based on the circumstances. I must express my heartfelt regret for this. We can't claim we haven't had a difficult few weeks, but knowing you were out there being subjected to Arceus knows what, I think I speak for everyone when I say we're all pleased you're back and in one piece."

The trio next to Koga was still astonished by the news of Koga's probation and suspension from the competition. Before any of the three could speak, Koga finally had a chance to express what was on his mind.

"Ash, you need to quit blaming everyone else. You had sufficient grounds to punish me in this manner. You are aware of this. If you're not going to explain why, I'll do it for you." Koga turned to face his peers and spoke. "I'd been sneaking around with Malva behind everyone's back for weeks. I usually had my Pokémon with me and assumed I was safe. When it came down to the wire, I was so enraged... that my feelings were nonsense. I disregarded Ash's orders when he approached me and told me to return to the league to discuss what he'd discovered."

Koga's lips licked. "I defied him, and he remained calm. When Malva began debating, Ash lost patience and stated that he was aware of her connection with Team Flare. After a few insults, I just... I just…"

Silence. "I'd lost it. I smacked him in the face as hard as I could. I only saw crimson. I'm at a loss for words."

The elites stared at Koga, perplexed. Koga, who was always so composed, had assaulted his own leader? Koga? That didn't make any sense, not at all.

"I'm really sorry, Ash. Every minute I've been a prisoner, guilt has been gnawing at me. I have to be honest. You are correct. Malva is a shady chick, but you know how I like my gals. I didn't even think about the bylaws or how it would affect you, Sabrina, Paul, or Erika. It occurred to me that perhaps I was seized as an opening step to all Plasma traitors."

Paul scowled. "What exactly do you mean?"

The man with brown hair spoke. "Consider this. We had no reason to believe they'd still be in business before Plasma took me. They were delivering a message to Malva and every other Plasma deserter that they couldn't conceal or forget what had transpired."

"Wait a minute, but if that's true—" Erika started.

"Professor Oak may be in grave danger. That explains why he was so hesitant to reveal his name as an ex-Plasma member; he knew people would come for him if Plasma was ever reinstated as a criminal organization." Ash spoke quietly.

Koga was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Ash, I'd like to start my probation term right away. I recognize that I need to regain your trust. Please allow me to demonstrate to you that I am destined to be here with my buddies. Please." The three elites turned at Ash, who was wearing an unreadable expression on his face.

Ash hesitantly nodded and extended his hand to Koga. As the fire/ground elite firmly shook his leader's hand, relief flowed through the Player's veins. "We can go over specifics afterwards. For the time being, you will always have some form of protection. Your Pokémon will remain with you, and at least one of us will remain in the building at all times, at least for the time being. I'm going to keep the probation out of the public eye. Aren't we all?"

"Of certainly," she says.

"Naturally."

"Yep."

Ash returned his gaze. "We'll choose our next moves once you're fully recovered. Unfortunately, we're already overburdened."

"What exactly do you mean?"

Ash's lips licked. "Choose your poison. Lance basically ordered me to go to hell in the course of about a day after you were taken."

Ash rubbed the back of his neck. "Actually, I'm here. But I have another stop to make before I can see her again. Tyson needs to see me."

"Tyson? Tetsuya Yamada? The guy that beat Sabrina in the first tournament and was still in it the last time I checked? Why?" Unknowingly, Koga inquired.

Sabrina didn't seem bothered by the remark. "That's something more you overlooked."

"Tyson was only attacked a few days ago. We don't know much about the attack other than Goh makes it to the last four. That is, if Ash here beats Cynthia—"

"—He will compete against Goh for the chance to compete in the championship." Erika gave a nod.

Koga took his time digesting the information he'd just received. "Damn, you weren't joking; you've got a lot on your plate right now, with Plasma back, Tyson out of commission, and saving me... man. Do you want us to take any of that off your hands?"

Ash made a tiny frown. "Mr. Goodshow will continue to accept updates from Sabrina and Paul, while Erika keeps the league in safe quarters. We know there's a mole inside Cinnabar Lab, so I need to be cautious with information. For the time being, Plasma is hot on their tail, which is exactly what we need. We still don't know anything about Plasma's leader. I still need to deal with the traitors. They're going to get it, and I'm sure they think I've turned to dust by now. It's almost time for us to introduce ourselves."

Ash approached Koga and extended his hand formally. The man cast a puzzled glance at the gesture, his eyes glossed over with caution. Ash shook his leader's hand firmly once the brown-haired man assured there was no hate or ill-intent in his eyes. "We can have more in-depth discussions about what to expect later."

Ash took a breather before chuckling. "By the way, you've got a killer hook there. That one lingered for a few days."

Koga sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "I'd say I was exercising, but that would be a lie. Heh, no poker face here either. So we're all set?"

Ash laughed once again. "Yeah, we're OK." The raven-haired man approached the door, which had been closed during the conversation. "Now I have to go talk to Tyson about the attack. I'm sure he's been waiting for me for a while now. I'm sure you're all desperate to keep the Player entertained. Make sure someone is always on the lookout. To your roles, all elites will be assigned."

With that, the dreaded champion turned on his heel and exited the room, leaving the entire elite four in his wake. He'd felt as if a large amount of the weight on his shoulders had been lifted, and boy was he grateful. He now had to cope with another issue: dealing with Tyson.