Note-

Thanks to Hnbutt, the error in the chapter has been corrected.

Last Chapter…

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 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.

Present…

Misty was making her way through the tunnel to the KBS battlefield. Misty was eager to fight. Misty was well aware that she could not afford to lose this battle. It was a battle she'd be blaming herself over if she lost a week ago. With the current circumstances, it was one she was unlikely to forgive himself for if she lost. She couldn't afford to lose at this point. The last few days had been spent grinding for her and her Pokémon ceaselessly. There was no doubt that this would be her most difficult test yet, and he was now a step away from the 6 against 6 clashes in the semi-finals and championship match.

Misty took her time, and she heard her name called. Misty went out slowly, hands on her hips, palms open, and head down slightly. Her eyes were shut. She appeared to be taking part in some sort of photoshoot. She continued to walk gently in this manner, her shoes lightly smacking the soft ground below. Mistyifted her head and glared down her opponent without pausing. Lance returned her gaze, his expression blank. The crowd shouted out one last raucous cheer as she went inside the rectangle before quieting down as the referee announced the regulations.

"The battle between Elite Lance Dragonwright of Johto and Champion Green of Johto is about to begin," the crowd erupted in applause, their enthusiasm palpable. From the outside, neither Misty nor Lance's expression changed.

"This is the tournament's second-to-last 3 on 3 battle, and the winner will face Clemont Yates for the right to compete in the Championship. As determined by a battle randomizer, there will be no stadium gimmicks. However, at no point may a Pokémon be swapped out, so moves like Baton Pass, Volt Switch, or U-Turn may not be used in battle. Is that clear?" the referee declared authoritatively.

"Yes." Lance spoke for the first time.

"Crystal." Misty nodded briskly.

"If a Pokémon is forced out with a move such as Dragon Tail, the swap will be allowed. Otherwise the Pokémon that switched out will be disqualified for the remainder of the battle. Are both trainer's ready?"

"Yes."

"I am."

The referee nodded. "Trainer's will release their Pokémon at the same time, on my mark. 3… 2… 1… throw!"

Time seemed to slow down as Misty launched his first pokeball into the air. Misty found herself hopelessly trapped in battle. All she wanted to think about was dispatching Lance and moving on to the— Okay, that was too simple. The truth was that Lance was separated from the rest of the folks she'd fought. In other terms, this would be his tenth most difficult combat. Lance, despite his obstinacy, was a fierce fighter who approached every combat with a strategy. She was well-versed in most warfare scenarios. Misty had no doubt he'd come prepared to confront her.

Misty needs a solid plan in place. Misty understood that, more than in any other combat, type coverage and situational alertness were critical to victory. She had brought a threesome that, if she was honest with herself, was capable in most scenarios. Misty was aware that his team had flaws, but she had a fair notion of Lance's team thanks to some good data analytics work. She assembled her team, taught them new moves, and prepared a backup Pokémon in case something went wrong with one of the starters.

Lance, she was sure, would do the same. Misty refused to dismiss Lance. Unlike Malva, he was not an Elite for nothing. Other than Ash, this man would be a tremendous opponent, one of the most difficult she would face in the near future. She knew he could win, but would she commit to the fight? Misty spied her first Pokémon on the battlefield before taking Lance's. Something clicked in her thoughts, and she connected the dots.

The referee yelled. "Dragonite versus Eelektross, battle begin!"

Misty smiled, she had a strategy against Dragonite that would work well. She would however give the first move to Lance.

"Dragonite, use Draco Meteor" As Dragonite charged the move, Misty ordered her first move as well. "Use Dragon Tail!"

Eelektross flew rapidly to Dragonite who was spending energy to charge the attack and then used Dragon Tail, sending Dragonite to the Pokeball while Dragonite took damage along with the move and then Excadrill was released. Misty knew Excadrill would be a challenge and she had her strategy prepared.

"Gastro Acid!"

As the announcer had expressed his shock and surprise, claiming Misty had an advantage now, Misty mentally prepared her upcoming moves, while Lance gritted his teeth which indicated to Misty that Lance's Excadrill had the ability Mold Breaker and Mold Breaker would have made Eelektross which had Levitate and was having no type weakness, become weak to Ground and his strategy was gone. Lance knew he faced a battle with a Pokemon that had no type weakness but he would not lose.

"Shadow Claw!"

"Aqua Tail!"

As Excadrill ran to use Shadow Claw, Eelektross used Aqua Tail and both the attacks hit and to Lance's surprise, Eelektross was able to make Excadrill to lose more health than expected which meant that Misty was a very strong battler. While Lance knew that was possible and he was open for all possibilities, he knew the match woud be hard.

"Focus Blast!"

"Evade!" As Excadrill was using Focus Blast repeatedly, Eelektross was evading the move rapidly and Lance realized that he made a grave error, his Excadrill's Special Attack was now too less and Lance realized it was time for Excadrill to stop using the move.

"Smart Strike!"

Excadrill was then using Smarrt Strike and was hitting Eelektross while Eelektross was using Aqua Tail and making Excadrill to lose quite some health rapidly and Lance's strategy was now brute power to wear down Eelektross but Excadrill fainted much more rapidly than expected.

"Dragonite, go!"

"Dragon Tail!" As Lance released Dragonite, Eelektross used Dragon Tail and Dragonite again lost quite some health and went back to the Pokeball and Lance released Aerodactyl from the Pokeball. Misty knew that Eelektross had two moves that were supereffective and one that had Same-type attack bonus.

"Thunderbolt!"

"Stone Edge!" Eelektross used Thunderbolt rapidly at Aerodactyl which was hit by the attack and lost health. Aerodactyl was then flying and then was able to evade from the attack while Eelektross was able to evade from the Stone Edge attack by floating away from the attack.

"Dragon Dance!"

Aerodactyl was then using Dragon Dance and increasing the power of it's attacks and Eelektross was then using Thunderbolt and was able to hit Aerodactyl this time as Aerodatyl was going about the same position and Aerodactyl was losing health due to the attack.

"Dragon Pulse!"

"Full power Thunderbolt!"

Aerodactyl used a very powerful Dragon Pulse while being hit by Thunderbolt and both Pokemons wer losing health rapidly and then to Lance's horror, Aerodactyl proved to have lesser health than Eelektross and then Aerodactyl fainted from the attack.

"Dragonite, Draco Meteor!"

"Lach on to Dragonite and use Dragon Tail!" Eelektross rapidly latched itself to Dragonite and then was using Dragon Tail which was causing Dragonite to lose health rapidly Dragonite was continuing to fly rapidly but still was struck by the move and was unable to get Eelektross to leave itself.

"Heat Wave!"

Dragonite had lowered Special Attack due to using Draco Meteor and Heat Wave was hitting Eelektross but Eelektross was losing health lesser rapidly while using Dragon Tail on Dragonite continuously and Dragonite was losing health and then Dragonite fainted.

"Elite Lance's Dragonite is unable to battle, Green's Eelektross wins! Champion Dragonwright is out of usable Pokémon! Therefore, with a three to zero victory, the trainer moving on to the semi-finals and the six-on-six battles is Green, Champion of Johto!" The crowd exploded into encores and whoops for Misty winning in an excellent manner. Misty let out a relived laugh and wiped the sweat that had been forming on his brow.

She's done it.

Lance, meanwhile, was kneeling next to his Garchomp, consoling it for a the loss. "You did a spectacular job my dear friend. I couldn't have asked for anything more."

Garchomp, who was now conscious, growled softly. "Dra…"

"I proved to not be strong enough or to have a very good strategy." The Pokémon smiled weakly at its trainer before being sucked into its pokeball.

Misty was patting her Eelektross on the back with a huge grin. "Congrats, you have defeated Lance." The Pokémon let out a mighty sound, one that appeared to sound like it had never once been hit in the battle despite having too less health.

A new voice cut in. "You're truly remarkable."

Misty turned to Lance, who was smiling at the duo. "Thank you."

The Dragon trainer smiled. "Until next time." He turned and walked out of the stadium, cheers still raining down. Misty watched him walk away for a few moments before she gestured to Eelektross to follow her. They went to the middle of the battlefield, and as the crowd fully expected, she slowly got down on one knee. Eelektross followed suit, going to the crowd with a solid crashing noise. Misty was quiet for a moment, head held low and a shadow covering her eyes.

Her Pokémon said nothing, only holding its head low. Misty stood up and Eelektross did the same. It seemed like Eelektross expected Misty to return it right away, but instead, Misty gestured towards the crowd. A moment later, Eelektross let out a mighty roar that shook the stadium to the core. Misty raised a fist slowly in victory as the crowd exploded into cheers. With that, he returned Garchomp to its pokeball and put his hands in his pockets.

The smallest curl of his lips could be seen as she walked away. The thunderous roars and cheers from the audience began to morph into cries he knew all too well as she approached the main tunnel.

"Green!"

"Green!"

"Green!"

"Green!"

"Green!"

Misty looked back to the stadium one last time before she entered the tunnel and gave a two-fingered salute to the crowd before turning around and walking in, the roars still echoing off the concrete walls and words still echoing in his ears as he made his way back.

The smile that graced her face once she was back in the locker room was contagious as she swiftly packed her things to return home.

Few Hours later...

Sabrina could feel her cheeks burning. He was correct. In his perplexity, he was completely honest. She was flirting with him. There was no way around it. She had meant it as well; she had meant every word.

She did long for him.

But why was she feeling this way?

"Well?"

Sabrina sighed with frustration. "All right, I was mocking you a little, but it's nothing compared to what you did!"

"Does that justify your taunting me?"

"Yes! No… Maybe?" She shook her head helplessly. "In comparison to what you did, it didn't seem like much."

"It still isn't right. You are aware of this."

Sabrina opened her mouth to object, but she knew deep down that he wasn't lying. She sat on the ground, and Lance joined her in seconds. "Well, I… If I stated differently, I'd be lying. You are correct... It's not ethical to flirt with you only to shoot you down again out of spite. You have the support of the entire elite. Actually, anyone... would agree with you."

Lance remained silent while Sabrina considered her next words. "I despise this."

The man blinked, perplexed by the ambiguous sentence. "You despise me?"

The lovely lady shook her head gently. "No, I despise what we're doing."

Lance appeared perplexed. "Look." She exhaled a sigh. "I find you... appealing. You're easy on the eyes, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so. If I really wanted to, I could use Cynthia as an example."

"What are you saying now?"

The pink-haired adolescent snorted. "Please tell me you haven't noticed her staring at you?"

Lance shook his head slowly, his eyes wide and his countenance transformed into one of mistrust. "Well, in any case, women find you appealing. I've found myself among them. Whether you believe it or not "She paused for a moment before speaking. "Even your arrogant and brash nature strikes me as brash. To most other men, it comes across as arrogance. For you... I can't put it into words, but it's quite intriguing to me. You don't take crap from anyone, and I admire that about you."

Lance rubbed the back of his neck. "If Ash wants to, he can boss me about."

Sabrina continued, her speech becoming increasingly impassioned. "But only because you felt bad about what happened between us and Ash discovered!" He appeared astonished at the statement, which was not false. "Did he—"

"No, he remained silent. I suspected you two had an unspoken understanding. For obvious reasons, I did not wish to divide it. The league benefited greatly from your covering for him for nearly two years. Ash was able to maintain appearing in public for days on end. He was able to keep crime at bay. After we completed our training, we began our first mission, which was to patrol the islands and meet the residents. It was our responsibility to establish a reputation. For about a half-year, we rotated every two days across the islands."

Lance was silent for a brief period. "How come you're telling me this?"

The girl appeared to be feeling guilty. "We also rotated in at Indigo Plateau during that period. Rather, the city when it was nothing more than a massive, useless bag of dirt in the middle of nowhere. Because you were able to buy him time, Ash was able to forge the city from the ground up and only make it this beautiful and rich. I had plenty of time to ponder about... what had transpired while that was going on. I required that time."

"It was just uncontrollable rage for the first couple weeks. I wanted Arceus himself to wipe you off the face of the world. I felt I had a strong case for the circumstance. But as time passed, I tried to put myself in your shoes. I kept thinking that you must have made a mistake. I kept expecting you to come explain yourself."

She looked at Lance for the first time in possibly a few minutes. "You've never done it."

The champion gave a nod. "As Ash stated, I should give you all of the distance the regions offered. Even if he hadn't said anything, I knew you didn't want to see my mug anywhere in the region where you'd just been appointed elite. Because of this, I avoided Alola at all costs."

Sabrina cast another downward glance. "After a few months, I began to wear the mask that many people now see. It's similar to Ash's first incarnation as Red, when he constantly wore the Black cloak and cap. The inhabitants of Alola had seen Red for a long time in that attire, and despite seeing his efforts to safeguard the territory, they could never get rid of the dark and brooding vibe he gave off. After a while, Ash decided to quit wearing the cloak in order to improve his reputation.

Lance gave a nod. "It was successful."

"Yeah. People now exclusively refer to him as Red, which is a wonderful thing." She appeared depressed. "I wasn't as fortunate. The mask I wore had become widely known. I was cold, unforgiving, silent, and... nasty."

As Sabrina found her next words, the red-haired man prudently kept his trap shut. "Everyone else started building their reputations. Paul was given the title of Hero once his notoriety as a Viridian City vigilante was discovered. Instead of Ash, he received an award from the municipal council for making the city safer. Koga earned his moniker for being a brilliant card player as well as a heartbreaker. 'The Player' never lost in his peak, and I don't believe he has since being voted to the elite. Erika... the Beautiful, needs no further explanation. For any heterosexual, single man, she's like walking cocaine."

The girl was silent for a time before speaking gently. "Then there's me... the Ruthless. My face mask had frozen over. Over the months, my reputation as a complete jerk to everyone I met had grown to the point where my name was set in stone. Anyone I encountered in battle, I buried. I've never given out autographs. I never stopped to take pictures or talk to the locals. It didn't matter that I was one of the best trainers in the area; everyone knew to avoid me. And it was entirely my fault."

She raised her head in surprise. "I… That's something I've never told anyone before. Nobody, not even the elites. No one, not even Ash."

Lance was taken aback by her story. He selected his next words cautiously. "Do… Do you feel any better now that you've gotten it off your chest?"

The girl paused before smiling... a genuine smile. "Yes... I-I genuinely do."

Lance smiled slightly. "I'm relieved. Really."

The girl put her hand on his, making him slightly startle. "I'm sorry for how I've been acting around you, Lance. It wasn't fair to you, but I didn't back down. I can't claim you're not to blame, but I know my actions didn't help the matter. I apologize for everything I've said and done."

The man slowly nodded, a slight grin on his face. He wrapped his hand around hers slowly. She didn't back up. "Everything is OK. I was the one who started it. At the very least, I deserved what was given to me. I comprehend. I've been mucking things up lately as well..."

"What exactly do you mean?"

Lance appeared to be guilty. "My arrogance may have come over too strongly with Ash. He attempted to forewarn me about asking you out. I didn't pay attention and lashed out at him."

Sabrina gave a nod. "Yes, he did mention that. If it's any consolation, I believe your argument with him was the last thing on his mind over the last few weeks."

The man raised his head in surprise. "What? Why?"

Sabrina jerked her head. "Ash has had a difficult few weeks. Koga was kidnapped before your combat."

"Yeah, I asked him about it right before I blew out."

"Wow... that's enough to drive any man nuts."

"Exactly. He spent weeks suffering with the loss of his friend, elite, who was also his friend, and his lover all within twenty-four hours. Koga has returned, but after what occurred with Tyson and his attack—"

"Huh?"

"And then there's Cynthia to think about. He's got a lot on his plate right now. He's currently working triple overtime, and I can't help but feel ineffective."

Lance made a quick motion with his hands in front of his face. "Wait, hold on, what happened to Tyson Tetsuya? Isn't that who we're talking about here?"

Sabrina fixed her gaze on his. "You've really been out of the loop these last several weeks, haven't you?"

The man appeared to be embarrassed. "Yeah. I couldn't even prepare for a combat since I was so mentally drained. Some sort of champion. Ash is alone while his buddies forsake him left and right, but he keeps going."

Sabrina delicately touched his shoulder. "Don't be too harsh on yourself. Ash is without a doubt the most determined person we both know. We know why he works so hard: he wants to exact revenge on the tyrants who condemned him to hell. That's why we both support him and appreciate him, right?

"Yeah... you're right." Lance slowly nodded.

A brief moment of stillness ensued. Lance then said again, shattering the stillness. "So, where precisely does this leave us?"

Sabrina paused for a moment before making her decision. "For the time being, let's call it friends... Does that sound reasonable?"

The man smiled and nodded. "It's friends."

Her pokégear rang thanks to his amazing timing. Something was wrong when she looked at the man who was phoning. "I'm sorry, I have to take this."

"What exactly is it, Koga? I'm in the process of doing something."

"You're obviously not with Serena, because I recently discovered her. And you'll never guess who she's with. I require your presence as soon as feasible." On the other end of the line, the Player spoke. The female elite quickly blinked before nodding. "Okay, I understand. I'm already on my way. I'm bringing a visitor."

She hung up before Koga could respond. "Would you like to come for a fly?"

Lance said nothing but smiled.


(Time Skip… A handful of hours later)

Ash was making his way down the tube to the ABS battleground. He could hear the fans yelling and stomping on the bleachers to make as much noise as they could. He, on the other hand, felt little to no emotion. Ash was well aware that he couldn't afford to lose this battle. It was a battle he'd be beating himself over if he lost a week ago.

With the current circumstances, he was unlikely to be able to forgive himself if he lost. He couldn't afford to lose at this point. He and his Pokémon had been grinding nonstop for the past few days. Cynthia was the only thing standing in his way of finally burying Goh. There was no doubt that this would be his most difficult test yet, and he was now a step away from the 6 against 6 bouts in the semi-finals and championship match.

Cynthia, unlike Diantha, had earned the right to be crowned champion. Her crew was world-famous. Her Garchomp was the most feared Pokémon among the champions. This would be no stroll in the park... at least not like his previous battles. Ariana, Cynthia's niece and Ash's first opponent in the tournament, would most likely appear to be a breeze in compared to her older cousin.

Ash strolled slowly, knowing when the crescendo would come... despite not listening to the song. His name was called, and fireworks began to fly left and right. The crowd gave out a deafening yell that sent chills down everyone's spine. Ash walked slowly out, hands by his hips, palms open, and head down slightly. His eyes were shut. He appeared to be taking part in some sort of photography.

He continued to stroll gently in this manner, his sneakers lightly smacking the soft ground below. The iconic Red raised his head and gazed down his opponent without pausing. Cynthia returned his stare, her demeanor blank. The spectators began to shout his name as he reached the trainer's box.

'Red!'

'Red!'

'Red!'

'Red!'

'Red!'

The crowd threw out one more raucous cheer as he stepped into the rectangle before quieting down as the referee proclaimed the regulations.

"The duel between Sinnoh Champion Cynthia Shirona and Red of Alola is about to begin." The audience erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable. From the outside, neither Ash nor Cynthia's expression changed.

"This is the tournament's last three-on-three bout. The winner of this duel will compete against Max Maple for the right to compete in the Championship. There will be no stadium gimmicks, as determined by a combat randomizer. A Pokémon, however, may never be replaced. As a result, moves like Baton Pass, Volt Switch, and U-Turn are not permitted in battle. Is that understood?" The referee made an authoritative announcement.

"Yes." Cynthia said her first words.

"Crystal." Ash gave a quick nod.

"The swap will be permitted if a Pokémon is forced out by a move such as Dragon Tail. Otherwise, the Pokémon that was replaced will be disqualified for the rest of the battle. Are both trainers prepared?"

"Yes."

"I am."

The official nodded. "Trainers will release their Pokémon simultaneously, on my watch. 3… 2… 1… throw!"

Time seemed to slow down as Ash launched his first pokeball into the air. Despite the fact that he was up against one of the world's most powerful trainers, the biggest event that had happened to him since the day he was betrayed came flooding back to him in a single moment. He was with Tyson in the hospital... he'd just recused Koga from the elites, Rocket, and the Guardians...

Three days before...

He was in the boy's room in no time. Because both were 'high profile' people of interest, it was on the same floor as Koga. The different items at the edge of the competitor's bed indicated that at least a few individuals had visited him. The boy, now a man, was wide awake and seemed displeased to be bedridden. He was looking out the window, despondently.

Ash remained silent for a few moments, noting how the legal adult hadn't even noticed the champion leaning against the doorframe. The all-powerful trainer finally spoke. "There's got to be something interesting out there, right?"

Tyson hopped into his bed and stared freely at Red. "Um, Red, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to witness a man who really wants to leave the hospital but can't."

"What revealed it?"

"Koga. We were able to reclaim him." Red murmured, a tiny smile flashing across his lips.

Tyson smiled at Red. "So I'm delighted for you. Unfortunately, I don't get all of the local news. How long has he been gone?"

"He was returned to me today. He's emaciated and hasn't eaten in a few weeks, so he's simply trying to get back into the swing of things. I'm sure you know how it is."

"Yeah, I understand." Tyson's expression changed abruptly. "It's ironic that you say you got him back today, because Lillie stopped by today. She appeared to have been in some sort of combat. Her face was marked by a little scar. I was alarmed, but she assured me that it was nothing to be concerned about; she also refused to tell me how she acquired it in the first place." Tyson narrowed his eyes warily at Red, not fazed in the least by the menacing presence.

"How would you know anything about that?"

Red simply smiled coyly. "I'm not sure how Lillie spends her free time. Your guess is just as valid as mine."

Tyson's suspicious expression never left his face. "Uh, well... sure." He sighed after a moment. "I guess there's nothing I can do about it. What brings you here? I expected to be one of your first visitors following the attack."

"That's what I assumed as well, because a lot of material was tossed onto my property in quick succession. How awful is it really?"

Tyson frowned. "Take your pick; shattered ribs, ankle fracture... on others." Ash examined Tyson's look, noting the numerous bandages and protective casings strewn around his body, and bit his lip. "It doesn't appear to be a good time."

"I don't think so either." Tyson retaliated by biting back. "What brings you here now? There has to be a good explanation, right?"

Ash gave a nod. "Yeah. I'm guessing you were attacked by Goh. He steals your Pokémon, May is taken away for it, he seeks vengeance, and finds the ideal mix of opportunity and chance at a party. He beats you up, you're ruled medically ineligible for the competition, and you're eliminated since you can't possibly participate?"

Tyson appeared to be eating a particularly hefty tablet. "Please don't remind me." The boy groaned and licked his lips. "Look, as much as I'd like that pipsqueak to receive what's coming to him, I'm confident if you get past Cynthia, you'll flatten him into the pavement."

Ash gave him a hopeful glance. "Wait, did he and the croons do this to you?"

Tyson paused before shakily shaking his head. "… No. He wasn't the one. I still haven't told my lawyer, but it was a Plasma grunt that did it."

Ash jerked back. "What?"

The pale-skinned child sighed and closed his blue eyes. "Yeah. I went outside to get some fresh air and ended up near the pool. Nobody else was out there, so it was the ideal opportunity to talk to myself before heading back inside. It was quiet for a while until I felt someone put me in a headlock. I spun my body around instinctively to get a good look at the guy. He was dressed in the same Plasma suit as everyone else, but his head was covered by a hood. We wrestled until he pushed me up against the building and used rapid punches to break my ribs. I grabbed his hood and ripped it off as I fell."

The youngster shrugged helplessly. "The guy was enraged when he saw me. It was unmistakably a grunt. I'm not sure why they wanted me removed from the event; we weren't even in the finals or anything. For a few more minutes, the dude roughed me up. For the rest of the time, I was basically drifting in and out of awareness. I heard him call back his Pokémon just before I passed out, and he bolted."

In Ash's opinion, the attack had to be tournament-related. The issue was that Tyson was correct. Goh was pushed farther by fighting Tyson, but this just set Goh up to face Cynthia or himself. If Cynthia won, they might go for her next, but did it indicate Plasma and Max were collaborating? But, on the other hand, could it have been a random attack?

Perhaps that's why the outfit appeared so obvious in retrospect. Maybe it was just a ploy to instill fear? Not too long before that, the league had taken over Vermillion base... Maybe that was a plan to retaliate against the league, anticipating Tyson to disseminate word that he'd been attacked by Plasma in order to instill dread throughout the region?

Flashback

Misty stood on stage, her face veiled under her black cloak and garments. Misty hadn't fully committed to her black gown at this point, and now that she'd been crowned champion, she preferred to remain in the shadows. "I welcome everyone to Goldenrod City's magnificent gathering hall. I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to making this night possible, and please know how much I appreciate everything you do."

"Now, I'll be absolutely honest with you. As champion, and as everyone knows, I have the authority to select the strongest trainers and promote them to the very first Johto elite four. For far too long, the world has regarded this region as archaic, and this league will be the first of many stepping stones to a brighter future for this region and its people."

"However, in addition to the elites I've chosen, I will be accepting applications for gyms that will open as soon as construction is approved." As everyone attempted to digest what they'd just heard, whispers flooded the enormous hall. Misty continued. "There will be eight gyms in total." I've already chosen the gym locations, and if everything goes as planned, we'll begin testing young trainers."

Misty refused to relent. "A trainer must complete all eight Johto gyms as well as the eight Kanto gyms to qualify for the Johto league, which is how you confront the elite four that I will unveil. A trainer will be able to compete in the Johto league only after meeting these three qualifications."

"Every other region follows a similar strategy: beat gyms, win the league. We. Are. Unique. And, because we're one-of-a-kind, we want to give trainers the most tough challenge they've ever encountered. That is why I did not select all of my elites only on power, and why I will not elect gym leaders solely on power. Finding genuine human-Pokémon bonds necessitates a number of ways. That is where I want the attention of this region's issue to be directed."

Misty continued. "In addition, if you are designated an elite, you must finish a six-month training program. A similar training session for gym leaders will take place over several months. I will reveal my plan for the league's site quickly at a later time," Elites will first reside in Ecruteak City during training, which coincides to the creation of the Pokémon league. Elites and gym leaders will be well compensated, and their exceptional track record protects the safety of the gym. A gym leader must also specialize in one type of Pokémon. To make it more difficult for trainers, two types are permitted." Misty nearly nodded to himself. Her eyes were filled with concentration as she looked at every soul in the hall.

"There will be no path to victory. There will be challenges. When leaders don't care about their obligations and dish out badges on a silver platter, there will be no need for meaningless battles. This will be a region that welcomes all trainers and shows what a true challenge is. This is my strategy for making Johto the most powerful region in history." The audience applauded their newfound hero, clinking their glasses in his honor.

Misty displayed a piece of paper to the crowd. "And it begins right now." I'll go over each of the four people I chose and explain why. If your name is not called, you may still be able to serve as a gym leader if you wish to be a part of Kanto's essential branch."

Misty shook her head and cleared her throat. "I concluded it was better to rely only on my instincts. These judgments were completely mine, and I am confident that they will pay off fast."

"And now... the first elite..."

Misty cleared her throat and proceeded. "Please come to the top of the stage when your name is announced to be inducted." After that, I'll admit you to the league and you'll be able to depart backstage. I will not answer questions at this time or after the announcement of the elites. Applications for gym leaders will be accepted starting next week. I will proclaim the first elite after all processes have been accomplished."

The room's whispering had evolved from non-existent to audible. The first elites to set foot in Johto would live on in the league's memory for the rest of its existence. After a few moments, the whispering persisted. The whispering came to a halt when Green raised her palm, as if air had been sucked out of the room.

Misty cleared her throat for the second time in quick succession. "Johto's first ever elite is Mr. Morty Matsuba, who originates from Ecruteak City with his partner Gengar."

The hall applauded respectfully as the young guy was inducted. A young man with blonde hair and wide-eyed eyes made his way up the stairs to the stage after a brief pause. He had brown eyes and a big smile on his face as he came into view.

"I'd want to welcome you to the league." Green said this with a smile on her face.

"I appreciate it very much..." Morty murmured, his eyes wide with surprise, though his smile never left his face.

Green motioned for them to take a seat next to the podium, where they could be heard clearly through the microphone. She addressed Morty with the words she had crafted for the occasion. "Do you swear fealty to the Johto Region, Morty Matsuba?" Do you swear to protect, aid, and cherish her lands as if they were your own, as they will be now?"

"I do." The man, who couldn't have been more than thirty, got out.

Green announced himself with a nod. "Then, Morty Matsuba, I consider you one of Johto's best... a member of the elite four." Congratulations." When Morty turned to face the audience and waved graciously, the hall exploded once more. He walked away from where Green had indicated he should leave.

The champion then returned to the audience and looked down at her paper once more.

"Johto's second ever elite is Ms. Jasmine Mikan, who originates from Olivine City with her partner Steelix."

Another small round of applause broke up, and a stunning young woman emerged from the crowd, evidently overcome with delight. She had lovely blonde hair, dark eyes, and Aphrodite's curves. She looked like she was in her early twenties. Her cheerfulness was almost contagious. She set out to meet Green.

She firmly shook her hand, a smile coming across her face. "Hello and welcome to the league." Green repeated what she had said to Morty.

"I really appreciate it. Thank you a lot!" The woman appeared to be overjoyed. Jasmine approached Green and stood pat, repeating the hand motion she'd given Morty a minute ago.

"Do you take the oath of allegiance to the Johto Region, Jasmine Mikan?" Do you swear to protect, aid, and cherish her lands as if they were your own, as they will be now?"

The girl did not hesitate. "I do!"

"Then, Jasmine Mikan, I consider you one of Johto's best... a member of the elite four." Congratulations!" Jasmine was still processing all that had just happened when the audience erupted in applause. She gave her leader a determined look. "I will not let you down."

Green smiled and nodded before following Morty's lead and vanishing. She then returned to the throng and cleared her throat a third time, which did nothing to alleviate the tension of those waiting to hear their names called.

"Mr. Lance Dragonwright is Kanto's third ever elite, hailing from Blackthorn City with his partner Dragonite."

Lance was being inducted into the league with the same oath she'd given to Morty and Jasmine.

"I'd like to introduce Johto's final elite, Ms. Whitney Akane, who comes from Goldenrod City with her partner Miltank."

Misty rethought her choices as she formally named Whitney the final elite. She was well aware that she would face criticism for not selecting a single trainer who finished in the top eight of the Johto league, but she didn't mind. Misty saw incredible potential in all of the trainers she'd picked, and she'd chosen them all for different reasons. She simply hoped they'd all get along well enough.

Whitney took the oath, then went behind the scenes, where everyone else was waiting. She couldn't believe she had been selected.