Chapter 19 Suicide Horror

Ash chases Corey to the bridge, and then he finds him releasing all of his Pokemon.

Corey: Right. You're done. You've served me well, but now you're free. Get lost.

All of his Pokemon are showing their sad faces, and then the first one to leave is Skuntank, and then Croagunk, Nidorina, Skrelp, and then Mareanie. Crobat is the one that stays.

Corey: That means you too. You're not special. Get a move on. (Seeing Crobat still won't move) I said get lost already. You're not wanted here anymore!

Crobat has tears in his eyes before flying away, Ash is not happy with his decision.

Ash: What the hell did you do that for? They're your Pokemon and you just did that?

Corey: I released them, so they're not my Pokemon. With that out of the way, I won't be needing these anymore. (Throws the Poke Balls to the ground, turns to Ash) I never wanted it to be this way. If I had had a choice, I never would have joined Team Meteor. I was cursed by my own luck. There was a ring with a single, brilliant ruby. I purchased it from a traveling merchant some time ago. I was never one for jewelry myself, but it was the most dazzling ring I had ever seen. I decided that I would introduce that ring to what true beauty was. I promised it to my love, and she accepted. But luck is never one-sided. Back then, I was happy. I was naive. Shortly after we married, my wife became pregnant. That was the beginning of the end. She did not survive Heather's birth.

Ash is confused, from what he heard from his mother, Corey's wife was killed by Team Meteor, not because of dystocia.

Corey: I was told that she died because of a mechanical error during the delivery. Unlucky. But that wasn't all there was to the story. I would later learn that the doctor assigned to her had been dispatched by Team Meteor specifically to obtain that ring. So I found him. I carved for him regrets that he would not soon forget. And I seized the ring. But in the end, I failed. Because he had Heather. The ring for her life. But there were no promises there. Instead, I made a deal. My service for her safety. And as a bonus, I would keep the ring. To me, it was the last token of our happiness. Heather was the last joy we never got to share. And now because of it, she's gone. There's nothing left. I cannot return to Team Meteor- they believe I am a traitor. But I cannot turn against them, since my identity has been revealed. If not to the police, then to that woman. She clearly knew who I was in the first place. And now I cannot even protect the one thing I sought. One wrong move and our lives will be wagered against each other again. I won't let that happen.

Just then, Corey stands to walk towards the edge of the bridge. Ash widens his eyes as he knows what he is going to do.

Corey: Heather has the ring. She will be hunted for it. Please, watch over her for me. And, one more thing- Embedded underneath the jewel of the ring is a small data chip. In it, you'll find no small amount of information on Team Meteor, their projects, and their bases of operation. Consider it payment for the burden I leave you with.

Ash: Hey! Wait a minute! You can't do this! It would crush Heather! Regardless of what happened, you're still her father! She still needs you in her life!

Corey: I no longer have the right to call myself her father. I wonder if I ever did. (Spreads his arms) I've waited so long just to feel the wind on my cheek again. I wanted to go chasing the horizon with you one more time... Fly a little faster, darling... Just a little more, and I'd swear we could reach out and touch the moon.

Ash quickly rushes and extends his right arm, but it is too late.

Ash: COREY!

Corey fell off the edge of the bridge, and he is going towards his death. Ash and Pikachu can only stare with shock as tears are starting to form in their eyes, it is their fault, Heather doesn't have a father anymore.

Fern: Wow, what a moron. Did that dumb-wad really just throw himself off of Beryl Bridge? Sucker's gone for sure. And you're telling me THAT was Borealis? Looks like Meteor's agent is just a spot on the sidewalk now.

Ash is getting angrier as he clenches his left fist, so tight that blood is coming from it.

Fern: (Turns to the bridge) You probably think I'm heartless, yeah? But he was still our enemy, remember? And this is just natural selection. So some old terrorist goes crazy and throws himself off a bridge... Big deal. (Turns back to Ash) But if you're really so concerned about him, why not just go down and find him yourself? (Points at the body) Look. He fell into the Lapis Ward, right below us. You can get there just going north from Opal Bridge. I mean, I don't see the point, but whatev-

Just then, they hear an explosion, and they find some smoke below them.

Ash: What the hell was that?

Fern: Yo, Ash! Look over there! That's a huge plume of smoke... I think it's coming from the North Obsidia Ward! Something's going down and I'm gonna find out what it is. Later, loser! (Leaves)

Ash: (Turns to Pikachu) Let's go to Lapis Ward. We can't leave him there.

Pikachu nods as they all rush towards Lapis Ward on foot since it will be suspicious if he flies from above with his Charizard.


After arriving at the North Obsidia Ward, a lot of people are gathering around at the stairway, and he sees Fern among them.

Fern: Man, these bitch-ass cops won't even let us through. (Turns to Ash) Yeah, there was a terrorist threat. I get it. But they should be accepting help from the people to deal with it. If they could do it on their own, this wouldn't have happened in the first place. They're too tripped up on their own power and policies to even see that. That right there is why the bad guys keep getting away- Because no one on our side has the backbone to stop them. I guess they're not ready for people of my caliber. There's another gym in the Lapis Ward, so I'm gonna get ready to bust it in. Later loser. (Leaves)

Ash decides to ignore Fern as he rushes to the Lapis Ward, and he finds the body surrounded by a lot of people. When he gets to the front, he sees the Gym Leader Shelly and a boy with Red hair looking at the body with shock.

Shelly: I- W-what is...

Red Hair Boy: Shelly, I'm telling you, go back inside right now!

Shelly: W-why did... I-

Red Hair Boy: (Concerned) Seriously, look away!

Shelly: Y-yeah...

Red Hair Boy: (Sighs) What the hell was this guy thinking...

Shelly: U-um, Cal? T-there's, um, someone up there...

Ash and the others look up the roof and see Aster and Eclipse from Team Meteor above them.

Ash: Aster and Eclipse?

Eclipse: Eclipse reporting. Agent Borealis was confirmed deceased.

Cal: Hey! What the hell do you chumps think you're doing here?! Get outta here!

Aster: And I bet we've figured out why Canis Minor wasn't coming in.

Eclipse: Mind your company.

Shelly: (Frightened) W-who are you guys? Y-you're not the ones who, um- Who hurt this person...?

Aster: As if! That was OUR-

Eclipse: (Covers his mouth) Aster, shush. (Turns to Shelly) Good girls should know their place and stay in it. If you don't, well, that's how you end up like him.

Cal: (Demands) What the fuck are you saying? You want a goddamn fight?! Get down here and we'll see if you're still that mouthy after I'm done with you!

Eclipse: You know, I don't think I will. (Turns around and leaves) Come on, Aster; we're done here.

Aster: Right! Let's get back to the Stairway, stat!

Eclipse: (Turns back and shushes him) Shut UP, Aster.

Shelly: T-the Stairway...? That was... That was you guys...?

Aster: Nooo, a Sunkern did it. Of course, it was us!

Eclipse: (Rolls her eyes) Tell them everything, why don't you?

Aster: Uh...Well, okay. So apparently, underneath the Stairway, there's a-

Eclipse: (Hits his shoulder hard) That was SARCASM, idiot! Come on! (Leaves)

Aster: So it was. Right.

Cal: Yeah, run away! Chumps. (Turns to Shelly) Shelly, you good?

Shelly: Y-yeah... Just...(Looks up) Aaieeh, w-when did he get there?!

Cal: What?

As they look up in the air, a black figure appears and Ash can't believe that he is floating.

Ash: Who is he?

Cal: Hey, what the hell?

Shelly: O-oh, it's just Shade... W-what do you want, Shade?

Shade doesn't say anything as he stares at the body of Corey.

Cal: What the hell are you? You that stupid Ghost Leader I heard about? You think this is funny, scaring a little girl like that?!

Shade raises his hand and then the blood suddenly disappears from the walls and the ground. As for Corey's body, it floats into the air and vanishes along with him.

Shelly: H-he's making it d-disappear...?

Cal: Creep. Let's go inside. Looks like there are only freaks and weirdos out tonight.

Shelly: O-okay...

Cal: (Notices Ash as he is not amused) Hey, you got a problem, chump? And what's your name?

Ash: I'm Ash Ketchum and this is my partner Pikachu.

Cal: Ash, huh? Pfft. Step aside, Ash, unless you have business. And you don't; Gym's closed right now. (Leaves)

Shelly: (Tries to be nice to Ash) U-um, Ash? I'm - I'm sorry for his- For this- Um, h-he's not a bad person...Uh, but! But if you come by later, I'll- I'll do my best- I'm not that strong, but...

Cal: Shelly, come on! It's not safe with all these chumps out here.

Shelly: Y-yeah...S-sorry, Ash... Sorry, I'm coming...

Ash notices how Shelly and Cal enter the gym and closes the door tight, he can only sigh. But without long, Cain appears.

Cain: Hey, Ash! I thought I saw you through all the commotion. What was all that about, haha? I've seen guys erupt at nothing, but not like that~

Ash: Not now, Cain. This isn't time for jokes...

Cain: Anyway, I'm glad to see you in one piece after that whole debacle at Rhodochrine. My fight ended up leading me away though, so I had no idea where you went. As long as you're safe! I've been looking for Heather ever since then, but there hasn't been a sign of her... I'm pretty worried.

Ash: Me too...I would want to find her as well.

Cain: So, listen, you heard about that explosion in North Obsidia? I thought maybe she'd investigate it, so I was staking it out. Then just a moment ago, I saw a couple of figures run out from the back of the Stairway when the cops weren't looking. They ran here, and following them led me to you. Is there something you should be telling me, Ash?

Before Ash can say anything, Cain decides to cut him off.

Cain: Secretly, you were on the evil team all along!? Well, some people find a certain charm in that too~ (Turns to the gym) This is Shelly's Gym, right? Heather said she was friends with Shelly too, right? But it looks like they're locked up tight for now. And Team Meteor is clearly doing something at the Grand Stairway... And the cops won't let us get anywhere near it, even after I told them what I saw! (Turns to Ash) Say, if I were to create a diversion, you could sneak in, right? Whatever they're up to can't be any good, and it seems like the quickest way to deal with it. I'll meet you down by the police line! Bein' gay and doin' crime; that's what I call a dang good time~

Ash: (Sighs) He won't need to do that, I'm already an honorary police member, I could just ask to go through if I show him the badge I was given by the chief. I couldn't save Corey, how would I save Victoria right now...I think I would need to go back home and think about it...

Pikachu sighs as he follows Ash, hoping that his trainer will feel better after the whole ideal.


Here is a new chapter, as you can see, Corey commits suicide and his body is found in Lapis Ward, with Victoria still being kidnapped, the creators decide to bring Cal early to the story like that. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be some things before heading to the Grand Stairway.