Chapter 87 Invading Devon
Ash is now back at the Grand Hall alone, and Delia notices him and they share a hug.
Delia: Where are Serena and Lillie?
Ash: They are at our Reborn Home, Mars as well. I come alone because I don't want them to get involved with Team Meteor.
Then he also notices that Adrienn is talking to Ame. Ash greets them and they nod at his arrival.
Adrienn: While we're waiting for the others, there's something I was curious about. If I was gone for so long, why didn't you replace me? Surely if the League was still going, you would have needed a new Fairy Leader.
Ame: (Sighs) Um, the thing is... I actually did replace you.
Adrienn: Oh? I'd love to meet the new- or rather, old- Leader!
Ame: Yeah, about that... Nobody's seen or heard from him since the incident in Jasper Ward. It seems pretty likely that he didn't make it. Then, you came back before I finished arranging a replacement. Nice timing in that regard.
Ash is surprised, so the Jasper Ward Gym was actually for the Fairy-Type Leader before Adrienn, but because of the PULSE Tangrowth, he is gone...
Adrienn: Ah, I'm sorry to have brought up something like that.
Ame: (Changes the topic) So Arclight is meeting us there? Assuming he takes a low way, that should be all right.
Victoria: (Rushes into the Grand Hall) Sorry if I kept anyone waiting!
Ame: Arclight's not coming here, but he already knows, so this is everyone.
Victoria: Is something going on?
Ame: Here's the situation. We received an anonymous tip that Team Meteor still has a base in the city, right under our noses.
Adrienn: Devon?
Ash is also surprised at the name since it is actually a Hoenn Company owned by Steven Stone's father.
Ame: How did you know?
Adrienn: For my part, it's the only logical place left. I've been all over the rest of the city pretty intimately, but Devon Corp. is the one place that's always restricted anyone from working around.
Victoria: Even the storefront just looks shifty for what's supposed to be an international company.
Adrienn: Sweet Co. invested heavily in the restoration, and even Silph Co. was generous enough to donate funds. The fact that Devon still refused after that also made me suspicious.
Delia: Yes, well it's no longer just a suspicion or anonymous lead. I took the liberty of calling Mr. Stone with a business inquiry regarding Devon's Reborn branch. And of course, he informed me that no such thing exists.
Ash is surprised, that means not even Steven knows about his company setting in the Reborn Region.
Victoria: Then it's settled! We can shut it down for good!
Ame: Before that, there's one more thing. Our informant also told us that the leader of Team Meteor is hidden there right now.
Victoria: (Angry) Solaris...I won't hold back!
Ash: I don't think it is Solaris...I mean, I just defeated him a while ago.
Ame: It's Lin. From what Saphira has told me, we can't take any chances with her. That's why I need all of you. And that's why I'm going too.
Adrienn: Oh? I thought you said you intended to stay on the sidelines?
Ame: It's true that I intended to do that originally... But at this point, if we can end all of this now, I'll do whatever it takes. Besides, as the Champion, I can't just do nothing, right?
Ash: Wait, you're a Champion?
Ame: Sorry, Ash, didn't you know? It's not something I like to toss around or brag about. But I did restart this League after all, and who did you think runs the trial battles for Leaders? Anyway, it's really not important. Right now, we need to focus on Devon Corp. I've already talked over the details with Arclight, so here's the plan: The main level is probably fairly secure, even if they don't want it to be seen. So, we're going to take a pincer movement with one group in the front, and another approaching from the basement level which connects to the Railnet. We'll rendezvous in the middle, and tackle the upper floors together. Any questions?
Adrienn: How are the groups decided?
Ame: You and I will take the storefront. If we pretend to be there in the city restoration business, it won't be suspicious. Ash, Victoria, and Arclight will come up under and behind them.
Adrienn: If we all work together, they don't stand a chance!
Victoria: I'll show Team Meteor the same mercy they showed Kiki.
Delia: As for me, I'll stay on guard at the Grand Hall.
Ash: Okay, Mom.
Ame: Then we're set. Let's not waste any time!
When Ash and Victoria rush to the Underground Railnet, Ash sees something that he dreaded the most: The Absol.
Ash: Absol is here...that means someone is going to get killed...damn it...
Victoria: (Didn't see the Absol and looks at the entrance) Our entrance is right behind us. And there's Arclight!
Arc: (Notices them) You got the lowdown, right? I've got a radio comm' here, and the others have the receiving piece. When I send the signal, we'll bust in at the same time. If the information I got was true, we might be in for a lot of tough battles. But if we can do this, then we can end everything right here, and right now. That means once we go in, there may not be any turning back.
Ash: It's fine. We can do this.
Arc: Good. You go ahead. I'll radio the others and be right behind you.
After getting upstairs, they find Team Meteor Grunts waiting for them, and the three of them are making their way through by battling them. After that's done, they quickly destroy the door and rush upstairs.
Arc: Ame and Adrienn should have finished dealing with the storefront by now, but...
Victoria: They're not here?
Ash: I don't see 'em.
Arc: Maybe they went on ahead. I'll go ahead just far enough to see if they're up there. Ash, check the storefront for me. Victoria, you watch our exit in case anyone comes to separate us that way. I don't trust this. (Leaves)
Victoria: Be safe! Let's not go too far!
Ash then rushes to the storefront, only to see Team Meteor grunts knocked out, and he finds a Radio Transceiver on the ground and picks it up.
Ash: What is this? Maybe I should ask Arclight about this...
As they head upstairs, Victoria just finishes defeating another grunt.
Arc: Thanks for the backup.
Victoria: It's nothing! I heard fighting from downstairs, and I wasn't about to just stand by.
Arc: Ash, any sign of them?
Ash: No, but I found this. (Shows the Radio Transceiver)
Arc: Lemme see that. (Takes the item and checks it.) No doubt about it. This is the radio I lent Ame. Tch, so I couldn't even send a message to them. Did they really have to drop this?
Victoria: You don't think they were overpowered, do you?
Arc: Between the Champion and a Gym Leader, that's hard to imagine, but... No, they have to be fine. We'll probably find them if we keep going. (Walks towards the colored panels) As for this room... I think I get it.
As he walks on the darker-colored panel, he gets shocked by the electricity.
Arc: (Shocked) Damn.
Ash: Are you okay?
Arc: Yeah, it's nothing. Wouldn't recommend stepping on those though. Let's see. (Rushes towards the control panels) Yeah, it's like I thought. This terminal up here controls the patterns on the floor. Let's see it.
Arc presses the buttons, and there are 3 different patterns, red, yellow, and blue.
Arc: Three patterns. From what I can tell here, they're on multiple floors. And the only way to steer them is from right here. What a mess. (Turns to Ash) Ash, that radio still works, right? I'll stay back and man this thing. Press the button to use that device to signal me whenever you want to rotate the floor's pattern. I'll be counting on you two.
Ash: Okay.
Ash and Victoria decide to walk through the panels, and with Arc's help, they manage to get to the next floor, only to be ambushed by more grunts.
Grunt: It would be a shame if all this persistence went to waste now, wouldn't it?
Victoria: The only thing that'll be wasted is Team Meteor!
Grunt: Is that the attitude that you teach down at that tawdry school?
Victoria: I'll be happy to give you a lesson right now!
Then they have to battle two more grunts and knock them out, once they are done, they hear Arc coming from the radio.
Arc: Can you two hear me on this thing? I heard fighting from down here. Are you all right?
Victoria: Yeah, we're fine! Didn't I tell you? There's no way I'll lose to Team Meteor ever again!
Arc: That's music to my ears.
Victoria: There's another one of those floors up here. Can you handle it?
Arc: It's not even a factor. You know what to do, Ash.
Ash nods as this time the puzzle is a little complicated, but Ash knows how to do and they manage to reach the two grunts that are guarding the next floor.
Grunt: How much longer do you intend to flounder around in affairs well beyond your ability?
Victoria: You wanna see just how far this ability goes?
Grunt: Ah, is someone getting riled up? What would Kiki think?
Victoria: Don't you dare act like you know her! As long as you side with Team Meteor, you're not even fit to speak her name!
Then they battle the grunts and Victoria is in her rage mode, and after defeating the grunts, she just punches one into the gut.
Victoria: Say her name one more time and see what happens.
Grunt: Hmm. Is that what Kiki wants? (Getting knocked out, the other grunt sighs)
Grunt: Well, even I can't say he didn't deserve that.
Victoria: ...Let's go.
But just as they walk up the floor, they decide to stop for now.
Victoria: I know I'm disappointing her right now. This isn't how she taught me... But at the same time, I can't just let these people get away with what they did. I will never, ever forgive them.
Ash: I can understand your feelings...
Just then, much to their surprise, a wall appears and seals the door, much to their surprise, and the walls are starting to get closer and narrow.
Ash: They're going to squish us?
Victoria: (Sends out Incineroar) Ash! Go on!
Ash: But what about you? Victoria?
Victoria: I can deal with it! Just go!
Ash grits his teeth as he rushes upstairs, and that's when he also gets a call from Arc.
Arc: Ash! Is everything okay? It sounded pretty loud up there just now.
Ash: The walls just closed up, and Victoria was in there! (Grits his teeth) She wants me to continue on my own...
Arc: As long as she's with her Pokémon, I'm sure she'll be fine. There's still no sign of Adrienn or Ame?
Ash: Not even a single sign...
Arc: This hasn't gone as planned at all... But you're close to the top now. There might be something there. Let's get through this and save everyone.
Ash sighs as he goes through the third puzzle, and this time he has to fight the grunts on his own. After that, he finally reaches the final floor.
Arc: Ash! She found ! I mean- T a* e^$o)- th$*r !ea(#%- ! }o#* (# a#^$ $ help (o^ n^%-
Ash doesn't know what Arc is talking about, but from the world "help" and "She found", Ash knows that Arc is in danger. And much to his surprise, the room is getting electrified and now it is shocking Ash and Pikachu, causing both of them to be in pain.
And I'll end the chapter right here, now Ash and the others are invading Team Meteor's Hideout. But what is going to happen to them? I hope you like this chapter.
