Chapter 154 Hoop's the Culprit Part 3
After gathering the six suspects, the Chief turns to the Officers and asks for Report.
Conductor: I have the Red Orb right here! I was trying to see what repairs I could make to the engine, and I just... Found it, inside.
Chief: Inside the engine, you say?
Conductor: Yes, sir. I have no idea how it could have gotten there- the front end wasn't even accessible until I cleared away some of the debris.
The Conductor puts the Red Orb on the table.
Chief: I see! There's not a mark on it! Even if it were sturdy enough to remain undamaged, if it were present at the time the engine exploded, we'd expect to see some kind of soot or grime on it! This must have been placed in the engine at some point after the initial destruction!
Eustace: Obviously. Even a Basculin could deduce that.
Chief: Silence, child. You'll speak when spoken to.
Eustace: And whenever else I please.
Chief: Officer, did your search yield anything?
Officer: No, sir! We thoroughly searched all six primary suspects, and there is no sign of the Blue Orb!
Craudburry: And you violated at least EIGHT privacy laws in the process! Young man couldn't resist getting a pat and feel in on this lady, could you? Can't say I blame you, but I don't want your GRUBBY PAWS coming near me any time in the future!
Officer: I took no pleasure in it, ma'am. With all due respect, I would rather eat the entire Tourmaline Desert one spoonful of sand at a time than touch you again.
Craudburry: You FOUL-MOUTHED BARBARIAN! When we get back to the city, I'll SUE YOU SIDEWAYS! I'll make you REGRET the day you ever crawled out of your mother's STINKING HOLE and-
Chief: Ma'am. If you speak one more word, I will personally throw you out of this train and strand you in the desert. (Turns to others) The Red Orb was found on the opposite side of the train from where it was stolen. The Blue Orb is still missing. I'm beginning to have my suspicions... But before that, Ash... Tell me the results of your investigation. Presumably, you spoke to each of these suspects. Please now talk to the person you find most suspicious here.
Ash: I think I might have my own answer. Chief. (Looks at the Chief)
Chief: You... keep looking to me. Don't tell me... Could it be that you actually find me to be suspicious?
Ash: For some reason, I feel that you're the most suspicious out of those six.
Chief: Oh-ho. You are right, young Champion, to be suspicious of everyone and everything! Make no assumptions! Take nothing for granted! These are the hallmarks of a truly astute detective! But I'm afraid your cunning will not be rewarded this time. Officer! Please search for the accused.
Officer: Y-you mean... you, sir?
Chief: Precisely! The Blue Orb is still missing! If I am the culprit, I should have it on my person, should I not?
After searching the Chief, they find that the Blue Orb is not with him, much to Ash's surprise.
Chief: So you see, it couldn't be me! For if it were, where could I have hidden the Blue Orb?! Until you can answer that, there's simply-
Just then, much to their surprise, Ash's bag is dripping with water.
Julia: Um, Ash? Why is water coming out of your bag?
Craudburry: BAH. Youth these days don't even know how to store WATER right.
Sandy: Ash, check your bag!
Ash checks the bag and he finds the Blue Orb inside, he is surprised, how did the Blue Orb gets inside his bag?
Sandy: The Blue Orb was in Ash's backpack all along?!
Craudburry: BAAAAAH. Shoulda known FILTH like that would be the GOOD FOR NOTHING thief!
Eustace: You really couldn't think of anywhere better to hide it?
Ash: It wasn't me! The real culprit must have put it inside my backpack without anyone noticing.
Chief: Hold on, that orb may not be the genuine article. Allow me to confirm...
And then much to their surprise, after the Chief takes the Orb, he just says Goodbye and runs away.
Sandy: What- he just took it out of your hands and left?! That's so cheap! How could this happen!? What lazy writing!
Julia: Quick, after him!
Before they can go, three more officers arrive.
Officer: The recovery train has arrived! We can begin evacuating passengers back to Reborn City!
Officer: The chief has disappeared! There's a huge portal in the engine car instead!
Officer: Urgent message from Reborn City! The police chief was discovered tied up and disrobed in his bathroom!
Sandy: What?! The police chief took a portal to Reborn City just to get naked and practice shibari in his bathroom?!
Officer: No ma'am! The Chief that boarded this train was an imposter!
Just then, the lights are off again.
Julia: Who cut the lights now?!
Conductor: The backup power supply probably ran dry... One second, please...
Then Ash and Julia decide to use the chance to go to the portal, and Ash realizes that the portal is not the New World Gate, but the Hoopa Ring.
Conductor: Quickly now- the reserve power won't last! You give chase to the chief- I mean, the thief! We'll take care of things here and get all of the passengers to safety!
Ash nods as both he and Julia enter the portal and chase after the imposter, the portal leaves for the New World, and Ash realizes that it is close to the Forces of Nature. And there is a Blacephalon in the area.
Ash's New Capture in New World: Blacephalon (Event)
After getting to the end of the place, they find the Chief and Hoopa, Ash remembers the Hoopa, but just like Meloetta and Volcanion, it is surrounded by the Anomaly Light.
Chief: So! You're giving chase after all! Of course, you would! I should've known as much after our little chat in Train Town. After all, it's only to be expected in the wake of-
Then the Chief takes off the disguise as Ash recognizes the person, the Corin Rouge, the person who stole his Magikarp.
Corin-Rogue: Corin-Rouge, the dashing rogue! You did well to seek me out in the end! What should have been a carefully-laid plan was unraveled all too quickly... It seems this time, as ever, I was but one step ahead! (Turns to Hoopa) You see my friend beside me! I'm sure with all of the recent happenstances, this needs no explanation. It was divine providence, or something close enough, that this friend happened to open a portal into my cell within the jail! And as you can imagine, we have been fast friends ever since! And as you can imagine, we have been fast friends ever since! The plan this time was not so complex... As soon as I caught wind of the orbs' discovery I began following the trail of information. My investigation was detected, and the chief changed the shipment to an earlier train, so I knew I had to act fast. I sent out an invitation to the six individuals you interviewed- each who might have stolen it for their own purposes. Just as intended, they each tried. But as ever- I was miles ahead. My friend here did the heavy lifting. A few torn circuits at the front of the train... Warp to the back as the lights go out... Back to the front and hide the orbs away in the engine compartment... The Blue Orb in particular will be priceless for the citizens of Train Town. If we can simply learn to control its properties as a water source, they'll never need to worry again...But it seems my friend here decided to have a bit of fun, and snuck it into your bag instead.
Hoopa: Are you surprised?
Ash knows that this is definitely the same Hoopa from Kalos, but knowing how he likes to prank, it is no wonder he would try to play this game with Corin Rogue.
Corin-Rogue: ...It's not the first time it's done that. It seems to think it's funny. I can't say with confidence that it's wrong. Nevertheless! We've chatted long enough, have we not? Though it pains me to cut our darling time short, I have a getaway to make yet. Rather than running, however, I think I prefer our odds standing and fighting. Me and my friend together against your power... Who do you think will come out on top?
Julia: You meanie! Ash, I'll help you boom his face off.
Ash: Thanks, Julia.
Then Ash also has Hoopa summon Pokemon from the Anomaly Light, the Corin Rogue goes for Klefki, Cacturne, Liepard, Sandslash, Delphox, and Mega Gyarados. While Hoopa uses the Anomaly light to summon Carbink, Dusknoir, Stakataka, Comfey, Mega Sableye, and another Hoopa. Ash and Julia use their Pokemon and Julia keeps using Self Destruct to knock out a few. And Ash uses Blacephalon, Cobalion, Pikachu, and Greninja to battle the Pokemon while Julia uses her own team. And in the end, Ash and Julia manage to win the battle and Hoopa also returns to normal.
Corin-Rogue: So, even this was not enough... Then there is only one thing left to do... Run!
Hoopa: Play with us! Ash-kan!
Ash and Julia groan as they see both Corin Rogue and Hoopa leave, and they decide to chase after them as they run through the different parts of the New World.
Corin-Rogue: Give it up! With Hoopa's portals on my side, you haven't a hope of catching me! And I still have both of the orbs- right here! (Looks at the bag) Wait, where did the Blue Orb go...?
Ash realizes that his backpack is dripping water again, and he opens it to find the Blue Orb inside.
Corin-Rogue: Forget it ...I've still got the Red Orb, right here! Though no jewel would compare to a visage such as yours- I'll take this victory nonetheless! A flatterer though I may be, you'll find me quite hard to get. We can run through altered space all day, Ash! Save yourself the effort and head home now! May we meet again, never! (Jumps to another portal)
After chasing to the portal, Ash finds himself in the Cresselia World, and when they arrive at the Regi World, they hear Lin's voice again.
Lin: You know, this has been fun? I should throw legendary items around more often! Say, have you checked your items pocket lately?
Ash: Another one? (Tries to search through the backpack)
Lin: Nah, jk, I was just pullin' your leg...unless... wait, hold on, is that the prison bottle? Who put THAT there?
Julia: Is that Lin? Where was that troublemaker?
Ash: Somewhere...I didn't see the green portal...
Lin: Okay, okay, I'm just kiddin' with you~ the only prison here is the one you're in now. Consigned to an eternity of being forced to check an over-stuffed backpack... Anyway, I'll stop talking to myself now, but- oh! I almost forgot to mention! I found another one of your friends lying around! Keep an eye out, ok?
Ash: Don't tell me that it is going to be another one of the people like my Dad or Samson...
And I'll end the chapter right here, and thanks to Lin, Ash is going to battle another Umbral person in the next chapter, and the Hoopa quest is not done as well. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will finish the quest.
