Chapter 160 Poaching and Saving Part 1

Ash, Lillie, and Janine are now at the Night Club the next day after the whole Flora thing, and they find a Smeargle at the counter.

Lillie: Is that normal? A Smeargle is at the counter giving us Legendary missions?

Smeargle: (Writes some words on the board) "smeargle secretary!" "other human help" "help smeargle now?"

Ash: What help do you need?

Smeargle: (Writes some words on the board) "thank" "other human call help" "fast angry !" "human hurt !" "human go help human" "hurt human in train cave" "train cave near bigman woods" "human go help hurt at train cave" "spiky human go too !" "ok?"

Janine: For some reason I still don't know what that means.

Ash: I think I know...I think he wants us to find Arclight at the Lost Railcave in the Chrysolia Region.

Smeargle: "human good" "go go go !"

After getting outside, they find Arclight waiting for them.

Arc: Ash! I'm comin' with you on this one. It's a little hard to get details out of that Smeargle, but from what I've gathered, we ain't gonna be alone out there.

Ash: I thought you were already there?

Arc: I thought it would be best to wait for you guys. There've been some other reports coming in since all this Legendary business went dissonant. You and I, and the leaders- we hunt them to keep others safe. Others hunt them for more problematic pursuits- profit, power, and personal gain. You already know I ain't about that. Had enough of cages, between Devon and 7th Street alike. We can't stop folks from making a living, but we can't let 'em do it like this either. I'm heading straight over there- That old Railcave in Chrysolia, I've figured. The poachers said something about following the rocks inside. See you on that side.

They can't believe what they've heard, there are poachers in the Reborn Region, and they decide not to let them go, so they quickly get to the Lost Railcave.

Ash: I still remember this puzzle...it is not going to be easy...

Then they go through a lot of paths, and they eventually find Arclight with a man in front of them.

Arc: You're just in time.

?: And you're the Champion. And you've been working with the cops, is that right? Gotta say, I never imagined the likes of me comin' to someone like you.

Arc: Do you mean you're the one who sent in the report? An illegal poacher, asking for city help?

Breslin: And you must be Arclight. Name's Breslin. I'll try to keep this short: Me and my gang were commissioned to help acquire a valuable Electric-Type Pokémon.

Arc: "Acquire."

Breslin: Standard work, really. But this commissioner... She seems to care very little about what happens to me or my crew.

Arc: Surely you're used to taking a few risks, operating outside the law and all.

Breslin: It's not only that. She seems a little... unhinged. It's got to the point that I don't care what happens to her, or even if we get our cut- We're out. It's too dangerous. And that's where you four come in. I can lead you right to her and my team, all I ask is a little protection from the long arm of the law. What do you say?

Ash: I really don't like poachers, but I think I can let this slide for once.

Breslin: Good. Let's put a stop to whatever her plans are.

Arc: We'll help, but I'm not promising any form of legal immunity.

Breslin: The law's everything to you, huh?

Arc: Not everything. We don't serve the law- the law serves us. It's to keep everyone accountable for keeping everyone safe. So first, we'll make sure you're safe. Then we'll make sure you're accountable. We clear?

Breslin: I can tell this is gonna go over great...

Arc: Complain later. You said your crew was in danger, right?

Breslin: ...One of us has already been waylaid. This way. (Leaves into the cave)

Arc: I didn't expect them to be asking for our help... Can't say I care for it, but there's no turning back when someone's in need. I suspect I'll be counting on you.

After getting into the cave, they find another New World Gate and head into the New World.

Breslin: Originally we followed that Pokémon here. It seems this was its den, so we found some weak Pokémon to lure it away. We figured if they were in danger, it'd come running, and we were right.

Arc: So, for the sake of your business, you'll even hurt other Pokémon.

Breslin: Hey, don't give me that. Business is business, and we've all got mouths to feed.

Arc: Some of us find better ways to do it.

Breslin: We can't all be bleeding hearts like you. For my crew, this is all they know. It's a lot rougher out where we come from.

Arc: And that's an excuse? Reborn ain't exactly been all sunshine and rainbows all the time either. It's up to us to make a better future, not just maintain a sour status quo.

Breslin: And how exactly do you suggest I do that? You got any bright ideas for me?

Arc: Friend, I can't solve those problems for you. I made my way already. Built a show from the ground up one viewer at a time, and you better believe it's the only good thing anyone in my family ever did, but I did it. I can't show you what's gonna work for you, because if you aren't the one figuring it out step by step, then how can you say you're walking your own path? However, I can tell you that this- Dragging two regional superstars who should probably be arresting you into a dimensional void to save your backside- This ain't it. Do better.

Breslin: I asked for your help, not your morality.

Arc: It's a package deal, friend. But good advice, I promise- try to make the most of it.

Breslin: Look, let's just focus on getting to the exit. The ground in this area reacts to an electric current that seems to make some pathways float. There's certain stones that need to be activated to move forward. You'll know them because they stand taller than any others around here. I don't imagine heroes like you will have any trouble tracking them down...

Arc: All this to get to your crew?

Breslin: I asked one of the guys to create a discharge and knock the pathways out so we wouldn't be followed. Safer that way- but no worries, if you touch the stones they should light right up.

Arc: Uh-huh. (Turns to others) Why don't you press ahead? Breslin and I are gonna hang back and have a bit more of a talk about where their little team is going.

Breslin: You mean, where we can bring them to be safe from that woman?

Arc: And other things.

Ash, Lillie, and Janine nod as they do the puzzle, and when they get to the glowing rock, they touch it and it is glowing.

Lillie: Wow...this is so beautiful.

Janine: I agree. This sure is a good sight. (Looks at the distance) And I can see the rocks appearing from there.

Ash and the others decide to walk to the rocks, but before that, Ash captures a Nihilego in the area, and Lillie is a little terrified to see them here as well.

Ash's New Capture in New World: Nihilego (Grass)

After that's done, they find another poacher along the way.

Poacher: So, you're the one giving us a hand? Hope our boss hasn't given you a hard time. They can be a bit rough sometimes.

Breslin: I'll remember that next payday, Ein. (Walks with Arc) Glad to see she hasn't gotten on your case for lying down on the job, buddy.

Ein: Ha-ha. Funny as always, Bres.

Arc: Those marks don't look great... Was it your employer, or the Pokémon that did this?

Ein: Little of column A, little of column B. Neither of them much seemed to care I was standing between 'em.

Breslin: Hence the intervention.

Arc: He's going to need medical help, double time.

Ein: The others are still out there- We chased the thing through this area into a forest of some kind...

Breslin: Even now they might still be in jeopardy, huh?

Arc: Let's get your friend out of here. I can at least offer some basic first aid, but the first step is to step back to safe ground. (Turns to Ash and the others) I'm gonna have to leave it to you to find the rest of their team and get them out.

Breslin: There's three more of us. Further in, no doubt, and heads harder than any Shieldon. I doubt they'll pull out without a fight- but better they lose to you than end up like this lout.

Ein: Reallll funny...

Breslin: You can jape when you're in better health, my friend. For now, get on my back. We're getting you outta here.

Arc: I'll lead the way. We'll get him cleaned up in the span of two commercial breaks or less.

Breslin: You just close your eyes and hang tight, Ein. Let's go, let's go... (Before leaving) Oh, and one more thing... We may have... "borrowed" a few Mega Stones from our past employers, so you may end up having to fight one or two of those. Put up a good fight, champ. I'm sure you're capable enough.

The three of them sigh as they continue to solve the puzzle and move forward. They manage to press the second pillar again and activate the third pillar. They wonder how many more arbitrary obstacles they will have to get through before the next anything interesting happened. As they activate the pillar, they wonder exactly why their actions were being narrated in such a peculiar way.

Lillie: For some reason, I'm starting to feel like Terra...

Ash: Same here...

But really, they should've been wondering why the narration had ever been normal in the first place. Also, how does one even "activate" a pillar? It's a pillar after all. After walking for a while, they get to the fifth pillar. As they activate the pillar, doubts began to seep into their minds about what system of justice they had any authority to act under. What ARE they trying to accomplish here? Poaching is a crime, but what does "poaching pokemon" even mean? and what makes it any different from catching? Isn't it just an arbitrary distinction between "good" catching and "bad" catching? These people are just doing what every trainer does. if anything, all they're accomplishing here is interfering with things that really aren't their business... but if these people are "bad", what is it that makes them "good"? They stroll through these doors and catch everything they can, just because the pokemon are "legendary". What makes Ash and the others better than them? Notions of friendship, compliance, and an ideal sold by Pokéball marketing companies that somehow the inside of one is a luxury resort? But that idea is just for THEIR peace of mind. Because how else could they feel comfortable buying their products to force creatures into submission? Either way, they're just tools and data that they've arbitrarily decided to force their own feelings on to justify their utility.

After the six pillar is activated, the narrative is back again: And let's not even get STARTED on PC boxes. How many pokémon have they caught just to leave in there? How many stories of "trust" and "friendship", and how many arbitrary decisions have led to creatures living out the rest of their days in the form of data? Do they even know how many they have trapped in their PC right now? And what about all the other trainers- who've just been left behind to gather dust like cartridges of games that nobody plays anymore? How many "friends" are rotting in the confines of forgotten adventures and old save files? Can they really go on deluding themselves into thinking that's okay? That just as soon as I stop talking, they can just go about your adventure without taking any real accountability? Why don't we go fix the problem here and now instead of continuing a cycle of guilt and willful ignorance? And speaking of which, Lin's portal appears again.

Lin: There's pokémon here that- let's be honest- you never intend to use again. If you ever even did. Release them.

Ash: Like I will release them.

Lin: You obviously don't get the situation you're in here. Maybe you're scared of pressing the release button. like doing so is, itself, some kind of moral violation. You're granting pokemon their freedom instead of languishing in an incorporeal state for the rest of their infinite lives. Or maybe you feel clever for just closing the box. In that case, the only thing you've accomplished is demonstrating your dedication to willful entrapment and slavery. Either way, I think you misunderstand your situation. I don't HAVE to let you go. So let's try this again. Release your pokémon.

Ash: Like I said, I won't.

Lin: I understand not wanting to do what you're told- really, I get it, but where I came from, that's called a power struggle! And for all my edgy puppet's lines, one thing is still true: I hold all the power here. This ISN'T optional. And you're not getting out of here until you release your pokémon.

Lillie: Didn't he tell you that he won't release his Pokemon?

Lin: Your commitment to your lack of ideals is truly touching, you know, in a, like "show us where on the doll he touched you" kind of way. Despite charging in face first to stop the poachers like some kind of hero, the only thing you're proving is how you're only interested in breaking systems of control when it suits you. You just want all the power for yourself. Think I'm wrong? Prove it.

Ash: I have nothing to prove to you, my Pokemon are not even on the PC, to begin with.

Lin: Thought so. We can do this all day, Ash. I'm certainly not going anywhere, and neither are you. No matter how stubborn you may think you are.

After trying to force Ash to release a Pokemon from the PC, Ash continues to refuse, and in the end, Lin decides to give up.

Lin: Oh my god, FINE. Usually people give up if you just say the same thing over and over but even I'M getting bored by this now. Keep your stupid 32 kb or whatever of captive animal friends if it makes you feel happy. There should be a TV show for people like you. Have fun rationalizing slavery and imprisonment to yourself at night. Ever considered going to the olympics? Pretty sure you'd win the gold for mental gymnastics.

After the portal is gone, Ash, Lillie, and Janine sigh as they continue to solve the puzzle.


And here is a new chapter, as you can see, the last part of the chapter is actually copying and pasting from the game quotes, and the game is seriously forcing you to release one Pokemon. I refuse 16 times until Lin decides to give up. I hope you like this chapter.