Chapter 27: Viva La Resistance

When Ash came to, the first thing he noticed was that he had been moved. Instead of sandy ground, he had been laid out on a small cot in an unfamiliar building. His Pikachu was sitting nearby, running up to him and hugging him when he saw that his friend was alright. Despite the pain, Ash couldn't help but smile.

"Pika Pikachu!"

"Hey buddy, good to see you're alright. But where are we?"

"Oh good, you're awake."

Ash turned to see his rescuer from before standing in the doorway, a small tray of food in his hands.

"I brought you some food. Sorry its not much, but we need to make our supplies last."

"Its alright. Thanks for the save earlier. My name is Ash, by the way."

"I'm Dia. Tell me Ash; how did you wind up out there? No one could possibly survive out in the Badlands for this long."

"Well, it's actually a pretty weird story. You wouldn't believe me."

"Trust me, there are very few things I won't believe."

So, Ash told Dia his whole story, from the appearance of the strange monster to diving into the wormhole to being rescued by Dia. Día nodded his head, listening intently to every word Ash said.

"And that's how I wound up here. But what was that thing? Its not like any Pokémon I've ever seen, and I've been to every region there is."

"Guzzlord."

Ash watched as Dia's face turned into a scowl, his eyes tearing up in anger.

"It was five years ago, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. Alola was once a beautiful region, where people and nature were at peace. But that all changed when Guzzlord appeared from nowhere, destroying everything in sight. Most fled, but some were not as fortunate before the whole island became sealed off to the world, leaving those within at the monster's mercy."

"I'm so sorry. If it helps, the Alola where I came from is alive and well."

Dia gave a sad smile, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Thank you, Ash. It does bring me some joy to know that there exist worlds that haven't been subjected to the horrors we have."

He then stood up, walking to the door before turning to Ash.

"If you can stand, our leader would like to have a word with you. I'm sure your story will be of great interest to him."

Nodding, Ash followed Dia out the door and into the main complex.

If there had been any doubt in Ash's mind about Dia's story, it was dashed the moment he saw the extent of Guzzlord's reign of terror. The building they were in was completely wrecked, with crumbling structures and a roof with more holes than the moon. What lights remained intact flickered constantly, some giving up and exploding. All of its occupants were badly scarred, dirty and scared. The worse were laid out on cots, to weak to move as others helped them eat or otherwise tended to them. Dia saw Ash's face and nodded sympathetically.

"In time, one becomes used to it. It doesn't make it any less horrific, but this is my life day in and day out. At one point, this was Alola's largest shopping mall, but now it's nothing more than another casualty of war."

After another minute of walking, they came to an older man. His blonde hair was dirty and shaggy, a tattered labcoat adorning him. He was helping dress a wound on a child as Ash and Dia approached.

"There you go, little one. But do remember to be careful. Even in our hideout there are hazards."

"I will. Thanks, Mohn!"

"Master Mohn, our newest occupant is awake."

The man now known as Mohn turned to the two.

"Well hello there…"

"Ash, and my friend here is Pikachu. It's a pleasure to meet you, mr…"

Mohn laughed, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder.

"Oh, no need for that Ash. Mr. makes me feel old, as if I need any reminders. Please, just call me Mohn. So tell me Ash, how did you wind up in the badlands?"

Ash told Mohn the whole story, Mohn listening intently. Once Ash was finished, Mohn spoke.

"I see. Well Ash, it may come as a surprise to you, but I actually came here that way too."

"Really?"

"Yes. You see, I was working in my lab, studying this odd form of energy I had discovered. I thought I was on the verge of a breakthrough that would revolutionize how we power our world. Suddenly, the energy expanded into a wormhole, sucking me in and dropping me off right in the middle of the badlands. I thought I was a goner, but Día and the rest of the resistance saved me and brought me back here, healing me back to full health. At first, my only thought was finding a way home, but when I saw what Guzzlord had done to this place, I knew I couldn't think only of myself while they suffered. So, I put my knowledge to good use, even managing to bring back some form of power to this place. After that, they universally decided that I should lead them, and I've been here ever since."

"Wow, that's amazing! What's your backstory, Dia?"

Dia stood up from the wall he had been leaning on, his face falling.

"I was part of the Ultra Rangers, an elite squad of Pokémon trainers dedicated to taking on missions to great for regular Police and keeping Alola safe. My squad was the first to respond when Guzzlord attacked. We fought with all our might but…We failed. And I was the only survivor."

Ash gasped in shock as Día continued.

"When I woke up, I was back at the Melemele headquarters, injured greatly but alive. When the order was made to retreat, I refused. I gave an oath to protect the people of Alola, and I intended to keep it. That was when the government left, blocking off Melemele Island in order to contain the monster."

Dia's fists became barred, his teeth clenched in anger.

"How could they?! Their own people left to die at the hands of a monster we don't even understand! They were elected to protect us, but instead they ran! Well, I wasn't ready to give up. I gathered the best able bodied survivors I could find and formed a resistance group, waging a war against Guzzlord in the small hope of bringing peace to our world. It was on one of these missions that I met my partner."

Dia released a yellow bipedal Pokemon from a Pokeball.

"I was out looking for food when I saw him fighting Guzzlord. I couldn't believe my eyes, a real life Zeraora! They are so rare that most people believe them to be mere myths, but here was one right before my eyes. When I saw Guzzlord defeat him, I knew I had to act, causing a diversion before bringing him back to base. When he awoke, he attacked me, but when we realized we had a common enemy, he decided to join my team. One day, I know we'll be ready to end this monster once and for all, but until then we train. Waiting, hoping…"

Ash thought he might cry after hearing the story. Although he had seen lots of destruction in his travels, nothing could compare to their story.

"Well, whatever I can do to help, count us in! Right, Pikachu?"

"Pikachu!"

"Are you sure, Ash? I must warn you, Guzzlord is not something to be underestimated. Fighting him is not a commitment to be made lightly."

"This may not be my home, but I can't let these people suffer. Count me in."

Mohn smiled, walking up to him.

"Well then, welcome aboard Ash."