=Chapter 52, Underground Battles=
(Jacob's PoV)
[Ladies and Gentlemen, we hope you enjoyed our last bout despite the 'unfortunate' outcome for many of the competing Pokemon, but we have yet another lovely bout to bring to you tonight!] A cynical voice declared giddily over an intercom as he waited behind a wooden gate. [For tonight's viewing entertainment, we have a mysterious warrior, all the way from lands beyond, wearing the mask of a happy mask salesman, we bring you the 'Wanderer'!]
At those words the doors opened and he walked out to cheers and applause, people behind masks throwing candy wrappers at his feet and even empty cans of stuff he didn't want to know. The arena he was being forced to fight in was essentially an empty upside-down bowl carved from the rock that made up the floor of the Pokeblack Market. The ceiling was completely open, designed to let people see what was happening in the arena, and the crowd were simply 'watching' from the surrounding lip of the arena.
He looked up, as if he were looking at the audience and enjoying the cheering but in reality, he was simply putting on a show.
Everything was being staged, from his movements, to his waving, to the audience themselves.
They were all here for one thing, to watch Pokemon attack each other to near death, to claw at each other until they bled, to see how long it took before one could barely breathe, to watch them burn, shock, drown, and otherwise tear themselves apart until one almost died.
This was the only rule of Underground Battling; the survivor wins and walks out with all the prize money the losing side people had bet on. The loser gets to limp out with what few limbs they have left.
He was entering the Underground Battle for only one reason, to win a battle under the terms given to him by the masked man who purchased Coral, and now held her captive.
=Fifteen minutes ago=
He and the others were staring at the masked man as he expertly twirled Coral's 'Snag Ball' on one finger, grinning at them as he heard their request.
"So, let me get this straight, you want me to 'give you' this Pokemon I just spent a 'million' purchasing?" He asked skeptically. "In exchange you're going to give me a Key Stone and a Megastone for a Sceptile?"
"Yes." He said simply, offering his Keystone and Harold's Megastone.
Both were not keen on letting go of these stones, or letting someone else take the awesome power of Mega Evolution from them, but they both didn't care. Coral was the priority, not a pair of stones.
"Hmm, tempting as the offer sounds… there is no way I'd ever accept such a deal." He said to him, smirking and now using his other hand's index finger to twirl the ball. "As much value a Keystone is to a Trainer, it's quite useless for me who can't possibly use it to begin with. The Megastone perhaps but the Keystone is worthless to anyone else but you."
His robed friend bent down to his ear and 'whispered', but he must have been very quiet because Jacob couldn't even hear the faintest evidence of any words being said. Still one talk later and the man nodded.
"Indeed, my guess is this was your best offer, if you had the money you could have offered to pay me the same million Pokedollars I spent to get this Milotic to begin with. The fact you didn't offer me all you had means, you can't pay for it any other way."
Jacob was about to respond but sighed in defeat, and shook his head.
"Hit the nail on the head, didn't I?" He chuckled. "Sorry, but I'm afraid we won't be having a deal over this Milotic… unless…"
"Unless what?" Karen asked instantly.
In response the robed colleague raised an arm and pointed at a crowd of individuals with his extended arm, the sleeve of his robe dangling an extra six inches, all cheering and applauding, apparently at a spectacle below them, because they could see bright lights and even a burst of flame shoot up from below the crowd.
"Unless he decides to Battle in the Underground Battle Arena." He finished. "In fact… we'll make it a 'bet'…"
"A bet?" Jacob asked.
"Yes, a bet, let's have a bet… if you can survive an Underground Battle, and put on a good show that it makes me laugh… I'll give you this Milotic." He said. "You see, people love to make bets on battlers, and since nobody knows who is who in the Underground Arena, nobody knows who to bet on. I'm going to make a bet on you, a very 'biiiiiiiiig' bet… you win and make it look good, you can keep this Milotic… you lose… and I guess you know the outcome!"
He glanced with Sara who was still robed and masked at the crowd who were suddenly cheering and jeering at whoever was in the arena, hidden from view, barely concealing the screams of pain of whatever poor Pokemon was making that screaming cry of 'Kyeeeeeeaaaaaaa-', that sounded extremely pained, which they were laughing at.
(That poor Pokemon… I can sense it is in… very deep physical pain…) Sara whispered to him.
Seconds after a flash of lightning erupted, and even 'more' screams of pain and cheering or jeering answered Sara's warning.
"Alright… I'll do it!" He muttered nervously. "Just make sure you keep up 'your' end of the bargain."
"Oh, you have my word!" The man said with a chuckle, holding out his hand. "Win your battle and make it interesting, and the Milotic is yours… 'little boy'."
Jacob eyed the hand offered but accepted it.
"Just a quick warning though… unless you intend to let everyone know you're not supposed to be here… you should really not to act like you 'care' about anything or anyone down here…" He said with a giggle. "Good little 'Trainers' who like to play by the rules, don't come down to the Pokeblack Market unless something 'bad' happened to them."
He laughed while leaving, followed by his partner who took very careful steps to avoid snagging his robe on any of them.
Though he noticed that out of the corner of his eye, Sara watched the robed individual as he left, following him the entire time.
'Sara?' He asked mentally.
(That… individual… is a Pokemon…) She whispered as they turned to the arena. (At least… I 'think' it is… I tried to sense their mind but I could grasp nothing… it was incredibly shielded.) She turned to him now to look at him face to face. (That can only be possible if they were 'trained' to resist psychic probes, or are psychic types themselves… or are Dark Type Pokemon… only a Dark Type is immune to my psychic probing of their minds.)
'Either way… we have no choice… not if we want to win Coral's freedom.' He said back.
=Present Time=
He glanced up across from him and above the arena, where a large cloaked figure stood wearing a mask next to two masked individuals among all the others masked and robed. It was Sara, Karen and Zarak, watching from the crowd's point of view. Sara had tried to follow him in, but the guards stationed at either entrance forbade anyone else from entering besides him. Unless he wanted to reveal her identity as a Pokemon, which Zarak had warned against, he had no choice but to go in alone with only his Pokemon. In Kristan's hands was the Grovyle he had nursed to decent health, and she was watching him worriedly, afraid of losing her new master after finally tasting freedom.
'Alright… let's get this over with…' He thought as the doors behind him closed, and the doors in front of him opened.
[And now… his challenger… from unknown seas from across the world… concealed behind the demon's face… introducing our current running champion… the 'Horned-Devil'!]
As the doors parted a person stepped through wearing a large overcoat, and a face masked by a mask depicting a Houndoom's face.
But as the individual walked forward, his movements, his hands, and especially his hair, was too familiar.
"You!" He yelled through the cheering and jeers of the crowd.
The Houndoom masked individual nodded and pulled out a Snag Ball. "How nice to see you boy… you certainly know how to end up wherever I seem to be going…" Viridian said calmly. "Though… I'd watch what you say… lest you like me to reveal 'your' identity to everyone here…."
"And what's that supposed to mean, you're a criminal, you should be locked up!" He said while the crowed continued to cheer and jeer, but they were beginning to die down.
"And I suppose that affects me how?" He commented. "If you try anything… I promise you, your 'squeaky clean record' up there will instantly die. I'm sure good little trainers with noble ambitions don't come down to the Underground or the Pokeblack Market for any 'nice' reasons… I don't know why you're here… but this is a good chance to test out my new 'toys' against you."
Before he could respond the announcer spoke up, [Alright 'Challengers', this will be a no holds barred battle. I want a mean, messy battle from both sides. I want to see bite marks, I want to see fur scorched, and I want to hear cries of pain! Anything goes and I do mean 'anything' goes! Standard victory rules, survivor wins!] He said cheerfully, as if talking about a favorite chapter from a book. [On my mark… BEGIN!]
"Come forth, Galvantula!" Viridian yelled, flinging his coat open and throwing one of only three Pokeballs he had on him.
In a burst of light, the Snag Ball released a Galvantula, and its eyes glared angrily at him, mandibles rubbing in anticipation and electricity crackling freely. Its eyes had a purple glint in them and its legs twitched with each second they remained stationary.
"Go… Iv… Mightyena!" He said, tossing his Mightyena out first.
Ivan appeared in a flash of light, landed heavily and growled at the Galvantula, intimidating it as best he could, but the Galvantula did not seem impressed, instead responding with snapping of its mandibles.
"Mightyena, Howl!" He ordered.
Ivan glanced back at him for a moment, slightly confused, and this was the 'biggest' mistake his loyal Pokemon had ever done. He gave the initiative to Galvantula's trainer, who simply shouted, 'Attack!'
"Kyeeeeaaaaaaa!"
Galvantula hissed and screeched, before launching a barrage of electrical webs at Ivan, who jumped at the last second before obeying Jacob's orders at last, howling loudly and pumping himself up for battle.
"Hooooooouh!"
Jacob could not call out his Pokemon by name, for fear of giving away his team's identity. This was also why he used Ivan over Latias or even Harold. Mightyena was quite common in Hoenn, and nobody would suspect who he was just by having a Mightyena, however Sceptile and Latias were not as common, and Harold's identity as a 'starter' pokemon would give Jacob's identity away far too easily.
Meanwhile the crowd was jeering and booing at the lack of violence taking place, but they quickly cheered as Galvantula, in its fury at missing Ivan, jumped at the Mightyena instead of maintaining its range, and Ivan responded by grabbing one of its legs and biting hard, but not hard enough to draw blood.
"Playing nice huh… well if you won't get rough…" Viridian chuckled, before he screamed, "DISCHARGE!"
Galvantula released a titanic surge of electricity into the air, zapping everything around it, including Ivan, and barely avoiding Jacob.
"Grrrrrrawwwww!"
As Ivan was shoved off by the force of the attack, landing near Jacob, the crowd cheered and laughed at Ivan's burned fur, while his legs crackled with electricity, a sign of paralysis.
Still Ivan managed to stand up and deal with the paralysis his legs were feeling.
"Galvantula, Electroweb!" Viridian shouted.
"Galvaaaaaa!" It shouted before sending yet more electrical webs at the Mightyena.
Ivan dodged as best he could, but he could not move as fast now, and eventually he was forced into a corner by the shots, and one connected on him, wrapping around his legs and crackling more electrical charges at him. His fur became singed and now even the skin was becoming charred from all the shocks.
"Mightyena!" Jacob shouted, both out of worry and to give him an order. "Protect!"
Ivan grunted and stood tall, before releasing a barrier of energy that he created from his own electricity he channeled in his mouth.
Galvantula responded by sending a barrage of thunderbolts now, which were absorbed by the barrier. In a fit of furry the electric spider Pokemon jumped at Ivan and instead of using its electricity to deal damage, simply burst through the protective barrier that Ivan had created, and began biting into Ivan's neck.
The crowd cheered and applauded at how violent the battle was becoming, without either Trainer's orders. Jacob could only stare in fear as his friend, a Pokemon he helped raise since his early days of his journey, was being assaulted in such a brutal and violent way.
"Kick him off!" Jacob yelled desperately, unable to think of 'any' other order under these conditions.
This was far from the battles he was used to, where the battles were tamed, the fight was merely a sport, and the point was simply to see which trainer was better.
Ivan managed to kick off the Galvantula and sent it flying away, but not before he saw that the Galvantula had 'jumped' away on purpose, and only to send another powerful Thunderbolt against Ivan, who howled and curled up into a ball of singed fur, paralyzed muscles, and whimpering moans.
It was too much, this wasn't what he agreed to, and he reached to his belt to grab Ivan's Pokeball.
He was about to recall Ivan when he stopped himself, when he noticed the masked man several people to the right of his friends, shaking his head with a smirk, and wiggling his finger in the universal sign of 'no'.
If he recalled him now, it would make people boo and laugh at him, call him coward and taunt him. It would also make it plainly obvious that Jacob was a 'licensed' trainer, and fought by the Pokemon League Rules. And it would also make the battle 'boring'… something that masked man told him not to do.
"Ivan… stand up…" He muttered as loudly as he dared to his Mightyena. "I can't recall you yet… please… you have to fight… I can't help you right now. I know it's too much for me to ask… but… please… I need you to fight till you can't anymore…"
He began crying, wishing there were another way, but there was no other way. Not if he wanted to have a hope of winning this battle.
"This battle… Coral's freedom depends on us… I need you to be strong for her, if not 'me' than for her sake. If there was ever a time I needed you to be strong… I 'need' you to be strong now. Please Ivan… get up… try and get up please!"
Ivan's ears shifted as the Mightyena, with great effort, shakily clawed and stood on his four legs. Then he tucked his head in and swung it up high, howled as loudly as he could that silenced 'everyone'…
"HAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-!"
Before he glared at the Galvantula.
At that moment, for some reason, Jacob felt as if he understood Ivan's roar, it was his howl of 'rage'.
(Ivan's PoV)
Ivan was furious, furious that his alpha Jacob was forced into a battle he did not want, forced to battle in ways he did not want to, and forced to fight for that which he should not have to.
But most of all, he was furious that his 'opponent' did the one thing he 'never', ever, wanted to see happen.
It made his Alpha feel… humiliated… feel 'weak'… and his Alpha was not weak!
He smelled the opponent, the 'bug', and directed his rage against that 'thing'. It was not a Pokemon, it was not an opponent.
No…
No…
It wasn't 'anything'…
It was an abomination…
It was a threat… a threat to his alpha…
And he would not let it 'stand' another minute.
Without hesitation he charged, his Paralysis gone as he forced energy into his limbs.
The Galvantula responded with a Discharge, but despite the pain, he pushed through, taking energy with his bond with Jacob, and pushing onward to Crunch down into the Galvantula's thick hide.
He crunched harder and harder, before he finally bit even further, and pushed into a layer of flesh and meat that he normally avoided doing in battle. At this the Galvantula squealed and screamed in pain, flailing as it tried to get away, but he did not let go. He bit harder and harder, until a sudden force forced him away.
He was forced back as he felt two horns force their way into his stomach, shoved him off, and sent him flying backward.
He managed to land on his feet and looked up to see a Houndoom, the same Houndoom that had once dared to hurt Jacob alongside the Galvantula according to Sara and Kenna.
Suddenly the battle became a lot harder… now that it was 'two' versus 'one'.
(Sara's PoV)
"That's not fair, two against one?!" Karen shouted angrily. "Where's the recall, why is the ref not saying anything!?"
"This is how it goes in the underground, anything goes, there is no rule except surviving and winning." Zarak muttered, shutting her up with a thump to her side. "They can do whatever they want because this battle isn't regulated, this is normal. Now keep your voice down, anyone hears you and we're dead!"
"Well why doesn't he recall him and send out someone else?!" She muttered angrily.
"Because there is no switching out allowed, only the 'survivor' gets to leave the arena." Zarak replied.
Sara glanced at them before looking back at Jacob. She knew he was in danger, she had to do 'something'… anything.
But if she did… they were doomed for failure.
(Jacob's PoV)
"How do I get out of this…" He asked nervously as both a weary and battered Shadow Galvantula, and a fresh and furious Shadow Houndoom glared at his tired and weakened Mightyena.
Both Pokemon made ready to attack, and his Mightyena braced himself for battle, but there was no way he could avoid 'both' attacks in his condition, let alone survive either of em.
Just as he was trying to come up with a plan, perhaps recalling Ivan and sending in another, maybe Latias, he felt Sara push into his mind and talk to him.
(Jacob… you must cast aside your Trainer Pride in this battle!) She said. (Send out someone to help Ivan!)
'What… I can't do that, that's cheating, if I do that I'm no better than Viridian!' He thought.
(Jacob… please… listen!) She begged. (This is the only way, this is not a normal battle, there are no rules, there is no other rule but surviving! He can do that, anyone can do that, you MUST do it!)
'But I'm not him… I 'wont' be like him!' He thought back, trying to avoid the talk as he yelled, "JUMP!"
Ivan obeyed and used what strength he had to jump, barely avoiding both a Flamethrower and a Thunderbolt, but as Ivan landed he saw his Mightyena gasping for breath. He could not do that again and both his opponents were readying another attack.
(Please Jacob… there is no reason to 'be' like him, but you must do what you 'must' to survive in this contest.) Sara pleaded, almost desperately. (Please Jacob, I know you hate this, you hate this place, this is not 'our' world… but this is the world we 'must' work with for now. You don't want anyone to figure out its you, but nobody knows who you are now, nobody will ever know we were here. Nobody will ever know that 'we' did this. Please… for 'Coral's' sake… cast aside your Trainer Honor for this one time!)
Ivan braced himself, gasping for breath and regaining his strength as fast as he could, while the Galvantula and Houndoom prepared their attacks again.
He could not replicate his heroic jump again, this time unless he did something different Ivan would feel the sting of both attacks. And it was clear that neither was going to be merciful and avoid 'lethal' damage.
So, he did what he had to.
He grabbed another 'two' Pokeballs from his belt… and whispered, "For Coral…"
And released Roran and Harold.
The crowd cheered loudly as both the Swellow and Sceptile appeared, both Pokemon seeing what was happening and charged forward. Roran went into a steep dive and flew past the Houndoom and Galvantula, confusing them and slicing at them with his 'Steel Wing' move that he learned from a Skarmory.
Harold meanwhile stood in front of Ivan, poised for battle and ready to defend his wounded friend.
(Harold's PoV)
"How are you Ivan?" He asked as a crowd of people cheered at their appearance.
"Tired…" The Mightyena barked tiredly, too proud to admit he was worse off.
"Why did Jacob call 'both' of us out before recalling you, I thought battles were one on one?"
"They aren't…" Ivan barked weakly, before finally collapsing.
Harold looked back in shock and stared as Jacob refused to call him back.
"Harold… we have to win this fast… I can't call Ivan back until the 'battle' ends." He explained. "Only the survivor gets to leave a winner, loser limps out… and we can't lose if we want to save Coral."
He nodded in understanding, before looking back at the Houndoom and Galvantula, recognizing them as Shadow Pokemon. This was not a normal battle, and it wasn't going to be one either.
"Mega-Evolve me!" He said.
"That's the plan." Jacob muttered as he went into a stance.
Harold glared at the Houndoom as it glared back at him. They had been training to use Mega Evolution for the sole reason of matching the power of the Shadow Pokemon, and now was as good a time to test its power.
He just wished it had been under different conditions.
(Jacob's PoV)
He pulled his sleeve back and took a deep breath, then screamed, "Sceptile, MEGA EVOLVE!" and touched the Keystone on his wrist.
As one both Keystone and Megastone on Harold lit up in a vast array of colors, electing a cheer and 'oooh' from the crowd.
Somewhere above him he heard the masked guy cackling and laughing loudly as Harold underwent his Mega Evolution.
Moments later Harold finished his Mega Evolution.
"Scep…TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILE!" He yelled sending a blast of power around the arena, causing capes and robes to fly briefly.
Across from him, he saw the Shadow Pokemon react instantly, and he saw something that made him momentarily stunned, shocked even.
He saw that both the Houndoom and Galvantula had taken a step back… in 'fear'.
He had never seen a Shadow Pokemon ever show an emotion besides anger and rage, except for maybe determination and eagerness. Fear was the last thing he expected. But regardless, both Shadow Pokemon regained their composure and attacked Harold instantly.
The Galvantula reacted by sending a blast of electricity at his Sceptile, but Harold turned his tail toward it and the tail drew the attack. He expected his starter to be in pain, but it was the opposite, he seemed to become stronger, more eager the longer the attack continued. The tail was glowing brightly now with each volt it absorbed, until finally it launched from Harold like a missile, launching toward the Galvantula.
While that happened, Roran flew up high and went into a massive dive, wrapping his body in a fiery aura and going into a powerful Brave Bird. Just Like Ivan and all the others on Jacob's team, his Swellow shared a bond that told him all that was going on, and like Ivan, he too went into a rage induced attack that granted him even 'more' power than normal. His fiery aura expanded until he looked more like a Moltres in flight than a Swellow using Brave Bird, and he flew straight at the Houndoom and collided with it at full force.
Both attacks connected and both Pokemon were rocketed by explosions of fire. Harold's tail portion that was launched flung back at him and connected back to the main part of the tail, as if it were magnetically attracted to it, and Roran flew back over to Jacob, panting heavily and exhausted after his attack.
As for the two Shadow Pokemon, both had collapsed, and it was unclear if they were unconscious or worse. Still, the damage was done, neither were getting back up.
Viridian however, merely grunted.
"Well, so much for those two." He muttered.
Jacob looked at him and responded, "Are you done yet?"
"Hardly…" He said, before releasing his last Pokemon from its Pokeball, a standard Pokeball.
In a flash of light, a large canine Pokemon with orange, black and tan fur appeared, its body very bony and looked extremely tired.
"Arr…" The exhausted, tired, and desperately weak Arcanine barked feebly.
"Arky!" He yelled, recognizing the Arcanine from the video feed.
For a moment he was shocked to see such a weak Pokemon that was normally fearsome, prideful, powerful, and noble Pokemon looking so feeble and pathetic that even a Magikarp could beat it. Then he glared angrily at Viridian for this low trick.
If he was to win Coral's freedom, he had to beat a weak and ill Pokemon that he was asked to rescue.
(Sara's PoV)
Sara stared wide eyed, sensing Jacob's terrifying anger, and distress at the situation.
This was a whole new low for Viridian she thought, how dare he take advantage of a Pokemon's health for this battle. This was worse than ANYTHING she had imagined this despicable human capable of, and she had imagined quite a bit.
"No way, that's the Arcanine we were supposed to rescue!" Karen muttered. "What do we do Zarak?"
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking!" He whispered back. "I suppose Salamence could make a ruckus and we could steal the Arcanine away. But then we'd lose Coral…"
Sara thought too, but just as she was contemplating many scenarios, one of which involved simply kidnapping both the masked man, Viridian, Jacob, and transporting them and everyone else they knew to the nearest Pokemon Center, she felt someone tapping her back.
She turned around and saw the masked individual from before looking at her, heavily robed and still not exposing its face. Then they took a step back and walked away through the crowd, but where he stood, a Snag Ball lay on the ground.
Thinking fast she grabbed it, being careful not to expose herself, and turned to the stadium. It was a risk, and one she disliked, but she had to give it a try…
(Jacob's PoV)
"Well boy, if you aren't going to move, I will!" Viridian chuckled as the crowd boo'd at the inaction of both sides. "Flamethrower!"
The Arcanine nodded and opened its mouth, before sending a weak but still sturdy jet of flame at Harold.
Harold held up his arms and endured the blast, the flames not singing him but still causing slight pain.
(Jacob!) Sara yelled in his mind. (Get ready!)
'For what?'
Milliseconds later he got his answer as Sara jumped up from the crowd, over Viridian and Arcanine, causing the crowd to gasp as she landed in the arena. Then she flung her robes off to reveal her true identity as a Gardevoir.
As she did he felt something land in his hands as her robes were flung past him.
Before he could react, she created a ball of what little natural energy she could gather to create an Energy Ball, condensed it, and flung it at the Arcanine.
The attack wasn't as strong as she could have made it, but for Arcanine it was too much for his weak body to handle. It stood for a moment before backing up in pain, and then collapsing seconds later, its breathing raspy and twitching in pain.
(Now Jacob, snag it!) She yelled. (It's the only way!)
He looked down and saw a Snag Ball placed in his hand.
He realized what she wanted, and thought it wrong, but understood what she meant.
It was the only way to 'save' Arcanine and save Coral at the same time in this battle.
"Snag Ball go!"
He tossed the ball and hit the Arcanine in the leg, causing the ball to open, pull him in as a beam of red light, and then clamped shut falling to the ground. It twitched once, then twice, and then a third time before going still and 'pinging', indicating the capture was successful.
[And that is the end of the battle!] The announcer yelled, causing the crowd to erupt in applause.
Jacob however ignored the cheers, the applause, and pulled his team back into their balls while Sara levitated the Snag ball safely away from Viridian, who recalled his two Shadow Pokemon and walked away.
(Jacob… we could stop him now, catch him…)
"No… not now… not here…" He muttered bitterly. "We'll get him… someday… not today… someday… but not today."
With that, he watched Viridian walk away, as the doors closed behind him.
=Ten minutes later=
"That was WONDERFUL!" The masked individual yelled ecstatically. "The mega evolving, the double Pokemon pull out, the roaring, the bite marks, the explosions, the Gardevoir hiding in the crowd acting as your trump card! It was amaaaaaaazing! I made 'billions' off your battle, billions my boy billions! I made so much I could buy my own private Cruise Ship!"
Behind him the robed individual stood silent, just like Sara who was now cloaked and robed as well.
"We did what you asked, now give me the Milotic." Jacob said.
"Oh of course, I'm a man of my word, here you go~!" He chuckled and handed him the Pokeball. "Next time take care of your Pokemon boy, else you won't find anyone willing to bail you out of a tight spot."
"What… how…" He said but the masked man merely held his finger out and hushed his words.
"Let's just say… you give yourself away too easily… I saw it at the auction… I bid high to ensure nobody else would take your Pokemon from you. And… knowing how you'd react… I decided to make a biiiiiig profit at the same time as help you. Sorry boy, but there are no caped crusaders like that silly 'Gligar Man'… nothing in life is free. Take this lesson and get lost before someone pickpockets you… if you catch my drift~!"
With that he turned and walked away, and his friend followed suit.
(Sara's PoV)
She watched the robed one walk away, but had to find out before it was too late.
She gambled, opened her mind, and called in a voice to the individual hoping he'd respond.
(Wait… I want to say… thank you!) She said. (You saved my trainer… my friend… we owe you so much!)
The robed one however… did not respond, and merely walked on, vanishing from sight as they turned a corner.
'Perhaps he was a dark type after all… even a psychic type would have replied in some way…' She thought sadly.
(Masquerade's PoV)
He chuckled to himself as he walked on, heading toward the elevator to get out of the Pokeblack Market.
He reached it and found Viridian waiting for him. "The boss won't like this." He muttered.
"Serves us right for trying to test out these Shadow Pokemon in the Underground, I told you, we should have practiced them in Gym Battles, the Pokemon League… but nooooo, little miss 'research captain' wanted to test them in the arena." He said dully.
"Why 'did' you tell us to come down here in the first place?" He asked the robed individual next to him as they went up.
Said individual remained silent.
"Oh fine, give us the silent treatment…" He yelled loudly. "Well, I guess I'll tell the boss what happened, at least with me he won't kill me… unlike you 'Viridian, I have a good record for getting things done!"
"And why is that?" He growled.
Masquerade grinned as the elevator picked up speed, nearing the surface now.
"I know where to find 'Delta'…"
(Multi PoV)
=Four hours Later=
Officer Jenny hiccupped as she cleaned her table, trying to put things back in order. The smell was finally gone after much scrubbing, the file cabinets were at least… straight, and the many trash bags were gone. All that remained were the table and the smell lingering over it, but a few squirts of Pokebreeze would get rid of it… after 5 days of squirting constantly.
She'd been working overtime trying to get things in order, trying to get herself up and make herself feel like she was doing 'something' instead of just drinking her liver to death.
[Chief, someone wants to see you…] Her officer working the night shift said over the intercom.
She sighed and rubbed her eyes. She tossed her cleaning wipe into the trash, straightened her hat, and put on her best professional expression. "Send him in." She said, thinking it was some official wanting a word about her lack of reports to them. She had been neglecting sending anything for weeks after all, she would not be surprised if the mayor stormed in demanding answers or something to the mountain of reports and allegations she's received in the last few days.
She already had to deal with the media saying she was a slob after one of snuck a pic of her office, that was fun to explain to her sisters.
She sat down and waited, expecting to hear stomping or footsteps.
She heard them, but she also heard panting and padding.
"What can I do for…?" She said, before the door opened and she saw, "A… A… Ar… Arky?"
It was him, Arky, her Arcanine.
He was bony, he was weak, he looked ill, he looked tired, he looked starved, he looked like he was among the living dead… but he was 'there'.
"ARKY!" She yelled happily as she jumped up, over her desk, and ran at her Arcanine who yipped and leapt at her, tackling her to the ground like he was a Growlithe again.
"Rawr, rwar…" He barked happily, licking and rubbing his unkept and very smelly coat on her.
"Oh Arky… oh my boy, my boy… my poor boy… mama missed you soooo much~." She cried, streaming tears of joy as she held her little Arky in her arms, so happy to have him back in her safe arms and rubbing her face into his messy, smelly fur. "My boy, my baby arky… my sweet little dumpy poo… mama missed you so much… I missed you… I missed you… oh… myarkyimissedyousomuuuaaaaah… ahhh ha haaaa…"
Her tears of joy dissolved into tears and jumbled words, before eventually just dissolving into tears and moans as she held her beloved Arcanine who was her heart and soul for this thankless job that her sisters said, 'you are hired to be fired, so never take the job' time and time again!
While she was busy welcoming her Arky home, bawling her eyes out, she didn't notice Jacob, Segan, Karen, Zarak, a Grovyle and Sara the Gardevoir step in. All of them smiling warmly as Jenny held her Arcanine rubbing and scratching him like the end of the world was upon them.
"Arky… I'm never letting you go… you're never leaving my sight again… I'll never leave you be for a second…" She moaned, crying her tears as she held him. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry I couldn't save you… please forgive me-e-e-eeee… I couldn't save you my Arky. I couldn't even save my precious baby boy… my precious little Arky. I'm so sorrrrrry…"
"Mrrrrwar…" Arky mumbled back, licking her cheek of tears, reassuring her that he was there.
(He was your heart and soul for this work…) Sara whispered happily. (People may not understand why you did what you did or what you were forced to do for them, but 'he' made this worth it… he missed you dearly, and he told us what he endured, he endured to keep you safe. If he cooperated and did what they said, they told him they wouldn't hurt you.)
Jenny finally noticed them and slowly, weakly, got up and walked over to them.
She walked past Segan, past Zarak, past Sara and the Grovyle and Karen, and walked to Jacob, and pulled him into a hug.
"Thank you… thank you boy…" She muttered wearily. "You… you're my hero… you saved my Arky… I could… if there's anything… anything… ANYTHING… I can do for you…"
Jacob hugged her back, before he let go and pulled out two strange Pokeballs, both with the letter 'S' on them.
"Can you contact your sister in Mauville City and get her in contact with her friend Electra, I need her to help me with my Milotic. And can you do me one other small favor?"
"Anything boy, anything, just name it." She nodded happily.
"I need you to take some Police officers, and shut down a Pokeblack Market place… for good!" He said quietly.
=AUTHORS NOTES=
I am sorry to everyone for how long this chapter took… life and other things have hit me hard… I am commited to finishing this fic… it is approaching the end… but please… stay with me… and review.
I am the imperator 2 you… till next time~