Locked Away, Chapter 35
Since pokemon outside of their pokeballs were not allowed to enter the party with their trainers, both togepi and pikachu opted to stay at the hotel, rather than being confined in their small metallic balls. Ash was sure when he and Misty returned, they would find a special kind of mayhem. Luckily, Misty came prepared and brought a few trainer magazines and videos for the pokemon to watch while they were away. Apparently, she knew before Ash did that the two would not be joining them. Another difference from his world and this one. Pokemon were displayed as cute creatures of great joy and affection, while in this world, they were treated almost like weapons. They should be used, not seen or heard.
When they arrived outside of the party, it was a quarter after six; Misty stated that they were fashionably late after walking through the indigo plateau and introducing Ash to all of the changes. They were able to see the fountains, the grand tournament stadium, which made the stadium in his dreams look like a joke. To even step food on the indigo plateau was a big deal, and Ash felt like royalty when he saw young fans running around asking for autographs. Misty was still relatively unknown, but save for Bruno, Lorelei and Lance, there was no lack of fan girls.
The Elite Four were a group of political figures housed in the largest building on the plateau, where they shared the space with the Kanto Champion, who hadn't changed in the last sixteen years; an impressive feat for any trainer. Anyone that battled him failed, even if they defeated the Elite Four; however, over the last ten years, he had only made two public appearance, and otherwise, remained in the shadows.
Ash wondered how people could follow the example of a leader that never shows his face, but discovered quickly, that was the most likely problem to begin with. The Elite Four was a corrupt band of misfits, and the champion never showed his face.
Outside of feeling like a second class citizen, Ash was overwhelmed by the abundance of people dressed in nice clothing, high heels, and floral designs. He deduced that so many different fragrances would cause the next great pokemon war, or something. He tried to plug his nose without looking strange, but Misty swat his hand down.
"You'll be fine." She hissed, but Ash wasn't so sure. He spent months walking outside, taking in the scent of fresh, clean air, now that his senses were being muted by the harrowing depth of perfume, he wanted to gag himself.
"Mist, have I ever told you how glad I am that you don't smell like a girl?"
The glare she gave him was unsuited for the party, but he felt no fault in his words when he looked at her with innocent brown eyes. Her fist found perch on his shoulder, but did not strike him.
"Just hold your breath until you pass out." She croaked bitterly, to which Ash laughed.
Walking into the gala where the real event was being held was like stepping into a new world entirely. Colorful streamers danced across a pitched ceiling with large, white orbs floating in the sky took Ash's breath away. Traditional lights hung from every corner, streaming down pillars on each side of the party. On the far right side, a huge buffet was on display with servers dressed in traditional white suit shirts and black slacks; a little further back from that was the seating arrangement that covered the whole deck beyond the railing, but in the center of the room was a lowered floor with stairs, where trainers of all social class gathered to talk, or dance. Classical music placed in the distance, but Ash could not see from which direction. Directly ahead of them was a line of black curtains closed over a huge stage, where the announcements would be made later that night.
The lights were dimmed just enough to take away the professional, stuffy feeling of a typical gathering, but the area was just bright enough to scream formal party—it looked like the formal dances that Ash had seen in movies, but without the blasting music and tacky hair.
"I thought this was going to be more like an office gathering." He admit cheekily, his arm still wrapped around hers and his mouth agape like a magikarp.
"I did say party, Ash." She grinned.
Nudging him as she dragged him forward and down the steps, Ash whined under his breath, staring at the buffet tables line with an assortment of dishes. He knew that if pikachu was with him, that would be their first stop. However, Misty didn't seem as determined to eat because she pulled him directly through the crowd of people. Her line of sight was set on a tall figure lumbering at the corner of the party with a drink in his hand, but Ash had barely noticed before he was engulfed in the wave of bodies.
After tossing a few 'excuse me' and 'sorry's out to the general people Misty accidentally caused Ash to bump into, they came to a reeling stop at the corner of the party, where Ash's eyes met with the squinted ones of a man who was once a long-lost friend.
"So this is where you were? Weren't you supposed to meet us at the train station?" Misty hissed without warning, releasing Ash from her intense grip. The man's playful eyes brightened at her accusation while he wiggled an eyebrow.
"You made it, Misty!" Brock exclaimed, moving forward to capture the redhead in a short embrace, Ash immediately wanted to place himself between the two, thinking for a moment Misty might have let go too quickly. Inwardly, he had to remind himself that it was just Brock, as the older man veered his head to look at Ash.
"And you brought Ash." Brock backed away, staring at the couple, taking a mental note of their matching attires and then grinning. "I thought you said he was out of town?"
Misty scratched her neck, and flicked her hand through her hair anxiously, her earrings rattled against her neck while she sighed.
"He wasn't supposed to be, but he sort of just showed up."
"So you dragged him along?" His eyebrow wiggling once more, a grin flashed on his lips that filled Ash's chest with dread.
"Why wouldn't I?" Misty questioned Brock's motives with a raised eyebrow.
Graciously, Brock held up his hands and backed away, and Ash almost laughed, recalling the similarities to their lost friendship already.
"How have you been Brock?" Ash asked suddenly, jarring the conversation into another direction. The sound of people talking almost distorted Ash's hearing when Brock smiled to the young man.
"Well, I've been doing well—the same ol' same ol'. Just been trying to pick up women from a higher class. It's difficult...but you would know all about that wouldn't you?" Brock mumbled, placing his thumb and index finger against his chin while glancing over to the redhead. Ash followed his gaze and pursed his lips while Misty sighed loudly and rubbed her temple.
"You know, this is why we had to start having our meetings in the nursing home, so you would stop looking at every female that walked by!" Misty hissed quietly in a tone that made Ash laugh loudly.
"I'm glad that you two are getting along." Ash said earnestly, getting a strange look from the gym leaders. For a moment, they almost forgot that in Ash's mind, they were always good friends. Misty smiled awkwardly at Brock, who returned the gesture with a scratch of his neck.
"Well, she didn't call me crazy after my theories, so I figured I could give the crazy coma-patient a chance." Brock said quickly while crossing his arms.
For a moment, he looked Ash up and down, taking in the differences from the boy that walked into his gym demanding a battle, to the man that stood before him now. "But I guess the real question is how have you been?"
"I've been good, but it's been a long last few months!" Ash laughed in response while Misty's gaze fell over to the three people watching her from the railing above the social floor.
Brock and Ash chattered beside her, engulfed in a conversation about traveling, and pokemon while she matched the glare from Lorelei, Bruno, and Lance. They stood at the top railing over looking the guests of the party, technically, where she was supposed to be standing. Their faces turned almost sour as they observed Misty associate with a nobody and a gym leader. Since she would the newest reigning Elite Four member, replacing the temporary they had for the last few years, they didn't seem to have the highest opinion of her. In the end, the Elite Four was nothing more than a power-house clique. Misty snarled, and looked away with a definite eye roll at their behavior. She at least hoped they would be different in person than they were on television, but their pompous nature was no different. What a surprise.
Catching her drifting gaze, Ash turned to her.
"What's up?" He asked over the noise of crowd, Misty tore her icy gaze away from the floor, and offered a smile.
"The other Elite Four members were staring." She said modestly, causing both Brock and Ash to look in her former direction, where once the nobodies looked at them, they turned away. For once, Misty understood the genuine complaints people, trainers, battlers, coordinators, had about the group. Only, she hoped she wouldn't be roped along with them.
Ash raised his eyebrows at her questioning her words. Catching his confusion, she squeezed both of the trainers into a tight circle so others wouldn't eavesdrop.
"They're kind of snobby." Misty explained. "I've only had the chance to talk with them in person a few times since obtaining the nomination and the few times I did they wouldn't give me the time of day. It's no wonder Agatha said she hated it here."
Brock nodded. "Remember how nice they used to seem on television? I wonder what happened to that. Now it's like they want to be seen as assholes. They've been glowering through the party since I've been here. They won't even talk with gym leaders or top trainers."
As he spoke, he pointed forward, across the gathering floor to the elegantly dressed blue-haired girl who stood along side other top coordinators—one of them Ash noticed right away was Drew, and the other was the pink-haired vixen, Ursula. Ash's lips pursed uncomfortably as he watched the clique swing around the party, speaking with several different trainers and guests—at that moment, he recognized that Paul sat at a table a few feet away from Dawn, followed by a slew of guests he had come to recognize—Gary stood amongst older men, who Ash could only assume were other pokemon researchers, he recognized right away other gym leaders from across Kanto and the Johto region talking amongst their own friend groups. If his mind wasn't playing tricks on him, he believed he saw Trip, and Barry, and possibly even Ritchie. His breath hitched.
"Where are there so many people here?" He gasped, leaning in to whisper in Misty's ear urgently, as if he didn't want Brock to hear him.
The latter pursed his lips and folded his arms. "Why? Are you seeing people you know?" Brock asked, a mocking grin touching his lips. Ash glared.
"Uhh, sort of." Ash fidgeted. "Like you, no one else remembers me, either. I just didn't think so many would be here." he offered in reply, looking up at Lt. Surge who was coaching a girl who Ash could only assume was a high-ranked trainer.
"Everyone here is in the top-tier of whatever field they're in." Misty pointed back to Dawn discreetly, then to each group Ash spied. "The coordinators, the researchers, the gym leaders, the elite trainers, and then..." She gestured to the upper floor railing where a group of trainers were gathered amongst the Kanto Elite Four.
"The Elite Four and champions." she finished, looking back at Ash. "It's just a big ego fest here. People come to drink, gossip, and mostly-" She grinned at Brock, who had turned his attention to a girl spinning on the dance floor. "Have an excuse to dress up."
"...What about the announcements?"
"That's the least important part of a league party, unfortunately. People come to these parties to see the competition; not to celebrate other peoples victories." Hearing Misty's explanation, Brock returned his attention to the group and nodded.
"That's why I tried to avoid them as long as possible." Brock elaborated but Misty scoffed.
"Please, you use them as an excuse to look at pretty women."
Brock opened his mouth, and then closed it; he couldn't deny it. He pointed past Misty and Ash, and smiled charmingly to a girl with long black hair who winked at him, or so he thought.
"That's also partially, true; anyways, duty calls!" He flaunted, leaving Ash and Misty.
The latter looked horrified that her safety net bailed on her, and for the second time that day, she thanked the heavens that Ash actually arrived back in Cerulean City with time to prepare—otherwise, she would be standing alone, or worse forced to sit with the other Elite Four.
Ash's attention was drawn elsewhere, to the purple haired man sitting at the table near the buffet, where a small blonde man who Ash recognized as Barry rattled off a distant conversation into his ear.
"Why isn't Paul with the rest of the Elite Four?" Ash mumbled, eyebrows narrowing suspiciously.
"To be honest, I have no idea. Paul is an odd one." Ash pointed at her after her reasoning.
"And why aren't you?" Her face flushed, agitated by his question.
"Clearly, I have a good reason not to be seen with assholes like that." She tried to mask the venom, possibly the humiliation, but Ash snorted and waved his hand at her knowingly.
"But don't you know anyone else here? What about the gym leaders? You ran through a whole bunch of people." He gestured to them. Misty shuddered and cocked her jaw to one side.
"I...know of them." She offered, swearing at Brock. Ash's eyebrows rose.
"Misty, are you shy?" He asked humorless, covering his mouth with his fingers to hide the mischievous smirk.
Her mouth opened, prepared to deny such a ludicrous accusation, but the way her eyes darted around, and her face blushed he knew he called her on her bluff easily.
"I'm not shy." She hissed quietly. "I just don't get out very often! I'm very busy." She offered, but a strange humor radiated in Ash's eyes.
"I thought it was a bit strange that no one recognized you when you walked in—but" he pointed to the door, where Sabrina entered and the few publishers and fans who were welcomed into the part bellowed in elation, unlike when Misty walked in. "It makes sense now."
"Well, thanks. Are you going to insult my popularity now?" Her eyebrow twitched and a cold chill ran down his spin. "You know," she hissed her defense, turning at him and wagging her finger. "I happen to well known, just not in this prestigious group of people!"
For a switch, he thought he would ask her if that's why it was so difficult to procure a seat in the Elite Four. She defended herself hotly in regards to her social class while he tilted his head at her. Her battling was considered top-notch, but her social ranking was below that of normal gym leaders—much like Brock. While she knew a retired Elite Four member like Agatha—she didn't make a habit of speaking of her other influential people. His face scrunched up at the thought. Maybe she didn't have other friends?
Why would such an idea bother him now though? He knew that she never placed emphasis on socialization, but only now did it seem so.. lonely.
"So you really are friends!" The sharp, elated voice cut through the party atmosphere, reaching Misty and Ash with a whip.
Dawn marched down the set of stairs, separated from her group. She wore a pink, frilly dress, and red heels. Her hair was pulled up into an elegant bun on top of her head, and her bangs were brushed neatly to one side; as opposed to Misty's flat hair. Dawn looked like a princess, the bearer of a strong title, but Misty in comparison looked like she felt; less than.
"I didn't want to believe it until I actually saw it—but Ms. Waterflower truly brought Mr. no-name with her to one of the greatest parties of the year?" She mocked playfully, earning a look of complete hatred from the redhead, and an innocent blink from Ash.
"Mr. no-name?" He echoed, knowing well that he had given Dawn his name as Misty seethed and stomped the heel of her shoe into the tile.
"Good to know you're still as bourgeois as always, Matthews." Misty scoffed, trying not to grit her teeth. Dawn flashed her a knowing smile in return.
"Oh, you flatter me." Dawn swooned, fanning herself playfully. "I thought as the newest Elite Four member you would surely be sitting with your companions on the upper-floor?"
Watching the exchange was a bit like witnessing a lioness rip into a fawn, only this time, the fawn was Misty. It was a bit nerve wracking—and the exchange only lasted a brief second before Misty recuperated and inhaled calmly. Ash blinked, and she was normal again.
"It's good to see you, Dawn. I hope your flight went well." Misty murmured, though Ash could see the great amount of self-control such a phrase took the redhead to mutter. He stepped in and waved lightly to ease the tension.
"It's been awhile Dawn, how have you been?" his voice was friendly, but the coy Dawn only folded her arms beneath her halter top, and smacked her lips.
"You, Ketchum. You are in a world of trouble." She hissed in a low town, cocking one eyebrow. "What were you doing at that pound? Because of you regulations are three times as harsh!"
In a trained reply, Ash felt sweat pour down the back of his neck. "I have no idea what you mean." He stammered in a flat, yet nervous tone. Misty rolled her eyes beside him.
"Relax, she knows, Ash. So does the one with green hair; Drew, was it?" Misty gestured to Drew, who upon being mentioned seemed to look around, but then returned to his conversation. Ash followed Misty's hand, and then fell back onto Dawn's crystal blue eyes, she smiled at him.
"I...I uh, wasn't thinking." Ash explained, and Dawn silenced a huff.
"Clearly." She scolded, but then as a light switch, her mood turned bubbly once more. "Anyways, I'm glad to see you haven't let the title go to your head yet." Dawn clarified, offering a brief smile.
From across the room, Gary had spotted the trio and started his way through the crowd while Dawn put her fists on her hips. Ash caught a glimpse of the auburn haired pokemon professor, and inhaled, straightening his back and suit.
"Why would I? We had a deal after all." Misty elaborated. "I intend to keep it-"
"Misty, Ash, you both made it!" Gary spoke loudly, his face masking the pure boredom he was being pressed with in the former conversation between old men.
Ash noticed right away the look of discomfort in his eyes, but noticed from an agitated Misty that he couldn't have interrupted at a worse time. This would be the first time that he, Dawn, and Misty would be able to talk as a group—if they could find Brock—Ash skimmed the crowd, seeing him no where—they could finally all catch up on the plan they hatched.
"Yeah we did." Misty hummed happily, thankful for Gary's arrival. "Where's Leaf?"
"Wow Misty, you know the Kanto professor?" Dawn asked, eyebrows raised. Gary looked at Dawn, his eyebrows drawing to a tight knit in an attempt to recall who she was, but when the thought never came, he looked to Misty for support.
"This is Dawn Matthews, top coordinator and spokes person of the Sinnoh region pokemon league."
Dawn gasped. "That's so formal, thank you." She hissed dramatically and then grinned. "It's nice to meet you, Gary Oak, right?"
"That's right. It's nice to meet you, too" Gary responded, shaking her hand that she extended. He then looked to Misty and pursed his lips. "Leaf is back at the lab baby sitting two strangers that Ash sent to me from Hoenn."
Chills ran down Ash's back while his mouth twitched. All eyes were on him. "So you accepted Max then?"
"He's really bright, too—it's the girl that is hard to handle. Do you know how much she eats?"
Ash laughed loudly, recalling the brunettes particular appetite. "Unfortunately. She rivals my appetite."
"Oh lord." Misty rolled her eyes with a huff. "Now, I know work is stressful, Gary, but to imagine someone with a bigger appetite than Ash, you must be going crazy." Misty muttered stubbornly, feeling her mouth twitch. Ash glared in response while Dawn and Gary chuckled.
"She's not imaginary—her name is May Maple, and she's driving Leaf crazy."
Dawn found herself radiant while watching the trios interactions.
"Didn't May Maple have a stint in contests at the Hoenn league some years ago? Her name sounded like a pun, that's why I could never forget." the blue haired female asked while pressing her fingers together happily
"No worse than Waterflower." Misty hummed playfully, earning some laughter.
"Contests or not—she's a ranger now, and a royal pain in my ass." Gary moaned, though in a mock tone.
Dawn gasped. "A ranger? I didn't know Hoenn was still allowing pokemon rangers."
Gary shrugged. "They're one of the few regions that still require them to prevent poaching."
"If you'd ask me rangers should be reinstated here in Kanto and Johto, too." Misty hummed leaning on one foot while Dawn smacked her on the shoulder.
"Then it's a good thing you're getting into politics, huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows at the redhead while Misty rubbed her arm where Dawn playfully pushed her.
"Hey, while I have the three of you-" She glanced over her shoulder at Brock, who had reappeared, rubbing his face where he had been prematurely slapped. "..the four of you...Let me introduce you to some of my friends!"
Without warning, she jerked Misty and Ash forward, with Brock and Gary in tow—both avoiding their gym leader and researcher cliques, and followed after the social butterfly, Dawn, and into the vipers nest of social obligations.
XOXS
Ash was never the best with people. He prided himself on pokemon knowledge and adventures—but after talking with Gary, a well rounded pokemon researcher and professor; Brock, a self-proclaimed pokemon breeder with an insanely vast knowledge in pokemon medicines; Dawn, a top coordinator and self-proclaimed leader of coordinator safe haven, Sinnoh; and finally Misty, soon to be a Kanto Elite Four, noted as a 'water pokemon master' and former Cerulean City gym leader with a great knowledge of politics and the ever-changing regulations of the league, Ash felt rather insignificant. Even after spending ten years in a coma, traveling across six regions and catching over forty different types of pokemon and meeting thousands of different people, Ash didn't even touch on the subjects they were juggling with little ease.
Over the course of the night, he watched asocial Misty turn into a socialization queen along side Dawn and Gary. Brock was still only speaking when spoken too, but the serious version of himself that he stumbled across at the start of the gym weighed in heavy during the conversation about politics, pokemon, and field research.
Meanwhile, Ash was lucky if he could find a word in edgewise. For the first time in years, though he hadn't been awake for most of those—he felt painfully normal. Underclass.
Here were these four people before him, pressing for a new world much longer than him, introducing themselves to many different people and trainers—some that Ash knew, a few that Ash had battled himself, and even more than that—people that at one point during Ash's dreams, admired him. Ash knew this would be the case after he met Brock, but he never expected it to make him feel so empty inside. For the first time since they arrived that night, Ash yearned to have pikachu and togepi at his side—for while they were pokemon, and they were small, they were still his companions that he knew and recognized. Pikachu remembered everything from his dreams, and all togepi knew was Ash—they were his support line when he was struggling.
Everyone he knew in his dreams were damn near professional, except for him—he was the coma-patient, the guy with weird dreams—no standing knowledge of the world that seemed beneficial to carry into a normal conversation, and no title to flaunt to seem important.
Sure, he was being selfish, he knew that much, having remorse for something out of his control, being jealous of other peoples hard earned titles was childish—but he couldn't help it. For once, he didn't feel like he was much at all standing around all these enamored people—just a kid who nearly died in the ocean trying to find his pokemon.
Disoriented, and possibly a little tipsy from whatever was in the cider, he rose to his feet from the railing where he was leaning, and politely excused himself. Before he managed a step around the bend, slender fingers grasped his forearm and reeled him around.
"Where are you going?" Misty mused quietly, blinking wide, sea-green eyes at him. He stared back, a little embarrassed, and found the truth wouldn't emerge.
"Just to the washroom." he replied quickly.
She released him a moment later, framing a sharp 'oh' with her lips and smiling. "Well don't take too long, announcements will start in a few minutes."
His escape was framed by the sound of strong wooden doors cutting out the chatter of the party. The hallway was silent when he stepped out and exhaled to hang his head. All he needed was some air, a few minutes of silence to collect his thoughts away from the prestigious background noise. While the Elite Four and champions might have been the top tier, everyone else was no laughing matter, either.
Ash rubbed the back of his neck and walked forward, pulling on his tie to loosen the cloth. His companions were friendly, they didn't gloat or anything, they just knew so much more than he did and he felt inadequate. Habitually, he ruffled his hair, but then swore right after, remembering that Misty had gelled it before they left, and then quietly tried to pat it back down, using the reflection of the kitchen doors to see himself.
Inside, he could see what he thought was lavender and maroon hair working under large chef hats and swearing at each other. Naturally, he extended his hand to open the door, but another one stopped him in his tracks, landing on the door frame beside him, startled, Ash jumped.
"What was your name again?" Cold, onyx eyes stared down at Ash, and the young man realized them automatically.
"Ash Ketchum." He replied smoothly, taking a few steps back and straightening his suit jacket. "What do you want Paul?"
"What's a nobody like you with a group of people like that?" Paul asked, eyes narrowed dangerously. Ash stood his ground.
"Why do you even care? What's your deal, anyways?" Ash snapped, taking partial of his frustration out on the purple haired man.
"I know if you get in my way, I will end you." Paul warned without skipping a beat.
Using only the base of his fingers, he roughly pushed Ash against the opposite wall and strolled past the man. Ash coughed, and rolled his shoulders, amazed by the strength Paul had behind one shove and rubbed his chest where his fingers had prodded.
"Yeah, same to you, jerk." Ash muttered under his breath but Paul had already left through the side doors. Ash took the time to tug on his collar and march forward back into the kitchen, but when the doors were pressed open—it was empty.
Blinking several times, he sighed. "Maybe I imagined it." Ash said, recalling the trio he believed were nothing more than a nuisance in his dream: Jessie, James, and Meowth. The last he heard of them they were off the grid somewhere, master thieves, leaders of their own diabolical schemes in Team Rocket—far from the goofy mess-ups who were obsessed with pikachu. Still, they did have a way of making Ash feel important.
Sighing quietly to himself, he found his way back into the hall, and kicked his feet against the rug while wandering, lost in his own thoughts. Maybe after all of this, he could rejoin the official Kanto league? After all, he did technically have the cascade badge already and with his currentl team it wouldn't be insanely difficult to take on all the gym leaders. Maybe that would finally give him some sense of worth outside of having strange dreams.
From the distance, Ash heard a strange string of static echo through the hall, and his nose scrunched up, trying to listen for the voice—it almost sounded like a strangled voice on a radio. Carefully, he listened until the ping of static tore through the hallway once more, and then in his nice dress shoes, he jogged to the bend in the hall to dip his head over.
It was black, pure darkness in the otherwise bright hallway. He could see the pitch of the roof had windows in it where the stars peeked down at them, but without the sun, the hallway was crest in blackness. Now, Ash was an adventurer at heart, but if traveling for months taught him anything, walking into a dark cave—or in this case, building, without a light, was the same as playing chicken with local traffic.
Glancing around himself to make sure no one was around, he fumbled through his belt for chimchar's pokeball, and then released the pokemon quietly.
"Mmmmm~" The ape yawned, stretching from the pokeball, Ash squat and then shushed him quickly, knowing well that pokemon weren't supposed to be out of their balls—which was strange, this was a league party celebrating pokemon trainers. But, he supposed it would be chaotic if everyone had their pokemon out.
"I just need you to light this place up for me."Ash asked kindly, rubbing the monkey's head. The pokemon nodded, and then the fire on his tail burned a bit bright, casting light into the hallway.
"Thanks." Ash hummed happily, walking side by side. Nothing was out of the ordinary, a few doors here and there, but nothing strange. Maybe the lights just went out for this specific corridor? Ash rubbed his nose tiredly, believing that he was trying to make nothing into something just to distract himself from his own discomfort in the party. He never thought he would be so bothered, but here he was.
"Yes, do you have everything set up?" A familiar voice cut through the darkness, and Ash held his finger up to chimchar for the monkey to cut out the light. He jumped from the floor and into Ash's arms while the trainer pressed himself close to the wall, and tread near until he could see the faint light at the end of the tunnel.
Ash knew that voice well, it was the same voice that plagued his time at the hospital with a sour grip on reality and pessimistic outlook of the world. When Ash turned to see the figure lite up thanks to the open curtain, his breath stilled—Dr. Sebastian! What was he doing here?
Ash held his breath, keeping his ears open and head down low so he wouldn't be seen. From beyond the curtain, Ash couldn't hear the person the therapist was speaking with, but the goatee, glasses wearing fraud was all too unmistakable, more than that, Ash recalled the black curtains from the party—the stage where the announcements would be made, and titles would be properly addressed.
"I want to be sure that nothing goes wrong. We need for tonight to go exactly as we planned."
Looking down at chimchar, who gazed at Ash with worried eyes, Ash's throat fell into his stomach when he gulped—what plan?
Fight or flight coursed through Ash's veins while his senses honed in on listening to what could be happening behind the curtain—he couldn't know without seeing it for himself, but it sounded like machines and people. At first glance, he noticed the man Sebastian was speaking to was dressed in an all-black attire, and inhaled sharply. Ash wasn't an expert—but he knew was Team Rocket garb looked like!
Easily, Ash could throw out greninja and snorlax, break up whatever plan they were hatching—or ruin the entire night for all of the guests, and likely since Misty brought him, it would reflect negatively on her. More than that, it was a safety issue; if Ash started swinging, guns ready to fire, that could put the whole party at risk. Forcing his adrenaline and instincts to the farthest part of his mind, he shifted back around the corner of the corridor, and then started back the direction he came—only, on his way out, he bumped a table, or something and knocked it over-breakable, and glass and damn it.
"Did you hear that?" an unfamiliar voice called over to where Ash was standing previously, and Ash threw caution to the wind, and started barreling down the hallway back to the party. Once he hit the lighted area, he darted past the kitchen doors, and through the double frame without a single breath or heart beat. He didn't slam them behind him, but he did lean against them breathlessly once he reached the safety of the bustling party.
He thought that no one noticed him, all eyes were on the stage where Gary was standing, accepting an award and medal for being the youngest professor in years to take over for Kanto, when Misty's strong grip reeled him away from the door. Naturally, he panicked and instinct launched him to defend himself. With a stoney grip, he jarred her grasp from his shoulder and heard a brief, strangled yelp. Meeting her eyes, he released her hand and had luckily stopped short of pushing her over.
"What's wrong with you?" She hissed quietly, rubbing her hand where he grabbed her. He held up his hand in apology and pointed to the door.
"Sorry." He muttered weakly, but she took a step away from him when he pressed near. Dawn glanced at the two of them and along side Brock held a questioning gaze but Misty managed to wave them off with a practiced smile and then pointed back at Gary who was rambling some short 'thank you' speech.
For the first time since he arrived, Ash took a good look at the party guards—how this many people, professionals from all around the world were kept safe, and saw the tell-tale signs of men in black surrounding them. Carefully, he side stepped towards Misty and softly draped and arm around her shoulders and leaned in to whisper the way a lawyer might. The redhead looked briefly at his hand that rest on her shoulder, and then titled her head to listen to him. At first, she wanted to give him a piece of her mind for lashing out—his grip hurt! But instead, her face still radiated a proud smile for Gary, and she pretended to pay attention, though, her attention lied on Ash's breath against her neck.
"Do your parties usually have men in black stationed at every door?" Ash asked quietly, causing Misty's eyes to break away from the stage and glance around to see the men Ash was referring.
"They're security guards?" Misty explained quietly behind her smile.
"What about Dr. Sebastian talking to someone just beyond that curtain?"
Misty's face fell. "...Sebastian?" She muttered, blinking twice. "What would he be doing here?"
She spared Ash a glance, looking for communication error or a lie in his eyes, but when they reflected the truth and genuine concern, her eyebrows knit together and she shrugged her response.
"What do you think is going on?"
"I don't know." Ash said, "but it seems fishy."
"Do you think they're hatching a plan here?"
"Maybe? Did you bring any of your pokemon?"
Misty inhaled, drifting from listening to the announcements and presentation to her conversation with Ash.
"All of them—why?"
"Maybe they're planning a heist?"
Alarms went off in her head. It would make perfect sense! There were hundreds of strong pokemon trainers who would be none expecting of terrible intentions. Before a reply escaped her lips, her name was called to the stage, and Ash's arm jumped away from her skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
She shared a worried glance with Ash before forcing a smile back to her lips, looking up at the upper balcony where the other Elite Four members who were missing from the top floor, and made her way to the front of the stage. Meanwhile, Ash dipped and dodged around a few seats to stand beside Brock. Once there, he poked the man in the arm and Brock leaned over to listen, but his attention was modestly on Misty.
"What's up?" Brock whispered and Ash pointed to the men around the room.
"We think something is wrong here." Ash explained for lack of better words while Misty presented her best smile, and was handed a medal with her name on it.
"The woman of the hour—to be honest-the reason we probably all came out here tonight—the newest Kanto Elite Four member: Misty Waterflower of Cerulean City." The man said, clapping happily.
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and she waved awkwardly at them while the man introduced her to the crowd, listing off her credentials and battle records; as well as personal feats such as 'saving' route twenty five. Meanwhile, Misty spotted Ash speaking with Brock, both eyes on her before she used the opportunity standing at the highest point in the room to gaze into the crowd. It was mostly dark, and the mesh of different colored hairs and colorful dresses made the guards posted around the room only more obvious. She inhaled silently, counting backwards in her mind while trying to spot something substantially strange—anything.
What she did see when she turned to the announcer to pose for a brief picture, and accept her certificate, was the gleaming, beady eyes of Sebastian standing beside the curtains, just like Ash had said—but when he realized he had been seen, he ducked backwards.
Misty's heart raced in her head.
"Do you have anything you would like to say?"
"Uhh." Misty started, seeing a few guards break away suddenly, opening doors simultaneously and leaving, while others held radios to their lip that were concealed in their sleeves. The announcer left the microphone at her lips, and she felt a cold shudder run down her spine. More specifically, she saw two figures at the back of the room unmask themselves—one with bold, lavender hair, and another with long, snake-like maroon hair and the words left her body before her brain could tell her otherwise.
"Team Rocket's in the building."
Author's Note:
400 reviews, whaaaaaaaaaat. Thank you guys. -heart- I don't always get back to reviews but I always read what you all write and appreciate the effort you take into writing something and providing feedback, even if it's only a couple of words :)!
Thanks to everyone who favorites and follows this story as well, I hope you're all enjoying it.
...So, have you ever gone to a formal event and compared to everyone else in attendance felt insanely inadequate? Ash has always been a very headstrong person in his dreams, somehow everything always lands him in the center of attention—but, he sort of realized since he has been back, he has -not- been; which was the feeling he mustered at the party. Just kind of felt like it was something I wanted to touch on, plus it was a segway to get him out of the party for a time frame so he could go crashing plans like he does so well! XD