Iris had travelled to the Hoenn region in her quest to become a Dragon type master. After going to the Blackthorn City Gym and challenging its leader Claire she set out on the quest to face even stronger Dragon type trainers to get stronger herself. Her desire led her towards a place called Meteor Falls. Meteor Falls in ancient times used to be the home of a tribe called the Draconid people. They were a tribe that connected more to Dragon type Pokémon than any other. Maybe a visit to an old place like this might inspire her on what the next step towards being a Dragon master will be.
In her journey her Axew had evolved into a Fraxure. To big and heavy now to hide in her hair she carried him around in its Pokéball. She missed the feeling of the little guy rumbling around in the back of her head but it was evidence that together they are growing stronger and more mature.
Having arrived at the location that was rumored to be here Iris set her sight on catching herself a Bagon in the process. The Dragon type being extremely rare even in the Hoenn region the aspiring Dragon master wanted one for herself and train it to evolve it into a Salamence. Ever since she saw one in person she wanted to have one and train it for herself.
"Bagon? Hello? Where are you?"
Looking around her voice echoed through the cave. Turning over each rock and corner she eventually found a Pokémon that looked like the one she's here for standing on top of a rock. Leaping from it she can see it flailing its arms like a bird flaps its wings willing itself to fly. According to studies the desire to fly was so strong in the Bagon line that it sprouted the red wings of their final stage of evolution. Iris wanted to to help this one achieve that desire.
"Found you!"
Excitement filling her at finding the Dragon type she took a Pokeball. The Bagon seeing it ran away from her forfeiting his jump to maybe fly.
"Come back!"
Running to the rock she started to climb it. Thanks to her childhood in which she spend most of her time in the forest scaling it was no issue for her. Climbing as fast as she could she peeked over the edge and instead of a Pokémon there was a man with brown hair and yellow eyes offering his hand out to help her up.
"Oh hello. Can I help you?" Surprised to find her Iris took his hand and he helped her up the edge. The man smiling at her Iris knew he was friendly but wondered what he was doing here himself.
"I'm looking to catch a Bagon here. Did you see one come by?"
"There you are!"
"it was my Bagon." Holding out a Pokeball he returned it to his container. Seeing the Pokémon disappear into a red glow Iris immediately apologized to him not wanting him to think she's a Pokémon thief.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to steal your Pokémon!"
"That's fine. It's just a misunderstanding Iris."
"How do you know my name?" Hearing it she became a lot more cautious. During their exchange they hadn't given names yet and she was sure she wasn't exactly a celebrity or did anything of value here.
"Because you ruined the boss his plan twerp!"
Seeing a woman behind her dressed in black the most distinct feature is the red r on the chest of the skirt. Having seen it dozens of times before she knew she walked into trouble.
"You're Team Rocket! What are you doing here!?" Hearing the title Jessie, James and Meowth gave her she pieced the things together and Iris immediately reached for Dragonite's Pokeball but someone already beat her to his own Pokeball and released its occupant.
"Hypno, Ally Switch!" Its eyes glowed and the process of recruiting her was set in motion.
Light red energy and dark red energy left Iris and the grunt and it swapped bodies. The lights manifesting themselves in their new hosts the Dragon type trainer smirked with an evil grin while the Team Rocket member started to panic over wearing the outfit of the evil organization.
"Team Rocket? I've got to warn Officer Jenny!"
Running away trying to get out the other Team Rocket member eyed the new 'recruit'. Looking into her brown eyes the recruiter could see a shift in them. The same shift he'd seen before when they used this trick on Pokémon and they turned more vicious.
"Now Iris. You want this Bagon?" Dangling it in front of her face he knew it was only a matter if time before she took tge bait.
"Yes. It should belong to a proper Dragon type trainer like me."
Having a high opinion of her abilities as a trainer she knows that puny Bagon was better off in her possession then the one who's holding it now. She'd snatch it the moment he let his guard down. The recruiter liking the look she gave him wanted to strike a deal.
"If you can catch her before she leaves Meteor Falls I'll give you this Bagon. You're in?"
The fleeing woman having served her purpose needed to be taken care off. And instead of lifting a finger he'd let Iris do the work for him. The girl without saying a word threw her Pokeball and released her Excadrill. The Ground Steel type unaware of what happened out of his Pokeball wondered why she called him out.
"Excadrill, help me catch Team Rocket!"
Iris pointing to the running woman Excadrill put his arms over his head and turned into a giant drill. Leaping into the ground he set after the fleeing Team Rocket member. Not liking the group as much as his trainer did he'd make sure to dig a big hole to make sure she wouldn't get out by herself.
The woman dressed in Team Rocket attire still ran to the exit of the cave. Feeling distressed over her situation and how she got into this mess the ground caved in quickly under her feet and she fell into a giant hole. Landing into it with she tried to climb out but the walls were just to steep and she realized she was trapped.
"Let me out!"
"Nice job Excadrill!" Iris praising it for the job well done she sounded as cheerful as she always did. Thanking Excadrill for its efforts she returned him to his ball for some rest telling she's got this.
Looking down on the grunt Iris felt quite accomplished. Having fallen down some pits before it was nice to see the roles reversed for once. Smirking down with a glint in her eyes she liked the feeling of seeing someone so helpless underneath her. It's a feeling she can get used too having dominance over other people.
"I see you caught our little runaway." The recruiter went up behind Iris and looked down too.
"What about our deal?" Iris scoffed at him and demanded he held his end of the bargain. Smiling at her the recruiter tossed Bagon's container to her.
"As promised here's your Bagon. Pleasure doing business with you."
Handing over the Pokeball which contained her prize she took it from him gladly. A Salamence will make a powerful addition to her team in the future when it finally evolved. With the amount of Fire type moves it can learn it would be her answer to Ice types even if the Salamence will be weak to them too.
"You seem quite talented. How do you feel about joining Team Rocket?"
The recruiter knowing she's unable to say no in taking the bait. If the method worked on the boy who previously hated the boss it would also work on one of his allies who aided him in Unova. Iris thinking about it for a minute looked at the Bagon she still held in her hand. A small smile forming on her face it might work out pretty well for her in the long run if she offered up her services to them in exchange for more Pokémon like Bagon and other riches.
"If it means that I get a Dragon type each time I complete one of your jobs then I might be interested."
"I'm sure the boss can arrange something. He's a great business man and he might be able to strike a deal between you two." The recruiter using sweet words to convince the girl into enlisting she didn't need much convincing.
"Tell him I want to meet him."
The recruiter telling her the boss will be expecting her in Kanto. Now with another one of their enemies willing to ally themselves all that was left for him was to remove the woman's memories with his Hypno which the Dragon type trainer trapped with her Excadrill. With Iris leaving Meteor Falls the screams of the woman died down behind her as she admired her new trophy.
A few days have passed since the aspiring Pokémon Master started doing his tasks that his instructor have him do every day. Running through the obstacle course just he barely improved his previous best time. Each run-through of it helped him into creating a physique more suitable for purposes in the future. He always was in good shape but having to maintain a strict diet and regime he felt himself growing stronger too.
His Pokémon doing even more intense training Ash had no time for any rest or pity for them. Having to teach his Pokémon new movesets that were less merciful he went for power that will hurt others. His Pikachu relearning Thunder and Volt Tackle for a bit more extra power he so far laid waste to other grunts during practice battles. Boa reminded him everyday of his ranking though as someone who attends the academy so he was still a lesser member despite laying waste to everyone so far.
"Ash!"
Looking at the one who called his name he saw his old Unova companion. As his instructor said the girl has come to maybe share his change of mind in the organization and be an agent in the future. Seeing Boa next to her the new recruit Ash was glad at least one of his old friends wizened up and joined him in the boss his quest for world domination.
Iris not being told her old companion was here too she thought he posed as a recruit too to infiltrate and eventually put a stop to Team Rocket again. Without her Pokémon she's defenseless against the little kid but with the overweight of Grunts here she was certain he will not leave this place in one piece.
"State your number and rank!" Boa shouted at the two.
"27-6-2012. Recruit Iris. Status in the academy." Iris having received the number and introduction announced her identity.
"27-2-1996. Recruit Ash. Status in the academy." He stood more straight than the girl being taught to always address a superior with total obedience and solid posture.
Hearing the same type of response after meeting Boa Iris looked shocked seeing him here. Out of all the people she met Ash was the last one on her list of Team Rocket members. Ash enjoyed the moment seeing her stunned face thinking about who is the little kid now.
"Boa said you were coming here." With a calm voice lacking any excitement there wasn't even a friendly hello. Until he was sure Iris was also enlisted into the same academy he won't believe a word she said.
"You joined too?" Iris still surprised Ash explained his reasoning for joining.
"I felt bad for what happened in Unova. I had a good talk with the boss and I realized I was wrong. I joined to make things right since I now know he can make me a Pokémon Master. Team Rocket made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I guess it was the same for you?"
"They offered me Dragon types in reward for doing missions. Hard to say no at that."
Even if Iris knew Ash there was still a major piece of him missing. And it wasn't the hat he wasn't wearing.
"Where's Pikachu?" Iris asking the location of the mouse Ash unclipped a Pokeball from his belt and showed it to her. On the Pokeball there was a small yellow thunderbolt on top of it telling her it was Pikachu's container.
"It doesn't get to decide anymore if it wants to stay out or not since I am its owner. It only comes out for battles and if I need him to fool someone like an old friend."
It had only been a few days but already Ash had accepted the idea that Pokémon are nothing more but tools to be used. His instructors nailing the point each time Ash made it no secret during his first few conversations that his Pikachu hated being inside its Pokeball and that shoving the electric type in it might be shown favorably under his instructor.
"Why are you wearing blue?" As much as Iris wanted to get her uniform she didn't remember seeing the blue one Ash was assigned too when dealing with Team Rocket before. Boa beat the boy to the punch.
"Recruits in the academy are pitted against each other in teams. Red and blue. Only this time we don't accept inner squabbling. You will treat him the same as you will your future partner or disciplinary measures will be taken. Same goes for you."
Staring at the boy already dressed in his uniform Boa gave him a warning not to try anything funny. Ash saluting Boa he wanted to go back to his exercises. Next up was Pokémon battle simulation and he wasn't satisfied with the earlier results that showed on screen after the completion of them knowing he had to be more ruthless or cheat the system. Boa had other idea's to delay his training.
"Now Iris. How about you follow him and get your uniform. He'll show you your room and inform you about how we do things around here. Dismissed."
Ash saluting Boa took Iris and guided her through the compound. The instructor went to his office and sat down in his chair. Pressing a button a huge wall of video screens lit up. It gave him eyes everywhere in the academy and he scouted the boy's responses away from his superiors. Watching he saw Iris change into the red uniform as she was told to do.
Boa looking and listening into their conversations there was nothing to indicate the two were old friends. Ash kept it strictly business while Iris had retrieved her converted Pokémon and studied her schedule that was in the female dorm. Ash said goodbye to her for now and told her she made the right decision before he'd continue with the schedule his instructor gave him.
With the recruitment of Iris Ash wondered if Cilan is going to be his or her partner. So far he noticed that all new agents like himself were chosen on previous encounters and the connoisseur seemed to be the next logical step in one of the boss his plans on getting revenge. But he was also taught that Gym Leaders are enemies and that you should always try to undermine them at every turn unless they are Team Rocket members themselves. In any case he didn't care who his or Iris's partner is going to be. If they weren't up to the standards the boss required of them Ash will classify them underneath the same label he did with weaklings that can't even damage his Pokémon or are objecting to Team Rocket's goals.
Useless and a waste of time.
Later.