Everyone was on high alert. Yellow had been kidnapped. All of her friends sprung into action, some consisting of the most competent trainers the world had to offer.
Conveniently, most of them were already gathered together. However, it was supposed to be a happy gathering celebrating someone's new doctorate degree.
Many of them were there, some of the gymleaders of Kanto, celebrating their previous friend's success in his studies, many of the older Pokédex users from when it was first made by Professor Oak, even Lance the current Champion of Kanto and Johto attended the party for his firends…
And despite having some of the greater minds in that room…
Slam!
"Dang it!"
Not all of them were cool headed.
"Red, calm down!" Misty, the red haired gym leader of Cerulean City said as she came back from bringing cake to Brocks' siblings in a different part of the gym. The kids shouldn't have to deal with this.
"But Hunter J took Yellow! She could be anywhere by now, and the longer we wait the more trouble she could be in!" The former Kanto Champion cried out.
"We're all worried about her," Green Oak, the Viridian City gym leader spoke out sharply. "But running around aimlessly is not going to help her. We have to think on our feet to catch Hunter J, so let's think. Hunter J is one of the best black market mercenaries, if not the best in the entire world. Her only botch, if you can even call it that since it technically happened after she successfully finished a job, was when Azelf and Mespirit's Future Sight attack had a delay reaction in sinking her flying fortress into the bottom of Lake Valor. Other than that, she's had a near perfect record in doing whatever is hired of her with only my younger brother and Ash barely stopping her."
"We all know that, so what's the point?" Gold from New Bark Town drawled on as he lay down on the couch. "… Oh wait…"
Red seemed to calm down and realize what his long time rival Green was telling him. "She's one of the best mercenaries in the world. In other words, someone hired her to capture Yellow. The question is who and why?"
"Why not call that younger brother of yours?" Blue, a former thief turned hero pointed that question towards the Viridian Gym Leader. "Maybe he might know something."
"I doubt it. My brother is visiting the Ferrum Region and trying to study and compare something called Synergy that the trainers there use a lot. He was planning to compare the notes between that and Mega Evolution."
"Then how about Ash Ketchum? He also fought against Hunter J." Silver, a red head former thief pointed out.
Everyone else in the room except the Pokédex users from Kanto sweat dropped at the sound of that sentence.
"No offence to Ash," Red rubbed his head nervously. "But…"
Misty huffed and finished for the older black haired trainer. "He's an idiot. I doubt he would know anything about Hunter J's return."
"Hmm?" Brock of Pewter City and former gym Leader turned breeder turned Doctor fished for his pockets and found his new smart phone ringing. "Well what do you know? Speak of the Darkrai." Everyone turned to the new doctor as he answered the phone. "Hey Ash, I'm guessing you heard the news about Hunter J huh? … Yeah… Yellow was taken," Everyone in the room looked down at the remembrance of that fact until Brock suddenly perked up. "Huh? Wait, what!? Ash, hold up a second, I think everyone needs to hear this." Brock put his phone on a nearby dining table momentarily before going towards his computer screen and putting it on.
"Brock?" Crystal, assistant to professor Elm in New Bark town, and Pokémon catcher extraordinaire asked with curiosity. "What did Ash say?"
"I think Ash knows where Hunter J is heading." Brock spoke up as he finished preparations in his computer and turned it towards everyone else. They were all surprised since just moments ago they all admitted that he would be the one who knew the least. Brock put one last finishing touch before the screen in his computer showed a younger boy who looked to be talking to a Pokémon center phone in the night time.
"Oh right! I forgot, congrats on your doctorate Brock! Sorry I couldn't be there since I'm all the way in Kalos." The raven haired boy with brown hair and a cap smiled towards the darker skinned man.
He ended up smiling in return. "Thanks Ash, but we need to get down to business. You said you think you know where Hunter J is going?"
"Well I'm not so sure on all the details, but I think she's heading towards Unova."
"Unova?" Misty and Red managed to say out at the same time.
"Wait a second, wasn't there a recent terrorist attack there?" The Champion Lance pointed out. "I remember the BW Agency was hosting a worldwide Music Festival appreciation event until it was attacked by a mysterious group of people posing as Team Plasma." He recalled Alder and Wallace filling him in on the event. "What does that have to do with Hunter J?"
"Tracey was there in Unova when it happened. He told me something bizarre about a friend he met there and was visiting Professor Sycamore for a favor for that friend."
"Tracey was there?!" Misty looked surprised. "And what about his friend he met there?"
"I'm just grasping at straws, but Yellow's case sounds familiar to that other guy what was his name… An… something?"
"Something happened there that was similar to Yellow's case?" Lance asked as he looked back to everyone in the room. "Ash, what happened in Nimbasa City?
"Let me call Tracey, he'll explain it better…" Ash paused on the other side of the screen as he stared hard at the buttons. "Uhh wait how do I make a three way call?"
Everyone sighed at that. (Except Gold who was holding in a laugh.)
Brock spoke up, "Hold on. Let me do it for you Ash. I just hope he's awake at this time."
A few minutes later, Tracey did pick up and was put into a three way call with his screen split to the left side in Brock's computer with Ash on the right.
"Hey guys, what's up? Oh! I completely forgot! Congratulations Brock." The assistant of Professor Oak greeted.
Brock accepted the thanks, but the situation had to go back since Tracey didn't seem to be up to speed.
"And… Ash thinks Yellow's case is similar to Anto's?" Tracey asked as he looked towards Ash's screen.
"Anto! Right that's the name!" Ash snapped his fingers.
"That's a weird name." Gold pointed out. "But you're the only one here who knows what actually happened there."
"Well no, Emerald, Ruby, and Sapphire were there too. But I think I should explain how this all happened…. It all began when Professor Oak wanted an update on the artwork of the PokéDex…"
[A few hours back during Unvoa's morning…]
Anto wanted nothing more than to peacefully sleep in the Pokémon Center bedroom. He had been stopped before, ooohhhh yeess… he was stopped before by his own Pokémon. He cared for them dearly, but he swore they were somehow dead set in ruining whatever peace of mind Anto had left. So, he boldly planned to ignore whatever his Pokémon were up to this morning and work from it after he got an Arceus blessed good night's rest.
And it was working. He was a little chilly, but he finally had a good night's sleep! … Huh it really was chilly. He should probably pull up his blanket—
…
Let him feel around for that a bit.
…
Why couldn't he find his blanket anywhere?
"As Super Nut and the Turbo Trio stood heroically on the roof top!" The sound of someone going through a loud monologue caught the attention of the boy as he stared at the really opened window in his room.
"Why are the mornings with a new Pokémon always the worst?" Anto dreaded as he checked his party belt to find all of them were empty.
"They realized the beauty of this world and swore to protect it at all costs!" Super Nut shouted to the skies above as he stood on the roof of the Pokémon Center. People passing by were wondering why there were a bunch of Pokémon on the roof top with bed sheets on early in the morning.
"Yo, wait. I don't gots any money; that's boss' job." Ohko pointed out as he stood nearby Super Nut, Sentinel and Kryx. He also wondered how Super Nut's cloak was fluttering in the air despite there being no actual wind, but he just assumed it was a skill.
The alien psychic floated around excitedly. Her use of the blanket was simply placing it over her body, making her look like a floating bed sheet ghost. "Oooh! I know! Earthenoid Banks have lots of money! Let's just take some from there!"
"I can phase us all through the walls!" The Delta Pokémon offered.
Meanwhile, just behind them, Takezo and Lily were staring at what their friends were doing. They were the only duo not dressed up as fake super heroes with blanket capes and cut out masks.
"I was really hoping the next member of our group was going to be more… sensible." Lily sighed as she put a palm towards her face.
Takezo the Patrat, nodded at this. "I would be lying if I said I did not wish for that. I can only imagine how Anto would react to this."
"What no! That's a villain thing! Heroes don't steal banks; we beat up people who do steal banks!" The Super Hero of the group corrected.
Maybe Nut wasn't as out of hand as the other members of his group.
Sentinel raised his ghost claw. "Ooh! Ooh! How about, we trick some guys into robbing a bank then we beat them up!"
Nut placed one of his claw hooks near his face. "Hmm I do like beating people up…"
"Wow! So do we!" Kryx, Sentinel, and Ohko admitted at the same time.
OK, maybe Nut was just on the normal side of 'out of hand'.
"None of you are doing that!" Their trainer mentally screamed as he climbed up to the roof.
"Oh good morning Anto, how was your sleep?" Takezo asked nonchalantly.
"It was actually pretty good, but on to more important business: what are you four doing!?" The boy's blood pressure started to rise. Poor kid, stress is so bad for his age.
"Ah! Danger Damoiseau, or my trusty Sidekick, DD! Come in join the Turbo Trio and I in our morning patrol of! … What is the name of this city again?" The Ferrothorn looked over to the other Pokémon who only shrugged their shoulders or just looked confused and unchanged in their face.
"It's Mistralton City. Also no. I'm not joining any of you. Nut, you promised me you would tone it down after the first time you launched us into the city. I could have died from what you did!"
"But you didn't die and you only became stronger because of it!" He referenced, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' and pointed dramatically at the young boy with one of his spiked disks.
"Lucky…" Ohko seemed disappointed. He would have crossed his arms if he had more than one of them.
"No! Look guys, I realize there are things you want to do, but please please Please! Do not destroy other objects or other people when conducting what you want to do. I get into a lot of trouble as is!"
"… So… can we still patrol the city?" Nut asked innocently.
Anto placed a hand on his forehead and sighed deeply. "Fine, fine. But you have to promise me that no matter what, not a single thing will be destroyed or attacked while you 'patrol' the city."
"OK!" The quad of Pokémon cheered while Lily sighed in the back ground with Takezo chuckling silently. Anto felt like he was just spoiling them all until he noticed something. All six of his Pokémon seemed to be starting at something behind him.
"Hmm?" The amber eyed boy looked back to see a Haunter floating around looking at him with a very stunned and shocked look on his face.
"Oh err. Hi? May I… help you?" He greeted the ghost Poison Pokémon.
"A…A…" The Haunter stammered to speak. That was really weird since his kind of Pokémon were usually pranksters and playful.
"Anthony?" The Haunter finally finished speaking but he spoke the word in utter disbelief as if he himself couldn't understand what was coming out of him.
"E-Excuse me?" Anthony? That name… why… why did it sound so… familiar?
"Apparition! Apparition! Where are you, ya silly ghost!? It's too early for this!" The voice of a young girl cried out.
The ghost Pokémon looked down towards the front of the Pokémon Center and floated away towards the voice.
Anto felt a strong urge to go after that Pokémon, why did it call him An…tho…ny…?
An… tho… ny…
An... to…
"No way…" Like a man possessed, the young trainer walked towards the edge of the roof. His other six Pokémon looked at him with worry and followed the boy carefully as he peered over the edge.
There was a young girl around the age of eight or nine with blonde hair tied in a French braid that reached the top of her shoulders wearing a black and green striped shirt with skinny jeans and sneakers. She had Caucasian skin and she had light blue eyes. The girl looked quite happy but then worried as the Haunter appeared with her with a new look on his face.
"Apparition, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost! … Whoops." The girl realized after she had said that but shook her head and looked to her Pokémon with worry.
The ghost Pokémon looked back towards Anto and his Pokémon. The girl followed suit and both hers and Anto's eyes met. Anto felt something at the back of his mind that just tickled his mind…
Now the younger girl seemed as shocked as the ghost Pokémon and gasped as she looked at Anto.
"Big Brother?"
[Present time…]
"That… did that really all happen?" Red spoke out after Tracey had finished that surreal story about a boy with the ability to speak psychically to other people yet remain mute.
Tracey nodded. "It's real. All of it."
"Oh come on, we've had weirder adventures than that! I mean, I fought Arceus and traveled through time!" Gold exclaimed. "You can't get much higher than the fighting the Creator."
"Oh please, we all know Ash is the current place holder for weird things happening to him, he's already time traveled almost a dozen times and has met Arceus in more than one occasion." Brock pointed out.
"Really? I didn't think of my adventure like that…" Ash looked surprised to hear that.
"I guess the stranger the journey, the more important the trainer then," Lance commented. "But how can we be sure if there really is a connection between the events in Nimbasa with Yellow's kidnapping? Tracey, you said that it was Dimension Enterprise that was after him and that they personally sent agents after him. Why do you think that they're one in the same?"
"It wouldn't be surprising if they tried another way to get him would it? And in terms of money, they can supply her funds to come back into the open like this."
"Interesting point, but aren't these just theories? We have no real or definite proof that Hunter J is heading towards Unova and that this Dimension Enterprise hired her. For all we know it could be a coincidence." Silver brought that topic out.
"True, but you have to remember, for people like us, there's usually no such thing as coincidences." Crystal countered, referring to all of their journeys so far.
"Besides, it's our only lead into finding Yellow. Tracey, can you get this kid on the phone?" Red impatiently asked.
"Anto doesn't have a phone… but wait. I think Wes has a PDA. Let me call him."
"Are you sure we can trust that Former Team Snagem Member?" Silver asked with a dangerous tone. "People from Teams are usually not to be trusted. What if he's actually still a Member?"
"This coming from Giovanni's son…" Gold muttered silently, but still got the attention of his rival.
Tracey exhaled. "That… would actually make things so much easier…" He laughed nervously, surprising everyone. "Unfortunately, he's clean and on our side."
"You make it sound like a bad thing." Green noticed.
"He's… unpleasant to be around, but he means well. Oh he's picking up."
The screen on the computer fit into four screens with Ash and Trace being on the top two while an empty screen appeared on the bottom right corner. Wes appeared on the bottom left corner.
"Why is there a flash mob in my screen? Are you sending me spam, Head Band?" Wes asked Tracey.
"Flash… mob?" Blue repeated in confusion as she looked around. Everyone was starting to see why Tracey was acting the way he was.
"Wes… just…. We need to talk to Anto." Tracey pressed on.
"Oh. Yeah… about that…"
"Did something happen?" Crystal asked quickly.
"Well maybe? It's hard to explain really." The Orreain boy started scratching the back of his head.
The assistant of professor Oak pressed on with his questions. He was starting to worry because the cocky teen seemed uncharacteristically nervous. "Wes, what happened to Anto?"
"I… think we found his family."
…
"You found his family?!" Tracey asked in shock.
"Maybe, I don't know for sure. It's really weird." Wes answered.
Everyone seemed confused as to why the silver haired boy would say that. Tracey asked again. "Wait what do you mean weird? If he really was lost, wouldn't his family be glad and welcome him back?"
Wes sighed. "Tracey I don't know how long it was since we last talked, but this is Anto we're talking about. Things just get stranger with him."
"Can you get to the point please?" Green spoke out quickly.
Wes paused for a second and nodded.
"Sorry, it's just that this information is just baffling. I've been doing some research and digging around after meeting someone we thought was Anto's younger sister and I found something really, really trippy. Get this: apparently 'Anto' has been dead for the past eight months."
[A few hours ago…]
Jamie yawned as she got into her clothes and made herself ready for the day. She sighed as looked into the mirror and thought about what Wes told her.
She looked down towards Sylveon. "Am I really doing the right thing? I mean… they just told me to…"
"Syl…"
"Oh right, Anto isn't around and Psychic Pokémon aren't. I almost got too used to talking to you…"
"You make that sound like a bad thing." Jamie's Sylveon spoke out.
That surprised the two of them since they understood each other so suddenly. Jamie looked out the door and felt someone rushing out. She fixed her appearance better, trying to fix her shirt to hide her budding bosom before looking out the door and spotting Anto hurrying out of his room while just putting on his jacket. He looked anxious for some reason.
"Anto?" Jamie called out before following him.
She saw the boy head down towards the main lobby where there was a young girl and a Haunter looking at him with the same nervous look on their face.
"H-Hey. I'm sorry mister for anything Apparition, my Haunter here, did anything. Believe it or not he's usually well behaved."
"Caitlin it's him! It's Anthony!" The Ghost type pointed out to the boy and said to the girl.
The girl was surprised to hear her Pokémon's voice in her language. "Appa? You can talk?"
"I'm actually surprised I can hear you clearly, Kate." The ghost and poison type answered as well.
"Ummm…" They both looked to Anto whose voice almost sound like it was in their mind. "I-I'm doing this. I-I'm a psychic trainer and I have this ability to translate languages between people."
"Wow really!? That's really cool!" The girl—Caitlin he assumed—gushed excitedly before her smile died down. "So uh… what's your name again?"
"It's uhh A… Anto." The boy felt his head hurt, he felt like he knew this girl, but why?
"An… to?" Both the girl and Haunter seemed shocked to hear that.
"Is something wrong with that name?" The boy asked quickly at the way both of them looked so shocked at him.
"I ummm well. I…"
"That's my former friend's nickname." The Haunter spoke out softly.
"Apparition!?" The girl screamed at the ghost type. "I'm so sorry, but yes. You see that was the nickname of my older brother Anthony. It's just that… you… you look so much like him and you have a similar name to him."
Anto felt something bad at the pit of his stomach, something Haunter said as really hooked his attention. "Former? W-What happened to him?"
The two of them looked at each other and became very down cast.
"He uhh… he's dead." The girl spoke softly and dourly.
"Wait… dead?" The mute repeated in shock. While Jamie was off to the side and heard the entire conversation. Anthony was dead?
"Yeah… my brother died in an accident. It was pretty hard on all of us…" The girl said nervously her face started to grow from sad to angry for some reason. "What's worse, some horrible people took him away!" She shouted angrily with tears coming from her eyes as the emotions came back. "I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting to meet someone like you…"
Caitlin spoke out and ran away.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have… I'll be going now…" The Haunter described before vanishing into thing air.
"Wait…" Anto spoke too late as the ghost Pokémon also left.
At this moment, Jamie along with Wes and White who came in just a while back stepped out.
"I need to go after them." The shocked mute spoke out as he stared at where Cait ran away.
"You don't know where they even went." Wes spoke out softly.
"… I think I do." Anto turned to them before taking a step forward.
White quickly grabbed his hand. "Wait, Anto! Something is fishy about this!"
"I think that's them! I know her—or I feel like I do know her!" The boy looked desperately towards the exit.
"But Anto, she said her brother was dead… you… you can't be what you think you are." Jamie tried to reason out.
The other three saw a look of desperation and hope in the Amensiac's eyes. After hearing that this supposed boy was dead—which in itself was surprising and confusing since Anto was most definitely alive—they all felt that there was something really strange going on with this situation. And the Mute going rapidly after the girl did not look like the best of choices.
"… I have to know for sure." The amnesiac pushed White's hand away before making a break for it.
"We have to follow him." White looked back at the other two.
"I'm not so sure. … You guys go ahead; I need to check something." Wes spoke out before looking towards the door where Nurse Joy just entered through. The two (girls) looked on before running after the brown eyed boy.
…
He always did run, ever since he could remember (For the past few months), he was always running away from something chasing madly after him.
It kind of felt strange to be on the side of the chaser.
"You're an idiot!"
"Well you're a dummy!"
"I'm not a dummy, you're an idiot!"
"You are a dummy, and I'm not an idiot!"
"MOM!" The two children screamed.
His head was aching more and more, it was worse than any point in his entire journey. However, the pain was pushing him forward, running through the alleyways to hurry up to that place…
"You two need to get along!"
"He/She started it!"
"And now you're both stopping it! Anthony, you are the older brother, be kind to your little sister! Caitlin, show your older brother respect!"
They both stuck out their tongues to each other.
The brown haired boy found himself gasping for breath as he reached what looked to be a dead end alleyway with a long park hedge. He almost felt possessed as he walked down this closed and narrow path. The air seemed dry and it felt like the walls could close on him any second.
Still, it felt familiar to him.
"You gotta see this! It's super cool!"
"Anto, we aren't supposed to be here!"
"Just trust me, Kate, I know you'll like this place!"
Hidden in the long hedges in one particular dead end, was a small wooden door half his size. The Amnesiac's heart started to beat wildly, his mind was racing, and sweat was falling down his face. He was starting to remember wasn't he?
He turned the knob, and walked through the small door he had to duck under.
It was a beautiful garden with flowers planted to the side of a path all leading up to a giant willow tree that had many of its long vine like leaves look like curtains to hide its main trunk.
Anto walked up to the tree and parted some of its leaves. He heard a gasp as he saw Caitlin and Apparition looking shocked at him.
"Y-You?! H-How did you find me!?" Caitlin asked in shock.
For once, the mute found himself at a loss for words, not just physically but mentally. So the only thing left was to speak from his heart. He just hoped it wouldn't freak her out.
"You told me about your brother, but do you mind if you listen to my story? It's not that long, but I think it's best if I tell you this."
"Where did he go? We've been searching for a while!" Jamie complained as she and White have been searching for Anto for almost an hour.
"Oh hey, Jamie, look at the gym! Maybe something there might help!" White spoke out before the two made their way towards the gym in question.
However, to their surprise, the gym was closed down.
"Huh? There's a note saying that the gym is going to be closed for a while."
"Yes, I'm sorry for that young ones." The two of them looked back to see a stern but kind looking old man walking up to them with a cane. "My name is Miles. I was the previous gym leader here before my Granddaughter took over for me. My Granddaughter is off doing… gym leader business and she won't be here for a while. I honestly don't know when she'll be back but I also hope it's very soon." He sounded somewhat worried as he said 'gym leader business' though.
"Oh wait, but if the gym leader isn't here, how is Anto going to get his sixth badge?" White asked Jamie. The league was coming closer, and while he was making good pace, this could threaten his chances of making it in time.
The old man seemed surprised to hear that name. "Anto? Did you say Anto?"
"Wait, sir, you know him?" White asked.
The old man seemed contemplative before looking at the two young trainers. "Do you mind if I ask you a question first? Can you describe this boy named Anto?"
The two (girls) looked at each other before White started. "Well he's got short black and somewhat messy hair that looks just a bit spikey and he's got amber shaded eyes. He's also around our height too."
Miles seemed surprised at that for a second before his face fell. "Yes, I do know him. One of the other Gym Leaders, Clay from Driftveil, asked a favor of me. If a trainer named Anto comes here when Skyla hasn't returned, I was to give him and his friends a private ride to Virbank City and let him challenge the Gym there instead."
"Clay was here?" The girl in disguise asked with honest shock.
"Yes. Many of the Unova Gymleaders were here recently along with another trainer that liked yelling a lot and was surprisingly analytic."
"Was that Black!?" White asked in shock since he was the only one she knew those descriptions fit.
"That might have been his name yes," Miles mused to himself. "So where is this boy? I do want to meet him."
"Well he kind of ran after this girl name Caitlin—"
"Wait he knows Caitlin!? But that's impossible!" Miles suddenly screamed in shock after he heard the name. He saw the two younger people look surprised and scared from that little episode before he sighed.
"I apologize, but it's just… he sounds like a child of a friend's that recently died."
The two trainers looked at each other again, but this time with surprise. "… Was the boy's name Anthony?"
"Wait that idiot that crashed into those newsstands was you?" Caitlin asked in mirthful shock, while holding in a bunch of giggles along with her Haunter who was actually just laughing as he floated around the air.
"Hey! I told you that I didn't do it on purpose! Super Nut was just waayyy too excited. Besides, I still feel sore from that horrible landing!"
The girl and Haunter burst into another amazing fit of laughter.
Anto gave a deadpan look towards the girl and the ghost type before scoffing and smiling as well. There was an instinct he had at the back of his head.
After a while, the girl stopped laughing and looked hopeful towards the older boy. "Umm can I? Can I see them please?"
"Sure, but it's going to be a bit crowded though." Anto warned before revealing all six of his Pokémon under the tree.
The trainer with five badges introduced each and everyone one of his Pokémon to Caitlin and Apparition. They all made her laugh and they were all really sweet Pokémon.
"So is it really true? You have amnesia and only remember waking up in a Pokémon center in the main land?" The blonde girl asked.
"Yes it was very peculiar." Takezo answered first. "He fell from the sky in a strange device. It is still quite baffling what that was."
"I wish I got a look at it." Kryx folded her arms and pouted… somehow…
"And you think Dimension Enterprise knows something about it?" The girl asked again, this time, she seemed to be very interested at this part.
"I don't know if they really are. But there is a connection."
Caitlin looked shocked, but she almost looked like she was just figuring something out. "But… but dad works there."
"Dad works there!? I mean your dad works there!?" Anto cried out in shock.
"Yeah he's one of their accountants. But if what you said was true… it's starting to strangely make sense but at the same time it really doesn't. I mean why does my father's work place steal a corpse of one of its employers and bring it back to life!? Can a shipping company even have the technology to do that?! But they are the only ones who could have the power to steal your body without anyone noticing!"
"I-I'm sorry. I don't understand anything at all."The boy apologized before turning to her. "I just woke up one day with the world out to get me for some reason."
"I'm sorry too; it's just that, from what you've told me… it's a lot to take in." She spoke out before she seemed to realize something. "Oh, my mom is probably wondering where I am by now."
"M…Mom?" Anto asked with a hint of curiosity. Blurry images of a brown haired woman shot across his mind. "Can I meet her?"
"I don't think that's a good idea…" Caitlin spoke out with hesitation.
Anto realized what he was suggesting; asking him, a kid who looked and acted suspiciously like her dead son, to meet the mother? How cruel could life be if you were to meet someone who looks exactly like a loved one who died so recently. He couldn't do that to them.
"You're right, sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I probably am not even this Anthony person, just some confused person who hit his head way too hard to have amnesia." The mute stood up and bowed silently to the girl and Haunter. "Thank you for your time, and please… just forget about this." He spoke before leaving.
All of his other Pokémon looked back at the girl, who seemed hesitant to call him back, but she said nothing and looked dejectedly towards the ground.
Just before Anto reached for the knob, she stood up and screamed, "Wait!"
"…?"
"You're going to the Unova League right?" The younger girl looked at the boy with something else on her mind.
The amnesiac slowly nodded.
"Then… please win it! Mom was a top trainer back at her day, and her dream was to win the Unova League, but she couldn't win it no matter how much she tried because there were a lot of great trainers at that time," She briefly explained for some reason that only confused the trainer as to why she was saying that. "I told my brother that I was going to win the league for her, and he told me to do my best and that he would cheer me on since he wasn't much of a trainer himself," She paused as she inhaled. "So what I'm trying to say is, since I can't do it yet, and since mom and dad have been sad ever since my big brother died… could you… win it for us? I think it would mean the world to them if they see even someone like my brother achieve what my mom couldn't…" Caitlin finished as she looked expectantly at Anto.
The brown haired boy slowly turned around. "You want me… to go to the Pokémon League and beat trainers who might have been training for years, have Pokémon that are potentially more powerful, better trained, more experienced, and more rare than my party; and who have also defeated the gym leaders of this region, and potentially other regions along with probably at least participating in their own Region League even though I'm just a 13 to 14 year old boy who can't even recall what he did four months ago and has luck so bad that an Absol literally tried to kill me?"
Caitlin looked away. "I'm sorry that was really stup—"
The girl did not get to finish that sentence.
Anto was not going to let her finish that quickly he had walked back up and petted the girl on the head before caringly ruffling it up.
"Hey!" She said as she pushed away his hand with a blush and tried to fix her hair.
Anto gave a silent chuckle. "Sure why not? I mean, after what I've been through, how can the league be any different to my life so far? … I really really hope I didn't just jinx myself when I said that." He paled as soon as he realized what he said.
Caitlin and Apparition looked hopeful. "Y-You mean it?"
The amnesiac nodded. "It would be easier to meet them if they approached me rather than me approaching you now. … I really do want to meet your mom and dad… see if… they really are…" Anto paused for a second before sighing. "Even if it isn't, maybe by helping you find your brother's body, I can find out what happened with me."
Cait put her hands back on top of her head. "You know my brother did the same thing you did just now whenever we talk like this sometimes."
"D-Did he now?" Anto looked uneasy, he only did that out of instinct.
Caitlin puffed with pride. "Well mister! You better win the League, so when I grow up and start my Journey, I can beat you easily so my mom will love me the most!"
The older boy rolled his eyes with a scoff and a laugh. "Don't count on it, squirt."
"You're just scared, you walking bad luck charm!" She glared back at him.
The two stared at each other down before laughing at how silly each other looked. Quickly following them, all the Pokémon did the same…
But unfortunately, Caitlin and Apparation really had to go, so Anto stayed behind a bit as he and his Pokémon said their fond goodbyes to Caitlin.
The young boy smiled as she left first, leaving him and his Pokémon sitting under the large willow tree surrounded by large hedge walls.
For a few long seconds, the trainer stared at the door where the girl left.
"Anto? Are you fairing well?" Takezo asked carefully as all his other Pokémon looked on to him.
The brunette boy didn't seem to hear him until one more second later, he smiled and exited smile. "Why wouldn't I be? I finally have a clue to who I am! … Anthony… that does make a lot more sense…" He spoke out the name as if it was his own, yet it still felt so foreign to him.
"But what if you aren't him? What if it really is a coincidence?" Lily spoke out worryingly.
Anto didn't want to think that, but he let it in anyway. "Well even if it wasn't, don't you think there might be a clue to who I really am?"
"I just don't want you to get your hopes up in case something bad happens." The shiny grass type explained.
Anto jumped up excitedly. "Don't you guys see? After two months of near death and strange experiences, I finally have a solid lead on who I really was! Why are you guys so… worried?"
"What exactly happens, when you find your home again, Anto?" Takezo inquired.
"I can maybe get my life back, live normally, do whatever it was that I used to do!"
Sentinel noticed something with that sentence. "Wait, 'normal'? But you already said we're not normal, so what happens to us?"
All of his Pokémon looked towards Anto expectantly and with worry. The mute realized the weight of his words and what he could have been implying: he was going to get rid of them if he found his old life back.
"What!? No! Guys, is that what this is about? I won't ever leave you guys, I promise!" The amnesiac told them out with wide eyes of shock. "I just wish my life wasn't always trying to kill me!"
"What makes you think that being with them will make anything different?" Ohko asked on.
That was actually a very good point, even if he had found his family now, who's to say that there still won't be people after him. "I… Ok maybe I thought things would be different even if I did find my way back home… but please… I just want to know who I am!"
"You're Anto, our best friend. Isn't that enough?" Sentinel asked plainly.
"I… I…" Anto looked around, unable to truly answer such a simple question.
It was as if they were asking him if he was to choose between his old life and a life with them. He couldn't make a choice. He wanted to know his past life so much, but he truly did care for this Pokémon. Why was this even coming to him? He thought he was one step closer to finding his old family, but now something like this arises that threatens his new family? He couldn't even think of a life without the other, but did that make him selfish? Because he was starting to think about himself instead of others?
Was he really selfish this whole time?
"He will always be our best friend." Everyone turned towards the newcomer when Super Nut spoke out. "I've known Danger Damoiseau for at best a day, but I know that he is a very kind, but trouble bound young sidekick in the making. He made me really see what it means to be a hero: not with powers or super costumes, but what's on the inside of us. … And if he asks for help, even if it means a chance of him going away, I'll do it, because a true hero puts others first before themselves, and in my eyes, Anto is a hero."
The Amnesiac blushed at the really high praise. "H-Hero? Thank you for the kind words, Nut, but I don't know why you would call me that."
His Pokémon started to think a bit on why he would say that. Strangely, they started to see it.
"Anto, what was the first thing you did when you woke up from Amensia?" Takezo asked.
"Steal a Motorbike and accidentally almost commit manslaughter?" Anto looked on with confusion as to why his Patrat would bring up that moment.
"I was going to refer to the part where you told me you tried to actually help them. You actually tried to help people who wished you harm and when you battled Harold and his Pachirisu, you chose to help them because of your ability to understand both human and Pokémon. Wouldn't a hero also choose to help them in any way they could rather than hurt or ignore?" The samurai asked.
The boy thought back. "I… never thought of it like that."
To his surprise, and the other Pokémon, Takezo bowed down to Anto on his knees.
"I owe you an apology, Anto. I thought that you were so excited to see your old life again that you would abandon us when the time came. I thank Super Nut in reminding me that if anyone deserves to be selfish out of all of us, it is you."
"Yeah, I was kinda thinking the same thing too. I really like being with you guys, even though you do a lot of stupid things," Lily the Lilligant admitted. "But you also deserve to be happy too Anto. I guess I didn't really think about that."
Kryx floated upward. "I guess it kinda was scary to think you would stop, but then again that was pretty dumb of me—a scientist— to jump to such an weak conclusion!"
"No you guys, you did have a point. I… was really caught up on the idea that I finally had a chance to go home that I didn't consider any of you. Even if that was my real family, I would bring all of you guys with me in a heartbeat." The trainer tried to say he was sorry as well for being selfish.
"Good cause I was scared Boss! I didn't want you to leave! Ohko spoke out with relief.
Then there was Sentinel. Everyone looked over to the delta Pokémon.
"You helped me didn't you?" Sentinel asked. "I really am grateful for meeting you. I'm sorry for bringing it up. The thought of you not being there anymore suddenly became scarier than everything those labcoats ever did."
Anto laughed, he laughed so hard that tears were starting to form near his eyes. "Are you kidding me? I already told you, and obviously I'll say it again: we're fools too stupid to understand what 'abandonment' means. Also, I've just been thinking that no matter what, I couldn't get rid of you guys if I tried. No literally—you guys have powers, I don't. If I ever tired anything, you guys would just hunt me down and beat me up."
Ohko pointed towards the boy with a smile. "Hey! He's right!"
Suddenly, everything suddenly became so hilarious, Anto and his Pokémon laughed and laughed and laughed.
It was the most laughter they all had in a very very long time.
"Oh… oh god… we are idiots huh?" Anto spoke out, relieved and glad this became the result of that conversation.
"I guess that's why we all fit together so much." Lily chimed out happily.
At this point, they heard a very loud growling noise. Everyone turned to see that somehow Sentinel made that sound despite being an undead skeleton lacking an actual organ in the first place.
"What? Anti hasn't given us breakfast yet." The poor delta rubbed his rib cage.
Anto just shook his head and sighed. "Fine. Everyone come on, my treat. … Just don't throw another man and woman out the window." He narrowed his eyes towards Kryx and Ohko.
"I thought that was an earth custom to kick people out of buildings." Kryx innocently spoke out.
They all started to leave, but Anto slowed Super Nut down behind the rest of them. "Thanks for your help. I really mean it."
Super Nut smiled. "All in a day's work for a super hero."
[Later…]
"So… you chose not to meet them?" Jamie said as Anto explained what had happened.
One of the many advantages of his pseudo psychic telepathy is the ability to eat and talk at the same time and not be (too) rude and gross while doing it. "Yeah. I mean, she was right. What was I supposed to do? Meet them right then and there? Caitlin will probably convince her family to watch the league, so I'm going to win it, and have them come to me."
"Win the league? Aren't more experienced trainers usually the one who wins those things? Like trainers who at least have been in other region League tournaments?" Wes pointed with his fork towards the boy.
"Honestly, just add that to the list of things that seem impossible that I've actually done within my time here in Unova." The boy drank some water before looking to White and Jamie. "But I'm surprised. I have to be sent to a different Gym?"
White nodded before swallowing her food. "Yeah. The gym leader here, Skyla, isn't here. She went with some other gym leaders. Her grandfather Miles offered to bring us there by ship. We're leaving in the afternoon at four and be there in less than an hour. He also explained that he was also going to bring us to the next city over after you were done with that badge."
"I guess that means I have little time to train." The boy mulled over.
"Anto… are you sure you're OK? I mean even if it was a long shot, you could have met with your parents." Jamie spoke out with concern.
The mute stopped for a second after swallowing his food. "I really really did want to meet them. But it's just not the right time for them. And I met Caitlin at least. She seems pretty smart for an eight year old which, oddly enough, annoys me for some reason." The boy thought out loud literally. "But thanks Jamie for caring."
"Ooh! Umm. Yeah. You're welcome." Jamie nervously responded with Wes eying her carefully.
With that, the four went on with their late brunch… or linner—or is it lunner?
[Meanwhile…]
"Now everyone, please leave the boat since this will be the last stop. We are now arriving in Asperita City. Thank you for using Dimension Transports for your ride." A loudspeaker electronically recited as the ferry docked near the simple city.
A tall teen with black hair and a furry blue scarf stepped off the boat along with its passengers. While Unova was under a lockdown, it was mostly its main islands. The corner coast, like Asperita City and Virbank City were still open for travels and you can get into the main land through here.
That was the plan told to him by Lysandre. He would catch a ride to Unova somewhere either here or Virbank City then find this boy. That boy was tied in with the trainers who could use six mega evolutions at the same time! How could someone come up with such technology and understanding!? The boy was the key to all of this, and to protect professor Sycamore's work, he would hunt this kid down if he knew anything that threatened the good professor's work.
[Elsewhere]
"UGH! I can't believe that brat! I am going to make him pay for humiliating us like that! He's so lucky that our boss wanted him alive or else I'd!" Cassidy fumed with rage as she and Butch were planning their next attempt at capturing the target boy. However, they were caught off guard by how resourceful and strangely powerful his bizarre cast of Pokémon were.
Believe it or not, the two were at a hotel room at Driftviel City. After being launched some miles away by the mute trainer, the duo came rushing back to find that the boy had gone to the next city over.
Now the two were getting ready to go after him.
Butch calmly walked up to the microwave to heat up some frozen pizza until he heard ringing. He looked towards the service phone before he realized where the ringing was really coming from.
"Hey uhh, Cassidy, it's the work phone." The green haired team rocket member spoke out, catching the blonde woman out of her rage for whining. The woman and the man looked around, closed the window curtains and made sure the doors were locked and no cameras were watching them .
They then looked towards their duffle bag before Butch fished out a small circular object with the Team Rocket logo and placed it on the table. It was vibrating and ringing like a normal phone but it obviously wasn't one. Cassidy pressed a button on it and out of the object a holoscreen appeared with a familiar woman.
"This is Agent Domino. Agents Botch and Cassidy, how goes the capture?"
The two saluted as they gave their report. Butch, who was slightly peeved at the return of his name being forgotten, answered the higher up. "Agent Butch reporting in! Unfortunately we were unable to capture the target. He proved to be more cunning than we first thought. We're working on our secondary attempt to capture him this instant."
"I see. Well, we've received some new information in regards to who this mysterious and powerful group is. However, we do not know why they would be after this target. Did he show anything worth of notice?"
"We think he's a psychic trainer. He never communicated through voice, only telepathy like a psychic type Pokémon." Cassidy spoke up. "Other than that, he had strange Pokémon with him."
"Very well fill me in on the details when I arrive in your position."
The two agents blinked. "Wait. When you arrive?" Cassidy repeated.
"Our glorious leader has sent me to spearhead this mission. I will personally take control of this team when I arrive in an hour, brief me with every detail of your encounter with the boy. Do I make myself clear?"
The two agents stood up straighter than they could. "Yes Agent!"
"Good. We will continue our pursuit of the target forthwith as soon as I'm there."
{Author Notes}
Uh oh, looks like round two for Hunting Anto is on! And the new Challenger is Alain, of Pokémon XY! Can our misfit hero battle against a master of Mega Evolution? Also, it looks like Agent Domino, Team Rocket's personal Jame's Bond is also in the mix. Or is there another mysterious party on the move? How's Anto going to get out of these mix? (Thanks for MangoLimePie for the suggestion)
Also, it's seems Super Nut might be a lot more selfless than he lets on. Even if he thought the cape gave him power, he still embodied the idea of being a hero.
We also find out that most of the gymleaders are gone, so Anto has to be sent to Virbank City! Why?! (If you've read the Black and White Pokémon Adventure Manga, you know why Skyla wasn't there.)
And pum pa da da da~! We get a surprise cameo from some of the main character from the Manga and Anime! It seems they are closing in on Hunter J's trail… who's closing in on Anto's Trail… who's being trailed by Team Rocket, Team Flare, Dimension Enterprise, and some mysterious group of people…
Holy crap there's so many people after the poor kid!
We finally get to see a glimpse into who Anto could really be, and he gains more of a reason to join into the Pokémon League and win it! I really did plan to have them meet, but then I thought about it, and decided it wouldn't be right to those poor parents if I did make them meet under those conditions. So Anto will try again after the league.
But wait what? A boy that looks exactly like Anto has died some time back? What's going on? Just who is he? What did Dimension Enterprise do to him?
{Non Canon Extra: The Celestial Tower}
Anto was going to Challenge the Mistralton City Gym! But Skyla wanted to see something of the challenger, so she had him scale all the way towards the tall and skyscraper like building known as The Celestial Tower.
On his way up, (he was already starting to get out of breath walking up) Kryx, Ohko, and Sentinel wanted to check the place out. Their trainer let them, but told them he would be back for them soon.
After (finally) reaching the top (and gasping for breath) Anto saw Skyla waiting near a large bell.
Skyla: Great! You're here! Ring this Bell for me please! They say that the character of the person is revealed through the sound of the ringing!
The mute nodded as he made his way towards the Bell.
Meanwhile, down below…
The Trio Anto left to play around are walking around the tower and come across a very interesting pillar.
Ohko: So what are we looking for?
Kryx: My ectoplasmic scans are off the chart! With this much bionic chemical VK, I'll be rich! … With Knowledge! Alright you guys, let's start digging near these rocks that have earth text written on them that I cannot read!
A Lampent appears in front of the trio.
Lampent: Hey you can't—
Ohko, Sentinel, and Kryx: AAHH! A GHOST!
The three fools (And one who actually is a ghost) panic and attack everything in sight in fear of the super natural.
Back with Anto…
Anto was just under the bell, but he didn't notice the cracks coming from under him.
He pulled the rope hard, and at the same time to floor collapsed under him and the bell started falling through the floor.
Skyla acts fast and dives in after the boy before calling her Swanna to fly them both out as the bell falls through the floor and makes a horrible cracking noise… then falls through the next floor.
Then the next one.
Then the next one.
You start to see where this is going.
Everyone escapes from the collapsing Celestial Tower and Anto gets a view of people and Pokémon running away as the sacred tower slash graveyard falls and collapses on itself because of the heavy bell ringing each time it crashes through the floor.
The Tower collapses and falls, but thankfully no one is hurt.
Kryx teleports in with Ohko and Sentinel right next to Anto.
Kryx: Oh hey Anto! You'll never guess what we did!
Anto stares incredulously at his three smiling Pokémon before slowly turning his head to the horribly stunned and shocked Skyla.
Anto: So… uh… what does the bell say about me?
Skyla does not respond though it is more likely she is incapable of responding.
Skyla: The most sacred Graveyard in Unova…
She gasps as she just stares at the giant dust cloud rising to the sky.
Anto: I'm… not getting that gym badge, am I?
Skyla: My grandma was buried there…
Anto: *Rubs the back of his head* Well if it is any constellation, I was also buried there… I think? It's hard to say.
Skyla: My Grandfather was spending 10 percent of his savings to keep a spot free next to Grandma's…
Anto: OK! *Claps hands together* Kryx, get me back to the Pokémon Center. I think Virbank City has a gym.
She teleports him back to the Pokémon center just as Skyla gets over her initial shock and rage like no other over comes her.
Anto: And that is why I've been chased by the Mistralton City Gym Leader ever since.
Wes: Dude, she's right behind you.
Skyla: YOUR BLOOD SHALL SATE THE LUSTING DEMONS IN MY SOUL!
{Author Notes}
And that is the real reason why Anto is heading to Virbank and not getting the Mistralton badge. (Joke)
Thanks for reading.