Chapter 70: Marshmallow
They returned to Fallarbor Town in triumph. After discovering that Team Cosmic was after the mythic Pokemon Rayquazza, Lucas, Morgan and Skyler went on a Pokemon League mission to Mirage Tower to sabotage the group while the League could build up enough power for a final strike against Cosmic. While they was unable to put a final stop to Cosmic, since the operation was not as large as they first thought, they were able to put a powerful blow against the organization. While Team Cosmic ran afoul of Mirage Tower's many obstacles and booby-trapped rooms, Lucas and his friends figured out how to use their Pokemon to navigate the tower with ease, and were able to report back to the League and tell them exactly what was going on. Though in the end only seventy grunts were arrested and their stolen Pokemon in the process of being returned, Lucas' ex girlfriend and Cosmic commander Captain Rose, aka Marcia, was captured. And Skyler, the Dragon Tamer of Blackthorn City, was able to encounter the legendary Pokemon Rayquazza and prevent it from being captured by the evil Pokemon group.
The returning Pokemon League members chatted and talked amongst themselves. Lucas saw Flannery again and finally met Professor Birch's son, a young man named Brendan, who even though was taller and thinner than his father, had that same strong jaw and boisterous sense of adventure. He told the man his father said hi, just like he promised the professor he would. Lucas also attempted to talk to the Trainer in the wheelchair who had been with Steven, but he had disappeared when the rest returned to town. Lucas was as ecstatic as the rest of the returning heroes, but his happiness was crushed when he ran into an old familiar face.
"Lucas! Don't tell me you're going to turn down an interview this time. I refuse to air this story until I talk to the Trainer who saved the day and is clearly going for the Hoenn Championship," Gabby, reporter for Hoenn Today, the most popular news program in the region, and her largely silent cameraman Ty were waiting for them in the Pokemon Center, "Especially since I missed out on all the action in the desert. Stupid sandstorms. Ty will get a camera that will beat those magnetic pulses somehow!"
"Actually Gabby, I'd be more than happy to tell you what happened," Steven interjected, "Especially since it was largely due to some wonderful new products we'll be rolling out at Silph-Devon Co.,"
"Ugh! I don't want to do a free commercial for your company, Steven," Gabby pushed back, still angling to talk with Lucas.
"You would really want to be the reporter who refused to interview one of the Elite Four and the CEO of the largest corporation in this country? I thought you were the best, Gabby," Steven smiled. Lucas once again had to admire the young man's ability to manipulate people and the impish way he seemed to enjoy it.
"I am the best!" Gabby gritted in defeat, "Okay, fine. But Lucas, one day, someday soon, we will be sitting down and talking,"
Steven pushed the woman and her cameraman towards one of the Pokemon Center's free rooms, looked over his shoulder and with a smile mouthed, 'you owe me' to Lucas. The teen groaned as he realized he was played. While he may have avoided for the time being the interview he was dreading doing, he managed to walk into another of Steven's traps. More than likely he would be doing commercials for Pokevices for the rest of his life. Morgan regarded the scene curiously, "What was that all about?"
"It's a long story," Lucas sighed. The teen had no intention of informing his rival about the ongoing circus that his newfound fame was bringing with interviews, fan clubs and endorsement deals. Morgan could find ammunition in just about any phrase or action he took. Letting her know about what was going on felt like handing her insults on a platter.
Morgan didn't seem that interested in the situation anyway, and instead addressed the other member of their little group, "So Skyler, you finally got what you were after, but I have to ask, when you finally found Rayquazza, why didn't you make the least bit of effort to catch it? Even a legendary Pokemon wouldn't have been able to kill you team. So why didn't you even try? You came all the way to this region to look for it, worked so hard, and just let it go without a fight,"
Skyler regarded her for a moment and smiled. That same confident, cheerful smile that drove Lucas so crazy. Since first coming to Fallarbor Town the Dragon Tamer had seemed to become more grave and obsessive. Seeing the sweet, wise young man back to his old self was a huge relief. "Morgan, I am going to confess to you something. As nice as I try to be, I am in fact a huge, spoiled brat. For years, I ran away from home every chance I got because my clan didn't think me mature enough to handle being out on my own. I heard a story from a traveling Trainer about a legendary dragon Pokemon and thought if I caught it, my clan would finally respect me and let me live my life like the rest of the Dragon Tamers. So I ran away from home, again, lied to someone I look to as a brother and thought even if the dragon wasn't real I'd at least be able to say I was finally on a real adventure and got to see places and things I'd never get to experience in Blackthorn City. I wandered around on my own, learned all sorts of legends and hints about where to go and met the most wonderful friend of my life."
Lucas felt his face flush slightly, but Skyler's attention was still on the dark type Trainer.
"But when I was at the top of that tower, looking up at that noble beast, I had an epiphany: my grandfather, my cousin, my sister, the clan elders were entirely right about me. I am very, very immature. There was no reason whatsoever that I would have the right to try to train Rayquazza, and I was not fit to even challenge it. But in spite of my absolute inexperience and naivete, that great dragon looked upon me. It didn't ignore me as an insignificant speck, or attack me as some bothersome nuisance. It regarded me, and acknowledged me. I cannot think of a Dragon Tamer alive who had done that. So while I might go back empty-handed with no way to prove I'm yet worthy, I know I am. And knowing that I can go back to Blackthorn with my head high and train in such a way the clan will have to acknowledge me. And who knows? Maybe one day I can face Rayquazza again and actually earn the right to train it,"
Morgan nodded thoughtfully, "You might call yourself immature, but you're more mature than me. My father...he was murdered by Team Rocket and his Gym was shut down. Since I became a Trainer I've been doing nothing but collecting and Training dark types so the Pokemon League would give me my own Gym and I could continue my father's legacy. If I had a chance to get face to face with a legendary dark type, I can tell you now I wouldn't hesitate to try to catch it like you did. I get why Lucas likes you so much,"
Lucas fell off the chair he was sitting on. Though Morgan's meaning was innocent, her amazing talent for saying the wrong thing shone through once more. Skyler turned to his friend to ask what was wrong when a panicked police officer ran into the Pokemon Center and grabbed one of the League members urgently, "Some of the captured Cosmic members have escaped!"
"What?"
"That girl, Captain Rose. When we were transporting her a Cosmic vehicle attacked our convoy. Her and several of the grunts with her were picked up and driven off. Thankfully no one was badly hurt, but they attacked with guns, not Pokemon!"
Steven stepped out of the room he was in with Gabby and Ty, "It was obvious from their group in the Mirage Tower and it's even more obvious now that Cosmic still has a hold in our region. We need to find their base if we have any hopes of getting rid of them once and for all,"
The jubilation from victory ended with that dour news. As the day ended, the various Trainers and officials from the Pokemon League went back to their respective towns and cities, with Steven leaving last to talk to Lucas about his 'exciting new ideas' for the next Pokevice campaign. The teen could only grit his teeth and nod. Lucas, Morgan and Skyler set out to leave Fallarbor Town once and for all, and return to the road. With Skyler's quest to find Rayquazza ended, Lucas' mission to get his final two badges would resume. It was only a short matter of time now until Lucas would face Hoenn's Elite Four and Champion, and while it would mean he was closer to his goal of facing down his brother, it also meant he would soon have to say goodbye to Skyler. And now that Skyler had his moment of growth, he would go back to Blackthorn City without a fight. Before the three had gone to bed he had thought he had overheard Skyler mention to Morgan that while his search for Rayquazza had ended, he still had one last task he had to do before he could leave Hoenn with a clear mind. Lucas couldn't even begin to fathom what that could be, but all he knew that between knowing Marcia had escaped and that his time with Skyler was running out, Lucas couldn't help but fall asleep in a foul mood.
And the next day did not start off any better.
"If I find the genius who built the road system in Hoenn, I'm going to knock his teeth out," Lucas snarled as they returned to the road. Before leaving Fallarbor Lucas once again rearranged his team, bringing back out Diablo, Blobby Bob, and a few of the new Pokemon he had caught in the previous month. While it meant that they could fly back to Mauville and go around the desert instead of through it to get to Route 118, it also meant that the team was backtracking again to make it to their next destination. The next Gym city was Mossdeep City, an island far off of the eastern coast of the Hoenn mainland. To even get to the ports to surf or take a ferry to the next Gym, the team would have to go through several cities first. While Lucas didn't object to anything that stalled his eventual final Gym battle, he was still angry and frustrated knowing that a few small obstacles weren't going to put off the inevitable for long.
"Oh my God Rooster Boy, can you please stop bitching? You haven't stopped complaining since we left Fallarbor Town. It's going to be a while until we reach the next city, so for my sanity and your safety, I'm asking you nicely," Morgan snarled back.
Skyler took his new role as peacekeeper, laughing at the bickering rivals before adding his own thoughts on the matter, "I'll admit they could probably have thought the inland roads out a lot more, but then again most of Hoenn's important cities are off the coast, where the sea routes are way better organized. It would be nice if we could get to a town before nightfall, but camping isn't so bad, right Lucas? We've always had fun,"
"Yeah, that's true," Lucas said sheepishly. Route 118 was like many other inland roads in Hoenn: hot, humid and tropical. The next city would be Fortree City, a town that once had a Gym but now holds an airport that connected the region to the far off land of Unova. And like Morgan had warned, it was at least two days away, which meant camping outside with the risk of rain. There would be a few shops and buildings on their way there, and nothing that could be done about it. The tattooed teen tried to make the most of it, enjoying the beautiful landscape, capturing any new Pokemon he found and befriending any Trainers he met along the road. But just as he was turning his dark mood around, Lucas ran into another familiar face from his past that brought his anger and frustration to its limit.
"Well, well, well, of all the Trainers in all the lands, you are the last person I'd ever think to see again. Quite frankly I'm shocked you aren't in jail right now,"
Lucas knew who it was before he even turned around. Though it wasn't because he recognized his voice, though he did, but rather, he knew who the Trainer who addressed him was because of Gizmo's reaction. The Pokemon was panicked, burying his face into Lucas' chest as his Trainer tried to control him in his arms, and whimpering and whining pathetically. The teen had only seen his Pokemon behave this way once before, in the home of an eccentric millionaire outside of Hearthome City. The tattooed young man turned around, doing his best not to take a swing as he pivoted, "I would say the same thing about you,"
"Oh, don't think I didn't. Because of you I spent six agonizing weeks in some Sinnoh hellhole. And with my jaw wired shut, no less," the young man who addressed him had dark brown hair, wore an expensive sports ensemble for traveling in the humid Hoenn weather and had the snide, condescending demeanor of someone who never was accountable for anything in his life. Lucas and the other man stared each other down, looking at the other with hatred and contempt.
Skyler gave a puzzled look to the two young men and to the squirming, agitated Eevee yipping fearfully in Lucas' arms, "Who is this guy?"
"I am Randall Worthington the Third, Pokemon Trainer from Slateport City. My father owns most of the shipping yards down there," the man answered smugly.
"This is Gizmo's original Trainer," Morgan corrected, saying the words as though they left a terrible taste in her mouth. Though she didn't give the same look of murder that Lucas had, she still glared at him like she were looking at something indecent.
"And you're the animal that broke my jaw and two of my ribs. Don't think I've forgotten about you," Randall sneered, "I was going to Fortree for my father for some tedious little chore for him. But I must say, this little detour is making it all worth it. You might have had some big friends in Sinnoh which is why you avoided a prison cell, but you're in Hoenn now. My region. You're going to get what's coming to you, and I'm going to get my Eevee back,"
"Your Eevee!" Lucas exploded. The teen grabbed the other boy by the throat, lifted him off the ground and slammed him against a tree. Though the tattooed Trainer was shorter than the rich kid, Randall's legs dangled in the air, "Instead of releasing him, you tricked him into staying in place and left him to die. And you joked about it! You joked about it to those ass-licking cronies you had with you at the party. You're bitching about a broken jaw? You're lucky I didn't break your f $%ing neck!"
"Lucas!" Skyler cried out fearfully.
The red haired teen recognized the tone. It was the same note of horror that he himself had when Morgan nearly killed the Cosmic grunt. The teen slowly glanced back and matched eyes with the Dragon Tamer, feeling like his stomach just got headbutted by a Bidoof. The look Skyler gave him was of terror. Terror of him. In that moment Lucas had let his old self, the self he thought he left behind in Cherrygrove rear up. Skyler had seen his temper flare before. The cursing, the posturing, the threats. But even around Cosmic he hadn't let himself go that much. Lucas had attacked a man seemingly unprovoked, and shown his most ugly dark side to someone he was falling in love with. He couldn't stand it anymore, and looked away from Skyler, no longer able to meet his eyes. He let the other Trainer fall to the ground unceremoniously and catch his breath.
When Randall did he started laughing, "Oh that was just perfect. Thank you so much for that, it's only going to make this so much easier," he reached into his the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a Pokevice, "Hello, this is an emergency. I need a police officer off of Route 118, near the cafe that leads into Route 119. I've just been attacked and had my Pokemon stolen,"
This time Morgan went ballistic, "Stolen your Pokemon?! What the hell are you talking about? You abandoned Gizmo. You served time in jail for it!"
"Technically that Eevee is still mine, since I never officially released it. And no one in Hoenn knows about my arrest, my father worked very hard to make sure of that. But I know all about you, I've seen all the reports about your victories in Sinnoh and know how my Eevee was a large part of that. I thought it was just a worthless little defect since it couldn't evolve. Now that I see how valuable it really is, I'm ready to take my Pokemon back," Randall grinned triumphantly.
"You'll be getting Gizmo back over my dead body," Lucas stated coldly and slowly. He dared a glance back to Skyler, who was still wearing the stunned, horrified expression on his face. He figured it was too late now, there was no point in trying to hold back his violent tendencies.
"We don't need to go that far. The police will be here soon and my father is very influential in Hoenn. You might be the Champion of Sinnoh, and but a thug is a thug, and that never changes. My word will mean a great deal more than yours. And look, here's an officer here now. You have to admire their efficiency,"
As the spoiled rich Trainer had said, a police officer from Fortree City arrived on the back of a Pelipper between the group, ready to draw his weapon, "What's going on here?"
"Officer, thank God you're here. This group of felons cornered me and took my Eevee. That brute with the piercings tried to strangle me. I want all three of them arrested and I want my Pokemon back!" Randall pulled the performance of his life, running to the officer and collapsing at his feet in fear and gasping for breath. He pulled open the buttons of his shirt to show the red marks on his throat where Lucas had grabbed him.
"That isn't true! This guy approached us! And that Eevee isn't his, that's been Lucas' Pokemon for almost a year," Morgan argued.
Randall let out a pathetic sob, "Are you going to believe what she has to say? Look at her! I bet she's a devil worshiper with those clothes! Besides, I can prove that Eevee is mine. I still have the Pokeball with the registry!"
"And I have mine! Right here around my neck. This guy abandoned his Pokemon and I adopted it. He's served time in Sinnoh for Pokemon abuse," Lucas countered.
"How can you believe such a thing. Officer, don't you have any idea who I am? I am Randall Worthington the Third!" This unfortunately did have the desired effect on the officer. Before this moment he had stood silently listening to all sides. But upon hearing the boy's name the policeman's eyes grew wide.
"Son, you're going to give me that Eevee and you're coming with me,"
"WHAT! Are you kidding?! Just like that? You stupid ass pig! Listen for ten goddamn seconds and use your goddamn brain! This is my Eevee! Look at him! Does he look stolen to you? He's cuddling up to me for chrissake!" Lucas raged.
"Did you or didn't you grab this boy by the neck?" the officer said.
Lucas said nothing. Instead he just looked at the ground. He couldn't face the officer. He couldn't face Skyler and that look of horror. He couldn't face Gizmo. And he knew he couldn't face Randall who was no doubt in this moment glowing in triumph. He could lie, but the truth was he did grab Randall and almost choked him in a moment of blind rage. The same blind rage that almost got him arrested in Hearthome. Then he was lucky. Morgan was able to call Professor Oak and he and Mr. Backlot were able to straighten everything out. It wouldn't work out this time, Randall was right about Hoenn being his. Lucas never had the best dealings with the police, but at least the man was willing to listen to both sides until he found out who Randall was. The boy cursed himself and his terrible temper. Why was he so stupid? Why did he let his anger and his pride get the better of him? He promised Gizmo he would never let it happen again and here he was, about to lose his Pokemon because he couldn't keep his hands to himself just because that smug, sadistic jerk said something inflammatory. Skyler had every right to look at him like that, like he was a wild, dangerous animal. Because deep down, he knew he really was. He could lie to himself and try to prove himself otherwise to his brother John, but facts were facts. This was where his Journey would end.
And this time he felt he deserved it.
He felt a hand reach into his vest pocket and pull something out. He assumed it was the officer frisking him and didn't react. However it wasn't the police officer that spoke, "Look! This is a Champion's badge, and these are six badges of the Hoenn League. Call any one of those Leaders and ask about Lucas, he fought almost every match with his Eevee. Call any member of the Pokemon League! Contact the mayor in Dewford town about the League representative who saved Granite Cave and the island electricity! Talk to the Elite Four about who has been fighting Cosmic all these months! Turn on a TV and watch a Pokevice commercial! Or better yet contact Steven Stone! His number is on Lucas' Pokevice and I bet he has just as much or even more influence than 'Randall Worthington.' I've been traveling with him for months, Gizmo is his Pokemon. If my word or the word of another Champion, even if she does dress rather darkly, isn't enough, any one of these people are!"
Lucas looked up to see it was Skyler addressing the officer. The man gave Lucas another look, "You're right, I have seen those Pokevice commercials. I guess I just didn't recognize him, I expected him to be taller. But the problem is he did assault Mr. Worthington. Even if that Eevee isn't stolen, I still have to arrest him,"
"Then I want to press charges for false reporting. Whatever Lucas did, me and Morgan weren't involved. I am of the Dragon Tamer clan. An accusation of Pokemon theft is utmost slander and I won't let it go unpunished. If you're arresting Lucas, you have to arrest Randall as well," Skyler continued. His face was serious and dignified and in that moment even more resembled his cousin Lance.
"Me too. Do you have any idea what an accusation of Pokemon theft would do to my case for opening a Gym? I'd be ruined! And what is this, Footloose? Black hair and heavy makeup makes me a devil worshiper, come on," Morgan huffed, "If two charges of false reporting aren't enough for an arrest, tell me what is,"
"The two young people are right. False reporting is a serious crime. I'm sorry Mr. Worthington, but I'm going to have to take you in too," the policeman conceded.
"You can't be serious you enormous oaf! Are you forgetting who my father is!"
"Then your father can get you a nice attorney while you wait in jail. No one is above the law. Whatever credibility you had because of your family you lost with me when you lied and tried to have two innocent people arrested for something that never happened," the officer snapped back.
Randall looked around helplessly as the officer started grabbing for his handcuffs. Skyler raised a hand and made an offer, "I will drop the charges, however, if he drops his claim against Lucas. I'm sure Morgan would be willing to do the same,"
"Of course. Who has time to go to court when there are Pokemon to catch," said the female Trainer.
"Fine! I won't press charges against the animal," Randall spat. The two other Trainers nodded to the policeman, the officer put his handcuffs away and motioned to his Pokemon. He got on the Pelipper's back and flew away without another word, and the group involved watched until he vanished. The spoiled young man turned a final time to his opponent and snarled with disgust, "You might have gotten off the hook again but your luck is going to run out. I am still Randall Worthington the Third and you're just a petty street thug. All the Championships in the world won't change that. I will have my revenge. We'll meet again, and next time, I'm getting my Eevee back,"
"I told you, you self centered prick. You're going to have to go through my cold, bloated corpse before you ever get your hands on Gizmo again. Next time things will be different though. You talk a big game, Rich Boy, so you better show it to me. I won't be the one doing the fighting next time, my Pokemon will," Lucas threw down the gauntlet. He had been spared twice now, and he'd be damned if he let the third time be the charm. Lucas may have thought of himself as a worthless animal, but he would never give Randall Worthington the Third the satisfaction of being his downfall. The two Trainers glared at each other a final time before Randall huffed and turned down the road. The teen watched his new rival disappear into the brush before turning back to his two friends. Morgan gave him a satisfied smile, thrilled that they had one-upped the Pokemon abuser once more. Skyler on the other hand still looked at him seriously. The look smashed his heart. Lucas knew in that moment whatever small glimmer of a chance the two might have had together had vanished forever and with a defeated tone sighed, "Still think I'm such a marshmallow?"
But before he could give a chance to the blue-haired Dragon Tamer to answer, Lucas spun on his heels and marched into the grasses of Route 119.