No Mercy
The interior of the Goldenrod City Gym was dusky and fairly dark, with wispy odourless smoke creeping all around in the air. There was a ghostly aura all around, which was a given, since Red was now fighting against a Ghost Type Gym Leader. It took only mere seconds for the whole arena to be set up, for the Gym was equipped with all sorts of stuff to adapt into all kinds of Gym Battles. All Gyms had this convenience.
Under these conditions, Red could not see where Morty stood. The status screen's brightness was set to a minimum, and thus the Gym Leader was only rendered visible from the frequent sparks of lightning released by the agitated Pikachu. Both pokemon had been on a stand-still for quite some time, as neither Pikachu nor Gengar had made any moves.
After long minutes of waiting, the mouse finally detected movement.
In that instance, Pikachu pounced onto the shifting shadow, but hit the ground instead. He hissed angrily, and turned around as he sensed his opponent heading to his left He ran, using his electricity to propel himself forward.
Faster. Faster.
A Thundershock.
"Gengar!" the opponent yowled as its nerves were paralyzed and it abruptly fell to the ground.
"Not bad." Morty voiced out in the dark. "But this isn't enough. Gengar! Double Team."
Multiple copies of the Shadow Pokemon appeared, all shifting about with grins that spilled out mischief. It's ominous laugh resounded throughout the Gym.
"Shadow Ball."
All the Gengars started aiming spheres of dark energy at Pikachu, who glared daggers at the numerous tenebrous Gengar copies.
"... Counter attack all of them with Discharge."
Pikachu did as told, and the electricity shot out, neutralizing all the Shadow Balls and struck all the Gengars. Each of them popped into small tufts of white smoke, with the original nowhere to be found in the arena. A clean tap of the foot was heard, and following after, Gengar's HP bar that was displayed on the status screen became full in seconds and his paralyzed condition instantly disappeared.
"Shadow Punch."
"Run." Red urged.
Everything became a blur, as both pokemon disappeared and appeared between intervals, sparks of lightning crackling in the air and on the ground whenever Pikachu reappeared. All of a sudden, Gengar materialized, and swung the ghost attack down at Pikachu.
With a burst of electricity, Pikachu shot forward, dodging the attack in the nick of time. Shadow Punch landed on the ground, causing a small dent on the reinforced platform. Gengar laughed maniacally and sped after Pikachu.
"Catch it!" Morty yelled.
Gengar pressed on, but only saw its opponent darting further and further away, electricity bursting from its feet that served to accelerate the mouse's movements.
"Aim your Thunder backwards." Red said coolly.
With the furious kick of his legs, Pikachu shouted a battle cry and channeled a good amount of voltage to his hind legs. The electricity erupted all over Pikachu's small body, and then a massive lightning bolt shot out from his tail, straight at Gengar. In a panic, Gengar tripped over and fell flat on its face. Be it fortune or disaster, the attack shot across its back, applying a significant amount of damage on it, but at least it partially evaded the deadly move.
However, Thunder certainly spelled disaster for Morty, and he gasped in shock as the mass of blinding lightning headed straight for him.
"Shit!" He yelled as he squatted down instinctively, his heart palpitating wildly.
The lightning grazed past Morty's head and impacted on the walls of the Gym. A fearsome explosion rang throughout the arena. The commotion died down in seconds, and Red blinked open his eyes, although unable to see the aftermath of the destruction, he could taste the smell of burnt metal.
A shriek pounded his eardrums a second later.
"Sir? Sir?" Mitch inquired anxiously. His fingers were already ready to press the light switch. He feared for the Gym Leader's safety, and his index finger was slowly pressing down onto the button.
"No, no! Don't turn on the lights!" Morty shouted.
Too late.
The Gym lit up in that very moment, giving all people present a good look at Morty, whose face burned bright red in outrage, as his hands clamored onto his hair. Behind him, stood a singed wall that emitted glowing red heat.
Both Red and Pikachu stiffened for a second before they started laughing uncontrollably in unison. Right opposite the platform, the curly hair of the Ecruteak City Gym leader was no longer curly, rather, a singing blonde afro was atop his head in the most hilarious way possible. Morty glared at Red in annoyance and stood up. He cracked his knuckles and shook his head.
"Now you got me really mad, Red. And that Thunder... " Morty paused to take in a heavy, dangerous breath. "It seems you are, rather serious, I must say. Well then."
Morty Matsuba tapped his feet twice, and the Shadow Pokemon reappeared. All of a sudden, the Mega Stone on its ankle shimmered, while Morty dangled his necklace, the Key Stone shining in resonance with the Gengarite.
"Let's see how you will fare against my Mega Gengar!"
Iridescent rays of light spewed forth from the two stones, engulfing Gengar in a whirl of colors. Amidst the luminescence, a symbol burst out for a split second, before fading away. Gengar's figure changed shape, and with another flash of light, Mega Gengar was revealed before Red and Pikachu.
Clouds of mist partially obscured Gengar, the lower portion of its body appears to be sinking into the mist. Its body became wispy and wraith-like, spikes protruding out from its hands and tail. An eerie yellowish eye on his forehead blinked open, giving Gengar a mystic look. The pokemon's mouth split in an even wider grin, sending chills down Pikachu's spine.
Red froze as an uncomfortable feeling crept along his neck. He instinctively lurched forward, the boy feeling a strangling sense of fear that was trying to swallow him whole. The arena's temperature dropped to almost raw temperatures, the Gengar's mere presence chilling and malicious. Red glanced at the Gym Guide, who was moving further and further away from the platform, his face pale and frightened. Mitch was evidently spooked out.
Meanwhile, Morty was the only one who seemed unaffected. His hair was properly sorted out and had revert back to its normal state.
"How'd you like my Gengar?" The Gym Leader chuckled.
"Hate it," Red replied without hesitation. The moment the Mega Gengar appeared, he knew that it will be trouble. And that uncanny smirk on Morty's face made things all the more troublesome.
"Just what I wanted," Morty said. "Mitch, the lights. We can't do battle without the right atmosphere."
Mitch hesitantly reached out for the light switch, hoping that his greatest fears will not be realized afterward. The Gym was once again plunged into darkness darker and more sinister than before. Meanwhile, other than Pikachu's lightning, Gengar's eyes radiated balefully, his third eye brighter and spookier than anything else alive in the arena.
"Disappear, Gengar." Morty's voice commanded
The ghost type's grin went wider, it's third eye blinking twice. Then it abruptly sink into the mist and vaporized.
Pikachu held his breath, his senses sharp and clear as he tried to detect the foe.
The darkness persisted. And a shadow crept up onto Pikachu like a silent assassin.
The mouse stoned as a pink and long tongue licked his cheeks. His mind went blank.
Three sharp taps of the foot.
A Shadow Ball hit cleanly at the motionless Pikachu, who was knocked back to reality with the ghost type move. He hissed angrily, and looked left and right to search for his hidden opponent, but to no avail.
"Pikachu," Red called out firmly. Pikachu straightened immediately, and before long, he disappeared with sparks lingering at where he once stood.
Mitch blinked furiously, realizing that the electric type was already zipping all around the platform.
Yet, with a toothy grin, the Gym Leader deftly tapped his right foot.
Red's eyes widened in surprise, for he could not believe what he was seeing. He could follow Pikachu's movements, just barely in the dark, yet right before him, Morty's Gengar was committing an unbelievable feat.
The ghost type was matching Pikachu's speed.
Pikachu glared at Gengar, feeling irritated. He growled, and released more electricity towards the ground, allowing him to accelerate.
Yet, the Gengar still managed to keep up.
"Shadow Punch," Morty shouted. Gengar immediately swung his spiky fist at the moving mouse with absolute accuracy. Pikachu did not have the chance to brace himself and was soon cleanly thrown across the platform.
Pikachu picked himself up, feeling bruised all over. What was with that attacking power?
The simple demonstration of speed and attacks was enough to astonish Red. He knew he had invited trouble, but not this kind of trouble.
The Gengar disappeared, and Morty tapped his left foot. In that instance, the ghost type reappeared behind Pikachu and tackled the mouse. Caught off-guard, Pikachu was easily punched multiple times, and he tumbled away. Gengar then disappeared once more, and launched yet another attack from beside the mouse. It all happened consecutively, and in such a minimal amount of time that it appeared as if Gengar was teleporting here and there.
Morty's Gengar was formidable. No, it was Morty himself. His remarkable way of battling left no holes in his attacks and was clean but powerful. His pokemon training had shaped the Gengar to be strong. It truly was not the levels that determine a pokemon's strength.
It was the trainer.
Morty Matsuba was certainly no ordinary trainer.
Even so, he must not fall behind.
Red faltered for a moment.
"Pikachu, run."
Thinking that his trainer had some ideas in mind, the mouse obeyed and started to dash around once more.
"That trick again?" Morty sighed in disappointment. "Boring, aren't you?"
Morty directed Gengar to chase after Pikachu, and the mega-evolved pokemon did so, its speed parallel to the electric mouse. Grinning triumphantly, Gengar got ready to unleash another ghost type attack.
"... Thunderbolt."
An ear-splitting snap momentarily stunned Gengar, and at the next second, it suffered the full brunt of the electric attack. Gengar's body skidded across the ground. It whimpered a little, then picked itself up staggeredly, for it was once again, paralyzed by the lightning. Its HP bar was instantaneously dangerously near to the red zone. Morty frantically tapped his feet, and Gengar flew back to his trainer. With a quick adminstration of a Hyper Potion, its HP refilled.
"Pika pikachu!" The mouse shouted after it glanced at the status screen, annoyed that the attack was not enough to finish his opponent off. Gengar's defense must have increased after Mega Evolution, so the result was not that much of a surprise to Pikachu. Yet, secretly, he was thrilled that he managed to deal with such serious damage on his troublesome opponent. He smiled a little. Red would definitely be satisfied with that.
"... Pikachu, no more cake for you." His trainer called out sternly.
The mouse's face went white.
What did Red say again?
Cake?
No cake?
Pikachu jerked his head towards his trainer's voice and his eyes met Red's icy stare that seemed to permeate through the dark.
"You should really take care of that bulging stomach of yours."
"Pika!?" The exclamation slipped off his tongue, and Pikachu's paw involuntarily felt for his round belly.
Until a headbutt hit him squarely on the mentioned belly.
"You shouldn't take your eyes off the match, ex-Champion. That is so, so, so, so rude. Settle your domestic affairs sometime else." Morty interrupted, his tone bored and lazy. He tapped his foot, and Gengar geared himself up for another Shadow Ball.
"... Not domestic affairs, it's something called motivation." Red answered with a small smile.
A violent spark of light.
A crack of sonorous thunder.
The ceiling lights flickered on and off uncontrollably. Then, as if on cue, from left to right, all the lights lit up for a full three seconds, before all the light bulbs burnt out abruptly.
Gengar's smirk was flipped over in disbelief.
The electricity seemed to tingle Morty's and Mitch's nerves, as both of their skin hair stood on ends. Goosebumps or not, it did not matter.
Gengar did not budge one bit. Completely paralyzed. His third eye narrowed indefinitely.
Red, however, appeared unfazed by the electricity outburst. As if he was used to it.
The irregularity prompted Morty to break out in cold sweat, and he shifted his focus to the sparks of lightning that illuminated the arena. Undoubtly, Pikachu was the cause of the disorder.
"Gengar, you've got to move," Morty said while tapping his foot incessantly. He had an idea of where his pokemon was standing in this inky darkness, and he knew that the apparent attack Pikachu was going to unleash had to be avoided at all costs.
"Gar Gengar." his pokemon replied audibly, and Morty clicked his tongue in annoyance. He could sense his pokemon, and he was made aware that Gengar was unable to move. Why now, of all times?
The electricity seemed to run even wilder, as Morty felt a zapping sensation that ran up his spine. The Gym itself was being lit up from the blinding stark white of Pikachu's lightning.
The mouse was charging up, his red pouches drinking in all the electrons. And the way he was sucking in all the electricity was causing the whole place to go haywire.
"Hah hah." Morty laughed unenthusiastically. So this was what Red called "motivation". And things were going to get ugly. Meanwhile, Red did not bother to direct Pikachu anymore, he had just flicked on the switch that triggered a total release of the power of his pokemon.
Within Pikachu's mind, two words repeated itself over and over again.
No cake.
No cake.
No cake.
That was the trigger to his rampage mode.
Morty and Gengar braced themselves for the attack. The next blow will not be Thundershock, nor Thunderbolt, nor Discharge, nor Thunder.
It was a giant mass of destructive lightning.
Daigo Tsuwabuki, or known by most as Steven Stone, had not come to Ever Grande City in ages. He had wandered around many places while doing his favorite hobby: searching and collecting stones. Some said he wandered for too long, but he was never tired of being a wanderer.
Also, he had not touched the door to the Champion's office in ages. Giving out a sigh in nostalgia, he knocked twice.
"Please enter."
Steven, with a briefcase in hand, pushed the door open. A spacious office with crazy tall shelves stuffed full of books lined along the sides, and more shelves crammed with fiction, non-fiction, and dictionaries of all sorts of languages. Those many shelves contained more books than a library could. This was quite the stark contrast to the interior of the office when he was the Champion: shelves stuffed full with stones ranging to the tiniest pebble to the rarest Alexandrite all in their unpolished form. There was even a small area dedicated to gym equipment. A single vase holding one sunflower was set on the windowsill, windows closed and white curtains opened. And in the middle of it all, was a table that had elongated stacks of papers that threatened to topple with the slightest wind blown at them.
He moved a few steps forward as his eyes searched for the familiar figure of Brendan. Or perhaps not. He had not seen the boy for two years.
"Yūki." He said. "Where are you?"
"Here." A hand peeked out from the paper barricades, waving slightly before it shot back down.
"What's with all these papers? I don't remember getting so much paperwork when I was in that seat." Steven chuckled as he approached the table. He looked over, finding the teenager in working mode while wearing a never before seen pair of spectacles, his forehead trickling with sweat. His right hand was furiously signing the documents, while his left was placing the completed pieces onto a stack that looked as if it will take forever to reach the height as the uncompleted stacks.
"I neglected work for two weeks."
"That explains it. Where did you go this time?"
"Lavaridge. I took it upon myself to go for vaca."
"Why did I ask? You went with her, didn't you?"
"Yeah." Brendan replied as he continued eliminating the monsters named "work".
"You should be glad that Hoenn's system is different from Kanto and Johto, or else you would not have been let off easy by Doppo. Imagine it, the Kanto and Johto Champions battling challengers every day. You chose the right region to be Champion, Yuki."
"Kanto and Johto tweaked the system. Now the League can only be challenged on certain days." Brendan answered.
"I know that. I was just putting forth a point. Need help with those?"
"These need my signatures."
"The others?"
"Some sorting out will help. Just split them into terms of importance. Those that are important are-"
"I know my stuff, Champion," Steven interjected with a chuckle
"Thanks."
"My pleasure."
After placing his briefcase at the side of the table, Steven, along with Brendan, went on cranking up their engines, drilling through the paper work.
"Hey, Daigo."
"Mmhmm."
"How were your travels?"
"Fine, fine. I managed to get what you requested."
"Oh?"
"Quite the trouble I had to go through. Now, keep quiet and let's clear your table quickly so we can get a good talk."
Both went back to being buried underneath the papers.
One hour later, the table was left with minimal scraps of paper. Upon clearing them out, Steven and Brendan let out long sighs, as both fanned themselves with their hands. The office was air-conditioned, but the paperwork had left both males breathless and drained.
"Coffee or tea?" Brendan panted.
"Coffee. Less sugar."
"Why... did I ask?"
The Hoenn Champion jabbed a finger at the intercom. After relaying his orders to his Secretary Kyoka, he removed his misted spectacles and swiped off the sweat on his neck. He stood up to get a breather, and Steven finally got a good look at his friend who had grown two years in his absence.
It was quite a change.
The working out in his gym corner had sculpted his body well, and his skin had certainly become tanner. His chin had turned sharper, blue eyes more deep-set and his whole face radiated maturity and charm. He was not wearing his beanie, and his black hair was neatly combed, with a thin ahoge hanging out from the middle of his head. The fourteen-year-old Brendan Yūki had vanished totally. For all these years, this single trainer had defended the position of Champion relentlessly, and his strength was recognized everywhere.
Steven Stone had never been gladder and assured to pass the baton to someone.
The secretary entered minutes later and set down two cups of drinks, Japanese green tea for Brendan, and fragrant Arabica coffee for Steven. She nodded her head towards Steven as a form of greeting, in which he candidly nodded back. After she left, Brendan sat back down in his seat, looking more refreshed.
"Is it weird for her to have seventeen years old to be her boss?"
"Not really. There's a twelve, soon to be thirteen years old kid that is a Champion in my home region, how's that?"
"Hibiki Ethan. He's an interesting figure, I must say. So was Red, wondered where he disappeared to."
Brendan raised an eyebrow while drinking his green tea.
"Mmmm." He smacked his lips in satisfaction from his thirst being quenched. "We'll meet him once we reached there."
"Red?" Steven widened his eyes. "He's back?"
"What if he is?" Brendan smiled.
"Then there'll be giant headlines in the news. How did you know?"
Brendan's blue eyes seemed to smile along with his lips. He sipped a little of his tea.
"Green Oak."
"How curious. When were the two of you close enough to share such information?"
"Four years ago. Around, maybe, the time Red became the champion. Oh, he was remarkably fascinating during that phone call."
"How so?"
Brendan laughed. "Know what were his first words to me once I picked up the phone?"
Steven gestured his friend to go on.
"Are you one of the Major Arcana."
Steven blinked his eyes incredulously.
"That's the first time something like this happened ever since you told me about the cards. You've kept your mouth quite sealed shut." Steven murmured.
"I know right? To think he would ask that outright, he must have been too enthusiastic."
"So I expect that you told him."
"Nope. Did not."
"What?" Steven set his cup down with a clatter in surprise.
"I said I wasn't one." Brendan winked. Steven narrowed his eyes and sighed. In return, the Hoenn Champion grinned, his eyes all smiles.
"Again. That's why I'm never tired of you."
"But it's the truth!" Brendan insisted.
"Yeah, yeah. You're only a half-card, you're not one. I understand already." Steven said. "Mr. First."
"What? I am the first one to know I'm a card-"
"At the age of ten. Okay, I assume that Green Oak is a card. Which one?"
"The Magician. He even tried to explain the whole thing about the deck! From top to bottom!" Brendan chuckled. "But in the end, I told him I would provide my utmost support in the matter."
"I can imagine the face you were making while talking him," Steven said and drank a bit more of his coffee.
"Green Oak is a strong ally," Brendan said. "I will tell him about myself in due time. But still, he does provide solid and timely information."
"Information?"
"He called me this morning. He found three others-"
"Three!?" Steven shouted. "That's too fast!"
"And some important information."
"Wait wait wait." Steven held his hand out. "Who are the three?"
"They, are some very, very shocking beings."
"Tell me about it. I've received enough shock in these last 25 years."
"Red. The Fool"
"Okay, I'm shocked."
"Ethan. The Chariot."
"Shocker." Steven gasped.
"Lyra Kotone Elm. The Hierophant"
"That was anti-climatic."
"Daughter of Professor Elm, the one who produced the thesis that overturned the concept of Pokemon breeding. She's famous in her own right."
"Shocked again. Haven't heard that name in some time. Then? The important information?"
"Six of us will be gathered in a week's time. And one of us, with my other half and I not included, will gain the power of the Zap Plate."
"Is this coincidental or...?"
"Fate? No idea, but it's interesting isn't it?" Brendan twirled a pen in his fingers. "Finally the gears are connecting. I've waited seven years for this."
"And you trained seven years for this. Here, I brought them."
Brendan's eyes lit up expectantly. Steven brought his briefcase up and handed them to the Champion, who opened them excitedly. He took his spectacles and examined the contents for a few seconds before he clasped the briefcase shut.
"Perfect. How can I ever thank you for your support? Honestly, you're one of the few I can fully trust."
Steven nodded. "My pleasure. This whole Major Arcana business has also made me really intrigued."
"You should. Because apparently, someone else is equally, or even more, intrigued and perhaps crazed about this."
"What?"
A disturbed frown formed in between the seventeen years old's eyebrows. He sighed deeply, before opening his table drawer and retrieved an opened envelope that was burnt at the edges. He pushed the envelope across the table.
"There was a ruckus three weeks ago. A fire, in fact."
"Here, in this League building?" Steven exclaimed as held the envelope in his hands.
Brendan nodded grimly. This was unheard of, fire breaking out in a highly guarded premise. Especially when the place of concern is a League building.
"Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the first level took quite the damage. You should have seen it, all charred and smoking."
"Who would have done this?" Steven muttered, as he flipped the envelope to the back, where the words "To Brendan Yūki" were typed, removing all chances of handwriting recognition. "And I presume you found this envelope addressed to you amidst the fire."
"Not one envelope. Hundreds of them raining down and burning. I have at least forty-five exact copies of the one I gave you. The contents were all the same. The culprit must be really desperate for me to attain at least one intact envelope."
"And really smart," Steven commented as he flicked the liquid off the surface of the envelope. "He hid his fingerprints and handwriting. And this paper... is made from common wood. He could be from anywhere. How did the fire start?"
Brendan gazed at Steven with a frown, and finally, he uttered, "Suicide Pokemon."
"... Wha-"
"They were a Pidgeotto, a Xatu, a Staravia and a Fletchinder. The Xatu knocked the guards out with Hypnosis. Apparently, they were carrying a huge box full of the letters, and it's believed that the Fletchinder set everything on fire. They perished, willingly, by diving into the inferno themselves."
"What atrocity... Unforgivable."
"I agree. But currently, we have no leads. And whoever sent that, is more villainous than Team Magma and Team Aqua combined."
Steven tore opened the envelope, and glancing at it, he looked up and asked, "Mind if I read it?"
Brendan glared at the letter with hate.
"Okay."
Steven cleared his throat.
"Dear Brendan Yūki, or should I say, the half-card.
I hope you have enjoyed the entertainment I provided. The four birds diving in for their deaths was a feast for the eyes, I must confess. But that was not even the beginning. With you, and the rest of your brethren, and all pokemon, all humans, things will get interesting.
It has come to my attention that you are the first of the deck to realize your position as a card. You are too, the first to gain the power of a plate. You are, without a doubt, the most experienced out of all of the cards.
Did I mention that I also know all of your weaknesses? Especially yours, Hoenn Champion.
You are a half-card. You are not whole without your partner. You are not one. Without her, you're no longer a threat.
I know everything about the deck. You and the rest are not enough to challenge me. All you have to do is to struggle, scream, and lament about your own weakness. But, I'm a kind person.
This is a letter of warning. And a letter to spark the next war between the Major Arcana and me. We will play war. We will play with lives on the line. We will play with brawn and brain.
It's not just one war, Brendan Yūki.
They are wars I've fought for ages. And I've always won. Ever since the first generation.
I've set the first stage. I look forward to your participation.
P.s. Psst, tell your other half to be careful. I might just break her one day."
"Arrghhhhh!" Brendan yelled as he kicked the wall in uncontrollable anger. The vase fell and shatter into blue glass pieces. The sunflower laid limped on the floor. The Hoenn Champion eyed the flower, and as if reminded to calm himself down, he sat down on his seat and evened out his breathing.
"Yūki..."
"I swear to Arceus, if he ever lays a finger on May, I'll slaughter him." Brendan breathed.
"Slaughter. That's a strong word." Steven said softly. "But he gave us some clues, although they don't amount to much. He is evidently very well aware of the deck, but what are these wars he fought for ages? Since the first generation?"
"Daigo. Remember the first generation of Major Arcana?" Brendan said while grabbing a small steel clip.
"Mmhmm."
"What was the outcome?"
"Someone betrayed the deck, and- no way."
All of a sudden the metal clip was twisted at odd angles, scrunched up and finally shattered into bits.
"I don't care whether he is from the past or someone who wants to play war. If he threatens me, threatens May, threatens pokemon, threatens lives, I will show no mercy." Brendan Yūki growled.