POKEMON HEART SOUL ADVENTURES
Author's Note: Welcome back to my story! I hope I didn't take too much time for your liking, and I welcome you to a chapter which will get the story going for real! In this chapter, we will start to see just how much will be at stake here, and we will also see a few old faces make a comeback, along with the start of a new trainer's journey! If you've read the title, I guess you already know what to expect... ^_^
What you might not expect, on the other hand, is another couple of returning characters... and I'm not saying any more! I'm not letting you get spoiled that easily, and I'll leave you the honour of reading through my story to know what I'm talking about!
This fanfic will be halted from the 26th of this month to the 5th of January, due to the author being away from home, but I will get back to this and both my Super Robot Wars stories as soon as I'm back! Be patient, the fun is just getting started!
For now, enjoy my new chapter!
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Chapter 6 - Max Begins His Journey
"Hmm... very well! For now, things are progressing as planned!"
Sitting in front of a large computer, in what looked like a large control room filled with luminous screens and flashing lights, a mysterious masked individual was looking at some graphs rapidly showing up on the screens, showing what looked like complex measurements allong with images of powerful-looking Pokemon, among which it was possible to discern Kanto's Legendary Bird trio, Johto's Legendary Cat trio, and others like Mew, Mewtwo, Lugia... each of them accompained by some data and a brief description. The shadowy person, whose only visible distinctive feature was the semicircular helmet, complete with mask, on his head, pressed a few buttons on the console, showing more machineries working full power to produce some peculiar kind of Pokeballs - they were black and white, with purple vertical lines on the upper part and an azure-greyish button in the place where the two halves met. A nasty grin painted itself on the unknown man's face, as he watched the production being endlessly carried out.
"Perfect... even the production of Dark Balls is continuing at maximum efficiency!" he spoke, talking in a cold, cruel voice which spoke volumes of his wickedness - if his appearence and demeanor were not a dead giveaway already. "Soon... very soon... my team will be able to begin carrying out my plan. And then... Giovanni and his Team Rocket will become nothing but a distant memory! Hehehee... and that's just for starters!"
Another screen lit up on a nearby terminal, and the shadowy man turned in that direction to see a detailed map of the whole planet, with a beeping red dot appearing on an island just a little above the Equator. An image of Moltres, one of Kanto's Legendary Birds, a crimson-red phoenix whose feathers were live flames, had appeared in the top-left corner of the screen...
"And it just keeps getting better! Looks like one of my targets' hideout has been found! That's excellent, the retrieval operations can begin already!" the man said to himself, pressing a blue button on his left. A little less than two minutes after that, a sliding door on the other side of the control room opened up with a slight hissing noise, letting in a tall female figure with shining silver hair, wearing a dark grey uniform and with a distinctively detached and cruel look to her face. The woman took a couple steps forward, then stopped in the middle of the room and stood on attention in front of the menacing masked man.
"You called for me, sir. Any news?" the woman icily asked. At that moment, the dim light of the control room shone on her, revealing her appearence at least partly - she was tall, apparently between 30 and 40 years of age, and was wearing a dark gray overall reaching down to her ankles, over a red form-fitting uniform and matching shoes. On her left arm, a strange grey device was mounted, reminescent of some superhero's electronic gizmo, and her expression was one of calm cruelty, if such thing was possible... the face of someone who would have let nothing and no one stand in her way.
"You're punctual as usual, J." the masked person said, stepping away a little from the console and turning to the newcomer. "Yes, indeed there are news... and very interesting ones at that. Look... seems some of my spies have discovered the position of one of Kanto's Legendary Birds... Moltres, the Bird of Fire! We know where to look for him now... the northest one of the Sevii Islands, a group of small islands south of Kanto! It appears Moltres has chosen to rest in a long-dormant volcano... he seems to believe he'll never be bothered in such a place! Of course, I dare say it won't be an hard task for you to find and capture him, right?"
"I have not earned my reputation as a professional Pokemon hunter for nothing, sir." J, the infamous Pokemon hunter and poacher, who had until recently been working for Team Galactic and their insane leader Cyrus, answered with a cold smile. "Very well, then. I'll immediately begin preparations, and we'll be taking off for the Sevii Islands in a few days. Still, I'd like to make clear that I'm expecting a bonus for this capture. This is not your everyday capture job."
The masked man smiled ominously. "Sure. Crystal clear. Still, if that was meant to be a threat, know that I am not impressed in the least." he answered, his tone of voice not changing one iota. "Just to make things clear, I'd like to remind you that I could crush you like an insect in no time, if so I wanted."
"I well know that." J answered stoically. "Given these premises, I still believe we can work together just fine. Fine. I'll gather some of our most promising men, and I'll be starting this mission as soon as possible. I will capture Moltres and hand it to you."
"Very well." the man answered, turning back to his console. "You're dismissed, for now at least. I'll be looking forward to good news, J. Do not disappoint me."
Hunter J bowed and walked away, letting the door slide in place behind her as soon as she was out. Satisfied, the masked man turned back to his calculations and his computers, inputting more commands and visualizing even more astruse graphs. Another unsettling smile danced on his lips, and his right hand's fingers stroke his short black goatee.
"And once again... that's all good! It's all going in my favour!" he murmured to himself. "Very soon, I will triumph where even Cyrus and his Team Galactic failed! It will be my triumph, and I will not be denied that!"
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"Ooooh... it sure feels strange to get back home after staying away from it for so much time! I have to admit, I kinda missed this city!" May exclaimed, deeply breathing in as her and her younger brother Max reached the top of a small hill, near Littleroot Town, the place from which the young girl had started her training. Two years had been since the young coordinator had left that city to begin her Pokemon journey, which had brought her incredibly close to being Hoenn's new coordinating champion... and above all, since the day she had met Ash after an unfortunate happening with her bicycle! Going back to one's place of origin, after spending so much time travelling, sure was a peculiar exerience... and yet, a very pleasing one! Still, the reason she and her brother had come back was not just some nostalgia filler... it was a very important occasion! "So, lil' bro, how about it? You ready to choose your first Pokemon?"
Max, May's little brother, stood by her side, looking at his hometown with barely-contained enthusiasm. "Is that anyway to ask, sis? I was just waiting for this day! I can finally choose my own Pokemon and shoot for the Hoenn League myself!" the bespectacled boy answered. "And... I'm sure that my strategies will allow me to gain the eight Badges and enter the champion league!"
"Hehehee... you sure, lil' bro? Don't forget that time you lost because you were wasting too much time on your strategy!" his older sister remindedhim, tapping her forehead with her indexfinger. In embarassment, Max stepped backwards and ruffled his own hair with his hand, trying to cover that mistake.
"Er... yeah... I'll admit, that time I wasted too many moves powering up my Pokemon, and I didn't attack when I should have had..." he tried to excuse himself. "But... well, I guess I did learn something by looking at you and Ash in action! Well, let's just say Ash, since you're not exactly aworld authority! Heheheee..." he ended his sentence with a knowing grin and a sideways glance to his sister, who obviously did not take the insinuation too well: a red blaze lit up in the background behind her, and a pulsating vein popped up on her forehead, as a sign that the young coordinator was blowing her fuse!
"Ugh... you little ingrate! And here I even went as far as to interrupt my training journey to come and fetch you in Petalburg, even getting you home to be nice... and that's the thanks I get! Such a nice little brother I've got!" she exclaimed, before pinching the bespectacled boy's cheeks and pulling them, comically enlargening his mouth!
"Owwww... just joking, sis... owwww..." the young boy murmured as he tried to squirm free. May's anger vanished instantaneously, a sign that the girl hadn't really gotten offended. She immediately relinquished her grip on her younger brother's cheeks, and Max closed one eye and gingerly rubbed a sore spot. "Ouch... gosh, sis, you sure are Miss Considerate, aren't you?"
"Hehehee... what can I say, some people bring out the best in me!" she quipped, never losing one beat in front of her younger brother's sarcasm. Then, she cleared her voice and went on, looking at the small town. "Anyway, sorry about that... I just wanted to joke around a little! So, lil' bro, how about it? Shall we go choose your first Pokemon?"
"Yeah, yeah..." Max murmured, combing his hair back in place. "Just leave it to you to drop the discussion. Oh, well, no matter, I'm ready! C'mon, sis, Professor Birch must be waiting for us!"
May laughed and ruffled her brother's hair again, undoing all of Max's work. "Okay, Max... then, let's go! Have you already chosen your starter? I thought you once said you'd have liked a Treecko..."
"Yeah, I did say so, but I'm not so sure now..." Max answered. "In fact, now that I think of it, I was never really sure... I guess I'll wait until I'm there, and I'll see which Pokemon are available. Then, I'll choose one!"
The two siblingsbegan walking towards the small town, crossing through the patches of tall grass littered with colourful flowers, as the chirping of Taillows and Pidgeys could be heard all around. For May and Max, it wa a very emotional moment, as they were reliving the fateful day in which they had met Ash and started their journey together with him and Brock! And now, they were back together for the start of Max's adventure in the world of trainers and Gym leaders.
It didn't take long for them to reach the town and, after a short walk, the laboratory in which Professor Birch had given May her first Pokemon, Torchic, just two years earlier... and just as they thought, they found a rather large group of aspiring trainers and coordinators gathered in front of the main entrance, all eagerly waiting for the labto open and for the opportunity to choose their and Max counted at least ten of them, Max himself not included... and as time went by, their enthusiastic voices were growing in loudness and intensity, from the impatience to begin their adventure. Luckily, they didn't have much longer to wait, and when the lab door opened, and Professor Birch appeared from behind it, the shrill little voices calmed down, and all the kids stepped back a little to allow the robust scientist to pass through the door. Professor Birch was a man of considerable age, although he was a lot younger than Kanto's Professor Samuel Oak, or Sinnoh's Professor Rowan, and he looked quite portly, with dark brown hair linked to his short beard through his long sideburns. Other than his labcoat, he was wearing a blue shirt with short green pants and a pair of leather sandals, exactly like May and Max remembered him from two years before.
"Oooh, welcome, everybody! It's a pleasure to meet you all!" he exclaimed, loudly and friendly. "I guess you're all here to receive your starters... then, I'll try to make this as quick as possible and not hold you here for long! I am Prof. Birch, an expert in the Pokemon field... and I am also the person chosen to give you your starters and your Pokedexes! If you have a question, any question, do not hesitate to ask! An now... well, I guess it's better to just show you the Pokemon you're allowed to choose from. As always, you can pick from three kinds of Pokemon, a Fire-type, a Water-type and a Grass-type. Please, come in and make your choice!"
The kids had no need to hear that from him... and in fact, one second later, they charged into the lab in mass, reaching the tables upon which the Pokeballs were exposed, divided by Pokemon type. Most aspiring trainers had aready made their choice from the beginning and darted towards the respective Pokeballs, while a few others stood apart, wondering on the choice to make. Max, his sister never straying too much from him, entred the lab with some shyness and looked around. Sure, he imagined the first day to be chaotic, but he had been quite amazed by his fellow aspiring trainers' enthusiasm...
"Man, they sure are enthusiastic about it... to say the least!" the boy commented, adjusting his glasses.
"Oh, what a surprise! It feels like yesterday since you came here to get your Torchic, May!" Professor Birch greeted the two siblings. "And now, you've come back as a first-class coordinator, and your Torchic has evolved into a Blaziken! Good to see you again!"
"Pleased to meet you again as well, Professor Birch!" the girl greeted back with a respectful bow. "I came here to accompany my brother Max, since it's his moment to choose his first Pokemon."
"Oh,you're right! Since Max turned ten just recently, that means it's his time to receive a starter!" the scientist answered, turning to the boy a moment later. "Welcome, Max! So... have you already decided on a Pokemon to choose?"
"Good day, professor Birch... actually, I'm still not sure about that!" said Max, eyeing the Pokeballs on the table. Several kids had already made their choice, and had made way for the remaining ones. "I need a moment to think it over..."
"No problem, take all the time you need. Nobody is pressuring you." Birch answered. "See, that's the line for those who will choose Torchic, then there's the line of the Treeckos and finally, the one for the Mudkips. Take your time to make a choice."
Max placed himsef in front of the Pokeball table and looked at the three lines of Pokeballs in front of him. For a moment, his eyes fell on the Treecko line, remembering what he had said some time earlier... but now, he was not that convinced any more. Then, almost distractedly, he looked at the Mudkip line and stood there for a few seconds, as other aspiring trainers made their choice. A few seconds more...
Finally, after thinking about it a little more, the bespectacled boy reached forward and took a Pokeball containing a Mudkip. "Okay, professor Birch! I'm choosing this one!" he proclaimed. "I'll take Mudkip as my starter!"
"Good! Quite a popular choice, I have to say..." Birch affirmed. "I'm sure it will be a great Pokemon for you! Why don't you try letting him out of the Pokeball and talking to him a little?"
"Of course!" Max answered, looking for a place where he could let his very first Pokemon out. Then, he activated his Pokeball with the same gesture he had seen Ash, Brock and his sister do so many times...
And a red beam of light came out of the Pokeball, letting the Pokemon appear: it was a funny-looking blue-skinned creature looking like a weird cross between a fish and a frog, with a somewhat overlarge head, a mouth that almost split his head in two, and orange star-shaped gills on his cheeks. His rotund head was surmouned by a large fin, and his tail was wide and flat, like a fish's. He had four short paws, and his azure colour became more intense on his belly and his lower jaw. He had a joyous, playful expression, and his eyes, who looked like a pair of coffee grains, were looking at his trainer with curiosity. With a kind smile, Max reached to his new Pokemon and petted him on his head, introducing himself.
"Hey! Hello, Mudkip!" he said. "Looks like we'll be partners from now on! I'm sure... we'll really get along with each other! What about it? Would you like to be friends with me?"
For a second, the small creature looked at his newfound trainer, as if wanting to burn his trainer's image in his mind... then, he started rubbing affectionately on his hand, like a kitten. Max chuckled and ran his hand on Mudkip's head.
"He looks like he's really cool with the idea, huh, Max?" May commented, reaching down and scratching Mudkip behind his head. "Hi, Mudkip! You know you're really cute?"
"Mudkip!" the Water Pokemon answered, opening his gills just a little. He looked somewhat embarassed by all the attention he was getting, and backed away a little from the girl.
"C'mon, sis, don't you see you're embarassing him? Be a little more delicate, won't you?" Max said, placing his hands protectively in front of his Mudkip. Professor Birch chuckled good-naturedly and gave a friendly tap on the shoulder to the glasses-wearing boy.
"Very well! I can see you and your Pokemon are already becoming friends, and that's a good start!" the researched said. "Now, Max, why don't you try taking your Mudkip for a stroll around? You know, just to make sure he gets accustomized to you..."
"Mudkip?" the smalll Pokemon asked, tilting his head, as Max raised his head and nodded.
"Yes, Professor Birch! You'll see, I'll be the best trainer I can be for Mudkip!" the newly-ordered trainer affirmed, holding his Pokemon in his arms. "Thank you... and I can ensure you I'll do my best!"
"And I will try to help my little brother as much as I can!" May answered. "Okay, I might not be the best teacher around... but I'll do all I can!"
"That's great, kids! I'm pleased to see you're that motivated!" the professor concluded. "Noww, you three, try to get along with each other... and I hope to receive news about you soon! Good luck, Max... I kinda have a hunch you and your Mudkip will be an unbeatable duo!"
"Thanks, Professor... we won't disappoint you!" Max answered, bowing as he an his sister took their leave. Even the last remaining trainers were choosing their starters, and some of them were standing in a line near Birch to ask him questions, so May and Max decided to make way for them and head to their first destination... the prairies around Littleroot Town, where Max could have started gaining confidence and experience with his starter Pokemon. "Okay, Mudkip, how about it? We could start by having a stroll together and getting to know each other better, what about it?"
The small Pokemon smiled and nodded in excitement! "Mud! Kip!" he chirped happily.
May couldn't help but smile to herself. At the very least, Max's Pokemon journey was off to a good start...
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"Really, girls, you didn't have to accompany me this far... I mean, you've got your job as Gym Leaders, after all, and I'm sorry for wasting your time." Zoey thanked as she dropped her backpack, standing in the line of people waiting for the ferry to Hoenn, the continent she wanted to continue her training journey in. Her two friends, Candice and Maylene, were with her, having travelled with her until the Canalave Town port to give her a proper goodbye. Still, Zoey felt a little guilty about her friends doing all that for her...
"Oh, don't worry about that, Zoey! It's no biggie, really!" Candice answered, waving her hands in front of her. "It was all a pleasure for us... and Candice could afford to leave her Gym for a while, anyway!"
"Right! It was no problem to us! After all, you are our friend, and we thought it was only right that we come to say goodbye to you!" Maylene answered.
Zoey chuckled a little at Candice's strange habit of talking about herself in third person. "Well, when you put it this way... anyway, I have to thank you for having accompained me here... and for the party you set up for me!"
"That was a pleasure as well!" Maylene answered, placing her hands behind her head. "Sure, it's too bad you didn't place first, but you came so close to that and you did so well that it's almost the same thing!"
"Thanks, girls! I'm gonna miss you when I'm there in Hoenn..." the redhead coordinator said, giving both Candice and Maylene an high-five. "Well, guess there will soon be the last passenger call for the ship, so... guess we'd better say goodbye now, don't you think so?"
"Yeah..." Candice answered, toying with one of her black pigtails. She was trying not to show how sad she was about her friend going away... "Candice just wants to say... Zoey, take care of yourself, and call us, from time to time!"
"We'll be waiting for news from you!" Maylene concluded. Zoey nodded, giving a thumbs-up to the pink-haired martial artist... and just then, an announcement was made from Canalave Port's speakers.
But, much to everybody's surprise, it wasn't the last call for the passengers boarding the ship to Hoenn...
"ATTENTION. ATTENTION. TO ALL PASSENGERS ABOUT TO BOARD THE SHIP TO HOENN, DOCK 6. WE REGRET TO TELL YOU THAT, FOR MOTIVES NOT DEPENDANT ON OUR WILL, WE ARE FORCED TO CANCEL THE JOURNEY."
The three girls widened their eyes in surprise. "What? What's this all about? We heard nothing of this until now..." Candice exclaimed... and, as if he had heard her disappointment, the speaker went on.
"WE HAVE JUST NOW RECEIVED A REPORT ABOUT AN EXTREMELY VIOLENT SEA STORM WHICH SUDDENTLY VERIFIED IN THE OCEAN BETWEEN SINNOH AND HOENN. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO BUILDUP NOR WARNING, AND IT WAS THOUGHT MORE PRUDENT TO SUSPEND ALL DEPARTURES TO HOENN. THE SHIP TO HOENN IS THEREFORE POSTPONED TO TOMORROW EVENING, AT THE SAME HOUR. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE, AND WE'LL TRY TO REMEDY THIS AS SOON AS WE CAN. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION."
"What? A storm so violent they've decided to interrupt all sea travel to Hoenn?" Zoey asked herself as she took a look to the enormous passenger ship. It looked quite sturdy and resistant, which made Zoey wonder just how bad this storm was, if the company didn't even trust such a ship to brave the seas. "And... it built itself up in so little time? That's strange... not even the weather service could see that coming?"
"Candice... doesn't have the foggiest idea, Zoey, it all sounds strange to her as well." a perplexed Candice answered, as the passengers began walking away, murmuring unhappily. "After all, Candice lives in a place where weather is somewhat mutable, and I know a thing or two about when weather changes... so I don't see how they could not predict that!"
"And now... what to do, Zoey?" Maylene asked.
Zoey shrugged, accepting there was not much to do. "Well, not much, actually. I'll stay here, take a room in a hotel, and tomorrow morning I'm getting back here." the redhead answered. "You two can start going back home if you want, I'm definitely not going to hold you here."
"But we are the ones wanting to stay here with you, Zoey! We're not leaving you alone!" Maylene exclaimed, clenching a fist in front of her.
Candice giggled and gave her answer. "Candice agrees with Maylene. We've only been away for a few days, and one more won't make any difference!" she said. "And, while we're at it, we can take a look around, all together! It's such a bore to stay here alone!"
"Actually, I don't really mind... but I really appreciate the thought! Thanks a lot, girls!" Zoey answered. "Okay... since I'm not going anywhere for the day, what do you propose to do?"
"Why don't we take a look around for some cute little shop?" Candice proposed, smiling like a happy child. "Canalave City is not the biggest city in Sinnoh, that's true, but there are quite a few nice shops around here! And if we find some nice dress, we can see about buying it! What about it, Maylene, wouldn't you like it?"
"Candice, you know I'm not into dresses... or such things!" the small pink-haired Gym Leader answered, looking somewhat alarmed. She was still wearing her usual blue sweater with baggy long pants. "You know I'm okay with my training suit!"
The Ice Pokemon expert wanted nothing of this, though. With an almost too enthusiastic smile, she grabbed her friend by the arm and began dragging her away from the deck, holding her in a grip from which even the young martial artist found it difficult to wriggle free from! "Oh no, little Maylene, you don't palm me off with that excuse! Heheheee... you already used it too many times already, and Candice will not fall for that again!" she said, giggling almost sadistically! Whenever either fashion or Pokemon battles were brought up, Candice could get quite hotblooded, ironically enough. "So, you're now coming with us and trying a few dresses like all the girls in this world do! And you might even choose a nice little pair of shoes, huh?"
A pair of comical streams of tears came down from Maylene's eyes, as she tried and failed to get away from Candice's grab! "Noooo! Not shoes, you know I hate theeeem!" she protested.
"Oh, quit whining, lil' Maylene! You can do a little sacrifice from time to time for your friends, can't you?" Candice giggled. Zoey simply stood there, watching her friends jokingly quarrel with each other... and then chuckled herself, picked up her backpack and shook her head, following after them and thanking fate for giving her friends such as those two. Apart from them and Dawn, there weren't many people Zoey could really call friends...
"Seriously, girls... what does one have to do with you?" the red-headed coordinator sighed.
Farther in the line, a pretty little girl with peach-colored hair done in a pair of spiral-like curls at the sides of her head, with a snobbish and somewhat arrogant expression on her face, sighed angrily as she retrieved her own backpack. That really was bad luck, Ursula thought as she went back on her way... just when she was about to depart to Hoenn, this happened and she was forcedto stay there. And to think this would have been a great chance to see another continent's coordinators and get more training.
"Hmph... that can't be helped, I guess..." the pretty coordinator grumbled, twirling one of her peach-colored curls on the fingers of her right hand. "I don't like waiting, but I don't have much of a choice either... well, now that I'm stuck here, what am I supposed to do?"
Sighing angrily, Ursula sat down on a bench and opened up the guidebook she had brought with her. As she looked at the pages, flipping them with her index finger, the young coordinator was trying to think of a way to pass the time until the next morning, when hopefully she could board the ferry... and, much to her disappointment, she found nothing of interest. "Meh... such bad luck, being stuck in such a boring city. I guess it would be too much to ask for something interesting to see, huh? Whatever... I'll go back to the hotel, and see if I can train my Pokemon a little..."
Ursula placed her backpack on her shoulders and headed towards the exit of the port, zigzagging among the crowd. She was feeling like she was out of place, there... with all those people quickly walking beside her, without paying attention to what happened around them, Ursula felt like she was the only one really trying to mind where she was going. After all, she thought with a shrug, that was nothing new... she had always felt somewhat superior to most of the people around her, only allowing a select few to get to know her personally...
The young girl frowned, surprised at what she was doing. Since whendid she stop and think about her attitude and the way she looked at others? She sighed and shook her head, realizing that she was more prone to stopping and thinking, after being defeated at the Sinnoh Grand Festival. Maybe it was because she had more time to actually stop and reflect? Still, she decided that it was just not worth it to be sitting there and sulk about it wouldn't have done her any good, and decided to go back to her hotel room. The next day would be a better day... or at least, that's what she was hoping, not knowing how much her life would be changed in a short while.
Along with the lives of many others...
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Still, somewhere else, other plans were being drawn up, of a much more sinister nature. In a richly furnished office, in Viridian City's biggest and most luxurious estate, a man wih a cold and ruthless demeanor, harsh features and short, neatly-combed black hair was reading a bunch of reports from his informants around the world, while petting a beautiful, purring Persian laying nearby, whose tail was slowly moving back and forth in contentment. Giovanni, the mysterious leader of team Rocket and quite possibly the richest man in Kanto, could see once more that having an organized network of spies in all of the world's continents, maintainted through undercover operation and careful manipulations and movements of money, had a lot of perks... not the least of which, being able to regularly get a list of potential recruits with which to swell the numbers of his organization. Recently, after staying inactive and undercover for awhile, Team Rocket could now come back, with even more abundance of both money and personnel... and now, Giovanni knew that the time was right for them to make their move!
"Very well... despite those three idiots failing time and again, the remainder of my organization keeps working well!" he said to himself. "It looks like I'll be buried in a lot more work for a while, but it will be worth it in the end! On that topic, I should check if she's back..."
Giovanni pushed a button on his left, activating a communication line from which a female voice was heard, though slightly distorted by the device. "Yes, sir... please, tell me, is anything the matter?"
"No problem at all, miss." the rich businessman answered. "I just wanted to ask whether Domino has come back from her latest assignment."
"She has, sir... about one hour ago, in fact." the voice answered. "I was just about to call you about her return to the base. Do you wish for her to be sent to your office, right now?"
"No, thanks... I just wanted to know if she's available." Giovanni answered, smirking to himself once more. "Just tell her to be ready for my call, as I suspect I will need her services soon."
"Very well, sir... we will communicate that to her at once." the female voice answered. With a nod, Giovanni pushed the button again and ended the conversation, once again returning to his papers. The head of Team Rocket had a feeling things could not be going better at the moment... it was finally time to make their move!
"Excellent... soon enough, Team Rocket will show the world a true demonstration of power!" he told himself, still stroking his spoiled Persian's fur, causing the cat Pokemon to meow in satisfaction. "We just need to be patient... and we will finally reap the fruit of all our hard work!"
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TO BE CONTINUED
Hehehee... yeah, so it seems that there are a few people out there who do not have the best interests of humans and Pokemon in mind. And we've seen a familiar face pretty much come back from the dead! Or was she, after all? It all will be slowly revealed in future chapters, so bear with me a little, and you will get all the answers!
As for Max... well, I thought it was high time for him to start his Pokemon journey as well! I, for one, am not a fan of keeping Ash as a 10-year-old throughout the series, so in this story you will at least get a feeling of passing time.
That's pretty much it for now... next chapter, the plot will start thickening, with Legendary Pokemon on the line, and rival criminal teams on the move! I will be updating this story after the 5th of January, as I will be going on vacation soon, and I won't be able to write for a while... but as soon as I'm back, both this story and my Super Robot Wars story will be updated at a much faster pace, hopefully!
That's it for now! Ciao! And please, review!
Lily