True Identity

Each tick felt like another heartbeat to death as the clock moved closer to midnight; clouds had covered the glimmering moon outside. It had been a hard sprint from the middle of Route 101 to reach Oldale Town, but Rod had managed to carry the injured Nidoran safely into the arms of Nurse Joy. Forrest had immediately headed to the police to return the two stolen Starter Pokemon to Professor Birch, but he had returned soon after before slumping into one of the chairs in the lobby. Exhaustion had taken its toll on them both after a few hard days, and not even the comfortable cabin on the S.S. Tidal was enough to give them a long enough sleep. Rod had ran over the events of the previous day constantly in his mind, and many conclusions had appeared as a result of them. Standing up, he paced the empty lobby with Forrest's snores echoing around with the red EMERGENCY sign in the back still flashing red. It had been nearly two hours with no response from Nurse Joy or her Chansey.

There were many types of trainers in the world, and Rod had to learn the hard way that not all of them would treat Pokemon with total respect. Chris seemed so out of the ordinary and angry at something that his Pokemon would suffer in order to listen to his commands. It just didn't seem like the best way to raise friends and partners, but why was this dwelling on his mind so much? Glancing over at the Emergency Room towards the side of the Pokemon Centre desk, a sudden array of emotions hit him as he remembered Nidoran staring at him during and after the battle. He felt a connection, and could feel its pain and agony of betrayal, but it wasn't his Pokemon and would have to find a new home. Even his own Pokemon had noticed something was wrong, a mixture of twisted emotions, when they were being fed by their trainer early. Rod wanted to stop Chris from every becoming a successful trainer, with his barbaric ways and cruel treatment. Nidoran deserved better, and Rod wanted to be its trainer to allow it to reach its potential and true strength. In addition, Nidoran were very common in the Kanto Region and he had seen multiple whilst growing up.

Forrest twisted in the chair, his snores increasing in frequency as Rod tried to ignore them. The Emergency Sign was still alight behind, and he decided to leave the lobby area into the outside world. It was getting much later in the night and Hoenn felt so quite, but scarily unknowing about the underground danger that could approach. Could the thieves who stole the Pokemon in Littleroot Town really be part of something much larger, and did Officer Jenny even know much about it. Walking around the perimeter of the Pokemon Centre, he kicked a few random rocks and twigs aside as the Pokeballs in his pocket moved slightly. He needed to get some advice over the current situation, and Professor Oak was not available to take calls at the time. Who would be his mentor when things got difficult?

Sitting on the cool grass, Rod gazed at the starry sky above as movement suddenly appeared at the corner of his eye. Rolling back onto one leg a figure emerged from the surrounding trees, his brown hair swaying to one side under the moonlight as his backpack cast a large shadow in front. Recognising who this was immediately, Rod gasped, "Damon? Is that you?

The Pokemon Centre lights caught his face as Rod's question was answered immediately, and the response was one of surprise, "Oh? It's...erm, Rod, isn't it? We met back in the Kanto Region."

They shook hands softly as Rod looked him up and down and sense brand new clothing and travelling gear, Damon had just arrived in Hoenn for sure. "I didn't know you were coming to Hoenn! It's good you left Kanto though, Team Rocket are really wrecking it."

Rod spoke with casualness, trying to get a response from the trainer whom he battled first after leaving Viridian City. However, Damon's response seemed mixed with tiredness and ignorance, "Team Rocket? I think you have larger things to worry about."

Damon nodded before walking past Rod, his eyes trailing away as he entered the Pokemon Centre, the glass doors sliding open again. He seemed so different, and even though it was late, Rod had expected a much nicer response after how humble he had been back in Kanto. Moving quickly, Rod jogged after him and re-entered the lobby as Damon took a seat across from the snoring Forrest. He spoke again, trying to make out who this trainer really was, "So what brings you to Oldale Town, Damon?"

"Business." Damon didn't even look up to respond as he placed a hiking bag to one side and six Pokeballs onto the wooden table in front. He glanced at them, as if examining each one carefully, before realising Rod wanted a more detailed answer. "Just stay out of trouble, okay?"

Confused, Rod sat down across from him and gestured nervously at the Emergency Sign as it still flashed red and white. Nidoran would have been in there for nearly three hours soon, and Rod spoke, "I battled a trainer yesterday who abused his Pokemon, and abandoned a Nidoran which we brought here."

"Nidoran? Would be a very useful Pokemon to have."

"You think?"

Damon stroked his chin before taking out his own Pokedex and examining it before leaning over the table and showing the screen. He explained as an image of Nidoran appeared, "Nidoran evolved to Nidorino and then requires a Moon Stone to go further into a Nidoking, assuming it is male."

Rod looked at the animation, taking it in, as a Nidoking appeared along with general movesets and strength levels. It's power was incredible and full of different types of attacks that it could learn; a true powerhouse of the Pokemon World. Nodding, Rod exclaimed, "I'd love to train a Nidoking one day, but this Nidoran isn't mine yet."

"You're a good trainer, Rod. I think you should raise this Nidoran, and I'll give you this to help." Damon reached into his hiking bag, which to Rod's surprise didn't seem very full at all, as he rummaged through clothing and different potions. Eventually, Damon prised something from the bottom as he lifted it above him, shining in the light. It looked like a small pebble you could find on the ground as he placed it on the table to Rod. "Do you know what this is?"

Before Rod could reply, Forrest's voice cut between them both as they jumped, "A Moon Stone. Where did you get one of those?"

Forrest wiped his eyes and brushed his hair away as he bent down and examined the small stone, looking at it closely. Rod had heard of particular evolutionary stones in the past, and how some could allow Pokemon to evolve and get stronger. They were rare though, and normally sold on the black market, but here Damon seemed to have a legitimate stone. Damon responded, leaning back, "I won it in a battle a few months back, but I have no need for it. That Nidoran will want to evolve one day, and so give it that Moon Stone."

Rod held the stone in his hand, feeling significant weight as he felt the smooth edges of it. Forrest asked curiously, "Your Damon aren't you? We had a Gym Battle back in Kanto."

Damon looked up and smiled nervously as he responded, "You have a hard Gym, Forrest, but I see you've taken some time off to travel. Probably best after...Team Rocket."

"You actually missed the whole event by a day, you were lucky."

Rod began to understand their connection, but none of them seemed to want to talk about the battle at all. In fact Forrest seemed to be evading the conversation about whether Damon had managed to defeat him, and the same vice versa. He continued to listen in, trying to work them out, before placing the Moon Stone back down. If Nidoran did want to get stronger then Rod wanted to take it to that level, but he had to earn its trust first. As Forrest took a seat next to him, continuing their conversation about the Pewter City incident, Rod excused himself and walked towards the Emergency Room as the light finally flickered off. Ignoring the wait for Nurse Joy to come out, Rod pushed the door open and made his way down the brightly lit corridor with the chants of Chansey in each room he passed. Looking quickly into each one, the final room had the faint cries of a Nidoran as he ran in quickly.

Nurse Joy turned around, a smile greeting him, as she exclaimed, "This Nidoran is looking stronger than ever. The bruises have finally gone away. It's good you got it here so quickly."

Rod sighed with relief as Nidoran turned over and looked up with its horn pointing sharply into the air. Bending down to the same level, Rod smiled and adjusted his headband quickly, "Good to hear you feel better Nidoran. I am sorry about your trainer."

Nidoran looked so hurt and emotionally damaged as it lay back down with tears appearing from its eyes. Nurse Joy looked at it sympathetically before responding, "This Nidoran needs a proper good trainer that can give it attention. From what I've seen of you, Rod, I think you should take care of it."

The Poison Pin Pokemon looked up at Rod as they caught eyes, and he felt a familiar connection from within him. It was almost as if they could read each others mind, and Rod took an empty Pokeball out of his pocket. Placing it down on the soft bed, shining from the light above, Rod looked down and spoke with sincerity in his voice, "Nidoran...I would love to be your trainer. I think you're really strong, and I'd love to help you get even more powerful. But you have to make that decision."

Nurse Joy nodded approvingly as Rod left the room and Nidoran behind as he followed the winding corridor back into the lobby area. He felt his other Pokeballs vibrating in his pocket, almost knowing that they may have a new friend to join them, and knew that Nidoran would make the best decision for itself. Damon and Forrest were still amidst conversation when he returned, the creaking Emergency Room doors, alerting them to his presence once again.

Forrest stood up and asked, wiping his eyes again, "How is Nidoran? What is going to happen with it?"

Damon seemed to already know the answer as he stood up, and Rod replied with a weak smile, "I told it that I want to be it's trainer, but it has to make that decision itself. We'll see in the morning, but it has recovered so quickly!"

Forrest seemed to understand immediately, and patted Rod on his back to show admiration for his maturity with the matter. Rod was never going to force this Pokemon to do anything it didn't want to, but he was determined not to give it the Moon Stone, or even mention it, until much later down the track. If Nidoran wanted to travel with him, then he had to be willing to help the cause along with furthering its own. A Nidoking would be tremendously strong to have on a Pokemon team, but it was a long way off and Rod had a lot of work to do with his other Pokemon as well.

Something began to vibrate loudly as Damon coughed and took out a small transceiver, a device Rod had seen many people have, however his was part of a Pokedex. Rod looked at the dark colour and different model to the one he had himself, and instantly began to wonder where Damon had begun his journey, and how far he had come. Damon glanced at it, before his face became very serious and walked away, and outside, of the Pokemon Centre as the early morning darkness continued to overwhelm the world. Rod and Forrest watched him walk away as they returned to their seating area with tiredness taking over once again. Rod slumped over to one side, resting his eyes before the powerful waves of dreams entered his mind...

…

Damon answered the call quickly, instantly recognising the number that had appeared on the screen. He had been expecting the call for over an hour now, and Oldale Town was finally prepared to enter the first phase of chaos and destruction. Agent Proton had managed to evade the Police back in Littleroot Town, and already had reached the rendezvous point at the Oldale Ruins perched only ten minutes away from the Pokemon Centre. During the day you could see them easily from the hill above, but at night you could move without anyone suspecting a thing. Damon listened to the work completed and his mind expanded into how to take things forward. They had only managed to steal one of the targeted Pokemon, and Giovanni would not find that acceptable, but the whereabouts of the other two had remained unknown. Ignoring it, he knew that there was more important factors of the plan, and the Oldale Ruins remained key to discovering the power behind the Team Rocket Leader.

Damon muttered, gazing at Giovanni's darkened silhouette on the transceiver, "I need a picture of Blue's son for reference, Giovanni, or else I cannot catch him. Also, the Oldale Ruins are far more important for our cause over here.

The Team Rocket Leader immediately displayed an image of the boy on the screen as Damon gasped, looking at it closely, his mind truly mixed. It was an identical image of Rod who was resting only metres behind in the Pokemon Centre. Forcing himself to keep calm, and breathing softly, Giovanni responded with a sneer, "If you see Rod, Blue's son, you have to take him out and bring him to me. Go to the Ruins and meet with Agent Proton, and being the first plan for Hoenn. I cannot keep babysitting you, Damon!"

"Agreed Giovanni, I will begin the first phase for Hoenn." Giovanni hung up, the screen darkening as Damon looked at the ground with a slight breeze. This boy could not possibly be Blue's son, and even though they had the same name, Damon had expected someone completely different. The more he gazed at the image, the more the resemblance to Blue appeared, but could Giovanni be wrong? Damon turned around and looked at the sleeping Rod as he snored peacefully, but his body would not act as commanded. It would be easy to storm in, Pokemon at the ready, and take Rod away from his life and journey, but that would be heartbreaking. Giovanni wouldn't have to know they had contact already, and Damon simply had to play the part of leading him into the plot. Turning away, Damon began to walk into the shadows of the trees again with the Oldale Ruins only minutes away.

Turning on his transceiver, Damon spoke softly, "Agent Proton, remove the Orb at the ruins. It's time to get our first official plan under way."

"Understood, Damon, but how about the Pokemon stolen from Birch?"

"Send it back to Headquarters, perhaps one of the Grunts will make good use out of it."

The morning sun began to peak over the distant horizon as Damon sprinted through the loose forest with the Oldale Ruins sending vivid shadows over the ground. As soon as the Orb was removed from the ruins, the Hoenn Region would finally know there was a stronger force in the world, and something that would consume them all...

…

Nidoran had made its decision only minutes after Rod had left the room, and after it warped directly into the empty Pokeball, Nurse Joy had walked it out to a sleeping trainer. The morning sun had begun to rise a lot further as she yawned of tiredness, another night of work gone. Smiling weakly at the snoring of both trainers, Joy called her Chansey to get some rest in the rooms upstairs as she stretched out and sat on the chair waiting for the morning visitors to arrive as per normal. Minutes passed and hours soon followed as she began to get more curious with her staff members appearing to nobody visiting the centre. The small Pokemon Centre Cafe remained empty as the cook wandered around aimlessly sending quizzed looks at Nurse Joy as she shrugged. Standing up, adjusting her neat uniform, she walked past the slowly stirring bodies of Rod and Forrest as she entered the front courtyard of the Centre, feeling the slight breeze against her skin, but felt something instantly change. The environment felt different and uneasy, as the breeze felt jagged and sharp, cutting the trees apart with leaves falling. Pokemon seemed to be running from their habitat as bushes moved rapidly, the blue sky merging into a strange tinge of green. There was no sound from Oldale City as it seemed to have become a barren wasteland. Shops, people and noise had vanished from the world, but something large took over the inordinate.

Shooting high above, a large jet of red light seemed to be projecting from the higher hills from Oldale Central as she immediately knew what had happened. The Orb had been removed from Oldale Ruins, the ancient artefact that kept Hoenn at peace through the darkened times had been tampered with. She had read prophecies about the horror that lay within the Ruins, and how the Orb had been granted by a higher being to protect them. The Ruins had been pushed to be removed over the years, but no matter how powerful the demolition, they would not move or falter. But why would someone want this to happen, and what would happen next?

Running back into the Pokemon Centre, Rod awoke with Forrest with the sky erupting into chaos above them. Wiping a bleary eye, Rod felt a Pokeball on his lap as he knew instantly what had happened. Forrest scrambled to his feet and called, "Nurse Joy! What on earth is going on out there?"

Her voice was rushed and panicky as she yelled, "You both have to help me! Oldale Ruins...something has gone wrong! The Orb has been moved!"

Rod asked, confused as to what she meant, "The Orb? What do you mean, what Ruins?"

Nurse Joy pushed all the papers off her desk, her movements one of stress and sadness, as she found her own transceiver and pressed the emergency button on the side. Each one had a small system that would send distress calls, however they were for life-threatening situations, and this seemed to be one of those times. She turned to Rod, running across and gasped, "The Orb keeps Hoenn in balance. There is a monster in the Ruins that threatened these lands centuries ago, and that Orb is what keeps it contained!"

Forrest shook his head and protested, "You are telling us that a monster lives in there, and someone can simply just remove the Orb at will?"

"The Orb is protected by a strange power, but they must have broken it somehow! We have to go there and find out who is responsible, and fix it!"

Adjusting his headband, Rod placed his Pokeballs back into his pocket whilst taking a couple out in his hands. Nodding at Forrest he commanded, "I'll head up there with Forrest. You have to get the authorities, Nurse Joy, and we will stop this from happening."

He had no idea where this confidence came from, but knowing that Nidoran had agreed to join his team gave him power. Feeling it ripple through his body, Rod did not wait for a response from Nurse Joy as he darted out of the Pokemon Centre with Forrest closely following behind. The world seemed dense as the air thickened, leading to heavy beads of sweat already appearing. They had no idea where the Oldale Ruins were, but the large jet of solid red light seemed to indicate its ideal location. Running through the streets, ignoring the Pokemon fleeing and the locked doors, Rod knew there were people here. It all seemed crazy, that something so simple could be tampered with, and the whole of Hoenn could be at threat. He had to learn more, but this was no time to ask too many questions if there was danger and nobody in sight. The doors were locked with scared eyes appearing at the windows, but the Ruins would draw closer soon.

Rod called, throwing two Pokeballs high into the air, "Starly and Fletchling! I need you both to give us some support from the air!"

The Pokeballs exploded into life as his two Flying Type Pokemon appeared, screeching loudly as they stretched their wings in the sun, and followed their trainers instructions. Forrest gasped, as they continued to sprint up the final hill, "Rod we have to be careful! This is a dangerous place now, and god knows what monster lives there."

Rod tried to respond with words of confidence, but everything seemed to turn sideways as he fell. His foot gave way suddenly on the hill with the world shaking now, and his two Pokemon were taken out in one powerful swipe. Forrest yelled as Rod dived to catch his fallen Pokemon with a large silhouette appearing in front of them, the shadow expanding from the sun-ridden background. His face soon appeared to them all as Rod turned over and landed on his front breathing heavily with Pokemon held tightly in his arms.

Damon appeared in front of them, towering over with a furious look in his eyes which burned through the darkness. In front of him a Pokemon, about half his size, stood, glowing white, from the last attack as it prepared for another. Rod was taken aback completely by his appearance here, blocking off the most direct route to the Oldale Ruins as he called, "Damon? What are you doing? The Oldale Ruins are in trouble!"

"Mienshao, use Power-Up Punch. Make sure they do not come closer." Damon ordered, pointing his hand, as the Bi-Pedal Pokemon charged forwards quickly its, what seemed to be, long arms flashing white again as Rod was pushed backwards. Starly and Fletchling hit the ground hard, unconscious, next to him as he struggled to get up. His face stung from the punch as Forrest landed further down the hill as he called out in pain.

Rod looked up, a large bruise being felt on his right cheek, as the Mienshao backflipped back towards its trainer and landed elegantly. Damon called down the hill, an unfamiliar sneer in his voice, "I thought I told you to not get into trouble, Rod. These are the consequences."

"I don't understand! Why are you doing all this?" Rod spat back angrily as he tried to stand up, but his aching limbs kept him grounded. Damon walked past his Pokemon before approaching Rod's level on the hill and aimed a heavy kick towards his face. Flinching, Rod dived to one side as his two Pokemon began to stir from the unexpected attack.

Shaking his head once again, Damon took a step closer and called, "Just give it up. You have a search warrant to have you taken away forever, so feel lucky that I have been so careful."

Things seemed to click in Rod's mind instantly and anger bubbled at the bottom of his stomach as he forced himself back onto his feet. Starly and Fletchling screeched angrily as they landed on their trainers shoulder, ready to get revenge. Rod spat on the ground, blood spiralling out of his mouth, before Damon aimed a punch now. Seeing it coming, Rod palmed it to onside, wincing in pain, his bruises coming to life. Rod replied angrily, allowing emotion to take over his mind, "So you're with Team Rocket, are you? Well why haven't you taken me away then, since there is a search warrant?"

"I'll keep the details to myself, Rod. But you have no future here in Hoenn. Even your own Father jumped ship when Team Rocket showed up!"

Things turned red in Rod's eyes as he yelled, "Starly, use Quick Attack! Fletchling, use Steel Wing!"

Both of them took the air and slashed downwards as Damon responded, "Mienshao, use Swift!"

His Mienshao reacted instantly, jumping in front of its own trainer and released an array of gold stars from its body. Starly was shot down once again, but Fletchling managed to push the attack back, landing a strong Steel Wing. Rod continued the attacks as Starly was returned, but Fletchling seemed to have more fire in the battle. Each attack made powerful contact as Damon began to look worried, and Rod was in no mood to show mercy here. The sky continued to glow red from the light above them all, but still Damon fought back.

Rod commanded one last time, "Fletchling, use Razor Wind! Finish this off!"

The Tiny Robin Pokemon flashed white, and unleashed a shining sheathe of attacks which cut through the air. Mienshao was pushed away, falling a lot easier than Rod had expected, with Damon smiling maliciously behind. Forrest had returned back to the world as he appeared next to Rod, Pokeball drawn and ready to battle. He turned to his friend and called, wiping dirt from his clothes, "Rod, you have to get to the ruins and stop whoever these guys are. I'll deal with Damon."

Understanding the situation, Fletchling took off ahead as Rod ran up the hill, avoiding eye-contact with Damon, as he past him rapidly. There were much more important things in the works than fighting a sadistic person like Damon now, he would fall sometime soon at Rod's hands. The Ruins could now be seen just on top of the hill, but his emotions seemed in tatters. Damon had seemed like a completely innocent before, but now could not be trusted. How many more people would follow the same path? Rod continued to sprint up the hill as the roar of a Steelix wrecked the world behind him as the sky grew darker and darker...