Chapter 4: A Hint of Doomed History

For some reason, Pokémon Master Cynthia knew Rushuna. Rushuna was titled Grenadier, which to her opinion was the Smiling Enlightened. The master and gunslinger gazed each other down, the others watched wondering if they've placed themselves in harm's way by siding with her. Even two adults wearing chef's hats: a blood redhead female and a dull blue-haired male. "Leave it to Cynthia to really sprinkle the suspense with the twerp and his friends," the male hiccuped to the redhead. The two seemed fearful about more than Cynthia, considering Rushuna's use with a sidearm.

"I'd be more worried about the living fossil and the gun that she carries," she motioned. No argument on that. "If she has the same feelings for Pokémon as the twerp, Team Rocket could be considered dead meat and full of lead." Maybe the two were really paranoid about Rushuna's piece.

"Hey, easy on the feelings, Jessie. You're making me feel scared." Jessie showed a scowl to her friend, acting like a wanted criminal on the run.

"Well, the only way to know is to see how she does with J. You've heard the latest, right?" The man bobbed a nod before diving back through. It would seem that this J may be an obstacle for Rushuna to prove her worth. With the rest, they were trying to puzzle the issue with Rushuna being the Grenadier.

"Cynthia, how do you know Rushuna so well?" Brock wondered. Slyly, Rushuna sat on Ash's lap and snatched a bread stick. Ash had to be feeling outrageously lucky with Rushuna, then Cynthia. Dawn wasn't sure how act. The master on her protege? Anyone say jealousy with flair?

"You might wanna open your minds for this," she smirked. "Rushuna, does the name Mikan Aizen sound familiar." Rushuna knew a Mikan but was it the kid that she got separated from?

"Balloon Maker Mikan?" she guessed. A deep smile brightened, meaning that Rushuna was on the money.

"I thought there was history involving you and I was right. It just so happens that I found a documentary about the legendary battle through a book with her as the author." Cynthia knew her through a historic book? That would make some sense.

"Cynthia, is there anything about Rushuna that's dangerous?" Dawn wondered. Somebody should ask if Cynthia had any right to sit on Ash.

"I understand what you're asking. When she was frozen, there was a war between factions and Pokémon had gone into either hiding or migrated south. One character that made quite a difference was Rushuna herself. Despite being a crack shot with her revolver, every shot was a neutral shot, meaning that the bullets she fired struck a nerve, preventing significant injury or death. Not one life was taken when she fought. When she rescued Empress Tenshi, she was bequeathed the title of Grenadier, originally meaning the mightiest of the Enlightened by Setsuna. That was changed to the smiling Enlightened as she claimed." No deaths. They twisted their eyes to Rushuna who was smiling, not a big deal to her.

"I hate to say it but Cynthia's right," she giggled. Brock, Dawn and Pikachu sighed in relief. She was harmless. As for Ash...

'My feet are falling asleep,' he wanted to complain. Well, his feet were losing feeling. Even Dawn had to get mercy for Ash.

"Well now that's settled, I've got another question," she rose. "Why are you sitting on Ash's lap like you're a child to Santa Claus?" For sure, it's not Christmas time.

"He's got a comfy lap, other than that something stiffening between my cheeks." Ash, you...you...you horny kid! "The other reason I stopped by is that I've received Intel about Pokémon Hunter J was in the area with another catch and hooked up with a potential fat cat who wanted to pay big bucks for her capture." The group became highly fascinated with this news. It meant that evil was afoot.

"Do you know where the trade will take place?" Ash questioned. Still with her trademark smirk, Cynthia turned to Ash with that answer. Though, no one expected the flirting master to playfully scratch his chin and leaning in like she was going to kiss him.

"Of course, problem solver. It's by the mountains which is an hour from here." She turned back to Rushuna. What for? "The same mountains where the Grenadier made her snowy plunge." So, Rushuna was going back to where she was believed to have died. After eating, the group made their way out to where Hunter J was going to make her deal. As they proceeded to the site, Brock, Dawn and Pikachu remained in the back, trying to keep their composure. Why? Ash was the meat between two blond bumpy pieces of bread. Cynthia and Rushuna stayed pretty close to Ash who had to be feeling really lucky. Brock noticed that Dawn was acting rather offended to the sight.

"You're jealous, aren't you?" Brock pondered. Dawn froze before jerking to the brunette.

"On what allegation makes you think that I'm jealous?" she stammered. That sounded like jealousy.

"Well, you didn't take a liking to how Cynthia was acting to Ash." If Dawn wasn't jealous before, the steam billowing from her ears sure sounded like it.

"I'm not jealous!" Stomping off, Dawn's anger had boiled over. Brock followed, his jealousy showing as well.

'Ash better keep his pants on for my sake!' Along the path, Ash, Rushuna, Cynthia and Pikachu ceased the trip when they saw a wooden cross. Was this supposedly Rushuna's cross?

"It was mentioned that the legendary Tiger of the Rearguard believed you had died, he set up a cross and gave a quick prayer while the bandits kept their guns pointed at Mikan, not allowing to give the Tiger a chance to escape," Cynthia explained. Rushuna knelt down, palming the small memorial of her. Tears began to trickle down her face, only imagining the cruelty that Yajiro and Mikan had to endure.

"Yatchan," she teared. What could have happened to Yajiro and Mikan?

"Cynthia, what became the fates of Rushuna's friends?" Ash asked. Cynthia took a deep breath. This couldn't be good.

"Well, the bandits had escorted Tiger and Mikan to a hideout that was suppose to be out of view," Cynthia began once more. "They tortured Tiger until he succumbed to the pain. With the Tiger out of the way, they went after Mikan to rape, sodomize, anything that would make Mikan useless. All they managed to remove were her clothes when a different piece of fabric tore through the bandits like running backs bursting through a pile at the line of scrimmage in a football game. It turned out that the rescuer was another Enlightened named Teppa Aizen, whom Mikan married a few years later." Hearing the tale was too much for Rushuna to bear. Tears rained harder to the ground as she dove into Ash's chest. Gracefully, Ash caressed her in a hug as Dawn and Brock arrived. Seeing the cross, Dawn had a pretty good idea on what story was told.

"Poor kid," she muttered.

"Rushuna, listen," Ash whispered. Tears running still, Rushuna gazed at Ash. "When we get a Celebi, you can fix this. I know you can." Faith was about to be renewed. Rushuna wiped her face clean of the waterworks, trusting Ash's word. Both rose to their feet, ready to find a Celebi to take Rushuna back. Cynthia was amused with how Ash was able to ease Rushuna's discomfort.

"You and I are alike, Ash," she huffed a chuckle. "We seek ways to ease the troubling hearts of those who desire happiness the hard way." Ash knew Cynthia was right. No matter what the problem was, Ash could be there to ease the pain. Suddenly, there were sounds of engines. Everyone looked up, seeing a tan airship. They hid as the airship hovered over them, unable to be spotted.

"The 2:05 is right on time," Brock joked. The airship sailed overhead. Passed, the group emerged, ready to trail the action. In a few minutes, the ship located an open area within the trees. Also waiting there, an obese middle-aged brunette in an oversize tuxedo was smoking a stogie, an iron suitcase by his side. The airship landed as the group dove for the shrubs. Ash, Cynthia and Rushuna peered over the shrubs as the latch door opened from the airship. As they viewed the scene, Dawn's hand snagged Ash's head, pulling him down. Ash jerked to see a scowling Dawn, wondering what her beef was. The other females watched as a white-haired woman in a heavy blue trench coat descended the steps. She also bore a high-tech pair of goggles as a few men trailed her, carrying a storage unit with a bronze pixie-like creature frozen inside...each of these units. Three pixies for this trip?

"If she was a real trainer and not a hunter, she'd use those Celebi properly," Dawn pointed out. Rushuna couldn't believe her eyes. That would be her ticket home. All she needed to do was free one and use it to save Yajiro and Mikan from the bandits.

"Ah, Hunter J," the obese pig, back at the trading scene, cackled. "I didn't expect a three-fer of Celebi. You really are an amazing force." The woman didn't act in celebration. Her cold demeanor was on business.

"You've got the money?" she ordered. The fat man summoned one of his escorts to hand the suitcase to J. As soon as J received the case, she opened it up. Needless to say, she wasn't satisfied. "You know, this only covers the incentive." She prepped a hard bargain. Even the businessman was a bit dumbfounded with her response.

"What do you mean only the incentive? I'm only purchasing one to boost sales in the right direction." Greed...it's shamed.

"I do my sales based on rarity and mass. You should know how rare it is to capture a Celebi, less three." Ash bobbed nods, agreeing with the hunter. That's when, without warning...

"What's going on here?!" a scowling shout shattered the argument. All turned to see a young man with lavender hair and blue spring wear stepped out with a beast of a yellow creature. Ash was surprised...but seethed at him. Cynthia glared at him. Brock and Dawn merely were stunned. Rushuna? She had to wonder why everyone was a little displeased with the new boy.

"Of all the bystanders, why does it have to be Paul?" Ash growled. Cynthia took notice on the yellow beast, thinking that his area had been violated.

"He's training," she theorized. "Made sense with his Electabuzz out." Still intent with why Paul just happened to be there, Ash figured that meeting Paul or J each was a tough task. Together? Could the trainers and the legendary Grenadier save the Celebi? Could Paul disrupt or aid Ash, despite Ash's feelings toward the still scorned youngster? Rushuna had her hand on her revolver. Action was moments away.

TO BE CONTINUED...