Chapter 6/Final: Somethings Refuse to Change
The body count of those who died: zero.
The body count of serious/critically injured: one. Paul's knee was blown out by a bullet from J. That's assault on a minor which was a big felony. Paramedics were there to cart Paul away from the scene to mend his shot leg.
The body count of those with minor injuries: nine. You had J's client, his chauffeur who brought him there and all seven of J's henchmen. They were all victims to the legendary Grenadier. The police had swarmed the scene and arrested J, still feeling the bite of Pikachu's Thunderbolt, and her goons. Ash, Brock, Cynthia, Dawn and Rushuna were filing reports for the police. The Celebi stayed close to the group, trustful of their safety. "That should do it, Officer Jenny," Rushuna chirped as she capped the officer's pen and handed the clipboard back to the teal-haired in uniform. She viewed the writings of the witnesses, comparing notes.
"Well, all of your descriptions match up," she relayed with a smile. "And with J's rap sheet, she's gonna be locked up for quite some time with her troupe of hunters." This was news to accept among the protected and endangered Pokémon. Dawn was rather inspired to know about how J managed to capture the Celebi.
"I know I'm kinda asking this late, but how was Hunter J able to capture three Celebi when it's hard enough to snag one?" she questioned. Brock knew what she was trying to motion as a Celebi stood on her shoulder.
"Well, Celebi have a way to sense when one of their own is in danger," he informed. "When J caught one, there was a distress rift spanning through time and space and signaled other Celebi to come to one's aid. I think that's why J was fortunate to attain three with the loophole of the signal." To Brock, J had taken advantage of the signal and got three of the Celebi to sell at staggering high prices. Ash remembered seeing a bunch of Celebi himself.
"I remembered something like that back in that one forest in the Johto Region," he spoke up. "Remember, Brock? We were with Misty and Sam in that forest with a Celebi when it died in my arms, only to be revived with the help of other Celebi." Brock nodded to Ash's backtrack.
"That's right. That other hunter was so bent, he didn't view the consequences until after you stopped him." It was one victory humbly remembered. Cynthia and Jenny shared chuckles, humored at the unrelenting force of Ash and his posse.
"Man, all poachers and illegal hunters beware of Ash Ketchum, man of the Pokémon," Jenny joked. Ash giggled too, understanding the concept. After a while, the area was cleared out. Paul was taken to a hospital to get his knee mended and the police had escorted those involved in the bilking to their cruisers. No doubt that they'll be charged with significant felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a minor and extortion. That left Ash, Brock, Cynthia, Dawn, Pikachu and Rushuna, as well as the Celebi, on their own. To Rushuna, the unintended trip to the future was about to end.
"I guess this is it," she sighed. "Yatchan, Mikan, I'm coming." One Celebi gasped that this young woman didn't want to remain with Ash. Speaking of, Ash came forth, not sure if this was the last time they'd see each other.
"You're not gonna stay and have a quick bite?" he wondered. Rushuna shook her head softly, saying that the past was calling for her to return. Yet, she was by Ash, face to face.
"Listen. I came to the future on an accident. The only thing I can do is go back and save Yajiro and Mikan." Ash bobbed, knowing that her actions of going to the past would lead to severe changes. "But I know now that there are people, despite not meeting my empress, who follow her teachings, whether or not they learn by others." That's when she leaned into Ash, pecking him on the cheek. Cynthia kept smiling to the scene of the gunslinger giving Ash a kiss. Pikachu chimed in happiness of the scene. Brock was a bit upset that Ash got some loving and not him. Dawn? What do you think with the puffed-up cheeks and a scowl of discomfort? Rushuna rose up and gazed at Cynthia. "Cynthia, I want you to keep an eye on Ash. He's...gonna need someone who expand the concept like you two." Cynthia would oblige with a nod of her own.
"With all due respect," she agreed. Rushuna nodded before turning to the Celebi trio.
"Are all three of you ready to go?" The Celebi cheered miraculously, wanting to go and rest back in their homes. The four began to glow as Rushuna and Ash shared one last look at each other. That's when the scene flashed. Before long, the flash dimmed to nothing. Ash, Brock, Cynthia and Dawn were ready to embrace the change.
(Hundreds of years in the past)
A flash in the wooded area lit the scene. Rushuna and a Celebi emerged. Where did the other two disappear to? Rushuna petted Celebi, thanking it for her safe delivery back to the past. The Celebi smiled before flying off. Rushuna got to the roadside where her cross would be...except that the sticks were just laying, feet from each other and the side grass. So, she was ahead of the rest. "Those guys should be coming around soon," she predicted. Sure enough, there came the gunmen, escorting Yajiro and Mikan from the mountains. Rushuna hid in the shrubs as they approached the sight. Yajiro, believing that Rushuna had perished from the fall, spotted the two sticks, knowing that Rushuna needed to be praised for her accomplishments.
"What are you doing?" scorned the sumo gunner. "Get moving." Yajiro did move, but it was to the sticks. He turned to the big man, wanting to erect it for Rushuna's sake.
"If it's alright," he began his plea. "I want to make a monument for Rushuna. She was our friend." The big guy started to contemplate such a request. They had no favor upon Rushuna. Though they weren't in any big rush to make their route back to wherever their hideout was. From what Cynthia explained, Yajiro and Mikan were taken to a secret hideout where Yajiro was tortured to death and Mikan was supposedly in the process of being raped and sodomized. Rushuna removed her gun from the holster as she hunkered near the road.
"Fine, but no funny business." To make his point, he jabbed his gun toward Mikan's temple. Yajiro gritted the sudden threat to Mikan's life, but knew that cooperation would be their saving grace. Yajiro tore some of his undershirt off and snagged the sticks. He got to the side of the road, tying the sticks in the form of a cross. Rushuna decided to let Yajiro know that she was here with them.
"Yatchan!" she whispered. Yajiro jerked to the side, thinking it was his gunslinger partner.
"Rushuna?" he guessed. This was no dream, Yajiro. Still keeping a low key, Rushuna plotted a rescue attempt.
"Listen, continue to cooperate with them. I'll launch a surprise." Yajiro heard and agreed with her idea. All Yajiro had to do was stick with them until Rushuna made her move. He planted the cross, now having no meaning. He rose and regrouped with the thugs.
"Final prayers, I presume?" the leader grumbled in agitation. Yajiro nodded. "I respect that you've shown grace for your fallen friend. By now, the snowy mountains should lock her life in a state of ice." Yajiro seethed, but never spoke up...not yet. They proceeded onward. A minute of silence passed, Yajiro planning a bluff. Was that in the game plan?
"You do realize that you've sealed your fate by encountering us and killing off Rushuna, do you?" he tried the blame game. The leader gazed at the Rearguard Tiger, wondering what he was blabbering about. He didn't notice that Rushuna was staying a distance back. Ninja, ninja woman.
"Oh, really? What makes you so confident that you and the girl can be saved?" Yajiro remain compliant and confident with what Rushuna was whipping up.
"When word gets out about Rushuna's death, other senshi will show up and take you all down. You can bet that Touka and Teppa will save us." The leader scoffed at Yajiro, willing to call his bluff.
"I didn't think the Tiger would resort to empty threats. Then again, I can't blame you, considering your kid partner." Another growl vibrated the air. Suddenly, a gunshot. Everyone looked around, wondering who discharged their weapon. No one appeared hit.
"What did I say? I didn't make up the threat. There are plenty of senshi who've allied with us and aren't willing to stand down." Now, it was the leader who scowled at the possible bluff. Mikan wondered if Rushuna was actually alive, despite the fall from the mountains.
"Is it?" she asked herself. Before anyone could ask themselves, one collapsed. He was struck. The gang saw their fallen comrade, knowing that they could be next.
"It couldn't be," the leader gasped and gritted. "She's alive?" The gang started to panic, shuttering and rattling their rifles. More shots! Three more fell to a bullet each. Behind the falling, Rushuna, her revolver aiming at the gang, emerged. Needless to say how excited Mikan was to see her.
"Rushuna!" Yajiro saw that all the attention was over to Rushuna. He needed to make a move. The leader was astonished, though not appreciating, Rushuna's return.
"This is something. You survive a fall from the mountains and confront us with your head held high. Not a lot of people could accomplish all that. Too bad it won't last long." Rushuna held her stance. A horde of money hungry men and her friends were in the middle. Yajiro nodded to Rushuna, saying that he was ready to save Mikan. A quick draw...SLASH! The leader turned to the metal-slicing sounds, watching rifles fall apart. Now, the leader quivered in the legs. He was showing fear. That's the nerve of a coward.
"I order you to relinquish Yajiro and Mikan!" she threw an ultimatum. The leader stood back, behind his men as he kept a solid grip onto Mikan.
"You think you can intimidate me by coming out and shooting my men? Not only are you a fool, but an idiot to suggest that handing over your friends in a snap would be the best solution." Rushuna didn't flinch. Her revolver was kept trained on the leader. "You've died once. I'll make sure that you're buried six feet under and conceal it in concrete." The thugs aimed their firearms back at Rushuna. To Yajiro, a window of opportunity had opened. In a flash, he snagged his sword and...SWISH! He sheathed his sword. Suddenly, the rifles began to fall apart. The rifles were sliced into pieces. The leader became outraged, knowing that his plans were ruined with the return of Rushuna and Yajiro's quick action and freeing Mikan from the arms. He didn't see Rushuna sprint toward him, holding the revolver's cylinder in her hand. The cylinder was reloaded and she had her hand on a knob with the same circular size of the cylinder. When the leader turned to Rushuna, he saw her slap the cylinder onto his armor plating. This wasn't good.
"Zero-Range Target Shot!" Here came the knob. The leader could only watch as his life began to flash. "Full Six-Bullet Impact!" The knob was smashed against the cylinder and caused a major explosion. The armor on the leader was blown to smithereens and he went flying...in nothing more than an adult diaper. That's...pretty disturbing. It wasn't like he would object. He was out like a log. Seeing the fallen leader, the rest decided to hightail themselves from the sight and not because of the jumbo-sized baby's version of underwear. Mikan, happy to see Rushuna in excellent condition, ran up and hugged the Grenadier.
"Rushuna!" she cried in happiness. Rushuna's mood became goodness, eased that the drama that had plauged her since her arctic time travel to meet Ash and learning about Mikan's and Yajiro's fates have ended peacefully. Yajiro approached Rushuna, thankful to see her again, less be rescued by her.
"It's great to see you again, Rushuna," Yajiro smiled. Rushuna was happy to see Yajiro, her Yatchan. She broke slightly free from Mikan's grip and embraced Yajiro in a hug.
"Yatchan..." she gleed. Yajiro was a bit surprised to feel her hug, but continued to enjoy the moment. Rushuna peeled down to embrace Mikan the same way. "Mikan..." All three deserved this reunion. Now came the Q's and A's.
"Rushuna, how did you survive that fall?" Mikan questioned. Rushuna became bashful. Even she couldn't explain without a long-winded story.
"It's...rather complicated to say."
"I bet," Yajiro chuckled. She chose to speak her story of meeting the future and enjoying the Pokémon, including meeting people who had seemed to be descendants to Empress Tenshi. Her tale of the past...or future left shocks on her friends' faces. For a couple of weeks, the three journeyed the lands, spreading Tenshi's teachings and making sure that any wanted fliers about her had been removed. During a rest from their travels, Rushuna was going through a mental stir...yet she never gravitated her cheeks.
"You know, we've been through quite a bit since we all became a team." Yajiro and Mikan, including the Celebi who seemed to have missed Rushuna, denied argument. Mikan was infatuated with Celebi, but opted to input her view.
"To think, you two were supposedly enemies in this godforsaken war," she pointed out. "The samurai who despises guns and the Grenadier who revealed the true spirit of what senshi should be doing." Rushuna and Yajiro knew about where they aligned in the long battle. However, Rushuna felt that there was more than a fateful meeting of the opposites.
"Well, Mikan, the reason I was bringing it up is that...I wanna start a family." Yajiro and Mikan hiccuped at that sound. Celebi? Well, it was joyous of Rushuna's suggestion.
"Rushuna, are you serious?" Yajiro gasped. She gazed up to the sky, knowing that Ash became her inspiration.
"When I met Ash, Brock and Dawn, I saw the same light that Tenshi saw in me. Ash knew that I would be able to save you and show my true feelings. He's...like you without the Rearguard nickname or a sword and knew what to do when cornered." Yajiro knew the feeling of being cornered.
"Hence the nickname Tiger of the Rearguard." The girls and Celebi shared a funny chuckle. Then, Rushuna had an additional thought.
"I was also thinking of sending Mikan to meet the Master in the future with Celebi's help." Mikan became stunned and confused. Rushuna was willing to send her to Ash's time? Was she aware of what might have changed by saving her friends?
"You're...gonna send me to the future?" she quivered. She sounded like she didn't want to leave the two alone.
"I don't want you to be left alone or going back to Touka. The future is full of people who are friendlier than whoever can still fight us. I'm looking out for your safety and pretty sure that Ash will be nice." Mikan gave Rushuna's advice a moment to weigh. She chose.
"You know, the lost art of ballooning may be recovered by my appearance. I think I'll go along." She vowed to travel in time. Rushuna and Yajiro respected her option.
"This way, you can read about us." Mikan would like to know about what would go on between Rushuna and Mikan in between the years of now and ahead. With one breath, Mikan felt ready and turned to Celebi.
"Well, Celebi, what do you say?" Celebi nodded before a flash illuminated the scene. When it faded, Mikan and Celebi were gone. The future awaited them. Now, Yajiro was wondering why Rushuna offered to send Mikan to where she was before the rescue.
"So, what was up with that?" he wondered. "You think that we'll die tomorrow?" Rushuna declined that wrong thought and made it known by lunging onto Yajiro, laying a passionate smooch. Yajiro was a bit surprised. He would've been dead if she didn't return. As the story returned to the present, it would appear that Rushuna wanted to have Yajiro be a member of the family. The years poured on. Rushuna, because of her accomplishments, became the next empress of the land, promoting worldwide peace. She lived a very long life as a book, written by another Enlightened, mentioned Rushuna having a dozen children during the reign. In today's time, there was a celebration. At a large building, a horde of people were enjoying a grand time. A banner was over the dining hall, a description that may have told what recently occurred.
"CONGRATULATIONS, ASH KETCHUM! CHAMPION OF THE SINNOH LEAGUE!"
It was as if Rushuna's rescue didn't change a thing. There was a party for all who knew Ash to stop by. Plenty of people showed up, including Brock, Dawn, Pikachu and all sorts of people and Pokémon tall and short. Ash was actually hanging out on the balcony, looking up at a full moon. A lovely starry night. Those who knew Ash during their meetings talked about their encounter with the victor of the league...including...
"Ash!" echoed the voice of...Mikan? The champion in the casual black tuxedo turned to Mikan, donning a shimmering maroon dress. Ash smiled seeing the young balloon maker.
"Hey, Mikey!" he greeted. Mikey? Mikan sighed. Was it the name?
"You won't rest that name, will you?" Ash giggled, not a big deal to him.
"Well, you didn't object it." One more sigh from Mikan. However, she smiled nonetheless. "So, everything going alright with you?"
"Well, since helping with the PokéRinger committee, it's been a blast." Looked like Mikan found her dream job, it made Ash want to joke.
"Mikan Kurenai, prodigy PokéRinger designer." Mikan enjoyed the title that she scoffed a chuckle. Suddenly, her eyes wandered a little before asking Ash for help.
"Oh, by the way...I heard that Richie's made the trip with Sparky. Have you seen either?" Ash gave a look through the crowd, spotting Cynthia in a dazzling black strapless gown, black tube gloves and laced high heels to fit the set. Best yet, she wasn't watching Ash as she was chatting with an adult brunette who didn't bother to fancy herself. She wore a pink button-down blouse and a faded green long skirt. He searched more when he saw Paul coming. He hadn't changed either.
"Well, more company." Paul stopped, being face-to-face with the trainer. The same scorn on his face, Paul seemed geared for a battle. Ash held his ground, his Pikachu in a tux of its own which looked not too bad watching to see if Ash and Mikan would need help. Suddenly, Paul rose an open palm to Ash, a sign of a handshake.
"Ash," he groaned. "Of all the weaklings I had to battle, you did pretty good." So, Paul was congratulating Ash for his league victory. Ash relaxed and shook Paul's hand, knowing that he just wanted to praise him.
"Kinda rare of you to do this, don't you think?" Paul grunted the supposed tease.
"Don't let this get to your head. Our war is far from over. Thought I'd let you know that the next time we meet." Not phased with this motive, Ash shot a smug to his rival.
"Hey, wire me when you feel like you need a vicious 25,000 volt massage. I'll be glad to give you one." His reference to Pikachu's abilities made Paul know that despite this victory, Ash wasn't willing to back from a challenge. He walked off, as well as Mikan who met up with the two women. A few more children sided by Ash, still mugging a smile toward his rival. One was a brunette female who appeared to be a year or two younger than Ash. She wore a simplistic red dress and clear high-heeled sandals. A second female was a redhead with her hair down. She looked a couple years older than Ash and wore a white dress, nothing too special. The last was another raven-haired kid, a few years younger than the rest. Other than his glasses, he donned a white flannel undershirt and red/white necktie. They all saw the talk between Ash and Paul.
"Sounds like Paul won't let the loss go," the young boy reviewed. Wait...Ash beat Paul for the championship? No wonder why he acted somewhat apprehensive to Ash.
"He knew he was beat, Max. He just wants to let his frustration out on someone, even if he or she isn't a trainer." It was an interesting point. The redhead thought back to the battle for the crown, which had passed without us knowing about it.
"Well, Brock did say that different trainer use different battle strategies," she quoted the young man with Pikachu and Dawn. "And it's proven with Ash's outside-the-box strategy over Paul's power play." For Ash, straightforward thinking was not the way he battled. With the victory in the league, no bounds held Ash in check.
"Truer words never said better, Misty," the brunette agreed. "Yet, Ash keeps pushing and pushing the envelop without repercussions." To these three, Ash kept pressing fate and succeeding every time.
"May, come on," Ash tried to defend with a childish smile. "I'm not that bad of a strategist. I just go by gut instincts."
"Right, proving our point further," Misty sneered. Ash left himself scratching his head in humiliation. That's when Cynthia decided to show herself.
"My young Pokémon protege," Cynthia renamed. Ash gazed at the beauty of the master.
"Cynthia, you look gorgeous," he praised. Misty, May and Max saw the blushing on Cynthia's face, realizing that she had fallen for the young champion.
"I guess we'll leave you two alone to reminisce," Max spoke for the three. Ash was a bit stunned as the three shied away. Now, Cynthia and Ash were alone.
"I heard from Mikan that you did a little history checkup," he mentioned. "You're the long descendant of the legendary Grenadier." There's a change. Before, Rushuna and Cynthia were two different people. With the rescue of Yajiro and Mikan, generations of their family had extended to today, corresponded by Cynthia. There was more that Cynthia was about to address.
"I read about before fixing history that she had fallen for you because she believed you were her descendant," she jumped. "However, she had a premonition that one of her multi-great grandchildren would meet you once more." Ash became astonished. Rushuna knew him and fallen for the trainer. So, why did she suggested staying back in the past instead of with the trainer? Was it for a proper future for Ash?
"Sounded like she knew what she was doing." Sure did. Cynthia giggled when she had something else to go with.
"Anyway, I had Mikan help me with a special gift. It's outside." A gift for Ash? It did involve Mikan, so this had to be special as she began to cling by Brock rather uncomfortably. Ash followed Cynthia outside to where there was a hot-air balloon, already inflated. The balloon...it was Ash's inflated ego! Actually, just his head, but still impressive.
"Wow!" Ash liked it.
"What do you say we take it for a midnight ride?" He agreed with a swift nod, allowing them to board the basket. Inside, Ash pulled the rope, igniting the fire to fill the balloon with hot air, rising the basket to the sky. Ash and Cynthia were already loving the view of the land. Then, each other where they leaned into one another, and kissed. They fell gently into the basket as another balloon came in. That one was shaped like a cat's head with an oval coin embedded on its head. In that basket...well, if it ain't the two chefs from Nudachea City, except that they were in different uniforms. They wore white with a red "R" on each.
"That balloon maker's latest design is a bit tacky," the redhead criticized. She didn't really appreciate the work by Mikan? "I understand that it's the twerp, but I think the Pikachu head would be better."
"Give the twerp a break, Jessie," James shrugged. "He finally stapled that mean twerp and is getting great props from Pokémon Master Cynthia. He needs this rest." Jessie grunted, not willing to allow Ash to relax. She peered over, spotting...Ash's pants? What were the pants doing dangling over the rim? Jessie gazed dumbfounded and James had bad feelings about what those pants were on the rim for.
"He...wouldn't." Then, Cynthia's gown was draped on over Ash's pants. This was getting interesting.
"He's getting some loving." One gawk at each other before Jessie yanked the rope, burning air into their balloon, lifting them up and away from the scene. Ash's basket was shaking, lofting hearts billowing over. Anyone wanna take a guess on Ash's new reward? You have Grenadier, the smiling Enlightened. What about the smiling trainer?
THE END