Flashback— Continued
His vision went white as the first natural light he had seen in six months flooded into his retinas, searing his eyes in a headlock of excruciating pain. As his left arm flailed about for something to support himself he felt another hand roughly grasp his wrist. His right fist flashed out in defense, a satisfying crack resounded in his ears gratified the trainer. However, the following pain originating in his side did not. He felt the familiar numbing of electricity begin to take hold, seizing up his muscles, but Ash did not spend his childhood being zapped by a temperamental electric Pokémon to fall to a synthetic thunderbolt.
Grabbing his current assailant's wrist he spun around and launched him in the opposite direction of the door he had entered through. By this point, his vision had started to adjust, but it was all a bleary blur. He was able to make out a figure stumbling backwards towards a waist high cement wall; Ash was surprised to see his foe's momentum carry his body over the wall. A scream of panic and horror hit Ash's ears before it was prematurely cut off as another thump echoed its way onto Ash's conscious.
With his vision now back in full clarity Ash was about to take in his surroundings, but his eyes landed on something far, far more important than the visage around him.
"Sceptile!" Ash howled, his green Pokémon looked to him in surprise, before a bullet entered and exited his skull in a puff of red mist.
Ash's heart stopped faster than his Pokémon's.
His mouth worked diligently to form the words its master wanted to it to generate, but no sound was exiled, eyes merely staring at the limp Pokémon's ever paling green body. Ash's mind went numb as an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time resonated stronger than anything ever had inside him.
Anger.
It took control, and within a moment the red hue forced its way back into his vision, and the contained white flares shot up all around him. However, nothing but a black shadow marked the spot where his Hoenn starter Pokémon fell. Ash's eyes caught a glance of something hovering over his deceased Pokémon's prone form, he focused his attention there and, to his surprise, his vision magnified in a way akin to binoculars. He noted the white mist hovering over the indeterminable shadow, he also noted the white mist was incredibly sharp; he could make out every little detail. Without warning, the mist took a new form, one that had been emblazoned into his mind since he had first laid eyes on it.
The white mist took the form of Sceptile, and although there was no lower body, the upper body was a perfect replica, even sporting the twig he always held in his mouth. The ethereal Pokémon's head and gaze suddenly snapped directly towards him, white eyes piercing the deepest recesses of Ash's tattered humanity. No resentment was held in the stare, it was of respect. And with a gratuitous dip of the head the phantom exploded in a shimmering spectrum of sudden color, particles expanding outward on every known axis until, with a twinkle, they disappeared.
Ash felt a tear roll down his cheek, however, one of the particles, this one a forest green, floated toward him. As soon as it touched his tear, the salty fluid instantly disappeared.
Sceptile's final act
Ash let out a mournful howl, his display of grievance shaking the stadium to its core as his power emptied into the Earth. A hand clamping down on his shoulder shook him from his vigil. He whipped around in an attempt to face the owner of the hand, the motion shaking himself loose from the iron grip. Rather than staring into a human's eyes, Ash found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. Jerking to the left he dodged the shot, then he disarmed the man, slamming the butt of the rifle into the man's temple, killing him instantly. He jerked forward, grabbing another guard by the skull.
"Die!" Ash hissed hatefully, crushing the skull in his fist.
He turned to the final flare contrasting the red background.
"You're next." He growled, striding meaningfully toward the seated figure. Before he could even think about launching an attack, Ash felt his feet leave the ground as he was, against his will, thrust into the air.
"You would be wise not to mess with me, Guardian." The man spat the word with so much contempt and hate it shook Ash from his heightened state, "As penance for the atrocities you have committed inside these walls, I will make an equal amount of your Pokémon suffer. You killed 9 guards? I kill 9 Pokémon. An eye for an eye" The man chuckled
"Makes the whole world blind" Ash hissed, "What right do you have to take my Pokémon's lives?"
"Gandhi?" The man's chuckled turned pitying, "I would never have thought you a pacifist"
"I will not discuss philosophy with you" Ash sneered
"Why not? I can always kill the rest of your Pokémon" The casualness with which he spoke hit Ash louder than any shout or harder than any punch
Ash eyed the man warily, watching for any sudden moves before he painfully conceded, "Very well,"
The man's eyes actually brightened, "Gandhi hmm? How would a country boy like you know that?"
"I get around," Ash stated coldly and with finality
"I see…" The man trailed off calmly before sighing, "Well, that was underwhelming"
"I'll say" Ash snorted
"I'm sure your wondering why I'm doing all of this, yes?"
Ash glared at him, eyes conveying that he didn't really care why; all that he cared about was that the man standing before him was going to die a terrible death.
"Well I will tell you." The man began, ignoring the vehement glare that was still boring into him, "Aura Guardians are the bane of all that exists, they can control everything that is living, or anything that has to do with living things, such as atoms. In other words, with the correct training and the correct natural abilities, an Aura Guardian can become a master of everything. And that includes things like motor functions, in a nutshell; they have the power to rule the world. They stand above mortals."
Ash smirked, "But not you? After all, you aren't mortal." The man smiled, "Very perceptive. You are correct, I wield the powers akin to Psychic Pokémon"
"And you believe a world defended by psychics will be the most apt way to keep balance?"
"If the ones with power fall, power can be placed into the hands of the true and, therefore, rule will become true."
"Sounds like a bunch of metaphysical nonsense" Ash growled, thoroughly annoyed
"It doesn't matter if you understand it or not. It will become reality regardless of your comprehension."
"What do you have planned?" Ash growled, "And why aren't my Pokémon being lined up?"
"Eager to see their demise?"
Ash sent him a hard look.
"Ah, I see. You want to save them. Well I will tell you this. Sceptile was the final casualty."
Ash's eyes widened as comprehension washed over him.
"You planned this?" Ash cried incredulously, "You killed your own guards simply for an excuse to kill my Pokémon?"
"You killed my guards"
"Don't evade the question. You planned the party and the alcohol the guards would take home, you planned the two in front of my cell to be too drunk to defend themselves. You planned Epsilon Guard's intervention, you led me here to witness my final Pokémon's death!" Ash howled in fury
"Clever. Because you are so right I will agree with you and concede the truth." He bowed his head, now. I will give you your chance to escape in five days, be prepared. I will place a mental block on you, preventing this information from hindering your escape." The man's eyes pulsed a deep purple-
Flashback End
"…Ash!" Gary shook Ash, looking frantic beyond belief.
Ash gave the professor in training a dead glance before burying his face in his hands, letting out the tears that should have been shed a week ago.
"Ashy boy, you okay?" Gary asked, his voice faltering as he took note of the sudden 180, "I didn't shake you too hard did I?"
Ash gave Gary a tearful, but reassuring smile, trying to assure him he was fine. The professor in training wasn't buying it, but let the topic go regardless.
"Ash, I don't mean to intrude, but where are your Pokémon?" Oak sr. asked gingerly. To say he was surprised when Ash's body seized as it was racked with violent sobs would be an understatement.
Gary looked at Samuel, who returned the concerned glance with a look of heartache.
"Let's give him some space Gary, he needs some time" Oak sr. said, standing up with Gary in tow. However, a voice stopped their leave
"I've had plenty of time" Ash raised his red rimmed eyes, his face set with determination and fury, not a single trace of sadness, "I owe it to them"
Oak sr. raised a brow, "What are you getting at, Ash?"
"Professor, I can't allow you to take this the wrong way." Ash started resolutely, "But I will not stay here any longer. I cannot burden you further. I was kidnapped because of what I was, no, what I am. And your house was set ablaze because of what I am. I am a liability to your health, and I will not let one more person die on my account. I cannot have that on my conscious."
No one said anything. Both clearly moved and slightly frightened by Ash's speech. "Ash" Oak sr. started, "No matter how right you are we cannot and will not abandon you. We are in this as much as you are. We need to think about thi-"
"No!" Ash shouted the nerves that had been fraying over the past few months finally sparking,
"no" Ash repeated, this time quieter, "The time for thinking is over. I will not stand idle one more moment while the world is on the brink of a revolutionary war!"
"What are you talking about?" Oak gasped in complete shock
"You are in no position to know" Ash stated, "I cannot let you get involved any further. As long as you stay out of the fight you will be safe. No matter how ruthless my opponent is, he is very smart. He will not hurt the uninvolved or defenseless. He will project a beacon of hope until he has the people's devoted supported. He will then seize the reigns, spiraling the world into a tyrannical apocalypse."
"Wrong Ash" Gary spoke up, "We will know even if you don't tell us. Let us know in advance so we can rally!"
Ash turned to Gary, "Gary, under any circumstance you cannot tell anyone, much less prepare the world. Civil unrest will only make his job easier. I know a way to strike his revolution down. All I need is a position of power."
"Ash" Oak sr. started, his voice stern, "The five regions are the most powerful conglomerate on this planet, we will be able to fend off any assault"
"You are incorrect," Ash told him, "The enemy will not wage a political war. He will take the world by force, and then piece together the shattered government in his image. With the people's support this will be easy, all he needs to do is unite them against a common enemy, which he will do with his ideals."
"Then where else in the world stands a chance?" Oak inquired, clearly humoring the young trainer, "The Five Regions have no military power, the EU (Eastern Union not European Union) is still in shambles because of their civil war and most of the western hemisphere is a desolate wasteland thanks to the space frigate that was hit by a meteor just inside Earth's Atmosphere. If we can't mount resistance then he can't either."
"Tell me professor, what was the cause of the EU war?" Ash asked
"A man, specifically the leader of the Rocket organization, vied for power and went on a warpath, he did not justify his actions, merely refuting the current government's ideals"
"And I am telling you right now I cannot go to the EU" Ash told him
"Their government may be in shambles but they still have a united military." Oak told him
"The government is not in shambles!" Ash shouted, "The revolutionary won!"
Oak fell silently as the pieces fell into place, "It's the end of the world."
Ash grinned, "I will see to it that it doesn't end."
"How?" Gary asked, "If you can't win through politics because there will be no political war, so since you won't be able to raise an army that can rival the EU, that is a definite, what will you do?"
"I will unite the satellite regions." Ash declared
"What?" Gary gasped, "How? Unite the Isles and Orre, Fiore, Almia and Holon? And Oblivia is a wasteland!"
"I will become the one thing they all look up to"
"What is he on about Gramps?"
"Ash, you won't be able to conquer the Royal Line. The best trainers from around the globe, not just the five regions, stand at the top. Not to mention the prodigy competition, it's damned near impossible to even be admitted in, much less conquer it."
"I will conquer it." Ash declared, "For my Pokémon, for Mom, for you and for the world. I will sacrifice myself to ensure peace."
"I don't like to be the uninformed one," Gary inputted flatly. His annoyance, fueled by his lack of knowledge, noticeable to the others thanks to the edge in his tone "What is he talking about? Ash, if you plan to die I don't think that is a great way to save the world"
Ash actually chuckled, apparently finding some sort of humor in Gary's accusation,
"Not quite Gary."
"Gary, in order to actually be accepted into the Royal Line one has to be far more powerful than the champions, in order to get to that level one would have to train regularly for more than a decade." Oak finished for Ash
"And Ash has how much time?"
"Two years is a best case scenario" Ash answered irately, "All he needs to do is increase his regime's military strength, once he has an unchallengeable army he will start small but widespread, spreading influence through nothing but rumors. Once he has planted the seed of doubt he will strike."
"How can you be so sure?" Gary raised an eyebrow at the stunningly detailed and precise explanation
"It's what I would do."
"Listen Ash, I can't know for sure if you are correct in your assumption, but I can't take the chance of you being right and me not acting. We will do our best to prepare you for the future."
Unfortunately for the professor's plan, nothing of Ash's had survived the fire, given that it was started in his room via a Molotov. He would have to start from scratch, which meant a trip to Newbark Town. However, luckily for the old professor his memory wasn't completely gone yet, and he was able to remember something of Ash's that had survived the fire.
"Hey Ash, I've got something for you."
Ash looked confused, but followed the professor up the stairs. When he turned into Oak's room he saw the old professor holding up the clothes he had worn during his trial. The clothes had been a little big for him before, but now the clothes were a little tight on him and the sleeves a little short. The 16 year old stood at an impressive 6 foot 1 and, although scrawny due his time in prison, slightly well built.
"Now…" Oak sr. grinned as he took out a pair of scissors.
Bits and pieces of ebony locks fell to the earth as Oak swiftly cropped Ash's wild hair. Following the haircut, while the Pallet trainer admired his new look in the mirror, Ash found himself sporting an identical haircut to the manga character he had adored as a child.
Gary, who had walked out of the room during Ash's renovation, walked back into the room only to gasp in mock astonishment,
"Red has come alive!" He cried theatrically, placing the back of his hand against his forehead before 'fainting'.
Both Professor and trainer shared a sweat drop, taking the lighthearted moment for what it was. Even though neither wanted to admit it, the serious talk needed to resume quickly.
So it did.
Oak opened with the suggestion that Ash at stay at least a few months, to not only re-build his strength and nutrition, but to plan his trip to the foreign nations. Ash obliged, knowing he had to be efficient and prolific in order to be successful. His time frame was short had the bar had been set impossibly high. But Ash's didn't have only his legs propelling his leap. Whether they knew it or not, the whole world was behind him, ready to push him to victory.
He also understood that he needed to specialize in a certain type. Before the incident with the 'police', this would be excruciatingly difficult due to the wide array of Pokémon types he once had at his disposal, but since… Now he had a blank canvas. Regardless of the latent potential his upcoming decision could hold, he would trade that canvas for his former Pokémon in a heartbeat, no consideration, no hesitation.
Ash pondered fire types. He had Charizard in the Charicific Valley, probably ready to take on any challenge, even the Royal Line. Unfortunately, Charizard wasn't much of a leader. Due to his solitary nature and tortured upbringing as a Charmander, the fire-flying Pokémon was unlikely to command respect from the others nor would he be able to light a fire under the others.
Ash pondered Flying types. He had Pigeot hanging around Viridian Forest. A reliable Pokémon to be sure, and Ash knew his former Pokémon was a born leader. Despite the promising start, Ash knew there had to be complete synergy between the trainer and the Pokémon. The trainer had to know the ins and outs of the type of Pokémon he or she was battling with, and Ash didn't feel like he was able to connect to his flying Pokémon on that level. And besides, all the flying trainers he met were a little odd.
Water types came up, but he knew Squirtle would not be a good base. Although a very apt leader, much like Pidgeot, he lacked experience working with and training Pokémon of another species. As it turned out, his time with the Squirtle squad was actually hindering his versatility rather than raising it.
Rock types came up. He figured that, since he was heading to Mt. Silver anyway, he could see if Larvitar was still chummy with him. But Ash knew he wasn't a defense-oriented trainer; he would probably get frustrated with the slow battles.
With all his options hitting decisive and certain dead ends, Ash was left staring into space as he pondered his decision. Whatever choice he made would determine the outcome of the future. Rather than leave this entirely up to his gut feeling, Ash booted up the desktop, plopped himself in the desk chair and quickly set to work. His hands flew across the keyboard as he searched an endless amount of topics and hit an innumerable amount of sites. If a bystander had been watching, they searching would seem erratic, not following a pattern or sticking with one subject. But to Ash, it all made perfect sense.
It had been two hours of thinking, researching and reminiscing, and at this point he had made his decision. Ash stood from his seated position, knees cracking from the sudden movement. Once he had worked out all the kinks in his body, Ash turned his attention to the wall-mounted phone. Striding over to it and deftly dialing in the number for Liza's phone, Ash waited patiently for the ringing to end and for Liza to pick up.
"Professor Oak?"
Liza sounded frantic
"Actually, it's Ash, I would like to request a favor."
"Ash? Oh you are alive, thank god!"
"What's wrong, Liza, what happened?"
"The Charicific Valley was attacked. Every single one of the Pokémon that once inhabited here have been abducted. At this point, I am unsure if they are even still alive, considering it was Team Rocket that abducted them."
Ash paused, "Team Rocket?"
"Unfortunately. If you're calling about your Charizard I have to tell you that he was involved in the abduction as well. He's gone, Ash. I'm so sorry."
Ash's shoulders racked with quiet sobs.
"It's okay, Liza, it isn't your fault. Is Charla?"
"Yeah… Charla was also taken…"
"I'm sorry Liza, I wish I could have helped."
"Ash, the police are here, I need to go and speak with them. I'm going to hang up."
"Alright, stay strong Liza."
"You as well, Ash. Keep that fire burning."
Ash hung up the phone slowly, sliding it into the wall-mounted cradle with morose grace. He knew that Charizard hadn't merely been abducted. The moment Team Rocket's name was dropped Ash knew what happened. Everything connected. The Pallet bombing, Norman confronting him, the court case held in Petalburgh, the police sent to Tohjo Falls… The Police!
Ash dashed back to the phone, desperate to get a hold of Liza.
No answer.
Ash knew he was being hasty, but at this point in his life he had to assume the worst. The man, the one who he had seen in the arena, was pulling everyone's strings. Team Rocket's, Norman's, perhaps even the police. He knew Charizard was dead. Charizard was one of the 9. Ash knew this would crush him. The weight was becoming too heavy for his fragile heart to continue carrying. It was what that man wanted. To break him completely, make him bow and show the world how cowardly the guardians are.
Despite knowing all this, despite telling himself that he had to move forward for the sake of everyone he had lost, his legs were beginning to wobble. His heart was beginning to waver, teetering on the edge of a bottomless pit that threw him past rock bottom and into despair. Into an endless cycle lower than low, into despair. All it would take was an innocent, diminutive pin to send him tumbling into despair.
"PikaPi?"
Ash's heart stopped. The pin dropped.
"… You aren't real"
"Pi?"
"You can't be real!" Ash started to panic as he leapt of the couch and began to back slowly out of the room.
"PikaPi?"
"NO!"
"Ash!" Oak cried as he ran downstairs, "What is going on"
Ash took a few deep breaths to calm himself down before starting his explanation of his out of character panic attack
"Sorry professor, I just thought I saw something. Forget it, just my mind playing tricks."
"PikaPi?"
More pins
"NO!" Ash cried again as he covered his ears, his eyes beginning to glisten with unshed tears, "What is happening?"
Professor Oak sighed, picking up the little yellow mouse, which gave him a confused look.
"Pi?"
"Don't worry Pikachu, Ash has just been through a lot in the recent months." Oak explained softly, rubbing the electric type reassuringly, "Just give him a bit of time to recover."
Pikachu nodded sorrowfully in understanding, crawling onto the old professor's shoulder to wait out his trainer, whose mind was in total anarchy.
Gray irises pulsed a deep, threatening color as they stared into the deepest recesses of his terrified soul
"Why not? I can always kill the rest of your Pokémon."
"You aren't real!"
"Sceptile was the final casualty"
"NO!"
"Ash!" Oak shouted, finally having enough of Ash's breakdown
Suddenly, Ash's eyes glowed a stunning white, all signs of unstableness vanishing.
"What the hell?" Gary cried in shock as he shielded his eyes
"PikaPi!"
As quickly as it started, the light in his eyes vanished, dimming from a blinding white to a comforting violet.
"I'm fine" Ash assured the small yellow mouse, "He is manipulating me."
"Who?" Oak Sr. dared to ask
"The revolutionary" Ash's gaze darkened, "I don't know how he managed to worm his way into my mind but he has, I wonder if it has anything to do with that sudden rush of memories a few minutes ago…"
Despite hearing Ash recognize that he had no idea how this was happening, Gary couldn't help but murmur, "How?"
"He is Psychic" Ash told the young professor
Samuel Oak's eyes widened, "Either he is unrealistically powerful, or…"
Ash's eyes also widened in sudden realization,
"He's here", the Pokémon trainer seethed darkly
"He's here?" Gary gasped, "Why is he here?"
"Get in the basement" Ash told them, ignoring Gary's inquiry
"Ash!" Gary cried
"Now!" Ash screamed, "I can't lose more. I don't have much left to lose, but even so, I will protect that with every fiber of my being."
Gary stared blankly. Ash's problem was very real, and it hadn't quite hit home until now. Everything the young trainer was going through, it was as much his responsibility to preserve Ash as it was Ash's.
"Alright, try to stay alive." Gary flashed a thumbs up, "Despite what you may think, I'm not willing to lose you yet either."
Gary turned to follow his grandfather down the stairs leading to the basement, but before he descended he halted, turning back to Ash with a red and white orb in his hand.
"Take care of business, Ashy boy. Your path better not end here." Ash's childhood friend smirked as he tossed said orb to Ash.
'Blastoise' Ash mentally breathed as he caught the ball with one hand.
"Let's go Pi, he's trying to intimidate us. We need to show him we are not and will not be intimidated." Ash told his starter, his voice darkening in correlation with his irises.
"Pika!"
Ash strode to the back door, and threw it open, "Pikachu, Quick Attack to the right."
Pikachu was gone from his shoulder in an instant, leaving Ash all alone. His ruby irises scanned the tree line, looking for anything unnatural. Suddenly, the whole area dimmed, causing Ash to growl.
"You can't flaunt your psychic powers, you and I both know that is not you performing these illusionary tricks. Return your Zoroark and tell me what you have to say." Ash growled in impatience
"Big talk for a man already at a disadvantage."
The voice came from his right, but then again it was from his left. Ash had no idea how to counter, "Face me with courage, don't be a hypocrite. You wont be able to rule a nation if you yourself can't follow your own rules!"
"Oh? How do you know I am contradicting myself?"
"You and I both know there are only two ways to create doubt about the Guardians. You can question whether or not they will abuse their power, or you can question the courage they will have to face the enemy."
"Perhaps I was wrong in letting you go" The voice sounded condescending, not the slightest bit worried, "Oh well, live and learn"
On the inside however, the owner of the voice was worried,
'Perhaps I implanted too much of my own power in his mind, I never thought that such a small amount of my power would be able to influence his thoughts'
"You talk as if you are above me. That belief will get you killed." Ash's voice interrupted his musings
"And you would know?"
"Don't remind me." Ash hissed.
"I love this passion, something so rare in the world today, is it naivety at the reigns or something else?"
"Tell me something, although I am not sure I can get a proper answer from you but I will ask regardless, what do you do when there is an evil you cannot defeat by just means? Do you stain your hands with evil to destroy evil or do you remain steadfastly just and righteous even if it means surrendering to evil?"
"That, my friend, sounds like metaphysical nonsense"
"Then naivety is not what drives me, apparently metaphysics does."
"Do tell."
"I will bring you down even if it means becoming you. I will make you watch as your regime crumbles beneath you, while everything you hold dear is torn away. I know men like you, and I know what is dear to you."
"I'll repeat myself, do tell."
"Best not to let the secret out yet" Ash smirked, "a good plot always has great suspense."
"You know I can just look into your mind and find it?"
Ash grinned, his eyes flashing white for a split second, "Try it."
"Ah, so you have gained control of your power. Interesting… oh well, guess I really shouldn't have let you go"
"And now I plan on making you pay for every mistake you made, starting with your very existence."
"Scary" The voice mocked
"I have another question for you." Ash stated, "And you will answer me."
"Shoot"
"You seem like a smart guy, if you are so intelligent and prepared I refuse to believe for a minute that you let me go. I hope you understand the true potential of a pawn in a chess match."
"Don't underestimate the king"
"I'd be hard pressed to. After all, your actions are extremely limited, while the pawn has the ability to become a queen, a champion with the whole world at his disposal."
"Rather than continue this conversation about chess how about we have a game."
"What?" Ash growled
"And I know the perfect board"
Suddenly, a chessboard materialized in front of the young trainer. It was large, far larger than any table chessboard, large enough to be able to place two feet in a white square without a foot touching a black square.
"What are you trying to do? I have far better things the do something so mundane"
"Says the guy talking about metaphysics"
"Let go of the metaphysics" Ash rolled his eyes, "What are you? Obsessed?"
Ash could practically feel the responding eye roll.
The game commenced, the opponent quickly gaining the upper hand, although Ash stayed cool. He knew the point of this game was a test, whether he won or lost didn't matter. All he needed to do was use this radical's attack against him, all he needed to do was plant the seed of doubt that he could bring down his corrupt future.
The game went on until the voice called checkmate. Ash accepted defeat graciously,
"You surprised me. I was not expecting to play such a master of the game."
"Ash Ketchum, I know for a fact you have never played that game before. Using your knowledge of the way the pieces move you were able to truly test me, I applaud you."
Ash grinned, despite this man's claim to know everything, he clearly did not. He was obviously unaware of the guard who had brought him the chessboard during his first month in the cell. Regardless of his knowledge of this, the seed had been planted.
The chessboard disappeared artfully and he found himself standing on the slightly uneven grass of the Oaks' backyard once more. Ash quickly noted the dimming hue beginning to fade, but he wanted one more answer.
"You didn't answer my question." Ash told him calmly, clearly expecting a straight answer
"The hunt has just begun."
With that straight answer the air returned to its normal temperature and its normal light level. Pikachu rushed over to him and leapt onto his shoulder.
"Pika?"
"He's a bad man, Pi. A smart man, but a bad man nonetheless."
"Chu, Pika?"
"No Pi," Ash chuckled, "he's not related."
Pikachu's eyes dropped to the ground, clearly debating with himself.
"What's wrong Pi?" Ash asked as he set the mouse on the ground, then he kneeled down so he could have an eye-to-eye conversation, "You're all I have left so you can't hide things from me, alright?"
Pikachu let out an audible sigh
"What happened to the rest of the Pokémon, Ash?"
Ash raised an eyebrow at hearing the mouse's smooth and slightly childlike voice, but ignored it. Letting out his own audible sigh, he reiterated the tale he relived in the Oak's living room.
By the end of his recount Pikachu was in tears. Rightly so, Ash had outright sobbed. The Pallet trainer was impressed with his Pokémon's resolve
"We gonna make him pay?"
"Pikachu, he is going to do more than pay"
Unknown Location— Johto Region
"Sir, while it isn't my place to question, I feel obligated to inquire about the purpose behind this engagement." Norman asked from his customary bowed position, dull eyes searching the floor as his head bowed as well.
"Ah yes, I am sure you are curious about the game of chess aren't you." The all too familiar violet-eyed man chuckled, "Well I guess that was rather odd wasn't it."
Norman's bow deepened, "It is not within my bounds to comment, your highness."
'Your highness' sighed exasperatedly, "Yes well, I will answer your question regardless."
"Thank you, sir"
"When I toyed with Ash's memories and his cerebral cortex (area of the brain associated with memory) I believe I may have overestimated his aura's ability—or desire—to reject the psychic power."
"Meaning?"
"When I tampered with his memories and emotions I believed it necessary to take complete control of a certain, diminutive, literally microscopic, part of his brain that my psychic power would use to constantly interrupt the impulses even when he was out of my range. This would function until I could get within range and retract my psychic barrier, thereby allowing his memories to return. However, it appears he possesses latent psychic abilities of his own, and my mental implant has awakened said powers. What's odd is that they didn't attempt to purge his mind of the foreign psychic signature; rather, his energy accepted mine. It converted it into energy he could use for himself. So when I retracted my, now his, psychic energy, he was able to get past my mental defenses and read my mind during that chess match. That's how he was able to keep up with me; he essentially used the same technique I did."
"Sir, forgive my dubiousness, but you sound surprised. You speak now as though you were unaware about his latent powers going into the confrontation, yet you still went and challenged him to that match of chess. Does that mean you were aware that something similar to this phenomena would occur within Ash?"
The psychic user grinned devilishly, "Perhaps. I'll admit I considered the possibility. That is why I took the initiative and challenged him. One can never be too careful, and I believe the result of my experiment backs that statement perfectly."
"And what about his heightened intelligence, overall knowledge and much calmer disposition?"
"Another byproduct of my psychic signature, and probably a result of losing his family and his Pokémon as well."
"Very well. I will take my leave now."
With one final bow, Norman turned on his heel and strode towards the double doors from which he entered. However, before he exited the doors he paused and turned around to face the Psychic.
"One more thing, if I may, Sir"
"Very well"
"Why put Ash in prison in the first place?" Norman inquired, "The boy had already been proven innocent, if he hasn't made the connection already, this will have helped him realize you control Team Rocket. He will no longer target them. You are now the only one in his crosshairs"
The man chuckled, "Not the only one"
Norman looked down
"Regardless, having him believe Team Rocket was acting of its own accord was just a formality. It never served a purpose, things just worked out that way. Everything I do to Ash Ketchum is designed to break him. Designed to slowly blacksmith him until he is nothing more than curled up mass of cold, heartless power. Besides, I have no reason to fear Ash's crosshairs. Why should the puppet master fear the puppet?"
A/N:
Yes, yes, yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes. My longest chapter yet by... a lot. Hopefully some answered questions, but, as always, who is that purple eyed, metaphysics obsessed, admittedly creepy guy that has been stalking Ash? Patience dear reader.
Anyway. Topic number 2 of this A/N: If you are familiar with Anime you have no doubt watched Code Geass. If you watched Code Geass you know that I stole a line or two from the anime. Yes, the evil paradox that Ash used while talking to [see above] guy that has been stalking Ash. I am citing my source FYI. Anyway, I believe it was episode 4 of R2 if you want to be specific. Lelouch is talking to Guilford just before their duel, Guilford responds, "I choose justice!"
I have noticed a few people don't understand why Ash had been thrown in the prison in the first place, if you missed it, see just above the author's note.
Ah yes, as always, the review button lives to be clicked not ignored.