Obligatory Disclaimer; I don't own Pokémon.
Whoops, I did it again. Same reasons as last time, unfortunately, so I'm not going to promise anything this time and we'll just see how it goes. Not so much writer's block as literally not properly allocating my time appropriately to write this story.
I've swapped the order for chapters 20 and 21 around, so this will focus on A/C/H/M – as well as an additional, novel perspective on their activities, with 21 involving something completely different. It made more sense to carry on after a cliff-hanger than put a wedge in between the two parts.
Thanks for the review J.F.C.! I wouldn't say that they've completely buried the hatchet yet, but you're right that they won't be biting each other's heads off quite as much.
Thanks also go to dzk87, Lord Kaizer and the guests for your reviews as well.
In terms of chronology, this chapter (twenty) follows on immediately from chapter nineteen.
"My lord, I have failed you."
Those were words that Ghetsis never enjoyed hearing, not just because of the obvious negative implications. It also meant that whoever was speaking to him would be about to launch into a tirade of self-pity.
He sighed, taking the opportunity to adjust his position on his new, uncomfortable throne as he regarded the prostrate figure in front of him, who was decked out in his organisation's new black and grey attire, with only a silver bar across a slide on their chest denoting their rank. The door they had just come through was flanked by two guards standing at rigid attention – a position they had held for nearly three hours. Mirroring them, two others lurked unseen on either side of his throne.
It was also far too warm in the room for his liking, but they had, after all, only just moved into this new base. Little more than critical systems had thus far been established, and he had yet to conceive of a way to push his grunts harder.
Useless, all of them.
"Report, then, Commander Theta, and stand at ease. What has happened?"
'Theta' sagged slightly out of their fixed kneeling, and then clambered up on her feet. Short, dark bangs hung out from her well-moulded beret, framing her face amidst her amber eyes, which stood out above a pair of recent, newly etched scars.
'Theta' was not her name, but a code word of sorts, a masquerade and yet also an identifier for any clued-in Plasma operative. She was the most junior of all of Ghetsis' commanders.
He held little more respect for any of them than he did for the lowliest of grunts. All were his to command, and their dreams and desires mattered little to him.
"Well, my lord, you will recall that I was assigned to act as interim Commander at our temporary command base in Hoenn after the Primaris Tunnel's destruction less than a week-"
"Yes. Cut to the chase." He diverted his gaze from the still-trembling Theta to casually examine his right hand. It was a calculated gesture, not merely one of boredom, and he could see from the way that she gulped and hastened to continue that it had had its intended effect.
"Well, my lord, w-we have experienced a terrible setback. Our secondary base was also discovered this morning. We were forced to abandon it and flee."
"And this means?" He asked, a cold edge now stretching his voice, and he saw the guards at the far door wince in sympathy. He knew the answer, and she knew he knew.
"Our operations in Hoenn are over." She whispered.
"Yes, they are." He growled. Theta fell limp to the floor fearfully again. "Now tell me how this happened, and be quick about it, for your rank and station are in flux. Yes… Tell me everything."
(4 Hours earlier)
"Run faster!"
"I'm running as fast as I can!"
"Not fast enough!
"Shut up!"
May and Hilda roared at each other as they sprinted back up the way they had come, the aggression fuelling their retreat.
They had sent Mikey running up the tunnel quick as a flash, realising that they had seconds at most. The kid seemed to be fast, fortunately. Hilda's Galvantula lit his way.
The two girls left the chamber just as the first Plasma reinforcements came through the teleporter and managed to catch a glimpse of Hilda's hair disappearing around the corner.
"Get them!" They heard the shout and so the chase began.
The path they had followed down was linear and there was no opportunity for a wrong turn, but it was an ascent on a difficult incline. Galvantula knew the way and had no problems clambering up, but the chased and the chasers were impeded by jutting stone.
Where before they had had the luxuries of time and caution, now they scrambled up and above, cutting, scraping and bumping their skin against the rock.
The voices behind them were increasing in volume.
"We need to slow them down!"
"Glaceon, take the stage!" The ice-type appeared behind them as May called upon it. "Freeze up the passage behind us!" Glaceon complied, forming an ice wall to cover their retreat with its icy breath.
""Take the stage?""
"Shut up." May grunted as she recalled Glaceon. Hilda smirked.
They heard more shouting, further muffled this time, before there was the sound of a blast and an updraft of warm air below them.
"They've got fire Pokémon." Hilda muttered and the two redoubled their efforts towards exiting the cave.
"So they found the antechamber, but did not breach the main complex?" It was a simple question.
"Yes, my lord, but-"
"And you followed them out of the cave, along a path that was by design unsafe, allowing them to dictate the terms of their retreat? Explain yourself." Ghetsis demanded, giving Theta no chance to adequately respond to his first point. She flinched at the reproach in his voice. If her leader noticed the fear in her eyes, he did not acknowledge it.
"Partly, my lord. We-"
"Then how can your failure come as a surprise?" Ghetsis roared, standing up from his throne, spittle flying everywhere. Theta could sink no lower on the floor.
"P-p-Please, my lord-"
Ghetsis was about to order the guards to remove the commander from his chambers in disgrace when his eye caught on a slight glint in the shadows.
Few others would have caught it, but his time with the Shadow Triad had granted him an impressive capacity to recognise their presence where few others humans were able to.
They were his sons, now, more than the traitorous N ever could be again.
He paused, and calmed slightly, then lowered himself back into his throne.
"Continue, commander."
Theta took a few moments to compose herself before resuming her account.
"I sent some of my command to chase the intruders, my lord, but that was not my only tactic in my plan for our pursuit."
They climbed and climbed and climbed, desperately seeking even the faintest hint of sunlight. It had taken the two girls nearly half an hour to reach the inner chamber on the way down, but they had not been hurrying in that direction, and made good time even on their inclined ascent.
Hilda kept up a barrage of insults towards her fellow brunette, but even May could feel the effect of the resulting heightened adrenaline, and responded in kind. There was no malice from either, only mutual desperation.
Once, a grunt managed to actually catch up with the fleeing group and reached out a hand to haul May back. She rewarded him with a well-aimed kick, bowling him back into his fellows and buying the group much needed time.
Three quarters of the way up, Mikey tripped over and found himself unable to get up again, exhausted from the exertion, having hardly been able to move at all in the past few days. Hilda and May had no time – they had no option but to scoop the youngster up and drag him with them.
"Oof… Can't we… get… Blaziken to carry him?" Five minutes later, the two found carrying him to be almost impossible, particularly given how much he was shaking in fear.
"No… room." The cave roof was still too low to effect such a plan, and there was no time to think – Plasma was almost upon them. A minute later, they were almost ready to give up, to stand and fight somehow, but…"
"Light!" Hilda heaved, sparing a hand to point ahead to the faint glow. The two put on a last spurt as they emerged from the cave to be greeted by Galvantula, like runners finishing an extended race. They staggered away from the cave mouth, panting as they moved into the clearing, breathing deeply the ashen air and basking in the warmth of the sun.
They didn't have much chance to relax.
Shapes and shadows began to flit across mouth of the cave, silhouetted by the sun.
"We need to move, we need to get into cover! The trees-" Hilda gasped, clutching her chest and pointing down the plateau.
"-won't help you at all." Another female voice cut across her, and to both girls' horror they saw more shapes emerging from where Hilda had been pointing.
More shapes clad in black and grey, wearing berets and hefting Poké balls moved to confront and surround the three and Galvantula.
At the same time, their pursuers finally advanced out of the cave, light ash settling on their clothing as they were exposed to the air. Together, the two groups of Plasma operatives formed a ring around their prey, tightening it as they took slow steps forward.
"Gotta be kidding me." Hilda wheezed, taking the opportunity – with little else to do – to bend down and catch her breath. The ring stopped away from the three, giving them a circle radius two metres to stand in.
Hilda and May stood back to back, Galvantula to one side against its trainer's leg. Mikey clutched the floor, eyes wide.
"You're coming with us." The same female voice from before called out again, drawing their attention to one of the Plasma operatives on the forest half of the ring. Dark hair, eyes near to the colour of copper, thin, new scars beneath them.
"You're in charge? Who are you?" Hilda enquired.
"Theta. You've earned that much, I suppose." The champion began to get the feeling – from this very brief contact – that their enemy was not merely angry with them for their actions here – the way that she glared at Hilda gave her the feeling that Theta was holding a grudge for some reason. She couldn't guess why. "And I'm sure you've already worked out who we are, champion."
Ignoring the voice dripping with contempt and the chuckles from the outer ring of grunts, Hilda shrugged.
"Yeah, I know Plasma when I see them. I preferred the old uniforms, though. White was more your colour."
"Shame." Theta half-purred, half-growled as the ring began to circle at a hand gesture, an effective intimidation tactic. She was clearly enjoying the feeling of holding her quarry in a well-executed trap. "And you?" She turned to May, disregarding the prone Mikey entirely. "Freedom seems to have treated you well. You look better than you did in that tunnel, anyway."
May's eyes widened.
"I shouldn't be surprised that you did all that." Her voice rose over the now-openly laughing grunts. "You seem like a really nasty piece of work."
"Maybe." It was Theta's turn to shrug. "But I'm on the winning team." More laughs and catcalls. The circle advanced a step.
"How's your organisation without N, then?" Hilda interjected as the Plasma commander opened her mouth to speak again. "Bit directionless?"
They could tell from the sudden silence that Hilda had hit a raw nerve there.
"We serve Ghetsis now." A man on the cave side of the ring spat – the same man who had first spotted them in the hidden chamber below. "He commands us, and we will take no orders from a fool like N." May noticed Theta shifting a little at this swift, harsh declaration, conflict in her eyes, but the coordinator blinked, and it was gone.
"Fool? He practically defected." Hilda mocked. There was no laughter now. More grim silence.
"Enough." Theta spoke again. "As I said, you're coming with us. No choice."
"There's always a choice." The sincerity in Hilda's words was as clear as the fire in her voice, a steely determination in her eyes. "And you all made the wrong one."
"Yeah!" May rallied alongside her. "We're not letting you take Mikey again, and you can't have us either!"
"Now that, you really don't have a choice in." The man from before cracked his knuckles as he spoke, drawing out a Poké ball. All of the circle now had said devices at the ready
"Wrong again." Hilda smirked. "You let us get outside. You'll pay for that mistake." She took hefted a Poké ball in one hand, a ball that seemed to emit an aura of righteous anger. "Zee, come on out!"
"You knew in advance that the Champion of Unova could call upon Zekrom?" Another direct question.
"Yes, my lord. I witnessed her use it to defeat Lord N, and I was amongst the wounded after the battle of the Primaris Tunnel." Theta said. Ghetsis knew that already, but wanted to make sure that she was sound. He chose not to pick up on her outdated use of address for his wayward adopted son, an action which his guards probably had suspected he would pursue. Theta had joined up under N, he had been the one to personally recruit her, a recent university graduate with an uncertain future. Plasma – N – had given her focus, a purpose, an outlet. It was understandable that she would still respect the traitor.
He would remain calm. He would hear her out.
"And yet you allowed her to get into an open space where the dragon would be able to use its abilities most effiectively?"
"Yes, my lord." Theta looked uncomfortable again, but not, Ghetsis could tell, because she regretted that action.
"Why?"
"Because…" There was clear reluctance etched into her manner now. "Because we exploited their most obvious weakness. They were unable to bring Zekrom's powers to bear."
"Wait!"
"What?" Hilda looked at the man as if he were mad, pausing at the last moment in the action of throwing Zekrom's ball.
"You don't want to do that."
"Oh? I think I do." She went to resume her action, but he cut in fast.
"Think about it. Look down at your feet and see the snivelling whelp there." Mikey shook again at the man's venomous words, somehow turning an even paler shade of white. "You use Zekrom, there's a lot of sparks, energy flying everywhere. There's the attacks of our Pokémon." His voice adopted a fake, sneering concern that contained an obvious threat. "Consider what might happen, champion."
Theta looked at her ally, alarmed at the direction he was taking them down, but said nothing. This wasn't the plan. I'm in command here. I shouldn't allow this. I shouldn't… She looked around at the other men and woman in the circle, but saw nothing but blank stares. Emotionless, uncaring faces.
"You wouldn't! You couldn't!" May balked, outraged.
"Didn't think you could sink lower, Plasma." Hilda said softly. "Guess I was wrong."
Theta gestured discreetly. The circle took a step forward again as one. Hilda raised the ball containing Zekrom higher in response, but everyone could see the private war going on in her mind.
Neither Hilda nor May wanted to risk Mikey's safety, even if it ultimately meant the loss of their freedom. They could image the despair on his mother's face magnified a thousand times if they were to be forced to bring back his unmoving body.
Theta wasn't sure she wanted to risk his safety either.
"So your unit moved up to threaten the child?"
"…Yes, my lord."
"An effective strategy." Ghetsis commented. "Have this man who proposed it commended, commander. It takes great initiative and willpower to threaten such."
"Yes, my lord." She said quietly.
There was silence for a moment as Ghetsis pondered what he had been told.
"What you have told me thus far puts you in a strong position, commander. How did you throw this away?"
"We were caught unaware, my lord. The foe seemed weaker than they actually were."
"Two conflicted trainers, a child and a single active Pokémon defeated all of you?" He raised an eyebrow.
"No, my lord. Not two trainers. Four."
"End this. Now. Before anyone gets hurt." Theta injected a note of genuine pleading into her voice as she addressed May. It was easier than talking to Hilda; the champion's visage still made the commander's blood boil.
The circle took another step forward, now barely a meter from their foe.
"What are you even doing kidnapping people, anyway?" Hilda lowered the Poké ball and glowered at Theta. "Kidnapping Pokémon and "freeing them" from their trainers, I can see how that would work from an utterly deranged point of view…"
"But this makes absolutely no sense along those lines." May finished for her.
"Obviously we can't just discuss our plans with you." Theta pointed out.
"Ghetsis did last time when I beat him." Hilda noted. "Arrogant little b-"
"As for what we're doing… You'll see for yourselves soon enough."
Hilda glared at the man, but something flying high in the sky above him caught her vision. She studied it carefully for a moment before a smug smile returned to her face.
"No, we won't."
"Misplaced confidence isn't going to help you now. Accept the futility of your situation and come quietly."
"No."
"What?"
"No. Our situation isn't hopeless." As encouraged as May was by Hilda's sudden confidence, she was still confused as to its source. Even Mikey stopped shaking as he realised how relaxed she appeared.
"You're outnumbered, surrounded on all sides. Your use of Pokémon is restricted, you've nowhere to run. What chance do you have? Why are you so confident?"
Hilda smiled, stretching her free arm out towards the ridge overlooking the plateau adjacent to the trees.
"That's why."
Ash stood there, Pikachu on one shoulder, Staraptor on the other, eyes front, anger on his face. Cynthia matched his expression, staring down at the situation below.
"Ash Ketchum and Cynthia, champion of Sinnoh." Ghetsis mused. "It seems the rumours were true. The intelligence you have gathered from this operation will be extremely useful, a failed enterprise it may have been. Expect to be fully debriefed on what you saw of their Pokémon and their capabilities once we are finished here."
"Yes, my lord." It was standard procedure, but doubly important here.
"So, they had a temporary tactical advantage; unexpected reinforcements. But the battle was not lost there. Tell me the rest, commander."
"My lord?" Theta was confused at the request for an explanation of something so mundane as a battle. "You wish to hear of the fight itself?"
"Oh, yes, commander." His eyes glinted, his expression dark. "As I said, tell me everything. Only then will I decide your fate."
There were a number of words that could be used to describe the battle that followed.
"Massacre" was one."
"Rout" was another.
Cynthia unleashed Garchomp immediately as Pikachu leapt onto Staraptor's back and the two entered the fray. The airborne assault crashed into the exposed flank of the ring, the Plasma grunts barely having the chance to bring out their own Pokémon in defence. The wall – as little of one as it actually resembled – was down in less than a minute.
Hilda and May used the confusion to call upon Reuniclus and Blaziken, the two forging a path alongside Galvantula along which the trainers hurried Mikey to safety. Ash and Cynthia slid down the ridge to meet them.
"Heya guys!"
"Perfect timing!" Hilda jumped and tackled Ash to the ground, enveloping him in an awkward hug.
"Heh… What happened to you two? Are you both all right?" Ash noticed the cuts and bruises plastering the girls' skin first. May shrugged.
Cynthia sighed. Mikey looked confused.
"Will you cut it out?" May scowled at Hilda, pointing at the rallying Plasma agents. "We're kinda in the middle of something here!"
And rallying they were, Theta scurrying around to restore order as the group collectively summoned their Pokémon. Various Trubbish, Patrat, Magnetite and Purrloin appeared, with the odd Scraggy and even a lone Houndour. For her part, Theta brought out an Umbreon with a glossy midnight coat.
Without further hesitation, Plasma's forces threw themselves at the defenders surrounding Mikey.
Cynthia called upon Spiritomb once more just before the battle was joined.
The fight conjured up a massive dust cloud obscuring the area, obscuring the vicious melee going on inside as Cynthia and May shielded Mikey from further harm. By the time the dust cloud dispersed, Team Plasma was recalling its Pokémon and fleeing the scene down into the cave and the hidden chamber.
Theta spared one last hostile glanced at Hilda, cradling her wounded Umbreon in her arms as she disappeared into the waiting darkness.
The group took a moment to breathe as an eerie silence descended on the area that had moments before been filled with the cacophony of battle.
"So, uh… You going to tell us what happened down there?" Ash asked the two girls as Cynthia fussed over Mikey.
They smiled.
"It's a long story…"
"So you retreated into the cave and effected the emergency Scorched Earth policies?"
"Yes, my lord."
He couldn't really complain. He had ordered their creation himself, after all.
The teleport links to the remote island complex from the mountain cave chamber would have been severed, all evidence destroyed and the cave sealed from the inside.
For good measure, the island itself would have been set to self-destruct upon the evacuation of the last personnel, just in case there was the slightest risk of a teleport trace.
Plasma's operations in Hoenn really were over and done.
"I see." He said finally, and lapsed into thought.
Theta was aware that her entire career; her hopes, her dreams, her vengeance – lay in the balance. Ghetsis sat in silence for a good five minutes, mulling the issue over.
She has failed us, and that is reason enough to imprison her, let alone strip her of rank.
Give her the chance and her vengeance will prove supremely useful to us.
Up until she fails again.
Even in this failure we learned vital things about our foe.
We could have found out elsewhere.
Hoenn was merely a diversion, anyway…
He closed his eyes, then opened them again, his decision made.
"Commander Theta, your failure in this matter is unfortunate, but you will have the opportunity to redeem yourself in the future. Submit yourself to the debriefing process, then return to your men and women and prepare them for their forthcoming posting. You will be given more details shortly."
Her face glowed.
"Thank you, my lord!" She paid the proper respect one last time and hurried from the room.
Ghetsis's mind went inward once more as she departed, his thoughts turning – as ever – to the future.
Theta would need watching. She was an idealist, too naïve. She could be useful, but she was also tied strongly to the old Team Plasma. The old order that had died in the ruins of the Pokémon League and had been reforged into his blade.
She – no, nothing – would be allowed to disrupt the future.
The future of the world. His future. Fates intertwined.
All starting with Unova.
Ash sat in the back of the car as they sped down to Mauville once more, sandwiched between Hilda and May. The two were cleaning and sticking plasters on their injuries while recounting their trek through the cave in increasingly grandiose terms. Mikey was ecstatic at the opportunity of sitting in the front of such an "awesome car".
And oh, the air conditioning…
The walk back to the car had been quick and uneventful, expedient primarily for the fact that the adrenaline the two girls had been running on was diminishing, and both had begun to complain about the pain of their – admittedly many – cuts and scratches.
Ash was glad to see they had both come out okay, and all were in a jubilant mood at being able to bring the once lost kid in the front seat home.
Mikey had been extremely quiet during their daring escape from the cave and the subsequent battle, but now they found that he could hardly stop talking, always asking questions. He particularly focused on what he had seen of the group's Pokémon in the battle.
"And Garchomp was sooooo cool just flying everywhere dashing in and out, and I've never even heard of Galvantula before! Or Spiritomb! What type is Spiritomb, anyway?"
"Ghost/Dark." Cynthia answered cheerfully, keeping her eyes on the dirt path that functioned as a road.
"Woah…"
"Wish I could've shown him Zee…" Hilda grinned.
"Your little Sparky's got nothing on Blaziken."
"Never call Zee that again." Hilda pouted.
May winked at her.
Less than half an hour later they were standing outside Mikey's house as he knocked on the door and was reunited with his mother. There were tears again, but of joy, this time, not sadness.
She didn't know how she'd ever be able to repay them. She invited them in for tea, which they graciously accepted.
An hour and a half later, they emerged with bellies full and spirits heartened by the good cheer that they had been able to return to the house.
Later, they were sitting in the Pokémon centre by the phones once again. Cynthia had returned the keys to the borrowed car and pointedly reclaimed her own.
They had seen Wattson on the way back, and he was delighted to hear of Mikey's safe return.
They agreed on a late dinner, but first began to discuss Plasma.
"A hidden base under the mountain. Bet no-one ever thought to check it out. I wonder how they made it…"
"Is it worth telling the league, having them clear it out?" Ash suggested. Cynthia considered it, but shook her head.
"Probably not. We can tell them, but I bet they've already destroyed anything useful like they did in Rustboro."
"True."
"We never got an answer as to what they were doing here in Hoenn kidnapping people." Hilda brought up.
"Did you expect one?"
"Well… It's just, this isn't Plasma's style. They're about Pokémon, not people. It doesn't fit with how they've acted in the past."
"Guess that means they've just changed how they work."
"For the worse."
They could all agree on that.
"How about that commander, though, that woman?" May recalled, addressing Hilda. "She really seemed to hate you. What did you ever do to her?"
"Dunno. Guess I did take down the Old Team Plasma."
"You also attacked them in the tunnel when you rescued us, and you said that she said that she had been there when May was there." Cynthia pointed out.
"Those scars did look pretty new…" Hilda stared silently at Zekrom's Poké ball, and no more on that matter was said.
"So, where next?" Ash said, changing the subject.
"I think I was wrong, Hilda was right. We should go see the Wallace and let him know." Cynthia said. "If we're unsure where Plasma is next it's better to consolidate information."
"Back south, then?"
"Not quite. Bit more interesting than that." Cynthia grinned. "Wallace is touring the region again, and his next stop takes him to a nice little seaside city. You'll love it. The ice cream's to die for."
Lilycove City, it transpired, was world famous. Hilda had heard of it all the way from Unova, and was thrilled at the prospect of their imminent trip east.
She couldn't stop talking about it during dinner, in fact. About the amazing store, the inspiring art gallery, the fabulous beach…
"What kind of art do you make then, Hilda?" Ash kept the conversation going, aiming for a gap in which Hilda was pausing for breath and to wolf down the last of her food.
"I edit movies and videos, mostly." Not the traditional kind of art, then. "Got a great big stack of files with your name on them back home, in fact, all from your league battles. I've made a lot of music videos out of those, let me tell you…"
"Heh, uh, cool, I think…"
"How about you, May? Do you do anything artistic?" Cynthia pulled May and herself onto the topic at hand, too.
"Well, I guess you could consider contest planning as an art, given how much creativity you need for all the combinations…"
"And you're really good at it, too." Ash offered, and May smiled.
"I've always enjoyed writing, personally. I guess it fits with my interests in myths and the like. I'm not that good at it, but I don't find it that hard to be creative. Not like Cameron."
"Oh?"
"Mhmm. I've never seen a man with less artistically imagination in my life."
"Uh…" Cynthia seemed unusually open to discussion. Ash wondered if she'd surreptitiously had a few with dinner while the others weren't looking, but dismissed the thought.
"Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant at what he does. Give him a plan and he'll carry it out. Give him people to command and he'll get the job done. But there's no flair, there, no spark to start the chain. He has initiative, he can adapt to overcome bad situations, but he won't be the one starting the solution."
"Uh, good to know." It was a strange topic, and Ash was glad to be away from it when Hilda and May returned to bickering about the highlights of the battle of the cave. He thought no more of it for the rest of the day.
Later still, before bed, Ash decided to switch up his party once more. He bid farewell to his Pokémon, promising to bring them back soon, then returned them and opened up a link to Professor Oak.
Due to the time zone differences, where it was nearly midnight for Ash and the others, it was only late afternoon for those in Kanto.
"Ash, great to see you, my friend!" Oak beamed. "How goes the journey?"
"Pretty good, Professor." Ash gave him a concise version of the events of the previous few days, carefully omitting some of the details about his involvement with the Pokémon league, but including his meeting Hilda and reunification with May.
"Sounds like you're doing well, then. Would you like to swap out your Pokémon, I take it?"
Ash confirmed this, and listed his new selections.
Sceptile was definitely in this time. He always needed a powerhouse, and the grass-type fit the bill perfectly.
Corphish deserved a trip out.
Swellow was next up on the flyer rotation…
Quilava came next, and Heracross rounded off the team.
Oak had been forced to have Tracy pry Heracross off of Bulbasaur's back before sending it through. As usual.
"How are the others doing, professor?"
"Your Pokémon or your friends, Ash?"
"Both." He smiled.
"I haven't heard from your friends in a couple of days, but they decided to go on a tour of Kanto. A bit of a holiday, in fact."
"That's great to hear!"
"Yes, well, I'm sure they all deserve it. As for your Pokémon, they're all doing fine. Much happier, in fact, now that they know that you're rotating them regularly."
"I was hoping so." He smiled again. "I'll do it again in a few days. Thanks, professor."
They exchanged final pleasantries and Ash hung up the call.
Cynthia, Hilda and May crammed into one room once again for the night. Ash was alone.
"Always… wanted to… see Lilycove…" Hilda was first to go, muttering amidst snores and smiling into her pillow.
May drifted off next, exhausted by the day's events.
Cynthia, too, was pleased at the way things had all turned out. With little to dwell on, she too fell asleep.
One more place to check out – and clean out, if necessary. One more scum-infested, dark pit of…
He forced himself to calm down. It had been a very long two weeks; he needed a break; they all had. That's why he had sent the rest of the league agents on one, promising to finish the job himself.
He wondered how Ash and the others were doing, wondered how Hilda had managed to get herself sent over to Hoenn, of all places.
He kept the windows closed, un-adjustable roof obviously up. The rush of the cool, night air was Cynthia's enjoyment, not his.
Driving across Unova at night could either be nigh-on impossible if the stars were obscured in the sky, or made for a glorious sight if one was close to any of the major cities, few of which actually slept. He drove north-west up from Nimbasa, then north, then east, passing over two of Unova's famous bridges in the process. He passed unclaimed forests, over mountain paths, across cleanly-paved roads. He cut the engine and parked near the Opelucid City Pokémon centre, walked in and booked a room. His target lay due south, hidden amongst the trees, but he could wait a night. Rest up, and hit them hard.
Rest up, Cameron thought, And finish whatever it is Team Plasma is planning. For good.
"I never thought I'd be so glad to see two tons of beak and claws bearing down on me at the speed of an arrow."
Mirela, Azorious Hussar, Dramatic Rescue, Return to Ravnica