First off, I want to thank you people for actually liking my fanfic. Wasn't really expecting that, so I love you guys, and I saw someone do some kind of review corner, so here's mine!
muzafarmansoor97, midnightrebellion86, Red Alfa- Thank you!
Patriot-112- I agree, the concept of rape is really...yeah, but I couldn't think of any other way that would make Ash's friends hate him. Even more.
Razzorow- Erm, Cynthia is the victim, if you don't know, but as much as I want Ash to completely tear down a competition to pieces-god knows he needs one- he will not have any legendarys. And Ash will not have Arceus, Zyonzillia.
Advancedlover- I dunno, if people want it, then i'm up for it.
Once again, thank you all, and please review!
They call themselves The Brotherhood.
It used to be called Team Rocket, but after Giovanni took over the place from those blundering idiots and that talking Meowth, he renamed it; saw fit that it would be renamed, and given a proper title. Pretty ironic, since Giovanni isn't the kind of person to be making blood brother relationships with anyone.
Except for one person.
Why he convinced Ash to join The Brotherhood twelve months ago, Giovanni will never know. Was it because he saw that Ash was alone, and hated his friends, vowing revenge? Or was it because he thought the little brat was weak; unable to get up after a severe blow, easily swayed by his emotions and clouded by his sense of anger? That he was easy to reel in?
Oh, how wrong he was. He coughed up a spit of phlegm, and slumped on the wall. This was his life now, having a swig of rum every night, drinking his problems away. He had naught a nickel to his name, only the clothes on his back, and this place. This overgrown, flea-infested pile of rubble.
An abandoned Brotherhood base.
Just like every night, he would lie down on his bed, and take a bottle to his dreams. This base definitely had more than enough for him, and the only comfort he felt tonight was the steady rhythm of waves lapping on the beach, crashing its banks on the quays, and the rotting boats that filled the harbor to its rim.
The harbor that he used to own.
Tonight was especially brutal; he had lost in a game of dices earlier with a bunch of teenage hooligans, and they beat him up when he refused to pay. He snorted at the recurring scene of him whimpering under the teenagers' fierce blows, and then leaving him to his demise. If he was still the Brotherhood's leader, he would have clapped all of them in diamond chains and pour boiling lava over them until they cook alive. But he's not now. His hand clenched on the empty bottle, and he hurled it against the wall. It shattered with a deafening clang, and sent shards spraying around his bed.
''Ash. Ketchum.'' He gritted his teeth. ''I hoped you had fun groping around my life, and making it a wreck. I suppose you think you're superior to everybody else now, yes?'' He cackled with laughter, undeterred by the fact that he was talking to nothing.
''Watch your back, Ash Ketchum. I made you a commander of my organisation, and you rose quickly in ranks, unburdened by mercy or restraint. I watched you plot your revenge against the ones you used to love, and I saw you waiting patiently for the chance to quench your vengeance.'' He rested his weary legs on the bed, ignoring its whining. He turned on his side to gaze at the only thing Ash Ketchum allowed him to keep after being banished.
A Pokemon League Expo hat. Ash's...Pokemon League Expo hat. Giovanni still did not understand why Ash gave it to him; after all, it was his first hat, and he used to boast to the former Brotherhood leader that he had to send a million postcards to win the hat. Which, at the time Giovanni thought was utterly useless, but as he slowly turned over the red and white hat, on his bed, inside a cargo box on a floating harbor, he thought that the hat had to have some sort of sentimental value to Ash.
So why did he discard it?
''Ready bud?'' Ash whispered to his furry yellow friend, occupying the most of his jacket.
''Pika!'' The reply was short and clipped, as if Pikachu was getting tired of Ash's constant queries.
Ash chuckled faintly. ''Of course bud,'' He stepped forward, making sure he was as normal as possible, and approached the receptionist counter. The place looked gorgeous, with a marble water fountain at the sides, encrusted swords lining the walls of the bank, a nice diamond chandelier to top it off, and the chick at the counter was a nice bonus.
All this money, and they couldn't install CCTVs. Typical of the upper class, Ash thought. He shuffled closer, making sure that Pikachu wasn't scratching against his chest, and elbowed the counter.
''Good morning sir,'' The chick greeted cheerfully, and Ash's eyes boggled at the size of her...cough. ''How may I help you?''
''You can help me get excited,'' Ash said wryly; he never was much of a charm speaker. ''Excited to leave this place, I mean.''
''Oh.'' Her voice was small and quiet, and Ash thought she was new to the job. Much easier, then.
''Just kidding,'' He chuckled, discreetly tapping on the side of his jacket; the mic that connected him to the rest of his teammates. ''I was just wondering if your services are...exceptional. I've heard many praises, but I don't believe any.''
The woman huffed and crossed her arms, showing of the name tag that stuck to her shirt: 'Jaina Summers'. It was also showing off something else, but Ash was trying hard not to think about that at the moment.
That does not imply that he thinks about them anywhere else.
''Of course this place is the best bank you've ever met in your entire life!'' She said proudly, waving a hand around the room. ''Just look at this beautifully ornate plastic flower!'' She held up a potted rose.
''That's a real flower.''
''Same thing. Anyway!'' She clapped her hands together. ''This bank is guaranteed one hundred percent sub-standard!''
Ash felt a small vibration in his jacket, and he knew that Pikachu had fallen asleep. Ash couldn't blame the small rodent; he would be sleeping right now if it wasn't for the task at hand.
He leaned closer, pretending to look around the room fervently, then asked the million dollar question. ''I'm looking for someone.''
''Is it me?'' She asked.
''No. But you are just as important as my target!'' Ash replied, and Jaina giggled.
''Well, if you're not looking for me, then who are you looking for?''
Ash smiled deviously. ''Your brother. Brock Summers.''
Brock whistled merrily, twirling about in his shoes; he had just gone and asked May out on a date, and she said maybe! May's been really uptight and quiet ever since Ash...left, and Brock decided to spice up her life, and his. He stepped in front of his humble bank, remembering when he inherited it from his dad after he died. It had grown so much since then, and Brock was ready to step in and greet his favorite sister!
He pushed open the doors, and saw that everything was pitch black. ''Jaina? Don't try to prank me, it lost its touch after the hundredth attempt.''
When no reply came, Brock got increasingly worried. He pushed open the main lobby door, past the 'Employers only' room, and into the receptionist counter, and he choked back a gasp.
''Jaina!''He crouched down to the dying sister, clasping her hand tightly. ''What happened!''
She sputtered out blood, and beckoned Brock to lean in closer. The latter complied, and Jaina whispered ''Someone...wanted...to look...for you. He...he tortured me after...I...I'' She coughed, and wheezed.
''Easy, easy.'' Brock gently reassured her, pressing his palm against her back. ''Take it slowly.''
''I...refused to tell...but...but...he didn't give up...he used his Pokemon...and kept trying to...make me...'' Her voice trailed off, and Brock knew it was a matter of minutes before she made her last breath.
''Jaina...I love you.'' He pressed her hand to his cheek. ''I'll go down to the depths of hell to save you. I'll sacrifice an eye if it means you're safe. Now please...please tell me the bast! #$ that did this to you; he won't see another day.''
''No...no.'' She managed to say, before coughing up another mouthful of blood. ''Too...strong. Promise me...you're not going to get revenge.''
''I promise.'' He assured. ''But there's one thing I want to know before you leave. Who was the guy's Pokemon?''
''A...a Pikachu.'' She whispered to his ear, before falling limply on his lap.
He cried. He shed tears, and let them spill down his cheeks. He'd lost a loved one, and he had a dreaded feeling that Jaina isn't going to be the last. He stood up, knowing what to do, and grabbed the phone, dialing a number he knew by heart.
''Hmm?'' A voice asked sleepily. ''Brock? What happened? Why are you calling so late at night?''
''Something's up.'' Brock said grimly. ''Jaina's dead. And Ash killed her.''
There was a gasp on the receiving end, followed by a sigh. ''What do we do, Brock? I'm scared!''
''Call the others, and meet me at the Marble Pavilion.'' Brock replied. ''Jaina's not going to be the last. We need to group together. And I have a plan.''
Cynthia looked at her phone; it read ''Ash is alive, and he killed Jaina. Quickly meet at the Marble Pavilion! Brock has a plan!''
She replied, ''Ok!'', and quickly set off in the direction of the Town Square. She took the overgrown forest path, simply because it was the fastest way to get there. It was said to be haunted, but Cynthia didn't care. She wanted to be safe.
Suddenly, a shadow stepped in front of her, and she stopped, her heart ramming into her ribs. Was it true? Do ghosts really exist?
The figure turned to her, and she couldn't see anything, other than the fact that it was completely hidden because of the black hood, and that it was completely draped in black clothing. It drifted to her, and she stumbled back to a tree, squealing.
''It's just me.'' The figure said, and Cynthia relaxed.
''You nearly scared me!'' She snapped, then saw the small glint of an object underneath its robes. ''...What's that?''
''I take it you know Ash is alive.''
She nodded slowly. ''I wish he died! He...he raped...he...''
''He didn't.'' Cynthia could feel the figure smile deviously. ''I just paid someone to pose as him. You wouldn't believe how easy it was to frame him, since you were so sure it was him.''
Cynthia's heart leaped; they'd been deceived for a year?! What happened to Ash?
''You won't get away with this!'' She cried. ''I'm going to tell every-''
''Too late.'' The knife gleamed in the air before it impaled Cynthia, and all she could think was, how did she not see this coming? Why didn't it occur to her that the perpetrator would be the person in front of her?!
''Goodbye, Cynthia.'' The figure smiled, and disappeared into the shadows. Quickly, Cynthia dipped her finger in the wound, wincing at the searing pain, and started scribbling away at the tree behind her. Her consciousness was slowly fading, and she pleaded to Arceus to have enough will left to write what she needed.
She didn't get to find out. The darkness seeped into her vision, and engulfed her whole.
''Well, we got shit.'' Ash conceded, walking back to the Brotherhood headquarters. ''Jaina was completely useless.''
''Pika Pika?'' His Pikachu asked worriedly, and Ash knew what it was trying to say.
''For your info, Pikachu, she was still alive the last time I saw her. I mean, come on, all you did was a few Discharges, nothing else! She'll barely survive, but she still alive!'' Ash scoffed.
''Pika Pi.'' The Pikachu gave a deadpan expression. Ash chuckled, and made his way through the winding path.
''Ash, I picked up something.'' It was James, Ash's former annoying Team Rocket Rival, and now full time assistant Radioman. ''You'll want to see this.''
''What is it?''
''Text messages. Your 'friends' are meeting at the Marble Pavilion.'' James replied.
Ash gritted his teeth. ''Come on Pikachu, let's take a detour. I'd want to see how my old buddies are doing. James, don't expect me to come back tonight. Set up the plan tomorrow.''
''Roger!'' And the speaker went flat. Ash looked at his Pikachu, and saw that it had the same grim, determined expression as him. It had gone through the same feeling of betrayal as Ash, and had nothing left in its heart but limitless vehemence, just like Ash.
''I can reach the place in five minutes.''
Pikachu held up its paws and showed three fingers.
''You're on.''
Started out writing like a boss, then degenerated to writing one liners. Such is the prowess of BaneofPigs.
Two deaths in one chapter. Wonder if I should actually make this M rated?
