Readers beware, swearing appears up ahead
With their commander defeated and their base in shambles, it wasn't long before the remaining Pokemon forces surrendered the base and admitted defeat.
A couple of hours after the cave in, NAA soldiers came and retrieved those trapped inside. Knight was recovered first, beaten and unconscious, with Light not far behind and in the same condition. The troops found Silver next. She was protected by the very rocks that prevented her from intervening and only suffered from lack of air. In similar condition, was Nate who was able to jump out of the room just before the entire ceiling came in. Last, but not least, was Grunt. He was buried under in the deepest part of the cavern covered in dust and rocks, his body riddled with cuts and bruises and barely clinging to life.
Silver and Nate were able to recover within a few weeks of the battle, while Light took a month to get back to full health. When the next strategy meeting was called, only one member was still down for the count.
"How dare you call this meeting when one of our own is still recovering!" Silver yelled as Light walked into the room.
"Grunt is stable but just isn't waking up." Light replied. "I don't see that as a valid reason to delay preparation for the next battle."
"Still wouldn't it be better to wait until everyone is fully healed before making our final assualt?" Momo asked.
"We've already waited too long for my liking." Light said, "Would you stop when our goal is within our grasp? The humans down there are in a worse position than the Pokemon here in Verdanturf. They know we're coming and that fear could lead them-"
"To make rash and unpredictable decisions, we know." Nate cut in. "But isn't that just more of a reason to wait for Grunt to heal?"
"With Rustboro being an independent commercial district, Petalburg is the last city on the mainland not under New Age Alliance control." Light explained,"Just like our debut, we must strike while the iron is hot to ensure our victory."
"At this point it's not so much about 'striking while the iron is hot' but conquering the mainland before we realize just how big of an ass you really are!" Silver stated bluntly. "Are we even going to talk about the decision you made in that cavern?"
"I only did what I thought had to be done." Light said. "That being said if Grunt had perished due to my actions I would've been deeply saddened."
"Deeply saddened? DEEPLY SADDENED?!" Nate yelled, pointing an accusing finger toward Light. "You almost killed my best friend and all you can say is that you're deeply saddened?!"
"Yes." Light replied calmly, "Despite my decision, Grunt did Not die-"
"Yet..." Silver muttered under her breath.
"Still he did not die," Light continued "And we should focus on that fact."
"You might be able to focus on that fact but I'm still stuck on how you could even begin to consider Grunt as an acceptable sacrifice."
"I'm with Nate on this." Silver replied, "This is not the kind of thing that can go unpunished."
"Can't we cut him a little slack?" Momo broke, trying to break the rising tension. "While I agree that we have to do something about what Light did, but without him we wouldn't have even gotten off the ground."
"No." Light replied to everyone's shock. "I knew my decision would have consequences and I will accept whatever punishment you place upon me, after our next battle."
"What?!" Silver cried in disbelief. "Here we are debating about how you may be unfit to lead and you want us to follow into battle again even after admitting we may be right?! I say we need a new commander immediately."
"But..." Momo started, not wanting to make such a large change before a decisive battle.
"Fine." Light said, "As a sign of good faith, I'll give the title of commander to one of you, but only in public. I will still create our strategy before the battle and participate in its execution but to the eyes of the NAA, the new commander will receive the credit."
"I think that sounds fair." Nate replied, "We'll decide amongst ourselves who the new commander will be while Light creates the battle strategy. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Silver and Momo answered, with very different levels of enthusiasm.
"I'll take my leave here then." Light stated as he rose from his seat. "Once a decision is finalized, inform me so that I know who I'm turning the reins over to.
After leaving the room, Light thought They have every right to be angry with me. This turnover of command is the perfect way to begin to make amends. Once Petalburg is ours and the neutral state is secure, I'll completely turn over command and work to fully regain their trust, Hell maybe I'll finally come clean about my identity. Things may have been a little rocky recently, but the New Age Alliance still has a bright future waiting for it just around the corner.
Back in the meeting room
"Which one of us should take command?" Momo asked
"Obviously it should be one of you." Nate replied, "You two have experience leading resistance cells."
"It should be you Momo." Silver said, "Light may have taken it over but this cell was still originally yours."
"While that may be true, I didn't exactly have the best track record while leading the cell. You have a much better track record from the Queen's Guard, it should be you."
"You have a point Momo." Nate cut in "Right now, the opinion of Light is at an all time low with our troops. While I agree that Momo should be given command, she has been right beside Light throughout his entire command. His bad press may transfer to you."
"All the more reason to give command to Silver." Momo replied, "Her track record from the Queen's Guard speaks for itself in terms of differentiating her from Light and since she is already the public face of the Alliance, the troops will almost certainly accept her command."
"That settles it." Nate said, bowing theatrically in front of Silver, "Will you accept command of our forces?"
Momo did the same and said "The position is yours all you have to do is say yes."
"But... But" Silver stammered, feeling very self conscious all of a sudden.
"What are you waiting for? Take the job!" Nate said.
"I can't thank you enough for this opportunity... Yes! I'll do it!" Silver stated, overcome with excitement.
"Congratulations, Commander." Nate said as he rose.
"There isn't another person who I would trust more with this command." Momo said as she rose.
"Thank you, both of you." Silver said. "I'm pretty sure that was all we had to do today so as my first official act as commander I call this meeting adjourned."
As the girls began to move toward the door, Nate said, "There's actually something else I'd like to discuss."
"What is it Nate?" Momo asked.
"It's about your investigation of Light... I want in."
"What made you change your mind?" Silver asked.
"He nearly killed my best friend and didn't even blink an eye about it. The only way I'm ever going to be able to trust him again is if I know who he really is."
"That's exactly what we're trying to figure out." Silver replied. "We'll fill you in."
"So far we don't have very much to go on." Momo said. "We started at the Tower of Thunder we saw at the Battle of Slateport and have been working backwards from there"
"Apparently there was another Tower of Thunder seen during a battle between humans and Pokemon here in Verdanturf a few months back." Silver continued, "But we haven't been able to find any witnesses or useful information from accounts of the battle."
"I might be able to help you there." Nate said, "The guy I faced during our battle, that Flamerunner guy, mentioned something about knowing who caused the Tower of Thunder back then."
"Really?!" Silver said, nearly jumping down Nate's throat, "Did he give a name?"
"Yes he said it was his squad mate, Shoteneko."
"Di we have any other way of verifying this information?" Momo asked, "Flamerunner was pretty messed up from your attack and we need to be absolutely certain before we confront Light."
"I might be able to help you out there too." Nate said as he pulled out his communicator, "Send out an AK pilot near Mt. Chimney and tell her to spread the word that AK pilot Nate is looking for The Don."
AN: Two chapters in two weeks?! I must be crazy! But some serious plot development happened this chapter as we get set for the final battle of the second arc. Anyone remember who The Don is? Props if you do.
Last chance to submit an OC for Petalburg! See chapter 17 for details.
Will The Don hold the key to Light's mysterious past? How will our heroes confront him when they find out? And will this Dragon Ball Z gag ever get old? Find out next time on Pokemon New Age.