Back in Machu Picchu, Meowth gently cornered the first of the ancient site's namesakes he could find the instant he was off-duty. "Hey dere, buddy. Have ya seen a coivy redhead goil like dis?" He did a great impression of Jessie's snooty strut for the Pichu. The tiny mouse's replies of, "Pi. Pichu," were polite but disappointing. Meowth tried again, "'Kay, hows 'bout a skinny bluehaired blueblood like dis?" He did an even better impression of James' silly shuffle. The response was just as negative.
Rosa the tour hostess had observed the exchange with a frown. "Machu Picchu is very big and winding," she advised, "The Pichu clan protects the colony from predatory Pokémon, but the jungle can be dangerous, so-" She didn't get any further as Meowth, alarmed, jumped into her arms. Meowth finished for her, "So's I can stay with ya for a little longer? Tanks, doll, ya read my mind."
His fur tickled her when he rubbed against her neck and chin. She laughed, "At least until we go back to town. If worst comes to worst, I'll see you back to your peoples' hotel, okay?"
"Yer a real lady," Meowth gushed, "I bet yer sick o' beatin' off every boy fer miles around." As Rosa blushed her thanks, Meowth spared another look around for his friends, wondering where in the world of Pokémon they could've disappeared to.
In the tourist village at the base of that selfsame mountain, Ash and Misty were bored out of their gourds. With Pikachu and Togetic at their feet, the couple reclined against the double beds they'd pushed together to make a single king-size. Ash had to admit that he'd found Gringo Bill's Hotel more pleasant on the inside than on the outside. Probably due to the recent renovations. Yet the novelty of seeing one of Misty's favorite movies, The Houndoom of the Baskervilles, dubbed in Spanish wasn't much of a distraction from the stress constantly nagging at him. Only a few minutes after Rudy and Giovanni had disappeared and Ash was fighting the urge to start climbing the walls. Misty's constant, impatient shifting next to him let Ash know she agreed although she refused to voice it.
"Okay, that's it," Ash threw up his hands, "I'm not waiting around anymore." But even as he slid off the bed, Misty overcame her own impatience to warn, "Rudy was right. We can't do any digging; our translators will make us stand out like sore thumbs. We've got to stay and keep up our disguise."
Ash blinked back at her briefly. The long, dark-haired wig and nerdy glasses combined with her frumpy tourist clothes to make a real difference to her appearance. But different enough to fool Lawrence III's minions? Ash fervently hoped so.
Trying to lighten him up, Misty observed sweetly, "You look good with a beard. Maybe you should grown one of your own later." Ash resisted the urge to pull the itchy blonde beard and mustache off his own face once more. His disguise was no cheesy false beard hung on by wires around his ears. It was full-fledged theatrical makeup stuck to his face with spirit gum. He'd never get it back on again in time if the door opened suddenly. He didn't like his matching blonde wig much either, since it forced him to forgo his hat. Ash settled for quipping, "Thanks for the fashion tip. Your new look does wonders for you too."
She shrugged, letting his irritation pass. Something on the TV caught her eye next and Misty sat up noticeably. "Hey, look at that, this town's got hot springs just like back home. Oh, I could use a good soak right now," she moaned.
"Go for it," Ash replied.
"We've got to stay," she reiterated.
"Oh yeah?" Ash challenged, "How much you want to bet we're the only tourists in the whole town staying cooped up right now? Think that won't make us stand out too?"
If she was perfectly honest with herself, Misty knew the logic of that troubled her a bit. But there was some logic to it, despite coming from Ash, and she was just as terribly listless as he. "Okay, but we shouldn't go together," she finally decided, "Rudy might be back any time."
"You read my mind," Ash observed, "It's time for me to change my Pokémon roster anyway. Let me hit the Pokémon Center and when I get back, you can tackle the hot springs first."
He received her quizzical gaze in return. "There's a Pokémon Center here?"
Ash was nonplussed. "I think I saw it next to the train station when we pulled in."
Suddenly suspicious she was being duped, Misty narrowed her eyes and raised a warning hand at him. Recognizing the look, Ash backed up with his hands in the air for surrender. "I'm not lying, I swear. Straight to the Pokémon Center and straight back."
His love mulled it over briefly. "Okay, but remember: We can't call Duplica and Brock either."
Ash mused, "They're gonna kill us."
"What do you mean, us?" Misty grinned right back at him, "I wasn't the last one on the phone with them. Wasn't me, Brock, I told him to call you first, yup, that's what I said."
Ash belied his words of, "Such loyalty," by kissing her quickly. He added, "Glad to know I can count on somebody besides Pikachu around here. C'mon, Pikachu." Ash and Pikachu turned to the door, the trainer raising Pikachu's Pokéball. Ash added, "Sorry, buddy. I'm sick of this disguise too." Pikachu only nodded resignedly.
Misty broke in with a pat of the bed near her and an earnest call, "Hey, you've spent almost two days in that thing, Pikachu. Stay here with me and relax for a few more minutes." Besides, Misty added to herself, it would provide more incentive for Ash to stay out of trouble if Pikachu wasn't present.
Neither of the men in her life suspected her ulterior motive. Pikachu looked up at Ash, who nodded wholehearted agreement before pointing out, "I'll have the rest of our Pokémon friends with me. Nothing's going to happen." Finally convinced, Pikachu hopped back up next to Misty, bidding Ash a happy, "Pika-aaa!" farewell.
Ash had a short walk back to the train station. Giovanni hadn't been kidding when he'd said Machu Picchu Village was tiny; it only seemed to have one major road. So as long as the building he'd spotted really was a Pokémon Center, finding it should be a snap. He chose a path through the milling crowds and stuck to it confidently in case potential muggers were watching.
A pair of crafty eyes were indeed studying him from a dark alley, but their owner had no intention of stealing Ash's Pokémon. Which was a little ironic, given their mutual past. Giovanni studied Ash's course unblinkingly. Without turning his head, Giovanni called softly into the dimness behind him, "Ten minutes. Pay up."
Soundlessly, Rudy stepped out of the deeper shadows to join Giovanni at blending into the mouth of the alley. Just as quietly, Rudy passed over a few bills. Giovanni took them and quickly turned to favor Rudy with an upraised eyebrow. Rudy clarified, "Half the bet because you were only half-right. He's enroute and on time, but Pikachu is in his Pokéball as he should be."
"Yes, Ash does seem to have finally gained some maturity," Giovanni admitted just as softly, "Half it is, then." After tucking his winnings away, Giovanni took a step closer to his compatriot. The dim alley turned both men almost completely into shadows. Giovanni's bald skin cap disguise gleamed; Rudy's dark goatee and wig presented no such problem.
Giovanni observed casually, "Now that that's settled, let us secure some privacy. It is high time we discussed our plans for success." Rudy nodded.
The shadows vanished up the alleyway.
Meanwhile, Ash had been correct. The building was indeed the local Pokémon Center. And just like the operations back home in the Kanto region, it was open 24/7 for all your emergency trainer needs. Although Ash found it more than a little jarring to see somebody besides Nurse Joy sitting at the reception desk, talking into the vidphone. Not to say this pretty lady wasn't just as easy on the eyes as Joy; but it certainly was different.
Ash greeted her nervously, "Good morning, Nurse. Do you speak Japanese, by any chance?"
The woman turned to him, lighting up with a proud smile. "I speak eight languages fluently, sir. We have many international visitors in this town. One moment, please…" She turned back to her conference call. Ash was surprised to see three faces identical to the lady before him, right down to the same nurse's uniform, on each split screen involved with the call. Looked like Japan wasn't the only country with a vast family of identical nurses. The more things change… Ash thought.
Wrapping up her business and signing off, the woman turned her attention fully to him. "I'm Nurse Alegría; how can I help you, Mr.-?"
Ash, very happy that the language barrier was no barrier at all, was quickly set up on a computer terminal in the corner. Once Nurse Alegría left, Ash pulled each Pokéball off of his belt, one by one, and released the occupants. Venusaur, Blastoise, Typhlosion, Sneasel, and Pidgeot all stretched and gratefully took in some fresh air. Most looked calmly prepared for what they knew was coming. Sneasel was the only one who appeared irritated.
Ash reminded the little Dark- and Ice-Type Pokémon, "You know the drill. I promised in Blackthorn City to treat all of my Pokémon better. Which now includes switching up my team once a week. Get to know and train everyone." Then he turned his attention to his entire Pokémon team. Ash added, "I'm going to mix it up even more this time."
That got their full attention. Ash explained, "We're all a team, in the end, but some of us work together better than with others." Typhlosion and Pidgeot turned to look down at Sneasel; Blastoise and Venusaur politely refrained from doing so. Ash continued, "That's my fault; I've been kinda keeping certain groups together. That's got to change if all of us are going to grow as a unit. So please, nobody take this personally, but some of you will stay this time and some will get a nice rest back at Tracey's lab."
Most of the Pokémon remained outwardly impassive, but all five instantly began wondering if Ash would ever include his obvious favorite, Pikachu, in the benched group. Sneasel gave voice to the shared thought by squatting down to Pikachu's height before throwing up a V-for-Victory sign and chirping. The other Pokémon groaned and shifted nervously, afraid Ash could tell they privately agreed with her and be punished also.
Whether or not Ash noticed the group's feelings, he certainly did not appreciate the mockery. More than a little defensively, he explained, "Pikachu's not here; just his empty Pokéball. I can't bench him that way, can I?" Afraid she had pushed too far, Sneasel straightened up to rub Ash's thigh with her cheek and purr.
Her trainer wasn't fooled but had already made up his mind anyway. "Attitude like that is one of the main reasons I need to train you," he admonished with a warning finger, "So yes, you'll stay, Sneasel. Don't make me regret it." Who, me? Sneasel's wide eyes said. The rest of the Pokémon seemed glad to be free of Sneasel's antics for awhile.
Ash sighed and returned all his friends to their Pokéballs. Then he put them into the tray next to the computer. For a second, he bit his lip; he'd have to sign in as himself. Oh well, he'd already shown off his Pokémon team and blown his cover if anybody was looking. He might as well finish this little chore. Within seconds a transcontinental link to Prof. Sketchit's Pokémon Lab (formerly Prof. Oak's) back in Pallet Town was established.
The Pokémon Master studied the lineup. He'd been way too predictable lately, even though he billed himself as a Diverse Team trainer. So instead of trading, say, Grass-Type Venusaur for Grass-Type Meganium, Ash decided to get used to fielding unfamiliar types as well. Soon Blastoise was swapped for Muk, Venusaur for Heracross, and Pidgeot for Tauros. He considered keeping Typhlosion despite the friction with Sneasel. But in the end, the flame shrew had been having really bad luck in battle lately; a rest would do him a world of good.
With Typhlosion swapped for Donphan, Ash's lineup for the week was complete. Shutting off the computer and yawning widely with a sudden onrush of fatigue, Ash tromped back to his room at Gringo Bill's. He fully intended to keep conscious company to Togetic and Pikachu as Misty took her turn at the hot springs. Yet a few minutes of infomercials, still boring through the difference in language, dropped all three of them into a deep, dreamless sleep as Misty soaked some of her cares away.
The caretaker's hut of Machu Picchu was not very large. Nor was it equipped with very many modern devices. A couple of lamps joined the electrical heater in a modern defense against the ancient problems of dark, cold nights and damp, rainy days alike. The black-and-white TV looked anachronistic next to the digital tuner; the tape deck was literally between both in physical placement and design. Far more local flavor filled the hut in the form of clay pots, woven baskets, and intricate clothing.
Juanita had cleared her sole table to allow Raichu to sprawl across it. She'd soothed the Pokémon's pain with herbal drugs already. Raichu's semiconscious eyes rolled all around the hut, only occasionally flitting to her hands as she cleaned and sewed his wounds. Juanita whispered sweet nothings to comfort her little friend the whole time. Shortly she finished. Laying her hand gently atop Raichu's head, she advised the little Pokémon to sleep fully. "Rai…" the kangaroo mouse sighed, drifting off into a restless sleep at her touch.
The human considered. She would prefer to stay and watch over Raichu for a bit and be certain there was no infection. The Noche del Maullar was very important; but it was also very late in the night. It was not quite midmorning; she could spare a little time.
Now she just needed a way to occupy it. Preferably something that didn't involve thinking about that crazy gringa. Without tending Raichu to keep her busy, Juanita found Jessie's face springing constantly before her mind's eye. Why did this pushy tourist bother her compared to the millions she met every year? Every day? Especially since she'd been called far worse than 'Mother'.
Juanita stepped sharply to the tape deck. Without having to think about it, she automatically selected her favorite cassette, one of Blue Flyhight's classics, out of the few albums she owned and started to put it in. But when she opened the cassette case, the title of the album drew her eye. The writing was in Japanese.
She knew Japanese.
She had always known Japanese. She had been forced to learn Spanish. Unlike America, Peru enforced its official language by not providing every little bit of writing in a second tongue.
The thought brought an onrush of old pain. Juanita winced at the white lance going through her skull, catching herself on the tape deck's shelf, the discarded cassette clattering to the ground. Her earliest memories began as an adult. Whenever she attempted to look further back into her past, this pain came upon her. It had been many, many years since she had bothered to try; living purely in the present. Living for Machu Picchu.
It hurt too much. Juanita stopped pushing against the veil in her mind. Tears of pain already coated her cheeks. She straightened up as much as her perpetual stoop would allow, wiping her face clean to reclaim her dignity.
Just in time; a soft knock came at her door. She found the strength to give her usual bellicose response, "What?"
Lawrence III stumped in, a cane in each hand to support him. Annie and Oakley slipped in quietly, shutting the door behind. With four people occupying the hut, it was at maximum capacity. Juanita put a brave face on it, hoping her visitors wouldn't see the tracks of her tears, despite being close enough to count each other's freckles. She added, "Why are you bothering me, Sir Lawrence? The preparations are on schedule."
"They are indeed," Lawrence III agreed heartily, "thanks to your influence, dear Juanita." He leaned his hip against her table for better support, casting a pointed gaze onto the wounded Raichu still sleeping there to reinforce his point as he continued, "I understand you had a spot of trouble at the Intihuatana earlier."
Juanita's discomfort at the reminder of the gringa was buried in honest anger at Raichu's wounds. "Your people did this to Raichu," she accused, "You violated our deal." It only took her a single step in the close confines to bring her stooped face even with Lawrence III's own. She poked his chest after each warning sentence to drive her points home, "Raichu leads the entire clan of Machu Picchu. I lead him. You want your whole crew to get an express trip to the bottom of the mountain?"
His guards shifted ominously at the threat, but Lawrence III only smiled warmly. In a matching voice, he soothed, "Juanita, Juanita. It was an unfortunate misunderstanding. Your kind-hearted friend, Raichu, thought my employees were molesting a pair of innocent tourists and nobly stood up for them. What neither you nor Raichu realized was that these tourists were anything but innocent."
Juanita drew back and relaxed slightly; his words had the ring of truth to her. After all, how could that gringa not have been crazy? Mother, indeed… The white veil in her mind flashed again, briefly; but it was enough to make Juanita stumble and feel her temple.
Lawrence III instinctively dropped one cane to steady her with that hand. Oakley instantly bent and scooped it up for him. With a nod of thanks to Oakley, Lawrence III wondered, "Are you all right, Juanita? Defending themselves against overeager Pokémon is one thing, but if my employees harmed you, I shall have them severely punished."
Anger with the constant image of the gringa before her and her visitors seeing her weakness alike fueled Juanita's pride to make her pull away sharply. "Is okay," she slurred a little through the fading pain, "Your people not attack me." Recovering quickly, she asked Lawrence, "Who…who was this gringa and her friend, then?"
Lawrence III smiled broadly as he reassured, "Just a couple of noxious busybodies who've gotten underfoot before. Pay them no further mind. I came to make amends in two ways: First, allow my personal Pokémon veterinarian to look after Raichu, gratis."
Her response was a quick shake of her head, which had finally stopped throbbing. The wizened man had expected her refusal and wasn't phased by it at all. He took it in stride and kept going, "Secondly, I came to fulfill the next step in our bargain personally. Would you care to accompany me to the Intihuatana?"
Juanita paused, considering. "Noche del Maullar requires the extraction during the ceremony. Not before."
Lawrence III pointed out mildly, "Our sensors have confirmed the object's presence, but not its exact makeup." Retrieving his cane from Oakley, Lawrence III pulled himself to his feet as he admitted, "I knew this would bother you so I didn't suggest it before. Yet we need to make sure it's there, and that it is what we think it is, or the ceremony will be a rather dismal failure, won't it? I know you'll want to be there at its unveiling. Please, join us."
Juanita couldn't disguise a thrill of excitement that shivered across her body at the thought of finally laying eyes on something she'd guarded for decades. Even if it was a few hours early. Her remaining misgivings yielded to Lawrence III's logic as she nodded.
It took a while for the group to make it across Machu Picchu to the Intihuatana. Between his apparent age and lack of acclimation to the high altitude, Juanita wasn't surprised to see Lawrence III draw from a portable oxygen canister frequently. Which didn't dampen her fiery impatience over it. After what felt like a couple of years to her, they were back at the site. Lawrence's Army was at the plaza's entrances, keeping the tourists out. The technicians were still working across the open space, somewhat aided and somewhat hindered by the omnipresent Pokémon of Machu Picchu.
Juanita frowned at the workers nearest the Intihuatana itself. Lawrence III had warned her about the equipment they were setting up, but she still hadn't expected the machinery to be so large. Only the cliff directly behind the Intihuatana was untouched. Both sides around it were becoming choked with gleaming machines, pipes, and wires that stood out from the stone and cultivated flora of Machu Picchu. Juanita doubted the tents that were supposed to cover all this mechanical marvel next would keep it from disrupting the Noche del Maullar. She swallowed her thoughts for the moment, however; Lawrence III had been right that it would not matter if the ceremony's sacred object was not inside the Intihuatana to begin with.
Drawing near to the stone slab itself, Lawrence III pulled a Pokéball from his pocket. "Alakazam, I choose you," he said. The next thing he pulled from his pocket was a pair of custom gloves for his Pokémon, adding, "Don't forget these." His fairly humanoid Psychic-Type eagerly tugged the unfamiliar clothing on as he was bid. Lawrence III turned a warm smile onto Juanita, indicating the gloves, "You see? I'm not trying to destroy your customs. Only you, the Nusta, can touch the orb. It will be returned to its rightful place immediately, rest assured."
Juanita nodded, eager despite herself. Lawrence III looked down at his Pokémon to command, "Alakazam, find the orb. Use Teleport."
The Pokémon paused, thrusting out a single arm with an open palm toward the Intihuatana. A soft aura glowed around him, visible evidence of his mind's search for what Lawrence III's mechanical sensors had told him was hidden within the very rock. Shortly he found it. With a small 'poof' of displaced air, Alakazam was suddenly clutching a orb in his gloved hand. Bowing a respectful, "Alakazam!", the Pokémon held up his prize for all to see.
Annie had to offer a small grin of appreciation to Alakazam's skill and the ancient Inca's sneaky ways alike with her comment of, "No wonder there weren't any hidden openings in the rock. Only teleporting could get the orb in or out. Nice."
The jade orb was a smooth crystal globe about the size of a man's fist. That simple description did not do it justice, for the translucent orb was lit from within by a softly pulsing emerald light. Annie and Oakley exchanged avaricious glances behind Lawrence III's back. Annie whispered, "I wonder who would pay more for it; the museum or the jeweler." Oakley responded in kind, "I don't know, but I'd love to find out."
Without looking back at them, Lawrence III hissed quietly, "Shut up."
Fortunately for the three of them, Juanita was too enraptured by the jade orb to notice their disrespect. Although she'd intended not to touch the orb early, Juanita found herself fighting the urge. Her gaze was locked into the soft, rhythmic pulses of emerald light. Slowly, both her hands came up from her sides, reaching gently to encircle the orb without quite doing so.
"Alakazam?" the Psychic-Type wondered, casting a curious glance to his master. A steadying motion of Lawrence III's hand made Alakazam simply remain still, awaiting Juanita's decision. Oakley questioned this ploy too, leaning over his shoulder to whisper in Lawrence III's ear, "What if she triggers it right now? We're not ready."
Lawrence III only had eyes for the shifting emotions of Juanita's face when he replied softly, "A calculated risk. It could take time for the Pokémon to travel from…wherever it is to get here in time for the ceremony. And how will it even know to come if she doesn't call it? The hidden orb hasn't actually been used in centuries." Her continuing frown said how much she didn't like it, but Oakley yielded to her lover's desires.
Juanita's battle of emotions came to an end. Her hands, unprotected by gloves, gently clasped around the orb and lifted it from Alakazam's clutch. Her eyes never left the orb as she gently cradled it to her bosom. "It's…warm…" she whispered, "…pulses…like a heart…"
The orb suddenly merged into Juanita's ribcage. Without breaking her skin and bone, or even ripping her clothing, it simply disappeared from view completely inside her. Everyone, especially Juanita, froze with a gasp. Lawrence III quickly recovered, genuine concern etched all over his face as he dropped both canes to support her. Oakley moved instantly to grab and support him in turn as Lawrence III asked, "Juanita, are you all right? Speak to me!"
Calmly, Juanita straightened from her stooped posture to look him in the eyes. And they had become strange eyes. Once dark green, her irises were now such a light shade of emerald, they almost glowed. In a now-familiar pulse that matched Juanita's heartbeat. Her voice was just as matter-of-fact when she informed him, "I am fine, Sir Lawrence Talbot the 3rd. In fact I feel better than I have in a very long time."
Gently, the old woman pulled away from his grip. Her critical gaze studied the Intihuatana, checking the sun's position against the sundial. Then Juanita looked to the clouds and felt the breeze for the day's weather while Lawrence III retrieved his canes. Finally she turned what was obviously supposed to be a warm smile back onto Lawrence III. It was her eyes that gave away how Juanita was still measuring the circumstances around her; measuring Lawrence III. He found himself wishing Juanita would turn that calculating gaze somewhere, anywhere, else. Instead, Juanita added, "Noche del Maullar will take place tonight. Exactly as it should. I leave you to your preparations; please do not bother me about mine."
Trying not to show how discomfited he was by her change of attitude, Lawrence III could only mutter, "Yes. Yes, quite. As you wish, my dear."
Nodding to all three of them, Juanita strode off with the calm, steady poise of a woman half her age. She did not resume her stoop. Quite a few Pichu suddenly began bounding along after her, staring openly and chattering at her. The only heed Juanita paid them was to step around those directly barring her way.
Annie and Oakley watched Juanita taking her leave with an open mixture of awe and suspicion. Annie completed her Princess Leia resemblance by voicing these feelings to her boss with, "I've got a bad feeling about this."
Lawrence III turned to his Alakazam. "Can you feel the orb inside her? Can you teleport it out, break the connection, if I need you to?" Alakazam's eternally narrow eyes turned into slits as he reached out with his mind, probing gently at Juanita's aura. What he found was not a barrier, but an impression of sleeping power barely stirring itself within the orb; only a tiny fraction of its might was needed to influence the woman. So long as that power remained dozing, Alakazam was fairly certain he could scoop it out with surprise on his side. Alakazam inclined his head with a modest claim that meant, probably.
That satisfied Lawrence III. He thumped one of his canes on the ground for emphasis as he reminded, "There, you see? I have everything under control. Ketchum has tipped his hand by letting his friends, the Morgans, do his dirty work for him. They will lead us to him and the last piece of the puzzle will be complete. As the Nusta said, we have our own preparations to make. Let us make certain we are not caught unawares after all." The trio headed off in the opposite direction; the courtyard guards finally allowing the impatient tourists through in their wake.
Text, original characters, and events Copyright © 2011 Keith E. Kimball. This is a fan work and not for profit.
All other characters, events, and trademarks Copyright © their respective holders including but not limited to Nintendo Company Ltd., Tatsunoko Productions, GameFreak, The Pokémon Company, Shogakukan Production Inc., 4Kids Entertainment, etc.