Chapter 13: In the Shadows
"So, who's this guy and why is he our problem?" Larry asked.
Geeta looked at him, responding frankly. "A man who goes by the alias of Mr. Y. Over the past year, he has had ties to numerous individuals involved in a myriad of various criminal activities."
She gracefully walked slowly around the room and continued. "It was only until recently that we were able to apprehend a handful of his accomplices. Although they remained tight lipped, from the information we were able to gather, it appears they tie to an overarching plot with him being the centerpiece."
"Any clues to what that plot might be?" Hassel asked.
"Nothing concrete, but all evidence we were able to gather thus far is pointing to something we can't ignore. I wouldn't have summoned you three here otherwise." Geeta responded
Rika chimed in. "You know, Larry's got a point. This seems a bit out of our depth, doesn't it?"
Geeta shook her head. "Not at all. As the most powerful trainers in this region, we have a responsibility to lend it our aid when necessary. Based on what we know so far, this situation may become one where we'll need as much help as we can get."
"Well that doesn't sound ominous at all." Rika said sarcastically.
"We'll need to be well prepared, should it come to that point. Is there any additional info you can share with us?" Hassel asked the chairwoman.
"For now, I just wanted to brief you on the information I had at my disposal. Things could very well escalate if we don't treat the situation with the proper due diligence, so the sooner you're in the loop the better." she noted.
"One more thing I should add, before we conclude." Geeta added.
The three turned their head back to her.
"Although unconfirmed, we have it on relatively good authority that the suspect in question may be involved with one of our Pokemon League's own members." She said, while placing another photograph of Iono on the table.
As the meeting came to a close, Hassel couldn't help but worry about the possibility of Clemont being involved.
Back at her place, Iono was lying in her bed looking at a picture on her phone of her, Ryme and Clemont taken after the concert. A sense of somber anxiety was continuing to stir within her. She quietly finished the sentence to herself that she didn't get the chance to in the concert backroom.
"The reason why is... Because I'm in love with you, Clem." She let out a calm sigh.
"I was hoping that whole concert dealio would make this easier, but it feels like my soul's gonna leave my body just even thinking about telling ya now." she rolled over and buried her face into her pillow.
"If only that whole thing was a magic ticket to us being together. Shoulda known it couldn't be that easy." Iono said.
Just then Bellibolt's Pokeball rolled off of her bed and released it upon hitting the floor. It walked up to her, sensing her unease and tried reassuring her. She rubbed the top of its head.
"I take it you heard me spilling my guts just now, B?" she asked it.
"Beeeelli!" It responded in its typical amiable fashion.
"Course ya were, you're the best therapist I know." Iono said with a giggle.
She turned back around and lied back flat again on the bed.
"It's like these feeling are eatin' me alive, and they're only getting stronger. But Clem's special to me and the last thing I want is to risk losing him. He's my nerdfriend."
Bellibolt gave her a blank stare, as if communicating to her subconsciously.
"I... have to tell him, don't I?" Iono took a deep breath and picked up her phone. She opened Clemont's contacts and drafted a text.
"Clem. Meet me outside the Valencia City gym tomorrow evening at 5. There's something I need to tell-"
she then suddenly put her phone down on the bed.
"Auuugh, I can't do this!"
She picked it back up and realized in horror that she already did. "Message sent" the words underneath the text message said.
"Grrrreeeeeaaat." she said slowly sinking head first out of her bed and onto the floor of her room.
Back at Hassel's home, Clemont had just finished wrapping a birthday gift he had picked out for Bonnie earlier in the day.
"And that should do it." He said, slapping a bright red ribbon on it. Hassel walked into the living room where Clemont was preparing the gift and looked at him with a bit of reservation. Clemont saw him lost in thought and commented.
"Everything alright?" he asked him.
He drew a long breath.
"It's nothing, Young Clemont. Just work related thoughts, pay me no mind." Clemont raised an eyebrow and tried to pry for a bit more info.
"What's going on at work that's giving you such a long face?" he asked.
"Just a briefing about someone we're keeping an eye on, nothing more beyond that." he responded. Looking back at Clemont he then added a bit more.
"Although, if you notice happen to notice anything odd happening involving Iono, please bring it to my attention." Hassel's words piqued Clemont's curiosity.
"Huh? What makes you say that?" he asked.
"All I can tell you is this person we're monitoring may be tied with her in some way." Hassel responded.
"Tied to her in, what way? This sounds important, Hassel!" Clemont said worriedly.
Hassel placed his hand on Clemont's shoulder. "This is all I know, myself. And I may have said too much as is. Just promise to make good on my request, should it come to it."
The information made him feel a bit uneasy, but he was willing to comply with Hassel's request.
"Alright. I'll keep my eyes peeled and let you know if I notice anything." he replied.
Clemont's phone buzzed, recieving the message that Iono had just sent. Clemont was still wrestling with the unease but was prepared to meet with her.
The evening had arrived and Clemont made his way to the spot Iono mentioned. She was standing there in the beautiful Levincia City sunset, shuffling about nervously upon seeing him.
"Iono!" he said running up to her.
"This is it, Iono! Now or never!" she thought to herself. As he approached she felt the pressure building
"H-heya, Clemfriend! Err- Nerdclem!" she blurted clumsily, letting her thoughts get ahead of her verbiage.
"Iono, listen there's something we need to talk about. And I'm guessing from your text, you might already know." Her eyes grew wide in shock.
"No way- is he confessing, too?" she continued thinking to herself.
He came a bit closer to her, with thoughts of Hassel's foreboding info on his mind.
"But I'm getting ahead of myself, I'll let you go first." Clemont said.
Iono stood frozen, trying to think of the right words to express herself.
Suddenly, a dark green vine slowly began wrapping itself around Clemont, with the base of it covering his mouth.
a greenish powder suddenly burst from it, and he was out cold. He was dragged away into the dark alley besides them.
"Clem!? CLEM!" Iono cried out as Clemont was dragged into the shadows.