Chapter 11 – Deep into the Woods
It was quite late, the clock on the wall had just turned to two a.m. and inside the hotel room number 1005 three girls lay in their beds, but while two girls, Serena and May, were asleep, the other one, Dawn, was trying hard to go to sleep, but previous events that very same day prevented her from closing her eyes.
"That voice" thought Dawn "When he said my name he sounded just like Ash"
Dawn looked around to see if Serena and May were still sleeping, since they seemed to be, Dawn quietly got up and left the room
"I really can't sleep" said Dawn "Maybe if I go to the restaurant and get some warm milk…"
Dawn went down to the restaurant hoping to find some milk to help her to sleep
"May I help you miss?" Asked the bartender as soon as Dawn entered the restaurant
"Yes" answered Dawn "Do you have some warm milk?"
"Of course" said the barman taking some milk to Dawn "Can't sleep?
"Unfortunately not" answered Dawn drinking the milk
"Luck you we are a 24 hours restaurant" said the bartender "Are you here to watch or participate in the Tournament?"
"To Participate" answered Dawn "My friends and I got classified for the finals today"
"Congratulations" said the bartender "Do you intend going far?"
"I hope so" answered Dawn "I need to"
"I see, everybody wants to battle against Lance" said the bartender
"Yeah, but I just need to see him" said Dawn
"Are you a fan of Lance?" asked the bartender
"Not really" answered Dawn "I kind of want to ask him something"
"Just ask?" asked the bartender "You don't need to go to the final to ask something to him"
"Why not?" asked Dawn
"Do you see that little trail that leads to the woods?" asked the bartender pointing out to a small trail outside the window
"Yes. What is it?" asked Dawn
"At the end of the trail there is a little waterfall between two big rocks" continued the bartender
"Okay" said Dawn
"Every night about this time Lance trains his Dragons Pokémon by the waterfall" said the bartender
"What? Asked Dawn "Does he?"
"Yes, of course" answered him "I've seen him many times"
"But how do you know this?" asked Dawn "You just went there some night with no reason and saw him?"
"No. Some days ago I was right here at the bar and by the window I saw a person walking on the trail into the woods" said the bartender "I thought it could be some guest wanting to explore, and since we are all trained to avoid any types of accidents, I went after him to tell him not to go there, because it could be dangerous"
"All right" said Dawn listening carefully
"So when I reach the waterfall I saw a huge Dragonite and the man turned out to be Lance" said the bartender
Dawn was in shock. Lance? That Close to her? It was wonderful, she could just go there and ask him about Ash and all their problems would be solved
"And how do you know he goes there every night? asked Dawn
"Because every night about two o'clock in the morning Lance pass through here and takes the trail to the woods" answered the bartender "He has already passed today"
"Really?" asked Dawn
"Yes, a couple of minutes before you arrive" answered the bartender "He is probably still there"
Dawn looked into the trail once more, it was her chance "I must go there" said Dawn "Thank you for your help"
"You are welcome" said the bartender "Are you going alone?"
"What? Well…" Dawn thought for a moment, should her go back to the room and wake Serena and May up? "Yes. I am going alone. I am just going to ask him something"
"So be careful" said the bartender "Indigo Plateau is very safe, but caution is never too little. If you see or listen to something strange get back here okay?"
"Yes of course" said Dawn "Again, thank you"
Dawn left the hotel, since the restaurant was at the back of the hotel, she had to walk around it to find the trail. When Dawn found the trail she walked until the entrance of the woods, but first she looked back to the restaurant window and saw the bartender waving at her like he was wishing good luck. So Dawn took a deep breath and entered the woods.
The woods were pretty dark, of course because It was almost 2h30 a.m. but still it was almost impossible to see something in front of her. Dawn had to walk with her hands in front of her face to avoid hitting a tree and she also was walking too slow to avoid fall into any hole.
"Maybe Typhlosion could help me" said Dawn putting her hand into her pocket to find her Poke Balls but….
"Oh no" said Dawn "I forgot my Poke Balls at the hotel room"
Dawn looked back and thought about going back to the hotel, but she didn't
"It is Lance" said Dawn to herself "He is from Elite Four, he would never attack me. And if I go back, he may leave before I can get back here"
So dawn continued walking, she walked for about ten minutes when she started seeing some light at the end of the road. It was the moon getting reflect on the waterfall's water
Dawn looked around but didn't see Lance anywhere
"Damn it" said Dawn "Maybe he already left. But… he didn't pass through me"
"So you are looking for Lance" said a voice to Dawn
Dawn looked around looking where that voice was coming from but couldn't find anyone
"Up here" said the voice
Dawn looked up to the waterfall and saw a man standing in the water, he was wearing a long black coat and hood
"You again?" asked Dawn "What are you doing here?"
"Haven't I told you not to come here alone?" said the man "That caution is never too little?"
The man took out his hood…
"You are the bartender" said Dawn "I can't believe I was too fool to fall into your trap"
"But you did" said the man "Isn't It interesting how people minds work when we are desperate to get something?"
"What do you mean?" asked Dawn
"You were informed by a completely strange about the man you seek. This "man" is inside a very dark woods. You are alone and goes to that place although the man who gave you the information makes clear it is not totally safe. And to finish, you leave without protection, without your Pokémon" said the man "Just to find a person. Isn't it interesting?"
"Well…" said Dawn "I did make a mistake. I must admit it"
"Yes you did" said the man
"You are not the same man who controlled me with his Alakazam early today. Aren't you" asked Dawn
"No I am not" answered the man
"Who are you?" asked Dawn
"I am Costa" said the man "Member of team Tenebris"
"I don't care about your name" said Dawn "The man with the Alakazam, who is he?"
"An Alakazam you say" said Costa "I have no idea"
"Liar" said Dawn "You are just trying to protect him"
"No, I am serious" said Costa "I don't remember a Team Tenebris member who holds an Alakazam"
"So let me change the question" said Dawn "I know you are after Lance too and I know enough of you to see you are not good thing. Why do you made me come here if it is obviously I do not know where he is as well?"
"Mascaro said I shouldn't worry about you and your friends" said Costa
"Mascaro?" asked May
"He is the team battles master. He taught everybody inside Tenebris how to battle" said Costa "There are only two other members higher than him. Myers and the Lady"
"The Lady?" asked Dawn
"The Lady runs all Tenebris Team. And Myers is her sword-arm" said Costa "They are never apart and together they are unbeatable"
"You still haven't answered my question" said Dawn "Why did you bring me here?"
"As I said, Mascaro told me not to worry about you" said Costa "But I think differently"
"Yeah? How so?" asked Dawn
"You three showed all Indigo Plateau how well skilled you are battling" said Costa "And even if you are not a menace now, I can't let you become one"
"So you took me here, alone, just to get rid of me?" asked Dawn
"It seems together you three are somehow very powerful, but apart… It is easier to take you down" said Costa "I just didn't think it would be that easy, since you have no Pokémon with you"
"So because of that you think I am easy" said Dawn
"Yes" he answered
To be true, Dawn was scare, very scare. But she couldn't appear to be. She had to wait a couple of minutes more…
"So let's finish it" said Costa "I don't like killing, so I will just put you down and take you to Pluma Island"
"Pluma Island? Thought Dawn, maybe it was their headquarter
Costa seemed to be very talkative, maybe Dawn could get some more information about them, Lance or even Ash
"Have you ever heard of Ash Ketchum?" asked Dawn
"Ketchum? Of course I have" said Costa
"Really?" asked Dawn "Where is he?"
"I don't know" he answered "It is said he doesn't exist anymore"
"WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? EXPLAIN YOURSELF" shouted Dawn, now she got really scared, what does he mean with doesn't exist anymore?
"Calm down girl" said Costa "Actually to be true, neither of us exist anymore inside Team Tenebris"
"What?" said Dawn "Is Ash…. Member of Team Tenebris?"
"I don't know" answered Costa "Maybe. What I know is that he is no longer at our prison"
"Prison?" asked Dawn
"He vanished when we started our missions here at Indigo Plateau" said Costa "But he is not our objective here. We like to think he just couldn't make it until here and died somewhere in the way"
"No" said Dawn "He is alive. I feel in my heart he is alive"
"How touching" said Costa "It is obviously that you love him a lot"
"What?" asked Dawn
"Many times when I passed through his prison cell, I heard him say the word DAWN"
"What?" said Dawn
"It is your name isn't it?" asked Costa "So many times, Dawn, Dawn, Dawn. It was funny"
"You bastard" said Dawn
"Enough now" said Costa "You shall come with me"
"Never" answered Dawn "I demand you to tell me the truth. Why Ash was locked up in your prison?"
"Well….this I am not going to tell you" said Costa "But if you really want to know I suggest you to ask Lance"
"Lance?" said Dawn "What does he have to do with this?"
"It is because of him we caught Ketchum" said Costa
"I don't believe you" said Dawn
"I am full of you. Go Slowbro" said Costa throwing his Pokéball in front of Dawn releasing his water and psychic Pokémon "I shall now show you the power of Team Tenebris. Slowbro Confusion"
Slowbro did as Costa ordered and put Dawn under a psychic attack getting her confused, making Dawn put her hands into her head
"It's impossible to avoid my Slowbro attack" said Costa "Soon you will faint and I will take you with me"
Slowbro was almost putting Dawn down when suddenly he was hit by a fire blast attack that came from behind them and throwing Slowbro away
"What was that?" asked Costa
Dawn looked behind and saw a Blaziken and Delphox standing there and right behind them…
"May, Serena" said Dawn "You finally arrived"
"Are you okay Dawn?" asked Serena helping her to get up
"Yes, I am. Thank you" said Dawn
"Don't thank me" said May "You have to thank Serena for having such an light sleep"
"What's happening?" asked Costa "How did you know We were here?"
"I can answer you" said Dawn "It happens that I didn't bring my Pokémon, but I did bring this"
Dawn showed Costa a Pokégear in her hand
"With this I discreetly called May's Pokégear at the Hotel while you were talking" said Dawn
"And since I have such a heavy sleep, I did not listen but…" Said May
"I did listen" said Serena "And we came right here following Dawn's Pokégear location"
Costa was in shock and angry, he had the chance to finish Dawn, but he let his guard down and now he has to face all three girls together
"Well… It seems you are smarter than I thought" said Costa to Dawn "But this is not enough to defeat my Slowbro"
"We brought you your Pokéballs Dawn" said Serena giving Dawn all her Pokéballs
"Thanks" said Dawn "I will help you finish this jerk. Go Typhlosion"
Dawn released he fire Pokémon who joined Blaziken and Delphox
"You all are crazy if you think three fire types Pokémon will defeat my Slowbro" said Costa "Come on, show me what you can do"
"Our pleasure" said Dawn "Typhlosion…" said Dawn
"Blaziken…" said May
"Delphox…" said Serena
"FIRE BLAST" said the three girls
The Pokémon together released three bursts of fire that united into a huge and powerful Fire Blast, hitting Slowbro once more and putting it down immediately
"That's… Impossible" said Costa "How could three fire Pokémon put my Slowbro down that easily"
"This is the power of we three together" said Dawn
"So this is the power of you three. I knew it would become a problem to us. I should have finished you when I had the chance" said Costa
"Yes you should" said Dawn "But you have the same problem of all bad guys… You talk a lot"
"I can't defeat them" thought Costa "I must flee"
"So now we want you to answer some questions" said May
"I am sorry girls. But I have no more business here" said Costa "Slowbro, come back"
Costa returned his Pokémon back to its Pokéball "Go Skrelp" said Costa releasing his poison and dragon Pokémon "Use Smokescreen"
In just a few seconds everybody were cover by a black smoke, making impossible to see anything
"Beautifly, use Gust" said May calling her Pokémon out to disperse away all smoke
When the smoke was finally gone they saw Costa was no longer there
"He left" said Dawn
"Yes" said May "But now he and all Tenebris team will think twice before try to attack us"
"Dawn" said Serena "Has he told anything about Lance or Ash?"
Dawn looked away, she wasn't sure what to answer
"No" she said "He said nothing. He just brought me here because they think we know where Lance is"
Both May and Serena looked at Dawn disappointed, but they believed her
"Well… so let's go back to the Hotel" said May
"Okay" replied Dawn following the two girls
Dawn decided not to tell Serena and May about what Costa had told her. About Ash being a Tenebris member or being in prison. She knew May very well and if she tells the true, May would forget the Tournament and would try to find Tenebri's members to find Ash, putting her into risk. She still didn't know Serena so deeply, but she was almost sure she would do the same. And also now she had one more information… Lance could be the reason Ash was suffering into a prison or joined team Tenebris. Now just asking Lance where Ash was seemed no longer necessary, because Lance could be also an enemy of them. One of them had to get to the final and not only talk to him, they would have to defeat him to get all information they could.
"I am going to defeat you Lance" thought Dawn "Wait and see"
DEPPER INTO THE WOODS
Costa was standing in front a lake thinking about the girls and how powerful they could get together, they surely were going to give them a hard time
"Well Costa" said a voice behind Costa "It seems you can't even follow some orders"
"Mascaro" said Costa "What are you talking about?"
"Haven't I told you not to go after the girls?" asked Mascaro "That they were not our objective here?"
"But Mascaro" started Costa "I was right. They may be weak apart, but together they can defeat all of us"
"This is hard to believe" said Mascaro "You got defeated because you are weak as well"
"What?" asked Costa "No Mascaro, I saw their power, it is amazing"
"You already gave us too much problem Costa" said Mascaro "You said too much to the girl. Because of that now they are a problem"
"What do you mean?" asked Costa
"You told her about the boy, about the "Lady" and even about Pluma Island" said Mascaro
"I…I…I was… sure I was going to beat her" said Costa in panic
"But you didn't" answered Mascaro
"Give me one more chance Mascaro" said Costa
"It's too late. We no longer need your services in Team Tenebris" said Mascaro
"Please Mascaro… I beg you" said Costa
"Go Gothitelle" said Mascaro "Put Costa under you Psychic attack"
Mascaro's Pokémon took control of Costa body making he does as he says
"We don't need someone like you in our team" said Mascaro "I received orders from the "Lady" herself to finish you"
"What?" asked Costa
"That's exactly what you heard" said Mascaro "Gothitelle, throw him into the lake"
Gothitelle did as it was commanded and threw Costa into the lake
"Do not let him come up" said Mascaro seeing bubbles coming from under the water for about three minutes until no more bubbles could be seen. It was over for him. Costa was dead