Team Plasma

In a few hours, Miya and Jiro reached Accumula Town.

"Ahhh," panted Jiro when they stopped at the hill above the town for a rest. Miya rubbed her burning legs as she drank in the view. "Well, that's my workout for the week!" she gasped.

"Man, what a view!" said Jiro. The town rolled over the green spring hills as naturally as if it were grass and the colorful buildings stretched like trees to the sunny sky.

"When we get there, we are so stopping for a milkshake or something," proclaimed Miya. "I know just the place." She recalled all the times when she came with her mother or Professor Juniper. "Come on, let's go!"

She lifted her feet from the ground and her bike whizzed down the hill. "Wait! Wait up!" called Jiro from behind her. Miya laughed as she raced down the hill.

They coasted into the town, surprisingly quiet for a Sunday afternoon. When they rounded a corner, they noticed why: a huge crowd of people was gathered around a platform with a podium and a shiny green building, roped off with a giant red ribbon.

"Hello, what's this...?" Jiro wondered aloud, pausing to get a better look.

"It looks like... oh! A dedication ceremony! Let's watch!" exclaimed Miya, and she dismounted her bike and leaned it against a railing, which she hopped up to sit on. Jiro joined her and they listened to a speech made by a tall, gaunt woman - who must have been the mayor - for only moments. But she quieted suddenly, glancing confusedly to her left.

A green-haired man wearing strange robes stepped up onto the platform, saying something to the mayor. She stepped aside slowly, shocked. Uneasy chatter broke out among the crowd. The man's strong chin was held high and one sculpted eyebrow was slightly arched, as if what he saw displeased him slightly. His hair was almost as green as the building behind him and he wore an eye patch as red as the bow of the uncut ribbon.

He raised his broad hands and the uneasy crowd quieted. Miya was shocked at the commanding effect he had. "Wow," Jiro whispered to her in amazement, "I can't believe that this crazy weird dude can just waltz into a square and make people listen to him."

Miya stared, frowning, with her eyebrows crunched. "Yeah, and talk about wardrobe malfunction," she agreed distractedly. But she felt strangely commanded by the odd character too.

Jiro stifled a low snigger at her remark.

"My name is Ghetsis," the tall man said in a silky, chilling voice magnified by the tall buildings around. "I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about pokémon liberation."

Jiro shot Miya a sideways glance, but Miya, entranced, was focused on the man called Ghetsis, lost in thought about Team Plasma.

"I'm sure that most of you believe that we humans and pokémon are partners and have come to live together because we need each other. However... is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that maybe we humans... only assume that this is the truth? That only humans believe this?

"Pokémon are subject to the selfish commands of trainers. They get pushed around when they are our 'partners' at work, our 'pets' at home, or our 'friends' who we force to battle one another in cruel organizations such as the Pokémon League..." Jiro looked suddenly taken aback. The words hit home. But as Miya looked around, it appeared Jiro isn't the only one impacted.

Ghetsis continued. "Can anyone say with confidence there is no truth to what I am saying?" The crowd stood in shocked silence. The mayor was still frozen; even she was moved by Ghetsis' message.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, pokémon are different from humans. They are living beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we have much to learn." Miya knew that, her mind wandering for a split second to Professor Juniper. What would she think of all this?

"Tell me, what is our responsibility towards these wonderful beings called pokémon?" He looked around encouragingly, smiling almost warmly. "That's right... We must liberate pokémon! Free your pokémon! Then, and only then, will pokémon and humans be true equals! Please consider this. Remember what kind of expression a pokémon shows when it accepts an order.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and pokémon... and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention." Ghetsis stepped back away from the podium. He gestured to it and bowed slightly to the mayor. "And thank you, Mayor, for your time and cooperation."

The mayor, who still seemed hypnotized by Ghetsis' words, stepped forward and wordlessly cut the red ribbon, apparently forgotten until now, and exited the stage without a word. The crowd, unsure of what to do, applauded uneasily and dispersed slowly.

"So... what was that all about?" Miya asked no one in particular. Jiro stared at the ground, biting his lip crossly. "Jiro? What's wrong?

"Ugh, what a jerk. Ghetsis? Who does he think he is? He can't just come and bash the Pokémon League. That's just rude! And he's like bashing me too! And trainers! Argh!" Jiro fumed.

"Umm...uh, I, I wouldn't worry about it, Jiro. That guy's just a nutcase. He probably doesn't know anything about how well real trainers treat their pokémon, anyway," she said apprehensively, secretly wondering herself if there was truth in what Ghetsis had said.

"I don't know, Miya, he really scared some people out there," snapped Jiro. "If there's anything I could never stand, it's having someone come between me and pokémon." He pointed to the thinning crowd, softening. "Look. That kid is totally about to kick her petilil to the curb."

Miya turned. Sure enough, a blonde girl who didn't look much younger than herself held her petilil out in front of her, tears running down her face. The petilil looked confused as the girl set it on the ground and ran away.

"Wait!" Miya yelled, hurrying forward. "Your petilil...!" The girl stopped and looked back, but just for a moment; with a sob she turned and kept running. Miya picked up the wide-eyed, confused petilil, and stroked it gently. "Don't worry," said Miya, "she'll come back soon..."

"I doubt it," said a somber Jiro behind them. Stony faced, he added bleakly, "She's not the only one doing that either. Do you want that petilil? I think it's yours now."

Miya floundered, aghast. "But, I..." She looked down at the bewildered petilil. She hugged it close. "It's okay, baby, don't worry... I know, Jiro, maybe we can take it to the pokémon center."

Jiro shrugged. "That's a good idea. That petilil's too young to fend for itself."

"But what about the other pokémon?"

"Some of them will manage, I hope," he said, eyeing a ducklett that was flapping its wings above its trainer.

"It looks like it's crying," Miya observed sadly. "So why does it still fly away?"

"Damage has been done, I guess," Jiro said gloomily. He touched his belt where his poké balls were held against his hip. Miya stiffened.

"Don't worry," Jiro muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "I'll never abandon my pokémon."

"Good gracious, this is the twelfth one we've gotten today," said the disgruntled nurse at the pokémon center. "What's going on, anyway? Maybe you two can give me a straight answer."

Jiro sighed and shook his head. "It's awful. This creep named Ghetsis and a bunch of his Team Plasma goons took over some dedication speech and started convincing everyone that we're imprisoning pokémon and we need to release them. And that's what people are actually doing."

"Yeah," agreed Miya, "he totally shook everyone up."

The cranberry-haired nurse frowned, reaching out to Miya to take the petilil. She stroked it and cooed at it, then looked up. "Who left this one?" she asked.

"I don't know," said Jiro dismissively, "some girl."

"She was about our age," Miya added quickly. "Younger, though. She seemed really torn about leaving her petilil. I think she'll come looking for it," she finished hopefully.

"Well, we'll see," sighed the nurse.

"What was the dedication speech for anyway?" Miya asked, twirling her hair thoughtfully.

"Oh yes- there's a new Battle Club. Trainers can practice battles there. Though, I imagine, after that speech, the place won't be too popular..." the nurse trailed off.

"Oh, well, I assure you, if there's anyone like me who won't fall for that load of crap, the place will be making fine business," Jiro retorted angrily.

The nurse smiled, her furrowed brow unraveling for what was probably the first time that day. "That's the spirit, young man," she said. "Well, if you two see any other lost pokémon... you know where to go!"

"Yes, ma'am," replied Jiro. "We will!"

Miya grinned. Now we're talking.

A/N: Obviously Ghetsis' speech is taken directly from the games and I don't own that content. probably goes without saying but yea just in case haha