Hell lasted approximately 150 years...or 2 seconds...or a month... Scarlet had long since lost count. He knew it didn't really matter since the number was just an insignificant chunk of eternity but counting every nanosecond made his pain ease...by a significantly small amount. Who could blame him? In those times he had spent here, he was subjected to every physical nightmare he could think of until he stopped thinking altogether. The pain would've been adapted to in time had it not been coupled with the emotional torture he felt when he was made to watch Ghetsis doing terrible..and horribly unspeakable...things to White. The scenes kept repeating over and over and over again and her screams pretty much broke his spirit in three if not four. It was only when his overall pain had reached insane proportions that something in him cracked and all went dark. He didn't care about it though. His sanity had long since fled and he had reached the point where he couldn't tell left from right, good from bad, light from darkness.
Now here he was, chained by his hands and feet to the darkness itself with his head lowered and a semi-entranced look on his face. Thistles and bones surrounded him like plants and several oddly-shaped Banette loitered around, stopping once in a while to stare at his broken spirit and laugh in mockery. At least he thought they were laughing. His head was too blank to recognise anything anymore.
And that was why he didn't notice the late, brunette Pokemon Champion of Unova staring at him with a sympathetic smile on his lips.
"Yo," he greeted, putting a hand on the boy's head. "It's been a while, Scarlet."
Underground Plasma Castle.
Joid raised his head from the table and looked around the frilly room with a bored expression.
"How could someone with monstrous strength have such girly tastes," he remarked, grimacing at the pink cloud patterns on the walls. "Alphinia is super-weird. Makes me wonder why she disappeared. Right, White?"
The girl on Alphinia's bed said nothing. Did nothing for that matter. Except staring...and crying.
"I'm surprised you can still cry despite the restraining conditions," he remarked and hopped off the chair before landing on the bouncy bed beside her. "Is that your extra function? Or is your will just strong enough to allow for tears of mourning?"
Again, she didn't answer. All she did was tilt her head and stare at him with fresh tears still spilling from her dull-yellow eyes. White had lost whatever radiance she possessed in the last three days and now, she looked nothing more than a doll. A pretty, wailing, fragile doll just waiting to have its head snapped off.
"You're boring," Joid pouted and pulled a face. "Aren't you happy that I look more like your beloved hunter now? Or wait, do you want me to scar my face too?"
No answer. Just tears.
"I advise you leave her be," a voice warned and Joid spun over to the door.
"Hi Draco! Oh wait, you're down in the dumps too because we can't find Alphy huh?"
Draco chose not to answer, walking closer instead. "Come now, Joid. Lord Ghetsis said White must be completely isolated."
"Well its not my fault!" the boy protested and thumped his chest. "Scarlet's will is still lingering in my soul and I'm just drawn back to White no matter how far I go. Besides...I think she enjoys my company."
"I think it's the other way round," Draco deadpanned, earning a quizzical glance from his younger colleague.
"Ne Draco...you don't smile much anymore."
The dragon knight looked down at Joid before sighing and slumping back in a seat. "Lord Ghetsis won't let us go out and search for her and I can't do anything about it. But I'm not the type to complain so I stuck to frowning instead. Besides...my smile was never true unless I had my baby sister with me..."
"So you are feeling down!" Joid exclaimed only to have his head run through with one of Draco's black tentacles.
"Don't kid yourself, Joid. As a dragon knight, I have no such feelings. Sure it does pain me a little but our lord's plan is more pressing. By the way, I hope you have a suit ready for the Red Moon Ball."
Despite the fatal injury, Joid folded his arms as the hole in his head began to seal up. "I hate suits. They're itchy and tight and not as free as my usual clothes. Speaking of which, can't I go in this instead?"
His usual clothes consisted of a black, cropped, tank top and shorts. Nothing else.
"Alas, though I wish to have you made a public mockery of, Lord Ghetsis would have a fit if he caught you like that on his party. Sorry Joid but you're going to have to wear the suit."
"Ugh," Joid winced and scratched his cheek before taking on a sly expression. "Hey Draco. I know what will solve our problems."
"You know?" Draco echoed sarcastically. "Since when did you start knowing? I thought you couldn't think for yourself."
"Die, blackie," the boy cursed flatly before throwing a coy smirk. "Let's do her."
Draco flipped the page of his story book indifferently. Almost like he didn't hear a word Joid had said.
"Hey!" the boy barked, flicking the book out of Draco's hands with a finger. "I said, let's do White."
The red-eyed knight blinked in mild confusion and Joid rolled his eyes at Draco's denseness.
"Do I need to spell it out for ya?" he asked and whispered in Draco's ear, giggling as he saw the man's eyes widen.
"Joid. Have you been reading Aqua's novels again?"
Grinning, Joid nodded and looked to White hungrily. A bad sign. A very, very bad sign.
"Looks like someone reached puberty," Draco remarked and hefted Joid up with a tentacle. "Sorry, pervert, but I cannot allow that. One: Ghetsis will have our heads on a platter. Two: She's meant to be kept innocent in every sense of the word. And three: You're a dragon knight. It disgusts me to think that one such as yourself can stoop so low as to mating with a human. Ugh. Come on, you need to be put in solitary until your gentlemanly behaviour returns."
"No fair!" Joid comically whined, trying and failing to get himself free of the tentacle wrapped round his waist. "I never had any gentlemanly behaviours to begin with and I'll be alone in solitary."
Draco sweatdropped. "Uh...that's the point, you sick little pervert. I think I liked you better when you were soulless."
Joid sulked as Draco began dragging him to the door before taking one last look at White. He had meant the lecherous statement as a joke, knowing full-well that his head would roll should Ghetsis find out. But he had only wanted to see White's reaction. It was strange but he had suddenly felt like making her laugh or even smile. It was Scarlet's soul of course that was responsible for those foreign feelings and though he hated them, he just had to accept them as a part of him now. He also had to learn to suppress a certain feeling that came up whenever he gazed upon her sad countenance.
"Joid. You're crying again."
"Shut the hell up. I still can't control it," Joid hissed, cursing the soul in him for its constant mourning. Though it was a normal reaction for a soul to reject another body, Joid couldn't really understand why Scarlet's own soul was so violent when he was near White. Such a case only happened if the original body was still alive. But that was impossible as Joid had seen every drop of life dry up in Scarlet's body. Unless...
"No. That can't be right..." he mused, earning a stare from Draco.
"Something up?"
"...No. I'm okay."
Just as the knights disappeared down the hallway, a familiar shape stepped into Alphinia's room and gazed upon the girl sitting on the bed.
"I believe this is the first time we're meeting," the man stated and stepped forward, a small smile creeping into his face. "Hello White."
In spite of the state she was in, White's eyes widened and though she couldn't speak, small noises were coming from her parted mouth.
"So you'll still have enough consciousness to recognise this body? Wow. You are quite the resilient one," Ghetsis remarked, throwing Black's grin and stepping closer. "I wonder what you must be feeling right now. Shock? Horror? Relief?"
"B...Black..." she choked out and began to pant at the effort it took just to say that name. Ghetsis arched an eyebrow before narrowing his yellow eyes.
"And you can talk too? I think the serum needs to be strengthened." He was right before her now and he bent a little to rest his fingers on both sides of her face. "Yes...it's me. Your beloved big brother who tried and failed to protect you from harm. You've have grown quite beautiful, White, and I hope I have done nothing to taint that innocent love for me."
His smile went insane.
"...Is what I would've said if I were Black."
Suddenly, he gripped her throat and began to squeeze tightly, relishing the frightened look in her eyes.
"I can't believe I finally have you," he murmured shakily and tightened his grip. "I wonder how Black would feel, watching his own body choke his precious sister like a beast. I imagine it would hurt. A lot. Do you know how great that feels to me? Having my nemesis' sister here under my power? The pleasure makes me want to scream."
White began to choke and though he could see the colour draining from her face, Ghetsis was too lost in his sudden madness to stop. In fact, the helpless situation only made him squeeze harder and smile wider.
"Does it hurt? Are you dying? Shall I stop? Answer me!" he screeched before giggling cruelly. "Oh I forgot. You can't!"
Blood was slowly trickling from White's lips and Ghetsis grinned wider at her near-death look. At this point, his hate for Black had washed away his reasoning and all he concentrated on was making the poor girl suffer for her brother's deeds.
"I want to see you scream..." he chuckled and drew her face closer to his while keeping his hands on her neck. "I want to do everything unspeakable to you. Shall I chop your fingers off with my teeth? Or do you prefer I take a whole leg instead? Do you like being bled to near-death? Or may I have your permission to crucify you on a block of ice instead? Oh what was that? You want my Honchkrow picking at your eyes? Or Drapion's acidic fluids pumped through your veins?"
Her eyes were drooping, her body was convulsing and her expression showed one of lost hope. Broken. Ghetsis' favourite word.
"...But no...as much as it pains me to say this, I am a man of justice," he sighed and let go, watching her fall flat on the bed and gasp loudly, doing her best to replace all the oxygen she had lost. "I can't just punish you for your brother's sins. That is simply not done. Besides, you will be needed alive for my plans."
"Y...you..."
The green-haired man looked down blankly as White shakily sat up and stared at him.
"won't...get away...with..."
"Yes yes, I won't succeed and blah blah blah," he cut her off, taking a syringe out of his pocket and smirking at her startled look. "Lucky for me, I carry these around just in case of strong-willed people like you. Hey, I even strengthened it with some really dangerous depressants. I won't go into the chemistry but let's just say I put in a LOT of random chemicals. In fact, I think you'll be the first subject to try it."
White shook her head slowly as he came closer. "N...o..."
"You won't feel a thing," he chuckled darkly and grabbed her arm before stabbing the needle in and pumping every single drop of the shimmery, purple liquid. White could only stare as he pulled out the needle and gently pressed a finger to her forehead. "I'll see you at the ball, innocent one."
And he gently pushed her, letting her fall back flat on the bed with her glazed eyes staring into nothing. Everything started to spin before her and her breathing shallowed considerably while the sudden darkness loomed over her. She had no will left to talk or even move anymore and she welcomed the darkness, knowing that life was virtually over for her now.
"..Scar...let..."
...
"Lord Ghetsis," Bronius greeted, bowing lowly as the man stepped into the meeting room and sat on his throne. "Welcome back, sire. I trust that your leisure trip was enjoyable."
"Not really," he sighed and slouched. "Who has the time to relax when the Red Moon Ball is just four days away? Besides...she wasn't with me to enjoy it."
That last statement was barely audible and Bronius decided to play it safe by not asking for a reiteration since Ghetsis tended to be unstable when he got moody.
"By the way, have you seen Alphinia? I just can't seem to find her anywhere," Ghetsis asked, twirling a stray lock of his hair.
Bronius hesitated. "Um...that's..."
"Out with it, human."
"Yes sire! She left the organisation, sire!" he squeaked frightfully at how low the man's voice had gotten.
Ghetsis' finger twitched. "Pardon? I didn't quite catch that."
"She's gone, sire. Defaulted...to N. That's what the Shadow Triad reported."
At first, Ghetsis simply stared but in less than two seconds, Bronius was suspended in mid-air by his throat which Ghetsis held tightly.
"Defaulted...to him? That can't be right...can it?" the greenette uttered shakily. "There is no way her awakening can lead her to do something as reckless as betray me. I designed her in such a way that her loyalty to me can never falter...Are Felicia's memories overwriting Alphinia's current mental functions? Or did Alphinia, a dragon knight engineered specifically for destruction, become...human again?"
He dropped Bronius roughly and ran a hand through his hair shakily. "This is bad...this really bad...If she's not here, I could lose my concentration...She's my reminder. My alarm. The one thing pushing me forward. If she disappears..."
Bronius, used to Ghetsis' bouts of random insanity, slowly got into kneeling position. "We can pinpoint her location, sire, and bring her back if you so wish. Shall I send the Dragon Knights? Or let the Shadow Triad carry it out instead?"
Ghetsis lowered his head before starting to chuckle. "So she wishes to stop me, eh? She must be delusional if she thinks her leaving will greatly impact on my plans. Bronius!"
"Sir!"
"What's your take on sending my Hydreigon and Bisharp to retrieve her? Naturally, they'll have some handlers with it."
Bronius' eyes widened. "S-sire, unless you intend to level her location completely, I wouldn't recommend it."
Ghetsis grinned and nodded. "Good. Send them anyway. And please let them know that they are free to go as wild as they want...as long as any sacrifices nearby are unharmed. N included. How soon can they be prepared?"
"T-tomorrow sire."
Ghetsis grinned cruelly. "Good. Now get out of my sight."
The sage before him bowed and left the room with a sigh. Ghetsis was cruel. Bronius realised that a long time ago but he had still chosen to follow him because of his frightening unpredictability. That quality made him want to see just how hard Ghetsis wanted to hit at reality and fate itself, challenging the very laws of the universe itself and creating abnormalities to mock at science and morality.
"But now I know the real truth and I can't believe I just figured it now," the old sage muttered under his breath as he left for the labs. "Ghetsis is simply deranged. Highly intelligent but mentally unstable and if chaos awaits the world if his plans should succeed. Unfortunately for me, I have stuck my nose in too far to pull out now so I'll just have to stay alive by following his instructions and hope that Lord N is successful in stopping Ghetsis...though that too seems like a distant dream."
Unova Pokémon League, Route 10.
"So this is the Pokémon League's Office Building-nya?" Lightning cooed and looked up at the tall building, having to bend backwards a little just to see its top. "It's huge-de arimasu."
"We've got hundreds of administrators monitoring activities all over Unova. The same goes for the other regions," Burgh explained, adjusting his scarf. "They help to ensure order between trainers and pokémon and make sure that correct conduct is shown when it comes to battling or breeding starter pokémon."
"They're also in charge of punishing people who misuse pokémon for the sake of performing heinous crimes," N chipped in as he walked past them and headed up the stairs. "Or so I've heard. With the Team Plasma case going on…I wouldn't say they've done a good job."
"Shut it, Hippie. We can't say for sure," Cheren growled, narrowing his eyes before running a finger across his temple. "Although…the League hasn't really briefed us on any course of action to take yet."
"Yer took the words outta my mouth, Cheren," Clay stated as they walked past the glass doors. "The heads didn't even react much when old Drayden kicked the bucket. Same with Skyla."
"And we weren't informed of Ghetsis' escape during the Black-White incident either," Burgh added and his Venipede chirped nodded to accentuate his point. "I thought the League would've let us known. Their officers did arrest Ghetsis after all."
"That's true," Cynthia answered as they stopped to view the large reception. "That's why we're going to their executive's office and getting some answers. They also need to be briefed on all the fights with Team Plasma up until three days ago when Black's younger sister, White, was kidnapped. We could come up with a strategy against them if we do so."
"Um," Lightning piped up, calling the adults' attention. "Can someone finally tell me why I had to come along-de arimasuka? I don't think I could contribute to whatever meeting you guys plan to have. Plus, I'm not a champion or even a gym leader-de arimasu."
"Oh! Sorry, I forgot all about you," Cynthia laughed, tapping her forgetful head. "You've fought three Dragon Knights and come out alive so we'll need your account on their strengths. That's not too much trouble, hero boy?"
Since he didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or a joke, the cowboy just shook his head and tightened the scarf on his head. "So long as I can help save White, I'll spill everything about them if I have to-de arimasu! Down to Alphinia's cup size-nya!"
The group sweatdropped and N could feel his embarrassed face growing red behind his mask. "You're surprisingly truthful, aren't you?"
"A hero never tells a lie-de arimasu!" Lightning declared. "He can only withhold unnecessary information-de arimasu!"
Cynthia laughed, inwardly relieved that Lightning's hot-blooded self hadn't suffered too much damage from the traumatic experience at Opelucid City. Another reason why she had brought him here was pretty much to lighten everyone up since his loud antics amused her and helped to soften the weight of Unova's current crisis on her mind.
"By the way," Cheren said as soon as they reached the counter where an attendant decked in blue stood. "How come you're helping us out, Cynthia? You're not affiliated with this region in anyway and you've got your duties as the Sinnoh champion."
"Is it wrong for a friend to help out?" she asked.
"Not when that friend has other duties to attend to."
"Well this is more important," she replied and pocketed her hands. "As a fellow trainer, I can't tolerate seeing people like Ghetsis using pokemon to commit such vile acts of murder and incite chaos. Even if the region is on the other side of the world, it's my personal duty to contribute in stopping such people. Plus, I have this habit of meddling with internal matters."
"And that's what makes Cynthia-san so cool-de arimasu," Lightning remarked in childish admiration. "Always helping people even when it gets dangerous-de arimasu."
"Hmph, I just don't want the Unovan branch to be blamed if anything bad happened to you," Cheren huffed and came closer to the attendant. "Can we see the executive please?"
"Right away sir," she replied. "I just need your ID card."
A minute later, they boarded a see-through elevator and Lightning admired the various floors they passed.
"This place has everything-de arimasu," he remarked.
"Including a state-of-the-art Cryogenic Chamber where Scarlet is being moved to," N chipped in, earning a puzzled glance from Lightning. "For the last time, he will awaken. I'm sure of it."
"Last time I heard, dead people don't come back to life," Cheren deadpanned grimly. "Why're you so bent on preserving his body?"
N shrugged. "Black told me to."
This guy has definitely lost it, every other person concluded with joint sweatdrops before straightening up as they heard that familiar PING sound, signifying the end of their elevator ride. Slowly, the glass doors slid open and Lightning took in the vast rows of cubicles, desks and coffee blenders. Busy people and pokémon ran about attending to their work and the constant sound of keyboard-tapping made Lightning's ears buzz a little.
"Welcome to the executive department," Cynthia declared and started moving forward. Cheren pretty much swooned over the different computer models and their uses, either chipping in one random comment on a state-of-the-art OS or launching into a lengthy explanation of how each system was linked to a satellite that received signals from every Pok ball enabling them to blah, blah, blah.
"He might'a ditched them glasses but he's still one helluva nerd," Clay remarked, earning a respectably-hateful glare from the ravenette.
"People and pokémon working together for the sake of keeping order between other people and pokémon," N observed and smirked behind his mask. "I'd call this heaven."
"Indeed it is, N! This dedicated group works round the clock in order to ensure harmony between humans and pokémon, sacrificing their own spare time for that just cause and enduring the smell of stale coffee, dried sweat and noise pollution," Burgh dramatically elaborated and held his chest. "Our pure hearts cannot but beat loudly in admiration! Venipede, I feel…I FEEL THE NEED TO-"
"SHHHH!" the workers hissed loudly, shutting the artist up instantly.
"Jeez, can you at least look at things without turning them into sources of your eccentric inspiration?" Cheren remarked and halted as they got to the door at the end of the hall. It had the words CHIEF EXECUTIVE engraved on its glass plaque, which only meant one thing.
"The serious bit begins," Cynthia stated in a business tone and grabbed the knob before pushing door open. The others filed in after her and they quickly found themselves in a large, dimly-lit room containing a long, shiny conference table with black seats all around it. To their right was a huge screen that took up the entire wall while a glass window represented the left side, showing a grand view of the grey Unovan skies and the office buildings and courtyards below.
"Well, if it isn't the Champion of Sinnoh, Cynthia Stone."
The lights brightened at the area where the voice had come from and Lightning found himself staring at an afro. Correction: a small, bespectacled man with a gigantic, frizzy afro sitting at the farthest end of the table facing the window.
"Tumbleweed-de arimasu?" he almost blurted before Burgh quickly threw a warning cough, cutting him off.
"Let's cut the greetings, Ray," the blonde champion stated, taking a seat at the other end and resting her elbows on the table. "We're here for two reasons. One: as officials for the League, I believe it's our duty to report on the recent activities concerning the new Team Plasma."
"Straight to the point as always," Ray sighed and on cue, his Dunsparce popped out of his afro and jumped into his arms for him to pet. "And what's the other one?"
"We've got some questions of our own that need answers."
Ray blinked and leaned back in his seat while keeping his hands on his pet. "Ask then, though I wonder how they pertain to the league. "
Burgh stepped forward. "I shall start then. The Pokémon League's very own defence force took Ghetsis into custody eleven years ago, am I right?"
"Yes."
"So when he escaped, how come we, the gym leaders of Unova and members of the League, weren't told anything about it?" Burgh asked.
Ray stroked Dunsparce again while keeping his eyes on the screen ahead of him. "The President of the League, Mr Charles Goodshow, feared a nationwide uproar should Ghetsis' escape be leaked out to the public so soon after his break out. He instructed us to secretly bring him back to justice-"
"-Without da gym leaders' help?" Clay cut-in, thoroughly surprised. "What in tarnation was that old coot thinking?"
Ray shrugged. "He didn't really give us an answer as to why you guys weren't included in the operation. But I assume it's for your own safety."
Cheren cocked a brow. "Why do you think that?"
"Do you need to ask? Simply recalling the late Mistralton Gym Leader and the recent death of Opelucid's mayor should give you more than enough hints," Ray replied with a sigh.
The gym leaders fell silent at the reply but Cynthia kept her eyes trained on Ray's glasses.
"I see," she remarked and sat up straighter. "Ray. Was Ghetsis already in prison when he escaped or did he escape in the old palace castle when he was being apprehended by your officers after his battle with Black?"
"…It was in the prison…"
Everyone looked to Cheren who was leaning against the wall and staring into empty space.
"I paid him a visit soon after he was taken into custody. Don't ask me why because I can't exactly explain it. But I knew that that deranged man was up to something and I wanted to ask some questions as to why he came up using N for the purpose of world domination. Sure he rambled a bit about using N as a figurehead but I knew he was hiding something. World domination? Don't make me laugh. I saw that dead look in his eyes and I knew that he didn't care for this world. Skyla had that same look when Black died…but that's beside the point. Long story short, the Shadow Triad appeared, they took Ghetsis and suddenly disappeared from the sealed cell without a trace. Right before my very eyes."
"Then," Lightning piped up and came closer to him. "Why didn't you tell anybody-de arimasuka?"
Cheren shot a glare at Ray. "I did. And they told me not to worry about it as he would be re-apprehended soon enough. Guess I was still too young to actually doubt their words then so I left it at that, thinking Ghetsis would've been brought back to justice. So you can imagine my surprise when I found out that Team Plasma had made a reappearance at Castelia. What do you have to say to that, Ray?"
Said man's small eyes narrowed even more and Dunsparce' lazy eyes rolled in Cheren's direction as if hiding some hidden malice.
"Like I said, Mr Goodshow had requested that this matter should not be made public. I had no right to question his reasons but I'm sure they're for the good of the world."
"Seriously?" Cynthia spoke up rhetorically. "If we had been informed of this sooner, Ghetsis would've been stopped before he could've created another army of Plasmas. Our friends' deaths could've been avoided."
Silence.
"Do you have any other questions?" Ray asked dismissively and N casually lifted his hand.
"The League has been alerted of Team Plasma's heinous activities that have resulted in the deaths people and pokémon now. Yet, I see no trace of real participation in the solving of this case. Do you have any leads on their new location? Where are the results from the questioning of suspects caught in each raid? Have their pokémon been tested for illegal experimentation and whatnot? I am yet to hear of such answers. Please respond if you have actually taken corrective measures in answering such theories."
"If they considered them at all," Cynthia murmured, observing the blank expression on the executive's face.
"W-we're doing our best. Things have just been put on hold for now because Mr Goodshow is away at the moment," he stammered, trying to sound calm.
Cynthia frowned and leaned forward. "Is that so? The fate of this region's people and pokémon alike rests in your hands and the president has chosen that time to be absent. Tell me, Ray. Where is Charles Goodshow anyway?"
"On a business trip to Kanto," Ray replied curtly and Cynthia stared before nodding with an acknowledging smile.
"Ray, thanks for your time. We'll be leaving now," she stated, throwing her usual aloof expression and getting up, much to the Ray's and the gym leaders' surprise.
"But what about the de-briefing?" Clay asked and arched a brow as Lightning ever so quickly tugged on his sleeve.
"I believe Elesa of Nimbasa City would've called the League already and relay all that I told her. I can't believe I forgot that, silly me," the woman remarked and stepped out the door. "Come on guys. I kinda dragged you all the way here for nothing. Sorry!"
Cheren sighed and left after her, muttering something about how terribly blonde she could be. The others followed and Lightning quietly shut the door behind him before running up to his mentor.
"You saw it, right?" she murmured quietly and her protégé nodded.
"Venipede's left antenna twitched when Ray-san uttered that last statement. Only a true expert can take that as a sign of lying-de arimasu," the boy replied and threw a thumbs-up at Burgh. "Nice job, Burgh-san. Your intuition rarely fails-de arimasu."
"My pure heart never lies," the artist whispered and gave the pokémon on his head a loving scratch under the chin. "Neither does the one of a beautiful bug-type such as this little guy. We knew something fishy was going on right from the moment we entered this place."
"And that's why I made them come along," Cynthia finished and looked up at Lightning. "The top members of the League are hiding something from us and I'm sure it's got to do with Ghetsis Harmonia. The best course of action now would be to question Mr Goodshow…but we don't know where he is."
"Correct me if I'm wrong…but do you think the Pokemon League is…deceiving us?" Cheren asked lowly as he walked up to them.
"Only one way to find out," Cynthia replied and stopped as they got to the elevator. "N wanted to have a meeting with us right after we finished our business here. He told us that all would be revealed then."
Cheren glanced at N before shrugging and stepping into the elevator. "We should be discreet. If what I asked turned out to be true then we're probably being monitored this very minute."
"I know," Cynthia turned to the buttons before tapping the bottommost one. Thrice.
At that moment, the elevator gave a lurch…and dropped with enough speed to throwing Lightning into the roof.
"Nya! What's going on-"
BAM!
The elevator stopped as quickly as it started and Lightning got up painfully, slightly awed that everyone else, Venipede included, hadn't so much as flinched.
"What was that-de arimasu?" he grumbled and stopped as the doors slid open to reveal a vast, ancient underground city. "…Nya?"
"Welcome to the real heart of the Pokemon League," Cynthia remarked, smirking at his gawking reaction. "Where extremely supernatural cases like legendary pokemon and illegal experimentation are investigated. Unknown to the Board of Directors."
"Wow…" Lightning cooed as they stepped out and began walking down the street. "How long has it been here-de arimasuka?"
"Approximately a thousand years, these here buildings have been standing," Clay replied and tipped his hat. "Black 'n' I discovered it a long time ago. He proposed we use this place as our secret base cos he didn't trust the Board of Directors too well."
In time, they came to a particularly tall tower and Cynthia tapped the stone panels on the wall beside its door before stepping back. With a low rumble, the stone door slid open and Lightning marvelled at the sudden change in setting. People in lab coats or dress shirts and pants sat behind large computers with books either piled high on the desks or littered across the floors.
"This is the Special Analytics Department or SAD for short. They're in charge of researching on special cases we don't want the guys on top to know," Cynthia explained as they picked their way through the littered floor. "If a Legendary Pokemon so much as appears, they'd know. We won't endanger it of course, but if it turns out to be used for evil then it's up to these hardworking guys to come up with solutions to subduing them."
"They've got some pretty awesome equipment for training pokemon too," Cheren remarked as they got to an elevator and started their ascension. As it was also see-through, Lightning spotted the various training rooms, research labs and libraries most likely filled with books of ancient literature. "If you want to raise your level with a challenge that'd best suits your pokemon, this would be a good place to start."
The elevator soon came to a stop and the group filed out and walked down the hall till they came to an empty meeting room. Taking seets around the black conference table, they looked to the end of the room and waited for N to begin.
Slowly, N took off his mask and laid it on the table before clearing his throat.
"First things first, I just want to say that as we are now, fighting Ghetsis will result in complete failure and sure death."
"Ouch. There goes my hopes of punching Ghetsis in the face," Cheren remarked sarcastically. "Sorry N but I didn't come here to be told about our impending doom."
"Please let me finish," N replied calmly and leaned back in his seat. "As we all know, Ghetsis has an array of super-strong pokemon and armies of grunts at his beck and call. But have you ever wondered where he how he was able to recruit such a large amount of people and pokemon? Also, where do you think he got the funding for all the weaponry and experimental machinery needed to super-enhance the pokemon?"
This sent the others into their various thinking poses as they mulled over the questions.
"He'd need a sponsor who has access to quite a lot of money, labour and influence," Cynthia spoke up and looked to the Pokemon League emblem on the table.
"Wait, you're saying the Pokemon League is working with Ghetsis?" Cheren stuttered. "But that's...very, very possible. I think that explains why Ghetsis' breakout and activities up until this year were covered..."
Burgh raised a hand. "I'm not sure I can believe it. Sure Mr Goodshow's excuse sounded flimsy but I wouldn't think someone of upstanding behaviour and love for peace would turn on his head and abandon his values for no reason. My heart says that we have to look at things carefully before making any assumptions."
"What pretty-boy's sayin' is: we need proof," Clay elaborated and everyone looked to N.
"I have none of my own to give...but there's someone who could confirm it," the greenette replied and smirked a little. "I can't reveal that person yet but believe me, she's all we need to change the outcome of the coming war with Ghetsis."
"She?" Lightning echoed.
"War?" Cynthia asked, tilting her head. "Are you saying a big battle is coming soon?"
"Far sooner than you think," N replied and extracted a book from his black jacket. "Especially since Ghetsis will be aided by his Dragon Knights. I believe you guys have a proper knowledge of who- or what- they are."
"Freaks from what I heard," Clay muttered and cringed. "People say they've got weird powers."
N shook his head. "Not freaks. Hybrids. That isn't a new concept to you guys is it?"
"I've heard of it," Cheren offered, scratching his cheeks indifferently. "Splicing human and pokemon DNA together to create an entirely new race of superhumans. From what I've heard though..."
Cynthia nodded as he trailed off. "The subjects didn't make it because they experienced a violent rebound upon cell-grafting. Splat."
Lightning flinched at that word, imagining what this so-called rebound looked like. According to his imagination, quite messy.
"So you're saying the Dragon Knights are successful hybrids?" Burgh asked and thought back to the red-eyed blonde he had run into three months ago. "I suppose that's true...and I'm pretty sure what pokemon type they've all been fused with."
N nodded. "Hence their name, Dragon Knights. But what makes them really dangerous though is the specific dragon they've been infused with. That's what results in their so-called superhuman abilities. Regenerative capabilities faster than that of an average human, heightened senses outclassing pokemon and the brutal superiority complex to match their proud draconian roots. In other words, unstoppable forces of mass destruction capable of utilizing pokemon and their own powers to mow every obstacle in their path."
Venipede shrank back with each description and Burgh sighed lowly. "Our pure hearts waver at the prospects of actually beating them."
"Indeed, they can't be felled easily," N remarked and smirked. "But remember this, there is no such thing as a perfect experiment."
Lightning's cat-ear-spikes twitched. "They've got a weakness-de arimasu?"
N raised a finger and tapped his own forehead gently. "Right in here. But it's a double-edged weapon for us as it increases our own chances of getting horribly slaughtered."
"If we can take those Knights down then Ghetsis should be an easy target afterwards," Cynthia pointed out and leaned closer. "Please tell us that weakness?"
N nodded before glancing at the door. "I have someone with expert knowledge on such things. But before she begins, I want your solemn promise that you will not harm her in any way."
Cheren cocked a brow. "I suddenly don't like where this is going."
"Like it matters. It's not like we'd go attack somebody for nothing," Clay muttered. "Well, show this person in. We won't bite."
N waited for everyone else to agree before straightening up and walking to the door. "You may feel very uncomfortable at her presence but I give you my word that she won't harm you guys either."
He held the knob and the rest held their breaths.
"Gym Leaders, Champion, Albert-"
"Hilbert-de arimasu."
"I'd like you to meet...the Aria Dragon Knight, Alphinia Felicia Quincy."
The room fell dead-silent as the door was pulled open and a blonde teenager with blood-red irises and long, curly hair stepped in.
"Hi," she greeted cheerily and tilted her head to the side in an innocent manner. "I look forward to working with you."
Lightning stared. And stared. And let out one tiny syllable of utter shock and complete surprise.
"...Nya...?"
The persistent ringing of a school bell made the 17 year old redhead groan and lift his sleepy head off the desk.
"School's over already...?" he remarked and rubbed his eyes before pausing. "Eh...? Is this another hell?"
"Trainer School's hell for a lot of people so you're not too far off."
Scarlet's green eyes slowly rolled to the left and widened upon recognizing the uniformed brunette sitting on the table with a ditzy smile on his face that reminded the redhead so much of another important person.
"Yo. You know it's rude to sleep when the teacher's talking, right?" the boy joked and stretched before lying fully on the table. "Can't say I blame you though. I admit that I slept too-"
"What the heck are you doing here?" Scarlet asked before realising something and going forlorn. "You're not another demon coming to torment me...are you?"
The boy sat up and stared at Scarlet before snorting and bursting into laughter. The noise continued for about two minutes before he stopped to catch his breath and wipe a tear from his eye.
"Demon? Me? Man, that's rich, Scarlet. Did your nightmares affect you that badly?" he asked before raising a hand as Scarlet was about answering. "Dude, it was rhetoric. Of course you'd get psychologically scarred but I assure you that I'm no demon. Just a soul looking to help someone out is all."
"Who exactly are you?" Scarlet asked warily. He'd never gotten around to remembering this brunette's name in the first place and that strangely seemed to bothered him. Said boy tilted his head and blinked.
"You mean you still don't know? I'm Black! Late Champion of Unova and White's big brother!"
Scarlet blinked. Black blinked. And both of them pointed at each other and cried "YOU?!" though Black was merely mirroring the surprised boy for fun.
"Guess White never showed you a picture of me," he laughed and crossed his legs over the table. "Oh well. It's much better when I introduce myself than when someone else does it-"
"I'm dead, right?" Scarlet interjected cautiously. "No dreams or hallucinations, right?"
"Yep. You're dead, Scarly. Very, very, very, very dead," Black chanted, rocking back and forth obnoxiously.
"Okay...if that's so then where am I? Unless you probably went to hell or-"
"Aww Scarly, that hurt. I'm not so bad that I'd actually land myself down there," the brunette grumbled with a pout that looked so much like White's. Come to think of it, Black was a near-spitting image of White (he said near only because Black didn't have boobs and white hair). "As for where we are...let's say Arceus let us have a quick chat in the area between the afterlife and earth."
"...Space?"
Black tapped his chin in thought. "You can call it that. You can also call it the Hall of Origin, Null Void, the Velvet Room, the world of C or even the Gate of Truth. However, we choose to call it the Soul Block or S-Block for short."
"S...block?" Scarlet echoed and flinched as Black laid a finger on his forehead.
"Currently, we're in the deepest recesses of your soul, which in turn is floating somewhere between the earth and the afterlife."
"So...you're intruding into my sub-consciousness?" Scarlet guessed and closed his eyes as Black nodded. "Confusing...but whatever. Why are you here and why am I not in hell yet?"
"Don't condemn yourself, Scarly. You know better than anyone that you didn't really have a choice for all the bad things you did," the brunette advised and threw a curious expression as Scarlet's hands trembled.
"Seeing you makes me feel worse..." he murmured shakily and pressed a hand over his eyes. "Not only have I lost the life you sacrificed yours to save, I've let your own sister fall into Ghetsis' hands...I'm useless. Just like I was eight years ago."
"Hmm...yeah. I guess you were pretty useless back then just as you are now," Black remarked and snorted as he saw a tick mark break out on Scarlet's forehead. "Kidding! If I were still alive, I'd show your expression on facebook-OW."
"You're annoying," Scarlet concluded and rested his head on the table again. "So...why are you here? Come to show me around the afterlife or something?"
Black shook his head. "Scarlet, I want you to go back."
The redhead didn't answer.
"I'm serious. You have to return-"
"Why?" the boy dragged.
"So you can stop Ghetsis. Duh!"
Scarlet turned his head and faced Black with a tired smile. "Are you kidding? What gave you the idea that I can stop that guy?"
"Because he's got someone important to you," Black replied and looked down. "Important to me too."
The redhead stared at him before indifferently saying, "Didn't you guys see my fight with him? I lost and ended up getting carved with a buzzsaw. A buzzsaw, Black. There's nothing I can do. I couldn't even protect White from his lackeys. As you can see, I'm virtually useless with or without my gloves."
"I don't think so!" Black vehemently denied. "Scarlet, you're strong enough to beat Ghetsis and save White if you really put your heart into it."
"Oh, so you're saying I wasn't serious in saving White?" Scarlet growled and clenched his fists. "I put my very soul into beating Ghetsis and I fought like an animal when those knights tried to take her from me! But it wasn't enough, was it? Upon all I did, I couldn't achieve any of the tasks. I lost miserably on both occasions and got White kidnapped by Ghetsis bunch of psychos!...I couldn't even save Skyla back then and if that's not enough proof of how weak I am then I don't know what else to say..."
Black stared at Scarlet before sighing and getting off the table. Briskly, he walked up to the board and picked up a stick of chalk before scribbling on the board.
"You keep spouting stuff about being weak but deep down, you know it's not true," he muttered and turned to face Scarlet before stepping back and slamming a palm on the board. "Stop lying to yourself already! You're just being held back by your own fear and uncertainty! This is the cause, right?!"
Scarlet raised his head and felt his blood go colder than ice at the well-drawn sketch on the board. It was a face that the teen had always seen at the end of his nightmares. A big, black head with large lower jaws and hollow eyes with its mouth opened and almost ready to jump out of the board and devour the redhead, just like that thing in his nightmares.
Black noticed the way Scarlet completely stiffened and calmly strolled over to his side before turning and facing his sketch. "Scary, isn't it? I won't blame you for having this image imprinted on your brain after that nasty event. You were a kid then so it's only logical for Kyurem's face to haunt you up until now."
"Kyurem..." Scarlet echoed, trying to keep his fingers from trembling. "The strongest dragon-type pokemon in the world...and the bloodthirstiest beast to walk the face of the Earth."
"Putting it lightly of course," Black chipped in and folded his arms behind his head. "Anyway, this is what has been holding most of your will back."
"My will?" Scarlet asked and rolled his eyes as he felt a lesson coming. Black had been right to use this school setting.
"You've got a lot to learn, Scarlet. Luckily for us, time moves slowly in this place so by the time I'm through setting you straight, the others back on earth will have a brand-new powerhouse on their side to stop Ghetsis and save White!"
Black hopped on the table and leaned down to face Scarlet. "Chin up, boy. I'll help you break those restraints of yours in no time!"
This guy was just as obnoxious as White but maybe that was the reason for Scarlet to shrug and give him some attention. He knew his depression was too great to be cleared up by Black's mere words, Plus he was dead and dead people don't resurrect so unless Black and Arceus were best friends who would die for each other, the chances of going back to earth were super non-existent. Black was wasting both Scarlet's and his own time but the redhead simply decided to play along and perhaps lessen eternity or something.
And with a bored sigh, Scarlet put his head on his chin and kept his eyes glued to Black's yellow orbs, hoping for all this to be over and done with for good.
Author's Corner.
Slybill: Newsflash! A Simple Pokemon Movie came out yesterday so those who didn't know can check it out! Thanks! Now then, I suddenly got this weird idea in my head that won't leave me for some reason. How would people feel...about Ghetsis x White...?
Lightning *bursts in*: He's mad I tell you! MAD-de arimasu!
Elesa *faints*
Rikato *dies*
Burgh: Someone get that man to lunatic asylum! Hurry!