Chapter 20
August 3rd
Fuchsia City
The day of the Hall of Fame induction arrived with haste as Ash and Anabel came to the site of the event. They had arrived the night before, pushing their meeting with Mindy to morning of the induction. The group of three met outside the Pokemon Center and from there Mindy began guiding them to their first destination.
"Well, it has been quite some time since I've last seen you two." Mindy commented as she studied both Ash and Anabel. Ash hadn't changed much, but it was Anabel who looked different compared to the last time Mindy had seen her.
Her hair which had been short when she had first arrived in Kanto had grown, to the point where she could tie it up in a short pony tail. Her skin had gained some color from the hours she had spent in the sun, and she no longer gave off the presence of a doll. She had gained the ragged look of a hardworking trainer.
"We could say the same for you." Ash replied as they the three of the came to a stop in front of a store where they could see nothing but formal outfits in the windows. "So what exactly are we doing?"
"The two of you will be attending an event that will be seen worldwide. At this event, the two of you will be representing Silph's Co, so you have to look your best, and be on your best behavior." Mindy explained as they entered the shop with a call for the clerk. "So I'm here to make sure that the two of you are dressed exceptionally well."
Ash groaned inwardly. One of the few things he disliked was getting dressed up. Suits were so restrictive, and he wasn't a fan of feeling uptight. Not only that, but he had seen numerous famous trainers from all over the world since their arrival in Fuchsia City, and he was determined to challenge at least one of them to a battle.
The last time he had battled a trainer in the Hall of Fame, he had been crushed. Even though he had been mentoring Anabel since then, he still felt as though he was progressing. This was another opportunity to measure himself against other Hall of Fame trainers. But unfortunately, he was stuck shopping for clothes.
"How can I help you?" A young woman stepped out of the back of the store, giving them a wave as she approached them.
"The two of them will be attending the Hall of Fame induction tomorrow night, and they need something fabulous to wear." Mindy declared, receiving a nod from the woman.
"Well then, let's get a few measurements, and then I'll get right to work." She replied as she motioned for Ash and Anabel to follow her to the back of the store. "My name is Lara, it's a pleasure to be working with you today."
Lara guided to the two of them to the back of the store where she collected a tape measure to collect the information she needed in order to find clothing that would fit the two of them. She quickly measured their arm, torso and leg length along width of their torso, waist and neck, determining what section of the store to go to in order to put together an outfit for both of them.
Once the measurements were complete, Lara disappeared into the store, collecting suits and dresses for Ash and Anabel before she returned to them. Handing the two of them a stack of clothes, they were sent to the changing rooms to put on what they had been given.
"No." Mindy stated as she looked at the red suit Ash had put on.
"No." Mindy said as she shook her head, motioning for Anabel to take off the orange gown she stepped out in.
"No!" Mindy yelled as she looked at Ash who grinned as he posed in a pinstripe suit with a bowler hat.
Ash returned to his dressing room with a sigh as he removed his hat. He had actually liked this one, but as he looked at himself in the mirror, he realized that he did look kind of goofy. And goofy wouldn't sit well with Mindy who wanted to make sure that good image Silph's Co possessed remained that way.
Picking out the next suit that was hanging on the wall, Ash began to change into it as he heard Anabel step out of her dressing room to receive another evaluation from Mindy.
"Hmm. This one actually works." Mindy exclaimed, much to Ash's surprise. Usually it wasn't so easy to please Mindy, but whatever it was she was wearing had gained Mindy's approval. "We'll take it."
Hmm...perhaps Anabel's dress had put Mindy in a good mood. This might be his best chance to end this shopping trip. Buttoning up the vest and leaving the jacket open, Ash threw open the door to his dressing room and jumped out for Mindy and Lara to see.
He wore a shining black suit with a white dress shirt and checkered vest. Ash had left the top button of his shirt undone, and he was lacking a tie, but Mindy didn't reject the suit instantly like she had to the others. This was his chance. Putting on hand in his pocket, Ash then took his next hand and ran it through his hair as posed for the judge.
Mindy circled around him for a few moments, and then she gave Lara a nod.
"This is nice. We'll take it, although he needs a tie." Mindy said, although Ash could care less as he rushed back into his changing room to remove the suit.
He was finally free to start challenging a few of the big name trainers that were present in town. They wouldn't be around for long, and he couldn't let this opportunity go to waste.
"Where are you going Ash?" Mindy asked as she looked at the young man who already had his foot out the front door of the store.
"I just saw Chuck from Cianwood City!" Ash exclaimed as he pointed down the street where he could see the figure of the large man walking away with his Poliwrath. "I have to battle him!"
"Oh no you don't Ash. We're not finished yet." Mindy stated, causing Ash to deadpan.
"You've got to be kidding me?" Ash muttered as he was seated beside Mindy in the waiting area of a spa.
"Ash, you're a mess. There is no way I'm letting you go to the Hall of Fame induction like that." Mindy reminded him once again. Not only where they doing the shopping for the event, but Mindy planned on cleaning up the two trainers from head to toe to make sure they looked their best. Anabel had already been taken off for treatment while Ash waited for an opening on the men's side.
"I look perfectly fine." Ash replied as he looked across the room at the large mirror.
"Take a good look at yourself Ash." Mindy stated. Ash approached the mirror, beginning to notice things he hadn't give much thought since becoming a trainer. His hair had grown out, to the point where his trusty hat couldn't hide how long it was.
"Did I mention you can't wear your hat to the induction?" Mindy asked him, causing Ash to whip his head around to look at her in shock.
"No way, I need my hat." Ash replied as he placed his hands on his headwear. He rarely took off his official Indigo Conference hat. This hat went everywhere with him since he was young.
"You're not wearing it Ash." Mindy stated as she gave him a stare that said they would not be arguing about this. Ash sighed inwardly, deciding to focus on the positives. He was going to one of he biggest events of the year with the possibility of meeting many famous trainers who he had adored since he was in high school.
"Ash Ketchum, we're ready for you." One of the attendants called out to Ash.
"Good, go get cleaned up." Mindy said as she gave Ash a small wave as he left with the attendant.
"I must say Ash, I'm impressed." Mindy commented as the two of them studied Ash's renewed appearance in the mirror. For nearly a year now, Ash had been happily enjoying his rugged trainer look, but today that came to an end. The attendants of the spa had done everything possible to remove Ash's former appearance and turn him into a dashing young man. And Mindy could say without a doubt that they had succeeded. Ash was practically glowing as he returned to the waiting area where Mindy was seated.
Ash's skin seemed to become a shade lighter from the the deep cleaning he had received from the water Pokemon they used in the spa. They had washed away all of the sweat and dirt that had been on Ash's skin from all the work he had been doing since becoming trainer. Not only that, they trimmed the sides and back of his hair down, leaving only his bangs intact which he could now move freely by nodding his head. Even Ash couldn't deny that he looked better than before.
"Thanks Mindy." Ash replied as he placed his trusty hat back on his head, before looking up curiously at how odd it felt to have his hat on now. His hat was no longer trying to hide his unruly hair, now it was just resting on his head snugly.
It would be another ten minutes before Anabel would exit the spa, and both Ash and Mindy could see many noticeable differences on her. Just like Ash, everything that had become attached to her skin during their travels was washed away, revealing the flawless skin Anabel had possessed before the start of her journey. They had also cut her hair which had grown a bit back to is original length and straightened it, which allowed Anabel's bangs to sweep across her forehead and frame her face. If Ash was glowing, then Anabel was shining.
Anabel smiled brightly at Ash and Mindy as she approached them, humming softly. This was the best she had felt in ages. After all of the hard work she had been doing for over a month, it felt good to be pampered and cleaned off.
"You look amazing Anabel, right Ash?" Mindy stated before glancing at Ash who blinked a few times as regained his focus.
"Hmm?" Ash responded.
"I was just saying that Anabel looks great, right?" Mindy repeated.
"She sure does." Ash replied, causing Anabel to blush before she got a chance to study Ash's new appearance. This was the first time she had ever seen him so cleaned up, and she had to admit that he looked good. "So Mindy, is that everything?"
"Well I'm finished with you, if that's what you're asking." Mindy replied.
"Awesome! Now I have some time to find Chuck." Ash said as began to walk toward the exit of the building.
"No Ash, there will be no battles until after the Hall of Fame induction." Mindy stated, causing him to make an immediate one eighty on his heels.
"Why not?"
"You just finished cleaning yourself up for the Hall of Fame induction which is in a few hours. The last thing I want is for you to worked up and sweaty from a battle between now and then." Mindy explained. "No battles Ash. Can you promise me that?"
"Fine." Ash mumbled as he turned away from Mindy once again. Mindy eyed Ash for a moment, realizing that he was probably concocting a plan to try and sneak in a battle between now and the ceremony.
"And just remember Ash, if anyone tells me that you smell like the rear end of a Tauros, I'll have your head." Mindy declared, sending a chill down Ash's back.
Any thoughts Ash had of challenging one of the celebrities disappeared as he recalled the tales Leo had shared with him about what Mindy would do to him if he ignored her instructions. Perhaps it would be best if he just returned to his room at the Pokemon Center and relax for a bit. That wouldn't hurt.
The rest of the day had passed by pretty quickly for Ash after he had returned to his room until the evening arrived. Mindy had instructed Ash to meet them in front of the Pokemon Center at six o'clock in order for them to arrive to the ceremony early.
Taking the time to get into his suit, Ash nodded to himself as he observed himself in the mirror. He had added the black tie, and placed a white handkerchief in the breast pocket of his jacket. Now his outfit was complete. He even went as far as to gel back his hair, giving it a shine that rounded out his formal appearance. He looked sharp!
"Come on Pikachu." Ash called out to his Pokemon as he headed toward the exit of his room. In roughly a half an hour they would be arriving at the Hall of Fame induction, and Ash couldn't wait to actually see it in person.
Pikachu quick scampered out the room, joining Ash in the hall where he shut the door to his room. From there they would venture through the corridors of the Pokemon Center until they arrived at the lobby where they found Mindy and Anabel waiting for them.
Ash raised his eyebrows as he saw Anabel who was completely dressed up for the occasion. She was in a lavender strapless cocktail dress with a sparkling sash around her waist. The ruffles of her dress swayed with every movement she made, and Ash couldn't help but realize that this dress was meant to match her.
"Wow Anabel. You look great." Ash stated as he approached the duo.
"We could say the same for you." Mindy replied as she stepped back to observe the two of them now that they were dressed and ready to go. "Make sure you guys get into a lot of pictures. You both look fabulous."
"No problem Mindy." Ash replied as he took out Charizard's Pokeball, getting ready to release his Pokemon.
"Ash, what are you doing?" Mindy asked before he could hurl the Pokeball into the air.
"Letting Charizard out."
"What for?"
"Well how else are we going to get there?" Ash asked in return causing Mindy to sigh.
"Ash, this is one of the biggest events of the year. People all over the world will see you, so its important that you give a strong first impression. You can't just come riding in on the back of your Charizard." Mindy explained as she motioned to the car parked beside them. "So I arranged for the two of you to have a chauffeur."
"Whoa." Anabel said as she admired the expensive car that they would be riding in.
"You guys are really going all out." Ash noted. First the clothes, then the spa. Now a chauffeur. This was much bigger than he first thought.
"You'll be representing Silph's Co. How the two of you are viewed at the event can determine how people view the company as a whole." Mindy replied. "But don't think about that too much, just enjoy your time there."
The chauffeur stepped out and went around the car to open the back door, inviting Ash and Anabel to step in.
Route 19
Palace
"We're coming to you live from the site of the Hall of Fame induction, and as we speak, the strongest trainers from all over the world are gathering together to see this year's class that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame." A female reporter said as she looked directly into the camera that was filming her. The cameraman than gave her a signal that they had cut to commercial break, allowing the reporter to gaze up in wonder at the Palace that this grand event was being held in.
There was an enormous Palace resting on the shallow waters of Route 19 with bright lanterns set up all over the outside of the palace that lit up the area. The reflection of the Palace on the water around it was magnificent, creating a beautiful display that would surely be remembered for years to come.
There was long pathway that had been built from the beaches of Route 19 to the Palace that gave everyone entry to the Palace. This walkway was also the location of numerous camera crews that were trying to get footage and interviews with the famous figures that were arriving right on time.
The Hall of Fame is widely considered the ultimate goal of any trainer in the professional circuit. The Hall of Fame was collection of the greatest trainers to ever battle on the professional circuit that grew each year as more and more trainers continue to showcase their skills. The credentials needed to enter the Hall of Fame vary from trainer to trainer, but all of those inducted into the Hall of Fame have one common fact surrounding them. They were winners.
"Ash Ketchum, Champion of the Indigo Conference has just arrived!" The reporters began to clamor as Ash and Anabel stepped out of the car, giving a nod to their chauffeur before glancing at the pathway that was lit by numerous lanterns with at least a dozen news crews gathering together to get footage of them.
"Well, here goes nothing." Ash said as he extended his arm toward Anabel, motioning for Anabel to interlock arms with him. She did so with a small blush before Ash began to guide her into the crowd of crews, waving to the cameras as they passed.
After being photographed a number of times, Anabel and Ash arrived at the large entrance to the Palace. Looking up at the huge building, Ash couldn't help but notice how eerily similar this was to the Palace he had met Lawrence. But there was no way this could be the same building. One was harboring a criminal, this one would be hosting the Hall of Fame induction. They couldn't be the same.
Stepping up to the pair of doormen waiting at the entrance, Ash presented the invitations Mindy had given him which gave them entry to the Palace. Both Ash and Anabel looked up in wonder as they stepped in, unable to hide their amazement with how beautiful the inside was. Red carpets, sparkling chandeliers, guards dressed in suits with sunglasses. The walls were decorated with paintings and filled with trainers chatting happily.
"Excuse me." One of the guards said as he approached Ash and Anabel. "We're having a special event this year. Everyone in attendance will be entering a lottery with the opportunity of battling one of the inductees once the ceremony is over."
"For real?" Ash exclaimed. He had spent the entire day trying to battle one of the superstar trainers that were Fuchsia City but ultimately gave up under Mindy's command, but now he would still have an opportunity. "You can definitely sign me up."
"...I'm not much of a trainer. I wouldn't stand a chance against one of the inductees." Anabel replied sheepishly when the guard looked toward her. Even though she had progressed so much in a month, Anabel knew that she would be defeated easily by one of the trainers that would soon be apart of the Hall of Fame.
"Don't worry about skill. This is more a show than a battle. The goal is to look good." The guard explained, motioning for Ash and Anabel to follow him. Further down the corridor was a line of transfer machines with six indentations made for Pokeballs. "I would strongly suggest that you take part if you're a new trainer. It could be an excellent opportunity to learn."
"You know, that's a good point Anabel. If you do get to battle one of the inductees, you're bound to learn from them." Ash added, motioning for Anabel to join him in placing his Pokemon into the machine. Ash quickly placed five Pokeballs into each slot, ready to enter them into the raffle before the guard halted him.
"Wouldn't you prefer to enter all your Pokemon?" He asked, motioning to Pikachu who was resting on Ash's shoulder.
"Sorry, but Pikachu stays with me." Ash stated as he gave the man a hard stare.
"Pika!" Pikachu added before Ash flipped the switch, causing the Pokeballs he had placed in each slot to disappear. Anabel quickly did the same before rejoining her arm with Ash's as they began to explore the castle. There was still a good bit of time before the induction actually began, so they planned to make some time pass by walking around.
As they moved, Ash would point out and name all of the trainers they saw. Chuck from Cianwood City, although now he was in a suit. Juan from Sootopolis City. Fantina from Hearthome City. He even spotted Lance of the Kanto Elite Four who was among the group that was getting inducted tonight. Anabel could see that Ash had a lot of respect for each and every one of them. But despite this, Ash didn't hide his desire to battle and defeat all of them one day.
Soon enough, Ash and Anabel found themselves in the room where the ceremony would be taking place. It was filled with at least a hundred tables with a small stage at the end of the room. In the back of the room was an open area where they could see a few couples dance the soft music that was being played throughout the Palace.
"Would you like to dance Anabel?" Ash asked, receiving a confused look from her. If there was anything she didn't think Ash could do, it was dance. Ash on the other hand, wouldn't really call what he did dancing, he just followed the rhythm of the music.
"Sure, if its alright with you." Anabel replied, causing Ash to chuckle.
"It's just dancing Anabel. There's nothing wrong with that." Ash said as he guided her by the hand to an open space on the floor.
Once they were comfortable, Anabel placed one hand on Ash's shoulder while he placed one her waist as they listened to the flow of the music. Soon enough, Ash began to guide Anabel to the beat of the music, ignoring the cameras that flashed around them.
Midway through their dance, Ash and Anabel bumped into another young couple. This resulted in all four of them stopping to see who had disturbed them.
"Oh, we're sorry about that." Anabel began as they turned to the couple to begin apologizing.
"No no, don't worry about it. We should have been paying attention to where we were moving to." The tall blonde woman replied as she waved off their apology.
"Yeah, totally our fault." The short man with brown hair added, although Ash and Anabel were currently observing the height disparity between the two of them. The woman was well over six feet tall while the man was as tall as Anabel. "Do you guys have a table reserved for you, or are you free roamers?"
Ash looked up in thought, trying to remember if Mindy had mentioned anything about a table for them.
"I think we're roamers tonight." Ash replied, looking to Anabel who gave him a nod with uncertainty written all over her face.
"Well why don't the two of you join us at our table." The man offered.
"Wow, thank you." Anabel said before they began to navigate their way through the tables until they arrived at the one that was reserved for the couple. They only had about two minutes to have some small talk before an announcement went around the Palace that the induction would be starting in just a few minutes.
"Hmm, looks like we're lucky to be sitting with you guys." Ash pointed out as they looked at the crowd of people that were now entering the room, searching for their seats. Ash and Anabel would've been lost in that sea of people, and they might have even be left without seats.
Once most of the audience had been seated, the lights of the room were then dimmed before multiple spotlights were pointed down at the stage. There was a moment of silence before the president of the Pokemon League, Charles Goodshow, walked onto the stage. Taking his spot behind the podium, he cleared his throat before giving the crowd a warm smile.
"Good evening all, and welcome to this years Hall of Fame induction. Every year this event is held not only to honor current trainers for their merits and achievements, but to remember trainers from generations ago and all that they had done to lay the foundation for what the Pokemon world has become." Charles began, speaking calmly and fluently as he looked out at the crowd. "But before we begin, first and foremost we would like to give special thanks to Lawrence III for allowing us to use this grand Palace as the site of the induction."
Charles motioned to one of the tables closest to the stage were Lawrence was seated. One of the spotlights was then turned down onto the host as the audience began to clap. Lawrence from his seat and the gave everyone a small wave before taking his seat once again.
Both Ash and Anabel seemed to freeze as they got one good look at the Lawrence before the spotlight on him moved away.
'So this is his Palace.' Ash noted. 'Maybe I'll have a chance to talk to him later.'
'I can't believe it. After all these years, I'm back.' Anabel said to herself. After the induction, she would definitely have to speak with Lawrence.
"So let's get started with the ceremony." Charles said as the curtains behind him parted, revealing a large television monitor that began to show highlights of the first inductee's career and the transfer machine that would be acting as the unit that would enter the inductee and their team into the Hall of Fame. "Our first inductee tonight has been very busy throughout his career. He's a two time Indigo Conference Champion. Champion of the Silver Conference. Member of the Kanto Elite Four. The elite dragon specialist representing Dragon's Den of Blackthorn City, Dragon Master Lance!"
A pair of spotlights flew around the audience until it came to a stop at at the man with striking red hair as he rose from his seat. The crowd burst into applause for Lance as he began to walk up toward the stage, reaching into his jacket pocket for the index card that had his short speech written on it.
Ash blinked a few times as he looked at the man as he stepped up onto the stage. Lance was one of his favorite trainers to watch while he was still in school. He had seen Lance's terrific debut in the professional circuit eight years ago and had watched his rise to stardom, winning Championships and showing so much promise that he was invited to join the Elite Four at a young age.
Although most people could see that Lance was quickly becoming more involved with the Pokemon League, becoming more of a figurehead than a trainer. There hadn't been any news about Lance's thoughts on how his career was progressing, but tonight seemed to prove that he was still moving in the right direction.
"Well, there's so many people could thank for helping me reach this point." Lance began as he looked out at the audience.
Ash smiled inwardly as he realized how much his position had changed during the past few years. When Lance had debuted as a trainer, Ash had been watching it on television with the dream of going school to become a trainer. Now Lance was entering the Hall of Fame, and Ash had one Championship under his belt. He was steadily progressing. And one day, it would be him standing on the stage, preparing to give a speech.
The Hall of Fame induction proceeded smoothly as the eleven other inductees were called up to the stage to give their speeches as well. After each inductee had given their speech, they were then allowed to enter their name and their signature six Pokemon into the Hall of Fame.
Midway through the event, one of the guards of the Palace approached Lawrence to give him a message. After a few moments, Lawrence then got up from his seat and left the ceremony to attend to some business, business that seemed to gain the attention of the couple that were sitting with Ash and Anabel.
"Well it has been quite an honor to witness our these trainers getting inducted tonight. But unlike induction ceremonies in the past, we have something new that would like to test out this year." Charles explained as a large rectangular area of the stage behind him began to sink down. "Everyone present has had their Pokemon entered a lottery with the chance of being able to battle one of the inductees tonight, something I know many people are looking forward. So we'll get this started right away."
Charles motioned to the monitor which was split into two separate sides now as two trainers were selected to battle each other. On the right side of the screen, Lance's picture showed up which meant that he would be the first to battle. On the left side of the screen, the pictures of five Pokemon showed up.
A Charizard, Wartortle, Primeape, Snorlax and Ivysaur.
"Ash, isn't that your team?" Anabel asked him as she pointed to the screen, but Ash couldn't believe.
"That's my team!" Ash exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. What were odds of this happening?
"Well well, it looks like we have a very interesting match-up for the first battle." Charles said as he recognized Ash in the audience. "Dragon Master Lance will be battling the current Indigo Conference Champion. Everyone please give a big round of applause to Ash Ketchum."
One of the spotlights found Ash in the audience as everyone began to applaud him. Ash looked around sheepishly before a hand was placed on his shoulder. Turning a bit, Ash found that it was Lance.
"I'm glad to see I have a real opponent. Let's not keep the people waiting." He said to Ash with a small smile before he continued his journey to the stage. Ash simply stared at Lance with a dumbfounded expression. The Dragon Master Lance had just spoken to him. And they were going to have a battle.
This was a huge opportunity. What Pokemon should he use? How should he battle? Should he go all out from the beginning, or battle at a slow pace?
"Ash!" Anabel yelled at him, snapping him out of his daze. Ash's vision became focused again, discovering that Anabel was now standing in front of him, holding both his hands. "Don't be intimidated, just show them what you've got."
That was exactly what he needed to hear.
"Definitely." Ash said with a nod as he cleared his head of any unnecessary thoughts. Then with a smile, he joined Lance on the stage where a battlefield had risen up for them to take their places on.
"Alright then, let's get this battle underway." Charles said as he invited the two trainers to approached the transfer machine to retrieve their Pokemon, but before they could, the lights went out.
Gasps could be heard from all over the audience as Charles began to shout for everyone to remain calm, claiming that they must have lost power for a moment. But the room remained dark for at least a minute before the monitor on the stage lit up, revealing Lawrence who was seated comfortably on a large chair, giving the camera in front of him a confident smirk.
"Good evening to everyone attending the induction, and watching it." Lawrence began. "You must recognize me as the host, but as of right now, I'm no longer your host. I want all of you to think me as your, captor."
Numerous questions began to fly around the audience as they wondered what Lawrence was speaking about. But before they could begin to speak, the three entrances to the room burst open, revealing several enormous Arbok that hissed and glared at everyone. Each one wore a large brace around its body that seemed to crackle with electricity. It was then that everyone realized, they were no longer guests in Lawrence's Palace, but prisoners.
"When all of you were placing your Pokemon into the lottery system earlier tonight, you were placing your Pokemon within my box system to ensure that none of you would be able to put up any opposition right now." Lawrence explained as he interlocked his fingers beneath his chin. "So now that I have all of you under my control, I would suggest that you remain calm and orderly. My Arbok don't like being startled."
Everyone stared at Lawrence in shock as they realized that perhaps Lawrence never had any good intentions since his release from prison.
"And now, to all the franchises that have been watching this event, if you want your trainers to be returned to you safely, I strongly suggest that get into contact with me soon, or else some of them may meet with an unfortunate end sooner rather than later." Lawrence said before the monitor faded to black, only leaving up a seven digit number for the franchises to get into contact with him. The lights returned, allowing everyone to see the situation they were in.
Ash stared the number with wide eyes. He couldn't believe that Lawrence had not only taken them hostage, but he was actually trying to ransom them off to their respective franchises. Lawrence knew that if a franchises lost its trainer that was the figurehead of the franchise so to speak, it would be difficult to recover from the losses. Any and all of the franchises would be willing to pay anything to make sure they could get their trainers back.
"I knew he was no good. I knew it." Ash mumbled.
"Ash, look out!" Lance shouted from across the stage followed by numerous shrieks as a pair of Arboks slithered onto the stage, clearly targeting the only Pokemon present in the room.
"Arbok!" One of the two snake Pokemon shouted as it sprung at Ash and Pikachu who doze to the floor to avoid being wrapped up by the Pokemon. Arbok loomed over Ash and Pikachu, focusing on Pikachu with its sharp eyes.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash called out, deciding that they would have to strike now before Arbok could. Pikachu leaped into the air and unleashed a electrical blast onto the first Arbok which sent it reeling into the audience, getting many indistinct shouts from the crowd since it landed on one of the tables. Unfortunately for Pikachu, the second Arbok didn't waste a moment as the electric type landed on the floor. Before Pikachu could react, it found itself tightly wrapped up by the Arbok who began to squeeze it's target mercilessly.
Arbok then opened up its mouth, bathing Pikachu in a bubbling purple liquid which Ash quickly recognized as Toxic. This situation was quickly getting worse.
"Pikachu, break free using Thunderbolt!" Ash called out.
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu shouted as it unleashed a second electrical wave, shocking Arbok thoroughly which forced the snake to release it and take some distance. Once Pikachu was free and on its feet, it began to wobble slowly before it fell onto its back.
"Oh no!" Ash shouted as he ran over to his Pokemon, discover that its face had gained a purple hue. Pikachu had been poisoned and it was quickly eating away at its health. "Don't worry Pikachu, everything's going to be okay."
Ash scooped up his partner in his arms, but as he did so, both of the Arboks that Pikachu had fought returned to the stage, observing Ash and his Pokemon. Upon seeing that Pikachu wouldn't be able to battle anymore, the two snake Pokemon gave each other a nod before returning to their guard duties at the entrance of the room.
"This isn't good." Lance mumbled as he approached Ash. Without their Pokemon, there was no way to escape battle the Arboks and escape.
"Is there anything we can do at this point?" Ash asked Lance as the two of them stepped off the stage.
"As of right now, I don't think so. We should just remain here and try to think of a plan." Lance suggested as he motioned for Ash to return to his table. Ash gave him a nod before looking down at Pikachu, realizing that it would need medical attention soon, but before Ash could give this any more thought, the entire Palace began to rumble.
Route 19
"Quickly everyone, its just a little bit farther!" Officer Jenny said into the communicator on her wrist as she and most of the Fuchsia City police force sped toward Lawrence's Palace using a dozen motorcycles.
Everyone had been watching the Hall of Fame induction, including a large number of the Fuchsia City police officers. So most, if not all of them had seen Lawrence declare that he was taking everyone hostage, and they were quick to move out with the goal of storming into the Palace.
"Look, there it is!" One of the officers said as they pointed to the large building that was resting in the shallow waters at the edge of the beach.
"Let's move, we've got to get in there and free all of those trainers!" Jenny proclaimed as the police went roaring down the hill that led to the Palace. But before they could rush onto the pathway that led to the front doors, all of them came skidding to a halt as the ground began to shake. "Everyone, get away!"
But before the officers could put some distance between themselves and the Palace, water and wet sand were thrown the into the air as the Palace rose from the ground, revealing multiple large propellers on the bottom of the structure. The police found themselves caught in a sandstorm that was whipped up by the winds which successfully stopped them from advancing on the Palace.
Once the Palace was airborne and leaving the sight of the police force, the officers could only groan now because Lawrence was getting away, and now their uniforms needed a good wash. This was quickly getting out of hand.
Palace
The rumbling of the entire Palace had caused quite an uproar with the entire audience which caused Lawrence to appear on the monitor once again where he explained that this Palace was now airborne and there was no way for anyone to interfere now.
"To all the franchises, I'll be making one stop in Vermilion City where any trainer that has been paid for will be released. Any trainer that hasn't been purchased, will remain as my prisoners." Lawrence warned everyone in the audience, and those who would be watching through the cameras that were broadcasting the event across the world.
The situation seemed grim to almost everyone present in the Palace, even Ash. Pikachu, the only Pokemon that didn't belong to Lawrence, could no longer battle, and it appeared as though there really was no way to stop Lawrence. But once he returned to the table he was seated at, the couple approached him and Anabel with a request.
"The two of you wouldn't mind helping us, would you?" The woman asked softly as she leaned forward.
"With what?" Anabel asked in return.
"We're going to get out of here and get help. But we need a little more help to get out than we first thought." She replied as she motioned to Ash's Pikachu who had already taken a beating from the Arbok. Looking down at his electric type Pokemon, Ash could clearly see that the effects of the poison were making Pikachu weaker and weaker. There wasn't any time to waste.
"What's the plan?" Ash asked as he looked at the couple with raised eyebrows. He would question who they were later because right now, if they had a plan to get out, he wanted to be a part of it.
"We're going to take out the Arbok at the east entrance, and we need-" The man explained before Ash raised a hand to interrupt him.
"How do you plan to take down a pair of Arbok?" Ash asked as he glanced at Pikachu.
"I still have my Pokemon." He stated simply.
"But how? They requested that everyone enter the lottery." Ash pointed out.
"I have my ways." The man responded with a small smirk. "I'll take care of the Arbok, but I need a distraction so that none of the media notices what's taking place. If they see us leave, Lawrence will find out, and I would prefer if we leave undetected. Do you think you're up to the task?"
"Of course we are." Ash replied.
"If you can keep those Arbok busy for just a few moments, we're in the clear."
"We'll do our best." Ash said, but without Pikachu, he couldn't think of a way to entertain the Arbok. Drumming his fingers on the table, Ash then looked down at the large table cloth that was spread over the table before scratching his chin with a thought of the possibilities. They couldn't fight the Arbok, but what if they blinded them momentarily. "Anabel, take off the cover of this table, I'll be right back."
Ash rose from his seat, searching the room for Lance who he found farther back in the crowd. Ash quickly approached his table and called for Lance to speak with him privately.
"What is it?" Lance asked once they had separated themselves from those surrounding them.
"There's a couple with a plan to escape and get help to break everyone else free." Ash began. "But they need someone to distract the cameras while they take out the Arbok."
"How do you know they're not just trying to save themselves?" Lance inquired.
"Because even if they don't come back to help anyone, I will." Ash stated.
"I'll take your word for it." Lance said as they shook hands. "So how can I help?"
"If you could give some sort of speech to the cameras, that would be perfect." Ash explained.
"I can do that."
From there Ash and Lance began to spread the word that Lance would be giving a small speech to the media which quickly gained everyone's attention. Every news feed present in the room formed a large circle around Lance who had been given a microphone so that everyone could hear him. All eyes were on Lance.
"I must say, Lance was a very good choice Ash." The man noted as he gave Ash an approving nod. "About forty seconds into his speech, we'll make our move."
"Right." Ash said as he motioned for Anabel to join him with the table cloth she had in hand.
"Good evening everyone." Lance began as he looked around at the cameras surrounding him. "At this point, I'm sure all of you are aware of how the Hall of Fame induction has developed, and I want to assure everyone present that the highest authority in all of Kanto will be working to free us."
"Now." The man stated as he gave Ash and Anabel to signal to spring into the action.
The pair of Arbok that had been sitting in the east doorway of the room had been observing the entire audience as they gathered around Lance, were completely unaware of the fact that Ash and Anabel were approaching them from their blind spot.
"Go!" Ash said as he and Anabel threw out the table cloth which descended down onto the Arbok, alarming both of them which caused them to thrash about. Ash and Anabel did their best to hold them down as they tried to rip themselves free of the sheet, but their struggle didn't last very long.
Before either of the Arboks could give shouts of frustration, a white blur passed around them before they dropped to the floor with a thud.
"Gallade." The white Pokemon stated as it landed beside the two Arbok with both its forearms possessing a bright pink glow. A Psycho Cut one hit knockout on both Arbok. Quick easy work that resulted in them having an open exit to escape.
"Let's go." The man said as he and the woman that had been accompanying him ran into the hallway. Ash and Anabel glanced back at the crowd around Lance who hadn't even noticed what had taken place. "Come on!"
With Pikachu tucked away in his jacket, Ash took Anabel by the hand and followed the couple into the corridor.
"Arbok!" The shout came from the end of the hall where the team of five could see another set of Arbok that quickly came rushing toward them.
"Quick, this way!" The woman ordered as she pointed in the opposite direction, motioning for all of them to begin running.
"But your Gallade can beat them." Ash pointed out as they began to run.
"You don't need to fight every battle." The man replied as he pointed to the Arbok who came to an immediate stop at the entrance to the room, taking over the guard duty of the Arboks that had been knocked out. "Right now we need to avoid any battles and make it out of here so that we can get help."
"Right." Ash said softly as he gave him a nod. As they moved, Ash looked up, unable to hear Lance's speech as the distance between them grew.
Lance had declared that the highest authority in Kanto would be coming to their rescue, and Ash could only hope that-that didn't mean him. But what if Lance was placing the whole rescue mission on his shoulders? How would he be able to free everyone without his best Pokemon. Glancing at the couple he was running with, numerous questions began to fill his mind.
Who exactly were they? How did they still have their Pokemon? And why did they seem so prepared for all of this?
With a shrug, Ash decided that he would think more about this later. Right now, his focus should be placed firmly on finding a way out of this Palace.
The team continued moving around the Palace, doing their best to avoid any confrontations with the Arboks that were roaming around the corridors. But despite their efforts, they still found themselves being pursued by a mob of the large snake Pokemon.
"This way!" The man called out as he motioned for them to follow him up the staircase he had spotted. They were still searching for a balcony, but none of the lower levels had any resulting in the need for them to ascend the Palace. But as they rushed up the staircase, they came to an immediate halt when they saw what awaited them at the top.
Yet another Arbok was resting at the top, leering at them as it hissed. Would they proceed, or turn back?
"We can't turn back." The man stated as he looked toward his Gallade who extended its elbows in preparation for a battle. "There's no way we can handle all of the Arboks that are following us."
"But we'll definitely be spotted." The woman said as she pointed toward the ceiling where a camera was looking down at the stairway. Their goal had been to leave quietly, but now it appeared as though they had no choice. If they commit to battling now, Lawrence would definitely discover that someone had escaped.
"No, leave this to me." Anabel said as she stepped forward, observing the Arbok closely. She could see the dark gray aura around it, the inner confusion and turmoil within it. This Arbok was in a pain, and Anabel was certain that the large brace around it was the cause for it being so aggressive.
Anabel slowly went up the staircase with both her hands up, trying to assure the Arbok that she meant no harm.
"I know you're in pain Arbok." Anabel said softly as she extended a hand toward it. But just as she to place her hand on its head, it jerked forward, trying to take a bite at Anabel's arm which she quickly pulled back. "I just want to help you."
"Anabel, just forget it. I don't want you getting hurt." Ash said as he began to step toward Anabel, but she immediately put a hand for him to stop.
"Ash, I can do this." She declared with her sight focused only on Arbok. The snake Pokemon returned Anabel's stare with a glare, waving its tail back and forth as it waited for her next move.
"I only want to help you Arbok. I want to ease the pain." Anabel repeated for the Pokemon as she began to reach out toward it again. Her fingertips gained a faint glow that seemed to put Arbok at ease, allowing Anabel to place her hand on its head.
"Cha-" Arbok groaned as the glow from Anabel's hands was transferred over to its body. Arbok began to sway from one side to other until it collapsed to the ground, no longer able to get the muscles within its body to follow its orders.
Ash could only stare at Anabel in shock, wondering if this is what she had done to him in Pallet Town. On the other hand, the couple didn't allow this to distract them as they insisted the group stay on the move.
"Come on, let's go!" The man said as they made it to the top of the stairway where the next corridor awaited them. Unlike the lower levels, the opposition of this floor was much lighter allowing them to search the place thoroughly until they finally came across a balcony.
Upon stepping out into the cool night air, they discovered that the Palace was indeed airborne and hovering of the waters of Route 20. Lawrence had done everything possible to ensure that no one could infiltrate his Palace to upset his plan.
"We finally made it out." The woman said with a sigh as she looked to her partner who had taken another Pokeball out of his jacket. Tossing it into the air, a large blue dragon Pokemon was released, remaining completely silent as it took shape on the balcony with them.
"Salamence, we need to get out of here now." The man explained as he invited all of them to climb onto Salamence's back.
"Wait, what about our Pokemon?" Ash asked as he an Anabel remained on the balcony. "I'm not leaving without them."
"Getting them back right now is impossible. But don't worry, we'll be returning to save everyone." The man replied.
"There has to be something I can do. I have to get my Pokemon back." Ash stated, causing the man's eyes to twinkle as he observed Ash.
"If you want to help, tell me how much you're willing to put on the line for your Pokemon." The man began as he waited for Ash's reply.
Ash looked down for a moment, thinking about his five Pokemon that were now trapped within the Palace. He couldn't leave them here.
They were more than just his friends. They were his family. If he left them here, he would never be able to forgive himself.
Ash looked up at the man with stern eyes.
"For my Pokemon, I would give my life."
A smile broke out on the man's face as he extended a hand toward Ash to help him onto his Salamence.
"This has become a very interesting mission now. Thank you Ash." He replied.
In the throne room of the Palace, Lawrence was seated comfortably on the throne he had made for himself with a glass in hand, watching the footage of the security feed. Even though a group of people had a escaped, he was positive that they would come back sooner rather than later. Right now though, he was focused on just one screen in particular where he continued to watch and endless loop of Anabel knocking out one of his Arbok's with just a slight touch.
Lawrence cackled softly as he took a sip from the glass. Anabel had defeated an Arbok with glowing fingertips. She was definitely the one.
"I've finally found her." He stated with a crooked smile. "The destined child has finally appeared."
A/N
Well here's another, and a big one at that. We've got a lot stuff going on, so feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I've been dropping hints about Anabel's significance to this story, and this chapter is still only a fraction of what I have planned, so please bear with me. I'm finally starting to become more consistent with my chapters after that long drought, so I send my thanks to all who put up with me during that time.
Weird question for you guys...do you think Arbok needs an 's' at the end to make it plural, or is 'Arbok' both singular and plural? I just thought that 'Arboks' sounded weird whenever I used it in this chapter, but I'm not sure which is right.
The next chapter is huge (plot wise), so get ready. I'll try to have it ready as soon as possible, so enjoy this chapter until then.