Chapter 16:
Interloper
Bells rang softly through the crisp, mountain air. Rayne would much rather be out in it, flying and frolicking. Any Mew would.
But, few Mew, if any, got to do so anymore.
No, now they had much more important matters they had to tend to.
There are too few of us left to bear this burden anymore, she sighed to herself, rubbing her wrists absentmindedly. The golden metal of the bracelets felt ice cold against her skin, as always, but she never seemed to notice.
Rayne looked around the stone hall. A long, wooden table sat in the middle, a silky, purple cloth thrown unevenly on top of it. A tall window let in light from the setting sun in the opposite end. The walls were ornamented with faded banners of varying colors and designs. Against one wall stood a tall, stone bookshelf, its shelves littered with volumes stacked in various, haphazard ways.
The sunlight was briefly blotted out as a large, green, serpentine figure burst in through the open window. The green dragon Pokémon let out a roar as it circled around Rayne continuously. The Mew gave a mildly uninterested glance at the Rayquaza's face, noticing the large, dark scar running in a jagged pattern over its left eye.
"Ah," Rayne almost smiled. "Erasmus. We were beginning to think that you'd gotten yourself killed after all. Have you been a Rayquaza this whole time? Or did you find another Legend to anger with your…imitation?"
The Rayquaza stopped, its body glowing. There was a flash, and the Rayquaza was replaced with another Mew, this one bearing a similar scar, a half-shredded blue ascot around his neck, and what appeared to be a blue legwarmer on his tail. He crossed his arms, floating over to Rayne.
"How was I supposed to know that my kindness to those humans would lead to me being imprisoned and convoluted back and forth through time?" His voice was raspy, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time. "Damn bastards, they have no respect for the Guardians, anymore."
"Only because they do not know," Rayne reminded him. "I notice that you're trying to avoid my question. Which Legend were you portraying yourself as?"
"You know, humans just don't appreciate the same Legends as they used to," Erasmus refused to make eye contact. "Used to be, I could zip around the skies as an Articuno or swim through an island's volcano as a Heatran, and the people would go head over heels for me."
"Erasmus," Rayne's dark purple eyes narrowed to slits.
"So I went a little overboard," Erasmus focused his grey eyes on the bookshelf. "I mean, I did spend centuries creating my own set of Plates from scratch…"
"ARCEUS?" Rayne breathed, her eyes wide again. "You deserved whatever pain the humans put you through. You know the danger you could have put those people in. All because you wanted to play God. What if…he had…gotten you?"
"You don't know?" Erasmus glared at her. "After all…the Traitor is your area of expertise, is it not?"
"Now, Eras," A male voice accompanied a burst of light, as another Mew teleported into the hall. "You know better than to antagonize the Matriarch of our Order. She has the burden of not only what remains of our people, but that of the whole world on her shoulders." This Mew had brown eyes, slightly darker pink fur than the others, and wore a simple, faded grey cloak.
"Zerak," Erasmus identified his old friend. "Still standing up for your mate, I see. I admit I messed up. But I cleaned my mess." He shot Rayne a look. "Some of us need to learn how to do that."
"It's not that simple," Rayne sighed. "We're not as powerful as we used to be. We don't hold sway. We're not really the Guardian Pokémon, anymore. We no longer live alongside the mortal races, guiding and befriending them. That started to fall apart on the very night…that the Sage-King was struck down."
"Yes," Erasmus nodded. "The Sage-King Hikaru. Your charge, if I'm not mistaken. But, you were so blinded by your…irrational emotions, that you didn't see the danger until too late."
"I was young," Rayne looked down. "I was blind. But, I've learned to see. I became Matriarch, did I not?"
"Did you not support her becoming such?" Zerak added.
It was Erasmus's turn to sigh.
"I suppose you're right. I hate it when you gang up on me, though."
"I hate it when you vanish for years at a time," Rayne allowed herself a small chuckle to lighten the mood.
"Speaking of vanishing," Erasmus smirked. "Where's your son? Did he fly off to her again? He's always been such a flirt. Seems that trait of yours didn't completely die, eh?"
"He's been on a mission for the past…decade or two," Rayne said.
"A human charge?" Erasmus asked. "They still think we're genderless and incapable of breeding?"
"They may never know the truth again," Zerak shook his head. "But, now's not the time to discuss what's been lost. We're about to have a Council meeting about what's finally arrived."
"What," Erasmus said flatly.
"The Council should be appearing…" Rayne started.
There were several bursts of lights of various colors, as more Mew Teleported into the hall around the wooden table.
"Now," Rayne finished. "How many are with us?" She asked her mate.
"Counting us?" Zerak made a quick head check. "Twenty-one."
"Our son would be twenty-two," Rayne mused out loud. "But where is the twenty-third?" She spoke up. "Who among us is not present?"
"Matriarch?" A female spoke. "Hadrian Llyr sent me a message that he would not attend. He is busy granting safe passage across the sea to…to…."
"Yes, yes," Rayne nodded to the faltering Mew. "That is why we are here." She looked around the table. "Many, many eons ago, we lived among the humans and Pokémon, forming bonds with them and becoming close friends and mentors to many individuals. We were many, and we protected and guided the shorter-lived mortals, as we ourselves were once considered the Mortal Folk to the Legends that ruled the world. Now, minus a few loners and what Mew can still be considered–by our reckoning–as children, we are all that's left.
"Those that were Cursed sought us out, to serve as puppets or pets, to barter or trade like some precious metal, or to kill as some sort of trophy or sign of power. And worse, there were those that sought us out for a viler reason…those who knew the most evil of magic…those who sought to create Returned beasts out of us."
"Not even the Traitor succeeded with that," a male reminded her. "Your quick acting that dreadful night gave us enough warning to prevent it."
"Thank Arceus I was able to do that much," Rayne nodded. "At least we know that he's not using any of us as his unwilling slaves."
"Not that it matters anymore," another female sighed. "We wander around, watching and waiting. For what? We can't interact with the mortals anymore, we can really have any effect on their world. We hide and hide and hide, and live in secret. Even your son is living in a dangerous lie, on an impossible mission. One that could get us all killed."
"Even the Clan we once interacted directly with…is all but gone, the Half-Marked One taken from their home into Arceus-knows what hellhole decades ago. Even by our own time, we've all but given up." Another male agreed.
"The Second Clan did not live in the same Realm as the First, the Ketchum Clan, and you know it, Raguel," Zerak reminded him. "The Clan needed to send the Half-Mark out into the world one day, if we were to succeed in defeating the Traitor before the Dawn of Ages." He sighed. "I agree that the manner in which it occurred was beyond terrible, and has likely caused traumas that will affect the mindset of those in its bloodline for generations to come, but it is not without the glimmer of hope. For we now have our great weapon against the Traitor. At last, the warrior has risen, and has accepted his destiny."
"What!" Erasmus gasped. "The…boy? The boy?" He recalled a face from his unusual adventure while he had been playing Arceus.
"A few decades ago," Rayne continued, "The Light Sage, Hikari, told me that a man calling himself a Ketchum was currently being sheltered in her Keep. He bore the Half-Mark, as far as any in the Mortal Orders could tell, and I myself could see it as well. My son, who had been deeply connected to the Clan's lost sons, had rejoiced to be reunited with the family he'd watched over for generations. And I…I was overjoyed for another reason.
"There was a woman. A human female, from a family whose name I did not recognize. But, I knew at once. She bore the second Half."
"The second Half-Mark?" One of the Council members asked. "At long last?"
"Yes," Rayne nodded. "A little over a decade-and-a-half ago…a boy was born…bearing the full Mark of Hikaru.
"The Chosen One."
"Not a moment too soon," a female nodded. "But why did you wait to tell us…for so long?"
"I didn't," Rayne said. "I didn't know for sure that a child bearing the full Mark had been born until a few weeks ago, when Hikari sent me a message herself. He is currently on his journey to the Temples, and slowly gaining control over the Elements."
"Will it be too late?" A Council member asked.
"What about the Traitor? Is our ally succeeding in her part?" Another spoke up.
"Even weakened, the Traitor is far too powerful for a child!"
"There is no way that he can master the Elements in such a short time!"
"The Dawn is approaching faster than even humans can imagine!"
"Will he be willing to fulfill his final sacrifice?"
"Why would any child give up something so…wonderful?"
"Quiet," Rayne said in a calm, level tone.
The Council obeyed instantly.
"Forgive me," one member eventually said. "But if your son could not succeed in his mission in the amount of time he's been gone, then how can the Chosen One ever manage to defeat the most powerful Mortal alive before the Dawn?"
"Even you couldn't strike him down," Erasmus nodded. "That night, you could not slay the Traitor, even as he focused on killing the Sage-King."
"That…was not because I was afraid of dying," Rayne admitted. "With age comes wisdom, some say. But, it is experience that begets wisdom. And I know now, that guilt over slaying a friend…might be desirable over the guilt of not stopping an enemy before he single-handedly destroys an entire Order of peace, and unleashes the evil of the Curse onto the world."
"Even now, we fight the Curse," Zerak added. "And we now pray…that it never touches the heart of the Chosen One."
"The Chosen One," a female spoke up. "Hadrian…is taking him back to the mainland. He's just claimed his third Element."
"Flying," Rayne identified. "How fitting. Perhaps the Element of freedom will aid him in freeing the world from the Traitor's Curse."
"Hadrian said…" the female continued, her voice becoming unstable. "Hadrian said that the Chosen One was accompanied by an Umbreon of the Elemental Order."
"Zyne?" Rayne asked. "No…Zyne would be considered old by now, an Elder. His son, then. Anyone else?"
"A female Lucario."
"Fitting. The Ketchum Clan has always had a tie to the use of Aura, due to the Half-Mark, after all."
"A Pikachu of a high level."
"The Chosen One would likely be a Trainer in this day and age. It is the common starting career for many in his Region."
"And a human female, roughly of his own age."
"That's odd," a male blinked. "I thought that the full Mark was supposed to eliminate any sort of sexual drive in the Chosen One. Allow them to pursue and fulfill their destiny, without anything getting in the way."
"That's an insensitive thing to say," a female retorted. "A romantic companion can often drive a hero to become even better than he already was, after all. Rayne's own son is a wonderful example. Plus, he might not even have a romantic or sexual attachment to her. She could simply be a friend."
"It is a good point, though," Rayne spoke again. "It is stated in the Prophecy that the Mark would eliminate any sort of…desire of the flesh. At least, as much as possible. Perhaps it is an archaic translation mistake. No one was present when Hikaru created the Half-Marks, after all. Not even me."
"We should keep an eye on him," Zerak offered. "Just to be sure that he'll…be able to fulfill his destiny. He might have trouble…if he's going to have something to lose."
"That's not all," the soft-spoken female continued. "Hadrian said…that the boy's name…is Ashura."
A tense silence filled the room.
"Gyles wouldn't have known," Rayne shook her head. "It was his own middle name, after all."
"That was due to his own father having a more…fatherly wish for Gyles than one would initially expect, not due to some sort of family arrogance," Zerak added.
"You did not speak to Gyles when he was in the Keep," she reminded her mate. "Believe me when I say that there was no room for arrogance in Gyles' heart…or his father's. Only shame and guilt."
"How the mighty have fallen," Erasmus said flatly. "In any case, this simply means that I vote we keep an even closer eye on the lad."
"Indeed," Rayne nodded. "The Chosen One's success in fulfilling his Prophecy is our number one priority. All in favor of keeping a secret watch on the Chosen in any way we can manage?"
Though a few were hesitant, gradually every Mew raised his or her hand in agreement.
Ashura.
It was a dangerous name.
Ultimate Power.
Any warrior would dream of bearing a name with such a powerful meaning.
But, it was also filled with dark secrets.
Of the three beings that Rayne knew to have ever borne it, only one still lived with a good heart.
Now, young Ashura walks a path that will make him the most powerful human alive, should he succeed. I only hope that such…Ultimate Power…that it does not corrupt his pure heart…and lead him to the Curse.
If the Chosen One is ever Cursed…then it would take an act of God to stop him.
...
Ash blinked several times. He still wasn't sure what exactly he was looking at.
"Aura?" Misty asked slowly. "Why are you holding that Rattata like that? By the tail? That's really…inhumane."
"What is it wearing?" Ash added.
We've seen some weird shit lately, but come on. How much worse is the insanity going to get?
"He's wearing the garb of the Order of Mew!" Nyx exclaimed.
"What?" Ash and Misty looked at the Shiny Umbreon at the same time.
"Woul'ja lemme down, now?" The Rattata spoke in a rough, undeterminable accent. "I was in da middle o'sumthing, ya know?"
"What," Ash blinked again.
"Another talking Pokémon," Misty sighed.
"I…think it was speaking in human language," Nyx nodded. "Why would a Rattata that couldn't speak properly be dressed as a member of the Order of Mew?"
"Order of what?" Ash turned to Nyx again.
"Order of Mew," Nyx repeated. "It's a sister Order to the Order of the Elements. It's mostly just comprised of the majority of the remaining Mew population, with a few strays and orphans and such taken in by them from time to time. They work with our Order in several ways, but mostly just with the Light Sage. I only ever met one of them once, a Mew who was dressed in a similar manner as this Rattata."
"Mah name is Jerzy," the Rattata attempted to free himself from Aura's grip. "And I can hear ya jus' fine, ya know."
"The Mew certainly did not teach him how to speak, for sure."
"So, wait," Ash shook his head. "How many Mew are left?"
"A few dozen, give o' take," Jerzy said in a bored tone, attempting to scratch at Aura's grip with his claws.
The Lucario dropped him in disinterest, and fluidly stepped on his tail to prevent him from fleeing.
"What does it matter?" Aura asked. "So there's another Order with secrets and so forth. So what? They're not evil or in our way, so what should we care?"
"They could help us," Nyx answered. "They very well could be already. They are known to take on many forms, even humans. Anyone we come across could be a Mew."
"I refuse to believe that this rat is actually a Mew," Aura scoffed.
"No, I doubt that, too," Nyx shook his head. "But he was certainly a member of the Order, once."
"So wha' if I was?" Jerzy yanked futilely on his own tail. "Poin' is, I do wha' I want now, and dun have to listen ta no one."
"Please, for the love of all that is holy," Aura rubbed her forehead. "Learn to speak. You're worse than Ash."
"Hey!" Ash exclaimed. "I speak pretty good!"
"Pretty well," Aura said automatically. "And, no. Not really."
"And you're some sort of language goddess, I'm sure," Ash grimaced.
"Considering I spent…what? Three years? All that time, practically alone, on a mountain, with no way to know if I was even speaking at all or just losing my sanity, then yeah. I think I speak rather well."
"What about this little guy?" Nyx knelt to look the Rattata in the eye. "Who are you and why are you dressed in the cloak and mask of a ward of the Order?"
"Ward?" Ash asked.
"Someone under the care of the Mews in the Order," Nyx didn't even look at Ash, focused on Jerzy.
"Mah name is Jerzy, I tol' ya," Jerzy sounded irritated. "Yea, I lived wid da Order a few years ago. Den, I decide dat the skills I'd learned wid the Mews coul' be used to make mah own life easy, rather dan work mah tail off for a bun' o' overbearin' an' overprotective bookworms."
"That was easy," Nyx stood, blinking. "So, you're a thief? You abuse the hospitality of the most powerful Order of creatures for good on this planet…to take the fruits of the hard labors of others for yourself?"
"So wha' if I do?" Jerzy scowled. "I dun need anyone but meself, now."
"You have no honor or integrity," Nyx said flatly. "Let him go, Aura. We don't need someone like him bringing us down."
Aura looked at Jerzy. He had at least one gold tooth in his mouth. Maybe….
"Why?" Aura crossed her arms. "You heard him. He's a thief, has been for years. I'm sure he's accumulated a rather large horde of valuables by now, money and so forth. Or, am I wrong, and you're really just a pathetic street rat?"
"Nah," Jerzy shot her a dirty look. "I 'ave a small fortune, I do. Coul' prob'ly fund a small army for months. Da result of mah years of hard work and patience."
Aura smirked.
"All the more reason we should…keep him," she narrowed her eyes. She looked up at Ash. "Our funds aren't unlimited, after all. Plus, without being signed up for a league or gym challenge or anything right now, you're trainer's salary is…lacking to begin with. I say we let the little deserter pay for our little…quest."
"Absolutely not," Jerzy hissed. "Mah spoils are mah own, and no one else may steal wha' I've rightfully earned."
"By stealing," Nyx reminded him.
Aura reached down and grabbed Jerzy by the scruff of his neck. She released his tail, but brought the rat Pokémon up to her face.
"How pathetic," Aura growled. "No honor amongst thieves, after all. Even I didn't steep so low as to live off of other's work. I lived for years by the skin of my own fangs. I got my ass handed to me time and again, especially that first winter, but damn it, I made it by my own effort. By real work. Real patience. So, get off your moral high Ponyta. We're not the thieves here. You are."
"Actually…" Nyx started.
"Shut up," Aura snapped, and Nyx obeyed, blinking rapidly.
Jerzy was staring at Aura's fangs, his eyes wide.
"I'm not too sure about that," Ash spoke up. "I mean, I know we need the money, but c'mon Aura. He's a thief. We'd be using stolen money. Isn't that, like, against the law?"
"I think it's a felony," Misty agreed.
"Please," Aura scoffed. "The law's not legal, anymore."
"That…made no sense."
"Tell me, Ashy-boy," Aura sneered. "Do you even know the two biggest companies in Kanto, and most of the world, really, right now?"
"Um," Ash stammered. "Silph Corporation and Beacon Industries are big in Kanto. And, Devon Corporation in Hoenn's pretty big, too."
"Do you know who's in charge of Silph and Beacon?"
"Um, Silph's run by that old guy, what's his name?" Ash glanced at Misty.
"Uh…I, I dunno," Misty shrugged.
"And," Ash turned back to Aura, "I believe that Beacon Industries was founded and run by the Zolton Barony. I think that the current CEO is the current Baron."
Aura ignored the struggling Jerzy in her grip to look at Ash like he was missing something.
"Who is the current Baron?" Aura asked slowly.
"The…Baron Zolton?"
"First name, dolt."
"Oh, um…" Ash stammered. "It's um…uh…."
"You never paid attention in class, did you?" Misty chuckled.
"Oh, and you know," Ash glared at her.
"Of course, Ash," Misty said. "Beacon Industries funded a lot of company and political banquets and fancy balls and such in Celadon and Cerulean and Saffron and nearby cities. The Baron is Giovanni Zolton."
Aura smirked.
"Say that again."
"Baron Giovanni Zolton?" Misty asked, before her eyes widened in realization. "Giovanni."
"Wait," Ash held up a hand. "Giovanni? The guy you said was the leader of Team Rocket? He's the Baron Zolton?"
"You finally get it," Aura sighed.
"Doesn't Beacon Industries develop a lot of the weapons the police force use?" Misty asked.
"And they fund the police and many politicians in various ways in varying levels of legality," Aura nodded. "In other words…Team Rocket is the law."
"Which is to say the law doesn't exist," Nyx blinked.
"No wonder you hate humans so much," Misty made a connection in a quiet voice.
"So I think that using money that could very well be stolen from Rockets, even maybe the Baron himself, would be the lesser evil," Aura said.
"How do you know all of this?" Ash narrowed his eyes.
"Oy!" Jerzy interrupted. "I'm still 'ere, ya know?"
"Oh, yeah," Aura remembered the rat in her grip. "So, you're going to be joining us, then, I suppose. At least, your money is."
"Wha's innit fer me?" Jerzy asked.
Aura bared her teeth at the Rattata, who twitched visibly.
"You lived with the Order," Nyx started. "So, I'm sure you've heard the legend of the Chosen One."
"Puh," Jerzy scoffed. "Dat's nuthin' but a bun' o' wishy-washy fairy tales. Ain't no su' ting as sum all powerful human wha' can use Pokémon's powers."
"What?" Ash looked at Nyx.
"He doesn't believe in the Chosen One," Aura clarified in an irritated tone. "Or, apparently, in enunciating."
"Wha's your problem, bish?" Jerzy scowled at Aura.
Aura snarled at him again, and his scowl disappeared as the fur on his face practically blanched.
"Dun eat me…" Jerzy breathed.
"Don't piss me off," Aura said.
Someone who actually afraid of Aura, Ash finally got it. This could be very bad for her attitude, especially towards me.
"I am the Chosen One," Ash muttered.
"Prove it."
Ash looked at Nyx.
"Go ahead. The captain's in the cabin; he won't see."
Ash sighed, before waving his hand. A few stars of a Swift attack shot out of the swipe and past Jerzy and Aura.
"It's not much, yet, but I'm still training," Ash grumbled. Never thought I'd be the one trained by a Pokémon, he added to himself.
"You…you…you…" Jerzy's eyes threatened to bulge out of his head.
"Ash is the Chosen One," Nyx nodded. "You know the honor it would be to help him in fulfilling his destiny. As one who was taken in–even temporarily–by the Order of Mew, you should see it as a moral duty to aid the hero who will help usher in a new era of peace."
"Uh…" Ash wasn't sure how to respond to that. Hero. Not sure I like that word anymore.
His stammer was cut off by the Rattata making a strange, wheezing like sound.
"Heheeheehhheh," Jerzy gave a raspy chuckle. "You askin' me ta stick mah neck out fer someone else? Someone I dun even know? Jus' 'cause he can use Swift? Hehehahaheheh! I'd ratha' throw meself overboard into a pod o' Gyarados!"
Nyx blinked.
"Think of the treasure you'd have access to," Aura said in soft tone.
"Wha'?"
"We're traveling to and around regions you'd never have access to on your own. You'll never have opportunities like this without us or our little quest. We won't be able to use everything you'd be stealing to fund our journey, after all. Plus," Aura's smirk deepened, "imagine the glory and high reputation you'd get from being one of the companions that helped the almighty Chosen One. Your wealth would practically steal itself."
"And da blasted Order woul' stop tryin' to fin' me?"
"Only one way to find out," Aura sighed.
"Well," Jerzy scowled again. "I s'pose I coul' fund a trial period. But, I 'pect ta be supplied wid rations durin' da whole endeavor."
"What?"
"He wants us to feed him in exchange for funding our travels," Aura clarified.
"Any objections?" Nyx asked the others nervously.
"I…I don't like using stolen money, but if it's really stolen from the leader of Team Rocket…"
"Tha' Baron guy?" Jerzy asked. "Yea, I sto' plenty o' col' hard cash from da bastard. I nevah really used it. Jus' stole it to put 'im in 'is place. Not even a grea' thief like meself deserves dat much pure wealth."
Ash grimaced, an unusually dark look in his eyes.
"Yeah," he nodded. "I think I might be okay with that, after all."
"I'm not entirely sure of all the human ethics involved here, so my vote lies with the Chosen One here," Nyx nodded back.
"I agree that we should take every chance to use Team Rocket's crimes against them and help us along," Pikachu spoke for the first time during the whole conflict. "He may be morally questionable in general, but he doesn't seem evil."
"I feel no love at first sight for the rat, myself," Aura added, "but I suppose I should support my own idea. We do need the money, and less funds to work for mean that we'll get through this whole thing that much faster and smoother."
"That's that, then," Nyx grinned.
"Welcome to the team," Ash muttered half-heartedly.
"Uh," Jerzy wasn't sure how to respond.
"Hear that, little punk?" Aura gave the Rattata a cold smile. "You're coming with us."
...
"Really?" Aura exasperated under her breath. "You'd think you'd have expected that…"
"Uh…miss," a nervous man in a blue uniform motioned for her to stand aside. "Could…you please?"
Of course I set off the metal detector, she scowled as she stood aside and allowed them to check her with a handheld metal detector. I'm part-Steel, after all. My spikes are fused metal and horn-like material, and I even have a high level of iron in my blood system compared to humans and non-Steel types.
Or, so my father often told me.
Why is this guy looking at me funny? She cast a skeptical glance at the nervous man as he slowly backed away.
"Uh…you're…you're clear…m-miss…" he finally stammered. "Have…a g-good flight."
"Whatever," Aura grumbled, trudging over to the end of security. She grabbed her jacket and pack out of the grey bins and slipped them on once more. She had ultimately decided on abandoning all of her weapons from her old life. There would just be no way to keep them with her in human territories anymore.
Besides, she reminded herself as she rejoined the others, I've got actual Attacks. I even have the power of Psychic again.
Though, she admitted to herself, I still don't have the gift of my own namesake back yet. I might never regain that ability.
She shot a glare at Jerzy, who was seated on Misty's shoulder.
He didn't have to be checked with a handheld, Aura thought bitterly. He also looks way too smug up there.
"I never said you could sit there," Misty seemed to read Aura's mind.
"I dun wanna be tramp'd on by da crowds."
Nor do you want to say any word the same way twice, Aura thought. She smiled slightly. At least you're not trying to fool anyone with some sort of fake friendship.
"Let's just find our gate," Ash suggested before anyone could spark an argument. "We board in half an hour, after all."
As they walked through the crowds, Aura couldn't stop looking around at the other travelers. They all seemed to be whispering amongst themselves in hurried voices.
No, Aura shook her head. I'm just imagining things. I've been out in the wilderness for so long, I've forgotten how to act in a human crowd. That's all.
"Did you see that Lucario, mommy?" A little boy said in a loud, excited voice as they passed.
Maybe I'm not paranoid, Aura frowned.
"Guys?" She asked, sitting down when they reached their gate.
"Are you sure you're okay with this, Nyx?" Misty asked the Umbreon, not catching Aura's soft question. "Flying in a crate with the checked luggage, I mean. Well, you won't be with the luggage, exactly. You'll be with other quadruped Pokémon that can't be safely boarded in a seat with the human passengers."
"Whatever it takes to help Ash and you guys," Nyx grinned. "It's not a big deal. I've found it rather easy to adjust to the way things work in the human world."
Strangely, Aura gave him a curious glance, though he didn't see it, I've found myself adapting rather naturally myself. Well…readapting.
Though, planes are a first. They're not like helicopters. Though, I used to be able to keep my balance flying in one of those.
And neither is quite like flying on the back of a bird Pokémon.
She thought of the wind in her fur, the soft mist of the ocean spray on her face, the soft feel on her arm of…
What the hell? Aura shook her head. Snap out of it!
She looked over across the seating area, to see two teenage males, probably trainers, who were talking out of the corner of their mouths to each other while staring blatantly at her.
What the hell?Aura thought again.
"Misty?" Aura turned to look at the teenager. "Is there something on my face?"
"No, why?" Misty seemed taken by surprise by the question.
"Is it super unusual for Pokémon to wear clothes lately, or something?"
"No…"
"I know that plenty of people walk around with their Pokémon out of their Pokéballs, so that's not it…." She mused. In fact, I've seen at least half a dozen trainers walking with their Pokémon on this side of security alone.
"Then…why is everyone staring at me like I'm some sort of freak?" Aura asked.
"Hey, dude," a teenage boy approached Ash. "Is that your Lucario?"
"I don't-!" Aura started angrily.
"We're traveling together…" Ash said uncomfortably.
"What do you feed her?"
"What?" Ash gave the strange trainer a look. "…W-why?"
"Your Lucario is huge!" The trainer exclaimed. "How did you raise her to be so big?"
Aura gaped, and stared at Misty from out of the corner of her eye.
"I look fat?"
"No!" Misty and Nyx both said immediately.
"No, you're…very healthy-looking!" Nyx stammered, not making eye contact.
"What I mean is," the trainer stammered, noticing that he'd inadvertently insulting Aura. "…You…see…most Lucario are around 4 feet tall at most. And…you're…well…"
"What?" Aura stood up, snarling. "A freak?"
"No!" The trainer raised his hands in defense. "It's really cool! It's a sign of some amazing training with a perfectly balanced diet! I mean, you're about…five feet-one or so, maybe even five-four! You must be really strong!"
"Either this is going to make her temper worse…" Ash muttered to himself, "or it'll inflate her ego. I can't decide what'd be worse."
"I…I guess," Aura looked away awkwardly. "I never really thought about it."
"Uh," Ash stammered to the trainer. "She just eats normal food."
"Like…human food?"
"If she wants," Ash shrugged. "She took care of herself every day before we met. She's always been this big, as long as I've known her. I figure she knows better than I could what she should eat."
"Ask my Pokémon…" the trainer said to himself. "Well, thanks stranger! Have a smooth flight!" And as suddenly as the trainer had appeared, he vanished off into the airport's crowds.
"That…was odd…" Aura sat back down with a sigh. "I guess I haven't seen another Lucario in so long, that I forgot…"
"What about Odin?" Misty reminded her.
"He was rather tall, too, now that I think about it," Ash focused on a tile on the ground in front of him. "I guess it could have been from his intense training as a Sage, or from being around the Fighting Orb and its pure power."
"What about Aura?" Misty asked Ash. "She's definitely not a Sage. No offense."
"Whatever," Aura shrugged.
"And, you said you'd met a Lucario before," Misty continued. "Several, actually. Shouldn't you have noticed the difference, Mr. Pokémon Master?"
"Been a while since I heard you use that nickname, Mist," Ash smirked. "And…I dunno, I never really noticed it. I had quite a growth spurt myself this past year, after all. I guess I didn't notice since the difference was the same, still."
"More or less," Pikachu sighed. "Plus, since when does Ash ever notice anything? He only noticed when his voice broke because Max kept laughing."
"Good point," Misty chuckled. "How did you get so much taller than average?"
Aura shrugged again.
"My parents were both above average," she said in an uninterested tone. "Well, my mother wasn't much taller, maybe four-and-a-half feet or so, but my father was huge. I remember he was just a couple inches short of six feet."
"WHAT," Misty, Ash, and Nyx all gaped at her.
"That's…unbelievable!" Nyx breathed. "Even the legendary Hikaru was rumored to only be around five foot at most."
"It…wasn't…natural," Aura muttered, looking away. "He was…forced to become so…big."
"What?" Misty pressed gently.
Aura didn't say anything further, refusing to look up.
"Aura?" Ash started.
Misty grabbed his arm, shaking her head when he turned to look at her quizzically.
This could be part of why she's so messed up emotionally… Misty thought to herself. It could be because her father, who apparently raised her, wasn't entirely stable himself. This whole thing could run in her family. It could go even deeper than that.
Aura might have been born in an entire world of secrets.
...
Silver sat on the hallway floor, with Minerva standing right in front of him. He had the Sneasel's right hand in his left, and he was rubbing her claws with a shining claw.
"Stocks have decreased…" A voice came from a nearby wooden door.
Really? Silver grimaced. He's dealing with his cover's career now? Does he not even care that he's at a huge risk of blowing both of our covers? He started shining the claws on Minerva's other hand with a furious intensity.
Not that I should really care about my cover, he thought to himself. It might very well be easier, if I didn't have to pretend to be some sort of quiet, well-behaved son of a Baron in public, and deal with people treating me like a pathetic, weak little kid in private.
No. The Rockets won't treat me like a little kid anymore, Silver reminded himself. I'm an Elite, now. My strength is implied by that alone. I just have to live up to that expectation, now.
Strength, a dark voice echoed in his mind.
Silver shook his head.
"Snea!" Minerva jerked her claws out of Silver's hand, scratching him slightly.
He refrained from a hiss of pain. A streak of red blood started to seep from his upper arm. He placed his opposite hand on it for pressure.
"A Sneasel, eh?" A gentleman's voice said in a jolly tone behind him.
Silver stood up, turning to face the owner of the voice. It was a kindly looking man, with short, thinning salt-and-pepper hair and a similar beard. The classy business suit he wore confirmed what Silver overheard. His father was doing business as his cover as the Baron.
People think that Beacon Industries is building them a better tomorrow or some such cliché, Silver thought. In truth, they're just selling more and more of themselves and their Regions to Team Rocket. The Team is infiltrating every aspect of their lives, even in Hoenn and now Sinnoh as well, now that Teams Aqua, Magma, and Galactic have been defeated and effectively disbanded.
I'm going to inherit a world as corrupt as my father's heart.
"Yeah," Silver finally said in a non-committal tone.
"I'm surprised the Baron didn't mention his son finally became a trainer."
"Guess it slipped his mind," he gripped his wounded arm tighter to prevent himself from sounded as angry as he felt. The change in pressure resulted in some blood seeping between his fingers. "He's…a busy man." Busy being one of the world's biggest crime lords.
"Young Master Silver!" The gentleman gasped. "You're injured."
"I'm fine." I've had worse.
"Baron!" The gentleman yelled back into Giovanni's personal study.
"Yes, what is it?" Giovanni walked out slowly.
"Your son is injured!" The gentleman's concern was genuine.
"I'm fine," Silver repeated angrily.
"If my son says he is fine… then he is fine," Giovanni assured the gentleman. "I believe he is mature enough to take care of himself. He has had worse, after all."
"Ah, yes, I'd heard rumors," the gentleman nodded. "Well, if that's the case, then," he gave Giovanni a curt nod. "Take care of yourself, Master Silver." The gentleman left without another word.
"What was that about?" Silver narrowed his eyes at Giovanni after the gentleman was out of earshot. It wasn't often that they had any real visitors in their private home in the city.
"Business," Giovanni said simply.
You deserve the whole truth, the voice whispered in the back of Silver's mind.
"What about?" He pressed.
Giovanni looked at him.
"As your son and heir, I deserve to know what I'll be inheriting one day," Silver glared at him.
Giovanni blinked, eyes widening slightly at Silver's aggressive tone. Silver was always angry at his father, but this…this was worse than usual.
Shouldn't his new rank and position as an Elite and a trainer have brightened his mood, rather than darken it?
"Silph Corporation's in some financial trouble right now, and their stock's dropping dramatically," Giovanni said with a sigh. "We might be able to buy them out, if their problems continue to worsen at this rate."
"I…I see," Silver glanced downward.
Team Rocket would have an absolute monopoly in Kanto and Johto and virtually one in Orre, Sevii, and Sinnoh. Only Hoenn and the Orange Islands would have any competition, due to their dependence on Devon Corporation.
This is bad.
"I have your assignment for you, if you'd like to be the one to relay it to your Agents and Grunts."
"What?" Silver was shocked by Giovanni's tone. It was…kind.
This cannot possibly be my father! He's not a kind man. He's a bastard. He always has been, as long as I've known him.
What is going on?
Be on guard, the voice whispered. Giovanni's known to be manipulative and power-hungry. Would it really be such a stretch for him to use his son for his own goals? After all, his own father…
Silver's grimace deepened.
"Sure," Silver said, following Giovanni into his study, recalling Minerva as he did.
"I'll not waste your time," Giovanni took a seat at his desk. This one was much simpler than the one at Rocket Headquarters, bare but for a single picture frame. The walls were covered with bookshelves filled to capacity.
"Sir?"
"We've received several dozen reports of a strange shrine just north of Union Cave on Route 32 in Johto," Giovanni started. "While the scientists in the Team haven't found anything particularly useful about the shrine itself, yet, there have also been multiple sightings of a strange and powerful Pokémon. Your mission is to take your men to the Shrine, both to back up and defend our science team present, and to investigate and capture the Pokémon, if at all possible. In any case, all intel is to be reported directly to me."
"…Understood," Silver nodded. "I'll relay the information to my Agents at Headquarters immediately. I assume the Grunts assigned to me are already standing by for their orders."
Well, I've adjusted to speaking like an Elite rather fast.
Maybe I should be more concerned about…
"Yes," Giovanni said. "Also, you'll be assigned to work with another Elite as liaison."
"What?" Silver asked. "Who?"
"Elite 009."
Silver gaped at him, a rage igniting in his chest.
"What," Silver kept his voice just short of a yell. "Absolutely not! Why?"
"Those are my orders."
"Are you saying that as the Boss, or as my father?"
"Both."
The door opened before Silver could yell his retort.
"Sire," Dagger walked in.
Silver turned to look at the Lucario bodyguard.
"Yes, Dag?"
"Archer has sent word that he's set up and awaiting your signal," Dagger spoke in a calm tone.
"I suppose I'll go contact him," Giovanni sighed. He stood up and started to leave.
"My orders are final," he firmly told his fuming son, and left the teen alone with Dagger.
"Bastard," Silver snarled. "Of all the goddamn Elites…. How dare he…just…just…" He paced back and forth, stammering in fury. "Rrraaargh!" He roared, slamming his fist into the doorframe with a loud thwock!
"Silver?" Dagger took a step back, eyes wide. Silver might have been an angry youth, but he was never known to be outright violent and aggressive before. "What's wrong with you?"
"I'll be at headquarters, preparing my Agents for our mission," Silver snapped, ignoring Dag's question. He stormed out of the room without another word.
"What has gotten into that boy?" Dagger asked himself. "Not even his father was that…hostile at his age. It wasn't until he…" Dag's voice trailed off. "Dear Arceus, no!" The Lucario's eyes widened in fear.
"Please…spirits of those that have fallen in the name of this family…guide Silver's heart."
The loud sound of a door slamming announced Silver's departure from the house he'd grown up in.
"Please," Dagger prayed. "Give Silver the strength to save himself…from himself."
...
Silver tugged on the knot of his bandages. His left arm was now covered in a haphazard manner with white cloth bandages. He wasn't an expert, but he had been tending to his own wounds–for the most part–for years now.
He walked down the hall without any real destination. He'd just finished relaying the orders to the Grunts and his Agents. Now, he'd be happy to be able to go as long as possible without having to run into her.
"Hey, 'lil Boss!" A voice caused him to stop and turn sharply.
"Meowth," Silver sighed with relief. "And…Jessie and James, right?"
"We were wondering…" James started nervously. "You see…"
"Yes?" Silver sighed. "Speak up, already."
"You're not gonna put us in wid da Grunts when we take off for Johto, are ya?" Meowth asked frankly.
"What?" Silver raised an eyebrow. "Why would you ask that?"
"Whenever we work with a larger group of Team members, the Rocket in charge always seems to forget about our skills as Agents and makes us do Grunt work," Jessie said.
Skills, Silver narrowed his eyes. If guzzling our funds like a traveler's water skin in the desert is a skill.
"Whatever you want," Silver waved his hand, looking away in disinterest. "Fly with us in the Elite's copter. Just stay out of my face during the flight."
"The Elite's copter?" The trio chimed in happy unison. "In-flight movies! Luxury seating! Five-star cuisine!"
Silver scoffed.
"If you don't lose your appetite just by looking at our…liaison Elite," Silver scowled.
"We're working with another Elite?" Mondo joined the conversation as he approached the group. "Who? Archer? I thought he was busy."
"He is," Silver turned to face him. "We're working with Domino," the last word was filled with malice.
"Oh, boy," Mondo muttered.
"Domino?" James asked.
"You mean…the Black Tulip?" Jessie blinked.
"Wait," Meowth turned to his partners. "Isn't she dat girl from Mount Quena? Do ya tink she remembers us?"
"No," James shook his head. "Remember? That was taken care of by…"
"James!" Jessie exclaimed. She turned to Silver with a nervous chuckle. "Ignore him, he sometimes babbles complete nonsense."
You all babble nonsense, Silver almost chuckled.
"Mount Quena?" Silver asked. "That mission that my father and the bitch went on without explanation and suddenly returned with even less answers, dragging a small army of Rockets back and forth with them? I guess I was right, after all. It was his runaway pet weapon, wasn't it? It finally wiped his memory?"
"Uh…"
"Well, too bad it couldn't have given him a personality adjustment while it was messing around in his mind," Silver sighed. "But, at least he won't have that poor thing under his control anymore. It was alive, after all. Living things are not tools or weapons."
"Strange attitude for a Rocket," a female voice sounded from behind Silver. "What are you talking about, anyway?"
Silver didn't even bother to look at her. He simply started to walk away without a word.
Dear God, can this get any worse?
"Silver!"
Yes, apparently it can.
"Go away," Silver said in as level a tone as he could manage.
"I have orders, too, you know."
"I doubt they involve you following me everywhere like a lost Poocheyna."
"Yes, forgive me for wanting to actually plan ahead with my partner so we can work efficiently as a team."
"You're not my partner," Silver kept walking.
"According to the Boss-!" Domino started.
"My father does not get to decide who I call my partner," Silver stopped at turned to glare at her. "You're a liaison, nothing more!"
"This is about more than the mission, isn't it?" Domino narrowed her eyes.
"Rrrgh…whatever!" Silver turned away again and continued to storm off.
"Hey!" Domino ran after him.
Silver tried to hide himself in a room and slam the door behind him, but Domino kept the door open with a well-timed, powerful roundhouse kick.
"I'm not done!" She barked, entering after him.
"I am!" Silver retorted. "Leave me alone!"
"You are alone!" Domino yelled. "You chose to be alone! You refuse to heal, to even open your eyes!"
"What do you-!"
"She's not the only person who ever cared about you!"
"What?" Silver's anger subsided into confusion.
"Maybe if you paid attention to someone other than yourself, you'd know!" Domino exasperated. "For all your protests against your similarities, you are just as blind as Giovanni!"
"I am nothing like-!" Silver started yelling again.
"And you're just as short-tempered!"
"I...!" Silver stammered. "I…I'm not…I…." He hung his head, scowling.
There's nothing wrong with anger, the voice whispered. It can give you strength if you know how to utilize your anger to its fullest potential.
Silver shook his head.
"If you paid one iota of attention to the people around you, you'll see that there are plenty of people who are concerned for your well-being!" Domino continued to berate him.
"Like who?"
"Mondo, for one. Maybe you forgot, but it's because of Mondo that you're even still alive!"
Silver's expression softened.
She…she has a point there.
"He sees you as a brother, Silver. Mondo's like me, an orphan who would have no place to go without the Team. He's never known his family, either. All three of us were raised as Rockets, whether you accept that fact or not. Whereas I embraced Rocket life in an attempt to survive and thrive, Mondo bonded himself to other Grunts…and to you."
"I…I never…" Silver tried to form a thought.
"Dagger's been looking out for you since you were an infant as well," Domino continued anyway. "And Giovanni, yes, Silver, your father…has always loved you."
"He's never even cared about me," Silver found his voice. "He's always put the Team above my health and happiness."
"He didn't order her death, Silver," Domino said softly. "I know you think otherwise but…Moonsbane acted on his own. That's why Giovanni had him chased off, and has the entire Team ordered to kill him on sight should he return."
"I…I don't…" Silver couldn't believe that. "He's power-hungry!"
"That's lessened since that night, Silver," Domino sighed. "It's an unfair exchange, that your heart was broken to restore his and…"
"And what?" Silver growled.
TSSSEEEW! A burst of red light came from one of the Pokéballs on Silver's belt.
"Tototototototototototo!" Fang gurgled happily upon releasing himself.
"Fang!" Silver yelped. He looked at Domino.
She doesn't know.
"This…this isn't what it looks like!"
"What?" Domino smirked. "An Elite having a Pokémon that he captured or otherwise obtained on his own? Who am I to question it?"
That's right, I'm an Elite now. I have that power. I have the right.
Power… the word echoed in his mind.
"R-right!" Silver stammered. "I knew that!"
"Though, that just proves my point even more," Domino continued. "You have a team of Pokémon, now, and they'd likely give their all for you, especially this little guy."
"…Why do you care?"
"What?"
"Why do you even give a damn about whether or not I have…people that care?"
"…I was once just as cold as you feel right now," Domino muttered. "I cared about only myself and power. Gaining it, using it, lording it over those beneath me. I had nothing without it. No family. No friends. Not even a kind feeling in my heart. Being a Rocket was my life, and I made it a dangerous game that I loved to play. I manipulated and fought and cheated my way up to status as an Elite. Becoming Giovanni's successor as Boss just seemed natural to me; after all, you didn't want it."
"But the Rocket Lordship is passed by blood-inheritance; it always lies with the Zolton Barony. In fact, the first Boss, my grandmother, earned the title of Baroness through manipulations of her own, creating the bloodline's nobility in the first place." Silver narrowed his eyes. "So, you decided to take the next best thing."
"I don't want to just be the wife of the next Boss," Domino buried her face in her hand. "Our…situation was not my idea, nor did I ever approve of it."
"But you accepted it!" Silver argued. "You knew it was controlling my life even more than it already was controlled, and you still accepted my father's decision without question. You selfish…!"
"I was just trying to make the best situation for myself from the cards I'd been dealt."
"It doesn't change anything. She's still dead. And you're still the one benefiting from it."
"Yes, I've benefited," Domino nodded. "But not because I've had competition eliminated. Seeing you broken from her death…and Mondo's steadfast kinship to you despite your misplaced anger…and Giovanni…the look in his eyes at seeing you so…shattered…" Her voice faltered for a moment. "It taught me something."
"What?" Silver snarled. "That there's more to life than being a Rocket? Please, could you be any more clichéd?"
"I wish she was alive."
"…What?" Silver blinked.
"I know it's against my policy of…manipulating the system…but I wish she'd survived that night."
"Why?" Silver asked.
"Because she made you happy."
Silver stared. He couldn't even focus on Fang, the little Totodile now perched on his shoulder and rubbing his face against his cheek.
She…was heartless…wasn't she? What happened?
Or, is she lying? Just manipulating me like she does everything else?
I don't think I can trust her. Not then, not now, not ever.
"That isn't bandaged well," Domino pointed to Silver's arm. "Let me redo that."
"Don't touch me," Silver slid away from her automatically.
"Silver, let me help you."
"I…I don't need your help."
"No, no you don't."
Silver looked at her skeptically.
"But…you can still accept my help."
Silver continued to look at her, furrowing his brow.
"I…I…"
"I'm not going to poison your wound," Domino assured him. "In fact, I can clean it for you."
Silver couldn't decide how sincere she was. She was too good an actress to judge her true intentions; she'd fooled many a poor sap while undercover before.
Yet….
Yet, he couldn't see any way that she could take advantage of his wounds to hurt him and help herself. As far as he could tell, she needed him alive to further herself in the Team.
He looked away, exhaling deeply through gritted teeth. Fang made a concerned gurgling sound at his trainer's frustration, but Silver did nothing to reassure him. Silver's scowl deepened when he felt Domino's hands on his arm, but he didn't break away. He hissed slightly when the bandages brushed against the wound as she removed them
I must have done a worse job than usual…
My wounds used to always be so well tended to. She…had a lot of practice, after all.
If only she could have healed her own wounds…
"Silver?" Domino asked suddenly, concern clear in her voice.
"I'm tired of living in people's shadows," Silver said softly. "I'm tired of living in the shadows. I've always lived in shadows, expected to be the good little son of the great Boss, Giovanni." He added in an angry tone, before it leveled again. "One person believed I could be great on my own," he looked at Domino, "that I could be free. And she's gone," he looked down again.
Silver looked up at the wall, glaring in determination at no one in particular.
"But I'm still here, and I will prove her right."
...
A/N: Dear…lord. I hadn't originally planned on working very hard on this again until after finals, but I got bit hard by the writing bug and decided to write it anyway. Also, about Aura's size, that was always in effect, but I noticed that it wasn't very obvious (since Ash is so oblivious to everything), so I tweaked the scene to mention it. Sometimes subtle is too subtle….
Yes. I hate Jerzy's dialogue. With a searing passion. If it wasn't important to the plot…Oh, well. Can't always give in to Author Appeal….
Any case, for news that actually matters, I now have a Beta Reader. I figured, since I'm starting to get this out in more populated places and I'm starting to develop a small but decent-sized readership (far more than I'd ever thought would be interested for this long), I should get a Beta Reader to help up the quality some. Her Pen name is Quarks and All, and she's actually a real-life friend of mine who started reading a few months ago. She's an Original Series (mostly just seasons one and two) fan, and she's pretty awesome. (Seriously, just read her Beta Profile. And her fics, if you like NCIS. Shameless plug!).
Also, over the summer, I will be rereading everything done so far and checking for typos and such I may have missed, and some other general clean up. Let me know of any big ones you've caught, so I don't miss them AGAIN...
So yeah. As always, I hope you enjoyed, and feel free to leave me a comment/review or ask me a question, either by comment or note/PM. See ya next time!