Chapter 12: No PKMN Gods, No PKMN Masters
Two weeks had passed since Pachirisu had joined their team and quite a bit had happened since. In addition to their usual side adventures, the gang had encountered a Pokémon Hunter simply known as J who – unlike the bumbling Team Rocket trio – was efficient, ruthless and pragmatic, by far one of the worst threats Ash and Pikachu have come across in a while. Thankfully the gang was able to stop her plans yet she managed to evade capture.
After that, the crew made it Floarama Town where they met a childhood friend of Dawn's named Kenny who faced off against the azure-haired coordinator in the final round of the Floarama Town Pokémon Contest. In the end, Dawn and her team comprised of Piplup and Pachirisu prevailed and she won her first ribbon! Needless to say that everyone was over the moon for their victory...even if it did give Piplup more fuel for his ego but, heck he deserved it!
A few days later, the gang participated in a dress-up contest where Pikachu was able to show off his unique ability to imitate others although Croagunk won in part thanks to Team Rocket's meddling. Their prize was a pink Pokémon egg that Brock took possession of. Not long after that, Dawn had captured a new addition to their team: Buizel, who turned out to be nearly as prideful as Piplup though more in the battling sense plus it took a little effort for him to actually obey Dawn's commands.
After that, Ash and his team of Staravia, Aipom and Turtwig managed to overcome the Eterna Gym leader Gardenia and earned the Forest Badge! Finally, not long after the Eterna City gym battle, the Pokémon egg hatched into Happiny! The newborn was an absolute joy to be around although she was definitely the strongest baby Pokémon any of them had ever seen!
Yup, quite a lot had happened, and no doubt so much more on the horizon!
Speaking of which, it was only a few days after Happiny's birth did the group have a little misadventure on a boat where Pikachu and Piplup were left in charge...and it didn't take long for them to have to deal with Team Rocket and stop the runaway boat from going over a waterfall!
And yet...out of everything that's happened so far, one of the most notable things was how differently Buneary had been acting. For as dense as Pikachu could be, even he could tell how much the bunny has come out of her shell. Aside from regularly socializing with everyone on a daily basis, the girl really started to ramp up her advances towards him. It started out as something like a wink or extra cheering during training but now it's gotten to the point where she was practically flirting with him in front of the others! He had to admit, it was always quite flattering but it also made for some good teasing fuel for those like Aipom. Still, he never objected to any of it.
And so they were on the road once again, this time heading to Hearthome City for another contest for Dawn to participate in, fully expecting to see Zoey.
Due to all of this craziness, Pikachu had little time to think about his...dilemma with Buneary. What little time that he had in between misadventures was often spent training and afterwards after which, he often found himself too exhausted to really think of much. The brief moments of peace and free time with his thoughts were all he had to work with. And...
...
...He still wasn't really sure! Okay well that might be a bit of an exaggeration. He actually did have an inkling of an idea of what he wanted. In those few precious moments between battling and shenanigans he did give thought about what it would be like to date her. Nothing too groundbreaking but enough to make him feel a little more confident than how he was back at the cabin. Try as he might, he couldn't think of any detractors so terrible that it would turn him off to the idea of giving her a chance at least. After all of their adventures, successes and failures and the sheer amount of quality time between them, he felt that he had a good idea of how she would be not just as a partner but in the event of things going south. She could definitely be quirky and at times a bit…dramatic but she wasn't the kind to make his – or anybody else's – life miserable if things didn't work out. So really...would it be so bad if they dated?
He just needed a little more time to actually sit down and seriously think about it rather than the brief moments he'd been given so far. Maybe when they finally get to the base of Mount Coronet things can finally calm down for a bit.
Things don't always turn out the way one hopes.
Shortly after they arrived at the base of Mount Coronet, things only got even crazier! Not only did they reencounter Pokémon Hunter J but Gary of all people! As it turned out, the young trainer was studying the wildlife at Mount Coronet when he encountered their crew fighting off Hunter J. This of course, meant that Pikachu had to deal with another one of Ash's rivals much to the mouse's distress. Thankfully, Gary turned out to be instrumental in helping to once again ward off Hunter J and save a shieldon from being Pokénapped. Plus it helped that Ash's rivalry with him was really nothing like that with Paul and in fact, the two left on good terms.
Granted, this meant that Pikachu was once again left with little opportunity to dwell on his situation.
After parting ways with Gary, the gang made their way to a village. After stopping by the Pokémon Center, Brock figured it was a good idea to stock up on supplies, especially potions considering how they now might have to deal with Hunter J again in the future. As they browsed the shop, Ash and Brock took a moment to comb through the map to decide what the best way to go through the mountain would be.
Dawn was looking in another aisle, deciding what items were essential for their journey. Pikachu, as usual, took his position on Ash's shoulder and watched as Brock traced a finger over the map as Ash watched. As it turned out, Hearthome City was almost directly east of Oreburgh City so they would need to head in that direction and then turn the opposite way.
As Pikachu watched to two boys debate over directions, something caught the mouse's eye off to the side. He turned his head and saw what was capturing his attention: a television on the wall. Pikachu blinked as he registered what he was seeing. The channel was on Sinnoh Now, reporting the news with large headlines along the bottom of the screen that read:
POKEMON LIBERATION ARMY CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATTACKS ACROSS SINNOH
Huh? Pokémon Liber-what now? Pikachu blinked again as he re-read the news headline again. His gaze trailed a little above the title and rested on what was featured on the screen: a young man dressed in what looked to be a black uniform with a with a crest of a Pokéball with a black inverted "V" along his chest. The man was standing with a bullhorn to his mouth, a look of barely-restrained fury on his face as he ranted to a crowd of protesters. Pikachu angled his ears a little to hear what the news was saying.
"The PLA has claimed that they were responsible for several attacks across our great region including a recent raid on a Pokémon Center off of Mini Feather Avenue." The host known as Kayla Chavez announced before continuing. "In addition to their claimed attacks, the group has staged several rallies, no doubt to spread their message which many label as dangerous and extreme. We will show a snippet of what was said during their latest public rally but be warned, this may be offensive to some." She said before the audio focused on what the young man in uniform was saying.
"For too long have we put these self-proclaimed masters on pedestals and pander to their every whim whilst they allow their Pokémon to rot in the very devices that stole away their freedom in the first place!" The young man shouted into the device. "Inside these Pokéballs are Pokémon deprived of daylight for weeks at a time yet dread their temporary release as they are forced to fight within an inch of their lives!"
Pikachu tilted his head in confusion. Huh, strange, well that certainly didn't apply to him since he was never in his Pokéball plus none of his friends ever-so-much as made a peep about being unhappy with their lives! He continued to listen.
"And our children aspire more than anything to be the perpetrators of such suffering? Manipulated on a daily basis by a meager agenda for the sole end of selling potions and Pokéballs, it is not up to us to blame, friends!" The man proclaimed. "Why growing up, even I saw organizations calling for the boycott of Silk Co. products as the work of radical extremists, but now I see that such organizations don't nearly go far enough! We must band together, Pokémons and humans alike, to create an unstoppable force of change in a future for all! We will run the trainers out of town, we will burn their gyms to the ground and we will ensure that the so-called Elite Four are held accountable for the crimes they've committed! We will not rest until we see every last Pokéball broken and obsolete! From this day forward, there is no future for Pokémon trainers!"
The news cut away from the man and focused on Kayla at her desk.
"Truly some out-there stuff. Thankfully the good people of Sinnoh are wise to their claims and often, members of the PLA have been run out of town or have had their publicized gatherings cancelled due to public outcry." She said before she moved onto another news story.
Pikachu continued to blankly watch the screen before grimacing. Sheesh, what bunch of freaks! Jeez, as if they didn't have enough to worry about! Team Rocket, Hunter J and now these PLA guys? Not to mention Paul giving Ash grief whenever they meet. Was Sinnoh just the most dangerous, hostile place in the world or something?!
Pikachu shook his head, trying to forget what he just saw and turned his attention back to Ash and Brock who continued to discuss where exactly to go from here. As he continued to look at the map, his eyes glossed over to where it showed Mount Coronet and he noticed another name near their location: Dover Mountain. As soon as he saw that, Brock started talking about how they could traverse alongside it before listing off that it was probably the safer option plus apparently it was a scenic route renowned for its sights including the multitude of flowers that grew along it.
A few minutes later, Dawn rejoined them with some supplies, including a magazine that she insisted was important to her career. Something about the latest update on her Pokétch or to that effect.
Pikachu gave a light smile. Alright now that they got their supplies, perhaps they can travel for a bit, set up camp and then tomorrow, he can finally, at long last, have some time to go over things with Buneary.
...Right?
Welp, the next day wasn't exactly quiet either. Granted, it wasn't nearly as intense as what happened with Hunter J but it was probably just as chaotic. It turned out that Dawn's magazine revealed that a new application was being given at the Pokémon Center and if she didn't get it soon, she may not have another chance! So of course the next day as soon as she could, Dawn and the rest of the group sprinted towards the nearest center only to be informed that it was actually the center across the forest that was giving the application! To try and make it by 5 PM, the gang tried crossing through a mountain only to find themselves lost in a maze and even worse, they were separated, all Pokémon included! It took a good portion of the day for everyone to start meeting up.
It was one of those few times that Pikachu found himself separated from Ash and for a while, he had to traverse the maze alone before he stumbled across Buneary and Happiny! The two were having a bit of a spat and were about to go their separate ways before Pikachu brought them together again. Being experienced with baby Pokémon, Pikachu didn't exactly blame Buneary for getting fed up, especially when they were lost in the middle of a maze. To be honest, he was just glad that they were all together.
...And evidently so was Buneary because as soon as Pikachu grabbed her paw, she practically pounced on him in sheer excitement! He could only sigh a bit, partially because he was just as worried as they were about being lost but also because he still felt a bit conflicted about this whole dating dilemma that he couldn't find the time for. Still, that didn't stop him from giving a smile as he carried Happiny on his back and traversing the maze, all the while holding Buneary's paw, much to her clear delight.
After another run-in with Team Rocket, the crew managed to find their way out of the maze and quickly made their way to the Pokémon Center.
"Alright!" Dawn squealed with the biggest grin across her face. "Yeah! What an application! I got Coin Toss!" She proclaimed as she pumped her fists in the air.
"Sounds cool, wow!" Ash said with a proud smile to which Pikachu agreed. Brock meanwhile was leaning against the counter with Nurse Joy nervously laughing on the other side of it.
"Coin Toss may be cool but I have other cool things in mind!" The older boy said in that all-too familiar tone of hopeless romance mixed with fleeting adolescent hormones. Of course just as expected, Croagunk appeared out of nowhere and Poison Jabbed him...in the buttocks no less. "Like falling down!" Brock shouted as he fell forward onto the floor before Croagunk dragged him off.
Of course, it didn't take long at all for Brock to recover and he was back on his feet as Dawn was talking to Nurse Joy.
"Thanks again for the application! I'm sure this will come in handy soon!" Dawn giddily exclaimed.
"You're very welcome!" Nurse Joy happily replied.
"Alright, now that that's outta the way, let's get moving shall we?" Ash enthusiastically declared. Dawn looked back at him and nodded in agreement.
"Right, Hearthome City, here we come!" She shouted, posing with a finger pointing towards the sky.
"Goodbye, safe travels!" Nurses Joy said as the trio exited the building. She smiled and turned to leave the room to check on the healing machine behind the counter, the television in the lobby still running the news.
...
If only the two parties had stayed just a little longer in the room. They would have heard what came on the screen next.
The television showed a young woman with brown hair in a yellow dress sitting at a news table, resting her arms on a small stack of papers.
"Aaaaand coming at you once again it's Sinnoh Now, bringing you all of the news in the Sinnoh area! I'm your host Kayla Chavez If you can't catch us on the telley, you can certainly catch us on radio channel 8.5! Coming up next is the new hit song Lullaby by-" She announced before she was suddenly interrupted by someone off camera handing her a note. Perplexed, she quickly took and read it. Her expression turned into one of concern as she faced the camera.
"We just received breaking news coming out of Oreburgh City. It appears that some kind of attack has taken place at the Oreburgh Mining Museum. Our reporter Rhonda is already on the scene. Rhonda what can you tell us about what is going on over there?" She said before the screen cut to the reporter standing a fair distance away from the museum.
"Well Kayla, I'm standing here as close as possible to the scene of the action. The local police said that any closer would be considered dangerous. But it appears that a carefully coordinated break-in has been carried out on the museum. Police aren't entirely sure who is responsible or what they want but what is clear is that the perpetrators are still inside and are believed to have taken hostages." Rhonda announced, a subtle trace of panic in her voice.
The camera zoomed in and surveyed the outer perimeter of the museum, showing several Pokémon, mainly snorlaxes on the ground and several Flying-types hovering around the windows.
"If you look closely, Kayla, you will see members of this group have blocked off access to the building using their own Pokémon, including the upper stories. This attack is the second one to take place in recent memory. As many recall, it has only been roughly a month when another group of criminals belonging to Team Rocket broke into the museum and wreaked havoc throughout the city."
The camera panned around the building to show that the entire perimeter was surrounded by police officers with their Pokémon partners accompanied by several police and military-style vehicles. It was clear that law enforcement was in a standoff, unable to find an opportunity to engage.
Rhonda suddenly paused to raise her left hand to further press into her earpiece. "Actually, Kayla, I'm just getting word right now...yes...alright the identities of the perpetrators have been confirmed! The perpetrators have been identified as members of the Pokémon Liberation Army or PLA for short. The PLA are described by law enforcement as a small, radical group responsible for a series of attacks in different regions. Attacks have ranged from harassing trainers on the road to assaulting police."
The television screen cut to a list of members of the PLA with their pictures and names. "The PLA is headed by Dr. Ivo, a former professor from Celadon University in the Kanto region. Members of the group have declared that Pokémon are treated as slaves by trainers and the like and that their stated goal was the 'liberation and freedom of all Pokémon from their chains of captivity.' While the group primarily operates here in Sinnoh, they are believed to have strong ties in the Unova region."
The screen cut back to Kayla at her desk. "Okay keep us updated Rhonda if anything else comes up. This is a truly terrible situation; we can only speculate what is going on in that building right now." She sternly said as she worriedly looked into the camera.
Inside the building were several scientists and staff on their knees. Surrounding them were half a dozen PLA members. Like the young man with the bullhorn, the members also wore uniforms with a crest of a Pokéball with a black inverted "V" over it. Accompanying the infiltrators were their own various Pokémon. Some members of the group stood guard over the hostages while others raided the area, breaking many of the lab instruments in the process.
Most of the hostages were scraped and bruised from the sudden onslaught, the person in the worst shape was the bespectacled man lying face down on the tile floor. The man, known as Dr. Kenzo, painfully lifted his head off the floor, showing that his glasses have been cracked with a frame missing.
"W-Why? Why are you doing this? What do you want?" He pleaded as he looked up at the leader of the PLA: an older man with a white beard and a hard face accentuated by dark, cold eyes. Unlike his subordinates, he was wearing a suit and tie with their group's crest on the shoulder and was using a cane to walk.
"Hmph, all of that education and you can't grasp such a simple concept director." The leader known as Dr. Ivo began in his deep voice. "You see, I find it rather disturbing for humans to constantly run around in the wilderness and beat the wildlife senseless before kidnapping them to fight their own battles until they are beaten senseless again. That in itself is horrid enough. But...what you've been doing..." He said as he raised a fossil, rubbing his thumb over it. "Is on a whole other level. It's one thing to take the living and fight your battles, but now you're going around and raising the dead to do it too? The extinct can't even rest in peace? They have to be dragged into your immoral world as well?" He said with a raised voice, looking sternly at the injured scientist.
"Th-That's not what we were doing! We just wanted to research them! T-To better understand the evolution and history of the Pokémon that we have today!" Dr. Kenzo yelled back, a look of anger growing across his face.
"Let me tell you something director, I once knew someone who wanted to 'research Pokémon'. A colleague. That colleague was Dr. Fuji, the man who created Mewtwo. And do you know what happened to him?" He asked before taking a moment to pause to stare down Kenzo. "His creation sent him and his entire team to the burning plains while it managed to escape and cause havoc. The moral of the story is that people like him as well as you mess with the balance of nature and suffer the consequences one way or another. Pokémon and humans are equal and should treat each other as such. If you have a battle, fight it yourself instead of cowering behind your 'friends.'"
He smiled and waved an arm behind to show several Pokémon behind him. "As you can see, none of these Pokémon are trapped in containers. They aren't slaves. They can come and go as they please. They're here because they want to be here, not because we beat them senseless and kidnapped them."
"You've got it all wrong! Pokémon and humans do live side-by-side as equals! This...this is wrong! Attacking us without provocation like this!" Kenzo screamed back.
"I could say that the provocation came the moment you decided to play god and revive something that was dead to fight for you. People like you will only be convinced through direct confrontation. If only some of my colleagues understood that." Dr. Ivo responded. He paused before cruelly smiling. "So director, if it's all the same to you, why don't you tell us where your 'creations' are?"
Dr. Kenzo merely grit his teeth in frustration.
Meanwhile, one of the PLA members was rummaging through some desks nearby, mumbling to himself.
"Let's see..." He muttered before holding up several different manuals and lab notes. "Carbon dating files, GC/MS instructions, scanning electron microscopy troubleshooting...nope that ain't it..." He said before tossing them away and rummaging in another desk. "C'mon there's got to be someth-huh?" He said as he found a remote control with a single red button on it. He reached for it and pressed the button before the floor nearby opened up and a raised platform appeared before him. On it were three Pokéballs in a glass cage. "Aha! There they are!" He yelled in excitement.
He turned to his PLA colleagues. "I found them! I'm gonna take them out!" He shouted before opening the glass cage and taking the three Pokéballs and running to hand them over to his boss.
"Excellent, thank you Stu. Well director, looks like we won't need your help after all." Dr. Ivo said as he turned towards the injured scientist who only grimaced in anger.
A female PLA member suddenly ran up behind Dr. Ivo. "Sir, the vehicles are ready and everyone else is on standby." She whispered to him.
"Perfect, Aimee tell them that we will be leaving very soon. When we get back to HQ, contact our friends in Unova for the next phase." He replied with a smirk before the female PLA member saluted and ran off.
"I'd hate to cut this conversation short director but we have other engagements to attend to." He said before gently holding one of the Pokéballs. "The Elite Four are due for a visit."
"Bastards! No better than Team Rocket! At least they acknowledge their villainy!" Kenzo yelled back.
"Hmph, now then..." Dr. Ivo said before he held the Pokéball off to his side. "Release!" He commanded as the Pokéball released its occupant: Kabutops. As soon as the Pokémon was released, Dr. Ivo promptly dropped the Pokéball and smashed it to pieces under his foot.
Dr. Ivo then threw the next Pokéball which released Armaldo. He smirked at the injured scientist who struggled to get back up and proceeded to smash the second Pokéball.
"It's time we take our leave director. Enjoy the new world we're about to create." He said as he began to toss the final Pokéball into the air.
"No! Not that one!" Kenzo screamed at the top of his lungs as he watched in horror as the Pokéball opened to release what was inside.
"Okay, just make sure you're not getting any feedback okay?" Rhonda said to her camera crew as they adjusted their equipment. "And just be sure to not let any sun get in my face. I hate reporting when squinting the whole tim-" She said before she was interrupted by a massive explosion coming from the museum.
The entire reporting crew flinched and hit the ground for cover.
"What was that?! Hurry, get the cameras rolling!" Rhonda shouted before eventually getting back up.
Back on the Sinnoh Now channel, Kayla was reporting on the weather when another note was handed to her. She grimaced and turned to face the camera.
"Alright I'm just getting the news now that some kind of explosion has occurred at the Oreburgh Mining Museum. We're now going to Rhonda to get the latest. Rhonda?"
The screen cut to Rhonda who was standing in front of the museum a distance away with a concerned look on her face.
"Yes Kayla, I'm standing at a safe distance from the museum where, only mere moments ago, an explosion just rang out from inside the facility. We're not entirely sure who or what was respons-whoah!" She screamed, being interrupted again by another explosion, this time blasting out through the ceiling of the museum.
Everyone sought cover again but the cameraman continued filming the building, managing to capture a screeching aerodactyl flying out from the newly-created hole.
"It looks like an aerodactyl has blasted its way out of the museum and is flying towards the nearby woods!" Rhonda shouted as the beast quickly flew off into the distance towards the surrounding forest.
The sudden commotion caught the attention of everyone in the nearby vicinity. All of the PLA guards and their Pokémon momentarily looked to see what was causing the havoc and several were trying to get out of the way of the blast site and falling debris.
"Now's our chance! Go! Go! GO!" Officer Jenny shouted into a walkie-talkie. She and her fellow officers along with their Pokémon partners descended upon the museum and engaged the PLA guards.
"Deploy the Sleep Powder!" Officer Jenny shouted as the officers' venemoths and butterfrees flew along the perimeter and released a sparkling blue dust on the PLA guards.
The criminal sentries began to drop unconscious including their snorlaxes who were all too eager to get some shut-eye. Officer Jenny pointed towards the flying PLA Pokemon who were still circling the building, now in disarray thanks to the aerodactyl's escape.
"All flying Pokémon engage their Flying-types!" She commanded as all flight-gifted Pokemon took to the sky to engage in battle. "Everyone else, with me! We're going in!" She shouted as she motioned to her fellow officers before they quickly began to infiltrate the building.
Dr. Kenzo was in a prone-position on the floor, hoping that he avoided further injury. He looked up to see Dr. Ivo on the floor, sprawled on his back, covered in scrapes and his outfit slightly singed. Kenzo grit his teeth as he looked to see that Dr. Ivo's subordinates weren't faring much better, many already unconscious on the floor with their leader. The lab itself was completely destroyed, smoke thickening the air and making it nearly impossible to see through.
Dr. Ivo slowly and painfully lifted his head up to witness the massive hole in the ceiling that the aerodactyl created.
"You idiot! You don't know what you've unleashed! That Pokémon was highly aggressive, it's already caused one rampage in this city and now you've let it go on another one!" Kenzo yelled at the fallen doctor.
Dr. Ivo paused, then smirked. "Oh dear director, I would say that it was you who caused this! It was already long dead before you brought it back to the mortal plane! Now the world will see what happens when you mess with the balance of nature!" He said before laughing albeit in much pain.
Suddenly they all heard commotion from outside the room.
"What the hell?!" Screamed one PLA member.
"Ambush! Take them out!" Another shouted.
Dr. Ivo struggled to get back up as two of his subordinates began to help him get back on his feet.
"Fishlock! Rah! Take care of them! We're leaving!" He commanded to the two subordinates.
"Yes sir!" They said in unison before running off into the smoke.
The commotion soon turned into a series of blasts and smaller explosions as what appeared to be a fierce Pokémon battle commenced just outside of the room.
"Counterattack into the smoke! Push, push, push!" A feminine voice shouted.
Holding his side in pain, Dr. Ivo smiled cruelly at Kenzo. "That's our cue to leave. Farewell director." He said before beginning to make his way out the side door leading outside. He opened it to reveal a jeep with a driver and two other PLA members standing beside it. Dr. Ivo briefly turned his head to look at Kenzo, giving a small smile.
"Give my best wishes to Roark would you? He should be thrilled with-" He said before he was interrupted by the jeep being flipped over by a rampardos. Dr. Ivo recoiled in shock as he watched the other remaining PLA members being chased off by an onix. The PLA leader looked to his side to see none other than the gym leader himself.
"What was that you were saying?" Roark smarmily asked with a smirk. Dr. Ivo could only grimace as a geodude floated beside him, its fists out and ready for use.
"Looks like you'll be staying for a bit." Roark confidently said before the door to the room blew open allowing several officers to run in.
"Hands in the air! You are under arrest!" Officer Jenny yelled as her arcanine and growlith companions ran up beside her, eyeing their target.
Kenzo gave a small smirk as his consciousness began to ebb away. Before passing out, he could hear someone calling for an ambulance as he watched the disgraced doctor being thrown to the floor and handcuffed.
Author's Notes:
Oooh how exciting! I'm sure nothing bad will come of this at all. Yup.
Just wanted to give ya'll the tiniest glimpse of what I do for a living. As a side rant, all of that maze trouble for a flippin' coin flip app?! They can't just use a quarter?! Don't you smile Dawn, you got jipped!
Anyway, we're finally kicking off on the mini arc that I've been the most excited for, to which I like to call the Aerodactyl Arc so stick around and find out! Also don't forget to leave a review, any and all comments are welcome as long as they're constructive!
Tata for now!