Aoi Hyoudou: I am extremely happy with the feedback provided. Thank you so much for your assistance. Some of you seem to be very excited to see some battles taking place. They will happen pretty soon. Regarding the ships, it's still being determined whether or not they will be heavily implied at times, although most are still hoping for Ash and J to be the main ship. We will have to wait and see how it goes.
Chapter VIII
Champions Assemble!
~(...)~
A sleek black limousine glided down an empty highway, its driver confidently navigating towards the Pokémon League Committee HQ building. The back of the vehicle's luxury suite was occupied by a familiar blonde woman in her usual black outfit. She was Cynthia, the champion of Sinnoh. She seemed lost in thought, resting her face in her open palm while gazing out the window on her side. As she was making her way to meet the President of the Pokémon League, Charles Goodshow, she received an urgent call. Though she was unaware of the exact nature of the meeting, she sensed its significance. The old man's voice was filled with anxiety over the phone, which added to her apprehension. "I will arrive shortly, Mr. President. I look forward to seeing you soon." After ending her call, Jervis, her personal butler and driver, peeked at her through the rearview mirror and couldn't help but be curious about the situation.
"Was that President Goodshow, my lady?" He received a firm nod that confirmed his suspicions. "Don't worry, we're almost there." He pressed down on the accelerator, and the limousine accelerated.
"I have never seen him behave like this before." The Pokémon Champion began to express a growing concern. I hope the matter he is referring to is not too serious." She turned to her butler with a stern look on her face and made a demanding request. "Jervis, please step on it!"
"Very well, madame." Jervis pressed down on the accelerator, and the vehicle lurched forward, picking up speed.
A few moments later, Cynthia's limousine screeched to a halt in front of the Pokémon League Committee HQ building. Jervis stepped out of the driver's seat and walked around the car to open the door for the Pokémon Champion. After stepping out of the limousine, Cynthia gazed up at the building, ensuring everything was in order. After that, she turned towards her butler and expressed her gratitude for his service. "Thank you, Jervis." She gave the man a sincere smile.
Jervis showed his respect by bowing. "Anytime, my lady."
Cynthia grew anxious for Charles Goodshow's safety as she gazed at the HQ building before entering.
Cynthia took the elevator to the top floor and approached President Charles Goodshow's office. Her heels echoed throughout the quiet floor as she approached the door, and she paused momentarily to gather herself before reaching for the handle. She turned the knob and pushed the door open, stepping inside unannounced. As soon as she entered the office, she unexpectedly encountered two well-known Pokémon Champions who were already present in the room. One of them was a man with light steel blue hair in a suit, while the other was a man wearing a cape outfit with spiky carmine hair. "Steven? Lance?" She was surprised to see visitors besides herself who were visiting Charles. "What are you guys doing here?" She was completely surprised and bewildered.
Hearing their names being called, they turned to see their fellow Champion companion at the doorway, equally surprised. "Oh, hey Cynthia! Long no time no see!" As both men approached the blonde woman, Steven was the first to greet her and acknowledge her presence.
"I believe it has been since the Masters Eight Tournament if my memory serves me right." Lance received a nod from the other Champion, affirming his statement.
"I was not anticipating that Charles would also invite both of you over here."
"The same could be said for everyone else." Steven gestured behind him, catching Cynthia's attention, where she saw Leon chatting with Iris.
"I see...Leon and Iris were also invited by Charles." the blonde Champion muttered. "Does that mean Diantha is also here?" Cynthia already knew the answer, but she couldn't resist asking anyway. After the Masters 8 Tournament, she and Diantha became close friends. It was no surprise that she asked for her friend's whereabouts.
"I'm sorry to inform you that she is unable to come. She is currently touring Unova as part of a fashion show." Lance stood with his arms crossed as he explained.
Cynthia let out a soft sigh, but she nodded in understanding.
"And I also believe that kid, Alain, was it?" Steven tried to recall the name of the Kalos League Champion whom he had encountered multiple times in the past, cupping his chin. "He couldn't come either."
"Anyone else Charles might have invited?" Cynthia asked out of curiosity why so many people were invited on short notice, sensing the importance of the situation.
"He attempted to contact Wallace but received no response," Steven sighed as he spoke. "That person never seems to show up whenever there's a crisis. I think it's quite disappointing."
"He tried to bring Alder out of retirement, but Alder declined.," With a hint of irritation, Lance replied, "Well, that's what they claim, anyway."
"So, that means it's just us then." Both men acknowledged the blonde, but Steven forgot something.
"Oh, wait!" Suddenly, he spoke, grabbing the attention of his fellow Champions. "A new Champion is arriving, sent by the Champion of their region.." Cynthia was confused by his answer. Two Pokémon Champions in one region? Sounds rare.
The door burst open and startled everyone before the blonde woman could get any clarification. All eyes were fixed upon a cheeky, tanned teenage girl with long black hair. She had tied most of her hair into a ponytail, leaving three bangs protruding from her forehead. The two larger bangs were green, different from her usual black hair color. She wore a magenta arm brace on her right arm, complementing her school uniform. Her uniform consisted of a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts.
The girl stood at the doorway with a huge grin, introducing herself before anyone could ask. "Hi there! My name is Nemona, and I'm a fellow Pokémon Champion. I hope we can battle once this is all over, and in the meantime, I'm excited to get to know you all!" Her energetic personality and outgoing charisma reminded everyone so much of Ash. They would make the perfect couple or eternal rivals if they ever met. When the room became silent, and no one reacted at first, Nemona began to worry if she had come on too strong on her first impression. "Oh no! Did I overdo it again?"
Charles Goodshow's hearty laughter caught everyone's attention as they turned to see him standing behind Nemona. "It's great to see you all in good spirits!" he exclaimed.
"President/Charles/Old Man!" As soon as he entered his office, he was greeted by everyone.
"Sorry, I'm late, everyone!" The president offered a sincere apology.
"This delay is our responsibility, Mr. President. We apologize for making you wait." Anabel's entrance into the room was accompanied by Looker, and her voice immediately drew everyone's attention. "Before properly welcoming them, we needed to prepare a few things."
"Wait a minute, aren't you Anabel, the Salon Maiden of the Battle Tower? What are you doing here?" Before anyone could say a word, Iris, looking bewildered, asked.
"And you're the famous Looker of the International Police," Lance stared at the officer with widened eyes and said unexpectedly. "Didn't expect you would be here too."
"Please, everyone!" Anabel attempted to soothe everyone and prevent them from bombarding her with questions. "We will explain everything that's been happening, but first, please take a seat. It's going to be a long story." Everyone nodded in agreement, indicating that they were all in accordance with her request.
~(...)~
Johto region - Heading near Cherrygrove City for Blue Moon Falls
An all-too-familiar helicopter with a raven-shaped insignia was flying towards Blue Moon Falls, passing through Johto's skies and heading near Cherrygrove City. Black Raven sat in the cockpit, eyes closed and arms crossed, anticipating arrival at a Mew hotspot.
"Sir!" The pilot suddenly exclaimed to his leader, who he had forgotten was seated beside him.
"What?" Ash responded with irritation, annoyed that the pilot disturbed him.
"Oh, um...just want to report that we're five minutes away from Blue Moon Falls," he said nervously.
"This is as far as we can go," Ash's response left the pilot bewildered as he failed to grasp the leader's intent.
"Um, what?" Rather than wasting time explaining his motives, Black Raven got up and walked to the helicopter's side, alarming the pilot. "Sir, what are you doing?!" he asked, panicked.
Ignoring the grunt's concerns, Ash opened the passenger's side door, feeling a gust of breeze. He glanced at the worried pilot. "There's no reason to attract attention from the locals. I'll handle it and radio once it's done," he explained his thoughts while the wind blew around him.
"But, sir!" The pilot had to shout over the gusting wind inside the helicopter for his leader to hear him.
Ash reached for one of his Poké Balls attached to his belt, unwilling to deal with whining complaints. "Go Noivern!" He threw the spherical object out of the helicopter, and from it emerged a Dragon/Flying type Pokémon, emitting a loud screech amidst a shower of multicolored light. The teenager quickly dismounted from his aircraft and safely secured himself onto the back of Noivern."Alright, Noivern, let's go!" The draconic Pokémon understood its task and flew towards Blue Moon Falls.
"I'm so fired!" The disheartened pilot was unable to prevent his reckless leader from departing.
Moments later, Noivern landed safely in Blue Moon Falls and planted its feet on one of the waterfall cliffs, allowing its trainer to dismount safely. "Good work, Noivern!" Ash glanced at his Pokémon, who looked pleased after following its order. "You deserve to take a good rest. Please take some time to relax and rejuvenate yourself!" After a tiring adventure, he gently returned his Pokémon to its respective Poké Ball for a much-needed rest. After a brief pause, J's apprentice resumed his journey towards his primary goal. He approached the cliff's edge at a slow and steady pace, taking a moment to appreciate the beautiful scenery. The gentle breeze brushed past his face, causing his front bangs to sway gracefully. He tilted his head down, eyeing the distant waterfall. He activated his AI assistant by clicking a button on his goggles."Ciel, can you please scan the area and look for any signs of Mew?" The visor emitted beeping noises when he gave a direct order.
"Scanning initiating..." the female AI responded as the goggles started displaying the outlines of the environment while calculating data for any unusual activities. After standing still for a moment, the goggles finished the scanning procedure, and the beeping noises stopped. "The scan has been completed, but there is no indication of the target's presence anywhere." He sighed, frustrated, as a big red X appeared over the Mew image in his visor.
"Figures..." He pressed a button on the goggles, sending a transmission signal to contact one of the members of Elite Corp. "Report!"
At the other end of the line, Jake's voice responded almost immediately after a brief transmission silence. "I'm still on my route to Melemele Island." Ash's body tensed up upon hearing the familiar name. "I hope to arrive there within the next hour or so." The Elite provided his estimated arrival time, to which Ash nodded firmly in understanding.
"Okay, please let me know as soon as you arrive and discover any information on the location of Mew."
"Yes, sir!" After receiving his order, Jake ended the transmission.
Sighing, Ash tapped a button on his goggles, signaling Sarah. After a moment of silence, a woman's voice responded. "Y-Y-Yes?" Sarah's chattering teeth indicated she was already at the third location.
"I take it that you're already at Mount Coronet." While he couldn't physically see her, she nodded while trying to stay warm at her location.
"Uh-huh..." She struggled to speak, accompanied by chattering teeth growing louder and deep breathing. "Could someone have informed me to carry a coat?"
"You never asked," Ash responded with a smirk, imagining her with a cute pout and a hint of irritation.
"I think I'll let Joshua take the next mission next time. This one is difficult, and I'm not enjoying it!" The woman's outburst made Black Raven roll his eyes in disbelief.
"Just keep warm and report to me when you notice something," He gave her instructions, to which she nodded in response, even though he couldn't see her.
"R-R-Roger!" After abruptly ending the transmission, Ash suspected that Sarah was unable to withstand Mount Coronet's harsh weather.
"Alright..." He shifted his focus to his objective and calculated the distance to the ground below. "It might be better to go down and wait until it's dark." As he pushed off his footing, he started sliding down the cliff. Small rocks and debris followed him as he picked up speed and approached the bottom. He then jumped off the cliff and performed a front flip in midair. His body emitted a familiar blue glow, indicating that he was channeling his aura to create a cushion upon landing. He successfully landed on his feet with the aura glow disappearing.
Black Raven stood gazing at the majestic waterfall just a few feet away from him. He took in his serene surroundings but noticed the absence of any wild Pokémon, including the local groups of Quagsire, which was unusual. The Water/Ground-type Pokémon would typically appear during the Blue Moon ritual. He had some time to spare, so he decided to wait till nightfall in case anything interesting happened. He sat on a flat boulder, arms crossed, and looked up at the still-bright sky.
~(...)~
Pokémon League Committee HQ - President Charles Goodshow's Office
"And there you have it..." Anabel concluded her explanation to the group, ignoring their reactions. "I'm sorry." A genuine apology escaped her lips. She hated to be the bearer of bad news because she knew everyone respected Ash.
No one spoke, still absorbing the shocking news. Awkwardness filled the room. Cynthia, who had encountered Ash multiple times in the past and had a stronger connection with him than most, was unsure how to react. She still wore a surprised expression. Lance and Leon, who were also champions, didn't believe Ash had any motive to pull off such a crazy stunt. They thought it was a joke to accuse a young man like Ash of committing a crime. They knew Ash and didn't think he was the kind of person who would do something like that. On the other hand, Steven, who was still bitter about losing to Ash in the Masters Eight Tournament, suspected that the whole incident could have been a setup to frame Ash. Nemona had barely known Ash and had only heard rumors of his strength as a Pokémon World Champion from her mentor and Pokémon Regional Champion, Geeta. She was more concerned about her chances of battling him. She sat slumped in her seat, biting her thumb anxiously. Finally, there was Iris. She didn't say much, which was expected. After hearing the shocking news, no one knew what was going through her mind. Her face was hidden in darkness, but her lips trembled slightly, and her hands firmly clutched her dress in her seat. She refused to believe that her friend was now a wanted criminal. It had to be some kind of dream. It couldn't be true.
"You're...lying." the Dragon Master and Pokémon Champion of Unova murmured softly, catching the group's attention as they turned to look at her. Iris stood up, clenching her fists and biting her lower lip until it bled. With tears in her eyes, she raised her head and glared directly at Anabel. "You're lying!" She yelled with a tone of anger in her voice.
Anabel maintained her composure as she straightened in her seat and met Iris' distressed gaze. "I know it's not easy to accept it, but it's true!" Despite struggling with her mixed emotions, she maintained a straight face while speaking.
The previous Frontier Brain was causing the already upset girl more distress." Ash may be a little kid, but he could never betray us!" She refused to accept the truth.
Anabel's gaze became less intense and more gentle. "I know how you feel." Iris gave her a cold stare devoid of any emotion. "It's never easy to find out that the one who you respected and-" Her cheeks flushed as old feelings resurfaced and her heart raced. "-l...love." Ignoring all the stares, she continued, drawing many eyes, including Looker, who seemed devastated by her unexpected confession. "...would be the cause of everything." She cleared her throat in embarrassment and finished speaking.
Everyone could only watch as Iris struggled to keep herself together. Realization finally sank in as time passed, and tears poured down her face. She fell to her knees, feeling defeated, and her tears dripped onto the floor. "Why Ash, why..." She cried while taking short breaths between each sob. The other Champions felt sorry for her as they knew how much she respected Ash for his support during their journeys together.
Cynthia crossed her arms and gave Anabel a stern gaze, masking her own inner turmoil. "So, what's the plan, Miss Anabel?" Curiously, she asked, drawing the attention of the other Champions, who fixed their gaze on the former Frontier Brain.
Anabel was surprised when Cynthia was direct with her. She maintained her composure, intertwining her hands as she locked eyes with the blonde Pokémon Champion. "In order to confirm our suspicions and bring Black Raven to justice, many of you will need to help." As she explained her plan, the group listened attentively. "As Pokémon Champions, you possess the necessary talent to defeat Black Raven and his Elite Corp."
"The Elite Corp..." Lance crossed his arms and muttered, drawing the group's attention. "I heard rumors about a group of rogue Pokémon Trainers who captured Legendary Pokémon before joining Black Raven." A collective gasp could be heard when he uttered those words. "It is crucial that we don't underestimate them," he warned, and everyone agreed.
"Legendary Pokémon..." Steven's face was marked with a worried expression. "That's nearly impossible to beat, but..." He had a smirk on his face as he always enjoyed a challenge. "...Hey! I recently battled a Black Rayquaza, so this should be easy."
"A Black Rayquaza?" Lance envied his Champion colleague who battled a shiny Legendary Pokémon.
"When would you like us to leave and confront Black Raven?" Cynthia redirected the conversation to the main topic to prevent her colleagues from losing focus and acting immaturely.
Anabel paused momentarily to consider her options and choose the best approach before responding, "We will wait." Her unexpected answer caught everyone off guard and did not go unnoticed. "By waiting to see Black Raven's next move, we may have the element of surprise instead of causing an immediate commotion if we act now."
"I see..." Cynthia decided not to press the subject any further, muttering to herself. Although the plan wasn't soundproof, it seemed the safest option.
"So we wait, huh?" Despite his dislike of the idea, Leon reluctantly accepted the plan to wait for Black Raven. "I don't like it, but if anyone else has a better idea, I'm all for it," he said with a grin, crossing his arms.
"That settles it!" Iris suddenly stood up and raised her voice, surprising the group. They weren't certain of her mental state after hearing about Ash's news, but she appeared more determined than ever. She lifted her head, her eyes burning with an intense passion. There were flames in her pupils and her body. Everyone had to keep a distance from her as large droplets of sweat rolled down the back of their heads. "Once we see 'Black Raven', I plan to confront him and demand an explanation for his betrayal!" Anabel laughed nervously at the Dragon Master. She was starting to worry about Black Raven's well-being. Soon, she shifted her gaze elsewhere and started spacing out. A faint image of Ash, grinning popped into her mind, causing her to smile sadly.
'Oh, Ash, what has gotten into you?' She wondered about the reason behind Ash's sudden change in life as the image slowly drifted away.
~(...)~
Blue Moon Falls - Nightfall
As night falls over the famous landscape, Black Raven remains still on his comfy rock, having noticed no unusual activity during his stay. The famous blue moon has already risen above the waterfall, with no clouds in the night sky. The young man hoped to see some Ghost-type Pokémon lurking nearby, or at least some nocturnal ones roaming in the open, yet there was nothing. He wondered if something was causing this strange phenomenon or if he was simply overthinking it. Either way, the event was quite peculiar and quiet, and there was no sign of Mew anywhere.
"Hopefully, I didn't waste my time for nothing..." he muttered under his breath, annoyed that their search had led to a dead end. The Pokémon Hunter was still sitting on his boulder by the riverbank when he noticed movement. Small waves were splashing against the boulder. He looked towards the river and saw several groups of Quagsire swimming in his direction. Each Quagsire was holding a random spherical object. The Hunter smirked and got off the boulder, ready to face the approaching Pokémon. "Finally, something to do!" he said with a hint of happiness in his voice. "Since Mew isn't here, I might as well take you fools as a complimentary prize for Master J." A canon that looked similar to J's was strapped on his right arm. He pointed the canon at the herd of Pokémon, with an evil expression creeping up on his face, preparing to fire. However, Ciel's visor sensors were triggered automatically, detecting a strong signal and movement in the area.
"Acquiring target...Mew detected!" Ciel's report surprised her master as he halted his assault with a surprise gasp.
"What?!" Black Raven was frantically scanning the area, searching for the target, when Ciel's sensors beeped, prompting him to look up. To his surprise, he saw a familiar pink cat-like Pokémon floating above the Pokémon Hunter. The creature looked at the young man with an oblivious expression, tilting its head and letting out its adorable cry.
"Mew?"
"Finally...!" A smirk spread across his face as he aimed his cannon at the Legendary Pokémon. "Time to catch you...Mew!" His auburn eyes sparkled with delight before they were replaced by a beautiful pair of blue eyes reflecting off his goggles.
Next preview - Chapter 9: "Mew is captured?! A Mysterious Visitor Appears!
Ash/Black Raven: "Hello Mew, it has been a while since we last seen each other!"
Mew: "Mew?"
Ash/Black Raven: "You're mine now, Mew!"
Mew: "Mew mew meeeewwwww!"
Anabel: "How could you, Ash..."
Ash/Black Raven: "Chapter 9: Mew is captured?! A Mysterious Visitor Appears!"
?: "Hello, Black Raven. Or perhaps you prefer to be called Ash Ketchum of the Forgotten?"
Ash/Black Raven: "Who the HELL are you?"
?: "Your life has taken a turn, has it not?"
Ash/Black Raven: "Shut up!"
Mew made a surprise appearance. Ash will attempt to catch Mew, but will he succeed? You'll have to read the next chapter to find out! Also, I added Nemona to the story because she's one of my new favorite characters. It's a shame the anime series didn't give her and Ash a chance to meet for a final season. I'll stop ranting now. In the upcoming chapter, you can expect a battle between Ash and Mew, followed by an unexpected encounter with a new character. This twist will add even more excitement to the plot.
