Chapter 5

Rotom's Wish

My friends and I are back on the road to Coumarine City, as Ash hopes to earn his next Gym Badge, and I hope to find one of the remaining Pure Hearts. The sun was getting close to setting over the horizon, but the next Pokémon Center was still too far out to reach before it would get dark.

"Camping!" Bonnie cheered. "We can play another new camping game!"

Then we looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were starting to gloom over us. A large storm was coming. 'I don't think we should camp out tonight… ' Squishy sighed.

Brock checked his digital map. "According to this, there should be an abandoned hotel in the area. Maybe we could stay there for the night?"

"That's not a bad idea," Cocoa replied. "We better hurry before it starts pouring." The rest of us agreed and started to speed-walk.

However, it soon started to rain on top of us. We ran as fast as we could to the destination, but by the time we arrived, we were soaked. As Serena previously noted, the place was old and empty, and nothing worked. Not even the automatic doors. But it was easy to open.

"Well, it may not be a welcoming site, but it'll do until morning," Ash stated in his usual carefree manner.

We soon left to look for some rooms to sleep in. The lights seemed to flicker as we walked past them. There was also this odd Persian statue that sat against the wall in one of the rooms. As we walked past them, I thought its eyes flickered each time one of us passed it. I assumed it was just an optical illusion.

I was wrong.

"INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!" A loud voice shouted as a red light flashed around us. Not two seconds later, the floor beneath us dropped, and we fell into the sublevels. A slide carried us into the depths of the underground.

As we finally stopped sliding, we looked around to see nothing but steel pipes and the menacing red light of the alarm.

"What's happening?!" Misty gulped.

"Is this Team Flare's doing?!" Serena asked in fear.

"Let's not stick around to find out!" Ash declared.

We ran into a nearby corridor to find a means of escape. The hall was dark and scary, and steam seeped from the surrounding pipes.

Soon, we ran into a nearby opening… and right into the fire under the frying pan. We were immediately surrounded by the grunts that controlled the place… but it was not Team Flare. They wore mostly black or white, and they had large R's on their chests.

"Team Rocket!" Ash snarled. "This is your base?!"

"Not just a base, Mr. Ketchum," said a dark voice. A series of grunts stepped aside as the voice's owner walked into the area. "This is one of if not the first bases ever established by Team Rocket, back in the founder's day."

"Who are you?" asked Serena in fear.

"Can't you tell? Team Rocket captures Pokémon from around the world. They're important tools for keeping our enterprise going." The man stepped out of the shadows to reveal his face. "And I am the leader of this enterprise...Edmund Giovanni!"

Ash growled. I was not sure how much of a history they had.

"It's quite amusing that you discovered our secret hideout. I'm mildly impressed. But..." He snapped his fingers, and a series of grunts seized the lot of us. As it was done, they confiscated our Poké Balls, and Pikachu, Cocoa, Diancie and Squishy were sealed in specially made containers. "You won't be around long to share what you learned. All of you will feel a world of pain!"

But he spoke too soon. The container holding Squishy began to smoke and spark, and it quickly blew apart, freeing Squishy in the process. From the fried remains, a small orange figure appeared. It fired an Electric-type attack on the grunts holding me and freed me.

As I was rescued, I got a good look at the thing that saved the two of us. "A Rotom!"

"That bothersome pest again?!" one of the grunts shouted.

It spoke rather fast as it yanked at my hand. "ROTO-ROTO-ROTOTOTOM!" It seemed it wanted me to follow, and I did, after I nabbed Squishy. A number of grunts took off after us, under GIovanni's command, and my friends shouted at me, telling me to get help.

After a few seconds of running, we quickly entered a storage unit, hoping to hide from Team Rocket for the time being. "Thanks, Rotom. You really helped us out."

The Rotom who saved us chattered at us like there was no tomorrow. "ROTOTOTOM! ROTOTOM ROTOTOTOTOM!"

"What's he saying?" I asked Squishy.

"I don't know! He's speaking too fast!" he replied. "Can you give him something to calm him down?"

I dug into my purse to see if I could, but… "All I have is the Pokédex the Professor gave me, and I still don't know how it works."

As I was speaking, the Rotom eyed the device in my hand. "ROTO… ROTOOOOOOM!" It darted straight at us and disappeared into the Pokédex.

"What's it doing?" Squishy asked as the bright glow subdued.

"I don't know…" I lightly tapped the screen. "Hello?"

Then it started beeping, as though it was starting up. Suddenly, two eyes popped open and looked directly at me. I shrieked a little and released the device, only to see it float in mid-air. Then, the device sprouted a small "conehead," two flipper-like arms and two stubby legs. To finish, the screen went white and blue, and a small digital smile appeared.

"I didn't know Rotom had that form," I stated in awe.

Then, a robotic voice came from the machine. "Language selection: complete. Please identify yourself."

"Um, Brianna Bellerose?"

"Understood, UmBriannaBellerose. User registration: complete. Pokédex now booting up… 100%." As it finished, it hovered over to Squishy and I. "Alola! Nice to meet you, UmBriannaBellerose."

"Whoa! You can talk?!" I asked the Rotom possessed device.

"Of course," he replied. "RotomDex is equipped with an assortment of languages. I have been programmed to communicate properly with people and Pokémon of all different kinds."

"¡Très bien!"

"Très bien:" Rotom began. "A French term, literally meaning 'very good,' but more commonly used as wonderful, outstanding, or incredible. And that means RotomDex is incredible!"

I smiled a little, almost forgetting about my friends. "If you don't mind my asking, why did you rescue us? Where's your Trainer?"

"That… is a complicated endeavour," he answered. "Perhaps it is better to show you."

His screen lit up to reveal the hotel exterior, only it looked brand new. "What you are witnessing are images from when this hotel opened up fifteen years ago..."

*Rotom's POV*

This hotel was to be the pinnacle of luxury for Kalos, and that very night was its first, and only, evening of business. For the grand opening, the royal family had requested to attend the opening ceremony, but due to faulty directions, they were delayed.

Back then, a man named Weston was the owner of the hotel. There were many Rotom who lived in this hotel under his care, provided they assisted with certain electricity-based tasks like powering certain machines. It was supposed to be the happiest moment of his life. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Pokémon of all stages," he began, "I'd like to welcome you all to the grand opening of Hotel Motismar! I am Weston Garbeil, proprietor and founder of this establishment, and I hope everyone here enjoys their stay. Now, if you haven't noticed already, this entire room is a battlefield. This area is open to the public, regardless of whether or not you are a guest. So please, feel free to use it as you engage in Pokémon battles."

"Open to the public, you say?" a voice erupted. The doors swung open and a number of Team Rocket Grunts entered, clearing a path for the source. A woman dressed in red entered the room and confronted Weston. "Then let's have a battle, you and me, here and now. The victor takes the hotel and decides everyone's fate."

Weston chuckled. "I wish you wouldn't joke like that, Mrs...?"

"Giovanni," she replied. "Laura Giovanni. Many call me Madame Boss. And said I was joking? You said we were free to engage in Pokémon battles. Or was that a lie?"

"Of course not, but-!"

"If you do not battle me, Team Rocket will attack all of your guests until there is nothing left to attack."

"Please, leave them alone!" he replied out of instinct.

"It's either you or them. Understand?"

I tried to talk my Trainer out of it, but he refused to listen. He was more concerned for the guests than himself. Though I suspected it was a trap.

"So if I win, you'll leave everyone else alone?" he asked for assurance.

"It is a deal. Now, let's get down to business." She tossed a Poké Ball up and summoned a Krookodile. It merely growled at me, and I panicked and hid in the socket. Madame Boss laughed. "And just like that, I win by forfeit. You know what that means..."

*Brianna's POV*

"... Weston was never seen again after that. Arceus knows what became of him. And now,I am the last wild Rotom trapped at this base," Rotom concluded.

'So that's how Team Rocket took this place over,' Squishy muttered. 'Both Team Rocket leaders were named Giovanni… Does that mean they're related?'

"That's sad," I commented, with a small tear. "So you're upset because you failed Weston?"

"Affirmative, UmBriannaBellerose."

'Brianna, isn't there something we can do for Rotom?' Squishy asked.

"I'm not sure, but right now, we need to escape and save our friends," I replied.

The three of us quietly left the room and ventured down the hall. Fortunately, Rotom knew every turn, bump, and crack in this underground base, so he was able to guide us to the exit. Soon, we arrived at the elevator.

As we entered though… "THERE THEY ARE! GET THEM!" a number of voices cried out. Some of the Grunts found us and were charging our way.

Out of panic, I rapidly smashed the Close Door button until my thumb hurt, but it would not budge. "Let me try," and for an instant, he left the Pokédex and entered the elevator control. The door slammed shut, and suddenly the room began to glow an unusual color. Bizarrely, the elevator display revealed a series of basements marked by negative numbers, which I was certain was not there before. Then the shaft rattled and shook, as though it were moving at a high speed. I almost started to float out of it moving so fast.

Then suddenly, all was still. Rotom opened the door and returned to the Pokédex. I looked around the area to see it looked like a brand new hotel hallway. 'It looks amazing down here, for a basement.' Squishy commented.

I examined the sign opposite the elevator. "Wait, this is the ground floor. What's going on here?"

We made our way down the hall to the doorway. I opened it to reveal the battlefield. What was most odd was it was exactly as I saw it in Rotom's memories, background characters and everything.

The old Team Rocket Boss was even there alongside Weston. "It's either you or them. Understand?"

I rubbed my eyes out of shock. This was the exact moment I saw on RotomDex's screen. Squishy turned to the one in question. 'Did you just… send us back in time?'

"I-It was not my intention," he replied.

"So if I win, you'll leave everyone else alone?" Weston asked.

"It is a deal. Now, let's get down to business." Madame Boss released her Krookodile. And the sight scared Rotom into the electrical outlet. Madame Boss laughed. "And just like that, I win by forfeit. You know what that means..."

As these events unfolded, I had an epiphany. We were at the very moment things took a turn for the worst. Maybe this was my chance to change it all and save my friends in the process. "Hold it right there!" I ran out and confronted Madame Boss. "You haven't even started your battle yet! You couldn't have won by forfeit!"

The woman growled at me. Before she could say anything, the crowd murmured in agreement with me.

"The young lady's right!"

"It doesn't count!"

"Let them have a proper battle!"

I could tell she was in no mood to argue with them. "You got five minutes to retrieve Rotom! Else, I win!"

"Come with me, sir," I told her and we left the stadium...

… and entered a nearby storeroom. Once inside, Weston asked the obvious question. "So, who are you?"

I was certain I could not say my real name (time anomalies, you know?) so I decided to use my old fake name. "My name is Rosie. It's very hard to explain, but my Rotom and I are here to help you."

"What do you mean?"

RotomDex called out into the room. "Rotom! It's safe now. You can come out."

Past Rotom of the past emerged from a plug, looking rather apologetic. "Roto-Roto..."

Weston kneeled down and stroked its antenna like head. "It's okay. I'm just glad you came back."

'It's not over yet,' Squishy spoke up. 'You still have to beat that GIovanni. Your future depends upon it.'

"I know I let my anger get the best of me," Weston said as he turned around, "but we have little experience. Rotom and I are going to lose for sure."

"I'm sure we can come up with a plan," I then looked to RotomDex. "Any suggestions from the living database?"

"Calculating..." there was a brief silence. "Krookodile is at a major advantage in terms of typing."

"What do you mean?" Weston asked.

"Permit me to elaborate, Weston." Then RotomDex showed the two opposing Pokémon, one after the other.

Krookodile
The Intimidation Pokémon
A Ground and Dark-type
Krookodile can see the smallest prey from miles away, even in the midst of a sandstorm.

Rotom
The Plasma Pokémon
An Electric and Ghost-type
Rotom plays pranks by inhabiting electrical appliances. Its type and appearance vary depending on what appliance it possesses.

"Wait a second..." We took a moment to look around. There were several large appliances in the storeroom we were in: laundry washers, refrigerators, lawnmowers… "we can use these to our advantage. Now, here's the plan..."

It was a close call, but we made it back with mere seconds to spare. Madame Boss was tapping her heels against the floor impatiently. "I was beginning to think you turned tail like a coward."

"I'm here." Weston replied, "but remember, if I win, you and your friends leave and never return."

"And when you lose, I decide what becomes of this place and everyone within."

"Agreed," he gleaned at us a little nervous.

But I gave him a reassuring smile. "You can do this, Weston!"

"Just remember the plan!" RotomDex added. And with that, the battle began.

Weston VS Giovanni
Rotom VS Krookodile
Battle BEGIN!

"Now, Rotom! Phase 1!" Weston instructed. Rotom nodded in reply and took off for the socket once again.

Madame Boss laughed hard. "It ran away again! If you're not going to battle, I might as well-!"

"Uhp-uhp-uhp!" Weston interrupted. "Wait for it..."

Almost as though it were on cue, a large tromping came from the door behind me. RotomDex, Squishy moved out of the way as a large orange mass with a blue glow entered the room.

"What's that?!" Madame Boss asked in shock.

"That's my cue!" RotomDex stated as it showed the data.

Wash Rotom
An Electric and Water-type
This Rotom has possessed a washing machine that uses a special motor. It blasts out water with Hydro Pump to get enemies to back down.

"Okay, Rotom! Use Hydro Pump!" Weston called out. Wash Rotom aimed its pipe and fired a powerful jet of water at Krookodile. The blast was super effective!

"What the heck!" Madame Boss cried out. "This was supposed to be a battle against Rotom! Not this thing!"

"Even if it changes form, it is still the same Rotom!" I informed her.

"Stay out of this, you bimbo!" she snapped. "Krookodile! Use Hyper Beam!" A purple beam fired from Krookodile's mouth at its opponent.

Fortunately, Rotom ejected from the Washing machine before taking damage. "Rotom! Phase 2!" Weston declared. Once again, the Plasma Pokémon left and returned.

But this time… "Now it's a fridge?" someone commented.

Frost Rotom
An Electric and Ice-type
Rotom assumes this form when it takes over a refrigerator. It battles by spewing cold air through Blizzard.

"Rotom, use BLizzard!" Frost Rotom opened its pipe, and a powerful gust of cold swept over Krookodile. When it cleared, the opponent was in a block of ice

"Why, you..." she hissed. "Krookodile, Crunch them into dust!" The Krookodile broke free in an instant and charged at Rotom. The little ball of plasma fled as the large pawn of Team Rocket devoured the fridge like a candy bar.

"Way to hang in there, Rotom! Phase 3!" Weston declared. This time, I can confirm, would be the final time.

"What's happening now!?" Madame Boss squealed as a wheeled form rolled in.

Mow Rotom
An Electric and Grass-type
After seizing control of a lawn mower, Rotom chomps up nearby grass and other small plants, which it uses for Leaf Storm.

"Leaf Storm, let's go!" Mow Rotom formed a glowing green sphere in front of its mouth, then fired countless glowing green leaves from out of the sphere at Krookodile. There was no way it could have dodged any of that. The green cyclone encircled the Ground-type and damaged it until there was no HP left to take out.

"Krookodile is unable to battle!" the referee declared. "Which means the winners are the team of Weston and Rotom!"

"Now, you made a promise!" I scolded. "Go now, and never return!"

There was a moment where she stared at me angrily before… "This is your fault!" she growled. "WE'll KILL YOU FIRST!" Then the grunts began to make their ebay around me.

I should have known this would happen. Giovanni had no intention of keeping her promise from the very beginning. Perhaps it was impossible to change past events after all?

That was what I thought, but then something totally unexpected happened. Out of nowhere, a Gallade and a Gardevoir leaped over the human wall and stood in front of me in a defensive position.

"Do you mind if we interrupt this murder attempt?" asked a voice.

I glanced through the crowd to see a face that almost made me cry. "Dad… Mom…" They looked different, from the time skip no doubt, but I knew it was them.

"The king! Retreat!" The grunts began to run toward the nearby exit, only to be stopped.

My parents were accompanied by a series of other Trainers. They looked like palace guards. "Take these criminals to prison!"

Madame Boss was the last one to be escorted out. "This isn't over, Blondie! Team Rocket will hunt you down for the rest of your days! You will fall to the wrath of Team Rocket!"

After she was taken away, the crowd cheered for the fall of the enemy. My father approached Weston and patted his back. "When I heard this place was under attack, I feared the worst. I commend you for holding your ground, Mr. Garbeil."

"I am honored, your majesty," he replied with a small bow. "But with all due respect, all credit goes to this young lady. If not for her unique idea, who knows what would have happened."

"Really? Well, young lady, I must say I am proud of you." My father stated, not knowing who I truly was. "What's your name?"

I was a little hesitant to reply. "Rosie."

He gave me a smirk and said… "No… that's not it. But your secrets can be yours. I have a feeling it's better that way."

As we were speaking, Weston retrieved the microphone and handed it to the king. "I believed you said you had an announcement of your own?"

"I did. Thank you," he stated as he received the device and held it to his mouth. "Good citizens, tonight, I come before you bringing wonderful news, and you all are the first to know. As you all know, I have been seeing the elegant Kalos region Champion, Diantha Gardner, for some time. But this night, the two of us have made an important agreement."

He looked to Mom, who came under his arm. Then in unison, they declared… "We're getting married!" As they said that, the crowd went wild with joy.

"Married?" it took a moment for me to process, then it clicked. This was not just the grand opening of the hotel. It was an engagement party for the king and future queen. "T-Très bien! Congratulations, your majesties!" I grabbed them both in a hug without thinking. And before I let go of then, the flash of a camera captured our embrace.

Rotom, Squishy and I decided to stay for just a little while longer. The next fifteen minutes or so, we were enjoying the celebration to the fullest. Then, as we were watching the newly-engaged couple in their first dance of the evening, I noticed something… or rather someone. He bore a striking resemblance to my father, so I figured…

"Uncle Lydos?" I muttered quietly so as not to let anyone hear me.

The man began for a nearby corridor, and disappeared from the party. Then I wondered if I could do something even more beneficial. 'Maybe I can reason with Uncle Lydos before he turns traitor… we could be a family in the future!' I thought to myself. So I tried to go after him.

But after I left through the corridor, I was immediately stopped by another man who wrenched me down the hall. "You're not going anywhere."

I looked up to see a sinister look in his eye… one I quickly recognised from the present. It was a younger Edmund Giovanni.

The Team Rocket boss of the future looked more furious than I had ever seen in a man. "For what you did to my mother, you're in for a world of pain!"

"Mother?!" was all I could say before he grabbed my neck with his free hand and started squeezing it.

Fortunately though, RotomDex was quick to save me. It popped out from the Pokédex and used Thunderbolt on Giovanni before returning. "RUN FOR IT!" The three of us took off down the hall, with the shock-recovered Giovanni behind us. Within moments, we arrived at the elevator. Going on with what happened earlier, we tried to repeat the same incident that sent us back in time in the first place. Rotom slammed the door, and the elevator began to glow.

Then it settled, we exited out onto the ground floor of the hotel, looking as spick and span as ever. The three of us wondered if nothing had changed.

But then we noticed our friends coming our way. "Brianna!" Cocoa wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

"I don't know how you did it, but you saved us!" Clemont stated.

For the next few moments, we talked about what had happened in our absence. Somehow, after we had escaped from Giovanni's forces, the underground base instantaneously transformed into the basement of the hotel. The custodian, not knowing the whole story, angrily kicked them out onto the ground floor, where they saw us exiting the elevator. Then we shared what had happened on our end.

"Did you really travel through time?" Brock asked.

I nodded. "It was an accident, but we changed the past and saved our future, thanks to our new friend." I gestured to Rotom.

"Pleased to meet you, everyone," he smiled.

"I've never seen that form of Rotom before," Ash commented.

"A Pokédex that operates with a Rotom inside," Serena added. "That's incredible!"

"Incredible?" RotomDex asked. "So what you mean is I am très bien!"

Serena nodded. "Oui oui! Très étonnante!"

"So it obviously learned how Brianna talks..." Clemont glasses began to glimmer. "I wonder how this Pokédex was programmed…?"

"Mr. Liscio, I am not just an average everyday Pokédex. I am the autonomous RotomDex, meaning I am Rotom Alolan Pokédex form."

I whistled a little. "That's kind of a mouthful…" Then I had an idea. "I'll call you Dexter. How does that sound?"

"Dexter… I like that. Thank you, UmBriannaBellerose."

"And… just call me Brianna, okay? That username is also a mouthful."

"I understand, Brianna."

Before another word could be said, a fanfare echoed through the halls of the hotel. We followed the noise to the battlefield. There we found Weston standing on the podium. "Welcome everyone, and thank you for attending the fifteenth anniversary of Hotel Motisma!" he began. "There is only one reason I stand before you today as the hotel owner. It was a young lady and her Rotom who appeared out of nowhere and then left just as suddenly. Thanks to them and their clever strategy, I was able to protect this hotel from the sinister Team Rocket long enough for King Damos to imprison their leader. To this day, I still have no idea who that young lady was..."

I turned to Dexter and asked, "Should we introduce ourselves?"

He was silent for a moment, but then… "Nah… let's not blow his mind."

Thanks to an unlikely alliance, Dexter and I were able to change Weston's fate for the best. Now with a new friend and a fully functional Pokédex Prototype, we can now relax and rest easy for the night, as the journey continues...

*BACK IN THE PAST*

Team Rocket had failed to land their first steal in Kalos… and worse, their leader, Laura Giovanni had landed in prison, alongside a large number of her most loyal grunts.

However, not every member who raided the hotel was arrested. There was one in particular who hid in the shadows. As he watched his leader escorted to prison, he made a solemn and determined vow… "Team Rocket will never fall. I will carry on my mother's legacy and rebuild Team Rocket in her image..." he lifted a card he found after chasing the girl who sealed his mother's fate. The Trainer License for… "Brianna Bellerose of the future will be the first to die at the hands of Team Rocket."

STAY TUNED...