AN: I got the dates wrong in the original version of my previous author's note, I'm travelling next week, not this week.
The light of the waning moon fell through the bare branches of the Viridian Forest during the strange hours of the morning. The light seemed to give the fresh snow a faint silvery glow where it landed, creating glimmering paths between the trees and their shadows. The air was pregnant with winter's chill and dead still, only disturbed by the sound of snow crunching under human feet, each footstep sounding louder than they really were in the otherwise quiet night.
Sabrina surveyed the landscape before her. Trainers wearing the red and black uniform of the Viridian City Gym stood nearby. She could also sense the thoughts of several other groups from the gym and a few squads of police officers from Viridian City, their thoughts clear as day to her.
Sabrina resolved to have a talk with Giovanni about that; even if she was around those trainers shouldn't be so lax with their mental security, especially since these trainers had been handpicked by Giovanni himself.
"Everyone's almost in position," Sabrina said to the gym trainers accompanying her. We should be ready to begin in a minute."
"Understood," Salma, the woman in charge of the squad with her, nodded and then turned to other trainers and gave them a few hand signals. They nodded in turn and spread out, slowly creeping into the forest.
"I'm going to stress this again," Sabrina said to Salma. "You cannot let anyone escape. I don't know if there's a full Rocket base or if it's just these two operatives, but either way, they might have some vital information."
"I understand, ma'am," Salma said, standing at attention. "We won't let you down."
"I hope so," Sabrina replied and then she sighed. "You know, for someone who's so professional, Giovanni actually gets out of doing a lot of work."
"I swear he acts professional just so that nobody catches how lazy he can be," Salma replied, a small smile on her face. "Even I fall for it now and again."
"Honestly, this is his territory," Sabrina huffed, her breath visible in the moonlight. "He should be out here in the snow with us. Instead he's probably at home enjoying a nice drink and laughing at us."
"Probably," Salma replied, shoving her hands under the opposite arms to keep them warm. "Do you know how much longer?"
Sabrina reached out with her senses once more. This time all the gym trainers and the police officers were in position.
"They're ready now," Sabrina told the other woman. "I'm going in."
"Good luck," Salma replied.
"Thanks," Sabrina said. "But I shouldn't need it."
Silently she lifted off the ground, just high enough to avoid the snow. Her pokéballs came off her belt and began to slowly orbit her. Sabrina glided into the forest and towards where Giovanni's scouts had reported finding evidence of the purple-haired man and the red-haired woman from Team Rocket.
Ash groaned as he turned over in his sleeping bag. It was still pitch black in his tent, which meant that it was too early for him to be getting up. He tried to snuggle deeper into the bag, taking care not to disturb Pikachu who was sleeping by his hip, only to hear a noise from outside. It sounded like something was beating a tree.
Groaning some more and rubbing his bleary eyes, the pokéraised child slipped out of his sleeping bag, threw on some extra clothes, and exited the tent to see what all the commotion was about.
Darkness greeted him; the stars had not yet vanished, the air was crisp and chill, and the entire forest was blanketed in the stillness that was particular to the hours just before dawn. In the wan light of the night Ash could make out a figure standing by a tree near the edge of the clearing. It was as it had sounded; the figure was repeatedly hitting the tree, the same blow over and over again.
"Do you have to be so loud?" Ash hissed as he walked over to confront the person.
"Yes," the figure, Aya Ash realized, replied. "I'm practicing strikes, not stealth."
"And I was trying to practice sleep," Ash shot back, rubbing his upper arms. It was too cold out to be up.
"It's a good time to wake up anyway," Aya shrugged, stepping back from the tree. "Don't you have some PT to do?"
"PT?"
"Physical training," Aya clarified.
"I only do that when my pokémon are training," Ash told her. "And that's only because they think I should suffer with them."
"You should do it more often," Aya told him, lightly jumping and switching her stance. "It's good for you." She resumed striking the tree.
"I'll take your word for it," Ash replied, shivering. "You can't give me any hints to help me find your gym today?"
Aya just shook her head.
"But if you have to go back, what's to stop me from following you?" Ash asked.
"Do you really think you can follow me?" Aya snorted.
"But if I do, won't the gym not let me in?" Ash probed some more.
"Ha! As if you could follow me in the first place!"
"So…. if I do follow you, that's fine, right?" Ash continued to ask.
Aya, turned to face him, hands on her hips. "How many times do I have to tell you that there's no chance that you'll be able to follow me, brat?" She said to him.
"You want me to follow you, right?" Ash guessed. "That's why you're here, at least sort of, right?"
Aya gave him a small smirk.
"You know, only half the trainers end up figuring that out," she told Ash. "Most of them don't seem to wonder why they met a gym trainer before they reached the gym."
"Well, I thought you just wanted to talk to Brock and Misty, but you never answered my question," Ash told her. "And there's what you tried to do last night."
"You're smarter than you look Aaron," Aya said, turning back to the tree. She began to strike it again. "Not that it's very hard."
"So, when do you think you'll set out?" Ash asked her, ignoring that last insult.
"I don't know yet," Aya said as she continued her practice.
"Okay, I'll be heading back to my tent then," Ash said, turning around. He took a step and then a thought struck him. "And by the time I get there, you'll already be leaving, won't you?"
Aya's only response was an evil sounding chuckle. Ash just shook his head and then sprinted for his tent.
By the time he had grabbed a snoozing Pikachu, the belt with the pokéballs containing his team, and his backpack, Aya had already left. He rushed over to where he had last seen her, looking for any sign of her. But the kunoichi's departure had left no footprints, broken branches, or disturbed bushes.
Ash groaned. He wondered why she couldn't have made it a bit easier. Surely most trainers wouldn't be able to follow her…. Or was she making it harder on him because he had guessed what was happening? Or because he already had four badges? Ash clutched the sides of his head and groaned.
See, that pain is why you should leave the thinking to me, Pikachu said with a yawn. What's going on anyway?
I've got to track Aya to the gym, Ash moaned. But she just vanished, because she's a ninja!
Haha! Pikachu laughed at Ash's misfortune. So, what are you going to do?
I'm going to see if Butterfree can help, Ash said, grabbing the pokéball of the pokémon in question. White light blazed and Butterfree fluttered before them.
Hey, Butterfree, I'm going to need you to sense someone, Ash told the bug-type. Do you think you can do it? They're a human female and they should be in the immediate area.
I'll try Ash, Butterfree replied. He closed his eyes in concentration for a moment, glowing with a very faint purple light. I think I sense someone, but they're trying to hide themself and they're almost out of my range.
We'll have to hurry then, Ash said. Lead the way!
Butterfree fluttered off in the direction of the person he sensed. Ash turned back to the campsite and shouted. "Brock, Misty, I'm going after Aya! I'll meet you back here!"
He heard muffled groans coming from their tents. He shrugged. He hoped that they had gotten the gist of what he said.
Ash followed Butterfree into the snow dusted forest under the darkness that preceded the dawn. His footsteps squelched in the snow and mud that covered the ground and he had to push through bushes and branches as they tracked Aya.
I think the person stopped, Butterfree called down, stopping to hover by a tree. But I think they're just meeting up with a pokémon.
I wonder if she's up to? Ash said, mainly to himself. Hmmm…. Based on what she did last night, she might be getting a trap ready.
So, what are you going to do about it? Pikachu asked.
I don't know, Ash replied. I've had a little practice, but I'm not great at spotting traps unless I've guessed where they are ahead of time. And it's dark out, so that makes it even harder…. You know what, screw it, let's just get around the whole problem. Go Pidgeot!
White light lit up the forest and Pidgeot stood before Ash.
Little early to be up, isn't it? Pidgeot said, looking around.
Blame it on the ninja, Ash said waving away the comment. Butterfree, get above the trees and see if you can find any String Shot traps. Pidgeot, you'll be carrying me. Please be careful, I don't have the riding harness with me.
Sure, Pidgeot said while Ash climbed on. Just hold on tight while I take off. My night vision's not the best and we might run into some branches.
Oh no, Pikachu whined, burrowing under Ash's jacket and clutching tight to his back.
I think they're moving again, Butterfree announced.
Let's go everyone! Ash said. Pidgeot took off, small branches snapping as she soared through the limbs of the bare trees and into the darkness beyond.
The faintest hints of dawn were creeping over the horizon, changing the tone of the night from star dotted darkness to a creeping gray that faded to a desolate blackness. Pidgeot glided after the grey shadow that was Butterfree and Ash held on to her, arms around her neck, knees locked behind her wings.
This way, Butterfree said soaring to the north. She's moving fast now.
I wonder if she knows that we're following her by air? Ash pondered. And she might know a way to get around that.
She's a ninja, Pikachu said from under his jacket. She probably knows how to hide from this. She probably knows how to hide from all the ways you could track her
Probably, Ash agreed with a sigh. But she wants me to follow her. Maybe she's going to go easy on me?
You're really going to hope for that? Pikachu asked.
Well, it's not like I had a chance to prepare for this test, Ash replied defensively. The other gyms don't do this. They don't ambush you with a test while you're trying to find them.
Well poor you then, Pikachu said.
To be honest, this is fun, Ash admitted, eyes still on Butterfree it just wouldn't be fair if it was too hard. Pidgeot, I need you to keep an eye and ear out in case they try to attack us.
I'll try, but I've already told you that I don't see very well in the dark, Pidgeot replied.
Do your best, Ash said, looking down below. The forest was just a blur of darkness and faint greyness, where shadows and shapes were indistinguishable from each other. Even if Aya had been standing out in the open there was no way Ash could have recognized her.
She's slowing down, Butterfree said.
Do you sense any other humans around, Ash asked quickly, leaning forward on Pidgeot.
No, Butterfree said, looking like he was shaking his head.
Fly higher! Now! Ash said, acting on instinct.
Wings beating furiously, Pidgeot and Butterfree ascended, just as something leapt from the nearby tree, carrying a dark purple glow with it. It slashed through the space that Butterfree had occupied scant seconds ago and then fell back to the forest below.
What was that? Butterfree exclaimed, clawing for altitude.
Probably a ghost or dark-type, Ash said, holding on tight to Pidgeot as she fought for altitude as well. I guess she was prepared for this after all.
Did you expect her to have a pokémon like that? Pikachu asked.
I figured she'd have something to counter psychic-types, Ash answered. They've got type advantage on her and they'd be able to pick up on her sneaking.
What should we do? Butterfree asked. It's harder to sense her if we stay up here.
Do your best, Ash told him. If we need to go down lower, we can have Pikachu light things up.
Why wait? Pikachu asked, sticking his head out of Ash's jacket. Let's just shock her now!
Well, I'm pretty sure she's expecting retaliation, Ash said. Let's try not to fall into any of her traps.
Sabrina continued to glide over the snow in the earliest light of the dawn, silent as the grave. She had been sweeping through the forest for hours, telepathically guiding the trainers from the Viridian City Gym to tighten their cordon as she progressed. She had picked up hints of mental energy and thought from further in the forest, the only thing that made her believe that she wasn't wasting her time.
Parts of her team were spread throughout the woods with her, her mind linked with theirs, their senses combined. A kadabra, a gardevior, and an esperon, floating, gliding, and scampering through the woods.
Sabrina wished that she had been more familiar with the topography of this part of the Viridian Forest so that she could risk teleporting to the ever-moving source of the thoughts and mental energy that she was hunting.
She continued forward and then there was something strange about the forests, something that Sabrina couldn't quite put her finger on. It was almost like there were null spots in the forest, spots where her senses, where her team's senses, couldn't reach. Not that there was nothing there, but that she couldn't even perceive the nothingness.
She drifted closer to one of the null areas, searching with her eyes instead of her mind. Examining one of the trees in the zone, Sabrina thought that she saw the glint of something metal. Not wanting to get any closer she telekinetically picked up a fallen branch and hurled it at the thing.
Blue-black fire erupted as the thing destroyed itself in a small explosion. The null zone expanded at the same time, vanishing when the fire died down.
Some sort of anti-psychic mines, Sabrina concluded. She'd take a nasty blow if she got too close to one of them. Curiously they weren't powerful enough to outright kill her, she noted. And the null zone… it gave away the position of the mines…. Was it a drawback of the design, an overlooked flaw, or was it a feint? Sabrina resolved to keep a keen eye out in case the null zones were simply meant to lure her into a false sense of security.
She scanned the forest once more, looking with both eye and mind. She caught a glimpse of purple ahead of her, moving deeper into the forest. Sabrina sped after it.
Finally, Ash said as Pidgeot came in for a landing in front of the Fuchsia City Gym. They had followed Aya from the crack of dawn to the point where the sun had cleared the horizon. Aya had harassed them at several points during the chase, attacking them with poison-type attacks and trying to snipe Butterfree using dark-type attacks.
Eventually, after the sun had fully risen and Ash, plus his team, were getting tired, they came across a building in the wilderness. It was an old fashioned Johto styled mansion, with angled roofs covered in green tiles surrounded by a wall also topped with angled green tiled slopes. Aya stood by the gate in the wall, looking up and tapping her foot.
"Do you do that with every trainer?" Ash asked with a groan just after Pidgeot had landed. Butterfree dusted down next to her and Pikachu took that as his queue to crawl out from under Ash's jacket.
"Depends on how many badges they have," Aya replied with a shrug. "That's part of the reason we try to talk to the trainers first."
"How long have you been doing this to people?" Ash asked, recalling Pidgeot and Butterfree.
"A month or so," Aya shrugged again. "We're hoping this works better than just letting trainers stumble onto the gym."
"Couldn't you just have an obstacle course instead of all these games?" Ash asked, rubbing his temples.
"Oh, we've got an obstacle course too," Aya informed him, gesturing to the gym with one hand, the other on her hip. "You're going to get through it before your gym battle."
"Why?" Ash bemoaned. "Tracking you was sort of fun, but you made it take too long."
"Oh, tired already?" Aya taunted.
"Yes," Ash groaned. "You woke me up early."
"Heh, I didn't actually mean to do that," Aya said, crossing her arms. "I was just getting in my morning practice. But since you got up, I thought to myself, why waste this opportunity."
"You're mean," Ash whined.
"Oh, quit your complaining," Aya told him. "You've got four badges, it's about time for you to be challenged."
"I thought that meant harder battles, not your weird stuff!" Ash protested.
"Oh, you should be thankful that someone is making sure that the trainers of Kanto have some basic skills when it comes to stealth, survival, and tracking," Aya said, waving away his complaints. "And if you think we're bad, just wait until you see what Blaine does with his gym."
"I don't think I want to know," Ash said.
"And people accuse us of being cruel," Aya shook her head. "Anyway, are you ready for the next test?"
"No, but let's do it anyway," Ash sighed.
Aya laughed before continuing. "Next you have to find your way to the center of the gym, where Janine is waiting for you."
"What's the catch," Ash asked, glaring at the ninja.
"It's no fun if I just tell you," Aya smirked at him. "Just, be prepared."
"Be prepared for what?"
"Anything." Aya said, smirk turning wicked.
Ash sighed and then entered the mansion. He slid the door open and was greeted by the typical interior of an old-fashioned building, like what he had imagined from the outside, polished brown wooden floors, paper walls, and more sliding doors. He sighed again and then took out some pokéballs.
"Go, Charmander! Go, Bulbasaur! Go, Squirtle!" Ash said. White light blazed and the three pokémon stood before him.
What's up boss? Squirtle asked, forelimbs crossed.
We're in a mansion run by ninja pokémon trainers and I-
Wait, what? Charmander interrupted, rubbing the area on the side of his head where his reptilian internal ears were kept. I don't think I heard you right. It sounded like you said 'mansion run by ninja pokémon trainers.'
That's what I said, Ash replied.
Umm…. What's the story behind this then? Charmander asked.
They're the gym trainers, Ash sighed. We're here to get a badge from the poison gym and they're all ninjas who like to use traps and be weird.
Oh, great... I hoped I wouldn't have to deal with ninjas again, Bulbasaur sighed. But at least they're not trying to kill us this time.
Wait, when did you have to deal with ninjas? Squirtle asked. And why have you never mentioned this before?
Anyway, we need to get to the center of the gym to have the badge battle, so I hope you guys are ready to help, Ash interrupted. Bulbasaur, stay a little behind us in case they've got pit traps or something. Charmander, stay in front in case you've got to burn something. Squirtle, just be ready for anything.
And what about me? Pikachu asked.
What about you? Ash replied.
Oh, hahaha, Pikachu rolled his eyes. Do you want me to do anything?
Just watch my back, Ash said. Everyone ready?
His pokémon nodded or replied with an affirmative. They then set off down the hall. The normal seeming interior clashed with Ash's knowledge that there were almost certainly traps scattered about. Unless the situation was just another mind game from Aya and all he had to do was go to the center of the gym. Of course, maybe she just wanted him to think that…
Ash resolved to avoid dealing with ninjas in the future. They were just a big headache.
It didn't take long for the group to discover the first trap, a simple invisible wall.
Ouch, said Charmander as he peeled his nose off the invisible barrier. Why'd they do that?
Probably to make sure that we're not just running through here, Ash said trying to catch a glimpse of the barrier.
Do we break it down or do we try and find a way around it? Bulbasaur asked, reaching out to feel the barrier with his vine.
Let's just go around, Ash replied. It seems safer.
They opened a nearby sliding door and started down another hallway, slower this time. They were able to reach a corner before they encountered the next trap.
All it took was one step. Ash suddenly felt the floor tilt under him and he was sent sliding and rolling towards the hall wall; only there was no wall, just an open space leading to a river canyon beyond.
Cannonball! Squirtle shouted.
They're insane! Ash screamed as he tumbled towards a long fall.
Those bastards! Pikachu shrieked, holding onto Ash's shoulder for dear life.
Ain't gonna get an argument from me, Bulbasaur said calmly, his vines grabbing them all. More vines wrapped around a ceiling strut as Bulbasaur braced himself, carefully pulling the three back up.
Why didn't anything happen when I stepped on it? Charmander asked, standing on the other side of the gap.
Must have been calibrated for more weight, Ash said, limbs trembling with adrenaline as he grabbed the edge of the floor and helped Bulbasaur pull him up. Thanks for the save, Bulbasaur.
It's what I'm here for, the grass type replied.
What sort of reckless idiot would have a trap like that in a gym! Pikachu shouted. I thought the point was to test trainers, not kill them!
I saw a net at the bottom, so I think we would have been fine, Squirtle said. But the net looked like it would dump us in the river… which would have been fun! Let's come here after we get the badge and try it out!
No thanks, Ash and Pikachu said in unison.
Let's just get across, Ash continued. Bulbasaur, keep holding on with your vines. Squirtle, walk on the edge of the wall, like this.
Ash, Squirtle, and Pikachu crossed the gap by clutching the interior wall and slowly creeping along the tiny bit of floor that was sticking out. After they got across, Ash recalled Bulbasaur and then released him again, to get him across the gap as well.
Charmander, did the floor feel weird to you when you stepped on it? Ash asked.
I think so…
Well, at least we know to look out for now, Ash said. Let's keep going. I want to beat this gym so I can yell at Aya and the gym leader about their stupid ideas.
Their journey resumed at a much slower pace as they made sure to test the floors ahead of them. More traps awaited them, some subtle, some less so. Slanted hallways made to look flat threw them off balance. Hallways with distorted perspectives disoriented them. Curving hallways made them think that they had gone in a circle and they wasted time exploring dead ends trying to escape the imaginary circle.
This isn't teaching me anything, Ash groaned as they paced onwards. They just like messing with people.
Think of it as payback for how you mess with pokémon, Pikachu huffed.
Oh, you mess with people worse than I mess with pokémon, Ash shot back. And I wouldn't even say that you had this coming.
Hey! Pikachu exclaimed, giving Ash a quick shock.
They're having fun I see, Squirtle remarked to Charmander.
They have a strange idea of fun then, Charmander replied.
Don't we all? Bulbasaur added.
Well, Charmander began, only to be interrupted by a small twang coming from the floor by his foot.
Crap! Everyone said in unison as there was a loud hissing sound. Purple smog billowed out from in front of them, rushing towards the group.
Pidgeot, Gust! Ash shouted, grabbing and throwing a pokéball.
Pidgeot appeared in a flash of white light, already flapping her wings and summoning up a Gust attack, the whirling winds driving back the gas.
Alright, let's get out of here, Ash said. Pidgeot, return! Pidgeot vanished and the group began to run away from the gas as the Gust attack faded. They headed back the way they had come in the false circle.
Great, where do we go now? Ash asked, wiping his brow. I wish one of us- I mean, one of you knew Supersonic.
Why not have Butterfree try to sense where the gym leader is? Charmander asked.
They're probably expecting that, Ash said.
Then what else can we do? Charmander asked.
Why don't we just blast our way through? Squirtle suggested.
Because….. because…. Ash thought about it for a moment. He looked down the hallway where there had been the gas trap.
You know what? Let's give it a try! Ash said. Let's start with that wall! Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander! Do your thing!
Fire, electricity, and water smashed into the wall, snapping wooden struts and incinerating the paper. Ash and his pokémon stepped through the charred hole in the wall and into a large empty room.
Keep an eye out, Ash said, looking around the area. It seemed like it might have been a dojo, at least in Ash's extremely limited experience. It wasn't like he'd previously had the opportunity to visit one, he'd just seen the occasional depiction in a textbook or on the television, the rare chances that he got to watch one.
I don't see anything, Charmander said, cautiously walking further into the room.
Ain't feeling anything that could be a trap either, Bulbasaur said, carefully probing bits of the floor with his vines.
Maybe they didn't expect for us to come here, Charmander suggested.
Well- Ash began, before he was interrupted mid-sentence by the sound of someone giggling.
Oh no, the boy groaned.
Something metallic glinted and hurled through the air, too fast for Ash to react, but not too fast for Bulbasaur. Razor Leaves cut through the air, knocking most of the projectiles away from Ash, but some still got through. The pokéraised boy let out a yelp of pain as he was pelted.
Ah! What are these even, Ash said, bending down to inspect what had hit him. He picked up what looked like a shuriken, but with blunted edges.
Really? Ash sighed. Well, I guess it's better than the real thing- OUCH! He shouted as more blunt shuriken pelted him.
Hey! Quit attacking Ash, that's Pikachu's job! Squirtle shouted before retaliating with a Bubble attack. Bursting bubbles blasted holes into walls and snapped rafters, but the ninja stars still kept coming.
The ceiling! Ash said, pointing up into some darkened rafters. They're- Ouch- hiding up there!
Pikachu let loose with buzzing tendrils of electric power. Ash caught a glimpse of a slim human form, black against the yellow light, vanishing into the ceiling.
They're gone now, Ash said. Pikachu scared them off.
They were probably afraid that they were going to have to talk to him, Bulbasaur said.
Hey!
Let's keep going, Ash sighed. They're probably waiting to ambush us somewhere else.
Do we blast our way out or do we take the door? Squirtle asked.
Let's take the door, Ash groaned.
The door led into another long hallway and the group continued on through there. They ran into the same sorts of traps as they had before the dojo, in different orders and arrangements. But they persevered and soon they opened a set of large doors at the end of a hall.
Inside, sitting in perfect seiza and drinking tea, were two young women. One was a young woman with short spiky purple hair, in a black gi and a long flamboyant red scarf. Opposite her was Aya.
"What took you so long?" Aya asked with a mocking grin.
"I hate you so much," Ash said, collapsing against the wall and letting himself slide down. "So, so much."
"Janine, why do trainers always say that?" Aya asked while slowly shaking her head.
"It's because they're fragile and you like to play rough," the other woman, Janine, replied. "You need to treat your toys with more care."
"Oh no, not another one," Ash moaned, slumping against the doorway. The two ninjas just laughed at his pain.
AN: I'd like to thank Amationary for beta reading
Anyway, yeah, I got the dates wrong (2020 mood everyone...). Next week is Thanksgiving in America and that's when I'll be travelling. And I'll be taking the week after that off from releasing as well. So expect the next chapter on the 9th of December in 2020.
Anyway, don't forget to review!